Great reminder

Academic pursuits often run the risk of missing the forest for the trees; so much focus is on the learning that the overall picture of why one attends an academic intsituition gets lost. This is one concern i have as well about my calling to attend WSC in Escondido. Prof Kim reminded us today after class and shared with us the importance of reading The Bible and spending time in prayer. Because I’v been in front of a foregin language book for three weeks now, I’v neglected spending time immersed in God’s Word, His true and inspired and inerrant word. I have much to learn that is sure, but I’ve already been blessed to hear helpful exhortations from staff and professors. The call to ministry is not easy, and it’s a high calling indeed. The church is hospital for sinners, and therein lies the challenges any pastor faces as he prepares for sermons to feed the sheep and to provide counsel in the midst of life’s arrows. In fact Paul addresses this in Romans % about perserverance which creates character and in turn creates hope.

Greek is tough this week, and it seems the more i stare at the pages the less I learn or retain. This experience thus far shows me how dependent i am on Christ and His saving work on the cross. O how I lack focus, but may I fix my eyes on Christ jesus, The Author and Perfector of faith. To Him be the glory.

Tough Week

This has been a tough week, one that has challenged me in many ways. Today my grandfather, affectionatley known as “Pop”, died at the age of 90. He had been fighting a battle with cancer since March, and it finally took it’s toll. death is something that is not talked about often enough, yet I’m reminded of Our Lord Jesus who conquered death that sinners may have life.  I am grateful that i had a chance to share with him about Christ and the new calling in my life to pursue a career in ministry. O how short i fall in this, yet I look to Christ and His Gospel for hope and encouragement.

Greek this week fried my brain a bit, trying to work between various tenses, moods, voices, and cases. I pray that i grow closer to God and His glorious word, that I might be equipped for service in His church. Today i also had a chance to hear from a thrid year student, and he shared about his life at WSC and the incredible student to professor ratio. I tend to be shy in asking for help, and that is one thing i do need as i start seminary.

It’s getting late. Press on towards the goal heavenward, taking hold of that which Christ has taken hold of me. SOLI DEO GLORIA

Seminary Life

Greek at Westminster Seminary has been a challenge thus far, but I am enjoying the struggle to stay focused, keeping the goal of ministry in mind as I pursue this calling to preach God’s Word. It’s been exciting to get to know some of my fellow seminarians, sharing with each other, and learning about upcoming classes. The work load is intimidating at times, and I reach points of frustration trying to comprehend a new language. Although I feel this way at times, I pray that this does not become an intellectual exercise; rather I pray that I grow in God’s grace and knowledge and know Him more intimately as a child of God. I am not deserving of this at all. I am a sinner in need of grace.

I’ve been convicted as well by the fact that I’ve been away from God’s Word. This is not good, but I pray for a renewed vigor to read and exegete the text as The Holy Spirit leads me. As a Christian, I am called to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in me to fulfill His purposes. I am weak  but he is strong.

The process has just begun. I am afraid of not living up to this call, yet I’m reminded that It is through Christ that i am strenthened ane exhorted. It is through His sovereign grace that I live and have my being. Without Him I am nothing.

It’s all Greek

Seminary started this week at Westminster for the summer session and i have been immersing myself into the text to learn the various nouns and verbs and other vocab that will be important to read the greek New Testament. I have been struggling with the language; it is not easy to pick up on first glance. however, I am encouraged to see signs of improvement as i read, eat and think greek. No doubt about it, practice is vital in learning a new skill or languague.

professor Kim does a great job of explaining the material. Repetition is the key i’ve found thus far, and it’s a constant message that Dr. kim reiterates throughout the class to remind us of how important discipline is in the acquistion of a new language.

I see at times how vital this will be in the art of hermenutics and how scholars have translated the greek into English. There is much to grasp as I use this blog entry as a respite between parsing nouns and verbs and learning vocabulary. This has also been  a humbling task as well, because I am not at times very focused in my studies, and like the hymn I am prone to wander. I pray that Christ is exalted in my studies and that I learn to grow in his grace and knowledge. I also have enjoyed talking to other seminary students and sharing with them the call to ministry. I can’t thank God enough for what he has done by sending his son to die on my behalf. I’m doing better than I desrve, that is for sure.

Reading is a big part of seminary work. O how i pray that i’d chersih God’s word and seek His counsel in the life of the church and through fellowship and bearing witness to the goood news that Christ accomplishes His purposes. his word does not come back void.