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

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

Friday, October 01, 2010

ACHS Seniors - 2nd reading assignment

You should have 50% of the book completed. Please post your comments pertaining to your book and the following two questions:

1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.

2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.

posted by Craig @ 9:14 AM  

28 Comments:

  • At 9:16 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Q: 1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.

    A: I have learned that second chances and forgiveness are very important in life. In Season of Life, one of the talented football players named Mike messed up his junior year on the team. His home life was tough and pressure at school was building on him as well. Originally Mike played full back for the greyhounds. When the coaches put him on the offensive line he was worried about losing his position at fullback. He expressed his dislike in position change and the coach told him not to worry. He cursed at his coach and was then kicked off the team. However, in time the coaches forgave him because they learned of his bad home life. He was given another chance and eventually Mike became one of the leaders on the Gilman football team. This principle of forgiveness really struck me as important. We all mess up in life. However, God will always love and forgive us. We should do the same. Psalm 86:5 "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
    -Drew Martinez-

     

  • At 9:22 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Q: 2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.

    A: This book has made me think about what is truly important in life. It's moving to read how Joe and Biff are changing these young men and their lives. Teaching them to be men through love and a sport really appeals to me. It took me some time but I finally realize that success in sports or academics are not the only important things in life. Becoming a man is also about loving people, serving people, and following God's will.

    -Drew Martinez-

     

  • At 9:22 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

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  • At 7:18 PM , Blogger GGC said...

    Pages in book: 205
    Pages read: 103

    This book has reaffirmed my ideas of what I can truly expect in Heaven. Revelation 22:1-5 says, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” But even further than that, the book has also reinstated the drive within me to live a live worthy of the calling. Don Piper lived a righteous, Godly life and was rewarded with eternal life in Heaven. In the same way, I should live my life in a way that pleases God. One of my favorite verses, Philippians 3:14, says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

    The answer to the second question relates very much to my first answer. God is shaping my life in the sense that he is inspiring me to strengthen my focus on my final destination. The goal: Heaven. The path: a daily choice. Often times, the path to Heaven is narrow. With every decision that I make that involves my spirituality or morality, that path becomes even narrower. However daunting or impassable the road to Heaven may seem, it is completely doable through concentration on Christ and on the treasures waiting in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In this same way, God is shaping me to live for my reward in Heaven with Him.

    Gillian Grace Chant

     

  • At 7:18 PM , Blogger GGC said...

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  • At 7:34 PM , Anonymous Meo said...

    Question1: From reading the chapter of this book. There are 2 man that have same kind of struggles but different attitudes. The first man is a prisoner and he wants to become a christian by helping of his friend, because he just want to go to heaven and get out from all struggle he has. At the same time, he's not trying to get closer to god, not asking for help, not admitting his sin. so he has no been blessed. The other guy name Peter, peter asking for God's help and tell him what he has been through and admit it. At the end God answered his pray. According to Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." shows that God is helping everyone that is struggling with anything, but at least he want us to tell him what we are going through by prayer, talk to him and allow him to be a part of our life and then he will give us a blessing and comfort us.
    Question2:In another chapter of this book talking about parents that will be with their child all the time and never leave. According to the story that God will be with me no matter what happens, it made me feel safe and have confident in myself to do stuff, i trusted him that he will keep me safe and guide me through my life.

     

  • At 8:08 PM , Blogger aheath said...

    1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.

    2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.

    1.This book (Same Kind of Different as Me) has not ceased to amaze me. From this book I have learned that we are all called to do God’s work in different ways. God has a specific plan for each of us. That plan may seem unfavorable, it is really not. We are each called to do something through him. It is up to us to listen to his calling and follow it wholeheartedly, putting our whole trust in him. It is also up to us to help others. In James 2:15-17, it says “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” This verse, to me, personifies exactly what the book Same Kind of Different as Me is trying to explain. Ron Hall is weary of helping the homeless, and only helps them to appease his wife. It isn’t until he gets to know the people that he realizes that he should be doing more than the bare minimum. This verse tells us that we cannot be faithful if we don’t live a life like God would want us to.

    2. In this book, Ron Hall’s wife Deborah decides to work at a mission for homeless people. Ron is skeptical at first because he doesn’t want to interact with the homeless people. He is pressured by his wife, so he agrees to help only because he loves her. Ron doesn’t think anything will come out of this. After serving meals every Tuesday for a month or so, Ron begins to realize that he was brought there for a reason. He gets to know the people he serves, and he even finds himself going there simply because he enjoys it. Eventually, Ron becomes friends with an African-American man named Denver. Denver is well respected throughout the mission, but he is not known for his friendliness. Most people avoid him, but Deborah and Ron try to be his friend. The Lord made Ron realize that helping others is more important than our daily lives.

    Amy Heath

     

  • At 8:41 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    In my book God shaped the characters life in so many ways that it is hard to pick. When the book starts off, He is a child from a poor family, he knows nothing except what he has experienced in his own town. Then God gives him a vision and tells him to go out into the world and preach the gospel. He then starts his travels and spreads God's word throughout China.
    The government takes notice of his ministry and start to chase him, the times that brother Yun is in jail or being persecuted he still puts God first in his life and because of this he reminds me of Job. even when Job lost everything he still honored God. This makes me think of how easy my life is and how much I take for granted in and around my life. I have and I think the majority of the people who live around me have a easy and content life. This realization tells me that I must try harder to show God's glory in every aspect of my life.
    TImothy Tucker

     

  • At 9:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    q1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.

    a1. I have learned many things from this book, but the thing that has impacted me the most is that I should learn to cherish and respect the friendships I have with guys. A scripture to go along with this is Ephesians 4:22-24:
    "Throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten . . . Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy and true."

    q2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.

    a2. This book has really made me think about the way I think about relationships and dating. More importantly, it has changed the way I look at God's involvement in relationships. The book really challenges me to put my faith in Christ to do what he wants in my relationships, instead of trying to take matters into my own hands.

    Aubrie hood

     

  • At 9:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    q1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.

    a1. I have learned many things from this book, but the thing that has impacted me the most is that I should learn to cherish and respect the friendships I have with guys. A scripture to go along with this is Ephesians 4:22-24:
    "Throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten . . . Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy and true."

    q2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.

    a2. This book has really made me think about the way I think about relationships and dating. More importantly, it has changed the way I look at God's involvement in relationships. The book really challenges me to put my faith in Christ to do what he wants in my relationships, instead of trying to take matters into my own hands.

    Aubrie hood

     

  • At 9:40 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

    Just a quick update on my book's "faith paths."

    1. Relativistic

    2. Tradition -- that is to say, the action of adopting the belief system "handed down" to you by your parents, but never stopping to consider if it's actually what you believe. Basically, it's blind faith. Mittleberg also stresses that we don't confuse this path with actual church tradition (like sacraments and other church rites). He just warns against letting other people tell you what you believe about God. It's not their spiritual life, it's yours.

    3. The Authoritarian approach -- based on submission to a religious leader. The basic problem with this is the simple fact that the leader could be wrong about everything he or she is saying...but then, who can really say what is absolutely right?

    4. Intuition-Based Faith. This path seems to be a decent one to travel on. This path is more analytical, and therefore more introspective regarding one's faith. When you take the time to really think about what you believe, the results could be life-changing!

    And now for the questions.

    Question One:
    This book has really been good for me because it backs up a lot of the things I believe. I'm a huge advocate for analyzing your own beliefs, since that's what I decided to do with mine. After I did, my life has been considerably better, now that I'm comfortable in my faith and have a better relationship with God as a result. To tie in some scripture, I'd like to quote Matthew 15:9, Jesus says, "They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (NIV.) This scripture speaks to me because of the widely apparent fact that scripture itself is often twisted by men to fit their own personal doctrines. I think this relates to my book because (well, besides the fact that this verse was mentioned in my book) the fact that no one can really say what is truth and what isn't is something we must always be aware of.

    Question Two:
    I found this book randomly sitting on a shelf in Hastings a few months ago. I'm thinking that maybe God wanted me to read this book, since it so clearly illustrates my own spiritual journey. So I'm really looking forward to delve even deeper into it and into my own spiritual relationship with God.

    --Bryson Travieso

     

  • At 9:41 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

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  • At 9:41 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

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  • At 9:42 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

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  • At 9:43 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

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  • At 9:43 PM , Blogger Bryson said...

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  • At 9:47 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am reading a book called Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist right now. It is basically a collection of essays on seeing God in life and truly loving the life that you live. It is quite enjoyable so far, I look forward to reading it. I read a passage in it that talkes about the purpose of friendship that applies directly to my life. “Friendship is acting out God’s love for people in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other’s lives so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God’s love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God’s behalf in the lives of the people that we’re close to, reminding each other who God is. When we do the hard, intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life. We get to remind one another about the bigger, more beautiful picture that we can’t always see from where we are.” I've realized that this is how people should feel when they are around me. Proverbs 6:3 reads, "Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend." One verse that I immediately thought of was Proverbs 17:9 that says, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."
    They should feel the presence of God. My friends should be reminded of God’s deep and abiding love for them. My actions and words should give them a glimpse of His love for them. In friendship, this concept is so important. A major purpose of friendship is to sharpen and encourage one another. When we do this, we are showing God to the other person. We are “acting on God’s behalf.” I pray that the picture people see when they are with me is a picture of the love of God for them. I pray that I can offer this to my school, my friends, and my community.

    *I answered both questions in this rather long paragraph, I do hope that's alright! :)

    Kristina Kiser

     

  • At 10:12 PM , Anonymous Winnie said...

    I have learned how I should relax myself and think carefully what i need to do to next, but not by getting angry for no reason. I think Proverbs 29:11 is correct about how a wise man control their own emotion.

    He showed me how foolish it was for the character to be so angry at God and think he is the worst person ever, and made him give up on God and think he is the best. Although he is hurt a lot, but I still think he should just stay and believe in God so he won't get that hurt, and be healed faster. It seems like God is trying to show me how I should control my anger towards others, and try to forgive one another like how he had forgive us.

    I'm still reading the Shack, and this book is getting better and better, I'm really excited to know what is the end.

     

  • At 10:28 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Q: 1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.
    A: I have learned from the book "Same kind of Different as Me" to trust in God and in His plan. We might not always agree with it, but if we trust in Him, we will come out ahead. Here is a scripture that I found on the subject:
    In that day they will say,
    "Surely this is our God;
    we trusted in him, and he saved us.
    This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
    Isaiah 25:9
    Q: 2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.
    A: The Lord teaching me to trust in Him by this book, even when I don't see what He is planning. I more fully rely on God.
    -Katie Hardegree

     

  • At 11:02 PM , Anonymous Alex Lam said...

    A1: after i read this book, i understand that we should forgive people but not mad or angry at people. Just like the scripture Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Seventy-seven times is a big number and it means we have to forgive people every time.
    A2: This book has made me think about what is truly important in life. The book has told me how important is forgiving people. A successful person but he does not know how to forgive, he is not a successful person. But the one who can forgive, who is the one can be a successful guy.

     

  • At 5:17 PM , Blogger Gabriel Espinoza said...

    I have learned from this book that God will put tragic things in your life to build your character. God has a plan for everyone and he will not put you through something, you cant hanadle.

    In my book, God shaped Joe's character, by when Joe lost his brother to cancer. By the tragic event that occured in Joe's life, God used it to brng him closer to God and do his work. Joe has impacted many people form all ages and helped people. I love how the coaches tell thier players that the team is something they will remember the rest of their lives.

     

  • At 7:38 PM , Blogger Brantly said...

    One thing I have learned from my book (“Sex God” by Rob Bell) is that humans have animalistic and angel-like tendencies. The animal tendencies give in to whatever feels good. Animals are beings without spirits, and therefore don’t have a sense of write and wrong, etc. Angels are spiritual beings without bodies. Humans are between animals and angels. We are called to have self-control and to help each other persevere. I Corinthians 7:5 says, “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” This is our calling to not be animal nor angel.

    My book doesn’t have any characters, but the Lord is enlightening me through this book. It has given me new insight to the abundance of sexual energy known as “hormones” that lives within us. We should use that energy to better God’s creation, not destroy it. It has been really interesting having this new insight on human sexuality.

     

  • At 7:41 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    This book keeps talks about how does Jean's high school life going on. When her sophomore, she got a bike accident so she got surgey and then live in hospital a month then when she back to school, she felt way behind in lots of classes. And after it, she ned to stay in hospital again by an accident at home. When she back to school to get her report card, just all Ds and Fs in fall semester. And during the summer, her sister got a job in a fast food shop to earn some money to buy new clothes and can go on a date. It just let Jean felt frustrated about her life. She even said "God, why you let mey life be incomplete." She was full of negative mind that summer.

    However, she met a guy named Jim Ratzburg, who also ned to use wheelchair to move. But he suggested to join the wheelchair sports program, which is lots of events like soccer, ice hockey, basketbal etc. And Jean did them good so she participate this program. And she got most As and Bs to graduated high school and then go to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her wheelchair looks like an obstacle in her life but i think the real obstacle is her way to think. She knows she will set on her wheelchair in her whole life but she never gives up and keeps find something is interesting to do, let her life be better.

    Angus

    Angus

     

  • At 9:05 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    In my book, it explains the profile of a lukewarm person and what they do and then goes to explain that lukewarm people don't really please God. A verse for this would be Isa. 29:13.

    I can see that God has shaped this character by the way he writes in his book because of the attitude and the tone he takes on while writing.

    -Katelyn

     

  • At 9:08 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    #1. What I have learned that I really like was in the first 25% of the book but it really stuck with me. What I learned is that we need to love each other at all times no matter where we are or what we are doing. 1 Corinthians 16:14 do everything in love. #2. The narrarator is who I think was shaped for me when I read this book. In the beginning he made memories in one place and then left and heard that they were going to change the place where his fondest memories were and then he regains relationships from that place and whited that he would never or broken those relationships. I feel like this is the character because ever since my dad lost his job I have been wondering what in the world I would do if we moved tomorrow. But this character is giving me a model of what not to do. I now know that no matter what happens that I can always rely on my relationships with my friends and I will do great wherever I go.
    Trey Tyson

     

  • At 9:08 PM , Blogger Mallory Jean said...

    Q: 1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it

    I've learned that you can't just take the bible lightly thinking that it's contents are just a bunch words. We have to understand that it's our story too and the bible is very much alive. Also, we can't assume that the bible is just a bunch of rules to be followed. We have to breathe it in and now that it's for real. And we can't say that the bible is only for special people. The bible says, "for this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the lord of both the dead and the living."

    Q: 2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.
    The Lord is making it apparent to me that I need to work on being nicer, like not as being so sarcastic. Also the Lord has shown me not discriminate against people, like I know everyone says this, but really, we need to friends with everyone and not judge for maybe interpretering the bible.

     

  • At 9:24 PM , Blogger Jono McMichael said...

    1- This book has given me several different perspectives on why bad things might happen to some people and not others. I have learned that just because something doesn’t make sense to us, it will probably make sense to God. Kushner talks about how we don’t understand God by using the story of Job as an example. Job has plenty of bad things happen to him and upon questioning God, God appears and tells Job “Where were you when I planned the earth? Tell me, if you are so wise. Do you know who took its dimensions, measuring its length with a cord?... Were you there when I stopped the sea… And set its boundaries, saying, ‘Here you may come, but no further’? Have you seen where the snow is stored, or visited the storehouse of hail?... Do you tell the antelope when to calve? Do you give the horse its strength? Do you show the hawk how to fly? (Job 38, 39) Kushner interprets this passage as God asking Job what he knows about running a universe. So I have learned that, even though I might not understand why God does what He does, He knows best.
    2- I find it hard to see the Lord in everyday activity, including the shaping of my life. I believe that God is real and I guess that the way He operates just goes over my head. I feel however that this book is providing me with some good information that I can either base my faith on or use in debate with others to get a better picture of what’s going on in the world.

     

  • At 9:38 PM , Blogger Rachel said...

    1. Tell us one thing you have learned from the book you are reading and link at least one scripture with it.

    One thing I have learned from this book is that there are certain things in life that we think will make our lives better. We think these things will set us free from our problems. But sometimes, these things that we want are not the things that we need. This relates to the verse Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

    2. Share one way that you can see how the Lord has shaped a character in your book or describe how the Lord is shaping your life based on what you are learning.

    This book has taught me a lot. It has given me a better perspective on things in life I didn’t think about before. It has really compelled me to learn more about what I believe. In the book, Don goes on a journey as he tries to discover why he believes what he believes, therefore evaluating Christianity. It has broadened my knowledge of Christianity.

     

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