Well… not the books. The first day of class is in the computer, the web, the intertubes. Initial impressions you might ask? One word again? Well let’s try a list of one words:

Uhhhhh…

One word descriptions aren’t going to work without some explanations. Let’s try this again:

Overwhelmed – Coursework… in a nutshell this is graduate school.  The course work is massive.  I was told this going in, but you have to experience it to see it in all its massiveness. I’m a little worried that this first week appears so overwhelming because two of my three professors remarked how easy they were on their class.

WOW! – Inductive Bible Study… wow… just wow. I remarked to a friend that my reaction to this class was “Wow” and he asked if I was referring to how exciting it is or how overwhelming the course work is. My answer was simply, “Yes!”.

Impressed – Asbury turned on the classes and everything works. No broken links. No unexpected downtime. I’ve seen technology companies fall on their face when sites go live, but Asbury’s IT team was well prepared.

Surprised – The virtual classrooms were filled with old guys (and gals) like me. With a diverse spiritual background, secular background, and educational background, all of these students are going to be sharing many different viewpoints on a wide range of topics. As a bonus, there was a nice mix of young blood on fire for Jesus to keep us old ones on our toes.

Blessed – This is how I felt even in my times of feeling like I could not do this, that this was just too overwhelming, that I’m not smart enough, disciplined enough, talented enough.

Shocked – Barely halfway through my studies of the day, I gained new insights into how God views and loves me (and all of us). Insight that literally made me gasp.

Supported – My wife was amazingly supportive today. She forgave my inattentiveness. She forgave my busy schedule. She fell asleep listening to scripture. She worked on her relationship with God, slept on the couch next to me, pretended not to notice when I came to bed at 2 am, and fixed me breakfast this morning.

Overwhelmed – Wait… did I mention that one already? I guess I’m not overwhelmed, but I’m certainly not underwhelmed. I suppose I’m just…whelmed? Is that a word?

I’m left seeking an answer to two questions if you could be so kind as to suggest a reply. First, how does one transport a Bible in a messenger bag or backpack without destroying it (the bible…not the bag)? Second, am I the only one that didn’t know you weren’t supposed to put two spaces after a “.”?!?!

Yesterday was humbling. Today is humbling. Each day I will seek always to humble myself before our Lord. He called me by name in all of my woeful inadequacies and weaknesses to serve him. He calls the weak to lead the strong as a testament to his power and not our own.

Isn’t he just amazing?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. — 1 Peter 1:3-9 NRSV