Scientific Search for Truth

Apologetics: derived from the Greek word "apologia" which means to make a defense. It has come to mean defense of the faith (http://carm.org/dictionary-apologetics).

    

 I've always like studying apologetics and have been tinkering with the idea of really digging in and sharing my findings on my blog. I'm going to start with some simple arguments, things that would be useful for a Christian to have in their memory bank to battle questions or their own doubt. Apologetics is the 2nd best faith builder after the Bible in my opinion. I will use logic and peer reviewed scientific research (all cited at the end if you wish to read further) to support my arguments. I'll also try to give you logical arguments that disprove atheist reasoning and help strengthen your own argument. My own personal weakness is becoming too emotional and letting another person overwhelm me- I'll give debating tips to help you stay calm and cool. I gladly welcome questions or comments on the FB link!  

     

 As a junior in college, my human physiology professor was a fervent atheist. He used the first week of lecture to try and prove that the Story of Creation was totally false and that the Theory of Evolution was so overwhelmingly supported by scientific research that in his mind, it was no longer a theory. I was shocked. They can teach this?? Yes, in a university and yes they WILL teach and test over it. There were a over a hundred kids in that class and I was heartbroken by the thought that so many souls would be turned away from Christ because of a bitter and hateful atheist who used to be a Christian! I could barely stand it. These are the type of people that you will need to be prepared to refute, to defend your faith and to not allow yourself to be dragged away from Christ. It is so so so important in today's age to have background knowledge and supporting evidence of Creation, the Bible and the existence of God. 

 Above all- it is about WINNING SOULS FOR CHRIST. It is not about making yourself look good, winning an argument or being right. 

 1 Peter 3:15-16: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed."  Peter's instruction is to have an answer of why your hope is in Christ but to answer with meekness (not weakness and not screaming). Meekness is translated from the Greek word: "prautēs" (Strong's #G4240) which means mildness, humility. This is a foundational principle; don't ever forget this command.

Don't forget this either: 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  

The context of this verse is Peter encouraging believers to not listen to those that are doubtful about the second coming of Christ, that He will come and He will judge everyone. But the Lord doesn't want anyone to perish, but that everyone should be saved and spend eternity with Him. That is your motivation when you think that someone is "too far gone" or seems overwhelming. God wants nothing more than their soul to be reconciled to Him and you could be the one to show them the way to Christ!

 I hope that you all will enjoy what I find but be patient, these studies will take alot longer than usual. Have an awesome Monday!!

Chilly?

 FROZEN!!!!!!!

I know you guys are probably sick to death of Frozen. Its everywhere right now! I'm super crazy about it- the music is awesome, its funny and endearing, all things Disney. But I recently saw a blog on Pinterest about what Frozen is really about. It got me thinking, "you know it really is a different Disney movie..."

If you haven't seen it, go ahead and watch it, you won't regret it! But if you haven't seen it, its a story about two sisters- the oldest is Elsa and she was born with the power to control snow and ice. Her younger sister Anna is a total dork but super adorable. In true Disney fashion, a handsome prince comes along, Prince Hanz- Anna and him sing a duet and "fall in love". Elsa doesn't agree to bless their marriage! Whaaaaaat??
After a fun adventure, Anna falls in love with an unexpected fellow when it turns out Hanz isn't what we thought he was.  In the end, Anna sacrifices herself to save her sister.

A typical Disney story is a princess and a prince meet, fall in love very very quickly. In real life, this is called infatuation. Funny thing about infatuation is that is dies very very quickly. Does that sound like "true love"? In Frozen, Anna finds that her infatuation with Prince Hanz dies pretty quickly when she realizes that another has sacrificed just about everything for her. The fact that Disney made a distinction between infatuation and love is awesome! Everyone should know and understand the difference.

 "True Loves Kiss" is also a common Disney theme. This thought is included in Frozen, but it doesn't work. Whaaaaat? I've only been married for a little over a year, but I still have no idea what a "true loves kiss" would feel like; every kiss should be true and full of love, but an act as simple as a kiss isn't powerful enough to break spells or change hearts; its just a romantic notion. If Jeffrey only kissed me to show his love for me, I would feel lonely and ignored. He does a great job of loving me with his actions. This is from the teaching in 1 Corinthians.

1 Cor 13:4-7:
 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Any of those verses mention kissing? Nope. Its full of action and behavior changes! In Frozen, Anna discovers the difference between infatuation and love and then goes on to demonstrate a true, biblical love for her sister Elsa. Anna essentially dies to save Elsa, without an apology, without any gain to herself and not because Elsa deserved it. An act of true love is required to break the spell, but Anna, not a prince, had to perform this act.

Examples of what  Biblical Love is and isn't all wrapped up... in a Disney Movie.

How refreshing. Meditate on 1 Cor 13 and think of ways you can show selfless love to your spouse, sister, brother, mother, father, best friend. Then go do them! You'll find that it can melt a Frozen heart :)

http://movies.disney.com/frozen

Here is the link to the blog on Pinterest, its really good!
What Frozen Is Really About

My Man James

       First, an apology is in order. I have been a slacker! I told myself when I started this blog that I would not go weeks without posting. Last week was horrendous but we won't let excuses get in the way :)

       I also wanted to thank you for all the positive reaction I've had to this blog. I honestly did not think that I would impact so many people in so many ways. It reassures me that I am letting God speak through my personal struggles and my studies. That has been the purpose for this blog, not to make everyone think I'm awesome but that God is awesome! To reach people and teach them about God's love and law that may not get to hear it elsewhere. Now, onto the study!

The Book of James is one of my favorites. He is to the point, no nonsense, action based faith kinda guy. It's bold scripture, calling for action and change. The Book of James is a place I have found myself going to for passive reading, answers and studies like this one.

I want to talk about James Chapter 4, specifically verses 13-17.
"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.¹⁷ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

I originally thought that this verse taught not to plan, but to let the Lord plan your tomorrow. That really freaked me out because I am a crazy detailed planner. Just ask to see last week in my planner and you'll understand. However, upon some meditation, I really believe that it is the attitude that this verse is teaching. James is speaking to those who are boastful in their plans, to those who rely completely on themselves for tomorrow. These people are arrogant and proud about their future plans. James reminds us that our lives are fleeting and we should put our tomorrow in the hands of the Lord. Some more support for this thought is that the Bible does teach being industrial, not just lay around and wait for God to plop something in your lap. Some examples are:

Proverbs 31:27- "She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness."

2 Thessalonians 3:10- "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. "

1 Timothy 5:8- "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. "

Another example is the apostle Paul planned to go to Rome to preach the Gospel, being purposed by the Holy Spirit, and did all he could to get there. Acts 19:21- "When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome."

James also writes that "boasting is evil", not that the plans were evil. Your attitude about your future and who's hands you place it in is crucial!

This applies so much to Jeffrey and I. Big changes are coming fast and hard! It's only 7 weeks now till graduation! Its a little over 2 years until Jeffrey graduates as a licensed physical therapist. After then we could move, we could stay in Stillwater, we could buy a house or start a family. We talk about the future a lot these days because it is exciting but we can never forget what our attitude should be! We "ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (verse 15). A humble and servant-like attitude should be applied to our plans. If it were written on paper it would look like this:

In 7 weeks I will graduate and begin a full time job. We will begin saving up for a house and begin paying off student loans in Stillwater, OK.
In 2 years, Jeffrey will graduate and be employed by the Chickasaw Nation Hospital. We will buy a house with acreage and start a family. Jeffrey will do church work part-time and I will be a full time mom and help to Jeffrey. -- These plans are subject to change according to what is best for expanding and strengthening the Lord's Kingdom, and to His Will.

I normally would plan everything down to the last detail, which is a waste of time when (not if, but when) things change. Its fun to dream every now and then but I can't foresee the obstacles and opportunities set before us and how this will change the direction of our family; but God does. I will do my best to prepare as best I can and then let Him handle it. Thinking about it, I've never gone hunger or naked or even without abundant blessings. There is no guarantee that life will be great all the time, but there's not a whole lot of reason to worry or be a crazy-planner either.

Matthew 6:30- "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "

 

I will probably have to go and read my these passages everyday to remind myself of this lesson and to break myself of a boastful attitude. I'm also going to include this in my prayers as a reminder as well. Come to think of it, I should probably go ahead and write these verses on my planner.

 

Outburst!

Galatians 5:19-21
 "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

I have a confession. I have let myself develop a horrible new habit. 

Outbursts of Wrath. 

Example: While driving someone does something dumb AND I LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT. To myself of course. I usually call them a colorful name with an equally colorful phrase. Nothing R rated but nothing I would want anyone else to hear. I justify with a "I only do this when I'm by myself".  

Slippery slope, my friends. And a cruddy excuse.

In Galatians, Paul puts outbursts on level with adultery and murder. Its all the same to God! No sin is greater than the other, there aren't different levels of sin and certainly no "minor" or "small" sins. My childish outbursts (because that's what they are! childish and immature!) are SEPARATING me from God.  

Jesus also lets us know that sin begins in the heart: Matthew 5:28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

These outbursts come from the lack of self control, patience and love in my heart. 
 Ugh.  

That makes me feel like poo. But it should! Sin should make you feel awful. It should make you want to change and become closer to God. (Thats called repentance)
Matthew 9:13 "...For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Now, time for me to increase my self control, develop my patience and  grow my love. My go to verse for when I struggle is Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." 

There is no quick fix for sin problems, for bettering yourself from the heart out. It takes perseverance, denying your wants and a lot of time. Definitely the opposite of American culture. 

Sigh.

But I will change! You will never hear another colorful expression from this girl. :) 

If you are struggling with something similar, share the good and bad in the facebook comment section. We can all help each other with kicking our horrible habits!

http://memesforjesus.tumblr.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has nothing to do with the blog, I just thought it was HILARIOUS. lolz 

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