The end is nigh...

Now is about the time of year when rumours arise of appointments for the second year cadets. If they have been told, they are sworn to secrecy. Imagine keeping that sort of secret for over another month before anyone else is allowed to find out! I suppose it does benefit those who have to start looking for schools for their children and making Christmas plans...

But for us first year cadets, it seriously makes us think that about this time next year, it will be our turn. Our fleeting time at college will be up and we will be sooned unleashed onto some poor unsuspecting corps. In the most literal meaning and non-profane way possible - God help us all. And thankfully, we are assured that he will.

Every new Officer that I have spoken to in the last few months gives the same piece of advice - make the most of college while you are there. Soak it in; ask questions, take lots of notes. We will never have this sort of learning environment again with such a range of experience and variety of teaching. We have some wonderful godly people here at college, who are encouraging and motivating. We should listen to their guidance and wisdom, in order to learn from their mistakes.

And so, with the future in mind, I urge all of the Ambassadors of Holiness to really enjoy the remaining time we do have here at college, making the most of it. I confess that I have in the past months maintained a pretty slack attitude about classes that I find 'less interesting' than others. Having a big session means we can sit in the back row, pass notes, and do other class readings and work on projects without anyone noticing. But, as I am learning from expereince of delivering sermons to noisy, fidgety groups that this is actually really disrespectful and distracting to others who are genuinely interested in listening...

This doesn't mean we all have to strive for an A++ grade average and not be satisfied with any less... All we can give God is our best and that requires our full attention, focus and time. As we were told in one of our first lessons 'this college does not want to produce 'good students'; they want to empower good officers.'

So enjoy college; as before we realise it, the end will be nigh... And most importantly - remember to HAVE FUN! Play a few pranks, joke around, enjoy yourself... this isn't a prison but a stepping stone.

Saturdays

I, Sarah, am preaching my first proper sermon tomorrow at my Mission Placement Corps. This is being assessed by a retired Commissioner who is to observe, take notes, and meet with me later in the week to tell me how he thought it all went.

As with other things we have led and been assessed for, it is a strange situation to be leading others into worship/teaching while being concious that someone is observing you critically and taking notes. Now I'm not worried about preaching herecy or offending too many people, as the drafts of this message have been read and monitored by college staff, but still, the mere fact that someone is watching with a cliboard and pen handy just adds to the pressure!!!

What I do love though, is that the people in the corps seem to genuinely care, support and engourage us. The same can be said for the college staff. But ultimately, they are not the one whose approval we want, for that we must look heavenward. All I want to do is be used - be used as a messanger/example of God's love and word to people. And if I am not nervous about doing that, then I shouldn't be doing it at all.

Sun!

There are very clear hints around that winter is coming to an end; the sun is out, the birds are joyfully noisy, cadets are out planting and tending gardens and washing can be almost confidently hung outside to dry. Joggers are also getting alot of fresh air in preparation for the end of year fun run. The only problem with bad weather is having to stay inside in classes! I suppose you can't please everyone.

Work is also starting to pile up again - due dates looming on the horizon and Christmas is in sight.

But for now - go outside and enjoy the weather while it lasts - spring has a habit of being fickle...

Can the fish see the water?

Yesterday in Foundations for Pastoral Care we were discussing various aspects of NZ European culture and how it affects us. But really, can we, who are seeped in the culture and usually totally oblivious to it, can we really see it? Do we know why we do what we do, why we say what we say, why in Invercargill people speak funny and call a vacuum cleaner a lux and a holiday home a bach or crib? Can we really see the culture we are absorbed in? Can the fish see the water?

The answer usually is not really - unless that fish is removed from it and put into something else, or steps back and tries really really hard. But if you are from a minority culture or have traveled and experienced other cultures, you may have noticed just how unique and strange NZer's really are. We do some odd things... We say some odd things... Things here that are acceptable are completely taboo in other nations. Things we are strict on are loosely regarded elsewhere.

The concusion to this discussion was that Christianity is counter-cultural. We have been born again into a new culture - a kingdom culture - of which we can look and see the positive and negative aspects of the culture we have come from, and hopefully do something about it.

Divinity of Jesus

Todays 'Thinking Biblically' class is touching on the divinity of Jesus. What are your thoughts? Some topics such as these always raise issues that go back to what we were long ago taught and have often believed since we were children.

The Salvation Army believes that God is 'truly and properly man AND truly and properly God.' But what does this mean and how does this work? On one extreme end of belief are those who emphasize more the humanness of Jesus, he ate, slept, went to the loo and was just divinely chosen by God to do all these wonderful miracles. On the other extreme is those who believe Jesus was fully divine and would have known at birth his divine destiny. Our doctrine says he is both.

An interesting statement made in the class was 'we as Christians tend to lean more towards believing in the truly divine Jesus' - it just makes sense of all the things that he did, all the miracles and amazing wonders - because he was/is God. Its a tidy argument. But to really grasp that he did all this just as a regular Joe Bloggs?

Week three

This is the start of our third week back, and I'm pretty sure we are all ready for another holiday already! The holidays were a great time off, but returning here to college for me really made it feel like home. Back to our own beds, showers, pre-readings, assignments and piles of washing. Sigh... this is the good life.

There is a nice little community atmosphere around college now (or should I say commune...). People are in and out of other people's houses and the kids have a fantasticly large play area/bike track around all our units. People keep an eye out for each other and are usually genuinely interested in the daily stuff that goes on. I know it all sounds peachy and PG13 but it is actually a really nice place to live and study. Just a shame about this weather today! Rain means winter is coming to an end right?!?

Classes are stepped up a little this semester, more is expected of us including preaching and leading in our Mission Placement Corps and soon another Mission Weekend around Upper Hutt somewhere. We also have a elective night class on a Wednesday which is open to the public - so all you who want to know what we do can sign up and join a class or three with us! Trust me, they aren't all deeply theological and high brow... today we talked about 'The Life of Brian' and yesterday we were learning story telling from Thomas the Thank Engine...