Something to Chew On

So what do Juniors at NTBI do in Block 4? Well, this is what our kitchen table/office space looks like every day in between meals and sometimes during meals:

These were some quotes that I’ve written down over the course of the last few weeks, mostly from our Hebrews professor–some made me think, some ruffled my feathers and some I’ve chewed on ever since they were spoken:

I am wealthier than over 90% of the world, but probably below the poverty level in the US.  – Mike Sullivan

In many ways the computer age has actually isolated us from reality. – Mike Sullivan

The most important thing about you is your concept of God. – A.W. Tozer

People have said, “That person is so heavenly minded they’re no earthly good!” but actually, until we are heavenly minded, we will be of no earthly good. – Mike Sullivan

As for the small things in life, our Junior Interview went well! We were told that unless we made any huge, life-altering, doctrinally crazy decisions (or something like that), we were on the right track. I think I was expecting an ordination exam. It was a bit scary at first though, but I didn’t tie myself into too many theological knots, so we passed.

Payton’s been reading George Muller’s autobiography again, and I’ve been trying to finish, “Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak” by Davy Jank– both are great reads! We’re on our third week of Greek lessons with my dad–they are brutal (I finally figured out what a genitive was and remembered what middle voice meant!). I’m not sure how long they’ll last, but both Payton and I would love to have a better grasp of Greek grammar as we study and potentially translate in the future. Plus everyone can use a good grammar lesson, right?!

                  

Although it’s hard to pinpoint what we’ve been learning until hindsight lends a hand, Payton and I have both had countless discussions about the manifestation(s) of God. At Warrendale we’ve been going through a sermon series on God’s demonstrations. We’ve had weeks and weeks of couch or car discussion on the weekends, trying to grasp the way God works in and through us and for what purpose. It all started at the end of  Romans 11 with three Greek prepositions and has morphed into quite a massive study for the elders. This past week we talked about how to spot a huckster–someone peddling the Word of God–and how God is always demonstrating Himself either to you or through you. Anyhow, it’d be paragraphs before I could put it all into words, but needless to say, we’ve been soaking it in!

Life has been different in the past few weeks. It’s had a somber note or sorts. We’ve had 3 saints die at church within just about 3 weeks of each other. It was strange to think that one week Danny was up on stage singing and the next he was singing in glory. One week Al was passing out bulletins and the next he was with his Savior. Diane passed from suffering and pain into fullness of joy. And even as it seems to be a season of death, our dear professor, James, is facing the possibility of death on Friday. He has a dangerous surgery to remove cancer from his liver. He spoke with us today in chapel, explaining what it felt like to face death, the questions you ask yourself, the questions you ask God, and the perspective of living each day as it comes. I am amazed at the faithfulness of God pouring out from this earthen vessel! It is incredible to watch the God of this man as James has continued to be a living epistle, telling us all of the God who is trustworthy. In his life or in his death, God will have been glorified! What a life worth living.