Spring has Sprung

         Rising up in action, 

but breaking under too much pressure; 

         softening your ride, 

and bringing more light to your every-day

                                                                            Spring.

Lee Strobel and Alison Strobel on Focus on the Family 4/14/11

From Focus on the Family 4/14/11
Lee Strobel and his daughter Alison Morrow lend advice and perspective about helping our children develop a Biblical worldview, even amidst the non-Biblical worldviews that they are getting bombarded with.
Part 1

Part 2 - 4/15/2011

Lee is an Atheist-turned-Christian, former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national TV programs, including ABC, Fox, PBS, and CNN. He presents great arguments as you battle the permeating worldviews all around. Just consider that not only is he an expert in the legal world; but he's also someone who DENIED Christianity, became an Atheist, but then later while on a personal mission to prove that Christ is a fake, found Salvation himself (kind of reminds you of the Apostle Paul huh?)
His books are worthwhile and easy to read, I've not seen the DVD's but I'd be willing to give them a look-see as well. And now, with his daughter's interest in reaching out to kids, we have a children's book that brings some of the same apologetics but in a form kids can enjoy.
 

Picking out Daddy's Shirt

Just wanted to share the amazing things you can discover in the heart of a child. A Daddy asked his 4 year-old boy to "come here." Now this boy is one of those that actually responds fairly well to such a command, being taught that such a command isn't always bad and is often good. So be careful to not make all your directives to your kids things that are "negative" and they might respond the same. But I digress, he came to where I was standing by my closet and I picked up the 40 lb bundle of joy and stepped into where my "work shirts" were hanging. I asked simply, "what do you think Daddy should wear to work tomorrow" (yes I often speak in the third person, I'm sure it's quite confusing and will scar his grammar for years to come).  He scanned the available selection and picked one. I said, "OK, that's what I'll wear" (notice the change from 3rd to 1st person, definitely gonna muck up his English skills). He asks a sensible question, "why don't you know what you were going to wear tomorrow?" Responding, I simply said, "I just thought I'd let Lucas pick (yes, 3rd person again, Lucas is the boy's name of course). At this, he turns his head to face me in acknowledgment of this bestowing of honor, and gives the most genuine hug you can imagine. He ends the moment with "I Love you Daddy."
Now that's what makes being a parent worth it. That's what makes a child's life worth it. You infuse your child with Love AND Discipline, bringing them up in the Way that they should go, being prepared for an amazing ride.

Even Christians wrestle with God, this doesn't make Him any less real.




Genesis 32

Christianity in the 21st Century, Tim Keller speaks with Focus on the Family

Focus On The Family has Rev Timothy Keller talking about how to engage non-believers. But within this discussion, I found it interesting how he uses the story of the Prodigal Son from the Bible, and not the part that is typically preached about in church, but rather he focuses on the older brother and makes the parallel to church goers that aren't truly saved.  Part 1 and 2 are linked below, and I'd invite you to go to FocusOntheFamily.com to see more about what they can offer you, or to make a donation of appreciate for the great speakers and content they produce. Focus has been very inspiring and helpful to me, I know it can be for you as well.

Rev Timothy Keller's books and DVDs via Amazon for further reference.

click for Examining Christianity in the 21st Century -click to go to Part 1
and for Part 2

Scent of Water - Naomi Zacharias, Wellspring International - FoxNews Interview Lauren Green

"the problem with you people [Christians] is that you tell me I should leave [prostitution] but you won't let me forget where I came from." -a prostitute mentioned in the book Scent of Water by Naomi Zacharias

    Naomi, is the daughter of Ravi Zacharias and head of the organization, Wellspring International, an outreach that establishes partnership with existing humanitarian organizations serving women, and children at risk. Naomi Zacharias now has completed a book sharing stories from her experiences in this mission field. Lauren Green of FoxNews interviews Naomi, and even wrote an endorsement for the book after reading it, saying that she literally cried in hearing about the horrible things going on and happening to women and children in other parts of the world - amazed that in our current age these things could go on.
Please watch the interview, and consider checking out the book for an eye opener, perhaps even a motivator to you being involved in praying, supporting, or becoming a worker in the areas of these mission outreaches.

Defending Jesus to Mormons, by being LIKE Jesus - Ravi Zacharias

   Ravi Zacharias is famous for his authoring and speaking, for his apologetics and philosophical debates against attackers of the Christian faith and more importantly the Holy Bible, Word of God. In the linked broadcast below, a concept is exemplified that I felt compelled to point out, and feel compelled to try and LIVE out. Ravi, in the broadcast, delivers a message, of course, this is what he does and has done on countless occasions. What makes this delivery unique is that his words in this message are being heard within the walls of the Mormon Tabernacle in Utah. Why would Mormons want to hear Ravi speak? Perhaps they have a malicious scheme to absorb what he says and twist or utilize it for marketing Mormonism more effectively to weak or alleged Christians. Maybe, but I'd like to believe that they want to hear Ravi speak, because he's Ravi. They want to hear him speak because of how he carries himself; his reputation for being a remarkable speaker of enlightenment; because of his renown of projected goodness, which is of course, Godliness.
So the thought occurs to me, Ravi in living his life and doing what he does is so revered that he is invited to speak in places one would never assume a projector of the Christian faith would be invited to. The notion exemplifies that if we strive to reach others for Christ, even those who would seem to want nothing at all to do with Christ, we need to live as Christ (seems backwards I know). Living us much like Him, keeping Him acknowledged in every minute detail, might just get US invited to then share him to someone who never would have otherwise. Become so revered due to your true faith, that in your circles maybe you, like Ravi, will be asked to SHARE YOUR FAITH.
Who Is Jesus: Defending Jesus Christ as the Way (part 1 of 2)   this takes you directly to the streaming MP3, to get to RZIM's Let My People Think section, of which this broadcast comes from, you can follow this link: RZIM: Let My People Think