...done and done

Well, I have been away from the blog-o-sphere for awhile...my apologies to my vast readership.  

The past few weeks have been crazy.  I got a new job and finished up my first year at seminary...so my blog had to take a back seat.  But, now I am back and can now officially say that I am done with my first year of seminary.  So in honor of this monumental occasion, I am going to give my observations on seminary...

• Seminary is not a requirement for ministry...you can be used immensely without ever going to seminary.  People who say otherwise are arrogant, a seminary recruiter, or just dumb. Seminary is a useful tool for equipping a person for ministry...NOT A REQUIREMENT.
• It is physically impossible to read everything that is assigned....that might be a slight exaggeration
• It pays off to get to know professors...I know I should have learned this in undergrad, oops.  It was amazing to hear some of the professors stories and experiences.  If anyone knows Dr. Horrell, ask him about his time in Brazil...it will blow your mind.
• Have a life outside of seminary.  Don't let seminary become your life...I had to learn this from experience.  I learned more when I enjoyed the other parts of my life.
• Be involved in ministry during seminary.  Studying theology is great.  But understanding how that knowledge of theology actually plays out in life is even better.
• Take Horrell for Trinitarianism
• Ask lots of questions.  It is easy to take everything being taught as "gospel"...ask questions and engage.  

Seminary has been a great experience overall.  I just wanted to give a few of my observations.

Take what you want and leave the rest.

I am back readers...check back often for new stuff.

BD

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...nerves and excitement

Well, I teach today for the first time at The Gathering which is the sunday morning event for the student ministry that I work with at Trinity Chapel.  I am so excited about this opportunity and what God has in store for Julie and I in the future.  But I am also a little nervous because this is such a huge step and a brand new adventure.  But I know that God is there and I know that this is going to be a wild, fun, and exciting ride.

Pray that I continually seek Christ during this adventure and that I never lose sight of Him amongst the business.  Pray that this ministry can be a place where true community happens and that lives are changed by the Gospel.  Pray that God will do His thing...because thats all I can ever ask for.

...a man's guide to mysteries

This post can also be found at the Katy Budget Books blog where I am a new contributer.

Several guys have asked me, what's a good book that will keep me entertained throughout?  They usually go on to say that they don't like to read or get bored easily because its never is as good as 24 or Gladiator.  This pains me because there are some amazing books out there that men of all ages will absolutely love....and ladies, they would make great gifts as well...and you might like them too.  These authors are just the tip of the iceberg and I will add to this list regularly.  Read on and enjoy.

A Man’s Guide to Mysteries

 1. Harlan Coben (stand alones)

…Tell No One, Just One Look, The Woods

 The current King of suspense…bar none.  Coben has already claims the top 2 spots on my list because he is just that good.  I would argue that he is among the best to ever master this genre.  His books beautifully weave epic suspense, brilliant humor, dry sarcasm, and fun into a wild ride.  If you have never read Coben…I only have one question…why not?  His absolute best is Tell No One…check it out and I promise that you will be amazed.

 2. Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar Series)

…Drop Shot, Fade Away, Back Spin

 Really anything that Harlan Coben writes is gold and the Myron Bolitar series is no exception.  This is where Coben started and there are some genuine gems.  The main character, Myron Bolitar, is an arrogant sports agent who winds up in some very interesting (…to say the least) situations.  The books are funny, great for guys (…honestly, Coben transcends all gender gaps), and keep you guessing the entire time.

 3. Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp Series)

…Transfer of Power, Separation of Power, The Third Option

 This is the author that ignited the spark and made me love to read again after I rebelled against my mom (…yeah, I was a wild child and rebelled by saying that I hated to read…yeah, I’m a dork) in junior high.  Flynn’s run of masterpieces are built around the character of Mitch Rapp.  Rapp is a CIA assassin that must protect America by taking the war on terrorism right to the terrorists and it makes for an exciting thrill ride.

Plus, he is the creative consultant for the tv show, 24...maybe you have heard of it.  And I say this with the most respect to Jack Bauer but Mitch Rapp would kick the crap out of him.

 4. Brad Thor (Scott Harvath Series)

…Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assasin, Blowback

 Cast from a similar mold as Vince Flynn, Thor builds his books around Secret Service agent Scott Harvath.  Harvath has killed his share of terrotists…just with his own unique flair.  Plus, the author’s name is Thor…that guarantees that it is going to be great for guys.

 5. Old School John Grisham

…The Firm, A Time to Kill, Pelican Brief  and The Partner

 Let me first say that I really am not a big fan of Grisham’s newer stuff.  Its good but nowhere near where it was when he first defined the genre of legal thriller.  Basically, he “jumped the shark” with some of his random recent stuff and hasn’t been able to recapture the magic of The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Partner, or The Pelican Brief.  I highly recommend Grisham and I promise that he will keep you engaged and thinking until the very last page.  His new stuff is good but his old stuff is phenomenal.

Thats my thoughts...check back soon for more recommendations.

BD

...going green

Even though the concept of "going green" has now become nothing more than one more sales pitch for corporate America...I am on board.  I have been thinking about it for awhile but I am here to announce that...I am "going green".  I am not really sure what this will look like yet but I know that the first thing that I am going to do is set up the apartment that Julie and I are going to be living in with an energy provider that uses all renewable energy like Green Mountain Energy.  This will be a process...I drive a truck for example...but I am going to take steps such as walking to work from the new apartment.

I decided this because of Earth Day...I felt it was time.

More details to come...

Does anyone have good ideas about how to go "green"?  I would welcome your thoughts. 

...a brand new adventure

Well...it has been a few days since I last posted anything.  But you are all in luck because this is a pretty important one today.  I have some big news....drumroll please...seriously, this is earth shattering news...

I am very excited to announce that I have accepted the position of Director of Student Ministries at my church, Trinity Chapel Bible Church.  This is an opportunity that I never expected but one that Julie and I both feel is where God is leading us.  The past year has been crazy as I began working at Trinity as the college intern, began seminary, graduated TCU, got engaged and this is just the next step.

It has been crazy to see God work in the midst of everything in the past few weeks.  The idea was first presented to me around Spring Break and I had a lot of questions but God grabbed a hold of me and really opened my eyes to what He was doing and where He was taking Julie and I.  I could not be more excited to get involved with the students at Trinity Chapel, to encourage the leaders who are working with the students, and just see God work in the lives of students.

Please pray for Julie and I as we make this transition, pray that God would prepare us and allow us to have an impact on these students.  Just pray that God's name would be known.  

I never would have seen this coming, but now I wouldn't have it any other way...isn't it crazy how God works?

BD

...changes

Life is full of changes and new adventures...

Question:  When does the unexpected become the expected? 

I am not sure.  But God sure has a way of making things happen when you least expect it. I think its keeps life interesting...

...whats in a word

Grace.  I was challenged in my 1st semester in seminary to consider the true nature of God's grace.  It seemed to be an innocent enough endeavor but what I discovered has rocked my world.  I can not get it out of my mind.  I find myself constantly tearing apart scripture, talking about it, and wanting to [attempt to...] understand it.  It keeps me up at night and yearning to know more about the free gift of grace.

I think that is what really rocked me.  Grace makes  God the center.  I can do nothing to earn it and I have done nothing to deserve it, it is a free gift.  If I am being honest, I hate that.  I hate that I can't be in control and make God love me.  The truth is that God is in control and out of his infinite love, He gives grace to those who have done nothing to deserve it.  It has nothing to do with our works; IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH GOD'S LOVE AND GOODNESS.

Check out Ephesians 2:1-10

Matt Carter, pastor at The Austin Stone, defined grace as the unmerited love of God. Unmerited...that just blows me away.  It blows me away that God loved us when we were still sinners.    It blows me away that when we were dead in our sins, God redeemed us through his grace.  It blows me away that God made us alive to Christ through his grace.  It blows me away that we have been called to salvation by grace.  And it blows me away that God could possibly love me...because I know my flaws, and issues.  He says come and know Christ because grace is enough.  Grace is a free gift that comes from the unmerited love of the Trinity.

I just never quite understood it.  I thought the whole point was to have God become part of my life.  But the real truth is that through grace, we have the opportunity to be a part of God's story of redemption in the world.  

Grace should change the way that we see the world.  Grace should stir our hearts so that we share the gift of grace to the world.  Grace should cause us to humbly worship the Father.  Grace allows us to be still, to rest, and realize that we don't have to carry the world on our shoulders.  Grace should stir our hearts.  Grace...

My all time favorite movie is Good Will Hunting (go see it...) and there is a scene in which Robin Williams character is counseling Matt Damon's character (Will) and is telling him that the crap in his life is not his fault.  He keeps telling him that its not his fault and Will eventually just breaks down weeping.  So here it is...it is our fault...it is our fault that the world is broken, and that things are not perfect BUT GOD GIVES GRACE!!!

Grace is a free gift that is given out of the abundant love of God.  That causes my mind to spin.  Do I live in a way to display that grace has changed me?  Do I show grace to the world? I don't know...but I want too. I pray that I do.  I pray that God allows me to see just a glimpse of the nature of grace.  I pray that I never underestimate grace.  I pray that grace is always prevalent in my life, my ministry, etc.  I pray that we are all transformed by grace.