Checking in from seminary

Been a while since I had a moment to peek at TMan. Started Dallas Theological Seminary studies a month ago and heading back to studies, especially at the graduate level, is pretty tough and intense but it's all "do-able". Sorta like trapping coyotes - just don't quit. Perhaps my biggest lesson thus far is simply that faith precedes knowledge - not knowledge precedes faith. Backwards of how we've lived our lives as the humans with the most opportunity to gather information as anyone before us in human history. Hope all my trapping brothers are doing well and getting geared up for the fall season!

The statue here at DTS of Jesus washing Peter's feet. This spot, in our central courtyard on campus gets a lot of prayer time... especially around exam time!


I'm going to need the fur market to start paying more for fur... the cost of books is real. These are my first semester reading materials. Good thing I like to read!


Blessings from Dallas y'all!
Mark

Wish I were that with you .
Dont think I would pass the enterance exam tho.

Newt,

Regardless of whether you passed the exam or not, I promise you - they'd remember you sir!

Keep on keeping on Mark.

Thanks senior trap,
Got to.
I miss that weather in Michigan though!
Whew, it's hot in Texas.

Nice to hear from you glad your enjoying your studies. Books are unreal wife and I couldn't believe some of the cost when she was studying for her masters.
Take care God bless
J

Proud and happy for you. Sounds like you are enjoying your new challenge. Funny you pop up I was just bragging on you to a friend yesterday.

I'm glad it's going well Mark. Thanks for the update. I recognize a few of those book from my School of Ministry days.
How are you liking Greek? When is Hebrew? I haven't learned Greek yet, but have studied Hebrew. I'll see if I can dig up my Greek lexicon for you.

Thanks illinitrap and turkn8rtrapper, appreciate the kind words.

Adam m, I'm actually headed to study Greek right now as exam on Tuesday. It's tough, no doubt as the pace is swift. I'll take 6 semesters here at DTS and 4 semesters of Hebrew. Hebrew doesn't start for my schedule until next year and they say it's a bit easier. Greek is somewhere between Spanish and German as far as complexity and degree of difficulty for us who speak English.

As far as the Lexicon, I'm all set. Good books plus a premier program called Logos that we'll have for life. It's an incredible resource that we use every day.
Appreciate the offer.

MJ

Awesome, good luck on the test Mark. I've heard Greek is tough. We were supposed to study it during my classes but courses changed at the last minute. Sweet. Hebrew can be a challenge. If you need some great materials I can dig them up for you as I have several different books. Hopefully they are ther ones you'll need so you won't need to buy them. Logos is awesome for sure. I dropped my laptop it was on and lost it all my sermons included
You're welcome.

Good job Mark.
My BA is from St. charles Boromeo seminary in philadelphia.
Yep...was going to be a priest once when I was a young man. Wasnt for me, but the BA and the experience were priceless. Taught grade school every Thursday in west philly, st Ignatius parish. Was a long trolley ride from st charles and way different world for a kid who grew up in a town of just 1,600 in southeast nebraska.
Got to serve for installation of a new cardinal at philly cathedral. Got to serve meals at a soup kitchen in bronx over Thanksgiving weekend too. I took two years of Latin and Greek at same time. Ugh! Way too many cool experiences to list on here. Most humbling and rewarding career there is.
Good for you for taking a stab at this and I pray you have a rewarding journey.
Jim

Great to hear that your getting along good Mark! My daughter and I have been watching reducing the numbers over and over the last few weeks trying to keep the scratch itched leading up to season. Your buddy RJ gave her an ounce of RJ 138 to use this year so she’s dead set she’s gonna catch her a coyote! Good luck with your schooling

Mark I think you will love the Greek once you catch hold of it. To me it was a very
Expressive language. Knowing the Greek makes the actions of scripture come alive in my mind.
Those Greek verb tenses are wonderfully expressive. I know God will use you in great ways

Glad all is going well. What religion church are you studying to become?

Good luck on the test sir.

But I must confess I thought the title of the thread when I first glanced at it was " Checking in from the SANITORIUM" LOL

Prayers and best wishes for you and your family.

One of my brothers is the pastor of a medium size church. Years ago, before he finished and got his first church, I used to think a pastor worked on the sermon for a few hours a week, preached on Sunday, and had the rest of his time to do as he pleased. Wow, was I mistaken. I don't know anyone who is busier with their job than he is. It is a rare thing for him to get away more than a few hours a week.

Good luck in your studies. It is a good thing you are doing.

I bet that's tough schooling, but awful rewarding. God bless!

Thanks for the nice comments and the PMS from a good many friends also. Very humbling and very much appreciated.

It was my birthday today and we spent it watching our 11 year grandson Cameron play in a baseball tournament. Great day with the family. While some were saying that my "son" was doing well today, I'm blessed with good health and it was fun to tell folks he's my grandson. Heck Donna looks so much younger than this old dog, that'll really confuses 'em. But I guess I'm not too old yet to take a different path in a major way to be obedient to the calling that's on our hearts.

My blessings certainly include a wife who supports me in so many ways, as we trust in God for tomorrow's plans.

....And when I'm not in studies, (DTS is a non-denominational seminary), Donna and I will be trapping a bunch as usual. So the coyotes aren't all outta the woods quite yet!

My family is praying for you and your family. DTS is a special place. Take care!

Believing in God is one thing, Gaining the faith in God to follow that belief is another. I hope and trust your training will help you to bring many more to have faith that will strengthen their life.

I frequently think of Jonah as he was running or sailing away from God's call and the shipwreck killed many due to his lack of courage and faith. He did not want to go to Nineveh where God called him to go as he felt they were unworthy of redemption. When he preached they changed their ways and Jonah got mad and went out of the city and pouted. I trust you will find turning people to God a rewarding call and that all are worthy of the blessing.

God's speed to you and your family.

Bryce

The Holy Ghost always reminds me of the beautiful soliloquy of St. Paul in his exhortation in The Hebrews of "By Faith". Our Heavenly Father reveals Himself in and through all, but it always comes down to that whispered inner doubt, and the need to take that step in believing God, for Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God. By Faith we are all justified before God in Christ and by Faith we are righteous before God in believing Him as St. Paul explains by the Holy Ghost.
My father in law is an egg head who kept lecturing about witnesses and proof, because he could not believe. He finally went silent concerning the teaching of Faith as it was the reality of everyone has to trust in God at some point as there are always doubts.
Abraham Lincoln summed it up for most people in "You believe what you can and you take the rest on Faith". The knowledge is sown into the heart, and it sprouts to Faith, some taking root and in most it does not. If only people had as much Faith in God as God has Faith to love them past the condemnations of their own hearts.
God bless.

Pawnee,

Thank you brother for the prayers!
You are correct about DTS. There are 60 nations represented here on campus taught by those who are known across the globe, yet they are as humble as I've ever seen. It's a contrast to the world we live in, that's for sure, and it's noticeable day one here. I'm taking a bible interpretation class from Dr. Bailey, the outgoing (long time) president here at DTS, and he's a special man for sure.

Bryce, There has been more than a few moments that Donna and I have wondered... what are we doing? You know, we're told that when we get to a certain spot in life, or a certain age, I guess we've supposed to go fishing, or travel, or a host of "things". But we've prayed and sought God's council and we both agree we'll equip for yet another chapter of life this side of eternity, and see where God would use us. Not so much where we want to go, because we have no plans, but where He would have us help those who could use a bit of help.
Trust me Bryce, there are a few we know that wonder if we bumped our heads. Nope, God has given us great blessings for so many years, both in business and in health and we're humbled to the point of obedience to a new direction in many ways.

The coyotes on about 5 ranches are still in trouble during the months of November, December, and May however!

Star flakes,

Good points. Since the beginnings of the modern enlightened age, about 150 years ago, up until today, we're taught that science and philosophy and the human mind gain gain and figure out all that is true. And that's the world we live in.

That makes you smile if you really think about that for a moment.
We just had a great speaker at chapel, a multi-credentialed physician who also holds degrees in theology, law and a host of other areas (Wow!) share with us how he's involved in work in animal species and the change they make to their environment, and it's changing how scientists perceive certain "certainties".

We were ALL taught, as they have from the late 19th century, that Darwinism and evolution explains how mankind and animals have evolved slowly over millions of years and adapt as the strongest and fittest breed their way into existence. Only problem, is... as science gets better, they are now learning that certain species can/do mutate in one or two generations to adapt to their environment. That signifies a creator, not a process!

Hmm

This is the website for some pretty fascinating research coming from the Institute for Creation Research.

https://www.icr.org/homepage

My son will be very happy to hear about you Mark. We saw a couple of your videos, and at a couple of conventions. We learned a lot from you. He is currently at Martin Luther College in New Ulm Mn. He is on their Pastor track there. He had started to keep quiet about his plans when he was in high school because of the ribbing he got when he talked about it. It was hard for some to understand since he football and wrestling conference champ. Now he is still a bit out of the norm since he went to public school and most everyone else spent 4 years in a Lutheran school. He'll be very happy to hear someone like you is doing this also.

I don't envy the work you two are doing, but I think I would have really enjoyed his Bible History class. Then being able to read to the original text of the Bible when he gets to the Seminary in Meqoun WI.

Thank-you for sharing this.

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You're most welcome trapdad.

nyhuntfish - now that is creative brother!

that is interesting. which ones and what did they adapt too?

I wish somebody would catch some georgia swamp beaver alive. You know the ones who don't really make big bank dens, stick houses or feed piles. Haul em up to northern MN WI or something in may and put them in a contained environment. I would like to see what they do.

Danny,

I sat through the presentation and there were quite a few documented species, from birds to fish, and on and on. Heck, they were talking about the fact that science is learning blue eyes may not be a recessive gene after all. Newer technological techniques show blue eyes are a genetic progressor, not regressor, so maybe blue is it's own "trait" and not an evolutionary trait. Hmm?

The link I gave will take you to the website where some interesting things are happening from those who do not buy into the "fact" that evolution is how we got here to this point and time. Darwinism was taught to me in undergrad and grad biology studies as "fact", capital F. But who says? Darwin? Others? Others that they taught?

Sorta like climate change is viewed by the "scientific community" as a whole as "fact". But by whom and for how much $$$ did they throw their name with a bunch of initials behind it in the ring?

As I sat in entomology class in the late 1970's I said to myself (not my professors), ain't no way these all mutated one to another from another. There's way too many forms and way too many functions of these forms and way too many... well you get my thinking.

I believe there's a creator and we're not gifted enough at our level to figure out that whom created the galaxies.

I couldn't find anything about one/two generations to mutate in order to adapt.

Danny,

There's a wealth of info at that site.
There are many research papers at the "Publication" - "technical papers" link;

If interested, here you go:
ICR

http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/list.html#CB

Here is one for you. I don't have the science background to argue any of that stuff.

Even I can see mutations. That animals are mutating today in ways to adapt to their environment interests me. I googled it but nothing came up

The medical doctor who spoke to us at chapel from ICR last week is originally from SD, and is one neat dude. While reading one issue of the ICR magazine some years ago, he pivoted on all the science reasoning handed him over his vast years of training, from Harvard to here to there, and while he had a pile of initials after his name, the more he learned the more he knew something didn't smell right at the fish market every time. As an example - mutations... he spoke on that. Said we're learning they can be adaptions in very fast fashion to an animal's environment and not specifically as some vast evolutionary plan. To say that mutations occur quickly flies in the face of evolution, taught as a tedious process. Remember how we're taught dinosaurs lived millions of years ago? There is questioning now about carbon dating and that technology and perhaps it should be revisited as far as scientific reliability. Can you imagine what that would mean if dinosaurs died out millennia ago instead of millions of years. Uh-oh.

You know, it's interesting that a scientist's (Darwin) views in the mid 1800's have parked upon our culture like a vulture sitting on dove eggs. What if "that guy" wasn't correct? That's a game changer. Science is taught to us as "truth" but what if it isn't? Who says? Or what if we can't be sure?
Try telling your teacher that you don't agree with a text book written by humans who often have an agenda that they pursue. "F"

Good pondering, but I'm siding with a God who probably has a good chuckle every time one of His created says "they" have the answers!

Probably never have irrefutable proof about any of it. Its impossible for me personally though to just believe in magic.

Think of it more as mystery, not magic.

There are things we just can't explain. Mankind has always tried to explain any host of occurrences, heck I try to explain why a coyote didn't step where I showed him to step, and there things we just don't really know. Mystery.

Once you grapple and are OK with not being able to answer some things, that's not insecurity or grasping in the wind, that's a humbleness that any of us or even the collective of all of us can't answer all things. And that's OK the way I figure it.

Science seeking truth has been fruitful and brought so many inventions and comforts, we all like living here and now. That seems to be a good thing. To think that we of limited capacity and a heart for selfishness could forge ahead and figure out complexities the likes of which we can't fathom is not really 100% rational.

I don't buy my family tree or your family tree Danny evolved from primates. Never have, never will.
Mystery of creation is all around us and trappers more than most can appreciate the grandness of it all.

Stay after it. Logos is your friend.
It is very humbling to realize that with all the ways God could speak to mankind, he has chosen you as part of that voice.
Live blessed.

Words of wisdom preacherman.
Thank you and I wish you blessings as well.

"Preach the Word" is the motto of DTS. A strong tradition of conservative teaching and preaching.
Chuck Swindoll is our chapel speaker tomorrow... I always come away from his sermons/talks/teachings with a renewed hope along with a greater degree of humility.

Good luck Mark!

As I sat in entomology class in the late 1970's I said to myself (not my professors), ain't no way these all mutated one to another from another. There's way too many forms and way too many functions of these forms and way too many... well you get my thinking.

I believe there's a creator and we're not gifted enough at our level to figure out that whom created the galaxies.


Well said Mark!!! I agree completely!!!

Thanks Cornfedcoon.

gman, yessir.
You know, it sorta takes an irrational thought process to think:
That we as rational thinkers can know all things.

They call Christians irrational (or worse) but:
What if the human brain never does figure out the cure for X or the causes of Y or the solutions to Z.

I'll stand on the faith that we're not as savvy as we think we are, but that the God of the heavens has a merciful sense of humor
and watches us swashbuckle around like we got this and in the meantime...
His sovereign plan never ceases.

But we cease (die) unless we're saved through grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone.

Thanks for the update, Mark June. I believe in creation as well.

Mark, sorry to change the subject but I bought your coyote trapping DVD, "Reducing the Numbers" a while ago and just got around to watching it tonight. The cooler day has me thinking about the upcoming season so I sat down and watched it. Very good job on it, enjoyed it a lot and learned a lot too!!

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff,

Many thanks! Gets the juices flowing when you smell the crisp air and the urge builds to load the truck full of gear.
Glad you enjoyed the DVD. Poured some heart and soul into "Reducing the Numbers" for sure.

Good luck this season.

Mark

Good for you Mark. Many people have told me I should have been a Pastor but I just haven't felt called. I do enjoy giving the message when my pastor in away but just don't feel led to full time ministry, at least not yet. I think the ministry will be very difficult in the years ahead but also very rewarding. God Bless you and I pray God will use you Mightily.

Thanks Blue Mt. Man. Appreciate the nice comments.
Not sure what our planning is for the future, but not having a full laid out plan is actually kind of a nice change of pace. Donna and I have no doubt He'll show us the plan in His time, not ours.

I would agree that the years ahead may more be difficult but life through the centuries has never been a cake walk. We're so comfy in our western world, we think a bad day is being stuck in traffic. A bad day for the Chinese students here on the DTS campus is having their studies "discovered" while they are here studying by the communist government back in China - and then their families still in China being in big, big trouble.

We're not allowed to take pictures in any manner of certain individuals we don't know here at DTS as many are from persecuted regions of this globe where the underground church is the only means by which the gospel message of Jesus is heard and taught.

We really do have a cushy lifestyle. I personally love air conditioning here in Texas!!

Thanks for sharing your experience @ seminary. It sounds interesting.