A Reminder About Who I Am on My Birthday

Today is my 57th birthday. I am grateful to my officemates for buying me drinks, cake, and pizza.

After my birthday celebration and office hours, I went straight to the second floor of the new Administration Building to attend the Prayer Meeting of DasPres.

Rev. Ernie Gloria, the church planter and also my instructor during my student years way back in 1986, asked us to share our testimonies and thanksgiving. I shared my involvement in Hive and my recent transition to the Dolphin status. Though they don't understand fully what I mean by a digital community, they are glad about the improvement of my account. I anticipate that sooner or later, my colleagues both in the school and the church will start exploring what Hive is all about.

After the testimony, Ptr. Ernie continued his series on Christian identity. He reviewed the three categories of salvation including the past, the present, and the future. The past has something to do with justification and it is a one-time event. The present is where the battle is raging in our fight against sin. The future points to glorification, which is the destiny of all God's children.

Continuing the series, he asked someone to read Genesis 1:27, which speaks about man and woman being created in the image of God. He then relates this theme to the inscription of the image of the king in ancient coins. He told us that it has something to do with identification. The name and title of the king help identify who issued the coin and assert their authority over the currency.

In the Old Testament narrative, he cited the example of Moses representing "The Great I am" before Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler of that time.

Theologically, he connects this knowledge of human identity to the knowledge of God. He finds support based on the idea of the great reformer of the 16th century that encapsulates wisdom in the interrelationship between the knowledge of self and the knowledge of God. Overall, this is where he found the basis for the meaning and significance of human identity.

After a short Bible study, Ptr. Ernie shared some prayer concerns. He also asked us about our prayer requests. I made a list of all the requests and this will serve as my prayer guide for days to come. I am grateful that on my birthday, I have this opportunity once again to attend a prayer gathering like this. This is my prayer list:

• Opportunity to invite people. Keep inviting and pray.

• Growth of basic education in PTSCAS

• Numerical and spiritual growth of DasPres

• Formation of praise and worship team

• The upcoming graduation. Pray for both the graduating students and the faculty and staff.

• Majid's missionary visa, and

• The flood both in Dubai and Pakistan.

Grace and peace!