Thoughts on Election

My hubby and I had a wonderful weekend at the FPEA Homeschool Convention. What an amazing time together! We sat in on some really great lectures, had dinner at Carrabbas (my favorite) and spent hours in Vendor hall looking at books, books and more books!

I was so excited to pick up Bruce Ware's book, Big Truth's For Young Hearts. For those who may not know, Bruce Ware is a professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - so you know he has to be good! His book is endorsed by CJ Mahaney and Mark Driscoll. The book, according to Mark Driscoll, is to help "Anyone who wants to help children grow in their love for Jesus and understanding of the Bible needs this book." I was excited to get it.

A while back I posted we were trying to memorize some catechisms written by John Piper. Well, that hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. This book is a catechism of sort but with a lot of practical application. We are using it as a family devotion book at night before bed.

Friday night as I was flipping through the book, I came to his section on God choosing certain people for salvation. I know, the Doctrine of Election is very controversial and people on both sides are passionate about what they believe. The Doctrine of Election was a hard one for me to swallow as well. I will never forget the first time I even heard the term "Calvinism" as I was reading something about John MacArthur being a Calvinist. I was shocked that someone I liked so much could be one of "those." Then something crazy happened, see I had begun following several theology blogs like John MacArthur, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, CJ Mahaney, Joshua Harris, Tim Challies, Justin Taylor, Albert Mohler, Russell Moore, Kevin DeYoung and Pyromaniacs. As I researched each one of these I realized they were all Calvinist! Then I realized "older" theologians I was drawn too like Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon were all Calvinist also. I thought there had to be more to this so my husband and I began a search through the Bible on the TULIP acronym - Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints.

We took several weeks looking up verses on election, predestination, chosen. We looked at the context. Looked at the original language. Honestly, I did everything I could to disprove unconditional election. What ended up happening, however, is I really began to believe that this is exactly what the Bible taught and I had been taught wrong my whole life.

One amazing truth I noticed about unconditional election....it is exactly that....unconditional! See, IF God looks into the future to see who would choose Him and then chooses those based on them choosing Him, then that person did something to earn favor with God - they chose Him first. However, if Salvation is by grace through faith alone then this view cannot be right. We cannot in our own earn God's favor or grace because if left to us, we would never choose Him.

Back to Bruce Ware's book, I love how he explains this election doctrine at a child's level. Here are some quotes:

Looking at Ephesians 1:3-6, "So, what is the first thing that comes to Paul's mind when he things about why God should be praised? Answer: God has chosen some sinners to be in Christ (v4), and God has predestined them for adoption into his family through Christ (v5). This is very important to see. If the apostle Paul thinks that one of the greatest reasons why God would be praised is that he chose people to be saved, then we should think the same way.

"as we begin to think about God's plan to save people, we need to understand from the very beginning that no one - absolutely no one! - deserves the kindness and mercy that God decided to shower upon them."

"But as sinners before God, there is only one thing that we rightly deserve-everlasting separation from God and punishment for our sin. The fact that we are breathing at this moment or have good to eat today or often feel well and enjoy good health is because God, in his kindness, gives us what we don't deserve (Acts 17:25). Well, if we don't deserve breath or food or health, we also don't deserve to be saved. None of us do. And until we take this truth deep within our own thoughts and lives, we will not understand the grace and mercy of God in choosing some to be saved."

"Some people would lead us to believe that when God looks at the human race, he sees many people reaching out to him, wanting to be with him, and desiring to live in ways that please him. In this view, if God chooses some to be saved, this means that he turns others who have also wanted to be with him, but he didn't choose them. But this isn't true, not true at all. No person born in the line of Adam is ever like this."

"God has done something so good, so gracious, so wise that it is almost unthinkable. God has decided to choose some sinners to be the objects of his most precious love, to receive kindness and grace that they do not deserve, to have their sins forgiven by the death of his Son, and enter into fellowship with him now and forever. You see, God's choosing is never a matter of his turning away someone who wanted to come. His choosing is always a matter of his bringing to him those who never would have come."

I loved the simplicity of this to explain to our children. There is no way every question about election can be answered in one post, or even by a short devotion. However, what I have learned is God's choosing is something great, something to be praised! The Doctrine of Election isn't about a mean God. So many people say, "God isn't like that." They say this because in their fallen minds they can't understand such a profound truth that goes against our natural tendencies to believe about God. Trust me, I understand because I was there once. Now I celebrate the fact that I am chosen and hope to help others understand the wonderful truth in that.

Here are some good links on election, calvinism and tulip.

Desiring God

Grace To You

More Grace To You

Time Article with Albert Mohler after his brush with death.

There are many many more, but this is just to get started on this post.

Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day with your family.

Prophecy Class - Part 2

Next in our class we studied Daniel 12. I find Daniel 12 a little harder to understand exactly what it is saying...so I guess I'll just paste the scripture in with a few commentary notes on what we learned.

Daniel 12:1-4
12 “At that time shall arise a Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

First note, Michael the archangel stands guard over the Jews. Also, the second half of verse 1 denotes the midpoint of the 70th week (See Revelation 12:7-14). Then, according to our teacher follow the interpretation of this text (which I know is still debatable), there will be a Resurrection - or a reuniting of the body and spirit. This will be a judgement time. Also, verse 4 could refer to todays time as it is so easy to travel to and fro and we certainly have attained "knowledge." Just think how easy information is available on the internet.

Daniel 12:5-7
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.

This passage reinforces the times/times/half time - or 3.5 years.

Daniel 12:8-13
8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and a the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Verse 10 again refers to the Great Tribulation. This could refer to the believers being purified if the rapture has not happened. Others say this means the Jews as many come to Salvation during the tribulation. Verse 11 refers back to Daniel 9, the Abomination of Desolation at the halfway point in the 70th week. There will be an end to the sacrifices in the temple that was part of the covenant which we believe the Anti-Christ will make, or be a part of, with the nation of Israel. After the Abomination of Desolation there will be 1290 days of persecution and rule of the Anti-Christ. Verse 12, with it's 1335 days, an addition 45 days could be for several reasons....either a time of mourning for the calamity that has just encompassed the entire earth....it could be a time of preparation for the millennial kingdom. Then Daniel 10 ends with verse 13 which is the end of the 70th week. Daniel is about to die as well as he nears the end of his life.

Next we studied Matthew 24 which I will work on for the next post. Hopefully after I have gone through all this, I can put a timeline together of how all these verses work together. We'll see.

Thankful Thursday

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is in the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream, and he will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 NASB

After what feels like a year of drought, we have had an amazing week. We are busy making final preparations for my hubby to return to work! Exciting....finally :) So with that, today I am thankful for:

Another successful year of homeschooling...my oldest was evaluated yesterday and passed with flying colors!

One more week until Homeschool convention! A weekend away with my hubby before he goes back to work.

My friend, Kat, who organized a writer's critique group in her home. I learned a lot on Tuesday night and look forward to next month's meeting.

A scheduled trip to the beach tomorrow! Have not been to the beach yet this year, so really looking forward to finally going to see it!

My hubby's work on the rooms in our house (will post pictures at some point). New floors in what is now my school room and new floors in our formal living room. He laid wood laminate floors himself - and with that - thankful for great deals at Home Depot! Seriously, the carpets NEEDED replaced...they were going on 9 years old, cheap builder grade which we never intended to keep so long - we just didn't want to wrap up upgraded carpet in a mortgage for 30 years! But somehow, the carpets never got replaced. My house already smells much better!!!

I am thankful for my mom who is keeping the kids next weekend for us. And for my neighbor who is going to watch McKenzie (my Scottie dog).

Finally, thankful for my friend Paula. She is heading tomorrow to Atlanta to meet up with a mission team heading to Botswana, Africa! I am so excited for her and cannot wait to hear every detail of her trip. Please pray for her trip - safety in the flights and for the mission trip itself that she will be able to do lots of great mission work and share the gospel!

What are you thankful for? Join in here.

Prophecy Class - Part 1

I have been talking about this prophecy class I am taking. So I wanted to start a series of posts on what I have learned. Now, to preface this a little.....I went into the class really not sure what to believe about the timing of the rapture. On the one hand, John MacArthur is very Pre-Trib in his teaching. I can listen to his GTY broadcasts on 1 & 2 Thessalonians and I agree with what he is saying. I have read his book, Because the Time is Near. On the other hand, my next favorite "theologian" - Albert Mohler - is Post Trib. So I really wasn't so sure.

My class isn't finished yet. We were supposed to be done by the end of May - it isn't happening. We are still working through Revelation and hope to be done by the end of June (we will see).

I think the best way to present my posts is to go through how I have studied in class - Starting with Daniel Chapter 9. I may change this up a bit as I am writing but lets see how this goes. Now before I get into Daniel Chapter 9, I want to say that my teacher believes the rapture will happen sometime after the mid-point but before the end of the 7 years. I haven't actually been taught this before or studied it this way. So basically my notes are going to be what she taught. I might add some of my own thoughts on certain things here and there but from what I have studied inductively over the past 5 months....I tend to agree. Please feel free to comment with your thoughts as my teacher has acknowledged that she could be wrong about this whole thing. We studied through different books in the Bible plus we used Kay Arthur's New Inductive Study Series on 1 & 2 Thessalonians (which BTW I do not like near as well as a Precept Upon Precept Study).

So here is Daniel Chapter 9. In the context of verse 1-3 NASB - "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasureus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldean's- in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes."

This chapter takes place about 539 BC. Basically Daniel has been studying Jeremiah and adds up the years to see that the captivity is nearing its end. So he prays to God about the end of captivity coming. Now, skip over the verse 21-23 ESV:

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision."

Here, Gabriel, the same Gabriel in Chapter 8, returns to Daniel to let him know what is going to take place and that there is more to come. Now with verses 24 - 27ESV, things get interesting:

24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Now, lets see how we can work through this. What I do when I study is make lists. Whenever there is a sequence of events or listing in Scripture, I write them down in the margin of my Bible so I can easily see them. The first list we see begins in verse 24, Seventy Weeks (490 years) have been decreed for:

• Transgression Finished
• Made and end of sin
• Make atonement of sin
• Bring in everlasting righteousness
• Set up vision and prophecy
• Anoint the Most Holy Place

At the end of verse 24, the Most Holy Place tells us that a Temple has to be built. We know that during the siege of Jerusalem under the Babylonians the temple was destroyed. But in 445 BC, Artaxerxes issues a decree to rebuild the temple and the temple is finished in 396 BC.

The issuing of this decree begins what we call the 490 years. This period of time is referred to as the first 7 of Daniels 70 weeks.

The next 62 years goes to about 33AD during the Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem. This is around March 30th. Then the Messiah was cut off (verse 26) - or crucified - which would end the 62 year period. So the first 7 years + 62 years = 69 years. Therefore, we have 1 week of time left to complete, which is what we believe will be the 7 year tribulation or 70th week of Daniel. Right now, we are in a Gap of Time. Most end time beliefs agree with this basic teaching...the 7 years/62 years may be a few years off here and there but for the most part this is the most accepted teaching. A few believe the 70th week happened or finished in AD 70 when the 2nd temple was destroyed. And there is some teaching that most of Revelation is symbolic and not literal. But I don't agree with that so I'm going to stick with this basic teaching that we are now in a gap of time and that 69 weeks of Daniel's 70 weeks have been fulfilled.

Now look at verse 27, this is what I believe "kicks off" Daniel's 70th week. He (the anti-Christ) will make a firm covenant with many for one week (Daniel's 70th week). Here, the anti-Christ will sign a covenant with the people of Israel allowing them to rebuild their temple. This will be interesting to see how it plays out since The Dome of the Rock is now located where many believe the temple was previously. From sitting in this prophecy class, which happens to be at a Jewish Learning Center, our teacher said that the priests are ready to begin sacrifices again as soon as the temple is ready. They have been preparing for this for a long time. I asked her about the Ark of the Covenant that has not been located yet. She said the Jewish priests believe that the Ark will supernaturally appear once the temple is ready. Again, this will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Then verse 27 goes on to say that in the middle of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and grain offering - this is the Abomination of Desolation which will happen at the mid-point of the 70th week where Anti-Christ sets himself up in the temple as god. If people thought the first 3.5 years were bad, they will be in for a shock for the last 3.5 years - which I will talk about more later.

That is where I will stop today and write more as I can...moving on to Daniel 12 next.

Thankful Thursday

By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10 ESV

I love the meaning of this verse. I am working through the book of Jeremiah along with Kay Arthur's teaching on her Precepts for Life radio program. (If you have never studied with Kay, I would highly recommend it. I absolutely love the inductive study method....which is why I became trained by Precept Ministries to teach it and have trained my oldest to study this way.) Anyway.....as we continue our journey through Jeremiah, we read this amazing little verse:

A glorious throne on high from the beginning, Is the place of our sanctuary. (Jeremiah 17:12 NASB).

See, God has established an everlasting sanctuary for his people - a throne in heaven that we can have hope in and look forward too. That is exactly what the verse in Hebrews talks of -- Abraham lived by faith in a foreign land, in tents, because he kept his focus on the ultimate city built by God. He stayed focused on God's sanctuary instead of his circumstances.

This week, in particular, this verse spoke volumes to me. As most of you know, we have been going through a trial of my husband being unemployed now for almost 11 months. In that time, we have had several things happen to make the time even more stressful: my husband had a possible blood clot, then he had a possible heart attack (neither of which turned out to be the case), my Suburban had several major things go wrong with it that would have cost a good chunk of money to get fixed (thankfully, my husband was able to fix them all - he is handy that way) and a storm did some damage to our pool cage a couple of weeks ago in which we had to spend money to get the trees trimmed. Then our marriage had some issues, which I won't go into. And we have had to leave our church and search for a new church home. A lot has happened since his lay off last July 1.

After reading those verses, I prayed that my testimony could be somewhat of something like Abraham's. Despite the tough circumstances, did I keep my focus on the sanctuary above? I know some days I didn't. There were definitely days of despair where I couldn't focus on God the way that I should. But there were plenty of days that it was God alone that pulled me through.

So with that, today I am Praising God that Mark got a job!!!! On June 1, 2010, our trial - exactly 11 months to the day, will end. So if you have a moment, please pray that the logistics of this job are worked out according to God's plan. We still have to sign a contract on the pay that has not been done yet so we have a few details to iron out. Yet this job should be an incredible opportunity for Mark. He will work as a contract the remainder of the year, which we will run through the business he established on the side - SolaTek (yes, I picked the name). Which leaves a slight issue for health insurance, etc...but trusting God to help us work all that out. He will also get a week paid vacation (which if you read my blog or know me, then you know exactly where that week vacation will be spent at ----- DISNEY). I would love to write more but I have to get ready for a busy day at our homeschool group's booksale and year end party! Thankful today for God's continued provision. God is good!

What are you thankful for? Please join in here.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Miley Cyrus New Video

I almost NEVER post two posts in one day. However, I have been following a series of posts over at Secret Keeper Girl regarding Miley Cyrus and her new video - Can't Be Tamed. I watched the video on you tube and I'll leave it at that...my 9 year old will not be allowed to view it. Anyway, Dannah over at Secret Keeper Girl has three great posts regarding this:

An Open Letter to Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus

How To Talk to Your Daughter About Miley Cyrus Part 1

How To Talk to Your Daughter About Miley Cyrus Day 2

I, like a lot of Christian moms, did allow my kids to watch Hannah Montana. Honestly, the show is funny. I enjoyed watching it with the kids. My daughter loved Hannah Montana and Miley. So last December I took her to a Miley concert here in Tampa. This was a Miley concert....Hannah Montana was no where around. The show was unacceptable for the crowd that was in attendance - in fact Delena was among the older kids there! I was disappointed and even Delena was and noticed the way Miley was behaving.

Ever since then she has distanced herself from Miley and Hannah Montana. She went almost 2 months without watching it on the Disney channel and even now she only watches it on occasion. She never listens to her music anymore. In January, Mark and I took her and her little best friend to Winter Jam - we saw Third Day and she was thrilled. Now she listens only to CCM music and I will take that any day over the new Miley.

It makes me sad to have to take this step. I enjoyed Miley and was hopeful for her that she wouldn't go the Brittany path. I really hope her parents realize this and step in soon........

A Fun Post

Tammi at Laughing Lady "tagged" me in a fun post - answer some random questions. So here goes.

If you could go anywhere for a vacation, money no object, where would you go and why? Who would you take with you? Disney. Seriously, I would choose Disney! And my husband would kill me too :) But since I have done Disney a few times and plan to do it again (aiming towards September) - lets go back to the west. Grand Canyon, Zion, and all those wonderful parks out in the west. I would take my family and hopefully take a nice camper to stay in.

What has been your biggest challenge as an adult? Homeschooling!

What are you currently reading? What led you to that book? For the first time in a while, I am not currently reading anything. I am working on my Prophecy class Bible Study as well as Jeremiah with Kay Arthur on her radio program. However, I have been reading Joel Rosenburg's fiction books on the end times - The Last Jihad series. I still need to get the fifth book from the library but waiting until school is all done. I also recently read Already Gone by Ken Ham, Why I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris and Why We Are Not Emergent by Two Guys Who Should Be by Kevin DeYoung. All three AWESOME books!

What is one thing you will never ever ever eat? Why? Any raw fish - its just gross.

It is Sunday morning, 10:00 AM. What are you doing? At church - most likely still in Sunday School.


Which is more important to you? A tidy home or a clean home? Is there a difference to you? Probably tidy...I can't stand clutter - it makes me freak out. But eventually I get to the cleaning big things (refrig, baseboards, windows, etc..). I try to keep my floors mopped and the bathrooms spotless at the very least. But there is normally dust under the couches!

If you were given a full-ride scholarship to the post-secondary institution of your choice, where would you go? What courses would you take? This is SOOOOO easy....Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY - Dr. Albert Mohler's school! I would work on a Masters degree in either women's ministry or children's ministry. BTW, this is something I want to do -- I just need Southern to offer more classes in my area or go all online!

Would you rather go to an action movie or a girly movie? Action.

If/when you start to grow grey hair, will you wear it with pride or dye it into submission? I'm already there and I dye it. I have the BEST hairstylist in the entire world and she is super good at color. Just got it done last week. And because she is a childhood friend, served in my wedding, she always cuts me an enormous discount - which has really helped my hair during my husband's layoff --- Love you, Holly!!!

Dogs or cats? Dogs. Scottish Terrier's to be exact. They rule the dog-world.

I don't really have anyone to tag so if you want to join in, just leave a comment that you did. I'll stick with these same questions.

Thanks Tammi! This was fun :)

Thankful Thursday

It is already time for Thankful Thursday! I missed last week...the past couple of weeks have been really busy getting school done before the 19th of May, which is evaluation day!

Today is our Homeschool Promotion Day - and a perfect thing to focus on being thankful for. We made it another year. Delena will be promoted to 4th grade and Caleb to 1st grade! We have practice in a couple of hours and the ceremony tonight. It is always so much fun.

I am thankful that my husband is going to go to the Homeschool Convention with me in Orlando! Three weeks away -- I can't wait. I need some good motivational encouragement and time to browse through curriculum.

If you want to join in and share what your thankful for, head over here.

I LOVE Couponing!!

This is today's Publix run, basically to stock up on the Boneless / Skinless Chicken Breasts that are $1.99 a pound. So here is the basic rundown, I got $138.03 in groceries for $47.56! I got:

2 Thomas Bagels B1G1

Fresh Grapes 1.49lb.

Milk

8 B/S Chicken Breasts

1 Mother's Day Card

4 Nivea Body Washes -- these were a steal. Publix had them on sale for $3.89 and there was a $4 off 1 Nivea body wash product in this past Sunday's coupons! So that was an overage (that our Publix wouldn't let us have to apply towards other groceries...bummer).

6 John Frieda products...another great buy....they were 2 products for 10.98 and I had a $5 off coupon from this past Sunday and Publix $4 off coupon so I was able to stack the two and get $9. Basically $1.98 for two products (its not Paul Mitchell but hey, it will help save on the Paul Mitchell products I do have!)

2 Ocean Spray Blueberry Juice Cocktails.

Notice---no store brand stuff other than the Publix brand milk!

I love saving money :)

Sweet Pea Rest

It is my turn to post over at Laced With Grace. Pleae join me here.