Jesus Didn't Come Back...But He Will

Saturday has come and gone and "the rapture" didn't happen. Jesus didn't come back and the world isn't at an end. I'm not surprised.

Harold Camping made a "prediction" by making "calculations" of different numbers in Scripture and stating that the rapture would take place on May 21st at 6pm. I don't need to know exactly what kind of "calculations" Camping did to know that he is absolutely heretical and doesn't understand how the Bible is to be read. Camping has done this once before, back in 1994. He was wrong then too. I have no idea what made him think he should try again and I have no idea why so many people were deceived by him again. Anyone claiming to know when Jesus is coming back is a false prophet. The Bible clearly states that only God the Father knows the day and the hour of Jesus' return. Matthew 24:36 says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." It's that simple.

Jesus will return one day, we can know that without a doubt, but no one knows when. We are to be ready, however, when it does happen. So live each day for the glory of God and live out His will, being ready for His return. It could happen at any moment.


UPDATE:

Check out these links for some good articles on this issue.
ReformedBaptistFellowship

HuffingtonPost

Happiness

"Though dozens of moods are available to women, we would all prefer to be in a good one. And though numerous emotions flit through our hearts every day, one feeling is esteemed more than all the others - happiness. We don't really mind what God has planned for us, so long as we are guaranteed happiness in the midst of it. We want to live happily ever after. And what keeps us happy? When things go our way. When everything runs smoothly in the direction we had hoped it would go, we are able to maintain a pleasant frame of mind. No bumps. No interruptions. No inconveniences. In order to maintain our personal contentment, we begin to avoid situations that might compromise our happiness. 

I want no regrets, so I will take no chances. I do not want to feel shame, so I will blend quietly into the crowd. I don't want to be disappointed, so I'll lower my expectations. I do not feel happy when I am confused, so I won't bother learning anything new. I do not wish to be embarrassed, so I will avoid speaking up. I don't want to experience sadness, so I will not allow myself to care. We set up emotional comfort zones and stay within them. No one can make us budge, not even the LORD. We create our own happy, little bubble - safe haven, untouched by others. We take firm control so we can always be happy. Happiness - no matter what the cost." - Managing Your Moods, Women of Faith Study Guide Series. 

It's easy to think that we are entitled to happiness. It's easy to think, "God loves me so surely He wants me to be happy." It's easy to think that obtaining happiness should be our main goal in life. It's so easy to seek out what makes us happy. However, happiness is only a blessing that God gives from time to time. Though happiness certainly has its place in life it is not a constant state, for sorrow, hurt, and anger seep in and rob us of what happiness was there. Obtaining happiness is not the goal in life but rather glorifying God in all circumstances. We are not guaranteed happiness but we are guaranteed that God is sovereign and that He brings hope and purpose into every situation. We need to let go of control and trust God. Our happiness shouldn't be a driving force but rather we should think of others and ultimately of God. Often times it is the most unhappiest situations that bring about the most glory and the most joy. It is like when my husband and I have an argument. I'm certainly not happy during the hours or perhaps even days that my husband and I are at odds but once we work through it and then make up, the bond between us is even greater and stronger and our affection towards one another even sweeter. Those times of unhappiness can be good and even healthy. Happiness isn't everything.

I'm still learning to view happiness through this lens. It's not easy, especially as a woman, because the emotions that work their way through my heart are numerous. I don't always know how to handle how I feel. My emotions are often what drives me and sometimes I don't even realize it. What should drive me, however, is the Word of God and His Truth. My heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). I can't trust my heart, I can't always trust my emotions because they come and go, but I can trust God and seek for Truth.

Emotions can be valid, don't get me wrong. God has given us the ability to feel and for some of us we feel everything very deeply. It is what we do with these emotions, how we respond, that dictate how much control these emotions have over us. I believe that I am slowly letting go of the control my emotions have over me and more and more placing control in the hands of God. I find myself praying more and reading the Scriptures more. It really does make a difference. To remain in the Word keeps my focus where it needs to be and to pray reminds me Who I need to trust above everyone else.

There are times that we will be happy; may we remember to praise God. There are times when we will be sad; may we remember to praise God.

Foolish People

I don't understand most people. I try to see things from other people's point of view but there are some people who are just plain dumb. I've had arguments and debates with people who cannot hold their own and have absolutely no idea how to argue their point of view in an intelligent way. Sometimes I get so angry when people behave like idiots. It makes me angry that they will hold onto their point of view so tightly when they so obviously don't understand the topic and are so wrong in their thinking. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and see things from their world but sometimes it just can't be done. This is especially so when Biblical proof is given and they still hold onto what they believe or feel. I'm a stubborn person and I don't like being wrong either but when the Bible says one thing and I think or feel another, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I'm wrong and I need to make a change. I'm not going to argue with the Bible. Yet, there are so many people who will argue with the Bible or just ignore what it says. That is stupidity and foolishness. That is what I can't stand, that is what makes me angry. It also makes me angry that people will argue something with me when they know nothing about the subject and I GO TO SCHOOL to GET A DEGREE in that subject. I'm not trying to blow my own horn here. It's just a simple fact. Why would you think you know more than me about theology or the background of the Bible when you got a degree in business and I got a degree in Biblical studies? That's like me thinking I can perform a surgery better than a surgeon. It's just silly!

I run into this a lot on Facebook. Granted, it's easy to speak one's mind on Facebook because, contrary to the name, you don't actually have to look anyone in the face! It's easy for things to be taken out of context, misunderstood, and blown out of proportion when you never see anyone's face or hear their voice. I see it all the time. However, being that everything is written, it should be easier to clearly communicate and even determine if what you are about to write is really something that should be public. It's like people forget that the hundreds of "friends" on Facebook will see what they posted and have the ability to comment and agree or disagree. And it's amazing how many people cannot clearly communicate or even put together an intelligible sentence! It drives me crazy!! If you can't clearly communicate and engage people in an intelligent way then you have no business speaking, or in this case, writing! Seriously people, go read a book!

Do not misunderstand me. I'm not saying that when people engage me in a biblical discussion that they should take everything I say as absolute truth. They should, however, realize that I go to a Bible college and am getting a degree in Biblical studies, and that they should think about what I say and study for themselves. I want people to learn and to question and to make discoveries. People can't do that, however, when they can't see any further than themselves and the world that they know.

Foolish people, foolish me, let us gain a humble attitude and let us learn from one another. You know things that I do not; I can learn from you. I know things that you do not; you can learn from me. Things are rarely ever as they appear.

My Day of Baking

2:50pm - I'm about three hours into baking the 50+ cupcakes for a baby shower tomorrow. I've baked the chocolate and I'm currently baking the strawberry. I have one burn on my finger and I've discovered that I love wax paper. That stuff rocks! I have also learned to always remember to spay the pan before pouring the batter in. Three cupcakes have not made it. :/

3:08pm - It turns out that I forgot to spray the pan that went in the oven. Only one of those cupcakes survived. I won't forget to spray the pan ever again.

3:26pm - If I want to bake cupcakes or cakes for events more often I'm going to need a bigger fridge. Or, better yet, a second fridge just for cakes!

3:46pm - When taking cupcakes out of the pan, put spatula straight down between the cupcake and pan. Do not put the spatula at an angle. (If you do something enough times you notice patterns and how to do it better.)

4:09pm - Break time. All of the cupcakes are done. I just need to whip up some icing but first, a break and some food.

5:00pm - I like how smooth cream cheese icing is. It's awesome!

5:09pm - The icing is done, now to clean up - my least favorite part. :( Where are the cleaning faries?

5:24pm - Ah, clean up done. Time to rest. :)

My Personal Philosophy of Christian Education

To be a teacher at any school, whether public or private, secular or Christian, is a daunting task. As a teacher I am responsible for the educational well-being of every student that walks into my classroom. No matter what I teach, I am molding the mind and influencing the life of innately sinful, impressionable, image bearers of God. 

God, as my authority, imparts wisdom and knowledge to me so that I, in turn, can impart wisdom and knowledge to my students. As a Christian, God has given me the Holy Spirit to help me with this task. As a teacher, I want to work to embrace my students as they are and lovingly push them to explore this world, life, faith, and things outside of themselves. I also want to work to ignite in them a passion for learning and to help them discover the gifts and skills God has given them that they can use in every other area of their life. It is also my desire to treat the school campus as a mission field. While keeping the role of teacher, I wish to appropriately get to know my students and impact their spiritual life. My hope is to see students come to know the Lord for the first time or create a deeper relationship with Him.

It is human nature to be uninterested and lazy when it comes to actively learning. It is hard for students of any age to go to school, sit in a classroom for more than half an hour, complete assignments, read textbooks, and take exams. As a teacher, I wish to make learning and time spent in the classroom interesting and fun by relating with the students and showing them how what they are learning fits into the real world. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel free to participate, ask questions, and voice opinions.

Society can be a cruel place for students fresh out of high school and even college. Society is not always very accepting and it can be difficult for students to transition from “student” to “career person.” My hope is to prepare my students for their future and what life has for them. School should not be about academics alone but rather a place where students discover that everything about life intertwines and goes back to one central source: God. School should not only be a place where students simply learn the history of Rome but that they learn how the history of Rome relates to the Word of God and to the way of life today. Students should graduate and not just leave with a diploma or a degree but with a better grasp on the world and the way they can impact it for the glory of God.

In light of all of these goals, my overarching goal is that my students would find their faith, trust, and individuality in the Lord and discover the gifts and talents He has given them and learn how to use those for His glory in everything that they do. Though I will never know the plan that God has for each and every student, I desire to see His will complete in their lives, whatever that may be. And though I believe that parents and the home should be the main source of discipleship, I also believe that part of my role, as a teacher, is to create a partnership with the parents to help the students along. The unfortunate truth is, in most situations, that teachers spend more time with the students than the parents. I want to use that time to the benefit of the parents as well as the students.

To accomplish these goals in the classroom I would create a comfortable learning environment. Though I may use lecture as a tool for communicating information, I would do it in such a way that I can hear thoughts from the students, and create discussion. I believe that simple discussion can be a far greater tool for learning than a cold, straightforward lecture. I would guide these discussions toward a main focus, whatever it is I want the students to learn that day.

I would also create assignments that would test the students’ knowledge and understanding of the concept, possibly a group assignment, an essay, quizzes, or exams. I would also assign projects for the students to use their creativity and personal skills to express themselves and show their own interests. I have found that students, who are given the opportunity to express their own opinions and gifts, and see that the teacher is truly interested, are more ready to learn and participate. 

Since students have different methods of learning, I need to try to meet each method in my teaching. There are students who are thinkers who learn by solving problems, writing essays, analyzing situations, recalling facts, and comprehending concepts. I need to provide such situations as the opportunities present themselves to meet the academic needs of these students.[1]

There are also students who are feelers who learn by sharing personal experiences and stories, establishing values and positive attitudes, and living out the truths of a subject. I need to also provide situations or opportunities in the classroom to meet the academic needs of these students.[2]

There are also students who are doers. These students learn by being hands-on, interactive, and task oriented. They need to do what is being taught to achieve understanding. I need to provide hands-on experience as I can to meet the academic needs of these students.[3]

To be a well-balanced teacher, I need to teach using all three of these methods as best I can. I should never leave a student feeling lost and misunderstood. It is important that students leave the classroom with a grasp of the subject for that day. If a student does not understand the concept then I have not done my job. I cannot make students learn but I am responsible for clearly communicating and effectively teaching so that, if students are paying attention and doing their part, they should have some understanding of the subject.

It is one thing to have opinions about what education should look like and how it should be done but it is quite different to actually do it and put to use these methods. However, the philosophical part of education and the methodological part of education cannot stand-alone, one cannot go without the other. The way I perform education comes from my philosophy on what education is and how it should be done. Likewise, to just have a philosophy but no methods is useless. Education is important and teachers hold a serious position. If teachers would realize the opportunity they have, as I hope to do, to positively impact the young people they come in contact with everyday, maybe our students would improve in academics and in life and go on to be all that God has called them to be.

---

[1] William R. Yount, Called to Teach (Nashville: B&H Academic, 1999), 4-8.

[2] Ibid., 8-12.

[3] Ibid., 12-15

Sweet Relief

YAY!! I'm done!! *does a little dance* Today I had the Roman World final which I don't have any feelings about. I'm just glad that it's over. That class caused a lot of stress for me. Tonight I had my Hebrew final. It was challenging but I think I did well. I wasn't too worried about it because I've done so well in the class that even if I didn't do very well on the final I would still be fine. I was anxious to finish though so I had that motivating me. I was the second to finish but it still took me a good hour or two. I feel bad for those still working on it; I'm sure it has to be torture for them. Doing Hebrew for four hours is not fun, even for people like me who enjoy it!

I finished my indepenant study last week. I had to take a final and write a personal philsophy of Christian education. I found writing that paper challenging for some reason but managed to get it done quicker than I expected. I will post it later this week for those of you who might be interested in reading it.

I still have a class to go to on Thursday night but I'm basically done with that class. We had a take home final which I finished today in between classes. That concluded my work for that class. We are still meeting though for a end of the semester class party and to turn in our finals. So, even though I still have to go to that class, I'm basically done with all of my work for this semester! It feels good now but it will feel even better tomorrow when I wake up and realize I can do WHATEVER I WANT!! lol

I'll be baking quite a bit this week. I am baking red velvet cupcakes for my Thursday class and then 50 chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cupcakes for a baby shower on Saturday. I love baking! :)

I'm also going to begin my adult driver's ed thing online. It's only 6 hours so I COULD finish it in one day which I MIGHT do but at the very least I'm going to try to finish it within a few days. It's not like it's going to be hard and stuff I've never heard before. It'll probably be boring because we all know that once the driver's license is obtained all that info goes flying out the window. lol ;)

Well, I'm in no hurry to go to bed but I am watching Ugly Betty on Netflix so I will say goodnight.

Goodnight!