Ok…2 really interesting things happened and I thought I should pen them down…
1) As I’ve said previously, I’m extremely impressed / awed / encouraged by the fact that every single lecturer starts off each class with a word of prayer and they try to let us understand learning through the eyes of God.
Today, I really am privileged to sit in the class of History of Civilization and have the lecturer give a really really detailed outline on why we study what we study. I mean…its the 2nd lecture of the semester…usually the administrative stuff would have been done away with and lecturers would aim to get into class proper as soon as possible…but not for this lecturer..
His name is Dr Dave Fisher. He doesn’t just want us to study. Not only does he want us to know why we study, he wants us to know why we study from a Christian perspective, getting things right from the word Go.
Goals of Study that was provided to us.
There’s a Practical value towards studying, because they allow you to learn.
There’s a Corrective value towards studying (history in particular), because when you learn, you learn from the mistakes and aim to do it differently.
There’s also a Broadening value towards studying (history in particular), because it allows you to appreciate your heritage, and how it was formed.
Then there’s a Civic value towards studying, in which we are reminded that there are so many different cultures and that we have a duty as Christians to bring the Gospel to those who have yet to hear it!
And of course, there’s the Educational value towards studying.
Lastly, there’s a Scriptural value towards studying, and this is Dr Fisher’s personal sharing, that history proves time and again God’s presence and His lovingkindness and wonders towards men, quoting Psa 107:8.
This is really really unheard of in the Singaporean education system. I mean, in Singapore, we are just supposed to do good, get the certificate, and go to work. Whether or not we understand what we are doing, and for what purpose, are not important to the educators. They are just doing a job. But these ppl down here…they not only teach…they want you to know WHY you need to learn…WHY you are studying what you are studying…HOW does God come into play…
*Hopefully I did put across a correct interpretation of what Dr Fisher provided us at the lecture, and I hope it challenges you too!!
2) Me and Joel was invited by Max (the Chinese pastor from ChangChun who is serving at MorningSide Baptist Church) to have dinner with a group of people. He had some home-made 炸酱面 toppings…and we met with 2 other group of ppl.
The first one was Micah. His parents serve in Beijing as missionaries and guess what?? He speaks PERFECT CHINESE!!! its like woahhhh….another Dr Mark Lehman…haha…and its really fun to see a westerner speaking such fluent and chinese-accented mandarin…
The next one is a family that is stationed here in Greenville (I think). The dad’s name is William, (I forgot the mum’s name) and the little 3yr old boy is called Samuel. They did the noodles for the 炸酱面 and some fried rice.
can i tell you….THE FOOD WAS GREATTTT…you know like chinese food???(sorry no pics to show…hahaha…)it tasted like home…or at least close to home…but that isn’t the point…
From the conversation we had later on…it dawned on me how many great testimonies were left behind by our pastors from PPCC…from Ptr Yeow…to Ptr Elbert…to Ptr McCoy…to Ptr KK…to soon-to-be Ptr Joshua…and I can see how God has used all of them here in Greenville and how they have showed their faithfulness through their interactions with the ppl here…this is just one of the many ppl that had good things to say about our Ptrs…Dr Eric Newton…the new Dean of Students at BJU had great things to say about our Ptrs…Dr Jim Roach…my advisor at BJU…had great things to say about our Ptrs too…Bro Bob Landis of MTT…had great things to say about our Ptrs…Bro Andrew Snavely…the grad assistant in charge of my level…had great things to say too…and I am so encouraged by their words…and at the same time reminded myself how I can serve here…while studying…I really pray that Christ would be magnified in my life too…that I can bring Glory to God during my time here…
and one more thing…the 3yr old kid of William…he can memorise like 7 verses of the bible…3yrs old!!!! Great start kid!!! 🙂
I am really thankful to each and everyone for your prayers…and may we continue to walk worthy of the Lord…
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” ~ Col 1:9-10
Good to know you are settling in 🙂 we are praying for you!
Hi Li,
Glad you have reached your destination safely. Hope you have settled down comfortably by now and enjoying the atmosphere in a foreign country. 🙂
I am impressed by your sharing about the culture of your university – the way your lecturer starts off each lesson with a prayer and the philosophy of Dr Fisher. As an educator myself, the first thing when I took over a new class is to ask my students why they are in school. I mean, they must know the purpose of why they are studying and what they are studying for. Only by knowing their purpose will they understand that they are not in school just to pass time and fool around. That there is a higher vision and goal to achieve in life which hopefully will motivate each student to study hard. In everything we do, we need to know our purpose. Only then will we find meaning in what we are doing, otherwise we’ll just be cruising along…..
May you look up to HIm for strength and wisdom when the going gets tough. Enjoy the learning journey. God bless!
Regards,
Uncle Dennis
Hey Cher Lee,
We are so glad to know you are benefitting already from the Christian support there. If you have noticed, there is a prevalent ‘practice’ of sharing words that edify & encourage. Keep up the wonderful attitude and the Lord will bless your time there, esp spiritually. Praying for you!!
McCoy&Michele
P/S: Please say hi to Dr Roach for us! Thx
Hi Xin Yuan…thank you for the prayers…very very much needed…you are back in the choir? is my mum sharing with the choir members how I’m doing??hopefully she does not do it too often…haha…Do help me thank them for their prayers too…appreciate it alottttttttt 🙂 Have a great wk ahead!
Hi Uncle Dennis…yeap…i understand where you are coming from…it is really hard in the results oriented education system in sg though…and i think it is a great start when you challenge your students that way…there might not be any outward response…but who knows…maybe 1 or 2 of your students are positively challenged and they understand why they are doing what they are doing…and you have succeeded in changing somebody’s perspective on education…and it is an added responsibility on a Christian student to know why he is doing what he is doing…since we are a Christian first before we are a student/teacher/engineer/accountant etc…and we need to be faithful in whatever we do and be accountable for it…this mindset is really impt…and thank you for the encouragement…may God give you more strength and grace to face the kids in school and may you be a good example for them 🙂 Have a great wk ahead!
Hi Michele…haha…”prevalent practice” as in when those that were prev in BJU regularly do this? yeappp…i thought that this is the best way to keep members in church that have been praying for me or have heard about me to know exactly what i am up to…and this is the least i could do to thank them for their prayers and hopefully bring honour to God through my testimony of his faithfulness?? yeappp…unfortunately i haven been able to provide pics since i dont have a readily available camera…i’ll prob borrow joel’s one some time…hahahaha…
and yes…dr roach has got great things to say about you and Ptr McCoy… 🙂 Have a great wk ahead!