Christmas Day

"His name shall be called Emmanuel...God with us." (Matt. 1:23)
"The Prince of Peace." (Isa. 9:6).

"There's a song in the air!

There's a star in the sky!

There's a mother's deep prayer,

And a baby's low cry!

And the star rains its fire

While the beautiful sing,

For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King."

A few years ago a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, "If Christ had not come." It was founded upon our Savior's words, "If I had not come." The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning  and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells of wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.

A ring at the door-bell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hasted with the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said, "I have something here that will comfort you." He opened his Bible to look for the familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.

Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only "dust to dust, ashes to ashes," and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that "He had not come," and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream. 

Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by:

"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him. born the King of Angels,

O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord."

Let us be glad and rejoice today, because "He has come." And let us remember the annunciation of the angel, Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10,11.)

"He comes to make His blessings flow,

Far as the curse is found." 

May our hearts go out to the people in heathen lands who have no blessed Christmas day. "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and SEND PORTIONS TO THEM FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED." (Neh. 8:10.)

"How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man have been born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
This verse is in answer to a question. The first word of Jesus to Nicodemus in a word that brings a question. The true teacher seeks to provoke activity of mind and curiosity in the learner. The question is certainly a most absurd one, but Nicodemus had no time to prepare a sensible answer. It is easy for us to be wise over the introductory declaration of Jesus, because we look at it with plenty of illustrations and explanations shining upon it. But Nicodemus, in all his previous thinking, had nothing to make him expect Jesus would speak; and so it is little wonder to find him staggered, confused, utterly bewildered, to hear Jesus speaking thus calmly of such a wondrous  experience. The question, however absurd, leads on to a piece of most practical information.
We are not to suppose that being born over again means to live natural life over again. Few would care for that, traveling over the old road, meeting the old difficulties, fighting the old battles. Jesus explains that to be born again is to be born of water and of Spirit. Being born of water means  passing through the experience  of repentance. The true disciple of John the Baptist was born of water. He repented changed from his old view of life, manifested that changed view by changed habits and practices, and, for sign of all this, he was baptized with water.
Being born of water takes us only a small way into the regeneration. Must follow the discipleship of John with Jesus. You may cease to care for the old, and yet have not found your way to possession of the new. The only creature worth calling  such is the new creature in Christ Jesus. You must feel in your heart the warmth of Him who has eternal life. By repentance, old things pass away; by spiritual birth, all things become new. The spiritual man looks on a virtually new world. The precious becomes worthless, and the worthless precious--the once neglected  is sought for, and the once sought for is neglected.

An Argument Against Genetic Manipulation

Today we have a society influenced more by humanism, materialism and moral relativism than by religious or ethical convictions, but we must realize that the possibilities of genetic manipulation are profound. With such awesome technological discovery (consider the clone “Dolly” the sheep), there comes dramatic potential for significant abuse. As such, we need to keep a careful eye on “science” and continually remind ourselves that technology is not the supreme authority, or the cure for advancing or improving upon all of human life.


First of all, the risks involved in genetic manipulation concerns not only the individual undergoing gene therapy, but also the offspring. The price to be paid for any mishaps would be too high, since these would be hereditary and transmitted from one generation to the next.

The threat of power over others creates another argument against genetic manipulation. Most parents consciously choose to have children, and some try to influence the development of their child in utero. All parents exercise authority over their children after birth and use the authority to educate and develop their children. This use of parental authority is natural. But genetic manipulation gives a person absolute dominion over the existence of another. The genetic material will be what the person’s intelligence and appearance and special skills will be—all this would be determined by another person. Again, if people can have this kind of power over others, then the quality clause is just empty words from a quaint past. Those who genetically manipulate would be seen as “God-like.” The calling into existence of a precisely specified new person is an exercise in apparent human omnipotence.

According to Jeremy Rifkin, who is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends, genetic engineering weakens the authenticity of the genetically modified person’s accomplishments. It holds that the engineered person’s abilities and talents are no longer his or her own, that these accomplishments are because of the alteration.

In Leonard Pitt’s article, “A Risk Free Life,” he argues that the dangers that come with this kind of control over life are denying one of life’s most basic truths. He acknowledges that he does not know what he would have done if placed in a situation where he could use genetic manipulation to clear away a danger. Pitt argues, however, that people who seek this sort of power will abuse it to alter, arrange, pick and choose their children like a “meal in a take-out restaurant.”

Genetic alteration treats humans as products that must be designed, perfected, and controlled; they are viewed as commodities, no longer gifts. Genetic engineering is a problem because it tries to remake nature, besides human nature, to serve purposes and satisfy desires.

The problem with biotechnology is that there is a distinct beginning but has no clear end. Cell by cell, tissue by tissue, organ by organ, we might willingly surrender our personhood in the market place. In the process, each loss will be compensated for with a perceived gain until there is little left to exchange. It is at this point the case of our agreement become apparent. But is also at that point that we may no longer possess the very thing we were so anxious to enrich: our humanity. In the decades to come, we humans might well barter ourselves away, one gene at a time, in exchange for some measure of temporary well-being. In the end, the personal and collective security we fought so long and hard to preserve may well be irreversibly compromised in pursuit of our engineered perfection.

A Secular Argument Against Homexual Marriage

Homosexual Marriage

            Nature and Creation have defined marriage as the union of man and woman for the purpose of conceiving children. With rare exception, life is perpetuated by man and woman. In the natural world there are a male and a female: while the female guard the clutch of eggs, the male is searching for food. This distinction between man’s masculinity and woman’s femininity extends beyond autonomy—they are equal as human beings but different as man and woman, each fulfilling their natural difference. This natural distinction makes man and woman complementary partners for the commitment involved in the structure of marriage. Traditional marriage presents the foundation to establishing the perfect family unit in the home.

The natural design has been questioned far too much in society today, the consequence of which has been a low estimate of marriage. For several reasons homosexual marriage contradicts the nature of marriage: it is not based on the complementary union of man and woman, and the purpose in a natural marriage cannot be achieved in a homosexual union.

             Our Founding Founders would never have supported same-sex marriage, Thomas Jefferson said that homosexuality “should be punished, if a man, by castration, if a woman, by cutting through the cartilage of her nose a hole of one-half inch in diameter at least.” As a secular argument, homosexual marriage has been a debate on equal rights rather than legal rights. Such a treatment is erroneous because state recognition of marriage is not a universal right. Homosexuals are not the only people denied the right to marry the person of their choosing. Roughly half the states prohibit first cousins from marrying, and in all states it is illegal to marry more than one person (Kolasinski, 2004). Homosexual relationships do nothing to serve the peoples interest of a stable and self-perpetuating propagating society. Homosexual couples cannot biologically conceive children, such a fact justifying the laws which forbid their marriages (Vermont House and Senate Judiciary, 2000.) Homosexual marriages would have to prove what state interest these marriages might serve if it were to be legalized (Kolasinski, 2004). So far, no proof has been met.

Many argue that homosexuals are capable of creating “artificial insemination,” so the state has declared interest in legalizing lesbian marriage. Even so, a homosexual union cannot supply both the male and female roles of mother and father which have been proven to be critical to the healthy development of a child (Adam, 2004). It is so essential for a child to be nurtured by both sexes if they are to learn to function in a society made of both sexes.

 The most harmful damage homosexual marriage presents is the legalization of sexual love. If the state must recognize the marriage between two men because they “love” each other, then the state could not logically deny the recognition of any other marital union. If, to the state, the primary purpose of marriage is reproduction, the question of legalizing homosexual marriage is answered. If sexual love is become the primary purpose, the restriction of marriage looses its logical base, leading to marital chaos.

Why is the Homeschool Movement Rising?

            Homeschooling is not a new idea—it is the restoration of an old and successful idea. It is not only a return to effective, parent-directed education—but for some it is part of a moral and spiritual reformation.

From the founding of this country by the Pilgrims in 1620 to the mid-1800’s, most of the early education provided took place at the home with the parents, pastor, or a tutor providing the instruction. In colonial America, home education provided a complete education of children, making them both literate and self-sufficient, and also prepared those who wanted to proceed to grammar schools or college (Klicka, 2002). As a result of home education and private grammar schools, the overall literacy in the first hundred years of our country was much higher than it is today. John Adams said “a native of America, especially of New England, who cannot read and write is as rare a Phenomenon [sic] as a comet” (Butterfield, 1961).

It wasn’t until the early 1900s when the public schools were formed and attendance laws were passed that homeschooling nearly died out (Klicka, 2002). Some believe this change to state education began a decline in American education.

However, homeschooling has grown significantly since the 1970’s in the USA. The modern homeschool movement is making an exodus from “conventional” or “standardized” schooling to return to the traditional, individualized home instruction. In the spring of 2007 1.5 million students were being homeschooled (National Home Education Research Institute, 2010). Since 2007 there has been a steady eight percent increase in the homeschool movement every year until there are now over two million homeschool students. Some possible reasons for the homeschool trend include religious/moral convictions of the parents, dissatisfaction with academic standards, and the school environment (U.S. Department of Education, 2008).

Many believe homeschooling is particularly attractive as an adjunct of spiritual and moral education where children are carefully trained in God’s Word to not only think but live as Christians. According to the U.S. Department of Education, a significant amount in the movement (eighty-three percent) educates at home for religious and moral reasons. The public schools have practically removed all references to religion and prayer, in effect removing traditional teaching and standards, substituting a “sanitized” secular education. When prayer was removed from the schools in 1962, the public schools experienced a terrible decline. Statistics from 1962 show SAT scores suddenly plummeting—teen pregnancies, teen suicides, teen alcohol and drug abuse, teen sexual diseases, use of pornography among students, and illiteracy rates suddenly increased between 200 and 300 percent (Barton, 1988).  This situation would certainly be a reason for parents with religious convictions not to use the public schools.

The academic failure in the public schools is also one of the reasons parents are not choosing the public school system. Most of the areas of academic decline have been in math, reading skills, logic, and the ability to draw inferences. The textbooks, used by the public schools, contain numerous errors and lack content. For example, Texas Board of Education was ready to receive new history textbooks when two individuals announced they had found two-hundred and thirty one obvious historical errors (Graves, 1991). While there are many fine public school teachers, many are incompetent and lack training. Teachers’ colleges and universities do not teach knowledge but rather four years of methods. Poor training is apparent in the low standards set by many states to be certified to teach. For instance, the educational exams used by some states require a score of only thirty-five percent for math certification (Klicka, 2002)—this type of score would cause a student to fail an exam who was studying this subject. According to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, public schools teachers are more likely to send their children to a private school than any other group (Doyle, 2004). On the other hand, modern American culture must take its share of the blame for the academic failure in the public schools.  Teachers cannot be expected to succeed where they are undermined by the system in which they work or the home environment of the student. The public school product is not prepared for college or the business world. Colleges have had to simplify their courses and standards in order to admit public school graduates.

Many choose homeschooling (eighty-eight percent) out of concern over the public school environment (U.S. Department of Education, 2010). In 1940 the top discipline offenses, according to educators, were: talking, chewing gum, making noise, running in the halls, getting out of turn in line, wearing improper clothing, and not putting paper in wastebaskets. By 1982 the top disciplinary offenses had become rape, assault, robbery, burglary, arson, bombings, murder, suicide, absenteeism, vandalism, extortion, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, gang warfare, pregnancies, abortions, and venereal diseases (USA Today, 1985). Parents wishing to provide a safe environment for children and youth may elect to homeschool rather than expose their children to the violence in the public schools.

As the schools continue to fail, parents are beginning to realize the dangers of sending their kids to public school. Homeschool parents are realizing that they can do a better job in educating their kids—and they are doing just that. Homeschooling is an option that is available to parents if they are seriously committed to educating and teaching their children in traditional, biblical values America was founded on. If kids are not taken out of the failing public school system, America is likely to loose a generation of children.

She Looketh Well to the Ways of Her Household

I know some believe happy children are netter than clean homes. Very true!!! But at the same time we must realize an unclean home makes for an unhappy family.
So how can we battle a messy home? It is always so pleasant to walk into a home where it shows someone cares to clean up.
If we clean a table--we will find it to look so much more peaceful, for cleaned homes DO look peaceful. Disorder and clutter make one feel tired and exhausted--it may be strange, but filth does not weary one as much as clutter!
So one does not start cleaning up by using a broom and mop--but from de-cluttering. Only leave what would be on the counters and clear everything else...it will leave a much more peaceful looking area. The floors, walls, closets, cupboards--DE-JUNK! Determine to get rid of 3/4 of your cluttered contents.
The order given to others in your home gives a peace in others. You can admire and respect the other women who keep things neat, clean, and happy.
So children do not tire of messes--they get used to it. Simply developing a habit of reducing clutter is the training we need that will help us and our children to become dissatisfied living in clutter.
Most of all, however, we must remember our home is for the family, not to show. We cannot keep counters perfect all the time--we can only do our best with the strength God has given us, which is all that is required.
A cluttered home is no disgrace--it only becomes that when you are willing to let it remain that way for days at a time.
"Until the pain to remain the same exceeds the pain to change, we'll remain the same."

Why One Should Not Cease Teaching and Writing

"Preach the word, be instant in season, one of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:2
If you  consider how earnestly God enforces his holy word, you would sincerely fear God, and ever abide in his commands. No one can escape them. If we do not desire grace, light, truth, righteousness, salvation, true religion, life, the kingdom, blessings and God himself, we must, by his righteousness judgment, doubtlessly inherit disgrace, darkness, falsehood, unrighteousness and idolatry--and hereafter eternal damnation, death, hell, malediction, and the devil himself.
So for the sake of Christ and the church, you must not hold your tongue, but must tell the truth, let righteousness go forth as a light, and their salvation burn as a torch, and that thus all mankind may acknowledge the righteousness of the Lord, and all tongues, generations, and people confess his glory.
Outside of his divine word there is no salvation, therefore one cannot be silent; for the honor and praise of God are at stake, and it avails the salvation of a brother.
First reason to write is that we desire, according to God--that no bishop, pastor, or teacher be permitted into the chruch of God and teach and administer the sacrements of the Lord, other than those who are comprised in the doctrine, ordinance and life of Christ.
Secondly, that we desire, even at the cost of life and blood--to preach and teach the holy gospel of Christ through all the world with ardent hearts. (Matt. 28:19, Mk. 16:15).
Thirdly to seek, teach, and desire a true faith and Christian life conformable to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles. 
Fourthly, to teach and seek a right Christian baptism--first with spirit and fire (Lk. 3:16) afterward in the water, in obedience to faith, to receive remission of sins--for thus has Christ Jesus commanded all the believing--and thus the apostles administered and taught it.
Fifthly to seek and desire a woman's role in the church, home, and public.
Sixthly, to abolish strange ceremonies and manners of worship which are without the word of God that the ignorant populace may no longer be deceived by vain works which are nothing short of idolatry--but that they may put their faith in the living God and his son, Jesus, that they walk in his divine commandment, not varying to the right or the left; for in him is life everlasting, (Jn. 12:50) and in none other.
Seventh, we desire to teach that all magistrates, emperors, kings, dukes, counts, barons, mayors, knights and other officers may be taught and trained by the spirit and word of God, that they may sincerely seek, honor, fear, and serve Christ Jesus, the true head of all lords and rulers--that they may rightly administer their office, and use the sword given them of God, in his fear and in brotherly love, to the praise of God, to the protection of the good and to the punishment of evil, according to the intent of the word of God, (Rm. 13:3 and 1 Peter 2:13) as did the men of God as Moses, Joshua, David, Josiah, and others. Read Deut. 17:2,3 and you will understand what God has commanded all magistrates to do.
Eighth, to teach and desire such a supper as Christ himself instituted and administered (Matt. 16:19, Mk. 14:22, & Luke 22:19).
We also teach the true love and fear of God, the true love of our neighbor, to aid and assist all mankind and to injure none; to crucify the flesh and its lusts; to circumcise the heart, mouth, and the whole body with the knife of the Divine Word, of unclean thoughts, unbecoming words and actions. Now consider whether these things are not the will of God, the true doctrine of Christ, ad the true life which is of God--although the gates of hell may willfully oppose them. The eternal word of God will remain immutable forever.

Home as the Greenhouse

People seem to not really see babies as helpless, dependent little people. They beleive they were born to be shoved out into the world--they actually think they ought to be shoved into it as soon as possible so they can grow and mature more quickly. Supposedly children can handle the world on their own without their parents. Parents believe that they should not control their child's environment and their duty to give their children over to teachers, peers, and public education, which decides their environment. This is supposedly for superior than the "old-fashioned" rearing and raising by the parents themselves.
Deuteronomy 6:7 describes the parents to "teach them diligently;" the entire Bible has descriptions of the home being the "greenhouse for young plants. Psalm 128:3 and Psalm 144:12 speak of children as plants nurtured at the house and about the table. These two Psalms also speak of a blessed  mother and a blessed nation. The family and nation that rasies children in a Christian environment at home will be blessed.

Children will preform how they were raised once grown. Whatever they had most around them will stay as permanent memories that affect the decisions and morals of their lives.
Instead of values of diligence, respect, appreciation of Christianity, purity, modesty, and etc...we will have whatever were the influences at the school---drunkenness, laziness, gluttony, fornication, deceitfulness,  runners of mischief, bitterness, disrespect. They become the product of the environment their parents carelessly and thoughtlessly placed them in.
When in a green house, children will mature and become REALLY independent. They will have strong characters formed by saturation  in God's word and the sight of it in your life. You will have given them roots and wings.

Possessions Speak

What do our homes say to others? Did it confer to them the impression that we want them to see of a godly, Christian home, that looks like Christ's children live there--is it an atmosphere  of "home" where others can feel welcome?
If you were away and strangers stopped in--could they tell you were Christians? Could they feel Christ's presence?
If Christ himself were to step in would you feel at ease to show him your house? How would you answer of he pointed at something and asked "Why?"
I am not speaking of dust and dirt--but things--possessions...what is it that we hang on the walls? What do we place on the side tables? What is it that is on the counters?
Our homes definitely say something about who we are--but let them speak of the things that make them a "home" where families can grow physically and  spiritually and not just be a place of "pretty walls."  

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord...

"Sing praises unto thy name, O most High." Psalm 92:1
How infrequently we give thanks for the overflowing goodness from the Lord's hand! It is refreshing to behold a thankful heart, full of joy and awe of God--his simple and sincere love for us--and the lovely creation he places around us--not just the creation in plants and shrubs, or the star-filled heavens, or the glorious mountains--but also the most special creations of simple things that bring peace to our minds when we choose to dwell on them, contemplating how God is everywhere...you can pick anything, and find something of our Father's world in it.
And must our praise and thanks to the Lord always be hemmed in with our limited language of "A's" and "B's"?  No word can describe the ecstasy in my soul when I see something beautiful, simply in my heart I am bursting with thanksgiving and happiness, but with no words to scream out in joy but a silent music playing gleefully in my heart.
When one is enduring trials and temptations--thanksgiving can be very difficult to commit to with our bitter and tried hearts. How can we truly be thankful with such feelings? if our faith is strong enough, it decides if everything is going to be alright and "that decision of faith eternity will soon confirm." ~Judson. Trials usually occur because of choices we have made--there are different kinds of trials for every choice--if one is to decide according to God's word we can trust the trail is for our good and will help us to grow.
There is NOT a trial that God doesn't give for our good. "For whom the Lord loveth he chastenth..." (Heb. 12:6) it is for our profit (vs.10). It is by no means joyous to suffer...but there is no trial that we are not able to endure--for God is faithful, "Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able." (I Cor. 10:13).
If we walk with God--to have him as a Friends--to turn to him in trouble--to follow him is obedience and trust that His guidance is pure--to share our dreams and toils with Him--then we are able to find joy and thankfulness. It is this type of companionship that helps endure without bitterness or hurting to affect our courage and trust in Him. We certainly are not immune to suffering--but our relationship with God is.
"Cast all your care upon Him; for he careth for you." I Pet. 5:7

Simply Trust, Simply Obey

Take no thought of tomorrow--for God will take care of tomorrow. It is none of our concern--our lives are entirely dedicated to God's way and will, and we are united with Him in the way He wants to go.
When something interrupts us--our lives should become so simply aimed that God's interruptions become welcome. If our goal is complex, full of concerns and worry, the peace of Christ is destroyed, and we loose focus of pleasing Him. Nothing on earth should interrupt our goal to please Him.
We must "weed out" and die to our worldly desires and goals if we are to keep the Lord's plans and goals for us. We make our lives so unnecessarily difficult by disobeying Jesus Christ's demand the we take no thought of tomorrow. (Matt. 6:34).
We must surrender our planning to Him--it is His job, worrying about tomorrow brings us no-where. God gives us daily bread and blessings daily, not weekly. The Lord gives us strength according to our days, not years.
We need to keep that one thing necessary continually before us in our hearts, minds, and souls, and that is seeking to trust and obey God. Simply trusting that this is what God wishes, and trusting with our whole heart, and obeying in a manner pleasing to Him.
Our worldly life is not felt by God--he only know how he wishes it to be used for his kingdom--if we are full of worries, plans, and concerns--we cannot be used towards His goals, for worldly goals are continual crowd our lives and days, and not one con be devoted to His will or the interruption is too large.
Simply trust and obey--surrender all, give all, hope for nothing, pray continually, seek nothing--except the will of God--make His will yours, for ours has no gain, on blessings--only worry and concern, and His will is good and perfect, conform and become one with Christ.

Surrendering All

There are reasons God wishes for a surrender in our lives--obviously it must be for our benefit, for nothing is with a reason when it is the will of God. The will of God surpasses all human understanding, and it takes trust to let go of all desire and sacrifice to accomplish whatever is acquired. Our earthly travails, troubles and suffering are a part of God's plan to combine a lesson on a small or larger scale, depending on the sacrifice.
Surrendering requires humility, considering there are other who are better in more things than we. It takes discipline to remain on that uncomfortable stand, and experience in the act of suffering and submission. To accept this is God's work in action, your life taking a form in His hands that holds the clay, who knows the perfect structure you need.
What exactly, must we surrender? "Everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake..." (Matt. 19:29) our bodies, our family, our hopes, dreams, our most secret plans,our clothes, our speech, our writing--ALL to God, his work, his plan, his destination; our ways mean nothing to him--we must model our lives as he directs us.
How so we find such perfect directions-where do we find it but in God's Holy Word--we must soak ourselves in it, reading, reading, reading, constantly, so we may know how to take our situations that come along day by day and take God's way to dealing with it--also, when we cannot find an answer, seek it our through prayer and quiet meditation on Him.
When we surrender everything we have, we must also surrender our friendships--our company and surroundings influence us in a deceitful way--we grow numb to what we see and begin to accept it as "the norm." We cannot not always change our surroundings, but let us not let them change us.
Following Christ's footsteps--what an awesome responsibility and opportunity to try and Imitate! If we fall or stray even by a strand off that goal of his plan, then we must try to gain root of why we are on that strand, we loose focus and begin to despair of forget, we have no example to follow it seems, we are alone, and it seems the other path looks correct, until too late--we fall, we fail, and we grieve when brought face to face again with the path of that strand--we don't know how much to do--the answer is EVERYTHING--do everything--exceed your expectations and go the mile that others won't take because it's too risky--and do it with all your heart, soul, and mind.

Creation and Genesis

In the beginning God created the heavens and earth..." Genesis 1:1 The Beginning! or, at the commencement of time, according to the original translation. Without indication when the beginning was, the expression intimates that the beginning was THE beginning. CREATED--this describes Divine activity. The idea of creation is acknowledged by the best expositors to be here intended. Its employment in verses 21 and 26, though seeming against, is really in favor of a distinctively creative act; in both instances something that did not previously exist...i.e. animal life, human spirit, having been called into being. in the sense of producing what is new frequently occurs in Scripture (cf. Ps. 51:12, Jer. 31:12, Isaiah 65:18). Thus, the visible universe neither existed from eternity, not was fashioned our of preexisting materials, nor proceeded forth as an emanation from the Absolute, but was summoned into being by an express creative fiat. The NT boldly claims this as a doctrine peculiar to revelation (Hebrews 11:3). Modern science explicitly disavows it as a discovery of reason. the continuity of force admits of neither creation nor annihilation, but demands an unseen universe, out of which the visible had been produced by an intelligent agency residing in the unseen." Whether the language of the writer to the Hebrews homologates the dogma of an "unseen universe," the last result of science, as expressed in what I have written, is practically an admission of the Biblical doctrine of creation." _joinprompttext="">"In the beginning God created the heavens and earth..." Genesis 1:1
The Beginning! or, at the commencement of time, according to the original translation. Without indication when the beginning was, the expression intimates that the beginning was THE beginning.
CREATED--this describes Divine activity. The idea of creation is acknowledged by the best expositors to be here intended. Its employment in verses 21 and 26, though seeming against, is really in favor of a distinctively creative act; in both instances something that did not previously exist...i.e. animal life, human spirit, having been called into being. in the sense of producing what is new frequently occurs in Scripture (cf. Ps. 51:12, Jer. 31:12, Isaiah 65:18).
Thus, the visible universe neither existed from eternity, not was fashioned our of preexisting materials, nor proceeded forth as an emanation from the Absolute, but was summoned into being by an express creative fiat.
The NT boldly claims this as a doctrine peculiar to revelation (Hebrews 11:3). Modern science explicitly disavows it as a discovery of reason. the continuity of force admits of neither creation nor annihilation, but demands an unseen universe, out of which the visible had been produced by an intelligent agency residing in the unseen." Whether the language of the writer to the Hebrews homologates the dogma of an "unseen universe," the last result of science, as expressed in what I have written, is practically an admission of the Biblical doctrine of creation.

Wonderful Touch

All that is contained in the earth,
And all which remains without--
Everything that God has made,
Is His, without a doubt!!!

My God created time and life;
When nothing did exist--
He made something out of nothing,
From the fingers of His fist.

Why is He so mindful of us,
So unworthy and so small,
To take such an interest in us--
And to know the affairs of all?

Blessed be our wonderful Lord!
Who loves, cares, and helps so much
He did lay His life down for us
His life--yours and mine, did touch!!!

Teach Me

Teach me, Lord, to do thy will
For thou art truly my God,
Search me, Lord, you know my heart,
Teach me to receive the rod.

Teach me how to take pleasure
In all my troubles and strife,
For then when I become weak,
Your strength gives me life.

Teach me, Lord, to always love,
Fervently with a pure heart,
To conduct love toward the brethren,
And that with willing heart.

Teach me how to sing to Thee,
And how to bless thy name;
Let me kneel to my Maker,
And tell him my sins with shame.

Teach me, Lord, to want knowledge
And to seek virtue and work,
To speak without vanity,
And avoid evil that lurks.

Teach me to have good conscience,
Let me draw dear to You,
For then when I die and go,
I want to be with you.

The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calvinistic.

Review of New Publications
1803
Orthodox Churchman

The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calvinistic. By Thomas Kipling, D.D. Dean of Peterborough, and late Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. 8vo. 1802. Second Edition.


In the supplement to our second volume, p. 414, one of our correspondents had so fully expressed our sentiments respecting this treatise, that we did not deem it necessary to notice it in our reviewing department. We think it right, however, to announce its appearance in a second edition, more especially as it is now enlarged by the addition of an Appendix.

The learned author, after premising, that all the peculiar opinions of Calvin, which are connected with het subject of his enquiry, may be comprised under the single doctrine of predestination, proceeds to prove, that the doctrines of our Church are not, as has sometimes been asserted, in unison and correspondence with those op[inions o Calvin. This he does, and in the most satisfactory manner, 1st, by delineating the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination; and, 2dly. By comparing this doctrine with the Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England.

He considers the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination as reducible to the following propositions.

1st. That omnipotent Being, who has existed from all eternity, after he had decreed to create man in his own image, and had fore-ordained his fall from original righteousness, by which fall Adam’s own nature would be corrupted and depraved, viewed with the eye of prescience the whole of Adam’s offspring as a mass of corruption and perdition.

2nd. Among the vast multitude of human beings composing this mass of corruption and perdition, Almighty God decreed, before the foundation of the world, to bring some everlasting salvation and to damn all the rest eternally. This decree or purpose of God is denominated by Calvin predestination, some being thereby predestined to everlasting happiness, and other condemned by it to everlasting misery.

3dly. The objects of this decree are, not collective bodies of men, as Jews, Gentiles, Greeks, Romans, but individuals, as John, Matthew, Thomas, Peter, every one of whose fate after death is fixed by it, before he is born, immutably and everlastingly.

4thly. Adam, agreeably to the preordinance of God (for we are now come to the execution of this decrees) fell from innocence; and , in consequence of this lapse, the whole of man’s nature, as the Deity had foreseen and foreordained, underwent a complete change. It became corrupt, depraved, vicious; and every descendant of Adam, through his first parents’ transgression, became a lost, a damned, an accursed creature, and fuel for the flame of divine vengeance.

5thly. From the birth of Abraham (if not from an earlier period) to this present time, the Deity, agreeably to his eternal purpose and immutable decree, hath constantly been taking, and will continue daily to take, those individuals, whom he hath predestinated before the world began to everlasting salvation, out of this mass of corruption and perdition. All the rest, every one, whom he Passeth by, and leaves in this state of corruption and perdition, he reprobates; that is, abandons to wickedness in this life, and will torture eternally in the next. Those, whom he makes choice of, selects, and segregates for salvation, are called elect. Those whom he leaves in their original pollution, abandons, and will eternally torment, are called preterits (praeteriti) but most commonly reprobates. By election and reprobation is executed the immutable decree of predestination.

6thly. This discrimination made by the Deity between the elect and the reprobates is arbitrary; in no degree owing to any superior excellence, worth, or merit in the former, either present and actual, or future and foreseen, but wholly and solely to God’s will and pleasure. He extricates the elect from destruction for a demonstration of his mercy and goodness. He leaves the reprobates in their original state of perdition for a display of his power and glory.

7thly. The elect are put under the custody and protection of Jesus Christ; and, do what they will in this life, they cannot fail of being saved finally, being under an immutable decree, and guarded by omnipotence. The reprobates, how much soever they may exert themselves for the purpose, cannot attain everlasting salvation, being hindered therefrom, and repelled by Almighty God. As the final salvation of the elect is in no degree doubtful, from their first entrance into this world to their departure out of it, but is all the time fixed and certain; so neither is the eternal damnation of a reprobate ever uncertain, during his passage through this world, but is even before he is born unalterably fixed and sure. That he should perish, is the very purpose, for which he was created.

8thly. Neither the best purposes, nor the best endeavors, nor the best acts, of an elect, even after regeneration, are in any wise preparatory to eternal salvation. On the contrary, as the elect people of God under the Mosaic dispensation, were commanded to desist on the Sabbath day from their worldly occupations, so, in respect of a all spiritual concerns, the elect under the Gospel dispensation are enjoined to bid adieu to all wills, works, and endeavors of their own, and to keep most religiously a perpetual Sabbath; that there may be free and sample scope within them for the operation of God’s spirit.

9thly. God, who of his own will and pleasure predestinated the elect to eternal salvation, himself prepares and fits them for it. The means used by him for this purpose are the preaching of his word, and the operations of his spirit; both which together constitute what is denominated special calling.

10thly. The operations of God’s spirit are manifold – He forms in the elect a new understanding.2. He destroys their natural, and creates in them a new will.3. Every propensity they may have, and every effort they may make, to do works pleasing and acceptable to God, is his.4. He also, it is, who begins; continues, and finishes, every good work done by them; and who makes them persevere unto the end in well doing. In each of these operations, he does not concur or co-operate with the elect, but is the sole and entire operator; and they are his instruments or organs.

11thly. Though the elect may, for a time, resist the grace of God, they cannot finally overcome it. This grace is sovereign, and invincible in its operation.

12thly. God, who arbitrarily predestinated the reprobates to eternal destruction, himself also prepares and hits them for it. He does this by blinding their minds, hardening their hearts, stupefying their intellects, depriving them of the knowledge of himself, withholding from them the influence of his spirit, and delivering them over to the devil.

13thly. The number of the elect is very small. The reprobates, of course, are numberless.

Lastly. The reprobates, those numberless rational beings, whom Almighty God hath raised up for the illustrating of his glory, are hateful to him. He also hates, in proportion to their naughtiness, the chosen few.

When these propositions are brought together, and consider in one view, they almost induce us to think that Calvin had set himself to collect al the absurdities on the subject, which the human imagination was capable of conceiving. That the above is a faithful representation of the opinions of Calvin on the subject of predestination, is most incontrovertibly shown by copious extracts from the writings of Calvin himself. These extracts the learned reader will do well to consult; but it is not necessary for us to transcribe them here. After this delineation of what Calvinism is, we need not follow the author in his comparison of it with the Articles and Liturgy of our Church; but may safely leaven it to the judgment of our readers to determine, whether the doctrines of the Church can with any propriety be called Calvinistic.

Next Month's reading from Kindred Spirits

I am really looking forward to getting this book from the library!!!

Here is a link to join the monthly reading!!!
http://kindredspiritsbookgroup.blogspot.com/

His Will

Learning the painful lesson of havening to admit we're wrong and to try to appreciate the good that comes out of it; to see that what happened was for the glory of God, that is was His will—helps us grow.
The taste of humility can be sorrowful and even bitter to the taste when it comes to the test.
It really reminded me of how humble Jesus had to make himself living down here among us humans and die (Phil. 2:8)—and how small our own lessons of humility are so pathetically silly compared to His. It’s a great comfort to know that whatever lesson comes by it is God's will, and blessings come out of every situation. Each lesson and trial is apart of the narrow walk He gives us.
Personally, it makes me feel very small how God chose us to love and care for, to create in His likeness out of anything and everything, that He cares for us so gently and kindly—so amazing!! We are so small and so insignificant yet so precious in His sight.
And then men have the gall and sinful will to rebel, hate, and curse this loving God,--so forgiving and gentle—they murder...sin upon sin deliberately—and yet God is so patient! So astonishingly forgiving and patient that it quite overwhelms me. I continue to stand in awe of Him.
And then we return to "painful" lessons in humility—what petty feelings to have pride in anything! He create everything and I can do nothing without Him. He knows everything about us and what's in our minds every passing moment. What a n awesome, awesome God we praise and worship!
Nut then I hear of the horrid earthquake in Haiti—and I think, "Why, Lord?" Why so much death? "Because it is my will." Is the answer I keep receiving—that's what pops up in my mind—God has a plan for this—this is his plan in action for our lives in History. It is quite impossible to hear of death and we not hurt, and not see why it doesn't happen somewhere else (like the White House, hee hee—that was bad—sorry); but instead to these poor, poor people. "It's My will."
"Amen, so be it Lord."

Comments

It seems that occationally comments will not show up on my blog--so I am going to post a recent comment that won't show up that was written to my post "Rejoice!"

That was written just lovely! I am a friend of Marquetta's and found your blog through hers. I am a homeschooling mom with teenage daughters. God bless, Rose

Rejoice!

Rejoice! Look to your Lord,
Do let Him to you hurt go toward
Find joy in Loving day by day--
Commit you trouble to Him this day.

Rejoice! Listen to God
And let your soul do give Him laud;
Pay heed to all He has to say
And find joy following day by day.

Rejoice! See your Lord work
Pour out your praises and your mirth
There will you find joy and peace
In surrendering to THE High Priest.

Clarification on "What is Theonomy?"

It seems a few people have been confused by my last post, "What is Theonomy?"

Not sure how good it is, but it is the best I can do for the moment.

Theonomy is a school of theology that is more or less unique to Calvinistsand Postmillennialists. Postmillennialists believe that the world will grow better and better until it becomes almost completely "Christianized",then Christ will return and wondrously create a material new creation,like the garden of Eden, free from the effects of sin. Because of theirbelief that the world must grow better (like the parable of the leavenwhich leavens the whole lump), it becomes a logical corollary that the law of God should be obeyed and enforced in civil society. Because of their belief that God is an arbitrary tyrant who capriciously predestinates some men to salvation and actively hardens the rest, predestinating them to damnation, Calvinists tend to be severe in their view of their fellow man.The cold and unfeeling Puritans are a good example of society under control of "theonomists." They have little toleration for differing points of view, even among believers. Calvin burned to death his best friend because his view of the Trinity did not accord with his own. Therefore, theonomy under Calvinists is probably NOT where we want to go.
However, the basic idea that God's moral law is binding and should been enforced is very sound. The Old Testament had moral law, ceremonial law,and various additional laws suited to the Jews' time and situation. Only the moral law is binding today. Christ's sacrifice nullified the ceremonial, law which was a type pointing to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The other laws, like dietary laws and the city of refuge that you mention, are not binding today, but were only for the Jews. The dietary laws were to keep the Jews separate from the pagan neighbors. The cities of refuge embodied a principle of looking at the mental state of the actorin homicide to determine if it was murder or voluntary/involuntary manslaughter. That principle is still sound and Anglo-American law follow sit today; but the requirement that the offender reside in a city of refuge until the death of the high priest obviously is not binding.
Morals do not change. It was always wrong to steal or murder and it always will be. So, God's basic moral law is timeless and should be enforced.Yes. Should adultery, fornication, sodomy and other moral offenses be punished by the civil authority? I think it can and should. It is an historical fact that for many centuries Anglo-American law punished these offenses. In England through most of the middle ages sodomy was punishable with death. As we came into the "Enlightenment" society softened the punishment of crime, so that today even murder often is not capital. You can judge for yourself where this has brought society and if softening these laws or nullifying them all together has been good.

What is Theonomy?

I found this definition on the internet:

Theonomy means literally, “God's law,” or the belief that the moral laws of
the Old Testament are still binding today.

I found this objection to Theonomy:

"I have no argument with a great deal of what the theonomists teach. In
fact I find much of their writings on apologetics and theology
positively delightful. So my rejection of Theonomy does not mean that I
wholesale reject all of what they have to say. I have always agreed with
their stance that there is no neutrality, and that all persons have
basic presuppositions (many they cannot account for), even prior to
reading any of their writings. My disagreement is with their political
ideology which appears to be bent on enforcing the first table of the
Law.


The rule of God is good and I long for it in its fullness when our Lord
returns, but a theocracy is still a rule of man, since men's
understanding of God is always subjective. Thus the depravity of man
itself rules out the possibility of a real theocracy since our
application of it is always flawed. This is not to mention the
disagreements amongst ourselves us are sharp. I especially find it
disturbing when theonomists begin speaking of imprisoning or deporting
persons of other religions. Such a lack of meekness is not our place
this side of the cross prior to the parousia. Do you hope to persuade
those in prison of our Christianity by force of will? In my opinion this
methodology, proposed by many prominent theonomists, is in conflict with
the Word of God. The sword is not to be used as it is in Islam to coerce
conversions. I have had enough debates with theonomists to know this is
what many of them believe.


Also disturbing, and often to my surprise, is that the attitude of many
of those who attempt to enforce their logic to persuade me in this issue
to be unrelenting and often mean-spirited. Theonomy/Reconstructionism
needs to take a gentler approach if it hopes to persuade others. Jesus
told us to look at the fruit of the persons to determine the spiritual
reality, and the common lack of genuine humility I find among many
followers of reconstructionism is enough to give me serious pause. I say
this while recognizing my own cold-heartedness toward others so this is
surely not a blanket condemnation. I merely say it because I believe
love hates what is harmful and destructive in others' lives. When I see
my friends caught in something that is ultimately harmful I must come
humbly with a clear attitude of "I love you and am committed to you but
I can't stand to see what this is doing to your life," all the while
recognizing my own sinfulness.


It is my strong belief that in this era our Lord has called us to make
his Word known through meekness, suffering and godly persuasion, not
coercion. If postmillenialism is true and we have the opportunity to
apply biblical law to civil government, I would part ways with you guys
with regard to the first table of the Mosiac Law. I do not believe that
it can be enforced on unbelievers. Our tools of war are love, prayer and
the word of God, as empowered by the Holy Spirit. Political enforcement
of worship isn't going to save people. The Lord never sanctions it."

[Dad writing now] I agree that the moral law of the Old Testament is still
binding. However, most "Theonomists" are Calvinists and my concern is that
they would tend to be too "Puritanical" in imposing their view of things on
others, and would start witch hunts and burning people who interpret the
"Trinity" differently than they do if they allowed. That seems to be the
basic concern of the writer of above, and I share it to a certain degree.

I agree that we definitely should try to conform human institutions,
including government and culture, to the Bible, but I believe that a good
deal of toleration must be shown toward all Christian sects. The civil
government should not be a sword in the hand of sectarians or to give one
denomination power over others; all Christian faiths should be protected.
There may be a few very outrageous sects on the fringe of Christianity
should be excluded from protection, but generally, all Christian sects
should be acknowledged and protected.

I do not think non-Christian religions should have the protection of law.
But neither do I think they should be compelled to convert or be
persecuted. I don't think we should let them build mosques or synagogues
either. Why should false religions have legal protection in a Christian
land? Men who argue there is no God can have a terribly destructive
influence and effect on a society and I can't see why communities should
have to allow such irresponsible conduct to have free license. Restraint
is a good policy when dealing with dissenters and outsiders, but I do think
there is a point at which we should be able to penalize evil speech that
destroys men's souls.

Study: Young Children Who Are Spanked Are Happier and More Successful as Teenagers

By Thaddeus M. BaklinskiGRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, January 5, 2010

A US-based study suggests that spanking isn't harmful for children and, in fact, states that children who had been physically disciplined when they were young, between the ages of 2 and 6, grew up to be happier and more successful, performed better at school as teenagers and were more likely to do volunteer work and to want to go to university, than those who had never been spanked.The study, conducted under the auspices of the Portraits of American Life Study (PALS) {http://pals.nd.edu/} by Dr. Marjorie Gunnoe, professor of Psychology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, found there was a lack of evidence to prove that spanking harmed children, and that spanking used judiciously as the normal consequence for bad behavior is beneficial to children."The claims that are made for not spanking children fail to hold up. They are not consistent with the data," Gunnoe said. "I think of spanking as a dangerous tool, but there are times when there is a job big enough for a dangerous tool - you just don't use it for all your jobs," she added.Professor Gunnoe interviewed 2,600 teenagers about being spanked. She found that when participants' answers were compared with their behavior, such as academic success, optimism about the future, antisocial behavior, violence and bouts of depression, those who had been physically disciplined only between the ages of two and six performed best on all the positive measures.Those who had been spanked between seven and eleven exhibited more negative behavior but were still more likely to be academically successful.In cases where physical discipline continued beyond the age of 12, or in those who had never received corporal punishment, the children were found to perform more poorly in the indicators that were taken into consideration. Dr. Gunnoe found that almost a quarter of the teens in the study reported they were never spanked.The American College of Pediatricians (ACP) states that disciplinary spanking by parents can be effective when properly used. "It is clear that parents should not solely rely upon disciplinary spanking to accomplish control of their child's behavior," says the organization's position statement. "Evidence suggests that it can be a useful and necessary part of a successful disciplinary plan."According to the ACP, effective discipline has three key components: a loving, supportive relationship between parent and child; use of positive reinforcement when children behave well; and, use of punishment when children misbehave.Many parents who are fearful of using spanking as punishment claim that spanking teaches physically aggressive behavior which the child will imitate.Aric Sigman, a psychologist and author of "The Spoilt Generation: Why Restoring Authority will Make our Children and Society Happier," commented on the results of Professor Gunnoe's research."The idea that smacking and violence are on a continuum is a bizarre and fetishised view of what punishment is for most parents," he told the UK Daily Mail."If it's done judiciously by a parent who is normally affectionate and sensitive to their child, our society should not be up in arms about that. Parents should be taught to distinguish this from a punch in the face."