Writing out my midterm study guide -- things I'm learning that actually interest me

I have a midterm tomorrow in my New Testament class where we have to identify the 7 uncontested Pauline epistles based on a passage.  It's a weird assignment for me because in the real world I will have a Bible and Google and so this would never happen, but...it's 15% of my grade.  Also, it all sounds like Paul and he writes about most of the same things in all of his letters (circumcision again?) so how are you supposed to know which time he's talking about.  But I find all of this stuff interesting and useful, so it's fun to learn.

I'm tired of studying the traditional way, so I'm going to write it out for you all -- I know you care.

1 Thessalonians
From: Paul & Timothy, carried by Silvanus
To: the church in Thessaloniki
Occasion/Situation: Timothy has been sent from Athens to check on the new gentile church in Thessaloniki and make sure they are still following Paul's teachings despite the pursecution they are experiencing.  Timothy has reported back that they are still faithful.  Paul writes this letter of thanksgiving, explanation of his delay in visiting, direction, and exhortation.

Themes:

• Dominant Apocalyptic Outlook
• persecution as a function of the coming end time
• You are children of the light, not of darkness
• "thief in the night"
• "keep awake and be sober"
• Reminder of Paul's ministry and affection
• seeking to share the gospel and himself
• gentle, tender nurse caring for children
• They took him in after a bad experience at Philippi
• Paul's behavior among them was blameless and he worked so as not to be a burden
• He is afraid that his delay in returning wil cause them to doubt his message
• "Satan blocked our way"
• "night and day we pray earnestly to see you face to face"
• Directions on how to live
• control your bodies
• live in holiness, not w/ lustfulness
• live quietly and mind your own affairs
• don't repay evil for evil
• What about those who die before the 2nd coming?
• dead in Christ shall rise first
• we will meet them with JC in the air
• Closing Exhortation
• respect those who labor among you

Philippians
From: Paul & Timothy, carried by Epaphroditus
To: church in Philippi
Occasion/Situation: Paul is in jail (probably in Ephesus) and the Philippians have sent him aid via Epaphroditus.  While with Paul, Epaphroditus has gotten sick, which the Philippians have heard about and has caused them to worry.  Paul sends Epaphroditus back (once he's better) with a letter for the Philippians, thanking them for their support of his ministry.
Themes:

• Thanks
• Warning against circumcision teachers
• "beware of dogs, evil workers, those who mutilate flesh"
• they haven't been by yet, but they're in the area
• Paul has reason to be confident in the flesh, but counts it as loss compared to knowing Christ
• Their (circumcision teachers) god is their belly
• Moral Exhortation
• true, right, honorable, pleasing, etc. -- think on these things
• Appeal for Unity
• "be of the same mind"
• Syntych and Euodia fighting --> please get along!
• Look out for interests of others
• Paul is being poured out
• Timothy is concerned for your welfare
• Epaphroditus has risked his life
• Christ Hymn
• JC didn't regard himself as equal w/ God or as his divinity something to be exploited
• JC humbled himself and became obedient

Philemon
From: Paul & Timothy
To: Philemon, Apphia (wife), and Archippus (son)
Occasion/Situation: Paul is in prison.  The slave, Onesimus, has come to Paul, either as a run away or by Philemon's bidding (perhaps to bring aid to Paul).  While with Paul, Onesimus is converted by Paul.  Onesimus is delayed in his return to Philemon, either by his conversion or because he was helping Paul after his conversion.  Paul is asking Philemon to greet Onesimus's return as he would greet Paul.
Themes:

• Father Metaphor
• "I became your father through the gospel"
• Paul asking Philemon to charge Onesimus's "disobedience" to Paul's account
• Paul's view of slavery
• stay in the condition in which you were called to be a follower of Christ

Galatians
From: Paul (conclusion written in his own hand -- not by a scribe)
To: church in Galatia --> unclear exactly where in the region
Occasion/Situation:  Paul has heard that the church in Galatia (gentiles) has turned from his teachings and is following those who advocate circumcision of gentile converts.  Paul is PISSED!!  Paul chastises them thoroughly and then defends his own presentation of the gospel and calling.
Themes:

• Missing the traditional opening thanksgiving section --> instead has a curse
• Circumcision teaching
• if you are circumcised you are obligated to follow the law
• "I wish those who had confused you would castrate themselves"
• circumcision teachers know it isn't necessary, they're just trying to avoid pursecution at the synagogue
• circumcision is a way into Abraham's family via the law, but Christ provided another way
• Paul's Teachings are Legitimate
• Paul isn't a secondary source
• Paul's knowledge doesn't come from human sources (the apostles), but through direct revelation by God
• When Paul recieved the call he went immediately and did not stop to confer w/ apostles
• After 3 years Paul met w/ Peter in Jerusalem for 2 weeks -- you think he learned everything he knows in 2 weeks from Peter?!
• after 14 years Paul met w/ Jerusalem leaders (including Peter and James) who had nothing to add to his message
• also Titus (gentile convert) who went with Paul was not compelled to be circumcised by the Jerusalem leaders
• Peter is sent to Jews and Paul to gentiles, but their message is the same
• Confrontation w/ Cephas (Peter) about Hypocrisy
• used to eat w/ gentiles, but now doesn't for fear of the circumcision factor
• Abraham
• the law is the disciplinarian until Christ came
• w/ Christ, the law gives way to faith
• Freedom from the law means loving one another --> love your neighbor as yourself
• Moral reasoning
• live by the spirit & do not gratify the desires of the flesh
• fruits of the spirit vs. sins of the flesh

Romans
From: Paul, carried by Phoebe
To: multiple house churches in Rome
Occasion/Situation: Paul is writing a letter of introduction to churches he didn't establish and isn't familiar with.  He is seeking to explain his mission and theology in order that the churches in Rome will fund his mission to Spain.  He is currently on his way to Jerusalem w/ a collection from Macedonia (Thessoliniki and Philippi) and Achaia (Corinth) but will be in Rome once he is finished in Jerusalem
Themes:

• Righteousness through faith
• "To the Jew first and then to the Greek"
• Gentiles under sin
• claiming to be wise, they became foolish
• exchanged God for idols
• Jews under sin
• circumcision is valuable if you follow the law
• true circumcision isn't just physical, but of the heart
• How God makes sinners righteous
• through faith in JC --> all sin and have fallen short
• Abraham had faith and was made righteous
• Adam vs. Christ
• Jesus is an alternative to Adam
• one man's trespass vs. one man's righteousness
• Life in the Spirit
• suffering in the present
• all of creation groaning
• God's promise through christ doesn't mean God's promise to Israel isn't kept
• children of the promise(s) are Abraham's descendents
• God hasn't rejected Israel
• Olive tree metaphor --> gentiles grafted on
• God's promise is for all, but Jews and gentiles don't have to share practice
• Spiritual living
• your bodies as a living sacrifice
• don't be conformed to this world
• The weak and the strong
• don't pass judgement on one another
• don't eat things that cause others to stumble

1st Corinthians
From: Paul, carried by Stephanas
To: multiple churches in Corinth, a letter intended to be circulated among them
Occasion/Situation: Paul has heard of division among the churches from the church at Chloe's house as well as from a letter carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus.  Paul writes to appeal for unity and to answer questions posed in their letter to him.
Themes:

• Lack of unity and appeal from Paul for unity
• Divisiveness over Teachers
• Paul vs. Apollos --> you were baptized in the name of Christ
• wisdom vs. foolishness
• "for I decided to know nothing among you except JC and him crucified"
• "I couldn't speak to you as spiritual people" --> because they wre too dependant on human knowledge and not God's knowledge/ways
• If they'd valued God's knowledge appropriately then they'd value teachers appropriately too --> under God
• 10,000 guardians in Christ, but not many fathers
• "am I to come at you with a stick or with gentleness?"
• Porneia! What you do with your body matters!
• man living with his father's wife --> "hand the man over to Satan for destruction of flesh"
• put him outside of the community
• don't associate w/ sexually immoral Christ followers
• Lawsuits --> deal with your disagreements from within the community
• Single vs. Married --> remain as you are b/c Christ is coming soon
• sex between married people is not Porneia
• If you are single and can remain untempted you should remain single
• Eating sacrificial meat
• issue is not eating the meat, it's the witness you present to those around you who might not be as strong in faith --> pagan converts who understand the sacrificial meat to be communion w/ that pagan deity
• don't harass the town butcher over where his meat comes from -- it probably comes from the temple
• don't turn down food from your host, unless eating it will cause someone else to stumble
• Traditions in the Assembly
• women should cover their heads
• men shouldn't
• don't wear veils as Roman priests do
• men should have short hair
• women should have long hair
• the communion meal
• shouldn't be a status symbol
• should be a shared rememberance
• "one gets drunk and one goes hungry"
• Spiritual Gifts
• variety of gifts
• body consists of many members

2nd Corinthians, Chs 10-13
From: Paul
To: churches in Corinth
Occasion/Situation: Corinth has been visited by "Super-Apostles" and they have turned a faction of the Corinthians from Paul's teachings.  Paul is writing to defend himself and his message.
Themes:

• Defense against "Super-Apostles" Critiques
• Humble presence vs. bold letters --> critique of Paul's rhetorical skills
• Boasting:
• Paul doesn't boast about work others have accomplished, aka, Paul doesn't take credit for other people's work (unlike the S-As)
• Worked w/ his own hands so that no one could say his message had been purchased by either the church or a benefactor
• also, so as not to burden the Corinthians financially
• Paul emphasizes all he's suffered --> beatings, shipwrecks, cold, hungry, naked, etc.
• boasting about his weakness
• weakness as being boastworthy --> parallels Christ's weakness

2nd Corinthians, Chs 1-9
From: Paul & Timothy
To: churches in Corinth
Occasion/Situation: Paul had a bad visit with the Corinthians.  After he left, the Super-Apostles arrived and began undoing his work.  Paul wrote Chs 10-13 in defense of his ministry, which Titus then delivered.  Paul is on pins and needles until Titus returns with a favorable report -- the Corinthians have faithfully returned to Paul's teachings!  Paul then writes Chs 1-9 in response, and also to explain his delay in returning to them.
Themes:

• Consolation --> word used A LOT
• "Painful visit" --> allusion to material in chs 10-13
• Letters of recommendation --> the church in Corinth is Paul's letter
• "written on stone" as an allusion to the law
• Paul's mission is Spirit/heart centered rather than other folk's law-centered mission
• Glory --> glory in the spirit vs. the law
• Veil
• the law veils the true glory of God
• the Spirit removes that veil
• Body as "clay jars"; vessles of God
• Body as "earthy tent"

Weird Things

So, weird things in my life.

1. I didn't get an RA position.  Which is a bummer, sort of, but more than anything I just feel relieved about it.  Which is probably a sign I wouldn't have been happy even if I'd gotten one.  This means that I will probably be living with Desi in Somerville in the parsonage of the church she will (hopefully) be working for.  That I AM excited about.
2. My summer living situation may have been sorted.  More to come later.
3. Today I feel like I can accomplish everything I need to accomplish before the semester is over.  This is a new feeling and is probably what people who do their homework always feel like.
4. I walked 5+ miles today -- 1.5 to the grocery store and another 4ish to Roxbury and back.  It's been a little cool, but the sun is out for a change so I'm going to soak it up, even though this far north you don't actually get any vitamin D from the sun (true fact...as opposed to all the fake facts out there?).  I also discovered that the Museum of Fine Art is a 20 minute walk from here, but 45 minutes on the T, so guess who's walking there from now on.
5. I looked at a projected course catalog for next fall/spring and am excited about the things I can take -- talk about relief.  I'm also looking into the possibility of adding a certificate onto my program, which I think will get me the actual coursework I think I ought to be getting.  Plus the people who went to Ephesus over spring break are putting photos up on facebook and it looks AMAZING!
6. I've lost 30 pounds since school started, which is by far the weirdest thing of all.  Not that I'm complaining, but since I'm on a first name basis with the waitress at the pub around the corner AND the girl at the frozen yogurt place down the road...I didn't see it coming.  Must be all the walking, the being a vegetarian by association, and the 72 stairs between me and bed.  That and the not having any money for food -- I eat a lot of eggs (you can get 18 of them for $3!) and peanut butter.

 So, these are the things I am thankful for in the kitchen:

The biggest photo is what I have for a typical meal -- omelet with browned mushrooms, tomato, and arugula and an English muffin.  The top left photo is a contraption I will never be without again in my life -- an electric water kettle.  They're super handy and this one was less than $20.  20 people have been using it for 7 months so you do the math on whether or not it was a good purchase.  The top middle is the front of my favorite mug.  The top right picture is the back of my favorite mug, and the reason why it's my favorite.  It's the best bad manufacturing (or proofreading?) mistake ever made on a mug.

Main-cation

So last weekend I went on a cheeeeap vacation to Maine with some friends (hit New Hampshire on the way --woohoo!) and here are the photos to prove it!

We were super excited to get on the road!

Apparently in Maine they need signs telling them not to drive into oncoming traffic.  If they need them I'm glad they have them.

Jasper's Restaurant, Motel, Bar & Grille, Tire & Lube, and Salon -- the price was right and the bathroom was 17 steps up from my bathroom at home but about 9 steps down from my bathroom in Missouri.  Make of that what you will, but it was nice to be able to fit both of my hands into the sink at once.

Bar Harbor, Maine in the off season.  It's a super cute, crafty kind of place.  I bet it's busy in the summer, but we hit it at the tail end of the off season.

Random signs of Bar Harbor.  Yes, that's a moose on a roof made of Christmas lights.  And I've always heard 1978 was a highly sought after year for oil paintings.

This is me pointing out how neat nature is -- Youtube "Neature" by Lenny Pepperbottom if you don't believe me.  Yes, I just used Youtube as a verb...  And we pointed out neat things all weekend.

The harbor, for which the town gets its name.

Pretty ladies.

I have unusually good powers of persuasion.  The plaque in the middle reads, "This Plaque Honors Those Men and Women Who Have Fought In The Defense of Our Country".

Something hilarious is going on at Acadia National Park.

I'm going to live in that house some day.

Friends on the end of the world.

A sand beach is a huge deal in Maine.  It's a tourist destination, no foolin.

Pretty.

East Coast Maggie -- performing Tuesday afternoons at the BUSM.

Rocks and sand and ocean and trees...doesn't hardly seem fair for one place to be so pretty.

I won't tell you how many tries with the self timer it took us to get a group photo.  Let's just say it was more than four.

Really, Maine?  Really?  You're making it too easy.

The rocks at...Thunder Hole.

The waves coming into...Thunder Hole.

Me at...Thunder Hole.  Okay, so apparently when the waves come in just right it creates a pocket of air under the rocks that then explodes, causing the water to shoot up (sometimes as high as 40 feet) and creating the sound of thunder.  Very cool.  Poorly named.  If you have the sense of humor of a 10 year old boy.  Which we do.

This is where we had breakfast on Sunday.  I don't remember the name of the place, but the sign out front boasted "over 2,000 served".  That's gotta mean something, right?  Also, really good homemade bread and English muffins.

This is somewhere near Augusta, Maine.  And, I don't really know why, except that the opportunity presented itself and...in the words of Gene Kelly, "Gotta dance!!"

And this is my vase full of pine cones that I put up at work to make me happy.  It works.  I have simple desires.

So that was my trip to Maine, more or less.  It was a lot of fun and super relaxing.  Now on to finish my next 6 weeks of class...oye.  If you're the praying type, I could use them.

Things I can't say in class...

For a section of one of my classes I have to take a 3 class intensive on Ethical Leadership.  The professor is supposedly a big deal, but all he does is talk about how cool he is.  I wish I were kidding.  He's not even coy about it -- the other day he actually said, "You are lucky to be in my class.  Look how cool I am.  I mean, I'm really cool."  Oye...

There are three books we have to read, two by other authors and one by this professor.  The books by the other authors were scanned and provided to us.  His book was not.  Really?  Are you kidding me?  The one book you actually have property rights to you don't provide, but the other ones you provide illegally?  And you want me to let you teach me about ethical leadership?  I have no use for that.

One of the things his book talks about is the difference between right and good -- right being what society has deemed socially acceptable in accordance with law and good being what is good in accordance with "the divine" or "spiritual being" (barf).  Right would be making the students purchase all the books, or go to the library and borrow them.  And you could make a case that the good would be providing copies (even if illegal) for notoriously poor students for learning purposes.  But he didn't do either of those things in full.  He cheated the other authors on their books and cheated the students on his own book.  Completely self-serving.

Again, I repeat, and you want me to let you teach me about ethical leadership?  I have no use for that.

This Week: Photo Journal

Cappuccino cupcake with cinnamon frosting.  I don't like cupcakes, but I love frosting.

Spiritual Life Retreat: This photo perfectly encapsulates the weekend.

Why?  We don't know.

The view out my bedroom window.  What a terrible way to wake up.

"What's that big white expanse," you ask?  That would be the lake.  Frozen and covered in snow.  It's colder than a witch's...well...you know...

Creepy stalker photo of Lauren pondering the frozen lake.  And the meaning of life.  And probably wanting a cookie and a hot beverage.  Which were free and available 24 hours a day at the retreat center.

Haley staring wistfully at a frozen lake.

This is a photo of my beautiful friend Haley staring wistfully out the window of the train, dreaming of all the places she wants to go and adventures she wants to experience.  She does this a lot.

This is a photo of my beautiful friend Sarah.  She doesn't like having her photo taken.  This is also a photo of me not caring about her wishes.  Sorry Sarah, but the photo op was too good.

Street side book sale in the park district of Boston.

This is the face of someone who, a) needs a hat, and b) is not amused by modernity.