Teaching for Faith

I love the title of the book, Teaching for Faith, by Richard Robert Osmer as I am well aware that too often Christian education is presented and understood only as information. With this limited view, the drop-out rate is high and the “test scores” are low. However, the theologian, H. Richard Niebuhr, once described faith as being like a cube. It is a many-sided reality. With that in mind, Osmer focuses on four sides of this cube by saying that each represents an important aspect of a relationship with God and should guide the processes we use as we teach for belief, teach for relationship, teach for commitment, and teach for the mystery. If we accept this premise, the challenge and responsibility of teaching can almost become overwhelming. Yet, nothing is more exciting than when the light bulb comes on and there in a real ah-ha moment in the teaching/learning setting.

Although teaching ministry has long been claimed as an important task of the church, we have not always understood about teaching for faith, learning styles and using various teaching methodologies. Today, most curriculum materials are designed with a variety of options to accommodate learner’s needs. We also have teacher enrichment resources and opportunities. Yet, I feel the need to do more to enhance our teaching ministry and welcome any thoughts about this.

P.S. I will be glad to loan my copy of Teaching for Faith..

Discovery of Self

This week I had the opportunity to care for two of my grandchildren for a few hours. What a treat! To love and be loved unconditionally nurtures the soul. It is especially interesting to observe how each of them is discovering his personhood – physically, mentally and emotionally. I can see evidence of spiritual understanding, also. Yet, I know as their self-discovery continues there will be days of wrestling with God’s grace for us all.

As William and Ethan continue to discover how self and other are mysteriously joined, a healthy sense of self-love can be an important ingredient to their future. Jesus understood this when he says, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Loving the good in oneself strengthens our ability to love and care for those who come into view along the way. It allows the image of God in us to grow toward its mature fullness. As adults, our challenge becomes to consciously measure each word and action so that our children can know this self-love. Perhaps, this is one of the best gifts that we can give them.

The Season of Lent

How did we get from Advent to Lent so quickly? Maybe, this sense of disbelief is related to the reality that I do not want to deal with the personal introspection that validates the season of Lent in my life?

Will Willimon's current blog includes thought's from Barbara Brown Taylor, an outstanding preacher and writer. I am going to try to reflect on this throughout the day and use it as a doorway to this season of wrestling with my faith.

Wesley Choral Festival

My thoughts have been with Tim Koch and our choir members who are in New York for the Wesley Choral Festival. Last night was the concert at Lincoln Center commerating the Tercentenary of Charles Wesley's birth. We will have an opportunity to hear much of this music at Wheelwright Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University on March 17. Andy Fowler has written a new composition based on Wesley's "Directions for Singing" for this year of celebration. It is exciting to have such talented people in our midst.

Beginning February 26, Tim will be leading the study, Praising the God of Grace. This eight- week small group study will explore the theology of Charles Wesley's hymns. After reading much of this text and knowing Tim's teaching abilities, this promises to be a special opportunity for greater understanding of Methodism. Hope I can convince others to be a part of this study.

The Red Barn

We have now returned to South Carolina and Mother is now in a rehab facility. Praise the Lord!

In a variety of ways, it has been an interesting week in Ohio. Finally, the weather allowed us to stay at my parents’ home on Thursday night. It certainly seemed strange for Mother to be absent. However, I knew how to prepare supper, do some laundry and take care of other matters because she has taught me to do these things. Long before it was a popular feature, this home has had a gathering area at one end of the kitchen and once again we gathered there. We remembered, we discussed the present and even talked about the future. However, as I looked out the window, I realized that it was the red barn that announced that I was home. It has been the focal point of life on this farm for five generations, even on snowy days.

Snow, Ice and Cold

The snow and ice seems to be ceasing in Ohio. However, it is 14 degrees with a wind chill of 0 degrees. This cold weather is to persist for the next few days and it certainly makes me anxious to return to South Carolina.

The good news is that my mother is making progress in her recovery and it has been good to be so connected with my family the last few days. It has been an interesting coincidence that NBC Evening News has had an on-going story, Trading Places, that highlights how children help their parents deal with the issues of aging. My Ohio trip and this program highlight the challenge faced by many of us as we seek to honor and care for our parents. It is clear that success stories happen when there is a lifetime of good communication among all family members. Because my family has made a reasonable effort to do so, it feels like this is just another family project where each one shares his/her gift to make it happen. Of course, there are times of sadness, concern, frustration and stress. However, the balance and peace comes when we reach out to one another and to our God.

Snowy Day

After completing an uneventful trip to Columbus yesterday, we were able to spend time with my mother. Everyone seems to feel that she is improving. I was just glad to see her and talk with her. My father is tired, but withstanding well the long hours in the hospital and the disruption of his routine. They are people of great faith and it shows as they deal with these medical matters.

Today, we will be a day of rest for everyone as we are in the midst of a winter storm . Ron and I are in motel not far from the hospital and will try to visit mother sometime during the day. As we watched the weather news this snowy morning; we saw a well-placed ad for Myrtle Beach. The MB tourist industry does have great timing. I predict that as soon as they can shovel their driveways, Buckeyes will be on their way to our beaches.

When lived to the fullest, life can be a real adventure. Thanks be to God.

My Mother’s Daughter

At some point today we are leaving for Ohio to see my parents, especially my mother. Ten days ago she had surgery and what was to be routine has not been so. She left the hospital on Wednesday, but has returned and will have surgery again this morning. We are still assured that she will recover, but the process will take longer. Like for so many families, the juggling of jobs, care giving and other responsibilities has become difficult for my brothers and sister. So, I sense that I need to go and be part of my family. Furthermore, my mother has asked to see me. I go knowing that the prayers of my church family are with me. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

Travel Reflections

I have traveled across South Carolina several times during the past two weeks. As usual, this has been a rich time for conversation with traveling companions and for knitting prayer shawls. However, on Tuesday and Wednesday I traveled by myself to and from White Oak Retreat Center near Winnsboro. My mind seemed to be going in a thousand directions and it was hard to focus on one thought until I turned off the radio, the noise around me. It was then that I experienced a wonderful time of reflection about what I had seen in all my travels. I have seen lots of trash.

During these barren winter months, the clutter along the roadsides becomes obvious. How can people be so careless and irreverent? Don’t the perpetrators know that they are responsible for caring for God’s creation? Fast food refuse, plastic bags, aluminum cans and a variety of other items decorate the sides of our highways and byways. Haven’t the mothers of these offenders taught them to respect what has been so generously given them?

From this pilgrim’s perspective, this trash soon became a metaphor for the garbage in our lives. That is, the extraneous matter thrown indiscriminately along the way and cluttering the path for others. As we look toward Lent, we know that we need to rid ourselves of this trash and that it takes intentional effort on our part to do so. Although sometimes it is just easier to let the weeds cover the trash for some seasons of our lives, we soon learn that the trash doesn’t disappear until we carefully remove it. As painful as this can be, we look forward to Lent as a time to identify and carefully rid ourselves of the things that damage our lives and hurt others along the way. Then, we are able to behold the cross and claim the grace that has been given us through our crucified Lord. Christ’s life becomes our life!

40th Anniversary

It is hard to believe that on a snowy, gray day forty years ago, Ron and I were married in my home church in Jeffersonville, Ohio. This began a journey of back roads and freeways, pot holes and detours, traffic jams and open roads. Yet, it is amazing how easy it is to travel when we know love. A card we received said, “Love is not a destination, it’s a journey.” So it has been for us. The love for one another surrounded by the love and grace of God has brought us to this point.

How did we celebrate? On Friday and Saturday, we visited our son and family in Clemson and celebrated the birthdays of two of our grandchildren. Today, we worshipped with our other son and his family in Columbia. With great joy, I participated in the baptism of Ethan at Union UMC with the Rev. Dr. Patricia Mayfield. (A sidebar to this story is that Patricia did education field experience with me at Shandon UMC.) To know that Ethan’s parents have made a commitment to nurture him in the faith of God known through Jesus Christ marks this day in a special way.

Back to Africa

Because of my interest in the humanitarian efforts currently being focused in Africa, I find myself paying more attention to the political and economic news that emerges from this part of the world. Somewhere in this news must be some sort of solution to some of the woes these countries are experiencing. Unfortunately, Africa's resources have long been used for the benefit of other parts of the world leaving its land raped and barren. The political structures have been for the benefit of a few. Wikepedia once again offers some good general information, but it is the news stories about the emerging relationship between China and Africa that I find especially interesting. The Christian Science Monitor also offers insight. Will the history of pillage repeat itself or will China be able to provide an economic solution to the human needs? In the meantime, we need to be the hands of Christ to the hungry, the sick and the imprisoned of Africa.