Thoughts of a seminarian.

I have often heard stories of people who have pursued careers in ministry and of people who have attended seminary that have become different people from who they were when they first started. They seem bitter and display a countenance of indifferance. I have wondered how these people who have studied a God of love could come out on the other side so unloving. I am beginning to understand.
I have recently felt overwhelmed in my Christian philosophy studies. I want you to think for a second of the stereotypical philosopher. They are always asking questions of the reality around them; seeking ryhme and reason for the current state of the world and its people. They are not satisfied with the simple answer, "Because that is the way it is" or "Some things can only be explained by faith." They view life as something to be examined day in and day out.

I am the polar opposite of this person.

I am the person who gets frustrated with these people because I think they are wasting their time debating things that can never be proven. I do not like to ask questions. I am very easily satisfied with simple answers and require little debate to convince me of a position. I have a hard enough time deciding what toppings i want on my pizza, so the thought of arguing with someone over life's unkowables litteraly makes me sick to my stomach. I am in no way, shape or form anything that remotely resembles a philosopher.

I became so frustrated tonight while studying that i began to slip into this depressed/indifferent state that i have heard of in the previously mentioned stories. It scared me. I realized how easy it is to let your frustrations overtake your whole outlook. But after talking with Candi I began to see that not everyone is made the same. My strengths are not the same as a philosophers. While i have a hard time understanding new knowledge, I have an easy time applying the small amount knowlegde i have to real life. I do not think quick while in the midst of conversation, but given time i can process and write a defense for my beliefs. It is the way i was designed and built.

I began to realize that this depressed/indifferent state was just a product of my feelings of inadequacy. There are so many different kinds of people in the world who need Jesus, how can I possibly prepare myself to minister to all of them in the way they need most. And then i realized I can't. There are many within the Christian faith who posess gifts that I do not. I am not the body of Christ. I am only in it. But just because I am only a hand does not mean that I should have no interest in the eye. In examining each part of the body we understand more fully what the body is as a whole. And so, in observing the many parts of Christ's body, I can more fully understand who Christ is. I pray that God would use me to help other's discover more about Himself.

-Tim

Upcoming Months

We are joining Faith Baptist!! It was so important to us to find a good home church, and we are really excited. There are alot of opportunities to serve, we don't even know where to begin! Tim has been struggling without a place to play music. But if he isn't able to play at our new church, please pray that the Lord will give him opportunities to use his talents. He has some great friends around him who have been letting him play from time to time.

We have about a week of no papers, so we're really soaking up on rest and fun! Its incredible how much two or three classes can affect your schedule. You take any break you can get!

We aren't worried, but we are preparing for upcoming months. Please be in prayer with us. God always has shown His provision in our finances, and we have no reason to doubt Him now. But we believe that we are to call upon the Lord in all stages of our lives.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Ps. 145:18

1. Because Tim's job is seasonal, it ends in July. So we will start looking for another job this summer.
2. Candi may need to look for a job on campus. Typically on campus jobs are hard to find.
3. Our car hit 200,000 miles and is acting up. We're afraid it doesn't have much longer.
4. We would love to be able to go see Candi's parents and take mission trips.

Most of these things are selfish desires, and only God knows what we truely NEED. We ask that when you pray, you won't pray that God grants these things. Rather that the Lord's will be done, and our attitude remains glorifying to Him no matter the outcome.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Learning

Wow no one ever told us how much you learn about yourselves in seminary. It is like everyday brings a new light on a subject. College changes you as a person, but seminary is helping us form who we are in Christ. What is my role as a (husband/wife) (student, church member, worker)? Why do I believe the things I have always believed? Am I really a teachable spirit...or do I just hold on to what I know?

We find ourselves sitting in our car, staying up late, or simply stopping where we are to have a serious conversation with one another. Granted we have always been talkers, but now it seems as though we can't get enough.

Oh how exhausting! Even during our times of rest, our brains are still moving at lightning speed! Seminary was a wonderful decision...but we're thankful there is an end in sight. I'm sure by the end of our time here, we will be bursting at the seems to put what we have learned into action.

Lord, even though You have put us in a place of learning, help us not neglect the work that needs to be done today. Give us Your eyes to see the hurt and lost around our sphere of influence today. Give us Your heart for these people. Give us Your hands to help them. And Lord, one day soon, give us Your feet to go to the places where Your love needs to be preached!

Springtime!

Blogging and seminary just don't seem to work together. But upon request of of a good friend (Lindsey) "we need to work on that".

So heres an update on our life...

Tim's job is going great. We realize that no matter what our bank account says, we have yet to miss a bill payment. Just goes to show you that when God says "go", He will provide a way. If we pray, we have no reason to doubt Him. Has He ever given us a reason to?? How wonderful and faithful is the God we serve!

School is good. It requires so much more work than we ever anticipated. Some days are literally spent reading and writing from the moment we get up to the moment we lay down. It is so nice to both share in this responsibility. Not only are we able to keep eachother accountable, but we are able to share in this struggle to learn and grow.

We recently changed our degree program. Now we are both in ICP 2+2 program. In which we will receive our Master of Divinity through two years in America and then two years serving overseas. Because we are both in school, it will take us around 4 years over here, and then two years on the field. As most of you know, this is what we were planning on doing after we graduate anyway. This way will make it somewhat easier to get overseas. We are so excited about this opportunity and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us!

We have recently been attending a Faith Baptist, and can really see ourselves as members there one day. This is really exciting, because we were having such a hard time without a church family. The church is not at all what we would have expected that we would love, but God has really been placing a peace and joy in our hearts about it. There is a great opportunity to serve, and we hope we will be able to become more involved.

Recently our days are spent reading, writing, studying, (For Tim, work), inventing new recipes to cook, spending time outside in this wonderful spring weather, hangin out with old and new friends, and most days we'll have some down time for netflex movies!