I was reading an article that makes me search on 'Sanctification as a corporate process', by Grudem.

Hebrews 10:24-25 : "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 : "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Ephesians 4:1-3 : "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

It was so argued that in the New Testament, sanctification happens in a community as its platform.

Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law."

The fruits of the Spirit mentioned was argued that it includes many things that builds a community.

Galatians 5:19-21: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft;hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgie, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

On the other hand, works of the flesh mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 destroys the community.

Now, if the Christian community is itself the platform in which love and good deeds gets spurred, and thus is the place where the Spirit blooms, in it must thus grow the qualities which will further builds a community, as pointed by Galatians 5:22-23. What follows, therefore, is not only a sanctified community, but the community will grow in quantity as well.. That's what I think at the moment..

Sanctification is a corporate process. We grow with the community. Actually there are many practical ways to spur growth in the community, and the simplest and cheapest (or free for some) things perhaps is to send sms'es of what you've obtained from the Bible reading of the day to your friends in the fellowship. A more commited ones would be having lunch or dinner with fellow believers or a commited Bible studies, or fellowships amongst friends, housemates. Still, there are many more ways that can be done... with cheap or little efforts but may result in priceless worth.

I've just watched this series on GodTube.com :

Part 1: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8400da87b419ee1ca4a8

Part 2 : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3bf6955057c854b4eb6e

Part 3 : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3da3d69ca917461a76aa

Part 4 : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8f708aba495f368c7aed

Part 5 : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d2d248c7c6efb2e715c3

Part 6 : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ca8672f9dd4e4bb93b55

Part 7 : http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e70475366b0d2be07c1

I'm not too sure about the details, but surely, the end of days will be very glorious.. Utimately, His name will be glorified, witnessed by everyone. Amidst all the tribulations, saints will be kept and redeemed, while the wicked shall perish.. What a great story of the universe it has been ever since the Creation..

Fine, since many already knew, its time to reveal everything.. well, not everything perhaps since this is already midnight and I'm very exhausted. But this decision is so important. It certainly would have a major impact in one's lifetime.

Today I went to meet her, after I was released from work in JB, and actually we didn't have any intention to make it official today. Originally we just want to have a chit-chat, but it seems that the situation came to a checkmate. It seems that today is just the right time. Any more delay would seem awkward.

I know, many will be surprised, as I had been quiet about it. Perhaps many would question, perhaps it would seem as if it was a hurried decision. But it just 'seemed to be', because you just came to know it. The truth is, its been a very long journey, and in fact I've been trying to delay the decision as long as possible. It is certainly not a hurried decision. We've thought about it through and through. About the Biblical foundations, about motivations, about fluctuations of emotions which could make our rationality become fuzzy, about life's calling, about the future, etc..

Anyway, I don't really know the road ahead. I just pray that this decision would produce much blessings, and glorify the Lord. And yes, blessings would always be accompanied by responsibilities. This decision would mean greater responsibility, which worried me once since I will have to do FYP next year.

And yes.. this change in status would also mean a change in paradigm. I would have to adapt. I would have to reshuffle some of my priorities. It would feel uneasy at first, since I've never been in a relationship, but I will get used to it.

Friends and families, please pray for us. Your supports and advices would be much appreciated.

And of course, it's not just 'rationality', a prepared 'mind', so..

Here are OSTs for the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB5nmdTDiGg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj9BcbX0ZXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qin0IQc20C0

All in all, may all praise and thanks be unto God. =)

A few commitments:

- To put God first in every decision. 

- To maintain communication (which means willing to set apart time), and not just 'virtually'.

- To be responsible, be patient, to love and take care of her spirituality (which means work hard on mine too).

- To be unselfish, understanding and willing to learn.

Few pointers:

- I once thought that a relationship should be going fine if honest communications are maintained and both parties are willing to learn and listen to each other. So far I had been thinking of possible hurdles relating to honest communications, and here are some: 1) Miscommunication (misinterpretation of words, acts).. 2) Both are too busy till they have no time to communicate 3) Insensitivity and being neglect towards your own feelings, and considering something important to be unimportant to be communicated (it is better if every bit of uneasiness be communicated or otherwise accumulated) 4) Mercilessness. If the other party is unwilling to learn, but just be emotional and judging and unmerciful, it would result in his/her partner would hesitate to communicate.

- Remember that were still living in the world. The devil still lurks and seeks to destroy.

In Indonesia there has been a lot of disheartening problems. And that which recently caught my attention was the conflict between a school of theology and the citizens living nearby. Most conflicts are in fact religious or racist in nature. It might be the case that some parties who are extremists would provoke anger of the innocent and gullible citizens directed to some particular party of different religion / race. I personally think that the main problem is the large mass of uneducated and poor people in Indonesia. Most poor people perhaps would do anything, eg. taking part in a demonstration, even participate in a destructive actions if they're hired, or promised a sum of money. If we want to tackle this, perhaps the best way is to educate the people other than restructuring the country, making clear its laws and giving power to the authorities instead of mobs to judge innocent people themselves. But the problem is to educate the massive amount of citizens. And yes, the provocative party will definitely against this.

Recalling my previous previous post, actually we can create a system that would 'checkmate' the 'evil' opposition, whoever they are. It would be nice to create a system that would make it difficult for provocative parties. Education would be one. Everyone favours it, and it would be very effective in fighting the provocative party who like to use provoke the mobs for their benefits. Perhaps we can make some betterment by thinking of other strategies..  

What can we do?