Why We Feel It.

I'm at it again, weekly scripture study entries! I didn't do this last semester, because it wasn't an assignment for my REL121 class.  This semester, it is an assignment again, and I have realized that I get so much more out of my scripture study when I am looking for something I could write about.  I see more than just black words on a white page this way.  I really should make these entries a habit, even when it's not an assignment.  Without further ado, here is my first weekly entry of the semester:

My thoughts today are based on a conglomeration of scriptures in Acts 1 and 2.  Let’s set the stage a little bit.  This is during Christ’s 40 day ministry after His resurrection.  We don’t know much about this ministry, and it was a rather brief time for Him to be back.  Because it was so brief, though, He spent it teaching His apostles what to do after He was no longer there, because he wanted His gospel to keep spreading and His church to remain established on the earth.  

I found a verse in the beginning of this ministry to be significant, because it tells a very important concept that Christ taught His apostles during this time of instruction.  The verse states: “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

The important concept talked about is the Spirit.  The apostles are to be given this, and its bestowal comes with a responsibility.  The Holy Ghost provides a witness of Christ to them, and they will need to use that witness to be witnesses of Christ themselves, to others.

This is all well and good, but why do there need to be appointed apostles and ministers?  Why teach?  The next chunk of verses I want to talk about gives one very important reason.  This just goes to show that Christ wants us to understand, because he clarifies and answers questions we may have as we study, sometimes even in the next few verses we read.  Acts 2:20-21 states “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and terrible day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The thought that struck me when I read this was “they teach to prepare people for the coming of Christ – like John the Baptist did.”  
Alright, awesome.  But I'm not a general authority or anything, so how does this apply to me?  Why do I have access to the Spirit?  I got to thinking about this, and realized two things.  One was pretty obvious: I can use the witness I have gained to witness to others and bless their lives, just like the leaders of the church can.

The second thing I realized was more profound to me: the Spirit is given so we can teach, not only others but ourselves.  The Spirit is there so leaders can prepare the people for the coming of Christ, and it is given to us so we can prepare ourselves to meet Christ personally in our lives; so we can be ready to come unto Him.  The power and revelation from the Holy Ghost is the way we gain knowledge on spiritual topics, the kind of knowledge that will bring us to Christ.  It is the kind of knowledge that is more than the texts we read from the canon or otherwise, knowledge that is personal and applies to us and our lives right now.

I know the content and realization in this journal entry have come from just that – the Spirit helping me teach myself.  I am very grateful for this ability and opportunity.  I find more meaning in my study and in my life every day because of it.

Thanks for reading. :)

It's nearly impossible.

Sometimes I can't help but think: Is it worth it?  

I've been rather frustrated with this whole not-enough-hours-in-the-day thing.  I want to learn!  ...and I feel like I'm doing very little learning in this fast-paced college setting.  So, here is my frustrated theory: 

What's the point of learning five subjects all at once at an accelerated pace, probably forgetting the majority of what you learned within a few weeks of the final exam?  Learning multiple things at once, sacrificing sleep, social life, family time, and general well-being, drowning every day... and for what? 

Are we actually learning anything, besides how to study and how to take a test?  Those are only worthwhile skills for a few years of your life - and then what?  You forget them.  Sure, you teach them to your children so they can be trained to be fast-paced learners as well.  But for what?  What's the point?

Honestly, I really do Love learning.  But is true learning even happening in this setting?  Real learning takes time.  It takes effort.  It takes a desire to attain information and to grow from the things you find.  Learning means asking questions, and being perfectly fine when you end up with more questions than you began with.  Why?  So you can learn more.  Learning is slow and beautiful.  Learning is an Art Form, and as someone who I'm sure is presently quite famous once said: "You can't rush art."  

So, why do we rush learning?  Why are we assigned mere weeks to inhale a classic novel that should be slowly feasted upon and analyzed over the course of months?  Why do we cram in the basics of a language, something so complex and beautiful that it should not, and truly cannot be skimmed over?  Why are we expected to learn ten new concepts a day, for five different subjects - every day?

So we can hurry-up-and-be-successful in the world with out hard earned college degree?

Well, yes.  But think about this:

We all know we live in a world of instant gratification.  Has that transferred to how we are taught to learn?

Faster.  More.  Get it done, get it done right, and get it done NOW.

Is this how we are expected to learn; because there aren't enough hours in the day - and often not even enough brain power - to learn any other way?  Do we skid across the surface, every once in a while dipping in and finding something worth while?

I think we do.

Think of a ball, skidding across the grass when it's been kicked too hard.  Think of a boat on choppy waters, jumping, bumping, and skidding when the driver attempts to make is go faster than it should in such conditions.

Learning - this is our choppy waters.  Learning is tough.  Learning is involved.  Learning can even be dangerous, and we are attempting to drive too fast.  We are skidding  

and it is painful.

Learning should be more like swimming.  What we are now doing is increasing our potential for injury, and thus our potential of drowning.

That kickball is us.  That bumping boat is us.  Is this how we want to learn?

I've got something to say to this whole thing:

I'd rather swim.