I forewarned you today might lead to three posts. However this post will probably not be as long unless my mind unleashes creativity as I go along. Not very likely though. This post is about Dr. Adams, as I said earlier he would get his own post. Dr. Adams is my Hebrew Readings professor. I walked into the class room and saw him for the first time yesterday. Now as the title implies, I am going to be describing his "cover." However, I want to mention not in any way shape or form do I mean any of it in any kind of negative light at all.
When I walked in he was leaning against the register over by the window. My first thought, most stereotypical older pastor look ever. He is in his early to mid sixties I would guess by the time line he gave us. He is a larger man, tall and husky (like a mean Alaskan dog which is the most complimentary way to describe someone who is larger in my mind). He was wearing gray slacks, the black ecclesitacal collared shirt (which I am seriously thinking about expressing my opinion on one of these days) and a black sweater with only three of the five buttons buttoned. He has a large, impressive white/gray beard and the really big old style thick glasses. Again, I am not making fun of him or putting down his appearance in anyway, just simply describing what he looks like. In my mind, he looks like what every one pictures an older pastor looking like. He really made me think of my pastor bear for those of you who know what that is. So I see this elderly pastor, and figure he is probably good at Hebrew since he is teaching it. However, as he introduced himself I realized I some times judge the book by its cover.
He began telling us how he became an adult convert to Christianity, which is a cool story. I believe he made the comment, not sure I only caught the tail end, but I am pretty sure he said both of his parents are still not believers. Again I could be wrong about that though. He grew up in a non-Christian home, went to high school and took Greek and Latin courses. When he went to college, he wasn't sure on a major, but the addmissions lady suggested the pre-seminary route since he already had most the languages done. Thinking it would be an easy major, he agreed to it. He has been a Christian, and as you will hear soon a vital man to our synod since. It is truly amazing how the Holy Spirit can work through any situation to bring fellow children of God into the faith. Praise be to God! He did his masters work in England, and then came back and went to the seminary here in St. Louis. He was a parish pastor, before he became the synods representative for the Federal Government in D.C. He literally worked as the middle man between the synod pastor and Congress to represent our church with the government. He then came back to the seminary to be the main Technology guy starting the first campus wide network and nationwide website. He still is very active with the technology department, and humbly confessed to being probably the most tech savy professor on campus. Here is this sixty some year old man, I took to be your typical pastor knowing the faith, but not a whole lot else. How wrong was I ??!!! He held the position of our synod president's right hand man, working directly with our federal government, he studied abroad in England, and he not only is tech savy, but one of the most tech savy guys on our whole campus. Also, he has went every summer for many years now to Israel on archeological digs. He was part of the team that discovered the oldest known Hebrew Manuscript. AND, this one blew me away, AND he scuba dives!!!! Oh also, he is writing a book. I saw a sixty some year old pastor who had most likely retired from the parish and just taught Hebrew to fulfill his time. Again, how wrong was I?!
This whole experience taught me a valuable lesson. Never judge a book by its cover, or a person by their appearance. God uses all his children in very different ways, for very different purposes no matter what they look like. I think Dr. Adams will be a very wise man to learn a lot from, and not just all Hebrew.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the fellowship You give each of us everyday. You are not only constantly with us, but You give us all of our fellow Christians for companionship. You truly have made sure we are never on our own in this world. Help us to love, be kind and gracious, and show Your love to everyone we meet. Let us never forget every one we meet is Your child, who only You know what You have planned for that person. Help us to grow in our relationships with each other, and always support each other. In the name of our Savior, who makes us all brothers and sisters through His death, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
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