Weekly Biblicalview Email: February 6

Biblical Worldview Learning Center Friends:

This week's e-letter is part 4 of my writing Foundational Presuppositions which develops an understanding of worldviews, particularly a Biblical Worldview. Part 4 completes the introductory chapter to the book. This writing will be sent out periodically as further devotional material is developed and written. As those devotionals are produced we will be sending them out in future weekly e-mails.

Foundational Presuppositions, is based upon my seminar presentation of the same name. I do hope to publish the work in the future. If you would be interested in scheduling a single day,weekend, or longer seminar on the Foundational Presuppositions of a Biblical Worldview,arrangements can be made by contacting me at the Biblical Worldview Learning Center.

For the month of February we are making available some very helpful books in the area of Christian Biblical Worldview development. The books we are offering for our February special discount are the following:

Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian Worldview, by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen. An engaging introduction to the Christian worldview explores how Christians can live faithfully at the crossroads of Scripture and postmodern culture. Ideal for undergraduate students and laypeople. (Retail: 20.00; Special: 16.00)

Think Biblically!: Recovering a Christian Worldview, by John MacArthur. This work guides readers in cultivating a Biblical worldview. John MacArthur and other scholars confront the false worldviews that dominate the postmodern world and provide models for cultivating a Biblical mindset. (Retail: 18.00; Special: 14.40)

Lord of All: Developing a Christian World-and-Life View, by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe. The authors define this Christian world-and-life view by considering the six main spheres of influence that Christians should be working to strengthen, from the global and national levels down to the church and the family. (Retail: 18.00; Special: 14.40)

Any these books can be ordered simply by requesting them by e-mail, phone, or mail.

For His Kingdom,

David Barrett, Director

Biblical Worldview Learning Center

david@biblicalview.com

208-377-2367

The Necessity of a Biblical Worldview
Part 4

Consider the following Scriptures:

"In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

Only within the light of the truth in God's Word are we able to truly see more truth. Outside of His Word we grope in darkness.

"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

This Scripture is addressing the benefits in this life that salvation in Christ can bring. Notice the two key components that are associated with this process:

(1) You are to labor or work in this salvation growth process. It requires an investment
on your part.

(2) It takes a unique quality of character with which this laboring process is to take place
– "fear and trembling."

Yes, a believer is made a joint-heir with Jesus and He has called us "friend," but you are not His equal, you are not even close.

Yes, we are told that we can boldly enter the throne room of God, but we cannot go brashly or carelessly believing we can make demands upon Him.

God's grace is no license for immature behavior or thought patterns. God'grace gives us the promise, that by His means, our thoughts and life can be elevated to a position of pleasing Him.

The following two Scriptures also directly address the necessity of actively shaping a Biblical worldview in our lives:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Each of these passages addresses the need to labor at developing a Biblical worldview. Can you see that? The Hebrews passage speaks about a contrast between a baby Christian that understands the simple first principles, or rudiments, of Scripture and a mature Christian. This infant child of God knows he is a sinner and that salvation is by Jesus Christ alone. This is practically all the baby Christian understands and apparently those receiving this epistle were in that condition. But the writer to the Hebrews is not pleased with that infant state of Christianity. He chastises them saying that they should have moved on to the more solid food of Scripture and the Christian life. The "strong meat" of the mature Christian is described in the last proposition of verse 14: "…those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

The mature Christian is one who has learned to apply God's Word to his everyday living and actually practiced reasoning from the Word to the situations and issues he faces. The result being, that the Christian learns to discern that which is in agreement with the Word and that which is contrary to Scripture. This is what is meant by the statement "by reason of use have their senses (perceptions) exercised." Christians need to labor to develop a Godly and Biblical perception of the world around them and the issues of their day. The development of the mind to see things as God would see them is not something that naturally develops in the believer. The believer’s mind needs to be made new. That is what the Romans passage cited above is emphasizing.

In Romans chapter 12, Paul once again warns about the dangers of the world’s influence upon the believer's life. He tells the Christian to not be conformed to this world. That is, they are to guard against being formed and fashioned into the way the world wants them to think and live. The word "conformed" conveys the idea of being changed from the outside-in. The Christian
needs to guard against being shaped by worldly pressures. This includes not only peer pressure and lifestyle pressures, but the changes that come into our lives because we gaze so long upon something that we begin to model it. That's what happens when we look upon, and meditate or vegetate, upon the world’s messages through television, movies, music, magazines, internet, and a host of other avenues.

In contrast to this, Paul exhorts the believer to be changed in another way. He says to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Both the word (transformed) and the place of change (the mind) indicate just the opposite of what we saw concerning the world's impact upon our lives. Paul is telling us that the change is to come from the inside-out. True lasting change begins internally and addresses a change of heart and mind. New presuppositions and new ways of thinking need to be established. Every single one of us, to one degree or another, began in the garbage can of life views. All of us had to be miraculously rescued from our condition of destruction and our daily diet of worldly thinking.

However, the coming to salvation is only the beginning. God, by grace though faith, saves us in an instance. When Jesus Christ returns again, we will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye. However, between these two events, and while we are still alive, we are called to invest ourselves in the process of learning to think and live in ways that are pleasing to God.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind…" (I Peter 1:13a)

These Scriptures and others, along with II Corinthians 10:5, which we looked at earlier, tell us over and over again that we need to learn to think properly in our new life. It is one thing, and the absolute necessary thing, to be rescued out of the garbage can of worldly thinking and living. It is another thing, and equally essential, to get the garbage out of your life. In other words, salvation begins and is secured by the sovereign act of God as He reaches down and pulls you from life’s heap of rubbish. But, if that were all there was to the saved life, then He would take you home the instance He saved you. Yet, for the vast majority of those He saves, He leaves us here on this earth to both share the Good News and to grow in His grace. That growth has nothing to do with our justification before God; that was established at the moment of our salvation. It does, however, have everything to do with our maturing, our sanctification, our becoming more and more into the image of His Son. And, these passages on the mind, including Romans 12:2 tell us that we are to be personally invested in this process.

W.E. Vine in his very helpful work, Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, gives very instructive insight into the meaning of this passage in Romans 12.

"…a renewal, is used in Rom. 12:2, "the renewing (of your mind)," i.e.,
the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind
of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life; in
Tit. 3:5, where "the renewing of the Holy Spirit" is not a fresh bestowment
of the Spirit, but a revival of His power, developing the Christian life; this
passage stresses the continual operation of the indwelling Spirit of God; the
Romans passage stresses the willing response on the part of the believer".
(emphasis added)

This brings us back to the very purpose of this book. Every Christian needs a well defined and a well developed Biblical Worldview. None of us can rest on our laurels and say, "Well, I've been saved, there's nothing more for me to concern myself with." I trust all that I have argued above has put that attitude to rest. It's time to invest ourselves in the process of learning view the world as God would want us to and to begin thinking God's thoughts after Him.

The only infallible tool we can use to know how God would want us to think is the revelation of His Truth which is found in His Word, the Bible. It is only there that we can go and know that we are reading exactly what God would want us to know. And it is to His Word that even Christ himself directed us as he prayed for you and me in John chapter 17,

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast
given me; for they are thine…I have given them thy word; and the world
hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of
the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but
that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word
is truth. (emphasis added)

It is now to that Word, the very Word of God, we will turn to learn what God presents as the Foundational Presuppositions that we are to hold.

__________________________________________

February Featured Products

Click on the titles to order.

20% Discount (as Priced)

Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian Worldview

by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen

Retail Price: $20.00

February's price: $16.00

This engaging introduction to Christian worldview explores how Christians can live faithfully at the crossroads of Scripture and postmodern culture.

Ideal for undergraduate students and laypeople, Living at the Crossroads first lays out a brief summary of the biblical story and the most fundamental beliefs of Scripture. The book then tells the story of Western culture from the classical period to postmodernity. Authors Michael Goheen and Craig Bartholomew next analyze how Christians live in the tension that exists at the intersection of the biblical and cultural stories. They proceed to tease out the implications for key areas of life, such as education, scholarship, economics, politics, and church. The result is a deeply thoughtful yet approachable text that draws on the rich tradition of Reformational thinking but contextualizes it to a postmodern setting for a contemporary audience.

Readers will emerge from their study and reflection of worldview with renewed hope in the gospel and restored fervor to help meet the tremendous need for justice and mercy in the world.

224 pages • Paperback

Lord of All

by D. James Kennedy

Retail Price: $18.00

June's price: $14.40

In this book, D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe define the Christian's world-and-life view by considering the six main spheres of influence that Christians should be worlking to strengthen, from the global and national levels down to the church and family. Those with anti-Christian worldviews are working hard to push God out of these spheres,and as Christians we are called to reclaim them for Christ. With an unflinching commitment to God's truth, the authors take us through each of these spheres of influence and give us an overview of what has gone wrong and why a biblically informed world-and-life view is essential. They provide us with the tools and guidance we need to begin integrating our faith with every aspect of life.

320 pages • Hardcover

Think Biblically!: Recovering a Christian Worldview

by John MacArthur

Originally $18.00

May's price: $14.40

Now in paperback, this helpful volume by pastor and best-selling author John MacArthur guides readers in cultivating a biblical worldview on a wide range of issues.

What we think shapes who we are. That's why the Bible tells us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2a). In a world of differing voices competing for our allegiance, we must learn to "think biblically" so we can distinguish good from evil. God is the Creator of this world; his voice-his Word-must guide our thoughts and our lives.

With the Bible in their hands, John MacArthur and other scholars and teachers from the Master's College confront the false worldviews that dominate our postmodern world. The authors provide models for cultivating a biblical mind-set on worship, psychology, gender, science, education, history, government, economics, and literature. This book will help anyone who is striving to think biblically in today's culture.

368 pages • Paperback

__________________________________________

In Defense of Ron Paul

I am voting for Ron Paul in Idaho’s primary caucus on March 6th. Most of my readers will probably not be surprised at that fact. Dr. Voddie Baucham has faithfully expounded the reasons to vote for Dr. Ron Paul, and I encourage you to read his article by clicking here. Like Dr. Baucham many acquaintances have raised questions about Ron Paul that I wish to address.

Lest someone accuse me again of idolatry, I do not think Ron Paul is perfect. His nomination and his election as President will not change our land. Only repentance and self-governance will. That being said, his attitude and manner in treating people is such that he lacks an air of arrogance, which is one of his greatest qualities. He is not a politician; he is a Statesman.

Also, I can not and will not vote for any of the other proposed Republican candidates because I care too much about my children and yours to contribute to the further destruction of our country. I know that I will have to stand before God someday and give account for my vote. I want to do so with a clear conscience. To chose any of the other options before us would be to betray my own conscience.

Foreign Policy

Those who disagree with Ron Paul’s foreign policy do so out of ignorance. His foreign policies are those of our Founding Fathers. They believed we should not meddle in the affairs of other nations, and instead focus on protecting our own land, and having a strong defense (which involved an armed populous with little spending - hence the 2nd Amendment). Congressman Paul is not ignorant about traditional American foreign policy. He’s seen many decades of a failed policy, as a veteran and a 12 term congressman. His opponents style Paul as blind to any threat of terror or war. Quite the contrary, he says we should prepare for just such a season and in the meantime gather our resources from every corner of the world and quit subsidizing foreign powers - either militarily or monetarily, often both.

And, we need to throw out the idea that American threat of violence is a way to win friends and influence people. The only thing it might be is a very temporary and artificial friendship - and that’s the last thing our country needs right now. Our current foreign policy isn’t working. Historically it’s un-American. It turns out to be un-Biblical, since God only directed Israelites to kill in the name of their own promised land not to pursue interests worldwide. God even forbade the Israelites to have chariots, the symbol of military power of the time. God’s sovereign power would otherwise be minimized. All of a sudden, American world hegemony doesn’t seem so biblical, does it?

If you’re not familiar with the Christian Just War Theory I encourage you to research it.


Abortion

Norma Mcorvey (Jane Roe of Roe vs Wade) just endorsed Ron Paul. She understands that Roe vs. Wade should never have been heard by the federal Supreme Court. The case was outside the jurisdiction of the US Supreme Court, because murder is under state jurisdiction. There is no federal law against murder. Each sovereign state, of the fifty states, is enforce its own laws, like a sovereign nation, as described by Alexis de Tocqueville. The national government, which is the federation of these several united states is only to act in areas specifically listed in the US Constitution, mostly settling disputes between the states. The several states existed before the federal government; they created it. The several states are the creator and the federal government is the creation. By extension, the states are to be the masters and the federal government is to be the slave. If the US Supreme Court had followed the Constitution, refusing to hear Roe v Wade, we would not have the blood of 54 million babies on our hands. God always brings justice to injustice, and He will punish those that broke the contract, ignoring the Constitution. It's a covenant issue. For the pro-life community to continually beg for a federal solution is not only against the structure of our system, but it is another crime against the Constitution.

The Law

Some hold the position that the state sovereignty and federal limitation doctrines of Ron Paul reveal his misunderstanding of law (including Biblical law). As a graduate of a Biblical worldview academy, and the daughter of its headmaster, I disagree thoroughly. Ron Paul has a profound understanding of the different kinds of laws as well as the separation of powers and jurisdictional boundaries.

Christians are often confused about the different kinds of laws God gave in the Old Testament. There are civil laws, laws specific to Israel, and ceremonial laws. Obviously, sodomy is an abomination. Disrespecting one's parents can lead to death. God also commanded men to offer goats and calves for their sins. Some law, like the tenth commandment are purely matters of the heart and could never be legislated, even if we tried. There is a difference between God's law (as written on our hearts and which - as it says in Galatians - we as Christians MUST follow), and Church law, city law, state law, or Federal law. Those laws which a Christian must follow (ie - we should not do drugs because we should not defile the temple of the Holy Spirit MUST be obeyed through self governance even though they are not and/or should not be a federal law.) Traditionally there is a divide between canonical law and civil law. Cannonical law was the jurisdiction of the clergy. The same issue was used by Pilot as a reason why he could not condemn Jesus. Jesus had broken no civil law, only religious law (according to the Pharisees). Pilot was a smart and principled man. He understood his jurisdiction and would not be swayed.

We must recognize that even some laws in the Old Testament did not come with enforceable penalties (such as the law to leave the corners of your field for the strangers to glean). Not only must a person have a profound understanding of different kinds of law, they also need to understand the proper jurisdiction of each government. It is within the Church's jurisdiction to enforce God's law to not forsake the fellowship of believers and to excommunicate those who do. It is within the family's jurisdiction to punish disobedient children, and neither are within the civil government's jurisdiction. In the United States it is within each state's jurisdiction to punish murderers, homosexuals, make drugs legal or illegal, etc....it is NOT within the Federal government's jurisdiction. It's the beauty of the way our American system is set up. I think the waters can get very muddied when these two issues are combined and confused and both are very important. If you want to read more on this I recommend Dr. Herb Titus, one of our nation's best Constitutional lawyers and an expert on God's law as well. He was also one of Judge Roy Moore's top attorneys.

Homosexuality

There is a radio interview in which Dr. Paul says that he doesn’t know whether homosexuality is a sin. I was certainly disappointed at first. I listened to the whole interview and learned that Dr. Paul believes that homosexuality is a sin, and that it is also not within the purview of federal law. I agree with him. It should be a state issue.

We must also remember that Congressman Paul’s first profession is a Medical Doctor, and so he thinks in those terms. It seems that Dr. Paul is making more of a medical statement than a moral one. He questions whether homosexuality might be connected to a genetic cause. He either thinks it is a genetic disorder or that it might be a normal genetic trait. It is unclear in the interview.

Also, Ron Paul points out that just as bad as homosexuality in the military is heterosexual perversion. That's the greater point he was trying to make. Even in Christian circles, not to mention among pastors of many faiths, sexual sin is prevalent. A bit of humility and taking the beam out of our own eyes before we start digging for specks in the eyes of unbelievers is called for.

Even if you disagree...

If you are not a supporter of Ron Paul, you probably disagree with him on at least one topic. Fair enough. If that’s the case, here’s my challenge to you. Think about the last election cycle, or the cycle before that. Did you disagree with your candidate on anything? But, you still voted for him. Maybe it’s because you thought he was the best person for the job, or maybe because you like the idea of voting for a winner. Whatever the reason, don’t you think you ought to give a Christian man the benefit of the doubt? He has been married to the same wife for 54 years, delivered over 4,000 babies, has been elected 12 times in his district, and he has a 24-year consistent voting record. Could you also extend the same grace to him - though you might disagree with him on one or two points - that you did to the last person you voted for?

Conclusion

I thank God for leaders like Ron Paul who have consistently spoken, voted, and acted in accordance to a Biblical Worldview and the dictates of his conscience. Isn’t it about time that we respect and honor him for his years of service? And, isn’t it time that we raise up some more leaders like Dr. Ron Paul?

Wait upon the Lord...

If I had to sum up 2011 in one word, the word that would roll off my tongue would be "change", and since as a general rule, change makes me nervous/ overwhelmed/ stressed out, this past year presented many difficulties. But, as the Bible promises us, " that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) it is amazing to see how God used this change to push me to Him. Because He is the only thing in this whole world that does not change, if we are to find any sanity at all in this crazy life we must turn to Him.

Into 2012, change has continued to hold my hand on this path of life. Most of this is due to the fact that I am staring at a Graduation and a Senior Piano Recital happening in 5 months. With these wonderful milestones showing themselves on the horizon, fear can poke itself into your heart. Fear of the future, fear of failure, and mostly, fear of the unknown. But as we know, "perfect love casteth out fear..." (I John 4:18) and so the only way we can dispel these fears is to give them to God who is that perfect love.

The theme of change has extended into the my family as well. In just the latter half of the year, Josiah moved back, Elysse moved back, Liberty moved out, and we had at least 2 and up to 4 additional guests in our home on any given day.

With my older siblings being very much occupied with making these big decisions, I too felt pressure (mostly of my own making) to make a decision concerning "life after high-school". However, as I sought the Lord and His will, as well as talking to my parents numerous times, I came to the realization that this kind of decision could not be made the same way as you decide what you want for breakfast. Rather, this decision requires the ability to listen to what God says and to do it , even when it is not the answer you want or are expecting. I found that even when I did ask the Lord that He would show me His will and that His will would be done, I was already off thinking of reasons I should follow a certain path and not even attempting to open up my ears to listen to what God was trying to tell me.

One of my favorite songs is by Andrew Peterson entitled "The Silence of God" (If you have the chance I encourage you to look this song up on Youtube and listen to it as well as any and all of Andrew Peterson's songs... they are amazing). When I first sought the Lord, yet was not getting any response, I clung to this song as my answer: "The Silence of God". Yet as I continued on my decision-making path, I realized that sometimes you can make yourself believe God is Silent when you are simply not listening. I believe that somewhere through that journey I had stopped listening to the Silence when the Silence had begun to speak. I was choosing to wallow in the miserable fact that God had hid Himself from me, even as He was revealing Himself. It has been a long journey back, one that is not yet complete. I am still attempting to regain the ground I lost because of my pride in the fact that I could do it myself and my hurt that God would "abandon" me. This second journey has been much different than the first and the difficulties have seemed to come in different areas.

With this journey have come many challenges, challenges that at some points seem almost unconquerable and each time I meet them I am tempted again and again to take the "easy way out" and not meet them at all... and time and time again there is Christ, knocking on the door of my heart with his unmeasurable love that overwhelms me and I realize that I can't conquer anything, only HE can. Yet, once again, it seems that with each one of God's declarations of His faithfulness, the Enemy's sayings that I don't need God seem to become louder and louder. Caught in the middle, knowing exactly what you should do, yet realizing that it is in someways what you don't want to do is quite an interesting experience. To know that what you must do can only be done by surrendering the whole of your being over to Christ once again, but also feeling as if by surrendering you will lose something but knowing that if you don't you will lose something greater....


As I have been working through these thoughts and feelings as specifically relating to my decision, the words that keep running through my head are those of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace"

To everything there is a season....

In this season of my life, I believe that if I do want to accomplish God's plan in my life then I must seek in the Scriptures the promises of God and hold fast to them even as He holds fast to me. One of the promises in Scripture that God brought to my attention early last summer at the end of a day filled with worrying over the future was Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." This is an amazing promise, one of strength and power in the Lord... yet, it is also a command to "wait" and not wait in any way or on any thing but to "wait upon the Lord" and HE will "renew your strength.".... He is truly the ONLY one who can renew your strength and He will if you but ask and wait on Him... we truly have an AMAZING God!

Update.

Wow! 2012 has arrived. It sure got here in a hurry.

Since my last post, I survived another semester of college and am on the precipice of yet another. I figured it would be a good idea to recap some of the stuff I mentioned there and take a look ahead. (Considering I probably won't blog again until after this upcoming semester.)

Well, Boise State football came and went. It had more ups than downs, but the downs were pretty down, so to speak. Nevertheless, I'd call it a general success. I was nice to see Kellen and the boys go out on a high note. Getting to see the game in Toledo was very cool. High-fiving Kellen and Co. afterwards was cool, too. It's never too early to start the countdown to next season, but I'll at least wait until I'm done with this blog.

I recently finished my third semester at Hillsdale College. Looking back I find it ironic that the two classes I said I was looking forward to the most I found least enjoyment in at the end. God is laughing at me, so I'll laugh along, eventually. I did well in most my classes, and I look forward to doing even better next semester. Speaking of looking forward, I will once again be focusing on my to main areas of study, Politics and Philosophy, with three and two courses in each discipline respectively. This should be fun. And being the far out, crazy person I am, I am planning to take a sixth academic course as I will be beginning Spanish 101 towards my B.A. requirements. This should be interesting. Mostly, my goal is not dying.

I am still a member of the George Washington Fellowship. My writing and research commitment to this program was not especially onerous this last semester, and I hope that will continue as my class schedule fills up even more. Hopefully, this research service will provide a useful diversion from some of my more tedious class work.

Rugby once again provided a bright spot in my semester despite the complications and losing. I think I am improving as a player and I plan on moving into a greater leadership roll moving forward. For this, I cannot wait. Well, I can, but it will be hard.

As far as the goals I set, I did check out more clubs and will see about greater involvement this next semester; YAL is on hold because of time commitments; I was able to deepen several friendships, now for adding width to the depth, and more depth; spiritual maturity came as well but with downs as well. Prayers are especially appreciated here. As far as being a Godly influence, time will probably tell how well I'm doing. Hopefully, I'll get to see it.

Things keep getting busier, but as the business grows so does my excitement for God's plan.

A always, feel free to contact me on Facebook, by e-mail, or via this blog.

Jacob Barrett

P.S. 234 Days.

Christmas :) :)

Well, as you might have guessed from my lack of blogs, a lot has happened this month. In fact, so much as happened that as I sit here trying to recall everything I find myself at a loss. So I guess I will just tell you about the few things I do remember doing :).

SCHOOL!!! 3 weeks of school and so much to do!! As the Semester raced towards finals my pen raced to keep up with it and the requirements of a large research paper, 2 speeches, and other finals-type activities. In the end it only cost me one night of absolutely no sleep and the whole week averaged out to about 4 hrs a night. But it is over and we have 2 weeks off :) :) :)

Sports: Basketball has been fun. We have played 1 game (loss to Gem State Academy) and we have 4 more games this week in a Christmas/New Year's tournament (yay!!.... well, playing at 9 am= not yay ;) ). I have also been doing Indoor track and had a race last week :). Volleyball practices for city league are starting soon :) :) :) :) :) :) .... as you have probably guessed, I am dreading the start of volleyball.... ;) :).

Singing/ Piano: I was able to participate in 2 caroling groups this December!!! I have never had so much fun as I did getting to sing out with all my heart to my Savior!! I also had a Piano recital... it went ok...

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christmas is one of my most favorite times of the year. Not because of all the presents (although those are super cool), but because of the meaning of Christmas: Jesus. This Christmas Season has been one of Spiritual difficulties... but, then again, isn't that what Christmas is all about? Showing us that we cannot even begin to think we could run our lives, that Jesus is the only way to true peace and happiness.

This Christmas, my family hosted our 2nd annual Christmas Eve Brunch. It was truly an amazing time and I thank God for all the people he brought!

Christmas day was quiet and family oriented... my favorite :) We went to a church service and then opened presents. The afternoon was a time for games :) and then we got a quiet time for sleeping and reading :). Our friend, Dave, was able to come over in the evening and we played more games and just had a merry time!!

I was not expecting many gifts, but for some reason I ended up with a pile on my lap :)
My brother, Josiah, surprised me with a super cool breast collar for my horse! My parents got me lots of books :) (of which I have already read one :) ) Liberty got me some pretty cool yarn that I have already started using to make a baby blanket :). From friends I got: a coffee mug, a necklace, hot chocolate mix :), a super cool scarf (green :)), a china tea cup, and an assortment of clothes :).

Random facts of the month:
Most random question I was asked: At a Christmas program, the photographer asked to take a close up of my shoes.
Got to see my first 3d movie: Hugo :)
Was told twice in two days by 2 different people that I would be in their prayers :)

Book Review:
"Doomed Queen Anne" by Carolyn Meyer 230 pg. Youth historical fiction.

This book traces the life of Anne Boleyn, her rise to power and her descent to death for treason.
Written in the first person, you enter the mind and heart of Anne, the younger sister in a power- hungry family. Her father sends her to the dutch court at age 6 and the French court at age 8. He is willing to sacrifice everything, even his daughters, on the alter of ambition just to rise one more rung on the ladder of influence.
Anne, the ill-favored child, with dark hair and other "blemishes", who has always been hated by her sister Mary, the pretty one. With Jealousy and hatred against her sister and her family, smoldering in her heart, she decides to use everything in her power to capture the heart of the most sought after King of her day, Henry VIII.

This book does an excellent job showing how Anne turned all her friends into enemies on her way up to the position of queen and so when she got there she was utterly alone. There was only one person that was not yet her enemy and with her "failure" to give him a son and her consequent rising panic she succeeded in turning him against her as well.

The author does a very good job at showing at the beginning, Anne as the young and beautiful sought after belle and Queen Catherine, the old, forgotten woman and at the end Anne is the forgotten one as King Henry has moved on to others.

The other thing that is clearly shown is the fact that power does not satisfy. Even though anne is queen she has no friends and no Savior, in essence, she has nothing.

Merry Christmas & the "Rest of the Story"

From David Barrett...

A Story for Christmas

Years ago, I was introduced to Paul Harvey by my wife's grandfather. Paul Harvey was a conservative radio commentator that had a daily news program and a daily story telling program called "The Rest of the Story." There were no other radio programs like the Paul Harvey programs then and there are no programs like them today. They were definitely unique, entertaining, and informative.

At Christmas time, Paul Harvey would often tell a story - a modern parable, he called it - that captured a key facet of why we celebrate Christmas. The story is better heard than read, and if you would like to hear the 1965 Christmas Day broadcast, you can use the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jM_zr_bj5w

Below is the script of the story: "The Man and the Birds"

I have designated this as my Christmas Story of the Man and the Birds. You know, THE Christmas Story, the God born a man in a manger and all that escapes some moderns, mostly, I think, because they seek complex answers to their questions and this one is so utterly simple. So for the cynics and the skeptics and the unconvinced I submit a modern parable.

Now the man to whom I'm going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn't believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn't make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. "I'm truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I'm not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he'd feel like a hypocrite. That he'd much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn't let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. "If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm ...to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand."

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells - Adeste Fidelis – listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

This is exactly what God did. Philippians 2:5-7 tells us this fact:

"…Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

He became one of us; He became a man.

But, He did not enter this world as a fully grown man. No, He came in the delicate, fragile form of a newborn infant. He was born to Mary, a poor, lowly young lady, and his first bed was a manger – the feeding trough for animals.

It amazes me that God would enter the world in this fashion. We cannot fathom the humility it would entail to move from God of the Universe to a frail child among sinful mankind. Most people today are embarrassed to be around someone who is of a lesser "status" in society than themselves. But, there is not a status change in the economic, social, academic, or any other area that can be used to compare with the change of condition with which Christ had to undergo.

Yet, God, in Christ Jesus, did just that. He came to the earth to dwell among mankind. It is His birthday, into humanity that we celebrate.

And, now, as Paul Harvey would so often say, "The Rest of the Story":

As amazing as it is that God would become a man – what theologically is called the "incarnation" – to celebrate that act alone misses the true Christmas story. Just as the man in the parable above had a purpose for wishing he could become a bird, God had a purpose in becoming a man. The man in the parable wanted to provide a way for the birds to be saved from the winter blast. God, in Christ, had a purpose in providing salvation for mankind from the onslaught of sin.

God’s purpose for man's salvation, however, would require something never mentioned in the modern parable, and something likely never imagined by the man in the story. Philippians chapter 2, though, does include this most significant fact.

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil. 2:8)

Jesus came to the earth as a helpless baby in order to grow to be a man and die on the cross. If he had not died on the cross, then the real purpose for becoming a human being and being born in the Bethlehem manger would not have been fulfilled. If Jesus had been born and lived among mankind, but never died on the cross, then God would have spent time with man, but man would never be able to spend eternity with God. Only through the death of Christ on the cross is the penalty for man's sin paid, and the way for man to dwell with God opened to him.

Remember this Christmas season, that the celebration of the birth of Christ, God incarnate, is not the complete reason for our joy. Yes, Christ, God in the flesh, dwelt with mankind. That is an amazing and joyous thought. But, He came with a purpose which He did fulfill. Matthew, in his Gospel record of the birth of Christ told us of that purpose in the words of the angel who spoke to Joseph.

"…behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:20-21)

The baby born in the manger, became a man, and the man Jesus freely humbled himself to death, even the death on the cross, that you and I might live.

Christmas time is here!!!!

December is finally here which means that most people start "checking off" their Christmas lists, decorating their trees, setting up nativity scenes, and getting ready for Christmas in general. Does this mean that this is what Mercy Faith is starting to do??

NO.

Why is that?

Well maybe because she STARTED getting things ready for Christmas in.... oh.... September :P

Seriously though I am very Excited for Christmas.... (just ask HBC)....
but more than Christmas I am excited for all the things that Christmas represents... Jacob coming home in 10 days...Christmas Eve brunch with Family and Friends (held on December 24th :P)...lots of music (especially TSO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A&ob=av2e).... Family and Friends and everyone generally "jolly".......

But why is this time of the year SO special? Why do we give gifts? Why do we get together at this time of year? Why do we decorate? Why are we so happy? The answer to all these questions can be summed up in 2 words.............. JESUS CHRIST. He is the reason this time of year is so special; as believers we celebrate His birth because it represents the whole of his existence here on this Earth that culminated in that never forgotten 3 days in history in which He died AND rose again. We tend to be more joyful than usual because this time of year gives us cause to look at all the things He has given us, the most important being the gift of eternal life. When we look back and take the time to remember this last year, the last 10 years, the last 100 years, even to the beginning of time, we are just overwhelmed with his abiding Love and Mercy for us! Christmas is that time of year that God gives us as a special blessing to celebrate HIM with family and friends.. without HIM there would be no reason for this and it is all in vain. In the same way, if we let ourselves look away from Him and look to ourselves there is no reason for it all, it is all in vain, and we are left in a worse place than we were....




Last weekend and this weekend I was able to watch "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Pimpernel_%281982_film%29) for the 6th and 7th times (oops... did I really admit that.. ;) ) and I thought that I would provide all of you with a review that would encourage you to watch it for yourselves... I am warning you that there are some spoilers in here so if you would like you can watch it for yourself starting right now with this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU2RLwEsxT4

As the movie opens we are met with these daunting words "Paris, 1792 The Terror Begins", in the backdrop to these words is an even more ominous sight.... Madame la Guillotine. We are thrown into the midst of the French Revolution with its mass murder of the aristocracy by the New Republic which shouts for "Liberty, Egality, Fraternity!" and then looks the other way searching for more victims to send to the Guillotine. They have the bourgeoisie so stirred up that they care not for the river of blood that runs through their streets out of their own hearts.

Yet in the midst of this madness, a single group of men headed by a man who chose "nothin' more than a simple, wayside flower" to be their emblem, stand against this river and seek not only to change its course but to stop it all together. "Who is this elusive Scarlet Pimpernel?", is the question on everyone's tongue from the poorest beggar to the man who yesterday was an aristocrat and today is sitting in the Temple prison; from the man who directed the executions to Citizen Robespierre himself. One man is commissioned to find out the answer to this question.... Citizen Chauvelin.

Ah, citizen Chauvelin with his scheming mind and injured heart. His mind filled with images af siting on the Committee for National Security. His heart full of scars from the recent turning of his love Marguerite St. Just to that idiotic fop Sir Percy Blakeney, Baronet. But, of course, it is his money, more money than Chauvelin could dream of. Driven by his will for revenge on Marguerite and hatred for Percy, he will stop at nothing to get to the Scarlet Pimpernel... even when it could mean the death of the woman he once loved.

Sir Percival Blakeney, Baronet.... now here is a man who knows all there is to know about.... fashion and style and nothing else... with enough money to get everything he needs, except a wife, ... until he meets the beautiful Marguerite St. Just, who is not as enamored with his money as she is with him... With his identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel firmly masked, he confidently woos and wins "the most beautiful Actress in France" all the meanwhile, saving as many aristocrats as he can from Madame la Guillotine's bloody hands.

Marguerite St. Just, a simple bourgeois girl who has risen to fame as an illustrious actress in Paris. With her world spinning as she realizes her love for Percy and the man she seeks "behind the mask", she also encounters the twisted heart of Chauvelin and his unquenchable desire to ruin her... She is caught like a fly in Chauvelin's tangled web of deceit and try as she might, she cannot break free...

Alongside these three stunning characters, you also encounter their friends, each interesting in and of themselves.... Lord Antony Dewhurst, Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, Lord Timothy Hastings, Armand St. Just, and many others... each of them playing their part in this suspenseful story.

It is a story full of love and hate; envy and suspicion, courage and cowardice; and most importantly noblesse oblige.