It may be late, but I've learned to learn early

Three years ago, I had an amazing New Testament professor. She spoke wisdom and inspiration often. But she also spoke wisdom and inspiration at 7:50 in the morning. A difficult time to tune in to words of wisdom and inspiration. The way in which she spoke (her parole, if you will) was beautiful... but unfortunately for freshman-morning-Bethany... it often included a lot of whispering. Her voice would rise with dramatic theological statements! -- and fall into the quiet, convicting murmur of personal application. In short, I have very good, but very vague memories from that class. Additionally, prayer began with several minutes of silence. A good discipline, to be sure! But "Close your eyes and bow your heads" at 7:50 in the morning quickly becomes "Take a quick nap before the lecture."

But no more! I have grown since my freshman year and I finally have room for another Bible class -- Basic Christian Doctrine. Dr. Bounds is another amazing professor and, fortunately, I have fully experienced the first 4 BCD classes with heart open and eyes open. The latter is just as crucial as the former. So! There I sit, a symmetrical 3 times a week, near the front of the room, watching Bounds lecture with near-epileptic excitement. Thank goodness I'm awake.

Last class, I learned something interesting about one of my favorite passages of Scripture.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Did you know this is probably a pre-New Testament liturgy? Something quoted by the early churches before Paul's letters were bound or Mark's comic book was published? Oooohhh, let's say this together! The implications of being God and not just melting from indignance while on the cross? How the heck could a community quote this together and not love one another deeply? Oh, it's great! It's just great!