And now it begins...

Sixteen. A small number if one is thinking in a large scale, but such a voluminous number in certain instances. Specifically, if the instance is textbooks for my first seminary classes. So, for your enjoyment, here is the list of books I got for this semester:

Biblical Interpretation: An Integrated Approach (Revised Edition) by W. Randolph Tate
A Biblical History of Israel by Iain Provan, V. Phillips Long, and Tremper Longman III
Introduction to the Old Testament by Raymond Dillard and Tremper Longman III
From Exegesis to Exposition: A Practical Guide to Using Biblical Hebrew by Robert B. Chisholm, Jr.
A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament edited by William L. Holladay
A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax by Bill T. Arnold and John H. Choi
A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew (Revised Edition) by C.L. Seow
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
A Simplified Guide to BHS by William R. Scott
Conversion in the Wesleyan Tradition by Kenneth J. Collins and John H. Tyson
The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace by Kenneth J. Collins
John Wesley by Kenneth J. Collins
Wesley's 52 Standard Sermons... as he approved them
The Heritage of American Methodism by Kenneth Cain Kinghorn
The Story of American Methodism by Frederick A. Norwood
United Methodist Studies - Basic Bibliographies edited by Kenneth E. Rowe

Tack on the fact that I am trying to read other books (like currently, I am reading A History of Christian Thought: From Its Judaic and Hellenistic Origins to Existentialism by Paul Tillich), I am trying to learn to actually read Greek (instead of just knowing some of the grammar of it like I do now), and trying to read Jewish and Early Christian literature (which I have not done a great job here recently), I am going to be reading non-stop. On top of this, my Bible reading and performing my duties as a pastor (which at the moment is only preaching on Sundays and the occasional visit). In addition to that, maintaining my blogs (although this is last on the list).

This should be very interesting. I am not naturally an avid reader, so I have to develop the habit. I tend to lose focus while reading, but I have slowly tried to develop the habit this summer and have noticed that I can read for longer and longer periods of time before zoning out, so thats a good thing. The other concern is that I get lost in a world of intellectualism and I cease to be growing in my actual Christian life. But on the other hand, this is a chance for this to be the beginning of some very enriching and edifying years of my life if I learn to stay focused and maintain my own personal and Christian life. So I look forward to it. Pray for me though, as I will need God's grace to enable me to work through all this.