A few things came into my in-box this week where the author used creativity to illustrate something about the Christian faith.
In his article this week called, One Way Out, James Robison creatively questioned why unbelievers would think the Lord unmerciful or unkind for providing only one way to salvation. It has become popular to believe, as Oprah does, that there have to be many ways to Heaven or God would not be a loving Father. Here is an excerpt from his article:
You're on the top floor and the building is burning. You don't know which way to go: the stairs, the elevator, the roof, a window? Which door do you take to get to a hallway that's not on fire?
With the smoke, the confusion and the sense of urgency, it is hard to know what to do. You don't know how much time you have and the wrong turn could be disastrous. Suddenly, a man shouts, "I know which way to go. Follow me!"
What do you do? If the person is a complete stranger, you won't know whether or not to believe him. If he is ignorant, it would be foolish to follow him. If the man set the fire himself, then it would dangerous to listen to anything he said. But if the man is the architect of the building and an expert on fire safety, not only would you believe him, but you would do exactly what he said because you'd know that your life depended on it.
He says that, through His Word, we are able to know that the Lord is the archetect of life and that we can trust Him to lead us out of the fire of life on Earth and to the safety of Heaven.
Today's Mountain Wings issue had a beautifully creative story of the dragonfly that helps us understand why nobody has come back from Heaven to help us understand what it is like. It talks about the water beetle and how one day they come out of the water and become a dragonfly. The other water beetles never know what becomes of them. Each knows in turn but cannot go back to share his understanding with the others:
Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.
But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!
Both of these articles are creative illustrations that help us put into perspective certain parts of our faith. They use the same principles that Jesus did when He spoke in parables making it easier for the people to understand.
Effective communication is all about getting what you know across to someone else in a way that allows him to see things the way you do. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. We do not have a picture of Heaven but we can use words (creative illustrations) to draw a mind picture making it easier for people to understand the truths of the Father.
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon...
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As you are probably aware, in February the courts ruled that homeschooling was illegal in California. There was a rehearing and oral argument was held on June 23. According to HSLDA, a decision could be handed down at any time.
In the meanwhile, the case of Rachel L. has moved forward and "the juvenile court judge terminated jurisdiction over the two youngest L children in a hearing held on July 10, 2008."
Mr. L’s attorneys will make the appellate court aware of this new development and move to dismiss the petition pending in the court of appeal. Since, the children are no longer under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court any decision by the court based on the two-year-old petition could not be enforced against the children.
Mike Farris, Chairman and Founder of HSLDA called this “a significant favorable development toward preserving homeschooling freedom in California”
Keep praying everyone! Keep sharing your homeschooling experiences and successes with your friends and neighbors! We can change the way some folks think about homeschooling through our example.
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon...
Where's FIMM? Did you find himm this week? Where's FIMM? Come find the only Foot in Mouth Man picture that is different from all the rest. Email what he looks like and where you found himm to fimm@artofeloquence.com and you could win a free Art of Eloquence eProduct of your choice!
As a business owner, wife and homeschool mom, I have lots to do. The temptation is to keep going until I drop. Many of you out there are just like me. Do you take a break when you need one? Do you take regular time off during the week? Do you take regular vacations? Me neither! Look what showed up in my email box today. A Mountain Wings article on Vacation Deprivation.
"Vacation deprivation is running rampant, workplace experts say. American productivity is up, but so is depression and the amount of money spent on coping with burned-out workers."
I guess Father really does know best!
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." -Exodus 20:8-11
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon...
Where's FIMM? Did you find himm this week? FIMM is now hiding on a new page on the Art of Eloquence site. To be entered into the drawing to win a free Art of Eloquence eProduct of YOUR CHOICE, find the only Foot in Mouth Man picture that looks different from all the rest and email us telling us what he looks like and where you found himm!
For at least eight years before they were fired and evicted Daniel and Sharon Dixon worked as on site managers of the Thornwood Terrace Apartments in Lake City, Florida (owned and operated by Hallmark Companies and Hallmark Management). The Dixons had displayed a piece of stained glass artwork featuring flowers hanging on the wall in their management office. On the artwork was a partial Scripture: "Consider the Lilies…Matthew 6:28."
In an article by Liberty Councel, who also represents the Dixon's, they state:
"In September 2007, Christina Saunders, regional manager for Hallmark, asked Sharon if the words on the artwork referred to Scripture. After Sharon said they did, Sanders told her to remove the artwork. Sharon replied that she needed to discuss it with her co-manager husband, Daniel, and left the office to find him. While Sharon was gone, Sanders consulted her supervisor, Norine Lewis, and then took the artwork and put it inside Daniel and Sharon's apartment. When Sharon returned, Sanders said that Sharon and Daniel were "too religious." She fired them and demanded they vacate their apartment within 72 hours."
I wonder what would have happened to the Dixons if they had had the entire scripture on the stained glass artwork! The article sums up Liberty Councel's position on the issue this way:
"Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: 'For eight years, without any complaint, Daniel and Sharon Dixon displayed floral artwork containing a citation to Scripture in their office. They were suddenly terminated as a result of the religious bigotry of one supervisor, even though no one objected to the picture. The Dixons lost their jobs and were booted out on the street, solely because artwork in their office made reference to the Bible. The Constitution and federal law prohibit religious discrimination. There must be ‘room in the inn’ for religious viewpoints.'"
Maybe if the Dixon's had been able to articulate their beliefs a bit better, perhaps they might not have needed Liberty Councel to intervene. Then again, if the Christian community as a whole had been better prepared to respectfully and effectively defend their faith years ago, it wouldn't be as difficult a topic to discuss today.
Most Christians are only just now beginning to wake up to the discrimination that is in the secular society these days. As I have said before, our reaction shouldn't be one of outrage and anger, but rather one of respectful and effective communication.
If I had a dime for every time I have heard people say that communication skills are just for lawyers and politicians, I'd be wealthy beyond my wildest dreams. If I had a chance to help teach the Christian community to respectfully and persuasively share their views in every day situations, we could change the world!
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon...
Brain Teaser FUN: Where's FIMM? Did you find himm this week?
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This is a precious video that was brought to my attention by one of the members of my Yahoo group, Homeschooling with Humor. It depicts life before and after Jesus came into each of their lives. Each one of us could hold up a cardboard sign of our own. What a blessing Jesus is to our lives!
I hear from Christian parents who think that things really aren't that bad. They don't see the need to learn effective communication skills in today's society...unless you are going to become a lawyer. Are things really THAT bad? Are they really taking away parents rights? Are they really discriminating against Christians? Are there laws that make it difficult for Christians to live? In America?!
Just a few of the recent news reports that we Christians need to be aware of:
"Last week, Colorado's legislature passed—and Gov. Bill Ritter signed—a law that will open all public accommodations, including public restrooms, to anyone who wants to use them. That means men may use a women's restroom, and women may enter men's rooms. The rationale for Senate Bill 200 is that transgenders should be able to use the restroom they feel most comfortable using. Apparently, it is not important if others feel uncomfortable having their privacy violated every time they use public facilities."
Click here to read the rest of the article. From what I understand, the citizens of Colorado were PROHIBITED from putting an initiative on the ballot. The law was passed in such a way that the public cannot override it.
"The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is enforced by a 10-member board. This board determines whether nations which have adopted the treaty are in compliance. If the United States ratifies the convention, the board’s interpretation of the treaty will have binding authority on our courts. Accordingly, American courts will not be free to interpret this treaty in a manner different from the UN tribunal.
Among other things, the UN board of experts has found these violations of the convention in nations that have ratified it: first, in the United Kingdom, the UN noted that parents violate Article 12 when they do not allow their children to express their own opinion in a parental decision to select an alternative to public education. This means that the convention prevents parents from selecting private schools and homeschools unless the government solicits and weighs the child’s opinion in the matter.
Second, any nation that permits spanking or fails to aggressively prosecute spanking will be held to have violated the treaty. Third, one country was told to “reconsider its policy on religious education for children in light of the general principle of non-discrimination and the right to privacy.”
Clearly, if these rulings were applied to the United States, they would violate fundamental constitutional rights of American citizens."
Click here to read the rest of this article and the follow up articles. Are we American's willing to submit to the authority of the UN and go against the rights our Founding Fathers fought for?
There is a need to speak up in boldness tempered by grace. The time to prepare ourselves and our children to learn to speak effectively and in love is now.
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"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." -Colossians 1:15-20 KJV (emphasis mine)
Think about the significance of this part of the scripture..."by Him all things consist". Merriam Webster defines consist: a: exist, beb: to be capable of existing. The NIV version of Colossians 1:17 says:
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
As Christians, we know that Jesus is what holds us together spiritually, but did you know that there is some interesting significance to that scripture in the way the Lord created mankind physically?
This video shares a bit of molecular biology that holds special significance for the Christian and perhaps for the unbeliever as well. It certainly doesn't prove the existence of an Almighty God but it most decidedly does add to the mounting circumstantial and supporting evidence in the argument that there is an intelligent Creator who designed the delicate balance of the universe and man along with it. It is about 8 minutes of a seminar called "How great is our God!" by Louie Giglio.
According to Wikipedia...
"Laminin is a protein found in the "extracellular matrix", the sheets of protein that form the substrate of all internal organs also called the "basement membrane". It has four arms that can bind to four other molecules. The three shorter arms are particularly good at binding to other laminin molecules, which is what makes it so great at forming sheets. The long arm is capable of binding to cells, which helps anchor the actual organs to the membrane.
The laminin protein is made up of three separate parts, called the A, B1, and B2 chains. That gives it a total of six "ends", which accounts for a lot of its flexibility in connecting up various kinds of molecules. Because of this, scientists who create biomaterials are extremely interested in the whole family of laminins. They are a family of glycoproteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding in almost every animal tissue. Laminins are secreted and incorporated into cell-associated extracellular matrices.
Laminin is vital to making sure overall body structures hold together. Improper production of laminin can cause muscles to form improperly, leading to a form of muscular dystrophy."(emphasis mine)
I urge you, Christian, to keep informed of the latest scientific discoveries. We cannot prove to the unbeliever that God exists and maybe that is exactly the way God intended it! Just remember that the reverse is also true. The unbeliever cannot prove that He doesn't exist and in thousands of years nobody has ever been able to prove that anything in the Bible is untrue. The fact is there is more supporting evidence found each year that suggests a Creator. Circumstantial evidence can be quite persuasive-especially when there is an abundance of it!
Take that information and hone your communication skills to speak in boldness and in grace about the Creator to unbelievers. God is everywhere! He is in all His creations! Point Him out to those around you and allow Him to reveal Himself to them!
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, has over 20 years of experience in the field and is the author of Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. Her articles appear on websites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com and in publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. For more information on JoJo or communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
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From JoJo'sPurple Crayon...
Hey! Did you enter our contest yet?
Enter by midnight PST on Sunday, March 25th!
You may remember the story of the Vietnam Prisoner of War who played a round of golf in his head every day all the years he was held in captivity. When he was released, he was an excellent golfer because he practiced every single day in his head. You may also have heard that practice really doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect! Every single day he practiced perfectly in his head so, after years of training his body with his mind, he was quite good.
Yet, how many people have the focus and knowledge to attain this kind of success without application and without a coach or teacher of any kind? How many of you reading this would go in for heart surgery knowing that your surgeon had no practical experience? And wouldn’t you feel much more confidence in him if he had not only done this procedure before, but had done so successfully hundreds of times?
Human beings generally require practical application and training by a professional, a teacher or a coach in order to hone their skills. Look at any professional athlete. They have a coach and they continue to follow that coach long after they have become a professional in their field.
In theory, all Christians should be able to speak in boldness and grace as Jesus did and as the Lord commands:
"Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." -Colossians 4:6
It does take some preparation and practice in order to be ready for situations that arise. 1 Peter 3:15 says:
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" -1Peter 3:15
We require wise counsel and instruction in order to attain that wisdom. Proverbs 1:5-7 says:
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
In theory, we will all react in grace. In practice, we can often find ourselves angry at the accusations, frustrated when others do not give us our opportunity to speak and overwhelmed with the misinformation and misunderstandings others have about Jesus.
So I challenge you this week to practice sharing and defending your faith. Listen to this video about Oprah Winfrey’s thoughts on religion and post your comments below. How should Christians respond?
In my post, Instead of Seeing Persecution; See Opportunity, I shared how we should think of these as opportunities to share our faith rather than as an attack on our faith. Take this opportunity here and now to practice answering these issues in boldness tempered by grace and laced with respect.
The other side is voicing its opinion boldly and, in many cases, articulately. Christian: how will you respond?
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, has over 20 years of experience in the field and is the author of Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. Her articles appear on websites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com and in publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. For more information on JoJo or communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
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rom JoJo's Purple Crayon... For more news every Christian should know delivered right to your inbox,
subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter:Defending the Faith Review!
Something to Ponder:
Holidays always remind me that thankfulness should be a part of our lives all year 'round. How many opportunities do we miss during the year to say thank you to mom. And not just to mom but to everyone else in our lives.
It isn't just on Mother's Day that we should remember to thank mom for all she does, but it does remind us that we need to do a better job of communicating our appreciation for her all throughout the year. Take this opportunity to share with your mom just how special she is, but take this opportunity also to remember to appreciate her and to share that appreciation with her during the rest of the year.
Now make that pledge to yourself about the rest of your family, friends and neighbors. Take that extra second to smile at the woman on the street struggling with three little ones in tow. Take that extra minute and email your friend to let him know you are still praying for him. Take that extra time to call up Aunt Mildred in the nursing home and share a memory. Take that one hour car trip and visit your dear friend and help her with the new baby for a few hours.
What may seem like a little extra effort to you in your already busy day, can mean all the world to them. Even if we cannot make that trip or spend 20 minutes on the phone, how much extra effort is it to smile? How much time does it take to give a complement? How much extra time does it cost to leave that door open a bit longer waiting for that woman with the cane?
Sometimes so little effort communicates so much!
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula including "Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith". You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
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From JoJo'sPurple Crayon...
Hey,did you vote yet? Break the 3-Way Tie!
Name Our Convention Day Contest!
I was thinking about one of the typical questions people ask about God. Why is there suffering if there is a God who loves us? It can be a tough question for some and a stumbling block to those who don't know the Lord. I cover this topic in Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. But this song got me thinking about when God's Children ask this same question. Suffering can be used by Satan to turn Christians from their faith. It can be a stumbling block for those in the family of God as well. I wrote a poem yesterday after listening to this song a few times. I submit it to you for your reflection.
When We Need to Breathe
By JoJo Tabares
Sometimes when the walls are falling in around you
Some days when you can practically feel your insides screaming
Some moments when you think you can't stand it another second
You can come to the Lord and He will give you peace
Sometimes when we are in the midst of struggle
Some days when we are drowning in sorrow
Some moments when we can hardly seem to take another breath
We can give it up to the Lord and He will wash away our pain
Sometimes when life gets so complicated
Some days when all you long for is rest
Some moments when you just want the world to stop spinning
You can place that chaos at the feet of the Savior
Because we all need to breathe...
Even when we are washed by the water.
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula including "Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith". You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
Many of life's lessons are found in unexpected places. The following poem is called "The Bible in 50 Words". The author is unknown. Not only is it a clever poem but it within its lines contain two secrets for sharing our faith effectively. Look closely.
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.
The author is quite creative. Each line holds special significance for Christians. Just two words in each line communicates an entire story from the Bible. However, we would have to admit that there is much more to the Bible than what is represented in these 50 words. We need more than these 50 words in our lives. That's why the Lord wrote the entire Bible. He knows it takes more than these 50 words to help us grow closer to Him, walk more confidently with Him through our trials and learn the lessons of life over our lifetime.
I sometimes wonder if we Christians understand this concept when I hear the manner in which some share their faith with unbelievers. When we examine this clever poem, we can see that it unlocks a two part lesson in sharing our faith.
God tells us, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" -Ecclesiastes 3:1. Although everything is not necessarily useful for every purpose. "A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" -Ecclesiastes 3:7. This poem was not written to share the faith. It was written to bring a smile to the face of the believer. It has a noble purpose, but its purpose is necessarily limited.
Some share their faith by trying to get in as much of God's Word as possible in the short time the listener will allow. This Christian is so excited to share what God has done for them, that they make the critical mistake of trying to share it all in a 10 minute chance encounter. The idea is to fire enough truth at the unbeliever that something might stick. This is much too overwhelming for the unbeliever! It would be like trying to learn Calculus by reading the formulas in the appendix without ever having had the benefit of taking the prerequisites first! These formulas mean nothing without that background information. And so it is with the Reader's Digest version of the Bible a Christian might rattle off for a captive audience on an elevator.
Another significant error is made when we don't discuss relevant issues with an unbeliever. It can be pointless to take one aspect of the Bible and discuss that with an unbeliever who has no frame of reference for it in his life. A drug addict may know he is living a dangerous life from which he needs to be saved. An Atheist may see himself as a "good person" who will not relate to being called a sinner and will take exception to the suggestion that he needs a Savoir!
God doesn't make cookie-cutter people. There is no one-size-fits-all way to share your faith. That's why the Lord tells us in Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula including "Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith". You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
Beginning this week, I am taking Defending the Faith SONdays to a new level. I will be sharing a weekly commentary on various faith-based issues. I pray they will be a blessing to you. I hope you enjoy this week's column. My column will be sort of syndicated. I am excited to have the opportunity to share my insights weekly on Marc and Cindy Carrier's blog, Great Commission Family, and monthly on Humble O Radio.
Instead of Seeing Persecution; See Opportunity
By JoJo Tabares
The Da Vinci Code, The Secret and now Oprah’s promotion of A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle are three of the latest phenomena on the hit parade of ideas that have Christians concerned, frustrated and scared.But are Christians looking at these the wrong way?Instead of getting angry that they take the glory away from God, instead of feeling frustrated because the world is lost, instead of being afraid of them, perhaps we should rejoice!
What’s there to rejoice about?Plenty!First, God is Almighty.He cannot be dethroned by mere men armed with a camera or a pen.God is in control.All is not lost.Do you honestly think the Lord didn’t see this coming and doesn’t know what to do?God warned us about these very things in His Word.
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” –Matthew 24:11
No matter what new idea (or old idea wrapped in new paper) the world puts forth, our salvation is assured.What Christians need to do is share that truth with others.
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"-1Peter 3:15
There is no better time than right now!I bet you have friends or relatives who are not saved.They would never bring up the topic of God or the Bible, would they?They probably skirt around the issue of religion so they don’t have to get into a conversation with you about it.However, most people are interested in the next great thing.They have heard about them all over the news and they want to talk about them.
Some of the unchurched will want to discuss the latest and greatest new thing because they are interested in your take on it.Some may just want to show you up. Whatever the reason, this is a wondrous opportunity to share the Bible with others.Take it!It’s an excuse to discuss the things of God that most unbelievers will allow.Use it!Remember that God can use all things for His glory.
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,
to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” –Genesis 50:20
If Christians are prepared to discuss the issues and misconceptions the world has about Christ, if we are respectful and kind when we share and if we have some communication skill, the Lord will use us to share the Good News with others.Don’t think of these issues as an affront to your faith, think of them as opportunities-divine appointments for you to share God’s love with others.
JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, has over 20 years of experience in the field and is the author of Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. Her articles appear on websites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com and in publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. For more information on JoJo or communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
From JoJo's Purple Crayon... For more news every Christian should know delivered right to your inbox,
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My friend Bette Dowdell, author of "How to be a Christian Without Being Annoying", has a new video out. It's called GotGod?
Bette is such fun and she has so much detailed knowledge of the Bible that I have asked her to share some of it with my listeners each month on Grace Talk Soup. Don't miss A La Carte with Bette Dowdell each month!
According to the Associated Press and this article from OneNewsNow.com on March 27th,
"During a campaign stop yesterday in Greensboro, North Carolina, Senator Obama told the audience that he believes he 'can have everlasting life' because Jesus Christ died for his sins. But he then told a questioner that he believes Jews and Muslims who live moral lives are just as much "children of God" as he is. (listen to audio clip)"
The term "Child of God" is generally used to denote a follower of Christ. Now what he may have meant is that God loves everyone so I give him a pass for that one. However, if Senator Obama considers himself a Christian, he is confused about salvation-his own and everyone elses!
"The Illinois Democrat added that his late mother didn't share his faith but was a kind and generous person, so he's 'sure she's in heaven.' (listen to audio clip)"
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
Senator Obama's faith has been at issue twice before. I don't believe Senator Obama is Muslim though his name and some of his early child rearing would suggest. And he is quite right in that there are Muslims (and Jews and Atheists etc...) who are moral, peaceful people! I do find it troubling, though, that for 20 years he has chosen to attend a church whose Pastor said hurtful, devisive and incorrect statements.
"A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle." -Proverbs 18:19
And, more importantly, I do believe that he is sadly mistaken about Christianity and salvation. We need to pray for him and others like him who believe that all good people go to heaven and that all roads (and faiths) lead to Almighty God.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -John 14:6 KJV
From JoJo's Purple Crayon... For more Defending the Faith News, subscribe to our monthly Defending the Faith eNewsletter!
If you are interested in learning some facinating details that are usually not shown in the movies or talked about in church about Christ's resurrection, I highly recommend my Grace Talk Soup interview with author Bette Dowdell (How to be a Christian without Being Annoying). She discusses some facinating details about how Jesus' body was wrapped and entombed and why His body couldn't have been stolen or why an ordinary man couldn't have just got up and walked away... What He meant when He said "Why have you forsaken me" Amazing details! It's the one from March 13th.
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Sometimes it's hard to have faith when you are in the midst of suffering waiting on the Lord. This song is so special to me. I love the words. The pictures compiled are a bit digitized but they do illustrate well the meaning of this Barlow Girl song called I Believe in Love...
How long will my prayers seem unanswered?
Is there still faith in me to reach the end?
I'm feeling doubt I'm losing faith
But giving up would cost me everything
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night
I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe
Though I can't see my stories ending
That doesn't mean the dark night has no end
It's only here that I find faith
And learn to trust the one who writes my days
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night
I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe
No dark can consume Light
No death greater than this life
We are not forgotten
Hope is found when we say
Even when He is silent
I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe.
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Christian Comedian Michael Jr gives his testimony on TV. Hilarious GodTube video! I bet you never thought of the books of the Bible in this way! May even give us insight into how the unchurched see Christians! Awesome video and funny!
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I was truly shocked to find this article as I have homeschooled in the state of California for 9 years and never really had much trouble. However, in light of SB777 and AB394 there has been a loud call to action for Christians to withdraw their children from the public school system here. I think this might be the reaction to the call for a mass exodus.
Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."
1) Gestapo State now has the authority to direct parents as to who their children may interact with? 2) The People's Republic of California is now the only authority on what might be 'amiss' in a child's life? and 3) On what authority does the state of California presume to decide what benefits a child emotionally by 'broadening the world' his/her parents provide?
Their "sincerely held religious beliefs" are "not the quality of evidence that permits us to say that application of California's compulsory public school education law to them violates their First Amendment rights."
"Such sparse representations are too easily asserted by any parent who wishes to homeschool his or her child," the court concluded.
Right! Because we can't have parents making educational decisions for their own children this easily even if it does happen to be LEGAL in ALL 50 states, now can we?!
"For years the government school establishment has been lying to parents about the law. Just this week, a Los Angeles Unified school district employee lied to a mother who wanted to homeschool, telling her you must have a license, you must be credentialed and you must follow all the state curriculum. That's three lies in one sentence."
The article goes on to say they are appealing and that HSLDA is looking into the implications of this descision. What this judge did is ILLEGAL! I don't think it can stand. But watch out California! And watch out all you homeschoolers in the rest of the 50 states where homeschooling has been legal for quite some time! This situation is not isolated to California nor will the reversal of this judges decision reverse the animosity public schools have for homeschoolers.
I don't know what possessed someone to turn in this family, but I will caution you to speak respectfully of and to those who do not homeschool. Though homeschooling is legal in all 50 states (this judges ruling not withstanding!), there are many who don't understand it. Misconceptions and mistrust abound. The best way to combat this is with truth shared respectfully using a more 'matter of fact' approach. The more emotional you are when discussing a sensitive issue, the more the other person may take offense. Once offended, a person might be tempted to share misinformation about your homeschooling family with the 'authorities'.
"An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of the citadel." Proverbs 18:19
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CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (CCF), a leading West Coast nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing children and families shares an article that spells out parental concerns over SB777 and AB394 already passed requiring California public schools to teach the positive portrayal of gay history.
"Parents and former public school teachers Monday urged California parents to remove their children from public school in order to protect them from new sexual indoctrination laws."
SB 777 functionally requires public school instructional materials and school-sponsored activities to positively portray cross-dressing, sex-change operations, homosexual 'marriages,' and all aspects of homosexuality and bisexuality, including so-called 'gay history.'”
"AB 394 requires public schools to distribute controversial material to teachers, students, and parents which promotes transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality, all under the guise of 'anti-harassment' training."
“'SB 777 and AB 394 became law on January 1,' said Thomasson, 'but laws usually take some time to get through the whole system. We expect that every public school in California will have these sexual indoctrination laws in force within the next year to two years.'"
The Prayer Chat last night at the Say What You Mean Convention was an amazing time for me. I have heard from a few that it was for them too. It is always the highlight of the convention. We talked about prayer as communication with God and as the beginning of a miracle. We prayed and we shared our prayer requests. We asked the Lord into our midst to be present with us as we fellowshipped, praised and prayed. Some told stories of their miracles. Other shared prayer needs. And I found the Lord speaking to me.
He said to narrow my focus even more after the convention. The Say What You Mean Convention 2008 was a labor of love inspired by the Lord for me for the last year. I ate, slept and dreamed it for the last 2months. I got up at 3am to run details. I got back up at 11:30pm to work out an even more effective seminar here or audio there. I recorded, re recorded ... followed up and took care of technical issues as they arose.
But during this Prayer Chat as I was sharing about how the Lord leads me with Art of Eloquence, He spoke to me. He told me to drop some of my activities and focus in on Art of Eloquence marketing. He told me to drop my other networking and fellowship groups and come home to my family now.
So this morning I unsubbed from the last of my Yahoo and Ryze groups or put myself on no email. Apparently I have some new books to author and some long overdue cuddle time with my son. I have some articles to write and some mother/daughter time with my Kelsey who will be leaving 3000 miles away to attend college.
How is the Lord leading you? How do you hear Him? What does He say to you? And how will you obey?
It's sometimes hard to understand the unconditional love that the Lord has for us. Today in church my Pastor put it this way...
The Lord loves us just because...not for anything we have done. We can understand more about this if we are a parent. Remember, moms what trouble pregnancy was? Remember those uncomfortable days and the heartburn. The pain of childbirth? Then when they were born...they are not the most adorable looking when they are born, are they? I know mine weren't. Kelsey was all scrawny and wrinkly and had a cone head. Chris was scrawny and wrinkly and had bruises all over half his face. When you take them home they are nothing but trouble right from the start. lol They cry and scream and poop.
But we look at them and all the dirty diapers and we say..."Awww how precious you are!" And that's how the Lord looks at us. Even though we sin and we whine and we don't listen to Him all the time. He loves his precious children.
