The Internlog
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Internlog Entry
Remember, remember...
"Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
This week we remembered the 5th of November, not only on the 5th but also on the 3rd, at Interact, our social event for international and UK students. It was indeed a joy to explain the story of Guy Fawkes and to play conkers together. Apparently, as the rhyme suggests, we should never forget the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. I find we do a fairly good job of this each year with the number of fireworks displays, bonfires and the occasional burning of a guy effigy. In Durham alone, I will have had the opportunity to be reminded at Interact, on the 5th itself, at the King’s Bonfire Party and at the Grey Fireworks on Saturday. Although we may not all know the full story, most British people know why the 5th has importance traditionally and most join in festivities to celebrate the victory over the plotters.
If we celebrate this ‘victory’ once a year, how often then should we remember and celebrate Christ’s victory on the Cross? Is this event one which we celebrate once a year at Easter, or once a week at Church or is it one which we should be constantly remembering and living according to day by day?
After the 'quiet' week the interns have gone straight back into our weekly timetables. In many ways it has been a tough and tiring week. Some of the team have been off ill; most of the team feel like we could do with another 'quiet' week; the floor of the kitchen in the 'intern house' (aka House of Rest) was pulled up on Thursday; we had a short essay to hand in this week.
However, during this week, in parallel with being reminded of the ‘victory over the plotters’, I have been constantly reminded about Christ’s victory on the Cross and what this means for our lives. On Sunday morning Richard Briggs spoke of the ‘Triumph of the Cross’. At our Tuesday team meeting we talked about our spiritual battle not being to gain the victory, but that we fight from the victory Christ already has over the powers and authorities.
"Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Chris Jesus"
Ephesians 2:4-7
While we are in a difficult part of the term, I have been encouraged to keep in mind God’s grace which has saved us and sustains us, and that all we do is for and should be for God’s glory. By God’s grace we continue to have encouraging stories of good conversations, we are learning more about our spiritual gifts, gifts given freely by God, and whatever we are doing it is always an encouragement to remember that we are already have the victory in Christ. Perhaps a better rhyme for us as interns and as Christians may be to ‘Remember, remember the grace and the glory...’