Category: Miscellaneous Page 2 of 3

It’s been awhile since I posted anything. I’ve been struggling to keep up with reading for my classes. Now I’m also getting to the point in the semester where there are tests to take and papers to write so I don’t expect things to let up much.

What has been going on in my life? Well, mainly school work and trying to figure out what is the next step. Trying to discern what my “calling” really is… I seem to change my mind a lot. But in any case, I need to make some decisions soon as the semester will come to a close in another 8 weeks or so. I’m still working out my thoughts, but right now I’m leaning towards finishing out school. Whatever I do, I need to be doing something meaningful with my life to be happy.

Seminary classes start again for me one week from today. Four classes this semester.

People & Faith of Israel II
Systematic Theology
Intro to Pastoral Care
Worship and/as Transformative Art

I hope it will be an interesting semester. Hopefully I can figure out this semester if this is really the path I’m supposed to be on. I’m not at all convinced as of yet. Classes last semester were fun and interesting and I’m missing the good people I’ve met there, but on the other hand I kind of would like to have a normal job again and be earning a paycheck too. Finances are unfortunately going to be a part of upcoming decisions. In any case, though, I think this has been a worthwhile experience.

Finally got grades from last semester and I did pretty good for being back in a formal classroom for the first time in 17 years. I was happy with the results.

One more essay and my first semester of seminary will be done. It has been a good experience so far. All of the classes were interesting, but especially the Hebrew Bible and Theories of Change classes. I feel like I’ve learned a lot, but I can’t say I’m any closer to knowing where my life is headed 🙂 Although, I am going to do a second semester, at least.

I’m going to do four classes next semester, People and Faith of Israel II, Systematic Theology, Introduction to Pastoral Care, and Worship and/as Transformative Art. I’m hoping the Pastoral Care class will help me discern once and for all whether ministry is for me. Right now, I’m thinking not…

In any case, I’ve got lots to think about… do I stay in school past this next semester? If so, MA or MDiv degrees? Where will my funds come from? What are my ultimate goals? If I don’t stay in school, what do I do then? Look to go back to computer work? In school or not, where will I live, Kalamazoo, Chicago, elsewhere? Lots of questions…

Not much profound to say… I have two papers due this week in addition to all the normal reading. I think I have a handle on it though. It will be interesting to see what kind of grades I get back as these will be the first graded papers I’ve written in at least 17 years… I may or may not report how it works out 🙂

I think my life directions are going to become more clear as the semester goes on. I’m loving the theological aspects of classes. I’m not feeling particularly drawn to parish ministry, though. Although I like worship and spiritual formation type issues, there are other important aspects to ministry (such as pastoral care) that I don’t feel particularly called to or gifted in. What that means long term, I’m not sure.

I’m probably repeating myself, but it is an ongoing question in my mind… I’m not sure anyone is reading this anyway 🙂

I’m not even sure what the purpose of this blog is at the moment 🙂 Seems like I should be able to put something interesting down here but I haven’t had much to think about this week except school work. Anyone want to hear about Sabellianism and Arianism? Didn’t think so. That was one of my paper topics. The other is thoughts on parallels between the Hebrew Bible and other ancient texts. An example of a parallel might be commonalities between biblical stories about Moses’ birth and stories about the birth of some ancient king. What might that mean to Christianity and Biblical interpretation, etc. Interesting stuff, to me, anyway.

Tomorrow is week 4 of seminary… the long commute is wearing a little. I’m gone from 6 am until 9:30 pm. I don’t really want to move to Chicago, though. It’s too early to decide anything about what happens after this semester.

Been feeling kind of run down today. I think that’s because I started a training workshop on shamanic healing methods this last weekend which went from about 9:30 in the morning until 5 pm with an hour drive each way to get there and home. I know that put me behind in my reading for CTS classes tomorrow. The shamanic healing class will be pretty interesting though. It was a good start, it just wiped me out mentally. The class goes one or two days a month through May. Maybe sometime I’ll write more about the shamanic practices I’m learning. I’m not sure I feel up to it at the moment though.

Baseball season is about over, at least for the Tigers. Already thinking about next season… they have some needs to fill so it should be an interesting off season.