Update 3.20.09

Been an interesting month. Here are the highlights:

• School is good. Pulled a 96% final grade in church planting. Maintaining about a 3.8 GPA. Hebrew is pulling me down and yet I love it! Sick I know. I just registered for fall. So far I have Hebrew Exegesis, Beginning Greek and OT Orientation. I need to add one or two more. I just want to get DONE.
  
• I just started listening to MacArthur's sermons on the five points of Calvinism. The man has brains oozing out his ears. Some very interesting points to consider.
• I led worship at Arbor Baptist Church this past Sunday. It's the first time I've led worship since I led my AMPED kiddies on January 13, 2007. It was pretty emotional for me. So many memories flooded my mind. I picked songs that explain where I am at and what I'm still going through.
• Southern Seminary is looking like the strongest candidate for me to do my PhD through. I wish I could do Gordon Conwell in Mass, but they have no PhD programs. So far I'm aiming for Church History and Historical Theology.
• Been obsessed with the show Gangland recently. It's fascinating when you get into the psychology and sociology of a gang. You see the same patterns, but the most important theme is loyalty. All members want to belong to something bigger than themselves.
  
• I'm checking out some potential short trips this summer. I'm hoping to hit my homecity in July and see friends, the Phillies and such. I miss that place so much. I miss the Jersey shore. I REALLY want to go to Lake Winnipesaukee this summer again. I love that place so much.
  
• Been listening to Dub Trio, Dashboard Confessional, and a ton of old stuff for memory's sake. The past is the past, but you can sense it all again when you listen to songs that remind you of where you've come from and what you are going through.
  

I've been thinking about vulnerability. Its something I tend to do to myself a lot. In order to love people, you have to make your heart vulnerable. It is based on trust and there is always that possibility that the friends and loved one are going to stomp on your heart. Why do you do it? Because it is a sign of your love for them. You submit the most tender part of your soul, your heart, to them in return for relationship and hopefully returned love. Vulnerability shows all of your weakness, all of your wounds, all your struggles. It's so beautiful when the favor is returned and all the people involved show their weakness to each other. It's a sign that we are all weak humans in need of each other. I hope I'm vulnerable with all, but I know I open myself up to the potential for wounding. It's a risk we all have to take for the purpose of fellowship and love. It also helps you hurt for others and understand where they are at.

As CS Lewis put it:

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

Quick Detour - Phantom Cell Phone Vibrations, Arlen and More

Phantom Cell Phone Vibrations
Alright....this is driving me mad.

The other week, I went for my left pocket because I felt my cell phone vibrating. I pulled out my Razr and checked to see who was calling. No one was. I put my phone back in my pocket. 5 minutes later, it happened again. Then on top of it, I felt a phone vibration and my phone wasn't even in my pocket. My leg kept vibrating. It continues to today. It is maddening.

This has been reported as "Phantom Cell Phone Vibration" and is a conditioned response. Your leg gets so used to feeling vibration from your phone that it gets triggered even when the phone isn't in your pocket. Yes...I'm going insane. This is crazy.

Thank You Arlen Specter
Now that Roger Goodell has compromised what he said he would bring to the NFL by not continuing punishment on the New England Patriots cheating tactics, Arlen Specter...who I never voted for...steps in to get a professional inquiry into the scandal. I used to have high respect for Belichik and the Patriots. The man seemed like a genius to me...now...I question it.



Final Notes
-I'm growing in my respect for Calvary Chapel even though I may not see eye to eye on their charismatic gifts belief. I am starting to be drawn to exegetical preaching again, if it is done well and made practical. I have no issue with topical. I think I'm moving to a hybrid of topical and exegetical.
-I started in on Systematic Theology by Norman Geisler. I am pleased to read something with someone I line up with closely. Every other Systematic I've read has been good, but has had flaws theologically (Grudem, etc). This will be a great class next week as tired as I'll be.
-I've started thinking post-Liberty. I think I may be opening up to the idea of a teaching pastorate, college prof or college pastor. I love student ministry and don't want to leave it, but I wonder if I've served my time. As for education, I've played with the idea of getting my MDiv from Gordon-Conwell, Bethel or a handful of others. I'm mainly looking at something more open in theology. I know where I stand, but I want to be challenged by those who don't hold my beliefs. Doctorate is still debatable. I don't know what I'd get it in or what good it would do me.

Graduation 08 Highlights

-Though I didn't attend (with LU's parking? HA!), Chuck Norris was the graduation speaker. Sounds like he did pretty good. Then again, would anyone tell Chuck Norris he did bad? I mean, c'mon...it's Chuck. Liberty gave him an honorary doctorate in humanities. He is a humanitarian because he hasn't killed everyone though he could. I think a Doctoral degree in Butt Kicking or Roundhouse Technology should also have been considered.
-THANK GOODNESS that graduation is over. I have had my fill of setting up chairs for about 5 years.
-I tried out Dickies BBQ for lunch. I got brisket and polish sausage. It was okay. Not terrible. Their sauce is pretty thin. The brisket was good, but not smoky enough. The sausage would have been better with a mustard sauce. Gosh I miss Abner's in Philly.
-I can tell I've been losing weight. My clothes are falling off and I've pulled my belt as tight as I can without doing severe damage to my hips. I like it : ) Last I knew, I was down 15 pounds. LOVING IT!
-I'm already looking at where to do my MDiv since I don't want to get it from Liberty's seminary. I'm checking out Gordon-Conwell. I'm not sure if I have the grades or cash to get in, but I like what I see. It's in Mass, so I'd be getting closer to where I want to settle for the rest of my life.
-Saw Ross and Gavin Stevens today. Pretty sweet seeing people from the old church. They're getting bigger and older. Helps me realize I am too : (