About
Paul Smith is a native New Mexican with roots in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. He attended Abilene Christian University where he met and married his wife Susan. Through ACU he earned the BS, MS and M.Div. degrees. He is currently working on the Doctor of Ministry degree through Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Paul has served as a youth minister, preaching minister, associate minister and hospice chaplain. He has also worked as a flight instructor and as a pilot for a freight distribution company. He is currently serving as the campus minister for the 3rd and Kilgore congregation in Portales, New Mexico, and also as an instructor in the Department of Religion at Eastern New Mexico University.
Paul and Susan have one daughter, Kylee, and 4 cats. When not studying for a sermon or for his doctoral work, Paul loves to play his guitars and would love to spend more time on a clear trout stream fly fishing, but that happens way too infrequently.
I would like to discuss privately your insights and observations regarding discipleship and the institutional church. I am a fellow preaching minister. By the way, based on your recent blogs, I think we have much in common here.
Nathan, good to hear from you. We do share at least a couple of things in common for sure! It would be good to hear from you. I will drop you a line to your email address.
Just found your site. Looking forward to following you. I like your “Undeniable Truths For Theological Reflection”. Especially #15 and 15a.
I’m currious. In your studies, have you studied the Fathers in any depth? What about Orthodoxy? I stumbled onto Orthodoxy about a year ago while reading some postings on church of Christ minister blogs, sort of like the one you have. The more I learn about Orthodoxy, the more I want to know.
I too am an ACU grad, class of 1984. By the looks of your picture, you are probably younger.
Hello David, thanks for the kind words, and I am glad you found my site. In answer to your question, no, I have not studied the Fathers in depth (beyond what Dr. Ferguson pulled out of me!). I appreciate the resurgence in studies in Orthodoxy. Some of it is driven by a serious spiritual journey, some of it quite honestly is an interest in whatever is new and different. For us, the Fathers (especially the “Eastern” Fathers) represent a spirituality that addresses some holes in our theology and spirituality. I encourage you in your studies – but as with anything make sure you go back to the original Fathers and not a modern “interpretation” of the Fathers, which can be accurate and can border on delusional. There are many accessible translations of the writings of the Fathers, and of course, many, many scholarly and devotional works based on the writings of the Fathers.
I hope your studies are fruitful for you!
Paul
Correction, we are in the same class! What happened to your hair??
Actually, I have a wonderful head of hair. Its just that I only wear it on special occasions.