(meant to be written August of ’21)
(actually written January of ’22)
1st Full year of Seminary, CHECK!!
While I’d love to be creative and put together a dynamic blog post, this post will need to be more brief. So, here goes:
First Year Courses:
Greek 1, 2 & 3; Pastoral Theology: (1) Intro Class & (2) Evangelism and Missions; Systematic Theology: (2) Prolegomena (Doctrine of Scripture) & (2) Doctrine of God; Church History: (1) Ancient Church [100-600] & (2) Medieval Church [600-1500] Apologetics 1 & 2
Summer 2021 Intensives:
Hebrew 1 & 2
Extracurricular Involvement:
Chapel Music: I was asked to assist in leading the music worship for the weekly chapel services. I committed to 1-2/month in the Fall and 3-4/month in the Spring.
Men’s Group: a group of young men (9 including myself) banded together to grow in community and personal accountability during a year of distance learning.
Women’s Groups: Katie got involved in several groups, especially with other mom’s who could both sympathize with her current calling/stage of life as well as provide community for her and our littles. “WTS Fellowship wives” held weekly walks, a few zoom events and conducted small group studies that regrouped into a larger setting a few times during the semesters. “Calvary Mommy & Me” (our home church here) scheduled weekly play dates for mothers of small children. A few seminary wives organized a small group for mom’s– in large part to have adult time away from the kids- which met weekly from 7:30-9:00ish at night.
Significant Memories:
Justus and Salem are growing like weeds (and sometimes behaving like them). Though their physical development has been a pleasure to watch- Salem has just begun taking steps- it has been particularly encouraging to watch Justus begin to internalize the theology his is being taught. He told me he loved me the other day and upon my inquiry “what is love?” he answered, after a pause, “to forgive and obey.” He is also asking fundamental questions, like “who made God?” And he is learning the connection between how God acts toward him and how he ought to act toward others. Consequently, we are thankful for the number of friends our boys are able to interact with on a weekly basis, through the bounty of women’s ministries available. And we so appreciate the countless different ethnicities and cultures they, and we, can experience to gain a fulller grasp on the Lord’s work all around the world.
Life Lesson:
One particular theme I have been learning over the year is the value of family. I am frequently restless with guilt over not seeking out opportunities to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the broken-hearted, enable the weak, love the lonely, and so on. I came to the realization that I can satisfy all those longings simply by returning home at the end of the day. (this is not to say that we ought not to still go out and help others in those situations, but it’s confirmation to know I’m still obeying God by stewarding these gifts well).
Thanks, Lord, for the opportunities readily at hand because of Your provisions.
Significant Memories & Locations:
Written Recap (no particular order): Throughout the semesters, Katie and the boys visited several parks, trails, farms and museums. Salem got his first dose of snow. Justus broke his leg. Salem had surgery to remove a mass of extra tissue in his lower lip. Thanksgiving was with the Maryland Cashens. Christmas was with the Fowlers. Easter was with the Maryland Cashens (Mammy and Justus made pillows!). Summer travels included Nashville, TN with my sisters and their families, as well as our church family in Lynchburg, VA, stopping at Richmond, VA, and Bowie, MD, on the way home.
May the reading of this bring you joy and hope for your current season of life. I pray that you have benefited from this as I have.
The Fowler Four 