Dear SPT,
Another week has come and gone, and your prayers continue to be very much appreciated. Not as much was accomplished this week in comparison to last week, but perhaps it has been a blessing in disguise. I shall explain . . .
This week I was able to complete in full the reading and note taking from Millard Erickson’s Christian Theology. But I have not had the energy to move beyond this major milestone and wonderful review to formulate possible exam questions and begin study of my own notes. Where is the blessing? Well, the
sickness that has engulfed me and my family, and caused everything to slow down, has forced me to get more sleep that I have been accustom to over the past several months. So perhaps, despite the coughing and sniffling, this week has been a bit of recuperation in preparation for another big push (although Amy has not slept well).
My plan for this coming week is to begin studying my notes and the formulation of mock essay outlines. I am planning to push hard this week on the studying, but there will be a little bit of a twist thrown into the schedule. This week, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I will be pulling duty with my Air National Guard unit in Peoria, IL. I should still have my evenings free for study, but I expect the study time to be reduced.
You can pray for me this week in the following ways: (1) pray that I’ll be able to formulate good and appropriate mock questions and essay outlines (10 to 12 should do the trick); (2) pray that I’ll be able to have a good and robust review of my notes; (3) pray that my reviewing of notes will translate into good retention; (4) pray for the full renewing of my family’s health, as well as mine; (5) pray for my 3-hours drive to and from Peoria, IL; (6) the second reader of my thesis will return his comments to me this week, please
pray that they will be of a nature that I can deal with them quickly without taking much time from my exam studies (the defense draft of the thesis is due on March 15th and the oral defense is scheduled for March 29th).
Thank you for your prayers. I am feeling the Spirit’s peace, although there is still much hard work to do. Thanks for keeping with me on this—only 20 days to go!
By prayer,
Dan
Friday, February 25, 2005
Friday, February 18, 2005
SPT 03
Dear SPT (Special Prayer Team):
Thank you all for your prayers this week, they have been very helpful and noticeable. Let me explain by way of an update on my progress. In the review of my theology textbook I am now on chapter 57 (of 60); recall that I was on chapter 35 when your prayer support was first requested. I has been a very long, but productive week. To-date I have taken 120 pages of single spaced notes.
I expect to have the review of my theology textbook completed by this coming Monday evening and for the note pages to grow by approximately 12 pages. My study plan thereafter will be to continually review the notes that I’ve taken, to create sample essay outlines (without content included) on 4”x6” cards, and
then to also study the cards.
The progress made so far in studying is personally encouraging and my emotions have perked-up a bit. I am still quite nervous about the exam, but the tears have stayed away. Moreover, many of you have ministered to me by sending me Bible passages that speak of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love. I have truly taken these verses to heart and have also been aided by my review of theological material that speaks to the same truths. In concert with your many prayers, God has changed my emotions, removed a great deal of my fear/stress, and blessed me spiritually. I have felt very close to him this past week. Thank you for your prayers.
Some other things have transpired this week to inform Amy and I that there is more to our stress this month than meets the eye. All in our household have become sick. Kioni got sick first, followed by Amy, and now I am sick again.
We are all taking over-the-counter meds (Kioni has some prescription meds too), but none of us are sleeping well or breathing well for that matter. All of this has caused Amy to ask if perhaps the evil one is hoping to hinder our future ministry by making it more difficult for me to finish the degree program. I am sure that this is a possibility, certainly if we allow for the notion that evil one can work through indirect means like stress and sickness.
Nevertheless, we have you praying for us and God is faithful; he is our shield and defender! A good thing, however, has come out of this period of stress and sickness: although we three are experiencing a lack or sleep, feel crummy, and have short tempers, we are also all being driven to God in prayer. Even Kioni is voicing her little prayers thanking God for the pills and dailypraying for daddy at the library.
Please keeping praying for my study progress. It would be helpful if this week you include specific prayer for my retaining of information, as well as that God would guide me into focusing on the right material for the exam (by way of reminder, please know that I have no clue as to what the questions might be). Please also include significant prayer for all three of us with regard to the quick dissipation of our colds. Lastly, note that in addition to preparing for my exam, I am also preparing the defense draft of my ThM thesis, which is due to be turned in on March 15th (2 days before I take the exam). If you would also pray for this, it would be helpful.
Thank you very much for all that you have done in helping me through prayer this past week. Please do not stop praying—only 27 days to go.
By prayer,
Dan
Thank you all for your prayers this week, they have been very helpful and noticeable. Let me explain by way of an update on my progress. In the review of my theology textbook I am now on chapter 57 (of 60); recall that I was on chapter 35 when your prayer support was first requested. I has been a very long, but productive week. To-date I have taken 120 pages of single spaced notes.
I expect to have the review of my theology textbook completed by this coming Monday evening and for the note pages to grow by approximately 12 pages. My study plan thereafter will be to continually review the notes that I’ve taken, to create sample essay outlines (without content included) on 4”x6” cards, and
then to also study the cards.
The progress made so far in studying is personally encouraging and my emotions have perked-up a bit. I am still quite nervous about the exam, but the tears have stayed away. Moreover, many of you have ministered to me by sending me Bible passages that speak of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love. I have truly taken these verses to heart and have also been aided by my review of theological material that speaks to the same truths. In concert with your many prayers, God has changed my emotions, removed a great deal of my fear/stress, and blessed me spiritually. I have felt very close to him this past week. Thank you for your prayers.
Some other things have transpired this week to inform Amy and I that there is more to our stress this month than meets the eye. All in our household have become sick. Kioni got sick first, followed by Amy, and now I am sick again.
We are all taking over-the-counter meds (Kioni has some prescription meds too), but none of us are sleeping well or breathing well for that matter. All of this has caused Amy to ask if perhaps the evil one is hoping to hinder our future ministry by making it more difficult for me to finish the degree program. I am sure that this is a possibility, certainly if we allow for the notion that evil one can work through indirect means like stress and sickness.
Nevertheless, we have you praying for us and God is faithful; he is our shield and defender! A good thing, however, has come out of this period of stress and sickness: although we three are experiencing a lack or sleep, feel crummy, and have short tempers, we are also all being driven to God in prayer. Even Kioni is voicing her little prayers thanking God for the pills and dailypraying for daddy at the library.
Please keeping praying for my study progress. It would be helpful if this week you include specific prayer for my retaining of information, as well as that God would guide me into focusing on the right material for the exam (by way of reminder, please know that I have no clue as to what the questions might be). Please also include significant prayer for all three of us with regard to the quick dissipation of our colds. Lastly, note that in addition to preparing for my exam, I am also preparing the defense draft of my ThM thesis, which is due to be turned in on March 15th (2 days before I take the exam). If you would also pray for this, it would be helpful.
Thank you very much for all that you have done in helping me through prayer this past week. Please do not stop praying—only 27 days to go.
By prayer,
Dan
Friday, February 11, 2005
SPT 02
Dear “Special Prayer Team” (SPT) friends:
The response that I have received from you has been overwhelming and greatly encouraging! Of those whom I invited to join my SPT, over 35, across 6 states, have responded with interest and a commitment to regularly pray for me during this difficult period. “Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped” (Psalm 28:6-7a). Through your prayer covenant I hear the Lord saying, “Look here; I have heard and I am your strength and shield!” and my nerves are calmed. Thanks to all of you for your care andprayers.
Although the SPT is of a considerable size, please do not think that your individual prayers are unimportant. The SPT is the size that it is for a very important reason: God, in his mercy and grace, has saw fit to design it as such. Therefore, you are part of God’s work and your individual prayers are very much meaningful and necessary. Again, thank you for covenanting to pray diligently for me from now until March 17th (32 more days).
I will send you regular weekly updates over the next month (hopefully on Sundays), but please find attached a basic prayer guide that you can print out and keep with you as a prayer reminder.
By prayer,
Dan
P.S.: I’m sending this message out as a blind copy so that you will not be inundated with a plethora of email addresses or possible replies.
The response that I have received from you has been overwhelming and greatly encouraging! Of those whom I invited to join my SPT, over 35, across 6 states, have responded with interest and a commitment to regularly pray for me during this difficult period. “Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped” (Psalm 28:6-7a). Through your prayer covenant I hear the Lord saying, “Look here; I have heard and I am your strength and shield!” and my nerves are calmed. Thanks to all of you for your care andprayers.
Although the SPT is of a considerable size, please do not think that your individual prayers are unimportant. The SPT is the size that it is for a very important reason: God, in his mercy and grace, has saw fit to design it as such. Therefore, you are part of God’s work and your individual prayers are very much meaningful and necessary. Again, thank you for covenanting to pray diligently for me from now until March 17th (32 more days).
I will send you regular weekly updates over the next month (hopefully on Sundays), but please find attached a basic prayer guide that you can print out and keep with you as a prayer reminder.
By prayer,
Dan
P.S.: I’m sending this message out as a blind copy so that you will not be inundated with a plethora of email addresses or possible replies.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Denied
I have found myself in a very tight spot: Dr. Feinberg (Chair of the Trinity ST department) has denied my request push the ThM/ST major comprehensive exam back a few weeks. Therefore, I will be taking the exam on March 17th at 9:00am (its a 3 hour essay exam). Needless to say, I haven't had much time
to prep for the exam, since last semester I was required to exclusively work on my thesis.
Currently, I'm working my way through Millard Erickson's theology and am at chapter 35 (out of 60); so far, I've taken about 50 pages of notes. My plan is to finish my way through the book and then go back and study my notes. I am currently spending about 6 hours each night on studying, but I think that I need to find a way to ramp up the time. I am very stressed out over the fact that my degree rides on this exam and that I’ve only had a month so far to study (2 ? months by the time the exam date comes). If I pass the exam, life at the Bush household should become much more happier. But if I fail, then the stress will rise to new levels (I can take the exam one more time if I fail, but not until October). (I’m already at the level of wanting seriously to cry often, no joke!)
My specific reason for writing this message to you is because I am seeking to put together a group of folks that will serve as a prayer team to get me through this difficult period. Without significant prayer and the Lord's grace, I don't think that I will make it. I'm asking those on my prayer team to pray deliberately for me once daily from now until March 17th. Will you please consider joining my prayer team? Once I’ve got a few folks on my team, I will send out some specific prayer guidance, as well as regular updates on my study progress.
By prayer,
Dan
to prep for the exam, since last semester I was required to exclusively work on my thesis.
Currently, I'm working my way through Millard Erickson's theology and am at chapter 35 (out of 60); so far, I've taken about 50 pages of notes. My plan is to finish my way through the book and then go back and study my notes. I am currently spending about 6 hours each night on studying, but I think that I need to find a way to ramp up the time. I am very stressed out over the fact that my degree rides on this exam and that I’ve only had a month so far to study (2 ? months by the time the exam date comes). If I pass the exam, life at the Bush household should become much more happier. But if I fail, then the stress will rise to new levels (I can take the exam one more time if I fail, but not until October). (I’m already at the level of wanting seriously to cry often, no joke!)
My specific reason for writing this message to you is because I am seeking to put together a group of folks that will serve as a prayer team to get me through this difficult period. Without significant prayer and the Lord's grace, I don't think that I will make it. I'm asking those on my prayer team to pray deliberately for me once daily from now until March 17th. Will you please consider joining my prayer team? Once I’ve got a few folks on my team, I will send out some specific prayer guidance, as well as regular updates on my study progress.
By prayer,
Dan
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