Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A New Phase...
Well here we are in Cornelius OR - 13 days before takeoff, watching Tea for Two with Doris Day and taking care of last minute details what to pack, what to wear, and what to expect. I have been racking my brains on what we will miss when we are in Germany and probably thinking over things a little too much... Do you have any helpful study abroad stories (no scary or tragic ones) What is your best Abroad advice?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
April Newsletter... and Halle's Update
Matthew's Update (aka April Newsletter)
As I am focusing on my classes (three weeks till summer!) I had the opportunity to go to the call service for this year’s vicars and future pastors. It was an amazing experience. For those of you who do not know exactly how the call service works, students who are to receive their calls in the service have no idea where they are going (either for their first call or for their vicarage) until they get there. When they get there they have a worship service, a sermon, and finally each student is called up by name and told where they are going to be spending the next long time. It is a wonderful thing. It is also strange to think that both Halle and I will be sitting there at this time next year, finding out where we will be going for vicarage. It really goes by so fast.
Halle is doing well with work, still loving working with the kids. She just got accepted at a masters in teaching program from university of southern California. It is an online full time program that she can do online. The benefit is that she can start teaching vicarage year.
One of my favorite classes is a study of Revelation from professor Louie Brighton. Before I took the class, I had no idea who dr. Brighton was. I asked a professor who described him this way: “He is so old and ancient looking, he could tell me that he studied with John the gospel writer and I would believe him. He was old thirty years ago when I was a professor here, and he has just gotten older.” Dr. Brighton sure is an old man, but he has so many stories and so much wisdom. Nobody has read any book of the bible like I have seen Dr. Brighton read Revelation. If I were to summarize the class briefly, I would say this: The book of revelation gives us a picture of God’s absolute control over the world. Things from our perspective may look like they are out of control, but God really is in charge of everything that happens. There are also no accidents in this world. Earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters are all under God’s control. Furthermore, terrorist acts are also under God’s control. God is in control of everything. He does not let us suffer these things because he is an angry God, but he uses them to teach us to more fully rely on him. Like a parent who spanks a child, God uses suffering in this world to show us that there is nothing that can save us except Jesus Christ himself. Praise be to God he does not leave us alone, but constantly works to save and bring us to rely on his power alone.
As I am focusing on my classes (three weeks till summer!) I had the opportunity to go to the call service for this year’s vicars and future pastors. It was an amazing experience. For those of you who do not know exactly how the call service works, students who are to receive their calls in the service have no idea where they are going (either for their first call or for their vicarage) until they get there. When they get there they have a worship service, a sermon, and finally each student is called up by name and told where they are going to be spending the next long time. It is a wonderful thing. It is also strange to think that both Halle and I will be sitting there at this time next year, finding out where we will be going for vicarage. It really goes by so fast.
Halle is doing well with work, still loving working with the kids. She just got accepted at a masters in teaching program from university of southern California. It is an online full time program that she can do online. The benefit is that she can start teaching vicarage year.
One of my favorite classes is a study of Revelation from professor Louie Brighton. Before I took the class, I had no idea who dr. Brighton was. I asked a professor who described him this way: “He is so old and ancient looking, he could tell me that he studied with John the gospel writer and I would believe him. He was old thirty years ago when I was a professor here, and he has just gotten older.” Dr. Brighton sure is an old man, but he has so many stories and so much wisdom. Nobody has read any book of the bible like I have seen Dr. Brighton read Revelation. If I were to summarize the class briefly, I would say this: The book of revelation gives us a picture of God’s absolute control over the world. Things from our perspective may look like they are out of control, but God really is in charge of everything that happens. There are also no accidents in this world. Earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters are all under God’s control. Furthermore, terrorist acts are also under God’s control. God is in control of everything. He does not let us suffer these things because he is an angry God, but he uses them to teach us to more fully rely on him. Like a parent who spanks a child, God uses suffering in this world to show us that there is nothing that can save us except Jesus Christ himself. Praise be to God he does not leave us alone, but constantly works to save and bring us to rely on his power alone.
Halle's Most Amazing and Spectacular Update:
Well as you can tell from Matthew's newsletter we are doing well here in St. Louis. The spring has brought on all new kinds of weather perils - it's TORNADO season! We experienced our first tornado a few weeks ago... Well maybe 'experienced' isn't the right word. The tornado touched down at the west county mall about a twenty minute drive from where we live - we were hiding in our basement alongside the other Seminary couple who live next door - it was actually quite pleasant to sit and talk with them for a while during the storm. One thing we also don't understand is that you can't gauge the temperature simply by looking at the sky. If you are inside looking at clouds it could be 80 degrees and muggy or 50 degrees and chill... it confuses me. So we have bouts of beautiful NW chill rain, horrible muggy afternoons, hail, thunderstorms, cool 70 deg. breezy days and a mix of all five.
Other exciting news - I did get into a Master's of Arts in Teaching program which is through the University of Southern California. It is an online program, but unlike a program as I've ever seen. We have a regular class time and communicate through a Skype-like interface. On the screen there are options to raise your hand, laugh at a joke, send private messages to others in the class, view the professors power-point and ask the presenter to speak up. Personally I thought that maybe it wasn't the best decision to put in private messaging, but I guess that means they are endorsing it... The program will take a year during which I will be attending class online and doing 6 months of student teaching, 3 months in a junior high class and 3 months in a high school. By the end of this program I will be endorsed to teach middle school or high school English. Finally I start classes this coming Monday - so it's coming up quick.
Since Matthew's part was in the April newsletter it goes without saying that he wrote it a few weeks back. This week is finals and here come the all nighters again. Currently it is 6pm and he is taking another nap but he will be done with classes on Thursday so no more papers for a while. He did recently have a professor offer to work with him on a paper idea he had so that he could get it published. This is a large honor for him as a first-year student and he is really very excited about it. During the summer Matthew will be working at the Seminary food bank and on the Seminary Security force. The Security job gave him a very special title - you should text him and ask him about it... Also he got a new phone and he doesn't have anyone's phone number so if he asks you who you are that's why.
That is pretty much all the news from this area of town. I enjoy seeing the rampant armies of squirrels, birds and bunnies scatter about and am enjoying the cool days of sunshine.
Much Love
Halle and Matthew Warmbier
P.S. I just finished reading Pride and Prejudice for the at least 14th time and I find that I enjoy it the more I read it - Mr. Darcy just has no equal - well maybe Matthew... but maybe not... :)
Friday, April 16, 2010
God's Faithfulness
This week God asked me if I trusted Him. I guess I learned not always should've been my answer.
It was late last week that my admission counselor from the MAT program that I am applying to called me. He gave me some unexpected news - the news was although my application was due this Thursday (giving me a week) recommendation letters were due Monday... What? So I rushed emailing my two recommenders to plead with them to email them in as soon as possible and ended up leaving a voicemail for each as well. While praying for God to please get them in He asked me
Do you trust me?
I said - yes sure but please please please they need to be in by Monday!!!
The weekend roles by with the admission counselor calling me each day asking where the letters of recommendation were (he got quite annoying - but was only doing his job) and I got worried and worrieder... (yes intentional spelling) and God kept asking me
Do you trust me?
And my answer kept getting farther from a yes.
Monday I got a ticket from expired car tabs (we did see that one coming) and my phone stopped working. By midnight one letter of recommendation was in but the other was still missing. Tuesday going to get a new phone my car had problems starting and I had a fight with my spouse. I decided I was going to write a former professor and current friend and ask him to write a letter and God kept asking me - Do you trust me - So I wrote the professor and did not ask him to write a letter of recommendation I decided to wait it out.
Wednesday comes and goes and all day I am getting more and more anxious. Finally late Wednesday I am able to speak with the other recommender and she says that she was currently writing it. I relax. God, I ask, did you always know this was going to happen. Yes, he answers. I guess I should have trusted him all along.
It was late last week that my admission counselor from the MAT program that I am applying to called me. He gave me some unexpected news - the news was although my application was due this Thursday (giving me a week) recommendation letters were due Monday... What? So I rushed emailing my two recommenders to plead with them to email them in as soon as possible and ended up leaving a voicemail for each as well. While praying for God to please get them in He asked me
Do you trust me?
I said - yes sure but please please please they need to be in by Monday!!!
The weekend roles by with the admission counselor calling me each day asking where the letters of recommendation were (he got quite annoying - but was only doing his job) and I got worried and worrieder... (yes intentional spelling) and God kept asking me
Do you trust me?
And my answer kept getting farther from a yes.
Monday I got a ticket from expired car tabs (we did see that one coming) and my phone stopped working. By midnight one letter of recommendation was in but the other was still missing. Tuesday going to get a new phone my car had problems starting and I had a fight with my spouse. I decided I was going to write a former professor and current friend and ask him to write a letter and God kept asking me - Do you trust me - So I wrote the professor and did not ask him to write a letter of recommendation I decided to wait it out.
Wednesday comes and goes and all day I am getting more and more anxious. Finally late Wednesday I am able to speak with the other recommender and she says that she was currently writing it. I relax. God, I ask, did you always know this was going to happen. Yes, he answers. I guess I should have trusted him all along.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Songtime
Just a song that has been playing on my heart.
Own Me:
Got a stack of books so I could learn how to live;
Many are left half-read covered by the cobwebs on my shelf.
And I got a list of laws growing longer everyday;
If I keep pluggin' away, maybe one day I'll perfect myself.
Oh, but all of my labor seems to be in vain;
And all of my laws just cause me more pain;
So I fall before you in all of my shame;
Ready and willing to be changed-
Own me
Take all that I am,
And heal me!
With the blood of the lamb.
Mold me with your gracious hand;
Break me till I'm only yours-
Own me!
You call me daughter,
And take my blame;
You run to meet me,
As I cry out your name,
So I fall before you in all of my shame,
Lord, I am ready to be changed
Aritist: Ginny Owens
Own Me:
Got a stack of books so I could learn how to live;
Many are left half-read covered by the cobwebs on my shelf.
And I got a list of laws growing longer everyday;
If I keep pluggin' away, maybe one day I'll perfect myself.
Oh, but all of my labor seems to be in vain;
And all of my laws just cause me more pain;
So I fall before you in all of my shame;
Ready and willing to be changed-
Own me
Take all that I am,
And heal me!
With the blood of the lamb.
Mold me with your gracious hand;
Break me till I'm only yours-
Own me!
You call me daughter,
And take my blame;
You run to meet me,
As I cry out your name,
So I fall before you in all of my shame,
Lord, I am ready to be changed
Aritist: Ginny Owens
Monday, March 29, 2010
Going Green
Sidenote:
Matthew and I are also (thanks Northwest) starting to 'go green' in small ways of course. Currently we walk to work/school around 2-3 times a week, and are growing our own herb garden. Composting is on our list of things to do as well as investigate other easy ways to stop consuming as much. If anyone has any ideas feel free to comment below.
Halle
Matthew and I are also (thanks Northwest) starting to 'go green' in small ways of course. Currently we walk to work/school around 2-3 times a week, and are growing our own herb garden. Composting is on our list of things to do as well as investigate other easy ways to stop consuming as much. If anyone has any ideas feel free to comment below.
Halle
Newsletter
Each month Matthew sends a newsletter to churches that support him so I thought I would post it here - it briefly talks about his classes and St. Louis and it has a little of me in there too!
March 2010 - The Warmbiers in St. Louis - Matthew Warmbier
So begins a new trimester! I am taking two more classes this trimester than I was last time, so I have a much more busy school life. But, it is ok. This is what I am here for and I enjoy it. This semester I am studying homiletics (how to preach), the second of two classes about the Lutheran Confessions, a class on the first three Gospels, a class on the book of Revelation, a class studying pastoral theology in Luther’s writings, and a class where we look at and discuss the readings for the following Sunday. It is a lot of work, but the classes are very good and the professors are all very enjoyable.
Halle is continuing her work with St. Mark’s and is really enjoying it. She is also taking a class offered for free to the seminary wives on C.S. Lewis, one of her all time favorite authors. She has just finished up her application to a master’s program for teaching, so we are waiting anxiously for that. Keep her in our prayers. We all hope that she gets accepted and can spend her working years doing something she really enjoys in service of others.
Focus on a Class
My class on preaching so far has been a wonderful class. I am taking it with Dr. Meyer, who is the college president. I figured that it would be wise to take whatever classes he offers, since he teaches only once a semester (since he is so busy doing president stuff normally). It is good. I have an enormous amount of respect for him since he teaches. Many college presidents do not teach and have a minimal relationship with the students and faculty. Since Dr. Meyer teaches, he keeps the students and the teachers first in his mind when he makes decisions as the President. If any of you remember, he was the Lutheran Hour speaker for a number of years, so he knows how to speak publically.
Anyway, in the class we just finished up a discussion on literacy. It is amazing – my generation and those younger generations are actually choosing to be less literate than their parents’ generation. TV, computers, texting and the like have caused kids to leave reading behind. As a result, their brains are developing differently than previous generations who read books and listened to the radio. They are increasingly incapable of understanding more difficult complex logic and abstract thought. The result is a generation that puts off propositional logic in favor of stories. Their brains are actually wired to think in stories and word pictures rather than with solid ideas. The cure? Read your child/grandchild a book before bed! Until then, we must continue to teach them the stories of the faith.
March 2010 - The Warmbiers in St. Louis - Matthew Warmbier
So begins a new trimester! I am taking two more classes this trimester than I was last time, so I have a much more busy school life. But, it is ok. This is what I am here for and I enjoy it. This semester I am studying homiletics (how to preach), the second of two classes about the Lutheran Confessions, a class on the first three Gospels, a class on the book of Revelation, a class studying pastoral theology in Luther’s writings, and a class where we look at and discuss the readings for the following Sunday. It is a lot of work, but the classes are very good and the professors are all very enjoyable.
Halle is continuing her work with St. Mark’s and is really enjoying it. She is also taking a class offered for free to the seminary wives on C.S. Lewis, one of her all time favorite authors. She has just finished up her application to a master’s program for teaching, so we are waiting anxiously for that. Keep her in our prayers. We all hope that she gets accepted and can spend her working years doing something she really enjoys in service of others.
Focus on a Class
My class on preaching so far has been a wonderful class. I am taking it with Dr. Meyer, who is the college president. I figured that it would be wise to take whatever classes he offers, since he teaches only once a semester (since he is so busy doing president stuff normally). It is good. I have an enormous amount of respect for him since he teaches. Many college presidents do not teach and have a minimal relationship with the students and faculty. Since Dr. Meyer teaches, he keeps the students and the teachers first in his mind when he makes decisions as the President. If any of you remember, he was the Lutheran Hour speaker for a number of years, so he knows how to speak publically.
Anyway, in the class we just finished up a discussion on literacy. It is amazing – my generation and those younger generations are actually choosing to be less literate than their parents’ generation. TV, computers, texting and the like have caused kids to leave reading behind. As a result, their brains are developing differently than previous generations who read books and listened to the radio. They are increasingly incapable of understanding more difficult complex logic and abstract thought. The result is a generation that puts off propositional logic in favor of stories. Their brains are actually wired to think in stories and word pictures rather than with solid ideas. The cure? Read your child/grandchild a book before bed! Until then, we must continue to teach them the stories of the faith.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
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