Hi Everybody!

[FireBobcat]

Hello there!  I am (clearly) new to these boards, and am very glad to join in on this community.  You can call me Bobcat, or my actual name, Bryan.  I'll give a quick summary of what brought me around these parts and leave it at that for now...

Religious background - grew up Roman Catholic, moved to Southern Baptist, moved to Conservative Evangelical, moved to more 'hip' seeker-sensitive Evangelical, currently non-denominational.  I began further exploring the issue of UR after being exposed to the concept probably around 2 years ago from a great church in Denver, Colorado called Sanctuary Downtown who has an awesome, recently-convinced, UR-preaching pastor (look them up online sometime).  I started with some of Barth's writings and was really drawn to his Christocentric approach with such bold statements of God's love and power.  Then I dove in to more UR specific books as my old perspective began to make less and less sense.  Today, I'm not sure I could make sense of my faith without the hope of UR in me.  At this point I've read a handful of books on it (Hope Beyond Hell, The Inescapable Love of God, Love Wins, Martin Zender Goes To Hell, Raising Hell) and have several more in my to-read list as I know there is always more to learn on the perspective.  I don't remember specifically how I found this website, but probably either through one of the books I was reading or a google search on the issue.

Since diving into UR my journey has taken some unforeseen directions -- last year I became an associate pastor of a new church plant in Colorado and now am also on the path of getting my Master of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology.  I'm definitely excited by the wealth of knowledge all the people here have, and I hope I can constructively add to that as well.  Grace to you all!

Bryan/Bobcat

(PS - if my thread subject made you think of this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGYpsNpg1bw - you get bonus points  :laughing7:)

[jabcat]

Welcome.   :bigGrin:

Jesus, Savior of the world!

Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world."  Jn 4:42

[WhiteWings]

Aaaaarghhhh not another cat  :laughing7:


Welcome Bobcat :thumbsup:

[redhotmagma]

Hi Bobcat :welcome:

[FireBobcat]

Aaaaarghhhh not another cat  :laughing7:


Welcome Bobcat :thumbsup:

And I'm even more of a dog person when it comes to pets haha!

[urpilgrim]

Welcome Bryan.... I really like Peter at the Sanctuary.... I have been following his sermons on line for about a year now.... very good teacher :bigGrin:

[FireBobcat]

Welcome Bryan.... I really like Peter at the Sanctuary.... I have been following his sermons on line for about a year now.... very good teacher :bigGrin:

Awesome!  He's a smart guy, super nice in person.  I'll probably be meeting with him in the next few weeks, will have to mention his effect he has on people in the online world.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Welcome to another "cool cat",  :laughing7:  :thumbsup:

[jabcat]

:cloud9: Welcome to another "cool cat",  :laughing7:  :thumbsup:

:mlaugh: