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How do we handle failure?
November 17, 2008

I am reading and leading a group of people through the book, The Shack.  In the book God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit appear to the main character in person.  The four of them were preparing a meal, Jesus drops a bowl of some food.  The bowl breaks and food splatters everywhere and gets on [...]

White_opentriangle QUOTE
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."

Cherokee Expression

 
The Intellectual Pathway.
"Learning More About God"

Many of us feel safest on the Intellectual pathway. In our culture we have been programmed to rely on the facts. We have the Internet-a quick source for information (both real and fictitious). We have the Food Network-a quick source for cookbook recipes. We have AAA when we need step-by-step directions to get from place A to place B. The bottom line is that we are very comfortable with the concept of getting a set of directions (book, recipe, map) and following it. This is not a bad trait or a bad habit, as long as it is not our only trait and only habit. But we often constrain the intellect to what is purely factual. Intellect is not only about factual thinking but also about rational thinking. The Intellectual pathway at Evergreen will encompass three major components:

    1. Bible Study
    The Bible is God's revealed Word to us and must be read and understood in the factual context in which it lives. The Bible is a historical book written to a historical audience. The Bible is inspired revelation written from a timeless perspective to a church that spans time. The Bible is a message to you and for you with meaning and application in your life. The Bible is not a rulebook, but a supernatural love letter to the church and to each of us. We often try to read it without wrestling with it, but wrestling with it is a moral imperative.

    2. Christian Life Information
    There are many great commentaries and resources prepared from a Christian perspective: seminars, conferences, classes, videos, sermons, and books that deal with the conflicts that arise between our human nature and our quest to be closer to and at peace with God. It is incumbent on us to use these resources to wrestle, argue, or disagree with their interpretations of how our journey with Christ is playing out. These are also the kind of resources that may open up new modes of thinking in your life.

    3. God in the World
    This area of study encompasses modes of communication and media that reflect God in our world but which may not be presented in a directly spiritual manner. The Intellectual pathway will look at philosophy, history, ideology, and culture from a Christian perspective. In this exploration we will see aspects of our faith that have permeated and shaped our culture and our past. We will also find materials that challenge us to better represent Christ in the world.
The Intellectual pathway is engaging God with the minds He gave us by hearing and responding to God's words, seeking the insight of others, and sharing and discussing ideas and worldviews that impact our understanding of God.