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April 20, 2005
advocacy
in spending some time at the calling stand trying to pursuade people to let their congresspersons know that they don't want to see education budget cuts in next year's federal budget, i was impressed by the fact that it took a issue that directly impacted us and our school for us to organize and advocate an issue.
what does it take for us to feel the same need to act for causes that do not directly affect us? why hadn't the sga set up calling tables and organized the students to advocate peace or justice issues? the difference in our quickness to argue against cutting the several million that go to education and against spending over $400 billion that goes toward military spending (6 billion/month in iraq) is that it is money that directly affects us!
what does it take to recognize that spending money on foriegn policy also affects us? as part of a common humanity that reeps what it sows in policy and relations, it is in our personal and societal best interest to advocate the best interest of other socieities.
Posted by Derrick at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2005
interruption as opportunity
an interruption is something unexpected that comes into our way when we have a task at hand. we are trying to say something or working on a project, and something arises that requires our attention. many times we think of interruptions negatively: they take from our efficiency, we lose our train of thought or momentum, or we never finish that which we were doing.
in the academic world, the work world or almost anywhere in the western world, we might benefit from paying better attention to interruption. an interruption can be also opportunity. we are brought to a point where we need to listen to a voice, a feeling, or a perspective that otherwise we may not have heard. we find ourselves in the need of a decision: will we choose to follow our agenda, stop and redirect ourselves, or move in another direction. it is a decision of identity: who we are and who we will follow. in interruption there is the opportunity for witness. we may have the chance to speak life, love and hope to another. in all this there is the space for growth. we learn to be more flexible, and as a result of paying attention to the interruption, we see things in a broader or clearer way.
Posted by Derrick at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)
purity
how can young people keep their way pure? by guarding it according to Your word...
what does it mean to guard our way according to God's word? is that a reference to the written word or scripture, or the spoken word of oral tradition, or the word of God's voice guiding us step by step? maybe all three, but they all reflect the same truths. God is after people who listen and follow wholy in purity of mind, body, and relationship with Him and and those around us.
what is the perfect law, the law of liberty? (james 1.25) the new law that sets us free to obey, so that our freedom we don't think of it as a binding law (to take some thoughts from willie weaver). an order that maintains purity of soul (our whole being) and finds blessing all along the way. purity grows between patience and intention.
Posted by Derrick at 08:20 AM | Comments (1)
April 11, 2005
the problem of call
there has been a lot of talk about the creating and embracing a culture of call within the church. i suppose we do the creating of the culture, and God's part is the calling. with a generation that is slow to commit and or to step up into leadership, it is a good thing to talk and listen about.
i have a question. the question of time. as a college student, calling talk seems to point to the future. something that is to be realized x number of years down the road. and the problem is that we will find ourselves in a continual mode of living for or thinking about the next day/month/years and so on.
but Jesus says, "don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring enough worries of its own. today's trouble is enough for today." (mt 6.34) and on the year of the Lord's favor: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (lk 4.21)
i read on a friend's website that he doesn't talk about his studies as if he is studying to be an engineer, he says "i am an engineer!" do i do the same at times, thinking of collage as a phase to wait through in order to pass to another step, or can i just as much hear the call that beckons me to be more fully where i am right now... i may be studying to perhaps one day involved in the church, but right now as well, i am a minister of the gospel!
Posted by Derrick at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)