Well, I start a new job on Tuesday, which is great new cause working with the intellectually disabled is definitely not for me. I found the position boring.
Actually, I think what made the position is that one of the guys is deaf. The deaf guy also is slightly violent( a fact that the house manager keeps on minimizes), so when ever he gets up set or is grumpy he often swings at people for no reason. Well thankfully I don't have to do that full-time, I am staying their part-time. I am not sure how long that will last, hopefully some other part-time gig will come up.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The God of peace....
This past March, I had a great conversation with a close friend over a bottle of wine about what it means to be a Christian today. My friend mentioned that the one thing that propels him to remain a Christian is that he know that God is for peace and stands up for the oppressed. I would agree that whenever I read the Old Testament this stream shines through.
At times I wonder how this God of peace works. I live in a world that so many people are in bondage to the systems of the world (many systems that many Christians in the west believe are 'God ordained'). It is hard at times not to slip into cynicism. However, I see a God who acts through his people in this world.
I've been listening a lot to Tom Waits recently and find his song 'Road to Peace' to be the most honest song about peace. I am weary of any violence in the name of God. I've often heard the 'Just War' theory about violence, especially with the recent wars. However, I am a firm believer in Gandhi's theory of Satyagraha, that believes a just end must have a just means. This belief naturally makes the genocide and violence in the Old Testament hard to read and understand in a view of a God of peace.
At times I wonder how this God of peace works. I live in a world that so many people are in bondage to the systems of the world (many systems that many Christians in the west believe are 'God ordained'). It is hard at times not to slip into cynicism. However, I see a God who acts through his people in this world.
I've been listening a lot to Tom Waits recently and find his song 'Road to Peace' to be the most honest song about peace. I am weary of any violence in the name of God. I've often heard the 'Just War' theory about violence, especially with the recent wars. However, I am a firm believer in Gandhi's theory of Satyagraha, that believes a just end must have a just means. This belief naturally makes the genocide and violence in the Old Testament hard to read and understand in a view of a God of peace.
I have problems with this....
Well, I came across this video by Mark Driscoll(http://theresurgence.com/md_blog_2007-04-28_banned_church_planting_video ). I must admit in my few encounters with Driscoll, he always seems to rub me the wrong way. This is a video from a conference in Florida. Apparently, the conference was not so pleased with the message, Bill Hybels even criticized the video for his 'male only' views of ministry. I have seen too many women with gifts and passion for ministry to believe that God only wants men in leadership. So clearly, I disagree with Driscoll, actually I find Driscoll to be John Piper with and iPod.
I also find his emphasis on the militaristic stream of Christianity to very dangerous. Well let me know what you think
I also find his emphasis on the militaristic stream of Christianity to very dangerous. Well let me know what you think
4 year, $25,000 in debt and now what.....
Well, recently I graduated from Providence College with a 4-year BA in Youth Leadership. I must say I am glad to be done and feel my time at Providence was a time of immense growth personally. I can't speak well enough about my time at Providence. I had a both good and bad times that formed the person I am today.
The odd thing is that I don't know how the education I received will be used for a job. I don't know if I will ever be in full-time ministry. I do have a passion for ministry, but not sure if I have the characteristics churches require from a pastor. As well, with Providence being 'a liberal arts college in the evangelical tradition' as one of my profs told us puts me in an odd position. Not really identifying myself with conservative evangelical churches, which I grew up in.
After my second year at Providence, I had a crisis of sorts. After being in student leadership, during the summer I basically decided ministry was not for me and felt that my passions more aligned itself with social work. However, after reading a Brian McLaren book, I felt that ministry was my passion and church work was the only way to fulfil my passions in life.
While I still believe going back to Providence and doing an internship was the best for me, as I looked for jobs, the jobs with more a social work slant appealed to me. Sortof funny, since I almost transferred to a social work program in Winnipeg. Not sure where my life is leading me. I guess I have am torn, because I still enjoy ministry. During my last Sunday school time at church, I had a bitter-sweet experience, almost wishing that I could continue ministering in this kind of capacity and thinking this is exactly what I 'd like to be doing, but the other side knowing that the conservative evangelical community is not my home.
So I have a degree and knowledge, wisdom, and a passion for being a spiritual mentor and guide for adolescent, but do not feel I at home with the traditional church setting. So I am taking this year off from being in ministry directly, waiting on God's guidance.......
The odd thing is that I don't know how the education I received will be used for a job. I don't know if I will ever be in full-time ministry. I do have a passion for ministry, but not sure if I have the characteristics churches require from a pastor. As well, with Providence being 'a liberal arts college in the evangelical tradition' as one of my profs told us puts me in an odd position. Not really identifying myself with conservative evangelical churches, which I grew up in.
After my second year at Providence, I had a crisis of sorts. After being in student leadership, during the summer I basically decided ministry was not for me and felt that my passions more aligned itself with social work. However, after reading a Brian McLaren book, I felt that ministry was my passion and church work was the only way to fulfil my passions in life.
While I still believe going back to Providence and doing an internship was the best for me, as I looked for jobs, the jobs with more a social work slant appealed to me. Sortof funny, since I almost transferred to a social work program in Winnipeg. Not sure where my life is leading me. I guess I have am torn, because I still enjoy ministry. During my last Sunday school time at church, I had a bitter-sweet experience, almost wishing that I could continue ministering in this kind of capacity and thinking this is exactly what I 'd like to be doing, but the other side knowing that the conservative evangelical community is not my home.
So I have a degree and knowledge, wisdom, and a passion for being a spiritual mentor and guide for adolescent, but do not feel I at home with the traditional church setting. So I am taking this year off from being in ministry directly, waiting on God's guidance.......
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The God of Job vs. The Psalms
This past week I read the Book of Job. I must say Job has always been one of my favorite books every since my teen years. Not sure what that says about me that I like a book that I always thought was a bit out of place in regards to the rest of the Old Testament. I like that it doesn't have nice answers to question and that questioning is OK.
This week I began reading Psalms. I am struck by how what transpires in Job and in Psalms are almost in conflict with one another or more precisely that Job's friends are basically using the assumption of the Psalmist to describe God. The Psalmist believes that God deals with a people in a very linear fashion, you do good -- good things happen or vis-versa.
I wonder what role the genre of Psalms plays in how we should be reading it and making statements about God taking explicitly from Psalms. This is especially important since clearly Job's friends were in the wrong in their understanding of God. I've heard many people being perturbed that Job's friends advice was seen as being erroneous.
If God deals explicitly in this do good- receive good fashion in the world, I would have to believe that God has no real influence in this world. Too often I've seen the opposite people who do good, often encounter hardship.
I like the God of Job, who allows for mystery, questions, and angry. If God would be understood in the Psalmist manner I'm not sure what I would do to the question of Theodicy. Thankfully Job gives me comfort in my pain and questioning. Maybe it is best to look to Gutierrez for the solace of Job, "The world of Retribution--and not of temporal retribution only--is not where God dwells; at most God visits it. The Lord is not prisoner of the 'Give to me and I will give to you" mentality. Nothing, no human work however valuable , merits grace, for if it did, grace would cease to be grace. This is the heart of the message of the book of Job."(Gutierrez 1987, 88-89)
This week I began reading Psalms. I am struck by how what transpires in Job and in Psalms are almost in conflict with one another or more precisely that Job's friends are basically using the assumption of the Psalmist to describe God. The Psalmist believes that God deals with a people in a very linear fashion, you do good -- good things happen or vis-versa.
I wonder what role the genre of Psalms plays in how we should be reading it and making statements about God taking explicitly from Psalms. This is especially important since clearly Job's friends were in the wrong in their understanding of God. I've heard many people being perturbed that Job's friends advice was seen as being erroneous.
If God deals explicitly in this do good- receive good fashion in the world, I would have to believe that God has no real influence in this world. Too often I've seen the opposite people who do good, often encounter hardship.
I like the God of Job, who allows for mystery, questions, and angry. If God would be understood in the Psalmist manner I'm not sure what I would do to the question of Theodicy. Thankfully Job gives me comfort in my pain and questioning. Maybe it is best to look to Gutierrez for the solace of Job, "The world of Retribution--and not of temporal retribution only--is not where God dwells; at most God visits it. The Lord is not prisoner of the 'Give to me and I will give to you" mentality. Nothing, no human work however valuable , merits grace, for if it did, grace would cease to be grace. This is the heart of the message of the book of Job."(Gutierrez 1987, 88-89)
The Word of God
Recently, I've been thinking about the phrase 'Word of God.' I am not sure I know what people mean when they talk about the 'Word of God.'
One issue I have is that often 'Word' is capitalized. I've been reading Psalms and the authors never capitalize 'Word' only God or Lord. The way people talk about it is that what the Bible says is so straight forward. The more I read the Bible the more complicated it seems and what I was taught during my childhood hints more at a stream of Christianity than being honest with the text.
I am all about respecting the Bible and putting it in a place of authority in our lives, but not if that means thinking the Bible is simply and all about us, which tends to be my experience in evangelical churches.
This past weekend, I was up in Swan River with Trisha and at the end of the service the guy in charge had a little rant about the Anglican church and how they just needed to listen to the Word of God in regards to the Gay Marriage issue. I thought that was an interesting statement, like the Bible is so clear on that issue. I think that was an odd way to sort of end the service, especially since there was no scripture read.
I think it is hard for me to go to services where there is a presentation not a message. In stead of a message their was a member of the church that went to Uganda with his work. He basically told things that his work was doing to help the people. I don't know if I can agree that church is a place for this kind of presentation. I kinda felt like my time would be better served staying at home reading. Oh well, thankfully I can go back to St. Ben's this weekend.
One issue I have is that often 'Word' is capitalized. I've been reading Psalms and the authors never capitalize 'Word' only God or Lord. The way people talk about it is that what the Bible says is so straight forward. The more I read the Bible the more complicated it seems and what I was taught during my childhood hints more at a stream of Christianity than being honest with the text.
I am all about respecting the Bible and putting it in a place of authority in our lives, but not if that means thinking the Bible is simply and all about us, which tends to be my experience in evangelical churches.
This past weekend, I was up in Swan River with Trisha and at the end of the service the guy in charge had a little rant about the Anglican church and how they just needed to listen to the Word of God in regards to the Gay Marriage issue. I thought that was an interesting statement, like the Bible is so clear on that issue. I think that was an odd way to sort of end the service, especially since there was no scripture read.
I think it is hard for me to go to services where there is a presentation not a message. In stead of a message their was a member of the church that went to Uganda with his work. He basically told things that his work was doing to help the people. I don't know if I can agree that church is a place for this kind of presentation. I kinda felt like my time would be better served staying at home reading. Oh well, thankfully I can go back to St. Ben's this weekend.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The wonderful world of Salman Rushdie...
Well the last couple years I have attempted to read a book by Salman Rushdie, but every time I got my hands on a copy life did not present itself with the time. However, recently I got the chance to enjoy Haroun and the Sea of Stories. It was a delight to read, I must admit that I have a hard time getting into fantasy novels, but Rushdie has a way with words that I was engulfed into this fantasy world. I would recommend Rushdie to anyone who enjoys a good storyteller. I can see Rushdie becoming one of my favorite fiction authors as I continue to delve into the world of this wizard of words.
Back into the swing of things....
Well as I look at my blog, I see that a posting is long overdue. Well life is getting back to normal, by the end of next week I will be working again. Life has been crazy with graduating, wedding, and moving. Trisha and I went out furniture shopping today, hopefully within a week our apartment will look normal. I should be blogging more now that life allows me more time to read and put things down on paper. Life is pretty exciting right now with all of life's choices and decision, but I am excited at what the future holds.
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