Friday, March 29, 2013

Seventeenth Link Year Recap 3/26-3/28

Hello peeps. I feel like the word “peeps” is appropriate considering Easter is this Sunday. Yes, that was funny and you may laugh now at it. I'm pretty proud of that joke. It wasn't premeditated or preplanned in any way, it just flowed from my mind to my fingers and then onto this digital platform from which you are now reading. Go ahead, clap for me. It was impressive. Anyway, moving on now. This week was pretty great. I know I know, you all are saying, “But Timothy, you say that about basically every week!” Well you exclamatory reader, you would be correct. That is because basically every week is “pretty great”. So there you have it, my explanation. But as I was saying...it was a pretty great week.

We had Joe White talk to us for about an hour on Tuesday morning and then for the rest of that class, and throughout the rest of Wednesday and Thursday, we had Joshua Straub. Joe White spoke about Biblical Prophecies. Specifically about the 70 weeks period that it talks about in Daniel. Joshua Straub (officially Dr. Joshua Straub, he has a Ph.D in Psychology) talked about attachment in relationships, with God and others.

So I shall go ahead and give you my five things that I learned this week or that stood out to me. Really most everything Joshua Straub had to say was really interesting and fun to hear for me so I'll try to keep it limited to only a few for him.

  1. The whole thing Joe White went over with the 70 weeks period. Eschatology has always been an area of interest for me and seeing the viewpoint Joe put forth was really interesting. I don't know if I have a set view of where I stand on Eschatology but I lean toward Partial Preterist Amillennial but that's neither here nor there.
  2. Joshua's main overarching point was “Attachment Theory”. Which is basically, “how relationships shape our brains ability to regulate emotion and learn to participate in close, intimate relationships.” He also talked about “Emotion Regulation” which is, “The ability to tolerate and manage strong negative emotions and to experience the wide range of positive emotions as well.”
  3. He (Josh) gave and example of Johhny Cash for one of his examples. The following is taken straight from God Attachment by Dr. Joshua Straub (Published in Christian Counseling Today Magazine
    Vol. 16 Issue 4).
      In the award-winning movie about him, Walk the Line, there is an interesting scene that brings to light what it means to live (and sing) from the heart. With meaning. Purpose. And passion. Having scored an audition with record producer Sam Phillips, Johnny Cash and his band chose to sing a gospel tune originally sung by Jimmy Davis—Were you there when Jesus saved me…saved my soul…the moment he forgave me…made me whole…
      No more than a few verses into the song, Phillips stopped Cash and asked if he had something else to sing. Cash was offended. He asked Phillips, “Is it the song or the way I sang it. Phillips said, “Both.” Cash, noticeably irritated all the more, piped back, “What’s wrong with the way I sing it? Phillips replied, “I don’t believe you.”
          This is convicting for me. Do I really believe the song my life is singing? Do I have passion in
          my life for Christ?
  1. Two good quotes on suffering that I really enjoyed.
    The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt.” - Thomas Merton.
    It's doubtful that God can use anyone greatly until he has suffered greatly.” - A.W. Tozer
  1. He (still Josh) spent some time at the end of Thursday talking about how you can walk/get away from past mistakes and tough situations in life. Using the example of Ruth he put forth this system: Ruth leaves her past in four different ways, she leaves it residentially, relationally, spiritually, and permanently.
    Also he talked about how God can use bad decisions and situations for His glory still. Example of this was also shown in Ruth. She is the great grandmother of David. The lineage of Jesus. A nation that was started out of incest (Moab) had a key role in the lineage of Jesus. God can redeem what has happened in your life. It only takes one person.

Well guys I tried to figure out a way to close out this post as brilliantly as the way I started it. But I just don't think I can. But that's okay. I'll live. Alright every-bunny, have a great Easter!


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