wanted: answers...

i feel like a big breakthrough has happened.  this week at bible study, one student admitted 'i don't get it,' and the rest of the room agreed with him.  i am co-leading a small group with a student on monday nights and we are working through the first half of the gospel of mark.  up to this week, we've had a lot of the introduction stuff, building up to starting to see Jesus' real identity.  we know he has been preaching, healing various diseases and casting out demons but now we're getting into more descriptive stories of actual healings (the leper and the paralytic) and the questions coming up are awesome. 

i am really encouraged that people feel comfortable to admit they don't understand and are working together to try and figure out what the text is saying aout Jesus.  it is a little painful at times because i see how much they want to get it but the answers just don't come immediately.

i find it hard to lead in moments like this because i want to just tell them the answer but half the time i don't have an answer myself and i know that the process of seeking an answer can be an meaningful as finding the answer itself.  i am also having a hard time assessing how we are doing in the big picture because i have only ever done the mark study in one-week intensive sessions.  doing on one passage a week is a big change.

i was encouraged this week too by a number of students and especially those in my small group being very eager to pray for my fundraising because they want me to be back on campus.  it is nice to know i am missed and i strongly agree with them that i need to get back on to campus.

if you have time and think of it, i would appreciate your prayers for Jesus to provide the money i need to meet my budget for this year.