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."