EXIT-gete This!

(You can't read it, but it says "THE END" have you ever read a non-fiction book that contains that - especially a schollarly work? ha!)

This photo pretty much describes the way I feel right now. I'm sitting in the CN Center - the PTS computer lab, and my 13page Exegesis Ordination Exam has just been sent to the printer. The time on the computer, as I type this, is 2:17am.

I've chosen Hosea over Luke to exegete (fancy term for interpreting, getting the meaning out of the text) the specific passage is 5:15-6:6. I chose it mainly because I'd done Hebrew more recently than Greek. But I'm no language guy, so demonstrating "a working knowledge of Hebrew" has been in the forefront of my mind as I've done this. I hope I have, but that will be up to two (possibly a third) grader to determine in October - which I'll hear back about October 23 (hopefully).

When I hand this in it will mark my final Ordination exam and a reminder that my "fate" is no longer in my own hands. If I pass all 4 exams, I may be able to be examined in February and begin the process of seeking a call to a PC(USA) church. If not, I will have to retake an exam (or more)in January, further pushing back that process. But in the end, if indeed this is God's call, then this will work out. I just need to trust that God works in all of these ways - in my mind as I study & take the exams, in committees and graders and communities that might seek to call me to serve them.

One thing I have found, and this I may write more on later, is that I have never felt more Presbyterian (or Reformed) than when I was writing these exams. It has confirmed in me God's call to this particular "league".

Now, as I head off to bed, I will be able to enjoy myself just a little more knowing that I've "exited" this little stage. I'm now looking forward to NYC and the Tigers game Wed night and of course Labour Day weekend in the Adirondacks. I think I've earned a little R & R...

By the way, this marks my 100th Post on this blog - here's to 100 more...

Testing testing...

First of all - this better not be me in 12 hrs. In 12 hrs I better be pounding down coffee, grabbing my bag and heading to the shuttle to catch a ride to my Ordinaton exams. 9 hrs of exams spread (kinda) over 27 hrs with an additional exam in either Greek or Hebrew due 4 days later. Yes, I've come home from 2 wonderful weeks in Southern California to my own private IdaHell. I've spent this week taking care of Brennan and TRYING to bone up on my Reformed Theology, Worship & Polity... we'll soon (or not so soon, the grades won't come back 'til October) see if it's worked. I do think that no one can or should question the scencerity of someone's commitment to a denomination after willingly undergoing such rigors, especially when you have to pay $280 (that's WITH a discount) to do it.

Anyway, that's where I'm at - our new apt. still looks like a wreck and all the mess is doing nothing but adding to my stress. And you can only imagine how Bridgette must feel. By Wednesday night we'll be enjoying a ballgame in NY, watching my beloved Tigers whallop on the Yankees - and by then it should be all over but the cryin' - and I hope to be doing none of that...

"Vacationing" in SoCal...

So yes, it's been awhile since I posted anything here, and I think in my last post I made it abundantly clear why. Of course there had been the attempt a couple of weeks ago to make post as well - but sometimes Blogger has problems, and so it never made it up. But right now, we're in Los Angeles, away from work, away from studies, away from home. It's been great to see friends and family, especially getting to introduce them to Brennan. It's also been challenging, chiefly because of Brennan.

We ventured up to our Church's Family Camp last week in Scotts Valley (near Santa Cruz) and the ride up there took 7 hrs - but the ride home took us 11hrs!! While we were there we were able to enjoy some great times, relax and for the first time since I was in High School I was able to be at a camp or retreat where I got to just be - not lead or teach or anything like that. It was great. It was also neat in that it was my third time up there, Bridgette's second and with Brennan we were now part of the "familiy" part ad we did adult things like the other adults - very neat. It was such a blessing to be invited.

We're now back in L.A., spending time with friends and family and staying with our good friends Richard and Lindsey Surendranath. The only problem is that there are so many people to see and only a week to do it in. No matter who we see or don't see we will probably feel guilty. For each person we do see it will mean someone else won't be seen and sometimes we'll only have a couple hours to spend with anyone - bummer. But people understand - if they're real friends they do. We all have limited time and we do the best we can. If Bridgette wasn't such a loveable person, we never would've been in this mess to begin with. I know for a fact we have these friends because of her. I probably would only have 1 friend if not for Bridgette...

Anyway, aside from visiting and traveling, God taught me something neat while we were at Camp this past week. I mean, it was kinda a reminder in some ways. It's simply the fact that sometimes, those areas of our lives that we struggle with sin in - they will never be removed. Some people talk all about the amazing healing God does in their lives, some supernatural thing that removes all desire for something (alcohol, drugs, etc) and how God blessed them that way. But the truth is, that's not always the way God works. Paul said he prayed time and time again to have his "thorn" removed and God told him that God's grace was suffcient. Essentially, that it was not going to go away - Paul would always have that struggle, and it would be a reminder that Paul needed to rely on God, a reminder that God would perfect Paul in his weakness - not in his strength.

And as I hear that this weekend, I thought to myself that maybe my greatest areas of weakness, my strongest temptations would never completely be removed. Not that I would continue to stumble, but that I would never stop hearing that temptation, I would never be completely immune, I would always be one step from falling. But that in that I would need to rely much more on God, that in that weakness, I'm humbled and reminded of my humanity. That I will be kept from getting haughty and too big of a head. Which is a distinct possibility and many people who know me might say is too late anyway...