Frank Viola, formerly known as Bill Goldberg

Well, my dear friend Frankie V. once again has a bad case of verbal diarrhea (explains his breath lately), running off about how he’s going to smack me down in our “all-out, no holds barred, ring-side seat, verbal wrestling match” on the open view of the future.

I’m supposed to shutter in my boots at the “monumental mistake” I made challenging him to a public debate because he shows a clip of a previous smack down he (as his “alias,” “Bill Goldberg”) was in. Honestly, I have doubts that this guy in the clip was really even Frank — mainly because that dude wasn’t that ugly.

Plus this guy’s muscles were a little bigger than I remember Frank’s.

Anyway, if THAT was supposed to make me shutter, Sir Frankie, I dare say you had best rethink your intimidation strategies.

I shall not tax my energies by giving a current reply. (I must, after all, save my energies for our oh-so-fearsome smack down match.) So I will call Frank’s (limited) attention to something that I said to others who dared to threaten me a few years back when I was a hired guard of a castle:

Hear this Sir. Viola….hear THIS — and shutter!!!

In this sermon clip, Greg Boyd talks about how Colossians 3:14 and the definition of love. God designed creation so that we would live in community with God and express God’s love towards each other and creation. However, sin disconnected us from God. In this sermon, Greg shows how we were created in the image of God to love others and creation and shows us how to reconnect with God.

You can view the full sermon as well as other resources on the Woodland Hills Church sermon page.

Both participants and leaders share about what was happening at Open2013 and some of their thoughts on Open Theism. Listen in and hear from Greg Boyd, John Sanders, Tom Oord, T. C. Moore, Jessica Kelley and many more.

Greg Boyd’s Testimony and Spiritual Pilgrimage from Roberta Winter Institute on Vimeo.

We thought you might be interested in hearing Greg’s testimony that he shared when he spoke recently at the Roberta Winter Institute. Enjoy!

From Stephen’s article:

Theoretically, Christians can go from preschool to seminary hearing the exact same religious doctrines. Theologies are often considered too “valuable,” “right,” and “holy” to change or question. Therefore, pastors debate instead of dialogue, professors preach instead of listen, schools propagate instead of discuss, and faith-based communities ultimately reject any form of honest questioning and doubt.

Indoctrination is preferred over critical thinking, certainty is favored over doubt, and we expect our leaders to offer black-and-white answers. A change of theology is viewed as weakness, poor exegesis, and a sign of insecurity. “If they change their views now, how can I believe anything they say in the future?” Christians often perceive change as a break in trust and a loss of identity.

Does Greg believe that everyone goes to Heaven regardless of their beliefs? Find out here.

Alain Bachellier via Compfight

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our beautiful, luminous ReKnew moms and moms-to-be! And comfort and love to those who grieve lost children this Mother’s Day. You’re in our hearts and prayers.