I’m not sure what it is and I think I have many friends who would verify this: but for some reason I have a nice big bull’s-eye on my chest for attracting problems. Not like your run of the mill problems, but the like … requires more than 1 week to fix type of problems. Things not included in this category:
- 10 page papers
- Car repair
- Computer repair
- Anything that can be solved by a visit to ‘theological beverage’-house
- Cleaning my apartment
- Greek
- Curing insomnia
- Mono
Now … how do I put this … I wasn’t ‘sideswiped by a wrecking ball, eighteen-wheeler, and the Titanic in one blow,’ but more like somewhere in between the eighteen-wheeler and Titanic. But this isn’t a tale about how cruddy my life is but a moment of clarity and rejoicing.
For all my times of trials they have always led up to something wonderful that God will do.
For all my times of trials I have found that my friends have stood by me, even when I was the problem.
For all my times of trials it has never been my own doing, but God’s.
For all my times of trials ... I’m still here and God still uses me.
I think the last one is what is in my mind now, and just how cool that is. I have comfort in that he has not given me something that will cause me to break, just bend a bit. I’m not asking for more trials, but I am ready to face the ones that come my way.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Something's wrong ...
Ralph's has discontinued IBC Cream Soda on it's shelves in its Lake Ave., Pasadena store ... One man riot ensues.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
New School Year for the Minstrel
So ummm … yea: First week of school and Welcome Week, and some small BBQ that I’m in charge of planning. It piles up a bit. Anywho I’m not sure where this will go (serious or goofy) so I wish you good luck.
I am excited to be back in classes. I’m a little worn out from this week, but I was expecting to be. It has been fun seeing the campus alive with energy and movement as a bunch of first years gather on campus; each bringing a new story, new worries, new energy, and new anxieties. All of this energy is without the understanding of just how good Fuller is, and when they talk about their classes they only get more excited. Very cool to see. I think I have helped quite a few new students that I have met over the summer and just recently in giving advice on how to approach Fuller classes, as well as my personal biases on which professors to take.
I have started my internship at Burbank Presbyterian Church in … Burbank … (duh). I’m really excited as I sit down with (Pastor) Ross and discuss ministry and the inner workings of the church he leads. He reminds me of my dad in many respects in that he has found the balance between work, family, and personal study. While I have only known him for a bit he has a wonderful sense of humor but underneath it all is an honest caring of his interns, church, and the relationships that they have with God. While this week has been a bit nutty, I am trying really really hard to not jump into the deep end, but rather take it nice and slow right now and work out the rest.
Brings me to classes: I am taking 12 units and auditing another 4 for personal enrichment/enjoyment. I am taking Ethics, Systematic Theology 2 (Christ, Salvation, Spirit), and Exegetical Methods. The audit is Foundations for Youth Ministry of which I feel compelled to do the work even though I don’t ‘have to’. I’m excited about all of these and have friends in all the classes (although slightly fewer in Methods) that are fun to just hang out with.
All in all I have a nice peace about this quarter and the workload that is involved (no final tests). I suspect that Ethics and ST2 will probably continue to stretch my personal struggles, and Foundations will be a nice balance to these as I work out what it means to ‘do’ ministry.
There are a few serious musings that I'll work through after this week, and maybe post. But for now ... this is life
I am excited to be back in classes. I’m a little worn out from this week, but I was expecting to be. It has been fun seeing the campus alive with energy and movement as a bunch of first years gather on campus; each bringing a new story, new worries, new energy, and new anxieties. All of this energy is without the understanding of just how good Fuller is, and when they talk about their classes they only get more excited. Very cool to see. I think I have helped quite a few new students that I have met over the summer and just recently in giving advice on how to approach Fuller classes, as well as my personal biases on which professors to take.
I have started my internship at Burbank Presbyterian Church in … Burbank … (duh). I’m really excited as I sit down with (Pastor) Ross and discuss ministry and the inner workings of the church he leads. He reminds me of my dad in many respects in that he has found the balance between work, family, and personal study. While I have only known him for a bit he has a wonderful sense of humor but underneath it all is an honest caring of his interns, church, and the relationships that they have with God. While this week has been a bit nutty, I am trying really really hard to not jump into the deep end, but rather take it nice and slow right now and work out the rest.
Brings me to classes: I am taking 12 units and auditing another 4 for personal enrichment/enjoyment. I am taking Ethics, Systematic Theology 2 (Christ, Salvation, Spirit), and Exegetical Methods. The audit is Foundations for Youth Ministry of which I feel compelled to do the work even though I don’t ‘have to’. I’m excited about all of these and have friends in all the classes (although slightly fewer in Methods) that are fun to just hang out with.
All in all I have a nice peace about this quarter and the workload that is involved (no final tests). I suspect that Ethics and ST2 will probably continue to stretch my personal struggles, and Foundations will be a nice balance to these as I work out what it means to ‘do’ ministry.
There are a few serious musings that I'll work through after this week, and maybe post. But for now ... this is life
Sunday, September 09, 2007
I Can't Make This Stuff Up
As spoken by Fuller's President Richard Mouw during his 'musings' portion of the trustee's meeting dinner ... on grits ... theology ... and sermon examples ...
"A Roman Catholic friend of mine went to visit the south and took a look at the menu, he called the waitress over to ask what grits were. He said, 'ma'am, what's a grit?' She replied, 'Hon you don't get just one ...' The body of Christ should be like grits, all stuck together and many of us."
"Another friend of mine who I told this story to called me one day and said, 'I have a grits story for you:'
A man walks into a wafflehouse in the south and orders waffles, bacon and eggs. Waitress brings the order and it has grits all over it. The man turns to the waitress, 'Excuse me I didn't order any grits.' She replied, 'Sorry, you get 'em whether you want em or not.'
Grace is like grits ... you get it whether you want it or not ...' "
I think I'm going to have to save these for any sermons I give in southern states.
"A Roman Catholic friend of mine went to visit the south and took a look at the menu, he called the waitress over to ask what grits were. He said, 'ma'am, what's a grit?' She replied, 'Hon you don't get just one ...' The body of Christ should be like grits, all stuck together and many of us."
"Another friend of mine who I told this story to called me one day and said, 'I have a grits story for you:'
A man walks into a wafflehouse in the south and orders waffles, bacon and eggs. Waitress brings the order and it has grits all over it. The man turns to the waitress, 'Excuse me I didn't order any grits.' She replied, 'Sorry, you get 'em whether you want em or not.'
Grace is like grits ... you get it whether you want it or not ...' "
I think I'm going to have to save these for any sermons I give in southern states.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Ok time for a gamer/nerd post
First of is a an hour long keynote speech given by Wil Wheaton at Penny Arcade Expo that took place in Seattle about 2 weeks ago. Some of you will not get many of the references but there are many great comments about the state of video games. If you have no idea who Wil Wheaton is … he was Westley Crusher on Star Trek: TNG. Mild language and content warning.
The second is the keynote speech given by Steve Jobs about the new ipods. Now … I don’t need you to watch the whole thing but if you fast forward to about 58 minutes and watch the 10 min presentation given by the Starbucks representative. If you understand anything about Emerging church, so does this man … it is scary.
And finally ... music, comedy, and zombies
The second is the keynote speech given by Steve Jobs about the new ipods. Now … I don’t need you to watch the whole thing but if you fast forward to about 58 minutes and watch the 10 min presentation given by the Starbucks representative. If you understand anything about Emerging church, so does this man … it is scary.
And finally ... music, comedy, and zombies
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Heroes, Once, and A Piece of my Mind
So as part of my procrastination therapy I went out and purchased the first season of Heroes. I have only one word …
Ohmygoshthisshowissofreakingcool!
Aside from being a semi nerd this show really does have a good mix of storyline, character development, and showing off cool abilities. I think the thing I admire the most about the show is that it does have that mortality aspect that sometimes doesn’t exist. I liken it to a cross between The Incredibles and Spiderman but with more people. A couple parts are not for the squeamish and there are a couple of moments where there are some very … visual effects. In general the show has a sense of greater purpose and larger scale than one season can encompass (similar to Lost, I’ve been told). It does have all the standard superhero abilities that you come to expect: flight, regeneration, variations on telepathy, and so on … but puts them in characters that are not always able to do much with them. I also appreciate the fact that some of the more prominent characters have no powers yet are still able to make contributions.
So cool a show … which brings me to a really cool movie: Once
It is an independent movie that is from Ireland and is really one of the more beautiful love stories that I have seen in a long time. It has won two Audience Awards (one of which was at Sundance) and I highly recommend it. I could go into more detail but it really needs to be seen and talking about it doesn’t do it justice. It will probably be playing at the independent movie theaters for a while as it is just starting to come into buzz in the US.
Which brings me to a portion of my Mind
Beginning these are always dangerous and I’m not sure what is on my mind at the time. I think right now it is watching the differences between newer students and graduating/graduated students and the differences between them. I was picking up one of my neighbors from the airport and we were talking about the sociology project that could be done on Fuller’s Campus. It was interesting to figure out some of my own thoughts in broad generalizations that have their exceptions but it was interesting to consider some of the differences between the schools in mindset and age. Looking at the Psych school they have the ‘older/wiser’ aspect as most of them are PhD candidates who are paying cash for 5-6 years (in most cases) to get their degree and do counseling once they graduate. For the Intercultural Studies (Missionary) group there is one of two mindsets: I want to go into missions, or I need to know more so I can do missions better. In general I think of this group as a couple of years older and with some experience going outside of the US to do missions work. In general I find that this group of people come with a sense of purpose and a maturity and perspective that has been tempered in another country. Which brings me to the Theology Students … My guess is that about 70% of the non-doctoral students here are fresh out of undergrad and I would say that the Theology students are probably the youngest out of the three groups. I get the feeling that many of the Missions and Psych students view Theology as the misfits of the campus, but these are my ‘perceptions’ of which I have very little to base it upon, I’m a Theology student … and a closet misfit.
Here is the part that confuses me … Missions and Psych have integrated communities within their programs. These groups are called cohorts and they basically allow for outside integration of class material as well as providing a place for discussion and friendships to form not only with each other, but also with professors. Theology doesn’t and this confuses me. A Theology student could effectively do an entire M. Div (pastoral degree) without ever really engaging with fellow students, and yet these are the people who are going to go into congregations and lead a group of people towards God. As I approach the end of my 2nd year in Seminary I look at this picture and I don’t really have to say much about how upside down my head is at times (see some of my previous entries). I’m sure I’m not the only one but here is the fun part. It has been my experience that many people are very careful about who they have the deeper conversations with. I have encountered a number of people who I can only touch on the surface with about the things of life and confusion. Now I’m not saying the Missions and Psych don’t need their cohorts, I’m just wondering where ours are.
Am I far off in my assumptions or am I close enough to be scary. Also, those of you who have been having some conversation about the past post I made, I have responded in the comments if you wish to ‘counter-counter-point’
Ohmygoshthisshowissofreakingcool!
Aside from being a semi nerd this show really does have a good mix of storyline, character development, and showing off cool abilities. I think the thing I admire the most about the show is that it does have that mortality aspect that sometimes doesn’t exist. I liken it to a cross between The Incredibles and Spiderman but with more people. A couple parts are not for the squeamish and there are a couple of moments where there are some very … visual effects. In general the show has a sense of greater purpose and larger scale than one season can encompass (similar to Lost, I’ve been told). It does have all the standard superhero abilities that you come to expect: flight, regeneration, variations on telepathy, and so on … but puts them in characters that are not always able to do much with them. I also appreciate the fact that some of the more prominent characters have no powers yet are still able to make contributions.
So cool a show … which brings me to a really cool movie: Once
It is an independent movie that is from Ireland and is really one of the more beautiful love stories that I have seen in a long time. It has won two Audience Awards (one of which was at Sundance) and I highly recommend it. I could go into more detail but it really needs to be seen and talking about it doesn’t do it justice. It will probably be playing at the independent movie theaters for a while as it is just starting to come into buzz in the US.
Which brings me to a portion of my Mind
Beginning these are always dangerous and I’m not sure what is on my mind at the time. I think right now it is watching the differences between newer students and graduating/graduated students and the differences between them. I was picking up one of my neighbors from the airport and we were talking about the sociology project that could be done on Fuller’s Campus. It was interesting to figure out some of my own thoughts in broad generalizations that have their exceptions but it was interesting to consider some of the differences between the schools in mindset and age. Looking at the Psych school they have the ‘older/wiser’ aspect as most of them are PhD candidates who are paying cash for 5-6 years (in most cases) to get their degree and do counseling once they graduate. For the Intercultural Studies (Missionary) group there is one of two mindsets: I want to go into missions, or I need to know more so I can do missions better. In general I think of this group as a couple of years older and with some experience going outside of the US to do missions work. In general I find that this group of people come with a sense of purpose and a maturity and perspective that has been tempered in another country. Which brings me to the Theology Students … My guess is that about 70% of the non-doctoral students here are fresh out of undergrad and I would say that the Theology students are probably the youngest out of the three groups. I get the feeling that many of the Missions and Psych students view Theology as the misfits of the campus, but these are my ‘perceptions’ of which I have very little to base it upon, I’m a Theology student … and a closet misfit.
Here is the part that confuses me … Missions and Psych have integrated communities within their programs. These groups are called cohorts and they basically allow for outside integration of class material as well as providing a place for discussion and friendships to form not only with each other, but also with professors. Theology doesn’t and this confuses me. A Theology student could effectively do an entire M. Div (pastoral degree) without ever really engaging with fellow students, and yet these are the people who are going to go into congregations and lead a group of people towards God. As I approach the end of my 2nd year in Seminary I look at this picture and I don’t really have to say much about how upside down my head is at times (see some of my previous entries). I’m sure I’m not the only one but here is the fun part. It has been my experience that many people are very careful about who they have the deeper conversations with. I have encountered a number of people who I can only touch on the surface with about the things of life and confusion. Now I’m not saying the Missions and Psych don’t need their cohorts, I’m just wondering where ours are.
Am I far off in my assumptions or am I close enough to be scary. Also, those of you who have been having some conversation about the past post I made, I have responded in the comments if you wish to ‘counter-counter-point’
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Where has the time gone?
No … I haven’t been to Saddleback yet.
No … I haven’t solved world peace, but I’m working on it.
No … I haven’t danced with the devil in the pale moonlight
No … I haven’t seen my neph-monkey since Memorial day
No … I haven’t taken over the world, but it goes along with that whole world peace thing.
No … I haven’t gotten a date. (Despite Becca’s top 10 list)
No … I haven’t misplaced my brain, … err … maybe I have
No … I haven’t figured out the meaning of life, I’m still trying to figure out my own life.
No … I haven’t considered what type of chocolate I’m on at this phase in my life
(Warning: you are now entering serious thoughts, there is no shallow end)
Now that that is out of the way, I have finished classes for summer and with two papers outstanding I’m going to take this weekend off and have some fun and contemplate some of the things that I have been putting off this past quarter. Mostly having to do with some serious theological thinking regarding church. I’m not sure I have an answer, nor do I have all the front-end research done. I think I have a very basic building block understanding of what ‘church’ is supposed to be, and the tension lies within my understanding and experience of what Reformed church is and what I have experienced within a more Charismatic setting. I have to be honest in that I’m not fully understanding of what the underlying foundation of the Charismatic tradition is. I have been reading Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places (for fun) by Eugene Peterson … slowly … and looking at the balance between what could be seen as the spiritual gifts and what is a perversion of the gifts in the sense of where Glory is given. I’ll let ya know how the book goes.
I can remember one day during my first quarter of a friend of mine coming out of class after having just finished a John Thompson paper and saying ‘I now understand why I am Reformed, I am Reformed.’ … and thinking, ‘that is odd.’ My problem is that I know I am Reformed, in more ways than I can count, which makes me odd, yet I still struggle with this tension in the Charismatic movement. Most of this falls in the music movements that are taking place. Now I’m at the point where I have a respect for the church music forms that I have encountered. I understand the beauty of the hymns and the drive that comes from a more contemporary side of things. Here is the fun part: Looking at the majority of the worship artists, who produce music in the contemporary style, are on some level within the Charismatic understanding. One of my fellow musicians at Fuller has a strong preference of hymns over contemporary music, and has stated as much. This musician has many skills that I wish I had as a musician and I respect her choice, and on the other side of things there are entire movements (such as Indelible Grace) that serve the primary function of trying to bring hymns within the realm of guitar and ‘band’ type of settings. At this point I want to have my cake and eat it too, but the 'I want' doesn't work to well with what God wants. And thus I reach the question: is there a way to mix some of the two, to … walk the line … while still being considered ‘Reformed' ... AND still feel like God is praised before the band is.
This is my tension and struggle as I carry on through Seminary. I see it as I visit churches with a 'budget' to support music in their churches and have very charismatic leaders to support their beliefs. I'm guilty of this, giving credit to Tomlin, Crowder, and so on rather than the God who wants our praise. I blur the lines all to much even in my own life where I take compliments rather than directing them Godwards (I must be in Seminary, I'm making up words).
It isn’t so much about what I want nor is it about pleasing a congregation but finding a place where God is worshiped by everyone. If I had to pick one or the other (which is not where I feel God leading me) I would end up Reformed, but then that is what I have grown up as. Yet as I learn more and more about different church styles I find a peace surrounding most things that might prove to be difficult theological issues. Or maybe it is coming to a place where ‘I don’t know’ is an acceptable answer.
I think I have another rant that I need to flesh out too, but I'll save that for another time.
Thoughts? Comments here or in person are open. I know I have holes in there somewhere, but take the rough meaning.
No … I haven’t solved world peace, but I’m working on it.
No … I haven’t danced with the devil in the pale moonlight
No … I haven’t seen my neph-monkey since Memorial day
No … I haven’t taken over the world, but it goes along with that whole world peace thing.
No … I haven’t gotten a date. (Despite Becca’s top 10 list)
No … I haven’t misplaced my brain, … err … maybe I have
No … I haven’t figured out the meaning of life, I’m still trying to figure out my own life.
No … I haven’t considered what type of chocolate I’m on at this phase in my life
(Warning: you are now entering serious thoughts, there is no shallow end)
Now that that is out of the way, I have finished classes for summer and with two papers outstanding I’m going to take this weekend off and have some fun and contemplate some of the things that I have been putting off this past quarter. Mostly having to do with some serious theological thinking regarding church. I’m not sure I have an answer, nor do I have all the front-end research done. I think I have a very basic building block understanding of what ‘church’ is supposed to be, and the tension lies within my understanding and experience of what Reformed church is and what I have experienced within a more Charismatic setting. I have to be honest in that I’m not fully understanding of what the underlying foundation of the Charismatic tradition is. I have been reading Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places (for fun) by Eugene Peterson … slowly … and looking at the balance between what could be seen as the spiritual gifts and what is a perversion of the gifts in the sense of where Glory is given. I’ll let ya know how the book goes.
I can remember one day during my first quarter of a friend of mine coming out of class after having just finished a John Thompson paper and saying ‘I now understand why I am Reformed, I am Reformed.’ … and thinking, ‘that is odd.’ My problem is that I know I am Reformed, in more ways than I can count, which makes me odd, yet I still struggle with this tension in the Charismatic movement. Most of this falls in the music movements that are taking place. Now I’m at the point where I have a respect for the church music forms that I have encountered. I understand the beauty of the hymns and the drive that comes from a more contemporary side of things. Here is the fun part: Looking at the majority of the worship artists, who produce music in the contemporary style, are on some level within the Charismatic understanding. One of my fellow musicians at Fuller has a strong preference of hymns over contemporary music, and has stated as much. This musician has many skills that I wish I had as a musician and I respect her choice, and on the other side of things there are entire movements (such as Indelible Grace) that serve the primary function of trying to bring hymns within the realm of guitar and ‘band’ type of settings. At this point I want to have my cake and eat it too, but the 'I want' doesn't work to well with what God wants. And thus I reach the question: is there a way to mix some of the two, to … walk the line … while still being considered ‘Reformed' ... AND still feel like God is praised before the band is.
This is my tension and struggle as I carry on through Seminary. I see it as I visit churches with a 'budget' to support music in their churches and have very charismatic leaders to support their beliefs. I'm guilty of this, giving credit to Tomlin, Crowder, and so on rather than the God who wants our praise. I blur the lines all to much even in my own life where I take compliments rather than directing them Godwards (I must be in Seminary, I'm making up words).
It isn’t so much about what I want nor is it about pleasing a congregation but finding a place where God is worshiped by everyone. If I had to pick one or the other (which is not where I feel God leading me) I would end up Reformed, but then that is what I have grown up as. Yet as I learn more and more about different church styles I find a peace surrounding most things that might prove to be difficult theological issues. Or maybe it is coming to a place where ‘I don’t know’ is an acceptable answer.
I think I have another rant that I need to flesh out too, but I'll save that for another time.
Thoughts? Comments here or in person are open. I know I have holes in there somewhere, but take the rough meaning.
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