Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

 

This book is an easy read dealing with the sovereignty of God and how it should affect the lives of Christians as they fulfill the Great Commission.

In chapter 2, the author opens with God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. He aptly describes the issue as being an antinomy. Even though believers cannot truly understand how sovereignty and responsibility work together, they must accept both are clearly taught in Scripture and seek to live their lives accordingly.

Packer goes on to talk about two potential problems with evangelism. The first is to focus on human responsibility and exclude God’s sovereignty. This pitfall introduces Christians as the ones who actually convert people instead of leaving it up to God. As Packer says, this would allow any type of method for evangelism and would be “terrifyingly similar to the philosophy of brainwashing”. On the other hand, it is dangerous to focus on God’s sovereignty and exclude human responsibility. Believers lose the necessity of sharing the gospel since the saved and unsaved are part of God’s sovereign plan and nothing will affect that. In reality, sovereignty and responsibility must work together. God is the one who saves, but He commands Christians to actively share the gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Chapter 3 covers a lot of ground. Packer defines evangelism and presents the Apostle Paul as a role model of evangelism. Packer informs the reader of the content of the evangelistic message. Biblical evangelism includes a message about God, sin and Christ. The third section of this chapter talks about the motive for evangelizing. The author correctly asserts the primary goal of evangelism is to glorify God. He goes on to say the secondary motive must be a love for one’s neighbor. These two work together prompting Christians to spread the news of salvation far and wide. n the final section of the third chapter, Packer presents the process of evangelism. He succinctly says that the only biblical method is to teach and apply the gospel.

The last chapter deals with how the sovereignty of God does not affect the necessity, urgency, or genuineness of evangelism. Nor does it affect the responsibility each sinner has for responding to evangelism. Finally, the author declares God’s sovereignty offers the only basis of hope we can have for knowing our efforts of evangelism will be rewarded. This knowledge should produce boldness, patience, and prayerful.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book (even though I did have to read it for school!). It clearly dealt with both the sovereignty of God and man’s responsibility as it relates to evangelism.

 ~ Melinda ~

A Semester Gone By

Considering the fact that the semester has officially ended for me, I deemed it fitting to post the quotes I got from my classes.  J  I have some great memories and wonderful experiences.  I’m so glad to have met these people and the many others in my classes. 

For the ease of the reader, I’ll first post quotes from my music class, followed by quotes from public speaking.  J

 

Professor K: You can use your keyboard or your brain, whichever helps.  Hopefully both.

Professor K: Let’s talk about dots (dotted notes).  (Pause)  No groans?
Students: (exaggerated groaning)  Doooots????

Professor K: There are fifty notes (on the quiz).  That’s about two and a half seconds per note.  So fly like the wind.
Student:  Can we start flying as soon as we get it (the quiz)?

 

Mr. D: (when relaying what he told his students when the room smelled really bad) Run around, create a tornado and get that (smell) out of there.

Mr. D: (during roll call) Ginger?
Ginger: Here.
Mr. D: Cinnamon?  Cumin?  Salt?  Pepper?  Season’s greetings.

Mr. D: (during roll call) Megan?
Megan: What?
Mr. D: Megan!
Megan: Oh.  Here!

Mr. D: There is one thing to be turned in.  So on the back of a 100 dollar bill…

Mr. D: (about telepathy) In other words, it’s Lassie.

Mr. D: (about campus security) They have security trucks that go down twice a day.  But they always go during the most crowded times.  So they hold up traffic.  They don’t like power walkers here.  No power walking.  Keep the walking speed down to three (mph).  Be safe.  Arrive alive.

Mr. D: It was so windy my cat didn’t even want to go out.  He’d go out, look around and come back in.  And then he decided it was fun.  So every few minutes I’d get up, let him out, he’d go out and come back in.

Mr. D: They lost eighteen billion dollars.  Where do you think it is?
Zachary: In someone’s pocket?

Zachary: Can I bring a prop?
Mr. D: No.  A prop is a theater term.  It’s short for property.  (explains)  In speech they’re called visual aids.
Zachary: Can I bring a visual aid?
Mr. D: No.

Mr. D: (as Travis was going up to speak) Travis doesn’t care.  He chuckled at fear.  Laughed at death.

Mr. D: Start at the beginning, go all the way to the end, call it the conclusion, sit down.  That’s my sure-fire way to give a speech.  And it always works!

Zachary: Anonymous is a really good writer.
Mr. D: Yeah, he’s written a lot of good stuff.

Mr. D: (when I was sitting farther away than normal) You’re moving farther away.  You’ll keep getting farther and farther down until in the middle of the semester, you’ll be sitting outside with an earpiece listening.

Mr. D: (about new Starbucks) Last week, an employee came into my office and gave me a cup with a sticker on it.  He said, “Any time you come in, whatever you can fit in this cup is on the house.”  So this afternoon, I’m going to go over there with my cup and say, “Open the cash register”…and if they don’t do it, I’ll say it’s false advertising.

Mr. D: He punched me in the face.  Or I blocked his punch with my left cheek.

Mr. D: (about school holidays) Usually people know when the holidays are about nine years in advance.

Mr. D: You can influence people.  If I were to hand Bonnie a glass and say, “Taste the butter in this”, she will taste the butter.  Even if there’s no butter, she will taste it.

Mr. D: If I want you to have an opinion, I’ll give you one.

Mr. D: You’ll be in group three, but by then the criticism is so grueling, you’ll have dropped the class.

Mr. D: The sun was rising in the east…and then suddenly…there it was…Juliet!

Mr. D: Kia…or Nina if you prefer.  Why does it say Nina?
Kia: It’s my Mom’s sweatshirt.
Mr. D: Don’t lie about it.  You were on Columbus’ crew.

Mr. D: (after giving free light bulbs at beginning of class.  Then he asked for next speech topics) Give me a topic or I’ll keep the light bulb.

Beau: (about impromptu speeches) That’s got to be the worst feeling when the door opens and she goes, “Come on in!”

Mr. D: I’ll get a Corvette and always drive in the wind.
Beau: Just put a mast on it and sail it.

Beau: Dude, can you just call my name?

Mr. D: Rather than Tyler giving his speech, we’re all going over to that window, take off that screen, go out and leave Beau out there forever….Years from now, they’ll find him and we’ll say he was the hide and seek champion of 2008.  No one found him.

Mr. D: On my flight home last week, I picked a random number.  I picked four.  So I dropped every fourth person from the class.  You were one of them. (to Beau)
(Later…I ask/say something)
Mr. D: Like Beau, you were dropped from the class.
Me: Oh, ok.
Beau: It’s the Bs.  I should have been named like Chris or something.

Mr. D: (after I asked a question about something) Don’t worry about it, Bonnie.  You can always repeat the class.

  

 -Bonnie

Christians and Evolution

Yesterday in the biology class that I teach, we had a good discussion on worldview. The chapter we are currently studying is about evolution. Fortunately the textbook is a Christian text so the author continually demonstrates the lack of scientific evidence for evolution.

I gave my students a writing assignment this week to evaluate how Christians should respond to evolution. Should Christians accept evolution since the authority of science backs it up? Should they reject evolution completely? Or should they somehow strike a balance between their faith and evolution?

The author of the biology textbook briefly highlighted these questions but says nothing in regard to the answer since he wanted to deal with evolution solely from a scientific perspective. But I wanted my students to think about this important issue.

I asked my students what ideas they had for answering the question…off the top of their heads. They started by saying that Christians should be open-minded and should approach the issue scientifically, weighing both sides of the issue. I agree with those statements. But I pointed out to them that every person approach the issue of evolution that way.

So I asked them. What is unique about the way a Christian should respond to evolution as opposed to a nonbeliever?

As we continued discussing the question, it became apparent they believed evolution to contradict the biblical account of creation. But at the same time, they did not want to cite Scripture as their only support for rejecting evolution since most people and scientists do not accept Scripture as reliable evidence.

I threw out another question or two, hoping to stimulate thought on their part. Hopefully when they turn in their reports next week, they will demonstrate that they gave the issue a great deal of thought and are confident about what they believe.

Personally, I believe Christians should not shrink from standing firmly on Scripture as their ultimate, absolute authority for rejecting evolution. The Bible is the word of God…there is no greater authority or reason we could possibly have for rejecting evolution. Since that is the case, why, as a whole, are Christians not bolder with asserting the authority of Scripture?

Does it matter that your average person and scientists reject Scripture’s account of creation simply because it is a religious document? I think not. As a rule, evolutionists put forth reasons for their theory that I do not accept as authoritative but that does not mean their reasons are inherently unjustifiable. Just because the majority of people reject Scripture as an authority in this issue, does not mean that we should shirk from citing Scripture as the ultimate authority.

Does this mean that other scientific evidences in support of creation are unimportant? Definitely not! As Christians approach science confidently because of the truth of hte biblical account of creation then they are equipped to look at the scientific evidence. This extra-biblical evidence can even be used to buttress and support Scripture. But Scripture must always remain the foundation.

Anyway…if you think of it I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to pursue this topic with my biology students. I have another biology class tomorrow where we will be discussing the same thing that I discussed with my students yesterday. Then next week (on Monday and Wednesday) I’ll be following up with both classes.

At the bare minimum, my prayer is that this homework assignment will get the students to think about the importance of their Christian worldview permeating every area of their lives.

~ Melinda ~

If God Should Choose

If God Should Choose: The Authorized Story of Jim and Roni Bowers by Kristen Stagg, tells a miraculous story in only 221 pages.  Jim and Veronica (or Roni) Bowers, graduates of Piedmont Bible College, both knew since they were young that their future held missions work.  When the Lord led them to each other, they got married and spent over ten years preparing for their future in Peru with ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism).

Jim and Roni Bowers deeply loved the Lord and were committed to following His will in every area.  They desperately wanted to always follow His commandments.  Throughout the book, various aspects of their characters are shown….their willingness to be taught, their willingness to serve, their hospitality, their joy even during unthinkable pain and their humility.  They were definitely energy-givers.

Their ministry involved traveling to different cities on the Amazon river via houseboat.  Jim and Roni taught, encouraged, made friends and pointed others to Christ.  Their lives were always shining for Him.  They loved the Peruvian people.

“There was no ‘us’ and ‘them’ in Jim and Roni’s mind; everyone was ‘us.’” (If God Should Choose, page 113.)  They did not set up their ministry as “the missionaries” versus “the unsaved” or “the locals”.  They warmly fit into the culture. 

On April 20, 2001, however, their entire ministry changed.  During what they thought was a routine flight from Colombia back into Peru, their Cessna was spotted on a computer belonging to the Peruvian air force.  Wondering if the plane was carrying illegal items, the Peruvian air force abandoned several phases in what was supposed to be proper procedure.  Sending out an A-37, the Peruvian air force began to shoot down the Cessa, forcing it to crash into the Amazon.

Roni and her infant daughter, Charity, were killed by a single bullet. 

Jim Bowers and his young son Cory survived along with Kevin Donaldson, fellow ABWE missionary. 

A heart-breaking event that makes you wonder, “Why?”  It was a dreadful mistake, a horrible, horrible mistake on the part of the Peruvian air force.  Such dynamic witnesses for God…killed…because of a goof-up.

Why?

The book goes on to answer that question.  In spite of horrible pain and horrible circumstances, God received abundant glory.  Jim Bowers did not forsake His God, but became a powerful testimony of healing forgiveness and salvation.

This book is an amazing biography of two people who followed and served God wholeheartedly.  This event was not pointless.  Because of the death of Roni and Charity Bowers, many people became interested in becoming missionaries.  Thousands of people heard of God’s forgiveness and gift of salvation.

I highly recommend this book, as it’s a stirring testimony of lives lived to the Lord.  A powerful testimony of how God works mightily in seemingly tragic circumstances.

-Bonnie

 

Parental Rights

Check out this link. 

Thoughts?

~Melinda and Bonnie~

Vacuuming and Old Faithful

So today I was vacuuming.  Normal procedure, right?  Well….apparently not.

One day last week I was vacuuming our living room, getting ready for company.  So I plugged it in, turned it on and started to go!  I noticed dust was kind of pouring out of the side of it.  I thought that rather strange, but figured it would stop shortly. 

It didn’t.

I heard Melinda say, “Bonnie!  Stop!”  I turned off the vacuum and surveyed the room.  There was dust everywhere.  As in, the air was filled with dust.  It was almost as if we were filming a Wild West movie right there in our own living room.

Needless to say, that was not normal.  Dad, being the amazing father he is, took it to the shop to explain and negotiate proper protocol.  Apparently it was determined that our vacuum cleaner did indeed need repairs.  While the store fixed ours, we borrowed our Gramma’s so that our carpets could be cleaned until ours was functioning again.

It is a nice vacuum.  First I should tell you about our old vacuum.  It’s been around as long as I can remember.  In fact, it’s been around longer than me.  (Please, no comments about my old age.)  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great machine.  It’s as faithful as they come.  At least until the dust-spewing started.  And the outrageous noises it’s made some times.  But, anyway.

So the new vacuum is one of those with all the attachments and various other appartus’ (apparati?) included on the machine.  Of course, I had to try it out today! 

I plugged it in and began vacuuming.  WOW!!  It sailed smoothly over the carpet, cleaning it really well! 

Problem #1: Apparently one of the features of these new-fangled vacuum cleaners is that it comes with a hose already on it.  And on this one, the end of it was facing outward.  Thus, in the course of vacuuming, I naturally had to pull the vacuum toward me.  At which point in time, the suction-hose inhaled my skirt.  Not wanting to be attached to the vacuum for the rest of my life, I pulled my skirt out.  Only for it to be swallowed again a few minutes later.

I finally got into the habit of holding my skirt with one hand and pulling it out of the hose every few minutes.

But now I introduce Problem #2.

You see, we have two indoor dogs.  The latest addition to our little band of canines sheds fur.  As in…majorly.  As in….he probably produces a new coat of fur daily.  So the carpet gets rather….furry.  Now, because we live with this adorable dog, we kind of get used to the black and white speckles that appear on our carpet (which, I must add, was originally blue) between our vacuuming sessions.

Well, apparently another feature of this new vacuum is some sort of device that stirs up the fur and clumps it together in little bunches and leaves it on the carpet.  It kind of reminds me of that movie I saw where a guy was tying his wheat bundles together for harvest.  Why the vacuum didn’t pick up the tidy bundles it made, I don’t know.  I guess it was helpful….I mean at least now we could go and harvest the bundles instead of having to scrape at the carpet with our fingers to produce bundles manually.

So that was my experience.

Call me old fashioned…but I’m looking forward to Old Faithful returning………..

-Bonnie

P.S.  With the event of college studies and various other activities of real life…..you might have noticed an absence of posting……I do have an idea or two in mind, I’m just not sure when I’ll be able to get back on.  But we haven’t abandoned our WordPress! 

Prayer

Why am I surprised when God answers prayer?

-Bonnie

The Tale of a Grocery Store

This tale takes place in an ordinary setting under rather ordinary circumstances. 

                Scene 1: In which Dad stops outside grocery store to let Mom off.  He and I then go to park the car.

                Scene 2: In which Dad and I get out of said car and proceed into store.  It takes only a few minutes to find Mom.  We then proceed to help with the shopping.

                Scene 3: In which I hear:
                                Mom: Bonnie, will you please get some milk?
                                Bonnie: Sure.
                I then proceed to the milk section, which is crowded with people and carts, while Mom stays behind with our cart so as not to further crowd the aisle.

                Scene 4: In which I obtain milk carton, turn around and begin to place said carton in shopping cart.

                Scene 5: In which I am puzzled that the cart is so full.  Hmm.  I hadn’t realized Mom had gotten so much shopping done while Dad and I were parking.  Ah, well.

                Scene 6: In which I hear:
                                Mom: That’s not our cart.
                                Man: Uh oh.
                Scene 7: In which I apologize to the owner of the cart and quickly head to the appropriate cart.

                Scene 8: In which I am feeling slightly awkward and slightly embarrassed.

-Bonnie

The Art of Writing Part 2

In thinking about my last post, several other thoughts came to mind.  We thought it best to do a Part 2 post. 

I love my computer.  I love being able to open up my Word document and spend time writing my book.  I love being able to spit the words out ten times faster on my computer than if I were doing it via pen and paper.  I love being able to email and keep in contact with friends who don’t write snail mail letters.  I love blogging…obviously. 

At the same time however, there is the inescapable fact that the art of writing has gone downhill.  Dickens would devote whole paragraphs to describing a person or a place.  It might have been quite a lengthy description, but at the end, you had no doubt as to what the person or place looked like.  In fact, you could see it almost as if he/she/it were right in front of you.  That’s an art. 

To take words and be able to form them into sentences that are not only coherent but are captivating…that’s an art.

Today we are bored with descriptions.  Cut the lengthy paragraphs…get to the plot!  The action!  Now, I’m not against good, fast-paced books.  In fact, I love them!  But there is nothing like the classics.

So how does the computer fit into all of this?  This marvelously helpful invention can be amazing.  At the same time, however, it can be problematic.  I would strongly caution computer users, especially Christians, to avoid the excess usage of “computer slang”.  Not only does it make reading a post or email harder, it also displays an attitude that almost says the writer doesn’t care about language.  I would submit that it is not honoring to our Creator to succomb to the slang or lingo.  I do not believe it is glorifying to Him to lower our vocabulary and grammar level.  Our God is a God of Order.  A God of Understanding. 

The English language is a gift.  It is an intricate, beautifully formed gift that God has given us.  I believe that it honors God when we take the time to use proper grammar and punctuation, as well as when we put thought and effort into what we write, whether on the computer or on paper.

I do not necessarily believe that a pen in the hand is better than keys at the fingertips.  They both have their place.  I merely submit for the consideration of my reading audience the intricacy of the art of writing….

-Bonnie

P.S.  We are at a loss as to why some of our posts are filed under the category of “1″….this filing category is completely unintentional.  So if anyone has any sage wisdom about deleting the category of 1…please let us know. 

The Art of Writing

We live in the age of the computer.  Word processing, email, IM and blogs dominate society.  And of course, there are many internet opportunities to choose from.  You can get an email address from AOL, Gmail, Juno, Yahoo, Hotmail, Earthlink, as well as a variety of others.  Many of these offer their own IM service.  Then for blogs, you have MySpace, Xanga, Blogspot, WordPress, Multiply, Typepad, etc.

It seems that almost everything in my life revolves around the computer.  Letter writing is a lost art.  Instead of sending a handwritten note or letter, I speedily type up an email.  I used to have over 60 pen pals.  Yep, 6-0.  I wrote letters almost constantly!  Now?  Well…a couple weeks ago I sat down to handwrite a letter to a friend…and my hand cramped before I had written much at all.

My words are deteriorating.  And, let me tell you, it’s disturbing to be a writer and stuck with mediocre words floating around in your brain.  Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”  I don’t want to be “just another author” in a sea of authors.

Whatever happened to the amazing styles of literary geniuses?  Whatever happened to the captivating passages penned by such giants as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and L.M. Montgomery?  Whatever happened to the brilliant descriptions, the appealing words, the vivid pictures they could paint so powerfully in only a few sentences?

We live in a fast-paced world…we can sit down and have an online conversation for a few minutes and send off an email, both while composing a blog post on another page.  It’s far too easy to go fast, fast, fast, shorten and simplify.  We’ve lost the art of writing. 

It kind of reminds me of the art of painting.  I recently read a book about George Washington, and saw in it a portrait painted of him by a seventeen year old artist.  It was….really good!  And art today?  Um…it looks kind of like….lines?  Blocks?  Splotches of color?   Someone’s impressions about being stuck in a school classroom on a beautiful spring day?

Hmm……Point to ponder. 

-Bonnie