I'm not speeding...I'm qualifying

thoughts and updates about my life as a husband and father, a friend, and a school president

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Senior Reading Assignment #1



Seniors, please post your thoughts regarding the first quarter of the book you are reading. Share with us what has impacted you in the book thus far and how what you are reading can be applied to your life. Please post a paragraph for each answer.

We look forward to reading your comments. All posts should be made prior to class on Monday, September 27.

posted by Craig @ 7:03 AM  

25 Comments:

  • At 6:24 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading the book "Same Kind of Different as Me." I am really enjoying this book so far. It has made me think about how racism is still alive today, no matter how sheltered I may be in Abilene, Texas. This book has also made me think about the meaning of being a Christian. It talks about praying "the sinner's prayer" to become a Christian. Ron Hall also writes, "...even with y $500 European-designer bifocals, I cannot see into a person's heart to know his spiritual condition." I completely agree with this quote. No matter what our status is-rich, poor, Christian, Atheist, we cannot decide who is "unsaved" or "saved."
    I can apply this to my life not judging others, but accepting everyone, just as Jesus did. It is absolutely outrageous and hypocritical to shun the nonbeliever, for that is just what God said not to do. It is the lost who need help.
    -Katie Hardegree

     

  • At 9:13 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

    I am reading Choosing Your Faith in a World of Spiritual Options, by Mark Mittleberg. The general premise of the book is how we believe in God. It explores six different “faith paths,” that is to say, the ways that we come to affirm our own faith in God.

    At the beginning, Mittleberg describes his own journey, explaining that he began to analyze his own faith when he realized that he had been following the faith of his parents’ blindly, without looking too closely at it. When he decided to turn to his church for the answers to his questions about God and the Bible, they used the Bible to confirm that what the Bible says is true. Guilty of circular reasoning, the church did nothing more than lose Mittleberg, as he leaves to find answers rooted by human thought, rather than fundamentalist belief. Don’t worry—Mittleberg is still a Christian. He just had to figure out how and why.

    I’m not too far into the book, but I have read past the first faith path: the Relativistic Path. This faith path focuses on pragmatism, the belief that “what works for you is truth for you; what works for me, is truth for me.” Mittleberg explores both the pros and cons of this mentality, explaining that everyone could, in theory, get along, but that at the same time, someone who believes in God and someone who doesn’t would create a metaphysical contradiction—that God both exists and doesn’t simultaneously.

    This book seems to be very insightful and diplomatic. I have enjoyed it so far. I chose this book because I experienced the same kind of spiritual “revolution,” if you will, a few years ago when I began to look at what I truly believed about God. I hope that this book will be able to help me see more clearly how and why I affirm the Christian faith.

     

  • At 9:11 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading the book "Cold Tangerines," by Shauna Niequist. I had planned on reading a book called, "The Control Freak", but when I couldn't find it in two different libraries, and three bookstores the bright orange, dust-covered book on my shelf called out to me.

    The book, written in the form of several essays, poems, and stories, is real, uncompromising and entertaining. Shauna, the author, doesn’t advertise poster-girl, Christian living, in fact, she does just the opposite. The book's honest thoughts and striking depth come from a soul that has laughed, cried, mourned, screamed, danced and sang in the presence of God. It has been impacting to me already just to hear this refreshing view on a "Christian lifestyle" from a book that has been so easily relatable to.

    The main "point" of this book is really to understand and celebrate the extraordinary natures of everyday life. I can already tell that this book is going to help me appreciate the smaller things in life and not take anything for granted.

    "I think it's our job, each of us, to live each day like it's a special occasion, because we've been given a gift."

     

  • At 8:46 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Very nice, you three so far. I am doing a piece of reading along with you this weekend in my book Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans recommended to me by my dear friend Jana Beck. I'll blog a little for you before Monday morning as well. In the meantime, I am loving what I see coming from this project...you sharing your own perspectives along with those of the authors of your book. Very well done. Keep reading and sharing.
    Mrs. Fisher

     

  • At 1:50 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The book I choose to read for this assignment is called "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx. This book has captured my full attention up to this point. I am really impressed with Joe Ehrmann, the ex-professional football player of the Baltimore Colts. This carefree man seemed to have fame and fortune early on in his life. He was not raised in a christian background but he still seemed to be a good guy. One of the people he loved the most in his life was his brother Billy. Billy got cancer and died when Joe was playing professional football. This really rocked Joe's faith and he went looking for answers about God. He soon turned into a devout christian through studying Gods word. Joe realized living for money, fame, and glory was not the only important thing in life. He wanted to make a difference and help others who were lost in life like he was when his brother died. Joe became a pastor and began outreach programs for the less fortunate, preached at different churches, and coached football at Gilman high school in Maryland. He wanted to have a positive influence on all people but mainly young men of the community. He wanted to teach them how to be Godly men.

    Joe suffered through a terrible experience when he lost his little brother and best friend. However, through his pain, God created a wonderful thing that we can learn from. Joe took his pain and used it in a way that could benefit himself and others positively. I think we should act as Joe did when something bad happens to us in our life. Everyone has experienced or will experience some sort of pain in their life. It's how they respond to this pain that counts. Searching for God, like Joe did, and finding ways to help others in struggles is a great way to further God and his kingdom. I believe that applying this to my life is important because I can learn through helping others with their troubles that God will help me get through my pain just as I am helping others and they are helping me.

    -Drew Martinez-

     

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  • At 2:09 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading "The Heavenly Man" which is about a man named Brother Yun and he tells of his life and the struggles that he endures. In the first chapter he shows what his life is like in China, how he lives through the Boxer rebellion and sees how China turns from a country that is getting to know God, then turns its back and doesn't want to have anything to do with Him. Yun talks of what he has witnessed happen to Christians in China, he tells of the persecution that occurs to the missionaries that go and spread the word of God. Brother Yun also tells of his young life when he was a child and the hard lifestyle he grew up in. this first perspective shows to me that China is in desperate need of Jesus and his teachings.
    I feel like what I have gotten out of this reading is that I can do a much better job of spreading the gospel. After raeding about how Yun is spreading the gospel in China and how hard it is because they do not have freedom of speech and basically freedom of religion, he is working hard to go out and minister God's word. this makes me want to work harder and live my life for God with a Christ-like attitude.

     

  • At 6:23 PM , Blogger aheath said...

    For my book report, I decided to read Same Kind of Different as Me. I chose this book because my mother read it a few months ago and she said it really changed the way she looked at some things. I have only read a fourth of the book but I can already see that Same Kind of Different as Me will definitely change my view of the world back then. Since we live in a time where that type of racism is frowned upon, it’s odd to think of racism as something that many people actually supported. It’s disheartening to think that this type of racism has not fully disappeared in some areas of the world today. Same Kind of Different as Me has given me a bigger perspective of the things that happened to African Americans back then. Of course I know what white Americans did to some of these people, I just have never fully imagined how truly appalling and degrading it is. This book has so far been an eye opener for me. It’s hard to think of the dangers African Americans faced back then, especially in the hands of Christian people. The point where I am at in Same Kind of Different as Me is still mostly the background of the characters but I am eager to learn how the characters will meet and connect.

    Amy Heath

     

  • At 6:37 PM , Anonymous Meo said...

    I am reading a book "The applause of heaven" by Max Lucado. This book basically talking about sermon on the mount when Jesus was preaching. This book is really touching, in the beginning it talked about a girl, who had a bitter life, she had never be accepted in anything and needed to taking care of her 2 handicapped Childs, yet, she never give up of her life. She thought that she has little choice about success but at least she trusted on God and choosing to be cheerful for every situation that she had face.
    I can apply this in to my everyday life, that life has a different moment, sadness,happiness. God has his plan for me whether i like it or not, i have to learn to accept it. Never think that every issue has no choice to fix the problem but at least i can choose to be joyful and face with the situation because, i know that God has better plan for my life.

     

  • At 7:12 PM , Blogger Gabriel Espinoza said...

    I am reading "Seasons of life." The book is really good and interesting. The book has really made me think about the menaing of football, and the way football is generally viewed. It has made me think about the coaching styles of my previous coaches. I think its great that two coaches in the book build a football program to do more than just win, but incorporate things to make boys to become better men in the future. Today I think that is so important because so many NFL football players do not have fathers to teach them how to be a man and all tehy have is football. I think if all fooball teams from high school to the NFL level did what Joe Ehrmann did with his team, then many of these kids these days could be more responisble and discipline to stay out of trouble. Many NFL football players are getting caught drinking and driving, illegel possession of a weapon and drugs. These men are romodels to many kids all over the world and that is the example they are setting to the youth today.

     

  • At 7:14 PM , Blogger Gabriel Espinoza said...

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  • At 7:15 PM , Blogger Mallory Jean said...

    Pages in the whole book: 177.
    Pages read in assignment #1: 18-51

    I am reading Velvet Elvis by Bob Bell. This book is a really great read so far and it challenges my faith A BUNCH. It's basically a book full of questions, some similar to my own questions about God, my faith, the reality/existence of God, and what and how to live my life. Really its just putting all the concepts of religion (not just Christianity) and all the interpretations of scriptures into different lights. And how the Bible is a very difficult read. Rob Bell touches on this subject by saying, "...the more insight I gain, the more I realize how much I don't know. It inspires and encourages, and it also frustrates and provokes." Until I had read this particular passage, I hadn't really thought deeply about his concept. I just assumed I just couldn't understand the Bible because I wasn't deep enough in my relationship with God. But actually, it seems to be that BECAUSE of my doubts, and uncertainties, that I am on the right track. Rob Bell said in this book that Christianity is based on paradoxes. And the only way to discuss paradoxes is to question them; to stretch and to make them flex. He said that once you stop asking questions, you're assuming that you know everything there is to know so that there's no reason to try and dive deeper. And that's scary because you're basically saying that you are God because you know everything. He says that the Bible is open-minded so that it MUST be questioned. That makes it mysterious. Mysterious in the sense that we don't and can't understand most of it. Rob Bell states that that is why the Bible is so hard to grasp because once you answer a question, it rises up another question as its answer and it just keeps going and going. Rob Bell also suggests that God likes it when we ask Him questions, not in a disrespectful way or in way that we're questioning his supremacy but that we're not willing to just be fed what we're "supposed to know" and just do it because thats what we're supposed to do. In one passage, Rob Bell uses Abraham as an example to explain this:
    "Abraham thinks God is in the wrong [of destroying Sodom and Gomorrah] and the proposed action is not in line with who God is, and Abraham questions him about it. Actually, they get into a sort of bargaining discussion in which Abraham doesn't let up. He keeps questioning God. And God not only doesn't get angry, but he seems to engage with Abraham all the more. Maybe that is who God is looking for-people who don't just sit there and mindlessly accept whatever comes their way."

    I am going to use all of these concepts in my life, to not assume that I'm always right and that my way is the only way. Also, I think I am already doing this, but I know I can delve deeper: I am going to question and probe everything that comes my way. I am not going to just be spiritually baby fed and told what to do. I am going to continually question and look at each situation from every angle.

     

  • At 7:17 PM , Blogger Mallory Jean said...

    Pages in the whole book: 177.
    Pages read in assignment #1: 18-51

    I am reading Velvet Elvis by Bob Bell. This book is a really great read so far and it challenges my faith A BUNCH. It's basically a book full of questions, some similar to my own questions about God, my faith, the reality/existence of God, and what and how to live my life. Really its just putting all the concepts of religion (not just Christianity) and all the interpretations of scriptures into different lights. And how the Bible is a very difficult read. Rob Bell touches on this subject by saying, "...the more insight I gain, the more I realize how much I don't know. It inspires and encourages, and it also frustrates and provokes." Until I had read this particular passage, I hadn't really thought deeply about his concept. I just assumed I just couldn't understand the Bible because I wasn't deep enough in my relationship with God. But actually, it seems to be that BECAUSE of my doubts, and uncertainties, that I am on the right track. Rob Bell said in this book that Christianity is based on paradoxes. And the only way to discuss paradoxes is to question them; to stretch and to make them flex. He said that once you stop asking questions, you're assuming that you know everything there is to know so that there's no reason to try and dive deeper. And that's scary because you're basically saying that you are God because you know everything. He says that the Bible is open-minded so that it MUST be questioned. That makes it mysterious. Mysterious in the sense that we don't and can't understand most of it. Rob Bell states that that is why the Bible is so hard to grasp because once you answer a question, it rises up another question as its answer and it just keeps going and going. Rob Bell also suggests that God likes it when we ask Him questions, not in a disrespectful way or in way that we're questioning his supremacy but that we're not willing to just be fed what we're "supposed to know" and just do it because thats what we're supposed to do. In one passage, Rob Bell uses Abraham as an example to explain this...continued on next post

     

  • At 7:21 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading the book "Determined to win". It is an autobiography. The author has spina bifida, which is the most common type of netural tube defect, one that affects the spinal cord and its protective coverings. So she cant walk like other people since she was born. And she also has other 4 siblings at home and her parents do not have too much money left can pay for her pills. But they still try to let Jean can have the best. Even at school, teachers know Jean has some problems so they take care of her more than other kids. Even Jean's legs have some problems, can not walk normally but there is a lot of people around and support her. And Jean is a optimistic person, likes to keep challenge and try new things.
    For example, she can ride a two-wheeler by herself, which i difficult for her but she really can do it. And then she decided to be an athlete with full of her family's support. It is a really to urge people. And the part I have read, does not talk about her christian life yet but it will talk more her christian life experience after those pages.

    Angus Cheung

     

  • At 7:58 PM , Blogger Brantly said...

    I am reading “Sex God” by Rob Bell. This book explores “the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality,” though not “sexuality” as you would think of it.

    Rob Bell looks at sexuality as connection. He does not look at it as strictly a person’s “sex” life, etc. Though he does not deny that “sex” is a part of sexuality, he tells that sexuality is our connection with the earth, with God, with the people around us, or lack thereof. So far, this has been the most impacting thing I have read in the book. At first, I totally disagreed. I was borderline upset because I thought I had been mislead (by the title and subtitle) to think that this book would be a study of how aspects of “sex,” etc. relate to spirituality. But it’s almost as if my eyes have been opened. Once Rob starts explaining the connections, it totally makes sense. Everything he’s talking about relates back to “sex,” God, nature, spirituality, and ME. It’s actually kind of incredible, the way he looks at life through this definition of sexuality. Though hard to accept at first, it makes total sense.

    I haven’t really gotten to the part of the book with things to apply to my life, but I have a sense of what is in store. In part of what I have read so far, Rob talks about how we have lost our connection with the earth. He has also talked about people who are deeply sexual in the sense that they have endless connections with people around them (they have devoted their lives to knowing themselves and connecting with others) and are still unmarried and celibate, yet still deeply sexual. I think I will learn how I can connect with others, with God, with the earth, and many other things. My hope that this book will teach me how to be a truly sexual being, a being of connection.

     

  • At 9:39 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and it's actually pretty good.

    I would say what has impacted me the most is that this book has opened up a new perspective on God and how people take Him for granted when in reality, He is everywhere at all times. It also continues to explain how we are all extras in His movie and He is the star.

    I can apply this in life by glorifying Him in everything I do because God wants to be praised and known. He is not something that can be ignored.
    -Katelyn Kincaid

     

  • At 9:51 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading the book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris. I have really enjoyed this book so far, it has challenged and changed the way I view relationships. In the book, Joshua Harris proposes not "dating", but furthering friend relationships with the opposite sex. Instead of jumping into a dating relationship focused on romance and intimacy, he suggests to "better serve girls [or boys] as a friend, and [he] can remain free to keep [his] focus on the Lord".

    He tells a story about a girl who had a nightmare about her wedding day. She is standing at the altar with her fiance and as they are saying their vows, several girls come out of the audience and take her fiance's hand. She asks why they are there, and he tells her that he had given part of his heart to each of them when he had been in serious relationships with them. She replies saying, "I thought your heart was mine?" and he says, "Everything that's left is yours".

    This story really shook me up when I read it, and it really made me think about dating and how I don't want several guys to come out of the audience at my wedding, and have to tell my future husband that my whole heart wasn't his.

    Joshua Harris also says that to be in a committed relationship, one needs to let Christ's love fully control the relationship. He says that couples need to look at the big picture, "serving others and glorifying God". That goal can not be met in a short-term relationship! He also says that when "we make God's glory and other people's needs our priority, we position ourselves to receive the greatest joy in our lives as well". This means that we need to make pleasing God and blessing others our priority, not pleasing ourselves. And, when we stop seeing the other sex as potential boyfriends/girlfriends, we can treat them as brothers and sisters in Christ and we can enjoy true friendship.

    So, this book isn't about not dating, ever.

    It's about learning how to develop your relationship with Christ and how to enjoy the opposite sex without short-term, fast-paced relationships.

    Aubrie Hood

     

  • At 11:14 PM , Anonymous Alex Lam said...

    I am reading the book "Same Kind of Different as Me." This book is not as a normal book talks about God and we have to be believe in him. The author is talking a story about his life, and he is a black guy, and one time there is a white lady did not know about the truth and calls him not very nice and he knows that even he telling the truth and the lady would not believe in him.

    It teaches me sometimes it is not fair to us but we have to just find a way to bear it but not fight for it, and don't mad at the person that does not know the truth just forgive the people that mean to you , that is what i learn from the book.

     

  • At 8:08 AM , Blogger Rachel said...

    I am readin Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller.

    In this book, Donald Miller goes over his life and starts thinking about Christianity. He has been raised in a church, so he knows of God, but he doesn't feel like he has a personal relationship with God. Growing up, he viewed more of an idea than a being. He starts analyzing Christian spirituality and wonders why he believes what he believes. So far, he has blindly followed Christianity without really knowing what he believed.

    He starts by thinking about the characteristics of Christianity. He observed that in Christianity, stories from the Bible are commonly altered to be made suitable for children. Such as the story of Noah. It is considered a children's story because it has animals. But we don't go into detail about the whole massacre of all humanity. Also, many of the stories are just ignored. They're either simplified or ignored.He found this aspect of Christianity difficult to embrace.

    Then he starts talking about the basic elements of story: setting, conflict, climax, and resolution. He started wondering why people responded to these things. The hardest thing to understand was conflict. Every good story has conflict, right? But where does conflict come from? He finds an explanation in Chrisitanity through Adam and Eve, with the origin of original sin. The heart responds to conflict because we understand it, because we experience it.

    Miller starts auditing some classes at Reed college in Portland. There are hardly any Christians at this college. Through his experiences there, he has more spiritual ecperiences there than at church. Most of the people there wanted nothing to do with god, but they cared more about people than most Christians.

    -Rachel

     

  • At 2:31 PM , Blogger GGC said...

    This past week, I have begun reading 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. The book is a true story of how a man involved in an automobile accident passes away only to be resuscitated and brought back to life 90 minutes later. During those 90 minutes, the man ascends to and experiences Heaven. He miraculously returns to earth with the recollection of his Heavenly experience.

    I have always believed in an eternal life in Heaven after temporary existence on earth. Thus far, this book has triggered immense fascination in me as to what Heaven really is like. What has impacted me the most so far is the fact that Piper does not recall ever seeing God in his brief time in Heaven. I have always pictured Heaven as being a homecoming with my Father. Perhaps this reuniting process takes place further along after one’s arrival in Heaven.

    The reading can truly apply in my life by reminding me why I work so hard to lead a Godly life. My goal as a Christian is to live in a way that is pleasing to God in hopes of one day ascending to Heaven myself to be forever in His presence.

    Pages in book: 205
    Pages read: 51

    Gillian Grace Chant

     

  • At 7:19 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading Season of Love by Jeffery Marx. This book is very good. I actually had to make myself stop reading o go get something to eat. At first I thought that it was going to be hard go write about, mainly because it was not giving anything to think about. It was just puttin the setting and background into place. But then it started talking abou how the world could be changed if only boys would be taught to become men. He says that today's standard of manhood is athletic ability, sexual conquest, and economic success. He says that man hood should be defined in relationships and that men should have a purpose to life that is greater than themselves. I think he has a great point. A man should be someone who puts himself below others and helps out everyone to the best of his abilities. If that would happen then there would be no more whores, there would be no more violence because we help out eachother, there would be no more thefts, and not as many broken families where the dad just left because he didn't care.
    Pages in book: 177
    Pages read: 50
    Trey Tyson

     

  • At 7:26 PM , Blogger Jono McMichael said...

    I am reading Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. This book deals with exactly what the title states, understanding why bad things happen to those who seem undeserving of such misfortune. This book has given some possibilities already as to why misfortunes befall seemingly good people. One theory is that God is trying to teach us, another is that God is punishing us and we deserve it. Still another theory is that we are all part of an elaborate tapestry. The threads represent people and some threads have to be cut, others knotted, and still others made long. God does what He does so that we fit His design. This book has challenged me to think about why bad things happen to good people. The last theory mentioned in the section I read talked about God helping. It said that God helps us instead of hurting us, maybe God doesn’t control the bad things that happen to us, maybe He helps us when they happen. I tend to side with this theory. Over all, this book has not affected me overmuch. It has shown me though that it is not always easy to understand why something happens.

    I think the best way to apply this book to my life (at least from what I’ve read) is to not assume life is fair. I need to assume life isn’t fair so that if something bad happens, I won’t give up on God and claim that He has betrayed me.

     

  • At 7:49 PM , Anonymous Winnie said...

    I am reading the book called "the Shack" by William P.Young this is a good book to read. For the first three chapters it kind of tell us what the Lord have done for us, they used the father's character to tell a story about how Jesus died for us.And it also made me think that he won't tell us to do anything that would be harmless to us, he would only tell us to do the right thing, and guide us. And also telling us that there is a part where it says that the main character hated God, but the father still said that God will love you no matter what, which really inspired me a lot.This book is getting really interesting, and very inspirational.

     

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