Another week in Oxford!

I know it seems that I've kind of dropped off the face of the earth into England! I'm sorry for the lack of updates :) We had a week of summit sessions, then a week of OSAP orientation, and now I'm in the midst of studying and researching for my two tutorials. I met my International Business tutor on Monday and submitted my first essay. Then it was time to work on my law essay. I spent the majority of two days in the library reading and researching for that. Then today I finished a marathon writing day...16 hours! It ended up being 1900 words, which was more than I needed, but I'm hoping that's okay, since I cut it down from 2300 :) I was planning to go to the Christian Union meeting tonight, but unfortunately did not have my paper done yet. I'll meet with my jurisprudence tutor tomorrow and submit my paper. And then more reading and writing will begin! But, I'll at least take some time to do some fun things like clean, cook, and sleep, lol. I'm going out to a celebratory lunch with my roommate Sarah tomorrow now that we're both done with our first week of tutorials!
 I spent so long writing today that my legs got really sore, so I ended up going for a run at about 11pm. It was actually really nice outside, aside from the rain. We live right next to this creepy, dark alley that runs behind the train station. But, I think I've finally adjusted to city life, because it doesn't really scare me anymore.Plus, no one carries guns here which is so different from the slums of Mongtomery.


I'm a member of Trinity College here. Last night I went to Trinity's law society meeting. It was very interesting. A representative from Bird & Bird was speaking on the 20 issues @ 2020, and basically many of the changes taking place in the law world. Then they had a fancy reception with wine and really nice hors d'eourves. I had a chat with some girls who were music majors but in the process of getting law internships. Then I put on my gown and headed to dinner in the hall. I met Laura (our Trinity student, WISC/OSAP representative), Sarah, and another WISC student. The hall is absolutely beautiful! We walked in and paid first. It was only about 3.90 pounds, since there meals are all subsidized by the government. Anyways, we sit down, everyone in black academic gowns. Someone at the head table strikes a gavel, and instantly every chair in the hall is pushed backwards and everyone stands up. The head of Classics says the prayer in Latin, and everyone says amen and sits down. They brought our first course of melon boats. Later they pick up those plates and bring the main dish. It is chicken with a mushroom gravy sauce, served with roast potatoes, broccoli, and corn. Then we have pudding (aka dessert), which was chocolate cake with chocolate sauce. It was very delicious. :) I mostly love the beautiful dining hall, with all of its stunning architecture!


Alright, time to get some sleep before my tutorial in the morning. God has been so good to me. He is teaching me so much and blessing me in so many ways. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I pray that you are having a blessed week!

Faith without works is dead.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” Hebrews 11:1-2. 

Hebrews 11 goes on to describe the many things that people did by faith. I’ve heard so many people talk about faith as this feeling or state of mind, where you can just “believe” and then your life is okay, because your sins are forgiven and you’re going to heaven. But I’d like to ask, is that really faith? I believe that if one truly has faith, it will become evident through the fruit in their life. I’m not advocating a works based salvation. On the contrary, I believe that man can be saved by faith alone. But is it really faith, if there is no action to back it up? Consider this. Hebrews 11 says that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. If we are really sure that salvation comes through Christ, that there is a Kingdom of God, and that God called us to make disciples, than we should be acting on it. Our lives should be a demonstration of Christ’s love for us, and should be used to spread the gospel to others. Consider James 2:14-26

 

What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

It’s not that we have to have deeds to have faith, but those deeds need to come because of our faith. God put us on this earth for a reason, and that reason wasn’t to keep our faith to ourselves. Our faith should be a beacon of light to those around us, and people will typically see that light through our actions and our words.  Hebrews 11 describes the different actions taken by men and women of faith. They did incredible things for God and some suffered because of it. But, it wasn’t about what they were going to get out if it, it was about following God, whom they believed in. The interesting thing is that “they were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” Hebrews 11: 39-40. They were remembered for their actions that were a representation of their faith, and now it’s our turn to act on the faith we have in Christ.  May we consider faith to be an action and bring glory and fame to Christ through our lives.