The reflecting theologian

I was just attending my biblical interpretation classes over the past one weeks. Learned quite a lot but that will be another story for another day. The thing I noticed over the past few days as I was reflecting on my journey is that God seems to be preparing me all these while for what I am learning currently and what I will be doing, particularly in this case, biblical interpretation. Firstly, my education in history has put me in good state to do research. Truly speaking, there are a lot in research methodology which I have never learned till I enter AGBC but my time doing history means that I am prepared to 'whack' libraries for resources for my research, and an ability to recognise pattern in how books are being placed in the libraries. This means I can gather resources in less time than other people. Secondly, history has taught me to appreciate historical context, the first question to ask in an exegetical quest. Reading up historical apologetic materials has equipp...

Recently, I have been listening to an Indonesian worship band by the name of True Worshippers. And this song particularly touched my heart a lot that I kept on listening. Given that I know a bit of broken Bahasa Indonesian, I could catch some part of the lyrics and also searched online for a proper translation: Bapa Kau setia (Father, You are faithful) Takkan meninggalkan (You never forsake) Dan kupercaya (And I trust) Engkau milikku dan kumilik-Mu (You are mine, and I am Yours) Kerinduanku (I desire to) Tinggikan nama-Mu (Lift Your Name) Kar’na kutahu (As I know) Engkau dalamku dan kudalam-Mu (that You are in me, and I'm in You) Ubah hatiku (Change my heart) Seputih hati-Mu (To be as white as Your heart) Setulus salib-Mu (As sincere as Your cross) Kasih-Mu Tuhan (Your love, God) Biar mataku (Let my eyes) Seperti mata-Mu (Be like Your eyes) Pancarkan kasih-Mu (Shine Your love) Ku mau jadi seperti-Mu (I want to be like You) This is an imperfect translation, as all translatio...

When George was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet of which, like most little boys, he was extremely fond. He went about chopping everything that came his way.  One day, as he wandered about the garden amusing himself by hacking his mother's pea sticks, he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.  Some time after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. He came into the house in great anger, and demanded to know who the mischievous person was who had cut away the bark. Nobody could tell him anything about it.  Just then George, with his little hatchet, came into the room.  "George,'' said his father, "do you know who has killed my beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden? I would not have taken five guineas for it!''  This was a hard question to answer,...