Shannon Costello

I have said that I struggle with doubting God’s goodness and love because I don’t have children.  I don’t think that is quite accurate.  The pain I feel because I don’t have children has helped uncover my theological problems- I let that pain become a factor in my relationship with God, and it became anger, [...]

After a rash of package theft complaints, our local post office stopped leaving packages on people’s doorsteps.  The mailman comes at around four, knocks on the door and, if no one answers, leaves a slip saying when one can hope to collect one’s package.
Now, our post office has never had a reputation for moving at [...]

Let’s see.  Monday was Halloween.  A ten-year-old boy dressed as a basketball player knocked at the door, wild with enthusiasm.
boy:  Can you guess who I am?
CJ:  You’re on strike!
boy:  No!  I’m a college player!
An hour later the girls show up, and this time I answer. Girl #1 informs me that she can’t have the reeses, [...]

So what do you do about Hell?
Rob Bell says that it can’t be, that God would never do that, and that He would be cruel if He did.  He then attempts a Biblical argument for universal salvation:
In Ezekiel 16 God says He will restore Sodom, which means those people must not be permanently lost.  He [...]

I thought I’d better take a closer look at the views espoused in chapter 2 before moving on.
The author has an optimistic view of this world and the people who inhabit it.  Yes, there are problems.  But mostly the world is a “big, beautiful [and] fascinating” place. The disciples are even “students of life.” People [...]

I like some of this ( "A proper view of heaven leads not to escape from the world, but to full engagement with it…) but not all of it ("…all with the anticipation of a coming day when things are on earth as they currently are in heaven.")
Rob Bell brings up various NT stories that [...]

Title:  Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived
Author:  Rob Bell
Back Cover:  " ‘God loves us.  God offers us everlasting life by grace, freely, through no merit on our part.  Unless you do not respond the right way.  Then God will torture you forever.  In hell.’  Huh?"
Inside [...]

He sends rain on the righteous and babies to wantonly wicked women.  He brings beauty out of chaos.
Looking back in my extended family history, looking at what I see today, speculating about the future- there is some wrenching pain in there, some bitter tragedy, some brokenness.  To stick with ancient history (to protect those of [...]