Chapter 5- This chapter is all about just being able to talk to people, not about major topics or trying to convert someone, but really just small talk. It is something that everyone can do and that it is something we do naturally and on a daily basis. The thing is we just do not think that it is really worth anything, but more just something of life, but not part of our life for God. I really like how Jim is really stressing that small talk is something that can mean so much to someone, that giving them your time and by the motives you really have are great. I also thought the part where you invite “missing people” to something that Christians are helping others with is a great thing. I had never thought of that, all the time you think about going and doing things just with the church body, but to invite them makes so much sense, this really stood out to me.
Chapter 6- This was all about listening, and asking questions. That one way that we can really have others respect us is to just be able to listen to what they have to say. That after asking a question to wait for a few seconds and let the person have a time to think and respond. Also that asking questions is a great way to have a conversation with someone, and not in a rude tone, but just generally asking about how they are and things of that nature, and being able to really listen to what they have to say.
Chapter 7- This chapter was all about being able to do what is doable. This at first kind of sounds confusing but in the end it makes a lot of sense. This is that we need to make goals that we know we will be able to keep and not try to make a huge deal out of not doing something grand. He talks about a nurse that just plants a seed in someone who she had helped while a man was in the hospital, and that she prayed for him behind his back. I really liked how that all she did was pray and was there for him, and that later in life something grew out of the seed she planted. I guess it almost takes a lot of stress off of us when we know that all we can do is be ourselves and just do what God wants us to do, and the Big Man will take it from there for us.
Chapter 8- Lastly this chapter was mainly about how we need to take religion and almost give it a face lift. To show those around and to ourselves that the view of Christians needs to change, and that we are not the stereotypical Christian that we are made out to be. And that Jesus was not in this world to combat others about who He was and all, but really to show love to others. Jim has a line that really I loved, “Who has the greatest influence with this gay student—those wanting to correct or those trying to connect?” This is something that really needs to be a main topic in the life of a Christian as I see it in our society today.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Is my "Christian" school any different than your "Secular" school
The title of this one ain't that catchy or anything, its just been something on my mind for a while now. What is the difference of me going to a christian college or a non-Christan college. Right now it doesn't look like a lot. I know you can find all the same things in this school than any other school around.
I guess it feels like our motives here are the same as anywhere else, yes we do have a religious backing, but don't most students who are going to school now have some sort of belief that stand for? Why is it that we have to go out and almost try to sound like were better than others because hey look I'm at a Christan college, I'm way more holy than you are.
I guess i just don't see why that at a secular college can i not get a degree in pastoral studies or something with a Biblical background? yes they may have some classes on religion, but if we are to go out and make disciples (living with people who don't know Christ and just having a normal friendship with them). I really feel like this "bubble" that we have really does suck.
Another thing that bothers me is the other day in our chapel the president of the school was talking, and he made it clear that all we need at the school is "enrollment, enrollment, enrollment" that we just need more people. Sounds kinda funny to me, the other day reading in a.k.a. Lost, it said that maybe we need to stop going a mile wide and an inch deep with followers to know about Christ. And this is making more and more sense everyday.
I guess it feels like our motives here are the same as anywhere else, yes we do have a religious backing, but don't most students who are going to school now have some sort of belief that stand for? Why is it that we have to go out and almost try to sound like were better than others because hey look I'm at a Christan college, I'm way more holy than you are.
I guess i just don't see why that at a secular college can i not get a degree in pastoral studies or something with a Biblical background? yes they may have some classes on religion, but if we are to go out and make disciples (living with people who don't know Christ and just having a normal friendship with them). I really feel like this "bubble" that we have really does suck.
Another thing that bothers me is the other day in our chapel the president of the school was talking, and he made it clear that all we need at the school is "enrollment, enrollment, enrollment" that we just need more people. Sounds kinda funny to me, the other day reading in a.k.a. Lost, it said that maybe we need to stop going a mile wide and an inch deep with followers to know about Christ. And this is making more and more sense everyday.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
a.k.a "Lost" by Jim Henderson
For a class I just starting reading a new book, and surprisingly it is actually not that bad at all. So far I have read the first 4 chapters and they are pretty amazing for sure, its a great lil book and a really quick read.
Chapter one- Being the first chapter in the book it seemed like it went by so quick, but the whole time reading it, I felt as if I was taking every word of it in. The chapter is just simply talking about giving some of your time to those who are around you. To give them your attention and really listen to what they have to say, that just listening is something that is almost a lost art, and something that we need to do; and is easy to do. Another thing was the ordinary attempts, and these are simply just giving away your free attention. Just offering to pray for someone when they least expect it, or to pray behind someones back. This seems like such a simple task because it is, we just need to give our time away to others.
Chapter two- There are two major points in this chapter the first being to change a person's life you must first change their metaphor. This is simply stating that if you change the way that we look at people we will act different towards them. The way that we do this is with the people that do not know God, instead of calling them “lost,” we should more likely call them missing. That to call someone lost is to not have any love for them. But when you love those around you, and want to interact with them, and be with them, its a lo0t easier to do these if we just consider them “missing.” This way we know that we are looking to help and be with them, and find them. So that they know they are not lost, forever, just missing.
Chapter three- This chapter is titled ordinary makes a comeback, which is honestly just the simple thought of the whole chapter; about how being ordinary is something Jesus has always been a part of. It is weird to think of the people in the Bible times as just regular ordinary people, but in all actuality this is all they really are; there is nothing super special about them and they were just living the life that they saw Jesus living. I think that were to focused on the final goal of “converting” someone and not just going on a ride of life with them. That we always have to have an alternative motive, and that needs to change in our minds. But something that really stood out was when Henderson said, “when we love people, we take risks and do irrational things.” I really see that this is the movement that we need, just to love others, and that once we start doing that things will just to begin to happen in our relationships with them.
Chapter four- The Gospel according to you, is all about how we just need to be ourselves in life, and conversations will spark up that we never thought were possible. We need to preach as if were serving and serve as if were preaching; what this means to be yourself, be human, be normal, be real, and be intentional. With this were able to expand Jesus's kingdom further into the hearts of the people Jesus misses. We just need to be open in being ourselves and the situations and opportunities to talk to someone will open up. This is something that can be done very simply, how hard can it really be to just be ourselves.
Chapter one- Being the first chapter in the book it seemed like it went by so quick, but the whole time reading it, I felt as if I was taking every word of it in. The chapter is just simply talking about giving some of your time to those who are around you. To give them your attention and really listen to what they have to say, that just listening is something that is almost a lost art, and something that we need to do; and is easy to do. Another thing was the ordinary attempts, and these are simply just giving away your free attention. Just offering to pray for someone when they least expect it, or to pray behind someones back. This seems like such a simple task because it is, we just need to give our time away to others.
Chapter two- There are two major points in this chapter the first being to change a person's life you must first change their metaphor. This is simply stating that if you change the way that we look at people we will act different towards them. The way that we do this is with the people that do not know God, instead of calling them “lost,” we should more likely call them missing. That to call someone lost is to not have any love for them. But when you love those around you, and want to interact with them, and be with them, its a lo0t easier to do these if we just consider them “missing.” This way we know that we are looking to help and be with them, and find them. So that they know they are not lost, forever, just missing.
Chapter three- This chapter is titled ordinary makes a comeback, which is honestly just the simple thought of the whole chapter; about how being ordinary is something Jesus has always been a part of. It is weird to think of the people in the Bible times as just regular ordinary people, but in all actuality this is all they really are; there is nothing super special about them and they were just living the life that they saw Jesus living. I think that were to focused on the final goal of “converting” someone and not just going on a ride of life with them. That we always have to have an alternative motive, and that needs to change in our minds. But something that really stood out was when Henderson said, “when we love people, we take risks and do irrational things.” I really see that this is the movement that we need, just to love others, and that once we start doing that things will just to begin to happen in our relationships with them.
Chapter four- The Gospel according to you, is all about how we just need to be ourselves in life, and conversations will spark up that we never thought were possible. We need to preach as if were serving and serve as if were preaching; what this means to be yourself, be human, be normal, be real, and be intentional. With this were able to expand Jesus's kingdom further into the hearts of the people Jesus misses. We just need to be open in being ourselves and the situations and opportunities to talk to someone will open up. This is something that can be done very simply, how hard can it really be to just be ourselves.
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