Transforming Theology
Rekindling Theological Reflection
Purpose or Adventure?
Pastor and author Rick Warren notes that all the important events of our lives are planned in advance without our input….and that everything that happens to us is “father filtered.” According to Warren, even the most challenging, painful, and traumatic events are filtered through God’s providential agenda. God “smiles,” Warren suggests, when we read our lines and play our parts in the life script God has already written for us. It seems that for Warren, unless we “color inside the lines” we have somehow turned our backs on God and may risk meaninglessness in this life and damnation in the next.
While Warren’s Purpose Driven Life has benefited many persons, I want to suggest an alternative spiritual pathway – the way of Holy Adventure in companionship with a Holy Adventurer, who like ourselves is constantly charting new pathways, nurturing, creativity….and inviting us to “color outside the lines.”
In Whiteheadian language, I believe that God presents us with many possibilities or initial aims in each moment of experience – lively propositions or lures for feelings - -and says in the spirit of a good parent (let me be a bit anthropomorphic here) “surprise me, do something I haven’t fully expected.” While some surprises may indeed create pain for ourselves, others, and God, and that’s the cost of creativity, our deviating from the divine aims may not be sin, but a reflection of the interplay of call and response – divine creativity and human creativity, embodied in our lives.
In Warren’s world, God lives in a perpetual “Ground Hog Day” (the movie) in which nothing new happens and nothing occurs that God hasn’t, in principle planned or known in advance. In a world of adventure, new things constantly are happening to God, and God rejoices in the opportunity to “do a new thing” and be a “more lively God” in response to the world God is constantly inspiring. God is constantly creating and wants us to be creative, too. There are no guarantees of “success,” but there is the companionship of an Adventurous God, who treasures our lives and constantly offers new possibilities for living God’s Holy Adventure.
For those who would like to explore an alternative approach to Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life for yourself or a group study during Epiphany or Lent, let me invite you to read my Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living (Upper Room).
Bruce Epperly is Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Practical Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary and co-pastor of Disciples United Community Church in Lancaster, PA. He is the author of sixteen books, including “Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living.” (Upper Room, 2008)
Post to Twitter
Tiffany provides a wide
Tiffany provides a wide collection of Discount Tiffany Jewellery at the most favorable prices, Buy Cheap tiffany jewellery including Necklaces, Ring Tiffany sale Tiffany Store Fashional Tiffany & CO. products about all Tiffany Jewellery, like: Tiffany Ring, Tiffany Necklaces, Tiffany Earrings, Tiffany Bracelets, Tiffany Necklaces Tiffany Charms Tiffany Bracelets Tiffany Earrings Tiffany Rings Tiffany Disciples United Community Church in Lancaster, PA. He is the author of sixteen books, including “Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living.” (Upper Room, 2008)Tiffany and Co tiffany jewellery from tiffany & co are now on sale on our uk store.
Juicy Couture Sale,Juicy
Juicy Couture Sale,Juicy Couture HandBags,Watches,Shoes,Jewelry Juicy Couture Juicy Juicy Sale Cheap Juicy Couture,include Juicy Couture Clothing ,Handbags ,Tracksuits,flip flops,sunglasses & more on sale. Juicy Couture Handbags Juicy Couture Jewelry juicy shoes juicy jeans juicy bikini juicy tee juicy purse Juicy Couture,Best Juicy Couture.
I can, with great enthusiasm,
I can, with great enthusiasm, recommend this new book by Dr. Bruce Epperly and any other book he has written. When I first discovered Process and Faith. I looked for authors that would help me to understand Whitehead's theology and to furthur my adventure with God. The very first author I decided to try was Dr. Epperly. When I subscribed to their periodical, Creative Transformation, I found articles by Dr. Epperly. With much enthusiasm again I began to tell everyone about this wonderful author, even my pastor and theologians, educators, etc. that I knew. Rev. Tripp Fuller was one of those that I talked to and told him what a fan I was of Dr. Epperly. Tripp, met him in Washington, DC and brought back a business card. He told Dr. Epperly that I was a huge fan and I was given permission to contact him. Well we have formed a friendship through FaceBook and email and I had the pleasure of meeting him this past December. I agree with Dr. Epperly's teachings and each of his books have brought me closer to God, to myself and others. Our spirituality experiences as well as spiritual gifts are very similar. It was so affirming to me as a follower of Jesus to finally find someone that I could talk with about my gifts and talents and be affirmed rather than someone thinking I was crazy or what I experienced was not theologically accurate. How can you dispute your experiences of God. Those experiences are the very things that cement my faith in God. Please purchase The Hold Adventure and if you have not begun that adventure I think after reading this you will want to begin. I read Rick Warrens book but my immediate thoughts were that of Dr. Epperlys. I do not believe that our lives are preplanned by God. We have choices and decisions to make. God for me is my best thoughts on being a loving parent. God for me, does not dictate but nudges me and allows me to have experiences and conversation with God's self. God is always with us, in us, around us beneath us and above us. When we are on this Holy Adventure we learn how to open ourselves to this wonderful God. I would love to have a small group at my church to study this book and to share our thoughts, etc.