Building Lives Begins

Here is a taste of the beginning of our Building Lives document.

https://plus.google.com/collection/kmWLVF

Building Lives

The College Composition students will begin their journey of finding stories of folks in our community who have inspired others, sacrificed for others, or showed real servanthood. So many reporters on television or online seek out stories that inspire us. Lester Holt with Nightly News often ends with a story called "Inspiring America". A favorite of mine is "On the Road" with Steve Hartman. Mike Rowe has his own show, "Returning the Favor". All of those stories celebrate the goodness in folks. So that's what the College Composition folks are going to be doing in their own backyard. We will be adding those stories to a google plus document. If all goes well, we will certainly be building community in the deepest sense of the word.

Here's a link to the page called, Building Lives.
https://plus.google.com/collection/kmWLVF

Stay tuned as we add to this page story after story of gracious folks in our community.

Reflections on the Greatest Generation

Today the College Composition classes went to the Prairie Ridge to share their reflections from knowing the stories of Louie Zamperini and a Sioux County Veteran. I will let the student's do the talking with what they took away from knowing the story.

"I believe that getting to know the story of Louie and researching my veteran helps me to better see God's hand in other people's stories as well. These stories truly illustrate the redemption of God's people even after enduring things that feel so far from him. Knowing the story allows me to see God's Kingdom in a grander way. We all play a piece in God's story for his glory. The foot print that we leave on this earth will leave a positive, or a negative impact, its our choice if we are remembered as a kingdom seeker or not."

"Learning from the stories of each of these war heroes I am comforted and assured of my place in God's plan. Though I may feel small and insignificant at times I know that at this very moment God is crafting my story in a unique and diverse way to glorify His name above all."

"Researching my veteran gave me a greater appreciation for the people who have put so much effort into making our country what it is today. My veteran, Don Brommer, was the same age as me when he was sent to a foreign land with a gun to fight to the death for freedom and for what was right. I can't imagine going to war right now with the thought of dying. I have so much respect for all the men and women who have put their lives on the line for freedom no matter where it was. It just shows the love of God from these people who are willing to put their lives on the line for people they don't even know."

"Researching my veteran has taught me that we are to be grateful for every day God blesses us with. We need to recognize the beauty of our "normal" daily happenings, because we don't know when those will be ripped away from us. I now know that my life is extremely blessed and I savor the people, the opportunities and the memories more now than I did before."

"This teaches me that faith is valuable. I can't do anything with my own strength, but I need to rely on God. Relying on Him will be so much better than trying to do anything myself. God shows us that He has a plan for us in all circumstances. Ralph's faith was strengthened so he could go through other trials in his life and be a witness to the world of His faith. In my story, I need to learn to rely on God more for everything instead of trying to use my own strength to get through problems."

"It is out of this communal memory sharing perspective that learning both Louie's story and the story of Arie Moerman (my veteran) became important. When society says forget about that, let's live for today it is stories like Louie's that remind us that that isn't the responsible option. Stories like Louie's remind us of God's power to turn the worst of sin and transform it into something glorifying. As I find myself in God's story, it is important to remember other's stories as they connect us and open our eyes to the way God works. In my research of Arie Moerman I was continually reminded of the way God, as he did in Ruth and does to us today, gives dignity to small stories. The way God picks up all the scattered pages of our lives and through Christ binds them into a larger, greater, and new story. Our individual histories and pasts will not be forgotten but will be celebrated. In my reading of Unbroken and my research of Arie Moerman I am reminded of our responsibility and blessing to remember."