Tomorrows Filmmakers: An Online Film School

I know it has been absolutely forever since I posted last...life has been rather busy. I wish I could give an update on all that has happened in the past year, but alas! That must wait for another time. Just a quick tidbit that might explain my lack of posts: I have been courting an amazing man for 9 months now! God is faithful and he does provide! I cannot wait to update everyone on this new development.

So, on that note, I wanted to share with you an awesome source for anyone - any age, any place, any situation - interested in film or filmmaking. My beau has launched an INCREDIBLE online film academy designed for Christians who want to learn how to achieve excellence in filmmaking for God's glory. Or, if you are just interested in knowing how the filmmaking process works....whatever your level of expertise or interest, this is the source for you. I am not just saying this out of bias. This is truly one of the best online classes out there, and the only one in its category. Introducing: TOMORROWS FILMMAKERS!

Parents: This is a safe, clean environment for your child, teen, or college age student to learn about filmmaking without being worried what they will be taught.

Aspiring Filmmakers: Have you ever wondered if there is one source to find all the instruction you need that is also Christian? This is truly what you have been searching for. 

To learn more info, just watch the video below. Then, head on over to Tomorrows Filmmakers website. If you are even the slightest bit intrigued, you can sign up and get the FIRST MONTH FREE! Every Christian film artist should take this course, without question. So please, go and check it out. And if you are interested or know family or friends who would be, share it with them as well. Take this opportunity to further God's Kingdom through film! 

A Christian's Speech

A Christian’s Speech

Scriptures:

Colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do, whether in word (language, all speech, the act of speaking, discourse) or deed, do it all (any, every one) in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Ephesians 4:29

“Let no corrupt (rotten, putrified, corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out, of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless) word (KJV: communication - language, all speech, the act of speaking, discourse) proceed (go forth, go out, depart, to project, to flow forth) out of your mouth, but what is good (of good constitution or nature, useful, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable) for necessary edification (the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness), that it may impart grace (that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech) to the hearers.”

Colossians 3:8

“But now (at this very moment) you yourselves are to put off (put aside or away) all (each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything) these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy (slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good name), filthy language (foul speaking, low and obscene speech) out of (away from) your mouth.”

Ephesians 5:3-7

“But fornication and all (each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything) uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named (to name, to utter, to make mention of the name) among (in, by) you, as is fitting (KJV: becometh- to stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent, seemly, fit) for saints; neither filthiness (obscenity), nor foolish (impious, godless) talking, nor coarse jesting (pleasantry, humour, facetiousness, scurrility - making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation, ribaldry - referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way, low jesting), which are not fitting (KJV: convenient - to have come up to, arrived at, to reach to, to pertain to what is due, duty, as was fitting), but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean (in a moral sense: unclean in thought and life) person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of (through, by means of) these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience (obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will). Therefore do not be partakers with them.”

James 1:26

“If anyone among you thinks he is religious (fearing or worshipping God), and does not bridle (to lead by a bridle, to guide, hold in check, restrain) his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless (devoid of force, truth, success, result, useless, of no purpose).”

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatever (as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever) things are true (loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful), whatever things are noble (KJV: honest - to be venerated for character, honorable), whatever things are just (righteous, observing divine laws, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God, innocent, faultless, guiltless, used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life, approved of or acceptable of God) whatever things are pure (exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure from carnality, chaste, modest), whatever things are lovely (acceptable, pleasing), whatever things are of good report (sounding well), if there is any virtue (a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action, any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity) and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

1 Peter 1:16

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”

Matthew 12:34-37

“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good (of good constitution or nature, useful, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable) man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil (bad, of a bad nature or condition, wicked) man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle (free from labour, at leisure, lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform) word (any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning, speech, discourse, subject matter of speech, thing spoken of) men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words (speech, discourse, the act of speaking) you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Colossians 4:6

“Walk (regulate ones life, conduct oneself) in wisdom toward (to the advantage of, in regards to) those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech (speech, discourse, the act of speaking) always (at all times, ever) be with grace (that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech, benefit, bounty, goodwill), seasoned with salt (wisdom and grace exhibited in speech), that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Quotes:

“A Christian's speech reveals more of his inward character than any other action. In fact, it often betrays our true, inward man”

“The final category under consideration is vulgarity and innuendo. Again, we are considering both an extreme and milder form of the same sin. Included in this category are: dirty jokes, sexual implications and undertones, filthy language referring to bodily functions or anatomy, and other inappropriate topics, which should not be publicly or lightly discussed. Whereas vulgar speech contains direct and explicit references, innuendo contains hints, winks, gestures, facial expressions, and other subtle forms of communication, which quietly express vulgar thoughts. It is this subtle vulgarity and crude speech that makes up the vast majority of "adult humor", which often sails over the heads of innocent and naive children. It is this language that causes adults to wrinkle their mouths and snicker softly as another hints at explicit themes without actually articulating them. As before, we find that the Scriptures strongly condemn this type of language:

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:1-4)

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:8)

A Christian is to have his mind set on higher, nobler, spiritual things. Therefore such communication should not be appealing to him. Neither, should it be something upon which he dwells and is therefore even able to imagine, much less utter. Whether spoken directly, or implied through innuendo, the ideas actually communicated by this "filthy language" are the same and are therefore in error.”

In Conclusion:

In the above Scripture references, the Lord ranks crude speech with obscenity and blasphemy. Since elsewhere in Scripture we are commanded to be set apart from the world, it is equally important to be set apart in speech. And since the Lord ranks unclean, immodest and crass speaking with fornication and blasphemy, we should not partake in these things as Christians. We are called to a higher form of communication: one that brings glory to God and edifies the hearer. Using cultural slang and crude terms as a Christian does not set us apart but rather blends us in, making us no different than they. Using the world’s crass lingo is no different, based on Scripture, than using profanity or blaspheming. Instead, we are to meditate on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report. These things are to fill our hearts, and Jesus said that out of our mouths comes what is in our hearts. If this is true, then out of the mouth of Christians should proceed words that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report. It is obvious from the verses cited above that God doesn't consider crude language to be any of these. Therefore, great thought should be given to our speech. 

    To speak specifically to females: this command is compounded, since in addition to these commands to all Christians, women are specifically commanded to clothe themselves in modesty, propriety and moderation and to have a gentle and quiet spirit. This is referring not just to physical clothing, but to every aspect of a female’s life. Women are called to be ladies who moderate their tone and speech as well as their attitude and dress. Especially in this culture where men and women are androgynous, it is vital for Christian women to be Biblical and set apart from the world in terms of speech. This does not mean being better-than-thou, prissy, or haughty. However, it does entail refinement, discretion, self-discipline and being set apart from the culture. Distinction in speech is just as noticeable as distinction in dress for a woman. 

    As an aside, this by no means omits humor. Since we are made in the image of God, humor is therefore an attribute of God. However, just like all other areas of our lives, our humor is fallen and wicked. We have to refine it according to Scripture so that we as Christians are set apart from the world’s unredeemed humor and crude language. In addition, jokes about crude topics such as bodily functions is the common topic of children. Paul states:

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

    So, in conclusion, there is no hard and fast rule I am seeking to push here. Instead, I want to communicate the importance of speech in the life of a Christian, and ask you to pray about where the lines must be drawn in your own personal life. How will you apply this principle we found throughout Scripture in your life? 

Fear of Man vs. Fear of God

"The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else." -Oswald Chambers

One of the biggest areas we experience the fear of man is in witnessing. Often, we lack the courage to speak because we are afraid of the response we may receive. Fear of rejection and persecution from our fellow man, especially those we love, keeps us in perpetual silence about the Gospel. After all, who wants the deep hurt of rejection by a mother, sister, grandparent, or close friend? As a result, those lost that are closest to us are those we are least likely to share the saving Gospel with. Their only hope we hide away due to the fear of man. While we are absorbed in self-pity, they are headed straight for hell. This is a great tragedy, and Scripture should admonish and encourage us on this issue.

"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." -Proverbs 29:25

"For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" -Hebrews 13:5b-6

"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -Matthew 10:27-28

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,  but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." -2 Timothy 1:7-11

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." -1 John 4:18

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." -Psalm 118:8

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." -1 John 4:4-6

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"-Romans 8:15

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

"'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the Lord." -Isaiah 54:17

Noah | And the Last Days

Ray Comfort and Living Waters just came out with a new video about the parallels between our days and Noah's day. It is absolutely wonderful and I thought I would share it here. I hope you enjoy!

"Our Primary Task"

I have been studying "The School of Biblical Evangelism" by Ray Comfort, and today's lesson was especially convicting to me. I wanted to share it with you all, because it is something every Christian needs to hear.

 

"Our Primary Task"

"A lighthouse keeper gained a reputation of being a very kind man. He would give free fuel to ships that miscalculated the amount of fuel needed to reach their destination port. One night during a storm, lightening struck his lighthouse and put out the light. He immediately turned on his generator, but it soon ran out of fuel - and he had given his reserves to passing ships. During the dark night, a ship struck the rocks and many lives were lost.

     At the lighthouse keeper's trial, the judge knew of his reputation as a kind man and wept as he passed sentence. He charged the lighthouse keeper with neglecting his primary responsibility: to keep the light shining.

     The church can so often get caught up in legitimate acts of kindness- standing for political righteousness, feeding the hungry, ect. - but our primary task is to warn sinners of danger. We are to keep the light of the gospel shining so that sinners can avoid the jagged-edged rocks of wrath and escape being eternally damned.

     Imagine seeing a group of firefighters polishing their engine outside a burning building with people trapped at a top floor window. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with cleaning a fire engine - but not while people are trapped in a burning building! Instead of ignoring their cries, the firefighters should have an overwhelming sense of urgency to rescue them. That's the spirit that should be behind the task of evangelism. Yet according to Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ, 'Only two percent of believers in America regularly share their faith in Christ with others.' That means 98 percent of the professing Body of Christ is 'lukewarm' when it comes to obeying the Great Commission.

     Oswald J. Smith said, 'Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected.' We have polished the engines of worship, prayer, and praise and neglected the sober task given to us by God. A firefighter who ignores his responsibilities and allows people to perish in the flames is not a firefighter; he is an impostor. How could we ignore our responsibility and allow the world to walk blindly into the fires of hell? If God's love dwells within us, we must warn the lost. The Bible tells us to 'have compassion...save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh' (Jude 22, 23). If we don't have love and compassion, then we don't know God - we are impostors (see 1 John 4:8). Charles Spurgeon said, 'Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.' Each of us should examine ourselves in light of these sobering thoughts (2 Corinthians 13:5) so that we won't be part of the great multitude who called Jesus 'Lord,' but refused to obey Him. It will be professing believers who will hear those fearful words, 'I never knew you: depart from me' (Matthew 7:21-23).

     A popular episode of the 'Andy Griffith Show' is called 'Man in a Hurry.' It tells the story of a business man who rushes through the quiet town of Mayberry. He is uptight and very hyper and finds the laid-back lifestyle of the locals to be extremely frustrating. However, in time he begins to enjoy the take-it-easy way of life. While it's a wonderful lesson on the importance of not rushing through life, the 'man in a hurry' should be the Christian's hero. We are in a hurry. We should work while it is yet day with a sense of extreme urgency. We must preach the Word in season and out of season, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

     Take to heart these words from Billy Sunday: 'I believe that lack of efficient personal work is one of the failures of the Church today. The people of the Church are like squirrels in a cage. Lots of activity, but accomplishing nothing. It doesn't require a Christian life to sell oyster soup or run a bazaar or a rummage sale. Many churches report no new members on confession of faith. Why these meager results with this tremendous expenditure of energy and money? Why are so few people coming into the Kingdom? I will tell you - there is not a definite effort put forth to persuade a definite person to receive a definite Savior at a definite time, and that definite time is now.'

     May God give us a renewed sense of urgency and such love for sinners that we will be convicted by our conscience if we walk past any person without a deep concern for his salvation. May He also work in our hearts so that our prayers will be permeated with a cry for laborers, so that this world may be reached with the message of eternal salvation."

 

"A true story is told of a millionaire who had a portrait painted of his beloved son before the son went to war. He was tragically killed in battle, and shortly afterward, the heartbroken millionaire died. His will stated that all his riches were to be auctioned, specifying that the painting must sell first.

     Many showed up at the auction, where a mass of the rich man's wealth was displayed. When the painting was held up for sale, no bids were offered. It was an unknown painting by an unknown painter of the rich man's uncelebrated son, so, sadly, there was no interest. After a few moments, a butler who worked for the man recalled how much the millionaire loved his son, so he made a bid and purchased the portrait for a very low price.

     Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, the auctioneer brought down his gavel and declared the auction closed. The rich man's will had specified that the person who cared enough to purchase the painting of his beloved son was also to be given all the riches of his will.

     This is precisely what God has done through the gospel. He who accepts the beloved Son of God also receives all the riches of His will - the gift of eternal life and 'pleasures for evermore.' They become 'joint heirs' with the Son (Romans 8:16, 17)."

 

If you were convicted by this, I would highly recommend you start studying "The School of Biblical Evangelism" and find out how to effectively witness to the lost. In fact, it is something every Christian should read. To visit the website, click HERE. Or, if you want to do like me and simply read the book, you can find that on many Christian bookstore websites.

 

I hope this was as much an admonition and blessing to you as it was to me!

Delicious Health Smoothie

I have recently been messing around trying to create a healthy and tasty smoothie, and I believe this is the perfect combo! I am sorry I don't have a picture.

Healthy Fruit and Veggie Smoothie

 

 

Ingredients:

 

- 3 orange slices

- 1/2 banana

- 1/4 c. frozen strawberries

- 1/4 c. frozen blueberries

- 2 baby carrots

- 1/4 c. spinach, stems removed

- 1/2 c. ice

- 1/4 c. strawberry kefir

- 1/4 c. whole milk

- 1 tbsp. honey

- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

 

 

1. Blend all ingredients on high in a blender until smooth. You can add more milk for a thinner consistency or more ice for a thicker consistency. Makes about 16 fluid ounces.

 

 

And it is as simple as that! I hope you try this and enjoy not only the wonderful taste but also the health benefits!

The Law

Here is a post I recently did in my online Bible course, Koinonia Institute. I have been extremely convicted about the method I use to witness to people by a book I just started reading entitled "The School of Biblical Evangelism" by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. I wish I could expound on this more now, but I am limited at this time. I may, however, get into more detail on this topic in subsequent posts. Without further ado:


The Law

This is something the Lord has heavily laid on my heart recently. I have been reading a book entitled, "The School of Biblical Evangelism", which teaches believers how to share the gospel effectively. The Law is our tool to lead people to repentance. Romans 7:7-13 says,
"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.  And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.  Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful."

The Law serves an essential role in sharing the gospel with people. Without the bad news, sinners will not be able to understand or appreciate the good news. Without knowing that they have broken God's law and are destined for hell, they will not realize their need for deliverance. Therefore, in sharing the gospel, we must first share the need, and then the provision. In witnessing we must start from the beginning, as Christ did in Luke 24:27, "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." 

For example, ask the average person if they are a "good person", and their response will be "yes". If they are truly good, why would they need a Savior? But if you show them that they are actually despicably wicked and hopeless because they have broken God's Law, then they will grasp their need for deliverance from judgment. I am so thankful that the Lord has been instructing me in this, because I never realized the powerful tool I had in the Law before!




In addition, here is a video of Ray Comfort talking about the importance of the Law and then applying this in witnessing to the audience. I am having trouble embedding the video, so please click HERE to view.

Existentialism

Have you ever heard the terms, "the leap of faith", or "all roads lead to heaven"? Both of these stem from the philosophy of a man named Soren Kierkegaard. I wrote a paper on this philosopher last year for a class I was taking, and I thought I would share it with you. Much of the cultural worldview in America today was heavily influenced by Kierkegaard, so I feel there is relevance in understanding his ideas in a little more detail. I know it is quite long, but I hope you learn from it and enjoy it!

Søren Kierkegaard

    Born in 1813, Søren Kierkegaard is considered the father of modern existentialism. Existentialism is defined in Merriam-Webster Dictionary as follows:

        Analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual  who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge   of what is right or wrong or good or bad.

While the term did not exist in Kierkegaard’s time, the ideas related to existentialism were in large part pioneered by him. In addition, Kierkegaard was an expressly Christian philosopher. He sought answers regarding the relationship of faith and religion, and ultimately led to the common modern separation between faith and reason. Søren Kierkegaard had many correct insights into the Christian life, but one little error led him, and our culture after him, into miry clay.

     During Kierkegaard’s day, the culture had been widely influenced by Immanuel Kant and G.W.F. Hegel. Kant, in his epistemology, defended the principle of a priori knowledge, including the moral law and ethical standards. Thus, he established the idea that moral principles are universal, necessary, and rational. Kant penned the term, “The Categorical Imperative”, which is basically a version of the Golden Rule: The way you should act is the way you want everyone to act. However, Kant did not anchor ethics or morality on any divine standard, but rather simply assumed that they exist a priori without cause. Therefore, ethics became its own end, divorced from God. G.W.F. Hegel reinforced Kant’s system, and ultimately left a morality unmoored from any divine foundation.

     Thus, during Kierkegaard’s day, many “Christians” lived according to ethical principles without any kind of passion or commitment to the God who is the standard of ethics. This left Kierkegaard with a bad taste in his mouth regarding the effects of Kantian Ethics on society. He said, “God comes to be an invisible vanishing point, and impotent thought; his power is only in the ethical, which fills all of existence.” What Kierkegaard experienced was a lack of true, passionate faith amongst Christians; instead, they simply practiced ethics as the chief end of religion. This viewpoint pushed Kierkegaard to develop the concept of the three stages of religious life. The first stage, the aesthetic stage, consists of a selfish pursuit of pleasure and a focus on temporal existence alone. This stage leads to despair, because it does not accomplish the purpose for which God created man. Such despair leads man to move to the second stage, the ethical stage. In this stage, man submits to the universal ethical principles, becoming a “good person”. Finally, when man realizes that the ethical cannot be its own end, he makes a specific decision to move to the religious stage. This stage, characterized by a true relationship with God and a passionate commitment to him, is reached through an irrational “leap of faith”. As a model for this type of blind faith, Kierkegaard turns to Abraham. Specifically, he focuses on the instance of God’s command for Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. The Scripture reads, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Abraham obeys God, and whilst he begins to plunge the knife at Isaac, God provides a ram in the thicket instead. Throughout Scripture, Abraham is elevated as an exemplar of faith. Kierkegaard then summarizes that Abraham obeyed God out of an irrational, zealous faith. For, to all other men, he would have seemed insane and unethical. In man’s eyes, no universal moral rule can justify Abraham’s actions. However, according to Kierkegaard, true faith is characterized by a radical, desperate, and irrational obedience to God.  By definition, it is subjective, and for each individual the commands differ. Thus, as Kierkegaard himself stated, “Truth is subjectivity.” True religion and faith is characterized by complete abandon of rationality in subjection to God. In fact, Kierkegaard used an example of two men praying. One prays to the Christian God without zeal or passion, and in truth he serves idols. On the other hand, the second man prays to idols with passion, zeal, and complete commitment, and he worships God. Kierkegaard’s continually focused upon the irrational faith of true religion, as opposed to the cultural norm of lackluster service to ethical principles.

      First, let us look at what Kierkegaard got right. The concern he experienced over the works-based faith of his era resounds with many Christians throughout history, including Martin Luther. The need for a saving, life changing faith is certainly Scriptural. Indeed, a radical commitment to God, despite the ridicule from outsiders, is also Biblical. The stages are very insightful, and in some ways adequate for explaining the Christian conversion. Some people simply don’t care about ethics, some are “good” people, and then there are faithful Christians. Finally, Abraham as an example of faith is certainly not out of the ordinary or unbiblical. In fact, many of Scriptures authors, most notably Paul, used Abraham as a supreme example of faith. Thus, many things, especially in the beginning of his quest, Kierkegaard scored a goal on.

      On the other hand, it seems as though when Kierkegaard finally got to the point of concluding the matter, he went off the deep end of sound reasoning. While Abraham was used repeatedly in Scripture as a model of faith, he was never referred to as having irrational faith, but rather a very rational faith. The command to offer Isaac was not the first experience Abraham had with God. Rather, Abraham’s relationship with God was long and tested. God had promised Abraham a son who would produce many offspring. At that time, Isaac had no offspring, and thus Abraham trusted God to carry through with his promise in some way. Hebrews 11:17-19 says:

            By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead…

Thus, Abraham had a rational faith in a God whom he had previously known to follow through with His promises. In addition, what Abraham did was not subjective or “unethical” according to societal norms. God, the giver of life, is the only One who can also take human life. Thus, for God to require the life of Isaac did not violate ethical standards. God, the standard bearer, can take the life of his creation as He sees fit. Thus, in reality, Kierkegaard had a faulty and partial view of Abraham’s faith, and falsely concluded that Abraham had an irrational, subjective faith. He swung the pendulum too far in the opposite direction of works-based religion to a religion that entirely excluded reason. Furthermore, he denied the fundamental principle, if not in practice in theory, of Christ as the only way to the Father. Instead, he favored the view that all roads lead to heaven as long as you follow them with passion and zeal.

      For his many insights, Kierkegaard had an equal number of detrimental faults which still influence of culture today. One of the most obvious results of his viewpoints is modern relativism. Since all roads lead to heaven if followed with passion, why should you judge someone else’s religion? Although this may not seem as radical as all relativism, it prevails in today’s world, even among many Christians. Ultimately, this leads to disobeying the fundamental command Christ gave, which is the Great Commission. Furthermore, it becomes a short distance to the full-fledged relativism of our day. Finally, Kierkegaard influenced modern culture, especially the church, regarding faith and reason. Because he created such a gap between faith and reason, the former being all-in-all and the latter unnecessary, Christians now remove themselves from any area of society which calls for reason and logic. One common example of this is science – Christians believe that science belongs in the realm of the world, while they should simply focus on faith. While most would not readily recognize the name of Søren Kierkegaard, they have many of the thought patterns which he introduced ingrained in their minds. Thus, as it turns out, one little misstep from Biblical truth leads inevitably to false doctrines and ultimately heresy.

    

My Body, God's Choice

My Body, God's Choice from Berean Productions on Vimeo.

I hope this film addressing the issue of abortion touches you as much as it did me. Please share this video if it is something you believe strongly in.

Thanksgiving Pictures

I apologize for the lack of posts for the past several months. I have begun post-high school courses online so life is a bit hectic right now. It is a good kind of hectic though. The courses I am taking are listed below for anyone interested. I would recommend all of them at this point, although I am not very far into any.

• Koinonia Institute
• The Creationist Worldview
• America's Test Kitchen Cooking School

 

Anyways, here are a few pictures of our family taken this Thanksgiving. I hope y'all enjoy!

Three generations. From left to right: me, mom, my sister, dad, my grandma, and my brother.

My parents with the grandkids. Aren't they precious?

Swinging with Pawpaw Greg :)

Me with my cousin.

Mom and Dad

 

So sweet!

 

 

Thanks once again to Berean Productions for the wonderful pictures.

 

 



Videos

I apologize for the lack of posts the past several months. Things have been rather busy and I am having technical difficulties with blogger. I hope to figure this out soon and post a bunch of pictures. In the meantime, I wanted to share a couple of videos for your enjoyment.

First, I am sure most are aware of Billy Graham's newest, and perhaps last, broadcast: My Hope America. We watched this as a church family a couple of weeks ago, and I was profoundly moved. Please share this with your lost family and friends.

Second, here is a wonderful sermon on the accuracy and inspiration of Scripture by Voddie Baucham. I find this one of the most convincing and logical arguments I have heard recently.

I hope you enjoy these videos!
 

Apologetics

Here is an essay I wrote for a Christian Worldview class I took a while back. Since I had a length limit, I wasn't able to go into as much detail as I would have liked, but this is a good summary of the role of apologetics in faith.

"Be Ready to Give an Apologia"

     Richard Dawkins, a prominent member in the scientific community and bestselling author of "The God Delusion", has this to say about religion, "Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence." He also says, "I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." Obviously, Christians strongly disagree with Dawkins' assessments of religion, but what should we do about it? Many Christians advocate contending for the faith through knowledgeable discussions with unbelievers - a method traditionally called "apologetics". The original Greek word, apologia, means "speaking in defense" of one's beliefs. However, other Christians believe apologetics has no real value. They have two main objections: 1) Apologetics does not save anyone; therefore it is useless and 2) Loving Christ and a willingness to be used by Him are the only really important things for a Christian to focus on. While both objections have considerable truth in them, when examined closely we find that they are illogical and not founded on Scripture.

     First, let us examine the objection that apologetics does not save anyone, and is therefore useless. It is true that giving a sound apologetic to an unbeliever will not save him. Even if the unbeliever understands and accepts the good reasons for your faith, he is not saved. He must ultimately accept Christ as his Savior in order for salvation to occur. However, this does not make the role of apologetics obsolete. The Holy Spirit can use reasons for the faith as a powerful tool in transforming a person's life. Often, explaining your faith in a logical sense is the first step towards sharing the Gospel. For example, an atheist will not be interested in hearing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ if he doesn't even see Christianity as a viable option. You may first have to demonstrate that Christianity is logical and before he will even hear of Christ. This is one way in which the Holy Spirit uses apologetics as a tool for salvation. Obtaining a basic understanding of the evidence for our faith is not a waste of time, but rather an asset that the Holy Spirit can use to
lead others to salvation.

     Let us next examine the second objection: Loving Christ and a willingness to be used by Him are the only really important things in a Christian's life. This statement is absolutely true in one sense. Certainly, the most important things in a Christian's life are that he loves Christ and eagerly follows His command to "go". However, it does not follow that one must not have a sound understanding of the faith in order to refute the ideas of the world and prove the Biblical account. The verse often used by proponents of this idea, Luke 10:27, says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind." The question is not whether we should love the Lord, but rather what loving the Lord entails. Christ said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." He also said, "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." Clearly, as seen throughout Scripture, Christ commands us to follow His example and obey His words. Christ Himself gave an apologetic to those around Him, most noticeably through miracles. He performed miracles in order to prove His divine authority. While Christians today cannot perform miracles, we can give reasons for our faith. Also, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." Peter used the very word "apologia" in this text. In 1 Corinthians 10:5, Paul wrote, "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

     While the usefulness of apologetics has been sufficiently established, apologetics can also be used incorrectly. A Christian should not get in a discussion simply to tout their views over their neighbor. In other words, we aren't in it to win an argument, but to win souls. Love and respect for one's neighbor prove the most effective way to do this. Peter said, "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." Other translations say, "with gentleness and respect." Also, Christ stated that the second greatest commandment was as follows, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Since you would not want someone to ungraciously treat your ideas as bunk, you should not do so to your neighbor.

     Blaise Pascal stated, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only be God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." Our responsibility as Christians is to tell the world how to fill this vacuum. With 850 million people claiming atheism or no religion, Christians must be capable and willing to make a case for God. Apologetics is often the first step. In conclusion, John Calvin wrote, "A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth was attacked and yet would remain silent." We cannot hold our silence in the face of attack from men such as Richard Dawkins, who, according to 2 Corinthians 4:4, are blind, "In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

For more information on apologetics, visit these websites:

~ Answers in Genesis
~ Institute for Creation Research
~ Evolution vs. God Film by Ray Comfort
~ Creation Today   

David Ring Sermon

Recently I heard a two part sermon by evangelist David Ring on Focus on the Family Radio. It was perhaps one of most touching messages I have ever heard, and I thought I would share it with y'all. But first, for those of you who aren't familiar with David Ring, here is a quick bio:

"Few individuals have felt the crushing blows that have besieged David Ring since birth. He was born to lose. On October 28th, 1953, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, David was born with Cerebral Palsy. Orphaned at age 14, he was cast about from family to family with nowhere to call home. He endured constant physical pain, humiliating public ridicule and constant discouragement. Yet in the face of these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, David emerged not victimized . . . but victorious! Life was worse than hopeless to him until his relationship began with Jesus Christ who taught him self-respect and acceptance of his physical challenges. To most, physical challenges of this magnitude would prove to be a tombstone. For David Ring, this coming of age was and remains a milestone.

You’ve never heard a speaker quite like David Ring. Although difficult to understand at first, you will soon find yourself captured by his quick wit and warm personality. Whether giving a motivational message at a sales convention, or inspiring church leaders, David always focuses on an individual’s need to conquer the personal challenges an adversities of life. As you hear David Ring, you will laugh…and cry. You will be amazed at his triumph over odds. You will be moved to consider your own life. As one who has not been stifled by his physical limitations, he clearly stakes his challenge to everyone. "I have Cerebral Palsy – What’s your problem?"

As a nationally known speaker since 1973, David shares his story with over 100,000 people each year at churches, conventions, schools and corporate events. He has been featured on numerous occasions on several nationally televised programs.

David’s book Just As I Am, (Moody Press, Chicago, IL) tells about his heartaches and victories, and addresses the central theme of his life: "Triumph Over Odds."

Here are the links to the sermon:
Part 1: Living Joyously - Part 1

Part 2: Living Joyously - Part 2

I hope this message inspires and blesses you as much as it did me! Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

College Education

At long last, my article on college education is complete. It is a fitting time, as I graduated from high school on June 7, 2013. The logical next step for most people is college, and it is certainly something my family and I have given much thought to over the past couple of years. Based on the information we have garnered, the people we have talked to, and my specific calling to be a godly homemaker, we have come to the conclusion that college is not the wisest or most profitable occupation for me. I am by no means implying that this is the right decision for everyone, only that all things must be wisely and prayerfully considered regarding this issue in every individual case. We mustn’t simply jump on board the cultural bandwagon, but rather seek the Lord’s will in our lives and follow it, no matter how odd or outdated it may seem to our society. With these things in mind, I hope that you will think through this article and be blessed by it.

Nine Reasons Why I Am not Following the Popular College Route

1. College is not the beginning of knowledge.

Contrary to popular opinion, college does not give us the knowledge we need to live by. It isn’t a light to our path or a lamp to our feet. Our society views college as the road that leads to wisdom and success in life.  Scripture, however, says something entirely different. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Similarly, Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Therefore, for me to pursue college as the world does - for the ultimate wisdom and understanding that will make me successful in life - would be foolishness. Only the fear of the Lord can truly make me successful, which leads to the second point.

2. The typical college does not teach the fear of the Lord, nor does it fulfill the requirement of wise company.

Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning - the starting point - of all knowledge, a college’s first goal should be to instruct in righteousness. However, as we all know, this is most definitely not the case. In fact, blatant paganism is more welcome on campus than Christianity, and increasingly Christians are prohibited from evangelizing on college grounds. It follows, then, that colleges actually teach foolishness. Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” The majority of colleges today teach evolution and atheism rather than the fear of God. Furthermore, Scripture says, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Even as a strong Christian, the Lord warns us not to partake in bad company. A place where the majority of people fear man rather than God, who reject the reality of God, and who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” would certainly qualify as bad company. It isn’t college that leads to blessing. Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”

3. A college degree is not a savior.

This may sound rather extreme, but when everything is boiled down, many people view a degree as some kind of savior. We have had many people ask us, “What if something happens to Stephanie’s husband so that he cannot work, shouldn’t she be prepared with a college education so she can support the family?” While on the surface this sounds reasonable, in reality it reflects a dependence upon the degree instead of on the Lord. I am commanded to follow the Lord’s call for my life and to obey trustfully. He is in charge of everything, and knows what is going to happen in my life. Therefore, I do not have to be afraid about the future, because He has it all planned out. My reliance for provision in times of trial is on Him alone, not on a piece of paper I received. In fact, the Lord provides for everyone, those with and without college degrees. I know the Lord will bless my obedience to His commands as Genesis 26:1-5 illustrates:

There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

4. A college degree is not security.

Following from the above point, it is by no means guaranteed that a college degree will land a job. In fact, a study in 2011 revealed that eight out of ten college graduates were moving back home. College graduates are having significant difficulty finding work, and in June of 2012 the number of jobless graduates was almost 2,000,000. Furthermore, many who are employed don’t work in the field of their study. In our economy, it is just as difficult for a college graduate to find work as it is for a layman to do so. Thus, a degree really provides very little job security.

5. College does not contribute to contentment in my role, nor is it the best use of my single years.

The call the Lord has placed on my life is that of Proverbs 31 and Titus 2. I am preparing to be a submissive wife, mother and teacher, and homemaker. There are so many more details involved in this call, but as that is not the subject of this post, I will confine it to this description. College not only does not contribute to this role, it creates a discontentment with such a role. In studying anywhere from two to twelve years of my life towards a specific career, am I then going to easily and nonchalantly give that career up to be at home? Why would I use the single years the Lord has given me to study something which I will not be pursuing, in an atmosphere which disdains the call I have been given? It simply doesn’t make sense in light of the previous points, the contrary environment, and the time involved in something I won’t be able to pursue. My single years should be used in learning all of the various aspects of my career: that of wife, mother, and homemaker. If I spend that time on college, I will already be behind on knowing how to properly and efficiently run a household.

6. College narrows a woman’s work field.

In fact, why would I want to study one area of interest when I could study many? Why would I concentrate all of my time on a history degree, when during the same amount of time on my own I could learn about cooking, gardening, sewing, home business, raising children, teaching children, self-sufficiency, frugality, financing, holistic medicine, and many more fields? The knowledge base of a truly prepared Proverbs 31 woman is extensive, and ranges multiple degrees. What good is a history degree going to do me when I need to cook a five-course meal? However, I could learn how to cook a five-course meal and learn about history at the same time. The sky is the limit to the fields of study useful in the home.

7. Post-high school education is not limited to college.

As stated in the above point, there are so many fields of study for a Proverbs 31 woman. For as many topics as there are to study there are books. College is not necessary in order to gain an extensive knowledge of a topic. How many things have you learned through simply reading on your own? In fact, college primarily consists of reading and studying on your own anyway. In addition to books, there are local classes, online classes, and so many resources at our fingertips.

8. College debt does not help my future husband.

Proverbs 31:11-12 says, “The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” One of the greatest strains on a marriage is debt, and by incurring significant debt in college many women are doing their future husbands evil and not good. Furthermore, the Lord specifically warns against debt as slavery, and bringing slavery into a marriage is not the wisest course of action.

9. Many of the successful entrepreneurs never received college degrees.

Many of our founding fathers never even attended school, much less college. But perhaps you think that in order to succeed in today’s world, you must have a college degree. Though as discussed earlier success in this way without the Lord is actually foolishness, a healthy understanding of the lack of necessity for college even in this regard is in order. Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, Inc, dropped out of college at age 19, never achieving the degree for which he was studying. Henry Ford, of Ford Motor Company, never even graduated high school. Bill Gates dropped out of college and established Microsoft. Rachel Ray never received a culinary college education. Steven Spielberg, known as one of the best filmmakers and co-founder of DreamWorks, dropped out of college. Finally, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook and the youngest person to achieve status on Forbes 400, never received a college degree¹. These people represent the highest pier of worldly success, and none of them attained a college degree. Remember, though, that worldly success is not what we are to strive for, but rather to be like Christ more every day.

I know that these ideas seem strange, and perhaps to some offensive. It is not my goal to offend anyone, but simply to give my reasons why I will not be attending the traditional, popular method of post-high school education. I realize the necessity for college in some occupations, such as that of doctor or nurse. However, for the calling of the woman in Scripture, there is no need to pursue college. This does not mean that I stop learning. In fact, I plan to learn a great deal in a plethora of fields. My focus is on the role the Lord has given me, and the plan He has for my life in regards to my further education. This is not a one-size-fits-all article, because the Lord’s plans are individual and specific. However, never try to fit the cultural expectations into the Lord’s calling for your life, but simply follow Him in faith. He will lead you to the best possible place. I leave you with my favorite verse, Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

1. http://learnfinancialplanning.com/famous-people-who-didnt-go-to-college/