NIV
Psalm 17:1 A prayer of David.
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2 May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
4 As for the deeds of men-- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.
7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.
13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
14 O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
15 And I-- in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

greek messages

So I just phoned Caro to explain some of my greek exegetical notes to her - but she wasn't there. I found myself leaving a message on her answering machine which rambled on about gender and participles. After I hung up I found myself having a little giggle at the content of the message and wondering what on earth someone would think if they listened to it.

--
Exegetical due Monday - zero words completed
Sermon for Tuesday (now worth 25%) - yet to grasp the focus (topic is faithfulness as a fruit of the Spirit - Gal 5:22)
Chapter 1 due Wednesday - 300/3000 words
Book Review due Easter - zero words (still yet to read the book)

if only i could sit all my assessments and exams by oral examination.....

Is singleness a result of the fall?

Earlier this week saw my involvement in some discussion about the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:15 - But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (NIV)

The comment was made to me that there is no inherent goodness in singleness. Yes, Paul says that singleness is good, but that is only because we are in the last days.

I can see where this position is coming from, but surely if it is thought out, then you will conclude that singleness is a result of the fall.
But then I look to the new creation, to our marriage to Christ, and wonder how this can be said in light of God's great faithful plan in salvation history - creation and new creation.

Is singleness a result of the fall?

an intermittent diet

I am out of routine, my thoughts have been scrambled, pushed and prodded which has resulted in the intermittent diet of posting on this page recently.

I'm loving Christology.
And, shock horror: a love of Church History is well on the way of being formed!


This past week has seen me form and scrap many successive ideas for the topical sermon on faithfulness I am preaching in Chick's Chapel next week. It has at times been frustrating and elusive. But after much hair pulling I think I know how to start and where to take it.


--
3 assessment items due in next 7 days. None complete. But loving 4th year.

single, even if you are married....

I had another meeting with BSR again today re the project. Things are on target (so far).

We got to discussing 1 Corinthians 7.

A verse which I am left pondering:

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none - ESV 1 Corinthians 7:29

Single, even if you are married....


--
Amusing quote from the meeting:

BSR: so, are you always this organised?

signed, sealed and sent

today marked the postage of an envelope.
an A4 envelope, which has been 7 months in the making.
it was a good feeling to drop it into the mailbox and send it away.

The Nature of Trust

Today marks some thoughts about trust.

Trust is something that is part of a relationship. Not a one-way relationship, but a two-way relationship. It is something that is developed as the relationship grows. It is not bought. Nor bribed.

It means that you are able to rely on the integrity of a person or thing.

How can we trust if trust has been broken? Should we trust if trust has been broken? Or is that plain foolishness?

Graduation - a joful sadness

Tonight was college graduation. It was an occasion that filled me with joy. To see many friends again and hear about their plans.
But it also was a night which has left me sad. I miss many people who have moved far away from Sydney.
Some I may not see for months or even years. Others I will not see until Jesus returns. But thankfully, some I will see each Sunday for the rest of the year!

In many ways I am jealous. It has again churned up those feelings of wanting to have completed my studies.
But I hold fast to the fact that God knows what he is doing. And I take rest in his goodness.

Saturday Morning Ritual

Over the past year and a bit, most Saturday mornings have seen me at the Ould's. It was not a planned habit, but one that is certainly enjoyed.

I love going over for breakfast and coffee. But it is more than coffee or food that brings me back each week.
I love talking theology with Dave, fashion and craft with Jacqui, reading with Charis and playing with Ethan.


Over the past week I have been frustrated with being at college and not able to be in parish more than one day. But today, I came to the realisation that when I leave college, it will also mean a change in many of my relationships. And about that, I will be sad.

So no more feeling frustrated about where I am today, or for the rest of the year - it is about making the most of where God has placed me!!

Week 3

classes (other than chapel tomorrow morning) are over.

I've made a start on my Hebrews exegetical. Project work is going well - I have a file of stuff to read over the weekend and several books on loan.
I even have a lead on where I think I may start for my chick's chapel sermon on faithfulness.
I submitted an Issues in Theology topic.
So things are going along.

I had a slightly more productive day today - had my head in greek texts for 4.5 hours before coming up for a breather and wondered where the time had gone.

Tomorrow I will start reading Always Reforming for that upcoming book review that is due.
Tomorrow I will remember to buy my brother's birthday present.
Tomorrow I will unpack another box.
Tomorrow I will reply to some overdue emails.

struggle with contentment

Many of my posts over the last week have been tinged with my struggle with contentment. I am struggling to be content with being at college.

Don't get me wrong, I have loved being able to come to college, but what with many of my friends graduating next week, I do wish that I was one of them.

I feel the tension of only being in parish one day a week, and wish it were more.

there is still time

to make it into next monday night's graduation service
to finish with a Bth
to take up a job this year
to pull out before the fees apply


--
i ponder these things, but know in all reality that i won't make a decision by the end of the week, so i guess it is another 24 weeks and 4 days to go.

the first of many this year

done
and
done

word count

Essay 1: 1180/1250
Essay 2: 487/750

update

Essay 1: 1180/1250
Essay 2: 0/750

the reading is on the way for essay number 2. Methinks it must be close to sleep time.


--
have you ever wondered why the sky is blue and not orange?
or why clouds are called clouds?

word count

Essay 1: 734/1250
Essay 2: 0/750

(yes, they are both due tomorrow at 4:30pm)

arrggghhh

essays not written
mum to arrive in 45mins
house is a mess

which one is it?

cynicism or realism

am i being cynical or am i simply being realistic about the way things are?



either way, the last few days have seemed a little jaded.

so i put it to googlefight. Here's the results.

Week 2 of 27

Week 2 of the college year draws to a close. I feel little or no inspiration to write the 2 mini essays that are due on Monday. But, I am sure they will be done (at some stage).
The meeting that I was feeling anxious about this morning went well. I was in town a few hours longer than expected as some job possibilities came up and ideas for a topic for my issues in theology paper were discussed.

Current thinking on that topic:
Is forgiveness possible without repentance? ie, a theology of forgiveness
(or something like that)

For church history, I am going to go with the role of evangelical women in first wave feminism. Not really sure where to start with that one.

It feels like snooze time, but I fear that way too much coffee has been consumed for that to happen. Maybe I will head to UB to try and do some work on those essays.

must

find

inspiration

anxiety

I have been reading a fair bit of Alain de Botton today. He has quite a bit to say about happiness and even contentment. I am hoping to get my hands on his book Status Anxiety. The college library doesn't have a copy, so I might head down to Fisher, or even see if my local has it.

--
as I type this post, I note with some amusement, that I am feeling anxious about a meeting I have to go to in the morning.

where does the time go?

Although we have a lighter lecture load this year, I am feeling the pinch of time. Much time has been spent in the library, very few morning teas have been attended and the late nights have begun.
I'm grateful for the time set aside in our program for chapel. Although I struggle with alertness during the mornings, they have been grounding me well over the past 2 weeks.

I fear I am fighting off this cold bug which is going round college.

Week 2 begins

I had my first meeting with BSR re the project. It went well, and I am feeling renewed and encouraged. We talked ideas, goals and methodology. Some tasks have been set to be done in the next 2 weeks, when we meet again.

Meanwhile, NT4 is a great joy to my soul.

Term 1, Week 1

Is over.

I can't decide on an Issues in Theology topic.

Nor can I work out a Church History essay question.
Although one option was to write about the influence of Australian evangelicals on firstwave feminism.

--realisation that summer is over

project update

The list is out. Next to my name it says:

Topic: Towards a Pauline Ethic of Contentment, with special reference to Singleness.

Supervisor: BSR

--
This weekend's task: a word study on contentment/self-sufficiency in the Pauline Epistles.