It is hard to believe another semester of study begins for me today at Columbia. I am moving right along. I had a condensed course on 'The Art and Practice of Theological Reflection' in the January term; it was an absolute joy. The class was offered by the Pastoral Care department and I really loved that the professor, also an Episcopal Priest and psychotherapist, was spiritually nourishing and focused on prayers for the class' well being. We met Monday through Friday for two and a half weeks.
Each day Professor Harkins set the mood for theological reflection with aromatic candles and about twenty minutes of scripture reading from the daily lectionary. Each day two students took a turn reading the Old Testament and Gospel lessons, while the rest of us listened for key words or phrases to speak to us through the reading. We then spent about fifteen minutes in silence meditating on those phrases or key words and listening for the still small voice of God. The professor then allowed us to spend about fifteen minutes sharing what our meditations revealed. It amazes me how Scripture speaks to each of us when we are open to it and have prepared our hearts and minds for the deep listening to God's Word. The name of this practice is termed Lectio Divina and is an ancient contemplative practice originally used by the monks of long ago. For more information on this form of meditative prayer go to http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html
My January term course also focused on writing short 1-2 page reflective papers daily. The goal was not only to have a blank canvas to write conversing with the assigned readings, but also to practice the art of narration in reflection. Our professor encouraged us to find comfort in the spaces of our life where there are no concrete answers; he called this being apophatic or being open to not knowing what God is saying. As you can imagine, there are many moments in life that we can not possibly be certain of a situation's meaning. And many of us, myself included, are quick to make a conclusion in lieu of taking the time to reflect and not feeling pressed to define one conclusion or assessment of a situation. A great example is that of the book, Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. I hope you will be intrigued enough to read it. It is a wonderful novel which I could not put down from the assigned reading.
I am most grateful that the January term class renewed my passion for meditating on Scripture. The fall semester had left my soul dry from the learning curve of juggling full time study, marriage, and family. It is a mystery to me how the meditation on Scripture often weaves words that correspond to what is happening to me in my every day life. Words jump off the page and proclaim my joys and my sorrows, comfort me, or help me to feel that I am not alone in the struggles I go through. It is my hope that you have similar experiences in your own daily quiet time.
I am very excited about my spring semester. First and foremost, I am taking Preaching and Worship. I can not tell you how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to learn the art of sermon crafting and the practice of delivering it effectively. I am also taking New Testament Survey, Reformed Theology, and a required course called Intersections. I believe Intersections will deal with the ways our faith intersects culture and the global church. I am also excited about taking Reformed Theology and learning more about the great reformers of the early church and 16th century, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, and Calvin.
And lastly I am trying to get involved with some aspects of church leadership again. Doug and I attend Clairmont Presbyterian in Decatur and have loved their Sunday night service for young adults (20-30 somethings) called Last Call. It is a candle lit contemporary service that incorporates an intimate setting with a genuine format of worship. I am planning to help lead worship through Scripture Reading; I love the aspect of helping to bring the Biblical text to life.
I am also trying to get back into leading a small group, something my heart has been longing for the past 7 months. I will begin leading a Lenten Small Group for Clairmont Presbyterian's young adults soon. The pastors will be writing a lenten study on the Gospel of Mark. I am equally excited about leading this since my New Testament Greek Exegesis class was on Mark. Although I certainly am not a scholar on Mark's Gospel, I am excited to have the opportunity to share some things I have learned in the process of hearing others share their insights and questions about the study. It should be great!
As always, we appreciate your continued prayers and support of our seminary endeavors. We miss you dearly and hope that if you have the chance to travel to Atlanta that you will stop by for a visit!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
In My Mind I'm Going to Carolina...
I can hear James Taylor's song over and over in my mind, "In My Mind I'm Going to Carolina". Doug, the girls, and I went back home to Charlotte, NC this past weekend. What a wonderful three days we had! We stayed with our dear friends Jenny & Kevin Kaeppler and their family. We are so thankful for their hospitality! We rolled into Charlotte around 5pm Friday and returned to GA late Sunday night. It was a quick trip but we had to get our Charlotte fix!!!
It was so nice to visit with our former neighbors from our old neighborhood, Callaway Plantation in Matthews. Doug, the girls, and I got a little nostalgic seeing our old house again. The new homeowner has made some changes to the exterior of the house, so it didn't quite look the same. We were able to visit with our neighbors Ouida and Charo. I was able to meet another girlfriend for lunch and I even got a sneak peek of the choir rehearsal for Sardis Presbyterian's musical for that Sunday's worship service. That was a treat. I miss that beautiful sanctuary.
It was so nice to be in Charlotte for the weekend. Jenny and Kevin hosted a small get together for us to see close friends and catch up with the latest news. Sunday was the most special day of all as our family was able to worship in our home church, Sardis Presbyterian. http://www.sardis.org/ I was very honored that Dr. Kort, our Senior Pastor, invited me to participate in leading both worship services, so I gave the pastoral prayer and led the congregation in the Lord's Prayer. It was amazing to be connected to my fellow church members again and hear both the contemporary choir and the traditional choir present the Christmas musicals. They even played my favorite song, "Mary Did You Know." It was just a wonderful morning worshipping our awesome God, catching up with the pastoral staff, and seeing our many, many friends. I am already anticipating our next trip so we can catch up with our many friends who we weren't able to see on this trip!
Doug, the girls, and I even got to see our dog Boyd Sunday. He was happy to see us but he is very happy in his new adoptive home. Our Youth Pastor from Sardis, Jason Robbins, and his family are caring for Boyd while we are in seminary. We are planning to reconnect with Boyd over Christmas and bring him to VA as we visit our families there.
As usual, it was hard leaving Charlotte to return to GA. But God continues to remind me to trust Him for the future blessings and friendships He has in store for me and my family. I am so thankful for the many ways God has blessed us this year.
I know many who are not rejoicing this Christmas season due to hospitalization, grieving the loss of a loved one, and many other difficult life situations. I pray that as the Christmas season comes upon us, we might each look beyond our times of struggle and look to the star that shines on the King who gave up his throne for a manger. He is Jesus the Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. And I pray that each of us might be able to truly see with the eyes of our hearts that God is indeed with us.
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!!!!
It was so nice to visit with our former neighbors from our old neighborhood, Callaway Plantation in Matthews. Doug, the girls, and I got a little nostalgic seeing our old house again. The new homeowner has made some changes to the exterior of the house, so it didn't quite look the same. We were able to visit with our neighbors Ouida and Charo. I was able to meet another girlfriend for lunch and I even got a sneak peek of the choir rehearsal for Sardis Presbyterian's musical for that Sunday's worship service. That was a treat. I miss that beautiful sanctuary.
It was so nice to be in Charlotte for the weekend. Jenny and Kevin hosted a small get together for us to see close friends and catch up with the latest news. Sunday was the most special day of all as our family was able to worship in our home church, Sardis Presbyterian. http://www.sardis.org/ I was very honored that Dr. Kort, our Senior Pastor, invited me to participate in leading both worship services, so I gave the pastoral prayer and led the congregation in the Lord's Prayer. It was amazing to be connected to my fellow church members again and hear both the contemporary choir and the traditional choir present the Christmas musicals. They even played my favorite song, "Mary Did You Know." It was just a wonderful morning worshipping our awesome God, catching up with the pastoral staff, and seeing our many, many friends. I am already anticipating our next trip so we can catch up with our many friends who we weren't able to see on this trip!
Doug, the girls, and I even got to see our dog Boyd Sunday. He was happy to see us but he is very happy in his new adoptive home. Our Youth Pastor from Sardis, Jason Robbins, and his family are caring for Boyd while we are in seminary. We are planning to reconnect with Boyd over Christmas and bring him to VA as we visit our families there.
As usual, it was hard leaving Charlotte to return to GA. But God continues to remind me to trust Him for the future blessings and friendships He has in store for me and my family. I am so thankful for the many ways God has blessed us this year.
I know many who are not rejoicing this Christmas season due to hospitalization, grieving the loss of a loved one, and many other difficult life situations. I pray that as the Christmas season comes upon us, we might each look beyond our times of struggle and look to the star that shines on the King who gave up his throne for a manger. He is Jesus the Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. And I pray that each of us might be able to truly see with the eyes of our hearts that God is indeed with us.
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!!!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!
I can not believe how quickly this fall semester has gone by! I didn't realize how long it had really been since my last blog post. We've gone from Happy Halloween to Merry Christmas too quickly!!! Doug, the girls, and I stayed in Georgia for our Thanksgiving break. It was so wonderful. I made my very first Thanksgiving dinner, which took five hours to make and 15 minutes to eat! Devon made our dinner menu: roasted turkey breast, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, rice pudding, yeast rolls, and pumpkin pie. It was so good. The nicest part was the four of us enjoying our family at home for a whole entire day without interruptions. It was a true Sabbath and was much needed for all of us.
The second half of this semester has had the usual ebb and flow to it. Some weeks were crazier than others. I was thankful that I only had two weeks since October that every class had a deadline for a paper or group presentation....those were chaotic weeks but I survived.
I finished my only two exams, Old Testament Survey and Church History, on Tuesday December 8 and am in the process of finishing my last paper on the gospel of Mark. I selected the passage of Mark 5:1-20, The Gerasene Demoniac, in honor of Chris Herrin. I recall she gave an incredible sermon on this text a few years ago and I loved it. I decided I would translate and research this same passage and see how I would interpret it. This paper has been very exciting.
This second half of the semester has been filled with stress, sorrow, and joy. Of course graduate school has been stressful and an adjustment for our family. Charlotte homesickness finally set in as the holidays began to draw near. I am thankful for still being connected to so many friends in Charlotte. They certainly make me feel better!!! My spiritual life has also been affected by academic stress. There are times when it is so difficult to find opportunities to nourish myself spiritually. Although I seem to have found a balance between coursework and family, there is still much for me to learn to find a balance between coursework, and personal time. My priorities between study and family seem to overshadow the opportunities for personal time for myself. I am hoping to get some kind of work out schedule together during my break...one I can stick to during the semester as well.
The past few months have been sorrowful as we learned at the end of October of our dear friend, Bonnie Howland, losing her husband to cancer. Bonnie was Sardis Presbyterian's (our home church in Charlotte) former Assistant Christian Education Director. She and her family moved down here to Atlanta 2 years ago, as Bill was a commercial pilot. We attended his memorial service with Diane and Charles Hunter November 8, 2008 at Fayette Presbyterian Church in the greater Atlanta area. It was a very special service honoring Bill. Bonnie has a lovely and very supportive church family. Although it was so good to see Bonnie, Lauren, and Will, it is difficult to see our friend going through this difficult time.
Despite the stresses and sorrows of these past months there have been joys as well. I have had the opportunity to go on a few walking field trips with Devon and Ashley. I walked with both the girls to a field trip in downtown Decatur earlier this fall for a large book festival. I was also able to accompany Ashley and her kindergarten class on a walking field trip to the Agnes Scott College Campus Post Office. The children were able tour the small facility and mail a handmade post card to themselves. Ashley was so excited to receive her cute postcard in the mail the very next day. It was too cute!
Our family was also able to attend Rev. Chris Herrin's service of Installation at her new congregation Limestone Presbyterian Church in Gaffney, SC; the church has a congregation of about 200 members. I was very honored that Chris asked me to give the Pastoral Prayer for the service. Her classmate from Princeton Seminary gave the sermon. Pressly Gilbert, our friend from Sardis Presbyterian, gave the charge to the congregation. It was a lovely service and Chris looked so happy. The members of Limestone were so welcoming and excited about this new journey with Chris as their solo pastor. We are so excited about her new call and are hoping her family's transition to SC will be a smooth one.
I would love to hear what is new with you and your family, so please keep in touch with us. We appreciate your prayers and support and look forward to see you as our schedules allow.
Many blessings to you and Your family this Advent Season!!!
The second half of this semester has had the usual ebb and flow to it. Some weeks were crazier than others. I was thankful that I only had two weeks since October that every class had a deadline for a paper or group presentation....those were chaotic weeks but I survived.
I finished my only two exams, Old Testament Survey and Church History, on Tuesday December 8 and am in the process of finishing my last paper on the gospel of Mark. I selected the passage of Mark 5:1-20, The Gerasene Demoniac, in honor of Chris Herrin. I recall she gave an incredible sermon on this text a few years ago and I loved it. I decided I would translate and research this same passage and see how I would interpret it. This paper has been very exciting.
This second half of the semester has been filled with stress, sorrow, and joy. Of course graduate school has been stressful and an adjustment for our family. Charlotte homesickness finally set in as the holidays began to draw near. I am thankful for still being connected to so many friends in Charlotte. They certainly make me feel better!!! My spiritual life has also been affected by academic stress. There are times when it is so difficult to find opportunities to nourish myself spiritually. Although I seem to have found a balance between coursework and family, there is still much for me to learn to find a balance between coursework, and personal time. My priorities between study and family seem to overshadow the opportunities for personal time for myself. I am hoping to get some kind of work out schedule together during my break...one I can stick to during the semester as well.
The past few months have been sorrowful as we learned at the end of October of our dear friend, Bonnie Howland, losing her husband to cancer. Bonnie was Sardis Presbyterian's (our home church in Charlotte) former Assistant Christian Education Director. She and her family moved down here to Atlanta 2 years ago, as Bill was a commercial pilot. We attended his memorial service with Diane and Charles Hunter November 8, 2008 at Fayette Presbyterian Church in the greater Atlanta area. It was a very special service honoring Bill. Bonnie has a lovely and very supportive church family. Although it was so good to see Bonnie, Lauren, and Will, it is difficult to see our friend going through this difficult time.
Despite the stresses and sorrows of these past months there have been joys as well. I have had the opportunity to go on a few walking field trips with Devon and Ashley. I walked with both the girls to a field trip in downtown Decatur earlier this fall for a large book festival. I was also able to accompany Ashley and her kindergarten class on a walking field trip to the Agnes Scott College Campus Post Office. The children were able tour the small facility and mail a handmade post card to themselves. Ashley was so excited to receive her cute postcard in the mail the very next day. It was too cute!
Our family was also able to attend Rev. Chris Herrin's service of Installation at her new congregation Limestone Presbyterian Church in Gaffney, SC; the church has a congregation of about 200 members. I was very honored that Chris asked me to give the Pastoral Prayer for the service. Her classmate from Princeton Seminary gave the sermon. Pressly Gilbert, our friend from Sardis Presbyterian, gave the charge to the congregation. It was a lovely service and Chris looked so happy. The members of Limestone were so welcoming and excited about this new journey with Chris as their solo pastor. We are so excited about her new call and are hoping her family's transition to SC will be a smooth one.
I would love to hear what is new with you and your family, so please keep in touch with us. We appreciate your prayers and support and look forward to see you as our schedules allow.
Many blessings to you and Your family this Advent Season!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you and your family had a safe and happy time trick-or-treating last night. We had a lot of fun. The seminary had a Halloween cookout with a large student and family turn out. We had hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill and lots of sides and candy for dessert. Booritas also made their way through the evening. I am guessing there were about 70 or 80 people who turned out, many dressed as nursery rhyme characters like Jack & Jill, the cow, moon, and spoon from Hey Diddle Diddle, and Robin Hood, whom I thought was the Jolly Green Giant! There were also plenty of the usual suspects running around - the zombies, ghouls, and aliens.
After the cookout all the families went out to trick-or-treat the school neighborhood of Winnona Park in Decatur. It was wonderful because it was all in walking distance from our apartments. Most of the neighborhood of Winnona Park goes all out for Halloween. One street we walked along must have had hundreds of parents and children; it was one large block party for Halloween. Devon and Ashley had a lot of fun. They saw many of their classmates as they walked up to the front porches of many houses. Afterwards we went home to have some hot chocolate and count all the loot!
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers the past weeks as I had my midterms the week of October 15. I had one exam and two papers. Although I haven't received my grades from my work, I felt confident in my answers. I hope to find out this week how I fared.
I hope you and your family are doing well. As always, we appreciate your support and prayers. And we would love to know how you are doing and what is going on in your lives. I look forward to hearing from you as you are able.
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only 26 days away and Christmas is only 50 days away?!?! Holy Moly!!!
After the cookout all the families went out to trick-or-treat the school neighborhood of Winnona Park in Decatur. It was wonderful because it was all in walking distance from our apartments. Most of the neighborhood of Winnona Park goes all out for Halloween. One street we walked along must have had hundreds of parents and children; it was one large block party for Halloween. Devon and Ashley had a lot of fun. They saw many of their classmates as they walked up to the front porches of many houses. Afterwards we went home to have some hot chocolate and count all the loot!
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers the past weeks as I had my midterms the week of October 15. I had one exam and two papers. Although I haven't received my grades from my work, I felt confident in my answers. I hope to find out this week how I fared.
I hope you and your family are doing well. As always, we appreciate your support and prayers. And we would love to know how you are doing and what is going on in your lives. I look forward to hearing from you as you are able.
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only 26 days away and Christmas is only 50 days away?!?! Holy Moly!!!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Happy Autumn!
Happy Autumn to you! We have certainly enjoyed the crisp fall mornings and cooler afternoons down here in Hotlanta. Saturdays are usually our family time and we have been having some fun. Saturday October 4, I was finally able to visit Stone Mountain with Doug and the girls. So many weekends during summer Greek School and early in the fall semester, Doug would take the girls to Stone Mtn. alone to give me extra study time. I was so excited to be a part of the excursion last weekend! Devon and I climbed the rock wall together, which was our very first time. I was very proud of Devon, as she caught on to the necessary agility very quickly.
Last Saturday, October 11 Doug and I took the girls to The Rock Ranch, about an hour south of Atlanta. It is owned by Chik-Fil-A founder, S. Truett Cathy. It was a great trip. We went along with my cousin Amy and her family. Rock Ranch has pony rides, a small petting zoo of sheep, goats, and Shetland ponies, as well as little train that rode around the perimeter of the property. The ranch itself is over 1200 acres. They even had a pumpkin canon, which shot a real pumpkin over half a mile across the ranch. It was a fun outing.
The time has arrived to prepare for mid-term exams. The only class which I will truly be examined is in Old Testament Survey (OT). It is a fascinating course that covers the majority of the OT at a brisk pace. Thus far we have read and discussed the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy), the Deuteronomistic History books (Joshua, Judges, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings ), and some of the Former and Latter Prophetic books (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi). It has been fascinating to learn more about the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and the Matriarchs (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah), as well as Israel's struggles through antiquity. If you have never truly had an in-depth Bible study of the Old Testament, I would encourage you to take a Disciple Bible study (interdenominational) or Bible Study Fellowship. They are both rich with information and will certainly bless you as you begin to expand your Biblical knowledge.
I continue to use my Greek skills in New Testament Exegesis of Mark. The Greek word for "exegesis" means to "lead out". The process of exegesis is to read the original Biblical scripture of Greek for a particular passage, translate the text, and then to understand what that text meant for the original audience. Once time has been spent understanding the historical aspect of the passage and the purpose for the text itself, the homiletical aspect can begin to apply how this passage relates to our lives today. Mark's gospel is fascinating. Thus far our class has covered chapters 1-8 and the tension is building as to who Jesus really is and where the source of his healing and authority comes from.
My last two and a half classes are Church History, Spiritual Formations in Ministry, and Scripture Reading Practicum. Church History is a fast paced overview of Early Christianity and involves a lot of reading of primary source documents of early Christians. The most fascinating period for me was learning more about the Christian Crusades and the religious tensions between Christians, Jews, and Muslims of the 12th century. While I am at CTS I hope to learn more about the Islamic faith; to better understand the influence which this faith has. It is the fastest growing religious tradition in the world.
Spiritual Formations in Ministry focuses on the disciplines and practices which form us spiritually. We have been learning of the many different ways to pray, fasting coupled with prayer, as well as Lectia Divino, which is the meditating on Scripture and listening for God's word in a time of silence. We have also been learning about the value of silence, which is difficult to practice. The major focus our professor desires for us to embrace is that of journaling. It can be just jotting down ideas that steal your attention during the day, quotes and phrases that you want to remember or think more about, or writing about your feelings during particular times. The beauty of it is there is no wrong way to journal; one must find a way that works for them. I try not to write every day, but more when thoughts invade my mind and I want to record them to think on them later. It has served me well in the past, especially in discerning the way in difficult decisions, writing about particular joys, and how I hear God speaking to my heart.
Scripture Reading Practicum is a course which is not for credit. We practice reading scripture in front of a small group of peers and a teacher's assistant (TA). The past week we memorized and recited Luke 4:1-14 which entailed the temptation of Jesus. My motivation to memorize this passage is a CTS professor who recited 3 chapters of Job in a chapel service on prayer and lament! Three chapters of Job! Can you imagine?!? For me it was very empowering to recite Luke 4:1-14 in an emphatic style. I really enjoyed bringing the passage to life and I am realizing how much I enjoy participating in dramas. We left this section with much to reflect on Jesus' temptations as we prepare ourselves for our ministries.
Doug and I still enjoy being here at Columbia. So far in the semester Doug and I feel we are able to relate to my study schedule as an 8-5 "full time job". There are times when this schedule changes and we are flexible with that.
There are days that we feel we struggle here at CTS as well. I came to the campus thinking that the majority of students would be more of like minds, and many are. But I do struggle with the reality that not all families on campus have similar values and I find myself more protective of my children. I find myself so saddened by this and yet do not have any answers on how to handle this other than being more intentional in my devotional time with my children and how Doug and I raise the girls. I also feel more of a conviction to pray for my family and the community of families here. It is my hope that those who are heavy on my heart this week will truly be led to knowing what a Christian home is and how a husband and wife can have an incredibly strong marriage and family in seeking Christ together. I remember the time that Doug and I were not focused on these things. I am incredibly grateful to know personally how strong marriage and family can be when we do center our lives around Christ. There are so many influences in our world today. As Casting Crowns sings, "It's a slow fade" when we are not centered in Christ. http://www.last.fm/music/Casting+Crowns/+videos/+1-ao927GMhlzI
Last Saturday, October 11 Doug and I took the girls to The Rock Ranch, about an hour south of Atlanta. It is owned by Chik-Fil-A founder, S. Truett Cathy. It was a great trip. We went along with my cousin Amy and her family. Rock Ranch has pony rides, a small petting zoo of sheep, goats, and Shetland ponies, as well as little train that rode around the perimeter of the property. The ranch itself is over 1200 acres. They even had a pumpkin canon, which shot a real pumpkin over half a mile across the ranch. It was a fun outing.
The time has arrived to prepare for mid-term exams. The only class which I will truly be examined is in Old Testament Survey (OT). It is a fascinating course that covers the majority of the OT at a brisk pace. Thus far we have read and discussed the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy), the Deuteronomistic History books (Joshua, Judges, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings ), and some of the Former and Latter Prophetic books (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi). It has been fascinating to learn more about the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and the Matriarchs (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah), as well as Israel's struggles through antiquity. If you have never truly had an in-depth Bible study of the Old Testament, I would encourage you to take a Disciple Bible study (interdenominational) or Bible Study Fellowship. They are both rich with information and will certainly bless you as you begin to expand your Biblical knowledge.
I continue to use my Greek skills in New Testament Exegesis of Mark. The Greek word for "exegesis" means to "lead out". The process of exegesis is to read the original Biblical scripture of Greek for a particular passage, translate the text, and then to understand what that text meant for the original audience. Once time has been spent understanding the historical aspect of the passage and the purpose for the text itself, the homiletical aspect can begin to apply how this passage relates to our lives today. Mark's gospel is fascinating. Thus far our class has covered chapters 1-8 and the tension is building as to who Jesus really is and where the source of his healing and authority comes from.
My last two and a half classes are Church History, Spiritual Formations in Ministry, and Scripture Reading Practicum. Church History is a fast paced overview of Early Christianity and involves a lot of reading of primary source documents of early Christians. The most fascinating period for me was learning more about the Christian Crusades and the religious tensions between Christians, Jews, and Muslims of the 12th century. While I am at CTS I hope to learn more about the Islamic faith; to better understand the influence which this faith has. It is the fastest growing religious tradition in the world.
Spiritual Formations in Ministry focuses on the disciplines and practices which form us spiritually. We have been learning of the many different ways to pray, fasting coupled with prayer, as well as Lectia Divino, which is the meditating on Scripture and listening for God's word in a time of silence. We have also been learning about the value of silence, which is difficult to practice. The major focus our professor desires for us to embrace is that of journaling. It can be just jotting down ideas that steal your attention during the day, quotes and phrases that you want to remember or think more about, or writing about your feelings during particular times. The beauty of it is there is no wrong way to journal; one must find a way that works for them. I try not to write every day, but more when thoughts invade my mind and I want to record them to think on them later. It has served me well in the past, especially in discerning the way in difficult decisions, writing about particular joys, and how I hear God speaking to my heart.
Scripture Reading Practicum is a course which is not for credit. We practice reading scripture in front of a small group of peers and a teacher's assistant (TA). The past week we memorized and recited Luke 4:1-14 which entailed the temptation of Jesus. My motivation to memorize this passage is a CTS professor who recited 3 chapters of Job in a chapel service on prayer and lament! Three chapters of Job! Can you imagine?!? For me it was very empowering to recite Luke 4:1-14 in an emphatic style. I really enjoyed bringing the passage to life and I am realizing how much I enjoy participating in dramas. We left this section with much to reflect on Jesus' temptations as we prepare ourselves for our ministries.
Doug and I still enjoy being here at Columbia. So far in the semester Doug and I feel we are able to relate to my study schedule as an 8-5 "full time job". There are times when this schedule changes and we are flexible with that.
There are days that we feel we struggle here at CTS as well. I came to the campus thinking that the majority of students would be more of like minds, and many are. But I do struggle with the reality that not all families on campus have similar values and I find myself more protective of my children. I find myself so saddened by this and yet do not have any answers on how to handle this other than being more intentional in my devotional time with my children and how Doug and I raise the girls. I also feel more of a conviction to pray for my family and the community of families here. It is my hope that those who are heavy on my heart this week will truly be led to knowing what a Christian home is and how a husband and wife can have an incredibly strong marriage and family in seeking Christ together. I remember the time that Doug and I were not focused on these things. I am incredibly grateful to know personally how strong marriage and family can be when we do center our lives around Christ. There are so many influences in our world today. As Casting Crowns sings, "It's a slow fade" when we are not centered in Christ. http://www.last.fm/music/Casting+Crowns/+videos/+1-ao927GMhlzI
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Struggles and Strategies
What a month it has been! We enjoyed our Labor Day weekend tremendously in Charlotte. It was so good for our family to go back where home has been for us the past six years. Scott and Kristen Armstrong were gracious to invite us to stay with them; thank you Scott & Kristen! It was a great weekend to visit with some of our closest friends. I regret that the weekend was just not long enough to see all those who are so dear to us, so we hope to make those connections on another visit to Charlotte. Certainly the best part of our weekend was seeing our Jack Russell, Boyd, again. Katie and Jason Robbins are Boyd's new adoptive parents while we are here at CTS. We are very thankful that Boyd has adjusted well to his new surroundings and new "sister-dog" Snowflake. Thank you Katie, Jason, Julia, and Abby for loving on Boyd for us!
Our most special time in Charlotte was going back to our home church, Sardis Presbyterian; we were all so excited about returning to Sardis that we felt like kids at Christmas! It was great to be welcomed home by all of our pastors and friends. I was very honored to be invited to participate in leading worship at one of the worship services. Sardis has a very special place in our hearts and we miss our home church dearly!
Needless to say, it was difficult to return to Georgia after such a great visit in Charlotte. I was not brave enough to drive past our old house in Matthews, for the fear of deep homesickness. It was a teary goodbye as we pulled out of Scott and Kristen Armstrong's driveway Labor Day afternoon. Saying goodbye to dear friends, our church, and Charlotte was not easy. Thank goodness that the next day we hit the floor with our feet running right back into the routine of life!
My fall semester began September 4 with a full course load of four classes; three of my classes are required and one is an elective. I continue to utilize my summer Greek in New Testament Exegesis of the Gospel of Mark. We will progressively work through the book of Mark in translating Greek to English and then trying to interpret what the author's intent was for the intended audience, as well as how the text interprets to our world today. It is a fascinating class. My other required classes are Old Testament Survey and Church History. The elective course I have is Spiritual Formations in Ministry. My class hours are usually 8 or 8:30am through 1pm Monday through Thursday. It is nice to have Fridays to delegate towards reading or errands.
The adjustment from full time mom to full time student has not been as overwhelming as I originally anticipated, however it is not an easy undertaking. A typical day has been walking the girls to school at 7:45am, classes from 8am or 8:30am through 1pm, home for the afternoon with the girls, and lastly studying at night after dinner. Unfortunately this is taking away time from Doug. I am hoping to find a study schedule that allows me to balance study, family time, couple time, and personal time, which is a tall order. This next week Doug and I will approach my schedule as 8-5 business hours with the hopes that our evenings can be spent as a family and as a couple.
Another strategy in this time of new stresses and adjustments has been the formation of a couple's small group which Doug and I are attending. There are four couples who are seeking to focus on our marriages through a short term bible study. We so excited about this new opportunity, as we have been building relationships with these couples since we began summer Greek school. We are all going to the new Christian movie, "Fireproof" next weekend in lieu of our small group meeting. This movie focuses on strengthening marriage and is by the same people who filmed, "Facing the Giants". Check out the movie trailer at http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/.
In closing, I am excited to say we are taking the girls to see Third Day, Jars of Clay, and Switchfoot in concert tonight in Atlanta. Since my decision to recommit my life to Christ in 2004, Third Day's music has been a powerful influence in my life, in addition to exciting bible studies, and formative relationships at Sardis Presbyterian. In this new phase of our journey within the context of seminary, this concert reminds me of how God captured my heart many years ago in Charlotte, NC with the words of Mac Powell, "Do you believe in second chances / or in a love that never fades / put your faith in what you can’t see / just put your hand in mine / and I’ll show you the way.."
Click the link and watch Third Day's performance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSMKkwGhzSQ
Third Day's new album, Revelation: Check it out....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYK_Bemj29s
We miss you so much and hope you enjoy the coming of Autumn! Thanks for all your prayers and support!
Our most special time in Charlotte was going back to our home church, Sardis Presbyterian; we were all so excited about returning to Sardis that we felt like kids at Christmas! It was great to be welcomed home by all of our pastors and friends. I was very honored to be invited to participate in leading worship at one of the worship services. Sardis has a very special place in our hearts and we miss our home church dearly!
Needless to say, it was difficult to return to Georgia after such a great visit in Charlotte. I was not brave enough to drive past our old house in Matthews, for the fear of deep homesickness. It was a teary goodbye as we pulled out of Scott and Kristen Armstrong's driveway Labor Day afternoon. Saying goodbye to dear friends, our church, and Charlotte was not easy. Thank goodness that the next day we hit the floor with our feet running right back into the routine of life!
My fall semester began September 4 with a full course load of four classes; three of my classes are required and one is an elective. I continue to utilize my summer Greek in New Testament Exegesis of the Gospel of Mark. We will progressively work through the book of Mark in translating Greek to English and then trying to interpret what the author's intent was for the intended audience, as well as how the text interprets to our world today. It is a fascinating class. My other required classes are Old Testament Survey and Church History. The elective course I have is Spiritual Formations in Ministry. My class hours are usually 8 or 8:30am through 1pm Monday through Thursday. It is nice to have Fridays to delegate towards reading or errands.
The adjustment from full time mom to full time student has not been as overwhelming as I originally anticipated, however it is not an easy undertaking. A typical day has been walking the girls to school at 7:45am, classes from 8am or 8:30am through 1pm, home for the afternoon with the girls, and lastly studying at night after dinner. Unfortunately this is taking away time from Doug. I am hoping to find a study schedule that allows me to balance study, family time, couple time, and personal time, which is a tall order. This next week Doug and I will approach my schedule as 8-5 business hours with the hopes that our evenings can be spent as a family and as a couple.
Another strategy in this time of new stresses and adjustments has been the formation of a couple's small group which Doug and I are attending. There are four couples who are seeking to focus on our marriages through a short term bible study. We so excited about this new opportunity, as we have been building relationships with these couples since we began summer Greek school. We are all going to the new Christian movie, "Fireproof" next weekend in lieu of our small group meeting. This movie focuses on strengthening marriage and is by the same people who filmed, "Facing the Giants". Check out the movie trailer at http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/.
In closing, I am excited to say we are taking the girls to see Third Day, Jars of Clay, and Switchfoot in concert tonight in Atlanta. Since my decision to recommit my life to Christ in 2004, Third Day's music has been a powerful influence in my life, in addition to exciting bible studies, and formative relationships at Sardis Presbyterian. In this new phase of our journey within the context of seminary, this concert reminds me of how God captured my heart many years ago in Charlotte, NC with the words of Mac Powell, "Do you believe in second chances / or in a love that never fades / put your faith in what you can’t see / just put your hand in mine / and I’ll show you the way.."
Click the link and watch Third Day's performance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSMKkwGhzSQ
Third Day's new album, Revelation: Check it out....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYK_Bemj29s
We miss you so much and hope you enjoy the coming of Autumn! Thanks for all your prayers and support!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Grace Comes in Many Flavors
I am thrilled to share with you that Summer Greek School finished today at 12:00 noon! The past 8 weeks of intense study of this New Testament language has challenged me on so many levels. First and foremost, I was forced to use the part of my brain that is not involved with "Mommy-mode". Secondly, there was so much memorization that I should be able to memorize things above and beyond grocery lists now! Our professor would often tell us that the more we do memorize then the more we will be able to memorize. Although I had my doubts holding the 350-something vocabulary flashcards in my hands, I do believe there is a thread of truth in her wisdom. It still was not easy, and there were days that I truly hit the wall feeling I could not learn another thing in Greek. But by the grace of God, my classmates and I continued to endure the challenge before us.
Let it be known that grace comes in many flavors! Grace came to us this summer in the flavor of goodwill as our Greek classmates supported each other in carrying one another's burdens, both academic and personal. Grace came to us this summer by the way of kindness as our Greek professor and teacher assistants had a genuine desire for my colleagues and myself to truly understand New Testament Greek and to have a great sense of humor in doing so. And grace came to us this summer in the flavor of a wonderful gift; that God was able to meet each of my colleagues and myself within our individual limitations and abilities and work through us so that we might read His word in a new way and be drawn closer to Him.
As I left class today with my graded exam in hand, I was jumping for joy like a child. Yes, my stress and anxiety had finally climaxed and was subdued. It was almost like Stress and Anxiety slid down the slide of my spine and ran off to bother someone else! I was elated not only because I received the grade which I was unsure of being in my reach, but that I had a wonderful sense of accomplishment in my very first graduate course. It was a humbling sense of accomplishment because I know I did not do all this work on my own ability. And I am so enriched as I remember Paul's words from Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength". I do need to also mention that it takes an incredible husband to allow accomplishments to happen as well!!!
Needless to say, Doug has been saying he is so glad to have his wife back for 11 days. And I am excited to be just a wife and mom during this next week of rest. We are celebrating the finale of summer school by taking a family weekend trip to Highlands, NC this weekend. We are looking forward to having down time with the girls and time to just relax.
Speaking of relaxing, I am typing and not relaxing. So I am off to do just that!!! Thanks for all your support and prayers. Grace & blessings on your weekend.
ps....What flavor of grace did God show you this summer?
Carson
Let it be known that grace comes in many flavors! Grace came to us this summer in the flavor of goodwill as our Greek classmates supported each other in carrying one another's burdens, both academic and personal. Grace came to us this summer by the way of kindness as our Greek professor and teacher assistants had a genuine desire for my colleagues and myself to truly understand New Testament Greek and to have a great sense of humor in doing so. And grace came to us this summer in the flavor of a wonderful gift; that God was able to meet each of my colleagues and myself within our individual limitations and abilities and work through us so that we might read His word in a new way and be drawn closer to Him.
As I left class today with my graded exam in hand, I was jumping for joy like a child. Yes, my stress and anxiety had finally climaxed and was subdued. It was almost like Stress and Anxiety slid down the slide of my spine and ran off to bother someone else! I was elated not only because I received the grade which I was unsure of being in my reach, but that I had a wonderful sense of accomplishment in my very first graduate course. It was a humbling sense of accomplishment because I know I did not do all this work on my own ability. And I am so enriched as I remember Paul's words from Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength". I do need to also mention that it takes an incredible husband to allow accomplishments to happen as well!!!
Needless to say, Doug has been saying he is so glad to have his wife back for 11 days. And I am excited to be just a wife and mom during this next week of rest. We are celebrating the finale of summer school by taking a family weekend trip to Highlands, NC this weekend. We are looking forward to having down time with the girls and time to just relax.
Speaking of relaxing, I am typing and not relaxing. So I am off to do just that!!! Thanks for all your support and prayers. Grace & blessings on your weekend.
ps....What flavor of grace did God show you this summer?
Carson
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