Understanding Twynholm's Mission Field I: Rest

I have tried to encourage the congregation at Twynholm to see our natural mission field in 3 different spheres, based on that memorable 80's advertising slogan.

Work: those who work in the vicinity of our church, or with whom we work

Rest: those who live near us or near the church

Play: those we socialise with, or who 'go out' in the vicinity of our church.

On the "Rest" section, I've been encouraging the congregation to understand who lives in the area.

It is an excitingly diverse mission field in itself.

Here's the profiles of the two 'wards' right on the doorstep of the church building, and nobody living within these wards would be more than about 10 minutes walk away

Munster Ward

Fulham Reach

The four next closest are:

North End

Fulham Broadway

Palace Riverside

Town Ward

Each of them would have at least some people living 5-10 minutes walk away.

Bell's book out yesterday. Deyoung already on the ball

Rob Bell's book "Love wins" came out yesterday.
The thesis seems to be "If God is a God of love the gate to heaven will always remain open" - even after the last judgement. (Matthew 25:10? cf Genesis 7:16) Eventually everyone will chose that gate. (Matthew 7:13-14?)
Kevin DeYoung has already written a substantial review that is worth reading. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/files/2011/03/LoveWinsReview.pdf
Bell obviously has a following this side of the pond too, with a tour planned for the UK this spring.
http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/love-wins?gclid=CIWSus7t16cCFdFX4Qodij5x9g
What sounds like a very comforting message may instead end up patting people on the back, telling them that there is no urgency, and reassure them that all will be fine on the road, which, tragically does in fact lead to an everlasting destruction.

Rob Bell: discussion over. Love wins?

Strangely, one of the most read posts on this little read blog has been a little review I did of one of Rob Bell's little nooma vids. In the comments there I was accused of accusing Bell of not believing the good news that Jesus rescues us from the wrath of God by dying in our place upon the cross. If in 22 vids he never teaches that, I suggested that he probably doesn't believe it.
Well, there is sadly no need for speculation any longer.
From his own lips he describes that gospel, the gospel we so desperately need, as not good news at all.


LOVE WINS. from Rob Bell on Vimeo.

This is an advert for his new book "Love wins" that has not yet been released. But how does it win, if it doesn't deal with our greatest problem... making ourselves subjects of God's good and perfect judgement?

I guess he will tell us in the book; but I fear that it will not be such good news after all.

Others have blogged about this
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/26/rob-bell-universalist/