This post is intended primarily for those of you who are in school, particularly new to seminary. Consider it something of a New Year’s resolution suggestion from me to you. Last night I was thinking about my time in school and some of the things I did in an attempt to make the most of my time. So as many of you will be starting a new semester in less than a month let me offer a few ways you can one make the most out of your time when so much is being required.

• Read two books before the semester begins. At the end of each semester I would contact my professors for the following semester asking them for a copy of the syllabus or to tell me of at least one book I had to read. I would then make it a point to read at least two before the semester began. Here’s why it was helpful: It kept me ahead on assignments at the beginning of the semester, and I was right on time by the end when papers where due. I never felt too overwhelmed or crunched for time.
• Start the languages early and stay committed.  For most of us there is a natural fear and dread of learning languages because of the time commitment and effort required.  Thus, many students put it off to the end of their degree.  Don’t do this! Start your languages in the first or second semester.  Granted, languages aren’t easy, but if you spend 15-30 minutes a day reviewing, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll retain.  Furthermore, the value of knowing them is priceless.
• Put extra effort into one book and one paper.  The amount of pages you have to read and write each semester can be overwhelming.  And unless you’re unusually gifted like “Double G“, then there is no way you can take it all in.  Therefore, some of the best advice is learn to “gut” a book, i.e. understand the author’s thesis and basic argument.  Otherwise, find one book at the beginning of the semester that will grab your attention and pour over it till its deadline.  The same should be done with at least one paper on a challenging topic.

So those are just a few ways I would recommend making the MOST out of so MUCH during this upcoming school year.

My wife had a great idea the other night: We decided to make an advent wreath to help our son understand why there’s all this to-do about Christmas. My son’s five years old now, which means he is highly excited by the prospect of all the gifts, cookies and candy that are in store for him over the next few weeks. But part of our job as Christian parents is to try to pry his little eyes off all that and refocus them on Jesus.

We have several traditions that we do as a family at Christmas, and the advent wreath we made will probably become part of that. As is my wont, I did some internet-research on the advent wreath, and found that there’s no real clarity regarding its origin, and no dominant tradition about its symbolism, either—people seem to kind of apply whatever symbolism they want to it. Though the tradition seems very medieval at first glance, most likely it started with German Lutherans sometime soon after the Reformation, but it only took real shape in the latter part of the nineteenth century and was then picked up by Roman Catholics and remains a significant part of Roman Catholic devotion to this day. As for the symbolism, some people say the purple candles are for royalty, others that they’re for mourning. The pink candle could be a number of things: either a mixture of the purple of mourning and the white of rejoicing, or a reference to an old Roman Catholic tradition of the pope giving roses as gifts during this season.

At any rate, there’s nothing in the tradition of the wreath that specifically ties it to the parts of Roman Catholic theology that I do not believe, and with a few “Protestantizing” changes and additions, it’s a great way to focus my son’s attention on something other than the gifts under the tree.

Last night, we lit the first candle, read from Isaiah 60, and thanked God for sending Jesus, the Light of the world, to us. My son, as usual, was most interested in which candle he was going to be able to light, but I have no doubt that he’ll remember some of this, and that in itself is worth it.

For you readers who have been wondering the origin of the “real athletes” comments, let me fill you in.  There has been ongoing, private bantering among the elders about what is a “real athlete” and specifically whether or not golfers could be considered such, hence Greg’s comment.  Well, I’ve refused to take this public.  But at the unexpected provocation of two elders, one of which I’m a bit surprised by, Monsieur Keisling, I can’t resist. 

“Whatever you think about football players, I think this is safe to say:  Golfers couldn’t…”  If you’re setting up football players as quintessential athletes then, as a golfer, I don’t want to be one.  NPR’s Morning Edition Steve Inskeep rightly asked the question in light of Michael’s Vick’s confession eclipsing the opening week of NFL season, “Is there something about the sport that encourages people to be violent off the field?”  Former NFL star and current ESPN analyst, Bill Curry, replied, “Of course there is!  Do you think we are all well-adjusted human beings because we go smash our faces into 300 lb. people for 20 years?  We’re some of the worst-adjusted people.  Football has drawn the most aggressive males, so you’re going to get the most aggressive behavior.”

That comment alone brings up a whole host of questions and issues about the nature of some sports and a Christian’s participation.  (I’ve got my shield up.)  But the principle is that athletes are to have appropriate conduct on and off the field.  As for the case of football, there seems to be at least one opinion of someone very knowledgable of the sport that football does at minimum foster inappropriate conduct off the field.

(I know there are cases of scandalous golfers, e.g. John Daly.  FYI, look who ESPN determined to be the Ultimate Sports Star.  Also, looks like Wheeler’s and Yong’s fellow Californians are taking things to a new noise level in an attempt to distract the UT’s Vols.)

Check out articles by Greg Gilbert and Owen Strachan at the 9Marks website, part of the latest issue of 9News in January.  This month’s theme: friendship.  They also have an article by our friend, Michael Haykin, and — as usual — Jonathan Leeman, who edits the newsletter and is the 9Marks Director of Communications.  It’s great stuff.

Keith, I am delighted to have life on the blog, but do we have to think about football again? Now that Greg is posting again surely we are not so desparate as to need to revive a football discussion. Your Luther quote tonight was great by the way. Let’s talk about that. Why did you bring up a discussion about Christian liberty from Jude?

In light of Keith’s last post, I would also add my great appreciation for the life and ministry of John Piper. The explanation for that particular sermon is certainly important and should have been mentioned in the context of any remarks about it. It would be a mistake to assume that I thought that his overall model of preaching was anything other than exemplary. He has done and continues to do much good work for the sake of the kingdom for which I give thanks.

Guess whose idea this blog largely was?  Greg, do you know?