The 16000 word draft is completed. done. finished. finishimo. well, at least the *draft* is; August will see me making it pretty–hopefully I won’t have major revisions to do, you know reading 10 more books I *obviously* overlooked. 
We’re going to go play up in the NW of Scotland for a few days and I’m bringing a FUN book to read. Have a good week everybody!
I’m taking sign-ups for anyone who’d like to read my dissertation before I turn it in. I’d like comments so I know what to change, or what doesn’t make sense, etc. I know I’m likely to have an onslaught of people eager to read my dissertation, so that’s why I figured I’d take sign-ups. Let me know by commenting below. (Let’s just hope I get at least one person to sign up). I aim to have it done by Tuesday; it’s due on 10 September.
Also, just another reminder for anyone who is interested in joining the book group but hasn’t yet. We’re starting in another week or two and reading Wallace Stegner’s _Angle of Repose_. You can sign up below if you’d like!
Click here to join Ashley's book clubSpending the whole day at the library can be productive:
1) Super fast internet connection allows a minimalisation of internet procrastination time
2) flourescent lights and otherwise sterile environment in the “student cafe” minimises time to eat/scarf down food
3) Not being allowed to drink a Coke in the library, means a quicker consumption (and burning off of?) excess calories, as well as a faster dose of caffeine
4) elevators installed means I don’t have to huff it up 4 flights of stairs if I don’t want to
5) better chairs than the one we have at home = better for my back
6) silence is golden
7) can’t just ramble around the house as procrastination technique; I’d look a bit nutso at the library, “of course there’s nothing wrong with that”.
My dissertation is now at 10,000 words. Woot! 5,000 to go!
I like lists of late.
Yeah, that’s what I’m calling this post…Yo!
Thanks to Carolyn’s generosity, I got to eat a bunch of cherries today. I haven’t had cherries in a really long time?at least since we left the States. Thanks Carolyn!
In other news…I’m preaching this Sunday on the first half of John 3. I spent about an hour and a half this evening translating the passage into English from the Greek, which gives me a great deal of satisfaction (read: strokes my pride). It also reminded me of something I had previously observed: English translations are very good. My translation from the Greek is probably slightly more accurate in following the structure of Greek grammar than the ESV, but there is absolutely no discernable difference in meaning. In fact, in my (somewhat limited) study of New Testament Greek I have come across only 2 instances in which reading the Greek would render a meaning different than what is available in a good English translation. So what does this mean to you, the average churchgoer? Not much, probably. But if I could make one suggestion based on my observations, it would be this: be highly sceptical of any preacher who consistently refers to Greek grammar and/or vocabulary from the pulpit. The Bible is clear and accessible to all believers, not just the “professionals.” Even when knowledge of the original languages does provide a nuanced understanding that is not perceptible in translation, this is best communicated without giving a grammar lesson.
Finally, let me leave you with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther. Commenting on God?s grace and the doctrine of predestination, Luther wrote:
Therefore, it is not irreverent, inquisitive, or trivial, but helpful and necessary for a Christian, to find out whether the will does anything or nothing in matters pertaining to eternal salvation?.If we do not know these things, we shall know nothing at all of things Christian and shall be worse than any heathen?.Therefore, let anyone who does not feel this confess that he is no Christian. For if I am ignorant of what, how far, and how much I can and may do in relation to God, it will be equally uncertain and unknown to me what, how far, and how much God can and may do in me?.But when the works and power of God are unknown in this way, I cannot worship, praise, thank, and serve God, since I do not know how much I ought to attribute to myself and how much to God. It therefore behooves us to be very certain about the distinction between God?s power and our own, God?s work and our own, if we want to live a godly life.
I wish…
–I could read more books for fun. I hope to do that soon–maybe some in August.
–I wanted to read my Bible more.
–I were super adventurous sometimes.
–we had a whole gang of friends to have a BBQ with.
–that one could magically lose weight, instead of counting calories.
–that I found it invigorating to get up at 7, or even 8 a.m.
–that friends back home would come and visit.
–that I got a kick out of exercising.
–that I didn’t have an asthmatic cough.
–that Scotland were a bit warmer in the summer.
I’m thankful…
–for Jesus
–for somewhere to live.
–for my husband.
–for food to eat (and yummy food!) everyday.
–for a great church, both here and at home
–that we may get to go home in January.
–that I can discuss faith with my good friends.
–for music
–for good books
–for good movies to take my mind off said dissertation
–to live in an amazingly beautiful, historic place
–for a great PhD supervisor who’s interested in helping me
–for at least 1 computer that works
–for sandals and toe nail polish
–for my fun new hair colour: dark auburn.
Three of my friends are getting married today!
Dawn Wedlake, of Santa Barbara, CA, is marrying Brian Davenport. I met her at Westmont. She first had a crush on Brian at church (I think the offer of a motorcycle ride was the real clincher).
Michelle Begg, of Ohio, is marrying Nate Clemenson. They grew up together and recently fell in love. Her dad’s Scottish (the preacher, Alistair Begg) and so we hope they’ll jump the pond for a visit to us soon. Michelle witnessed my engagement and was one of my bridesmaids.
Mandy Posey, of Jonesboro, AR, is one of my cousins (2nd, third, once removed, I have no clue) and is the only Christian in her immediate family. She’s marrying Chad Mary. Mandy and I have recently gotten to know one another again by email.
Things I did today (not sure they’re particular ‘typical’ things in ‘a day in the life of a grad student’):
–got up earlier than normal (8 am)
–read some at home
–ate granola
–ate couscous and tuna (not together; not to worry)
–stayed home so 2 gas repair men could come and fix/check our boiler
–called the Uni accommodation service to check about repairs…again
–went to the library
–sat at library taking notes for a few hours
–tried to figure out how to get loans for next year
–met another grad student over coffee to discuss research
–came home for dinner that Bryce made (nachos!)
–painted at church
–had tea/biscuits at church
–read people’s blogs and checked email
–took another shower to get paint off
–went to sleep after reading with Bryce
Good day, and productive too (productivity is not always the norm!).
…about a place where you’re wearing your UGGs in July (especially if that place isn’t in the southern hemisphere).
Here’s an interesting article from byFaith. Any thoughts?
How did you select your church?
I have asked a number of people this question over the past few years and have received a wide variety of responses. For many people, music style seems to be very important. For others, solid fellowship is the number one priority. The more intellectual types usually stress sound doctrine.
But rarely does anyone give an answer that is even remotely along the following lines: ?I attend my church because it embodies the fullness of Jesus Christ, ministering in word and deed to the whole person just as he did.? Yet, this is the type of answer that many of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation would have given.
John Calvin: ??there must be deacons who care for the poor.?
For example, most people are aware of John Calvin?s profound theological contributions, but few are aware that he was instrumental in reviving the role of the deacons in developing an organized program for meeting the temporal needs of the poor. Among other things, Calvin?s deacons provided housing and emergency assistance to the poor; they ensured that the local hospital was helping all people regardless of their ability to pay; they assisted people with financial planning; they paid for the education of those who could not afford it; they provided job re-training for those who were out of work; and they offered loans and technical assistance to low-income persons so that they could start their own businesses.
When was the last time that you encountered a board of deacons like that?
For Calvin, none of this was optional. Rather, it was what the scriptures mandated. Calvin went so far as to say: ?Do we want to show that there is reformation among us? We must begin at this point, that is, there must be pastors who bare purely the doctrine of salvation, and then deacons who have care for the poor.?
Similarly, when John Knox, the great reformer, founded the Reformed Church of Scotland in the sixteenth century, he instituted a holistic approach to poverty in which local congregations cared for both the spiritual and temporal needs of all the inhabitants in their parish.
Unfortunately, the Reformed Church of Scotland?s concern for the poor gradually disappeared until Thomas Chalmers revived it in the Nineteenth Century. Chalmers divided the parish of his congregation into quarters, with each quarter being cared for by a ministry team consisting of an elder, a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, and a lay evangelist. The poor were provided with the gospel, education for their children, emergency relief, and assistance with finding employment. As a result of all Chalmers? efforts, a more holistic approach to ministry was revived in the Reformed Church of Scotland.
Finding the balance between word and deed
Like Thomas Chalmers, we live in an age in which the church has failed to keep a proper balance between the word and deed aspects of its ministry. Indeed, one could argue that most churches often decide to do one or the other. But anything short of a full-fledged, integrated, word and deed ministry fails to fulfill the mandate that Christ has given to his church.
Unfortunately, for much of the twentieth century, the evangelical church retreated from social concern, defining its task more narrowly. As a result, it is not prepared to accomplish its God-ordained mission. Let me illustrate with an example?a contrast, really?of two churches which, in principle, ought to be very similar. They hold to the same doctrinal positions on all the hot-button theological issues: the inerrancy of scripture, predestination, eternal security, infant baptism, covenantal theology, eschatology, and even the form of government. In fact, they hold to virtually the same creeds dating back to the time of the Reformation. Yet, from God?s perspective, these two churches are as different as night and day.
The first is a U.S. mega-church with property valued in the tens of millions of dollars. Sprawling, beautifully landscaped lawns surround its stately buildings. The weekly bulletin is as thicker than many magazines, detailing the events that will be held for the church members during the upcoming week. And what a line-up it is. All the evangelical superstars perform here: contemporary Christian musicians, born-again athletes, best-selling Christian authors, and the greatest theologians of our century. The church is known for its concern for doctrinal purity, often hosting conferences in which the finest scholars debate the intricacies of the original languages.
Not far from this mega church is a ghetto. Recently, some black folks from the ghetto tried to attend this mega-church but were turned away at the door. Upon further review, the leadership of the church determined to take measures to discourage black folks from ever attempting this again. It is likely that you have heard of this church. God has too. In fact, He has His own name for this type of church: ?Sodom and Gomorrah.?
Isaiah 1:10 10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “The multitude of your sacrifices- what are they to me?” says the LORD . “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats?17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Ezekiel 16:49 ” ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
The second church is one nobody has ever heard about. Located in a squatter community in Manila, the Philippines, it has very limited financial resources. The facilities are simple, the budget is tight, there are no fancy bulletins, and no famous guest speakers. They do not have much. But they have Ate (?big sister?) Purita, a poor widow with five children who wants to bring the fullness of Christ to the destitute in their community. And they have the hearts to follow her lead. The result: 232 of Manila?s least desirable citizens are encountering the healing ministry of Jesus as expressed through the words and deeds of His church.
It is likely that you have never heard of Ate Purita?s church. But God has. In fact, He has His own name for it, calling this type of church: ?City of Righteousness? and the ?Repairer of Broken Walls? (Isaiah 1:26; 58:12).
Two churches. On paper their doctrinal statements are nearly identical. God calls one of them ?Sodom and Gomorrah? and the other one the ?City of Righteousness.?
What name does God use for your church?
Ok, we’ve finally uploaded some of my pictures from Greece. Check ‘em out and rate them here!