Stuck by Jennie Allen

At some point or another, everyone can feel a little “stuck”.  Whether its a rut, a bad habit/lifestyle, or internal emotion.  Whatever it is, it can feel a little hopeless sometimes.  That being said, we’re pretty lucky to have Savior that gives us instructions on how we can actually do something about it, and get out of the rut we’ve dug.

Author Jennie Allen has struck gold with her Stuck Bible Study (The Places We Get Stuck and The God Who Sets Us Free) . In this 8-session, weekly DVD study, women will recognize spaces in their lives where they get stuck which will then compel them to call out on God.

Humans are imperfect and we do not hit the mark or reach God’s standards. We are broken, messed up, and oftentimes the visible exterior is way different than the invisible. We smile but deep inside us are full of pain, shame, anger, jealousy, hatred, and unforgiveness. Even our actions do not match up our beliefs about ourselves, others, and God.

When we are stuck, we either succumb to the temptation of rebellion or cover-up in self-righteousness. Either way, shame pursues us. There is another way says Allen.

Allen will take readers and participants through a conversational and interactive Bible study where women will find a safe place to be vulnerable and confess their secret sins and inner struggles to their small group and find freedom and deep inner healing of their spirit. Stuck Study will deal with the hearts and minds of women cleansing and nurturing them with God’s Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Stuck Study is different from conventional Bible studies as anyone can take part of this whether young or old, married or not, a believer or otherwise. Having taken up masters in Biblical Studies in Dallas Theological Seminary, Allen steadfastly uses Scriptures throughout the DVD and book.

What I appreciate with this study is its honesty and frankness in treating sin as it is, a reoccurring word that stood out is pretension. The book is worded as if the author is speaking to you face to face. The words might be easily comprehensible but the principles and insights are profound. This book needs to be read in a contemplative manner for the words to sink in and for one to reflect as in Selah in Scriptures.

Every woman can identify at some point in this study. Whether you are a successful professional partying and engaging in wrong relationships, or a wife frustrated with your husband and kids, or a single person clueless on God’s will for your life, or a church leader or worker struggling to believe God’s promises, or a man also feeling stuck much like the women in your life, this study is for you.

Imagine what 8 sessions can do to unstuck you and enable you to make changes in your life. Right here. Right now.

Explore Your Faith.

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I had the pleasure of reviewing a pre-release copy of Megan’s Christmas Miracle. This book takes readers on a magical journey to the place of Jesus’s birth, Bethlehem.   Along the way  are enchanting stories that people are sure to relate to.

The story starts in New York, where Megan, part of a family of 5, has a special Christmas tradition…spending the Christmas holiday at a destination of the family’s choosing.  Each member of the family writes their dream destination on a piece of paper, and one lucky person has their destination chosen from a glass bowl each year.  From Los Angeles, to Paris, each child has a strong preference on where they would like to go this year.  Megan, the youngest of the children, chooses Israel, so she can see Jesus’s place of birth.

Needless to say, the other children in the family are not happy about this decision and try everything in their power to get the youngest family member to change her mind (and pick a more suitable, safe destination).  From giving their sister cold, saddened glances in the hallway, to placing newspaper clippings of violent current events in Israel, nothing seems to deter Megan from experiencing her dream of seeing the birthplace of Jesus.   When the time comes for the destination to be chosen, the lucky piece of paper that is drawn is Megan’s, and the family makes plans to travel to the Holy Land.

Once there, each member of the family experiences a magical, too good to be true experience.  For example, Megan’s older sister dreams of being a fashion designer, and she runs into her idol (a famous clothing designer).  What is Megan’s adventure?  Well, in short, she gets to experience the miracle of our Savior’s birth firsthand.  How you ask?  You’ll just have to read it and find out!

In conclusion, I highly recommend this entertaining book.  It is filled with interesting dialog, facts about the birth of Jesus, and life lessons.  With the Christmas season coming up, it is sure to be a welcome addition to your Christmas library.

This book will soon be available in our Christian bookstore.

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As I was putting dishes away, I opened my cupboard above our counter to stash our thermal coffee cup away…you know the kind…the ones that are big and clunky and not dishwasher safe (but I put in the dishwasher anyway). They are too big for the normal cup cabinet and there really isn’t a good place in the other cabinets for them, so into the “junk cabinet” they go. As I was up on my tippy toes trying to put the cup in an upright position and slam the door closed before it or anything else could fall out, I thought to myself, “geesh what a poor house keeper I am”. And then just as quickly said to myself, “Who am I kidding? Everyone has junk cabinets, or drawers, or closets for that matter.” If you are reading this blog and think to yourself, “I don’t have a junk drawer.” let me the first to give you a reality check….yes you do. It may not be a cabinet like mine, it may not even be that obvious to the naked eye, but you do have one.

As human beings we tend to deny the “junk drawers” in our lives too, don’t we? We look at other people’s lives and can quickly point out their messes but when we look at ourselves we see tidy little kitchens where everything has a place. This is true sometimes. But there are times when some think they are the only one with cluttered lives (me included). Is either one better then the other? No. Both perspectives are entirely selfish.

The Tidy Kitchens of this world think they have it all together. These are the people who say, “my kid would NEVER throw a fit like that” or “if they could manage their schedule better, maybe they would be on time for once.” They also literally judge a persons home. Trust me, your quick scan of the place and wrinkle of your nose at the sight of a dirty sock or a pile of laundry does not go unnoticed. At first those kind of people used to intimidate me and make me very self-conscious. I would drive myself crazy trying to clean before they came over or be horrified if they just stopped by and the house wasn’t picked up. Yes, I remember those days very vividly. Those were the days I was constantly exhausted, constantly stressed out, and constantly taking it out on the kids and husband.

Then you have the Lone Junkers. The people who say, “I am the only one I know who can’t keep up the laundry.” or “If only I had a nicer house, or more behaved kids.” Have you ever asked yourself this one?: “Why do my kids trash the house, when so and so’s kids clean up after themselves?” Okay, you got me…I have been there, done that. Woe is me. I might sound pretty harsh right now, and I don’t mean to….or maybe I do, but hear me out. A reality check for the heart is always a good thing every once in awhile.

All you Tidy Kitchens out there need to realize you have junk drawers too. There isn’t a single person who is clutter free in this life. And we wont be, for that matter, until we see Jesus face to face. There is freedom in admitting you have faults. Yes, we should all strive to be the very best human beings possible, but knowing everyone makes mistakes including yourself, allows you to be more patient and forgiving. It allows you to extend grace even when it is not deserved.

For all you Lone Junkers, enough all ready! Stop with the lamenting and give yourself a break! You are not the only one with junk drawers filled to the brim with the misplaced batteries and pens of this life. Stop feeling sorry for yourself or beating yourself up and do something about it. Whether it is purging and throwing away things that you know you will never use or need,or maybe you just need to hone your organization skills a little. Or just maybe you need to do some business with the One who is an expert clutter extractor. And remember, you don’t have to do this on your own. A couple years ago, a good friend of mine was completely fed up with her unorganized kitchen. She swallowed her pride and asked me to come over and help her clean out her cupboards. She kept saying “but if you don’t want to, you don’t have to,” I went over right away and we had a blast rolling our sleeves up and decluttering her kitchen. And might I say, we had quite a few laughs over the amount of cookbooks she had and never used.

If life has gotten overwhelming (either physically, mentally, or spiritually) call up a good friend, someone you can trust. Someone that isn’t afraid of your junk or wont judge you for having a coffee thermos in the same cabinet with CD’s and matches and eyeglass cleaner. You get the picture. And if you have been the one doing the judging, step back for a second and analyze your own junk drawers. I bet when you do that, other junk drawers won’t look so horrifying.

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Expecting to See Jesus by Anne Lotz

Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of the world evangelist Billy Graham, shares her heart and ignited passion for a life of revival and godly fear of the Lord. In her expanded edition of I Saw the Lord, Expecting to See Jesus rings the alarm for the church in America and even beyond to prepare herself ready for Christ’s impending and imminent coming back to earth.

Titus 2:13 declares, “. . . while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” In the passage in Matthew 24:36-51 about the day and hour unknown, Anne Lotz divided the signs given by Jesus to the disciples into five (5) categories –

(1) the spiritual or religious realm, (2) the national realm, (3) the environmental or natural

realm, (4) the personal or cultural realm, and (5) the global realm.

Expecting to See Jesus discussed quite in length all the signs that Jesus is coming back very soon. Anne Lotz enumerated the following signs:

In the spiritual realm – appearing of false Christs, false prophets, and persecution of Christians, while in the national realm – wars and rumors of wars and unsolvable problems and elusive solutions. Natural realm – earthquakes, famines, tsunamis, tidal waves, forest fires, floods, snow storms, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, monsoons, cyclones, mud slides, invasions of fire ants, locusts, frogs, flies, spiders, serpents, Asian carp, and other bizarre phenomena. Pestilence — incurable diseases — like AIDS, the bird flu, the Ebola virus, the deadly flesh-eating bacteria MRSA, and a worldwide epidemic of cancer.

Personal realm – as in 2 Timothy 3:5— “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Global realm — world travel, the dramatic increase of knowledge, and the invention of television and the Internet, world evangelism and the reestablishment of the nation of Israel.

Time is really short. Any moment now, Jesus will appear again. This book gives readers the sense of awareness or consciousness to expect Him whether we are doing our mundane activities day to day or being preoccupied by problems beyond our control. We need to be thinking, speaking, doing things that glorify Him when He appears.

We have loved ones and friends who are in dire need of salvation plus the millions if not billions of people who are atheists, agnostics or the so-called “nones”. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

Anne Lotz calls Christians for an intimate relationship with God through her Award-winning 13 books including Magnificent Obsession. She is the president and CEO of AnGel Ministries devoted to teaching the Word to draw people to a personal and deeper relationship with God. She has impacted seven continents and over 20 countries preaching the Word in stadiums, arenas, prisons, churches, and seminaries.

Expecting to See Jesus, Foreword by Joel Rosenberg, available wherever Christian books are sold.

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Heartbreak of Revenge is a two part story that takes place during the middle of the 1900s.  The first part of the story follows two boys through a period of 14 years (1941-1953).  David is a white, middle class boy that enjoys typical activities for a boy.  During the warm months, one of his favorite activities is swimming in a pond with his three best friends.  However, upon arriving one day, he witnesses something horrific that changes his life forever.  He witnesses his friends throwing stones at a small black boy.  Realizing that this was not OK, he immediately put a stop to it.

Through that incident, David develops a short lived friendship with the small boy who had stones thrown at him.  Jimmy, victim to the rampant, bigoted behaviors of white folks of the day, has a very meager life when he is introduced to David.  As I read this book, I couldn’t help but shake my head in disgust at the cruel behavior that David’s four friends exemplified on that day (and throughout the book).   While we have a long way to come for social equality, author Eleanor Wright gracefully navigates through the racially charged situations of the time, as well as the emotions, rationalizations, and thoughts that filled the minds of people who lived during that time.

For me, these vivid descriptions of the social injustices that took place during the middle of the century were some of my favorite parts.  Writing about these times (I imagine) would be very difficult.  However, Wright navigated these murky, dark waters quite well, and portrayed multiple characters (
and their beliefs) with great imagery, and insight into their minds.  Born in 1985, I have seen the generational differences when it comes to prejudice.  There are frequently stories of violence, verbal abuse, uneven income distribution, and so on, but I cannot imagine living in a time where such blatant acts of racism, and the rationalizations and hatred behind it, existed.   The Heartbreak of Revenge did a great job of giving me a window into this time.

Moving back to the story, it becomes clear very quickly that there is more to the story than the initial confrontation.   Not wanting to give the entire storyline away, I will simply say that the title is a great indicator to the overall theme of the book.   Revenge, in any form, causes harms…often more harm than the initial act that is being vindicated.  This book clearly shows this.

If you are looking to read a work of fiction that explores the nuances of racial tension in the 1940s and 1950s, this is a great choice.  With some twists and turns along the way, and an ending that will throw you for a loop, Heartbreak of Revenge is a sure pick.

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Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge

Playful, cunning, fierce, humorous, fully human, extravagant, honest, scandalous, true, beautiful.

These are the words the bestselling author John Eldredge uses to describe Jesus in his newest book, Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus.

More often than not, believers only know Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. We miss discovering Jesus’ personality in the Gospels. Yes, He is God but He came to the world as human. Eldredge presents Jesus as a being just like us who needs to eat, sleep, rest, laugh, cry. He feels emotions like joy, sorrow, pain and He freely moves and acts just like the rest of us.

He eats with sinners and drunkards, prostitutes, tax collectors and rebukes the religious leaders and authorities. He has compassion for the sick and poor and sets free the demon-possessed and those in bondage.

We know so much about Jesus after being saved and attending church. But there has been so much vandalizing of Him by religion and the world. Can we really know the real Jesus? Can we truly experience Him in our lives?

Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge attempts to reveal to Christians and those needing salvation Jesus’ trueness and truthfulness. In a generation with millions of orphans, HIV-inflicted, and in slavery, we need to know Jesus on who He really is for us to share Him to this depraved and decaying world. Jesus’ mission is to reveal the heart of Father God towards creation and humans and His original intent for you and me.

Ransomed Hearts founder John Eldredge artistically paints a tangible picture of Jesus never been portrayed in the books I have encountered so far. Each descriptive word in the first line above was highlighted per chapter with the corresponding Gospel story.

Jesus is much alive and real more than I have known Him before. I feel I can freely approach Him as He has experienced every situation and feelings I was accustomed to. It draws me to fall in love with Him knowing that He knows me intimately and accepts me for who I am regardless.

Beautiful Outlaw might raise some religious eyebrows for its blunt and honest discussion on Jesus. John Eldredge in his well-known theatrical and artistic flair captures the stories about Jesus with passion and analytic yet humble tone. Jesus is more beautiful than the waves of the seas, sands in the seashores, snow on the mountains and the blooming petals of flowers. He is also an outlaw breaking the legalistic laws of the Pharisees and Sadducees and being crucified on the Cross like a criminal to pay for the sins of mankind.

Because He loves us so. He is now inviting us to love Him back.

Beautiful Outlaw is available as a hardcover, 2-DVD set, participant’s guide, leader’s guide, audio cd, and Spanish paperback in our online Christian bookstore.

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With super fast computers to crunch data,  underwater sensors, deep space satellites, and a plethora of other technological tools that weren’t available in the past,  humans have increased our understanding of God’s creation at an unprecedented rate.  One area of creation that we have been learning tons about recently, are oceans, and the activities that occur below this once undiscovered part of our planet.

The scientific names of various depths in the ocean.

For example, did you know that there are underwater trenches deeper than the grand canyon, that are thought to have formed over 142 million years ago?  In fact, we now know that this is where tsunamis are formed, such as the one in Tailand, in 2004, that took the lives of 220,000 of God’s children.  These acts of God have been occurring for thousands of years.  In fact, we’ve recently been discovering entire cities, buried under hundreds of feet or hardened ash.  From buried murals, artwork, and structures, there is no doubt of God’s power.  In fact, the 2004 tsunami has the power of 600 million Hiroshima atom bombs!

So how does science aid in the knowledge we have, and why does it matter?  While the why is vastly complicated, the short of it is this.  Through underwater sensors, we can record the sound waves that occur when these massive ruptures in the earth’s crust form.   While not audible to the naked ear (the deep, rumbling sound waves are simply too low for our ears to hear), we can slow down time when listing to these recordings, and actually map the topography of the bottom of the sea, as well as how the event spreads across the oceans.  Science is able to figure out a plethora of information about a tsunami from data collected at the bottom of these massive underwater trenches, helping save millions of lives, by better predicting tsunamis.    Going back to the 2004 Thailand tsunami, we know that the crest was 300 miles apart…quite a massive crack in the earth’s crust, isn’t it?

Exploration is an innate part of our God given nature, and we have repeatedly tried to visit the depths of the sea. which is thought to be some of the oldest parts of the earth.   This area is so hostile, the zone name, The Hadalpelagic Zone‘s name is derived from the Greek word for HELL.

From this, you can imagine that exploration has been difficult in a place where there is 8 tons of pressure per square inch.  In other words, imagine that you are a McDonald’s hamburger on the highway.  Now, imagine an 18-wheel semi running over that hamburger.  That, is how hostile this area of the ocean is.  Making matters worse, over 20,000 volcanoes, along with earthquakes (that induce deadly tsunamis) occur frequently here.  Despite this though, these events help us map out the history of creation.  You see, when volcanos erupt in these dark, frigid depths, the magma turns instantly into glass when it comes in contact with the water.  Therefore, each eruption spreads its contents throughout the ocean, creating layers of mineral rich substance.  In fact, this magma turned solid, is how underwater mountains are formed.  How cool is that?

Despite the risks, our efforts to explore this area prevail, as there is so much to learn about our origins from it.    One thing we’ve learned, is that the bottom of the ocean has layers of plant and animal “silt”.   These layers of dead plant and animal fossils,  is one of the methods that scientists use to date how old the earth and ocean are.  This is one reason we can so accurately estimate the history of events on this earth… by analysing these layers of silt, and seeing what fossils, minerals, etc that we find.  This principle is similar to how we date dinosaur fossils we find encased in rock.

Back to the exploration of the ocean…In 1960, a submersible craft was created, and two brave men traveled for 5 hours, going down to the depths of the deepest trench, a staggering 36,000 feet, where the region is far more hazardous than that of Mars.  This hadalpelagic zone expedition paid huge dividends.  You see, up until this point, we expected the complete blackness, crushing pressure, and frigid waters, to be too hostile for complex animals to survive.  However, when the two man “landed” on the bottom of the ocean, they were in for a real surprise (up until this time, we could only theorize about what we’d find).

Hadalpelagic Zone Sea Cucumber

When they turned on their spotlight, they discovered that not only were there vast amounts of colorful, other-worldly creatures surviving, but that these sea creatures were thriving.  These animals, whose lineage has evolved over millions of years, have the ability to withstand the pressure, see in complete darkness, and live in abundance.  By eating the remains of dead plants and animals whose remains make up the silt bottom, the plants and animals in this region prosper.

In conclusion, the burning desire that science has to explore the depths of the ocean, has lead to a vastly increased understanding of the creation that God has created.  Without technology and scientists that have a burning desire for answers, we would have never discovered the abundant, colorful ecosystem that God has allowed to exist.   Through these types of discoveries, we learn more about God, and the earth he created for us.

If you have thoughts on this post, please feel free to share them below, or discuss your convictions on this subject with friends, by commenting using the Facebook “Like” button.   As always, I encourage you to continue exploring your faith through reading Christian books, discussing why you believe what you believe, and actively seeking truth.

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You shall not kill the child by obtaining an
abortion. Nor, again, shall you destroy him
after he is born. Barnabas (c. 70-130, E), 1.148.

Tertullian, Early Christian Priest

You shall not murder a child by abortion nor
kill one who has been born. Didache (c. 80-140,
E),1.377.

They bear children, but they do not destroy
their offspring. Letter to Diognetus (c. 125-200),
1.27.

We say that those women who use drugs to
bring on abortion commit murder. And we also
say they will have to give an account to God for
the abortion. So on what basis could we com-
mit murder? For it does not belong to the same
person to regard the very fetus in the womb as a
created being (and therefore an object of God’s

care)-yet, when he has passed into life, to kill
him. We also teach that it is wrong to expose an
infant. For those who expose them are guilty of
child murder. Athenagoras (c. 175, E), 2.147.

In our case, murder is once for all forbidden.

Therefore, we may not destroy even the fetus
in the womb, while as yet the human being
derives blood from other parts of the body for
its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a
speedier way to kill a human. It does not matter
whether you take away a life that has been born,
or destroy one that is not yet born. Tertullian (c.
197, W),3.25.

Among surgeons’ tools there is a certain
instrument that is formed with a nicely-
adjusted flexible frame for first of all opening
the uterus and then keeping it open. It also has
‘a circular blade, by means of which the limbs
within the womb are dissected with careful, but
unflinching care. Its last appendage is a blunted
or covered hook, by which the entire fetus is
extracted by a violent delivery. There is also a
copper needle or spike: by which the actual
death is brought about in this treacherous rob-

bery of life. From its infanticide function, they
give it the name, “killer of the infant” -which
infant, of course, had once been alive. Tertullian

(c. 210, W), 3.206.      ’

Indeed, the Law of Moses punishes with
appropriate penalties the person who causes
abortion. For there already exists the beginning
stages of a human being. And even at this stage,
[the fetus] is already acknowledged with having
the condition oflife and death, since he is already
susceptible to both. Tertullian (c. 210, W),3.218.

Are you to dissolve the conception by aid of
drugs? I believe it is no more lawful to hurt a
child in process of birth, than to hurt one who
is already born. Tertullian (c. 212, W), 4.57.

I behold a certain ceremony and circumstance
of adultery. On the one hand, idolatry precedes
it and leads the way. On the other hand, murder
follows in company …. Witness the midwives,
too! How many adulterous conceptions are
slaughtered! Tertullian (c. 212, W), 4.78.

There ate some women who, by drinking
medical preparations, extinguish the source of
the future man in their very bowels. So they
commit murder before they bring forth. And
these things assuredly come down from the
teaching of your gods. Mark Minucius Felix (c.
200, W), 4.192.

Women who were reputed believers began to
resort to drugs for producing sterility. They also
girded themselves around, so as to expel what
was being conceived. For they did not wish to
have a child by either a slave or by any common
fellow–out of concern for their family and
their excessive wealth. See what a great impiety
:he lawless one has advanced! He teaches adul-
tery and murder at the same time! Hippolytus (c.
225, W), 5.131.

In conclusion, this issue is obviously a very touchy one.  People have very strong opinions.   My objective in discussing these things, is to make people think about the real reasons they believe what they do.  Do they believe them because someone told them to?  Or do they believe what they believe, based on prayer, Bible study, and thoughtful dialog with other people…including people who have differing viewpoints.

Explore Your Faith.

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Broken Words by Jonathan Dudley

While reading this book, I had to constantly remind myself that Dudley is merely presenting Biblical quotes, and historical background.  Because I had believed certain things for so long, it was a truely hard book to read.  However,  there are hundreds of references from periodicals, books, theologians, etc.  Because of the vast amounts of research that have gone into this book, I feel confident in saying that what he writes, is factual and objective.  For the purposes of this review, I’ll focus on the first of the controversial issues discussed, abortion.

Abortion

Growing up in an evangelical household, I was always under the impression that the issue of abortion was essentially a non-issue.  Life begins at conception.  Period.  However, several pages into this, I was amazed at how manipulated I was, along with millions of others. Dudley clearly outlines the history of the issue of abortion, and agrues against absolutism on abortion, as well as opposition to embryonic stem-cell research.  Throughout the chapter, Dudley tells us that most Christian theologians throughout history, including Augustine, Aquinas, and many American evangelicals (up until the 1980s) have believed that life does not begin at conception.

This was an absolute shock to me.  I had thought for all of my life, that the issue of abortion went back to the early church, and there was a clear stance on it.  However, this was clearly not the case.  Instead, the book provides clear evidence of political manipulation.  When evangelical leaders compare abortion to the Holocaust (Rick Warren), and call it a nonnegotiable issue for Christians in voting decisions, it is clear why so many Christians believe what they believe about abortion.

“The reason I believe life begins at conception, is ’cause the Bible says it,” declared Rick Warren in a 2008 interview.  In its literature, Focus on the Family claims to provide “Scripture verses that speak to the value of preborn life created in God’s image from the moment of fertilization.”

But is the Bible really clear about this controversial issue?

In the case of Focus on the Family’s claim, their cited support for this conclusion about the moment of incarnation comes from several verses including Luke 2:6-7, Luke 1:41, 44 and Genesis 9:6 (NIV Bible):

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.”

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit…[saying] ‘As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Whoever sheds the blood of a human by a human shall that person’s blood be shed;for in his own images God made humankind

Dudley argues that “The implicit suggestion that this verse provides us with information on when moral life begins (along with interpretations of Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 1) reflects the willingness-evidenced also in the creationist movement-of modern, populist evangelicalism t0 interpret any part of the Bible, including its poetry and narratives, as conveying precise factual information about contemporary moral and scientific issues”.

Taking the last verse, Dudley explains that “there is no logical path from the belief that humans are created in the image of God to the conclusion that the embryo, therefore, is a human created in the image of God.” (page 29)

All of these are good points, but the Bible verse that really made sense to me (in helping me understand that the issue is not as cut and dry as politicians and evangelical leaders would like us to believe), comes from Exodus 21:22-25

When men have a fight and hurt a pregnant woman, so that she suffers a miscarriage, but no further injury, the guilty one shall be fined as much as the woman’s husband demands of him, and he shall pay in the presence of judges.  But if injury ensures, you shall give life for life.”

Basically, this says that the accidental destruction of fetal life requires a fine, while injury to the mother requires “life for life”.  This clearly suggests that there is a difference in the moral status of a fetal verses maternal life.  And throughout history, this passage has been used by both Jewish and Christian traditions, as a basis for holding the belief that the life of a mother is more important to that of the fetus.

Drawing from this passage, the Evangelical periodical Christianity Today published a special on contraception and abortion, written by a leading professor of Old Testament from famously conservative Dallas Theological Seminary’s Bruce Waltke:

“God does not regard the fetus as a soul, no matter how far gestation has progressed.  The Law plainly exacts: “If a man kills any human life he will be put to death” (Lev. 24:17).  But according to Exodus 21:22-24, the destruction of the fetus is not a capital offense…. Clearly, then, in contrast to the mother, the fetus is not reckoned as a soul,

History (remember that the hard line on abortion started in the mid 1900s) documents Christianity’s stance on abortion throughout the years.  The Christian theologian, Augustine stated:

“If what is brought forth is unformed but at this stage some sort of living, shapeless thing…then the law of homicide would not apply, for it could not be said that there was a living soul in that body, for it lacks all sense, if it be such as is not yet formed and therefore not yet endowed with senses”

Moving to the Jewish faith, you’ll see that they take a much more liberal stance on abortion:

The Mishna (a main part of the Jewish Talmud), states:

“If a woman has difficulty in childbirth, one dismembers the embryo within her limb from limb, because her life takes precedene over its life.  Once its head (or the greater part has emerged, it may not be touched, for we do not set aside on life for another.

When George W. Bush came out as an opponent to human embryonic stem cell research, Orthodox Jews issued the following statement that supported human embryonic stem cell research:

Our Torah [the first five books of the Christian Old Testament] places great value upon human life…each human was created in God’s image….The Torah commands us to treat and cure the ill and to defeat disease wherever possible’ to do this is to be the Creator’s partner in safeguarding the created… [M]aximizing the potential to save and heal human lives is an integral part of valuing human life.  Moreover, our tradition states that an embryo in vitro does not enjoy the full status of human-hood and its attendant protections.  Thus, if cloning technology research advances our ability to heal humans with greater success, it ought to be pursued.

In conclusion, the intent of the author was not to persuade people that abortion is OK.  That is a deeply personal decision that should be made with extreme caution.  However, Dudley believes in shedding light on the entire story…not just the story that a small group of evangelical leaders want you to believe.  Stating that the Bible clearly says that life begins at conception, is simply not true.   There is valid evidence that supports both sides of the issues.  However, due to the political gain to be had by polarizing the American public, the issue has been distorted and made into an undeniable truth.

If you are looking to understand why you believe what you believe, Broken Words by Jonathan  Dudley, is a great book, available in my Christian book store.  You may disagree with what he says, but you’ll know why you believe it.

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The Jesus Mission by Steven Scott

Perhaps you have asked yourself the same question again and again, “What does God want from my life?” Isn’t it too great to know the reason for everything and to take the right course of action every time, not committing any mistakes? But, the reality is that people are oftentimes confused and clueless on their purpose in life.

Bestselling author Steven Scott (The Greatest Words Ever Spoken) releases his third book on Jesus Christ entitled the Jesus Mission. In this comprehensive resource, he discusses the missions of Jesus that should be our exact model in living out our lives. When Jesus left heaven and took the form of a man on earth, he was not exempted from the same temptations we are confronted with. However, because of his love-drenching communion with God every single moment, He is able to overcome all temptations and complete his missions on earth. If Jesus would have failed in one of his 27 missions or gave in to one single temptation, then every person of earth is doomed to eternal damnation.

In the Scriptures, Jesus already revealed how we can focus all our efforts and entire being towards fulfilling the Jesus mission. God wants us to discover His specific will for our lives through following the path Jesus has trodden and enjoying sweet fellowship and communion with God. Steven Scott mentioned that if we are to be handed a crystal ball that shows us the future, we will be able to win the lottery every week, stay away from traffic and accidents or sicknesses or even be the best employee with not much hard work. Despite all this, he said that the crystal ball will not be able to give us joy, fulfillment, and life as we are still beings with limitations not having all the power and ability to do everything we want at any given time.

Steven Scott’s writings are very straightforward and at times hit the heart enough for a reader to be convicted by the Spirit. The book did not make Jesus, Christianity and the Christian life palatable or to be easily accepted by believers and non-Christians but speaking in truth and power under the anointing of God. It is very rare to encounter Christian literature like this as the prosperity gospel, feel-good, and self-improvement books are dominating our society and churches.

The Jesus Mission addresses the need for the body of Christ to examine our hearts and check where we are falling short of what God requires of us and wants for our lives. Steven Scott rings the alarm on areas we sweep under the rug. Things like how to truly love God, ourselves and our neighbor, the importance of intimate relationship with God and on listening to His direction and guidance to know His perfect will in every decision or situation.

My brethren in Christ, this book is a must-read in this season. We are too preoccupied on fixing ourselves, our world and caring about unimportant and worthless things with no eternal significance, it is high time to know what God wants for our lives and to do it accordingly in His grace and strength.

The Jesus Mission by Steven Scott. Available wherever christian books are sold.

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