Humiliation

When the only solution you can think of is RUNNING AWAY, but then deep inside you is trying to scan and look for more options and "TING!", you remember His promise that He will be by your side whenever you calling. That option is the least thing you could do, it is to fall on your knees and cry out to God, the weakest stance of all. How? Doshite? You go checking out every time you are in this kind of situation, where to RUN AWAY, is the solution then you find out, you always do the other option it is to PRAY AWAY and it was been effective. Peacefulness always awash every time this humiliating position performed, though the assurance of going through it smoothly is almost as 101% of impossibility, but then you carry on. You thought that RUNNING AWAY is not a wise decision to make but sometimes PRAYING AWAY and being humiliated is the wisest thing to do.

EDUCATION is Life Transformation

The end of education is to transform lives. Teaching is a not merely a profession but calling from God. As a teacher, I teach because Jesus Christ has given the commission to make disciples and to teach people (Matt. 28:18-20), it is a command that requires obedience. I will teach out of love (1 Tim . 1:5) for God has loved me first (1 Jn. 4:19) and that love is so overflowing that I cannot help myself but to share it. I will teach to help them grow in their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of life (Heb. 1:5). I will teach with accountability that I am accountable of what I would be teaching. That I would give an account to God whatever information I would share to my students (Jam. 3:1). I will teach to equip my students for the service and relationship to others (Eph. 6:1-10). I will teach as light that shines for my students to see Jesus (Matt. 5:16). This through the aid of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26) by training them (Prov. 22:6), walking my talk and diligence in doing (Deut. 6:1-10) in the calling that God has given me.

            The teacher is an individual who is called by God to teach. He is the responsible for the cause of learning of his students. He is a man who is fully equipped and well-trained in the field of his calling. He considers himself not only teacher but also a learner. He is opted the transformation of his students lives and into impacting their lives not only in the classroom but also off the room. He is a man who is accountable of what he is teaching and what he is doing (Jam. 3:1). Thus, the teacher is a responsible and accountable being who aimed to change lives.

            The teacher plays an important role in the lives of students and in the classroom. He exists to teach. It is primary role to promote learning (Deut. 6:5-9). It is the teachers function to urge and to push his students to be eager in pursuit of action. Another role, is that, to be in charge. The teacher is given the authority (Matt.28:18). He has the authority in the classroom, he has the full control of the subject, style, setting and of course the speaker, himself. Another role is to serve (Mr. 10:42-45). The teacher is there to serve his students not to be served. Teaching is servanthood not kingship (2 Cor. 10:8). The last role of the teacher is to be role model. He set as a good example to his students (1 Pet. 5:2-3). He is to keep his integrity and keep his lifestyle exemplary to his students. He is to walk what he talks. Teachers have vital functions in their students' lives. They exist to teach, to be in charge, to serve, and to be role models.

            The students are individuals that were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). God cares for them as well (Matt. 6:26) and loves them so much (Jn. 3:16). The students are all developmental in nature. They grow physically and mentally (Lk. 2:52) and they undergo stages in life (1 Cor. 13:11). Therefore, they all needed to be developed in that case since they share and possess same nature. Another thing, is that, students differ in some areas, they have their individual preferences and they are as well affected by the cultural and social forces where they have grown up. Thus, student nature and needs varies from one another.

            The students are there in the classroom for them to think critically, innovatively, and creatively. They are in the learning process to learn, to listen, to express themselves, to experience learning, to apply what they have learned, and to share what they have learned in the classroom. Therefore, students are not just merely partaker of the lessons but also they are to impart what they have learned.

            Curriculum will contain important contents and skills, it is for the students to process information and for them to understand and to take with them. Activities must be as well included in the curriculum it is to help the students to be more involved in the learning process, the law of retention would be applied in this activities. Assessment is highly encouraged it is to check the student’s performances and learning, this could be in the form of quizzes or group activity. Assessments should be on going, this one way to check the students. Assessment must involve higher thinking skills.    

            Curriculum must be designed to cater different needs of the students. It must be of variation. Its standard must be set on the average of the student’s abilities however. It must know its students' level and capacities. It could have discussions or lectures, group activities. Students are uniquely made but they have the common denominator which is they are developing individuals but they might learn in different ways.

            Education, therefore, is there to transform lives. And teachers are the vehicles to make this end possible. They existed to teach, to be in charge, to serve, and to be role models. Teaching is a command (Matt. 28;18-20) for the growth of the students (Heb. 1:5), for their equipment for the service and relationship with others (Eph. 4:11-13) and relationship back to God.

The Morning Star

John Calvin a man from history a renowned preacher who was considered as morning star by those people who saluted him as God’s servant. He was one of the proponent of church organization. Being a bright star to others, others saw him as heartless. So, we really cannot please everyone.

As Christ’s follower, I realized that, I have to shine as well in everything that I do, I say but not expect that everyone would see that light. Because even though others can see that light they would consider it as irritating and intimidating. Others would be enlightened while others are pissed off. I always treasure the story of Jesus of shining the light when He was born the shepherds and the wise men went to Him and worship the baby Jesus while the king, Herod plotted to kill Him, the future King. Another instance was that when Jesus was doing His ministry, a lot of people followed Him and on the other hand many opposed Him even to the point of hanging Him on the cross.

See even, the Son of Man, who came to redeem and to shine the Light to His people ended up on the tree, hanging. Even though He proved Himself as God by being resurrected again, was not enough to convince others of Himself being the Messiah, the very Love of God and turned out that those who believed in Him were being chased and persecuted.

"I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, the Cross before me. No turning back, no turning back." This song, was said by a missionary who was told to renounce his faith on Jesus or else his family will die. He did not, they all died but those people who killed them became followers the Morning Star.

Compromise

This quotation had been true to one of the church reformers Ulrich Zwingli.  Compromise was the word that come up in my mind when I learned that Zwingli, Ulrich had Felix Manz drown because of their conflicting view about baptism. Because he did not want to go against the church or the council who were supporting him but at first Manz and him both agreed and believed that baptism should not be done to infants because they could not decide for themselves yet. Because baptism was a symbol of faith and giving oneself to the Lord. But later on, Zwingli allowed infant baptism not as a way of salvation but just like the Jewish circumcision. It is not that I am against Zwingli but I am seeing what he had done as a compromise to his faith because he believed that infant baptism wasn’t supported by the scriptures yet he approved it.

Zwingli’s action is not impossible to happen to us as well. There would be times that we have to turn our head away or close our eyes to the things that would be against our belief. Perhaps we could just do the same as he did, when we want to win something, and we can until we have to take it with eyes close. Compromise is ok at times but not fine when it comes to setting aside what we believe. Going with the flow is much easier than going against it and they say bend a little it's healthy. But allow me to borrow from a quotation below....

So, let us not compromise when we know that what we believe is the Truth. Because the truth always prevail as the Word of God said it, "truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed" (Proverbs 12:19, NLT).

  

Voice in the Wind

Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and Billy Graham were just few of the well Known men of faith whose voice in the wind had brought many to Christ. They had done a job well-done in using their voices in bringing those who were lost in darkness to find the light. They were in anyway exemplary upon spreading the good news amongst the people.

I might not be able to do just the same as they did, but I believed that God has given me another ability to do just the same, to tell the world of His love. Telling the world about Him is not only via open air preaching but there are many ways of telling others about Him. Our life could be voices to those who are watching us. 

Actions speak louder than words but at times words are much clearer than actions. Sometimes misunderstanding happens at not saying anything at all. 

Shadow:Grip of the Past

SHADOW: Grip of the Past

As days go by, everything change but there would be this something a hole perhaps in your inner being that something hadn’t changed and something hadn’t been forgotten that you’d wished it didn’t happen at all. A nightmare of the yester times that you’d wished hadn’t grappled your existence and gotten you stock in the midst of the time elapsed and in the period of actuality. Yet the terrifying event of the bygones frightened and dumbfounded you every time you recapture them, you couldn’t help it and let it capture you and put you in limbo which actually obliterate you from the present. Arouse from your deep slumber in the now let nightmares be nightmares, you couldn’t do nothing about it anyway. Let go, it’s not the past had its grip on you it’s you whose holding it. Look back but step forward, let melancholy awash for that’s the normal course of life. Time to redirect your gaze forward, future kept coming and passing, when it comes it passes, when it passed all you can do is to let it past by and poof, gone forever. Don’t be perplex with the shadow of your past, the darker the shadow the brighter the light, the point when there is darkness there must be light though blocked by something, think it might be you hindering it or else you looking backward wouldn’t be able to see what’s behind.

There would be instances in our past that we wished to alter but if just intently look and see its contributing factor[positive ones] in or present, we could really say, “I won’t change any of my past instead I’ll learn from them”. Past passed for us to reminisce not for us dwell upon. Surrender to the light that brings that dark shadow of your past.

Prayer is a Lifestyle

Read your Bible pray every day, pray every day, pray every day and you grow, grow, grow…

It’s me3x, oh Lord standing in the midst of prayer2x, not my mother nor my father but it’s me oh Lord standing in the midst of prayer.

These songs are kid’s songs about prayer. Way back centuries ago, a religious movement called Moravians were known because of their prayer lifestyle. They had prayed every hour for everyday for one hundred years. They were the group often illustrated in preaching about faithful praying.

How is this true in my life? Sadly, I don’t have the same prayer life that of the Moravian brethren. Five minutes of praying seems too long for me but supposed this not should be, because the word of God encouraged us to “pray without ceasing” not just for five minutes, an hour but with continuity. Prayer at times becomes an emergency button, whenever we are in need we pray. Prayer should be a lifestyle part of our daily life. It should be equivalent to breathing.

There were times in my life where prayer became inconsistent, my life has been so dry, it seemed that there was something lacking. Thankfully, praying is not like a cellular phone where we need to have load and signal in order to communicate to God up above, though it seems we’re just talking to the air but He answers prayer in His own way. Knowing that the God I am serving never sleeps and never slumber, I pray that He would give me the untiring, continuousness attitude of praying to Him and talking to Him.

I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Let’s talk to God ALWAYS.

Positively Charged.

Fourth century A.D., when Rome was ruled by a Christianized Emperors, its effects were uncontainable. For it has positively and negatively affected the empire both political and religious aspects. These positive effects were equality, better treatment, justice, and the Christian movement propagated. These were evidently in favor to the persecuted churches to those who follow the Way as well. There were negative effects, though it did not directly ruin the church but it caused it its weakening. Other people used religion to gain political power, pseudo conversion happened for the sake of power. Sadly, the persecuted churches and belief before, became the persecutor of the pagans or heretics. These were effects that were both good and bad.

Upon reading the Christianized emperors upshots, I thought for myself, “if these emperors say ‘Christians-follower of Christ’, positively and negatively influenced the people and their empire how much I, a manifesting follower of my Lord Jesus Christ. “. If these men actually affected their empire, I wanted to do it too. In the way that the name that I am bearing will be magnified.

As a Christian a bearer of the name of Jesus the Christ, God, and Lord. It is commanded that I am to let my “light so shine before men, that they may see my [italics, my words] good works, and glorify my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, KJV).  God the Father is the name to be magnified and via good works He will be. It is commanded that only good is to be the effects that is to be made. There will be no either-or effects but only positive. As Christians I believed that, we, saved by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, are to be a positive charge to generate light on the hilltop, to the community we are living, working and to the people we are serving. To negatively affect others of our lives is not an option but it is a choice given for us to pull away from.

So, as Christians, we are torch bearer and light bearer of God that His name will be zoomed out and shone to the whole world. Let your light shine in the dark world where evil seems rampant. 

Serenity in JESUS

There are times that we wanted to have peace and seems that peace is nowhere to be found. We look for ways to find it. We try to do things our way to ensure satisfaction yet it was deprived from us.

Peace, where would this be found. Reading the life of Martin Luther the man factor of reformation, he himself, before reformation, longed for peace. He sought and followed everything that he thought could give him peace. He did good deeds to appease his own need, he confessed his sins which reminded him of sins not yet forgiven. His priestly responsibilities frightened him more to approach God. he followed all church stem to be peaceful yet everything he did turned out in futility. He did not find serenity, all the more his heart became troubled.

The same has been true to me when I have not known the fount of peace. I had kept on looking for it, did good things, instead of finding it I lost it and fall into miserable state. I turned away from the hope of finding it. Diverted myself to other things. I often stare on nothingness, wondering how can a someone like me, a very good daughter felt unpeaceful in life, feeling that something is lacking in life, that there is something a hole in the heart that needed to be filled. That feeling of lackingness led me to seeking more of that peace. I quitted in the long haul but just like Martin Luther, God found me, Jesus’ death on the cross made a very big impact in my hungered soul and burdened heart. Looking upon the Man who died up on the tree and knowing why he welcomed such a humiliating action renewed my longing heart for peace. I longed to know him more, he was not just a Savior, the Son of God, but also he was and is and is the Prince of Peace, knowing all of these about him serenity awash my soul. What keep peaceful now His word saying,

 “Come to me when, you’re weary and burdened and I will give you rest”.

Foolishness

Unexplainable belief is foolishness.

Creeds were made. Councils were called. These were done with just one purpose to clarify what they believe. Many people came up with a belief by their own understanding. Others perceived different from each other. Because of different perception, the early church became chaotic. Pointing fingers of who’s at fault became rampant. The calling of many councils were evidences of not just unifying the people from their differences but also of clarifying of what really to believe.

I learned that each one of us have something that we are believing into and we have also that something that we are against of. But before we agree to disagree with others, it is important that we know what we believe and the foundation of that belief. That it is not just because a I-believe-it-just-because reasoning of the faith you are declaring about. That we have to atleast explain a bit why believe such a belief when it seems absurd. There are times that I asked myself “Why am I believing this, this is such a complicated faith?” but often peace came swift through me and an assurance of words from Someone far greater than I am saying, “believe it and if you doubt look to those people who in the same way believed what you believed”. There might be times that we would think that I can stand the opposition that telling me that what I am believing into are wrong, but let’s make sure to hold onto even though we are opposed because knowing that, even that belief we have does not come from us but was and is imprinted, planted by Someone in our heart.

I believe in God the Father who created the heavens and the earth, who loved me so much that had given me His one and ONLY Son named Jesus Christ. I believe in the Son of God who through Him everything were created, who died up on the cross for my sins and brought me to life. I believe that He lived again to show the world that He is God. I believe that ONLY through Him I can be in heaven and be with God. I believe in the Holy Spirit that is one with God and the third person of the Trinity. I believed that Only through Him that man can be convicted to turn away completely from his sinful ways and follow the footstep of the Son. I believe that, He, the third person of the God head, is the manifestation that the God I am serving and following is not a distant God. For He is the seal that I am of God when He works in life.

I believe that not just because the Bible His Word say so but I believe because it is the conviction of my heart, which God himself implanted in me. An author of a book wrote, “Faith is the willingness to be foolish” that foolishness is being a fool for Christ. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot give, who takes what he cannot keep” (from a song), indeed. I am a fool to whom fool are you?

Distinct from the World

 We have studied about a Christian denomination specifically the Baptists. Baptists have their distinctions and they could be identified via those. Like baptism, their baptism is not simply sprinkling or pouring but it is immersion “baptizo” in Greek meaning to immerse or submerge. That is just one of their few distinctions.

These distinctions or differences are not just true in denominations but distinctions are also true in us, everyone human being. We hold something that makes us different from each and everyone. Much more to the followers of Christ Jesus. As Christ’ followers, we should be distinguished by others. Let us live a life that is living according to what we are manifesting being a child of God. Christians are identified not only by faithfully attending to the church, but by the way we say words, we do things, we treat others, how we value people, and also by magnifying the Christ we are living for. People around us know Christ Jesus, in fact Mahatma Gandhi an Islamic philosopher like our Christ but not us Christians because he thought of us hypocrites. We are wearing the name of Christ with that we have to live by that name.

Let us show the world that we are different, distinct from them. Yet in spite of being different not despising them but loving them just as the Lord Jesus did for us a long time and ago and even until now. Let us be contagious and make a difference in others’ lives as well.

I am Christ name’s bearer, I claim to be distinct from this world.

The Defense

I… exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” Jude 3, KJV

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15, KJV

Sometimes, I wonder, why do I have to defend my faith? Should I not just leave it as it is? Isn’t it enough that I believed? It’s tiring, you know defending what you believe while you’re making your defense against those people who somehow in the first place don’t have the intention of believing you. They’re just there to piss you off.  Extract every single reason you can give and counter it. But way back ages and ages ago many known great minds who defended their beliefs until to the point of putting their very lives at stake. Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Augustine, Tertullian, etc. these men were just few of the dandy figures who willingly risk their lives in making a defense for the name of Jesus Christ. Their blood as martyrs “is the seed of the church” (Tertullian). Through their defense many came to Christ. Justin Martyr wrote an apology, an answer to the accusations against Christianity. Pointing out the weaknesses of paganism and to help change public opinion about Christianity and lead conversion.

I realized that as Christians, I am as well exhorted to earnestly contend for my faith. To always be ready to give an answer to every man that would ask me a reason of the faith that I am holding to, not harshly but with kindness, not vauntingly but with humility. So, let us make a defense that can lead to conversion and can magnify the grace of God. In basketball, when your opponent is the one holding the ball they are in the offensive state and you will be in the defensive. When you are in defense you have to hold tight to the line. But the good thing is the defense is the best offense in basketball. And with this principle we can do the same, when someone attack us let make a defense calmly and use it as our offense.