James Cuénod's Newsletter 2012-09-23

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.

You can tell that I'm feeling the pressure of the year's end when I don't
write a newsletter during a holiday. It's been a hectic little while. The
main thing that captured my attention was my dissertation (and rightly so,
I guess). I had a deadline for Monday the 17th for a first draft (it's
about 10000-12000 words). In case you don't know, I'm writing about the
book of Judges. Judges is structured in cycles which have a lot of similar
elements. My dissertation is basically looking at those elements and how
they and why they vary through the various narratives (and what the
variation means - I'm not really allowed to say the word "means" though
because that demonstrates total ignorance of the linguistic nihilism to
which our scholarship is now enslaved - it's fine though, you just find
other ways of saying the same thing and in practice ignore the fact that
somewhere out there Derrida is turning in his grave).

I didn't actually manage to submit a complete first draft though - that's
bad. At least if I compare myself to my peers I'm in roughly the same
place (at least we're all behind together) and I'm not the most behind
which is comforting; the weak are the first to become prey. The problem at
this point is the fact that the last course module is beginning next week
Wednesday (which I've just realised is now just called "this coming
Wednesday" - marginally more menacing). You are welcome to pray that I
would work supernaturally diligently (and let's not rule out miraculous
events that produce actual quality work. I really - surprisingly enough -
need God to help me to understand his word (preferably before I have to
submit))

The said module is our Old Testament course (which is nice since that's
where I'm specialising (in theory at least)). It's going to be on Exodus
(which promises to be fascinating). It's going to be taken by a guy from
Chad (which means it will probably have some African Theological insights
- superb!). It's going to be slap bang in the middle of the last bit of
dissertation writing (rats). It's going to be requiring more exam writing
(blagh). You can pray that I would gain a lot from this course. Exodus
(and the rest of the Pentateuch) are truly foundational and so for the
sake of understanding the rest of the Bible, this course really does hold
tremendous promise.

I could write a whole bunch of other stuff about Bible study and Friday
youth and weddings and all manner of eventfulness which seems to flurry up
at inconvenient times of the year. However, I think you've got the gist of
the last few weeks and the next few. My life is not limited in scope to
writing a dissertation and completing an OT module (though on the horizon
these things certainly seem to loom in ominous shadow over the sprightly
smaller things in view) so don't be overly concerned about that. Be
concerned that I honour God in my work and that as I seek to understand
his word, I wouldn't rely on my own strength but that I also wouldn't
abdicate my responsibility to pursue understanding through the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for your steadfastness in prayer. Thank you for your endurance
in reading newsletters. Thank you for being awesome (or at least above
average).

In Christ,
James


--
James, a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
http://www.rekindle.co.za