From the School Library...

"On Studies"

An Essay by Sir Francis Bacon

"Studies serve for delight, for interest, and for ability.

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"Their chief use for delight is in privateness of retiring; for interest, is in conversation; and for ability, is in judgment and disposition of business.

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"To spend to much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for interest is affectation; to make judgment of them wholly by their rules is the quirk of a scholar.
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"Craft men condemn studies; simple men admire them; and wise men use them: for they do not teach their own use; but that is a wisdom outside of studies and above studies, won by observation.

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"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

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"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

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"Reading makes a full man; conversation a ready man; and writing an accurate man.

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"And therefore, if a man write little, he had need of great memory; if he converse little, he had need of quick wit; and if he read little, he had need of much cunning, to seem to know what he doth not.

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"Histories make men wise; poets, witty; mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral philosophy, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend...

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"So if a man's mind be given to wandering, let him study mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his attention be called away ever so little, he must begin again: if his mind be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study logic; for that is the 'hair-splitter': if he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases: so every weakness of the mind may have its own remedy."


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Persevero,
Scribe

Created for Work ~ Chapter 14 "Transported with Delight"

"Happiness is a thing to be practiced, like the violin."

~ John Lubbock

Ever hear the "If only I had this, I'd be happy" line before? I'm sure you have. I've heard it too, and sometimes, it has come from my lips. But did you ever stop to think what such a statement really reflects? It reflects greed. It reflects discontent and ungratefulness. It reflects the heart of a man who isn't delighting in the blessings God has already given him.

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Matthew 12:34 declares that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Just as a simple cough can alert doctors to the presence of a grave illness, words can be used to determine the state of a man's heart. This considered, such words as "If only I had this..." reflect a discontented and greedy heart. 

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So, what is the antidote for discontent and greed? What helps a heart to be truly "transported with delight", as Schultz terms it? Well, it can be summed up in one word: thankfulness. And, unfortunately, being thankful is nowhere as easy as it might sound. However, it is requisite to driving out greed and discontent: without a heart thankful to God, having a truly happy heart is impossible.

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When you begin feeling discontent getting a hold of you, the first thing to do is pray; next, begin listing, either in your mind or on paper, all of the blessings God has given you. This practice will not only banish the thoughts of discontentedness from your mind and heart, but it will strengthen your appreciation for everything God has bountifully provided you with.

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One way of practically putting to use the principle of thankfulness is by simply enjoying your food. Schultz says, "Have you ever tried putting a bite of food in your mouth then laying down your fork and not picking it up again until your mouth is empty? That's a challenge for me. Often, there's another full fork waiting in the air before I finish chewing the first. When I catch myself eating like that, it's a reminder that I'm not enjoying what I have. I'm greedily longing for more." 

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Another thing to consider is how quickly greed can blind a man to the truly valuable things of life. A man who wastes all his time pursuing things which aren't his soon loses sight of what he should be focused on. Instead of rejoicing in the bounties God has already bestowed, he looks longingly after other things which God has not seen fit to give him. He puts other stuff in the place of God. This stuff may not be bad in and of itself, but whenever we let "stuff" come before God, we are heading out into dangerous waters.

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Sometimes, God withholds certain things from us for our benefit. Something which we desperately desire may do us harm rather than good. Therefore, when God denies us something, we shouldn't grumble: rather, we should praise Him. God knows what is good for His children (Matt. 7:11). We would do well to trust Him in that, instead of fighting against His will in areas of our lives.

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Towards the end of chapter 14, Schultz says, "Thankful enjoyment of God's gifts is one remedy against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Whether it's food, clothes, your home, or your business, may you learn to take pleasure in what you have and thereby live thankful, contented, and joyful in your Father's presence."

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"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." 

~ 1 Timothy 6:17

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Persevero,

Scribe

Basic Christianity - Chapter 1 "The Right Approach"

John Stott makes many excellent points in the first chapter of his Basic Christianity. All of these points, however, can be summarized in four ...

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I. The Infiniteness of God
Our finite brains will never be able to fully wrap themselves around the greatness of God. His being is too magnificent for us to even begin to comprehend. Job 11:7 sums it up well by stating,"Canst thou by searching, find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?"  That which is mortal cannot truly understand that which is immortal and that which is imperfect cannot really grasp that which is perfect. Our knowledge is limited and short-reaching when it comes to Jehovah. "Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite," says Psalm 147:5. Our understanding isn't infinite, however, and the sooner we understand that we can't understand, the better.

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II. The Finiteness of Man. 
Contrast the Almighty God with Man, and you cannot fathom the gulf which separates them. That gulf was created when Adam and Eve willfully rebelled in Eden, fell into sin, and were consequently driven from the presence of God. Hence, as descendants of Adam, we are all conceived in sin, born in sin, live in sin, and die in sin. Job 15:16 speaks of man as an "abominable and filthy" creature that "drinketh iniquity like water". Furthermore, Romans 6:23 says that "the wages of sin is death". God, in His justice, will in no wise allow sin to escape punishment; rather, His wrath "is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18). 

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III. The Redeeming Work of Christ
As I said before, God's justice requires satisfaction against sin. This satisfaction - incomprehensibly heavy and terrible as it is - is completely beyond mankind's ability to pay. We are helpless, unable to do the littlest thing to appease the Almighty's wrath; as Psalm 130:3 declares, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who should stand?". Yet God did not leave us in this state of miserable condemnation, though He would have been entirely justified in doing so. Instead, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this fallen world to be a Saviour to us by enduring God's wrath in our stead. Christ is the only way by which men escape eternal punishment. He is "unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

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IV. Man's Response to Redemption 
Left to himself, however, man does not want anything to do with the redemption bought by Christ. He would rather remain in his muck than be lifted out of it. There is nothing inherently in man that would cause him to desire Christ or what He has to offer. For "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:25) and "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). Before a man may be redeemed by the atoning work of Jesus, God must first draw him to Himself and open his eyes to his own rottenness. Then, and only then, can a man yearn after the forgiveness that comes with being washed in the perfect blood of Christ. As 2 Corinthians 3:5 states, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God".

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Persevero,

Scribe

Reality TV

Courtesy of Student News Daily

Movie Review: Amazing Grace (2007)

Amazing Grace (2007), PG - Ioann Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Romola Garai
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Genre: Historical/Drama (Based on a True Story)
Setting: 18th Century England
Stars: 5 out of 5
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Synopsis...
Powerfully and masterfully done, Amazing Grace is one of those films that will have you on your feet cheering at the end. Great acting by Ioann Gruffudd (The Horatio Hornblower Series) - his portrayal of Wilberforce is well worth seeing.
Based on the true story of William Wilberforce and his passionate, never-say-die struggle to abolish the slave trade. He meets with intense opposition from fellow members of Parliament, but finds strength through his trust in God, and is urged by John Newton to see the quest to the finish.
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Content-Wise...
Thematic Material (pertaining to slavery)
Brief Mild Abusive Violence
Some Mild Language
Abuse of God's Name
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Points to Ponder...

• We are often tempted to abandon a task at the first sign of opposition. Our flesh naturally inclines toward the easy things of life, and refuses to tackle anything that even remotely looks like it will take blood, sweat, and tears to accomplish. We make up excuses for ourselves such as, "There's no way I'm ever going to finish this" or "This job just isn't for me" or "I'll try this some other time when I feel like it". Instead of having a "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" attitude, we let our sinful flesh mandate our actions. We refuse to recognize that as soldiers of Christ, we are called by Him to do hard things... 
• Imagine how the course of history would have been affected had William Wilberforce adopted such an attitude. He could have given up when the going got rough. He could have let his focus turn to his circumstances instead of to the One Who controls circumstances. But he didn't. He persevered, and as a result, God used him to do something nobody thought possible. This considered, don't look at a task and focus on how big it is. Look at it, and realize how big God is. He has a purpose in giving this particular job to you. Don't ignore it, complain about it, or deny it's existence. God knows what He's doing. Accept the job as your marching order, have faith, and do it.

"Faith is not even worthy of the name until it erupts into action."  ~ Catherine Marshall

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Scribe 

From the School Library...

...[Satyrane] said, "Arise thou cursed Miscreant,
That haste with knightless guile and treacherous train
Fair knighthood foully shamed, and doest vaunt
That good knight of the Redcross to have slain.
Arise, and with like treason now maintain
Thy guilty wrong, or else thee guilty yield."
The Sarazin this hearing, rose amain,
And catching up in haste his three square shield,
And shining helmet, soon buckled him to the field...
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Therewith they 'gan, both furious and fell,

To thunder blows, and fiercely to assail,

Each other bent his enemy to quell,

That with their force they pierced both plate and mail

And made wide furrows in their fleshes frail,

That it would pity any living eye.

Large floods of blood adown their sides did rail;

But floods of blood could not them satisfy:

Both hungered after death; both chose to win, or die.

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So long they fight, and fell revenge pursue,

That fainting each, themselves to breathen let,

And oft refreshed, battle oft renew.

As when two Boars with rankling malice met,

Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely fret,

Til breathless both themselves aside retire,

Where foaming wrath, their cruel tusks they whet,

And trample the earth, the whiles they may respire;

Then back to fight again, new breathed and entire.
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So fiercely, when these knights had breathed once,
They 'gan to fight return, increasing more
Their puissant force, and cruel rage at once,
With heaped strokes more hugely, than before,
That with their dreary wounds and bloody gore
They both deformed, scarcely could be known.

~ Excerpt from Book I of The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser

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Persevero,

Scribe

Created for Work ~ Chapter 13 "Me Own Dog Tucker"

There is a fable by Aesop which corresponds well with this chapter of Created for Work. In the fable, a pot of honey is accidentally upset and its contents spill out upon the ground. The alluring scent soon brings around a large number of flies, who alight on it and begin to gorge themselves. However, their greed turns out to be fatal to them, for no sooner do they try and fly away than they discover that their wings are stuck fast in the sticky sweetness upon which they had so lately been feasting. Thus they died, sacrificing their lives for the sake of a little sweetness.

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Schultz tells us that his wife once owned a dog, a Welsh Corgi whom she named "Me Own Dog Tucker". Tucker loved to eat, and would gorge himself to fatness on anything he could. This greed for food ended up contributing to the dog's premature death, when he ate something he shouldn't have: it turned cement-like inside his intestines and killed him.

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Both of these stories warn against the same thing, a vice which will drag people down like an eighty-pound sack of lead. You probably already guessed what it is, and if you guessed "greed" you're dead on.

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When we let a desire or appetite for something consume us, we've let greed get a foothold; and unfortunately, greed isn't the type of enemy that will be satisfied with just a foothold. It will struggle for complete mastery. Imagine a man driving on a highway. At first he's cautious, and keeps his eyes where they should be. Gradually, however, he loses focus and gets distracted by a little speck on his windshield. He becomes so fascinated by it that he disregards all else. The consequence is that he begins spiraling out of control and crashes, causing a large wreck and injuring other drivers as well. Likewise, a man controlled by greed, who disregards everything else in an effort to gain what isn't his, who refuses to acknowledge Christ as the true focus of life - such a man will eventually destroy himself, and bring harm to those connected to him, too.

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Schultz makes several good points regarding the effects of greed on a person:

• Greed prevents a man from enjoying what he already possesses. It causes him to continually want what he doesn't have and leaves him in a state of discontent and ingratitude.
• Greed blinds a man's understanding. He loses the ability to see how little things fit into the bigger picture of life. By focusing intently on only one thing, a man loses the ability to  see how that object relates to other areas of life. 
• Greed causes a man to lose his awareness of God's presence. Instead of setting his affections on things above, he sets them on the temporary things of this earth. His priorities are switched, and he gets mixed up.

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When I think of greed, what comes to mind automatically is Ebenezer Scrooge - the scraping, stingy, grasping miser of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. But greed attacks from more angles than the counting house - it attacks at home, at school, at play, and at the job site. Schultz says, "For many folks, life is a rat race... they race after something in the distance, trying to get there before any other rats arrive. When they achieve that car, house, wife, career, or other object they've been chasing, they pause only long enough to put it into their shopping cart before zooming on to get something more. Rat-race runners live discontentedly, without understanding and without the secure pleasure of God's presence." 

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"I know what God wants to give you. It's a contented heart, full of understanding and joyfully aware of His presence. May His desire be yours today."

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"His watchmen are blind: they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant."

~ Isaiah 56:10-12

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Persevero,

Scribe

Basic Christianity - Preface

As an introductory post for Basic Christianity, we'll simply take a brief look at the question, "What is basic Christianity?" This is a natural question, and one which should be answered before proceeding...

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In the preface to his book, John Stott examines this question. He reminds us that basic Christianity isn't merely accepting the fact that Jesus was the Son of God. No, basic Christianity isn't even just believing that Jesus is the Son of God who came to be the Saviour of the world. Basic Christianity, says Stott, is this: 

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"We must commit ourselves, heart and mind, soul and will, home and life, personally and unreservedly to Jesus Christ. We must humble ourselves before Him. We must trust in Him as our Saviour and submit to Him as our Lord; and then we must go on to take our place as loyal members of the church and responsible citizens in the community."
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Read about John Stott here

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To get your own copy of Basic Christianity, click here 

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Types of Media Bias

One thing I enjoy doing while reading or listening to news reports is to try and identify fallacies or bias. I was excited, therefore, when I came across a list of various types of media bias while reading a Student News Daily article. I thought I'd share it with you...

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Types of Media Bias 

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Bias by omission - leaving one side out of an article, or a series of articles over a period of time; ignoring facts that tend to disprove liberal claims, or that support conservative beliefs; bias by omission can occur either within a story, or over the long term as a particular news outlet reports one set of events, but not another.  To find instances of bias by omission, be aware of the conservative and liberal perspectives on current issues.  See if the conservative perspective is included in stories on a particular event or policy.

Bias by selection of sources - including more sources that support one view over another.  This bias can also be seen when a reporter uses such phrases as "experts believe", "observers say," or "most people believe".  Experts in news stories are like expert witnesses in trials.  If you know whether the defense or the prosecution called a particular expert witness to the stand, you know which way the witness will testify.  And when a news story only presents one side, it is obviously the side the reporter supports.  (Journalists often go looking for quotes to fit their favorite argument into a news story.)  To find bias by use of experts or sources, stay alert to the affiliations and political perspective of those quoted as experts or authorities in news stories.  Not all stories will include experts, but in those that do, make sure about an equal number of conservatives and liberals are quoted.  If a story quotes non-experts, such as those portrayed as average citizens, check to be sure that about an equal number come from both sides of the issue in question.

Bias by story selection - a pattern of highlighting news stories that coincide with the agenda of the Left while ignoring stories that coincide with the agenda of the Right; printing a story or study released by a liberal group but ignoring studies on the same or similar topics released by conservative groups.  To identify bias by story selection you'll need to know the conservative and liberal sides of the issue.  See how much coverage conservative issues get compared to issues on the liberal agenda.  For example, if a liberal group puts out a study proving a liberal point, look at how much coverage it got compared to a conservative study issued a few days or weeks earlier.  If charges of impropriety are leveled at two politicians of approximately equal power, one liberal and one conservative, compare the amount of coverage given to each.

Bias by placement - Story placement is a measure of how important the editor considers the story.  Studies have shown that, in the case of the average newspaper reader and the average news story, most people read only the headline.  Bias by placement is where in the paper or in an article a story or event is printed; a pattern of placing news stories so as to downplay information supportive of conservative views.  To locate examples of bias by placement, observe where a newspaper places political stories.  Or whenever you read a story, see how far into the story the conservative viewpoint first appears.  In a fair and balanced story, the reporter would quote or summarize the liberal and conservative view at about the same place in the story.  If not, you've found bias by placement.

Bias by labeling - Bias by labeling comes in two forms.  The first is the tagging of conservative politicians and groups with extreme labels while leaving liberal politicians and groups unlabeled or with more mild labels.  The second kind of bias by labeling occurs when a reporter not only fails to identify a liberal as a liberal, but describes the person or group with positive labels, such as "an expert" or "independent consumer group".  In so doing, the reporter imparts an air of authority that the source does not deserve.  If the "expert" is properly called a "conservative" or a "liberal" the news consumer can take that ideological slant into account when evaluating the accuracy of an assertion.  When looking for bias by labeling, remember that not all labeling is biased or wrong.  Bias by labeling is present when the story labels the conservative, but not the liberal; when the story uses more extreme sounding labels for the conservative than the liberal ("ultra-conservative", "far right", but just "liberal" instead of "far left" and "ultra-liberal"); and when the story misleadingly identifies a liberal official or group as an expert or independent watchdog organization.

Bias by spin - Bias by spin occurs when the story has only one interpretation of an event or policy, to the exclusion of the other; spin involves tone - it's a reporter's subjective comments about objective facts; makes one side's ideological perspective look better than another.  To check if it's spin, observe which interpretation of an event or policy a news story matches - the liberal or conservative.  Many news stories do not reflect a particular spin.  Others summarize the spin put on an event by both sides.  But if a story reflects one to the exclusion of the other, then you've found bias by spin.

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Persevero,

Scribe

The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin

A friend recently loaned me a copy of Douglas Bond's latest book - The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin. I cannot praise it too highly. It ranks as one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read, or probably ever will read. It's a book that begs to be read more than once. Anyone studying Church history, specifically the Reformation, should have this book on his shelf. I'm already planning on getting a copy for my own personal library...

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The Betrayal chronicles the life of French reformer and scholar John Calvin, from his birth in 1509 to his death in 1564. One facet of this book instantly sets it apart from other similar novels - the story is told from the perspective of a sworn lifelong enemy of Calvin, Jean-Louis Mourin, a man who takes it upon himself to utterly destroy and ruin Calvin. To borrow the description from the back of the book, "this fast-paced biographical novel is a tale of envy that escalates to violent intrigue and shameless betrayal."  

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I've read other books by Douglas Bond, including The Crown & Covenant Series and Hostage Lands (both of which are highly recommended). However, in my opinion, The Betrayal is Bond's best work yet. Not only is it written convincingly, and with all the elements of a page-turner - suspense, intrigue, and constant danger - but Bond has also woven tons upon tons of factual, educational material into the story, making it historical fiction in the truest sense of the term. The Betrayal makes Calvin real to the reader, instead of a dry, ancient reformer of the long ago.

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To order your own copy of Douglas Bond's The Betrayal, click here

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Recommended for ages 14 and up: 

Mature content and graphic material (relating to martyrdom and persecution)
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Watch an interview with Douglas Bond on The Betrayal...
  

"Anything Doug Bond writes is, almost now by definition, a fascinating read. But to have his skills attached to the life of John Calvin is a double treat." - Joel Belz, founder, World magazine

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"If you enjoy reading the fictional works of C.S. Lewis, you will love this book." - Burk Parsons, editor, Tabletalk magazine

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"An exciting read, almost effortlessly and implicitly undoing caricatures about Calvin along the way... Calvin and his times brought to life in a page-turner!" - Joel R. Beeke, president, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

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Persevero,

Scribe

A Study of John Stott's Basic Christianity

As part of my reading for this school year, I'll be going through John Stott's Basic Christianity, an introductory apologetics book. I'm looking forward to it very much. Hopefully, it will widen my knowledge and understanding of Christian doctrines, and further enable me to defend the Faith against those who question its validity. 
The posts will be on a weekly basis, in the same way I'm doing Schultz's Created for Work. However, as the chapters of Stott's book are lengthy, and full of a variety of points, I will only select a portion of each chapter to post on.

Of course, Basic Christianity will be read and considered in the light of God's supreme, authoritative Word. Some of my posts may even express certain disagreements I have with Stott's work. However, I sincerely hope the following study will be to the edification of myself and those who read it. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Persevero,

Scribe

Swimming in Literature

A list of some of the books I'll be reading through over the first term of this school year...

• A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt. This is a play written on the life of Sir Thomas More (author of Utopia), and specifically chronicles the stormy confrontation between More, a staunch Roman Catholic, and King Henry VIII, who broke with the Romish Church to divorce his wife...
• Fierce Wars & Faithful Loves by famous poet Edmund Spenser. This is Book 1 of Spenser's well-known The Faerie Queen. C.S. Lewis said, "Beyond all doubt, it is best to have made one's first acquaintance with Spenser in a very large edition of The Faerie Queen, on a wet day, between the ages of twelve and sixteen... To read him is to grow in mental health." And actually, the fantasy world of The Faerie Queen would serve as an inspiration and model for Tolkien and Lewis. Interesting, huh...
• Utopia by Sir Thomas More. In this famous work, "More describes a pagan, communist city-state governed by reason." Throughout the book, More addresses things like religious pluralism, women's rights, state-sponsored education, colonialism, and justified warfare. I'm sure this is going to trigger some blog posts...
• The New World by Sir Winston Churchill. The second volume of Churchill's A History of the English Speaking Peoples. I read volume 1 (The Birth of Britain) last year, and loved it, so I'm looking forward to continuing through the series...
• Whatever Happened to Justice? by Richard Maybury. I read another of Maybury's books last year dealing with economics, and enjoyed his writing style very much. However, as with all things, I'll be measuring his thoughts on justice by God's thoughts on justice...
• How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler & Charles Van Doren. I am really looking forward to studying through this book! Adler and Doren detail step-by-step how to intelligently and thoroughly read a book, and instruct on how to X-ray a book, extract the author's message, criticize it, etc. 
• To Have and To Hold by Mary Johnston. This is a historical-fiction novel set during the times of the founding of colonial Jamestown in the 1600's.
• Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages by George Hodges. This little book covers Luther, Cranmer, Calvin, Coligny, and many others.
• Rural Hours by Susan Fenimore Cooper. Written by the daughter of well-known novelist James Fenimore Cooper (The Last of the Mohicans), Rural Hours is a nature study/natural history book. We'll just have to see if Cooper's idea of nature matches up with the Scriptures...
• Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley. This looks to be a very intriguing historical fiction book. Kingsley's story is set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

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Persevero,

Scribe     

Roosevelt on American Boyhood

"Of course what we have a right to expect of the American boy is that he shall turn out to be a good American man. Now, the chances are strong that he won't be much of a man unless he is a good deal of a boy. He must not be a coward or a weakling, a bully, a shirk, or a prig. He must work hard and play hard. He must be clean-minded and clean-lived, and able to hold his own under all circumstances and against all comers. It is only on these conditions that he will grow into the kind of American man of whom America can be really proud."

~ Theodore Roosevelt, The American Boy, 

Created for Work ~ Chapter 12 "Maintenance"

"I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life."

~ Theodore Roosevelt

Ok, I'm sure we've all struggled with this at one time or another: we get something and forget to take care of it. We forget to maintain. We make excuses about why we can't maintain. We even blatantly refuse to maintain. 

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Maintaining something is hard work; it takes consistency, motivation, a strong will, and a recognition of inadequacy. Ever make a New Years resolution, then try to keep it for even a month? It's difficult to do, isn't it? Bob Schultz says, "Like resolutions, it's easier to build a new house than to maintain an old one... Houses need repainting, reroofing, recaulking, retiling, and replacing of everything from windows to vinyl floors... Building isn't the hard part, maintaining is." 

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I have a guinea pig named Beethoven. He must be fed and watered regularly. He must have his cage changed of bedding regularly. He must be groomed and cleaned as well. Sometimes taking care of Beethoven isn't always what I'd like most to be doing; however, it's something I have an obligation to do as his owner, whether I always feel like doing it or not.

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I mentioned that maintenance takes consistency, motivation, a strong will, and a recognition of our own inadequacy :

• One problem that usually gets in the way of consistency is our feelings. Ever hear somebody say, "I just don't feel like it"? That's the attitude I'm talking about. It's letting your fickle whims determine what you will or will not do. It the opposite of letting Christ control your actions and submitting to His authority in your life. A person who goes through life leaning on his feelings will never get anything worthwhile done - and all because he didn't "feel like it".
• Ingratitude is a key enemy of motivation. We often lack the drive to do because we are ungrateful for what has already been done. Instead of thanking God that he has provided a car for our needs, we gripe and grumble about maintenance: washing the car, vacuuming it, changing the oil, replacing the tires, etc. That's poor stewardship. That's ingratitude. That's sin.
• The only way to have a truly strong will is to submit to God's will. If we stubbornly resist God's instruction, correction, and guidance, and insist on choosing our own path, we show not a strong will, but a weak, stubborn, misguided will.
• Finally, we must recognize that we can do nothing worthwhile leaning on our own strength. We are completely inadequate, and therefore must do all we do in Christ. He is  the only one completely adequate. Left to ourselves, we wouldn't accomplish anything of worth.

Schultz points out that "People go through life acquiring things. They think that if they can just get a house or car, they'll be set. Ben Franklin said it's easier to build two fireplaces than to provide wood for one. A man who cannot see life as an exercise in maintenance collects until he's overrun with things. Then, unless he gets rid of most of it, he spends the rest of his life as a slave, attempting to maintain his collections or simply watching them decay around him... If you plan to own things, plan to maintain them."

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Schultz also reminds us that God "created the world and currently maintains it (Colossians 1:15,16)." He is our supreme example! "Imagine what it takes to maintain a water system that feeds every living plant and animal on the planet. Think of the challenges to provide continual oxygen, heating, and cooling for a whole world."

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Furthermore, God "created us in His image. Those who accept this role prosper in His kingdom. Those who won't adopt a maintenance mentality, suffer consequences." 

~

In conclusion, Schultz says, "Acquiring is easy. Maintaining is the challenge. May God place within you the vision and drive to take care of what He has given you, before you long for something new."

~

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." ~ Proverbs 4:23

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Persevero,

Scribe

YouTube

Courtesy of Student News Daily

Of Pigs, Farms, and Freedom

George Orwell's biting satire Animal Farm is one of those books that leaves a lasting impression on those who read it. Powerful lessons can be learned from it, and even though Stalinist Russia was its target when it was first written, its message is still crystal clear and relevant today. I do recommend that you have at least a basic understanding of Soviet Russia, certain major figures (such as Stalin, Lenin, Trotsky, etc.), and the fundamentals of socialism before reading Animal Farm, as there is much symbolism that is too important to be missed.

~

Orwell's story is written very engagingly, like a fairy tale, but with a razor-sharp lesson underneath. A group of overworked, mistreated animals rebel against their human master and suceed in taking over the farm. Led chiefly by the pig Napolean, they set out with stirring enthusiasm and passion to create Animal Farm - a place of justice, equality, and progress. The result of their misguided labors, however, is a totalitarian society just as terrible as the former tyranny of their former human master, if not worse.

~

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Animal Farm, and it is now on my list of favorite books. Orwell did an amazing job combining a readable story with a disturbing message about socialism and totalitarianism. One of my favorite points that Orwell made in his book was this: our liberties are seldom blatantly attacked. Rather, the attack is disguised as something for our good, something that will ultimately benefit us. Napolean the pig uses this kind of lie on many occasions during his career as "leader" (translation: totalitarian tyrant) over Animal Farm. Devious politicians (and devious presidents, like Barrack Hussein Obama) use this tactic as well. They wag their smooth, forked tongues at us, trying to worm their way into our confidence, trying to convince us that this new bill they're attempting to pass won't really be an infringement on our rights and freedoms. Wrong. Careful study and examination of such things too often shows that we have liars in high political offices.

~

One line in Animal Farm which so reeks of socialist propaganda comes when one of Napoleon's cronies is "explaining" to the other farm animals that "Comrade" Napoleon is making a "sacrifice" by assuming more responsibilities (translation: taking away freedoms and gaining power) around the farm. He says, "Comrades... I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labor upon himself... No one believes more firmly that all animals are created equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"  So, it's okay to deprive people of their freedom to make their own choices simply because they might make a mistake? C'mon! We are human beings! In the words of Gary Demar, "To be human... means the ability to act freely. To make mistakes. To clean up your own mess. To take responsibility for your own actions." Therefore, why in the name of all good sense would we hand our liberties over on a silver platter to some high and mighty, tyrannical nincompoop, who is no less able to mess up than we are?

~

"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

~George Orwell, Politics and the English Language

~

"To protect humanity, some humans must be sacrificed. To insure freedom, some freedoms must be sacrificed. To insure your future, some freedoms must be surrendered. We robots will insure mankind's continued existence. You are so like children. We must save you from yourselves."
~ A pack of lies from the tyrant computer V.I.K.I., in the film I, Robot (2004)

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Persevero,
Scribe

Subtitles

Subtitles. Some people love 'em. Others? Well...

"Once to Every Man and Nation"

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,

In strife of truth and falsehood, for the good or evil side;

Some great cause, some great decision, diff'ring each the bloom or blight,

And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light.

~

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,

Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and 'tis prosp'rous to be just;

Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,

Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.

~

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet truth alone is strong;

Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong,

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above His own.

~ James R. Lowell

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Persevero,

Scribe

Created for Work ~ Chapter 11 "Initiative"

Sometimes, as I'm working on a project around the house, my youngest sister Elisabeth assumes the role of my assistant. If I'm replacing light bulbs in the ceiling, she'll usually stand at the foot of the ladder pointing her little fingers upwards, and (more often than not) trying to climb up the ladder after me. If I'm building a new bookshelf, she'll seat herself close by the tool bag and give me instructions on how to put the thing together. She even understands the role tools play in the job. When I ask for the hammer, she picks it up (with grunt or two for emphasis) and plops it in my hand. When I need nails, she selects a few, warns me in toddler lingo not to drive one through my finger, and hands them over. She also likes to give me things even before I ask for them. Sometimes I'll turn around and find that she's already made a pile of different tools at my back. Even as young as two years old, she's learning to take initiative...

~

At the beginning of Chapter 11 in Created for Work, Bob Schultz gives us a quote by a man named Samuel Ewig. It divides people into three basic categories when it comes to work... 

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."

Of course, as Christians, we are neither called to turn up their noses as work nor to entirely neglect it. We are called to turn up our sleeves. But there's an aspect of 'turning up our sleeves' that we often overlook... it's called initiative, and if you ask today's average worker what it is, he'll look at you as if you're talking Swahili. 

~

In an age when sluggards and bad workers are increasingly abundant, a man who does every single thing required him is considered by many to be a dream come true. But is God impressed by such a worker? Schultz points out that "In God's eyes, only doing everything you are commanded to do is the base line, the starting point. Jesus said, 'So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do'."

~

So, only doing what you are required doesn't cut it in God's eyes. He considers such a worker to be "unprofitable". That considered, what does a Christ-honoring worker look like? For one thing, he not only does all that is required of him, he does more than is required of him. He takes initiative - goes the extra mile - doesn't stop at the bare minimum - doesn't say, "Well, I've done everything that I was told to do, so there". 

~

God, the supreme example for all workers, takes initiative. He often blesses us abundantly even before we ask Him to. He may undertake to teach us a lesson before we know that we need one. He protects us from many things we may not even know exist.

~

Of course, initiative must be balanced with prudence, or we can get into trouble. You want to make sure that whatever job your doing is in accordance with the wishes of your boss. If you rashly jump into something, you may end up giving your boss a headache instead of making his day.

~

And remember - initiative isn't something only for the workplace. It should be applied in all areas of your life - at home, during lessons, at your friend's house. "Wherever you go," says Schultz, "look for what needs to be done and do it."

~

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." ~ Isaiah 62:24

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Persevero,

Scribe

 Get your own copy of Created for Work here

I Wonder What Beethoven Would Say...

Movie Review: I Am Legend (2007)

I Am Legend (2007), PG-13 - Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Emma Thompson
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Genre: Sci-Fi/Apocalyptic
Setting: Manhatten, New York: 2009-2011
Stars: 41/2 out of 5
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Synopsis...
Before watching this film, go look up a picture of present day Manhatten Island - the Manhatten portrayed in the movie will astonish you all the more.
When an enterprising Manhatten scientist takes the measles virus and completely alters its genetic structure, she believes that she has discovered the long-desired cure for cancer. However, she is speedily undeceived when her "miracle cure" becomes a new unstoppable plague that spreads rapidly throughout the island. Those infected by it mutate, becoming inhuman creatures that prey on their fellow men. Those few lucky enough not to be infected evacuate Manhatten and flee. Only one man chooses to stay behind...  
Somehow immune to the deadly disease, military virologist Robert Neville remains on the island, racing against time to find a cure using his own uninfected blood before the entire human race is destroyed. But mutant plague victims still lurk in the city... one wrong move, and the game is up. 
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Content-Wise...
Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Action and Violence
Frightening Images
Menace and Peril
Thematic Elements (pertaining to the film's plot)
Brief Mild Language
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Points to Ponder...

• The entire human race faced destruction by way of a deadly disease known as the Krippen Virus. In the real world, all men are infected by a different "disease" even more deadly than the Krippen Virus. It's called Sin.
• Military virologist Robert Neville is the only one who cannot be infected by the Krippen Virus. Jesus Christ is the only one who cannot be "infected" by Sin. 
•  The only cure for the Krippen Virus was found in Neville's immune blood. The only cure for Sin is in the perfect blood of Jesus.
• The victims of the Krippen Virus wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Neville's cure. Neville had to capture them first and then give them the necessary antidote. Similarly, as fallen sinners, there is absolutely nothing in us that would desire the cure for sin found in Christ's blood. We must first be captured by God's love and grace, and made to see our condition, before we can be healed. 
• Neville ends up paying a high price to ensure that others can be cured of the Krippen Virus. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross to ensure that we can be cured of Sin.