Laurie Guy writes...
How can we be both saintly and human at the same time? Are we always to be sweet and syrupy? Is that real? Or just a façade?
It’s an issue Martin Luther wrestled with a lot. He came up with the formula, ‘simul iustus et peccator’ = ‘at the same time both sinful and justified’. He recognised the persisting strength of both the new person in Christ (the new Adam) and the old person (the old Adam). In his view the old person did not simply disappear through Christian conversion: ‘old Adam is drowned in baptism but he’s a mighty good swimmer’.
A chap with platted hair and tattoos all over his body was whacking into the punching bag at the gym the other day. Really whacking in. I jokingly said to him that I was glad he was taking it out on the bag and not on me. ‘Oh’, he said, ‘we call the bag “the psychiatrist”.’ Not a bad idea. Better working through your feelings there than hitting the missus.
How to work through your feelings is a crucial issue also for Christians. My church has been going through a lot of turmoil. There are a lot of feelings swirling around at present. What are we to do with them?
Christians do have feelings – negative feelings at times, as well as positive. And the negative feelings are often targeted at people who’ve hurt us or let us down or – whatever. What do we do about the feelings?
Some of the Psalms suggest we let it all hang out in prayer – pour out our emotions to God. Even our yucky feelings. And Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians (4.26) also seems to encourage us to ventilate our emotions: ‘Be angry’, he says.
Yes, but that’s only half the verse, ‘. . . but do not sin’. When do we sin? Elsewhere there is indication that destructive feelings towards others are sinful (Matt 5.22). We are often right to be angry – but not against others. Yet most times our anger is towards others.
So what are we to do? Maybe along with our piety, good workouts at the gym are not a bad idea. And if we’re angry, maybe we should go and see ‘the psychiatrist’. Take it out on ‘him’.
TUESDAY 11th
DIY Day
Carey’s annual clean-up event when we spend the morning working around the campus. A fun, creative community event finished off with a BBQ lunch together.
NB: Communication Corners will still take place but Formation Groups and Worship will be cancelled for this week.
WEDNESDAY 12th
Carey Prayer in the Chapel
12:40-1:00pm
Praying for the college, community, country and people. All welcome.
CENTRE FOR INTERCULTURAL STUDIES
This week Tania from OMF will be on-site. Take the opportunity to interact with her and find out more about the organisation and its work.
ART WEEK - Thank you!
Thank you to all those who submitted an art work for display last week. There was a great range of talent and creativity and we applaud you! At Tuesday lunch this week we will be giving out some ‘awards/ to various submitters.
Photos of the vegetable creations done over last Wednesday lunch are on the wall in the dining room—some great lateral thinking certainly evident in some of them!
A catalogue from the One Tree Hill College Art Trust has been placed at reception. This outlines the wide range of works that have been collected by the college since the 1960s –originally started from proceeds from their tuck shop!
DIY DAY
Tuesday 11 August; 9:30am– 1:00pm
Don’t miss our annual ‘Clean-up’ around the campus next week.This takes place instead of the usual Formation Tuesday.
9:30am Morning tea in Dining Room
10:00am DIY team projects for you to sign up to.
12 noon BBQ lunch
Please bring whatever gear you have—particularly buckets and rags!
Book Launch
“Theosis in the Theology of Thomas Torrance”
By Dr. Myk Habets
Date: Thursday 13 August
Time: 10.00am
Venue:Carey’s Dining Room
Torrance's vision of Theosis (deification/divinisation) is explored through his doctrine of creation and anthropology, his characterisation of the incarnation, his accounts of reconciliation and union with Christ, and his theology of church and sacraments. Myk Habets' study distinguishes Torrance's Reformed vision of theosis from other possible accounts of salvation as divinisation as they are found, for instance, within patristic thought and Eastern Orthodoxy.
This book presents the first critique of the theology of T.F.Torrance to focus on theosis, and examines a model of theosis within the realm of reformed theology built upon Western theology.
BAPTIST HERITAGE DINNER 2009
Saturday 22 August 6:30pm
“Barrycourt”, Parnell, Auckland
Speaker: Dr. Nigel Wright.
Nigel is the Principal at Spurgeon’s College in London. A renowned writer and Church leader Nigel is visiting New Zealand in August at the invitation of the NZ Baptist Union.
You can book a ticket at the Heritage Dinner on the Response Form enclosed with this update. Please give your name and payment of $25/ticket to reception by 14 August.
LIBRARY WEEK—10-14 AUGUST
We are running a number of competitions and events to celebrate Library week.
1. Book reviews: Write a short review of a library book or tell us why this book has been useful for your studies.Not more than 100 words.
2. Capture us: Photography competition.Take a photo of the library or its collection and write a caption of not more than 30 words.
Conditions: All staff and students at Carey Baptist College are eligible to enter (this includes distance students).it to library@carey.ac.nz.We will submit all entries in the blog. All entriesmust be received by Friday 14 August.
Archive tour: Unbelievable but true.wonder what is inside the room? Come for an archive tour and you will be surprised.
10th 11am-11.30am and Wednesday 12th (in Mandarin) 12pm-12.30pm
· Library blog www.aysoncliffordlibrary.blogspot.com.Check the blog for new books, reviews and library notices.
· Library phobia? Book yourself for a free library instruction sessions. Maximum four at a time, two sessions and only ½ hour long.
Starting this week. Sessions are held Monday 1pm and on Thursday 11am.
BOOK BARGAIN
My Worlds in Collision: The Gay Debate in New Zealand 1960-1986
This is on sale at reception for the bargain price of $5. Proceeds go to the Carey Students' Association. Laurie Guy
FOR SALE
Recommended commentary for the Revelation Course
NIGTC (The New International Greek Testament Commentary) - The Book of Revelation - G.K. Beale (1999).
Excellent condition. $75.00
See Peter Benzie
LAIDLAW VS CAREY SOCCER
Laidlaw 2: Carey 2!
A fantastic afternoon for soccer and a hard fought match. Carey scored the first goal, followed by two from Laidlaw and a penalty shot from Carey to even the match. The trophy stays with the hosting side for this year but there will be another opportunity to get it over here!
Huge thanks to all those that played and those that came to support. Photos will be up on careyonline shortly.
MONDAY 17 AUGUST
Next Monday, a Baptist Union seminar is being held onsite at Carey. This will be held in the dining room from 9:30am-5pm.
NB: This means for students:
- no access to the dining room or to the kitchen during these times.
- limited access to the recreation room.
- We will set up the tea/coffee facilities outside the chapel area.
Our apologies for this inconvenience but please bear with us for the day. Please also note that parking could be limited although we will be ensuring students have first priority.