Good Morning.

As I was reading over the text for our Morning Briefing, (most of Luke chapter 21), I knew it was another big 'nut' to crack. . . and I was okay with that, but 'you know what? I wondered if you were. In other words, who among you would be willing to do the mental gymnastics of trying to grasp the import of Jesus' words as He prophesies about what is going to happen in Jerusalem? 'I don't really have time for that,' I heard some of you say; 'It really seems to have nothing to do with me so its kinda boring,' a few others commented in my mind. Still others said, 'what difference does it make?' So let me answer some of your yet-to-be-verbalized questions: first, there is inherent value in learning. So many people stop learning, and then wonder why their memory isn't too sharp, why their minds are a little dull, and they really don't have anything of interest to say in social gatherings. . . could it be they haven't put anything into their minds worth talking about? Second, if you are learning about something of substance, something that will enhance your life, you've gained something... and how about if it enhances the next life? Oh, no, I don't believe in reincarnation, but I do believe in eternal life--we are eternal beings after all. 'But I have neither time, money or much interest in going back to school--' to which, I say, 'fine, but for goodness sakes, don't stop learning!'

Consider with me some thinking on being learn-ed vs. being a learner~ by a fellow from Norway named Leonard Sweet.

When I was learned, life was a quiz show. Now that I'm a learner, life is a discovery channel.

When I was learned, it was a question of how much I knew. Now that I'm a learner, it's a question of how much I'm being stretched.

When I was learned, knowledge was everything. Now that I'm a learner, kindness is everything.

When I was learned, knowledge went to my head. Now that I'm a learner, knowledge travels the longest foot in the universe-the foot that separates my head from my heart.

When I was learned, I looked to the past: to have confirmed the set of beliefs I already had. Now that I'm a learner, I look to the future: to grow, be stretched, and remain open to what I don't know.

When I was learned, I loved to talk. Now that I'm a learner, I'd prefer to listen, because that's when I'm learning.

When I was learned, I had something to teach everybody. Now that I'm a learner, everybody has something to teach me.

When I was learned, I was impatient with dumb people. Now that I'm a learner, I'm grateful when people are patient enough to dumb down to me and care enough to smarten me up.

When I was learned, I thought that all knowledge was a form of power. Now that I'm a learner, I suspect much knowledge is a form of weakness.

When I was learned, life was knowledge about God. Now that I'm a learner, life is knowledge of God.

When I was learned, my life revolved around what other people thought about me. Now that I'm a learner, my life revolves around what I think about myself and what God thinks about me.

When I was learned, from the high ground of hindsight I instructed the past on where it went wrong. Now that I'm a learner, the past instructs me about how I can right the future.

When I was learned, the power and mystery were in the big words. Now that I'm a learner, the power and mystery are in the small, simple words.

When I was learned, I imagined myself the church's resident "know-it-all." Now that I'm a learner, I'm more willing to admit I don't know everything.

When I was learned, I was always trying to speed things up. Now that I'm a learner, I'm always trying to slow things down, even when I'm speeding up.

When I was learned, I bragged about how our knowledge is an ever deepening ocean. Now that I'm a learner, I shudder at how our wisdom is an ever-shrinking drop.

When I was learned, I said, "Take it from me." Now that I'm a learner, I say, "Don't take it from me." I boast no immaculate perceptions. I see through a glass dimly.

I'm still an academic. As a theologian, I have my little bottle of Windex and am cleaning that glass for all it's worth. I'm trying to get rid of as much fog and film as I can. But the best I will ever do is to "know in part." I will never "know it all." God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8) , and God's thoughts not our thoughts.

There are still some know-it-alls out there. Some people are like Moses. They think they can see the face of God . . . and live.

'Looking for some biblical truth to sink your teeth into for the day? Check out Psalm 34--notice all the verbs--extol, boast, glorify. . . TASTE and SEE that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

In Monday's Morning Briefing, we'll do some 'learnin' together~ Christine