20121021 Ace talks again of Simply Jesus

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Reminder: Radical Hospitality The autumn focus on Hospitality - Living God's Welcome continues at 7:00 p.m. Monday night in Jubilee Hall when Lonni Collins Pratt leads a conversation on the joys and challenges of hospitality. She is co-author of Radical Hospitality. Join us as we explore together the Christianity dimensions of hospitality - the focus of our study and prayer this autumn.

Birthdays to remember: Click for Addresses     09/27 Clark Evelyn, 10/04  Owen   Connie, 10/05 Baxter  Gerald, 10/10  Lee  Tonsie ,  10/11    Soule  Wes, 10/17  Soule Ginny , 10/18 Stinson Tom, 10/21 Lumadue  Anne, 10/22  Hackney    Helen, 10/23  Vass Mary Katherine, 10/23 Buker  Ken, 11/03 Gourley Virginia Please share birthday greetings with Ownbey friends, don't you like to get such greetings? Upcoming lessons: Oct 21st - bk: SIMPLY JESUS, pt 3 (final days and beyond) - by N.T.Wright - led by Ace Oct 28th - bk/dvd: ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS - TEACHING AND HEALING, ch 3/4 - by Ben Witherington - led by Lou Nov 4th - bk: THE MEANING OF LIFE (more) - by various authors - led by Durward Nov 11th - bk: WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY TELLS US - by T.J.Wray - led by Jim . Curriculum Committee Meeting 10/23)

Class: October 21, 2012 .
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In the absence of Jim and Nancy, Ann led the class in prayer and reading from Jesus Calling ("To live in God's presence, you must expose and expel rebellious tendencies.."). She recognized Connie and Durward who recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Christine Mull  asked us to update the Roster and a copy was circulated for any changes. Reatha will followup up so let her know of any changes. (To see copy of roster from the church office, click here. Usual password, ask Don if forget).  Reatha discussed the 10/28 BBQ and mentioned her recent email (see below) asking for cards, pictures, etc to help celebrate the 90th birthdays of Ken and William. She received an email from Lois Wilson in Virginia who said she enjoyed getting emails about the class. Joyce had surgery recently in Wilmington and Reatha will share her address with us soon.
Reatha sent following email 10/20/2012:
Dear Ownbey Family, Altho' some of our number will be attending the Music Ministry Luncheon upstairs in Jubilee Hall on Oct 28th, the rest of us will be celebrating in our classroom at our annual BBQ  :-) If you want to come and have not yet contacted Durward, please do so NOW!    704.552.1169    Remember that the cost is $7/plate.    [BTW:  somehow we are $14 short, per the list being passed around in class -- app. 2 people marked PAID, got busy, and forgot to put money in the envelope...] Also we will be celebrating TWO b'day milestones:  Bill W turned 90 last month and Ken B's 90th b'day is coming up this week (Tue Oct 23d).  Both Linda and Anne are asking us to write down special remembrances we recall w/each man or special well wishes, and SEND THEM TO ME, please.  I will collect them this next week and present them to Bill and Ken at our lunch. You can write them down and give them to me tomorrow in class... or mail them to me... or send me emails. ...Bill's Linda's schedule that weekend will be rather "tight" -- she'll be returning from a reunion, but plans on leaving there early enough Sunday morning to get to S Place and get Bill ready to come to lunch  :-) And the Bukers will be returning to town tomorrow after a week at the beach  :-) Tomorrow's lesson will be led by Ace -- the final "chapter" of N.T.Wright's book, SIMPLY JESUS. Hope to see you then. Peace, Reatha - Sat - 9am 704......
Lesson October 21, 2012 (previous 20120826) book: SIMPLY JESUS, pt 2 (ministry) - by N.T.Wright - led by Ace. Click links)      Blog   Smugmug pictures and Video   Youtube Full Class Video  Audio   Messiah Audio as test
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• A comment from Amazon: N.T. Wright's latest book, "Simply Jesus," claims to be a new vision of who Jesus is and what He did. Ultimately, the book is what it claims. It's a sometimes brilliant and inspiring re-presentation of who Jesus is and what He came to do. But unfortunately, Wright doesn't make this clear until the end of Chapter 11. A good summary of Wright's major theme is this sentence from Chapter 11: "The gospels are not about `how Jesus turned out to be God.' They are about how God became king on earth as in heaven." Put another way: the Good News of Jesus Christ has to do with much more than people simply escaping earth for heaven.
• Wright develops this theme throughout and does, indeed, offer a fresh and invigorating vision of Jesus Christ. But the book is marred by the fact that Wright's best and most important ideas aren't clear until so late in the book that they would be easy to miss. In fact, I would highly recommend reading Chapters 11, 13, 14, and 15 first so that the rest of the book may be more profitable! Because of the wonderful, challenging insights in the final few chapters, I give the book 4 stars, despite a very slow and not particularly refreshing beginning.
• Chapter 1 is very slow going and doesn't do much to present Jesus in a new light or help us to see Him any better. In Chapter 2,

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Class: October 14, 2012 .
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Jim and Don H were at Wesley Class talking about our BBQ on 10/28.Reatha reported that Ken Buker's 90th birthday is soon.  (Former Ownbey member) Bob Johnson is 90 this month and we were invited to Tennessee to the party. Betty Campbell is coming to the BBQ (10/28 noon Sunday) and Reatha will give a ride. Durward said his family is visiting to celebrate his Wedding Anniversary # 60. Lou and Harriette lead us in singing. Jim reported on his visit to the Wesley class and was envious of their speakers podium. A program 22/5/12 Time for Change, Service of Prayer and Self Denial with luncheon are offered by the local United Methodist Women. Harriette and Lou led us in our hymns.  Jim lead a prayer and reading from Odds and Ends ("God's keeps the key to our problems"). Chick reported Nominations for next year pretty much under control except for Secretary and the Health and Happiness Chair, and he asked us to let him know if will serve. We will need to plan how to deal with the shrinking in our membership Don H told of his retreat to the Lake Junaluska with Adults Plus led by Mark Edwards on Luke. While there, he visited with (former Ownbey members) Joe Hamrick and wife who live and active in  the Mountain area. Thanks to Jack for getting the 7 pictures of the original  Sanctuary drawings framed and  hung in area behind Sanctuary, paid for by Ownbey treasury and  members (approved 8/12/2012). Curriculum meeting is 10/23 at 7 pm; all welcome. Clipboard Announcements  include Bake Sale 11/10/12 (bring your goodies), visit by the BBQ man to Single Pointe soon, Flu Shots 10/8  10/19, Medicare Counseling by Nick Beard and Bill Spier of the Wesley Class (10/16 10/18 10/23 10/25 11/13 11/15/11/29 12/4 704 376 8584 x4818). Attendance again about 22.


 
Lesson: October 14, 2012 .
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This review is from Amazon: The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't (Hardcover) Look inside

I think this book is a good introduction for folks who do not have a background in statistics and probability and would like to read some anecdotal material about current prediction issues in sports, politics, gaming, etc. I felt several chapters wandered between generalization and detailed discussion (Kasparov, climate change).
From the whole book I found the stories about baseball forecasting most interesting. Of course this is what Mr. Silver has passion about! Also the discussion about issues with Fisher vs. Bayesian statistics. I don't agree with the author about the negative implications of Fisher statistics. They are still valuable in confined systems (e.g. manufacturing processes).
I did find the use of signal versus noise terminology interesting, but the book never takes a few moments to explain some key ideas by Shannon and Wiener on signal and noise. This could be supplemented with some concrete examples of extracting a signal out of what looks to be a hopelessly noisy environment. I do rate the book very highly for professional thoroughness on footnotes and references. So many books today are written in a casual style that is more likely to cause skepticism. An appendix on summarizing typical human biases in forecasting would also be useful(e.g. recency bias, linearization bias, anchoring bias, extreme consequece bias, and many others).

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20120826 Ace on Simply Jesus

Anyone - Please help edit. Thanks.don 
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Sunday 20120826 -(also 20121014)
Jim started class with a reading from Odds and Ends ( What is true Greatness?), Don R encouraged the class to check out the "New and Updated" Blog at http://ownbeyss.blogspot.com/   as it had good review coverage of the session the previous week with the CEO of the YWCA including recent photos of the YWCA along with videos, photos, and audio of the session. He added that a Helping Hands contribution to the Carol Douglas Empowering series is under consideration by the Helping Hands Committee and will be presented to the class for action next week. Christina reported on  Mel, and Jack reported Ann was close to coming to class today but something came up. Dottie is home and a meeting of a care team for her is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 pm. Gaston and Jane are moved into Southminster after time in the Mountains.

The class thanked Connie and Durward for arranging our social activities this year and especially the outings at Charlotte Cafe.Today is Celebrate Sunday School Day and booklets  Rooted in Love are being distributed about opportunities for study in the Fall (Copy in Smugmug Pictures). Our new Ownbey writeup is in it, edited I am sure for space. It does have our lesson schedule listed. Our next two sessions on Socrates - his religion , life, and death  - were mentioned in the Bulletin for today. This should be a fun and educational series as we will learn more about one of the icons of our class. Other announcements included the Blood Drive 9/23, the Concert by Dwayne Burke Vocalist 9/19  (704 376 5520x5200), the coming signup day for Disciple study on Wednesday 8/29, Flu Shots 10/8  10/19, Medicare Counseling by Nich Beard and Bill Spier of the Wesley Class (10/16 10/18 10/23 10/25 11/13 11/15/11/29 12/4 704 376 8584 x4818).

After class some of us attended the service at Warehouse 242 where the Hatfields' son in law, Marc Dickman, spoke.  link to audio and photos in our Smugmug for the day)  followed by lunch at Queens ($8.50 for adults, $5.00 for children, all you can eat.) Later in the day many of us attended the joint concert by our choir and choir from Covenant Presbyterian at their sanctuary. And later that night the Panthers played.
Lesson 20120826   Aug 26th - bk: SIMPLY JESUS, pt 2 (ministry) - by N.T.Wright - led by Ace 
A comment from Amazon:

• N.T. Wright's latest book, "Simply Jesus," claims to be a new vision of who Jesus is and what He did. Ultimately, the book is what it claims. It's a sometimes brilliant and inspiring re-presentation of who Jesus is and what He came to do. But unfortunately, Wright doesn't make this clear until the end of Chapter 11. A good summary of Wright's major theme is this sentence from Chapter 11: "The gospels are not about `how Jesus turned out to be God.' They are about how God became king on earth as in heaven." Put another way: the Good News of Jesus Christ has to do with much more than people simply escaping earth for heaven.
• Wright develops this theme throughout and does, indeed, offer a fresh and invigorating vision of Jesus Christ. But the book is marred by the fact that Wright's best and most important ideas aren't clear until so late in the book that they would be easy to miss. In fact, I would highly recommend reading Chapters 11, 13, 14, and 15 first so that the rest of the book may be more profitable! Because of the wonderful, challenging insights in the final few chapters, I give the book 4 stars, despite a very slow and not particularly refreshing beginning.
• Chapter 1 is very slow going and doesn't do much to present Jesus in a new light or help us to see Him any better. In Chapter 2,

Lesson Next Week:  September 2nd 2012 by Chick
Ownbey Class Promotes Socrates and the Socratic Method of Teaching.

• The Ownbey Class is one of the oldest and most unique Sunday School classes at Myers Park United Methodist Church. It boasts several features that separate it from the rest.
• One of its most important features is the Socratic method of teaching, which  encourages discussion, led by a moderator, who is knowledgeable of the subject matter and experienced in leading discussions. Rather than lecturing or expressing his or her opinions, the moderator poses questions to class members for discussion. This ensures a lively and diverse exploration of the topic at hand and at the same time, expands their Christian beliefs.
• This questioning method that encourages discussion was developed by Socrates in Fifth Century Athens and the Ownbey Class will be taking a closer look at Socrates, his religious convictions, his life and death through two Sunday’s of discussion on September 2nd and 9th at 10:00 am in Room 110. Anyone interested in attending is invited.

• Book Description

  Publication Date: October 13, 2011
  A brilliant portrait of the Greek philosopher who personified philosophy.
  Socrates was undeniably one of the greatest thinkers of all time, yet he wrote nothing. Throughout his life, and indeed until his very last moment alive, Socrates fully embodied his philosophy in thought and deed. It is through the story of his life that we can fully grasp his powerful actions and ideas.
  In his highly acclaimed style, historian Paul Johnson masterfully disentangles centuries of scarce sources to offer a riveting account of a homely but charismatic middle-class man living in Athens in the fifth century b.c., and how what this man thought still shapes the way we decide how to act, and how we fathom the notion of body and soul. Johnson provides a compelling picture of the city and people Socrates reciprocally delighted in, as well as many enlightening and intimate analyses of specific aspects of his personality. Enchantingly portraying "the sheer power of Socrates's mind, and its unique combination of steel, subtlety, and frivolity," Paul Johnson captures the vast and intriguing life of a man who did nothing less than supply the basic apparatus of the human mind.

Birthdays to remember: Click for Addresses    08/30 Owen Durward, 09/02 Hatfield Nancy, 09/07 Webb William,09/07 Buker Anne, 09/08 Chason Ellen. Please share birthday greetings with Ownbey friends, don't you like to get such greetings?
Upcoming lessons:  Aug 26th - bk: SIMPLY JESUS, pt 2 (ministry) - by N.T.Wright - led by Ace Sep 2d and 9th - bk: SOCRATES - by Paul Johnson - led by Chick  -  Sep 16th - bk: TOXIC Charity - by Robert Lupton - led by Jim Sep 23d - bk:  THE RIVER JORDAN - by Rachel Haverlock - led by Don H Sep 30th - bk: THE HYPHENATEDS - various authors - led by Syd Oct 7th - contin study of ROMANS (Living for Others), Ch 14 - by D.E.Wingeier - led by Reatha Oct 14th - bk:CONQUERING FEAR - by H.Kushner - led by Chick Oct 21st - bk: SIMPLY JESUS, pt 3 (final days and beyond) - by N.T.Wright - led by Ace Oct 28th - bk/dvd: ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS - TEACHING AND HEALING, ch 3/4 - by Ben Witherington - led by Lou Nov 4th - bk: THE MEANING OF LIFE (more) - by various authors - led by Durward Nov 11th - bk: WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY TELLS US - by T.J.Wray - led by Jim Reatha 7/25/2012

Helping Hand Request ubnder consideration by Committe:
http://donredding.smugmug.com/02-Church-Sunday-School/Ownbey-2012/20120826-Ace/24979664_CQwFNf#!i=2048816772&k=rBRGrhS&lb=1&s=A

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Sunday 20120819
WESLEY CLASS Visits Ownbey
It was like old times in our classroom Sunday with the room overflowing  with over 50 people present!  So much more energy with the big crowd. Wesley Class visited and  numbered 30 vs our 16. We combined the classes to do due  recognition to the speaker.What a fun and informative gathering.
Anyone - Please help edit. Thanks.don 
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Jim lead with a prayer and reading from Jesus Calling ("Hope is the golden cord to Heaven"). He welcomed the Wesley Class, Tom Sills (Carol D son),  and our speaker and guests, Kirsten Sikkelee CEO of YWCA, George, and Barbara. Announcement include a concert (_______ 9/19 with Lunch after) and a notice asking for Blood donations. We were lead in two hymns by Bob and Martha C from the Wesley Class.  Jim recognized the two framed pictures (there will be more) of the  original Sanctuary  drawings, and we thanked Jack C for his efforts to get that done. The class contributed about half the  cost with individuals covering the remainder.
Lesson 20120819 Kirsten Sikkelee CEO of YWCA, George, and Barbara presented our lesson  in the form of a discussion about the YWCA and its  mission to eliminate racism and empowering women .
A recording of the lesson is at  click here and videos and photographs are at. click here.Well worth hearing the message if you were AWOL. She emphasized the support  Carol Douglas provided and that support has been recognized in a  monthly Empowerment Class, which is funded by the estate of CAROL DOUGLAS. Wish I had the energy to summarize this class for you but the media should help.
Email last week: Hi there  Kirsten Sikkelee, We are looking forward to your visit Sunday. Thanks for doing this. Here is a link to our Blog which I run. http://ownbeyss.blogspot.com/ Look forward to seeing you again. Don Redding

From Reatha before class. This coming Sunday will be extra-special for us.  Kirsten Sikkelee, the CEO of YWCA Central Carolinas, will be speaking on the Y's program for women-in-transition to an independent life  

Their program includes a monthly Empowerment Class, which is funded by the estate of CAROL DOUGLAS. Our class invited the Wesley Class to join us this Sunday to hear Kirsten Sikkelee.

Lesson Changes:
Sep 2 - bk: SOCRATES (pt.1) - by Paul Johnson - led by Chick
Sep 9 - bk: SOCRATES (pt.2) - by Paul Johnson - led by Chick
*** Kirsten is an engaging speaker with a significant message.
Hope you can attend this close-to-our-heart event, and... bring a friend! Reatha