Dynamis (doo-na-mis)

The above is the title of the class I am taking at church on Monday nights. Dynamis is Greek for power, and this word shows up 116 times in the New Testament!
Here's a blurb from our church newsletter telling a little more about the class:

"This course has been developed by World Vision International, initially to help their 24,000 staff around the world face the complex challenges in our world with the resources of God and confidence that they are walking in God's ways. Now it is being adapted for churches in the 100 countries where World Vision works. This session with Bethany and University Presbyterian Churches will be the pilot of this, so we'll have the opportunity to shape the program for ourselves—and for others.
It's facilitated by Tim Dearborn, a Presbyterian pastor, former professor for Fuller Seminary and currently the Associate Director for Faith and Development for World Vision International—and a great teaching team of members of Bethany and UPC.

Designed for Christians of all ages—those just starting out and those seeking to more deeply invest the years still before them in God's purposes—this course will result in each participant charting out the next steps in their pilgrimage of following Christ into the world. Our hope is to encourage one another into awareness of the larger world's suffering and into more seriousness about what Christ asks us to do—within our borders as well as beyond."

Tonight was our third (of eight) sessions and this evening centered around Micah 6:8:

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

We took a closer look at the words "justice," "humility," and "mercy." And here's some food for thought:
The word for "mercy" in Hebrew derives from the same Hebrew word for "womb." In fact, the words "mercy" and "womb" are the same in Arabic!

We discussed what a womb is/does:
*nurtures/nourishes
*it's a safe place
*promotes health, growth, well-being
*allows its denizen to flourish and blossom
*and concerning the mother, carrying an infant in her womb is a sacrifice

I think that paints a pretty good picture of what mercy is supposed to look like, then...

There was also this cool image of the Atonement from Julian of Norwich, but I'm not going to post it until I have the reference correct. I'm going to email Tim to find out the exact image she describes, so I can do it justice.

Another thought:
Christian vocation is stewardship of one's life.