It has been a long while since I wrote a blog post--almost a year and a half, as a matter of fact-- and so much has changed in that period of time. I no longer attend Princeton Seminary, I haven't been to a church willingly since April 29, 2012, and my observations about the Kingdom seem to have changed from "idealistic" to "realistic." At first, I thought it was anger that I felt toward the Church and God, but the more and more I thought about it over this time, it is actually frustration that I feel within myself. Permit me to give a little background before I jump right into my main point.
Bursting my bubble. If you were an avid reader of this blog, you may recall several posts where I referred to being in a Christian bubble while at seminary. Well, my bubble was torn open May 2, 2012 when my grandmother passed away. Without going into great detail, the only people I felt genuine support and sorrow from were non-church going friends and my predominantly non-believing family members. Furthermore, the church handled the funeral in a very "money-seeking," "members-only" kind of way. I was unable to receive communion because of my un-affiliation with the Catholic church, and I was rebuked for not kneeling before entering the altar area... "This is holy ground, ya know!" They treated "different" as "dangerous," and this is when I realized I left the safety of seminary.
By the numbers. It was hard to pretend that I was alright after the passing of my grandmother. The circumstances following her death, PTSem's handling of my "time-off" from May term, and financial burdens were among key factors in my decision not to return to Princeton. Since that decision...
I have received ONE email from a pastor (a reply, actually).
I have been contacted ZERO times by my session; ZERO times from my session or presbytery liaison.
I answered THREE phone calls from a CPM secretary.
I replied to TWO emails inquiring about my return to PTSem ("yes" or "no," not "why" emails).
I received at least FIFTY facebook messages between two women from my church.
-One of these women does not even work or attend there anymore; the other I have always admired.
-ZERO messages, calls, or emails from everyone else.
Presbyterians have never rebuked me for standing on holy ground, but they have taught me to expect more in the way of hospitality, caring for others, and above all, love.
Spiritual Scars. I always wondered what it would feel like to have spiritual wounds. How badly would it hurt? Would it involve being angry and hating God? Would I feel bitter and resentful? Lost and broken? Would I come to no longer believe? I felt sad, lost, and frustrated... and maybe a little responsible and guilty. I used to think "If I didn't leave Princeton, maybe the church would not have turned its back on me..." I don't regret my decision to leave Princeton, but I do bear the spiritual scars from the consequences of that decision.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Showing posts with label seminary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seminary. Show all posts
Monday, November 11, 2013
Friday, February 3, 2012
"Let's Sing through the Psalms"
Wow! What a week one! It's been long, crazy at times, but all around super-exciting! Oh, and furthermore, I think I have a routine--hiyah! I'm still in debate over which pastoral care class I want to be in, but I am hoping to make that decision by the end of the weekend, so I don't get behind in whichever one I choose. Other than that, the rest of my classes have been simply wonderful.
New Testament. Easy peasy thus far. I love the NT... I love Jesus, and I love Paul, so it should be no surprise that I love the NT! A friend asked me the other day: "Which do you like better, the New or Old Testament?" I said... "Yes." It's hard to choose and I have no intention of picking one over the other. I love them both! =)
Women in OT Narratives (Hebrew Exegesis). ...or as I call it for short, "Old Women Hebrew." The professor in this class is amazing. We jumped right in with translation this week and worked on Genesis Chapter 2. She is really good with the Hebrew language, which I find pure dead brilliant, and we studied many of the grammatical intentionalities and puns within the story of Genesis 2.
Pastoral Care. As I said above, I'm still on the fence about this one.
Speech. This class is a continuation of the one from last semester. It is usually a lot of fun, but not when you have a sore throat and feel an illness coming on. Ashley + physical activity + sleep + orange juice + zinc = I will beat you illness bug, I will defeat you!
Psalms. Wow Wow Wow! My favorite class, hands down. If you have followed this blog, you may know that it is hard to compete with Hebrew for my favorite class. Well, Psalms just surpassed it without even looking back! The premise of the class is an hour long lecture and then an hour of singing through the psalms (ten-fifteen at a time). What a truly amazing class! I hit my sore throat with a cough drop, but that didn't last long once we began singing through the first ten Psalms! Despite my shortcomings of singing this fine afternoon, it was the beginning of a great journey through the book of Psalms. We are also required to journal through them in our own study and write a few prayers and liturgies along the way. Check out this brand new book, though:
I would highly recommend this Psalter. Martin Tel, director of music here, was senior editor, and trust me when I say that the man is a pure genius. It is worth the investment!
Well, beloved friends, I am off to enter into a weekend of endless reading! I continue to keep all of you in my prayers! God Bless.
P.S.--the groundhog saw his shadow, so six more weeks of "winter." =)
New Testament. Easy peasy thus far. I love the NT... I love Jesus, and I love Paul, so it should be no surprise that I love the NT! A friend asked me the other day: "Which do you like better, the New or Old Testament?" I said... "Yes." It's hard to choose and I have no intention of picking one over the other. I love them both! =)
Women in OT Narratives (Hebrew Exegesis). ...or as I call it for short, "Old Women Hebrew." The professor in this class is amazing. We jumped right in with translation this week and worked on Genesis Chapter 2. She is really good with the Hebrew language, which I find pure dead brilliant, and we studied many of the grammatical intentionalities and puns within the story of Genesis 2.
Pastoral Care. As I said above, I'm still on the fence about this one.
Speech. This class is a continuation of the one from last semester. It is usually a lot of fun, but not when you have a sore throat and feel an illness coming on. Ashley + physical activity + sleep + orange juice + zinc = I will beat you illness bug, I will defeat you!
Psalms. Wow Wow Wow! My favorite class, hands down. If you have followed this blog, you may know that it is hard to compete with Hebrew for my favorite class. Well, Psalms just surpassed it without even looking back! The premise of the class is an hour long lecture and then an hour of singing through the psalms (ten-fifteen at a time). What a truly amazing class! I hit my sore throat with a cough drop, but that didn't last long once we began singing through the first ten Psalms! Despite my shortcomings of singing this fine afternoon, it was the beginning of a great journey through the book of Psalms. We are also required to journal through them in our own study and write a few prayers and liturgies along the way. Check out this brand new book, though:
I would highly recommend this Psalter. Martin Tel, director of music here, was senior editor, and trust me when I say that the man is a pure genius. It is worth the investment!
Well, beloved friends, I am off to enter into a weekend of endless reading! I continue to keep all of you in my prayers! God Bless.
P.S.--the groundhog saw his shadow, so six more weeks of "winter." =)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
"I can almost promise a jewel in your Heavenly crown!"
Hello, beloved friends! I am terribly sorry for my lack of updating this week. Despite being on break from school, I have been incredibly busy... busy having FUN FUN FUN! I have very much to recap from this week, so I am just going to dive right in!
Sunday: Episcopal Service. I have a confession to make: Sunday mornings have been more analytical than spiritual for me lately. Why? Well, simply because I need to find a place to do my field education placements! During worship, my brain has been wandering into the realms of theology and liturgy and different components that make up a Sunday service. I've been rating hospitality, love, ministries, music, and sermons relative to one another in order to find a place where I may fit in. This has been exhausting. So, 3 weeks ago, I decided to go to the 9pm Episcopal service at UChapel with some friends. This is exactly what I needed! Lately it seems like Sundays fly by and are full of hustle and bustle, but the Episcopal service is small, intimate, and quiet. I have truly developed a new appreciation for silence. =)
Monday: Relax. Fellowshiped with friends all day--no joke.
Tuesday: NYC. The Big Apple! I went with a small group of seminarians and one of their international friends! It was fun. We all walked through Central Park to the Guggenheim Museum, then we split into two small groups: I went to the World Trade Center Memorial site, ate pizza in Little Italy, hung out in Little China, meandered around Times Square, saw some break dancers, visited the Public Library, walked up to the Empire State building, and then finally went home!
Wednesday: Moving Day, Bridge, Trivia. Such a wonderful day! A group of us helped move married friends from old CRW apartments to new CRW apartments! It took us all a good three and a half hours to do, but it was so much fun! Seminarians are pretty awesome people! We even got free breakfast and lunch, which is awesome since the dining hall is closed... oh, and of course, "A jewel in our heavenly crown" for our efforts! ;)
After moving, I sceedaddled on over to West Chester to visit my church mom! Wooooooo, hooray for finally being able to visit her (she is doing well, by the way, so thanks for the prayers!). I also went to the Wednesday night program at my church! The band sounded absolutely incredible... especially with all those youth up there! After all that, I zoomed back to Princeton and met up with my seminarian friends for a bit o trivia! We came in 3rd, and one of my good friends got engaged (in another state, not in Applebee's) while we were there! Yay!
Thursday: Games! Today is the day I shift my mindset from "relaxation" to "academia." I began working on things due the first week of school, applied to several field education placement sites, reviewed some Hebrew, played some games, had lunch with a dear friend of mine, and finally decided to update this blog!
Yes, we say it. Being the avid blog-reader that I am, I found this wonderful video the other day!
Sunday: Episcopal Service. I have a confession to make: Sunday mornings have been more analytical than spiritual for me lately. Why? Well, simply because I need to find a place to do my field education placements! During worship, my brain has been wandering into the realms of theology and liturgy and different components that make up a Sunday service. I've been rating hospitality, love, ministries, music, and sermons relative to one another in order to find a place where I may fit in. This has been exhausting. So, 3 weeks ago, I decided to go to the 9pm Episcopal service at UChapel with some friends. This is exactly what I needed! Lately it seems like Sundays fly by and are full of hustle and bustle, but the Episcopal service is small, intimate, and quiet. I have truly developed a new appreciation for silence. =)
Monday: Relax. Fellowshiped with friends all day--no joke.
Tuesday: NYC. The Big Apple! I went with a small group of seminarians and one of their international friends! It was fun. We all walked through Central Park to the Guggenheim Museum, then we split into two small groups: I went to the World Trade Center Memorial site, ate pizza in Little Italy, hung out in Little China, meandered around Times Square, saw some break dancers, visited the Public Library, walked up to the Empire State building, and then finally went home!
Gutenberg Bible (left), Israel M&M's (right): I'm a little nerdy.
Wednesday: Moving Day, Bridge, Trivia. Such a wonderful day! A group of us helped move married friends from old CRW apartments to new CRW apartments! It took us all a good three and a half hours to do, but it was so much fun! Seminarians are pretty awesome people! We even got free breakfast and lunch, which is awesome since the dining hall is closed... oh, and of course, "A jewel in our heavenly crown" for our efforts! ;)
After moving, I sceedaddled on over to West Chester to visit my church mom! Wooooooo, hooray for finally being able to visit her (she is doing well, by the way, so thanks for the prayers!). I also went to the Wednesday night program at my church! The band sounded absolutely incredible... especially with all those youth up there! After all that, I zoomed back to Princeton and met up with my seminarian friends for a bit o trivia! We came in 3rd, and one of my good friends got engaged (in another state, not in Applebee's) while we were there! Yay!
Thursday: Games! Today is the day I shift my mindset from "relaxation" to "academia." I began working on things due the first week of school, applied to several field education placement sites, reviewed some Hebrew, played some games, had lunch with a dear friend of mine, and finally decided to update this blog!
Yes, we say it. Being the avid blog-reader that I am, I found this wonderful video the other day!
...and I for one can personally confirm that I have said several of these things on occasion. Very nicely done.
I am hoping to start a new series on this blog this spring that I think some of you may enjoy! In addition to my regular posts, I will be getting seminarians to make short videos of the most well known Bible stories. The unique thing about these videos is that they are going to be simple, in layman's terms, and maybe a little bit hilarious! We promise to be true to the text, but we're interested in making these stories interesting to you. If you have particular suggestions for such a video (or are interested in participating), email me at: ashley.reimold@gmail.com. God Bless!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Hebrew Scholars
Hooray! J-term is conquered! Finally! Now, I have a week off for inter-semester break (in which the seminary is promoting fasting once again), and a time to relax before jumping head first into the spring semester! This week promises to be a fun one with a few plans here and there, but mostly filled with an enormous amount of unstructured time.
Psalm 34 & Bibleworks. This was the final bit of translating on my Hebrew final, and a good choice to finish off the class. My translation: (1) Let me bless the Lord at all times / Always praise him with my mouth. (2) The LORD will be praised by my soul / It will listen for answers and it will rejoice. (3) The LORD is great to us / Let us exalt his name altogether. (4) I seek the LORD and he answers me / And from all my fears, I am saved. We only had to translate these four verses for the poetry section, but we also had to translate a sizable chunk of narrative from Judges. Other than the translation, the rest of the test was pretty simple and straightforward. Being the studiously dedicated seminarians that we are, we also incorporated our Hebrew studies into a game of telephone pictionary (Note: "Hebrew scholars"):
Looking ahead to my Hebrew exegesis class in the spring, I spent the better part of the morning familiarizing myself with Bibleworks. It is an amazing program that breaks down every single word in the Bible in its original language and also provides cross-references of any word to other places in the Bible. Simply put, it is AWESOME! =)
Snow. Finally...snow! Not counting that weird Halloween blizzard-thing, it has not snowed in Princeton this season! Despite my knowledge of the forecast, I still woke up this morning pleasantly surprised by the amount of snow outside my window! Since I have no particular place to be today, I will enjoy this accumulation with no complaining!
Psalm 34 & Bibleworks. This was the final bit of translating on my Hebrew final, and a good choice to finish off the class. My translation: (1) Let me bless the Lord at all times / Always praise him with my mouth. (2) The LORD will be praised by my soul / It will listen for answers and it will rejoice. (3) The LORD is great to us / Let us exalt his name altogether. (4) I seek the LORD and he answers me / And from all my fears, I am saved. We only had to translate these four verses for the poetry section, but we also had to translate a sizable chunk of narrative from Judges. Other than the translation, the rest of the test was pretty simple and straightforward. Being the studiously dedicated seminarians that we are, we also incorporated our Hebrew studies into a game of telephone pictionary (Note: "Hebrew scholars"):
Nelson is slightly distracted from interpreting because Katie and I are really funny!
Snow. Finally...snow! Not counting that weird Halloween blizzard-thing, it has not snowed in Princeton this season! Despite my knowledge of the forecast, I still woke up this morning pleasantly surprised by the amount of snow outside my window! Since I have no particular place to be today, I will enjoy this accumulation with no complaining!
07:00 PTS quad
Well friends, I hope all is well with each of you and that you are enjoying the snow (if you are reading from a snowy place). I will try to see as many of you as I can during my week long break. I will be taking trips to NYC and Pennsylvania this week, and I am rather excited about both! Grace and peace to you! =)
Monday, January 9, 2012
"Hoshek, it's dark!"
Shalom dear friends! I am officially 40% done with my intensive Hebrew course... but really, that is only in amount of days, not quizzes/tests! Anyway, over the next two weeks I am probably going to be talking a lot about my Hebrew endeavors mostly because it consumes the majority of what I have been and will be doing (with the exception of the gym, basketball, meals, games, church, and a few town trips).
Hoshek, it's dark! Since I am in no way trying to convince you that studying Hebrew all day everyday is a good way to protect your sanity and guard your patience, instead I will share with some instances that made me think: "Clearly, they (or I) need a break from Hebrew..." The first one was the title of my last post: "How do you Hiphil that?" (2) "Kadosh!" simply meaning 'holy,' but when you yell it at your grammar book, it sounds like you're angry. (3)"Hoshek, it's dark" when the lights are off; hoskek = 'darkness.' (4)"You can tell from context..." Response: "If I hear that one more time... *mumble non-nonsensically in Hebrew.* (5)"This one is irregular." Response: "Can we just say they're all irregular and call it a day?! (6)"I didn't know what the word meant, so I just translated it as 'pizazz.'" Response: "Pizazz in the eyes of the Lord?!"
Suspense. We have been doing a great deal of translating recently, more so than usual. The nice thing is that when we finish, we really feel like we've accomplished something... especially after an hour or two of nothing but translating. Most often, we have been working on familiar texts: Sarah and Abraham, Solomon's prayer for wisdom, the sacrifice of Isaac, Solomon settles the dispute, Samuel speaks to the Lord about appointing a king, etc etc. So, we know what is going to happen because we know the stories so well. But, we don't know the stories well enough to recite them. Plus, the literal Hebrew can be slightly different than the English. This creates a feeling of suspense, especially when you have to slow up your translating to look up an unfamiliar word in the lexicon. I distinctly remember saying, "What is the Lord going to say in response to THIS?!" In addition, I think the slower pace that we have been forced to read these stories at has brought with it thought-provoking effects. It makes us think more about what every word means and the intent of just a single verse (as opposed to a whole story, chapter, or book). Despite the grueling hours spent in a Hebrew bible trying to translate it all in a way that makes sense in English, I really like this suspense, and I really enjoy translating; it's much better than other types of written homework!
Another two weeks to go! Yay! By then, I hope to be able to translate straight from the Hebrew with minimal use of a lexicon. We're getting there, and the progress we've made in just a week's time has been incredible! I hope all is well with each of you, and trust me when I say that I will be looking for something else to write about when I get time to write again. I continue to pray for you all!
Barak Adonai atah (God bless you)!
Hoshek, it's dark! Since I am in no way trying to convince you that studying Hebrew all day everyday is a good way to protect your sanity and guard your patience, instead I will share with some instances that made me think: "Clearly, they (or I) need a break from Hebrew..." The first one was the title of my last post: "How do you Hiphil that?" (2) "Kadosh!" simply meaning 'holy,' but when you yell it at your grammar book, it sounds like you're angry. (3)"Hoshek, it's dark" when the lights are off; hoskek = 'darkness.' (4)"You can tell from context..." Response: "If I hear that one more time... *mumble non-nonsensically in Hebrew.* (5)"This one is irregular." Response: "Can we just say they're all irregular and call it a day?! (6)"I didn't know what the word meant, so I just translated it as 'pizazz.'" Response: "Pizazz in the eyes of the Lord?!"
Circled words in Hebrew: "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Adonai" meaning Holy Holy Holy is the Lord.
Isaiah 6:3
Another two weeks to go! Yay! By then, I hope to be able to translate straight from the Hebrew with minimal use of a lexicon. We're getting there, and the progress we've made in just a week's time has been incredible! I hope all is well with each of you, and trust me when I say that I will be looking for something else to write about when I get time to write again. I continue to pray for you all!
Barak Adonai atah (God bless you)!
Monday, December 19, 2011
2011: An Awesome Year
Today I have been given the special gift of time! Yay, so what do I do? I go to the West Chester University Library! Typical me. Honestly, I think I have a broken "relaxer." That and I get bored with doing nothing. So here I am, working on Hebrew and reflecting on the past year. I have decided to be intentional about both of these things. I really enjoy Hebrew, so I do not want to fall behind when I could be getting ahead. As for the reflection, it just seems to keep popping up everywhere I look: you need to be reflecting on the past year. I think this is a great idea, so it has moved to the forefront of my agenda. Oftentimes, we 'get through' the Christmas season and then spend the week between Christmas and New Years devising a New Year's Resolution with no critical analysis of our past year. I strongly recommend caution against concerning this. Here are some of my reflections thus far:
Big Events. 2011 has be a 'big event' year for me. Chronologically (not necessarily in order of importance):
(1) last December around this time: I decided to go to seminary over pursuing Ph.D in psychology.
(2) January: I came under care of my session as an inquirer, making my decision 'official.'
(3) February: I visited PTS and loved every minute of it. I applied.
(4) March: I got accepted to PTS!
(5) May: I graduated WCU!
(6) June: I came under care of my Presbytery as an inquirer!
(7) August: I won my first HSHL championship as a coach making me the first woman to run the gauntlet!*
(8) September: started my 1st semester at PTS!
(9) December: completed my 1st semester at PTS!
Priorities. During a bible study last Wednesday, my pastor recommended looking back on 2011 and listing your top 5 priorities. I would echo what he said and suggest that you all do the same. This is what I've come up with:
(1) God.**
(2) Family/friends.
(3) Church.
(4) Academics.
(5) Spiritual, Mental, & Physical Health.
Small things. If you think about the big things, you must think about the 'small things.' I call them 'small' because to an outsider they may seem insignificant or unimportant in the grand scheme of things. "Blessings that are easily overlooked," if you will:
(1) Board games. One of the best ways to guard your mental health at seminary!
(2) Unnecessairly long Skype dates. I usually have a purpose of contact that would take about five minutes to discuss. Yet, these Skype dates tend to be well over an hour long and involve talking about nothing.
(3) Walks. Alone or with a buddy. It's awesome to just leave things and go for a walk admiring the simple things in God's creation.
People. In my opinion, the most significant impact on everyone's life. People.
(1) Friends. I've alluded to just how important friends are in several of my previous posts, but I just want to emphasize how much of a blessing friends really are to someone. I mean, personally, I'm too boring to want to hang out by myself all day. Plus, they're always there when you need 'em!
(2) Best Buddy. I am lucky enough to have the best buddy in the whole wide world. She's super cool, understands me better than even I do (which is saying something), gives great advice, and is always there. She has had a monumental impact upon my life, and for that, I am eternally in debt!
(3) Mentor. If you don't have one, find one! If you have one, thank them! Unfortunately for you, I have the greatest one in all of existence! Sorry ;). A woman from my church who has influenced my life in such a noticeable way. She has become like a mother to me in so many ways, and my faith journey very well may have looked significantly different without her influence and help every step of the way.
(4) [Oh] Brothers. Lucky for me, I have two of these that I love very much. Now that we're all 'adults' we get along much better and provide such a sure foundation for each other.
(5) Parents. They made me who I am today, no doubt. I find myself turning into them in so many ways. For instance, just the other day I said, "What is this garbage music that kids are listening to these days!" and a vivid memory of each of my parents saying the same thing some years ago popped into my head. Oi vey!
(6) Pastors. They have the best job on the planet in my estimation! It can be a tough job at times, but the rewards are second to none. Several pastors have had serious impacts on my faith and life journeys. Their counsel has made me a better person, especially over the last year!
(7) Kids. This is just a general category, but kids are awesome. They bring joy and laughter into all situations, and I think its a shame that they all grow up. Kids are definitely my favorite kind of people to have a lunch conversation with!
Well, I have written far more than I intended (sorry if your eyes hurt), but remember--today, I have time! =) Keep in mind that none of these lists are meant to be exhaustive--add et al to every single one of them. Anyway, chances are if you are reading this blog that you have made an impact on my life, and for that I thank you. I am very grateful for all of these blessings! Overall, I would say 2011 was an extremely good year for me. It has changed and formed me in ways far beyond my wildest dreams. To this I say, "Thanks be to God!"
*Winning a championship as a JV player, a Varsity player, an adult league player, and a JV/Varsity coach.
**I like to thing of God as the my center of gravity instead of first on a list. Kind of like the thing that everything else is affected by and revolves around.
Big Events. 2011 has be a 'big event' year for me. Chronologically (not necessarily in order of importance):
(1) last December around this time: I decided to go to seminary over pursuing Ph.D in psychology.
(2) January: I came under care of my session as an inquirer, making my decision 'official.'
(3) February: I visited PTS and loved every minute of it. I applied.
(4) March: I got accepted to PTS!
(5) May: I graduated WCU!
(6) June: I came under care of my Presbytery as an inquirer!
(7) August: I won my first HSHL championship as a coach making me the first woman to run the gauntlet!*
(8) September: started my 1st semester at PTS!
(9) December: completed my 1st semester at PTS!
Priorities. During a bible study last Wednesday, my pastor recommended looking back on 2011 and listing your top 5 priorities. I would echo what he said and suggest that you all do the same. This is what I've come up with:
(1) God.**
(2) Family/friends.
(3) Church.
(4) Academics.
(5) Spiritual, Mental, & Physical Health.
Small things. If you think about the big things, you must think about the 'small things.' I call them 'small' because to an outsider they may seem insignificant or unimportant in the grand scheme of things. "Blessings that are easily overlooked," if you will:
(1) Board games. One of the best ways to guard your mental health at seminary!
(2) Unnecessairly long Skype dates. I usually have a purpose of contact that would take about five minutes to discuss. Yet, these Skype dates tend to be well over an hour long and involve talking about nothing.
(3) Walks. Alone or with a buddy. It's awesome to just leave things and go for a walk admiring the simple things in God's creation.
People. In my opinion, the most significant impact on everyone's life. People.
(1) Friends. I've alluded to just how important friends are in several of my previous posts, but I just want to emphasize how much of a blessing friends really are to someone. I mean, personally, I'm too boring to want to hang out by myself all day. Plus, they're always there when you need 'em!
(3) Mentor. If you don't have one, find one! If you have one, thank them! Unfortunately for you, I have the greatest one in all of existence! Sorry ;). A woman from my church who has influenced my life in such a noticeable way. She has become like a mother to me in so many ways, and my faith journey very well may have looked significantly different without her influence and help every step of the way.
(4) [Oh] Brothers. Lucky for me, I have two of these that I love very much. Now that we're all 'adults' we get along much better and provide such a sure foundation for each other.
(5) Parents. They made me who I am today, no doubt. I find myself turning into them in so many ways. For instance, just the other day I said, "What is this garbage music that kids are listening to these days!" and a vivid memory of each of my parents saying the same thing some years ago popped into my head. Oi vey!
(6) Pastors. They have the best job on the planet in my estimation! It can be a tough job at times, but the rewards are second to none. Several pastors have had serious impacts on my faith and life journeys. Their counsel has made me a better person, especially over the last year!
(7) Kids. This is just a general category, but kids are awesome. They bring joy and laughter into all situations, and I think its a shame that they all grow up. Kids are definitely my favorite kind of people to have a lunch conversation with!
Well, I have written far more than I intended (sorry if your eyes hurt), but remember--today, I have time! =) Keep in mind that none of these lists are meant to be exhaustive--add et al to every single one of them. Anyway, chances are if you are reading this blog that you have made an impact on my life, and for that I thank you. I am very grateful for all of these blessings! Overall, I would say 2011 was an extremely good year for me. It has changed and formed me in ways far beyond my wildest dreams. To this I say, "Thanks be to God!"
*Winning a championship as a JV player, a Varsity player, an adult league player, and a JV/Varsity coach.
**I like to thing of God as the my center of gravity instead of first on a list. Kind of like the thing that everything else is affected by and revolves around.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
What I've Really Learned
Happy Saturday to all of you! Since it's the end of the semester I've been thinking about all that I have learned, and how much I grew after 15 weeks at seminary. It's quite astonishing to think about. According to PTS standards, I am 1/6 (about 17%) done with mastering divinity. Pft, yeah right, as if one could master divinity. As one of my good friends points out, "It is quite the pretentiously titled degree." I could go on and bore you with the vast amounts of factual knowledge I've learned this semester, but I certainly don't wish to bore anyone who takes precious time out of their day to read these blogs (sidenote: I am always willing to have that conversation in person, though). So, instead I will share with you things I've learned (or reaffirmed my knowledge of) outside the realm of academia over these weeks:
Building Vocational Relationships. This is super, super important--being intentional about friendships. Really, this is true even outside of vocations, but it's especially true for future ministers. We are an... umm... 'interesting' group of people--rather specialized in our day to day experiences. And in this community, it seems like there is a common understanding about things. This understanding increases relate-ability, sympathy, and depth of relationships. I cherish these relationships very much, and I am convinced that they will be enduring friendships after seminary.
Authenticity and Transparency. This is hard because it involves vulnerability. It's about being your true self and being comfortable about who you are. Oftentimes, we get caught up in a 'tyranny of shoulds' as a culture, and lose sight of the person we actually are as an individual. Here specifically, there is talk about the Imposter Syndrome. This causes many to worry endlessly. I've learned to embrace my quirkiness and to just be who God created me to be.
Live out your Prayers. I find this to be good advice for everyone. I could explain to you what I mean, but I think I'll just give a few examples of what I'm talking about and you can draw your own conclusions. (1) asking God for patience then practicing road rage; (2) asking God for understanding while being satisfied with ignorance; (3) [This is the one I used to do before I realized] asking God for discernment but not listening for his word. You can't ask God for something that you aren't willing to live out. I've once heard it put thus, "God has no hands but our own." Also--the book of Ruth is a several good examples of this concept.
Attitude of Gratitude. Be grateful. Ditch any sense of entitlement and "deserving" concepts that you may have embraced. Chances are that you are abundantly blessed--as am I, so take a minute to recognize that, really, this is not of your own doing. You are blessed because of God, because of others, and because of circumstance. It really has nothing to do with your own merit, or hard work, or dedication. And also keep in mind that the "things" that we are blessed with are temporary. Don't get overly invested in "things." Invest yourself in people. Center yourself on God.
Kingdom is here. Concern yourself with the here and now. Look for glimpses of the Kingdom. If you are too caught up in looking for something in the future, you are going to miss what's going on around you. And you can quote Revelation all you want about "...is to come," and that's true, but that doesn't mean that we don't have a job to do here and now. If we're all just waiting for God to fix things, what do you think God's first question is going to be when God comes again? We are the hands and feet of Christ. Let us worry more about the here and now and less about the there and then.
Grace & Love. In my estimation, the two most influential terms when these words become action. They are incredibly important. We are given this amazing gift of grace, and I think that we should also extend this grace on to one another. Favor... even when someone doesn't "deserve" it. And love. This is the greatest commandment, and I can quote Scripture up and down to prove it to you. Love holds people together in the most intimate way. It has an unmatched impact on one's life. From Paul: faith, hope, and love--and the greatest is love.
Discipline. This can be hard, but I have found it quite refreshing these last few weeks. Being intentional about things and getting into a nice routine with disciplined activities has been such a blessing. I strive on routine. I do not strive on changing routine. BUT I have changed up things to include more daily activities. For instance, I started a prayer journal this semester (such a wonderful way to unwind your thoughts and concerns). I've also been intentional about praying, devotionals, the gym, sleep, and leisure activities (to balance my studies). Discipline has been extremely helpful for me, and it could be for you also!
Like I've said, I've learned so much this semester! It's been nothing short of marvelous! Perhaps as an end-of-the-year activity, you can also reflect on things you've learned this year! It can put things into perspective before setting goals for next year or making new year's resolutions!
I also want to thank all of you that read my blog! My stats tell me that we just went over the 1,000 pageview mark! Woo Hoo! I am very glad that some of you seem to like it because I truly enjoy writing it! 4th Sunday of Advent tomorrow! Yay!
So, happy advent! (Soon I'll be able to say Merry Christmas!) God Bless!
Building Vocational Relationships. This is super, super important--being intentional about friendships. Really, this is true even outside of vocations, but it's especially true for future ministers. We are an... umm... 'interesting' group of people--rather specialized in our day to day experiences. And in this community, it seems like there is a common understanding about things. This understanding increases relate-ability, sympathy, and depth of relationships. I cherish these relationships very much, and I am convinced that they will be enduring friendships after seminary.
Live out your Prayers. I find this to be good advice for everyone. I could explain to you what I mean, but I think I'll just give a few examples of what I'm talking about and you can draw your own conclusions. (1) asking God for patience then practicing road rage; (2) asking God for understanding while being satisfied with ignorance; (3) [This is the one I used to do before I realized] asking God for discernment but not listening for his word. You can't ask God for something that you aren't willing to live out. I've once heard it put thus, "God has no hands but our own." Also--the book of Ruth is a several good examples of this concept.
Attitude of Gratitude. Be grateful. Ditch any sense of entitlement and "deserving" concepts that you may have embraced. Chances are that you are abundantly blessed--as am I, so take a minute to recognize that, really, this is not of your own doing. You are blessed because of God, because of others, and because of circumstance. It really has nothing to do with your own merit, or hard work, or dedication. And also keep in mind that the "things" that we are blessed with are temporary. Don't get overly invested in "things." Invest yourself in people. Center yourself on God.
Kingdom is here. Concern yourself with the here and now. Look for glimpses of the Kingdom. If you are too caught up in looking for something in the future, you are going to miss what's going on around you. And you can quote Revelation all you want about "...is to come," and that's true, but that doesn't mean that we don't have a job to do here and now. If we're all just waiting for God to fix things, what do you think God's first question is going to be when God comes again? We are the hands and feet of Christ. Let us worry more about the here and now and less about the there and then.
Grace & Love. In my estimation, the two most influential terms when these words become action. They are incredibly important. We are given this amazing gift of grace, and I think that we should also extend this grace on to one another. Favor... even when someone doesn't "deserve" it. And love. This is the greatest commandment, and I can quote Scripture up and down to prove it to you. Love holds people together in the most intimate way. It has an unmatched impact on one's life. From Paul: faith, hope, and love--and the greatest is love.
A note from lunch today. I love kids!
Discipline. This can be hard, but I have found it quite refreshing these last few weeks. Being intentional about things and getting into a nice routine with disciplined activities has been such a blessing. I strive on routine. I do not strive on changing routine. BUT I have changed up things to include more daily activities. For instance, I started a prayer journal this semester (such a wonderful way to unwind your thoughts and concerns). I've also been intentional about praying, devotionals, the gym, sleep, and leisure activities (to balance my studies). Discipline has been extremely helpful for me, and it could be for you also!
Like I've said, I've learned so much this semester! It's been nothing short of marvelous! Perhaps as an end-of-the-year activity, you can also reflect on things you've learned this year! It can put things into perspective before setting goals for next year or making new year's resolutions!
I also want to thank all of you that read my blog! My stats tell me that we just went over the 1,000 pageview mark! Woo Hoo! I am very glad that some of you seem to like it because I truly enjoy writing it! 4th Sunday of Advent tomorrow! Yay!
So, happy advent! (Soon I'll be able to say Merry Christmas!) God Bless!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
"I hate it when my snakes fall off!"
So I am just going to admit right off the bat that I need a break in studying! It seems like my answer to every Whatcha up to? or What are your plans for later? is always... well, I'm studying. I might just go a little crazy before finals are over. But I'm definitely not stressing, it's advent and there is a wonderful Christmas concert here this afternoon/ evening. Anyway, recap on the past few days:
Sermon on Hell. How many of these have you heard in your lifetime? I'm not just talking about sermons that reference hell, but sermons fully devoted to the topic of hell. How many? Well, I can answer this question without thinking too much: none. In my life, I have never heard a sermon completely dedicated to hell. Yesterday, that changed. It was an interesting sermon. One of the professors here was the preacher for the chapel service and decided to tackle this not-so-popular topic with no script. Good on ya, I say. Anyway, he spoke mostly about repentance, and did a very good job relating it all to gospel themes and even to advent. It was very interesting, very well thought out, and overall very good. We sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic as the final hymn--very fitting.
Seminary Basketball. Why on earth would basketball be on my mind or in my schedule so close to finals week?! That's outrageous, right?! Wrong. First and foremost I would like to point out that physical activity boosts mental activity for up to eight hours. Cha ching! AND, in my opinion, basketball provides a needed break to the academia around here. I must say, seminary basketball is the right kind of basketball. What do I mean by this? Well, in high school and undergrad, basketball was centered around competition, rivalry, and pride. At seminary, however, it's different. The goal isn't necessarily to win, it's to have fun. There aren't really any rivalries because no one can force themselves to dislike another person over a simple, trivial game. And pride? --we don't even have school colors and are playing under the same institution. Pft, the heck with intramural pride. Everyone is very honest about fouls, very complimentary to both teams, very conversational, and overall--it is the fairest game of basketball you will ever see. We're just doing pickup games for now, but the season begins in February, and I can't wait!
Olivia's Advent Calendar. You should check this out. It is a series of videos recorded by a girl from my friend's church. She makes a creative video everyday when she opens that day's door of her advent calendar. These are pretty hilarious! They are posted on youtube daily and will certainly give you a few good laughs as well as a number of witty phrases to throw around. Ex: "I hate when my snakes fall off!" and "Dad, is that enough twitching?!" A group of us watch them everyday! =)
Anyway, I might want to get back to work. These finals aren't going to study for themselves! I hope all is well with each of you! All the best, until next time! =)
Sermon on Hell. How many of these have you heard in your lifetime? I'm not just talking about sermons that reference hell, but sermons fully devoted to the topic of hell. How many? Well, I can answer this question without thinking too much: none. In my life, I have never heard a sermon completely dedicated to hell. Yesterday, that changed. It was an interesting sermon. One of the professors here was the preacher for the chapel service and decided to tackle this not-so-popular topic with no script. Good on ya, I say. Anyway, he spoke mostly about repentance, and did a very good job relating it all to gospel themes and even to advent. It was very interesting, very well thought out, and overall very good. We sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic as the final hymn--very fitting.
Seminary Basketball. Why on earth would basketball be on my mind or in my schedule so close to finals week?! That's outrageous, right?! Wrong. First and foremost I would like to point out that physical activity boosts mental activity for up to eight hours. Cha ching! AND, in my opinion, basketball provides a needed break to the academia around here. I must say, seminary basketball is the right kind of basketball. What do I mean by this? Well, in high school and undergrad, basketball was centered around competition, rivalry, and pride. At seminary, however, it's different. The goal isn't necessarily to win, it's to have fun. There aren't really any rivalries because no one can force themselves to dislike another person over a simple, trivial game. And pride? --we don't even have school colors and are playing under the same institution. Pft, the heck with intramural pride. Everyone is very honest about fouls, very complimentary to both teams, very conversational, and overall--it is the fairest game of basketball you will ever see. We're just doing pickup games for now, but the season begins in February, and I can't wait!
Olivia's Advent Calendar. You should check this out. It is a series of videos recorded by a girl from my friend's church. She makes a creative video everyday when she opens that day's door of her advent calendar. These are pretty hilarious! They are posted on youtube daily and will certainly give you a few good laughs as well as a number of witty phrases to throw around. Ex: "I hate when my snakes fall off!" and "Dad, is that enough twitching?!" A group of us watch them everyday! =)
Anyway, I might want to get back to work. These finals aren't going to study for themselves! I hope all is well with each of you! All the best, until next time! =)
Sunday, December 4, 2011
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
It's still ADVENT TIME!
Compliments to KO
O Come, O Come Emmanuel. So, some of you may be thinking: what is up with Ashley's obsession with Advent and especially with O Come, O Come Emmanuel? To you I would say--that's a fair question. First and foremost, I love love love advent! It's the most awesome time of the year for me, and when I feel closest to God (I'm sure it helps that the term "God with us" is thrown around all of the time during this season). As for the hymn, it's by far my favorite--although, I must admit that I am slightly disappointed that the Presbyterian Hymnal only includes three of eight verses. I am convinced this hymn it will never ever ever get old, and the words are very deep and meaningful! Read parts of Isaiah or Psalm 74 and then sing O Come, O Come Emmanuel--you'll get some goosebumps. =) ...well at least I do.
Wait. You know, I'm starting to get pretty good at this waiting stuff. I get the vibe that many people do not particularly enjoy waiting, but I am usually not too antsy or impatient about things. I am one of those "savor-the-journey" kind of people, and not a "get-to-the-destination" person. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the latter. Quite on the contrary, I would argue that I am the weird one. This is probably another reason I love advent. If, however, you cannot relate to me... you may be able to relate to many Psalmist who proclaim, "How long, O Lord..." So, crack open those Bibles right to the middle and check out what some of the psalmists have to say about waiting!
Candlelight Christmas Concert. You know what else I love? My church! Uh huh, that's right--best church in the world if you ask me! =) This is why I was oober excited about today! I went to Sunday school, Worship, and then.... to the Candlelight Christmas Concert where there was SINGING and MUSIC and HYMNS and SINGING and O COME, O COME EMMANUEL and AWESOMENESS and ADVENT EVERYWHERE and DECORATIONS and PEOPLE and FELLOWSHIP and COOKIES! Oh what a wonderful day! And my brother even joined me for the concert! I am so grateful for how ridiculously blessed I am! I hope and pray that I am blessed to be a blessing unto others!
CPE. And finally, as if this amazing second Sunday of advent could not get any better, I got an acceptance email from a Clinical Pastoral Education center in North Dakota! Whooo! I'm gonna see what God has to say about this before I dive in headfirst, and I ask, if you're feeling up to it, that you pray for it too! =)
Well, that is certainly enough rambling for one night! I hope all of your advents are going well! All the best and God bless!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Bert Reynolds Day
I'm am going to apologize in advance for the lack of pictures on this blog. I had no device to allow me to take any pictures when I was pleasantly surprised during my lunch with the end of a month long mustache competition.
I had heard of the competition in passing at the end of October, but I didn't realize just how serious the men of this seminary take this competition. Some of them had very interesting and creative "moooose-staches" (as they pronounce the word). We had three lovely judges to guide us through the competition: a church history professor, a student, and our Aramark representative. It was very interesting. Also, a classmate of mine commentated the whole thing.
So basically, there were four categories: best incoming mustache, most creative mustache, best attempt mustache and best overall mustache. The rules were simple. Start clean shaven November 1st, and let it grow throughout the month. On December 1st, shave it how you please (usually in some kind of design). Each contestant introduced himself in each category and then gave the name of his mustache. There were quite humorous names. The ones that stuck in my memory: money's tail, chaps, white lightning, Saturday morning hangover. There were a lot more, but I have an awful memory.
It was a great way to ease some tension that was floating around in the shadows of upcoming finals. It really is an awesome tradition!
Just a quick update. All the best!
I had heard of the competition in passing at the end of October, but I didn't realize just how serious the men of this seminary take this competition. Some of them had very interesting and creative "moooose-staches" (as they pronounce the word). We had three lovely judges to guide us through the competition: a church history professor, a student, and our Aramark representative. It was very interesting. Also, a classmate of mine commentated the whole thing.
So basically, there were four categories: best incoming mustache, most creative mustache, best attempt mustache and best overall mustache. The rules were simple. Start clean shaven November 1st, and let it grow throughout the month. On December 1st, shave it how you please (usually in some kind of design). Each contestant introduced himself in each category and then gave the name of his mustache. There were quite humorous names. The ones that stuck in my memory: money's tail, chaps, white lightning, Saturday morning hangover. There were a lot more, but I have an awful memory.
It was a great way to ease some tension that was floating around in the shadows of upcoming finals. It really is an awesome tradition!
Just a quick update. All the best!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Cheese Tag
Oh, it's one of those weeks! You know... the ones when you remember the insane amounts of work that need to get done in spite of the incredibly infinitesimal chunks of free time in your schedule. And it is going to be a Christmas miracle if I find time to go shopping for everyone. Despite all of this, I am in great spirits! Hmm, can anyone guess why? Anyone? Oh right, it's Advent! Whoooo! Also, here are a few other happenings that make my life a wonderful one:
Cheese Tag. Just last night I got to the dining hall a little late (I was coming from the gym) and found new, fun people to sit with. It just so happened that half of these people were little people... people in training... kids, if you will. I love kids! They are simply wonderful. Our conversations were filled will kindergarten jokes, why one would dip pizza crust in ginger ale, and how to finger-spell our names. Then, the little girl tagged me on the shoulder, said, "Cheese tag!", and crossed as many body parts as humanly possible (making her "safe"). Slightly bewildered, I asked her what I should do. She told me to simply tag someone else who didn't have their fingers crossed, and say, "Cheese tag!" So I did. And then they did. And then that person did... and so on and so forth until literally the WHOLE SEMINARY CAFETERIA was playing cheese tag and chasing one another around tables. It was a ridiculous amount of fun! It got me to thinking: it's a darn shame that we are ever forced to grow up.
Yoga. Don't knock it if you've never tried it. That's what I used to do, but it is really awesome. Awesome to the point that today, every time I inhale, my shoulders sear with pain. It was really relaxing and definitely worth it, though. I know what I'll be doing on Wednesday evenings from now on. =)
Letters to God. In our speech classes, we are required to read a psalm and children's letters to God for our final. These are absolutely the cutest things ever. It makes me think that sometimes we make prayer a little too complicated. Perhaps we could take lessons from children in simplicity during this time of waiting and anticipation. Maybe it would be a better theme during lent, who knows?
Advent Colors. So, in case you didn't know, Advent is my favorite time of the year. Truly, my favorite. This year, I am attempting to match the liturgical colors of the season every day during this four week period. Presbyterians use purple and Lutherans use blue, so I am going to stick to these two colors for the first three weeks and see how creative I can get without being redundant with my wardrobe. For the final week, I am going to try to do all pink... which may prove to be difficult because I only have 3 pink shirts, and 2 of them are t-shirts. We'll see how it works out. Wish me luck!
Oh and I will be singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel every single day this week. Thanks chapel! =)
Peace be with you.
Cheese Tag. Just last night I got to the dining hall a little late (I was coming from the gym) and found new, fun people to sit with. It just so happened that half of these people were little people... people in training... kids, if you will. I love kids! They are simply wonderful. Our conversations were filled will kindergarten jokes, why one would dip pizza crust in ginger ale, and how to finger-spell our names. Then, the little girl tagged me on the shoulder, said, "Cheese tag!", and crossed as many body parts as humanly possible (making her "safe"). Slightly bewildered, I asked her what I should do. She told me to simply tag someone else who didn't have their fingers crossed, and say, "Cheese tag!" So I did. And then they did. And then that person did... and so on and so forth until literally the WHOLE SEMINARY CAFETERIA was playing cheese tag and chasing one another around tables. It was a ridiculous amount of fun! It got me to thinking: it's a darn shame that we are ever forced to grow up.
Yoga. Don't knock it if you've never tried it. That's what I used to do, but it is really awesome. Awesome to the point that today, every time I inhale, my shoulders sear with pain. It was really relaxing and definitely worth it, though. I know what I'll be doing on Wednesday evenings from now on. =)
Letters to God. In our speech classes, we are required to read a psalm and children's letters to God for our final. These are absolutely the cutest things ever. It makes me think that sometimes we make prayer a little too complicated. Perhaps we could take lessons from children in simplicity during this time of waiting and anticipation. Maybe it would be a better theme during lent, who knows?
Advent Colors. So, in case you didn't know, Advent is my favorite time of the year. Truly, my favorite. This year, I am attempting to match the liturgical colors of the season every day during this four week period. Presbyterians use purple and Lutherans use blue, so I am going to stick to these two colors for the first three weeks and see how creative I can get without being redundant with my wardrobe. For the final week, I am going to try to do all pink... which may prove to be difficult because I only have 3 pink shirts, and 2 of them are t-shirts. We'll see how it works out. Wish me luck!
Oh and I will be singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel every single day this week. Thanks chapel! =)
Peace be with you.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Kingdom Quotes Pt. II
Get the sticky notes ready! Here are some more thought provoking things I've heard/read/said in recent week(s):
We might not how what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
Too often we talk to our God about how big our mountains are instead of talking to our mountains about how big our God is.
When you get no credit, remember: you don't work under people, you work under God.
The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives.
Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.
People will come miles and miles to hear the Word of God, but they won't cross the street to hear what you have to say. Remember that.
Never let good enough be good enough.
It seems like every time we try to bring heaven down to earth, we bring hell up from below.
God doesn't call the equipped; God equips the called.
You have to go as far as you can see to see how far you can go.
We must live simply so others may simply live.
It's not hard. It's heart.
I hope you are all enjoying advent! =)
We might not how what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
Too often we talk to our God about how big our mountains are instead of talking to our mountains about how big our God is.
When you get no credit, remember: you don't work under people, you work under God.
The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives.
Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.
People will come miles and miles to hear the Word of God, but they won't cross the street to hear what you have to say. Remember that.
Never let good enough be good enough.
It seems like every time we try to bring heaven down to earth, we bring hell up from below.
God doesn't call the equipped; God equips the called.
You have to go as far as you can see to see how far you can go.
We must live simply so others may simply live.
It's not hard. It's heart.
I hope you are all enjoying advent! =)
Monday, November 28, 2011
It's Advent!
My first day back made me realize two things: (1) I really missed this place; (2) I really needed that break! Phew! I had quite a wonderful break thanks to many, many people! It was very much filled with joy and fun:
TV. I haven't watched tv in 3 months (not kidding), and the first thing I see when I turn on the tube... black friday commericals. Good job America. I got to watch some football, and the Ellen DeGeneres show! Yay!
Food. I am in no place to scrutinize any food served at any institution, so I will just say that it was good to have some home cooked meals. It's been awhile.
Hockey. Both watched and played. WBS Penguins lost to Hershey in a shootout, but we went with a fun crowd (and I got to eat dippin dots with my best buddy)! Then, the pickup roller game was quite competitive.
Soreness. I practiced with my high school basketball team, worked out more than usual (running, situps, and pushups), played with my dogs, and played a three hour roller hockey game. Results: I will be sore for the rest of the week.
TV. I haven't watched tv in 3 months (not kidding), and the first thing I see when I turn on the tube... black friday commericals. Good job America. I got to watch some football, and the Ellen DeGeneres show! Yay!
Food. I am in no place to scrutinize any food served at any institution, so I will just say that it was good to have some home cooked meals. It's been awhile.
Hockey. Both watched and played. WBS Penguins lost to Hershey in a shootout, but we went with a fun crowd (and I got to eat dippin dots with my best buddy)! Then, the pickup roller game was quite competitive.
Church. Guess what? It's Advent! WHOOOOOOOOOO! I love advent! Love it! L-O-V-E it! Oh, it's simply wonderful! Best hymns of the year, if you ask me! And liturgical purple! And candles! And Jesus! And joy! And waiting... oh, I am eager for the waiting. Plus, it really highlights some of the best parts of scripture! Oh joy! I'm really excited! Anyway, I got to spend the first Sunday of advent in West Chester! What a blessing, indeed! Boy, do I love my church family. What wonderful people! =) It's really an excellent place! And... in case anyone was wondering... we sang O Come O Come Emmanuel in chapel this morning--my FAVORITE! Eeeek, I am ridiculously happy!
Well, I'm back in the bubble! What an excellent break! I very grateful to have wonderful friends to come back to, too! Now, if only the weather will catch up with us... hello, it's advent! Where's the snow, and frosty weather?! I'm not complaining, though, it makes travel easier when it is 60 degree outside! Be seeing you again soon, FPCWC family! Until then, the Lord be with each and every one of you! =)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thanks-living Brake
**Deep exhale** Phew, finally time for Thanksgiving break (or brake...if you, like me, want things to slow down for a bit)! So now I have some time to sit down and reflect on the past week, and it was quite the week!
Teaching Ministry Interview. So, firstly the thing I am second most excited about (the first being Advent)--teaching ministry. Here at PTSem we have a program under the field education department called "Teaching Ministry." It is basically a church placement with an emphasis on education--usually in the form of a Bible/book study. I applied about two weeks ago, and I got selected for an interview! Yay! They only select ten people for each year's cohort, so I still have to make it through the interview. One of the coolest things about Teaching Ministry is that you get to choose a faculty adviser to help guide you along the way! Princeton Seminary is pretty awesome!
CPE Interviews. I am about to be swamped with interviews! Ahh! As soon as I return from Thanksgiving break, I have two interviews with CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) sites (plus the Teaching Ministry interview)! One of them is very near to my home--Geisinger, and the other is in North Dakota! I am also hoping to hear from a hospital outside of Norfolk, VA. Whatever happens, I fully plan on doing my CPE this summer! Who knows where it will be at this point?!
Hebrew Test. If you've been loosely following this blog, you probably know that I am in a Biblical Hebrew class. It is probably my most challenging class, but at the same time, it is easily my favorite class! Anyway, I had another Midterm on Monday and spent much of the weekend preparing for it! Turns out, I did pretty darn well! Yay! ...oh and special thanks to all of those wonderful people back at First Pres WC that ensured I was riding a sugar high all weekend while studying (haha)!
Thanksgiving. Finally, onto turkey day! I am sorry to say that I am going to miss West Chester's interfaith service tomorrow night (good luck David Pickett and all else who are involved); I really enjoyed it last year. Unfortunately, my car broke, so I am relying on my dear brother for transportation! The week should be fun, though. I am a little nervous about leaving this Christian bubble, but I am anticipating that it will actually be refreshing! Plus, I get to see a lot of amazing people that I have not seen in a long while, including: my parents, my brothers, my best buddy, my church family, my high school basketball coach, my hockey friends, and my pets!
So, today I depart for a bit of a rest and a deep breath before the last two weeks of the semester and Advent! I am super excited for Advent and Christmas! I am planning on doing some kind of Advent study, probably this one: http://www.journeythischristmas.com/chapter.html. Last year, I did a devotional series that could be found here: http://www.d365.org/followingthestar/ (I highly recommend it). Finally, I would suggest that all of you watch this, it is a very thought provoking video about Advent/Christmas in our American culture: http://adventconspiracy.org/ (video top right).
All the best to each of you! May your Thanksgiving also be a time of thanks-living.
Teaching Ministry Interview. So, firstly the thing I am second most excited about (the first being Advent)--teaching ministry. Here at PTSem we have a program under the field education department called "Teaching Ministry." It is basically a church placement with an emphasis on education--usually in the form of a Bible/book study. I applied about two weeks ago, and I got selected for an interview! Yay! They only select ten people for each year's cohort, so I still have to make it through the interview. One of the coolest things about Teaching Ministry is that you get to choose a faculty adviser to help guide you along the way! Princeton Seminary is pretty awesome!
CPE Interviews. I am about to be swamped with interviews! Ahh! As soon as I return from Thanksgiving break, I have two interviews with CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) sites (plus the Teaching Ministry interview)! One of them is very near to my home--Geisinger, and the other is in North Dakota! I am also hoping to hear from a hospital outside of Norfolk, VA. Whatever happens, I fully plan on doing my CPE this summer! Who knows where it will be at this point?!
Hebrew Test. If you've been loosely following this blog, you probably know that I am in a Biblical Hebrew class. It is probably my most challenging class, but at the same time, it is easily my favorite class! Anyway, I had another Midterm on Monday and spent much of the weekend preparing for it! Turns out, I did pretty darn well! Yay! ...oh and special thanks to all of those wonderful people back at First Pres WC that ensured I was riding a sugar high all weekend while studying (haha)!
Thanksgiving. Finally, onto turkey day! I am sorry to say that I am going to miss West Chester's interfaith service tomorrow night (good luck David Pickett and all else who are involved); I really enjoyed it last year. Unfortunately, my car broke, so I am relying on my dear brother for transportation! The week should be fun, though. I am a little nervous about leaving this Christian bubble, but I am anticipating that it will actually be refreshing! Plus, I get to see a lot of amazing people that I have not seen in a long while, including: my parents, my brothers, my best buddy, my church family, my high school basketball coach, my hockey friends, and my pets!
So, today I depart for a bit of a rest and a deep breath before the last two weeks of the semester and Advent! I am super excited for Advent and Christmas! I am planning on doing some kind of Advent study, probably this one: http://www.journeythischristmas.com/chapter.html. Last year, I did a devotional series that could be found here: http://www.d365.org/followingthestar/ (I highly recommend it). Finally, I would suggest that all of you watch this, it is a very thought provoking video about Advent/Christmas in our American culture: http://adventconspiracy.org/ (video top right).
All the best to each of you! May your Thanksgiving also be a time of thanks-living.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Surprise! A care package!
Two things stand between me and Advent: Hebrew midterm (Monday) and Thanksgiving (Thursday). I intend on spending a good portion of the weekend wrestling Hebrew, and then the beginning parts of next week waiting for Advent (which is kinda funny, in a way-- I'm waiting to wait). Anyway, I did not anticipate these study sessions to be filled with snacks, candy, sticky notes, new pens, and encouraging letters... BUT I was surprised to receive a package confirming that, in all actuality, they will be filled with such wonderful things:
Care package from good 'ol First Pres WC!
Thank you First Pres West Chester! I miss you all so much! I am very grateful to have such a wonderful church! God willing, I will see you all the first Sunday of Advent (27 November)! I can't wait! =) In the meantime, have a marvelous Christ the King Sunday!
And now with joyful gladness, I wait all the more eagerly for Advent.
"I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you all as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power."
Paul's Letter to the Church in Ephesus Chapter 1:15-19
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Kingdom Quotes Pt. I
This post has been in the works for quite some time now. It is simply a list of things that I've thought of, read, or heard somewhere. Many of them are now on sticky notes around my room. I hope some of these statements are thought provoking to you and may become sticky notes on your wall:
This is the kingdom: loving your neighbor as yourself.
Christians are people who are completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.
God's Word gets things done.
You can come through my door but Your presence is in the way. You can come into my church, just don't move any of the furniture.
Sometimes God just has to say, "I love you too much to answer that prayer!"
Last time I checked, the death rate of the world is still at 100%.
Lord, we come before you as humble as we know how...
The more you acquire the more you desire.
We have met the enemy, and they are us.
In the call there is a promise, and it won't quiet down.
People will not care about how much you know until they know about how much you care.
If God has done it, I cannot undo it. I am not holding onto God, God is holding onto me.
Keep in mind that many of these quotations are context dependent, so if any of them rub you the wrong way, I encourage you to inquire about the context before losing sleep over it.
Peace be with you all!
This is the kingdom: loving your neighbor as yourself.
Christians are people who are completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.
God's Word gets things done.
You can come through my door but Your presence is in the way. You can come into my church, just don't move any of the furniture.
Sometimes God just has to say, "I love you too much to answer that prayer!"
Last time I checked, the death rate of the world is still at 100%.
Lord, we come before you as humble as we know how...
The more you acquire the more you desire.
We have met the enemy, and they are us.
In the call there is a promise, and it won't quiet down.
People will not care about how much you know until they know about how much you care.
If God has done it, I cannot undo it. I am not holding onto God, God is holding onto me.
Keep in mind that many of these quotations are context dependent, so if any of them rub you the wrong way, I encourage you to inquire about the context before losing sleep over it.
Peace be with you all!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Torah Day!
You're never going to believe what I did! I touched a Torah scroll! That's right, the first five books of the Bible, handwritten on calf skin with a quill and ink and over 90 years old! Now, to be fair, I touched it through my sleeve, for you're not supposed to touch something so holy with your grimy, greasy fingers... but it still counts!
Plus I met a really cool rabbi. He's been a rabbi for over 25 years, and he taught us a lot about Jewish culture and worship services. It's all very interesting. All of the things I learned that day in just 50 minutes is incredible, so if you want some details, you're going to have to ask me in person or email me. It would be a very looooong blog post if I explained it all here.
Anyway, here are some pictures!
Plus I met a really cool rabbi. He's been a rabbi for over 25 years, and he taught us a lot about Jewish culture and worship services. It's all very interesting. All of the things I learned that day in just 50 minutes is incredible, so if you want some details, you're going to have to ask me in person or email me. It would be a very looooong blog post if I explained it all here.
Anyway, here are some pictures!
Nelson and Katie were by Levitical Laws about Leprosy (left)! It's a very long scroll (right)!
The offset text in Exodus indicates Miriam's song in Chapter 15.
I held the part of the scrolls that contains the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32 (ref Golden Calf, Really?)... coincidence?
Five books, handwritten. Wow!
One interesting fact that I will take a minute to share with you is this: if one (just one) letter on this entire scroll, which wrapped itself all the way around a PTSem classroom, becomes illegible or defected, the scroll is not longer used. In Judaism, it is tradition to bury the scroll in a graveyard. They do not just throw it out, for it is a holy document.
I'll be checking this off my bucket list! What a wonderful experience!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Behold! Lo!
Let me begin by apologizing for my lack of blogging as of recent. There is truly no excuse for it other than the fact that I am finding other amazingly fun things to do... like Hebrew! Yay! Now, I don't know how many, if any, of you have taken any Hebrew or know anything about Hebrew, or want to know anything about Hebrew... but I figured I would share an fun/interesting fact that I learned in class today.
So, there is this word in Hebrew: הִנֵה pronounced "Hin-eh." Now, this word doesn't really have a meaning, unless you want it to. You see, in the Biblical text, it oftentimes is used to draw the readers attention to something. Therefore, I suppose in a sense, it's sort of an emphatic indicator word. The interesting thing is how it can be translated. For instance, in Genesis 22, it is used in two different ways. When the LORD calls out to Abraham, he responds using the correct conjugation of this Hebrew word. In the English, it is translated as the famous words, "Here I am." However, later on in the very same chapter, it is used to draw attention to wood and fire (yes...wood and fire). Here it is translated as, "Behold, [the wood and fire]!" Basically, translation of this word (when it actually is translated) is dependent upon context. Some Bible translations... NIV, NRSV, ESV, etc tend to only translate it when it is "sensible" to do so; others, most notably the KJV, have a problem not translating it, so it will oftentimes just show up as "Behold!" or "Lo!"
Reading through the KJV can make this sound quite humorous at times. I guess it is just not a word that we use in everyday English. Some of my friends and I started using it a lot following class (even signing it to one another), and it was a good laugh. It just sounds funny in our language, and its a shame that there really is no English equivalent to compare it to. We really don't have any emphatic indicators... well, at least that I can think of off the top of my head. Hebrew can be one funky language. Well, I shall dive back into my Hebrew endeavors!
הִנֵה ...this is what studying Hebrew can look like. =) Fun fun fun!
So, there is this word in Hebrew: הִנֵה pronounced "Hin-eh." Now, this word doesn't really have a meaning, unless you want it to. You see, in the Biblical text, it oftentimes is used to draw the readers attention to something. Therefore, I suppose in a sense, it's sort of an emphatic indicator word. The interesting thing is how it can be translated. For instance, in Genesis 22, it is used in two different ways. When the LORD calls out to Abraham, he responds using the correct conjugation of this Hebrew word. In the English, it is translated as the famous words, "Here I am." However, later on in the very same chapter, it is used to draw attention to wood and fire (yes...wood and fire). Here it is translated as, "Behold, [the wood and fire]!" Basically, translation of this word (when it actually is translated) is dependent upon context. Some Bible translations... NIV, NRSV, ESV, etc tend to only translate it when it is "sensible" to do so; others, most notably the KJV, have a problem not translating it, so it will oftentimes just show up as "Behold!" or "Lo!"
Reading through the KJV can make this sound quite humorous at times. I guess it is just not a word that we use in everyday English. Some of my friends and I started using it a lot following class (even signing it to one another), and it was a good laugh. It just sounds funny in our language, and its a shame that there really is no English equivalent to compare it to. We really don't have any emphatic indicators... well, at least that I can think of off the top of my head. Hebrew can be one funky language. Well, I shall dive back into my Hebrew endeavors!
הִנֵה ...this is what studying Hebrew can look like. =) Fun fun fun!
"Lo, Behold!"
All the best dear friends, all the best!
Friday, November 4, 2011
This is seminary...
This is a prayer...
A Seminarian's Prayer
God,
We think about you all the time.
We think about people who think about you and think about what they wrote about you. And then we write about them.
And yet sometimes, God, we cannot find you even in our thoughts. Our minds do feel like a labyrinth in which we have gotten lost and Scripture feels too much like the bricks blocking the exit than the string that guides us out.
And so we grow tired of thinking.
We talk about you all the time. We throw your name around like we own it. We hide our confusion about you into declarative statements, saying that we know you are like this and we know you wouldn’t do that.
But we don’t know.
We don’t know you, at least not as much as we would we like.
Forgive us our hubris and our eagerness to talk about you which so often exceeds our desire to listen to you. It’s just so much easier to talk about you than to say it to your face.
But, God, we remember that you called us here, though there are days when this ivory tower looks nothing like your Kingdom and we certainly don’t look like we belong within it.
Remind us, God, that appearances can be deceiving, that grades do not measure our worth.
God, we want to fight for justice, to stand for mercy, to love our enemies. But also, we want to take a nap, spend an evening alone with our families, and go to bed not worried about books still unread on our night table.
You said once that to follow you, there were crosses we had to carry. We know this small academic cross is tiny compared to the one you carried once, but some days we can hardly even drag it behind us, let alone pick it up.
But thankfully, You also said once that those who are weary should come to you. So here we are.
Because to whom else could we go?
Because at the end of the day, there is no one else that we would rather think about.
- Jennifer Wyant
God,
We think about you all the time.
We think about people who think about you and think about what they wrote about you. And then we write about them.
And yet sometimes, God, we cannot find you even in our thoughts. Our minds do feel like a labyrinth in which we have gotten lost and Scripture feels too much like the bricks blocking the exit than the string that guides us out.
And so we grow tired of thinking.
We talk about you all the time. We throw your name around like we own it. We hide our confusion about you into declarative statements, saying that we know you are like this and we know you wouldn’t do that.
But we don’t know.
We don’t know you, at least not as much as we would we like.
Forgive us our hubris and our eagerness to talk about you which so often exceeds our desire to listen to you. It’s just so much easier to talk about you than to say it to your face.
But, God, we remember that you called us here, though there are days when this ivory tower looks nothing like your Kingdom and we certainly don’t look like we belong within it.
Remind us, God, that appearances can be deceiving, that grades do not measure our worth.
God, we want to fight for justice, to stand for mercy, to love our enemies. But also, we want to take a nap, spend an evening alone with our families, and go to bed not worried about books still unread on our night table.
You said once that to follow you, there were crosses we had to carry. We know this small academic cross is tiny compared to the one you carried once, but some days we can hardly even drag it behind us, let alone pick it up.
But thankfully, You also said once that those who are weary should come to you. So here we are.
Because to whom else could we go?
Because at the end of the day, there is no one else that we would rather think about.
- Jennifer Wyant
This is a "party..."
Note the Doritos, cereal, and candy.
This is one of our posters...
This is our sense of humor...
This is seminary.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
A Very Lutheran Sunday
Today was such a beautiful day! The crisp air that follows a snowfall like yesterday's epic storm is something that I look forward to every year. I was not quite expecting it this early, though.
Anyway, today also defied my expectations in another way. Since it is Reformation Sunday, some of us decided to go to a Lutheran church! Yay! Well, that and one of my very best friends has been dying to go to one since she arrived here at seminary, so what better day to do so?! We went to Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Ewing, NJ as recommended by the director of music here, Martin Tel. It was pretty sweet, and also my first time at a traditional Lutheran service. I'd like to point out some notable details:
Anyway, today also defied my expectations in another way. Since it is Reformation Sunday, some of us decided to go to a Lutheran church! Yay! Well, that and one of my very best friends has been dying to go to one since she arrived here at seminary, so what better day to do so?! We went to Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Ewing, NJ as recommended by the director of music here, Martin Tel. It was pretty sweet, and also my first time at a traditional Lutheran service. I'd like to point out some notable details:
Music Music Music. Liturgy Liturgy Liturgy. Holy moley! Being the Presbyterian that I am, I was overwhelmed (in a good way) with the vast amount of music! Whoa! 5 hymns including one of my all time favorites--The Church's One Foundation. We also sang Listen, God is Calling and, of course, A Mighty Fortress is Our God (and two others that I do not remember off the top of my head). Another interesting thing about Lutheran worship is the liturgy... and the vast amounts of it.
3rd person pronoun. What's that? Now, I am not entirely certain if this is a Lutheran thing or just a characteristic of this particular church, but God was not once referred to in the 3rd person pronoun. Even in situations where it seemed almost natural to use a "He," the ministers avoided it. I admire such efforts, especially since all of my OT papers need to be written in such a manner.
Stick to Scripture. Another notable difference than the typical Presbyterian worship service I am used to was the nature of the sermon. There was not a single story, allusion, or anaolgy used. It was straight Bible, straight theology, straight confession, straight creed, straight Jesus, straight Scripture. ...and that's it. Pft, no need for anything else in this Lutheran church.
Dismissal. I'm used to just ending worship with a Benediction, but not here. They end with, "Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God," which I like very much!! Overall, it was a great experience; I am very glad I went.
Another Reformation event that happened tonight was a Lutheran group gathering on the steps of the seminary chapel. I went with some of my Lutheran friends. A retired Lutheran professor came and just gave us some informal history on Martin Luther and the 95 thesis. It was very interesting. Then, Martin Luther showed up and taped them to the door of the chapel!!
Another Reformation event that happened tonight was a Lutheran group gathering on the steps of the seminary chapel. I went with some of my Lutheran friends. A retired Lutheran professor came and just gave us some informal history on Martin Luther and the 95 thesis. It was very interesting. Then, Martin Luther showed up and taped them to the door of the chapel!!
Then we all sang A Mighty Fortress is Our God! After that we got group pictures with Martin Luther and the 95 theses:
All in all it was a really excellent day! I thank God for all of my dear Lutheran friends! I love them all very much! And all of my other non-Lutheran friends as well! Oh, what great adventures we all have here at seminary! =)
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