I had Dr. V for New Testament last spring and it was one of my favorite classes. He was a pastor for several decades and it's pretty evident- in his wisdom and the way he cared for every student. A couple of us had lunch with him once and he informed us that once you were "in the club" (ie, had had him once) you were in it for life- if we ever needed anything from a letter of reference to someone to talk to, even years from now, he would love to help. Um, Dear Wheaton, thanks for having the best profs ever, love Emily.
So, he spoke at Jubilee communion and, as usual, it was really encouraging. Dr. Vlachos makes ALL of his points through stories. I wanted to share some of my faves.
- He told a story about giving a book away to a woman when he owned a Christian bookstore. When he tried to give her a Bible for free she wasn't sure what to do, because she said she was Mormon and she was raised that you earn everything you receive. "I offered her the Bible, she debated whether or not to take it. She finally took it in her hand, and she said, 'Thank you'. What marked the fact that she had accepted it- that it was officially hers? When she said thank you. If you're not sure where to start with God, if you feel overwhelmed by following Him- start by just saying, 'Thank you'. That's what signifies the transaction is complete."
- Someone asked, "How do you know God's will for your life?". He reminded us to try not to think too much about the future but to focus on the present- loving one another NOW. In terms of "God's will for our lives"... "The chief of staff sending you into battle, that takes a second. Giving you the order of where you're supposed to go is just one moment. But boot camp- training- that's what takes awhile." (I love that analogy).
- And this is my all-time FAVORITE Dr. Vlachos story. I heard it in class last year and he told it right before we took the Eucharist... When he met his wife, he was a grad student living in a gross and empty bachelor pad. He had little but mold in his refrigerator. And he had a whopping pile of student loans. His wife was a few years older. She had been widowed and received money monthly from the life insurance policy. She owned a beautifully furnished house. She had a refrigerator filled with delicious food. And she had two little girls. "When we got married, her house became our house. All that food in the refrigerator became our food. And her beautiful daughters, they became our daughters. I got the love of my life and two little girls calling me Daddy, and she got my student loans. That's what the Gospel is like." I think he's being modest. But I love the thought.
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