Lead Me Where

It’s no secret that I love my Church and its Doctrines class. I’m not the only one, either; students across campus have admitted to counting down the days until the next C-DOC, and a couple have professed the intention of never taking a cut, so as not to miss anything interesting that happens during class.

The class is incredibly informative, well structured and timely (50-minutes segments, often ending a little early). The material is quite interesting and the powerpoint is well done and engaging. And of, course, the icing on the cake is the dynamic, intelligent, and rather witty professor.

We all take copious notes during class, scribbling hurriedly across the page before the professor clicks to the next powerpoint slide and starts in on a whole new concept. My notebook, which is almost complete, is full of interesting and often entertaining notes, including one or two hilarious incidents involving writing (and answering) notes to myself in the margins of the page.

Over the past 11 weeks, sprinkled throughout my notes regarding Calvinism, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the atonement of Christ, I have amassed an assortment of quotes. Snippets from the professor’s lecture, questions that others students have asked, and the occasional personal commentary.

Without further ado, I present to you Nataliaria’s C-DOC notes, Quote Version:

Week 2
“Can I memorize it this way, or do I have to understand it?” – Asked a young freshman from Japan regarding the mystery of the Trinity. I jotted his words down in my notebook, and then added, for clarity’s sake, “Little Asian Man”

Week 4
“Somebody thinks you’re pretty valuable. Somebody thinks you’re really valuable.” The prof said, standing in the middle of the classroom, his lecture notes in one hand. All eyes were fixed on him as he sought to engrain in our hearts and minds the gravity of Jesus choosing to die for us.

“He’s gone- you’re on!” The prof announced, summarizing what the angel said to the disciples after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

Week 5
“I’ve been looking forward to this class since Friday.” I wrote across the top of the page one Monday morning.

“A nap is ordained of God.” The professor gives approval of a popular weekend past time.

Week 6
“You better pray like crazy.” (before reading the Bible) The professor exhorted the class, gripping his own Bible firmly in one hand.

Week 9
“Ooh, almost an entire lecture on one notebook page! That’s a first!” I wrote proudly on the side of the page, briefly diverting my attention from the lecture.

Week 10
“I do not want for you to take what I say here as Gospel!” The professor declared, challenging the class to step out and investigate for ourselves what is true and right.

“This is such a wonderful way to kick off my weekend.” I gushed as the clock ticked toward 1pm on a recent Friday afternoon.

Week 11
“Oh snap, this notebook is almost full. Yeah, baby. Kicking butts and taking notes.” I wrote proudly in the margin of the third-to-last page in my notebook.

“You know, we think that our prayer life is talking, but for some of us, we need to SHUT UP and listen.” The professor exclaimed, and then paused to add, “I say that lovingly.”

“Some of you are holding back. It is now time to give.” He challenged, seconds after reading the passage wherein both Ananias and his wife are drop dead due to less-than-stellar truth telling and giving abilities.

And, every class period, every week, as truths and concepts that are hard to accept come up, we are reminded that we need to “Wrestle through that”. And, as questions are asked and answered, we are eventually and invariably called back to the lecture by the phrase, “Alright, we’re gonna keep pushing”.

Well, it’s late now, and I have a full day of quote-taking and learning tomorrow, so I will leave you to enjoy this snapshot into my notebook. Good night!

~Natalia