Whoooh

Hey Gang! It's officially over!! (thankyouJesus) It was a good semester; though all the grades aren't in yet, I believe I pulled off a 3.0 overall. The last few days have given rise to reflection and refreshment. It has been a very streaching semester and time, but in a good way for the most part. There have been a few sleepless nights, but more over the transition into being a Coloraden and single here than over classes. I feel good about the work I did this semester and content in my progress with friends. I'm also profoudly grateful for my friends back in RI. Though I may not have gotten to talk to many of you as much as I would have liked, I have been happy and grateful for your friendship and support. I am between worlds and feel content in God's grip of grace.

I thought I'd share some nuggets I gleaned this semester, mostly though my Gospel and Acts, New Testament class with Dr. Craig Blomberg - you may know these, but they were (mostly) new to me!
- Paul wrote his Epistles before the Gospels were written
- The cursing of the Fig tree (When Jesus was entering Jerusalem) was an illustration by Jesus demonstrating the impending judgment and destruction of Israel
- Mark was written around 20 years after Jesus' death/ress.; which makes it one of the most reliable document history (most biographies about a famous person weren't recorded until hundreds of years after the fact)
- Luke and Acts were originally meant to be one continuous book/ presented together (and together they form a chiasm!)
- Paul was tri-lingual (Greek, aramaic, Hebrew) and wasn't afraid to contextualize the Gospel when necessary
- The feeding of the 5,000 was primarily to a Jewish audience; the feeding of the 4,000 was primarily to a Gentile audience (signifying Jesus' upcoming call to the nations)
- The healing of the deaf mute in MK 7:31-7 was meant to e a sign of the age to come where people would be healed by God and be able to hear and speak clearly

Well - hopefully that was fun! Over the break, I'll be doing odd jobs, resting and studying Greek to prepare for next semester. I'll be taking an interim class from Jan 9-20 and start the Spring the semester on the 23rd. I will be taking a more reasonable 14 credit course load. I'll be taking systematic Theology I (Jan 9th class), Sys. Theo. II, Greek 2, Epistles and Revelation, Mentored ministries (2 classes of this), and The Many Faces of Chaplaincy.

Praise God:
- For a successful semester academically
- New friends and community
- Old friends

Pray for:
- A restful break
- Good short jobs/projects
- Finances
- stregnth for the next semester