As this semester comes to an end, I am beginning to realize that I made it through my first year at seminary. God is good! I am worlds away from my home, my church, and my way of worship, but I have found the presence of God here. I have found the presence of God among those who worship different than me, those who do not share my culture, and those who do not agree with me. Some of the sermons that I have heard have been really hard to sit through. I wanted to get up and walk out, but I stayed and listened even though I didn’t agree. Some of the sermons have been the most beautiful expressions of faith, and I’ll never be the same again.
What a wonderful gift my Lord has given me and my family. After eight years of working in an office with no windows, he has given me a place to study and think about my faith in him. So much has happened this past year. I am doing things I never imagined my self doing. I’m starting to preach without getting nervous. My wife gave her second sermon, and my three year old son prays on his hands and knees. I’ve learned so much during this past year, but the most important thing I’ve learned is that God’s ways and understandings are higher than mine. We don’t have a dime to our names, but we have so much. We call out to our Lord, and he answers. He doesn’t always answer the way we expect him to, but his answer always have better outcomes than what we expected.
I’m not sure what we’ll be doing in two more years, and sometimes it’s hard not to worry. It is my human weakness that makes me nervous about the future, but it is my god given faith that compels me to look up with hope and enthusiasm about God’s will with my life.
Lord my God you are truly great. Because of your mercy I have found a better life. Help me to become a better servant and make me into what you want me to be. May I always trust in your dominion over everything and may we always find rest in your love. If you are my fortress then who can be against me? Thank you my Lord for your goodness, love, mercy, and grace. Forgive my faults, and my sins. Only you Lord are truly great.
Amen
Hi There --
I really appreciate your blog. I am finishing my last week of field ed and my seminary education. And as that comes to a close, I find your blog and it causes me to think about my first year. What a year! It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...for me anyway. But I know, in order for me to be where I am, I had to do that first year. It a lot of ways, it about broke me. But in most ways, it made me stronger in my faith.
I am glad that you have completed your first year. So many people leave during the begining of their seminary career -- because it can be such a culture shock. Way to allow yourself to be moved, changed, and shaped by your experience. It's not always easy is it?
I wish you blessings as you continue on your journey!
Thats beautiful. I am sure that everyone here on DisciplesConnect finds you as much as a blessing has you have found in the fellow Christians you have worshiped with. I know I have. There's no hiding it, you and I share different views on some areas of theology but from you I've learned some important things. The Disciples of Christ denomination just wouldn't be fulfilling to me if we didn't have a range of different views.
It made me think of how important and delicate it is in treating the ambiguity of the future. 99.9% of us have no clue where we are going to be two, four, six, and eight years from now for something could happen/could not happen that we expect to happen. But the beauty of it is how we treat that ambiguity - trusting God and fulfilling our calls.
Hah, I have absolutely no clue what I want to do. There's no cookie cutter for what ministry I want to do. I can't find any seminary/theological program on the face of this earth that supports my probable calling. In my heart I have a deep passion for ministry but I also have a gift for computers and Information systems. For that, the future remains ambiguous for me. But the point of all this is, the only thing that comforts me is when I pray to god and repeat over and over again til my heart calms down: "Let your will be done Lord, Let your will be done...".
That is the only thing that comforts me. When I pray and think about those words, I am reminded that God has something special for me and whoever I encounter on my walk of life. It makes me trust that all those worries I have will be taken care of by God.
I know there are impossible amounts of things that God can do, for that I am comforted that, "hey maybe God will give that cookie cutter for my ministry" or maybe I'll finally understand him when he speaks to me.
With Peace,
AG Woods
AG,
I always love your thoughts. I was just curious about one thing. Where do I find that 0.1% that fall outside that "no clue" category. If we could find each of those one out of a thousand people, we could ask them what's up. That would be helpful. *Sigh.* Until then, may the clueless unite!
Nick
I hope someone knows what their doing. Whenever I refer to 99.9%, i am basically referring to everyone. In leaving that .01%, is open to the fact that hey maybe those people actually know what their doing for sure. I think Jesus knew and Peter and the apostles knew eventually. So I'm sure there's some people out there, but not that many obviously. lol... i hate 100% vs. 99.9% its too limiting and black & white for me.
With Peace,
AG Woods
Joel,
I'm very excited to read all of this. Our church needs a leader with your enthusiasm and heart. I offer thanks that seminary challenges you and brings you to a deeper understanding of the Body of Christ. I pray that you find ways to share this understanding with those of us whom you serve. I can see that the Lord works in you, and we've seen these works on this site. Thank you for all you do. Please continue to share with us here at Disciples Connect. We cannot value your insights enough.
Nick