Tag Archives: frank viola

April 26, 2013

God’s Favorite Place on Earth

By David D. Flowers

If you haven’t heard, Frank Viola is coming out with a new book! It’s called: God’s Favorite Place on Earth (David C. Cook, May 1, 2013).

Attention: Frank has asked that you not buy the book until its release date on May 1st because everyone who buys the book between May 1st and May 7th will receive 25 free books & audios by 15 different authors. 

I first made contact with Frank back in 2006 at a very tumultuous time in my life. I was stepping out of vocational ministry (I thought for good), and he was there pointing me to find my identity in Christ.

Over the years I have come to know Frank as a personal friend and mentor. Frank has a real gift. I believe that gift is leading folks to encounter the Lord Jesus in all his splendor. Once again, in a time of struggle and transition in my life, my brother comes out with a book that ministers to my soul.

And I believe it will minister to you as well.

Here is what Frank wrote about the book on his blog:

“God’s Favorite Place on Earth is different than anything I’ve ever written. It’s a hybrid of fiction and non-fiction. The premise of the book is simple and 100% Biblical: when Jesus was on the earth, He was rejected everywhere He went . . . from Bethlehem, to Nazareth, to Jerusalem. The only exception was the little village of Bethany. The curtain opens with Lazarus, who is now ready to die, telling the incomparable story of Jesus’ interactions with him, Martha, and Mary. God’s Favorite Place on Earth blends drama, devotion, theology, biblical narrative, and first-century history. Within each narrative, the common struggles that we Christians face are addressed and answered. These are just some of the many lessons you’ll find in God’s Favorite Place on Earth. Lessons that were born out of my own struggles, challenges, mistakes, disappointments, and experiences.”

I actually felt closer to Jesus when I read this book. I’m not just trying to help Frank sell a book here. So you can believe me when I say that you haven’t read a book quite like this one. This needs to be your next read.

Check out this video trailer for the book!

Please stay tuned for a Q&A with Frank Viola here at the blog on May 1st.

D.D. Flowers, 2013.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Deeper Christian Life

April 3, 2013

How Have You Changed?

By David D. Flowers

When was the last time you took a glance back over your life in order to reflect on how you have changed in your beliefs and practices? It can be truly rewarding to see how the Lord has been working in your life.

Do you embrace challenges and reexamine your beliefs with an open heart and mind? Is the truth (which sets us free) worth it to you?

In the following video blog, I share a little of my own journey and encourage my readers to seek the truth above all things.

Brothers and sisters, I implore you to never be afraid to change your mind or the direction of your life for fear of what others might think of you.

Have you have ever been passionate about something, only later to discover that you were wrong? How did you respond? Are you sensitive to the ways God wants to move you along and grow you up into Christ?

D.D. Flowers, 2013.

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Church, Religion & Spirituality, Theology, Vlogs

November 30, 2012

Blog News & Update 11/30/12

By David D. Flowers

Hello, blog readers and subscribers! I hope your week has been fruitful as you have been building for the Kingdom. November has been an eventful month, and December is certain to be full of many opportunities for prayer and working for God’s peace on the earth.

The following post is a monthly blog update. I have decided I will be posting a “Blog News & Update” at the end of every month.

Here’s a glance back and a look forward.

The Month of November

This month I have continued sharing my thoughts on rapture theology that first began in October with Rapture Theology: History & Influence. You can expect more on this topic in the days to come.

I also finished up an interview with pastor and theologian Greg Boyd. I really appreciate Greg taking time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions concerning his ministry and upcoming books.

You can expect a Q&A with Frank Viola on his new book Jesus: A Theography real soon. The book will make an excellent Christmas gift.

Did You Miss These?

I have had quite a few new subscribers over the last month. Regular readers know that I’ve been blogging on a regular basis for two months now. So, some of you may have missed a popular post during that time.

Did you miss any of these?

Reminder About Purpose

As I wrote in last month’s blog update, it is my desire that this blog would contribute to biblical academic dialogue, encourage humble Christ-followers, and challenge honest skeptics.

As a young academic and an aspiring Christian mystic, this blog is unashamedly a reflection of my pursuit of Christ in spirit, soul, and body—the realm of the intellect as well as spiritual imagination.

I have a passion to help bridge the gaps between faith & reason, mind & spirit, church & academy, science & theology, etc.

While I often post stuff to stimulate the intellect, you can also expect devotional writings and other practical posts. See the “Deeper Christian Life” section at the Archives page.

Primarily, this blog is dedicated to those who are loving Jesus with all of their heart, soul, strength, and mind. As Paul said, “… so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18).

Consider How You Can Share

I want this blog to be accessible and readable. You can help me do that by taking the time to “join the discussion” through commenting on posts and giving feedback below each blog post you’ve read.

As I continue my attempts at maintaing a blog that is deeply theological and at the same time relevant to the spiritual life of my readers, I would like to ask that you share your thoughts on posts that resonate with you.

I have many readers and subscribers who have never commented here at the blog. While I’m thankful for those that do comment regularly, it would be beneficial to everyone if more folks would take the time to share.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts, your questions, and your concerns about the issues. I would love to hear from you.

Remember: When you do comment on the blog, try to keep it brief so as to foster discussion. You can “reply” to the post, or even respond directly to another person’s comment.

In the future, please consider the following ways of participating here at the blog: Comment on a post, “Like” the post, “Share” the post by clicking on a social network, or even kindly disagree with the post.

Just make sure you follow the blog Rules.

Final Month of 2012

As you all know, December can be a little hectic as the year winds down and Christmas approaches. I will be blogging regularly for most of the month, but you can expect a break the last week or so.

I plan to pick back up after New Years… assuming that the Mayan calendar is wrong and the world doesn’t end.  😉

Thanks for reading. I look forward to hearing from you.

D.D. Flowers, 2012.

10 Comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Blog Update

October 19, 2012

My Interview on Gottalife Radio

By David D. Flowers

I was interviewed on Gottalife Radio by the spirited Scotsman Kenny Russell in the Summer of 2009. If you’re not familiar with my journey out of the organized church into organic church life, you will want to listen to this interview in its entirety.

I’m sharing this interview because I do have many new readers, but also because I want to be transparent about how our lives reflect a real journey with Christ. If we’re growing, we ought to be in a constant state of flux.

My wife and I learned a great deal about Christ in community between 2006-2011. Much that we have learned through the years has been refined, as we have since moved back into more organizational forms of church life.

If you’ve been following this blog, you know that I’ve recently made clear here, here, and here that organized Christianity is not the enemy of authentic Christian community. Many well-intentioned folks have overcorrected in their attempts to discover a more familial church life.

While a great deal of organized religion has lost its way in attempting to market the gospel way to evangelical consumers, there is a pronounced leadership and organizational church life that is able to do great good for the Kingdom. For “organic” Christians to discount or demean these forms with talk of “good is the enemy of what’s best” isn’t helpful.

In fact, I even think it can be divisive. We should celebrate wherever and whenever Christ is being known in community and the church is actively on mission for God’s Kingdom. I have issued this challenge before.

Planting a New Church

I think it’s now time for me to follow through with a calling God placed on my life many years ago. I believe that the Lord would have me plant a new church as its lead teaching pastor.

I’m currently in an exploratory stage with intentions of planting a different sort of church in our city. I’m convinced that the Lord desires to have a fellowship that works to bridge the gap(s) between the church and academy, faith and reason, and science and theology—to create a community of radical disciples who get all of their life from Jesus, not from their theological opinions. This is especially needed in the Bible Belt of the United States.

I envision a learning church that seeks to remove intellectual obstacles that needlessly bar people from the Kingdom—a church that isn’t afraid to ask questions. The Lord wants a church that truly loves like Christ. He wants a church whose allegiance is given only to King Jesus and the upside-down Kingdom that is coming to earth.

I must confess that I’ve been deeply inspired by the work of Greg Boyd at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, MN.

I would appreciate your prayers as we venture into the unknown. I believe the Lord wants to turn the tides of pop-culture Christianity and respond to religious fundamentalism that breeds toxic cynicism, that may well be keeping an entire generation from seeing the beautiful Kingdom of God.

Please stay tuned, I’ll soon be posting more of my thoughts here at the blog, and how you can help. In the meantime, thank you for your prayers.

Enjoy the interview! Be sure to listen to the second half, that’s what I dig the most. Jesus is awesome, saints.

D.D. Flowers, 2012.

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Church, Interviews