This week at Luther we had a few days off for "reading days" to continue stuyding for midterms which was great! I have to admit I did not spend much time reading over reading days. It was great to spend the week at home and spend time with Chad and my sister Katie and go to Church at Trinity on Wednesday evening.
This week in the lectionary the gospel text is Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple. The Pharisee thanks God that he is not like the other sinners, including the tax collector. The tax-collector admits his sin and asks God for mercy. In the end Jesus says, "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." This parable has made me think a lot about God's grace this week. Its amazing that God calls us and loves us as we are! I wanted to share this exerpt of a devotional from Luther Seminary that was really inspiring:
"... Yet I also see myself as the tax collector, "the sinner." If I am honest with myself I admit I do things I really do not want to do. A selfish part deep at my core hurts the people I love the most. It is then that I cannot even look up to heaven and all I can murmur is "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
When I realize that this part of me that I really do not like is not something I can change, I surrender. I cry out to God, "Have mercy." And then transformation begins. God begins to work. When I hear the words "you are special," "you are mine," and "I love you" each week as I worship God takes hold of me. I am transformed from "pathetic sinner" to God's loved, special child."
taken from:
http://www.luthersem.edu/godpause/
God is Good!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
In the end its pretty simple
Well I had my first midterm this week in Early Church History. I felt that it went okay but I won't know for a couple weeks. I also had a big paper due this week, so needless to say I spent a lot of time hitting the books this week. Next week we have a few days off for "reading days" so it will be nice to take a break and relax a bit.
I can't believe next week I will be finishing up my first class. The first 6 weeks have flown by. In my Telling the Story class, our final is to write a mini -sermon that we will give to the class. So after I present that on Monday the class will be over and I will be done for the week at school.
I feel like I have had a lot of theological and historical information thrown at me in a very short amount of time. At times it seems my brain cannot process any more information. It has been said that the more you know about God and theology the more you realize its a mystery! My Telling the Story class helped me process some of this reality. In the end, the most important message you can communicate is that God loves each person and all of creation, and that God and the Spirit were with Jesus in the work of the cross that was done for all people. The good news is true! And that is the message that all Christians have the task to live out and share. In the end its pretty simple. (well sort of.... :)
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
I can't believe next week I will be finishing up my first class. The first 6 weeks have flown by. In my Telling the Story class, our final is to write a mini -sermon that we will give to the class. So after I present that on Monday the class will be over and I will be done for the week at school.
I feel like I have had a lot of theological and historical information thrown at me in a very short amount of time. At times it seems my brain cannot process any more information. It has been said that the more you know about God and theology the more you realize its a mystery! My Telling the Story class helped me process some of this reality. In the end, the most important message you can communicate is that God loves each person and all of creation, and that God and the Spirit were with Jesus in the work of the cross that was done for all people. The good news is true! And that is the message that all Christians have the task to live out and share. In the end its pretty simple. (well sort of.... :)
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Celebration!
It was a great week to be a student at Luther Seminary. The beautiful fall weather is enough to make anyone smile. Our God is an amazing Creator! Luther Sem. was also hosting the 2nd Annual Celebration of Biblical Preaching Conference, so not only did I get to hear some amazing preachers, but there was also free coffee in the student center all week long! Amazing.
Karoline Lewis, a Luther professor who is on sabbatical, gave a great presentation on Biblical preaching that my class Telling the Story attended. She looked at the John text 13:23 where the beloved disciple is leaning on Jesus' bosom. Then she showed how the same Greek word was used to show the relationship between the Father (God) and the Son (Jesus). Then she made the comparison of how close God holds us to God's heart. It was really beautiful!
Karoline also read this spunky poem, which I could not copy and paste, but you can look up: http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/126.html
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Karoline Lewis, a Luther professor who is on sabbatical, gave a great presentation on Biblical preaching that my class Telling the Story attended. She looked at the John text 13:23 where the beloved disciple is leaning on Jesus' bosom. Then she showed how the same Greek word was used to show the relationship between the Father (God) and the Son (Jesus). Then she made the comparison of how close God holds us to God's heart. It was really beautiful!
Karoline also read this spunky poem, which I could not copy and paste, but you can look up: http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/126.html
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
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