Term 1: Under the spotlight ...

Well, it has been quite a while since I posted (two whole months!). There are good reasons for this ... I've been busy with college life. Here are some of the highlights ...

Hebrew ...
Along with Greek is one of my favourite subjects; often wish that the Masoretic priests were a little more imaginative when they added vowels to the text; discovering that gel pens are the best invention for writing Hebrew.

Greek ...
Translating Mark's gospel and finding interesting things in the text; flows with our New Testament lectures (we're doing Mark, then we start Romans next semester).

Mission Foundations ...
Looking at a definition of mission; how evangelism relates to works of compassion; hearing more about social justice and how Christians should be involved.

Doctrine ...
Understanding the knowledge of God, the trinity and how God speaks; has helped me think through the reliability of the Bible and the idea of extra-biblical revelation (languages has helped with this as well - the fact that the text of the Bible is accessible, tangible and historically reliable is a fantastic provision of God).

Assignments ...
1) Comparing what Josephus (a Jewish historian) and the gospels record about John the Baptist. While some bits are the same the big thing that Josephus misses is that John is the promised forerunner to Israel's expected Messiah and that's pretty important!

2) Who is Paul speaking to in Romans 2:1-5? A details question so I liked it alot. There were two main issues here: Jews or Gentiles? Real or hypothetical? I concluded Paul was speaking to Gentiles and Jews who were a part of the Roman Christian community (because they had experienced the kindness of God) and who were judging those in Romans 1 while doing the same things themselves. I didn't find anyone with the same opinion. Trials for heretics don't begin until second year so I'm safe until then!*

Best effort at procrastinating so far ...
Spending 2 hours on the internet searching for origami patterns the Tuesday before my Greek exam.

Other highlights ...

• being involved in speaking at Da Vinci Code night and leading a women’s Bible study group through an overview of the Bible on college mission
• chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I’m being challenged about how to apply God’s word to my life by fellow students
• cooking the infamous Chunky Chocolate Cookies for some college friends on Friday
• watching Qld win the first State of Origin match with a bunch of NSWers
• great Thai food, great live music (at The Vanguard), good coffee shops, great times card making and cross stitching ...

* Note: this doesn't actually happen!

Becoming famous ...

It's not The Courier Mail (or even the Sydney alternative) but I was recently interviewed for a "newspaper". I was among a few people who got interviewed this time 'round for the MooreWomen magazine Magnolia. Here's what I said ...

Current church ...
St Thomas’ Anglican Church, North Sydney

Home church ...
Sunday Night Open House (SNOH), a part of the Ann St Presbyterian Church, Brisbane

Currently reading ...
Selected Poetry of John Keats, and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs are among a few that I’m reading at the moment.

Favourite way to spend a Saturday night ...
Eating good Thai food with a small group of close friends while listening to a live band (preferably folk/jazz/alternative music).

Shows you’re watching on TV ...
If I get a chance it’s The Iron Chef or CSI (the original, not one of the spin-offs).

Sound you never want to hear again ...
My Dad and brother rejecting Christ.

Favourite place in Sydney ...
I don’t think I’ve been in Sydney long enough to find a favourite spot!

What’s in your CD player?
Life Sux by FAQ (a local Brisbane band made up of good friends … not sure if that title is appropriate at college, is it?).

Talent you wish you had ...
Singing because apparently all musos should be able to sing!

Favourite way to unwind ...
Walking on the beach or listening to music.

Favourite holiday destination ...
Tygalgah (a friend’s family farm near Murwullimbah) or Brunswick Heads, both in northern NSW.

Ideal ministry you’d like to be involved with ...
Teaching, encouraging and equipping for ministry women in Brisbane (or Fiji or … ).

On your birthday wish-list ...
A surprise, something unexpected whether it be a gift or a visit or an SMS!

How would you spend your last $5?
A good cup of chai tea (or two!)

Too much romance?

Okay, so you're ears have probably pricked up and you're thinking that I've come to college and have been swept off my feet by too much romance. (After all, it is called "bridal college".) Well, I think you'll be a little disappointed.

Instead I have turned my thoughts, in between learning Greek verb paradigms, to church music and the makings of a good song. Alas, I don't have a thesis-style paper written on it yet but something may be put together one day. At the moment I just have random thoughts and ideas which were inspired by looking through Songs of Fellowship Volume 3 for church.

As evangelicals we have gained a reputation for lacking emotion and, in some ways, that claim is true. We pride ourselves on having songs full of "theological meat" and there's a contrast made between those songs and the "Jesus is your boyfriend" style of songs. The "other" style is almost taboo and dare not be played (or even hummed) within a 5-mile radius of an evangelical building.

However, there are times when I will proudly wear the tag "unemotional" (at least in that respect) with regard to church music. Here's an example ...

I need you like the summer needs the sun.
I need you to walk and to run.
I need you like a river needs the rain.
I need you to fill me again.
Without you I run dry.
Without you I won't even survive.

So wake me, take me with you,
Chase me where your river runs,
Romance me till my heart belongs to you.
Oh draw me, closer to you,
Lead me in your ways,
Enchant me 'cause my life belongs to you.

I need you like the stars need the sky.
I need you to help me to shine.
I need you like a singer needs a song.
I need you, to carry on.
Without you, I run dry.
Without you , I won't even survive.

So wake me, take me with you,
Chase me where your river runs,
Romance me till my heart belongs to you.
Oh draw me, closer to you,
Lead me in your ways,
Enchant me 'cause my life belongs to you.

Embrace me, let me feel your strength,
Hide me in your shade.
Your my shelter in the rain.

So wake me, take me with you,
Chase me where your river runs,
Romance me till my heart belongs to you.
Oh draw me, closer to you,
Lead me in your ways,
Enchant me 'cause my life belongs to you.*

This is one of a couple of song that I found "interesting" in Songs of Fellowship Volume 3. Not to say anything negative about the songwriter - the lyrics are good and the music is good - but have we lost the plot a bit when it comes to church music? Have we lost the ability to write church music that conveys the appropriate fear and reverence towards God without being old and stayed?

It didn't come as much of a surprise when I saw a large number of songs in the book about "me" rather than about God. Songs about what I've done, what I will do, what I am becoming, and how I feel about God outnumber the songs about what God has done, what God will do, what God is making me and how God views us.

However, despite this, I did find some pure gems. Here's an example ...

No scenes of stately majesty
For the King of kings.
No nights aglow with candle flame
For the King of love.
No flags of empire bung in shame for Calvary.
No flow'rs perfumed the lonely way
That led Him to a borrowed
tomb for Easter Day.

No wreaths upon the ground were laid
For the King of kings.
Only a crown of thorns remained
Where He gave His love.
A message scrawled in irony -
King of the Jews -
Lay trampled where they turned away,
And no one knew that it was the first Easter Day.

Yet nature's finest colours blaze
For the King of kings.
And stars in jewelled clusters say
'Worship heaven's King.'
Two thousand springtimes more have bloomed -
Is that enough?
O how can I be satisfied until He hears
The whole world sing of Easter love.

My prayers shall be a fragrance sweet
For the King of kings.
My love the flowers at His feet
For the King of love.
My vigil is to watch and pray until He comes;
My highest tribute to obey and live to know
The power of that first Easter Day.

I long for scenes of majesty
For the risen King.
For nights aglow with candle flame
For the King of love.
A nation hushed upon its knees at Calvary,
Where all our sins and griefs were nailed
And hope was born of everlasting Easter Day.**

What a stark difference between the two? Let's recapture church music that's about God and that gives to Him the honour, fear and reverence that's due.

* I Need You (Romance Me) by Paul Oakley & Martin Cooper.
** No Scenes Of Stately Majesty by Graham Kendrick.