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May 29, 2008 >> 10:37:18 PM

Dear Robbie

Dear Robbie, 

I lost my wedding ring last week and it is no where to be found. Am I still married?

Sincerely,

Single Married Guy

 

Dear SMG,

Honestly, I don’t think you are married anymore. Wedding officiates (thinking they are so clever and original) remind us time after time that the ring symbolizes never-ending love, honor, etc. Truth still reigns for this old saying (even though that tired cliché makes me roll my eyes and suffer a mini-stroke every time I hear it). In essence, you are not a husband until you find that ring. In fact, I hope you have been sleeping separately from the woman you were once married to…I wouldn’t want you to suffer the unholy consequences of living in sin, if you catch my drift. My best advice is to get a search party going to find that important piece of jewelry. Oh, and don’t think you can simply go buy an unsanctified replacement without an entire new ceremony…one that includes an officiate reminding you that the ring symbolizes “a never-ending….”

I hope you own a comfy couch.

-Robbie

May 28, 2008 >> 3:27:33 PM

ATS Comic

May 16, 2008 >> 4:43:08 PM

Theological Word of the Day

This one will be fun for seminary students.  It's a new Theological Word posted every day.  Check it out here.

May 14, 2008 >> 9:13:38 PM

Dear Robbie

Dear Robbie,

I'm sure you have noticed all the beautiful bright red cardinals on campus these past few weeks. I have been wondering why the male birds are so pretty and the females are less attractive. Isn't this a bit backwards according to our culture? What was God thinking?

--Curious and Confused

Dear CC,

Why yes, I have noticed that male cardinals are far more beautiful than the homely females. However, I do not believe that this is “backwards” according to our culture. Human males, in general, are far more attractive than females. I know this is hard to believe so I have generated a non-biased comparison chart of two random pictures - one of an everyday male and another of an everyday female:

       

      versus

                       
    

You asked, “What was God thinking?” and I share the same sentiments when I examine the randomly selected female example. Sorry, ladies.

I expect a decent amount of hate mail over this one.

 --Robbie

May 14, 2008 >> 9:02:48 PM

Dear Robbie

Dear Robbie,

My love language is that of a touch communicator. I say hello with a quick hug, nothing unusual or awkward. Since coming to seminary I've noticed that students here are touch-phobic. I might as well try asking someone to converse in Ugaritic as try to get someone to speak my "love language." Any reason why the students here are afraid of physical contact? It's not as if giving a hug means I'm expecting to marry them tomorrow! Any suggestions about how to convince people around here that touch is an acceptable means of communication?

 --Touch-less lady

Dear Touch-less,

Yes, it’s true; the majority of Westernized seminary students are not so good with the hugging and touching. They’re known as the Untouchables. In fact, last semester, my good friend and I would give out “free hugs” in front of the student center after chapel services. Maybe one out of every 10^th student would accept our affirmation! (Note: Faculty and Staff, by school law, are not allowed or encouraged to engage in any kind of physical touch with students beyond a handshake or a friendly “pat-on-the-back”).

So what are you to do with all that lovin’ you done got stored up in there? Fortunately, for yourself and other touchy, feely types, I have devised a few memorable acronyms to guide your need to express affection. The first is “H.A.H.A.” which stands for “Hug A Happy African.” As you may know, our African students are extremely approachable and always ready to give affirmation to their seminary brothers and sisters. Personally, I try to take advantage of this weekly. The second one is “N.O. S.M.A.S.H.” which means “Never Offer Single Males A Side Hug.” The reason for this is because side hugs send confusing messages to single guys. Side hugs may state, “Yeah, you’re OK, but don’t ask me out next week” OR “Hey, you’re cute, this is what it feels like to side hug me.” As you can clearly see, this type of hugging sends mixed signals to the lesser sex.

As a female, you will have a difficult time expressing your love to the opposite sex, even some of the male international students that are more touch-oriented may not be so comfortable with embracing a female that is not their wife. On the other end, there are students who do not appreciate being hugged whatsoever by whomever. This does not mean that they are unloving; rather, they simply express the same level of love in a different way (e.g., gifts, words of affirmation, time spent, etc.). Eventually, you will know which students are and are not huggable. And remember that John Wesley, although he is in a hardened statue form, is always down for some huggie-hugs.

--Robbie

 

May 01, 2008 >> 3:07:32 PM

Teri Lucas' Calling

Each of us are called to be a minister; to live the Christian life and do God’s work in the world. These past few years have been incredible as God reveals his plan of how I am to spend the rest of my life serving him. I have been asked to let go of what I am familiar with and step out into true faith and trust, knowing that God will provide me with everything I need to fulfill what he is asking of me.

As an adult, with children of my own, I always felt that something was missing from my life. I was fearful and anxious most of the time. It seemed that alcohol eased those fears and helped me to cope with life in general. When alcohol began to get the best of me, I went looking for a “cure.” I started to shop around for a church. I would attend one a few times, didn't feel it was right, then go on to another. I also seemed to have this fascination with a beautiful white country church. I would drive down country roads late at night until I came to this church where I would just sit and stare feeling a strong sense of peace come over me.

Over time, I finally had enough of my obsession with alcohol! I got down on my knees and asked God to help me. It was a few days later that I received a "nudge" from God to call Alcoholics Anonymous. I attended my first meeting in 1985 and I have been sober ever since August 30th of that year. I had become spiritually active again. In 1990, after five years of sobriety, my first husband and I divorced. I met Tom, my current husband, and we married in 1992. Tom and I moved to Iowa in 1999 after living in Louisiana for two years.

Another spiritual turning point came in 2001 which was an extremely bad year. Tom was let go from the job that brought us to Iowa. He hoped to sell life insurance for that year but it just didn't work out and we struggled financially. During the latter part of that year, Tom met an assistant pastor for a Pentecostal church and we started a home Bible study. We renewed our baptism together in January of 2002 as confirmation of our commitment to Jesus Christ.

Later I received a new nudge from God to further my education. I enrolled at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in the Human Services field for an A. S. degree with the intention of being certified as a Chemical Dependency Counselor. I also began the School of Lay Ministry, Class of 2007. I now understand why God directed me to take the classes at DMACC. I had assumed his purpose was for me to complete the A. S. degree when what he really wanted was to assure me that I was capable of being a student after all these years. I was able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average in each of my classes. God was, again, preparing me for what lay ahead.

God continued to reveal his plans to me. I became a member of the United Methodist Church and began the Ministry Inquiry Process which I completed in September 2005, and then started the Candidacy Process. I became a certified candidate in December 2005. It was during this process that I was asked to state in one sentence what I believe God’s call on my life was to be. I still feel strongly that I have been called by God to help bring His broken people into wellness and wholeness through the love of Jesus Christ. As a pastor with an emphasis in pastoral counseling, I believe I will be able to do all that has been asked of me with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I am so humbled that God brought us to Asbury Theological Seminary in the fall of 2006. My first year was fruitful as I listened to God and discerned more clearly the call he has placed on my life. I have been trained as a Stephen’s Minister for the seminary and was commissioned in the fall of 2007. I am also a member of a prison ministry that provides a worship service every Sunday night at Blackburn Correctional Facility in Lexington.

Tom and I are so grateful to be on this journey together and look forward to our graduation in May of 2009. Everything I have experienced in my life has been in preparation for this time. I am in awe of God’s mighty power and grace and I trust completely that his Holy Spirit will equip me in study and service as I walk the path he has chosen for me!

May 01, 2008 >> 12:49:27 PM

Dear Robbie

Dear Robbie,

I live in the -ville, you know Nicholasville and have to make a long, expensive commute like 3 whole times a week for class, and I have to drive back home. It's like a 15 mile roundtrip.With gas prices like they are, and me owing money to all these different places like I do, do you have any tips for us commuters? Also, what do you think is the plausibility of having a Zip line from RJ Corman's Hanger to the Student Center?

Sincerely,

Long Distance Traveler

Dear LDT,

You have a few options here:

1) Carpool with other ‘Ville students

2) Bike ride it

3) Drop out of school

4) Discretely jump onto the back of trucks

5) Sleepover in the library instead of drive home

Now, all of these options are obviously awesome. You’re welcome for that. However, none of the options directly associate with Christian theology -- and I’ve notice some readers have not appreciated the absence. So let’s use the Wesleyan Quadrilateral to find out which is doctrinally appropriately for you.

First, what does Scripture have to say about this situation? Hmm, well, there is a reference to fuel: Ezekiel 4:12 suggests using human excrement for fuel. OK, maybe not possible at this moment, but it’s still thoughtful.

Second, how has Christian tradition handled this situation? Well, a horse and buggy are common use in the Amish tradition. I think we might be on to something!

Next, what has been your experience with God in this situation? I have a feeling that your experience with God has something to do with your calling to the seminary. So, we know that option #3 (see above) is not the right choice.

Finally, what is reasonable for this commute? Honestly, I believe that it is most reasonable to choose option #5. Be confident that John Wesley supports this notion because if you look closely at the Wesley statue, he seems to be pointing towards the library – the answer has been clear all along!

--robbie