No, I'm not dead!

The big long break on this blog has been entirely un-coincidental with my last weeks and months here at College.

But I now have my dissertation sitting next to me on the desk, ready to be handed in within a few minutes. What a joy to spend a whole year in the Book of Psalms, looking at how it fits together, how themes develop across it, and so on.

And after my Doctrine of God exam tomorrow, life should have a little more time for blogging... And I've a ton of ideas! Aiming to blog much much more regularly - hopefully most days - over the Summer.

But for now: all thanks to God that my dissertation is finished!

The Character of a Wise Theologian

A wise theologian will enjoy losing an argument.

Obviously I'm not referring to 'losing' a debate with an atheist (such a debate can never actually be lost, though one may appear to lose).

But if, in a theological argument, you are taught, corrected or rebuked, then you are learning.

And if you're wise, the activity of learning will please you.

You wouldn't want to go on being wrong just for the sake of pride, would you?

So: If I see God in a dream tonight, I will ask for wisdom.

In fact, may I just keep asking God for wisdom anyway!

I'm A Guinness World Record Holder

OK, together with the other 5,566 people involved. But I was here last Monday, and have the coconuts to prove it!

An Isaac Watts Cracker!

Thanks to Mark Arnold for pointing this out to me. Great hymn by Isaac Watts.

All nature is an open book
to spread her maker's praise abroad,
and every page on which we look
shows something worthy of a God.

But in the grace that rescued man
his brightest form of glory shines;
here, on the cross, it's fairest drawn
in precious blood and crimson lines.

Here see his name complete appear;
no mind can guess, nor reason prove,
which of the letters is most clear,
the power, the wisdom or the love.

Here I behold his inmost heart,
where grace and vengeance strangely join,
piercing his Son with sharpest smart
to make the purchased pleasures mine.

O the sweet wonders of that cross
where God the Saviour loved and died!?
It's noblest life my spirit draws
from his pierced hands and feet and side.

Let me for ever speak his name
in sounds to mortal ears unknown,
with angels join to praise the Lamb
and worship at his Father's throne.