Faffing

Our fourth team member, Kendrick, arrived yesterday. It was really interesting to see how the team responded to the New Member. We had been discussing it in relative detail (well, Louisa and I had been analysing and Phil had switched off long ago) about how we would react, and our predictions seemed to be quite realistic. It made me feel much more protective of the members I already knew - we have shared so much already they are, although only three or so weeks in, like siblings in more than a spiritual sense. We have to get on well, so it helps that we have done so far.

I have been online almost all morning now trying to sort out mobile phones - kept getting this reply when trying to tell them I live at a slightly more complicated address than they'd expect: "Adresse ist ungültig. Bitte überprüfen Sie Ihre Eingabe oder wenden Sie sich an den callmobile Kundenservice ... " ARGH but anyway now I have a number 015120617670 which is good news.

We are doing the walking tour of Berlin today. I keep getting very very tired. But Saturday is for sleeping, as apparently we are going to Panorama tonight. Interesting to hear different reactions to the idea in the team.

I have to teach the 7. Klasse (I think they're about 13) in a fortnight and have been asked to prepare a game for them about British History. It's to be interactive and quite difficult, as they're a bright bunch. I have not many ideas and fewer resources. At the moment I'm thinking some kind of timeline with mistakes that they have to research, colour in, and stick up. I have pretty free reign. I also have to read the Constant Gardener to teach it in a few weeks. I also took the short story adaptation of the Dead Poets' Society and read it in a lesson I was sitting in on. The kids had their own work to do and so I had nothing to do. It was quite good, made me think, but a little pretentious.

One book I am actually properly reading is The Cross of Christ by John Stott. I am aiming to do a chapter a week, and last week's one had plenty of food for thought. In part of it he was speaking of the three main reasons Jesus went to his death - first because of the hostile people of the time, secondly because of the predictions in Scripture, and thirdly and most importantly, in a way that seems to tie up the other two:

... because of his own deliberate choice. He was determined to fulfil what was written of the Messiah, however painful it would be. This was neither fatalism nor a martyr complex. It was quite simply that he believed Old Testament Scripture to be his Father's revelation and that he was totally resolved to do his Father's will and finish his Father's work. Besides, his suffering and death would not be purposeless. He had come 'to seek and to save what was lost' (Luke 19:10). It was for the salvation of sinners that he would die, giving his life as a ransom to set them free (Mark 10:45). So he set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem. Nothing would deter or deflect him. Hence the reiterated must' when he spoke of his death. The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected. Everything that was written about him must be fulfilled. He refused to appeal for angels to rescue him, because then the Scriptures would not be fulfilled which said that it must happen in this way. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer before entering his glory? He felt under constraint, even under compulsion: 'I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am (RSV 'constrained', literally 'hemmed in') until it is completed!' (Luke 12:50). So then, he knew he must die, it was not because he was the helpless victim either of evil forces arrayed against him, or of any inflexible fate decreed for him, but because he freely embraced the purpose of his Father for the salvation of sinners, as it had been revealed in Scripture.

God's plan to save humanity was not a plan B because it all went wrong to begin with. No, right from before the beginning of time this was planned and perfectly executed. It's dense and theological stuff and I don't think I understand much of it, but what I do understand I rejoice in, and it helps me to realise why I am here and how massive this is, not just for me.

On the other side, I am going to be reading a book called Gott Erkennen which is a translation of an English book called Knowing God by Packer. Apparently it's a total stonker so I'm looking forward to what it has to say. I have a huge tendency to coast, and so hopefully these two books as well as my own experience out here in Berlin will help me realise there is nothing I have done or could do to get me in the position I am in:

for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from youselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).

I don't feel I have done much this morning. I always resolve to be more productive, but a lot of time seems to be taken up faffing, thinking, sorting, creating mess, and im Großen und Ganzen remembering more things to be done and forgetting to do them. Here, I am sure, is an example. I am sure I had much more to say, but forgot...