Long overdue update

I'm home at my parent's house for Christmas and New Years having a wonderful visit. We just returned to Annapolis after a couple of days visiting relatives in Pennsylvania. After talking to my aunts and uncles who are not social media users I realized how much I've been neglecting my blog. I have reached the halfway point of my seminary education (semester-wise) and this last one really kept me busy. This post will mostly be an article that I wrote for our school paper. It was published in the November 21st issue of Kairos.

The Middler Lament

NEWS FLASH – Middler year is kicking my butt. This isn't a cry for help though (yet). You don't need to start worry about me (yet). I just need to lament a little bit, and based on an informal survey of my classmates, they do too. I remember a similar article from Brittany last year and apparently there was one the year before as well, so I am just following the "cloud of witnesses" that have gone before us. There is comfort for me in that and I hope my classmates recognize this as well. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!

As Juniors, we certainly had our challenges, but the crunch times seemed to be more spread out and clumped together last year. Right before Fall Break last year there were major tests or papers due in each of our four classes and I don't remember getting much sleep that week. I was also riding high on the honeymoon phase of my seminary experience and got to go back east for all of Fall Break to recharge my batteries.

This year, however, it seems like I've got major assignments due each and every week. I couldn't afford (either financially or time-wise) to leave Austin for Fall Break. I took my Sabbath time, but I spent a good bit of break this semester working on papers and getting caught up on reading. I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week and will be going back to Maryland to spend the holiday with my family and friends. I will however be taking several books with me and working on a funeral sermon for our Intro to Preaching class, and probably another paper or two as well.

The other thing that is starting to sink in is that come December, the Middlers will be exactly at the halfway point of our seminary experience. This is going way too fast. I still feel a bit like I just got here and just started. Even with all the deadlines, papers, exams, committee meetings, and stress that this year has brought so far, I am not anxious for my time at APTS to be over. I am feeling a bit like a petulant child who is flopping on the floor and dragging my feet to slow down my exit. I do not want this to end. I love my classmates. I love the faculty and staff. I love the entire seminary community. I love this whole experience.

And I know this will come as a shock to most, but I really love Austin too. Perhaps part of why I'm feeling so stressed this semester is I'm also having a lot of fun too. There is a delicate balance between keeping up with obligations and taking time for yourself so you don't burn out. Perhaps I dance on that line a bit precariously, but I consider this to be an unofficial part of my seminary education. When I am in a parish (or a hospital, or whatever ministry I end up doing when I graduate), I think it will be extremely important to develop a support community and have activities and interests that are not church/work related (at least not directly) too. I have developed a great group of friends outside the seminary community. We have had cookouts, built a giant Jenga set, become the Cornhole (bean bag toss game) champions of the Local, participated in a fabulous scavenger hunt, went to ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival), played disc golf, gorged ourselves on shrimp at Red Lobster's all-you-can-eat shrimp fest, and of course our weekly trivia which combines my seminary friends with my non-seminary friends.

Like almost everything else this semester, I am submitting this article to Brittany late. So I should wrap this up. Besides I have reading to do for section tomorrow, thank you letters to write for my financial aid, my SPM (supervised practice of ministry - internship) paperwork to submit to David Johnson, my World Religions film project to work on, the bulletin for the Advent Vespers service to finish with Allie, and a book to read and write a review for Christian Education, not to mention laundry, dishes, my annual car inspection and bills to pay….AGGHHHHHHHHH!!! Hang in there Middlers! We can do this!!!

The classes that I took this semester were - Introduction to Preaching (my favorite), Mark Exegesis, World Religions, and Christian Education. I was again in the choir and also served as one of the student representatives to the Worship Committee. We had a great group of students join our community in September and they have been a wonderful addition to both APTS and my circle of friends.

I've grown even more fond of the Local (my own personal Cheers) and have developed some wonderful friendships as I mentioned in the article shared above. Here's a sampling of the fun that I mentioned in that article -

In costume for the FFF Scavenger Hunt with Jayson, Chase, Nikki, and Jason

Brandon and Jayson playing giant Jenga at the Local

My fellow Redskin fans at the Local that I watch the game with every Sunday - Mark, Mo, and Jeff.

Seminarians and spouses celebrating Greg's birthday at the Allen-Pickett's house. Lisa & Tim, Greg, Andrew, Josh, Tara, baby Kellen, Lindsay, Jordan, Me, Allie, Jessica and Ester

Some amazing eats on the grill at Brandon and Michelle's house.
Lynn and I playing some cornhole with Taylor and Taylor looking on.

Show Me the Place

Beautiful New Song from Leonard Cohen from an album due out at the end of January.

Show Me The Place by leonardcohen

Time Flies when you're in Greek Camp

Only one week of Greek left and then I'll be heading back to Maryland for vacation with my family at Deep Creek Lake. I can't wait to be in the mountains of Western Maryland swimming, fishing, tubing and hanging out with my family. I'll also get to spend some time in Annapolis before and after our family trip to visit with friends. Hoping to spend some time sailing on the Chesapeake, checking out the new location of the Mexican Cafe and I must get some crabs.

Our class had a nice 4th out at Professor Alsup's ranch. Our classmate Okan, who is from Turkey, went all out and dressed the part. He was quite a cowboy.

And yes, I did get to hug a donkey.

I also mentioned to Dr. Alsup on Monday that I had re-written the words to Willie Nelson's "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" for our class, so he asked me to perform it this week. I took my guitar in on Wednesday and opened up class with the help of our Teaching Assistant Doug, who accompanied me on his guitar too. Don't know that anyone who isn't in our class (or who hasn't at least taken Biblical Greek) will appreciate it, but it seems to have been a big hit with the class. Dr. Alsup definitely appreciated it. He kept making reference to it during his lectures this week. I wouldn't be surprised if I improved at least half a letter grade for the class because of this song. He even asked me to get together with some of my musician classmates to record it so we can give CDs to everyone at the end of the class.

I'll post the lyrics below, but a few things that are "inside jokes" or may be unclear to those not in the class I will explain first. 1. The method that Dr. Alsup is teaching us he calls RIT - Recognize Identify Translate. First we attempt to recognize the part of speech of each word in the passage. We underline verbs, bracket nouns, circle articles & pronouns, etc. Then we attempt to identify the conjugation, gender, number, tense, etc. We are not even expected to try to translate yet in this intensive summer course. 2. Hippos is Greek for horse, and is the name of a stuffed animal that Dr. Alsup keeps in the class for illustrations. 3. He also has a Pilsbury Doughboy and girl in cowboy hats, which are also class mascots used for illustrations too.

I Love My Definite Article

I grew up dreaming of being in Greek Camp

And learning those ancient ways

Pursuing to recognize and identify words,

I burned up my summer days.

I learned all the endings that John Alsup taught me

Don't you stress out and panic my friend

Just take it from Hippos or maybe the Doughboy,

And soon it all will be clear.

I love my definite article.

It's my best friend.

Helping to spot nouns and participles,

It's my very best friend.

Maybe someday, I'll learn to translate

But for now R and I are just fine.

Those definite articles jump right off the pages,

I circle them all the time.

Nominative, Genitive, Dative or Accusative

You help me know what is what.

So don't take away my definite article

And I'll make it through Greek Camp just fine.

Repeat Chorus

Once we've recorded it I'll post it here.

Another highlight of my week was being asked to be Austin Seminary's student representative to the PC(USA) Committee on Theological Education's Seminary Support Network. There are two conferences each year that I will attend along with one student representative from each of the other 9 PC(USA) schools. Traditionally it is the student body President that represents the school, but this year they decided it made more sense to appoint someone that can do it for two years since the President is usually a graduating senior. So I will represent our school for the next two years. I am extremely honored to have been asked and so excited to get to network with students from the other schools as well as being able to participate in some national level denominational work.

And it hasn't been all Greek this summer, we've also gone to see a UT baseball game, a couple AAA baseball games in Round Rock (the Ranger's feeder team), a community orchestra doing western theme music and last night saw a community theater performance of the musical play Footloose. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Austin is such a cool town with great things to do. Love it here.

4th of July Weekend

Well, we've got four out of six weeks of Greek and a Midterm behind us as we head into the three day weekend. Looking forward to some fun and relaxation, but no fireworks in most of Texas this year, thanks to the drought. I posted this video on Facebook the other day, but thought I should share it on my blog too. Stephen Colbert decided to address the ban.

On Monday our professor is having the class out to his ranch for a Greek Camp Picnic. The invitation that he passed out to us last week says "Come join us for hay rides, horseback riding, donkey hugging, and just having a good time." How can you beat that? Donkey hugging! Should be fun.

Le Tour de France also starts tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to watching that as I do every year. Such an amazing race. Not to mention the amazing shots of the French countryside, little villages, castles, cobblestone streets, and spectacular climbs in the Alps and the Pyrenees. I can't wait.

That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round

I love this song by John Prine. He is one of the most underrated songwriters. Such amazing lyrics, I can't ever listen to him enough. To me, a line like "naked as the eyes of a clown" is sheer poetry (not to mention the imagery of it suddenly getting cold enough for one to be frozen in the bathtub). That's a beautiful turn of phrase in my book. If you've never heard him before, I hope that you enjoy this. If you have heard him before this is a wonderful live version with John's response to a mondegreen (misheard song lyrics) by a fan.

Link to video for those reading on FB

Well I know a guy that's got a lot to lose,

He's a pretty nice fella, kinda confused.

He's got muscles in his head ain't never been used,

He thinks he owns half of this town.

Starts drinkin' heavy, gets a big red nose,

Beats his old lady with a rubber hose

Then he takes her out to dinner, buys her new clothes,

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

That's the way that the world goes 'round,

You're up one day, the next you're down,

It's half inch of water, but you think you're gonna drown,

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

I was sittin' in the bathtub, a-countin' my toes,

When the radiator broke, the water all froze.

I got stuck in the ice, without my clothes,

Naked as the eyes of a clown.

I was crying those ice cubes, hoping I'd croak,

When the sun came through the window, the ice all broke.

I stood up and laughed; I thought it was a joke,

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

That's the way that the world goes 'round,

You're up one day, the next you're down,

It's half inch of water, but you think you're gonna drown,

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

Moment of Zen for the "Minister of Soul"

John Stewart is a big Springsteen fan, so this nice tribute was no surprise and well appreciated by this East Street Band fan.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Moment of Zen - Remembering Clarence Clemons
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

link for those reading on FB

Year One of Seminary Completed

Yesterday I turned in my final paper for my Introduction to the New Testament class, and with that push of the "send" button on the email I completed my first two semesters of seminary. I had an exam in each of my other classes earlier this week - The Church as Worshiping Community on Monday, Systematic Theology II on Tuesday and Intro to Biblical Hebrew on Wednesday. This year has flown by and been so full it is a little mind boggling. As I scan the books on my shelf and re-read papers and exams that I've submitted this year I am amazed at how much I've learned and all that I've done in eight months. (Yes I am a semiNERDian . I re-read my papers and tests).

I've already written often of how much I love this community and what a wonderful place APTS is, so I won't belabor the point other than to say that I've made some of the best friends I've ever had. I love each and every one of them and I am sad to see the seniors packing to move off of campus. Graduation is this weekend and watching them in this home stretch has made me realize just how quickly these three years go by. It makes me want to savior every moment that I can with my classmates before we too scatter from this campus to be ministers, chaplains, teachers, counselors, etc.

It also makes me excited that in late August approximately 40 new students will arrive here. Just as my class was welcomed into the fold, they will soon be an integral part of this community and added to the number of people that I love. My classmate Jo and I were asked to take on the responsibility of being Reyah Coordinators this year. Reyah is the Hebrew word for buddy or friend. The Reyah program at APTS matches incoming students with a current student to be their buddy as they transition into the community. My Reyah was Jeff Saddington, who is graduating on Sunday. He was so fantastic that I jumped at the opportunity to be coordinator in the hopes of helping the incoming class feel as welcomed as I did. Jeff emailed and called me several times last summer to see how my plans for moving to Texas were going and once I arrived was one of the friends who helped me move into my apartment. And Jeff didn't just help me feel at home when I arrived, he checked in on me throughout the year, shared study guides, took me to lunch and cheered me on as my classmates and I did some intense studying and took some major exams.

So, as I have marked several other milestones, I chose to celebrate the end of my first year with a new tattoo that was inspired by something I read last semester in Cindy Rigby's Systematic Theology I class. I have had a tattoo of three fish on my right forearm for several years. It is an ancient Christian symbol which represents the trinity as well as the secret "code" used by the early church to represent Christ (ΙΧΘΥΣ). This is the Greek word for "fish" which was an acronym for "Jesus Christ Son of God Savior." While reading Dan Migliore's Faith Seeking Understanding (our textbook for Sys I) I came across a different way to name the Trinity and it immediately resonated with me. Instead of "Father Son & Holy Ghost" this said "Lover Beloved & Love." I decided that I wanted that around or near my fish tattoo and this week I got it done.

WARNING - SemiNERDian ramblings about to commence....

A common critique of this way of naming the trinity is that it reduces the Holy Spirit to a byproduct between the Lover and the Beloved, but I don't agree with this limited view of Love.

This is very similar to the original debate that caused the great split between the Eastern and Western church over the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed. Does the Holy Spirit proceed from the Father or from the Father "and the Son"? Don't both of these see the Holy Spirit as something that is coming from one or both of the other parts of the trinity? Isn't that a by-product too? The whole idea of the trinity is that God is by definition in relationship and you can't have one part without the other two, and no one part is greater than the others. So I don't see this way as being any worse than the more traditional creedal way of naming the trinity. In fact I think it is better because it does away with the patriarchal language of father and son. There are many for whom these images of God are stumbling blocks and talk of spirit or ghost is too mystical and hard to wrap their heads around. But we all know love. And love isn't just something you do. It isn't a byproduct. I don't even think it is a choice. I think love just is, all by itself.

There are many instances in scripture where love is talked about as an entity, not a byproduct. It is personified and has characteristics.

Song of Songs 2:7, 3:5, 8:4 "do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready"

Song of Songs 8:7 "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."

1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not arrogant or boastful"

1 Corinthians 13:8 "Love never ends"

14:1 "Pursue love and strive for spiritual gifts"

But I think the strongest case for seeing love as being a way to name the Holy Spirit is this -

1 John 4:16 "God is love, and those that abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them"

Lastly, here is a video that the seniors put together for our last fellowship together.

Congratulations Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Class of 2011!!!!!!!!!!