Randy Winsand // As a student in seminary, this blog has been developed to enhance my understanding of ministry in the media culture. I look forward to exchanging thoughts and experiences with you as we look for God's presence in daily life.
I found an interesting website called The Forgiveness Project which is filled with stories describing acts of forgiveness. This particular story was very touching. A young woman (business owner) in England was robbed by a boy. The woman's mother went to meet the boy during his sentencing. What developed was a new relationship founded on forgiveness from both sides. The link to this story is listed below. I hope that you find it as touching as I did.
Blessings,
Randy
This morning I was searching for an article regarding forgiveness or grace for my class blog. Most of the results were falling short of my intentions until I came across this blog post by accident. "Forgiveness is something we allow" seemed to be exactly the post needed for today. The author (who posted on "Fear as a compass" blog described forgiveness in ways that I had not heard before. They are intriguing and deep thoughts that have opened new insight for me as I sit here with my cup of coffee. What an awesome message to be written on Good Friday.
http://fearasacompass.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/forgiveness-is-something-we-allow/
After spending last weekend in a "Dismantling Racism" workshop, my interest was piqued when I saw the following article show up on my Yahoo page. It is written about the health concerns that are being raised in Jamaica and other countries as people practice skin-bleaching in order to rise in social status and out of poverty. Many of the options used in an attempt to lighten skin color (and thus be seen as a more favorable person) have negative implications and dangerous side effects. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110411/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_jamaica_skin_bleaching
This article is especially touching as it deals with aspects of poverty that may not always be transparent. I have heard the term "the cycle of poverty" in the past as it explained why often the children of impoverished families follow in similar footsteps. Education is the typical theme. Children without quality education are unfortunately going to struggle in Western society. There is no question about the magnitude of that fact. But this article provides insight to the emotional foundation of poverty which is also very important. If a child does not experience or perceive emotional love, how do we expect him/her to grow into a nurturing and loving adult? Thanks for taking the time to read this interesting story that was found at www.compassion.com.
This is an amazing story about an elderly woman who was about to be robbed when she turned the situation into a testimony for Jesus. What an inspiration!
This reading assignment for class takes a look at intellectual property and copyright law through the lens of the World Council of Churches. The following paragraph seemed so accurate.
"
This chapter, therefore, focuses critically on today’s global context in
which the centrality of money and money standards—especially economic growth aimed at accumulating capital—drive every country, people and corporation in the world. Owning property for use seems to be overtaken by owning property because of its value for the purpose of accumulating wealth. The boundless accumulation of money creates the illusion for people that by accumulating an infi nite means of sustenance and pleasure, they can live forever. The striving for more property is therefore based on the desire for eternal life. Chasing after this illusion, the individual destroys community (p. 20)." This article can be found at http://www.feautor.org/uploads/contributions/12060144352/LoveToShare.pdf
This is an interesting article regarding forgiveness. We often consider it human to sin but almost divine when we forgive. One aspect of the article that I struggle with is the teaching that we are not to forgive ourselves. Demarco states that such an act is self-serving. I believe on the other hand that without forgiving ourselves, we can become lost in a never ending cycle of despair. If Jesus can forgive us of our sins, why can't we? If we are unable to look in the mirror and accept ourselves for who we really are, how can we possibly experience the forgiveness of Christ?
After spending significant time searching ELCA documents and running numerous Google searches, I have not found a policy regarding media usage for this denomination. I did find a Sample Congregational Data Security Policy that speaks to the importance of internet privacy and safety that can be found at the following link. http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Office-of-the-Treasurer/Administration-Matters/1103-Sample-Data-Security-Policy.aspx?utm_source=AdminMatters11MAR&utm_medium=CongregationalDataSecurityPolicy&utm_campaign=Article4
This week's readings for class included Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century by Henry Jenkins, Director of the Comparative Media Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Katie Clinton, Ravi Purushotma, Alice J. Robison, and Margaret Weigel. Below is a statement that caught my attention.
“If it were possible to define generally the mission of education, it could be said that its fundamental purpose is to ensure that all students benefit from learning in ways that allow them to participate fully in public, community, [Creative] and economic life.” — New London Group (2000, p. 9)
I agree with this statement as long as we recognize that each and every one of us are "students". In the classroom of life, everything that we do and witness has a learning edge to it and since most of life happens outside of a classroom, it would seem that we often 'learn' without realizing that it is happening to us. Learning happens through participation. Without activity, we are lonely individuals without meaning.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ spoke to the disciples using active language. "GO therefore and make disciples of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING them to obey everything that I have commanded you."
Here is the link to the reading assignment. http://digitallearning.macfound.org/atf/cf/%7B7E45C7E0-A3E0-4B89-AC9C-E807E1B0AE4E%7D/JENKINS_WHITE_PAPER.PDF
What do YOU think?
http://www.storiesaboutgod.org/index.php/stories/story_page/a-tanker-full-of-...
How often we find reminders of grace in our daily activities if we will only open our eyes, ears, mind, and spirit. Usually we are so blinded by the busy work of our day that examples of grace go flying past us without recognizing them. This short experience referenced in the above link is one such example.
