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.

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.

]]> http://preceptcamden.com/2011/12/06/why-we-dont-do-santa/feed/ 3 preceptcamden http://preceptcamden.com/2011/11/29/doing-the-most-good/ http://preceptcamden.com/2011/11/29/doing-the-most-good/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:42:06 +0000 preceptcamden http://preceptcamden.com/?p=2551 ]]>

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.

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!”

Click on each Map for more info.

Esther is, I think, one of the most-loved people in the Old Testament. For centuries women have aspired to her beauty, grace, integrity, and courage. Hollywood has made more than one movie about her. (Click here to see a few.) And of course, we often quote the words that her cousin Mordecai spoke to her as he encouraged her to accept God’s plan for her life and save her people the Jews from their mortal enemy, the evil Haman. Mordecai tells her, ” And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

Now your kids can study about this fascinating queen and learn from her godly example in Precept Ministries International’s brand new book called God Has Big Plans for You, Esther by Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt – the latest in PMI’s Discover for Yourself (D4Y) series. The D4Y books are inductive Bible studies for kids ages 8-12. These creative books – that are really workbooks full of fun games and activities – guide kids through different books of the Bible so that they can “discover truth for themselves.” In each book amateur detectives Max and Molly (and their beagle Sam) go on a adventure that leads the reader through the study of a particular book of the Bible. In God Has Big Plans for You, Esther Max and Molly visit Washington, D.C., and the Capitol building and in the process unearth an incredible story – the story of Esther and how God used her to save her people.

Even though these wonderful D4Y studies are for ages 8-12, they can be used with younger children as well as long as someone works through the workbook with them. And more than one adult has found them beneficial in simplifying often complex topics such as Bible prophecy, the inductive study method, and the book of Revelation!

To see all of PMI’s titles in this series, click here.

The Muslim holy days of Ramadan begin today and go through the end of August. Go here to download a free Ramadan Prayer Calendar, and join other Christians as we pray through Ramadan for Muslims around the world for 30 days.