"There is an intellectual desire, an eros of the mind. Without it there would arise no questioning, no inquiry, no wonder." Bernard Lonergan

"It seems clear that humans cannot significantly reduce or mitigate the dangers inherent in their use of life by ccumulating more information or better theories or by achieving greater predictability or more caution in their scientific and industrial work. To treat life as less than a miracle is to give up on it." Wendell Berry

"Do not be afraid, my little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

Monday, July 15, 2013

Day 1 - ASP Lessons




Here is our group before we left this morning for work.  It was a great day.  One group is painting, flooring, and installing a new toilet.  Another group is going miscellaneous jobs -- all geared to making a house more a home.  Still another is building a deck.  And another is building shelving and cabinets.

Here are the Youth I am working with along with one other adult.  Our group is named "Denver the Guilty Dog" after a popular Youtube video.  If you have time it is worth watching.  ASP assigned us the name because of an incident with a dog that happened near the home.




There are no dogs in the house where our group of 7 is working.

There are lots of kittens.



Today I removed a faulty, leaking toilet in the home and replaced it with a new one.  What made me qualified to do this?  Nothing really.  

I did watch a Youtube video.  It was very helpful.  I also read an instruction manual on how to do it provided by ASP and another online.

After a couple of false turns, me, and two other of the Youth got it to work.  Here was a home and we helped it acquire a working toilet.  That may seem a small thing.  But it is a really, really big thing.

How did we do it?  We we informed ourselves and we proceed with a combination of confidence and caution.  Just like if I were to do a Youtube video called, "how to pray" or "how to lead a youth trip" or "how to lead a devotional," I am sure people could follow what I suggested.  But without confidence?  Without confidence nothing they watch will matter.  Truth is we could have still been watching the video right now, gaining knowledge.  Only that doesn't get the toilet installed.

How different might our faith be if we practiced it with confidence?

P.S.:

If you want to learn more about where we are staying, the Cordia School near Hazard, KY, simply cut and paste this into your browser:    http://www.lottscreek.org/cordia_school.html

If you want to learn more about the county where we are working, simply cut and paste this into your browser:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knott_County,_Kentucky


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