"The power of the gospel brings the transformation of the heart." Ravi Zacharias
I finished the OCCA course and graduated on Friday, July 6! It was also the final day of the RZIM Summer School. Ravi Zacharias came in to give the departing address, "Is Jesus Unique?" He gave 3 distictives of Jesus: 1. Jesus description of the human condition is verified to us time after time as we read Scripture. In human depravity, the main malady is pride. 2. Jesus is the only one who can offer a provision for our malady of sin. Buddha cannot offer forgiveness. 3. Jesus' gospel is historically connected from the promise of a Saviour (Jesus) to the fulfillment of that promise, including Calvary and the empty tomb.
The 10 of us received an OCCA certificate. It was a sweet moment because we had stayed the course, gained so much, and had built sincere friendships with each other during the six weeks. It was hard to realize that it was really over. It is so interesting how we humans can adapt to new environments, people and experiences. I am sure that we could all testify how the time at OCCA strengthened our faith, challenged our minds and hearts, and prepared us for further 'kingdom work.'
All of our spouses were at the graduation except one. David and I had Saturday, the 7th to finish sightseeing and packing. On Sunday, July 8, Peta and Rob Stanton came to take us home with them to Wootton in Bedforshire.
I am writing from Wootton. We will stay with our friends for a few days and will arrive back in Nashville on July 13, 2012.
I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be a part of what God is doing around the world. His message of love is as relevant today as it has always been. I will be processing my time at Oxford for days and weeks to come.
Thank you for all who came along with me on the adventure in Oxford!
Mae Ann
Monday, July 9, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Week 6 RZIM Summer School at Queen's College
Here it is already July 2! The time is really flying by! Davis was here last week for 5 nights, actually putting the final touches on his film, "Good Piping" for the premier in Dublin. It was shown yesterday, but we haven't heard the report from Davis yet! We are assuming the best.
David got in Friday, June 29. Friday night we went out with friends from the 6-week class for dinner and David got to meet everyone except 3 in our group. Saturday night we went to hear Joseph Haydn's The Creation performed by the local symphony inside of the famous Sheldonian Theater. We got Davis off to Ireland on Saturday, then on Sunday, the RZIM Summer School began.
This is our 1st full day of classes. We are joined by 130 others from everywhere! I am heading back now to hear Os Guinness speak on "A Thinking Person's Quest for Meaning."
David is enjoying it here too! Who wouldn't?
Love to all from rainy and cool Oxford,
Mae Ann
David got in Friday, June 29. Friday night we went out with friends from the 6-week class for dinner and David got to meet everyone except 3 in our group. Saturday night we went to hear Joseph Haydn's The Creation performed by the local symphony inside of the famous Sheldonian Theater. We got Davis off to Ireland on Saturday, then on Sunday, the RZIM Summer School began.
This is our 1st full day of classes. We are joined by 130 others from everywhere! I am heading back now to hear Os Guinness speak on "A Thinking Person's Quest for Meaning."
David is enjoying it here too! Who wouldn't?
Love to all from rainy and cool Oxford,
Mae Ann
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Christ Church Cathedral Evensong
The thought for today is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer who wrote, "Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church."
Hello everyone! I am half way through the 5th week! Can you believe it?
Last Sunday night, I went to the Evensong Service at Christ Church College Cathedral. The music was just beautiful! As I walked out, I heard someone say "Mae Ann!" I turned around and it was Anna Thornton from Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville! Then out came Gif and their 4 kids! We were all so happy to see each other. They were on an English vacation with their family and Oxford was on their travel itinerary. They were just as surprised to see me and find out what I was up to!
This week we are being hosted and taught by Stuart McAllister and Os Guinness. Stuart serves as North American Regional Director and VP of Training at RZIM's headquarters in Atlanta. He was born in Scotland. He has served the Lord at Operation Mobilization, European Evangelical Alliance and the European Lausanne Committee. Os Guinness has written or edited more than 25 books. He is a social critic, who is a Senior Fellow at the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics. He was born in China where his parents were missionaries. He received his D. Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford. He resides in Virginia.
We have had an intensive week so far! I only have time to list the topics of discussion for you tonight:
1. Globalization and the Gospel
2. Spiritual Discipline of Solitude
3. Postmodernism
4. Jesus in a World of Cynics
5. Nietzche
6. The Saturated Self
7. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
8. Using Film in Evangelism
9. The Rationality of the Christian Faith
10 Suffering
We all had a lovely night out together at the well known restaurant The Trout. Tomorrow our group will visit C. S. Lewis's homeplace, the Kilns.
Davis arrived on Monday night after class. He is on his way to Dublin, Ireland to premier his film, Good Piping on Sunday, July 1. He is putting the final touches on his film and will be heading on over to Ireland on Saturday. We are having a good time experiencing Oxford together inbetween his editing and my classes.
David arrives on Friday, the 29th! We will be attending together the RZIM Europe's Summer School for 1 week at Queen's College in Oxford. Next week also makes up the 6th week of training for my group of 10. The summer school has about 120 people coming in for an intensive week of exploring contemporary issues that challenge the Christian faith. More on this later!
Take care and love to all,
Mae Ann
Hello everyone! I am half way through the 5th week! Can you believe it?
Last Sunday night, I went to the Evensong Service at Christ Church College Cathedral. The music was just beautiful! As I walked out, I heard someone say "Mae Ann!" I turned around and it was Anna Thornton from Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville! Then out came Gif and their 4 kids! We were all so happy to see each other. They were on an English vacation with their family and Oxford was on their travel itinerary. They were just as surprised to see me and find out what I was up to!
This week we are being hosted and taught by Stuart McAllister and Os Guinness. Stuart serves as North American Regional Director and VP of Training at RZIM's headquarters in Atlanta. He was born in Scotland. He has served the Lord at Operation Mobilization, European Evangelical Alliance and the European Lausanne Committee. Os Guinness has written or edited more than 25 books. He is a social critic, who is a Senior Fellow at the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics. He was born in China where his parents were missionaries. He received his D. Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford. He resides in Virginia.
We have had an intensive week so far! I only have time to list the topics of discussion for you tonight:
1. Globalization and the Gospel
2. Spiritual Discipline of Solitude
3. Postmodernism
4. Jesus in a World of Cynics
5. Nietzche
6. The Saturated Self
7. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
8. Using Film in Evangelism
9. The Rationality of the Christian Faith
10 Suffering
We all had a lovely night out together at the well known restaurant The Trout. Tomorrow our group will visit C. S. Lewis's homeplace, the Kilns.
Davis arrived on Monday night after class. He is on his way to Dublin, Ireland to premier his film, Good Piping on Sunday, July 1. He is putting the final touches on his film and will be heading on over to Ireland on Saturday. We are having a good time experiencing Oxford together inbetween his editing and my classes.
David arrives on Friday, the 29th! We will be attending together the RZIM Europe's Summer School for 1 week at Queen's College in Oxford. Next week also makes up the 6th week of training for my group of 10. The summer school has about 120 people coming in for an intensive week of exploring contemporary issues that challenge the Christian faith. More on this later!
Take care and love to all,
Mae Ann
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Visit to Blenheim Palace, Woodstock * How to Know Your Authentic Self So that You Can Be an Authentic Leader
"While there is tea, there is hope." Sir Arthur Pimero (In his play, 'Sweet Lavender' the character Horace, utters the famous line.
Yesterday, I took the bus out to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, just a few miles out of Oxford. It was designated a World Heritage site in 1987. It was built for the 1st Duke of Marlborough in the early 1700s. A grateful Queen Anne rewarded John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough with a house to be called 'Blenheim' after his famous victory in battle there. It is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The house is surrounded by 2000 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by 'Capability' Brown in the 1760s.
I was particularly interested because my friend, Sue Marie Brown and I had visited the Newport Mansions in Newport, R. I. in the last few years. One of the houses we visited was called The Marble House. It was built as a 'summer house' for William K. and Alva Vanderbilt. He gave Alva the house for her 39th Birthday! William K. Vanderbilt is a grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt (the Commodore), who partially funded Vanderbilt University, thus the name. The Marble House was built between 1882 and 1892 as an opulent stone palace. Their only daughter was Consuelo Vanderbilt. Her mother, Alva, basically forced Consuelo to marry the 9th Duke of Marlborough because she wanted her daughter to hold a title. She would become Duchess of Marlborough. She was only 18 when they married in New York City in 1895. After the wedding, in the carriage, leaving the church, the Marlborough told Consuelo that he loved another woman and would never return to America. The reason that the 9th Duke of Marlborough married her was because he inherited Blenheim Palace in 1892. Blenheim was bankrupt and in bad condition. Because of his title, he was not allowed to work, so he was forced to find a quick solution. He had to marry money. So he agreed to marry Consuelo, an American railroad heiress for $2,500,000! This money went to remodel, restore, and replenish Blenheim Palace in the late 1800s. This Duke is credited with saving the palace. They had a loveless marriage, but produced two sons. Consuelo left Charles, the 9th Duke in 1906 and divorced him in 1920.
Now, where does Sir Winston Churchill come into play? Winston Churchill was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill was son of John Spencer Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. His mother was Jenny Jerome, an American socialite, daughter of millionaire, Leonard Jerome. So, in review, the 7th Duke of Marlborough was Winston Churchill's grandfather. The 8th Duke was Winston's uncle and the 9th Duke, Charles, was his 1st cousin.
Winston Churchill was the British statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He was a great war-time leader. In 1940 he became Britain's Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. He was in this office till 1945. He remained a member of Parliament until 1964. He died in 1965 at 90. He was a great writer, historian and orator with volumes of history books that he wrote as well as volumes of his recorded speeches.
HOW TO KNOW YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF SO THAT YOU WILL BE AN AUTHENTIC LEADER: Information is taken from Bill George's book "True North."
There are 5 major areas of personal development that must be strong to be an authentic leader:
1. SELF AWARENESS: What is my story? What are my strengths and weaknesses?
2. VALUES: What are my most deeply held values?
3. MOTIVATIONS: What motivates me?
4. SUPPORT TEAM: Who are the people I can count on to guide and support me along the way?
5. INTEGRATED LIFE: How can I integrate all aspects of my life and find fulfillment.
* Knowing your authentic self is a journey of self-discovery and honest self appraisal. It takes time, self-exploration, deep introspection, feedback and support.
* We cannot be true leaders without gaining this self-awareness.
* When you know yourself, you can find the passion that motivates you.
* You can overcome almost any obstacle, unless you are the obstacle!
* To protect yourself from harm and pain, you may develop a false self by building protective layers and in so doing, become less authentic. You shut people out of your life. You don't want them to get to know you because you don't know yourself.
* Leaders with exceptionally high IQ get too intellectually involved and have trouble being tolerant of others. It can be an impediment to leadership.
* Leadership skill, interpersonal skill and teamwork is more important than extra points of IQ.
* True leaders know how to implement wisdom, humility and personal engagement with people.
* Why is self awareness so important? 1. The better you know yourself, the more likely you are to choose the right role for yourself 2. You become comfortable in your own skin--real self-confidence.
3. It teaches you how to be consistent 4. You become more open and transparent which includes sharing your vulnerabilities. 5. You can fill your "skill gaps" with colleagues that complement both your strengths and weaknesses.
* If you are not a self-aware person, you will have a greater chance of getting caught up in chasing external symbols of success rather than becoming the person you want to be.
* If you feel threatened or rejected, it is hard to regulate your emotions, control your fears and avoid impulsive outbursts.
* We must be aware of our vulnerabilities, fears, and longings, so that we can empathize with others who are experiencing similar feelings.
* Take time for continual self-exploration.
* Do you know someone who has painful childhood memories and as a result, they have shut themselves off from their feelings? So what they do is that they drive extremely hard to achieve success in the tangible ways that are recognized in the external world--money, fame, power, status. Their drive enables them to be successful for a while, but their lack of self-awareness can lead to major mistakes and errors in judgment.
* One of the most difficult things in becoming self aware is seeing ourselves as others see us. We need accurate feedback to identify our blind spots.
* The more stress you are under, the more you revert to your old patterns.
* We should adopt the power of storytelling. In these stories, we can reveal our life, fears, ambitions, and failures. These stories inspire others.
* Denial is the biggest challenge we face. The only way to overcome it is to be honest with ourself and not make up excuses.
* We all want to be stroked, admired, and complimented, but we have to be willing to listen to feedback we don't want to hear. That requires a strong sense of yourself.
* When we can see our mistakes and take accountability for them and are open to new ways of doing things, the change you can accomplish is almost unlimited.
* Perfection is not the goal of authentic leadership, but rather to be true to who you are.
* How do you peel back the layers of the onion of self discovery?
* The outer layers of the onion are the visible ways your present yourself to the world--how you look, your facial expressions, your body language, your attire and the way you express yourself.
* Understanding these outer layers provide the access to our inner core.
* What is the next layer made up of? Our strengths, weaknesses, needs and desires.
* What is the next layer made up of? Our values and motivations
* What lies around the core layer? Our vulnerabilities and blind spots.
* What is at the core of your being? What you believe and what you believe your purpose is on this earth.
* Few of us see the world as it sees us.
* Feedback helps you take the blinders off, face reality and see yourself as you really are.
* We can be on a "fast track" but it may not be "our" track.
* The ability to face reality and acknowledge that you can fail and still feel good about yourself is an important turning point in your self awareness.
* Will others accept us if we show our vulnerability? Will they think less of us?
* Self awareness is only half of the challenge. You still have to accept yourself.
* Do you love yourself unconditionally just as God loves us? We must have self-compassion. We have to accept the things that we like least about ourselves. We have to learn to love our weaknesses as much as we love our strengths.
* Our anger and emotional outbursts usually result when someone penetrates to the core of what we do not like about ourselves or still cannot accept.
* Free of having to pretend to be someone we are not, we can focus on pursuing our passions and fulfilling our dreams.
Sorry this was so long, but it is good stuff!
Yesterday, I took the bus out to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, just a few miles out of Oxford. It was designated a World Heritage site in 1987. It was built for the 1st Duke of Marlborough in the early 1700s. A grateful Queen Anne rewarded John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough with a house to be called 'Blenheim' after his famous victory in battle there. It is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The house is surrounded by 2000 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by 'Capability' Brown in the 1760s.
I was particularly interested because my friend, Sue Marie Brown and I had visited the Newport Mansions in Newport, R. I. in the last few years. One of the houses we visited was called The Marble House. It was built as a 'summer house' for William K. and Alva Vanderbilt. He gave Alva the house for her 39th Birthday! William K. Vanderbilt is a grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt (the Commodore), who partially funded Vanderbilt University, thus the name. The Marble House was built between 1882 and 1892 as an opulent stone palace. Their only daughter was Consuelo Vanderbilt. Her mother, Alva, basically forced Consuelo to marry the 9th Duke of Marlborough because she wanted her daughter to hold a title. She would become Duchess of Marlborough. She was only 18 when they married in New York City in 1895. After the wedding, in the carriage, leaving the church, the Marlborough told Consuelo that he loved another woman and would never return to America. The reason that the 9th Duke of Marlborough married her was because he inherited Blenheim Palace in 1892. Blenheim was bankrupt and in bad condition. Because of his title, he was not allowed to work, so he was forced to find a quick solution. He had to marry money. So he agreed to marry Consuelo, an American railroad heiress for $2,500,000! This money went to remodel, restore, and replenish Blenheim Palace in the late 1800s. This Duke is credited with saving the palace. They had a loveless marriage, but produced two sons. Consuelo left Charles, the 9th Duke in 1906 and divorced him in 1920.
Now, where does Sir Winston Churchill come into play? Winston Churchill was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill was son of John Spencer Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. His mother was Jenny Jerome, an American socialite, daughter of millionaire, Leonard Jerome. So, in review, the 7th Duke of Marlborough was Winston Churchill's grandfather. The 8th Duke was Winston's uncle and the 9th Duke, Charles, was his 1st cousin.
Winston Churchill was the British statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He was a great war-time leader. In 1940 he became Britain's Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. He was in this office till 1945. He remained a member of Parliament until 1964. He died in 1965 at 90. He was a great writer, historian and orator with volumes of history books that he wrote as well as volumes of his recorded speeches.
HOW TO KNOW YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF SO THAT YOU WILL BE AN AUTHENTIC LEADER: Information is taken from Bill George's book "True North."
There are 5 major areas of personal development that must be strong to be an authentic leader:
1. SELF AWARENESS: What is my story? What are my strengths and weaknesses?
2. VALUES: What are my most deeply held values?
3. MOTIVATIONS: What motivates me?
4. SUPPORT TEAM: Who are the people I can count on to guide and support me along the way?
5. INTEGRATED LIFE: How can I integrate all aspects of my life and find fulfillment.
* Knowing your authentic self is a journey of self-discovery and honest self appraisal. It takes time, self-exploration, deep introspection, feedback and support.
* We cannot be true leaders without gaining this self-awareness.
* When you know yourself, you can find the passion that motivates you.
* You can overcome almost any obstacle, unless you are the obstacle!
* To protect yourself from harm and pain, you may develop a false self by building protective layers and in so doing, become less authentic. You shut people out of your life. You don't want them to get to know you because you don't know yourself.
* Leaders with exceptionally high IQ get too intellectually involved and have trouble being tolerant of others. It can be an impediment to leadership.
* Leadership skill, interpersonal skill and teamwork is more important than extra points of IQ.
* True leaders know how to implement wisdom, humility and personal engagement with people.
* Why is self awareness so important? 1. The better you know yourself, the more likely you are to choose the right role for yourself 2. You become comfortable in your own skin--real self-confidence.
3. It teaches you how to be consistent 4. You become more open and transparent which includes sharing your vulnerabilities. 5. You can fill your "skill gaps" with colleagues that complement both your strengths and weaknesses.
* If you are not a self-aware person, you will have a greater chance of getting caught up in chasing external symbols of success rather than becoming the person you want to be.
* If you feel threatened or rejected, it is hard to regulate your emotions, control your fears and avoid impulsive outbursts.
* We must be aware of our vulnerabilities, fears, and longings, so that we can empathize with others who are experiencing similar feelings.
* Take time for continual self-exploration.
* Do you know someone who has painful childhood memories and as a result, they have shut themselves off from their feelings? So what they do is that they drive extremely hard to achieve success in the tangible ways that are recognized in the external world--money, fame, power, status. Their drive enables them to be successful for a while, but their lack of self-awareness can lead to major mistakes and errors in judgment.
* One of the most difficult things in becoming self aware is seeing ourselves as others see us. We need accurate feedback to identify our blind spots.
* The more stress you are under, the more you revert to your old patterns.
* We should adopt the power of storytelling. In these stories, we can reveal our life, fears, ambitions, and failures. These stories inspire others.
* Denial is the biggest challenge we face. The only way to overcome it is to be honest with ourself and not make up excuses.
* We all want to be stroked, admired, and complimented, but we have to be willing to listen to feedback we don't want to hear. That requires a strong sense of yourself.
* When we can see our mistakes and take accountability for them and are open to new ways of doing things, the change you can accomplish is almost unlimited.
* Perfection is not the goal of authentic leadership, but rather to be true to who you are.
* How do you peel back the layers of the onion of self discovery?
* The outer layers of the onion are the visible ways your present yourself to the world--how you look, your facial expressions, your body language, your attire and the way you express yourself.
* Understanding these outer layers provide the access to our inner core.
* What is the next layer made up of? Our strengths, weaknesses, needs and desires.
* What is the next layer made up of? Our values and motivations
* What lies around the core layer? Our vulnerabilities and blind spots.
* What is at the core of your being? What you believe and what you believe your purpose is on this earth.
* Few of us see the world as it sees us.
* Feedback helps you take the blinders off, face reality and see yourself as you really are.
* We can be on a "fast track" but it may not be "our" track.
* The ability to face reality and acknowledge that you can fail and still feel good about yourself is an important turning point in your self awareness.
* Will others accept us if we show our vulnerability? Will they think less of us?
* Self awareness is only half of the challenge. You still have to accept yourself.
* Do you love yourself unconditionally just as God loves us? We must have self-compassion. We have to accept the things that we like least about ourselves. We have to learn to love our weaknesses as much as we love our strengths.
* Our anger and emotional outbursts usually result when someone penetrates to the core of what we do not like about ourselves or still cannot accept.
* Free of having to pretend to be someone we are not, we can focus on pursuing our passions and fulfilling our dreams.
Sorry this was so long, but it is good stuff!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Theology of Work and The Discipline of Prayer
Thought for the day: INCREASE THE CIRCLE OF OUR FRIENDS ETERNALLY.
I can't believe how fast this week is flying by! This week we are concentrating on something we all know something about: Work. We are being taught by Professor John Lennox and discussions are led by Ian Smith and Rich Jasper. John Lennox is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and an Adjunct Professor at the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics. He is also a Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green-Templeton College, Oxford. His most recent books include 'Seven Days that Divide the World', 'Gunning for God', and 'Stephen Hawking and God'. He has debated a number of the world's leading atheists including Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Peter Singer.
I am going to try to summarize the key points to our lectures and discussions that you might also find to be helpful and thought provoking. I love John's technique of interaction with our group.
First question: Why work? Because God himself is a worker. He created the universe. Genesis 2:2
"And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done and he rested on the seventh day from all of his work."
His highest work was the creation of man and woman, or human beings. Genesis 2:7 "and man became a living being."
God is still working for our and other's redemption. John 5:17 "Jesus answered answered them, 'My Father is working still, and I am working.'
What is life? What does it mean to be fully alive? We are more than just a physical being. What are some ways that we are more than just a physical being? What is the essence of being fully alive?
God took pleasure in his work. He said "It is good." Do we take pleasure in our work?
Why do most people work? Most people work to put food on the table and to have shelter, clothing, and pay the bills.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "If anyone will not work, let him not eat." Yet, Matthew 6:25 and 33 says
"I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, not about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
Do you work to live or live to work?
How do you resolve the tension between if you don't work, you don't eat and what Jesus says about not worrying about food, etc.?
The crucial issue for the Christian is attitude. Trusting God is at the heart of everything.
So, what is the Christian work ethic or motivation for work? 1. to see God work through us to establish or grow His kingdom in His world 2. our work experience is one of the ways that we learn about God's rule or kingdom work in our life and grow in His righteousness.
All work is sacred. God has given all work a supreme value.
Colossians 3:23 "Whatever your task (or work), work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men."
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
The workplace is the training ground for God's training in righteousness. Working teaches real responsibility before God and His ways.
So to summarize: There is the Christians's GOAL of work and then there are the BY-PRODUCTS of work:
GOAL of work: Experiencing and learning God's authority, morality and faithfulness in my life so that I can serve others. (Matthew 6:33)
BY-PRODUCTS of work: food, clothing, housing, other needs
THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER: Amy Orr-Ewing
4 types of prayer from the model of The Lord's Prayer in Luke 11
1. Contemplative prayer: Pray to our personal Father (Abba) Father; contemplate who God is and contemplate who we are; we are the adopted children of God; we belong to God (Our Father); we have become a new creation.
2. Petitionary prayer: We are asking for his agenda, not ours: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done;" we are shaped by his agenda; idolatry is coming up with our own idols and asking them to bring things to us or for us, but they have no power.
3. Personal prayer: "Give us each day our daily bread;" I do not or will not rely on my intellect, my wealth, my looks, my ............; we recognize God's sovereignty, we relinquish our self-reliance.
4. Confessing prayer: "Forgive us our sins;" "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Practical ways to pray:
1. Pray the scriptures: it's ok to pray the words of others
2. Prayer walking: retreating into God's creation--praying while you walk
3. Practical prayer: Practicing the Presence of God by Bro. Lawrence: finding joy in his presence.
4. Meditative prayer: Christian meditation is to meditate on God and who he is and his truth or you can meditate on a scripture passage or verse
5. The quiet time: daily time of prayer and the studied Word
6. Family prayers: Who are the people that make up my "household"?
7. Soaking prayer: a longer time in God's presence--maybe listen to a book of the Bible on recording, reflect and pray
8. Intercessory prayer: consistent and faithful prayer for people we know, naming them before God and praying over their situation
9. Prayer journaling: how God communicates with us; answered prayers
10.Corporate prayer: prayer at church, work, with others
I can't believe how fast this week is flying by! This week we are concentrating on something we all know something about: Work. We are being taught by Professor John Lennox and discussions are led by Ian Smith and Rich Jasper. John Lennox is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and an Adjunct Professor at the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics. He is also a Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green-Templeton College, Oxford. His most recent books include 'Seven Days that Divide the World', 'Gunning for God', and 'Stephen Hawking and God'. He has debated a number of the world's leading atheists including Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Peter Singer.
I am going to try to summarize the key points to our lectures and discussions that you might also find to be helpful and thought provoking. I love John's technique of interaction with our group.
First question: Why work? Because God himself is a worker. He created the universe. Genesis 2:2
"And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done and he rested on the seventh day from all of his work."
His highest work was the creation of man and woman, or human beings. Genesis 2:7 "and man became a living being."
God is still working for our and other's redemption. John 5:17 "Jesus answered answered them, 'My Father is working still, and I am working.'
What is life? What does it mean to be fully alive? We are more than just a physical being. What are some ways that we are more than just a physical being? What is the essence of being fully alive?
God took pleasure in his work. He said "It is good." Do we take pleasure in our work?
Why do most people work? Most people work to put food on the table and to have shelter, clothing, and pay the bills.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "If anyone will not work, let him not eat." Yet, Matthew 6:25 and 33 says
"I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, not about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
Do you work to live or live to work?
How do you resolve the tension between if you don't work, you don't eat and what Jesus says about not worrying about food, etc.?
The crucial issue for the Christian is attitude. Trusting God is at the heart of everything.
So, what is the Christian work ethic or motivation for work? 1. to see God work through us to establish or grow His kingdom in His world 2. our work experience is one of the ways that we learn about God's rule or kingdom work in our life and grow in His righteousness.
All work is sacred. God has given all work a supreme value.
Colossians 3:23 "Whatever your task (or work), work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men."
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
The workplace is the training ground for God's training in righteousness. Working teaches real responsibility before God and His ways.
So to summarize: There is the Christians's GOAL of work and then there are the BY-PRODUCTS of work:
GOAL of work: Experiencing and learning God's authority, morality and faithfulness in my life so that I can serve others. (Matthew 6:33)
BY-PRODUCTS of work: food, clothing, housing, other needs
THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER: Amy Orr-Ewing
4 types of prayer from the model of The Lord's Prayer in Luke 11
1. Contemplative prayer: Pray to our personal Father (Abba) Father; contemplate who God is and contemplate who we are; we are the adopted children of God; we belong to God (Our Father); we have become a new creation.
2. Petitionary prayer: We are asking for his agenda, not ours: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done;" we are shaped by his agenda; idolatry is coming up with our own idols and asking them to bring things to us or for us, but they have no power.
3. Personal prayer: "Give us each day our daily bread;" I do not or will not rely on my intellect, my wealth, my looks, my ............; we recognize God's sovereignty, we relinquish our self-reliance.
4. Confessing prayer: "Forgive us our sins;" "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Practical ways to pray:
1. Pray the scriptures: it's ok to pray the words of others
2. Prayer walking: retreating into God's creation--praying while you walk
3. Practical prayer: Practicing the Presence of God by Bro. Lawrence: finding joy in his presence.
4. Meditative prayer: Christian meditation is to meditate on God and who he is and his truth or you can meditate on a scripture passage or verse
5. The quiet time: daily time of prayer and the studied Word
6. Family prayers: Who are the people that make up my "household"?
7. Soaking prayer: a longer time in God's presence--maybe listen to a book of the Bible on recording, reflect and pray
8. Intercessory prayer: consistent and faithful prayer for people we know, naming them before God and praying over their situation
9. Prayer journaling: how God communicates with us; answered prayers
10.Corporate prayer: prayer at church, work, with others
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Beginning of Week 4!
Hello to all! It's going to be brief today. It is Monday, June 18th. Our week was so full that there was little time to blog. I will try to give a recap of the week:
11th: Day trip to the Cotswolds! It was cold and rainy the entire day. Our host wanted us to see everything so we walked and walked in the rain. It took about 3 days for everything to dry out! But we had a great time anyway. We visited Churchill's grave in Bladen, Lower Slaughter, Burford, and Bourton on the Water. All were picturesque even in the rain.
12th: Study of Buddhism taught by Tan Kang San. He converted to Christianity from Buddhism. His brother is a Buddhist monk. The top 10 Buddhist countries are: Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea
p.m. Dinner at David Lloyd's home.
13th: We have been studying the Christian disciplines of Fasting, Hospitality, Giving and Prayer will be next week. Today Sharon Dirckx, OCCA tutor and speaker taught on giving.
Great thought: What does God give us? He gives lavishly--he gave his son, motivated by unconditional love. He lowered himself to come into our world and died the most undignified death..
He gives us a new heart, assurance of salvation, power, intimacy with himself, effectiveness in prayer, and deliverance from sin, evil and death..........to name a few.
Christian Hofreiter from Austria taught on "War in the Old Testament." How do we reconcile violence and genocide ("destroy every living thing" or "do not spare anything that breathed") in the OT with a loving God?
Michael Ramsden taught on Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son--a wonderful study of love and repentance!
I enjoyed sharing dinner and conversation with one of our teacher's wives: Celeste Small at Turl Street Kitchen.
14th: Dr. Ard Louis taught us today on the topic of Science and Faith. He is a professor in the Dept. of Physics at the University of Oxford. His parents were both biologists in the jungles of Africa. He grew up with a pet chimpanzee!
Alister McGrath led discussions this week on the life of C. S. Lewis and how he does apologetics in his writings. We reviewed texts of Mere Christianity.
15th: Today was a day trip to London by train! Ian Smith and David Lloyd were our hosts. The morning was spent with the organization CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). It is a public affairs' team focusing on research and advocacy. They send briefings to members of Parliament to inform and affect voting on various bills. Lyndon Bowring is the Executive Chairman of CARE.
We spent the afternoon with Baroness Cox. She is a appointed member of the House of Lords in Parliament. We had a private session with her. She is a committed Christian making a difference in the public square. She also heads up a ministry called HART, Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust.
16th: On Sat. and Sunday, my friends, Peta and Rob Stanton, drove to Oxford and picked me up and took me to their home in Wootten for the weekend. What a lovely and relaxing visit. We had not seen each other since September of 2008. I enjoyed worship with them in their church.
17th: Yesterday when Peta and Rob brought me back to Oxford, we attended the 4:30 service at St. Ebbe's Church. After circling Oxford and trying to navigate the one-way streets and pedestrian areas, we finally drove the car to Jesus College where I will be living for the next 3 weeks. They helped me move my things in. This room is much smaller and compact, but has everything I need and more.
11th: Day trip to the Cotswolds! It was cold and rainy the entire day. Our host wanted us to see everything so we walked and walked in the rain. It took about 3 days for everything to dry out! But we had a great time anyway. We visited Churchill's grave in Bladen, Lower Slaughter, Burford, and Bourton on the Water. All were picturesque even in the rain.
12th: Study of Buddhism taught by Tan Kang San. He converted to Christianity from Buddhism. His brother is a Buddhist monk. The top 10 Buddhist countries are: Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea
p.m. Dinner at David Lloyd's home.
13th: We have been studying the Christian disciplines of Fasting, Hospitality, Giving and Prayer will be next week. Today Sharon Dirckx, OCCA tutor and speaker taught on giving.
Great thought: What does God give us? He gives lavishly--he gave his son, motivated by unconditional love. He lowered himself to come into our world and died the most undignified death..
He gives us a new heart, assurance of salvation, power, intimacy with himself, effectiveness in prayer, and deliverance from sin, evil and death..........to name a few.
Christian Hofreiter from Austria taught on "War in the Old Testament." How do we reconcile violence and genocide ("destroy every living thing" or "do not spare anything that breathed") in the OT with a loving God?
Michael Ramsden taught on Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son--a wonderful study of love and repentance!
I enjoyed sharing dinner and conversation with one of our teacher's wives: Celeste Small at Turl Street Kitchen.
14th: Dr. Ard Louis taught us today on the topic of Science and Faith. He is a professor in the Dept. of Physics at the University of Oxford. His parents were both biologists in the jungles of Africa. He grew up with a pet chimpanzee!
Alister McGrath led discussions this week on the life of C. S. Lewis and how he does apologetics in his writings. We reviewed texts of Mere Christianity.
15th: Today was a day trip to London by train! Ian Smith and David Lloyd were our hosts. The morning was spent with the organization CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). It is a public affairs' team focusing on research and advocacy. They send briefings to members of Parliament to inform and affect voting on various bills. Lyndon Bowring is the Executive Chairman of CARE.
We spent the afternoon with Baroness Cox. She is a appointed member of the House of Lords in Parliament. We had a private session with her. She is a committed Christian making a difference in the public square. She also heads up a ministry called HART, Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust.
16th: On Sat. and Sunday, my friends, Peta and Rob Stanton, drove to Oxford and picked me up and took me to their home in Wootten for the weekend. What a lovely and relaxing visit. We had not seen each other since September of 2008. I enjoyed worship with them in their church.
17th: Yesterday when Peta and Rob brought me back to Oxford, we attended the 4:30 service at St. Ebbe's Church. After circling Oxford and trying to navigate the one-way streets and pedestrian areas, we finally drove the car to Jesus College where I will be living for the next 3 weeks. They helped me move my things in. This room is much smaller and compact, but has everything I need and more.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Tuesday, June 12 PICTURES!!
Today, Wong graciously helped me transfer my pictures from my camera to the blog. Thank you, Wong! Firstly, these are pictures taken with some of my professors:
Over the weekend, we celebrated with 24 OCCA students who are finishing one year of study in Oxford. These 2 pictures are part of the 6-week team and the musicians:
Tea at the Old Parsonage Hotel in front of the fire!
The Old Parsonage Hotel
The graduation feast at Wycliffe Hall
So many bicycles!
Sheldonian Theatre designed by Christopher Wren, a student at Wadham College and a Fellow of All Souls College. The Sheldonian was built in 1664. Oxford students have their graduation in this building. Out front on the fencing are the "bearded guardians."
I have a lot of my meals at the "common" table at Turl Street Kitchen.
Breakfast at Turl Street Kitchen.
Bridge of Sighs, Hertford College
New College Garden with part of city wall.
New College cloister garden with 200 year old Ilex tree (evergreen holm-oak). A scene from Harry Potter was filmed here in the Goblet of Fire.
I got to hear the boy's choir sing in the beautiful chapel of New College. Very worshipful for Evensong.
Quad of Lincoln College--Virginia Creeper on the walls.
Dining hall of New College.
A real tearoom with homemade scones--the Rose!
The grave of Winston Churchill.
A cold, rainy day in the Cotswolds.
With Alister McGrath
With Frog and Amy Orr-Ewing
With Keith and Celeste Small
With Mr. and Ms. Tan and Jon Goode
Over the weekend, we celebrated with 24 OCCA students who are finishing one year of study in Oxford. These 2 pictures are part of the 6-week team and the musicians:
Oxford Scenes
A class on Buddhism at Wycliffe Hall.
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