God bless your Saturday. I can't believe my last post was Wednesday and it is already Saturday. It doesn't seem possible two days could go by that fast and that busily. Thursday I went to all four classes, although I was tired because my friend talked me into going to trivia night with him Wednesday night at the bar that is close by. It was a lot of fun, but I should have been in bed. It was alright though because I had all my homework that had to be done done. So I went to Lutheran Mind, which has proven itself to easily be my favorite class. We discussed the difference between Primary Theology and Secondary Theology. Primary Theology is the relationship we have with God, and how we use and interact in that relationship. Secondary Theology is simply words and thoughts about God. If that doesn't make sense, ask me specifically and I while give you the fuller definitions. LM is one of those classes I never walk out of saying, "well I already knew that." It always leaves me thinking about and pondering on what we talked about, seeing if my mind can actually makes complete sense of what we learned. Then Hebrew readings, which was boring as always, but still necessary I guess. Then I went to chapel which was good especially since it was communion day. I did; however, make one small mistake during the service and several people sitting in the pews around me gave me grief about it. During the Service of the Sacrament, when the Pastor reads, "By the eating and drinking of this meal, we proclaim the death of our Lord until He comes again." The congregation responds with, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Well I decided to throw in an extra "Amen" at the end. So when everyone else said, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus", and went silent, my loud voice bellowed out the extra Amen! at the end among the silence. A few people turned around and looked at me, and I am sure my face was a little read. Then later when people started asking if that was me who said that, cause they thought they recognized my voice, I admitted it was me. I explained that I just really meant it when I proclaimed Come, Lord Jesus. I did feel a little silly, but it was a minor mistake to make.
After Chapel I went Pastoral Ministry where Dr. Utech proceeded to make me laugh, but realize some serious business once again. He made me laugh because he said he was going to hurry through the day's lesson, because he had to start with all law and finish with gospel. He had to hurry because he was worried that if we ran out of time, only hearing the law, we might be depressed or think less of him. So he wanted to make sure he got to the Gospel and left us on a high note. He was talking about being "called" into the ministry. He said that some guys who feel "the call" feel like God has already told them they are ready to be pastors and the four years of the Seminary is just one big hurdle they have to jump over for no reason. These guys he told us are unteachable. He also explained how some guys who would make very great pastors don't come to the seminary because they haven't felt "the call." Now he was not saying God doesn't lead us to the ministry by interacting in our lives and letting us know it's what we are meant to do. However, if you have to feel an inner emotional feeling of the "call" it makes it purely subjective which is not always a good thing. How do we combat the ELCA women pastors who wholeheartedly believe they have been "called"? Dr. Utech said none of us have had an inner call. We may have had experiences in our life that lead us to believe we are meant to be pastors, but it was not the burning bush inside us telling us to go free His people. (Reference to Moses for those of you who didn't catch that.) He said, using scripture (primarily 1 Timothy 3, and Titus) we see it takes three things to bring a man to the seminary. The first is a desire to be a minister for God. If you don't have the desire, you wouldn't be here. The second is you either have or are learning to have the characteristics of a pastor according to 1 Timothy 3. And the third is encouragement and support. Even if one had the desire and the characteristics to be a pastor, he wouldn't make it very far with out a support group of people behind him. Encouraging him he can do it. I had to stop and realize while I have the desire and am learning the characteristics, it was mostly the third that got me here. I have been blessed with such a large and faithful support group always backing me up. Even my friends who are not Christians have always supported me, and told me they can see it's what I am meant to do. Any time I have even slightly doubted my ability, there was a friend, a family member, or a professor who showed me I was a big dumb idiot to doubt the Lord's ability to use me. I want to thank each and everyone of you. If you are reading this, I know you have and still do support me in my journey to be a called servant of the Lord. If you didn't you wouldn't be reading this. So I do sincerely thank you for everything you and every one who has always been there for me have done. I seriously would not be here with out you. That was the Gospel he left us with, and it truly was a high note for the rest of the week. Dr. Utech also assigned a program to us, that at first I didn't think was going to be a good thing. I really thought it would be one more inconvenience in my week taking up time. However, it truly has been a wonderful thing. Dr. Utech assigned us into groups of four and told us we had to meet three times outside of class in our groups. We were just meant to talk, study scripture, discuss classes, and pray with each other. He said he wants us to learn to rely on our brotherhood of fellow pastors, and learn to be a united group who can turn to each other for help, guidance, and prayer. My group is three great guys. One is my buddy Hannemann, one is a guy who lives in Iso dorm with me, and the other is a married guy in his forties. They are all great guys, and we just meet the three times right after Pastoral Ministry class. We mostly discuss classes, money, and just life problems or blessings in general. We have really gotten to know each other, but still learn something new each time. We talk for anywhere from five to twenty minutes. Then we always end in prayer. It really is a great thing, and I see why he does it now.
My final class was Greek Readings. Dr. Gibbs lead us through the assignment, and that was fine. However, he did invite us to join a pretty cool activity. It was at 8 A.M. this morning so I didn't make it, and wasn't quite sure if it was something I wanted to do, but it sounded cool. I know it is something I should have went and done, stepped out of my comfort zone and experience something new. However, I didn't get up for it. It is a group that goes to the one Plan Parenthood office in St. Louis that still does free abortions. They take the large group and just peacefully stand on the sidewalk praying for those who go in. The group leaders have special people ready to talk with any girl who stops to ask questions about why they are there and why they are promoting life. This group goes about once a month I guess, and they invite us seminary students to go with them to experience it. He said they do every once in a while get a girl who goes in, but comes back out to ask questions and ends up leaving without having the abortion. It is truly a miracle that these people give up their Saturday mornings to do this noble act of fighting for life. If they invite us Seminary students to go again, I do plan to go at least once and experience what they do. I do want to keep these people in my prayers as well, to help strengthen them while they are serving the Lord. I kindly ask you pray for them too.
Yesterday was a great day. I went to my one class. It was History class, and we finally started talking about History. We discussed the fall of Jerusalem and the Council of Nicaea. It is a great class because while there is serious theological importance to each event, we do not get into that, but rather focus primarily on the historical importance of the event. I like this, one because I am a history buff, and two because it always makes the events more realistic. I remember that these were real people and real places, rather than just a theological debate that helped shape our religion. So it was a good class. I didn't do much during the day other than take a nap and hang out with friends. Then Yesterday evening I worked. We had to set up the big stage in the front of the chapel. I was second in command for this project that I had never done before, because my boss designated it to be my responsibility every time it needs done from now on. It isn't hard, and actually is really good, cause that is pretty solid job security. I think I have a pretty good job that will be great hours and relationships for the next couple years. I am glad the Lord blessed me with that.
Then last night I went to the bar with some of my friends because it was one girl's birthday. It was so much fun, we all had a blast. I thank the Good Lord for my ability to make friends where ever I go. I do not think life would be as good as it always is for me, if he had not blessed me with the people he blesses me with everywhere I go. He truly is too good to me.
This morning I woke up, watched a movie, did a little homework, and am now writing this. Tonight we plan to go watch the Huskers of course. Even with the cost of this place, and the harder homework of reading and languages, I can't imagine my life anywhere but here. I was so anxious and nervous to come here, thinking of any excuse I could to get out of it. However, now that I am here, I realize it is going to be a great part of my life. I felt the same way going to college, in a different state, where I knew absolutely no one. I didn't want to leave my friends, I was worried it would not be good. However, Seward was the best four years of my life. I have so many great memories and friends for life from that place. I should have known better than to think this place would be any different. Each and every day the good Lord not only provides for me, but seriously spoils me as well. I certainly do not deserve anything He gives me, but through His gracious mercy, His never ending Love for me, and unlimited forgiveness for me, I may one day go home to Heaven, drop to my knees, and after there is not a tear left in my body from crying for such joy, I will look up at Him and tell Him how truly sorry I am for being a sinner, and thank Him for ALL He has done for me. I can't even imagine the chills that will be running through my body. How anyone can ever live life not knowing the joy of our Lord, not having the hope of eternal Life, I will never know? But since I do have that hope, and know I am saved, I want to live a life full of Primary Theology. Talking to God, receiving His Sacraments, knowing Him through His Word, and sharing His Gospel with everyone I possibly can. That is using and interacting in the relationship we have with Him, started by the Father, saved through the Son, and made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. All Praise and Glory be to Him, Three in One, forever and ever. Amen.
Two Prayers by Martin Luther, that we pray together:
Merciful Father, everlasting God, who didst not spare Thine own Son but didst deliver Him up for us all that He might bear our sin on the cross, grant us that our hearts never fear or become discouraged in this faith, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
Lord God, heavenly Father, from whom we so superabundantly receive all manner of good without ceasing and by whom we are daily so graciously protected from all evil, let us through Thy Spirit wholeheartedly recognize all this in true faith that we may thank and praise Thy gentle goodness and mercy both here and hereafter in eternity, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
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