After Mike was announced, without a word he came on stage and began playing ball with his 2 year-old son, Seth, who has Down syndrome.  As they played, a screen projected behind them; flashes of words began to stream. The first statement read: “He will be called many things:” Then one-by-one words flashed on the screen: “handicapped,” “disabled,” “abnormal,”  “slow,” “retarded.”   Then these questions: “But is he”?  “Or are we?”  That moment was filled with a lot of emotion for myself, and as I could tell, for the rest of the audience as well. 

After a couple of minutes Seth went to sit with his mom in the audience as Mike paralleled our modern day society with that of Hellenistic Greece.  He argued that the Greeks tried to attain the perfection of humans. Those that were most valued in Hellenistic society were men and women that were beautiful, intelligent, and powerful.   He further argued that those that were least valued were the weak, the disabled, the “abnormal.”  He cited several of the ancient Greek Philosophers including Socrates who spoke about what should be done in Hellenistic society with these latter individuals.  All of them agreed that these should be cast aside, thrown into slavery, or thrown out of the city and left to die. And so he posed the question “Is Hellenism alive today?”

As he asked us to contemplate this question he held up several popular beauty and health magazines, pointed out our obsession with cosmetic surgery, and the reality that our culture has girls starving themselves so they can try and measure up to “airbrushed beauty.”  He also informed his audience that in our culture 92% of women abort their babies after being given a diagnosis of Down syndrome.  Also, new medical research has now made it possible for doctors to do a simple blood test on women during the first trimester of pregnancy that will let them know whether or not their baby has a triple 21^st chromosome (Down syndrome) http://childrenshospitalblog.org/will-babies-with-down-syndrome-slowly-disappear/.  These all seemed to point towards the evidence that our culture does hold beauty, strength, and perfection as a pretty high standard. Lastly, he asked his audience what the response of God’s people should be. 

Therefore, the theology of Down syndrome is that we need to know that every person has worth and is significant because we are all created in the image of God.  Our worth in God is not found in “function,” but is found in our “humanness.”  His conclusion was that the people of God need to love people the way they are; if we are not doing this then we have not been the “body of “Christ” to anyone. The church should be the place where we pronounce the death of the Hellenistic view of humanity.   He reminded his audience that everyone has limitations, handicaps, and imperfections of some sort, and we shouldn’t outcast anyone based on these.

He ended his lecture the same way he began it—with Him and his son playing ball.  This time the words on the screen flashed: “I will call him many things:” “Adorable,” “Blessing,” “Loved,” “Appointed,” “Chosen,” “Son.”

People were captivated, they were moved, and hopefully they were convicted–I know I experienced all of these.

Listen to Mike’s lecture: http://www.experiencelumen.com/?page_id=137

–Suzette

Think back to a time when you were experiencing a trial.  When you made it through to the other side did your faith pass the test?  Did it prove to be “strong and pure”?    Don’t worry if the answer to this question is “no.”  God loves make-up tests!  He will keep testing and building our faith through trials.  When we fail, let’s not be too hard on ourselves because we will have another opportunity for success.  When we succeed it is an amazing and overwhelming feeling of how strong our faith has become! With success we are then able to appreciate James’ statement: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials… (James 1:2). 

Peter and James knew the tremendous rewards that await us when we persevere through trials and when we allow God to transform us through them. We have the free will to give up, but trust me there’s nothing like pushing through with God’s strength and receiving the blessing of faith and endurance!

–Suzette

–Suzette

So, let me encourage you, and myself, to invest in an ERA (eternal retirement account).  This account never depreciates!  We can  invest in it everyday.  We do this by intentionally living our lives in such a way that is pleasing to God.  How do we know what is pleasing to God?  It’s all in the Bible.  Therefore, the first step in opening an ERA is by opening the Bible.  You have a difficult time understanding it?  That’s ok, so do many people.  Therefore, there are aids such as commentaries, lay leaders in the church, elders, and pastors.

The bttom line, there is no excuse not to be investing in our eternity.  Sometimes a deposit can be as simple as a smile, or a word of encouragement to someone.  A deposit can also be those times when we hold our tongue and we completely give our troubles over to God.  We also invest in our ERA during those quiet moments of prayer.

–Suzette

Lord, please help us to see the resources that You have given us, and the wisdom to know how to invest them for eternity.  Amen

So next time it seems that God is not answering your prayers, stop and listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit who whispers, “Trust that I cause all things to work together for good to those who love Me.  And remember that My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”     

(Romans 8:28; Isaiah 55:9)

–Suzette

God called Jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster.  His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God’s.  But what seemed to be failure from man’s standpoint was a triumph from God’s standpoint, because God’s purpose is never the same as man’s purpose.  – My Utmost for His HIghest Calendar

Read more: http://www.inthedays.com/false-prophets/false-prophet-flops/

We never think about our children leaving this earth before us. But it happened when my son Christopher was suddenly called to heaven.

At first, I couldn’t comprehend the news. It was like the worst dream I had ever had, and I wanted to wake up. But I couldn’t. Friends and family were immediately at our side – loving, hugging and holding us.

But in the end, there are no answers for a situation like the loss of a son.

In accepting God’s will, Job said:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21 NKJV)

Click on the link to read the entire article:  http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=71204

 

I asked Dr. Ted Martinez of Talbot School of Theology my questions. One of the classes Dr. Martinez teaches at Talbot is Romans. Dr. Martinez’s position on the matter is that Paul uses “first” in 1:16 to underscore the priority of bringing the gospel to the Jews first because they had the gospel first (Romans 1:1-4). Dr. Martinez maintains that the Jews “should have been more knowledgeable about the gospel by virtue of their knowledge of the Old Testament.” Unfortunately, most of the Jews did not realize that the gospel their prophets preached and wrote about was fulfilled in Jesus.

Dr. Martinez gave me a modern day example. He says that the priority of bringing the gospel to the Jew first is like our priority today to evangelize the Roman Catholics as opposed to Muslims, agnostics, atheists, etc. Roman Catholics have knowledge of Jesus, His divinity, His death and resurrection, etc. However, they lack knowledge that salvation comes through grace by faith in Jesus, not by works. Dr. Martinez argues that it is logical for us to bring the gospel first to them since they already have so much knowledge about Jesus.

In regards to “the Jew first” being used in 2:9 Dr. Martinez says yes it is true that God is impartial (2:11). And every person, male or female, Jew or gentile, are responsible for their own actions. The expression “the Jew first” as it pertains to this verse could be translated “especially the Jew” or “the priority given to the Jews.” The reason for this is because of the advantage s and privileges that the Jews had been give (3:1ff.; 9:3-5; 11:13-24). “They, of all people, should have known better; they of all people will therefore be judged” (Dr. M). Dr. Martinez points out that this is fair because God is fair, and with much privilege (which the Jews had) comes much responsibility “(which the Jews for the most part squandered).”

Honestly, I had never thought about the priority of evangelism before now. However, logically it does make sense that we should be evangelizing Roman Catholics because of their vast knowledge of Jesus. Unfortunately, Catholicism teaches a doctrine of “making righteous” as opposed to being “declared righteous.” To be justified as Paul teaches in Romans 3:21-5:21 is to be declared righteous and pronounced not guilty. Justification is a forensic term, a term used in a court of law. It means that once we have been justified, declared righteous and pronounced not guilty, we can never be tried again for our sins. We are free from trying to earn righteousness; as a matter of fact, there is nothing that anyone can do to earn it. We are justified by the blood of Christ; salvation is a free gift through grace by faith in Jesus.

–Suzette

Individual residents also now are beginning to realize the potential of the new law, which was approved by the legislature with a declaration that it is needed for “public safety” so it is not subject to any vote of the people.  www.wnd.com

Read more: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68060