In the Name of Purpose - Overview:
"It used to be that faithfulness to God
turned the world upside down.
Now faithfulness to the world
is turning Christianity upside down."
The above link is just an overview of the book which is available free online to read. A link to the book is contain in the overview (toward the bottom).
Very interesting stuff.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Apologetics Press - Does This Sound Like America?
Apologetics Press - Does This Sound Like America?
I blogged about this prior to the Presidential election. This author does a much better job quoting scripture and making the case for humble repentance as a nation to avoid dire consequences.
From my human nature view, I am afraid of the 'things' happening within our nation and the direction it is taking us. However, from my Christian view, I am confident in God's saving grace and presence in all matters for those who call Him Lord.
Pray with me for our country!
I blogged about this prior to the Presidential election. This author does a much better job quoting scripture and making the case for humble repentance as a nation to avoid dire consequences.
From my human nature view, I am afraid of the 'things' happening within our nation and the direction it is taking us. However, from my Christian view, I am confident in God's saving grace and presence in all matters for those who call Him Lord.
Pray with me for our country!
Precious Time
Last night when I crawled into bed, my husband asked me this question. "Do you think we will know each other in heaven?"
I said, "I guess, we like to think that we will. People say things like, 'Mom has gone to be with Dad in heaven.' But I really don't know if we will."
Then he read me the passage in Matthew that had prompted his question. Matthew 22:30 For in the Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.
My husband looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I thought I would know you in heaven, but now I'm not so sure I will." When I asked him why that made him sad, he replied, as big tear drops gently rolled from the corner of his eyes onto his cheeks, "Because I want to know you in heaven!"
Women, you know this is like a hallmark moment to us! To be loved so completely that your spouse wants to carry that love into eternity! What more could a woman ask for? Thank you God for that precious, precious gift!
Of course, that was the end of the conversation for him as he had already moved on. Yes, but I wanted to hold onto that moment, to savor it, to remember it forever! The process really led me to see how precious our time is here on earth. We only have a brief moment in time to live, to love, to reach the world.
We don't know for sure what heaven will be like and if we will know each other there, but it sounds like it will be different than life here. We won't enter into marriage. Children won't be born. People won't die. We won't have to evangelize. Those things are for this time, for this world! We will have other focuses in heaven.
Knowing this, I never want to spend another minute mad at my husband, or be upset with my children, or fail to witness to someone when the opportunity presents itself. These are the moments for this world! Don't waste them!
I said, "I guess, we like to think that we will. People say things like, 'Mom has gone to be with Dad in heaven.' But I really don't know if we will."
Then he read me the passage in Matthew that had prompted his question. Matthew 22:30 For in the Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.
My husband looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I thought I would know you in heaven, but now I'm not so sure I will." When I asked him why that made him sad, he replied, as big tear drops gently rolled from the corner of his eyes onto his cheeks, "Because I want to know you in heaven!"
Women, you know this is like a hallmark moment to us! To be loved so completely that your spouse wants to carry that love into eternity! What more could a woman ask for? Thank you God for that precious, precious gift!
Of course, that was the end of the conversation for him as he had already moved on. Yes, but I wanted to hold onto that moment, to savor it, to remember it forever! The process really led me to see how precious our time is here on earth. We only have a brief moment in time to live, to love, to reach the world.
We don't know for sure what heaven will be like and if we will know each other there, but it sounds like it will be different than life here. We won't enter into marriage. Children won't be born. People won't die. We won't have to evangelize. Those things are for this time, for this world! We will have other focuses in heaven.
Knowing this, I never want to spend another minute mad at my husband, or be upset with my children, or fail to witness to someone when the opportunity presents itself. These are the moments for this world! Don't waste them!
All I'm Saying Is . .
My husband and I were debating the 'birth control' topic last night because he is not sure he agrees with me. But I told him I haven't exactly chosen a side so I don't think he can agree or disagree with me yet.
What I am trying to do is open up the dialogue to really consider our options and choices from a biblical standpoint. Far too often we just take accepted practices at face value and blindly follow the culture. Birth control, along with many other topics, are just things we take as 'okay' because everyone else thinks it is.
Doesn't God call us to live in the world but not of the world? If that's the case, then we should be challenging the status quo and investigating for ourselves what God would want us to do.
Nothing in and of itself is wrong. It's how we use it or our motivation behind something that makes it wrong. I know I've heard our Pastor say money isn't bad - it's how we use it, or think about it, or our motivation with it that's wrong. The same principle applies here.
The question then needs to be asked. If Christian women, in a Christian marriages, use birth control for any of the following reasons, are we living God's plan for our lives or are we living of this world?
1. To control our circumstances
2. To be in charge of our own destiny
3. To make way to pursue our own career
4. To free up funds to pursue our own desires
5. To avoid undo responsibility of another human being
I just really wonder. I don't want to judge or be closed minded, but I do want us to really think about these things from a heavenly standpoint. I can really see and understand all of the arguments in the 'secular world' for the use of birth control. But we are not the secular world. We are God's chosen people! As God's chosen, we should be seeking our Creator's input in these matters. That's all I'm saying.
What I am trying to do is open up the dialogue to really consider our options and choices from a biblical standpoint. Far too often we just take accepted practices at face value and blindly follow the culture. Birth control, along with many other topics, are just things we take as 'okay' because everyone else thinks it is.
Doesn't God call us to live in the world but not of the world? If that's the case, then we should be challenging the status quo and investigating for ourselves what God would want us to do.
Nothing in and of itself is wrong. It's how we use it or our motivation behind something that makes it wrong. I know I've heard our Pastor say money isn't bad - it's how we use it, or think about it, or our motivation with it that's wrong. The same principle applies here.
The question then needs to be asked. If Christian women, in a Christian marriages, use birth control for any of the following reasons, are we living God's plan for our lives or are we living of this world?
1. To control our circumstances
2. To be in charge of our own destiny
3. To make way to pursue our own career
4. To free up funds to pursue our own desires
5. To avoid undo responsibility of another human being
I just really wonder. I don't want to judge or be closed minded, but I do want us to really think about these things from a heavenly standpoint. I can really see and understand all of the arguments in the 'secular world' for the use of birth control. But we are not the secular world. We are God's chosen people! As God's chosen, we should be seeking our Creator's input in these matters. That's all I'm saying.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Life's Work
SMIRNA
Our church has been involved in a church plant in Romania since 1999 (see attached link).
Pastor Ionut Corlan of Romania, brought his 85 year old mother on her first visit to the United States, and they worshiped with us in church yesterday.
Mrs. Corlan spoke to the congregation in her native language as she held her bible in her hand. She told us she was raised in the knowledge of God despite living behind the iron curtain of Communism and has been a Christian her entire life. She said, "God has blessed me for my faithfulness because all 15 of my children are also Christians!"
85 years brings lots of experiences, trials, and joys but her greatest joy, and the one she wanted to share with us, is that her children are all Christians. It sums up her life work! Yes, she raised 15 children into adulthood, but more importantly, she raised 15 children in the saving knowledge of the Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.
As a mom, I found those words to be so inspirational. Is there really anything more important in our duty as mothers to the next generation, than to teach our children about Jesus, and to help cultivate in them a loving relationship with Him?
I pray that at the end of my days, I can claim the same blessing, and that my life's work will have had eternal implications, too.
Our church has been involved in a church plant in Romania since 1999 (see attached link).
Pastor Ionut Corlan of Romania, brought his 85 year old mother on her first visit to the United States, and they worshiped with us in church yesterday.
Mrs. Corlan spoke to the congregation in her native language as she held her bible in her hand. She told us she was raised in the knowledge of God despite living behind the iron curtain of Communism and has been a Christian her entire life. She said, "God has blessed me for my faithfulness because all 15 of my children are also Christians!"
85 years brings lots of experiences, trials, and joys but her greatest joy, and the one she wanted to share with us, is that her children are all Christians. It sums up her life work! Yes, she raised 15 children into adulthood, but more importantly, she raised 15 children in the saving knowledge of the Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.
As a mom, I found those words to be so inspirational. Is there really anything more important in our duty as mothers to the next generation, than to teach our children about Jesus, and to help cultivate in them a loving relationship with Him?
I pray that at the end of my days, I can claim the same blessing, and that my life's work will have had eternal implications, too.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Case for Birth Control - Margaret Sanger
The Case for Birth Control - Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger is a nurse who promoted birth control as a means by which a woman could exercise control over her life and health. She is considered a birth control pioneer and a social reformer. She is affiliated with organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Birth Control League.
I am certain that Margaret Sanger and I have very different viewpoints. She notes 9 reasons why and when birth control should be used and some of them are laughable. For instance, in her first reason she notes four 'inheritable' diseases, none of which I believe we consider inheritable today.
Can you see Satan's deceptiveness veiled behind her persuasiveness words? I can when she says, "When children are conceived in love and born into an atmosphere of happiness, then will parenthood be a glorious privilege, and the children will grow to resemble gods. This can only be obtained through the knowledge and practice of Birth Control."
If God created the ability to procreate and He intended it to be a blessing for us, then you can be certain that Satan will try to destroy the good in it any way he can. He's so slick with his words that come across as caring about us, that this is for our own good, that we can be in control. Isn't that the same lie he used with Eve in the garden? Why do we keep buying into that same old lie?
Another thing that strikes me is that proponents of birth control and abortion always talk about the freedom of women. In the 'case' Margaret Sanger lays out there seems to be a lot of rules listed. Where is the freedom in that?
Then there is her comments about who is 'fit' to have children and who isn't. Where is the freedom in that? This isn't freedom. It is one person's misguided perception of who is worthy based on health or economic conditions.
One final comment. Margaret Sanger comes from a large, poor family. Just think - if her mother would have heeded the advice Margaret later preached, she may never have been born. I wonder if she is glad she was able to live out a life in this world despite any hardships that may have presented themselves along the way. Food for thought!
Margaret Sanger is a nurse who promoted birth control as a means by which a woman could exercise control over her life and health. She is considered a birth control pioneer and a social reformer. She is affiliated with organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Birth Control League.
I am certain that Margaret Sanger and I have very different viewpoints. She notes 9 reasons why and when birth control should be used and some of them are laughable. For instance, in her first reason she notes four 'inheritable' diseases, none of which I believe we consider inheritable today.
Can you see Satan's deceptiveness veiled behind her persuasiveness words? I can when she says, "When children are conceived in love and born into an atmosphere of happiness, then will parenthood be a glorious privilege, and the children will grow to resemble gods. This can only be obtained through the knowledge and practice of Birth Control."
If God created the ability to procreate and He intended it to be a blessing for us, then you can be certain that Satan will try to destroy the good in it any way he can. He's so slick with his words that come across as caring about us, that this is for our own good, that we can be in control. Isn't that the same lie he used with Eve in the garden? Why do we keep buying into that same old lie?
Another thing that strikes me is that proponents of birth control and abortion always talk about the freedom of women. In the 'case' Margaret Sanger lays out there seems to be a lot of rules listed. Where is the freedom in that?
Then there is her comments about who is 'fit' to have children and who isn't. Where is the freedom in that? This isn't freedom. It is one person's misguided perception of who is worthy based on health or economic conditions.
One final comment. Margaret Sanger comes from a large, poor family. Just think - if her mother would have heeded the advice Margaret later preached, she may never have been born. I wonder if she is glad she was able to live out a life in this world despite any hardships that may have presented themselves along the way. Food for thought!
Leah and Rachel
Jacob loved Rachel but was tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah, by their father. Jacob eventually married Rachel too, but there was always a rivalry between the two sisters over who had claim to Jacob's affection. This rivalry was especially seen played out between the two in the bearing of children by Jacob. They were in constant battle and prayer to God, each pleading their own case. You can read the story for yourself in Genesis 29 and 30.
Genesis 29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Leah had bore four sons to Jacob and Rachel was envious.
Genesis 30:1-2 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!" And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
The two sisters fight over mandrakes (an aphrodisiac)and Leah sells her mandrakes to Rachel in exchange for a night with Jacob.
Genesis 30:17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Genesis 30:19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.
Genesis 30:21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Genesis 30:22-23a Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son.
Rachel was blessed with another son but died during childbirth.
Two things strike me as interesting in this story.
1. They had no form of birth control (if it was available it clearly is not being used here) and yet Rachel does not conceive until God deems it is time.
2. Jacob's words to Rachel clearly show he believes it is by God's own will that Leah has bore children and Rachel has not.
I can just hear the liberals thinking out loud that the people of the Old Testament were neanderthals and had no capacity to even conceive of birth control or that they didn't have the best of health conditions so that may have prevented them from being fertile. But I don't believe those responses are true because they knew what aphrodisiacs were and Jacob seemed to be very successful in his occupation.
So, what is the lesson in this story? Can we gleam anything from these words of recorded history that is useful to us today? I'm still in discovery, so I have no answers, only more questions.
Genesis 29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Leah had bore four sons to Jacob and Rachel was envious.
Genesis 30:1-2 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!" And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
The two sisters fight over mandrakes (an aphrodisiac)and Leah sells her mandrakes to Rachel in exchange for a night with Jacob.
Genesis 30:17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Genesis 30:19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.
Genesis 30:21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Genesis 30:22-23a Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son.
Rachel was blessed with another son but died during childbirth.
Two things strike me as interesting in this story.
1. They had no form of birth control (if it was available it clearly is not being used here) and yet Rachel does not conceive until God deems it is time.
2. Jacob's words to Rachel clearly show he believes it is by God's own will that Leah has bore children and Rachel has not.
I can just hear the liberals thinking out loud that the people of the Old Testament were neanderthals and had no capacity to even conceive of birth control or that they didn't have the best of health conditions so that may have prevented them from being fertile. But I don't believe those responses are true because they knew what aphrodisiacs were and Jacob seemed to be very successful in his occupation.
So, what is the lesson in this story? Can we gleam anything from these words of recorded history that is useful to us today? I'm still in discovery, so I have no answers, only more questions.
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