I know, I know. I know that I don’t update this enough! I will try to change that in the coming weeks. We’ll see! But, here is a picture of NTBI for you! Fall is in full swing and probably on its way toward winter, but I’ve been enjoying most every minute of the fiery trees and the chilly mornings. Our school load has been a little lighter than the first two blocks. I’d like to think I’m getting better at balancing it all, but it’s probably more along the lines that we’ve had less assignments!
In Hermeneutics we’ve been working through the tiny letter of Jude and coming to a better understanding of Context, Observation, Interpretation, and Application. I thought the Observations involving grammar would kill me, but I’m still here in the aftermath of gerunds and participles still wondering about vocatives and such. But if you ask me about clauses and phrases and what is modifying what, I’ll be able to respond succinctly…I’ve never used the word succinctly–or spelled it before. Wow! It’s proof that I must be getting smarter! As the bigger picture goes, both Payton and I have come to grips with the extreme importance of understanding words in context. If you wouldn’t take sections of text out of a book and make applications randomly, what makes you think doing the exact same thing with the words in the Bible is okay? I confess I’ve done it before!
The Evangelism class is really challenging me to get down to a worldview level with people before I even try to get them to see need. Truth is not something that is valued today. It is even considered arrogant to say that you know what truth is or where it can be found. How could you ever express to someone their need of a Savior in a world that doesn’t recognize that anything could be a real solution (because there “is no absolute truth”)? It’s been a heart-opening class to say the least.
We’ve just come to the end of Exodus and jump into Leviticus on Monday morning. I find the Old Testament fascinating! Leviticus may prove to be intimidating in the end.
Even in the midst of all of the studies, we’ve had time to interact and get out of the school. Every weekend we’ve had the privilege to spend time with my family and the Warrendale church family. I love it! If we do end up on foreign soil in the next 5 years or so, time with family may not be possible, so I’ve decided to run with it while it’s in my grasp! We’re excited to get to California to see the other part of our family in California for Christmas!
Payton getting the raking done! A personal favorite, the campfire!
Not sure what’s going on here, probably Ruthie
telling Garran to not touch her trains, but “Ticket
to Ride” is tons of fun!
And then there was Aztec Ice Cream!!
A custom blend of cayenne, cinnamon
and chocolate…Payton loves the ice
cream maker!
And of course, slacking off and smashing the pile
of leaves. Payton suggests blurring your eyes while
looking at the photo so that I look like I hardly have
a nose…um, you totally don’t have to. Happy Fall!
Gerunds, participles, clauses, and phrases… now you are speaking my language!
I remember sitting around a campfire at your parents' house, wondering if we were all going to end up as nuns… I'm glad that wasn't the outcome 😉