new word alive 2009
this year's event was as excellent as last year's, the main difference being the dedicated international student track this year. it was a great privilege to meet other international students studying in the uk, even if it meant not being able to attend the main Bible reading sessions by Vaughan Roberts (including his take on 1 Corinthians 7).
what kept me from attending the main Bible reading sessions at an alternative slot was mike reeves' series on the history (not the future) of justification. while it raised a number of questions about the so-called new perspective on Paul, i came away with the feeling that the old perspective hasn't really understood what the new perspective is trying to say. i lean towards the new perspective, but that's a different story.
confirmed speakers for new word alive 2010 include Wayne Grudem, Jerry Bridges and Rebecca Manley Pippert. time to start planning for next year!
london
after spending 5 nights in wales, i headed straight to london for a programme of uk prison visits (the singapore prison service got in touch with her majesty's prison service and kindly arranged for 4 of us - prison scholars studying in the uk - to visit different institutions in london). it was an eye-opening experience, but i won't go into details here.
being in london, i took the opportunity to attend all souls church and ocf. it was a great blessing to catch up with old friends and make new ones. i also took the opportunity to visit my housemate peter in st albans, just outside of london.
through it all, i thank God not only for His saving grace, but also for His common grace; for providing food, clothes, shelter, health, safety, good weather, trains which run on time...
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
on a bright note (literally), winter is over and summer is coming. the nights are getting shorter and the days are getting longer. above all, we rejoice in the Easter message that Jesus has defeated death - not on the cross, but in the resurrection. the sun has risen and the Son has risen!
[what happened on the cross is not the defeat of death. what happened on the cross is the description of death. on the other hand, what happened in the resurrection is the defeat of death. of course, this does not undermine the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.]
new birth, new creation, new life has begun!
See what a morning, gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem
Folded the grave clothes, tomb filled with light
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God's salvation plan
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice
Fulfilled in Christ the Man
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (NIV)
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