“2 be cont….Your story, Our Story, God’s Story: College is a time when everything seems to be changing. Life is like a TV episode that always ends with the words...To be continued. The Bible is actually full of stories just like yours; ordinary men and women trying to make sense of a life that always seems…To be continued. This academic year we're exploring what the Bible has to say about making sense of these changes through a Wednesday evening Bible Study. These are the slides from that study for anyone that wishes to use them Special thanks to David Heerwaldt from the Wartburg Art Department for making the "2 be Cont..." logo.

2. Introducing the Examen A Prayer of St. Ignatius Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil and not to seek for rest; To labor and not to ask for reward; Save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.

3. The Examen Life What am I most grateful for today? Death What am I least grateful for today?

6. Sin

8. In the Beginning About 15 billion years ago a tremendous explosion started the expansion of the universe. This explosion is known as the Big Bang. At the point of this event all of the matter and energy of space was contained at one point. What existed prior to this event is completely unknown and is a matter of pure speculation. This occurrence was not a conventional explosion but rather an event filling all of space with all of the particles of the embryonic universe rushing away from each other. The Big Bang actually consisted of an explosion of space within itself unlike an explosion of a bomb where fragments are thrown outward. The galaxies were not all clumped together, but rather the Big Bang lay the foundations for the universe.

9. Hermeneutics Scientific/Literal: Genesis 1 is a scientifically accurate account of the creation of the world. It is to be taken literally. Literary: Genesis 1 is a poetic explanation of the creation of the world by a pre modern people. It has no relevance for our lives today. Narrative: Genesis 1 is inspired poetry but not necessarily Science. It is relevant for our lives because it allows us to make sense of the world.

10. Discussion What are some of the different ways to read the creation story? How have you read the story in the past? How do you read it now? How is God continuing to create today?

12. Reflections of God’s Creation Great Carina Nebula Examen

13. God’s Creation: Star Cluster R136

14. God’s Creation: Rosette Nebula I. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

15. God’s Creation: Veil Nebula

16. God’s Creation: Dust Sculptures in RosetteNebula I. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

17. God`s Creation: Andromeda Galaxy

18. II. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details. God`s Creation: Flame Vista

19. God`s Creation: Helix Nebula

20. II. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details. God`s Creation: Spider & Fly

21. God`s Creation: Catseye3 Nebula

22. God`s Creation: Jupiter III. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?

23. God`s Creation: Pinwheel Galaxy

24. God’s Creation: Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia God’s Creation: Earth & Space Station

25. III. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings? God`s Creation: Earthrise & Moon, Apollo 11

26. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude. God`s Creation: Christ’s Home Our Home

27. God`s Creation: Aurora Borealis & Meteor

28. God’s Creation: Longbeach, Tofino, B.C. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

29. God`s Creation: Earth Sunset

30. God’s Creation: Butchart Gardens

31. God’s Creation: Lake Louise Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

32. God`s Creation: Mount Robson

33. God`s Creation: Sunrise

34. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope. God’s Creation: Muskoka, Ontario

35. God’s Creation: Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

36. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask God for help and understanding. Pray for hope. God’s Creation: Laurentians, Quebec

37. The Creation Story: Genesis 1:2:4

38. In the Beginning Genesis 1:26 Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind* in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,* and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

39. Genesis 1:27-28 27 So God created humankind* in his image, in the image of God he created them;* male and female he created them.

40. In the BeginningGenesis 1:27 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’

41. Genesis 1:29-30 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

42. Genesis 1:31 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

43. In The BeginningGenesis 2:1-4 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. 4These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

44. Life Application What do you think motivated God to create the world? What’s your motivation? What hopes and dreams do you have for this year?