End of Semester . . . Again!

Well, here I am again, at the end of another semester (not in reference to the picture, of course!). WTS has a one month J-term in January where most students take their languages. There are also counseling courses offered for CCEF students and MA-C students like myself. So, I have only one day of classes left for my Counseling in the Local Church and Counseling Children classes- so much info to absorb in one month!

Last weekend I was home to celebrate Rebecca's birthday- #22! We spent the day in Niagara Falls. I got us special passes for different activities which included the Butterfly Conservatory, the Bird Aviary, the Ferris wheel, and the Journey Behind the Falls. We had a great time enjoying these attractions and especially enjoying each other's company. It is so nice to just get away for a day and not have to think about school, work, wedding plans, home renovations, etc.

With the end of the semester just days away, I get to come home again, too! Since I only have one take home exam, I will be home on the 29th and will be home until the Monday of the following week. Hope to catch up with you!

It took a while, but Rebecca was finally daring enough to pick up a butterfly!

Meet Alex!

My Pot of Gold!

'Just a thought'

Does this reflect your church experience?

"The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!"

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Life Together

'Just a thought'

"Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate."

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Life Together

Blessed New Year!

Wow, it has been a long time since I have updated this thing. I guess that is what happens when one is out of school for a while and not often on the computer. My humble apologies to those who regularily check for updates and are often disappointed.

So, where was I . . . oh, yeah, exams. They went well, I think. I still have not received any marks, and actually am waiting for many marks from term papers, etc. as well.

The holidays were great, albeit very busy. I worked a few days with BBC (I really missed working with you guys- it was great to be back!), and put in 3 long days at the OPB as well, helping out day in the craziness of the Christmas rush. Through all this, I was also occupied with renovations in the basement of Rebecca's house. We are adding a master bedroom with an en suite for extra living space. Sorry, I don't have any pictures (maybe Rebecca could take a few??!!)

Being home to celebrate Christmas this year was of course special. Rebecca and I shared a quiet dinner together followed by exchanging our presents on Christmas Eve- and yes, she spoiled me! My favourite gift was a Creative Memories Storybook (there's a plug for you, Kelly!) about our dating relationship and our engagement . . . and, of course, I cried.

The following 2 days we had dinners at the Meyer's and my parents' respectively. We had a great time, and I am now dreading going back to the YMCA to shed the extra pounds I put on over those few days. I suppose there are others who share this New Year's resolution ;-) New Year's Eve was spent at the Cottage (Mike Zwiep's) which was a lot of fun. By the way, guess what? Rebecca and I are getting married this year!!!

The holidays came and went faster than I had hoped. I returned to Philly on Wednesday, and began my 2 classes the following day. I am now taking Counseling Children and Counseling in the Local Church. Having Steve and Amy Williamson in my Counseling Children class is very exciting! They were over for dinner last night, and seem to be settling in well here.

In reflecting over the past few weeks, I realize how little time I spent thanking and praising God for the bounty that He showers me with. I have received so much yet deserved none of it. Lord, forgive me for my selfishness and my stubborn determination in trying to get through life on my own. I pray that You will teach me to live in humble dependence upon You throughout this year and the years to come. I thank You for the friends and family that You have placed in my path to pray for me, encourage me, and support me in so many ways. May I be used by You as an instrument in their lives as well, Lord. Prepare me for a present and future of serving You in any place You would see fit for the further establishment of Your kingdom. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Exam Time!

Hey, y'all,

The end of the semester is here! I am now in my final week, cramming in 7 papers and trying unsuccessfully to catch up on reading. The weather here in Philadelphia is less than desirable, too. Being cooped up in my room while it is grey and gloomy outside begins to wear on a person, and loneliness readily creeps in. But, applying a Biblical principle, I press on looking toward the goal. Thank you all for your prayers; please keep me in prayer this week as I finnish out my semester, and in the ensuing weeks as exams approach.

I am coming home, God willing, at the end of this week, and will be home to study for a week before I have to return for exams. I would love to see you all, and am already looking forward to taking breaks in my study days just to hang out if you are available. (You will be able to reach me at my folks' place or Rebecca's ;-)

A special thanks for the wonderful book that Cole, Lucas, and Isaac made for me and mailed to me here in Philly. What an awesome surprise! I love you guys!

'Just a thought'

"If our conversations do not help people become satisfied in God through suffering [italics mine], then God will not be glorified, Christ will not be honored, the church will be a weakling in an escapist world of ease, and the completion of the Great Commission with its demand for martyrdom will fail."

"God has ordained that our conversations become deeper and more winsome as we are broken, humbled, made low and desperately dependent on grace by the trials of our lives."

John Piper
Counseling with Suffering People
The Journal of Biblical Counseling
winter 2003, pp. 19; 24

Too Busy?

Sorry to those of you who check it regularly to see how I am doing. Things are getting busier and busier, and with final papers due in just a few weeks, I am starting to feel the stress level rise. This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the CCEF annual conference, just a half hour from where I am living in Roslyn, PA. The highlight, of course, was the Rebecca came down for the conference, so I got to see her 5 days in a row! Others from the Vineland area were down, too, and it truly was a blessing to have them here for dinner last Saturday- welcome to my world!

However, what goes up must come down, and if not for the pressing business, life would seem rather lonely- actually, at times it is, but the business makes up for it. I realized today that I have a God who is so accessible, and so willing to enter into relationship with me that He sent His Son do die on the cross to make the possibility of such a relationship a reality- and by my actions I demonstrate that I really do not appreciate Him for that.

I suppose that I am not alone in this, because even here in the seminary, many people admit that their devotional time is not up to snuff. Myself included. I can spend hours and hours on the phone with my wife-to-be, but spend so little time getting to know my Bridegroom-to-be. Foolish, huh?

I am immersed in gospel truths day in and day out, and I complain because it becomes burdensome. I wonder if God feels the same way about me. Does He weary of calling to me to return to Him? To spend time in intimate communion with Him? To tell him how my day went and to thank Him for the glorious truths about His person that He reveals to me and with these enthralls my soul?

Pray with me that He will as our faithful Father continue to reveal to us in new and special ways the length and width and depth and height of His love for us. I believe it was Spurgeon who said, Imagine yourself alone at the foot of the cross. See Jesus hanging their in pain-wracked naked shame, and ask yourself: "Who did God love more?"

Please remember me in the coming weeks, with papers and exams due. But most of all, pray that I will take the time to spend in holy communion with the Lover of my soul. If there are specific ways I can pray for you or your loved ones, please let me know via email- it will help hold me accountable to join with you in prayer. Blessings.