1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2 was what we studied on the candidate’s conference. It makes me wonder what is happening for that platform to be chosen to address the topic of women preaching.

I still have many thoughts swirling around in my head. Creation, women preaching, being a wife and mother, singleness and sin.

news flash

not many hours left until very overdue essay must be handed in. no words yet. not finished reading yet. planned events got blown out of the window this arvo when the pain in my mouth that has been bothering me for the last 6 weeks became unbearable. thankfully the dentist fitted me into an emergency spot. it was the option of root canal therapy or having the tooth pulled, money won out and i had the tooth pulled. i'll tell you what, i am feeling a kazillion times better.

now back to reading about this liberal, catholic, feminist ethicist!!

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internet is finally getting sorted, and we are now working on getting some type of reimbursement.

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another random thought.....
i went on cadidates retreat on monday/tuesday. i am reflecting on some things that have been said, and hopefully will journal them next week, and will try and write on them sometimesoon

friends, chapel, and sermons

I went to the Youthworks College Graduates day on monday. It made me realise how much of life is in the moment. Friends who I spent 2 years studying with, I have seen only once or twice in the last 2 years. I think my current college experience is slightly different as we live in, but it makes me wonder what type of contact I will have with my current college friends once I have finished studying. I can even feel myself at times pull away from certain friendships or groups of friendships here at college. Or at least try and convince myself in my own sinful way, that it really isn't my choice, that they were the ones who pulled away in things they did or said. As I said, that is my own sinfulness, and doesn't give any excuse. I need to continue to persist, and make an effort with those friends.

Anyways, after that tangent, back to the graduates day...
We had a chapel service to start the day. We sat in the outdoor chapel, with the sound of birds around us, and we sang facing one another, sharing in the delight of the knowledge of who and what our Creator has done and is for us.

Oh how I miss Deano's sermons. He preached from Rev 2:1-7 and reflections on the doctrine of the church.
We have a priviledge of being part of the church. We have Jesus with us now. He speaks, and we need, must and ought to listen.
As Christians we are priviledged because Jesus is with us, because of what is promised to us, and we are to love.

You know, I still remember part of the first sermon I ever heard him preach. "You are who you are in Christ". It is a truth that I continually come back to day after day.

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My internet connection at home has only worked 5 minutes in the last 5 days. Not happy!

well the hoped for trip to Fraser is not going ahead, but that is ok. it simply means that i must plan another sort of holiday this break. there are some ppl from college going away, and i would like to go with them, i just need to work out if there is any budget for it. i think if i can scrape up $200 that will be enough for the week trip away.

in other news, i am pleased to report a 100% attendence record at college classes this week. and not only were there classes, but i also had 3 afternoon tutorials, and 3 meetings with my different chaplains!!!


last sunday night i prayed that i would be excited about what God has done for me. those prayers are still being answered. although there may be troubled times, the fact that Jesus loves me remains unchanged.

it is saturday arvo and i really really really need to clean my room as it has been needing a tidy for 2 weeks now, and i need to do some washing, but i am going to bed for a nanna nap. i have ppl coming over for rugby tonight.

3 days into the week, and still 100% of classes attended.

God is good. Today during my heeb lesson with Mama Swan, we got talking about Romans and the Spirit and lots of stuff (yeah not exactly hebrew i know, but hey, oh well), and I have been so excited about the fact that God has given us the Spirit. All day this excitement has been spurring me on.

God is good.

weekends, dinners and holidays

After a long weekend I am feeling refreshed. I spent loads of time just hanging out with college people. It was awesome.
Back at college yesterday. 2 days into the week and 100% of lectures attended. I am v stoked.

I went over and had dinner with Trinity tonight and we watched the Origen. Always fun to hang out with her and other compatriots that I am getting to know at 'that other college'.

The other day I was musing about the fact that I wanted to go to Fraser again. This may actually become a reality. There is a possibility that I may go there on a 'working holiday' for a week of the winter break. It is an exciting possibility.

Do I really want to do 4th year?

A few weeks ago I got an email from a minister asking whether I would be interested in a position for next year doing children's and youth ministry. I swiftly replied saying that I was planning on staying at college for my 4th and final year. Now I am not so sure. Do I really want to do 4th year?

I dropped in on the Chileans yesterday morning. They are working hard on me about a position in Chile doing youth and uni ministry. They need someone now. Do I really want to do 4th year?

There is so much need. Everywhere. I see the need here, in Sydney. In rural NSW. Interstate. Internationally.

Maybe I should finish up at the end of this year, go and serve, go and tell people about Jesus. I am committed to staying in Sydney for 1-2 years post-college, but even that is flexible.

Do I really want to do 4th year?

the CD

I sit
I listen
You gave
I like
Mellow and soothing
Just right
How did you know?

drops of notice

inadvertantly, one of my friends challenged me to look up. to look up and not down while i am walking.

my street:
as i walk along, 2 worlds collide. notting hill meets uniformity. a mandarin tree. a six foot high rose. university students. cafe culture. double income no kids. retirees. weeds. palm trees. cracked concrete. converted/renovated terraces. condemned terraces. half-way house. mod-con uni housing.
all on the 4 minute walk to and from college.

i love it

fraser trip

i visited eli creek 3 years ago and it looked like this when i visited 2 years ago, strong storms meant that it was no longer crystal clear.

i wonder what it looks like now...
i'd like to go back and visit

you take one friday night off youth group, combine it with college friends, some dark chocolate, popcorn and the Castle. Throw in a splash of red wine, and you have the makings of a very enjoyable night.

Darum sollen wir desto mehr achten auf das Wort, das wir hören, damit wir nicht am Ziel vorbeitreiben

I’ve been listening to Mike’s album ‘Promises’ almost non-stop since its launch on the weekend. When he played Offering at the launch, I cried. This album has already been a huge blessing to me. I hope and pray that Mike will continue to serve God in many wonderful ways.

If anyone out there is on the hunt for new church music, take a look at this CD, it is great. It is also enhanced so you can use it in accordance with CCLI etc.

Promises

Offering

Into Your hands
All that I am
Take it as my offering
Take my life and make it sing

A glorious song
Of praise to your name
A living melody
To a life set free
From shame

It’s in your death
That we will find life
Lived not for ourselves
But in the freedom of Christ
Freedom to serve
Freedom to die
Freedom to take up our
Cross and live
For the glory of Christ

© 2006 Mike Begbie ‘Promises’
Available here

becuase i can

sitting in the library with music blarking in my ears wondering if i should actually go and socialise with people at morning tea. almost made it it chapel this morning, just got a little delayed by dropping off 2 fresh canvases for the art show today.

(we are having huge problems with internet at home - i hope they give us a discount off the next bill as it hasn't been working properly since the weekend)

What a lovely day.
Although not exactly as planned.
Shopping this morning with Mum, no heeb lesson this arvo (tomorrow arvo instead), dinner tonight with Trinity (yes, at that ‘other college’), now home about to crack open a fresh canvas.
I feel amazingly refreshed. It was so nice to go out for a few hours and forget about the world.
I think I may even attempt to get to some classes tomorrow.

The events and discussions of the past 4 days are far from over, but things are moving.

Enough for now.

not a drop of colour in sight

i dropped off some of my canvases this arvo for the art exhibition on thursday. our lounge room looks bare without them which i think is a good sign as it means that i am liking them more and more each day. i may even get another one done before thursday. i spoke to the chick who is organising it today and she said that she had over 100 works which i think is fantastic seeing as it is only the second year that it is running.

therapy is needed tomorrow. wagging a day off class (with full permission from the principal-which takes the fun out of it), shopping with mum in the morning, heeb lesson in arvo, painting at night
what more could one ask for???

please keep praying...

my lecturers have been great. I spent an hour with my chaplain yesterday, and then an hour with the dean of students. They are fantastic. They have granted me an extension on this essay that is due tomorrow. Thankfully. Although even if they hadn't there would be no way that I would get it done as I haven't started reading/researching yet, and I have a major meeting on tonight.

Please pray that eyes will be opened, and ears will hear the grave concerns I have. Please pray that God will continue to give me strength to get through these times.

2 down, 2 to go (conversations that is)

in fun news, I went to Mike's albumn launch last night. I haven't been to Devotion in a while and it was awesome to go and spend an hour singing praises to our great God.

so much more to say, but the words can't be written.

til next time

if you are the praying type...

can i ask you to pray for me as i head out this arvo? I have a couple of sensitive / difficult / confronting pastoral situations to address this weekend. I am feeling anxious about them, which I am going now to pray, and cast those anxieties upon God.

the fog lifts

one foul swoop
just one lot of words
the truth
the fog lifts
i see you now
not the same
through fog i thought
i dreamed
we shared
i slept
we drank
i cried
we ate and i smiled
its not too late
i'm glad i know
to save my heart
to spare my soul

in recent news:

due to our delay in telecast, this news report is several days overdue. Late last year, this news source brought you this report. It is my sad and solemn duty this day to report the loss of Joe. For 3 days he lay terminally ill, but Sunday night saw his release from struggle. I miss him. Although he survived the move from my parents, it seems that this house was just too cold for him (and for me too!).

Farewell dear Joe

back from the edge...

with the exception of mission, this is prob the longest time i have not updated this blog. my apologies! life is a little hectic at the moment.

rather than give you a long winded rewind of the past 10 days, just know that i did some stuff, i saw some people, i did some talks, and there was some laughing and crying.

tonight saw my first formal function as an ordination candidate. i went to bishops court for dinner. it was nice to get out and hang out with friends.

friday 2 days away, i have my first proper hebrew test, following wednesday i have an ethics essay due.

anyone out there know of anywhere i can get a cheap, but safe heater? my house/room is freezing.

BTW - impressive moment of the week - i wore a dress and put makeup on tonight!