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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.'"

Quote - William Carey

"All my friends are but one, but He is all sufficient." William Carey

Twilight - A Christian Parent's Perspective

What are Christian parents to think of the Twilight series of vampire novels?
Taking on Twilight Bold by Wendy Nentwig is a helpful Christian article on the phenomena of Twilight. Her main points are outlined below:
  • "When it comes to the vampire storyline, which has a starring role in the books, it’s less offensive than any of the scary movies currently aimed at teens—and a lot more chaste. "
  • "Further complicating things is the Cullen family’s desire to be 'good' vampires."
  • "For me, the biggest issue I’d have letting a teen I know read this series is the one that seems the most innocuous on the surface: the love story"
  • "As Christians, we should give much more thought to everything we allow to entertain us. It isn’t just the wizards and the vampires that pose a threat. In fact, they may be more harmless than the stuff we allow to chip away at our morals everyday. Pop culture is a powerful thing. If you don’t think so, ask your family and friends how many Bible verses they can quote and then ask them how many TV theme songs they can sing. "
Chuck Colson's The Point blog makes these points (two blogs The Wrong Message & Conversations with Your Daughter):
  • an "old, dangerous idea that a 'bad boy' can easily be won and tamed by a 'good girl'—an idea that has brought heartache to untold millions of good girls"
  • "the vampire Edward has disturbing habits like sneaking into Bella’s room and watching her sleep, eavesdropping on her and her friends, encouraging her to deceive her father, and even disabling her truck and kidnapping her to keep her from seeing other friends."
  • "Bella is completely without self-confidence. She’s constantly putting herself down and treating her boyfriend as some superior being, using terms like “god” and “angel” to describe him"
  • "So the bottom line is, be sure you are reading what your kids are reading. That’s a message that my family—and families everywhere—ought to take to heart."

My biggest concern?? That teenagers can and will read 500 page fiction novels, but spend little to no time reading God's Word. It is concerning how teenagers, often learning from the model of their parents, can spend significant hours a week immersed in media & culture but only a few minutes per week with their Lord and Creator.

My challenge to parents?? Take your child to your local Christian book store and encourage them to read Christian books...even if that means starting them out in the fiction section. Help them to prioritize their devotional life and Christian walk over their entertainment life.
1 Corinthians 10:23 "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up."
1 Corinthians 10:31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
"The children will follow the example, instead of following the advice." -Lord Palmerston
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS FROM SVBC'S VERY OWN BECCA OWSLEY...
I was reading the Christian perspective on Twilight blog the other day and I don’t think one of the people cited read the books because his evaluation of the characters was wrong and I was surprised to see that it came from Colson b/c I would have thought he would have put more research into it. The below statements are actually not accurate to the book. The vampire in the book is not the “bad guy”. He’s actually more of a gentleman than any character I’ve ever seen in a book since Mr. Darcy. He’s very protective of her, encourages abstinence and pretty much puts her needs above his own. Bella is also not what you would call the “good girl” vs the “bad boy”. Actually she pushes the limits more than he does and he has to remind her to behave. I’m thinking Colson just assumed that b/c he is a vampire his statements below would be true but they are not. I also don’t remember him encouraging her to deceive anyone except to keep them from being eaten by another vampire. :-) They are relatively clean and being a sci-fi nut, didn’t have a big problem with the vampires. I’m not defending the books …I’m just big on making sure the facts are straight on things. I saw a lot of this in the Harry Potter series that I bought into but after reading the books for myself realized most of the criticism came from people who had obviously not read the books and were completely off base. They were noting like what the buzz against them were about. Jonathan’s right though…and I stressed this to my Sunday school class. If we can read those books and spend time taking about it, we should be spending more of that time talking about and reading the Bible. And if you think the Bible is boring than you obviously haven’t read Judges. :-) By all means read, read, read (my vocation depends on it J). But remember to read the most important thing you will every read (the Bible) first and filter all other things you read through it. Colson’s statements that aren’t exactly accurate:
  • "old, dangerous idea that a 'bad boy' can easily be won and tamed by a 'good girl'—an idea that has brought heartache to untold millions of good girls"
  • "the vampire Edward has disturbing habits like sneaking into Bella’s room and watching her sleep, eavesdropping on her and her friends, encouraging her to deceive her father, and even disabling her truck and kidnapping her to keep her from seeing other friends."

Quote - David Brainerd

"As long as I see any thing to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!" David Brainerd

Gambling

Have you ever given thought to whether gambling is right or wrong? Do you know where the Bible provides helpful principles to guide a Christian in make decisions about this area? The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has published a helpful resource on gambling. Some interesting statistics & quotes:
  • 85% of Americans have gambled
  • 60% of Americans have gambled in the past year
  • "Although Scripture does not say “Do not gamble,” gambling clearly violates biblical principles. In addition to doing personal damage to the gambler, it encourages a love of money, legalizes taking from your neighbor, victimizes the poor, corrupts government, produces the wrong attitude toward work, hurts legitimate business, increases violence and crime, and jeopardizes the well-being of families."
  • "Scripture gives Christians principles for living in a proper relationship with God and with each other. Gambling and its promotion violate these principles. It is my prayer that Christians will run from gambling in every form, for there is scarcely no greater act of disobedience and faithlessness than to cast your lot at the feet of a false idol, in this case, the gambling industry." Dr. Richard Land, President of ERLC

They also helpfully include 10 questions to consider concerning one's gambling behavior: 1. You have often gambled longer than you had planned. 2. You have often gambled until your last dollar was gone. 3. Thoughts of gambling have caused you to lose sleep. 4. You have used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid. 5. You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling. 6. You have broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling. 7. You have borrowed money to finance your gambling. 8. You have felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses. 9. You have been remorseful after gambling. 10. You have gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations.

National Problem Gambling HelpLine Network (800-522-4700).

The Family Foundation (http://www.kentuckyfamily.org ) highlights the top reasons to be opposed to gambling in your area:

  1. The Family is targeted
  2. Businesses will lose
  3. Government will be corrupted
  4. The Vulnerable will be destroyed

Proverbs 15:27a(ESV) "Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household" Jeremiah 17:11 (NIV) "Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool." Proverbs 1:19 (ESV) "Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors."

Quotes - C.T. Studd

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." C.T. Studd

Christian Cartoons

Did you read the funny pages growing up? Still do? Here are some links to a variety of Christian cartoons! Here is a link to 7 different cartoons through Baptist Press: http://www.bpnews.net/BPCartoons.asp

http://www.christiancartoons.com/ - this is another good one that points to several different sites

Here are some of the better sites it points to:

Proverbs 17:22a "A joyful heart is good medicine"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 &4b "1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...4b a time to laugh"

Quotes - Gordon Olson

"If every Christian is already considered a missionary, then all can stay put where they are, and nobody needs to get up and go anywhere to preach the gospel. But if our only concern is to witness where we are, how will people in unevangelized areas ever hear the gospel? The present uneven distribution of Christians and opportunities to hear the gospel of Christ will continue on unchanged." Gordon Olson

Salvation of Babies & Infants??

What happens to babies who die in the womb? What about infants and young children who die; do they go to Heaven? What is the age of accountability?

These are important questions that many people have asked themselves as they or others they know have struggled with the loss of a child.

I have not found a pastor or teacher who has addressed the issue with such biblical depth and breadth as John MacArthur. His book, Safe in the Arms of God, answers the below questions:

  1. Where is my child?
  2. What can we say with certainty to those with empty arms?
  3. How does God regard children?
  4. What if my child is not among the elect?
  5. Will I see my child again?
  6. What is my child’s life like in heaven?
  7. Why did my child have to die?
  8. How shall we minister to those who are grieving?

Here are two sermons in which John MacArthur exposits the relevant biblical passages and also addresses many of the same questions as in his book.

Also, an article by John MacArthur:

2 Samuel 12:21-23 "21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

Quote - C.S. Lewis

"When you are arguing against Him, you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all." C.S. Lewis

Free Bible (audio) - www.faithcomesbyhearing.com

www.faithcomesbyhearing.com is an amazing website that seeks to share the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth through audio bibles in currently 336 languages in 98 countries.

from their website:

The World's Largest Catalog of Audio Bibles We offer the world’s largest catalog of Audio Bibles to individuals and nations who hunger to hear.

Offering every person on our planet equal access to the Bible requires meeting the unique needs of generations, technical societies, and fast-paced lifestyles. It also means meeting the cultural and literacy challenges presented when working in underdeveloped countries. Faith Comes By Hearing is rising to meet the biblical needs of a complex world through modern technology. MP3 Bible, BibleSticks for all ages, and third-world culturally adapted playback units, Proclaimer, are just a taste of the technology that God is using to spread His Word throughout the world with Faith Comes By Hearing programs. And, the plans include offering this technology in every language or tongue…

Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

Quote - C.S. Lewis

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it." C.S. Lewis

The Visual Bible - Must WATCH!!!

Is it hard for you to imagine and visualize the Gospel narrative of Jesus Christ? Would you love to see a DVD of the Gospel being shared in an incredible way? I just finished watching the Gospel of John DVD by the Visual Bible. It is an outstanding and amazing visual description done through a word-for-word dramatization. I was amazed (particularly following a three week Seminary class in Israel in 2008) at the level of accuracy, attention, and detail given to the costumes, props, and sets. I strongly recommend this DVD to all Christians of all ages. Some ideas:
  • watch the DVD progressively as a devotional method
  • read the Bible along with the DVD as it plays, recording in your Bible specific ways in how you are newly impacted through seeing a representation
  • watch a scene or use a scene when teaching a class
  • use for a family devotional to teach your children
  • give it as a gift
  • watch it again and again!!!

Although I have only seen the Gospel of John, but cannot wait to buy and watch Matthew and Acts as well!! This is available online through http://www.visual-bible.com/ but also through Lifeway.

This is SO POWERFUL....do not miss watching this!!!! Don't fail to share this with your friends and family!!!

John 20:29 "Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

Quote - Hudson Taylor

"It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home." Hudson Taylor

Scary Stats - Beliefs in the Exclusivity of Christ

Is Jesus Christ the only way to heaven? Is the Bible true and without error? Is the Bible the literal Word of God? These are some important and basic questions that most Christians are getting wrong.

Dr. Mohler has recently written a blog about some scary statistics based on a survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life this past summer.

Here are some notable quotes & statistics from both articles (linked above):
  • "52% of American Christians believe that "at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life...of these 52%, 80% name at least one non-Christian faith that can do so"
  • "37% of those specifically identified as evangelical Christians agreed, rejecting the claim that Jesus is the only Savior and identifying at least some non-Christian religion or religions as leading to eternal life"
  • "only 39 percent of Christians believe that the Bible is the literal word of God, and 18 percent think that it’s just a book written by men and not the word of God at all"
  • "Views on religious exclusivity are linked with frequency of religious service attendance, with those who attend frequently being significantly more likely than others to hold an exclusivist point of view"
  • "among white evangelicals...most of those who attend church at least once a week (60%) say theirs is the one, true faith. But among evangelicals who attend church less often, only half as many (30%) take the view that theirs is the one true faith"
  • "among white Catholics; more than eight-in-ten weekly churchgoers and less-observant Catholics alike say many religions can lead to eternal life (85% and 84%, respectively)"

Church attendance DOES have an impact on whether one tends to hold to a Biblical-worldview or to stray towards societal norms. What one believes about Biblical inerrancy and Gospel exclusivity as taught in one's denomination and church is a critical factor to the understanding of what trends of belief you may expect to find among your church members.

READ what God has to say about the matter...

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

John 14:6 - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

Hebrews 10:23-25 "23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. "

2 Timothy 3:12-4:5 "12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 4:1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. "

The Shack - Is this what God is really like?

I originally posted this blog on The Shack on 9/27/08 but decided to repost it because of the number of Christians I have recently encountered having questions on it.... Have you heard about or read the new bestseller, The Shack by William Young? Has it transformed or challenged the way you think about God? Have you compared its teaching with a balanced and holistic handling of what Scripture teaches? Gotquestions.org continues to be my favorite website as it answers difficult questions in a Bible-based manner. Although they do not usually do book reviews, they have chosen to do one in regard to the false teachings concerning God found in The Shack. I highly suggest reading the entirety of the review available HERE, as it interacts with and presents portions of the book...here are some excerpts from the article.
  • The Trinity - God the Father is portrayed as "'a large beaming African-American woman' who introduces herself as Papa," "Jesus, a Middle Eastern man dressed as a laborer," and "the Holy Spirit, a woman of 'maybe northern Chinese or Nepalese or even Mongolian ethnicity' named Sarayu."
  • The author "wants desperately to show us the God of love as found in Scripture (1 John 4:8), but he ignores the other side, the God of utter holiness (Isaiah 6:1-5) and, ultimately, the final Judge (Revelation 20:11-15)."
  • "By emphasizing only one part of God’s nature, The Shack actually leads readers astray with regard to God’s attitude towards sin."
  • "The words Papa speaks are a form of the ancient heresy of subordinationism, which puts Jesus in a lower rank within the Trinity. Scripture teaches that all three persons of the Trinity are equal in essence."
  • "The Shack also teaches a form of patripassionism, another ancient heresy that teaches that God the Father suffered on the cross. "
  • "The Shack wants to make God accessible to a hurting world, but its author also has a very low view of Scripture; in fact he mocks anyone who holds that there is such a thing as correct doctrine."
  • "If one is to teach error, it is important to do away with Scripture, either by adding to it (Mormonism), mistranslating it (Jehovah's Witnesses) or simply mocking it (The Shack and some others in the "emergent church”). "

I have heard many people in recent months get very excited about The Shack, sharing its "impact" on their understanding of God and how it is transforming their lives. If human books have more impact on our understanding of God than Scripture, we cannot help but to be led astray, little by little.

2 Timothy 4:3-5 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

Quote - John Piper

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." John Piper

I Am Second - Powerful Video Testimonies

This is a powerful website that presents short video testimonies of actors, athletes, musicians, business leaders, and everyday people.
Some recognizable names are: Darrell Waltrip, Stephen Baldwin, Jason Castro, Tony Evans, Josh Hamilton, Brian Welch, Joe Gibbs, & Jason Witten.
It categorizes the testimonies by names as well as struggles and temptations. It also contains short video answers to some common questions people may have and answers the question, "Why is Jesus first?"
Consider sharing this website with someone today...it may make an eternal difference! Beyond sharing this website, are you prepared to share your own testimony about how Christ has worked in and through your life?
Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
1 Peter 3:15-16 "15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
Here is Brian Welch's (from Korn) testimony about coming to Christ.

Prayer Verses

I have blessed with some incredible times of prayer with my Lord Jesus Christ this past week.
Here are some verses I feel led to share on prayer:
Matthew 18:19-20 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Luke 18:1 "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
Matthew 21:21-22 "21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
James 4:1-3 "1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. "

Sexting - Protect Your Teens

Do you know what your teenagers are accessing on their phones? Did you know that 22% of teenage girls and 18% of teenage boys have taken nude or semi-nude photos of themselves? That 33% of teenage boys report seeing such photos?Are you aware that 39% of teens have sent naughty texts as a means of flirting? As texting, camera phones, and internet-based phones ("smart phones") increase in use both new dangers and benefits must be acknowledged and dealt with. http://www.ilivevalues.com/ provides a helpful resource titled "Sex and Cell Phones: Protect Your Teens." Here are some excerpts and benefits of this resource:

Statistics from http://www.nationalcoalition.org/

  • "A survey of 600 households conducted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children found that 20% of parents do not know any of their children’s Internet passwords, instant messaging nicknames or email addresses"
  • "The average age of first Internet exposure to pornography is 11 years oldInternet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review, 2004"
  • "The largest consumer of Internet pornography is the 12-17 age groupInternet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review, 2004"
  • "Only 5% of parents recognized the acronym POS (parent over shoulder) and only 1% could identify WTGP (want to go private?), both of which are used frequently by teens when instant messagingAds target online victimization of children. USA Today, 20 May 2004. "

Additional resources available below:

Quote - C.S. Lewis

"Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms." C.S. Lewis

Parenting and Media

Have you ever wondered how our media-saturated society will impact children and youth over the long run? How should we react and help protect our children while equipping them to make wise decisions in the midst of an increasingly depraved world? Dr. Al Mohler has shared a helpful article on http://www.crosswalk.com/ titled "A Generation Immersed in Media." Check out the below excerpts:
  • "A new report indicates that the average child in America now spends 45 hours a week immersed in the media -- a multiple of the hours spent with parents or in the classroom."
  • "80% agree that heavy media exposure increases the risk of harm, including obesity, smoking, sex, drug and alcohol use, attention problems and poor grades."
  • "Today's children, equipped with iPods, cell phones, laptops, and portable video players, are seldom more than a few feet (if not inches) separated from media technologies."
  • "we must be concerned with the effects of media exposure on the soul"

Here are some highlights from Dr. Mohler's suggestions for parents of today's generation:

  1. "Limit the total media exposure experienced by your children"
  2. "Do not allow children and teenagers to have televisions and Internet-connected computers in the bedroom"
  3. "Make entertainment media a family experience."
  4. "Parents have to do the hard work of actually knowing what their children and teenagers are watching, playing, hearing, and experiencing through media exposure."
  5. "Realize that a revolution has taken place in the lives of children and adolescents. "
  6. "Take a regular look at what your child is posting and what others are posting on his or her social media sites."
  7. "Remember that saying "no" is a legitimate option. "

Quote - Hudson Taylor

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." Hudson Taylor

Quote - Hudson Taylor

"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.” Hudson Taylor

Quote - Leonard Ravenhill

"Today Christians spend more money on dog food than missions." Leonard Ravenhill

Quote - Sameul Zwemer

"I feel now, that Arabia could easily be evangelized within the next thirty years if it were not for the wicked selfishness of Christians." Sameul M. Zwemer

Quote - Oswald Chambers

"We are not built for ourselves, but for God. Not for service for God, but for God." Oswald Chambers
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