LDS

Joel Osteen in your Local Deseret

Wait a minute.  I thought LDS didn’t go for prosperity dreaming, self-esteem coaching, Kent & Barbie profiling, mega of mega churching, evangelical entrepreneurs.

Why in the world is Joel Osteen’s latest book, Become a Better You, featured in the 2008 Winter Catalog of Deseret Book?

The pastor of the biggest “evangelical” church in America showcased?  Deseret encourages this for LDS readership in 2008?  This is whopping irony in starting out the new-year for learning “biblical” sanctification and discipleship.  No sin?  No repentance?

My wife says I should not harass my LDS friends on this issue.  But frankly, I am embarrassed that my friends would be marketed to buy this book. (more…)

Christmas Readings

Warning!  Let me link you to two short recent posts that are absolutely radical in their content for this part of the country at Christmas time.

O Magnum Mysterium, Part 1

O Magnum Mysterium, Part 2

Also, I just sampled writings by Lee Strobel, yesterday.  One of the sisters in our church family placed a copy of The Case For Christmas (Zondervan, 2005) last week on my office desk.  It is just a condensed version (91 pages) of The Case for Christ.

I read the whole thing yesterday, and I found the seeking trail of Strobel in his journalistic interviews to be fascinating. (more…)

Neighborhood Survey #8 on John’s Gospel – Christmas Update

For LDS, who is Jesus in his incarnation?

As many of you know, I like getting out into the streets to sample the LDS perspectives on doctrine.  I enjoy talking with all levels of people in neighborhoods.  General Authorities can add one perspective.  LDS scholars can supplement another.  And LDS friends via internet provide even a third thread.  But there is no substitute for taking the pulse of what is on the streets (isn’t this true, young elders?), where the heart of LDS religion abides.

This survey is rooted in John 6.

Here were my two questions:  1) Do you think the claims by Jesus in John 6, “I came down from heaven,” imply that Jesus is God?  2)  Do you think others preexisted and came down from heaven like Jesus?

I knocked on 85 doors this week, leaving John’s Gospel and my HI4LDS business card at every door; and I listened to almost 50 responses by neighbors.  Six of these neighbors immediately expressed they were not interested in the conversation after I introduced myself, but the rest were very friendly.  One young husband, who recently served his two year mission in Anaheim, California, offered sympathy to me in my “proselytizing” in the middle of winter.  He was a nice guy, soon relocating his family to Provo for employment at BYU. (more…)