GroshLink

Through the wisdom of our local congregation's Pastor of Adult Discipleship, I've taken a break from teaching an adult elective this term.  I'm not sure how/why, but much has come together over the course of the past several weeks on campus and in the home.  As such, I have benefited greatly from the time of rest and restoration which I've received through participating in an adult elective on Spiritual Formation.  On Sunday, the instructor shared with us a number of resources. 

Today join me in dwelling upon one of those pieces: Prayer is the light of the Spirit from a homily by John Chrysostom, 5th century.*

Prayer and converse with God is a supreme good: it is partnership and union with God.  As the eyes of the body are enlightened when they see light, so our spirit when it is intent on God, is illumined by his infinite light.  I do not mean the prayer of outward observance but prayer from the heart, not confined to fixed times or periods but continuous throughout the day and night.

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On Thursday, I had a conversation which wound it's way through a number of topics.  At it's foundation, we explored the question of how one pursues Truth as a follower of Christ in a context which embraces pursuit of all truths/realities in the process of self-realization, i.e., except the oppressive Truth of the Christian faith which tells other people how to live and stands in the way of self-actualization.  Note:  the specific context was Millersville University.* 

Not surprisingly, one of the topics which came up was the relationship of homosexuality to following Christ.  Since my conversation, I came across a new post by Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon (associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) on homosexuality:

What the Evidence Really Says about Scripture and Homosexual Practice: Five Issues

If this topic is of particular concern to you, I'd also recommend taking time to consider some earlier posts providing links to Gagnon's work

1. What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?
2. Gagnon on Homosexuality

AND visiting the home page of Messiah College Mathematics Professor Gene Chase and following the link to the Christian Resources about Homosexuality and AIDS.  If you'd have interest in discussing the materials further, post here or drop me a note.  (More)

Our Good News Club text for the week ...

Stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. -- I Corinthians 15:58

Amen!

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Last night I participated in the Donegal School District consensus making meeting.  Overall the gathering went well, i.e., there were no loud, angry confrontations and it seemed that everyone had opportunity to share and common threads among those present were obvious.  But next steps which will lead to a successful referendum are not readily apparent.  AND there does not appear to be relief from the state as the school board reports their conversations with state representatives at their last school board meeting raised little hope of changing Act 1.  Note:  School board minutes posted here and click this link for the Lancaster Sunday News article Money for ... what? Educators await details of stimulus.

Details:

The Donegal Springs Elementary School (DSE) gym was divided in half with the public gathered in 14 round table groups with 8 chairs each and the board sitting at 'a long table' below the stage.  After an overview of the evening, each table group received 1 facilitator for the school board/district.  This filled out most of the tables and even added seating at several.  As such, I'd estimate 110-120 in the room. 

The facilitator walked through the first four questions of a "Community Survey for a Building Project Referendum," which will be made available on the District website (More)

By the grace of God and the ministry of the Good News Club (part of Child Evangelism Fellowship), our family's once again found a helpful structure for morning in devotions (largely Tom, Ellen & Hayley).*  The current study is a Wonder Devotional on Jesus the Teacher. 

This morning we began a series on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12).  We were asked, What are some ways you need God to help you?  No doubt we become viscerally aware of our need when we face difficult, inescapable situations.  Yet, as we've been dwelling upon over the course of the past several months, we require God the Father's grace, the Holy Spirit, and the very Word of God each step of the way to be (and become more) Christ-like in our daily life as individuals, families, and the people of God.  Such is the kingdom of heaven touching down, dwelling in, working out itself on earth ... true culture making in which we find ourselves salt, light, and leaven 24/7.  To God be the glory!

*Note: we have evening devotions with the whole family over dinner.  Our focus has been on The Lenten Tree: Devotions for Children & Adults To Prepare for CHRIST's DEATH and HIS RESURRECTION (by Dean Lambert Smith) and Christine Sine's 2009 Lenten Guide: A Journey Into Wholeness. 

I enjoyed applying Andy Crouch's Five Questions to March Madness.  I have more to say, but it's time to make a campus run.   If you have interest in the topic, below's one of my responses ... to read more of my thoughts and to take part in the conversation, visit http://www.culture-making.com/five_questions/.

5. What new culture is created in response?

The winner of the title receives the glory, but so do the other teams which participate.  As mentioned by Carl Holmes, certain teams come in with an advantage.  As teams win more and more they grow in their ability not only to recruit for, but also to invest in their atheletic programs.* The money comes from alumni, sale of merchandise, and increased earnings from the tournament itself (individual schools and conferences). 

The recent concern regarding athletics and academics has appeared to increase the graduation rates, but there is much work to be done in this area, http://www.tidesport.org/Grad%20Rates/2009_Mens_Bball_PR.pdf

But for one who enjoys the game and watching it in community, there is still something about the shared legends, stories of victory, shaping of dynasties/stars ... March Madness history, http://ncaahistory.com/

*George Mason claims overall admissions spike after ‘06 Final Four run.

—Thomas B. Grosh IV

The Journey into the Brokenness of Homelessness is much different living in Central PA than Pittsburgh, PA.  Several years ago, when I biked and walked around Oakland each day, I met a number of homeless people.  In addition, I had the opportunity to connect with various urban ministries, including our local congregation (Allegheny Center C&MA), serving the whole city. 

But in the country and the small villages/towns of Central PA, poverty is not as evident.  Yes, we encounter lower income members of this community.  But they are not on the street.  Yes, we contribute what we can to our local congregation's (Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ) involvement with the clothing bank, food bank, and single mother's ministry. And yes, we have friends/family who are unemployed, but they are cared for by family and area ministries/congregations.

What's poverty? For our family to receive a better exposure to worldwide poverty, we let several World Hunger Programme videos do the talking:

So how did we do with the Second Week of Lent: Journey into the Brokenness of Hunger?*

Turns out we didn't miss going grocery shopping at all.  And the girls understood the commitment not to eat dessert for the week.  Tom (who has a very strong sweet tooth) extended the no dessert fast into the third week, breaking the fast during a celebration for the labors of three colleagues with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.  He returned to the fast, breaking for a time with extended family on the Sabbath and for a social with support team members last night.  Note:  Tom's fast includes no brown sugar on his daily bowl of breakfast oatmeal.

I'm still not quite sure how one tallies the cost of meals, particularly since we've been blessed with gifts of food from a number of people over the course of the past 2 weeks.  But we'll work on this further while digging into more plain cheerios and tuna.  Lord willing, we'll have the opportunity to watch the World Food Programme Video as a family sometime over the course of the weekend.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: ... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter. -- Isaiah 58:6-7  (More)

Here's a word to you from Andy Crouch, who will speak at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ on Sunday, April 19.

Interested in discussing Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling ? Let me know. Why? On-line opportunity coming shortly. Live conversation at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ on Thursday, March 26, 7pm. More on Andy's visit here.

Last week at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry (GFM) Staff Team Meetings, the Lord led me to sit beside and take part in a small group with John Decker from Youth Transition Initiative (YTI).  After the first session we were paging through Next Steps files, from my on-line resource album.  What an amazing opportunity to share:

1. Next Steps 2 Session Overview
2. Next Steps PPT (PDF)
3. Next Steps Paradigm
4. Next Steps Rumspringa Handout

AND watch the below video from the Youth Transition Initiative (YTI).  If you're on Facebook, join the Cause.  (More)

To keep me up-to-date on the family, Theresa passed the below email.  Good stuff, thought I'd share it w/you. 

Lily has refused her baby cereal all week. I gave her Cheerios this morning and she wolfed them down. Didn't gag once. Thankfully she still eagerly eats her baby yogurt b/c we have 24 containers!

Ellen reluctantly practiced her guitar for 10 min. today and afterward shouted that she loved me! Apparently the practice went better than she anticipated.

Last night Eden walked to and from my parents' house unassisted and without falling. After I put her coat on her to go over there she wanted to go out and I said she could get started. I figured she'd get as far as the porch steps by the time I wrapped Lily in a blanket and walked out the door myself. Well, when I walked out the door I looked around and didn't see her! She was all the way over to their driveway, heading to their backdoor. I caught up with her at the door so I didn't touch her at all. I can't say for certain that she didn't fall at all on the way over b/c she was halfway there by the time I saw her and I couldn't quite figure out what she was telling me when I asked her if she fell. On the way home, she actually opened their front storm door and stepped down the step by herself. And she informed me in no uncertain terms that she did not want any help to go home. I suggested she walk in the grass rather than down the steps on the front walk since there's nothing to hold onto on the steps. She took the grass and crossed the driveway and up the hill between our two cars and all the way into our house without me touching her. I stood behind her going up the hill and she wobbled, but managed to regain her balance. She even opened the storm door, with Righty, and stepped though it. Amazing!

In other news from her check-up: Dr. Carlson thinks the tube in her L ear (the one that's most recently been infected) is laying in the ear canal (meaning, it's not functioning b/c it fell out of the eardrum). We go to the ENT on Monday so we'll find out for sure if it did and what to do about it. It was in place on Tuesday when we went to the doctor. Eden is 40 lbs and 40 inches tall. 50% for height and 90% for weight, which is consistent with a year ago. She's one solid kid b/c she's not "fat" in the least. Puppy came along to the doctor today. When asked what his name was she said "Jay dog".

Yesterday, I received forwards of two Rod Dreher posts from friends in campus ministry.  Why?  The posts summarized pressing campus ministry concerns.  Please take a moment to read the posts and join me in prayer.  Note:  Pray for me as I visit PSU - Hershey Medical Center (today) and Johns Hopkins University (tomorrow).  And finish the week in Chicago for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry Staff Meetings.

1. Sex Positive week at Georgetown
2. Tough love and faith -- take time to dwell upon for Lenten reflection

Threads of conversation with Sergey at Addressing the skeptic deserve their own space.  More thoughts on defining good and evil.

It's great to have this conversation Sergey.  Let's dig into it a little bit deeper. How would you clarify the relationship of the knowledge of 'good' and 'love?'  Did Adam and Eve know God's love before the Fall? 

This week begins the Journey into the Brokenness of Hunger.* I've decided (wimped out?) that the Mutunga Challenge would be too difficult for our family at the stage of life we're in (small children and nursing mom who is constantly hungry). Although I do try to be conscientious about our food budget on a regular basis, I'm sure we typically exceed $2 per person per day. I've decided not to go grocery shopping this week. If you'd look in our freezer and pantry you'd probably say "Duh!" Where's the sacrifice there? Our shelves are overflowing.

Last night a friend shared his mutual interest in film.  This morning I continued the conversation by forwarding Groshlink's two most relevant threads, Speculative Literature/Arts and Reviews and Cliff Notes, along w/the post which I share most often when discussing film, In Search of Good Film Nine Signposts (Greg Veltman).

In the mail box this morning I received the March/April Edition of Books & Culture.  And what did I find? Two excellent articles on movies to add to the archive. Below's an excerpt from Roy Anker, professor of English at Calvin College and author of Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies (Eerdmans):

Dear Friends and Family,

Hayley and I have been going to an after school program called Good News Club (only on Tuesdays). I guess your wondering what we do there?

We memorize Bible verses, we sing /learn sign language. When we come, we get a snack like Rice crispy treats and animal crackers that, we only get once (the leaders give us something new each time). Hope more of my friends can come! Ask me about it, I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Ellen H. Grosh