Danielle Hahnemann

George Fox was one of those people who thought that the church had it all wrong.  He didn't believe in the traditional structure of having priests or church buildings because he felt that it took away from a person's individual Inner Light of Christ, which was available to all people, regardless of gender or social status.  He got beat up a lot for speaking out against the institution and was arrested more than once.  Fed up with these people who wouldn't listen to him, he went on to found the Quakers.  He believed that the light interacted with him through revelations.

I thought that one of Fox's strangest revelations involved some very confused shepherds in the middle of winter.  About a mile outside of Lichfield (in his revelation), he met some shepherds and gave them his shoes and instructed them not to give them to anybody unless the person paid for them.  Apparently, the shepherds were "astonished" and "trembled."  If I was in this situation, I'd probably tremble because I was up against a crazy person on drugs who might be unpredictable.  I'd probably leave the shoes behind and get a tighter grip on the window smasher that I carry in my purse for self-defense.  BUT BACK TO THE STORY.  Fox walked the rest of the way to Lichfield without shoes, and when he got there, the town became a big pool of blood.  But all people could think about was the fact that Fox wasn't wearing any shoes.  He ended up going back to the shepherds and buying his shoes back from them, which I thought was weird and I didn't really see the point.

I'm not really sure how Fox would feel about religious freedom in America today.  Part of him might be glad that he can't get locked up for preaching against religious institutions because of his own personal beliefs.  But for some reason, I don't think prison really deterred him that much, since it happened more than once, and if he truly believed he was being directed by God through his revelations, prison would seem like a minor thing to suffer.  I think that Fox would be more likely to be sad for all the people in America who cling to their churches and preachers and don't understand the Inner Light of the living Christ inside of them.  I think he would also be sad for people who claim not to believe in God because even though they've got the disliking-the-church part down, they, too, are not allowing the light to direct them.  But I have no idea how Fox would want to fix this.  He'd probably just keep giving away shoes.

This past Tuesday was the annual Poehler Lecture at Concordia.  The lecture series was named after Concordia's president from 1946 to 1970, the Rev. Dr. Willy Poehler.  A different speaker is featured every year, and the series seeks to investigate different ways that faculty at Concordia have integrated their faith in Christ in their learning and teaching.  I was excited to go because I missed out last year due to a DCE class that was meeting at the same time.  I mean, it WAS my choice to skip the lecture and go to class...but I wished I could have done both, and I always regretted not going (but only a little bit).

The year's honored speaker was Dr. Loma Meyer, Professor Emerita of Education.  Dr. Meyer has made some major contributions over the years to Concordia, including spending time as "an award-winning professor, director of instruction, dean of the faculty, vice president for academic affairs, and executive vice president - holding several of these positions simultaneously" (I got this out of the little pamphlet they gave us as we came through the doors...Otherwise, I wouldn't have known any of it).  But there is more to Dr. Meyer than simply the positions she has held at Concordia.  She is a kind woman with an unexpected sense of humor.  (I don't know why it was unexpected; I just assumed her lecture was going to be very dry for some reason.)  She also was described by an audience member during the question-answer portion of the evening as being a person who allows her faith to permeate and influence her entire life, and people can see a light shining in her.

Dr. Meyer had a lot to say, but she never lost my attention.  I barely even took notes because I was so focused on what she was saying.  She spoke of her husband, Gary, who died this past August, and how she sees faith and learning in both life and death; it is a connection we cannot ever escape from.  She talked about all the changes at CSP since she first arrived here in 1967, and she hinted that things would need to be done differently in the future.  If we want to live out the mission statement of the university, which includes the words "all within the context of the Christian gospel," we have to continue to integrate faith into our teaching and learning.

One thing that I did write down that I think provides a good summary of what she was talking about was this: "Integration [of faith and learning] involves the inclusion of the whole person: heart, soul, and mind."  It made me think of the verse in Matthew 22 that says to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  To me, that is what integration is.  I think back to my first semester of Honors my freshman year, and I remember the way we were taught to integrate EVERYTHING.  We learned about the five ways of knowing (science, reason, aesthetics, emotion, and revelation) and worked to find connections between them in our own lives.  I especially loved our photography project in which we had to illustrate our ideas of how the ways of knowing were connected.  Projects like these help Honors students learn to think outside the box and integrate our faith and ALL of our learning.

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.

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).