Class meets community

I've been waiting to post this for a week or so until I got the pictures. However, as classes start today with a bunch of snow/ice/slush outside with more on the way, it seems to be an appropriate time to share about my January term class.

I took a course titled "Cross Cultural Discipleship" and I am certain that it will go down as my favorite and most formational class at seminary. Dr. Jay Moon, an adjunct professor, taught the course and he is simply excellent. He and his family lived in northern Ghana for 10 years, which gave me plenty to talk about with him as I could relate to and understand many of his stories and the people and places he would speak about.

Even though this class focused on and was titled "cross cultural" discipleship, it really is just a wonderful overall discipleship course. Regardless of where I wind up in ministry, I will use aspects of what I learned in this course continuously. The class was rather small, only twelve of us, with a great mix of cultures represented. The picture below shows most of us, but not all, as we engaged in discussion one day in class.


Our class met for two weeks, 8am-1pm. The second Monday of the class fell on MLK day, so we had the day off and I suggested we all go eat lunch together at one of my favorite places, a West African restaurant in downtown Lexington called Sav's Grill. For some folks, like myself, Dr. Moon, and one of the students and his family who were from Uganda, the food was a great reminder of their local cuisine. For everyone else, it was a new experience thoroughly enjoyed by all.

In this picture, a Korean, a Ugandan, and a Chinese child all eat together at the restaurant. Just three of the cultures represented in our class.


Our final day of class consisted of all of us presenting our final projects and concluded as we all went to one of the student's homes to eat lunch together and celebrate the end of our class. I have never experienced so much community in a class before and in such a short period of time. The pic below is of some of us left at Gray's house after lunch. Some people had already left.


This had definitely been the highlight of my time back in Kentucky since Christmas break. I am now asking God to both continue bringing forth fruit from this class and give me renewed hope and focus so that each of my classes this semester can be just as transformational and impactful. As difficult as it can be at times, graduate work here at Asbury Seminary truly is a huge blessing.

cloudy month?

Since I've returned to Kentucky from Christmas break, there has been only one day of sunshine here around Wilmore and Lexington. That day was last Monday, and the shock of the sunlight was stunning as it reflected off the blanket of white snow that still covered the ground. I'm sure sales for sunglasses surged on Monday.

However, every other day has either been overcast, raining, or snowing. I have always heard of seasonal depression for people who live somewhere like Alaska and don't get sunlight for extended periods of time. Or perhaps in Seattle where it is always raining and overcast.

Ladies and gentlemen, seasonal depression has set in. Now, I'm not trying to be overly-dramatic or ridiculous, yet it is true. After talking to several friends and folks who have themselves suffered from it I am convinced that I'm dealing with it on a small level.

I realize that many of you are struggling with very difficult situations and that many around the world are still recovering from devastating tragedies. And for each of them, and for each of you who I know is struggling with something, I'm praying.

But I need the sun! I really do. I would pay money to step outside and sweat. And for all of you out there who know that I am just a cold-natured person, it's not just that. Living in a house with the thermostat on 65 to help with the electric bill, snow and/or below freezing temperatures outside constantly, and a perpetual lack of sunlight is stealing away a great deal of my joy, my motivation, and my peace.

So Father, may you send me the sun. May you send me relief from this struggle and restore the joy of my salvation. And Holy Spirit, may you continue to bring peace and restore the beauty of your creation in every friend and family member of mine who is struggling. Bring forth your Kingdom in Haiti as your children try to find hope. Bring freedom to the millions around the world caught in human slavery (trafficking). As you send the sun to me, send a greater revelation of your Son to the world.