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