Playing with Fire

Seminary
I am really enjoying my graduate education at Talbot School of Theology. The Biola campus is like a Christian utopia. Everyone is a Christian and loves Jesus! Its truly amazing to be surrounded my so many people filled with the Holy Spirit. I am really impressed with their faculty and teachers. Although the work load is heavy, I am grateful that I get to study material I want to learn. I'm taking Spiritual Formation where I get to prayer projects, have small groups, reflect on my walk, and go on a retreat. I'm also taking Reformation and Modern Theology, which is all about church history, and the study of great reformation leaders such as Calvin, Luther and Augustine. Survey of Matthew to Revelations seems like a difficult class, but it's great to take a closer look at the New Testiment books. And lastly my Hermenutics class, which i talk about more later.

Coffee on my Shoes
Early this morning i went to a prayer meeting on campus. They had coffee and bagels. I got to meet some cool people and also got to start off the day by praying in fellowship. I noticed I can read a lot about God, talk a lot about God, think a lot about God, learn a lot about God, write a lot about God, but how much do i actually talk to God personally? So this is something i would like to work on and increase in.

After the meeting i had to rush off to class, but as i was saying my goodbyes I shook someone's hand and spilled my coffee all over my fairly new shoes, and the white part became stained. But instead of reacting to it, i was instantly okay with it. I realized that earthly things will all pass away anyway.

Later that day i went to by books. As I reached for my wallet, i noticed it was gone! So i backtracked my steps, checked my car, back at the apartment, and i finally found it back at the front desk near the prayer meeting was at. I was freaking out the whole time, but God also used that to have me run into a bunch of people. I got to meet and talk with 4 or 5 people just because I was on a different path than what I would have originally been.

The main lesson of spilling coffee and losing my wallet was to notice that things often go wrong. And when things don't go according to your plan, it's usually things that are meant to happen, and God can even use small things to change the path of our direction. When things do go wrong we must remember not to get so upset or panic over the little things. We blow up small problems when other people have it way harder than us.

Wet Laundry
A week ago i remember being really angry because my laundry was pissing me off. I had some conflict with a lady at the laundry room, my clothes ended up being soaked, and I kept paying the drier to dry it but it didn't do it's job well. And i remember being so upset over wet clothes and all the time I put into trying to get it dry.

Another lesson I've been relearning is the value of patience and forgiveness with others. Sometimes I can get so annoyed with people that I let small things bug me. God is teaching me to see people the way He sees them. Every time i think or say something negative about someone, especially if it's a Christian, I know God rebukes me and says that He doesn't like me talking about His bride that way. I guess patience also goes along with humility, and crucifying your own idea of how things should be. God is ultimately in charge, and He allows us to encounter these trials to test our faith.

Hermeneutics
I'm really enjoying my hermeneutics class at talbot. Hermeneutics is just a fancy way of saying "how to interpret scripture". I've been learning a lot about how we can bend scripture in so many ways by taking it out of context and not looking at the author's intent. I'm reading a book called Playing with Fire, and it has some deep nuggets of truth about how we should interpret scripture.

The book also talks about how most people fall into error while trying to interpret scripture, because they don't study the historical, cultural, grammatical, literary and genre of each passage. It's important we know the author's audience, his intent, and background before we begin coming up with conclusions. We are so quick to try and make meaning out of a verse that we don't take the time to investigate it in it's context and genre. A huge mistake i have made when running bible studies is asking "So what does this verse mean to you?" or "what do you think it means?" Cuz then we have all sorts of interpretations to a specific passage. Rather it is better to ask, "So what does this passage mean?" Leading to what it means then and there, before we jump to here and now.

"I think the primary confusion comes when we move from reading or interpreting a text right into applying the text to our particular place in life - an application that may be absolutely appropriate for our own situation. The problem comes when we call that application or insight for our own life an "interpretation," which would make it a universal, rather than a particular, insight that God may well intend for us to receive."

"Spiritual or formational reading is the exact opposite of informational reading. Instead of the text being an object controlled by us, the text becomes the subject; we, in turn, become the "object" addressed by God through the text." Basically we are not to place ourselves over the bible, but under the authority. Instead of interpreting the Bible, we must let the Bible interpret us.

The book goes on to talk about how we should experience a heartburn or burning heart when we read God's Word. The main thing God uses to transform us into the likeness of Christ is through His Word. Looking back about 2 years ago, I can see how much reading God's Word has shaped me and grown me closer to Christ. I guess you could say that i am obsessed with spiritual growth. I never want my walk with God to be dry, stagnant, empty, boring or dull. At times I have gone through those seasons. But until the day I die, I want my life to reflect Christ as much as it possibly can. I want this desire to light the flames of others. I want the likeness of Jesus.

Some other lessons im reminded of are not to compromise my morality for a shortcut, how God's grace never gets old, how Christians can still have many idols, the power of fellowship/prayer, and our complete depravity without the Holy Spirit. But i dont feel like blogging all of that, cuz i got tons of books to read for school now.


- Isaiah 55:6-13

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."


-Psalm 19:7-14
"The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."