Thursday, November 8, 2012

Update; A Month in Review

     Jerusalem, Jerusalem! A month in and I am finally feeling a bit more settled; though life's pace seems to cycle faster than I have been used to for a while. Church, school, work and volunteering have each demanded a sure amount of commitment and I thank God for graces in these things... both for them and the strength to do them.
   Again, the primary reason I have returned is to finish my thesis. I have thus far determined a topic and methodology and have just to research and execute it... My thesis title is: "Direction Indicators in the Hebrew Bible, A Catalog and Analysis". Things have progressed, albeit slower than I would like. As it is, I am Grateful to have come when I have come. This semester's JUC students are again extraordinarily lovely. I have had a very wonderful time learning about and from them. Their encouragement has been much appreciated! 
   Work continues to demand a good portion of my week, though it provides a nice outlet from other pressures and I have a bit of control in terms of how I spend my time... all within this Zion garden, of course. After all, I have the privilege of tending a garden in Jerusalem on Modern Mt. Zion - Edenic work, I like to think :)
   Lastly, Volunteering has been a beautiful addition to my time in Israel. I volunteer for the Olive Branch Institute. This month, I have had two responsibilities and both were very enjoyable chores. The first was an airport run, which included a ride to Arad, and then a drive north to Jeru, then out to Tel Aviv, then south to Arad again. It worked out that a JUC group was in Arad at the time so I stuck around for the day while they toured the Negev. There I enjoyed an Eyal Golan concert that evening and then caught a ride with them up the next day as they visited Masada, Ein Gedi and Qumran en route fro Jerusalem. 
   The second responsibility was to lead a group of volunteers 'round Israel. If I do say so myself Kay, Kit Karen, and Nancy were a very lovely bunch; and I had a very good time. We toured Jerusalem, Thursday. Friday, we drove out to the Dead Sea and did the typical sites listed above, save Masada. We instead went out to the Makeshim and read from Psalm 90. Then Saturday, we drove up to the Galilee and spent our time journeying the Elijah to Jesus narrative or from Carmel to Capernaum, if you like. Then from a beautiful home visit to some ol' Scandinavian friends of mine (Lily and co.), we did a Coastal Plain/ Shephelah day ending with David and Goliath as we overlooked the Valley of Elah. 
   Time like water scurries in its intended direction without asking for approval or permission. Appropriate that Moses likens life's span to a watch in the night or something a flood disposes of. Just before I journeyed back to Jerusalem, my family mourned the loss of a friend and father figure. Its been a month. Today, I woke up and thought it a very special grace. My days are numbered and I suppose I best ask God for grace to help me redeem the time that I have been given. When I think of Tom, I think of the many stories he had to tell having lived earnestly and well. It still a marvel to me that God's mercies are not only new every morning - they are forevermore! 

Psalm 90:13-17
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor[a] of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!
English Standard Version (ESV)

Lovely that He promises to continue what He has started in us... til He comes or we go.  
   Below, I have included a number of pictures from this month... Feel free to ask about anything I am up to!
My email is sethhague@gmail.com. I love letters and am indebted to so many of you for your prayers and support. 
Blessings and Love!



























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The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.


http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm

Symbolum Nicaenum A.D. 325

Πιστεύομεν εις ΄ενα Θεον Πατερα παντοκράτορα, πάντων ορατων τε και αοράτων ποιητήν.

Πιστεύομεν εισ ΄ενα κύριον `Ιησουν Χριστον, τον υ΄ιον του θεου, γεννηζέντα εκ του πατρος μονογενη, τουτέστιν εκ της ουσίας του πατρός, θεον εκ θεου αληθινου, γεννηθέντα, ου ποιηθέντα, ΄ομοούσιον τωι πατρί δι οϋ τα πάντα εγένετο, τα τε εν τωι ουρανωι και τα επι της γης τον δι ΄ημας τους ανθρώπους και δα την ΄ημετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα και σαρκωθέντα και ενανθρωπήσαντα, παθόντα, και αναστάντα τηι τριτηι ΄ημέραι, και ανελθοντα εις τους οθρανούς, και ερχόμενον κριναι ζωντασ και νεκρούς.

Και εις το ΄Αγιον Πνευμα.
Τους δε λέγοντας, ΄οτι ΄ην ποτε ΄ότε οθκ ΄ην, και πριν γεννηθηναι ουκ ΄ην, και ΄οτι εξ ΄ετερας ΄υποστάσεως η ουσιας φάσκοντας ειναι, [η κτιστόν,] τρεπτον η αλλοιωτον τον υ΄ιον του θεου, [τούτους] αναθεματίζει ΄η καθολικη [και αποστολικη] εκκλησία.

Martin Luther - 16th century

"O Lord, we are not worthy to have a glimpse of heaven, and unable with works to redeem ourselves from sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this we rejoice, praise and thank you, O God, that without price and out of pure grace you have granted us this boundless blessing in your dear Son through whom you take sin, death, and hell from us, and give to us all that belongs to him."