A Curious Girl: Staples, Memes, and Bible College

I made what has to be a record trip to Staples today. Staples, for those of you who don't have the particular joy of this establishment, is a stationery/computer/office chain, like an uglier version of bits of WHSmith (I used to think that was pronounced "W'Smith"). I spent over Ł50 on stationery. I even forgot to buy a ruler and a pencil sharpener (although I'm sure I can find one somewhere), but hey, never mind. With any luck, all this stuff will help organise me for next term. Doubt it will, but miracles happen.

Chris and Richard wanted me to complete the internet meme for them, so here goes:

Richard:
1. Something random about you:
I am now totally unsurprised when you reveal yet another hidden talent. I'm sure if you said, "I'm a KGB agent" or "I invented the prototype for the Ipod" I'd simply shrug as if to say, "well, that figures."
2. What song/movie reminds me of you:
Do I really have to tell you that it's definitely 'CATS'? or if that doesn't count, I think there's an anime theme that mentions eggs a lot I remember you singing.
3. A flavor of jello to wrestle with you in:
Garlic flavour.
4. Something that only makes sense to you and me:
So what is the Heavyside Layer?
5. My first/clearest memory of you:
It must be your coat-hanger halo at Good and Evil 4.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of:
I told you, it's a giraffe. Tall, quiet, with many hidden talents. Of course no one talks about giraffes' talents, that's because they're hidden.
7. Something that I've always wondered about you:
What do you like most about ballet?

And Chris:
1. Something random about you:
Something about the way you talk is really infectious. James once told Matthew he shouldn't do impressions of you whilst on the phone to you, but I find myself doing it too, all the time. I don't mind :)
2. What song/movie reminds me of you:
The Wicker Man, because I remember you remarking, "I would burn him, he's quite annoying."
3. A flavor of jello to wrestle with you in:
Bolognese flavour.
4. Something that only makes sense to you and me:
Cambridge sucks!
5. My first/clearest memory of you:
I asked what you were doing and you said a PhD in Computer Science, and said that I probably wouldn't understand it at all. You started to explain and I didn't understand it at all. It was after the pantomime in 2002.
6. What animal you remind me of:
I've had trouble thinking of one, but I think maybe a gorilla because they're big and strong but actually very placid creatures who probably also like anime and use the phrase "to be fair" a lot. And because I like the gorillas in Disney's version of Tarzan, they were cool.
7. Something that I've always wondered about you:
How did you resist the urge to kill Matthew?

If you want me to do this internet meme for you, just sign the guestbook or leave a note :)

Chrissie (see blog links on the right) started the first day of her job today. Dad asked me what she was doing, so I told him she was working for the church (and the community. See her blog for more details :) ). He didn't sound too impressed, so I was curious as to how he'd react if I broached the subject of Bible College. Yep, he pretty much reacted how I thought he would - said I could go if I wanted, but he didn't think it was a good idea.

Perhaps 'Bible College' is the wrong phrase, since they all seem to get renamed things like 'school of ministry'. The thing is, I don't want to be a pastor or a minister. I'm fairly convinced, in fact, that God isn't calling me in that direction. I'd rather be involved in outreach - helping people in poor communities, teaching children (the dream just won't go away :) ), helping others. I don't want to lead in the church, I want to lead the church out. :) This may not involve being employed by the church but I believe that Jesus provides us with power to help the poor. He didn't just comfort the sick, he healed them. He also promised provision to anyone willing to 'seek God's kingdom' - anyone who wants to make Earth more like Heaven. He actually said, "Don't worry about what you'll eat or what you'll wear, but first seek God's kingdom, and then you'll get what you need." (my paraphrase, Matt 6:32-33).

One of the reasons I think it would be useful to go to Bible College would be to live out this kind of lifestyle. Call it an experiment. It's no good saying it's impossible to be a disciple if you've never tried being a disciple. If I live in obedience and trust in God, he will look after me. In fact, he already does. Sound crazy? That's why it's so important for me to try it out. If I really love Jesus, I ought to show it by doing what he says. 'Cause if he really loves me, he'll show it by keeping his promises. And that sounds like a fair deal to me. If the 'experiment' works - trust God before looking out for myself - then I'll have personally discovered something of utmost importantance to everyone: God is more important than everything else.

Not only that, but I think it would really help for me to develop discipline in my spiritual life, and it's really helpful to do that around other Christians. Something that struck me recently was that Jesus sometimes healed people - Jairus's daughter, the centurion's servant, the Canaanite woman's daughter, the paralysed man - through the faith of other people: Jairus, the centurion, the Canaanite and the paralysed man's friends. I find it comforting that our friends can be faithful for us, but it's challenging to also be faithful to them. We have to look out for each other :)

Of course, there is a slight worry that if I do go to Bible College, it'll be a strangely monastic and separated way of life. Which would kind of beat the point. Jesus certainly wasn't a monk. So I've been looking into doing something with YWAM (Youth with a Mission), who have an outreach project as part of the course. I don't know, though. Will let you know when things have developed further!

Random word for today: theophany

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