Danielle Hahnemann

I can't believe we are actually reading something that would have had a stamp of disapproval from Luther...But I suppose he wasn't the ONLY smart person in the world, now, was he?  I mean, William Perkins studied and taught at Cambridge (though I'm not arguing that being a professor automatically makes you correct in your thinking).  He had a lot of big thoughts about the meaning of vocation, and though his original ideas came from the philosophy of Aristotle (a person distrusted by Luther), he became one of the first Puritan leaders to really discuss vocation in the way that is presented in this writing.

                Perkins defines  vocation and/or calling a being a "certain kind of life, ordained and imposed on man by God for the common good" (262).  Whatever your profession or status in this world, that is your calling according to Perkins.  I'm not sure yet that this is a complete definition of "calling," but I'll be sure to let you know when I decide by the end of this post.  This book is basically filled with different ideas about this, and he does say that this is just one opinion, so I'm not really going to worry about it too much just yet.  He makes me feel better about it when he goes into his description of general and particular callings.  According to Perkins, the general calling is being called to Christianity, and all Christians share this same calling.  The particular calling is the jobs that we are given to do on this earth.  And I feel even better when Perkins goes on to discuss the two causes of vocation/calling.  The first of these is the efficient cause, which is basically the person or place from which the calling comes.  Perkins argues that every calling comes from God, making Him the sole efficient cause in our lives and in the world.  God calls each of us to do a job, either by speaking to us Himself or by mediating through the world around us.  The second cause of vocation is the final cause, or the purpose of the calling.  Perkins considers every calling to be "for the common good," as stated in his definition of vocation.  We are the body of Christ, and we have to look out for each other, not just ourselves.  We cannot keep our two callings separate.  Perkins says that "every man must join the practice of his personal calling with the practice of the general calling of Christianity" (268).

 

                Okay.  I am definitely happier with his definition now.  Just saying.

 

Since I am working with a Lutheran church this year, I get to see a lot of examples of how people combine their callings in order to serve both the Church and humankind in general.   I've teachers who allow their faith in Christ to influence the way they approach discipline in the classroom.  I've met store owners who make sure to give their customers the best prices they can because they know it's the right thing to do.  I've met all sorts of people who do their paid jobs well and still devote time to helping those in need in the congregation and in the community.  For these individuals, being a Christian is not just a calling that they live out on Sunday mornings.  It's a lifestyle, and it's one they are proud of.  We've really been working with our youth this year to make sure they understand this fundamental aspect of Christianity, and it's amazing to see how far they've come in being able to live their faith with love and boldness.  But when you surround kids with the type of role models that exist at the Alley, how could they NOT be growing?

 

                SO.  Since this is about the twentieth time I've had to read stuff by Thomas Aquinas and had to write something about it, I've come to the conclusion that he must have at least SOME importance in the history of the world.  If not, then our education system is pretty messed up...

                ANYWAY.  Thomas Aquinas was an Italian noble who disappointed his parents HARDCORE when he decided to become a Dominican monk instead of a Benedictine one.  (This would be sort of like if your parents wanted you to go to Harvard but you ended up at Concordia...Just kidding...) The theology that he developed combined what he found in the Bible with the philosophy of Aristotle, whose works were being seen more and more often in Latin.  He had definite opinions about how a Christian should live their life.  Tom was a pretty reasonable guy, and he liked for things to fit nicely into boxes and used rational thinking to defend his arguments.  He also used an incredibly annoying pattern of writing for addressing different issues that came up in his life.  But as irritating as his style is, it is easily recognizable, probably because it's so difficult to forget how much you hate it (and NO, that does not mean that it has a catchy tune like Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance").

                One of the questions that Thomas Aquinas has gotten hung up on is "whether the active life is more excellent than the contemplative" (Q. 183, a.1).  Basically, some people were saying that the active life IS more excellent than the contemplative life, and Tom was not happy about that.  So, using reason and some wisdom from Aristotle, he argues that people who make claims like that are stupid.  He gives eight different reasons for this, including the fact that the contemplative life suits intellectuals and people who are concerned with the "internals" more than "externals."  He also says that the contemplative life is more continuous than the active life, and it just so happens to be more delightful (in Tommy's opinion).  He goes on to list several more very reasonable ways in which the contemplative life is better than the active life.  And I guess someone decided once that he presents a very good argument because, like I said before, they make us read this guy's stuff over and over and over.

                I'm not sure that I completely agree with Thomas' arguments in this passage.  He is very rational, of course, but I don't think he was thinking about the big picture of what faith in Christ can look like when lived out to the fullest.  It's very important to spend time in the Word and to enjoy alone time with God in order to grow and restore ourselves, but if that's all we're doing, then we are not fulfilling our true purpose.  God wants ALL of his people to come to know him, and one of the ways that He can use us on this earth is through our actions.  James 2:14-25 is all about how if we really have faith, we will show it through our actions, not because we have to, but because we WANT to.    So the active life wouldn't be BAD, not if it was an expression of our faith.  I think maybe you need both sides, and that Tommy just likes to argue.

                So once upon a time, all the way back in the thirteenth century, there was this king who ruled all of France.  His name was Louis IX, which is a fancy way of saying that eight other kings named Louis ruled France before Louis IX got his chance to sit on the throne.  Our Louis was different from the others, however.  Even though he was king and could do basically whatever he wanted, he had this weird tendency to put others before himself, so much so that after his death he was named a saint.  A friend of Louis, John de Joinville, was inspired by what he saw, and wrote down the story of Louis' great deeds and nearly monastic life so that we in the twenty-first century can benefit from his example.

                King Louis IX was special for a reason (well, according to Barney, EVERYONE is special, but not everybody has stuff written about them and how awesome they are).  Louis went to mass and other religious services a million times a day, and he made a point to pray very openly and publicly, making sure that prayer was the focus of the moment and not whatever else was going on around him.  He lived a much simpler life that the other rich rulers around him.  He gave up much of his wealth to the poor citizens of France because he knew it wasn't fair for him to sit on his cushy throne wrapped in furs and eating like a pig while the people who paid his taxes were starving to death.  He settled wars by taking great personal risks, and he refused to use or tolerate foul language.  He used to tell stories to his children about other rulers and their practices in order to teach them how they should treat others.  He donated tons of money to every cause, and he gave away so much food that it was amazing he had any left for himself.  He truly cared about his people, and he knew that since he was in a position to perform these acts of justice and mercy, he should take advantage of them and prove to his people that he wanted to rule them fairly and peacefully.

                I suppose the biggest thing that stands out to me about all of this is the charity of King Louis IX.  He set an example that I'm not sure today's leaders really follow with all of their heart.  For example, how many members of Congress have more houses than they even use while a large percentage of Americans remain homeless?  How many people does the President actually get to see and hear from throughout the year?  I think that if all of the people in charge in this country (and every country, for that matter) actually wanted what was best for the people and didn't just look out for themselves (did you know that Congress votes on their own salaries?) and put their faith first in their lives (who decided that it was a good idea to push the whole "separation of church and state" thing so far?),  then maybe the United States could have leaders that they truly looked up to instead of leaders who end up being ridiculed in cartoons and bash sites.  Maybe if our leaders mirrored the servant-leadership style of Christ, then the citizens would have a modern example to follow in ways of justice, mercy, and charity.  And if the citizens appreciate and cling to those values, then our country would be in a much better place.  Just saying.

This biography was written by Athanasius, a bishop and theologian who was exiled because his explanations of the Trinity angered several emperors.  The account details the life of Antony, a man who lived alone in the desert and whose story influenced many to also take to the desert in search of a more God-pleasing life.  Antony not only realized that he should be a Christian, but that he needed to live out his faith it the way he thought best.  Since he lived alone in the desert, his faith wasn't really that public...until Athanasius found him, that is... 

Antony was brought up by his parents and at an early age was attracted to a simpler life than those around him.  He heard of a man who "had lived the life of a hermit from his youth up" (60).  This man more than anyone else was a role model for Antony.  Because of him, Antony began searching out other men who lived similar lives of solitude.  He learned from them, and he strove to imitate these men by working with his hands, giving to the needy, and praying vigorously.  Antony's life was shaped by the men he followed, and he was still living as a hermit when Athanasius found him as a very old man.  After the theologian wrote an account of Antony's life and lifestyle, many others wished to emulate him.  Whole colonies of monks rose up in the desert.  But what I find the most interesting in this story is this: Antony lived a life of solitude, and yet he still managed to influence people to follow him (whether he intended to or not).  But he was also much more influential when his life was made available to others through the writing of Athanasius.

                One of the biggest role models in my life, ESPECIALLY when it comes to my faith in Christ and how to live it out, is my lovely mother.  She never encouraged me to go out into the desert, but when I felt called to ministry in eighth grade, my mom was the one who stood by me when the rest of my family wasn't sure what to think and my home congregation looked down on me for being so young...and a girl... But my mom was nothing but supportive of me as I struggled to figure out exactly what God wanted me to do with my life.  And even now, as I wrestle with deciding which classes to take to get me where I need to go, whether to consider grad school, and how social life can get in the way of learning everything I need to know to be a good DCE, I know I can call my mom and she will pray with me and remind me that God is in control.  She has always set an example of trusting God with her whole heart and encouraging others to do the same.  She is a strong woman who strengthens those around her through her love and compassion.  I hope that she has been able to pass on her strength to me and that I will be as supportive and encouraging of my own children and the youth in my ministry as she has been in my life.

 

 

 

I was drawn to The Martyrdom of Perpetua for this assignment because I had read it before at the beginning of my church history class and it made a lasting impression on me.  The Martyrdom of Perpetua focuses on the persecution and death of a young woman in 203 who was studying to become a Christian.  Possibly written by Tertullian and featuring an account that may actually have been written by Perpetua, the story relates to the reasons many people became curious about Christianity.  Because of the unshakable faith of martyrs like Perpetua and those who died beside her at the hand of the Roman Empire, questions arose about the power of believing in God and why it was important enough to die for.  It also demonstrated the danger of becoming a Christian.  Though martyrdom was less common than many people realize, every person coming to Christianity knew that it was a possibility they might be faced with death. 

The only real glimpse we get of the Christian community from this account is from the interactions between the martyrs themselves and one sentence about the deacons Tertius and Pomponius bribing the soldiers in the prison to allow the martyrs some respite from the dark, cramped dungeon.  The martyrs formed a family of believers, holding each other up and encouraging each other to remain strong.  Those with Felicitas prayed that she would deliver her child in time to be killed alongside the ones she loved.  Perpetua and her companions refused to don the clothing of the Roman gods and goddesses in the arena.  The martyrs who were doomed to have their throats cut parted by kissing and without fear.  Had there been but one Christian in the story, the outcome may have been different.  He or she may have weakened and given in to the Romans, performing sacrifices and denying the power of Christ.  But there is strength in numbers.  Together, the martyrs remained strong in their faith.  Together, they faced imprisonment, ridicule, and death without flinching.

                I see this concept of strength in numbers in my own life everywhere.  Although I am slow to ask for help in other areas, comfort in my faith is not one of them.  I have surrounded myself at school, at home, and at camp with strong Christians who I know I can count on to encourage me to remain strong.  These people help me remember what is important in life and that God has a plan for me, and they help me get through even the darkest times.  I have discovered the power of praying for someone in their presence, and I try to give as much support as I receive from those around me.  When we build networks like this, we not only are reassured of our own faith, but we have the joy of strengthening others through the love and grace that connects us all to one another.

 

I turned in Chapter 2 on Monday, and Dr. Schuler was right: I DO feel better knowing that it's done and I don't have to worry about it anymore.  I'm looking forward to seeing the feedback that Professor Rock has to offer, since I know this was not my most organized writing aattempt...

I didn't manage to get to the Alley this week after all.  I was sick all weekend, so I didn't go to help out on Sunday morning.  We had a lot of snow on Wednesday, and I didn't have my snow tires on my car yet.  And I feel really bad that I'm not going to be there THIS weekend because I am going to Camp Luther for the 2009 staff reunion to interview for a position at a NLOMA camp next summer.  BUT.  Nothing will keep me away from the Alley on Wednesday!

Starting next weekend, I will be shadowing the youth director at Faith Lutheran Church.  We have a meeting set up for Saturday to go over the Bible study series I've been working on and to discuss my role in the youth program more completely.  I'm really excited to finally start working with my second organization, but I will greatly miss my kids at the Alley while I'm home, and they've already told me that they will miss me.  They have touched my life so much this semester, but I know they'll be okay without me for a few weeks, especially with all of the exciting things happening this time of year.  I'm just lucky that my project has been going so well so far.

I am taking a break from writing Chapter 2 in order to post to my blog today.  In case anyone was wondering, I am currently on page 4 and have compiled my list of sources into a references page, so I am pretty proud of the work I've gotten done so far today.

I have not been able to volunteer at with Alley Teens for almost two weeks now.  Thanksgiving break got in the way a little bit, and this past Wednesday there was no affirmation class.  But I start again tomorrow, and I am going to get a chance to talk to my supervisor about upcoming events and whether or not he is cool with me starting to take a more active leadership role.

On December 19th, I will be sitting down with the youth director at Faith Lutheran Church and finalizing my duties for the month (which we have already been discussing via facebook and email), and I am still hoping to be included in the youth retreat to Camp Luther.

Well, I guess I'd better get back to Chapter 2, since it's due in two days and I REALLY don't want to have to ask for an extension because I've procrastinated so long. :)

I LOVE MY INTERNSHIP.  Just thought I'd get that out there.  I love it so much and am so busy thinking about it and preparing for it that I often forget to actually update my blog...

The past few weeks at The Alley Church have been amazing.  I have played the part of harmless observer well, and the kids are starting to get used to having me around, espedially the ones that come for affirmation classes on Wednesdays.  The past two weeks, I have been given material as I walked in the door and instructed to lead a small-group discussion on a Bible passage.  In the past, this might have terrified me, but after a summer at camp there's no way talking about Jesus could ever scare me again.

On Wednesdays, we've still been working through the book of James.  Two weeks ago, we talked in small groups about drawing closer to God and how that means humbling ourselves and giving up things of this world.  Some of the kids listed off some things that their friends do but that they themselves choose not to do because of their faith.  Afterwards, we talked about what it means to share our story WITH God's story (which reminded me of Honors last year and Dr. Schuler's lecture on revelation).

This past Wednesday, we broke into small groups again and talked about judging others and self-confidence.  One middle school boy said that we should look at everyone through God's eyes with love in order to stop judging.  And one high school girl made a point about self-confidence: if we look down on ourselves because of what other people say, we're insulting God by saying that what he created isn't good enough, but if we have too much self-confidence, it's like saying that we don't need God.

Today, I spent the morning helping Sunday school kids pack Operation:Christmas Child boxes.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  Even though I like the older kids best, it's still nice to go and hang out with the younger ones sometimes.  Especially when the adorable little girl in the black dress decides you are her new best friend... :)

I have been in contact with my other organization and will hopefully be able to meet with my supervisor when I am home next weekend to finalize some more details about my winter-break internship (which I am also SUPER excited about).

On Monday, I turned in most of my project contract.  I still have one sheet that I need to get my on-site project contacts to sign.  I can get one signature on Sunday, but the other I can't get until I go home for Thanksgiving.

My time at The Alley has been great so far.  On Sunday, I helped lead a discussion about the relationship between faith and works based on the book of James, and I've started forming relationships with several of the middle and high school youth.  I've learned that it is very important to them that I learn their names, so I have been working very hard on that.

This past Wednesday, I helped supervise the middle and high school students during "affirmation" class.  (Pastor Ben doesn't like to call it "confirmation" because he doesn't want the kids to think they can just stop coming after they've been "confirmed.")  W had the kids split into groups of three and gave them markers and a giant sheet of paper.  Each group was required to make their own "world," complete with some sort of life forms with rules to live by, as if they themselves were God.  The groups got to present, and then they were informed that the people in their world revolting against them.  The students were asked to explain how they would react to this revolution, and most of them talked about getting revenge and destroying the planets they had drawn.  Pastor Ben drew a connection between these actions and what God could have done to the world that HE created.  It was cool to watch the understanding and awe in the faces of the students.  It makes me want to try this activity with other groups!

I haven't started on Chapter 1 of my project yet, but I will shortly (once I manage to finish reading Team of Rivals and get my psych test out of the way).  I'm excited to start writing because I really feel like I am going to learn a LOT from my organizations, especially The Alley.  I am looking forward to upcoming events at both churches over the next few months as opportunities to develop leadership skills and grow in my own faith. 

 I've spent some time "unofficially" at both of my locations over the past few weeks.  The youth group at my home church (Faith Lutheran) is in love with me already, and I'm starting to build relationships with the middle and high school youth at The Alley.  I've gotten signatures from all of my on-site project contacts, and I'm well on my way to completing my project contract on time.  I'm really looking forward to getting to know all the kids and learning a lot about how to connect with middle and high school youth.

For now, I'm mostly just hanging out and observing until the kids feel comfortable with me.  At The Alley, I've been going to The Alley Teens education hour on Sunday mornings, and this past Wednesday marked the start of The Alley's new "affirmation" program for 6th-12th grade students. Pastor Ben asked me to prepare a testimony for one of the Wednesday night sessions so that the kids will be more comfortable sharing their testimonies later on.

At Faith, the youth director, Mike, has asked me to prepare a 3-week Bible study for the high school youth group over Christmas break.  He has also invited me to chaperone a high school youth weekend winter retreat at Camp Luther in January.  I'm really excited that the leaders are so willing to have me participate!