Replies

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Beyond The Status Quo
September 22, 2011

Dr. Jack Mezirow, professor emeritus at Columbia Teachers College, believes that an essential element in adult learning is to challenge our own ingrained perceptions and examine our insights critically. Dr. Mezirow says that adults learn best when faced with what he calls a “disorienting dilemma”—something that “helps you critically reflect on the assumptions you’ve acquired” (Barbara Strauch, The New York Times). This is the opposite of saying, “My mind is made up—don’t confuse me with the facts.”

When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He challenged the deeply held beliefs of many religious leaders, and they sought to silence Him (John 5:16-18). Jesus said to them: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (vv.39-40).

Oswald Chambers observed, “God has a way of bringing in facts which upset a man’s doctrines if these stand in the way of God getting at his soul.”

Unsettling experiences that cause us to question our assumptions about the Lord can also lead us to a deeper understanding and trust in Him—if we’re willing to think it through and come to Him.

My mind cries its questions,
My longing heart, joining.
O Father, please hear me!
O Spirit, keep teaching! —Verway

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” —Socrates

Read: John 5:35-47

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. —John 5:40

Bible in a year:
Ecclesiastes 10-12; Galatians 1

Thank you for this devotional ... interesting thoughts. Strangely there is essentially no status quo. MO

O we may think so, however we are either growing toward good or we are falling toward evil. It requires active conscious study, contemplation, prayer, hunger, thirst, and inspiration of God to be pleasing before him.

Those in prison keeping their mind on the things of God and his commandments, can stay strong in his word. Of course a christian would commit crimes intentionally,... The knowledge God is with them right where they are 24 hours a day is sustaining to the believer.

Are we much too complacent about our faith most of the time? We are to mature into the image of Jesus Christ. He spent his waking time where ever he was in teaching in parables the Gospel of the Kingdom, and performing healing and other miracles, and praying.

Is it Sincere faith or easy belief?

... God knows the heart.

Most of this are things I say to myself regularly.