CONVERSATIONAL ENCOUNTER OF GOD

2011

Firstly, I would like to thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to study the B.A. program in the BRAC University. Secondly, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor Ms. Shenin Ziauddin who was the actual inspiration to complete this paper and who guided me in doing this report paper. Then I would like to thank Professor Firdous Azim, the chairperson of the Department of English and Humanities (ENH), BRAC University, for her guidance and advice during my report writing time. Special thanks to Mr. Mahmudul Haque and Ms. Asifa Sultana form whom I have learned many things which helped me throughout the preparation of this paper. I would also like to thank the Department Coordinator, A.K.M. Ahsan Kabir and Rafiq bhai for being very helpful when I worked on this paper. Lastly, I am heartily grateful to my parents and friends for giving me all the best wishes, love, support

Commentary 1. God's final word in his Son (1:1-4) A. The new revelation compared with the old (1:1-2a) B. The nature and work of the Son (1:2b-3) C. The Son and the angels (1:4) 2. The greatness of the Son and the need to pay careful attention to his message (1:5-2:4) A. The Son's superiority to the angels (1:5-14) B. A warning about holding fast to the Son and his message (2:1-4) 3. The Son's incarnation, death and heavenly exaltation is the means of our salvation and the basis of hopeful confidence (2:5-3:6) A. The world to come subjected to the glorified Son (2:5-9) B. Many sons brought to glory by the pioneer of their salvation (2:10-16) C. The Son as a merciful and faithful high priest (2:17-18) D. A challenge to be faithful and hold firmly to the confidence and hope the Son has given us (3:1-6) 4. A warning not to harden our hearts in unbelief, together with encouragements about the way to enter the rest that the Son has made possible (3:7-4:13) A. The negative example of the Israelites who failed to enter the Promised Land (3:7-19) B. A warning about falling short of God's promised rest (4:1-2) C. Identifying the rest and those who enter it (4:3-11) D. A warning about the power of God's word to expose and judge (4:12-13) 5. The Son's high-priestly ministry is the basis for persevering faith and obedience (4:14-5:10) A. A challenge to hold firmly to the faith we profess and approach God with confidence for mercy and timely help (4:14-16) B. The perfecting of the Son as 'the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him' (5:1-10) 6. A challenge to avoid sluggishness and fully realize the hope set before us (5:11-6:12) A. The pathway to maturity in Christ (5:11-6:3) B. A warning about the fate of those who profess faith and fall away (6:4-8) C. The need to express faith, hope and love 'to the very end' (6:9-12) 7. The hope confirmed and secured by the entrance of our high priest into heaven (6:13-7:28) A. Responding to God's guaranteed promise (6:13-20) B. The priesthood of Melchizedek (7:1-10) C. The eternal high priesthood of the Son of God (7:11-28) 8. The superior ministry of our great high priest (8:1-10:18) A. Enthroned in heaven and serving in the 'true tabernacle' (8:1-6) B. Mediator of a new covenant (8:7-13) C. Opening the way to the Most Holy Place and cleansing consciences (9:1-14) D. Providing the sacrifice that makes eternal salvation possible (9:15-28) E. Sanctifying believers once for all and perfecting them for ever (10:1-18) 9. Reflecting on the privileges we have as Christians and responding appropriately (10:19-39) A. Realize the benefits of Jesus' high-priestly ministry (10:19-25) B. Don't turn away from the Son of God and his achievements for us (10:26-31) C. Persevere and obtain what God has promised (10:32-39) 10. Examples of persevering faith, climaxing with a challenge to reject sin and focus on Jesus 'the pioneer and perfecter of faith' (11:1-12:3) A. Faith in the unseen (11:1-7) B. The faith of Abraham and his descendants (11:8-22) C. The faith of Moses and those associated with him (11:23-31) D. Further examples of enduring faith (11:32-40) E. Looking to Jesus (12:1-3) 11. Challenges to endure suffering and pursue peace, holiness and grateful service to God (12:4-29) A. Submitting to God's discipline (12:4-13) B. Pursuing peace and holiness (12:14-17) C. Living as citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem (12:18-24) D. Being attentive to the voice of God (12:25-27) E. Serving God with reverence and awe (12:28-29) 12. Final encouragements, blessings and greetings (13:1-25) A. Love that pleases God (13:1-6) B. Faithfulness that endures (13:7-19) C. Grace that equips and enables perseverance (13:20-25) Notes I am thankful to another friend and colleague, Tim Escott, who has carefully read through my work as it progressed and given me valuable feedback. I am also grateful that Professor Eckhard Schnabel has been able to make helpful suggestions in the final stages of revision. I also thank my wife Lesley for her loving support and for being an eager conversation partner in the project.

2009

Glory to the Almighty!!! My academic journey at the ISS started when I send my application for admission in late 2007. Since that moment until the finishing of my paper, Dr. Linda Herrera has been the most influential person in my life. You contributed a lot in my academic mellowness since the first day of our contact in 2008/2009 CYS class. You deserve my heartfelt gratitude for understanding my passion for issues of youth and politics and helping me in shaping and reshaping my thoughts and understandings about the subject matter. I would also like to thank Prof. Dr. Mohamed Salih for his contribution of ideas on my research design and first draft. So many people have contributed to the final success of finishing this research paper in different ways. I do not have the intention to mention all and to express everything here. But I am so grateful to the Ethio-Eriterians group of the 2008/2009 batch including Bilisuma, Filimon, Rediet, Nebil and Ana Rodriguez from Portugal for their brotherly and sisterly love during my stay at the ISS. Especially Ambassador Tecklemichael, you were so helpful in challenging my ideas from the very beginning while we discuss and argue on different issues and by being discussant during my seminar. My CYS classmates, especially Marie Angelie Bacaltos Resurreccion, and all the 2008/2009 batch students (esp. Jessica, Mary, Sanjukta, Rino, Heather, Daniela and Nadya) have a special place in my memories about ISS. The respondents that I interviewed during my field work in Addis Ababa deserve special thanks since it would not be possible at all to write this paper without their cooperation. Especially I want to say thank you for the young respondents who sacrificed their time twice by participating in the focus group discussion. Prof. Gebru Tareke, thank you so much for the valuable advice you gave me during my visit to your office in Addis Ababa. Girma Tesfaw from Addis Neger newspaper helped me a lot in sharing his ideas and contact number of people I wanted to interview. Friends, both near and far, Mefine, Elsiki, Essiye, Ezana, Meli, Dr. Efi, Sofi, Addisye, Dani ... you made my seven weeks in Addis memorable through the times we spend, valuable through the discussions we had. Dani and Hallelujah helped me to find two most valuable books for my research and showed who they are for me ☺. Yirga I learned a lot from your ideas while we chat, and thank you. Tsediye, I have no words to tell you how I am indebted to your love and care. Lia, the positive vibes that you were sending me kept me strong and smiley during my hard working hours, thanks a lot. Last, but not least, my sisters and brothers especially Jerry, Joxey, Bexe, Yonexe , Mimi, Maki, Micky and Sebli thank you very much for your moral support while I am away and feeling homesick almost always. Dad and Grand Ma, your worries for the little boy keeps me safe always. Finally, Mahlet Mairegu, your willingness to help me in editing my paper in the final hour is so valuable and thanks a lot for your help. Preface This paper is a result of my experience in student and youth activism for almost seven years, since I was a sophomore student at the Addis Ababa University. The lifelong learning process started with Afroflag Youth Vision in 2002 while we were organizing various discussion platforms in the Main Campus. Especially the last two academic years (Sept. 2003-July 2005) were very crucial to broaden my experience and attitude. My fulltime engagement in the organization after July 2005 until I joined ISS in different positions on various project activities gave me an ample exposure to work, talk, live and breathe issues of youth participation day-in-day-out. Because of the passion we shared to realize active and meaningful citizenship engagement mainly among the youth, those who established the organization and employed in it worked tirelessly to transform Afroflag to be the most professionally equipped, youth initiated and youth-led civic organization in Ethiopia. The experiences that I got working in the organization mainly in the governance programme, the various conferences, seminars and trainings that I attended, facilitated and organized at national, continental and international level on a range of issues related to youth were real learning experiences that initiated me to study youth related subject at the Masters level. And thus I joined the MA programme at ISS in the Children and Youth Specialization. I believe that I have first hand information both about the potential and the challenges that Ethiopian youth have particularly in the areas of political participation. My practical experience was sharpened by the academic exercise that I was doing during my stay at the ISS and this research paper is a witness for this. My previous work as a youth activist helped me a lot to see the topic of my research from inside as well as to easily talk to young people from different youth groups. For me this research is the beginning of another big endeavour that I envision to embark on both in my academic as well as professional career starting from now. And I want to reiterate that anyone who reads this paper should know that it is written for the sake of not only academic purpose but also a personal vision.

I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live (Ps. 116:1-2). Above all, I praise and thank God the Almighty Father, Who reveals the Truth in Jesus Christ and leads me to this Truth through His love in the Holy Spirit. This dissertation is my spiritual journey with the Triune God, especially with the Holy Spirit, Who has revealed to me the Truth and enabled me to complete this dissertation. I could not have completed this work without God's intervention and the support of many people. I am most grateful to my parents, particularly my father, Jakobus Kurniadi, who passed away on 6 August 2021, and my mother, Marietta Indriati Tjahjadi. I am deeply thankful for their sacrifices and prayers, always supporting and standing by me during the most challenging times. Without their sacrifices and prayers, this dissertation would never have been completed. My sincere appreciation and gratitude also go to my uncle, Aloysius Wiwoho Tjahjadi, who believed in me until he passed away on 14 February 2021. I am also grateful to the Bishop of Bogor, Mgr. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM, for his support and encouragement in my spiritual journey. My sincere gratitude to RP. Thomas Joseph White, OP, who accompanied and provided me with professional guidance in the vi intellectual and spiritual journey with the Holy Spirit in completing this dissertation. I also sincerely thank Fr. Simon Francis Gaine, OP, for his insightful feedback and constructive criticism, which have shaped and improved the quality of my research. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Fr. Dominik Jurczak, OP, for his esteemed leadership during the oral defense. I must acknowledge Sr. Catherine Joseph Droste, OP, for her encouragement and Sr. Colette Keane, OP, for her assistance with the scholarship. I am also grateful to the Curia Generals of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross (Crosiers) for supporting and accommodating me in finishing my dissertation: Fr. Laurentius Tarpin, OSC (Master General of Crosiers), Fr. Yohanes Berchmans Rosaryanto, OSC, Fr.

Religions, 2022

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