Life of Pride
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
By God's grace, I am coming back to myself (see previous post). I greatly enjoy my new job at PHC. I've been researching and writing articles for web and newsletter publication. Yesterday and today I wrote one about PHC's new Philosophy of Education document concerning the Christian classical liberal arts. Fascinating stuff. I'm grasping anew just how special PHC is.
Also, I'm realizing once again that I would like to teach here one day. More than that, and I say this with fear and trembling, I would like to teach about film. This is a field that influences millions, and right now we Christians have given it over almost entirely.
I see the dark and the light more clearly than I ever have before. The darkness is a lot deeper than I had imagined, and the light just that much more triumphant in the end.
It is also becoming more clear to me just the sort of marriage I would like to have one day, if I am ever to be married. I want a partnership, in which both members are working toward the same goal. This would naturally turn into a team (children added), also for the same purpose. Marriages that model this for me include:
- My own family. Both parents run a magazine from home, deciding goals and directions together; kids work in the business and keep the home running.
- My pastor's family back in MO. My pastor preaches and governs; his wife runs Bible studies for the ladies of all ages and otherwise facilitates women's ministry. Their son leads music.
- The McCollums here at PHC. Both hold doctorates. Mr. Dr. Mc teaches Music App here at PHC and organizes Chorale. Mrs. Dr. Mc is the Academic Dean. Their two young kids come in to PHC with them often, and they are very purposeful about understanding the family mission.
- The Escobars, who are running the film project here at PHC this summer. Mr. Escobar is in charge of everything, but they both open up their home to everyone, and Mrs. E. is making and organizing food. Their three boys are deeply involved in the project.
I don't suppose there is anything wrong with the mentality of the husband going off all day and working for a big company while the wife runs things at home. Not at all. Many today consider this the typical Christian model. But if you consider, in older times the husband worked on the family farm, or both husband and wife would manage a local shop of some sort. The whole idea of a husband being elsewhere all day is largely an innovation of the Industrial Revolution.
So yes, I would like to share a directional mission with a future spouse in terms of life purpose in addition to goal of having a godly family. Or perhaps, as part of it. I would like to be part of a team.
Not that I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice my goals and mission - but I'm not so sure that God would want me to do that.
Also, I'm realizing once again that I would like to teach here one day. More than that, and I say this with fear and trembling, I would like to teach about film. This is a field that influences millions, and right now we Christians have given it over almost entirely.
I see the dark and the light more clearly than I ever have before. The darkness is a lot deeper than I had imagined, and the light just that much more triumphant in the end.
It is also becoming more clear to me just the sort of marriage I would like to have one day, if I am ever to be married. I want a partnership, in which both members are working toward the same goal. This would naturally turn into a team (children added), also for the same purpose. Marriages that model this for me include:
- My own family. Both parents run a magazine from home, deciding goals and directions together; kids work in the business and keep the home running.
- My pastor's family back in MO. My pastor preaches and governs; his wife runs Bible studies for the ladies of all ages and otherwise facilitates women's ministry. Their son leads music.
- The McCollums here at PHC. Both hold doctorates. Mr. Dr. Mc teaches Music App here at PHC and organizes Chorale. Mrs. Dr. Mc is the Academic Dean. Their two young kids come in to PHC with them often, and they are very purposeful about understanding the family mission.
- The Escobars, who are running the film project here at PHC this summer. Mr. Escobar is in charge of everything, but they both open up their home to everyone, and Mrs. E. is making and organizing food. Their three boys are deeply involved in the project.
I don't suppose there is anything wrong with the mentality of the husband going off all day and working for a big company while the wife runs things at home. Not at all. Many today consider this the typical Christian model. But if you consider, in older times the husband worked on the family farm, or both husband and wife would manage a local shop of some sort. The whole idea of a husband being elsewhere all day is largely an innovation of the Industrial Revolution.
So yes, I would like to share a directional mission with a future spouse in terms of life purpose in addition to goal of having a godly family. Or perhaps, as part of it. I would like to be part of a team.
Not that I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice my goals and mission - but I'm not so sure that God would want me to do that.
Comments:
Academic families, especially academic Christian families, can bring a wonderful example and witness to the practical power of God's gospel for undergraduate students. But many academic institutions are uneasy with such a voting bloc. It seems in many cases that one member of the family must be willing to take on a less distinguished career, but this is not always the case.
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