Seminary is over. I’m waiting to hear from denominational leaders re: the specifics of our church planting venture. So, I’m consequently privileged with the task of finding a creative way to spend a few anxious days of free down-time. Read More
Posts Tagged ‘Journey’
How to Save Hands and Mind from Pocket Loss
What Did a Seminary Education Do for Me?
Seminary has helped me prepare for a life of service by offering me time to shape and build more than a few indispensable tools that are absolutely required for this postmodern world in which we move, live, breathe and minister. I will, in a few short weeks, be handed my M.Div. I earned it at Lancaster Theological Seminary, a progressive, if not religiously liberal, institution. No, I’m not in agreement with everything that happens at LTS, but that is not the point. So, what is the point? Read More
Ten Years toward a Personal Manifesto
I imagine Christian formation was much, much simpler in ages gone by wherein one did not have unrestricted access to the world’s evolving cache of raw information … Bunyan’s Christian has got nothing on me, I’ll tell you that much (Christian is the main character and journeyer in John Bunyan’s spiritual classic The Pilgrim’s Progress). Journey? I have been on a journey! Read More
A Trip to Turkey and Beirut
On this day, one year ago, I was en route to Turkey and Lebanon (Beirut). I can not believe a year has passed since I took this trip. Wow! At any rate, below are two combined posts from last year regarding my departure and a few highlights gathered during my time spent in the Middle East. I’ll never forget my time spent visiting the people and places ‘over there.’ Read More
A Page from a Seminarian’s CPE Journal
Sept 18 2006: Today was the first day of CPE orientation. I met a great bunch of folk. The people I will be learning with seem wonderful. The 1st year residents are great too. The entire setting is wonderful. The director has really built a solid department, to say the least. I am so glad to be a part of the department. I expect to learn a lot. Read More
The Journey from Baptism to Call Fulfillment
I was baptized during the summer of 1996 in Mahoning Creek, PA by Carl C. Curfman, an incredible Brethren in Christ minister. The baptism was symbolic of the new and radical life change I had experienced as a result of asking Jesus Christ to forgive me of my Sin and to join me in my living of this life. He joined me and I was forever changed as a result. I was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the traditional Brethren in Christ face forward, triune fashion. I arose from those fresh and fast running waters a brand new person. I stepped back onto the creek’s muddy bank with a brand new direction and goal in my life. I dedicated myself to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew at that moment that there was no turning back. I was going to go forward into the ministry and tell everyone about the Gospel that so radically changed me. I wanted to take this message to everyone. I wanted to tell every person I bumped into about the life changing love of Jesus Christ and the drastic difference it made in my life. I wanted to shout from every rooftop the new song Jesus Christ had placed into my heart. I still do to this very day. Read More
My Years at Transylvania Bible School (1994 - 1998)
I began my Christian journey at a small independent, nonprofit and interdenominational school called Transylvania Bible School. Transylvania was nestled comfortably in the tranquil woods of a small Western Pennsylvania village known as Freeport. The Bible School was small but intimate, and sparsely populated by people who quickly became so much more than their roles as staff and faculty normally would entail. They were family. We fought, argued, cried, laughed, studied, ate and literally lived together there at that sacred place. It was a good, good place. It is where I found a firm foundation which has in the long term proven to be stronger than any thing with which I have thus far been challenged. Yes, Transylvania Bible School - as academically unaccredited as it was and still is - had a seriously profound spiritual effect upon me. Read More