Loving heavenly Father, We come to you this hour asking for your blessing and help

as we are gathered together. We pray for guidance in the matters at hand and ask
that you would clearly show us how to conduct our work with a spirit of joy and
enthusiasm. Give us the desire to find ways to excel in our work.

Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for your guidance,

wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. Help us to engage in
meaningful discussion; allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture the
bonds of community. Fill us with your grace, Lord God, as we make
decisions that might affect the students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends
of Saint Louis University. And continue to remind us that all that we do
here today, all that we accomplish, is for the pursuit of truth for the
greater glory of You, and for the service of humanity. We ask these things
in your name, Amen.

Lord, before I go into this meeting, I still myself before you. For you are filled with beauty and
light, and care deeply about me. Help me to listen, before speaking. Help me to fully understand
these people, before making my case. Help me to value and appreciate the ones I am about to
meet, before thinking of my own concerns and anxieties. May your light enfold me. May your
spirit guide me. May your grace abound in me. This is my prayer.

Title page
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Introducation

We live in the midst of massive cultural shifts brought about by globalization, fast changing
communication and information technology, consumerism, the increasing gap between the rich
and the poor with a shrinking middle class, and unprecedented threats to the entire biosphere due
to war, pollution, disease, poverty, and disasters related to global climate change.

We live in a swiftly changing world of communication and technology, globalization and

consumerism, growing gap between the rich and the poor.

-the Christ’s Cross is the most significant and recognizable sign of Christian faith.

-Discipleship occurs when a transformed person radiates Christ to those around.

-the modern way with God is to set him at a distance if not deny him tighter.

-Christ is calling his disciples to a much higher standard of conduct over their Jewish
counterparts.

-Christian mission is the response of Christians to the presence of God and their participation in
God’s action to liberate all people.

-the apostle Paul tells us that the life of faith is a fight to trust God promises.

-we have all faced trails and have wrestled through the struggles of life.

-tests of faith can come with from within or outside.

-trails are unplanned and unpredictable

-if you are struggling through negative circumstances of life, floundering in doubt, and dismay,
you have forgotten that the genuine joy resides in the confidence that your life is hidden with
Christ in God.

-when we go through tough times, the most imp thing for us to do is to keep our faith in God.

-it is natural to experience the ebb and flow of emotions connected with the variation in our life
experiences.

-The Christian life is not what you’d call a walk in the park, it has it’s challenges.

-Elijah’s example: the example illustrates faith struggles (1King 19:1-3). It teaches about
necessity of continuing our close communion with God.

-we may experience fear-when by Christ’s leading we find ourselves in the midst of a terrible
storm of life. We take our eyes off Christ. This weaken our hold on Christ.

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Jesus called his disciples not simply to become admirers or even converts. He called them to turn
from their sins, trust him and become his disciples—people who would seek to learn and obey
his

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word. Overtime, they would take on the character of their Master, exhibiting love, humility,
service, obedience, and endurance.

-responding to Jesu’' call to conversion and discipleship was the beginning of a long journey for
his first followers.

-regular instruction would be a vital part of their community life as they grow in discipleship and
ministry.

- Sermon on the Mount remains foundational teaching for everyone who follows Jesus.

-Jesus meant that it is possible to follow him only by say a radical no to one’s self-centeredness
and embracing the hard fact that faithfulness might cost one’s life.

Amidst the constantly changing world, the disciples of Christ need to remember that God does
not change (Mal 3:6; Num 23:19) and remains ever faithful.

-Art 55 –Fratelli Tutti, pg 17: I invite everyone to renewed hope, for hope “speaks to us of
something deeply rooted in every human heart, independently of our circumstances historical
conditioning. Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfilment, a door
to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth,
goodness, and …

Art 42: pg 14: “Digital media can also expose people to the …. Of addiction, isolation and a
gradual loss of contact with concrete reality, blocking the development of authentic interpersonal
relationship.”

Beyond the horizons

We need to get into the area of vulnerability so to achieve our dreams.