Known unconvictions

There are many things that I've heard before. Particularly the kinds of things that preachers say. Even the kinds of things that theological lecturers say. And, dare I say it, things that principals of theological colleges say.

Am I the only one who switches off when I hear something that I've heard before?

I think in the context of theological education there's a problem with my attitude. I'm pretty sure that there's a reason that Bruce keeps banging on about the same things and it's not because he's getting old and has forgotten that he's just said the same thing 5 minutes ago.

What ends up happening is that by the time I get really frustrated enough with Bruce for repeating the same things so many times over, I actually start to think about it. And I can tell that he's not repeating it so that I know it. It's because he wants me to be convicted by it. So convinced, that it will shape my life and ministry in ways that will keep me faithful and protect God's people.

In the times that I get to that point, it's a little easier to listen. Even with a fuzzy head.

A little too much, perhaps?

I was at college today, when I overheard a discussion regarding an unnamed theological college student (not at QTC) who had what he thought to be a more culturally relevant translation of Genesis 2:23.

It involved an elegantly subtle translation of "zoth hapa'am" (loosely transliterated) which he rendered "Phwoooaar!!!".

This piece of brilliance was followed by a masterful work of literary art, using wordplay drawn from current Western parlance, substituting the word 'boner' for 'bone'. Sadly, I wasn't able to hear the rest of this 'translation' and so am unable to reproduce it accurately here.

Despite the obvious maturity of this scholarship one could, perhaps, accuse the student in question of having an over-realised sexchatology. I keenly await the publication of this forthcoming translation.

A weekend away

Back now. It's been ages, my blog-friends. My apologies.

What should a start of year theological college retreat be?

We enjoyed hearing each others' testimonies and praying for each other.

We heard a cracking Bible talk on Gen 4 about the ill fate of jealousy and the word of forgiveness spoken by the blood of Jesus.

We heard about the need for personal formation as well as intellectual endeavour.

We heard about the need to rightly engage a changing culture with an unchanging message.

We sang to our great God together.

We thought about the nature of true knowledge, and that it is relational as well as objective.

It was all really good.

Unfortunately, the thing we didn't enjoy together in the program was the beauty of laughter and levity together. I just wish we'd have been able to add not taking ourselves too seriously to taking God's word, mission and ministry seriously.

Nearly :) but just a tiny bit :|