I am very grateful to share that next week Monday I will start a temp/contractor assignment at a leading Michigan health insurance company. Even though the economy in Michigan is very bad right now, one of the only sectors that is booming is the health industry. And knowing how difficult it is to break into, I am very thankful for this opportunity.

I will start the assignment next week Monday and will work it right up until I start school at the end of August, which is such a blessing! And what’s even better is that it is literally a block away from my seminary. So hopefully if things work out well over the next 10 weeks, the temporary job could turn into a longer-term, part-time thing.

Thanks for you prayers for this!
-jeremy

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This morning I had the pleasure of having coffee with Dr. Doug Fagerstrom, president of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary at Beaners, a Michigan start-up coffee shop. It was a fabulous time and I am even more excited about attending and convinced this is where I need to be.

It was great to hear his story and how he came to the seminary. Even more so, however, it was thrilling to hear about his vision for the institution and heart for ministry. He truly is a forward-thinking Christian leader who recognizes the need for contextualizing the gospel, while remaining orthodox and rooted in historical ecclesiology. He is also massively convinced of the need for churches to be missional in their approach to culture, not as a means of simple relevancy, but in obedience to the teachings of Jesus and participation of His kingdom-movement.

Anyway, as the summer moves on and school draws closer, I am thankful and happily convinced of my move and new chapter…

-jeremy

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I knew I was not in Kansas anymore when I went to Panera for breakfast and, upon forgetting to buy a cup of coffee, was given a cup…for FREE!

And to top it off, the lady even gave me an Espresso & Coffee Club Card and punched it…TWICE!

This little episode, while seemingly trite, is a billboard-example that I am definitely in a different place, among a very, very different people!

-jeremy

After an 18 month hiatus, I’m finally blogging again…

Come join the party!
-jeremy

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The trip went very well and I even got close to 34 MPG, which is good because gas is 3.49 a gallon here! So 660 miles later, I rolled up into a town I fled and a childhood house I left behind…but you know what? I am actually happy and excited to be back!
I’ll post more soon…
-jeremy

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Almost 5 years ago I moved to DC jobless, inexperienced, and alone. Five years later I leave jobless still, but blessed with amazing experiences and fantastic relationships…
Leaving blessed beyond measure,
-jeremy

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As I pack and prepare myself mentally for this transition, I find myself becoming distracted and even questioning my decision to move.

A position opened up in the company for which I am temping, and I had to do everything in power not to run away from my move and into this opportunity. And then earlier this week I signed my life away by submitting my Master Promissory Note for a Stafford Loan and was very depressed about going into more student loan debt and seriously wondering how I was going to make it for 4 years. Bemoaning the fact I am moving into an area having no real relationships outside my family. Not to mention doubting my life direction and wondering if I will really make it.

So distractions abound: job/career, money, relationships, my living situation, and a subtle doubting of my life direction.

I do believe God is drawing me into this, but it is hard to stay focused and not be sidetracked by so much alternatives. While I know the next step is GR, MI and seminary, the future is still so blank; my path is a shadow of an outline and it is taking much faith to have confidence it will be OK and unfold alright.

distracted, yet focused…
-jeremy

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Hi Friends!

As most of you know, in 10 days I am leaving Washington D.C. for Grand Rapids MI to begin my next chapter. This fall I start a Master of Divinity program in Pastoral Studies and Church Planting at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (and quite possibly do a dual program with a Master of Arts in Historical Theology). I am excited, scared, overjoyed, nervous, humbled, and expectant of this new chapter, but sad to leave a city and community in which I invested 5 years of my life and which gave me ten-fold.

You are in this email because you are a part of that community.

While I have not been in contact with some of you in several months because of life circumstances (and for that I really am sorry…) and some of you are no longer in DC, I wanted you to know how much I have valued you while living in here. So much has happened over the last 5 years–so much change and growth and joy and pain–and I can honestly say that I made it this far because of you all! I carry with me so many memories and stories that I am overwhelmed sometimes when I look back on my life here…

One thing I’ve learned throughout my time in DC is that really the only thing you can take with you through life and from one stage to the next are the people whom you befriend and who befriend you. And as I leave this place, I will take much of you with me; not only will I take you as a person, but the bits and pieces of you that have clung to me over the years, too (pieces you probably didn’t even know stuck!). So whether you are here now or have already gone ahead of me away from DC in your life journey, please know I leave the person I am because of you.

Seriously, to each of you: thank you so much for being apart of my life and for allowing me to step into yours throughout my time in DC. I would love to stay in touch as much as possible and would love for you to do the same.

Leaving Thankful and Blessed,
-jeremy

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I’m not sure what to do with them yet, but I signed up anyway!

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