what i've learned in seminary this semester: modules

so this semester started for me two and 1/2 weeks ago on january 17th. i was in a module class. a module class at nazarene theological seminary is a two week intensive course. they are just that, quite intense. my module class met every week night for 4 hours and 45 minutes. some people take two of these and so they are in class for 9 and 1/2 hours. most modules have pre course work, course work, and post course work. they are crazy.

i was in the gospel of luke. i was pretty excited for this class. the learning started right away. my favorite book before the course started (during the pre course work) was Jesus and empire by richard a. horsely. this book really gave me an in depth look at what the roman empire was like during Jesus' day. i really discovered how brutal the empire was. in fact this book helped me during my writing of a sermon that my sister Libby and i co-prought (past tense for preached) at our parents church, salt lake city first church of the nazarene, the day after christmas. it was entitled the refugee God. basically we talked about how Jesus was born into life as a refugee, for his family fled to egypt right after his birth because of the brutal killing of male babies which herod imposed on the people. maybe i will post our manuscript on here sometime.

during the class the biggest themes which we talked about were hospitality, liberation and jubilee. the liberation and jubilee themes were talked about in relation to leviticus 25 and how this chapter talked of the year of jubilee which would be practiced every 50 years by the people, where debts were forgiven, where land would lie fallow, and where basically everyone would have a new start (it's a lot more detailed than that, so you can go look it up if you like). liberation was highlighted in the fact that Jesus brought liberation to people who were oppressed, both spiritually and physically.

lastly, we talked about hospitality. i was in a group which focused on the book "the hospitality of God" by brendan byrne. this book focused on how luke highlights the fact that Jesus practiced the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers in the gospel of luke. this all started through God's gracious hospitality which he extended to his people through sending his Son Jesus to them. then we saw how Jesus extended hospitality to those he came in contact with and how some of those who came in contact with him did the same.

my friend Jared brought up a good point, that maybe as wesleyans we would refer to this as prevenient grace. i think that i tend to agree with him, because God was preceduous in his extension of his hospitality through his love, both throughout the old testament, but also through sending his son to us.

it was definitely an intense couple of weeks of study. i enjoyed learning from my peers and learning from our gracious professor as well. i'm really glad that i took the class. it's opened up my eyes to how Jesus lived his life and how we are called to replicate this.

the city of fountains

i'm thankful for this place that i live. i'm thankful for friends here.

the new year

i will:

stay in shape

- physically

- spiritually

it's out there. i'm committed to this.

What are you willing to sacrifice for a friendship?

Five and almost a half years ago, I started my senior year of boarding school in Kijabe, Kenya at Rift Valley Academy.  Three years prior to that I started out there for the first time, in 9th grade.  When I first got there, a few great friends welcomed me the best they knew how.  One of them was a friend who had lived there for all of his life.  We hit it off from the get go, our passions for rugby and football draw us together.  His family too welcomed me in the kindest way possible.  I spent many hours at my friend’s house either working on homework, studying about God, fellowshipping with friends, or just resting.  I couldn’t have asked for anything more.  God had blessed me with a best friend. 

Now back to five and a half years ago.  It was the start of our senior year there at RVA.  My friend and I had taken a liking for a girl who seemed to have the qualities that both of us looked for in a lady.  We were on a collision course for disaster.  I had known that my friend had liked this girl the previous year.  I had as well.  But, when I found out that he liked her, I made a mistake.  I continued to pursue my own selfish desires.  This meant that there was now something which had come between us.  We were both fighting each other’s testosterone and our own friendship for something which in the end was all in vain. 

My friends told me to stop.  I didn’t listen.  I continued on down a path of selfishness over friendship.  Eventually, our friendship was almost nil.  If we weren’t in the same Sunday School class and teammates on a rugby team, we wouldn’t have interacted much at all.  The damage had been done, I had lost most of a friend who had meant three years of brotherhood in all aspects of life to me. 

Thankfully, the pathway to reconciliation was started at the end of that school year, and today we’re friends again.  But, the truth is that I regret the time that was lost.  I regret not being able to be there for a brother who had been there for me. 

Yesterday that brother got married.  I couldn’t be more happy for a friend than I am for him.  And I couldn’t be in more agony over the pain of what I had done to cause the rift in our friendship. 

I hope that something can be learned from the stupidity of my example.  I hope that others will seriously consider what they are sacrificing or giving up in their friendship with others when they enter into another. 

Love you man.  As you start this journey, I pray you have a life of blessedness with your God and your wife. 

It’s fall. This means:

Trees with an array of beautiful colors.

Hikes through the woods.

Pumpkin Spice Latte’s.

Hot Chocolate.

Football.

Colder weather.

Run’s on frosty days.

Sleeping with the added quilts on the bed.

Dressing up in fantastic costumes for spectacular parties.

Not wanting to get out of the hot shower.

Faint traces of snow.

Turkey.

Family.

The not-so-distant sound of Christmas music.

Amazing 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom 2300 sq. foot house for rent/sale in Meridian, Idaho. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell all!

This comes from my parents:

" We own a lovely home in Northwest Meridian ID and are a mere fifteen minutes from MAF headquarters in Nampa. Currently the home is available for rental and is a delightful family home - with four bedrooms (each with walk in closet) 2.5 bathrooms – fenced and  landscaped backyard with sprinkler system. It even has an above ground pool. It is well maintained in a quiet neighborhood sub division with access to schools. shops, etc in Meridian and Nampa, and Boise is just 15 minutes down the freeway.”

*** So, if you should know of anyone needing to rent here are details:

For Sale - $238,000
For Rent - $900
3290 N Morello Ave. Meridian, ID, 83646                                           Just NE of Ten Mile / Ustick - located in Hartford estates
Four Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom
2300  sq. foot
Landscaped yard and sprinkler system
2 - car garage
* You can find it on Craig's List and MLS Listing as well

For more information shoot me a line!

 

 

 

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An update on my life…

Hello friends.  I got motivated recently just to give a quick update on my life and what’s going on. 

In May I graduated from Northwest Nazarene University up in Nampa, Idaho, just outside of Boise.  Those four years flew by so fast!  I made some good friends there and it was sad to say goodbye!  I had some awesome experiences there such a mission trip to Guatemala and a mission trip to Mexico.  The trip to Guatemala was especially impactful because while we were there in October of 05, Hurricane Stan it.  We could have easily lost our lives as we traversed a road where mudslides were falling all around us, and were wiping out whole villages right around us.  Somehow God protected our bus as we ventured through that state of emergency.  Somewhere around 1000 - 1400 people I believe were killed. 

The mission trip to Mexico was awesome because four of us students and a prof planned it and led it.  We built two houses while we were down there, and saw God in a completely different culture.  Also while at NNU I was able to be an RA and be in the BRICK house.  Both of those experiences were great and taught me a lot about myself and others.  I made friends through those times that will last a lifetime. 

For the past three and a half years I worked at Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene in Meridian, Idaho.  It was such a blessing to have such a caring church home, and to be able to work with some of the best teens on the planet.  For the three years I was there I worked mainly with the youth, worked with the kids some, and also helped with a Saturday night service.  Those teens changed my life! I was given many chances to preach, particularly this past summer as the old youth pastor transitioned out.  I definitely feel more prepared to preach and the experience was great.  Over the years we had some great bonding experiences on mission trips and camps.  I’ll never forget all I learned there.  I worked under one amazing youth pastor.  He cared greatly that the mission of Jesus be spread into the hearts and lives of those teens.  He became one of my best friends as we spent two summers together and also some weekdays during the school year together. 

I was also privileged to have a former Nazarene District Superintendent and now associate pastor at Valley Shepherd as my mentor.  He taught me so many fantastic things, and the experience I had under him will effect my life and ministry forever.  He became a great, great friend and ping pong partner. 

At the end of August I moved to Kansas City, MO to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary.  I am looking into getting a Masters of Divinity with an emphasis in Inter-Cultural Studies.  I just started last week, but have really been enjoying classes and friends so far.  Kansas City itself is a great place too.  We live in a very non-white area of town, which is nice.  Just down the street is the starlight theater.  It’s a massive outdoor theater.  During the summer Broadway shows come and tour through it.  Last week we saw Mama Mia.  It was pretty amazing stuff. 

Last week I went to my friend Phil DeJong’s wedding.  It was surreal to see one of my RVA friends get hitched.  But it was also amazing to be with him and other friends who I haven’t seen in a while.  I love the friends I made there…  Unforgettable people…

That’s basically an update on my life…  I’d love to hear how the rest of you are doing too.  Drop me a line sometime.  Or give me a ring…