When New Year's comes rolling around, so often we get caught up in the idea of new. A new year reminds us of some the good things about new things. Even though most of us can remember a situation where something new turned out to be much less enjoyable, much less beneficial, or much less useful than the old, the month of January brims with optimism about nearly every subject.
Because of the way that the school calendar is set up here in the Philippines, I get to participate in the odd (to me) combination of new year = mid term tests. This provides some interesting contrast between something most people are excited about (a new year) and something that most of my students are tired of already (a half completed semester).
Any close examination of advertising will result in the recognition of two of the most common tools of persuasion: our old friends old and new. New is exciting, it's better, it's more efficient, it looks nicer. Old (or classic) is tried, tested, proven, stable and reliable. It's not often we can learn positive things from advertising but the lesson here is that both old and new have positive aspects to them. Surprise! Surprise! The bible already tried to teach us this a long time ago.
Regarding old, see Numbers 23:19, Psalm 55:19, and Malachi 3:6.
Regarding new, see Psalm 96, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Lamentations 3:22-24, Ezekiel 18:31, Romans 6:4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Regarding both together: Matthew 9:16-18 (and parallels), and Matthew 13:51-52.
From that last passage we can see that the truly important thing is finding something of value, be it new or old. The key to finding has always been recognition. Recognizing treasure is only part of Jesus point, in his stories about the matter action followed the recognition. As Jesus points out, you have to able to use something for it to be valuable.
So then, be it old or new, let us be able to discern value, and especially spiritual value in our lives. Things that will help us be more like Christ in a new year.
As for updates, there is not much to report other than the usual sorts of things. Teaching ministry involves teaching; a lot of it actually. We have about 80 full time students for the second semester. Like I said we just had mid terms. Graduation is mid-March, and I'm planning on being home to visit shortly thereafter.
As of right now, I fully expect to be back in Aparri next school year. I've adopted the "until the Lord tells me to do something different, I need to keep working with this ministry and mission" philosophy. The Lord continues to bless me in countless ways including many I know nothing about. If the Lord wills, I still want to get my PhD. at some point, other than that I'm good. Seeing how the Lord blesses this mission over and over again makes me think that it will be obvious when it is time to move on. The Lord's will be done.
The school calendar is about to get jammed again, there are many events upcoming including our fellowship with the two other Restoration Movement seminaries in northern Luzon and recitals. It should be fun.
Please continue to pray for me and this ministry.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the mission team from Fairview that is headed to Haiti in just a few hours. Praying for safe travel and that they accomplish their goals for the trip.
Nick
