Amy Abrigo

HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED

By Amy Abrigo on May 2, 2012 2:56 PM

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Last Tuesday, April 24th, the Buetow Auditorium of Concordia University hosted the Annual Poehler Lecture Series at 7:00pm. Speakers Dr. Dale Trapp and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Trapp reflected on Faith and Learning in their lecture titled, "Head to Head! Heart to Heart!" Dr. Dale Trapp is a professor of geology, astronomy, and physics at Concordia University, St. Paul, as well as its chair of the department of Natural Sciences. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Trapp, on the other hand, is a professor of Religion and theology at Concordia University, St. Paul. Instead of focusing on the conflicting ideas of science and religion, the Trapp brothers shared their reflection on how science and religion do not conflict so much as support one another.

INTERPRET

Just as the Poehler Lecture Series is focused on faith and learning, one of the most important pieces of the Concordia University, St. Paul Honors Program is its ability and attempt to integrate faith and learning. Again and again, discussions will come back to the centrality of the gospel and what is in the scriptures in relation to whatever subject matter is being discussed. Dr. Thomas Trapp left the faculty with advice to never be ashamed of being Christian, and not to be afraid of mentioning Christianity in their discipline, no matter what that discipline is. It was fascinating to hear Dr. Thomas Trapp explain how he views his life in the context of eternity, because most people find it hard enough to just live day to day.

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At first, I did not quite understand how professors of general education courses would be able to integrate faith in learning in the classroom, especially when it is not a theology class, but then I witnessed my history professor doing his best to do so. Although it wasn't necessary to our studies, he described the Christian beliefs in detail, and was able to separate his beliefs and those objective conclusions historians reached. The gospel doesn't have to be shared explicitly necessarily, but professors can share their beliefs at Concordia and share their Christian love with students, and that is enough. I love going to a University where I don't have to be afraid to talk about Jesus Christ, the gospel, God, religion, or theology. Sure, sometimes discussing atheist or other forms of religion outside of Lutheran beliefs might be uncomfortable with certain individuals, but I love the ability that we have to integrate our faith into the classroom.

OBEY

By Amy Abrigo on April 23, 2012 12:01 PM

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who lived during the Nazi persecution. He was arrested and executed two weeks before the end of World War II for being involved in a plot to kill Hitler, but prior to death he wrote many works including The Cost of Discipleship. In this, he talks about what it means to be a Christian in his day, and how important it is to obey the call of Jesus Christ. With several references to followers of Jesus in the New Testament, Bonhoeffer does his best to explain how faith and obedience are interconnected.

INTERPRET

Bonhoeffer reaches the conclusion that "only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes". This is important to Bonhoeffer, but it is difficult for many to comprehend because it means that one must obey the call of God in order to believe, but in order obey the call they must first believe that God is calling, but they can't believe that God is calling without obeying the call. This may seem like a circular argument or above the human understanding, and it might very well be. It seems that in the end, one relies on the other, and both are important in a Christian's life. Believing is obeying the call, and obeying the call is to say that one believes. So, if someone says they believe in God, then they should obey the call to live a life like that of Jesus by serving the world through love. This is a timeless message that could always use some reinforcing in the life of Christians. If Christians could follow vocational callings because they were something they were passionate about, or something they did out of the love of their hearts in order to serve the world with their God-given gifts, then the world might just be a little better off.

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However, outside of the main message of this writing, what struck me was when Bonhoeffer talked about the difficulties of faith. He said "no one should be surprised at the difficulty of faith, if there is some part of his life where he is consciously resisting or disobeying the commandment of Jesus" (395). While this may seem like an obvious conclusion to come to, it just really hit home for me. I know that we aren't perfect people, so it is not possible for us to be as loving as Jesus is 24/7, but we sure can try. It is interesting to me because I say over and over that I wish to be called by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and live a faithful life dedicated to God, but where do I put forth the effort to do so? While I know that there is nothing I can do to claim righteousness and I must be called forth by the Holy Spirit to be saved, what am I doing to live according to the scriptures in my life? There are things I can do to bring me closer to God--they may not obtain salvation--but they might get my mind in the right spot.

Bonhoeffer says "Go rather and be reconciled with your brother, renounce the sin

which holds you fast - and then you will recover your faith!" (395) It would seem that it is not so easy to be called by God when negative actions occupy one's time or sinful thoughts cloud one's conscious and block the voice of God from one's ears. Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (Matthew 4:17, N.I.V.). One cannot continue to live in one's sins and hope to be granted eternal salvation, but one must repent. In other words, one must change one's thinking 180 degrees, and aim in a completely different direction if one is to gain completely different results. I do not know why this was not obvious to me before, but now that it is clear I feel that efforts can be put forth to obey the call of Christ, and in so doing, live in faith.

Source:

- Placher, William C.. "Every Work a Calling: Vocations after the Reformation, 1500-1800." Callings: twenty centuries of Christian wisdom on vocation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2005. 395. Print.

Dear God, Pick Me.

By Amy Abrigo on April 20, 2012 7:32 PM | 1 Comment

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On Friday, April 19, 2012 at 7:30pm, Concordia University, St. Paul hosted a Jubilate Easter Vespers Service. The service was titled "When in our Music God is Glorified", and centered on the idea of glorifying God through music and praise in each piece. The service was interactive, thus giving the congregation the opportunity to glorify god in their praises as well. But, the best part of being a part of the audience had to be witnessing and feeling the glory of God's presence in the chapel during the gospel piece and the reading of scripture during the service.

INTERPRET

In class, Honors students attempted to define 'glory of God' or explain what it meant to 'glorify God', but even after the discussion the definition was unclear. While each definition could be subjective, during the concert, it seemed that the act of praising God and crediting Him for the ability to do so beautifully was in itself giving glory to God. When the hair rose on the necks and arms of audience members, awe filled the chapel, and passion was felt in the voice of each choir member, that is what it means to give glory to God. God is always present everywhere, in everything, in past, present, and future, but when one can literally feel God's presence - boy oh boy - he's really there.

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This may not clarify the definition much further, but it does make me eager and excited to find a way to glorify God in all that I do. To have that sense of reassurance in a career where I can help people and feel so right about what I am doing, that is all I want. While money is essential for survival, my biggest dream is to be where God wants me to be, and love doing what He wants me to do. During my service-learning experience, it felt great to help people, but to be able to feel passionately about what I do, that is my deepest desire. I want to know God, I want that personal relationship, and man-oh-man I would love to be that crazy happy-all-the-time Christian who can say that I truly feel called by the Holy Spirit to do what I do. Take me God! I am awaiting your call.

John Henry Newman -- Divine Calls

By Amy Abrigo on April 18, 2012 3:21 PM | 1 Comment

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John Henry Newman, living 1801-1890, fought with the question of Soren Kierkegaard: "how can we receive a call to faith in a society where nearly everyone is brought up as a Christian?" This question remains with Christians today in an American society where many are raised as Christians and are unsure of how to live as a Christian in an increasingly secular world. Newman discussed the calling of Paul and Samuel, and evaluated how they responded to the call of God. The lesson in the end was "promptly to obey the call" (Newman 344), and give glory to God for so doing. Later he discusses what a call from God might look like now, and claims that "all though our life Christ is calling us" (346). After describing what a call might look like and informing us to obey the call, Newman ends with a prayer begging for God "to reveal Himself to our souls more fully" (348) so that the reader might be able to sincerely give glory to God.

INTERPRET

As mentioned previously, today Christians struggle with what it means to live like a Christian in daily life in an increasingly secular world. John Henry Newman gives Christians a new perspective on what it means to be called by God as "He works through our natural faculties and circumstances of life" (Newman 346). Newman says that one could be called through obvious ways such as "accidents and events of life" (346), or through "the loss of some dear friend or relative" (347), or through "something [which] occurs to force us to take a part for God or against Him" (347), or through getting "acquainted with someone whom God employs to bring before us a number of truths" (347), or through "the practice of reading Scripture carefully, and trying to serve God" (347). In the end, one cannot quite be sure how one might receive a call from God whether related to a career, relationship, position, or understanding, but if one is compelled by such a call, then one should promptly answer that call. And, according to Newman, no matter the level of the call in relation to the social status or honor or nobility of others, "it is nothing to us what others are. . . His love for us. . . is a thing to be rejoiced in" (348).

EVALUATE

This might be difficult for someone who is working in a job which they hate to accept that such a job is the one God has called them to, but perhaps it is not their calling by God and He does have alternate plans for them. No one really knows what God wants for sure, and perhaps it cannot even be comprehended, but what is important is that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). I like how John Newman suggests that God sends people, places, and opportunities into our lives in an attempt to lead us on a divinely guided path which will result in us being the best human we can be while on Earth. This sounds great. It might not be true, but for now I will continue to believe that circumstances and events in my life are there for a reason, and that God is attempting to guide my life as long as I ask him to. If I reject him or do not call for his help, then I assume help will be less likely to be given, but not cease to exist. I think God calls us throughout our lives every minute of every day in various ways to guide us to be all that we can be, and I believe that his divine will is for each of us to use our God given gifts to help each other, to care for his creation, and to praise him, but who really knows?

Give Me More John Wesley

By Amy Abrigo on April 8, 2012 2:45 PM | 1 Comment

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John Wesley (1703-1791) studied at Oxford with a group of friends who would later be called "Methodists because of their methodical approach to religious observance" (Placher 316). He and his friends struggled with the question, "How do I simply live as a Christian?" and looked to scripture for their answers. They take scriptures quite literally, and this bothers some of their fellow classmates so much so that John Wesley and his friends are mocked for their 'good works'. Unlike the monastics who were dedicated to their individual salvation through a focused relationship with Jesus Christ, John Wesley and his friends seem to be working for the benefit of the salvation and goodness of the community as a whole while assisting their personal salvation along the way. This implication that salvation comes from good works derives from the "Sermon 51: The Good Steward" of John Wesley which reads "It remains only that thou be rewarded, to all eternity, according to thy works" (Placher 324).

INTERPRET

Christians today are still asking "How do I simply live as a Christian?" especially in our increasingly secular world. It is not easy to relate the life of an American Christian today to the life of a monastic or a martyr, but more similarities can be seen between Christians of today and Christians of the 1700s like John Wesley as both are searching for a way to simply live as a Christian. Christians today may want to follow the words of Jesus literally as John Wesley did in order to be a 'good Christian', but Jesus also says that "No one is good--except God alone" (Mark 10:18). Other times Christians do good deeds because they feel it will earn their righteousness; however, the apostle Paul writes that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--" (Ephesians 2:8). There is nothing Christians can do in order to earn their salvation, but it is all from God and by God's grace. This may sound confusing, but later in James the author says that "Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works" (2:26). Faith comes by the Holy Spirit, and with faith comes the desire to do good works but those good works do not earn one's salvation. So, how does one simply live as a Christian? It all begins with faith, which leads to good works, and in those good works Christians are inspired to love their neighbor as their self, love the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind (Matthew 22:37). Well, that's the general idea, but as one might imagine, the Bible has its ambiguous moments and no one but God knows what God really wants.

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All in all, it feels nice to do nice things. Even science shows that giving makes people feel better, and it is hard not to see why. Unfortunately, people can get wrapped up in how good of a person they are for giving so much and forget to thank God for the blessing of having enough to give so much. I loved volunteering with memory loss patients at Lyngblomsten, not because I felt like I was such a great person for doing what I did, but because I loved that I could give my time to those under-cared for residents whom I fell in love with. I agree that faith and works go hand-in-hand, or they should, and even if that does not quite make sense it must be remembered that salvation comes through God's grace and not through anything done by the individual because salvation cannot be earned. I love that John Wesley took the scriptures so literally and that Methodist strongly value going out and helping in the community, but I also love being able to do those good things, feeling good about them, and still knowing that either way I am saved because of Jesus. Finding a vocation that allows for giving, community-involvement, and/or charity sounds great, but either way it is not necessary to look for such direct charities because God calls individuals to use their gifts for the benefit of the world around them however that may be--whether that is through designing a fundraising website, coordinating a marathon, teaching a Sunday school class, directing a gospel choir, or even learning as a student and child of God on an everlasting spiritual journey in an attempt to grow stronger and closer to God.

Works Cited:

Placher, William C.. "Every Work a Calling: Vocations after the Reformation, 1500-1800." Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2005. 316-324. Print.

Callings: George Herbert

By Amy Abrigo on March 31, 2012 6:18 PM | 1 Comment

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George Herbert (1593 to 1633), a poet and later a pastor, was born into the end of what church historians refer to as the Reformation period, and the beginning of the time of the Puritans. James I, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, became King of England in 1603, and the King James Version of the Bible was completed in 1611. In 1615, Puritan Richard Baxter authors The Reformed Pastor and in 1616 Puritan John Owen is called the Calvin of England. In approximately 1619, five-point Calvinism is formed, and in 1620 Plymouth, Massachusetts is a Puritan founded colony. In 1624, George Herbert becomes a Member of Parliament. One year later Charles I, against Puritan religion, becomes King, and George Herbert leaves parliament to return to his interest in pastoral work.

INTERPRET

Not everyone is blessed with the reassurance of the audible voice of God in decisions made or callings followed. George Herbert was no different, and although he did feel that God had called him into his life as a pastor, it took him a while to understand this. As noticeable in his writing The Temple, or The Country Parson, Herbert does understand the duty of a pastor, in particular, the duty of a pastor in relation to the country parson. However, he displays his frustration with accepting this calling in his poem The Collar which can be related to by many people of all generations including those of today who feel unsure about their choice to go for a particular profession. Today, as Martin Luther suggests, many Christians feel that they can serve God in any occupation whether it be in the workplace as a just lawyer, or in the household as a righteous mother. But, even with this reassurance that Christians can serve God in anything that they do, people may still not know where God is specifically calling them. Who can tell them that they are making the right choice? George Herbert might say follow that voice inside calling, but he might also agree that it is not always easy to do so.

EVALUATE

I hope to God that whatever I am called to do is something that can glorify God, utilize my skills, fulfill my passion, and be something I love to do. Who would ever want to do a job that they hated, even if it was just for a paycheck? I do not think God would call anyone to such a job for a lifetime career, but more as for a lesson. Yes, perhaps God works in mysterious ways in placing each of us in specific occupations (even if I hate the job for the time) because there is a lesson to be learned, or an indirect purpose for us to build relationships amongst those there, or an opportunity to share Christ, or who knows what else. It is frustrating to try and choose a vocation when trying to please God, but it is important to remember that no matter what one does on this Earth, if one is a Christian and confesses the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior, then one is saved. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" There is no way for anyone to live up to God's expectations but through Christ. Yes, "faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26) but the works does not mean that one should put the pressure of living up to the perfection of Jesus Christ on their shoulders , for it is impossible.

I yearn for audible reassurance from God daily saying that I am on the right path, but no matter how much I want to be like God and know everything--like where I am going to be in five years, what I am going to be doing, if I am on the right path, if I am taking the right classes, if I am just wasting my time, if I am going for the right major--I have to realize that this is all a part of life, it is a part of being a human. Life is full of making wrong and right decisions, taking chances, messing up, succeeding, failing, falling in love, and getting my heart broken again and again, because life does not start at the end of graduation, or at the beginning of my internship, or at the end of my service-learning hours, or once I finally choose a major or once I get married or once I have children. Life has already begun, and life is now, was then, and will be tomorrow. Besides how boring would it be to know everything?

Sources:

-http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom/TheStuarts/JamesI.aspx

-http://www.churchtimeline.com/1600.htm

Arcadia: Sex and Literature, Literature and Sex

By Amy Abrigo on March 28, 2012 10:57 AM | 1 Comment

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Last week, the Department of Theatre and Dance of Concordia University, St. Paul gave students a show they would not soon forget. The play was set in both 1809 and present day England around a single dining room table in "a very large country house in Derbyshire", and while time periods stayed separated at first, storylines, relationships, ideas, characters, props, and scenes began to intertwine leaving audiences mesmerized and on the edge of their seats. The plot, or the many plots, focuses on what actually happened in 1809 to a sir Ezra

Chater, what Hannah Jarvis and Bernard Nightingale think happened, and how this all affects today and the future of humankind as time dwindles down into nothing. The student director, Mina Souvannasoth, noted that the play would be "a rom-com for nerds", but the romance was unpredictable as the play centered on humor from the start with the first line being the question, "Septimus, what is carnal embrace?" spoken by a thirteen year old girl, Thomasina Coverly, to her twenty-two year old tutor, Septimus Hodge, who was well experienced in the act. The romance was yet to be unmistakably uncovered in the last scene where all theories and truths came to a conclusion, all was laid on the table, and all was left for the audience to interpret as they willed.

INTERPRET

It seemed that there was not a single academic discipline that was left untouched within the play: accounting, art, science, math, history, literature, philosophy, religion, social and psychological sciences, Latin, music, archaeology, landscaping, culinary arts, informatics, rhetoric, and many more were at least touched upon. While other audience members laughed out of sheer politeness, well-rounded students of higher learning could appreciate the use of over-the-top humor filled with scholarly wit and charm. While the argument between characters centered on science and math talking about reiterated algorithms or Newtonian theories, the play caused audience members to recall religious beliefs using particular trigger props or phrases.

Although in the midst of discussing sexual congress, characters say "Good God!" and hosts of the house are referred to as Lord and Ladyship. Perhaps it is far-fetched, but the usage of an apple within the play that is given to a female of the present time and bitten by a male in 1809 could symbolize the association of the fruit in the Christian creation story in Genesis 3 which leads to what some would refer to as the first sin and the fall of humankind causing their separation from God. The apple is bitten in the play by Septimus Hodge, the tutor, as he shares his knowledge with his student, and the fruit which

is bitten in the creation story comes from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Also, throughout the play the characters refer to activities taking place in the garden outside the house which could once again refer to the separation between humankind and God in the Fall when Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden according the Christian Bible. And, while it is not a symbol of Christianity or religion necessarily, the use of the tortoise throughout the show could represent longevity and the passage of time which is used to connect both present and 1809 scenes in the chaos of it all. The idea that the characters are discussing the Chaos theory of course could relate to the first creation story of Greek Mythology which states that "In the beginning there was only chaos." So, while the discussion is science based, again and again audience members are drawn to reflect on both religious and scientific aspects of life and death.

EVALUATE

Watching and evaluating Arcadia has truly helped me recognize how important every detail is in theater and in life; how one thing, that can seem so small, can mean so much for future historians, for the future of mankind, or for a deeper understanding of the play. It reminded me why I love history, and why I hate it. Sometimes everything (college, life, death, relationships, knowledge) seems trivial, but in the end whether or not life is chaos does not matter. What matters is life, and how it is lived. Not in the sense of rules or laws, but in relationships, with people, without people, in love, without love, full of adventure, full of hope, full of pride. The life of one person is only as meaningful as that person or

others say it to be, so I as an individual have the responsibility to make my life meaningful to me in all that I

do and to remember to take time to live and just be. While it is great to get things done in school, work, or life in general, the process of it all is where life takes place.

Sources:

- http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/The_Creation/the_creation.html

- Pictures from Mina Souvannasoth

No, Jesus Does Not Sound Like That . . .

By Amy Abrigo on February 20, 2012 12:33 PM

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At 11:45am on Wednesday, February 15th, Concordia University, St. Paul hosted JoBe Cerny, the voice of the Pillsbury Dough Boy, for a convocation titled, "The Word of Promise: The Bible as an Audio Book " in the Buetow Music Auditorium. JoBe shared a few stories from the three-and-a-half year process of creating the audio book of the Bible, and explained its conception adding that funding for the project is still being worked on. A nine-minute clip of highlights from it was played that was shocking for the audience because it was so similar to a Hollywood-like drama filled with opera singers, loud symphonic music, and the voice of a weak human Jesus about to be crucified. Afterwards the audience asked JoBe questions related to the book such as, "Why did you choose the King James Version of the Bible versus another?" or "Is this going to be translated into different languages?" Each question had a decent answer, but sometimes he would go off on tangents instead telling stories that were not necessarily relative.

INTERPRET

The clip which was played during the convocation from the audio Bible itself confused a few audience members. Some could see the ministry in the audio book of the Bible portrayed in this Hollywood-drama popular way, in drawing audience members to this new-take on the Bible, but others could also see this whole thing ending badly in taking people away from reading the scriptures themselves. The apostle Paul said that faith comes by hearing, but that was in a time when silent reading quite peculiar, so now that we have the ability to read or hear the Bible, which is better? Which is right in the eyes of the Lord? Does it matter? Most Christians would agree there is power in reading scripture, but maybe it does not matter whether it is being read or listened to because, according to Martin Luther, it is not the scripture itself but the Holy Spirit which fills one with faith. However, the idea of replacing a reading of scripture in each congregation with this pre-recorded Hollywood version is rather uncomforting. How would this affect Sunday school services, or the way that people learn about God? When discussing those who say "there must be a God, just look around you, just look at nature, there has to be a God," a professor of mine once raised the question, "what does this tell you about your God?" The way we view the things of God have a huge impact on how we view God, so will kids who grow up listening to this over-dramatized version of the Bible always view God in wrathful ways or expect their lives to be like movies? Will they be able to relate to the scriptures at all or look past their lessons and only see the literal stories at hand?

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I believe that the Holy Spirit speaks through us. When someone does the reading for the church service there are so many more variables added to how one views the reading compared to if it were pre-recorded. If it is the same pre-recorded scripture heard again and again, eventually one would be able to predict the tone of voice, the inflection, the cries, etc., but with readings no one knows how it will be done. Yes, it is the same words being read in that sense, but it just seems wrong to just press play whenever it is time for a "reading from the gospel according to John". There is a time for these sorts of things, and perhaps it is more appropriate for a bathrobe drama, but for a Sunday service, a Bible study, or even a personal spiritual journey, I do think it is better to leave more room for the Holy Spirit to speak to us through a live reading. Perhaps I am just afraid of change, but I do seriously think scholars of the church need to think about this before we just start replacing humans with pre-recorded voices.

Also, something about JoBe Cerny did not sit right with me. Some of his stories brought some inspiration, and yes, they were interesting, but I failed to see the Christian side of things. He vaguely touched on the fact that it was a ministry reaching out to people in a whole different way, and I guess, I did not really believe the stories. I am not sure if the story of the woman not recognizing the "script", which was the Bible word-for-word, was a good thing or a bad thing. What does it mean that she did not recognize the words of the bible if she was truly well versed in the scriptures? Did the Holy Spirit fill her after she heard? I felt more like they only completed the project of creating the audio Bible to say that it was done rather than for the purpose to spread the "Good News", bring one closer to God, or share the scripture with others.

Was this just something done to make money, or can it be funded in a way by organizations as to add some spiritual message to it?

A suggestion for the marketing team of the audio book would be to get involved with an organization that would allow them to donate one audio book to specific organizations for each one sold or even just donate money for each one sold or something. Or an organization could fund the entire project as to get the audio Bible available for all ears everywhere so that none are excluded from this opportunity to, "hear scripture an entirely different way". I suppose that would take a while, and is not completely realistic, but e

ither way I do not feel the spiritual movement in this thing. While I understand the artistic side of its creation, I do not know whether or not this is right. Maybe in the future this will prove to be an excellent foundation for a new sort of ministry, but until then I will continue to read my hardcover, paper, silent Bible.

And Brutus is an Honorable Man . . .

By Amy Abrigo on February 20, 2012 10:06 AM | 2 Comments

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At approximately 5:15pm last Wednesday, February 15th, actor JoBe Cerny had an honorable dinner and discussion with the Concordia University, St. Paul Honors Program. JoBe, better known as the voice of the Pillsbury Dough Boy, has done many things including acting, directing, working with Second City, helping produce the first full audio Bible, and doing some writing for the Twilight Zone TV series. He explained how he got to be in the successful position which he is in today, and offered up inspiring words as he answered specific heart-felt questions of students who were kind enough to share their dreams within the group. JoBe said not to set limits on the self, to think about what to do with a forty-year career instead of having such a short-term outlook on life, to follow the interests and passions of the heart, to spend time thinking every day, to think bigger dreams than one could ever imagine being successful, and to look for NOTHING in everything as a challenge or opportunity instead of a problem. He inspired students to set goals, follow dreams, and realize what actually motivated the self, instead of what motivates those around it.

INTERPRET

Although the conversation was meant to focus on how one's passions, personal success, and God's calling interweave, the discussion went off-track, as most honorable discussions do, into a world of motivation, encouragement, and free-thinking. JoBe tip-toed around the Christian aspect of things, but Honors kids added their own Christian perspective (though they kept Christ out of the audible chatter at the dinner table) through deep internal processing. JoBe said to spend time thinking every day, but could this not take place as one lies in bed just before falling to sleep in a conversation with God? JoBe asked students to re-evaluate their dreams, set goals to work towards them, and suggested that students set no limits, but could this not be translated into Luke 1:37, "For nothing is impossible with God" (New International Version)? JoBe told students, "You'd be surprised at what you can do, when you really push yourself," but could this not be similar to, Philippeans 4:13, "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength," (New Living Translation)? Though it might be difficult for others, Honors kids seem to be trained to always find faith in all learning they do.

EVALUATE

With or without the Christian perspective, the one thing that provided me with the most motivation was when JoBe said, "You'd be surprised at what you can do, when you really push yourself." While that might be the motto of an unhealthy workaholic, it might also provide an excellent motto for a student who wishes to make up for their terrible last semester, me. This phrase has proved positive for me so far as I attempt to grow spiritually and mentally while establishing mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. One of the most difficult steps is getting from where I am to where I want to be, and this motto might just be what I need to get there. As I trudge through this spring semester with only a goal of making good grades, where does that leave my mental, physical, and spiritual health? Not exactly in prime condition, so what do I do? I take some time to think, I think bigger dreams then one could imagine ever being successful, I search for NOTHING in order to make it SOMETHING, I do what makes me happy, and I set goals that are Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic and Time-stamped in order to get me where I want to be. God can try to lead people in the right direction, but it still takes the actions of the people to get the results. God will provide for anyone who asks, but the hard labor must be done by someone. God can assist in bringing brilliant ideas for that one New Testament paper, but that does not mean the paper will be sitting in the mail the next morning with a return address of "the man upstairs". No, it takes work, goal-setting, actions. Someone's gotta do it.

A huge thanks to JoBe for providing plenty of inspiration to the students of the CSP Honors Program!

How Humiliating?

By Amy Abrigo on February 17, 2012 7:22 PM | 2 Comments

DESCRIBE

William C. Placher's book, Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom of Vocation, explores what it means to be called by God in different periods of time. Section two of the book focuses on vocations in the Middle Ages (500-1500 AD), and evaluates the different styles of religious life at the time. In this section John Cassian and St. Benedict of Nursia explain what it means to live out the rigorous rules of the monastery, and Sulpicius Severus gives his readers the biography of St. Martin demonstrating an entirely different perspective of what it meant to be a Christian as a soldier. The rules of the monastery supposedly brought each monk closer to perfection in the eyes of God, reminded them of their humility, and forced them to truly depend on God to provide for them. Humility, in a monk's view, was the path to contemplation of God. The story of St. Martin, however, showed how one could physically fight for the glory of the Lord. The questions for Christians at the time were "what kind of Christian should I be?" and "what should religious practice look like?" This gives modern readers a peek at what kind of callings Christians of that time struggled with, and perhaps what Christians still struggle with today.

INTERPRET

Through careful evaluation of what it looked like to be called by God in the time of the Middle Ages, perhaps modern readers will reconsider what it means to follow Christ and what religious worship should look like today. Though much of this is already laid out by the church or congregation, hopefully members of their church do question why things are the way they are just as professors encourage students to do so in a collegiate environment. However, I do not hope that this would lead to change for the sake of change, but instead enhance their understanding of the worship service. The question of what it means to be a Christian in this world is continuously changing and being re-evaluated to adapt to the ever-changing world. Just last semester, the sophomores and freshmen of the 2011-2012 Concordia University, St. Paul Honors Program discussed this as they focused on what it means to be a human and a Christian in this interconnected world filled with technology and social networks.

EVALUATE

This reading might have been a little odd for the modern reader as it explained how monks had to humble themselves so much daily in order to serve the Lord, and practically gave up their human lives to live a life for God and God only. In the introduction to this section of the book, Placher notes that, "Unlike most of us, medieval monks and nuns chose a life that left plenty of time for disciplined thinking about God." Is this right of wrong? Will our salvation be affected if we do not give as much time up to God as these monastics once did? Is this something we should be concerned about? We each need to have some time set aside to speak with God, and we can still live our modern lives while living for God. That's why I love Martin Luther's concept of calling, because we can serve God in all that we do without being a pastor, a nun, a monk, or a clergy member. I have the opportunity to go to church, but I don't have to, I want to. I have the honor to because I was saved by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I can serve the Lord as well as the world with my God-given gifts in my daily work. Thus it is my personal choice to have time with God.

Something else noted in the introduction is how "We twenty-first century folk are so focused on doing that we can forget about being." This was easy to relate to as a college student, and I seriously think it should be something all people reflect on daily as we rush through our lives completing task after task without necessarily contemplating or enjoying life. Just something to think about.