The Sad State of Our Generation

A paragraph I took from the book I'm reading "Cry Havoc! The Great American Bring-down and How it Happened":

A recent survey of seniors at 55 leading colleges shows that 98% could identify the rap "artist" Snoop Doggy Dogg, but only 34% knew that George Washington was commander-in-chief during the War of Independence. A Department of Education study discloses that 50% of white college students and 80% of blacks could not use a bus schedule; 90% could not use a calculator; 57% could not reckon the change they should receive from $3.00 on a $2.55 check or calculate the tip; 42% could not put the American Civil War in the right century; and 35% did not know the difference between the European Reformation and our post-Civil War Reconstruction. Of those who had heard of the Reconstruction era, half placed it after World War II.

Where is this generation headed? Sad days.

Sermon notes on Family Roles

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Wives: Submit - there is one who leads and one who follows. Wives are to submit to their husbands freely, and he cannot force her to submit. It doesn't mean she is worthless, or cannot be strong-willed, or well-educated. She has influence and talents. Her role under the husband is part of the hierarchical realm. She is to follow her husband, and her motivation is to be that by doing that she will also be serving Christ. As unto the Lord she is to submit to him, but not if he commands her to do things that are not under God. The husband is not the absolute power.

Husbands: Leader - they are to see to, love, and care for as well as prioritize their wives. They are to be like Christ to the Church. He is called to lay down the self and to completely devote himself to the welfare of his wife. With the husbands role we are reminded of Christ: his sacrifice and service and our salvation.

Children: are called to obey their parents. That is the call and if we follow it we are promised long life on the whole of the earth. The land of God brought the fullness of the flowering of God's kingdom.

Fathers: are to train, exhort, and instruct their children as unto the Lord. He is to be a shepherd to his family, leading them ever before God and His Word; reminding them of God's promises to a Godly, Biblical family. Fathers are to train up their children under God and to lead their wives gently and with tender love. If they are the husband and father they should be, then it will not be hard for his children to obey or his wife to submit. It would be easy and a joy for them to live out their Godly roles if their family head is faithful to his role.

Prayer to the Government

Dear Obama, who art in the White House; hallowed be they name alone. Your campaign win, your healthcare be passed, in America and worldwide. Be our sole provider (‘cause God ran out of bread) and forgive us when we doubt your perfection. Control us so we cannot think Biblically and deliver us from freedom. For you should have all the power, complete dominion, and our praise and glory forever. Amen.

Simple Faith

SIMPLE FAITH

Gijsbert J. Vanden Bogerd


"Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

1. When hearts unclean are pained by sin,
Then straight to Jesus they should fly;
For He alone makes pure within,
And willing is before they cry.


2. Yet dangers often block the path,
Directly leading to the cross;
And hide from view the love Christ hath,
Thus causing to the sinner loss.


3. Though Jesus showed the Way so clear,
That all to Him might quickly flee;
He's often grieved by sinners' fear,
Who in His love but vengeance see.


4. "Now unclean as am I," some say,
"Would be presumption so to come."
So oft' they leave the only Way,
And seek to make their conscience numb.


5. And oft' alas the more inclined,
Seek after Christ by tears and prayers;
Yet when no broken heart they find,
Are discouraged and hope despairs.


6. But simple, child-like faith we need,
Apart from self, in Christ alone;
In Him who gave Himself to bleed,
And died for sin, though not His own.


7. "Lord if Thou wilt, Thou surely can,
Yet freely how, for such as I?
And though Thou bled for sinful man,
Was it for me that Thou didst die?"


8. Ah sinner, why these doubts attend?
This great salvation now receive;
For know assured thou art condemned,
Except in Christ thou dost believe.


9. A father once, when pressed to faith,
With tears cried out, "I do believe."
And for his doubts, as Scripture saith,
He cried, "Lord help mine unbelief."


10. All sinners Christ doth still receive,
Yea freely for His own Name's sake.
These depths of love none can conceive,
But those who of His grace partake.

What are words?

Lately I have gotten to know a friend who has absent-mindedly taught me an invaluable lesson. He has taught me that words mean something. Every single word that you speak, you should mean. We’ve all heard the saying “think before you speak” but hear this…”think before you *don’t* speak”. If someone is something…tell them. If a girl is beautiful, tell her. If a guy is thoughtful, tell him. If you love someone, make *sure* you tell them. Don’t let days go by without telling people what you feel. This has really struck me because this “new” friend of mine is an extremely intelligent and honest person. He was struck by my words…words I said and meant…but didn’t truly stop to think about. Because of him, I watch my words now…make sure I mean every one of them. And truly…what *are* words if we really don’t mean them when we say them? If you meant them…stick to them, don’t let them just die away. Don’t go back on your words, mean every one. Take time to stop and think about what you are saying…do you mean it?

What Are Words by Chris Medina

Anywhere you are, I am near
Anywhere you go, I'll be there
Anytime you whisper my name, you'll see
How every single promise I keep
Cuz what kind of guy would I be
If I was to leave when you need me most

Chorus:

What are words
If you really don't mean them
When you say them
What are words
If they're only for good times
Then they don't
When it's love
Yeah, you say them out loud
Those words, They never go away
They live on, even when we're gone

And I know an angel was sent just for me
And I know I'm meant to be where I am
And I'm gonna be
Standing right beside her tonight
And I'm gonna be by your side
I would never leave when she needs me most

Anywhere you are, I am near
Anywhere you go, I'll be there
And I'm gonna be here forever more
Every single promise I keep
Cuz what kind of guy would I be
If I was to leave when you need me most

I'm forever keeping my angel close

A Buried Hymn

We Give Thee But Thine Own

We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

May we Thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our firstfruits give.

To comfort and to bless,
To find a balm for woe,
To tend the lone and fatherless
Is our great task below.

And we believe Thy word,
Though dim our faith may be:
Whatever task we do, O Lord,
We do it unto Thee. Amen.

Thoughts from sitting in evening church

Ok, so I have these disgusting and rather hideous shoes, but they are by *far* my most comfortable shoes! Too often I have slipped them on at home and found myself out in public with them on because I had completely forgotten about them. But they are just so weird looking! When this happens, I am reminded of the Christian life: it is a hard life to live. One of my friends came to me the other day crying "Why is the Christian life so hard! It's too hard!". Yes, it's hard..just like my shoes are unfashionable and unappealing, but it is *so* worth it (like the comfort gained)! What great peace and love is gained by true Christians...the salvation attained is far greater than a life of "fun". That turns to dust...despair and lifelessness. How can we not choose the "ugly shoes" with the unbelievable comfort and joy? What shoes are you wearing?

Worldview notes from today

Sarah Bacon

Worldview class

Week 26

Notes on the book read aloud:

The 60’s were not buried for two reasons: 1) it really was an epical and foundational change, those kinds of things don’t get buried that easily; and 2) the worldview before the 60’s didn’t make sense now that they were compared to after the 60’s happened. It was a dramatic change in the narrative. But it was a gradual build up, not a sudden change in the 60’s. During the 90’s and even now, it is a slow climb and build up, back to the ultimate climax. The 80’s were when the conservatives were so sure they had won, but fundamental cultural changes like the 60’s don’t just leave like that, they stay in hibernation but then come back and that is exactly what is happening right now. The 60’s were a time of counter-culture, but considered to be the culture since it was an upside down world. Since we are re-living the 60’s, our definitions are backwards – Christianity is the counter-culture and their counter-culture worldview is considered the culture. In a backwards/upside down world like that, good is bad, bad is good…beautiful is ugly, and ugly is beautiful.

New Age Psychology = Collective Consciousness

You are your own divine. We rise up spiritual awareness and collective consciousness to further its psychological and spiritual evolution. Reality is whatever you make it to be. “Mind over matter” is their slogan repeatedly. Their call was a call to expand and develop your mind.

New Age Sociology = Non-Traditional Home, Church, and State

This is psychology but on a bigger scale. They are just applying the psychology to the culture, not just the individual. Their end goal is to demolish the remaining Biblical standards (especially the family standards), and to abolish the church, home, and state. They advocate pluralism and believe that all religions end up at the same point. You erase all distinctions and roles.

New Age Law = Self-Law

They focus on the inner truth. Everyone makes their own law. Each man does what is right in his own eyes. Anything but self-law is restricting you from uncovering your spiritual awakening. Because of this, the church needs to be taken down, since the church sets out a clear, Biblical standard of laws. You need to set your own law and standards because you are god and you are ultimately good and incapable of doing evil.

New Age Politics = New Age Order

They see our political system as restrictive and limiting: perversion and crime are still perversion and crime. Until politics and the state advocates Cosmic Humanism, they will oppose and attempt to take down our modern politics. They seek to once again erase all distinctions…man and woman, state and nation, human and God.

New Age Economics = Universal Enlightened Production

Spiritually enlightened people are not bound by the limitations of modern economics which is all about rules, laws, and distinctions. They don’t address or discuss economics simply because economics only restricts you from unleashing your inner sense and being. Following your feelings and believe in yourself leads the enlightened to prosperity by the power of positive thinking. So their only rule is that there can be no rules…which happens to be a contradiction.

New Age History = Evolutionary Godhood

History is a record of how humans are ever increasing into their godness. It’s a record of how we develop and discover ourselves. Their goal would be a fully enlightened people and Utopia. Christians are looked on as the anchor that holds back enlightenment, so that must be gotten rid of. You are called to find your potential and calling apart from religion (which is not possible).

True love is not in Cosmic Humanism…god is everything they say, even the impersonal. But the impersonal cannot love, only people can love. But to them, everything is relative; everyone does whatever they want and it is deemed fine. If you enter into this, there is no right or wrong because you are just doing what you feel is right within you. Our destiny is in our own hands and is up to us. The counter to all this is that sin has its season, but then it turns to a life of destruction and unhappiness. 

Quote today from class...good thought!

"We, as Christians, are called to be thermostats, not thermometers."

With God’s help we can be the salt of the world; we can make a difference and be an example to both believers and non-believers; we can demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives; we can change the atmosphere where we find ourselves. It is not hard to be like thermometer. However as Christians we are called to become like a thermostat and make a positive difference in community where we are. In our Christian life, we have to identify ourselves. Are we a thermometer? Or are we a thermostat? One tells the conditions surrounding it while the other makes a difference in those conditions in the environment which it is located. It is hard to become a thermostat and influence the people around you but it is easy to tell what kind of people are there in your surrounding and conform to their norm. It is easier to conform just to be accepted in the society rather than to do what is what right and influence them. Christians like us are not meant to conform to the world because God called us to make a difference in the world.

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

Thought of the day

Thought for the day: Emotions and feelings are okay, as long as they are fueled and driven by your head and with logic and reason as well as a solid Biblical worldview and not just the fluctuation of the heart. 


"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

The last Christendom notes and more Worldview notes

Sarah Bacon

History of Christendom

Week 25

The American founders, from the earliest Pilgrims and Puritans all the way through to the patriots of the revolutionary age, believed that their task was to take the great legacy of Christendom and plant it in a new land, where it might flourish, unencumbered by the political machinations that had somehow begun to strangle that vision in the motherlands. As a result, the American experiment in liberty was one of decentralization and covenantal connection, where the ideas of chivalry reigned and where the distinction in the culture was so pronounced that visitors from Europe could hardly believe that these settlers were actually transplanted from the mother country.

The colonists came and set up, making their independent rules apart from a tyrannical ruler. They were all Calvinists so it could be said that John Calvin was the grandfather of America. The way they lived and settled was all due to their worldview. Population went from 102 down to 53. They came over in 1620, but by 1625 they had a printing press and had printed the Ainsworth Psalter. In 1635 the Boston Latin School was established. A year later, Harvard College was set up and started along with 14 publishers and 9 libraries.

There is a connection between liberty and well-read, also slavery and illiteracy/ignorance. If you read well, you will be intelligent and educated so you will not tolerate being held down and oppressed. Educated people are easy to lead but difficult to fool; they understand how essential unity is. Knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are key to liberty. Smart thinkers press for reformation and true freedom with a future hope.

The classics are a Christian’s leadership legacy. We are called to read and take it a step further, to think about it conceptually and analytically in a new way. To read well is to read deep and wide. Deep into subjects and wide as in many authors and subjects. To read much of many. We think first presuppositionally and then holistically.

Our culture today:

Modern American culture is all about the least common denominator, making everyone equally dumbed down. One way they can do that is with “No Child Left Behind” which is really No Child Gets Ahead. They are kept as smart as the dumbest of them and so are dragged behind where they ought to be. This is socialism at its best.

Technology is good in its place, but when it gets in the way of good reading then it is a problem and a distraction. We are in a war where substance cannot stand up against the distractions of the moment.

Where we are going in this culture is sad…where there is an erosion of epistemology, a corruption of ontology and a subjugation of theology. Simply put: a decrease of knowledge, a mismanagement of living, and an enslavement of religion.

The worldview effect of the war on Christendom was the end of Parliament’s salutary neglect, the establishment of Parliament as king, the economics came first over the right of freedom, and forced submission to a tyrannical Mahat system.

Worldview notes:

Cosmic Humanism

With Transcendentalism and Romanticism we see that because everyone is “god” then everyone is equal. We see this in the 1800’s with the war for the abolition of slavery. If someone is a slave then they are not equal with the slave-master. The Cosmic Humanist is pantheistic, subjective, and under positive law. The Secular Humanist is deistic, objective, and under natural law. Cosmic Humanists are focused on the inward and looking within. Their epistemology is intuition and mysticism. The humanist’s epistemology is reason and the Christian’s epistemology is revelation.

The ethics of a Cosmic Humanist is relativism…all is opinion and there is also situational ethics, that everyone has their own ethics with each situation. If everyone is God, then everyone should be able to create their own laws or ethics.

Biology for them is that man begins with a spark of divinity and throughout his life he is growing it more and more till he comes to see his goodness and at that point they are at the epitome of their divinity. It is a sudden leap of this revolutionary evolution to where we have the light bulb turned on and we are opened to our godness. We each have our own experience of awakening and our psychologist is our high priest to guide us to this great awakening.

Some class notes

Sarah Bacon
History of Christendom
Week 23

The great Puritan vision of an entirely transformed society, a society that was completely marked by the influence of the gospel, was balanced by a kind of realism. The Puritans recognized that there wasn’t a division between the call to personal holiness and the call to social action. There wasn’t a division between being a Christian and being a politician; those things could be wed together, and both done for the glory of God.

Puritanism was a reforming movement. Central to them was their form of worship. There is always a ripple effect to worldviews: how God is seen ripples to the form of worship which ripples out to a cult which ripples out to shape the culture. Puritanism was not one distinct group/movement and it had great influence upon numerous people and religions. So it could be defined as more of a grassroots movement. It had great influence on different religions including the Separatists (mainly pilgrims), Non-Conformists, Congregationalists, Baptists, and Presbyterians.

Some Myths about Puritans:
1) Puritans hated fun – they were serious about doctrine, Christ, and God’s calling in their life and they actually yielded much joy throughout their lives. They called for merriment rather often. Their serious about doctrine often portrayed them as a boring and lacking in fun type of people.
2) The Puritans were drab and unfashionable – they would only wear black and white to church on Sundays as a formality. They would wear the typical fashion of those days on all the weekdays however.
3) The Puritans hated sports and recreation – there was a book written in 1618 called the Declaration (or Book) of Sports. This was to tell what sports can be done on the Sabbath. The Puritans opposed this and said that other than Sunday it was perfectly fine and highly encouraged to be active in sports, excluding games of chance.
4) The Puritans were greedy workaholics – in fact, they discouraged excessive work for money and said that material gain on earth is worth nothing. They did, however, believe that we all need to wisely use God’s generous gifts.
5) The Puritans hated the arts – they did remove the “bells and smells” from their churches in order to get away from Catholicism and return to a Biblical sense of worship. Their lives were filled with music and craftsmanship.
6) The Puritans were a bunch of irrelevant old people – they were definitely not irrelevant and most were not old. On the contrary it was a very budding movement filled with zealous and energetic youth. Because of this they would be accused of being “young and inexperienced.”
7) The Puritans despised the physical world – they promoted God’s vibrant blessings; God gives us everything and we are to appreciate everything. They knew how to have fun and to give praise and glory to God.
8) Puritans were overly strict, intolerant, and legalistic – they weren’t always tolerating to be sure, but given the times they lived in, it was for good reason. They were greatly hated for their attempt at reformation.

Charles I with his Star Chamber was set into motion for the persecution of the Puritans. It was a place where they would be given no trial or hearing whatsoever and condemned to whatever fate the king decided. The Puritans refused to conform just for peace. Even the Parliament was dismissed and/or ignored just so that the Puritans could be persecuted and weeded out.

Puritan Ideals:
Well-ordered home, peaceful, father = shepherd, mother = caretaker, value of education and discipline, family worship, church attendance, active diligence, value of hard work revolving around Sabbath, serious and practical, and self discipline are all characteristics of a Puritan home.

Puritan Fruits:
They had a boom of productivity because they were hard-working. Cultures grew and they saw their destiny in light of God’s will for them. Puritans became the economic leaders in England and America. There was a huge emphasis on community life centered around parish life. Decentralized authority and a building on a series of covenantal relationships like guilds, school, family etc., was key for them. They valued accountability in an unofficial way within a natural boundary of the spheres.
They were future-oriented, looking ahead to how they could influence the generations to come. They were very rooted and grounded. They held a long-term commitment to any and all family members. Home life was the cornerstone and hub for the community.

Personal Piety:
Self-control and stability were great qualities of the Puritans. They balanced theory and practice well, but they were not overly pious to the point of seeking attention for their actions. They balanced the abstract and concrete, having both orthodoxy and orthopraxy. They didn’t just think, they also did…Puritans connected the inner and outer life and had a context for everything.

Education:
Puritans had extremely high expectations for learning and education. They built up libraries, publishing houses, and colleges. They would place the bar for learning too high so that students were continually seeking more education until they could achieve anything. In fact, Puritans were the ones who originally started Harvard.

Literature:
Puritans would study and listen to sermons the way we watch movies. They would saturate themselves completely in them, studying and focusing completely on them. This helped show them how grounded they were…they wouldn’t spend their extra time wasting it on frivolous things, but use it to study the character of God more thoroughly.

The Puritan movement was a very religious movement. Right doctrine was key in their lives and they had strong moral convictions. Continual reform was very normal in their eyes, and it needs to happen regularly because of the Fall.

You are always going to have an infallible god of some type. Puritans were visionary, protesting, and international. Puritans were always a minority which greatly fueled their zeal; to take on the world together even though they were constantly persecuted. It was a full body movement, with no leaders to pick off. If you wanted it to stop you would need to take them all out individually. Scripture was central and the question of authority was key. Education was very important to them, the correct schooling of their children for the future generations. Puritanism was a movement of politics and economics as they believed that God touched upon and ruled all areas of life.

They knew they each had specific rights and duties. They knew they were balanced, not that you “deserved” everything. It was their duty to follow and submit to Christ. It could be argued man has no rights, only God does and if God were to give rights it could only be found in Scripture.

Puritanism was balanced by a vision of realism and idealism.

Worldview notes

Cosmic Humanism:
Everything is spiritual or supernatural. But, if everything is spiritual then material is spiritual; if everything is material then spiritual is material. Being “green” is seen as there is a sense of “godness” in everything. Pantheism is everything is God. Panentheism is God is in everything. We are told to look within for who we really are. Reincarnation is promised and they push a mystic psychology. Horoscopes, tarot cards, and fortune tellers are all part of the mysticism. Animism, Gnosticism, Spiritism, Christian science, but especially Hinduism and Buddhism are all carriers of this Cosmic Humanism. The roots of this movement are thought to have started in the East with India, China, and Japan.

Tech/Show week

HEY...so in case you all were wondering what kind of black hole I've dropped off into...I can tell you it's a wonderful black hole! I've been crazy busy with State S&E and now HPA is starting to pick up into craziness galore (and I love it!). Yesterday we "moved" into CPAC and it's just like coming back to the home you grew up in...lovely. Today we'll be at a church up in Lansing but tomorrow we are back in Charlotte. Thursday is off as well as Good Friday. And then Easter on Sunday followed by the crazzzyyy...SHOW WEEK. I am so so very excited to face that really busy week. If you're interested in coming to see The Wizard of Oz put on by a homeschool professional group (oh yes...we've been compared to Broadway, folks) see this link for tickets: http://hpami.org/ ...the tickets are going fast! We are nearly sold out so get them *fast*. Hope to see you there!

Article XXIX of the Belgic Confession of Faith

I know this still isn't what I said my next post will be...I keep procrastinating on my research for it! But in the meantime here is a post on a Confession that we talked about in Sunday School today. I won't put it in the exact words because it can get a little long and you have to be 100% awake in order to understand it sometimes...but if you want to get it word for word you can find it here: http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/BelgicConfession.html

Many groups call themselves under the name church...but few assume what it really means to be a true Church. We are not referring to the hypocrites who invade the churches are attempt to poison it with their heresies, but rather the Church as the bride of Christ. This is distinctly different from those who call themselves the Church but teach false preaching.
The real Church will have certain marks or characteristics that will show itself to be the true Church. It will 1) preach the true doctrine and principles of the Word 2) it distributes the sacraments properly and in accordance to Scripture and 3) and they actively discipline those who are living in error or sin...basically following intently to the every word of the Bible, dispelling those things which oppose the Bible, and having Christ as our only king. This is how we are to see the true Church as separate from the false Church. 
Also, there are true and false Christians. They too can be known by certain characteristics that show themselves forth in their life. Namely, by faith, and by after they receive Christ as the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or the left (remaining steadfast in their faith), and crucify the flesh with the works that are to originate out of selflessness. All this is not to say that they are perfect...everyone is sinful and is constantly making mistakes, but they are to consistently fight against the temptation of the flesh every day of their life...they are to refer themselves back to the blood, death, passion, and obedience of Christ with whom we have all our sins forgiven and we are covered in His righteousness.
The false Church can be seen by its need to collect to itself all power and authority, deciding of itself apart from Scripture how it will operate and worship. Also, it will not obey or follow the words of Christ, nor will it administer or give out the sacraments as Christ gave them to us in the Bible, but it will add and take away whatever they want. They also will rely upon man as opposed to God, and they will hound after and violently attack those who live rightly and according to God's written Word...and attempt to reprimand it for its errors, covetousness, and idolatry.
By these characteristics we can easily see the marks of a true Church and a false Church and who the chosen people of God are by how they act.

Thoughts?

Some interesting statistics

Now I know this isn't what I said my next post would be on...but I found this and had to post it...a little long but I'll post some key parts of what I read. You may still think it's a tad long but hang in there...some stuff in there you don't want to miss! If you're interested in reading the whole post you can find it here: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tdsM01iZVDEJ:www.irfi.org/articles/articles_51_100/bible_reading_declines.htm+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


According national surveys conducted in 1992, by Barna Research, almost half of the Christian adults read from the Bible during a week.  In 1995, that figure came down to less than one-third.  In 1999, the figure rose to slightly more than one-third.  The evangelical pollster (George Barna) is convinced that "traditional Christianity" is losing its grip. And a 1997 Barna Research poll showed 12 percent of Christians think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.  A recent study by Christian pollster George Barna showed 63% couldn't name the four gospels of the New Testament.


About 92 percent of Christian Americans own at least one or portion of the Bible (the New Testament) in their homes, and the average household has three. Two-thirds say it holds the answers to the basic questions of life. However, the number of Americans who consider the Bible as infallible and wielding authority over their lives is decreasing distinctly .


"Most Americans consider the Bible to be a collection of inspired writings, but 'not everything in it should be taken literally.' This moves toward understanding the Bible as the inspired, and not necessarily as the actual, word of God, is one of the most dramatic shifts in religious beliefs since 1960s. As recently as 1963, two persons in three viewed the Bible as the actual word of God, to be taken literally, word for word.  Today, only one person in three still holds to that interpretation."


Ten Commandments are considered to be the moral health of American society, however six out of 10 Americans can't name half of them, or any of the Ten Commandments.  To the question "Can you name the first and last books of the Bible? "  An  older man answered “First Testament...and I think second one."  They think  "Moses" gave the Sermon on the Mount?


When a True or false question was asked whether the Bible teaches "God helps those who help themselves?"  A young man answered it to be  “True”. Actually, Ben Franklin said that.  About 80 percent of born-again Christians believe it is the Bible that says, "God helps those who help themselves."



Just some thoughts to chew on!

Wednesday class notes: History of Christendom and Worldview

Sarah Bacon
History of Christendom
Week 21

The seventeenth century was a century of grave controversy. We've already seen this to some degree as we looked at the Tudors and the Stuarts and the move toward civil war in what was once Merry Old England. but at the heart of the controversy were really two great men: friends and comrades, sharking both political and religious conviction. One of them was a poet, one of them was a soldier. one of them produced one of the greatest works of English literature, the other produced the model that would lay the foundations for the American experiment in liberty. The two men were Oliver Cromwell and John Milton.

Henry VIII of England was succeeded by his son, Edward VI, who rewrote the Book of Common Prayer in a Reformed mindset. Henry's niece Lady Jane Grey ruled for 9 days after Edward. Bloody Mary took the throne after her and ruled for 5 years before succumbing to illness. Her half-sister Elizabeth I ascended to rule but never married or had children.

James V of Scotland left his throne to his 9 day old daughter, Mary Queen of Scots. Scotland was bound in a strong alliance with France at the time. After Mary, James VI took the throne with strong Calvinist roots, but was known for his unfaithfulness to the faith. He sought to unite England, Scotland, and France. Later in life he became James I of England. The Crown hated the Covenanters because they had a King above the king. What followed were the Scottish Rebellion (1638-42), the Short Parliament (1640), the Long Parliament (1640-53) and the Westminster Assembly (1643).

Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)
He was born to a royal family (his uncle was close to the king) and was trained at Cambridge. He then launched his Parliamentary career. He was known as a Champion of Popular Causes. Cromwell believed that Charles I had violated the bounds of his sphere of the Divine Right of Kings, and in opposition to that he raised an army (called the New Model Army) against the king. With courage and cunning he led them to many great victories even though his men had never fought as they were common farmers. Cromwell never meant for Charles I to die, but when it was found that he intended to launch a civil war against his own nation, he was deemed guilty by the courts and executed. Shortly after this, Oliver Cromwell was elected the Lord Protector.

John Milton (1608-1674)
He is most commonly known for his remarkable and controversial work of art "Paradise Lost". He was raised in a well-to-do family and received private tutoring and then went on to study at Christ College Cambridge. After that, he stayed home to write poetry and independently study meticulously. He knew multiple languages and write in them all. He read and studied so much it is said he was the most learned man England ever produced. Milton traveled for 15 months, speaking and meeting with many great learned men, one of which was Galileo. After returning home, John Milton wrote many pointed and accusatory pamphlets. He was well known, but well hated...often a sign of a strong Reformer. His brother married into the royal family and stayed true to the king..always a sore spot for Milton. Soon, Milton became very handy to Parliament and was nominated the Royal Secretary, even though he was blind. From him, we see once again education is so very essential to a life well lived to the glory of God. His wife died leaving him with three daughters, one of whom was mentally ill. His second wife died in childbirth, the baby dying also. His third wife, however, cared for him for the rest of his life. John Milton dictated most of his book "Paradise Lost" to his second eldest daughter and it was published in 1667. We can see from his life that no matter what adversity may come our way, we remain true to God and He is faithful to bless us in every circumstance


Sarah Bacon
Worldview class

Marxist Ethics:
As history moves forwards so does morality. Good and bad are determined by whether it advances Communism or the state. The state is the farmer and the people are the animals. If the animals is deemed sick or diseased then too bad for it. Fear is one large part of how they rule. They are not afraid of shedding blood to get their way. They believe the state has complete and total authority with the last word

Marxist Law:
Law is whatever the state says it is. This isn't a huge deal different then their ethics. The state has the last word on anything and can make whatever law it chooses. The standard of "just" fluxuates as their mood changes.

Marxist Politics:
The complete world will be ruled under one authority or rule someday. Their goal is to get it under a New World Order. Communism will reign at that time. Everyone will be equal and the same with no distinctions. There will be unity but no diversity.

Marxist Theology:
The rich are wicked and the poor are righteous. This leads to a redistribution of power and wealth. The white Christian is seen as the mean bad person. We are constantly under attack because Christianity is seen as coming from the white people. Instead, we are daily pumped full of guilt and regret because of how cruel we can be (racism and sexism).

Weather and to come!

Hey...isn't this weather AMAZING? It smells and looks like spring...every day I wake up hopeful to see some buds on the trees! It's nice to only have to wear a light coat, jacket, or hoodie wherever I go as well. :) Thank God for the many blessings that He sends us in the "small" ways! Also, this post is to tell you that I haven't forgotten you, readers. I am crunching some numbers at the moment for my next post. If you're confused...let me clarify what my post will be on: ABORTION. So...that being said, I will get back with you as soon as I have the numbers worked out and some online time on my hands! Have a great week :)

Church notes

The first commandment forbids idolatry..part of which is witchcraft or magic. Part of that is simply put: power. Magic is man's attempt to be god over men. Our task is to be fruitful and multiply, to till the earth and to work. In opposition to this man seeks to turn man's listening from God to man. Magic says we can be our own interpreters instead of God's law which tells us how we are to interpret ourselves and the things around us. Pagan man thinks magic is the way to go since it is mystic...power to become our own god by our fiat word. Psychology is a form of power and control...or magic. Psychology seeks to understand man apart from God..it was embraced because man is all too ready to throw God out of the picture. Science is another form of magic...more accurately called scientism. A Brave New World shows us this with man as the idol and science encouraging it along. Nowadays we choose to abort over 9 million babies...just because we want to: control and power. Any science is only as good as the theology as it comes from. We try to separate theology from science, when in reality theology touches and influences every part of life...including science. Therefore we can have a Biblical psychology and science, but only as it descends from God's Word and Law. When it does not it seeks to make a paradise or utopia on earth..with man as the god. The state is opposed to solid orthodox Christians...the reason for this is simple: just as God hates magicians, so magicians hate God. The state is pushing their power controlling ways in order to become god. The simple fact is this: we cannot separate ourselves from God and we cannot hope to live in a Biblical fashion without God's Law.

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. 
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

(The bold print are the particular passages I found directly touched upon what I spoke about concerning God always with you no matter how you deny it.)

Quote on Feminism

The chief results of the feminist movement has not been the independence, equality and flowering of women that was promised, but rather the result has been a savage dependence of the oppressed woman, as she becomes, in the New Feminist order, the slave in the workforce, the concubine of a barely known partner in the bedroom, and a stranger to her own children who are raised in some foreign commune by some statist Nanny. Feminism has hardened and embittered many a woman who were flowers which never bloomed because of the blight that is feminism. Feminism has held and abused women in these New Feminist order roles by the brute force of “glorious liberation” from the beneficent order of scriptural marriage.

notes on last week's Wednesday class

Sarah Bacon

History of Christendom

Week 19

Shakespeare had a small vocabulary, but nevertheless we have gotten many of our phrases and words from him. Within 280 years, we have moved from music by Bach to music by the Black Eye Peas. When we reduce our words and language with our literature and music, we are degrading ourselves. As we ever improve our vocabulary and language we are increasing our godliness and becoming an ever “higher” being. It is sad when we read/listen to things that do not improve our minds but rather dumb us down to become mindless cogs.

There are 3 ways to approach the work of Shakespeare:

Contemporaneous: this is Shakespeare in his time and among the people in his era (what might these plays have meant in his time?).

Traditional: this is how he’s been passed down and how he wrote for his time (how has it come down to us?).

Contemporary: how we view him now and how we can use/study him (is there any use for him today?).

In his characters we see many different types of emotions and personalities, drawing in readers of all sorts. Shakespeare used sonnets, epics, and soliloquies; he shaped words and phrases to be memorable. These can produce a desired emotion. Shakespeare was exposed to different linguistics, great teaching in grammar, as well as Latin and logic. Even his tragedies had a sense of comic humor in them…they are full of grief and sadness because we live in such a fallen world with sin. Actors were always travelling and moving. Female roles were played by men. They would perform at fairs and markets, theatres, and noble courts. Theatre companies would work alongside guilds or make their own. Most of the plays were performed on thrust stages. Actors would often be among the audience to cause an interaction with them and making it more personal.

Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born right about the same time that the plague made its first sweep through. London was known for its birthrate so the death rate of the plague didn’t make such a huge difference. From 1520-1670 the population jumped to 6xs the amount before. There was a good life in London, good chances for employment. Shakespeare was born in the city of Stratford-upon-Avon with many dialects and a good education. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway and had children. In 1587 he began writing more steady and joined London’s theatrical world. He got a vested interest in the success of a group and began to receive a salary. Shakespeare received commercial and critical success, but also received a good deal of money so he “retired” to Stratford and continued his writing.

Works and dates published:

Richard III (1592-3)

The Comedy of Errors (1593)

Sonnets (1593-1609)

Romeo and Juliet (1595-6)

Henry V (1599) Hamlet (1600-1)

Othello (1604)

King Lear (1605)

Macbeth (1606)

The Tempest (1611)

Two Noble Kinsmen (1613)

Books on Shakespeare could fill this room. We don’t need to do anything to rescue Shakespeare – he’s still alive and well in his works – but because so much has accreted and piled up about Shakespeare since his death, it’s sometimes hard to get to the love of his works and to a true appreciation of who he was. So many times he’s put away into fancy English departments. We don’t think we can study him unless we’re either dramatists or we’re going to be English majors, but it’s my hope today that you’ll see that in the bowl of Shakespeare there is a drink for everyone.

Worldview notes:

Marxism

Sociology – With the controlling of contraception’s, abortions, and gay “marriages” it just shows ever more how the state is nothing but a tyrannical and overpowering state trying to be God. They attempt to make all families equal…they succeed in the fact that everyone is equally miserable. We are growing to a point where we cannot live without the state ruling us. One of the ways they do this is by taking away all our rights and possessions. In a Christian state people get where they are because of hard work, not blood or favoritism (if you shall not work you shall not eat).

Philosophy – Everything is matter…there is no mind but rather a brain. From this you get so dumbed down that you reach out to strike God and hit yourself instead. We see this with the self-hatred of suicide. We have strayed from a proper view of God and hence we have a flawed view of ourselves. In an unchristian culture there is always a little “t” truth…truth is subjective. Capital “T” Truth needs a transcendent God to exist. Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Anything else and you always have a continual change of the meaning of truth with no stability. There is not absolute truth for them, its only opinion.