I've got a lot of posts floating around in my head.
I'd like to write sort of a tribute to the people in my life and the influence they've had on me, both positive and negative.
I'd like to write an update about my life. My son turned a year old this past week. It's crazy to think that he's only been in my life a year. I cannot imagine life without him. He is amazing. I can't wait to think how much more he's going to change in this next year.
I'd also like to write one about my current frustrations in teaching. We are approaching exams and although I have some wonderful students who care about learning, I feel like this semester I have many more who don't. It's frustrating that I prepare lessons and teach and answer questions and some rarely pay attention or take notes. And then we come to where we are now: a few days before finals. Kids start becoming concerned about whether they will pass the class. They learn they have somewhere between a 68-72 and inevitably tell me something like this: "If I do really well on the final, will I pass the class?" And depending on the day or my mood, my response is varied. But the reality is, that although the test is multiple choice, chances are they won't even make a 50. And do you know what's even worse? Many of these kids are very smart, yet they choose to waste their brain power and not pay attention. But they start caring at the very end, when it's (practically) too late. They also blame me. I recognize that they are 15 and (obviously) immature, but that doesn't mean their words don't hurt.
So, apparently, I wrote a blog about my current frustrations in teaching.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A Continuation of Thoughts
I wrote a blog last night about this same subject and today at work found a blog on CNN about Osama bin Laden's death. It's a pastor who's been praying for OBL for 10 years. In the blog, which can be found here (http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/03/my-take-bin-laden-died-long-ago/?hpt=T2):
"I have been praying for Osama bin Laden for 10 years. I was not surprised by news of his death. As I asked myself why, I suspect it is because, in my eyes, bin Laden died long ago. He died to goodness; he died to mercy; he died to peace. He died to the things that God cares most about. He was alive until this week--but he died to life a long time ago.
I have wondered over the years what God tried to do to win him back to love. I wonder about the confounding ability of human beings to resist the love of God. I wonder about these things for Osama bin Laden and I wonder the same things with respect to my own life. Today, as I have many days before, I pray for my enemy--I pray him into the hands of the God of justice and mercy."
The truth is that God wants everyone to come to Him; He wants no one to perish. He desires for each of us to come to Him. He does things to love us to Him. Some are big and some are small. He sent Jesus to die in our place. He gives us the sights and sounds of the ocean and the views from the mountain tops.
Bin Laden's heart was hard and he resisted God's love. I hope that I have what it takes to pray for my enemies and to pray that their hearts will become receptive to God's efforts to win them back to His love.
"I have been praying for Osama bin Laden for 10 years. I was not surprised by news of his death. As I asked myself why, I suspect it is because, in my eyes, bin Laden died long ago. He died to goodness; he died to mercy; he died to peace. He died to the things that God cares most about. He was alive until this week--but he died to life a long time ago.
I have wondered over the years what God tried to do to win him back to love. I wonder about the confounding ability of human beings to resist the love of God. I wonder about these things for Osama bin Laden and I wonder the same things with respect to my own life. Today, as I have many days before, I pray for my enemy--I pray him into the hands of the God of justice and mercy."
The truth is that God wants everyone to come to Him; He wants no one to perish. He desires for each of us to come to Him. He does things to love us to Him. Some are big and some are small. He sent Jesus to die in our place. He gives us the sights and sounds of the ocean and the views from the mountain tops.
Bin Laden's heart was hard and he resisted God's love. I hope that I have what it takes to pray for my enemies and to pray that their hearts will become receptive to God's efforts to win them back to His love.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Justice and Fairness
I really want life to be fair--just ask my husband, it's true. But as much as I want life to be fair, it never will be.
And justice will never truly be just. No one will get what he/she really deserves. And that's the beauty of grace.
"An eye for an eye and the world will go blind." Is it really just to kill a man because he's killed before? Jesus says, "You've heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). If we take Jesus at His word then we should all face the same punishment as Osama bin Laden (OBL).
People rejoiced over the death of Jesus just like people rejoiced over OBL's death. The difference is that Jesus was a man who did many incredible things and who committed no wrongs. OBL hurt many people.
I'm not really sure where my thoughts are going tonight. Murder is wrong. OBL did many bad, horrible, awful things. But he was unarmed and killed in cold blood. I understand that taking him alive is a big, nasty can of worms, but is that reason enough to kill?
Regardless, people rejoiced over a murder. I cannot be alright with that. Two wrongs do not make a right; they never have and they never will.
My guess is that God's heart hurt as He watched this drama unfold. It hurt on September 11 and it hurt Sunday evening. It hurts as people rejoice over this death. Although OBL was a bad man, he was still made in God's image.
As Christians we need to be careful how we react to all of this. We need to not glorify murder or judge others, no matter what they have done. We are always being watched and our every action affects how others perceive Christ. That is not a light burden.
And justice will never truly be just. No one will get what he/she really deserves. And that's the beauty of grace.
"An eye for an eye and the world will go blind." Is it really just to kill a man because he's killed before? Jesus says, "You've heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). If we take Jesus at His word then we should all face the same punishment as Osama bin Laden (OBL).
People rejoiced over the death of Jesus just like people rejoiced over OBL's death. The difference is that Jesus was a man who did many incredible things and who committed no wrongs. OBL hurt many people.
I'm not really sure where my thoughts are going tonight. Murder is wrong. OBL did many bad, horrible, awful things. But he was unarmed and killed in cold blood. I understand that taking him alive is a big, nasty can of worms, but is that reason enough to kill?
Regardless, people rejoiced over a murder. I cannot be alright with that. Two wrongs do not make a right; they never have and they never will.
My guess is that God's heart hurt as He watched this drama unfold. It hurt on September 11 and it hurt Sunday evening. It hurts as people rejoice over this death. Although OBL was a bad man, he was still made in God's image.
As Christians we need to be careful how we react to all of this. We need to not glorify murder or judge others, no matter what they have done. We are always being watched and our every action affects how others perceive Christ. That is not a light burden.
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