GCAC day two
Wednesday, 30 October 2013 21:52![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catatonic_17I am so dead tired even though I did not do much today. Must be because I've been on my feet most of the day, and my flats are not very feet friendly. I suddenly pity all the sales people and waiters in the world.
learnings/insights/random thoughts for today:
* I did not see kuya Jedi today. Sadness.
* Less people came today but it was so awesome to see Rev Mac Bradshaw today, all well and on the mend.
* I was able to chat with Dr. Adonis Gorospe. Wasn't able to listen to his paper presentation but it was nice to sit down with him.
* I am reminded once again that witnessing should always be in context. Kahit hindi cross-cultural, the principle is still the same. One of the speakers said (I think it was Tita Melba) that asking a person whether he is saved or whether he is going to heaven is not a relevant question to ask Filipinos (especially those in rural areas) because our indigenous belief system has a different conceptualization of the afterlife than the the western heaven-or-hell dichotomy. What is relevant to Filipino religious consciousness that we should be engaging as Christians witnessing is their concern/interest about power over spirits/elementals who could/would harm them. Personally, I realized that this is a more relevant concern since both my cell person and the monsay bible study group expressed interest about spirits, ghosts, and the like. It was wiser if I had focused more on Christ's victory and total sovereignity over the principalities and powers (thus assuring them that they do not have to fear spirits and be controlled by that fear) rather than rigidly following the bible study guide I was following. Because of my lack of insight, I made it seem like studying the bible is boring and "bookish," and not the dynamic and life changing endeavor it really was.
* Question for myself: Am I engaging God through a western frame of mind, thus limiting my experience of Him? (Since I am not engaging him in my native tongue, in my indigenous value system)
Lord, I know I'm avoiding the real/central issue with my relationship with you by asking such a "big" theological question. I'msorry for not being consistent, for not taking you seriously enough. Tita Melba was right: I do not fit ISACC's culture because I remain immature in my faith. Sorry Lord.
learnings/insights/random thoughts for today:
* I did not see kuya Jedi today. Sadness.
* Less people came today but it was so awesome to see Rev Mac Bradshaw today, all well and on the mend.
* I was able to chat with Dr. Adonis Gorospe. Wasn't able to listen to his paper presentation but it was nice to sit down with him.
* I am reminded once again that witnessing should always be in context. Kahit hindi cross-cultural, the principle is still the same. One of the speakers said (I think it was Tita Melba) that asking a person whether he is saved or whether he is going to heaven is not a relevant question to ask Filipinos (especially those in rural areas) because our indigenous belief system has a different conceptualization of the afterlife than the the western heaven-or-hell dichotomy. What is relevant to Filipino religious consciousness that we should be engaging as Christians witnessing is their concern/interest about power over spirits/elementals who could/would harm them. Personally, I realized that this is a more relevant concern since both my cell person and the monsay bible study group expressed interest about spirits, ghosts, and the like. It was wiser if I had focused more on Christ's victory and total sovereignity over the principalities and powers (thus assuring them that they do not have to fear spirits and be controlled by that fear) rather than rigidly following the bible study guide I was following. Because of my lack of insight, I made it seem like studying the bible is boring and "bookish," and not the dynamic and life changing endeavor it really was.
* Question for myself: Am I engaging God through a western frame of mind, thus limiting my experience of Him? (Since I am not engaging him in my native tongue, in my indigenous value system)
Lord, I know I'm avoiding the real/central issue with my relationship with you by asking such a "big" theological question. I'msorry for not being consistent, for not taking you seriously enough. Tita Melba was right: I do not fit ISACC's culture because I remain immature in my faith. Sorry Lord.
