I have a new favourite word ( I am fickle with words so this is subject to change without prior notice or much time having elapsed) Tympanic - means to act like a drum head..what and adjective. Anyway this was found whilst looking for another word in the dictionary. I quite like dictionaries, it tends to take me four times as long as the average person (extensive studies have be done) because I get distracted by other weird sounding words. My revision has provided me with a plethora of these- not that I remember too many of them.

I found a quote a while ago that went something like "theology should lead to doxology" well it said something about how studying theology should lead to worship, and I concur. Now that's all very well and good when you're having a nice read of apologetics or a good ole Bible study but I've often found it rather hard in regards to my degree. The fact we frequently get a huge heap of heresy to digest doesn't help. But in the last few days I think I might of cracked it - I say I but what I really mean is God has worked. Whilst walking to my exam the other day and being in a thoroughly bad mood that I had a 9am exam on the first Monday of exams we (me and Han) bumped into Mark Aldham who became quite excited about the prospect of writing about Kingship in the Old testament (part of what I had to do) and who told us to "enjoy the exam". (This reminded that at Cornerstone the night before the guy had briefly touched on some of my exam material and I remembered feeling ooo maybe some of this could be even more useful than I thought.) Me, thinking this impossible, although I prefer exams to coursework, decided I would enjoy myself, and I did! Really (ok so I am now a geek and will be ostracised in theology lectures). Granted nice questions came up but really it made sense, the things I was writing are important, even the bits I thoroughly disagreed with (some strange ideas about kingship and wisdom) because they just emphasised actually that God's way is amazing and especially the Kingship bit which shows so amazingly God's grace and the way His ways are higher than our ways.

I also have an exam tomorrow (should sleep soon) on the "Theology of Paul" and revision (besides being slightly time restricted) has been great and there really is now way you can study it and understand it properly without being moved to praise. Even this has it's quirky 'interpretations' but it is amazing just how the truth shines through so strongly. One of the topics is Salvation and Righteousness...I got so excited in the lectures as often it really was the gospel being explained and shown to be logically and reasonable (and true), although it was also a bit of a bring back to the ground seeing some people just so apathetic towards it, as if it was just an explanation of why 1+1 =2. And then revising it leaves me just stunned sometimes, a couple of times whilst reading at home (I even did the extra reading it was that good) I just had to stop and praise God. Good stuff - just got to learn a few Bible quotes now for the exam...oh the chore!

Have also decided my dissertation topic - Hannah's not impressed that I have already decided and for once am organised. It's going to be on the role of women in leadership in the church (preferably in terms of what the Bible says about it rather than a look at the historical actualities). Very excited as means that the reading I'm doing anyway will as a bonus be useful for my dissertation, on top of for personal opinion/decision making. Oh got the vicar question again on the train the other day: May I take this moment to point out that not all theology students become vicars. Yes some do, other work in secular society, and also you don't have to be a vicar to work in a church. There it's said. Right definate bed time now before a day of revision and exam. 4.30pm on a Saturday!...oh yes enjoy it.

Final thing, I made Rice Krispie cakes today, I forgot how much like a kid they make you feel. Although I did hit a new all time low by burning water... turns out it's possible....and it smells a lot.