I have been taking Wednesday evening off as kind of my Friday night, since our classes are mostly Mon-Wed. With the test next week in History and getting an e-mail today that I needed to re-write my Biblical paraphrase for Intro to Bible (I interpreted it rather than just summarizing it as required). I have that done and will deliver it in the morning. I have the first round of flash cards for History done and will fine tune over the next couple of days.


Grace appeared in History today. I think after seeing the glassy eyed stares in our eyes the last two classes (the dates, names, events were just too much at one time), she decided to hold off on any new material and made Monday a study session. To get a better idea of what it has been like the last two classes think of trying to catch all the water coming out of a fire hose with a Dixie cup. Yes, the Dixie cup is my brain. I thought I would just beat you to it! This was very good news, because Monday we were responsible for 9 more chapters after having only gone through 16 in 4 weeks.

Grace is obviously following me around as I probably should not be given the chance to re-write my paper for Intro to Bible.

We also have our first Test in Greek next week over lessons 1-5. I have been doing well on our quizzes as it is mostly memorization to this point. However on Tuesday night this week we got Adjectives. They don’t play by simple rules. Restated, they normally play by reasonable rules, but they can just go off the reservation on us. We are on break at the end of the week so we are getting in some mid-term type tests. Thankfully we do not have History and Intro to Bible in the same week. That would be a killer and I think both professors realize it.

We have had rain the last 3 days so it was nice when the sun finally came out this afternoon. We are supposed to be back up to 91 on Friday.

Jason was able to stop at the local Salvation Army location to see about talking to someone about the homeless. Come to find out they are selling their property very soon to build a new location. However, as luck would have it there is a Christian ministry for the homeless right across the street. They are very gracious and have offered to help us anyway that they can and give us access to any of their people to talk. There is another homeless ministry in town that another member of our group, Tom talked to today that has opened their doors to us also. I don’t know where this will lead for our project video, but I am looking forward to it.

Dr. Havens, our History teacher told us about online radio with much old time chanting. Some songs sound like you are in a monastery. I have been listening to it all day. http://www.ancientfaith.com/ is the website. Enjoy as I have been if you like this type of music.

I am into another great book for Pastoral Care. I really like this class. It talks about Christians being aliens in a foreign land. It tackles the fact that we change our beliefs to fit the world around us because we wouldn’t want to offend anyone rather than stay true to our gospel and bring it to the people as someplace that they can seek refuge from the world. As much as the church has changed in the last 50 years it would be hard to argue against their point. It also has a great example of a Pastor that wants to open a daycare at their church to minister to the community around them. One of the members explains that she cannot support a daycare in their area because it will only help people that have enough money to put food on the table every night continue to be materialistic. If the church wanted to open a daycare that would help people that have a hard time putting food on the table each day she fully supported that , but at their location there were no people like that close enough to take advantage of their daycare. She did not see it the church’s responsibility to help the people around them get or keep their vacation home or another car or that Jet Ski. What a fresh approach. It also goes into some issues of Pastoral self care so we don’t get burnt out, setting appropriate boundaries and expectations. I am not finished with it but it has been good so far.

The Cardinals start the baseball playoffs tonight in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. I have to root for the Cardinals since they are the only team with a religious affiliation. I would anyway, but it helps. Dad, if you are reading this I’ll go against my normal and put a $1 on the line that the Cardinals will beat the Dodgers. Let me know if you are up for this high stakes wager. Ok, stop laughing. I am cheap and unemployed remember? If I lose, can I deduct the postage to get you the kitty from the money won?

I opened my quotable Bible and I landed on Rejection, so I am going with someone needing to hear this about rejection.

The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:5-6 God bless you, Steve