Without God man cannot. Without man God will not.
- St. Augustine
Rob Pennington has been a pastor, administrator and director of several organizations. Addressing audiences of tens of thousands he's given scores of interviews and authored more than a hundred articles and audios on a variety of topics.
Born in Long Beach California, Rob's lived most of his life in the Fresno area were he was married to his wife Cathy in 1977. Together they enjoyed raising their son Derek and daughter Bethany. And now their grandchildren Maddie, Beckett and Zoey.
Ordained in 1990, he served as a pastor for several years. From 2000 - 2006 Rob was the director of Right to Life of Central California's region headquarters, turning it into one of the largest full service pro-life organizations west of the Mississippi. Among many innovations, Rob created the first Pro-life/Chastity peer driven teen multimedia presentations called TruthTalks. His youth group of as many as 60 teens met weekly and gave over 500 free presentations to audiences of more than 25,000 across California.
From 2006 - 2008 Rob was the founding director of Parents' Right to Know California. During the last three parental notification initiatives he was the primary contact and consultant for thousands of Protestant churches and Christian organization statewide. His groundbreaking pro-life political DVD, entitled "Protect Me...Please" was shown in churches throughout California. Making the cover of both the L.A. Times and San Francisco Chronicle, PRKCA was the first to create a coalition and obtain political endorsements from church denominations and organizations such as the California Southern Baptists, Assemblies of God, Foursquare and Calvary Chapel.
An avid student and teacher of the Scriptures pertaining to the human condition, Rob has spent nearly four decades and over 70,000 hours strategically pursuing and serving God in the attempt to answer 2 questions. Is Modern Christianity working? If not, why?
He developed Quantum Christianity to facilitate asking and answering the Big Questions and God Blog as a forum to promote the discussion of vital issues facing us in time and eternity.
Rob is assembling over a dozen books from the articles on this site into a growing Quantum Christian Library. All uniquely addressing a wide variety of crucial subjects. His most recent project is Quantum Christianity Introduction Volumes 1 & 2. Which if correct, may be the most relevant Biblical commentary of its kind. As well as the Biblical Faction (fact synthesized with plausible fiction) account entitled, “Eternity...The Wager.” Which, while all but universally overlooked, is in fact the very context of Scripture. And thus perhaps the greatest story never told.
From the Author
For more than a decade I’ve used text to speech apps to edit over a hundred God Blog articles comprising the Quantum Christian Library. My current favorite is an Aussie bloke named Tyler, who’s cadence can be customized to reflect the optimal flow of words and thoughts.
Slowing people’s another story. When I asked my 32 year old son to read a few pages aloud, it was an accident waiting to happen. A successful salesman working in GLA area and married father of two, he’s used to rushing. Who isn’t these days? On one visit I chuckled to hear him bathing while hurrying through a podcast at 2x speed.
Not so funny now. Though it’s self serving to say, Quantum Christianity is an idea who’s time has come. Ten thousand greater authors might say the same. It just so happens to be true for this work at this moment. A claim best judged by readers willing to slow down and take the time to do so.
No small request. We’re a generation addicted to speed. From microwaves to freeways, Google results to drive-thru’s (admittedly freeways and drive-thru’s can be annoyingly slow) momentum’s the name of the game. Yet, sometimes slow is fast. Less is more, when it lasts. Some things can’t be rushed. Examining the reasons behind the growing span between God and man deserves deliberate and thoughtful attention.
Quantum Christianity is offered as a bridge between the sacred and secular. Faith and doubt. First century Biblical Christianity and Twenty First century modern Churchianity. The questions and ideas presented are carefully mapped to reroute around roadblocks and congestion snarling the faith commutes of billions.
The Bible’s sheer volume and density alone produces plenty of spiritual traffic jams. Insomuch that even simplifying Scripture’s most emphasized tenants is a formidable task. One that requires more than just a simple read. To this end, QC has uncovered and explained many of today’s most relevant yet universally misunderstood passages, while offering more accurate interpretations. The goal is to provide a much needed firm and fair, factual and friendly mediator between the challenges of the Bible and the most blessed, albeit spiritually challenged generation in human history.
Before continuing a brief confession is in order. As Biblical commentaries go, Quantum Christianity majors on the minor chords. When it comes to Scripture’s promises and commands, QC favors the dark keys. But for good reason. While all God’s promises are free gifts, reciprocally all free gifts are conditional. The path to Scripture’s blessings are through meeting it’s requirements. Which incidentally far outnumber it’s numerous promises. So much so, the alphabet provides a better metaphor. Imagine the gibberish of trying to speak English using just vowels. Go ahead. Give it a try. Now imagine the better part of an entire generation speaking this way of, for and to God.
So I have an admission. You might not want to read these articles.
The reasons are many. For starters they're insanely controversial. Who in their right mind writes articles no one enjoys? Why present Quantum, or any kind of Christianity, as an equal opportunity annoyer? Nary a soul will like it. Not for the sake of inaccuracy. Rather because, as Jack Nicholson so eloquently noted, we may have lost our appreciation for certain truths.
We includes me. While having plenty of experience, ministerial and otherwise, the most pertinent credential I bring to the table may be a begrudging degree of honesty. Convenient and not. Up to and including paradoxical disclaimers. For example, while embracing the most radical of Charismatic hopes, meeting me you’d never know it. Unlike millions of clergy and laity, I don’t proclaim “The Lord told me…” Rather I freely admit, “It could be me or the pizza, God or the devil, but doesn’t Scripture suggest…”
Don’t get me wrong. While appreciating Ayn Rand’s distrust of one’s muse, I’m sure of what I write. Sure enough to pass along Christ’s warning that with greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. Another reason you may not want to read these articles.
Should you recklessly continue, let me state for the record that I never wanted to be that guy. Quantum Christianity has ruined me. I used to be fun. Tigger instead of Eeyore. Some even thought me a blessing. Not today, as I stand rightly accused of raining on Churchianity’s parade. As a pastor, I’d have kept a wary eye out, if not given myself the left boot of fellowship. After an article or two, you may wish to do the same.
In my defense, I plead guilty to feeling compelled to write what I see. Caring enough to risk appearing uncaring, QC is a poor man’s attempt at an appropriate response to unprecedented levels of inappropriateness having become the status quo. A sad but new norm. Both inside and outside the faith, “once for all delivered to the saints.”
So again, in all transparency you may not want to read these articles. Even so, maybe you should. I for one hope and pray that you will.
Author's Thanks
Having dispensed with the tongue-in-cheek pleasantries, allow me to acknowledge along more traditional lines my thanks, appreciated or not, to all whom QC is indebted.
Quantum Christianity has gleaned from the dedication and expertise of friends never met, within both the sacred and secular communities. These include many, from saints to scientist too numerous to name. All having contributed to the incredible spiritual and societal advances we so enjoy.
Among the pillars of Christianity, QC recognizes the contributions of such notables as Martin Luther, Blaise Pascal, John Wesley, Søren Kierkegaard, Hudson Taylor, Praying Hyde, George Muller, Charles Finney, Smith Wigglesworth, R.A. Torrey, Evan Roberts, C.S. Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Please see Radical Discipleship for a more detailed list.
Recent benefactors include the likes of David Wilkerson, Keith Green, Joseph Foreman, Ben Stein, Guillermo Gonzalez, Michael Guillen, Howard Pittman, Jackie Pullenger and Nik Ripkin. QC has also benefited greatly from the excellent work of organization such as the Barna Group, Reasons To Believe, Fresno Christian Growth Center, Operation Rescue, Right To Life Of Central CA, Life On The Ballot, The Sentinel Group and Voice Of The Martyrs.
It goes without saying a shout out is due Google and Wikipedia.
In regards to myriads of Scriptural passages, our thanks to the King James Versions Old and New (KJV & NKJV), New International Version (NIV), Living Bible (TLB) and Amplified Bible (AMP). Special thanks to The Message (MSG) for it’s unbridled rendering of Biblical thought into modern language, as well as to BibleGateway.com and BibleHub.com for easy access to so many wonderful Bible verses and versions.
As to friends I’ve had the pleasure of actually getting to know, let me take a moment to thank Paul Haroutunian, a decades old prayer partner and liaison into the mind of modern Christianity. Ted Laurent, for his listening ear and layman’s love of Scripture. Philip C. Brewer, for his counsel and insightful cartoons.