So a short sweet report and the next one will follow fairly swiftly!
Church History (part 2)
Well last week we did the reformation and onwards and how it wasn't just Luther but many people challenging the corruptness of the papacy (their mistresses, inquisition, selling of "indulgences" and the like) and their traditions which didn't stand up to scripture (as people read the original Greek texts which were released from Constantinople just before it fell. These showed just how poor Jerome's Latin "Vulgate" translation was, which said things like "do penance" instead of "repent").
Also went through the very messy English reformation (which made me just cry out to God and repent for our nation). And then the various revivals where social action (John Wesley, William Booth, Wilberforce, Shaftsbury, George Muller), spiritual outpourings (eg Welsh revival under Evan Roberts) and then God's miraculous healings (through Smith Wigglesworth and George & Stephen Jeffreys and the like) were key. Some of the healings just made our jaws drop and even us Christians who have seen God do amazing things (eg my sisters epilepsy cured, my friend's blindness cured, my wife's polycystic ovaries cured) were just shouting "no way!"
. Great stuff.Tumbling Bay
This week we organised skittles (ie indoor bowling) for the old people - have to say they (and we) had a great time. We're in Derby next week but the week after we will be doing Romanian and Ghanian dance and music courtesy of Daniella and Beverley, respectively.
Pregnancy
Little jellybean is still with us and our 12 week scan is on 25th Nov. Unfortunately, Jen's SPD has progressed very quickly this time and she is already on crutches and finding it hard to do many of her jobs. However the OTs will be coming round next week to assess her and provide various zimmer products
to help her around the house and various people from the church are
already volunteering to help with housework, cooking and lifts from
school.Reflections
It's been a really amazing week for devotions so much so that they've had to delay starting the lectures as we were overwhelmed with His presence and love. For me I was really moved when Joe said in his devotions "we came to college for that Sunday Resurrection feeling but are finding out that we have to go through the Good Friday first" - I had been feeling that Jen's pregnancy (meaning I won't be able to go on the mission trip) and disability (meaning I'm late to college each morning and so miss out a bit on devotions) will mean that I'll miss out what God's got for me and my year is wasted.
However after dropping off Lizzie and Josiah to school in the car (and so already being late) I was miserably trying to get my moped started (don't buy Piaggio
)
and I was suddenly overwhelmed by the delicious irony of the situation
- here I was trying to get to college so I wouldn't miss out on what
God had for me in the devotions and I felt Him say that I was missing
out on what He had for me in my troubles! He was right I was limiting God to only speaking and moving in one particular way! I suddenly realised that this isn't out of God's will - as if He didn't know what was going to happen this year - this is what he has for me - these are the circumstances that I need to go through to grow and mature (one of the key things I had been praying to happen this year). So yes we're still going to pray for healing for Jen's SPD (...Claire at Didcot church was miraculously healed of this) but I'm also embracing all He has for me at this time. Bring it on!
) - where we were exploring Jesus' command to love your enemies and how
this has been the distinguishing feature of "true" Christianity from
the martyrs forgiving their enemies, to modern day examples in WWII, the
Rwandan genocide and South Africa. Just to get hold of how God loves
us - even when we were enemies of Him - and forgives us of so much - how
can we do anything but share the love He has shown (and given) us.
Sorry if I'm repeating myself - but it was so cool to get hold of this -
I am so much more forgiving of those who are cutting me up on my moped.
Bless 'em!
).
Being at my one church has pros and cons - the pros being that we can
develop our life as a family in the community, the cons being that we
might not get as many opportunities. However chatting with our pastor
we're going to be working on some kids work - specifically some praise
parties as sometimes the main church service can be a little dull for
those who want to run and jump (and for the children too ;) )