Last night, I was invited to join a couple of ASL students at Starbucks. This type of interaction helps them with their receptive skills. We had a great time!! Along with our friend, Mayra, whom is also an ASL instructor, I got to meet Kelly, Keith and Dawn. They were wonderful people who loves to learn ASL. This type of class wasn't for a credit but they were eager and excited about this continuing education. Keith works for the credit union and uses his ASL skills around deaf clients. Kelly works with troubled children and attends McLean Bible Church. She has interpreted on a couple ocassions. Dawn simply loves to learn ASL. But I learned that she's an avid scuba diver (certified). I asked if she is certified to teach scuba diving and she will probably complete one by next year. Then I see why she's learning ASL, probably to prepare herself to teach deaf clients the art of scuba diving!! Thanks, Mayra, for inviting me to meet these three wonderful people!
We need to encourage more and more hearing people to learn ASL. Currently, we have over 20 ASL students at Fairfax Church of Christ!! The ASL classroom have been packed so this encouraged me to switch rooms with Becky Hinckley to make way for the students of ASL. Please be praying for the students of ASL, asking God to guide them to help bridge communication gap between us (deaf) and the hearing world.
This Sunday, we'll be talking about, "Not My Will, But Yours". For the next three weeks, we're going to walk on the road from the garden (Gethsemane) to the cross (Golgotha). This is Jesus' final days before He is to be crucified on the cross. Speaking of, "Not My Will, But Yours", I am hoping to help His church understand that Jesus had trouble dealing with decisions, difficult decisions. It was so difficult that He perspired so heavily like sweat drops of blood! I can imagine that He was shaking!! Of course, He was praying earnestly asking His Father to find another way. Like Jesus, many of us have difficulties in life. Ours is nothing compared to Jesus' but it's not that you'll experience the "death-rattle" but you'll feel like you've been choked with life's pain. It doesn't seem fair to us to experience failing marriage, trouble with finances, dealing with rebellious children, difficulties in relationships with others, and seeking fulfillment of self but unfulfilled. When Jesus knew God didn't give Him a choice to whether to leave the road or stay with it, Jesus finally said, "..not my will, but Yours..", how true is that for us?? Though, never pleasurable, but it's a road many of us must walk for a purpose and only God knows!! And how often we forget this verse:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (niv)
4 comments:
I look forward to Sunday's lesson and praise Jesus. Love you, Jesus!
There is no greater symbol of life than blood. Blood keeps us alive. Jesus shed his blood and gave his life for our sins so that we would not experience spiritual death, eternal separation from God. Jesus is the source of life, not death. Jesus gave his own life to pay our penalty for us so that we might live. After shedding his blood for us, Christ rose from the grave and proclaimed victory over sin and death.
...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28
Jesus is coming back. Are you prepared? Are you waiting?
hey, this is that calvinist girl from God's girl. i made a new post that i hope will help...you can look if you want to....
Yes, we certainly need to pray for our ASL students, that they will stay committed to the class and eventually help bridge the communication gap between our deaf and hearing brothers and sisters.
On another note, I want to mention one thing I have noticed. Lately, Mark's blog entries have been more serious, more focused on things we all need to think about,i.e.--how much Jesus has given for us, how our first love needs to be God and Christ, how we need to work out our salvation, etc. AND, as Mark's blog has gotten more serious and more focused, there have been fewer comments on his blog. I find that interesting. Anytime Mark talks about something humorous or cute or lighthearted, lots of comments come in. But when he talks about serious subjects, there are fewer comments. It makes me wonder if a lot of people are uncomfortable with having to think and focus on the more serious aspects of being a Christian.
A quote by C.S. Lewis that Mark cited in one of his blogs really hit me: "Most of us are not really approaching the subject in order to find out what Christianity says: We are approaching it in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party." I think this quote is probably true of many people. They want Christianity to fit them and their lifestyles and beliefs instead of changing their lifestyles and beliefs to conform to a Christian way of living. I think this may be why there aren't as many comments when Mark gets serious in his blog, because too many aren't ready or willing to apply the true, deep principles of Christian living to their own lives. Just my thoughts.
Melanie
Dennis.. Thanks for your comments. Glad you're able to be with us, yesterday, in worship despite your daughter's struggle with her asthma. We're praying for her!!
Emily.. Thanks for taking the time in trying to answer the reason why TULIP is being taught. Keep on studying the Scriptures..
Melanie... May the Lord bless you, also, for encouraging other to make comments. Thanks for helping us remembering what C.S. Lewis quoted in regards to some people who have no desire to explain Christianity from the Word of God.
This week/weekend will be very busy for me so I will probably not likely to post any blogs (maybe one or two).. So bear with me and thanks!!
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