Hey Mark, My 53-year-old dad became a believer in Christ at one of those meetings when you brought him with you to share the Bible with Boonyang! Hearing your side of the story warms my heart now that he has since passed away.
You've done it again, Mr. Galli. A great life lesson that God can bring us wisdom and insight from the most unlikely sources. It teaches me that, no matter where we are all on our faith journey, we all have messages of love and grace for each other. When we dismiss anyone as an "other" the one that suffers the most is ourselves.
One other thing that occurred to my odd little brain about this story; I can't read about Jesus in the boat in the storm without thinking of the parallels with the story of Jonah. As the sailors on Jonah's ship marveled that the sea immediately relented and praised the God that could control the oceans, I imagine the disciples coming to the same terrifying conclusion when they realized they were in a boat with the one who possessed the same power.
An insightful and helpful story. I am a retired therapist but would not take that story metaphorically. Jesus power to heal and turn water into wine, are essential for faith. Ewe can see that resurrection is the biggest and most profound miracle and all others lead up to it. Growing up in a church that found miracles uncomfortable, almost every miracle story was reduced to a metaphor.
Maybe your reading Mark with the Laotians was providential. Wise Christians have advised me to read the gospel of John with a seeker, praying all the while something like "God, if you really are Father of Lord Jesus Christ, bring me to belief in him." Had you read John with the Laotians, you would have found its author states clearly the main purpose of Jesus' miracles -- they are signs of who Jesus really is -- and probably you would not have been moved to question those prejudices acquired in seminary.
I love your thoughts and insights! We are on the same page about almost everything. One minor difference might be our interpretation of the feeding of the 5000. I believe when Jesus had the disciples give away all THEIR food to those around them, others followed his example. The people fed the 5000, just as we still are supposed to be doing....by his example:). Again, after 52 years of marriage, I have learned: I could be wrong:).
Hey Mark, My 53-year-old dad became a believer in Christ at one of those meetings when you brought him with you to share the Bible with Boonyang! Hearing your side of the story warms my heart now that he has since passed away.
You've done it again, Mr. Galli. A great life lesson that God can bring us wisdom and insight from the most unlikely sources. It teaches me that, no matter where we are all on our faith journey, we all have messages of love and grace for each other. When we dismiss anyone as an "other" the one that suffers the most is ourselves.
One other thing that occurred to my odd little brain about this story; I can't read about Jesus in the boat in the storm without thinking of the parallels with the story of Jonah. As the sailors on Jonah's ship marveled that the sea immediately relented and praised the God that could control the oceans, I imagine the disciples coming to the same terrifying conclusion when they realized they were in a boat with the one who possessed the same power.
Like I said, I'm weird that way...
Keep up the good work.
An insightful and helpful story. I am a retired therapist but would not take that story metaphorically. Jesus power to heal and turn water into wine, are essential for faith. Ewe can see that resurrection is the biggest and most profound miracle and all others lead up to it. Growing up in a church that found miracles uncomfortable, almost every miracle story was reduced to a metaphor.
Maybe your reading Mark with the Laotians was providential. Wise Christians have advised me to read the gospel of John with a seeker, praying all the while something like "God, if you really are Father of Lord Jesus Christ, bring me to belief in him." Had you read John with the Laotians, you would have found its author states clearly the main purpose of Jesus' miracles -- they are signs of who Jesus really is -- and probably you would not have been moved to question those prejudices acquired in seminary.
I love your thoughts and insights! We are on the same page about almost everything. One minor difference might be our interpretation of the feeding of the 5000. I believe when Jesus had the disciples give away all THEIR food to those around them, others followed his example. The people fed the 5000, just as we still are supposed to be doing....by his example:). Again, after 52 years of marriage, I have learned: I could be wrong:).
I love this personal story for so many reasons! Also have a q for you, Mark:
so all the Laotians joined the church (& became Christians?) except for the young interpreter?