"It's Like, the Best Class EVER!"

If you've ever seen "Napoleon Dynamite," then you'd know how to say that.

I'm talking about my Biblical Faith and Economics class. We started with a devotion on John 15 - "Abide in me..." with references to normal guys who did extrordinary things when called by God - E. Stanley Jones, Hudson Taylor - and later even watched a video about Mother Teresa. Who think Mother Teresa was elevated to saint-status? I sure did. However, when I watched this video and thought about the possibility of changing lives with the gospel through development, I felt like we could have been friends. As Christians, we have specific callings on our lives. One vocation is not elevated above another - as long as love for the Lord and others is paramount, and an uncompromising committment to follow the Lord's leading.

I know I'm talking with incredible enthusiasm and have been accused more than once of naivete, however I have seen God's hand continually lead in my life and He has not made any mistakes! So as I sat in class today being introduced to development concepts and how to analyze data, I was very grateful. To hear these kinds of topics discussed in the same breath as the need for the gospel in our world because of the sin that plagues us - it exalts Christ greatly! I will report more later - until then, know that the gospel moves in the field of development and for that I praise Him and look forward to learning about it!

Here is my course description: "An examination of diverse methodologies, hermeneutics, and conclusions about the meaning of Biblical principles for economic life today. Special attention will be given to careful exegetical analysis of relevant Biblical material. Students will be expected to understand economic concepts relevant to developing countries, to apply these concepts to disparate development issues, and to evaluate alternative applications from the perspective of Christian ethics."

Here I go! :)

Book Review(s)

Reading "The Call" by Os Guinness alongside "The Life & Spirituality of William Wilberforce" by Murray Andrew Pura proved enormously beneficial as each book reinforced the other's message of Christ's call on one's life forming central foundation of meaning and purpose in one's life. I began reading "The Call" as the path of my life took a sharp and decisive turn a few months ago. It was heartbreaking to leave Campus Outreach Johannesburg, the friends I had made, the ministry (the girls) I had devoted myself too. However one thing that could have made it entirely worse would have been to believe the lie that occupation defines one's calling. Christ's call of having initiated reconciliation to the Father intrinsically brings meaning to one's life. Now, one is called to so much more than would could have defined him or her without Christ. It gave great comfort to know that God guides, governs, and puts desires in one's heart for a reason and gives each season in one's life a particular and holy meaning. There are many quotes I could assign of great significance in this book. Here are two thoughts: "Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service." And my favorite, that calling "demand(s) and inspire(s) the transforming vision of the lordship of Christ expressed in the famous saying of the great Dutch prime minister Abraham Kuyper: 'There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, 'This is mine! This belongs to me!'"

My long fascination with William Wilberforce led me to purchase this book at a Beth Moore event I attended earlier this year. Wilberforce's ability to view his political vocation as a divine appointment was rare but instrumental for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in so many facets of his day. Not only did he work to end slavery, but he added a lot of benefical literature to the church. At the heart of all that he accomplished, was his obedience, humility, and right relation to the Lord. He did not see his political power or knowledge as something he owned but rather something He could give back to the Lord in useful service. At this specific juncture in my life, there are many lessons I can take from his example. Going from a missionary in Africa to a graduate student in Philadelphia, I am learning there is no more spiritual vocation than that to which God has called one at present. There is no "down-grading" of service in the kingdom. The key is devotion to Christ and obedience to where He leads.
I completely recommend these books as helpful voices in helping one decipher the meaning of one's life.