I AM SO EXCITED! I AM COMPLETELY DONE!

THE END HAS ARRIVED! I have completely finished my course projects and exams! Now all I have is packing up my stuff and I am out of here!

I am heading to Iowa tomorrow morning. I hope to spend some time with my family in Iowa and maybe do some deer hunting. Pray for clear roads because I here that they are talking snow over here tonight.

I hope to leave for Washington some time around Saturday.

You may be wondering who this is? These are my friends Trevor and Julie. They are trying to set up their blog and need a photo post online so I thought I would post it for them.

Some EPMC photos

So Calvin threw the EPMC students (that is me) a farewell root beer kegger! We actually had three kegs of root beer! We drank a lot of root beer floats! We also had a little fun with the John Calvin artwork! The fellow in the last picture frame is G. Vos a former professor here at Calvin. Supposedly, he was an intelligent theologian who grew up in my Grandpa's hometown. Maybe we are related! Do you see the family resemblance

A photo of some the EPMC crew

Here is a shot of some of my friends from the EPMC program. We did a China Buffet to celebrate the end of classes.

Classes Are Officially Over & Its Snowing

Well, classes are officially over! I just turned in my confessional preaching sermon today. I was happy with the way my senior preaching one went Tuesday! That leaves -two exams and a major project!

The biggest news of the day is that it is snowing today. Wish I would have brought my tuque with me, but unfortunately I left it at home. Here is a shot from Calvin's weather cam.

Update & Rhythm Nooma Video

Well, today marks my last day of pure classes. From here on out, it is a mixed bag of professors trying to cram in the latest information and filling out class evaluations. I just finished up my sermon for Tuesday. If you read this around 2:40 p.m. Eastern Time, please keep me in your prayers. I have one more sermon to complete for Wednesday, two exams and one Synod overture and then the Foci will head on out of here! I have loved my time at Calvin but can't wait to start the next chapter of life!

This weekend, I found out that both Mount Vernon Christian's Girl's volleyball team and boy's soccer team made it to their state quarterfinal games but lost them! I am sure they are a bit disappointed but I congratulate them for making it that far.

Last but not least, those of you who are Nooma video fans like myself will be glad to know that I picked up #11. It is entitled Rhythm. Check out www.nooma.com for more info. I am sure you will enjoy this one as well!

Passed my faculty interview!

Well, I thought I would keep this short and simple! I passed my faculty interview this morning! This should be my last meeting of the Fall semester. Still have a couple of sermons and projects due! Then exams! If all goes well, I should be out of here the day before Thanksgiving and begin my treck back to MV, only stopping to spend some time with my family over Thanksgiving!

A Big Weekend

So I told you that I would post a picture of the trees in fall colors. This tree is the view that I see as I walk from the Seminary building to the Library. The wind has been gusty that most of the leaves are gone now. Here is another site you don't see too much on the west coast -- a pile of leaves on the road way. Calvin has the huge vacuum cleaner machine that sucks up the leaves and puts them in a bin. They dump them on the side of road and start again.

I am down to less than two weeks before I am done here at Calvin. I am excited to move onto the new phase of life, but now I am just trying to get everything I need to done. I have two sermons to write before Tuesday. I am finding writing sermons for class much more intimidating than writing ones to actually preach for a congregation. After that it is exams and one more final project and then I am out of here.

Yesterday, I was looking at how well the Mount Vernon Christian sport teams were doing. There was a big part of me that was missing doing youth ministry. I miss the interactions with people and the constant variety.

That being said, I know I am where I need to be and don't doubt it in the least. I am amazed at how God has provided me good friends here at Calvin, money for school, and has arranged things at Western Seminary in Portland. I just talked to their registrar. He is really looking out for me and it looks like my classes should line up even though I am transferring classes from Fuller and Calvin. I am confident that he will provide me with patience and endurance to get through this semester and the rest of my schooling.

This Weekend

I had a lot of fun this weekend!

Friday Night: I went to a Griffins hockey game (one of my friends got four free tickets). It was a great game. The Griffins are the Detroit's AHL team (like AAA minor league in baseball). They won! It was an awesome chance for me to wear the $6 Canadian Hockey Jersey I picked up a couple of weeks earlier at Steve & Barry's. The only disappointment was that we thought it was Napolean Dynamite night. Pedro and Kip of the movie were going to drop the ceremonial first puck and hand out 1500 Vote for Pedro T-Shirts, but alas it was Saturday night. I had to put this collage up. It shows off the panoramic feature of my camera. Afterwards a bunch of the EPMC students (that is what I am) finished out the night with some great conversation, even better pizza and some R & R in a hottub.

Saturday Night: Needing an incense fix, I decided to attend a Antioch Orthodox Vespers Service. Okay, I really did this for my worship class but it was interesting. Then hung with my roommates and their Cornerstone gang.

Sunday Morning: I decided to go a bit Pentecostal for my worship class. Attended a predominately African American Pentecostal Church here in Grand Rapids. The service went 3 hours. This sets a new record for the longest service I have attended. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Took a killer nap this afternoon. I am now hanging at a local coffee shop. I was really impressed with the place until I tried the coffee. I can hardly put it down even though I know I need the caffine rush!

Now, it is time to wrap up my Church History Paper and an outline for my sermon. I would definitely appreaciate it if you would keep me in your prayers this Friday. I have the day from classes (reading break), but I have my faculty interview. Basically, three members of the faculty can ask you whatever they want about the Bible, Theology, the creeds and confessions.

Its the simple things

It is really the simple things that make life better sometimes.

The last few days have been absolutely gorgeous over here in Michigan. We have high in the upper 60's and fall is in full swing. I kind of forgot how deciduous trees can make this fall season. My drive from home to school is lined with trees with an array of colors. I took my camera today and hope to take some shots and post them for you.

Wednesday, I found out that my church history prof was going to be lenient with his deadline, which ment I didn't need to stay up all night last night to finish it.

Today, I found out that I don't have class next week Friday. Got to love a break near the end of the semester.

This last one may not be significant to you all, but I got a blanket on my bed that actually covers my feet. My other one was a bit short and I kept on waking up because of it.

So that's a quick glimspe of my life this week. As promised, here is proof I did actually get my preaching license.