Popcicles, the Pentateuch, and Pride & Prejudice

Yeah, didn't really mean to do the whole alliteration thing in my title, but those are 3 of the things my past week has consisted of. I realized something this past week. Popcicles and Otter Pops--they are not just for kids! They are an incredibly refreshing treat and when it is a bazillion degrees outside, nothing beat a cold dessert--especially one that will turn your tongue blue :) So stop reading, go grab a popcicle...I promise, you'll enjoy it!

I'm also in the middle of my 5 week class on the Pentateuch, and this class is absolutely amazing. Easily one of my favorite classes at Fuller so far, I don't think I have ever learned this much about scripture in such a short amount of time. It definitely has not been easy--not just in terms of work load (which is ridiculous for 5 weeks) but in terms of really looking at this portion of the Bible and asking hard questions--who wrote it? How do we know? (the usual answer is Moses, but how did Moses write the account of his own death and how did he know how the world was created?) What is the personality of God in Genesis, and why does God seem to change a bit throughout the book (well not in His personality, but in the way he relates to humans)? Why are there 2 different creation stories and why do they greatly differ in many of their details? How does God relate to women in these stories? What do their stories mean for us? I don't think I have ever dug into scripture and been forced to think for myself in this way before, and it has been an amazing experience, and Dr. Goldingay's teaching style has allowed us to wrestle with the text like nothing I've ever done before. Sitting and reading all 50 chapters of Genesis in 2 days was a LONG assignment, but it was amazing and I saw so many things in the stories that I've always missed before because we usually read scripture in 1 or 2 chapter chunks. Onto Exodus...that's what I'm doing tonight...it's shorter though, only 40 chapters!

Pride & Prejudice....so I decided to wade my way through a Jane Austen novel because my wonderful former roommates were appalled that I'd never done so, especially after living with them for 2 years, so I decided I was going to do it! Yeah...so far the story is ok, but I'm not so sure it's my new favorite :) Last night I was reading a few chapters before bed (after doing homework for awhile) and after about 3 pages I found myself saying "this is my fun reading book in the midst of class?! I don't have the slightest idea what in the world I just read for 3 pages! What in the world is this thing about?!" So I had to rewind...Tuesday we're all hanging out in a park all day for the 4th and reading and playing games etc....I think I'm going to break out something that requires a little less concentration...Angels & Demons is next on the list, maybe I'll break that one out...Don't worry Heather & Lynn, I'll get through it eventually :)