Bookmarks 4/13/13

Posted On: 12. 04. 13 | Leave a Comment

Bookmarks graphicGosnell’s House of Horrors: Our world is filled with such awful manifestations of evil that some are hard to even describe. Abortion is certainly one of those evils. Unfortunately our society has come to see this evil as acceptable although unfortunate… enter Kermit Gosnell–a deranged abortionist–who routinely snipped the necks of babies who survived the abortion process. The media has all but ignored this story and it is understandable why: they simply can’t cover the horror of such a situation without directly relating it to the horror of abortion in general. Trevon Wax shares some helpful thoughts in 8 Reasons for the Media Blackout on Kermit Gosnell. Help spread the word about this terrible news story by linking to either of these two articles on FB and Twitter. We are trying to keep this story trending on the social media outlets in order to bring light to the terror involved in every abortion.

#Gosnell trial is giving faces to the millions of babies who are murdered inside the womb in the privacy of sterile “medical facilities.” <—-Tweet this!

Babies #Gosnell killed OUT of the womb were going to be murdered @ the same gestational age IN the womb. Why wasn’t that horrific America? <—-Tweet this!

Tomatoes Aren’t the Only Consumer Product Genetically Modified: The world’s first genetically modified children are being “produced” and not without (warranted) ethical discussion. The modifications were made to give women who previously couldn’t conceive the ability to do so through the addition of a third party’s genes. In other words, these babies have genetic material from three parents. Who knows what’s next? Cloning children? ‘”It would be an afternoon’s work for one of my students,’ he said, adding that he had been approached by ‘at least three’ individuals wishing to create a cloned child, but had turned down their requests.”‘

Stork Hoodies: Save the Storks (a wonderful pro-life ministry) is now selling some adorable and comfortable looking hoodies to spread the message and save lives.

School Shooters and Violent First Person Video Games: This argument is nothing new, but the perspective it comes from (a man who was once troubled himself) is. Peter Brown Hoffmeister shares some thoughts on the need to get young men out of the house (and away from the video games).

“Heaven come and flood my eyes” -Tenth Avenue North (H.T. to Kim Shay for the video)

Because of Easter… I Can Believe the Impossible

Posted On: 10. 04. 13 | 1 Comment

Easter has come and gone, but at Desiring Virtue, we are stopping to contemplate just what we were celebrating in the first place. Today we look at another blessing that is a result of Christ’s death and resurrection: the ability to believe the impossible.

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Do you remember that old 90′s television show “Touched by an Angel” staring Roma Downey? When I saw that Downey was a part of the History Channel’s The Bible series I was taken back to my childhood days of watching her character (a sort of guardian angel) intervene in the lives of countless needy people.

Each episode would chronicle a man, woman, or family in the middle of a spiritual crisis who needed to know that God was there, that God cared. I fondly remember how each show would end by Downey revealing her “secret” angelic identity while a soft spotlight slowly began to beam down on her auburn head. “I am an angel sent from God,” she would say as she dispensed some much needed encouragement to the mortal she was sent to help.

Of course the theological premise of the show was sketchy (to say the least) and though Christian themes ran through many episodes, the gospel was conveniently left out. The show capitalized on an audience that believed, or at least wanted to believe in a higher power. It catered to the world of God-believers, though not Christ-worshippers.

It would appear from its ratings and nine season run, that the perception of God as someone who would intervene in your life when necessary and who cared about your good was quite popular. There seems to have been a general appreciation for the notion that God loves his creation and wants the best for it.

Fast forward to today. Can you even imagine a show like this being broadcast to the general public? These days, people who firmly believe in God are not just viewed as “needing a crutch” as they used to, but are instead viewed as downright loony. The idea of a God who cares for his creation is a nice thought, but utterly unrealistic. After all, we believe in science and the scientific method not something as infinitely difficult to understand as God. The possibility of a Father God who created men and women in his own image, who is completely good and without evil is… well… impossible.

When I look back to the first Easter Sunday–the day when Jesus rose from the dead–I see the impossible becoming possible.

When Christ rose from the grave, conquering death itself, he proved he was God incarnate (the God who took on human flesh). In one miraculous display of power, he proved that it is not folly to believe in the unseen spiritual realm. Though men killed “the Author of life,” God raised him from the dead. (Acts 3:15) Though it seems ridiculous to our modern ears to believe in an unseen God who loves his creation and desires their good, Jesus’ bodily death and physical resurrection prove that it would indeed be folly not to believe it.

This Jesus who allowed himself to be hung on a cross to satisfy the wrath of God against sin, says that he did so because God “so loved the world.” (John 3:16) What love our Heavenly Father has for us! Though we were rebellious children constantly denying his love and authority, he sent his eternal beloved Son to die on our behalf so that we could be brought back into the family.

God loves us. He loves us with an incomprehensible kind of love that is proven by Christ’s death and resurrection. I can be confident of his affections because he didn’t even spare his own Son, but instead gave him up to death and judgement on my behalf. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

I can see that God loves me through the cross of Christ, and I can believe that this love is real because of the testimony of his resurrection.

Because of Easter I can believe the impossible.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1 ESV)

More posts from the Because of Easter… series: Because of Easter… I’m Alive, Because of Easter… I am Reconciled, Because of Easter… I can Serve with Joy! and Because of Easter… I Can Be Honest About My Sin.

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Because of Easter… I am Reconciled

Posted On: 01. 04. 13 | 4 Comments

Join me this month as we contemplate all that Christ has accomplished through his death and resurrection in a new series titled Because of Easter. Today we look at the blessing of reconciliation!

“Christianity isn’t about religion, it is about relationship.” Have you ever heard this phrase before? It’s usually being said to emphasize that our faith is not built upon empty traditions or institutions, but rather on an intimate acquaintance with the Lord. There’s emotion, friendship, love and communication involved, not just church attendance or rule adherence.

Though these things are true, you would be hard pressed to find a person who has a genuine “relationship” with the Lord who is not as a result “religious.” The one who is intimate with the Almighty, can not help but bow down in worship of his holiness. A woman who has tasted the goodness of a loving king cannot help but pledge allegiance to him. She is compelled by his grace to set him as Lord over her life and seeks to obey his Word in everything.

No, a right relationship with this Holy Being always results in devotion.

It is also true that a person does not begin a relationship with God at the moment of salvation. The natural man doesn’t go about his daily life in spiritual neutrality. There is not an absence of relationship with God before salvation because as his created beings, we are born into a relationship with our Creator. Unfortunately, do to our sinfulness, this relationship is broken and characterized by estrangement. Light cannot dwell with darkness, and before Christ, we are most certainly lost in utter darkness.

No, before salvation we have a very real relationship with God, but it is a relationship defined by defiance, rebellion, and impending judgement.

This is why Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again (John 3).

We are all, since Adam born into a severed relationship with God. Our sin makes us enemies of the Creator and keeps us under the weighty hand of his righteous judgement. In order to experience the joy and peace of a right relationship with God, we must somehow get rid of the sin that keeps us from him. We must somehow go from being enemies to friends. We must go from being traitors to being loyal. We must do the impossible.

If it weren’t for Easter, if it weren’t for the truths that we celebrated yesterday–Christ’s death and resurrection on our behalf–this would be the end of the story. We would be eternally lost in our sin and unable to be reconciled to our Creator. We would still be in need of the impossible and completely impotent to bring about any change.

If it weren’t for Christ’s death and resurrection, my 15 year old self would have never been able to draw near to her Heavenly Father and experience his forgiving love for the first time. I would still be seeking righteousness in my own weakness; I would still be painfully estranged from the only one who could give meaning to my life.

But.

At the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. He took the punishment for my sins and experienced the holy wrath of a righteous judge–the wrath that would have come to me one day.

The Sinless was punished for the sinner.

The Creator experienced death for the created.

The eternal Father turned his back on the eternal Son so that he could turn and embrace me.

Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, I am reconciled to God. I am no longer an enemy of God, but a friend. Though once a rebel, I now receive the benefits of a loyal subject. What’s more, I am treated as his beloved child. I am now a fellow heir with Christ receiving all the love, affection, and reward that the eternal Son of God receives from his Holy Father. 

The impossible was made possible–not through my work, but through God’s.

We have much to celebrate in light of Easter Sunday. We who were once far off have been brought near. Though once bound to sin and at enmity with God, we can now experience peace with him. Though the word “relationship” could mean nothing but judgement for us before Christ, it can now mean love and acceptance. For those who place their faith in Christ’s work on the cross, there is a glorious and satisfying relationship with the Holy One.

Let these truths sink in and encourage your soul today. Accept Christ’s work on your behalf and live in this marvelous relationship, enjoying the fruits of Christ’s righteous life as though it had been yours! Live as one who has complete access to the Father and all of his love.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11 ESV)

Rejoice with me as those who have been reconciled to the Creator!

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Last Minute Easter Basket Recommendations

Posted On: 25. 03. 13 | 5 Comments

Christ-centered Easter basket recommendations from DesiringVirtue.comCandy, eggs and bunnies, oh my! Isn’t it fun to celebrate holidays through gift giving? We moms especially love to lavish gifts on our children. Give us an opportunity to do so in a sweet, pastel colored basket wrapped in cellophane and we’ll go to town!

While Richard and I are all for blessing our little ones with gifts of chocolate and jelly beans on Easter morning (especially when we get to partake as well!), we do try to make an effort to direct their attention to the spiritual realities we are celebrating through some obviously spiritual gifts. Candy and trinkets are fun, but above all, we want our celebration to point their little hearts to the Savior on Resurrection Sunday!

Today I thought I would share a few last minute, Christ-centered Easter basket recommendations with you (just in case you aren’t finding anything that fits the bill at your local grocery store!). Each of these three items will point your children to the Lord and conveniently fit within the small space allotted in those cute, grass-filled baskets!

1. A Lamb

Like many families we have made a tradition of including a new stuffed lamb in each of our children’s Easter baskets. Though Bunnies tend to be the popular choice for this holiday, we feel that the symbolism inherent in a lamb serves a better purpose (while still being really cute!). In this simple gift we are aiming to remind our children that Jesus is the “lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:26) and provide an opportunity for presenting the gospel. I found some really adorable lambs this year on Amazon for each of the boys: Lanky Legs Lamb for our oldest, Bashful Lamb for our middle boy (because he loves “little-tiny” things), and a sweet lamb rattle named Winky for our baby boy.

2. Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers Books

We are big fans of these little books! Through colorful illustrations and solid content, Joey Allen makes the big truths of the Bible accessible to children. Each little book is filled with solid, theological content that will not only teach your child, but give you some help in explaining Bible doctrine to your kids. We included one of these in each of our kids baskets a couple years ago and are so glad we did. I usually try to find a good, spiritually helpful book to go along with all the other little goodies and these ones are perfect in both size and content! At only $5.39, you can purchase The Trinity, The Scripture, or The Gospel editions of Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers through Amazon and add a helpful tool to your child’s spiritual library.

3. “Questions with Answers” Music by Dana Dirksen

Speaking of small things that can have a BIG impact… I would like to recommend a resource that has greatly benefited our family: Dana Dirksen’s CD series: Questions with Answers. I have been meaning to write an entire blog post focused on these CDs and the way they have blessed our children, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I will have to content myself with a small blurb here until the occasion for a full review arises. Like many parents, we have been working on teaching our little guys shortened and simplified catechism questions in order to help them commit key biblical doctrines to memory. Well, with our oldest being 4 and, shall we say “less than compliant” at times, this has often been less of a delight and more of a chore (though a very rewarding one!). Enter Dana Dirksen, who has set catechism questions (simplified versions of the Westminster Catechism questions) to music (and pretty good music mind you) along with their corresponding scripture passages! After consistently listening to her first CD in the car for a few days our boys were able to answer each question with ease. It was absolutely amazing! I can’t recommend these CDs enough for those who are wanting to do catechism questions with their kids from an early age. Our boys have thoroughly enjoyed their first CD and will be getting the subsequent volumes in their Easter baskets!

Do you have any recommendations? What will your children be getting in their baskets that will point them to the Savior? Share with us in the comments!

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Modesty in Social Media

Posted On: 21. 03. 13 | 7 Comments

Today, Melissa Jackson delves deeper into our discussion of modesty by looking at its implications for social media. I’m so grateful for Melissa’s contribution because this area of our lives (social media) is ever growing and requires greater discernment every day!

Last summer, the Holy Spirit stirred my soul with these words:

“…aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thess. 4:11-12)

I began to ponder Living Quietly and all that might entail. I confess, the biggest struggle for me then was social media. It continues to be. I have a feeling I’m not the only one who battles the internet and its multitude of temptations, particularly those of social media.

We are, of course, aware of the dangers of social media. We drill the list into our children’s heads: be careful who you friend, what you say, what pictures you post. Most of us are wise enough to safeguard our children and warn them of the potential pitfalls. We allow our spouses access to our email, Facebook, and Twitter for accountability. We have access to our husbands’ accounts as well. We may even have set parameters as to what we will share about our families, jobs, and churches.

And even though we are not filling our feeds with inappropriate content, rough language or suggestive pictures, we may not be modest in our use of social media.

Tim Challies and R. W. Glenn write, “Modest speech is speech that draws attention to God rather than attention to ourselves.” (Modest, 983). If this is the mark, we are falling woefully short. Photographs of our children, our immaculately kept and beautifully decorated homes, our food. Status reports and tweets enumerating our children’s accomplishments, our husbands’ good qualities, our errands. Posts about our fabulous vacations, our organizational prowess, the large number of books we’ve read. These are not necessarily sinful in and of themselves; it is our heart motive that makes them so.

I recently had a discussion with several friends regarding this very topic. Although none of us had read Modest at the time, we all concurred that Christian women do not often realize the power our posts have to stir up envy, strife and discontent in others who are struggling, particularly with their spouses or their children. We might be wise to take Paul’s words regarding food and apply them to our social media consumption: “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1 Cor. 8:9, ESV)

Am I praising the Lord that I have the health to chase after three toddlers, or am I simply proud that I am able to do so?

Am I thanking God for the gift of my husband, or am I secretly hoping others will compliment him so that I will feel validated?

Am I honoring God by sharing my child’s grades, or do I just want others to take notice of how smart she is?

Am I offering a true representation of a sinner saved by grace, or have I painted a portrait of a superwoman for all to envy?

I cannot answer these questions for anyone except myself, and neither can you. The answers may surprise us and they may differ depending on the circumstances surrounding us at the time. Yet if we seek to be truly modest in our social media, we will consistently examine our hearts before we click that mouse.

“The modest man is aware of the power of his words, so he chooses each one carefully, seeking to make each word an opportunity to bless and strengthen and build up. He is aware that one careless word can cause a great deal of damage, and he is willing to say very little if that is how he can bless others. Sometimes the most modest, helpful, and God-glorifying thing one can say is nothing at all.” (Modest, 996)

For further reading:

We’ve been talking a lot about modesty this month. Click here to read more posts related to this topic!

Melissa JacksonMelissa is a working mother in Virginia, living a quiet and simple life (1 Thess. 4:11-12) with her husband and teenage daughter. She enjoys reading, writing, coffee, football, and bonfires. She is passionate about discipling teenage girls. She blogs at Breath of Life  and Out of the Ordinary.