“How’d it go?” March 21, 2009
Posted by bdennert in Justice, School, Spirituality, Thanksgiving.add a comment
Yesterday, I had the pleasure to take a six hour exam for my degree program. Yes, six hours. There were 9 of us taking a 6 hour exam (many others had a 3 hour or so exam, but ours was longer). It was over NT content, criticism, background, introductory issues (date, authorship , etc.), theology, and exegesis (explaining passages). At the end, after I printed off my 22 pages of answers, the Dean’s Admin Assistant asked me how it went. It is one of those odd questions. How do I respond? I don’t want to say that I felt like I passed lest I do not and then kick myself. But I also have learned that I can be unduly pessmistic about things and I do not want to be that way either and I say I think I didn’t do so well. It went well, as all but one question I felt like I was able to give a decent response to. However, I told her, “I got to write 6 hours on issues related to the NT. It actually is kind of cool.” I was thinking about the NT, different passages and material and what it means for 6 hours! And the only reference work I could use was a the Greek New Testament (with a word list for the second half of the exam). This is pretty cool in my mind, as I felt like it emerged me more and more into that world. While it is not always fun to take that long of an exam, it was a good experience. I don’t want to do THAT again, but I am thankful for all the studying it made me do and for how I felt walking out of it. To God be the glory!
Back from Vacation December 29, 2008
Posted by bdennert in Spirituality, Thanksgiving.add a comment
I am back from our Ohio vacation filled with food (ummm…), family, friends, food, and just general free time. It was great to get away for a few days, to check out of what all is happening back at home and relax as well as talk and be able to pay attention to what God has been doing in our lives. We had good conversations with some old friends from college who want to hear more than just simply what we have been doing but what God is doing in and through us. We also had lunch with an old ministry colleague and his wife who also challenged us by simply talking with us (we sometimes forget what has happened in the last 9 months of our marriage…the anniversary which is today!). Sometimes it takes getting away and letting your guard down to give you perspective. So, I am thankful for vacations, for family, and for friends. And of course, thankful for food!
Angry Pilgrim November 23, 2006
Posted by bdennert in Apologetics, Thanksgiving.add a comment
Thanksgiving is essentially here. This Thanksgiving, though, seems a little different. First of all, it seems to me that the world itself is becoming more and more like colleges–taking the whole week off. In some ways, it seems like Thanksgiving has expanded beyond the day itself. However, it also seems like Thanksgiving is not getting its proper due–as Christmas season started right after Halloween. What is interesting to me is that Thanksgiving seems less offensive than Christmas–no one has made us change how we talk about Thanksgiving Day or created alternative holidays (though still working on how to do Festivus and Christmas!). It would seem that Thanksgiving should be embraced. But to use an Lewisan type argument, maybe the whole issue of Thanksgiving is also offensive. One does not give thanks in the abstract; I do not thank inanimate objects. Someone does something or gives something to me, and I thank them. “Thank you” involves another person–a relationship. Seems to me, it points to a personal God (not a force). The day shows a yearning we have to thank someone. Maybe Thanksgiving convicts us of how we focus on the blessings without ther person. Thanksgiving has an implicit theology. Let’s not overlook that, or we may have some angry pilgrims.
