For 20 of the last 22 years I worked in computer support. Then I quit my career and have been in seminary for the last two years.
I didn’t think I would ever go back to IT support (IT=Information Technology) but God has redirected me there again full-time, and shifted my seminary education to evenings starting next month. I love the opportunity. I loved what I did with computers and helping people, so it’s a joy every day to do it again–and even get paid for it.
Anyway, now I’m doing both, and interning at my church. It’s my first taste of bivocational ministry. Every day I learn how when those two things collide–the academia of seminary and the realm of computers or work–I am bound to laugh at what comes next. Like a few weeks ago, when a vendor we worth with came to the office and I was sort of introduced as “the preaching IT guy,” those are two careers you don’t often hear about coming together, so naturally people find it interesting. (Reactions I get should be another post one of these days.)
Well, this week was no exception to the amusement that can come from bivocational ministry.
While at my computer job, I was working with a consultant on a project. As we chit-chatted I summarized my career and seminary experience, like I just did for you. I told him about biblical languages, bivocational ministry, etc.
So it was pretty funny later in the day when, as he was explaining something new to me, he said, “I know you don’t you understand this part, it’s Greek to you…”
That’s when I laughed out loud. He was right, I didn’t understand, but I reminded him, “If it was Greek I would understand it!”
He paused and thought about it. “Oh yeah,” he said. “I guess you would.”
School
As this spring break/reading week draws to a close, there are only three more weeks of regular classes in my semester before finals. Some people like to say that the semesters fly by. This one has dragged on for me. Being at seminary, studying God’s Word, theology, biblical Greek, interacting with other Christians constantly… It’s all a great blessing, and I know there are thousands of men and women around the world who long to be able to be in my chair. I am not ungrateful. Still, from a human perspective, I do look forward to the semester wrapping up.
T4G 2012
Over this week I was able to attend the “Together for the Gospel” conference right here in Louisville. There were some excellent messages preached. I recommend checking out a sermon or two. Mark Dever’s and Ligon Duncan’s messages were very helpful to me, those or entirely others may speak to you All of them can be viewed for free here. Equally enriching to me at the conference were the singing and just the camaraderie with my fellow church interns and pastors, and then making new friends too.
Meatballs
Today was a day to catch up on sleep, try to get back on track with my diet to lose the remaining 6 lbs I want to, and just attend to all those “down from the mountaintop” duties of regular life that come with returning from a few days away. One thing to make the adjustment go much smoother: my wonderful wife made homemade meatballs! Between coming home from the conference last night and then knowing they are in a crock pot of sauce just a few feet away as I write, I’ve already had 3 of them! See, that’s why I need you to pray that I get back on track with my diet. (But they are delicious!)
Worship
I’ll leave you with just a snippet of video from the conference. I shot a little bit of the worship music so I could always remember how beautiful it sounded. As I tweeted earlier today, of all that I learned and experienced at the conference, nothing was as encouraging or as comforting as the song refrain we sang several times throughout the conference that reminded me, “Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.” We need nothing but him, but oh how we need our hearts to long for him still more and more!
It’s Great to be Back “Hi!” Wow, I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve said that. The spring semester has begun here at Southern Seminary, we’re already done with Week #2! Things are going great! Today I’m going to update you on some things, share some prayer requests, and then share a goofy little song that, I promise, you and I both don’t understand. (So don’t feel bad!)
Break Time is Over At the start of the winter break I preached at our local church Christmas morning. In January I got to guest-preach at another church. Then I finished a writing project for a ministry in California and jumped right into a new and exciting editing project for a client. I can’t tell you more yet, but it’s going to be great book and will help a lot of people who wonder if it is possible to ever really know for sure if they are saved. Looking back, I guess my break time wasn’t much of a break!
Reading Through the Bible When the last semester ended in December, I began an intensive Bible reading program. I’ve already read 600 pages and only have 400 to go. My goal is finish by my birthday in mid-March. You can pray that with all the busyness of the semester I don’t slack on that–an ironic thing that does happen in the lives of seminarians.
My Classes This Semester This semester I’m taking more Systematic Theology II, an intermediate Greek class, and a condensed class later this spring. In Systematic Theology, major topics we’ll be covering this semester are
- Creation and Providence
- Man (Humanity) / Man as Sinner
- The Doctrine of Christ (Christology) – His Person and His Work
- The Holy Spirit – The Person of the Godhead who applies the work of redemption to us
In April I’ll be attending the “Together for the Gospel” conference as an elective class. (Are you going to be there? If so, let’s try to meet up!)
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I’m taking ‘Greek Syntax & Exegesis’, a less fancy way to describe it is simply, “Intermediate New Testament Greek.” We’re applying the elementary things we learned last semester and diving right into the text, translating sentences and studying the text more closely. (If last semester was the difficulty of learning scales, this semester I’m fingering out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”) It is exciting to be reading the New Testament in the very language the original authors wrote it in–even if I’m doing it with a lot of help!! God has blessed us with a wonderful Book!!
Before I forget–> With the semester under way, my posts may be a bit infrequent. However, please do check back often because I’ve got a tool that automatically recycles older posts and puts them as fresh new posts at the main page. Already I’ve been surprised to read something and thought, “I wrote that?!” I hope you find that something old is new again!
If You Would Like Some Things to Pray About
- Of course classes, time-management, and honoring the Lord in my studies
- I have an opportunity to study abroad this coming summer and Amy would go too. Pray for God to provide if He desires us to go.
- Preaching opportunities–I need (and want) to develop in writing and delivering sermons
- I’ve applied for 3 different tuition scholarships, every little bit helps!
If you have something you’d like for me to praying for you about, email me at ‘comments anthonyfrusso.com’
Funny, Geeky Greeky Stuff In Greek class we’re learning sentence diagramming–breaking a sentence apart to see its construction. We looking at all the parts of speech and grammar (subject/noun, verbs, participles, adjectives, etc.), and all their various relationships (independent, dependent, relative clauses, etc.) Some student of Greek who has been down this path before me was inspired to express his (and now my!) learning curve in this task. I don’t know who this guy is, but he wrote a cute little song about it. No doubt he did when he needed a break from studying! Enjoy!
RT @WSJ: One of Donald Rumsfeld's rules for successful meetings: don't let anyone sit down. Full list - on.wsj.com/13syyNt1 week ago
Curious about the Bible? I always recommend this book. It's on sale. 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders amazon.com/dp/B006IED5R2/…1 week ago
For 20 of the last 22 years I worked in computer support. Then I quit my career and have been in seminary for the last two years.
