PTM #4 - “El Amor de Dios” and Farewell

Ending our year on a proper note is important. Throughout our studies of Spanish, we have attempted to place our study in perspective. We study Spanish for many reasons. We study it to develop the gifts God has given us. We study it to learn more about God and His beautiful gift of language, which He gives us to communicate and fellowship with each other and with Him. He has given us language so that we might learn more how to love. God speaks much in the Bible about loving our neighbor, which includes any "strangers" which God places in our path. Caring for the stranger is of great concern to our God as it shows and witnesses the new and charitable heart that God has planted in us as well as He uses those interactions to grow and teach us as well about Him. However, may we not forget the origin of this love. It ought never be for self-glory or done in a way that diminishes the utmost need we have for God's love FIRST. If we are given the opportunity to discuss our faith with those of another language. It is important that we know where to place the origin of our love for God and our love for our neighbor squarely on God. It is through this love of God that we are not consumed. May we be ready and desirous to proclaim that love of God to all nations, tribes, tongues -- anyone that God puts in our path and with whom He opens that door. In His love for us, He more and more works in our hearts to change us to be like unto Him. I would like to end the year with this short Spanish award-winning film. While it doesn't directly speak to learning another language, it does speak to compassion in our hearts, which is the driving force behind the hospitality and Christian charity we show to the "stranger". In this way, God is glorified in us and, if it be His will, He may use even this in His grand plan. That is the power of God's love.  Please watch the EdPuzzle video below. You only need to watch it (make sure you do so in EdPuzzle so that it is tracked - don't link to YouTube). Beneath the EdPuzzle video is a farewell video from me as well as a link to a private (not shared with others) FlipGrid where you can leave any last thoughts on the class, the year, farewells (as teacher/student), and whatnot (this is optional, but definitely appreciated). Before that, enjoy this short film and remember, while watching, the framework of God's love then reflected in us in our treatment of those who are different than us (whether that be language differences, physical differences, cultural differences, etc.). Now here we are, at the end. THE END. This is it. Please watch my farewell video. I can't even say how grateful I am for the time that we've had together in class and for the work that you've put into Spanish. To use a maybe-out-dated phrase: "It's been real" :) Don't forget, if you would like, I have a FlipGrid link below that you can use to leave any last thoughts on the class, the year, farewells, etc. Below is the embedded link for the FlipGrid:

La Autoridad del Creador (PTM #3)

We have come a ways in our understanding of how we can witness our faith to those "neighbors" or "strangers" that God puts in our path -- neighbors of all types, including those that speak a different language. Our calling to love our neighbor isn't nullified by that fact. We started by looking at how we can use language cognates to speak about the attributes of God. That information is below for you to review.

We then discussed the particular trait of God known as His immutability (inability to change - He is always the same!) This is a particularly important one to be able to speak about since there is great comfort in the knowledge that our God is forever faithful in Himself and His promises. Below, you will find that information for you to review. Now, we are going to look at the authority of God as the Creator. This is important because it lays the groundwork or everything else. If God does not have authority over us as our Creator, then, truly, He has no authority in our lives whatsoever. However, if He is our Creator as He truly is, that has major implications to the service that we owe Him. With the authority of God as our Creator fixed in our mind, we are going to participate in a simulated activity where you will be imagining and including yourself in a conversation with a fictional co-worker named Roberto. Follow the directions on the Google Form below to complete this activity.

The Blessing of Babel's Babble

Last year, we spent some time reading and discussing the blessing in the difficulty of learning a 2nd language. God's providence was clearly on display at the Tower of Babel. However, there is more to it than that, and I would like for you to give some consideration to the following article written by Kathleen Nielson, again refocusing on the pivotal Biblical event that reshaped the world of language forever. She provides a new perspective and also adds a depth to the discussion, helping to capture why we study languages and can be thankful for that study.

Nielson lists 5 main areas in which we can learn about our God and language from the story of Babel: (1) language lets us make beautiful things, (2) language wields great power, (3) languages show God's judgement of fallen humanity, (4) languages show God's mercy, and (5) languages show the hope of redemptive history. I would like for us to reflect on these 5 elements of language and their relation to our our life and our God. In order to do this, I would like for you to address 3 of the following 4 questions in a video response via FlipGrid.com. You can access the assignment below or through the assignment on Google Classroom (this is able to be done on a mobile device).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Nielson asks the question: "What does this narrative [the Babel narrative] show us about language?" She then uses the 5 main areas of her article as an answer to that question. Of those 5 main areas, which did you find to be the most compelling and why?
2. How does Nielson describe language yielding great power in the story of Babel? What power does learning another language give, especially in the context of a Christian's calling to serve and love the neighbor?
3. Consider the merciful gift of languages. How is there mercy in languages as well as mercy in the Word?
4. Finally, give some thought to Nielson's claims and contemplation about the role of languages in heaven and in praising our God. Explain your thoughts as well as something that you still wonder about.