Practicing Repentance

So, I had a really rough weekend. Well, it started out rough (but ended pretty well).

You can read about it here.


Now, why it didn't end so rotten? Well, not having a date weekend to celebrate 15 years of marriage allotted us extra time to visit with a potential new "furry" addition to the family. And we fell. in. love.

Next Tuesday, we will be adding a precious 2 month old tri-colored Australian Shepherd. The kids are so excited. We are still floating around names: Luther, Calvin, Pepper, Piper, Tebow and MacArthur --- leaning heavily toward Pepper though. His nose looks like someone dumped pepper all over it :)

Pictures to come!

Dealing With Rosacea

Last April, my dermatologist confirmed what I suspected....I have Rosacea.

Rosacea is a chronic condition characterized by facial erythema (redness). (From Wikipedia).

Now, mine is a fairly mild case. Occasional redness and a few bumps. It could be worse, since Lupus seems to run in my family, I am thankful it wasn't the infamous Butterfly rash that is typical in those who suffer from Lupus. So I have to learn to deal with it.

Of course, the Dermatologist wanted me to change my cleaning/makeup routine to keep from aggravating the condition. Funny thing though, I am a Mary Kay consultant and have used their products for many years. I wasn't wanting to change, especially since I can get my products at a 50% discount, making them more affordable than even things at Wal Mart.

So I wanted to quickly share what I have found to work for me. I did change a few products around - avoiding masks and cleansers that exfoliate (which Mary Kay's Timewise Cleansing Products do). So far, my Rosacea has not gotten any worse. I have even been able to avoid Metro Gel, the medication the dermatologist wants to have me use. Maybe once we get insurance, I will get it. But for now, this is my routine:

Morning Routine:
Mary Kay Creamy Cleanser 2 (for drier months)
For more humid weather, Mary Kay Deep Cleanser 3.
If I am going to be out in the sun all day, I use CeraVe AM. It has a high SPF.
If it is a day that I won't be out in the sun much, I use Mary Kay Timewise Moisturizer with SPF.

I will also on occasion use Mary Kay Even Complexion.

I also use Mary Kay Day Solution.

For both Morning and Night:

Mary Kay Age Fighting Eye Cream


For night:
Same cleanser as above

Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel

or

CeraVe PM Lotion

For Makeup:

It is all Mary Kay and I love it. No problems, no breakouts!

Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation

Mary Kay Mineral Pressed Powder Which, BTW, I like way better than Bare Escentuals and it is much cheaper for me!!

Mary Kay Mineral Eye Powder


That is about it! I have found this routine works very well for me and has not aggravated my Rosacea whatsoever! I'll repost if anything changes! If anyone else has Rosacea and has any suggestions, I would love to hear them!

More of Knowing God's Will

Another post by Tim Challies on the will of God. Excellent!!! Read the whole thing here.

I totally appreciate his posts. Wow, talk about Freedom! Here is a small quote from the post:

What you will not find? You won’t find the Bible saying, “You should marry this fine, Christian girl instead of that fine, Christian girl.” You won’t find the Bible telling you, “Go ahead and buy the Honda and I will bless you” or “Don’t buy that Toyota or I’ll remove my hand of blessing.” You will find lots of principles and lots of wisdom and lots of clear guidance on how you can honor God. But you will see that God does not reveal his secret will to you and he does not reveal his complete will for you. He guides you and he guides me and all of us in the same way and with the same words. The will he reveals for you is the will he reveals for me.

Some people are disappointed by this, but they shouldn’t be. They should be thrilled! You need to see that there is a lot of joy in understanding that God is not going to tell you whether you should marry this girl or that girl. He will do better. He will tell you that if you are going to marry, you need to marry a member of the opposite sex who is a Christian. That is all the direct guidance he is going to give you. He has spoken to you through the Bible and said all he needs to say on the matter. He wants you to choose who to marry, as long as she meets those basic criteria.

He won’t speak from the sky. Instead, he’ll do something far better. He will let you make a choice and promise to be with you regardless of what you choose. Not only that, but he will love and support you and bless you, because what you do is in accordance with his revealed will as he has given it in the Bible.

Meeting Mark Hall and Juan Devevo

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to meet Mark Hall and Juan Devevo from Casting Crowns!

It was the release day of Casting Crowns new CD, Come to the Well:

It was also the release day for Mark Hall's new book by the same title:



The kids got their picture with Mark and Juan - they were super excited!



We were able to get both the book and CD autogrpahed. Very nice guys, we chatted with them for a short bit. We also bought our concert tickets yesterday. They will be in town November 18th with Sanctus Real and The Afters. Really looking forward to going!! I love Casting Crowns and love their new album. And I am looking forward to reading the book - I am only working on about 5 books right now :)

Knowing God's Will

Tim Challies is doing a series on Knowing the Will of God. You can read Part 1 here.

Today's post is excellent. Below is just a small portion of it. Please check the rest of the post out here. Excellent!!

God will always be guiding us through his providence, quietly and behind
the scenes. When it comes to our conscious participation in doing his will, he
has the ability to guide us however he sees fit. However, in this time he tells
us to expect only that he will guide us by his Son, through the Spirit in
the Bible.

So Christian, if you want to know God’s will for you, you need to look
to the Bible. Here is where God has given us his perfect will; he has given it
to us in his perfect Word. Do you want to know how to serve God? Do you want to
know how to please him? Do you want to know what he wants from you? Do you want to make good and wise and God-honoring decisions? Then look to your Bible. Here is the one and only way that God has promised to guide you.

In one of James Montgomery Boice’s final books he wrote something that
has often come to my mind. He wrote about the Bible and said that as far as he
could see the battle over the inerrancy of the Bible had been fought and won.
The Bible is without error. But the battle for the sufficiency of the Bible was
just beginning. Will the Bible be enough for us? Will we affirm that the Bible
is sufficient to guide us in all of life? Or will we demand that God reveal
himself to us in other ways?

Boice was exactly right. That battle was just beginning. Every year
there are more and more books being published that talk about how to know God’s
will and most of them pay lip service to the Bible but also tell you to look for
guidance from other things—fleeces and circumstances and coincidences and voices
from the sky and impressions and everything else. Some of the bestselling books
on the subject tell you that you should expect God to give you clear guidance
from something other than the Bible in literally every decision you make. Peanut
butter and jelly or peanut butter and honey? God wants you to choose right and
if you listen, he will tell you.

The Reformation and the Men Behind It

Ligonier Ministries is doing a series of posts on six men were a major part of the Protestant Reformation:

Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, William Tyndale, Heinrich Bullinger, and John Calvin

The posts will be taken from the book Pillars of Grace by Steven J. Lawson.

You can read the first here.

These posts should be very interesting and I can't wait to read them. By the way, Ligonier is also offering a DVD by R. C. Sproul called Luther and the Reformation for any gift amount to Ligonier. I am looking forward to receiving this DVD.

I think this year on Reformation Day, October 31st, we will watch the movie, Luther. It was an exceptional movie the portrayed Martin Luther very well. For some reason, we never watched it during our unit study on the Reformation so this would be a good time to catch up!

Women of the Reformation

October 31st is right around the corner! Yes, for many that means trick or treating - my own kiddos included. But an even bigger and better reason to celebrate October 31st is because it is Reformation Day!

I found THIS wonderful study that I plan to join in starting October 31. It is about the women of the Reformation. I am really looking forward to learning more about the women who played a role in the Reformation!

NAR - What is it?

Sola Sisters has a very informative post here about the New Apostolic Reformation -- what it means and who is involved.

I was shocked at a couple, particularly the Tea Party Movement. Will have to look more into that one. I guess, honestly, I haven't really followed the TPM all that much. Anyway, good post with a lot of information.

I enjoy their site. Christine used to be involved in the New Age movement and she can shed some incredible light on some of the stuff going on in churches today.

Firework at Church?

I've blogged about Katy Perry's Firework before. The song is catchy, in fact I have it on my iPod (one of only 2 Katy Perry songs). But if you ever read this post then you know Firework isn't exactly drenched in Biblical truths. So I was a bit surprised to see Perry Nobles church sang it, along with a few other secular songs. You can read and watch here.

This has always bothered me, but I know it isn't a new thing. And I guess it really should have not surprised me, either.

I remember a few years back, the seeker church we were attending was going to have a whole series on secular songs. I don't remember which 5 or 6 songs the pastor chose, I do remember one was by Train. I quietly complained to a girlfriend and my husband that I didn't think it was appropriate to sing a secular song in church. That Sunday that the was supposed to be the first sermon on whatever song, I get to church to find "Cancelled by the Holy Spirit." Apparently the pastor had a change of heart and instead we did 5 weeks learning about modern worship songs. Sometimes I can't believe I tolerated such nonsense as long as I did. I'm still not sure the whole thing wasn't one big publicity thing.

Anyway, I remember a couple of times when our church merged with another church in town and we were suddenly in a big building w/ fancy lights, etc..the band sang that song, "I'm Gonna Be (Five Hundred Miles)" by the Proclaimers. Yes, yes, I know Steven Curtis Chapman sang it too on his love album, but really, in church?

I don't know about you, but when I go to church --- I want to worship God! A holy God not confined to the human flawed understanding of love or relationships. Sometimes nothing is better than hymn soaked in truth. Sometimes I love the newer music (thinking Casting Crowns version of Glorious Day)....or Jeremy Camp's The Way. This is what I want to hear at church, not Katy Perry, not Train, not the Proclaimers, not U2, not any secular music.

I guess I am way more old fashioned that I would have admitted a few years ago. But I think our music in church should bring God glory, not talk about how great we are, not how we should show people our own worth and goodness.

You can probably guess I am no longer at a seeker church? What about you, any comments on the use of non Christian music in church?

Meanwhile, here is one of my all time favorite songs to sing. I wish I could've found Travis Cottrell singing it but didn't. But this is a good version :)

Powerful

"He alone who owns the youth gains the future." - Adolf Hitler

Very very powerful video from Ray Comfort. It is a must must watch.

The Age of the Earth and Sunday School

Well, it finally happened. After homeschooling, teaching a Discover 4 Yourselves Precept class for kids on creation, using Answers in Genesis and Apologia science books.....Delena's Sunday School teacher yesterday taught that the earth is millions and billions of years old.

But, leave it to my child to defend young earth! Apparently she debated the teacher --- and debated him quite well, I might add. She brilliantly brought up some of the things we learned in science about the sun's rays and the moons craters. She forgot one very important thing, though.........the flood.

Delena came home and spent all afternoon on Answers In Genesis website, trying to better prepare herself to defend her position next time. She got out her two books we did on creation by Kay Arthur and reviewed what she had learned. She also took lots of notes from videos she watched on the AIG website. She is getting better prepared!

This just confirmed how important it is to teach worldview - whether you homeschool or not! If you don't...someone else will. And you can guarantee that somewhere along the line, your child will be taught something inconsistent with your beliefs. I am really passionate about the young earth....a literal 24 hour day creation. If you want to know why, read Ken Ham's book "Already Gone." It is common knowledge that kids are leaving our churches and Ken Ham does an excellent job in tying it to the basic understanding of Genesis. This isn't something to take lightly.

I am a staunch Calvinist. 5 points and all. However, my pastor isn't. We are members of a church that isn't reformed. I deal with it because there are people within the church that are and there isn't really a good Calvinist church around my area. But being taught old earth....that is something I cannot tolerate. I am praying about how best to handle this.

By the way, does anyone know what the Southern Baptist Convention's official stand on this is?

And lastly, if your interested, I have a devotion up at Laced With Grace today. You can read it here.

Happy Saturday....Good Links

I have somewhat of a busy day planned. First, off to the gym for weights and Zumba!! Then heading to Lifeway, 30% coupon in hand. Mission today: get Taya her first real ESV Bible. Getting Delena a Bible cover for her MacArthur Bible. Then an afternoon of swimming and hopefully relaxing some.

Only 3 short weeks from yesterday until we are on vacation! Which means, 3 weeks from today, we will be waking up at Ft. Wilderness and heading to one of the 4 Disney parks. I know, it is a sick obsession!

Just wanted to share a few quick links:

Awesome post by Phil Johnson over at Pyromaniacs - read it here.

Today is Gov. Rick Perry's Day of Prayer. Instead of linking just one post, visit THIS blog. There are numerous posts about the day and the association with IHOP. There is so much there, I won't even begin to touch on it.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jesus Calling For Kids

Tim Challies posted a couple of weeks ago about Sarah Young's Devotional book, Jesus Calling. His post garnered many comments which made for a very interesting read. The main concern is that this book is written as if Jesus has given Sarah Young new revelation, speaking directly to her.

Now, there is a Jesus Calling book for kids. You can read his review here.

If you look at the review, he has a picture of the introduction written in which Sarah Young quotes Psalm 46:10. As is typical with this verse among Christians, she misuses it to be a verse of "listening" to God. Here are a few versions:

ESV
"Be still, and know that I am God.
(B) I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"


Common English Bible
0 “That’s enough!
Now know that I am God!
I am exalted among all nations;
I am exalted throughout the world!”


KJV
0Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.



HCSB
10 "Stop [your fighting]—and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth." (A


NIV - 1984
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”


NASB
0 “[a]Cease striving and (A)know that I am God;
I will be (B)exalted among the [b]nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”


And 8-10 finally, The Message
Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
"Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything."


Do you get the feeling this verse isn't about meditation or about being still and listening to God? Here are what a few of my favorite commentaries say from LOGOS:

The passage.—This is a hymn of triumphant trust in God. Jerusalem and Judah had been under the threat of calamity. God had intervened. Perhaps the occasion was the deliverance of Jerusalem from Moab and Ammon in the days of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:1–30), or Sennacherib’s abandonment of the siege of Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13–19:37).
Paschall, F. H., & Hobbs, H. H. (1972). The teacher's Bible commentary: A concise, thorough interpretation of the entire Bible designed especially for Sunday School teachers (311). Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

46:9–10. Yahweh would one day bring about the final abolition of war. He would destroy the weapons of war. Yahweh admonishes the nations to desist from their vain endeavors to destroy his people. He bids them to recognize him as the true God who will one day manifest his absolute sovereignty.

Smith, J. E. (1996). The wisdom literature and Psalms (Ps 46). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co.

46:8-11. The psalmist exhorted the saints to observe the saving mighty deeds of God. These deeds portray how God brings peace to His people, destroying weapons throughout the earth. God Himself calls for the people to trust in Him and know that He is God, for He will be exalted throughout the earth. Verses 8-10 no doubt greatly encouraged the people of Jerusalem, as the final verse (v. 11) reiterates (cf. v. 7). Also to saints of all ages, the call for a silent trust in God’s saving power, in anticipation of universal peace, has been a source of comfort and strength.

Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Ps 46:8–11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

It really annoys me when someone takes this verse out of context and now is trying to sell this idea to children. Psalm 46:10 isn't about some sappy love meditation on being still before the Lord. It is talking about WAR! And stopping and letting God be in control of the war. Not at all about a way to hear extra Biblical revelation from God.

In fact, I read on the Teacher's Bible Commentary that this particular Psalm inspired Martin Luther to write the great hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Here are the lyrics:

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

Thankful for another good review from Tim Challies. Hoping people will learn to actually read and study their Bibles instead of pulling verses out of context and using that to set up and entire book for children.

The Last Day

Today is the last day of the Zechariah study. I so enjoyed studying this. I loved this summary John MacArthur gave of how we see Christ in Zechariah:

Chapter
1 - The Riding One
2 - Measuring One
3 - Cleansing One
4 - Empowering One
5 - Judging One
6 - Crowned One
7 - Rebuking One
8 - Restoring One
9 - Kingly One
10 - Blessing One
11 - Shepherding One
12 - Returning One
13 - Smitten One
14 - Reigning One

So, what is next?

Daniel, Part 1! So excited to do this. Our Pastor, Tommy Green, is leading a study on Revelation on Wednesday nights for an hour, going verse by verse through Revelation. So, I am going to sit in on his teaching along with my husband and bestie, Betsy and her hubby, Ralph. So we as couples decided to do Daniel, Part 1 (Precept Upon Precept) during the second hour while our kids are doing Team Kid Club. That way, me and Betsy can begin to prepare for a opportunity to teach Daniel - hopefully to the ladies at First Baptist Brandon :)

Walking In Obedience

Jerry Bridges' book - "Pursuit of Holiness" has this phrase in it:

God wants us to walk in obedience - not victory.

Read my take on this here....as it is my turn to post over at Laced With Grace. Hope you'll join me over there.

God wanted the temple gone.....

Just had to share this great post over at Desiring God. I loved this post because it is an awesome reminder of God's sovereignty over the world, his people and Israel.

What a glorious day it will be when Jesus returns and the people of Israel are saved. Zechariah 12:10 says:

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn." (NASB)

More from the post:

Jesus became the one final sacrifice and the one final undying high priest
(Hebrews 7:24). He opened a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19-20) into the
most holy place in heaven for “all who would draw near to God through him”
(Hebrews 7:25). He became the mediator of the new covenant God had promised
(Jeremiah 31:31-34).

At this point the presence of God moved out of the
temple’s holy place into his people, whom Messiah had made holy. And he began to
move his people to take the gospel of the new covenant to all the peoples of the
world. The Presence was moving to the peoples.

The age of the temple was
over. The “copy and shadow” (Hebrews 8:5) was obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Therefore
Jesus prophesied: “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone
upon another that will not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). This was fulfilled in
AD 70.

For the past 13 centuries a mosque has occupied the temple’s
former site. It is not a sign of God’s endorsement on Islam. Rather, it is an
unwitting guardian of the new covenant reality. God wants the temple gone, not
because Judaism is destroyed, but because in Jesus it is fulfilled.

So when you see the Al Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock, pray for both Jews and
Muslims, that they will hear and believe the new covenant. For “the hour [has
come] when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will [they] worship the
Father” (John 4:21).

Zechariah 9

I am up early, getting ready for my 10am Bible Study. We have been working hard through the book of Zechariah - using the new Precept Upon Precept study.

Chapter 9 has been one of my favorites. I love this one because we see that God has his hand on history and the future and what he says will happen - it will happen!

I don't want to give too much away here because I want you to discover the meaning of Chapter 9, who it refers to. It just amazes me to see something so prophetic come to pass years later in exactly the way the Bible said it would. This gives us such an assurance that what prophecy hasn't been fulfilled yet - will! God is so true to His word, none of it will return void and everything that HE said would happen is going to happen. And what a time we have to look forward too.

The Bible is packed with History. I feel like when we studied ancient history about 3 years ago, we missed so much in relying more on the curriculum than that Bible. When we cycle back around here in another couple of years, the Bible will be our main text. I think it is so important for the kids to study History that way because they get the absolute truth...not the skewed truth written in textbooks.

Anyway, one more thing no that...if your ever interested in listening to some incredible teaching on Zechariah, jump over to Grace to You and listen to John MacArthur's teaching on it. I listened to every one of them in preparation to teach this PUP course. The funny thing, they were recorded in 1977 - over 30 years ago - and I was struck at just how timely they are even for today. You won't be disappointed!

Sick Kids Getting Better

It started the day of the shuttle launch, almost 2 weeks ago. Taya had a fever. Which, in the end meant - no 2 hour drive to see the final shuttle launch. Major bummer.

After an OK weekend, Delena comes down with whatever was ailing Taya just a few days before. But, she comes down hard. I have never had a kid this sick before (well, with a non-stomach virus sickness). This started last Monday and yesterday (a week and 1 day later) was the first day she ventured outside to play.

After 2 doctor visits last week, the conclusion was it was probably strep, even though the test came back negative.

Then, Caleb comes down with it. Fun! But, today - they are doing MUCH better. Even spent 3 hours in the pool!

Thoughts On Prayer

It is the highest activity of the human soul, and therefore it is at the same time the ultimate test of a man’s true spiritual condition. There is nothing that tells the truth about us as Christian people so much as our prayer life … Ultimately, therefore, a man discovers the real condition of his spiritual life when he examines himself in private, when he is alone with God … And have we not all known what it is to find that, somehow, we have less to say to God when we are alone than when we are in the presence of others? It should not be so; but it often is. So that it is when we have left the realm of activities and outward dealings with other people, and are alone with God, that we really know where we stand in a spiritual sense (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 2 vols. [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979], 2:45).

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). Alone with God (8). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

For Christians prayer is like breathing. You don’t have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and forces you to breathe. That’s why it is more difficult to hold your breath than it is to breathe. Similarly, when you’re born into the family of God, you enter into a spiritual atmosphere wherein God’s presence and grace exert pressure, or influence, on your life. Prayer is the normal response to that pressure. As believers we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer. Only then can we survive in the darkness of the world.
Unfortunately many believers hold their spiritual breaths for long periods, thinking brief moments with God are sufficient to allow them to survive. But such restricting of their spiritual intake is caused by sinful desires. The fact is, every believer must be continually in the presence of God, constantly breathing in His truths to be fully functional.
Because ours is such a free and prosperous society, it is easier for Christians to feel secure by presuming on instead of depending on God’s grace. Too many believers become satisfied with physical blessings and have little desire for spiritual blessings. Having become so dependent on their physical resources, they feel little need for spiritual resources. When programs, methods, and money produce impressive results, there is an inclination to confuse human success with divine blessing. Christians can actually behave like practical humanists, living as if God were not necessary. When that happens, passionate longing for God and yearning for His help will be missing—along with His empowerment. Because of this great and common danger, Paul urged believers to “pray at all times” (Eph. 6:18) and to “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). Continual, persistent, incessant prayer is an essential part of Christian living and flows out of dependence on God.

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). Alone with God (13–14). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Another Really Bad Book

They just keep coming!

I have seen the devotional book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young being floated around as a a wonderful devotional book.

Tim Challies offered a GREAT review of it. You can read the entire review here.

Here are a few excerpts from his post I found very interesting.

A quote from Young:

The following year, I began to wonder if I, too, could receive messages during my times of communing with God. I had been writing in prayer journals for years, but that was one-way communication: I did all the talking. I knew that God communicated with me through the Bible, but I yearned for more. Increasingly, I wanted to hear what God had to say to me personally on a given day. I decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever I believe He was saying. I felt awkward the first time I tried this, but I received a message. It was short, biblical, and appropriate. It addressed topics that were current in my life: trust, fear, and closeness to God. I responded by writing in my prayer journal.

(emphasis mine)

Another quote from Young:

“This practice of listening to God has increased my intimacy with Him more than any other spiritual discipline, so I want to share some of the messages I have received. In many parts of the world, Christians seem to be searching for a deeper experience of Jesus’ Presence and Peace. The messages that follow address that felt need.”

(Did you catch that? The practice of listening to God increased her intimacy with Him for than ANY OTHER spiritual discipline??? I would be safe to assume that means the study of HIS word which is alive and active and sharper than any two edged sword? REALLY---better than the Bible???)

Tim Challies adds:

James Montgomery Boice once said that the real battle in our times would not be the inerrancy or infallibility of Scripture, but its sufficiency—are we going to rely on the Bible or will we continually long for other revelation? In Jesus Calling we see this so clearly. Young teaches that though the Bible is inerrant and infallible, it is insufficient. It was not enough for her and, implicitly, she teaches that it cannot be enough for us. After all, it was not reading Scripture that proved her most important spiritual discipline, but this listening, this receiving of messages from the Lord. It is not Scripture she brings to us, not primarily anyway, but these messages from Jesus.

Jesus Calling is, in its own way, a very dangerous book. Though the theology is largely sound enough, my great concern is that it teaches that hearing words directly from Jesus and then sharing these words with others is the normal Christian experience. In fact, it elevates this experience over all others. And this is a dangerous precedent to set. I see no reason that I would ever recommend this book.


As always, Tim does a great job. I write devotions and really try to make the focus on a theological point, pointing directly to scripture. There is always room for improvement and as I see more and more of this stuff floating around and enticing women, I want to be more aware of what my words are. I need to be sure they are God's words, directly from Scripture and not focused on experience.

As I posted yesterday, my experience is subjective. My hearing from God is Subjective to my falling mind. I can never be sure I heard a direct word from God, and to put it to paper as fact is really bad.

Again, God's Word is SUFFICIENT. It is all we need and has God's direct spoken words for us. I think if you spend time actually studying it, really really studying it...you will see this is true and there will no longer be a longing for extra biblical revelation.

Does God Speak to Me?

This is something I continue to struggle with. Well, not really. But, it is something that I see all the time with friends..."God told me....." "God said......"

Just the other day, I was reading a blog talking about the same thing - discerning God's voice from the voice of the enemy.

But if God does speak, in a small voice or through our journaling or to us in prayer time...he doesn't speak to me. Because if he does, I can't trust my own heart to not deceive me because I want to hear His voice so badly. Make sense? And it isn't just in God speaking, but even goes back to books like "Heaven is For Real" and "Heaven is Real" and "Hell is Real." It is all subjective to our fallen minds.

So I was reading online and came across this blog post with a lengthy quote from John MacArthur. I am going to quote all MacArthur's comments but wanted to be sure to give props to the blog I found it on.

MacArthur says:

God told me…

There’s a phrase that has taken hold in Christian conversation — one you’re probably familiar with. Whether you heard it from a preacher on television, from your own pastor, a believing friend, or during a religious radio broadcast, I’m sure you’ve heard someone, somewhere say the words, “God told me ______.”

Hearing the voice of the Lord is not a new idea. I’m sure you could cite several biblical examples of God’s speaking to His chosen people to communicate to them His will. On a few extraordinary occasions in Scripture, whether through His Spirit or in an audible voice, God provided specific, practical instructions directly to individuals.

Many believers today want to have that same kind of experience. They want personal, spiritual direction from the Lord. Attempting to receive guidance from God, they listen longingly for His audible voice or wait for some intuitive, emotional prompting or impression that will unveil His will for their lives.

But that kind of communication, whether it’s audible or intuitive, is not trustworthy. In fact, it’s useless — and can even be dangerous.

Why isn’t it trustworthy?

To begin with, there’s no valid way to discern divine truth in what a person hears or feels. Experience is unreliable because it’s always subjective. There are no means set forth in the Bible to test or prove or discern the meaning of some inner voice or prompting you may think you heard or felt. In fact, Scripture never gives believers even the slightest encouragement to listen for private revelations from God.

Danger within and without

To put it in practical terms, how could we objectively know the difference between the moving of God’s Spirit within us and a bad case of indigestion? If you’re earnestly looking for a personal, unique word from the Lord, what’s to keep you from misinterpreting your common, everyday aches and pains — or thrills and euphoria — as direct revelation? Using your own experiences to determine divine truth gives too much weight to your own perspective and interpretation.

Scripture says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). The church does not receive new or private revelation, either corporately or individually. Scripture clearly warns against adding to the completed revelation given in the Bible (Revelation 22:18).

In our fallen state, we simply lack any mechanism to discern divine thought. We can sometimes look back on events and see how the Lord orchestrated circumstances to accomplish his will, but we cannot reliably discern His thoughts in the midst of a situation. We don’t have the capacity to comprehend how He’s moving in our lives until He’s already moved — and even then, we can’t appreciate the full magnitude of His supernatural work.

Furthermore, hearing a voice doesn’t necessarily mean what you heard is correct, or that it’s even from God. To hear a voice and assume it’s the Lord is a huge leap — especially when there is no definitive way to know whose voice it really is. Televangelists, in particular, are prone to jump to that conclusion. But just because you hear something doesn’t mean it was the Lord.
Is there a reliable way to distinguish between the sound of God’s voice and that of a demon? Even if what a person hears or feels seems to match up with Scripture, how can he be sure he’s not being manipulated by demonic forces? Listening for ambiguous, mystical messages provides Satan with all sorts of opportunities to tempt, confuse, pervert, and deceive. Earnestly hoping to hear from the Lord doesn’t mean you’ll only hear from Him.

Does God communicate with us?

So if we can’t clearly or objectively determine whether what we’re hearing and feeling is truly coming from the Lord, how do we legitimately receive communication from Him? What reliable source can you turn to for God’s instruction in your life?

The only trustworthy source of divine truth, guidance for your own spiritual growth, and instruction for the church is the written Word of God. No emotional urging or mystical experience can trump the concrete, fundamental truth God has given us in Scripture. Does God still speak? Yes, but not in an audible voice. He speaks through the pages of Scripture.

The Bible alone has survived the test of time, and countless attacks from doubters, liars, and heretics. Its objective truth is proved every day in the transforming work the Lord accomplishes through it. Even the apostle Peter, who witnessed Christ’s transfiguration firsthand, heard the voice of the Lord numerous times, and performed miracles himself, counted Scripture as “a more sure word” — the final word regarding God’s revelation (2 Peter 1:19).

What drives the quest for hearing God’s voice?

If all that’s true, why do some believers still look beyond the Bible for a special, personal word from the Lord? At the heart of their desire for fresh revelation is a fundamental lack of faith in the absolute sufficiency of God’s Word. They simply don’t believe the Bible gives enough answers for the problems and struggles in their lives; or they don’t grasp the degree to which Scripture is living and active — that it is God speaking to us clearly and distinctly.

I trust that you’re not entertaining that kind of thinking. If you reject the sufficiency of Scripture — or even if you simply look to supplement it with fresh, personal revelation from God — you cut yourself off from the only reliable source of God’s truth. The Bible isn’t a book of static, lifeless words. It’s alive and active in the hearts of God’s people. It’s the vessel through which the Lord performs His transforming work, sanctifying and shaping us into His likeness. It’s not simply the record of what God has said in the past — it’s what He’s saying to you and me every day. His Word remains perpetually applicable and relevant.

Because God does speak to His people through His Word, there’s no more serious undertaking than studying the Bible. Understanding biblical doctrine isn’t an academic pursuit for believers — it’s knowing His mind. By studying Scripture, we’re able to grasp His instructions for all matters of life and godliness.

I think Pastor MacArthur lays it out very well here. This is exactly why I cannot hear God's voice and I am glad to read Biblical confirmation of it.

False Conversions

I found this powerful video over at Sola Sisters. Click here to watch. Speaks volumes, huh?

A Fond Farewell......

July 8, 2011. Just one day away. We will see the end of an amazing era - the shuttle program.

Growing up only 2 hours from the Kennedy Space Center, the shuttle program has been a part of life. I have tried to watch almost every launch, some of those visible in my own backyard.

I was in the 6th grade when Challenger exploded. I still recall standing outside at recess and seeing the smoke formation in the sky thinking it was a very odd look shape for a cloud. Only moments later did I learn it wasn't a cloud, but the remains of Challenger.

I was in High School when the next series of shuttle launches began. I can still remember standing in the school common area watching on television the first launch since the Challenger accident. My heart raced as it lifted from the ground, relieved to see it go without a hitch.

The summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years in college, I drove over to Titusville with my family to see a shuttle launch live. We simply pulled over on the side of the road along the river and watched it go up. Amazing!

My husband (who was then a boyfriend) and I drove over in the middle of the night once to see a pre-dawn launch. It was scrubbed about 10 minutes before launch.

It would be several years later before we try again. This time, October 1998 to see John Glenn take off in Space Shuttle Discovery. This launch went off on a beautiful sunny day. Again....amazing.

Years would pass before I experienced the thrill again. But before another thrill came another disaster. Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart on re-entry on February 1, 2003. The same emotions flooded me as they did when I learned about Challenger. And years of a hiatus would follow.

Again, I watched with a racing heart as the first shuttle launch after the Columbia accident took off without a hitch. The shuttle program was back in business!

May 2009 would be the next time we see a shuttle launch. This was a totally unplanned trip where I texted a girlfriend early in the morning for a "homeschool fieldtrip" and we were off around 10am. By the time we had lunch, bathroom breaks and parked - we had little wait time before the launch. It was again....amazing!!!

Easter Sunday, 2010. The family traveled in our Suburban to Titusville to "camp" out. We stayed the night at a small county park in our truck to witness a pre-dawn launch. That launch was gorgeous!!! It was so worth every bit of aggravation we went through sleeping in our truck.

My latest attempt was April 2011. Another friend and I headed over at 6am to camp out for the day. We knew the day would be long and hot but it would be worth it. A 7.5 hour wait for a 4:30 launch. But this launch wouldn't happen. Scrubbed at 11:30. All was not lost....nothing a few hours at Disney can't fix!!

Which leads to tomorrow. The final launch. The last opportunity to ever see a shuttle take off live. I have seen 4 in person. That is probably more than most people in the US. I am so blessed to live so close and to have experienced first hand the awe and amazement of something. I am so sad to see it go.

Right now, there is a 70% no go for tomorrow due to rain. As it stands now, I will make a decision in early in the morning about trying to go over. With the cloud cover, it most likely won't be one I can see from the backyard. As neat as that is, nothing compares to seeing it up close....seeing the smoke rise around the pad, hearing the roar....certainly something to see.

I will post pictures if I go, but for now....its a fond farewell to something I have enjoyed from my childhood. I am so glad that I was able to share it with my own children.

STS-125 Space Shuttle Atlantis May 11, 2009, 2:01pm launch time

STS 131 - Space Shuttle Discovery April 5, 2010, 6:21 am launch time

My other Space Shuttle views in Titusville:

STS-95, October 29, 1998, Space Shuttle Discovery 2:19pm launch time

STS-65, July 8, 1994, Space Shuttle Columbia, 12:43pm launch time

The 2011 NIV

Most everyone has heard that the SBC at its 2011 annual convention rejected the 2011 NIV because of the gender neutral issues. You can read an article here.

I used to love the NIV. It was my favorite version to study from. However, in recent years, I shifted to the ESV and NASB because of their accuracy and word for word translation rather than the NIVs phrase by phrase (or thought by thought) translation. For deeper study, the ESV and NASB have served well.

I still don't see anything "wrong" with the older NIV. But now that the new 2011 NIV will be replacing the original NIV and Today's NIV (which I did take issue with), we won't be using the new one. I agree with my denominations rejection of the the new NIV.

I am very sad to see the publishers take such a stand by removing gender specific references. I believe the original NIV was trustworthy and still a good translation, especially for those just beginning Bible study. I will still keep my old NIV for reference and use occasionally. But, we won't be making the jump to the 2011 NIV.

Happy 4th of July

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

What are your plans? We are heading out today to camp! Looking forward to a couple of days away with the family. Then no more camping for 8 weeks....that has to be some sort of record for us :)

Happy 4th!!!

Loving Logos!

I blogged several months ago about the Logos Bible Software my husband bought me for Christmas. I have to say, I am in LOVE with it! Not only has it really helped my own study, but it has been amazing for preparing to teach Zechariah.

I have a handout for every lesson so far in Zechariah. The graphics that come with the software have been really cool for helping to explain certain things. They even have some of Zechariah's visions already drawn out for a visual aid.

Let me share an example. Zechariah 3 is about the high priest, Joshua, having his iniquity removed and new priestly garments placed on him. The chapter is a beautiful picture of the message of Salvation - but without delving into the theological content, I found this graphic on what exactly priestly garments were.



Now, in the actual course work, Kay Arthur had us do some research on the priestly garments. We did some cross referencing to help us understand the establishment of the garments. I found the above graphic very valuable in helping to picture what a priest looked like in order to get a good grasp on what Zechariah saw.

So far, here are a quick list of just a few graphics I have used to help prepare Zechariah:

Chapter 1: Maps of Ancient Israel and Modern Israel. Demonstrated the ravine in Chapter 1 (lowest point in Israel). Also, picture of a Smith, demonstrates what a smith or hammerer would do in Chapter 1.

Chapter 3: Picture of a Fig Tree and Branch for reference to the Messiah as the branch. Also the family tree of Joshua the priest and the stones w/ the seven facets.

Chapter 4: Graphic of a menorah, to help visualize the lampstand. Graphics of Olive Trees and bowls with seven conduits and lamps.

Chapter 5: Nations of Genesis (Babel). Picture of a Heron. Picture of a women in the basket with lampstand and a scroll.

Chapter 6: Various maps from Babylon and image of Zechariah's last vision.

Chapter 7: small crossword puzzle and ancient graphics of Darius

Chapter 11: Oaks of Bashan and the Cedars of Lebanon.

I also have a comparison graphic of Solomon's Temple compared to Herod's Temple and then compared to the future temple described by Ezekiel.

Hopefully others won't see the graphics and handouts as corny. I think they really enhance what we are studying.

Which brings up a very interesting theological issue as we explore Zechariah. I believe (and those better versed than me - please correct me if I am wrong) - they way you view Israel / the church plays a role in how you interpret the events of Zechariah. I tend to lean more towards John MacArthur's view --- Israel was once the testifying witness but now this is the church age and the church is the agent God is using. However, God is not finished with Israel yet and all those promises yet to be fulfilled will be applied to Israel literally. But that is for another post!

For now, I am loving LOGOS!!!

Update

I am a horrible blogger. I can't believe that it has been almost 3 months since I touched this blog. I'm sure all of my 1 followers have missed me.

Its been a crazy few months! Not long after my last post, I became totally absorbed in creating a co-op for next fall. That is a long story, but I have spent these last few months planning, creating a blog, writing a syllabus, etc for the co-op I am starting in the fall. I am very excited about it. We have a great group of ladies joining - and the best part is that it will center around my favorite curriculum ---- Tapestry of Grace.

In that time, the kids have finished school. I now officially have a 2nd grader, 5th grader and K5! We are now on a summer break. But I am excited about starting the new year - especially the co-op!

When I wasn't planning for the new co-op, I was prepping to teach Zechariah (Precept Upon Precept). We have done the introduction class and week 1. This is an amazing study - I have learned SO much. And still have so many questions.

This week is VBS at our church. I am teaching with my friend, Betsy (who is co-helping me start the co-op) and another friend, Lisa. We are having a good time, as usual.

And finally, yet another weight loss goal. Yeah, yeah - I have done this before but really hoping that THIS time is different. We joined the gym at our church and I am there at least 4 days a week (it is a bit of a drive, so 4 days a week is a lot). So that means weight lifting 4 days a week. Then I have to work in some type of aerobics for 5 - 6 days. Thankfully, 4 of those are covered at the gym...I discovered Zumba! Wow, what a workout!! Anyway, my new goal is weight loss before vacation on August 26th.

Maybe it won't be 3 months before my next post!

Heaven is for Real

Tim Challies offers up a wonderful review of Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo. Here is a brief quote:

Embarking on a short tour of the afterlife is all the rage, it seems. Don Piper got it started with 90 Minutes in Heaven, a really bad book that sold millions of copies. Then there was 23 Minutes in Hell, another bestseller and another awful book. And now hot on their heels comes Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. It’s currently sitting atop the New York Times list of bestsellers and has over a half million copies in print. I wonder if I’m the only one who finds it a mite suspicious that now that these books are selling like proverbial hotcakes, more and more people find that God wants them to tell their stories of heaven and hell. Probably not.

And what does the Bible say? Tim adds,

First, the Bible gives us no indication whatsoever that God will work in this way and that he will call one of us to heaven and then cause us to return. It is for man to die once and then the resurrection. To allow a man (or a boy) to experience heaven and then to bring him back would not be grace but cruelty. The only biblical example we have of a man being caught up to heaven is Paul and it’s very interesting that he was forbidden to tell anything about it. And the reason he even mentioned this experience was not to offer encouragement that heaven exists, but to serve as a part of his “gospel boasting.” He saw heaven and was told to say nothing about it. This was a unique experience in a unique time and for a unique reason.

The second ground refers to the reason each of these authors offers—that through their experience we now find confidence that what God says is true. This kind of proof is exactly the kind of proof we should not need and should not want. Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe. Don Piper insisted that he was called to be the Minister of Hope. If hope is to be found in any person, it will be found in the person of Christ. It is the Spirit working through the Word who will give us confidence in our faith. And what is faith? It is simply believing that what God says in his Word is true. We do not need tales of heaven or stories of those who claim to be there.

You can read the entire review here. Its is worth looking at!

The Soapbox Continues

The latest on my soapbox has to do with Ken Ham being uninvited to two homeschool conventions because he simply spoke the truth. I will link the posts, they are very interesting to read.

I understand that all homeschooling parents don't agree on specific theology. That is OK and part of what makes homeschooling so wonderful. But when someone speaks out about truth, truth as defined in God's word, and he is uninvited because he stood up for the truth....I find that so sad.

To sum up....Ken Ham was supposed to speak at two homeschool conventions (one of which is in Cincinnati near the Creation Museum). When he saw that Peter Enns from Biologos would be speaking, he made a blog post warning parents about Dr. Enns views on Genesis. Here is his original post.

I didn't find anything wrong with the post. I think he did a very good job at explaining the situation at hand. It was after that post that Ken Ham was uninvited.

Even more troubling is Jay Wile, who was an author for Apologia (science curriculum that I use) wrote this blog about Ken's blog. He also wrote this review of Peter Enns.

Peter Enns has had the debate before with theologians regarding his views of Scripture. Albert Mohler addressed the problem with Enns' theology in August, you can read it here. Dr. Mohler's blog post was started because Peter Enns questioned the speech Mohler gave at Ligioner's national conference in Orlando, FL last May. You can read Enns open letter to Dr. Mohler here.

Just like Ken Ham is being criticized and poked fun of...so was Albert Mohler over the summer. All either of these men did was to stand up for the truth, inerrant and supremacy of God's word. They defended the truth and both faced incredible backlash because of it.

Recently, with the Rob Bell controversy, Albert Mohler responded to Bell's book here here and here.

Emergent pastor, Brian McLaren, responded to Mohler's critique of Rob Bell's book here. Which
prompted a very well thought out response from Albert Mohler here.

Ken Ham also weighed in on the Rob Bell book.

Anyway, my point is that truth is really under attack. The Ken Ham controversy is sure to continue as homeschool parents support Ham or support Enns, which by the way, Enns has curriculum to sell that is evolution based!

I am disappointed with the way Ken Ham has been treated by other homeschool heavyweights. It makes me uneasy to see Apologia and Summit Ministries taking sides with Enns simply because Ken Ham tried to make people aware of what was happening.

First Rob Bells book, next evolution in homeschool conventions. So while I'm dishing out bad news, check out this video on "America's Pastor," Rick Warren. Another very enlightening video on exactly how truth is under attack.

A Tribute to my Mother-in-law

It is my turn to post over at Laced With Grace. My devotion today is about our family dealing with the passing of my mother-in-law. You can read the devotion here.

Tennis Lessons

So I completely stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up for Tennis Lessons with our homeschool group! This is a moms only cardio tennis class at 8am! Yes, 8am!

Today was my first lesson and I had so much fun!! I feel like I had a wonderful workout and had fun doing it. It was a little intimidating getting out in front of other moms working on a backhand, front hand and serve - - but I did it anyway. My serve needs some serious work but I'm getting the concept. Making my 36 year old body coordinate enough to do is another thing.

Delena is also taking lessons. Her first lesson was today as well. She worked on some basics and has to write a paper on the History of tennis. I love this instructor already!! Maybe the additional cardio will finally help take off some weight. I am still struggling with weight loss. If I could just get these 15lbs off, I'd be so much happier!

In other news....my husband shot and killed our first snake this year! Yep, its springtime in Florida! I'm going to keep a tally on how many we end up killing. It could be quite scary!

Love Wins

Kevin DeYoung wrote a very thorough and extensive review of Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins." You can read it here.

Here is a quote from Rob Bell in the book:

Millions have been taught that if they don’t believe, if they don’t accept in the right way according to the person telling them the gospel, and they were hit by a car and
died later that same day, God would have no choice but to punish them forever in
conscious torment in hell. God would, in essence, become a fundamentally different
being to them in that moment of death, a different being to them forever. A loving
heavenly father who will go to extraordinary lengths to have a relationship with
them would, in the blink of an eye, become a cruel, mean, vicious tormenter who
would insure that they would have no escape from an endless future of agony.
If there was an earthly father who was like that, we would call the authorities.
If there was an actual human dad who was that volatile, we would contact child
protection services immediately.
If God can switch gears like that, switch entire modes of being that quickly, that
raises a thousand questions about whether a being like this could ever be trusted.
Let alone be good.
Loving one moment, vicious the next. Kind and compassionate, only to become
cruel and relentless in the blink of an eye.
Does God become somebody totally different the moment you die?
That kind of God is simply devastating. Psychologically crushing. We can’t bear it.
No one can. . . . That God is terrifying and traumatizing and unbearable.

Very sad departure from the truth by someone who influences so many.

This is a perfect example as to why we need to know and understand the truth of God's word.

Ephesians 4:14
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Writing Fiction and Other Good Books

I received my FPEA Almanac yesterday and found a very interesting article on teaching children to write fiction. It was written by Felice Gerwitz and had some great ideas.

I haven't worked too much yet on teaching fictional writing. We have focused on expository writing, newspaper articles and journal writing. Mainly because this is what Tapestry of Grace's Writing Aids assignment was or the writing assignment in Shurley English. The idea of fiction writing appealed to Delena though. She has played around with some fiction just on her own. So a good book to help her work through developing characters, plot and setting would be good.

That is exactly what "Reach for the Stars, A Young Fiction Author's Workbook" does. Down loadable as an E-book, the workbook takes students grades 3-8 throughout the creative story developing processes. I am really excited to get started, as evaluations are coming up soon and I (of course) worry that we don't have enough writing samples. Anyway, here is a link of Susan Marlow's writing website. There are some free samples to download as well.

While reading through her website, I discovered a series of books from the Circle C Adventures series written by Susan Marlow. There are 6 books and a free downloadable literature guide with each book. Delena loves to read Little House on the Prairie books so I thought she might enjoy these. Plus, time wise they are just a bit ahead of where our Tapestry of Grace unit study is at. So they would be a nice addition to our TOG. I printed out the sample of the first chapter of the first book for Delena to sample. She loved it! She ran in the homeschool room all excited and ready to read more. This is really encouraging because Delena doesn't enjoy reading all that much. I will gladly cultivate an interest in reading! Here is the link to the Circle C Adventure series.

I will update later how the workbook and the fiction series work out for Delena! The wonderful thing about the ebook, it can be used again with Caleb & Taya!!

E-books

Today is a cool, brisk morning in Florida. Spring is in the air! The sun is rising earlier and setting later. The birds are singing outside and my husband and the kids are planting the first part of their garden in the ground.

I am sitting in my bedroom, curled up under the covers with my laptop and iPad. A cup of chocolate/caramel mocha latte sits strategically next to me on my Rooms To Go nightstand. I just completed my favorite part of the day - Bible Study.

And it was all done on e-books.

I have to admit, I was very hesitant at first to embrace the whole ebook idea. Sure, I heard Dr. Mohler talk about how convenient it was to have a bunch of books on one little device - especially for travel. I just don't travel that much, especially on an airplane. So for me, it didn't make sense. I even recall seeing a TV news report at the homeschool convention last year where High Schools were issuing Kindles instead of books because backpacks were so heavy. I thought the idea was crazy.


My boss purchased an iPad for me as a Christmas gift (most of my 2 readers know that). I began reading books online with the iPad in December and have become hooked on e-readers. They are convenient and I can carry several books with me at one time. This has been such a nice feature when sometimes I am just not in the mood for a particular book - I have plenty more to choose from.



My awesome and wonderful husband bought me Logos Bible Software for Christmas. Most of this is done on the laptop, although I do have the Logos app on my iPad and do use it along side of the laptop, specifically for reading the Bible and a commentary side by side. I have about 276 resources on my Logos library to aid in Bible study. I just studied today 1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath. It is really a handy tool to simply click on a word and see the original language, definition and transliteration. The media resources are really nice too because it helps place you in the context of what is happening in the text. They give wonderful insight. Plus the software has some really great features. Since I love to study using the Precept inductive method, Logos actually has the markings built in it. So, I can read and "mark the text" the same way I would do it with my bag of colored pencils and my New Inductive Study Bible. Logos even sets up reading plans, making staying on track easy!


I now even only take the iPad to church. Between the ESV app from Crossway that was free and my Logos app, I have several Bible translations and commentaries available very easily. This is helpful in Sunday School conversations sometimes.

So with that, I just wanted to share a few books and links I am reading and working through.

First, the books. I get most of my ebooks from the Amazon Kindle store. And here is a secret....they are free or really really cheap! You can even sample the first chapter of most books to see if you really want to purchase it! So here are the books I am sampling or reading through.

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Riven by Jerry Jenkins (fiction)
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt
Doctrine: What Christians should Believe by Mark Driscoll
The Centurion's Wife by Janette Oke (fiction)
Valeria's Cross by Kathy Macias (fiction)
What the Bible Says about the Doctrines of Grace by Nathan Pitchford
Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore

I also read all of Six Ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh on the iPad.

Now, some links. I already mentioned that Amazon's Kindle store has plenty of free resources. You can get a lot of books and sermons from Martin Luther, Calvin, Jonathon Edwards, etc for free or really really cheap!

I also found a link to Monergism's selection of ebooks. You can see those here.
You can view the list of ebooks from Christianbook.com here.

So between my iPad and Logos, I have become an ereader fanatic. With the iPad app, I can access a large portion of my Logos library because it interfaces with their server/website. Now, some books are not available because Logos has not worked out an agreement with the publisher to allow the books in the library to be available through the app. However, all in all, I am very happy with both.

Spurgeon Devotion

Here is today's devotion from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon on my Logos software. I'm totally loving this software! :)



Before destruction the heart of man is haughty.”
— Proverbs 18:12


It is an old and common saying, that “coming events cast their shadows before them;” the wise man teaches us that a haughty heart is the prophetic prelude of evil. Pride is as safely the sign of destruction as the change of mercury in the weather-glass is the sign of rain; and far more infallibly so than that. When men have ridden the high horse, destruction has always overtaken them. Let David’s aching heart show that there is an eclipse of a man’s glory when he dotes upon his own greatness. 2 Sam. 24:10. See Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty builder of Babylon, creeping on the earth, devouring grass like oxen, until his nails had grown like bird’s claws, and his hair like eagle’s feathers. Dan. 4:33. Pride made the boaster a beast, as once before it made an angel a devil. God hates high looks, and never fails to bring them down. All the arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts. O Christian, is thine heart haughty this evening? For pride can get into the Christian’s heart as well as into the sinner’s; it can delude him into dreaming that he is “rich and increased in goods, and hath need of nothing.” Art thou glorying in thy graces or thy talents? Art thou proud of thyself, that thou hast had holy frames and sweet experiences? Mark thee, reader, there is a destruction coming to thee also. Thy flaunting poppies of self-conceit will be pulled up by the roots, thy mushroom graces will wither in the burning heat, and thy self-sufficiency shall become as straw for the dunghill. If we forget to live at the foot of the cross in deepest lowliness of spirit, God will not forget to make us smart under his rod. A destruction will come to thee, O unduly exalted believer, the destruction of thy joys and of thy comforts, though there can be no destruction of thy soul. Wherefore, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”


Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening : Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Healthy Eating

Ever since we started the Perfect 10 diet back in October, we have been on a mission to eat healthier. Not just eating healthier by eliminating processed foods, but watching where we get our food from.

Today, we picked up the meat from the first cow we ordered. I am very excited to try it. But it was nice to meet the farmer and talk to him awhile. It was a nice change to see his concern for how he raises his animals - as opposed to what we get in the grocery store. He spent a lot of time today educating us on the difference in free roaming farm raised animals and how the animals mass produced for grocery stores are raised. He explained the politics behind "organic" food. It was quite interesting. I feel confident we will enjoy the 1/16th of a cow we have (we split this with my friend, Betsy's family). Tonight, we are grilling a sirloin roast from the cow. I will have to blog about the difference once we have eaten the meat some.

Betsy also started ordering chickens through a food co-op. She gave us a couple of whole chickens to try. Next time she orders, we will order some too. Otherwise, still getting chicken at Publix when it goes on sale.

Another thing we do with Betsy's family is purchase wild fish from a restaurant depot. We have gotten Tilapia, Salmon and Tuna. We didn't enjoy the Tuna as much but the Talapia is pretty good. There is a noticeable difference in the fish cuts from the restaurant depot and the cuts at Publix. Much the same as the difference in cuts at Publix and Walmart. Really makes you most people think that sounds disgusting and not safe. We have researched the farm we buy the milk from and trust they are handling the milk safely.

There are lots of good articles online about some of the myths surrounding raw milk and pasteurized store bought milk. It was very eye opening!

Eating this way does take time and money. I used to get some amazing deals with couponing. I have pretty much given it up because most of the savings come from buying processed foods that we are trying not to eat. We haven't given up all processed foods yet but we are working on it. Now if I could just learn to make bread that actually tastes good that doesn't come from a bread machine box!

I would love to hear any other ideas and suggestions!

Homeschool Funnies and Teaching Greek

Sometimes if I don't laugh at some of this stuff, I will go crazy! So here is an example of how today is going with homeschool.

For our Bible curriculum lesson, I asked each of the kids their birthday's and where they were born. This is the conversation with Taya, my youngest:

Me: When is your birthday?
Taya: September 1st.
Me: Where were you born?
Taya: Disney World.

Not sure if that is good or bad that the child actually thinks she was born in Disney!

In math, Delena is struggling to understand the concept of division. I asked her how many times does 8 go into 8. She responds "4" And this is just an example of how math is going....

Time for a Shurley English test. Delena has to classify the sentences. For some reason she marked the word "read" as a Subject Noun. I asked her to show me a read, pick up a read or otherwise touch a read. She replied you can't because that doesn't make sense. I asked why does that not make sense to which she replied "because it is an action, it is something you do." Ok, we are onto something. So I ask her, "if the word is an action, what do we call it?" She replies, "A noun!"

Yep, that has been my day. This after I get the kids up early to be out of the house by 8:45 to get Delena to tennis lessons that turned out to be cancelled because - of all things - it decided to rain this morning!

Moving on....I was so excited yesterday to learn about a curriculum that teaches Biblical Greek and designed for homeschool children. It is called, Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek. From what research I have done, it appears as though I can start Delena in level 3, where she will begin to do copy work and read out of an interlinear Bible. I'm excited because I want to learn it too, so I am going to attempt to do the work along side her as I teach it. I think it would be really neat to learn to read the New Testament in the Original Language!! Now I have to decide if I want to start this now or wait until the new school year.

That is the one thing I love most about homeschooling.....

Does This Bother You?

Yesterday, Jules at Everyday Mommy posted an excerpt from Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Where You Are. I am just going to link the post instead of recreating it. Read it, read the excerpt and the comments here.

For the record, I was appalled at what was said in Ms. Voskamp's book. I really don't know anything about her personally, her testimony or anything else. But these passages bother me.

Fighter Verses

Scripture Memory hasn't been one of my stronger passions. I study - and love love love to study - but I've never been too committed to memorizing.

I know that I should though. Sometimes, I guess I just dismiss it with getting older. After all, I can never remember someone's name the first time I meet them. And if it wasn't for my iPad or Blackberry reminding me of what I need to do, I would be lost. So really, scripture memory too?

However, I found this really great app for the iPad from Desiring God. It is called Fighter Verses. Basically, there are three levels of Scripture Memory each week. Fighter Verses are one simple verse. Extended Verses is a bit more to work on. Legacy verses are even more still. You can listen to the verse be read. There is even a fill in the blank.

I downloaded the app from the iTunes store for 1.99. We are going to work through this for homeschool. You can check off each week as you memorize your verse. I think this will be awesome for the kids to work on but also important for them to see me doing it too!

Here is the website that gives you more information, Fighter Verses.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, this is worth the download price. There is also an app for droid users.

Bieber Fever

All the new talk is about Justin Bieber. I guess tween's will go from one sensation to the next.

With the new movie out, Justin Bieber is every where. Even though we don't listen to his music, the kids know who he is --- thanks to neighborhood girls who have "Bieber Fever." Other than his song, "Never Say Never" which was featured in the new Karate Kid movie, I don't even know anything by him. We are staying sheltered in the CCM realm pretty well these days.

But with the release of the movie, I am finding more and more people jumping on the bandwagon because the movie portrays a somewhat "Christian" Bieber who prays before concerts and has a mom who is fairly outspoken about her faith. I was hopeful, at first. He seems like a nice enough young man. Yet, his music (from lyrics I have read online) really talk about things I'm not ready to let my children listen to. They speak of boyfriend/girlfriend love that my 10 year old (and the younger ones) don't really need infiltration their minds yet.

Further, I'm concerned that because of his Christian claim, some may let their guard down. I noticed an interview Bieber gave to Rolling Stone Magazine. I happened to see the blurb on CNN's website. So I read some of it. When asked about sex, Justin replies:

"I don't think you should have sex with anyone unless you love them," Bieber says. When asked if he believes in abstinence until marriage, Bieber – who is reportedly dating fellow teen star Selena Gomez – seems wary: "I think you should just wait for the person you're...in love with."

Please hear me out, I am not attempting to be judgemental of Bieber's character or faith. What I am pointing out is that what he is advocating is not what the Bible teaches. My fear is that because so many young girls look up to him and he says something is OK as long as your "in love," that posses a problem. Moms, we have to be on the guard for our girls! We have to help them understand exactly why what Justin Beiber says isn't Biblical - even if it sounds good or he comes across as having much faith in a movie.

Besides, what 10 year old knows what "love" is!?

After reading Dannah Gresh's book, "How to Keep the Little in Your Girl," I learned that little girls being overexposed to sex at a young age increases their chances for promiscuity. It may seem old fashioned or out of date, but I long to see my girls (and my little guy) embrace purity and save that very special gift for a man (and a wife for Caleb) as God intended. My conviction is that listening to constant music about boyfriends / girlfriends, loving, kissing, etc and then a teen sensation saying sex is basically OK if your in love isn't the best choice for my family.

I gave into the Hannah Montana thing. I even bought the the whole Christian thing. I regret that I allowed my girls to embrace Hannah Montana. Not so much because it was bad but because Miley Cyrus tarnished the sweet image by sending our girls the message that you can live two lives - a sweet and wholesome teen rock star and a bad girl pushing every limit possible.

The Miley saga continues to get worse. Did anyone happen to catch the interview Billy Ray Cyrus gave last week? He knows he has a BIG problem on his hands and he sat by too long and did nothing.

Maybe Justin Bieber really is a Christian. If he is, I pray someone will come along and disciple this young man. I pray someone will help him truly understand what God's word says. I pray he will use his talent and clout to bring God alone glory. I hope it happens soon, since he is looking up to Usher and others for leadership!

Until then, we will keep listening away to Christian contemporary music. This is one fad we will not be caught up in. And who needs to? There is so much wonderful Christian music available. We can have just as much, if not more fun, at a Christian rock concert. Trust me, we just did with Newsboys and Winter Jam 2011. We will skip this Never Say Never movie.