Chronological School of Biblical Studies

Aloha from Hawaii! Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. On July 1 of this year, I made a nine month commitment to the Chronological School of Biblical Studies in YWAM on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii.  We're inductively studying the entire Bible, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation. Nine months seems like a stretch but its already been three months and it blows my mind, I feel as if its only been a couple weeks. So, I came here thinking I knew the basics of who Jesus was. As it turns out, I'm ignorant; I made assumptions based on personal experiences, I treasured random verses which were pulled out of context, and I don't understand the infinitesimal depths of Gods word. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. All in all, it's humbling. When I came here I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The more I delve deeper in the holy bible, the more I see that I'm stoking a fire.

 We use the inductive method to study the bible (description at the bottom). We strip our minds of what we think we know and get ourselves into the mindset of the original reader. We study the literary and historical context of every book. It truly puts it in perspective when you're not viewing the bible with your own ideas. I was never able to grasp the depth and severity of the new testament before learning the incredible significance of the old testament.

Our teachers are brilliant and they give fresh views on everything, because they all exercise the same system of thought, the inductive method. Chad Lewis taught us Exodus and Leviticus. He has a degree in philosophy and instead of going to seminary, he went to a Jewish college to study the old testament. His knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Cuneiform (ancient Semitic hieroglyphs) definitely sheds light on a lot of difficult questions. His passion for studying history, linguistics, and philosophy truly gives gravity to everything were learning. The man that taught us Deuteronomy, the Law, was a lawyer so we were able to learn it from that outlook and it was so interesting. The man that taught us Joshua and Judges (accounts of Israels military campaigns) was a Colonel in the American army for 35 years in the Middle East. He also is a professor at Penn State who teaches International Geography and leads teams to Israel, Jordan and Lebanon for archaeological excavations. He brought 4000 year old weapons and showed us cuneiform tablets (stone slabs that contain information of the military exploits of ancient kings and empires). Altogether I'm fascinated, the horizons are expanding!

This School of Biblical Studies has truly revealed Gods amazing character, and his constant love and pursuit of me. My faith has increased exponentially by reading the Word that no life experience can satisfy. It has taught me how to look at Gods story through Gods perspective and in turn has better equipped me to use Gods perspective day to day. I see the potential of every single moment, and have gained an ambition that goes beyond what I think is possible. I wake up every morning extremely stoked for what God has in store, and can't imagine breath without Him. When I reflect on how much I have changed my view and life in the past few weeks, months, years, I have never lived a more exciting and challenging life than when I gave it to Jesus.

For this next quarter I need the further finances for tuition, room, and food.
$1300 due September 30
$1300 due October 28
$1000 November 25
Here are a few ways you can donate financially; the best way to make a donation that will be Tax Deductible:
Mail a check, made out to YWAM, to:

YWAM Honolulu

2707 Hipawai Pl,

Honolulu, HI 96822

(Please do not write my name anywhere on the check, but instead, include a separate piece of paper that indicates the funds are to go to me (Malia Jackson) The base will process the funds and then give us the money, with no processing fee. At the end of the year, you will receive a tax form from the accounting office, which you can use in making your donation tax deductible.)


I am looking for a group of families and friends to partner with me monthly, currently I have a 9 month commitment to YWAM Honolulu but I have a lifelong commitment to see the great commission be fulfilled. You can email me if you would like my Paypal information. If you feel led to give and be a part of this journey, please email me at maliajackstyle@gmail.com or call me (530) 206-6970 for further questions. Mahalo!

To Whom it May Concern: This next passage explains the two methods which can be used to study the bible. We use the inductive method.


DEDUCTIVE METHOD

• comes to the text with an idea or thesis and then seeks out passages to support this thesis
• selectively chooses passages that fit a preconceived idea or doctrine
• has already drawn conclusions before reading the whole text in context
• dictates to scripture rather than lets scripture speak
• the mindset is: dogmatic, authoritarian, absolute, categorical. 
• the state: does not entertain error or challenge and is unwilling to change
• fears open minded scrutiny of certain traditions, because it might cause the belief system to crumble
• utilizes the method of math (closed system) 
• starts with a general principle, then observes that which explains the principle (logic of proof)
  

INDUCTIVE METHOD

• lays all preconceived ideas and doctrines aside before approaching the bible
• pays careful attention to literary and historical context
• conclusions and doctrines are only made after thorough study of all that the Bible has to say on a particular topic
• lets scripture speak for itself, rather than dictating what the passage should mean
• the mindset: radical, open, seeks discussion and challenges
• the state: open to change
• seeks different interpretations
• utilizes the method of history, humanities, arts
• forms principles (logic of discovery)
  

 

Philippines

The Philippines' largest international export is people; or I should say "are" people. Down the road from where I live is Chinatown, where there are Micronesian people slaving away in sweatshops and girls trafficked on Waikiki.  I live in Honolulu, Hawaii in the USA. This is September 2013.

Last January I made a commitment to Youth With a Mission in a Discipleship Training School. YWAM is an international, interdenominational missions organization. The first 3 months of DTS was lecture phase where we have mentors of the faith help us to know Jesus Christ on a deeper level, so we may make him known. At the beginning of April, through miraculous provision of finances, I got the opportunity to go to the nation of the Philippines with a team of eleven people for ten weeks and make God known.

The Philippines is full of smiling faces, delicious fruit, and breathtaking landscapes. The first ministry, and one of the most memorable, was the Nehemiah Houses. An American man, by the name of Michael Casey, was met by an angel that told him his calling from God. Now he has made three safe houses for girls who were sexually abused. These girls are the most joyful, beautiful, and talented girls I have ever met. When I arrived, my heart was broken. I cried. They were the ones that were making God known to me, because apparently, I knew nothing of the depths of Gods restoration.

 
After that I went on my first boat ride to a small island called Talavera, to do kids ministry. On Talavera there are no cars, everyone walks everywhere. Everywhere you go there are about 30-50 kids following you at all times, giving it a lively and fun atmosphere. They would mock us when we would go for a run, they didn't understand why because its good to be fat in the Philippines. The kids would make miniature houses out of trash, play frisbee with blue starfish, use a dead shark as a baseball bat, and wear seaweed as a headdress. This place has an unreal impression on my memory. The stars were never brighter and there were swooping bats with 3 foot wingspans. It was such an amazing experience to see kids come alive for Jesus. There was so much energy, excitement and vision. I pray for that childlike love for life.

The next few weeks were spent doing various ministries at churches, youth groups, small groups, bible studies, prayer and worship meets, and just loving people. Never in my life did I think I'd be preaching the gospel in front of hundreds of people, especially since I was not even raised in a Christian home. We came to Baguio and there we were running a DTS, and we were teaching what we just learned from weeks before. I dread public speaking, typically stuttering and trembling as I talk. I taught for two and a half hours on the father heart of God and discipleship. As I prepared for the teachings, I was completely wrecked as I came to the revelation that no human breadth of knowledge can possibly perceive Gods glory. Gods depth of understanding of my each and every deep and intimate thought, that I had ever had, was nothing short of humbling. And only through His spirit could I talk, and He would speak. By trusting God and treading off the beaten path He guided my every step to something new and refreshing.

Our last two weeks were spent in Olongapo where we did bar ministry. We stayed at a safe house and went out every night, until sometimes 5 am, into brothels and made conversation with the girls about Jesus' love for them. Being near the ports, the majority of the customers and all of the bar owners are American and Australian Navy guys. We went to Angeles, which is like the Las Vegas of the Philippines, ranking top three in Asia for sex-trafficking. There was about a half mile strip of just brothels, each bar containing hundreds and hundreds of girls wearing numbers. It was a dark and heavy atmosphere; there were American faces in the booths and barstools; flashing lights yet dim eyes. I spoke to one of the bar owners, a retired ex navy guy, and I sat there and listened to his story. He was convinced that he was actually a good person. He began to pour out his heart, and with all sincerity and ingenuity, shared with me his good intentions. I was shocked, I could see why it's so important to realize that we are not fighting flesh but spiritual powers and principalities. Jesus rebukes favortism because it limits our authority in Christ to love unconditionally and drive out demons. In stories and movies, evil doers are portrayed as people who intend evil. But no, that is not how it is! To do evil, a human being must first believe that what he is doing is good. It is in the nature of the human being to seek justification for his actions. Were fighting demons, principalities, ideologies! Whatever you wish to call it. Ideologies gives evildoing its long sought justification and gives the evil doer its steadfastness and determination. That is the social theory which helps make his acts seem good instead of bad in his own eyes and others eyes, so that he wont hear reproaches and curses but will receive praise and honors. How else could thousands oppress millions?

Only the truth will conquer. Only Christ will overcome and destroy the walls and barriers gently. Only the word of God will endure.  Only one life to give.

My time in the Philippines was absolutely incredible. My team was the greatest and the most fun group of people I could have asked for. We were from all over the world and had little in common. Only God could have unified us. We had a unique bunch, but everyone had their own talents and skills that we excelled in. We grew through challenges and bonded in trials. I miss them so much, they will always be my family. I love the Philippines. I love the people, the culture, the food. However, now I am officially wrecked for the ordinary. I'm too awake.