Research Week

For some reasons the trees in Croydon all seem to grow at 45 degrees. This photo was taken on Badminton Rd which I walk down a few times a week to go to the Burwood shops or catch a train. In this case I was making a trip to centrelink to sort out some paper work.

This week have been a little different in that we don't have lectures but instead can use the time to write essays and finish assignments. I spent most of the time working on my Old Testament essay. Its the first real essay I've written since high school (8 years ago!) which meant that it was lots of work. I really enjoyed it though.

I learned so much reading through judges, most of which I wasn't able to put in my essay (I tried to fit it in there but it just wouldn't :(). Each time I read through the book I learned something new. I never really realised how much amazing attention to detail there is in the bible. The main story of Judges is very clear:

That Israel sinned against God by worshiping the Gods of the people around them.
That God responded to this in judgement by sending the nations to attack them.
That Israel cried out to God to save them and He did by raising up judges.
That after the judge died Israel went back to their wicked ways.

These themes repeat each other through out the book. Yet its in the subtlety that God beautifully adds to this message. Did you know that this book has two introductions? That the phrase "Did evil in the sight of God" is always followed by "Cried out to the LORD" except in the account of Sampson? That most of the events in Judges occur twice (foreshadowing). I could have written 100 essays and still have more to say.

It brings me great joy to know that the bible has so many layers. There is treasure in there for people willing to dig. And yet the best news is that the most important (and useful) information is presented to clearly.

I'm reminded though of how people often find in hard to start reading the bible. It certainly is hard to read without an introduction. So much of the bible assumes a good knowledge of the other books (Judges without Numbers would not make much sense). I remember a course I did once called "The Old Testament in a Day". It was really good and put so much in perspective.

Sorry that this entry probably sounds like an essay. I guess I'm just in that mode from all the writing this week.

I keep bumping into mandarin speakers. In fact I've had two conversations in Mandarin just today! I'm still very much out of practise and my pronunciation (which was never all that good) is slipping.

If your praying for me here are some requests

Pray and Praise

• Thank God that I was able to finish my essay on time without too much stress.
• Thank God for good health!
• The next few weeks a lot is on in terms of study work load. Pray that God will give me wisdom in how to prioritise my tasks.
• I'm trialing taking Saturday's off (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). It's quiet difficult not to work or study for a whole day but I see this as God honouring and important for my own health.
• I'm still having dramas with Centrelink. Please pray that this will go through smoothly.
• It looks likely that as a student I'll be entitled to the $950 hand out later in this year. Please pray that God will show me how to best use this unexpected blessing.
  

Until next time
-Matthew.