Just finished (re)reading: blue like jazz by Donald Miller (highly recommended)
I read this book a while ago; and some of the thoughts that it brought out have resurfaced, and since I have some free time on my hands, I decided to read it again. Just in case you are unfamiliar with this author, the tagline for the book is “non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality.” Needless to say, I was hooked. Some of what he says makes me a little nervous that he doesn’t hold to a set of doctrines and I feared he could easily be considered to be condoning activities that he tolerates. But overall, I would recommend reading it, just read it with caution because there are some non-Biblical theories mixed in. I much preferred (and highly recommend) his second book called “Searching for God knows what.”
I also heard a good sermon online. A new perspective on a familar parable found in luke 10 (aka the good Samaritan). I’ll give you a quick tease but you can download the whole sermon, and many like it at http://www.mhbcmi.org/listen/index.php (just click on October 22nd). I don’t want to spoil it, but one main point he makes that often gets overlooked is the idea of who is your neighbor. Not in the sense of who is poor, or needy. But who do you think is really annoying, who don’t you like, or more bluntly, who do you hate? Who would it be hardest for you to help? That is your neighbor. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Another interesting thing I learned was on part of another fun day of randomness. The day started with me “observing” at my pastors’ ESL class. From there, other random activities ensued (all very fun) and I ended up playing pool in the student lounge at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago; before going to a graduate level class on systematic theology. After an introduction/interegation by the professor, I shared part of my testimony, and was prayed for buy the guy sitting next to me (whom I later found out will be passing through Monterrey in a few months and we plan to hang out). So we finally got into the actually class material; and it was some good stuff. It really stirred up feelings inside me that make me really want to eventually get some seminary training. To make a long story short, they were involved in a series on the diety of Christ. I learned a new phrase, that really surmises the trinity, and human relationships too –Ontological equality and functional subordination. Those are some multi-sylable words, but if you think about it; now I cant find a better way to describe the relationship between the father, son, and holy spirit. Or between a husband and wife. Feel free to use that to impress your friends.
