Today in chapel Linford was the speaker, and he was talking about things that reminded me of my cross-cultural. I've attached the podcast of his message below:
http://emu.edu/now/podcast/2011/09/28/do-not-get-into-a-boat-with-jesus-if-you-want-to-stay-dry-linford-stutzman/
I highly recommend listening to it - it is only about 20 minutes and he has great things to say.
This week EMU is focused on missions, and today in chapel there were people from different missions groups visiting campus. After chapel they were set up in the Campus Center and then representatives also ate lunch in the cafeteria, holding conversations with students. I was lucky enough to eat lunch with some students from my cross-cultural, Linford, Janet, and a man from Our Community Place, which is the community center that meets in the building of the church I attend. We had a conversation that lasted about an hour and a half about lots of things, including whether or not international missions is a good thing, the difference between evangelism and development work, questioning whether programs and money impede or help spread the gospel, what that word "gospel" means, how to read the Bible, symbology on EMU's campus (we have, for example, a statue of Jesus washing Peter's feet, but not a cross), the way scripture felt different to me in Israel than it does in America, how to remove the threat of violence from the concept of conversion (and whether this is possible), the idea that Jesus should always make us feel uncomfortable - my friend Tim asked, "have we become too comfortable with the idea of a peaceful Jesus?", the pervasiveness of the false dichotomy of dualism- the separation of mind and body... my list could go on and on. It was so wonderful to be among other people who are asking some similar questions but also have some answers, or at the very least some faint stirrings in their spirit pointing them in certain directions. It is good to be in community, to join with Jesus and people, to practice listening, to learn.
http://emu.edu/now/podcast/2011/09/28/do-not-get-into-a-boat-with-jesus-if-you-want-to-stay-dry-linford-stutzman/
I highly recommend listening to it - it is only about 20 minutes and he has great things to say.
This week EMU is focused on missions, and today in chapel there were people from different missions groups visiting campus. After chapel they were set up in the Campus Center and then representatives also ate lunch in the cafeteria, holding conversations with students. I was lucky enough to eat lunch with some students from my cross-cultural, Linford, Janet, and a man from Our Community Place, which is the community center that meets in the building of the church I attend. We had a conversation that lasted about an hour and a half about lots of things, including whether or not international missions is a good thing, the difference between evangelism and development work, questioning whether programs and money impede or help spread the gospel, what that word "gospel" means, how to read the Bible, symbology on EMU's campus (we have, for example, a statue of Jesus washing Peter's feet, but not a cross), the way scripture felt different to me in Israel than it does in America, how to remove the threat of violence from the concept of conversion (and whether this is possible), the idea that Jesus should always make us feel uncomfortable - my friend Tim asked, "have we become too comfortable with the idea of a peaceful Jesus?", the pervasiveness of the false dichotomy of dualism- the separation of mind and body... my list could go on and on. It was so wonderful to be among other people who are asking some similar questions but also have some answers, or at the very least some faint stirrings in their spirit pointing them in certain directions. It is good to be in community, to join with Jesus and people, to practice listening, to learn.
