However, I must say, the Newbold library actually quite well competes with the theology section in the diamond – which is no small feat.

Ok, sitting in the researcher’s study area now; need to get serious…

Yesterday, Thomas decided to shave – and leave a mustache in the process. Results:

It’s scary how much he looks like his dad (not that his dad looks scary, that is)

I looked to the field, saw 4 deer standing, and found myself going: ‘Nants ingonyama bagithi baba’

And just as in the movie (where I think it’s an antelope or zebra, but still), one of the deer raised its head and looked towards me.

So I kept going: ‘Ingonyama Ingonyama nengw’ enamabaal’ (which I’ve just now discovered mean ‘it’s a lion and a tiger’)

And suddenly I felt the sun rising to my right, and surely, when I looked, there it was. Admittedly, the little red dot was not as impressive as the African sunrise depicted in Lion King, but still.

It was my Lion King moment

Academically, there might be more of interest in the Jewish-Gentile polemics, but for myself, I can’t help but think a bit about Romans 8.

Life in the Spirit. It seems very accessible. Not even just accessible, but something that is – not only should be, but is – a reality to Jewish as well as Gentile Christians (basically everyone).

So is it just a choice? Can we just choose to live in the Spirit, and God will supply the rest? What does this mean?

Somehow, the questions tend to become larger in number than the answers.

It sounds really good though. Imagine living a truly Romans 8 life…

(might I just add, in case some should be tempted to jump to simplistic conclusions, that much is said in the chapters previous to number 8 about being justified only through faith)

I think he just intended it to be slightly humorous, but it sounded like it may actually have hurt

Lars said something along the lines of ‘This is actually quite ironic, since I usually love dogs’ – yeah right

Somehow, applying this statement would make me feel that I have to offer something to God so that He will bless me. That I have to do something for Him, so that He will do something for me.

If someone can argue this from the Bible, I’m open to looking into it, but for now, it seems conflicting with my understanding of God’s unconditional love. I can see how one could argue it in some form, but the crude statement “when praises go up, blessings come down”, as if God is functioning a bit like a vending-machine puts me off.

On the contrary, I believe we should praise God for what He has done for us, as well as what we know He will do for us, but not because we expect our praises to bring about this act of God. Yes, we should stay attuned to God, yes we should focus on our relationship with Him, yes, God is pleased with our praises, and yes, God loves to bless us, but really – if we praise to get, I believe we have missed the point.

P.S. I feel I’ve been getting a tad critical lately, so please don’t misunderstand me – it was all in all a good evening with lots of sincere people offering their praises

On the downside, I’ve hurt people I care deeply about. I’ve also been exposed to theological rhethorics about the angry part of God.

Somehow, I feel like there should be more. What if every day could be like that monday evening – sitting, praying, earnestly seeking God, not being so concerned about our self-image, but daring to be vulnerable together before His face? Trusting in His love, and seeking His guidance.

“There must be more than this
O breath of God, come breath within
There must be more than this
Spirit of God we wait for You ”
- Tim Hughes (Consuming Fire)

• The amazing game of ‘this is a spoon – what? this is a spoon – what? this is a spoon – what?’
• The amazing (maybe Austrian) game of ‘what is your grandmother’s surname?’
• The amazing game of blowing at pieces of fruit seeing if they will fall over (they don’t – see illustration)
• The amazing (Finnish) game of ‘taking an empty plastic cup and seing how quickly you can move it round and round the pieces of fruit on the table, without the fruit falling over

Hmm… And people say Christians do not have any fun