Vignettes

17.6.14

– Is there something deeper (than the superficiality I can see) in these people, or is this all there is to them??

How is it possible to be like this?!

– If you are living in the same house as some others, then you better share your life with them!

18.6.14

– Problematize

– MOOCS – Massive Open Online Courses

– Becoming is the bridge between being & doing!

– Book review – one book for the course as a whole; one to relate it with my faith; one for each core subject.

– Self-assignments!

– Should I watch one World Cup match everyday?

20.6.14

– The greatest evils are NOT committed by ‘selfish’ persons, but by those people who have sold their souls for a ‘higher cause’!

– Is it possible that the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures will say things to us which are contradictory to what He said in the biblical context?

– Philosophical theologians & theological philosophers

Dogmaticians & metaphysicians

– We are all born fundamentalists!

– “Hi, how are you?”

– Even the so-called need for novelty is a familiar fact!

21.6.14

– Movies:

Pervert’s Guide to Ideology

22.6.14

– Apotheosis

Apophatic

– Picaresque

– Albeit

– Maybe

– Self-denial, self-forgetfulness & self-giving

Sacrifice, worship & love

– Belief-pray-praise

Talk-eat-live

Show-share-shape

– Manna, the feeding of the five thousand & preaching

Passover, Crucifixion & Eucharist

23.6.14

– “The Prodigal son was a son first, but later he was willing to become a slave voluntarily and willingly to his father. The elder son was a rightful son but he was a forced slave (by himself) to his father when absolute freedom was available. He was like the pharisees. Then when father wants him to join the celebration he refuses. He refuses to be the son. It is the reverse. It is very sad. Dr. Commins, Baptist pastor US.” – A

“GOD does NOT want slaves (voluntary or involuntary)! Does GOD give us freedom just for us to surrender it back to Him??” – J

24.6.14

– Individualism/Humanism

Vs.

Selfism/Narcissism

– “Hi… Just some thoughts on our discussion about vocation:

I am glad that you are no longer fatalistic about your future, & have found your field of interest.

But isn’t Calling more than just doing what one likes?? What about the kind of structure/system that you are getting into – the corporate sector exists only for one reason – financial profit! And humans are just ‘resources’ used by the corporation/company to attain this goal. The question is does HR really care for the holistic well-being of the persons themselves, or just about ‘optimizing performance’ for the sake of the bottomline & stock value?

Is there any genuine concern for the wider society, & are any greater local/global issues addressed by the organization that you join, & by your work in particular?

Finally, how is your work related to the values of the Kingdom of GOD & the purposes of Christian mission? Is it for, against or neutral to the agenda of GOD’s operation in our world??”

– Mirror image ~ self concept

26.6.14

– Declare war on boredom, complacency & apathy!

Do only one thing at a time with intense focus. Make a gradual & smooth transition from one thing to another. Set apart a little time periodically to review & plan. Make up your mind (about the overall direction of your life) thoughtfully, & then stick to your guns!

– Monday – Friday: Green

Saturday: Orange

Sunday: Red

– Once in 3 months – outing (retreat or house-visit)

– Ignorance-deception-vanity,

Anxiety-apathy-compromise &

Indulgence-conceit-aggression.

27.6.14

– Distinguish:

Pain

&

Suffering

– Theology is the linguistic expression of our mimetic & methectic response to what we hear from GOD (the excess in our experience of ourselves & the world).

– Struggle, rest & celebrate

Vs.

Relax, indulge & frustrate

29.6.14

– Distinguish:

Individualism

&

Selfism

Narcissism

&

Solipsism

– Boredom + entertainment = depression!

– At the end of the Book of Job, why doesn’t GOD ‘explain’ to Job the reason for/meaning of his tragedy in terms of the heavenly court drama with the Devil?

– Life is not like a football match where your team wins or even loses. It is not just plain happiness or grief.

It is more like a match where the better team loses or a refereeing mistake determines the outcome of the game……

It is just frustrating & puzzling!

– Self-reliance without self-sufficiency.

Self-confidence without self-complacency.

Self-discipline without self-denial.

Self-sacrifice without selflessness.