Sports Round Up

I love the Detroit Tigers, always have…always will, but I’m sure glad I’m not a season ticket holder.  With all the hype from the off season, and the additions of Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, and Dontrell Willis, I think most Tigers fans expected a little more than what  we are seeing on the field.  Thankfully the season is young and there is time to turn it around.  Besides, it’s not like the rest of the American League Central Division is doing much better.

On another front, The Detroit Red Wings are about to open their NHL Western Conference Finals series with the Dallas Stars.  Things are looking much better on the ice with the Wings than on the field with the Tigers.

And then there is the NBA playoffs and the Detroit Pistons.  I don’t follow the NBA much, at least not until the playoffs.  The Pistons are looking like they could make a serious run at the championship, but they have to get by Orlando and then most likely Boston.

With the success of these three teams from Detroit, we Motown fans have plenty to cheer about, and there is really only one thing left to say…FIRE MATT MILLEN!

 

Detroit Tigers Detroit Red Wings Detroit Pistons Detroit Lions
NHL NBA NFL

So Now What?

It was a strange feeling to get out of bed this morning and not have to think about attending classes.  Ok, I’ll confess, I did think about it, but not for long.  I still have that nagging feeling running in the back of my brain that there are papers to write, exams to study for and notes to read.  I’m sure that sensation will go away soon enough, especially after graduation on Friday.  But for now I still catch myself disbelieving that my time at seminary is really finished.

 

As I look at the stacks of books that need to go into boxes, I see some that are on the “want to read” list that have been pushed aside for quite a while.  These I will get to just as soon as I finish those that were on the “have to read” list but I didn’t quite complete.  However; there is a certain feeling of non-urgency in working through this stack.  It is my hope that they won’t be in boxes for very long, and that soon a phone call will come with some positive news concerning the call process.  I am anxious to put my newly earned degree into practice.

 

So now what?  For the week I will enjoy a little break from studies and get some work done around the house.  Our AC unit died two weeks ago and we have a crew coming over to replace it this afternoon.  I have to get up into our attic and move some things around so they can run the new duct work we want to add.  The job should be complete within a few hours.

 

I also did some yard work over the weekend, which I have been relying on kids to do for a long time.  I enjoy getting out in the yard so this will be a welcome change.  There is a hedge that needs to come out and be replaced with some new shrubbery, and also our flower beds in the front of the house are in great need of attention.  A bit of weed pulling and some mulch and they will be fine.  There is also the “honey-do” list that I have tried to avoid but have run out of excuses for.

 

All of this seems a bit ambitious, and some said I ought to relax for a time.  What they don’t realize is that these are forms of relaxing for me.  Counting the undergrad degree I needed before entering seminary, I have been at the books for nearly eight years without much of a break.  I’ve spent too much time sitting at desks and not enough time getting my hands dirty.  Now it’s time to play in the mud for a while.  We have a new bottle of Tide detergent and an empty laundry hamper.  I guess I’ll try to do my best Mike Rowe imitation, and see what I can do to get some clothes dirty.

 

 

Dirty Jobs Mike Rowe Honey do list yard work graduation books

Daniel and the Den of Lions

Last week was the annual children’s cantata at our church.  Each spring the kids perform a cantata depicting one of the great stories from the Bible.  In recent years they have told the stories of Esther, David, and Nicodemus.  This year the cantata was the story of Daniel, and how God save him from the den of lions.  I wanted to write a post last week about the cantata, but being that last week I was knee deep in final papers I couldn’t find the energy.

 

This afternoon the members of our children’s choir took their show on the road and performed their cantata for a group living at the Franke Home.  Franke Home is one of the Lutheran homes for assisted and independent living, located near the beach in Mt. Pleasant, SC.  The kids were much more relaxed this week than they were while performing for our congregation, and today’s group made a big fuss over them when it was over.  There’s nothing like having a huge room filled with “grandparents” offering punch and cookies.

Sorry the pics are a bit out of focus.  The room needed more light, but I didn’t want to use a flash.  Plus, I tried to stay out of the way during the cantata.  Katie is the girl with the $ on her hat.  She played “Taxalot” the kingdom’s treasurer.  Rachel had a couple of parts; she was a town’s person and also a lion.  As you might imagine, they changed the story just a bit.

 

 Worship children’s choir cantata Bible stories

A Tour of Christ Chapel

I suppose the part of seminary life I will miss most is the worship at Christ Chapel.  This is a beautiful sanctuary, and the sights and sounds of the worshipping community are often overwhelming.  If you are ever in the Columbia, South Carolina area on a Thursday evening, be sure to take time to visit LTSS and attend the weekly Eucharist service.

 

The Organ at Christ Chapel.  There are many talented musicians in my class and within the seminary community, and their contributions made to our worship are nothing short of amazing.  But none can match the experience of hearing this organ as played by our Chapel Dean or Professor for Liturgical Song. 

 

Our seminary professors each take their turn preaching God’s word during the weekly Eucharist services.  It is a chance to hear not only the voices of our teachers, but our “pastor” as well.

 

At certain times of the day, sunlight washes through the stained glass windows on either side of the altar.  Later in the summer, this picture would show the light as it paints the wall in its entirety. 

 

 Another view of the altar and chancel area.  I took thses photos last week early in the morning before classes began.

 

 This is the Holy Spirit window, and perhaps the most distinguisable element of Christ Chapel.

 

 Thankfully, I will be serving the church here in South Carolina, so I will also have opportunity to attend worship at Christ Chapel.  I know that several of my classmates will miss gathering with the seminary community in this place, but the sights and sounds are so vivid, that they will remain alive in our collective memory for a long long time.

 

Worship Stained glass Pipe organ Seminary Preaching Pastors

So you’re thinking about going to seminary?

My friends and classmates Ray and Ruth Ann posted this to their blog.  It is a little video made by some classmates that they posted on Youtube to lighten things up a bit.  It is kind of funny, but there is also a lot of truth here as well.  The thing to remember, however, is that when doing God’s work, God will provide.

 

 

 

Youtube video seminary
 

 

The Saturday Morning Post

Welcome to Saturday, May 03, 2008

 

Waking up this morning and not having to fret over a paper I need to write is a great feeling.  It is also a great feeling to know that on Monday I don’t have to stare at another week of driving to Columbia for classes.  After four years of seminary, three of them commuting back and forth every day and one on internship, all I can think about is how relieved I am that the driving is over.  I’m sure it will hit me that I have actually spent four years in study, reflection and communion with God, my professors and classmates, but for now, it’s just the driving.  I’m glad it’s over.  With information from my date planners, the following is a snapshot of my commuting experience for six semesters.

 

Round trips = 377

Miles traveled = 84,240 (equal to roughly 3 1/3 times around the world)

Gallons of gas used = 2,808

Hours behind the wheel = 1,325 (equal to just over 54 days)

 

There have been good days when the weather was perfect and the drive was welcome and peaceful.  There have also been far too many days filled with anxiety at the wheel, tired eyes, and headaches, not to mention the two dozen or so fatal accidents I came upon over four years on the road.  Days such as those reminded me that, above all, I had a family at home waiting to see me walk through the door in the evening.  I continue to pray for those families who faced the fact that a loved one left, but didn’t come home that day.

 

So there it is, the task that several people told me four years ago that I could not possibly continue and still successfully complete seminary.  It would be a lie if I said I didn’t have my doubts at times as well.  It’s just further proof that with God, all things are possible.  This is the last “I’m a commuting student” post……..I promise!

 

Honey Do vs. Bucket List

 

Now that school is over, I need to turn my attention to some of the things that I have been neglecting for four years, the first being my marriage and the wonderful woman who has put up with me during all of this.  Angela has been the one who has kept our house in order, getting kids where they needed to be and worrying about everything related to house keeping, bills and the like.  I am convinced that being a spouse of a seminarian is just as difficult as being a seminarian, perhaps even more.  She has been the one who has had a “roommate” that stays up all hours of the night physically attached to text books and computers, while having to deal with all that real life brings.

 

I also want to spend a little time unwinding, catching up with a few friends and enjoying some of my hobbies that I have put on hold for such long time.  I think that one problem with being so immersed in study and seminary related “work” is that sometimes we forget how to have fun.  I want recess.  I want to play, see movies, go fishing with my girls and take in some baseball games.

 

So the challenge now is to re-introduce myself to reality.  There are a million things that I want / need to do.  Today I think I’ll tackle some yard work, which I consider to be therapy and not work by the way, and then I’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing with a ball game on television.  One does have to ease into these things after all.

 

Today’s Verse

 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13 

Gracious and loving Father,  Not only do you give us the task of being your people in the world, but you generously give us all that we need to be a blessing for others.  We give you thanks for watching over us as we work, discern and do your will.  Give us loving hearts so that we too can love others, feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless and care for those who are forgotten by society.  Continue to strengthen us through the faithfulness of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is through his name we pray.  Amen.

 

seminary family play Bucket List

Class Dismissed!

With a final prayer from our Christian ethics professor this morning, we the graduating class from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary finished our four year seminary journey.  It still hasn’t sunk in yet, but I am sure that when I wake up on Monday and realize that I am no longer a commuting student, the reality of my completing seminary will finally hit me.   There are no more papers to write, no more journals to read and no more exams to study for.  Thanks be to God for giving me the patience and ability to finish what was started four years ago.  Next up is graduation on Friday, May 9th, and then a little bit of a rest before hopefully beginning my vocation as a pastor.

Congratulations to all of my classmates!  It will be an honor to attend our commencement service with you, and to share in the joy of our accomplishment, always realizing that it is by God’s goodness that we have reached the conclusion of our time together.

The End in Sight

Has it really been eight days since my last blog post?  Needless to say there has been a lot going on the past few days / weeks.  With the end of the semester fast approaching, and graduation looming, papers, plans, what ifs and why fors have taken up just about all of my time.  I certainly hope to begin regular blogging very soon.  That also means visiting all of the great blogs that I am so used to reading and commenting on.  In the meantime, I can certainly see the light at the end of the tunnel.  To all of my fellow seminary senior classmates out there in the blogosphere…this picture is for you!

 

 

In the beginning was the Word…

This is how the seminary experience begins for most Lutherans who hope to one day become ordained ministers.  Although the method and curriculum for learning New Testament Greek may vary from one seminary to another, Greek proficiency is a requirement for ordination, and the first academic hurdle that must be cleared.  In this instance, the Summer Greek program serves as somewhat of a boot camp for pastors.

 

At LTSS, Summer Greek is an eight week immersion into the Koine Greek language of the New Testament.  Five days a week students spend at the very least six hours in classroom instruction, and another eight to ten hours in individual study.  Learning how to translate God’s word as written in the original manuscripts of the New Testament canon takes time and patience.  The only study aids allowed are classroom notes and a small Greek to English lexicon with only the most basic of entries.  Other seminaries allow students to use computer aids such as Bible Works for translations.  Not so at LTSS.  Such programs and study aids are forbidden until after the student passes the final comprehensive exam.

 

Like most of my classmates, I spent hours upon hours translating Bible verses and studying flash cards for the daily quizzes and weekly exams.  At first it came rather quickly to me, but after a few weeks I began to appreciate those who translated the text for the church so many years before.  Before long I was up to my ears in parsing verb tenses and genitive absolutes.  If ever there was a first person middle passive, it was me!

 

The other aspect of the Summer Greek program is that it is where the community is formed.  Not only did our class study together, we worshipped, prayed, and played together as well.  For the eight weeks of Greek instruction, I lived in the dorm along with several others.  We shared almost everything from cooking duties to the last bottle of an otherwise empty twelve pack.  Several of us became great friends and I am sure that our relationships with last well into the future.

 

Then, as soon as Summer Greek is over the fall semester begins and it is time to further demonstrate what was learned over the summer.  It is also time to begin learning Hebrew.  Just as it was with Greek, in Hebrew classes the information comes fast and there are daily quizzes and weekly exams.  Thankfully, students have two semesters to learn Hebrew. 

 

With graduation looming in the not too distant future, all of the fun and frustration of Summer Greek and learning Hebrew seems like a life time ago.  Yet in many ways it seems as though it was just yesterday.  Time flies when you’re having fun and staying busy.  I wish I could say that my Greek and Hebrew skills are as sharp as they were after my first year of seminary.  The truth is that they are not.  But I do try to keep up with the languages and I still have all of my hundreds of flash cards.  Some things are just too important to let go.

 

Until next time, ~H ca,rij tou/ kuri,ou h`mw/n VIhsou/ Cristou/ meqV u`mw/nÅ  (The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.)

 

New Testament Biblical Greek Seminary

The Final Ten Days of Seminary Classes

When I leave for seminary later this morning to attend my afternoon class, I will begin my last ten days as a commuting student.  When I think back on all of the miles that I have traveled, the people on the road whom I have passed or that have passed me, and reflect on the time spent alone while driving, it all seems a bit overwhelming.  At the onset of my seminary instruction, many insisted that driving such a distance each day would soon wear thin.  They told me that in order to successfully complete my studies I would have to make other arrangements.  Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t listen to those voices.  I know they meant well and they were right in one respect, it hasn’t always been easy.  But things worth while are always worth the extra effort.

 

I can’t begin to recount the many sleepless nights I have spent before getting into the car and heading off to attend classes.  Many a time have I depended on strong coffee and the grace of God to get me home safely after such long days.  I must say that sometimes I even amaze myself when it comes to the long hours of reading and writing, only to be followed by more long hours of class and commutes.  Such nights spent at the keyboard often turned into a battle between studying centuries of church history, writing theology papers and simply catching a quick power nap.

 

And now, nearly four years later it has come to this, the final turn, the home stretch.  My plan for having everything finished a week before their deadlines is still a possibility, but it will take some effort.  Heck, why should these last two weeks be any different than the previous four years right?  At least I know that I am up for the challenge.  I am certain that I can survive ten days of classes with a weekend in the middle to allow some time to catch my breath.  So without further adieu, it is time to log off the computer, pack up the book bag and pour one more cup of coffee for the road.

 

What I hope will follow on this blog for the next two weeks are reflections from the road and from my time at LTSS.  They may not always be interesting, and I might not be coherent enough to always type in complete sentences, but there will be plenty of time for that later.  In the meantime, 2,200 miles, 73.3 gallons of gas and only five more stops at the Pilot station in Columbia are all that remain, but who’s counting?  I hope that you will enjoy the ride…I know that I have.

 

seminary commuting