They say that a picture is worth a 1000 words...and if that is true then the picture above gives you a quick glimpse into what the last year and a half have been much about - BOOKS. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12:12, that the "making [of] many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." My time at TMS has proven both statements! Yet, at the same time I have found great joy and growth as I have applied my mind and my being to the study of God's Word. Nothing enriches the soul like deep and abiding time in the Word of God. Below is a quick recap of my studies over the last three semesters.
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_Well, it seems hard to believe, but another semester is in full swing. This semester was one that I was both very excited about beginning, but at the same time, a bit afraid of. In the Fall, because of my full-time job at TMS, I only took two classes (8 units) and still felt a bit overwhelmed at times with homework and papers. So coming into this semester I realized that working full-time and taking 11 units (a full-time load) could be a bit daunting. Well, I have not been disappointed! However, God has been so faithful these first couple of months of the semester and I am loving my four classes as outlined below.
Praising God for another great semester of classes and praying that I might be faithful to do my best and honor Him with my efforts. tNot every semester is created equal! This past Fall semester was a great example of this adage. For the first time in my seminary training I took less than a full load of classes. Instead of the usual 11+ units that make up a full-time load, I only had two classes (Greek Exegesis 1 and Theology 3). However, when combined with my new full-time position at TMS (as Executive Assistant to the Administration) I felt that only taking 8 units was the wisest decision for me and my family. Praise the Lord for good council and a very wise wife! What I found was that while I was only taking a couple of classes, the load was more than sufficient to keep me busy, especially when combined with work, a growing responsibility for our Bible Study, and the addition of our kids playing sports. Ultimately, this past Fall proved to be a wonderful semester in which I greatly enjoyed my classes and was able to learn much about Greek and Theology. Here is a quick summary of each class.
Overall, this was a full semester but one in which I grew in my love of God and His Word! I still can hardly believe that I have the privilege of studying at TMS! Wanted to take a few moments to recap what this semester looked like for me at TMS. I took 6 classes this Spring in the M.Div and MABC programs and found this semester to be one of the most rigorous and yet rewarding of my four semesters here at TMS. Below is a listing of the classes I was able to take:
In all, this Spring was a very productive and enjoyable semester with a great deal of learning. I greatly enjoyed my classes and have grown remarkably in my knowledge and understanding here at TMS. Looking forward to what Summer and Fall brings!!! With another semester completed I thought I would take a few minutes to reflect on all that this Fall 2016 semester has taught me. Here are a couple observations:
1. Seminary is Hard! I knew this semester was going to be hard for several reasons (I was starting the MABC program this Fall and knew an extra class would add pressure and time. I was taking more units than my previous two semesters. The course work I was beginning to take was more complex). However, I did not appreciate how much harder this semester would prove to be. Ultimately, I ended up spending as much 25-35 hours per week doing homework. Regularly this meant homework all day Wednesday, Saturday, and much of the evening time of Sundays, Mondays, and most of Thursdays. This combined with more time in class along with two night classes, regular bible study and trying to keep my painting business going made for a tought semester. I now realize that Seminary is Hard! 2. God is Good! Through all of the pressure of deadlines, quizzes, exams, and more papers than I thought I could ever write in a single term (42 to be exact!) God has been Faithful and Good. Despite my very real weaknesses God has continued to provide the strength just when I need it most. God continues to humble me and demonstrate that I need Him more than I ever imagined. It is only as I depend upon Him that I find my greatest joy and satisfaction. I have also been privileged to spend more time studying about the perfections of God and have come to a place of "blessed despair" (as Dr. Mook) calls it over the incomprehensible nature of our Creator God! It seems the more I know of Him and learn from His Word the greater the gap between He and I grows. How can I approach such an almighty, sovereign God? And yet, He has graciously revealed Himself to us, even to the point of sending His Son to this world that we might be redeemed and reconcilled to Him! 3. Family is Ministry! One aspect of ministry that has been made clear is the recognition that my family (my wife and children) are my ministry priority! In the hustle and bustle of life and all of the pressures of work, school, family, church, and ministry opportunities it is possible to neglect the people God has given me first to shepherd-my wife and kids. I have often failed in my role as husband and father but God is continuing to teach me to seek their good and their spiritual growth first before that of others. My success in ministry will be directly connected with my success as a dad and husband. (Ephesians 6; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:4). 4. Life is Short! This one seems like a no-brainer but I have come to realize just how short our lives actually are and unfortunately, how much of them is spent in pursuit of things that have no lasting value! Our time on this earth is designed to bring glory to our God and it is only in such pursuit that we can find lasting joy. It is only as we store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20) that our lives find real meaning. Seminary is a short season in the length of my life and I am learning to treasure every moment that I have been given and to spend my life fully for the sake of Christ alone! I am learning that wherever I am, I should be all there. Oh that we may gladly spend everything, even ourselves for the sake of the souls of those around us (2 Corinthians 12:14-15)...As Jim Elliot so aptly put it, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" So another semester is about to begin and I thought I would take a few moments to let you know which courses I will be studying this term:
Overall this coming semester will likely prove to be the most difficult one so far in my studies. I am taking a total of 16 units and most of the classes are very heavy in reading and writing requirements (I think I am required to write in the neighborhood of 40 papers over this term!). With that being said I am so looking forward to the time I get to spend learning more about the languages, the NT, and theology in particular. Please pray that I would remain focused and motivated to give my very best each and every day and to remember why and for who I am doing all of this! Been a while since my last update. Was a crazy season with Finals, the Holidays and the beginning of classes again for this semester. Wanted to give you a taste of God's goodness as I have begun the spring semester at TMS and finished a wonderful Fall semester. God was so good to me last semester and I learned so much from my professors. By His grace I passed all my classes and continue to grow in understanding. I come into this spring so excited about the opportunities before me. I can hardly believe how good God has been to us over these past 5 months and cannot wait to see how he continues to work in our life. Below is a breakdown of the classes I am taking currently for the 2016 Spring.
It is hard to believe that this first semester at TMS is quickly coming to a close. I have spent the last 12 weeks studying, studying, and studying some more and I can finally see the end of the semester (December 11) approaching. What a semester it has been. I have learned so much in this term and have loved every minute of it. I have especially enjoyed Hebrew class and am at the point now that I can read and translate Hebrew text (with the help of a Lexicon). It is incredible to see how much one can learn when you truly apply your mind and time to a task or subject! It is also that time of the semester when the papers are coming due and I can envision a lot of sleepless nights to come as I try to finish all of the assignments before their deadlines.
As for specifics, I am currently finishing a paper on John Chrysostom that I will put on the site later, am working on an exegetical interpretation of 3 John and am starting to work on Hebrew weak verbs in coming weeks. Beyond the classroom, the most amazing aspect of the TMS experience has been the relationships that have formed. I have made so many new friends and have been so blessed by the camaraderie that such an experience can bring. The professors are great and godly men who challenge us to grow but who are also kind and gracious throughout it all. I look forward to getting to know students and faculty better as I progress through the program. Last addition for this update is related to my Spring semester...I was able to get all of my classes squished into Tuesday/Thursday next semester so I will be able to work M-W-F-Sat to provide for the family. I am excited about my class schedule for next term which will include: Hebrew Grammar II, Biblical Exposition of Prayer, Apologetics, Historical Theology II, and another Discipleship Lab. Please continue to pray that I would grow in devotion and love for Christ, that I would be a wise steward of my time and resources, and that I would be a faithful witness to the power and grace of God. It has now been 5 weeks of study at The Master's Seminary and I am overwhelmed with the massive amounts of information I have been exposed to in such a short time. At the beginning of this process some more experienced seminary guys told me that this first year would feel like drinking from a fire hose! They were so very right! But, lest this post sounds like a complaint I want to quickly clarify by saying how much I am loving this! Each new day of class I am reminded of what a privilege it is to study at TMS. I am so blessed to be able to spend several days a week being taught by Godly professors who love the Lord and are committed to the Scriptures! I sit next to men from around the world (Literally - Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Mexico, Guam, Philippines, England, India, Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, etc.) who have traveled great distances to study God's Word! What an honor it is to spend so much of my time learning how to rightly divide the Word of God! In this first post I wanted to fill everyone in on what particular classes I am enrolled in and what the objective of each class is.
In future posts I will share more specifics of what the seminary experience is like from my perspective. P.S. Below is the Hebrew alphabet for any who are interested in learning it. It is very rewarding to learn the original languages of the Scriptures and I hope to one day be able to read fluently from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. (Don't forget read R-L) |
AaronJust a regular guy who would rather burn out than rust out! Archives
December 2019
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