Philippine Report for Tuesday (4/25/06)
April 25, 2006
from Harry Osborne in Tuguegarao, Luzon, Philippines

Last night turned out to be very eventful. After talking on the phone with Leslie, I decided to do a little more reading for classes today before going to bed. As I did, I started to hear a rather loud sound like a hammer or a loud pop. I went to the door thinking someone must be doing something in the hall or next door. When I did, I realized the sound was coming from inside my room. As I started to walk around and look at the walls, I stepped and found that the floor went down about 3 or 4 inches. As I backed away, I could see the tile floor was visibly buckling. In fact, some of the tiles started to come up with such force that the grout broke away and shot out. Being somewhat troubled by this sight, I called the front desk and asked if they could send someone to find why my floor was breaking apart. After a few minutes, a man came to look at the floor and said, “It is just the tiles. Maybe you move to new room tomorrow.” So, I asked him to step where the tile was coming up and see if he could figure out the problem. He did and seemed very surprised when his foot sank so far. Stupidly, I asked, “Will it be alright?” To which he replied with a shrug, “Maybe.” Being somewhat less than reassured by that reply, I must confess to having slept rather lightly last night as I was not sure whether I might suddenly enter the room beneath me by an unorthodox means. This morning, I changed rooms and feel much better about my chances of remaining on the proper level throughout the night. Another plus to the move is that it is on the other side of the building – away from the bells. By the way, they tolled 103 times beginning this morning at 4:15am. They rang another 24 times at 7am. Mike got out of town just in time.

Our morning classes all went well. Steve took the OT survey class on the Minor Prophets that Mike was teaching. I continued on with 1st Timothy 5 and 6. We studied the verses about the respect mandated for elders who rule well as well as the charge to receive no accusation against an elder without 2 or 3 witnesses. When such witnesses are present, we noted the fact that their sin cannot be covered up, but must be rebuked openly so that all may “fear” and know that obedience to God’s law is required of all. We also noted that an elder having been so proven guilty by multiple witnesses can no longer be termed “blameless” as is required of elders and must be removed from that place. We discussed the fact that provable sin will not be merely mentioned in gossip privately while failing to deal with the facts openly. I reminded the students that Satan and the forces of evil always seek to hide sin and error while claiming that their path is “the high road” of avoiding needless controversy. The devil would like sin swept under the rug and everyone merely to have unity in diversity or rally together rather than openly face the facts. We discussed the fact that this is the path chosen by the denominations and it will lead any church that tries it into apostasy. I told them of the fact that many of my extended family in the Institutional division argued that we should just follow the elders as they led brethren towards participation in the sponsoring church arrangement, church-funded benevolent institutions, church-funded colleges and numerous social gospel schemes. When faithful brethren opposed elders leading such apostasy, the faithful brethren were criticized as “church splitters” or “trouble makers” as the ones going into apostasy claimed to be “taking the high road” by avoiding discussions of the authority for such practices. Sadly, today we see the same thing.

My afternoon class on Church History began examining the Restoration movement in America as men from various denominations left those churches of me to become simply New Testament Christians following no creed but the Bible. The afternoon class on “Issues That Divide Brethren” looked at an overview of institutionalism. We will discuss particular issues related to the subject as they are seen in the Philippines tomorrow, the Lord willing.

It is again time for supper, so I will quit for now. Thanks again for your prayers and support. I wish you all could see the daily growth in these young men and hear them sing from the heart. I just got finished singing the song with which we end each day’s class – “I Know the Lord Will Make a Way for Me.” It brings tears to my eyes every time. Thank you for helping me be a part of this work!

Brotherly, Harry O.

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