tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77844892011-07-08T10:50:34.540-05:00Thoughts from one of the storytellers.Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.comBlogger3471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-86367706137700437112011-05-04T06:30:00.003-05:002011-05-04T07:00:01.148-05:00

Okay. I know thousands of people have already weighed in on the reactions and opinions surrounding the death of Bin Laden and the American response. Two of my favorite reactions are here and here.I wanted to post sooner but I am a bit of a slow processor and needed a couple days to think through some things. Take it for what it's worth, but here are my thoughts coming out of this...1 - I do

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-17315085248598127342011-05-03T08:35:00.003-05:002011-05-03T08:52:17.166-05:00

It's that time again! Last night was the family meeting time for the youth ministry I have the privilege of leading. We started a new series called "Where it All Starts". We're building this series from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Mark 12:28-31. These verses create what Jesus calls the most important commands in all the Old Testament--the Great Commandment--to "Love the Lord your God with all your

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-27357416050425583422011-04-27T09:28:00.005-05:002011-04-28T21:32:32.060-05:00

Time for a quick history lesson.How many of you know what The Agora was? Since I can't see the collective hands being raised or the blank stares I'll tell you. The Agora was an open place in Greek communities. It was a place of debate, discussion, and the sharing of ideas. It eventually became a marketplace--a public sphere for culture to happen. It's where we get the word agoraphobia (fear

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-70124252522005929122011-04-27T08:24:00.006-05:002011-05-01T21:40:31.149-05:00

The day after I took the job here at Colwood Church I began carrying a notebook around with me. I found myself filling it with ideas, thoughts, and more than anything, questions. I wrote down tons and tons of questions. Here are a few of them:1 - How do I want this student ministry described five years from now? 2 - What should this place "feel like" to students?3 - What type of leader do I

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-26310511392707552362011-04-26T06:43:00.011-05:002011-05-02T06:50:08.538-05:00

I started reading the book of Exodus a couple days ago and this jumped out at me as the writer sets the scene for the slavery of the people of Israel:"Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt." (Exodus 1:8)Quick context. Joseph had resolved his life in the land of Egypt holding great favor with the king. When his family showed up starving from the famine (the same

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-48884276969281595402011-04-24T05:58:00.001-05:002011-04-24T05:58:45.548-05:00

The season of lent ends today. I am writing early in the morning before our family heads to the church for worship. I cannot wait for the time of worship to start. Lent has given a new anticipation and rhythm to Easter for me this year. And I've loved it.Today we celebrate the resurrection. We glorify the risen King and fall in love as our faith goes cosmic--setting things right in the world

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-37787767366038397832011-04-20T06:19:00.005-05:002011-04-20T06:35:03.807-05:00

I'm continuing my seeping in Eugene Peterson's work The Pastor, his memoir of his life's journey in becoming one of America's most well-known pastors. This morning I read his recollection of a group he calls The Company of Pastors, whom he met with for years as he served a church in Maryland. The group was fluid and changing through the years, but always centered on a conversation regarding the

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-80470009089924163752011-04-19T08:02:00.003-05:002011-04-19T08:21:38.135-05:00

With our new church, the student ministry meets on Monday nights. So... every Tuesday morning I'm going to try to post a quick recap of the things we talked about.Last night was called "Failing Into Grace".As I've been here in Michigan for just over a week I've been anxious to start teaching. I feel like I've had a ton of opportunities to talk about myself and my family and as I told the kids

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-54084261725892168232011-04-08T11:04:00.004-05:002011-04-09T09:53:57.307-05:00

I spent a magical morning with my daughters today. About every morning this week has been great simply because I'm not living three hours away from them any longer, but today was especially good. We started with some snuggle time on the couch watching one of the multitude of Nickelodeon noisemakers. This was followed by a quick game of Memory led by my five-year old, and finally a good

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-30923032869318834892011-04-07T08:55:00.004-05:002011-04-07T09:18:00.737-05:00

Dear Colwood,My family and I are so excited to meet you! We are spending the next couple of days grabbing last minute things, loading our cars, and then heading to West Virginia to be with our families for just a bit longer. Then, on Sunday, we will be arriving in Caro! We seriously cannot wait.I wanted to write you all a quick letter to tell you a little bit about us. My wife and I have been

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-17381910647951768262011-04-07T08:22:00.007-05:002011-04-14T10:42:42.425-05:00

I'm loving my first week here at Colwood Church. I have been blown away by the gracious welcome of the church family for our family and can't wait to become a part of life here in Michigan! And--on a side note--the weather has been gorgeous!I wanted to share a quick verse I read that jumped out at me this week:"Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-57226511999984740422011-04-04T11:57:00.004-05:002011-04-04T12:34:33.905-05:00

I stole my wife's camera today as the girls and I are hanging out with my parents and their horses in WV. I loved these shots:

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-37612989605084178442011-04-01T13:36:00.004-05:002011-04-03T14:11:02.830-05:00

One thing I'm realizing from reading Eugene Peterson's "The Pastor"; he is a master of words. It's been quite a while since I've enjoyed the language within a book as much as the thought behind it. Peterson is brilliant. I'm anxious to read more of his work.It's obvious from his work in this particular book that he has wrestled profusely with what it means to be a pastor, and what it means to

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-90216112755909644792011-03-25T09:37:00.002-05:002011-03-25T09:51:06.097-05:00

Today I was pulled toward reading 2 Corinthians 12. This is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament, where Paul talks about a man (probably himself) who had a vision of heaven. He "boasts" as he tells of this man, but quickly says if he is going to boast he will boast about his weaknesses. I love what Paul says in verses 7-10:"...I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan,

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-17787750525996309682011-03-22T23:44:00.005-05:002011-03-22T23:46:32.620-05:00

In the buildup of lent leading to Easter, I've fallen in love with this song. You should too.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-44785468151179883692011-03-22T09:38:00.004-05:002011-03-22T10:00:11.437-05:00

Part of my biggest fear of deciding to walk through seminary was the dreaded systematic theology classes. For those who had recommended I go, these were often the classes they talked the most about. These were the classes I "needed" in their view. A focused time to take me through logically orthodox Christian belief.I never liked the thought of a system of beliefs being laid out like a paper

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-55966678954983923012011-03-21T20:07:00.004-05:002011-04-01T14:00:24.005-05:00

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be the comforters.I am so extremely grateful for the encouraging voices of those around me in the recent weeks. God has truly used the past brokenness of other lives to speak courage into my own. There is the beauty coming out of ashes--and I pray someday I may offer the same gift to others.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-10093997019304247122011-03-21T09:56:00.005-05:002011-03-21T20:40:47.613-05:00

If you haven't been inundated with the media frenzy and Christian civil war taking place in the past couple weeks over the release of Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins," you've probably been more productive than most of us. While I was home this weekend I went into Barnes and Noble and picked up the book with the intent of buying it (and actually forming my own opinions). But a minute later I put

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-88335955416757733722011-03-21T09:41:00.002-05:002011-03-21T09:49:19.865-05:00

Well, it's time to update you all on a few things. I know some readers already know all that's been going on with Carrie and I, but I wanted to inform the rest of you as to what we've been up to. Our time in Penn State has been amazing and difficult in ways that we never could have imagined. Instead of reframing everything here for the blog, and in order to stay consistent with our

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-61788335083215067542011-03-18T19:31:00.004-05:002011-03-18T20:11:21.167-05:00

Today before work I was flipping through the channels and I came to Palladia. This is one of my favorite channels as they often play legitimate videos and concerts. Unlike MTV it is actually still a music station.Anyway, as I settled on Palladia I came across a great concert from Dispatch. It was their live performance at Madison Square Garden to benefit charities helping those suffering in

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-68432511608882262582011-03-16T10:21:00.004-05:002011-03-16T10:30:49.287-05:00

Okay, so it's a departure from the heavy content I've been posting on here, but I got sucked into a good friend's March Movie Madness blogging contest, and I have to defend my selection of The Empire Strikes Back as the winner... so here it is! (And check out his blog for some great writing!)10. Luke's all grown-up. No more lonely desert boy. This guy is mastering the force and starting to

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-16715290874582589822011-03-15T23:25:00.003-05:002011-03-15T23:40:42.179-05:00

I continue to learn from this experience of lent I'm taking on for the first time. I haven't spoken much about the "things" I'm fasting from during this time, and honestly it isn't much. I have committed to drinking water and juices for the forty days and really just trying to balance more health into my diet. But I don't think any of that is the point.I think what matters more during this

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-61302880881179899522011-03-11T17:55:00.002-05:002011-03-11T22:56:57.113-05:00

Like so many today, I've been checking the news to see the latest images of the tsunami aftermath in Japan. And like so many, the images are a million miles away. It just doesn't feel real. It's like this every time I find myself glued to the news stations during a global crisis. I realize something is taking place but not in a realistic way. It lies somewhere between Hollywood and my heart-

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-25426913969110911782011-03-10T21:28:00.003-05:002011-03-10T21:37:04.031-05:00

When I was younger I loved the feeling when one of my extremities "fell asleep". I loved the pins and needles as my arm or leg came back to life. Fasting, I think, is a similar experience.If you have never fasted before, there is something surreal that happens to your body as you deprive it of a type of food or all food together. Things within us begin to shift and our consciousness changes at

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-4515375179901312422011-03-09T10:27:00.003-05:002011-03-09T10:35:04.769-05:00

Welcome back to the blog! It's been a LONG time since I posted on here, but I have some thoughts ruminating that I want to start putting out there and I still love the layout of this blog, so I thought I'd return here.For starters, I'm going to be working through a series here as the season of lent comes about. I've never really partaken in the lent season, and I've always kind of felt like I'm

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-83095454854887680402009-10-05T14:29:00.002-05:002009-10-05T14:30:05.343-05:00

For those of you wondering where I've been, we moved. Not just in physical location, but also as a blog. You can follow along now here:www.common-cup.com

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-78364349778194790872009-09-02T21:02:00.002-05:002009-09-02T21:06:16.211-05:00

We have been traveling now for about 22 hours. In 3 ½ hours we will touch down in Nairobi for a few days of exploration regarding work to be done there. I am a bit overwhelmed, wondering how tired my body can get and what we might really be able to accomplish. My prayer is that this connection to Nairobi would be long-term. I am hopeful that we can forge a partnership with lasting

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-82082005320243933932009-07-29T10:48:00.004-05:002009-07-29T10:52:31.545-05:00

Last night I shared this with our college leadership group. I was wrestling with the idea of being missional and yesterday afternoon sat down and started writing about my dreams for these students. Here's what came out.I want to make it impossible for you to simply go to church. I want you to be consumed with the mission and message of Jesus reaching those who stand on the margins—the ones who

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-28536762359042034472009-07-21T13:23:00.001-05:002009-07-21T13:23:31.210-05:00

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-81747791993256224552009-07-21T09:22:00.003-05:002009-07-21T11:33:23.343-05:00

It's interesting. I'm back in Minnesota for a week of class. As I'm listening to the lecture being given, I'm surfing the web and seeing the headline of Henry Gates, an African-American professor at Harvard being arrested for breaking into his own house. Our lecture this morning turned to a theology of salvation and how it relates to all ethnic groups. The question raised was why the American

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-37023344999085991112009-07-08T08:27:00.001-05:002009-07-08T08:29:31.503-05:00

CNN.com. Cover story and the first six "Latest news" headlines all pertain to Michael Jackson. Then there's one about how 7 in 10 Republicans would vote for Sarah Palin.This is our "news".

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-46347934099924803412009-07-07T10:01:00.003-05:002009-07-21T11:46:25.163-05:00

I've been spending my Tuesday mornings this summer in Aliquippa, PA. If you've never been there before Aliquippa is about 30 minutes from Pittsburgh and was hit very hard by the fall of a steel factory in the 80's. The town declared bankruptcy and has not recovered. Poverty here is systemic.Within this area are beacons of light. I have been leading worship and doing some teaching on Tuesday

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-37417512463245837752009-05-30T23:15:00.003-05:002009-05-30T23:22:24.678-05:00

Okay. So this has been rumbling in my mind for a while, but I think it's time. I'm going to be stepping away from blogging for a while. This has proved to be a great outlet for me, and I may at some point return to this space, but at least for the summer I'm going to step away. There are a few reasons this is happening. One, I'm starting my final year of seminary. With Carrie being due in

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-68026035959201734082009-05-26T23:43:00.002-05:002009-05-26T23:45:48.354-05:00

Mike Tyson lost his 4-year old daughter today. I don't care anything about his past. It doesn't matter any longer. All the paparazzi. All the media-hype. It's gone.Mike Tyson's daughter, injured in a freak accident at their house was taken off of life support this morning.He just became human to millions of people. We're praying for him tonight.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-70615623354901898122009-05-20T06:47:00.002-05:002009-05-20T06:51:05.787-05:00

"Praise is never meaningfully directed to God in an abstract way. Praise is offered in the midst of living because communion with the triune divine community, although ever imperfect and partial from our side, is an experience of God's steadfast fidelity."--Anne Clifford.What a powerful thought. I love when she says that "praise is offered in the midst of living. I've really echoed that this

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-32555222409844909342009-05-18T14:08:00.003-05:002009-05-18T14:17:10.212-05:00

My head is spinning after the goodness of this weekend. Our college-age retreat went great. It was amazing reconnecting with these students and hearing their hearts for Christ and what it looks like to walk with him in college. There were about 20 of us there Friday night and Saturday morning, and we functioned on about 3 hours sleep which definitely impacts how I'm feeling today!Saturday I

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-62913712451261578712009-05-14T21:51:00.002-05:002009-05-14T21:57:32.551-05:00

This is the weekend we're launching NEXT, the new college-age ministry of South Hills Bible Chapel. I'll be leading this, and I can't wait to connect with some of these students. Everything starts with a retreat tomorrow, and our weekly Bible study on Sunday night. I'll fill you in more once the weekend is over, but here's a video I put together as kind of a kickoff. The narration is from an

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-42438430229220412042009-05-03T22:08:00.003-05:002009-05-03T22:20:25.816-05:00

Okay, so I thought I'd be able to blog a bit more while I was in Minnesota the past two weeks. Turns out, life was pretty busy there in class 7 hours a day. As always, it was busy in different ways than it's usually busy here, and refreshing in some ways as well. But, tomorrow I jump in to life here again and can't wait. I've been holding on talking much about this on here, but I'm pretty

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-14854545378678815512009-04-29T07:02:00.002-05:002009-04-29T08:07:36.147-05:00

"When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him."- Oswald ChambersI read this today before class and was blown away at the statement Chambers makes. In light of sitting through my first Systematic Theology class this week this was a great reminder. Our professor has done a

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-16883743364505144602009-04-21T10:41:00.003-05:002009-04-21T10:44:41.541-05:00

Rick Warren is in the news again. Any thoughts?

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-45983974001990652732009-04-19T14:58:00.002-05:002009-04-19T15:08:45.949-05:00

A large, African-American man just walked passed me and shouted, "What we got, glass!?" I'm sitting at the Pittsburgh airport for the start of my fourth time to travel to the Minneapolis area for two weeks of intensive seminary classes. To my left is a large scale ad for some type of airport shopping, serving as the backing wall to the McDonald's. Apparently someone just dropped a bottle on

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-87148294468469578632009-04-08T23:11:00.001-05:002009-04-08T23:12:54.770-05:00

Hey folks... the final numbers are in! It looks like we raised just over $1,230 for the "Free the Slaves" organization! The marathon was an awesome experience. So awesome what you guys did! Thanks for all your support and prayers... I'm planning my next marathon for next spring. We'll see how it all goes. This was a great journey with you guys! Blessings.Sorry I've been out of blogging for

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-11553598165136040322009-03-30T22:55:00.002-05:002009-03-30T22:58:08.625-05:00

Loved this blog post. Talks about how we often "rush" into ministry instead of allowing the doors to open as we awaken to what God is already doing in the places we find ourselves called to. I'm beginning to explore what college ministry could look like at South Hills Bible Chapel, and I find myself praying this prayer a lot... "God, show me where you're already at work in the lives of college

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-61457393743073569952009-03-30T00:00:00.003-05:002009-03-30T00:05:19.919-05:00

One more post for tonight. Check out this picture Carrie took:I can't fathom how quickly time passes. I haven't announced it on here yet, but a couple of weeks ago Carrie and I found out we will be having our third child in November. I'm beyond excited, but I'm also a little sentimental. I feel like every day that passes the girls are growing faster and faster. Malia is absolutely amazing

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-66763922203274532942009-03-29T23:38:00.006-05:002009-03-30T00:00:07.956-05:00

Wow, it's been a major catchup week. I love having the chance to go away, but it's always tough digging out. Especially this time. I just started another round of classes and work is picking up as well.Anyway... wanted to post some pictures from the marathon. It was such a great time. I went through and journaled some of my highlights of this whole thing--I may recount some of those stories

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-45223584830506303852009-03-18T11:24:00.001-05:002009-03-18T11:28:39.554-05:00

Sorry it's been a while since I posted. Haven't been to bed before 1 much in the past week and a half. It's those last weeks of classes that always kill me. Always seems like there is a ton of stuff to pull off.Anyway, I'm going to unplug for a few days... partly because it's needed and partly because my laptop monitor is not working--though a new MacBook Pro is in the mail!!! Carrie and the

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-22442147421138723412009-03-10T00:03:00.002-05:002009-03-10T00:08:20.582-05:00

Okay, quick update on what's coming in the next few days. Blog posts will probably slow down a bit as I'm in the last week of another round of classes. I have a couple papers to finish, an exam to muddle through, and diving into the next round.Tonight was good. Malia came back from visiting the grandparents and we all went and played at the park. We were a little cold, but soon my friends we

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-2406836360327590472009-03-06T22:13:00.005-05:002009-03-06T22:48:56.766-05:00

I thought I'd follow up to last night's post. The question I threw out was, "What exactly constitutes a 'song for God'?" This is something I've thought about a great deal serving as a worship leader in a number of different contexts. I think many times there is a very narrow understanding of what is or can be dedicated to God in the realm of church life. As most people know, when it comes to

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-91048314045068569142009-03-05T23:18:00.003-05:002009-03-05T23:24:22.066-05:00

I don't usually publish anonymous comments on here, but someone left this after my post on Monday:"So you think U2 is the greatest band. Is that why you used at least one of their songs for the worship on Sunday where we're only supposed to be singing songs for God?"I think it sparks an interesting conversation. What defines a "song for God"? I'd love to hear any thoughts that can spark healthy

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-69231360430480521142009-03-01T22:53:00.003-05:002009-03-01T22:56:59.366-05:00

One of the truly great passed away this weekend. As a young boy I was miserable when my parents would listen to this... as I grew older I fell in love with it.At age 82 he signed a ten year contract extension. Guess he still had more stories to tell.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-72188317070275971122009-03-01T22:50:00.001-05:002009-03-01T22:51:50.977-05:00

Today was the big one. A big 22-mile run. I'm pretty beat, but surprisingly, not too sore. This was the longest run I'll do before the actual marathon, and from here on out my training schedule tapers off. I feel relieved and lucky to have made it this far, and I can't wait to actually do the race. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-88058566724360049712009-02-26T13:53:00.004-05:002009-02-26T14:00:57.943-05:00

I'm a little giddy for next week.In case you didn't know, the greatest band on the face of the planet we all share releases a brand new album next week. You should order it now. Then you can wake up on Tuesday knowing it will come to your computer as quickly as those little chips can carry it. I just went to pre-order it and realized I already had. I would pre-order it again if I could.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-45243999631914191652009-02-25T13:01:00.007-05:002009-02-25T16:25:35.183-05:00

Wedding. Marc Chagall. 1918.Just read a great article concerning the Psalms of lament. The author references Walter Brueggemann, someone I haven't read much of but have seen quoted and discussed a few times. In his book, "The Prophetic Imagination," Brueggemann speaks of the prophetic function having a threefold task. First, the prophet is to create

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-57924701739065766612009-02-23T14:52:00.004-05:002009-02-23T20:03:24.446-05:00

Here's the slideshow from the retreat this weekend. Jay Higham, the speaker for the weekend, put this together. It was a blast leading worship for his teaching and seeing the kids growing.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-11406835474833762172009-02-22T14:50:00.002-05:002009-02-22T14:53:02.153-05:00

Snow snow go away. Come again some other day.26 days till I run the marathon. That's right 26.2 miles. (27 total remember.) Things are going pretty well... next Sunday will be the farthest run to date, a big 22-miler. I'm praying it's not snowing that day. I'll keep you updated!

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-23647718198648553662009-02-21T10:27:00.003-05:002009-02-21T10:29:53.272-05:00

Having a blast here in Sandy Lake, PA this weekend with the kids from Peters Creek Presbyterian. It's way cold, but a lot of fun. Here's my favorite pic from the weekend so far. We're staying at McKeever Environmental Center, owned by Slippery Rock University. It's kind of a living environmental improvement place that is interactive and informative. Really cool place for a retreat. I

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-36237101540658949192009-02-19T21:29:00.002-05:002009-02-19T21:42:53.122-05:00

What an amazing night. Carrie had a girls thing at a friend's house so I was left with the privilege of taking my daughters out on a date. After work and a quick shower I put on the clothes Malia and Pressley picked out for me and we headed for a fancy dinner at Taco Bell.I go to Taco Bell about once every two or three years, in hopes that someday their company will improve to the intelligence

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-91636966195451772722009-02-18T23:01:00.002-05:002009-02-18T23:07:15.274-05:00

Tonight I had one of the most intimidating experiences of my life, in a very fun sort of way.I was invited by a Shannon, a student who graduated last year and is now attending Grove City College to go sit on a panel discussion for what she has termed "Genuine." This is a week long event for college age women at Grove City dealing with issues such as body image, identity, etc. Shannon has done a

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-71804076793577624322009-02-17T12:03:00.002-05:002009-02-17T12:14:21.122-05:00

34 days till I try to run 27 miles. I'm sore and my body is messing with my mind every time I run. I have over 150 miles to run (according to the training schedule) and one super-long 22-miler left. The best part is that two Sundays from now things start tapering off.As tired as I am, I'm excited too. On Super Bowl Sunday I did a 20-mile run through Pittsburgh, topping off my largest week

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-74484890369466335272009-02-17T00:00:00.002-05:002009-02-17T00:03:44.179-05:00

"My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn or deserve it."--Brennan Manning

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-22337809720740549732009-02-16T23:20:00.001-05:002009-02-16T23:21:34.490-05:00

I love my wife. And I think for me, she continues to hold the light. I'm grateful for her, that's all for tonight.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-80661850143939508672009-02-11T07:37:00.002-05:002009-02-11T07:43:49.550-05:00

Last night I went to Grove City College with my senior pastor Ron. The college was having a short little seminar called "A Conversation with the Emergent Church." They had two guys, Kevin De Young, and BJ Woodworth share for 20 minutes each, then field question for another half hour. It was a good time. Nothing too strikingly new. The best time for me though, was the conversation between Ron

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-90245157290106737772009-02-09T23:26:00.002-05:002009-02-09T23:28:39.238-05:00

Back to work tomorrow... I hope. Carrie got the virus last night and was up all night, so I was home most of the day attempting and failing miserably at doing what she does everyday. I have no idea how she does it. Absolutely none. Anyway, I've posted enough about stomach bugs for the week. I'm ready to move on. More tomorrow.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-23826481851519726602009-02-07T18:48:00.002-05:002009-02-07T18:51:58.593-05:00

What a weekend. Actually, what a half a week. Wednesday morning Carrie got a call from her mom that her dad had had a heart attack. We left immediately for West Virginia to be with them. While he seems to be doing okay, that was only the beginning.Last night, after being home for just a few hours, Pressley started throwing up. About midnight I joined her. From then on I was up every hour on

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-65826485344665061342009-02-04T00:32:00.001-05:002009-02-04T00:34:07.852-05:00

Out of curiosity... what are your thoughts on non-violence and pacifism? I've been wrestling with some things and saw Gran Torino tonight, which sparked further thought. I'll probably post soon on it, but I'd love to hear any thoughts from you guys first.Gran Torino, by the way, was phenomenal.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-62707762654871948002009-02-04T00:22:00.004-05:002009-02-04T00:32:10.756-05:00

Today I started my 18th week of training for this upcoming marathon. On March 20th, a Friday, Carrie and I will be heading to Virginia Beach for the Shamrock Marathon. I'm fully registered, hotel reserved (with hot tub and pool), and scared to death. Just like the last (and only other) marathon I did... I can't believe the toll this takes on. This past Sunday I did my first 20-mile run of

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-56643183305647474292009-02-02T00:00:00.002-05:002009-02-02T00:06:48.029-05:00

It was a good, solid weekend.Friday the band played at Farmhouse Coffee and it went pretty well. Always a great time and I'm so thankful for a place like that allowing us to come play. Saturday I led the service and it was a great night. Ron has been preaching on "Unshakable Faith in a Shaken World" and doing a phenomenal job. It's been fun planning music for people who might be struggling

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-13734699867520380892009-01-30T10:35:00.001-05:002009-01-30T10:36:51.588-05:00

My daughter's abnormally large brain will one day help her take over the world.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-65228765923603399862009-01-30T10:16:00.003-05:002009-01-30T10:20:25.403-05:00

Fridays are my day off. I usually wake up... recently after 8 am thanks to Pressley's ear tubes and have breakfast with the girls, and then we watch some TV. Today it's Imagination Movers--which is a pretty awesome show. Fridays are good days.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-17418151639131344112009-01-16T00:47:00.001-05:002009-01-16T00:48:44.897-05:00

Watch this video. Listen to how many times Penn Gilette, of Penn & Teller, an outspoken atheist, uses the words "kind" and "he looked me in the eyes" as he talks about this Christian man who interacted with him after a show.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-43470786814092398502009-01-16T00:23:00.001-05:002009-01-16T00:25:21.668-05:00

Ah, finally! A way better layout for the blog! Thanks to David Burke for the help in creating this. Hope you enjoy!

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-46864544552805256802009-01-14T13:10:00.004-05:002009-01-14T14:26:29.917-05:00

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-22122941015802889802009-01-12T10:01:00.004-05:002009-01-15T21:55:41.612-05:00

I started watching the HBO series, "John Adams" this weekend. It's very well done. Paul Giamatti does a phenomenal job, as does David Morse as George Washington. I think it's always interesting to watch historical, "true story" movies because I find myself wondering just how much is true. This particular film is based off of David McCullough's book but I don't know how much is fact and how

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-77620446835461638572009-01-08T00:09:00.002-05:002009-01-08T00:10:45.566-05:00

Just watched this movie again tonight. If you get a chance you should watch it. Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito are amazing and it always causes me to think more deeply about how we "share" our faith.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-59647402990734972002009-01-06T16:31:00.003-05:002009-01-06T16:42:26.045-05:00

I don't know if any of you have ever read or used Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for his Highest" as a devotional, but it's a great work. I struggle pretty regularly with a devotional life. Part of me struggles because when I was young I lived day to day with guilt if I didn't read my little Campus Journal devotionals. As I grew a little bit older I became convinced that I truly was saved by

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-85786170473844264152009-01-05T23:09:00.004-05:002009-01-05T23:31:01.077-05:00

Just started another round of seminary classes. I'm reading a great book called "To Have or to Be?" It's written by a guy named Erich Fromm who died the year I was born. I've only read one chapter, but I was pretty blown away by it as he dealt with the differences between active and passive people... and what it means to be in the "being mode" as he calls it.Tracing the likes of Aristotle and

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-55553858441665253692009-01-03T23:32:00.004-05:002009-01-03T23:41:13.818-05:00

Okay, dumb run #2. Much less serious than the last, and in fact quite fun, but dumb nonetheless.This past week, while in West Virginia, I had a 7 mile run to do on Tuesday morning. I took off from my parents house, quite a ways in the country, and found a back road to go down. This back road kept going and going, and I enjoyed the beautiful country even though it was quite hilly. A creek ran

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-64281324019175465192009-01-03T23:21:00.002-05:002009-01-03T23:32:22.229-05:00

We're finally back from being in West Virginia with family for the new year. It was good to be away, but I think even better to be back home. Marathon training continues... I have an 18-miler scheduled for tomorrow after church. We'll see how that goes. But I wanted to tell you of a couple very dumb runs I've made in the past few weeks. Here's the first:Two Sundays ago, as with every Sunday

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-55162583230514140142008-12-26T23:11:00.002-05:002008-12-26T23:15:54.318-05:00

If you haven't yet, you should go see Will Smith's new movie "Seven Pounds." It's not the best movie I've ever seen, but it does what I think good art should do. While I was connected to the movie and the storyline in deep ways, I found myself walking away not so much hit by the "tearjerker factor," but more by deeper questions about God and his very character. I found myself thinking more

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-48050996467215176632008-12-25T00:23:00.004-05:002008-12-25T00:27:44.680-05:00

I love Christmas. Tonight was fun. Two Christmas Eve services at the church, complete with a ton of people, a living nativity in the lobby, and wikki stix for the kids. Then we came home to write a letter to Santa and get a plate of cookies and carrots ready for the big visit. Tomorrow's going to be a fun day! Here are some pictures...

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-73518618590624211392008-12-10T00:01:00.001-05:002008-12-10T00:04:03.214-05:00

It's official. I'm signed up and all. March 22 we'll be in Virginia Beach. Anyone want to come along?

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-24321485498095640562008-12-07T23:48:00.002-05:002008-12-07T23:52:08.670-05:00

So, school is finished for at least a month. All papers are done, all tests taken, and now I breathe a little bit. This made for a good weekend. Friday we had friends over to play Settlers of Catan (perhaps my favorite board game of all time). Last night I led worship, and today we had quite the day. We spent a bit of time with more friends after I did a 14-mile run this morning. Then, my

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-91580959831063804802008-12-05T00:50:00.002-05:002008-12-05T00:52:52.624-05:00

It's the last day of my quarter of seminary today. Been a pretty tough week... finished a 20 page paper tonight, took a beast of an exam earlier in the week, and two other smaller papers as well. At the end of a semester (or quarters now in seminary) I have a hard time stepping away. Like now, for instance. I finished the paper about 45 minutes ago and am finding it difficult to unplug. I

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-24878870338051864972008-12-01T00:05:00.002-05:002008-12-01T00:09:10.823-05:00

Busy weekend. Busy busy weekend.We came home from WV Friday and I went almost immediately to a wedding rehearsal I was singing at. Saturday I sang at the wedding, did lunch with a couple of guys home from college, then headed back to church for rehearsal and the service that night. Today I helped Kirk out with the two services, came home for lunch and a nap, and then did a 10 mile run. Carrie

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-6742501529764177122008-11-27T11:53:00.004-05:002008-11-27T11:56:15.218-05:00

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-40811506407388118842008-11-24T22:41:00.005-05:002008-11-24T22:55:21.917-05:00

Okay... time to get back on the blogwagon. It's been a busy time lately, but I'm away now for some vacation in WV. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday all year, so I'm pretty pumped for the next few days. I took the picture above on Friday while Carrie and I drove through Ohio. We actually found gas for $1.54/gallon and I filled my tanks for less than 20 bucks... something I don't

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-10599068103871375392008-11-17T13:15:00.001-05:002008-11-17T13:16:36.172-05:00

Well... turns out the first marathon I ran about four years ago was also in the nation's fattest city. Irony.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-25216128370519248482008-11-16T09:40:00.003-05:002008-11-24T22:55:38.759-05:00

It's been a while since I've talked running. Today is going to be tough... I'm leading worship for the whole weekend at our church--one Saturday service and two Sunday mornings, then I'm heading out for a 14-miler. Plus, it's REALLY REALLY cold. We'll see how it goes. I'm also hoping to get out more info over Thanksgiving on donations, etc. as I've been talking with Free the Slaves a bit more

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-33442158925055301092008-11-11T12:48:00.003-05:002008-11-24T22:55:58.055-05:00

I think the world of the blog is quickly becoming the psalter of today. You know, the collection of psalms from the Bible-the heart-rending prayers of David, the sons of Asaph, and others crying out to God in joy, anger, desperation, and curiosity. I often read the blogs of others and find myself connecting with their thoughts, opinions and prayers. I think we were created for connection. I

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-64345298089570564182008-11-05T00:14:00.002-05:002008-11-05T00:24:12.160-05:00

I'm proud to be part of this country. I took my daughters with Carrie and I to vote this morning and was thankful that I had that privilege. This is probably the first election I've really cared about, and it was a special day. I don't know how Barack Obama will do as president of the United States of America. I don't know how John McCain would have done. What I know is that we are all

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-68270487347516116852008-10-31T08:05:00.002-05:002008-10-31T08:17:34.842-05:00

It's been fun blogging this week. The class I'm in is called Culture and Ministry. It deals with just what it says--issues of culture and how they relate to ministry. When I say culture, I'm talking as widely as possible. Ethnicity, generational, socioeconomic, regional, and on and on. It's been really fascinating to think through a lot of things I've never been asked to think through.Our

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-34371955347097480722008-10-29T23:21:00.002-05:002008-10-29T23:23:26.571-05:00

Hey guys... Josh brought it to my attention that the racist comment at the Palin rally may not have been what it was originally reported to be, it may have instead been a different comment of "redistributor!" Not for sure, but I wanted to let you know.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-58349182172855510592008-10-29T22:12:00.003-05:002008-10-29T22:19:10.341-05:00

Sorry, but this is kind of heavy on my heart this week. Here's a comment from Bev on my last post. I thought she had some great thoughts and wanted you to read it:"Probably neither here nor there to the point of your post, but I grew up in the south, where the 'N' word was used, often. There were separate water fountains, etc. etc. etc. I'm quite confident a number of my relatives, there and

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-22634661668199889182008-10-29T11:29:00.002-05:002008-10-29T11:39:12.558-05:00

I've been thinking about the post I made last night. Someone at a political rally where Sarah Palin is speaking screams out that Obama is a "n***er". At a location with an event serving as one of the very foundations of our democratic, free society, something like this happens. I can't quit thinking about this.I wish Palin would have stopped and confronted the issue. Like I said yesterday, I

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-86324515337376153932008-10-28T22:55:00.004-05:002008-10-29T11:39:49.052-05:00

It hasn't gone away. We can say it has, but it hasn't. I have a feeling in a week one of the ugliest pieces of what lies below the surface is going to become visible again--at least more visible than it's been for a while.This link is a video of Sarah Palin giving a speech where someone calls Obama a racist name. It's pretty rough, so don't watch if you're easily offended, but it's also a

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-44667941498697604722008-10-28T10:40:00.003-05:002008-10-29T11:40:06.632-05:00

Read this.Over 600 people involved in a child prostitution raid.29 cities here in the US.Over 500 adult prostitutes and over 70 pimps.47 children being forced into prostitution.Ranging between 13 and 17 years old. All but one are girls.Slavery still happens.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-71796661635365946632008-10-27T22:00:00.003-05:002008-10-29T11:40:24.661-05:00

Our class took a pilgrimage today to the Holy Land. Well, not The Holy Land, but the Holy Land here in Minnesota which is actually a Middle Eastern deli. It was pretty fun, though my stomach is definitely feeling it a bit now. This is going to be a fun class this week--it's called Culture and Ministry. I'll update as the week goes along.

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-43333562154683723632008-10-26T13:10:00.003-05:002008-10-26T19:40:15.560-05:00

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-23054048433874871952008-10-25T12:28:00.000-05:002008-10-26T00:22:14.146-05:00

This is from the coffee shop where I hung out last night called the Spyhouse. If you're ever in Uptown in Minneapolis it's a great place to check out. It's definitely nice to have a break over the weekend, but I'm also kind of ready to jump back into class so I can get home. I miss my family!

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784489.post-48593987863029032142008-10-23T23:01:00.003-05:002008-10-23T23:09:21.470-05:00

It's Thursday of my first week of intensives here in Minnesota. Intensives are part of my seminary experience. I do most of my studying online and then twice a year fly out here for two weeks. It's really a great way of learning, and makes the class time very good. I like Thursday nights of the intensives. 7 hours in class is a long time for four days in a row, and on Fridays we only go till

Justin Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265904583454488979noreply@blogger.com1