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To those interested who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today's fun fact: The side of a Jacobs Krönung has stuff written in three
languages; English, Greek and Hebrew. Jacobs was made for Bible College
students! The reason I felt it necessary to preface this newsletter with
that fact is that I have that delightful aroma wafting around the study
right now and it's good to share.
Last time I mentioned the youth programme: the "SOUL" course. It finished
really well and it looks like the group has grown because of it. Every
week the main leader got a different kid to share his/her testimony (they
were prepared) and it was encouraging to hear from them. Term finished
fine, the last week is a blur but exams are now scarred into my memory.
They weren't that bad but results aren't out yet so I can't say that with
real certitude.
I've also been anticipating ministry week for some time and it was a
blast. We spent most of the days studying a passage and then preparing and
improving Bible studies from it. I think its safe to say that my group has
some idea of what to do with the story of the rich young ruler in Mark
10... I (and two other guys) also had a chance to preach. I chose to speak
from Mark 4:35-41 which is the story of Jesus calming the storm. I love
getting the chance to sit and sikkel with a passage for the time that I
had with this story. I haven't preached from plain narrative story before
and it was tough but I enjoyed it.
So now I'm on holiday, I have two weeks left in which to try to read the
King of God's Kingdom (600pg) and The Consequence of Ideas (200pg), I've
just finished Tozer's "Pursuit of God" and it was brilliant. I don't have
the whole two weeks though because next week I'm going to be helping with
the holiday club. A college friend and I are writing Bible software which
we're now trying to write with some design plan and so when I'm not
reading, I'm programming or making coffee. I love the holidays.
Lastly, I'm becoming more decided (not in any definite sort of way) in my
plan to do honours next year. I've not yet made a final decision but
that's where my thinking is going. The exciting question then becomes what
to write on (the honours course consists of a handful of courses and a
mini-dissertation, of 20000 words I think). The trouble is I like
everything. Greek is making sense and I like systematics so I could write
some sort of doctrine paper but then I feel like I'd rather spend my time
understanding what the Bible is trying to say and so do a study on Hebrews
or something. The problem is I also want to do something in the Old
Testament because I want to chance to improve my Hebrew and be an
evangelical who has looked at the Old Testament (because it's only really
liberals who do right now). A few options have come to mind but I've got
time on my side for that.
So please would you pray for finality in my decision for next year. Please
also pray that I would be able to focus in my reading during the coming
two weeks so that I get through enough of it. This coming semester looks
to be hectic (which is why I've started reading now) so I would also
appreciate your prayers for my ability to manage time and not get bogged
down too quickly (it does seem inevitable). Praise God for an awesome
ministry week though and a positive response from our host church (Trinity
Church Hilton) and thank God for His sustaining us through exams.
Now for some more coffee.
Exciting times... What? You can't end like that James: a participle is not
a finite verb!
Times is exciting.
In Christ,
James Cuénod
--
James, a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
http://www.rekindle.co.za
