Wow. I'm an idiot. PETER'S letters to John

I'm an idiot.  St. Peter wrote these letters to John. Not Paul.

I'm sitting outside enjoying the 67 degree weather at Capital University.  I'm sitting in front of the Conservatory of Music, between Mees (1923)/Bexley (1958) Hall (the main building), and Leonard (1876) Hall (the administration building for the Conservatory).  The Connector Hallway (1992) connects the two buildings.

Leonard Hall is the oldest building on campus as of today.  Originally named the Leonard Science hall, it was originally built in 1876 after the completion of the now demolished Lehmann Residence Hall, which was demolished in about 1988 after nearly 125 years of service.

Mees Hall is named after Dr. Otto Mees, former president of the university.  He created the school of music while in office, and the new auditorium building was dedicated in his honor.

In 1958, the administration sought the approval of a new addition to Mees Hall.  With the generous donations from the city of Bexley, Ohio, a new addition was put onto the back of Mees Hall.  This new section, called Bexley Hall, is currently in use today as well.  Part of this section includes the practice rooms in the basement, a new recital hall (Now called Huntington Recital Hall, after Huntington Bank), a large ensemble rehearsal room (Crist Room), and Studio A (the main recording studio).

The Huntington Recital Hall Lobby, known as the fishbowl because of the large glass wall, is the main gathering place for the conservatory students during the day.  I see on average 20 people sitting in the Fishbowl at any given time.

In 1992, the administration approved a much needed restoration of the facilities.  For the course of nearly a whole year, Mees/Bexley Hall was restored to a beautiful, fully functional and updated facility.  During restoration, a new connector hallway was built between Mees/Bexley Hall and Leonard Hall.  Now, the connector hallway includes many offices for faculty members, a classroom, and a keyboard room.  This greatly expanded the size of the conservatory, and made much needed room for faculty members.  The upper floors of Leonard Hall were converted into music classrooms, (called the Theory Rooms), and the lower floor was converted into the administration offices.

In 2011, a brand new recording studio was built in some of the former offices in Leonard Hall.  This multimillion dollar project was much needed.

Now, 20 years after the initial restoration, the buildings are starting to see some decay.  There are many water leaks in the ceiling of Mees Hall, which makes the drop ceiling tiles turn brown.  The carpet in the hallways is starting to tear, and the paint on the walls is starting to chip off.  There are many dents on the corners of people smashing instruments into them.  One hallways was painted and new carpet was laid down, and the Fishbowl was painted, but that's about it.  The rest of the building now needs some work done to it. (Please, for the love of God, please get rid of the lip marks in the southeast stairwell.)

Since beginning this post, the temperature has risen to 68 degrees.  It's a beautiful day with a light wind and a bright sunlight.

Now, I've decided to write some of my reflections on Paul's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd letters to John.

The format will be the same as it was with Peter and Timothy.

1 JOHN

1 John 1:9-10

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If you read my previous blog called The Lutheran Liturgy, you know that this verse is said before the actual confession and forgiveness statement made by the congregation.  This shows that Jesus died for our sins, and we are all forgiven if asked.

1 John 2:2

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:8-11

Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.  Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.  Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.

I'm reminded of the Westboro Baptist Church again.  They go around preaching hate to everyone, and yet still claim that they are Christians.

They aren't.

1 John 3:11

We should love one another.

1 John 4:12

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another.....

No one has ever seen God?  I have a question about this.  Maybe some of you can answer it for me.  Isn't Jesus fully God and fully man?  If we have seen Jesus, we have seen God.

2 JOHN

2 John 1:9

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teachings of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teachings has both the Father and the SOn.

I have only recently (within the past year) seriously started reading the Bible.  I've always had a Bible in various forms, but I've never really delved into it until I purchased the Bible Across America, where every verse is hand written.  Nearly 31,000 people wrote verses.

3 JOHN

I think the only striking thing in 3 John was this.

3 John 1:10-11

So if I come, I will call attention to what [Diotrephes, who loves to be first,] is doing, gossiping maliciously about us.  Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers.

Apparently, Diotrephes likes to get the last word in.  He's a power grabber.

John 1, 2, and 3 are possibly the shortest books in the Bible.  It took me about just as long to write these reflections down as it did to write a little bit about the history of the Conservatory of Music.

Thanks for reading. God Bless.