My two weeks of "labour camp".

To my fellow companions, greetings in the name of our Father, whose love for us is so strong that He is willing to sacrifice His Son, Jesus Christ. Praise to our Lord, for bringing to us the joy of salvation and the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and reconcile us to our Father, by making us holy. Amen.

I thank God for the opportunity to sit together with all of you over the last two weeks learning how to interpret the Bible in its primary meaning. The struggle to meet the very short date-line for the assignments and the rush to print the commentaries. Above all, the forgiveness, understanding and assistance within the groups to meet the assignments shows brotherly and sisterly love. Love as express in the Bible, an act of love.

Now allow me to paraphrase 1 Thess. 4:1-3 "1 Therefore, having received the Word (Bible) and the Holy Spirit, you should continue to read and interpret this Word and to please God, even as you continue to do this more and more. 2 . . . 3 For this is the will of God . . ." This brings the next very important question, "How to interpret the Bible for all its worth?" (oh, sounds like the title of a book)

So what did I "take home" after two weeks of "hard labour"?

Technology - has no age-limit
I have learned to be more "up-teched". Knowing that the world has more up the technology ladder and using the technology is not enough. I also need to be "connected". The need to move up this ladder is important to both engage the younger generation and to fully enjoy the benefits new technology brings. To be "connected" or very soon, I may be lost in the world of the internet.

So here I am blogging. My very first blog.

And the best "take home" from this internet and technology world is the knowledge and information leading to the many on-line and yes, free Bible resources.

English grammar - what do you mean
Structure diagram??? Whatever is it???

It is very interesting to "re-learn" my English, starting with grammar. Understanding "subject" and "verb" forming the "primary clause" or "main cast".

Then to bring in the "FANBOYS" (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet and So) to support the "main cast".

 Finally, all the other "extras" namely the "conjunctions" to spice up the plot.

What a way to point out the theme of the plot, and to ask the question, "Why or How".
 

Very interesting in understanding English and a new beginning.

  

Word – lost in translation

Having worked and communicated with many foreigners, (English, Americans, Italians, French, Scots, Dutch, Russians, Kazakhs, Kyrgzts, Uighurs, Indians, Vietnamese, etc.), I thought I can English spoken in different style and accent.

But what a surprised!

Simple word, becomes complex, when trying to understand in different time zones, different cultural experiences, different value sets, different up-bringing, etc.

Thus, the need to go "Back to the Future" or in this case, "back to the original", especially when words are lost through translation, evolution, cultural values, etc.

Commentaries - replacing the Bible
Personally, I am not one who likes to consult the commentaries. I am worried that it will influenced me more than the Spirit. I want the "rhema" more than the "logos".

So, where and when and how does the commentaries can help? When I need to understand and know the background to the text, the language, cultural, etc. But above all, the inspiration should be from the Spirit and not the commentaries.

 

“Take-aways” – bringing home with me

1. Need to be resourceful - the "free on-line" Bible resources.
    - Tap on these resources and gain the experience.
2. Need to be relevance - understanding the generational gap.
    - What works yesterday, may be obsolete tomorrow.
3. Need to know the context, not just the text - what is it sayinf
    - Beware because it is easy to read into the text to meet a need, but to miss the intended purpoer
4. Need to continue - God planted the seed, I watered
    - Learning and knowing the techniques to interpret the Bible is just the beginning, it is the practice that will convert this learning and knowing into a habit.

Again paraphrasing 1 Thess. 4:7-8 "7 God did not call us into spiritual ignorance, but understanding. 8 . . . God has given us His Word (the Bible) and His gift (the Holy Spirit)."

Therefore, as we wait for the return of our Lord let us continue to interpret His Word and bring understanding and blessing to the people who need the "truth to set them free". Amen.

Blessing
Francis
July 5, 2013