This last week wrapped up 2 more classes. I'm now done teaching the Old Testament overview for the second time, and the New Testament overview for the first time.
Starting this week, I'll teach the second round of New Testament, and get to start a new class, The Life of the Believer.
Looking forward to diving into the disciplines, behaviors, gifts, etc... that are expected of a follower of Christ and how those may adjust depending on who you are.
After this set of classes, I'll even get a couple of weeks off from teaching classes and find myself with only the weekly sermons to prepare.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
My Confidence Shaken
Sometimes when I have the opportunity to teach, I get far more concerned about what people will think of me than other times.
This tends to happen when the topic I am teaching on requires more of "my insight" due to a lack of scriptural bluntness.
Tonight I was talking about wisdom in relationships, and while the Bible has plenty to say on that, it doesn't blunty address the dating for of relationships. And i wanted to talk specifically about the dating form of relationships, requiring more of "my insight" than "scriptural insight."
I try to be clear when I make this shift, even in the midst of a teaching so that I don't misrepresent scripture, but also find that I feel less confident when I have to use this style of preaching.
I believe that is a good thing, as the Bible and God are the authority, and everything should be tested in that way, but regardless, my confidence gets shaken, and I have to deal with those emotions as well.
Luckily, next week we'll be moving on from the relationship series and talking about things the Bible is far more blunt about.
This tends to happen when the topic I am teaching on requires more of "my insight" due to a lack of scriptural bluntness.
Tonight I was talking about wisdom in relationships, and while the Bible has plenty to say on that, it doesn't blunty address the dating for of relationships. And i wanted to talk specifically about the dating form of relationships, requiring more of "my insight" than "scriptural insight."
I try to be clear when I make this shift, even in the midst of a teaching so that I don't misrepresent scripture, but also find that I feel less confident when I have to use this style of preaching.
I believe that is a good thing, as the Bible and God are the authority, and everything should be tested in that way, but regardless, my confidence gets shaken, and I have to deal with those emotions as well.
Luckily, next week we'll be moving on from the relationship series and talking about things the Bible is far more blunt about.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Is There a Positive?
I can turn most weather situations into some form of positive.
Excuses to not go outside because it is unsafe...reasons to snowboard...creating lots of insurance claims and economic growth...etc.
But slush has me confused. I hate when parking lots are super slushy. I can't find a big enough positive yet about being warm enough to melt snow, but still leave parts of the snow. Stupid slush, I can't think of a positive about you.
Excuses to not go outside because it is unsafe...reasons to snowboard...creating lots of insurance claims and economic growth...etc.
But slush has me confused. I hate when parking lots are super slushy. I can't find a big enough positive yet about being warm enough to melt snow, but still leave parts of the snow. Stupid slush, I can't think of a positive about you.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Pizza Day Today
I had my first experience at Mesa Pizza in Dinkytown today.
Love the creativity they put into their pizzas. I had a slice of Chili Cheese Fry Pizza and a slice of Chicken Pot Pie Pizza.
Liked both, preffered the Pot Pie. Have to go back sometime to try nacho pizza, macaronni and cheese pizza, and a few others that sparked my curiosity.
Topped it off with Jenny and I making a Deluxe (read: normal) frozen pizza for dinner.
Love the creativity they put into their pizzas. I had a slice of Chili Cheese Fry Pizza and a slice of Chicken Pot Pie Pizza.
Liked both, preffered the Pot Pie. Have to go back sometime to try nacho pizza, macaronni and cheese pizza, and a few others that sparked my curiosity.
Topped it off with Jenny and I making a Deluxe (read: normal) frozen pizza for dinner.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Snowed In
Sometimes, when the snow has come and Jenny is away for the night (with a work thing) and I don't have to work the next day, I decide to watch a movie, at 12:15 a.m.
That then puts me in the movie watching mood. It is now 2:11 a.m. and I think I may start another.
Sometimes being snowed in isn't so bad.
That then puts me in the movie watching mood. It is now 2:11 a.m. and I think I may start another.
Sometimes being snowed in isn't so bad.
Friday, February 18, 2011
You Could Have Charged Me
Sometimes I can't believe I get paid to do what I do. Tonight was one of those nights.
The service started off with awesome worship, enough that the worship leader added extra stuff on the fly as God lead Him. I didn't really want to speak, so I took some of the time to read verses as he played to prolong that moment.
After I eventually did preach, I kept thinking, I just want to worship more so I closed with inviting Aaron back to the stage to reprise one of the songs.
He did so, and then chose to continue leading us in worship for 9 more songs, roughly another hour.
It was one of those moments I would have paid to experience. You literally could have charged me admission and I would have paid. But, I am fortunate enough not to just get that for free (as all those there did) but to be paid for being there.
Some days are super encouraging and make you love your job. This was one of those days.
The service started off with awesome worship, enough that the worship leader added extra stuff on the fly as God lead Him. I didn't really want to speak, so I took some of the time to read verses as he played to prolong that moment.
After I eventually did preach, I kept thinking, I just want to worship more so I closed with inviting Aaron back to the stage to reprise one of the songs.
He did so, and then chose to continue leading us in worship for 9 more songs, roughly another hour.
It was one of those moments I would have paid to experience. You literally could have charged me admission and I would have paid. But, I am fortunate enough not to just get that for free (as all those there did) but to be paid for being there.
Some days are super encouraging and make you love your job. This was one of those days.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Job Shadow
Bethel University has decided that a third student may benefit from watching what I do day to day, so I've been given a junior who will job shadow me for a while to see what ministry is like.
I'm convinced that they keep picking the wrong person, as I do a lot of things differently than what many consider "normal" for a pastor.
Oh well, the previous students must have said something good enough that they haven't decided I'm too bad of an influence yet.
I look forward to getting to know Zach and seeing what his thoughts of ministry are.
Welcome to my world.
I'm convinced that they keep picking the wrong person, as I do a lot of things differently than what many consider "normal" for a pastor.
Oh well, the previous students must have said something good enough that they haven't decided I'm too bad of an influence yet.
I look forward to getting to know Zach and seeing what his thoughts of ministry are.
Welcome to my world.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
No More Islands
I'm a very systematic person in most of what I do. I think through actions, generally doing them logically.
We've been scraping paint off a ceiling and its coves. I want to start somewhere and work systematically until it is finished.
Others find themselves jumping around to what is making the most immediate progress. They create islands of work left to be done in my systematic world. I don't like the islands.
We are at the point now where only the four corners of the coves remain. No more islands exist except these four.
It looks systematic. It always should.
We've been scraping paint off a ceiling and its coves. I want to start somewhere and work systematically until it is finished.
Others find themselves jumping around to what is making the most immediate progress. They create islands of work left to be done in my systematic world. I don't like the islands.
We are at the point now where only the four corners of the coves remain. No more islands exist except these four.
It looks systematic. It always should.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Fantasy Golf Update
There are around 40 people in the fantasy golf league i'm playing in this year.
I'm currently in 12th place, but can jump to first with one good week.
The goal is to finish in the top 10 by the end of the year, but there is still a long time until we find that out.
I'm currently in 12th place, but can jump to first with one good week.
The goal is to finish in the top 10 by the end of the year, but there is still a long time until we find that out.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
I Like Fresh Starts
Some people like New Years Day because it feels like a fresh start. Some people like new school years for the same reason.
I've been trying to work on finding motivation more frequently, and have decided that ideally, each moment should feel like a fresh start.
I'm good at doing that with some behavior, making sure not to let things out of my control get me down, but other times, I can't shake what is going on.
I know I should be able to define right now, this instant, as a time for a fresh start, but I can't.
Monday is a good time for a fresh start though, and that arrives in just an hour.
I've been trying to work on finding motivation more frequently, and have decided that ideally, each moment should feel like a fresh start.
I'm good at doing that with some behavior, making sure not to let things out of my control get me down, but other times, I can't shake what is going on.
I know I should be able to define right now, this instant, as a time for a fresh start, but I can't.
Monday is a good time for a fresh start though, and that arrives in just an hour.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Jello-Time
We did our research. Bought our Jello, the extra Gelatin, and got the string to suspend the object.
We picked our victim, took something from his work desk, and have proceeded to put it in the center of a Jello mold.
Tomorrow we get to put it on his desk and watch his reaction as he has to fetch it out.
I'm excited for Jello-Time!
We picked our victim, took something from his work desk, and have proceeded to put it in the center of a Jello mold.
Tomorrow we get to put it on his desk and watch his reaction as he has to fetch it out.
I'm excited for Jello-Time!
Vacation
If anyone knows of a way to free Jenny and I from work obligations for longer than we were thinking, and give us money so we can spend more than we were thinking, I found the vacation I want to go on.
A 12 night cruise that makes stops all along the sites of the Bible.
A combination of two trips I want to take. Sounds awesome. Someone make this happen for me!
A 12 night cruise that makes stops all along the sites of the Bible.
A combination of two trips I want to take. Sounds awesome. Someone make this happen for me!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
It Took All Day
It took me all day today to get over the food coma I had from the Superbowl.
It didn't help that I was eating some of the leftover Snicker's Salad throughout the afternoon (and for my lunch), but I'm finally over it.
Now that I've rid myself of food coma, it is time for a sleep coma to ensue.
It didn't help that I was eating some of the leftover Snicker's Salad throughout the afternoon (and for my lunch), but I'm finally over it.
Now that I've rid myself of food coma, it is time for a sleep coma to ensue.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Guest Speakers
It's been quite some time since i've been at the Young Adults Group (Terrace) at Grace and not been teaching. I'm glad to have a guest speaker so we hear from different voices, and frankly, because it is nice to take something off of the to-do list for the week.
Get to spend time that would have been on the sermon this week rehearsing my song for Sunday.
Get to spend time that would have been on the sermon this week rehearsing my song for Sunday.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Singing, Me, Really?
So, I can't sing well.
Sunday, I get to sing. In front of the church. As part of a ridiculously over-the-top kind of skit.
Should be interesting.
I was picked because "you've built up a credibility of ridiculousness that people expect silly things from you" and we need people to be in the mood for something silly to make this particular illustration work.
Good luck me.
Sunday, I get to sing. In front of the church. As part of a ridiculously over-the-top kind of skit.
Should be interesting.
I was picked because "you've built up a credibility of ridiculousness that people expect silly things from you" and we need people to be in the mood for something silly to make this particular illustration work.
Good luck me.
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