The Source of Joy

“Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:

            What do you wait for? A spouse? Honor? Heaven? Vacation? Relationships? Strength? Our desires often run so deep we feel our lives are insufficient without their fulfillment.   We think that not having what we wish for is what is making us unhappy-but it isn’t. Our sins are the ultimate cause of our unhappiness.

            The answer to our problem is not getting what we want but understanding the source of true joy. Only those that wait on the Lord comprehend true happiness. As youths we tend to be confident in our own strength. We think, “If only I try harder I will be content.” Yet, no matter how hard we try, we cannot find contentment. Only by waiting on the Lord-putting our entire trust in him-can we revive our strength.                

            Have you ever been tired of the battle? How often does it seem the enemy’s unrelenting attack will never end? Are you tired of trying to be good, tired of attempting to reach the standards put before you? Come to the Fountain of Life and He shall revive your strength.

            Imagine being able to fly the height of an eagle. You could see the world for what it is-a mere speck in a vast universe. No longer would the journey of life be drudgery. Instead, you would be free to fly within the bounds of your Creator.  Even more, you could see the Kingdom of God grow in far more places than your little community.

            Through Christ we can fly. Not physically, of course, but spiritually. Instead of seeing the law as a chain bound around us by a cruel master, we can see that flying only happens by means of the freeing bounds of the commands of God. The psalmist explains this well in Psalm 119:103-104. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. I gain understanding form your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”

-Jewel

Dieum declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

From my Reading Notebook...

               Recently I discovered the idea of keeping a notebook for writing thoughts, quotes, or ideas I discover while I’m reading. I found a 9” by 6” binder with pockets so I can keep letters, pens, etc. If you glance through my notebook you will find everything from notes on hunting elk, to table settings for a formal meal, to books I would like to read. Here are some of the notes I’ve taken on recent books.

                 “One day, as he (John Adams) and Benjamin Rush sat together in congress, Rush asked Adams in a whisper if he thought America would succeed in the struggle (against Britain). “Yes,” Adams replied, “if we fear God and repent our sins.” (John Adams-David McCullough, pg. 160)

                “I believe nature has assigned each sex its particular duties and sphere of action, and to act well your part.”-Abigail Adams (John Adams-David McCullough, pg. 171) Imagine saying that today! People think the founding fathers (and mothers) agreed with their egalitarian ideas!

                “(These are) times that tried women’s souls as well as men’s…”-John Adams, after the birth of their stillborn daughter. (John Adams, David McCullough, pg. 172) Sometimes we think that the “old days” were somehow better than today. “If only we lived in the time of the American War for Independence!” It’s hard to realize that all of time has been blotted by the malevolent effects of sin.

                 “Improve your understanding, for acquiring useful knowledge and virtue such as will render you an ornament to society, an honor to your country, and a blessing to your parents…and remember you are accountable to your Maker for all your words or actions.”-Abigail Adams to John Quincy before his departure for Europe. (John Adams, David McCullough, pg. 177)

                 “Popularity was never my mistress, nor was I ever, or shall I ever be a popular man.”-John Adams to the Warren family (John Adams, David McCullough)

                 “As non-theists, we begin with humans, not God, nature, not deity…While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us, we must save ourselves.” (The Humanist Manifesto, quote from The American Covenant, Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson) Sometimes we need to know the antithesis!

                “To wield music well in the fight for joy we should be filled with the Word of God, so that the minds are shaped by biblical truth. If our mind and heart have been molded by the contours of God’s character and humbled by the grace of the gospel, we will discern better what sounds reveal and correspond to the varied glories of God. And since this depends so much on cultural contexts and personal backgrounds, we will need not only a grasp of musical richness, but also a deep theological grounding in God-centered truth, and cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of the dynamics of the heart, and a profound love for people of all kinds. We must make it our aim that the joy awakened by music be a joy in God. Not all pleasures of music are pleasures in God. Then the efforts to delight in God through music will involve a prior shaping of the mind by the Word, so that the structures of sound that do not conform to God’s character are not pleasing in the first place. Then, the efforts to delight in God through music will involve a thoughtful testing after the music has already awakened joy. Is this joy, we ask, rooted in something good about God? Is it shaping my emotions into a Christ-exalting configuration? Is it stirring desires to know Christ better and love him more, and show him to others at the cost of my own comfort? So before and after music has its immediate effect, we pursue the goal that music make us more glad in the glory of God.”-John Piper, When I Don’t Desire God, ­pg. 194

-Jewel

Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

               

College Part 2

I realize my article What about College? wasn’t very clear on what my family and my convictions on this subject are. First of all, I don’t believe college is wrong for women at all.  If a woman can live in an environment where she is under godly authority and in covenantal relationships, college may be a good option.  God’s pattern for accountability has always been the family.  It has only been in the last 50 years or so that it has become normal for a woman to leave the family environment and go out “on her own.”  It is not higher education that it is the issue; it is the living out of the independent, unaccountable lifestyle that is wreaking havoc upon women in our culture.  Women are to use their minds, but this can be done within the protected environment of my family and church.  We as Christians need to examine the culture around us and determine if the norms in our society are really based upon biblical principles.

            Secondly, we follow Scripture, not the world. Our first priority is the specific commands of Scripture for women (Love husband and children, wash the saint’s feet, etc.) If we have time to learn and do what the Scripture says and still have time to gain some form of higher education, that’s great. In fact, I should have made it more obvious previously that I will consider getting a college degree at home (whether by online programs or taking CLEP tests, etc.) if I have time after learning the more important things.
            Thirdly, my goal is to use my gifts to glorify God and further His kingdom operating in the Biblical pattern for women. If college or some form of higher eduation will further that purpose, I will pursue it. The picture is much larger that "being a homemaker." Many people imagine stay-at-home women to be bound-to not be able to accomplish their full potential. Far from it, God's pattern frees up women so that we can accomplish far more through God's grace. When a women goes out into the world without protection, she binds herself to people that might want to hurt her, to guilt, to bitterness...the list goes on and on. Instead, when a women is protected she is able to fully express the gifts God has given her. Yet she can only do so within the liberty of God's law.  

            College and homemaking can compliment each other. I know many young ladies who have been able to attend college while still living under the protection of their families and are great homemakers. I’m just not sure that that will work out for me. I think it’s possible as well for a woman to have a job and still be under God’s will. Some single moms have to get a job to support their families. However, such a case is an exception, not the norm. I think So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin explains this issue well.

            Like all of us, I am constantly being sanctified and “renewing my mind in the blood of Jesus.” The last few days I’ve had the opportunity to clarify with my parents what we believe about this issue.

-Jewel

Dieum declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

           

           

What about College?

            My family and I were at our local caucus last night. I was sitting in the back sewing when a lady leaned back in her chair. “Where are you going to go to college?” she asked. It wasn’t a bad question. Seeing that I am in my high-school years, it is a normal question to ask to get a conversation going. For me, however; the question hit like a hammer. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about the matter before. I knew my answer.   It was at that moment that I realized my long-hidden thoughts would have to become words.

            “Well, I’m actually not going to college…” I tried to explain softly so as not to distract the meeting. “I’ll be pursuing some of my own study as well has helping some ladies in our church. My goal is to be a homemaker...” Thinking back, I probably could have explained it better. Yet, it caused me to think about a better answer for the future.

            Why am I not going to college? It’s not that I would be unable to enter one. With the privileges of home education, receiving a scholarship would be no difficult task. The question is, would going to college help me in my goal to achieve my life purpose as a woman of God? Would I have time if I were to go away to college to prepare more important skills in homemaking?  In Titus, Paul specifically calls the younger women to be “keepers at home.” How can I be a keeper at home if I’m out in the workforce every day? The Proverbs 31 women works mainly at home; her husband is in the gates. This does not mean I will not be working. Far from it, raising a family is a full time job.

            Some have raised the question of home education. Wouldn’t college enable me to teach my children better? I’m not so sure. I believe I can learn more at home studying what really matters. Most likely my children will take a different course in life that I will. If I were to receive a degree in Chemistry, say, what if my children decide to become musicians? In addition, there are hundreds of resources out there to help me teach my children should they decide to go into a specific field.

            Our modern culture has turned college into a place to hang out and try life on your own instead of a positive learning atmosphere. Youth are so excited to leave for college so they can be “on their own” without the authority of their parents. However, while away, many foolish choices are made that will bruise these youth for the rest of their life. Following the biblical model of a women staying under the authority of either her father or husband helps avoid many of these mistakes.

            What am I to do with my time? The years between high school and marriage are an opportunity many women miss to serve their families and churches and to grow in their relationship with Christ. Being a help-meet to our mothers and fathers will train us to be good helpmeets for our future husbands. The time we are able to spend building relationships with our siblings will greatly edify our relationship with our own husband and children someday. These years are a great opportunity to further our education at home as well, whether it’s reading, online courses, or attending some classes at a local community college. Even more, the churches of today are sorely lacking young women to help young mothers, organize events, and encourage the younger generation. This time-period is also an opportunity for building our own skills, whether it’s music, writing, cooking, art or whatever. Someday our husbands will greatly appreciate our gifts as we use them to support their dominion work.

            I have also known many young ladies who have been able to start their own entrepreneurial endeavors or work for their fathers’ or brothers’ businesses. Although I hate math, I have a feeling I’ll be the one doing the bookkeeping and accounting work for my brother’s construction business. (I already am helping him some…today I was out there in the 30 degree weather helping him raise framing for our house’s extension!)

            I’m not saying college is inherently sinful. I believe it is fine for men to pursue brick and mortar colleges if it will help them provide for their families and if they are accountable to a solid church or family. Neither do I think it is sinful for women to go to college unless they refuse to be held accountable. Yet, I firmly believe women can attain something much higher by embracing God’s pattern of life.

            Well, I’m afraid such an answer will not due for caucus meetings…I’ll have to think of something shorter…!

Why I Write

               Some people write to express their political views, while some write to express their emotions. Some write just because they have to, others because they enjoy it. Some people have a revolutionary idea to express; others have a lot of words without saying anything in particular. Some write to anger people, some to humor, some to sober. Amongst an innumerable amount of vastly different books, papers, articles, and magazines, why do I write?

                I write because I enjoy it, but my purpose is far larger. God has given each of us gifts, and I believe one of mine is writing. God desires that we use our gifts for him, and to the fullest extent possible. Why waste what God has given us? I write for my King, and I write for others’ edification. Although I was reminded this Sunday by my pastor’s sermon not to rely on others’ words of encouragement but rather on Christ, many times the encouragement of others has helped me greatly. During a period of time when I was extremely discouraged about music some friends of ours wrote a note to us explaining how much my piano playing had encouraged them. I was reminded once more that my skills don’t have to be perfect to help others.
                I remember the first time I began to write on my own. When I was about eleven or twelve I decided to write a book about pioneers. A young lady from the church encouraged me to write and even sat down with me and listened to the story. When I read it now I realize there were a lot of mistakes she could have corrected me on, but instead she realized that her job was to encourage me- the grammar would come later. When I was finished, my Aunt helped me edit it (believe me, it needed a lot!) and typeset it and we took it to the office store and had them spiral bind it. The best part of the book were the illustrations done by my brother. The story was about an eighteen-year-old girl named Becka Forsythe (what did I know about eighteen-year-olds?) and her family who traveled west in a covered wagon (of course!). On the way out to Kansas they meet a buffalo stampede and just barely escape by jumping onto a mesa type rock. Because their wagon was ruined, they settled there, near Lecompton, Kansas. Most of the family is captured by the Ute Indians in the Walker War and are freed by Becka and her brother Peter. Just when they arrive home, their older son who was away studying law shows up and they live happily ever after. Anyway, I remember being disappointed that it was only sixty-one pages long and you could read it in less than an hour!
                I’m not sure in what ways God will enable me to use writing to advance his kingdom. Right now it may only be writing for Joyfully Jewel and The Prairie Times, a local magazine I have recently been involved in. Whatever it is, being in God’s will is the best place for me to be.
                So many girls I talk to enjoy writing, but are afraid to show their work to anyone. That’s sad. Sometimes failing a few times in front of others teaches you a lot more than hiding your skills. Remember, our goal is not to make a good reputation for ourselves, but to showcase God’s glory. Writing is a great way to share the gospel and encourage others, most of all pointing them to Christ. So I write on, for Christ and His kingdom!

Let it Snow!

                How many times have you watched the snow fly outside while sitting by the hearth or taken a single snowflake in your hand and examined its intricate design? Snow is one of the many wonders of God’s creation; a wonder that far exceeds the power of the pen. In the wild recesses of your mind, could you ever come up with something so wonderful, so beautiful, yet so useful a substance as snow? Not only does it store water in an almost dry element, allowing for more precipitation without flooding and washing away earth, it protects the earth by allowing only a steady melt of water to soak the plants below it and seep into the earth’s groundwater. So where does this snow come from?

               Snow begins in a process called the Bergeron Process. The Bergeron process takes place in cold clouds, or clouds with below-freezing temperatures thus clouds subsisting of ice. When water condenses out of the atmosphere and gathers in the cold cloud, at a certain point, the ice crystals in these clouds weigh too much to stay suspended in the air. As the ice crystals begin to fall through the air, they pick up more water which freezes and continues falling. When they become too large they break, creating even more crystals falling through the air. When they reach the lower troposphere they either melt causing rain, or stay frozen, depending on the temperature.  

               The intricate design of snowflakes is caused by the ice crystals breaking, collecting more ice, and then breaking again numerous times. Although it’s not impossible for two snowflakes to be identical, it’s highly unlikely due to the vast number of possibilities.

                Next times you see snow, remember God’s amazing creativity in designing the snowflake. Whether you’re caught outside in it, or watching it swirl from your window, don’t forget to thank God for creating such a beautiful and useful substance as snow. God could have made the earth all brown and dull, but that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?

Living on the Land

            A few years ago, my father caught a vision for taking dominion of the creation by learning how to live a more rural lifestyle.  The problem was we lived in suburbia. So, we decided to work with what we had.  Instead of impractical green grass, woodchips, and shrubs, we began to recreate the landscape on our ¼ acre to include a large vegetable and herb garden. Our first animals to get were two rabbits. They provided great fun and good composting manure until one day we didn’t close the cage properly and they escaped. That was the end of our rabbits.

            Next we went to the feed store and bought six fluffy chicks-one for each in the family. Not long after we had brought them home we became the neighborhood petting zoo. It started with letting one child hold the birds, and he told his friends, and they told their friends...and you get the point.

            But our real goal was to have some land where we could raise as many animals as we liked. After two stressful moves within five months of each other and a providential set of events, we finely found a homestead that fit us perfectly. We had waited for this for years! Jumping right in, and before we had even unpacked the house, we started working on the garden and orchard.
            First, we constructed a seven foot tall fence out of landscaping timbers to keep out the deer. We then wrapped a hodgepodge of fencing around to help with the rabbits. In his excitement to get started, my dad bought twenty-four fruit trees at a sale to plant in between the garden rows. Talking about a lot of fruit! In our old house, we tilled the garden by hand, but we weren’t so keen on breaking 300 square feet of thick sod by hand. So, we started researching rototillers. We came a across a pretty-good sized rototiller at a used sale. Thinking that bigger could only be better, we bought it. The giant size still works well for breaking up clay-like dirt, but it’s not so easy to push!
            Now, two years later, looking back I am glad we followed the principle found in Proverbs 24:27: “Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field, and then build your house.” Our garage may not be completely unpacked, but we are two years farther into getting fruit from our trees.
            Yet, we have found homesteading a lot harder than it looks in the books! After all that hard work of putting in the garden that first summer, our farm was hit with an intense hail storm. We came back from vacation to find the garden in a miserable condition. Nevertheless, we now know to put hail guards over some of the more sensitive plants before leaving town!
            Over the last two years, our farm has grown to include milk goats, chickens, and egg-laying ducks. There is nothing more satisfying than coming in from feeding the animals and enjoying fresh eggs, milk and produce. We also have the fulfillment of knowing where our food comes from and what nutrients are on our plate.
            Some of my father’s goals in originally moving us to some acreage were to be able to teach us children to work hard, to serve others, and to take dominion for Christ’s kingdom. Having animals that must be fed no matter what the weather has definitely taught us to get out of bed in the morning! Even more rewarding are the countless people from all stages and walks of life that have found our homestead to be a welcome rest from the toils of this world. Many children who might not otherwise get to experience farm life have been able to help feed goat kids, gather eggs, or harvest the garden. Through the creativity the farm life has brought, my siblings and I have been able to prune our skills and use them to further Christ’s kingdom. Whether it’s building a swing for a local ministry, writing, music, or hospitality, I hope we will be able to tell others about the gospel through our example. I know not what new animals we will be able to work with or what new adventures we will add to our little farm in the coming years. Whatever they are, I hope we can use them to bless others and most importantly, to glorify God.

Face Your Troubles-They're There for a Reason!

               Face your troubles- they're there for a reason!   This idea really came alive to me after listening to The Hedge of Thorns today. We tend to think of trials as bad things-but they’re really  for our good. God is not only teaching us a lesson, He is protecting us from something.  How many times have I been upset that God has not allowed me to go somewhere or do something I wanted to do.  I cannot even imagine what God was protecting me from; I will probably never know.

                Most of our trials aren’t glorious. Someone isn’t going to pat me on the back for facing another day of math with a good attitude. Those are the circumstances that really count though. Some big trials like losing your job or getting martyred for the faith are hard, make no mistake, yet it is the daily difficulties that teach us to place our hope in God.

                A lot of that difficulty includes battling down our flesh. It’s like Paul said in Romans six, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do practice; but what I hate, that I do…but now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Sometimes it’s much harder to deal with self than anything else.

                I’m talking to myself more than anyone else. It’s those little troubles that are so hard to deal with-loving others, facing your work with a joyful attitude, etc. Go…and face your trials for the Lord!

(By the way-you can get The Hedge of Thorns from Lamplighter in either book or audio format. If you ever have or ever will deal with difficulties, I highly recommend it!)

Busy...

I’ve simply been too busy to write in the last week. I’ve been busy cooking for my family; busy trying to figure out negative numbers. I’m busy plodding through physical science without the math necessary to do even the most basic physics problems. I’ve been busy trying to meet the demands of learning two instruments, and learning that half an hour a day doesn’t cut it when it comes to learning some of the harder pieces! I’m busy teaching my sisters piano, even when it means going overtime to explain the difference between common time and 6/8. Sometimes it’s frustrating when you sit down to read at the end of the day and get interrupted every other sentence! I’ve been busy trying to make sense of life, spending time with siblings, and learning from my mistakes. Busy thinking of articles to write with no time to write them! But, it’s not necessarily bad to be busy…as long as you’re busy doing the right things.  After all, it says, “That they may teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4) I’d better go, my sister is calling me to come teach her piano…

Do justice, Love mercy, Walk humbly with your God

Jewel

Dieum declectare, dieu laudes decorare

Oh the Joy to be Jewel!

            Are you content to just be who God made you to be? I know I’m not always. Sometimes I wish I were a different age, have gifts other people have, or live somewhere else. But there’s a reason God made us each with different gifts and abilities. Jeremiah learned this lesson in the potter’s house.

            “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:4-6

            I’ll never forget the drawing my grandfather did to illustrate this point. Walking down a long gravel path, there was a lady carrying two buckets of water. One of the buckets was perfect, no leaks or holes could be seen. The other bucket; however, had a  leak at the bottom allowing a steady stream of water to fall out. The lady thought the bucket was useless. But in reality, it was watering the beautiful flowers alongside the path. Because of the imperfection in the bucket, it was able to make a different and much larger impact on its surroundings.

            It is the same for us. Sometimes we wonder why God allows us to have suffering, imperfections, or differing talents. But without these blemishes, we wouldn’t be able to perform the work God has for us.

            You know, sometimes I wish I had the drawing talent my brother has, or the straight brown hair I’ve always wished for. But the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how wonderful it is to have curly blonde hair. A lot of people pay a pretty fine price to get the curls I have by just wetting my hair!

            What if the whole body of Christ was, say, only good at writing.  There would be no one do the speaking, editing, art, cooking, serving, nursing, etc.

            “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him. And if they wee all one members m where were the body?..And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members, of the body, which seem more feeble, are necessary.” I Cor. 12:14-22

            This seems to be a hard concept for everyone to grasp, but especially us women. It seems that our men are doing all the important work. What good is the day-in day-out washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, or changing diapers? Yet, we have been given an equally, if not more important job: raising the next generation.

            It starts getting exciting when the body of Christ can compliment each other’s talents. I play piano and violin, but I can’t do both at the same time. (Although I have tried but that’s another story!) I’ve had a blast playing music with others. That’s where brothers and sisters in Christ can compliment each other with our various skills.

            Furthermore, I really enjoy studying the English language, but I’m not very good at fiction. When a friend of mine finished a novel she was writing, I was able to edit it for her. I couldn’t have come up with a very good story line, but together we were able to come out with a quality product.

            So in the end, I’m glad God made me Jewel. Now the exciting part begins as He shows me the plan He has for me…and the gifts he has given me.

Thoughts on Music

            Scarcely a Sunday goes by where I do not have two pages of notes for the sermon. One, a giant slash recall of the sermon itself, and the other, my thoughts. The exposition of the Word not only brings together scriptural passages in my mind, but suddenly everything I have been thinking on makes sense.

            Music has been an area of thought recently. I have always understood that Christians are to take dominion of the music by composing, arranging, and inventing. But today was the first day it occurred to be that we are also cast off the imaginations of the world, or rather bring not only our music, but the whole world’s under the submission of Christ’s law. The Word describes the purpose of music as, to praise of God, and to root and ground Christians in the faith. Therefore, when people hear our music, it must:

1. Sound and say nothing like the world’s music
2. Remind the listener of the majesty of God and our incapability
3. Express and encourage the worship of God, not our emotions
4. Root and ground the listener in good theology. The modern practice of repeating one simple phrase for the entire three minute song simply doesn’t cut it.
5. Contain a proper musical resolution in the key specified
6. Turn our thoughts to God and His Word
7. Be multi-generational friendly

What music we listen to is important because it works its way into our attitudes, our clothing, and our purpose. There are numerous examples of “good” children who have been ruined mentally due to listening to the wrong music. Music has a way of entering us without going through our minds. We must take all caution then, because it is much easier to accept wrong thinking if it is sung than if it were bluntly told to you.

-Jewel

Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

Important Events on Christmas

496, Clovis baptized by Bishop Remme along with 3,000 of his Frankish troops, after being influenced to Christianity by his wife Clutelda
800, Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor
1066, William the Conquer crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey
1197, John I of England born on Christmas Eve
1776, Washington crosses the Delaware and attacks an unsuspecting Hessian garrison in Trenton
1821, Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, was born
1865, the founder of the Salvation army, Evangeline Cory Booth born
1868, Andrew Johnson pardons all Confederate soldiers
1926, Hirohito becomes emperor of Japan
1944, World War I soldiers hold a Christmas Truce between German and British regiments
1946, Jimmy Buffet born
1950, The Stone of Destiny (Scone) stolen by Scottish Nationalist students from Westminster Abbey
1991, Gorbachev resigns marking the end of the Soviet Union

-Jewel

Diem declectare, dieu laudes decorare

Christmas, Santa Claus, and Materialism

It is interesting to note that Christmas is a Christian holiday, except in America. It hasn’t always been like that either. At one time the pre-Christmas season was one of joy and fellowship, not a rush to get every type of electronic gizmo and gadget before a certain date. Yet this is far more than a cultural quark. It is an act of worship. Christmas hasn’t become non-religious; the problem is that the religion has changed. We can trace that change to the invention of Santa.
Ironically, St. Nicholas of Myra, from whom the legend of Santa Claus came, had nothing to do with the materialistic gift-giving of the 21st century. Living a fairly short (287-340), but productive life, Nicholas of Myra launched a pro-life crusade in Byzantium that had a generational impact for nearly a millennium. George Grant describes him in The Micah Mandate. "His tender pastoral care saw his flock through the fierce conflagrations of persecution and heresy. In the end, orthodoxy owed its survival to his evident compassion as much as it did to the theological foundations of his Nicean peers."
However, the American ideal of Santa Claus came about in 1821 when the first lithographed book came out entitled The Children’s Friend. The book was filled with fanciful tales and pictures of Santa Claus and his reindeer. This tradition was continued in 1863 when Thomas Nest published a serious of cartoons about Santa in Harper’s Weekly. His purpose was to support the Union and boost the soldier’s morale.
The problem with this picture, obviously, is its detraction from the real meaning of Christmas. Furthermore, parents are being encouraged to lie to their children and create a completely false hope. How will these children believe when their parents tell them about Jesus? Instead, Christians should use Christmas as an opportunity to celebrate the Lord’s birth by giving to others as he gave to us.
Yet, a Christian’s gift-giving should be radically different from the world’s. The world focuses on what people want, we should focus on what people actually need. Trying to live life simply, we should give to others what would either influence them for Christ or help them build His kingdom. More importantly, our satisfaction should be on the cross of Christ. The Cross isn’t comfortable, enjoyable, or painless. But neither was Christ’s incarnation.
-Jewel
Diem Declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

Humanism, a Failing Ideology

Taking roots in Greek and Roman cultures, then reappearing in the Renaissance, and now flourishing in the 21^st century, humanism is the most logical step of revolt against God. Although many in these three societies claimed to believe in some type of deity outside themselves, their life practice ultimately contradicted their claim. In essence, humanism is the belief that man is God. The god of humanism attempts, but fails, in fulfilling each of the duties of godhead: defining origins, metaphysics, ethics, security, and truth.

First, humanism fails to give a satisfactory definition of man’s origins. Origins is the study of how all that exists came into being. A man’s beliefs concerning his origins defines how he will live life on this earth. By whom or what we were created or how we evolved defines who we are. Are we images of a creator, made for his glory; products of earth itself, to show forth her praises; or nothing more than an object of pure chance in a world of meaninglessness? Our identity as humans effects what we believe about metaphysics, ethics, security, and truth.

The human mind is unable of itself to describe where we came from, for we were not there. If we are the ultimate standard, how can we believe something we did not observe? If the human mind is capable of reaching truth, how can we tell what source has reached this capability? Furthermore, if the human mind can find truth of itself, why is there so much controversy over the origin of man? Without knowing where we came from we cannot define the other crucial elements of life.

Secondly, the metaphysics of humanism is flawed. Metaphysics is the study of reality. Without being able to observe anything past the material world, nor trust any sources that claim there is a spiritual realm, man cannot understand life as it is. The spiritual realm cannot be observed; it is a world of ideas and beings outside of the physical. Humanism cannot explain a realm outside of material objects. But without a world of ideas, how can we describe the actions and motives of those around us? For example, you might be able to see someone give his mother a hug. This action itself is not love, but only a manifestation of a concept called love. This idea cannot be touched, tasted, smelled, seen, or felt. The same goes for ideas such as justice, freedom, beauty, good, or evil. Without abstract concepts, a standard of ethics is impossible.

Next, humanism provides no basis for ethics. Ethics, the principles of right action, are foundational to any culture. Without some proper sense of morality, mankind would wipe each other out. An absolute standard of ethics cannot be found in man, for what one man thinks is right, another deems wrong. The serial killer in prison thought his actions just as acceptable as the lady who gives to charity. Neither can the State raise such a standard, for how many examples from history are there of governments committing horrible injustices? The church has no authority either to define ethics outside of the Word of God.

Yet many humanists do have a sense of ethics to some degree. This shows that they are not only being inconsistent with their beliefs, but that they are also made in the image of God and have His knowledge implanted in them. This knowledge, commonly referred to as a conscience, has been corrupted by the fall; nevertheless, it is still visible in all men. Calvin explains, “That there exists in the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with a sense of Godhead, the memory of which he constantly renews and occasionally enlarges, that all man, being aware that there is a God, and he is their Maker, may be condemned by their own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service.” In addition, the god of humanism fails to provide genuine security (soteriology). Humanists argue that the solution to the world’s problems is proper education. The more we study the human mind, find great classical works, or pour money into the public school system they believe our problems will dissipate. Today the morale is just as high as ever despite the problems that are beginning to uproot our society. Just this year, Time Magazine announced their high ambition in its cover article, “2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal.” Yet this is not the direction we are heading despite the billions of dollars we as Americans have poured into the education system. On the contrary, our economic status has plummeted in the last five years, men are not grown up by thirty years of age according to Newsweek Magazine, and many of our medical institutions are moving towards exterminating the population through abortion and euthanasia rather than saving it.

Most importantly, humanism fails to define what all humankind seeks: epistemology or truth. The epistemological concerns of every scholar, clergy, and peasant, apart from the revelation of God, have come to naught. How can man’s mind discover what is is truthful and what is fallacious? Rene Descartes (1596-1650), French scholar and humanist philosopher, came to the conclusion that the way to determine truth was to doubt everything, until nothing more could be doubted. What was left would be truth. Descartes, over the course of his doubting, came to the conclusion, “I think, therefore I am.” However, Descartes failed to doubt his own existence in stating “I think,” presupposing the very premise he was attempting to prove. Descartes, along with all other humanists ultimately fall short of defining universal truth resulting in relativism.

This relativism, sometimes called “pluralism,” “tolerance,” or “co-existence”, is the basis of the modern dream of paradise. Yet to the United Nations, this idea is much more than a simple dream, it is the pathway to utopia. James Q. Wilson describes it thus,

“Many people have persuaded themselves that no law has any foundation in a widely shared sense of justice; each is the arbitrary enactment of the politically powerful. This is called legal realism, but it strikes me as utterly unrealistic. Many people have persuaded themselves that children will be harmed if they are told right from wrong; instead they should be encouraged to discuss the merits of moral alternatives. This is called values clarification, but I think it a recipe for confusion rather than clarity. Many people have persuaded themselves that it is wrong to judge the customs of another society since there are no standards a part form custom on which such judgments can rest; presumably they would oppose infanticide only if it involved their own child. This is sometimes called tolerance; I think a better name would be barbarism.”

Evidently, it is the Bible alone that remains the standard of origins, metaphysics, ethics, soteriology, and epistemology. It claims that, “…God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1)” Furthermore, the spiritual kingdom is “…not in word, but in power.

(I Cor. 4:20)” It is the standard of all right and wrong. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for…instruction in righteousness. (II Tim. 3:16) It describes the way of salvation. “(Christ) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father. (Gal. 1:4)” And finally it claims, “…and Thy law is truth. (Ps. 119:142)”

Bibliography

Bahsen, Greg, Always Ready, 2004

Bahsen, Greg, Defending the Christian Worldview against all Opposition, 2006

Calvin, John, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1966

Dokoupil, Tony, “Why I am Leaving Guyland,” Newsweek Magazine, August, 2008

Grant, George, The Micah Mandate, 1999

Grossman, Kev, “2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal,” Time Magazine, February, 2011

Holy Bible, King James Version, 1964

Wilson, Nate, The Functions of Deity, 2010

Books

"In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, Who alone is sovereign, does not declare, "That is mine!"-Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920)

"One desire has been the ruling passion of my life. One high motive has acted like a spur upon my mind and soul...it is this: That, in spite of all worldly opposition, God's holy ordinances shall be established again in the home, in the school, and in the state for the good of the people; to carve as it were into the conscience of the nation the ordinances of the Lord, to which the Bible and Creation bear witness, until the nation pays homage to God."- Abraham Kuyper

"Everybody has a god-No exceptions-Everybody does. Everybody has to, because everybody must appeal to some authority to decide what is real and what is not real in order to make sense out of life. Everybody must attribute his origin to something and everybody has an opinion about what is wrong with things in the world. And everybody has an idea of how to find safety from what is bad. Each one of these functions of deity requires us to make an un-provable assumption, a faith-based statement that goes beynd the sphere of science into the realm of religion and philosophy." -Nate Wilson, from the introduction to The Functions of Deity (Which I highly recommend!)

Reformation

It's nearing the end of October, and children and adults alike are planning for Halloween. Over the years, this holiday in America has grown from being a cute excuse to dress up in your favorite costume to a celebration of evil. Yet few people realize the important events that October marks.
It was October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses to the Church in Wittenburg, marking the beginning of a reformation that is still influencing us today. But the price of reformation was soon to be discovered. It was also October, 1536 when William Tyndale, translater of the English bible, was burned at the stake as a heretic by Henry VIII. His last words were, "Lord, open the eyes of the king of England." A year later, his the same King Henry ordered a publication of Matthew's bible to be spread abroad through England and every church to open up copies of the bible in the common tongue. Tyndale's vision of "the ploughboy to know more of the bible than the scholar," came true. God was once again bringing his word to England.
Following Tyndale would come countless other martyrs who would spread the reform by their witness. I have not time to go into the stories of George Wishart, the two Margarets, Marion Harvie, and countless other Huegonots and Waldensians.
October marks yet another important event to the history of the Church. It was 1533 when Micheal Servetus, condemned by the council of Geneva for heresy, was burned at the stake. Contrary to popular view, it was not John Calvin who had him executed. John Calvin begged the council to allow him a less painful death, but he was disregarded. And it was Calvin who preached a sermon to Servetus at his death begging him to embrace the true doctrines of Christ.
Will you remember these important events, or will you, like countless others forget the price our father's paid? October 31 is a landmark to the Church...what will you do to remember?

Ariansim and the Council of Nicea

In today’s pragmatic world, few Christians realize the heresies that dominate their culture. Fewer still realize the treacherous implications that heretical beliefs can bring upon a society. And yet, these false philosophies have raged since the beginning of the world, threatening to uproot societies and ruin empires. Early Byzantium was no exception. The Byzantine Empire had scarcely won its place amongst the great nations of the world when the heresy of Arianism reared its ugly head. Only Providence knew how the tenants of this heresy, the dangerous consequences that forced their way into Byzantium society, and the Council of Nicea that arose to address this issue would play a vital role in the chronicle of the kingdom of God.

The tenants of Arianism were simple in nature, and yet contained grave error. Although Arius (1), presbyter of Alexandria at the time, brought his beliefs into public play, we can trace the roots of Arianism from theologians Origin and Dionysius. Basically, Arius taught that although God was without beginning, Christ was created by God from nothing at a definite period in time, was therefore not coeternal with the Father, and was mutable and inferior to Him. He also believed that Christ was made God by the Father and was therefore to be worshipped. As time went on, the Arians disagreed among themselves on Christ’s relationship to the Father; some of the radicals claimed that Christ was completely unlike the Father and therefore fallible.

One of the dangerous consequences Arianism thrust upon Byzantine society is that it threatened to lead to a Statist and Unitarian mentality. For this to be understood one must recognize the raging conflict over the doctrine of the Trinity. With the resulting beliefs arising from such a conflict come many consequences (2) that have a profound effect on the world we live in. Throughout history, true Christianity has been the only religion to adequately explain the doctrine of the Trinity, the one and the many. As the City of Man attempts to explain how one, that is society as a whole, and the many, that is the individuals of that society, relate to each other they fall into error. Focusing overly on the individual, the heresy of the many, or on the state as a union, the heresy of the one, the balance is thrown off and tyranny or anarchy reigns. This explains the common error of humanity to fall into polytheism or Unitarianism. Without the Spirit mankind cannot explain the mystery of the Trinity.

Arianism as well falls into this trap of the heresy of the one. If we follow Arianism to its logical conclusion: if Christ was human and became God, man can also become God and should therefore be worshipped. (Rushdoony) This is the most basic principle of Statism: man is God. Through the years, this doctrine would seep into Byzantium as emperors would cross the line from being God’s servant, to imagining themselves as being God himself; a fatal error indeed.

Constantine, emperor of Byzantium (3), found yet another danger to this heresy. To him, having the Christian Church unified under his command was crucial to Byzantium’s survival. If the Arian Heresy divided the church, the country of Byzantium would be at risk. At the opening of the council of Nicea Constantine explained, “For my own part, I hold any sedition within the church of God as formidable as any war or battle, and more difficult still to bring to an end. I am consequently more opposed to it than anything else. (Norwhich)”

Constantine tried to stop the brewing contention between Arianism and Orthodox Christianity by sending a letter to Arius and his opponent, Alexander. This letter tried to convince the two that this argument was trifling and forgiveness was the best option. It didn’t work. Constantine then began what was to be the first ecumenical council of the Church: the Council of Nicea.

The council was to be held at the imperial palace in Nicea, modern Asia Minor, from May 20 to June 19, 325 A.D. Constantine’s intention was for the gathering to be a nationwide ordeal, but it was not to be. The western church, uninterested in the east’s quibbles, only sent a few delegates. From the east came nearly three hundred. Phillip Schaff sums up the importance of this event. “The Council of Nicea is the most important event of the fourth century, and its bloodless intellectual victory over a dangerous error is of far greater consequence to the progress of true civilization, than all the bloody victories of Constantine and his successors. (Hodge).”

The council desired to express their conclusion in a creed. The Arian’s apologetic being unfavorable, Eusebius of Caesarea, of a more neutral state, proposed an acceptable creed. For use in the creed, the Greek word Homoousios, meaning of the same substance, was inscribed to Christ.

“We believe in one God, the Father almighty, the maker of things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, only begotten, begotten of the Father, that is of the essence of the Father, by whom all things were made whether in heaven or on earth…But those who say, that there was a time when He (the Son) was not, that He was not before He was made, or was made out of nothing, or of another or different essence or substance, that He was a creature, or mutable, or susceptible of change, the Holy Catholic Church anathematizes. (Hodge)” This being put forth, Arius was temporarily exiled and his writings burnt.

The Council of Nicea was effective in maintaining the unity of the church in Byzantine and we see that this practice has biblical precedent. In Acts fifteen we find Paul and Barnabas disputing over the matter of circumcision. Their first response was to hold a council, or presbytery, at Jerusalem. After coming to agreement on the issue they wrote a letter, a creed, to those being questioned. This passage lays out not only the process of resolving disputes in the church but also the biblical principle of church accountability. Likewise, the Council of Nicea was a foundation stone to the church and would settle the vital doctrine of the divinity of Christ. Furthermore, its example would allow many essential doctrines to be confirmed over the early ages of Christendom which if compromised would have caused damage to the church of Christ. However, with such a foundation covering centuries of church history, why has the modern American church forgotten this principle? Everywhere we find churches apostatizing on the major issues of the faith; issues such as the origin of the universe, the depravity of man, or the definition of biblical marriage. Yet few denominations have called even a small council to answer such basic questions. In the meantime the American church is sliding farther and farther from biblical Christianity. Who will be the next Constantine?

Epilogue

A Short Apologetic against Arianism

When any question arises concerning theology, metaphysics, or any area of life, the Christian’s first response should be to go to the pages of the bible. The bible, although it may not distinctly mention Arianism, distinctly opposes the idea. Romans 9:5, for example, “…Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever.” In John 10:30 Jesus claims, “I and my Father are one.”

In the fourth century, Arians used Proverbs 8:22 to defend their beliefs. “The Lord already possessed me long ago, when his way began, before any of His works.” They claimed possessed means created. Hence we find Strong’s Concordance describing qânâh, Greek for possessed, as “To erect, i.e. create; by extens. To procure.” (Strong) The Arianian error; therefore, is in the context of the passage. Nevertheless, nowhere in Proverbs 8 does it claim that this “wisdom” is the Eternal Son of God.

By using the text of Proverbs 8:22 to defend the reliability of their argument, the Arians inferred that they believed the Bible to be an honest source. But if part of the Bible is true, by its own standard, all must be true. And as mentioned above, John 10:30 clearly states that Christ is one with the Father. The Arians were being noticeably inconsistent. An inconsistent belief can not be trusted as fact or theory alike.

Endnotes

(1) To many, Arius’ untimely death proved the fact that he was heretical. Joseph Morecraft III describes Arius’ death in his book, History of Reformation in the West. “When he (Arius) was to return to Alexandria, Egypt, a leading preacher there, named Alexander, fell to the ground with his eyes filled with tears and prayed: “If Arius comes tomorrow to the church, take me away, and let me not perish with the guilty. But if you pity Your church, and You do pity it, take Arius away, lest when he enters heresy enter with him. (Rushdoony)” The next morning, as Arius and his retinue were making their way to the church as a triumphant procession, to be publicly reconciled with the church there so as to preach in it, “Arius stopped and left the procession suddenly because of gastric pain. After waiting some time, his followers investigated and found that the old man Arius had collapsed in (his own) blood and fallen headlong into the open latrine (Urinal).” After this he was often compared to Judas Iscariot, who died a similar death. This event proved vital to the conclusion of the Arian conflict in Byzantium.

(2) This is summed up in the cliché, “Ideas have consequences.”

(3) According to Joseph Morecraft, Constantine had two major weaknesses and one great strength. He was weak in that he was dualistic, wanting paganism to coexist with Christianity. Sadly, he also started popery and encouraged what would later become the Roman Catholic Church. Nevertheless, Constantine began the ecumenical councils of the church; a practice we find right from the pages of Scriptures. (Morecraft) He also ended the persecution of the church under Rome. Constantine’s faith has been doubted. According to legend he did have a faith experience, or vision, near the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Whether this experience played out in his life can be doubted. However, despite his errors, God did use this man to establish His church.

Bibliography

Hodge, Charles D.D, Systematic Theology, WORDsearch corp. 2009

LaTourette, Kenneth Scott, a History of Christianity volume I

Morecraft, Joseph, History of Christianity and Western Civilization, Vision Forum, San Antonio

Morecraft, Joseph, The History of the Reformation in the West

Norwich, John Julius, Byzantium, the Early Centuries, Alfred A. Knoph, publisher, 1988

Rushdoony, R.J., A Christian Survey of World History, “The Early Church and Byzantium,” Chaldedon /Ross House Books, Vallecito

Help Save Pastor Youcef!

Iran has recently imprisoned pastor Youcef, a young father of two boys and pastor to a congregation of 400, and sentenced him to death for his religious views. His wife has also been imprisoned. Because of international pressure, Iran has changed his charges to criminal offense and the local judges have sent the trial to the top leader of Iran. American Center for Law and Justice aclj.org has put together a petition to send to our secretary of state in hopes she will speak up for pastor Youcef and build up international pressure. The bible commands us to "remember those who are bound as bound with them." Please sign now!

-Jewel
Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

A Talk on Communism

Recently my Dad has been reading to my brother and I 1984 by George Orwell. What he seeks to impress upon our mind is the consequences of Marxist thinking. In the fabled nation of oceana everything from war to thought is ditated by Big Brother-the state. Everywhere Big brother is watching you...from the telescreen in your house to the cubicle on which you sit. The very truth that is common sense now is changed to fit the party's philosphy. In fact, the three slogans of the party are almost opposite of the Judeo-Christian worldview, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.
Yet, suddenly we realized that such tolatarism wasn't only fiction; everywhere men and woman are pushing such a seemingly radical idea. It may never come to the extent of 1984, but it has happened in Soviet Russia, and is happening in countrys like China and North Korea. we had just finished reading a chapter of George Orwell when Daddy picked up the recent Voice of the Maryters newsletter and began reading about an underground church which had been forced out of their worship place. The similarities were almost humerous if we had realized the profound reality of what we were reading.
In Christ is the power to combat such forces; are we ready to stand for His kingdom?

"When men despise history they are on the road to barbarism, because to despise history is to reject Biblical faith and reject meaning and purpose in life in favor of gratification in a moment. people who have no past have no future. they represent cluture senility."-R.J. Rushdoony, Roots of Reconstruction

"The purpose of stripping men of their past is to reshpae them into whatever form their elite rulers choose."-R.J. Rushdoony, Roots of Reconstruction