It is interesting to read old blog and journal entries. Sometimes it's frustrating to know that you are still struggling with certain things and freeing to know you have gotten through others. It can also provide some comic relief.

I do apologize to those who have read my blog in the past. I have been writing more in my personal journal then on my blog. I've written less because I often wonder how much of myself do I expose in my blog? How much do I really want the world to know?

The third semester of seminary is now over. It wasn't a bad semester by any means. I liked some of my classes and hated others. That's how school has always been. One big positive from the past semester is that my call to ministry has been solidified. The specifics of that call are still blurry but I indeed want to serve in some capacity in the church. I also have begun to feel more confident in the skills I bring to ministry. I still struggle with self-c0nfidence and I often find myself comparing myself to others. However, I feel as though I'm slowly winning that war. But I fear it will be a war I will have the rest of my life.

Over break I have been reading a book on Biblical authority. This book has selections from many different authors and offers different perspectives on the issue. So far, it has been a blessing to read. It has made me think deeply about my own beliefs. Here are a couple through provoking quotes:

"I see the main locus of sacredness of the biblical text to be connected to the Jewish community and not to God" - Marc Zvi Brettler

I found that statement to challenge my own understanding of Scripture. He made this statement in response to a question of why he did not mention God a lot in his article. It made me think if the Bible is holy because it is God's word or because the community has said that it is God's word. I believe the Bible to be God's word but how that happens exactly is something I cannot comprehend. I wonder how the Holy Spirit actually did work through the writing of Scripture?

"To put it simply, the Bible is not a reference manual." - Michael Joseph Brown

Amen to that. So many people want to the Bible to be a "how to" book. As I grow in my understanding of the Bible, I realize just how complex it can be. There are certain parts which are crystal clear but other parts are extremely murky. Great care must be taken.