The end of our first semester

Yes, it's true--we finished our first semester of seminary (AKA graduate school on steroids)!  And, wow, I've learned A LOT.  I'm very grateful to God for giving us this opportunity to study His Word and learn more about His Church under the teaching of some amazing professors.

We have so many things to look forward to during this time off before the next crazy semester begins like going on two out of town trips (details later), taking more time to explore Raleigh and Durham (hopefully will include decent geocaching finds), and actually being able to read what I want to read (I'm overwhelmed with everything on my "To Read" list).

Talking about lists, I have two to share.  The first is three books I've really enjoyed and received a lot of insight from this past semester.  The second is what pleasantly surprised me about seminary.  Let's do this!

Recommended Books From This Past Semester:

• How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp - This book was the first book I read in my Biblical Counseling class.  In my opinion, it sums up what biblical counseling is all about:  true biblical change is only possible by allowing Jesus to transform our hearts which reveal what beliefs and motives are controlling our ungodly, sinful behaviors.  Biblical counseling is more than solving our problems or correcting bad habits or actions; it's about getting deeper and asking God to reveal the ugliness in our hearts.  I now look at the sufferings and trials in my life and the lives of others in a much different way.
• The Peacemaker:  A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande - This book is another one from my Biblical Counseling class and deals with conflict resolution.  Sande says, "Conflict always begins with some kind of desire."  This desire can get out of hand when it progresses as we go down the path of desiring, demanding, judging, and punishing because our desires are not being met.  By following four steps of peacemaking (glorify God, get the log out of your own eye, gently restore, and go and be reconciled), Sande shows how he has mediated numerous conflicts in his professional career.
• Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches:  A Contemporary Ecclesiology by John Hammett - The title sounds like a migraine waiting to happen, but I was interested throughout most of this book which was assigned reading in my Baptist History class.  I found myself underlining so many passages of biblical examples of how we should be "doing" church (basically what "eccelesiology" means).  This is one book that every pastor should read; it reminds me how we have become so consumed with marketing ourselves to look attractive to seekers that we forget what proper roles our churches should serve.

OK, there's some smarty-pants book recommendations.  Now, a fun list (wow, this post is getting long):

What Pleasantly Surprised Me About Seminary (at least at Southeastern):

• I love chapel!  We are required to go to chapel 20 out of approximately 30 times a semester.  Chapel is held on Tuesday and Thursday each week at 10 am.  When we came to Preview Day a year before we started at Southeastern, the music was very traditional.  Well, I was surprised to find out that the music is so varied!  It made me admire our faculty and administration in knowing that very contemporary (even rock) praise music is accepted.  I also ended up appreciating traditional styles of worship as well.  Also, I am very thankful for being able to hear amazing preaching from pastors, professors, and other leaders of our faith.  Now, don't get me wrong, there were some messages I definitely liked better than others but having the opportunity to hear the good and the very good was enjoyable.
• Parking is FREE.  Who has ever heard of a school having free parking?  When I realized at matriculation that I wouldn't have to pay for my parking permit, I was afraid they were going to just charge my student account later or stop me one day and take my shoes as a form of payment.
• Our professors really care about us.  How heart-warming is it to have your professor pray before class begins or at the end of class before we let out for break!  I felt so connected to this family because of how much our professors genuinely want us to grow in knowledge and, most importantly, in Christ.  Now, don't get me wrong, they're tough (there is no doubt about that), but I respect them for pushing us.  (Seminary makes me want to take my college diploma and make a paper airplane out of it because my entire undergraduate education does not even compare to what I've learned this semester.) 
• I don't know if it's because we all know that we are on the most amazing journey ever, but the people I've met in my classes are some of the most thoughtful, inspiring, and God-fearing people I've met.  They truly make me smile!  When you sign up for being formally prepared and educated to live a life of sacrifice for God and His Church, you realize that you are part of a special group of people who are not afraid of what's around the corner.  We are so excited and honored to be used by our Heavenly Father.  I'm so blessed to be included in the Southeastern family!

Well, that's it for now.  I just want to thank the four people that read this blog and have witnessed the amazing journey that God has put us on.  I've got one semester down, six more to go (yeah, I'm serious).  :)