Quote of the day:

Daß Jesus nur für andere da ist. Das Für-andere-da-Sein Jesu ist die Transzendenzerfahrung! Aus der Freiheit von sich selbst , aus dem Für-andere-da-Sein bis zum Tod entspringterst die Allmacht, Allwissendheit, Allgegenwart. Glaube ist das Teilnehmenan diesem Sein Jesu.
- Bonhoeffer, Widerstand und Ergebung, p 191

another beautiful bride

Nonie and Gray's wedding, and little Jack's baptism.
What can I say. None's looked amazing today. I know that is what everyone says about the bride on their day. But I reckon that None's looked superb, especially considering that Jack is only a couple of months old.
It was a lovely service, a little longer than the ususal wedding service becuase of bubba Jack's baptism. But that wasn't a problem. In fact I thought it was quite precious the way that everything was done.
(hopefully photos to come in the next couple of days)

Another reason why I really enjoyed today was that I got to see a few people I haven't seen in months/years. We're catching up for a BBQ tomorrow, so it will be great to hear where everyone's life has taken them thus far.

It looks as though it is going to be a weekend filled with BBQ's and social engagements, I hope this glorious weather holds. I think I will stay in tonight, or else I will be completely people'd out come Monday.

ahhh Friday at last

Term 4 Week 1 over. 2 Years and 8 weeks to go.

Spent just on 2 hours with a lecturaer this arvo going over Romans 2. Whao is my brain dead after that. It pushed my brain and my greek way past its expiration date for a Friday afternoon.

Greek results came out this arvo. I was satisfied with my result, not overly excited as I was annoyed at myself for running out of time. I still managed to do quite well even though I missed a section worth 25% of the paper. I very rarely run out of time in an exam, so it was unusal. I put it down to my lack of expereince with open book exams. I wanted to keep searching and searching and making sure that I got exactly the right answer.

Well another week down, another week closer to the exams. Must say that I am impressed with my Mum's effort this week. She noticed that I have been up until after 1am most nites, and what with getting up at 5:45am, she has had a coffee waiting for me at 6:15am each morning. I will miss that when I move out next year!!

oh um er yeah

BTW, I went to first camp meeting for sailmainia last night. It was, well I don't know how to describe it at this point. Maybe that is why I didn't mention it last night. It is hard to come on baord with a leadership team that is already formed, existing friendships etc. It seems as though most people come from the one church and have quite a strong relationship. I know that it isn't as though, well yeah, that people wouldn't be friendly, but at the same time it is only natural that they are, and it kind of makes me wonder whether I will have the energy at that time of the year to pour into being an extrovert for a week.
I'm not actually 100% certain that I can go. I need to get some time off, and there are some other factors as well.
Why does life have to be so complicated?

Mood: *distracted*

It is mission awareness week this week at college. Instead of the usual 1 combined chapel, chick's chapel and a congregational chapel, we have had 4 combined chapels. We have had guest speakers each day. They have all been very interesting. Challenging as well. Today we had Steve Etherington come and speak. He works with CMS with indigenous people in the Northern Territory. I'd like to go up and visit and spend some time with he and his wife in the winter break next year.

I really don't know if I will end up staying in Sydney long term. It seems a little bizarre to be thinking that when it is this week that I had decided that I will apply to be a Sydney candidate. I see the need elsewhere and want to go serve anywhere and everywhere, and yet I also see the desperate need for women in ministry in Sydney, esp in youth ministry. Thakfully I don't have to make those decisions right at this moment.

Right at this moment I am meant to be doing some translation, flow charting and exegetical comments, but I am having much more fun making jewelry for people. I am really enjoying it. It is relaxing and I love giving people gifts. You can't half tell that that is one of the primary ways that I show people that I care!!

I stayed up a little too late on the phone last night, which has meant that my schedule is a little out of whack. Both my study schedule and my sleeping schedule. Not that my sleeping schedule is every in whack, but was even more exhausted than normal. I even ditched out on going to the gym this arvo. - such a slacker!!

True or False?

Can you pick which ones are true, and which are false?

I have never dyed my hair.
I am not ticklish.
I love bunny rabbits.
I don't like coffee.
I am doing 3 years at college.
I am doing 4 years at college.
I think bunny rabbits are evil.
I love hugs.
I am scared of libraries.
I have an irrational fear of birds.
I have a neat bedroom.
I have a neat car.

Re: Sunday ramblings

I had a really helpful convo with a friend which nailed some things re my previous post. I just wasn't completely comfortable with drawing the conclusion that Jesus was broken for our breaking of the Abrahamic covenant.

Summary of convo:
The Mosaic covenant was *conditional* - there were clear stipulations listed for obeying the covenant and then there were consequnces for disobedience.
However, the Abrahamic covenant was NOT conditional. God didn't choose Abraham because of his righteousness but his faith (as we know from the NT) and God sets up the covenant to bless Abraham and his descendents regardless of obedience or disobedience - this is God's promise to Abrahram - lots of descendents, blessed and so on.

So how does this relate to Christ?
We know from Isa 53 that Christ was broken for us. However, was this because we broke the Abrahamic covenant? No. He was broken because we broke what might be called the 'adamic covenant'. (garden of eden stipulations being a 'covenant').
The Abrahamic covenant connects Jesus in a different way, not necessarily in an obedience to to the covenant, but in a faith/righteousness way. It is God's willingness to pave the way for people to be in a relationship with him.
I think this is what David was saying in his comment on my previous post about it points to the cross in that God counts the cost of the covenant.

What do you think?

Sunday ramblings

I heard it said tonight, in relation to a sermon on Gen 15:8-20, that Jesus was punished for our breaking of the covenant. They were talking about it saying that when covenant is made, the people who are making it are making a legally binding agreement, and that if they break the agreement then they are to be made just like the cut animals. And the person said that Jesus is broken in our place for the broken covenant. And you see, I was thinking, isn't the covenant in Gen 15 a unilateral covenant. I don't get how they were making the connection.

Got any ideas?

This is my prayer:

I was listening to a Jennifer Knapp CD and I was struck once again by this song:

Refine me
Your my God and my father, I've accepted your Son
But my soul feels so empty now, what have I become?

Lord...
Come with your fire, burn my desires
Refine me
Lord...
My will has deceived me, please come and free me
Refine me

My heart can't see, when I only look at me
My soul can't hear, when I only think of my own fears.

And they are gone in a moment, your forever the same
Why did I look away from you, how can i speak your name?

Lord...
Come with your fire, burn my desires
Refine me
Lord...
My has deceived me, please come and free me
Come rescue this child, cause long to be reconciled to you...
It's all I can do, to give my heart and soul to you
and pray..... and pray..... and I will pray...

Lord...
Come with your fire, burn my desires
Refine me
Lord...
My will has deceived me, please come and free me
Refine me

Refine me... Refine me...
Refine me....



I want this to be my prayer. I want to be changed by God, I want to desire His will, for my wants to be his wants. In all the ways and things that hold me from him, I want God to take them from my life.

last nite

I had a pretty unpleasant night last night. I don’t think I’m really in the mood to share about it at the moment. Maybe at a later date.

Grrrrrr

If there is one thing that I cannot stand, that is people who drink and drive.
Grrrrrrr

Where did it go?

It is Saturday arvo and I ask: 'Where did the holidays go?'
They vanished all too quickly. I am feeling relaxed, but well aware that I haven't achieved my many tasks.

I spent a lovely afternoon at the Jacob's place doing bead making. I am going to miss being part of that bible study group.

Few, it sounds as though my brothers friends are leaving. I may have some peace and quite after all tonight.

Back to it! (Molly is still proving very much to be a distraction)

waves

the tide comes, washes away,
your message in the sand.
you wrote it hoping I would see,
see a love that we once had.
I see no love, I see no like,
no taste, no touch, no smell.
I see only what is in the past,
never to be now.
I hated you once, with all that I am
whilst you crushed me with your scorn.
that moment has past, I hate no more,
for I am whole and changed.
I am a box, open your eyes,
lift the lid, you will see,
nothing of your inside.
I wish you knew the love of Christ.
the love I should've shown,
I almost lost myself in you,
I almost let go.
but he has wrapped his arms around,
my Saviour will never let go.
faithful to his promises,
my joy, my everything,
this box of mine is overful,
this box is full from him.

a sunburnt nose

Reality hasn't quite hit. I have just come back from 2 nites away on the central coast with college friends. Very relaxing.
Tues arvo I caught the ferry over (everyone else drove), feeling the salt and wind in my hair. It blew all the cobwebs away.
Wed we spent the morning at the beach and saw that arrival of some daytrippers.
Thurs, saw me start to go for a walk, but I turned back unsure of how my ankles would hold up to it. Sure enough I rolled my ankle about 2 minutes after I turned back, and that was only on the road! grrrrr
But I had an awesome day anyway. I went and say by the wharf and did some writing. I haven't written for years, and I am trying to get back in touch with some of the more creative things that I used to do, like writing, and composing music, and painting and stuff.

Back home this arvo, really must clean the room and do some study tomorrow.
But for now, I sit contented, not worrying about tomorrow.

In loving memory...

Some sad news to post this afternoon. I came home to find Moe dead. He was lying curled up on the bottom of his vase. Joe didn't seem too distressed he was happily swimming away at the top.
Moe was given the right and proper burial for someone befitting his status. It was suggested to me that Moe died of old age (although methinks he had an insecurity complex and the fact that I hadn't spent much time talking to him this week set him off).

Joe might find the vase lonely, so I may have to think about getting a new playmate for him. But not just yet.

Til then, this post is in loving memory of Moe.
Age: 2 and a bit years.

Finishing line is in sight...

Well I am currently printing the essay off, and need to have it in town by 4:30pm. I think this is the closest that I have ever cut it to the deadline time.
I had a few moments of panic last night and this morning. I am not sure if I have answered the question, or at least answered it in the way that they want it answered.
Wooo hooo my last second year essay is in (will wait for the verdict as to whether I have to resubmit)
Now the question is, do I still want to do 4 years of this?

Quote of the day

“It is an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seem. For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much – the wheel, New York, wars and so on – whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man – for precisely the same reasons.”
Douglas Adams

Pondering

Now I am not going to spend much time on this as I still have 1500 words or so to write before morning, so I am not allowed to let my brain get distracted.

Sermon at church tonight got me thinking.
As usual something was said that got me on a tanget of thought.

Is it our human nature that leads us to sin? This all ties in with my thinking of the fully human nature of Christ.
I posed the question a few weeks ago to some people at college:
When Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm, was he able to do this because of his divinity of becuase of his true humanity?
Someone pointed out to me that this may not actually be a good way of looking at this as it means that we tend to try and 'split' Christ which can lead to some heresy (monophysitism I think but not sure on that one).

ok - that is all the tangenting that my brain is allowed to do right now. Back to the Pentateuch!

Distracted

Well Molly arrived today which meant that I have been totally distracted by this adorable pup. She is tiny. Will upload some more 'ron.

Am getting in the groove of the essay now (finally, and all cos the deadline is looming)
2400ish words to go!
I reckon I can get most of that done by the morning. (well maybe wishful thinking once again!)

How cute is Molly!!