Jessie Patterson

This week's reading is a sermon given my Dr. Howard Thurman in 1939 based upon Matthew 4:1-11. Thurman was born in the south in 1899 and grew up in the time of segregation and civil rights. Throughout his life, Thurman has written 20 books as well as being a prominent philosopher, theologian and educator. Thurman has ties to many other famous civil rights leaders, such as Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This particular piece was given around the end of the Great Depression and the beginning of WWII. Among all this destruction and chaos, is was easy for people to start losing faith, so one of the main questions was "How do I simply live as a Christian?"

In Matthew 4: 1-11, Jesus was tempted by the devil three times. On the third attempt, the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would follow him instead. Jesus later went to his disciples to warn them of the struggles they would face spreading the Word to all people. For, in order for the world to truly be saved, all souls must be made clean and people must become disciples of God. In this sermon though, Thurman argues that it is not merely the soul that must be saved, but relationships as well. He also states that these must be done separately or else they will not be under conscious judgmental of God.

Though he does not say anything directly about Christianity in the public square, the quotes he used did. As Jesus was warning his disciples, he said "Rejoice when men persecute you for my sake, for it means that you are making inroads on territory that is foreign to the will of God." Essentially, he is saying to speak the word of God freely and with compassion. He also quotes Jesus telling the disciples to be both wise and harmless. In the public square today, this means educating yourself on your faith, but to not offend or harm anyone in the process. No wonder Thurman and Gandhi got along so well!.  . 

George Fox was born in 1624 in England, just a few years after the Mayflower set sail. He spent most of his life in England, though he periodically traveled to spread his message. Fox died in 1691 at the age of 67. The period in which Fox lived was a fairly chaotic time of social unrest and new ideas. In Fox's late teenage years, he began to question the authority around him, especially the religious authority. As society was asking, what work God was calling them to, Fox decided to look on his own even though his ideas upset many. Later on in his life, he founded the Society of Friends, more commonly called the Quakers.

The oddest part of Fox's journal to me was his trip to Lichfield. After being released from prison, Fox was wondering around and met some shepherds in the fields to whom he was compelled to give his shoes. After giving his shoes to strangers, he kept walking into town where he was again called by the Lord to yell "Woe unto the bloody city of Lichfield" though at the time, he had no idea why other than that God had told him to so do. After spending some time crying and yelling throughout the market, he decided it was time to go. As he passed by the shepherds again, he paid them for his shoes and left. Apparently 1300 years ago, thousands of Christians were killed there, and that, he presumed,  was God's reason for calling him to Lichfield that day. I just found it very odd that for reasons unknown to him, Fox just decided to give away his shows, yell around an unfamiliar town like a crazy man and then buy his shoes back.

Obviously many changes have been made in religious freedoms since Fox's time. I think it would be very interesting to know how Fox feels about the amount of freedom in the U.S. today. Fox was fairly open for his time, but I think it would be very interesting to hear his views on contemporary and non-denominational churches today, as well as current restrictions on religion, such as church v. state. 

It's been a while since I've posted anything about my project, and I just might be avoiding Chapter 4 right now....

As you all probably know, I've been volunteering at Park Avenue Youth and Family Services with their Tronix Team and After-School Tutoring. I've My project hours are officially over, but I'm definitely still active there! They've got me hooked, I can't leave! :p Really though, I love the programs and kids I work with so much.

It's spring break for the tutoring kids, so we're going to the YMCA for a swimming party :D I can't wait! One of the little girls I tutor, Irma is a little math nerd like me. It makes me so happy! The other two, Nielah and Lanaya, are amazing as well! Of the eight girls who normally come, Nielah and Lanaya are the youngest, but also the most respectful and the sweetest (In my opinion...Hehe)! I must admit, sometime we finish up their tutoring stuff quick and just chat the rest of the time. A couple weeks ago, instead of playing a reading game online, we spent most of our time on Google Maps. She showed me the places in Mexico where her two brothers were born as well as her father. We even zoomed in close enough to see their neighborhood! In my opinion, taking some time to visit is just as important as the tutoring portion. Most of these kids just need a friend, and a good role model. To be honest, the idea of someone looking up to me STILL seems weird, but hey, it seems to be working!

On a similar note, being called "Ms. Patterson" at the Tronix sessions was BEYOND weird for me. I ended up ignoring half of the kids because I didn't realise they were talking to me :O Woops! I'm on a break from Tronix for now. The session I was working on at FAIR School in Minneapolis ended a few weeks ago, and none of the other sessions fit my schedule. Not to say I like the kids better, but I definitely like the Tronix project more that Tutoring. Despite the fact that my last session was twenty one 3rd-5th graders (It's SUPPOSED to be for 5th-8th only...). Twenty one 3rd-5th graders that all want your personal attention RIGHT NOW, I loved it so much. It just feels so great to help kids make this complicated project on their own. On the last day, you can just see in their eyes how pumped they are to take home their lunchbox boombox. Unfortunately, for the last session, due to lack of staff and too many young kids, only a few kids finished that day. I think I counted 5 kids crying as they left... I felt SO BAD! The other Tronix member and I stayed after to finish them all, so they got them the next day at school... but still. I guess I just didn't realise how attached I had gotten to those kids in such a short time!

Even aside from those programs and the kids I've loved every moment of my work. OK... so maybe copying, folding and stapling (with a stapler that was too small) 100 40-pg Lenten devotionals wasn't my favorite afternoon, but you know what I mean! I've gotten to know my supervisors really well, and half the time it takes me a good 30 min to leave because I'm chitchatting the whole time :)

Well, I should probably get to writing this paper before it's time to go swimming! Peace!

"Wow."

That's all I could think when Dr. Loma Meyer began to speak. Not only is she an incredible woman in the fact that she's dedicated four decades to Concordia, but also for how humble she was. Usually my thoughts drift throughout the lecture's we attend, but something about Dr. Meyer struck me. Just from the way she spoke, I could immediately tell how gentle, understanding and self-less she is. She's been everything from a professor, to a board member here at Concordia. After she was introduced, while we should have been thanking her, she took a moment to whole-heartedly thank the University, all the professors and students. Excuse my lack of vocabulary, but "Wow".

Dr. Meyer has been with Concordia since 1967, therefore she has vast first-hand knowledge of the many changes Concordia has been though. Over the years, Concordia has nearly quadrupled in size, yet the percentage of Church Work majors has decreased by 88%. This means that the integration of faith and learning must be approached in a different. When Dr. Loma came to Concordia, their connection was just a given. Some feel that Concordia has taken a step back in their connection, but Dr. Loma views our diversity as a great blessing. As a University, Concordia "must be a university that makes a difference" and "integrate faith and learning to a greater degree." Integration, she said, involves the heart, mind and soul and should be and constant journey. for this integration to be successful though. everyone must be involved.
Students need to be open to new ideas. Learning something new can should strengthen your beliefs, not threaten them! We have a great diversity on campus, and a great opportunity to learn about different cultures. Also, we can learn more by broadening the curriculum. Since technology connects literally everyone around the world, it's so important to understand other people's views and be able to communicate. One must be careful though because the combination between faith and learning is almost ineffective when not balanced. This is where Professors come in! As a college student, sometime it feels like the only people you know are professors. Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I've always had a great connection with my teachers and some have left a great impact on me. Professors are what make learning and knowledge personal. Professors are a lot of what make it possible to fit all learning, and the integration of faith into learning, into a meaningful whole; therefore making the students into well-rounded professionals, working to use our heart, mind, and soul effectively.

This lecture was directly related to much of what we do in Honors. She even had us stand up to be recognized as "Specialized Learners" :p Though our focus this semester has been more on Christianity than anything else this semester, with different aspects like our Volunteer Project, we are essentially allowed to customize our learning and really get the full experience from it. In this class, we get so much more than your typical college course. We've been discussing our vocation lately, and what our place is in this interconnected and ever-changing world. Though I've kind of been the oddball this year when it comes to Christianity, I think that's what this whole lecture was about. We need diversity in the class to learn more! Even though I'm not a Christian, I've learned more about myself than I could possibly explain in this blog. By broadening my curriculum, I've become a much more well-rounded person. Though honestly, sometimes I dread lectures like this and classes till 10pm... but it's the discussions we have in class and blogs like this that allow us to think on our own, while still getting a great education. When we get together and discuss not only our differences, but our similarities we become better individuals and a better community.  

 

Both of this week's readings were written by Martin Luther in the early 1500's during the reformation. With all the new challenges and changes to established religion, there were many thoughts running through people's heads. They were now asking, "what exactly is God calling me to do?" People were now more family-oriented than before, as is seen in Luther's concern for one's neighbor.

In the first reading, The Gospel for the Early Christmas Service, Luther described a Christian as someone who is quite dull in person. During this time period, c.1521, there was much dissent between the Lutherans and Catholics. Here, Luther described the Catholics as much too concerned with human matters such as their laws and their choice of dress. In his opinion, they were being too flashy and were essentially using material things to please God.  Luther believed that a true Christian was someone who "on the outside... shines forth not at all or at most a little bit in the sight of the people, so that, indeed  most people see it as error and foolishness; but on the inside, it is sheer light, joy and bliss" (p.214). In the second reading Trade and Usury, which was written only three years later, Luther now discusses not only how to be a Christian, but how to be a Christian in public. Given the time period, in this reading he spoke of merchants trading goods and the difference it would make if more merchants were Christian. In Luther's mind, the only things were sold for a high price was for neglect of the neighbor. If more merchants were Christian and lived the Christian lifestyle, trade would be about helping your neighbor rather than making a profit.

                I actually just got done talking to my supervisor (an AmeriCorps VISTA worker) about the role of Christianity at the organization. Park Avenue Youth & Family Services is a non-profit which is run by and housed in Park Avenue Methodist Church. As an AmeriCorps worker, my supervisor isn't supposed do anything religious in his work. Recently, our "Volunteer Thank-You Dinner" turned out to be an opening prayer, a sermon, worship, and discussing how God has worked through us at PAYFS. After the "Dinner," my supervisor and I discussed what might have happened if any of the Muslim or Jewish volunteers had shown up. Kind of similar to Luther's first idea, I feel that being public about your faith is fine, but not really appropriate in government settings, especially a non-profit. Christian's aren't the only people helping their neighbors in a time of need, and when you're one of the only non-Christians in a setting like that, it often feels like your work just isn't quite cutting it.  

This weeks reading was a sermon that John de Joinville gave about one of France's most prized kings, King Louis IX. Louis IX was so reverred during his time, that after his death, he became a saint. King Louis IX was the perfect example of how to truly live out the Christian lifestyle. Unlike many Kings of the time, Louis IX lived modestly, was generous, and went out of his way to help the people in his community. He was a great role model for the many Christians asking "What kind of christian should I be?"

King Louis IX acted with mercy, that's for sure. He didn't own a single extravagant item, actively gave food and money to the poor, and even washed their feet. He took the time to read with his kids every night, and never neglected the joys of friendly conversation. I don't know much about Louis IX, so I'm a bit hesitant to say from this reading that he acted justly. The only instance that really speaks of justice, was restoring the peace between father and son by sending aid at the King's expense. I would count that event more toward the King's countless acts of mercy and compassion though.

Given the state of health care in Minnesota, I would LOVE to show this reading to Pawlenty. Admittedly, I don't know nearly as much about health care as I should given that I'm Pre-Med, but my busy schedule only allows for so much downtime... I know enough though to realise just how lacking (and quickly depleting) our health care system and jobs are becoming. In late 2009, Pawlenty vetoed nearly $381 million for GMAC, a program for people ages 21-64 with no dependants and who don't qualify for other federally-funded health programs. WHAT?!?!?! As stupid as they are, I can understand most arguments on health care about family under the poverty line, with multiple kids, "abusing the system," Blah, blah, blah. But, really Pawlenty, REALLY?! Now that I've read up on what Pawlenty's doing to the poor and marginalized here in MN though, I have this to saw to Pawlenty: "Have at least some sympathy for your fellow Minnesotans. I understand that you cannot simply handout everything to everyone, but follow King Louis IX's example, and show some compassion. Get to know the people you're making decisions for before you deny them of ways to help themselves. Jerk." 

If you haven't heard of St. Benedict yet, you should, cause he's a pretty important guy. He was named the patron saint of Europe, and he's even got his own coin in Austria! Around 500, when Benedict was alive, a main concern of the Christians was what kind of Christian to be, and how life should be ordered. Benedict came along with The Rule of St. Benedict (Clever name, right?) which is what I read for this week. This reading, which he only intended to be used in his community in Italy, became the guideline for nearly of all Western monasticism.

Benedict wrote this piece as he was opening a Monastery. His intentions were to guide the monks along the toad to Heaven in which the path is "long and the entrance is narrow." Benedict's rules were so widely accepted in the West because of he was strict enough to keep rule, but still realistic. Two things that stuck out to me as surprisingly lenient, were that he wanted monks to carry out all tasks cheerfully, and the way that he wanted monks to rely on each other. If someone was too sick, their daily tasks were lessened. Also, the monk serving meals for the week, would get an extra portion of food so that they were able to carry out tasks without fatigue. The only thing that really bothered me about this reading was some of the language he used, especially in the opening section. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that no matter who you are or what you've done, no one is "worthless,"  should have to beg to become one of God's children, or be afraid of Him "disinheriting His children"(p.128). In the section on Private Ownership, he states that "Monks neither have free will nor free body" (p.130). In my mind, even if you have absolutely nothing left, you'll always have your free will and it's very degrading to say that one has absolutely no choice in the matter.

On to something more cheerful, my project. What's funny is that as I was writing this, one of my supervisors (Tessa) called me to thank me for all the work I'm doing there. I absolutely, downright, adore my project, the kids I'm getting to know and the adults I work with. I do everything from office work, tutoring sessions and after-school programs at Park Avenue . There are most definitely rules in place there just like the monastery, these seem to be a little less strict though :). The only rule I've actually seen enforced there is that while at Park Ave, the kids there must be doing something. In fact, one of the girls I was tutoring (and her 6 sisters) almost got kicked out because of this. What I love about my organization though, is that they do nearly everything possible to make things work. Instead of immediately kicking the girls out, on my my supervisors personally went to their house to work everything out. The girls are all back in tutoring now, and everything's back to normal.

For this week, I chose to read Augustine's Confessions. Augustine was from North Africa and lived from 354-430. This particular piece was written c.400. At that time, one of the main questions being asked by society was "Being a Christian can't be THAT easy, can it?" This question, among many others such as "What exactly makes a Christian?", is definitely present in Augustine's thoughts. Confessions, is actually a prayer that Augustine wrote out to God, containing details of his youth and how he came to the faith.

Augustine wrote about the time from when he was 19 to when he was 28 years old. During this time, he wrote, he was "arrogant in the one sphere, superstitious in the other, and vain and empty from all points of view." He taught the art of rhetoric, but also searched for God. Unfortunately though, he was never really happy. He searched for money and marriage and honor, but never felt fulfilled. Finally one day, after revelation brought on by a drunk in the streets, Augustine decided to stop waiting and making excuses and gave his entire life up to Christ. After years and years of mind-games and uncertainty, he was finally ready give up the desires and stresses of the flesh, and live his life with purpose.

To be completely honest, I was not looking forward to this blog at all. I figured I couldn't possibly have anything in common with this great religious person. I mean, people look up to him and learn from him still Today... what on earth could he have to confess that he did wrongly?!? Boy, was I wrong! I found myself often relating to the way that Augustine thought. There were many aspects, such as his hesitation, introspection, and uncertainty that I related completely to. Throughout my struggle (journey?) to find faith, I felt exactly as Augustine described in some parts. This reading, for me, was a good reassurance that even after all those negative thoughts and failed searching, it's still possible to find your faith, and stand firmly in it.

The reading I selected was Tertullian's Apology to the Roman emperors. Tertullian was writing in defence of the Christians of the time, who were being acused of treason for not participating in roman ceremonies. Tertullian stated that "we cannot be held to do harm to that which has no existence" (pp. 55). Tertullian was also writing in hopes to decrease the ignorance surrounding Christianity and encouraged others to educate themselves. He believed that once people learned about the faith, they would convert.

As Tertullian defended the Christians of the time, he basically suggested that they should be thanked rather than attacked. Christians believed that the many Roman gods didn't exist, therefore it was not a crime to refrain from praising them. The Christians were praying to the only one they knew would grant their prayers, the One, True God. Since the Christian God existed and the Roman gods did not, it only made sense to pray to the real God. In Tertillian's eyes, there was no evidence of a crime.

Though this was written circa 200, there are still many similarities in the Christians of Today. Christians of Tertillian's time and of Today still have the overall expectation to be loving of all people, Christian or not. And sometimes, as Tertullian noted early-on, the only good quality a person might have is that they are a Christian. Christian's of today are definitely in a more favorable light today. though it's not the same all over the world, here at home, no one is persecuted or disowned for being a Christian. As Sarah stated in her blog, it seems that now-a-days, instead of Roman gods, we have things such as pride and money taking the place as the false gods.