The Semi Winter 2014.2 by Fuller Office of Student Affairs

PUBLIC SPEAKING the SEMI Winter 2014.2

Semi-Coherent

Editor’s Notes

At trivia the other week, there was a team named “Why was GQ interviewing Phil Robertson in the first place?” I think this question captures much of my reaction to the whole scenario: dumbfounded. From the comments made—which were exceptionally demeaning—to the situation they were made in, to the reactions it sparked across the continent, everything about the Great Phil Robertson GQ Interview left me wide-eyed and speechless. I hear about Robertson ending up on church bulletins as an example of the persecuted church, and I just don’t even know where to start. The SEMI’s own Jonathan Stoner takes up the discussion in this issue. He looks mainly at the problem of claiming anyone as a hero of the faith because he or she simply claims the label of Christianity and giving him or her carte blanche to do or say just about anything he or she wants. Speaking of doing whatever one wants, we also have a theological examination of The Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese’s latest movie that has been accused of glamorizing absurd immorality and excess. Eugene Suen has some fantastic analysis of the movie and its implications of sin, evil, and victimization. On a completely different note, we have something that every one of us needs to read. Mark Finney, a father and a PhD student, gives some crucial advice for how to have a healthy balance of life while going through the madness known as seminary. Practical and poignant, Mark’s words are from a place of experience: he and his wife were enrolled in the MDiv at the same time. Anyways, check it out before the burnout sets in or you completely lose your mind. This SEMI is packed, and we would love for you to dive in. Let us know what you think; email letters to the editor at semi@fuller.edu. We hope this issue finds you well and leaves you better.

Reed Metcalf, Editor

The SEMI

Managing Editor Carmen Valdés Editor Reed Metcalf Production Editor Jonathan Stoner

Letters to the Editor

The SEMI welcomes brief responses to articles and commentaries on issues relevant to the Fuller community. All submissions must include the author’s name and contact information and are subject to editing.

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You read that correctly. Email us at semi@fuller.edu to add your voice to the SEMI.

Wo r d P l a y Wordsearch. Justify it by saying you’re studying the New Testament. Sort of.

I Thought There Were Only Twelve Apostles…. H R V A C J D C W Z M Z J Y Q M P T

J O O J A A N H D L Z G S E H N H I

M G C S I M O N T H E Z E A L O T B

E E D E B E Z F O N O S S E M A J E

C E P H A S D G C M U I O A Y U U M

Simon Peter Cephas Andrew James Son of Zebedee John Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew James Son of Alphaeus

E S M Z R S W A V T N S S D D E U N

C Q R K T O I R A C S I S A D U J V

Q F S T H N H M W N P J S L H U N E

X R U M O O T H O I F S J M S P A W

E M C B L F R J L N O Z T A U T P B

M N M U O A N I P N P H G O C G O Q

I A A H M L H O O R A E B Q I A D Y

O P T C E P O F P D W P T N N W M Q

O C T T W H J Y D M G E T E O R P K

J S H Y H A T A D X T Y R I R P A N

R Q I Q M E E G A Y T G I D D O R A

X I A E E U W P G G E X A I N U J L

Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot Judas Iscariot Judas Son of James Boanerges Matthias Paul Andronicus Junia

N H S Z S S G T R S V Y W Q A A U B

THE

SEMINARY SURVIVAL GUIDE ADVICE FOR BALANCING LIFE + STUDIES

MARK FINNEY

EFORE MOVING TO CALIFORNIA I lived near Fairchild Airforce Base. A friend of mine worked there in the US Airforce Survival School. He taught people how to survive in physically and psychologically grueling conditions. Students learned how to escape from damaged aircraft, treat their own wounds, find food and build shelters in a variety of climates, evade hostile captors, and even how to mentally and emotionally survive being captured by the enemy. Their motto is: “Return with Honor.” MOST PEOPLE DO NOT THINK of seminary as a place that requires “survival.” Seminary is supposed to be a glorious experience of growth that transforms mere mortals into the ultimate in emotional and mental health (psychologists) holiness (pastors) and sacrificial service to God (missionaries). Surely seminaries glow with a special aura of God’s glory shining upon the campus and all who study and teach there… Or so the outsider or new student might think. THE REALITY IS THAT SEMINARY can be hard. My wife and I found this out firsthand when we drove up to our Fuller apartment building one afternoon during our first year in the MDiv program to see our neighbor sitting on the curb selling his furniture. Matt, a fellow MDiv student, and his wife were some of our first friends in Pasadena. They invited us to their church and we joined the small group they led. We asked why he was selling his bed and barbeque in the middle of the quarter. His reply hit us like a bombshell: “Lindsay left me. I’m moving back to

the East Coast with my parents.” Sadly, this is not the only tragic story we’ve seen during our time at Fuller.

THERE ARE A FEW UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH SEMINARY... 1. ISOLATION MOVING TO A NEW CITY WITH no existing relationships can be very isolating. Growth is also isolating. Developing new emotional and theological paradigms distances the student from family and friends who may not understand the student as they grow.

2. PRESSURE THE QUARTER SYSTEM IS GRUELING, and even more so if the student has to keep a high GPA for their financial aid and/or has a job in addition to their studies.

3. THE ENEMY YES, VIRGINIA, SATAN IS REAL and he really does steal, kill and destroy. As Screwtape would tell you, the best time to knock someone out from a lifetime of ministry is when they are young, idealistic, inexperienced, and insecure (I know no one reading this fits that description, but pray for your friends and classmates).

MY WIFE AND I HAVE SURVIVED two MDiv’s, an MFT, and three years of a PhD program (we do hope to actually move beyond student status someday, but that is another story). We started a family and we both have jobs.

THESE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED US BALANCE ALL OF THIS AND STILL KEEP OUR MARRIAGE GROWING RICHER EVERY YEAR... 1. PRIORITIZE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO EVERYTHING

required by school, work, marriage and kids with 100% effectiveness. Choose what is most important and be willing to let the lower things slide a bit. Becky and I decided early on that we were going to get an A in our marriage even if some quarters that meant getting a B+ in Hebrew. I use up all my vacation time from work in order to make sure I give my kids as much of my time and energy as possible during my breaks from school, and I refuse to check my work email when I’m off the clock.

2. COMMUNITY WE ALL NEED TO KNOW AND BE known by others. Be sure to build some relationships where you can be honest and vulnerable about your struggles, questions, and victories. Friends are usually made, not found. What worked best for Becky and me has been to pursue a couple or a group of friends that we can regularly share a meal with (weekly or bi-monthly).

3. PERSPECTIVE IT IS EASY TO GET LOST IN THE quarterly, weekly, daily grind of school, work, and family. Remember that this is just a short season of your life. Some students overcommit themselves in seminary thinking that they will live differently once they graduate. No you won’t. God cares as much about how you live now as how you live when you are the hipster pastor or swanky therapist that you imagine yourself to be 3 years from now.

4. TAKE CARE YOUR BODY

EXERCISE, A DECENT DIET, AND enough sleep will make a world of difference in your academic performance and especially in your emotional wellbeing. One of our best decisions has been to keep our TV in the closet and only bring it out occasionally for stuff like the Olympics. Lounging an extra hour or two in front of the tube instead of sleeping is a major drain on energy for the next day or two. We also run or work out at least 2-3 times per week (even if we have to run with the kids in the stroller).

5. BE GRATEFUL LIVING IN THAILAND FOR A year between my MDiv and my PhD programs showed me that there are thousands of people who would give anything to spend 3 years studying scripture, cultures, and/or psychology but will never have this opportunity. It is an incredible gift and privilege to

be here. When times are hard remember that God has called you here and that these few years of sinking down deep roots will bear much fruit for God’s kingdom the rest of your life.

often leads to burnout, or you can do your best in those areas but look for your ultimate validation from God, your family, and your own health (both physical and psychological).

6. SABBATH

POSTSCRIPT

WE TAKE ONE DAY EVERY WEEK where neither of us works, studies, or does ministry. We sleep in, make waffles with our kids, chill, and maybe go to the beach or something. This has been the single most important practice for our seminary survival (and for surviving an extremely challenging year on the mission field).

IF YOU SURVIVE SEMINARY, IT WILL likely be these survival skills that sustain you in a life of ministry as much or more than the knowledge you acquire through your studies. May you “Return with Honor” to serve God wherever you are sent after Fuller.

7. STUDY SMARTER THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS I’ve developed are skimming books and writing efficiently. Google “How to Skim a Book Effectively” (then practice until you are a pro). I write best and most efficiently when I carefully outline my papers before I start writing. If writing is a challenge for you GO TO THE WRITING CENTER!

8. SURVIVAL IN THE END, THE KEY TO SURVIVING seminary is to glorify God every day, not by what you do but by who you are and how you live the life you have been given. Life is measured by the same criteria when you are in seminary as when you are in the working world—you can either be obsessed with your “grades” (i.e. what your professors, bosses, clients, elders, and/ or parishioners say about you), which

Mark Finney is currently earning his PhD in Homiletics. He also works as the Program Manager for the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching at Fuller. He lives with his wife, Becky, and their two children in Pasadena.

MORAL IMMORALITY in

MARTIN SCORSESE’S

THE WOLF

OF WALL STREET

BY EUGENE SUEN 8

ATELY, THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF talk about the moral merit of Martin Scorsese’s latest film, The Wolf of Wall Street. Stylistically similar to Scorsese’s Goodfellas and Casino but pitched as a black comedy, the film is an epic chronicle of the excess and debauchery that defined life for some at the height of Ameican financial excess in the 1990s. THE FILM UNAPOLOGETICALLY shows criminals having a grand time while the fun lasts and does so in graphic but comedic terms. By shifting the attention away from victims of white collar crime, the film has been criticized in some circles as a glorification of bad people, a celebration of immorality, an en-

AS A WORK OF CINEMA, THE WOLF of Wall Street is an impressive achievement, even by Scorsese’s intimidating standard. The camera dances/ flies fluidly through spaces, the forth wall is broken with direct addresses, and the mise-en-scene dazzles with intricate details. Even the sometimes obvious mismatched cuts feel in keeping with the disorienting rhythm of the protagonist’s unhinged lifestyle. THE CAST, LED BY A FEARLESS DiCaprio, gives uniformly excellent and committed performances. The cinematic tricks on display may not be particularly novel (many have been used by Scorsese himself in films prior),

DEPICTION DOES NOT MEAN ENDORSEMENT. GREAT WORKS OF ART ENGAGE WITH THE HUMAN CONDITION WITH HONESTY AND SERIOUSNESS. THIS SOMETIMES MEANS TAKING AN UNFLINCHING LOOK AT THE DARKEST, UGLIEST PARTS OF OUR EXISTENCE. thralling portrayal of sin that makes the sin itself look enthralling. Is this true? THE MAJORITY OF SCORSESE’S film focuses on the outrageously amoral lifestyle of Jordan Belfort, a New York stockbroker who made millions off stock manipulation, and his associates (the most notable of whom is Jonah Hill’s Donnie Azoff). Insofar as it firmly fixes its gaze on the characters’ unruly conducts, the film functions as a parade of unethical behavior and grotesque spectacles. Sex, drugs, and acts of degradation abound throughout the film’s three-hour running time.

but together they form a rigorous, coherent aesthetic that contributes to the film’s overall power. There’s a kineticism to the filmmaking that makes it thrilling to behold. Now in his fifth decade as a filmmaker, the 71 year-old Scorsese hasn’t mellowed or slowed down one bit. BUT CINEMATIC VIRTUES ASIDE, does the film have a moral center, or is it, as its detractors claim, an irresponsible glamorization of criminal behavior? Having now seen the film twice, I firmly believe that The Wolf of Wall Street is a brave and important film, a work of art by a master filmmaker who, despite the contro-

versy often surrounding his works, has always been a serious moralist.

distance from the story and makes immorality look dangerously enticing.

FIRST, THE NOTION THAT A FILM should be condemned for merely showing immoral behavior is, I hope, self-evidently problematic. Depiction does not mean endorsement. Great works of art engage with the human

THE FILM IS ENTERTAINING and often thrilling. The story, as told by Belfort, situates us in his mindset and immerses us in his gleefully amoral world so that we would experience it as he did. But that is the

condition with honesty and seriousness. This sometimes means taking an unflinching look at the darkest, ugliest part of our existence. The fact that a work of art is about immorality does not make it an instance of immorality.

point of the film - it seeks to expose the mentality behind outlandishly immoral behavior and to underscore the fact that, far from being repulsive, such behavior holds genuine appeal.

SCORSESE’S FILM WILL TURN off a good number of people with its graphic depiction of Belfort’s sex and drug-fueled life - use your discretion when deciding whether or not to see the movie - but the fact that some would be affected by merely seeing such things portrayed on screen says nothing about the film’s inherent moral inclination. This is a straightforward enough idea. The more serious criticism of Wolf focuses on the notion that, with his energetic and deliberately unapologetic approach to the story, and without giving voice to Belfort’s victims, Scorsese fails to keep a proper critical

A CONVENTIONAL CAUTIONARY tale would be quick to offer moral instruction and show the characters suffering the consequence of their crimes, or feeling tragically unfulfilled by bad behavior, or learning to transform and somehow redeem themselves. However, by showing awful people having an awfully good time, and by portraying immorality to be precisely as enticing, as fun, and, finally, as absurd as it really is, Scorsese is doing justice to the reality of human depravity. THE FILM’S LAST SHOT (MINOR spoiler alert) shows a roomful of wideeyed spectators waiting to receive Bel-

fort’s wisdom on getting rich. The spectators are transfixed. The vicious cycle continues. We feel a mixture of dread, contempt, and compassion, but the way the shot is framed, it could also be a reflection of ourselves. A sorrowful, cleareyed understanding of the world sits at the heart of this ostensibly comedic film. AS SCORSESE RECENTLY REMARKED during an appearance on Charlie Rose, we are all capable of terrible things under the right circumstances. Indeed, no one is immune from the temptation and effect of immorality - not Belfort and his gang of white-collar thugs, not Scorsese himself, and not the audience. The film’s “gleeful” approach is as much an ab-

cheated, tempted, drawn into the fold of moral chaos, and all have fallen short. A stockbroker who buys into a decadent way of life is ultimately as much a victim as the individuals who unwittingly give Belfort their life savings in hopes of getting rich. This is also why the victim-related criticism leveled against the film does not quite hold; the film’s perspective on what constitutes victimhood is all-encompassing. THERE IS TREMENDOUS POWER and truth to the film’s depiction of a fallen world that transcends its subject matter, that inspires reflection on our spiritual and existential predicament. Scorsese, a former Catholic

THIS IS A WORLD THAT HAS GONE AWRY, THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY AMORAL DESIRES. BECAUSE NO ONE IS INNOCENT, IN A CRUCIAL SENSE, EVERYONE IS A VICTIM. ALL HAVE BEEN DUPED, CHEATED, TEMPTED, DRAWN INTO THE FOLD OF MORAL CHAOS, AND ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT. surdist indictment of despicable human behavior as it is an admission of shared guilt and of our common susceptibility to sin. The unsentimental focus on immorality is precisely what makes it such a moral and spiritually serious work. AS THE NEW YORKER’S RICHARD Brody remarked, what we are shown on screen is ultimately “a unified field of dubious desire, of temptation, evil, and sin.” This is a world that has gone awry, that has been completely consumed by amoral desires. Because no one is innocent, in a crucial sense, everyone is a victim. All have been duped,

seminarian who has spent a lifetime wrestling with the underside of the human condition, has made another bold film that asks us to look at the face of sin and grapple with our human reality with fear and trembling.

Eugene Suen is the Co-Director of Reel Spirituality at Fuller and a filmmaker. His own Wall Street career was cut short when he realized his self-assigned nickname “The Wolverine of Wall Street” was not catching on in the office.

What do our WORDS say about JESUS when we SPEAK PUBLICLY about our FAITH? BY JONATHAN STONER 12

IKE MOST PEOPLE THESE days I get my news from a trusted source: Facebook. The social network tells me what I need to know, whether that be information about natural disasters, a photo of the Obama’s dog playing in the snow, or what on earth is happening with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and their newborn baby. From the tragic to the sublime - but more often cute - to the ridiculous is usually how it goes in the world of social media. Recently, a news story that embodied several of these elements popped up in my newsfeed. Phil Robertson, the gruff, big bearded patriarch from Duck Dynasty had gotten himself into hot swamp water over some ill-advised comments he made to a GQ interviewer concerning homosexuality and the history of African-Americans in this country. When I noticed some friends of mine changing their profile pictures to portraits of Mr. Robertson and posting articles and statuses that incorporated the statement “I Stand With Phil,” my curiosity was piqued.

posed over the shot of the Duck Dynasty men: “2,000 years later a few bearded duck men are helping bring Christ back to a nation! Hey, that’s a fact, Jack!” It was at this point that I knew I had to do some investigating–as someone who has never watched an entire episode of Duck Dynasty–to find out more about Phil, his family, and this entire situation. The results of my research were distressing. Phil, an outspoken Christian celebrity, had made some rather crass and insensitive remarks about homosexuals and homosexuality. He explained in the interview that his family has a love the sinner, hate the sin mentality and it’s not their job to judge whether people are headed for hell or heaven. “That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?” Robertson also suggested that African-Americans were not only content with their situation but more “godly” in the Jim Crow South.1

I WAS MOVED TO ACTION, though, when the son of my former pastor posted a crudely made diptych poster of Peter, James, and John juxtaposed above a photo of Phil Robertson with his brother Si and his sons Jase and Willie. The image of the disciples featured this statement: “A long time ago, a few bearded fishermen helped bring Christ to the world!” These words were im-

I AM CONVINCED THAT IF Mr. Robertson had the temerity to voice these opinions in a class at Fuller he would have had people lining up to “to nuance” or more likely “push back” on the controversial and bigoted views he was espousing. In the aftermath of these comments being made public there was pressure put on the A&E Network from GLAAD and other LGBTQ advocacy groups

to pull Phil from their most successful television show, which also happens to be the biggest reality show on cable television currently boasting a whopping 14 million viewers per episode. GLAAD suggested as an act of contrition Phil “should look African Ameri-

For those that thought the Culture Wars ended with the death of Dr. Jerry Falwell and the election of Barack Obama, the uproar over Phil Robertson and the battle lines that were drawn along ideological lines made it clear that we as Americans (and as Christians)

NOW WHAT CONCERNS ME MOST ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHAMPIONING A MAN LIKE PHIL ROBERTSON AS BEING A POSITIVE REPRESENTATION OF CHRISTIANITY TO AMERICA AND THE WORLD. can and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists.”2 When the network made the decision to suspend Phil from the show, legions of loyal fans and conservative Christian groups like AFTAH (Americans For Truth About Homosexuality) came out in support of Robertson’s right to free speech under the Constitution and demanded that A&E reinstate him. There were more than 250,000 signatures the Faith Driven Consumer organization’s IStandWithPhil.com petition gathered from fans coming to Phil’s defense seemed to demonstrate that there were many Americans eager to see Phil restored to his proper place as the head of this beloved reality TV family. As a result of the deafening outcry from fans, A&E made the decision to lift Phil’s suspension and allow him to come back on the show.

are still more deeply divided on the pertinent social issues of our day than we might like to believe. NOW WHAT CONCERNS ME MOST about this situation is not so much that some of my family members and friends (who would identify as Christians) are fans of the show but that there are people who are championing a man like Phil Robertson as being a positive representation of Christianity to America and the world. When David Kinnaman, president of The Barna Group, published his book unChristian in 2007, he explained that the most commonly held perception among 16 to 29 year olds, both in and out of the church, is that Christians are anti-homosexual; this has become one of our primary defining characteristics.3 Whatever your deeply personal views and biblically informed convictions are when it comes to the topic of

homosexuality, I don’t think any person who is earnestly and honestly seeking to be a disciple of Jesus Christ of Nazareth wants to have the Christian faith painted with this brush. Do we want to be narrowly defined by what we or our fellow Christians are against? I don’t. This is why it troubles me that my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ would “stand with” a man like Phil who reinforces the negative stereotypes that people have of Christians and Christianity in general. We cannot use the Bible or the “Christian” label to justify speaking in a callous manner that does damage to people’s hearts and the cause of Christ, nor should we support those who do. WHEN I SAW MY FRIEND’S POST comparing the men from Duck Dynasty to the apostles and mak-

long to come across another wellknown Christian with millions of fans who is a much better example of what it looks like to be a Christ follower sans a big bushy beard. Throughout his short tenure as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has quickly won the hearts of believers and non-believers alike. Eschewing the aloof and insensitive approach when it comes to confronting hot button issues – when addressing homosexuality he said, “If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?”4 – or when faced with crowds of “sinners” – he is often photographed smiling with arms wide, practically running to embrace and pray for the lost, the sick, the rejected, the hurt, the confused,

WHEN I SAW MY FRIEND’S POST COMPARING THE MEN FROM DUCK DYNASTY TO THE APOSTLES AND MAKING THE BOLD CLAIM THAT THEY ARE “HELPING TO BRING CHRIST BACK TO A NATION,” MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT WE NEED BETTER ROLE MODELS, WHO NOT ONLY LOOK THE PART OF A DISCIPLE BUT ACT THE PART AS WELL. ing the bold claim that they are “helping to bring Christ back to a nation,” my immediate thought was that we need better role models, who not only look the part of a disciple but act the part as well. Taking a quick glance at my Facebook newsfeed again it didn’t take

the deceived, the broken, the used and abused – in doing so he seems to embody the father in Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, willing to humble himself to sprint toward the rebellious child who is desperately in need of being rescued and restored to his family.

HERE IS A FORM OF CHRISTIANITY

and devotion to Christ that is marked by irresistible love, joy, and compassion. Francis’ life is compelling because it is modeled on Jesus’ own lifestyle of loving people not simply with “words but with actions and in truth.”5 If the perception is that Christians are the first ones to pick up stones— like the religious men in the Gospels, hell-bent on punishing the woman caught in adultery6—then maybe it’s time we think twice about who we are really imitating and who we want representing us to the wider world. C.S. Lewis wrote that, “Christ came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of

and neighbors about the Jesus we have committed our lives to? POPE FRANCIS HAS SAID “IT is necessary to proclaim courageously and in every situation, the Gospel of Christ, a message of hope, reconciliation, communion, a proclamation of God’s closeness, his mercy, his salvation, and a proclamation that the power of God’s love is able to overcome the darkness of evil and guide us on the path of goodness.” This Gospel message of incredible hope that the Church has been entrusted with communicating to the world risks becoming an offensive “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”8 in people’s ears when a prominent

IF THE PERCEPTION IS THAT CHRISTIANS ARE THE FIRST ONES TO PICK UP STONES -- LIKE THE RELIGIOUS MEN IN THE GOSPELS, HELL-BENT ON PUNISHING THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY -- THEN MAYBE IT’S TIME WE THINK TWICE ABOUT WHO WE ARE REALLY IMITATING AND WHO WE WANT REPRESENTING US TO THE WIDER WORLD. life He has — by what I call ‘good infection.’ Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”7 When we unequivocally throw our full support behind a man like Phil Robertson and point to him as a shining example of what a Christian aka “a little Christ” looks like, how does that reflect on us? What does it communicate to our friends

Christian in the public spotlight like Mr. Robertson is believed to be speaking for all of us when making ignorant and uncharitable statements about people that God loves. In his oft quoted “Love Chapter,” St. Paul uses the Greek word agape when explaining the type of all-consuming and sacrificial love required of us as followers of Christ.9 The question is, do people see this kind of

love flowing through our speech and actions; behavior we claim is inspired by our Christian faith? IN A TIME PERIOD WHEN THE cultural conversation regarding homosexuality and other highly charged issues has become so polarized, Francis cautions us to remember that “in ideologies

this are the kinds of people who, like Mary did with her friend and Savior Jesus, you want to sit at their feet to hear what they have to say. There are so many “troubled and helpless sheep”11 in and out of the church who are looking for good shepherds they can trust to not only protect but to show them true, unconditional, pure love, the

ST. PAUL USES THE GREEK WORD AGAPE WHEN EXPLAINING THE TYPE OF ALL-CONSUMING AND SACRIFICIAL LOVE REQUIRED OF US AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. THE QUESTION IS, DO PEOPLE SEE THIS KIND OF LOVE FLOWING THROUGH OUR SPEECH AND ACTIONS? there is not Jesus.” He recognizes the simple truth that an “ideology does not beckon” but in fact “chases away the people.”10 What he shows in leading by example is a way to live the Gospel in a way that demonstrates the agape love of Christ that pours itself out in self-denying service to others and actions marked by profound love, warmth, and kindness. Quite simply this could be viewed as a lifestyle that embraces the motto: “Love More, Talk Less.” What’s ironic is that people who live like

love a parent has for his or her child. This is ultimately a longing for God’s love. Instead of erecting more roadblocks to faith through thoughtless words, can we be the vessels that God uses to draw the people that he dearly loves to Himself ? Maybe then our reputation will be based less on what we preach and more on how we love. Jonathan Stoner is a student in the Master of Arts in Theology program at Fuller. He has had a love affair with God and the cinema since he was a boy.

1. To read the uncensored GQ interview with Phil Robertson, visit: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson 2. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/glaad-slams-ae-duck-dynasty-controversy/story?id=21356984 3. https://www.barna.org/barna-update/teens-nextgen/94-a-new-generation-expresses-its-skepticism-and-frustration-with-christianity 4. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/12/17/america_s_oldest_gay_rights_magazine_picks_pope_francis_as_person_of_ year.html 5. 1 John 3:18. 6. John 8:2-11. 7. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, First Paperback Edition. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Pg. 177. 8. 1 Corinthians 13:1. 9. 1 Cor 13. 10. a.) http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-francis-francisco-27016/ and b.) http://www.rawstory. com/rs/2013/10/21/pope-francis-describes-ideological-christians-as-a-serious-illness-within-the-church/ 11. Matthew 9:36.

Hey, Fuller! CHECK THIS OUT!

• Free Couples Therapy The School of Psychology is once again offering up to 15 free couples therapy sessions on a first-come-first-served basis for qualified adults. This opportunity will be available during the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters of the 2013-2014 school year. (Couples will see a therapist during one of these quarters). All therapy will be conducted by MSMFT masters students under the direct supervision of Dr. James Furrow and Dr. Terry Hargrave. Each session will be conducted under direct video supervision. Please contact Amy Drennan in the School of Psychology at (626) 204-2009, (amydrennan@fuller.edu), to set up a brief phone intake.

• Room for Rent Fuller Psych Grad has master bedroom with attached private bathroom for rent in 1300 square foot deluxe townhouse in Monrovia, conveniently located near freeway, stores, restaurants, theaters, etc. Includes access to the entire townhouse, including kitchen, dining room, living room w/fireplace, private garage parking, and beautiful pool and spa. All utilities included as well as wi-fi, Direct TV, monthly cleaning/maid service and private laundry area. Pix available on request. Rent is $800/month. Contact Dr. Lee Stoltzfus 818 590 4617 or dr.lee.phd@doctor.com.

• Help End Homelessness Theology, Faith and Practice: Be a part of Pasadena’s plan to end homelessness. Volunteer with Fuller’s Office for Urban Initiatives to help conduct the 2014 Pasadena Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey. Sign up through www.phhn.org. Questions? Contact Janice Chan at janicechan@urban-initiatives.org

• FIeld Ed Announcements 1. Field Education Chaplaincy Internships for Spring ‘14 The following hospital and hospice chaplaincy internships* are being offered during Spring 2014: Two-unit FE546 Hospital Chaplaincy internships are being offered at Glendale Adventist in Glendale, St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Providence Holy Cross in Mission Hills. Two-unit FE548 Hospice Chaplaincy internships are being offered through Roze Room Hospice and Mission Hospice. These courses emphasize spiritual care training in a hospital or hospice setting. Students will learn how to be present to patients and/or their families during a crisis, as well as the preliminary steps in performing a spiritual care assessment. Before registering for a chaplaincy course, interns must be interviewed and accepted by the prospective hospital or hospice chaplain. Start the process early! Depending on the site, the approval process can take from 3 to 8 weeks. *These are not CPE internships. If you are looking for CPE internships, you may find that information on our Field Education website. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Understanding Hospital Chaplaincy: How to Prepare for CPE Rev. Cheri Coleman, Chaplain at Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, California Tuesday, February 11, 1:00-3:00pm 490 E Walnut Street (Conf. Room 220, 2nd Floor) A Fuller graduate and a current Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor at Arcadia Methodist Hospital will be sharing important tips on how you can best prepare for your CPE experience.

Contact FEMF at 626-584-5387 or fielded@fuller.edu for more information. 21

Semi-Responsible The All-Seminary Council Column

Greetings, Let me start off first by saying Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful break and are ready to get back in the groove of things. We here in the ASC are excited about the new quarter and are ready to serve you in any way we can. There are several things happening this quarter and we hope you are able to get involved. Some of those things include celebrations for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the 50th anniversary of the School Of Psychology, and much, much more. As usual, the ASC will be available during our office hours (Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8-5), via social media (Facebook, The Quad, etc.), and via email. Do not hesitate to contact us for any reason! One of the questions we would like to pose to you is: how can we better serve you this quarter? Are there needs that you feel are not being met? Have questions that need to be answered? Let us know! You can contact your school representatives or anyone from our team (our mug shots and info are on the next page). As always, it is a pleasure to serve you! Tamisha Tyler ASC President

The ALL-Seminary Council Tamisha Tyler ASC President asc-president@fuller.edu

Art Bamford & Nick La Casella SOTGU Co-Presidents asc-tgu@fuller.edu Corynee Waken & Samantha Kingma PGU-MFT Co-Presidents asc-mftpgu@fuller.edu

Brianna Bentley & Amanda Panos PGU-Clinical Co-Presidents asc-clinicalpgu@fuller.edu

Gwen McWhorter & Anica Leitch SISGU Co-Presidents asc-sisgu@fuller.edu 23