The church and illegal immigration

Talk about a hot-button issue.  Illegal immigration continues to grab headlines on almost all levels:  political, economical and social.  It’s one of the top concerns among many as we approach another presidential election.  Many wonder how it is affecting unemployment levels in our land as well as how it is affecting our national and state spending.

But how should the church respond to this issue?  Does the Bible have any principles that would help guide  us as Christians and Christian ministries.

I haven’t seen a lot on this issue but one church has certainly though it out and has been gracious enough to publish their views on this controversial topic.  Read it and interact with it.  Food for thought and lively conversation right here.

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Promises for the unemployed

My brother recently went through an extended period of unemployment. Praise God he has a job now! No matter how you look at the figures in our country, there are many, many hurting families today–even among Christians who are sincerely pouring out their hearts to God.  I had seen one of these articles before but thankful for Justin Taylor pointing out some additional resources to encourage the unemployed through tough times:

Steve Fuller offers some promises from the Bible for those who are struggling with unemployment, organized under the following headings:

• Because of Jesus God will provide everything you need.
• God will deliver you from problems you caused yourself.
• God will bless you through wrongs others have done.
• God is in complete control.
• God will provide the job and income you need.
• God has a perfect plan for each day you are unemployed.
• God will give you full joy in Himself without a job.

See the whole post here.

Also worth reading is Greg Gilbert’s post on trusting God in unemployment—part 1 andpart 2.

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The books of the Bible: periodic table style

A new infographic released by Challies and company. This time it covers the books of the Bible in an interesting graphic.  This time the chart can also be formatted for wallpaper for your desktop or iphone or ipad!  And it has a file to convert it for easy printing as well!

Click below to enlarge.  And head over here for the other features mentioned above.

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Ten reasons to believe in an historical Adam

The debate rages over the historicity of the Adam mentioned in Genesis 1-2. Kevin DeYoung talks about ten solid reasons to believe that Adam actually existed as a man.  Here’s the summary and here’s a brief explanation of each point. Sit down and talk about it with your kids tonight! Important stuff!

1. The Bible does not put an artificial wedge between history and theology.

2. The biblical story of creation is meant to supplant other ancient creation stories more than imitate them.

3. The opening chapters of Genesis are stylized, but they show no signs of being poetry.

4. There is a seamless strand of history from Adam in Genesis 2 to Abraham in Genesis 12.

5. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1 and Luke 3 treat Adam as historical.

6. Paul believed in a historical Adam (Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:21-22, 45-49).

7. The weight of the history of interpretation points to the historicity of Adam. The literature of second temple Judaism affirmed an historical Adam. The history of the church’s interpretation also assumes it.

8. Without a common descent we lose any firm basis for believing that all people regardless of race or ethnicity have the same nature, the same inherent dignity, the same image of God, the same sin problem, and that despite our divisions we are all part of the same family coming from the same parents.

9. Without a historical Adam, Paul’s doctrine of original sin and guilt does not hold together.

10. Without a historical Adam, Paul’s doctrine of the second Adam does not hold together.

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Trials: Hard frosts hasten spring flowers!

“The wisdom of God is seen in making the most desperate evils turn to the good of his children. As several poisonous ingredients, wisely tempered by the skill of the artist, make a sovereign medicine, so God makes the most deadly afflictions co-operate for the good of his children. He purifies them, and prepares them for heaven. 2 Cor 4:17. These hard frosts hasten the spring flowers of glory. The wise God, by a divine chemistry, turns afflictions into cordials. He makes his people gainers by losses, and turns their crosses into blessings.”

~ Thomas Watson

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