Into the Silence...

   Every fall Nashotah holds a three day retreat.  Classes cease and the routines that we've learned these past few weeks are put on hold.  In the Benedictine tradition the entire House takes time each year to spend in personal silent retreat.  Each morning there will be a time to gather for an address by the former dean of the school, Retired Bishop of Quincey, Donald Parsons.  During meals there will be no conversations taking place.   The entire campus will cease it's chatter in hopes of hearing from God.  This will continue for the next three days.  It is a time for personal reflection, meditation, and prayer.  It is a time of listening....listening to the voice of God...and reflecting on what he teaches us.  So I will not be posting or emailing or calling for the next three days and I appreciate the prayers of God's people that I would be open to what God wants to show me in the days ahead.

German Potato Soup

Now that the leaves are falling and the first traces of autumn have arrived, it is time to pull out the old crock pot once again.  A fellow seminarian shared this receipe with me and it was quick, easy, and very tasty.  So for all looking for an easy meal with sauerkraut...enjoy....

You'll need:

1 pound cooked smoked sausage

14 oz frozen pkg has browns with pepper and onion

16 oz sauerkraut rinsed and drained

3 TBS brown mustard

3 cans chicken broth

Cut sausage lengthwise and cut into 1/2 slices.  Place sausage, potatoes, sauerkraut, and mustard in a crock pot.  Pour broth over and cover.  Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

There are moments...

     There are moments, even in seminary, when you wonder what in the world has happened to the life you once knew.  Mine came yesterday in the midst of Greek class.  I remember hearing something about prepositions and how that one word could have one to three meanings depending on the word following it...and then I lost all knowledge of time and space.  It was as if someone had reached inside my brain and started mixing it like cookie dough.  I wasn't in the best of moods when I finally returned to the sanctity of my little apartment and found viewing several episodes of Lost to be somewhat cathartic.  After evening chapel several of us got together to shop and eat.  I needed some black jeans for chapel as this week I take my turn at being the bell ringer.  It's a rather big responsibility for us juniors and Jake walked me through my various tasks yesterday, but more of that later.  Being with others made me feel much better.  To add to my blessings I received two packages.  One included a card from my church and another from Pat who sent me a handmade winter muffler.  It made me ever so thankful for those who continue to pray for me many miles from home.  All in all I'm very blessed to be here experiencing life with such a supportive community...but there are moments.

Early Morning Prayers

     Darkness prevailed as I made my way to the chapel at about 6am.  Today was our day of prayer for Carol Klukas.  From the moment she arrived at the hospital for her colon surgery at 5:30am until she was in the recovery room and beyond, students at Nashotah were in prayer on her behalf.  Students signed up for 15 minutes time periods to ask God to heal and restore Carol's body as well as to bring peace and comfort to her husband Arnie.      During class someone checked for email updates concerning her condition and by lunch time we were told that she came through the procedure beautifully and resting comfortably.  It will be a week before tests reveal the extent of the cancer, but at this point things look very good.  As you are able continue to pray that God would..."Sanctify the sickness of your servant Carol that the sense of her weakness may add strength to her faith..."

Reading, reading, and more reading...

     You know the drill.  Go to class and take this book home and read it by tomorrow.  There may be a quiz on it on Monday...but maybe not.  Walking the line of a student can be quite the challenge some days. You read a page only to realize that you haven't any idea what you've just read.  Or perhaps after an hour or so you awaken to find your head buried in some tex...t literally...and hoping no one saw you.  Well today feels like one of those days.  The books I'm going through at the moment are historical and biblical.  How does one piece together the extensive and somewhat complicated history of the Christian Church?  Another one deals with the reading of Scripture and how the Old and New Testaments link together.  It's actually quite interesting reading that demands deep concentration proving a challenge at times.  Coming from me that sounds a bit strange to many of my friends.  I'm the one who was always reading something, but when it's your job it takes on a whole new meaning.  I'm learning how to read fast when I prefer to take my time and savor each page.  In actuality it just takes me a bit longer to comprehend it all.  In any case I'm diving back in.  Wish me God's speed...

He Will Supply...Indeed...

     It's been a little over a month since I arrived and every stroll around the campus tends to amaze me in some sense.  It's not only the beauty I'm surrounded by here at Nashotah, but how my life has so dramatically changed in twelve months.  A year ago would have found me in North Carolina, teaching first grade and quite content to remain there for several more years.  Now my life finds me on a whole new path, with a new vision and purpose, and basking in this new adventure God has permitted me to take.  If I could have seen my life now when I was 25, I would have thought it impossible.
     Another thing I continually think of as impossible is how one does actually pay for a seminary education these days.  I remember calling Carol Klukas last summer and asking if perhaps waiting a year wouldn't be the wiser thing to do.  I still remember her telling me to come and see what God does.  "It never ceases to amaze me how God provides."  Today was one of those times.
     I've been waiting for an expected package to arrive and with my refectory duties had no time for a  quick visit to the mailroom.  Meredith said she'd stop and get my mail and bring it to Greek class this afternoon.  By the time I arrived, class had started but I saw that an envelop with my name on it was near my computer.  It wasn't what I was expecting and didn't even have any postage or return address on the front.  "It's probably a reminder or note about something," I thought as I opened it.  Inside was a note sharing with me that my school account had been credited...for $4000.00.  A gift from someone in Texas.  Let's just say my mind was not even close to thinking about Greek prepositions for the next 45 minutes.

     In the midst of the class my mind flashed to my morning walk and the prayer that I had read.  "Grant that I, Lord, may not be anxious about earthly things, but love things heavenly; and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, hold fast to those that shall endure..."  Anyone who knows me realizes how difficult it is to trust God...especially with money.  It's one thing I'd rather handle myself...and yet here I am learning to let God supply...more than I can ever ask or think.  Thank you kind stranger for letting God use you to teach me more about trust and the vast reaches God has for all of his children.

Saturdays are for Friends

    



After morning chapel I hurried home for a bowl of Cheerios.  Even though I had much to do, it felt good to be out of a normal weekday schedule and dealing with time  on my own terms.  Moses arrived and we headed out for haircuts and then some grocery shopping.  Moses Hataw is a visiting student from Burma, studying here for two years before returning home to teach.  He spent the afternoon teaching me to cook the way they do in his country and then we invited Sarah and Nathaniel from next door to enjoy the feast.  I've never knew rice could taste so good.  For the remainder of the afternoon we worked through our Greek homework but didn't finish (does one ever actually finish Greek homework?)  We were too exhausted to focus another minute on parsing nouns (don't ask) and declining verbs...so we chose reclining instead.   By the time the dinner hour beckoned  I was too tired to eat but did it anyway.  Sarah knocked on the door to say there was pizza next door.  Tomorrow Moses is due to return sometime after dinner so we can finish our homework and study for a Greek quiz on Monday.  It seems as if Greek takes up a bit of time... as much as I talk about it...and it does.  I'm enjoying the class and learning the language of the Bible, but it does take some effort.

Dr. Carol Klukas

When I arrived on campus last March, it was Carol Klukas who met me after a long flight in the Refectory.

"You must be Rusty," she said as her warm smile greeted me.

"I have been looking forward to seeing you since 2004."  Several years before I had registered to attend a similar weekend but things hadn't worked out at the time.  For the next several days we spoke, shared and connected.  When the weekend finally commenced we caught each other for one more brief conversation and mentioned to each other how it had felt we'd known each other a long time.  Through the application process we talked often and she was always so encouraging.  In July I'd called to say I wasn't sure what to do.  The house hadn't sold (still not a buyer), funds were low, and I was thinking perhaps the timing wasn't just right.  I remember her telling me not to worry and to trust God...He would supply all my needs.  God used her in a great way to begin the journey I'm now on and I thank Him daily for her presence here on campus.  This week Carol found out she was beginning another kind of journey.  On Tuesday she went in for a colonoscopy and found out that there is cancer in her colon.  She will have surgery next week.  I saw her for a moment this afternoon and she greeted me with a big hug and her usual glowing smile.  She feels the prayers of God's people...but I'd like her to feel some more.  During your prayers this week would you say an extra one for Carol, her husband Arnie and her family?  God is so ready to do more than we can ask or think.

ps...Carol's in the middle of the photo...Roy and Meridath, fellow Junior Seminarians join her...

Mail Room Glory

When a package arrives in the seminary mailroom it's a big event.  I hadn't even been to check my mail when someone stopped me on my way to the refectory.

"Hey Rusty...you got a package in the mailroom."  Accepting the news with a slight smile I didn't get my hopes up too high.  Perhaps it was just a box of forwarded mail or maybe some books I'd left behind in North Carolina.  Before I could finish lunch another fellow seminarian let it be known that a box was awaiting me in the mailroom and it looked "big."  Now my curiosity was getting the best of me. So before choir rehearsal I peddled my bike over to the mailroom and I indeed had hit the jackpot.  A former parent of mine at Summit School had not forgotten me all the way up here in Wisconsin.  She sent a warm blanket, a good book by Donald Miller (how did you know?), several canisters of New Moravian pumpkin cookies, tea, and a card.  On the handwritten envelope were the words, "Don't forget about us."  How could I?  It's the simple things in life that mean so much as I spent the rest of the day feeling special.  Thanks Jennifer, Austin, Garrett, and Blake...for not only a wonderful taste of home if only in my dreams....

Late Nights...

     It's nearly midnight and I haven't cracked a book since lunchtime.  After our classes and lunch I made my way back to my Greek support group.  Actually Nashotah provides an additional resource on Tuesday and Thursday for those special students like me who just can't seem to get enough on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.  Immediately following we had a seminar on the Bible Works Software which we'll be using in Greek and various other classes.  The hour and a half demonstration was enough to make your head spin.  I can't begin to explain it at the moment, but when I understand it I'll pass along the information as I receive it.  We had Evening Prayer at 4 and upon its completion several of us jumped into a car and headed to Kenosha, Wisconsin.  When I visited Nashotah last March with my rector, Father Ben, he introduced me to Phillip Anderas a student here last year.  Since I arrived in August we've had the chance to get together a few times and email.  Tonight was Phillip's ordination as a Deacon.  It was a wonderful service where I got to meet an AMIA bishop and reconnect with William Beasley, the rector of the first AMIA church I attended in Chicago.  It was a great night and I know how much Father Ben would have liked to have been there. I've yet to read Polycarp for Historical Theology in about 8 hours and I'm fading fast. Wish me luck...

Test Taking...

Just for perspective the picture on the right is my view of the classroom from where I sit in Classroom 1. At Nashotah all Juniors (first year students) stay in the same room each morning while the teachers are the ones who move around. For students it means we can bring in comfortable office chairs, leave materials we don't want to carry back and forth, and even coffee makers! It's all part of making the environment more conducive for learning...and I'm quite happy with it. The picture on the left is near the end of our class with Dr. Garwood Anderson our Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek. This semester I find myself sitting in two of his classes which include Greek and Biblical Interpretation. Today we had our first Greek quiz so a group of us spent the weekend learning our 30 vocabulary words, verb endings, and the different endings for Nominative and Accusative nouns and Direct Objects. As the bell rang for our 10:40 class all the feelings I'd remembered from previous educational settings returned. I recalled the fear of having a mental meltdown and all the information studied would be lost in space or perhaps the sense of controlled panic as the pile of test papers made their way closer. Finally I prayed the infamous, "Dear Father give me Total Recall...lest I perish! My personal dignity rests on this!" As of this writing I am quite confident that I did not fail and my quiz revealed that if I can learn that much Greek in just four class sessions just think what I'll know by the end of the term. I've heard it's just enough to make me dangerous...

A New Church Home

It's always a bit challenging finding

a new church home in another place.

Every group of Christians share so much in common...and yet it

can be so different from the

people you came to know

and love at your former

place of worship. I met Father

Thad Butcher briefly at the House a few weeks ago and had visited Zion Church a few weeks ago. Yesterday I met several people from the church at the SEWAAC conference and they encouraged me to return. During Sunday School this morning they were finishing up a DVD series put out by Focus on The Family entitled, "That the World Might Know." Ray Vander Laan, historian and teacher, leads a group to the top of Herod's Temple near Bethlehem and shares about the social climate at the time of Jesus' birth. It lead into a wonderful discussion about how as Christians we live in the shadows of seemingly powerful entities and yet the power of Christ within us is so much stronger. Herod's temple now stands in ruins, Jesus Christ is alive and well. After morning worship there was a small taste testing upstairs of foods that Karen Kronke would have adored and I had a nibble...or four. The top picture is of Judy who extended the invitation to worship and the other is with Julayne another member of Zion. Father Thad have made plans to connect soon in regards to how I can serve and I'm looking forward to that discussion.

Another busy Saturday

Riding to chapel for Morning Prayer I hesitated for a moment at a somewhat unlikely site. I couldn't help but notice this beautiful and yet somewhat threatening tree. Although I generally love the appearance of fall foliage and the beauty it brings, this year it brings a much different message...so pray for me that I might learn to praise God in a much colder climate.

After breakfast I made my way back to the Refectory where about 30 folks had gathered for a meeting of the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of the American Anglican Council. It seems that there has been a gathering storm in the Episcopal Church for years and this orthodox movement has left ( or are considering doing so) the Church to remain true to what Scripture teaches. Having not grown up in the Episcopal Church I am unaware of all the events and decisions that have led up to the break in fellowship, but I agree with what they desire to do and that is to Preach Christ Crucified to a lost world. After introductions by our Dean, Father J. Philip Ashley spoke from Joshua 1 about what needed to be left behind from our pasts to proceed onward to what God has for us in the future. Oftentimes we hold on to the past so much that we fail to see what great plans God has for us in the future. I know how easy that is to do and have found myself doing that recently. "If only I'd stayed in North Carolina...I wouldn't be dealing with all the uncertainty of the present." It was a message to me of not looking behind but pressing ahead toward this new calling...and with God's help...I will.

Meet the new Junior Class Refectorian

Each year a member of the Junior Class (that's me) is selected to do some task at the House to receive some scholarship funds to help one in the financing of a seminary education. There are various opportunities including Chapel Scholar, Choral Scholar, and a host of others. One of the scholarships deals with helping run the Refectory, the place where we gather for social gatherings and eating. There are 3 Refectorians one from the Junior, Middler, and Senior classes. Today I was made aware that I had been chosen as the new kid on the block in the Refectory. I'll be spending time organizing volunteers in the kitchen and making sure things get done properly. Next week I'll begin training with Andrew and Mark to learn more of what my exact responsibilities will be. It appears to be a wonderful way to get to know other folks on campus and especially those in other classes. The best part is that provides some financial resources which will come in mighty handy in the days, weeks and years ahead.

Getting to Know You...

Every Thursday following chapel everyone heads off to the refectory for breakfast where we grab our food and then sit down with our small groups. Each group is lead by someone here at Nashotah and mine happens to be Father Klukas who entertains us weekly with his storytelling skills and encouraging words. There are five other students in the group besides myself including Susi, Matthew, Kevin, Jake, and Dr. John. Several of us are new to Nashotah and it was good to know that some of the others went through similar experiences when they first arrived. Not having been a student for quite a while there are definite setbacks in not knowing things like you did in your "other" life. As I teacher I actually knew what I was doing from time to time. Now the tables have been turned and I'm finding myself the needy one. I no longer can answer my own questions and I don't always know where the money is coming from. Having a steady paycheck would be a great asset here but many of us have sold homes and are now living on limited budgets. Since I've been here I'm not sure I've completely slept through the night once. I seem to wake up around 3am with my mind thinking about something or other... than I pick up something to read until sleep claims me once again. It was nice to learn that my fellow seminarians could relate to many of my experiences. Susi asked if I needed someone to pray with and Jake offered study support. Without such a caring and encouraging community I'm not sure how I'd make it...and I'm not interested in finding out. Thanks be to God.

Work Crew

One aspect of community life here at Nashotah House is work crew. Once a week on Monday afternoons students find themselves working together on campus in various activities. Since we were out of school on Monday we had our first gathering this afternoon. Some groups worked outside on the grounds, some in the chapel, and some in the library. The real special people got to work in Kemper Hall (that's me) where we get to do things like sweeping floors, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, and chores like that. Kemper Hall is where our classrooms are located as well as the school gymnasium. Today my comrades in arms were Jonathon and Tom and I'm positive that when everyone takes their seats in the morning the first words out of their mouths will be, "This room looks awesome." But I'm not holding my breath. The purpose in our work is based on the Rule of St. Benedictine who holds that there are three things vital to community life which include prayer, study and work. Now it's time to run home because I've got some Greek studying to do.

New neighbors = New friends...

Isn't it amazing how fast 24 hours can go? It's been years since I was in school with assignments, study groups, and very late nights. Climbing into bed with a book used to come at around 9pm...now it's more like midnight. The plus side is I can actually sleep in until 6:45am when last year as a teacher I was getting up at 5:30am.
You'll probably be hearing a lot about my neighbors so I might as well introduce them. Nathaniel and Sarah come from Colorado Springs, Colorado. They were married in December of 2007 and less than a year later spent over 6 months traveling all over India and Pakistan. They're the kind of neighbors that knock on your door with a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies to share and the kind that you can sit down with at the kitchen table and chat about anything. Nathaniel's great with computers and he spent some his weekend downloading a free operating system and setting up my new laptop. They're also the kind of of neighbors who buy dog treats when they don't even own one and share them with yours. Abby, my golden retriever, now stands in front of their screen door waiting for Sarah to come out with something to snack on. We're both staying for the three year MDiv program which gives us plenty of time to get to know he other. God is indeed supplying my every need.

Labor Day

The serenity of the House is apparent everywhere. With our first three day weekend of the year most appear to be hunkered down with a book. I know that's what I've been doing the past few days. At the moment I'm reading a book on the history of the Church as well as the early writings of one of the church fathers, Clement. When I need a drink from the frig I stop by my bookshelf to catch a glimpse of one of the Greek vocabulary words I need to remember. For most seminarians I've spoken with, taking Greek is like a right-of-passage that comes easier to some than others. Why do I sense that I am destined to be one of the others? I'll keep you posted. Classes are going well and like most students I'm getting back into my study mode. It takes some time but I'm enjoying the reading and discussions while learning new vocabulary on a minute-by-minute basis. It's like going to a party and sliding into a new conversation with people of a different profession. They often use acronyms you haven't heard and vocabulary that is unfamiliar. You spend the conversation being a good listener and nodding your head from time to time and then run home and grab a dictionary. Which reminds me...I've got about 80 pages before prayer time...