New blog layout. Hope you guys like it. If not, feel free to let me know.

I had allergy testing today. Ick. I am allergic to dust mites, mold, and trees. I will be making some changes in my lifestyle to reflect this new information. New medication. New pillows.

The play is coming up next week. We're actually running the entire play instead of bits and pieces. Even though I have a medium-sized part, my character appears in the beginning scene and last half of the second act, so I have to hang around the entire rehearsal. I also have to wear a hat the entire time, but we haven't begun practicing with our costumes.

I have been asked by my gracious play director and speech professor to be his teacher's assistant for next school year. A great opportunity for  me to get to the know the incoming juniors and to spend some time doing something I love.

For my final paper in my Reformation worship class I have decided to write a short adult education course. I thought this would be easier than writing a full-blown history paper. I was wrong. Plus, I have tracked down a facsimile of the original Genevan Psalter, and it never occurred to me that music writing had changed since the 1530's. That throws a cog into the wheels. Thankfully, I've got some time to figure things out.

I am very excited to announce that the Finer Things Club will be journeying to New York City for Madam Butterfly in April. Something to look forward to before finals week.

And the rain stopped again! I don't mind rain, but I mind rain for days and days at a time. It's nice to have a break.

Field Education

As you may know or not know, each seminarian must complete a year-long part-time internship called a "field education placement." I have officially accepted a placement at Rider University, a local university that's about 6,000 students. I will be working both on the main campus with the Protestant Campus Ministries and at Westminster Choir College. I will be working specifically with Rev. Dawn Adamy, a very lovely woman. (I don't have a picture of her. Sorry.) It's at the same time exciting and scary. I worked for a year as the chaplain's assistant at my undergrad school, but this is just a little different. It's nice to have things set up.

Now all I have to do is get through this semester, the finals week, the spring short term, and CPE.

Peace Rally

The Peace Rally went well yesterday on the steps of the state capital in Trenton. It was organized by the Coalition for Peace Action in Princeton. My friend and fellow seminarian Hannah spoke about respecting all life and the need for peace. 

Then some of us went for pizza.

Past, Present, and Future

Yesterday I had a weird day. Past, present, and future all converged into one in only a few short hours. Awe, shock, and hope...


Past/Awe--Yesterday I held a Bible that belonged to Dietrich Bonhoeffer (pictured, right). The Bible is a facsimile of the Luther Bible that Bonhoeffer's students gave to him as a gift. If you don't know who Bonhoeffer is, he's one of the most incredible Christians of the past century. He was a theologian and pastor who stood up to the Nazis and was executed in a concentration camp. His writings are amazing. I read The Cost of Discipleship last summer. It's thought-provoking and a great read.
The picture with the small book is me with an original edition of Calvin's Institutes. It used to be really small and in Latin. The text I'm read for my Systematic Theology class is much bigger and in English.
We saw pictures from the Martyr's Mirror showing all the different ways Anabaptists could be killed for their beliefs. 

Present/Shock--I attended a lectured last night by Peter Dale Scott, a poet and professor emeritus at Berkley. His new book The Road to Afgahanistan is coming out this fall. There is an overwhelming connection to the international drug trade and the war in Afghanistan. Today is the 7th Anniversary of the Iraq War. I will be joining the Seminarians for Peace and Justice on the steps of the state capital at noon today to ask for peace. I can't sit in silence any longer. The further I get into my New Testament class and Systematic Theology and Reformation history class, the more I cannot reconcile the idea of war with Jesus' teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matt 5:6-9).
"Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matt 26:51-52)
 "'But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also'" (Luke 6:27-29a).
"'I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

If we do not stop the cycle of violence, we will only be faced with more violence. Someone must have the courage to stand up and refuse to continue the cycle. We must root out the institutionalized violence and refuse to fight back with anything but Jesus' triumph over violence. Jesus shows us a different way, a way to love one another as God loves us. I want to take the Gospel seriously. The Gospel is not safe. Jesus leads away from our homes, our families, and our communities into discipleship. Perhaps no one in the past century has devoted him or herself to the idea of discipleship more than Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Future/Hope--I was offered a field education position yesterday. I do not expect to be faced with the kinds of violence Dietrich Bonhoeffer was, but I will follow Christ as well as I can where I am. I have great hope for the future today, not because of where we are but because of where we can go.

Midterms

My midterms are basically done. I lead my history precept today, and I somehow got mixed up about what the precept paper entailed. So have to rewrite that. Also have to rewrite my New Testament exegesis paper. Due by Friday.

Things are coming along with my Calvin paper. I've decided to make it into an adult education course because I've written way too many history research papers. Haven't written curriculum before, so this might be interesting.

The storms seem to have stopped. Finally. It rained for four days straight. Today the sun came out. <3

Memorial Service

Today I was the sexton for a memorial service in remembrance of those who died in the earthquake in Haiti. Now I'm trying to study for my New Testament midterm, and it's difficult.

Recently a prospective student asked me to name the pros and cons of my seminary. This is both a pro and a con, and I think this is true for all seminaries. You become aware of how powerless you are and how dependent you are on God.  The question of "why" starts to really eat at you. The paradoxes we live with everyday suddenly seem impassible... yet you're in this community of people who each have their own story about how God had led them through difficulties you never thought about. People are willing to stand up and trust in God. I think this is why PTS is so focused on community living. I couldn't have made it through my first semester without this community.

So if you're looking for a seminary to attend, don't just look at the academics or housing or financial aid. Look at the community. The other day I sat down with at a table of students, and we started talking about a hot button issue of the church today. Instead of defensive team-taking, we had a very honest conversation about the Biblical witness around this issue. No plates were thrown. No yelling happened. We just... talked and were willing to listen and were willing to say "I don't understand" or sometimes "I was wrong." No names were called. No labels were given. That is this community. Now that sounds like we're all constantly getting along and singing The Happy Song together, but we're not. We have a lot of different opinions and beliefs and interpretations, but that all seems secondary to the community. When our opinions, beliefs, and interpretations become primary (which they do sometimes) then we become "us" and "them". But I feel like those labels aren't easy to keep up here, especially when you're worshiping with the person or persons who have become the "them".

But today in the memorial service, there was no "us", no "them". No one tried to paper over the question of "why" even though no one could give an answer. Instead, we lamented and pledged ourselves to the continuing aid of Haiti and the Haitians.

If you find yourself in a place where you can give money to Haitian relief, please donate to the Red Cross. You can choose to give directly to Haitian Relief and Development.

The Finer Things Club

My friend Alicia and I have started the Finer Things Club. Once a month or so we are going to take mini-vacations and do cool things. Yesterday we journeyed to the historic district of Philadelphia to learn about our Founding People! 


We went on a tour of Independence Hall where the Continental Congress met. (SIT DOWN, JOHN!) We saw the Liberty Bell. We saw where the Congress met during the time Philadelphia was the capital of the USA. We also saw where the Senate met. (They had a smaller room up two flights of narrow stairs.) We saw Philosophical Hall, home to the oldest society of learned people in the USA. We paid our respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Solider. We saw the First Bank of the US. We toured Betsy Ross' house! We paid respects to the late Benjamin Franklin and family in the Christ Church burial ground. Saw the US Mint.
We learned that nothing really happened on 4 July 1776. The Declaration was voted on on 2 July and read to the public 8 July. Also learned that Betsy Ross was a Free Quaker.
Oh, and there was this grave in Christ's Church burial ground that was for Gen. Jacob Morgan. Perhaps a relative of mine? Probably not, but still... maybe.
But one of the BEST parts of the day was lunch! We went to City Tavern (originally a place for our Founding Parents to drink and hang out then demolished and rebuilt in the 1970's as a tourist attraction). The food recipes were supposedly from the 1770's. I have no idea if that's true, but the food was EXCELLENT. I had the crab cakes. Incredible. We also sampled George Washington's Porter, Thomas Jefferson's Ale, Ben Franklin's Spruce, and Hamilton's... something. I didn't like Hamilton's. I like Washington's Porter the best. For dessert we had Martha Washington's mousse chocolate cake. Better than Martha Stewart's!
Time slipped away from us very quickly. We didn't get to see the Declaration House. We trucked home very tired but very happy.

Reading Week

It's Faux Spring Break! As one of my professors said: "We call it Reading Week so the Calvinists don't feel bad about taking a break." I'm currently working on my systematic theology midterm about the relationship between Scripture and tradition. I only have one exam which is next Monday focusing on the Gospels in my New Testament class. I have to memorize outlines of each of the Gospels. I can remember the basic outlines... it's the chapter numbers that throw me off.
I attended the Princeton University chapel yesterday for worship.They have a stained glass picture of John Witherspoon. He is right under St. Jerome. No, seriously. The chapel is HUGE. It could fit ten Miller Chapels in it. One of my friends is their seminary intern, and he told me the choir was incredible. Well, their choir IS INCREDIBLE. The organist is also incredible. As a postlude he played a Bach fugue like I have never heard a fugue played before.

Tomorrow taking a mini-vacation to a surprise location! Check back on Wednesday for pictures!

Calvin's Theology

I am doing my final project in my Worship Renewal and the Reformation class on Calvin's theology of music specifically on the Psalms. If anyone knows of good resources, please let me know. I'll be crafting a post later in the semester about what I find!
Thanks!

A Great Read

I just finished reading The Irresitable Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. It's an incredible book that I think every Christian from all walks of life could benefit from reading.

But be warned... this book might turn you into a Christian. If you're worried about that don't be afraid to pick it up from your local library. If you do buy it, pass it on to someone who would never think of reading it after you're done.