Early Season Workouts Begin for FC MB United

If last year's championship banner finds a mate at the end of this year the achievement may be the result of January practice. With the north wind howling and a bad moon rising, FC MB United began the long, grueling march toward a second consecutive Fresno Pacific University soccer intramural championship. The lads seek to continue the dominate pattern established last year during their undefeated campaign.
This year, however, the MBBS ballers know that hard work, grit and determination factor into the final equation.
"We know that we enter the season with a big 'ol bulls eye on our backs," admitted striker Ben T. Schmidt. "Last year we were able to sneak in under the wire and catch a few teams off guard, but this year they all know we're the team to beat."

While knowing is generally accepted as being half the battle, in this case the MBBS'ers feel pretty confident of the repeat.
"We've got skills," said Matt Insley. "And, we've added a crucial piece to the puzzle by signing goalkeeper Ryan Klassen from Kansas.
Indeed, Klassen brings a veritable wall to place in front of the net by imposing his will upon the competition.
As the winds of January howl and the lads suit up for practices in harsh California weather, the common goal of a second title warms the blood of FC MB United.
"I'm expecting another banner year," concluded Menno Simons. "Go get 'em."

CSI Seminary

Crouched low to the ground with camera poised inches above the beak of a deceased hawk, Financial Aid Director and Special Counsel to the Scene of Crime Department Eugene "Peterson" Trofimenko snapped a photo and asked onlookers for a little room to maneuver.
"It appears to have suffered a fatal traumatic blow to the cranial region causing an instant disruption of the spinal cord."
In layman's terms the Cooper's hawk flew full speed into a picture window and broke it's neck.
Verifying the disturbing results, fellow Special Counsel to the Scene of Crime Department of the MBBS Birding Department, Kevin Enns-Rempel added that such a demise finds many Cooper's hawks.
"They are known for their agility and speed of flight," Enns-Rempel explained to the press. "It's not uncommon for them to fly into picture windows at high speeds, occasionally as high as 100 miles per hour. Cooper's hawks can fly through trees and brush at full speed and not touch a branch or leaf.
"This particular hawk appears to be an adult female, based upon the wingspan, who had recently caught and partially devoured one of it's favorite prey: a pigeon."
The tragedy hits members of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary hard. As peace-loving Anabaptist's, the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary community loves birds -- even birds of prey.
"I suppose that even our Master of Divinity students can take some time away from their studies today for a moment of silence in honor of the fallen flying friend," added Trofimenko.

Pastor's Discuss Church Health

Approximately 60 pastors, students and church leaders joined MB Biblical Seminary for the Healthy Churches Pastor's Roundtable Monday and Tuesday. MB Biblical Seminary hosts pastors on campus for round table discussion on the first Monday of every month. Further information on upcoming events can be found at: www.mbseminary.edu. (See the link to the right.)
Nearly 20 of the 60 students and pastors stayed for the rest of the week to take the course for credit. Many of the students took the elective course as part of the degree requirements for a Master of Divinity degree. (I'm sure that some of them took it as part of their MA in New Testament, MA in Christian Ministry or MA in Theology programs as well. As an Anabapist, Evangelical seminary, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary seeks to train and equip people to serve and lead in healthy churches and other areas around the world.)
On Monday and Tuesday Reverend Doctor Stephen Macchia -- Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary -- spoke about creating healthy churches. Wednesday and Thursday former MBBS faculty members Jim Westgate and Larry Martens completed the course lectures.
Below Macchia speaks in the MB Biblical Seminary chapel.

Tamales vs. Zwieback: Tamales Take the Lead!

The scent of fresh, homespun, tamales warming in the microwave wafted through the administrative building at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, an evangelical Anabaptist seminary, yesterday. (I've been told that if we put those words in the text as often as possible that my blog will show up in Google! searches, thus increasing the odds of SEMBITS going viral, so please indulge the indulgent use of words like Anabaptist seminary, biblical theology, Master of Divinity, pastoral training, etc.)
Thanks to the hard holiday work of Irene Uribe, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, members of the seminary staff -- and others lucky enough to be hanging around at the right time -- welcomed the new year with a traditional Mexican treat.
According the website sonofthesouth.net, "tamales can be traced back as early as 5000 BC. They served as a nutritious and portable food for Aztec, Mayan and Inca warriors. In modern times, Tamales have become a favorite fall time food in Mexico and many parts of the United States.
The website, www.sonofthesouth.net/tamales/, says that the joy of tamales is almost more about making them than eating them. I wouldn't know anything about that, but if the authority says so, then it must be true.
"Ha," said Uribe when asked about the joy of making them being as good as eating them. "If he thinks that, let him come make some. The most tamales I've ever made is 80 dozen for a fundraiser -- that kind of takes the joy right out of making them. We didn't make tamales for two years after that."
With the recent surge of tamale popularity in the hallowed halls of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, traditional favorite zwieback finds itself in an unfamiliar position: on the outside looking in.
"Well, I don't know where the surge in tamale popularity comes from," said Zwieback in a SEMBITS exclusive interview, "But I'm not planning on taking this lying down. I've talked with the little guy on top, and we're dedicated to winning back the hearts of the people."
"I don't know, I like tamales," added Menno Simons when asked for his opinion on the great tamale v. zwieback battle. "But zwieback go well with butter and jam, so it's pretty much a toss up."

Coffee's On, We're Back in Business

The Costco-style black coffee burns on the slow heat downstairs in the break room at MB Biblical Seminary as members of the staff and administration brave the California winter in order to crank up for another year at good old MBBS.
With the forecast predicting a barrage of nasty winter storms for central California poised to drop almost 2 inches of rain, the storm windows are locked and loaded. Fortunately for everyone, the work ethic around here says, "Rain? Winter? We don't need no stinking winter! Put on another pot of the good old black sludge and let's get to work!"
Dedicated to bringing the best in theological, pastoral and therapeutic training, MB Biblical Seminary -- an evangelical anabaptist seminary -- unlocked the doors, welcomed in 2008, and said, "Let's learn."
"Oh yes, we're excited about the new year," said Nancy Williams, secret operative for the Black Sludge Coffee Drinkers of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary club. "In fact, just this morning I made a pot of coffee designed to keep all of the staff awake, alert and smiling as they provide the utmost in customer service. Don't tell anyone, but I put in two extra scoops of grounds into that first pot..."
So as 2008 begins, the staff and others at MB Biblical Seminary dedicates itself to drinking a lot of coffee and making sure that MBBS continues to offer top notch, high quality training and equipping of people for ministry in the church and in the world. Good coffee always helps as we seek to explain our evangelical and anabaptist theology.
(Take that, Google word search software: seminary; evangelical; anabaptist; mennonite; theology; biblical; church; ministry; coffee etc.)