Graeme Goldsworthy

So when I look back on my univeristy days, I feel distinctly blessed by the presence of two guys from my church who taught me more than they realize. One of them is my pastor Brian Kay, and the other is a guy named Garret Hamner. Garret was so patient with me, all my questions and doubts. But really, he taught me so much and opened my eyes to the world of theology. He gave me a book called Gospel and Kingdom by Graeme Goldsworthy that offers an explanation of Biblical theology. I LOVED IT. I still to this day see Bibilical theology as one of the most solid and Biblically founded theological systems (funny to call it a system when it is a far cousin to systematic theology, but for lack of a better term) that I have ever come across. Anyways, as some of you know, I have recently been looking at seminaries to apply to. In my search, I remembered how much respect I hold for Goldsworthy, and I looked up where he went to school and he happens to be from Austailia. Now this is how much I value this man's work: I actually added the seminary he is from to my list of possible schools to pray over.
So why am I writing this? Well, last night at our youth bible study I started talking to this guy who came to Chile from Austailia to teach at a new seminary here with the Anglican church. SO basically I forced him into a conversation about all my favorite topics: infant baptism, the history of the Anglican church and of course, dispensationalism. As we were talking about dispensationalism and the theological horror of it, the conversation progressed as so:
"Rebecca there is a book I have that I think you would enjoy reading" (this is like music to my ears!)
"Really? I love to read. Which book is it?"
"It is called Gospel and Kingdom"
"By Goldsworthy?" (at this point I was getting really excited and looked more like a little kid in a candy shop than a grown woman at a bible study)
"Yeah, you've heard of him?" (basically no one from the states reads him, I guess)
" oh my gosh! I LOVE THAT MAN!!!"
And it was at this point that all the little high schoolers who come to the bible study had gathered around us trying to figure out what the two foriegners were talking about that was so exciting.
Anyways, it turns out that this seminary teacher here in CHile actually studied under Goldsworthy! And he was explaining that Biblical theology is the foundation of all their courses. I was just about peeing my pants! I feel just way too blessed here. I mean, this opens up a whole world of possibilities here. I have been thinking that I should wait to go to seminary until I have paid back all my loans. With the budget I worked out, that means in about 25 to 30 months. Sooo... in the mean time, and who knows that will happen, I can stay here in this amazing country and possibly go to seminary here. Yes, the classes will be in Spanish, BUT all the teachers are from Austrailia!
Funny note: I used to babysit for my pastor on one condition: that after his daughter went to sleep, I could have full use of his library. What a deal! Those books are so much more valuable than money down here. SO I extended the same offer to this guy. I will babysit, basically whenever, even Saturdays, IF I get to use his library. I am so excited to finish the other two books in the Goldsworthy Trilogy!!!