One of my favorite things about PIU is being part of a faculty that enjoys theological and exegetical discussion. Sometimes the discussions happen spontaneously and sometimes they are planned. What really makes it interesting is that we have people here who have very unique experiences, training and education. This week we had a specially good chapel (chapel is usually good but I especially enjoyed this one). Our speaker was Nico Daams who is a missionary with the Bible translation group related to Wyclliffe, Isles of the Sea. He spoke from Lamentations and led us in a discussion about the importance of translating the biblical forms as well as the words. (This tends to be overlooked in most English translations) He showed how the poetic and chiastic structure of Lamentations focuses in on 3.22-24 which really makes it a “Book of Hope.” In the picture he is showing how there are chiastic structures all through the Bible.
Coincidentally, the subject of the Guam Ministerial Association's monthly theological discussion in the PIU library on Thursday was on “preaching according to the form and genre of the passage.” There was a far ranging discussion on that subject and several other related or, maybe semi-related, subjects that ranged from the very abstract and academic to the very practical for leading a church into understanding God’s words. It is a pretty good deal when your job includes one of your favorite activities in life. By the way, the picture on the right is also from Tuesday’s chapel as Mike explains the meaning and story of the hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
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