short update

Finished Luke and half way through 1 Corinthians.

When I say half way, I mean I have read it 2 1

/2 times and Paul is kicking my butt as normal. 

There has been questions with context and it all comes back to Historical Background. Looking at the passage as if I were in the time it was written and then applying those truths to my life today. 

Thanksgiving is coming up very soon and there are enough Americans here on base that would like to celebrate together, so we will have a nice dinner at one of the leaders homes. There would be to many people to cook for if we made a Thanksgiving dinner for the whole base, even though that would be really cool to do. 

I wind around these parts has been quite intense, and not all that enjoyable to go outside. I hope it lets up in the next week or so.

It looks like I will be sticking around these parts for Christmas. I had thought that I might get to go else where but plans have changed and for all I know it could be for the better. A group of friends are look to rent out a cabin for the two weeks off... so time will only tell. 

I can only download five photos at a time and so I would like to show you a little more of the hike the other day...

Love and Hugs

Lauren-Jean

p.s.

The Photo of a close up shot on the city below, you can see the base. If you follow the river bridge to the left... and follow the bridge as it becomes a street into the city till it then becomes a pizza shape you can find my place. It is sort of like where is Waldo or where is Lauren going to school?

Week in Romans and at the Top!

This week in the life of Lauren!

Well, Life is great and I am loving all that God is showing me. Finished 1st & 2nd Thess, Romans, and now I am working in Luke. The Thessalonians's were enjoiable and Romans was really something... my head is still spinning with all the theology. 

I received a revelation this week that might sound a little silly but none the less it has been quite heavy for me. I went to church last Sunday, down town in the city. A group of the student wanted to checkout the Hillsongs church that just started a couple months ago in Cape Town. While we were on the train heading into town "which took about an hour each way" there were men preaching the "Turn or Burn" theory. As they were ranting and raving, running up and down the train it made me sick to my stomach. The theology they were spitting out sounded nothing like the Jesus I know and love and I would have thrown something at them if my conscience hadn't gotten the best of me... oh ya and the group of students I was with wouldn't have been to happy with me if I had started a fight with a couple crazy men. 

On the way back from church we got another one and this time he was talking about Beelzebul having blue eyes and blond hair. Again I had to with strain myself from chucking something at him in order to silence the chaos, a little old man came and sat next to me. Clearly this man had just come from Temple wrapped in his traditional wears. He grabs my bible which was sitting on my lap with my right hand tightly clinching it. I pulled back and silently we play tug-a-war until I relinquish it over, out of curiosity. He pulls back page after page till he came to the book of Isaiah... He pointed to a passage and ask me to have HIM explain the meaning. I asked who do you want to explain? and he responded with pointing to the man running up and down the train wearing a yellow reflectors vest, pounding on a Bible, shouting "Turn or Burn". I sat there think what does this little old man want me to do? Then it all started to click (it takes me a little while to catch-on sometimes, you could say I am not the sharpest tool in the shed), he thought that I was with Mr. Crazy and he wanted an explanation of this passage he was pointing to. I looked at this man with the most interested, dumb-founded, look and sincerely stated that I had never met this man in my life. He responded back "I don't believe you, why do you have this" (shaking my bible). I explained that it was the Sabbath and on Sunday I go to church and almost always bring my Bible. It took about five more minutes of convincing before he agreed that I did not know Mr. Crazy. I just remember saying "you don't have to believe me but I have never seen this man before, the end". 

We talked about Jesus being a profit vs. the Son of God and many other interesting theological questions he had regarding the New Testament and I had over the Koran.  My revelation of Gods love for this man was so overwhelming I wanted to cry. I felt a peace about every moment I spent talking to him and listening to him. A burden and yoke I had placed on myself for "saving lives for the Kingdom of God" was something God had NEVER places on me, but I on my self. The silly idea, of me doing anything for God... but the realization that God does it all... that I can do nothing without him... that it was never me saving people it has always and will always be God moving and doing. If God wishes to use me great! I love it! But as I sat there with this beautiful old man who thought I was speaking heresy, God released me of the burden I had placed on my self. It does not matter how much arguing I can do regarding scripture or convincing that Jesus is the Son of God... It comes from God alone... the realization of who he is... (Romans 1:19)

I hope that I get to see him again just to say hi...

The week was great... I climbed Mount Muizenberg with some of my class mates and that was a workout and a half, if I ever said so. I pulled an all nighter and and headed up the Mount at about 4:30am. One other friend stayed up with me and we finished up work on Romans while making home made bread for the picnic we planed on having at the top of the mount. The pictures are of the hike and the pics that I had downloaded in previous blogs "taken outside my room" are what the hill looks like form some distance. I think I almost threw-up at the top and twisted my ankle on the way down... but it was all worth it. Climbing up in the dark and getting to see the sun rise from the top made every moment completely worth it!

I send my love home and over seas!

P.S. 

To the Vopinek Family you can come visit me anytime there is always a free room and food... but it's no Marriott... sorry :0(

Thanks mom for the Package it really meant a lot! The weather has become quite cold the last couple days so the chocolate and socks have come in handy.

Thanks Court for the update at home... it is much appreciated.

Leah you are a true angel... thanks for the hand written letter and of coarse the support :0) have fun at the LA socials... sorry I can't be there with you, but I am in spirit!

Tricia, I hope you saw my new facebook photo... thanx much and I am expecting an update from you and Whits on the Office really soon...

Renee keep up the hard work at school! miss ya girl!

To all family and friends I send my love!!!!