What's up with Scott?

A fresh life update is in order.

My sister is doing great. She’s first chair cello in IWU’s orchestra, and playing in the string quartet. She loves both, and is also taking and teaching cello lessons. She’s going to school for free (praise the Lord, so am I).

My parents are doing great, too. My mom is on vacation for a week, and Dad just got a new electric razor for Christmas, not to mention his “Deal or No Deal” home DVD game. We got my mother an IWU sweatshirt for Christmas that says, “MOM” (she says it says ‘wow,’ but I don’t think she’s looking at it straight :-). We just received (or inherited) some furniture from my uncle Tom and aunt Kay, who were graciously happy to get it off their hands and out of their basement. One is a recliner, the other a small dining table. Thanks!

My friend Burke Sullivan is studying Christian Ministries at Indiana Wesleyan along with me. Next semester we have four classes together. Four! Unbelievable. In fact, it is convenient that we have them together, in order to sufficiently bear their burden: they are four 85 minute classes in a row, twice a week. That’s right—5 hours and 20 minutes of class every Tuesday and Thursday. Burke feels called to some kind of full-time Christian service.

My friend Jake Hogan is well on his way to law school, now a junior Pre-Law, Political Science and International Relations major at Indiana Wesleyan. He’s working his way to becoming a shining star in the Social Sciences dept., while being a great friend and a steady IWU Conference Services worker. (There is an Information Desk in the Student Center where he works; the kicker is, almost no one needs information . . . so the workers get to talk and do homework for minimum wage.) Jake wants to become a lawyer and help people get healthcare who can’t afford it.

My friend Dusty Fecht is currently a senior Religion/Philosophy major at school, who recently married Natalie (how quickly I’ve forgotten her maiden name!) this summer. He and Natalie are attending Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Marion, IN, and they are currently spying out future seminary options.

My friend Joe Vitiello is a senior Art major at IWU, finally finding his niche after a few years of searching. He recently took a digital photography class, wherein he learned to despise creating art with machinery. He would rather paint. This semester he’s doing an Independent Study in Art History, and an internship teaching kids art after school at the Boys and Girls club. He’s psyched about both, and hopes to score a job nearby and stick around town.

My friend Adam Thada is loving life with his wife, Becky. They’re enjoying a TV-free life in an upstairs apartment in north (I think) Marion. Adam is studying Economics and International/Community Development, and Becky is student teaching. Adam is a good friend, and my number one man when it comes to economics, trade, anti-consumerism and conservation.

My professors are overworked, but are doing marvelously. You can click their links to the right to read their current minds.

I merely squeaked by last semester. This time we’re gonna give it a more diligent try. I’m now more aware of myself, of the way I think and my motivations, so hopefully I can avoid some of the big pitfalls of last semester.

This coming semester I am taking: History of Christianity I, History of Christianity II, Christology, Evangelism and Global Outreach (+ practicum), and Corinthian and Thessalonian Letters. All but one with Burke Sullivan. Woohoo!

I just bought a CD, but I don’t like it. I won’t tell you what it is, so as to hurt no one’s feelings, or discourage any potential fans or future buyers. [Sorry, Frank :-(]

Some of you may or may not know that I recently went through a period of questioning my Wesleyan loyalty. I believe that period has passed, and I am nearly dead sure I won’t leave home. Please rest assured.

I want to be a missionary. I want to preach the gospel. I want to help the helpless. I want to be a theologian. After college I want to go to Duke Divinity School, Princeton, or Asbury Seminary, preferred in that order. I want to get married and raise a family, Lord willing. I want to change my world.

Amen.