A Full Saturday

I'm feeling a bit sore and sorry for myself tonight - but in a good way!

A couple of friends and I decided that we would go to Chinatown to have Yum Cha for lunch. It was agreed that we would walk - but somehow it ended up being a walk that encompassed Sydney Uni, Glebe, Pyrmont, Ultimo and Darling Harbour before finally reaching Chinatown!

Lunch was, of course, a real treat - very yummy indeed! Thanks Tho, Jen and Dee!!

After coming back and preparing for tomorrow's church events, Dee and I spent time reviewing our lecture notes for our exam this coming Friday on Jonah.

All in all, a busy day.

I think I might go to bed early.

PS Happy 8th birthday Sam!!

Community Living

One of my friends recently wrote a blog post on community living at College and it struck me how different everybody's experiences community living are.

So many variables have to be taken into consideration in order to gauge one's response to the idea of living in a college environment. Personality is a significant factor - an extrovert can enjoy sharing with a large number of others but be frustrated when others are busy and there seems to be nobody around. An introvert can struggle with being overwhelmed by people always being around and a lack of personal space.

For some of the girls I live with, moving to college has been the first time they've moved out of home. For them, college can be an experience of the freedom they have yearned while living at home as an adult. Some of them go back home on weekends to catch up with family, friends, washing, etc.

For others, moving to college has meant moving from interstate or from country NSW and all that is familiar is a long way away.

In some ways, I've been surprised by my own reaction to living at college. As an introvert who has lived alone for a number of years, I expected the adjustment to be significant. And it has been. However, not always in the ways that I imagined.

I had had more than 12 months to really adjust to the idea of moving to college, of moving away from friends and family, of living in one room. Of course the reality is always different to the idea but I think, overall, that I had prepared myself well mentally.

People have often asked me if I miss having my own kitchen and I have to say that I generally haven't. Although I don't mind cooking, I don't find it relaxing the way some seem to and I really only enjoy it when I feel I have time to enjoy it. Throwing something together for dinner after a long day at work was never my idea of fun. So having meals provided suits me fine. Having to go up the road for every meal and being told what time I'm to eat every meal is, however, sometimes a real drag. Having to engage in small talk over every meal is also sometimes just hard work.

What I have really missed is a loungeroom. I spend a lot of time in my room and, quite frankly, I get really tired of only having my desk or my bed to choose from. Somewhere to kick back and unwind is sorely missed.

I also get frustrated by the bathroom arrangement. I've lost count now of the number of guys who I've unexpectedly found in the corridor as I come back from the shower in a robe. Not usually my preference!

There are definitely advantages in living in community - the commute to college is a breeze and there are always people around when you need help of some sort.

However, please pray for me (and my housemates) as we deal with living together. Pray that I will be gracious and tolerant and that I will be always looking out for the needs of others.

Prayer Points

Firstly, apologies once again for the lack of posts over the last few weeks. As a way of updating you a bit on what's happening in my life at present, I thought I'd post some prayer points.

Praise points

• Praise God for the baptism yesterday of my niece, Jessica.
• Praise God for the opportunity to celebrate my nephew's second birthday and to spend time with family yesterday.
• Praise God that I survived the Greek exam on Friday and the crazy lead-up to it.
• Praise God for a terrific night's sleep last night - best one in several weeks!
• Praise God for the fabulous friends that he has given me and for their encouragement and support.
• Praise God for sending Jesus to die for us.

Prayer points

• Pray that Jessica will grow up to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. Pray that the adults around her will be faithful in telling her of God's love for her.
• Pray that I won't forget to keep on top of my Greek over these next weeks and months so that next year won't be a shock.
• Pray for diligence and the ability to study well for the other exams that are coming up.
• Pray that my studies won't be merely an academic exercise, but that I will be aware that I am dealing with the living word of God, which can change and refine my heart.
• Pray that we students will be gracious and loving with each other as we approach exam time.
• Pray that I will continue to get appropriate rest and refreshment so that I can apply myself well when I am working.
• Pray that I will be able to work out living arrangements for the time of the college holidays (with a minimum of stress).

Thanks for your ongoing support in this area.

Pornified Culture

I apologise for the shocking title but this was the name of a talk that I heard this afternoon that looked at how pornography, the objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls harms us as individuals and as a society.

Melinda Tankard Reist of the Women's Forum Australia came to Moore College to speak on this disturbing subject. From Bratz dolls to sexualised clothing for children to the mainstream advertising of sex services to internet porn, there is no doubt that we are rapidly becoming immune to the reality and the enormity of this issue.

Melinda went through some shocking statistics about the rapidly lowering age of sex offenders, the amount of money spent in Australia on pornography, the availability of porn to adults and children and the impact of that porn on sexual relationships and expectations.

Young girls (ie as young as primary school age!) are reading magazines (Girlfriend and Dolly are mainstream) that tell them how to perform sexual acts, and suggest that they need to be flirtatious and sexualised in their behaviour and their dress. In the meantime, the statistics indicate that young boys are far more able to access porn - and are watching it regularly!

These things distort the views of both girls and boys about what is 'normal' and OK in relationships with each other. To think that it is not impacting on kids is to be living in a dream world.

My question to parents who are reading is, do you know what your children are reading and viewing on the internet?? What are you (and I) doing to fight against the trend of sexualising children's toys, clothes and advertising materials? What are we doing to protect ourselves as well?

For the women out there, can I strongly recommend joining the Women's Forum Australia, an organisation that is aimed at speaking up against these and other issues related to women in Australia. They are an organisation that is not afraid to speak out and challenge advertising standards and other things that might not always win them any friends. We can be doing something to fight this trend in Australia - and this is one way of acting.

Fourth Term

Firstly, apologies for not updating my blog recently. You'd think that I'd have had more time to write during my holidays but it just didn't seem to be the case!

I spent the majority of the two weeks at my brother's place in the Lower Blue Mountains - a great opportunity to have some space from people and not have to live in community for a little while. The first of those weeks was spent writing an Old Testament essay, looking at what happened to those left behind in Judah during the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BC. As tiring as those essays can be, I quite enjoy the research and the opportunity to explore a topic at more depth.

The second week was spent catching up on some sleep, catching up with some reading, catching up with some family and making sure that I took at least a little bit of time off before returning to college. It was capped off with a great weekend at Women's Katoomba Convention (more about that in another post).

Fourth term at college started yesterday and it's a little difficult not to start panicking about all that is coming up. Our Greek exam is a little over 3 weeks away (!) with 8 more exams following. The thought of exams is more than a little terrifying but I'm trying to keep in mind that many others have gone before me in this and, what's more, have survived.


Prayer Points

• Praise God for the break that I've had
• Praise God for the fantastic talks at WKC
• Please pray that I will apply what I learned at WKC and that it will lead me to be more godly
• Please pray that I will prepare well for my exams over these next few weeks and that I won't be overwhelmed by it all

Exam Timetable

• 17/10/08 - Greek
• 31/10/08 - Biblical Exegesis and Exposition (Jonah)
• 31/10/08 - Biblical Exegesis and Exposition (Pastoral Epistles) - take home exam due
• 10/11/08 - Old Testament
• 12/11/08 - New Testament
• 14/11/08 - Church History
• 17/11/08 - Philosophy
• 19/11/08 - Mission Foundations
• 20/11/08 - Doctrine

'Holidays'

Well, I'm officially on holidays for the next two weeks. However, I'm certainly learning that holidays around here do not always allow a lot of time for relaxing. I have a big Old Testament essay due in the middle of the holidays (although I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into the reading and writing for the essay). I have chosen to look at the topic of what happened to the people who remained in Judah during the exile of the 6th century BC. Although there is not a lot of data available, it should be interesting nonetheless.

I'll be spending the bulk of the holidays at my brother's house in the Lower Blue Mountains, as he and his family happen to be going away at the same time. After wrapping my head around the idea of packing a bag again, I'm looking forward to spending time in a place where I can spread out to write my essay and have some time to simply unwind.

However, as much as I'm looking forward to that, I'm still struggling with the number of holidays we have a college (I know that sounds weird!). After 15 years in the workforce, where my longest holiday was the four weeks I had before starting college, I have subsequently had another 6 weeks and am about to have another two! I just want some routine that lasts more than a few weeks at a time. I would much prefer that the pace at college was slowed down a bit and that the terms were therefore longer. Does that sound really strange?

Anyhow, we are on holidays, regardless of my feelings about it all, and I know that next term will be crazy as we approach the end of the year and exams. So, please join me in praying that I will not freak out about being on the move again and that I will achieve lots of work while also getting good rest and refreshment.

The Blessing of Friends

Thank God for good friends!!

This week I have been reminded of how we should treasure those friends and remember just how valuable they really are. I have not only been able to spend time with some friends but also have received phone calls and emails, reminding me of their encouragement, prayers and love.

To my friends, I do thank God for you and for our friendship. This journey would be much more difficult without you in my life. I love you guys!!