It is done

Yes, your eyes did not deceive you. Your RSS reader accurately said that I posted again.

The past few months have been a rough go for my blogging. No, I haven't lost the itch to write. In fact, it's growing. Life has been busy and I spent time doing many other things, some of which I will get to in future posts, some, probably not.

But I write this post now to say that I had a strange experience today—A once-in-a-lifetime experience. I walked off the Multnomah Bible College campus today for the last time as an undergraduate student.

That's right, I took my last final, handed in my mail box key, grabbed my cap and gown and said goodbye. Sadly, my tassel says '07. That is only sad because my high school cap tassel says '97 and I am not a doctor.

Nevertheless, the day has arrived. I will not walk across the floor of a stage to receive my diploma, rather I will walk onto a stage in Salem to help lead worship for hundreds of middle school kids. Now that's exciting!

I'll have more to write later. Really! Thanks to all of those who put time, effort, trust and encouragement into this milestone in my life.

A Great Day

I just have to take this time to say what a great day it is and why:

I took my last final of the term today and won't head back to school until January 11.

I played guitar on Justin & Jessica's 6th Christmas album. (Which you'll be able to hear at a later date).

My brother returned from the blogging dead with a great post.

So those are my reasons for the great day. How about you?

Questions and Teachers

We had a very great class session yesterday in which three of our favorite profs came to class to discuss teaching. Students were allowed to ask any questions about teaching that they wanted.

Although at first I thought one student's question was a throw away for the grandness of the day, it provided some thought provoking responses from the panel.

The question? Who or what teachers do you admire/respect the most?

Dr. Harper's response:

Back when I was in college and grad school it would have been the teachers that provided the best answers to my questions. Now, it really are those teachers who ask the best questions to my given answers.

Wow. May we all keep on learning, asking questions, and never be stubborn enough to think we know it all.

Classes

Last Thursday I popped in Jack Johnson's newest album and cranked it on my way down to Multnomah. I was excited because it was a sunny day. I was excited because I got to sleep in. But I was actually excited because I was heading to class.

This is what I hope to be one of my last 2 terms, so I have a certain excitement about finishing the job. Especially since I've never been one to finish well.

So as I am doing my homework, I'll take a break to share with you, my reader...or at least myself...my classes:

Career Development: A standard course where we go through the joy of resumes, and a wonderful career match test. I'm actually looking forward to the class.

Creative Classroom Communication: A course that unlike its name, is about teaching in any setting.

Co-operative Problem Solving: Basically learning how to mediate. Very useful!

Well, back to homework. I have a group presentation already this Friday!

Monthly Update

Yes, I am alive and well!

You may notice the new blog template. I switched over to the new blogger (beta.blogger.com) which is only avalible for a few at a time. Slowly, I will get things back in order, add links, books I'm reading and the like.

Lake Tahoe was a wonderfully relaxing time. I'll post some pictures from the experience later.

School started last Thursday. (Yeah!?)

I hope that Fall brings a refreshment to life.

Full circle

I drove up the long winding road on Mt. Sylvan to the PCC (Portland Community College) Bookstore today to purchase a couple books for an online course in reading drama. It would have been music theory if they would offer it online, but...oh well. I can learn that on my own.

It was just a short 8 1/2 years ago ;) that my Dad and I drove up to PCC for the orientation to college. (And yes Chris, I know some people that go to school for so long are called doctors.) 8 1/2 years, 3 schools, a change of majors, failed classes, a marriage, 4 moving days (turned into weeks), 2 jobs, and much learned later...I return. I return to finish up a series in literature. English 104, 105, and 106: Fiction, drama and poetry. Fiction was full, so I chose drama.

I can say that I would make better choices when it came to going to class or not, and putting forth my best work, but I am still pleased at where I am now. I have a wonderful wife, a great job where I humbly get to try to help people follow the direction of Jesus.

I still have a lot to learn, but look forward to ending the vast monetary spending for education. (But no, I do not look forward to paying back that money!)

So glad for school...so glad for it to be over

I'm closing in on the end of school for me. Its been a 7 year process, changing majors, changing schools, and all the while growing in maturity (hopefully). I must say that I am thankful for the opportunity to incur debt so that I can go to school and learn the things I do. I imagine that one day, I'll go back at least to audit courses. I love to learn!

On the other hand, I can't wait to be done! Oh how nice it will be to sit down and read a book because I want to do so, and not because it is required reading. I don't even know what I will do when I get home from work. Clean the house? Create web sites? Read books and books and books? Actually hang out with my friends and family?

Wow! What a day it will be!

It's been a while...but school's here!

I apologize to those of you who come to my blog everyday, and have now seen nothing new for a week. It's been one of those busy ones.

I just started back in school 2 terms left! So I thought I'd give you a rundown of my classes:

Hebrews - Revelation: Not too hard to figure out. We'll study the books from Hebrews until we finish Revelation.

Ethics: I'm excited about this one. The last 2/3 of the semester we'll spend debating ethical issues such as abortion, gender issues, death penalty and so on.

Doctrine: A seminar class where we discuss what we believe after 4 years of school about various topics like God, the Bible, Salvation. We turn in 8 short statements of what we Believe...and no, they don't have to agree with the professor or the school. They just have to be our beliefs.

NTBT: Short for New Testament Biblical Theology. I am very excited about this course. Systematic Theology asks what does the whole Bible say about ________...often, inevitably leaving out some verses...almost like a pick and choose method of Bible study. Biblical Theology looks at the books themselves. What does the book of _______ teach? What does the book of _____ teach about _____? How does this specific author talk about ______?

Persuasion: I don't know much about the course yet, but I'm sure I can be persuaded to pay attention.

Well, that's about it. I have more to write later.