9 - 11 May 2009 (Steven)

Bible
Still working my way through Judges. Today I got to the inspiring account of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth's faith, and Boaz's compassion, are an Old Testament example of how we should live as christians today.

Books
Some light reading after my brain has been battered at the hands of the Synod Blue Book. I'm currently reading "Great British Wit - The Greatest Assembly of British Wit and Humour Ever". Note the (obviously PhotoShopped) image of Winston Churchill's victory salute! My favourite is former British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli's famous quite of distrust: "Lies, damned lies, and statistics".

Internet
I wrote an article on the use of usufructs in estate planning, for specialist tax website MoneywebTax. This is how I supplement my stipends!

I also found this gem, "100 Facts of Life". I just had to put this on my own blog!

2 to 4 May (Jenny)

Witches Abroad: By Terry Pratchett. I'm rereading this. All about 'narrative causality'. Pratchett with a unique take on 'the power of story'.
God is Closer Than You Think: How's this? 'Internally, most of us want to experience the feelings of God's presence; a deeper sense of peace and assurance, a stronger surge of joy, a clearer word of guidance. Is it even possible for the practice of the presence of God to become a thinly veiled pursuit of emotional comfort?' (Page 179).
James 5: Perseverance in the face of suffering. Oh yes.
Hebrew 1: I've just done a series of this in a Bible Study, so Hebrews is still quite fresh to me. Jesus is greater than the angels. Actually, Jesus is God. Well, Jesus is awesome!

1 to 2 May

Internet: I read a whole lot of stuff! On Boing Boing I read about how people can go insane being in solitary confinement because we need people to give us feedback. To adjust our behaviour and to have a sense of who we are.


Orphans of the Sky: I finished the Heinlein. Interesting thought that if we did not have daily and seasonal changes (such as a controlled environment) we might not think to measure time. There might be just then and now.

God is Closer Than You Think: Read about how we have a yearning to know what is beyond death and beyond our knowledge of life. Found a quote that drilled itself into my Masters, it being so exactly what I needed, and I abandoned reading for the time being.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: I very seldom watch TV. But I bought this dvd and watched 50 minutes - and then the dvd drive on my pc gave in (as it usually does).

James 4: James seems to be writing into a different context to the other NT writers. I realised recently that the Jews were businesspeople of note, even in NT times. There were communities scattered throughout Asia Minor - and they were rich. In fact, much of the persecution of Jews was in the form of taxes - not because of religious issues, but because they were rich. So I wonder if James doesn't write into the context of communities like that. But he was based in Jerusalem. I don't know.

30 April to 1 May

Orphans of the Sky - Robert Heinlein. I read a few pages of this - I'm about halfway through the book. Old fashioned science fiction. From a time when people were easily shocked by things that were different (mutants, loose morals, whatever). I enjoy Heinlein (not his brain tumour era, though). This book wonders how people would be if they had grown up on a world-size spaceship, with little historical memory of how they came to be there.
Proclaiming our Faith Workbook - TEE College I have to read this for my phase one studies. Very lightweight - but there is a legitimate place for that. I read carefully those bits that pertain to culture (which could be useful for my Masters dissertation) and about funerals.
God is Closer Than You Think - John Ortberg I'm rereading this - for maybe the fourth or fifth time. It still reminds me that 'it's all about Jesus'. I read about Job and 'winter in the Christian life'.
James ch 2 & 3. I'm doing a programme that takes you through the Bible in three years put together by Tim Chester. I'd put in a link, but last time I looked the document was not there. James pulls no punches in his writing. He tells it like he sees it. That is refreshing. Paul writes in a contorted way sometimes. James 2 says that faith without deeds is dead.