Sorry for the lack of update. Currently trying to write my next newsletter. In the meantime, here's a new layout to look at.
Oh, and I've created a new photos page (see links). Enjoy the eye-candy.
Five days till my first exam. I've been working hard to catch up with my NT Greek. I'm starting to be able to translate the Gospel of John reasonably well, but I still often forget my vocab and grammar.
First semester this year has gone by pretty quick. I only have 2 exams, so I can't complain (most people have 4). Then it's 3 weeks of holidays. Don't have much planned for holidays, except to catch up with friends (from new & old church, and also you guys - my supporters). Oh, and there's also 3 weddings during those 3 weeks - all Bible college students. If you think that's bad, there's 3 weddings in Dec all on the same day, and all 3 couples are from SMBC.
I've also got a sermon to preach on Isaiah 6 one week after exams. I don't know if I can write a sermon with only one week. I'm pretty slow at the moment. I suppose I can write one, the question is whether it's any good.
Church-wise, I need to sit down and do some serious thinking about the ministries I'm involved in, especially the youth related stuff. But right now, it's just been pushed to the back of my mind. I feel like I'm not working as effectively as I could and I'm feeling frustrated at myself. Hopefully I can get it all sorted out over the break.
First semester this year has gone by pretty quick. I only have 2 exams, so I can't complain (most people have 4). Then it's 3 weeks of holidays. Don't have much planned for holidays, except to catch up with friends (from new & old church, and also you guys - my supporters). Oh, and there's also 3 weddings during those 3 weeks - all Bible college students. If you think that's bad, there's 3 weddings in Dec all on the same day, and all 3 couples are from SMBC.
I've also got a sermon to preach on Isaiah 6 one week after exams. I don't know if I can write a sermon with only one week. I'm pretty slow at the moment. I suppose I can write one, the question is whether it's any good.
Church-wise, I need to sit down and do some serious thinking about the ministries I'm involved in, especially the youth related stuff. But right now, it's just been pushed to the back of my mind. I feel like I'm not working as effectively as I could and I'm feeling frustrated at myself. Hopefully I can get it all sorted out over the break.
Give thanks for another 6 months of great learning at SMBC. Pray that I can remember all that I've learnt and spill it out in the exams.
Pray also that I'll have a good rest over the holidays and be refreshed to start the second half of the year. Give thanks to God for all those who are supporting me in prayer and with money.
Pray that I can serve more effectively at ND so that the youths can grow in maturity and love for the Lord Jesus.
Discuss the role of the imagery of light in the Fourth Gospel, especially in relation to the person of Jesus (2,250 words).
You know how when you've got something hard to do, everything else that is usually hard becomes an attractive option and you end up doing them instead? I've gotta do this essay on John's Gospel which was due on Monday, but naturally, I have been doing everything else but that.
Right now, my desk looks neat & clean. I've reorganised my drawers. I've backed up my computer. I've even done preparation for a Bible study that is 2 weeks away. Tomorrow I'll probably do my laundry.
This is of course why I'm here blogging as well. None of these activities would've been done (at least not yet) if it weren't for this essay.
Now I just need to find something to do which is harder than this essay. :/
You know how when you've got something hard to do, everything else that is usually hard becomes an attractive option and you end up doing them instead? I've gotta do this essay on John's Gospel which was due on Monday, but naturally, I have been doing everything else but that.
Right now, my desk looks neat & clean. I've reorganised my drawers. I've backed up my computer. I've even done preparation for a Bible study that is 2 weeks away. Tomorrow I'll probably do my laundry.
This is of course why I'm here blogging as well. None of these activities would've been done (at least not yet) if it weren't for this essay.
Now I just need to find something to do which is harder than this essay. :/
Right now, term 2 has just started and I'm snowed under a pile of work. Over the next 3 weeks, I have 2 essays due, 2 sermons to preach, 2 conference bookshops to manage, and 2 or 3 Bible studies to write for 180. Yikes!!!!
Please pray for me!
At the same time, EYF at my last church (SCAC) is holding an evangelistic event this Fri. Nathan Tasker (!) is coming to perform and preach. It's very exciting, not because Nathan is coming, but because there are 145 people attending - 61 of them non-Christians!!!
Please pray that God will work powerfully through Nathan and through the witness and testimony of all the Christians there on the night.
I don't have time to write up specific prayer points, but I'm sure you can think of things to pray for. Please pray because nothing can happen without God!
Please pray for me!
At the same time, EYF at my last church (SCAC) is holding an evangelistic event this Fri. Nathan Tasker (!) is coming to perform and preach. It's very exciting, not because Nathan is coming, but because there are 145 people attending - 61 of them non-Christians!!!
Please pray that God will work powerfully through Nathan and through the witness and testimony of all the Christians there on the night.
I don't have time to write up specific prayer points, but I'm sure you can think of things to pray for. Please pray because nothing can happen without God!
For some reason, I think my brain only allows me to write 10,000 words a month and no more. That's my limit. My brains kinda just shuts down after that. Most of that limit is taken up with essays and sermons. The remainder is spent generally on emails and administration. That usually means zeros words left for my blog. Therefore, there was no update in March cuz I was writing my newsletter (which is just an extended blog).
Back from college mission and currently half way through my holidays. This mission was probably the most relaxing one I have ever been on, and I don't think any mission in the future will beat it. I was with a team of 12 others up in Narrabeen (if you don't know where that is, it's part of the northern beaches, about 1/2 hr past Manly) for 8 days, from Sun 3rd April to Sun 10th April.
We were part of the Baptist church there and involved with everything that they usually do - ie Sunday School, preaching in church, youth group, home groups, Mums' morning, Kids' Arvo and primary school scripture. Most mornings we had something on, and everyday we had the afternoon free. We were planning to have the day off on Monday and spend it at Palm Beach. But alas, it rained on us and so we ended up doing lots of preparation that day. To make up for it, we went to the beach every other day (except for Sunday).
I must admit, I'm totally not a beach person. It has to be 30 degrees plus before you can get me in the water. But nonetheless, I had a really good time just hanging out with the people in my team and getting to know them. One of the difficulties this year is that I haven't had the opportunity to get to know many of the 1st year students because I'm not in the same lectures as them. So in that regards, mission was really good.
So even though we didn't do much evangelism (perhaps with the exception of school scripture), it was a good mission. More good for us college students than for the church, but still good. :)
Back from college mission and currently half way through my holidays. This mission was probably the most relaxing one I have ever been on, and I don't think any mission in the future will beat it. I was with a team of 12 others up in Narrabeen (if you don't know where that is, it's part of the northern beaches, about 1/2 hr past Manly) for 8 days, from Sun 3rd April to Sun 10th April.
We were part of the Baptist church there and involved with everything that they usually do - ie Sunday School, preaching in church, youth group, home groups, Mums' morning, Kids' Arvo and primary school scripture. Most mornings we had something on, and everyday we had the afternoon free. We were planning to have the day off on Monday and spend it at Palm Beach. But alas, it rained on us and so we ended up doing lots of preparation that day. To make up for it, we went to the beach every other day (except for Sunday).
I must admit, I'm totally not a beach person. It has to be 30 degrees plus before you can get me in the water. But nonetheless, I had a really good time just hanging out with the people in my team and getting to know them. One of the difficulties this year is that I haven't had the opportunity to get to know many of the 1st year students because I'm not in the same lectures as them. So in that regards, mission was really good.
So even though we didn't do much evangelism (perhaps with the exception of school scripture), it was a good mission. More good for us college students than for the church, but still good. :)
<< Give thanks for the time at Narrabeen encouraging the Christians there and learning from the pastors there. Pray for the ongoing ministries at this church, especially the school scripture. Pray that the many kids from non-Christian families who heard the gospel will respond, and that the scripture teachers will be able to follow them up. >>
Life's been a tough balancing act lately...too many new things on my plate at the moment.
College
College started 3 weeks ago, and for most of that time, I've spent most of my time working in the bookshop than I have studying or doing ministry. SMBC only has a very small bookshop, and managing it isn't all that much work - except at the beginning of the year. Everyone is rushing to get books, and I need to get lots and lots of stock. I have a new team of people to run the bookshop, but most of them needs to be trained (and during the early stages, there are a lot of mistakes...guess who has to fix them up). Things are starting to settle down now, so hopefully I'll be able to get stuck into some studying soon.
I've been at ND now for over 2 months, but I'm still feeling very new there. Still lots of faces I don't know yet. ND's new youth group - 180 - kicked off last Friday night with a big bang. I'm working with a team of 8 other leaders to run this high school youth group. Most of them haven't had much experience with youth or with teaching the Bible, so it's been hard work the past few weeks leading up to the launch.
By God's grace we had 36 kids turn up. But at this stage, it's hard to tell whether they came because of all they hype and out of curiosity. Hopefully they'll stick around for the year, especially all the many Yr 12 kids we have.
I'm also preaching my very first sermon at ND in 2 Sundays' time. I've been mulling over it for quite some time now, but still not too sure how to approach it. Yikes!!
South Events
Lastly, I've been doing a little bit of work for various South training and evangelistic events. It's a stressful load on top of everything else I'm doing, even though it's only at the back of my mind. Perhaps it's because that it's always at the back of my mind that it's so stressful. I'll talk about these more when the time comes. For now, just pray for my sanity!! ;P
PS Have you prayed for me yet? Don't just read it, but commit it to God!
College
College started 3 weeks ago, and for most of that time, I've spent most of my time working in the bookshop than I have studying or doing ministry. SMBC only has a very small bookshop, and managing it isn't all that much work - except at the beginning of the year. Everyone is rushing to get books, and I need to get lots and lots of stock. I have a new team of people to run the bookshop, but most of them needs to be trained (and during the early stages, there are a lot of mistakes...guess who has to fix them up). Things are starting to settle down now, so hopefully I'll be able to get stuck into some studying soon.
<< Thank God for the refreshing break over the holidays and for the start of another year at SMBC. Pray that I can quickly get into a good routine of study and rest so that I can make full use of what I'm learning. >>
ChurchI've been at ND now for over 2 months, but I'm still feeling very new there. Still lots of faces I don't know yet. ND's new youth group - 180 - kicked off last Friday night with a big bang. I'm working with a team of 8 other leaders to run this high school youth group. Most of them haven't had much experience with youth or with teaching the Bible, so it's been hard work the past few weeks leading up to the launch.
By God's grace we had 36 kids turn up. But at this stage, it's hard to tell whether they came because of all they hype and out of curiosity. Hopefully they'll stick around for the year, especially all the many Yr 12 kids we have.
I'm also preaching my very first sermon at ND in 2 Sundays' time. I've been mulling over it for quite some time now, but still not too sure how to approach it. Yikes!!
<< Praise God for the great start 180 has had. Pray that the kids will be commited to the youth group and grow into maturity, and pray that it will attract non-Christians as well. Pray for the team of leaders and our relationship with one another. Pray that I can be sensitive and humble as it's the first time I've been part of a team (as opposed to leading one) for some time. And pray also for my sermon that the Holy Spirit may work in and through me to preach His Word clearly so that lives are changed for God. >>
South Events
Lastly, I've been doing a little bit of work for various South training and evangelistic events. It's a stressful load on top of everything else I'm doing, even though it's only at the back of my mind. Perhaps it's because that it's always at the back of my mind that it's so stressful. I'll talk about these more when the time comes. For now, just pray for my sanity!! ;P
PS Have you prayed for me yet? Don't just read it, but commit it to God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
