Hey All, this is the first post I've written since I have gotten back to Taiwan. Everything here is going in hyperspeed it seems. I'm already closing in on being here a month. For those of you who don't know I am back in Taiwan doing a second school. My first school was called DTS, or Discipleship training school where I learned a lot about my relationship with the Lord, who God is and what it looks like to be a missionary. This school I am not in is called The School of Biblical Studies (SBS). This school, although still a missions based school, is about training up people to read and study the Word of God and to learn to value the Word more, although we will still be doing ministry every week as well.
SBS is a nine month Bible training where we will go through every book of the Bible and study it inductively. What that entails is five separate reads. The first read is just an out loud read where you get familiar with the book and read it through the whole book in one sitting. After that, the second read is called the color code. During the color code read, we will take out color pencils or crayons and color different words, phrases or ideas different colors. For example all people will be colored in one color, the Trinity (Father, Son or Holy Spirit) in another color, time another, figures of speech and so forth. The third time we read through it we give a title to every paragraph. The last two reads through is when we put things inside our charts and begin to analyze and interpret the text. During each book we also go through Basic Required Information, get historical background on the book and do a final application from something we've learned from the book.
So far, we have studied through, Philemon, Titus, Galatians, Ephesians, Mark, and we have now started the book of Luke. It has been like trying to drink water out of a fire hose, you can get a little bit if you stick your mouth in and try to drink, but the reality is there is so much more there than I can understand and grasp in this year of studying. An average week here is pretty busy. Starting next week we will have class three days a week form 8-12:30. Other than the lecture, we will spend our days studying. We are expected work 10-12 hours a day six days a week. The average day is starting class at 8 a.m. and finishing work between 9 and 10 pm.
I have learned and grown a lot in this time already and God has been teaching me a lot of things. In my own personal times I have been learning the reality that my life is not about me and just seeking to learn how to serve my classmates and my roommates well. I have learned a lot from doing my charts as well though. Just a small portion of what I have learned has been the importance of making small but real changes instead of expecting major changes in my walk with Jesus.
I have begun to see the importance and the power of the resurrection in the lives of believers. When I was reading through Mark I saw how Jesus was resurrected from the dead and was just convicted about how crazy it was that he rose from the dead and how my life would look so much different than what it does if I truly believed that truth. That there would be so much less fear of man and fear of sharing my faith, there would be less anxiety about my life and the things that are going on in the world and there would be more joy in following Jesus knowing that He has given me all that I need through not only his death, but the power of his resurrection. The resurrection is more than enough for any believer to boldly proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world and it is enough to give us power over sin and death and the enemy.
As I continue to go through the scriptures I could use prayer for endurance, time management, a focus on Jesus and not the work, and just the ability to do my work well. I thank you all for supporting me in all the ways that you have to get me here and I appreciate each and every one of you and your presence in my life. Again, I would love to hear from, I am not always good at seeing how you are all individually doing and would love to hear about your life, just send me a quick message on facebook or email but I want to know how you all are doing as well. Be blessed.
Travis
SBS is a nine month Bible training where we will go through every book of the Bible and study it inductively. What that entails is five separate reads. The first read is just an out loud read where you get familiar with the book and read it through the whole book in one sitting. After that, the second read is called the color code. During the color code read, we will take out color pencils or crayons and color different words, phrases or ideas different colors. For example all people will be colored in one color, the Trinity (Father, Son or Holy Spirit) in another color, time another, figures of speech and so forth. The third time we read through it we give a title to every paragraph. The last two reads through is when we put things inside our charts and begin to analyze and interpret the text. During each book we also go through Basic Required Information, get historical background on the book and do a final application from something we've learned from the book.
So far, we have studied through, Philemon, Titus, Galatians, Ephesians, Mark, and we have now started the book of Luke. It has been like trying to drink water out of a fire hose, you can get a little bit if you stick your mouth in and try to drink, but the reality is there is so much more there than I can understand and grasp in this year of studying. An average week here is pretty busy. Starting next week we will have class three days a week form 8-12:30. Other than the lecture, we will spend our days studying. We are expected work 10-12 hours a day six days a week. The average day is starting class at 8 a.m. and finishing work between 9 and 10 pm.
I have learned and grown a lot in this time already and God has been teaching me a lot of things. In my own personal times I have been learning the reality that my life is not about me and just seeking to learn how to serve my classmates and my roommates well. I have learned a lot from doing my charts as well though. Just a small portion of what I have learned has been the importance of making small but real changes instead of expecting major changes in my walk with Jesus.
I have begun to see the importance and the power of the resurrection in the lives of believers. When I was reading through Mark I saw how Jesus was resurrected from the dead and was just convicted about how crazy it was that he rose from the dead and how my life would look so much different than what it does if I truly believed that truth. That there would be so much less fear of man and fear of sharing my faith, there would be less anxiety about my life and the things that are going on in the world and there would be more joy in following Jesus knowing that He has given me all that I need through not only his death, but the power of his resurrection. The resurrection is more than enough for any believer to boldly proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world and it is enough to give us power over sin and death and the enemy.
As I continue to go through the scriptures I could use prayer for endurance, time management, a focus on Jesus and not the work, and just the ability to do my work well. I thank you all for supporting me in all the ways that you have to get me here and I appreciate each and every one of you and your presence in my life. Again, I would love to hear from, I am not always good at seeing how you are all individually doing and would love to hear about your life, just send me a quick message on facebook or email but I want to know how you all are doing as well. Be blessed.
Travis
que bueno!! travis sigue asà ,LEE salmos 91 DIOS TE BENDICE EN ESTE NUEVO TIEMPO ,ADELANTE!!
ReplyDeleteGracias Jishel.
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