Before I get to the actual blog itself; I figure I should probably let you know about me and my background so that as you follow along on our journey together, you know where I'm coming from (well, mostly theologically rather than personally. Just ask if you want to get to know me more! :P).
It makes sense that the most logical place to start theologically is that I was claimed and adopted as one of our Triune God's children in the waters of Holy Baptism on Labor Day weekend, 1980, approximately one month after I was born. As I grew up, I was raised in the tradition and teachings of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at home and at school (at least through grade 8), and have never identified myself as anything otherwise.
During my life, it has been neat to see the Holy Spirit use different opportunities for me to grow in my faith. I went to a Dutch Reformed College at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA for my undergraduate degree, and there I definitely learned quite a bit about the sovereignty of God along with the paradigm it brings. After I returned home, I struck up a good friendship with a married couple of Jehovah Witnesses, and with them brought much intellectual back and forth (and the obligatory free copy of the New World Translation of the Bible). Working for the State of Nebraska, I had the pleasure of striking up friendships with agnostics, a Methodist-turned-New Age person, a Muslim, and several Baptists. And then, as I pursued my certification to become a Director of Christian Education, I enrolled in Concordia University in Seward, NE.
While the Holy Spirit used all of those encounters and friendships to grow my knowledge, it wasn't until I reached my internship that a whole new dimension of faith was revealed so plainly and explicitly: how to put it in action. Not more than a year before I was assigned to Trinity Lutheran Church in Mission/Shawnee, KS, they had just called two new pastors... but as worker-priests to work in the urban community in Kansas City, KS. And it was the Holy Spirit speaking through their message and working through their constant modeling of Acts 2:42-47 that really put meat on the bones of my faith. It was by watching the Spirit work through these individuals (and really, the entire staff at Trinity) that I was just beginning to fully realize what the gospel means and conversely what the law is for; to see what living a resurrection life means; what the Kingdom of God is; and so many other seemingly abstract concepts now becoming somewhat concrete. It is a journey I look forward to continuing here at Grace in Lafayette, IN!
And so, I am where and what I am by the grace of God :). I am a fully-committed Christian and am, for vast intents and purposes, a person who enjoys and believes the doctrines of the LCMS. But beware, my writings may (and hopefully will) contain a flavor of a more liberal and applied theology than many dyed-in-the-wool LCMSers are used to.
As such, I love hearing other viewpoints and love conversations about theology! So if you would like to question, comment, query or say "well, have you thought about..." I would love to carry on these conversations. I am by no means as theologically-trained as a pastor; nor do I claim to have a monopoly on the truth for only God has that. But, I do love the discussions! So please, never feel afraid to post or ask about anything! Ready for the journey?...
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