tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14283442018102696392024-03-14T04:02:49.837-04:00Worldview MattersFor followers of Christ who want to align their faith with their work.Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-31011918233703236632021-07-20T09:00:00.001-04:002021-07-20T09:00:00.237-04:00A Critical Lifeline<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr_ziZTeeoIkxXCVMqduh_BOTrixRsEU-WzTJk9zo2Wk97d9UeC9EbwOWKEA-EAQvwRBvuOOvVP6_Te7I_PyZHL313nVIiLnxs3Lp1RN4ohnAHKTHP4RxxSYbnCy2y7VsK0S1BBhgYIia/s2048/jony-ariadi-QZub8Ni3x_c-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr_ziZTeeoIkxXCVMqduh_BOTrixRsEU-WzTJk9zo2Wk97d9UeC9EbwOWKEA-EAQvwRBvuOOvVP6_Te7I_PyZHL313nVIiLnxs3Lp1RN4ohnAHKTHP4RxxSYbnCy2y7VsK0S1BBhgYIia/w269-h320/jony-ariadi-QZub8Ni3x_c-unsplash.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@joniastin?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Jony Ariadi</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/hands?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello Friends,</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a34c32ab-7fff-edf5-0b5f-aa6872f3f5f7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For several months now, I have shared heartfelt article-length commentaries on educational insights. While certainly no self-proclaimed expert, most of the writings were born from a place of firsthand experience and observation, measured against a well-worn Bible with yellow highlighted, tear stained scriptures. During the last 26 years devoted to education, there has been season upon season of trying hard, pouring in, making mistakes, celebrating “little light bulbs”, and reaping </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">knowledge </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wisdom</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If there was a reel of transformative highlights from this servant’s educational narrative, it would most certainly give you a glimpse of the confused thoughts of an eight year old student wrestling with a science class discussion centered on creatures who lived millions of years ago while knowing that only two thousand years ago her Savior walked an inhabited, societal sod. Fast forward, she, with wobbly knees and a grade at stake, can be seen respectfully pushing back on a Christian-hating Native American Literature professor’s insistence to compositionally renounce one’s faith. Interestingly, a couple years later, she would find herself standing before a vehemently disapproving administrator when she chose to pray with her students during the early days of “See You at the Pole.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Witnessing the potentially detrimental fallacies and pitfalls of public education, she sacrificially determined to forgo professional growth opportunities for the honor of Biblically educating her own three blessings. With starry-eyed great expectations of the standards that Christian education surely possessed, she soon discovered that public education philosophical methodologies had crept into both Christian homeschool co-op and Christian school pedagogy. The once Deuteronomy 6 hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart pursuit of divine beauty, virtue, and truth had been relegated in many instances to factory styled, “leveled”, numeric grade or score driven checked boxes. Yet, God met her in that valley of disillusionment with a small community of like-minded educators who compassionately poured biblical truth, guidance, and accountability into their sister. Like all wearied, God-focused, life narratives, the brief Ecclesiastes-type ponderings of meaninglessness concluded with renewed Biblical fervor and a passionate determination to “pay it forward” by aiding fellow educators’ to regain their love for, focus, and drive towards pure biblical instruction. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Train a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The highlight reel closes with the camera panning to a broken, yet obedient, servant humbly joining a multitude of silhouettes kneeling reverently in a vast and endless field of honey-kissed wheat. Swaying melodically in a gentle breeze, every grain represents a child tenderly educated about Christ’s sacrificial love and their divine purpose, while collectively forming a chorus of disciples praising and serving their unseen yet ever present Lord. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is an honor and privilege to join each of you as you sincerely seek to serve the Lord by teaching His children. Like the blessed and chosen disciples of old, He desires for us to journey together so as to be continuously attached to a non-judgmental, encouraging lifeline of accountability, inspiration, and equipping that is critical to continuing His good and holy work. For the next two months, we are temporarily pausing this blog to lovingly and obediently pour prayer, concentrated time, and resources into the preparation and launch of that community...the REAP website. We look forward to reconnecting with you in September with this critical lifeline. Until then, we are praying for you and the life changing work you are preparing to do this 2021-22 school year. If you have any questions, or desire to be included on our REAP contact list for future announcements of the upcoming launch, please contact me (tonya gordon) at tgordon@renewanation.org.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-55863966728340543992021-07-06T09:00:00.008-04:002021-07-06T09:00:00.195-04:00What is Your Why?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZxNm_TjQazWmpOOvFfmAfgBFWs6E4BY_UomTIXcwIA7omg6dpXHGji1TUQD4rtC53taZ3oyFZfpA5nvJyejlB6JvHSwfATAcBuwTRokEqKj7BoDaL_hlYV00A6kl4yleBcw1rkXmfRbm/s2048/aaron-burden-cmIqkMPfpMQ-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZxNm_TjQazWmpOOvFfmAfgBFWs6E4BY_UomTIXcwIA7omg6dpXHGji1TUQD4rtC53taZ3oyFZfpA5nvJyejlB6JvHSwfATAcBuwTRokEqKj7BoDaL_hlYV00A6kl4yleBcw1rkXmfRbm/s320/aaron-burden-cmIqkMPfpMQ-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@aaronburden?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Aaron Burden</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/teacher-bible-education?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-22943ae0-7fff-b941-a809-6795c6b129d1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man a more clever devil. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C.S. Lewis</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear friends,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you so very much for your prayers over those who attended the REAP conference. They were truly felt and mightily answered. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amongst a wealth of Biblical Worldview inspiration and equipping, one powerful truth resounded from the training nestled in the mountains of Tennessee...a willing vessel </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">must</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> intentionally and consistently seek fellowship with Christ in order to righteously fulfill their calling. In essence, it is the “why” of what we do. The overall task of our Dominion Mandate is to know God, to make Him fully known, and to bend back every facet of life to His original design. The reality however is that we are in a battle with a determined and unyielding enemy who is seeking to render servants prideful, demoralized, and ineffective, and the lost…adrift. If we, as educators, are not personally pursuing an intimate relationship with and knowledge of our Savior, then how are we to naturally impart His preeminence over all that exists to our students? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With each sandal-worn, bloodied, muscle wrenching step, Moses forsook physical pain and mental weariness to behold God’s holy voice and stone-carved law on Mt. Sinai. Despite hateful sneers and reputational damage, Zacchaeus, driven by a passion to gaze at the Savior, clambered up a tree. Paul, formerly Saul, crossed over the pitch black chasm of bitter contempt and persecution to emerge a complete, martyr-ready disciple of Christ. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and others sought after an unreached peoples’ eternal salvation in the face of potential peril by spear. Cornelia Arnolda Johanna “Corrie” ten Boom and family followed God’s Will to hide Jewish brothers and sisters, despite the risk of death by concentration camp. One can continue to provide narrative after narrative of the self-denying, Savior-focused course individuals have undertaken over time to make Him known. Every single one was propelled by a solid spiritual constitution cultivated by intimate relationship with their Savior.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to ensure steadfast consistency with our personal spiritual growth, it is imperative that we identify and eliminate deterrents. The following are a few best practices that will aid in confronting weak or blind spots.</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reassessment of the strength of our biblical worldview</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reflection on how we conduct our lives, leadership over and rapport with others in our spheres of influence </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">re-examination of our motives </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reprioritization of our time management and focus</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recapture our thirst and inspiration of the”why”</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we are faithful to utilize these evaluative measures and grow in accordance with scriptural truths, then we are justly armed when personal, professional, cultural, physical, or emotional constraints ensue. Our spiritual fortitude will not falter, moreover, our ability to unceasingly pour “living water” into others will not be tainted or hindered. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christian school is Holy Ground. If a staff is riddled with individualistic and/or collective spiritual complacency, then what follows is an affront to God’s intended plan and purpose for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> classrooms, halls, meeting spaces, gym floor, sports fields, and artistic stages; yet more importantly </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His children</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The symptoms are quite clear.</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">minimizing the need for ongoing spiritual and professional development</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">establishing sparse expectations for the spiritual culture of the school</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">failing to identify and cultivate legitimate student leaders</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">propagating irresponsible secular educational methodologies such as the cultivation of a test and grade-driven environment</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the propensity to minimally aid struggling students despite a public commitment to differentiate</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forfeiting the individual needs of driven and advanced students for the sake of equity</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">feebly casting a biblical vision for the preparation of each graduate</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ignoring the divine purposes of each student to carry out their dominion mandate through a theology of work mindset</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">failing to see each student as God’s fearfully and wonderfully made Holy Creation, wanting for truth, deserving of our righteous best</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There may be vast mountains to scale, mighty trees to climb, seasons of darkness to overcome, daggers of public ridicule to fend off, and intentions of evil to endure; however, if each of us are passionately pursuing our Savior, then collectively we are aligned in righteousness and outfitted to train our students likewise. Intentionality is critical. There is a thin line between that which we aspire to be versus that which we are.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Author: tonya gordon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">tgordon@renewanation.org</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-21580648326303135262021-06-22T09:00:00.002-04:002021-06-22T09:04:40.357-04:00Holy REAPing<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzZLmVoaxKnX6bEE1U9AoUPA6LaolgVANhyphenhyphendec2hN9xKxiNeBbJPZtKzSZugXv4Ip9H6dwaAZhiNDT94Auuwp_TjFqVmUfI0F6ARsFQtObHb_cHeFQGNgn93XG0OIhyphenhyphenCgJoHFwu1WnF-q/s1060/Screen+Shot+2021-06-22+at+8.49.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="1060" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzZLmVoaxKnX6bEE1U9AoUPA6LaolgVANhyphenhyphendec2hN9xKxiNeBbJPZtKzSZugXv4Ip9H6dwaAZhiNDT94Auuwp_TjFqVmUfI0F6ARsFQtObHb_cHeFQGNgn93XG0OIhyphenhyphenCgJoHFwu1WnF-q/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-06-22+at+8.49.03+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-d52714c1-7fff-32f9-41e3-3505b3617fd0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As this week’s blog is being posted, RenewaNation will be in Pikeville, Tennessee hosting a group of Christian educators and administrators at our REAP “Sowing for the Harvest” 2021 Conference. With guest speakers Dr. Roger Erdvig, Dr. Keith McCurdy, Jeff Keaton, and several presenters conducting biblical worldview subject matter immersion workshops, this year’s conference attendees will experience an inspirational and equipping time of renewal. Since its November, God-driven, inception, REAP has flourished into a powerful biblical education game changer. This God-sized vision is potentially poised to be the “Cloud & Fire Pillar” for Christian educators. Having witnessed God’s divine orchestration of gifted, collaborative resources, we marvel at what has been accomplished by a small group of obedient disciples and a limited number of loaves and fishes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it definitely should not surprise those of us who have studied and experienced God’s magnificent multiplication, we admittedly have walked these last several months with hopeful anxiety. Jeff Keaton, founder and CEO of RenewaNation, recently cited Philippians 4:4-7, in our eNews entitled “Do Not Be Anxious About Anything”. In his article, he rawly discussed the error and sinfulness of living in that fashion. Instead, faith and trust in God’s ever-present help should dictate our next wobbly or confident steps. Fast forward to present day, and here we are enveloped by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, worshipping our unshakable, ever-present Savior, while breaking fallow strongholds and replacing them with life-breathing best practices. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RenewaNation Educator Advancement Program (REAP)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was conceived by righteous, God-inspired motives to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inspire, Equip, & Transform</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> biblical education. Although the following letter was written to sincerely welcome REAP’s conference participants, it genuinely illustrates the past, present, and future of God’s intended vision. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that He may come and rain righteousness upon you. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hosea 10:12</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Christian Educator,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RenewaNation Educator Advancement Program</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2021 “Sowing for the Harvest” Conference. During a colorful, crisp, mid-November morning, our Heavenly Father placed Hosea 10:12 on our hearts. With it, He cultivated a monumental vision. Imagine a comprehensive Biblical Education symposium that aids with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inspiring </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Equipping</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Educators and Administrators in Biblical Worldview immersion, as well as providing a well-spring of biblical education resources that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inspire, Equip, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Transform</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This God-sized vision and mission is known as REAP.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a volatile battle being waged for the hearts and minds of our youth. Cultural and political agendas and fallacies are being thrust upon our youth through media and public classrooms. Now, more than ever, we as Christian educators are responsible for equipping students in the ways of our Lord. Practically, what does that look like? Our students first and foremost must know God and, through every subject matter, meet Him more intimately. Every child must be trained on how to effectively communicate to a lost world. No longer are we to prepare our students to just defend their faith. They must be equipped to stand firm on biblical truth and share the gospel. From PreK through 12th grade, we are responsible for saturating every facet of our school’s programs with Biblical Worldview. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As surrogates of every child’s life preparation for 180+ days, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our scriptural mandate is clear:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deuteronomy 11:18-20</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have been called to a critical and honorable mission, for every Christian school employee is held accountable for each child that steps through the door. Collectively, every classroom, gym, and corridor is hallowed ground, for eternal lives hang in the balance and time is of the essence. Truly understanding the weight in which you bear, REAP’s heart is to walk alongside you. We at RenewaNation are praying that you will not experience a conference, but encounter an intimate time of renewal and revival. For the next three days, we humbly suggest petitioning our Heavenly Father to reveal the areas of fallow ground that need to be addressed, spend intentioned time seeking His direction, and reap a fresh focus for biblically educating His children this next school year. Finally, reflect on the precious faces that are returning to you. The dedicated Johns, the busy Marthas, doubting Thomases, rejected Leahs, impulsive Peters, brave Esthers, and many more. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would like to dedicate this “Sowing for the Harvest” time to Robert Khaleal Coit. At 14 years old, Khaleal, whose name in Hebrew means crown, had experienced more brokenness than many who have lived a lifetime. Sacrifices were made in order for him to experience his first consistent year at a school. In God’s providence, it was a Christian academy. Quite the comedian, and at times rambunctious, Khaleal was shown abundant patience, love, acceptance, and introduced to Christ. Through the direct investment of many servants, he accepted the free gift of salvation. Over a week ago, on a Saturday morning, Khaleal walked into his Savior’s embrace. As his basketball coach rightly remarked, “We would all be blessed to have a Khaleal in our lives”. Fellow educators, we do, and so many precious others. May we all strive to prepare ourselves spiritually, emotionally, physically, and educationally so that we may in turn righteously pour into each and every one.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessings,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tonya gordon</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Director of REAP</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please commit to praying for all God has assembled here in Pikeville. Our RenewaNation staff is humbly blessed with the honor of pouring into these who have been called to biblical education. Like many other Christian educators across this nation, many of them have navigated an unprecedented school year with a Philippians 4:4-9 mindset and servant leader stance. May we all take a moment to prayerfully give thanks for their willing sacrifices to continue to biblically sow into our children’s lives this past year, like 14 year old Khaleal to whom our conference is lovingly dedicated. Had it not been for Christian guardians, educators, coaches, and youth leaders choosing to pour into his life despite a pandemic, he might have been eternally lost when he tragically succumbed to injuries from a car accident two weeks ago.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead, Khaleal walked into the glory of his Savior’s embrace. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is Holy reaping. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is biblical education.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By: tonya gordon</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 52px; overflow: hidden; width: 129px;"><img height="43" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZTfzr-jgz20cUWGsKuucp8eXS5raf8ye8Bbqs_zCax6zXGh_ah2Pth753M0CzCYOtjNOnwRpDLjqCguZ825t4wKhL6WaM9cARjXqiJb0qcMcukMql5cs7T2FpeBMz18Q5sFYKscg=w106-h43" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="106" /></span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 52px; overflow: hidden; width: 129px;"><br /></span></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comRoanoke, VA, USA37.2709704 -79.9414266-41.726561078211169 139.4335734 90 60.6835734tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-77525349916367716482021-06-08T06:00:00.002-04:002021-06-08T06:00:00.214-04:00Christian Education: Milestones or Millstones?<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-q6w4W99Uo-4Vlabh6_L8OeyC4wi8zPNm1WSr-Y5nOWJnYraeNZQNSpr6bvbRZkW29ivTzZEgL6Bi5Syy9GJcOMhpMlL2F-83-WoqaeYo_Xt6NZ2-BpRC-0jeeQPaRDCow5sZcq_Hm0L/s1279/millstones-1355933-1279x850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-q6w4W99Uo-4Vlabh6_L8OeyC4wi8zPNm1WSr-Y5nOWJnYraeNZQNSpr6bvbRZkW29ivTzZEgL6Bi5Syy9GJcOMhpMlL2F-83-WoqaeYo_Xt6NZ2-BpRC-0jeeQPaRDCow5sZcq_Hm0L/s320/millstones-1355933-1279x850.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by: John Byer from FreeImages</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:2-6</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-014cc595-7fff-7b7d-4d54-b5da34ae630f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whether a child is being educated at home or school, the journey can be marked by a series of milestones or “millstone moments”. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a milestone as “an important event in the development or history of something or someone’s life”. In biblical times, a millstone referred to an extremely heavy grain grinding mechanism requiring the force of a large animal to move it. This exhibits the ease in which such a tool could sink the source of condemnation.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scripture is infallible and the only reliable source of Truth. It is also crystal clear on how our Savior regards ALL children and how they are to be treated. Take into account several verses.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -12pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -12pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 10:13-16</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 18:10</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ministries involving children, specifically Christian education, should be approached with reverential fear. No calling that has direct access to influencing and molding a child’s or youth’s mind and heart toward Christ should be entered into casually. Whether a homeschool co-op or Christian school, candidates for employment or voluntary service should go through a thorough multi-layered vetting process. Even then, a checks and balances infrastructure should be in place to ensure that sound, biblically-guided accountability is present at all times. The following should be standard qualifications of a Christian educator or administrator.</span></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They have a genuine relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They are able to share their salvation testimony and be in agreement with ALL of God’s Holy Word.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They should be able to demonstrate how to lead a child to Christ. </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They should be able to verbalize what Biblical Worldview is and how it should directly impact education.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They should be able to answer positional questions on controversial topics such as social justice, the biblical definition of marriage, and sanctity of life.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They should be trained in educational methodologies and pedagogy.</span></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: -12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If any one of these criteria are absent or weak, then there should be a serious contemplation of whether the individual in question should biblically educate children. There is simply too much at stake to forgo caution, and hope that training will develop in key areas. Too often, Christian administrators and teachers are thrust into positions of influence out of sheer need and friendly familiarity rather than genuine aptitude and preparedness. As a result, students are the unfortunate beneficiaries of sub-par biblical worldview education and potentially harmful millstone experiences. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Likewise, Christian school board positions should not be haphazardly filled by individuals who do not have a deep passion for or understanding of biblical education. The responsibility of ensuring righteous leadership of a school is critical to each and every child that is subjected to the policies and counsel of administration. As John C. Maxwell so aptly stated “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” While surface successes and numeric growth may indicate advancement, oversight must be present to make sure the core fundamentals are in place. For example, equality not equity is driving decisions, student athletes are held accountable and shepherded, academic best practices and ethical record keeping are being employed, finances are properly stewarded, professional development is respected and encouraged, and most importantly the spiritual culture is flourishing and supportive of biblical worldview training. If leadership is a mile wide and an inch deep, unethical or apathetic, the school infrastructure will inevitably implode. A Christian school board’s primary function is to implement safeguards to avert such detrimental issues. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lastly, a school truly focused on investing in children’s biblical worldview development will exclusively regard and cultivate each student’s strengths and giftings rather than treat them as a collective whole. Leadership must resist falling into the “factory mindset” that is prevalent in compulsory education, and seek to meet the needs of each child in a biblical manner. John Taylor Gatto described it well when he stated, “There is not, nor can there be, a one best way to teach a child; each kid is as different as his or her fingerprint. I’ve often thought that God introduced the anomaly of the fingerprint-or of DNA-to hit us over the head with that fact.” Aside from biblical worldview immersion of subject content, students should be afforded every opportunity to be equipped for and grow toward their individual callings.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The combination of sound hiring practices, a solid Christian school board, and a biblically-aligned intentionality to nurture students establishes a trustworthy and robust biblical worldview institution of learning that will prove steadfast. Such an environment will assuredly produce a thriving biblical worldview journey marked by transformative milestones. Our Lord and Savior modeled biblical education clearly. It is imperative that all Christian education entities are found aligned in every area to His modeling and scriptural guidance on training children. Anything less is detrimental to the purposes of biblical education. There are eternal consequences at stake and time is of the essence.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Author: tonya gordon</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comRoanoke, VA, USA37.2709704 -79.941426622.006217276377569 -97.5195516 52.535723523622437 -62.3633016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-69469832671949615382021-05-25T06:00:00.001-04:002021-05-25T06:00:00.181-04:00Worldview Building<p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="310" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MeJ0G9oQn2VxUWAtMxC0SQnUoVkxQBHS6pdZmsckmziOOj8JHuiZQT5UxODYsR31r_-BooHCgfZmFJD57lis4iEI8XEJ1X_cNl2NH-68Es9flNMzYXaYYlrBcpqz_A" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="466" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6cfb0dd7-7fff-4d7f-e66c-1e7cdd6b1643"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author: Caleb R. Gordon</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was a little kid, learning new things was a constant pastime – whether I wanted it to be or not. From figuring out how a trampoline bounced my brother and I to watching the carbonation in soda fizz along the walls of a paper cup, I naturally examined the world around me to make sense of reality and how it related to me. Even when I did not know all the intricate inner workings of trampoline physics or the chemical makeup of Dr. Pepper, I pieced together the things I observed and tested, adding them to a framework, or lens, through which I understood and saw the world. In other words, I was “worldview building.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This idea of “worldview building” continued far past my early development. In the latter years of childhood, my process of figuring out the world around me translated into the study of History, Math, English, Science, and Religion. Growing up with a homeschool education, my mother embedded in me the idea of “connecting the dots” in my studies at an early age. While at the time, it seemed to be just another time-consuming exercise preventing me from playing outside, I reminisce on these lessons as laying the groundwork to critical thinking and laying the pipeline of coherency to the house called reality in which I lived. Looking back, we were “worldview building” in that sunroom of three desks.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward to a Christian homeschool co-op in middle school. My experiences in learning about the American legal system and freehanding the charted world from memory began to take on new meaning. Exercises in logic, rhetoric, and persuasive writing proved to be the form and syntax to express the language of critical thinking that had been ingrained into me so long ago. Reading the current issues raging in culture further bridged the seemingly distant reality of “an ancient world in the past'' to a “not so unfamiliar present day” in which I lived. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Far past middle school, I kept worldview building. My academic career included attending a Christian high school, a real-life application exercise of my worldview. Surrounded by students who had never been taught to “connect the dots” in their subconscious worldview building, I appeared as a bit of an oddity with a different outlook on life. The real difference between those students and myself was that I had been taught the art of connecting numerous beliefs and values into a coherent system. When the Bible teacher poured through the Scriptures in Old and New Testament Survey courses, I saw a historical account of underlying unity and purpose that informed the way that I was supposed to live my life, view the real God who gave this life to me, and worship Him through it. Instead of seemingly unrelated stories of legend or mythology, I realized that the Bible itself was a grand metanarrative of God revealing Himself and redeeming fallen humanity and that I played a role in this divine love story. Through classes in Understanding the Times, I examined political, religious, economic, psychological, and scientific ideologies across cultures that culminated in an awareness of the diverse, complicated battlefield in which this child of the King was called to serve. The students around me in the halls of that small Christian school became real people with real souls in need of the love of Christ. The homework from those dedicated high school teachers turned into opportunities to grow in my knowledge of this reality, informing and adjusting my worldview. Student leadership opportunities called me to invest in others in the way that I had been so long invested in. Through all of these experiences, my worldview revealed true purpose in the seemingly mundane and ordinary life of a student.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Present day, I find myself walking the brick pathways of a Christian university, studying in higher academia for a calling rather than a career. Reflecting on all my educational experiences, I recognize and thank the Lord for the blessing of understanding how my worldview impacts my life and how it has defeated the cultural notion of a divide between my sacred walk with God and a secular walk with the world. Instead, I live with purpose, detecting God at work in my life to advance His Kingdom and seeing every aspect of life and learning as an opportunity to become more effective in fulfilling His purposes for my life. Ultimately, worldview building and connecting is a lifetime process; however, I would never have understood this process and its significance unless Christian educators had not taken the time to invest in me through their calling to show me the importance of worldview. Every child and student can live with purpose. Help them to see how and why they can.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-54513992908983286662021-05-11T10:00:00.000-04:002021-05-11T10:00:00.230-04:00Counting It All Joy<p><br /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9f813999-7fff-c61e-2fab-b64f00fcbba5"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="290" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zC0Fk3voH5XV1h1QjP_gr9dg7spVglmm5Mk5jqMa8zunEc5JSY5_fL-EAkmmqYqQWIljbptdOl_y5jiUd3vQ6AD8SIUlY_1MBSPecinHvRPrZPcINLpNXRk8pFPNGngUBMT8riRq=w436-h290" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="436" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(freepik:master1305)</i></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:37</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past week witnessed an outpouring of appreciation. Social media sites have been rightly flooded with teacher posts and Mother’s Day sentiments. According to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nationaldaycalendar.com</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, discussions occurred as early as 1944 on the need to “thank” teachers. The conversation was tabled until 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt pleaded with the 81st Congress to create a National Teacher’s Day. It wasn’t until March 7th, 1980 that it became official. In 1985, the National Education Association (NEA) deemed that the first Tuesday of May would be the start of Teacher Appreciation Week. Mother’s Day had a much longer history that started with a woman named Anna Jarvis in 1908, and was solidified as a national holiday on May 9, 1941 by Woodrow Wilson. It took 41 years to successfully legislate a week of educator appreciation, and much less time to highlight mothers. Before the formalities, there was and has always been, incomparable, heart-moving affirmations resonating throughout homes, co-ops, and classrooms far and wide. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For mothers, it is the unparalleled joy of hearing the first word, watching wobbly steps, and listening to a heaven-touched bellowing of “Jesus Loves Me”. From learner’s permits, first loves, and next season transitions, a mother’s pilgrimage of faith and thanksgiving remains ceaseless until her final breath. For educators, appreciation is purely gleaned when students demonstrate mastered skills of logic, communication, servant leadership, and a deeper comprehension of scripture. The blessed mentoring journey may end with a cap and gown, but the returns from such an investment live on through Kingdom work. It is the mother and educator whose worldview </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">counts it all joy</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be stewarding a child’s future that walks reverently on holy ground.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before I was blessed with children of my own, my elementary students would ask “How many children do you have?” "Twenty-four," I would exclaim. "I can’t wait for you to meet them! They are so very kind, beautiful, handsome, and incredibly smart!” Believing every heartfelt word, a</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">group hug commenced with reckless abandon. Later, when I homeschooled my own 3 babies and then taught English to older students, I would excitedly explain "God has placed you here and now for divine purposes. What an honor it is to be a small part of your </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tory! Together, let’s steward this time well, and see what our Lord has for each of us!” What followed was a precious time of mutual respect, genuine exchanges of ideas, a reverent uncovering of God’s created mysteries, and treasured memories of laughter, caring, and maturation. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having the opportunity to work in an administrative role at a local Christian school, I was humbly blessed to serve several hundred kiddos and their families. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20 and like every mom and educator’s propensity, I have reflected on and mourned every opportunity lost to have done it better. Over time however, I have humbly resolved that every decision made whether right or wrong originated from a deep compassion and concern for our students. Every child the Lord brought through our doors was His own, and we had been entrusted with a brief, but monumental task. We were to shepherd their hearts and minds to know Him more intimately and prepare them for their Kingdom calling. Unfortunately, tIme moves swiftly. Like watching your child drive away to the next season of their life, Graduation should cultivate similar emotions for every educator. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During my tenure, I was given the honor and privilege to call the graduates’ names to receive their diplomas. To the overall crowd, it may have appeared as a simple recognition for the next graduate to come forward. For the moms and dads, hearing their child’s name elicited a rush of memories baptized in happy tears, but for those educators who had also lovingly poured prayer and Kingdom purpose into that child, it was an emotional, purpose-clarifying moment in time. With the utterance of each given name, a fearfully and wonderfully fashioned child turned young adult rises and moves anxiously forward. With each step, a slight bit of youthfulness is left behind. With a handshake, grasp of diploma, and tassel shift, the once blurred realities of adulthood suddenly gain overwhelming clarity. Immediately, there is a silent, breath-taking moment of questioning. Parents and educators alike ponder, “Did we give this child our very best?” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is no happenstance that Teacher Appreciation and Mother’s Day fall so closely together, as motherhood and education are Biblically intertwined. Although scripture clearly tasks parents with the job of instruction, our culture offers educational choices that share that responsibility. The Biblical mandates on teaching apply to all who commit to that role. With the transformative power and influence each wields, both mothers and educators should reverently kneel each day in gratitude, petitioning the Lord for discernment, wisdom, and strength. To be entrusted by our Heavenly Father to shepherd and disciple one of his own as a parent, educator, or both is an amazing calling. Sometimes it can wearily feel like a thankless job until a May calendar marker; however, the profound reality is that you have an audience of One who sees “how you are receiving and investing in His children, and thus for Him”. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You, you are changing the world </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One little heartbeat at a time</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making history with every touch and smile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, you, may not see it now</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I believe that time will tell</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How you, you are changing the world</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script", cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One little heartbeat at a time</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Steven Curtis Chapman</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>author: tonya c. gordon</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-12409806723710270742021-04-27T06:00:00.004-04:002021-04-29T11:01:01.116-04:00The Verdict Is In<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-40020620-7fff-9c8c-87e2-beebeb28d9b6"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx_ikPGR_NbDSWTbVwuaZ6UeH2ZFTsI9rcl4zHxZ5-PYFv7bPDFpPfTMFmxHM3RIM4E-NOCYm1znYHtSnzcpdF4q3xU99TowBvkeH0R7NcrhwBPzCBnP359ml9S1TD5oNVtQ3iWoXysKD/s2048/gavel+bill-oxford-OXGhu60NwxU-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2048" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx_ikPGR_NbDSWTbVwuaZ6UeH2ZFTsI9rcl4zHxZ5-PYFv7bPDFpPfTMFmxHM3RIM4E-NOCYm1znYHtSnzcpdF4q3xU99TowBvkeH0R7NcrhwBPzCBnP359ml9S1TD5oNVtQ3iWoXysKD/w396-h261/gavel+bill-oxford-OXGhu60NwxU-unsplash.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@bill_oxford?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Bill Oxford</a><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/law?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The great masquerade of evil has played havoc with all of our ethical concepts. For evil to appear disguised as light, charity, historical necessity or social justice is quite bewildering to anyone brought up on our traditional ethical concepts, while for the Christian who bases his life on the Bible, it merely confirms the fundamental wickedness of evil." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license of immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jude 1:4</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello Friends,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The current social climate is heartbreakingly grievous. It seems that the world has turned upside down and inside out. Historically, trouble and chaos are born out of an individual or group’s illegitimate truth or perspective, or worse, concealed dishonesty, greed, and power. Currently, society seems to be enamored with revolutionaries who have patiently awaited ideal social conditions of fear, gullibility, profound frustration, and deep mistrust to converge into an environment primed for “liberation”. Justice is being redefined, while the depravity of sin is largely ignored. Christians are either outwardly jumping on the “cancel culture” bandwagon and celebrating fallen foes, or cowering from distorted theological and philosophical attacks. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time has witnessed the recycling of such realities and their ramifications, for the societal answer to issues always seems to be the same...blame and obliterate or turn a blind eye. But why? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The verdict is in …worldview. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heavily influenced by the westernized church’s fear of insulting public school proponents, Christian education institutions and organizations have largely become lukewarm and benign in opposing cultural “norms”. As a result, we are appearing dangerously similar to our counterparts. The similarities are uncanny. Pioneers of the Biblical Worldview education movement are disillusioned by what former colleagues are supporting, and individuals who flee relativistic public education for the private sector are dismayed to find the motivations, instructional practices, and student outcome boxes similarly being checked. </span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secularized curriculum ✔ </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instruction for the sake of the 3R’s and standardized testing ✔ </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Championship-driven sports programs ✔ </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Administrative progressivism ✔ </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worldview intentionality ✔</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, both are teaching a worldview, but one unapologetically and cunningly weaves it ever so naturally through every fiber without uttering a word, while the other broadly addresses it with the most sincere and careful intention to avoid controversy. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In light of the present culture, let’s examine public education’s worldview intentionality and success rate. While the instances of using K-12 classrooms to push social agendas are too numerous to list, I highly recommend checking out <a href="https://www.edweek.org/">EducationWeek</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for an eye opening view into the educational environment that many Christians still claim “what was good enough for me, is just fine for my child”. As a former public school graduate and teacher, I can testify that it isn’t the place of innocent adolescent folly supervised by wholesome mentorship that one recounts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Currently, my state’s education system is moving to eradicate the advanced diploma and reformulate math credits for equity purposes, while localities are insisting that the color white is a blight on society, and gender parameters are abhorrent. Interestingly enough, this is happening in areas who once naively felt protected by the number of Christian teachers it employed. The NEA, state governments, and local school boards have proven to be far more powerful than the missional “salt and light” expectations parents have long placed on the shoulders of their child or teacher. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aside from legislative intent, let’s examine a more subtle strategy being used to impart worldview. The following children’s book titles are presently being used in public </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">elementary</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> classrooms across the Nation. In </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Antiracist Baby</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Ibram X. Kendi, a major proponent of Critical Race Theory, one learns that “Babies are taught to be racist or antiracist-there’s no neutrality.” In </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An ABC of Equality</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Chana Ginelle Ewing, the mnemonic usage of song and brightly pictured common nouns has been replaced with inviting illustrations accompanied by adjectives such as “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">L</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GBTQIA, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">O</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ppression, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rivilege, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">X</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">enophobia, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Z</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">e”. What a vast difference from </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New England Primer’s</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> alphabetical usage of “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">odliness, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">H</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oliness, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ray, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">emember, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rust”!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From PreK to college, is this deliberate exposure successful? Absolutely! How is Darwinism no longer regarded as a theory, and why are multitudes of youth attracted to socialism? Let’s ponder the words of those whose ideas have seeped into and shaped American academia, while comparing them with the infallible truth of scripture. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Keep people from their History, and they can easily be controlled.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Karl Marx, Father of Communism </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deuteronomy 32:7</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism.” Karl Marx</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I appeal to you brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have been taught; avoid them.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 16:17</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There is no god and there is no soul. Hence, there is no need for the props of traditional religion. With dogma and creed excluded, then immutable truth is dead and buried. There is no room for fixed and natural law or permanent moral absolutes.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-John Dewey, Father of Progressive Education</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Schools should take an active part in directing social change, and share in the construction of a new social order.” John Dewey</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Which worldview has taken precedence in today’s culture?</i></b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More than ever, Christian education must look and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">function</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with distinct differences. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students must be scripturally and logically able to process fallacies and false teachings.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scripture must be written "on door frames", corridors, hearts, and minds.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instruction must be framed in the Dominion Mandate and Theology of Work.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff, faculty, and students must be Biblically clear on controversial topics.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical character development and servant leadership must be a core focus of the school's programs</span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School culture must reflect our Savior's modeling on how to treat and regard others.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></li></ul><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Silence and inaction wields the power to infiltrate the command of our children’s hearts and minds through observational deceit. Words have unimaginable influence, ideas spawn consequences, and worldview renders judgments of redemption or retribution.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Our children are internalizing a worldview daily, the most important question is which one are YOU providing?</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; white-space: pre-wrap;">tonya c. gordon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="mailto:tgordon@renewanation.org">tgordon@renewanation.org</a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><br /></p></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comRoanoke, VA, USA37.2709704 -79.94142668.9607365638211576 -115.0976766 65.581204236178849 -44.7851766tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-10394166404499549342021-04-13T09:00:00.003-04:002021-04-13T09:04:21.088-04:00Education's First Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5smmOx-j65UMb3H8YHcHu8Z7JBDt5p8enBOVlU07r0VKxUlxOQcGqpmcMiVRQ9FJDJ3EldcZFlWgdlgkIvRES0c53mWajqJd61tlqw-rqipLU5BBsjSe0TBPAhTnASunoaeIQl1w_vsE/s1694/Screen+Shot+2021-04-09+at+8.31.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="1436" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5smmOx-j65UMb3H8YHcHu8Z7JBDt5p8enBOVlU07r0VKxUlxOQcGqpmcMiVRQ9FJDJ3EldcZFlWgdlgkIvRES0c53mWajqJd61tlqw-rqipLU5BBsjSe0TBPAhTnASunoaeIQl1w_vsE/w311-h367/Screen+Shot+2021-04-09+at+8.31.33+PM.png" width="311" /></a></div><p><br /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4419c81f-7fff-441b-2a05-37d1cdffe2ea"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #101010; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #101010; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">C.S. Lewis</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #101010; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #101010; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And let us not grow weary of doing good,</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #101010; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #101010; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Galatians 6:9</b></span></span></p></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello Friends,</span></p><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the last several weeks we have had the pleasure of watching a symphony of color burst forth from slumber. Spring is upon us, and our hearts and minds are reinvigorated. Life begins anew as we honor and remember our Savior’s sacrifice and resurrection. How awe-inspiring that God purposefully and creatively provides the visual depiction of seasons to testify to His greatness and love. Seasonal changes also illustrate the ebb and flow patterning of our lives. We all experience spring, summer, fall, and winters in life, yet our focus and constant throughout it all is our Creator. Through intentioned time of deep study, prayer, and trustworthy fellowship and accountability, we weather our “seasons” and flourish.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As educators, we transition rather predictably through our 180 days. Summer, a unique perk of our profession, is viewed as a much needed break until we grow restless and excited to welcome back students and decorate classrooms. Fall maintains our energy as it wraps us in warm, colorful reflection, thanksgiving, and fall sports, while winter’s quiet peacefulness dissipates with the anticipation of Christmas and snow dances. By the time spring fights back the chill for dominance, students and teachers alike begin to wither alongside the quick blooming annuals. With all of the demands on Christian educators, these seasonal rhythms potentially become marred by monotony. The calling to share the vibrant, powerful, all-knowing, forgiving, merciful Creator-Savior dulls against a backdrop of methodically checked boxes. Biblical Worldview in the classroom is relegated to a quick prayer and devotion. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Designer of Math, Science, History, English, Music, Theatre, Art, and Physical Well-being is waiting to be introduced and intimately known in every one of these divine subjects. They testify to His command of all things, His inspiration, His wonder and power. Tasked with the responsibility to share this life-sustaining good news, are we, as proclaimed Christian educators, taking great care and time to feed our souls through spiritual and professional development? Have we been intentional in our planning to humbly and reverently illustrate our Lord Jesus Christ in the classroom? Although summer breaks, decorated classrooms, football games, snow dances, and spring wrap ups are enjoyable, they are not the seasonal focuses that should take precedence in our Christian schools. Instead, let’s equip ourselves to redeem every season, month, and day to Biblically immerse our schools, classrooms, and selves with He who only breathes wisdom, knowledge, purpose, and eternal life. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We cordially invite you to join us for a time of recovery, reflection, rest, and renewal at our REAP Conference. Let this summer be the season you not only find rest, but revival, as you and your school work to purely focus on resetting your school’s mission and vision on Him, education’s first love. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For more information, please contact tonya gordon at tgordon@renewanation.org</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fW0-NXN8xrKSj5xe0csalVvo8FC3pz_T0mkoUme9EX6x2-iyQGjCt_YYiI3xg0beOPyT-x6dlJKaEclniIp0ZM98Tt_29qMvC_0nu4FP_rspxGEPZZOoyuaMLuVqBS_O_x2bFtu95yGi/s1924/REAP_Logo_4C+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1924" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fW0-NXN8xrKSj5xe0csalVvo8FC3pz_T0mkoUme9EX6x2-iyQGjCt_YYiI3xg0beOPyT-x6dlJKaEclniIp0ZM98Tt_29qMvC_0nu4FP_rspxGEPZZOoyuaMLuVqBS_O_x2bFtu95yGi/w220-h87/REAP_Logo_4C+%25282%2529.png" width="220" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comRoanoke, VA, USA37.2709704 -79.94142668.9607365638211576 -115.0976766 65.581204236178849 -44.7851766tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-2336022399329729542021-03-30T09:00:00.001-04:002021-03-30T09:00:01.003-04:00Why Worldview Matters<span id="docs-internal-guid-9ec566a5-7fff-e875-9634-1008f41f22dd"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: center;"> </p><p> <img height="180" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WxpkUR8T44TEU19EhGdeuXwRQwQsI3Qlu0gCDTGFbeOQ4_cRFNAWdxUyuR63vtNKTDs1NQuVQTFhORH0VHfLa2k5Oyh5ra1Mq51758ZijcE_KVNNOAMetPCORNuiim9D802bCi0=w354-h180" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="354" /></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello Friends,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s post features Dr. Josh Mulvihill, the Executive Director of RenewaNation’s Church and Family Ministry. He served as a pastor for nearly 20 years and helped launch The Legacy Coalition, a ministry that equips grandparents to pass faith on to future generations. He holds a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is the author of </span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical</span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grandparenting</span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preparing Children for Marriage</span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical Worldview: What It Is, Why It Matters, And How to Shape the Worldview of the Next Generation</span><span style="color: #0c3c60; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Josh is married to Jen, and they have five children. Please feel free to connect with Josh on Twitter at @DrJoshMulvihill. </span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Theodore Roosevelt</span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many Christian young people are unprepared to navigate the tidal wave of unbiblical ideas that confront them. If George Barna is correct, </span><a href="https://www.barna.com/research/five-myths-about-young-adult-church-dropouts/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">over 70% of Christian young people will reject their faith before they reach the age of 30</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We all know teenagers who have drifted and walked away from Christ. We never think that person could one day be our own child. When the pressure is turned up, our children will struggle if they don’t have confidence that comes from knowing what they believe and why they believe it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who is doing a better job of imparting their worldview to children, the world or the church</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? If we are honest, many churches and families are struggling to pass on a deep, lasting, actionable faith to future generations.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Athletics, academics, and the arts are often prioritized over the nurture of a child’s faith. Children may end up at a prestigious university or receive an athletic scholarship, but their faith lags far behind and leaves them vulnerable to the deception of the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">George Barna states, “A person’s worldview is primarily shaped and is firmly in place by the time someone reaches the age of thirteen; it is refined through experience during the teen and early adult years, and then it is passed on to others during their adult life. Such studies underscore the necessity of parents and other influencers being intentional in how they help develop the worldview of children.” High numbers of parents and grandparents are not developing their child’s worldview, and the spiritual vacuum is filled with cultural ideas and secular thought.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s why </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">worldview matters</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Biblical worldview is worthy of our attention and resources.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Below are six reasons why every family and church needs to help children develop a biblical worldview.</span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.68; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW:</span></h2><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Provides Wisdom for Life</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you have a parenting problem, where do you look for answers? When you want to learn how to grandparent, where do you turn for guidance? When you want teaching methods, where do you look for ideas? When you have a decision to make, where do you turn for wisdom?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through the power of God, we have “everything we need for life and godliness”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2 Pet 1:3). 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says, “The sacred writings are able to make you wise for salvation in Christ Jesus ... and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">equipped for every good work</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” The key word in these verses is the word “everything.” God has given us everything we need to do what he has commanded us in the Bible.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Today many believe in biblical authority, but fail to help our young people understand how the Bible is sufficient for life and work. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We confess its authority of scripture, but we fail to communicate its relevance.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When the rubber meets the road, often due to a lack of faith, we discount its ability to do what is necessary to draw unbelievers to Christ, enable us to grow in godliness, provide direction for our lives, and transform and revitalize society. In our day, the battle is against those who would have us use worldly means to do God’s work.”</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Develops the Foundation for a Lifelong Faith in Jesus</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps you’ve heard about the high number of young people who are dropping out of the church, walking away from their faith in Christ, and about the low numbers of young believers who have a biblical view of life. As a pastor to families for nearly twenty years, I’ve seen the following patterns develop:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical illiteracy</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Alarmingly high numbers of children raised in Christian homes do not know </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Bible teaches.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical confusion</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: High numbers of young Christians do not know </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> they should believe the teachings of the Bible instead of other views.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">immaturity</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: When young people encounter a different belief system, many do not know </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to defend their faith or explain the basic truths of the Bible.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What leads to lifelong faith for children? According to the apostle Paul, a Scripture-saturated, Bible-based upbringing of engaged faith shapes the beliefs of children.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Paul instructs Timothy, “Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from childhood</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you have been acquainted with the sacred writings” (2 Tim 3:14-15).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One of Paul’s goals for Timothy is firm belief which is the result of three things: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Timothy learned (biblical truth), </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> he learned from (parent, grandparent, and spiritual mentor), and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> he learned (being taught the Bible from childhood). Notice, the Bible is concerned with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> children learn, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> teaches children, and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> children are to learn</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we want children to live a godly life, for their entire life, then these are God’s methods toward that end.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Shapes Character and Conduct by Truth</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A common phrase used to communicate how to pass on faith to future generations is this, “Faith is caught, not taught.” It sounds spiritual. But it is an unfortunate perceived dichotomy. In the Bible, learning occurs relationally, experientially, and verbally. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Faith is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">caught</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">taught</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Faith is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">caught</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which is why we must be able to say to young people, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Faith is also </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">taught</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The Bible prioritizes teaching as the primary method of helping future generations know Christ and grow in maturity. Let’s explore a few passages (paraphrased) that command parents and grandparents to teach the truth of God’s Word to young people.</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teach</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> these things to your children and your children’s children (Deut 4:9).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You shall </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teach</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> them diligently to your children, and shall </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">talk</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> about them when you sit, walk, lie down, and when you rise (Deut 6:7).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hear, my son, your father’s </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instruction</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and forsake not your mother’s </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teaching</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Prov 1:8).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instruction</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the Lord (Eph 6:4).</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Older women ... are to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teach</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands. Older men ... </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">urge</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the younger men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:2-6).</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Parents and grandparents are to use the Bible to shape who a child becomes and how the child lives. This is the pattern and command of Scripture.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Defends Against Counterfeit Ideas</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A biblical worldview helps children defend their faith. Raising children today requires a Colossians 2:7-8 mindset: “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The strategy that Paul provides is simple. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are to teach the core truth of Scripture so that a Christian is established in the faith, then introduce a competing belief system and dismantle it by exposing why it is false.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When I teach kids, I refer to this as the Bible’s big truth and the world’s big lie.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In a post-Christian society, children are going to face strong opposition and competing belief systems, and unless they are rooted in the Bible, they will absorb the ideas of our day and assimilate to the beliefs of our culture. Our aim is to shape the beliefs of young people, and to do that, we must train children to defend their faith against deceptive and competing belief systems.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Answers the Big Questions of Life</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 16pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A biblical worldview answers the big questions children ask: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Who am I? What went wrong with the world? What is the solution? What is the purpose of life? What happens in the future?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Young people are hungry for truth and are searching for answers. They desire open and honest face-to-face conversations.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Young people want real answers and are attracted to authenticity. Due to an abundance of information, young people do not know what information is trustworthy; thus they have a prove-it-to-me mindset</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. One of the most compelling proofs for young people is an authentic life. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The individual that speaks the truth in love and practices what he or she preaches is incredibly influential in a young person’s life. Here are three suggestions to answer the spiritual questions children will have:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ask questions before children ask them</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Don’t be afraid to talk about difficult topics. Encourage children to think deeply about the truths of the Bible.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer with Scripture</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Encourage children to become a student of God’s Word. They either know the answer or know where to get the answer.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aim to be an askable parent, grandparent, pastor, or teacher</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Invite questions, take them seriously, and answer them diligently so that the child who is weighing the claims of the Bible will be persuaded to believe in Christ.</span></p></li></ul><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 16pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 3pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6. Equips Individuals for Service to Christ</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world does not need Christians who are culturally saturated. It needs agents of the gospel filled with the aroma of Christ. A biblical worldview not only shapes what a child believes but also equips the child to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, for the good of others and the glory of God through their future vocation. A biblical view of topics such as science, law, medicine, and education will provide the framework so that children can positively impact the world for Christ. A biblical worldview equips children to serve God using the gifts He has given them.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-67017190103085659712021-03-16T09:00:00.062-04:002021-03-16T09:00:00.365-04:00Radical Teaching<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello Friends,</span> </i></span></h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-c57a6bb8-7fff-eb74-c740-918f7339bf3d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sadly, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">adolescents, particularly Christian youths, are struggling to find their purpose and calling in life. The lack of theology of work instruction is a primary cause. Just recently, I learned of an unfortunate situation where a guest youth speaker asked high school students who had been called to church or Christian education ministry to come forward so that they could be prayed over at the altar, leaving those called differently in their seats. Having no prayers or acknowledgement offered to them, these students were left disillusioned with feelings of guilt and shame. Unfortunately, the spiritual emphasis they received that day was the understanding that what they had once believed to be their calling was less important and not considered Kingdom work. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christian education and the Church must recognize that this mindset only serves to propagate the secular sacred divide. Instead, all Christian ministries should be intent on clarifying the Dominion Mandate.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Future historians, engineers, doctors, nurses, math teachers, mechanics, construction workers, etc., whose heart is to truly glorify God through every facet of their chosen career, should be recognized and spiritually equipped for battle as cultural transformation soldiers. If we in Christian education and the church world truly believe in the criticality of imparting Biblical Worldview education, we must reform the skewed philosophies that continually discourage and hamper a multitude of young people who desire to bend back God’s Creation to its original design in their area of interest. </span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have a formidable generation of Kingdom-minded change agents poised to lead the next great awakening. May we not neglect this opportunity.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please read the following article first published in 2017 by our friend, Dr. Christian Overman, to learn more.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 250px; overflow: hidden; width: 188px;"><img height="250" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/criyaGh59GQGeFZtHGMMkRsfVBUz6Vm2SyVegQacC23uCVX-Fy10LpsKo3lYzguUJoY2R2DamFFLgsTYS_h4FCElTZlO5VF_KDxwAQxBCfoYk_zAC31murzcyWTGrOoX_m58Dif5" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="188" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Martin Luther spent portions of his life in seclusion. The establishment did not appreciate his efforts to drain the swamp of anti-biblical practices. This is a 1521 painting of Martin Luther disguised as "Jonker J</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>örg," an identity he took on while secluded at the Wartburg castle. This man looks haggard and stressed to me. He paid a high price for his passion. </b>(Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo by nevsepic.com.ua.)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the television series <i>Biography</i> addressed the question of the most important figure of the pa</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">st millennium, they placed Johann Gutenberg first, Isaac Newton second, and Martin Luther th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ird.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When members of the Religion Newswriters Association were asked to vote for the most significant religious story of the past 1000 years, the event that came out on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">top </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">took place in 1517, when Martin Luther went public with 95 propositions supporting his c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ontention that the Church's practice of selling "indulgences" (whereby people paid money to cut down their time in purgatory) was wrong and abusive, which, the newswriters said, “sparked a Protestant Reformation whose results are still being felt."</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have a lot to celebrate with respect to Luther's courage and the Reformation that ensued. Luther is often acknowledged for his role in restoring great truths such as "Scripture alone," the "priesthood of all believers," and "saved by grace, not by works." But what is not often mentioned in Evangelical circles is Luther's radical teaching on the sacredness of all vocations. </span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His teaching on this forgotten truth elevated the work of the milkmaid and the farmer to that of the pastor in the pulpit, and the monk in the monastery. Yes, this was</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> radical teaching!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few years ago, I had the privilege of video recording a conversation with Os Guinness, one of the most respected voices in the Evangelical world today, about the effects of the Reformation on Western culture, and specifically the effects of Martin Luther's radical teaching on work. </span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Doctrine of Vocation was a powerful driver in the early Reformation, but it has been largely forgotten today. It begs to be recovered, and, by God's grace, this is something Worldview Matters (and RenewaNation) and others are laboring to do. Our particular focus is on restoring theology of work to the standard curriculum of elementary and secondary schools, and to the hearts and minds of adults in the church.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An excellent book that deals specifically with Luther's Doctrine of Vocation is Gene Edward Veith, Jr's, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I highly recommend it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I invite you to view an edited version of my conversation with Os Guinness </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnVECZSMs34" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comRoanoke, VA, USA37.2709704 -79.9414266-16.140839027686447 -150.2539266 90 -9.6289266tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-52448084675390598802021-03-02T08:00:00.001-05:002021-03-02T08:00:01.823-05:00Breaking the Fallow Ground<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breaking the Fallow Ground</span></p><p><img height="243" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GwT_GCA8aUtO4PqluVkxyllsEOzFtSSZvLNUS7aTPALpPLfUOIwCFdtON_ybHrOM_8L7zbVkbvutE7A7Km6Xuf4wgOxGU8uu1Sl9kLoFgJY3YIYqQyYDiD--Sn8C4NQgFYCjXuZd" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="371" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4ddf5e96-7fff-7b48-3ad5-9de1b0ff3845"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -12pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is the time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NIV</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Caveat, cursive; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only a little while, sowing and reaping,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Caveat, cursive; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only a little while, our vigil keeping;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Caveat, cursive; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then we shall gather home, no more to sever,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Caveat, cursive; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clasped in eternal love, blest, blest forever.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Caveat, cursive; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Fanny Crosby</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello Friends,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The concept of unplowed or fallow ground can take on several meanings. Visually, it ushers in a picture of hardened soil suffering from a lack of close care. Weeds are crowding the space that once offered optimal conditions for harvest. The soil, no longer being bent back toward God’s original design, is sadly denied the fulfillment of its intended purpose.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unplowed or fallow ground can be symbolic of a life woefully misguided due to the absence of Biblical shepherding. Unwavering, unapologetic, scripturally-aligned shepherding ensures a God-glorifying, fulfilled life. Without such cultivation, there is high likelihood that weeds such as purposelessness, despair, entitlement, and vengefulness will choke out one’s God-ordained, inherent potential.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the beginning, God tasked parents, grandparents, and the family with this responsibility. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are the commands, decrees, and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children, and their children, and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deuteronomy 6:1-3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are to be steadily cultivating, through instruction and modeling, our children’s minds and hearts to follow, honor, and live for Him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -24pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6: 5-9</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s Word is unquestionably clear. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parents, grandparents, and family, please take a moment to self-reflect. If you have been blessed and charged by God with a child or children, then ask these critical questions. Is this a priority or an occasional preference? Is it daily or a couple of times a week/month/year? Are you equipping yourself well by praying, studying God’s Word, and growing in knowledge with other like-minded believers? Who are you trusting outside of your direct influence to come alongside you and pour God’s precepts and promises into your child’s mind and heart? How much concentrated time are you having with your child versus this outside entity?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultivation of the mind and heart is education. Today, the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> how</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> principles of educational philosophies and methodologies can create a great deal of contentious debate. Additionally, the educational choices society is afforded are numerous. To make wise decisions, we need to prayerfully seek God’s will, and recount His scriptural positions on instruction. Additionally, we must bear the charge He has entrusted, and responsibly take ownership of the choice. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a family chooses a public institution of learning, then a great deal of supervision, refutation of falsehoods, Christian legal advocacy, campus involvement, and intentional home and church-guided Biblical instruction is imperative. When homeschooling, a family must recognize the criticality of their child’s Biblical worldview instruction and well-rounded preparedness through curriculum choice, time management, and like-minded fellowship and collaboration. Choosing a private, Christian school must entail a thorough examination of whether its mission, vision, staff and student culture, leadership, curriculum, and classroom instruction are saturated in Biblical Worldview. This can only be discovered through tours, in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and textbook reviews. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No subject matter, textbook, literature, song, piece of art, play, sport, or lecture is neutral. Either it bears witness to God, or it directs a mind and heart subtly or openly away from Him. The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>how</b> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of education can be the most celebrated, sinister, or confusing aspect. It is the heartbeat of education. Currently, we are witnessing frequent reports of political and societal agendas being blatantly injected into public education’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>how</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, yet a vast amount of Christian homeschool and private educators are lamenting that they are ill-equipped and lack training on Biblical Worldview contextualization. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since its inception, RenewaNation has been blessed to inspire many Christian educators to the need of Biblical Worldview education. As God has connected us with phenomenal resources over the past few years, we will be taking Biblical Worldview educator training to the next level with the launch of our REAP (RenewaNation Educator Advancement Program) initiative. REAP is focused on equipping educators with the tools, resources, and skills to cultivate Biblical education in their homes, classrooms, and churches. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The official launch commences with our 2021 “Sowing for the Harvest” conference. Guest speakers Dr. Roger Erdvig, Dr. Keith McCurdy, and RenewaNation’s Jeff Keaton will lead dynamic main sessions that will encourage and challenge educators and administrators to examine afresh their educational environment and approach. Breakout sessions on how to Biblically contextualize Elementary, Middle, and High school specific subject matter will prove invaluable with planning for the upcoming school year. The “Sowing for the Harvest” conference is just the beginning of REAP’s new and exciting educator training and equipping resources. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>There is a battle being waged for the hearts and minds of our children. We must be prepared to cultivate and harvest a mighty multitude for the cause of Christ!</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -27pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For more information about REAP and our 2021 "Sowing for the Harvest" conference, go to <a href="http://renewanation.org/reap" target="_blank">Renewanation.org/REAP</a> or email me at <a href="mailto:tgordon@renewanation.org" target="_blank">tgordon@renewanation.org</a>.<br /></span></p></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comRoanoke, VA, USA37.2709704 -79.94142668.9607365638211576 -115.0976766 65.581204236178849 -44.7851766tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-86232195112346493832021-02-16T12:00:00.002-05:002021-02-16T12:00:02.246-05:00Hope Remains<p><br /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ccc373e8-7fff-18e9-7715-deca6599e83c"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDPtc5fmJ5td1z6dIRdtsLIx7egQieJ_kUWSHc4JTYz99QcOGAcEhfdfuT2Xpc9ytjauNQn3-xpkzmlK2ivn89JH2831EIRe3lrBaXhgrG8ARcm1iQ5ncEZWTNPlDAGkzNUUZA7JKsIU-/s1920/cross+with+sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDPtc5fmJ5td1z6dIRdtsLIx7egQieJ_kUWSHc4JTYz99QcOGAcEhfdfuT2Xpc9ytjauNQn3-xpkzmlK2ivn89JH2831EIRe3lrBaXhgrG8ARcm1iQ5ncEZWTNPlDAGkzNUUZA7JKsIU-/s320/cross+with+sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Revelation 21:4</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J.R.R. Tolkien</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello Friends,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the wake of the spiritual, physical, social, technological, and cultural battles being waged upon us individually and collectively, sometimes the strength of words cannot accurately describe the condition of one’s heart. The gravity of aching and longing is simply too great. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, there is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hope</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> defines hope as "a desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wish</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">desire</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">therefore always gives</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> pleasure </span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">joy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; whereas </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wish </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> desire</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The present use of the word hope has unfortunately been relegated to the “<i>wish</i> or <i>desire</i>” level. It is being used incorrectly. We subjectively <i>wish </i>or <i>desire</i> for all things right and good, but our <b>hope,</b> at all times, should be in Christ alone. When hardship and devastation press in, we rightly petition our desires through prayer, yet all the while maintain hope that our Creator, Savior, and Comforter knows what’s best. It is with hope that we endure life’s battles with a “peace that passeth all understanding”. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our todays and tomorrows desperately need to be reminded of this truth.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the coming weeks, we will be discussing our Biblical responsibilities as believers in this broken world. Additionally, we will celebrate examples of the awe-inspiring Kingdom work that is taking place far and wide. It is vital that we, as believers, continue to educate ourselves and encourage one another Biblically, while highlighting and rejoicing over individuals’ commitments to sharing the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hope</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the Gospel. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a moment, journey with me into the HIStory of a young man of twenty-five.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His heart was centered on the hope of the Gospel.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having personally endured physical obstacles throughout his life, this young man’s focus was on medical missions. His love of Christ was evident and his zeal for service contagious. He was attending a Christian university to prepare for his calling. With all that he had gone through and suffered, he faithfully testified to the unwavering goodness and hope that Jesus Christ had always provided him. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">On February 14th, he walked into his Savior’s embrace.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <b>Hope’s culmination is Heaven.</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worldwide accounts of struggle and loss are overwhelming.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope remains.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Countless individuals in our country, state, and community are, at this very moment, in the midst of the fight of their lives. While their names or circumstances may be unknown, collective prayer from the body of Christ is powerful.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope remains.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are currently facing difficulty, know that you are being prayed for and are loved.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope remains.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 15:13</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">tonya c. gordon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="mailto:tgordon@renewanation.org">tgordon@renewanation.org</a></span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-20588871779228295792021-02-05T20:00:00.001-05:002021-02-05T20:00:05.804-05:00The Same TruthFebruary 5, 2021<br /><br /><b>Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17</b><br /><br />In The Four Loves, CS Lewis asserts that “<i>what draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.</i>”<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2IL_M-y3bsXgk5PaRaNgHx-tDhTTfK3npQdl1HP8iFbeQc5vnu5CwfRmmsOhYa1s3TjQ3S86IBKGwiNUuf2qWga7eS0hxMygN0shYSdsNMTKXLzO_UvECj-A8h5O1wJbZNhXtqfGnEiu/s2048/sam-balye-WNVnnHHcBeM-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2IL_M-y3bsXgk5PaRaNgHx-tDhTTfK3npQdl1HP8iFbeQc5vnu5CwfRmmsOhYa1s3TjQ3S86IBKGwiNUuf2qWga7eS0hxMygN0shYSdsNMTKXLzO_UvECj-A8h5O1wJbZNhXtqfGnEiu/s320/sam-balye-WNVnnHHcBeM-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><i>Photo by Sam Balye</i></span></div><br />Hello friends,<br /><br />Even though we have never met, we are bound by the belief in the infallible truth of God’s Word and the collective agreement that one must possess a Biblical Worldview to properly navigate this earthly journey. Dr. Overman has educated and challenged each of us to critically examine our culture and its assumptions, so that we may be better equipped to view all of God’s creation and the stewardship of it through a Biblical Worldview lens.<br /><br />My name is Tonya Gordon, and I am the Director of the RenewaNation Educators Advancement Program (REAP). I have been blessed with the stewardship of the Worldview Matters blog, as well as some other new initiatives that we will be sharing in the very near future. If you are unfamiliar with RenewaNation, please go to <a href="http://www.renewanation.org/">www.renewanation.org</a> to learn more about our vision, mission, and the ministry divisions that God has employed to carry out His Kingdom work. Every other Tuesday, our Founder and President, Jeff Keaton, sends out a RenewaNation electronic newsletter, a collection of informative Biblical Worldview articles. Please be sure to subscribe to it through our website to receive next week’s edition. RenewaNation’s Worldview Matters Blog will be featured every other week, opposite the newsletter release. <br /><br />Again, we greatly appreciate and are excited to carry the Worldview Matters torch! Dr. Overman is a longtime friend and partner of RenewaNation. Please join us in celebrating and thanking him for the exemplary and life-changing work he has invested in us all! <br /><br /><i>What can I say but a huge thank you to Dr. Christian Overman for his many years of service to the ministry of Worldview Matters. Like me, many of you have been reading his weekly blog post for years. It has always been brief, challenging and helpful. God has used Dr. Overman in a special way in my life. His biblical teaching on the theology of work has literally changed the way I see the world. I actually am more hopeful than ever when I think about how God wants us to influence every sphere of society with His great design and plan. - Jeff Keaton</i><br /><br />As we journey together, let us pray for and encourage one another! If you have questions about RenewaNation or Biblical Worldview education, please contact me at <a href="mailto:tgordon@renewanation.org">tgordon@renewanation.org</a>. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Tonya C. Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015189395446951571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-35079264305846783862021-01-29T12:00:00.005-05:002021-01-29T15:53:10.258-05:00For Such A Time As This!<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimT8_PX1MM9dV4Ku_EMgqVn4REtyzv86l3mx0n1hyphenhyphenJW0AsUPH4r-m2XWInQulk_hOAcHFGPBL8AGSTP7GSLWF-I91l8ieAz24a7mMOaRNyUOWLeh2TYPdfwmhtt3yckTQbRrFE-ZUw6EA/s991/pexels-c-technical-6557754.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="991" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimT8_PX1MM9dV4Ku_EMgqVn4REtyzv86l3mx0n1hyphenhyphenJW0AsUPH4r-m2XWInQulk_hOAcHFGPBL8AGSTP7GSLWF-I91l8ieAz24a7mMOaRNyUOWLeh2TYPdfwmhtt3yckTQbRrFE-ZUw6EA/w400-h349/pexels-c-technical-6557754.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Not quitting the game. Just passing the puck.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">It is a great pleasure to announce today that I (Christian Overman) am turning the reins of the “Worldview Matters” blog over to </span><a href="https://www.renewanation.org/">RenewaNation.</a><span style="color: #800180;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Last month I
turned 71. For several years leading up to my septuagenarian era, we searched for
an organization that could carry on the work of Worldview Matters. The
Lord sovereignly connected us with Jeff Keaton, Founder and President of RenewaNation, and we cannot think of an organization (and a person) I’d rather be turning things
over to than Renewanation and Jeff Keaton!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">RenewaNation
is not only taking over the weekly blog content, and the training materials we have
developed, but also the name, “Worldview Matters.” We are thankful find an organization
that carries such a like-minded passion for training teachers, parents, pastors
and students in Biblical Worldview thought and practice. </span><span style="color: #800180; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tonya Gordon,
at RenewaNation, will be at the helm of the weekly blog, determining its content.
I asked Tonya to write a brief description of what the Worldview Matters blog
readers can expect to see in the future:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“RenewaNation
has a heart to continue carrying the torch of educating people in seeing all of
life through a Biblical Worldview lens, and using the Worldview Matters blog as
an equipping platform for each of our Divisions at RenewaNation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">We will
provide articles and resources for Christian schools, as well as for families
who have felt called to Homeschool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
will also feature testimonies to the transformational power of formulating a
Biblical Worldview perspective through both the </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.ilumened.org/">iLumendEd
Academy</a><i> staff and students' experiences, as well as provide a platform
for other individuals to share their own Biblical Worldview accounts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The blog will
also be an avenue where we provide articles and resources from our Church and Family
Ministry led by Dr. Josh Mulvihill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It will
also be the launching ground for great Biblical Worldview champions to share
their expertise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">We
prayerfully go forth utilizing the wealth of Biblical Worldview training that
you have poured into each of us to champion the cause for the glory of our
Lord!”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you,
Tonya!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many blessings
on you, and RenewaNation, <b>f</b></span></span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">or such
a time as this!</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-58797618028768192052021-01-22T11:30:00.003-05:002021-01-22T11:54:21.563-05:00A Model City For Applied Christianity<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUlrifaI_ThA1hPlxXL2otw5jsjEjUoagmvT9CXZLaKHhjWvRRFpaTL5l9m-xOoEeJvJva1HbARLd14urN8tNaj0mqjRc_mNIkHwa9xrj_OwUSGVpddzd5NCuqN8YraACurFBb0n1k4w/s2048/pexels-aneta-foub%25C3%25ADkov%25C3%25A1-2336927.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUlrifaI_ThA1hPlxXL2otw5jsjEjUoagmvT9CXZLaKHhjWvRRFpaTL5l9m-xOoEeJvJva1HbARLd14urN8tNaj0mqjRc_mNIkHwa9xrj_OwUSGVpddzd5NCuqN8YraACurFBb0n1k4w/w400-h266/pexels-aneta-foub%25C3%25ADkov%25C3%25A1-2336927.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Is there a lesson here?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">In the 1500's, the walls of
the city of Geneva were in disrepair, the people were poor, and the condition
of the church was deplorable. Proof? Priests operated houses of prostitution.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The people ran the bishop of Geneva out of town in
1530. William Farel, a French evangelist, came in 1531. Preaching in the
marketplace, he cried out, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;">"We must reform the church in order to reform the
nation!"</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Farel sought out John
Calvin, imploring him to come to Geneva to apply the theology he had written
about in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Institutes of Religion:</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"May God curse you and your studies</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> if you do not join me here in the work He has called you to!"</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;">Thomas Bloomer notes that Calvin came to rebuild Geneva on three principles:</span></span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white;">1. Preaching the Gospel:</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "...so that people would be saved and
start to be transformed and the church would be restored to biblical purity."</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white;">2. Teaching:</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "...so that people would know how to
live, the authorities would know how to govern, and all would know how to work
in their different spheres."</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white;">3. Accountability:</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "...so that the teaching would not just
be theoretical but applied in all areas of life."</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Geneva, once called “the smelliest city of Europe,”
became <b>a model city for applied Christianity,</b> from the way banks operated,
to how shoes were made, and children were brought up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Geneva became known as, “the
city on a hill,” referring to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-16: </span><i><span style="color: #800180;">“You are the
light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light
a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in
the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they
may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” </span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">John Knox came to study what
Calvin was doing, and took what he learned to Scotland. England was influenced
by Geneva, and brought this influence to North America, where John Winthrop
used the phrase “a city on a hill” to describe his vision for the Massachusetts
Bay colony to become a shining light for the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">We recommend Bloomer's essay, <i>Calvin and Geneva: Nation-Building Missions<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">,</span></i> </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/a51a6a77-07d1-4525-8e6a-96cb0856ac94/downloads/Calvin_and_Geneva_Bloomer.pdf?ver=1611334402950">here.</a></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Geneva’s
revitalization through the 3 principles mentioned above is to be remembered
today—and taught in our history classes. </span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div><div><div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.53px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 6.76px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="goog-inline-block google-plus-share-container" style="display: inline-block; padding-left: 4.06px; position: relative; vertical-align: top;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-19848732371004479082021-01-15T09:00:00.001-05:002021-01-15T09:33:43.866-05:00Have We Lost Our Christian Mind?<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd53k7d0WzJO1xMOvTJJCpKOAK2Mi6vSOb_dwSkwgds7d7VKZoxNVXpLKDSlnjdPl4XaHr0AQt8DMtld0RhchNsgxFdC7sj4BQJ2jOp8Z2qN9_Y2WWPW_uwpPCGTeiP2pg4U30Ptrq3iQ/s2048/pexels-cottonbro-4553169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1903" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd53k7d0WzJO1xMOvTJJCpKOAK2Mi6vSOb_dwSkwgds7d7VKZoxNVXpLKDSlnjdPl4XaHr0AQt8DMtld0RhchNsgxFdC7sj4BQJ2jOp8Z2qN9_Y2WWPW_uwpPCGTeiP2pg4U30Ptrq3iQ/w371-h400/pexels-cottonbro-4553169.jpg" width="371" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Have we lost our Christian mind?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Generally speaking, <i>yes. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our culture has forgotten how to “think Christianly” about most
things. We may “think Christianly” about church, and Bible study, but it gets
fuzzy beyond that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Having divorced Christian thought from the study of mathematics,
history and language in school, it’s no surprise our culture divorces Christian
thought from business, civics, and writing skills after graduation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Thinking Christianly” is a learned
skill we can intentionally develop and refine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must teach our children/students to do the
same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">How?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">CAUTION: The following requires more than 60 seconds. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">First, understand that “thinking Christianly” requires viewing
any topic in the <i>context </i>of a biblically-informed <i>bigger picture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Seeing topics in context is the key to
understanding <i>anything </i>properly. All topics have a <i>context. </i>Often, the
context is as important as the topic itself. Facts are never neutral, because all
facts have a context. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If you look at the photo below, it is easy to misinterpret the object because there's not enough <i>context </i>to decipher its meaning:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9Sa_sM2ZdaEJIDXYj6d21Ur9kv3GoqD3mq83No5Gr98w38JIJg1oZG8giZBMH2W5iEZ2hV_fhdGqBODgrxya5c7R78M1ydS8rBtzSRP96Y2fS4yBE7QidTyhvG4nfLW7aoiDzD2tZxs/s1055/small+photo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1055" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9Sa_sM2ZdaEJIDXYj6d21Ur9kv3GoqD3mq83No5Gr98w38JIJg1oZG8giZBMH2W5iEZ2hV_fhdGqBODgrxya5c7R78M1ydS8rBtzSRP96Y2fS4yBE7QidTyhvG4nfLW7aoiDzD2tZxs/w320-h240/small+photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But if you see the larger context, its meaning becomes
clear. Scroll down to view the bigger picture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">It’s the “bigger picture” of Biblical Truth that provides the
necessary <i>context</i> for understanding <i>anything</i> rightly. Specifically, the “bigger picture” is the Biblical view of <i>God, Creation, Humanity,
Moral Order </i>and<i> Purpose.</i></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here are 101 Biblical Truths to get started: <u><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/a51a6a77-07d1-4525-8e6a-96cb0856ac94/downloads/1ckikqt6f_870179.pdf?ver=1601405730247">short form</a></span></u> or <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/a51a6a77-07d1-4525-8e6a-96cb0856ac94/downloads/1ckikrn05_174077.pdf?ver=1601405730247">long form</a></u>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Step 1: </span>Think about which of the 101 biblical Truths given
above have a <i>direct relationship</i> to your topic at hand. Think deeply
about it. Take your time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Step 2: </span>After doing Step 1, ask yourself (or your children/students)
a few thought-provoking questions to put your topic into the
context of a biblically-shaped “bigger picture.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here are some questions to consider (not all of these
questions will fit every topic, but choose the ones most relevant to your topic): <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://websites.godaddy.com/blob/a51a6a77-07d1-4525-8e6a-96cb0856ac94/downloads/1bkpqej70_9915.pdf?2d9124f8?ver=1601405730247">click here</a></u>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Step 3:</span> Discuss these questions around the dinner table, or
use them as conversation starters in the classroom. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here is an example of “contextualizing” the topic of <i>plants,
</i>putting plants into the larger context of a biblical
worldview, through a teaching template called, “The Conversation Stater:” <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://websites.godaddy.com/blob/a51a6a77-07d1-4525-8e6a-96cb0856ac94/downloads/1bkpr929e_365544.pdf?ad3f0e47">click here</a></u>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With tools like this, we can re-cultivate a “Christian mind” in ourselves and the next generation. If we’re willing to carve out the time for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Some things are worth carving out time for, aren't they?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #800180;"> </span> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUBtFcD8ya75h26Os-yKd7qQiPGzyfdoQKfcme4rFYSfzbPEYlr5D6JvqO67AJ9rnJClLY8c2or2-nivHDUgEwBctyefJeFSDShFSkJ1-qNv7ghTEbpg9EFOYfYaK8NZCoq__Yjvcm0E/s1053/large+photo.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1053" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUBtFcD8ya75h26Os-yKd7qQiPGzyfdoQKfcme4rFYSfzbPEYlr5D6JvqO67AJ9rnJClLY8c2or2-nivHDUgEwBctyefJeFSDShFSkJ1-qNv7ghTEbpg9EFOYfYaK8NZCoq__Yjvcm0E/w320-h239/large+photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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font-size: medium;"><b><br />Noah Webster (1758-1843), the "Father of American Scholarship and Education," said education was "useless without the Bible."<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> <br /><br />In the Preface to his Dictionary of 1828, Webster wrote: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><i>"In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed."</i></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">John Adams, the 2<sup>nd</sup> President of the United
States, declared: <i>“…we have no government armed with power capable of contending
with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was
made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the
government of any other.”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If you think the “morality and religion” Adams had in mind could
be something other than morality and religion as defined by the Bible and Christianity,
you may be under the age of 25. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Adams realized the future of the American system rested upon
the continuing existence of a body of people who practice self-government under
the God of the Bible. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Noah Webster, Founding Father called, “The
Schoolmaster of the Nation,” once wrote: <i>“…the education of youth should be
watched with the most scrupulous attention. Education, in a great measure,
forms the moral characters of men, and morals are the basis of government.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Webster recognized the Bible is <i>“that book which the
benevolent Creator has furnished for the express purpose of guiding human
reason in the path of safety, and the only book which can remedy, or
essentially mitigate, the evils of a licentious world.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In a letter written on October 25, 1836, to David McClure, Webster
wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">“</span><i><span style="color: #800180;">No truth is more evident to my mind than that the
Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the
rights and privileges of a free people….The foundation of all free government
and all social order must be laid in families and in the discipline of youth.
Young persons must not only be furnished with knowledge, but they must be
accustomed to subordination and subjected to the authority and influence of
good principles.…And any system of education…which limits instruction to the
arts and sciences, and rejects the aids of religion in forming the character of
citizens, is essentially defective.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many people are asking, <b>“What has happened to America?” </b>Noah
Webster gave us clues. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In 1787, when the Constitution was first drafted, it was not
unreasonable to think U.S. citizens <i>could</i> be the kind of “moral
and religious people” necessary for the American Republic to work. In the church-established
schools of the day (nearly <i>all</i> schools were church-established then), early Americans
became Bible-conscious, and they learned what “self-government under God” is all about. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where are the Noah Websters of today? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You’ll be hearing from them in the days ahead.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.53px; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-44947183250927466302021-01-01T12:30:00.010-05:002021-01-01T17:07:52.525-05:00Where The Most Resplendent Music Came From<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztc3yE5gHwBXkbzcfhb4DdUyK95SnT7N_EMcIhLUB-z1kdbjwKIEpY-IM7OnWDIcp4hPhrBxP7CJEcFVw7fc8Mn0qe397A8oa1X5Z4ECi9pWE1dwSS8ZkYQqRZhe3yJNR8kzNMS7MX6o/s2048/pexels-pixabay-210764.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztc3yE5gHwBXkbzcfhb4DdUyK95SnT7N_EMcIhLUB-z1kdbjwKIEpY-IM7OnWDIcp4hPhrBxP7CJEcFVw7fc8Mn0qe397A8oa1X5Z4ECi9pWE1dwSS8ZkYQqRZhe3yJNR8kzNMS7MX6o/w400-h266/pexels-pixabay-210764.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>What is the origin of "Western" music?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You can tell a lot about a worldview by the kind of music it
produces.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If you visit a Muslim mosque, you will not see an organ or a
piano. No choir will sing, nor will the congregation. Devout followers of Mohammad believe music is <i>heram,</i>
which means "illegitimate." Westernized Muslims are not as strict
when it comes to music, but in fundamentalist Islam, music-making is
intentionally absent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Buddhists view life as a cycle of suffering caused by human
desire. Salvation, for the Buddhist, is escape from suffering through the extinction
of desire. <i>Joy To The World</i> is not something you’ll hear in a Buddhist
temple. There’s no living God to sing about. The closest thing to music coming from
a Buddhist temple is a single-note drone. Some Buddhists now incorporate
Western-style music into their practice, but this is a relatively recent phenomenon. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Westerners” take melody and harmony for granted. But
"Western" music did not spring from a vacuum. It came from Christianity.
Any music history 101 course taught at any university in America will tell you
this, unless they’re re-writing music history, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"Western" music came out of worship by monks who birthed
single-voice melody, called Plainsong, which later developed into Gregorian
Chant, starting in the 3rd century. In the 9th century, two-voice melodies appeared, and then polyphony [multi-voice music]. Out of this came Handel, Bach,
Beethoven, and Brahms. That’s the remarkable, true story of how “Western"
music developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The next time you listen to your favorite pop tune, you can thank Christian monks
for making it possible. Better yet, thank the living God who inspired the monks
to create polyphony! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">They saw music as a means of worshipping the living God. “Western”
harmony sprang out of a worldview of hope and joy, producing polyphony as an
expression of praise, thanksgiving and celebration. Multi-voice harmony
made worship come alive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Think what this world would be like if Christ had never been
born. As C.S. Lewis described it, <i>“Always winter, never Christmas.”</i> Would the extraordinary Handel's Messiah be here? Don’t kid yourself! Not even Johnny Cash music would be here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's an unpardonable postmodern sin to compare the Christian worldview with others and find the others wanting. All worldviews are supposed to be equally grand. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the music
tells a different story. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We’ve just forgotten <b>where the most resplendent music came
from.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Start your year off with some Chopin: <a href="https://youtu.be/DhQ5KpeZMEo">https://youtu.be/DhQ5KpeZMEo</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-4488146120786474672020-12-18T15:30:00.007-05:002020-12-18T16:58:08.105-05:00An Urgent Appeal<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50icHOU0khJromYs-C4tiJUqCc97mPhpQKI_VoFo834Egv_Pl0pm-keLIcH2wEyEsgN4by56xQiZXqpUhayGOlm-2g4M9XqHtxvvlZfCyCQe8ec5QydTB_HBIJ06bPJM4teX4ai8L1OY/s388/cover.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50icHOU0khJromYs-C4tiJUqCc97mPhpQKI_VoFo834Egv_Pl0pm-keLIcH2wEyEsgN4by56xQiZXqpUhayGOlm-2g4M9XqHtxvvlZfCyCQe8ec5QydTB_HBIJ06bPJM4teX4ai8L1OY/w264-h400/cover.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The average published book sells 3,000 copies in its lifetime. The book shown above has sold over 5,500 copies through Amazon in its first 3 months. After 119 Amazon reviews, its rating is 4.9 out of 5. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We first posted about this book on September 18, and we are repeating that post today because we believe this book is particularly needed, "for such a time as this." </span></b></p></span></b><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Few will report it, and the mainstream media will ignore it. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But <a href="https://renewanation.org">Renewanation</a> has done the research, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and is breaking the news here today: </span><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial;">George Floyd and the policeman involved in his death were of the</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial;"> same race.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And there's more to the story: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">A study published by the <a href="https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=2228">Bureau of Justice Statistics</a> found that between 2003 and 2009, an average of 535 arrest-related deaths <i>per year</i> occurred</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> (42% white, 32% black). </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet, none of these deaths sparked the kind of chaos we've seen in recent months. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;">What's going on here?</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">More importantly: </span><i><span style="color: #800180;">what's the solution?</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To understand what's going on, we must understand the ideology behind the problem, and we must look to The Book (The Bible) for lasting solutions. </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We must understand the difference between "Social Justice" and "Biblical Justice,"</span><b style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">for these two "justices" are fundamentally unequal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>In his newly published book, Scott Allen examines the <i>biblical</i> differences in plain and </span><span>compassionate English. His much-needed work is titled, </span><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Social-Justice-Not-Biblical-ebook/dp/B08HW2CPTL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Why+Biblical+Justice+Scott+Allen&qid=1600277843&s=movies-tv&sr=1-1">Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice:<b> </b>An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis.</a></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Marvin Olasky says about this book: <i>"We are a wounded nation now, and Christians need to bind up wounds and not make new ones. Instead of scorning those who push for social justice, we should recognize that leftist ideologies have twisted the concept--and some Christians have naively gone along with the distortion. Scott Allen offers an alternative that's crucial to consider."</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Darrow Miller, co-founder of Disciple Nations Alliance, put it this way: <i>"Scott, who has dedicated his life to fighting poverty, hunger, and injustice, has done us all a service in reflecting on the biblical concept of justice in comparison with the ideology of social justice."</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>In this timely work, Scott Allen not only provides a well-documented analysis of the issues, but a clear trumpet sound for moving forward. </span>Not only does he clarify what a biblically informed Christ-follower must be <i>against</i>, when it comes to "Social Justice," but what a biblically informed Christ-follower must be <i>for, </i>when it comes to "Biblical Justice."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The book truly is <b>an urgent appeal. </b>With an urgent need.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Get your copy </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Social-Justice-Not-Biblical-ebook/dp/B08HW2CPTL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Why+Biblical+Justice+Scott+Allen&qid=1600277843&s=movies-tv&sr=1-1">here.</a> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(Renewantion has no financial gain.)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Stuck on the first paragraph?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>If you trace the history of George Floyd and the policeman, you will discover they go back to the same grand-grand-grand...grandparents: Adam and Eve. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There's <i>one</i> race: the<i> human </i>race.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That's biblical.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-48961541931569223902020-12-11T10:00:00.002-05:002020-12-11T11:06:05.513-05:00Got Joy?<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZZiI5o9flpglSg-_kxBA99Gh95wv7B0dp6dbPME_6MmDA2Wxn2hTXUmU7dUiJH9FI20BRDcPM6Ei3MpEYhoLX4WfIYQxLbiCc8F2FJwzlPUeRc1k9jZgQ_2_h4XUQlv0ZX4Qp3WmJ5Y/s992/pexels-bekka-mongeau-22221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="992" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZZiI5o9flpglSg-_kxBA99Gh95wv7B0dp6dbPME_6MmDA2Wxn2hTXUmU7dUiJH9FI20BRDcPM6Ei3MpEYhoLX4WfIYQxLbiCc8F2FJwzlPUeRc1k9jZgQ_2_h4XUQlv0ZX4Qp3WmJ5Y/w400-h296/pexels-bekka-mongeau-22221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 17.3333px;">With all that has happened in 2020, the word "JOY" is not one that would likely come up in a word-association game. Unless, that is, you were the Apostle Paul, who endured great suffering and pain in this life, yet repeatedly admonished Christ's followers to be joyful in the midst of hardship. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">The great Christmas carol <i>Joy To The World </i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">is based on Psalm 98:
"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth, break forth in song...for He
is coming to judge the earth, with righteousness He shall judge the world, and
the peoples with equity." </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">Some say this song is not
about Christ's birth in Bethlehem, but about Christ's </span><i style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;">second</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt;"> coming, and the joy
which will occur when He comes to set all things straight. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But <i>Joy To The World</i> makes as much sense in celebration of Christ's <i>first</i> coming.
While anticipating His Kingdom-yet-to-come, we can celebrate His
Kingdom-already-here. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before Bethlehem, I Chronicles 29:11 asserted: "<i>...all that is in
heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted
as head over all," </i>and b</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">efore Christ's second coming, Acts 10:36 placed Jesus' universal authority in the present tense: "He <i>is </i>Lord
of<i> all." </i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;">It's true Christ's Kingdom is
not universally recognized right now </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;">on Planet Earth. There
are weeds in His field, which He did not plant (see Matthew 13). They will be
bundled and burned someday, but the domain over which Christ is King (that is,
His "King-domain"), includes both heaven </span><i style="background-color: transparent; color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;">and</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;"> earth,</span><i style="background-color: transparent; color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;"> </i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;">right
now</span><i style="background-color: transparent; color: #800180; font-size: 13pt;">. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The whole field is His. </i>The fact that not every human heart has
<i>received</i> Him as King doesn't alter the fact that He <i>is.</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: purple; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the world's
greatest Christmas gift: that Christ came in human form "to make
His blessings flow, far as the curse is found." In the middle of the mess.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;">His blessings are intended to flow through people </span><i style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;">today</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;"> who
are reconciled to God and reconciling all things to Him, including the things
of earth, </span><i style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;">far as the curse is found.</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, by God's
grace, let's occupy<b> </b>until He comes again, pulling up
"bramble bushes" and planting "fruit trees" before<i> </i>Christ's second coming arrives. In the midst of hardship and pain.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Got joy?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joy to the Earth! The
Savior reigns. Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks,
hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy!</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt;">Far as the curse is
found. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: 13pt;"></span></p><p><br /></p><br /><p></p>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-36240809035061535032020-12-03T11:00:00.029-05:002020-12-03T11:02:22.361-05:00A Virtual Open House<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV7a3t0wTmfqQwbhNwPfzgcCB1uWwg_MgkswiOJfoNODk4ftdJqe64IJnLH41lyUbx9PHTTx_nOJ8Ll5jSsV93efGx19VJQsegJjh3UJZAQcOvmhw2Zvr1UxZ0i5tMTbz8TqaZFyB-yM/s794/pexels-jessica-lewis-1652394.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="794" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV7a3t0wTmfqQwbhNwPfzgcCB1uWwg_MgkswiOJfoNODk4ftdJqe64IJnLH41lyUbx9PHTTx_nOJ8Ll5jSsV93efGx19VJQsegJjh3UJZAQcOvmhw2Zvr1UxZ0i5tMTbz8TqaZFyB-yM/w400-h313/pexels-jessica-lewis-1652394.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You are cordially invited to join <u><span style="color: #0000cc;"><a href="https://www.ilumened.org/">iLumenEd Academy</a></span></u>
for <b>a</b> <b>Virtual Open House</b> tomorrow, Friday, December 4, at <i>either </i>10:00am
Eastern (7:00am Pacific), <i>or</i> 6:00pm Eastern (3:00pm Pacific).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #9900cc;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>This is a free webinar, so
please share this with your friends, family, and schools that may be
interested. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">iLumenEd Academy offers K-12 academic training in the context
of a biblical worldview, with à la carte courses and full-time programs. iLumenEd Academy both partners with Christian schools to offer supplemental courses to enhance
student experience, and also provides full programs for in-home learning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #9900cc;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">During the Virtual Open House,
you will hear from key staff members, parents, and heads of schools. You will
also get a sneak peek of virtual live classrooms, learning platforms,
curriculum, accreditation, tuition costs, scholarship opportunities, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You will receive information regarding the spring 2021
semester as well as the 2021-22 school year for Kindergaten through 12th-grade students.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You must register in advance, and you will receive a
confirmation email after registration. Click on the links below to register. We
recommend you do this now.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yjt5K8QRTj-d5a54qYkYJg">Register
here for Friday, December 4, 2020, at 10:00am Eastern, 7:00am Pacific</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u57VUnAOR7iav2oZX7rmdw">Register
here for Friday, December 4, 2020, at 6:00pm Eastern, 3:00pm Pacific</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div><p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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increasingly strong interest from churches </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">desiring to launch Christian schools. It isn’t just the
Coronavirus, however, that is driving this interest.</span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In response,
Renewanation is currently working on a “Micro School Start-up Program" that
will help hundreds of churches (hopefully thousands of them) to get God-honoring
micro schools up and running quickly and efficiently for their communities. It's Renewanation's own "operation warp-speed."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What’s a
“micro school?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Micro schools
are not a new concept. Bill Gates has been involved in launching them around
the world, and many see this approach as the “wave of the future” for education.
Micro schools have been described as a “reinvention of the one-room school
house.” Class sizes are typically under 10-15 students. The term “Pandemic Pod”
has also been used to describe this phenomenon. One is reminded of that old
saying, “necessity is the mother of invention.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>Renewanation
strongly believes the micro school format provides a legitimate and effective means for
churches of </span><i>all sizes</i><span> to get involved in educating children with relatively little financial outlay. The current
plan is for Renewanation’s Micro School Start-Up Program to work hand in hand
with the new virtual school Renewanation launched last September, called,
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://www.ilumened.org/">iLumenEd Academy</a></u>.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Renewanation
has a vision for thousands (hopefully hundreds of thousands) of children to
receive a True education through Christ-centered micro schools offered via churches across the country over the coming decade. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span>Renewanation sees micro schools in which
math, science, history and literature are all viewed in the context of
something much bigger than math, science, history and literature: the context of the Bigger
Picture of True Reality called a "Biblical Worldview." Our
nation must get back to this kind of education. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #9900cc; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To
assist in getting the Micro School Start-up Program going, Renewanation brought a veteran
school startup specialist onto their development team to help put together a package which will allow any church, large of
small, from A-Z, to start a micro school as easily and effectively as possible.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For this
vision, Renewanation has launched a $100,000 fund-raising effort to get things
off the launching pad. It is the hope and goal of Renewanation to provide this
service and package to churches at almost no cost. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #9900cc; line-height: 107%;"><span>To
direct a financial gift to the Renewanation Micro School project, contact Chuck
Robb, Director of Ministry Partnerships, at <a href="mailto:crobb@renewanation.org">crobb@renewanation.org</a>.</span></span><span style="color: #9900cc;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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font-size: medium;">This week, let's focus on the question, <b>"Why Christian education?"</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Few issues are more important today for parents who have sons or daughters in K-12 education. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Some 85%-90% of Christian parents do not provide a biblio-centric education for their children. The reasons are varied.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many pastors are silent on the issue. Some may feel it is best for children from Christian homes to attend the public schools to be "lights in the world," rather than separate themselves from "the mainstream of culture." </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But do we really want our children to be swimming in the mainstream of today's culture? They'll get plenty of this without subjecting them to more during 6 prime hours of the day. If it is evangelism that's the idea, invite the neighbors over.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Please read, "Debunking the 8 Most Popular Myths about Christian Education." <a href="https://www.renewanation.org/post/debunking-the-8-most-popular-myths-about-christian-education">Click here.</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then watch a short (1:40 minute) video, here:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MNaMJFjdpGE" width="320" youtube-src-id="MNaMJFjdpGE"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">If this video does not play, click here: <a href="https://youtu.be/MNaMJFjdpGE">https://youtu.be/MNaMJFjdpGE</a></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many brick-and-mortar Christian schools are offering at-home services due to Coved-19 issues. Check this out with your local Christian school, or consider an on-line Christian school. More on this next week. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-37155385766765485772020-11-13T12:30:00.014-05:002021-01-22T12:50:22.860-05:00Perhaps You Missed All The Fanfare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeceDNtZUdKvrTVDQAtPj5bADx-R9vYVPp2jhEKfZdhO1OkJe0uDpS3YRyTkfTAqnitRz1HmYdgZ0QHKdtGQi65aBr4slpJpU8pCgWwPoB4gl8gMIrz8sp46W5xqRnVzy7X2JnFbIQfE/s2048/pexels-photo-59197.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="2048" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeceDNtZUdKvrTVDQAtPj5bADx-R9vYVPp2jhEKfZdhO1OkJe0uDpS3YRyTkfTAqnitRz1HmYdgZ0QHKdtGQi65aBr4slpJpU8pCgWwPoB4gl8gMIrz8sp46W5xqRnVzy7X2JnFbIQfE/w400-h274/pexels-photo-59197.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Last Wednesday, November 11, was the 400<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of something truly unique and amazing in all of history. It was a remarkable occasion that has greatly affected all Americans, even to the
present hour.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Perhaps you missed all the fanfare</b> in the media. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The occasion that occurred 400 years ago this week set into
motion an extraordinary approach to human governance based upon the idea that a group of people
could actually be self-governed under God through the rule of law with the consent of the governed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Wednesday marked the 400</span><sup style="color: #800180;">th</sup><span style="color: #800180;"> anniversary of the signing
of the Mayflower Compact. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Mayflower Compact was created by the Pilgrim Fathers, signed
aboard the ship that carried 102 Pilgrims (in families with children, including
three pregnant women), to the New World in 1620. Within 3 months, half of this
group was dead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Mayflower Compact established a remarkable form of human government.
It got the ball rolling toward the establishment of a new nation’s way of
governance, whereby the players in governmental roles would be held in check by the rule of law with the consent of the governed, and no human King on hand to direct and control things. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #800180;">But the Pilgrims clearly had a King in mind. </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Self-governance under God through the rule of law with the consent of the governed was a radical idea in 1620, and it is still a radical idea today. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It is clearly an idea we need to recover.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This blog is a service of RenewaNation </span><a href="http://www.renewanation.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.renewanation.org</span></a></span><span class="fn" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.53px; line-height: 21.64px; margin: 0px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="G+" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div> </div></div></div><div><div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.53px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 6.76px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="goog-inline-block google-plus-share-container" style="display: inline-block; padding-left: 4.06px; position: relative; vertical-align: top;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div>Dr. Christian Overmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07059973266182584163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428344201810269639.post-37768396953421366822020-11-06T06:30:00.009-05:002020-11-06T08:20:12.568-05:00Soft Totalitarianism<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRASgGrVxFX2pwQR3eWrtpnxc6k4V3k_tBsPD_ROFjpCoAd59wX9_5_LmZccmf3j3qR-PRiw88VfUuSl3lHMc0_-PgPgo-4T0kvpPc0GwyQAynXYA7D1z_R81znRj2fbSBjVEctDbiAY/s2048/pexels-pixabay-73869.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRASgGrVxFX2pwQR3eWrtpnxc6k4V3k_tBsPD_ROFjpCoAd59wX9_5_LmZccmf3j3qR-PRiw88VfUuSl3lHMc0_-PgPgo-4T0kvpPc0GwyQAynXYA7D1z_R81znRj2fbSBjVEctDbiAY/w400-h288/pexels-pixabay-73869.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A friend of <a href="https://www.renewanation.org/">Renewanation</a>, who is alerting his community to the prejudicial effects of
CRT [Critical Race Theory] in public schools, informed us he was “doxed,” and
had received threatening phone calls to his home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180;">“When you fight back against equity/CRT, it gets ugly,”</span></span><span style="color: #cc00cc; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">he wrote.<i><span style="color: #800180;"> “There
are groups out there who target people who speak out against CRT. </span></i></span></span><i><span style="color: #800180;">One such
group <u>sent a letter to the employer</u> of an individual who worked with me,
telling this man’s employer about his 'anti-equity rhetoric,' and claiming he
was 'attacking' a community group 'that was supporting racial diversity and
inclusion.'"</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In that letter, this man’s adversaries wrote: <i><span style="color: #800180;">“We share this with you
because we are concerned that Mr. ________ might also be bringing a biased
attitude—implicitly or explicitly—into his work for your company…We felt that
you should know.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our friend continued:<span style="color: #cc00cc;"> </span><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180;">“These are the tactics they use. T</span></span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="color: #800180;">hey try to get people fired, and ruin their name
and life. It is dirty. Other people self-censor because they fear these
attacks.”</span><span style="color: #cc00cc;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is what
Rod Dreher calls <b>“soft totalitarianism.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In his book,
<i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Live-Not-Lies-Christian-Dissidents/dp/0593087399/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M1XCDQMKMP5E&dchild=1&keywords=live+not+by+lies+a+manual+for+christian+dissidents&qid=1604363806&sprefix=Live+Not+By+Lies%2Caps%2C268&sr=8-1">Live Not by Lies</a></u>,</span> </i>Dreher helps Followers of Christ to not be surprised when
<b>“soft totalitarianism” </b>reveals its ugly face. It has been increasing in recent
years, with cake decorators being sued for not making cakes for same-sex weddings, and the like. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Hard
totalitarianism” took place in Russia following the Bolshevik revolution.
Freedom of speech disappeared, and people were afraid to express their thoughts,
lest they be reported by a neighbor and disciplined by the State. Freedom of
religious expression (other than State-approved expression), disappeared. Prison
time resulted for some. Many Christ-Followers gathered in secret. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Dreher
traveled to former "Eastern Block" countries of the now-defunct Soviet Union to interview Christ-Followers
who lived through the totalitarianism of “the Soviet days.” He wanted to learn how
these people navigated those rough waters, so he could help Christ-Followers
in America to deal with the increasing <b>“soft totalitarianism”</b> of today’s <span>'<u><a href="https://youtu.be/Fh3316SqK18">cancel culture</a></u>.'</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You, too, may become a target. Perhaps you've already been one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">You don't have to write a letter to the editor to become a target. All you have
to do is <i>not </i>wear a rainbow pin on your collar when the rest of your co-workers do. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">The State will not send you to prison, but many “Social Justice Warriors” will see to it that you pay—one way or another. </span><span style="color: #cc00cc;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-BOuaUOox0sLxvLtXWCoNeRahj-cp5IA-wq1beOxhcY66TsBol17_bkwtgzPiPC1oe4A-Srt29B4Yx0-xpHRHS27xkqiDTgrGcx2V6TazQgBGFblhaOdpFbqWqklqX7sY5DY-SHjUhY/s345/live+not+by+lies+cover.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="227" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-BOuaUOox0sLxvLtXWCoNeRahj-cp5IA-wq1beOxhcY66TsBol17_bkwtgzPiPC1oe4A-Srt29B4Yx0-xpHRHS27xkqiDTgrGcx2V6TazQgBGFblhaOdpFbqWqklqX7sY5DY-SHjUhY/w211-h320/live+not+by+lies+cover.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This book may be the survival guide you never thought you'd need in the United States. <br /><br />To order, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Live-Not-Lies-Christian-Dissidents/dp/0593087399/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M1XCDQMKMP5E&dchild=1&keywords=live+not+by+lies+a+manual+for+christian+dissidents&qid=1604363806&sprefix=Live+Not+By+Lies%2Caps%2C268&sr=8-1">click here</a></u>.</span></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; 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