Tag Archives: LTSG

The last two weeks of my life…

24 Wednesday May 2017

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The last two weeks of my life have been unlike any other two weeks that I can recall.

Two Mondays ago, I left my home in the morning, met up with several other students, got on an airplane and traveled about 30 hours (flying time and layovers, etc) to Windhoek, Namibia.  We were heading to the Lutheran World Federation Assembly there.

We stayed there for 7 days and then jumped on some planes last Tuesday and arrived back in Pennsylvania last Wednesday – tired and exhausted, but happy about the trip.  I promise that I’ll be writing more about the trip in upcoming posts – along with some pictures too.  I’m still processing the trip.

I got a nap (mostly because I don’t sleep well on long plane rides), got to use a real sauna, and got a shower.  I was then ready for the senior banquet – a fun even for seniors at the seminary who are ready to graduate.

Then on Friday of last week there was graduation.  A truly historical event in its own right.  First, every graduation is historic because the graduating class is added to the history of the institution.  Second, this would be the last graduation of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.  The seminary will be merging with Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia come July 1 to form United Lutheran Seminary.  It’s been a long road for LTSG.  I’m proud to be a part of the last class.  Again, there are lots to process here.

Then on Sunday I had my call sermon – and the congregation voted to call me as their pastor.  Beginning June 26th, I’ll be pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in New Kingstown, PA, USA.  I’m pretty excited about this.  And again, there’s plenty for me to process.

Because of all of these things, it’s taken me a bit longer than normal to get back to any type of routine with posting materials on social media and online.  I haven’t been able to post a daily prayer or do my usual tweets about made up bible passages or do travel or theological posts here on the blog.  I finally unpacked from Africa two days ago and I’m still working on going through the piles of paper on my desk to clear that off.  I hope to start posting again tomorrow, but give me a little slack if I don’t – I’ll get there.

The next big thing is ordination – next Friday, June 2.  Again, that will take some processing on my part.

And the biggest thing – figuring out the new normal.  Classes are done, but I don’t start as pastor until the end of June.  There is work that needs to be done around the house that I have been putting off for some time.

Let’s see what tomorrow holds.  Blessings.

Funeral in advance

28 Friday Apr 2017

Posted by in Society, Theology

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This week at the seminary was Academy Week – we get to hear several speakers come and talk about a variety of topics.  One of the speakers talked about Revelation and how it wasn’t about predicting the future so much as being written in opposition to the Roman empire – you know, the empire that was crushing people in the known world, that promoted the idea that peace came through crushing one’s enemies, and that everyone must bow and worship Rome.

At any rate, the speaker went on to tell us that a good part of Revelation is actually a funeral for Rome.  It’s the idea of insulting Rome by showing that if it continues on the path it is heading, it will lead to its own demise and death.  And so Revelation is a funeral pronouncement on Rome and everything that goes with it.  It’s also casting an alternative – the reign of God and everything that goes with it.

This got me thinking about the idea of writing a funeral in advance.  It’s a powerful notion.  The whole idea of writing a funeral in advance is a direct smack in the face of whoever/whatever the funeral is for.

It got me wondering, who or what would I write a funeral for in advance?

That’s not an easy question.

Maybe it would be for partisan politics.  The message would be that if partisan politics continues on its path, then it will inevitably lead to its own demise and death.  The power that parties seek will be the same power that crushes them.  But there is an alternative.

Maybe it would be materialism.  The message would be that if materialism continues on its path, then it will inevitably lead to its own demise and death.  The stuff that materialism seeks will finally just bury us alive.  But there is an alternative.

I think you get the idea.

What would you write a funeral in advance for?

The 16th

16 Friday May 2014

Posted by in Family, Finland, Seminary

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Today is the 16th of May.  For the next few months, the 16th will be a significant day.  June 16th is the first day our house is rented.  July 16th is the day after my wife and my wedding anniversary (yeah, day after, but it’s close), and August 16th is the Helsinki marathon.  Phew!  That’s a lot on the 16ths.

Today was the LTSG graduation, another 16th.  Best wishes to all my fellow seminarians who graduated today.  Best of luck and God Bless.

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LTSG in May

14 Wednesday May 2014

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Today marks the last day of the semester for me.  Except for a couple of random times that I’ll have to come down for odds and ends, it will be one of the last times I’m on campus for a couple of years.  That’s a scary thought.  I’ve grown very comfortable being on campus.  It’s a beautiful campus.  I’ve really enjoyed my time on the ridge.  Thankfully, I’ll be able to come back when I’m a senior.  I snapped a few pictures today for your enjoyment.

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A Definition of Christian Spirituality

04 Sunday May 2014

Posted by in Seminary, Theology

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A few weeks back in our Systematic Theology class we talked about Christian spirituality.  The guest prof gave us a definition.  I don’t recall whose definition it is, but regardless, I liked the definition.  It’s one of those definitions that we can just allow to soak in to ourselves for deeper meaning.  What’s your definition of Christian Spirituality?  Enjoy.

“Living in conscious awareness of the presence of God in the everyday stuff of life. Being able to notice glory in the mundane. Presence of God in our work, our calling, our daily lives. To notice. To pay attention. To be watchful and listening. To stay attentive to God.”

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A Very Special Interview

13 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by in Seminary

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So for the last two and half weeks, the seminary community has been on what we are calling the Journey of Wellness. Wellness is something that pastors are typically not too good at, so several of us on campus wanted to have a focus on it for about three weeks. We decided to “travel” as a campus 497 miles. We blew past that goal and changed it to 1050. We’ll pass that too. Which is awesome. As part of this journey, we did several interviews with people on campus. This interview is the final interview with a very special guest. Enjoy!!!