Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Back in Class
After 3 semesters off, I am now back teaching a class at Oakland City University in Bedford. It’s really good to be back. I always learn a lot while I am teaching.
I really like my new "learning community," as I like to call them. It’s a small group of 13. Each group is different, and I think this one is going to be special. They are already opening up and discussing lots of things.
Yesterday I was struck, once again, by how much pain there is in the world. One of my student’s husband was good friends to one of the men who died in the plane crash at Bloomington a couple of days ago. She told of going to his home to comfort the wife and children. Another student came in crying. She was upset because she had just rescued a 2 year old who had wandered onto the street in front of her car. It took her a while to raise anyone to take responsibility for the child. Another student shared that his wife has ovarian cancer. We prayed together about all these things.
I love the way this class is so interested in the Word. Yesterday we shared selected texts from Matthew. They were totally engrossed by the words of Jesus and stories about him. Some of them are hearing and seeing for the first time.
Once again I am reminded about how little people really know about the Story of God, even people who go to church. It’s refreshing for me to tell the Story afresh and to see faces light up.
I really like my new "learning community," as I like to call them. It’s a small group of 13. Each group is different, and I think this one is going to be special. They are already opening up and discussing lots of things.
Yesterday I was struck, once again, by how much pain there is in the world. One of my student’s husband was good friends to one of the men who died in the plane crash at Bloomington a couple of days ago. She told of going to his home to comfort the wife and children. Another student came in crying. She was upset because she had just rescued a 2 year old who had wandered onto the street in front of her car. It took her a while to raise anyone to take responsibility for the child. Another student shared that his wife has ovarian cancer. We prayed together about all these things.
I love the way this class is so interested in the Word. Yesterday we shared selected texts from Matthew. They were totally engrossed by the words of Jesus and stories about him. Some of them are hearing and seeing for the first time.
Once again I am reminded about how little people really know about the Story of God, even people who go to church. It’s refreshing for me to tell the Story afresh and to see faces light up.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Slowly Coming Back
It's about time to start blogging again! I have mixed feelings about it. There have been times during this summer that I had some things I really wanted to post about, but I have also enjoyed feeling no responsibility to post.
I'll ease back in.
I've been on Facebook some - mostly to keep up with Honduras news. The guy who lives there puts a lot of information out through FB. I still struggle with Facebook. A couple of words come to mind when I think about some of FB: narcissistic exhibitionism. ha ha. People may acuse me of the same thing, however. I would like to think that this blog is more about getting everyone to think about things, all the while listening for God in the process.
How 'bout we start with a little Henri Nouwen:
Our minds are always active. We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking. You might say our thinking is "unceasing." Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears. Our ability to think is our greatest gift, but it is also the source of our greatest pain. Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts? No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the source of all love.
Let’s break out of our isolation and realize that Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.
Welcome back!
I'll ease back in.
I've been on Facebook some - mostly to keep up with Honduras news. The guy who lives there puts a lot of information out through FB. I still struggle with Facebook. A couple of words come to mind when I think about some of FB: narcissistic exhibitionism. ha ha. People may acuse me of the same thing, however. I would like to think that this blog is more about getting everyone to think about things, all the while listening for God in the process.
How 'bout we start with a little Henri Nouwen:
Our minds are always active. We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking. You might say our thinking is "unceasing." Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears. Our ability to think is our greatest gift, but it is also the source of our greatest pain. Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts? No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the source of all love.
Let’s break out of our isolation and realize that Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.
Welcome back!
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