Saturday, October 30, 2010

Craziest Week in a While

The title probably speaks for itself, but this last week has been INSANE!! And I don't say that very often. But this week truly was the busiest week I've personally had in over a year. It started in normal fashion, with my typical schedule of work on Monday morning and then one class per day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. But that's where the normality stopped.

On Thursday I began a 3-day intensive class on the art of the sermon, with Rob Bell as the professor. While every moment was incredible, I was still exhausted at the end of each day as we spent 27 hours in class during the 3 days.

In addition to the 6 straight days of classes, I had a 4-page paper due on Wednesday and a 5-page paper due on Thursday. I also had my duties at church to tend to, including preparing music for worship and preparing my sermon that I am preaching twice tomorrow. Needless to say, I'm tired. And ready for Sunday afternoon. And heading to bed now before I fall asleep at the keyboard.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Participatory Faith

"Christianity is not an intellectual system, a collection of dogmas, or a moralism. Christianity is instead an encounter, a love story; it is an event." - Pope Benedict XVI

Stationed at the tail-end of the Modern period, it is still easy to see Christianity as mere cognitive assent to certain objective truths. Enlightenment mentality has trained our modern, Scientific-Method-minds to rationalize our faith.

If we see anything from the scriptures, however, it is a God who enters into the space and time of human existence (especially through the incarnation of Jesus), participating with us in our lives of faith. Christians must recognize the incredible event that happens when God enters into the human condition and partners with us in redeeming the world. Let us no longer linger in the world of rationalization.

Monday, October 25, 2010

A Different Sort of Dis-Interest

It's no secret to those who know me well that I am not a great student. Never have been. Never will be. I procrastinate terribly, even to the point of turning in assignments late. I rarely read what is assigned. I struggle to be interested.

This has been the case for much of my time in seminary as well. While I have learned an incredible amount and am so glad to be able to get my Masters, I still hate school and cannot wait to be done. Lately, however, I have been telling people that I have a different sort of disinterest in school, a new reason I am ready to finish. I'm ready to pastor.

For my first 2 years I was anxious for graduation because I would no longer be told what to read and write and would finally be done with formal, higher education. Now, I find myself ready to be done so that I can finally be a pastor. I'm ready. I'm excited to help shepherd a community of faith toward new life. I'm excited to enter the pulpit weekly with the opportunity of shaping and guiding our group through my words. I can't wait. But I must. Two more years, unfortunately, before this dream will finally become a reality. I hope I can make it.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Ease of Narrow-Mindedness

This cartoon once again reminded me of how easy it is to put on the blinders and fail to see anything but what I want to see. These are encouraging thoughts to open my heart and mind toward learning from others, even if they are people with whom I might normally disagree.


HT: The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus