When the Dream Becomes Reality

We all have these dreams. You have them. I have them. One of mine for years was to teach at my alma mater, Indiana Wesleyan University. Well, I just found out not long ago that this fall, I will be teaching 2 classes of introductory New Testament. After my meeting with the division chair, it began to sink in that finally my dream has become a small reality.
I say small reality because I am simply teaching 2 classes, thus I am considered an "adjunct" faculty member. However, I believe this will be to my benefit since I have never taught on a regular basis before, and I do have a full-time job outside of teaching these 2 classes.
In writing this piece, I have been reflecting on what happens in our lives when our dreams become reality. Are we satisfied? What emotions do we have? Do we feel competent in this new reality?
I know right now I am tremendously excited, but also exceptionally nervous. I am excited because on every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:50am-9:15am and 12:05pm-1:30pm I will have the opportunity to open the New Testament up to freshmen in college who may have never seen the Bible in an in depth way or who may not even be Christians. I am excited because I feel as though I can build on what I liked from previous professors, but also what I did not like from previous professors. I am excited because I get to grow with my students as well. When they are studying the New Testament, I am studying the New Testament! Maybe I can even motivate them so much that some come out of the class with a new faith in Christ or even a call to the ministry.
However, I am also nervous. How will I do with classroom management? Will the students actually learn tons about the New Testament? Will I be too hard? Too easy? I also struggle with insecurity since I am not a Biblical scholar, yet I am a little further along the journey than these students will be, thus I feel as though I can bring something to the table that they will learn and be motivated.
All said, I will never cease to be amazed at how God brings our dreams to reality. My prayer is that we all can write a blog like this one. And may we never cease to dream, or share our dreams with others and with God.

About Time...

It is about time...that is what I say...I have not posted in almost 2 months, thus making it about time I post. All said, the last few months have been a whirlwind of an experience for my wife and myself. We have gone from employed, to unemployed (which is where we are currently), to soon to be employed again at College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana. There I will be in charge of all collegiate ministries along with a few other duties. I am soooo excited to begin there in August 2006. It will be nice to finally have an answer to what God has been trying to tell myself and Shannon. Essentially I have had to learn what to do when God says No! You see, I resigned my position at Spring Lake Wesleyan as high school pastor to pursue doctorate studies. But when no studies worked out and I was without a job, I began to wonder what God was doing. Finally I learned that He said no to the timing, no necessarily to the career path. I still am quite passionate about returning to academic life one day, but I am realizing it will not be now. It always seems to work this way you know. You map life out in one way, and God maps it out differently. I just preached at the North Michigan District High School Youth Camp and spoke out of Luke 5:1-11. It was there I learned that, as so often happens, that message was for me. You see, these 3 guys thought they would simply be fisherman all their lives. HOwever, Christ had different plans. Funny how that happens...But then that begs the question, "why make plans at all if God is going to just change them last minute?" But maybe that is just part of the journey...either way...I am just glad God provided, and in a way that is quite exciting!