Praying for the Deceased Souls in Purgatory This Chinese Ghost Month?

The Chinese Ghost Month started last July 29, 2022, which is the first day of the seventh lunar month for this year. Various superstitions just can’t be avoided. I remembered growing up with not one, not two, but three different religions–Catholicism, Buddhism, and Taoism. It was something to have a Catholic altar and a Chinese altar, and the images of Catholicism, Buddhism, and Taoism tend to be mixed into one altar. I remembered attending Catholic masses and praying in Buddhist temples and Taoist temples. It wasn’t surprising to see an image of Mother Mary on one side and an image of Mother Guan Yin (referred to also as Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit, Gayatri in Hindi) on the other. Some people may have had an image of Sto. Nino (Child Jesus) at the center while Fat Buddha was on the left (sometimes called Maitreya) and the Chinese earth god (Tu Di Gong) were at the left and the right. Even more disturbing is that a Buddhist and a Catholic rosary are on the same altar. Some Taoist interpreters attend masses in a Catholic parish, have a Catholic devotional, and a family altar can have a Catholic Bible, a Catholic prayer book, and a Buddhist prayer book.

Reformed Theology is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God)

I could remember I was once an Independent Baptist before deciding to go Reformed. Since tomorrow is the death anniversary (and feast day) of Ignatius of Loyola. The world underwent the dark ages under the bondage of Roman Catholicism or Catholicism. Catholicism called itself the true universal church (since the word catholic is synonymous to universal, derived from the Greek words kath and oles meaning all throughout), the Popes were the successors of Peter, have misquoted the line of Ignatius of Antioch, and has left nothing but dim lights. However, the Dark Ages weren’t so dark as God’s Word can’t be bound. Sometime before, pre-Reformation groups such as the Baptists and Waldenses emerged to preach the Gospe;. I heard that Baptists were called as such because they insisted on baptism by immersion. John the Baptist was called as such because he was a baptizer–not a member of any specific denomination.

Why I Gave Up on Researching About Jesuit Conspiracies

It’s July 31 tomorrow and it’s the feast day of its founder, Ignatius of Loyola whose real name is Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola. Back then, as a young convert, there was much trash in me that had to be gotten rid of. I had flip-flopped about my stance with Catholics from brethren in Christ (because of peer pressure) and mission field that must be won. It’s also because I had so many Catholic relatives too. The pastor who first shared to me the Gospel of Jesus was a former Catholic. Though, there was also Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) which featured the late Billy Graham and his son Franklin Graham. TBN also featured some Catholic priests such as Father Cedric Pisegna. I was looking for sound teachers but ended up watching TBN. I admit, I also used to listen to Joel Osteen after I got saved.

Two are Better than One

As my study of God’s Word gets deeper (and I must go deeper)–I feel the need to slow down. I feel the need to also go through Proverbs before proceeding with Rehoboam. Now, it’s time to focus on another lesson called two are better than one. This is a very biblical principle that it’s better to have a companion at work than none. This is all about teamwork. If secular pagans can understand it then how much more should the people of God understand it.

The Fool’s Envy and Chewing One’s Self

Understanding the Bible requires understanding figures of speech. It’s like saying don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house. A glass house isn’t always literal but symbolizes the situation’s fragility. Another verse in Ecclesiastes has Solomon mentioning these things about life:

Ecclesiastes 4:4-5

⁴ Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. (ESV)

Younger Christians Getting Tossed To and Fro

I was planning to continue my study of Ecclesiastes. However, I believe that I’m still recovering from sickness as I’m having some minor cough, I had a cold, and fortunately, I’m vaccinated with a booster shot of COVID-19. I encourage people to get vaccinated ASAP except if they’re not allowed for medical reasons. I decided to do a short study on Ephesians 4:14. The context has the purpose of the offices of the apostles, prophets, shepherds (pastors), and teachers. Though, every pastor is a teacher but not every teacher is a pastor.

Oppressors Seem to Go Unpunished But God Knows When They Fall

As I continue my study in Ecclesiastes (before going back to studying about Rehoboam)–I was thinking of doing verse-by-verse selection as well. The latest verses that triggered me are from Ecclesiastes 4. It would say the following regarding oppression: