Last week

Sorry, I haven't had a chance to blog much lately. The pace of life has picked up dramatically over here! Right now, I am writing this and procrastinating on my 10 page CRC history paper, a sermon outline revision, reading and writing a book review for a 150 page book on Church Discipline (can't wait to read that thrilling literature), and a couple of short papers and worship services due this week.

That is not to say that life has not been fun. This past Saturday, I got to become a member of the Medema family and attended Chris Medema's birthday party (You MV folks may know him as a former Spanich teacher at MVC who lived above me in the Fresian horse stable apartment). It was a great food (can't go wrong with steak) and a fun time of fellowship and great to see Chris and his wife, Jill again.

I have actually gotten some interesting pieces of mail this week.
1) An actual preaching permit: In my mailbox, I found a letter that contained my official license to preach. It actually is a little card that reminds me of a drivers' permit. I would post a picture of it on my blog, but I would hate to be responsible for allowing the creation of fake CRC preaching ID's. Okay you twisted my arm, I will post the photo when I get the chance. You know you want one!

2) My Church History Test: In my mailbox today, I got my Church History Test. This is literally the first graded assignment that I got back. I was a bit nervous about this because I wasn't able to complete the entire test and it is worth like 35% of your grade. I PASSED!

3) A Care Package: But perhaps the best item I received this week was a care package from my parents! Let me tell you they went all out! I got M&M's; Mike & Ikes, Twisslers, Granola Bars, Trail Mix, Highlighters, Gel Pens, Pringles, Gift Certificates to Subway, Mc D's, WalMart & my favorite -- Panera Bread, there is even more but that is all I can remember right now.

Whose photo appears in this blog you may ask? Diedrick Hinrich Kromminga (the subject of the my CRC history paper)

Hope life is treating you well!

John Calvin Bobble Head - Who knew?

So I walked in the Calvin College Bookstore one day and saw this sight. John Calvin bobble heads. It was just so random I thought it would share it with you all! That way you can experience it too!

For those of you who don't know who John Calvin is . . . John Calvin is a major theological figure in the CRC. He lived in Geneva, Switzerland back in the 1500's and started the whole Calvinist strand of the Christian faith.

Random Thoughts & Links

So Friday has finally arrived! It has been a pretty crazy week. I had like 5 extra meetings / interviews/ assessments, a midterm, and four papers to write. Thankfully, the big stuff went well. My meeting with my faculty advisor was good and the CRC decided that they would let me preach again (I had to get a new license since I no longer am a Ministry Associate)!

Here is another link that one of my friend but on his blog. Check out this video of a hand DJ. http://www.lejo.nu/dj.swf

In one of my preaching classes, a guy used Pig Pen as an analogy for us living with our sin. We had various ideas about this and went online to find a photo of the Charlie Brown character. It was good to go back in time. I thought I would share some of my favorite magnets I found on the website http://www.schulzmuseum.org/

Here is proof I actually do go to classes

Well, I finished up my first mid term exam. The test went okay. I knew the material okay but ran out of time to write it. The professor said he will give us a break since the other class had a bit more time to complete it.

In addition to test, this is a week of meetings. I am going to lunch with a guy from home missions today. I get to go over my psych exam (I am not crazy every future minister needs to go through this.) tomorrow with my advisor. Friday I get examined by Calvin's Board of Trustee's so I can get licensed to preach (lost my ordination when I left 1st CRC).

Some of you have expressed some doubts if I actually go to class or read the books I show me carrying. Any fool can take a quick shot of them reading a book, so I didn't think it would be worth posting. It would take a bit more to fake in class shot photo, so I thought I would post this. One of my friends Dale took the shot for his family. I happened to be in it.

If you can't figure it out, I am the guy wearing green on the right. Notice the coffee cup & laptop in front of me. Both are staples of my life here!

Just got to have lunch with the Nooma Guy.

Well, I got to take a break from studying today. Four of my friends had arranged to meet with Rob Bell (pastor of Mars Hill and Nooma Video Guy), and they let me come too. It was a priviledge to talk with him and hear his words of wisdom!

Back to studying for my CRC History exam!

I gotta post this photo

So, Steph and I are driving around Hawthorne trying to find a parking spot and we see this car decorated as a dragon. Now it isn't the foci . . . but it still so over the top that I felt I needed to post a photo on my blog.

On a more serious note, the pace of life has picked up incredibly. The race is on until I get done. I have a ton of major projects, sermons and my first midterm so I would appreaciate it if you could keep me in your prayers

Farewell Portland

Well, I had to say farewell to the great city of Portland and my wonderful lady. We had a great time hanging out for four days. We went out to dinner at Newport Bay on the waterfront, went up to Mt Tabor park, visited Imago Dei and Southgate Chapel, and got to spend a ton of time together. Here is a collage I created that shows some of highlights of the week. Top left was taken at Mt Tabor Park with the Portland Skiline behind. Top Rightwas taken after a great dinner. The bottom ones show Portland 's River Front skyline.

Calvin still reaches out to Portland

Sorry no pictures yet, but I have made it to the West Coast!!! A week ago, I got a free ticket from G.R. to Portland on Delta via Northwest. Got to hang in the Cinci airport and then arrived in OR at 11 p.m. last night. Getting to hang with my special lady -- Miss Stephanie Faw--this weekend. GOT TO LOVE CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! You should all celebrate it, I know I will enjoy it.

How random is this? Steph and I are geting coffee in Canby, OR this morning and see a girl wearing a Calvin tee shirt. Turns out her mom went there and she is thinking about going there too.

Well we need to run we are heading to a movie! Thanks for all the comments. It is good to know that you all check up on me every once in a while.

Just in case you had your doubts about me studying.

So I know in one of my posts last week, I said I have been busy studying. I have quite a few papers due in the upcoming weeks. So you can definitely pray for me:) I thought I would add these images of me returning from the library on Friday. I checked out 12 books. Oh, ya did I mention that these are all for one paper. I had to buy a new briefcase to hold all my stuff. It is the mother of briefcases :)

So here is a close up of the books so you can see what thrilling material I get to read. Acts of Synods from the 1940's. Some good CRC history and theology and some books on Eschatology.

A few more photos inside the building.

So this is a shot of the inside of the student lounge. It is were I do most of my reading and emailing. Got to love wireless internet.

Here is one of my class rooms. I usually sit at the upper level. Got to love the back row! It is a bit old school. Reminds me of Dead Poets Society for some reason.

Photos of Calvin Seminary

So I have been telling you I would post some photos of the school. Here are a couple of the building itself.

This first one is of the student lounge. This is where I do homework. Email you all (I will put some more photos of the inside) Note the foci in this image as further proof that it did in fact make it to Michigan.




The second one is of the main entrance and chapel.






The third is the back of the building where are the classrooms are. There is a pond to the right. Calvin's engineering department sponsored cardboard boat races there this weekend.