Tony Campolo on The Colbert Report

After Ryan Woods suggested that we check out Tony Campolo on The Colbert Report I had to see if he was on there more than once. I'm reading one of Campolo's books right now. I have been blessed to find Tony Campolo. He speaks to my heart in such important ways. I love God. I want to model my life after Christ - I often do a POOR job of it. And I don't feel like the conservative right has anything to offer me. I often feel embarrassed that they are what non-Christians assume we're all like and that we all think the same way. For most of my life I have felt a disconnect between my heart feels and what I hear in most churches and from many of my Christian friends. Thank you Tony for validating what I believe Jesus has written on my heart. As I read more and more of the book I am currently reading, the more I want to be like Christ, the more safe I feel opening my heart to Him. The God and the Jesus I have known most of my life is not what the world needs. The world needs a God and a Jesus who love them with unrelenting passion. I need a God and a Jesus who loves me with unrelenting passion. This is how we will change the world.

A couple of months back I read a book by Shane Claiborne called The Irresistible Revolution. In it he shared about the time he spent in India with Mother Teresa. He learned that Namaste, a Hindu greeting means "I honor the Spirit who lives in you." I am learning to honor the Spirit that lives in me and in all of those around me. It's definately a process, a journey, but I think if I look at all people as spiritual beings, self included, I will treat everyone better and see all people through Jesus' eyes. I don't think much of anything else matters. I think what I am learning about myself is that I haven't even been treating myself very well. I've struggled with the whole relationship with God thing. I think when you don't believe that He really, I mean really, loves you, what's the point of trying to do what He wants for your life??? Why would I honor the Spirit within me if I don't think He really cares about me or if it feels like the point of being in relationship with Him is only to do what He wants because He's a bully and will punish you for all eternity if you don't do things His way? It's not the point! He wants to be in relationship with His creation, with His people, His companions. He wants us to be companions of His. He wants us to choose Him because He wants to be with us - not to show power and domination over us but to love us and be with us, to be friends with us. I want that. I need that. My soul is crying out for that.

Namaste.