Snippets of Spurgeon - His Inheritance From Everlasting

Evening, February 27

“Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”

Micah 5:2

The Lord Jesus had goings forth for his people as their representative before the throne, long before they appeared upon the stage of time. It was “from everlasting” that he signed the compact with his Father, that he would pay blood for blood, suffering for suffering, agony for agony, and death for death, in the behalf of his people; it was “from everlasting” that he gave himself up without a murmuring word. That from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot he might sweat great drops of blood, that he might be spit upon, pierced, mocked, rent asunder, and crushed beneath the pains of death. His goings forth as our Surety were from everlasting. Pause, my soul, and wonder! Thou hast goings forth in the person of Jesus “from everlasting.” Not only when thou wast born into the world did Christ love thee, but his delights were with the sons of men before there were any sons of men. Often did he think of them; from everlasting to everlasting he had set his affection upon them. What! my soul, has he been so long about thy salvation, and will not he accomplish it? Has he from everlasting been going forth to save me, and will he lose me now? What! Has he carried me in his hand, as his precious jewel, and will he now let me slip from between his fingers? Did he choose me before the mountains were brought forth, or the channels of the deep were digged, and will he reject me now? Impossible! I am sure he would not have loved me so long if he had not been a changeless Lover. If he could grow weary of me, he would have been tired of me long before now. If he had not loved me with a love as deep as hell, and as strong as death, he would have turned from me long ago. Oh, joy above all joys, to know that I am his everlasting and inalienable inheritance, given to him by his Father or ever the earth was! Everlasting love shall be the pillow for my head this night.

Greek Test Results and Books

Well I passed the Greek test...just. But it's a pass so I'm still very happy!

Below are my books:

Old Testament - The OT Survey (compulsory) and The Goldsworthy Trilogy (recommended)

Gospel of John - The NT Survey (compulsory) and John commentary (possibly compulsory)

Theology - Know the Truth (compulsory)

NT Greek - Elements of NT Greek

There is a list of recommended and extra reading. I'm sticking with that stack and the glorious library here!

Orientation, Lectures and Music

Today we had orientation. It was rather relaxed and a few students from last year came along to meet us and join in the fun.

I finally decided last Thursday to stick with DipTh until mid year and then I will probably change to BTh. I haven't studied at tertiary level so I'm still finding my way.

Normal lectures start from tomorrow. I have Theology: Holy Spirit, Grace and Hope at 8.30am, John after morning tea and OT Foundations after lunch. I am looking forward to it!

I was invited to my OT lecturer's house for lunch on Sunday. It was nice get to know his family and find out more about him. From there I was invited to join a music jam session at the church that meets at college. It was great fun and I learned some new songs.

Our first test looms...

At 11am tomorrow, Australian Eastern Standard Time, twenty something MDiv, BTh and DipTh students will be sitting the first test of the year. 


*Cue the opening bar of Beethoven's 5th*


I'm exaggerating! It won't be too bad but I would like to get a decent mark. I love Greek and I love the challenge but my brain is so rusty and dusty!


The test will be 40% English Grammar, 20% Greek Alphabet, and 40% Translating both ways. Basically chapters 1-5 from the book. I think the English Grammar will be my down fall. The test is worth 10%  of my overall Greek mark for the semester. We have plenty of tests lined up. I'm guessing the next one will contain vocab.


I'd best go back to my studying.

Two days in....

Firstly a little apology: I just realised the alphabet in the previous post is Attic Greek not Koine. Only a few hundred years difference so no drama.You get the idea though.

Well we've finished chapter 4 of our book -  The Elements of NT Greek by Wenham.
My brain is so mushy I was actually having issues trying to handwrite English earlier. The good news is today seemed easier than yesterday but I don't know why. I'm enjoying the class so much that I don't want it to end! I will continue to learn Greek this semester but I am also doing three other subjects. I'd love to be able to only do one at a time, and devote all my waking minutes to study it as intensely as we are this week.

These are some of my exercise papers:

This is a passage from the Bible so see if you can guess which one. Clue: it's 14 verses.

This one was edited by our lecturer but the second one I did this evening so he'll check it tomorrow.

Tomorrow Beginneth Intensive Greek.

I should really be getting an early night instead of blogging...

I dashed back to Tasmania for a wedding over the weekend, and I decided I would make and take flash cards with the Greek Alphabet. Rather successful, I think, and it certainly made the travelling less monotonous.

I had about 3 hours in the Melbourne CBD before heading out to the airport, not having anything in particular to do, I hopped on the free City Circle Tram. I got off at Melbourne Central shopping centre and proceeded to covet my way past each window until I found an exit near the tram stop.

I took the bus to the airport and was hideously early, but being a wet Friday evening , I didn't fancy being in the city. True to Tasmanian style, I bumped into a Christian brother who was also on the same plane, two rows in front of me. We were very blessed that our flight was only delayed about 30 minutes. Other flights were severely delayed and some even cancelled. Praise the Lord!

All I'll say about the wedding is: beautiful!

I made it back to RTC, about lunchtime today, after a long walk. Lets just say my impatience got the better of me and I took the first bus that went in the general direction of RTC. All was well after a nanny nap! I missed the morning service so I went to this evening's prayer service and was very satisfied spiritually. I got to meet the RTC principal, Murray, his lovely wife, and a few of his children. I am so grateful and blessed to have met so many lovely people already and I am finding it a bit overwhelming.

So Greek starts at 9am tomorrow morning. I haven't met the lecturer yet but I have been assured he's great and I'll love his lectures. This evening I met another Greek student and we had a good old chat. I think I will be fine tomorrow and it helps knowing that there will be familiar faces. The end of the week will be interesting. By Friday my brain will have turned to mush!

(Click on the picture for a better view)

Much prayer for wisdom, concentration and a non-mushy brain would be very appreciated!

'Twas A Good Day

I have slept so well since I arrived! The bed is super comfy - not too soft and not too hard.

This is said bed.

I know it looks a bit messy but I assure you it's just a very full little room.

During dinner last night the small rooms were likened to a prison cell but mine feels homely and comfortable.

So far I've been getting along well with everyone but it's early days yet. There are non-believers as well as believers living on campus because Deakin University is next door. I was really encouraged to hear about a some of the people living here becoming Christians. Please pray for the believers on campus to be a light to the non-believers and that the Lord will continue to use RTC mightily.

Arrived & Settling In

The trip was fine. I listened to a few hours of No Compromise Radio, watched a couple of movies, crocheted, got a little bit sea sick (but nothing ginger tablets couldn't fix), and ate lots of junk food. I had chocolate for breakfast while waiting (for about an hour) in line for boarding the boat - I was the first car in my lane and there was a Cadbury truck through the fence in the TTLine yard. I'm so glad I had a stash to keep me going.

I am now undertaking the task of unpacking all the junk I so hoardingly squashed into my car..."my preciousessss"

I spent most of the afternoon unpacking my clothes and then the evening thinking about op-shopping. When will I learn!

The Adventure Begins!

Tomorrow morning, if you were standing by this cross

you would see my boat leaving Tasmania, bound for Victoria.

Please pray for me.

Faith - Thomas Watson

"Faith lives in a broken heart. 'He cried out with tears, Lord, I believe.' True faith is always in a heart bruised for sin. They, therefore, whose hearts were never touched for sin, have no faith. If a physician should tell us there was a herb that would help us against all infections, but it always grows in a watery place; if we should see a herb like it in colour, leaf, smell, blossom, but growing upon a rock, we should conclude that it was the wrong herb. So saving faith always grows in a heart humbled for sin, in a weeping eye and a tearful conscience. 

Thomas Watson