The Good Tidings of Great Joy!

Merry Christmas and Joyous mirth to all!


Merry Christmas and joyous

Shepherd's Ministries

http://www.shepherdsministries.org/

A couple of years ago the choral group from Shepherd's Ministries sang at our church. We were blessed to have them spend the night on our farm. They touched our hearts and we have never been the same since.

End of the year is a time we think of those that are not with us or by God's grace need assistance. Shepherd's Ministries provide a safe secure home and independent living for adults with developmental disabilities.

If you have never heard of them, I caution you not to learn more about the program or get to know the people at Shepherd's. If you do you will be forever changed.

May God richly bless you all this Christmas. Mat 1:21

Are you prepared?

Mat 24: 32-36 Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Are you prepared for the days ahead? Matthew 24 tells as that no one but the Father knows when Christ may return. I pray you are prepared. I pray you repent and turn to Christ because only He can provide a way to heaven.

You may have noticed the National Debt Counter that was recently posted. For my fellow Americans we are in for some serious times ahead if our government is not able to stop the bleeding. For an individual American there is not much we can do to directly affect what our government does but you can spend some time to protect you and your family.

For that I highly recommend you check out http://www.survivalblog.com/. Jim Rawles, survival author and former Army Intelligence officer keeps a daily blog that recently celebrated their 30 millionith unique visitor with updated information on all issues survival.

The blog won't save you from every man's final end but it just may give you pause to think and prepare for you and your family.

Godspeed to all of us.

The U.S. National Debt

The Gross National Debt

Never forget

Have you seen Jesus lately? - - by Charles Spurgeon

"But they did not know who He was." Luke 24:16

The disciples ought to have recognized Jesus, they had heard His voice so often, and gazed upon that marred face so frequently, that it is amazing that they did not know Him. Yet is it not so with you also? Have you seen Jesus lately? You have been to His table--and you have not met Him there. You are in a dark trouble, and though He plainly says, "It is I--do not be afraid," yet you do not recognize Him. Alas! our eyes are blinded! We know His voice; we have looked into His face; we have leaned our head upon His bosom--and yet, though Christ is very near us, we are saying, "O that I knew where I might find Him!"

We should know Jesus, for we have the Scriptures to reflect His image. Yet how frequently we open that precious book--and have no glimpse of our Well-beloved! Dear child of God, are you in that state? Jesus walks through the glades of Scripture, and desires to commune with His people. Yet you are in the garden of Scripture--but cannot see Him, though He is always there!

Make it your prayer, "Lord, open my eyes--that I may see my Savior present with me!" It is a blessed thing to desire to see Him. But oh! it is better far to gaze upon Him! To those who seek Him--He is kind; but to those who find Him--He is precious beyond expression!

Truth War Conference Notes: Part One

I am starting a series on the blog that will be made up of notes that I took from the Truth War Conference that Dad and I attended last November. (You can read an overview of our trip here.) The group of posts will consist of five sets of notes that I took from each session of the conference. The series is going to start off with Phil Johnson's session titled: 
Can Truth Survive in a Postmodern Society?

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Truth requires us to acknowledge God.

1. 2 Timothy 3:1-7
2. 2 Corinthians 10

Society believes Truth can't be known, so Truth does not matter.

Modernism began in 1850 and lasted until 1980. Modernism is opposed to anything supernatural. Postmodernism is the death of modernism and began in the 80's.


Progress of Western Thought:

1. Premodern

• Covers a span of 2500 years
• There is an objective ultimate truth.
• Supernatural; Reality is not just what is visible
• Authority is from God; Along with ultimate truth there is an ultimate authority.

2. Modern 

• Spans 250 years
• There is still an objective ultimate truth
• Anti-supernatural; Supernatural is irrelevant in the search for truth
• Authority is from science and human reason
• Thomas Payne helped bring forth modernity
• All socialist experiments have their roots in modernism

3. Postmodern

• Postmodernism began in 1980 and is still going today
• Objective ultimate truth is unknowable 
• Mystical supernatural; People go by feelings. Reality is a subjective perception of ones mind
• There is no ultimate truth. God is without authority.  

Christianity is not premodern, modern, or postmodern. 

Secular philosophy always gets worse. As a result, western thought is becoming more hostile to Christianity.


Postmodernism is hostile to any worldview that makes a claim to truth.

Postmodernism is also known by deconstructionism. Where instead of wanting to know truth, they only want to eliminate certainty. Postmoderns thinks that certainty is intolerance.


Christianity has always been opposed to the wisdom of the world.