Confessions of a Seminarian

Ode to Nea Nea

As you have no doubt noticed, the semester has been very busy for us here at COAS, and posts have been short as of late.  We are also adjusting to a few staff changes, and reconsidering how we are living out our vision for this website.

But that’s no excuse either. Recently, my grandmother-in-law emailed my wife to inform me that she is “waiting for another blog post.”  Honestly, I forget that she even reads this blog and am so focused on the readers who comment that I forget that for ever person who does, there are probably 5-10 who read without commenting.  Well, a few days later, she asked Hannah on the phone if I was planning on putting a new post up on the site anytime soon, and that she is quickly running out of “reading material.” 

My Nea Nea (as my wife has called her since childhood) is awesome.  It is easy to get discouraged in writing on here, as most of what we put out is vehemently debated and sometimes outright condemned.  But that’s a good thing!  I can’t tell you how ecstatic we are that we have such diverse readership.  Indeed, we often hoped and prayed for it!  But as with most things in life, we should be careful what we pray for!

Nea Nea has been a constant encouragement.  At the young and lithe age of 29 (;-)), she has often asked me questions about the emerging church (“It’s awfully strange, but it seems like they love Jesus”) and other cultural issues she’s been interested in.  Likewise, she has been very affirming (and downright endearing) in her encouragement on issues like the importance of inter-generational mentoring and biblical masculinity.

As with many of our readers, I’ve found that I bring many incorrect assumptions to the table when discussing these subjects with her.  I have been floored to hear her speak about the doctrine of atonement, the emerging church, biblical masculinity, Christian marriage, etc. with a degree of theological clarity and pastoral love I sometimes do not find in pastors and seminarians!  In this case, her affirmation was both an encouragement and a loving rebuke to my prideful seminarian assumptions!  I have also lost count of how many times she has imparted wisdom to my wife and I on some life problem we are encountered with.  Due to my own family baggage I am often suspicious of the advice of older generations, but she has down so with a disarming amount of patience, care, and understanding.  The Lord has truly brought her to a place of spiritual maturity that I hope to be someday.

So Nea Nea, this one’s for you and any other readers who regularly visit us to read and not comment.  We appreciate your unspoken support and presence.  Nea Nea has helped you to not go unnoticed!  Everyone, welcome Nea Nea to the blog!  She’s been a reader for many months now…