So I keep going back into reflection mode and I completely understand if you find it annoying. I know that I probably would if I was a reader, but it helps me to remember what I have learned. Five weeks have passed here at DTS, which means 1/3 of this semester is in the books. It is funny to think that five weeks has come and gone. I can say though that these five weeks have been quite a learning experience. Within two days at Dallas Seminary, I was learning lessons that I need to learn and relearn on a regular basis.
Coming into school, I felt that I had a good grasp on the Scriptures and that for the most part, I had a solid understanding of the Bible. It did not take long for me to realize that I am not the Bible scholar I thought myself to be. Sure, I can make sense of some Scripture and tell you the meaning, but the vast majority of Scripture is foreign to me. It is a sad and depressing realization, yet it invites me to keep studying and to keep learning. The overall lesson is that it is so easy for us to get into a rut when it comes to Bible study. Rather than reading something new, we go back to the familiar passages that we have read a hundred times. We all know what John 3:16 says, at least I hope that everyone reading this does. But do you know what the book of Habakkuk says?
Do you know why Habakkuk becomes upset with God? Do you know the history of the Chaldeans? Did you know that their actions would make Hitler look like a nice guy? I had no clue, and it was not until I actually read the book of Habakkuk and discussed the historical background of the book.
There is so much in the Scripture that we do not know. There is so much to discover. I would challenge you to read a book in the Bible that you have never read, or maybe have only read once.
One last thing I want to share is that when you are studying Scripture, do not study Scripture flippantly. Always be aware that you are studying the very word of God. This is not something that is to be taken lightly. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB). The study of and interpretation of scripture should never be taken lightly. We would not want our doctors to take their studies lightly, operating on us with only partial knowledge. So to, we must see to it that we are not delivering partial truths but the whole truth.
9.29.2008
9.18.2008
Who are You
If there is one thing that I can confidently say, it is that seminary causes a person to think. A good portion of that time will be spent contemplating ideas one has never delved into, for whatever reason. Another portion of that time will be spent in personal reflection. This period of time is almost worse than the time spent thinking on a new thought or idea, simply because you are forced to look at yourself. The more honest you are, the more difficult the reflection becomes.
Last night I was working on an assignment and we were looking at Mark 11:27-12:44. In these verses, Jesus encounters the Pharisees, Herodians and the Sadducees, each of which is messed up in their own right. For the assignment though, I needed a definition/description of each group. What caused me to pause was the definition of a Pharisee. A Pharisee was a Jewish religious leader that prided themself on keep the commandments/laws of God. As a quick side note, this meant more than the 10 Commandments, and today it means following 631 laws. Along with this though was another description that frightend me, as I saw myself being described.
The Pharisees, along with their religious practices, were known for casting a disparaging opinion on those who did not follow the law. Keep in mind, they looked like the most holy people to everyone else and they acted in such a manner. On the inside though, they were not clean. They were full of self-motivated ideas intentions. They were concerned about receiving honor from the people and being well-known and praised. They thought that God's will matched their list of wants and desires.
The more I read, the more I could replace Pharisee with Chris. It was a sad revelation but a good reminder that we all can become like the Pharisees. How easy is it for us to seek the praise of man? How easy is it for us to think that our wants and desires are God's will? How easy is it for us to cast a disparaging glare towards someone who does something we view as sin?
Last night I was working on an assignment and we were looking at Mark 11:27-12:44. In these verses, Jesus encounters the Pharisees, Herodians and the Sadducees, each of which is messed up in their own right. For the assignment though, I needed a definition/description of each group. What caused me to pause was the definition of a Pharisee. A Pharisee was a Jewish religious leader that prided themself on keep the commandments/laws of God. As a quick side note, this meant more than the 10 Commandments, and today it means following 631 laws. Along with this though was another description that frightend me, as I saw myself being described.
The Pharisees, along with their religious practices, were known for casting a disparaging opinion on those who did not follow the law. Keep in mind, they looked like the most holy people to everyone else and they acted in such a manner. On the inside though, they were not clean. They were full of self-motivated ideas intentions. They were concerned about receiving honor from the people and being well-known and praised. They thought that God's will matched their list of wants and desires.
The more I read, the more I could replace Pharisee with Chris. It was a sad revelation but a good reminder that we all can become like the Pharisees. How easy is it for us to seek the praise of man? How easy is it for us to think that our wants and desires are God's will? How easy is it for us to cast a disparaging glare towards someone who does something we view as sin?
9.11.2008
It's Been A While!!!
I apologize for the lack of updates. Seminary keeps you pretty busy and I'm not yet fluent in Greek, so I spend a lot of my time looking a flashcards with weird characters on them. Anyway, on a more serious note, it's time for a bit of reflection.
Prof Hendricks continuously emphasizes in his classroom that if you want to learn something you have to know how to read. You might laugh at that statement, and some of you may be saying, "That is the dumbest thing I've heard. I know how to read!" Do you? Do you really know how to read? I picked up a book that Prof recommended entitled How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren. Let me tell you, I'm not even a fourth of the way through the book and I have learned that I do not know how to read a book. It's amazing how many things we overlook. Do you ever stop and think to read the inside cover of a book? How about the little blurbs in the back? How many of us read the table of contents before reading a book? Do you ask questions of the text as you read? Do you quiz the text? Do you ask yourself what you have learned while you are reading? The whole point is that we miss a lot in our reading because we simply do not know how to read.
You may be wondering how this relates to seminary or something of that nature. The relation is in that the same principles apply to Bible study. The Bible is a book, composed of several books, and in order to even scratch the surface of what the Bible has to offer, you need to know what you are looking for. Case in point, an example from class today: If someone asked you what the statement "In Christ" means, could you give them a sufficient, educated, intelligent answer? I will admit that I would immediately say yes. Most of us would. I quickly realized though that my answer would probably not be sufficient when Prof told us of someone who wrote their dissertation on the statement "In Christ." The dissertation is 370+ pages in length and Prof says it is one of the best books you could ever read on the subject.
I've been in class for about 3 weeks now, and one thing is quite clear. When it comes down to the bare bones truth, I really do not know or comprehend all that much. I may feel like I do, but I do not. There is so much to learn and so much that I do not know.
Lastly, before I go, this morning we had communion during chapel, and it was a great time of reflection. The more I sat there and thought about Jesus, the more I realized that I don't really know Him all that well. It sounds weird and it feels weird to say it, and trying to put it into words is difficult. He is so much more than our finite human minds and hearts can comprehend, and just when we think we really know Him or have Him figured out, we learn something new. A better way of saying this could be, I sat in wonder and amazement at how much more I could know Him and know of Him.
Think about this, God sent His Son, the Savior. Do you see the grace of God in this statement?
Prof Hendricks continuously emphasizes in his classroom that if you want to learn something you have to know how to read. You might laugh at that statement, and some of you may be saying, "That is the dumbest thing I've heard. I know how to read!" Do you? Do you really know how to read? I picked up a book that Prof recommended entitled How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren. Let me tell you, I'm not even a fourth of the way through the book and I have learned that I do not know how to read a book. It's amazing how many things we overlook. Do you ever stop and think to read the inside cover of a book? How about the little blurbs in the back? How many of us read the table of contents before reading a book? Do you ask questions of the text as you read? Do you quiz the text? Do you ask yourself what you have learned while you are reading? The whole point is that we miss a lot in our reading because we simply do not know how to read.
You may be wondering how this relates to seminary or something of that nature. The relation is in that the same principles apply to Bible study. The Bible is a book, composed of several books, and in order to even scratch the surface of what the Bible has to offer, you need to know what you are looking for. Case in point, an example from class today: If someone asked you what the statement "In Christ" means, could you give them a sufficient, educated, intelligent answer? I will admit that I would immediately say yes. Most of us would. I quickly realized though that my answer would probably not be sufficient when Prof told us of someone who wrote their dissertation on the statement "In Christ." The dissertation is 370+ pages in length and Prof says it is one of the best books you could ever read on the subject.
I've been in class for about 3 weeks now, and one thing is quite clear. When it comes down to the bare bones truth, I really do not know or comprehend all that much. I may feel like I do, but I do not. There is so much to learn and so much that I do not know.
Lastly, before I go, this morning we had communion during chapel, and it was a great time of reflection. The more I sat there and thought about Jesus, the more I realized that I don't really know Him all that well. It sounds weird and it feels weird to say it, and trying to put it into words is difficult. He is so much more than our finite human minds and hearts can comprehend, and just when we think we really know Him or have Him figured out, we learn something new. A better way of saying this could be, I sat in wonder and amazement at how much more I could know Him and know of Him.
Think about this, God sent His Son, the Savior. Do you see the grace of God in this statement?
8.30.2008
1 Week Down...A LOT To Go
This week was the first week of life in seminary, and I must say...Wow! I cannot begin to explain how amazing it is to have the opportunity to study the Bible with some of best Bible teachers in the world today. It is truly a privilege.
This week, Chuck Swindoll gave the message during Wednesday's chapel service, and he warned us that we are entering into one of the most dangerous periods of time in our lives and that we are in the most dangerous place, spiritually speaking. Every day we are open to spiritual attack, but the enemy seems to pay extra attention to seminary students. On Friday, Dr. Pentecost, yes that is his name, delivered the chapel message on Friday. At 93 years old, Dr. Pentecost still teaches and yesterday he taught us that we are to cast our nets where Christ tells us to cast our nets. Our task is not to bring the nets in or bring the "fish." We are to cast the net, God will bring the fish.
It was amazing! Simply amazing!
Thank you to everyone for your prayers!!!! Thank you everyone!
This week, Chuck Swindoll gave the message during Wednesday's chapel service, and he warned us that we are entering into one of the most dangerous periods of time in our lives and that we are in the most dangerous place, spiritually speaking. Every day we are open to spiritual attack, but the enemy seems to pay extra attention to seminary students. On Friday, Dr. Pentecost, yes that is his name, delivered the chapel message on Friday. At 93 years old, Dr. Pentecost still teaches and yesterday he taught us that we are to cast our nets where Christ tells us to cast our nets. Our task is not to bring the nets in or bring the "fish." We are to cast the net, God will bring the fish.
It was amazing! Simply amazing!
Thank you to everyone for your prayers!!!! Thank you everyone!
8.27.2008
Check Out the Harvest Recap Video
Hey everyone,
So I had a quick break today and watched the Harvest Crusade recap video on Greg Laurie's blog. I suggest checking it out. It's a pretty good video with a great message. You can check it out at this link to Pastor Greg's blog
Just scroll down to the Southern California Harvest Recap video.
Let me know what you think.
So I had a quick break today and watched the Harvest Crusade recap video on Greg Laurie's blog. I suggest checking it out. It's a pretty good video with a great message. You can check it out at this link to Pastor Greg's blog
Just scroll down to the Southern California Harvest Recap video.
Let me know what you think.
8.21.2008
Integrity
Today was orientation day at DTS. We had the opportunity to hear from different departments and the various offices on campus. It was your typical school orientation, so to speak. The only difference is that at seminary, whenever you meet, someone has a Word for you. Today, the Word came from Chaplain Bill Bryan.
Chaplain Bill is a man that you cannot really describe. He is 72 years old and more full of life and love for the Lord than most twenty-somethings. Today, Chaplain Bill spoke to us regarding integrity and blamelessness. Integrity is what you do when no one is look and blamelessness is not doing anything that can bring a charge against you. In other words, blamelessness means to talk the talk but you walk the walk.
The brief message came from Psalm 101:1-4,6. Picking up in the middle of verse 2 David writes, "I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me" (NASB). What Chaplain Bill showed us though is that integrity and blamelessness is a choice. Notice that David says "I will..." This notes him making a choice. He is choosing to be a man of integrity. He is choosing to do what's right and to be who he should be. But as Chaplain Bill also pointed out, that comes from deep within the soul. These choices are made and directed by the Holy Spirit and it is only by His strength that we are able to be victorious and live a life of integrity and blamelessness.
That was the really cool insight of the day, and this was only orientation day! But please pray for me and for everyone you know, that we would all live lives of integrity and blamelessness.
Chaplain Bill is a man that you cannot really describe. He is 72 years old and more full of life and love for the Lord than most twenty-somethings. Today, Chaplain Bill spoke to us regarding integrity and blamelessness. Integrity is what you do when no one is look and blamelessness is not doing anything that can bring a charge against you. In other words, blamelessness means to talk the talk but you walk the walk.
The brief message came from Psalm 101:1-4,6. Picking up in the middle of verse 2 David writes, "I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me" (NASB). What Chaplain Bill showed us though is that integrity and blamelessness is a choice. Notice that David says "I will..." This notes him making a choice. He is choosing to be a man of integrity. He is choosing to do what's right and to be who he should be. But as Chaplain Bill also pointed out, that comes from deep within the soul. These choices are made and directed by the Holy Spirit and it is only by His strength that we are able to be victorious and live a life of integrity and blamelessness.
That was the really cool insight of the day, and this was only orientation day! But please pray for me and for everyone you know, that we would all live lives of integrity and blamelessness.
8.20.2008
It Starts Soon...
I apologize for being slow on the updates. I have finally begun to get settled in to my new apartment. It's pretty nice, I must admit. My brother did a good job in picking out the place, seeing as how he saw it and told me to move there.
Today we got a lot of rain. It has rained quite a bit the past few days and when I say rain, I do not mean the typical Yuma shower that lasts for 15 minutes or so and then goes away. This past week, when it rains, it flat rains! Last night we got 3 inches of rain and today I bet we got another inch to two inches. It's been nuts.
The family and Kenny all loaded up and left today. It's definitely weird, having them here for a week and then they're gone. I told my mom that I felt bad that I was not all sad and upset over them leaving. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that my brother and Kayla are coming back on Sunday. I'm sure that I will feel differently after they move in November.
Tomorrow is the beginning of school, meaning orientation day. Yay! I'm excited to get started, but I am very nervous/scared as well. I will be honest that looking over the syllabus for some classes is flat terrifying. As weird as that may sound. Please pray for me that God will give me peace of mind and the ability to discern and understand what I am learning.
Lastly, before I sign off for the night, thank you again to everyone who is praying for me. I cannot tell you enough, how much you mean to me. Thank you for all of your support!
Today we got a lot of rain. It has rained quite a bit the past few days and when I say rain, I do not mean the typical Yuma shower that lasts for 15 minutes or so and then goes away. This past week, when it rains, it flat rains! Last night we got 3 inches of rain and today I bet we got another inch to two inches. It's been nuts.
The family and Kenny all loaded up and left today. It's definitely weird, having them here for a week and then they're gone. I told my mom that I felt bad that I was not all sad and upset over them leaving. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that my brother and Kayla are coming back on Sunday. I'm sure that I will feel differently after they move in November.
Tomorrow is the beginning of school, meaning orientation day. Yay! I'm excited to get started, but I am very nervous/scared as well. I will be honest that looking over the syllabus for some classes is flat terrifying. As weird as that may sound. Please pray for me that God will give me peace of mind and the ability to discern and understand what I am learning.
Lastly, before I sign off for the night, thank you again to everyone who is praying for me. I cannot tell you enough, how much you mean to me. Thank you for all of your support!
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