Drew's webstie

In case anyone has not heard my nephew Drew has recently been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers you can offer.

Here is a website with his updates:

caringbridge.org/visit/drewbrandt

Thanks!

CPE begins...

Well I have completed my first week of CPE. Overall, it went very well. I really like my group and supervisors. There are 5 other students for the summer program and we are all from a variety of backgrounds including Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian and others... We have really been thrown to the fire right away. I was shadowing on-call my first day on Tuesday and now tomorrow will be my first official on-call. We have a sleep room in the hospital to rest, so hopefully it will be pretty quiet. I will mainly be working on the following units: ortho/neuro, rehab, and emergency. As we go through the process we will also be doing a lot of group work as we explore our own psychological states and learn to counsel and provide pastoral care to others. Now, I am off to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, so I will update more later!

One Year Done!

Well I have officially completed my first year of Seminary! It was very exciting last Wednesday to finish my last test and know that I was done. That night Chad made dinner and surprised me with an ice cream cake from Coldstone. It was delicious. I even got to celebrate with my Brandt cousins over the weekend in Minneapolis. We decided to live it up given that it could have been Judgement Day, as some foretold. Well as you know the world did not end, and we had a great weekend!

I'd like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers this year. Your love and support has really helped me through the difficult times. I feel very blessed to have been able to share this journey with you.

Tuesday I will start another chapter of my Seminary journey. I will begin my CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) experience in La Crosse, WI. I will be doing an internship as a chaplain at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital. There are six summer interns in my program as well. Our days will consist of doing group work in the morning and being on the floors in the afternoons. I will be on call once per week as well. I anticipate that this experience will be extremely challenging, but rewarding as well. My aunt Patty is graciously hosting me for this part of the summer. So please continue to keep me in your prayers. Pray that God would help me to be a comforting presence in the lives of those who are hospitalized and their families. I will try to share a few of my experiences on the blog as I am able.

Have a great summer!

This Could Be Interesting...

I read a great blog about women in ministry entitled "This Could be Interesting." Check it out if you are looking for something to read.

http://dirtysexyministry.blogspot.com/

Finals Week!!

Well its here, my last week of class/finals! That means I have almost made it through my first year of Seminary. Woohoo! Please pray for me this week for productivity and peace. I have a lot to get done. This week I have two papers due and one test. Then next week I have one paper and two tests.

How many pairs of shoes do you have?

Today in my Pentateuch class, Prof. Fretheim gave a beautiful and impassioned lecture on God's preferential treatment of the poor and needy. He talked about how God sided with the Israelites over the Egyptians when they were enslaved in Egypt. There is so much in the Old Testament about God's command to take care of the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the alien. He wondered if we often overlook all of these commands because it makes us uncomfortable, because we might be surprised to find ourselves on the side of the oppressor rather than the oppressed. One question he asked to help us see this was the question, "How many shoes do you have?".

Well I don't know about you, but I have a LOT of shoes. As I discussed this question with some classmates over lunch I realized, that we all have a LOT of shoes. More shoes than we need. Yet some children walk around barefoot without any shoes, exposing themselves to injury and disease every day. Now I'm not saying it's bad to have shoes, but clearly I am not category of the oppressed in regards to material possessions. And let's be honest, I'm not exactly considered well-to-do by American standards, after all I am a poor Seminary student who is married to a teacher! (Yes I definitely just pulled out the married-to-a-teacher card, which gets major pity points in today's world. :)

If it wasn't enough that the Old Testament is full of God's concern for the poor in the narrative of the exodus people, the Torah and ten commandments, and the cry of the prophets, we also have Jesus to hear from on this issue. I think you know where this is going. It's not getting any better for me and all the people like me with our closets full of shoes and clothing. I've been pondering this a lot as our country is going through a time of economic hardship. It seems the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and the students are going so far into debt there's little hope of ever breaking free of the oppressing bondage. And we live in a "Christian" nation? It doesn't seem so.

The message of Jesus is a message of humility and kenosis, (awesome Greek word that means emptying) of cross and resurrection. This kingdom message that Jesus proclaimed shouted the good news that the oppressed would be liberated and the captives set free! The gospel message is for the whole person and the whole of humanity. It has spiritual, material, and economic implications. God, our creator loves us and all of creation. Jesus' message is in line with the message we hear from the God of Israel in the Old Testament - love God and love your neighbor... oh yeah and also the widows, orphans, aliens, and outcasts......

"Through our nation's spent frustration, through the corridors of stress may there move a kindlier wisdom all may feel, and all may bless; tax and tithe are for a purpose shared to shield the poor and weak; past the symptoms of our sickness let the voice of justice speak."

- From the Methodist hymn "Wounded World that Cries for Healing"

Theology Bon Appetit

I have the week off of class this week for Holy Week/Easter. Mother nature is also celebrating Holy Week with an upcoming snow storm in Wisconsin! Hopefully there will be some sunshine for the weekend. Although I do not have a vacation planned for my week off, I have been taking a theological vacation. Instead of my normal theological studies I have been trying my hand a few new activities including cooking. Most of you probably know I'm not a big cook, so this a big step! My husband Chad is quite pleased with my latest dabbling.

I've been trying a new recipe each night. Last night I made a salsa chicken dish. Miraculously, it turned out fabulous! Tonight, I am trying spaghetti with meatballs. Cooking can really be therapeutic when you have the time to enjoy it. Being creative in the kitchen reminds me of how we are co-creators in this world. (Okay so maybe I can't completely take a theological vacation!) We have the freedom to work with God in shaping this world that God created. That's an awesome task!

Although there are pros and cons to commuting to Seminary, I do think it's a benefit to have a separate place to come home to, to do my studies and reflect. It reminds me that theology can never be done in a vacuum of academia. We live in the ordinariness of life and that's where we need to hear God's Word most. If theology ceases to be relatable to people lives.... what is the point? As God's children we need to look to see God's presence in our everyday lives, the ordinary moments, and in each stranger we encounter.

Love Wins and other irreverent musings...

Last night I went with a group of Luther Seminary friends to hear Rob Bell speak at Wayzata Community Church. We had a blast! There were a few really great moments I will share....

Preview to the event: standing in line at the church for over an hour to get in, Eating Chipotle burritos, surrounded by various high school youth groups

Inside the church: one of our group members who shall remain unnamed....."Is it just me, or does that sculpture in the front look suspiciously like a part of the female anatomy?"

Sammy Hagar to Rob Bell after hearing about Rob talk about God and his views of what the church could be...... "That shit could change the world."

Hmmm yeah that Jesus was pretty radical, someone should start a movement or something.

Theological scrutiny of the Seminarians.... the big question..... Is Rob Bell a universalist?

Answer.... well if universalist means really cool Christ follower who loves God and wants to spread the good news to all people and believes that God loves all people..... who cares?!

At the book signing:

Me to Rob: We all go to Seminary together, could we get a picture with you?

Rob to us: Wait...what Seminary is this... the babe Seminary?

(side note.... somewhat sexist but really funny)

Rob to us: This is great, I think we need more women pastors in the church.

Us: Yeah we know.

Ali: You should really think about using imagery of God as Mother.

Kim: yeah like a sexy feminine Mother

Rob: Hmmm..... Sexy God?

(side note.... this is a play on his other book entitled Sex God)

Concluding thoughts.... If Sexy God hits stores.... you know who to thank for it.

Wrestling with God

In Pentateuch we responded to the Genesis 32 story where Jacob wrestles with God. Here's a part of my response:

I would like to think that Jacob knew he was wrestling with God during the match. In this regard, it took great courage to wrestle God and demand a blessing. Jacob continues, even after the God-man has struck his hip (v.25). Somehow Jacob was able to endure the pain in the hope that he would receive God’s blessing.

This rings true in my own experiences. The times of greatest spiritual growth in my life have often been accompanied with struggle and pain in the midst of darkness. Encountering God is quite dangerous and very risky. We leave changed by the experience in unexpected ways. Sometimes holding on for dear life is all that we can do. We hold on and demand that God at least bless us for all of the struggle we have endured.

Alone and in the dark, Jacob wrestled with God. Even before the rising of the sun he is able to proclaim, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” (v. 30). Jacob recognizes God in this mysterious encounter. Maybe that’s why God choose to bless him. Jacob may have left the wrestling match limping, but with his new name and God's blessing things seem to be looking a lot brighter.

A wandering tribeswoman was my mother

My Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) professor Terrence Fretheim shared this prayer with us in class last week. It really struck a chord with me so I wanted to share it with you. It can be hard to read through the Genesis stories and see the pain of the women in the text and the violence that was often done to them. Often the silence of the women speaks louder than the stories. This prayer helped me honor those women as my foremothers in faith.

A wandering tribeswoman was my mother.
In Egypt, she bore slaves.
Then she called to the God of our mothers
Sarah, Hagar, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah.
Praise God Who Hears, Forever.

A warrior, judge, and harlot was my mother
God called her from time to time
to save and liberate [God's] people
Miriam, Jael, Deborah, Judith, Tamar
Praise God Who Saves, Forever.

A Galilean Jew was my mother.
She bore a wonderful child
to be persecuted, hated, and executed.
Mary, mother of sorrows, mother of us all.
Praise God Who Gives Strength, Forever.

A witness to Christ's resurrection was my mother.
The apostle to the apostles
Rejected, forgotten, proclaimed a whore.
Mary of Magdala, vanguard of women-church
Praise God Who Lives, Forever.

An apostle, prophet, founder, and teacher was my mother
called to the discipleship of equals.
Empowered by the Sophia-God of Jesus
Martha, Phoebe, Junia, Priscilla, Myrta, Nympha, Thecla
Praise God Who Calls, Forever.

A faithful Christian woman was my mother.
A mystic, witch, martyr, heretic, saint, uppity woman
A native American, a black slave, a poor immigrant,
an old hag, a wise woman
May we, with her, in every generation
Praise God Who Images Us All.

Women's Prayer Services, edited by Iben Gjerding and Katherine Kinnanon (Twenty-Third Publications, 1987).

Quote of the day from Sojourners website

“The church is obliged by its evangelical mission to demand structural changes that favor the reign of God and a more just and comradely way of life. Unjust social structures are the roots of all violence and disturbances. … Those who benefit from obsolete structures react selfishly to any kind of change.” – Archbishop Oscar Romero, November 1979.

Response to Japan

A good article on suffering through through the lens of different world religions. I love how the Christian response speaks about God walking with us through our suffering.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/20/finding-faith-amid-disaster/

Thoughts on the Small Catechism

It is required for two of my classes this semester to memorize Luther's Small Catechism. The classes are: History of the Church the Reformation period, and Lutheran Confessions. After growing up Catholic, I have officially been Lutheran for about 5 years. I've picked up Lutheran theology in bits and pieces from undergrad religion studies, weekly worship, leading confirmation at Trinity, and various other sources. So as a relatively new Lutheran I did not have any of Luther's Catechism memorized. But it seems that I am not alone even among lifelong Lutherans. Many of my Lutheran friends have confessed to me that they don't remember much of anything from the small catechism, which they haven't studied since they were 12.

(Granted... Luther's catechism is by no means the only available and suitable resource for teaching the basic parts of the Christian faith, however its fairly standard in Lutheran Churches.) So this leads me to the question: Why are we only teaching this stuff to people in middle school and then considering it good? How much do you remember from when you were in middle school? Frankly I remember more about the boys that I liked than what I learned in church or school.

Just some food for thought that I will take with me in my continued studies and hopeful pastoral work. I'll leave you with my favorite part of the catechism's explanation, the third article of the Apostles Creed.

I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him.

But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with Her gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.

(Pronoun change is mine, that's for another blog :)

There is always hope.

A great passage from a book I'm reading for class:

The gospel of Jesus is not, finally, about how we or anyone else behaves. Is it?

Nor is it about the "correctness" of our beliefs.

It isn't about our "little sins," or our "big sins," or how convincingly we repent when we sin.

The gospel of Jesus isn't about sin at all! Its about what our sin bought us, (sin's "wages" if you will): estrangement from God in our daily lives, and worst of all, estrangement from God in our inevitable deaths. The gospel is about what God alone can do. And God can do it all. In Christ, God has already done it. The gospel is about Hope, with a capitol H.

Crossing the Bar: Home By Another Way pg. 82

by James G. Johnson

Vibrant Congregations

Over j-term I was able to get to know two professors that I really enjoyed, Rolf Jacobson and Craig Koester. Jacobson is my Hebrew prof. and Koester taught the Genesis to Revelation Bible class. Through forming these connections I was asked to be the student representative on a committee studying the Bible in congregations with these two professors along with Prof. Kathryn Shifferdecker. This is a part million dollar grant through the Lilly Endowment to look at what practices and values make a church a vibrant or thriving congregation. So needless to say I was extremely honored to be a small part of this project! (Although 1 million dollars sounds like a lot, its relatively small compared to many of the research grants Lilly donates)

Last week we had our first meeting with the congregations that will be participating in the Bible portion of the study. We are working with 11 congregations that are located all over the US including Arizona, Georgia, North Dakota, Illinois, and Wisconsin as well as congregations located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. It was very exciting to meet the pastors and lay leaders that will be a part of this research. They are all already doing great work in their congregations with the Bible, so it will be exciting to see the developments that result from them learning from some of these research experiments and from forming connections with each other.

The congregations will begin by taking a survey and conducting interviews about their experiences with the Bible. The data will then be compiled and analyzed. The team will meet with the congregations individually to suggest some experiments that could be implemented to meet the needs of the congregation. The whole process is designed around discerning God's Spirit in the midst of these congregations and trying new practices that could help in faith formation. So it should be an exciting journey to walk alongside these congregations in this process! Please keep these congregations in your prayers.

Good article by Rob Bell entitled: My Faith: Suffering my way to a new tomorrow.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/13/my-faith-suffering-my-way-to-a-new-tomorrow/

New Semester!

Well my second semester is off and running at Luther Seminary. I have a full load of new classes that are keeping me busy. Classes I am taking this semester are: Hebrew, Confessional Writings of the Lutheran Church, History of the Reformation of the Church, Pentateuch, and Biblical and Theological Foundations for the Missional Church. Wow, some classes have really long names!

So far its just been exciting to be back on campus. I have a new room that I am staying in in Bockman Hall. I have been here since j-term. It's great to be in Bockman because it is full of students. The visitors dorm that I was staying in before only had three other people on the floor, so this is a nice change. I will be on campus Tuesday-Thursday this semester. I've begun to form some close relationships with my classmates. I'm even staying next to a few women who share my ridiculous love for the TV show The Bachelor! So all in all, life is good. :)

I lift my eyes up to the mountains-

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121