The Week in Wilmore

This week has been action packed, so I will combine some events into one post.

On Monday and Tuesday we spent some time with the Clergy Council. This is a group of ministers who serve to guide and advise the Beeson Program. The council members spent some time sharing their views on preaching. Pictured is Linda Adams who ministers at a New Hope Free Methodist in Rochester, NY. Also presenting were Jeff Spiller, minister of Christ United Methodist in Mobile, AL; and Jim Garlow of Skyline Church in San Diego, CA. On Monday we found out that Anna has strep and Cora has the flu. One Tuesday Cindy had a root canal. So, needless to say, we didn't make it to the Beeson Valentine's Dinner on Tuesday night. I did get some pictures, though.

This is Scott enjoying some lasagna and garlic toast.

The kids sat at the kid's table (where else?)

Alaina . . . delightful as always.

This morning (Wednesday) we started a new class on Organizational Leadership with Dr. Jack Connell. Faithful readers of this blog will recognize Jack as the associate dean of the Beeson Program, and as the guy who went with our family to King's Island last Fall.
Jack is a good teacher. He brings energy to his lectures, along with an understanding that every church situation is different. He doesn't advocate the old "one-size-fits-all" approaches to leadership. One of the best things? He really listens to our questions. His answers fit.
Jack was the minister of Crosswinds Wesleyan Church near Rochester, NY until last year when he and his family moved to Wilmore. Unfortunately for the Beeson Program, it turned out not to be the right situation for Jack's family. In a about a week he'll be moving back to his old town where he will begin serving Houghton College. We'll miss him. We already miss his family.

Beeson Marriage Retreat

Rather than ask our children to welcome a stranger into our house for the weekend Beeson marriage retreat, we traveled to southern Indiana to meet my sister's family and send Meghan, Anna, and Cora to stay with them.Anna wanted to have use of the camera while we were traveling.

So did Cora.

We met Connie, Deon, Olivia, and Gideon at a KFC in Scottsburg.It was frrrrrrreeezing in southern Indiana. Below you can see Meghan and Connie. Connie is my sister . . . she's the one on the right (could they be related?).Then Cindy and I zoomed back to Lexington for the marriage retreat. The newly weds, Susanna and Nolan were there to teach us everything we need to know.Pierson Layer let Susanna know what it's like to hang around a cute baby.Jim was digging deep into the topic of marriage.Below you can see the Scholls and Kate Layer juggling marriage retreat with newborns.

Matt found that Ian did better if he had a "play pen" in the corner.

It was a nice chance to visit with the Buchers and the Muses who ate at our table.Afterward the Muses and Cindy and I took a short walk to area just outside Rupp Arena to take in the pregame vibe as the big, bad Gators rolled into town to avenge decades of losses to the Kentucky Wildcats.People came from all over the universe to cheer for Kentucky.Even ESPN's GameDay crew was there to hype the game. The crowd was raucous and ready.Travis (who is from Oklahoma) was listening to the GameDay reports on the Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech game that went to double overtime. Cindy was the one who convinced us to take the walk down to the GameDay set. Here she is with Ginny Muse.The Wildcat fans were very nice. The boys in Blue didn't throw anything at me when I dared to cheer for the Gators (Cindy, on the other hand, wanted very much to throw things at me). Here is the video of me trying to bring some orange into this sea of blue. By the way, the Gators won!

Beeson Training Video #1

This past weekend we Beeson couples had a fine marriage retreat. I will blog on that later (maybe).

As for this blog . . . I received an email this past week from an incoming Beeson Pastor (Paul from Idaho) who is wondering what kinds of things to bring to Wilmore this summer. I remember having the exact same questions. Last year at this time I even found Rob Couch's blog (Couch was a BP2005). It was that blog that gave me the idea to start blogging. I remembering wishing that Rob would blog more so I could get an idea of what goes on during the Beeson DMin year.

A warning is in order. This video is a bit longer than most of my homemade videos (almost 4 minutes). Enjoy--if you have the time.

Keepin' Busy

This morning we met with Dr. Baucum again for our preaching class. Now we're all just trying to make a dent in things like disseratations and assignments due.

So today's blog is all about videos I think my daughters will like. These are for you, Meghan, Anna, and Cora! Hope the rest of you like them too.

Here is the sneezing panda:



And now for the sleepy kitten:

Narrative and Neuroscience

Today was a real treat. Dr. Joel Green spent the morning with us. He lectured on biblical interpretation and theology and the importance of keeping the two together.

I've heard him speak one other time and came away impressed. Today's lecture didn't disappoint. I wish we could tap into his expertise more, but I'll take what I can get.He is working on what it means to understand scripture as narrative and then what it means to live within a world that is understood through that biblical narrative. At this point some of you are saying, "Of course!," while others of you are saying, "What?".
We all make sense of our lives and of the world through the stories we tell. This is nothing new. In fact, story is fundamental to the human condition. So, if it is fundamental to our condition, why would we approach theology and scripture in ways that deny our reliance on story?

The beginning of the scriptural story is creation, the center is the cross and resurrection, the "end" of the story is the restoration of God's world. For Christians this narrative becomes the controlling story for how we read scripture.

Green brings something to the theological table that, as far as I know, is unique. He has studied neuroscience in order to understand better how the human brain receives and interprets narrative. This blending of disciplines has born fruit in his "day job."

One of things Green pointed out is that the things we do (i.e. prayer, worship, participation in the sacraments) actually play a role in determining our "brain mapping," which means that prayer physically affects which synapses join together within our brains.
I have only scratched the surface of the lecture. Suffice it to say that there was lively discussion and I wish we had more time to consider the implications of narrative and neuroscience on the preaching and practice of ministry.

I'm looking forward to the Summer of 2008 when the North American Christian Convention goes to Cincinnati. Dr. Green has agreed to be the speaker at the European Evangelistic Society's annual breakfast.

Baucum's Preaching Class

Today we began our ascent into our next preaching class, led by Dr. Tory Baucum. You may remember him as the professor who led our trip to London.We will be focusing on "logos, ethos, and pathos" as the three building blocks of the sermon.
I felt like my Beeson brothers and sister were feeling pretty good about the class. I think I'll appreciate Tory's approach to homiletics. He believes that all of the techniques are secondary to two things: 1) the character and life of the preacher, and 2) whether or not the preacher has taken the time to stop and hear what God has to say to the congregation.
He gave us extra homework to do between now and Thursday, which is fine . . . I'm ready to think about something besides how far off the mark I am with what I've done on my dissertation so far.
This picture, really, is just like ALL of the other class pictures I've posted. Although, if you look closely you will see an extra student. Next to Alicia is "David," whose real name is "Chong" (I think). He's a professor in Korea who is on sabbatical and sitting-in with us.

The SuperColt Party: The Kids' Table

The Beeson crew got together for the Super Bowl. The kids got their own end of the room and their own video entertainment. They watched Cars and ate pizza.Pierson smiled a lot. It's good to watch the big game with a smiling kid.Susanna liked the wings and is very pleased that I only take pictures of her when she's near food.

Travis, Ginny, Cindy and Meghan enjoyed the food and football too.

Okay . . . I have to give you one more "Smilin' Pierson" shot.

Dance Break

We are starting a new preaching class with Dr. Baucum today. I will report on that later. Just to keep the content flowing on the blog today, here's a short video for your entertainment.

Colts Win!

Well there it is Vol Fans! Here is a picture of Peyton Manning winning the big one! Growing up in Indy I always wanted us to have a football team. Once WIBC radio invented a fake Indianapolis team called the Indianapolis Lazers. They proceeded to broadcast a mythical game between the Lazers and the Cincinnati Bengals. I thought it was real. I stood at the kitchen counter and listened like I had been a life-long fan. I was crushed when Pat McInally (I don't know how to spell the name) kicked a field goal to defeat the Lazers in the closing seconds.

I was even more crushed when my Mom told me it was fake. I don't remember when I found out Santa Clause wasn't real. I DO remember when I found out the Indianapolis Lazers weren't real.

I was thrilled when the Colts ditched Baltimore in the middle of the night to make Indy their home. There had been talk of the Saints coming, but it turned out to be a ploy by the owner of the Saints to get a better deal in New Orleans. When talk of the Colts began I thought it was just that. I didn't think it would happen. Our newly built "Hoosier Dome" was going to sit empty, I thought--or that, as one news reporter commented, it would be "the world's nicest tractor pull stadium."

And now the Indianapolis Colts are for real. Indy finally has a championship in a major league, and it couldn't have been with more respectable guys. Tony Dungy has been the model of what it means to live one's faith in a place where faith isn't respected. He's not "in your face" about it, nor is he unwilling to speak about it.

And, despite his being Vol, I'm pleased for Peyton Manning. I'm glad that at long last it isn't just his feet that are happy!Watch out . . . the Indiana Pacers are only two games out of the lead in the NBA's Eastern Division! The Sports Year of Aaron continues . . .Colts Champs! Gator Football Chomps! Gator Basketball Chomps and currently ranked #1.

Snow Day!

Hooray! The Colts just won the Super Bowl! I'll blog on that later. For now I'll just post this video I made while watching the Super Bowl with Bryan Bucher.

Here's a hint of what it's like at the Beeson townhouses when a snow day hits Wilmore. I hope you like it!

The Johnson City Express

On Friday the girls played in the snow. I got setting some work done. Then we all hopped into the van and prepared to brave the elements on our trip to Johnson City.Cindy loves the cold weather. There is nothing she likes better than a piercing, freezing wind.
The snow wasn't a problem on the interstate but the wind made sure we knew it was winter.

Even in Tennessee there was snow along I-75.

In fact, after we left the girls at their friends' houses, we got side-swiped on icy Alpine Road. It was only a flesh wound (for the van, no humans were hurt).

The other guy wound up in the ditch. He seemed like a nice kid. It was too icy for the policeman and the tow truck, though. They stayed at the bottom of the hill.
The funeral went well. It was the best kind of funeral--an honest to goodness worship service. Donald did most of the planning. For a guy who just lost his dad, Donald did an amazing job. He was like a seasoned comedian from the pulpit. Very touching.
Speaking of seasoned comedians, Becky wrote a great tribute to Howard. The service was filled with holy laughter.
After the funeral we hopped back into the van and made it home to Wilmore about 11:30pm.

It was an honor to be a part of Howard's funeral. Thanks to everybody at Grandview for the work you did in putting the service together. Thanks, also, to Matt Buckner for providing the video of Howard that we used in the funeral.

Blessings to the whole Shaffer family . . . one of whom came all the way from Shanghai, China to be at his grandfather's funeral!

Sliding Home

We took a study break and decided to make a video. Hope you enjoy it on this "snow day" here in Kentucky. School is OUT.



In the "better late than never" category, I have to report that a bunch of went to the Scholl house on Wednesday night to celebrate Alaina's 2nd birthday. In the below picture she is thrilled that every body is clapping for her after blowing out the candle. Joy. Just pure joy.
Later today we will be leaving for Johnson City. Howard's funeral is at 3pm on Saturday. The snow is looking like it could be a problem from here in Kentucky. Hopefully it will stop by noon, the crews can clear the roads, and we can make a break for Tennessee. Keep us, and the Shaffer family, in your prayers please.

Congratulations, Howard...but we'll miss you.

"Aaron, I'm going to give to the building up front instead of over the next three years because I don't expect to be around by the time it's finished." So thought Howard, back in 2001. What did he know?

God saw fit to allow us to enjoy Howard's presence longer than Howard really wanted us to. If you knew Howard, though, you also know that he didn't begrudge God's gracious gift of life. He simply loved you and and did his best to smile through the pain of cancer and smile through the uncertainty of promised aneurysms and smile through the overwhelming grief he felt when Mary died.

How he loved Mary! Way back when Kevin Bobrow was a student at Milligan and needed to go calling with a minister (for his ministry class), I took him to see the Shaffers. By that time Mary was, of course, so hard of hearing that she would throw a comment into the conversation that made it clear she wasn't able to track with what was being said. Howard just smiled at her, waved his hand, and said, "Oooh, gosh, Mary, we already said that."

Their love for each other was so apparent that only a fool could miss it. In fact, when Kevin got back to his dorm room he wrote a thank you note to the Shaffers. He had been blessed simply by being in their presence. What a gift it was to be with them. What a gift it has been for me to be a minister at Grandview, to have the honor of knowing people like Howard.

I think Howard would want me to insert at this point that neither he nor his marriage were perfect. I remember the kick I got from Howard's experience of reading through Mary's diaries after she died. He said that on some days the only entry was: FIGHT! (underlined three times). He just smiled with that sheepish, boyish smile of his when he told me the story.

When she died I was afraid he died with her. It was so hard for him. He struggled against the grief. He wrote her letters. I was afraid his resolve for living was gone . . . and then, a miracle from God, we all saw that Howard wasn't going to waste away in grief. Do you remember the picture of him riding the Montu at Busch Gardens, Tampa? I wish I had a copy of that picture so I could post it here. Can you imagine being in charge of that ride and watching a 90-year-old man wind his way through the cattle turns, ignoring the announcements about heart conditions? Howard told me, "Oh, I just pretended I couldn't hear them."

Have you ever ridden the Montu? It's the most fun I've ever had on a roller coaster. It goes upside down SEVEN times. You can watch the video if you want:



And so Howard is a model for me. He's a model of how to grow old gracefully. He's also a model of how to die gracefully.

Gracefully, by the way, does not mean "easily." Things haven't been easy for Howard. Perhaps nobody besides his faithful children, Donald and Marjorie (and Marjorie's husband), know how hard it has been--especially of late.

And maybe that's one of the greatest lessons from Howard's life. Maybe that's why God let Howard linger for longer than Howard wanted. Maybe it was to remind us that being gracious to others is less a function of how we feel and more a function of choosing to do so, and to be so.

We have been blessed in order to bless others. Do so today. Thanks, Howard.