The Graduate

On May 22, 2008 Dave graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with a Masters of Arts in Religion.  It took five years, but he did it while being a dad of two and working full-time in ministry at liberti church. I'm really proud of him. The amount of reading and intellectual rigor required to succeed in his program of study was tremendous. I have to say that I have a new respect for Dave's ability to apply himself, his discipline to study and his patience to actually learn the material. I was always the kind of student that learned quickly and spit out enough of the information correctly in order to get by. I never once asked myself, "Do I really get this?" I feel like watching Dave has led me to a new definition of Intellectual. He isnt going to toot his own horn or use heady words (actually, his vocabulary astounds me!). I mean, he isnt a saint...he tries to get his self worth in other ways, but for someone who personally tries to get props from being quick and witty, I am often humbled by Dave's understanding of things way beyond my grasp. 

One of Dave's favorite authors, Abraham Kuyper, writes, "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, "Mine!".  I'm convinced that Christ has claimed Dave's degree as his own. Where ever we land vocationally, God has used this time at seminary to fulfill many purposes already. I see another side of Dave that I would never have seen had we not come to Philly. Even though that is enough for me, I know that God will continue to use Dave's gifts to serve others and to image the One who created him. Congratulations Dave!