So far this quarter looks like all my classes are going to be enjoyable, and I think I only have three or four tests. However, I do have two or three projects/papers per class and enough reading to last me all of 2012. For most of you who know I do not enjoy reading at all and have spent all of my life avoiding these things called books at all costs, this is definitely a challenge and new experience for me. I am trying to keep up with it all and actually find the time to indeed do the readings.
Friday was another nice day, but I only knew from looking out the windows. Tuesday's and Friday's I am in class from 8 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. so I don't get to spend much time outside. Friday morning I did thoroughly enjoy one of my classes more than the rest. Lutheran Confessions 1 was the class. We started with the Seven Councils, and then began to fully dive into the Trinity. I really enjoyed it because it felt like a real theology class. I felt like I was finally attending the seminary. I mean Lutheran Mind was a good class for that, but it never covered anything as specifically as we began to cover the Trinity. I was fascinated with the entire lecture. Then that night I bar tended for the Faculty Christmas party with my friend Mark who is a second career Alternate Route Student. It was a blast because I got to introduce myself to many of my professors I had not yet met, while serving them wine and beer. Then the president's wife, who was in charge of the whole thing, sent food and a bottle of wine home with each of us.
Saturday I got up "early" (by my definition on a Saturday morning) and played racquetball with a friend. Forest Park, which is right next to the seminary, has free courts so we played over there. Then my funny story of the day began. Right as Jason, the guy I played racquetball with, and I got back to campus and were walking to the dorms, a couple stopped us and asked us where the Re-Sell It Shop was. So instead of trying to give them directions, we both led them down there. Since both the Re-Sell It Shop and Food Bank just moved into their new locations, the Re-Sell It Shop wasn't open. However, now they know where it is. The funny part of the story starts here. As we walked by the Food Bank, I saw a few students inside. Since I never went to shop at the Food Bank last quarter, I decided I would give it a try and pick up a few snacks for the room. So I walked in, and the lady who runs it met me at the door. I said, "I have never done this before." I meant I had never shopped there. She said great and led me to a huge pile of canned goods and told me they all needed to be sorted by vegetables, fruits, etc. I didn't realize they weren't open, and the students who were there were volunteering to help them get organized. She took my statement, "I have never done this before," as meaning I had never volunteered there before. That meaning was also true though. So rather than admitting that's not what I meant and feeling embarrassed, I just decided to sort those cans like a champion. I got through the whole pile and moved on to the Jell-O and pudding pile. I ended up spending two hours there helping them out. It was actually kind of fun and got to work with a great group of volunteers spending their Saturday morning helping out. I don't know if you can actually call it volunteer work though because I did get a few items of free food, plus a gift card for helping. The side scene in this story was played by my friends. They were all at brunch thinking I was supposed to be working and something might be wrong since I was skipping work. They kept calling my phone, but I wasn't getting a signal in the basement where the Food Bank is located. So I never answered which only made them more worried. When I went upstairs to eat and saw all of them, everybody new that I saw made some kind of "Glad your OK, we were worried about you, the guys are all looking for you" comment. The point of the story, I learned volunteering at the Food Bank is a pretty good way to spend Saturday mornings, and I have awesome friends who do care about me. Oh, also I really wasn't supposed to be working, so please don't think I missed work.
My thought for the day Thursday was a good one and I still want to discuss it, so I will say it here. I think I will write another post right after this with another thought or two. This thought comes from Hermeneutics class. One of our Reading Focus Questions, which is the daily questions over the readings, was from an article about how to properly interpret Scripture. The question was this, "Discuss the difference between making Scripture's story a part of your story versus making your story a part of Scripture's story." Now since you are reading this at your own pace it is OK if you want to stop here and think about that yourself before you continue reading how I took it and what we discussed in class.
My answer that I turned is was as follows: "If we see Scripture’s story as part of our story, we are making our personal story larger and more important than Scripture’s story. We are taking God’s story from creation to the second coming and trying to shrink it and cram it into our limited years of life. This doesn’t work. We must remember that the Bible, even though it is a book that is completed and published already, is the story, the whole story from creation to the second coming. The Bible is God’s story of what He has done, what He is doing, and what He promises to do. Our story is a part of this whole story."
This is pretty close to what we discussed in class with a few added ideas. One point Dr. Oschwald made that I really liked was that when we try to make Scripture's story fit into our lives, we look at the Bible and its stories specifically trying to make them fit into our lives. Rather than reading and learning the Bible as real events that did happen and show how our Father works, loves, and takes care of His children, we try to reach each section as if it has answers or keys for our lives. Also, when we remind ourselves that we are a part of Scripture’s story, it reminds us that we are indeed characters in His story. We matter to Him, because we are His children, we are a part of His story and that makes us pretty special. Not only does it give value to our lives, but also should remind us our Lord loves and takes care of us, just like He did for King David or Apostle Paul. We are His children; we are part of Scripture’s story that is still being told, because we are a part of God’s story. Even though our lives and stories will not be written down and added to the Bible, we can know we still matter greatly to our Father. It is the greatest story ever told, and each and every one of us has a lead role. All because we have a Father who loves us, forgives us, and claims us as His own. All Praise be to Him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You spoke at Jesus’ baptism saying You were well pleased with your Son, please let all of us as Your children live lives that are pleasing to Your sight as well. For we strive to be witnesses of Your love so all may come to You. In the name of our Savior, Your Son, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one God now and forever more. Amen.
You spoke at Jesus’ baptism saying You were well pleased with your Son, please let all of us as Your children live lives that are pleasing to Your sight as well. For we strive to be witnesses of Your love so all may come to You. In the name of our Savior, Your Son, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one God now and forever more. Amen.
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