Sarah Koscielniak

What is the first thing you think of when you hear--Arab. Seriously, what? Muslim, right? Well, how about an Arab Christian? You think convert from Muslim, right? Well, what do you think about a Palestinian Christian? Then you finally say, OK, maybe Orthodox or something..
What about a Palestinian Christian LUTHERAN Pastor, who was born and raised Lutheran! YEAH. That's just a little bit about the speaker that came in today to speak with us.  His name is Mitri Raheb and he's been working on this college and community center to creating different systems and arts, along with Christians and Muslims alike.  He has done so many projects and he is working on connecting an opportunity for students at CSP to be able to go to the university in Palestine to study and realize what the non-western Christians are like! He had so much insight in both his book and his convocation! Here's a few:

His main point in his book is that we need to remember the roots of Christianity in Palestine--Jesus was BORN there! and did most of his ministry there! Also, that Arab was one of the languages spoken at Pentecost! Crazy! Also, another point is that the Bible is of the minority. Which is a really interesting concept, I think.  He spends a lot of time in his book talking about how Palestinian Christians have been the minority most of their history.  In fact in today's society, there is about 2 % of Christians in Palestine, and then 98% Muslim. 
Another concept is that, before any interfaith dialogues can really happen, culture needs to be addressed! That's why there's something so special about the Palestine experience--there is no cultural barrier. The Arabs in that country share the same history, foods, musics, and the likes.  They are not a racial minority! This helps them have more discussion and start on a common platform (I'll go into this more in my insights!) Another point he made is about how we can't assume that the whole world is becoming multi-cultural, but instead understand that a lot of the Middle East is becoming more and more mono-cultural. All the diversity is emigrating elsewhere, many places like Europe or America.  There were tons more points, but I'll leave it at that!

As far as insights go, I really did learn a lot.  Especially at the very end of his convocation, and at the lunch-in with him afterwords.  First, that in the end, I shouldn't get caught up in what is similar and different with the Islamic faith, because all that leads to sometimes is a "religious massage" but instead work on building foundations of culture and commonalities as humans! Once we can make a platform where we can come together as humans with equal rights, than we can relate together.  we can't just have fake interfaith dialogues.  In fact, our respect with the Islam faith should not be because they are "like" Christianity, but because they are different, and tolerance than is needed! (the whole loving your "enemy" thing). This really spoke to me specifically with my time with the Somalis at SALT!  
The second thing is is that Christianity is sooo diverse, in the West and the East and all that--it's important to remember the global aspect of Christianity! AND, also the importance of knowing what the issues are (by going to the places!) and get a vision and inspire others.  We talked for how we can do that, and it was great talking with him about that.  I learned a ton from him, which I didn't write all down, because I know all you readers out there are busy high school-ers and don't have time to read it all!!
God's blessings on you all!  

Why am I blogging on here? BECAUSE. I have truly enjoyed blogging my summer on here, and my occasional epiphanies, and so I figured, why not keep it up! So, I'm not expecting anyone to read this, but, it's helpful to me.

So.  It's almost half way through the semester, and I can't believe it.  To be honest, it kinda feels that things are just now starting to pick up as far as being able to take away things from classes.  But, what I found to be really cool this semester, is that these things are so connected.  I'm taking Honors (which is looking at how public you should be about your Christianity in the 'public square'", Mission of God, Class and Community, and Ceramics. 


First, let's go with the not so obvious one. Ceramics.
The first and foremost thing I can point out that I've learned form ceramics is the importance of art in a person's life.  Whether that art is music, dance, theater, crafts, sculpture, paint.. ANYTHING... being able to create is such an amazing feeling, and is something that I feel brings people together. SO, Keith has been talking with me about the possibilities of adding a community arts piece to my major.  I don't know what that will look like, or what that means, or anything... (hopefully it doesn't mean more tuition dollars/years here...) but it's something really cool.  Even if I can't take a class on it, I think it'll be something I think about for my year in U4C/my internship.  Anyway. MORE things that I've learned: 1. God is a heck of a better potter than I can ever be, and a heck of a lot more patient. hahaha. 2. clay's natural tendency is USUALLY to go against what the potter is creating... we want to crack and break away, just like clay does.  Yet, even though we in life have glue substitutes and whatnot to "hide" the cracks, they are still there.  YET, GOD he can completely take these OUT. and when it undergoes a firing (God's word, essentially) it can really eternalness our lives... yeah... this analogy doesn't come out as good as I was hoping in typing, but, it really did help me see God through the clay, which is awesome.

Second, let's go with the harder one still, Class and Community.
This class is done online completely, so it's been really hard for me to get enthusiastic about because most of my understanding comes from discussions in life, not so much through webCT. BUT I suppose we ARE becoming a more technological world.. and I AM essentially journal-ling online instead of in a written journal. (This could be because of spelling, time, and laziness...?) anyway. So, we've been learning about stratification, about why it's necessary, and why we have it, and what we have now because of stratification... and and and.. man, a whole lot of thinking and theories.  To be honest, I'm going to get more out of this once we get more into the practical thinking, I think.  It's been interesting to see how some people think SO different then me (in my class).  They believe that someone who is poor has the same opportunity as someone who is rich to an education and a job.  I struggle to think that is true, but.. I also am naiive, so I wouldn't hold it past me to be completely off.  I really do try and see the good in the world, but I also tend to be fairly pessimistic about the rich.  Luckily, God, and classes, and classmates, have helped me to broaden my stereotype to realize there are some pretty nice rich guys out there. 

This ties into what I'm learning in Honors: our history as a nation and as a church!
It's been hard to really "get into" the history of Church (also known as Church history) this semester.  Probably due to the fact I go to a LCMS School, and Luther and the reformation is pretty ingrained in my learning here for quite a while. BUT, Now that we're starting to get into closer history, and history that I have never looked at, I'm learning a lot about--yeah, stratification, and the ugliness of slavery in the Christian body, and how people HAVE used God's name in such ugly ways.  I'm looking forward to us learning more about how some people have been public about their Christian identity in the public square.  I feel like personally, yes, you should be public about your faith, but as far as in the public, I really just don't know.  I don't know when it's appropriate and when not, and when one should bend and when one should not. Hmm, interesting stuff... My internship has taught me that I'm not so much interested in paper work and immigration things, YET it has shown me that I am friggen good at office work, which is not that exciting, BUT what can you ask for?  anyway.

Mission of God has been one of the classes to most interest me.

The first and foremost thing I have learned is that theology that is not practical, is not theology.  I can talk until my head turns blue about certain things in the Bible, like certain word translations, or something like that... BUT, if it's not practical--if I can't glorify God's name with it. It's nothing! But also, to be aware and keen on what's going on in the world.  the world changes--God does not, but it won't be effective AT ALL if we keep saying the same thing in the same way for hundreds and thousands of years.  Don't change the gospel, but change how we say it, if we truly are reaching out to people of different cultures! and I've learned SO much about how much much much we need to have God be the center of everything we do! yes yes!

OK OK. so, those are the specific classes.  As far as life goes. I feel that God has truly shown himself the clearest when I'm weak.  I know I know, it says that in the Bible, but I"m truly realizing it. like.  When I'm feeling awful and down and worthless, and then remember how Great God is, it's so easy for me to just be in absolute awe of it all. Yet, when God does life me out of the muck, I feel like I hit the ground running in the fastest way to glorify myself? that effects my friends and relationships, as well as my relationship with God!  I feel like one thing I don't quite do as much as I want to, is REALLY think about the world.  Yet, there are times I think I over think.  But, it's hard for me to really get into this world's culture in order to understand them and realize... maybe Concordia IS a bubble.  Or, just my experience. You know, I've met these people that are so different than me, but I've almost thought that this diversity is the only diversity out there? Like. When I went to a bar this past weekend, I forgot how many different people have such different life styles than the refugees I work with, or the students I'm friends with on campus.  It's so crazy just how huge God's mission field is, and how little I am. It's surprisingly encouraging...

I'm feeling actually at peace about being in GH this summer... I want to get involved with my community, ask questions, learn things that I didn't know about the city I grew up in my whole life. I want to be a part of my family again.  I want to see God in ways that I've never seen before! I want to encourage my church, I want to be a witness at wherever  I end up working! I just. I'm excited (and the beach is also calling my name...) It sucks, SUCKS, that I'm not going back to Honduras.  I get very sad about it sometimes. But, God is calling me to somewhere else this summer...somewhere I had no idea was there, but was there the whole time.  God is good. and I hope this summer, just like last summer, but in a completely new way... God's name is glorified. He's almighty no matter what, but I pray that I live that out!

This blog is long enough, and I'm sure has scared some people away from reading it all, which is almost what I wanted! SO HA! I fooled you all!!!!

Yet, it didn't really do what I wanted it to do.  I was hoping to make connections, but also really just, THINK. Think about the world, the Church as a whole, humanity as a whole... life, love, liberty... you know, all that great stuff. But. BUT. I'm going to go for a walk now, or something. and maybe the skies will proclaim a little bit of God's greatness onto me!

I'll leave you all with this.
Psalm 46:10;
"Be still, and know that I am God.  I am exalted among the nations. I will be exacted in the earth"   

Well, after a night full of discussion and pretty much debate, I'm ready to dig more into some callings to see what insight the past has add in the conversation of, "to what particular work is God calling me?" Because, as much as it is a question in peoples' lives today (including mine!) it was of importance in the 1500s.  Ignatius Loyola addresses this issue from personal questioning of his own! He was born in a Spanish noble family (there seems to be a trend of that! Aquinas) and he was a soldier until he became injured.  This forced him to look at... "what work IS God calling me to?" After pursuing some education, he turned to forming the Society of Jesus (or the Jesuits) Through this founding, he found that God was calling him to a life of missionary and intellectual leadership in the church! His overall answer to that question of the day was... Whatever would, in the end, "work for the praise of God our Lord and for the salvation of my soul" (239). He wrote, The Spiritual Exercises which supports his beliefs.  Overall, he believes that salvation is achieved by a combination of God's grace and human free will...which may make any Lutheran turn a bit in their chairs...

So, Loyola had two methods of making decisions in time of tranquility.  What classifies as a time of tranquility, you may ask. Well, I shall tell you. A time of tranquility is when "the soul is not agitated by diverse spirits, and is freely and comly making use of its natural powers" (241). I wish that I had more time of tranquility, to be honest.  But, I digress.  There are two methods during this time of tranquility to make a choice.  The first is has 6 points to it, which I am going to summarize: have an aim of what you want to do, and then make sure to keep the reason why we are here in mind: to praise God and work out our salvation and to be indifferent for anything we may prefer.  Then to ask God to reveal His desire in our desires.  Then, you should choose based off of reason, not based off of any inclinations of senses.  THEN finally, bring to prayer the decision and pray that God accepts it! The other method: That the love that is to move the person should be of God's love! Then, basically pretend to see a man that we would want to be perfect, and what advice we want to give to them. Then follow that! OR, pretending that your on your death bed and thinking what you wished you would have chosen.  Finally, to think of on the day of Judgment which choice you wish you would have made.  Then, make the decision!

Out of these methods, it was hard for me to really buckle down and just choose one, mainly because of a lot of his terminology of how he believes that one's salvation is based off of works as well. Yet, if I take it from the standpoint of what we've been talking about in class--our Christian calling, I can then move forward.  I think I would choose the first one. Simply because it is completely not me.  I am a very emotion based person (ask Derek.. if anyone asks me to do something and convinces me off of emotional means.. I'll crack.) and so if I ask God to neutralize my emotions to really clear my head of what may be getting in the way of seeing clearly of what God may have in store for me... it'll really help.  This tends to go into conflict with what I'm learning at my internship though.  Basically, my gut and emotions tell me this is NOT what God is calling me to do. Yet, maybe... MAYBE if I take this literally, I could reason that, no... actually this IS what God wants for you to do-it is the most reasonable!  But, I just have to trust that God has placed this passion and love of people with different cultures, specifically refugees, in order to serve and love him.  As long as THAT (to serve and love Him and glorify his name!) is my end, and I start with that first.. Than God will bless my career life as I move forward!

Thomas Aquinas has an unique style of his theological writings.He was born in 1225-1274 into nobility. he studied and used most of the works of Aristotle--which explains his philosophical way of writing and thinking. His "masterpiece", Summa Theologiae, has a very reasoned-style theme and uses objections and then principles that support his position and then his own view.  Basically--the perfect way to argue your point! There was the question of the era, which I have focused on how should the religious life be ordered? How can a Christian live out their life when they're working? I of course focused on the two questions that he addresses about active life and contemplative life--seeing as I am someone who is usually very active, and I was curious to see what good ol' Aquinas had to say about if contemplative life is hindered by the active life.

So, here's the question, and Aquinas' position!
Q. 182, a. 2: Whether the contemplative life is hindered by the active life?
First, some of the objections are: Using Ps. 46-10 and Luke 10:41, it shows that contemplative life requires a stillness of the mind.  Another objection is that an active life is a hindrance to clear vision.  Also, one contrary hinders the other--meaning that they are different in opposition to one another (158).
I think it's important to note here how I was always taught this... and so I was surprised that Aquinas, on the other hand, took another stand:

There are two different points of view on active life.  Aquinas says that one is "an attention to and practice of external works"--and therefore does hinder the contemplative. YET, another point of view is that an "active life may be considered as quieting and directing the internal passions of the soul"--therefore making the active life helpful to the contemplative.  His final statement is that "the work of the active life conduces to the contemplative, by quelling the interior passions which give rise to the phantasms whereby contemplation is hindered" (159)

This is an interesting concept to me. The fact that it all depends on what type of active life, which I believe is right on with the Christian view.  If it is just, busy work, or work to gain earthly things, then yes! it does hinder our contemplative life! Yet, if we were to only go and work 40 hours a week to get a lot of money, and not care about our neighbor or what our work may be helping for the world...then that may be getting in the way.  Or if I was to get way too involved in doing EVERYTHING, and never taking time to talk and contemplate on God... then yes, my active life IS hindering my contemplative.  Yet, There is an activeness that needs to happen in a Christian's life, in order to follow Christ! As Gregory says, "Those who wish to hold the fortress of contemplation, must first of all train in the camp of action" (159).  Our faith needs action--YET, can't lose the whole purpose of why we're being active, and that is to glorify and release our passions of God! 

I choose to do my blog on John de Joinville.  John was a noble of Loise IX and did a biography of the king.  Loise IX was the king of France, and he was viewed as a model of a Christian king, and even as a saint.  Loise IX lived a monastic life full of self-denial, and led two crusades and settled disputes by moral force.  I found that this answered the question of the their time, "How should the religious life be ordered?" by simply showing an example of the king demonstrating self-denial. 

Just some of the things that described the King for being an example of justice and mercy are listed.  First, he dressed very modestly, and ate only what was put before him.  He "always took care to see that his poor were fed, and after they had eaten, sent money to be distributed among them" (141).  He also worked very hard to maintain peace between the subjects, nobles, and princes.  (There is a specific example of Comte de Chalon and sending members at his own expense to help him).  He also worked on teaching his children how to be good kings and emperors and to trust in God, so that way he was working on the justice of next generation.  He also gave "alms to wherever he went to the poorly endowed churches, leperhouses, alms-houses and hospitals, and to men and women of gentle birth in distress" (142). 

As far as what I would like Governor Pawlenty or President Obama to take for heart is the passion of living a modest life, and also going around the community and giving.  First off, so many times the governors and the president live in such high comfort, that it is hard for them to truly understand what most of the people under their "power" are going through.  Also, if they are not able to give up their life styles of luxury, I would like them to take some time to really get to know the people around them, and help them.  So many times if they do go into the public, it's for publicity, not for the sake of the people themselves.  It would be great if they took time to "personally cut the bread" themselves that they are serving to the poor!

Mechthild was a German mystic from about 1210-1280.  She grew up in a rich family, but joined a Beguine community (more or less a monastic life--just no permanent vows).  The writing is "The Flowing Light of the Godhead", which is a collection of her visions on reflections.  In the experts that Placher choose to show, it looks at her gentle approach, her admiration of St. Dominic and the Dominicans he founded, and her ideal of leaders who would really be servants. The question of the time period is, "How should the religious life be ordered?" Mechthild relates to this question because she is living in a Beguine community, and looking and admiring Dominic's answer to that question. Dominic's approach was the "Order of Preachers" and had his own way of ordering things.

One significant quote that I found summed up the reading, and also helped relate to my project work is on page 151. 

"Aimless activity is a very harmful trait for us. Bad habits harm us everywhere. Earthly desires blot out in us the holy word of God. Base strife because of self-will brings about in us many a harmful murder. Enmity in our heart drives out the Holy Spirit. An angry temperament robs us of God's intimacy. False holiness can never win out. "

I chose this section of the text because it covers a whole base of things to think about.  First is the aimless activity and bad habits.  The project helps me have not aimless activities, but a goal and an aim to work for. Also, it's just important to remember that self-will and earthly desires and enmity really do drive out the Holy word of God and the Holy Spirit. If those things control me in my serving at LSS, I'll be destroyed.  It will no longer be a great way to serve others and share the gospel, but just a way for me to leave with some good experience and some references.  Because, if I for one second take on a false holiness, I'm not going to help anyone. I'm going to just be a huge turn off and not be able to help!

 

I chose to do the article on Athanasius, due to the study of him in my Church History class and my interest in the idea of role models! Athanasius lived from about 296-373, and was a theologian.  He wrote "The Life of Antony" which is about a very old man he met in the Egyptian desert during one of his many exiles.  This is about Antony's life and because of this writing, many Christians started to follow him and other desert fathers, living in ascetically in monasteries and convents.  This answers the question of, "being a Christian can't be that easy, can it?" People were starting to be born in the Christian faith, It displays that people were looking for different ways to live out a person's faith in an extreme matter and trying to find the balance.

 

The role models in Antony's life were role models to him by allowing Antony to pick their brains on their thoughts, but then also their actions.  He was able to study and learn from each and every one of them, with all their different specialties and strengths from God. From seeing all of them living what they taught, he then left and tried to study and combine all the strengths into himself.  He became a role model from others by using the things that he had learned, and applying it to his life, and being a light to others.  For Antony especially, there is an emphasis on being a role model by action and his own life.  At the end, when people saw him, they saw the energy and strength God had given him, and also heard of his encouragement!

 

I have been blessed with many role models in my life, especially with my vocational discernment.  First off, I always think of my youth director Christina Simon. She taught me what it looked like to be a woman after God's own heart, and being in the mission field with a Global worldview.  She showed me through letting me pick her brain, but also through her life! Also through seeing others live their life in love with God through what ever job that may be, as been such an encouragement and a role model for me. They are rooted in the Word and relational.  I would love to be like that in 15 years.  A woman of God, in a Godly relationship, encouraging and disciplining others.  Showing it is possible to be a strong woman of God, under the grace of God!

      I chose to write about Tertullian's "Apology" written to Roman emperor during the time of Tertullian's life (~160-~225AD).  An apology  is a "speech on behalf/defense of" something, therefore Tertullian was defending Christians against the rumors directed against them (Placher 51).  The context of reading this is that there were ways of being persecuted without directly dying, such as he describes of having to be subject to rumor, leaving families, and other hardships of ridicule. It is adressed as a letter talking about the past accusations that have been given against Christians.  It is also used and circulated around Christians though, in hopes to prevent some Christians from losing their rigor. 

      In his beginning arguments, Tertullian makes the argument that he must hate Christians because he is ignorant of what Christianity is.  He says this to be the case because, once someone gets familiar with Christianity--they end up accepting it and becoming the thing they once hated.  Also, that the good and the wise could very well be such because they are Christian.  His defense against a treason is that the gods do not exsist, and so they should be able to demonstrate how they have no reason for worship.  He continues to refutes it by demonstrating what exactly they do worship.  He describes God as being someone who is so incredibly great that everything witnesses His power.  He goes on to say that he DOES wish the emperor and all the kingdom good, but only by God, simply because Christians do love their enemies!

 

      The reputation of Christians today versus back in the 2nd and 3 century are similar but different.  Now-a-days, people will readily admit that Christians are "good moral characters" and that they are not criminals. Yet, I have noticed there to be a pattern in what Tertullian talked about on page 53, "A good man is Gaius Seius, only that he is a Christian." Many people see the good works that Christians do, but then are disgusted by the fact that they have a religion, and that they seem to be closed off and judgemental.  This at least seems to be the case for many of my friends from home.  They say, "Sarah, You're a good person...Why do you have to believe in Christianity? It just messes things up." There seems to be a discontact/contrast in actual Christians today though. Because, back then, many of them had ways of phsyically showing that they do not worship these other gods, and that their object of worship was GOD. Here, in today's society, the other gods have changed, to become money, success, jobs--things that Christians to participate in.  It is therefore very hard for a Christian to distinguish themselves apart from these other gods and proclaim without question the object of their worship.  Yet, when a Christian does do such a thing, that's when there is a similar confusion and almost disgust with Christians.  They are viewed to be "socialists" and not stand for the right to success. I'm not sure how completely solid I really can answer this question...there are so many different views on Christians today, that it is hard to put a finger on one certain thought. But that is my attempt.

Well, the semester is done, and I just finished my time at LSS for this semester.  It was so incredibly different then usual, and it was awesome.  I went with Sharon to Savers (YES!) and got 3 winter jackets for 3 Somali kids that are flying in tonight at 9 from the airport.  I pray that God will bless their lives and that Jesus would be the one to warm their hearts this winter. Anyway, it was a lot of fun, going and doing something different then just paperwork (like I was going to have to do) and Sharon and I had an amazing conversation.  It was all about how we feel about overall paper work, and wanting to really make a difference in the refugees lives/overall the human rights issue... but feeling like we're just kinda filling out paperwork. But she says she understands this is a launching point for what she hopes will be something that she can really get into it and help with human rights.  I hear a lot of me in what she has to say... and I think it's awesome to see someone else with that passion and how she deals with it.  We talked about the pros and cons of "Case working" (going to the refugees houses and helping them with going to doctors and schools and stuff). She really is worth working at LSS, I'm so glad to have met her! Another thing I love about LSS is when families come in consistantly, like the family from the Congo. They came in 4-5 times, every time I was there, and it was so great because as we went on with the conversations, we got more and more comfortable with each other.  I really like it. 
SO, overall, the headaches are some what leaving... and I'm getting a bit more satisfied with LSS, especially because it has taught me what I DON'T want to do in order to help the refugees. I still don't know about "case work" stuff or not, because I tihnk Sharon had some valid points to it.  We'll see.  Life is huge, and I have all the time that God allows to explore how to serve him. Thank God!

I'm learning a lot about my research project in this volunteer project.  This is because I'm starting to have a more independent role on trying to figure out the system.  Luckily, I haven't had to just fill out applications for interviews and things like that are hard to see the direct help.  So, the past week has been really great for me. I've been able to find specific cases that have been lost in the LSS system. Then search for them in the filing cabinet and other places, in order to make sure they have been updated in the electronic update.  This helps make sure that it's as up-to-date as possible, and really work on helping the refugees that are ready and do need help get reached to sooner.

The biggest problem I have noticed with LSS is their system of screening and GC/Natz things.  For one, they take money first before they start anything else.  Then after the screening, they send the clients home to fill out an application and to do the immunization form.  This is hard because many of the clients are either confused, or never come back with the application or medical form, meaning that they have spent 40 dollars for nothing.  If the money was chosen to be collected after the application and medical has been brought in, it would insure that clients would not be taken advantage of.  I would like to investigate that more, especially with the inconsitencies of telephone communications.