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Quote - Martin Luther

"The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone...How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?" Martin Luther

1 John - What a book!

Have you read 1 John lately? If not, invest a few minutes and read it. It is such a clear picture of the difference between believers and non-believers. So powerful and clear!

1 John 2:1 (ESV) " My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. "

1 John 2:15 (ESV) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

1 John 2:19 (ESV) "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."

The Archaelogical Study Bible

When I traveled across Israel I intentionally selected a Bible that would compliment my studies. I selected the Archaelogical Study Bible (and later found out that one of its editors was a professor leading my group, Dr. Duane Garrett; another Hebrew scholar, Dr. Russell Fuller was another group leader). I especially appreciated the Archaeological Study Bible becuase it had short articles and pictures about every site that we visited. I would read the short articles on the way to the site and they greatly prepared me for what I was about to see. The pictures and descriptions were helpful in understanding both the history and the culture.

Features:

  • Bottom of page study notes highlight and add further explanation to passages that speak on archaeological or cultural facts included in the Scripture
  • 520 Articles (520) covering Archaeological Sites, Cultural and Historical Notes, Ancient Peoples and Lands, the Reliability of the Bible, Ancient Texts and Artifacts
  • Approximately 500 4-color photographs interspersed throughout
  • Detailed book introductions that provide basic, at-a-glance information
  • In-text color maps that assist the reader in placing the action

Quote - Charles Spurgeon

"We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives." Charles Spurgeon

web address change - www.jonathancarl.org

This WEBSITE address changed....you may not have noticed because the old address (jonathanlcarl.blogspot.com ) will continue to redirect you (automatically) to the new address (www.jonathancarl.org). Thanks for visiting! If there are issues/concerns/questions you have or resources that would be helpful to share with others, please send them to jcarl@severnsvalley.org

Israel - The Sacred Bridge

The Sacred Bridge: Carta's Atlas of the Biblical World is written by Professors Anson F. Rainey and R. Steven Notley, showing over 300 maps from a 3,000 year span of time. It includes maps of "migrations and settlements, battles and conquests, the location and detailed movement of individual historical and biblical characters." "In addition, The Sacred Bridge—Carta's Atlas of the Biblical World draws on information from all known ancient sources-Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman and others—to reveal trade routes, economic determinants, and the development of international relations. Maps, many of them never before attempted, are presented chronologically, with extensive interpretive texts alongside. Finds, tools, artifacts, inscriptions and other documents from each period also appear in conjunction with the maps." Although pricey, it is an excellent resource for both Bible scholars and church laymen to deepen their understanding of biblical geography and topography in order to better comprehend the biblical accounts of history. Along with Amazon it also is currently available from: https://www.eisenbrauns.com/ECOM/_2L510J2RE.HTM You will be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive and informative atlas of biblical history.

Quote - Ulrich Zwingli

“Was it not great blindness that God Almighty, who created us, has so often made known to us that he is our Father, and finally even gave his Son for us; and he himself stands there and calls us poor sinners, saying "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." And we went and turned to the creature, and thought God to be so rough and cruel that we dare not come to him." Ulrich Zwingli

Israel - Flights Into Biblical Archaeology

Flights into Biblical Archaeology is a hard-to-find book is one of my favorite souvenirs from my trip to Israel. It is an amazing gathering of photos that specifically show elevated views of many archaeological sites. It simply captured the wonder of so many sites in a way a normal tourist would never be able to accomplish. It's publisher describes it as "a set of oblique aerial photographs of exceptional beauty of many of the most important biblical archaeological sites" that also "includes pictures of special ancient objects and rare works of art." I bought my copy at the museum store Bet She'an (Scythopolis) and am so glad I did. The amazing photography coupled with brief site descriptions make it an enjoyable and easy way to see so many biblical sites. Here are some places I found online where it might be purchased: http://www.israel-catalog.com/product.asp?Product=11478 http://www.antiquities.org.il/shop_eng.asp?cat_id=13

Teenagers: Dating & Abstinence

Dr. Mohler provided a helpful response HERE to Bristol Palin's remarks concerning teenagers and abstinence. Some excerpts:

  • "sexual abstinence until marriage is the biblical expectation and command"
  • "Parents and teenagers must make certain that adequate protections and expectations are in place so that sexual abstinence is very realistic indeed"
  • "Far too many Christian parents allow their teenagers to be part of the 'hooking up' scene of teenage culture. In that highly sexualized context, sexual abstinence would appear unrealistic in the extreme."
  • "Premature pair dating and unsupervised liaisons, set within the supercharged culture of teenage sexuality, can put teenagers into very vulnerable situations"

Here are some helpful resources for both teenagers and their parents in evaluating the wisdom and practice of dating. (there are a lot out there, but these are some of my favorite!) The Ten Commandments of Dating by Dr. Sam Adams & Ben Young "Written from a Christian prospective, The Ten Commandments of Dating will give you practical, no-nonsense advice on how to make dating work for you. Authors Adams and Young provide ten time-tested relationship laws to protect you from the pitfalls of modern dating and increase your odds of successful dating." I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris "Joshua Harris's first book, written when he was only 21, turned the Christian singles scene upside down...and people are still talking.
More than 800,000 copies later, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, with its inspiring call to sincere love, real purity, and purposeful singleness, remains the benchmark for books on Christian dating. Now, for the first time since its release, the national #1 bestseller has been expanded with new content and updated for new readers. Honest and practical, it challenges cultural assumptions about relationships and provides solid, biblical alternatives to society's norm."
Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris "Joshua Harris, who "Kissed Dating Good-bye," now answers your questions about courtship. In Part One, he defines and illustrates the basic principles of "courtship," in contrast to "dating." In Part Two, he deals with practical issues as the season of courtship unfolds, growing closer while guarding our hearts in important areas like romance. In Part Three, we learn how to move toward marriage in a God-honoring way."

Quote - John Calvin

"God cannot be comprehended by us, except as far as he accommodates himself to our standard." John Calvin

Israel - Jerusalem University College

I visited Israel over a year ago with a Seminary-course through Jerusalem University College on Mt.Zion in Jerusalem. It was an incredible 20 day trip and really opened my eyes to so much of the archaeology, geography, and culture of the Bible times. I am only now getting around to going through my photos and videos and plan to share them through this blog in the upcoming months. I hope that you enjoy them and that they give you a greater depth of understanding of the Scriptures!

Quote - David Livingstone

"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa....It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege." David Livingstone

Quote - John Calvin

"Therefore the Christian heart, since it has been thoroughly persuaded that all things happen by God's plan, and that nothing takes place by chance, will ever look to him as the principal causes of things, yet will give attention to the secondary causes in their proper place." John Calvin

Meet Logan - The Sky Angel Cowboy

You may have already heard of Logan, the sky angel cowboy, and his conversation with a radio station in Houston (89.3 KSBJ - my hometown station!); here is an expanded version with some great interviews. Matthew 19:14 (ESV) "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'"

Quote - Martin Luther

"The idea that the service to God should have only to do with a church altar, singing, reading, sacrifice, and the like is without doubt but the worst trick of the devil. How could the devil have led us more effectively astray than by the narrow conception that service to God takes place only in a church and by the works done therein...The whole world could abound with the services to the Lord, Gottesdienste - not only in churches but also in the home, kitchen, workshop, field." Martin Luther

Grace to You - Resources from John MacArthur - www.gty.org

Do you know who John MacArthur is? Have you ever checked out the resources availble online through his ministry? If you answered NO to either of the above questions, you really should check out the richness and depths of his biblical teaching and resources online at http://www.gty.org/ Here are some of the most helpful links:

Check it out...you won't be disappointed!!

Quote - William Tyndale

"There is no work better than to please God; to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a cobbler, or an apostle, all are one; to wash dishes and to preach are all one, as touching the deed, to please God." William Tyndale

FamilyLife.com - Great Articles

Do you want to see growth in your marriage and family? If so, check out FamilyLife.com online. Brittney and I thoroughly enjoyed their Weekend to Remember Conference a few years ago and recommend it to every married couple.
They also have a monthly e-newsletter with some great articles and resources....here are some recent articles linked to their website...
When you ignore God’s command to cultivate intimacy and romance with your wife, she is left with a void in her soul.
The Legacy of a Love Letter Mary May Larmoyeux
High touch in a time of high tech.
With a little creativity, you can plan some innovative romantic excursions at home.
My husband and I love to tell about the truths we’ve learned from 12 years of Weekend to Remember marriage conferences.
Three suggestions for modeling conflict resolution to your kids.
If the gospel is central to your life, it also must be central in your family.
Moments With You: Shared Sacrifice Dennis Rainey These suggestions will help break down the fortresses of me-centered, arrogant selfishness in your home.

Quote - Hudson Taylor

"There are three indispensable requirements for a missionary: 1. Patience 2. Patience 3.Patience." Hudson Taylor

Facebooking: Social Networking at its finest

Did you know that Facebook hit its 5th Anniversary this year? Have you given any though to the changes in communication through social networking online? Dr. Mohler shares some interesting insights into this growing phenomenon HERE. Here are some excerpts from his blog post...
  • "Together, MySpace and Facebook report over 280,000,000 registered users"
  • "Social networking differs from other Internet services by creating a virtual community of linked users, whose updates, photographs, and postings allow for communication anytime and anywhere"

"Here are a few suggestions for safeguarding the social networking experience:" (abbreviated here...full version on his blog)

  1. " Never allow social networking to replace or rival personal contact and communication."
  2. "Set clear parameters for the time devoted to social networking. "
  3. "Never write or post anything on a social networking site that you would not want the world to see, or anything that would compromise your Christian witness." (AMEN!!)
  4. " Parents should monitor, manage, supervise, and control the Internet access of their children and teens. Watch what your child posts and what their friends post."
  5. "Do not allow children and teens to accept any "friend" unknown to you."
  6. "Encourage older friends and relatives to sign up and use the technology. "
  7. "Use the social networking technology to bear witness to the Gospel"
  8. "do not allow social networking to become an idol or a display of narcissism" (self-centeredness)

I've personally really enjoyed getting on Facebook this past year. It has allowed me to better communicate, make contact with, and keep up with friends from high school and college that I wouldn't have otherwise been in touch with as often or to such a depth. It has been fun to share parts of my own life through photos, posts, and updates with others. I have also enjoyed finding a new way to communicate throughout the week with the adults and students of our church.

You can find me or the Severns Valley Student Ministry on Facebook by clicking the two linked photos above.

Quote - William Booth

"I have found my destiny. I must take the gospel to the people of the East End." William Booth

Quote - Count Zinzindorf

"I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." Count Zinzindorf

Quote - Martin Luther

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow." Martin Luther

Quote - William Carey

"I will go down, if you will hold the ropes." [his missions philosophy] William Carey

Quote - C.S. Lewis

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world". C.S. Lewis

Jesus Christ IS God...not merely a good person or a prophet

Have you ever encountered someone who remarks that Jesus Christ is merely a man? Or someone states that Jesus was just a good person or a prophet? Do you find yourself off guard at such comments?

Who did Jesus say that He was? Who does the Bible (the most accurate and well-attested to literary work in history)say Jesus is?

Here are some helpful references to Jesus Christ's and the Bible's claims to the diety of Jesus Christ:

Mark 9:37 - "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

John 5:23 "that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him."

John 8:19 "They said to him therefore, 'Where is your Father?' Jesus answered, 'You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.'"

John 12:44-45 "44And Jesus cried out and said, 'Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.'"

John 14:1 ""Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me."

John 14:7 "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

John 14:9 "Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?'"

John 15:23 "Whoever hates me hates my Father also."

Matthew 11:27 "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

John 5:17 "But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working.'"

John 10:30 "I and the Father are one."

John 14:10-11 "10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves."

John 19:7 "The Jews answered him, 'We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.'"

From the ESV Study Bible:

Jesus Is God: Specific Examples Where Greek Theos (“God”) Is Applied to Jesus

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 20:28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Rom. 9:5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Titus 2:13. . . waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ . . .
Heb. 1:8But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”
2 Pet. 1:1To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ . . .

Jesus cannot merely be reduced to being a good man or a prophet...because of the nature of both His and the Bible's claims, He is either God in flesh, a lunatic or a liar. Who do you say that He is?

Mark 8:29 "'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Peter answered, 'You are the Christ.'"

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