Stephen

Something I've been thinking about today which I never have really thought about before is the importance of Stephens speech in Acts Ch7.
I've been wondering what importance the emphasis Stephen places on God working outside of Israel may have had on Paul.
Stephens speech is quiet amazing in that it summarises Jewish history in terms of God working outside of Israel. It notes that God dwelt in the desert, he appeared to Moses in a burning bush (on the outskirts of Egypt) and that Abraham had no inheritance in the promised land. His speech remembers how Gods chosen people rejected his messengers time and time again. At the end of his history lesson Stephen throws fire into a wound by telling his accusers that he sees Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. At this point the infuriated (think covering ears and shouting wildly) temple leaders then stone him to death.
Acts has a habit of making connections. One connection made here is the similarities between Jesus' death and Stephens who cries out 'Father forgive them, they know not what they do'. But the other is that after every record of a trouble or trial we find a link to something wonderful. A connection between the suffering of the church and God growing his church. In this case the
'beauty from ashes' connection is Saul (who becomes Paul). At the end of the chapter we are told that Saul was there I wonder if perhaps the seeds of Paul's radical mission to the gentiles began with Stephens account of God working outside the land of Israel?

I've also been challenged by the account of Ananias and Sapphira (Ch5) . I wonder if I seek a reputation of being Godly rather than to be actually be Godly. God is no fool and can't be tricked by shallow attempts to look right in the sight of others.
In this account Ananias and Sapphira sell their house and give the money to the church. It sounds great! What a selfless act and huge sacrifice they have made. However instead of giving all the money to the church they give only part. If this is where the story ends it would be a happy tale, how good it is to give to God. However instead this sad story ends in death. Taking their money to the apostles they pretend to have given it all. "Wasn't this money yours to begin with" Peter asks. "What made you think of such a thing?". Ananias wanted to be known for his commitment to God but was not willing to actually be fully committed. It would have been much better for him to be honest.
Its seems the only thing worse than being half hearted is to pretend to be whole hearted.

Looking over my life I realise its much easier to be thought of as Godly than it is to really be Godly. Or perhaps I should say easier to be thought of as honest and genuine than it is to be honest and genuine. Sometimes our reputation with God and our reputation with people conflict with each other. To do whats right in the sight of God we may have to 'lose face' with people we know. This is the price of honesty, but is I feel, the cost of carrying the cross.

Thanks for reading, please remember to prayer for me if you can, I really appreciate it (heaps).

Please thank God for

• The wonderful lectures here. Its really is a great privilege to be studying. I'm blown away every day.
• His wonderful provision. Its great to not have to worry about anything while I'm here, God has provided amazingly.
  

Please pray

• That I would stay on track. Like everywhere there are plenty of distractions (facebook!) some of which are not very helpful.
• For my health (not been feeling so good. I think my body's not really copping 100%
• To stay in love with God, I might have mentioned this before but its really easy to loose sight of my first love here. Deeds, hard work, and perseverance are no help in this regard (rev 2:2-5)
• To find a good church. This will help heaps.
  

Thanks once again for reading
-Matthew.

Oh.. why the map. Because I've stuck a copy of this map in my diary and have started putting a dot in each country as it comes up in coverstation. I'm amazing how much I'm learning about places I never new existed. Who knew the silk road went through Tajikistan.

First Week of Lectures

This week was our first week of lectures. The courses here and SMBC are divided into ACT subjects (which are quiet accidemic) and SMBC certificate subjects (which are quiet practical). I think having both of these type of subjects its what makes SMBC so great.
Some of my favourites so far have been Biblical Theology, Old Testimant, and Introduction to degree Theology.
I havn't studied for many years (since highschool) so my study habbits need some work but I'm starting to get into the swing of it. I find I'm writing heaps down in class. My plan is to then type these notes up the following day as a way of reinforcing what we learned.
I spent most of today walking with some friends (I forget the name of the walk but its in Budenia and is about 30Ks). It was great to get outside SMBC for a while, chat, and get some exersize. We where fortunate to not get rained on till the last 30 minutes of the walk.

Some praise points

• I'm basically all settled in now and in the flow of things. Horray.
• I'm thankful for the wonderful people here at SMBC, both lectures and students.
• For the wonderful accomidation here.
  

Some prayer points

• For good health (my throat is not feeling so good)
• For my AUStudy application to go through smoothly. (It seems this not not always/often the case)
• That in studying Gods word I would not loose sight of God himself (Sounds silly I know but its easy to do...)

Thanks helps for reading
-Matthew.

First Week

Its been an amazing first week (well part of a week) at SMBC.

I moved in on Monday any meet my house mates. There are 8 of us living in a 'cluster' called Troull. I've meet many new friends here already and have already started making some contacts for finding a good church to go to. I'm intending on finding a chinese church, hopefuly with an englight and madarin service. I miss my Chinese Church friends back in QLD a lot.
Its been hard to find time to get out of SMBC to do some shopping (I intended to buy some basics - like a towel, when I got here).

I've found that time is a currancy when studying at SMBC. Very different from my 6 weeks on holiday! I did manage to get to the shops yesterday though to pick up some stationary and have a look around. There are many different cultures in this suburb and and a lot chinese people. I noticed the clerk in one shop speaking Mandarain to a customer so I thought I'd see if my rusty 中文 still works. Luckly shopping and food are ingrained in my memory from my trip to China and the lady could understand my (broken and gramatically dodge) speach.

I very excited about the next two years. Its going to be hard work (even harder than I expected) but more than worthwile. SMBC has exceeded my expectations already and my expectations where quiet high to start with!

Some praise points:

• I'm having a great time and am in good sprits and good health!
• I have meet many good friends already and find it amazingly encouranging living with believing believers.

Some prayer requests:

• I've been considering upgrading from a two year assosiate degree to a three year bachelor degree and have been praying and asking staff and students about this decision. Please pray for wisdom and peace regarding this decision.
• I'm also feeling a little overwhelmed meeting so many new people (I think there are 250 people here). Everyone has such interesting stories to tell but I find it quiet draining. The culture here is also a little different compaired to the laid back Sunshine coast and adjusting to the study from a working background is a challenge for me.