Reflection #12

Church history is a one of the memorable subject for me, because since the very beginning this gives colors to the lives of Christians and was able to understand why the different churches behaved this way. And there are also people that you could not understand even though they are already matured as Christian that we could say they are not ignorant anymore. These subject gives me an open mind to widen my view of looking or handling people because through this I was being able to be aware of how even the church people before behave this way. This is not just all about the history but at the same time the background of each people that they have especially how they've grown in their home their community or how their parents raise them.

I am so excited at the same time to extend what I've learned, about church history. Though I am not that knowledgeable enough but at least I saved some of it in my heart and mind not for me but for others to know it.

Reflection #11

John Wesley had left a very good testimony in his life, on how he was being converted and rescued through Christ. The day he was being converted he said that he felt strange feeling that made him wander. And this strange feeling lead him to know Christ as Lord and Savoir that he was longing for.

I couldn't say that my story was not a very dramatic way when the first time I knew Jesus as my Lord and Savior because it was step by step that I knew and discover who Jesus is in my life and how he works in my life as my Lord and Savior. Every time I will make a story of how I knew and received Jesus as Lord I couldn't say that I have that immediate transformation that happened at that very moment because I knew Him in a very long and in a gradual process, until the whole picture of Christ is being completely detailed in my heart.

But yes, making a story or a journal of how God transforms us, is a very nice writing that others could also be bless through a written testimony.

Reflection 10

St Francis of Assisi was one of the devoted Christians in history. It was even being said that even birds were listening to his sermon. I pictured out this statement that St. Francis could really got the attention of his audience when he preached and could really got the good response after. But as my eyes got trapped into his quotes that really sticks in my mind. He said “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching” (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/francisofa153347.html”)

I was shocked and was able to look at myself and said, yes, living as a hypocrite has no room in the kingdom of God and is just like and clanging cymbals in the streets that is just making a noise and has no use at all.

And I said to my self; is this me? Is this how I live? This challenge me to be as I continue to live as having an integrity in living. Talking about integrity in living as Christian really feel me with guilt. Because since I am not that good and faithful servant of God.

Reflection #9

Ambrose of Milan was one of the ancient people that leave a big impact to the church. I was amazed the last time that he preached, as a defender of salvation by faith alone was made Augustine be converted into Christianity. Though this was the common way that others may heard and receive the truth, this still highlighted in my memory and was able to evaluate myself.

I was being led to this question into myself; how I really make an impact to other people that surrounds me as light into the dark world? Do I act as the light or do I act as a compromiser? I could say to my self that I am not that perfect and could just commit sin and is not that effective as Ambrose did.

Argie is not a good speaker but when knowing this story I was able to recall my high school time on how I help my friend to know Christ. I am not the one who preached or shared to him the Jesus as Saviour but God was using me to brought her to the church and was able to heard the Gospel and receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. And that iis how I see to myself that if I am not effective in dealing with others to share the Gospel at least I could make a bridge to them to know Christ by inviting them to the church gatherings.

Reflection #8

Martin Luther was a very strong man who had a very strong principle in his life. He learned many things in his own discovery. One of the most powerful realization that he made in his life was when the day that he became a convert in Christ. I think Martin learned of himself much or through his own discovery. And this happened when he become to be a monk who made a research of himself more about what the Bible is really teaching all about and became more and more strong and firm in his stand of what he had discovered from the word of God.

Martin did a great story in my heart that can't easily be erased or forgotten. Because me, myself is very opposite of Martin's attitude as a strong man. Because since I see myself as an independent person especially of making decision to myself, and knowing that Martin really have a strong and very positive of what he discovered of his own.

I couldn't think of any application that I could do to imitate Martin's attitude of being a strong one, but all I know is I have a lot of learning and realization from his story and how he fight the good fight for the truth, in Christ. Fighting for Christ is really a risk knowing that we still have in this imperfect world that is full of wickedness. But Martin Luther make a good example of it that Christ is worth dying for.

Reflection #7

 St. Ambrose has a great and good testimony that he left on the generation next to him even this days. Knowing that he was one of the leaders before who focusing on the kind of leadership in the church as a servant leader and not a highly one. Leaders that would really give a powerful impact, as a good example to those people he led. And this ideal leadership that St. Ambrose was focused of ,really give a good impact or influence to those ancient churches that even today.

I was being reminded by this, that as claiming to be future effective leader in the church, these principle that I've learned from St. Ambrose must not be rejected. Because what maters most to the leaders to be an effective one was that the way they lead and the character they portrayed to those people they lead and also to God.

This challenge me, to practice to be this way. Because leaders that is acting as a servant has a very good impact to those people especially to those who look up to you as a leader. And this would not lead them to hesitate to know you and to build a relationship to each individuals.

Reflection #6

What opened my heart and mind of the life of St. Basil was about his love for others more than any other to glorify God. He showed his love not just of his words but through actions that he had showed by establishing an orphanages, hospitals and an old aged homes. And so he was being called great because through him he conquered a lot of souls for Jesus Christ. St. Basil was one of the people who had a great influence that he leave through his testimony to the hearts of Christians today

And what challenge me the most in his life was being a hardworking minister for Christ's sake. My conscience moved because I always say to myself that I want to go out from my comfort zone to help others know Jesus that is in me, but sometimes I am being driven by my fear and also to the words of my family that hinders me to do what my conscience speak. St. Basil showed his love to God through his action and so he showed a lot of evidences.

And so I asked my self 'what can I do then, or the actions that I must do to prove that I love God?' What are those things or part that is in my comfort zone that I could sacrifice for the love that I have for God in his service? Those are just some of the questions that I have in my mind especially I am about to graduate. What's next of this chapter?

Reflection #5

I was a little bit surprised in this time of Theodosius' reign that christian themselves persecuted the pagans. Because as I've knew that only christian was being persecuted by other religion. But through the life of Theodosius my mind was being opened that, that could really be happened even before, during ancient times.

As a Christian, I am trying to live with confidence knowing that I have this Christ in me. Knowing and trying to be aware of every day living that persecution as Christian would really be happen. But because of this emperor my mind was being widen that Christian also could persecute the pagans even at this time. And the more I am being aware of how I live because I might act or live as a persecutor to other people.

Being sensitive the more to others as minister is what really matters the most in me. Knowing that I am an agent of transformation I must live just like a spy in each of the lives of those who are still lost and not to live as a persecutor. Because as what I've said that I thought before only Christians are being persecuted but in the other hand Christians also could be a persecutor in the eyes of other people if Christian themselves are not sensitive enough the way they live.

Reflection #4

I like how Polycarp as a strong man in the Lord on how he fight and stand firm in times of testing in his life as christian. “I must be burned alive “ was his statement and as an evidence that no matter what for him he will not really deny Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because for him there is no reason to deny Jesus as God and as Lord. That Jesus had done no wrong in him and why deny. I could say that this is really the life of a christian who truly be a man of God that really be tested of how true and sincere you are as the one who claim as Christians. Polycarp's difficulties as Christians is not new to many people especially today because since the very beginning God had already recognized different testimonies of the lives of different people in order for these generation to be aware with and of how they fight the good fight as God's soldiers.

Me as a weak person, had already faced different hardships in life. I even almost came to the point of giving up to be a bible school student because since then the enemy is trying to distract me from saying yes to God's conviction of His call in me to be in BTC. Though it is an old story about me but it keeps on reminding me those testimonies of how God worked in me, and to proved to myself that God is really working 24 hours in me. God never sleeps, he never rest, he never felt tired, he never even give up on me, God is a very patient God to me. And by this life of Polycarp when he says that 'God had done me no wrong, and why would I deny him as my God' is a challenge for me to keep going on. That even to this point God is still allowing the enemy to challenge me.

There are a lot of reasons for me to say keep going on and fight the good fight. Since God will fight for his children and there is no reason to let the enemy defeat us since our God is the master of all!I always heard and saw in media that Christians are being beheaded because of Christ and I ask myself if ever I will face this in reality could I really be stand like Polycarp did? I am being moved that whatever may happen I'll do my best just the as I could to really stand in the truth.

Reflection #3

“When the time had fully come” is the quoted word of Good that says that Christ came into a prepared situation at a particular point in time chosen by God. And it also includes here the existence of every person that whoever you are, whatever kind of person you are, either you are disable or not Good knows it and God has a purpose to it. That even a child, an adult, men or women or whatever creatures exist is part of God's plan. Or how imperfect you are, how violent you are and how wicked the person is, that can't still be condemned because God as a perfect creator created it with a purpose. And that's the beauty of God's design for his people that he created.

Me having a very low esteem were being comforted at the very time when this being mentioned in class. Though prior to this God already send me a comforting message but this add to my confidence of being who am I. Because I am used not to be appreciated even in the family during my childhood. But at this time that doesn't matter to me. I even choose not to be recognized by the crowds, I just don't like it. But I didn't stay there but instead I grow.

At this moment I find myself that I have less giving attention to those judgment that I've heard

And to be content of who I am in God's eyes as one of the precious child in him. I am not looking after to those people who will appreciate me but to those people who could accept me of being an imperfect physically, mentally, socially and others. Because knowing that I am also one of God's chosen to exist in this imperfect world to be used for his ministry.