Blog Post #4: "Prayer"

Blog Post #4: Prayer

Gratitude
I chose this picture because it shows that everyone can be grateful for something.

Lee and Leslie Strobel
I chose this picture because it shows how far the 2 have come in their relationship
with Jesus and each other. 

Bible Journaling
This is just an example of bible journaling as I stated below.
For you to get a visual of what I'm talking about. 

What are new things that you learned about prayer from this unit? Be specific.
The major thing that I learned about prayer this unit was that it didn't have to be a certain way. You don't have to have an organized prayer like they do in church. There are many ways to pray. Such as ACTS, Meditation, Scripture Reading, Lectio Divina, and just taking a moment of Silence. I had some idea that these "activities" existed, however, I had no idea that they were counted as forms of prayer. When I was younger I always thought that there had to be a formal structure of prayer or else God wouldn't listen. Now I know that as long as you are talking to God, he will listen.

Can you see yourself implementing any new prayer practices?
I can indeed see myself taking up multiple forms of these types of prayer. Mediation would be my first choice. For about 15 minutes before I go to bed or something else. However, I have been recently looking on Pinterest and found this cool idea called "Bible Journaling:. It is where you get a Bible and write your interpretations in your copy of the Bible. I would maybe do about 5 minutes of "Bible Journaling" each day as a form of prayer. This relates to me because I LOVE doing crafts such as bullet journaling, scrapbooking, or even coloring. My mother and I are working out plans to make a "Craft Room" in our house and I can't wait! I feel that I would look forward to those 5 minutes each day.

What were the main messages you got from the movie The Case for Christ?

The Three main messages of The Case for Christ, that I got out, are: love is discovered through the eyes of the Shroud of Turin, Faith is the evidence of things we can's see, and even in our disbelief we have to take a leap of faith. When Lee goes to visit a priest, he is shown the Shroud of Turin, which is believed to be Jesus' burial cloth. The priest exclaims that when anyone, even a nonbeliever, looks into the Shroud's eyes, becomes a real person who is aware of love. The second message is that faith is the evidence of things we can't see. After a date as husband and wife, they are arguing about religion and whether or not God is real. Lee exclaims that he has always believed in evidence, things he can touch and see. He dislikes that his wife believes in God and says that he doesn't like what she is becoming. Leslie then states her belief, the fact that faith is the evidence of things we can't see. The last main message in The Case for Christ is even in our disbelief, we take a leap of faith. While everything is going on in his family life, he decides to start investigating a shooting between a cop, Joe Koblinsky, and a man, James Dixon. Lee then helps out James behind bars because he found an answer. However, with new evidence coming into play, a pen gun that belonged to Joe that shot him instead of James shooting Joe which Lee eventually figures out, Lee goes the hospital; where James is now being held because some people beat him up in prison. After leaving the hospital, he goes back to work where he runs into Kenny, a Christian who Lee constantly "makes fun off". Lee is told by Kenny that because he believes in the evidence and is a reporter, he should suck it up and report the facts. Kenny tells him that even in one's disbelief, they still take a leap of faith. Later in the night when he is reviewing his notes, Lee gives up and says "Okay God. You win."

What new things did you take away about yourself from this unit, perhaps from Lectio Divina, the Gratitude class, the meditation, or the movie?
I took away that everything happens no matter what you do to stop it. You should be grateful for what you have. If something goes wrong, then you can ask someone for help. You can ask God for help even if you are not Catholic. Even when you believe that you are alone, you aren't. Because there is always someone right next to you, whether or not you want them to be there. I got this from the Gratitude class, the meditation, the movie and also the talk with Tyler (even though that wasn't during class).

Works Cited:

1. The Case for Christ. Directed by Jon Gunn, Performance by Mike Vogel and Ericka Christensen. Movie. 2017.
2. “What Is Gratitude and What Is Its Role in Positive Psychology?” Positive Psychology Program - Your One-Stop PP Resource!, 28 Apr. 2017, positivepsychologyprogram.com/gratitude-appreciation/.
3. Magness, Nathan. “Bible Journaling for Beginners.” What Is Bible Journaling and Why Should You Care?, 26 Feb. 16ADAD, www.lifeway.com/Article/bible-journaling-for-beginners.
4. “Lee And Leslie Strobel:” Jesus Calling, 31 July 2017, www.jesuscalling.com/blog/lee-strobel-marriage/.