I believe that God has placed ministry on my heart. It is my short term goal to be in a ministry position within the next five years. I think many people who have this goal go to seminary or a Christian college to get a degree. I am in the process of getting a creative writing degree with a minor in religious studies at the University of Central Arkansas. This is not religion as in Christianity. This is religion usually from a philospher’s point of view. Most philosopher’s will tell the religious individual that he/she is out of their mind. This is a lot of fun. I do not want my faith to go unquestioned or unchallenged, and I don’t think God wants that either. So I sit down a few times every week and listen to what some intellectual person has to say about something he/she has never experienced. I usually don’t speak up. I’m a firm believer that arguing gets Christianity nowhere, so I just soak it in. Sometimes it hurts, but I know I’m growing. Plus, these people are the sheep, not the bible students at Harding (nothing against Christian schools). I’ve heard students and teachers alike say things like “The church only raises money to survive”, and “God could create us only to do the right thing without compromising free will.” Of course I don’t agree with these things, but I think Jesus would get along just fine with these people. I don’t think that Jesus or the apostles ever argued with an atheistic philosopher (I could be wrong), so I guess I’ll have to learn how to deal with philosophers from philosophers. I’m praying for patience and wisdom. The only thing about about praying for either of these is that God makes you earn it. If I want wisdom, I’d better be ready to open up some books. And if I want patience, God is going to put more skeptics in my face than I will ever want. But I think it will be worth it. And I am exited about it. God is on the move and I get to be a part of it, so I will gladly accept the opposition.