Three is a Magic Number

After my fall semester, I wrote a blog post about how seminary was going for me.  Now that I have finished my spring semester, I thought I would do it again. After my fall semester, I wrote about totally 'getting into' the Bible, since I had been taught what to do with it.  Here's the original post:  http://www.christensenshare.blogspot.com/2011/12/so-how-is-seminary-going.html   My big "take-away" from the fall:  I learned the technique of Biblical exegesis--knowing history, using literary analysis techniques, utilizing word/language studies and grammatical criticism, etc, etc, etc.  But now onto the spring semester.... My big "take-away" from the spring:  Scripture is always interpreted.  ALWAYS.  And usually through a filter of religious doctrine/dogma/tradition. Much of what I thought was in the Bible was actually tradition (a.k.a. religious dogma).  My Bible professor from this semester forced me to release that dogma, harshly getting on my c

We are having a very, very busy spring.  I have finished teaching and learning for a few weeks, so I wanted to post a few of the spring happenings.  Samuel was in a music listening competition. His fifth grade team made it to state, headed to Madison, and received first place finish.  This is a picture of them performing their "project," which was unscored, but still fun.  Samuel is in the middle.  They were recognized by the school board this week too.  Em had a birthday!  Party with friends is happening next weekend at the Children's Museum. Spring biking in MARCH!  Believe it or not.  Yes, Emilee finally learned how to ride a bike, and now after all the resisting, we can't get her to stop. Samuel's band and choir concert. Faith played Jackie Kennedy at her school's wax museum. Piano recital for Faith. Plus, baseball has started, so Paul and Samuel are busy with that.  Samuel has been on two Boy Scouts camping trips (withou