Faith’s Geography

Trying to finish up a reflection paper tonight. Here’s my intro:

Faith’s Geography
“Yahweh’s intention for his people (Israel) is that they enjoy the good life…the land comes to symbolize the life with Yahweh in ideal conditions, a quality of life which might be characterized as the abundant life.”
Dr. Elmer A. Martens, God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament [...]

Putting the “Part-Time” in “Part-Time Student”

My seminary education has perhaps reached the tipping point where the cost required in terms of money, time, and energy is beginning to outweigh the degree’s value theologically, professionally, and personally. God willing, I’m due to finish in May (at least with one degree), but I’m afraid I’m going to be disappointed by what I [...]

Harry Potter for Presbyterians

The Reformed folk of the world (among others) are gearing up for the release of the new ESV Study Bible on Wednesday. Around these parts (especially if you’re a seminary student), it’s going to be insane. I think of it as Harry Potter for Presbyterians.
This past Thursday, when I arrived at Covenant’s bookstore to work my afternoon [...]

The Reverse

As mortgage payments tend to be more than the rent kind, I started a second job this week working part-time in Covenant Seminary’s bookstore. It’s a good schedule for me that works with my teaching: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m., and about every other Saturday from 9:30-2:30. In addition, Megan will cover the [...]

Summarizing on a Saturday

I recognize the past week has been less than impressive in terms of original content. Here’s an attempt at righting that wrong:
1. As I see it, the selection of Joe Biden as Barack Obama’s running mate makes a lot of sense…in the short term. Biden personifies age and diplomacy more than Obama does, and his [...]

Thank You, Sir, May I Have Another?

Here’s a look at the reading list for the Spirit, Church, and Last Things class with Dr. Robert Peterson I’m taking online this summer:

Berkhof, Louis - Systematic Theology
Clowney, Edmund - The Church
Ferguson, Sinclair - The Holy Spirit
Fudge, Edward & Peterson, Robert - Two Views of Hell: A Biblical & Theological Dialogue
Hoekema, Anthony - The Bible and the Future
Letham, Robert - The Lord’s Supper
Peterson, Robert [...]

Summer Plans

My friend, Ed, asked for a post on what summer holds. Here it is.
1. I’m one of seven Westminster teachers taking 28 high school students on Summer Seminar to South Dakota for two weeks in June. Over the course of a 12-day trip to and through the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, students will explore [...]

Dostoevsky on World History

While cramming lectures for my online church history class (which, as of today, I have 10 days to complete), I came across this quote from Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground:
“You can say anything you like about world history, anything that might enter the head of a man with the most disordered imagination. One thing, though, you [...]

Five Things of Late

1. I can’t remember where I read it, but I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea that, with the proliferation of so many news/infotainment sites, headlines tend to be more and more alarmist in nature so as to capture (and re-capture) readership. No wonder the world feels like it’s falling apart at such a [...]

A Degree of Transition

A reader named Kevin recently left a comment inquiring as to my reasons for transitioning from a Masters of Divinity to MA degrees in theological studies and educational ministries at Covenant. As I just wrote my official transition request letter to the seminary faculty a couple of weeks ago, I thought I’d post it here [...]

No Joke

I had an appointment for some academic advising at Covenant this afternoon and, in the process of doing the old degree audit and figuring out what I’ve taken and what I still need to take, I got some good news this April Fool’s Day.
Barring any major screw-ups, I should finish my MA in Theological Studies [...]

Bittersweet Break

Due to either brilliant planning or pathetic procrastination, my Westminster Spring Break is turning out to be more about remembering what it’s like to be a full-time student than what it’s like to be a teacher with a week off. On the docket:

Listen to seven 45-minute lectures, read five chapters, complete a study guide, and [...]

Becoming More Like Them (part 2)

I resonate with Campagnola’s assessment, particularly when she writes:
“The contemporary church has often understood this verse (Matthew 18:3) to teach what great kingdom citizen character looks like – a child-like faith, humble and meek and ever ready to believe in Jesus. But Jesus took the disciples beyond the questions of character and greatness and challenged [...]

Becoming More Like Them (part 1)

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus, Matthew 18:3

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree,
I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, not me!”
Peter Pan, “I Won’t Grow Up”

Child-like. Childish. In most adult [...]

It’s for the Kids

In a class on the topic of children’s ministry this weekend at Covenant. Regardless of how what I learn gets used in the church, having four kids in the age range, I’m interested (I figure it’s time to go back and learn what I thought I already knew about children and any ministry to them [...]

On Reading, Thinking, Learning

The best part about education is the worst part about education: the more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to learn. And then comes the worst realization of all: there’s no way or time to learn it all. And that stinks.
I experience this sensation everytime I walk into a library or [...]

That’s Not Natural

I started the first of my seminary reading this past weekend in preparation for my classes beginning this week. I’m taking two night classes that meet once a week and total five credit hours: Tuesday night’s class is Educational Foundations; Thursday night’s class is Ministry Leadership. Both look to be a fair amount of work [...]

Dinner with New Seminary Folks

We had some new seminary folks over for dinner last night (clockwise, left to right): Rick, Ian, Billy, me, Kristin, Jake (holding little Max), and Wes.
Megan did her usual bang-up job in the hospitality department, and the girls (not pictured, but still close by at their own “little ladies” table) loved entertaining and giving tours [...]

Cheaters Never Prosper (But I So Wanted to Try)

Believe it or not, I can count on one hand the times I’ve cheated to get an advantage over someone else. I remember letting my eyes range free a couple times in elementary school to look at someone else’s paper on a test. I also recall feeling badly after one exam I took during my [...]

Why I Am Not a Blogger

Up to my eyeballs in books this week, in particular two from InterVarsity Press called Why I Am Not a Calvinist and Why I Am Not an Arminian. I read the first one yesterday and am reading the second one today. Tomorrow, I’ll write a 5-7 page “paperette” (due first thing Thursday) comparing the two [...]