tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45159862766986449682024-02-19T10:23:35.131-05:00Worldview Wisdom for WomenWhat is your worldview? We hope to show you how the Biblical Worldview is the answer to all of your life questions.Sarah Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553632673647531206noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-1755830184358794372012-05-07T11:44:00.002-04:002012-05-07T11:44:54.660-04:00Law of LibertyI have been studying the book of James since the beginning of the
year and digging into the challenging and straight forward little book.
Just because something is concise and small certainly doesn't mean it
doesn't pack a powerful punch!<br />
<br />
This week I have been
digging into the concept of the "perfect law of liberty" found in James
1:25 and 2:12. My first question was "what is the perfect law of
liberty?" And my second question was "haven't we been set free from the
law and following rules?"<br />
So as always, the only way to find true
answers is to dig into scripture to interpret scripture. Here is just
the surface of what I am finding and what I am learning.<br />
<br />
1) What is the "Perfect Law of Liberty?"<br />
When
looking at the original language it appears that the law of liberty is
referring to the word of God as seen in its completeness from Genesis to
Revelation (the law of Moses fulfilled in Christ Jesus) which brings us
freedom.<br />
This leads right into my second question and I think of John 8:31-32a (ESV)<br />
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="ind">So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, <span class="HBJW">“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,</span>
<span class="HBJW">and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"> </span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"> </span></span></b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;">Jesus
used "logos" when speaking of His word which means the Divine
expression- Christ himself. So when we abide in him and are truly his
disciples, we will know the truth and it will set us free. But wait...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"> </span></span></b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;">2) Haven't we been set free from the law and following rules?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;">Simply
the answer is yes and no! (Ha Ha Ha, simple right?) We have not been
set free from any and all authority as the human heart desires. God made
us so that we would always have a boss (or master as He put it). We can
either have sin as master of have God as master but we are never our
own master.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;">I
have struggled with this concept because I think that the basis on the
human condition is the desire to rebel and throw off all authority and
be our own boss. So when you accept Christ as the new boss of your life,
it contradicts this innate mar on the human heart. I don't want a boss
so I have fought in my sin nature with my new spirit to find an out from
this new "law of liberty". But what I find is that if I truly abide in
Christ, get to know God and walk with Him in obedience, I am living in
the law of liberty and it has set me free! Yes, I am choosing to do life
God's way (which is really the only way that makes sense and makes it
worth living) and that could be viewed as following rules but it is all
about my heart. With Christ, I follow and obey because I want to and
love him. Sometimes my love for him creates my want to and it is a
choice rather than a feeling! This obedience from love is an act of
freedom, I am not coerced or forced but actively choose of my own free
will. What could be more free than that???</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;">So
perhaps we need to redefine freedom and come to a deeper understanding
of the "law of liberty". I know that I have only scratched the surface
and will continue to learn more!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;">Just remember:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><span class="HBS" value="G3767">Therefore</span>, <span class="HBS" value="G1437">if</span> <span class="HBS" value="G3588">the</span> <span class="HBS" value="G5207">Son</span> sets <span class="HBS" value="G5209">you</span> <span class="HBS" value="G1659">free</span>, you <span class="HBS" value="G3689">really</span> will <span class="HBS" value="G2071">be</span> <span class="HBS" value="G1658">free</span>.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"> ~ John 8:36 ESV</span></span></b><span class="ind"><span class="HBJW"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-71072312969045755162009-10-30T11:04:00.000-04:002009-10-30T11:05:27.588-04:00Freedom through grace<div align="left">God is so awesome in the ways that He deepens my understanding and reveals Himself in new and exciting ways. God showed me something yesterday from a new angle and I just had to share it.</div><div align="left">I have always thought that Paul understood grace much more than many others because of the depth of his sin from persecuting Jesus and His followers. I have always imagined Paul being deeply grieved by what he had done and his understanding of grace stemming from this. But I was studying Galatians & Acts where it tells of Paul going to Jerusalem to once and for all get a decision about whether gentiles had to convert to Judaism and be circumcised. He brought the issue before Peter and the apostles and they deliberated over whether righteousness was from faith or from something we must do. The decision was that faith alone restores you to God and that this is it in order to experience salvation.When I was studying this it occurred to me that Paul had grown up becoming the perfect Jew, following all the law, being groomed to be the best, zealously persecuting those he felt were wrong and forcefully obeying the rules. When Christ came to him and set him on a new path on the road to Damascus, he encountered God and it completely revolutionized who he was. I realized that his understanding of grace came from feeling the burden of the law ("doing & performance") being lifted from off of him. Suddenly the weight was gone and he understood Jesus saying that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.So instead of it just being sorrow and repentance for his sin (which I am sure he felt deeply) being the basis of his understanding, Paul understood grace and freedom because he personally experienced it. He no longer suffered and groaned under the law. No wonder he was so passionate about not putting the yoke of slavery on gentile believers. He knew that his own people were breaking under the burden and refused to lay that burden on others.</div><div align="left">I am a gentile believer and I have not been put under the law but under grace. I can glimpse a bit of Paul's passion for grace and understand even more how Christ has set me free and blessed me beyond my wildest imaginations! What a thought! Praise You God for Your wondrous blessings and love! I will be meditating on this verse.<br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Galatians 5:1 Amplified<br />IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].</strong></span></div>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-86069975283310830862009-08-14T17:48:00.001-04:002009-08-14T17:49:32.922-04:00How will you respond to tough circumstances?I read some great stuff this morning in my quiet time and wanted to share it with you.<br /><br />"When you are confronted with a circumstance that challenges you, you have two choices. You can say to your soul, "Get depressed." Or you can say to your soul, "Hope in God." Place your expectations in the goodness of God." J Rothschild<br /><br />A few scriptures came to mind to go with this.:<br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>Psalm 42: 5 NASB<br />Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>Psalm 27:13 NIV<br />I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.</strong></span></div>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-82646695232540109222009-05-22T18:10:00.002-04:002009-05-22T18:17:14.658-04:00Marriage and Children- a different trendI am taking a little survey of an article that I read and I am curious what you think. If you have time, first read the article below and then answer the following questions:<br /><br />1) What was your 1st reaction to the article?<br /><br />2) What was the hardest thing to agree with?<br /><br />3) What was the easiest thing to agree with?<br /><br />4) Do you think the authors are correct?<br /><br />5) What does this challenge in you?<br /><br />6) Would you read the book or recommend the article to others?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=11712" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=11712</a><br /><br />Here are my answers:<br /><br />1) What was your 1st reaction to the article? <span style="color:#009900;">I was a little uncomfortable at 1st because I find myself in that category of getting married and being determined to enjoy married life but unsure about the kid question.</span><br /><br />2) What was the hardest thing to agree with? <span style="color:#009900;">That I have been in the wrong and have been being selfish with my life and with my time. I see myself portrayed in this article and it is a ugly picture.</span><br /><br />3) What was the easiest thing to agree with? <span style="color:#009900;">God is working on all of us and He can give us the love and desire for children!</span><br /><br />4) Do you think the authors are correct? <span style="color:#009900;">I do agree with several of their points and will have to do some serious praying and seeking God about this topic now. I do think that we can easily get off balance about it and go towards legalism too!</span><br /><br />5) What does this challenge in you? <span style="color:#009900;">My own selfish nature and buying the lie that I have to have it all and children are a burden rather than a gift. </span><br /><br />6) Would you read the book or recommend the article to others? <span style="color:#009900;">I am intrigued to know more and make look into this book. I would love to have a discussion group about it with others.</span>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-41029642699819156722009-05-12T10:08:00.002-04:002009-05-12T10:16:57.764-04:00Persecution- are you ready?I was thinking and reading about persecution this morning and am almost timid to write about it. In my mind, I think of persecution looking like other countries that would kill you for your faith or put you in prison for sharing the gospel. Somehow persecution for God has always felt distant and separate from me here in the states. In fact I am surprised when I encounter persecution here. "Isn't this America, home of freedom (freedom of speech, faith and belief)? We shouldn't have persecution here, that is one of the founding principles of our nation" or so I think.<br />But I was mulling over it more this morning and something occurred to me. In America, our current persecution may look a little different but we still have plenty. Satan is still trying to oust God's people from effectiveness by taking us out through marginalizing our faith in society, ousting us from places of power and influence, putting up walls of laws against us and tying us up in ourselves so that we miss the poor, weary and hurting around us.<br />We have some active examples of persecution right now. Take the Miss USA debacle going on with Ms. Prejean (learn more at <a href="http://www.citizenlink.org/videofeatures/A000009996.cfm">http://www.citizenlink.org/videofeatures/A000009996.cfm</a>) or the hate crimes legislation that is before the senate to prosecute those who might take a stand against certain sins and moral wrongs. These are persecutions that we are confronted with here on the home front and we have the opportunity to rise to the occasion or to drop off God's band wagon.Instead of being surprised or feeling put upon and astounded that we would be persecuted, God tells us that we should feel blessed because this means we are really one of his own. Especially as God's time line advances and the world progresses towards his grand conclusion, we will only see more persecution and confrontation. We must not be surprised when we encounter push back and must not give up hope. For our faith does not rest in legislation, power, approval of others or doing something "big". It rests in God alone and he is the one accomplishing any and all things through this world and through me!<br /> So my honest feelings are a little dread and fear, "will I stand for him or fall for the world?" I am not looking for persecution but I don't want to run from it either. I don't want to stumble into self pity when it occurs either. I want to learn to praise and look for what I can do for God in the tough times, learn to make it about him and not about me! So like Paul said...<br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20</strong></span>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-38116122281583394812009-03-19T16:18:00.001-04:002009-03-19T16:18:47.838-04:00Worldview- live it out<div align="center">I have been mulling over a powerful and convicting thought this week- judging others because of their sin and false worldviews. I am not sure I have final thoughts on it yet but I wanted to share where I am and what God is doing! After all it is all about bringing Him glory!Personally I struggle with a judgemental black and white perspective when looking out at the rest of the world. It is very hard for me to separate the sinner from the sin and I have been becoming more and more aware of this. I think I am more like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son than I ever want to be. It is hard for me to see beyond the choices that someone makes- the sin they commit.Then God brings the world crashing back in on me by showing me my own sin and judgmental heart. This time it was the passage in Matthew 18 about the unmerciful servant who was forgiven his debts and then held a fellow servant who owed little accountable to a higher standard than he personally met. I have done this very thing and it hit me hard. God forgives all of us so who am I to hold my fellow human to a level I can't reach?With all my thoughts and learning about biblical worldview over the last few years, I have learned why other worldviews don't make sense and why they lead to deception and destruction of many lives. But at the same time, I have to remember that we are all on a journey and God is drawing us to Himself. My heart and mind are being renewed and brought back to the way God created them to be and only when I finish my journey at home with Him will I be complete.So back to all the other worldviews and the people that hold them. I have to separate how I see people from the way they operate in the world. If someone has not found Christ, they are only operating in the way that they know how- themselves. If someone has found Christ, they are like me, still learning and being transformed. Suddenly, the person comes back to the forefront of my view and not the sin. I can begin to see a glimmer of how Christ looks at the world.I have to let go of the need to be right and see the fault in others and just love the person. After all the essence of a biblical worldview is seeing the world through God's perspective and that begins and ends with love. I am praying that God will grow my love for others and help me be more winsome in sharing His worldview. God brought a fantastic verse to my attention that really helps me and that is what I am memorizing for this time.<br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Acts 26:17-18 NIV<br />I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'</span></strong></div>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-14359241112392256132009-01-31T11:59:00.002-05:002009-01-31T12:03:17.531-05:00Worldview perspectives- winsome and loving remindersI have a passion for biblical worldview and the fact that there is not an area of the human experience that God has not spoken about and provided all I need to do right in it! Much of my thoughts and studies have revolved around this so I am constantly learning more. But sometimes I can struggle with frustration at those who don't see it or just don't care. I have a hard time meeting them in love and compassion. God was reminding me about this and I read this quote in my daily devotion and I thought is was too good not to share!<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"the way to genuine openness and inclusiveness lies through the narrow gate. In renouncing all for Jesus' sake, we become heirs to the entire universe. But those who deny God's reality and cling only to the visible world shut themselves up in a box with a tightly closed lid." -The Truth Project Daily Travelogue.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /> We have to remember that the world is lost:<br /><div align="center"><br /><strong><span style="color:#003333;">Isaiah 44:20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NIV</span><br />He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"</span></strong></div><br />And our response as servants of Christ should be:<br /><div align="center"><br /><strong><span style="color:#003333;">2 Timothy 2:24-26 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NKJV</span><br />And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.</span></strong></div>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-22370354259719293692009-01-19T13:52:00.002-05:002009-01-19T13:55:18.817-05:00MLK Day 2009Today is the anniversary of celebration of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MLK</span>, his life, his message and his death. As I have been reading and thinking about it today, I wondered..."How many people that celebrate him today really understand who he was, what his message was and what he would say to our country today?"<br />I am not an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MLK</span> expert and neither would I dare to put words into his mouth about what he might say to America today. But I do think he would be proud to have a black man about to be inaugurated for the 1st time in our history. I do think he would caution and counsel that man about some of the positions and moves he desires to make for our great nation. I do think he would continue to challenge our whole nation to rise out of this self loving, careless, destructive lack or morality and justice to become the nation we have the potential to be. I am going to continue to ponder this today and as history is made tomorrow.<br />Here are some powerful quotes for you to think on too:<br /><br />I am aware that there are many who wince at a distinction between property and persons--who hold both sacrosanct. My views are not so rigid. A life is sacred. Property is intended to serve life, and no matter how much we surround it with rights and respect, it has no personal being. It is part of the earth man walks on; it is not man. <span style="color:#000066;">The Trumpet of Conscience, 1967</span>.<br /><br />Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Strength To Love, 1963.<br /><br />Man is man because he is free to operate within the framework of his destiny. He is free to deliberate, to make decisions, and to choose between alternatives. He is distinguished from animals by his freedom to do evil or to do good and to walk the high road of beauty or tread the low road of ugly degeneracy. <span style="color:#000066;">The Measures of Man, 1959.</span><br /><br />The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. <span style="color:#000066;">Strength to Love, 1963.</span><br /><br />If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. <span style="color:#000066;">Speech, Detroit, Michigan, June 23, 1963.</span><br /><br />To be a Negro in America is to hope against hope. <span style="color:#000066;">Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967.</span>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-54980232051335861632009-01-13T13:36:00.003-05:002009-01-13T13:42:04.093-05:00Book Review on Mere Christianity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8c5E-G8ukBww6p4oBY1zhU4GCZ8kFFB0zvR3mxsxzY0flCsq7B4bH0FN71B6JAtvy-YruYwmNJUoXtW-wGCbPZt78KZNWLgvbPgBp4ljwHBNnW7L82A0lFY25R4Zp2xq3kUWKXAVVG8/s1600-h/Recently+Updated-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8c5E-G8ukBww6p4oBY1zhU4GCZ8kFFB0zvR3mxsxzY0flCsq7B4bH0FN71B6JAtvy-YruYwmNJUoXtW-wGCbPZt78KZNWLgvbPgBp4ljwHBNnW7L82A0lFY25R4Zp2xq3kUWKXAVVG8/s400/Recently+Updated-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290850440635012930" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In this book review I will endeavor to explain the content of the book, and will hold my commentary to the end of the series. Please refer to Challies.com for other pertinent commentary on Lewis and this his most well known book. </div><div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Mere Christianity was written in order to set down what all Christians agreed on, not what we argue about. Lewis wrote it as an apologetic for the death, resurrection and incarnation of Christ. This is the testimony of Christ. Lewis says in the Introduction that, “Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps the only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbors was to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times.” This goal was the premise of Mere Christianity.<br />Lewis had not been a Christian most of his life, and therefore had an affinity for skeptics. He felt that by explaining Christianity in this most basic way he could win some of them over to his way of thinking. He sets out to show the superiority of the Christian worldview over the naturalistic and pantheistic worldviews. He wanted Mere Christianity not necessarily to be a theological treatise nor a dogmatic, but rather a way of living and thinking.<br />He sets out to prove his thesis, that Christianity is a far superior world-view, by separating his material into four different sections. The first book is titled, “Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe.” The second book is titled “What Christians Believe.” The third book is titled "Christian Behavior”, and the last book is titled “Beyond Personality: or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity.”<br />The first part begins by showing that all humans by nature have some sort of agreement as to what is right and wrong. Lewis calls this the Law of Nature and this law governs all humans. Moderns have come to believe that the laws of nature are the scientific laws such as gravitation or the laws of physics. However, the laws of nature, according to Lewis, are the moral laws that govern human behavior. The difference between the two is that humans do not choose gravity or scientific laws, but can choose to either obey or disobey the moral laws that govern everyone. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lewis believed that the moral laws are innate and that people didn’t have to be taught them. If we take the moral laws of the different religions, and the ancient peoples, the similarities far out weigh the differences. He uses the example of someone who says that there is no objective right and wrong. This person cannot live like there is no right or wrong. All men have a standard, even if it is just self-interest.</div> The next point he makes is that we have knowledge of right and wrong, but we do not keep this objective standard. We feel that law of nature squeezing us into its mold, but deep down we know we do not conform. These laws are different from mere instincts, because you usually have to decide between two different impulses. If the choice is to save a man that is drowning or be safe yourself, then the moral law tells you help him at the sacrifice of yourself. This moral law is stronger than the other impulse, and often supercedes it. If no set of moral laws were better than any others then what would be the difference between the Nazis and the United States society? If moderns were consistent they would be more on the side of Peter Singer than on decent moral behavior. The problem with today (as even from Lewis’ day) is that more and more people are leaning toward a morality like Peter Singers.<br /> This leads CS Lewis asking the question about who is behind the objective morality? Who is the power behind the law? He is not yet speaking of Christianity, but just getting his readers to find out what the something is that is directing the universe. He wants to direct his readers to a good, an absolute goodness, and if there is absolute goodness then this absolute goodness must hate what we do. He says God (absolute goodness) is the only comfort. He is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from. He only possible ally, and we have made ourselves His enemies. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think again. They are still only playing with religion. Goodness is either the great safety or the great danger – according to the way you react to it. And we have reacted the wrong way? (p. 31) He said we start with dismay, and end in unspeakable comfort.<br /> This leads to the second book; What Christians believe. He has spent a great deal of time leading up to this point. He had been doing pre-evangelism to this point. Now he switches gears. He takes the idea of atheism and turns it quickly to theism by showing its absurdity. Atheists have to prove that they are right, and all others are wrong. Atheists have to prove that in a world without meaning (to them) why is it we are always grasping for it? Dualism comes close to truth, but we have to rule it out too, because evil is a parasite of good (which Augustine said before Lewis). If this was not the case then we would have two competing gods and our choice of one over the other would not be good or bad only our own personal preference. This rules out Dualism.<br /> Christians believe that God created the evil power, but God created al things good, but evil was chosen. God made man with free-will which makes evil “possible”, it also makes love, goodness and joy worth having. We then freely had the choice to love and unite to God out of that free will? The moment God made the self then there became a “possibility” of placing that self before God, and wanting to be like God as Satan said before our fall. This he put into the first creatures minds – to be like gods, find happiness apart from God, but there is no happiness apart from Him. As Augustine said, “You made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you?” (Confessions, p.21) This comes to the question of what do we do with the moral filth in our lives so we may find that peace with a good God? What do we do with Jesus? God, in Christ, became man so that He could help us. He suffered and died in humiliation. He could do this as a man, and be the perfect sacrifice, because He was God. Christ became our peace, so we would be united to God (Eph. 2:14-18). This brings us to the choice of rejecting Christ or not.<div><br /></div><div>More to Come...............Lynn<br /><br /></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-46009441266666248382009-01-06T12:45:00.003-05:002009-01-06T13:11:47.363-05:002009- a new year, a new worry???<div align="center">As a new year begins we look ahead to much that is unknown and even scary. We can get so caught up in what the media is screaming, the election results, the uncertainty of the economy and even our personal relationships. But wait, it doesn't have to be that way. Take a moment to change your worldview, turn it away from your natural instincts and up towards the eternal. To borrow a phrase from our president elect "Change can happen, our time for change has come."<br />I may not agree exactly with his vision of change but I agree that all of us can use some change. Maybe it is a change of heart, a change of life or a change of relationship. While change is a sure thing in our human experience, sometimes exciting, sometimes scary, one thing is always sure and steadfast. As you start your 2009, meditate on the verse below and let God be your security. He is there for us all, he is in control and he is able to lead us through all the changes we will encounter. May you be encouraged!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#66ff99;">"He is your constant source of stability; He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all this to those who fear Him."<br />Isaiah 33:6 NET</span></strong> </div>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-83303643656918642642008-09-30T21:05:00.002-04:002008-09-30T21:08:08.696-04:00Politics 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13fehAyLbBDxwXnz_439AlripnESrhVWCKeXqxyBiiRHSKYkDaZwEUVyC4g042WUPvI2A-8bh8sj9qiSYknk-EC_C0O_0bxaJwISZaUbVY6UXBn1nZX1liTCXPhtGURrHAX3vJIqu5Go/s1600-h/BasicEconomics-sowell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13fehAyLbBDxwXnz_439AlripnESrhVWCKeXqxyBiiRHSKYkDaZwEUVyC4g042WUPvI2A-8bh8sj9qiSYknk-EC_C0O_0bxaJwISZaUbVY6UXBn1nZX1liTCXPhtGURrHAX3vJIqu5Go/s400/BasicEconomics-sowell.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251985984066444978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK3nU27NHolqG-G4y8YwzZv6b8YiZVDi7cI843dRQxmMk_cIkyzDTalYPPFgwVXZmuE9qZKC2UYAMsr6_LhaJmS0RI5TKPU-FCTybywciCHaN3_HLqZkmgQO5VHtNn0jZvFhrsl06s1Q/s1600-h/41qbopf4ieL._SL500_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK3nU27NHolqG-G4y8YwzZv6b8YiZVDi7cI843dRQxmMk_cIkyzDTalYPPFgwVXZmuE9qZKC2UYAMsr6_LhaJmS0RI5TKPU-FCTybywciCHaN3_HLqZkmgQO5VHtNn0jZvFhrsl06s1Q/s400/41qbopf4ieL._SL500_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251985987401234050" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I have been a political junkie all my life. Really. I remember my parents talking about the political races in Texas when I was just four or five. Mom and Dad used to discuss Goldwater, LBJ, Nixon, and John F. Kennedy. Being brought up in Texas with the name of Lynda, and the last name of Johnson, everyone use to ask me if I was "Lady Bird." In junior high, still in Dallas, I plastered the bathroom shower with Bush bumper stickers, where I got them I do not know, and why my mother wasn't mad, I do not know that either! I mean they were all over the tile in the shower. I followed politics through high school and into college when I once voted for the wrong President, but we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">never</span> mention that. When my hero, Ronald Reagan ran for President, I honestly thought that the world was going to end if he did not make it into office. What a great man. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>With this election cycle, the political, economic, civic, and historic side of me has taken over and invaded my heart, mind and soul in a bad way. My husband would probably say I was demon possessed. I am literally eating, sleeping, and following all my political web sites, talk shows, and congressional information that I can possibly put my hands on. My family is really getting tired of hearing, "did you know what went on in the House today," or "you will never believe what (so and so candidate) said on the campaign trail today." Although it is very gratifying when your twelve year old sits down and listens to the entire Presidential debate Friday night with you, and comments about socialism and it's evils. Which brings me to the goal of this blog post. As I have followed the candidates and the peoples comments of the candidates, I have noticed that ordinary people like you and me do not have a handle on the rudimentary fundamentals of civics, government or economics.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Whether you are very interested in this subject or not, you as a voter really need to be aware of the issues that are driving our politics in this country. I would like to recommend some resources to you for you perusal. First of all if you haven't read the Constitution and the founding documents of this our great country, get a copy, read it and become familiar with it. You can get free resources like this anywhere on the net, or go to <a href="http://www.heritage.org/">The Heritage Foundation's</a>web site and they will send it to you. Check out Townhall.com, Drudge Report, American Thinker, and Politico.com. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I would also like to recommend to you some books. I was listening to Tony Snow one day on the radio, and he said that F. A. Hayek's book called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">The Road to Serfdom</span></span> changed his life. Well, I had already heard it was essential reading, but had never read it, so I pulled it off the shelf and read it. Giving background and analysis about the road to National Socialism and Facism in Germany, Hayek warns against the same thing happening in our nation. A chilling evaluation that could happen here too. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Modern Facism </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">Gene Edward Veith </span></span>is another one of those essential reads that pulls you in immediately. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Animal Farm</span></span> by George Orwell should also be read by your junior high students as well as you. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Basic Economics </span></span>by Thomas Sowell gives you the basic terms of the conservative, capitalist view point from one of the most brilliant ecomomists in the nation. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">The Roots of Freedom; A Primer on Modern Liberty </span></span>by John Danford in a short 200 page book, Danford expains where our system came from philosophically, and why any other system leads to the loss of liberty. He does a superb job of condensing the thoughts of Locke, Hume, and Adam Smith. Which brings me to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations </span></span>written by Adam Smith. Smith is the political and philosophical founder of the modern capitalistic system. Read<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">American Democracy </span></span>by Alexis De Touqueville. Go to <a href="http://www.wallbuilders.com/">David Barton's</a> web site and you can find all the resources you would ever need about the founding fathers of this country, and what they really thought, did, and believed. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I think I have given you at least a beginning. And more importantly, I hope I have piqued your interest. Send me your favorites too. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Looking for the One and only One who can usher us His children into the Ultimate Utopia.........Lynn</div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-27542946525735961452008-09-30T21:03:00.003-04:002008-09-30T21:04:43.965-04:00Economics 101-There's no such thing as a free lunch!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8W1vQQT4bM91iJ2lhnN5uTrVk-GauTrbaDWaHoQn_5WOst0y5eG4M0CsGWI7lS6GjvbutpzkIxpxkFxffh2T7pKDm15r0bfADQBCGMH337YruKcgJ1NupRQqjGe3aZ7KwBiPYViiczY/s1600-h/freedom-is-not-free-07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8W1vQQT4bM91iJ2lhnN5uTrVk-GauTrbaDWaHoQn_5WOst0y5eG4M0CsGWI7lS6GjvbutpzkIxpxkFxffh2T7pKDm15r0bfADQBCGMH337YruKcgJ1NupRQqjGe3aZ7KwBiPYViiczY/s400/freedom-is-not-free-07.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251985125736243218" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>My mind is not in a fog today, but it has many, many concepts, current events, and cultural considerations flitting around from one synapse to another one, and I cannot figure out which concept to write about. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>My previous blog was on economic and civic considerations, and because of this I will continue on with more economic principles. This is where it gets very difficult. How do you make a blog on economics interesting enough for people to read it, research it, and then regurgitate it? The politics and the media of the last century, with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">exception </span>of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, have propagandized the American public into believing that they are victims, individual responsibility has been given over to the government, class warfare (including rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight, religious and atheists, and radical feminism) has been used to separate Americans from their moorings <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">as</span> Americans. The schools have carried this philosophy to the young, and parents, to a certain extent, have abdicated their roles to teach their children not only (on our side) Christian beliefs, but what and why the United States is successful, and what it took to get where we are today, and the frailness of liberty if people are not vigilant at advancing freedom. Christians have rarely seen the importance of teaching their young the link between the Biblical Worldview and Freedom, or to put it another way the link between Christianity and our way of life in this country. They have taught the Bible well, but have placed a dichotomy between the sacred and the secular, instead of teaching that Christ is Lord of All of life; including economics, civics, psychology, etc, etc. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I heard on the radio yesterday a man from either ABC news or CBS news giving his opinion on what the congressmen on the floor of the house were saying about the bailout. I apologize for not getting the name of the man right, or the exact quote, but I have searched the web for an hour and have not found the quote or the opinion. He was quoting one of the congressmen as saying that we should not go down this slippery slope to socialism by voting for the bill in question. He said if he had to choose between bread and freedom, freedom would win out easily. The commentator said that this thinking was empty headed and that he and most people in the US want their bread and their freedom. I wanted to weep. Have we come this far in our thinking that freedom should not cost us anything? I was angry. What about the men and women that not only chose freedom over bread, but counted their own lives as something worth laying down for the cause of freedom. When we as an electorate want bread, we have already lost our freedom. We are one of the few nations in history that have ever had freedom. But that does not mean that we will always have it. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Our framers were very wary of government. When government becomes bigger and bigger, our freedom is slowly eroded. This bailout of 700 billion dollars is so dangerous, to you and to me. Whoever owns your treasure owns you. Why should the American public through tax payer dollars pay for bad decisions and the consequences of those bad decisions? Should we bailout the people who gave or took loans knowing that they could not pay for them? Votes are bought through the bailout money from your pocket and mine. This is not free market economics this is socialism pure and simple. Capitalism is based on the free movement of all economic resources. This is a reliance on the private ownership of property so that the allocation of those resources are encouraged by a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">decentralized</span></span> government. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>At a recent women's retreat I struck up a conversation with a retired woman who was very upset about the government not giving the poverty stricken more money, houses, and resources. I went to work. Expressing to her the fallacies of her arguments. It doesn't work, it doesn't encourage growth, it causes generations of a dependent class of individuals that in turn will vote for those that give them the handouts. She mentioned the children of these people. I told her of the example of Desire Street Ministries who moved into the worst part of New Orleans and over time, built a church, school, and resources for the children all without government help. I enjoyed my talk immensely with this wonderful, generous woman. She started the conversation saying "well if this feeds the children then I am all for being a socialist." She said she could not trust the private sector and big corporations to be givers. I asked her, "what makes you think that government can be trusted not to be greedy?" "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." (Lord Acton) <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Think about it this way. Maybe if these loans, that should never have been granted in the first place, go under it will be better in the long run for the ones that are directly affected and for those of us that are indirectly affected. If the loans are harder to obtain than they used to be, then the people of the US will be more responsible with their money. If loans are harder to get even for those who want student loans and car loans this will be better in the long run for us all. One of the reasons why the cost of college and universities, houses, and cars have risen is because loans have been so easy to obtain. Those people selling their goods know that anyone can get the loans it then drives up the price of goods and services. The government has made it so easy to get loans, and the market is then driven by government not supply and demand, so the people with the goods and services to sell, know this and the price of things rise. If the opposite was true, it would then drive down the cost of things. There is no guarantee for banks, businesses, etc to stay afloat, this is not a right that is written into our Constitution. The government needs to get out of the way. I just heard that the feds pumped more money into the market to help loans. This is exactly what happened in the great depression and inflation eventually went out the wazoo. What a mistake. The feds in essence are saying, come, buy, loan, on the backs of green that do not add up to anything, those monies are just a psychological ploy. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I was shifting from the blogs and news websites that I peruse everyday, and went to Drudge who linked to an article that was saying exactly what I have been saying. I am so glad someone agrees with me! I was just going to link to it, but it is so good, I decided to print in all here. <br /></div><div><div class="PostTitle" style="text-align: center; font: normal normal normal 28px/28px Georgia, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.5px; text-decoration: none; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></div><div class="PostTitle" style="text-align: center; font: normal normal normal 28px/28px Georgia, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.5px; text-decoration: none; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">Bailout marks Karl Marx's comeback<br /></div><div class="entryviewfooter" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/1.333em arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; margin-bottom: 9px; "><span class="em">Posted: </span>September 29, 2008, 8:03 PM by Jeff White<div class="em"><span id="ctl00_Main_WeblogPostTagEditableList1_ctl01"><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/tags/Martin+Masse/default.aspx" rel="tag" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 205); text-decoration: none; ">Martin Masse</a>, <a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/tags/mortgage+crisis/default.aspx" rel="tag" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 205); text-decoration: none; ">mortgage crisis</a></span></div></div><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><b>Marx’s Proposal Number Five seems to be the leading motivation for those backing the Wall Street bailout</b></i> </p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><b>By Martin Masse</b><i><br /></i></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><img src="http://www.nationalpost.com/851270.bin" align="right" height="322" hspace="10" width="240" alt="" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " />In his <i>Communist Manifesto,</i>published in 1848, Karl Marx proposed 10 measures to be implemented after the proletariat takes power, with the aim of centralizing all instruments of production in the hands of the state. Proposal Number Five was to bring about the “centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.”<br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">If he were to rise from the dead today, Marx might be delighted to discover that most economists and financial commentators, including many who claim to favour the free market, agree with him. </p></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">Indeed, analysts at the Heritage and Cato Institute, and commentators in <i>The Wall Street Journal</i> and on this very page, have made declarations in favour of the massive “injection of liquidities” engineered by central banks in recent months, the government takeover of giant financial institutions, as well as the still stalled US$700-billion bailout package. Some of the same voices were calling for similar interventions following the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2001. <br />“Whatever happened to the modern followers of my free-market opponents?” Marx would likely wonder. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">At first glance, anyone who understands economics can see that there is something wrong with this picture. The taxes that will need to be levied to finance this package may keep some firms alive, but they will siphon off capital, kill jobs and make businesses less productive elsewhere. Increasing the money supply is no different. It is an invisible tax that redistributes resources to debtors and those who made unwise investments. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">So why throw this sound free-market analysis overboard as soon as there is some downturn in the markets? <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">The rationale for intervening always seems to centre on the fear of reliving the Great Depression. If we let too many institutions fail because of insolvency, we are being told, there is a risk of a general collapse of financial markets, with the subsequent drying up of credit and the catastrophic effects this would have on all sectors of production. This opinion, shared by Ben Bernanke, Henry Paulson and most of the right-wing political and financial establishments, is based on Milton Friedman’s thesis that the Fed aggravated the Depression by not pumping enough money into the financial system following the market crash of 1929.<br /><br />It sounds libertarian enough. The misguided policies of the Fed, a government creature, and bad government regulation are held responsible for the crisis. The need to respond to this emergency and keep markets running overrides concerns about taxing and inflating the money supply. This is supposed to contrast with the left-wing Keynesian approach, whose solutions are strangely very similar despite a different view of the causes.</p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">But there is another approach that doesn’t compromise with free-market principles and coherently explains why we constantly get into these bubble situations followed by a crash. It is centered on Marx’s Proposal Number Five: government control of capital. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">For decades, Austrian School economists have warned against the dire consequences of having a central banking system based on fiat money, money that is not grounded on any commodity like gold and can easily be manipulated. In addition to its obvious disadvantages (price inflation, debasement of the currency, etc.), easy credit and artificially low interest rates send wrong signals to investors and exacerbate business cycles.</p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">Not only is the central bank constantly creating money out of thin air, but the fractional reserve system allows financial institutions to increase credit many times over. When money creation is sustained, a financial bubble begins to feed on itself, higher prices allowing the owners of inflated titles to spend and borrow more, leading to more credit creation and to even higher prices. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">As prices get distorted, malinvestments, or investments that should not have been made under normal market conditions, accumulate. Despite this, financial institutions have an incentive to join this frenzy of irresponsible lending, or else they will lose market shares to competitors. With “liquidities” in overabundance, more and more risky decisions are made to increase yields and leveraging reaches dangerous levels. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">During that manic phase, everybody seems to believe that the boom will go on. Only the Austrians warn that it cannot last forever, as Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises did before the 1929 crash, and as their followers have done for the past several years. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">Now, what should be done when that pyramidal scheme starts crashing to the floor, because of a series of cascading failures or concern from the central bank that inflation is getting out of control? It’s obvious that credit will shrink, because everyone will want to get out of risky businesses, to call back loans and to put their money in safe places. Malinvestments have to be liquidated; prices have to come down to realistic levels; and resources stuck in unproductive uses have to be freed and moved to sectors that have real demand. Only then will capital again become available for productive investments. <br />Friedmanites, who have no conception of malinvestments and never raise any issue with the boom, also cannot understand why it inevitably leads to a crash.<br />They only see the drying up of credit and blame the Fed for not injecting massive enough amounts of liquidities to prevent it.<br /><br />But central banks and governments cannot transform unprofitable investments into profitable ones. They cannot force institutions to increase lending when they are so exposed. This is why calls for throwing more money at the problem are so totally misguided. Injections of liquidities started more than a year ago and have had no effect in preventing the situation from getting worse. Such measures can only delay the market correction and turn what should be a quick recession into a prolonged one. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">Friedman — who, contrary to popular perception, was not a foe of monetary inflation, but simply wanted to keep it under better control in normal circumstances — was wrong about the Fed not intervening during the Depression. It tried repeatedly to inflate but credit still went down for various reasons. This is a key difference in interpretation between the Austrian and Chicago schools. <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">As Friedrich Hayek wrote in 1932, “Instead of furthering the inevitable liquidation of the maladjustments brought about by the boom during the last three years, all conceivable means have been used to prevent that readjustment from taking place; and one of these means, which has been repeatedly tried though without success, from the earliest to the most recent stages of depression, has been this deliberate policy of credit expansion. ... To combat the depression by a forced credit expansion is to attempt to cure the evil by the very means which brought it about ...” <br /></p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; ">The confusion of Chicago school economics on monetary issues is so profound as to lead its adherents today to support the largest government grab of private capital in world history. By adding their voices to those on the left, these confused free-marketeers are not helping to “save capitalism”, but contributing to its destruction.</p><p style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><i>Martin Masse is publisher of the libertarian webzine Le Québécois Libre and a former advisor to Industry minister Maxime Bernier.</i></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></div></div></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-80324058325846291132008-09-30T20:59:00.003-04:002008-09-30T21:02:17.024-04:00Sad Day for the Country<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWSx28mnkBPthDX7OpWuzk2s_w98Hh6BUSheY48aD25cx9HYGh3b7WWZYmtISs9KCx1cG-m75DQ5rmj8KFRoUw4XR1So9Ry6xF65KxYF_KB9fk0CNybaGVMbTgCwJefTGYLfQlsagyDU/s1600-h/509271063_41584344f7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWSx28mnkBPthDX7OpWuzk2s_w98Hh6BUSheY48aD25cx9HYGh3b7WWZYmtISs9KCx1cG-m75DQ5rmj8KFRoUw4XR1So9Ry6xF65KxYF_KB9fk0CNybaGVMbTgCwJefTGYLfQlsagyDU/s400/509271063_41584344f7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251984069055139714" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">I feel like the little old lady in the picture. I am so very sad about what is happening in the country today. The nationalization, another name for socialized financial market, bill that the House and the Senate democrats want to pass is a travesty. Please before it is too late call your congressmen and your representatives. Pray that this bill does not go through. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Read the Preamble to the Constitution and see if it aligns with what some of the people in Washington want to do with this bill. <br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">promote</span> the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; font-size:18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "> Our Constitution does not say that all of our financial decisions will be or should be taken care of by the government, but that is what this bill is all about. Please go out there today, read The Communist Manifesto. The Communists, as written down by Marx and Engels, advocate stirring up the lowly populace in a crisis, and manipulate them to hand over their liberty to the powers that be. I am so sad. </span></span></div></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-53534561773101331222008-08-15T15:41:00.003-04:002008-08-15T16:24:55.927-04:00Rich Young Man- Modern Day ParallelI was reading the account in Mark 10 of the rich young man. He came and fell before Jesus one day and asked how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus saw that the man kept all the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">commandments</span> and aimed to be perfect in his life. Then Jesus looked at him and with love said "One thing you lack." He instructed the man to get rid of all he had and come follow him. The man's face fell and he walked away saddened because he had much and couldn't stand to lose it.<br />Two things leaped out of this passage at me and I started thinking about our own modern day experience of this.<br /><strong><em>First</em></strong>, the young man would have been considered the pinnacle of success in his day and culture. He had it all and I am sure that everyone talked about him being a success and a "nice guy." <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">No one</span> would have looked at him and saw anything lacking. Yet he was obviously searching since he came to Jesus. He knew that there was still a hole in his heart and was trying to fill it. Jesus saw the lack immediately and told him how to fill it. Yet the trappings of this world and his success were chains around him that drew him away from his salvation and all the answers to this life.<br />I wonder if this is how Jesus sees our successful modern world, especially in the West. We believe that we have or can get anything we need and end up blinded to what is real, true and our only hope. I can see it all around me and have to honestly admit that I get bound by these chains too. I walk away from the source of eternal life here on earth because I am stuck on the temporary material trappings I can see. I would say that these things are our modern day idols. Things that we put before God in our hearts and lives.<br /><strong><em>Second,</em></strong> the young man walked away. Jesus told his disciples that it is hard to get into the kingdom of Heaven when you are rich or chained closely to this world. They were astounded because they were also caught up in the outward perfection of the young man and missed the heart. Then Peter piped up about how they had left everything behind to follow Jesus. He replied that no matter what you leave behind for him here on earth, God will bless you 100 times for it here on earth and with eternal (as in forever) life and heavenly treasures there. God promises to come through for you above and beyond anything you can imagine if you will just choose him. The young man walked away because he could not see beyond the present or find the faith to choose God above all his stuff. But God has promised all of us that if we believe, He will come through!<br />Many people I know can't get beyond this big step of faith and so they never find the answer to all their questions and their heart's desire. Even those of us that have found a relationship with God need to ask ourselves if we are willing to put down all the trappings and let Jesus release us from the chains of this world so we can move forward. I encourage all of us to ask ourselves "What is lacking and am I willing to trust God for it? Will I lay down my idols for Him?"EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-41400395321869110922008-07-25T15:19:00.003-04:002008-07-25T15:40:29.983-04:00How do I live and teach a Biblical Worldview?I have been thinking a lot about my life and the lives of the future generations. First I put a disclaimer up that I am not an expert on parenting or teaching so please read my thoughts with an appropriate measure of salt. My husband and I don't have children but if we do go down that path someday, I certainly desire for my children to follow after God. But I also desire for the generations after me to do the same. I came across a verse today and it struck me with a new thought.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>Romans 16:19</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.</strong></span><br /><br />As parents or teachers or followers of Christ, we need to be focused on the real genuine thing. God and who he is should be our focus. As Paul said, to be wise (having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; aware, astute, perceptive) about what is good. Life, relationships, God. We need to be tuned into the authentic and holy versions of these things so we can know good. And on the flip side, innocent (free from moral wrong; without sin; pure, uncorrupted, unstained, unsullied) about what is evil.<br />What came to mind as an illustration is the way that people are trained to detect counterfeit currency. They spend all their time studying the authentic thing so that they are experts about all of the little nuances and details of the item. Then when they encounter a counterfeit, they instantly recognize it because they know the real thing so completely.<br />I believe that this is how God wants to relate to me and help me live a biblical worldview. I believe that he was also giving me a little revelation into how to help future generations do the same. God is what we need to know and what we need to teach!<br />Once again I am blown away with how God whispers to my heart and gives me insight. Bless his holy name!EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-20538128367738115372008-07-24T11:53:00.002-04:002008-07-24T11:56:08.890-04:00Without the Trinity.........<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxbV786-yzPEV9VYSUrqi2kA99HJ8Y1hlrpDpfMI9GOMY1rrX98hvV5AqYCe7UkLZY8sJ7gojih-7kD-MrvyVaKsx03SX7ijw_ygT50Bk2pAVwoBg72MzqNJig_XLC7R-3LPflE4qmDM/s1600-h/865902886_94f1193a6e_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxbV786-yzPEV9VYSUrqi2kA99HJ8Y1hlrpDpfMI9GOMY1rrX98hvV5AqYCe7UkLZY8sJ7gojih-7kD-MrvyVaKsx03SX7ijw_ygT50Bk2pAVwoBg72MzqNJig_XLC7R-3LPflE4qmDM/s400/865902886_94f1193a6e_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226609900332125938" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Recently I have had to defend a doctrine that is foundational to our belief system as Christians. Even in saying that we have a belief "system" has had to be defended in some ways. Loving a debate, it has caused much study, and reflection. In my store house of knowledge about the Trinity, I had little to fire back, but I thought that is was adequate. I have discovered that the implications are more far reaching than I could ever plumb. Why should we as Christians believe and defend the doctrine of the Trinity? The early church fathers did not only defend this doctrine, but often brought their lives into grave danger defending it. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>One rabbit trail, remembering is important. Throughout the Scriptures God tells us over and over to remember. History is crucial to our understanding of everything. One of the central themes of worship is to remember. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> Consider these verses from Deuteronomy.</span><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> Remember how God appeared before you in His awesome presence at Mt. Horeb (4:10)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Remember how god redeemed you from slavery in Egypt (5:15, 15:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Remember the power by which he humbled Pharaoh (7:18)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Remember how God provided for you as he led you through the desert for forty years (8:2)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Remember how God gives you the ability to produce wealth as he swore to your forefathers (8:18) </span></li></ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>There are a great deal more as well. Just pick up a concordance and look up the word remember. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Also, if you look at the five sermons in the book of Acts, they all have to do with recounting </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">the deeds of God in history and how He has fulfilled it all in Christ. (Acts 2:14-36, 3:12-26, 4:8-12,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">5:29-32, and 7:2-53). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Christ also instituted the Lord's Supper to command us to remember His death</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">until He comes again. There is a past, present and future aspect to the Lord's Supper. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I say all of that to emphasize the fact that we have to look back, we have to study and weigh</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">what we learn from the early church fathers, and the wisdom that we gain from them. We ignore </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">them to our peril.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>The early church fathers as well as the creeds that they wrote and defended, rejected out right</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">a dualism that separates the Father from the Son, either the human Son or the divine Son. This is </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">what the Gnostics did, and they to some degree were defending the Trinity against a dualistic </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">Gnosticism. The Christian faith does not separate the Creator God from the Redeemer God. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> The Gnostics and other heretics tried to separate the Godhead because some of them had bought</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">into the Platonic view of reality which states that the creation is evil. The material world is the </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">source of evil. Christ could not be divine and material at the same time. The Gnostics felt like He</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">was an "emanation" of divinity. During the Council of Nicea, the Nicene Creed was written, </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> in 325 AD and confirmed by the Council</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; ">of Constantinople in AD 380.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>The Nicene Creed </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; font-family:Times;"><blockquote><p><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Armed with the Scriptures, these men defended their Biblical, Orthodox faith against the philosophies of the day. That means they knew the philosophies of their day, and guess what, there isn't anything new under the sun. If you know the history of philosophy, and history in general and Church history in the specifics, then you know that what they were battling is the same old story that is out there today, just in a little bit more of a modern package. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">If you make Christ only divine then He could not be the second true Adam, and make all things right. Living the perfect life that Adam was supposed to. He could not be tempted in all things yet without sin. He could not die. Spirit's don't die. If you make Christ only human, He could never be a perfect substitute, a perfect lamb, a perfect anything. Then death would not have been defeated. I hope you know that I am just barely scratching the surface. <br /></span></p><p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">If you take away the belief of the Trinity you have a fragmented, shallow view of reality. The ancient philosophers, beginning with the Pre-Socratics, debated why the world was multi-faceted, why could there be one, and also the many. The only way this fits with reality is through the lens and belief of the Triune God. Why is God a personal God, because He dwells in the perfect unity of the God head. Without the Trinity there would indeed be no relationships. He is the basis for all reality. Begin looking at the world around you and begin catching glimpses of this most beautiful doctrine and how it fits into reality. It will amaze you how deep, how wonderful, how utterly unbelievable our God is. </span></p><p></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Praise be the Father, The Son, and to The Holy Spirit..........Awaiting the Bridegroom, Lynn</span></p><p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span></p></blockquote></span></span></div></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-65617088553293029922008-07-24T09:58:00.003-04:002008-07-24T10:01:06.757-04:00Questions to Ask about weighty matters (More on the Trinity)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KR9pSEpqyLg4vu8nYIwwseKl-5NngcQ8tAABIh8QSFaB1-eY-Ow_RDvZ8BAUXzrse9wKUtrvtVhhjQuWGszuR5ueoPXixb9LwoTZJUeBQi3nYm6TWGa9oYsbUAAlPU7iLXltFf0LqBg/s1600-h/230300184_b161b637a4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KR9pSEpqyLg4vu8nYIwwseKl-5NngcQ8tAABIh8QSFaB1-eY-Ow_RDvZ8BAUXzrse9wKUtrvtVhhjQuWGszuR5ueoPXixb9LwoTZJUeBQi3nYm6TWGa9oYsbUAAlPU7iLXltFf0LqBg/s400/230300184_b161b637a4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226580275679020354" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When I was teaching Bible Study Methods to middle schoolers, I taught them to always question everything including the Scriptures. Not necessarily in a doubting way, but ask questions of the Scriptures. Why did Jesus go there? What was Paul thinking at the time he wrote that? Why did they do what they did? What were they having to go through? Etc....Etc....I want to encourage you to do the same thing, especially when reading, listening, or viewing something that is teaching doctrine. Then, be a Berean and go to what you know the Scripture says about it, and always make that your default setting. Always understand the universal principle of interpreting the Bible is to understand the unclear passages by comparing them to the clear passages. Go to other Bible passages that touch on the same thing, go to different commentaries, pick apart the words, find the meanings, mull over it, chew on it, and digest it. It takes time, energy, and thought. Do not just accept a piece of literature, or a movie, or anything else just on feelings alone. Think, Think, Think, and Study, Study, Study. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: normal; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">II Timothy 2:15</span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: normal; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">I want to address some questions that you should be asking yourself as you read </span>The Shack. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Asking questions should be where you should begin with a novel like this one. </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><ol><li> Does it point me to Christ?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does what I am reading Glorify God and His Word?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does it encourage me to mourn over my sin?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does it encourage me to rationalize my sin?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does it point me to Christ?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does it show me my utter poverty before Him, and increase my dependency on Him?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does it in any way, even subtly, teach works righteousness?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Does it enlarge my view of God or weaken my sense of His majesty?<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Apart from how I feel, or how entertaining it is, does it match up with the teaching of Scripture?<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I am sure you all could come up with better questions, and if you do please email them </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">to me or leave them on the comment section of this blog post. </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I also want to say, I am the first one to encourage reading of all sorts. Read the classics, </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">read modern literature, read different view points of what Christianity teaches, but always </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">come back to weighing it with a Biblical World and Life View. Truth is truth, no matter </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">where it is found. If it is truth it is God's truth. The Biblical World View is far superior to </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">anything that the world has to offer. Tomorrow I will post more on the Trinity. </div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Today's post was to get you thinking. </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>My email is: omnibuscross@yahoo.com</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Studying while waiting on the Bridegroom.........Lynn<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div></span>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-16921401355623269842008-07-21T12:50:00.005-04:002008-07-21T12:58:56.609-04:00Two Great Articles: D'Souza and Colson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9z8EmrxQjE5fnsC3ws2KJLGGdtlFl_d8B3Yl7ROXz_KXrdRmOOK92ghe_JBsLLgKWbIhhbhvHD9xZ1y9KaYFAHfkq_WsYdbrDQDcVPTwU_JH3tebROWn5x6GDOptZ3qJAEu8adV159dQ/s1600-h/10_chuck-colson.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9z8EmrxQjE5fnsC3ws2KJLGGdtlFl_d8B3Yl7ROXz_KXrdRmOOK92ghe_JBsLLgKWbIhhbhvHD9xZ1y9KaYFAHfkq_WsYdbrDQDcVPTwU_JH3tebROWn5x6GDOptZ3qJAEu8adV159dQ/s400/10_chuck-colson.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225512676799087010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS3GjY4urtgJWBxT2iqYYADnAUEUF1o7CM6SDXOGGDlg9C53-dkNrY_pvJ2Y7z_jxyk5SZl8lNmMugoKrzrbeXMbHxJhvX8k4gHRQj-8gLdz3lbg3C5ZhV66JFWHzW7L7-lThwSeG33A/s1600-h/story.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS3GjY4urtgJWBxT2iqYYADnAUEUF1o7CM6SDXOGGDlg9C53-dkNrY_pvJ2Y7z_jxyk5SZl8lNmMugoKrzrbeXMbHxJhvX8k4gHRQj-8gLdz3lbg3C5ZhV66JFWHzW7L7-lThwSeG33A/s400/story.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225512451387896498" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am out of town right now, and might not be able get back to my Trinity debate until I return, but wanted you all to be aware of two great articles. One is by Dinesh D'Souza on his debate with Christopher Hitchens on Atheism. The other one is concerning the human rights issue and our neighbors to the north by Chuck Colson. Take the time to read them they are very good. I will give you the links. <div> </div><div><a href="http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/07/21/an_absentee_god">D'Souza-The Absentee God?<br /></a><div><a href="http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=8175">Chuck Colson</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading and Posting Comments. I love to hear what you think and have to say. </div><div>Awaiting the Bridegroom...........Lynn</div><div> </div></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-4558151051490012262008-07-17T13:17:00.005-04:002008-07-17T13:23:00.648-04:00Go Backward to Stay Straight/More on The Shack<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r3-1T3MtV2glzSll2j6WAJB0tmuQIIx5ZWp5vw3OHXMLYJql6Wy9Y1AEsblwmmi0sdYCy1B2Nn1qzhDM3zXJzUyz-xvXRcv5Os4BSpPGDuC1u97VajhyphenhyphenCGhDxvPrYuYn5fkyrSpXugE/s1600-h/the-shack.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r3-1T3MtV2glzSll2j6WAJB0tmuQIIx5ZWp5vw3OHXMLYJql6Wy9Y1AEsblwmmi0sdYCy1B2Nn1qzhDM3zXJzUyz-xvXRcv5Os4BSpPGDuC1u97VajhyphenhyphenCGhDxvPrYuYn5fkyrSpXugE/s400/the-shack.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224034174094607874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHf9T3rebyvRBgyLfDOhB3UJD0pmKXNBop_rTOhqDpWRkE8IKlaD71ZbJgHmPHQAA9OC-seZFOE64bFOj88d29Q683U7Hgg-CydWBIGF6UzBnu1maPIXEduJ1JLMfbs-KhXs8M_Xw7YY/s1600-h/augustine-bottic.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHf9T3rebyvRBgyLfDOhB3UJD0pmKXNBop_rTOhqDpWRkE8IKlaD71ZbJgHmPHQAA9OC-seZFOE64bFOj88d29Q683U7Hgg-CydWBIGF6UzBnu1maPIXEduJ1JLMfbs-KhXs8M_Xw7YY/s400/augustine-bottic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224034181513294098" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We as Christians ought to be the first ones to dig deeper to find answers than anyone else. Acts tells us that it was profitable to be a "Berean." The Bereans according to Acts 17:11 says:</span><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span id="en-NIV-27522" class="sup" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">11</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>We also are to study the Scriptures to see what is right and true. The Word of God is the basis for all that we believe. If I were to say that the doctrine of Hell is an awful truth, which it is, and I then refuse to believe it, when I look at the Scriptures and I see the doctrine of Hell what will I do? My beliefs must bend to fit the Word not the other way around. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>The Doctrine of the Trinity is one of the hardest doctrines to study in the Bible. It does not fit anything that we have ever heard. It is also something that we cannot completely reason out. That is why the Trinity is especially vulnerable to heresy. It is also why in the early centuries of the Church the doctrine was hammered out, fought about, and the early creeds centered on it. The Nicene, The Apostles, and The Athanasian Creeds played a big part in trying to make the doctrine clear to the rest of the Church and to it's posterity. Orthodoxy was born on the backs of Augustine, Athanasius, and St. Gregory. The early church fathers stood their ground and were willing to give their lives for this doctrine. Why? Why is it so important not to believe that, as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Shack</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> spells out, that God the Father died on the cross with God the Son? Why is it so important that God is a Father in the Bible not a woman? These things and others in the novel are important and they are important not to believe them. They have far reaching implications for our orthodox faith. This is why Augustine wrote his great treatise, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">De Trinitate</span></span>, to spell out the implications of the Trinity and to help us guard against heresy. His opening paragraph states: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"The following dissertation concerning the Trinity, as the reader ought to be informed, has been written in order to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">guard against the sophistries </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">of those who disdain to begin with faith, and are deceived by a crude and perverse love of reason. Now one class of such men endeavor to transfer to things incorporeal and spiritual the ideas they have formed, whether through experience of the bodily senses, or by natural human wit and diligent quickness, or by the aid of art, from things corporeal; so as to seek to measure and conceive of the former by the latter. Others, again, frame whatever sentiments they may have concerning God according </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">to the nature or affections of the human mind</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">; and through this error they govern their discourse, in disputing concerning God, by distorted and fallacious rules...</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">For he who thinks, for instance, that God is white or red, is in error; and yet these things are found in the body. Again, he who thinks of God as now forgetting and now remembering, or anything of the same kind, is none the less in error; and yet these things are found in the mind. But he who thinks that God is of such power as to have generated Himself, is so much the more in error, because not only does God not so exist, but neither does the spiritual nor the bodily creature; for there is nothing whatever that generates its own existence......This doctrine, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit intimate a divine unity of one and the same substance in an indivisible equality; and therefore that they are not three Gods, but one God: although the Father hath begotten the Son, and so He who is the Father is not the Son; and the Son is begotten by the Father, and so He who is the Son is not the Father; and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son, but only the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Himself also co-equal with the Father and the Son, and pertaining to the unity of the Trinity. Yet not that this Trinity was born of the Virgin Mary, and crucified under Pontius Pilate, andand roseburied,, again the third day, and ascended into heaven, but only the Son. Nor, again, that this Trinity descended in the form of a dove upon Jesus when He was baptized; nor that, on the day of Pentecost, after the ascension of the Lord, when "there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,"</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">[Acts 2:2]</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> the same Trinity "sat upon each of them with cloven tongues like as of fire," but only the Holy Spirit. Nor yet that this Trinity said from heaven, "Thou art my Son," </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">[Luke 3:22]</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">whether when He was baptized by John, or when the three disciples were with Him in the mount, or when the voice sounded, saying, "I have both glorified it,and will glorify it again;"</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">[John 12:28]</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> but that it was a word of the Father only, spoken to the Son; although the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as they are indivisible, so work indivisibly. This is also my faith, since it is the Catholic faith."</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Christian what do you believe: The Nicene Creed</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;font-size:48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Times;font-size:16px;"><blockquote><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">nd in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.</span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="size_13px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; "></p><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To read and be Berean like go to the entire contents of</span></span><a href="http://thriceholy.net/Texts/augustinef.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Augustine's On the Trinity </span></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">by clicking on the above text.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; "></p><p style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Going backward is the best way to go forward when it comes to orthodox doctrine. I will explore more of the implications of the doctrine of the Trinity tomorrow on this blog. I will spell out some of the ideas that William Young has written about the Trinity in his book and we will see where they lead. </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></p></blockquote></span></span></div></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-54461699972599426942008-07-17T13:09:00.003-04:002008-07-17T13:12:58.847-04:00Book Review: The Shack by William Young<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxlNu4ihc1K0_wsndqka0z9-8kQ-hefWZwqh0qJLNcxP4Z3sfKVu415-1dRDFIHg_BVtGoDWkt-G6OztjQZ0Yys3JgWPVnQDbvIkjWabQxqK3C_aS0IvN01p5sarRJ-RQ_P4MbDi_n8o/s1600-h/the-shack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxlNu4ihc1K0_wsndqka0z9-8kQ-hefWZwqh0qJLNcxP4Z3sfKVu415-1dRDFIHg_BVtGoDWkt-G6OztjQZ0Yys3JgWPVnQDbvIkjWabQxqK3C_aS0IvN01p5sarRJ-RQ_P4MbDi_n8o/s400/the-shack.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224032160753885346" /></a><br /><div>I have recently read the very popular book by William Young called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">The Shack</span></span>. It has sold more than a million copies so far and is on the New York Best Seller list. The story is compelling and I was hooked in the very first pages. It did get rather slow (a tiny bit) when Young begins teaching his theology lesson through the pages of the story. I was very disappointed in his take. I thought the premise of the book was brilliant, but it left me cold when he began teaching. It still has value, but I think the value is far out weighed by his heretical bent of God. Beware! I cannot say it as well as the writer Tim Challies on his blog. He has an excellent <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">pdf</span> format book review on this important book. Please read it all in the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">pdf</span> format. It is a wonderful review and a succinct Biblical view of the theology that The Shack purports to teach. Please go to the following link: <a href="http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php">The Shack</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></div>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-8802731961919328942008-07-11T13:27:00.003-04:002008-07-11T13:31:42.634-04:00Encouragement to do rightI was mulling over being discouraged over how things can look bleak for those that are trying to follow God and flourishing for those seeking self first. I often struggle with this and maybe you do too! Some verses in my study this morning jumped out at me as encouragement for both of us.<br />2 Cor 4:16-18- NIV<br />"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."<br /><br />Paul was sorely abused and misused for the gospel as he went around sharing. But he never gave in or gave up, he always did right and honored God above all else. Thinking about that got me going and 2 things stuck out to me.<br /><br />1) Satan trys to discourage us from continuing in doing right be having us look around at how the rest of the world seems to be blooming as they do wrong. Comparison always leads to discontent and frustration. He wants to discourage you from hanging in there, doing right and trusting God to take care of you.<br />2) God is more concerned with our best internally than our lives externally. For instance, He would rather have you learn trust in him than give you a new car. Think about your own kids. Woudn't you rather your child learn honesty even when it is hard and change her character and life for the better long term than give her a new "littlest pet" that she will love for a minute and then forget all about?<br />He wants you to learn trust, righteousness and patience for the long haul, even if it is tough, rather than just give you a job or new place to live. He loves you enough to want your best instead of the temporary good.<br /><br />So I hope this encourages you as much as it did me. May we bring glory to the King as we learn to follow after him. Keep your gaze upward!EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-67496983983777920162008-06-03T17:21:00.002-04:002008-06-03T17:37:49.051-04:00Why is everyone talking about worldview?<span style="font-family:Arial;">Have you noticed that the word "worldview" is cropping up all over the place? Seems like every Christian speaker, teacher, TV program, radio station, and publication is talking about "worldview." Wonder why? Since a worldview is a system of making sense of the world around us, maybe people are feeling that the world around them is <em>not </em>making sense at all - at least not to anyone who really thinks about things. There seems to be a hunger in each of us to understand our world - to have a way of thinking that is integrated, not <em>dis-</em>integrated. When we watched the World Trade Centers become disintegrated, we were shaken to our very core. When we see people become disintegrated by bombs planted by human beings in the Middle East, we shudder. We don't like things that are broken, shattered, dis-integrated - including our own lives. I have found that the worldview espoused by God's Word to be the only worldview of <em>integrity - </em>it just makes sense - of everything! Shalom = wholeness; integrity; peace.</span>Lee Hargrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13029223904169224811noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-32698172223872679042008-05-08T16:31:00.002-04:002008-05-08T16:40:53.823-04:00Women engaging Women for ChristI am so excited about what God is doing, I just have to share a little!<br />I have had the opportunity to talk about a book that has been getting a lot of press lately, The Shack. Perhaps you have heard of it. It is a liberally creative allegory about the Trinity, life, evil and how we as humans relate to all of them. This book has some good points and some bad ones. I can safely say that I have not read it for spiritual understanding as much as to know what the world is reading and have some tools to open dialogue with others.<br />Just this week, I had the opportunity to chat with a woman that asked about the book, what I thought and what it meant. We had a lively discussion on what the true definition of God is and how relative perspectives don't lead to truth. She claimed that we can't really know truth and shouldn't hold others to our version of it. I presented some basic thoughts of God as the creator of truth so we have a moral standard and fiber of truth. We did not see eye to eye on everything but I know God created that opportunity to talk and to delve into spiritual matters.<br />Then I learned that another friend is hosting a summer book club and they are going to discuss this book. We discussed about the importance of knowing what you believe and why so you can engage the culture at their interests.<em> </em> I am encouraged that we can talk, share and perhaps learn more deeply from each other. Even when we may not agree!<br />I hope you are excited to have a meaningful conversation with someone this week too!EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-2311594013802468182008-04-28T12:02:00.003-04:002008-04-28T12:26:55.662-04:00America The Beautiful<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hi5dBjHP6IrC2A9MfojnvzORvvOy-8QG0ZywUYmjgn4h6R9bgRAQ8ZFa1cz3EuPW_fIFmSBxGkvzMYnz1GobdRJIcHmCGCaKxly_YQdeWGMsINT96hErXncmmHCD0oz2Uv9ylmprKyyL/s1600-h/DSC00341.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194328281572199522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hi5dBjHP6IrC2A9MfojnvzORvvOy-8QG0ZywUYmjgn4h6R9bgRAQ8ZFa1cz3EuPW_fIFmSBxGkvzMYnz1GobdRJIcHmCGCaKxly_YQdeWGMsINT96hErXncmmHCD0oz2Uv9ylmprKyyL/s320/DSC00341.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000066;"><strong>America, America, Land that I Love</strong></span></div><br />After spending the weekend in Washington DC taking my husband's grandmother on a tour of the capital for her 80th birthday, I have been contemplating a few of the blessings that we have here in America.<br /><br /><br />Here are a few:<br /><br />A beautiful land that God created, diverse and unique in each state. We come together to form a powerful and blessed place to live.<br /><p>An environment of freedom. We saw many protestors and people with a cause out in the national mall and I was blessed by the fact that although we may not agree, we all have the right to speak out and participate in our country.</p><p>A place that honors our past and aims to inspire our future. As we visited the different monuments and memorials, I was in awe of the history that America shares and the future that it inspires. Lives have been lost, hearts broken and dreams shattered only for others to be created. I wish I could say thank you to all those who have sacrificed for America.</p><p>And lastly, while many may want to wipe God out of our history or stop acknowledging him now, He is everywhere in our nation's capital. In inscriptions, speeches, monuments and memorials, God's prescence can be felt. What a testament to the biblical worldview that our country was created upon and modeled to follow.</p><p>Take the time to visit and contemplate if you can. </p><p>God bless America,</p><p>Esther White</p><p> </p>EstherRDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377466844883892768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515986276698644968.post-35183214219657335192008-04-20T23:32:00.005-04:002008-04-23T15:53:53.878-04:00What is True Wisdom?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP9NujeW4M3SQJn6BD8xKelrDC-ixVh3wFXAAbhgSGMYa3qPGIXc7ERgh050shkmmLGPDUV6xROObNu_a6yQm5PM9twOyCL3YVHsEC6mXqqRu7xO5zb0RfSQWD2LArGamqyfsrXsDq30/s1600-h/cat+in+cage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP9NujeW4M3SQJn6BD8xKelrDC-ixVh3wFXAAbhgSGMYa3qPGIXc7ERgh050shkmmLGPDUV6xROObNu_a6yQm5PM9twOyCL3YVHsEC6mXqqRu7xO5zb0RfSQWD2LArGamqyfsrXsDq30/s400/cat+in+cage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191536994819142322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size:14px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:14px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:16px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Lynn’s Definition:</span></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(these are my notes that I used to teach the women at my church)</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Knowing that there is someone who is transcendent over me, who is the sovereign ruler of all deserving the whole earth’s allegiance; I look to Him for my very subsistence, my happiness, my sustaining grace and bow before Him who is the only one worthy of worship.<br /><br />Wisdom:<br /><br />1. The quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.<br />2. Scholarly knowledge or learning: the wisdom of the schools.<br />3. Wise sayings or teachings; precepts.<br />4. A wise act or saying.<br /><br /><br />What is Truth? That which conforms to all of reality. Truth is what we are to seek above all else-John 14:6 Jesus said He was the truth. He encompasses all of reality, He is the metaphysical reality. He is our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ultimate</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> question. <br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">False Views:</span><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-Relativism;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (is basically childish, and never gives you the outward focus that produces unselfishness.) Truth is whatever you want it to be.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pragmatism</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">; not external reality; it is what ever I think is right at the present time. Truth is what works.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Empiricism</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">; can’t always be trusted. Epistemology tells us we will be lost to things that cannot be. Truth is what we can sense and sensually perceive by our senses, such as justice, goodness, and morality, past and future events. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Truth is what </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Reason</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> declares, cannot be proven through reason alone.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Truth is what ever I feel; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Affections.</span></span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Truth is: </span></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Truth is what corresponds to reality. Jesus is reality. He is the metaphysical reality.<br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-truth is discovered not created<br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-opposite (create reality; selfish, and the definition of insanity).</span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.” (1 Corinthians 3:19)<br />Have you ever thought about the things that you do not know, or the things that you have very little knowledge of? What about those situations that come into your life and you have no answers for? Have you ever sat across from a friend who is having much difficulty in life and said in your heart, “I have no idea what to tell her?”<br />Each of us have some insights, knowledge and wisdom, but the scope is usually fairly narrow and limited to our sphere of influence and knowledge. We are good at some things, maybe some special interests that we have sought to know more about., and have knowledge in areas that we are interested in, but do we have knowledge about it all? The older we grow the more we have knowledge and experiences that the young are yet to go through. Those experiences allow us to share with those that are young insights and wisdom that they have yet acquired. What we do know and have gained wisdom and foresight we are admonished to share with others. One of the best ways to demonstrate wisdom is to know our limitations.<br />What is wisdom? The Bible tells us,<br />“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7).<br />Fearing the Lord is more than just reverence awe. It is about knowing our limitations.<br />“Nothing is perfect except your words. Oh, I how I think about them all day long. They make me wiser than my enemies, because they are my constant guide. They make me even wiser than the aged” (Psalms 119:96-100).<br />Next time you think you are wise in your eyes, remember, you may be knowledgeable and have some insights in your small world, but compared to total wisdom, you (and I) know little. And even if we added all of our combined wisdom, compared to God’s, it is nothing.<br /></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Knowing these realities, how does that change you as a person? How will it affect your week?</span></span></div></span></div></span>Lynn Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06479475542315123317noreply@blogger.com0