Christian Carnival

this week's christian carnival in random order.

What Constitutes a "Real University?" is given to us by Chris over at American Church History. 

I watched Bill Maher a few times many years ago, so I did not actually watch the show under discussion. Maher, an evangelical atheist, complained about Mitt Romney giving a talk at Liberty University because "a) he's a liar and b) Liberty University isn't really a university." Maher is at some level a comedian, but on another level his speech is often hate-filled toward those he disagrees with. He complains about people of faith who want to spread their ideas and beliefs, yet he does not shy away from sharing his ideas and beliefs.

The Olympic Flame presented by Ridge of Ridge's Blog.

 When I looked at how strategic and important these people believe the Olympic flame is, how carefully they treat it, I began to think how flippant I am about the Holy Spirit."

The Slipping Value of Life shows up via Russ homed at Thinking in Christ. 

If an alien dropped into one of the super zips today, what would he think about the value we place on life?

 Blood and Death comes to us by way of Greg at InFaith's Mission Blog. 

While we were studying the life of King David in the Old Testament at Bible club, one girl said to me, “Why are there so many killings and so much blood in these stories?”
Indeed, nearly every story had someone dying a violent death: Goliath and other Philistines, Saul and his sons, Eli’s sons, Amalekites and their king, Uriah the Hittite, Uzzah who touched the Ark of the Covenant, and others that we did not even mention in the stories. I replied, “These are not myths or fairy tales. They are real history. We are telling you truth here, not make believe.” 

Prayers for Meetings is presented by Michael at Prayers for Special Help. 

Here is a collection of prayers for meetings that I've put together. It is good to have a few prayers prepared if you're hosting a prayer group, bible study, or church get together.

Then sings my soul is brought to us by Charis at Charis: Subject to Change.   

It's a simple message really; Love the Lord, love your neighbour.

Safe Church given by Diane at Crossroads. 

 Maybe we should look at the old legalism, but do it with a new spirit to make church safer.

 How to Be Prepared for an Insurance Claim shown to us by Jocelin at One Money Design.   

Follow these tips to help you be prepared in case you need to file a claim with your home or auto insurance. You can start by making sure you have a...

 Waiting for the Clouds to Move by Dan at keyboard theologians.  

"While I was reading Robinson I did find some of my efforts to enjoy the sun being thwarted by clouds."

Should Parents Pay Children an Allowance? by Jason at One Money Design. 

My wife and I have started to get more serious about teaching our children principles of stewardship by providing opportunities for them to earn money and use give, save spend banks.

THE ALCHEMIST: REAL OR FOOL’S GOLD? submitted by Paul over at Paul Kuritz: Opinions. 

Does Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist belong in the Christian literary canon?

 Windows of Wisdom: Proverbs 10:1-6 by Annette at Fish and Cans.

 Back and forth sayings.   I like these.  :)  Shows the differences between actions and hearts and how they have an affect.

I like this article. 

How Revisionist Activists Subvert the Church

Christian Carnival - January 18, 2012

Welcome to the January 18, 2012 edition of christian carnival ii.

Charles Chua C K presents All About Living With Life: 5 Ways to Live With an Attitude of Gratitude posted at All About Living with Life.

An attitude of gratitude is good for your health and happiness. How do you develop a habit of thankfulness and appreciation?

Shannon Christman (blog editor) on behalf of author Ridge Burns presents Letting Love Lead posted at Mission Blog.

I’m asking God to help me have a heart of love for people this year. I want to love them not with a “because I should do it” attitude, or an “it’s the Christian thing to do” attitude, or a “because they love me first (or well)” attitude, but with a love that is purely from God, a love that will reflect Christ in the things that I am doing and the way that I am being as I work with others, serve others, and meet them along the way.

Jason Hess presents It Is Religion That Makes Us. posted at eckSermonator.

Religion when viewed and participated in correctly is the manifestation of the unseen belief we call faith.

Joseph Lule presents Day of the Lord: Sin and Salvation posted at Day of the Lord.

What is sin?

Rom 14:23 “…..whatever is not of faith is sin.”

What is faith? It is described in Heb 11:1 that “Now faith is the essence of things being hoped, the evidence of things not having been seen”.

Chelsea Prescotti presents Mortgage Lenders Hunt Home Owners Even After Foreclosure posted at CreditScore.net, saying, "No one ever buys a home with the intention of one day losing it to foreclosure or being forced by circumstance into a short sale. Unfortunately, that is exactly the situation in which many homeowners find themselves. Financial struggles push thousands of homeowners into short sale or foreclosure every year. When the housing market collapsed in 2008-09, many found themselves upside-down in their mortgage and opted to simply walk away, leaving the bank to foreclose on the property and sell it for whatever a buyer would pay."

Chris Brooks presents Why was Jesus Rejected? posted at Homeward Bound, saying, "Examining what the Jews of Jesus' day were looking for in a Messiah."

People didn't know what to do with Jesus. Some people accepted Him for a while, then turned against Him. Some rejected Him from the beginning, Even those that followed Him to the end didn't respond well to his execution and didn't expect His resurrection - despite the fact that they'd been warned.

Isabel Anders presents The Faces of Friendship | BlogHer posted at BlogHer, saying, "That there is something about earthly friendship which, like an icon, invites us to see through it into sacred dimensions."

I chose the book’s title, The Faces of Friendship, and the publisher kept it, which is not always the case. I intended it to function in two ways, the first of which is the literal sense, which these wonderful faces on the cover of the new edition show—how friendship is mediated from person to person.

But the first edition of the book, with its icon of St. Ann and St. Joachim embracing, provided a sense of the second meaning: That there is something about earthly friendship which, like an icon, invites us to see through it into sacred dimensions—into the many faces or facets of friendship as sacrament.

Chris Price presents Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, and a Shift in Presidential Politics posted at American Church History.

The evangelical voters considered Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Perry. The very fact that they chose Santorum shows a significant shift in American Protestant politics over the past few decades.

Dan Lower presents To Men Who Style Themselves Chivalrous posted at keyboard theologians, saying, "In which I speculate that the first place a truly chivalrous man ought to make his stand is his own mind."

Chesterton said that fairy tales describe what sane men do in mad worlds, and modern psychological novels describe what mad men do in sane worlds. We are the heroes of modern psychological novels, we are trapped in the setting of fairy tales, and there is no hope for us but in Christ.

Annette at Fish and Cans presents Day by Day - Psalm 139.

The lad and I talked a bit about this the other day. How God ALWAYS knows us. That God knew we would get upset even before we were born, He knew that I would like bunnies and that The lad would like angry birds and lego and telling stories. That he knew that RIGHT NOW we would be eating breakfast. God knows us full well.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of christian carnival ii using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

christian carnival is posted

over at beyond belief.

it's not a particularly big one.

Christian Carnival ii - October 12, 2011

quite a long list of submissions today. There were two that I didn't include as they didn't seem to fit the profile of "Christian" blogger. I don't see Christ ever mentioned on your site, it's not particularly Christian then.

Annette presents Love is not rude posted at Fish and Cans.

when I think of rudeness I think of someone who says or does something without regard for the other person. For instance: a person the butts into line.

Chelsea Childress presents A Security, A Surrender posted at An Arrow in the Making.W

hat was so hard for her was that the car was out of her control. Something that she typically had full reign over was now in the hands of someone else, someone inexperienced. And that made her fearful.

Ridge Burns presents Preaching posted at Ridge's Blog at InFaith.

Preaching – it is a big deal and a heavy responsibility, but it provides great joy.

David R Wells presents Half-Calorie Christianity posted at Revelation 3:10 - Blog.

It seems to me that these half calorie Christian leaders are treating the Bible like the old saying of “take the good and leave the bad.” That is very dangerous. The Bible is full of instructions and they are all meant to be followed.

Rick Smith presents No Quick Fix posted at InFaith's Mission Blog.

Though these very practical matters may be of help in some cases, I think I’ve been missing the mark.

Sarah presents The Lovebook posted at This is what Sed said.

It's strange that something so small as writing an encouraging post about someone on Facebook has turned into such a spiritual battle for me.

Michael Cooke presents The "Big Business" of Church posted at Michael Cooke.

Living in today's society, we are constantly bombarded by marketing ploys from every business everywhere. It is inevitable. Everything from shoes to jeans to toys to literally everything has advertisement and marketing ploys to try and get you to buy their product. But since when did the House of God become the House of Big Business?

Chris Price presents Perry, Romney, and Mormonism posted at American Church History.

However, this brings up another question. Is there any reason that Mormonism should disqualify Romney from being president?

Rebecca LuElla Miller presents What Are We Saying posted at A Christian Worldview of Fiction.

But someone may well point out that some things, some people don’t deserve to be blessed. Actually that isn’t true.

True Stillwater presents Unanswered Prayers posted at Letters, Messages, and Prayers.

When life is shaky and everything is falling apart, the answers to my prayers always tell me to keep the faith…keep believing… know that I’m not alone

Kaleb presents The Most Important Relationship of All posted at W2W Soul.

In the midst of all our significant relationships, which require a lot of time, love and attention, what is the most important relationship of all? And, how do we nurture that relationship?

Brandon Peters presents Points of Authority posted at INSPIKS.

Prophets and even he whom Jesus was closest to (John), those who had lives probably far holier than any of ours, cowered when they saw God.

Carl presents Do Your Economic Duty: Get Married, Stay Married, and Have Kids! posted at Theological Pursuit.

The report, entitled "The Sustainable Demographic Dividend, What Do Marriage and Fertility Have to Do with the Economy?", give four conclusions from the analysis:

Zowada presents Christians are too desperate for growth. posted at Zowada Blog.

No matter how bad it hurts me, I must be open and honest with where I am at spiritually, even if it means disappointing the leadership over me, because guess what, my desire should be to truly change, not impress.

Dave Taylor presents One thing we lack. OK, there's three or four other things ... posted at Letters from another life.

But it's also working because it works. Being faithful to obey the Lord produces real change, not just a new set of beliefs.

Jennifer in OR presents For by the grace given me posted at Diary of 1.

I’ve always hastened over this verse that begins the introduction to the gifts, but I’d like to take a closer look.

Jeff presents Yom Kippur: A Reason for Christians to Celebrate posted at ReturningKing.Com.

Yes, you read the title correctly. To many, Yom Kippur is merely a foreign word that appears on our Outlook calendar each year. It seems that most believers do not even know what it, where it came from or most certainly what it represents. Yom Kippur is a good reminder of just how much rich heritage of the faith gets lost for modern Gentile believers. Because we do not serve the Mosaic requirements for Holy Days each year, we miss the richness of the Old Testament Feasts; each of which point to and are fulfilled by our Messiah, Jesus, in some way.

Stephen Bagasao presents The Death of Steve Jobs: The Real Story posted at Stephen Bautista Music.

The death of Steve Jobs has spawned numerous stories about his life and legacy, but there's a much deeper, pressing story to tell.

Maryann Spikes presents Questions Jesus Asked posted at Ichthus77.

I love how Jesus used questions to get people to think for themselves.

Michael S. Pearl presents About 'Militant Modern Atheism' and Religion posted at The Kindly Ones.

The submitted blog starts from Philip Kitcher's paper, "Militant Modern Atheism", in a discourse through the vacuousness of militant atheism to the nature of the religious sense. Although dismissed by Kitcher, this religious sense or awareness should not be ignored by secular humanist projects such as Kitcher's where the goal is to make religion redundant.

Melanie Grant presents Is that screen taking over his life? posted at Mel's Mouthful on Mothering.

Boys are getting a really bad rap at the moment - not without cause. Many parents seem to be cultivating a screen-based lifestyle whether it is their intention or not.

Josh presents Words of Encouragement: 30 Short Uplifting Quotes posted at What Christians Want To Know.

Here is a collection of quotes that I hope will encourage you.

baking soda and vinegar?

My cousin over at Jazzy Mamma mentioned cleaning her hair with baking soda and vinegar.

Quotes:

The very first time that I used baking soda (about a tablespoon dissolved in 8oz of water) I was totally amazed at how soft and shiny my hair was. And I was able to comb it while wet without any tugging on tangles! I was really impressed.

and

Specifically, apple cider vinegar. Two tablespoons in 8oz of water.

I used it 3 days in a row and now my hair is shiny and clean. And my scalp feels refreshed the way cucumbers make your tired eyes feel refreshed. Awesome.

Go to her post to read the fill between the lines... but inspires me to give it a shot. :) Got to be better than having an itchy scalp occasionally and needing to switch shampoos because my scalp says "nuts to this". Though what I'm using currently works...but I'm starting to occasionally get an itchy scalp again.

Love is

i liked this post by Justin Taylor

What Love Is and Isn’t

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.”

Church? ... I liked this post

OOh....I read this post and I really liked it.

Your church is one authentic manifestation of the entire people of God that right now is worshiping before the throne of God. That is the reality of new covenant worship. And when we begin to wrap our minds around that, there springs to mind a thousand reasons to rejoice, to praise, and to sing; and to renounce flippancy, self-display, selfishness, superficiality, sloppiness, and thoughtlessness.

Nathan W. Bingham - a contest

Kim pointed my ways to this contest by Nathan W. Bingham. He's having a give away.
You'll need to subscribe to his site. So go there if you want to enter the contest. Oh here is the addie to his main site. Go there, decent reading and listening.

The prizes are:

Prize 1 (Major Prize)

1 x Black Genuine Leather ESV Study Bible (valued at almost $100)
1 x Romans by R. C. Sproul (not yet released)

Prize 2 (Minor Prize)

1 x Romans by R. C. Sproul (not yet released)

Endurance and Partnership Needed

Continuing on in Hebrews 10 we find these closing words:

³²But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ³⁷For,

"Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
³⁸ but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him."

³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

After the author of Hebrews reminds his audience that they are to fear the living Lord God and to remember that sin is not to be taken lightly he now goes on to remind them about how they've endured hard things for God. He reminds them of their confidence, their compassion and their joy.

What they need now is some endurance. Endurance to finish what God has placed in front of us. God doesn't want us to shrink back from what he allows in our lives, but simply continue on. Confident in our salvation, joyful in challenges.

I have to admit...these words from verse 33 caught my attention: "sometimes being partners with those so treated".

This week I went over the Holly's site, while there I learned about a ministry that a young lady is involved with over in Uganda. Since then I've been thinking and praying for that ministry. This young lady works hard physically and emotionally with a bunch of girls, hopefully showing them the reality of who God is. It's not an easy job.

Then I think about Christians all over the world that are persecuted for their faith....I'm compelled to pray for them.

In doing so....I hopefully make their load a little lighter, and hopefully encourage them even though they know me not. God knows, and as part of a larger family we have to care, it's part of what families do. Let's remember that we are partners. We do share in what happens with our fellow believers. let's keep on praying! (and acting as God so leads).

Stuff

Jim sent me this blog Good News for Toronto to read. Very interesting. Very useful I'm hoping for stimulating my thoughts about evangelism.

also...news about facebook, making all wall posts public! ARGH!!!! that's what I like about facebook....my wall posts only go to friends. If I wanted my stuff to be public to the whole world I would post more often on Twitter! hmm....perhaps I'll need to dump facebook OR just the inbox options to keep folks up-to-date on my life.....

Interesting Post

My Hubby pointed my way to this interesting post by Derek Thomas over at Reformatio21 Blog.

Abortion Speech, 12 year old girl

Kim from upward call pointed my way to the Daily Scroll.

Eloquent speech on abortion by a 12 year old girl.

Blog Roll Call again

I'm a little late catching up with some blogs...and right on time for others. :) T'is life you know.

IslandSparrow gave me this to ponder.

Jen explaining what's going on.

Don't know if I've blogged this one before or not...but I still like this post on extended scripture memory.

Kingdom People gave me "why we are pro-life".

Cyber Hymnal - new website

kerux noemata alerted me to this update.

Cyber Hymnal has a new website.

Encouragement for a pastor's wife

Check out Biblical Christianity.

Hmm....perhaps this for next newsletter?

Jim found this post called Evangelism. Perhaps I'll put this into the next church newsletter. (after getting all permissions of course). :)

Blogs Posts to Consider

I'm thinking of putting this one in our church's next newsletter.

I liked this post from Kim.

The importance of Pet Insurance spelled out.

I liked this one on extended scripture memorization. :) makes me think to do this with our buggy.

Holly did a series on Muslim/Christian discussions.

oh...and Lisa has moved her blog. Deo Volente is here now.

Carla's Store

A while back Carla sent me an email asking if I'd be willing to link to her store site. She sells all sorts of Christian apparel and other neat stuff.

I thought hmm... okay... I can do that.. but never got around to it. I have no linky yet, but thought I could at least post about her store.

Here's what she sent me.

If you've never been to my store, let me just take a minute to point out some of the good stuff there. First, we carry the LARGEST selection of reformed/Calvinistic/sovereign grace themed t-shirts and gifts, of any online (or offline) retailer (that we know of, anyway). As of this month we now have 85 exclusive and original Christian designs, along with a wide variety (32 at last count) of funny (yet clean) designs on t-shirts and various gift items. We carry Bible verse yard signs, personalized birthday gifts for kids, modest & cute designs in Just for Girls, fun designs in Just for Boys, baby items, maternity tops, posters, a Bible verse calendar, greeting/note cards, framed prints, buttons and so much more. I generally create 3-5 new designs a month (sometimes much more), and we have new products in store on a regular basis. We send out a newsletter highlighting new designs, new products, upcoming specials and sales, once a week to our 500+ private mailing list.

Reflections is the host site for the TeamApologian gift store, as well as the Iron Sharpens Iron gift store. TeamApologian purchases support the ministry of Dr. James White's Alpha and Omega Ministries (http://www.aomin.org), and Iron Sharpens Iron purchases support the Christian radio ministry of Chris Arnzen (http://sharpens.blogspot.com).

Aside from the ministries that we financially support through our store (through customer purchases, of course), the purpose of the store is two-fold.

1. To give Christians who like Christian t-shirts, quality items instead of corny, and at the most reasonable price we can manage. We all know there are some really bad and really overpriced Christian t-shirts out there, that give Christian t-shirts (and retailers) a bad name. My goal is to change that and give Christians great t-shirts that they're glad to wear and even spark conversations and questions. They really are a fantastic evangelism tool. Christian comedian and singer Clyde Bauman (aka "Mylo Hatzenbuhler") shared with me that while wearing his Five Solas t-shirt from our store, he's been approached with questions on what "five solas" means. What a great conversation starter and opportunity to share the truth of God's grace. All from a simple t-shirt. I've also had complete strangers comment on my shirts to me, when I'm wearing them in public. It's just a great way to proclaim God's truth to the lost, in whatever public setting you're in.

2. The secondary purpose of the store is to create a regular source of income for our home schooling family, to offset the costs of a one-income, "stay at home mom" family. In other words, this is my "job", aside from being teacher/mom. It's not an easy task to stay at home and raise & teach kids, but we do it because we believe it's for the best. While homeschooling isn't all that expensive, it's not free either and this little store is our way of trying to offset the costs associated with that.

Her store is called Reflections Apparel and Gifts.

Have to admit, I tried to do a linky, but blogger has changed how to change their settings and my tired brain just isn't doing it today. Maybe hubby can help me out with that. :)

Things Jim has Pointed my way to...

Canadian politics... this made me laugh! :)

JollyBlogger made me think with hyper-controllers.

When I first saw this book page that Jim sent me to, I thought...I don't want to read that. Then I listened, and thought ... okay..this would be an INTERESTING book.

oh....and one thing that someone on the meatrabbit board pointed my way to, and that I then pointed Jim's way to. NOTE: it is graphic. I just found it fascinating. Heron Catches Rabbit.