Reflection 12

For this week's discussion and lessons had given me the insights of how the church begun here in the Philippines and who came here first and when it started and who were the founder or the person started the church. First I have come to learn how it happens and how it goes, and so proud of the missionaries who came here so brave to face trials and persecution. Now I understand why Filipinos are still so afraid of change because we were very ignorant of change. Somehow because of the pass experiences that Filipinos had gone through, and I know it was never easy. I can see also that Filipinos are no longer original in blood for there were so many countries that had came here and colonies this place. I give my highest salute to the missionaries and Americans who tried to fight for our freedom, and sometimes I felt ashamed of what the Filipinos were acting at those times toward the people who had tried to help them, and somehow I can see that why there are so many Filipinos this time who were hard headed, because Filipinos are really hard headed, and doesn't like anyone to govern them.

My family came and grew as a Catholic, both of my parents came from different Islands, and as I grew up because I live with my aunt and uncle who were Catholic and so I grew up knowing Catholicism. But my aunt respected my mother for not letting me baptized in a Catholic church because my mother was a Christian Protestant, and every time my aunt would bring me to Catholic church she would not allow me to take the Lord supper for I am still a kid and I am not a Catholic believer because my mother is also not. So, she believes that what my religion is should be the same with my mother, only if I have the right age to make a decision and to become part of Catholic church. But those times doesn't bother me at all, I am thankful that I did not come to that point in my life.

Now, because I am a believer of Christ I will continue to serve my God and there's nothing that will change my perspective in trusting and loving my Father and King. I will continue to reach out to those who doesn't really understand of what is religion and what is having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection 11

Knowing about the conversion of John Westley, and the life of David Livingstone, and Charles Spurgeon was really overwhelming feeling, because these people where so amazing on how they have come to follow Christ and do the great commission which is to go out of there place and spread the gospel to all nation, and make a disciple and to follow Christ as well. Some of them are a great speakers, and some are so good in building relationship to other tribes and win their hearts to follow Christ. I somehow see my self in how God had used me as His instrument just like to these guys. It is such a great privilege to be used by my God, and so much great to know how much He love His people.

 I am not really a smart girl, but I am sensitive enough to feel about others feelings and situation or experience. I have been to Thailand for just two months to reach out Buddhist people through English teaching. It was really a great time for me, because I was able to share the love of God to those people who doesn't believe in God but only to Buddha. So sad to know about how they practiced their belief, and that's one thing that I was really eager to let this people know that there is really God, and not an image God, but a powerful God who can do everything and a God who loved them so much.I had a few students who became so hesitant and resistant to know about Christ, but I believe that I soul is very important to God, the good thing being a teacher is that they are very respectful to you and sometimes they want to know you more because there is a question in their mind that why is this teacher different from them. Being a servant of my God  and Lord is worth it, because He will really make a move for you. 

The things that I need to improve is that, I should be more sensitive in God's calling specially this time that a few weeks from now I will be graduating, and I have to decide of what to do next. I am still praying and never I will stop praying for it.

Reflection 10

It is really great to know about the life of different people of where they came from and how they have gone to know and believe in Christ Jesus. We had talked about the life of George Whitefield and how good he is in presenting the gospel to people, and as well as John Westley, the more I heard about the stories of people who had done such a great thing in our history, the more I give honor and glory to God for what He had done to this people's lives. I have come to learn more  about our history in our church like how and where it really begins. And I have learned as well that each person who became a believer had different perspective and way how they would share Christ to others, and so good to know that many people would come to believe in them too. All in all, we are really made by God so uniquely because we all have different views and stand and all of us has different view in life and even understanding a simple phrase or words.

In my life before, I don't really practice being a good person, and in fact during my first college years, I was being influenced by my friends instead of influencing them and lead them to know Christ, I was the one who got carried by them. Shame on me, I thank God that He made a way for me to come back to Him and brought to this place, which is the Bible School, God had trained me and had build me up, and I am still under His construction. I believe that God is not yet done with me yet, He had given me a surrounding of a good influenced people, like my teachers and my classmates and friends, only this school I felt the love and care of a true believer and follower of Christ.  It's really amazing how God had changed me, and now I am ready to face my old friends and influenced them to Christ, in fact one of my old friend had ask me to help her by prayer and had ask some advises of what to do. 

The things that I will do to help and influence people and lead them to Christ, first is that, I will continue to pray for my old friends and take the opportunity to share to them the love of Christ Jesus, and be willing to take the time to spend with them and build the relationship again, and help them to guide them to trust in Jesus name. Second is that, never let the enemy get's in and never give the enemy the thought of disturbance not even a chance. 

Reflection 9

As we have studied about the new reformation or new group of people that had different doctrine and stand from Roman Catholic and who were against the Catholicism, and so I started thinking about what can I get from this lessons. Now I came to realize that God is still in the working process of each of the reformation, and He is there and He had not leave His people alone. I have also seen that He had come to preserve His evidence and "His-tory" by using people to spread the Gospel. There are times as well that there need to be someone to die for the sake of doctrine or belief or even just to preserve their own culture and religion.

When I was younger, I thought that religion was just nothing and its not really important, maybe because my Mama always told me that Catholics are religious people and we are not, and I interpret it like religion is not important at all. Well, I just did not understand what my Mama was talking about, so I grew up believing that there is no religion can save my life, and only me, myself, and I can save my own life. But then, God showed me the way and had help me understand about the life and love of Christ Jesus for me, and God had used people like the old time to save His children. And now I am so proud that I am now one of God's children, and He is my Father. I am thankful to God that He had preserved His people and word and His story so that a person like me would be able to know who God is. Now, I guess there's nothing to change about my behavior, or maybe not really change everything, just a few behavior of mine.

Now that I have Christ in my life, I am one of the person that needs to preserve and share God's love and life to others. It is now my duty and responsibility to let other people know who God is and who Jesus Christ is, and what Jesus did for all.

Reflection 8

Knowing more different people this week makes me excited to know more about different peoples life and experiences and contribution in our history of the church. I like Luther's life experiences an specially his guts of facing the higher authority and fight for what is right and truth. I tried to put my self in his shoe, and I said, I don't think I will be able to stand there alone without any support from my family or close friends. So as John Calvin, I really saw how He had come to change the churches setting and doctrine and how smart and brilliant he is. I thank God for his life because without using John Calvin's life I don't think that our church today would be this organize. I can really say that God had done so much for His people, and to preserve His people, there might be people that needs to take the risk and suffer, but that's God's way of showing to the next generation that there is really God and telling people "His-tory". 

I see how God worked in my life, since I had come to know and accepted Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior, He had open up my eyes and see the world, that means that my eyes were closed and blinded by the things in this world before I came to know and love Christ. If I was blinded before and now how I see God's working hand in my life so I will not stop seeking and searching for God. 

I will continue to read His word and meditate on it, and continue to follow His will for me. I will not stop from learning things as long as I will be able to step up and grow my faith in the Lord. I will also follow His way and always trust  Him  and acknowledge Him in everything I do.  

Reflection 7

Out of the reports that my classmates had presented in class there were two things I have learned, and I have also enjoyed listening and knowing different people who had made a big impact in our history today. I had never known this people in the pass and it so amazing to know that they were very brave to fight for their faith and different kinds of belief. They had studied to gain knowledge and it seemed like through studying they became more curious about life, and specially about doctrines and belief. Now, I have learned that each people really have it's own curiosity and dignity and how they come to believe in God and to follow God's calling and leading. And there are also people that just follow what they think are accurate to follow and some people choose to obey those who are higher than them and smarter than them. Anyway, second thing that I have learned is that most of those saints or people who became saints and became famous in our history of the church are all smart and educated person, and most of them came from a noble family. I haven't really heard that they came from the poorest family or maybe there are some but not really many of them.

From my learning to these people's life, I can say that I can also make a difference and it may not be the same thing as they had done at least I am making an effort to be part of the history, but the difference is that they are famous and I am not. I will take this opportunity of learning and share this to people, if I was once a coward then that should be change too.

Now, I will start sharing to people the life that God had imparted me and He had made and will make for me. That means I will share to them what God has done in my life and what were the things I did to ruin the life that God has given me. I will no longer be a coward, and start sharing it to my friends who are not yet a believer. I will also stop being a shy type person but be friendly and share the love that God has given me.

Reflection 6

We had watched about Martin Luther's life, I know I had watched it 3 times already, but this old version movie was unique and a little different from new version. I like how Martin had protest a lot, and not for the sake of its own but for the good for all people. And I agree with him that only the scripture itself is the truth and not the Popes word, and Pope doesn't have any right to disobey what was written and made their own word and not follow the scripture. Roman Catholics are too traditional and they are more into rules that kill people a lot, and the more people doesn't want to believe in God. I have come to learn that even in the old time 'til now politics is one of the issue that causes humans conflict. Greediness was still there at those times, and many of them doesn't seek for the truth but for pleasure, money or wealth. How pitiful those who are in the politics, Kings, Queens, Princes and even the Pope or those who were in the highest rank in the church. But I do believe God made a way for His people and continue to spread the gospel through out the world, and it did not stop there even though Martin died.

In my life, I know I was once a rebellious person, but now I am totally different God had changed me completely. From what I have come to know about the past and about the people who fight for their faith in Christ or for the things that they believe about the truth, I am very impressed by them, if before I am very silent about my faith, now I want to make a difference like Martin Luther or like to those who fight for Christ sake. I also want to make an impression to people if how God had changed my life.

I think I should start to share my life story to others, specially to the youth or young people, and not be shameful of my past but to be thankful to God that I endure and He had come to save my life. I should continue to share my testimony to others, and this time I will not be afraid of what people would say, as long as I did what I can do to help and tell them the story that God had given me.

Reflection 5

Little by little I learned a lesson from watching the movie "The Dark Ages", it was quite not good to look at because it was really a horror and terrible actions or scene. Some of my classmates could not stand to watch it, they tried to hide themselves behind their 5 or 10 fingers. But for me, although it was really not good but I have to watch every single actions because it helps me feel and fight for my fear. There are two things that I have learned from watching the movie, first is about the brutality of the Crusaders, because all I thought Crusade means is a group of people that would go to different places to spread out the gospel, but I was totally wrong and I was very surprise how the crusades had gone wrong. Second, I learned that it was not God's plan to take or kill all His people away, He still had preserve His people and His word, how amazing God is.

As I have come to evaluate my own self and my life from the pass 'til now, I can see that I was once a rebel, but it was all against from God's plan of course. But now, I saw how God had worked in my life, how He had preserve mew to be in this stage right now, and how I grew up so fast and how I grew up in His love. Maybe, there's no much to change because God had change me a lot, and a lot of people who knew my life before could even see how I change and the big changes that God made me. I am very blessed to be changed by God, although it was also my choice but I also believe that He made the biggest part of my decision in life. 

The things that I need to do is to continue what God had given me, and to continue to do the work that God gave, and always take good care of my self, and be the good model like Jesus. 

Reflection 4

As I was watching the "Dark Ages" movie it actually crushes my heart because it was really a very bad and very dark, and as I was thinking maybe that's why  they called it dark because it was really all full of brutality and  bloody wars. I thought it was all just a fairy tale stories about the past, just like the other stories that was just made and told, but no, I was mistaken it was not just a movie that was made just to entertain people, it actually really happen long time ago. And movie was made just to portray actions and events, and also for all people to be educated about the past events. The two things that I have learned that I never knew before is that, this kind of event really happens in the life experience, and this was not a joke. Next is that I have learned that whatever brutality that was done long time ago, God still made a way fro His people to pass through it and even bring a greater impact to others, and He uses those events to tell His story. For me, it is really a great opportunity to study and know the things and events that had happens in the past.

I was once in the dark world, I usually go to night parties, but now because God had helped me to be in the light again, He changed my life and walk with Him, and I can tell that I was also part of God's plan to be save and stay with Him just like the other people long time ago. As I am now in God's leading and direction, I should no longer go back to my past life and habits. And never will I be tempted with those things again, and I should continue to draw nearer to God each day of my life.

First thing that I should do is to pray and soak my self in God's word each day. Second, be around with the people that influences me the most, and select a mentor that I think that could help me with this problem or any problem. Third is that, to stay strong and courage and brave, and never give up easily, continue to fight for faith in Christ.

Reflection 3

As I have come to study about the Catholic Age and the Councils, I never thought that there are so many things that I can learn from it, especially about the Councils and the Creeds. There are some things that I never knew before, like about the Council, I never thought that they had existed that way, and how they had become as a group. All I knew before is that the Church just begun and founded by different Saints and some kind of group of people like the Priest and Popes, it never came across in mine about the Council. I honestly just heard this word and learned it from this course and that means that it is one of my learning. Second is how the  Council was formed and how they had worked together, I was really surprised and amazed at their work, I never knew that there are some kind of work like that they were pretty good in making the decision when it comes to knowing which one is the right doctrine. But then because of peoples different view and could not really work out together or unite together, there are always so many lapses. All of there arguments did not bother me anyway specially when it comes to my faith in Christ.
In connection to my life about this topic, if before I knew so little and almost to nothing about the history of our church council, and now there is no way for me to stay blind and dept about it, and I know that I have now the responsibility to share what I have come to learn and studied, but yet with humbleness and gentleness. The things that I think I need to change is my way of sharing and talking, because sometimes I could not recognize if I am being too proud of what I was saying, I heard it from my sister a while ago about me being proud sometimes, but then I did not know that I was being proud already. I thank God for the people that told me of what they saw in me that I somehow could not see. So next time, I will be extra careful not to be too proud or boastful.
First things that I will do is that I have to keep in my mind and learned from my mistakes, and listen to what other people say about me that they have seen and I didn't. Second is that I have to calm my self and stay humble with a gentle voice and gentle heart.

Reflection 2

The history of the church, I never thought that it would be that complicated, I mean, I never thought that people need to study about its history. But there are few things that I have learned while studying this course, specially when it come to the time how the Christian Church begun. And how the apostle had passed on the baton of the Christian Church. There are things also that made me think about how the Bible really made complete without the person getting persecuted or abandon by people, and how it really been made to spread out and printed.

If I am to compare my life today and the life of my past, well it was really different, because I was only a kid who easily follow what older people say, and just follow the rules in the house of my relative. But now, as i have come to study the history, I already have the knowledge and its hard for me to believe right there and then of what older people well say about the church and their own belief when it comes to the truth of the church. Before, I just used to easily believe of what old people say about the church and the truth about it. The thing that I need to change in me is that, just to be humble and never brag about anything but by everything for Christ Jesus.

The very first thing that I need to do is to continue to depend on God, and always rely on Him and never ever forget to seek Him first. Then I will humbly share to others what I have learned specially to those who are willing to learn and to those who are willing to listen.