Purpose and Meaning Without God? Part 1

I would like to break from my traditional format of facts, evidence and logic and approach this blog at a philosophical angle. Atheism claims to be about science and facts. I have already talked about the flaws of their arguments against God and the Bible. Now I want to point out the problem with their worldview as it pertains to every day life.

Atheism is much more widely accepted in just about every facet of society today. Prominent atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking and the late Christopher Hitchens pride themselves on being self-sufficient, moral people without the help of a God or crutch called religion. They are aggressively, even evangelistically, teaching their doctrine of godlessness in institutions across the world.

They bring to bear an interesting supposition; there is nothing a Christian can do that an atheist can't.

I agree whole-heartedly. Just as Christians can (and often do) an atheist can see a need in society, have compassion and work to fulfill that need. An atheist can feed a hungry person, comfort a sad person, care for a child, dig a well in Africa to provide clean drinking water, clothe the homeless, etc. An atheist can seek justice for a crime committed or rally for a worthy cause. An atheist can love their neighbor, do good things in a community and be a bright spot in someone's day.

What an atheist can't do is provide a logical explanation based on their world view for the inherent moral compass of humanity. Everyone is born with a conscience. Yes, it can be seared, but initially every human being feels inside of them things like justice, compassion, and a desire to be better as well as guilt, shame and unworthiness.

Let's follow the logic of atheism to its end. An atheist says "there is no God." If there is no God, there is no divine creator of life. Evolution explains how we got here. We're all just cosmic accidents. The only thing that separates us from an ape is a few mutations and a few million years of evolution. We have no soul. We have no eternality. We have no purpose.

What hopelessness!

To make matters worse, if we are simply intelligent animals with no soul, then who's to say that we have some moral code to follow. Can't we live how we want? If we see something we like, can we not simply take it. Even if it belongs to someone else? If someone annoys us or makes our life painful or difficult, why not just kill them.

Or, if we cannot find satisfaction, love or fulfillment in this life, why not just commit suicide and cease to exist?

When followed to its end, atheism provides no hope, no answers, no meaning to life. An atheist cannot say things like love, justice, hope and purpose. At least, they can't say these things and remain honest, consistent atheists.

The truth is that we are created in the image of God. A Christian can say "I love you" because he/she knows the love of God. A Christian can say "don't lie" because he/she has been commanded be God not to lie and knows the negative ramifications of disobeying that command. A Christian can get out of bed every morning with a smile on his/her face regardless of circumstances because they know that "all things work together for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purpose."

Did you catch that? Purpose! What a wonderful word.

Here's another one: hope.

A Christian who is filled with God's spirit has experienced "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Friedrich Nietzche was an atheist who understood the ramifications of a godless society. He was honest and consistent with his beliefs. He penned the “Parable of the Madman.” (Link posted below) In this parable the madman (Nietzche) explains to a group of bystanders in the marketplace that God had died and that they (the onlookers and the madman) were responsible for His death. He then speaks in great detail of the consequences of such an action. At the end of his rant he realizes and states that he was too early and that the people were not ready to hear what he had to say. He says “This tremendous event is still on its way, still wandering; it has not yet reached the ears of men…deeds, though done, still require time to be seen and heard. This deed is still more distant from them than most distant stars---and yet they have done it themselves.” (emphasis in original)

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/nietzsche-madman.asp

We are now seeing and have seen what Neitzche was talking about. Vicious dictators who were atheists and haters of Christianity have killed millions and millions of people in this past century. Hitler is just one example. 

The atheist worldview is just not livable. People cannot live without hope, purpose and meaning in their lives. God created us with a desire for relationship but even the most fulfilling relationships with other people cannot completely satisfy. Someone said that we are all created with a “God-shaped hole” in our lives. True fulfillment, true hope, true purpose and meaning only comes through living life as He intended it to be lived. And that’s why we have the Bible. It instructs us on how to align our lives with His will. 

C.S. Lewis explains a universal truth about human nature. People are often baffled at the simplistic notion of the passing of time. "Has it really been 5 years?" "You've grown up so much!" We say silly things sometimes. Of course time passes. It's a reality we have all been familiar with since we were old enough to comprehend it. So why does it surprise us so much? Lewis compares this peculiarity to a fish being constantly surprised by the wetness of water. The only explanation, he proceeds to explain, is that we were made for another world. We were made for eternity.

There’s so much more here that I could talk about, but once again, time restrains me. I hope this series of blogs has been a blessing. I hope you have learned something, or that I at least provoked you to think about some things on a deeper level. 

At any rate, it’s finals week and I’m extremely busy. God bless and have a wonderful holiday season! Don’t forget the reason!

Science Confirms the Bible: Additional Evidence (Part 2)

(Continued from previous post...)

A popular verse used by atheists to show "error" in the Bible is the story of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still. The Bible says that for about the space of another day the sun remained stationary and Israel was able to win the battle they were fighting.

 

Firstly there is the issue of the language of Joshua commanding the sun to "stand still." We know now that the sun does not revolve around the earth, but that the earth revolves around the sun. Atheism says "Aha! You poor Christians! The Bible says that the earth is the center of the universe-not the sun! The Bible is wrong!" Actually, if you listen to the news on the radio in the early morning, often the announcer will say that the sun rose at such and such a time. It is written from the human perspective and is perfectly allowable language.

 

Secondly, there is the issue of the Biblical account of a long day. How can that be? Ancient civilizations everywhere have their own accounts of an extraordinarily long day.

 

The last thing I want to talk about is Noah's Flood. The global flood is another phenomenon in scripture that is confirmed by accounts from ancient civilizations everywhere. In the Biblical story, only eight people were saved from world wide destruction. Those eight people were then commanded to repopulate the earth. If those eight people were the ancestors of the entire world's population, then it makes complete sense that every civilization would have their own account (accurate or not) of a global flood.

 

I'm going to post a link for a video explaining the Hydroplate Theory. This theory follows the Biblical account of the flood of Noah's day. The Hydroplate theory provides for us an alternate (and, I believe, correct) explanation for many things including the fossil record, the "ice age", the formation of mountains, the loss of the original firmament dividing the "waters above" from the "waters beneath", the break up of Pangea, the parallel mountain ranges of the world, the ocean trenches and mountains, the legendary tales of entire civilizations lost to the ocean (Atlantis?), etc...

http://youtu.be/cKsEPVDbymc

Enjoy and God bless!

 

Science Confirms the Bible: Additional Evidence (Part 1)

A few posts ago, I went through the Genesis account of creation and pointed out several areas in which it agrees with modern science. I want to now go through and point out many other places where scientific fact is sited Biblically and even treat a few so called "contradictions."

One argument that atheists employ against Christianity and the Bible is that the early church taught that the earth was flat and is therefore uneducated and must submit to the all-knowingness of science. Interestingly enough, there is scripture that teaches otherwise. Isaiah 40:22 says "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth..." The Hebrew word for "circle" in this verse can also be translated "sphere." How would the prophet know that the earth was spherical? Perhaps he was inspired to write this line by an all-knowing God.

Astronomy has informed us that the universe is expanding. In that same verse (Isaiah 40:22) the prophet writes that He (God) "stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in."

The ceremonial law given to Moses by God in the Old Testament is full of rituals of cleansing. The people of God are instructed how to properly handle the dead, how to wash themselves after touching an "unclean" thing, how to avoid touching certain things, how to dispose of carcasses, etc. In those days, they knew nothing of bacteria and microbes. Yet they had this law that kept them safe from all kinds of diseases and sickness. In the middle ages, when the Bubonic Plague struck Europe, the Jews living there were not getting sick because they still followed the ceremonial law. It hasn't been until recently that the microscopic world has been discovered and understood by scientists, and yet for millennia, God's people have avoided sickness and disease because of this Law.

In Judges 13, an angel appears to an Israelite woman and tells her that although she had previously been barren, she would conceive and give birth to a son. He goes on to explain that her son will be a Nazarite, committed to the service of the Lord. He then instructs her to "drink not wine nor strong drink..." It hasn't been until recent years that science has shown us that what a mother drinks affects the child she carries. Of course, a writer inspired by an omniscient Creator would know.

(To be continued...)

Evolution: a scientific view (Part 2)

(Continued from previous post)

Those who argue that the earth is billions of years old (instead of the approximately 6,000 years that the Bible teaches) would be interested to know that the earth's magnetic field is depleting at a steady rate. If the earth were indeed billions of years old the magnetic field would have been too strong to sustain life. And if it was not too strong at the time when life on earth supposedly began, by now it would have ceased to exist.

 

The final point I would like to make concerning evolution is this: It defies what has come to be known as the argument of Design, or Intelligent Design. If you were walking through the woods and you came upon a clearing in which was a neat pile of ashes still smoldering in a small circle, what would be the logical conclusion? Surely not that the wind blew several logs into a circular pile which the lightening then struck causing it to burst into flames. You would know that someone placed those logs together on that pile and lit them with a lighter or a match. That fire was intentional. Similarly, if you were walking down the street and you glanced down a saw a watch with its polished gold sectioned band and the tiny little screws holding it together and each perfectly crafted gear working together to produce the rhythmic tick-tock that keeps the proper time, you would know that there had been a designer. All the time and all the chance in the world could not have produced that perfectly crafted watch and then set it into motion.

 

As complicated and complex and intricate as that watch is, how much more intricate and complex are we as human beings. The deeper science delves into our cellular structure, the more complex our bodies prove to be.

 

I present to you that we were created with intention, with purpose and with great care by one Master Creator. You are not a cosmic accident. You are a person with an individual personality, intelligence, and a soul. When you view yourself in that way-as a person who was created with love-you begin to realize that that only logical response is to want to know more about the Creator who created you.

 

And that's why He gave us His Word. In it is not only the revelation of who He is, but also of who we are in Him. :)




So do your own research. Don’t simply take my word for it, but find it out for yourself. And may God bless your efforts and confirm to you what He says in His Word:

 

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…

 

Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

 

 

Evolution: A scientific view (Part 1)

Science defined (by Google) - The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

Through observation and experiment. In other words, in order for information to be scientifically knowable, it must be observable, measurable and repeatable.

Having established a fixed definition of science, let's subject the theories of Darwinian Evolution and the Big Bang as well as the general consensus of the scientific community that the earth is billions of years old to the very discipline from which these theories were born.

First, a disclaimer. From now on, when I use the term "evolution," I am referring to what is known as macroevolution. Macroevolution is the transformation of one species into another, or, transmutation. Microevolution on the other hand is the ability of a species to adapt to minor changes in the environment and is completely scientific (it has been observed, measured and repeated in numerous situations)

So, what is wrong with evolution?

Well, for starters, it's completely unscientific in that it has never been observed, much less repeated. No lower life form has ever changed into a higher life form. Anytime there has ever been a genetic mutation observed, it has always been a negative one, causing a defect or problem. Never has a mutation been beneficial.

Evolution violates the scientific law of Biogenesis. This law states that living things can come only from other living things. It cannot scientifically be argued that life came from some soupy, primordial substance in which there was previously no life.

The evolutionary formula states that Time + Chance = Everything; however, this formula makes no scientific sense because we know (from observation and repetition of results) that outside forces never enhance, they always degrade. Take, for example, an egg. If you crack it and leave it on the ground, it will never come back together or turn into a chicken or any other life form. It will rot and biodegrade. When a tornado goes through a junk yard it does not leave in its path a perfectly crafted airplane. It leaves behind even more destruction than before.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, symbiosis (organisms living together in codependent relationships) throws a wrench into the machine of evolution. In order for us to have flowers and bees, both would have had to evolve at exactly the same moment in history, in the exact same location. What are the odds of that happening? Of course, flowers and bees are just one example. There are numerous symbiotic organisms that we know (and probably many that we don't yet know).

Geneticists have discovered that human DNA is getting weaker and weaker as generations pass. According to the Darwinian notion of "survival of the fittest", this makes no sense. The weaker genes should be dying out and mutations should be making us stronger. Interestingly enough, this discovery supports the biblical account of creation. Adam and Eve were created in physical perfection. Through the fall of mankind and the entrance of sin into the world, sickness, disease and death also entered. Humanity began with long lives which became shorter and shorter. Food for thought...


(This post will be continued in the following blog)

Science Confirms the Bible

The title of this blog is no doubt a controversial subject in this modern day. I hope to show you just a few ways that this statement is indeed a true one.

 

First, we will look at some of the claims of the creation account.

 

Did you know that the Bible supports the existence of the supercontinent Pangea? Genesis 1:9 says “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.”

 

In the Genesis account, the entire creation process took only six days. Because of this, animals and plants that are symbiotic would have been created within days of each other. The Evolutionary theory postulates that symbiotic (codependent) animals and plants would have had to evolve at exactly the same time in history. (For example, flowers and bees) A much more believable explanation would be that they were created within a single week.

 

Genesis 1:26 says “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

 

The first part of that verse, “Let us make man in our image,” provides explanation for why man was created with an inherent sense of morality and justice as well as a desire for love and relationship—because he was created in the image of a just, loving God.

 

The second part, “and let him have dominion...” explains why humanity has superior intelligence over all animals. God created humanity to have dominion.

 

Genesis 2:6 says “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Earlier, in chapter 1, Genesis talks about the firmament dividing the waters above from the waters beneath. Some Christian scientists have explained that the earth used to be under a thick layer of clouds, creating a greenhouse effect like the ozone layer, only much thicker. The “waters beneath”  would have made the earth completely saturated with moisture and would have shielded plants, animals and humans from harmful UV rays, which would have played a large part in allowing people to live longer lives.

 

Genesis 2:7 gives a more detailed account of the creation of man. “And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This verse is consistent with the fact that the human body is carbon based and decays after death.

 

In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, Eve blamed her sin on the serpent. God then cursed the serpent (snake) saying “…upon thy belly shalt thou go…” indicating that before the snake got around some other way. Science tells us that snakes used to have feet. Of course, evolutionists say that they evolved out of them but the Biblical record provides an answer for us that, in my opinion, is more believable. (We will talk a little more in depth about the faults and flaws of evolution in a later blog.)

 

Not only do these few highlights of the creation account in Genesis 1-3 support well-known scientific fact, but if read carefully, there is nothing in these chapters that denies or conflicts with well known scientific fact. These chapters do, however, directly conflict with the theory of Evolution.

 

How do we know which one is correct? In the next blog I will be discussing how Evolution cannot be considered fact when subjected to science.

Fulfilled Prophecy in Jesus' Life & Death

Last blog we dealt with Jesus' claims about himself. For this one we will be talking about what the rest of the Bible days about Him.

Josh McDowell points out in his book "The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict," that Jesus had three main credentials. They are: 1) The impact of His life through miracles and teachings, 2)Fullfilled prophecy in His life and 3) His resurrection.

First, let's talk about the prophecies of the Old Testament fullfilled in Jesus' life. 

The Old Testament, the first 75% of the Bible, was written over a period of a thousand years. It gives the history of God's creation of mankind and his promise to the nation of Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, there are nearly 300 references to the the Messiah- or the Anointed One-who would lead Israel. Every one of these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

In this short video clip, Lee Strobel, a journalist who was converted from atheism to Christianity and has written many books on the subject, including "The Case for Christ" shows us the probability of Christ fulfilling not all, but only 48 of these prophecies.

http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/case-for-christ/fulfilling-prophecies

In case you didn't couldn't watch the video, the probability of Jesus fulfilling 8 major prophecies as determined by Professor Stoner in his book Science Speaks is 1 in 10^17. The probability of him fulfilling 48 of the approximately 300 prophecies is even higher. Astronomically so. It's more than improbable. It is basically a statistical impossibility.

Unless there is something bigger at play here. Unless He is more than just a man.

Of course, I am working off of my belief that the Bible is true and 100% infallible. Not everyone holds that belief. If you are skeptical, please stay tuned for the next few blogs. I hope to change your mind.

The final thing I would like to talk about in this installment is the Resurrection of Jesus. 

The Resurrection sets Christianity apart from every other religion in the world. No other religion claims resurrection from the dead for its originator. 

The resurrection is the major belief on which Christianity is hinged. If there is no resurrection, there is no Christianity.

I'm going to insert here a couple of links that will provide more extensive research on the subject and then summarize them. 

The first is a series of videos on Josh McDowell's website. I've mentioned him earlier as well as his book The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Here he gives a more detailed account of the way Jesus died, how we know that he was really dead, how he was buried and evidence that his resurrection is a historical fact. 

http://www.josh.org/video-2/evidence-for-the-resurrection/

Secondly we have an interview conducted by Lee Strobel, who I have also mentioned earlier. He is the author of the book The Case for Christ as well as many others. In this interview, the timeline of the Resurrection accounts in the Bible is being discussed. Dr. Gary Habermas of Liberty University is making the case that Paul has the earliest written account of the resurrection and what that means for historians looking for evidence of the resurrection.

http://www.leestrobel.com/videoserver/video.php?clip=strobelT1116

Stay tuned for the next installment. I'll be discussing the Bible as a whole and what sets it apart from every other holy book in the world.

Was Jesus Really Who He Claimed to Be?

My topic has shifted from what I originally decided to write about in this series of Bible Study blogs. Before we can talk about how the Bible speaks to certain issues in our culture, we first have to look at the Bible itself. What authority does it have to speak to our culture?

These days, most people are not convinced that the Bible is anything other than a collection of myths, legends, exaggerated history and man's idea of how things should be. This is tragic not only because of the eternal implications of such a belief, but also because when viewed properly (as a document inspired by an all-knowing and all-powerful God), the Bible is truly the greatest book of history, wisdom and practical instruction, as well as being the greatest and truest love story of all time.

And so, I am endeavoring to convince the unconvinced in this series. No small task, I know...but a worthy task nonetheless. It is a topic that I am intensely passionate about. The Bible is the basis of my entire life-because and only because I believe it is inspired by The almighty God. 

More about that later...

Let's talk about Jesus. Who was he, really? Was he God? Just a man? A good moral teacher perhaps?

Jesus of Nazareth truly did live. He is not a fictitious character, not a myth or a legend. There is more than enough historical evidence to support the claim that he was a real man who walked upon the earth, had a following, was crucified and somehow rose from the dead. 

Many people believe that Jesus did live, but are skeptical as to whether or not he was really God. I've heard many people say in my own life that they believe Jesus was a good man, an advocate for social justice, a great teacher. Nothing more, nothing less. 

What many of them don't understand is that Jesus intentionally left no room for this assumption. C.S. Lewis said it this way on page 52 of his book "Mere Christianity."

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic-on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonesense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

In another great book, "The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell, the author presents to us the "Trilemma," or the three alternatives we have for consideration. Either Jesus was a lunatic, a liar or He is Lord and God: 

Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. Either his claim is true or false. If it is false, he either didn't know they were false and was therefore a lunatic, or he knew they were false and was deliberately lying-in which case he was a complete fool for dying for something that wasn't true. On the other hand, if his claim was true, then he is God! The choice is yours, whether you wish to accept Him or reject Him. Either way, your choice does not affect the truth of His claim. 

Because of time restraints (I am after all a senior in college) and because of the sheer volume of research and information available on this topic, I just can't cover it all. But I would like to leave you with a few resources if you would like to consider doing more of your own research on this topic. 

Most of the research for this blog came from "The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict" Josh McDowell. It's a wonderful resource to have. I refer to it often.

"Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis is another great resource. It is considered one of his greatest works. 

Also: "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel.

In this blog, I briefly dealt with Jesus' claims about himself. In the next I will hopefully be dealing with claims the Bible makes about Jesus and the historicity of the Resurrection. Stay tuned! God bless! :)

Coming Soon!

It's been almost 2 full years since I last blogged. *Lowers head in shame*

But I'm back (for a little while, anyway). I'm now a Senior at Indiana Bible College and as a requirement for a class, I have been asked to complete an online Bible Study in a series of 10 entries. I'm very excited about this assignment because of two things. First-I'm a horrible slacker when it comes to this blog and this will force me to revive it and second-I love studying the Bible. So stay tuned!

My topic (should it be approved by my wise and gracious instructor Chris Henderson) will be Biblical stances on modern, hard-hitting issues.

Possible topic for next entry: Abortion. What does the Bible say about it and how does it apply to us directly.

Can't wait! God bless!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! :D

For Thanksgiving this year, I thought I’d try to sit down and count my blessings. I soon realized that putting a number on them was going to be completely impossible. So I just decided to list them instead. So here is a list of some of the things for which I'm thankful.

I suppose I should start at the beginning…

I’m thankful that I know truth and that I have a desire to pursue truth. Even if you know truth, if you don’t have a desire to pursue it and obey it, it does nothing for you. I’m thankful that God allowed me to know it and gave me a love for it as well. If I didn’t have the rest of the things and people on this wonderful list, but I just had truth and a passion for it, I would still be blessed beyond anything I could ever deserve.

I’m thankful for my parents. My dad works harder than anyone I know to provide for us financially, emotionally and spiritually. My mom is a prayer warrior and also a hard worker. I’m thankful that they didn’t leave it up to others to teach their children, but they sat down with us and taught us Bible studies. They worked with us on our Bible quizzing scriptures. They prayed with us and for us. They lead by example and that’s the reason my brothers and I are in church today.

I’m thankful for my crazy brothers. They keep me laughing constantly. I’m thankful that they’re all living for God. One day when I have children of my own, they’re going to have godly uncles and aunts that will provide stability and love and support for them. I’m thankful that Jay has found Jenny, that Caleb has found Brittany and that Josh will one day find a godly young lady who will be perfect for him as well. I’m thankful for all the midnight viewings of Robin Hood with Jay. I’m thankful for the randomness that Caleb brings to my life. I’m thankful for every Totino’s Crisp Crust Pizza that I’ve shared with Josh. I’m thankful that they taught me how to shoot a basketball, swing a bat and throw a football. I’m thankful that they let me play with them and didn’t exclude me because I’m a girl.

I have wonderful childhood memories. I have the best family anyone could ask for. I don’t know why God allowed me all of these wonderful things, but He did and I’m so thankful.

I’m thankful that I grew up attending First United Pentecostal Church of Raleigh (now the Temple of Pentecost). I’m thankful for the leadership of wonderful men of God like Wayne Huntley and Bryan Ballestero. I’m thankful for the wonderful godly examples of their wives, Patsy Huntley and Christy Ballestero. I’m thankful that they instilled in me a love for truth and holiness and led me by their example.

I’m thankful that God called me to IBC. It was my dream since I was a child and God miraculously provided a way for me to go. Now that I’m here, it’s more than I ever dreamed it would be. I’m thankful for the call of God on my life and honored that he would choose me. 

I'm thankful for every staff member at IBC who gives of themselves unselfishly. They pour their passion, their knowledge and their burden into us daily. I've never known a group of harder working people for the Kingdom of God. 

And of course I’m thankful for all of my wonderful friends:

Heather and Korey: My sisters. I don’t just have one best friend, I have two. They’re beautiful inside and out. They love God and they love me. They’ve provided endless hours worth of listening ears, sound advice, supportive hugs, prayers and just plain old good times.

My Raleigh folks: My childhood best friends Courtney and Amber who are still my good friends today, Timothy, Zack, Caleb, Stephanie, Brittany, Kendrik and so many more.

My IBC “family”: Abby Thompson, my first IBC friend who was my Starbucks buddy, my Christmas music buddy, my grocery shopping buddy and my lifeline my freshman year.

Greta Shraufnagel, for the countless hours I spent in her room just hanging out and talking, for all the wonderful hugs, the prayers and the laughs.

Michael Mast for being my first Christmas banquet date, for all the MSAs, the Starbucks runs, the good times.

Toby Elsey for being someone I can count on, someone who encourages me and someone who can pretty much always make me laugh.

Andrew Herbst, my “little brother” for being a trustworthy and understanding friend. 

Candra Poitras for being a beautiful person with a caring heart and an encouraging word, and also for being hilarious. ;)

Melinda Poitras for being the most passion-filled person I know, and for painting pretty pictures with her words that can make me nostalgic for times in which I have not lived, places to which I have never been and people whom I have never met.

Erin Yancy for being talented, yet humble, for being a living, breathing testimony of the grace of God and for allowing God to use her to be blessing to so many people.

Ashton Pace, my sweet roommate who is basically my own personal cheerleader and who puts up with my occasional messiness.

Gideon Assefa for giving of himself and being the most unselfish person I know. And for being a theology major who is also an amazing Praise musician. ;)

Dustin Moore for being quite possibly the most compassionate, encouraging and sweet friend I have and for every IBC dinner at the table by the window which have come to mean so much to me.

Kari Martin, my friend, my suitemate, my mentor, my prayer partner, my MSA boss of sorts and soon to be my co-worker.

Hannah Troxal, for being unafraid to answer the call of God on her life and for being wonderful example of holiness.

There are so many more wonderful people in my life and if I have left you out, it’s not because I’m not thankful for your friendship. God has placed us all in each other’s lives and I’m truly thankful for everyone who has touched mine.

I’m also thankful that I was born and raised in the United States of America, specifically in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I’m thankful for the freedoms I enjoy everyday. I’m thankful for the city of Indianapolis and the fun times I’ve had here. I’m thankful for every sunrise and every sunset I’ve been privileged to see. I’m thankful for my health, for a sound mind, for the ability to learn. I’m thankful for the gift of music and all it adds to my life. I’m thankful for technology and the ability to keep in touch with all of my favorite people no matter where I am on this globe. I’m thankful that I have an education. I’m thankful for books and the endless amount of information and entertainment they provide. I’m thankful that I never have to go to bed with an empty stomach. I’m thankful for coffee. I’m thankful for Christmas and times of celebration with my family and friends. I’m thankful for Nutella. I’m thankful for nature and it’s beauty. I’m thankful for every season, for the beauty of snow, the phenomenon of rain, the peacefulness of a blue sky and a sunny day. I’m thankful for every nap I’ve taken on the beach and for the constant crashing of the waves. I’m thankful for every hike I’ve taken through the woods, every pile of fall leaves I have ever jumped into, every bonfire I’ve roasted a marshmallow in on a chilly night. I’m thankful for every time that my favorite song has come on the radio unexpectedly. I’m thankful for every birthday I’ve ever had and for every present from a loved one. I’m thankful for a warm bed, hot water and a full closet. I’m thankful for every roadtrip I have ever taken (there have been several). I’m thankful that I have never been pulled over and that I’ve never been in a wreck (it’s only by the grace of God!) I’m thankful for every sermon that has convicted me and challenged me to change. I’m thankful for every sermon that has encouraged and uplifted me. I’m thankful for every worship service, altar call and prayer meeting where I have felt the presence of God. I’m thankful for every youth camp, youth rally and youth Bible study that have helped me to grow spiritually.

I’m sure you get the picture. I could go on and on for hours just listing things. Little things, big things…it never ends. What right do I have to complain? What right do I have to feel sorry for myself. I’m literally living my dream and I could never express my gratitude to my God for His blessings on my life.

I challenge everyone who reads this blog: find a quiet place this Thanksgiving, sit down with a pen and paper, or your laptop, and start listing. You'll be overwhelmed. I certainly am.

James 1:17 Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

More Book Reviews

Here are a few titles I've read recently or am currently working on:

Order My Steps: The life of missionary Paul A. Dennis

I think I devoured this book in about 2 days. It's the story of Paul Dennis who was a missionary to Japan and who happens to be the grandfather of one of my friends and classmates here at IBC. It's an amazing story about how God brought this man out of a sinful lifestyle and gave him a ministry that changed thousands of lives. It goes to show how anyone can be saved and used of God-no matter their past-if they're willing to surrender their life to Him.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

I know that this is not a new find but the series is new to me. I've never read them before and I found the entire set at Goodwill for $5.00. I figured I had to buy them and read them all. I've completed the first one (this one) and am currently in the middle of Prince Caspian. They are a fun and easy read as well as being interesting in a spiritual aspect. C.S. Lewis is a genius. Just sayin'. 

Creation vs. Evolution

This was one of my textbooks last year for my Science in the Bible class and I found it fascinating. It's a book that scientifically refutes the evolutionary theory (annihilates it, actually) and gives overwhelming evidence for the creation story and the flood of Noah's day as described in the book of Genesis. I recommend this book to students who want to be able to defend their faith and be grounded in truth in the face of the lies being taught to them everyday in public schools and universities. I would also recommend this book to any scientifically minded person who maybe wants to understand why Christians believe the way we do about the Creation of the world. It's interesting, insightful and faith affirming. And it's a pretty easy read. :)

My Utmost for His Highest

This is a little devotional book that I try to read from everyday. Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite devotional writers. He deals a lot with subjects in a much deeper way than most modern Christian writers. He addresses things such as suffering, total surrender to God, complete trust in God. I would recommend adding this into your daily devotional routine for a little extra insight on becoming a more effective Christian.

Benjamin Franklin: the autobiography and other writings

Okay, I know what you're thinking. I picked this book up at Goodwill for 99 cents and surprisingly enough it is very interesting. To me at least. It's a detailed word portrait of this important figure in our nation's history. He tells about his life in great detail, reviewing decisions he made as good or bad and giving practical advice to the reader on how to avoid the bad decisions and make good ones. He speaks in depth about the importance of frugality, temperance and many other virtues and how to practically apply them to your own life. It's also interesting to me because he deals with a variety of subjects such as personal relationships, business endeavors and his religious inquiries. Maybe it wouldn't be interesting to most people but I am thoroughly enjoying it. :)

Reading is awesome. I've been trying to read more and I've quite enjoyed rediscovering my love affair with the written word. Challenge yourself to read something new. Whether it be educational or a novel, it's beneficial to your brain. :)

Not All Consequences Are Bad

I took a three hour nap today. Normally, I would feel guilty about that but I'm pretty sure I earned it. :)


Consequently, I cannot sleep. Consequently, I am blogging. 


So, here's the lowdown: Life at IBC continues to be amazing. The first two and a half weeks have flown by as if someone somewhere has pushed a cosmic fast-forward button on my life. So far, every chapel service has been amazing, every class has been inspirational, every prayer meeting powerful and every social event epic. This coming Thursday and Friday, Calvary Tabernacle will be hosting the annual MARC (mid-America renewal conference) at which my amazing Senior Pastor Brother Wayne Huntley will be preaching as well as five other amazing speakers. It's sure to be legendary!


I'm so blessed to be here at IBC at this particular time. There's a unity here that is, I feel, unprecedented. There are young people stepping into their callings and their ministries like never before. It's a wonderful feeling and an amazing opportunity of which I hope and pray that I can take full advantage. 


Twitter is being stupid, but if it weren't, this is what I would post: 


"No weapon formed against me shall prosper. NO. WEAPON." 


In all that I face, I must never forget this. I have been bought with a price. I have obeyed the Word of God. I have done my part. Now it is His turn to fulfill His promises in my life. And, of course, He is coming through for me. Like He has always done for me. Like He will always do for me and you and everyone else who has obeyed His Word.


So there's that. Have a blessed day. XOXO

Back in Indy!

I realize that I have been THE BIGGEST SLACKER when it comes to updating my friends and family on what's happening in my life and for this I am sorry. This is me attempting to make it up to you all.


So...picking up where I left off...


My last blog was posted from DeKalb, IL where I spent the summer interning. It was a great experience for me. I was able to participate in various facets of ministry including things that I normally would not have participated in. I was able to sing, play piano, speak, preach (yes, there's a difference), put together some outreach concerts, take a home missions trip, teach the youth and lots of other small things here and there. I would highly recommend to any young minister, no matter what you're called to do, to complete some type of internship like that if you are ever given the chance. Experience is the best teacher.


Right before leaving DeKalb, I got to attend North American Youth Congress 2011, which, I'm sure you heard, was life-changing! Every service was apostolic. That's the best way I can describe the entire congress. It was completely and totally apostolic. And also, I learned that I'm a Giant. :)

Melinda, me, Candra and Kari at NAYC 2011

Greta, Toby and me. Partial "family" reunion. :)

My new friend Adrian and myself at Canes in Columbus

Me and the little bro being silly

Anointed worship services led by Kristin Keller

An anointed and timely message preached by Brother Jimmy Toney.
 WE ARE GIANTS!

After a 15 hour drive home (which I broke up over 2 days. Thank you Candra and Melinda for letting me crash at your place at 2 am.) I turned right around the next day, picked up one bestie from the airport, hit up Bojangles and we drove to Virginia Beach to see the other bestie. I'm so thankful that I got to see them for a few days. They are a great strength to me and I miss them both dearly.

Heather, me and Korey. Love them!

I then returned home only for a night and then packed up with the family and we headed to the coast. We spent three nights on Ocracoke Island. We all returned home looking like lobsters. But we had a blast and I'm thankful that I got to spend four days with my wonderful family. 

Josh and I attempting to amuse ourselves during the 5 hour car ride

Getting ready to get on NC 12!

Mom and Dad. :)

Daddy and me on the ferry

Traditional feet picture

Ocracoke lighthouse. Taken from the South side of the island.

The next day was spend doing laundry and packing. So much laundry. So much packing. Then, I got up bright and early the next morning and set out for Indy. And I've been here ever since. It's been a week and a half since I got here and already I have gotten back into the IBC groove. I've reconnected with my friends from last year and made some new freshman friends. :) I have some added responsibility this year as I am now the new Music Director for MSA (Ministerial Student Association). Candra, who did this job last year, is now serving as our Student Body Secretary and so for the next few weeks she will be training me to take over her job. I'm excited and nervous about it, but mostly excited. I can feel that this year is going to be awesome. More awesome than last year, which was pretty awesome. :) 

Part of the group that went to the IMA the first Saturday of school.

My new friend Grace.

The lovely Jana. I'm so glad she came back this year!

My hilarious, beautiful, sweet Poitras girls.

Bottom line: God is good. 

Love to you all. Goodnight. <3

Salt and Light

With NAYC 2011 on the horizon, I feel that there are some things that need to be revisited, and that is why I am writing this blog.

We are called to be "Salt" and "Light" to this world.

Salt does two important things. 1. It gives flavor. In a bland generation of sameness, we are called to stand out. 2. Salt makes people thirsty. With our words, our actions, our appearance, our lives, we are called to create in this apathetic world a thirst for Jesus Christ who is the living water that they need.

Light is self-explanatory. This world is in darkness. Jesus Christ is the light. We are to reflect His light, to be like Him, in effect pointing them toward Him.

That being said, a week from today, thousands of us will gather together in one city for 3 days of worship, learning and a unified renewal of our purpose on this earth. But, perhaps the most important things we do will take place outside of the arena.

We will be invading their restaurants, hotels, malls and food courts. They will see us walking down the street, driving in our cars, shopping, eating, etc., and they will know who we are. We will have an impact on the city of Columbus, OH and I hope and pray that it will be a positive one. In order for that to happen, there are some things that we need to work together to do.

1. Behave civilly in restaurants. I know we like food and fellowship and we love to combine the two. But we have to remember that there are lots of other people in those restaurants and we don't want them to view us as loud and obnoxious. If a waiter or manager asks you to be quiet, be respectful. Apologize and obey.

2. Don't get angry at a waiter or waitress when your food is wrong, late, or cold when you get it. They are dealing with bigger crowds than they're used to and they're probably in panic mode. Be kind and polite. If there's a problem with your food that you can't just deal with, kindly explain the problem with a smile on your face. They'll appreciate your kindness and be more willing to work with you, and you've just treated them like a human being (which they're not used to) and that will impact them positively. Win-win situation.

3. TIP!!! I don't care if you have 20 different problems with your meal. They still had to serve you, put up with your large, boisterous group as well as all of the other large boisterous groups in the restaurant. They will be working hard and they deserve to be tipped and tipped well. I'm talking at least 15 % if not 18 or 20. And, please, if all you order is a $1 cup of coffee, still leave them a couple dollars. Remember, we are supposed to be different!

4. Do not be loud and obnoxious when returning to your hotel at midnight. There are other guests there besides you need to respect that. They need to think that we are the most respectful and well behaved group of young people they have ever seen.

5. Please take a long, detailed look in the mirror before you leave the hotel. Do you look like a Christian trying to be like the world? Girls, just because you're wearing a skirt doesn't mean you're dressed modestly. Ask yourself "Is this too tight? Too short? Too low?" Sadly enough, this goes not only for the girls but also the guys. Ask yourself what image you are trying to project to the outside world. I know that we all want to be caught up to the current fashions at these meetings, and that's ok, as long as we're not compromising the Biblical principles of holiness and modesty.

NAYC is a wonderful life-changing event. Just make sure that while you're getting your blessing, you're not hindering the salvation of someone else by turning them off to Apostolic Pentecostalism. Be different. And let's all be a blessing while recieving all that God has for us in Columbus, OH at NAYC 2011! Can't wait to see you all there! :D

Travelink

The title is an inside joke. If you don't get it, it wasn't meant for you. ;)

Can I just say...I LOVE THIS WEBSITE! I'm a huge fan of traveling and learning about different cultures. This website allows you to track where you've been in the world, keep track of all of the places you want to go and gives you the ability to share it with friends. It's also a facebook application but I prefer going directly to the site. Here's my map from whereivebeen.com.

<iframe src="http://www.whereivebeen.com/map/cities?id=9220086&token=fd6280dd0f96e2f5ace8ab6000a0c185&mode=view" width="640" height="400" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Pretty sweet deal. Make your own map. It's fun! :)

A Living Book

Can I just say...I LOVE THE BIBLE! It is the infallible Word of God. It's a living book! You can read the same thing over and over again and suddenly you gain a fresh perspective and see something you've never seen before. If you're not reading the Bible everyday, you're cheating yourself. 


That being said, I believe it's important not only to read the Bible but also to:


Study it. 
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


Memorize it. 
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.


Meditate on it. 
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.


Obey it. 
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.


Preach it.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.


All of it.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.


It will enrich your life. It will speak to you. And if you allow it, it will change you. It's more than a book of ancient wisdom. It's the history of the world, instruction for today and hope for tomorrow. It's a living book. Make it a part of your everyday life. I dare you. :)

Insomnia

I've been in bed for 2.5 hours and still sleep evades me. 

Story of my life.

Since I can't sleep I figured I'd do a short little blurb about some of the books I've been reading recently. Reading has always been an escape for me ever since I was very young. Ask my parents. From the time I was barely old enough to read, I constantly had my nose stuck in a book. In the car, at the dinner table, at night when I was supposed to be sleeping...I couldn't get enough. There's something about losing yourself in a book. It's more magical than watching a movie where all of the imagination is already done for you. One of my dreams is to one day have my own awesome library with all kinds of books about all kinds of subjects. Maybe like the one in Beauty and the Beast with two stories of floor to ceiling bookshelves. Ahhh I'd be in Heaven.

Anyway, here are a few titles I've been working on in the past couple of weeks:

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

This book is an insightful look into how relationships fuel success. Though it's directed toward the business world, anyone from any walk of life can benefit from reading this book. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

This book ended up being more interesting than I thought it would be. It's a memoir of a journalist who fell in love with a Frenchman and moved to Paris, France. She talks in detail of the hardships she faces assimilating into French society and about how she and her French husband overcome their cultural differences. At the end of each chapter there are 3-5 delicious looking recipes. Bon Appetit. 

Caution: contains a little non-christian content (a few words, some innuendo)  

Everything is Gonna Be Alright by Nona Freeman

This book is downright fascinating. Every Apostolic Christian should read it. This is just a brief overview of how Sister Nona Freeman and her husband "Bug" turned the continent of Africa upside down for Jesus Christ. The sacrifices they made, the miracles they saw and the faith they had is inspiring and challenging. Of all the books I've read this summer, this one is my favorite so far. 

And They Continued by John Anthony Guidry

This is yet another book of stories from an Apostolic missionary who happens to be the father of one of my fellow classmates at IBC. It, too is full of interesting anecdotes and beautiful stories of the goodness of God. I'm only about halfway finished with it and I'm enjoying it thoroughly.

Well...that's all I have for you tonight. Much love to all of you out there who are bored enough to read this. ;) God bless!