Evolution In Faith

Last weekend I finished writing my essay for the Luther application and finally got everything sent in. (Yay!!)
One of the first things I did while outlining the essay was to look back at the faith statement I wrote for my baptism back in 2008. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but when I started comparing what I'd written almost four years ago to what I wanted to write now, there were a few inconsistencies. I think this means that my faith and my outlook are becoming stronger and more mature, which is a good thing, but it did make me feel a little strange. As if what I wrote then was less true because I believe differently now. Of course, there's also a lot that hasn't changed, but those things help me feel rooted, and I definitely don't feel bad about them. Above all, I believe that God is love, and hopefully that will never change.
Anyway, I won't go into the differences right this minute, because I'm sure I'll want to write more about them later, but I did want to paste in excerpts from my faith statement and my application essay, just for future reference. For those of you that have heard the former, or helped proofread the latter, thanks for reading again. :-)

Faith Statement 2008
"The God I know is the Heavenly Father that was revealed through the life of Jesus Christ. Emmanuel. God With Us. The Gospels tell us that He is a God of love who teaches us to care for our enemies and to turn the other cheek instead of requiring retribution and an eye for an eye. He is a merciful, forgiving and generous God who ate with outcasts and fed thousands of people not only with material food, but with a hope that can never be killed by famine and a well of faith that will never dry up. This is the God who met a widow crying for her only son and we are told that “His heart went out to her.” Without even being asked He tenderly told her not to cry and proceeded to bring back her son. Paul himself calls Him “the God of all comfort.” This God has the power to calm storms, banish disease and change hearts, and He doesn’t use this power for His own glory, but because of His love for us and for all creation. All good things come from Him, and it is in Him that we live and move and have our being. In Him we are never alone.
"Most importantly, and in summation, our God is love. He doesn’t just have love, or give love, or personify that flakey love-stuff we see in the movies. First John four tells us that He IS love. And love is patient, and is also kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Application Essay 2011
"I believe there is one God, who is beyond race, gender, space, time, and all human understanding. God created the cosmos and loves every bit of that creation unconditionally. God gave humankind free will, because we couldn’t reciprocate that love without choice, and our free will allows us to turn away from God into sin, which harms us and the creation around us. Even through our brokenness, God has loved us, and that love was given flesh in the form of Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us, who was born into the world both human and divine. Jesus teaches people how to live on this earth through stories and by example, and he calls us to follow him in a Christ-like life. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate demonstration of love, and it reconciled the sins of all creation and opened the door to everlasting life, destroying the separation which had gotten in the way of our relationship with God; saving us from ourselves. I believe Jesus rose from the dead, and therefore conquered death and gave us hope for a new birth in life with God. I believe in the Holy Spirit, who was with the other two aspects of the Trinity in the beginning before all things were made, and who inspires us and moves through the world even now calling to us through the Gospel to love God and our neighbor."

Welcome!

Hi everyone! If you're here, I'm expecting that you found your way over from my travel blog, and that you already know me, so the introduction to this blog is short, and as follows:

Hi! I'm Alison! I'm 23 years old, I'm applying to Luther Seminary for a Masters in their Youth and Family Ministry program, and I really hope I get in. This is going to be a place where I can write about things I've been reading, what I've been thinking as I prepare, and questions that I have as I go along. Thanks in advance for reading!