Mr. Linney

 The picture above interprets Isaiah 61:10-11.  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

New Testament students are carefully reading Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  Paul truly loves this church and he is thankful for the love and support of the Philippians.  Love for Paul, or intimacy with the church at Philipi, is more about suffering together than just saying that they love each other.  Have you suffered with anyone and loved them because of shared suffering?

Old Testament students are early into their reading of Isaiah.  God calls Isaiah in the 6th chapter and he does it with some very cool images like tongs of fire.  We are learning that God extends both an arm of judgment and an arm that gathers up God’s sheep and cuddles these lambs.  The image for us is like one who would nurture a baby lamb, or a puppy, or a baby brother.  God does not hold us out at arm’s length even though we are dirty and unworthy of God’s close embrace.

Week of February 25, 2008

We are up and running in the 3rd and final trimester of the 2007-08 school year at Durham Nativity School.  This week we are jumping in with both feet into some new and exciting subject areas.  The sixth graders will study Population Dynamics and the Book of Isaiah.  The 7th graders are engaging Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.  The 8th graders are studying connections among Evolution, Chemistry, and Cellular Biology.  We will also begin some in-depth work in Christian literature.  It should be an exciting trimester if each student brings his best work every day.  Let’s have some fun gentlemen!

The New Testament class will be studying some of Paul’s letters.  Check out the serious and contemplative Paul below:

From: http://www.abcgallery.com/R/rembrandt/rembrandt187.html

“This somber portrait by Rembrandt (1606-1669) shows Paul in a deeply reflective mood and stresses the apostle’s consciousness of the enormous burden he bears–the task of communicating his unique vision of Christ to the Gentiles.  In his letters, Paul expresses a wide variety of emotions–joy, anger, bitter sarcasm–but Rembrandt captures here the sense of melancholy and isolation that typcially characterizes this great missionary.”  Description above is from p.307, The New Testament: A Student’s Edition, ed. by Stephen L. Harris, McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Martin Luther King, Jr.-Rule of Life King had a certain way of acting in the world and he expected those who demonstrated during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s to behave in a certain manner.  He modeled this concept of a Rule of Life after Saint Benedict’s Rule of Life for the monastic order that Benedict founded, the Benedictines, which understood that Brothers who pray together and share their life with one another are doing the work of Christ. Here was Martin Luther King’s Rule of Life for every demonstrator before they could participate: Ø    Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.Ø    Remember always that the nonviolent movement in Birmingham seeks justice and reconciliation, not victory.Ø    Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.Ø    Pray daily to be used by God in order that all might be free.Ø    Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all might be free.Ø    Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.Ø    Seek to perform regular service for others and the world.Ø    Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, and heart.Ø    Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.Ø    Follow the directions of the movement and the captains of a demonstration. 

Do you have a Rule of Life? 

What are the most important rules that you follow in your daily life?  Be as specific as possible.

What else might you include in a Rule of Life?  Name at least three possible things you could add to your Rule of Life?