| Posted: 01 Sep 2008 02:21 AM CDT (Author: Joe Rigney) They say that nothing is certain except death and taxes. In America, at least, we can add one more thing to the list: Every four years politicians and pundits will wax eloquent about the "difficult" and "controversial" issue of abortion. Debates about "a woman's right to choose" and "a baby's right to life" will quickly degenerate into shouting matches that obscure rather than clarify the issues. As Christians, we don't have the luxury of speaking with vagueness, ambiguity, and cliché. When we open our mouths, we must speak clearly (Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:3-4). But if we are to speak clearly, we must first think and feel clearly about difficult and controversial moral issues. So we need to realize that abortion is not mainly about a woman's right to choose. And it isn't mainly about a baby's right to life.
During this election season, as politicians court the evangelical vote, it is vital that Christians remind themselves why abortion is the transcendent moral issue of our time. To that end, The Bethlehem Institute has designed a unique, six-week Sunday School curriculum advancing the truth that the deepest evil of abortion is that it defies God's supremacy over life in the womb. Entitled Abortion Is About God: Reframing a Moral Issue, the course provides a biblical and theological foundation for the pro-life cause from a God-centered perspective. At a time when being pro-life is marginalized in some evangelical circles, we want to lift up the cause of the unborn and urge our fellow Christians to not grow weary in doing good. We will reap a harvest if we do not give up. And the strength to persevere comes from realizing that God's supremacy over all things includes his work in the womb. Abortion is an assault on the person-forming work of God. Children are a gift from God. To reject them through abortion is to reject him. But we do not merely preach against sin. We also preach Christ crucified—crucified for women who have had abortions; for family members who have pushed for abortions; for doctors who have performed abortions; and for Christians who have failed to love both mother and baby as we ought to. In that spirit, we commend this new curriculum to you. Our prayer is that God would use it in churches around the country to reawaken people to the centrality and supremacy of God in the cause of the unborn so that one day soon abortion will not only be illegal, but unthinkable. * * * |
Monday, September 1, 2008
Abortion is About God
I was reading this on the latest post of the Desiring God blog. I think it is really important to get down to the true issues of the social questions we are facing. Read the article below, it is really short, and it will really prick your thinking.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Simple, Short, and Sweet
Well, Neal has finished the first week of school. Feelings on that: it's going to be a long, tough semester! He has his senior design class, in addition to four other classes, and it is already taking up SO much of his study time. He really likes the project though, so hopefully it will be an enjoyable time working with the team.
I'm still job searching. :( I had an interview this morning, and I got called back for a second interview tomorrow. It is a 6 hour interview!! We'll see what happens. We are really trying to trust God in each step of the job searching process. Sometimes it is easier than others!
I think that is about it for now! Will post again when something exciting or news worthy occurs!
Until then,
Deborah
I'm still job searching. :( I had an interview this morning, and I got called back for a second interview tomorrow. It is a 6 hour interview!! We'll see what happens. We are really trying to trust God in each step of the job searching process. Sometimes it is easier than others!
I think that is about it for now! Will post again when something exciting or news worthy occurs!
Until then,
Deborah
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Summer Wrap-Up
Well, summer is almost over.
It has been an interesting, exciting, and jam packed one! Starting off celebrating our one year wedding anniversary in June, followed by the weddings of two of Neal's brothers, in that same month. July was spent job searching. After literally a dozen interviews and several offers, I'm still looking. We just don't feel as if any of the offers have been the right path...yet. Hopefully soon!
Neal has finished out his 5th co-op rotation with GE Energy. He has also interviewed for their Operations Management Leadership Program (OMLP), which was a two day process! We heard the results of that this past Friday, the 8th. The Lord has closed the door for the program, but has definitely opened up several other job opportunities for when he finishes school in May 2009.
August has brought VACATION!!! Neal & I are currently down on St. George Island, Florida. My mom and dad, gran-gran, as well as all my sisters, and Leah's boyfriend, Blake, as well as Mr. Thompson, Rachel, and Lori are all bunking together in ONE house! Family vacations are a blast: sleep, eat, play, repeat! We've only had two days of inclement weather so far, but that hasn't stopped several of us from running right on in the ocean!
School will start back for Neal on Monday, the 18th. It will be a challenging semester for him trying to take 5 classes, including his 40+ hours per week senior design project, which he will be doing in conjunction with GE Energy. He found out yesterday that he will be able to work several hours a week, whenever he can, at the office of our apartment building. That will be such a blessing and a help.
It is kind of a strange feeling not having to look in the course catalog, or have the exact registration time etched in my mind so as not to miss it by a split second and loose the perfect schedule I have been working on for weeks! And then, the alumni news comes in my inbox!! Oh, please stop this "moving in to the 'real world' "! We know the Lord has all of our steps perfectly planned and all we have to do is trust in His way!
Well, this is all for now. Off to the ocean waves!
It has been an interesting, exciting, and jam packed one! Starting off celebrating our one year wedding anniversary in June, followed by the weddings of two of Neal's brothers, in that same month. July was spent job searching. After literally a dozen interviews and several offers, I'm still looking. We just don't feel as if any of the offers have been the right path...yet. Hopefully soon!
Neal has finished out his 5th co-op rotation with GE Energy. He has also interviewed for their Operations Management Leadership Program (OMLP), which was a two day process! We heard the results of that this past Friday, the 8th. The Lord has closed the door for the program, but has definitely opened up several other job opportunities for when he finishes school in May 2009.
August has brought VACATION!!! Neal & I are currently down on St. George Island, Florida. My mom and dad, gran-gran, as well as all my sisters, and Leah's boyfriend, Blake, as well as Mr. Thompson, Rachel, and Lori are all bunking together in ONE house! Family vacations are a blast: sleep, eat, play, repeat! We've only had two days of inclement weather so far, but that hasn't stopped several of us from running right on in the ocean!
School will start back for Neal on Monday, the 18th. It will be a challenging semester for him trying to take 5 classes, including his 40+ hours per week senior design project, which he will be doing in conjunction with GE Energy. He found out yesterday that he will be able to work several hours a week, whenever he can, at the office of our apartment building. That will be such a blessing and a help.
It is kind of a strange feeling not having to look in the course catalog, or have the exact registration time etched in my mind so as not to miss it by a split second and loose the perfect schedule I have been working on for weeks! And then, the alumni news comes in my inbox!! Oh, please stop this "moving in to the 'real world' "! We know the Lord has all of our steps perfectly planned and all we have to do is trust in His way!
Well, this is all for now. Off to the ocean waves!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The 16th of July
Well, it has been about two weeks since I've last updated. I've been working at the America's Mart show for the past 2 weeks; Neal has worked there on the weekends. We are very thankful for the opportunity and job, but we are also very thankful when walking, standing, and selling for 10-12 hours a day for almost two weeks straight is over!
Neal got the opportunity to go and play golf at Chateau Elan this past Saturday with some fellow GE workers. I think we found a new past-time! We'll keep you posted as the game unfolds!
On Sunday, I got a call from my old friend from high school, Janean. She told me that one of the guys we graduated with was killed in a motorcycle accident just a few hours prior. Kevin Mahurin was 22 years old. His mother, Karen Mahurin is the county commissioner. His funeral was today, July 16. At the funeral, there were several of the kids that graduated back in 2003. We all were remembering the life and memories that we shared with Kevin... school plays, haunted corn mazes, birthday parties, and so many more. It is a sobering reminder of how fleeting this life is. May we all examine our own lives and hearts to insure that they line up with the word of God and live lives well pleasing to him.
Neal got the opportunity to go and play golf at Chateau Elan this past Saturday with some fellow GE workers. I think we found a new past-time! We'll keep you posted as the game unfolds!
On Sunday, I got a call from my old friend from high school, Janean. She told me that one of the guys we graduated with was killed in a motorcycle accident just a few hours prior. Kevin Mahurin was 22 years old. His mother, Karen Mahurin is the county commissioner. His funeral was today, July 16. At the funeral, there were several of the kids that graduated back in 2003. We all were remembering the life and memories that we shared with Kevin... school plays, haunted corn mazes, birthday parties, and so many more. It is a sobering reminder of how fleeting this life is. May we all examine our own lives and hearts to insure that they line up with the word of God and live lives well pleasing to him.
Kevin Mahurin
November 1985 - July 2008
I know your life on earth was troubled
You were no stranger to the rain
Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
Oh how we cried that day you left us
And gathered 'round your grave to grieve
Wish I could see the angel's faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing
November 1985 - July 2008
Cherokee Tribune Article- "A Fine Young Man"
Sosebee Funeral Home- Obituary
I know your life on earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devilYou were no stranger to the rain
Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
Oh how we cried that day you left us
And gathered 'round your grave to grieve
Wish I could see the angel's faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Happy belated Birthday
Another celebration of our country's birth has come and gone. She is now 232 years young! Neal and I were watching the excellent John Adams mini series the other night, which I HIGHLY recommend, and just commenting on how much difficulty that our founding fathers faced in the development of this land as a formal country independent of any other entity. We are very blessed to be able to live in a country that they fought so diligently to form and die for.
Anyways, Mom and Dad, Hannah and Moriah came down to our apartment for dinner and then we headed down the street a bit to watch the fireworks over Centennial Park. Amazingly, after 17 years of living just outside of Atlanta metro, we saw, in person, the fireworks over the park! Next on the agenda, a live downtown Atlanta New Years Eve!
Anyways, Mom and Dad, Hannah and Moriah came down to our apartment for dinner and then we headed down the street a bit to watch the fireworks over Centennial Park. Amazingly, after 17 years of living just outside of Atlanta metro, we saw, in person, the fireworks over the park! Next on the agenda, a live downtown Atlanta New Years Eve!
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