Not Quite As Bad?

I went to talk with one of our surgery instructors (who wrote part of today's test). I didn't really know what to say... I didn't expect her to say much other than "the test will be curved, you'll do okay" or something. I didn't expect any sympathy, didn't expect any make-ups opportunities... So why did I even go? Well, it felt better to be doing something about the test, and you never know what might happen.

Guess what? It sounds like there will be a make-up opportunity. I still need to studying really, really hard for the final exam, but that news lessened my sadness.

Good and Bad

Saturday I took EH (an Austrian girl who has been working in the Rockey lab) to the coast.
Weather was rather inclement on the way over, but it wasn't raining much at ocean.
We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (spent quite a long time there - E is rather keen on aquaria), Yaquina Head Lighthouse, and the ocean side.

The Hopewell/Porter youth groups presented a singing program at Hopewell MC last night. I think it went okay.

Today I had a surgery test... which resulted in some none-too optimistic answers to "How are you?" later on. In other words, I didn't finish a large portion of the test. A number of us were in the same boat... but it's frustrating to know I have no chance of getting a good percentage. Not (just) because I didn't know the material, but because I didn't have enough time /didn't go fast enough to finish the exam. I could have gone faster, but I guess I wasn't thinking very well... Toward the end there were so many of us still in the room I figured we'd be given more time...

A Sin to Be Late?

Today one of my classmates expressed wonderment that I could be "so disciplined in so many areas..." and yet be [chronically] late. "Is it because you don't view lateness as a mortal sin or something?" said she. "You were even late to the first class meeting" -- I don't think it was my fault, or maybe even a fault, that time, but I certainly didn't make a good first impression. She did not understand how I could be such a way. (I will add that she was kind and respectful in her comments.)

Well, I must not have a strong conviction against being late... and I should probably develop one. Here's a few reasons.
Being late is:
1. Not being faithful in the least of things.
2. Rudeness to professors.
3. Disruption to a class.
3. A bad witness.
4. A result of laziness (potentially).

Hmmm... I think I've backed myself into a corner.

Hopewellite Functions

You will be pleased to note that I do more in life than cut (or be cut by) animals... :)

Last Friday the Hopewell "girls" (we range in age from 15 to 30) got together to eat, cut quilt blocks for Christian Aid Ministries comforter kits, and talk about openness. It's hard to be naturally open with people you don't know well... so I am a proponent of ladies doing lots of things together. Being in vet school (and 60 miles from my home church) makes it hard to support that view in practice... but one of these days I'll be out and hopefully have a chance to engage more with my fellow Hopewellites.

***
Sunday evening I taught children's meeting at church. I hope no one was offended to see me in church with three dinosaur juggling bean bags. No, I wasn't juggling in church... the bags had J, O and Y rubberbanded onto them and one was used to indicate the next verse reader. They might have been more distraction than benefit... dunno.
I'd be interested to sit in on another lady's children's meeting and see how the children relate to her. Some large number (7) of last night's children had me as a Sunday school teacher some time in the last three years, and it appears as though I didn't instill much fear in them. That's a good thing, for the most part, but I should work on my ability to instill a proper degree of respect in my pupils. It would be interesting to know what the children think of me...

***
My left thumb joint might be swollen as a sequel to the llama episode. I guess I could get it radiographed, but I'll probably just see what tincture of time will do.

Exciting Times Ahead

The class of 2007 received information last week regarding graduation requirements. There are certain classes we must take, a number of electives hours we must do, and then we can add on extra electives if we so desire. We're supposed to submit our wishes to the Dean's Office by Nov 4.

Planning my year, from June 2006 to June 2007 -- it's kinda a big task. You see, the classes are taught in blocks of 1 to 4 weeks, and most of them are offered throughout the year. So I could opt to take Large Animal Clinical Medicine in June-July, or I could take it the following spring. Certain clinical blocks will be harder or easier depending on the season -- harder would mean running more raggedly, and maybe learning a wider variety of things... but it might mean jeopardizing my grades. (My tendency would be to go for the hard seasons, and just try (to try) my best.) It's going to be rather complicated for the Dean's Office to try to meet the desires of 50 students.
I also need to decide what electives will prepare me best for the work I want to do (er, what is that? I'm not sure yet.) after vet school. My tendency is to plan a bunch of farm/large animal electives... but I'm also interested in zoo medicine (actually, zoo medicine could help prepare me for a mission field where "exotic" animals are common-place), and I should become fairly proficient in small animal medicine. But there just aren't enough weeks in the year to take everything I want to take.

Do I want to cram the year full, taking off just one week of vacation? I think I might, and will plan externships (which = short periods of time gaining experience in vet clinics) to serve as vacation. For instance, I want to go to PG's wedding in Belleville, PA on June 24, and I want to go to the Faith Builder's College Conference the following weekend. So maybe I'll find an externship to do in the Kishacoquillas Valley (Belleville area) in the intervening week. I talked to a Mennonite dairyman in that valley the day before B & L's wedding, and he told me that their vet takes on vet students... so it might be a go.
Another externship/vacation possibility would be to find a clinic near my grandparents, either in the Grass Valley, CA area or the Bay Area.
And I might be so interested in some externships that I would get my spirits rejuvenated even if I was running crazily.
So, you see, I think I might be able to work enough variety and fun times into my schedule that I would be able to go all year without mcuh of a break.

Anyway, it is rather exciting and I am looking forward to senior year.

Wedding #4

This morning I witnessed the marriage of Joel and Coquetta (Spinks) Erickson.

It was a marriage unlike any I've been to (which is no surprise -- both families are rather interesting).
How can a groom be composed enough on the day of his wedding to play the piano while his family sings? How did he manage to play the flute as his bride walked serenely up the aisle on her father's arm? It did seem like the flute playing decreased in quality as the bride drew closer -- which was entirely appropriate.
Coquetta's dad preached the wedding sermon, and Joel's dad officiated over the saying of the vows. (Their families home-church together, so they don't have a minister who is non-family.)
C and J told their salvation stories (it seems that they each spurred the other on to be a better person, even before both were Christians), as well as the story of how they came to be married. They sang a song together and lighted a unity candle. After they descended the stairs from the podium, Joel picked up Coquetta and carried her out of the sanctuary.
They seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves at the bridal table before I left for work.

Pathology Rounds, Anyone?

Dr. Bildfell (pathologist here at the vet school) sent an email this week announcing his obtainment of a deceased cat. The idea was that some students could take an inside look at the small mammal and identify the lesions, if any were present.
I thought - Hey, that'd be interesting. But I didn't necessarily know if I wanted to take the time, and thought other people would probably want to do it anyway. I didn't follow up on the email, until we received a second stating that the cat would be discarded if no one pounced on the opportunity. I impulsively sent an email of interest, and this morning did the honors.

(If you are not familiar with some of the following anatomy terms, you can take a look at this page.)

It was a pretty neat and very classic renal failure case. A set of radiographs indicated enlarged kidneys, and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were high (both of those are indicators of renal failure).
The cat was VERY LARGE, with a chunk of lard behind the rib cage and fat partially surrounding the kidneys. The right kidney had an enlarged renal pelvis (hydronephrosis), which may have been due to decreased blood supply to the renal papillae (which can result from excessive administration of drugs like ibuprofen). The left kidney was more interesting -- it had been largely taken over by a lymphoma (tumor of lymphocytes). We didn't find any macroscopic evidence of metastasis, but I would not have been surprised to find tumor cells in the local lymph nodes.

I ran into one of my old teachers from first year, and was telling her about the neat necropsy I got to do today. Her view of it was different, because she has seen the effects of lymphoma on peoples' pets. To me, it was primarily an interesting medical thing; to her, it killed someone's companion. I expect my view of it will become more like hers, once I have seen more of the human side of the veterinary profession.

Conjugal Felicity

Lots (that being a relative term) of people in my circle of influence are getting married this year. My cousin, my friend in MI, and L&B so far. On Saturday I plan to attend the wedding of the sister of the girl I went inner tubing with last month. In November I plan to attend BP's wedding (with Mobil Oil Company). That's all for this year, to my knowledge; but I recently found out that my 50-something uncle, who has never been married, is now engaged.

Lessons Learned (I Hope)

It was a relatively normal test-containing school day -- that is, until my classmate JD announced the opportunity to go trim sheep hooves and maybe castrate a ram.

I took her up on the offer. After equine rounds I changed my apparel and headed for Ark Animal Hospital where I rendezvoused with JD, TF, and BM (all vet students -- the latter two went on the cattle field trip back in April). We piled into the white vet truck and headed out toward the coast. Our destination was a fixer-upper farm with a stone-wall-enclosed garden -- the abode of an Ark Animal Hospital vet. She met us at the drive way, and took me out to estimate the ram's weight so we could draw up anesthetic. We premedicated the ram, and fell to the other sheep. Some of the others were trimming hooves on one reclining sheep as I stood somewhat idly by. A short ways off the ram was eyeing us. He started for me, and I thought, with great quickness and intelligence, "I'll intercept him." I leaned down... and was nailed in the chest. Knocked the wind out of me, maybe a bit, and left me with a sore rib cage. Yowch. But I got him by the neck, and he got to stand there for a while. Apparently sheep don't know about backing up, because he didn't try it (and I guess the ketamine/diazepam had him a little grogged out). Okay, that was lesson # 1.

Well, we got him castrated out there in the delightfully sterile (ha!) surgical field (forget the sterile part, but the barnyard adjoined a field and we did perform surgery). When he woke up, they sent him on his merry way, across the fence, and we dealt with the sheep in relative, ram-free peace.
We finished the sheep, and needed to inject the goats. I thought the vet made it sound like the goats would be hard to handle. "Can't I just do them on their sides?" I asked.
"You can try," said the vet.
So I felled the goat and was feeling pretty good about myself. Then came Trevor and Billy with the injections... and the goat was highly displeased. We restrained her mightily, and got the job done. JD came along with the second goat -- just leading it by the collar. She, apparently, was going to get the injections done with it standing.
"The less restraint the better," someone stated.
"But I thought you implied that they were hard to handle," I protested. I began to feel rather foolish... as I always do when I... shall I saw, show off... and figuratively fall on my face. Lesson # 2 - goats are easier to handle if you restrain them minimally.

Then it was time for the llamas. Now, if you don't already know, llamas aren't really the most affectionate of creatures. They kick out if you try to pick up their legs, they spit you if they want, and...
JD got the "nice" llama by a collar, and I helped restrain it while she trimmed feet on one side. We switched positions, and she gave me good instructions for getting the feet before they kick. The trimming went well.
But we still had to give the llama some oral antiparasite stuff. First 12 mls -- no big problem. Second 12 mls... the llama didn't want it, of course, so I stuck my left thumb in its mouth to get it to open up. I guess it did, cause the next thing I knew her molars came down on my thumb and we heard a distinct "CRUNCH." I withdrew my thumb, grasped it with fingers on the same hand, and got the medication into the llama. "Are you okay?" "It's not bleeding all that much. It's probably okay," said I.
I headed out of the barnyard and sat down by the gate -- breathing hard to keep from fainting. "There's some ice in that bag." "There's some topical antibiotics there."
I didn't want to look at the thumb. That was one mighty bite, and the CRUNCH was significant -- just like chomping on gristle. Surely my finger was mangled.
I mustered the courage, looked, and was relieved. My finger was in one cohesive piece -- a hole through the nail, a few punctures, but really quite good over all.
Trevor: "I think you severed some tendons. I heard them." (We're vet students -- that comment (some version of which he saw fit to make at least twice) was actually welcome and amusing -- especially since the thumb seemed in working order).
Lesson # 3: be careful where you put your finger in a llama's mouth. And if part of the llama's mandible is missing (as JD thought to be the case) beware that the molars may be closer to the front of the mouth than in a normal llama.
The bite handily occurred at the tail end of our activities there. We all piled back in the farm truck, and headed for Ark Animal.

It was almost 5 pm, and I thought I should go to OSU Student Health. I really didn't want a major infection or an amputated thumb. I also didn't have the guts to clean the wounds all myself (not the sub-nail one, anyway), and some student health services are free. So, hey, why not?
As it was, I stayed there until about 7 pm. What nurse did for me took little time, but they had an onslaught of cases and the doctor wasn't free to check me out 'til after 6.

The nurse gave me some reading material to pass the time. As I glanced through a spring issue of the Reader's Digest, I came upon a statement (which The RD quoted from elsewhere) something like: "Hereafter in this document, the term "thumb print" will mean "finger print" if the applicant has no thumbs." It struck me funny, considering the situation I was in.

And then the doctor came in, and I found out he's cousin to the Mennonite Tim Myers from Georgia, that he's related to a Lois Ann Histand who stayed in my house once, and that he goes to a Mennonite church in Corvallis. Small Mennonite world, as usual.

Well, some soaking of the finger, testing of nerve sensation, a bandage job, a tetanus shot, and I was good to go.

The thumb is swollen and not too amenable to bending. It probably sustained some small tissue injury, but I have reasonable hope that the digit will still be with me come December.

Auditory Learner?

I used to declare that I wasn't an auditory learner. Perhaps it was an unsubstantiated notion, and maybe I just figured I could learn material much faster by reading it than by hearing a professor say it. That is probably true...
But maybe my classmates are correct when they say I pick up a lot by ear. For one, I have found that when I study lecture notes, I can hear the teacher saying certain words. I don't suppose it would work that way if the teacher had an entirely normal voice; but give them a slightly nasal effect, give them a southern drawl or a British accent, and it may well enhance my memory for the material. Intentional voice inflections probably work the same way.
How is it for the rest of you?

Three More Years?

I ran into my old virology teacher on the stair-well yesterday, and we got to talking about school, research... and getting a PhD.

She was telling me about laboratory animal medicine and working at a university, and she was seriously encouraging me to get my PhD. "You could get it done in 2 or 3 years, " says she.
I was rather surprised -- most PhD students I have known take at least 4 years. Going for the degree was sounding more appealing.
"If you get into the right lab, you can do it. Get on with one that's NIH funded, where they have a big project going on and you can take on a part of that larger project. Yeah, you can finish in two or three years."
Whoa.
"Let me know what you're interested in, and I'll help you find a good lab."
Wow! What a nice offer! I could publish some papers, work in an intellectual atmosphere, and get the degree.


But wait -- what would I do with a PhD? I've thought about teaching in a university... a PhD would help me there... but maybe I won't teach. And do I really want three more years of school? I've got some other things I'd like to do in life, and if I keep pressing on in the academic world I might not get the chance to fulfill those desires. Dunno.
I think I'll keep the PhD idea on my back burner, along with the zoo medicine residency.

Akin to Bacteria?

Dr. Cebra informed us yesterday that rumen bacteria multiply according to the feed stuffs available. They do not care about the ruminant as a whole. This, of course, is rather foolish of them, because unregulated proliferation of certain bacteria can create a rumen environment that is detrimental to the cow, and lead to the cow's demise. This in turn could make tough times for the bacterium as its surroundings begin their translation to dust.
So there I was in class, and I thought "what a delightful object lesson!" People tend to "eat, drink, and be merry," not caring what they may reap in the end. They look out for themselves and disregard the well-being of society, the economy, or the Church -- and the end results are not pretty.

A Couple Thoughts

Should authority figures sternly reprimand their underlings for unintentional mistakes? It doesn't seem quite fair, in a way... and I think the authority should try to not come across angrily. But a bit of serious sternness can write lessons on the brain much better than mild comments, and could certainly be in order if the underling did not apply her mind to previous instruction. Forgetting instructions may be more than the result of an overloaded mind -- it may indicate a lack of respect for the authority. If you love a person you will be more likely to listen to them, right? Furthermore, it may take some effort to remember instructions from any source. Failure to apply the effort could be a mark of poor character... Hence, "I forgot" is not necessarily a good excuse.

***
If I was a man I could have saved over $200 in the last couple years because it would be relatively safe for me to park in the free (and somewhat remote) parking areas on/near campus.
But I think car insurance costs more for males, so I guess it evens out a bit.

***
A bunch of the vet school guys (including employees) shaved their heads in honor of the lady who is going through chemo. I think that's pretty neat.
I have yet to see one of the girls shave her head... now, THAT would take some love. (I, of course, have a good excuse not to because of the verse in Corinthians about women having long hair...)

Never Would'a Thought

Back in 1996, I probably would not have predicted I would ever be disappointed to not attend a funeral. I had a pathological fear of dead humans, and I remember feeling sort of sorry for a group or two of singers (was one AHQ in their blue shirts? I didn't even know AHQ existed back then, but whatever group it was a lady was talking about their matching attire and how it had been made on the spur of the moment (which probably wasn't true - so much for my understanding)) who stood up front to sing at Marvin Headings' funeral that fall. Way too close to a cadaver for my comfort.

Well, Willie Strubhar's funeral is this Tuesday, and I can't go. I'll be in surgery lab. And I am disappointed. I'd like to support the relatives I know, funerals are interesting, my youth group is singing at the grave side, etc. Oh, well.

Fogginess

It was a foggy time when I completely missed the Corvallis-Lebanon exit on my way to school this morning. And what's more, I didn't realize it for quite a while. I began to think my trip was going to take longer that it should, and then I saw a sign for Harrisburg-Junction City (which sign is north of the Halsey-Brownsville exit). Did I ever feel stupid! Foggy air and foggy brain are not a good combination, apparently.

From the Unexpert...

Does it work better in child training to be somewhat untruthfully black and white, or to teach children about grey areas? Perhaps grey areas would make it hard for children to learn right and wrong. Perhaps they would be confusing...
But it would be deceitful for me to sketch the Christian life in black and white if I believe the true picture to involve intermediate shades... so perhaps it would be better for people like me to not raise children. Leave the occupation to well-meaning, God-seeking people who can truthfully provide a black and white picture of their world.

But where is the idealism in that idea? Doesn't it make sense that the best way to raise children is by presenting what is absolutely truth? Yes, I think so... "Buy the truth, and sell it not [for man-made maxims]."
Teach a child the truth, teach him to translate it into action, and he will have tools for a life-time of living. Feed him highly specific rules as the Truth, and he won't know what to do in an unprecedented situation.
I'll grant it, it's probably easier to teach in black and white. You don't have to use your brain as much to come up with a Christian way of life. Just tell your children that the internet is evil, they should only drive black cars, they should never be seen without shoes on and college is a place for infidels... if you get them convinced, you'll keep them in line pretty well. But you might be squelching the spread of the Gospel. What will the chil'ns do when they're in some foreign land where the wearing of shoes is regarded with hostility?
It's harder to instill in children an appreciation for modesty, hate for evil, true humility, and genuine love for others. But such an understanding will allow them to successfully navigate the grey areas in life.

(Please do not misunderstand me — I do think it is right to set definite standards of conduct that are not black and white truth. Doing otherwise would probably result in chaos and the child wouldn't learn how to obey, etc.)

Mummified Cake

The other night (other than all the other nights that it wasn't) I was reading in my large animal theriogenology text about removing calves from cow wombs. Part and parcel to that topic, is that of mummified fetuses. And I'm pretty sure I read about them somewhere toward the end of said evening's light reading period. That night (next morning), I dreamt that the wife of my employer JK offered me some mummified cake to eat -- apparently she regarded it as a delicacy. I have been offered food on a variety of occasions while working at J&J Farming, but I trust to the good character and good taste of JK that my dream will never come true.

***
Yesterday I spent some time in the lab -- doing some research, and doing even more talking. I asked one of the other workers what she thought about the "right to die" act (which people may often support because they don't want people suffering tremendously). She opined that the pain associated with terminal illnesses (e.g. cancer) can do a lot to make the sufferer a better person. Some would call that calloused... but from a Christian point of view it's pretty much on the mark.

No Cause to Complain

There are some things you just don't write about on a public blog. Part of last week's therio laboratory was too gruesome/calloused. This week's therio class was entirely appropriate (I guess), but made me emotionally uncomfortable. It is interesting what one can resign herself to do when she thinks she ought. Resign, I say - but I still feel sort of ill when I think about the lab. No, don't ask - you don't want to know about it.

***
One of my friends from the second year class is undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkins' Lymphoma. Her spirits appear high, and she is still trekking through vet school. She has a good chance of being cured... but, man, to do vet school and take chemo at the same time! That would take some hefty character strength.
It reminds me that I really have NOTHING to complain about.

Capture the Flag

Hey, how about a poll?

How many of you played capture the flag when you were growing up? Respond with "yes" or "no" — it's not that hard, really. (And if you didn't know already, you don't have to have a blogger profile to post comments.)

The Singing Anesthetist

We (the Hopewell youth group) have commenced practice with the Porter Mennonite Church youth group. Practice on what? Our October 5th Sunday program. A couple new songs, nothing incredibly difficult. I was about 50 minutes late to practice on Saturday evening, partly due to the football traffic that impeded my progress away from the vet school after work. I'm still glad I went because I got to talk to my old friend RD -- an accomplished pianist and composer, who is into dairy goats and physics. She actually seemed to really want to know about my research projects! It'll be good to have her in Oregon this year.


Sunday I visited my friend RS, who may be leaving for Mexico tomorrow with her brother PS. Her departure will leave me the oldest in the youth girls' SS class.

Today I was anesthetist during surgery lab. When I first got the dog hooked up to the ECG (electrocardiogram), he had a cardiac arrhythmia and his heart beat dropped on frequent occasion to the 50's. The low rate worried me somewhat... but Dr. Riebold (the vet school's veteran anesthesiologist) talked me through the arrhythmia and left me feeling much better about it. The heart beats, though at irregular intervals, still originated in the SA node (the normal place for electrical conduction to start in the heart; based on that origin the arrhythmia is called a sinus arrhythmia). Sinus arrhythmias are actually normal in dogs, so while I still didn't like the heart rate dropping so low, my concern was eased somewhat. Eventually the dog snapped out of the arrhythmia, and my job was pretty much smooth sailing from there on.

Eternal Security...

What do YOU think?

Well, I ran across that doctrine last week at a college student Christian meeting. I do not claim to have studied it in depth, but I do believe there are some straight forward reasons against it. I'll present a few thoughts, and would be happy to hear others.

1. It is apparently possible to begin following Christ and to then cease to do so:
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

2. Paul told the Corinthians to deliver the fornicator (chapter 5:5) to Satan "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." This implies that the spirit might not be saved otherwise, and furthermore gives the point of final salvation as the second coming of the Lord. It is not until all is said and done that we are either damned or saved.

3. What about Jesus' teaching on the Vine in John 15? He spoke of a branch (verse 2) that was indeed in the vine and then stated that if the branch was not bearing fruit, it would be removed from the vine. That sounds like a person who was a Christian, who ceased to obey the Word and who therefore was no longer a Christian.

4. I must confess my sins to be saved. If I stop confessing my sins for good, I am no longer part of God's family and I am no longer forgiven. If I am no longer forgiven, I cannot go to heaven.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 Jn 1:9

6. I must walk in the Light to be cleansed from my sin. A person cannot be working works of darkness and still be part of God.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 Jn 1:7

7. It is possible to "fail of the grace of God." Heb 12:15

8. The Lord spoke of a few in Sardis who had not defiled their garments -- it was they who would be finally saved, not those who defiled their garments.
The whole concept of overcoming suggests people who have entered in Christian battle and who must persevere to the end to be saved. (Revelation 2, 3 & Matt 10:22)

9. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Heb 10:38

10. And then there's the parable of the sower. Some hearts responded for a while and then gave up. Some even bore fruit but eventually ceased. If we do not have the fruit of the Spirit, we do not have the Spirit and we are not part of God. (Matt 13)

11. If we love the things of the world, we do not possess the Father's love and I really do not think we will go to heaven. (see 1 Jn 2:15-17)

12. "If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father." 1 Jn 2:24, 25 "If" -- a small word with a lot of meaning.

13. "Envyings, murders, [et cetera]... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:21 It makes no difference whether they have previously given their hearts to Christ.

14. "If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it." Ezekiel 33:18 Some might argue that this only applies to the Old Testament... but I think it is supported by the New.

Anyway... please excuse the verbosity... it was good for me.

Fellowship With... Who?

Should a person only fellowship with Christians of his/her denomination/denomination grouping? Is that the ideal plan of action?

First, one does not have to be an Anabaptist to be a Christian. It is important to search the Scriptures and obey them according to the understanding obtained. However, you and I may arrive at different beliefs following equally sincere searching. If the beliefs are mutually exclusive, one must be wrong -- but we could both still be Christians, and should be willing to fellowship together on some level. (Please don't get me wrong... it is good to be careful about the extent to which we expose ourselves to fallacious doctrines. It is good to worship on a regular basis with likeminded believers. There are limits. But it is also a sin (of pride or something) to not recognize fellow believers for who they are.)

Secondly, where would a stance on Mennonite-only fellowship leave me on the university level? It's nice to fellowship with Christian university-goers. They have similar goals in life and face similar challenges. It's easy to connect with them. But I'm the only Mennonite at the vet school, one of maybe three conservative Mennonites in the entire university, the only female conservative Mennonite in the U. If I chose to fellowship with Mennonites only, where would that leave me? Kinda alone. Faith Builders has only one college retreat/year. I could do my own solitary Christian thing... but where's the balance in that idea? I cannot be my own "multitude of counselors."

So I have been known to attend Campus Ambassadors and Christian veterinary fellowship meetings, and have benefited...

All that said (and I'm finally getting down to the real reason for my post), differences of belief will surface... and should not be shoved under the rug. Actually, one benefit to semi-ecumenical fellowship is the chance to have my beliefs challenged. Such challenge spurs me on to consider the Biblical basis for what I think. The most recent challenge: Once-saved, always-saved doctrine,. Take a look at the next post.