Credo ↔ Oratio

Please?!

I have a thesis deadline coming up in a few days and am still awaiting news from my adviser and second reader – making the deadline doesn’t mean I’m done, but it will mean that I’m dramatically closer to being done. The fortunate thing is that, although the whole process has been dramatically slowed done since my adviser is no longer working at the seminary where I’m studying, he’s brilliant and knows the process really well. I also, apparently, was assigned an awesome second reader. I don’t know him but the rumor is good.

On a completely different note. Those of you who know me know that I have never been accused of being athletic. Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Ragbrai the past couple of years, it’s mostly because Ragbrai is only tangentially about being athletic. It’s really more about the people and fun. Despite that, I’ve allowed myself to be talked into running a 5k. Crazy! For the record, Matt Reimink is the guilty party. It’s all his fault. In any case, I’ve now embarked on a 9-week plan called “Couch Potato to 5k” that’s supposed to be able to get anyone – even the likes of me – to the point of being able to make it through the experience. Apparently I’m just a sucker for trying something new. I’ll keep you posted.

On a more theological note, we’re working our way back through the Heidelberg Catechism in our Adult Sunday School class. I am increasingly convinced that one of the fundamental problems in the Church today is a mis-balance of emphasis on Word without Sacrament (in the Protestant Church… just the opposite in most Catholic churches). Add to that the fact that we have so separated the table from the experience of eating and drinking with one another that it’s hard to even pretend that the sacramental table is a “meal.” More will eventually show up on this blog to this effect. I’m just to emotionally and intellectually strung out to type it up for now (see first paragraph of this post…).

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers…

Grace and Peace,
`tim

I haven’t blogged in nearly-forever. Sorry. (Yeah, I’m sure you’re live has been at a near stand-still waiting for me to post something….)

Anyhow, thought I’d check in… (Of course, not in any particular order…)

Church (Dunningville):
Things are going well at church. Dunningville has been patient with me over the past months as I’ve been working on my thesis; hopefully they will have enough patience to make it through the next month or so, even though some things haven’t gotten the attention I would have liked to give them.

Joyfully, we celebrated the sacrament of baptism on Sunday. Equally as joyfully, I have Sunday off and don’t have to lead/preach/etc.

Our Adult Sunday school class is working our way through the Heidelberg Catechism (for the second time) and currently in the middle of my favorite part (the part on the sacraments). The evening service has finished a study of Galatians (which was perhaps the most transformative series I’ve ever preached – for me, at least, I can’t speak for anyone else!) and we’ve just started a study of the first 9 chapters of Judges — wow… that’s going to be fun.

Church (RCA’s Worship Commission):
The Worship Commission met last week – what a great group of people! We polished up a liturgy we’re hoping to submit to synod this summer for approval as our first official “occasional use” sacramental liturgy.

Church (RCA/CRC Hymnal):
We had our most recent editorial committee meeting for the joint hymnal about a week ago – another great group! I have high hopes for this project; theoretically we are putting together a hymnal that will inform the worship of a generation in some congregations.

Thesis:
Currently, I’m in the middle of my yearly week of “education” time working on my D.Min. thesis. As you may know, I’m drastically behind on it but am still hoping to get it done on a time line that will allow me to graduate this spring. Everything has conspired against it including medial tests for our daughter, surgery for my wife, and my adviser quitting and moving back into the parish – all of which are potentially good things but not particularly helpful when it comes to my thesis. As it sits, the rough draft is done; my adviser has constructively criticized it (truly, he was constructive); I’m rewriting and reworking it this week and hoping to have a “final” draft done to be submitted by the middle of March.

Knitting
I’m currently in the middle of another Baby Surprise Jacket (which is looking more boy-ish than expected) and have purchased the yarn for a girl-ish sweater. One of them will go to some college friends of mine who are expected a new baby just around the corner, the other of which doesn’t have an intended home yet.

I’ve also scheduled a class on Brooklyntweed‘s Habitat which I’ll be teaching at Lizzie Ann’s (my local, and absolutely favorite, yarn shop) and a two-part tatting class for later in March — fun!

If you’re wondering about the Kimono I’ve started for JJ, it hasn’t gotten anywhere. I need absolute attention to keep my count on the chart and haven’t been able to give it that recently.

Beer:
No new beer brewed recently. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks – I’d like a fresh batch ready for the beginning of summer.

Coffee:
Have I told you how much I love coffee? Really?! Currently I’m drinking our favorite (Sweet Maria’s Monkey Blend which we use for just about everything – espresso, drip, mokka, etc). I’m also working on getting the hang of using a Chemex, which I bought using a gift certificate my MiL gave me for my birthday. I’d highly recommend it: smooth brew, low acid. It seems like the filters are overly hefty though.

Ragbrai:
I’m signed up… hoping to make it again this year! Druck your Daumen for me!

Latest gripe?
I recently received an Adeo from Motion Lingo. I’m certain I’ll love it but the blasted thing doesn’t work on Vista. Oh Vista, how I detest thee. Oh, and we’ve done a number of tests trying to figure out what’s going on with Sophia – nothing yet, and I’m exceedingly disappointed in DeVos Children’s Hospital. Don’t get me started! (But, thank you for those who’ve asked about her, we deeply appreciate it!)

Well, that’s pretty much it right now. Hope you’re well; we are.

Grace and peace,
`tim

I haven’t posted in a long time and would love to craft something witty and creative but I don’t have the time or the energy.  Here’s what I’ve been up to, even if it’s just by bullet points:

• I’m dramatically excited about the outcome of the election and looking forward to the first president that I voted FOR, rather than a nominee whose opponent I voted against.
• Despite the above statement, I am increasingly less impressed with the concept of democracy.  It boils down to the fact that I have realized more and more that “majority rules” is often neither right, righteous, nor gracious nor does it protect those whom Christians have the biblical mandate to protect and care for.
• I love ministry.  And I’ve realized that I am a minister who has no interest in “ecclesial hospice care.”  I like working for a congregation that has potential and future (like Dunningville) and don’t want to work for a congregation that’s simply trying to do “pain management” until it finally closes its doors.
• Ministry is exhausting.
• I’m a “passive extrovert.”  This is my own newly-created category.  Extroverts are those who, fundamentally, get energy from and are rejuvenated by being around other people.  I’ve learned that, while that is true for me, I get my energy “passively.”  The difference?  Classic extroverts get their energy by interacting with people at parties, in groups, etc.  “Passive extroverts” get their (our) energy from being around people in crowds (like at coffee shops, etc.) but that doesn’t necessarily mean actually interacting with them.
• I finished a pumpkin hat for Sophia and it turned out wonderfully.  You can see it over at my blog on MenWhoKnit.com.  I’m currently working on my third “Habitat” hat designed by Brooklyntweed — what a great pattern.
• We purchased a Vinturi: Essential Wine Aerator.  They’re a little pricey, but WOW, it’s perfect aeration can turn a mediocre red wine into a very pleasant one – I’d definitely recommend it and wish I’d picked it up last year on vacation (instead of waiting until this year!)
• I’ve finally finished a little document about “church membership personalities” — keep your eyes open, I’ll be unveiling it to you soon
• My thesis is not finished.  It is hanging over my head like a private little storm of misery.  If you believe in prayer, please pray that I will get it finished… and soon.  I can’t imagine having it hanging there for much longer without going truly insane.
• I graduated from college in 1997.  When I was in college most anti-racism and cultural competency trainings used resources that were a decade old.  It’s not 2008 and, disturbingly, my experience is that they’re still using many of the same resources that were old a decade ago.
• The current collection of people on the RCA’s Commission on Christian Worship (which I’m the moderator for) is an incredible group.  I’m wonderfully excited about it’s future.
• Ragbrai registration opens up later this week.  I don’t know if I’m able to go or not, but I’m applying.  I need the hope and joy of anticipating the possibility for the next six months!
• I can’t believe it’s almost time to start practice for the Christmas program at church.  I like Christmas programs and enjoy them but wish we didn’t lose a month and a half of Sunday School practicing for 45 minutes.
• Tomorrow I’m teaching the first half of a 2-part tatting class at Lizzie Anne’s Wool Company… fun!  I’m excited about it!
• I’d go absolutely crazy without the connections I have on MenWhoKnit.com, Ravelry.com, and Facebook — that’s everyone!  (My bloglist is a little outdated — I’ll pass on some of my favorites in a later post!)

Well, that’s all I have time for – smells like I need to go change someone’s diaper….  Hope each of you are well!

Grace and Peace,

`tim

I’ve been asked a couple of times what the difference between a D.Min. and a PhD are and so, although I’m no expert, I thought I’d give it a shot.  I am working on my D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry) which, unlike a PhD, is a ministry-based degree.  What I mean by that is that a D.Min. is intended to be directly related the specific ministry the individual is engaged in.  In other words, if I were to leave Dunningville today, I would have to come up with a different thesis project than the one I’ve been developing since it was in direct relation to the peculiarities of my current setting.

A D.Min. is a “real” doctorate, but it’s realm is primarily ministry, not academia, whereas a PhD’s main area of focus is the world of academics.  That means that whereas a PhD’s research may be fully based in the area of theory, a D.Min. is based primarily in practice, so the thesis I’m working on is directly related to a specific practical project that we will be doing at Dunningville.  In this case, a project related to the development of integration and discipline.

Integration, in this case, refers to the concept of having one’s faith fully integrated in one’s life.  Or, to put it differently, to ensuring that there is integrity between the different areas of our lives.   It’s based on the most basic belief that I cannot accept the idea that it’s appropriate for someone to be a completely different person when they’re at church than when they’re at school or work or home.  Jesus saved some of his harshest criticisms for hypocrites – those who said they believed one thing but acted contrary to their confessed beliefs.

The project is intended to foster that integration and to promote the self-discipline needed to “live out” what we say we believe.  Christianity cannot simply be a faith of words… it must also be a faith of “being” and “doing.”

I hope that makes sense.

On another note, let me level a public condemnation against QueerJoe for providing a link to the Sue Knitting Game on his blog.  The instructions are entirely unhelpful (as they are in Japanese); it’s music is mind-numbingly annoying; the game is a ridiculous waste of time; and it’s far too infantile for the energy I’ve spent on it….

[For those of you without a sense of humor, note tongue fully lodged in cheek.]
Grace and Peace,

`tim

I promised to update you when there was something to update.  You may recall that my thesis proposal (for my Doctor of Ministry) was denied in December.  No surprise – that’s pretty common.  Anyhow, judging by the comments, it seemed that several of the concerns were based on issues that were tangential to the project, rather than fundamental to it, so I revised the proposal and explained that to my adviser.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t convinced it was going to be enough, but I simply didn’t have time for more over the past month.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I just got an e-mail from my adviser and the committee approved my proposal this afternoon! There are a few things they want tweaked, but this means I can get started on the project!  Seems this is turning out to be a memorable birthday!

To add to the excitement, my wife bought me an indoor cycle trainer (upon which to mount my bicycle) and Sophia played outside in the snow for the first time (quickly learning that snow is “yummy” — without any prodding from her father… REALLY!)

Grace and Peace,

`tim

Well, I officially reached the half-way point on the labyrinth I’ve been knitting.  It’s not the best picture, but you can see how it’s turning out.  I’m pretty happy with it:

Oh, and what do you think of my Habaneros?!  (It finally put on some peppers!)

As for my thesis proposal, I’m afraid no news… ugh.  Trying not to get too excited or too discouraged.
Grace and Peace,

`tim