sola_christus's Xanga

what i've been up to

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:28:21 GMT

It's been very busy for me for couple months now, with the new manager and the focus of the work. We brought up our stores sales up enormously, and i've been tired as always. But i've talked with my District Manager and I don't know when, but hopefully I will become a Manager soon. But I just wish I can stay home and study all day and everyday.

Been doing little studying for my school, but got lot of readings done.

Here are my completed read books:

1) Biblical Hermeneutics by Milton Terry
2) Introduction to Theological Research by Cyril Barber/Robert Krauss Jr.
3) The King James Only Controversy by James White
4) Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What They Don't Teach Pastors in Seminary by Aubrey Malphurs

I need to read lot more than these. tell me what you all think about these books.

Been watching lot of movies and cutting back on my reading....

Currently reading:

1) God Centered Preaching by Robert L. Reymond
2) Modern Search for the Real Jesus by Robert Strimple
3) Institute of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
4) Interpretation of Prophecy by Patrick Fairbairn

Goodnight.

My School

Thu, 08 May 2008 02:33:50 GMT

Well... been doing lot these days... like always... got a new manager... my selling skills got better because of him.

I'm thinking about going to Thailand this june... i have this week to figure things out....

I'm doing lot of things but I really want to focus on school so I decided to take couple classes instead of just one....

Here are my classes that I'm taking for my Master's Degree
1) Hermeneutics
2) Homiletics
3) Pastoral Practicum
4) Church Administration
5) Introduction & History of the Old Testament
6) New Testament Studies: Matthew
7) New Testament Studies: Hebrew
8) Old Testament Studies: Daniel
9) Apologetics I
10) Systematic Theology I

If I can....

11) Biblical Ethics
12) Biblical Worship
13) Church History I
14) Presbyterian Church History
15) Cults and Heresies
WELL.... atleast one or two if i can...

I have 37 classes and I am planning on finishing this degree within 2 1/2 years or less. I might even have to take a year off from work if I have too.

But i've started with many of the books and started to do all the book requirements and after that the lectures *sigh.....

I am also starting out a Christian club, bible teaching for CSUN soon, and Friday Bible Study, and I don't know what else. I've moved to my local PCA and it has been great.

I will be busy.. just in case I don't come back for a while... God Bless. and please pray for me with my studies and servant-hood.

Tired

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:57:03 GMT

Been tired lot these days.... mostly with RadioShack and the work that's involved. Since we are going to get another manager, things might get easier or harder. I might move my work closer to my home and maybe take that hour + from driving and use it for something else (i've been re-studying my modern Greek with my iPod). The materials for my classes seems to drag. The book im reading is taking long time, its so weird. I'm only on the 170 pages with one book, its almost going to be a month now, and it seems like i'm not getting my readings done and my summaries and outlines. At least i'm done with two 45 minute lectures, but i have 14 more to go. I just wish I can focus on studying for my Master's Degree and get this done within or less than 3 years. Maybe I can cut back on my time at work and focus more on studying. However, I might be able to become a manager for RadioShack sooner than I think and that will pretty much give me the financial lift. Well for now, i'll study as much as possible, and not watch movies everyday. I lost focus on my site for now, since work has been a killer for me. Lot of things are going on and lot of things must be done. Me and two other pastors are trying to a bible study group for college students and hopefully high school students as well. Our primary goal is to reach out to CSUN and to other college students. We also talked about making a Fraternity and Sorority in campus' that will benefit Christian living and the shun of worldly activities that goes on those societies. I am still praying about this, I can't imagine a Christian Fraternity or Sorority, but lets see what God will do. Our first meeting was yesterday and I was stressing the importance of going book by book, exegetical approach to the Bible for at least 1 hour, the rest was about our vision for what we want to do; to teach the Bible and to have them teach others as well. I must say, going from Matthew to Galatians thus far as improved many of our group and even though its been 2 1/2 years, I can see few that have exceeded my expectations in concerning biblical understanding. I wish to see more wanting to be hungry for God's Word, and I hope this vision we have, me and two other pastors will glorify God. Both are Southern Baptist, i'm more leaning towards PCA denomination, yet I don't know where God will lead me. If I was given an opportunity to become PCA ordained, I don't think I will hesitate. Our English Ministry decided to move to a different church and this PCA Valley Presbyterian Church seemed to be the best fit, and its close to us, maybe the only concern is the NIV bibles thats hanging on the pews at the church. Other than that, i find it welcoming to my discerning mind of mine. I was planning on to go to Thailand this June, however, I still don't know my answer. After I came back from Greece, I felt the need to go to different countries and see the hunger as well as poverty. I'm afraid to go to Africa, because I might kill myself in seeing so many (I hate it when i see the clips on tv showing the illness of Africa). I think if I go there, I wouldn't want to come back. I was wanting to plan an organization or be involved in helping the sick and the poor and the biblical teachings of the Bible in other countries. I think I will start this within my community and go from there, and the Lord willing get this up and running, glorifying His glorious name. As we did Focusing on Hymn, one of the church wanted us to go to their church so that his congregation will understand the importance of biblical worship. And we are still planning on the Logos Event: The importance of Bible Study at the end of May. There is more than these things to which I am planning on to do. I just pray that Christians can be Christians and not just call themselves Christian, but be one. I also want to bring the importance of the Word back to everyone and shun liberalism. For the past few years i've been fighting against liberalism, and with few steps, I can see the work of God. Starting with our English Ministry, I am not saying that we have the perfect church, but most now realizes the importance of the Word, though more work is still needed, starting with few and seeing them and others alike going out there to share the importance of true biblical Christianity is my goal, and God is opening the doors to other churches and pastors out there. I am so thankful that I am part of God's glorious will, and to have Him use me in such a way. I know that not all can see the truth, but to see the truth in those who are elected is amazing, and if I have to spend years after years to have people realize the truth, Lord be glorified. If anyone wants to pray for such realization of the truth and the works of God please do so. I would also want help from many people out there who can give me advices and help with many things to come, CSUN, homeless, orphans, widows, poverty, injustice, liberalism, and many things please talk to me.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:11:00 GMT

The joy of massage.... i've been tormented with my body for several weeks. when i sleep, my body did not want to get up. i was having a hard time trying to make a fist with my hands. but such a relief with removing some tension from my body.

I had to buy new shoes since saturday, i couldn't stand more than 10 seconds at work. My feet was killing me like crazy and my knees. yet the shoes i bought still hurts me.

i have a meeting with two pastors as we will discuss on important matter of reaching out to college students and high school students within our community, please pray for our meeting and the outcome.

I've been attending PCA near my place, absolutely love it there, if I be in any denomination, PCA is the one.

I took all of the people in my group to see what it was like, and hopefully we can come to a conclusion on what we should be doing. Since we want to move to a different church, and since no pastor has been provided for our English Ministry and nothing has been done for God knows how many years. As soon as we decide, as soon as we tell the people at the church bye, and hopefully the senior pastor won't get mad, unlike Sunday.

So tired at work, and didn't get much homework done from my Master's. As an assistant manager, i have lot of things to do, and i've been doing some overtime. My manager will become a District Manager soon, and hopefully he will help me become a manager in the future.

I bought myself a 42 inch tv, which i left in the living room now, so i can study more, and i just love it.

I received a free Playstation 3 and a laptop computer from someone who was giving things away. So Blu-Ray is just a wonderful technology.

Well, i must go eat and go to the meeting... havent update for a while, wish to keep in touch. God bless. and take cares.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:45:43 GMT

So today, as I was eating, the senior pastor came to the room and in korean culture, we say hello (respectively). And so I did, and he said, hurry and clean this room. I was like hmmm, and I lost my appetite. He knew that I took people to the other church, but I mean, this kind of act made me frustrated, but whatevers.

So, our group has been to this PCA church and I love it.

I bought Patriot on Blu-Ray.... man its sooooooo goood.... hahhahah

FOCUSING ON HYMN EVENT APRIL 5TH

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:39:54 GMT

Focusing on Hymn
Presented by Five Pillar Ministry

Please join us in this inter-church
Praise service designed to help
Bring the contemporary Christian
Back to the true purpose of Worship

Sat. April 5th
Arriving Time: 7:00pm
Start Time: 7:30pm on the dot!
Snacks will be provided

Directions:
18050 Vanowen St
Reseda, CA 91335

History of Interpretation.

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:53:04 GMT

I wanted to write on my xanga, since i haven't wrote anything for a while.

First, God has blessed me with this promotion... having to create my own hours thus have time to study. I have enrolled in Whitefield Theological Seminary and currently studying Hermeneutics. I am currently thinking about going to Thailand this June.. have one month to pray about it and think this through... possibly for one week... I bought a 42 inch tv... and i am addicted to HDTV.... plus it is easy to do my homework with such a wide screen.... KOCE and KCET is soooo better with High Defintion... the nature shows and showing of different countries just makes me wanna go there..... I've attended atleast 2 service at a local PCA Church and attended two bible studies for the college/career group. I love it... More and more I go there... more and more PCA is the denomination for me... I don't know about the others (we are planning to move out of our current church).... I haven't focused on my site after I went to Greece... but hopefully I can update here and there... I am preparing for Focusing on Hymn for April 5th Saturday and hopefully it will be a blessed event.

Second..... this is my summary on History of Interpretation, from Old Testament days to Pre-Post Apostolic (The beginning of the Post Apostolic)

There is great value and importance of the history of interpretation. Learning the misunderstanding and those who have interpreted in different ways throughout history can be a tool for us in understanding and help us from their mistakes. By knowing the origin and variety of interpretations, we can observe how men learned and exposited Scripture, and also, be more fully qualified to maintain and defend the faith once delivered to the saint.
Ezra: During the Babylonian Captivity, a descendant from Aaron the high priest, in hopeless of Israel’s rise by worldly prowess, set his heart upon the devout study of the ancient Scripture. Ezra sought to reform Israel by calling them to a rigid obedience of the commandments. He also led a company of exiles back to Jerusalem and instituted numerous reforms, with many instructions and laws for the people. The office and work of the scribe became important, they began to devote themselves to study and interpret the law and earned their title as lawyers. Not only was Ezra the only scribe but also we find numerous narrated in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The process of exegesis after Ezra was pre-Christian apocryphal, pseudepigraphal literature, the works of Philo Judaeus, Jospehus, and the Talmud. By studying the law, they have come to gather up their traditions and constructed an oral law, which in time came to have with them an authority equal to that of the sacred books.
Such were, Jewish Halachah and Hagadah. The Halachich, or legal exegesis, was confined to the Pentateuch, and aimed, by analogy and combination of specific written laws, to deduce precepts and rules on subjects, which had not been formally treated in the Mosaic Code. This was, in the main, a reading into the laws of Moses a great variety of things, which they could not, by any fair interpretation, be made to teach. The Hagadic exegesis, on the other hand, was extended over the entire Old Testament Scriptures, and was of a more practical and homiletical character (sayings of illustrious men, parables, allegories, marvelous legends, witty proverbs, and mystic interpretation of Scripture events, to stimulate the Jewish people to pious activity and obedience). The Midrashim thus became a vast treasury of Hebrew national lore, it was developed gradually, by public lectures and homilies, and became more and more comprehensive and complicated as new legends, secret meanings, hidden wisdom, and allegorical expositions were added by one greater after another. Karaites was influenced by the Christians to reject the authority of the oral law, and all the traditions and precepts of Hagadic literature.
The Methods of Christian exegesis indicated in the New Testament, provided great exegesis principles and methods. However, the post-apostolic was different. They were more apologetical and polemical rather than exegetical, simply because of persecution and numerous forms of heresy. They had no opportunities to cultivate those habits of careful study, which lead to broad generalizations and impartial decisions. The School of Alexandria, Philo Judaeus adapted the Mosaic revelation with the Grecian metaphysic. Having no appreciation for the historical, truthfulness, or accuracy of the author. Having the apostles condemning these forms of interpretation, this method did not stop with Philo, but was also carried by Titus Flavius Clement. But his pupil succeeded with knowledge, devotion to studies, and acquired the name of Man of Adamant. His name was Origen, the most distinguished biblical critic of the ancient Church. But with all his devotion to the interests of truth, and the enormous magnitude of his labors, he was a mystico-allegorical interpreter. Maintaining threefold sense of the Scripture; the corporeal, the physical, and spiritual. Yet his zeal for God, acknowledged him as pre-eminently the father of biblical science, and one of the greatest prodigies of learning and industry among men.
School of Antioch, Lucian was ordained presbyter and acquired great fame as a critical student and expounder of the Holy Scriptures. His stricter methods put a check to the allegorical and mystical interpretation, which was so popular at that time. Diodorus also followed after this method. Church historian Socrates said, many treatises in which he limited his expositions to the literal sense of Scripture, without attempting to explain what was mystical. Some said he was the real founder of the school of Antioch. Theodore of Mopsuestia, and John Chrysostom of Constatinople where disciples of Diodorus. Theodore had no sympathy for mystical methods, and was known as Master of the Orient. However, he denied the inspiration of many portions of the Scriptures, and furnished specimens of rationalistic exposition quite barren and unsatisfactory. While Theodore represented the more independent and rationalistic spirit of the Antiochian school, Chrysostom exhibited its more conservative and practical tendency. He was the greatest commentators among the early fathers of the Church, living to understand Scriptures, prudent method of interpretation, on logical and grammatical principles, kept him in the right track in deriving the spirit from the letter of the Bible. The last from the school of Antioch is Theodoret known for devoting himself to theological studies, who also followed Diodorus, Theodore, and John Chrysostom in biblical interpretation.

Promoted...

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:25:20 GMT

Just got promoted today as Manager in Training.... after 8 months :).... thank you Lord....

scary night

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:15:06 GMT

This driver was going slow, so i went to the other lane and went back to his lane. Soon after, he took picture of my car. I let it go, but we stopped again, and he was taking more pictures, so i stopped my car on the street and asked him why he was taking pictures of my car, he started taking pictures of me, he wouldn't talk to me or anything. So i went back to my car and started driving, so he took another picture and i saw a cop parked at the gas station. I parked my car on the street again and was shouting at the police officer to come closer, but he couldnt hear me. So i went to take a picture of that car but the man took off. I went to the cops and told them everything.

This was very scary moment. I have this feeling he is going to put a bomb inside my car haha.... maybe he will.. i dont know...

These days, God is really pushing me closer to focus on the ministry. I am still questioning my financial issues, but if anyone can pray for me, i appreciate it. Take cares and God bless.

teaching overseas

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:09:13 GMT

I was looking into teaching overseas a while back. however, it just popped into me.. on facebook this christian teaching overseas came out....it said where is God calling you.. i just need to pray... but doubts financially is causing me to stop..... i dont know what to do....