MegaChurches Close their doors for Christmas

Just got an email from a friend and went online to check it out...Willow Creek and many WCA churches are going to be closed on Christmas. To allow people more time with family. Why not spend time as a family at church? Yes, more people show up on Christmas Eve, but hey why not do family friendly services and have the church family come together to celebrate the birth of the Christ child together through Word and song. You can't tell me that the family taking 90 minutes (including some driving time) to go to church on Christmas morning will cause the demise of the family.

I think this really speaks to the fact that faith is shallowing in America. We have been reduced to bumper sticker doctrine and are part of a largly biblically illiterate society. Won't this be fun to jump into the fray? Peace.

Thanksgiving Break!!!!

WooHoo, headed for home! Greek paper is done and waiting to be turned in tomorrow morning before hitting the road. That leaves on paper for Church Management then 3 projects and 3 weeks to do them. The finish line for the semester is in site!!!!

Looking ahead to Advent

Just spent the last hour talking with a classmate outside the library. We talked about Mark 13:24-37, the lectionary text for next Sunday. The first Sunday of Advent, we should be looking forward to the birth of the Christ Child, but this passage is about the 2nd coming of the Son of Man. The end speaks to being awake, keeping watch. That is what we talked at length about. The word that is used appears like 10 times in the NT and most of those are in Matthew and Mark. This text and again in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a command to watch, to keep alert, to keep awake!

33-37 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning-- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."

We are all called to do something to bring about the Kingdom, we are to be dilligent in doing that which we are called to do and to keep watch so that no matter when the master arrives we are on watch. May this upcoming advent season be about re-awakening ourselves to life in Christ. To life as one of the servants of the house, keeping to our work and waiting, anticipating the coming of the Master.

Advent is a season of watching and waiting, but not for what has already come. We remember the birth of Christ and celebrate the radical love of God, but we are to start the Christian year with renewed diligence in staying awake, working where we are called and awaiting the Master's return. Alleluia! Amen.

Can't believe it is November

AAHHHH! What happened to October! It can't be November already. I have too much to do and not enough time to do it. Reminds me of a piece of paper I saw on the church secretary's desk one day. "The good Lord gave me a certain amount of things to accomplish while on Earth and at this rate I won't ever die!" Back to work.

Need a break from break

Learned a lot watching the ordination grading process and was nice to be home, but not much of a break. Helped my 8 year old nephew build a sarcophagus and got to see his 3rd grade program. Taught the 2 year old nephew to say "boing". School starts up again on Monday. More reading!

Almost Fall Break!!!

WOO HOO! 3 papers done, 1 I don't have to do (not taking class for full credit) and the other has been extended to Monday. Have actually read almost all 800 pages for the week. Not sure how well I read them though. It has been a rough week, everyone is tired and ready for a break. I head for Oklahoma on Friday. Weekend at home and next week I am observing the grading of ordination exams in OKC. Will be interesting to watch the process and nice to have time in a different locale although books are traveling with me.

A week later...

It is a week after Cursillo, had Ultreya last night and got to see new friends again. The biggest joy for me was getting to play once again with the music team, I really did miss them this week. Now I have a week with 5 papers due and 3 books to read. At this moment I have started 2 of 3 books and the first paper. Last night I asked some of the people I have come to know to pray for me, not something I typically do. One ask me how she could specifically pray for me this week, the others when I asked prayed for me on the spot.
I truly feel that God has pulled me into this community of believers for a reason. I have been forced out of my comfort zone several times through this process, but each time I go on faith, I have been blessed beyond measure. It is not that your faith is ruined in seminary, but you get swept into the vortex of academics. You end up spending more time in your head and it is easy to lose the focus of why you have been called to seminary.
I believe my venture into community with Austin Presbyterian Cursillo is to help keep me grounded in why I am even in Austin in the first place. I moved here (into my wilderness) because of a call. The fine folks I have met are a reminder of what I am being called to. I am being called to love and lead God's people.
Thanks be to God for the APC community and all my new friends.

Just got back from Cursillo...

WOW! What a weekend. Just came back from Austin Presbyterian Cursillo #20 where I had the honor of serving as a music cha (music team). I am hoarse and very tired, but it was an incredible experience! I made many wonderful new friends who I "Dove in" with. It is very cool to be embraced by a group of strangers and quickly become friends. I have been spiritually refilled and have a sense of peace with myself. I am going to bed...averaging 4-5 hours of sleep a night and going and blowing all day is very tiring and the real world comes screaming back tomorrow! Crap-diddly-ap! :)

Reading, Reading and more Reading

Wow, have classes started. More reading than can possibly be completed. Nothing quite like reading for 4 and 5 hours a day just to try and stay afloat. This is a nutty pace this fall, but interesting subjects. Everyone I talk to seems to feel the same way. Swamped with reading, but after a few weeks we will all catch up and get squared away. Big fun!

What happened to my Sooners??!!!

Wow! Not a pleasant home opener for Sooner football. Hopefully with some game experience the QB's will start connecting on some of the plays that were missed today. Just weren't firing on all cylanders like teams of the past. But there is still plenty of time before the OU/Texas game. Boomer Sooner!!!!!

Don't know what to think

The stories continue to pour into my email about Katrina and I continue to look at news reports off and on. I discover I know more and more people who have been affected by this disaster. It is absolutely unreal. The devistation is unlike anything this country has ever seen. While I can't wrap my head around the size of this disaster, I realize there are millions of people who need help and this is a time when many people will question the presence of God...

To that question my response is that God is in this. God is in this as we hear stories of rescue workers working unreal hours to find one more person. Communities that are opening their arms to welcome those that have been displace. Relief is being organized by many groups and Christian communities are lifting those affected up in prayer. It is times like this that we must lean on God, that we must look to God for strength and we must continue to pray.

Most merciful God, wrap your loving arms around your children who have been affected by Katrina. In the wake of the storm may they see you in the face of those who extend a helping hand. May they experience your love in the gestures of strangers. You are a merciful and compassionate God and you are with each as they walk through their darkest hour. Give them hope, give them strength and let them sense that you are ever near them. In Christ's name. Amen

Leadership

Participated in staff training for Austin Presbyterian Cursillo this weekend. I am looking forward to serving with Presbyterians from all over Austin and getting to make some new friends. The music team that I am a part of has been rehearsing most of the summer and I have truly enjoyed getting to know Angela, Drew, Karin and Michelle. Victor was with us, but had to step out for health reasons, he will be missed. I am also giving a rollo (talk) on leadership. It has caused me to struggle this summer.

Leadership is critical in any organization, but I sense it is particularly critical right now in the Presbyterian church. The church is in need of strong leadership at all levels of the church and especially from the laity. Unfortunately right now I see many leaders within the church who are too worried about political statements and I feel we have let ourselves get away from the true purpose of the church.

It bothers me that the church is spending so much time and energy rehashing the same issues over and over. I would like to see a day when the church quit fighting amongst itself and focused on people. Christ was more concerned with the people around him and not the politics. Unfortunately money and politics seem to drive so much of society and the church has gotten sucked into it.

I would like to see leaders who focus on the people and what we can do to be the body of Christ. I would like to become a leader who focuses on the people and how we can be the body of Christ to reach out to a hurting world. How can we be the face of Christ to those who do not yet know him? Looking at Karl Barth's 3 fold form of the Word model, the church is the first circle that draws people closer to Christ. Hopefully, I can find a way to spread that message to the folks who will be at APC #20 in late September. Hopefully I can drive that message home with myself as well.

Points to Ponder (via Nancy Alsup, edited by me)

THe first one is probably my favorite. A good reminder to laugh and play.

* Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
* The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
* Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
* All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention
to criticism.
* Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
* If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about
him?
* If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
* Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the
same tune?
* Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Musical Baton

I was "tagged" with the musical baton by Sara Stegeman…
Number of Tunes on Itunes
I have 1232 songs in my itunes – 3 days worth plus other random midi and wav files
The last CD I bought was: Natalie Cole Unforgettable. Love all the songs, great jazz album.
Song I am listening to right now: Rodger Fox Big Band from Australia, don't know the tune name

Five songs I listen to a lot (or that mean a lot to me):
Dive – Stephen Curtis Chapman
1985 – Bowling for Soup
I Love Being Here with You – Diana Krall
I’m Trading My Sorrows
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

Passing on to Tim .

Can't believe I finished the first year!!!

It is now 10 1/2 months since starting this adventure in ministry and I can't believe how much I have learned. Looking back to September I have learned 2 Biblical languages, a ton of theology, worship and preaching, Old and New Testament and Church History. Up ahead is more theology (by my choice), more work with languages, Christian Education and Reformed Confessions.

It will be nice to have 6 weeks off before the start of the fall semester. Seminary is a long tough academic road, not to mention spiritual and emotional. This has been a year of growth and change. What a ride!

Summer Greek Song

In carrying on the tradition of parody song writing for class, here is the Summer Greek Camp edition.

Summer Greek (Summer Nights)

Summer Greek had me a blast
Summer Greek happened so fast
I met a lion cute as can as can be
Met a boy, doughy you see

Summer days driftin’ away
To oh-oh that summer Greek
Tell me more, Tell me more
Did you find all the nouns
Tell me more, Tell me more
Participles abound

Found a verb it was ερχομαι
3rd principle part, made me sigh
In the paradigms I nearly drowned
Ending and augments left me splashing around
Summer sun, Greek has begun
Well, oh-oh that summer Greek

Tell me more, Tell me more
2nd Aorist changes its stem
Tell me more, Tell me more
αυτοις means to them

Recognition that’s where it starts
Brackets and underlines etched on my heart
It is marked, what to do now?
Identify, please show me how
Without translation, don’t mean a thing
Well oh-oh that summer Greek

Tell me more, Tell me more
Some words add a nu
Tell me more, Tell me more
Better than losing your mu

Doughboy ran off, found a girlfriend
Both got lost, but returned at the end
Even Aslan came in from the hall
We’re ready for Bi 216 in the fall

First year dreams, we’re full to the seams
No more, ooh, Summer Greek

Church History Songs from fall '04

Medieval Church History (To the tune of "Greased Lightening")

Why this time period is iconoclastic
It’s theocratic, It’s problematic, Why it’s The Medieval Church!


Gregory the Great is the start of the Medieval age (6th century, whoa, 6th century)
Then in the 8th was the Donation of Constantine (Pope Stephen, crowning Pepin)
Charlamange, his son, then the Treaty of Verdun
On his death the empire split between his fighting sons
In the 9th century

Leo the IX and King Henry the 3rd came next (11th century, yeah 11th century)
Hildebrand became Pope Gregory the 7th (under King Henry ,the 4th.)
Gregorian Reforms and Concordat at Worms
Investiture could no longer be the norm
the 12th century

Apostolic Life movement came on the scene oh yeah (evangelical awakening)
Cathars, Waldensians, and Beguines shake up the place (don’t forget the franciscans)
Lay leadership and apostolic poverty
Some faded and others were accused of heresy
The church goes on at the turn of the 14th century

Frederick the 2nd got the crown when Otto IV was deposed (By Pope Innocent, the 3rd)
Philip the Fair and Boniface the VIII (Boniface revoked his power)
Boniface, … proclaimed, Unam Sactam (circa 1302)

Clement the V moved the papacy to Avignon (it lasted for 70 years)
The Great Western Schism started in the 14th century (another 40 years)
After Pisa, there were 3 popes
Sigismund, called Constance
15th Century

John Wycliff and the Lollards in England (denied Transubstantiation)
Jan Hus and the Utraquists in Bohemia (He was burned at the stake)
Vernacular Bible, Communion…in 2 forms
It was the beginning of church reform

beginning, beginning, beginning, beginning
Of the refor…ma….tion

The Reformation

for more songs go to 

Church History Songs

The Beginning

In beginning this blog...I hope to give family and friends a look at my insights into my seminary journey. After finishing my first year, there is much to reflect upon. I'll try to keep y'all posted. -Wags