It is still hard to believe. I have spent the past 4 years working on my Masters Degree and Graduation is finally here. Saturday May 15th is the BIG day. Looking back now, I don’t know how I did it. Working as a pastor full time, heavily involved with the Holston Annual Conference, and being a father to 4 wonderful sons, can’t forget being grandpa.
I have learned so many valuable lessons and even though I am still picking up the tab for a very expensive education the knowledge I acquired is priceless. It was with the Seminary that I traveled to Egypt and Israel, this was a life changing experience that brought the scriptures alive as nothing else has.
Through the study of Biblical Greek and Hebrew I learned to appreciate the scriptures in their original languages. I have learned to use the tools that allow me to go back and do the necessary ground work to learn for myself the original meanings. By no means have I acquired the ability to work in these languages without proper tools, that would take years and lots of hard work.
I have made some lifelong friendships that also are priceless. One of my best friends in the world is a pastor in North Carolina (Tim Hawkins) and that friendship formed quickly in my first year at GCTS. Tim helped me many times with assignments that I was struggling with, he is much better student than I am. I actually met several other pastors from Holston Conference at GCTS and we have also formed some wonderful friendships. So many great memories, so many hours of reading and study, writing papers, and doing research. Trust me, I don’t miss the papers but I miss greatly the instruction in this book that I love (the Bible) and I miss greatly the friends that I have sat with so many times over the past 4 years and discussed the assignments, the meaning of scriptures, the meaning of life, and so many more things.
As a lifelong learner I have a desire to return and work on a DMIN but I have said repeatedly that I would not do that unless and until the Lord allows me to pay the debt of the Masters Degree. Who knows what the future holds. I never thought I would have a college degree, much less a Masters. I am thankful for the experiences God has allowed me to enjoy and walking in graduation this next Saturday is going to be one of those wonderful experiences.
Ronnie
