Following is an exchange between Bodie Hodge and an emailer challenging the fact that someone can be a scientist and have a Biblical view of creation. The exchange is worth reading, as an example of a typical ad hominem attack against Christians and for Mr.Hodge's excellent response. An ad hominem argument is where you attack the person instead of arguing the point.
The original article can be found at http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/06/19/feedback-a-good-day-ruined
Feedback: A Good Day Ruined
by Bodie Hodge, AiG–U.S.
June 19, 2009
Wow... Just when I got that really happy feeling because I’m done with work ... I saw you website and [got sick]. The fact that you would call someone a creation scientist is ridiculous to say the least. What science are you doing? Where do you publish your works? How often are your results put up against an unbiased peer-review board? And how in, dare i say, “god’s name” do you get off at brainwashing children to believe your superstitious, astrological, irrational, primitive belief systems? Just when I thought I was having a good day. Get educated and EVOLVE!
—K., U.S.
Thank you for contacting Answers in Genesis. I was saddened to read your email, as there is really no argument, but merely attacks to degrade. I pray this response will help you realize that such an attack has no merit, and that these types of questions can easily be answered. My hope is that you will take them to heart and realize the error of the humanistic worldview. This response is intended with sincerity and kindness.
Wow... Just when I got that really happy feeling because I’m done with work ... I saw you website and [got sick]. The fact that you would call someone a creation scientist is ridiculous to say the least.
Why is it ridiculous? Most fields of science were developed by creation-believing scientists of the past, such as Isaac Newton, Gregor Mendel, Louis Pasteur, and many others. They realized that an orderly God would create an orderly universe that made repeatable scientific testing possible. In fact, Francis Bacon, a creationist, developed the scientific method based on the idea of a God-made universe. But why, in a big bang, no-God, universe, would things be orderly?
What science are you doing?
Real science, unlike molecules-to-man evolution, which cannot be repeated or observed; for example, friends of ours have invented the MRI (Dr Raymond Damadian) and the Gene Gun (Dr John Sanford). Evolution, on the other hand, is far from scientific:
No one has been able to make life from non-life (matter giving rise to life, which is foundational to molecules-to-man evolution).
No one has been able to change a single-celled life-form like an ameba into a cow or goat.
No one has been able to repeat the big bang (which is foundational to molecules-to-man evolution).
We haven’t observed billions of new information-gaining mutations required to build the DNA strand and give rise to new kinds of life-forms.
Matter has never been observed to give rise to new information.
No one has observed millions of years of time progressing.
No one has found the billions of transitional fossils needed to help show the changes of one kind into another.
This isn’t to say that non-Christians can’t do science, but they are assuming the truthfulness of the Bible, perhaps even inadvertently, to do science. And of course, it’s silly to assume that all science is hinged to evolution. Data collection and analysis have nothing to do with origins and the inherent presuppositions of origins science.
Where do you publish your works?
With kindness, apparently you did not spend much time researching before asking such a question. We publish peer-reviewed, technical papers (ARJ), peer-reviewed, semi-technical articles (AiD), and, naturally, peer-reviewed, lay articles in Answers magazine and the website.
But beyond AiG, there are other places for technical discussion, such as the International Conference on Creationism and the CRS Quarterly, and many others. But many creation scientists have also published in secular journals—even I have.
How often are your results put up against an unbiased peer-review board?
If there were such a thing as unbiased, this would surely be an option. However, if you possibly think Science, Nature, and so on are unbiased, you have not done your research. These journals are obviously pushing for the religion of humanism. All review boards are biased because all review boards are made up of human beings. All the papers in ARJ, for example, go through a gauntlet of reviewers, most of whom are biased by their belief in the God of the Bible. We certainly don’t hide that. And many creation scientists have published in secular journals on non-origins related topics. But secular journals refuse to allow any research that does not affirm naturalistic explanations. It is common to find articles supporting tenants of the Humanist Manifestos and authors and editors who have signed the Humanist Manifestos within their pages. Since biblical creationists do not accept naturalistic explanations, it seems absurd to think that they would write as if they did—just to be published.
And how in, dare i say, “god’s name”
By saying this, it is fascinating and confirms two things. First, Romans 2:15 reveals that everyone has the Law written on their hearts. One part of the Law is that it is sinful to use the Lord’s name in vain. Your hesitation here is a good confirmation that the Bible is true. Why not in the name of Darwin, evolution, or mother nature, etc.?
Why is this important? Because man realizes that deep down, there is a God, and He is the highest authority. In light of this, I want to ask you to reconsider the evolutionary ideas that you may not have realized have been forced on you from a very early age. Note J. Dunphy’s words in the early 1980s:
I am convinced that the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being. These teachers must embody the same selfless dedication as the most rabid fundamentalist preachers, for they will be ministers of another sort, utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in whatever subject they teach, regardless of the educational level—preschool day care or large state university. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new—the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism.1
Please consider this and reevaluate the atheistic ideas that were forced on you by humanists who still hold you captive to their false philosophy.
do you get off at brainwashing children to believe your superstitious,
This is called projection—ironic, when humanists have been teaching their superstitions, such as asserting that single-celled organisms became dinosaurs and then chickens over millions of years, that truth doesn’t exist, that people are animals, etc. I doubt you’ve questioned their dogma. We do not want anyone who reads our materials to be brainwashed or to unquestioningly accept what we say. God doesn’t really need our help or for people to be brainwashed to believe in Him. It’s the opposite: one has to be brainwashed to not believe (Romans 1:20–25). We simply point to what the Bible teaches and do our best to understand the world in light of the what God says in His Word. Beyond that, children and adults should search the Scripture (which the Creator, Himself, is responsible for) for themselves to see if what we say lines up.
astrological,
Perhaps there is some confusion here; we are not astrologers and would join in arguing against this religion. Astrology is the belief that stars and other heavenly bodies can reveal the future. The Bible condemns such practice.
irrational,
How are we irrational? Besides, rationality comes from a biblical worldview. How can the materialistic evolutionist have a basis for the immaterial, such as logic and truth in the first place? In fact, they borrow from a biblical worldview when they even try to use logic.
primitive belief systems?
What do you mean by “primitive”? The Christian worldview has a basis for logic, truth, happiness, love, arts, science. It also explains how death and suffering are an intrusion into God’s originally perfect creation due to sin in Adam, and, mercifully, that God offers salvation and restoration through Christ. But what does an evolutionary worldview have to offer? The humanist religion teaches that you are rearranged pond scum, that lying and murder are neither right nor wrong, that we are likely headed for extinction, that life has no real meaning, and gives a flawed basis for logic, truth, happiness, science, etc.
Just when I thought I was having a good day.
What do you mean by “good”? This is a Christian concept where God sets what is good. In an evolutionary worldview, there is no such thing as “good.” But since you really seem to want goodness and happiness to exist (and I encourage this), then I suggest you find out more about God.
Get educated and EVOLVE!
Well, the use of “evolve” here is actually correct, but I would like to return this statement back to you in kindness. You have made several unresearched and incorrect statements and assume that we are ignorant simply because we do not share your presuppositions and beliefs about how the world came to be and the origin of life. Most of those working at AiG have college degrees—and many have advanced ones and from secular institutions. But true education starts with the right foundation—Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:3).
As a person made in the image of God, you can do so much better than simply believing you are an animal who has nothing to offer but ridicule. In fact, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cared enough to step into history to die on a cross for people like you and me—who deserve the death He died for us. So, please take this to heart and reconsider the work of Christ, starting in Genesis.
Bodie
Help keep these daily articles coming. Support AiG.
Footnotes
J. Dunphy, “A Religion for a New Age,” The Humanist, January–February 1983, p. 23, 26. Back
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Quotes on Christianuty and the Bible
It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John Adams
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
Patrick Henry
"In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book."
Abraham Lincoln
I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.
Harry S. Truman
The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.
John Quincy Adams
The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible.
George Washington Carver
The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty...students' perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands."
Thomas Jefferson
My advice to Sunday Schools no matter what their denomination is: Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your heart, and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future. 'Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34).
Ulysses S. Grant
George Washington
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John Adams
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
Patrick Henry
"In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book."
Abraham Lincoln
I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.
Harry S. Truman
The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.
John Quincy Adams
The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible.
George Washington Carver
The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty...students' perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands."
Thomas Jefferson
My advice to Sunday Schools no matter what their denomination is: Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your heart, and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future. 'Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34).
Ulysses S. Grant
Monday, June 15, 2009
It's Good to Laugh
Proverbs 17:22 says that a "Merry heart does good like medicine". These are typos and mistakes taken from church bulletins. I'm sure most of us have seen these but they're still good for a chuckle! Enjoy.
- Please remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
- This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs Jones to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
- The beautiful flowers on the altar this morning are to celebrate the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev and Mrs. Julius Belzer.
- If any of the congregation have children and don''t know it, there is a nursery downstairs.
- Everyone is welcome this Tuesday at 4 PM for an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.
- At the Ladies Liturgy Society this Thursday, Mrs Smith will sing "Put Me In My Little Bed" accompanied by the pastor.
- This Friday at 5 PM there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All wishing to become Little Mothers, please see the minister in his private study.
- This week we invite any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.
- The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they may be seen in the church basement Friday.
- This Monday we will be holding a ''Bean Supper'' in the church hall. Music will follow.
- The topic for our sermon next week will be "What is Hell?". Come early and listen to our choir practice.
- This evening there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.
- The 2003 Church Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.
- ''Weight Watchers'' will meet at 7 PM in the church hall. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
- There will be a special collection today to pay for eight new choir robes. These are needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
- Next Sunday, a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and get a piece of paper.
- This week our Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.
- Please join us as we show our support for Amy and Alan, who are preparing for the girth of their first child.
- The Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Friday, June 12, 2009
What's It mean to be a Christian?
If you are one that shouldn't be a hard question. I've been reading George Barna's book "The Seven Faith Tribes" in which he divides adults in the United States into seven different groups, depending on their worldview. The two largest groups are those he terms "Casual Christians" and "Captive Christians". Barna defines Casuals as those who "profess to be Christians but are notably lax in their beliefs and practices." Barna defines Captives as "those whose consistently biblical beliefs and Christlike behavior validate their commitment to being followers of Christ." Casual Christians make up about 150 million of the roughly 225 million adults in the United States. Captive Christians make up around 36 million. The other groups are defined as American Jews, Mormons, Pantheists, Muslims and Spiritual Skeptics (atheists and agnostics).
I found the research on the Casuals to be particularly interesting and it begs the question what is a Christian? If you go on the internet you can find all kinds of interesting things about what a Christian is -- people try to pin Hitler as a Christian. People claim to be Christians who also believe in new age and other cultic beliefs. There was even a situation in the Episcopal Church where a priest became a Muslim and now claims she is both. Confusion is rampant.
Some of the statistics on casuals are interesting.
89% said they prayed in the last week.
52% said that their faith had transformed them.
71% said their faith is important in their lives.
74% said they had made a personal commitment to Christ.
72% said that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe and still rules it today.
67% said that their primary purpose is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.
85% are concerned about the moral condition of the United States.
Those are pretty good numbers so far but the we also find some less comforting trends.
Only 25% believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Only 35% believe in absolute truth.
Only 34% had read the Bible in the last week.
Only 67% believe that Jesus is alive today.
Only 18% belive that commitment to a body of believers is important.
Only 18% of Casuals say they attend church, pray and read the Bible in a typical week.
Casuals give, on average $151.00 a year to the church they attend.
Only 2% have a biblical worldview.
Some other issues that Barna brings out in his book but doesn't supply statistics for are that the majority of Casuals don't believe in Satan or the Holy Spirit and that Jesus sinned while on earth.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. The King James versions says to teach all nations but the literal translation of the Greek is disciple. A disciple is one who believes their teacher and follows their example. While the Bible does use the term Christian in a couple of places other terms are used for more frequently for followers of Christ like disciple or believer. The real impact of faith in Jesus should result in relationship (fellowship) with the Lord. One of the points Barna makes in his book is that Casuals "have an arm's-length relationship" with the Lord. Apparently God is distant and there is little impact or reality in their daily lives. The wonderful truth is that Jesus died to bring us into an awesome daily relationship with God. We can and should live in that reality.
It's not surprising that we see such spiritual confusion among this group when their beliefs about God's Word are so tenuous. I've always found that to be an interesting issue. People who pick and choose the parts of the Word they believe. My question is always if you rejects certain parts as being untrue why do you believe the parts you trust? Jesus said "whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock." The Word of God is a rock we can build our lives on!
In the coming weeks I'm going to be looking at particular issues concerning God's Word and why you can trust it!
I found the research on the Casuals to be particularly interesting and it begs the question what is a Christian? If you go on the internet you can find all kinds of interesting things about what a Christian is -- people try to pin Hitler as a Christian. People claim to be Christians who also believe in new age and other cultic beliefs. There was even a situation in the Episcopal Church where a priest became a Muslim and now claims she is both. Confusion is rampant.
Some of the statistics on casuals are interesting.
89% said they prayed in the last week.
52% said that their faith had transformed them.
71% said their faith is important in their lives.
74% said they had made a personal commitment to Christ.
72% said that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe and still rules it today.
67% said that their primary purpose is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.
85% are concerned about the moral condition of the United States.
Those are pretty good numbers so far but the we also find some less comforting trends.
Only 25% believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Only 35% believe in absolute truth.
Only 34% had read the Bible in the last week.
Only 67% believe that Jesus is alive today.
Only 18% belive that commitment to a body of believers is important.
Only 18% of Casuals say they attend church, pray and read the Bible in a typical week.
Casuals give, on average $151.00 a year to the church they attend.
Only 2% have a biblical worldview.
Some other issues that Barna brings out in his book but doesn't supply statistics for are that the majority of Casuals don't believe in Satan or the Holy Spirit and that Jesus sinned while on earth.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. The King James versions says to teach all nations but the literal translation of the Greek is disciple. A disciple is one who believes their teacher and follows their example. While the Bible does use the term Christian in a couple of places other terms are used for more frequently for followers of Christ like disciple or believer. The real impact of faith in Jesus should result in relationship (fellowship) with the Lord. One of the points Barna makes in his book is that Casuals "have an arm's-length relationship" with the Lord. Apparently God is distant and there is little impact or reality in their daily lives. The wonderful truth is that Jesus died to bring us into an awesome daily relationship with God. We can and should live in that reality.
It's not surprising that we see such spiritual confusion among this group when their beliefs about God's Word are so tenuous. I've always found that to be an interesting issue. People who pick and choose the parts of the Word they believe. My question is always if you rejects certain parts as being untrue why do you believe the parts you trust? Jesus said "whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock." The Word of God is a rock we can build our lives on!
In the coming weeks I'm going to be looking at particular issues concerning God's Word and why you can trust it!
Friday, May 29, 2009
This Life
Life is such a precious gift from God but all too often we spend so much of our lives just trying to get by. Jesus said in John 10:10 that "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly." What does an abundant life look like? It is too easy to boil it down to material possessions but the sad reality is that the pursuit of stuff won't bring the abundant life. Don't misunderstand me -- having material wealth is not in and of itself a bad thing -- we just have to own our stuff and not let our stuff own us. God uses faithful people who are wealthy to finance a whole lot of ministry. Jesus asked the wealthy ruler in Luke 18 to sell all he had and give it to the poor but, as far as we know, never asked Lazarus or Joseph of Arimathaea to do the same thing.
So what does an abundant life look like? Maybe it's not so much in what you have but what you do. Obviously the place to start is to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Since Jesus came for us to have an abundant life the absolute first plac eof abundance is in our walk with God. We are called to an abundant fellowship with Him! Nothing else can ever supplant what is really the key principle of the the life in Christ. Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, prayed "this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).
I have a friend who likes to say "nothing satisfies like ministry." We have made the term ministry out to be a really spiritual or religious word when in fact it is a very practical word. The Greek word diakonia, where our word deacon comes from, simply means service or care. Ministry is about serving and caring for others. It is so much more than preaching a sermon or singing in church. It is so much bigger than that! Real ministry may be something as big as helping someone through a crisis in their life or as little as helping someone change a tire. It's sometimes messy and sometimes inconvenient. Ministry opportunities don't always pop up when we have free time and are looking for something to do. They sometimes involve some sacrifice.
But there truly is nothing like it. Jesus said "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 2:27). Serve here is the same Greek word Diakonia but with a different tense. It could just as well be translated I am among you as one who ministers." 1st John 4:17 tells us that "as He is, so are we in this world."
Ministry doesn't just come by happenstance. Don't wait on a church program to create a ministry opportunity for you. We run into them every day but aren't always paying attention. Be bold. Dare to ask the Lord, "What can I do today?" They don't always have to be a big deal. It may be something you do for your spouse or your parents. It may involve helping a friend or a stranger.
It's better to make life happen than to let it pass you by!
So what does an abundant life look like? Maybe it's not so much in what you have but what you do. Obviously the place to start is to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Since Jesus came for us to have an abundant life the absolute first plac eof abundance is in our walk with God. We are called to an abundant fellowship with Him! Nothing else can ever supplant what is really the key principle of the the life in Christ. Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, prayed "this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).
I have a friend who likes to say "nothing satisfies like ministry." We have made the term ministry out to be a really spiritual or religious word when in fact it is a very practical word. The Greek word diakonia, where our word deacon comes from, simply means service or care. Ministry is about serving and caring for others. It is so much more than preaching a sermon or singing in church. It is so much bigger than that! Real ministry may be something as big as helping someone through a crisis in their life or as little as helping someone change a tire. It's sometimes messy and sometimes inconvenient. Ministry opportunities don't always pop up when we have free time and are looking for something to do. They sometimes involve some sacrifice.
But there truly is nothing like it. Jesus said "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 2:27). Serve here is the same Greek word Diakonia but with a different tense. It could just as well be translated I am among you as one who ministers." 1st John 4:17 tells us that "as He is, so are we in this world."
Ministry doesn't just come by happenstance. Don't wait on a church program to create a ministry opportunity for you. We run into them every day but aren't always paying attention. Be bold. Dare to ask the Lord, "What can I do today?" They don't always have to be a big deal. It may be something you do for your spouse or your parents. It may involve helping a friend or a stranger.
It's better to make life happen than to let it pass you by!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Financial Hope -- 3/9/09
Last night's class was an encouraging and uplifting time. We had a great discussion and wonderful time of prayer and ministry to one another. Here are the notes from the class--
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
Sometimes the toughest issue we deal with in implementing and sticking to life changes is our own attitude. It’s not always as much about information as it is what I do with that information. Fear, discouragement, hopelessness and regret are just some of the attitudes that give us trouble.
There are some very practical things that we can do that will help us through to a new attitude.
1) Resist fear – fear is debilitating – both to your health and to your decision making. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2nd Timothy 1:7)
2) Lay down the past. Focusing on your mistakes and regrets will not help or encourage you and will definitely not fix the problem. The past is done. You can’t change it and in real life you don’t get a do over. Everybody makes mistakes. “Fear not, for I [am] with you; Be not dismayed, for I [am] your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) Sometimes we think we've messed up so badly that God won't help us. That's a lie. We didn't deserve salvation and yet Jesus died for us.
3) Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparison is a form of judgment that you speak on others and on yourself. “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. “But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2nd Corinthians 10:12)
4) Stop making excuses. “That may work for others but…” kind of thinking will keep you in bondage. “ God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34) What He has done for others He will do for you.
5) Get with people who will encourage you. As much as you are able cut off the flow of negative information. It will drag you down emotionally. “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.” (Acts 15:32)
6) Hang on to joy. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”(James 1:2) You can count it all joy when you know that God is helping you!
7) Walk in God’s love. That’s not just about loving others but gaining understanding about how much your Heavenly Father loves you. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)
8) Watch your words. “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21) This is not superstition or name it claim it theology. Your words have power. Negative talk and saying things that are contrary to God’s Word does affect you.
9) Use your faith. I use that phraseology on purpose. Faith is not a passive hoping that God will do something. Your prayers have power. James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” God’s Word is still true today. “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:22-23)
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
Sometimes the toughest issue we deal with in implementing and sticking to life changes is our own attitude. It’s not always as much about information as it is what I do with that information. Fear, discouragement, hopelessness and regret are just some of the attitudes that give us trouble.
There are some very practical things that we can do that will help us through to a new attitude.
1) Resist fear – fear is debilitating – both to your health and to your decision making. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2nd Timothy 1:7)
2) Lay down the past. Focusing on your mistakes and regrets will not help or encourage you and will definitely not fix the problem. The past is done. You can’t change it and in real life you don’t get a do over. Everybody makes mistakes. “Fear not, for I [am] with you; Be not dismayed, for I [am] your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) Sometimes we think we've messed up so badly that God won't help us. That's a lie. We didn't deserve salvation and yet Jesus died for us.
3) Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparison is a form of judgment that you speak on others and on yourself. “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. “But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2nd Corinthians 10:12)
4) Stop making excuses. “That may work for others but…” kind of thinking will keep you in bondage. “ God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34) What He has done for others He will do for you.
5) Get with people who will encourage you. As much as you are able cut off the flow of negative information. It will drag you down emotionally. “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.” (Acts 15:32)
6) Hang on to joy. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”(James 1:2) You can count it all joy when you know that God is helping you!
7) Walk in God’s love. That’s not just about loving others but gaining understanding about how much your Heavenly Father loves you. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)
8) Watch your words. “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21) This is not superstition or name it claim it theology. Your words have power. Negative talk and saying things that are contrary to God’s Word does affect you.
9) Use your faith. I use that phraseology on purpose. Faith is not a passive hoping that God will do something. Your prayers have power. James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” God’s Word is still true today. “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:22-23)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Financial Hope 3/2/09
Monday’s Financial Hope Class was spent on cash flow planning or to use a simpler term, budgeting.
The point of a budget is not to punish you but to insure that you are in charge of where your money goes.
A really simple but effective budget is Dave Ramsey’s zero based budget.
Here are the links to two forms from Dave Ramsey—
http://www.daveramsey.com/media/pdf/fpu_qbudget.pdf
http://www.daveramsey.com/media/pdf/fpu_monthly_cash_flow_plan_forms.pdf
The first link is to a quick budget plan you can work on when you are just starting out. The second link is to a more involved plan.
As an aside – Financial Peace University is a 13 week course that will change your life. If you ever have opportunity to go through the course take advantage of it. We are looking at running the course again at Grace Restoration Church in the near future.
Some keys to a zero based budget—
Income minus expenses each month should equal zero. That means that if you do your budget and have money left over give it a name somewhere. for example, you could put it in the savings or blow category or add it to your giving.
Budgeting is a process. It’s not something you do once and forget about. You will make mistakes. You may leave something out. That’s okay. Pick yourself up and keep going. Budgeting is a dynamic, ongoing process.
For yearly expenses, like Christmas, decide how much you want to spend and average it out each month. If you pay your car insurance quarterly the amount by three to come up with a monthly amount.
One tip when you are starting out is to save receipts and start writing down how much you are spending on things like groceries and entertainment. Keep track and see where your money is going. You may be surprised and a little shocked.
Lon Purvis also talked about how to do a yearly budget. It’s a great plan that can simplify the process for some folks. I’ll blog more details about it later.
The point of a budget is not to punish you but to insure that you are in charge of where your money goes.
A really simple but effective budget is Dave Ramsey’s zero based budget.
Here are the links to two forms from Dave Ramsey—
http://www.daveramsey.com/media/pdf/fpu_qbudget.pdf
http://www.daveramsey.com/media/pdf/fpu_monthly_cash_flow_plan_forms.pdf
The first link is to a quick budget plan you can work on when you are just starting out. The second link is to a more involved plan.
As an aside – Financial Peace University is a 13 week course that will change your life. If you ever have opportunity to go through the course take advantage of it. We are looking at running the course again at Grace Restoration Church in the near future.
Some keys to a zero based budget—
Income minus expenses each month should equal zero. That means that if you do your budget and have money left over give it a name somewhere. for example, you could put it in the savings or blow category or add it to your giving.
Budgeting is a process. It’s not something you do once and forget about. You will make mistakes. You may leave something out. That’s okay. Pick yourself up and keep going. Budgeting is a dynamic, ongoing process.
For yearly expenses, like Christmas, decide how much you want to spend and average it out each month. If you pay your car insurance quarterly the amount by three to come up with a monthly amount.
One tip when you are starting out is to save receipts and start writing down how much you are spending on things like groceries and entertainment. Keep track and see where your money is going. You may be surprised and a little shocked.
Lon Purvis also talked about how to do a yearly budget. It’s a great plan that can simplify the process for some folks. I’ll blog more details about it later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)