Being a recent graduate (May ’06) of John Brown University, as well as having a brother there who is a freshman, I still keep fairly informed about what happens on campus.

One of my habits while a student was to skim over the list of chapel speakers for the upcoming semester as soon as it came available. Then, I’d make a mental note of must-attend chapels. It was with great jealousy that I found out that Scot McKnight would be speaking at chapel this semester.

While I was a student at JBU, I stumbled across Scot’s blog when it was in its infancy and thought I had found some unknown and hidden gem of wisdom and insight. I thought this man had much to say to the emerging church and to the wider Christian church. Well, it wasn’t long before many other people figured out that this guy was worth listening to. According to technorati, Scot now has the #1 emerging church blog, outranking the stalwart Tall Skinny Kiwi, Andrew Jones.

So, one of the “biggest names” within the emerging movement comes to JBU the semester after I graduate. Scot posts about his experience here. I am utterly jealous that Billy and Grant got to have dinner with Scot. I’m pretty sure I know which Billy and Grant he is talking about in his post. I taveled with them and a slew of other students to present papers at the Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference. I wouldn’t be suprised to learn that Billy and Grant have presented elsewhere as well.  They’re pretty smart and thoughtful guys, and I’m sure they represented the university well. Or maybe it is simply a different Billy and Grant.

Not only did Scot speak in chapel and all that good stuff, he also taught one of Dr. C’s New Testament Book Study and Hermeneutics classes. I bet some of these students don’t even realize the treat they are getting. What a shame.

While I am quite jealous that I wasn’t able to hear Scot speak, I must say that I am proud of JBU. From Scot’s post it sounds as if they are continuing the trend of thinking critically about how to engage our world with the gospel. I think JBU could be a hot-spot for things emerging if there was some leadership to it. During my junior year, I considered starting and Emergent cohort on campus, but shyed away from it since I would be leaving the next semester to complete my youth ministry internship. Regardless, it seemed that the enviornment there would be receptive to many emerging values.

So, to Stan and the rest of the Office of Spirital Formation: I hope you know you are responsible for causing a brother’s covetousness over this matter by scheduling Scot one semester too late.

Also to Stan and the rest of the Office of Spiritual Formation, along with the rest of the faculty, staff, and students: thanks for carrying on the great JBU ethos. May God continue to bless our campus.