“What’s the Word?” I usually ask this question when I want to know what is going on and how are you doing? Yet this semester at MCF, this question has another layer of meaning. “What’s the Word … of GOD?” What is this collection of ancient documents that we copy and bind and publish at all different costs? What is this Divine Story of God that leads to Jesus that we seek to imitate, that we bind our hearts to and that we share at all cost to our lives?
If you have never heard of TheBibleProject I highly recommend you check out their website. Our times of study and teaching have used TheBibleProject as a main resource. So much great discussion has come about this semester as we look at the Word of God as one unified story that leads to Jesus. This has been the first time for some of our students to read the Bible as the Inspired Divine Epic Narrative full of Poetry and Prose Discourse with Design Patterns and Figural Reading as opposed to a quick - 5-minute - sound bite - devotional - bumper - sticker - thought/behavior - piece of advice.
If I may say, the students are having a "Road to Emmaus" experience this semester (cf. Luke 24).
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself … 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
We've had a lot of Holy Heartburn after feeding on the Word this semester. Here are a few responses from current students.
Quote #1 Torrey Diniz: English and Marketing (‘21)
This semester, I've discovered that there is a lot more to reading the Bible than just "reading the Bible." We have been given a beautifully complex text with which we can connect with God and other believers, and it's been truly exciting learning more about it.
Quote #2 Collin Sissom: Org Comm and Leadership (‘23)
I would say we should read the Bible conversationally, both in conversation with God and with others. We learn better when we don't rely [only] on ourselves; so much comes from the wisdom of the holy spirit and of other believers helping us [engage in God's story].
Quote #3 Christopher Trimble, Music Education ('21)
I read the Bible by going through one book at a time. Currently, I am on Isaiah. I think it’s important, when reading the Bible, to start somewhere or with someone that interests you. Because the Bible has a lot of content, it’s easier to find what you are looking for than you may think. Doing a Google Search of “where can I find this thing or this person in the Bible” is a great tool to use to help you get started. I believe it’s important to read the Bible starting with a few verses at a time for each reading session. Taking the time to really understand God’s word and analyzing what is being said and why it is being said is a great way to go about the Bible. This is a great way to read the Bible!!
As you can read, God’s Word is alive and active in the lives of MCF students this semester. May the same be true for you!
What's the Word on the Whitnah/Girls' House?
We had about 3/4" of rain this past weekend. A Sunday afternoon inspection of the Whitnah House basement reveals a completely DRY basement on the west side, where the outside wall repair work was done. There is one area on the east side where water is coming in through a crack in the wall of the old coal bin and running across the furnace room floor to the drain. The waterproofing project also included repairs to that floor drain, so it is now handling the leak just fine. All the areas that the residents might have to walk through are dry! A heavier rain might give us some problems on the east side, so we will have to continue to watch this. We have also just replaced the washing machine drain line, so that part of the basement is in better shape too.
We still lack seeding the ground where the work was done. That ground has continued to settle in places, and some fill dirt needs to be brought in first.
We are so thankful for the special gifts that were given to finance this waterproofing project! We believe that the building is a much healthier and more pleasant environment for the residents now.
-Bill Call
What’s the Word on HOMECOMING 2020?
Due to the COVID 19 influence on the MSU guidelines, there will be NO formal Homecoming gathering for 2020.
INSTEAD, Mike and the Servant Team would like to invite you to join us in a time of reading the Bible on Saturday Oct 31 at 3:00pm. Wherever you are, would you read together, out loud John 14!
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