A Thinking Woman

I'm Moving!

2007-05-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I am moving to www.athinkingwoman.reformedblogs.com Please visit me over there :)

Our Cat

2007-04-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

Some of you know we have a cat named Bunyan (a.k.a Bunny, Bun-Buns, Bunny-Buns). I have a love-hate relationship with this cat. He is really sweet, and actually acts more like a dog than a cat. He always wants affection and love. He wants to be in the middle of everything you are doing. He walks under your feet causing people to trip over him. He's not the Garfield-like picture you think of when you think of a cat.

A little over a week ago, we let him out as we usually did every morning...when he came back, he had a huge (1 1/2 in) gash in his left hind leg. It wasn't actively bleeding, so we thought we'd let it heal on it's own. But as time passed and as Bunny continued to lick his wound to keep it clean we noticed that not only was the hair around it falling out, but with the hair gone the muscle was visible in the wound (sorry for the discriptiveness).

Hubby took him to the animal hospital today and he is staying overnight for surgery (not inexpensive) :( I seem to like him a lot more now. I hope he will not be to scared in a strange place overnight.

Pouting...

2007-04-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

...but I'm really trying not to :(

My sweet hubby and a few of his guy friends are currently driving somewhere no woman can ever go. Most women wouldn't want to go there... but I do. Most women would find it boring...I would find it intellectually stimulating. Most women wouldn't like the smell...but I miss the smell. But alas, even though I want to go...I'm not allowed to...no women are...unless you dress up like a man (which one woman did).

Yes...today is the day of Hoagies and Stogies.

Tom McManus and Gene Cook are debating. Today it's postmillenialism vs. ammillenialism. Although Gene is an excellent debater, postmils are gonna win :) But I won't be there to join in the victory dance, or shout in the cheers of triumph. Oh, sigh...whimper...and pout.

Owen Isaac is here!

2007-03-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

He's finally here. Born March 21st at 4am. 7lbs.15oz. Cute little head full of black hair. Ouch.

Taking A Break

2007-03-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am very close to delivering our little Owen Isaac. This being the case, I may be taking a break from blogging again. If I can find time and something to say while mothering a newborn, 1yr old, 2yr old, and 3yr old, I might blog if I can find the energy :)

Rejoicing Over the Gospel

2007-02-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I were talking last night and we came to a conclusion.

Only those who realize that they can do nothing to earn their salvation, can truly rejoice over the Gospel.

There are some who believe that you must work to earn salvation. But we are told in the Scriptures that all our works are as filthy rags. If our salvation is such that a couple of filthy rags can earn it, then what a pitiful salvation it is. It is not worth rejoicing over.

But if our salvation is too pure, too perfect to be tainted by our human efforts, then rejoice! Because it is this kind of salvation that truly saves. Only faith in Christ's perfect untainted efforts can obtain this kind of salvation. This is the Gospel.

There are also some on Reformed circles who so stress the idea of staying in the covenant that there is no longer any room for the promises of God. There needs to be a balance. But again, our works are as filthy rags, so, how can they truly keep us in the covenant? I do understand the importance of obedience and striving to produce the good works we were created in Christ Jesus to do. But I think this is more for our temporal benefit. When we are obedient, we can have the assurance that accompanies an obedient life. In the eternal perspective, our obedience is as a filthy rag. It is inevitable, but it is counted as less than nothing.

At the risk of sounding antinomian, at this point in my life, at this point in my sanctification, I get more assurance from God's promise to preserve me, than from my obedience. My obedience, being more miss than hit lately, is inadequate to do anything more than remind me that I need God's grace and mercy. When I focus on my "staying in the covenant", I get utterly depressed. When I focus on my great God's preserving mercy upon me, I can truly rejoice over the Gospel. Because it is God who works in me to believe that I don't have to depend upon my works, only Christ's works are pure enough to accomplish anything.

Green Thumb Anyone?

2007-02-26T12:19:00.001-08:00

We had our house-warming party two days ago. It was so much fun! Many people showed up and we had a great time of fellowship. Several guests brought us some gifts. Included among them were some violas (the flower, not the musical instrument :), two rose bushes, three grape plants, and another potted plant (I can't remember the name of it)

I absolutley love the thought of having these plants in our yard. In fact, as soon as we decided on which house to buy, I was already thinking about putting plants of some kind in the yard. The problem is...I tend to kill plants.

Josh bought me two potted plants early in our marriage. I didn't water them enough, they died. Then when we moved to Georgia, he bought me another potted plant. This time I was determined not to kill it. So, I watered it about 2-3 times a week. Guess I wasn't supposed to do that either, it died.

So, while I am so grateful to the guests who brought us these plants, and while I am so happy to have them and try to grow them...I am afraid I will be labeled the "serial plant killer" by the end of a month or two at the most.

Who knows, maybe these ones will survive me. I can just picture a beautiful yard with roses and a flourishing grape vine (maybe I can learn how to make wine?), and a house lined with beautiful little violas. I think the other potted plant would look nice just outside the front doorway.

So, does anyone know how to do this??? I looked online this morning, but if anyone can walk me step-by-step through it, they might just be saving the life of a poor defenseless little grape.

Family Update

2007-02-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hi all. My sweet hubby asked me yesterday, "When are you going to blog again?" That's when I realized it had really been a while. So, for all of you who have undoubtedly missed my blogs so much, here's an update on what's been going on in our family since I posted last.

We lost internet connection a handful of months ago, and while hubby was able to blog and check e-mail, etc, through his internet access at work, I was home every day. So, I was kinda cut off from the outside world for a while. We do now have internet connection, in our new house.

We are now in our new house. We had been waiting for quite a while, since about June of last year, but we're finally here! God be praised. It is such a blessing to have elbow room. Don't get me wrong, our old house was a huge blessing too, being rent-free. But it's nice to finally be settled in a place of our own. Feels good to be a homeowner. Something I never thought we'd be calling ourselves in southern California. We are having our house-warming party tomorrow from 4pm-9pm for all of you who are interested.

About a month ago, the day we were supposed to move into our new house, Gabriel had a siezure (Josh said he may have also had one the night before, but wasn't sure if that's what he was seeing). It was during his sleep, and since he didn't have a fever at the time of the siezure (which would have made it a febral siezure, easy to diagnose and not a huge thing to worry about), the docs wanted to do some tests. So, March 7th Gabe goes into Children's Hospital to get an EEG. He hasn't had any siezures since then.

About threee weeks ago I heard rattling in Emmie's chest. She was also very cranky and lethargic. I took her to the ER where they said she had "very bad" pneumonia in both of her lungs. The docs were undecided on whether to admit her into the hospital or let me take her home. After a while, they decided to let me take her home provided I took her to the pediatrician for a follow up on the next monday (it was then saturday). Monday came, I took her in, the pediatrician was not worried when she looked at Emmie. We went home, Emmie recovered nicely, but at Emmie's visit, I asked the pediatrician to also look at the boys since they were taking so long to recover from their colds. She said they both had ear infections. I took them back on friday to be looked at again and Gabe's had gone away without meds, meaning that his infection was only viral. But Aaron still had his, so he got put on meds. The pediatrician told me at that time that she had gotten the final report from Emmie's hospital x-rays and that the docs at the ER wanted to do another x-ray because it looked like she had congenital emphazema. So, we were able to get another x-ray about a week or so later, and it came back negative. I cried tears of relief when we found out our little girl was healthy.

I am 3 & 1/2 weeks away from my due date with Owen. Which really means I can have him anytime after Sunday, being full term at 37 weeks.. And every day I feel bigger and bigger. I am very ready to be done being pregnant. While I love how I feel psycologically when I am carrying a little life in me, I do not like all the aches, pains and discomforts it bring to my body. Last night I was sure I would go into labor at any minute. I have no idea how any woman gets through pregnancy without God's grace. You'd think that by the time you are getting ready to deliver your 4th child, you be ready and calm. I'm not. Something about the impending excruciating pain just really unnerves me. I am looking forward to having Owen in my arms, but not the process it takes to ge there. I would appreciate any prayers the church body can offer on my behalf in this area.

That's it for now. I need to go be a mommy now.

Comments now moderated

2006-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Sorry for any inconvenience, I will now be moderating all comments.

This is far easier for me than to see a stupid comment or ad on my blog and have to go erase it :)

And for all you who like to disagree with me on my blog in a respectful way, don't worry, I'll still be more than happy to display your comments. I'm not afraid of being disagreed with.

Irreverent Prayer

2006-11-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, this one really convicted me. I think most people if they are honest with themselves would admit to their mind's tendency to wander during prayer. This being the case with me, I was moved to try all the harder in this area after reading this paragraph by John Calvin. It's taken from his Institutes. I apologize for the sometimes difficult to understand phrasing. It took me reading some sentences several times to really get ahold of what Calvin was trying to say, it was worth it though.

"These two matters are well worth attention: first, whoever engages in prayer should apply to it his faculties and efforts, and not, as commonly happens, be distracted by wandering thoughts. For nothing is more contrary to reverence for God than the levity that marks an excess of frivolity utterly devoid of awe. In this matter, the harder we find concentration to be, the more strenuously we ought to labor after it. For no one is so intent on praying that he does not feel many irrelevant thoughts stealing upon him, which either break the course of prayer or delay it by some winding bypath. But here let us recall how unworthy it is, when God admits us to intimate conversation, to abuse his great kindness by mixing sacred and profane; but just as if the discourse were between us and an ordinary man, amidst our prayers we neglect him and flit about hither and thither."

It's a boy!

2006-11-28T15:21:00.000-08:00

For all who are interested, we are having another boy!

His name will be Owen Isaac. Owen, after the great puritan John Owen (The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, read it if you can :)), and Isaac, after one of the great patriarch's of the Christian faith.

So, as soon as March comes around (hopefully), the score will be 3 boys to 1 girl. But, Lord willing, this will not be the final score, the girls still may have a chance to catch up!

I must say though, after finding out we are having our third boy, I have become ever so much more grateful that the Lord saw fit to give us Emmie. Our little princesa mejillas is walking now and will turn 1 year old in about 1 and 1/2 months!

I echo the common thought of my hubby, "I feel rich!"

Calvin's Institutes

2006-11-28T15:14:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I have taken upon myself the task of reading Calvin's Institutes...word by word. So I am about through the seventh page :)

I am currently reading the section about prayer. I read how faith and prayer work together, how NOT to pray, and now I am reading Calvin's "rules" of prayer, as outlined in Scripture.

I don't have the book with me, so I can't do it now, but sometime when I have the Institutes and a computor in front of me I will post a really convicting and awesome paragraph Calvin wrote about the irreverence of becoming distracted during prayer.

I hope you all will also be stirred to keep your prayers reverent and worthy of our thrice holy God.

My Baby

2006-10-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was lying still resting, meditating on the fact that the little movements I was feeling in my stomach were so much more than a glob of human cells dividing to form a potential human. My baby has a steady consistent heartbeat-which can rise or fall in speed based upon the stresses it goes through, all his/her organs are present and continuing to develop, the fingerprints that my baby will have for the rest of it's life are formed by now, my baby now has hair on it's body, my baby can suck it's thumb in my womb.

I know that babies are living real people at the point of conception. There are enough biblical, philosophical and medical arguments to more than prove it. But when I feel the movement of life within me, and the bond I already know exists between myself and my child, I know that my baby is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, I know the miracle living inside me has a soul that is infinitley known by God. I am alreay in love with my baby. I do not love a bunch of human cells, I love a soul. Any woman who cannot love the soul of her child until she sees it in her arms, believing that that's the point of life, really misses out. She misses out on 9 months of loving, getting to know, bonding with, mothering, and marveling at the life that is. I greatly pity this woman.

I thank you LORD, for the soul your loving hand causes to grow within me.

Interesting Beliefs of Eastern Orthodoxy

2006-09-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

Oh the insanities some people can be so convinced of.

The following is taken from The Orthodox Church: New Edition by Timothy Ware.

Orthodox religious thought lays the uttermost emphasis on the image of God in the human person. Each of us is a 'living theology', and because we are God's icon, we can find God by looking within our own heart, by 'returning within ourselves':'The kingdom of God is within you' (Luke xvii, 21). 'Know yourselves' said Antony of Egypt. '...He who knows himself, knows God.' [1] 'If you are pure,' wrote St Isaac the Syrian (late seventeenth century), 'heaven is within you; within yourself you will see the angels and the Lord of the angels.' [2] And of St Pachomius is it recorded: 'In the purity of his heart he saw the invisible God as in a mirror.' [3]
Because he or she is an icon of God, each member of the human race, even the most sinful, is infinitely precious in God's sight. 'When you see your brother or sister, ' said Clement of Alexandria, 'you see God.' [4] And Evangrius taught: 'After God, we must count everyone as God Himself.' [5] This respect of every human being is visibly expressed in Orthodox worship, when the priest censes not only the icons but the members of the congregation, saluting the image of God in each person. 'The best icon of God is the human person.' [6]

footnotes:
1. Letter 3 (in the Greek and Latin collections, 6).
2. Quoted in P. Evdokimov, L'Orthodoxie, p. 88.
3. First Greek Life, 22.
4. Stromateis, I, xix (94,5).
5. On Prayer, 123 (P.G. 1xxix, 1193c).
6. P. Evdokimov, L'Orthodoxie, p. 218.

Insane, is it not?

Last One...Really

2006-09-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am not trying to push this subject, but I found this article very interesting when I was coming to my own personal convictions about the use of birth control. Disclaimer...I do take exception to his use of Onan as an example of God's displeasure with birth control. Onan was deceitful, and wanted the pleasure of marriage without the duty of providing an heir for his late brother. I think God's displeasure with Onan may have had more to do with his deceit and selfishness than the manner of birth control he used. Just my thought's regarding Onan. I may or may not be right. Enjoy!

http://home.att.net/~nathan.wilson/brthcntl.htm

My Hubby's Posts on Birth Control

2006-09-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Based upon the direction the comments on my blog have turned, I thought it would be helpful to post links to two of my hubby's posts on his blog on this same subject.

Please keep in mind that we (hubby and I) mean to be cheritable in this area. We have not arrived at perfect knowledge in this area. But these are our convictions.

www.joshbrisby.blogspot.com/2005/06/thoughts-on-birth-control.html

and

www.joshbrisby.blogspot.com/2005/06/responses-to-common-arguments-for.html

Happy Labor Day!

Clarification on My Previous Post

2006-08-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

In my previous post I was not saying that everyone who uses birth control is sexually impure, or that they will do sexually impure things.

I do believe, however, that if birth control were not an option, the sexually impure would have second thoughts about throwing around their sexuality. Although there are exceptions, birth control is directly responsible for the epidemic of sexual impurity we see around us.

Of course behind it all, the first source of all sin is our own sinful hearts. And even without birth control, I'm sure some would still find ways to be impure.

The Woes of Sexual Impurity

2006-08-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

It seems that sexual impurity is the root cause of many kinds of evils. This information I obtained from one of the elders at my church. It comes from a slide he used in a Sunday school class.

Sexual impurity leads to a disregard for life, self, society, and the narural order. I will do by best to explain the chart without actually posting it, as I don't know how. Much of the commentary will be my own.

First, sexual impurity leads to a disregard for life. Let's see how this works out. Those who are sexually impure are the ones who are murdering their children through abortion. They don't call it murder, of course, but they fail to see the blessing being knit together in their womb or their partner's womb, and they disregard it as trash. This leads to a mentality that sees children as a burden and a hinderance to success, happiness, etc, therefore it becomes much easier to abuse the children who are allowed to live past the first nine months of life, those kids who are already born are looked upon with distain. And as we have seen in the Holocaust and other examples of euthanaisa, when a whole sect of society is looked upon with such distain, ridding the society of them is an acceptable option. And if the unwanted sect of society is expendable, and seen as less than human, why not torture them? And then of course if you see yourself as part of that expendable sect of society, why not end your life as a way of ending the pain that comes along with being unwanted and unloved? Sexual impurity leads to a disregard for life.

Second, sexual impurity leads to a disregard for self. Those who are sexually impure know that they can contract vicious and even deadly diseases from their practices. Yet, is this enough to curb their harmful practices? No. Ironically, it is their love of self exibited in their need for self- gratification that causes them to continue in their dangerous ways. Sexual gratification is as addictive as any drug. And the more you allow yourself to indulge in, the more it takes to gratify you. The ways of a sexually impure person will become more and more perverse, including, but not limited to pornography, rape, incest, harming others, self mutilation. One living in these ways will self destruct if you give them enough time. Thankfully our laws put them behind bars if they get too far in harming others, but no one can keep them from the harm they are doing to themselves, all for the sake of self-gratification. Sexual impurity leads to a disregard of self.

Third, sexual impurity leads to a disregard for society. Divorce is a big one. Many times when a man and a woman divorce, it is because one or both of them has been sexually impure. In the case that both remain sexually pure and divorce for other reasons, the divorce is not acknowlegded by God, therefore if they begin another sexually active relationship whether it's fornication or remarrying, it is adultery, which is sexual impurity. Sexual impurity is obviously the direct cause of prostitution. And in the world of prostitution, there is a whole host of other problems such as drugs, crime, and violence. All these will lead very quickly to the destruction of any society. Sexual impurity leads to a disregard for society.

Sexual impurity leads to a disregard for natural order. It leads to the disintigration if the institution of the family. Not only by tearing apart homes, but by creating abberant and perverted versions of the "home". I will call it now. In fifty to seventy-five years from now, I will be shocked and perplexed if marriage to a dog is not a legally recognized union. The God-given natural order established at the creation of the first marriage (that of Adam and Eve), was that one man should marry one woman. The first step away from that is homosexuality, and there is no end to the perversion if you keep going. Pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, and whatever alse the depraved mind can think of. A homosexual friend who I care about very much has justified some of the most crazy "unions" you could imagine. Sexual impurity leads to a disregard for natural order.

This basically was my commentary added to the chart my elder used.

Now I am going to proceed to take it one step back. What is the cause of sexual impurity? You ready? Here's where I get controversial. Here's where I lose half of my blog readers, and get the other half mad at me :) Speak the truth in love right? I'll try my best...

The cause of sexual impurity is the separation of procreation from the sex act.

When we separate the sex act from the possibility of a child coming out of that union, we relinquish ourselves of any of the responsibility that by nature comes with blessing of that union. Since our society is so bent on self-gratification, we want the pleasure now, but we do not the responsibility that comes with the right to enjoy that pleasure.

When a man and a woman have intercourse, they are making a covenant to each other with their bodies, they are becoming "one flesh", they are spiritually marrying themselves to each other. In a covenant, there are privileges and responsibilities. The problem today, is that we want the privileges of being married with out the responsibilities. Whether it is a legally married man and woman, or those who are just "playing married". The principle responsibility that comes with marriage, is raising children. This, I believe, is the main reason God reserved the right for sexual relations for a man and a woman married to each other. This provides the best home for the child. But when we know we will not have the "burden" of children to deal with, thanks to modern technology and "medicine", we can be as irresponsible with our sexuality as we want, without the worry of dealing with whining kids.

So, in summary, birth control leads to sexual impurity. Sexual impurity leads to a disregard of life, self, society, and natural order.

Sorry for the length of this novel. If you stuck with me thus far, thanks. I will now open up for the crossfire ;)

Another Quiz

2006-08-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

I also took another more general theology quiz. I will not post the results because the author of the quiz did not have very nice things to say about Calvinists.

But it turns out I am more atheistic than Arminian :)

Calvinist = 65%

Atheist = 35%

Arminian = 20%

hmmm...interesting. I think if the author of this quiz understood Calvinistic theology, not only would he not have said nasty things about Calvinists, but I would have ended up 100% Calvinist.

My Eucharist Theology

2006-08-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

You scored as Calvin.

You are John Calvin. You have a Nestorian Christology and separate the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus. You believe only those who have faith are united to Christ, who is present spiritually, yet you call this "Real."

Calvin 100%

Zwingli 50%

Luther 13%

Catholic 6%

Unitarian 0%

I saw this quiz at another blog and decided to take it myself. You can find it at www.Quizfarm.com It is the Eucharist Theology quiz.

I do take exception, however to where it says I separate the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus. Our Lord's two nature's are distinct from each other, but inseperable. There are a whole host of theological problems that arise when you separate Jesus Divine and Human natures.

Interesting Statistic On Homosexual Men

2006-08-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

I just heard an interesting statistic concerning homosexual men. Of all the men included in the study* almost without exception, every one of the gay men had a domineering mother. The man I heard this statistic from had a very insightful explaination.

He said that God has given boys a natural desire to be the leader, the more dominant one, the one in control. As a small boy watches his parents as he grows up, he will naturally follow his God-given instinct to emulate which ever parent is the leader, thus learning how to be the leader he is meant to be. If dad is taking the godly role of the leading husband, the boy will grow up to be a strong, secure man. But if the dad is a whimp and leaves the mom to do the leading, the boy is going to emulate the mom, therefore leaving him much more vulnerable to become homosexual.

As one who strongly believes in God's sovereignty, I can say that it makes sense to me that a role reversal in marriage would be a means God may use to bring about an end like this. So, those of us who are married, and especially those of us who have been blessed with children, MUST be so careful to fulfill our God-given roles, and not usurp the role of our spouse. The consequences seem to be much more far reaching that perhaps most of us have realized.

*I heard this on the radio, and I came in during the middle of the discussion. So, I do not know who funded or carried out the study.

I'm Green!

2006-08-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the length of this post. My hubby brought home a very interesting personality quiz. I took it, and I am green. Green is the color that coordinates with the curious personality type. Red= adventurous, yellow = responsible, blue = harmonious.

Here are the results for a "green" personality. Basically, this is probably everything nobody wanted to know about me. So, since no wanted to know, no one asked. Since no one asked, I'll take the liberty to tell :)...

*Searching, learning, and understanding are fun.
*I love puzzles, problems, and finding solutions.
*I like to work independently.
*Intelligence, justice, and fairness are important.
*I want to be correct - to do things right.
*It would be great fun to explore the universe.
*Once I've found the solution, others can take over and put it into action.
*My calm exterior may hide some inner turmoil.
*I love to create a brand new idea.
*Being competent is absolutely essential.
*I want my brain to manage my emotions.

Greens want to know all there is to know about everything. They like to analyze, probe, study, invent, investigate, and explore. Nonconforming and independent, they tend to appear calm, cool, and collected most of the time. The worst situation for a Green would be to appear stupid. If there is time to read, outside of important books and journals, Greens love mysteries or science fiction. They love abstractions and puzzles.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH A GREEN

Greens have a seemingly insatiable curiosity. When you encounter someone who is filled with questions, wants to know more about almost everything, chances are you are with a Green.

They may seem cool or aloof, emotionally arms-lengths. But if you will move from heart to the brain, you'll find a stimulating conversationalist. The Green may be skeptical. "Why?" is the most important question. Greens spend lots of time reading, mostly technical information or science fiction. This person will be focused on the future, on the possibilities, on the vision. Quite content to be on their own, Greens do things their own way and proceed independently toward the solving of a problem.

Talk about theories, models, and paradigms and you'll keep the Green's attention. Suggest the possibility of a learning experience, an advance in knowledge or wisdom. Above all, be logical and factual. Be ready to validate and proove your assertions. The "global" implications will be important to Greens. If possible, show how you can help the person develop further knowledge and understanding.

Never mind the small talk - discuss concepts, abstractions, new ideas, and plans that will impact the future. Offer a logical solution to clear problems and puzzles. Challenge the Green to help find the solution. Be creative, innovative, but not outlandish. Things need to make sense.

You may find yourself in a friendly debate but be ready to defend your position. The Green person will question and must respect you before trusting your answers. Convey the driving force or theory that underlies your ideas and proposals. This thinking person will want to consider, interpret and probe. You'll establish rapport by appreciating the Green's competence. Show how your idea meshes with their vision. Show a model or discuss the philosophical appeal. Remember, Greens want to be sure that anything they do makes sense!

So, this is me. Except that I can't stand science fiction. I don't know why they would say my personality type likes science fiction. I can't stand it precisely because it is irrational. It doesn't make sense, so I don't like it.

Reformed Theology Regenerates the Intellect

2006-08-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

I used to think that intellectually bright people were generally more attracted to Reformed theology than those who were less likely to try to think deeply. Being in Reformed circles, I look around me and see mostly very intellectual people. After a long look at my own life, however, I think I am pretty much convinced that this is not the case. I thought that since Reformed doctrines and beliefs are so systematic and profound in nature, intellectuals would "catch on" sooner than those who were less intellectual. It seemed that intellectuals would have the cognitive faculties to better understand and embrace these truths.

I failed to realize one thing though...it is the Holy Spirit who reveals truth.

Before I became "Reformed", I was the last type of person you would have categorized as intellectual. After all, I was a musician, with mediocre grades (one has to ask, why do those two things tend to go hand in hand?). The point being, I didn't know how to think critically. I was not taught to nor expected to. I know I was saved. But my thinking abilities had yet to be awakened.

It was when I met my then future husband (although I didn't know it at the time), that my intellectual world began to slowly open up. Josh first told me that there was no such thing as a "rapture". I thought he was crazy. He proceeded to tell me that Jesus didn't die for everyone without exception. I knew he was crazy. But as the weeks and months went by, it all made more and more sense in light of God's holy Word. After reading Thomas and Steele's Doctrines of Grace, I was thoroughly convinced.

You'll never believed what happened next...well, if you're Reformed, you will...I started thinking critically for the first time in my life. And so, based upon my own intellectual "regeneration", and similar stories I have heard from others, my conclusion is that the biblical doctrines of the Reformed faith, regenerate (not literally) the mind. This is not to say that one can't have their soul regenerated unless they are Reformed. The gospel works the same for everyone who comes to Christ. Reformed theology just explains how the gospel works, and who it works for. I'm sure a good Reformed theologian will object now and say something like, "You can't make a dichotomy between the soul and the mind." I agree. Once we are called to grace by the Holy Spirit, we are gradually, progressively, and constantly being sactified by the power of God's Word. All I am saying is that once the Holy Spirit reveals the truths contained in Reformed theology, sanctification of the mind seems to occur much more rapidly.

Ok, so any thoughts on this? Feel free to comment.

The SCCCS Conference

2006-08-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I won't be the only person to blog on the SCCCS (Southern California Center for Christian Studies) conference that took place this last weekend in Fullerton, CA. But here are my thoughts on the event.

The topic this year was on Christianity in the movies. The speakers were Brian Godawa, Jack Hafer, Joel Pelsue, and Goran Dragolovic. Before going to the conference the only name I was familiar with was Brian Godawa.

I overall was dissappointed with the conference. The men asked to speak ranged in profession from producer, to screenwriter, to president of Arts & Entertainment Ministries, to an elder of a PCUSA church. Brian Godawa alone seemed to have much experience with public speaking. And a certain other person (who shall remain nameless) who opened/closed the conference, introduced speakers, and moderated the Q&A session, was downright rude despite the excelling example of humility left by his father. The SCCCS as a whole seems to be going in a very concerning direction. Different comments uttered offstage lead me to believe the Auburn Avenue/New Perspective on Paul errors are finding their way into this organization. And then there's the ecumenicalism shown forth with statements such as one of the speakers spoke, calling Mel Gibson (a very devout Tridentine Catholic who believes liturgy should only be in Latin) a Christian.

Basically, at the end of the conference, I am left with one last thought-How I wish Greg Bahnsen were still here.

I've been Tagged

2006-08-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

I don't normally do this kinda stuff, but I felt that this one had some redeeming quality.

Q. One book that changed your life: The Doctrines of Grace by Thomas and Steele

Q. One book that you've read more than once: The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Q. One book you'd want on a desert island: The Heavenly Footman by John Bunyan

Q. One book that made you laugh: Right Behind: A Parody of Last Days' Goofiness by Nate Wilson and Mr. Sock

Q. One book that made you cry: Life by His Death (an easier to read version of The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen)

Q. One book that you wish had been written: A book teaching American Christian Women how to really think, as opposed to mindlessly following the ideologies of American feminism. I've been toying with the idea of writing it myself. It'll probably never happen though :)

Q. One book that you wish had never been written: The Left Behind Series. Well, actually it is good comedy relief.

Q. One book you're currently reading: Total Truth by Nancy Piercey

Q. One book you've been meaning to read: Praise Her in the Gates by Nancy Wilson

Now tag five people:

I do not know many people to tag in the blogoshpere. So, I will now extend an open invitation to anyone who reads my humble blog. Feel free to copy, paste, and complete with your own answers. Please do let me know if you do, because I would love to see your answers.

Where Do The Babies Go?

2006-07-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, a new and related thought to my last post.

Babies die. This is a very sad truth. In my last post, I concluded that death is the result, and just punishment for sin. Death passes through ALL men because ALL sin. If babies die as the result of the sin living within them, do they go to heaven or hell?

FIRST, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, I believe that God is a just God AND a merciful God. I plead God's mercy for the babies who have passed on without having heard the gospel. However I don't think that Scripture gives a clear answer to the question of where they go.

But my question is this...Would not God be just if he fully punished these sinful souls? God would not be holy or just if He let sin go unpunished. So, I guess the real question we are asking when we ask, "Where to babies go when they die?", is did Christ's blood cover their soul. We know that their sin is punished. SO, the question is, "Did they bear their own punishment, or did Christ?"

Let me again be clear once again. If it is up to a person to believe the gospel in order to be saved, then all babies who die prebirth are eternally lost. Because they did not believe the gospel they can rightly be punished for their sin. But if faith is a divine gift from God, which He gives to whomever he will, then we can have hope, because He has the power to give it even to babies who have yet to be born.

Why Do Babies Die?

2006-07-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

This is my question to all "christian" denominations that deny original sin. Death is the punishment for sin. Why do babies, who have no sin (in their belief), die? Death of all kinds, abortions, miscarriages, accidents, death by old age are all a part of God's judgment upon sin. We who are pardoned by the blood of Christ, although we have been saved from the "second death" (spiritual death), still must undergo the "first death" (physical death). This is because we are still sinners. Our first death as believers, I believe purges the sin that still dwells within us, to make us fit for Heaven. But if we are not concevied under Adam's federal headship, and if original sin merely means the first sin a person commits, why are babies inutero (in the womb)still subject to death, by abortion or miscarriage? How can a baby sin inutero? Most would say they can't. Why then are they punished by death for something they have not done yet?

The Other Two

2006-07-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

Here are our other two munchins, Aaron, and Emmie.

Fun With Hair Clippers

2006-07-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Here's my little Gabe. On our way to shaving his hair off we stopped here...

Somethin's Cookin' !

2006-07-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

Yes folks, you heard it here first (probably). Today Josh and I found out that there is a real live, living, heart-beating, human soul growing in my womb. Praise the Lord with us!!! God is the Sovereign giver of life, and throughout Scripture you find texts that show children as being a blessing, a gift, an heritage. Thank you God, for such a precious gift, and the three other precious gifts you gave me before this one.

I almost can't wait to welcome this brand new little soul into our home and hearts.

P.S. Please only comment on this post if you can truly praise the Lord with Josh and me. I know that most will think we're crazy/irresponsible/"gluttons for punishment" for welcoming so many kids into our life, but please don't tell me you think so. I would rather not hear it. :)

Love, Anonymous

2006-07-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am taking a break from postmillennialism. I know that not many people read my blog, but for whom it may concern...

There is a trend in blogdom. The fact that blogger.com allows people to post comments anonymously, has eliminated accountability. Some people are not mature enough to take responsibility for their words, so they give their "hit and run" comments, insults, criticisms, foolishnesses. This is such a cowardly thing to do. There is no other explanation. Those who want to say nasty things, and not get caught, or called out, or confronted, are cowards. If you are not man/woman enough to own up to your words/nastiness/fallacious reasoning, etc...keep your mouth closed, or in this case, keep your computor off.

It is another thing entirely if you want to respectfully dissagree. This is how learning takes place, by dissagreeing parties cordially discussing issues. But throwing out mean comments under the mask of anonymity does nothing more than fan the flame residing within the sinful flesh of the cowardly antagonist.

And yet, one more thing can be said of the anonymous commentor. A wounded animal will be the most vicious. I would say that the anonymous commentor striking out is solid proof that their conscience has been wounded. So, if you are convicted by the words we (Christians) speak, one sure way to tell us that deep down you know we are right, is to leave a mean-spirited comment on one of our blogs. And if you want us to know that you are going to lie awake in bed tonight struggling to ignore the truth of God's Word, leave your comment under the name, anonymous.

Thy Kingdom Come

2006-07-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

To everyone who has been eagerly waiting the arrival of my next post on A Thinking Woman, I apologize that it has taken so long. My husband is a school teacher and he has been home from work this summer. And to be honest, I enjoy hanging out with my hubby more than blogging! :)

This post will be about the example our Lord left us on how we ought to pray.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."

Would our Lord really tell us to ask for something that would never realistically happen? As trusting children, would our loving mother tell us to go ask our generous father to give us some great thing, knowing full well, that our father would never give to us that which she is telling us to ask of him? If that happened in real life, we might say that this mother is not loving after all. It would seen she is playing a cruel joke on us.

James 1:6 tells us that when we pray to God, we are to ask in faith, not doubting, for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about. I realize that in the context of the first chapter of James, the author is referring to asking God for wisdom. But I think it easily applies to any prayer we pray. We should always pray, believing that God is able to grant that which we ask if it is in accordance to his will.

Jesus tells us to pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. How is God's will done in heaven? Perfectly. I am not denying that there will always be sin in this present age. It is my belief, however, that as the gospel goes forth conquering the nations, making the enemies of Christ his footstool, God's kingdom here on earth will look more and more like his kingdom in heaven. If it would never be so, Christ would not have asked us to pray for it.

In the Great Commission, Jesus says "all authority has been given to me"...so go disciple the nations. Notice, he did NOT say go and try to convert the nations. He said disciple the nations. You cannot disciple that which is not already converted. Conversion takes place first, then discipleship follows. Why is Christ so confident as to tell us to disciple the nations (which is in itself making the assuption that they will be converted first)? Because ALL authority had been given to him.

God does not work apart from means. God uses our prayers and evangelism to bring about gospel success. So, first we pray that God's kingdom come and that his will be done perfectly on earth as it is in heaven...then we get out there in everyday life, and fulfill the Great Commission. And in case we doubt that God will use us to disciple the nations as he told us to do, never fear, because he who commanded us to do so has ALL authority to grant that it happen. And so I exclaim with the Apostle Paul..."O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen." And Amen.

Some thoughts on Rev 20

2006-06-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

I was reading Revelation 20 this morning, and there were some things I saw that I had not noticed before.

As far as the binding of Satan is concerned, the amillennialist wil say that Satan is, indeed bound, but that he has been given a realm of influence upon the earth. They say that he is bound like a dog is tied to a stake, but has a chain, and he can go as far as his chain will let him. I can see why an amil would say this. I used to be one. If you look at the world about you, you would have to assume that Satan still does have a lot of influence. However, let's look instead at Revelation 20.

"(1-3)And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand*. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should decieve the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: after that he must be loosed a little season...(7)And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,..."

*The chain the amils speak of.

From this text we can see that yes, indeed, Satan is bound with a chain. But it is not the picture of a dog bound to a stake, roaming about freely upon the earth as far as his chain will let him. From this text we can see that Satan is not even on the earth. It is the picture of a man in a prison with a chain on his legs. Sure he may be able to stand up and walk a few feet in one direction or another, but he is in a prison. His realm of influence would ONLY be that of those in the prison cell with him. And Satan's "prison cell" is the bottomless pit. I have not done any real study on the bottomless pit Revelation speaks of, but we know that Satan was taken from the earth in order to be tossed in there, so we know that the bottomless pit is not the earth. So, theoretically, while Satan is in his prison, the bottomless pit, he cannot have any direct influence upon the earth. I do not deny however, that he may have demons who do his bidding upon the earth.

Hubby's Blog

2006-06-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Everyone should go read my hubby's blog. He has a great quote from Greg Bahnsen. www.joshbrisby.blogspot.com

Mathison on Amillennialism

2006-06-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

"Another matter that amillennialists have not adequately considered is the course of Satan's kingdom prior to the Cross. Was it growing, declining, or holding steady? If, as amillennialism asserts, it is growing during the present age, then what effect did the life, death, resurrection, and ascention of Christ have on Satan's kingdom? If it was growing before the Cross and it is still growing after the Cross, then the life and death of Christ had virtually no effect on the growth of Satan's kingdom. If it was declining or holding steady until the first coming of Christ and then began growing, then Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascention jump-started the kingdom of Satan. Amillennialism would force us to believe that the work of Christ had either no effect or a positive effect on the growth of Satan's kingdom." -Keith Mathison

Binding A Strong Man

2006-06-08T08:42:00.002-07:00

Admittedly, this argument can tend to be philosophical, although not entirely.

Here are two statements from Keith Mathison and Ken Gentry, respectively, that are taken from Thine is the Kimgdom: Studies in Postmillennial Hope Edited by Gentry.

The New Testament repeatedly declares that Satan was decisively defeated and restrained at Christ's first advent (Matthew 12:29, Luke 10:18, John 12:31, Colossians 2:15, 1 John 1:38). Hebrews 2:14 uses even stronger language that Revelation 20, saying throught his death on the cross, Christ rendered Satan "powerless". The binding of Satan dos not mean that his activity completely ceases (1Peter 5:8), but that he can no longer prevent the spread of the gospel to the nations (Revelation 20:3). The revelation that he will be briefly released at the end of the age dissallows any form of perfectionist utopianism. Satan, sin, and death will not be completely destroyed until the Second Coming.

"Christ accomplishes Satan's binding judicially in the first centure". Note that I clearly state that Satan's binding is accomplished judicially by Christ in the first century.
But then I go on to explain the consequences of that judicial action (I am not exegeting Revelation 20:2) "the binding increasingly constricts Satan throughout the Christian era (i.e., the 'one thousand years')". I do believe that Satan's power in the world is being gradually thwarted by the spread of the gospel and as an effect of his judicial binding...This increasing constriction is a consequence of the gradual growth of the kingdom of God throughout the world(e.g.,Matthew 13:31-33) Were Satan not legally boung by God (as per Revelation 20:3) this could not happen. However, Revelation 20 does lay the groundwork for this result by noting that Satan is bound for a particular purpose:"that he should not decieve the nations any longer" (Revelation 20:3). Since he is fully bound do that he cannot "decieve the nations", the gospel gradually goes forth and secures the nations, thereby increasingly constricting Satan in what he can accomplish.

Matthew 12:28-29-(Chrtist speaking)"But if I cast out demons by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first bonds the strong man? And then he will plunder (emphasis mine) his house."

What does plunder mean? With all due admiration and respect to my amillennial brothers and sisters, in their view of what will take place in the end times, there is no plundering.

If a thief wants to take a little here or there from a house, why go through the trouble of binding the strong man? In our day, we have lots of theives, but how often do you hear of people being bound in their houses for the purpose of the thief plundering their house? Thieves now days do not plunder houses, they take a little here and a little there. Maybe one or two things from several different rooms, but they also have no need of binding anyone :).

But that is not how Christ decribes the burglary in Matthew. The thief, first binds the strong man, then with no opposition from anyone, he is able to freely plunder his house. That means he goes room by room (nation by nation), taking everything valuable (God's elect) in sight, maybe he leaves the broken TV. The amillennial position would have you believe that with no opposition, the thief (Christ) will go room by room (nation by nation) and only take one or two things (a remnant). This would go against the nature of a thief.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Psalm 2 and Genesis 15-21

2006-06-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

All right everyone here we go.

Concerning Psalm 2, I am rethinking this as a proof text for postmillennialism, so I may write about it later, but not at this time.

Genesis 15-21. Sarai is barren, and way past her child-bearing years. Abram is old as well. But God promised Abram that he would have a son. Keep in mind through this study of postmillennialism, that what may seem impossible to man is possible with God. For with God, who cannot lie, all things are possible.

So, God promised Abram that he would have a son, and lo and behold, his wife gave birth to a son at 90 yrs. of age. God promised Abram that his son would be the beginning of descendants more numerous that the stars of the sky. God did not deny Abram a promised son, will he now deny him his promised multitude of descendants?

Gen 15:1-..."I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great..."
15:5-And He took him outside and said," Now look towards the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them,"And He said to him," So shall your descendants be."
17:1b-2- "I am God Almighty;Walk before me and be blameless. I will establish my covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exeedingly."
17:4-6-"As for Me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations...For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.
18:18-...since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.*

Now fast forward to the New Testament Era, the church is Israel. These promises God made to Abraham, are to be fulfilled in the bride of Christ. Many times in the New Testament we are told those of faith are the seed/descendants of Abraham. I know many of my intended readers agree with this, so I'll only look up and post the references for this if someone asks me to. This may be one of the most important factors to remember as we study postmillennialism. There are three things to remember actually, first, is that the church (spiritual Israel) is the intended recipient of many of Israel's promises, and second, with God all things are possible, and third, God's thoughts and way are much higher than our own.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Definition

2006-05-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

I will start my series on Postmillennialism with a definition because I realize that not everyone who reads my blog will know what it is.

The following is from the Evangelical Dictionary ofTheology - Second Edition, Edited by Walter A. Elwell: ...the postmillennialist emphasize the present aspect's of God's kingdom, which will reach fruition in the future. They believe that the millennium will come through Christian preaching and teaching. * Such activity will result in a more godly, peaceful and prosperous world. The new age will not be essentially different from the present, and it will come about as more people are converted to Christ. Evil will not be totally eliminated during the millennium, but it will be reduced to a minimum as the moral and spiritual influence of Christians is increased. During the new age the church will asume greater importance, and many economic, social, and educational problems will be solved. This period is not necessarily limited to a thousand years, because the number can be used symbolically. The millennium closes with the second coming of Christ **, the resurrection of the dead, and the last judgment.

*Another very common view among postmillennialists is that the millennium was initiated during the earthly ministry of Christ. This is my view. Jesus said that if He cast out demons, then the kingdom of God had come upon them. Jesus did cast out demons.

**My belief, which is supported by many postmil scholars, is that there is a falling away (great apostasy) before the second return of Christ. Some postmils believe that Christ returns to a Christianized earth, I believe as well as many other postmils that the apostasy takes place first.

I hope this has been helpful to serve as a definition of Postmillennialism.

Just for Jen :) or Why I am a Postmillennialist.

2006-05-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a series. For me to list all my reasons and all the Scripture that I believe support my reasons, in one post, would be way too long of a post. And those who read it without an intense interest in the subject, would probably be bored to tears.

Here is just some of what you all have to look forward to :)

1) God promises Christ that the nations shall be His as an inheritance (Psalm 2).
2) God promises to make Abraham's seed as numerous as the dust of the earth (Genesis 15).
3) Satan is bound and Christ is spoiling the house of the strong man (the Gospels).
4) Psalm 22:27 says that all the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the families of the nations shall worship before God.
5) Psalm 110- God tells Christ to sit at His right hand until He (God) makes all His (Christ's) enemies His (Christ's) footstool.
6) Isaiah 2:1-2 say that in the last days the mountian of the Lord shall be established as chief among the mountains, and all the nations shall stream to it.
7) Romans 11 says that after Israel sees the Gentiles converting, they become jealous and return to the Lord in great numbers, which sparks an even greater revival among the Gentiles once more, and in the end all of Israel (believing Gents + Jews) will be saved. Furthermore the Greek word for "fullness" is used of both the Gentiles and Jews in this passage. The word means a huge number.
8) We are told in the Gospels that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the church. Gates are a definsive mechanism, not offensive. As the church marches on toward towards those gates, we are told that WE will prevail.

There are many more Scriptural texts that I believe support a postmillennial position. I will try to scatter them throughout my posts on this subject.

To maintain interest, I will try to keep my posts on this subject "short and sweet", however, I make no promises ;) as I can tend to use a lot of words to get my point across.

I had been meaning to get my thoughts on this subject organized, so thank you Jen, for the extra motivation to get it done. I hope you have a blessed week raising your kiddos in godliness. You are a good example for me :)

Anyone can comment

2006-05-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

To all it may concern, I have set my blog so you do not have to be a member of blogger.com in order to post a comment. All comments are welcome, but please play nice.

Food for Thought

2006-05-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

DID YOU KNOW? As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row of the world's law givers and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view it is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW? As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.

DID YOU KNOW? As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme Court judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW? There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington , D.C.

DID YOU KNOW? James Madison, the fourth president, known as "The Father of Our Constitution" made the following statement: "We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

DID YOU KNOW? Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

DID YOU KNOW? Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU KNOW? Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.

DID YOU KNOW? The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said: "Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers."

I recieved these facts in an e-mail. Some of them I was aware of, others, I was not. But all of them make me wonder how we have become such a God-hating antinomian society.

Benny Hinn is a Christian?

2006-05-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

I already posted once today, but I had to say something about this.

At http://thechurchreport.com/content/view/823/32 they list the top 50 most influential "christians" in the "church" today. The list is laughable. I can count one ONE hand how many of these people I can honestly endorse as Godly Christian leaders.

I am scared for future generations. Someone, somewhere, needs to grow some discernment.

A Cup Of God Anyone?

2006-05-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

http://godscoffee.com/blends.asp

I can't think of anything to say sarcastic enough to do this justice.

A question for my Presbyterian friends

2006-05-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

This is NOT intended to be the start of a debate. It's just a question I have been thinking about and I am wondering how a Presbyterian would answer it. Someone PLEASE answer! I have been very curious.

Who is the federal head of an adopted child? Is federal headship based upon whether they reside in a believing or unbelieving household? Or what about a fostered child? What happens if the child is taken away from believing foster parents(therefore under Christ as his federal head) and given to the unbelieving biological parents? Is he now under Adam again? And then what if his covenant breaking parents end up in jail and lose all parental rights to the child and he is adopted by believing parents, is he under Christ again? Would this not be awfully confusing to the child? What happens if a child is born to believing parents, therefore in the covenant, and his parents die. He is then placed with his unbelieving grandparent. He went from being in the covenant, to out of the covenant, because he is now being raised in a covenant breaking home?

Or is being in the covenant based upon the physical bloodline of the believing parents? Then if a child is taken away from unbelieving biological parents and placed in a believing home, he would have to verbally profess faith to be baptized, as an adult would? Then, like I asked in the previous paragraph, a child is physically born to believing parents, parents die, he is placed in an unbelieving home. He is being raised in an ungodly environment where God is never talked about one way or another. So since God is never mentioned, he never "rejects the faith" but nor does he verbally accept it. Since he was born to covenant keeping parents, and he never broke covenant by "rejecting the faith", is Christ still his federal head? Even if he never steps foot in church his whole life, and never prays, never reads the Word, etc.?

All Scripture is useful for practice and life. I need to know how infant baptism is practical. I would really love to hear any thoughts on this.

Please understand that my tone was intended to be respectful in this post and that I do respect and love my Presbyterian brothers and sisters.

An Introduction

2006-05-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

A little about why I chose "A thinking Woman" for my blog title.

I think there is a widespread epidemic in our country. It is the disease of mindlessness. This disease is a cancer and it eats away at the brain until the mass of mush is no longer able to perform its function. And from what I observe, this disease targets the minds of women more than men. The reason for this is that we women tend to "think with our hearts". Men use the God given thinking organ to do the thinking. We use our "feeling" organ to do our thinking. Thus, all the woman jokes. And to tell you the truth, I laugh along with the men. I am not trying to be harsh, and I am not excluding myself from the temptation to feel my way through life, decisions, etc. However I think it's time that we women turn our brains on and use them the way God intended.

Instead of mindlessly following our husbands, pastors, ideals of feminism, or the group of girls headed to mall to get their nails done and who can't make a trip to the bathroom by themselves, why don't we think for ourselves? Don't get me wrong, when it comes to our husbands and pastors, there is a level of submission and following we must do. But it is not mindless following. It is calculated. We choose our husbands based upon our beliefs, not theirs. "I do not follow my beliefs because of my husband, I follow my husband because of my beliefs." We choose which church we want to become members of therefore, which elders we want to submit to, based upon our beliefs. Of course if you are married, your husband chooses your church, hopefully but not necessarily, with your counsel.

We must open our minds and think. Do you know how we do that? We open our Bibles and read. We yearn for knowledge. We pray that God give us thoughts according to wisdom and coherence.

Have you ever thought about the implications and consequences of your beliefs? Every belief has an implication. Every thought has a consequence. Here's an example. I like syllogisms, so bear with me here.

Premis A: God loves everyone and has a wonderful plan for their lives.
Premis B: Judas Iscariot was included in "everyone", because he was human.
Conclusion: Judas thwarted God's wonderful plan for his life, therefore God is impotent. Judas was more powerful than God.

Of course any self-proclaiming Christian would object at the conclusion. As do I. Do you know why we object? Because Premis A is a false premis. If you sart with a false premis you end up at a false conclusion.

Homework for the week :) Think about your beliefs. Do they end up with false conclusions? Or do they end up at God's Word, which is the only standard by which we can safely measure our beliefs.

Welcome to me!

2006-05-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome one and all to my blog. I hope this to be a site where one can come to be encouraged/provoked to thought/convicted by the thoughts of a woman who likes to think. I (humbly) don't know if there are many of us (thinking women) left. And while you are here in the world of blogdom, check out my adorable hubby's blog site at http://joshbrisby.blogspot.com/. Happy bloggings!