James Cuénod's Newsletter 2009-08-28

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To those
interested who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What I've discovered is that somehow, regardless of how busy I may be, I
make the time to do other weird things. I was nominated to be the res
representative but I didn't win. The SRC (Student Representative Council)
elections were held this afternoon and at their announcement (about two
weeks ago) one of my classmates (who also stays in res) said that he's
going to campaign to be in it. Seeing the potential for fun, I joined him
in the cause. We made fourteen different posters with the slogan "A
Passion For" and then a subject (for example, "A Passion For Truth" or, "A
Passsion For Knowledge") which we stuck up all over the place. This then
incited a smear campaign by some other first years (who weren't running
but just wanted to join the fun). They created some posters with negative
"A Passion For" slogans which we responded to by putting positive twists
on them. The opposition also made a short video putting the face of our
candidate on the villains from various TV series and movies (it was played
yesterday for the first time). So, we were up until after 1:00 this
morning creating a counter to it. Our video made use of speeches by Martin
Luther King, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela; so the
script was formulated using the speeches and we narrated it with a bunch
of friends and then overlayed it with images of the person who was being
impersonated. It was great fun and it must have worked because our
candidate is in the SRC!

A number of assignments have been due for this past week and still more
are due in the coming week so the pressure is not easing off. We have only
one week remaining in the term and it still seems like such a long way
off. Thankfully, Greek has relaxed a bit since we have basically finished
the book and our lecturer knows how much work we have. Next term we will
begin translating First John and Mark.

I've recently been thinking about which church to go to next year since I
have been asked to stay on at Mountainview Baptist. They do need the help
there and so I am weighing up my options, please pray that I would make
the right decision. It has been great to help out there over the past
couple of terms and I'm quite enjoying working with them on Fridays in the
youth groups.

Since I still have a lot to do before term end, please pray that I would
be able to focus my energy where it needs to be focussed and that I would
get enough rest. Please also keep my assigned church for next year in your
prayers and pray that my spiritual walk would take priority through the
intensity of work. Thanks for the prayers and emails!

In Christ,
James Cuénod

--
James, a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

James Cuénod's Newsletter 2009-08-15

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To those
interested who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It feels like time is speeding up quite considerably. I've really been
busy in this past week and it doesn't look like it's going to get lighter
for a while. Hopefully this weekend will allow me to catch up. I've
written a NT Introduction test and a Greek test both of which I did
reasonably well in for which I praise God. I'm really enjoying Early
Church History which means that I have to discipline myself into not doing
it because I will gladly sit doing ECH to the exclusion of other work
while telling myself "I'm doing college stuff so it's fine...". Greek is
going well and we're almost finished with the text book (we'll probably be
done by the end of the term and next term we'll begin translating 1st John
and bits of Mark).

Last night I went to the youth at Mountainview Baptist. I did the Bible
story for the junior youth which went well although the kids seemed a bit
restless. The senior youth, as always, I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't
remember whether I've mentioned it or not but the guy who runs it is a
lecturer at BI so it is really good and what's more, we're going through
Romans! He asked me to lead it next week and it's basically a Bible study
(with about 20-30mins of game time before the study) and so I get to lead
on (what I believe was) Martin Lloyd-Jones' favourite passage; Romans
3:21-26! Oh yeah!

Please pray that the study goes well and that I can get through all my
work and the readings. Also, more importantly, please pray that my quiet
times do not take a knock because of the workload.

In Christ,
James Cuénod

--
James, a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

James Cuénod's Newsletter 2009-08-01

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To those
interested who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that I have already expressed it but workload is quite insane -
I've been spending 80% of my time after lectures reading and that's just
to keep up. I'm not quite sure where my time for assignments is going to
come from because the other 20% of the time I'm at youth or Bible Study or
a security talk or something.

Speaking of the security talk, you probably wont have any idea what I'm
talking about so let me explain. Muizenberg is certainly the most
exhilarating place I ever recall staying in. If I ever feel the need for
an adrenaline high, I just walk outside and down the road past the
druglords and various other types of criminals outside. It's great fun to
have to withdraw money down the road and attempt to appear inconspicuous
as you walk back. Nevertheless, the Muizenberg Improvement Society (I
think I left out a letter but it's not too relevant) has been working on
various things like neighbourhood watch etc. so this past week I was doing
the sound recording for a safety and security meeting where I heard
discussions about getting radios and all sorts of exciting things for
Muizenberg.

Anyway, I need to get back to work but I'll leave you with the lyrics to a
song I've recently been listening to by Sovereign Grace Music on their
album "Songs for a Cross Centered Life" (I love those guys). It's called
"The Look" and was inspired by a song that John Newton wrote:

I saw one hanging on a tree
In agony and blood
Who fixed His loving eyes on me
As near His cross I stood
And never till my dying breath
Will I forget that look
It seemed to charge me with His death
Though not a word He spoke

My conscience felt and owned the guilt
And plunged me in despair
I saw my sins His blood had spilt
And helped to nail Him there
But with a second look He said
"I freely all forgive
This blood is for your ransom paid
I died that you might live"

CHORUS
Forever etched upon my mind
Is the look of Him who died
The Lamb I crucified
And now my life will sing the praise
Of pure atoning grace
That looked on me and gladly took my place

Thus while His death my sin displays
For all the world to view
Such is the mystery of grace
It seals my pardon too
With pleasing grief and mournful joy
My spirit now is filled
That I should such a life destroy
Yet live by Him I killed

Ja, wow ...
Please pray that I would be able to work effectively and that my ability
to read improves so as to reduce the effort involved in reading for me.
Thank you all for you support. As always, it is greatly appreciated.

In Christ,
James Cuénod

--
James, a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ