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Dr. Terence C. Mournet

Today, we bring you a message by Dr. Terence Mournet. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 25, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Dr. Mournet sees his position at the seminary as a life-giving cycle of service. Students and colleagues form a supportive, diverse, and vibrant community, which enables Dr. Mournet to strive for his personal and professional goals. In turn, he is able to serve students and God with his gifts of teaching, writing, and scholarly research. Students appreciate Dr. Mournet’s consistency in expectations and his ability to lead class discussions that fully communicate the topic at hand. They find that he is eager to build relationships both in and out of the classroom.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Mournet has a passion for worship. He loves working with fellow musicians as they, together, seek to direct people’s attention towards worship of the one, true God. He plays numerous instruments, including electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, and trumpet. Dr. Mournet also likes to express himself through painting, sketching, and other artistic pursuits. To top it all off, he has extensive home-renovating experience – something that was likely passed down through his DNA, as his father was a carpenter and construction foreman.

Dr. Mournet is married to his wonderful wife, Krista, who serves alongside him in leading worship at their home church. The Mournets have one son, Lucas.

Terence C. Mournet, PhD is Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary.

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DSCN5273By Jonathan Donker

Many times I have expressed that I love snow, the more the better. Having been born in Belgium, and having lived in Spain for the last ten years or so, snow has not been extremely abundant in my life. The only times snow has triggered a shot of adrenaline in my body has been occasionally on ski-trips in the French Alps with Young Life Catalonia.

Snow is amazing. In Europe there is an old Scandinavian language that has almost 200 words related to ice or snow (and about a thousand for Rudolf – the reindeer, no kidding). A couple of Sundays ago Dr. Schultz shared with us in his sermon that there is no such thing as two identical snowflakes. I thought that was amazing. Let us just reflect a little bit on that. I will not go into statistics here.  Now, if you google ‘identical snowflakes’ you will find some similar looking flakes that are probably altered with Photoshop. For the scientists among us, did I see a hand?  Some other factors that influence the symmetric shape of a snowflake are the humidity, temperature and air pressure. This brings us to a not-so-exact study that says that the largest snowflake ever was about 15 inches wide!

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Erik Cooper

Erik Cooper

by Erik Cooper

I don’t even know if you can do that. Does that qualify? I don’t come from a faith tradition that regularly observes the church seasons, but I see all my Facebook friends giving up sugar, or television, or even Facebook itself, and I think “that’s good….wow, that’s gonna be tough….I hope they can pull it off.”

What’s something I hold onto more tightly than anything? What’s something I could lay down as a sacrifice during this Lenten season?

My self-righteousness.

I know, I know. It sounds all existential doesn’t it? But the last few years have reminded me of something incredibly important.

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Krista Mournet

Krista Mournet

Today, we bring you a message by Krista Mournet. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 11, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Krista, her husband Terence and their son Lucas have been a part of the Ashland Seminary community since 2010. Krista’s interest in music and worship extends back most of her life, beginning when she would sing with her mother in church as a child, to singing in various church choirs and worship teams over the course of her life and up to the present day. In addition, she and Terence have ministered together in various worship groups since before they were married. In recent years, her university training in theological research has served to deepen and mature her desire to help people worship God through music. Krista derives a great deal of joy from bringing people together to use their gifts in God’s service, in this case in Ashland Seminary’s chapel services. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, reading and sharing laughter and fellowship with friends, usually including music, coffee or food.

Text: Psalm 44

Krista Mournet serves as Chapel Coordinator at Ashland Theological Seminary. In addition, she also serves as Worship Director at Faith United Methodist Church in Ashland, Ohio. 

 

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DJuana Drew

By DJuana Drew

Some would say yes, but I say no.  Let me explain.

To change can mean to make the form or nature of something different than it was previously.  I can change my mind, change clothes, change direction and change my behavior.  An animal called a chameleon can change its color to match its background, making itself invisible to predators.  People change jobs, partners, cars, their minds, cell phone carriers and a myriad of other things in their lives.  Interestingly enough, the word transformation is used to define the word change (when the word “into” is added).  I believe the word transformation suggests a deeper meaning.

If one simply looks at the dictionary definition, the words change and transform are almost interchangeable.  The word change is used to define the word transform.  In either definition, a difference occurs because something that was one way has become something else.  So what, you ask?  Thank you for asking that question!

Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 that a transformation can occur if we choose to renew our minds.

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Wanda Coleman

Today, we bring you a sermon preached by our own Wanda Coleman. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 4, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Prior to becoming the D.Min. Director of Recruitment, Wanda was a recruiter in corporate America, pursuing a seminary degree despite her full schedule. When this position opened at Ashland Theological Seminary, Wanda prayerfully submitted her resume and eventually came on staff.  Wanda is also an Associate Minister at Imani Church and enjoys preaching, teaching, and the opportunity to explore and exercise other gifts, such as healing and song. Recently, she was able to attend one of ATS’ Formational Prayer Seminars and experienced a healing encounter with the Lord. He ministered to her brokenness, healed old wounds, and gave Wanda her laughter back!

Above all, Wanda views her family as her greatest achievement, knowing that they are growing and learning about Christ. She is married to Robert and they have two beautiful teenage children, Ambrielle and Emmanuel.

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Mark 15:21 NIV

Ms. Wanda Coleman is Director of Recruitment for the Doctor of Ministry Program at Ashland Theological Seminary. She is also serves as an Ordained Minister at Imani Church in Euclid, Ohio.  

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Dr. Bill Myers

By Dr. Bill Myers

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road… that goes down to Gaza from Jerusalem to Gaza,”… and on his way he met an Ethiopian…an important person  (Acts 8:26-27)

We Ethiopians celebrate February as Black History month.  History, what an important discipline, such a lofty part of life itself.  Prominent among what we do during this month is to remember and celebrate  people, most often very important people who helped change the world in which we live.  The likes of Martin and Mandela.  They tend to be names recorded in the annals of history.  Other names are but a footnote or a fleeting memory, unknown but to a lesser few.  Who knows the name Fred Shuttlesworth in Civil Rights history, but a select few.

Sometimes, however, God is standing on the sideline watching, perhaps even helping history along.  Go south on this well traveled road between these two designated cities, says the divine, and the rest is history.  Though interpreted in different ways, it remains history nonetheless.  An Ethiopian and a Greek meet and history is made on a well traveled corridor.

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Nathan Bebout

Today, we bring you a message by Nathan Bebout. The message was recorded on Wednesday January 28, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

 “My Religion Major at Ashland University taught me to think deeply about God and how He redeems and restores creation to Himself. There have been countless times in my ministry experience that I have been able to rely on training that I received through my Religion courses in order to serve God and His people more effectively. Paul claims in 1 Corinthians that those who know Jesus as Lord, “have the mind of Christ.” Without a doubt the classes offered through the Religion Department challenged and pushed me to consider things not through my own experiences and perspective, but through the very eyes and thoughts of Christ,” said Bebout.
Scripture:
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1 NIV
 Nate Bebout is Director of the Center of Religious Life Network at Ashland University. Nate is also an alumnus from the Master of Arts in Practical Theology program at Ashland Theological Seminary. 

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By Dr. Dawn Morton

I just celebrated a milestone in my life. I have been teaching for more than 40 years in the church. I have taught children, youth, and adults (all of various ages and groups). I am called to teach. Teaching is in the depth of my soul. Many ask me, “How can I develop good skills for teaching?” or “How can I be a teacher like you?” While I am humbled that others might want to emulate my teaching skills or life, it did not happen overnight. In fact, it was a lifetime of learning that shaped me into who I am today, even as a teacher.

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