They came! (And we made it!!)

Wow - girls actually came to the party last night! (I mean, of course they came, it was a totally rockin' party.) We had six girls show up, which is more than have set foot in the office in over a year. There used to be parties often, with ten or twelve girls, but the faces have changed and the overall attitude on the street has changed since then. We wanted to try again - and it was a positive first shot!

The interns shopped, decorated, and cooked some traditional Nigerian dishes (supplemented with Kentucky Fried Chicken - the only food proven to be liked by Nigerians and westerners to date!)
Waiting...So, the girls did show, but we don't post photos of them (their faces), so I won't post the pictures from when they were actually there. :) Just believe me.Chris and Stefanos offer their interpretation of some girls on the street... All in all, I'm so pleased with how these three weeks went! I felt all warm and fuzzy saying goodbye today. Here's a shot of the group from Wednesday:We had a big lunch today as a final hurrah, a last chance to enjoy each other's company before parting ways. Most head out tomorrow and Sunday. I said my goodbyes and felt a little fondness in my heart for each one. :)
Ah, the kids.

Ummmm..... vacation? Hello!!!!!

last night

Nigerian girls visiting our outreach table ...
and our friendly neighborhood security guard taking a load off in one of our chairs!

Tonight is the last of our late night street outreaches with this intern team. Before we start, we're putting on a party in the office for the Nigerian girls. The interns have spent the last week planning, talking with the girls on the street, inviting them, passing out invites and maps, and praying that a few will show up! If none come, we'll take the party (and the food!) out on the street to meet them when they come to work. So it will be a party kind of night, regardless.

I've been really blessed the past few days by this team! Yesterday they did presentations of the projects they've been working on. I'll write more about them on my ministry blog, but I was so excited to hear of all the work they've been doing! We learned about trafficking and sport (like the Olympics & the World Cup), dance therapy for trafficking victims, more on Romania as a source country, and had a few photo journals.

Today, at our last official "class" time, I wanted to spend some time in prayer for each person as they leave here and take this all home. It turned into two hours of prayer, with each one getting specific attention. They even prayed for each of us staff members. I was so encouraged!

After tonight's outreach, we'll have a debrief tomorrow and a final team lunch, and our first official anti-trafficking summer internship program will come to an end! I am really looking forward to a month of rest (& travel), but it has been a great great time with these guys here. I'm encouraged, and I've learned a lot from them and how we can improve things for next time.

Off to the party!

here they are...

Here are my nine children.
(Of course they are not all children, but I feel somewhat responsible in that way!)

I think we pretty much ran them into the ground this week, poor kids. Monday and Tuesday were full of class sessions, Wednesday we took them all day to Aegina for some fun team building time, yesterday more class and then we completely did them in with outreach last night. Many didn't get to sleep until 4 or 5am, after which we met at noon today and had a dinner tonight, and tomorrow morning they depart for Corinth at 8:00.

I'll be revising the schedule a bit for next week. :) They are all great, getting to know each other and bonding, interactive, excited, and generally pretty positive about being here despite the 100+ degree temps (with no AC where they're staying). I found one of the girl's blogs tonight and have read the whole thing, appreciating her fresh perspective and enjoying seeing what she's learning. She is also hilarious (read this).

I am happy it's Friday, I need a weekend!!!

spanakopita

I got an email today that said "We have been reading a lot in the newspaper about Grease."

:)

Well, I have returned from a whirlwind trip to Cyprus. We had a really great turnout, and I enjoyed doing the training. I was reminded how much "ministry" is involved in these things, when during breaks, after the conference ends for the day, and much of your otherwise "free" time is taken by meals and other meetings and chats and questions and you always have to be "on"! At one point I was so brain dead I just stared into my pizza blankly while the others talked around me. So much polite smiling and nodding and making conversation. :) THAT is what exhausts me; the teaching part I love!It was great having a traveling companion ... Holly is from Seattle and interning with Nea Zoi for a year. I was glad she could come along. We had a bit of free time on Friday morning to wander around along the sea and in the old part of Limassol.
Back in Athens, it's rainy and freezing again! I thought we were surely coming into some nice spring-y weather; last week I was ready to break out the sandals. Not yet! Today we also have our African dust back in the air, so the dark storm clouds mean that it literally rains mud. All the cars parked along the streets look like they have been off-roading.

I taught a college class today.

So that was fun.

I am trying to motivate myself to clean and pack. Really, not too much to ask of myself, but I'd rather sit and stare at my papers and files everywhere than pick them up.

The thing about speaking with a translator is that either you have time to regroup and think of how you're going to say your next point (as you are being translated), or you have time to completely lose your train of thought (as you are being translated). Then they stop and everyone looks at you expectantly and you have nothing to say. :)

Anyway, the class went really well. It's all stuff I'd taught before. We made some great contacts, including several students signing up for our class that starts in two weeks. And, the college is going to offer independent study credit for it!

I also found out this week that the director of a large ministry here has signed up for the course. They work with refugees and he said he feels like his heart is being stirred for this human trafficking issue.

My prayer has been for seven people to come to this small group course; we have exactly that number who have officially registered (which means nothing in Greece). It starts the day after I get back from France, so it's just about here.

An unrelated note: I am just atingle with euphoria about my 3:45 am taxi pickup in the morning. I suppose the good thing is I'll be in France on the other side. Maybe my lack of sleep will help me fit in with the French attitude. ;)

Hands That Heal

The inaugural Hands That Heal training in Greece! :) This is a training course put together by the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking, made up of the Salvation Army, World Relief, World Hope International, etc. It's really a great & comprehensive curriculum.

The first book (of two), translated into Greek:

Hanging out in the A21 office, with (L-R) Yota, a great girl who translated a lot for me during the course, Kalli, and Maria, who is the pastor (along with her husband) of the Philadelphia Church here. She is a lawyer, wears pastel blue lipstick, and likes to pinch my cheeks. This is an "action" shot of some of the local ladies behind A21:Pepie helping me with modeling and translation, and Phil, from A21, demonstrating his map of Thessaloniki during our "Community Mapping" session:Some members of the A21 Campaign and Philadelphia Church. A21, run by Hillsong Church in Australia in partnership with this local church, has opened a shelter recently in Thess, and has already been able to help five women. These are volunteers and interested community/church members who came to receive the training to work with trafficking victims:Kalli volunteered to be tied up...in this exercise we used pieces of rope to represent cultural and societal factors that contribute to trafficking. Then as they came up with solutions they came and untied the ropes. This is her husband, tying this rope...he probably enjoyed this a little too much:

This past Friday/Saturday training went very well! We will continue with this "Part 1" this coming Friday and Saturday, and then will finish with Part 2 in April sometime. My very own Voula is actually the esteemed translator for this material (she wears many hats), and she is fervently working on Part 2 to finish for April.

Yes, Thess!

I love Thessaloniki. More than Athens, in fact. I always secretly hoped I'd end up here; it's smaller, cleaner, cuter, and I actually have friends here. But, for now, I reside in Athens (well, Piraeus, actually, which is quite enjoyable too), and that's home. :)

Anyhoo, just a quick update for now...we taught Friday night and all day yesterday and I think it went really well! Pepie did Friday night on basic terms of trafficking and Greek laws and stuff, and I did all day yesterday. My throat is a bit scratchy today, due I think to talking too much and also to the VERY cold weather, but now I have a week to just relax and play with Kiki and prepare to do it again next weekend.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, of course, and Kiki and Pepie and I went out for coffee and later (much later...like 10:00 - welcome to Greece) a really nice dinner. The place was packed, the food was amazing, and it was a lot of fun. As we walked home last night (in the pic above), there were some snow flurries. It is very cold here; I am practically wearing every single item of clothing I brought. At the same time.

Like I said, teaching went really well. I loved it, actually. I will post some pictures this week, I've got to get them off Pepie's camera. She goes home to Piraeus this evening, and then comes back Friday to help me with next weekend.

On the road again...

I am packing - and may I say, packing for ten days in freezing cold weather is much more difficult than for two weeks in hot weather, and also, didn't I just do this??? - and Pepie and I fly to Thessaloniki in the morning. I've been busy getting ready to teach for the next two weekends on things like "A Biblical Framework for a Christian Response to Human Trafficking," Community Development & Mobilization, Aftercare, Cultural Issues, etc. etc. I'm excited, actually. As a bonus, I get to stay with my friend Kiki who I stayed with last March. She told me on the phone today, "I'm looking forward to eating chocolate with you." Now, what is THAT supposed to mean?? :)

On an unrelated but actually rather related topic, my friend Charity sent me some articles today. She and Ruben and I (when I worked for Salvation Army) used to visit various hand carwashes in L.A. with suspicions of human trafficking or at least labor violations. We have known there is stuff going on at several specific ones. Well, look here and here! Indentured servitude is human trafficking. It is always exciting to see people freed from these situations, and hopefully convictions to follow.

.

Ok, and finally, check out this absolutely outrageous "weather forecaster" ... she is on every night here, and we have been watching in disbelief that this is actually on television here! Tonight she was wearing a nurse's costume, other nights she is in lingerie. Be glad you don't understand what she is saying. Voula said her 10 year old daughter came home from school asking about Petroula the other day because the kids were talking about her. I am using this for the value of women in society part this weekend.

Happy Friday the 13th! (I guess I will see it before you will.)

It's finally coming out!

Once when I was talking about this, my brother asked me if I was tooting my own horn. Well, I guess I am. Deal with it for five minutes. :)

Many, many moons ago, you may recall, I helped Dr. Mike Wilkins with his portion of study notes for the upcoming ESV Study Bible. He covered the book of Matthew. (We all remember my affinity for that book ... curriculum ... study notes ... AAAHHH!) I basically took his commentary (the NIV Application Commentary on Matthew) and pared it down to fit as notes in this study bible. Which, by the way, is getting many accolades and good reviews! (Was that redundant?)

It was due to be published in the summer of '07, but as I've learned, even with monetary rewards for turning in work on time, these scholars are busy and have trouble with deadlines. :) (So perhaps they ought to have more grace for us seminary students...?) It is finally due out in the next couple of weeks.

I went to a luncheon at Talbot today and happened to be seated at Dr. Wilkins' table. It had been over two years, so I had to remind him who I was! (We only met in person once, after he saw some of the curriculum I had written and asked for my help with this project.) He said "it was YOU!" and thanked me again and told everyone what a great job I did. (Proud smile.) He said that the editors thought I focused on exactly the right material and were very pleased with the notes I culled. Woohoo! I hadn't had much feedback aside from his short reply emails as I sent my work in to him ("Thanks, this looks great!"), that it felt so good to finally hear that I did a good job. :)

Yay! Buy the Bible! Read Matthew and think of me. :) (That sounds horrible. Think of Jesus. Then think of me.)

yay, finally!

I officially have a master's in B.S.!!!!* :)

not sure what these are for...hand warmers?

the quick blurry walk-by:

* B.S. = Biblical studies...lest you think I am already treating my new degree with disdain.

spiritual warfare & God's will

So it turned out to be a really great game yesterday. I'm glad I woke up for that 4th quarter! We made lots of noise, and that's always fun.

I've been reading in my professor's book, 3 Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare. This isn't a new topic (or experience) for me, and I'm really happy to find this class offered at my fairly reformed school. :) What amazes me (and kind of frustrates me?) is how few Christians understand or take seriously the reality and importance of this issue in day-to-day life, even in America. It's not relegated to 3rd world pantheistic countries or even cults here. It's real and something we should expect if we are actively engaging in our faith, discipleship, evangelism, etc. I'm sure I'll have more to say on that later.

What I really wanted to note was a little section in which Dr. Arnold writes on the classic passage about spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6:10-20. The Christian life is a struggle, but we have been given resources for the fight. We also share in Christ's authority over the spiritual realm. Arnold says that in Ephesians 1, "Paul mentions the will of God seven times. God clearly has a plan and that plan involves us. He bestows his power on us to live according to his will and to fulfill the mission he has given to us." Above all, these seven items are part of God's will:

• getting rid of sinful thoughts and practices and acquiring virtue
• tangibly demonstrating love according to the ultimate pattern laid by Christ, who willingly sacrificed his own will for others
• coming alongside others and helping them grow in the Christian life
• using one's own giftedness to give to others in the Christian community
• creating and maintaining unity in the Christian community
• developing healthier family relationships
• spreading the good news of Christ to others

I've been meditating on these seven things and thinking about how they are playing out in my own life. Arnold writes that we should expect opposition on each of these fronts. "There is no doubt that Satan and his wicked spirits will oppose these more than anything else." He is a direct opponent of God, and "seeks to thwart any momentum toward fulfilling God's will."

Apparently I'm blogged out.

That's the Sea of Galilee and an interesting fellow named Brian.

Sometimes I feel this way.

I got nothin'.

Well, ok, I have lots of things, but they don't go together, and I haven't really thought through most of them. It's not yet 8:30 and I've already eaten my morning snack, so I'd better capitalize on that energy. Let's see...

Spiritual Warfare. I am taking this class this semester. It started on Tuesday, when at the conclusion of class we watched a video of an exorcism. "Boring" it never promised to be.

Counseling. I'm taking a counseling class at a local church; it's a year-long training after which I could potentially play the role "lay counselor." Last week I learned that we have 3 trillion brain cells, and even a small bump to the head can cause us to lose 10,000 to 20,000 cells. If hit in the right place, we can forget simple things like how to tie our shoes or someone's name. It makes me wonder about the time I whacked my head in a cave in Israel and got a big goose-egg. If I had locked my keys in my car in the ignition twice in one month in the same place AFTER this happened I might have some excuse for that. But I didn't. It was before. So I have no excuse.

Trafficking. I read this book yesterday, by a 15-year-old who is an activist against modern-day slavery. It's really directed toward teens, and it's sprinkled with statistics and stories and encouragement on leadership and making a difference. I was interested because on Wednesday Janell and I are speaking to the high school group about human trafficking. I'm pretty excited; let's get the word out, y'all.

Races...? Time to start thinking about races again. Dare I mention here that I am seriously considering making this the year to do that olympic distance triathlon...we'll see. I'll decide at end of February. The sprint race is fun, and I can always fall back on that, but how cool would it be to finally do one a little longer. The issue is time for training...tune in later for more information on aches, pains, and exhaustion.

Luke's emphasis on social activism :)

At the Getty...yet another random picture to make blog seem more enticing

You're going to think I've gone totally off the social gospel deep end after reading this post. (Or not. I hope not. I haven't. I just keep learning things that are contributing to my conviction that we - evangelicals - do not pay enough attention to this area.)

So I just finished project #2, a "biblical theology on community and leadership in the local church." That was a mouthful. The project was even more complicated. Anyway, I just spent a lot of time in the "outreach" section in Luke and Acts, and our Dr. Luke seems to have had quite an emphasis on helping the poor! I've identified three values: Association, Advocacy, and Giving (can anyone think of an "A" word for "giving"???) ...

Association: spending time with sinners and the needy. Jesus did it. The disciples did it. From eating with Zaccheus, to spending time and healing the sick and demoralized, to showing concern for needy widows, Jesus made this a priority. (Really if you've spent any time studying the life of Christ you've recognized this.) Peter and John healed a crippled beggar; Philip talked with the Ethiopian eunuch; Peter interacted with a paralytic, a widow, a tanner (who was by definition ceremonially unclean), and Gentiles. (I don't feel like typing out references, but I can give them to you if you want.) Point: Jesus and his disciples spent a large amount of time associating with sinners, poor, marginalized. Do we? We can't love them or tell them anything (the gospel!) if we don't, and words are better received from those who have established themselves in relationship and service to those they wish to reach.

Advocacy: defending and upholding the cause of the poor. God is concerned for the poor: see the Sermon on the Mount (Luke's version, especially 6:20-21); the poor are the focus of God's banquet (14:15-24); the Messiah was identified by his concern for the poor (7:18-23); God focuses on ministry to the poor (16:19-31). We cannot highlight this emphasis in Scripture enough, and this is only from Luke! We must advocate for the poor and marginalized who are unable to do so for themselves. This includes working to change laws and social structures that foster disparity and raising awareness on social justice issues.

Giving: sharing with the poor and needy. John the Baptist exhorted his listeners to share with the needy (Luke 3:7-14); the Pharisees were exhorted to share with the poor (Luke 11:39-41); Jesus recommended giving to the poor (Luke 12:33); the poor as the focus of ministry without expectation for repayment (Luke 14:12-14); the rich young ruler is exhorted to give all to the poor (Luke 18:22); Paul reminds us of Jesus’ concern for the poor (Acts 20:32-35). After meeting the needs within the body, we are also called to help the poor and needy financially.

Biblically I believe we are to care for the needs of other believers first, but we can't lay aside the clear call to care for the poor in general. Again, our emphasis on evangelism and salvation is key. But evangelicals are a long way off from a proper balance of evangelism and social justice concerns. Including myself. This all just represents recent personal convictions in this area and my attempt at a biblical, balanced perspective. :)

Am I now well-rounded?

We register for spring classes next week and I was just perusing the schedule of classes. I know what I want to take for my FINAL class. I only have to take one next semester. I just added up all my units again and double checked all the requirements (just to make sure I'm not destined for some colossal disappointment when meeting with a graduation counselor - think I'm supposed to meet with one this month) and I am SO CLOSE to being ALL DONE.

I just made a list of all the classes I've taken over this long road...it's kind of interesting to look at the list and try and remember what in the world I learned in each one (just kidding). But overall I think the program is pretty well-rounded for ministry and I loved my personal emphasis on Biblical Studies.

Here they are, in the order I took them over the last four glorious years (humor me):

Hermeneutics
New Testament Survey
Old Testament Survey
Theo 1: Revelation & Nature of God
Personal Foundations of Ministry
Theo 2: Works of God, Angels, Man, Sin
Evangelism & Follow-Up
Theological Research Methods
Exposition of Genesis
Elementary Principles of Biblical Languages
Spiritual Mentoring Group
Theo 3: Christ, Salvation, Spirit
Arranged Course: Matthew (My Bible Study curriculum)
Theo 4: Church & Last Things
Life of Christ
Arranged Course: Joshua (Bible Study curriculum)
Exposition of Daniel & Revelation
Historical Theology Survey
Educational Ministry in the Church (Christian Education)
The Church & Society (Ethics)
Biblical Theology of Leadership & Community
Apologetics
Bible Lands Trip (Israel, leaving December 27!)

In the spring I hope to take a seminar on spiritual warfare and then I'll be peacing out. Oh if only it were already May... :)

reflections on my degree (not yet completed).

Several people have asked me lately about my degree and my time in school...do I feel like I need this degree? Do I ever feel like dropping out (a frequent question the first few weeks of school and "syllabus shock")? Was it the right decision to attend grad school?

When I graduate in May it will be 4.5 years. As a whole I've enjoyed my program, but I've come to the realization that I've been here for a lot more than the degree. I think God's used it to keep me here. 3 years ago at the end of an engagement, with no place to live and no job (at the end of a year-long ministry in L.A. for which I raised support), the only thing that kept me here was that I had just finished my first semester at Talbot and I really felt like I was supposed to be there. I realize now that it could have been the fact that I don't really quit anything that I've started, but God uses that too. Whatever the reason, I'd started a program, and I was going to continue in it. Gradually my heart healed, I found some great roommates and a job. Soon school will be done, and the next journey will begin.

But I really think that this time has been so much more about the other things than school. The relationships, the ministry opportunities and roles, the new skills I've learned...teaching bible study and writing curriculum...working with a professor on the notes for a new study bible...valuable friends, mentors, surrogate families :) ...and some pretty significant personal growth and learning. There's more. And the degree is valuable too. But I believe God has used the time for so much more than just school; that was in many ways the thing that kept me here for so long. (I think I'd be long gone if it weren't for that.) There have been a lot of things to learn.

So...yeah, the degree is useful; I've already used it and will definitely use it in the future. Is it absolutely essential for what I want to do? Probably not; I could have done a lot of personal study and reading on my own. But I won't ever regret having it. And I can't say the thought has ever crossed my mind to drop out, surprisingly. Finishing was never a question for me. Like I said, I think God has used that. Was it the right decision? What do you think? :)

Some California friends...on a California beach...ah California... :)

Fall

Classes started this week, it's that time again. I forgot about buying books until the night before; I just was having such a good time being OUT of school mode! Including our Israel preparation class, I have three classes this semester. This should be interesting.

Fall is always exciting, with school starting, ministries picking up again, and there’s a flurry of activity both at school and at work. This feeling of newness and excitement usually lasts me about two weeks. :) The relaxation of summer is over, new commitments are starting, with many opportunities to pick and choose from. The last two years I’ve been teaching women’s Bible studies, which I won’t be doing this year. This was intended to let me focus on my last semester of school with my three classes. Plus with quite a bit going on personally I’ve been unsure what my capacity would be to be able to give in ministry. (I know, I know…we minister out of our weaknesses or something like that, but really it’s a LOT. I was resigned to taking this semester to work through things, and then start with the lay counseling training in January.)

But here and there little opportunities begin to present themselves that sound good. Working in the high school, which I’ve been praying about, and doing some mentoring there. Continuing with the late night pr0stitute outreach, which I intend to do. Joining a small group of some people my age at church. A prayer ministry. How quickly our time can become filled, with many good things, but again I must practice the discipline of saying no! No! NO!!! :) Fall seems exciting and new and overwhelming and busy all at once. I welcome the new routine and the feelings of accomplishment and purpose, but I sure will miss that summer feeling of having no responsibilities hanging over my head...it's been SO nice, and here's hoping that not too much of my brain turned to mush.

ho-hum...

I don't think I mentioned that I finished up the semester on Saturday...I'm done! (For 3 months. Blast.) No summer school due to scheduling conflicts, which I'm now actually thankful for, even though it will push me back one more semester.

It feels SO WEIRD to have nothing I have to be doing. I suddenly like to read, since it's not school related, and I can do WHATEVER I WANT at any time that I choose! Amazing.

My brain is also pretty much done thinking about anything in particular, or coming up with anything enlightening or interesting to say here. I have a lot going on internally that is for journaling, not for blogging, so you'll have to be happy with fluff and pictures for awhile. :) Happy summer!

pleasantries

Conversation yesterday regarding my unnamed but required Christian Education class with unnamed fellow Talbot student who also happens to be an unnamed overseer at church:

Unnamed Overseer: What class did you just have?
Me: [Unnamed unpleasant class]
U.O.: [laughs boisterously]
Me: Thanks
U.O.: How are you enjoying that?
Me: Ummm…well…
U.O.: It only gets worse!
Me: I can imagine.
U.O.: No, you really can’t!

Fabulous.

What is Christian Education?

(I know I said I wasn't looking forward to my classes this semester, and that is sort of true, particularly one of them. However I have come to the realization that that feeling is largely due to the fact that this is my second-to-last semester of grad school, I have been at this for nearly four years, and I am just ready to be DONE!)

From the perspective of someone who teaches women's Bible Studies (yes ME), I found our class discussion today particularly interesting. Educating the church body is far more than simply teaching. It involves bringing individuals and community into a full knowledge of God through many different means, ultimately resulting in transformation of both the individual and the body.

As far as teaching is concerned, there are five different words used to describe this in Scripture, in two groups...

RATIONAL/INTELLECTUAL:
1. yarah (Ps. 32:8) - to instruct, direct, point out
2. bin (Dan. 8:16) - to understand + discern + distinguish concepts (intellect)
3. shanan (Deut. 6:7) - to impress, sharpen, pierce, convict

RELATIONAL/EXPERIENTIAL:
4. ra'ah (Ps. 23:1) - to tend or feed, edify (also Greek poimen, to shepherd or pastor)
5. lamad (Deut. 4:5) - to train

The reason I write all this out is because the pendulum of rational and relational teaching, faith, and worship is something I've been thinking about and swinging on for years. Really a full knowledge of God includes both, so good teaching has to include both. Today there is a heavy emphasis on the relational experience of faith (personal application), which is more post-modern. Older teaching you might notice (also older worship - hymns, etc.) focus heavily on content and reason rather than experience and application.

When I moved to California three and a half years ago and started to look for a church, I had a hard time finding one that balanced my mind (which I think is more rational) and my experience of faith (yep, the Foursquare roots). :) I have swung back and forth on this pendulum, and I think most churches have a difficult time balancing the two as well. I notice that my teaching is a lot more focused on the rational & intellectual, mostly because I have a harder time thinking of good illustrations here and there, plus I just really like to dig into the text! :) But holistic teaching, as was Jesus' teaching, involves both the mind AND the heart, intellect and personal application that should cause the listener to make changes leading to life transformation.

Talbot puts a lot of emphasis on Spiritual Formation in addition to intellectual study. This balance is vital in communicating the truths of God from the head to the heart. Those times when my faith is balanced appropriately are the best. I find myself attending and working at a Baptist church, sometimes moonlighting at a Vineyard church (Sunday evenings!) to get my charismatic kick, and balancing it with some theological study and personal study and prayer time. It works for me. :)

And it begins...

Here we go again...started class yesterday. This is the first semester in awhile that I have not been looking forward to. Just two required classes.
Goodbye social life.
Goodbye sleep.
Goodbye freedom.