Quote Wall: Rob Bell
Today’s quote comes from Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, MI:
“At our church we bring out the fact that the Gospel is obviously political, yet we are aggressively nonpartisan. We are interested in being a voice for those who have no voice. Too often the 
party line becomes, “If you’re a Christian, then of course you’re voting like us,” and that’s crazy. As the people of God, our postures should be aggressively nonpartisan and always veering toward the oppressed and the marginalized and those who have no voice, as opposed to the endless self-preservation and protection. In our city they’re shutting down community pools because they say there isn’t funding for it. So there are all these kids, especially in the urban center of Grand Rapids, who won’t be able to swim in the summer. We think that would piss Jesus off. For us it’s not right that on one side of town they’re building pools and on the other side of town they’re shutting them down. That’s an injustice. We think Jesus is about pools.”
-from “7 Big Questions: Seven Leaders on Where the Church is Headed”(Relevant Magazine, Issue 24, Jan/Feb 2007)
Film Review: Not Easily Broken
I have two new reviews up for your reading pleasure on the new film based on the novel by T.D. Jakes, Not Easily Broken.
The first on Christianity Today includes a candid interview with the star and executive producer Morris Chestnut on the joy of working with Oscar-nominated Taraji P. Henson.
The second on Urban Faith provides a strong critique of the film as well as an interesting statement from Chestnut on his own thoughts of faith in the African-American community. Enjoy!
Britney: Don’t Call it a Comeback
…the old Britney has not returned. But thank goodness for that, because no one wants to see a stunted 20-year-old pop star. It’s better to say she’s undergoing a rebirth. Here’s the latest on what she has to say about finding healing and faith in unconventional ways:
“People think that you go through something in your life and you need to go to therapy. For me, art is therapy because it’s like you’re expressing yourself in such a spiritual way. [...] I think back on the last 10 years and what I’ve been through. And it’s a touchy thing, ’cause when I see my babies, of course you have to believe in God. I completely believe in God.”
Read Chanel Graham’s full article on Britney Spears at www.urbanfaith.com.
No Respect
Apparently no place is sacred for Entourage star Mark Wahlberg. The star told Star Pulse that even when worshipping at church, he is approached with questions about the show or sales pitches from fellow members of the congregation. 
“I go to church and people ask me if they can be on Entourage, what’s gonna happen. I go to church to worship, I don’t go to church to talk about it. The stuff that I did with my entourage back in the day is stuff that I’m not proud of and I’m asking forgiveness for; I don’t want things brought up in church, but, if you go to church in Beverly Hills, those kind of things happen.”
His experience might explain why many members of the entertainment industry shy away from getting involved in their local churches. It’s difficult to publicly express something so intensely personal and often in-process as one’s faith. Kudos to Mark for continuing to fight the crowds to explore his own spirituality.
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