Monday, October 11, 2010

Audio Bibles Have A Global Impact

A Sefer Torah, the traditional form of the Heb...Image via Wikipedia

Audio Bibles connect modern technology to the Word of God, with the timeless result of sharing God's Word with people who hunger for spiritual knowledge. Faith Comes By Hearing has been at the forefront of this movement, working tirelessly to compile the largest catalog of Audio Bibles in the world with ongoing translations being worked on as we speak. Thanks to these efforts, listeners from around the world can now hear the Scriptures in pristine digital recordings in 489 languages.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Kadazan Grassroots Bible Translation Project - Gospel of St.John

Inspirational Bible VersesImage by Isolino via Flickr
After waiting for almost about 3 centuries for the 'Church' to come up with a complete Kadazan (tangaa) Bible translation from the Book of Genesis to Revelation, a group of 'born-again Christians/Catholics' have taken the initiative of organizing a faith based initiative, which prayerfully provokes positive response from the concerned individuals, and undertake a project which we have named as the KADAZAN GRASSROOTS BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECT. The idea is to pass around portion of the scriptures to all relevant 'educated' Kadazan and, during their quite time, commit themselves to learning, meditating and translating what they have learn into Kadazan (Tangaa or the dialects of their choices, e.g. Tatana, Bonggi, etc)
We set ourselves a timetable of say one chapter a week and see how it goes.
The following is my first attempt to translate the first fe verses of the Gospel of St. John, which I am passing around for comments, correction, amendments, textual criticism and, where possible, re-translation. The version I have used is KJV (both old and new). It would be much better if the translation is done in the original Hebrew and Greek but even the UMS Head of the Kadazan Department, which is especially set up through the request of some of our political Christian leaders, does not know Hebrew or Greek and neither any of our scholars, to my knowledge, who carry  PHDs of all sorts.
We hope to compile these and eventually agree on a common translation that is easily understood by our Kadazan readers and yet faithful to the original text as the inspired word of God. Please pray for God's anointing as we embark upon this important and souls saving exercise which is the heart beat of His Kingdom on Earth, even as we prepare ourselves for the second coming of the reigning King of kings and Lord of lords. Maranatha.
Injil tumanud di John
Boogizan Koiso
1Ih nopo haid di timpuun ih, nga ih no ih Boos, om Boos nopo dii nga miampai do Kinoingan, om Boos nopo di nga Kinoingan. 2Miampai no haid Isido do Kinoingan di timpuun ih. 3Savi-avi nopo nga vinangun Disido; om aiso ih di navangun nung okon ko doiho Isido.
 4 Id Disido nopo nga koposizon; om koposizon nopo dii nga ninavau do  tuhun.   5Babang nopo dii nga tuminitiu doid kotuvangan; om au ih nakabaga oh kotuvangan dii. 6Kiva songuhun nosuu mantad Kinoingan, ngaan nopo disido nga ih John. 7Isido nopo nga saksi, minanaak do kosoksian kuma di Babang dii, do mooi dii do aavi tuhun maza disido nga ongotumbazan. 8Isido nopo nga okon ko Babang dii, nga nosuu do manaak kosoksian kuma doid Babang dii. 9Ih nopo ih Babang tototopot, nga iino minanaak do kanavaan kumaa toiso-iso id pomogunan.
 10Nokotombuhui haid Isido id pomogunan, om pomogunan nopo nga vinangun Disido, om au ih nokotutun oh pomogunan Disido. 11Minikot Isido doid dau do tinau, om au Isido tinoimo. 12Nga sontob di minonoimo Disido, nadadi Disido do sakag do Kinoingan, om nogi sontob di nongotumbazaan doid ngaan Disido. 13Miaga di nosusu, okon ko maza do paganakan om kaandak do tuhun, nga doun Kinoingan.
14Om boos dii nadadi do Kadazan(tuhun), om minizon id tanga dagai,(om nokito za oh kaazaan Dau, ih kaazaan doTanak Kinoingan Tama di Iiso-noh) noponu do grasia om katapatan. 14Om  kadadi no do Kadazan (tonsi) oh Boos dii om izon no doid tanga dagai do pipio hinaid; om nokito  dagai ih kaazan Disido – kaazan di naambit di Tanak di I’iso no mantad di Ama Dau --  noponu do grasia om katapatan.
15Suminaksi ih John montok Disido, om ha’ad no, mooboos, ‘ Isiaha no ih komozon ku, ih minikot sumusuut dogo nga hobi tinuo mantad dogo; sabap doiho no haid Isido pogulu ih do nosusu zou. 16Om mantad kinoponuan Disido, nokotoimo izikoi do grasia, om grasia ih savat do grasia. 17Sabap notoimo di Moses ih taurat (undang-undang), tapi grasia om katapatan nopo nga minikot maza di Yeshua Mononobus. 18Aiso ih do tuhun nokoimato do Kinoingan do gigisom; ih Tanak di I’iso noh, ih poingkibit do Kinoingan Tama, pinopointahang Disido.
19Om iti no oh susuzan kokomoi di John, songian oh Johudi minonuu do imam om mononopuan ngaavi do panambazangan dioho id Jerusalem minuot disido, “Isai ko kopizo?” 20Om pangakun no isido,  om au minogohim; tapi pangakun no, okon ko izou ih Kristus. 21Om uoto no dioho isido, “Isai di? Elias ko toi?” Om boos ka disido, “Okon”. “Iziau naku ih Mogogohungung?” Om boos kavagu disido, “Okon”
22Dadi poboos no izioho doid Disido, “Isai ko? Do moi do kaanu zikoi manaak do sisimba kuma di minonuu dagai. Nunu oh pobooson nu kokomoi diau sondii?” 23Ka disido, “ Izou nopo nga  ih ohou di madhaad id kotogisan,  potuhido oh lahan montok do Tuhan, miaga di noboos di prophet Elias. 24Om izioho nopo di nongosuu nga Farisee ngaavi. 25Om uot izioho disido, om poboos no doid disido, “Nokuo  dii tu mambaptis ko nung okon ko ih Kristus ko, toi ko ih Elias, toi ko ih prophet dii? 26Simba no ih John, poboos no do mambaptis zou miampai do vaig; nga kiva do poingkakat id tanga diozu, ih au diozu notutunan; 27Isido no, ih mikot-ikot sumusut dogo nga hobi mantad dogo, kagos po do kasut Disido nga au zou kapadan do mongidu. 28Nadadi ngaavi iti id Betania id suok do Jordan, id nombo ih John mamaso mambaptis. 29Tadau suvab dii, kokito no di John ih Yeshua mikot-ikot doid disido, om poboos no, Intangai no oh Doumba do Kinoingan, ih mongidu do douso do pomogunan. 30Isido no ih komozon ku, Sumusut dogo songuhun ih hobi mantad dogo: sabap mimang do id pogulu no haid Isido dogo. 31Om au zou nokoiho Disido: nga do mongoi do kointahang Isido doid Israel, dadi minikot zou do mambaptis miampai do vaig.
32Om saksi no ih John, minoboos, Nokito ku ih Sunduvan do Kinoingan do minindau mantad davan miaga do tombohog punai, om tuun no ih om tood no id savat Disido.
33Om au zou nokoiho Disido: nga Isido ih minonuu dogo do mambaptis miampai vaig, Isido nogi minoboos dogo, Id savat di isai okito nu ih Sunduvan do humintuun, om tumood doid savat Disido, Isido no ih mambaptis miampai do Sunduvan Tohidang. 34Om nokito ku, om sumaksi zou do iti no ih Tanak do Kinoingan. 35Om vagu di tadau suvab dii poingkakat ih John, miampai di duvo di tutumanud disido; 36Om miintong isido di Yeshua do maapanau isido, poboos no isido, Intangai oh Doumba do Kinoingan!
37Om nokongou ih duvo tutumanud do minoboos isido, om tanud no izioho di Yeshua.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Power of Love for God is Love.


To them that love God. These are those who enjoy the blessed assurance just given. Notice the order in the Revised Version, which is the order of the Greek, to them that love God all things work together for good. The love of God is the very foundation of the Christian life. See Lu 10:28 and Joh 14:23. The expression, them that love God, is synonymous with Followers of Christ. See 1Co 2:9 Eph 6:24 2Ti 4:8 Jas 2:5. The two expressions them that love God and the called are are different ways of describing the same class.
To them who are the called. These have been called by the gospel and have accepted the call. Many others are called Jews and Gentiles, but only those who hear and obey are chosen (Mt 20:16 20:14). Paul uses the term of the latter class; those who hear and obey. The evidence that we are the called is that we love God.
According to his purpose. This call was purposed from the time that God promised a Deliverer of the fallen race (Ge 3:15).

SIL and Local Translators say they have completed the translation of Tangaa Bible 25 years - but it was left to the Roman Catholic Church!

KDCAImage by miss_lamau via Flickr
The earliest partial translation of the Bible into Kadazan (Tangaa) was done by Fr. Antonissen, a Roman Catholic missionary priest, who also compiled the first known Kadazan dictionary, and attempt had been made to have a complete translation from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation by both the SIL and assisted by Local translators subsequently. While the Liwan Bible had been successfully published in 1965, and its 2nd edition this year, the Tangaa Bible had been left to die a natural death. Is there a conspiracy to keep the Biblical Truth from the Kadazan?
They Shall Receive Greater Damnation!
Stealing the Keys to Heaven

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

KADAZAN - a Nation of Royal Priesthood - 1 Peter 2:9-10


Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Ps 127:3-5 (NAS) (dedicated to my friend Ps Joseph Samuel who is celebrating his birthday today and his lovely family - May Abba Father multiply your blessings and draw you closer to continuous intimacy with Him for He knows your faithfulness and the "cross" you carry for your community but be strengthen that He is true and faithful to His promises. Amen)
The duties of Christian parenthood flow from the nature of their God. Just as God is love, the first duty of parents is to love their children (I John 4:8). Because all children are wanted by God and are important to God, Christian parents seek to bring their children into God's presence, and God's presence into their children's lives through prayer (Luke 18:15-16). Because God is holy, Christian parents model righteousness to their children (Matthew 18:6). Because they are the objects of God's grace through Christ, they model humility and gratefulness to God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and show their gratitude by serving God (Ephesians 2:10, II Corinthians 5:14-15). Since God makes us accountable, they not only teach their children their faith, they call upon their children to live by it, and lovingly provide guidance through careful, prayerful use of correction, approval, and rewards (Ephesians 6:4). As God seeks out the fellowship of people, Christian parents bring their children to the house of the Lord to seek fellowship with other Christian children (Hebrews 10:25, I Corinthians 15:33). Just as God finally gives us free will, Christian parents have as their goal the maturing of their children so that they, in turn, can be effective Christian parents to grandchildren (Matthew 19:4-5, Luke 15:11-12).



Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Malays are descendants of the Kadazans - Dr. Zafrina ?

malay languageImage via Wikipedia
Dr Zafarina studies on genetics showed Malay people migrated from Borneo to Sumatera and then to Peninsula Malaysia. I have attached part of her writings below.
“TRACING THE ORIGIN OF THE MALAY RACE THROUGH THE MORPHOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL AND GENETIC ANALYSIS

RESEARCH CENTER
Human Genome Center, School of Health Sciences and Dental School, USM
CURRENT STATUS OF PROJECT: Ongoing (started: Jan 2005 )
RESEARCHERS:
Principle Investigator: Dr. Zafarina Zainuddin
Co-researchers: Dr. Zilfalil Alwi, Prof. Abd. Rani Samsudin, Miss Azlina Ahmad,
Dr. Bakiah Shaharuddin, Dr. Liza Sharmini Ahmad Tajudin,
 Mr. Hoh Boon Peng, Mr. Mohamad Ros Sidek, Dr. Nizam Abdullah,
Prof. Norazmi Mohd. Nor, Assoc. Prof. Ooi Keat Gin, Panneerchelvam, Dr. Zainul Ahmad Rajion, Prof. Zainul F. Zainuddin

INTRODUCTION:
The Malay race inhabits particularly Peninsular Malaysia and portions of adjacent islands of Southeast Asia (SEA), east coast of Sumatra , coast of Borneo and smaller islands between these areas.

They were traced by anthropological evidence from the north-western part of Yunnan, in China.
The proto-Malays were seafaring people, probably from coastal Borneo who expanded into Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia as a result of trading and seafaring activities.

The present day Malays, called Modern Malays of Peninsular Malaysia and coast of the Malay Archipelago are a mixture of different races.

They were described as deutero-Malays, descendants of the proto-Malays mixed with modern Indians, Thai, Arab and Chinese.

The history and the origin of the Malay race have been the subject of much speculation among scholars.

Since the Malays primarily reside within SEA, particularly Peninsular Malaysia, the prehistoric migrations into these regions must be taken into consideration.

Several hypotheses of the SEA migration pattern have been put forward. Preliminary studies using mitochondrial DNA analyses suggested affinity of the Southern Mongoloid in the Modern Malay population of Peninsular Malaysia (Zafarina, 2004).

The term Melayu or Malay‚ was also associated with the Hindu-Buddhist Srivijaya Empire (7th-13 centuries CE) believed to be located in the South-eastern part of Sumatra.

An Arab text dating around 1000 CE observed that travellers bound for China sailed through the sea of Melayu‚ that can be inferred to mean the Straits of Melaka.

On opposite shores of the Straits of Melaka by the 7th century CE or earlier, there were the domicile areas of the Malays, namely Sumatra and the Malay Peninsular.

OBJECTIVES:
1.To compile the genetic profile of the Malay race.
2.To study the history, social and anthropology of the Malay race.
3.To characterise the craniofacial, dental and ocular features of Malay race.
4. To correlate the genetic profile of the Malay race with their craniofacial, dental and
ocular characteristics.
5. To correlate the genetic profile of the Malay race with its history, social and
anthropology.
6. To trace the origin of the Malay race by using the genetic profile, anthropology,
craniofacial, dental and ocular characteristics.

METHODOLOGY:
The research encompasses four parts of studies: The Historical and Socio-cultural Analysis, the Ocular Morphology Analysis, the Craniofacial Morphology Analysis, and the last major part, the Genetic Analysis.

Various types of genetic markers are used in the study of the genetic components of the population.

These markers are autosomal and Y chromosome STR markers, mtDNA, Human Leucocytes Antigen (HLA) and lastly, the SNP genotyping which will be done using the Microarray 50K genechip system.

EXPECTED OUTCOME:
1.      The tracing of the origin and the migration pattern of the Malay race.
2.     Establishing USM as a part of the member of Pacific Pan-Asian SNP Initiative (PASNPI) organized by Human Genome Organization (HUGO)”

Dr Zafarina studies is one of the most conclusive evidence of Borneo origins of the Malay race. They are not called Malay in Borneo, but Dusuns or Dayaks.

Dr Zafarina traced the genetic migration of the Dusunic speaking people of Borneo southwards in Borneo and along the way producing other tribes such as the Lun Bawangs, Bidayuhs, Ibans, etc. The Bidayuhs in turn migrated to Sulawesi and found the Bugis people. When the Dayaks or Dusun reached the southern tip of Borneo, they simply crossed over to Jawa and Sumatera.

Scientist has concluded that the Expres Train theory that the Malay race come from Taiwan were now discredited. Scientist found genes found among Polynesians (Hawaii) were not found among the indigenous Taiwanese. This shows the connection is missing.

Instead the theory goes that the Malay people who migrated from Indo China reached the coast of Borneo where the race and language of the Malayo Polynesian incubated. It was from Borneo that people migrated out to Taiwan, the Philippines and the rest of Insular Southeast Asia and the pacifics and the Indian ocean.

The proto Malays of Borneo were once great seafarers, reaching as far away land as Madagascar. Their migration led them to other Islands brought them to Sumatera, Jawa, Sulawesi, and then to the Pacifics Islands.

Incidently, the Malagasy language in Madagascar is closest to Maanyan language of Barito Kalimantan. But Manyan is closest to Dusun Witu of Barito which is alsmot 80% similar to the Dusun language of the Penampang and Papar Sabah dialect.

Dusun is about 30% similar to modern Malay. We know that modern Malay is only 30% indigenous, the rest were derived from or enriched by Sanskrit (Indian language), Arabs (during Islamic influence) and Chinese.

But the 30% indigenous are almost all similar to Dusun language in terms of sound and meanings. The followings are some Dusun/Malay similarity.

Eg mato for mata, tolingo for telinga, todung for hidung, dilah for lidah, siku for siku, longon for lengan, kulit for kulit, tonsi for isi, raha for darah, tulang for tulang, wulu for bulu, pusod for pusat, tuhat for urat, wotis for betis, etc.

Other words, kayu for kayu, watang for batang, roun for daun, bunga for bunga, tuah for buah, etc   others, wulan for bulan, watu for batu, tana for tanah, sawat for sawat (as in pesawat), osin for masin, onsom for masam, po’it for pahit, omis for manis, apui for api, matai for mati, pais for pisau, etc.

Others, iso for sa, duo for dua, apat for empat, limo for lima , onom for enam, etc.

Others, palanuk for pelanduk, buayo for buaya, lipos for lipas, tikus for tikus, tontolu for telur, ulanut for ular, etc

There are hundreds of words that form the indigenous part of the Malay language.

The dusun origins of modern Malay is something to be researched further. The dusunic speaking people are quite widespread. The Bisaya of Sarawak are dusunic people, also the dusuns of Tutung and Belait Brunei. In Barito, Kalimantan, the several dusunic speakers are related to the dusunic language.

Even the Bajau language and most visayan dialects in the Philippines can be traced to the dusunic langauge.

According to Dr Zafarina, the dusuns produce the Bajau people (interesting). This correspond with the legend among Visayans that they came from Borneo.

It is ironic that the dusuns today are not constitutional Malay though scientific evidence now showed the Borneo origins of the Malay language.

The dusuns who populated Borneo did not find great civilization in Borneo. The credit must be given to their descendents who migrated to Sumatera and eventually became Malays through intermarriage with the more culturally advance Indians to form the seeds of the melayur kingdom.

Today it is true being Malay is a pride to many Malaysians. But the Malaysian Constitutional definition does not make them racially Malays. Officially, the word Malay is a religious identity, not a racial identity.
Ironically, the only other people who defined their ethnic identity in terms of religion are the Jewish people.

Even Arabs recognize Arab Christians as Arabs. But in Malaysia, one has to be a Muslim to be a Malay.

The Malaysian constitutional definition excludes Javanese, Filipinos, and other indigenous in Southeast Asia who are malayo polynesian speakers as Malays because they do not fulfil the constitutinal definition.

The Malaysian definition of a Malay reduced the number of ethnic Malay to just 25 million people wolrd wide.

Thus, the Malay history also started only with the advent of islam in the 14th century. Malay did not exist before the advent of Islam.

The term Malay was popularized by western anthropologists based on their readings of Sejarah Melayu, however, distorted.

The term Malay is now very popular, used even by President Gloria Aroyo to identify her Filipino racial heritage. Unfortunately, may be she did not know, but the Malaysian Malays would have disputed her. She does not fulfill the Malaysian Constitutional definition to be a Malay.

Unless Malaysia change its constitution to make Malay a racial identity for Malayo Polynesian people, then the narrow definition would make the term Malay relevant to a small group of people in a sea of 300 million Austronesian Malayo Polynesian speakers.

As of now, to be a Malay is just like to be a Jew, where ethnicity is defined by religious identity.
Source: Dunia Itu

note: The  term "Dusun" has been and always will be a derogatory name for the People who are called by their Kinoingan Minamangun as Kadazan - Sakag do Kinoingan.(Proverb 23:7)


 


Monday, September 27, 2010

Bible translators hope to have every language covered in 15 years

Monsopiad Cultural VillageImage by myzulkefli via Flickr
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).

A Christian endeavor of almost 2,000 years could be substantially completed by 2025.

Protestant translators expect to have the Bible — or at least some of it — written in every one of the world's 6,909 spoken languages.

"We're in the greatest period of acceleration in 20 centuries of Bible translation," said Morrison resident Paul Edwards, who heads up Wycliffe Bible Translators' $1 billion Last Languages Campaign.

Portable computers and satellites get the credit for speeding things up by about 125 years.

Previously, a Wycliffe missionary family or team would spend decades learning and transcribing one language in a remote corner of the Earth.

Wycliffe's missionaries had the credo, "one team, one language, one lifetime," Edwards said.

At that pace, the target date had been 2150, Edwards said.

Help from technology

Contemporary missionaries, armed with technology and making greater use of apprentice native translators, might now be able to oversee transcriptions of several languages in their lifetimes, Edwards said.

"Wycliffe missionaries don't evangelize, teach theology, hold Bible study or start churches. They give (preliterate people) a written language," Edwards said. "They teach them to read and write in their mother tongue."

The missionaries develop alphabets. They create reading primers. They translate the Bible.

About 2,200 languages remain without a Bible. About 350 million people, mostly in India, China, sub-Saharan Africa and Papua New Guinea, speak only these languages.

Working on this "to-do" list are about 6,600 career and short-term missionaries with training in the Bible and linguistics.

They are following the New Testament directive of Jesus in the Book of Matthew: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded of you."

The missionaries have to come up with their own means of support, often a church sponsorship, in the field.

Katie Zartman, a 27-year-old Loveland native and Colorado State University graduate, is a senior graphic designer with Wycliffe at its Orlando, Fla.-headquarters.

She recently returned from a two-week mission to Senegal in French-speaking West Africa, where she taught a workshop on layout and design to Saafis, a small Senegalese minority for which Wycliffe is not only translating the Bible but also helping to create a small body of native literature.

"Half weren't confident in their basic computer skills when they began, but they were book publishers by the end of two weeks," Zartman said.

A people's first books

Twelve participants using open-source software (downloaded for free) completed a dozen rough drafts of 24-page booklets in the Saafi mother tongue. Most were children's stories.

"Once they have the Bible in their heart language, then it's almost like a dictionary for them to write about their oral traditions and culture," Zartman said. "The Saafis see the danger of being swallowed up by the cultures around them. Now they can create their own books."

The modern era of Bible translation began with William Cameron Townsend in 1942. He founded Wycliffe, named for the Oxford don John Wycliffe, who first translated the Bible into English in the late 1300s. Previously, English- speakers read the Bible in Latin.

So far, Wycliffe and its related organization, the Summer Institute of Language (now known as SIL International), have participated in more than 700 Scripture translations.

SIL has formal consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Edwards, a former fundraiser for Stanford University and promoter of the Colorado- grown evangelical men's ministry Promise Keepers, has raised more than $170 million in less than two years for this final big push, the Last Languages Campaign.

Edwards said that Wycliffe is helping preserve indigenous peoples' languages and cultures.

"Five hundred years ago, there were twice the number of languages we have now," Edwards said.

Many more languages are close to extinction — spoken by only a few elderly people and no children. Yet once a language is written, it can't be lost completely.

Anthropologists have been more skeptical about the effect of missionaries on indigenous cultures.

"These folks, whatever good they might do, are not disinterested parties," said University of Colorado anthropology professor Paul Shankman. "They have their own goals."

Bringing foreign ideas

Associate professor David Stoll of Middlebury College in Vermont, who has studied Wycliffe, has written that Wycliffe missionaries' activities, like those of all missionaries, become bound up not only with religious traditions but also with the expansion of English-speaking culture, economics, technology, medicine and political aims. They bring all these things with them.

"If you are not able to satisfy the leadership of the village that you are doing good and are a helpful addition, there is no reason for them to presume that what you are asking to bring to them — a written language — is particularly valuable," Edwards said. "Helping improve a village water system or bringing in the harvest with them might get you a pass to work on your project."

The Bible itself is no small influence on culture.

Yet the translators believe they bring only gifts.

"I am excited to put God's word in all people's heart language," Zartman said. "Until people can read the Bible in their own language, God is a foreign concept."

source:  The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_15346948#ixzz10k1PissT


 

Tataba - Tungkus mantad diAma id Surga: the Kadazan Heritage

Iso Id Boos Do Kinoingan Nadadi Kadazan

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Vosion tokou ginavo - maza vinakas Boos om Sunduvan Disido


Zati Babangd'esa
Tobpinai doid nombo nopo
Id sodu toi ko id somok 
Vosion tokou ginavo 
Doid soibau do vinoun
Zotokou nopo mati
Mogohos do kanavaon
Okon ko mogihohodong 
Okon ko mogigagagut
Oikot nopo kapatazon
Aiso nodii do kosivatan 
Mokiaampun do id savat
Ada (do)tokou hivaii

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The True Ecclesia - translated by KJV as Church - Panambazangan

Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostol...Image via Wikipedia
You cannot know the whole truth on the meaning of ecclesia, church, or assembly without studying the Word of God. If you depend on the experts, you will surely go wrong. If the word "ecclesia" was translated "assembly", then you would still have the same division over its meaning as you currently have over the word "Church". Some honest brethren will disagree with me about the meaning of church. We would still have the same disagreement if it was translated assembly. It is a matter of interpretation of the Scriptures, and it will also remain so.
Read more .. 
The True Church - by the Late Bishop Ryle
Do you belong to the one true Church; to the Church outside of which there is no salvation? I do not ask where you go on Sunday; I only ask, "Do you belong to the one true Church?"
Where is this one true Church? What is this one true Church like? What are the marks by which this one true Church may be known? You may well ask such questions. Give me your attention, and I will provide you with some answers.
The one true Church is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus. It is made up of all God's elect—of all converted men and women of all true Christians. In whomsoever we can discern the election of God the Father, the sprinkling of the blood of God the Son, the sanctifying work of God the Spirit, in that person we see a member of Christ's true Church.
It is a Church of which all the members have the same marks. They are all born of the Spirit; they all possess "repentance towards God, faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," and holiness of life and conversation. They all hate sin, and they all love Christ. They worship differently and after various fashions; some worship with a form of prayer, and some with none; some worship kneeling, and some standing; but they all worship with one heart. They are all led by one Spirit; they all build upon one foundation; they all draw their religion from one single Book—that is the Bible. They are all joined to one great center—that is Jesus Christ. They all even now can say with one heart, "Hallelujah"; and they can all respond with one heart and voice, "Amen and Amen."
It is a Church which is dependent upon no ministers upon earth, however much it values those who preach the Gospel to its members. The life of its members does not hang upon church membership, and baptism, and the Lord's Supper—although they highly value these things, when they are to be had. But it has only one great Head one Shepherd, one chief Bishop—and that is Jesus Christ. He alone, by His Spirit, admits the members of this Church, though ministers may show the door. Till He opens the door no man on earth can open it—neither bishops, nor presbyters, nor convocations, nor synods. Once let a man repent and believe the Gospel, and that moment he becomes a member of this Church. Like the penitent thief, he may have no opportunity of being baptized; but he has that which is far better than any water-baptism—the baptism of the Spirit. He may not be able to receive the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper; but he eats Christ's body and drinks Christ's blood by faith every day he lives, and no minister on earth can prevent him. He may be excommunicated by ordained men, and cut off from the outward ordinances of the professing Church; but all the ordained men in the world cannot shut him out of the true Church.
It is a Church whose existence does not depend on forms, ceremonies, cathedrals, churches, chapels, pulpits, fonts, vestments, organs, endowments, money, kings, governments, magistrates, or any act of favor whatsoever from the hand of man. It has often lived on and continued when all these things have been taken from it; it has often been driven into the wilderness or into dens and caves of the earth, by those who ought to have been its friends. Its existence depends on nothing but the presence of Christ and His Spirit; and they being ever with it, the Church cannot die.
This is the Church to which the Scriptural, titles of present honor and privilege, and the promises of future glory, especially belong; this is the body of Christ; this is the flock of Christ; this is the household of faith and the family of God; this is God's building, God's foundation, and the temple of the Holy Ghost. This is the Church of the first-born, whose names fire written in heaven; this is the royal priesthood, the chosen generation, the peculiar people, the purchased possession, the habitation of God, the light of the world; the salt and the wheat of the earth; this is the "Holy Catholic Church" of the Apostle's Creed; this is the "One Catholic and Apostolic Church" of the Nicene Creed; this is that Church to which the Lord Jesus promises, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", and to which He says, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" Matthew 16:18; 28:20.
This is the only Church which possesses true unity. Its members are entirely agreed on all the weightier matters of religion, for they are all taught by one Spirit. About God, and Christ, and the Spirit, and sin, and their own hearts, and faith, and repentance, and necessity of holiness, and the value of the Bible, and the importance of prayer, and the resurrection, and judgment to come—about all these points they are of one mind. Take three or four of them, strangers to one another, from the remotest corners of the earth; examine them separately on these points; you will find them all of one judgment.
This is the only Church which possesses true sanctity. Its members are all holy. They are not merely holy by profession, holy in name, and holy in the judgment of charity; they are all holy in act, and deed, and reality, and life, and truth. They are all more or less conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. No unholy man belongs to this Church.
This is the only Church which is truly catholic. It is not the Church of any one nation or people; its members are to be found in every part of the world where the Gospel is received and believed. It is not confined within the limits of any one country, or pent up within the pale of any particular forms or outward government. In it there is no difference between Jew and Greek, black man and white, Episcopalian and Presbyterian—but faith in Christ is all. Its members will be gathered from north, and south, and east, and west, in the last day, and will be of every name and tongue—but all one in Jesus Christ.
This is the only Church which is truly apostolic. It is built on the foundation laid by the Apostles, and holds the doctrines which they preached. The two grand objects at which its members aim are apostolic faith and apostolic practice; and they consider the man who talks of following the Apostles without possessing these two things to be no better than sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
This is the only Church which is certain to endure unto the end. Nothing can altogether overthrow and destroy it. Its members may be persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, beaten, beheaded, burned; but the true Church is never altogether extinguished; it rises again from its afflictions; it lives on through fire and water. The Pharaohs, the Herods, the Neros, the bloody Marys, have labored in vain to put down this Church; they slay their thousands, and then pass away and go to their own place. The true Church outlives them all and sees them buried each in his turn. It is an anvil that has broken many a hammer in this world, and will break many a hammer still; it is a bush which, often burning, yet is not consumed.
This is the Church which does the work of Christ upon earth. Its members are a little flock, and few in number, compared with the children of the world; one or two here, and two or three there. But these are they who shake the universe; these are they who change the fortunes of kingdoms by their prayers; these are they who are the active workers for spreading the knowledge of pure religion and undefiled; these are the life-blood of a country, the shield, the defense, the stay and the support of any nation to which they belong.
This is the Church which shall be truly glorious at the end. When all earthly glory is passed away then shall this Church be presented without spot before God the Father's throne. Thrones, principalities, and powers upon earth shall come to nothing; but the Church of the first-born shall shine as the stars at the last, and be presented With joy before the Father's throne, in the day of Christ's appearing. When the Lord's jewels are made up, and the manifestation of the sons of God takes place, one Church only will be named, and that is the Church of the elect.
Tobpinai, this is the true Church to which a man must belong, if he would be saved. Till you belong to this, you are nothing better than a lost soul. You may have countless outward privileges; you may enjoy great light, and knowledge—but if you do not belong to the body of Christ, your light, and knowledge, and privileges, will not save your soul. Men fancy if they join this church or that church, and become communicants, and go through certain forms, that all must be right with their souls. All were not Israel who were called Israel, and all are not members of Christ's body who profess themselves Christians. Take notice, you may be a staunch Episcopalian, or Presbyterian, or Independent, or Baptist, or Wesleyan, or Plymouth Brother—and yet not be long to the true Church. And if you do not, it will be better at last if you had never been born.
—Fundamentals, The

Go and Make Disciples of all Nations!

"Ugad kouno, dodizo no diozu oh tikid tinau do mokiinoboos dogo, poi'aon no savi-avi ih nokosunud Ku diozu om podsuo' no izioho id ngaan di Ama, Tanak om Sunduvan Tohidang". Iti no oh pason di Jesus montok toiso-iso tokou ih nokotutun kopizo Disido om" nung otopot do guminavo kou kopizo Dogo, nokuo tu ahangas om gumaga kou Dogo?"

Monday, September 20, 2010

Boos do Kinoingan nadadi do Kadazan

The title of this post is " Boos do Kinoingan nadadi do Kadazan", the Word of God that became a Man, is most appropriate because nothing that exist in this world if not for the Word of God. (John 1:3)
In the book of Genesis, Kadazan (Man) was created in the image and likenss of God: (Gen 1:27)