Been Awhile...

It's definately been awhile since I've posted here. School has now finished - well, all except for exams and the rest of my TESL practicum.

I had the TESL exam this evening, and I think I did ok on it. I have one more class of observation for the TESL practicum, then I can start the teaching part of it. We have to do 10 hours of observation and 10 hours of teaching, and where we go to do the practicum, the classes are 2 1/2 hours in total (they are there for 3 hours, but there is a 1/2 hour break which isn't counted in the hours we have to do).

I've enjoyed the observation part of the practicum, and have been in the beginner class and the high intermediate class. The students are from all over the world, but it seems like the bulk of them are from South Korea (at least from what I've seen so far). Most of the students seem to be anxious and desire to learn English, which is nice. The levels of learning are varried with ones who know no English (or very, very little) to ones who have a great grasp of the language. Of course, they are divided into their appropriate classes.

My next exam is in Post Exilic Writings, and that is this coming Monday. The exam will have one major essay question and about 30-odd short answer questions. He has already given us these questions, we just have to study the answers (for the short answer, which are pretty easy anyway), and prepare the answer for the essay question. I'm not overly worried for this exam, but I do still need to prepare the essay question (which I'll just cut and paste from my notes to form my answer and study that).

The last exam I have, on Tuesday, is for Maritime History. Now that one there is a TON of notes to study. We have class notes, articles we've had to read for discussion classes, and the text book. Most of the exam is going to come from the text book, which I need to go over and highlight. I haven't read all of it so that is freaking me out some. The good thing, though, is that our notes contain a good deal of what is from the text book, so that helps.

Other than school, there hasn't been a whole lot going on. I did improve somewhat on my spiritual life, but still feel stagnant. I've been doing more prayer, though they aren't all that great, and usually just little ones tossed up here and there. My Bible reading has been coming along nicely; I've been reading every morning. I haven't been doing indepth or meditative studying from it, but I have been reading. I know that I need to improve in this area of my life - I've been lazy in my walk. Prayer for me in this area is always welcome :o).

Anyway, I'm feeling quite tired tonight, so I'm going to go do a little knitting before bed. Have to get up and do more studying tomorrow (tonight I'm taking a little break from it) - I'm sick of studying...but it needs to be done. I'll be glad when it's all said and done with Tuesday afternoon!

Have a Christ filled day!

The Cross

"At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match."~ John Wenham ~

The cross was a form of Roman torture. So bad was this style of punishment, that it eventually became eradicated. The one who was nailed to the cross did not die of pain nor loss of blood. The means of death was suffocation. Gravity pulled the body downward, but with no means of supporting ones self, the pressure on the lungs would cause the person to suffocate because of the lack of air reaching the lungs.

This is the form of torture and punishment our Lord suffered. So many people pin this crime on the Jews. In reality, it wasn't just the Jews - it was us. Each and every single person, past, present and future, is responsible for putting Jesus on the cross. We drove those nails in His hands. We drove those nails in His feet.

Thankfully, Jesus was willing to suffer all of that, and more, for us. He wanted us to have freedom. He wanted us to have eternal life. He wanted us to have forgiveness of sins. And He still wants that for everyone today. Over 2000 years later, Jesus longs to have a relationship with each and every person walking the face of the earth. That means you; that means me.

I have to disagree with John Wenham when he states in the above quote, "...where evil did its worst...". I don't think evil did its worst with sending Jesus to the cross. Yes, the whole act was painful and tortureous, but it wasn't the worst thing evil (Satan) could have done. No, the worst think that evil could have done, was to prevent Jesus from dying. The worst thing would have been for Jesus to have not become the sacrifice needed for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Am I happy that Jesus suffered the way He did? Of course not. I am not happy He had to suffer such pain, humiliation, mocking, etc. But, I am happy that He was willing to give up His life for me; I am happy that He loved me so much that He chose death so that I could have life.

And you know what? He did that for you too! Come to Him; accept His offer of eternal life and forgiveness of sins. He loves you, and longs to have a relationship with you.