Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty, I'm Free at last...

As most of you know, I have been house-sitting for a couple from my church for the last 2 months. I love these people, and thank them for the opportunity to use their beautiful home. However, I am tired of being there. This is going to sound weird, but I am looking forward to going back to my 15 x 20ft dorm room! I miss hanging out with the guys. I miss being only two minutes away from my girlfriend. I also miss being able to run back to the house if I forget something, and that not meaning a 30 minute ordeal. I just miss being home.

(I will miss the free washer and dryer that I had to myself though!)

Guys day out...

Well, the guys and I had a guys day out today. We went to the Dallas Mavericks game. We had a great time hanging out, and watching an exciting game. The Mavs won in overtime 115 to 113 over the Toronto Raptors. I think the best time we had however, was just eating lunch together.
Here is Eric Dampier shooting freethrows before the game.













Here's Nathan and Thomas laughing it up.

Geo and Nathan enjoying the game.














Poor Thomas had so much fun he was tuckered out, and had to take a nap on the way home.

What a wonderful friend...

Yesterday, a great man did a great thing for me. Yesterday, Nathan Lawrence brought me a four pack of the sweetest treat in the whole wide world. Yesterday, Nathan Lawrence brought me some of these (see above) tasty delicacies. Nathan, I would kiss you full and open lipped on the mouth if you were a woman, but since you are a man, I will give you a hearty handshake! You made my day!

I am blessed...

A couple of days ago I published a post on how everything school related was going wrong with me. Last night, I sat down to try to mull over in my brain why that is so. I figured it out. You see I have been here at SWBTS for almost 5 years. That is a year longer than I had hoped. During that time I have seen a President leave, and a new one that is not my favorite enter. I have seen many of the professors who shaped my life and beliefs leave. I have had friends come to and graduate from Seminary. Also, I have gone through one of the most traumatic events of my life while being here. All of these things have sort of made me hard towards this place.

Last night, however; I was blessed of God to remember that it is more important to focus on God and not our circumstances. You see, for a while now I have been focused on getting to work on time, getting to church to do what I must, completing assignments, politics, small rooms, flooded floors, being poor, church folk not understanding or listening to my admonitions and advice, etc, etc, etc. I have completely forgotten to look at what God has blessed me with.

Last night I was reading a SBC publication, and is as I often do; getting steaming mad about poor hermeneutics, logic, and scholarship, when Bonnie said to me: "Chris, you have to remember these people are not where you are at." It did not hit me right away, but as I lay my head down to sleep, it kept coming back to me: "They are not where you are at!" This reminded me that I am so blessed. I have been given a wonderful gift. Yes, I have been given the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, but I have also been given the great blessing of going to a school where I get to listen to and read books about my Savior. I get to sit in classes and think deeply (or at least as deep as I can go) about the mysteries of God, and about his instructions for me and my life. What a blessing! How many people in my church would give an arm and a leg for that opportunity? Most of them must go to a nine to five job, and then come home to grope through the scriptures to pick up a little morsel to live on, when I get to spend hours chewing on the delectible ambrosia of God's word. What a blessing! I would be willing to bet that there are not many 5 year olds in the faith that have been able to sit under the teaching, mentorship, correction, and elation that I have seen, heard, and experienced. I would be willing to wager that few 20 year olds in the faith have had the blessing of walking with the Lord as I have. I am so blessed!

Ps. 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Some things about me...

I haven't posted in a while, and everybody is doing it so why not me. Here are some (what I hope to be interesting) facts about me.
1.When I was in High School I was on the Academic Team. (No, for real, I was on the Academic Team) I was good too. There was one match where I scored more points than the whole other team.

2. The best vacation I have ever taken was to England, Scotland, and Wales in 2002. I got class credit for going as well. Wonderful Adventure.

3. Though I have no tatoos, I secretly want to have them all over my body. I have 3 already planned.

4. I love Cadbury Cream Eggs, and you can only get them for about 2 months out of the year. Don't worry I stock up. P.S. Don't get in my way. I will hurt you if you try to get my Cadbury Cream Eggs.

5. My middle name is Allen. Nothing special there.

6. I used to be a really good badminton player. In college I beat the Maylasian badminton champion of 1974. He was in his 50's, but no one in 20 years had ever beaten him.

7. I feel most comfortable in a pair of jeans. Most people come home and put on a pair of shorts or sweats, I put on jeans.

8. In the second grade I used to stab Daryl Hammond in the leg with my pencil as he walked by my desk. One day he stabbed me back. The lead is still in my leg. Sorry Daryl.

9. I am anything but a neat-freak!

10. I had my first kiss in a pool when I was 16. I remember thinking I'm going to do that again!

11. Almost all of the adults in my family are/were educators.

12. I was/am an educator.

13. My favorite foods (because who really has one favorite?) are: Uno's Pizza, Steak, baked potato, Fried Chicken, Schlotzky's Deli's Texas Scholotzky.

14. I did not come to know Christ until I was 27 years old. A great group of men at the school I taught at taught me about Jesus. I also had a great Sunday School Teacher, and a great Pastor, that continually shared the gospel with me. I am so thankful that God saw fit to send his son to die for me, and that God sent those men to teach me.

15. I have the bad habit of not keeping in touch with friends once we have parted. Garrett Griffin, and any of the Rest Haven Posse, The Poole Brothers, the Thorpe brothers, or Devin Burgamy; if you should read this contact me please. Also, all of you Seminary friends, don't let me lose contact with you.

16. I once had my leg caught in the towline of a boat, and was drug behind the boat for several hundred yards. I don't recommend it.

17. They used to call my Grandfather, "Do It" because all they had to do to get my G-father to do something crazy was say "Do it." I think I inherited that.

18. I once jumped out of a moving truck off a bridge into a lake 40 feet below.

19. I secretly want people to tell me what they really think of me. I would love it if someone came up to me and told me that they thought I was a jerk, if they really meant it. It's honest, and from the heart. I love that.

20. I would like to go to Uganda someday. I want to see what Africa is like. I would also like to help with the orphan population there.

21. I have one sister named Sherry. She is much smarter than I am, and prettier too.

22. I was once indirectly struck by lightening. I don't recommend that one either.

23. The hardest thing I have ever had to go through was losing my friend David. I am still not over it to this day.

24. My earliest memory is of my Dad and I raft surfing on the waves at Jekyl Island in Georgia. I love my Dad.

25. My Mom has written me a letter once a week, every week; since I moved to Texas 4+ years ago. What a Mom!

Sorry, I just don't have that many interesting things about me. Wow, how did you guys make it to 100?

What in the heck has happened to me...

Guys, have you ever had one of those semesters where you just couldn't get it together? I can't seem to get anything right this semester. I can't remember when I am supposed to turn anything in, or when my tests are. What the heck is going on with me?

More Seminary fun...

You guys know the story, I am reminiscing about all the things that have happened while in Seminary. Last time we looked at favorite professors, and classes. Now I want to look at some of the great memories God has blessed me with here at seminary.

One of the biggest blessings I have received from God while here on the Hill is the great group of friends I have made. God put me together with a group of guys early on in my seminary life, with whom I have become fast friends. God used these guys to speak truth into my life, sharpen me, and teach me. Not only that, but

God used these guys to keep me sane, and provided me a lot of joy through the friendships I have with them.

Guys, I loved our times sitting on the floor of the cell block talking about whatever it was we talked about until 3 in the morning. I loved the pranks, the jokes, the fights, et al.

Without further adieu: here are the top 3 seminary moments with the guys:

3. Alias Nights w/Thomas and Nathan: We consumed some great popcorn, and stayed up way too late watching seasons 1, 2, & 3 of one of the greatest shows on earth.

2. Interviews & pranks with Geo: What am I going to miss when I am gone Chris? You are going to miss this __________________!!! Where is that angel anyway? And then there was the time Geo called my room phone and got me to tell myself I was dead sexy!

1. Little Arm Man with Big D: Big D used to come out of his room with his arms tucked into his shirt, carrying a football. He would motion for us to go deep for a pass with those little arms, and it would send us all into roars of laughter. He would then drop the ball, and bend over to pick it up only to notice his poor short arms would not allow him to do so. He would then ask one of us to pick the ball up for him. What a hoot! Also, sometimes little arm referee would show up. I defy you to keep from laughing when he calls clipping!

Seminary Favorites...

Hey all,

I am getting a little closer to graduation (finish coursework in June, walk in December), so I have been reminiscing over the last couple of days. I think that I am going to put together a series of posts on some of my seminary favorites.

Today's Topic: Favorite Seminary classes=

3. Pastoral Ministry, with Larry Ashlock. I learned that a professor with a heart for his students, and a heart for his parishioners can teach you the sacrifice it takes to be a good minister. I learned h0w much prayer it takes to be a pastor, and how much utter brokennes before God is needed to lead a flock.

2. The Bible and Moral Issues, with Craig Mitchell. I had sort of an epiphany in this class. From Mitchell's lectures on the history of philosophical though I learned why people think as they do, and how to recognize bias in the works they produce. This has been extremely valuable in the reading that I have been doing. Also, Dr. Mitchell made me think about how I was going to perform my ministry. I had to decide: Was I going to be influence by the world, and get along; or Was I going to stick by God's word no matter what it cost me? I also learned the importance of researching the Biblical basis for how to react in regards to certain topics, and how to defend my beliefs with love, but to also stick fast to my beliefs. I also learned how to correct your heretical brothers without burning them at the stake.

1. Theological Hermenuetics, with Scott Swain. This class single handedly changed the way I read the Bible. Before this class, I fell into the Historical Critical camp of Hermenuetics. Now, I read the Bible with that it will explain itself, and that its themes will teach me what I need to know.

(As I wrote this post I realized that I loved so many of my seminary classes, that I feel like I am leaving out some of the great ones. I also loved all 4 classes I had with Dr. Crutchley, my preaching classes with Dr. Pearson, and the Systematic Theology classes I had with Drs. Yarnell & Swain. God has been good to me here.)

So, what about all of you; my seminary friends? Who were your favorites? Post it on your blog, or give me a shout on mine. Let me hear from you.