Bad to the Bone to Christ-like to the Core
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| Have you ever wondered if people ever really change in fundamental
and deep ways? Do people that battle with anger or depression or
lust or worry or pride ever really experience transformation in a
significant way? We are commanded to love God and each other. Can
love really be “commanded”? Isn’t it something you either have
or don’t have for something or someone? If my spouse or my
children or my best friend doesn’t have much of an interest in God
or spiritual things can such an interest really be cultivated and
developed, let alone be commanded? |
| Followers of Christ have been asking these questions, and others,
over the last two thousand years. Gratefully, they have found some
answers. There actually are spiritual practices that can move us
towards deep and practical personal transformation. Imagine the
exhilaration of experiencing real progress in your love for God and
others, or in experiencing the freedom of transformation from a
lifelong battle with anger to an increasing sense of peace and
harmony with those who usually ‘get under your skin’. |
| We, as Christians, are called to be “Christ-like”, but we find
in our personalities, our characters, and in our actions a tendency
to be anything but Christ-like. We often find it easier to do
exactly the opposite of what Jesus would do. Don’t despair! The
greatest saint of Christendom have struggled with this as well. This
class will discuss the insights and practices that faithful seekers
discovered to be the most helpful in their quest to move from bad to
the bone to Christ-like to the core. |
| Teachers: Russ & Linda Ikeda |
About the Teacher
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Russ Ikeda Russ Ikeda was born and
raised in Hawaii. He graduated with a Bachelors degree from the
University of Hawaii (1973), a Masters of Divinity from Fuller
Theological Seminary (1977), and a Doctorate in Spiritual Formation
from the Graduate School of Theology, Azusa Pacific University
(2002). He has been married for 27 years to Linda (who is a licensed
Marriage, Family Therapist) and the father of two sons (Ryan, 26 and
Tyler 23). |
| He served as Associate Pastor at Saratoga Federated
Church for twenty-one years. In the initial thirteen years, his call
was to pastor youth and their families, while in the latter eight
years, he served as Pastor for Adult Education, Small Groups and
Assimilation. |
| Russ now serves as Director of Emmaus Ministries of
Silicon Valley, which he launched in July of 1999. This is a
relational marketplace ministry of coming alongside people on their
spiritual journey and providing pastoral counsel and spiritual
direction. He also is an adjunct professor at William Jessup
University (extension program), Cohort mentor with Fuller Seminary,
consultant to Willow Equities Land Development Company of San Jose
and the chaplain for the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department. |
| Linda Ikeda A licensed
marriage and family therapist, (with a B.S.N. in nursing, an M.A. in
counseling, and courses in theology from Fuller Theological
Seminary), Linda brings an integrated background that makes her
well-suited to teaching Created to Belong. A frequent speaker,
trainer, workshop leader, and Twinkie addict, Linda has been
involved internationally with attachment disordered children. |
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