Life at Luther

Time Flies

Sat, 12 May 2012 01:03:00 GMT

I didn’t realize until last night that today was my last day of class for the semester. I’ve been so busy working on final papers that I didn’t even notice that time in class was wrapping up.

This came as a pleasant surprise considering all the finals I still have to write. The one read more...

Movin On Up

Fri, 11 May 2012 22:26:00 GMT

'Cuz We're Movin On Up...To The East Side...

You probably need to be over the age of 30...and maybe more like 35-40...to have any idea what I'm talking about, but this old time theme song is playing in my head today.

I've talked about it before, but since the beginning of my internship, my office has read more...

Three-Day Weekend

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:20:00 GMT

Today was my first day back in class after a three-day weekend. My class schedule has worked out nicely this semester so that I have Mondays off. I especially appreciate this now, during finals.

Not only does this schedule give me more free time to enjoy on the weekends, but it also helps me get stuff read more...

Finding Metaphors in Weird Places

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:50:00 GMT

This morning I had a coffee meeting (HUGE PERK OF PASTORING RIGHT THERE) with the chair of my internship committee. Now usually we meet at the church when we both have a free moment, but this time around we decided to meet at one of the local coffee shops and talk over some things.

I got there a little read more...

Learning to Relax

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:53:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago I stopped by the Luther coffee shop in between studying in the library and my next class. My plan was to drink lots of coffee while cramming in the rest of the reading I hadn’t finished for my class.

Then, when I got up for a refill, I passed by another student I know read more...

Systema-what?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:32:00 GMT

Recently I talked about the online preaching class I’m taking this semester. I also have a Systematic Theology class, the second of three ST classes required for the M.Div. It’s a little different in format from the other online courses I’ve had so far.

One of the things I really like read more...

Revelation and Worship

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:53:00 GMT

We’ve been talking in my Revelation class about one of its recurring themes—worship. We’ve also been discussing how these passages—the glorious visions of the heavenly throne surrounded by living creatures and elders worshipping God—are the ones that make it into the lectionary read more...

Only at Church

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:17:00 GMT

Today, my site hosted an intern cluster meeting. This is the 2nd and last of the cluster meetings for my area in the Cities for this year of internship. While hosting the meeting brings a certain amount of extra work...planning worship and setting up the hospitality/rooms/etc, the meeting itself is a read more...

Bible Conference

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:26:00 GMT

Last weekend the annual Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion regional meeting was held at Luther. Although I’ve attended this event previously, this year was my first time presenting a paper at it.

For those who aren’t familiar with this conference, it’s an opportunity read more...

Rapid Turn Around

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:15:00 GMT

I'm certainly no stranger to preaching. Been doing it for awhile now, but there are always new lessons to learn, new tactics to try, new situations to be in.

I currently find myself in one of those times. Namely, rapid turn around.

As I think back over the course of my preaching history, I've never read more...

Preaching Class

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:23:00 GMT

One of my classes this semester is Foundations of Preaching, and yes, it’s an online class. This is the second of three preaching classes required for the M.Div. at Luther. Many other seminaries, including Lutheran ones, require only one preaching course. I think we’re pretty fortunate at read more...

St. Patrick’s Day

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:19:00 GMT

Who knew that St. Patrick’s Day has more to it than green beer? I was reminded of this yesterday in church when the pastor not only explained who St. Patrick was at the beginning of the service, but also showed up dressed like St. Patrick for the sermon.

This has to be one of my favorite church read more...

Campus Meets Congregation

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:31:00 GMT

Over the course of my nearly 7 months at my internship site, I have seen a lot of people come in as guest speakers for our Sunday Spotlight...probably more widely understood as our Adult Forum. I've spoken a handful of times for it, but we've had a very big mix of people from different contexts read more...

Variety Show

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:11:00 GMT

Last night I attended Luther’s annual Variety Show and fundraiser. It was nice to take a break from the normal routine and laugh for a while.

The evening began with a community meal. These are normally held once per month on Wednesdays at lunch, but this month they moved it to Thursday evening read more...

Heading downhill

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:32:00 GMT

I'm a couple week's past the half way point of my internship. 6 months occurred on the 29th of Feb so in retrospect I'm still pretty much in the "half way window."

That being said, its a strange feeling at the moment. In many ways it feels like I'm right at the top of the first big hill of a roller read more...

Second Acts

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:15:00 GMT

It’s that time in the semester when I’m reminded that it’s about halfway over—mostly because my six-week class is about to end.

Hopefully, Acts of the Apostles will be the only class that appears on my Luther transcript twice—not because I failed it once and had to retake read more...

Adventures Ahead...Eventually

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

I’ve learned, both as a seminary student and as a Distributed Learner, to be diligent in looking ahead to all the things I need to accomplish on the path of ELCA candidacy. I’m about a year away from applying for internship, but that’s one of the biggest steps in candidacy, so I’ve read more...

In the Fire

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:49:00 GMT

This week’s passage for our study of Daniel in Teaching the Bible class is the famous one about Daniel’s three companions being thrown into the furnace of fire.

This must be an all-time favorite Sunday School story that has graced many felt boards over the years (do they still use these?). read more...

The Benefits of too many Books

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:02:00 GMT

A couple of incidents I’ve had recently involving books at Luther has made me appreciate the caring and dedicated people that are part of this community.

One happened last week in the library. I was immersed in my homework when all of a sudden someone started speaking to me from behind, read more...

Life is Messy

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:28:00 GMT

Sometimes I am amazed at how God provides illustrations in my every day life to confirm things I'm thinking for an upcoming sermon. Sometimes I use these in the sermon itself, and sometimes I just nod my head and say a quick thanks to God for the clarification.

That happened this morning.

I'm preaching read more...