From Glory to Glory

Philippines is rich with such a great Christian heritage. This started when the Spaniards took the country as their own. But that was also the time when there was a great oppression among the Filipino people. The Spaniards put Christianity in the front line. But still the Philippines experienced a lot of things which transformed its beauty from glory to glory. It had also been known as the Christian country, though not literally, because there are still many who needed to know what a true Christian is.
I believe that we are a product of prayer, a prayer from the heart, a prayer of concern and of true love. I was really moved knowing that an American leader prayed for us Filipinos. Though we might think that they were there to take over us, we can't deny the fact that Americans are friends to us. I'm very much grateful that God used such people to reach out to us and Christianize us. They were the ones who helped us and reveal to us the true joy of true Christianity.

Way to Go

When I think about the word protestant, what I understand was that they are the opposition (refering to it in a political context). But I realized that these are the people who aimed for a great awakening because they sensed that this is the great need of the church. We must be firm and strong in proclaiming  the truth to others, this was what the protestants must promote. This is when strong-willed preachers begun to sprung up. We owe a lot to such people, because through them we were able to realize the real need for true revival.
This time, Christian rise to proclaim to all people the Word of Truth, the salvation thaht God offers to them. Many Christians are product of such work and I know that their was such a great awakening in the hearts of many who had been asleep for such a very long time. I admire such an attitude and desire, and we enjoy this privilege right now because of such people who allowed God to cause revival in the church's history.

Hardships to Glory--- Vice Versa

As the week went by, learnings rise, and the more learnings, the more we realize that the church had gone through great downfalls in order to rise again and remain. We have learned that many groups who called themselves in different ways had gone before us. One of such are the Puritans. During their time, leaders were there to support, but there were also leaders after who persecuted them. They came with different culture, and so influenced many people as well.
I have learned that people will never be united unless they have the same core beliefs. We promote world peace, but the truth us that sometimes we are the ones causing debates. We must always be patient with people. We must never compromise, but at the same time treat others with love and respect. And so show them that the truth never hurts the other, but leads him to the true joy of pain.

Re---AGAIN

We we think of a believer, we would surely say that that person is a member of a church, or a follower of the teachings of Jesus. But as time goes by, many counterfeit beliefs existed. Many unrecognized group in the past rise and made a name. Many were able to recognize and resolved that such beliefs are true. But the worst thing is, they became radicals.
This was what the church had gone through. There were a lot of changes, too confusing that we might think that one belief is better than the other, or this one is more believable than that one, and so people become radicals. And as I learn many things about such kind of people, I see myself being radical to others as well. This makes me hate them because of what they believe, rather than loving them. But the truth is the more that people don't know, the more that we must be eager to lead them so that they would know what they must believe.

Time for a CHANGE

Reformation, the age for a big change. As we all know, the church experienced great changes as the time goes by. The changes caused a lot of commotion inside and outside the church. There were a lot of opposing beliefs. A lot of lives were affected. And as these were happening, there came people who were ready to cause change. The age of reformation were filled with personality who really made a great impact, and to which we can say still influencing the church up to now.
Many of those reformers wanted true reform in the church. Some were motivated with love, and still some were of pride and power. They have had opposing beliefs, that which did not make them able to accomplish their goals.
I can say that there is no unity among them, that is why they were not able to see tge change that they wanted to see. And so the accomplishments remained unseen until they depart.

Journey of Endurance

Anselm of Canterbury, a doctor of the church. One of the few who received such title because of his important contributions. I canalso relate to hime because the same as he did, I also left home to seek and shape my life according to the purpose of God. This was not an easy journey, and such journey would really requirw endurance, especially because of the trials that comes our way. And through such, he was able to come up with a life that is pleasing to God.
Why endurace? Simply because he experienced great trials, yet, was able tp overcome them. This includes his exiles. Ge endured a lot during these times, and I think his endurance made him do so. He is excellent though he has gone through such challenges. I believe that through his examples of endurance, we will be able to see how God works in each and every lives. I have learned a lot of things also in this life journey, and I can surely say that this life is a journey of endurance.

I Will Not Recant

Martin Luther is one of the most influential people in the history of the church. He made a great impact especially in the abolishing of giving indulgences in the church. We can't deny thw fact that there will always be corruption happening inside the church, and Luther is one of those who did stand against it. He did not compromise, He was able to fight foe what he believe is the truth.
As I reflect in his life, I realized that there are a lot of questions in his mind which kept hom from being firm in hia decisions. This would make him encounter God in a most significant and life-changing way. And I especially admire him because of his big contribution in Christianity and which expoaed the corruption happening in the church. He was able to face opposition which could also be the cause of his death, but he was firm in his belief, and was able to say, "I will not recant." His examples will always be remembered up to this time.

Truth vs. Gnosticism

Everyone of us is in search of truth, especially when it comes to what we must believe. Just like us, people in the history of the church had also once in their lifetime gone through the quest for truth. The weeks report about someone who also had a quest for truth made a great impact to me. "Congratulations" is the word that would best commend this person because of his success in this area. Clement of Alexandria really did a great job in influencing the history of the church. I believe that many of us are convinced that what we believe in is the truth because of his works as well.
I can imagine the hardship that he had gone through as he began the quest for truth. Especially that I know there are many oppositions and tendency is that one might get diacouraged. But thankfully, Clement did not. I especially like his line which says, "Christianity is the true philosophy and the perfect Christian the true gnostic."

Martyrdom of Martyr

Justin Martyr, name that confused me so much. Why? Because I thought that it was his surname. But thinking of this, I was very much wrong. He was really a martyr because of what he had done for the church. I learned that he was really an educated man. A man of high recognition, and that's what make him significant in the history of the church. He also had contributed a lot in the development of church apologetics. I just can't imagine how brilliant he was during his time. And if I would have a chance to meet him personally, I would really ask him a lot of questions, questions that will really sturr not juat his mind, but my own. I also admire him for writing his own dialogue and defense of Christ as the Messiah. Truly, God had used gim in a mighty, and knowing that, I too will have to do my best to be excellent in serving God.

Miraculous Approach

Miracles...a word that many of us long to experience, and still many doesn't believe. But will we still doubt if we realize that the life that we have right now is the best miracle that we could ever experience? I was especially driven to write about such thought because of one of the pillars of the church, St. Clement of Rome. According to the records which a reporter discussed, Clement was a wealthy man. And I think that in order for a person to be considered wealthy, he must own hectares of land, or a factor, and even a huge house, so I thought of him to be such a person. He lived so early that he might even had the chance to get aquainted with Apostles. How I wish I was him :) But why did I focused on the word miracle? This is because it was said that he was able to lead people to conversion through miracles. The miracles that he performed caused a lot of people to be converted, which really gave great impact to me. Though he died brutally becaused it was that he was thrown to the sea with an anchor on his neck, I am very much convinced that his martyrdom is never in vain, because he did that for God's glory, and to give us a reflectio  of how committed the early church was.

AlL AbOut tHe PASSSSTTTT

When I think about the past, and everything that happened many many years ago, I can't help but wonder how I was able to surpass all those things. And right there and then, a bulb would light up, and "ting!" HISTORY! 
We've been entering the history of the church during the beginning weeks of the semester, and as I reflect to such beginnings in the church, I came to realize that I don't know anything yet. I missed a lot of things though I have been a Christian many years ago. It was great to know how many efforts were dome just to build the church and maintain it. History says it all. I have learned that there were a lot of factors also that were considered. Yet, we all knew that Christianity began with Christ's coming. Christ is not early nor late, He came to His own appointed time. As I think of such things, I was driven to reflect also with the thought of questioning myself, 'When did I began?' and 'Why am I hear?' In my twenty one years of exiatence, I have experienced a lot of a so called, 'history repeats itself'. Why? because I think, I had been well educated with my past. That is why, I wanted to be educated also with the church's past, so that as I look back, and the light bulb starts to lit again, I could really say that past is such a significant place to look for :)

WalKing in HiS PatH

Learning new things is the best place for a wandering soul. And as time goes by, these learning become fruitful and make one pave his own way to the place where God wants him to be.

Learning about the history of the Church gave me a picture of what my faith look like. It gave me a glimpse of Jesus teaching me to obey all His commandments and assuring me that He will be with me always to the very end of the age. It is like walking in the path of the Apostles, and listening to the message proclaimed by the Church fathers. That is the effect of history, an experience worth knowing and worth keeping.

Though I know already about Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect life, dying on the cross, and raising from the dead, I can't deny the fact that still I'm learning and can't avoid to be amazed of the things that He has done for all of His creation. I'm learning though they were not new to me, I was able to reflect on them as I look at it in a greater perspective. I especially learned a lot of new words and terms, and knew well about their meanings. Just like the word "tetelestai" which means paid in full. The greatest act of Jesus Christ ones and for all. 

I especially learned from the video that was shown in class on how the early Christians walked. Even when the time of Jesus and the Apostles, it was very evident that God, in His Sovereignty, was really hands on in His redemptive work for all humanity. The Christian history began in the time of Jesus birth, and in His death Christianity flourished all the more. It has then grown greatly and spread more rapidly during the time of the Apostles. This only tells us the significance of the different events written in the Scriptures. The historical records also added much color for us to look picture it out more vividly. As I look back to it and learn more about it, I come to realize that my efforts to make known the Gospel to as much as possible all the people that I will meet, is nothing compared to what the early Christians did. I even realized that God is really full of grace and very much patient to all of us, not wanting anyone to perish (1 Peter 3:9).
I will always be greatly moved witnessing from afar the works of God in the lives of His own people. God's grace never failed to amaze me, especially when it comes to knowing what happened in the past. History is one of the most worth to be treasured valuable here on earth. It gives us a glimpse of life in the midst of all the difficulty, which would make us think and thank God we are here.
Experiencing the grace of God in learning; that would best described what I expect as I study and learn the root of my FAITH!