How to do Seminary well. Advice from one of our own.

Need a little pep talk for the mid-semester blues? Midterms - behind on reading - why do I want to read Greek anyway? In the battle of the books we often forget what an opportunity it is to be at Seminary. What kind of stewardship are we exercising toward this blessing? Here is a little article by Owen Strachan that deserves your attention. Owen is a M.Div student at SBTS and wrote this for the September 2006 9Marks Newsletter. He writes:

This column is written with the hope that current and future seminarians will approach the task of theological learning with a love for Christ, a humble heart, and an ear for the whispers of the past. We must be those who listen well, in order that we may be those who lead well.I want to encourage seminarians to approach their work with reverence, receptivity, realism, and responsibility.

I always like it when a young guy "gets" what Seminary is about. His conclusion:

We should thus take up our work with vested diligence and sober minds. Though the hours stretch on and the semesters go long, the student is not alone. For it is in the midst of study that the saints of the past approach our side and stand for a minute. There they lock eyes with us and with holy solemnity whisper to us, Be faithful. May we be those who make the most of the opportunity given us. May we listen well.

His own blog is fairly active with several good posts about gender roles. (Owen - you need to get linked from the MetaBlog.) I look forward to hearing more from him.

Here are his other three articles for 9Marks:

Review: The Book on Leadership Pastoral Discipleship Review: Membership Matters by Chuck Lawless

My New Dean

I guess being online only this Semester I get my news second hand. But I was glad to see Dr. Stinson appointed as my new Dean at the Leadership school at Southern. If you have heard anything about Stinson, you already know this is new direction that affirms the family as the nexus of Christian Education. Very exciting. Here is an clip from the Towers.

"Stinson will bring a new dimension by focusing on family ministry as the touchstone structure for educational ministry in the church. We think this is the direction that our churches really need and want and there is a great vacuum in evangelical theological education for such a program."

"I am excited about Randy Stinson's emphasis on family-integrated ministry, his commitment to local church ministry, his leadership experience and his insight into the crucial issues facing Southern Baptists," Moore said.

"Stinson's experience as executive director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, his extensive teaching and writing … all of this puts him in an incredible position to give this school the leadership it needs."

http://www.towersonline.net/story.php?grp=news&id=363

Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ? is a dialog on reforming children’s ministry and equipping parents - for the glory of Christ and the joy of our children.

Humbled at the Library, some healthy depreciation gained at Southern

We all want to be famous writers and make a name for ourselves.

Sometimes.

But spending a few hours at the Seminary library often has a deflating effect on my ambitions. Book after book, all sitting in silent testimony to the words of Ecclesiastes.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 ESV)

So why do I blog? First, it is an exercise in expression. I will keep writing even if I never get published Why? Because letters, church newsletters, emails, policy manuals, academic papers and sermon manuscripts all require skill at using words. Blogging can help improve this.

Second, it is a way to refine my ideas. I often struggle to think clearly. But when I transmit my thoughts by writing I often improve their clarity. This is an important exercise. My ministry to children requires very clear thinking to communicate on appropriate levels to the kids.

Third, it is my way of exchanging ideas. I am intentional both post my blog but to comment on other blogs. This dialogue can sharpen both parties. Often the overheated disputations of the blogosphere can be instructive – if you will think critically through the arguments of those involved.

So, I am humbled – SBTS library will not own my words anytime soon. But that just means they will never be passed over by seminary students looking for the best books.

Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ? is a dialog on reforming children’s ministry and equipping parents - for the glory of Christ and the joy of our children.

Dr. Brad Waggoner - Free at Last! - But what about my coffee?

One of my favorite SBTS personalities is out-the-door. Dr. Waggoner is headed to Nashville to contribute to the Rainer regime as head of LifeWay Research.

Do us proud young man!

This is a heavy blow for me. I just converted to the LEAD school.

Does this make Purcell my Dean?

And worse - Dr. Waggoner had offered to buy me coffee "sometime."

Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ? is a dialog on reforming children'’s ministry and equipping parents - for the glory of Christ and the joy of our children.

You can edit Wikipedia

I was over reading Wikipedia and found their article on SBTS is still in "stub" form. I also found out that any user can edit most content on Wikipedia without even being registered. So I added a few details to their article on Southern. Dr. Dembski has a massive article.

Maybe some of us can spare a little time this Summer to make the internet a better place.

Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ? is a dialog on reforming children’s ministry and equipping parents - for the glory of Christ and the joy of our children.

For the Glory of God

I started a J-Term class at Southern Seminary on Monday. I’ve been at Southern in one-way or another since 1999. But yesterday something about the campus finally got my attention. There are small banners on many of the lamp posts near the campus center. They say:

For the Truth
For the Church
For the Glory of God

What struck was the phrase, “for the glory of God.” At my church, I labor every week for the kids in my church to catch a vision of God’s greatness and glory. But to see this phrase flying from a banner gives me hope. I’ve been thinking of the great momentum that comes when I strive to make God’s glory known. This whole world is bursting at the seams with the glory of God. The whole work of salvation demonstrates that God is dedicated to displaying his glory in the redemption of sinners - like us. To minister for the glory of God is to minister with gravity of God’s passions pulling in the same direction.