Another Study Year Up!

A frantic last month or two has rocketed past - and here we are in the middle of my final week in the Hawkes Bay this year.

   I've just completed my final exam and sent it off....

   My Mum arrives tomorrow afternoon....

   I get my first tertiary qualification on Saturday (a diploma from The Shepherds Bible College)....

   The CD I've made arrived in the mail this morning, and will be available next Friday....

                  Lots is happening. 

Next Monday I travel down with my Mum to Dunedin for five weeks down in the deep south, mostly working on the farm up in the scorching Central Otago heat. Following that I return north to set off for three weeks of music ministry in churches around the upper North Island.

Then next year I'll be doing a internship in music (what else) at Onekawa Bible Church, where I've been since February. Very excited about this opportunity. Also I'll be continuing to take papers at The Shepherds Bible College (tsbc.org.nz). Then after that.... we'll see. In other words, I don't know yet. But God does, and I'm resting in that. What's the point in being anxious about the future? God has it already all mapped out.

What a year of study its been. I continue to say that this is the most enjoyable study I've done in my life. Just a pity it took me 25 years to discover that (it could have been 50 I guess). The Bible is continuing to come alive for me! I continue to understand God's ways and nature more and more each week, and growth is often slow, but I think I have been slowly growing in different ways.

Theology has never been so practical! The Bible has never been so real-life! Now I just want to get out there and teach others - impart some of what I've learned, and help others grow and mature in their faith.I think growing in my desire to live my life alongside and disciple other Christians younger in the faith.

Discipleship. It may not be easy, it may not always be fun - in fact it generally will take patience, sweat, tears, prayer, humility, honesty, and a lot of time. It's what we're called to.

Closing In

Well presently I am immersed in study. But in only two weeks, exams, projects and lectures will be over for the year that is 2011. As other tertiary students know, once you get your head down and into the work, the weeks roll on by like golf balls down a dry green. I've shifted my base to the Hawkes Bay, but still home will always be home (I'll always have Otago blood in me and be a true southerner). And homewards is where I head in less than three weeks. I have enjoyed settling into life up here, finding it a very easy transition (well it's not like its a completely new culture!)

And I've come to see how lucky I am to be studying here at The Shepherds Bible College - excellent teachers, great opportunity to do ministry in a local church alongside the academic intake, fairly small so personal and friendly, and committed to remaining faithful to God and His Word in a world where His words of power and life are largely ignored or misinterpreted. I recommend and will continue to recommend Shepherds highly. And not just those headed towards a lifetime of ministry, but all Christians, no matter what their maturity or experience. Just taking a year out will deepen your love for Christ and the Scriptures hugely - I've seen that this year first hand with people who've decided to take some classes to just help them grow in their Christian walk. Check it out at http://www.tsbc.org.nz/. For me, the Scriptures have come alive this year more than ever before!

So page one of my Hawkes Bay chapter is almost complete. In December, January, and February, alongside some work, I'll be aiming to record a full length worship album project - called 'To Him Be the Glory'. Stay tuned on that one, more details and perhaps a sample or two are to come. But to share the vision of the project with you at least:

 ..... to produce and offer songs of worship for the wider body of
Christ in New Zealand, that have God-centered/glorifying, and
Scripturally-based lyrics, are quality songs, and yet are accessible
enough for all variety of different local churches to learn, teach,
and use in a congregational setting.

Looking forward to working on it over the summer with Tommo! But let's not get too far ahead. I had better flick down my laptop lid and delve back into the Greek vocab for the time being.....