Not Exactly a Day in the Park

As we approach the halfway point of the semester, I've begun to somewhat establish some regularity in my schedule.  As many might be aware, I have class from Tuesday through Thursday.  As for Mondays and Fridays, my days are technically void--yes, I have a four-day weekend.

Now, before you're quick to be bitter and almost resentful of such an "easy", weekly schedule, not many people remember that I'm not simply a student.  I'm also serving in various capacities and hold a job as well.

What irks me extremely is when people think that, just because I have a four-day weekend, my days are 'super open' and I'm coasting through the semester.  While I'm not quite encountering a blockade of difficulties in school or otherwise, that doesn't mean I have it "easy".

Indeed, I'm taking only 13 credit hours--four classes.  HOWEVER, these are all upper 400-level classes, not a bunch of 100- or 200-level gen-ed nonsense.  Now, those kinds of classes would be deemed as a blow-off.  On the other hand, with four upper-level classes, I have my hands full.  These are practically counted as graduate level classes, and most of my classmates are seniors or grad students.

What sucks the most about these classes is the ridiculous amount of reading I have for them.  And it's highly unfortunate that, if I want to even succeed remotely in the courses, I have to KILL those midterms and finals (or pray for a curve).  These classes are determined by exam grades and not much else.

Second, I'm serving in various capacities.  First off, as a small group leader in InterVarsity, there's more time commitment and sacrifice than most people think.  I enjoy SG leading and being instrumental in the IV community, but the actual Bible Study session isn't all of it.  I'm also doing two discipleships weekly, another weekly meeting with the area coordinator, Bible Study preparation, and Sunday night prayer meetings.

On top of that, I'm also participating on the worship team with IV and with the church I attend.  While I haven't been playing for IV too much this semester, last term it was nearly every week.  This semester, I'm playing twice a month for church, and that includes Saturday and Sunday morning practices.

Lastly, many people forget that I have a job.  I'm not a librarian or desk clerk or do anything administrative or office-like that requires you to sign-up for hours each week...  I'm a high school assistant track coach for sprinters and throwers.  Where the average number of hours to work each week range from 10 to 13, that's only regarding practices.

I have to be at practice before and after the athletes arrive and leave.  If there are meets, I will be required to 'work' an event or even drive to places for away competitions.  And did I mention Saturday meets that could either be in the morning or go all-day?  Or the two meets a week that will be expected once outdoor season starts?  Sometimes, there are coaches meetings beforehand; so, again, there's a big time commitment involved.  

This entire post sounds like a rant.  Well, it pretty much is.  But that's not to say I don't enjoy what I do. Still, before you think that this schedule is "easy", please be sensitive to my own time constraints--because sleeping 4 to 5 hours a night is just what I want (sarcasm)...

A Theological Discussion with an Unexpected Brother

I'm completely awestruck right now. lol

So, this morning, I went to see my professor to get homework help.  When I got there, we made small talk and conversed about our weekends.  Yet, somehow, our discussion alluded to friends and the types of people with whom we tend to associate ourselves.  And after briefly discussing the homework itself, the conversation that followed was one I definitely did not expect.

For 45 minutes, my professor and I got onto the topic of church, religion, and theology.  He was talking most of the time, but it didn't bother me because it was actually quite interesting to hear his logic, reasoning, and conclusions for what he believed about faith, grace, works, and Christ.  (Bear in mind, my professor grew up in Mormon.)

At first, he told me his 'theories' about faith, obedience, grace, and works.  He mentioned that he had been reading through the books of James and Romans and books by N.T. Wright, and felt that the theology upon which he was raised seemed too contradictory to what he was reading in the Bible.  While incorporating references to Abraham, he concluded that Abraham obeyed God--putting Isaac at the alter as a sacrifice--because he had faith in God first.  He didn't do what God told him because he wanted more blessings; but rather, he followed the Lord because he had faith that God would fulfill his promises.

And on another note, my professor came to the realization that we are all saved by grace and not simply by works.  What is more, faith is the the foundation for which we demonstrate 'good works'.  Because we know that Christ has died for our sins, he was raised from the dead, and we have a relationship with God through him, we act upon this confidence in Him through our deeds.

He spoke more about competing theologies--between Mormonism and what he has come to study and be convicted of, but...I don't want to bore you with all of the details. lol  Anyways, we also talked about books and academic / theologically-sound arguments regarding salvation and the legitimacy of Christ.  There was a mentioning of C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters), along with N.T. Wright (The Challenge of Jesus), A.W. Tozer (The Knowledge of the Holy and The Pursuit of God), and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship).

Anyways, I wanted to share this conversation because discussions like this one have never happened to me before--more importantly because it was with my professor.  And it was even more compelling because, truly, I agreed with everything that he said.  It shows that, as he is earnestly seeking God, is being deeply investigative in questioning Mormon culture and theology and how it doesn't necessarily coincide with what the Bible has to say, and is constantly searching for more answers...

Even if this discussion was more about Jesus than about receiving homework help, I didn't mind at all.  I was delighted to see that God may be challenging me to maybe talk more with my professor--because he also told me that he rarely, if ever, speaks with anyone about these notions.  Growing up Mormon, he said people do what they're told and don't question it; but he doesn't want to conform to that kind of ignorance.

Perhaps, I enjoyed this talk a bit more than usual--because I am more of a 'thinker' than a 'feeler'.  I like to reason through things and see how logic and rationality plays into arguments.  And, in a sense, hearing about what my professor has been pondering and grappling with is only clear evidence that, as God seeks us to know Him more, we too can be convicted and driven to want to know the truth.

Overall, it was a very refreshing conversation.  I've never talked about Jesus or religion or theology with any of my professors (outside of the RLST context).  It's crazy to see how all this tied into the message I heard at TCBC yesterday morning about Abraham's faith, grace, and obedience in the Lord.

As for us, it's easy to believe when we 'feel' like we're good with God.  But also, be open to learning more about who God is and how theology plays into what we believe and the things we do.  I know I'm even more motivated to begin reading Mere Christianity once more.

This was a great start to my morning.  But altogether, I was reminded that we are one body and one Church who believe in one Savior.  Continue to live for the Audience of ONE, and always be open to sharing the Gospel and your faith with those around you--even if it's just with your professor.

Peace & Blessings.