"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
After the TMS Picnic there are always a pile of books that nobody took that need to be taken away. This year we volunteered and took a trip to a second hand bookstore to see how much they would give for them.
On our way, this big cloud loomed over the mountain, apparently caused by the fires burning down a power station...
So they go through the books, pick out what they will use and then give store credit for those and dispose of the rest. What is so great about this is that we got to use the credit for ourselves and I got a whole bunch of counseling books that I needed for my MABC classes! A huge blessing since we had no budget for books this semester!
A beautiful old church was just around the corner and was worthy of a couple of shots on the new camera!
I have been given the amazing opportunity to informally audit the MABC classes at the Master's College, and my first day has been so wonderful! Before classes started I met with Chris Kropf who gave me all the notes for the classes I will be taking. Then I got to go to my first class which was Methods of Biblical Counseling. We have a new lecturer teaching us, and he basically went through the plan for the semester. I am so looking forward to being exposed to the "how to" of Counseling, which will be so useful to any future ministry alongside my husband.
In the afternoon I went to a short class called Child Development, also with a new lecturer, which will be a great platform to build on as a future mother, Lord willing.
Next was an evening MABC class with Dr. Baker, an extremely wise and experienced lecturer on the Theology of Biblical Counseling. This class is sure to broaden and deepen my understanding of theology which is essential to be able to counsel Biblically.
My final class was Hermeneutics, the study of interpretation of Scripture, which is for sure the most exciting for me! I am so looking forward to learning how to properly study my Bible, using the correct rules of interpretation so that I can more accurately know what the Word of God actually says. All believers should have the opportunity to do this study so that they will not be confused of wrong in understanding God's Word.
Wow! So much to take in and Tuesdays are going to be very trying for me! But it feels good for my mind to be fully engaged again, and in that which is most important!
The storeroom is full and ready to be packed into the cars!
The Blazer took most of the books for the book giveaway, and Andrew was put in charge of it
My Handsome husband giving instructions
Or was he being given instructions?
The morning of the picnic at Oxnard! Andrew supervises the book-table while I wander around and take pictures with the new camera that was lent to us since ours broke!
The food setup
The Volleyball Tournament! We had a great team and fought our way to the finals!
But even with such skill... We came second, and got to choose a few of the really nice free books that were put aside for the prizes
My shift at the welcome table.
Each family got a bucket, spade and some bubbles! What every kid needs at the beach!
Tom Drion, Student Body Bigcheese was running the show...
Pit Spitting Competition with Ryk competing against the likes of Ray Meringer and Dr. Grisanti
Lynette and I baking in the sun!
One belongs to the Botes' Family and the other to the Alberts'!
Joshua and Christa Alberts
The newly sem wife, Ashley wauhop and I hang out on the sand while our hubbies cool off in the water before heading on home
Shadow Picture!
One stop on the way home!
The LA Fires raging as we head on to Santa Clarita
Today is the first day of Seminary classes for Andrew! This semester is going to be a busy one for him. The classes he is taking are:
1: Ordination Prep with Prof. Bob White:
One of the hardest classes apparently. The boys need to memorize the theme and outline for every book in the Bible with its chapter breaks, all the key chapters, people AND verses for every book, and be ready for weekly quizzes of large sections, a mid-term and a final exam. Here's an example:
GENESIS
THEME: Beginnings/Covenants/Generations
OUTLINE:
I. Primeval History (Ch 1 - 11)
II. Patriarchal History (Ch 12 - 50)
KEY CHAPTERS:
1 Creation (broad perspective)
2 Creation (focus on man)
3 Temptation, Fall, Curses
4 Cain & Abel, Cain's line -- civilization
6-8 Flood: deliverance in the Ark
9 Noahic covenant, curse of Canaan
11 Babel: dispersion of nations
12 Abrahamic covenant established
18-19 Sodom & Gomorrah
22 Isaac is offered up
32 Jacob wrestles w/God
37 Joseph is sold by his brothers
49 Jacob blesses his sons
KEY PASSAGES:
1:24-27 6th day of creation
1:31 Creation is declared "very good."
2:24 A man shall leave, cleave, and weave
3:15 The promised seed (see below)
6:1-4 The "sons of God"
12:1-3 Abrahamic covenant
35:9-12 Jacob becomes "Israel."
50:20 "God meant it for good."
KEY PEOPLE:
Adam & Eve - the first humans
Cain - Adam's first son; the murderer of his brother
Abel; a wanderer.
Abel - murdered second son of Adam
Enoch - Father of Methuselah; walked w/God; never died but was taken.
Noah - walked w/God, built ark, father of Shem, Ham & Japheth; cursed Canaan.
Shem - Noah's eldest, ancestor of Abraham
Nimrod - hunter, great King, founder of cities, son of Cush.
Terah - Abram's father, left Ur for Haran
Abraham - father of nation Israel
Lot - Abram's nephew, dweller in Sodom
Sarah - Abraham's wife, Isaac's mother
Melchizedek - priest, king of Salem
Isaac - son of Abraham & Sarah, father of Jacob
Esau - Isaac's first born, sold birthright
Rebekah - Isaac's wife, favored Jacob
Jacob - (Israel) Father of 12 tribes
Leah - Jacob's less loved first wife
Rachel - Jacob's beloved wife, mother of Joseph, dies bearing Benjamin
Joseph - Son of Jacob, sold as slave, exalted in Egypt
And that's one book of 66! At least this is one of the longer ones. The New Testament is easier...
2: Pastoral Ministries with Dr. Montoya:
A comprehensive look at philosophies of ministry.
3: Preaching Lab:
This class requires them to preach once every two weeks for half an hour in a specified genre, and then bear under the criticism by lecturers and students alike. Sounds really scary! Andrew has not had many opportunities to preach so is excited to see how he does!
4: Church Leadership with Rob Iverson, the Chairman of the Elder Board at Grace
5: Marriage and Family Counseling with Dr. John Street
I am really excited about this class because I will be going to sit in with him for this class. It will be good for our marriage and for future ministry!
My friend Jenny should be doing the class too since Master's College is not offering it this semester. It'll be fun to get to know her better too! We will probably drive down together since our husbands carpool together in the mornings.
This leads me to another exciting thing! I have been allowed to audit Master's of Biblical Counseling classes at the college! They start next week! I am just so blessed to be able to have this opportunity! I will not be an official student or receive any credit, but will be attending and handing in assignments with the rest of the students! There is a wealth of knowledge to be harvested and I am looking forward to learning to better counsel myself and others biblically. With my husband going into ministry I am sure these classes will make me better equipped to be his helper!
I am taking:
Methods of Biblical Counseling
Hermeneutics
Child Development
Theology of Biblical Counseling
Please pray for us! The next few weeks should be really busy and I won't have much time to post, but will try my best!
We have been so blessed to have been lent a camera like this one for the next year or so! This is a vast improvement on the last one we had, and are excited to be able to document our stay here in the US again! You can now look forward to high quality pictures of what we are up to here in LA!!! Thanks to the Melicharek's, another seminary family, for lending it to us!
On our way, this big cloud loomed over the mountain, apparently caused by the fires burning down a power station...
So they go through the books, pick out what they will use and then give store credit for those and dispose of the rest. What is so great about this is that we got to use the credit for ourselves and I got a whole bunch of counseling books that I needed for my MABC classes! A huge blessing since we had no budget for books this semester!
A beautiful old church was just around the corner and was worthy of a couple of shots on the new camera!
Now to go and celebrate our 5 month anniversary!
