Charting the End Times
For the past several months, Precept Camden has been studying the book of Revelation in our weekly Bible study. One of the things we are going to do on our last day of class is develop a timeline of events based on the things that we have learned in our study. A very interesting and helpful resource is Charting the End Times by Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice. The cover of the book describes itself as “a visual guide to understanding Bible prophecy.” It has easy to understand explanations of things such as Bible prophecy, the feasts of Israel, the millennial reign of Christ, the book of Daniel, as well as a host of other interesting biblical topics. The colorful illustrations and charts are not only beautiful but are also easy to read. This book is a wonderful accompaniment to any study on the books of Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, or a survey of eschatology. You can click here to order a copy.
2012 World Watch List
Each year Open Doors releases the World Watch List, a detailed analysis of Christian persecution worldwide. Countries are evaluated and ranked according to the severity of persecution that occurred in the past year. The World Watch List is a ranking of 50 countries where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is worst. The list covers persecution of Christians of all denominations in the entire country. The focus is on persecution for their faith, not persecution for political, economic, social, ethnic or accidental reasons. The World Watch List is part of the mission at Open Doors to inform and inspire others with the message of the persecuted. Join the cause of the persecuted and share the World Watch List with your friends and family. Go here to get a free pdf download that details each country on the list. (This information was taken from various materials supplied by Open Doors.)
The 12th chapter of the book 1 Corinthians tells us that individual Christians are like the individual members of a body. We make up the body of Christ. And when one member of that body suffers, we should all suffer with it. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering acutely all over the world simply because they are Christians. We have not just the responsibility but also the deep privilege of upholding them in prayer, giving them encouragement, and bringing their situation to light through whatever means we can.
Use the 2012 World Watch List to make yourself and others aware of what is happening around the globe as well as to take action on behalf of those who are suffering.
Find your purpose for 2012!
As a new year begins, I think this is a good time to encourage you to read a book that I love. What better goal to have for 2012 than to find the purpose for your life and begin living out that purpose?
(Originally posted April 2011)
Today I was reminded how much I love this book - The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. About seven years ago, a friend lent me his copy and said, “I think you’ll like this book.” The copy he gave me came with a journal. Not being the journaling type, he said I could keep the journal but he wanted his book back when I was done. So I read the book, worked through the journal, and I did, indeed, like it. I liked it very much.
The reasons I like this book are myriad. However, most of what I love about this book can be expressed in just one word: simple. Its simple, easy-to-understand theology does not take a Doctorate of Divinity to understand. Just the word “theology” conjures up all sorts of connotations, some of which may be negative. A simple definition of theology is a study of God and God’s relation to the world. Sometimes theology is expressed by theologians in words and thoughts that are difficult for everyday people to understand. But in The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren presents the teachings of the Bible and ideas about God in ways that everyone can understand. He simplifies the message of the Bible without sacrificing the truth found there.
The Purpose Driven Life is a wonderful book for people new to the Christian faith as well as people who are seeking meaning and purpose in their lives. It is written in simple, down to earth language and explains basic doctrines of the Bible in a way that anyone can understand. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever asked the question, “What on earth am I here for?” However, I also recommend it to those who may not struggle with this question but who are interested in helping others find a meaningful answer to it.
Merry Christmas!
Meaningful not material gifts
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Or, like me, have you barely begun? Most people on your list are probably just like the people on my list: they really don’t need anything. We give them gifts because we love them and it’s just what we do during this time of year. So we end up buying things like sweaters to put in already-full closets, video games for kids who should be playing outside in the fresh air and sunshine, boxes of Christmas cookies and candies for people who already have too much to eat, etc. We rarely give gifts that will endure until next Christmas much less gifts with eternal value.
But what if we decided to do it differently this year? What if we decided to truly honor the season of the Savior with a gift of hope to a persecuted believer? Open Doors has compiled a Gifts of Hope Catalog to help you choose gifts that not only encourage Christians suffering for their faith but also give real help and hope to those who share our faith but not our freedom.
For $44 you can provide job training for women to help them support their families. For only $5 you can provide biblical resources in digital media format to help train and disciple a believer. $767 will sustain a persecuted couple in ministry. These are just a few of the gifts available in the Gifts of Hope Catalog. Click here to view the entire catalog.
Don’t let this Christmas be another year of giving meaningless gifts that do little to honor the greatest gift of all – Jesus the Messiah! Purchase with purpose this Christmas and give the gift of hope to persecuted Christians around the world. Visit http://www.opendoorsusa.org/give/ for more information.
Why we don’t do Santa.
Today is St. Nicholas Day. Last night people in many countries spent time cleaning and polishing their boots before sitting them outside their doors in expectation of the little gifts that he will leave inside their shiny boots. Click here to read how St. Nicholas Day is celebrated around the world.
In light of today’s holiday, I thought it would be a good day to re-post an article I wrote last year explaining why our family does not make Santa Claus a prominent part of our Christmas celebrations. I’m not trying to convert anyone to accept our convictions, but the subject comes up frequently during this time of year. Since people seem genuinely interested (some, horrified, confused and/or angry!), I’m always willing to answer people’s questions concerning our beliefs. So here you go.
(Originally posted 12/22/10)
First, I want to say that I know what a hot button issue this is for many people. I know that many people hold very dear their traditions concerning Christmas, and Santa Claus is sometimes a big part of that celebration. I understand that. So the second thing I want to make clear is that I am not trying to convince anyone to cross over to the Santa-free zone. I am simply attempting to give some insight into my family’s personal beliefs on this subject. We do not proselytize this point of view and are not trying to make converts. To many our take on this Christmas tradition is curious, weird, and just plain stupid. We have even had people take offense at our personal conviction concerning Santa Claus – although I’m not sure why since it only comes up if people ask us why we don’t participate in this tradition.
When people ask us why we don’t do the Santa thing, for us it is really simple. It comes down to two things. Number one: it isn’t true. I have tried to teach my children to always be honest. Lying is wrong. The simple fact is that Santa Claus does not bring them presents. We buy their presents, and it is to us that they should express their gratitude – not to someone that has an endless supply of money and grants their every material wish. We believe that this does not create an atmosphere of gratitude. I can honestly say that my children are very grateful people and do not have the sense of entitlement that I see in our culture. Also, I can ask my children, “Have I ever lied to you?” and they can always respond, “No.”
Some people say it is merely a harmless game of make believe. It is pretending and no different from a little girl pretending to be a princess or a little boy pretending to be a pirate. Perhaps that argument would hold water if everyone playing the game knew that it was, in fact, a game. However, in the Santa scenario, children are not in on the secret. To them it is presented as true and factual and not as a game of make believe.
Number two: Santa Claus is given attributes that belong to God and God alone. He can be all over the world at one time – omnipresence. He knows who is good or bad – omniscience. He can give everyone what they want in spite of the cost or the situation – omnipotence. God is the only one who is all of those things. And He is so much more. In Isaiah 42:8, He says, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor my praise to graven images.” He says it again in Isaiah 48:11: “My glory I will not give to another.”
Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. For our family, that has always been enough.
Doing the most good
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Lights twinkle on trees, houses, store displays and just about every available surface. Glittery ornaments sparkle among tree branches and even in holiday hair dos. Delectable goodies that are forbidden most days of the year become standard fare almost every day of the month. And the Christmas sweaters come out. What can we say about the Christmas sweaters? Tasteful fashions are exchanged for cardigans, pullovers, even t-shirts whose main purpose seem to be a contest to see who can cover the wearer with the most snowmen, Santas, Christmas bulbs, jingle bells, reindeer, and holly. Extra points for tacky! Most of us have wonderful and fond holiday memories of Christmases past even as we forge new traditions with additions to the family, a new home in a new town, or new friends.
There is a 120 year old Christmas tradition that is as much a part of this season as eggnog, mistletoe, and candy canes. That is the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. The sound of the bell ringing outside department stores and modern supercenters signals the arrival of the holidays every bit as much as newspapers thick with advertisements for Black Friday sales.
This tradition is, however, one in which you can feel good about indulging. The Salvation Army is a phenomenal ministry that does so much good in local communities and around the world that even if you think you are familiar with what they do, trust me when I say you probably don’t know the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Read more about the Salvation Army here.
So when you see that big red kettle and hear that bell ringing, don’t put your head down or fish around in your pocket for your keys or look busy with your packages. Throw some money in it! Every little bit truly helps. And you can know that you are partnering with an organization that feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, comforts the lonely, gives hope to the desperate and so much more. Read Matthew 25:35-45 to see how important all of these are to God.
World Watch List #17 & #16
Worth the price of admission
An easy way to keep track of your marking symbols
*Originally posted March 2, 2009, I thought this was worth repeating. A great way to keep track of your key word symbol markings when doing inductive Bible study.
I wish I could say that I thought of this. Actually, I could’ve taken credit for it and you would never have known that I didn’t think of it. I know, I know – that wouldn’t be honest. That’s why I’m telling you that this idea is not original with me. I was at a Precept event in, I believe, Orlando several years ago. BJ Lawson was the trainer, and someone in the class made this suggestion. I don’t think I even saw the person who said it from the back of the room. But every time I share this brilliant solution with anyone, the reaction is always the same: a moment of silent awe and then a slowly dawning expression of wonder, appreciation, and a now-why-didn’t-I-think-of-that look.
So here it is. Drumroll, please. . . An easy, at-your-fingertips way of keeping up with your key word marking symbols is to mark the words in the concordance at the back of your Bible. Of course, every single word you want to mark will not be in your concordance. But, let’s face it, if it is a key word throughout Scripture, then it will probably rate being in the concordance. I have the New Inductive Study Bible and have found that its concordance has quite a lot of the words I mark.
I hope that rocks your world of key word marking the way it did mine. As BJ said that day when the suggestion was made in her class, “Now that was worth the price of admission!”
Revelation Illustrated
Precept Camden is currently studying the book of Revelation using this workbook written by Kay Arthur as a guide. As we study this incredible book, part of the learning process has been to draw – or attempt to draw – some of the scenes described by the Apostle John. This is a helpful study tool that aids in the retention of information. However, few of us have created beautiful works of art that we would be proud to show to others, much less hang on our walls. It is a study tool and not much else.
But there is someone who has created stunning works of art illustrating various scenes from the book of Revelation. Pat Marvenko Smith has interpreted the visions of Revelation and created vivid, imaginative illustrations of various scenes. They are available for sale as fine art prints, a cd (which can be used to create power point presentations), and even a dvd. Visit the website Revelation Illustrated to view the artwork or to purchase products.
