ConfiBlog

Recently a new immigration law has gone into effect in New Mexico. One of the provisions of the new law makes it a felony for citizens to provide shelter or transportation to illegal immigrants.

An article reviewing the law can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/02/oklahoma.immigration/index.html

Keeping in mind the text of Luke 10.25-37 (as well as any other scripture you would like to consider) your task is to consider whether or not this is a law that a Christian can, in good conscience, support, or even obey.

Paige

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For the past several months, care of the Earth has become a major topic of conversation, thanks in no small part to Al Gore. Mr. Gore was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Your task for this week is to explain why care for the Earth is a serious concern for Christians and a faithful endeavor.

OR, if you do not believe that care for the Earth is an appropriate concern for the Christian, or a faithful endeavor, you are to explain (convincingly) why.

Recently, Arizona senator, and presidential hopeful John McCain made quite a stir when he said “I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.”

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/01/mccain.christian.nation/index.html

Your task for this week, is to evaluate his claim. Is Senator John McCain correct when he said that the constitution established the United States as a Christian nation? Why or why not?

Further, you should state what a Christian nation IS, and if you feel that the United States is one at all, constitutionally or otherwise.

Further still, your answer should endeavor to explain why Senator McCain would say such a thing in the first place.

You may wish to refer to, and perhaps even quote, the Constitution of the United States in your answer.

Recently, a group of Roman Catholic nuns in Arkansas were excommunicated by the church. Your assignment for this week is to first to define the word “excommunication,” second, find out why the nuns were excommunicated, including why what they have done is grounds for excommunication, and third state your view on this action. Do you think it was appropriate for the nuns to be excommunicated or not, and why?

You mayfind the following news item helpful:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/nuns.excommunicated.ap/index.html?

Last Sunday was Earth Day.

Your task for this week is to think about 1 thing that you, personally, can do, and are willing to do, in order to preserve the environment we all share.

You may not copy ideas from each other. I want a unique idea from each of you.

Today, Palm Sunday, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a message to the youth of the world.

His message can be found in English at: http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/lent/index-lent2007-hf_en.htm among other locations.

Your task is to read the message that Benedict XVI has issued you, and to critique it. You may offer any viewpoint you choose, however your critique should indicate that you have read the statement (all of it) and that you have thought about it.

Some questions you might consider in helping you to critique the message are:

• What parts of this message do I agree with?
• What parts of this message do I disagree with?
• What parts of the message seem to apply to me and my life?
• What parts of this message seem to not apply to me and my life?
• How would, or should, protestants consider this message?
• How would non-Christians consider this message?
• What parts of this message do I not understand?

You can, and should, of course consider other questions in your reflection, but these might provide you with a starting place.

Again, to reiterate, your task this week is to read the message that Benedict XVI has issued you, and to critique it.

Athletic sports are of increasing importance in American life. In fact, scheduling of our confirmation class, with only 4 students, is made difficult due to conflicts with sporting events and practices. At the same time, attendance at worship, and other faith life activities continues to sink.

Your task for this week is to consider the merits of sporting events, and of a healthy, active faith life, and then determine which will be your priority as you mature into adults.

The word Disciple means “Follower”

One of the 101 questions is: What does it mean, FOR YOU, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? More simplistically the question is: “what do you do to follow Christ?”

Your task for this week is to answer that question, AND to evaluate your own answer to the question. Do you think you are doing what Christ would have you do? Are you following Christ, or something else? If you do not have a particularly moving answer, then you should use this opportunity to brainstorm some ways in which you can follow Christ that might be more satisfying to you.

Keeping in mind that one of the requirements for confirmation, is active participation in the life of the congregation; you might consider ways this assignment, and your confirmation requirement overlap.

To review: Your assignment for this week is to answer the following questions:

What does it mean, FOR YOU, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Do you think you are doing what Christ would have you do?

IF your answer is not YES – then:

Brainstorm some ways in which you can follow Christ that might be more satisfying to you.

And find a way to apply THIS brainstorming to your confirmation requirements.

Valentines day is celebrated this week. Valentine’s day has been associated with St. Valentine, and as such has been described as a Christian holiday.

Your task for this week is first to do a little bit of research and find out who St. Valentine was, why his day was celebrated as a holiday, and then to reflect on the modern celebration of Valentine’s day in the United States and explain how the modern celebration is related to the Christian one, if at all.

You may find the following links helpful, and you should feel encouraged to use additional links in your research if need be:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine