If you had to do it all over again, what would you do?

Hindsight is always 20/20, and I think this is one of the most common questions people ask themselves.  What would they do if they knew everything they do now?  Would they live their lives exactly the same way?  Would they choose different careers, or live somewhere else, or take more risks, or not get involved in that pyramid scheme?

Of course, people always look at the big picture.  What if you had your whole life to do over again?  They never ask, what if I had to do this week over again?  That’s kind of funny, since our lives are made up of a whole bunch of weeks we’d probably not want to re-live.  Just this week at school, I broke up a fight, was spit on, cursed and yelled at, hit and kicked, and physically carried five children where they needed to go.  Such is the memorable life in the behavioral disorders department.  Would I re-live the week?  No.  But I’d have to in order to do my life over again.

Anyway, in the spirit of another week gone by, I ask you: what if you had to do it over again?

Me?  I’d do a lot of things…

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Monday, I told you that I’m an agnostic…

…when it comes to global warming.  I just don’t know if it’s happening the way so many people say it is.  I still try to do my part for the environment.  I just don’t think I need the motivation of global warming to push me.

That got me thinking about hell.

Hell, as a concept, is about as popular as global warming.  There’s plenty of people who are adamant that it exists.  There are a whole bunch of people who’d rather not believe it exists.  Either way, if hell exists, it’s bad.

I’ve actually been talking to a lot of people about hell lately.  Some of my Christian friends have serious doubts about the existence of an eternal place of torment.  Others are sure of it’s existence, because they have seen visions of it. 

I’m not going to debate the existence of hell, since it’s about as provable as global warming.  It just got me thinking about what hell does for faith…

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You heard me.  I’m glad Earth Week is over.

Now I can get back to my regular routine of destroying the Earth with only the normal heaping of guilt on my head.

Here’s the thing.  I care about the Earth.  I care about being a good steward, and all that jazz.  I recycle, and I dump only minimal amounts of toxic waste into my local lake.  I care about justice and trying to be less of a lazy, stupid American.  But if there was one movement that could stand toe to toe with the fervent zeal of the most evangelical churches today, it’s environmentalism.

And every year, Earth Week is environmentalism’s high holy week.  For a few days, people pretend that the environment is super-important to them, so we make a few little sacrifices to make ourselves feel like we’re making a difference, and then we forget about it by May.  Sounds a lot like Lent and Easter, come to think of it.

And while all this grand celebration is taking place, and Mother Earth is being worshipped and the offerings are being laid at the altar, and everyone’s working themselves into a frenzy about the need to save the earth, I can’t help feel a little left out…

…because I’m a doubter.

And if doubt is somewhat unacceptable in church, it’s blasphemy in the church of environmentalism. 

But I’ve got to get this off my chest.  I’m a global warming doubter.  And if there’s one cause that’s risen above the rest in environmentalism, it’s global warming.

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Okay, I’ve got one question for you. 

I made it pretty easy, so anyone who hasn’t commented this week can do so and get qualified for the giveaway (which I’ll be announcing the winners of tomorrow.)  Or you can comment again and get another entry!

Who’s your favorite Jesus?

Like, what’s been your favorite portrayal of Jesus?  I know, most of our film portrayals of Jesus have been pretty blatantly inaccurate.  But the spirit of Jesus is probably still somewhere inside that blue-eyed actor, and it can be pretty moving.

I thought Jim Caviezel did a great job as Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.  And not just because he can wince pretty convincingly.  I thought Jesus in The Gospel of John was pretty okay, if not a little weird.  But he looked downright normal next to John the Baptist who was not only rocking the camel skin, but some pretty heavy mascara.  Maybe your favorite Jesus was a cartoon, or a live play.

As for me, I know this is several years old – old enough to start to be considered a classic.  But I think it’s still my favorite.  It’s just how I thought of Jesus for so many years!

Who’s your favorite Jesus?

Okay, I had meant to do a blog giveaway last week to mark the occasion of crossing over to a new blog platform. 

And after a couple of false starts, I really have crossed over for good.  The guys over at Standard Theme, who I’m running my blog with now were super patient and helpful to me.  Thanks guys. 

So, the blog giveaway is back on.  If you commented on my blog last week when the giveaway was announced, you’re still in the running.  If you comment on today’s or Friday’s posts, retweet them, or share them on Facebook, I’ll enter your name into the contest.  Today’s post is just below this one.

What can you win?  I’ll hook you up with books from Matthew Paul Turner, John Acuff, and Francis Chan, along with music from Carlos Whittaker, and Amazon gift cards.  All for just being loyal readers!  How cool is that?

It couldn’t be any easier.  I’ll announce winners on Saturday.

Do you have a plan for your life yet?

People love plans.  When I was in eighth grade, the high school counselors came and had us pick all our high school classes, along with a college major, 401K retirement plan, and marital partner.

Not really, but seriously, it was a five year plan for fourteen-year-olds…the age when kids have an attention span of five minutes.  I think some people changed their sexual identities more easily (and frequently) than their college majors.

It’s no wonder we think God is a fan of the plan.  How many times this week have you tried to find “God’s plan for your life?”  If you by chance haven’t been looking for it, I guarantee someone has been praying that you’d find it, or telling you to look for it. 

This is like the other side of what I talked about on Monday.  There’s those “Spirit led” churches that may not know what it means to be Spirit led Monday through Saturday.  Then there’s those Spirit led Christians who are always looking for God’s plan for their lives.

But I’ve got to say this: I don’t think God’s as big a fan of planning as we are. 

Three Reasons to Stop Looking for God’s Plan for Your Life

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