In the spirit of "Back to School," our pastors are going to be sharing some practical wisdom and habits that they've picked up in seminary! As always, email lauren@deerlakeumc.org if you're interested in writing for the blog.

1) When and where did you attend seminary?

I went to Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando Florida. It took me 8 years to graduate – you heard that right – 8 years. I was there from 2009-2017. 

2.) What kind of student were/are you?  Any funny memories or stories?

I love learning, but I don’t enjoy doing homework or papers, so for those 8 years I lived in that tension.  I loved reading and learning and wrestling with new concepts, but I was the guy that came into most classes generally oblivious to the fact that we had a major test that day or a big paper due.

3)What is the most transformational practice/truth/wisdom that you’ve picked up in seminary? How did that impact your life/walk with Jesus? 

Where do I begin?  I’m so grateful for my time in seminary – the professors I had the opportunity to learn from were second to none.  A couple of the things I walked away with that are still forming me today are:

• Making sure that my private life and public life are not in opposition to one another.  Too often we’re one person in public and a completely other person in private.  This public/private division creates personas not persons, and we were constantly encouraged to nurture a private life that was consistent to who we were in public. 
• Keeping the main thing, the main thing.  One of our professors said something to this effect: “You’re a child of God before you’re a seminary student.  You’re a husband or wife, child or sibling, friend or coworker before you’re a seminary student.  Seminary is important and we don’t want to cut corners, but as important as it is, seminary is not a "first" thing.  Make sure the first things in your life get the best parts of you.
• In regard to reading the Scriptures and preparing to preach, one of the best practices I was taught was to look for the angst in the text.  Look for the tension, the push and pull, and elements we want to gloss over because they're difficult or uncomfortable.  Sit there in the tension because it’s there in the tension that some of the best discoveries are made.

4) Any practical tips for studying the Bible or resources to share?

• The Bible Project podcast is a go to resource that never fails to encourage and challenge me. If you’ve got questions about the Bible, unsure of how it fits together or find some parts hard to make sense of, this is a great place to grow in your understanding. 
• The Being Known Podcast is a great resource for anyone wanting to explore the way their story and the Story of scripture intersect in real time.  They lean into areas of mental health, neuroscience, and other conversations around psychology and other sciences in order to help us see that the faith/science gulf need not be insurmountable. 
• I’m loving the Canadian Church Leaders Podcast – if you’re into pastoring, ministry, or church life, this is an incredible resource. 
• I’m currently reading Skeletons in God’s Closet. This is a fascinating read if you’ve ever wrestled with issues of hell, judgment, and war in the Bible. 
• I’m also reading Lead Like It Matters by Craig Groeschel.  This is a great book for anyone in any sort of leadership role or position. 
• Finally, as far as Bible reading tips go, I’d simply encourage you to cultivate a daily rhythm of reading, prayer, and other disciplines that you consistently return to again and again. For me, what’s more important than the ‘how’ is the attempt itself – the consistent, rhythmic return to the scriptures.  Sometimes I read just one verse and spend a great deal of time prayerfully reflecting on it.  Sometimes I read large chunks at a time – even multiple chapters.  Sometimes I bounce around through different themes, and other times I focus on one book of the Bible and go verse by verse in manageable chunks.  Again, what I’ve found most important in my own process of formation is that consistent, rhythmic approach.  Rather than ‘studying’, the Bible often calls us to ‘meditate’ on God’s word.  The image behind the idea of meditating on God’s word is one of lions prowling over their prey.  The visual evokes images of hunger and habit, intensity and intentionality.  This language of hunger and habit, intensity and intentionality, fits nicely within the discipleship framework we’re currently exploring here at Deer Lake: a life of apprenticeship under the lordship of Jesus in order to know God and make God known.  Hope this helps!