Reflection About God

God has been at work in my life in so many ways in this last year. This past summer, I worked at Trout Lake Camps, a Bible camp in Pine River, Minnesota. This experience not only taught me how wonderful a Christian community is, but also how to give my life completely over to Him. I was able to have meaningful conversations with campers about their faith, and ways they could come closer to God. I also know that God has placed this camp in my life not only to tell young students about Jesus Christ, but to learn how to stretch my faith beyond its limits. I can not wait to bring what I have learned to Northwestern. I believe that UNWSP will continue to stretch my limits and take me deeper in my walk with God. I plan to make life-long friends while

Evaluate: Relate the effects of the event on yourself and others involved; describe emotions or images the experience evoked; identify the “heart of the matter”—what issue or question is raised/is at stake for you?

When I was growing up, I attended a Christian school. Consequently, the curriculum was based off of Christian textbooks, and every Thursday we would attend chapel and be taught lessons from the Bible. As a result, I was heavily shaped by the lessons taught at that school.

The teachers here taught me how to read, write, add and subtract, things that sound so simple but what a wonderful gift! I have been encouraged to become a better Catholic and a productive part of society. They have not only taught how to become a better Catholic they have shown me. My teachers have modeled this by studying the Bible, attending Mass, having daily religion

My personal religious and spiritual journey began as a young child in Long Island, New York. In fact, my parents and grandparents often took me to church activities in addition to Sunday services. I was taught how to pray by my parents as a child and I went to Bible study classes at church. My grandmother Hannah in my opinion was a calm, wise, caring, affectionate, and strong woman of faith. I regularly liked to asked her questions because, she was very patient with me. I always said, if I had a daughter I would name her after my grandma Hannah as I admired her strength. I attended Catholic schools from first grade to twelfth grade, where I also had religious education classes. I’ll never forget my fourth-grade teacher Sister Mary, she was a firm teacher but, she always encouraged my class. She would tell us you can achieve anything in your life if you try hard, pray and stay strong in your faith. In my opinion I had several positive major formative influences in my life. After, high school I went to nursing school in Hicksville, Long Island New York called Vocational Extension Board Practical Nursing School, a 12 month program. I enjoyed my clinical rotations and having the opportunity to interact with many people as a young nursing student. Mrs. Arthur one of my nursing instructors was very supportive to the nursing students when we had our oncology clinical rotations. It was very difficult to remain positive and not be heartbroken when caring for patients with

Charles de Montesquieu said, “Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.” God has given me personal strengths which have affected how I act with my family and how I can relate better with my family in the future. The Clifton Strengths Assessment showed me the underlying strengths that I have used in the past. After reading Gene Veith Jr.’s God at Work I have a better understanding of the responsibility of a family, and combining that with my strengths my understanding of my present and future choices in family have grown. Through learning that Input, Restorative, and Connectedness are in my top five strengths I now see reasons behind what I have done in the past and how I can grow specifically in the areas of how I relate to my family.

My definition of religion has changed immensely over the course of the semester. I used to relate the term “religion” to God, church, Sunday school, etc. I realize now that that is a very narrow definition and religion is so much more than that. Something that really stuck with me throughout the semester was when Dr. Pulleyking said that religion doesn’t have to involve a set “religion” like Christianity. Instead, religion is that “something” that gets people out of bed in the morning. I realized through this course that religion is a beautiful thing that has so much more behind it than many people see.

There are few people that I know who believe God is real and you can see it through the person they are. It is not determined by the way they dress or the music they listen to. How loudly one sings during church does not mean they love God, although it can be. One may say God loves everyone, yet why does he send many to Hell? Others could say God was caucasian or he was colored or he was an alien. Not one person believes in exactly the same thing as the next person. I definitely have my own belief on who God is just like how I believe in my own philosophy that surrounds him, love. Love is what destroys, encourages, and creates the things in our lives and constructs the way we are. The way one chooses to express it can make everything and everyone around them become a symbol of their love, or it can make everything collapse around them. That choice defines a person's life.

Christianity is a religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus. Most forms of Christianity hold that Jesus is the son of God. There are many similarities between my faith, Roman Catholicism and my non-Catholic, group choice of Christian denomination, Jehovah’s Witness. This branch of Christianity, Jehovah’s Witnesses, was formed by the WatchTower Society and also founded by Jesus himself. Learning about a Christian Denomination has changed my perspective of Christianity through the Jehovah’s Witnesses history, beliefs/rituals, sacraments and how they spread the message of God to others.

You know what I hate? Religion and or arguing if God is real, or how can he be real in the mist of our circumstances. My response usually consists of a question: “Hasn’t God done something for you that was so unexplainable you know it had to be him?” -because it wasn’t your own strength?

RD: I want to say by 8 years of age. I started to understand why we pray to the Saints, and celebrate special holidays. For example, All Saints’ Day (Day of the Dead-January 1st). In Haiti, we celebrate the dead in cemeteries with songs, praise, and prayers for those who we have lost. We are raised not to fear the dead, they watch over the living.

There are several questions that many people find themselves asking at least once in their life and a few are, “When will the world end, how will the world end, and will we even be here to experience the end?” I’ve grown up to believe the world will end according to the prophecy stated in the Bible, but I’ve also realized that there are others who believe that the world won’t end based upon prophecy, but they believe the world will end according to what scientific research states. Now we are all entitled to our own thoughts, and I feel as if even though there are valuable facts proven by scientists, I still believe that the world will end based upon what is stated in the bible. Scientists have proven time and time again how the world will end, but yet I still choose to follow my religious beliefs about how the end will come. Yet in still there are many others who believe the facts at hand, and that is understandable. We believe in what we know and are taught.

Then, my legs began to shake. It was slow at first, then faster. I did not know what was happening to me, but I knew God was in control.

I believe community with God teaches us how to be community with others. God teaches us how to live in the Bible. When you have a faith and relationship in Jesus Christ, then you are motivated to read the Word to learn more about what God has to teach us. The Bible contains information describing how our relationship with God should influence our life and how we are to interact with his creation, including other human beings. I believe all people deserve to be treated with respect. I interpret that to mean that everyone has been created in God’s image, and because of that, their life has value. When we interact with each other, we need to remember to embody the person of Christ. Honesty, loyalty, trust, timeliness, and listening are specific skills and values we should keep in mind in our interactions with each other, because they convey respect. I believe relationships give us a chance to love others, and receive love in return. In strong relationships of any kind, between friends, family, and significant others, love is something that is necessary. God has called us to love others, and believers will strive to live that call out in their daily lives.

His face. Whether you know it or not, this is your ultimate goal. It is the beginning of everything and the end and purpose of everything. The power behind this truth is what drove Pastor Bill Johnson to write this revelatory book called Face to Face with God.