For the most part my blog has been silent for a while. While there have often been things worth writing, all my energy has been focused on writing what we came to call “The Paper”. Finding out that my project was approved by the outside reader (as required by the program) was an early Christmas present. So, I am officially on track to graduate in the spring. And although I have a few minor tasks left for school, including a presentation at graduation, I am about to not be a student–for the first time in a long time!

A few pieces of “The Paper” will show up on the blog. Since I had to cut off so much of it to fit the maximum number of pages, you may get the unedited version from time to time.

For now, I’d like to leave everyone with a few thoughts from the Acknowledgments section of the project:

I cannot begin to thank all the people in my community or a part of the church I currently serve or the churches, communities, and ministries I have served in the past. It has been a privilege to serve you as I serve Christ and try to live out the gospel, following Paul’s model of sharing the gospel and my life (1 Thess. 2:8). Thanks for putting up with the drafts of this project. You may not have read them, but you heard them in my preaching, leadership coaching, Bible studies, small group meetings, and countless conversations over coffee.

Most of all, I thank God, who not only created me, giving me the intellect and will to pursue education, but transformed my life. An encounter with the life-giving grace offered through Jesus changed my heart, mind, and career plans. It has been an unmerited privilege to follow and serve Him in ministry while being molded, shaped, and led by the Holy Spirit.