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by Cindy Colley

On September 11, 2001, America faced the devastation of the single worst terrorist attack in her brief history—perhaps in the history of the world. Islamic Jihad forces defiantly took credit for the loss of hundreds of innocent American lives.

Meanwhile, in California, middle school students were beginning a new school year. Little did they know that, within a few months, they would be forced to engage in Muslim rituals such as praying to Allah and fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. That’s right. As our nation froze in fear of Islamic terror, California schools adopted a seventh grade textbook called Across the Centuries, published by Houghton Mifflin and accompanied by simulation materials. Included in the text was a three week unit study of Islam in which students earned points toward their final grades by dressing as Muslims, using phrases such as Allah Abkar (Arabic for “God is great”), quoting Muslim prayers, and accomplishing the five pillars of Islamic faith. They chanted praise to Allah, chose Islamic names to replace their own for the duration of the simulation, and even staged their own Jihad using a game of dice. At the beginning of the three-week simulation period, students were told, “You and your classmates will become Muslims” (More, 2002).

You may be thinking about how oblivious you were to the fact that such a curriculum was developed by one of America’s premier textbook companies and adopted by the state of California. But here’s a fictional scenario to which none of us would be oblivious long:

The State Board of Education in Alabama has voted to mandate a study of Christianity in seventh grade classrooms across the state. Students will simulate the religion for three weeks by reciting the Lord’s model prayer, actually acting out several conversion examples from the book of Acts, and praying through the name of Jesus to the Father. They will receive credit for memorization of several key New Testament passages, and they will be able to recite the basic tenets of the gospel: the death of Christ, his burial, and his miraculous resurrection. Students will temporarily replace their own names with Bible names. They will learn the significance of the Lord’s Supper and simulate Christian worship.

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From: THINK magazine – May 2007
by Jim Palmer

Teach Them Common Cents

Children are “like arrows in the hand of a warrior” (Psalm 127:4).  If parents follow God’s plan and follow through on His admonition to teach (Deuteronomy 6:7) and train (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4) they are assured that their “arrows shall be as those of a skillful, mighty man; none shall return in vain” (Jeremiah 50:9). 

Children must be directed in the way that they should go.  The facts are they will be taught and trained; the only question is, by whom?  Is the teaching and training going to be from peers, from the “school of hard knocks,” from today’s cultural norms, or from parents who are taking their cues from God, the Father?  In the area of managing personal finances, what are your kids learning and from whom are they learning it?

This month we begin a series on teaching children about money and personal finance. If you have kids already, I hope you will find the encouragement you need to rededicate your time and effort to grabbing the bow back from the world and pointing your children toward God and His principles of personal money management. If you do not have kids yet, I pray that you will apply your heart to understanding the principles shared in this article and pledge to keep the bow in your hands and never relinquish it to another.  We can know this is God’s will.  As such we also can know that our obedience will serve us and our children best.

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by Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Politicians who believe a particular “cause” will increase their odds in a voting booth can often be heard (loudly) beating the drum for that cause on the campaign trial. If a public poll appears to indicate that Americans are in favor of something—a check of the wind, so-to-speak—many politicians adopt that cause with gusto. But occasionally, it would be nice if the politicians would check the facts rather than checking the wind and popular opinion. Americans would be better informed and better served if those nominated for office would educate themselves on the facts.

For instance, embryonic stem cell research has been a political hot button for several years. Many elected officials and celebrities take pleasure in locking arms together and demanding that the government fund embryonic stem cell research. To hear their rhetoric, one might believe that these cells harvested from human embryos could not only cure Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, but also give us peace on Earth and resolve gridlock on the nation’s interstates. Surely the average person can see through this political grandstanding. [One wonder’s how much money the abortion lobbyists have funneled into this debate to keep the issue in the headlines.]

In reality, we know today that those embryonic stem cells are totally unnecessary. Stem cell research can continue without the destruction of innocent embryos. Adult stem cells provide the answer. Initially, the controversy was allegedly whether or not the stem cells were “pluripotent”—meaning cells that have the ability to become almost any cell in the body. These special cells can become healthy heart tissue or nervous tissue which could potentially be used to treat congestive heart failure or various brain disorders respectively. Currently stem cells are collected from four different sources: adult tissue, umbilical cords, aborted fetuses, and leftover embryos stored from in vitro fertilization procedures. The real controversy surrounds where the stem cells are collected from.

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by Jason R. Roberts

In 1987, the distinguished American philosopher and essayist, Allan Bloom (1930-1992), authored an eye-opening book titled, The Closing of the American Mind. The thesis of the book is, as the author put it in his preface, “a meditation on the state of our souls.” Though severely criticized by many liberal educators, the book became one of Bloom’s most celebrated works.

In the opening chapter, he makes a startling claim that gives us some insight into the stark reality that the heartbeat of absolute truth—which once pulsated so lively in our culture—has now virtually become a flat-line in mainstream society:

“There is one thing that a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative. If this belief is put to the test, one can count on the students’ reaction: they will be uncomprehending. That anyone should regard the proposition as not self-evident astonishes them, as though he were calling into question 2 + 2 = 4.”¹

To say that there has been a dramatic change in the cultural landscape of our nation would not surprise even a person with minuscule intelligence. The halls of higher learning, which echo with postmodern philosophy, not only seductively bypass the reasoning skills of many of their pupils, but provide an atmosphere of excellent campaign weather for the devil (1 Peter 5:8). Indeed, agnosticism has become the badge of honor today in most of the educational systems with which we are living. The graduating classes of today, unwittingly, have been indoctrinated with the sinister evil known as secularization. With their diplomas in one hand and their secular worldviews in the other, they are quite eager to pass the secular baton to the next generation of unsuspecting minds. Knowledge is a deadly friend when no One sets the rules.   Read more

by Dana Glasscock

In today’s world, we are bombarded by reality T.V. shows. Many of the conversations held at the water cooler or at the gym are about these shows. Most of our children can name at least five of them - if not more. One of the shows that airs on CBS is called “The Amazing Race.” Teams compete against one another to complete tasks and be the first to cross the finish line. The first team to do so in the end wins $1 million.

While our children can tell us all about this T.V. show, could they tell us in detail about the most amazing race? In Hebrews 12:1-2, the author draws us a vivid word picture of the race that we all are running: The runner is entering the stadium with the crowd of witnesses watching. He throws off any unnecessary articles and his eyes scan the track for the finish line where the official or judge is waiting. The runner’s eyes lock on the official’s and he runs heartily toward the finish. This is the race that every one of us is running.

One Ruler
The passage states that there is a ruler of our race. He is the “author and finisher” of our faith (vs.2). He has made the rules that we must all follow during the race. Our children learn early in life that games aren’t fun if the rules aren’t followed. They quickly come to tattle when another child is not playing fairly. The International Olympic Committee exists to oversee that rules are followed and that Olympic competitions are fair. We crave guidelines and laws. We teach our children the necessity of following rules. We must teach them to respect and honor the Ruler of the race - along with His rules.
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by B. J. Clarke

The Psalmist declared, “The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous rules endures forever” (Psalm 119:160, ESV). Another translation says, "The entirety of your word is truth” (NKJV). Tragically, the truth of this passage has been assaulted in the past, and is even now assailed by both modernists and "Bible believing" people alike.

Is Some of God’s Word Inspired; or, is the Sum of God’s Word Inspired?
The modernist asserts that parts of Scripture are inspired and tells us that the Bible contains the Word of God in certain places. Such an assertion ignores the affirmation of the Psalmist that the entirety of God’s Word is truth. Furthermore, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis mine). If only parts of the Bible are inspired, how does one determine which sections are and which segments are not inspired? Liberal theologians suggest that some of the Bible is God’s truth. But again, the Psalmist declared that the sum of God’s Word is truth.

Do I Accept Some of God’s Word or the Sum of God’s Word?
On the other hand, some claim to believe that the Bible is inspired in all of its parts. Yet, some of these same individuals will preach and practice only some of what it requires. They adopt a "cafeteria-style" approach to the Bible in which they pick out the parts they like and put them on their theological tray while rejecting other portions that fail to tickle their fancy. They are reminiscent of Jehoiakim who listened to Jehudi read the Word of God as recorded by Jeremiah. Upon hearing the prophecy of the coming Babylonian captivity, Jehoiakim took the scroll, cut it with his penknife and cast it into the fire (Jeremiah 36:23). Jehoiakim wanted only some of God’s Word instead of the sum of God’s Word. Sadly, the spirit of Jehoiakim is still alive today.

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by  Chad Stafko

In his “Farewell Address”, President George Washington, declared, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim that tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness.”

The battle over the importance of these two pillars, especially religion, to the health of our nation and our government has intensified from being nearly nonexistent at the time of the Founding Fathers to a raging inferno today. Perhaps nowhere has this been more evident than in our nation’s court system.

Rarely does a year go by in which the U.S. Supreme Court and certainly a state Supreme Court does not take a case in which religion and government have seemingly clashed to some extent. No doubt this will occur numerous times in 2007, but consider for a moment how far we’ve moved from the founding and early years of our nation. Read more

by Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Some vehemently oppose its teachings and routinely pull verses out of context to paint a wretched picture of religion. Others are willing to concede it has some historical significance and will at least give it a bit of credibility from a historical perspective. The large majority would even go the next step, and describe it as a “good book” containing “good principles.” But is that enough? How many individuals are willing to cast aside the label of just a “good book” and take that final step of defending the Bible as the Word of God?

Whether individuals are standing around the office cooler, door knocking in foreign lands, or debating devout atheists on television, the subject will ultimately come up as to the validity of the Bible. If you really stop and consider it for a moment, everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING), hinges on this one topic. If the Bible is not real, then how can one know of his/her salvation? If the Bible is not the Word of God, then there can be no absolutes. How do we know how to worship or how to conduct ourselves? If the Bible is not inspired then people are allowed to pick and choose whatever suits them as they pursue the pleasures of this life—in essence they can enjoy a “buffet attitude” towards religion. If the Bible is not God’s method of communicating with mankind, then where does that leave the plan of redemption and the New Testament description of salvation?

Consider the dilemma: The majority of people would much rather paint the world “gray” and be allowed the flexibility of their own judgment, rather than to humble themselves and be obedient servant to Him. Thus, they embrace the idea of the Bible being just a good book—an attitude that allows them to do as they please. Whereas, if the book is God’s Word, then suddenly it is no longer a question of an individual’s likes or dislikes, but rather everything revolves around the Author of that book—God. Man is no longer able to do what is right is his eyes, but rather he must acknowledge that Almighty God has bestowed upon mankind divine edicts that we are to follow—or pay the consequences.

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Light From the Past – April ‘07

When the Rains Came Down
Dewayne Bryant

            In August 2005, tens of thousands of people were caught helpless in the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina. Many watched helplessly as muddy water surged upward like an unstoppable juggernaut swallowing everything in its path. Parts of New Orleans were flooded for weeks. Historic homes that had stood since the Civil War were destroyed by the sheer immensity of the storm. Small coastal towns were wiped off the face of the earth. Floodwaters left a mark that will no doubt last for decades.

            Floods – like earthquakes, lightning, and tornadoes – are one of many great natural disasters that have plagued man from the beginning. The first flood in human history is recorded in the book of Genesis. But it is much more than a simple natural disaster. It is truly an “act of God.” It is humanity’s enjoyment of depravity that forces God’s hand of judgment.

            The flood story of the Bible is not unique. In fact, there are many versions of such stories ranging from the Middle East to America, from Greece to Hawaii. With the notable exception of Egypt, virtually every ancient civilization had a story of a cataclysmic flood that destroyed most of humanity.

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