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 Suggestions for Club ImprovementIn God's love, Jim tennesseehiker |
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tower919 05-Mar-17, 17:55 |
Would be, I think, a good way to stay in God's Word and share it with each other. |
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apjr_1155 15-Mar-17, 06:01 |
Greetings to one and all! Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Grace to you and peace from God our Father! I am enthused by the vision I see on the horizon and awed by the working of the Holy Spirit as He gathers us to a new faith journey. Actually it is not new but appears to be new only when met as a first encounter, when the experience is liberating and awakens us to a new dimension of understanding our spirituality. Beforehand, I praise God through Christ our Lord for bringing me in your midst. Thanks to Shirley our team captain who encouraged me to join this Bible study group/fellowship and to Jim who personally welcomed me and to Andy for a blessed (my first) interaction in this forum. I would like to introduce an unconventional manner of studying God's Word for the traditional way (banking system of education: a teacher lectures and students listening passively) of doing it does not give expanded movements where we can truly explore what we want to know and understand. In the words of Paolo Praire the banking system of education stifles the creativity of the mind. For such reason, the indwelling presence of God led me to innovate a kind of approach to the study of God's word where much freedom is experienced in exploring and savoring the food for our spirit. I encourage everyone to participate in our study. The approach we will use is what I call 'the inter-active approach to Bible study. In this approach nobody will teach us what to know and understand. For knowing and understanding is a work of the Holy Spirit brought to us through His enlightenment. In other words, we will let the Holy Spirit brings us to a free flow of interaction. He is our teacher who dwells in us and will bring us to all understanding we are concerned with. The format of this approach is that: there will be a facilitator (that will be me) and co-facilitator (that will be anyone) who will interact with what is being facilitated. The focus of the study is our experience/s and the light to illumine them is God's word. This will lead to snowballing until everyone participating is gravitated by the Spirit of God to where He is leading us (God's revelation). I would like to hear from you if this message is welcome in your soul and spirit. Two or three positive response will do for God will be in our midst. Afterwards we will commence our activity. I admonish everyone to brace yourself for the blessings we will receive from above. May God's countenance keep you in His stead. In Christ, Ian |
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tower919 15-Mar-17, 08:33 |
Looking forward to anything that glorifies God and strengthens our relationship with Him! |
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I would also like to participate. |
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I would also like to participate. |
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tower919 17-Mar-17, 14:07 |
While the presence of the Holy Spirit is always within a believer, its influence on a believer's life is dependent upon reading God's Word and prayer. That is what I have heard (and experienced) from several church leaders (evangelical and Baptist.) |
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tower919 17-Mar-17, 14:14 |
I've found it's sometimes a struggle to maintain daily reading of the Holy Bible and prayer. I think all Christians experience this, but the truly saved always return to fellowship with God. |
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apjr_1155 17-Mar-17, 23:54 |
Praise God! But before we start can you briefly respond to these questions: how old were you when you met Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. How long have you been journeying in your faith experience. Let me start the disclosure. I was thirteen years old when I believed and accepted God's grace through faith in Christ. I've been journeying in my faith experience for 49 years now. The span of time I traveled brought me to where I am now: having a deep understanding of the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ and finding rest in His stead. Those experiences I've gone through brought me knowledge and wisdom illumined by the Spirit of God which am excited to share with you. You will know and experience too what I talk about. Please stay with me before any one of you follow my disclosure. If you have questions concerning my statements or any of it you want me to clarify please do so. When you are done with me let us hear from Jim, Andy, and Shirley in that order. Let us be with Jim before we go to the next. If there are questions we would like to ask Jim concerning his disclosure let us bring them in the open before we go to the next (Andy then Shirley). This process will warm us up to the activities we will go through. Let us commit to God each one of us and uphold one another in prayer. Let us collectively walk in the Spirit. In Christ, Ian |
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apjr_1155 17-Mar-17, 23:57 |
Title of the thread. |
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apjr_1155 18-Mar-17, 00:13 |
Hi Shirley! Be blessed, Ian |
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tower919 18-Mar-17, 00:55 |
Hi Ian Can you talk about what led you to accept Jesus Christ at 13? In other words, what was the precipitating event(s) or was it more of a gradual realization that Jesus Christ was/is the Son of God? |
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apjr_1155 18-Mar-17, 07:51 |
Praise God! I am at the age of five when I was mystified by my personal existence in this world. I raised basic philosophical questions and long to seek answers for them: who am I? Why am I in this world? where did I come from? Is there purpose and reason for existence? I never asked anyone those questions because I sensed that people are searching for answers too. My mom was instrumental in leading me to God through Christ our Lord. I grew up in a Presbyterian tradition because my mom's side all belong to the same denomination in the Philippines. When I was at the age of three I remember her waking us (my elder brother and sister) up early in the morning to pray. That was my first exposure to our prayer life. When I was at the age of thirteen I went through my confirmation class; a customary program for most evangelical denominations. At the last session of the class after several months of exposure to understanding Jesus Christ; without being prodded by our pastor, I bowed my head down and prayed silently, I said "Lord Jesus, you are the answers to all my questions. I believe in God's message through you. Come to my life and I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Lord because from that moment on I gave my life to Christ in exchange for the new life He gives us. Savior because God placed the guilt of my sin in Christ who received the punishment that should have been mine. He died for our sins. This act of sacrifice saved us from God's wrath, freed us from the power of sin and death and reconciled us back to God. Prior to that year, one year earlier, I had an extra ordinary experience that only those who are called directly experiences (like the original 12 disciples/apostles). But I will only disclose it if you are interested to know. Brethren, may you have a blessed week end and God's grace and mercy continue to flow in your household endlessly! May your family be kept in God's countenance in Christ stead. In Christ, Ian P.S. Please remain staying with me for a while and ask questions pertaining to my faith experience because after me, we will proceed to Jim, Andy, and Shirley's disclosure. Thanks. |
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apjr_1155 18-Mar-17, 08:06 |
Hi Andy! |
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Also, please let us start the new thread when you are ready, so that anyone joining us in the future may easily distinguish which thread it is when they come onto our Club site. Shirley. |
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Requests Thank you for that awe-inspiring testimony. Please share with us your extraordinary experience. Also, with your express permission, I would like to copy/paste your testimony into the club's "Testimonies" thread. Thank you for your consideration in these matters. In Christ's love, Jim |
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apjr_1155 19-Mar-17, 07:34 |
Hi Shriley! Shirley, I will not forget the day you invited me to join this Bible study club. I did not join right away because I prayerfully considered if it is God's will for me to join (as you know, I am just on indefinite leave from my ministerial assignment). This is now history and certainly God's hand is behind all the events we are now going through. I confess that I am not much computer literate. I would like to ask you a favor Shriley. Can you do the copy and posting for the new thread on this activity. I already posted the title for the new thread. Thanks in advance. Blessings, Ian |
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apjr_1155 19-Mar-17, 07:54 |
Praise God Praise God for how He moved you in establishing this Bible study club. Let us not forget the person you mentioned instrumental/influenced you to this current one. I can see that God's hand started working in the said brethren who started a similar one but folded later on. God's Spirit is moving and connecting us to chain of events that we may know He is the one working all these events for us. Yes Jim, you have my permission to post what I disclosed in this thread. I believe that the Lord our God through Christ Jesus our Redeemer will pour out His blessings for this Bible study Club! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN! Ian |
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apjr_1155 19-Mar-17, 08:04 |
Hi Shirley! |
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apjr_1155 19-Mar-17, 09:50 |
A testimony to an extra ordinary experience. One week end during that year, my peer in the neighborhood who were also fellow grade school students will gather in the morning (9:00 a.m.) to play. As we commenced the game we're playing, I could not explain the experience I was going through. I felt a sudden overwhelming fatigue that made me quit the game. I came home, laid in bed to rest. Surprise of all surprises I have not laid there for several minutes when I was put in a trance. I was bewildered by the experience: for I was very much conscious that I came home from a game to rest because I felt so tired and suddenly here I was dreaming while in a trance. A vision was actually unfolding while I was in that state. In that dream/vision I saw two illuminated figures(persons) standing before an elevated one bright in radiance (like in transfiguration). I drew myself beside the illuminated figure on my left and asked, 'who is that person standing before us?'. The one I asked replied, 'don't you know He is Christ our Lord!'. I was appalled to learn that I was standing before Christ. Yes, I learned of Christ in school but never expected to see Him not even in this dream. Then the one standing before us said, 'Jun (the name I was known prior to Ian), do you doubt that I am Christ the one you are worshipping?' He spoke with power and authority that I could not help but reply, 'Yes, Lord I believe'. Then I saw Him talked to the one on my farthest left in language I can not hear nor understand as if Christ is commanding him to do something. After Christ talked to him, he left. Then Christ turned to the one on my left and in similar manner talked to him in language that I can not hear nor understand. At this instance I bowed my head in fear hoping I was not there. Christ might ask me to do something that I don't like to do. After Christ talked to the one on my left I was left alone standing before Him. Then I heard Him say to me, 'And now Jun, I commission you to preach the Gospel!'. I raised my head and replied to Him in three negative answers, 'Lord I don't like, I can not, and I will not.' Then He said to me, 'Jun I will not force you to accept my commission but I am giving you thirteen more years to decide then after that I'll get you.' At the end of His last word the dream/vision ended abruptly as it started. I woke up from that trance and my heart throbbing fast fearful and terrified by such experience. Who is Christ? Why does He speak as if He has power over me and holds my life? What does it mean to be commissioned? What is the Gospel? The answers to this questions came later on when I went through my confirmation class. I never shared such experience to anyone not even my parents. I only shared this to our pastor when the memory came rushing back troubling me (after my college degree). Our pastor heard my testimony and said, 'You have an extra ordinary experience and a sure calling to the ministry. What are you waiting for? Our pastor arranged for my scholarship and in 1979 I entered the portals of Union Theological Seminary, Philippines (then, an affiliate of UTS, New York) to undergo my formal theological education and earned my Master of Divinity in 1984. My faith experience started even before I formally received Jesus Christ in my confirmation class the following year. Jim and Shirley what I disclosed with you is the content of the extra ordinary experience I mentioned and a portion of the book I am writing. Be blessed. Ian |
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Your title for the new thread is a little too long. Perhaps you can shorten it just a little. It needs about 5 or 6 characters fewer. You might choose to abbreviate one word. I will start it as soon as you let me know how to proceed. Shirley. |
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Signaling Go Thank you so much for sharing your extraordinary vision and subsequent call to the ministry with us. Please accept this post as my green light for initiating your thread. I agree with shirlmygirl; perhaps you could shorten the title by a word or two. However, this is just a suggestion. I look forward to your thread reegardless of the name you assign to it. In Christ's love, Jim |
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apjr_1155 19-Mar-17, 13:52 |
Understanding Spirituality "Understanding Spirituality" |
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apjr_1155 19-Mar-17, 13:57 |
Shirley! |
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