Refelection

The whole first week is done. It's really hard to not notice the glaring differences between secular engineering classes and a seminary's psychology program.

First and foremost we pray before the start of every class. Being in public school since 5th grade, I can't remember the last time I prayed in a classroom like that. It felt awesome that the profs really seemed to be on our side and were committed to equipping us with knowledge versus testing us to make sure we were worthy of being a part of their profession. The profs at this school even took into account when assignments for OTHER classes where due when establishing due dates for their courses, an unheardof practice in my engineering program. I do however miss the more structured layout of engineering. From day 1, I knew what was due, when we were going to cover every topic, due dates for assignments, and all that. This less rigid format is going to take some getting used to.

I've gone to 3 of the 4 classes I'm signed up for (missed Apologetics because of Labor Day). Group Therapy, Integration Methods, and Systems of Psychotherapy all seem like super easy classes. Even the profs said that most if not everyone gets As in these classes. I really want to make sure I get a strong GPA so I can get into a good PhD program and hopefully get a Research Assistantship (RA), Fellowship, or something along those lines.

I visited a church last night. It was my first time visiting a Detroit Area mega church and church on a Saturday. From talking with one of my classmates, there's MOSTLY mega churches out here. In all honesty, it looks like it's the size of a small arena/theatre in Chicago. It had a full stage complete with lights. I felt like I was at a Christian concert. All the dramatics made me miss my smaller church back home! After sitting there and listening to the conversations around me, there was fellowship and and the like and it wasn't just small talk. They actually KNEW each other and their lives. They do have small groups and  all that kind of stuff going on. They even have a counseling ministry going on. Not bad at all!

I personally am not a fan of mega churches because I question their ability to meet the needs of their congregation. People that attend them assure me that their fellowship and spiritual needs are met. Personally I love my small church. I love that all three of my pastors in my small church know me by name, my story, and my goals. Do I feel like bigger churches can do the same? Possibly. Mega churches make me question where their loyalties lie: the Word that they are supposed to deliver or the feel good message their congregations want them to deliver. Let's be real. A feel good message is probably more likely to get people to sow while a scolding word may cause people to withdraw mentally and financially while they sit and chew.

Everyday is a new revelation with a new set of challenges and I'm up for them!