'Twas the Night Before Christmas

While every Christmas is a cause for reflection, I find this one especially so. You see, two years ago was a very different Christmas for my family….

 Dad had been without a job for eight months. God had taken care of my family in so many ways, so we were not without money to live on, but we needed to be conscientious and frugal in our Christmas preparations. Going into that day, I knew we would have the same wonderful joy of the season and would be able to celebrate Christ’s birth no matter how many or few presents were under the tree, but it still felt weird.

That year was also my first Christmas living in Columbus. Now, I had celebrated many Christmases in Columbus before; we often came to celebrate Christmas with my dad’s family. But this year was different. We were living in my Grandma and Grandpa Roller’s huge house and they weren’t. They had moved into a retirement community called Willowbrook around Thanksgiving and we were getting their house ready to go on the market while waiting for dad to get a new job at a college in who-knows-where. Two years ago was a time of uncertainty and lots of changes for my family and me.

Then, miracle of miracles, two days before Christmas that year, Mount Vernon Nazarene University hired dad as their Dean of Business. After eight months of searching, waiting, and praying, our prayers were finally answered by God’s continued provision. He had us in the palm of His hand the whole time. I wrote on my Facebook that day: “The year that I might call the hardest in my life ends with the Christmas I could call the best in my life. Two days before Christmas I get the news that my dad has a job! I was just glad that I could spend Christmas with my family, but I received the most amazing gifts. With an iPod Nano from my "big sister Kim" and her family and a beautiful used car from my dad Bob Roller, I am so amazingly blessed! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and thanks to God for answering them!”

This year has also been a different Christmas. No, we don’t have the financial difficulties or the unique situation of two years ago, and for that I am truly thankful. Instead, this year has been the first time I’ve been away at John Brown University. My whole family has been trying to figure out what to do with me gone (myself included!) and about the time we all had it mostly figured out, I come home again for nearly a month between semesters. It makes things interesting to be gone for four months, let me tell you.

In so many ways, it is like I never left. We listen to the same Christmas music. We make gingerbread houses together. We wrap presents. I stay up late and talk to my mom. I go on walks with my sister. Dad and I run Christmas errands together. We go to a candlelight Christmas Eve service…all the things that our family usually does.

In other ways, it’s different. I’m still trying to figure those things out and how to deal with the changes. I am wondering what to do with the thoughts and feelings that are racing around the heads of me, my mom, my dad, and my sister. We all are; we want everything to just be the same, but it’s not. And that’s okay. Really. (Or at least I keep telling myself that.)

As I look forward to the next months and years, I see that things are changing and will continue to change. Yet, the important things stay the same. God is faithful. He sent His Son into the world as a little tiny baby to save me, and you, and all of us from our sins. Emmanuel is still God with us. At home, I have a family who loves me and will continue to do so. I always will have a place in their hearts.

So that’s probably my not-so-deep reflection from this night before Christmas: While many things change, with our God the important things stay the same.

May you be blessed this Christmas day knowing that God is with us. May you know the wonder of the Savior’s birth in your heart and life, and may you find a family and a home with which you can share the love of God this Christmas season, whether it’s the one you were born into or one you have to find yourself. Blessings my friends.

Merry Christmas!

City Lights

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:16

Sitting in the dimly-lit airplane, surrounded by a noise that hovers between a hum and a roar, and soaring some 10,000-15,000 feet above the ground is something I don’t get to do very often. I am really not sure how long it has been since I have flown at night, but it has been long enough that I didn’t remember how magical it could be.

As we took off, I peered out the window. First the lights flashed by slowly, and then with increasing speed. We lifted off the ground, and the landscape of Tulsa, Okla. materialized in the darkness. Houses and businesses were followed by neighborhoods, parts of town, and eventually whole cities. I could see Christmas lights on peoples’ houses. The speed was exhilarating, the perspective was novel, and the twinkling lights were gorgeous.

The sheer magnitude of the world was overwhelming and I began to reflect on how small I was. I was one little girl sitting on an airplane full of hundreds of people headed to St. Louis and beyond. I am only one. How much can I do in a sea of people?  I just blend in. Each person on this one plane had his or her own stresses, joys, frustrations, journeys, and adventures ahead.

 I looked ahead at the light reflecting off the pages of the book the woman behind me is reading onto her face. Beside me a man’s face glows from the light of his IPhone. Each light illuminated the exhaustion, cares, boredom, and anticipation in each his or her face.

Below on the ground, each light also represented a human, a family, a business, a destination. Porch-lights cast a pool of light in front of houses. Brightly-colored signs indicated businesses, and I chuckled that I could pick out a Walgreens from hundreds of feet in the air. Headlights and streetlights enabled countless people to navigate their way through the evening traffic. If one of the many people looked up, they might notice the blinking red and white lights or sense the roar of a Southwest airplane.

The lights on the ground and in the air reminded me of the candlelight service at John Brown University last weekend. While one candle or bulb may seem insignificant, when combined with hundreds or thousands of others it is remarkable how bright a light those combined small beacons can produce.

This multiplying effect became even more evident to me further in the evening when I saw the city lights of Saint Louis, Miss. and Chicago, Ill. Each was a successively larger city than Tulsa, and the combined power of all the city lights was noticeable. I could see St. Louis’ lights through the clouds that blanketed the sky during out decent. Their intensity created dim orange blotches across the grey-covered sky below. Later, as we took off from Chicago, the rows and squares of lights seemed to go on forever. What power those little lights had! They lit up the whole night sky.

You and I are like little lights, too. We are dim when isolated by ourselves. But when combined with many, many other lights, we have great power. Not only are we powerful, but we are gorgeous. We are beautiful and mighty.

Reader, it is hard to be a light burning by oneself. Going home to celebrate Christmas with your family may be an opportunity to be surrounded by other beacons of faith, or it may be lonely. Whatever the case may be, I encourage you to burn brightly. Be a beacon, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, a lamp on a stand, or a light seen from thousands of feet above the ground.

Shine brightly.

Mary, Did You Know?

I wrote this just before Christmas 2008. My writing has improved since then and all that jazz, but I want to share this with you anyway... if you don't mind indulging my walk down memory lane. That year I really enjoyed all the stuff we did at church that Christmas and I began to think, I'm right about the age Mary must have been when she had Jesus. What was she thinking, feeling and dreaming? These are some of my musings in the form of letters to Elizabeth with a few back from Elizabeth to Mary. I took all the angel's words directly from Scripture and the rest is based on the context of Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2. Enjoy!

Dearest Elizabeth,
On the roof this morning, I watched the most beautiful sunrise I think I have ever seen. It was truly a tribute to Yahweh’s majestic creation. I worked with Salome today and helped her grind grain for both our families. While we were sitting outside her house grinding grain, Joseph bar Jacob was working in his father’s shop across the street. Salome and I were discussing how lucky will be the girl who marries him. I have seen him at several wedding celebrations and observed his interaction with his family. He is a very nice man. He is always helping with his sisters and brothers. Later, after I had returned home, I helped mother with the evening meal. After cleaning all the dishes and tending the fire, mother and I sat up on the roof again and talked for what seemed like hours. We gazed into the sky and looked at the stars and while we were looking, I saw a great shining bright one that I hadn’t noticed before. Mother commented on it as well. I wonder if it means something. I know that you must miss Zechariah terribly when he is away in Jerusalem. It is such an honor to have a husband of the line of the priests. I am counting the days with you until he returns. Do you know when we will get to visit you and Zechariah? I would love to see you soon.
Shalom,
Mary


Dearest Elizabeth,
Father and mother had me come to the kitchen before any of the children were awake this morning to talk. They asked me if I remembered Joseph bar Jacob. I told them that of course I remember him; he is one of the most handsome and talented young men in the entire village! They then began to tell me that they had been talking with his parents and have decided to have us betrothed. I am thrilled! They said that if I consented the betrothal would take place in two weeks. Oh, what a nerve wracking thought, betrothed in two weeks! I think this might be the happiest day in my life. I truly respect Joseph and I believe that he will make a wonderful husband. I couldn’t be happier!
Shalom,
Mary


Dearest Mary,
I am doing well. Zechariah is due to be home any day now. He always comes home with many stories to tell and I am indeed privileged to have such a husband. I congratulate you on your betrothal. It sounds like your friends and family were there and had a great time. It takes some time and energy to become familiar with your betrothed before you are married. It indeed sounds like Joseph is a respectable and handsome young man. You are such a good help to your mother. She is truly blessed to have a wonderful daughter like you.
Shalom,
Elizabeth


Dearest Elizabeth,
Today was my betrothal ceremony. I am now officially betrothed to Joseph bar Jacob of Nazareth. Salome and all the other girls dressed in their good robes and smothered me with hugs and kisses and good wishes. In about a year, after Joseph has time to build our house and prepare to be a wonderful husband, we shall be wed. After the ceremony I took a walk with Joseph and showed him my favorite place to go and watch the sun set. We sat there for a while and talked. I barely know the man and we are betrothed. I wonder if this is how my mother felt when she was first betrothed to my father. It is a feeling I have never before experienced. On our way back, he lifted me over a large root that was protruding from the path. He is so strong and brave! From working with the wood and heavy tools every day, he has very strong arms and shoulders. Imagine, lifting me up and over a tree root! I must go, mother is calling.
Shalom,
Mary

Dearest Elizabeth,
Early in the month of April, something remarkable happened. I was milking my goat, and just then the stable got many times brighter that my mother’s brightest candles. I heard strains of music and saw a glistening figure before me and I was terrified. I knew not what it was except for an angel. But don’t the priests say that angels only used to appear and now we are just left with the Torah and the Tanakh? Still, an angel was the only explanation I could come up with. This glistening figure then began to speak. It said to me, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”I was very scared at this point, wondering what sort of greeting this was. The only times I remember angels visiting people in Torah are always before really big, important events. But the angel kept talking, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” I was very puzzled. I know about people who were barren conceiving and giving birth, but they were at least married! I responded, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”After I said this the angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." Almost overwhelmed with amazement at the angel’s words I replied, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said.” So, I have one important question: Are you in your sixth month? If you are then how is this possible?
Shalom,
Mary

Dear Mary,
I have waited and have not told you this for five months because I didn’t want to create a stir. However, I have official news! I am soon to be the mother of a little baby. I, barren Elizabeth, will be a mother in my old age! I am sure you wonder how and why. First, when Zechariah returned home, he was unable to speak. He could only gesture so I put him to bed, thinking that the long journey must have muddled his wits. A few hours after he returned home unable to speak, Zechariah insisted that he was well and I needed to get him some real writing materials so he could tell me what had happened. After scribbling away most of the morning he had several tablets full of writing. This is what he said, “I was chosen by lot to be the one from our division to burn incense before the Lord. All the worshipers were gathered outside and I was getting ready to burn the incense. Suddenly, I saw something moving on the right of the altar of incense, and I was gripped with fear for it was an angel of the Lord. The angel said to me, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." I was puzzled at these words and asked, “how can I be sure of this, I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” But in a booming voice the angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”’ Astonishing as this is, I am expecting and shall bear a child even in my old age.
Shalom,
Elizabeth


Dearest Elizabeth,
With the confirmation of your pregnancy, I approached my parents about the miraculous presence the other night. The conversation went something like this.
“Hey, Mom?” I said.
“Yes, Mary.”
“Do you believe in angels?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I think one appeared to me in the stable the other night while I was out milking.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes! I heard this heavenly sounding music and a very bright light shone around me and there was this voice. It was like nothing I had ever heard!”
“Mary, what did the voice say?”
“He said, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ At this point I asked him, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” and the angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’”
“Mary, do you really believe that Elizabeth would have a baby in her old age?”
“Yes mother! I have received from her a letter telling all about how…”
I told her your story from beginning to end. I could read her face well. She was unconvinced as to how her 14 year-old daughter could be telling her that she was going to be pregnant and that it was not by man but from heaven. I still don’t think she completely believes my story, but it is the complete truth. She has asked that I come visit you for a while. I think she thinks I am crazy or deceived. I shall be coming with the next safe caravan or family leaving from here.
Shalom,
Mary

Dear Mary,
I hope you will receive this before you leave on your way here. I believe your story and I am looking forward to your visit here. I hope you can stay until the baby is born. You would be so much help to this old lady! Please ask your parents how long they will permit you to stay. Please know that my home is a safe place and you may remain here as long as needed. I wish you the Lord’s wisdom in how and when to tell Joseph about this. I know that you know the consequences for conceiving a child while betrothed. May you be always filled with grace in the days until I see you.
Peace to you,
Elizabeth

Dear Mother,
When I arrived at Elizabeth’s home the most amazing thing happened. As soon as I walked in the door Elizabeth said in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women and blessed will be the child you bear. But why am I so favored that the mother of the Messiah should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child inside my womb leaped with joy. Blessed is she who believes that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” I began rejoicing in song and praising God my Savior. After this, we sat down and had a cup of tea together and she told me all about what she had done in preparation for the birth of her baby and what she needed my help in accomplishing. This morning I woke up and was violently sick to my stomach. Elizabeth said it was morning sickness, but mine lasted most of the day. For the noon meal I had some bread and it sat in my stomach alright. I am fine, but I hope this doesn’t last long! I miss you! Please tell Salome that I said hello.
With love,
Mary



Dearest Mary,
It is my hope that you are doing well. Your father, sisters and I miss you very much. We haven’t yet told Joseph and his family about your pregnancy. It does indeed sound like you are with child since you are having morning sickness. Take good care of yourself! This will definitely cause a stir in Nazareth. You know how Susanna and Rebecca gossip about this kind of thing. You must stay with Elizabeth for a while at least; to help her and to protect yourself. Perhaps about three months? When you return, we will tell Joseph’s family. Hopefully the Lord will give us the words to say. In the mean time, be of all the help you can and give Elizabeth my greetings.
Shalom,
Mom

Dearest Mary,
I hope your journey home was safe and uneventful. I am so grateful to you for your help. Nine days ago, I gave birth to a happy, healthy, beautiful baby boy. Yesterday was his circumcision ceremony and I about fainted during it. I tell you, he has a deep, loud cry. You know that as part of the ceremony they ask the baby’s name will be. They wanted to name him Zachariah, after his father, but I said, “No, his name is John.” Everyone told me that there was no one in our family named John so they asked Zechariah what the baby’s name should be. Of course, he was still not able to speak, so he asked for a tablet and wrote on it, “His name is John”. So John is his name, just as the angel said. As soon as Zechariah wrote on the tablet, his mouth was opened and he was able to speak for the first time in 9 months. At once he broke into a song of praise to God. It was so good to hear his voice. I rather missed it during those months of silence. I am doing well, although it is quite a change to have a baby in the house. My dear Mary, I hope you are doing well. Take care of yourself.
Shalom,
Elizabeth

Dearest Elizabeth,
Today was the moment of truth. Today we went to Joseph’s house and told him all about the angel in the stable and how I am to bear the child of God, not man. I could tell that they didn’t believe me in the slightest, thinking that I made up a story to cover up a wrongful act. Joseph was rather cold and icy towards me. It was the look in his eyes that made my heart hurt the most. I know he must think me a wicked girl indeed to do such a thing. I wish he would believe me, for what I say is the God-given truth. His parents did not make a decision, saying that they would talk it over and let us know. I pray that they will realize the truth of the matter, but God only knows. I am so excited for you and Zechariah! I am sure it is very good to hear your husband’s voice after all those months. On the way back from Joseph’s home we passed Rebecca and Susanna in the market. They stared after us, snickering behind their hands. Knowing them, they will do everything in their power to make these next six months miserable for me. Please keep me in your prayers.
Shalom,
Mary

Dearest Elizabeth,
The most unexpected thing happened today! Joseph came bursting in during breakfast and told me that he had a dream! An angel came to him also! The angel told him not to be afraid to take me as his wife, for the child I bear is the son of God. Then we both said at the same time, “and you are to give him the name Jesus!” That was confirmation to both of us that we had the same angel. I am so grateful that I am forgiven by him, and now I also have a strong protector for the days ahead. His family is not yet convinced. The drastic change in their son may not prove enough to convince them. In a few days he went from chill and icy to warm and caring. This is the most wonderful news I have had to share in a very long time! God has me in the palm of his hand.
Shalom and love,
Mary

Dear Mary,
That is indeed most wonderful news. I have kept you constantly in my prayers. Have you heard what has just been decreed by Caesar Augustus? There is to be a census taken of the entire Roman world and every person must go to the city of his lineage to be registered and taxed. Zachariah has already left to be registered. I suppose that means that Joseph will have to go too, since he is engaged to be married. Praise the Lord that he is willing to take you as his wife! That is truly an answer to my prayers. May the Lord make his face shine upon you in all your coming and going.
Shalom,
Elizabeth


Dearest Elizabeth,
I have indeed heard about the census to be taken and it has been a major topic of conversation in our household. It has been decided that Joseph and I will wait until Harvest time to set out for Bethlehem. Mother and Father will take the girls and go register and Joseph and I can stay here, keeping watch over the house and livestock. We will also have time to prepare for the journey between now and then. It will be a difficult trip for me to make for I will be near my time by then. I have never been that far from Nazareth before. This will be very new and exciting. I am looking forward to our trip. It will also take me away from all the gossip and muttering going on around Nazareth. Not everyone is as happy as I about the birth of the Messiah if it means a betrothed girl getting pregnant out of wedlock!
Shalom,
Mary

Dearest Elizabeth,
Mother, father and the girls have returned from the census. They said that there were people everywhere! Limited room in the inns, high prices for food and long lines welcomed them. Soon Joseph and I will set out for Bethlehem. I sure hope we can find room in an inn! The baby is growing. I can plainly feel him moving around. Joseph can feel him, too. We feel it is wise to be wed before we leave. There will be fewer questions asked by everyone if Joseph can just say I am his wife. A week from today is the date we have set to be married. My pregnancy is already showing, so there would be some uproar in the village if we had a traditional wedding and invited everyone. I can name may people who would object violently. Many people still think that the baby is Joseph’s! Things will go much more smoothly if we get married in private, with only mother and father and Joseph’s family. That is what we are doing. Joseph does not fear to take me as his wife because the angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.”I am so blessed to have such a husband.
Shalom,
Mary

Dear Mary,
I think it is wise action to be wed right away and to do it privately. The Lord has given you and your parents much wisdom. May you live long and happily with your wonderful husband! I wish you safety and comfort on your trip to Jerusalem. Baby John is growing stronger every day. He has such spirit! The Lord said that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit on the day he was born and he was right. I would love to see your radiant face again soon.
Shalom,
Elizabeth

Dearest Elizabeth,
I am sorry I have not written to your for a matter of weeks now! I have so many things to tell you. I will treasure them all up in my heart forever. Well, I suppose I must start somewhere. The trip took what seemed like forever. I was so sore from the hours on the donkey. When we got to Bethlehem there was no room in any of the inns. On the way there, I had begun to have a terribly tight squeezing of the muscles in my abdomen. They were getting closer in time to each other and we still couldn’t find an inn! Joseph steadily kept looking until we came to the last inn in the entire city. Even then there was no room, but the inn keeper said that he had a warm, dry stable that he could let us use. I was so grateful to have a roof over my head because it was very cold outside. In the stable we even had a bit of privacy. Immediately, Joseph went to find someone to help deliver the baby. He finally found the wife of a shepherd who was willing to help. After what seemed like forever, he came back with her and she began giving instructions. The baby was successfully delivered, with no complications, but I was worn out. But it was worth it all to me when she placed him on my breast and he looked into my eyes. Joseph and I looked at each other and said, “And you shall give him the name Jesus”. Our next dilemma was where to lay Jesus. Finally, Joseph though of the manger that the animals ate from. We lined it with clean hay and put the baby in it. It made a perfect cradle, although Joseph lamented that he would have liked to make the cradle for the Son of God to lie in. After a while some shepherds came rushing to the stable. “We were out in the fields when suddenly an angel appeared to us and said, “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” So we all rushed off to see what amazing thing was happening in our little hamlet of Bethlehem.” They all took off their head coverings and knelt in worship before the manger we had laid the baby in. They stared in awe at Jesus and I could tell that they were wondering how they could be seeing the long-awaited Messiah in a simple inn keeper’s stable. I was amazed myself at the possibility of me, Mary, the young girl from out-of-the-way Nazareth, being the mother of the Messiah. Would I ever have dreamed of such a thing?
With love,
Mary

Dearest Elizabeth,
Eight days after Jesus’ birth he was circumcised and, like you, I about fainted when he began to cry. Why do they make the mother watch that? Anyway, the baby is now officially named. He is named Jesus, which means “The Lord is salvation”. After the days of purification we traveled to the temple and offered the required sacrifice, which demands two young pigeons. As we were entering the temple with Jesus, an old man came up to us and introduced himself as Simeon. He told us that for many years he had been awaiting the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit told him that he would not die until he had seen the face of his Savior. With my permission he took my baby in his arms and said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” We marveled at this blessing and proclamation. He then went on to say to me, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” We thanked him for his words of faith and prophesy and I stored these words up in my heart. We kept walking through the temple and another ancient one came up to us. Joseph and I looked at each other. This old woman, who was named Anna, had been married but her husband had died and she had lived in the temple courts night and day, fasting and praying. She spoke to us about all that was foretold about the Messiah, the hope of nations. All this, in my little baby I held in my arms. It was almost too much to handle. We thanked her for her kind words and were finally able to complete all that was required of us in the temple of the Lord. At last! We are returning to Nazareth. I am ready to be home. I want to introduce Jesus to his grandparents, live in our own house, and settle down a little. I hope everything in your home is going smoothly!
Shalom,
Mary

Dearest Elizabeth,
So much for my hopes of settling down! Yesterday some strange men came to the door. They said simply that they had seen a star in the East and had come to worship the newborn King. Immediately kneeling and worshiping the child, they were filled with excitement and amazement at finally reaching the end of their journey. They dug into their saddlebags and produced many fine gifts. They presented my baby Jesus with beautiful gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These men came from the East and are advisers to the king of their lands. They told us all about how they came to us after visiting King Herod to inquire about the new king. This inspired fear in our hearts because we all know that King Herod hates competition! He has had many relatives killed for lesser reason than this. We gratefully sent these wise men on their way, concerned for our own well-being. Last night Joseph woke me up in the middle of the night. He said that he had had a dream and we needed to leave RIGHT NOW because Herod was going to search for the child and kill him. “Where are we to flee from the wrath of King Herod?” I asked and he told me that we are to go to Egypt. I remember clearly the prophecy concerning our Messiah, “out of Egypt I have called my son.” Today we began our journey to Egypt. This is the beginning of another chapter in my life, which has been forever changed by the birth of my son, the Son of God Jesus, our Messiah.



For it is written:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Mentally Alive: Is it Automatic or Habitual?

        Blog Prompt: Does attending a Christian college automatically do the work of applying Noll’s life of the mind (p. 7, see quote below) concept for you? If so, how so, and is that a good thing? If not, how not, and how do you apply these concepts if your Christian institution is not doing it for you?

         “By an evangelical ‘life of the mind’ I mean more the effort to think like a Christian—to think within a specifically Christian framework—across the whole spectrum of modern learning….Academic disciplines provide modern categories for the life of the mind, but the point is not simply whether evangelicals can learn how to succeed in the modern academy. The much more important matter is what it means to think like a Christian about the nature and works of the physical world, the character of human social structures like government and the economy, the meaning of the past, the nature of artistic creation, and the circumstances attending our perception of the world outside ourselves. Failure to exercise the mind for Christ in these areas has become acute in the twentieth century. That failure is the scandal of the evangelical mind.”

 ~Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, page 7

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Attending a Christian college no more automatically makes me active in the “life of the mind” than a person standing in a garage will automatically become a car or a student sleeping in a stable will automatically become a horse.

It would be easy to come to a Christian college and succeed in the academic pursuits without ever choosing to pursue the life of the mind. Many students do exactly that. No, a university cannot force its students to exercise the life of the mind.

A college can, however, encourage its students toward lively minds. I do feel that JBU has been doing this effectively in many cases. In fact, through its discussion of education, calling, and living a good life, the Honors Orientation class strives to provide just such a starting point and framework for the exploration and intellectual discovery that Noll describes. Likewise, each Gateway class is required to read a book, Why College Matters to God, by Rick Ostrander, which describes the framework of Creation, Fall and Redemption that Christians can use to approach the world around them. By requiring students to explore and apply their Christian faith not only to matters of theology and Biblical study, but also to science, liberal arts, and career-oriented studies, Christian higher education institutions can further encourage their students toward the life of the mind. All this instruction alone is not enough, however. It takes a student who wants to develop the life of the mind, a student who seeks to understand and apply her faith, to truly succeed. Without the student’s desire to develop these habits, all the efforts of the college will be fruitless.

As a student, my job is to pursue an active mind in all areas: scientifically, spiritually, creatively, and globally. I can do this by choosing to apply what I am learning across disciplines, to take the guidance offered me by my professors in my classes, seeking to know God better through what I am studying, and paying attention to the world around me. It is my responsibility, not my college’s, to make sure that I am thriving mentally. While a school can provide a framework—and at JBU I believe this framework is strong and existent—it is my choice to take advantage of it.

By learning and having and active mind, I can in turn have a deeper, fuller relationship with my Savior and Lord. My understanding of His creation and pursuit of his wisdom in all areas, not just religious pursuits, can draw me closer to Him.

Questions:

 How does the below scripture (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) interface with Noll’s claims about Evangelical intellectualism? How do we approach the world’s wisdom with the knowledge that God’s foolishness is wiser? Can, as the passage indicates, intellectualism get in the way of knowing God fully? How is intellectualism different from the “life of the mind”?

1 Corinthians 1: 18-25:

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^[c]

²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Good For The Sake Of....Itself?

What makes something good? How interesting that we are talking about the concept of intrinsic good in Honors Orientation this week, because I had a discussion in Sunday school about whether anything humans do without God has any “goodness” in it at all. I still don’t know exactly what I think about that, but it was certainly a stimulating discussion.

I digress, however. After reading the chapter “Is Thinking Good for Its Own Sake,” for Honors Orientation, I now understand intrinsic goodness as anything that is good for its own sake. That is, it does not require outcomes or results to make it good. It is good all by itself. It’s not that intrinsic goodness doesn’t bring about good results. It does! But it would be considered good without its results, not just because of them.

~My list of “good” things (in no particular order):

1)                  God (because any list I make he ought to be automatically at the top)

2)                  Prayer, intercession, and worship of God

3)                  Singing with all ones might (even if it doesn’t sound good)

4)                  Peaceful silence

5)                  Joy

6)                  Love (by this I mean all 4 Greek concepts of love: agape, philia, storge, eros)

7)                  Freedom

8)                  Roses, daisies, irises, flowers in general….ok fine…nature in general

9)                  Long walks

10)               Friendship

11)               Contentment

12)               Deepening understanding and increasing learning

13)               Life and health

14)               Rest

15)               Listening

16)               God-created beauty

17)               Questing (yes, this is a DragonKeeper Chronicles reference)

18)               Faithful obedience

19)               Wisdom

20)               Chocolate J (I love you Gabrielle!)

21)               Mercy and compassion

22)               Family

23)               Smiles and laughter

24)               Rejoicing in the wonder of who God has created me to be

25)               The ability to read, speak, write, and reason

26)               Experiencing the wide world around me

27)               Accomplishing goals

28)               Conversation and communication, understanding one another

29)               Creative thinking

30)               Sunshine, sunrises, sunsets, cloudy days, starlight nights

31)               Words

32)               Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and…..(I’ll waltz off singing with The Sound of Music now)

Now, many other things are good also. It is these things—this intrinsic goodness—that allows us to do what the author referred to as “living largely.” This means living in an un-constricted, as-many-good-things-as-possible way, with the overall goal of glorifying God. This is the good life. 

             ~A moment where I experienced intrinsic goodness:

Last night I went to Vespers for the first time. I left most of my friends in Walker and jogged across campus to Jones Recital Hall because I was going to late (what else is new?). By the time I reached the building, I was cold and out of breath. I slipped into the hall as quietly as possible (which unfortunately was not quiet at all because the door clanged behind me and I whacked my knee on the end of the aisle trying to get into my seat) and gently slid into the third or fourth row from the front. I was still breathing heavily, which felt almost irreverent because everyone else seemed so calm and patient as they waited for the service to begin. When Vespers began, we sang a few songs, listened to Scripture read aloud, meditated on what we heard, and prayed for ourselves, others, and the world. In those moments, I began to relax. This was time to pause, think, enjoy the silence, and talk to God.

Thinking back now, I don’t think I have had that much silence in weeks. Even when I am alone in my dorm there is constant ambient noise or I am listening to my music. What a striking contrast! At Vespers, I was left alone with my God and my own thoughts for several minutes straight. Ah, friends, it was a wonderful feeling. I felt stress falling off me as if I was a snake shedding my old skin. This is my example of experiencing intrinsic good. The peace, silence, reflection, worship of God, God’s presence, Scripture, fellowship with other believers, and reverence was good for its own sake, but also had incredibly beneficial results. This is good.

Educational Approaches: Freedom and Oppression

“La conscience et le monde sont donnés d’un même coup: extérieur par essence à la conscience, le monde est, par essence relatif à elle.” (Consciousness and the world are given in the same stroke: external in nature to consciousness, the world is, in essence relative to it.) ~ Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

     In the excerpt from Pedagogy of the Oppressed that I read for Honors Orientation this week, Paulo Freire argues that the existence of the world as we know it is dependent on the fact that we know it. What differentiates our earth, our world, from any other planet in the galaxy is the fact that it is populated by beings who think and understand, thus giving the earth meaning.

     Freire tells the story of a Chilean man who was talking with an educated anthropologist about culture. The man said, “Now I see that without man there is no world.” The anthropologist asked him to clarify, wondering if all the men on the planet died, but the animals, trees, and so on remained on the earth, if that would still be a world? “Oh no,” the Chilean peasant said. Because “there would be no one to say: ‘This is a world’.”

     If you know me at all, you know that I like ideas. This idea of the existence of a world as dependent on human beings and their understanding of that world is so interesting to me. Oh, I know, it’s philosophical, and a little bit out there, but bear with me. God said, “Let there be light, and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). Until God—a thinking, understanding, knowing being—said “this is a world,” the earth was formless and empty. It was his partially his knowledge and most definitely his power to create that caused an otherwise empty ball of nothingness to become a perfect place for his creation to live—a world.

     But what does it take to know something? Before reading this chapter, I may have given you some answer about knowledge being related to learning, memorizing, and being taught by a teacher or read in a book. All of these things are still true, but Freire makes some interesting arguments in this chapter concerning the way students are taught and the effect the method of education has on students’ knowledge and understanding of the material. His arguments made me think about what it means to really educate and learn, especially in a classroom situation.

     Freire sets forth two educational models: “banking” and “problem-posing.” In the banking concept of education, knowledge is mute and unchanging and is to be imparted by all-knowing teachers into the empty, open minds of students, who memorize and regurgitate this knowledge and are evaluated on the excellence of their regurgitation. Problem-posing is a much more fluid educational concept, consisting of students and teachers cooperating to discuss problems and issues posed by the teacher for the students’ interactive discussion. Both teacher and student are open to learning new insights about the subject; they are challenged by and directly involved with the problem. Problem-posing education considers more than just the subject, but the subject in relation to people and the world.

     Reader, have you tasted and partaken in each of these teaching methods? Let me give a few examples.

     One of the things that I like the most about some of my classes here at JBU is that I, as a student, am extremely involved in the classroom learning process. I am not there with an empty mind waiting for my professor to pour all of his knowledge into my head. Instead, I am given texts to read before class and then asked to discuss what I learned from the text with my fellow classmates and my professor. We all learn from each other. I still recognize and respect the superior knowledge and understanding of my professor, but at the same time, I am being asked to personally engage with the often challenging texts and come to my own conclusions with his guidance.  His knowledge is still being imparted, and I am still expected to store that knowledge and be able to effectively access it later, but I am directly involved in the learning process in these classes, and I love it.

     Even as a homeschooled student, I still had the opportunity to engage the topics I was learning, because most of my education centered on reading and understanding books. I was expected to understand, interpret, and store the knowledge I acquired. I engaged issues and learned from them, mostly by teaching myself from good books.

     Both these classroom situations, where problem-posing is the dominant educational method, lead to freedom through knowledge, according to Freire.

     But come with me into a different classroom. Here the teacher stands before a group of bored, dispassionate students. We are expected to listen to what he says, because later we will be expected to regurgitate the facts deposited into our heads onto a piece of paper that claims to assess our knowledge. This classroom experience is an example of the banking approach to education. I still acquired knowledge in this classroom, but I would argue that for me, this method was not nearly as engaging or as effective as the afore-mentioned scenario. In the “banking” classroom, I only remembered what I had to. That knowledge was disposable; I learned it, did what I needed to with it (passed a test), and then it had served its purpose and could be left by the wayside to make room for new information. The knowledge never became part of me and the way I perceive the world around me.

     In this type classroom situation, no one, teacher or student, really cares much about whether the student actually engages the subject, wrestles with it, and learns from it, as long as they are able to accurately parrot back what they have learned on a test. This sort of domineering control over students’ learning is what, Freire argues, leads to oppression, hence the title of his book.

     On one hand, there is nothing new here. Theories about education have abounded over the years, and these are not the only two ways to approach it. But, at the same time, this reading has asked me to think about a subject that I hadn’t really engaged before. What is the power of knowledge and education? How does the way a subject is taught affect the students? Can education lead to freedom or oppression? How does my time here at JBU fit into that? Once again I’ve been made to think, and that’s a good thing.

Educational Approaches: Eagles vs. Pine Trees

For our blog post this week, we are looking at some different approaches to education. We were given the opportunity to bang around some websites such as Berea College (a college that focuses on work-study, each student is only required to pay what the family can afford), St. Johns (which focuses on a study of the great books), or the Experimental College of Haverford (student-taught classes for no credit, much like a college class cooperative).

Based on the websites we could explore, the educational philosophy that interested me the most was that of Evergreen State University(www.evergreen.edu). This college has several major differences from John Brown University. Ok, that may be an understatement. In fact, Evergreen is very, very different from JBU. “Imagine exploring psychology, environmental studies, math, history and economics and how they all interrelate,” said their website. This occurs because Evergreen students take one class or “program” at a time per quarter, collaboratively taught by two, three, or four professors. At the end of a program, the students don’t get a letter grade; they receive a narrative-style report or evaluation from their teacher, as well as writing a detailed evaluation of themselves and the professors.  The aim of Evergreen is still very much the same as JBU’s: to educate students. But the methods Evergreen uses to accomplish these goals are much different.

Although I have not been overly focused on grades throughout high school and my first dose of college, getting my mid-term and final grades and seeing if the desired combination of letters (preferably A’s!!) are present has been a significant part of my educational process up to this point. I wonder what school would be like without some sort of letter/number combination assigned to the work I completed? I’m not sure I would completely like it. But then again, it would provide so much freedom from basing my performance on those numbers and letters. I wouldn’t be able to focus on those things, which would automatically make it either so a) I don’t care or b) I would focus on actually learning not just on getting grades. I am sure the second is the goal Evergreen wants, but I see the possibility for the former to happen with some students.

 During high school, mom and I would meet at least once a week to look at the progress I had made towards accomplishing my academic work and record what actually got accomplished in the grade book. We also talked about the schedule for the week ahead and made any necessary changes. We called this process “Teacher Meetings.” Many times we also took time to laugh, cry, and debrief about the week during this our teacher meeting. Teacher meetings became a very important part of what ‘homeschooling’ was to me. In some ways, this concept is what Evergreen is striving for with their written evaluations .They are stressing the relationship between teacher and student (which I definitely had with my mom), as well as achieving overall learning objectives as opposed to earning a quantifiable grade. (…which also is what we ended up focusing on more in homeschooling. I wasn’t focused on getting a certain score; we spent time on the subject until I had mastered it and then moved on.)

A learning environment focused on learning seems like a novel idea right? If we focused on grades, such a place would be called a grading environment. So why do I, and many, many other students, focus so much on grades here at JBU??? More than any letter grade I’ve received, I really appreciate the verbal and written feedback I have gotten from people such as my Gateway professor or my honors mentor, Esther Carey, on assignments here at JBU. I love written comments so much! They have the ability to make my day 100 times better if they are positive, and to help me learn how to do things better if those comments are correctional. After all, college is supposed to be a place where we learn. In this sense, I really appreciate what Evergreen is doing. I think I would do well there as a student, because I do like to learn and the relational, collaborative learning would be effective for my learning styles and capabilities. I don’t think that JBU should become exactly like Evergreen. But Evergreen does have some interesting and revolutionary ideas (such as more written feedback/less emphasis on letter grades) that could be implemented with some success at JBU, to help students and teachers put the emphasis back on learning.

Take 4: Final Thoughts on 'A Million Miles in a Thousand Years'

Reading Donald Miller’s book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, wasn’t something I really wanted to do. But like a good honors student, I did what I was told and read the book. (My professors are going to have to be careful. This honors student is beginning to like the idea of doing as I am told less and less. I am beginning to cultivate a rebellious streak. But that’s a different story… J)

 If you have read the book, you’ll know that it starts out kind of slowly. To me it seemed like it didn’t really have a point; the story wasn’t going anywhere. About  the time I reached chapter 18, it finally dawned on me what the book was about: looking for a story, seeking purpose and adventure, and learning to live life to the fullest. The reason the beginning was so slow was because at that point Miller’s life didn’t have a point. His story wasn’t going anywhere. The fact that I wasn’t engrossed in the first part of the book proves his point, because the pointlessness of his life was the point.

 But slowly things began to change. As his life changed, he became a more likeable and interesting character. By the end of the book I was cheering for Miller. I wanted him to succeed because his life was worth living.

Miller says, “It’s interesting that in the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes, the only practical advice given about living a meaningful life is to find a job you like, enjoy your marriage, and obey God. It’s as though God is saying, Write a good story, take somebody with you, and let me help” (p. 246, emphasis his). I really like this quote because it summarizes what it means to live a good story, at least according to Miller. I want to live a good story. More than anything, I do want my life to be a meaningful one.

Once I let myself get into Miller’s book, I was really glad I did. It was an encouraging and spiritually-challenging read. Now I am able to think back to it and say, Because of Miller’s book, I have been reminded to use my college experience to ‘create a better story’ than I would have otherwise; to get off my bottom and live a life worth living. It reminded me that conflict and pain are OK, that they help us become stronger characters to which people better relate. And these are good things. Now, if you excuse me, I’m going to stop sitting here writing. I’m going to go and live my story. Would you care to join me?

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(My prompt told me I was also allowed to talk about what I disagreed with the most. I took exception to Miller’s overly cynical views of marketing.  Now, in some ways he is right, but at one point he actually said, “As near as I could tell from reading those [marketing how-to] books, marketing is a three-step process. The first step is to convince people they are miserable. The second step is to convince people they will be happy if they buy your product, and the third step is to include a half-naked woman in your pitch….” This really bugged me. So here’s what I’m going to do about it: I am going to keep studying marketing. I am going to keep learning how to market in a Godly way. I am going to make a difference. But I just had to say: THIS BUGGED ME SO MUCH!)