As the new Nucleus student editor let me welcome both new and old readers to this summer 2009 issue. As Hugh Ip has reluctantly put down his pen to focus on the business of passing finals, I have, with more than a little trepidation and excitement, become the first non-London student editor - an achievement for the north in our age old feud!! I can honestly say it is already a challenging and enriching experience that I am very grateful for.

Throughout my time as a student reading Nucleus, I have always been encouraged and inspired by the articles written. They seek to kindle a desire for Christian medical students to be pro-active in letting their commitment to Christ impact on their medical lives. On (pp.XX-XX) Laurence Crutchlow acknowledges that a day to day struggle with finances is a reality for us medical students. He considers how we may be prudent stewards of our finances and offers real hope that if we develop wise habits with our spending, we really can glorify God with the little money we have to manage as students.

Continuing the practical theme, final year student Laura Quinton offers pre-clinical students some advice about how to thrive and excel as clinical students and impact our new environment for Christ in her article on (pp.4-7). This makes great reading for those looking to lay down solid foundations at the outset of their clinical career. Those of us who have been studying medicine for a while may have subconsciously adopted a non-biblical view of the human body. Alex Bunn (pp.22-27) contrasts a secular view of the human body with a biblical one, which may challenge you to re-think your assumptions in accordance with biblical truth.

Practical advice from those who have trodden the path before us is certainly valuable. However, I find that when I am seeking advice, all too often I consult the bible last. Forgetting that it is the primary way in which God reveals himself to us and that knowledge of him gives us 'everything we need for life and godliness' (2 Peter 1:3.) I therefore welcome anything that helps us understand the bible better. Mark Meynell's comprehensive overview of the great story of the bible (pp 14-21) does just that. So often we pick and chose which parts of the bible to read, skipping over difficult portions for our favourite uplifting passages. It is important not to be overly critical of ourselves but recognise that perhaps we need more help if we are to tackle these more difficult biblical passages. This is why Rob Radcliffe's article helping us to apply the God's Old Testament law (pp 38-39) to our own lives is so timely and I hope you'll find it as useful as I have.

As ever at Nucleus, we would be delighted to receive your comments and views on the articles we publish and will endeavour to publish some of your letters in the next edition.