August/September Report

Please follow the link below to download a .pdf of our August/September 09 report.  Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have.

August/September 09 Report

Week 7

It is hard to believe that 6 weeks of courses are now behind us.

August/September Reports are in the mail and a .pdf version will be available here for download in a couple days.

• The course that gave the most anxiety going into the semester was Greek. I am happy to report that it is going well. The only downside is that it consumes a large amount of my time. I have purchased a whiteboard for my office and I spend hours in front of it memorizing this intriguing language.

• In addition, I am taking a Biblical preaching course that is challenging me to be more effective at communicating God's word. I welcome the challenge and pray for my own growth.

•  Fall break is this coming Friday and I will get to enjoy a 3 day weekend.  However, I still have homework to do!
  

• The babies have been having some minor cold symptoms.  Otherwise we are healthy and thriving.
  

Stay tuned for more updates.  I am excited about sharing 3 major projects that I am currently working on.  Please keep us in your prayers.  Blessings to each one of you.

Obligated to Him,
Ryan

Week One

After much anticipation, a new semester has begun and the first week is now history. I have to admit, I am exhausted in a way that I haven't been since arriving a year ago. Maybe it is the running I have been doing in the mornings to keep semi-healthy? Maybe it is because I am trying to cut back on my coffee intake a bit? But, I think the culprit is the energy expense both emotionally and mentally as we attack a mountain of subject matter. Many people look at school as purely an academic exercise. On the other hand, I am finding that ministry training not only requires brain power but forces you to examine every nook and cranny of your life, attitude and soul. From there you are left with but one option. Conform more closely with God's pattern or do something else.

Learning Greek will be a challenge but there will be no value in learning it unless life is plumb.

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand....(Amos 7:7ff)

God, show me your will daily and give me the courage to pattern my life after it.

It Begins Again

Today was the first official day back to school. Our morning was filled with all the joys of orientation. We had to cover tedious information, most of which we learned last year. It is just a part of the process (I remember orientation meetings each year of nursing school). One really can't complain. The generosity of our scholarships makes the cumbersome logistics a blessing rather than a curse. It was good to meet the MuII class. Eight students from around the globe will begin the CAMT as 1st year students. Our class (Lambda II) has a great responsibility to make them feel welcome and to help them in every way we possibly can.

Following the meeting, I ran down and got my new student ID and purchased a workbook for one of my classes. New students were everywhere for Student Impact. It is funny to be standing in line with 18 year old college newbies while the purchase books and negotiate university life.

Our evening activity was held in the Cloverdale Church of Christ annex. We enjoyed a meal, organized by Amanda and Mary (the wives' class coordinators for 2009-2010), where we were served lasagna, salad, french bread and a homemade cake. Afterward we congregated for a devo and to hear the stories of our new classmates. It is always encouraging to see the work God is doing in people's lives leading to and preparing them for ministry.

Excitement and nervousness filled the day. More than anything, I am eager to begin this last year. Classes begin again in 48hrs!

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today, the three of us woke up to a new house full of boxes. The day before we had made the 500 mile journey away from our home and everything that was comfortable. We were emotionally and physically exhausted yet a strange excitement hovered all around us. Over the next 18 hours we would unpack boxes and settle into our new environment.

It is hard to explain what has transpired over the last year but it has been good. We are blessed and feel ourselves growing. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to re-enter full-time ministry and focus on that goal as we prepare for year 2.

Thank you for your love, prayers and financial support. We think of you every day.

June/July Report

Please follow the link below to download a .pdf of our June/July 09 report. Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have.

June/July 09 Report

Exciting News for CBT

The first 6 months of Church Blog Theory have been exciting. I am happy to announce two BIG changes that will hopefully affect the future success of this ministry...

Read More at CBT's new website - BIG Changes - New Website