Class Catch-Up

So my last post had me signing off and committing to a daily posting. Perhaps I should try that before I promise it. :) Classes have just wrapped up mid-terms. Everything is fairly fresh, and I'm hoping that knowing what chaos truly is (exams) that I'll see extra time in my day to post. I would love to post now, but I'd rather wait until after class tonight so ideas are fresh.

Bare with me :)

Baby Steps

Okay, my goal is to start writing on here. I'm in my fourth week, first trimester of seminary, and thoughts and ideas are just all stirred up. I'd like to be on here (cross your fingers) once a day getting some of them out of my head and onto here. The problem is I'm terribly behind, and I don't want to only put half effort into this blog or schooling. So, posts will start small. Please bear with me.

I will probably say this time and again...please comment - agreeing or disagreeing. I welcome discussion. I do not welcome rudeness, and I reserve the right to delete comments that I deem inappropriate. I'm hoping this will be conversational not argumentative.

Alright...my first contribution...what I'm studying (then I have to get back to studying it).

Colloquium - um, this is like seminary homeroom...we support each other, challenge our comforts and more stuff I'll allude to later on.
Hebrew Bible I - we are powering our way through what many call the Old Testament. This includes massive amounts of reading, memorization, intense discussions, quizzes and more. This is a key component to me being behind and my varying stress level.
Ethical Analysis & Advocacy - we are studying different motifs/methods for discussing ethics and ethical issues. I'm definitely finding this class to be interesting both because of the professors and the class participants.
Youth Ministry - this is my online course which is good but probably not my favorite format. I am learning a lot, and there are tons of recommended readings I hope to get to after graduation.
Faith, Race and the Future of Democracy - this is my weekend course (Oct 17 &18). They changed the title, and probably the content. I'm a little apprehensive, yet stoked I can get a credit in a day and a half. :)

I'll keep you posted on these classes, the topics, the issues and my responses.

Religion

I've noticed many people I have known or know today do not openly associate themselves with a religion. Many in fact not only avoid religious ties but consider themselves agnostic or even atheist. Now, while I realize that for all of eternity there have been agnostics and atheists, I think those numbers are higher today in relation to total population than previously.

Unfortunately, I don't think these people have a problem with religion. I'm sure if I were to say that to them, they'd argue with me. I'm sure they believe they have a problem with religion. I don't think that's the problem though. I think the problem is with the Church. I'm not accusing or pointing fingers at one specific church, but the whole Church body, today and historically. I believe too many people have been told they're going to hell for this or that. They've been told this is right or that is wrong. Humans have taken it upon themselves to be judge, jury and executioner. Last time I checked all Christians believed that was up to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. When did we think it was acceptable for us to tell people what is or is not wrong?

I will admit that we have the Bible to interpret. I will admit that we only have humans to read and teach the scripture in church. I will admit that we're all doing the best we can. And, I will admit that you cannot have anything be organized without some structure, aka church. But, this has gotten out of hand. I hope some day these individuals that were offended or turned off by the Church someday revisit the idea. I hope the agnostics and atheists of the world consider forgiveness for human error. I pray that those I know and those I don't never hold the Father accountable for humans. The Church is a house of worship, prayer and teachings; it has never been God's will for it to be a courthouse or prison.

I am a big fan of Casting Crowns. I think this portion of What This World Needs speaks best and summarizes my beliefs about this topic:

People aren't confused by the gospel
They're confused by us
Jesus is the only way to God
But we are not the only way to Jesus
This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie
My denomination or my translation of the bible
They just need Jesus
We can be passionate about what we believe
But we can't strap ourselves to the gospel
'Cause we're slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world
But maybe the best thing we can do
Is just get out of the way

Iliff Here I Come

I've made a decision on school. I've been accepted and sent in my deposit for Iliff School of Theology. I think this school will align better with my belief system. In addition to that, I think it will be easier to be a conservative in a liberal school than a liberal in a conservative school.

I am excited and yet terrified. It seems like it can't get here soon enough and yet like it won't ever come. I look forward to the change and then I miss all who I have here.

The long and the short of it is, I'll believe it when I see it. I'm sure it will all be here soon enough.

Current Reading

Right now I'm working my way through the book, unChristian. It was recommended to me by a colleague, and I'm quite intrigued by it. It is a consolidated view on a study conducted to find out what non-Christian believers think about Christians. And, I think their data is accurate.

I'm finding this book and a lot of the discussion around it frustrating. On the website they link to their You Tube Channel; some of the comments made by self-proclaimed Christians infuriated me. All they did was add fuel to the flame of the accusations in the book: hypocritical, convert hungry, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political and judgmental. I know some of the people that feel this way. I've heard their reasons, and unfortunately their reasons weren't too far off. I've also heard Christians feel this way. I've felt this way at times.

I'm having a hard time working through this book. I get frustrated quickly because of where Christianity is now positioned. I find myself pulling out the bible and reading about how we should be, why we should be different, how we're wrong and how perception is just part of the problem.

I'm thinking about adding this book to my Recommended Readings. It generates a lot of conversational points that need to be discussed, a lot of points that need to be listened to. Have you heard of this book or read it? If so, what are your thoughts?

Current School Status

As you may or may not know, I am currently in the process of applying to seminary to acquire my Masters of Divinity. I'm doing this for a number of reasons. The first is that I have a calling to the ministry. At least that is how I and others are interpreting it. I always say though that perhaps that is God's way of getting me to school. Who knows what His path will be after that? Second, I always seem to have more and more questions regarding religion and spirituality. I figure, where else to find more information than school? Finally, I always wanted to get my Masters. If I were to win the lottery, I would use the money to go to school for the rest of my life.

I'm applying to four three schools: Asbury Theological Seminary near Lexington, Kentucky; Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado and Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. Those schools have been chosen at random from a hat containing all of the seminaries and theological schools in the United States. I'm kidding. These schools were chosen for a number of reasons of which I'm not going to go through right now. Perhaps another time.

As of right now I've heard back from Asbury. I was accepted to my delight! Now, I'm just waiting on Iliff and Duke.

Well, I just wanted to give you a little insight into who I am and a bit of my motivation with this blog. I encourage comments and questions.