30 years worth of thankyous!

On Kyck we were challenged to not be people who were focused on gaining things that don't last (money, fame, things etc), but to be people who thanked God for the good gifts he gives us.

So, to celebrate my birthday- I thought I would thank God for things that he has given me over the years of my life.

Year 0-Thanks God for giving me life!
Year 1- Thanks God for giving me awesome parents who told me of you and loved me so kindly and wisely
Year 2- Thanks for my sister!
Year 3-Thanks for the Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and Cousins who bring such joy
Year 4- Thanks for the house I grew up in, particularly the huge backyard where I could run around, dream, make up stories, and talk to you
Year 5- Thanks for primary school- for the things you taught me and the lessons I learnt about life and the world you created
Year 6- Thanks for my Grandparents farm- a place where I experienced so much joy.
Year 7- Thanks for St Mary's and St Paul's where I had such fun at church and where I learnt so many amazing things about you and your son.
Year 8-Thanks for the imagination that you gave me, and the many fun years (still continuing) of making up stories
Year 9-Thanks for friends you gave me
Year 10-Thanks for the time you gave me in the states- the beautiful world of Madison that you decided in your Divine plan to share with me
Year 11-Thanks for the experience of living in another country- and the love you gave me starting then for people who are from countries other than Australia
Year 12- Thanks for the church I went to in America- particularly my Sunday School teacher Laura who helped me understand what it means that we are all sinners
Year 13- Thanks for High school. Even though it was a hard 6 years, I learnt so much and I grew so much and I am thankful for how you used it to shape me into the person that I am.
Year 14- Thanks for Youth Group- for the leaders, for the opportunities for ministry, for all the fun times, and for the friends.
Year 15- Thanks for Jesus! (That is relevant for every year- but I might as well stick it here, and 15 was a hard year and knowing that Jesus died for me was something that helped get me through it)
Year 16-Thanks for letting me go overseas to Europe. You have blessed me with so many special experiences and I am grateful.
Year 17- Thanks for Beach Mission! It was such a key time in my walk with you, the friends I made are so precious, and it was there that I realised I wanted to spend the rest of my life telling people about Jesus. What a blessing!
Year 18-Thanks for giving me a love of learning.
Year 19-Thanks for Uni. Thanks for that fun crazy time. Thanks particularly for the Christian Union I was apart of- for the fun, the friendships, and the Bible teaching and training which has made such a difference to my Christian life and service.
Year 20-Thanks for my friend Fi- thanks for the way you have used her over the years to be such a source of encouragement and fun!
Year 21-Thanks for teaching me that I should find my self-worth in you and not in other people (still learning that one- but 21 was a key year)
Year 22-Thanks for giving me jobs- allowing me to earn money. Thanks for the growing up that took place and the lessons I learnt.
Year 23-Thanks for introducing me to the most amazing man in the world. Thanks that (after a while!) he decided to ask me out. Thanks that despite my worries over the previous 22 years that you had it all figured out!
Year 24-Thanks for my marriage to Tim. Thanks that despite the fact that we are both sinners, that you have used us to grow each other. Thanks for all those amazing fun times.
Year 25-Thanks for the chance to do an apprenticeship at RMIT. It was just amazing to have people donate money so that I could spend my time reading the Bible with Uni-students and encouraging them in their faith. Thanks for the blessing of being trained by the gifted and godly Steve and Heather. I grew so much.
Year 26- Thanks for Scots Church- for all the things we learnt and the dear friends we made. It is such a blessing even now when we are far away that we have such caring lovely "couple friends" who welcome us back as if we never left.
Year 27-Thanks for Bible College. I still can't believe I got that one precious year of studying your word. Thanks for that unexpected Gift.
Year 28-Thanks for Chatswood Baptist and particularly the chance of getting to work there. Only you could work things out so well! Thanks for Children's ministry and making it fun as well as challenging
Year 29-Thanks for the way that despite hard things and trials and time away from family, that you have held me tight to you, and grown me in my faith.

Year 30
Plenty of things I could say- but as it's only been 11 and half hours (or less than an hour depending if you are going via the actual time of birth), I won't dwell on them ;)
But even though I don't know what this year holds- I know that it is in the hands of a creator who loves me.
Thanks God for being in control of my life.
I love you.
Amen
B

Psalm 51:16-17

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

What an amazing God we have, who deserved everything, who we have treated with such disdain.

Yet what sacrifice does he require? What do we need to present to him?

Only our broken and contrite hearts
He will not despise

Praise God!
love B

POV thanks and my holiday ramble

Hi folks
Just wanted to say thanks for all your advice on the "point of view question". I'm leaning towards 1st person- but I feel a bit more relaxed about it now- I'll just see how it goes and I can always change it. Thank you!

Unfortunately- despite lecture pads full of notes and picture for my story that I've stored up during the last few weeks of classes ;)- with exams fast approaching I don't know how much time I will have to actually write.

But oh, the holidays. In 3 lovely weeks I will be done with study for the year and will have one glorious month off in Melbourne. In some senses I'm a little nervous. It's been so long seen I've been down and seen everyone! Silly, I know.

But when I think of long walks around the paddocks in the Basin, watching Tim and Joel (his brother) fight over which Wii games are the best, seeing how much taller my little cousins have gotten, eating Mums amazing cooking, talking Gilmore girls and theology with Sandy, and seeing Tim's parents, Elise (sis-in-law), Joel (bro-in-law), Harry and Ange (their wonderful significant others), and whoever else decides to come over to the crazy world that is my parents-in-laws house! I can' wait to see my dear old church friends, and all my RMIT girls, and my relatives at the various Christmas parties we will be attending. I hope to reacquaint myself with the game of Cricket, to blog every second day, to talk and talk and talk with my dear husband, and to share 20 odd year old jokes with my Mum, Dad, and sister. I look forward to watching kids walk that I've never seen walk before, and sleeping in the room where I slept when I myself learnt how to walk.

I know it will be hard, and a little painful- knowing I am coming back for only a little bit, and that its still three more years up in Sydney. I know it will bring back lots of uncertainties about the future and what's going to happen. I know for some relationships it will be like we've never left and others like we've never met.

But I am still very, very excited.

Now, back to study...

love B

Exam in two hours

I've got an exam in two hours.

I'm petrified.

Tim keeps saying "You always stress"

I say "This is different"

Tim says "You always say that too"

It all stems from a warning we got on the second last day of term "The New Testament department is known for asking questions you wouldn't expect in exams". Now, for someone who likes to be extra prepared and know what I'm getting into that is profoundly disturbing.

But, if I look beyond my (probably unfounded) terror I have to say that this is probably the best way to do exams. Because rather than researching set topics or working out answers to questions that are "due to come up" this exam- I'm actually just reading and getting to know Mark, Ephesians, and 1 Peter. It may mean not as good a mark (!!!shock-horror!!!) but it's a good reminder that I'm not here for a two digit number printed on a transcript. I'm here to learn. I'm here to know God better. And I feel like that has happened. I'm amazed at the great cosmic plan of God- and inspired by what that should mean for Christian relationship (Eph). I'm challenged to remember that being the new people of God means being different and suffering- but knowing that it is only for a little while- and that "God himself will restore you and make you Strong, firm and steadfast" (1 Peter 5:10). And I once again stare up at the Cross of Christ- amazed that the one who made bread from nothing, walked on water, and had power over demons chose to die for me.

Wow- eternal perspective really helps with nerves ;)
love B

Mustard Seed

Dear friends,
So sorry I haven't been writing. Life has run away with me at the moment- not that I've been only doing work (far from it...hehe) but blogging has unfortunately been a little low on the priority list. I will do a post on Saturday- but here is my reflections on the last week.

I was very struck by a quote that a guy giving lectures at College said. He was speaking on the concept of repentance- very academically but also very truely. He was speaking about the Pharasis and I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. I am a Pharases at heart (a sin I constantly have to fight against)- a lover of man made rules who loves to feel like "a good person". The quote he said was from CS Lewis and it was something like "We all secretly think that God made a very wise decision in choosing us".

Ouch! That's so me! I often forget my own sin in the business of serving God (ironic) and start to think that God owes me something for my service. Last week was a week where I got reminded again what a sinner I am. And this week was a week when I got reminded of the amazing grace of God- that he loves me and that he sent his son to die for me- knowing me for the sinner I am.

Its funny how people view us. I've been struck lately at the amazing faith that many of my friends have, the way that they stand firm on the promises of God even when going through intense suffering and feeling like my faith is so small and so fickled in comparison (particularly in my responses to prayers that don't get answered). But then I think, I bet people look at me and think I have great faith! I wonder if others feel the same?

This week was a week where I really did feel that my faith was as small as a mustard seed. But praise God, that is enough. Praise God!

God is so good. He is so good in so many ways. How is it that we can repent and be forgiven- how is it that God would save us? It is hard to comprehend but so beautiful to think about.

Amazing Grace.
love B

Slacker Belinda and the home to come

Sorry I've been such a slacker with Blogging.

Back at College, there is much to do, and at the moment I can only really devote myself to two forms of writing at the time. At the moment Doctrine Assignment and fiction writing is my priority. But I will try to make sure I still writer here at least once a week-maybe more if you are lucky :)

This week has been a wonderful week of learning. I love doctrine. I'm so used to being confused and secretly ashamed of complicated doctrines like the Trinity or the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully Man. But something I've been reminded of has been that these aren't bad things, or even unexpected things. These are the realities of serving such a great God, so beyond anything we could find on earth. We try to find examples in our world to represent the trinity (eggs, water...I'm sure you could add many more). But nothing quite matches the intricacies and perfection of the glorious trinity. We pull apart how it works that Jesus is both God and man, and while we learn from the process, we ultimately end by bowing at his feet. This week has been a week where I have constantly been turning to Romans 11:33-36

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
That God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!
Amen

Its also been a time of missing Melbourne, but being reminded that Melbourne, earth is not my home. Heaven is my home. I will serve God so much better if I come to truly acknowledge that.
Anyway, that's my thoughts again for the week.
lots of love,
B

First day back

Oh its nice to be back.

I didn't think it would be. I'm still feeling a little down about leaving Melbourne and the previous week was so tiring that what seemed most appropriate to my mood was another holiday- not the beginning of a very full semester. But it was nice to be back.

I was excited to see the people I'd been looking forward to seeing. But there were many people who hadn't crossed my mind, and I had some really lovely "aha" moments of realising how much I appreciated them.

And studying? Well this week is going to be a busy week of work, and I realise it will take a while to get back into the lecture mindset (it was a morning of constantly telling myself- concentrate, concentrate!). But it is very very nice to sit down and listen to someone talking through the Bible in details, and I don't regret for a minute the relaxed manner of my break, even if it means more work now.

Challenge of the day from my classes? Do I have a living hope (from 1 Peter)? Do I live in a hopeful manner? Does the home of my inheritance that doesn't spoil or fade influence my heart. Definately my theology, mostly my decisions. But my heart? It did today. I pray it continues to.
B

Encouragement from the indigenous church

I am a real nerd.

I used to say that I was a real geek, but one of the first conversations I ever had with Tim was about the fact that I wasn't. Geeks are boys who play fantasy role playing games on their computers and own star wars figurines. Nerds are the ones who part their hair in the middle and love maths.

While I part my hair slightly to the side, and I enjoy maths only in moderation (not like my stats loving sister ;), I still think I classify as a nerd. Because I enjoy exams. I love the feeling of getting into to the room, the adrenalin rush that comes as you start writing madly, and that great feeling of relief that comes with the words "pens down". I also enjoy essay writing. The investigation, the time of discovery, seeing your ideas expressed, and best of all the art of the beautifully written concluding paragraph. Don't get me wrong. I am very, very glad to be on holidays. But as much as I procrastinate, when I sit down and actually do work, I love it.

Essays and Exams are heaps more fun now because I'm at Bible College and the process is not just intellectually fascinating but edifying. I know more about 1 Peter from writing an essay on it than I ever learnt from reading it, sitting in Bible studies on it, or hearing preaching of it. Not just knowing in the Western sense but knowing in that real, Biblical, experiential sense. It's a beautiful thing.

My latest essay was concerned with the history of the Aboriginal church, and most particularly how the missionary theories of Roland Allen (a Anglican minister and missionary from the turn of the last century) have impacted the situation here.

So much of the time, when I'm hearing news about the situation of Aboriginal people, its horrible, heart breaking news. What I hear on the news is always suffering. And what's more, the recent history of Indigenous Australia is so terrible. The killings, the attitude that said that this wasn't their land and they weren't even really human. It makes me sick, and it makes me sad. And it makes me sorry, because my ancestors were part of it.

But the blessing of this essay was that while my research showed me all these things, it also showed me so much more. Imperfect missionaries, who despite their mistakes worked so hard to save what was very much at the turn of the century a dying people. Indigenous Australians who heard the gospel and it transformed their lives. People who can't even really read English who nonetheless do their best to understand the one translation of the Bible they have. And most particularly, church communities that run things so differently to the communities that I have been apart of, but who are my brothers and sisters and share with me in the fellowship of the Spirit.

Please pray for the indigenous church. There are so many social issues within this community. But we know a God who can do immeasurably more than we can even imagine.
Belinda

Praying

Dear friends,
Recently I've been feeling a little helpless. I'm very aware that many people I care about are going through hard times. And there sometimes feels like there is nothing I can do. I am someone who likes doing things. Even if a situation is a wait and see situation, if there is something I can do about it, even if its only small, even if it might not make a difference, I want to do something. Sitting on my hands and waiting has never been my strong point. How hard it is when I know that if I was in the same state with people maybe I could at least do something to brighten their day, if I can't actually fix the problem.

But of course, this attitude is all wrong. Because I can pray. Praying, and placing it into the arms of our dear loving father is the best thing that I can do. Its funny how it doesn't always feel that way.

I remember a situation when I was at Monash CU. I met a girl during O-week who had grown up in a Christian home, but wasn't a Christian herself and who had been thinking about the gospel. We had a great chat, and I was really excited about the prospect of meeting with her to talk about Jesus. A week later I called on the number she left me. She had moved, and the relative I spoke to refused to give me her new number. She never turned up again, and I despaired because she needed to hear the gospel. I felt so helpless. So I prayed. For six months I prayed. After six months I bumped into her. Through a church she had joined she had become a Christian and she was so excited to share this with me. And I was reminded again that prayer is not a last resort. Its the most helpful, powerful thing we can do.

So dear friends, know that though I am far away and I can't always serve you in a physical sense, I am praying for you. And please pray for me. I need all the help God can give me to trust him, both with you and with my own circumstances and uncertain future.
love B
PS For the Sydney-siders reading- I am praying for you too, and I am thankful that I can help you in other, less crucial, but still important ways!

Who, Who, Who?

This week has been a real week of missing Melbourne, of feeling the pull of being out of the lives of people I care about, of longing and praying for family. It has also been a week of watching different people I care about struggled with all kinds of grief and suffering. Its been a week of asking lots of questions to God.

But its also been a week where nothing has felt academic. Where the simple truths of doctrine have come alive: God is a God who does not change, who can't be manipulated by man, that humans very humanity is wrapped up in the God who created them in his image. Where sermons have been real and raw: That God's sovereignty is a blessing because who else would I want to control my life, that we have assurance in Christ, that familiarity with what God is like he should transform our lives. It is a week where Church history has inspired and challenged, where questions have been solved about how best to understand God's word, and where Greek has felt like unwrapping a present rather than solving an equation.

It is a week where questions of why, why, why have been turned on their head. Because its not why, why, why- those questions are not answered until heaven. But it is a question of who, who, who and the answer is Jesus.

And it is a week where I have once again concluded that I have the best husband in the whole-wide-world. A husband who comforts and cares and loves and supports. But most importantly- a husband who always turns my head back to the cross and saviour. When I look at all the uncertainty of life and say: "I'm not strong enough" his answer is not "Yes you are", but "None of us are, but God is".

"The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ?
Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them."
Psalm 89:5-9

The Cross

Hi Friends,
I am not having the best of weeks. Just one of those weeks, not that different from the week before, but one where I feel overwhelmed with study, my own sin and my prayers not being answered. God has come through in so many ways this week and yet...I am so glad this week is over.

But today was also the day when me and my friend Jen got to dramatically tell the Crucifixion story. Jen was in tears during her bit- she choked up as she spoke of Pilot who had Jesus crucified purely out of fear of the crowds. And I told of the actual crucifixion. I choked up as I spoke of Jesus breathing his last: him, my God and my king, my saviour and my friend. My perfect, perfect God- and they murdered him like a criminal. It was such an amazing opportunity- and it changed me. And I looked back over my yucky, yucky week and I thought- Jesus died for me. And it was still a bad week, but it was bearable.
His grace is sufficient for me

Look, he is calling for Ellijah!

I peak forward wearily at a massive week of work to be done.

But there is one thing that I have to do that I am very excited by. Our Gospel of Mark lecturer each week gets someone from the class to "story-tell" a part of Marks gospel. And this week, myself and another girl Jen from the class will be combining to 'perform' Mark 15

This has meant that over the last month I have been memorising the crucifixion scene from Mark's perspective. This is an amazing resource to have stored in my brain- think of the benefit of evangelism! But thinking it through and working out how best to express it has thrown me head-long into the text- and I wanted to share some of my findings.

The whole scene is dripping with hidden meaning that those who participate in it (besides Jesus) are oblivious too. The mocking and the death that Jesus previously described was going to happen is seen as a failer by one and all.
Those passing by say:
"So, you would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, come down from that cross and save yourself"
They don't realise that the temple he was talking about was his body- which that the moment was being destroyed
The Chief priest and teachers say:
"He saved others, but he can't even save himself"
Yet it is by staying on that cross that Jesus is able to save people from their sins.

But one aspect of the passage that puzzled me for a while is the curious word mix-up that occurs when Jesus cries out (in Aramaic) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me".

The people around think he is calling for Elijah (whose name is similar to the word God)- and wait to see if Elijah will come and take him down (from the cross). There is this high point of expectation that Elijah will come to save him - then suddenly Jesus cries out and dies.

As I practiced saying this- I wondered at the movement. The whole of the gospel has been working its way towards the point of this death- and then there is this strange interruption that ends up leaving the death as almost an anti-climax?

But the more I thought about it- the more I realised that by including this aspect of the crucifixion- Mark helps to put us into the shoes of those who were there. They had perhaps heard Jesus, saw his miracles, and heard or believed that he could be the King they had been waiting for. They were puzzling why someone who appeared to have such power would let himself be crucified. They mock or hear others mocking and wonder- why won't he save himself?

Then- as they hear him cry- rather than understanding the meaning of the scripture he quotes (that he is at that moment experiencing the wrath of God over the worlds sin)- they assume this must be the last ditch effort to escape. He cries for Elijah- and surely if he is really God's Messiah Elijah will come and rescue him?

And then he dies. We are left, like those there, to wonder how things could have turned out like this, to assume because Elijah didn't come- that Jesus is in fact a failer.

But Mark doesn't leave it there. The curtain in the temple is torn in two-showing that his death has made a way for people to be in the presence of God. And a centurion, a Gentile- sees the way he died and realised what all those there (laughing at his failer) should have known: "Surely this man was the Son of God".

Praise God that Jesus didn't get down from that cross and save himself. Praise God that in this moment of apparent weakness and failer-that Christ was paying for our own.

I encourage whoever reads this to get out there Bible and read Mark's account. Sit with me at the foot of the cross- be there at that moment of greatest shame and purest glory.

"Oh what a mystery
Meakness and majesty
Bow down and worship
For this is your God
This is your God"

Cousin Mary and the Emphatic future negative

This weekend, my cousin Mary died. She is actually my Grandfathers Cousin, but she is alot closer to my family than that particular title would suggest. With no children of her own- my Mum and her sisters have been very dear to her, and she has been part of Sandy and my life as long as I can remember. My first memory of her was while doing a school project on my family tree- and sitting for hours and hours with Mary as she shared the details of our carefully researched family history- one of the passions of her life.

It is a sad and happy time, because Mary was a devoted Christian. She was one of the most supportive of all our relatives of Tim and my decision to go into ministry- and her kind words of affirmation stired us on in that difficult process. It is great to know that she is with Jesus.

Today in Greek we were looking at a concept of the technically named Emphatic future negative. It is a method of expression in Greek to talk about something that will never happen in the future. But the expression "it will never happen" doesn't really capture the force of it. A better way is to say "It will definately not happen" or even better "It will never ever happen". It is a concret promise of what has no possibility of ever happening.

So, with dear cousin Mary in mind- how exciting it was today to read the words of Jesus in John- that use this emphatic future negative:

"...and anyone would comes to be I will never ever drive away" John 6:37

"The one who follows me will never ever walk in darkness, but have the light of life" John 8:12

Isn't that so cool! Mary has died, but she has the light of life, and will never ever walk in darkness!

Crusades

Today was a sad day.

As a Christian, I love to think that Christians- due to the Spirit in their lives and their wonderful privilege of knowing their great God as father- are more loving than the rest of the world. And my theology and my experience would say that in some senses they are. But today we looked at the crusades in my "History of Christian Mission" subject- and I had to face the fact that my brothers and sisters in Christ in the past made a stupid, evil mistake. I am not even assuming that all crusaders were Christians- but I think it is fair to say that at least some involved in the process were.

The killing of the Jews along the way. The threat of death to those conquered unless they were baptised. The lack of any real compassion or love for the Muslims they were attacking. Conquering and conquest under the pretence of redemption. Pure and simple racism flying behind a banner that contained the cross of my saviour.

It is heart breaking. It is sin. It is remarkable that Christ died for those misguided crusaders. It is remarkable that he died for me.

Praise the Lord for his grace- let us pray that our Jewish and Muslim neighbours would see love through Christian witness, and know that grace through Christ.

Papyrus

The theme of this week at College seems to be archeology. As we study the Old Testament, as we move (relatively quickly) through our overview of the books and sections of the Bible, we pause momentarily at various points to put what we are learning in its historical context. Much of this involves thinking about archaeology and what place it has in coming to understand the Bible. Some people find it a bit boring- but I love it! It is amazing to think about God, working in and through history to enact his purposes. Its helpful to think about what archeology can and can't prove (it doesn't-reasonably enough- always seem to want to answer the questions we want to ask)- and yet the little evidence mixed in with the Biblical account gives me comfort that God's word truly describes what happens.

But the most interesting archaeological discovery I had this week was in a lecture about Papyrus. You see, for many, many years- there was a lot of mystery as to how to understand many words in the Greek New Testament (around 760!) that only ever appeared in the Bible. People would try to work it out from context and from earlier translations- but this process was fraught with error. People even talked about "New Testament Greek" like it was a language all of its own that couldn't be compared to anything.

One of the problems was that the writings of New Testament days often did not last because the paper would rot away from connection with water- either rain or flooding depending where it was found.

But in Egypt there was a town by the name of Oxyrhynchus. Oxyrhynchus got its water from a canal off the Nile- and so unlike the rest of Egypt it was not subject to flooding. And being in the dessert- they never got any rain. So when the people of Oxyrhynchus dug holes in the dessert sand and buried their papyrus documents (everything from bills to religious documents)- 2000 years later archaeologists were able to find it completely in-tact!

The Oldest copy of a part of the New Testament was found in Oxyrhynchus- a section of the gospel of John that appears to be copied with decades of John penning the original! And those 760 Greek words that were only found in the New Testament were almost all found in the Oxyrhynchus documents- so that we can now have an even better understanding of what the writers of the New Testament meant when they used certain words- and can be more confident that our translations are correct.

Archeology doesn't seem to always answer the questions that we want to ask- and sometimes can be frustrating. But this week was a real reminder that God is in control of all of it- and provides for his people.

Inclusivism

Back at College today!
It was very nice to be back, catching up on what people have been doing and learning some more. Poor Tim was sick today so he had a day sleeping at home. Please keep him in your prayers- sickness doesn't agree with him and he'd love to be at College.

One of the more fun subjects I've been doing at College (all subjects are good, but you can't for example classify Greek as fun...) is World Religions and the Gospel. The title is pretty self explanitory. Over the next two terms we will be looking at Buddhism and Islam and a Christian response- but over the previous term we've looked more generally at what is the gospel and what kind of framework do we go about thinking about other religions.

Today we were talking about Inclusivism. Perhaps the best way to first define it is to say what it is not. It is not Pluralism, which says that all religions are the same and every Religion leads to God. Inclusivism generally says that Jesus is the way that people are saved. However, it is not necessary to know the gospel to be saved- other people are included. Depending on the line you take, that can be particular subgroups of people- it might be those who haven't heard the gospel, those who are devoted in their own religion, those who are good, or even everyone.

I found this particular lesson facinating because I've always had a secret sympathy for inclusivism. I love it when I see people become Christians but for everyone who accepts the gospel, you usually see a fair few who reject it. It does seem hard that I get access to the Kingdom and others who just happened to be born in a different time/place don't.

But there are a few things that I found particularly helpful today. The first was to do with the usual argument that undercurrents this view- that if God is fair then he must save those who haven't heard. But underpinning that argument is the idea that we have the right to tell God what is fair and what is not. What God does say is that he is just, that people who trust in Jesus are saved and others are not, and it is all under his divine control. To then try to twist God around to say something else that we feel better about is to create our own god. Rather we should pray that God helps us to trust him and his faithfulness and justice and to worship him for who he is not what we want him to be.

The second point that I found helpful is what I need to be reminded always, that as humans, particularly in his time where it is so shoved to the background- we down play the seriousness of sin. Do I deserve to go to hell? Yes. Why won't I go there? Because of Gods mercy and grace and justice in his son. Sin is deserving of judgement. So no one is "lost through no fault of their own". Rather "no one is saved through their own merit".

A hard lesson but a helpful one!

Our priveleged position

I'm fighting off a headache after one of my most productive days studying (yeah!) but I really wanted to share with you about the joy of diving head first into the world of first Peter. But before I do that I thought I should let you know about how I will be designating my different posts. I will label life in Sydney related things "slice of life", ministry related things "ministry" (couldn't think up an exciting title), there will be a few random titles. But anything to do with what I'm learning at College I will label "Holy ground".

The reason for this is not because Moore itself is a holy place (its not- its just a building, and an ugly one at that!). But if you look at the bottom of my blog you will see one of my motos for study by Warfield. It talks about the honor of looking at God's word and warns students to take their shoes off on this holy ground (in reference to Moses taking his shoes off at the burning bush). And as a way of reminding myself (and whoever reads this) that the Bible is holy ground- I will be titling God's word related posts and such.

Its funny what bits of writing an essay I enjoy. I love the priliminary reading of the Bible in preparation, hate reading the other sources (boring!) and love the actually writing down of what I've found. I've looked at 1 Peter many times before- but I don't think I've ever gotten into it to the same extent as in the last month. My question topic is "Discuss the contribution of the Old Testament to the message of One Peter". Which might sound a bit dry- but oh it was wonderful.

1 Peter is a very pastoral book- in the sense that there is so much advice on how to live- and particularly how to cope with suffering and trials. But for every command their is a theological reason behind it- often coming directly from the Old Testament. For example- we are to act humbly towards each other because (quoting from Proverbs 3:34) "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"

But the piece of one Peter that brings me to tears is that beautiful summary in 1 Peter 2:9-10 of our new position in God
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (sounds alot like Israels position as God's "treasured posessions"), that you may decleare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are a people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy"

This in and of itself is balm to our souls- to have this amazing role from the creator of the Universe. Particularly the change that we have from not being a people to being a people of God, and to now receiving mercy. But when you think about the Old Testament context it is even greater. You see the book of Hosea talks of Israels role as a wife to God- and their blatent rejection of his to go after worthless ideals- like a wife prostituting herself to someone- despite her husbands goodness. And God gets Hosea to name his children lovely names like "Not my people", and "unloved"- because this is the punishment of Israel- that it looses its great position as God's special people. How just and how devistating! But Hosea offers hope through God's amazing love:

"How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath. Hosea 11:8-9

God choses to show mercy, and "In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people', they will be called 'sons of the living God'" (Hosea 1:10).

And if that was God's grace to his people- how much more amazing is it- that we, who are not Israelites- actually get to be his people! It is an incredible position! And doesn't that help you when you think of the trials you are facing.

God is good, and its great to do an essay that impacts my Christian life as well as my head and my final marks ;)
God bless,
B

Picture of my life

(The picture is my (fake) reaction to seeing the place we live- notice the nice street)

Hmmm...what is my life like now?

The first thing that comes to mind is the hours. We have classes most days at 8:05am. Its pretty funny- Tim and I are going to bed at the same time...we haven't really done that regularly since we started working at RMIT! And when we have friends from College round for dinner on a week night- they always look at their watches at 9:30pm and say "It's getting late, we better go!". It took me the first few times not to get offended that they thought we were boring!

Tim and I live in Stanmore- on a sweet leafy street on the very edges of urbania. 10 minutes down the road is every ethnic restaurant you could possibly imagine and some very funky looking shops. About 15 minutes down the road you can't find a hairdressers that doesn't offer pink Mohawks or dreads as their speciality!

We walk to College each day together which is really lovely- though to be honest sometimes we are still waking up so we don't talk much! If I'm organised I'll bring out some Greek vocab cards to practice on the way(its probably happened 5 times...). Its a half an hour walk which is just about the perfect distance. The highlight is the walk through the dog park in Newtown. There is all manner of dogs- and owners! The dog collars aren't always on the dogs- and clearly some of the Newtown hairdressers are happy to cross species- with one dog whose got most of his body shaved and dyed pink ears ;)

College is pretty full on. Its from 8:05 to 1pm straight classes most days- with a short morning tea and occasional chapels. But oh the subject matter! A few people had said to me how much I would enjoy studying- and I definitely thought I would- but it really has exceeded my expectations. I feel like a kid in a candy shop- and I'm getting a bit of a reputation for my over-exuberance! I've always enjoyed studying- learning and thinking and reading. But to have it be studying the Bible and God... To be learning from so many learned men- and to realise that they aren't just learned but they care enough to be friendly to a little first year who still getting her head around things. You will hear many, many things I am sure that I am learning- and it feels like it isn't just my head that is being filled- it's my heart as well.

I've had a few struggles from being here. I'm struggling to work out how to be godly in a new environment. I'm probably one of the more 'academic' women at College- so i have to work not to discourage people who are finding hard by my excitement. But I am definitely not the most academic at College. There are people who have already done language study- people who have already read half the set reading list- people who it seems have spent the last five years of their life in preparation for being here. I remember one day in Greek week where I didn't understand the questions during question time- much less the answers! And me in my stupid, arrogant pride want to be among them, and I feel this competitive drive taking over. I even justify it to myself by seeing myself as a champion out to prove that women can be academic Bible genius's too! Tim's been a great blessing at reminding me why I'm here, and bringing me back down to earth and God's point of view. And the Bible and the study has been doing its work- reminding me over and over that it is by grace (not marks or intelligent questions) that I am loved by my great and good Father in Heaven. Silly, silly Belinda- and Great, Great God! We were given an assignment (which you will hear about alot I'm sure ;) to read a series of Essays about right attitudes you should have in ministry. One guy summarised an article like this "Theological Students get their heads full of stuff and become jerks, this is what kind of jerk you will turn into, jerks don't make good ministers, so don't be a jerk!". It was a very heart changing assignment for me. My motto for the rest of the year is this quote from a guy at College called Brian Rosner "God's activity cannot be judged from a higher vantage point"

Greek has been my blessing and nightmare. Nightmare because for the first time since high school (and bits of my old jobs) I am being forced to work at something that I'm really not very naturally good at. My low point was having to hold back tears in translation group (where you meet with 4 people with your class to translate together a section of Mark's Gospel) when I had had mistake after mistake corrected and couldn't even get my head around why. I was sharing prayer points with a girl at College Mel and she commented that my expectation of myself were way to high, and I think she is right. But it has been my blessing because it has kept me grounded and reminded me that I don't have to be good at everything. Please pray, Greek is such a confidence thing (when I'm confident I can do it, when I loose faith in myself everything seems impossible)- and I really want to learn. But also pray that I want to learn for the sake of my teaching and not for the sake of % scores at the end of the year.

But of course missing Melbourne has been a real struggle. Easter was the hardest as I thought about family and friends and what they might be doing without us (particularly with our good friends Wally and Steph having their daughter Eliza baptized that weekend and not being there for that). And while God has been very kind in providing us with fun, friendly people to get to know- the relationships are still at very early stages and occasionally I get overwhelmed with the wish to talk to someone who knows me well and my issues. I feel sometimes like I paint a false picture of myself at College because I don't know people well enough to show them sad Belinda- so all they see is excitable, happy, psycho-academic Belinda! But God will provide in time! And I am much more aware of how good I had it in Melbourne- how wonderful you all are, and just how much in four years I want to come back and serve and be with you all again! Praise God for you my friends!

Then after College I come home (usually not at the same time as Tim) and I read, read, read. I'm so thankful that I'm a fast reader because there is so much to do. We try to fit in relaxing time, date time, social time, and church time- and so far that's been good- though I suspect we will have to work not to let those four things slide. Tim is finding study alot easier than he thought which is an answer to prayer- and he beats me in Greek no problems ;)

And every so often we go out- and we go to the harbour or Manly, or Bondi and I think "I can't believe I'm finally here". This move has been a long time coming and miss Melbourne as I do- It really is the place for us at present- and there are many good things as well as the hard.

And at the end of the day (before 11 if we are good) we go to bed and go to sleep...at least we did most nights- excluding the night where I was woken up by a cockroach on my head!!!!!!!!! I think that was the point when Tim and I decided definitely, finally, certainly that come four years time we are going back to Melbourne!

Praise God,
lots of love
B