A Year's Learning

I have learned so much this year, but can I articulate it? Yes (I can try)! To guide my recollection, I will deal with what I’ve learned in regards to the four hemispheres of life, that is, what I’ve learned mentally, physically, emotionally, and – most importantly – spiritually.
Learning seems to carry with it something of intellectual connotations, so I begin with what I’ve learned mentally. Regarding academics, I’ve only taken five graduate level classes this year. In the Spring I took Baptist History, Old Testament Prophets, and Introduction to Christian Missions. For this Fall semester I took Christian Theology 2 – Sin, Salvation, and the Holy Spirit, and Hermeneutics (which, for the curious, means: “The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural texts” [The American Heritage Dictionary].) For these courses I maintained a “C” average, but not for lack of trying. I’m just not the sharpest tool in the shed. Nevertheless, I make up for it in persistence and force. Furthermore, though I only have a “C” average, I personally learned a great deal.
Through Baptist History, I learned that the reason why you’ll find Baptists everywhere (though they often enjoy attaching prefixes to the name, e.g. “Southern”, “Northern”, “Free Will”, “Primitive”, “Evangelical”, “Reformed”, etc.) is because of the one thing that Baptists will not compromise their belief in the infallibility and inerrancy of the Holy Bible. Because Baptists hold the Scriptures up as the absolutely authority, without qualifications, they never fail to remain consistent in their direction and reproachable if found contrary to Scripture. Due to this standard, Baptists have held united, through fractured at minor points, amidst a crumbling world.
From Old Testament Prophets I learned how each of the prophets proclaimed the same message (That the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the only true God and made the Hebrews His chosen people for His name’s sake and for nothing that they were in themselves.) in different ways. Some prophets were loving and patient, others were harsh and furious. All in all, the prophets were raised up to be cut down that the Hebrews would see how they were chosen by God’s grace and for nothing in themselves. This clearly points to the Cross of Christ in that we who are in Him are only so because of His graciousness and for nothing in ourselves. The prophets proclaimed the fear of the Lord and the wisdom of it because it required wisdom to see and accept the humiliating truth that one who sincerely knows God only knows Him by His grace and by no merit of oneself. This is important because it strips any self righteousness that could be had from the person and makes God all the more righteous and glorious.
Introduction to Missions was very eye-opening. I learned a great deal about the need that exists across the globe for the Word of God. I learned about how some of the most insignificant details cost the lives of thousands of Christians or had converted from Islam. I learned how many different views there are about sharing the Gospel with others. I learned how my personal theology affects the way I evangelize. I learned the dangerous subtleties within certain thoughts of philosophy that break down missionary efforts. I learned how little I truly know the Bible. I was encouraged a great deal to grow in my walk with Christ from seeing this shortcoming and many others like it.
Through Christian Theology 2 I received a deeper understanding of Christ’s work on the cross to atone for sin, provide salvation, and pour out the Holy Spirit. God’s grace was most exemplified in Jesus’ resurrection, for through it God provides a way for all to know Him. To know God is to love God and to love God and desire what He desires and hate what God hates is to be saved. One is not saved from sin but from God’s righteous wrath. All are under God’s wrath due to the fallen state of mankind inherited from Adam and Eve’s idolatry in the Garden of Eden. Only the Holy Spirit can stir the dead soul within a person and make in him or her a heart of flesh in place of their naturally hardened heart of stone. This metaphor of a heart of flesh is good in that it is only when one has a heart that can feel the pricks of remorse and regret for sin that one can turn from that sin and to God, by His grace in sending the Spirit to begin the work. Just as the Spirit began this work, God promises to complete the transformation until the day of Christ’s return. At Christ’s return the transformation will be completed and the heavenly minded will finally be heavenly in body as well.
Hermeneutics was especially challenging for me this semester, but not for typical reasons. It was just too easy. I didn’t learn very much from the class that I hadn’t already learned in college. The fact that the professor tended to ramble didn’t help me very much either. Nevertheless, I did learn that I must never assume a meaning to a text because it makes sense to me. To understand the Bible correctly one must always look at every text in context, starting with the surrounding sentences and slowly moving outward until one can see the text in light of the Bible’s entirety. Aside from this, one must always take into account the type of literary devices being used, the style of writing and the idea that is being conveyed. Due to the Bible’s importance, it is nigh impossible to read it too carefully or to study it too much.
Physically, I’ve learned how wonderful being married is. Yes, I’m insinuating having sex with my wife. To all of you virgins out there, HANG IN THERE! WAIT WAIT WAIT! IT IS SSOOOOOO WORTH IT!
Don’t fall into that lie that your future spouse will appreciate any sexual experience you can get now. I promise, that’s a lie and your spouse will appreciate all of the sexual experience you can get with him or her MUCH MORE…duh. I know my wife did =D.
To all of you non-virgins out there – stop having sex until your married. It’s worth the wait and not waiting simply because you’ve already lost your virginity is stupid reasoning. Not waiting because sex feels really good is better reasoning, but still stupid in light of how sex is not just about feeling good. Sex is binding in the deepest ways, so save it for the person you’re bound with for the rest of your life. It’s worth it.
Moving on; I’ve learned that I can’t give up sugar or coffee, or putting sugar in coffee, without a really good reason (which might be right around the corner).
I learned that when I fall more than 7 ft. the bottoms of my feet sting upon landing. That means I’m getting fat. No! It’s not the sugar (denial). I used to be able to fall much further than that. It was only two years ago that I went skydiving!
I’ve learned that I can enjoy running (after 40 min. when my body has gone numb and the endorphins get to flowing free). If you don’t enjoy running, do it for 40 minutes. It may change your life (especially if it ends your life).
I’ve learned that my wife can cook very well. Eating has never been so romantic. Every meal is like riding the happy bus into a land of bliss and feelings of fullness. It’s a magical experience of aromatic proportions. Her cooking is proof that perfection can be improved upon because she was perfect for me before I knew she could cook. Well, I stand corrected (with fork in hand and bib in place).
Physically, I’ve learned that you’re never too old (or too young) to get better at not moving. As I age I find that I’m moving slower and slower. I’m very excited to see this progress because it’s always been a personal goal of mine to sit still. At the prospect of achieving this goal I can’t help but fidget with joy!
I think that’s enough of my physical learning’s.
Emotionally, I’ve learned a ton. For one thing, I’ve learned that crying if very healthy. Since I’ve been married I’ve cried a great deal. Sometimes I cry about crying. It’s truly involuntary. I’m just so happy! Laughing is also something I’ve done often. I think it’s also very healthy, perhaps even healthier than crying; but that really doesn’t matter because when Lexie and I start laughing it’s not long until we’re crying from it. We’re very healthy (except for all the sugar). We’ve learned the emotional freedom in sharing our feelings. That’s been very wonderful. We tell each other everything (or at least as much as we can remember at the time). Taking on a servant’s mindset has also been very transforming. It was very hard to make serving Lexie a constant thought (and it’s still not easy) but doing so has become such a blessing and such a foundation to our marriage, but only because she also strives for the servants heart. It’s fun trying to out serve each other!
Finally, and most importantly, what I’ve learned spiritually will end this crazy long blog.
Aside from my academic studies of the Bible and theology, God has taught me a great deal from the humbling times I’ve spent in prayer. A huge thing I’ve learned spiritually is that it’s impossible to pray too much. One would be hard pressed to ever get even close to praying too much. God has been steadily growing in me a hunger for longer and more intimate times of prayer with Him. I’m learning of the power behind intercessory prayer and the Churches great need for it due to Christ’s command for it. This year I’ve learned how to pray. It’s a good thing too, for leading someone else spiritually is a huge responsibility. Nevertheless, it’s also been a huge blessing in how it’s drawn me closer to Christ. I stand in awe, however, at how much I have yet to learn, and how glad I am for it.
Thank you Lord for such a wonderful year.