Good evening, y'all.
I know I should be posting these more often, but school work has been getting in the way of that. I am currently "done" with one paper due Thursday morning and researching and beginning to outline and write another paper, due at the exact same time. Oi.
Oh, I can definitely blame myself, for at least some of it. Yes, I did my share of procrastination. Go figure. I'm still trying to learn how to discipline myself and my studies. It ain't easy. But on the other end of the scale is the amount of work and pressure involved in writing one of these papers. I'm reading and trying to compile as much information on these subjects as I possibly can before I am forced to create some sort of conclusion from my mass of facts and condense it into a 2,000 word essay. And the whole English grading system, at least the one used here, is quite different from America. They read and edit your paper--if you're lucky--but they don't attach any type of letter grade onto it. No percentage either. Very odd.
So I'm writing and writing and forcing myself to write some more, and trying to figure out when to sleep.
On a different note, I'll be going to Edinburgh on Friday! More news to come.
Alright. Time to eat. I am starving. And if I don't eat something now I don't know what good will come of me.
Be seeing you,
RM
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Celebrating Bilbo Baggins'--and Frodo Baggins'-- Birthday
Today, September 22nd, is Bilbo Baggins' birthday. Bilbo Baggins, if you are unfamiliar with him (though I dare say anyone reading this blog better know him quite well) is a hobbit who goes on a dangerous adventure with eleven dwarfs and a wizard in the well-known book, The Hobbit, written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Bilbo also appears at the beginning of Tolkien's epic, The Lord of the Rings, throwing a magnificent party for his eleventy-first birthday. So in memory of Bilbo, some of my friends, like the nerds they are, celebrated his birthday last year, watching a clayanimation version of The Hobbit and drinking to Bilbo's health.
We decided to celebrate his birthday again this year (along with Frodo's, of course, since they both have the same birthday). However, celebrating his birthday was easier last year, seeing as we were at the same school and together to his health. Usually it gets us stares, weird looks, and lots of questions.
Today I couldn't. You see, I'm in Oxford, and most of my favorite partiers and hobbit-impersonators are on the other side of the pond. However, even without my closest friends nearby wearing their cloaks, today was amazing.
You see, I'm in Oxford.
This is where J. R. R. Tolkien lived. He wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in Oxford. He attended mass here. He drank, chatted and discussed engrossing topics in the pubs here. And here, in Oxford, I got to celebrate Bilbo Baggins' birthday.
Kind of cool, huh?
At 5pm we met to go on our tour of the sights. Our first stop was Magdelen College. One of the garden paths was where J.R.R. Tolkien finally converted Lewis to Christianity. Apparently, Tolkien, Lewis, and another friend went on their walk after dinner and didn't come back until 3am in the morning. Yet we left a little late, and due to the college's early closing times, were not able to enter and see the walk. So we trekked to Tolkien's house.
After a good walk from one part of town to another, we arrived at the two houses where Tolkien used to live. The lady who lived there didn't seem too keen on a group of college students staring at her house, so after taking some group pictures and gazing in awe at the historical landmark, we heading back into town. It was dinner time.
[Walking back was quite fun, as was walking everywhere. Just to help you understand, each of these walks takes about fifteen minutes, so there is definitely time to chat. Heading from our meeting point to Magdelen College, a friend and I traded our favorite verses in Ecclesiastes. From Magdelen College to Tolkien's house, many conversations took place. There was mention of The Lord of the Rings movie soundtrack dressing up in full medieval or Renaissance garb for a formal or ball, and steampunk. And returning to town from Tolkien's house, a Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog song was sung and I debated my own subjective view about my desires, beliefs, and why I believed them with my other friend's subjective view of his desires, beliefs and why he believes them (yes, we covered Hume today. Philosophy role-playing. Nice.) Needless to say, the walks were half the adventure.]
Ahem, so we headed back into town, for as I mentioned before, it was dinner time. And where did we decide to go, you ask? Why, yes, that's right. We went to The Eagle and Child. Lewis and Tolkien used to visit this pub every Tuesday to discuss their papers, stories and thought-projects. (You can tell, then why going here was a big deal.) After taking pictures in front of it, we arranged a table in the back for ourselves, went to the bar and ordered. When we had all sat down again, the moment came that we had all been waiting for: someone pulled out the first book of The LOTR series, The Fellowship of the Ring, and we began reading. After only a few sentences, a couple came up to us. Noticing that we were "reading Tolkien", they asked if we had heard about the annual Tolkien festival this weekend, being held in Oxford. We said no, and they went on to explain that on the weekend nearest to Bilbo's birtday, people come from around the world to Oxford to listen to lectures, eat, drink, and talk about Tolkien and his works (For more information, see http://www.oxonmoot.org/ ). We thanked her and continued reading the first chapter, the story of Bilbo's birthday party. As our food arrived, we continued to pass the book around and reading it aloud.
We read until Bilbo disappeared, and part of the group decided to head back. That is, not until someone cried out that we should sing "Happy Birthday" to Bilbo. Before any of us could react, she and a few others had begun singing Happy Birthday loudly. So we had to join along, no matter what we thought, or how weird we felt. [Remember, we're a bunch of twenty year old men and women sitting in a pub, loudly singing a song to a fictional character. We couldn't have just let a couple people out of a group of ten college students sing to a Lord of the Rings character: I mean, that wouldn't have been respectful to Bilbo.]
We arrived at the third line, and we had just sung "Happy Birthday dear Bilbo--" when some people across the room chimed in "And Frodo!" We had forgotten him. We finished the song much more relaxed and in better spirits then we were in before starting. I'm glad that out here, in England and the rest of Europe, there are people just as nerdy as us.
We decided to celebrate his birthday again this year (along with Frodo's, of course, since they both have the same birthday). However, celebrating his birthday was easier last year, seeing as we were at the same school and together to his health. Usually it gets us stares, weird looks, and lots of questions.
Today I couldn't. You see, I'm in Oxford, and most of my favorite partiers and hobbit-impersonators are on the other side of the pond. However, even without my closest friends nearby wearing their cloaks, today was amazing.
You see, I'm in Oxford.
This is where J. R. R. Tolkien lived. He wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in Oxford. He attended mass here. He drank, chatted and discussed engrossing topics in the pubs here. And here, in Oxford, I got to celebrate Bilbo Baggins' birthday.
Kind of cool, huh?
At 5pm we met to go on our tour of the sights. Our first stop was Magdelen College. One of the garden paths was where J.R.R. Tolkien finally converted Lewis to Christianity. Apparently, Tolkien, Lewis, and another friend went on their walk after dinner and didn't come back until 3am in the morning. Yet we left a little late, and due to the college's early closing times, were not able to enter and see the walk. So we trekked to Tolkien's house.
After a good walk from one part of town to another, we arrived at the two houses where Tolkien used to live. The lady who lived there didn't seem too keen on a group of college students staring at her house, so after taking some group pictures and gazing in awe at the historical landmark, we heading back into town. It was dinner time.
[Walking back was quite fun, as was walking everywhere. Just to help you understand, each of these walks takes about fifteen minutes, so there is definitely time to chat. Heading from our meeting point to Magdelen College, a friend and I traded our favorite verses in Ecclesiastes. From Magdelen College to Tolkien's house, many conversations took place. There was mention of The Lord of the Rings movie soundtrack dressing up in full medieval or Renaissance garb for a formal or ball, and steampunk. And returning to town from Tolkien's house, a Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog song was sung and I debated my own subjective view about my desires, beliefs, and why I believed them with my other friend's subjective view of his desires, beliefs and why he believes them (yes, we covered Hume today. Philosophy role-playing. Nice.) Needless to say, the walks were half the adventure.]
Ahem, so we headed back into town, for as I mentioned before, it was dinner time. And where did we decide to go, you ask? Why, yes, that's right. We went to The Eagle and Child. Lewis and Tolkien used to visit this pub every Tuesday to discuss their papers, stories and thought-projects. (You can tell, then why going here was a big deal.) After taking pictures in front of it, we arranged a table in the back for ourselves, went to the bar and ordered. When we had all sat down again, the moment came that we had all been waiting for: someone pulled out the first book of The LOTR series, The Fellowship of the Ring, and we began reading. After only a few sentences, a couple came up to us. Noticing that we were "reading Tolkien", they asked if we had heard about the annual Tolkien festival this weekend, being held in Oxford. We said no, and they went on to explain that on the weekend nearest to Bilbo's birtday, people come from around the world to Oxford to listen to lectures, eat, drink, and talk about Tolkien and his works (For more information, see http://www.oxonmoot.org/ ). We thanked her and continued reading the first chapter, the story of Bilbo's birthday party. As our food arrived, we continued to pass the book around and reading it aloud.
We read until Bilbo disappeared, and part of the group decided to head back. That is, not until someone cried out that we should sing "Happy Birthday" to Bilbo. Before any of us could react, she and a few others had begun singing Happy Birthday loudly. So we had to join along, no matter what we thought, or how weird we felt. [Remember, we're a bunch of twenty year old men and women sitting in a pub, loudly singing a song to a fictional character. We couldn't have just let a couple people out of a group of ten college students sing to a Lord of the Rings character: I mean, that wouldn't have been respectful to Bilbo.]
We arrived at the third line, and we had just sung "Happy Birthday dear Bilbo--" when some people across the room chimed in "And Frodo!" We had forgotten him. We finished the song much more relaxed and in better spirits then we were in before starting. I'm glad that out here, in England and the rest of Europe, there are people just as nerdy as us.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Beginning With Questions
One of the first lessons I learned during orientation was to ask questions. And then ask more questions. And then ask more. Because if you are not asking questions, then you are not really analyzing. And of you've come here to read my blog, then you are either very kind or you are passing me under some sort of test of scrutiny. The latter is most likely driven by your curiosity. Which leads me to my first question:
What has been my opinion of my first week at Oxford?
Which leads me to my second question:
Wait, its only been a week?
Time has passed so quickly and yet so slowly. So much has happened in the week and a half that I have been here, that I barely know where to start. I don't like starting at beginnings, and this is a blog, so I'm going to just record what comes to me and edit out that which is not as intriguing. Remember, you're either here because you're nice and like me or you want to know how Oxford is. Hopefully I can give you a little bit of both.
First off, I am researching the topic of medieval cartography, in terms of the following question: "What can maps tell us of the medieval conception of time OR space OR science OR religion OR paradise OR Britain? Discuss with reference to British maps." Many options as you can see. I'm going to go with space. 2,000 - 2,250 word essay, due Monday. Youch. And tomorrow I'm visiting Hampton Court, palace of King Henry VIII, William III and Mary II. Thankfully I've already seen them, so now I can go there and review the sights.
1) I love walking here.
2) I hate the exchange rate.
3) Really? Only a week? It feels like I've been here for months!
Haha, where's the fourth?
Also, the international students from Biola University have once again outnumbered the kids from any other attending university. We have 10 students!
On some more serious matters, or at least philosophical ones, I have been addressed with the following questions (either directly or through a train of thought):
- How will you take your understanding of history back with you?
- How does one become hesitant with his/her judgments, remaining cynical, and yet without losing the ability to trust?
- How does one correctly research and develop a point of view, especially with concern to the Bible?
- What is a "fact"? (Harder than it seems, people.)
- How does a historian solve the problem of induction? Or do we need to do so as a historian?
- What does it mean to be in communion with the saints? What does it mean to be in the City of God?
- What does it mean to love God? I'm thinking practically, not abstractly. Idealism and abstraction interest me, but I am trying to work with some concrete understandings, without just applying readily available Christian-ese phrases or terms.
- In fourteen weeks, what will you be able to tell others of your attitude?
I have also been thinking on the subject of grace. Due to numerous discussions with a friend on dispensations, grace, sin, blamelessness, and forgiveness, I am truly grasping the underlying truth of the cross. The cross brought us to a state of grace, absolving the debt we owe under the law, fulfilling its promise. The correct response to the cross then is gratefulness. The meaning of gratitude will be prevalent on my mind and heart and soul this semester.
As my boyfriend told me, "You're the stereotypical exchange student, you know that? 'I'm going to England to find myself!' You are." And he's right. I realized that I will be doing plenty of determining me over here, and I've already learned plenty. You know, for me, going to Biola was not such a big jump. I live an hour away, my dad's an alum, I'd visited multiple times and watched him graduate, I knew where everything was. Coming to England, to Oxford? There's a jump. Here I will be out of my skin. Oh, I am still handling it well. I love new adventures, and I am loving the 11 million book-lined Bodleian Library, with 60% of its storage space underground. (I am going to be so spoiled with research when I come home.) But this experience will test me. And I'm joyful for it.
I am so grateful for this experience, to be here, studying In Oxford, as a Student, with access to all the libraries and the like. God has surely blessed me.
And one last thing, before I continue my research, I love the walking. It takes between thirty and forty minutes to get from the city center to the Vines, the Victorian house where I am staying. I have the option of getting a bus pass, and I have the opportunities to but a bike. I might, depending on time constraints and the weather. But I just love having the liberty to go for a walk, and I feel so joyful and refreshed after strolling through the meadows where the cows are eating, or watching dogs run free in the parks. When I walk through the trees I can almost see the lampost in the Western Woods; I walk through the forest as it appears in Eriador and other parts of Middle Earth. O, and what tranquility. Stillness. Refreshment. Life. More than the house, the people, the Nutella, and the books, I will miss the walks. And so those I hold in the highest esteem. I'll take the long road home if for naught but to walk along those paths of peace once more.
Be seeing you. - Rebecca
What has been my opinion of my first week at Oxford?
Which leads me to my second question:
Wait, its only been a week?
Time has passed so quickly and yet so slowly. So much has happened in the week and a half that I have been here, that I barely know where to start. I don't like starting at beginnings, and this is a blog, so I'm going to just record what comes to me and edit out that which is not as intriguing. Remember, you're either here because you're nice and like me or you want to know how Oxford is. Hopefully I can give you a little bit of both.
First off, I am researching the topic of medieval cartography, in terms of the following question: "What can maps tell us of the medieval conception of time OR space OR science OR religion OR paradise OR Britain? Discuss with reference to British maps." Many options as you can see. I'm going to go with space. 2,000 - 2,250 word essay, due Monday. Youch. And tomorrow I'm visiting Hampton Court, palace of King Henry VIII, William III and Mary II. Thankfully I've already seen them, so now I can go there and review the sights.
1) I love walking here.
2) I hate the exchange rate.
3) Really? Only a week? It feels like I've been here for months!
Haha, where's the fourth?
Also, the international students from Biola University have once again outnumbered the kids from any other attending university. We have 10 students!
On some more serious matters, or at least philosophical ones, I have been addressed with the following questions (either directly or through a train of thought):
- How will you take your understanding of history back with you?
- How does one become hesitant with his/her judgments, remaining cynical, and yet without losing the ability to trust?
- How does one correctly research and develop a point of view, especially with concern to the Bible?
- What is a "fact"? (Harder than it seems, people.)
- How does a historian solve the problem of induction? Or do we need to do so as a historian?
- What does it mean to be in communion with the saints? What does it mean to be in the City of God?
- What does it mean to love God? I'm thinking practically, not abstractly. Idealism and abstraction interest me, but I am trying to work with some concrete understandings, without just applying readily available Christian-ese phrases or terms.
- In fourteen weeks, what will you be able to tell others of your attitude?
I have also been thinking on the subject of grace. Due to numerous discussions with a friend on dispensations, grace, sin, blamelessness, and forgiveness, I am truly grasping the underlying truth of the cross. The cross brought us to a state of grace, absolving the debt we owe under the law, fulfilling its promise. The correct response to the cross then is gratefulness. The meaning of gratitude will be prevalent on my mind and heart and soul this semester.
As my boyfriend told me, "You're the stereotypical exchange student, you know that? 'I'm going to England to find myself!' You are." And he's right. I realized that I will be doing plenty of determining me over here, and I've already learned plenty. You know, for me, going to Biola was not such a big jump. I live an hour away, my dad's an alum, I'd visited multiple times and watched him graduate, I knew where everything was. Coming to England, to Oxford? There's a jump. Here I will be out of my skin. Oh, I am still handling it well. I love new adventures, and I am loving the 11 million book-lined Bodleian Library, with 60% of its storage space underground. (I am going to be so spoiled with research when I come home.) But this experience will test me. And I'm joyful for it.
I am so grateful for this experience, to be here, studying In Oxford, as a Student, with access to all the libraries and the like. God has surely blessed me.
And one last thing, before I continue my research, I love the walking. It takes between thirty and forty minutes to get from the city center to the Vines, the Victorian house where I am staying. I have the option of getting a bus pass, and I have the opportunities to but a bike. I might, depending on time constraints and the weather. But I just love having the liberty to go for a walk, and I feel so joyful and refreshed after strolling through the meadows where the cows are eating, or watching dogs run free in the parks. When I walk through the trees I can almost see the lampost in the Western Woods; I walk through the forest as it appears in Eriador and other parts of Middle Earth. O, and what tranquility. Stillness. Refreshment. Life. More than the house, the people, the Nutella, and the books, I will miss the walks. And so those I hold in the highest esteem. I'll take the long road home if for naught but to walk along those paths of peace once more.
Be seeing you. - Rebecca
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Closer to Adventure Than Ever Before
I will actually be attending Oxford University in two days. Is that not startling?
Oxford, a city of history, academia, controversy, pleasant days, English culture. And in three days I will be stepping off a plane in England and boarding a bus for the city of Oxford.
Such a whirlwind of emotions and desires.
Excitement, and sadness. Adventure, and the need for discipline. My time is short, and lengthy. Can I be filled with any more contradictions?
I will be posting at least once a week on my blog and Milton's blog, to ensure that everyone is updated.
2 days!!!!!
I'll try describing my feelings when I'm more understanding of them, not just more aware of them. I'm actually pretty aware of them now. But ordering them? That is quite a different story.
Please keep me in your prayers. I am still in precious need of them, as always. Lord, please fill me with your Spirit and give me confidence, reassurance, wisdom, and peace. Grant me the will to keep myself disciplined and thankful no matter the situation. Help me, Lord, oh Lord, have mercy on me.
Under His Mercy,
- Rebecca
Oxford, a city of history, academia, controversy, pleasant days, English culture. And in three days I will be stepping off a plane in England and boarding a bus for the city of Oxford.
Such a whirlwind of emotions and desires.
Excitement, and sadness. Adventure, and the need for discipline. My time is short, and lengthy. Can I be filled with any more contradictions?
I will be posting at least once a week on my blog and Milton's blog, to ensure that everyone is updated.
2 days!!!!!
I'll try describing my feelings when I'm more understanding of them, not just more aware of them. I'm actually pretty aware of them now. But ordering them? That is quite a different story.
Please keep me in your prayers. I am still in precious need of them, as always. Lord, please fill me with your Spirit and give me confidence, reassurance, wisdom, and peace. Grant me the will to keep myself disciplined and thankful no matter the situation. Help me, Lord, oh Lord, have mercy on me.
Under His Mercy,
- Rebecca
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Week Before Biola
Actually, that's quite an interesting title, seeing as I actually won't be going back to Biola for the fall. I will be starting in Oxford.
And no, I still cannot get over saying that.
This is an update to let anyone who would possible read this blog know that I will be doing my best to be updating you on my life while in England. At the best, I'll do one weekly. That will come out to about 13-14 blog posts by the end, that I will do my best to make.
22 days. Wow.
And no, I still cannot get over saying that.
This is an update to let anyone who would possible read this blog know that I will be doing my best to be updating you on my life while in England. At the best, I'll do one weekly. That will come out to about 13-14 blog posts by the end, that I will do my best to make.
22 days. Wow.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Abundant Blessings
I am so thankful for the goodness and grace and forgiveness at the foot of the cross.
I am at rest, knowing that God loves me, his daughter, and that I am safe in his arms.
Only he can save. Only he can redeem. Only he can change a soul, even your own.
God, Thank you for the many friends you've given me; thank you for their love, commitment and care toward me, their overabundance of forgiveness, their affirmation of truth and worth, and their exceeding joy in You, LORD, and for your blessings.
Thank you for my upstanding family and their moral steadfastness, their desire to stay pure, holy, and righteous for your name.
Thank you for the faculty and students at Biola University, Lord, unafraid to live for you and yearning for wisdom and the love you gave, and give, O Lord.
Thank you for Doug, Lord, for his faithfulness and steadfast love, for his strength under trials and his encouragement against worry, for his pursuit of you, Father, and his deep passion for you, Lord. I praise God for his name.
Father, thank you for your justice and judgment that you will soon put into the hands of your Son.
Thank you, Jesus, for your humble sacrifice and victory against our greatest foe, for giving those who ask a clean life and self, free from harm, injury, and death. For your mercy, O LORD and O Lord, in all that you have taught us and all that you have given, in your complete goodness and grace.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your sanctifying power and encouragement, for your protection against evil, for dwelling in us as your temple forever and ever. Thank you wisdom. Thank you for a new reason to live, for true happiness, for a reason for kindness, for beauty, for strength and peace and comfort during sorrow, for the assurance of perfect love.
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.
I am at rest, knowing that God loves me, his daughter, and that I am safe in his arms.
Only he can save. Only he can redeem. Only he can change a soul, even your own.
God, Thank you for the many friends you've given me; thank you for their love, commitment and care toward me, their overabundance of forgiveness, their affirmation of truth and worth, and their exceeding joy in You, LORD, and for your blessings.
Thank you for my upstanding family and their moral steadfastness, their desire to stay pure, holy, and righteous for your name.
Thank you for the faculty and students at Biola University, Lord, unafraid to live for you and yearning for wisdom and the love you gave, and give, O Lord.
Thank you for Doug, Lord, for his faithfulness and steadfast love, for his strength under trials and his encouragement against worry, for his pursuit of you, Father, and his deep passion for you, Lord. I praise God for his name.
Father, thank you for your justice and judgment that you will soon put into the hands of your Son.
Thank you, Jesus, for your humble sacrifice and victory against our greatest foe, for giving those who ask a clean life and self, free from harm, injury, and death. For your mercy, O LORD and O Lord, in all that you have taught us and all that you have given, in your complete goodness and grace.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your sanctifying power and encouragement, for your protection against evil, for dwelling in us as your temple forever and ever. Thank you wisdom. Thank you for a new reason to live, for true happiness, for a reason for kindness, for beauty, for strength and peace and comfort during sorrow, for the assurance of perfect love.
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I was listening to this song (see first blog entry) while preparing for my mid-rags, and I was caught off guard: why does God want men who are “angry”? I cringed and thought of the connotations of this revelation. I had listened to this song for a couple years now, and I had always wondered why he wanted upset people as his disciples. Of course, my perception of God was not as it is now, which is still not very much, so I will give my former self leeway.
A couple years ago, I dated a guy who told me he angered rarely, and he held pretty strictly to his word. I thought that was wonderful, with the naïve idea that because of his lack of anger, we would never fight.
Maybe that was the problem.
I was not out looking to get into a fight; but I did notice that he never let stories or knowledge of sorrow, pain, or wickedness affect him. He had a deficiency in compassion for other people in the world, Christian or not. My attempts of persuading him to stand for something, to take a part in anything, failed miserably. Instead of dealing with temper, I was left with something much harder to fight and face: indifference.
I discovered that what I had the most trouble dealing with was a person that put on the appearance of caring, but did not actually care enough to act. In a wider outlook, I should not have been surprised that I found indifference in place of anger. My generation is already stereotyped as the “Why?” generation, wondering what to care about and what benefit we get from doing anything. An over abundance of sloth does not leave room for citizens, especially men, to become compassionate, active members of a community. “Does it truly matter whether or not I play Super Smash Brothers for an extra hour? Doesn’t God tell us that we shouldn’t judge others? Why get upset over someone else’s sin or tragedy if I am not affected by it?”
God wants anger toward sin. Christians constantly flee from being upset at other people’s sinful actions, turning away with thinking that as long as they are not personally affected, then they should “let it go.” But wait, sin has not changed; why have we? God portrays great wrath toward sin; does he not tell us to also hate sin? And with that, because people are known through their behaviors and not their words, why do we sit there scared to be controversial, to stand up for the truth? If there is anything that Christians should flee, it is a lack of compassion for the weak and indifference towards sin and wickedness.
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