Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Dreamer
The woman in Uganda didn't know to want a truck. Our dreams and desires are determined by our experiences and resources.
U.S. Egyptian Relationship
Anyone have any thoughts on the importance of community development in the Middle East- particularly Egypt-and why it's important to the United States?
Unchristian
Have any of you read Unchristian by David Kinnaman? In his book, David talks about how young Americans ages 16-29 generally view Christians as "hypocritical," "insensitive," and "judgemental."
I've been staying at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and thinking through the arguments presented in this book. "Outsiders" to the faith often do view Chrisitans negatively, and this is nothing new, but according to Unchrisian, negative views of Christians/ Christianity are much more prevalent now than in past generations. Any thoughts out there on why this is the case? Are Christians insensitive judgemental hypocrites, or are they being perceived wrongly?
I've been staying at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and thinking through the arguments presented in this book. "Outsiders" to the faith often do view Chrisitans negatively, and this is nothing new, but according to Unchrisian, negative views of Christians/ Christianity are much more prevalent now than in past generations. Any thoughts out there on why this is the case? Are Christians insensitive judgemental hypocrites, or are they being perceived wrongly?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Inspire
Inspiration can be found in the least likely of places...
This morning it was in a Spanglish conversation with a Belizean man named "J." J brought his Equadorian wife and three children from Belize to Minnesota for the opportunity to gain an education. His children are doing that, but J's own goals have stalled. 3 years was what he had planned it would take him to complete his contractor's license, but it's been several more than that because he cannot afford to quit working to attend school full time. J asked about the essay I was writing-on community development in the Middle East and it's importance to the United States- for a college scholarship. I told him a bit about it and he looked me in the eye and said, "You're going to win if you meet God halfway. Do your half and He'll do His. You'll win that contest.
I spent last night at my cousin's place in Minneapolis and took the Megabus to Chicago this morning. (Megabus is the cheapest way to travel if you book ahead. The first person to book gets a ticket- to Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison- for $1.) I'll spend the next couple nights at Moody Bible Institute with some new friends from Alaska. Then Wednesday morning it's a 1 hour subway to O'Hare International and a 14 hour flight from there to Frankfurt.
Inspiration can be found everywhere- in all the sights and sounds, conversations and interactions with people on busses and in the streets. My goal for the summer is not only to find, but to be inspiration.
Like the Mexican immigrant who came back to thank my cousin for encouraging him to pursue his dream to become a nurse. He told her he wouldn't have done it had it not been for her encouragement. My cousin changed the entire course of his life and the lives of his children and generations to follow through a word of encouragement.
"If you only do what you know you can do, you never do very much."
This morning it was in a Spanglish conversation with a Belizean man named "J." J brought his Equadorian wife and three children from Belize to Minnesota for the opportunity to gain an education. His children are doing that, but J's own goals have stalled. 3 years was what he had planned it would take him to complete his contractor's license, but it's been several more than that because he cannot afford to quit working to attend school full time. J asked about the essay I was writing-on community development in the Middle East and it's importance to the United States- for a college scholarship. I told him a bit about it and he looked me in the eye and said, "You're going to win if you meet God halfway. Do your half and He'll do His. You'll win that contest.
I spent last night at my cousin's place in Minneapolis and took the Megabus to Chicago this morning. (Megabus is the cheapest way to travel if you book ahead. The first person to book gets a ticket- to Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison- for $1.) I'll spend the next couple nights at Moody Bible Institute with some new friends from Alaska. Then Wednesday morning it's a 1 hour subway to O'Hare International and a 14 hour flight from there to Frankfurt.
Inspiration can be found everywhere- in all the sights and sounds, conversations and interactions with people on busses and in the streets. My goal for the summer is not only to find, but to be inspiration.
Like the Mexican immigrant who came back to thank my cousin for encouraging him to pursue his dream to become a nurse. He told her he wouldn't have done it had it not been for her encouragement. My cousin changed the entire course of his life and the lives of his children and generations to follow through a word of encouragement.
"If you only do what you know you can do, you never do very much."
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