Greek Test Behind Me Now

The first Greek test is history, or was the first history test Greek to me?  Anyway, the first Greek test is done and I am still breathing and the blood is still circulating.  Hopefully we have the test back before we leave Friday for Spring Break.  I think I did good enough to pass, but would like the graded test to prove that out.  I made a lot of progress this last week studying for this test.  The downside to this is that everything else was pushed aside to work on the Greek.  Now I need to catch up on everything else.  Luckily I was caught up before I started the Greek work, so I am not too far behind.  I can finally start looking forward to getting home.  After 7 weeks away, I can't wait.  It would be nice to be home for a week, but that won't allow me to get the study time I need for the History of Christianity and Lutheran Confessions tests the following week.  So, back here after 3 days and hit the books.  This will allow me to totally forget about school for the 3 days I am home and spend time with the family and get to see my home congregation again. 

We have put forth our 3 proposals for helping the homeless here in Columbia.  We will meet as a class to vote on any action after we get back from break.  Here is a cut and paste of the proposals we put forth.  Please realize they are somewhat vague on purpose to get people to attend the meeting.  We have more information that we put forth in the letter, but we want to hold some of it for discussion at the meeting.

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO THE JUNIOR CLASS FOR SERVICE PROJECTS


JUNIOR SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS MISSION

Proposal 1

We propose to develop a program of providing individual boxes of shelf-stable foods to the homeless through the best distribution channel, which is yet to be determined. We are not aware of this type of food being distributed to the homeless through any ministry. The goal is for the homeless to have food that can be kept in their backpacks without need for refrigeration, or the need to be eaten in a matter of hours, such as sandwiches. This is not intended to replace the other food ministries offer, but to give the homeless food for when they can’t get to those ministries. We have identified a list of foods we could offer.

Proposal 2

Focusing on resources available in the group and needs of the homeless we determined that small health kits would be of use. Through some web sites and programs that we can access, we can obtain travel size tubes of toothpaste for free and good toothbrushes at reduced costs. We ask XXXXX to help in obtaining analgesic and vitamin samples through some of his professional web sites. He is willing to do this for the homeless. We would then need to package these supplies in zip lock bags and deliver them to one of the homeless centers here in Columbia.

Proposal 3

There are certain goods needed by local homelessness agencies to enable them to continue their mission. Such goods can be collected by us in a drive. We can do this ether here on campus or in our field parishes. We can determine for ourselves what goods we want to collect in this drive. However, local agencies have expressed need for male underwear (socks, undershirts, and underwear) as well as copy paper.

As a committee member we hope to take on all three of these.  Between our class we are in about 50 field churches.  The ability to raise goods and funds within 50 congregations for a concentrated effort through the seminary in conjunction with the local agencies that serve the homeless everyday has got to have an impact.  I will keep you updated as we progress through this.  The challenge will be selling this to the class and getting everyone to ACT.  There are 10 lists of reasons why we can't do this or don't have the time.  Reality is that it won't take a lot of time if we all contribute and all of these will allow us the ability to schedule things on non-crunch weeks.  I am excited about our proposal and implementing these things.

Back to things; as I have had to put my life in the hands of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit I ask you to conside the same during this Lenten time.  It is only through knowing that I am not able to do things on my own and intially having to turn to God that I am finally able to look to Him to WANT to do what He wants me to do.  As I have said this Greek class is my Holy Spirit proving ground this semester.  If God wants me to be a Pastor, I am going to pass this Greek class.  There are many other trials in life that with the Holy Spirit we either know that God wants us to accomplish or not and not doesn't mean we are a failure.  Failure is a term we humans put on people to make us feel better about ourselves.  God's can only see us in our inability to be anything but sinners.  He knows that we care not capable of anything but sin.  That is why He sent His Son to save us.  It is not failure in God's eyes when something we try to do doesn't work out.  It means that God has another path for us and we have not found the path that He is leading us along.  This is what is so awesome about being here in this time at this place doing what I am doing.  I am convinced that I am finally aligned with what God wants me to do at this time.  The feeling is incredible, like I have never experienced before.  If you have not stepped out of the boat and on to the water, I can not possible tell you what it is like.  (Translated: If you have never put your life in God's hands you will not know what it is like to do so for I am not aware of another way to describe it), I can only pray that you deepen your faith enough to trust that first step out of the boat on to the water.  It is not about us, I finally figured that out.  It took a lot of pain to get to that point, but He brought me through that time also.  I pray that you are able to see this and find the desire to act on it.  Remember seeing isn't believing, BELIEVING IS SEEING.  God's grace and peace be with you always, Amen.