1. Comment on a phrase,sentence, or thought in Chapter 2 that resonates with you or with which you disagree.
2. How did Neo's history lesson inform you or cause you to think differently. Do you agree with Neo and Dan, that we have entered a new age of history?
3. How has your church been impacted by the rapid changes taking place in our society?
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1. Dan says: "The only thing I'm confident about is that I don't have all the answers anymore." I share his sentiment, but I don't see it as a negative--I see this as a developmental step in our faith journey that allows us to be more humble and more accepting of others. If we know we don't have all the answers, it reminds us to be lifelong learners,too. But there was a day (in my 20's and 30's) when I thought I DID know all the answers. I was pretty obnoxious!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Carla,about not having all of the answers. I've never felt that I had any of the answers when it came to faith, but it has taken me many, many years to be "somewhat comfortable" with that fact. As a teacher I have always tried to encourage life long learning among my students. That is more important than a lot of what of is taught in our schools and in our churches. I'm finding that in my faith journey, I am always traveling and questioning, finding comfort, and finding more questions. And coming to realize that it's ok to live in that kind of "unbalance" (that's not the word I'm looking for). That perhaps God even enjoys seeing me struggle to know him/her better and in different ways than I had ever imagined! That he/she walks with me in the midst of my doubts and explorations. And provides comfort for the journey, and sometimes no comfort! So, yes, I think it's part of the human condition to not have the answers, and that's ok. (But maybe not so comfortable as it was when we were ten years old and learning all of the Bible stories!)
ReplyDeleteI think that as individuals and pastors alike have had doubts and questions in their faith journeys. I know that as a couple with a spouse that is a clergy we have seen people struggle with their faith...especially in the tough times. I feel that many pastors although they may not have problems with their faith in God but may have questions regarding their committment to the calling and question if they should be doing something different. The Holy Spirit is always there to lead the way. I personally have found comfort even when my faith may be at the low end of my journey...this to me is the Holy Spirit leading me back. Jackie Severa
ReplyDeleteJackie, welcome! I hope our other friends will jump into the discussion soon, too.
ReplyDeleteI think what I was trying to say in my first post is not that I have come to places where I have lost faith, but am constantly coming to places in which I need to find new words, thoughts and expression for the terms I've always thrown around. I want to have a clear picture of what I am communicating when I use words like 'grace' or 'salvation'. Those words don't have the same connotations they used to for me. I think my God is getting much bigger than he/she used to be! It's almost like I want to burst out of the old wineskins, to put it in biblical terms, and be newly filled with the spirit (new wine). So, I'm not being led back to faith, but rather led on into a new place that's a bit frightening. I sense that Dan's character is in that place, too.