Update & Prayer Request

It is amazing how quickly life can change at the beginning of the semester. Last week was long and relaxed, I was deadline free and hurried nowhere. This summer was one of the best of my life. Andrea and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. We traveled to California (twice for me), we spent time with our families, we spent a weekend in Chicago for Andrea's birthday, and, of course, we had a rockin weekend at the lake with the Hart's. The summer was smooth and beautiful. This week, my how the tables have turned...but of course, I'm livin it up. 

This semester is going to be a challenge as all semesters are. I am wading into the waters of intermediate Greek. To be honest, I love it and I am not ashamed to be a Greek geek. Almost all of my time is spent in the NT Greek text. It is quite astonishing how many nuggets of truth and emphases you find when working in the original language. I am also taking my second OT survey course, the first half this time, an eschatology course that has a reading list on steroids, and a class on the biblical theology of worship. Also, Andrea and I are considering taking a marriage course that helps you reflect on your own marriage as well as prepares you for the marriage counseling you will need to do in the pastorate. 

Andrea is doing well. This summer has been incredibly difficult for her in the area of life decisions. We have been back and forth between seminary, law school, and masters programs in English. It breaks my heart to see how hard these decisions have been on her. Of course, she deals with the stress with grace and godliness. I admire her so much more having watched her go through this, and, sadly, the decisions are still not done. For now, she is going to take a light-full load of seminary classes in order to grow in her knowledge of the word and counseling. Also, she will continue to Nanny, hang out with yours truly, and seek God on the career path that he is moving her passions to. Please pray that Andrea will remain faithfully obedient and hear the voice of God clearly. Please pray for me. I handle the stress far worse than Andrea does and she needs me to be strong and wise for her.

On a more joyous note, Andrea is feeling better than she has in almost two years. She is cyst-free and her stomach is doing quite well. She was even able to go jogging last week. She has been biking with me when I run and we have been walking together everywhere and she has been feeling worlds better. We are incredibly blessed. 

Let us all know how you are doing...love you guys.