I graduated! I had stopped writing this blog because of school. I am now done with school and was thinking maybe I would get back into writing this blog again, for the third time. Not sure what I am going to write about, but I am going to write not to get followers but rather to explore the inner thinking of my head. To also help in my writing. I was told that my grammar is so bad that I could not possibly be a good pastor. I find that interesting since the scriptures do not say anything about proper grammar for the making of a good pastor. Wasn't Paul considered to have a speech impediment? Did not Moses have issues with his tongue? How many of those in the Bible actually wrote for themselves?My first post of the new era:
I always find it interesting the "coincidences" or God moments in my life since starting seminary. When I first started to think about going to seminary it was while I was studying in Scotland for the semester. The time I spent in Scotland studying was based upon 2 passages. Those passages were Psalm 1 and John 15:1-17. Returning home from Scotland it took me 4 more years to actually go to seminary and while sitting in orientation the first day the two passages they used for orientation were Psalm 1 and John 15:1-17. Then came time in my seminary career for my field education. This process was a disaster to say the least but was invited to check out a church that was interested in me coming to work for them. I was sitting in the congregation and looked up to the front of the church where they had a banner hanging, John 15. Then I finished up seminary and these two passages have always been with me. Graduation came and the guest speaker preached a message and it was based on John 15. While the passage was being read I just looked up and laughed. How much more of a sign does one person need to realize they are following in the steps God has laid out for them? Now I am confident in knowing what it I am to do, but I still am not sure where that is or how that looks. I wait knowing that I am united with Christ in the Spirit for the Glory of the Father.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
