Theology Evolved?

Okay so I have heard 2 amazing things today.

the 1st relates to Karina. She doesn't enjoy her job, it stresses her out, and she has been wanting to leave for a while. And it turns out that a spa company "Dolce" wants her to be a sales associate working full time for them! That is awesome. So she put her notice in and will start working for them on Saturday training.

2nd relates to my sister. This weekend my family (mom and dad) were coming down for vacation and a belated b-day celebration, and I my sister couldn't come. Well she got the Friday off and now she and my niece are coming down as well!

So 2 awesome gifts in my life. I am stoked

I hope you readers enjoyed the short series on "Complements and Catalysts." Those were some off the cuff theology, and today I am going to bring you something different, and something also not entirely new. During my senior year at Simpson University I wrote a research paper on "A Theology of Discpline." Unfortunately upon reading through the paper I decided I pitied my professor for having to read such a poorly written paper. However, I do still believe the topic and content were very worthwhile, so I now provide you with the newly revised series on "A Theology of Discipline." This will be broken up into smaller portions, so today will be something of an introduction and overview of what the rest of the series will be covering. Enjoy!


A Theology of Discipline
“Vengeance as reaction to covenant violation is not retribution for retribution’s sake, but is discipline to restoration…” H.G.L. Peels

Introduction
Of the many theologically binding themes to be found in the Old Testament the covenantal relationship between God and Israel as Father and Child stands in firm resolve. As a child grows, the means of disciplining the child evolve. This is no different in the case of God acting as the Father of Israel. Israel’s progression as child maturing begins with their birth as God’s chosen people with Abraham, ending with their return as a prodigal young adult from Babylonian exile. This article seeks to detail out the various forms and degrees of discipline that are evident in the Old Testament following a chronological time line of Israel’s development, the process following that of an infant, a toddler, a youth, a teen, and finally as an adult.

It is necessary at this point in time to first point out that I am not seeking to equate discipline with punishment. These are two similar yet distinctly different actions. The Encarta dictionary definition for punishment is: “a penalty that is imposed on somebody for wrongdoing” whereas a definition of discipline is: “to teach somebody to obey rules or to behave in an ordered or controlled way” This is to say that if one is to see that God punishes Israel it is simply a part of the overall action of discipline. Where in His effort to help them as His children they must first learn to follow their Father’s rules which will lead to a more harmonious living as par his creation intent. In other words, punishment is the action taken while discipline is the foundation of purpose that it is acted out from.

Built atop this is the fact that God is the father and creator of humanity and the specific representative God of Israel whom He loves. It is a great to put in that Claus Westermann speaks to the Hebrew word mhr, which means “mother’s womb” as word that defines in a sense God’s love for Israel in a familiar sort. So as a father His love for his children will cause Him to take rather severe actions in order that His children may learn to grow and become righteous before Him.

So yesterday my grandpa was taken off the ventilator in the early afternoon. And praise be to God, he could breath, albeit not terribly well, but it was a start. However as said before he will be staying in the ICU for a few days, he needs to show that he does not need to be on the ventilator anymore. If can this is very good news, and I am praying so. However, there still remains the question of what kind of Dialysis he will need in the future and the situation of his heart. Continue to pray for him please.

Great-Grandma is going back and forth in her condition, but overall it is still a downhill slide, her good days she slides a little slower. She is still under hospice care for the time being and has been taken off all her meds except one that keeps her calm. Please also continue to keep her in your prayers.

Zach

So yesterday, Karina and I drove to Eugene and visited my grandpa in the hospital. I briefly got to reconnect with some family I have not seen in a while before I headed to the ICU to see my grandpa. It was a bit of a eye-opening experience to see my grandpa really sedated, intubated, a bit distended, he did not look like the grandpa I have spent so much time with. I held his hand, told him that I loved him, told him that he was strong, because he is, it takes a strong man to fight against congestive heart failure, viral pneumonia, and failing kidneys.
Today at some point, the doctors are going to remove his breathing tube to see if he can breathe on his own. If he cannot, they will give him the decision between living off a machine for the sake of breathing, or to pass on as comfortably as possible. If he can breathe, then they will give him 3 days to prove it and there is a chance he may live on for a while yet. The other thing is his kidneys, he has had dialysis once at least, but there is potential for him to have it a few times a week for the rest of his life, once again depending on a machine to live.
This is a very hard time for my family, please continue to keep us in your prayers as we live out a very hard week.

Zach

Readers,

Tomorrow (Monday, March 12, 2007) I will be leaving at 3pm to head to Oregon. This trip was originally planned to leave a few days later and under happier circumstances. However, urgency has ushered me into leaving sooner than anticipated. I will be departing because my grandpa, Thomas, is in the ICU unit suffering Kidney Failure, Congestive Heart Failure, and Pneumonia, he is not slated to last very long. He has been amazing grandpa to me thus far, and I do not hesitate to believe that the artist inside of me that I embrace is because of his influence in my life. On my trip I will be taking some pictures of the paintings he has done to share them with you.

Also my great-grandma, Faith, is also nearing the end of quite the journey for her. To her I accredit my belief in faith. She has never hesitated to show me love both as a grandma, but also echoing the love of Christ. She is 96, and has lived a long fruitful life, and hey, she even got to meet Kevin Costner, when they used her ranch for a portion of the filming of "The Postman."

I love both of these people very dearly, and knowing that they are passing on soon is tearing me apart. But I take a certain peace in knowing that they both love the Lord, and will be going on to something so much better.

I will update you when I can.

Please be praying for myself and my family as we prepare for all that is to come this weekend.

Zach

So as of right now I am receiving news that last night my niece suffered from seizures of unknown origin. She has received a lumbar puncture, cat-scan, and blood work has been done.
The lumbar puncture and cat-scan revealed nothing, and the doctors think they saw something in the blood so they are investigating it further. So if you my readers could keep my niece Kalayla, my sister Olivia, and her husband Nick in your prayers it would be much appreciated.

Thank You

Zach

The trip was amazing folks. I just wanted to say thank you to all those who thought of us and prayed for us on the trip.

The drive up through I-5 was uneventful as far as bad drivers, CHP, OSP, and and other authority figures. There was lots of fun conversation and singing along with bands ranging from Linkin Park to N*Sync. We chatted of the most interesteing topics from Favorite Cars, to the troubling theological thoughts that can drive one up a wall.

I did get lots of rest, woke up ready to go, and didn't forget anything in the packing process!

Karina handled meeting all my family with the grace and wit that made me adore her in the first place and so she was probably more fluid with it then even I was. She even helped out a lot with the final wedding snags and was valuable to just about everyone participating. There were very few last minute things to worry about so almost everything went as scheduled and the Wedding went down great.

My sis and bro-in-law are heading out next monday for Cancun, so if you would continue to pray for them that they would have a great honeymoon that would be great.

So once again, thank you to all, my evolving theologians

Zach

Hello Readers,

In less than 7 hours I will be picking up wonderful, beautiful, funny, amazing young woman, who will be probably quite tired. Why? you ask would I be so unkind to such an amazing woman. Because we are driving to Portland tomorrow, 420 miles to be covered in 7 hours. It's a fairly fun drive on I-5 which we should get a kick out of but it does start quite early.

You are probably thinking I should be in bed right now, and you are right. But I wanted to ask some traveling mercies of you for me.

I need prayer for the ability to be alert on the road as far as my own state of being, as well as for other horrible drivers and Highway Patrol.

We need prayer for lots of conversation topics on the drive. Quiet drives are boring drives.

Pray that I fall asleep easily and get lots of rest... Before the drive!

Pray for Karina because she is meeting quite literally all my immediate and most of my not so immediate family at my sister Olivia's wedding this weekend, and she is nervous.

Pray for Karina's folks because it is very big for them to allow a boy to take their little girl so far away from them. I am sure they are a bit nervous too.

Pray for my family as they will undoubtedly have many last minute things come up for my sister's wedding.

Pray for my sister and her husband to be Nick, that they would have an amazing fruitful marriage... They are combining their single parents children to become a family of 5.

And Pray that everyone has a great weekend, including yourself.

You are all amazing my little evolving theologians...

Zach