So, sorry I have neglected my blog lately, I have just been rather busy, and to be quite frank, when I wasn't busy, I was tired and lazy. So, I now make amends by playing catch-up and summarizing the events over the last few days.
Saturday -
We went on another "walk" (aka hike). This time it was at a place called "El Torcal" It was incredible! Great views, amazing natural landscape, and lots of fun to explore anywhere you had the guts to climb. Picture below.
So yeah, that was a lot of fun. =] And I'm telling you - that picture does not come anywhere near to even beginning to do that view justice. It was gorgeous there.
Later Saturday, some of s did our now customary walk around Torremolinos. This time, however, we took along this weeks speaker, Wim. I had a very interesting conversation with him about psychology and counseling; He has his degree and has been working as a counselor for many years now. It was wonderful to get perspective and information on an area I am very much interested in from someone who has much more experience and is undoubtedly wiser. =]
Sunday-
Sunday was a lazy day. I got to sleep in, read in the sun, and just generally relax. The Villa very much encourages us to take Sunday as a true day of rest - all assignments are due saturday night, and we don't plan anything academic on Sundays.
Sunday night, Terah and I went with Brigitte to her church. It was an interesting experience because it was a bilingual church. Some of the worship songs were in English, some in Spanish. during the message, the pastor had to stop every couple of sentences for another man to translate his words into English. (It was a weird feeling realizing that mine was not the dominant language here)
All in all Sunday went very well. =]
Monday (Today) -
Today we got back into the regular routine. This week we are learning about the heart of God. Today we talked about the Father-Heart of God.
Shakespeare once wrote, "What's in a name? A rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet."
In class, Wim talked about how everyone can hear the same word and get vastly different pictures based on their experience. If someone hears the word "light" for instance, some people will picture a lightbulb, some the sun, and others may picture something that is light in weight terms, like a feather.
The same is true of the word "father". When someone who has grown up in a warm, loving home, with a strong, caring father-figure, the word brings a sense of peace, security, and warmth. However this is not the case of many today, with broken homes, abusive families, runaway fathers, and all the other terrible tragedies affecting family life. Many people today, when they hear the word "father" picture a cold distant figure, or worse, the source of emotional and physical abuse.
God is often referred to in the Bible as our "Heavenly Father". What kind of light do we shed on Him from our experiences? Do we see him as a cold, distant, judgmental figure? A wrathful being, bent on our pain and suffering? Or do we see Him as He really is, a loving, tender, merciful parent who only wants the very best for us, His precious children?
There are many meanings that can be put to the word "father". What meaning do you give it? "What's in a name?"...
Saturday -
We went on another "walk" (aka hike). This time it was at a place called "El Torcal" It was incredible! Great views, amazing natural landscape, and lots of fun to explore anywhere you had the guts to climb. Picture below.
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So yeah, that was a lot of fun. =] And I'm telling you - that picture does not come anywhere near to even beginning to do that view justice. It was gorgeous there.
Later Saturday, some of s did our now customary walk around Torremolinos. This time, however, we took along this weeks speaker, Wim. I had a very interesting conversation with him about psychology and counseling; He has his degree and has been working as a counselor for many years now. It was wonderful to get perspective and information on an area I am very much interested in from someone who has much more experience and is undoubtedly wiser. =]
Sunday-
Sunday was a lazy day. I got to sleep in, read in the sun, and just generally relax. The Villa very much encourages us to take Sunday as a true day of rest - all assignments are due saturday night, and we don't plan anything academic on Sundays.
Sunday night, Terah and I went with Brigitte to her church. It was an interesting experience because it was a bilingual church. Some of the worship songs were in English, some in Spanish. during the message, the pastor had to stop every couple of sentences for another man to translate his words into English. (It was a weird feeling realizing that mine was not the dominant language here)
All in all Sunday went very well. =]
Monday (Today) -
Today we got back into the regular routine. This week we are learning about the heart of God. Today we talked about the Father-Heart of God.
Shakespeare once wrote, "What's in a name? A rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet."
In class, Wim talked about how everyone can hear the same word and get vastly different pictures based on their experience. If someone hears the word "light" for instance, some people will picture a lightbulb, some the sun, and others may picture something that is light in weight terms, like a feather.
The same is true of the word "father". When someone who has grown up in a warm, loving home, with a strong, caring father-figure, the word brings a sense of peace, security, and warmth. However this is not the case of many today, with broken homes, abusive families, runaway fathers, and all the other terrible tragedies affecting family life. Many people today, when they hear the word "father" picture a cold distant figure, or worse, the source of emotional and physical abuse.
God is often referred to in the Bible as our "Heavenly Father". What kind of light do we shed on Him from our experiences? Do we see him as a cold, distant, judgmental figure? A wrathful being, bent on our pain and suffering? Or do we see Him as He really is, a loving, tender, merciful parent who only wants the very best for us, His precious children?
There are many meanings that can be put to the word "father". What meaning do you give it? "What's in a name?"...
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