Senior 28: "Variety"

SINCE I LAST UPDATED, I have...

- Attended APU's Liturgical Chapel
- Celebrated the one year anniversary of my trip to Italy with three amazing girls
- Met with some really cool guys with whom I will hopefully form a D-group
- Visited my parents and friends for a weekend barbeque
- Drained the battery in my car by leaving the lights on all night after returning from the aforementioned barbeque
- Attended the UCO Kick-off concert in Wilden Hall
- Completed my Review of Oswald Chamber's Studies in the Sermon on the Mount for Dr. Baloian's "Life and Teachings" class
- Attended the CRIS lecture on "The Evolution-Design Controversy" by Jeffrey Schloss (Ph.D., professor and chair of biology at Westmont College)
- Discoursed with philosophy professors (mostly me listening to them) on the persuasiveness of the Anthropic Principle thesis
- Had my first exam in "Medieval/Renaissance Art History", which actually wasn't to bad; "Connectedness" is one of my strengths
- And spoke to the adult Sabbath School class at my former-supervisors church on John 15.

I've been a little busy, but it's all been great fun.

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JOHN 15 IS AN amazing passage, by the way. Actually that whole upper-room discourse is amazing. Have you read it lately?

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FOR THOSE WHO DON'T follow or have access to the Clause (APU student newspaper), they did publish my Letter to the Editor in the 29 September 2006 edition, which made me very happy. I've reproduced the material below:

Dear Editor:

I was very impressed with Shannon Gauthier’s article, "Focusing on Diversity" (15 September 2006). She highlighted a number of important points about the misunderstandings that can arise when we attempt to pursue and cultivate diversity. I would like to continue reflecting on this important concept and present the following for your consideration.

When thinking about diversity, I think the following is important to remember: diversity is not strictly a goal to be attained programmatically and evaluated in terms of numbers and percentages. Instead, it is a reality—the natural and intentional consequence of God’s creative activity.

We do not need to manufacture it. We do not need to pursue it because it surrounds us. The "pursuit" of diversity, then, is better understood as the pursuit of a transformation in our own minds and hearts, toward appreciating and celebrating the richness and beauty of God’s creation as it is presented to us.

This can happen over the course of a mission trip or semester abroad, in acts of ministry and service, through organizations that highlight particular groups and interests, and even in our day-to-day interactions with students and faculty on this campus.

I want to emphasize that last point—"our day-to-day interactions…"—because it might not be obvious to us, and I think that one of the hardest places to recognize God’s hand and work is in that very context with which we are most familiar. I find, in my own life, that it is far too easy to forget about or take for granted the gifts and talents, abilities and wisdom, experiences and cultures that I pass a hundred times each day.

But as I continue to walk with God and draw close to Him, he opens my eyes and teaches me to recognize and rejoice in all the people that He has shaped and molded. And, I believe, that is our call.

Luis Montes
Senior Philosophy Major

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TWO ANECDOTES ALONG THESE same lines:

(1) A student commented that he was considering leaving his church because its membership is predominantly white middle-class and not sufficiently concerned with matters of social justice.
(2) A teacher commented that, when her pastor made statements about diversity within the church, her husband leaned over and whispered, "Like slices in a loaf of white bread."

Both of these comments, I think, betray seriously problematic ways of thinking. Maybe I'm naive, but I think that (regardless of apparent homogeneity) if one were to sit down with each and every one of those "slices of white bread" and talk to them for two hours, one would quickly discover that each is unique, formed in the image of God, gifted with special talents and abilities, possessed of a distinctive history and background, beset by different challenges, and all desiring to experience the genuine love of God.

If someone claims to be a loving and accepting person and does not love and accept white, middle-class Americans, I think their sincerity is, at best, suspect. Of course the same principle may be applied to any people group (just fill in the name), but I have been struck, of late, by the crass lack of concern, in my particular context, for this particular group of people.

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AND FINALLY (NOW THAT I'm done ranting--apologies if that got a little heated), Darby Conley has introduced a new character into the Get Fuzzy comic strip world: Bucky Katt's British cousin Mac Manc McManx. I LOVE this cat and have attached the strip from 21 September 2006 so you also can appreciate his unique character (pun intended).









"Brolly." Ha ha.

Blessings all,

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"God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.

Senior 27: Garlic, &c.

MY BREATH REEKS OF garlic. It is wonderful.

I just finished having lunch with Dayna.

I had garlic shrimp. It was great... except for one thing: whoever prepared the shrimp did not do a thorough job of cleaning them. My dad taught me how to clean shrimp for cooking, and these were not clean. Oh well, they tasted good anyway. And (more importantly) I had a great time catching-up with Dayna.

SO I'M EXPECTING THAT weekends will be pretty-much the only free time available to me this semester. This past week (the first full week of the semester) has been great, but also very busy. In addition to classes and work, I went to a Dessert put on by the Study Abroad Office and a Faculty Recital with Dr. Gray (trumpet) and Dr. Harms (organ). For some time I have been aware of there being far to little organ in my life, so that recital was a treat. And tonight I get to see the musical "Into the Woods." Thanks to Leah, I actually have a seat and will not be propping myself up on the back rail.

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TWO REFLECTIONS:

FIRST: DR. BALOIAN (BIBLE professor, APU) is amazing. If you've been around APU at all, you've probably heard this; now I can say from personal experience (all two weeks of it) that it is positively true. I'm taking his "Life and Teachings of Jesus" and have been enthralled at each class session. He is a great encouragement to me on two points.

(1) He often makes controversial statements, critical statements, statements that make me wince and feel uncomfortable. BUT he also makes affirming statements, uplifting statements, and statements that communicate to me that he is solidly grounded. So even when he makes me uncomfortable, I am able to process what he says more easily and readily because I am confident that he is firmly rooted in the Truth. He is a wise man.

(2) He loves the whole Bible and he understands it. Especially noteworthy, he loves and values the Old Testament. Often, it seems, young Christians aren't interested in studying the Old Testament, and, I confess, sometimes the point is difficult for even me to see. But here is a man whose understanding of the Old Testament powerfully informs his reading of the Gospels and strengthens his convictions and experience of God. It is so thrilling to be a part of his class.


SECOND: THE FIRST ISSUE of the Clause (APU Student Newspaper) came out yesterday and included an opinion piece entitled "Focusing on Diversity." I think this article was spot on. (Read it!) The author wrote about her concern that "diversity," while a good thing, can generate problems if overemphasized--"the possible mixed message, the misinterpretation of diversity, pride, and the danger of focusing too much on our differences."

This has been a growing concern in my mind over the past year. The irony is that the two times when I have felt most negatively affected by racial stereotypes both involved individuals who were sincerely (with good intentions) desiring to become informed on issues related to diversity.

Two comments I will make on this general point (more could definitely be said).

(1) Frequently emphasized around campus is the relationship of the University to the community. Students are reminded of both the racial and economic disparity that exists between APU and the surrounding city of Azusa. Students are then encouraged to reach out and help the community, to fulfill their responsibility to love others and contribute in the spirit of the Kingdom of God. This may sound well and good, but the there is serious disjunct, particularly for members of the Kingdom of God.

What does ethnicity or economic level have to do with the call to help people? The answer: NOTHING. So why even bring it up? If we are called to reach out as part of the body of Christ and Kingdom of God, then we should do so.

But besides misunderstanding motivation, this sort of rhetoric also fails to show proper love to the members of the APU community. Each of the students is gifted by God, many are passionate about loving others, many desire to grow and mature in their Christian walk and THOSE are good reasons to serve. Focus and attention on THOSE aspects of students' character more reflects the love of God than talk about ethnic groups and economic brackets and will, I think, be far more effective at building up strong Christian servants.

(2) President Wallace just returned from an eight-day trip to Africa where APU is considering establishing a remote campus. He shared, with students at the Study Abroad Dessert, the following story (roughly from my memory):

In the course of interacting with people, he had the chance to meet a high education official in South Africa. The people there are still recovering from apartheid and there are many walls and barriers that are slowly coming down. President Wallace was sharing about APU and the Institution's efforts and goals for cultivating diversity. But as he described these things, the official stopped him and said, (paraphrasing): "We do not have goals about diversity; we just discover it."

I thought that this was a remarkable and profound truth. Diversity is a fact. We may not recognize it, some may try to ignore it, but it is a fact; even within isolated populations of a single race or economic level. Diversity is a fact, and as Christians, we should be committed to discovering the unique work of God in the life of every person.


GOD HAS BEEN VERY good to me. Whenever I start to think ill of a person, make assumptions or prejudicial judgments, He faithfully blows my preconceptions and misconceptions to pieces. I still do it (old habits die hard), but as I walk with God, he is teaching me to find the goodness and value in every person I encounter. Praise God!

Blessings all,

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"God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world."

Senior 26: Licence to Drive

WHETHER THE NEWS EXCITES or terrifies you (and I haven't yet decided how I feel about it), I now do have my driver's license. Acquiring it was a grueling process--just ask my dad--, but I am already appreciating the fruits of those efforts (along with the added expense and frustration, e.g. traffic). If you're getting the idea that this is a bit of a mixed blessing for me, rest assured that I am very excited and pleased (...as well as trepidatious and apprehensive). A friend told me that it never really feels like you've got your license until you've nicked someone's car. (Oy vey!)

AT THIS POINT, RATHER than continue this faltering and vacillatory monologue, I'll turn, instead, to other recent events.

I HAD MY FIRST big spill on (or 'off') my bicycle. I scraped up my hand and my right leg.

It's a good thing I was wearing a helmet.

I had tried to ride up Barranca toward Sierra Madre. Those who are familiar with this area know that that is not a shallow grade. I ended up walking most of the way up... and most of the way down. It is incredible to me that Nick rode down that hill on his long-board. But, then again, he's studly like that.

AND CLASSES HAVE BEGUN; I am thoroughly excited. (No equivocation here.)

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THE LORD IS MOVING; and I am slowly growing in my awareness of His activities. It is interesting (or, perhaps, instructive) to think back: During my time at Oxford (fall '05), the reality of God's immanence was especially impressed on me. In my studies in philosophy and theology, I was confronted with the God in whom "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28), in whom is "life" and the "light of men" (John 1:4), Emmanuel.

Toward the end of Spring semester ('06), I was reminded of God's "personhood". He is not a an abstract concept, an obscure force, or some vague, nebulous thing. (Luke 11:1-13, John 4:24) Rather, he is concretely personal and desires to have a personal relationship with you. (John 17:3, Revelation 3:20)

And most recently, the character of that personal relationship that God desires has emerged as one in which Father God and his children are interacting and communicating. (John 10:27, 15:15-16)

This is not the easiest thing to say (and often not the easiest thing to hear), because God often seems distant, remote, and silent. But at this point, I am taking a few uncertain steps (Mark 9:24), trusting God to work out of my inadequacies, and, I think, growing in that.

At such early stages (in any aspect of spiritual growth) I think it is important to take hold of and embrace even small signs of progress. In our often-skeptical human nature, the first reaction usually is to dismiss such indications as wishful thinking, flukes, or coincidence. But the journey of "the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2) is precisely one of learning to think and perceive events and circumstances and people in ways that are "unnatural" (contrary to habit)--of bringing our mind into conformity with that of Christ. And, like learning to drive, it takes time before we are comfortable and used to it.

Blessings all,

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"God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world."