So we are in StuVac at the moment. But what exactly is StuVac?
Is it study vacation? That is a bit of an oxymoron don’t you think!?! Since when has studying been associated with a vacation? Well some students seem to be taking the vacation part very seriously :)
Maybe it means study vacuum? This sounds a little bit more like me. I get up, study all day, & rest at night. This means that I am totally unable to talk to people, & am very vague (yes - even more than normal!), cause all I have been doing is reading & studying.
So, it’s definitely more like a study vacuum for me - even with only 1 day down!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Old Testament...
At the moment Marty and I are immersing ourselves within the Old Testament. I am full of disbelief over the Israelites lack of trust in Numbers, but then elated by the great story of Joshua. Marty is continually expressing anger over how stupid Moses is in Exodus, and well, 2 Samuel hasn’t quite eventuated yet! We both have to write 1000 words on an Old Testament book, describing what’s in it and its major themes.
Once you get over the nitty gritties of the assignment, it is actually a really good one. For at the end of this week, hopefully we will both be able to tell people, in one sentence, the significance of the books we have chosen and what they are all about – hopefully!
It would be great if at the end of these two years, we would be able to do that for every book of the Bible!
Maybe there is some worth in preaching a series through the whole Bible - 1 sermon on each book of the Bible, simply explaining what’s in it and why its there?!?
Once you get over the nitty gritties of the assignment, it is actually a really good one. For at the end of this week, hopefully we will both be able to tell people, in one sentence, the significance of the books we have chosen and what they are all about – hopefully!
It would be great if at the end of these two years, we would be able to do that for every book of the Bible!
Maybe there is some worth in preaching a series through the whole Bible - 1 sermon on each book of the Bible, simply explaining what’s in it and why its there?!?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Settling in...
I have noticed lately that a lot of people are asking us lately how we have settled into Sydney. I suppose it has been 3 months now so it’s just the question to start asking.
Settling in to Sydney - well what can you say!
We have realised that everything in Sydney takes a lot longer & is more expensive. I think that once you embrace these two things & stop fighting against them - I reckon then you can start to relax & enjoy it a bit.
Like, enjoy the fact that you get to listen to more music in the car!
And you don’t feel guilty about not jamming heaps into your day, ‘cause realistically going grocery shopping takes all day.
That means you get more ‘nothing time’ cause you can’t just quickly ‘nip out’ anywhere!
I’m trying to think of good things about the more expensive thing, but not really getting anything :)
On a more serious side, I think we have just started to settle in. We have a routine now (I even have an exercise routine which means a lot for those who know me well!). We have also found a church to go to, which is a great blessing. Marty has started playing footy again. & I think we are finally embracing the Sydney way of life!
Settling in to Sydney - well what can you say!
We have realised that everything in Sydney takes a lot longer & is more expensive. I think that once you embrace these two things & stop fighting against them - I reckon then you can start to relax & enjoy it a bit.
Like, enjoy the fact that you get to listen to more music in the car!
And you don’t feel guilty about not jamming heaps into your day, ‘cause realistically going grocery shopping takes all day.
That means you get more ‘nothing time’ cause you can’t just quickly ‘nip out’ anywhere!
I’m trying to think of good things about the more expensive thing, but not really getting anything :)
On a more serious side, I think we have just started to settle in. We have a routine now (I even have an exercise routine which means a lot for those who know me well!). We have also found a church to go to, which is a great blessing. Marty has started playing footy again. & I think we are finally embracing the Sydney way of life!
Monday, April 19, 2010
A Day in the Life of Marty (as told by Jess)
6:00am – Awakes suddenly to the sound of pigeons – “Ga Gaaaa, Ga Gaaaa”
6:15am – Stirs in and out of consciousness plotting ways to kill pigeons.
7:30am – Awakes suddenly & shouts: “I’m going to kill that pigeon!”
7:45am – Finally gets out of bed & gets ready for the first lecture.
8:15am – Jess yells out: “Quick Marty - we’re going to be late for class.”
8:30am – In lectures listening to how humans were made to rule & care for Gods creation.
10:40am – Has morning tea with fellow students, discussing what it really means to rule Gods creation.
11:00am – Back in lectures, but has now had enough coffee & cake to get him through the day.
12:00pm – During a coffee break he discusses with fellow students why God created pigeons.
1:00pm – Has lunch, where he discusses with a fellow student the possibilities of smuggling in ball-bearing guns from Taiwan.
2:00pm – Back in room to do reading & assignment writing, but ends of trying to kick & throw things at the pigeons.
6:00pm – Dinner time, where he discusses with fellow students why the pigeons are on our roof & not there’s.
9:30pm – Secures the room to ensure the least amount of noise will come through the window.
10:00pm – Falls asleep dreaming of a peaceful, amazing world – a world without pigeons.
6:15am – Stirs in and out of consciousness plotting ways to kill pigeons.
7:30am – Awakes suddenly & shouts: “I’m going to kill that pigeon!”
7:45am – Finally gets out of bed & gets ready for the first lecture.
8:15am – Jess yells out: “Quick Marty - we’re going to be late for class.”
8:30am – In lectures listening to how humans were made to rule & care for Gods creation.
10:40am – Has morning tea with fellow students, discussing what it really means to rule Gods creation.
11:00am – Back in lectures, but has now had enough coffee & cake to get him through the day.
12:00pm – During a coffee break he discusses with fellow students why God created pigeons.
1:00pm – Has lunch, where he discusses with a fellow student the possibilities of smuggling in ball-bearing guns from Taiwan.
2:00pm – Back in room to do reading & assignment writing, but ends of trying to kick & throw things at the pigeons.
6:00pm – Dinner time, where he discusses with fellow students why the pigeons are on our roof & not there’s.
9:30pm – Secures the room to ensure the least amount of noise will come through the window.
10:00pm – Falls asleep dreaming of a peaceful, amazing world – a world without pigeons.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Back to work
Well after a great house boat holiday on the murray with Muz and Fuz, and all the crew (Wagenaar), celebrating their 30yrs of marriage we are back into the books here at college.
We are trying to maintain our 1 week buffer for assignments, as we have something due every friday for the next 4 weeks. But so far this isn't going so well for Jess - at the moment she has a 1 day buffer! And my week is very quickly disappearing.
So, its been a bit of a challenge getting back into it. Going from relaxing on the boat, eating, fishing (do they still call it fishing when you get no bites 5 days running???), eating, swinging of ropes, and eating - to lectures, eating, reading, eating, lectures, eating, assignments, and eating.
Well eating is an important part of life! Especially when the first footy match of the season is this Saturday!
P.S Half of this post has been highjacked by Jess!
We are trying to maintain our 1 week buffer for assignments, as we have something due every friday for the next 4 weeks. But so far this isn't going so well for Jess - at the moment she has a 1 day buffer! And my week is very quickly disappearing.
So, its been a bit of a challenge getting back into it. Going from relaxing on the boat, eating, fishing (do they still call it fishing when you get no bites 5 days running???), eating, swinging of ropes, and eating - to lectures, eating, reading, eating, lectures, eating, assignments, and eating.
Well eating is an important part of life! Especially when the first footy match of the season is this Saturday!
P.S Half of this post has been highjacked by Jess!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Mission
Well as my previous post suggested we have been on college mission. It was a week that went very quickly, but at the end felt like a year!
It was so encouraging to see people with such a love and passion for the people around them that they are doing whatever it takes to try and reach them – even if it means having 10 cups of lovingly brewed coffee every day :)
So, we got a quick snippet of what urban ministry in Sydney looks like. To quickly sum it up - I think it is very relationship driven with a real need to properly understand the people around you. This means it is very long term stuff.
The way churches often do things, such as door knocking and letter box dropping, may actually not at all be effective, so you have to find other ways of getting out there. The best way to do this in urban ministry seems to be to just live out your Christian life wherever you go - smiling to people on the street, talking to the shop attended, the barista etc… Its just basic stuff, but if you are intentional about it, it can be very effective.
We were reminded that the gospel never changes, but the best way to engage with the culture around you is definitely different wherever you go.
It was so encouraging to see people with such a love and passion for the people around them that they are doing whatever it takes to try and reach them – even if it means having 10 cups of lovingly brewed coffee every day :)
So, we got a quick snippet of what urban ministry in Sydney looks like. To quickly sum it up - I think it is very relationship driven with a real need to properly understand the people around you. This means it is very long term stuff.
The way churches often do things, such as door knocking and letter box dropping, may actually not at all be effective, so you have to find other ways of getting out there. The best way to do this in urban ministry seems to be to just live out your Christian life wherever you go - smiling to people on the street, talking to the shop attended, the barista etc… Its just basic stuff, but if you are intentional about it, it can be very effective.
We were reminded that the gospel never changes, but the best way to engage with the culture around you is definitely different wherever you go.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Writers Block
Well it seems as though we both have writers block after handing in our assignments! We have now handed in 2 assignments, and both of them on time!!
Next week is mission week for all college students. So, this is where we are assigned to a team which goes to a church & works with the church for a week... I think! We are going to an Anglican church in Newtown, which is close by. Marty is heading up the High School mission, other than that we dont really know what we are doing - but have been told to be prepared to give our testimony at any time...
So it should be fun :)
Next week is mission week for all college students. So, this is where we are assigned to a team which goes to a church & works with the church for a week... I think! We are going to an Anglican church in Newtown, which is close by. Marty is heading up the High School mission, other than that we dont really know what we are doing - but have been told to be prepared to give our testimony at any time...
So it should be fun :)
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