Both parents and children being familiar with the phrase, "because ________ said to," I thought it would be a good jumping off point for a post on this oft neglected blog.
My classes this year have me working in Paul's letters quite a bit, which is something that I enjoy. However, I am teaching Hebrews for the first time and the study that I do to prepare for teaching Hebrews has been immensely valuable to me. In particular when the author of Hebrews says: "Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory." (Hebrews 3:5-6).
The other thought that has been intertwining with the above is one that arose because of New Testament Theology class that I just taught in our Master's of Ministry program here at ABS. Since it was a theology class we spent a lot of time discussing Jesus, both as God and as a person. We were noting the importance of the Spirit in the baptism and temptation narratives in the Gospels.
So these two thoughts come together in my head about the feat that the author of Hebrews mentioned. Jesus being faithful as a son/the Son. What makes a faithful son? Without trying to be trite I offer Luke 22:42 as the answer to that question. If I were to paraphrase in Kentucky vernacular, "do what Dad says to do." That s what makes a faithful son. All this leads me to this further point, that human part of Jesus had to be convinced that God knew what he was doing. "Because Dad said to" had to be good enough for him. Some of us can get to this point with our human fathers even, but find it quite difficult to get there with our heavenly father.
Think about how much that title, that form of address, meant to Jesus. When he taught his disciples to pray, he taught them to call God father. Something that is ho-hum church language for us was a revolutionary new idea then. Hosea 11:1 and other passages of the Hebrew bible refer to Israel collectively as God's son, but to refer to God as your father, to be considered an individual son of God was a different thing entirely.
When we add to this the consistent teaching from Paul, that accepting Christ as Lord and Savior means a person is adopted into God's family, we should see that while it is a privilege to call God father, it is our privilege as believers. Amen.
So when my Dad told me I needed to update this blog, I quickly agreed with him. And not just because I knew he was right. Hopefully that attitude can translate spiritually.
So how goes the mission? I just extended my tourist visa this week. Hoping to apply for a missionary visa next week.
First semester here is officially over. Unbelievable, I know. I've graded most of my finals but I haven't calculated grades yet because I was preparing for that Master's class this week.
This year we had about 80 students first semester, we are hoping we pick up a few more for the second semester.
Preparation for the annual Christmas Choir Tour will begin in earnest when the students return on November 4th. (Really good news is that the arranger this year apparently knows what an actual bass line is; something that seemed elusive to the illustrious David T. Clydesdale.)
I'm still playing as much basketball as possible; I'm not really any better but I still like to play.
Favorite Filipino-English quote of the semester: "Sir, why do you off your hair? If you grow it out I will crush you!" (She meant have a crush on me.)
Filipino-English runner-up quote and third truest thing I've ever heard: "Lovers are blind." (Instead of "Love is blind").
So I'm still here, having fun, teaching the Bible, singing special music with the young adult group at Aparri Church, avoiding bagoong and balut, and trying to show people that God isn't the only one who cares about them.
I hope everyone back home is well. Since they are putting up Christmas decorations here I might as well go ahead and say "Merry Christmas" to you. Even though I wouldn't dare forget about Thanksgiving.
Regards and thanks,
Nick
