Greetings my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Today was a pretty good day. I got up nice and early to go to work at my breakfast shift. The two hour shift was very tough since I had a whole total of one customer. The rest of the time I got paid to read while enjoying a nice breakfast for a change. Then I went to classes which consisted of Hebrew Readings, Pastoral Ministry, and Greek Readings. Hebrew Readings started off awesome. He was talking about pushing our test back a week, which would have been perfect since it is one of four things due this week. However, then one kid asked the wrong question that showed him we could still have it this week. So now the test, along with my three papers being due, is still on Thursday. We all just looked at that kid, and I really wanted to throw something at him. However, this way it will be done and over with. Then chapel was good, except I sat in back for the first time and realized I cannot hear well enough back there. It didn't help it was Dr. Gibbs who is soft spoken, but his is one you do not want to miss anything. So from now on I will be sitting closer to the front like usual to make sure I can hear. Then we had our lunch with the new food and it was delicious again. I am so glad we finally are getting great tasting, healthy food. Then I went to Pastoral Ministry which was another presentation. However, Dr. Utech was actually there for this one, and it was really interesting. He was a church planter who had started his own church, and then branched off to start two more new churches from that one. I do not think I would want to be the guy actually starting these new churches; however, I would love to use what ever established church I am called to, to fund and support a plant-mission pastor who is willing to start these new churches. Especially since quite a few of my friends and classmates are the ones wanting to do plant-mission churches. It would be great to work with several of them and be able to use each others strengths and weaknesses.
Then Greek Readings was just textual criticism, and translations. However Dr. Gibbs did give us one word of his very strong opinions. He reminded us to never get up and walk out, or walk in to church while the Word is being read. If you have to get up to walk out or walk in late wait for a hymn or something. Any movement directly disrupts the congregations attention to listening to the Word. He reminded us of the importance of truly hearing His Word when it is being read. So I will pass that on to you. If you walk in late either sit in back, or wait for a hymn to walk in. And if you absolutely have to walk out, wait until the reading is done. Dr. Gibbs thanks you.
Then after classes, I decided to put my plan into motion. The other day when I was roaming our dorm, I realized we have quite a few extra empty rooms. I was thinking how nice it would be if I could use one of them, but they are all locked shut. You may ask how do I know they are empty if they are locked, and the answer is every door has a mail slot on it about eye level, that you can flip open and look in. However, I did find one room in the building that was propped open. I let it go a few days to see if they would come by and shut it. They didn't. So now, with a little jimmy rigging over the door closure (absolutely not damaging the door in anyway) I can now shut the door, but it doesn't lock. So now when anyone else walks by they will assume its been locked up, but really it is my office. I don't plan on leaving anything in there, just in case it does get locked for real. But it is a great spot to get out of my room and actually focus on homework. I put the desk in front of the window so I can look out as I type, and placed the other furniture to best suit my open books and study needs. I think it will extremely help me get a lot more reading and studying accomplished. And if they ever need the room, its not like any of my stuff is in there, and the door is a two second fix to be locked. So if you need me, I'll be in my office. (That's fun to say, but I am sure that will wear off very quickly.)
My thought for the day very quickly since I have a ton of reading and homework left, comes from Hebrew Readings. We are translating Genesis 3, which is the narration of the fall of mankind. I am going to propose two main thoughts to you. One I will elaborate on and use for a quick reminder to all of us. The second is just something merely to ponder on. First, did the devil lie to Eve when he told her that surely she would not die when she ate the fruit, and that God didn't want her to eat it because he knew that when she did, she would be like God and know good and evil? While the devil is the father of all lies, I do not believe he directly lied to her on this one. He did lie when he said she wouldn't die, because even though she didn't die immediately, she did die. However, the second part I do not feel is a lie. Now the important part to remember is Adam and Eve didn't know good and evil. Why not? Because everything God made in the garden was good. They only knew good. So what the devil is really saying is by eating this fruit you will know good (which they already knew) and evil (which they didn't know). So the only thing they are really learning by eating the fruit is evil. He didn't lie, but he worded the truth in a way that made a bad consequence sound good. He made learning evil seem like a good thing in her mind. This is the same way the devil tricks and tempts us. Dr. Meehl used to always say that the devil doesn't tempt us with things we don't like. He uses what we do like and what is appealing to us to trick us into sin. So the next time something that seems really good, and seems like it might be just worth doing something you know is just a little wrong, remember the devil whispers nothing but sweet soothing temptations into our ears.
The second thing to ponder on, which really has no importance what so ever other than it is just fun to think about, but what if Eve had eaten the fruit but not Adam? Would she have known evil and sin, but he wouldn't have? Would we have a bunch of men living forever, not having to work hard, and not knowing they are naked, while women are wearing clothes, having pain in labor and die? Dr. Adams (who I asked to waste class time still hoping to get the test pushed back) stated that he believed the disobedience of Eve to God's direct command would have still caused the fall of all mankind to sin. However, like I said, just ponder on it, but then remember both men and women alike are sinners who need the saving grace of our Lord Jesus. Fortunately, He died and arose for all of us, men and women alike. All Praise be to Him!
Dear Heavenly Father,
We remind ourselves that we are sinful beings who directly disobey You daily. We listen to the devil and his sweet lies, and we give in to them. However, because we are still Your children, we know we are saved by Your grace. We thank You for the death and resurrection of Your Son, by which is the only means we can be seen as clean in Your eyes, and know we are redeemed and one day headed home to You. Please give us the strength to resist the devil, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to help keep us accountable to our faith. In Your Son's most holy and precious name we pray. Amen.
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