Orientation Day!!

What a GREAT day, y'all!  

(fyi..."y'all" snuck into my vocab in Lynchburg, not Texas!)

Went to Orientation this morning where "Chaplain Bill", this 70+ year old man who's been here at DTS for decades led us in several hymns.  Then, he began to welcome us and he quoted a few Scripture passages...  and wouldn't you know, the second one he starts saying is the one that is carrying me through this journey of transition:  

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He who calls you, He also will do it."  

When God chooses to surprise us like that, it's like an inside joke, only it's not silly... it's such a blessing.  He's intimately aware and in control of the happenings of our lives. 

We were addressed & challenged by Dr. Mark Bailey, the President of DTS(who told us he'd been hanging with the Prez of the US in Beijing last week because DTS has a successful Chinese online program).  

After a few hours of what to wear, what not to wear, who to contact, what they offer, where to pay, church stuff, Q&A...  they brought in every faculty member present today and introduced them.  The stage was filled with mostly men, a few women, whose teaching, contagious love for the word of God  & the God of the Word, doctrine, etc has impacted thousands of students...who in turn are reaching this world.  It was incredible to me... Even more so when I realized... they're teaching me now.  And what on earth is God going to do with this life for His glory?  WOW... 

Several people shared bits of advice and wisdom.  Apparently, it's common for seminary people to get so caught up in the knowledge aspect that they neglect their own walk with God.  We were warned and admonished in love several times to make both a priority and to view assignments and classes as opportunities to deepen our faith, not only our minds.  So, that's something you could add to a prayer list for me... that I keep that balance...

That's why I'm here.  Not for the degree.   I want to know this God I'm so crazy about in ways I have never known, never seen, never looked deep enough to KNOW Him. 

A great bit of advice that I needed to hear most today was to remember not to rush this degree just because you don't want to be here forever (hello, that had my name written all over it!)... but to realize this 5 year block of time is not only the means to an end, but is life for this season and to make the most of it, enjoy it, live fully in it... 

  

Then, we had a break for lunch where they divided all us newbies (maybe 200 ish people, i'm not a good estimator) into groups of about 7 with 2 faculty members and we had our lunch in a classroom somewhere on campus.  It was great to get to know some new people and see who God put together in the room.  We weren't in there because of degree program or anything, just how it happened.  

One of the faculty members in my group was Dr. Joye Baker who is involved in Women's Ministry classes  & advising(coincidence?  i think not).  One of the students in there has been interning at McLean Bible (huge church in northern VA) for the past year!  Small world.  

So after the group met, we were heading back to the chapel for the afternoon portion of orientation where we were welcomed into chapel by Chaplain Bill, who was no kidding, leading us in 2 non-"worship" songs.  The whole group of us sang "The Stars at Night are Big & Bright (clap-clap-clap-clap) Deep in the Heart of Texas" and "Home, Home on the Range"!   It was ridiculously funny!   I think I should add that to my "Only in Texas" post! 

The orientation stuff ended with an information fair where we got to take care of a lot of loose ends... get our ID pictures taken, register with the fitness center as a student, ask questions... there were raffles, etc.  It was really helpful.  

Then, I went to a Christian Ed department meeting for new students, designed for us to learn a little more about the department, etc and got to chat again with Dr. Baker.  There's a connection there.  God's doing something.  You know how you can just tell something wasn't by chance?  Yeah, this was kind of like that.  

So, tomorrow is another big day:  Assessment testing in the morning, Women's Student Luncheon, and then a dinner with students and faculty at a local restaurant, compliments of the school!  Fun, huh?!  

I am so excited for school to start!  YAY!  Who says that? 

Do me a favor and remind me of my zeal in about a month, ok?  :o)