From my family to yours, wishing you a Christ-filled Christmas. Here is an Advent resource using the Jesus Storybook Bible, which we love. In Leslie’s article are links to a printable schedule of readings and printable/colorable ornaments we put on our “Jesse Tree”. Hope it is a help in focusing your family on the true meaning of Christmas this year.
I love the Christmas season, it’s my favorite time of year. I love the music, the decorations, the festivities, the food, the continuing on of family traditions, and the starting of new ones. But, it’s so easy for the true meaning of Christmas to get lost in all the hustle and bustle of this busy season. This is the time to anticipate and celebrate the arrival of our Rescuer; the coming of our King! What a glorious day that first Christmas was some 2,000 years ago, when Heaven came down to earth in the form of a tiny baby, our Savior had come to live…and to die for us all! There is no greater reason to celebrate Christmas than this!
Through the years we have started some of our own family traditions to help our kids better understand the true meaning of Christmas. We do a daily random act of kindness…
If you want a whole new way of seeing the works of C.S. Lewis, check out this Youtube channel I stumbled across recently. This artist takes readings of classic Lewis works and illustrates them—as they are being read! To watch the story unfold visually as well as rhetorically adds a new level of depth. I love how C.S. Lewis unswervingly engages his culture from a Christian worldview. He has inspired generations with his creativity, Logic, and faithfulness. If you are seasoned Lewis veteran, or movie-introduced rookie, check out this innovative method to hear and see this classic christian author in action.
For the full Youtube channel with thirteen videos click here: CSLewisDoodle.
Here is a sample of a his videos. (note the playlist selector in the top left, you can choose a topic)
For a few brief years you may hear this phrase by well meaning adults, “Remember… You are a student first”.
While the intention may be noble, the message is flawed.
Yes, students need to focus on their studies while in high school or college. They do not need to get the balance of social life, work, school and many other activities so out of whack that academic discipline takes a backseat.
But are you really a student “First”? Is there not a more important mission and goal of life even during the years in which you are a student? Is there a broader perspective that allows your identity to remain intact even beyond school and career decisions?
The answer is a resounding “YES”. Paul says to the Corinthian believers, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Let this dominate our identity in all stages of our life, from student to career to family, to everything! This clip says it beautifully in 1:48 of your day, that will be well spent. Watch it and be encouraged.
***Free 128 page PDF ebook, “The Call to Ministry” Journal, by Al Mohler, Don Whitney, and Dan Dumas, detailed below***
Through my time as a student pastor I have seen many students pursue a call to ministry. This is a rewarding aspect of working with teenagers. As they are growing in their faith and learning to make decisions on their own you get the privilege of seeing God a work and the teenager wrestle with it. Several students, both young men and women, have expressed a leaning toward missions or children/youth ministry and even the occasional pastoral calling that surfaces early.
When a student comes to me for advise when discerning a call to ministry it is never an easy conversation. It is hard to say with certitude what God may or may not be doing in another person’s heart. Therefore I always try to push that student to good resources and to continue exploring what God is saying.
I recently ran across a great resource that I will be using for this very purpose.
Dr. Hershal York, a preaching professor from my alma mater, Southern Seminary, posted a great blog about how graduating from Seminary doesn’t qualify you for ministry (despite that being a primary indicator for hiring churches). Check out his article here, “Why seminary can never qualify anyone for ministry“.
At the end of this article is a free PDF workbook written by Molher, Whitney, and Dumas titled, The Call to Ministry. It is self-described as:
This is a different sort of book. Or workbook. Or journal. Whatever it is, this resource from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is meant to help you discern whether or not God has called you to ministry. And it’s meant for you to use and devour. You’ll notice pages with blank space; those pages are for you to respond to questions, react to the quotations and reflect on the Scripture references you’ll find throughout. So, open your Bible, get out your pen and discover whether God has called you to this most noble and weighty task.
I downloaded it and will continue to pass this out to those considering full time vocational ministry.
I would upload the PDF here and make it available to all of humanity, but I feel I would be subverting Southern’s goodwill gesture to prospective students and the seminary’s offer to provide the highest quality conservative ministry training available.
So I will leave you with a link. Check out www.sbts.edu/the-call-to-ministry-journal. If you are willing to give them your email address, they are willing to give you this 128 page invaluable resource, that quite possibly could be a determining factor in understanding God’s call on your life.
Today is election day. I voted. You should too. This is our means of having our voice heard.
There is an important issue on the line this year. In TN an amendment is proposed that will allow state guided regulation on the abortion industry. It in no way prevents or outlaws abortions, rather it makes it possible for lawmakers to set regulations for the abortion industry that are in place in many states.
While my visit to Great Clips for a haircut reveals that a hairdresser must have state certification and display their license, abortion clinics in this state do not need any such oversight.
Here are some facts about the amendment, abortion in Tennessee and those on both sides of the campaign.
What the amendment says:
Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.
What the amendment would do:
If passed, the amendment would have no immediate effect on abortion in Tennessee. However, lawmakers would have more ability in the future to pass restrictions that the state Supreme Court has previously ruled were unconstitutional. A “yes” vote would give lawmakers this ability. A “no” vote would leave the state constitution unchanged.
If enacted, Tennessee would become the fourth state in the nation that has an abortion amendment in its constitution. The other three states are Arkansas, Colorado and Rhode Island.
What measures could lawmakers enact if Amendment 1 succeeds?
Examples of measures that lawmakers and others have spoken publicly about include:
• A waiting period before a woman seeking an abortion can obtain one.
• A requirement that doctors give women specifically worded information about abortions and fetal development crafted by lawmakers.
• A ban on abortions past a certain stage of fetal development.
• A requirement that abortion clinics meet the stricter standards of ambulatory surgical centers where typically more complex medical procedures are performed.
• An end to exceptions to abortion restrictions for women who are victims of rape or incest, or in cases in which a woman’s health is at risk.
The campaigns have been very different for the opposing sides.
“Yes on 1” is a grass roots effort creating groups in each county to speak in church, civic groups, and other forums to get the word out about the need for this amendment to pass. They are using social media and primarily word of mouth.
Check out the website. www.yeson1tn.org Here is a video addressing the issue.
“No on 1” is using a TV campaign of commercials funded by Planned Parenthood and ACLU. Check out these ads. They are manipulative, do not address the issue, and appears to be designed to confuse the voter!
Don’t by the hype, Vote Yes on 1 today and make you voice heard for common sense protections of women.
Come join me as we welcome Lee Strobel to Murfreesboro for a rare opportunity to dialogue with a nationally known apologist.
I am particularly looking forward to the Teen/Parent exclusive event where we will get to hear in a small group environment Strobel’s advise for todays teenagers with a Q&A time and book signing. If you are in the mid-TN area don’t miss this great chance to be encouraged and challenged.
How many times did Jesus quote from the Old Testament? What where his favorite books to reference? Which Gospels show the most quotes from Jesus from the Old Testament? All these questions and many more are answered in this cool infographic connecting the dots between Jesus’s words and the bible that he studied.
It is a challenge to know and quote more from the Old Testament as he did. Click the graphic for a larger version
A while ago I introduced the teens in our student ministry to this list of 20 truths that I felt hit home with teenage life. We read through the list first in its entirety. Then I asked each student to rank the top three “hardest to keep” truths for them personally. We then broke into groups based on their number one pick to discuss those topics and why they are hard to keep. We prayed for each other and strategized about how to encourage each other on a regular basis in these areas.
So which of these truths do you think ranked in the top three of teenagers most often? Read through for yourself and see what you would choose. My poll results are at the very bottom of the article. The list is surprising and insightful.
20 Truths for Teenagers in Proverbs:
Take responsibility for your life. “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” (Prov. 9:12)
Integrity is your guidance. “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.” (Prov. 11:3)
Shun evil. “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it.” (Prov. 22:3)
Speak the truth. “Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.” (Prov. 24:28)
Be humble. “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.”(Prov. 11:2)
Work for your dream. “He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.” (Prov. 28:19)
Diligence is a key to success. “A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence.” (Prov. 12:27)
Never give up when facing adversity. “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.“(Prov. 24:10)
Learn to control yourself. “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.” (Prov. 25:28)
Control your anger. “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” (Prov. 14:29)
Be prudent about your choice. “Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.” (Prov. 4:26)
Train your patience. “By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.” (Prov. 25:15)
Listen before you speak. “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.“(Prov. 18:13)
Talk Less, do more. “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23)
Stop gossiping. “The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.” (Prov. 18:8)
Don’t flatter others. “A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his steps.” (Prov. 29:5)
Pay evil with good. “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” (Prov. 25:21)
Honor your parents. “Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.” (Prov. 23:25)
Choose your companion. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Prov. 13:20)
Do not envy evil men. “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them.” (Proverb 24:1)
These five answers were most commonly given as “hardest to keep” truths according to my student group.
Shun evil. “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it.” (Prov. 22:3)
Honor your parents. “Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.” (Prov. 23:25)
Speak the truth. “Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.” (Prov. 24:28)
Control your anger. “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” (Prov. 14:29)
Talk Less, do more. “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23)
Life can be hard. We have problems come at us from all angles. How we deal with these and move forward defines life as we know it. I was greatly encouraged through my personal study and preparation of 1 Thess. 4:9-18 in how I look at life’s problems.
It is my prayer that this passage would encourage you as well as we allow a biblical perspective to be our guide in light of the problems of life.
The Problem of Yesterday: Just Keep Loving. We all get hurt, we all have disappointments, we all deal with this. But Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to keep loving one another. God had taught them how to love (verse 9) but Paul still reminds then that it never can just be put on cruise control and forgotten. “But, we urge you brothers, to do this more and more.” (verse 10). No mater what life has dealt you, love one another more and more.
The Problem of Today: Just Keep Working. One day Jesus will return, but until that day we have to live this life in a productive way. We should not live dependent of others but work hard day in and day out. (verse 11) As we do this we will maintain the respect of our community, and maybe more importantly, maintain respect for ourself. (verse 12) It is a great temptation to slack off or give up when things get hard. Hang in there. Keep working hard and it will pay off.
The Problem of Tomorrow: Just Keep Hoping. Last week I attended the funeral of a dear church member. In a year cancer racked her body and claimed her life while she was in her prime. But her funeral was a celebration of hope. It was a living example of Paul’s words that we “do not grieve as other do who have no hope.” (verse 13) While the unknowns of tomorrow can be painful, we are not without hope. The object of our hope is Jesus Christ and his victory over sin and death. “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again…” (verse 14). When we hope in Jesus we will never be put to shame. Whatever tomorrow holds, we hold onto hope in Jesus. “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (verse 18)
1 Thess. 4:9-18
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
“If someone said to you, ‘I have one insight for you that absolutely will revolutionize your ability to quickly and clearly identify the false statements and false philosophies that permeate our culture,’ would you be interested? That’s what we’re about to do here. In fact, if we had to pick just one thinking ability as the most valuable we’ve learned in our many years of seminary and postgraduate education, it would be this: how to identify and refute self-defeating statements.”(i)
What is a self-defeating statement?
A self-defeating (or self-refuting) statement is one that fails to meet its own standard. In…
From my family to yours, wishing you a Christ-filled Christmas. Here is an Advent resource using the Jesus Storybook Bible, which we love. In Leslie’s article are links to a printable schedule of readings and printable/colorable ornaments we put on our “Jesse Tree”. Hope it is a help in focusing your family on the true meaning of Christmas this year.
adamlickey.com 