What new things have you learned about God and yourself in the last month?
Over the last month, I learned that I have a very high standard at work. I get frustrated with coworkers that don’t work as hard as I do. I have noticed that this class is assisting me in focusing and practicing the presence quicker than I used to. This situation with those co-workers is helping me respond to Him in a more intentional manner.
What positions have you rethought and changed your mind about in the last few years?
Over the last few years, since I have been attending a Foursquare church, I have been thinking through my doctrinal belief regarding speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as taught in the Assembly of God (AoG) denomination. I began my Christian journey in the AoG and have been discussing the argument from silence. I have since changed my mind on the topic and believe that one can be baptized in the Holy Spirit and not speak in tongues initially.
What does this say about your journey?
I believe that this shows that I am open to discussion and am able to see both sides of a topic and trust that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me the truth. I am also able to be given different points of view and am able to discuss them without hostility.
Who do you know that exemplifies a person with a teachable heart?
My pastor, Donnie Henss is someone with an incredible teachable heart. He is very open to discussing topics and allows himself to be vulnerable with me and others. He is very humble and is always looking to learn new things or discuss topics to be able to see topics from a different point of view.
How do you respond when you hear an opinion you don’t agree with?
I am improving my responses to opinions I do not agree with. I am able to listen and usually not visually question or disagree with the other person with my facial expressions or other nonverbal cues. There are still a handful of opinions that I don’t respond well to. These usually have no basis in objectivity, but are emotional opinions. Being a normally logical thinking person, I have difficulty with emotional reasoning that do not make any logical or analytical sense.
Study some of the paradoxes of Scripture. Or study some of the hard sayings of Jesus.
How do you live with the paradoxes of faith?
One paradox that jumped out at me this week is:
“Blessed are those who hunger.” Matt 5:6
“No one who comes to me will ever be hungry.” John 6:35
These seemingly contradictory statements could confuse people. I have personal experience with this paradox. One scripture is speaking of the spiritual hunger one feels when wanting to know Jesus in a deeper and more meaningful way. Believers are blessed when we hunger for more of Him. We hunger for His righteousness. The other verse speaks of a hunger for belonging and acceptance. Once we call on His name, we are full. We are filled by the Holy Spirit and hunger no more, since the emptiness of our spirit is filled.
What do you do when you can’t fully explain something?
When I can’t fully explain something, I usually begin to seek out the answer in prayer. I will seek the scriptures and ask God to reveal what I’m missing.
Are you comfortable with mystery?
I am very comfortable with mystery. He is a mystery. God is infinite. I would have a very difficult time worshipping a God that I can fully understand in my finite mind. If I can fully understand Him, then He isn’t big enough.
Are you comfortable saying’ “I don’t know”?
I don’t like to admit that I don’t know something, but I can admit it. When there is something that I don’t know, I usually try to see if I can come up with an answer during my devotion time. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something.
Ask some of the people who know me best how you come across.
Are you open and teachable?
Most people say I am teachable. I am much more teachable now than I was when I was younger. It seems that the older I get, the less I know. And that’s ok.
Do you tend to instruct people or set them right?
I instruct people. I love teaching. I was told that I am very good at teaching and instructing others.
How do people feel about disagreeing with you?
Most of the time, depending on the topic, people say it’s comfortable disagreeing with me. There are certain topics that I am very passionate about. I usually hold a very hard line on. I do attempt to stay polite, but certain topics are very frustrating to discuss with some people.
Reflections on You Are What You Love (Smith)
Chapter one of the book You Are What You Love was incredibly eye opening. I’ve always known that we are a heart people rather than a thinking people, but the statement “Thinking Thingism” (Smith) is fantastic! It’s an incredible paradigm shift for us to grab a hold of.
Works Cited
Smith, James K. A. You Are What You Love. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2016.
Discovering His Vision 
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