And the beat goes on....

Life continues to move at a breakneck pace. I can't believe it is almost April. Still 12 assignments due by April 25th and then Exams. Surprisingly I'm not feeling all that stressed; I definately feel the pressure of school, and work, and everything else that is happening in my life, but God continues to be more than abundant with his strength in my life!! I have some challenging papers coming up in the next week, one of which will be on "The Emerging Church". I can't believe at times that I VOLUNTEERED to tackle this difficult and often very vague "postmodernish" subject!! But I am finding it interesting and enlightening!
Here are a couple quotes about "the Church" and "Christians" in a book I am reading for a different assignment actually. The book is "The Offering of Man" by Harry Blamires--I highly recommend it!! Here are some of his thoughts...

“It is sad that we must admit it, but the Church misses almost every one of its present-day opportunities.”
“If the Church has a besetting weakness, it is this: it insists on tackling foes who have already been beaten; it attempts to deal with problems that have already been solved; it readies itself to overcome tomorrows obstacles that were removed during the night.”
“We need affirmation, not debate; we need discipline, not open-mindedness; we need obedience, not expansiveness.”

Some interesting things to think about I think...

In my Practical theology text there were also some interesting things said about "how we do ministry" Here is one main thing:

"It is not the ministry of Jesus to the world on behalf of God that made him a servant, but his ministry to the Father on behalf of the world...It is true that wherever the needs of the world impinged on him, he reached out to heal the sick and feed the hungry. But the hunger, sickness and even death did not set the agenda for his ministry."

This comes from the book: "The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis." by: Ray S. Anderson.

A little heavier reading but an great book to challenge us how to live, and how to "do ministry" in the world that we live!

anyways, enough of me boring you with my reading from school! If you are the praying type please pray as I finish up, and as some big events, and decisions await! As an email from a pastor in Ontario reminded me--I want to finish strong...not just to finish!