The Future

The last time I wrote was Trinity's Decision Day. I prayerfully went through that day, and wondered what would happen regarding my application. Of course, I was also in thought regarding the upcoming weekend, because I had registered for Trinity's 'Taste of Trinity' open-house, and didn't want to show up and then find out I wasn't accepted - "awkward" redefined.

I emailed my Admissions Counselor the next day, asking if he could let me know due to the above mentioned issue. He called me after noon, and told me I got in. I got in! I was estatic. I cried. I praised God! I was so excited. Then my family and I went out to Trinity - even with three stops for gas and/or food, it only took us 15 hours - and I saw this place I had applied to.

I'm still processing it, I think. But I came away not knowing. I came away not underwhelmed, but not as excited as I was when I first heard word. Maybe it was because the open-house was aimed at MDiv and MA students, and not at PhD applicants. Maybe it was because the sky was grey and overcast the entire time we were there. I don't know. But I left Trinity with a good deal of 'hhhmmmmmm'. Maybe I was still hoping to hear from and get accepted to Durham; that somehow, they would award me a doctoral fellowship, and that all of that would be enough for my family and I to get along, and we would live in jolly ole England for three years, and I would have a grand time, and get a great teaching position somewhere exciting, and... and...

But I didn't get into Durham's PhD program - an email awaited me when I got home telling me I was not accepted, though they threw me the bone of being offered a position in their MA program, which could (COULD) lead to acceptance in their PhD program - and so I was very disappointed. That left me with disappointment (Durham), and feeling uncertain (Trinity).

So the future seems as grey as the sky outside today. And yet, I'm going to decide for Trinity, because in the end, I was accepted. I prayed about it when I applied there. I was excited at the chance to study under Kevin Vanhoozer - I still am (perhaps more on that later - but suffice it to say that meeting and talking with Dr. Vanhoozer was easily the highlight of my visit). And I think that in the end, it is the road that God is calling me to go down for this part of my journey.

I think that God is using this crossroads to confront me with the different person I am now. I am settled - perhaps to much so - for I not only have a wonderful wife, but three growing, healthy kids (who love the Lord), and a mortgage on a house I really like when it comes down to it. I am also scared, for I fear failure - perhaps even more so than I used to - and this is the big league, so failure could well spell the end. But God is confronting me with faith, hope, and love. Am I His disciple/follower? Do I have faith in Him? Is He my hope? Do I love Him? Do I trust He loves me? Yes to each question; though not at all to the depth that I think I should.

In the end, I have to go, because God is calling me. I have to go because I tell other people, other Christians, that God is as good as He says He is. And in the end, I am not a hypocrite. God has called me, and I have a part to play in the working out of His Kingdom. Who knows maybe twenty years from now, I will get to teach a student who will go on to do great and wonderful things for God's name. Then again, maybe I will just be faithful, teaching all of my students with great faith and wonder, and just being faithful to that call is all that God wants of me.

In the end, that's my future. To be faithful. May He find me so.

what do you think?

Decision Day at Trinity

well, if you happen to be passing by and reading this, please join me in prayer. today, Wednesday, March 12 is the day that the admissions committee is meeting to decide to whom to extend an invitation for Ph.D. study at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

I actually feel some peace. I've done all I can do - send in all the application stuff - so since Jan. 15th, it's been 'hurry up and wait'. my biggest request is actually not that they would say, 'yes' to me, but rather, and more importantly, that the Lord's will would be done. if they say, 'yes', I want to be able to respond confidently.

thanks for praying. I appreciate it. God's blessings to you today, too.

yg first

well, this past Saturday marked a first for the young men and women who were counted as my first youth at Narberth Presbyterian Church. Matt Weed, the son of the pastor, was married to Linshuang Lin in a ceremony officiated by his dad. it was perhaps more emotional for his dad than himself, but Matt seemed to take it all in stride.

it was a nice reception held afterward. the couple had requested that in lieu of gifts, guests bring some finger food tray to share, seeking to somehow make it a truly community effort and event.

for me personally, it was fun to see several former students, some for the first time in years. it was crazy to realize that I was Matt's current age (25) when Sarah and I were married. I ask myself, did I look so young, or try to come across as confident and wise as he does? simply amazing the work that time does to us.

as it should be, the wedding was a beautiful testimony to what God does in our lives. it was an opportunity for me to reflect on my own vows, my own hopes for my marriage (Sarah may have thought the same, but we didn't have much time to reflect together). our own wedding anniversary is just a little over a month away, when, on April 8, we will celebrate 14 years of almost wedded bliss. when I think about her, and the ways that God has used her to soften me, mold me, and grow me, I am so thankful that He brought her into my life.

my hope is that Linshuang will do the same for Matt, and that he will cherish and honor her all the days of his life. in the end, we must all realize and remember that we are only apt to do any of this with God's help. And God is good this way. He wants us to succeed; He wants us to walk in His ways, living to His glory.

the next yg weddings are Phil Adams and Margot Lesch, and around the same time, perhaps, Shannon Hoops. these are wonderful times for these, my friends and former students. and this is all to God's glory.

happy 'Leap Day'!

couldn't let this once in a four-year period of time pass by without wishing you all a very happy 'Leap Day'!

hope it's been special. Sarah and I took the kids out to the diner this morning for breakfast before dropping them off at school. we'll have a family night tonight and play board games (not that that has anything to do with it being a leap day, but I just thought I'd share).

wonder what the next leap day will be like? my oldest will be in high school! egad and gadzooks!!!

"Move Along", part 1

I recently purchased a new song on itunes, "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects. I don't know much about this group aside from three songs that were popular a couple of years ago. But I enjoyed this song a lot, and since I bought it and listened to it (I'm listening to it right now), I found some deep stuff embedded in the lyrics.

I want to share with you the theology that I find in the song. While it's not a "Christian" song (by the way, can a "song" be "Christian"?), I submit that there's a message from God in there. Consider these lyrics...

Go ahead as you waste your days with thinking

When you fall everyone stands

Another day and you've had your fill of sinking

With the life held in your

Hands are shaking cold

These hands are meant to hold

Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong

Move along, move along like I know you do

And even when your hope is gone

Move along, move along just to make it through

Move along Move along

I'm going to do the proverbial post-modern move of interpreting for myself the meaning of this song - my apologies if I'm way off the original intentions of the song's writers.

I find the song to be filled with hope, and for me, as a follower of the living God who has been revealed in Jesus Christ, I find there's a message, a reminder, of hope in God's presence and strength. This is evidenced in the lyrics "When you fall everyone stands", and "Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong".

The first reference reminds me that I'm not alone - I am a part of a church, the Church - and that when I "fall", my church, my brother and sister Christians, are there to help me. Whether it be from sin (to restore my gently - hopefully!), or from grief (to bring comfort and help), I am not along, for when I fall "everyone" stands around me.

The second reference calls me to remember that I can, that I need to call out to God in prayer. "Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong" alludes to when I'm in the midst of struggles and suffering, God is waiting for me - patiently, I might add - to call out to Him. He doesn't want me to forget Him on the best of days, for He is the source of all good things. But He definitely doesn't want me to forget Him when things are wrong. When I've exhausted myself, emotionally and physically, God wants me to "speak to [Him]", even amidst the temptation "keep [is] strong".

These lyrics offer us a reminder that while we all have to rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth of God's Word, He will also reveal "truth" reminders to us even in some "secular" sources.