Waiting it out....

I wish I had some big news but I don't. Still no word about a call...we'll still be getting one but we have to be patient. I think that is what God is teaching me right now. Patience...not my best virtue but I am trying my best. Last night we had the 4th year banquet which was a lot of fun. Its surreal to think that graduation is in two weeks from Friday and then its a matter of time before people are leaving to go their separate ways to start their ministries. Its an exciting time but bittersweet too. Its so comfortable to be here and in the seminary community. We won't have that anymore and there are some wonderful people here that I will miss. But until then we wait to hear God's plans for us and try to enjoy the time left with our friends.

He's Certifiable...wait no CERTIFIED!!!

Its official. Nick is certified!

Dear Nicholas, Brother in Christ:

I am very happy to let you know that the faculty of Concordia Seminary has ( to use the formal language) now expressed its satisfaction that you will meet all personal, professional, and theological requirements for the office of ordained minister, declare you to be of entry level competency and qualified for a first call, and recommend you, subject to the satisfactory completion of the appropriate course of studies, your receipt of a Theological Diploma or Certificate, and your receipt and acceptance of a call assigned to you by the Board of Assignments.

We praise God for his work in your life, and we rejoice with you as you move closer to service as a pastor in our church. May the Lord keep you safe and joyful as you complete your studies and prepare to serve.

Cordially in the Risen Christ,

Dr. Jeff Gibbs

Only 4 more days till call day. Still no word on a call or even if we'll still be call pending. Its an exciting time though either way. We can't wait to find out God's plan for our ministry!

You Know You're a Seminarian If..

This was one of the articles in the seminary's student paper. Some of them were pretty funny and I thought I'd share.

* You ask for your vicarage location to be based on where you want to go on vacation.
* You used vicarage to justify a new car purchase
* You have more than three brands of beer in your refrigerator.
* You do not complete you assigned readings but you pick up free books by the mail boxes
* Last year, you read thousands of pages, memorized hundreds of facts, wrote dozens of papers, translated ancient Greek and Hebrew text, and you still feel dumb.
* You know at least ten couple expecting a baby this year.
* Part of your attraction to your wife/girlfriend is the fact that she knows how to differentiate between the two types of righteousness.
* You think a leather-bound copy of Luther's Small Catechism would make a great gift.
And my most favorite....
* Conception suddenly becomes a result of "something in the water."

Well with knowing AT LEAST 10 couples expecting this year there must be!

A Call Day Update...

Well these last few weeks have been pretty tough. We are coming to the culmination of a long 4 years (or 8 if you include undergrad) and as of right now we don't have a placement. As of Sunday (4/6) 22 guys from St. Louis and 21 from Fort Wayne are call pending. This is a stressful time for everyone. So please keep all of the people involved in your prayers. We know that this will all happen in God's time. Its just hard to remember that when things are so stressful.

The placement director Pastor Hoehner said if we don't have a call on call day that he is confident that we would have one by graduation or early summer. I know that if we don't have one on the 22nd that at some point we will. I know I just have to be patient...something that I've been working on for a while. Pastor Hoehner had this scripture in his email to the "call pending candidates" from 2 Peter:
“make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So that's really all the info we have. Hopefully we will have more very soon. Keep us and all the calling candidates in your prayers.