Q&A: The case against women in combat

Very interesting article from Baptist Press by Michael Foust and interview with Owen Strachan. 
How do you think Christians should feel about this issue?

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Even before U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the military was lifting its ban on women in combat, professor and theologian Owen Strachan was speaking out against such a possibility, saying it not only went against Scripture but also defied common sense.

The new executive director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Strachan penned a column for Christianity Today late last year outlining the biblical case against placing women on the front lines of combat.

Following the Pentagon's announcement, Baptist Press conducted an email interview with Strachan, who also serves as assistant professor of theology and church history at Boyce College in Louisville, Ky. What follows is the transcript:

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Forty Years After Roe, Human Dignity Hangs in the Balance

By Al Mohler

Excerpt-

"Nevertheless, Roe v. Wade remains the law of the land and abortion on demand remains a constant. Since Roe more than 55 million unborn Americans have been aborted, and the nation is more concerned about economics than the sanctity of human life. We have much ground to recover, but the only foundation for a recovery of human dignity is an affirmation of the fact that every single human being is made in God’s image and is of sacred worth from the moment of fertilization until natural death."

"The Most Important Question In The Abortion Debate"

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.  Which made abortion legal in this nation.
Here is David Platt talking about abortion.  Watch the full sermon HERE.

My reflection for the night. Thank you Lord for the Local Church, sanctify us and make us all that you desire us to be.

"Intentional, personal, local church accountability is the Divine means by which Christ shines into the darkened soul exposing it to it's shame and disobedience, so that it might be lead into glorious Freedom and Light."

-(See Ephesians 5:8-14)

The Good News In A Hypothetical Statement...

"This is what the LORD says: 'Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,' declares the LORD." ~ Jeremiah 31:37

"Don't Listen To Saint Paul, Cause I can lead the way"

A new video has surfaced on Youtube which has many Christians up in arms; myself included.

While, many are up in arms over there claim that women should be ordained, which I do, Biblically disagree with, (You can read why HERE) the issue for me is how they make there case.Not only is the it a parody (done to the tune of "Call me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen) but it also presents no cohesive argument.

All we have to do is look at the second stanza to see where they go astray.

"Women priest is my call, Women preaching for all, Don't Listen To Saint Paul, Cause I can lead the way".

As to what the Bible has to says regarding women preaching, check out the link above (on the HERE).

As to why this is a problem for the rest of the video? By throwing out the word of the Apostle Paul into the New Testament, as this song is clearly advocating, you do truly lose any hope for any Truth on the subject.

1) By taking Pauls writings out you lose about 2/3 of the New Testament Truth (13 out of 27).

Also, by discrediting Paul, you must then assume that the words of his supporters are discredited.

2) By doing that you must throw out the writings of Peter, John, and James because they accepted Paul as minister to the Gentiles. "James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised." ~Galatians 2:9 (emphasis mine)

That eliminates 8 more of the books from the canon.

3) But, if we look in 2 Timothy 4:11, we see three directly be taken out (and more by implication). Paul writes,

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

That wipes out Acts, Luke and Mark.

But, by principal, Matthew, Jude (the brother of James) and the writer of Hebrews because of there closer connections with the rest of those in the canon (and possibly even Paul himself.) Now we see that by taking out eliminating one segment of truth, all we get in the end with is a lie.

Romans 1:25- " They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

"Jesus answered 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ~ John 14:6

If today you realize you have been avoiding the Truth of God's Word or realize your rebellion against God, I call you to see the Truth and come to Him. See more in the side bar and at: http://needGOD.com

"'For I Know The Plans I Have For You...

...declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

This is a verse that has been abused by many false, and unfortunately, even true Gospel preachers. They will say "This proves that God has a wonderful plan for your life! God wants to prosper you if you just believe in Him!"

But does this verse really help the prosperity Gospel movement? Lets look at some context:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” ~Jeremiah 29:4-14

In the context what we see is quite the opposite.  The Lord, through Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, is saying in verses 4-9 that Israel, who is currently in exile to Babylon to settle down and endure this trial.  Verse 10 sets up the Lords message perfectly, "This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place."  God tells these people that the exile will be seventy years, for many of these people this is the remainder of there lives.  For the rest of there lives they will face great pain, suffering and tribulation.  But, He says that through seventy years He will begin the process of restoring the remnant, through the Covenant- which is the Blood of Jesus. (Matt. 26:28).

The promise, which is laid in the next four chapters, is the new covenant.  In Jeremiah 31:31-37, we are given the promises of the New Covenant- the promise of being able to keep his covenant (32-33), the promise of forgiveness of sins (34) and the eternal keeping power of God (36).

So, we know that this promise in Jeremiah 29:11 is not a prosperity Gospel.  It is actually quite the opposite.

It is a promise that even through the pain, suffering and exile of this life, that one day we will have hope, joy, and an everlasting relationship with our God.  It can start today through trust in the blood of Christ.  There is no true blessing in the prosperity "Gospel".  It is not good news.  But the shed blood of Christ to redeem a sinful people for Himself and His Glory, now that is good news. I think the words of John to the church of Ephesus are appropriate.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." ~Revelation 2:7

5 Notes On Dating For The Guy

Learning and experiencing so much of this article right now!

Via: Brandon Anderson-The Resurgence

I work in church operations, which means I spend an inordinate amount of time with young, single volunteers, many of whom are recent converts. When I first started, it quickly became clear that most young Christians have no idea what Christian dating looks like practically. Here are some insights to help Christian men date in a way that honors God.
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"Rise and Pray..."

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” ~Luke 22:39-46

As I have been reading through the gospel of Luke this month, I have been overwhelmed by the authority of Jesus and His commands to His people.  In this passage, as He is within reach of His arrest, He stops to pray, which is a common theme in Luke.  As He prays, He has the cross in view saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.", the "cup" He is referring too is the cup of Gods Wrath due to sin which He will bear on Himself on the Cross.  There He would bear the full weight of sin for His people who turn to Him. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin (Jesus), so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." ~2 Corinthians 5:21.  Another thing I find interesting is the statement made about prayer within the text itself.

We see the disciples, as the text says, "a stones throw away" and when Jesus returns to them they are "sleeping for sorrow".  How often is this me?  I let the sorrows of life or the emotions of a moment take control when I should be praying.  What happened to me and the disciples is simple, we both looked away from Jesus.

Jesus was within a stones throw of the disciples and yet the feel asleep in prayer, and us, as Christians, even knowing the love of the Lord and His interceding  for us. (Hebrews 4:14-5:14).

But, we must "Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." We must look toward Jesus, the Author and perfecter of our faith, in times of temptation.

" And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." ~2 Corinthians 3:18

As we look to Jesus, we are sanctified and formed more into Christs Image. (2 Cor. 3:18)

Let 2013 be a year of prayer- looking to Jesus and continuing to be formed in His image.