]> http://greasy.com/pepperman/ pepperman's Blog en-us © 00:45:35 Greasy.com All rights reserved. Tue, Dec 00:45:35 2 GMT 30 http://greasy.com/pepperman/hesitation.html I've placed an addendum at the bottom of this post. I’ve been wrestling with some scripture tonight. Not wrestling with the validity of it, just the application of it. All these passages have been in my head today, and all I need to do is share them and you’ll see how they relate. From 2nd Samuel, chpt 12: 1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/hesitation.html#comments Fri, 7 Mar 2008 07:53:25 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/good.html All year I've been aware of a student organized informal worship thing going on -- because they had a few posters up around campus. But, since they've been meeting at 9:45pm and in a building that requires a key after 7pm (it's partially devoted to student housing) I just haven't gotten to it. Most Mondays I've decided to head to my place long before then. Well, I got there last night, and it was good. Very informal, as I expected, and that was just refreshing. Just three students with acc ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/good.html#comments Thu, 6 Mar 2008 15:37:22 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/online_learning.html I just finished my first online chat for my Matthew class. It's an online course, which means, as a class we never meet in any room on campus. In fact some of my classmates are not even in the state! Yeah, I wouldn't want all of my classes to be online, but there is something awesome about being able to be 'in class' having a discussion with a small group and the professor, while you're stretched out on a couch with a pint of ice cream in your lap! (Okay, you need a laptop and wireless int ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/online_learning.html#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:57:01 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/remember_dust_.html This is always part of my perspective on life, but it's good to really have someone else say that to you once a year. Not only am I dust, but my money is dust, my possessions are dust, my efforts are dust, my clever ideas are dust, etc... You get the idea. One of my present classes is Modern Church History. One of the interesting things about this class is observing the recycling of theological ideas, or theological emphasis over the years. Most of the stuff I wonder about, most of the cor ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/remember_dust_.html#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:15:35 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/lighter_side.html Okay, I've been looking back over my last several posts, and had to say to myself: Waaaay gloomy. Now, if you know the stuff that fills my head most of the time these days, you can't blame me. I hope... But now that I've made up my mind about a few things, I'm going to start throwing out some of the more fun things in my life. Last night my buddy and I went out to see "The Departed." Normally, I'm not a big fan of cop/mafia movies, but I'd heard good things, so, what the hell right? Let's ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/lighter_side.html#comments Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:02:12 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/joins_choir.html Yes, I have begun singing with the Luther Seminary choir. From what I've recently written about worship and piety here, this may surprise you. The contradiction is there but there's more to it than that. First of all, I don't dislike classical music or traditional music. I enjoy singing old hymns with energy and enthusiasm. I had a great high school vocal music teacher, and our choirs were always technically good and fun too. I competed and was accepted for the All-State choir 3 of my high ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/joins_choir.html#comments Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:57:31 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/pursuit_holiness.html This entry is a continuation from my posts entitled ‘Mexico Classmates’ and ‘What’s Wrong with Being Noble?’ And I think this will be the final post along this line. I’m back to campus after some time away, our spring semester is just begun, and I’ve been reflecting on who we are as seminarians and Christians – people preparing to minister. The community, mostly of aspiring pastors, has never been what I hoped it might be – not that I thought it would be one big happy fam ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/pursuit_holiness.html#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:35:12 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/best_books.html I was recently asked by a friend to share some of my favorite books -- books that have shaped my thinking as a Christian and for pastoral ministry. Here they are: The Bible (ta dah!) Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis Messy Spirituality, Mike Yaconnelli Evangelism for ‘Normal’ People, John Bowen What God Wishes Christians Knew about Christianity, Bill Gilham Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus, David Bivin The Unnecessary Pastor, Marva Dawn & Eugene Pete ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/best_books.html#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:33:27 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/speaking_sin_.html I’ve learned that church people, as congregations or as individuals, generally don’t know how to confront or address sinful conduct. In my experience, our cultural (U.S.A.) individualism recoils at the concept of our behavior being anyone else’s concern. Complicating it further, in my denomination anyway, is a real hesitancy to identify anything as sin. In an effort to convey welcome, grace, mercy, and love, we really don’t want to sound judgmental or intolerant – both of which a ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/speaking_sin_.html#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:21:23 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/spring_semester_begins.html My spring semester has just begun! A slightly longer week in the Twin Cities this semester. I’m beginning my paperwork for the ‘call’ (draft) process – creating essays for use in faculty approval process and materials for church call committees to consider. I had the opportunity to preach this Sunday (2/11/07). I tied my learning from Mexico City into Luke 6:17-26. It felt good to have something to say, to feel compelled to teach something other than the sin/discipleship stuff I’ ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/spring_semester_begins.html#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:42:42 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/martin_luther_sin_living.html I’ve been testing my own understanding of sin within the context of Christian discipleship. How are we as followers of Christ to think of sin? What standards do we set for ourselves and how are we to think of standards, if at all? Has sin lost its meaning, and is that as it should be, for one walking in the grace of God? Recent events in my life have left me wondering how I should think of sin in general, the sin I commit, and the sin against me in particular. There are human feelings th ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/martin_luther_sin_living.html#comments Sat, 9 Feb 2008 17:13:00 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/national_pastors_convention_2.html NPC Day 1 – Among over 1500 participants at National Pastors Convention This is an interesting group. You may be envisioning the 25 Lutheran pastors that Garrison Keillor describes on a pontoon ride on Lake Wobegon. These are not those pastors, or at least it is not only those pastors. Keillor is right about one thing – about pastors – there is a lot of eye contact going on. I see people in their 20s all the way through to a few who could be in their 80s, about a third of the group i ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/national_pastors_convention_2.html#comments Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:58:32 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/final_thoughts_national.html This will be my last post about the National Pastors Convention. I’m actually home now; I had to leave before it was over. There were additional presentations and a closing general session (with communion) which would have added to my good experience. The break in routine, the time in a warmer climate, the worship services, the conversations, and the teaching were all great. In a few years I expect to attend this convention again, if they continue to bring together a mix of people and pr ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/final_thoughts_national.html#comments Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:27:52 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/missed_sessions_n_p_c.html During each seminar time slots there were several offerings, and choosing was difficult. Fortunately the usual recording people were there to offer discs of the sessions we missed. Here are the sessions I ordered: "Transitioning to a Connecting Church: Beyond Small Groups" - Randy Frazee "Leadership Live! Forum on Preaching" with John Ortberg, Doug Pagitt, Efrem Smith, and Will Willimon "Beyond Teamwork: Cultivating Spiritual Community at the Leadership Level" - Ruth Haley Barton "The Gosp ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/missed_sessions_n_p_c.html#comments Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:26:05 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/3rd_seminar_national_pastors.html My 3rd seminar was conducted by Pastor Kevin Harney: ‘Creating an Outreach Culture Inside and Outside Your Church.’ This guy really made it easy on us. At the entrance to this seminar there was a stack of prepared outlines on his presentation. Interesting to see the different personalities represented among the presenters. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Pastor John Burke focused on the welcoming atmosphere of the church space – and the people gathered there. Pastor Harney, direct ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/3rd_seminar_national_pastors.html#comments Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:20:31 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/lutheran_mean_you.html I'm very interested in knowing what non-Lutherans think about the Lutheran church or Lutherans in general. I know that there are various sects / denominations that include 'Lutheran' in their title, but let's keep it general. There are certainly some readers here who have never heard of the Lutheran church, there may be some who have encountered a Lutheran or a Lutheran church that was very negative to them, or we may have some readers here who are familiar with the denomination or several ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/lutheran_mean_you.html#comments Fri, 8 Feb 2008 04:17:02 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/seminar_report_npc.html My first seminar was presented by Randy Frazee – ‘Making Room for Life for Pastors: Trading Chaotic Ministry for a Well Ordered Life.’ He is a pastor and author of two books: “The Connecting Church” and “Making Room for Life.” The first thing he said, which I really appreciated – at my first seminar, was that some of the most interesting people here are not the speakers, but the person next to you. I was glad to hear that from a presenter right out of the gates. Pastor Fraz ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/seminar_report_npc.html#comments Fri, 8 Feb 2008 01:27:08 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/teaching_divorce.html Here's a little something controversial -- to generate some feedback -- which might also give you a partial view of what/how I think. Teaching on Divorce (or a response to any teaching that places behavior before salvation) An individual came to me with questions regarding another Bible study in which the teacher seemed to say ‘Christians must not divorce’. My reply follows: If he simply wants to confirm that "God hates divorce" I would essentially agree with him, I believe God wants p ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/teaching_divorce.html#comments Thu, 7 Feb 2008 22:55:39 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/recommended_links.html Here are some sites which have been helpful, and or interesting to me, which I simply want to shamelessly promote: www.ptm.org (Plain Truth Ministries) www.relevantmagazine.com www.allelon.net (missional church resource/training) www.followtherabbi.com (historical, archealogical insights from Israel) www.alternativeworship.org www.alphausa.org www.damah.com www.highwayvideo.com www.dpchallenge.com www.chilepepperinstitute.org www.renegadegardener.com www.dci.org (drum corp international) http://greasy.com/pepperman/recommended_links.html#comments Thu, 7 Feb 2008 22:51:10 GMT http://greasy.com/pepperman/here_on_blog.html Welcome to the personal blog of Craig Nissen I call it “Lutheran Seminarian, etc” because I’m starting it in relation to a seminary activity, but I am certainly more than a seminarian and want to indicate that I will write about a lot of different things. Assuming I continue to write beyond the dates required by my project, you could find stuff here about Christianity, the Church, gardening, chile peppers, marriage, parenting, photography, weight training, fitness, sex, politics, mus ... http://greasy.com/pepperman/here_on_blog.html#comments Thu, 7 Feb 2008 21:50:02 GMT