Staff List & Mailing Address Staff List & Mailing Address Staff List & Mailing Address MORNING STAR is produced and published monthly, by a staff of born again believers in Jesus, located across the United States of America. Correspondence to MORNING STAR may be sent via the U.S. Postal Service or one of several computer networks. POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 7755 Nashua, NH 03060-7755 ELECTRONIC MAIL LINKS: America Online E-Mail (DOS Files): MStarDOS America Online E-Mail (MAC Files): MStarMAC GENIE Network E-Mail: M.Wilkinson1 COMPUSERVE Network E-Mail: 74270;1265 DELPHI Network E-Mail: Derr1ck (Note on Delphi name: It is a number "1" between the "r" and "c") ===================================================================== MORNING STAR STAFF: EDITOR IN CHIEF Toby Trudel - Nashua, NH SENIOR EDITOR - Biblical Department Geoffrey Kragen - Roseville, CA SENIOR EDITOR - Christian Life Department Teresa Giordanengo - Canonsburg, PA SENIOR LITERARY EDITOR Al Murillo III - El Paso, TX WRITING STAFF Jerry Johnson - Modesto, CA J.C. Trudel - Naples Park, FL Dr. Charles Wootten - Matoaca, VA SENIOR PUBLISHER - DOS Version Steve Paulovich - Derry, NH DIRECTOR OF NETWORK DISTRIBUTION (AMERICA ONLINE and COMPUSERVE Networks) Jerry White - Germantown, MD DIRECTOR OF NETWORK DISTRIBUTION (GENIE Network) Mike Wilkinson - Citrus Heights, CA DIRECTOR OF NETWORK DISTRIBUTION (DELPHI Network) Derrick Shipman - Greenville, SC DIRECTOR OF BBS DISTRIBUTION - USA Walter H. Bauer Jr. - Sugar Land, TX BBS DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS - USA Bruce Derouen - Beaumont TX Danny O. Dennis - Opelika, AL Jack Lavallet III - Alpharetta, GA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Sharon Sanders - Jerusalem, Israel Lars Storstrand - Minde, Norway Roger J. Obe - Iloilo City, Phillipines OFFICE SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN Patrick Auriemma - Nashua, N.H. Letters Letter From the Editor Letter From the Editor Welcome to the January issue of MORNING STAR. The news concerning this magazine's journey around the world continues to amaze us all. This past month one of the staff members made contact with a young Christian sister residing in Hawaii over the America Online network. This 14 year old girl downloaded a copy of the magazine and placed it on several BBS in her state. She then did some research and found phone numbers for BBS in Japan and Okinawa. MORNING STAR is now available in those lands as well! Senior Editor, Theresa Giordanengo, made contact with a missionary group which left for mainland China this month. She was able to give them four copies of MORNING STAR to take with them and distribute to our Chinese friends! Word also came to us that the DOS version of the magazine has reached a BBS in Hong Kong. More and more BBS across the United States are getting copies as well. Praise God for these wonderful developments! Continue to pray that we can get some version of the magazine into the USSR. (Or whatever that country is called by the time you read this!) These people need all the uplifting Christian reading material they can get their hands on. They face a long cruel winter ahead of them as food becomes more and more scarce and crime and violence increase. Keep these people in prayer as well. Our next target for distribution? SOUTH AMERICA! (Pray for success here too!) ABOUT THE LAST ISSUE ... Some versions of the December issue did not give proper credit to EXODUS INTERNATIONAL for providing the six testimonies found in the Feature area. I personally want to thank Mr. Davies at EXODUS for being such a great help to us. Reports are already coming in that the testimonies and articles concerning deliverance from a homosexual lifestyle, found in issue three, are being used by Christians across the globe to witness. INSIDE THIS ISSUE ... This fourth issue contains a number of columns related to Christian Education. Our four Features, Commentary, Bible Quiz, Prayer Guidelines, People Profiles, Ministry Profile and Education column all tie in to this theme. Beside the education theme, some of our regular columns are especially interesting. (If I do say so myself!) The NEW IN CHRIST column has some valuable information on the reliability of today's Bible translations. The ANEE M'AMIN column takes a new approach this issue. Senior Literary Editor, Al Murillo III, conducts an interview with Alyosha Ryabinov, a Jewish believer originally from the Soviet Union, now residing in Texas. Senior Editor, Theresa Giordanengo presents a great interview with Murray and Thelma Scott, two professionals from the Education field, in PEOPLE PROFILES. A new addition to this issue is a YOUNG ADULTS column. We hope to continue this in the future. (That's a hint to our readers in the 18-28 age bracket to send in material.) This issue's MUSIC COLUMN features contributions from Lars Storstrand, our Christian distribution "link" in Norway. I hope the variety of articles and stories we present in this magazine makes for interesting reading! FUTURE ISSUES A decision on themes for the summer month issues is forthcoming. If you are interested in submitting an original article, story, song or poem for publication, send them to our Post Office Box. Here is a list of upcoming themes to give you some ideas: February - MINISTRIES International and local ministry profiles. Deadline December 21. March - RELATIONSHIPS Marriages, family members, friends,occupational. Deadline January 18. April - CHANGED LIVES #2 Prisons and inmates. Deadline February 15. May - ISRAEL 44th anniversary issue. Deadline March 21. We especially would like to see a variety of articles for the RELATIONSHIPS issue. Give it some thought! (And prayer of course.) Although we prefer original works, we may publish copyrighted material as long as we have prior written consent from the writer and/or publisher. SEND IN YOUR LETTERS! We love hearing from our brothers and sisters across the USA and around the world! Please send in a post card or contact us via one of the E-mail links. Your comments, questions and suggestions are wanted and welcome. NEWS NOTE: My friends, Ray and Sharon Sanders, from Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem, will be in the United States this February and March. They will be mainly in Illinois, California and Texas and are available to speak at churches, prayer groups and those wanting to hear more about what God is doing today in the land of Israel. Anyone interested in having them come their way, please write to me right away. FINALLY ... MORNING STAR accepts literary contributions from believers wherever they may live. It is our policy to publish testimonies as they are originally submitted with minimal alteration of the text. Opinions stated in these testimonies do not necessarily reflect those of the MORNING STAR staff. The content of MORNING STAR does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any computer network. In service to Jesus the Messiah, Toby Trudel Editor in Chief MORNING STAR Your Letters Your Letters "I continue to enjoy your tremendous publication. How talented you are! I am so encouraged that you love the Lord so much and His brethren, the Jews, with such a righteous love. Praise God for you!" Sharon Sanders Christian Friends of Israel Jerusalem, Israel "I am the Sysop of the Abundant Life BBS here in the Allentown PA area. I have had a BBS user upload your magazine and I love it ... I think the idea of a computerized Christian magazine is great and if there is any way I can spread the news, please let me know ... God bless all of your work." Lynn W. DeHart Breinigsville, Pennsylvania "Just want to say that you are doing a great job and I hope the Lord continues to use you effectively. I want to thank you and the brothers and sisters who prayed for my baby boy Matthew. He is doing wonderfully and is gaining weight normally. You should see him, he's got fat cheeks and two chins. Praise be to God for His miracles ... May God continue to bless your ministry ..." Albert Rodriguez Miami, Florida "The Morning Star is wonderful. I like it very much!" Harriet Simca Carnegie, Pennsylvania Commentary Commentary  COMMENTARY Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:5) One of the basic principles found in Scripture is the importance of education. Teaching and learning have been foundation stones of both Judaism and Christianity. Growth as a believer, a member of the community of believers, and of society at large depends on a willingness to learn the truths that God provides. One example is provided through the writings of David. He asks the Lord, in Psalm 25, for many things; mercy, protection from his enemies, direction for his life, and comfort in a time of distress. He also asks the Lord to redeem Israel out of his troubles. David also asks, in verses 4,5,8,9, and 12, God to teach him, to teach sinners, and to teach the meek. This demonstrates that teaching is something to be expected from the Lord. God teaches us through His word, by the Holy Spirit. He also provides qualified teachers. Gods desires His truth, His commandments and His statutes be taught, not just in Sunday school but in our home. "That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee, thou and thy son and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged." (Deuteronomy 6:2 ) Too many Christians have given over this responsibility to pastors, and Sunday school teachers. Our home has priority over the missions. One who cannot minister and teach at home cannot be a good minister or teacher anywhere else. This is the Lord's arrangement and to teach our children is a personal duty. Yes, pastors and Sunday school teacher can assist us but they can not deliver us from such a sacred obligation. Parental teaching can be in a natural way as it is a natural duty. A parent can show a child the beauty of the evening heavens. Then tell the story of God's promise to Abraham concerning his numerous posterity. (Genesis 15:5) When the summer storm comes and lightning strikes, teach your children that, just as quickly, our Savior will return to rule over the earth. (Matthew 24:27) After the storm, when the rainbow appears, you can tell a child the rainbow is there because God provides it as a sign. It is testimony to His promise that He will not destroy the world with a flood again. (Genesis 9:12-17) You can add, that before the flood, it did not rain on earth. Instead the water came out of the ground as a mist. (Genesis 2:6). You can also tell your children that Noah did not go running after the animals he put aboard the ark. God sent them to Noah. (Genesis 6:20) As you watch the snow fall, you can remind your children that God made it possible for each snowflake to be unique. Yet the flakes fall to earth by the billions. As God is aware of each snowflake, so He is aware them each child. Standing on the seashore with your children, observe the waves come crashing ashore. Then tell them the story of Jesus calming the sea and the fears of his disciples. Stop long enough to listen and hear the beautiful songs of the birds. Use this to remind your children the birds are singing the same songs God taught them at creation. God put a spirit of order in all His creation. Sometimes you may see a rabbit, or bunny going by. Tell your children that the Easter Bunny did not die for them. Jesus though, in his infinite love, suffered and died for the whole world. He did this even though He could have called legions of angels to deliver Him. (Matthew 26:53). Before Christmas comes, let your bedtime stories be about the Son of God. Tell how He left the splendor of Heaven, was born in a stable and grew to become our Savior. Relate the account of the angels coming to simple shepherds to tell them the good news. Note that the date Jesus was born is not as important as the fact that He came to earth to bring the greatest gift possible, Eternal Life. As you read God's word, learning more and more, remember your duty to transmit this precious knowledge to your children. Then they in turn may do the same when their time comes. There is no specific time to teach your children. Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us: "And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Teaching about God, and His wondrous works, should be part of your daily activities. The world about you is filled with material you can use, along with God's word, to fill young minds and draw them close to Him. Many troubled children of today never received any Christian teachings in their home or elsewhere. Their only knowledge is of the ways of the world. A World which is Satan's kingdom until Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Many marriages are suffering because good advice was not provided in time. Titus 2:3-6 tells us: "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may TEACH the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." How many godly older women teach the younger in the church? Many adults are also in trouble spiritually. This is because they were taught incorrectly. As a result they engage in practices that displease and offend God, practices such as idolatries and wrongful devotions and many other activities. Luke, in the Book of Acts Chapter 17:11, tells us why we should know the Scriptures. He even calls us to verify the words of our teachers. He writes: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, AND searched the Scriptures DAILY, whether those things were so." Jesus said: Heaven and earth will pass away but my word will not. He tells us that many will not accept His word. Some will tamper with it. Others will quote it out of context striving to bring credibility to erroneous teachings. Peter warned the people of his time of both existing and future false prophets. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1. Paul, in 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15, also warns us: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." There were false teachers in the early church. "Little children, it is the last time; and as you have heard than antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know it is the last time." 1 John 2:18. John was speaking of the false teachers who had the spirit of Antichrist, the one to be revealed as the end approaches. Don't take any teacher at their word. Just as with the people of Berea, check the Scriptures to see if what is being taught is accurate. A lack of honest teaching of the Scriptures has caused much evil to creep into churches and many to become corrupt. If the people, who could, would have taken the time to read the Word, they could have sounded the alarm. They could have warned that what was happening in the churches was against God's commandments. We all have a responsibility to know God's word. Laziness will never be a sufficient excuse when the day comes for us to be judged according to that word as Jesus tells us in John 12:48 "He that rejected me, and receive not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." If you have received Jesus in your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, you have to feel a daily hunger for His word. You should experience a desire to teach others about that salvation which is only possible through Him. Teaching our children, and others, who do not know Christ as their Savior, should be our greatest desire. We should never forget our own times of spiritual darkness and potential eternal destiny, if someone had not reached out to us, giving the message of salvation. Jesus clearly told us what He expects when He gave the "Great Commission" in Matthew 28:19, 20: "Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." We can not all go to other lands, teaching the good news of salvation and precepts of God. But surely, we can teach at home and learn to recognize our opportunities to teach others as well. Let us prepare for these opportunities by studying God's Holy Word and praying for the empowering of His Spirit. Features Christians in the Public Schools Christians in the Public Schools : Of Lights and Bushels  CHRISTIANS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : OF LIGHTS AND BUSHELS by John Sipple Fourth Grade Teacher Eagle Point, Oregon A 9 year old fourth grader calls me to her desk. "Look at my picture, Mr. Sipple," she chirps. I walk over to her desk and examine her work. There is a boat, curved at both ends, floating on water. In the background is a far-off mountain and circling overhead is a white bird. Quite frankly, it looks to me like Noah's Ark. So I say, "That's very nice, Shelley. Is that a picture of Noah's Ark?" She looks puzzled and asks, "What's that?" "Have you ever heard of the Great Flood and the big boat made by Noah?" She shakes her head, confused. A little bit further, and I will have crossed the line between what I can and can't do as a public school teacher. Having an appreciation for the words of Paul in the 13th chapter of Romans, I realized that pushing over the line with rebellion in my heart is not the way to do God's work. Across the room is another girl. Her father is the pastor of the church across the street from the school. This young lady is a very bright light for Jesus and I call her over now. "What does Shelley's picture look like to you?" I ask. Without hesitating, even though she couldn't have heard us from across the room, she cries, "It looks like Noah's Ark!" Smiling, I say, "Me, too. But did you know that Shelley has never heard of Noah or his story?" Wide-eyed, my little pastor's daughter says, "Really?" I nod and say, "Recess is just five minutes away. How would you like to tell Shelley the story on recess? That is, if you want to tell it and Shelley wants to hear it..." Teresa nods her head and strawberry blonde curls bob. I turn to Shelley. "Do you want to hear the story?" I know that she likes Teresa, but she can be bashful. I don't want to impose this on her, if she doesn't want it. But she smiles and nods. As a teacher in a public school, daily chances come for me to put my faith to work. There are an exact equal number of opportunities to "blow my witness". Each one of these situations offers the choice of representing God's Will or mine. As I walk near the street, a decrepit VW bug roars by. The young man inside extends his hand out the window and one lone finger points skyward. The boy "flies the bird" every time he sees me. I've never thrown it back at him, although my flesh cries out to do so. He dropped out of school a couple of years ago, just before he was expelled. I hate to say that I was glad to see him drop out, but I was! Kids like him are the reason some Christians keep their children home. It's been four years since I've had to take him to the office for some serious offense. Apparently, after four years, I'm still not popular with him. I prayed for him quite often back then. His gesture reminds me that I still need to pray for him now. That's not always easy to do. The easiest thing for the Apostle Paul would have been to open a tent store in Jerusalem. He could have stopped his persecution of Jesus and called it enough. Instead, he left his family and embarked on a very difficult lifestyle. Being a Christian is usually rewarding but rarely easy. Sending your child to public school isn't easy, either. We are supposed to trust God, but it demands a lot of trust to send our child into the Valley of the Shadow. We know that the flame of the Holy Spirit within us cannot be blown out. We know that there are no accidents. We know that God is watching over us all. And we're scared to death to let our child go to that Den of Iniquity. We feed on our fears instead of the Word. Surely, at some time during His childhood, Jesus' mother, Mary, must have heard the prophecies regarding the Messiah. His rejection was clearly foretold in Isaiah 53:1-9. Mary's heart must have ached at the thought of it, and one wonders if she didn't pull Him to one side and say, "Have you ever thought of becoming an obstetrician?" I don't think she did. She accepted it on faith and her Son became the Light of the World. Everywhere the Holy Spirit dwells is a candle lit from this flame. It's in you and in your child. After twelve years of teaching, I know that God uses children to minister to other children. He uses them to minister to teachers, too. Teresa's older sister was a student in my first class, a self-contained 8th grade. Her witness helped me come to the Lord. That's how I know that wonderful things can happen for the Lord in places such as prisons, bus stations, and public schools. If we Christians would come forth with love and support, perhaps we would have less to fear in our neighborhood schools. Commitment to Parents The Christian School's Commitment to Parents THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL'S COMMITMENT TO PARENTS (From the Christian School Comment newsletter written by Dr. Paul A. Kienel, Executive Director of the Association of Christian schools International based in LaMirada, California.) The following was written by Danny Dutton, age eight, who lives in Chula Vista, California. It is taken from his seven-paragraph essay on "God". "God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your parents' head and ask for something they already said you couldn't have." Danny Dutton believes you should not go over your parents' head even in your prayers. Without analyzing the full theological implication of Danny's statement, you will agree he has a clear picture of the authority of parents. Regrettably, in the world of non-Christian education there is a host of educators who believe they are "the professionals" and they know what is best for children and young people. It is this very attitude we attempt to dispel in Christian school education. You have read the old Latin phrase, "en loco parentis" which means "in the place of parents." I would prefer a Latin phrase which means "on behalf of parents." We educate and train students on behalf of parents, not in place of parents. Even as Danny Dutton believes you should not go over the head of parents in education. This is a very important distinction. Consequently, Christian school educators, in recognition of the authority given to them by God and the authority given to them by godly parents, do not do a number of things which are often common in non-Christian schools such as; 1) Provide school-based "health clinics" which dispense birth control devices and counsel young people that killing unwanted, unborn children is just another form of birth control. This is done often without parental knowledge or consent. 2) Provide courses of study which are offensive to God and offensive to Christian parents. 3) Promote acceptance of gay and lesbian lifestyles as legitimate alternatives and other conduct which is contrary to biblical teaching. 4) Emphasize "child rights" over parental authority. 5) Promote disrespect for the Bible, the church, and its ministers. 6) Permit profanity, vulgarity, and obscenity as legitimate forms of expression. 7) Teach, as science, the idea that man evolved from the sea and was not created by God. Evolution, of course, is an affront to God and to parents. It cheapens life and lowers individual responsibility. 8) Teach that having children is a burden and contributes to an overpopulated world. Conversely, Christian school educators recognizing the authority vested in them by God and by parents provide the following: a) A clear mission statement which will vary from school to school but will generally read, "Our Christian school provides families within our community a bibliocentric academic education that challenges students to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in thought, word, and deed." b) A commitment to basic education. Christian school educators recognize that parents send their children to Christian schools to receive a solid education focused on fundamental skills and essential knowledge - knowledge which is not offensive to God. A key Biblical passage for many Christian schools is Colossians 2:3, In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Basic education begins and ends with Jesus Christ. Noah Webster said, "Education is useless without the Bible." c) A school staff committed to Christ and to the mission of the school. Obviously parents expect Christian education in a Christian school. Christian education does not occur in the hands of non-believers. d) A school staff committed to caring for students. A common characteristic of a Christian school is the fact that all who work there care deeply about students. The students sense it right away when they first enroll. The caring staff is a major reason why the Christian school movement continues to grow and flourish. e) A school staff committed to communication. Christian school educators do not educate single-handedly. They work with other teachers and with parents. Since Christian schools carry out their mission on behalf of parents, it is essential that Christian school educators communicate with parents and that parents communicate with teachers. It is amazing how significant course corrections can be made in the lives of students with regular communication between teachers and parents. Together, they can effectively deal with; behavior problems, attitudes, grades, a sense of responsibility, work habits, personal habits, goal setting, friendships, Christian commitment and a host of other issues which are a normal part of a child's life. Communication is the key. f) Honest evaluation. Christian school educators are committed to honest grading and testing of students. At times it is painful for all concerned but parents need an honest evaluation of the academic ability and progress of their children in school. g) Inspire excellence. God has a plan for every student in every Christian school. Excellence to Christian school educators is guiding students toward God's plan for their lives. The U.S. Army has the catchy promotional phrase, "Be all that you can be ... in the Army." We say it this way, "Be all that God wants you to be." In God's economy of people there is "...no respect (discrimination) of persons..." (Romans 2:11). God can, and often does, take the lowest achieving students in school and make them into very significant people later in their lives. Christian school educators know academic success in school is only one measure of a child. Therefore, we attempt to inspire excellence in every student because we know any student could become, by God's grace, the most important student in the history of the School. Christian schools are committed to parents, students, and to the will of God. What a breath of fresh air this brings across the landscape of education!  Parents and Grandparents The Commitment of Parents and Grandparents to Christian Schools THE COMMITMENT OF PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS TO CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (From the Christian School Comment newsletter written by Dr. Paul A. Kienel, Executive Director of the Association of Christian Schools International based in LaMirada, California.) I wrote in the last issue of Christian School Comment about "The Christian School's Commitment to Parents." In this issue we will balance the scale and present the other side, "The Commitment of parents and grandparents to Christian Schools." You will agree that the teaching and training of children and young people is so vital that commitments must be made by all adults who influence them: teachers, preachers, parents, and even grandparents. I include grandparents because that is where I fit in. I am a grandfather of four remarkable grandchildren (I even have photographs, if you care to see them!). Three of my four grandchildren attend a Christian school and grandchild number four will begin school next year. As parents and grandparents we have major obligations to the Christian school where our children and grandchildren attend: 1) Become knowledgeable about the school's academic program. Some parents are like absentee landlords. They are seldom visible. Christian school educators do their best in educating students when parents share in the learning experience of their children's Christian school. One Christian school educator said, "There is an observable difference in the academic achievement between children whose parents are involved with the school and those whose parents are not involved." Parental involvement, of course, takes a certain commitment of time but it is worth it. Children are more likely to do better in their academic work if parents have a first-hand knowledge of the school's curriculum, student homework assignments and academic progress of their children. Take the time to get acquainted with your child's teacher(s) and the school's administrative team. 2) Pray earnestly for your children's school. A Christian school is not just a school. It is an educational ministry in Christ's name. R.J. Frisken, the foremost Christian school educator in Australia, wrote the following about the nature of Christian schools: The Christian school should have a 'kingdom' orientation because it recognizes that we are created for God's glory and not for our own pleasure. The school is part of God's plan to raise up a people for Himself. This distinctive emphasis includes seeing education in terms of preparing students for service to God and fellow man in everyday life. It involves being concerned with issues beyond its own walls in terms of reaching the lost and helping the weak, the poor and the sick. The student should be informed about and concerned with issues such as poverty, injustice, the need of all people for the Gospel, and world events that are happening and will affect his life in the future. Students should be active in doing something about these issues where appropriate. 1 The Christian school will be effective in the life of your child to the extent that you pray daily for the teachers who teach on your behalf day after day. Grandparents, this is where you and I can play a major role. Let's be faithful in our prayers for the school where our grandchildren attend. 3) Be a parent promoter of your school to other parents. Most school growth comes when satisfied parents tell other parents about the value of Christian school education. Ask your school office for school brochures and student application forms to share with other parents. Be a promoter! 4) Offer your time and money to the school. As a former Christian school administrator I remember well how meaningful it was when a parent would come up to me and say, "I have such and such a skill or talent. How can I use it to help the school?" Such people are 'salt of the earth' people. Over time 'helping hands people' like this can make the difference between the school surviving economically or not surviving. Other parents or grandparents who may not have time to donate to the school can contribute financial resources such as cash given in lump sums or monies given at regular intervals. As a grandparent I pay one half of the tuition of my three school-age grandchildren. I mention that only because that pattern of support is a major means of lifting the financial load of Christian school tuition. The Christian school is the only school of it's kind - a school where the evangelical Protestant witness is central to it's mission. Not only should we thank God for our schools but we must provide adequate monies to make them viable in the education 'marketplace.' 5) Be a link to the Christian community. As you know, many Christians are not as convinced about the worth of Christian school education as you and me. As a "customer" of the Christian school you have substantial credibility in the Christian 'marketplace.' Whenever possible speak up for Christian schools in your church and other Christian gatherings such as Bible study groups and social events. Additionally, if you have contact with the Christian media in your area make your positive views known about Christian school education. Your "witness" could make a major difference for Christian schools. 1 Robert J Frisken, President, Community Christian Schools Ltd., P.O. Box 259, Wentworthville, New South Wales, 2145, Australia. What Model Do Our Children Imitate ? What Model Do Our Children Imitate by Dr. Patricia Chapman WHAT MODEL DO OUR CHILDREN IMITATE? by Dr. Patricia Chapman, Ed.D. Simpson College Redding, CA The announcement by Magic Johnson was a bombshell: he is HIV positive. Suddenly this sports icon has become a national hero. It's hard to believe that someone who was as promiscuous as he was could be considered a hero! He certainly lived the bachelor life to the hilt, "accommodating" as many women as he could. Wilt Chamberlain is fortunate he has escaped the same fate, for if what he boasts is even partially true, that he had had sex with over 20,000 women In his life, he was at greater risk for AIDS! The Kennedy family had been called America's royal family. We now know that during the administration of John Kennedy, his insatiable sexual appetite was cleverly concealed. Not only did he have a mistress and a wife, but apparently a parade of women were ushered into his presence to accommodate him. Recently the newspapers have covered the stories coming out of West Palm Beach, FL of another Kennedy son and grandson who have had their sexual exploits reported in detail. The alleged antics of Ted Kennedy, the Senator from Massachusetts, and his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, bring to mind past exploits of this family. There are probably hundreds of positive examples of wholesome families presenting Christian values, such as Vice President Dan Quayle and the Billy Graham family. There is little to criticize of these families, for they seek to uphold Biblical values and beliefs within their families. The Quayle family is often the target of untrue accusations, such as the recent attack by Gary Trudeau, the creator of "Doonsbury". All of these are models. In Deuteronomy 6:4-6,Moses exhorts the Israelites to be models to their children "when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." These words seem to cover nearly everything you do in a day. Your children are to be able to observe and imitate everything you do so they will be like you. We communicate societal values and customs to the next generation through observation and imitation. Paul had the temerity to tell the Corinthian Christians to "Be imitators of me just as I also am of Christ. (I Cor. 11:1). Jesus said "Every pupil, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). Paul says that "whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace shall be with you (Phil 4:8 & 9). These principles of observation and imitation are clearly seen in these additional passages: I Thess. 1 & 2; 2 Tim. 2:2; and 3 John 11. What is the process of modeling? Albert Bandura (1977) has synthesized earlier versions of what he calls the "social learning theory" into a new social learning theory. His focus is on observational learning, which says that there can be learning without performing the model's behavior even once. Observational learning can be more effective for children than is learning by direct participation (Kessler, White, Rosenthal, and Hibbs, 1973). Miller says that "watching another person solve a problem may provide a better overall Idea of the nature of the problem than being thoroughly Immersed in it oneself" (1983). Models have Imitators. When Jackie Kennedy was First Lady, the fashion Industry Imitated her style to the letter. Whatever Jackie chose to wear, so did the women of the U.S. Our young people are forever Imitating the clothing styles of their latest rock or sports heros. Other examples could be given. According to Miller, a model "...can cause Imitative behaviors in the following ways: 1. A model can teach new behaviors. 2. The model can strengthen or weaken children's inhibitions. Or, although the children presumably had been taught by their parents to not be aggressive, observing aggressive behavior is likely to result in the children becoming aggressive. 3. A model can serve as a social cue or "prompt" for eliciting a socially acceptable behavior the child already possesses, such as sharing. 4. Models can serve to draw attention to particular objects and thereby increase their use in various ways. 5. Models may Increase emotional arousal, which typically increases responsiveness"( p. 203-4). Bandura (1977) presents an outline of the way we observe and process behavior. The outline provides a logical context into which we can insert the new Information as we process it. The Christian Education process is very similar to the education model. For example, the Bible, God's Word, is our "Guidebook" with criteria and examples of how to "walk in manner worthy of the God who called you' (Col. 1:10; see also Eph. 4:1 ff. and I Thess. 2:12). In the life of Jesus, we have the supreme example of how to live the life God wants you to. It is similar to the model Moses described In Deut. 6:4-9. Jesus is the embodiment of the belief's, values and behavior God desires of His children 1 John 3:2 and Romans 8:29). The teacher/parent then Imitates (or practices) the beliefs, values and behavior observed In Jesus' life (I Cor. 11:1). The teacher/parent becomes the model for the child to imitate. "the child then Imitates the beliefs, values and behavior he observes In the life of his parent/teacher (Luke 6:40). By listening giving attention to the model, the imitator children may desire to explore the modeling stimuli). The observed behavior is encoded in memory in order to retain that behavior. At the proper stimulus, an imitator will select from the organization in memory, the appropriate response to produce the desired behavior or belief. He/she then listens for accurate feedback of acceptable behavior. If that production feedback is acceptable to the imitator, he/she will appropriate it into his/her life and assume responsibility. He/she is then motivated whether directly, vicariously or by self-reinforcement) to match the performance of the model. Sound too theoretical? Let's examine it with an example from the life of Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law. Naomi and her family left their home in Bethlehem land of Bread) because there was famine in the land. They went to Moab (cursed land) to survive the famine. In that land, the two sons married forbidden foreign women. At some later date, the three men died, leaving three widows. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. At this point Ruth becomes our example. She had listened to her mother-in-law describe Bethlehem and her God. Apparently Naomi had a very strong faith in God, for she appears to have trusted God in spite of the loss of her husband and two sons. Ruth decided to follow Naomi back to Israel, leaving her own family, religion and gods. She wanted to explore the religion and culture from which her husband and his family came. Apparently she respected Naomi enough that she desired to discover more about the values, beliefs and behavior of the Israelite. When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem. Naomi asked her friend to call her no longer "Naomi" but "Mara" (meaning bitterness). Her joy had been buried in foreign soil . Now she had a widowed foreign daughter-in-law to worry about. Ruth submitted to Naomi's directives and cared for her mother-in-law out of respect and perhaps love. Ruth appropriated the beliefs, values and behavior of the Israelites. She was now producing that behavior herself. She received accurate feedback to know whether what she did was appropriate. She was motivated to continue as she received external self-reinforcement of her behavior. When she matched the performance of the modeled event, she had become a part of that society. Her marriage to Boaz confirmed this. Her reward was the birth of her son, Obed, grandfather of King David. Naomi was also rewarded, having the grandchild she thought she never would have. Personally, I find that the responsibility of being a model a bit intimidating. Who am I that I should set myself up as a model? Or that anyone one would want to be like me. Do you ever follow a similar pattern of thinking? perhaps we need to realize that in our own strength it is perfectly impossible to be the kind of models we know we should be. God, the Holy Spirit, will be our teacher to show us "how to walk in a manner worthy of the God who called us" (Eph. 4:1). REFERENCES Bandura, A. 177 Social Learning theory. Englewood Cilffs. N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Kessler, K., G. M. White, T.L. Rosenthal, and J. Phibbs. (1973) "Modeling and overt practice in training a rule-creating rubric." Paper presented at meetings of Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Las Vegas, May. Miller, P. H. (1973) Theories of Developmental Psychology. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Co. New American Standard Bible (1975) La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. Biblical Department New In Christ New In Christ "New in Christ" is a regular MORNING STAR column written primarily for people who wish to learn more about the basic teachings of Biblical Christianity. In this issue we continue our series on the Bible itself - the "Measure of Truth" that God gave us to live by. The editorial staff of MORNING STAR encourages all readers to freely use this information to help new Christians grow in their walk with the Lord. =================================================================== THE BIBLE - ARE THE ONES WE USE TODAY RELIABLE? =================================================================== Many people try to discredit the Bible by saying there must have been mistakes made in copying it over the centuries. This is simply not the case. Although the original manuscripts are no longer in existence, it can be shown that the Bibles we use today were translated from texts that are virtually the same as the originals. THE OLD TESTAMENT The Old Testament (The "Tanakh" in Hebrew) was written primarily in Hebrew with a few verses in Aramaic, a sister language roughly between 1600 and 400 BC. Copies of texts from the Tanakh, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, were recently carbon dated to have been from around Jesus' time. These Old Testament texts were found to be almost identical to the Masoretic copies (previously the oldest texts) which were from the period up to AD 900. The individual texts making up the Tanakh today, are the same ones that were the scripture of Jesus' day. The Old Testament read by Christians and the Tanakh of Judaism are the same except for the order in which the individual books are placed. The Old Testament compilation was completed by 300 B.C. (the latest). It is believed by many that it was Ezra who chaired the first recognition council. The discovery and recent release of the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrates that the Bible Jesus read and the Old Testament we use today are one and the same. Rest assured, there is no record of Jesus disagreeing with the scriptures He so often quoted from. THE NEW TESTAMENT No serious scholar today questions the validity of the authorship of the works of Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, Cicero, Virgil etc., In comparison, evidence of who wrote the New Testament, when it was written, and how accurate the original text has been preserved dwarfs that which supports these other writings. The number of manuscript copies of portions of the New Testament found to date is over 24,000. Contrast this to the Iliad by Homer, which is in second place with only 643 manuscripts, the oldest of which dates back only to the 13th century!. Portions of the New Testament found in central Egypt in 1895 (John Ryland's manuscripts) are carbon dated to no later than 125 A.D. and show insignificant variation to the Greek texts we have today. There are many others from that time period. Bodmer Papyrus II (150-200 A.D.), Chester Beatty Papyri (200 A.D.), The Latin and Syriac versions are dated to around 150 A.D. are the same N.T. we have. The Egyptian and Gothic versions along with the Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Ephraemi, and others from the 4th and 5th centuries also have the same passages as the earlier versions and are the same as those of today. As far as accuracy goes in copying, the evidence is astounding. According to Bible researchers Norman Geisler and William Nix, textual corruption between the 5,300 Greek Manuscripts has been shown to be less than one half of one percent. According to researcher Benjamin Warfield, of this half a percent, 95 percent is questionable at best. Even if this miniscule portion is accepted as "corrupted", it has no effect on the interpretation of the passages they occur in. Of the remaining 5 percent (of the original half percent) which shows some corruption, none of it has any bearing on articles of faith or precepts of duty. (We're now talking about .0025 of the TOTAL Greek New Testament manuscripts.) In comparison, the 643 copies of the Iliad have a textual corruption rate of 10 percent according to Geisler and Nix. Again it is worth repeating, no passages that may be slightly corrupted effect any doctrine of faith. No basic tenet of Christianity rests on any passage that is questioned. This means that any argument against Christianity, that endeavors to use inaccuracy of the text as the basis for rejection of faith, is totally meaningless. But that's not all the evidence! The writings of early church fathers of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Polycarp, Barnabas, Hermas, Tatian, Irenaeus, Clement, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Justin Martyr, Origin, Cyprian all quote directly from the New Testament. There are 32,000 citations of the New Testament by these men and others prior to the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. Using New Testament quotes from these writings alone, it is possible to reconstruct all but eleven of the verses of the New Testament! YES, you can trust the Bible as being reliable! Bible Study Jonah - A Story of God's Love The Bible Study column examines specific sections of Scripture. This is the second of a four-part series on the book of Jonah. Future columns will include individual Psalms and books from both the Old and New Testaments. ================================================================= JONAH "A Story Of God's Love" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 "The Prayer of Jonah" ================================================================= Last month's column covered the first chapter of the book of Jonah. Jonah, a prophet of God, was introduced. God had called Jonah to a special task: to bring a warning of impending doom to Nineveh. God intended to judge the city for its sin. "...for their wickedness has come up before Me" (Jonah 1: 2). Jonah realized that if God's warning caused the Ninevites to repent, the Lord would show them mercy. He did not want this to happen. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a nation whose people were sworn enemies of the Hebrews. So, in a burst of patriotic fervor, Jonah fled in the opposite direction. He hoped God would find someone else for the job. God responded by sending a fierce storm. As a result, the crew of the ship pitched Jonah into the sea to bring an end to the squall. Next, God sent a great fish, which He had created for the specific purpose of swallowing Jonah. Thus the reluctant prophet found himself trapped inside the belly of a sea monster. The last verse of Chapter 1 states that Jonah remained trapped for a specific period. Jonah's three days and nights in the belly of the fish is the only Old Testament picture of Christ's time in the grave and his subsequent resurrection. Christ, referring to Jonah's situation, parallels it to His own coming death, burial and resurrection. "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.' But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as 'Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the Sea-monster;' so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth'" (Matthew 12:38-40). Clearly Christ draws a parallel between Himself and Jonah. How far should this parallel be taken? Some Bible scholars, attempting to find a literal picture of the resurrection in the Old Testament, speculate that Jonah died and was then brought back to life. The text does not require this conclusion. However, even if Jonah did not die, this historical account can still serve as an illustration of the doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection. JONAH'S PRAYER: Jonah's prayer, delivered from inside the sea monster, expresses praise at his deliverance. H. L. Ellison, in his commentary on Jonah, notes that the prayer speaks of deliverance because Jonah realizes God saved him from the storm. He is not concerned because he's trapped inside the fish. This may also explain why Jonah never mentions the fish.* First, Jonah may not have realized where he was until he was regurgitated. Second, he does know that he survived the storm. Vs. 1 - 3 Jonah's initial statement is one of praise. He prayed to God for help and God rescued him. He states that Yahweh created the sea into which he was thrown. The Almighty judged him, but this proved God cares for him. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour" (Isaiah 43:2-3). Judgment, or discipline, is the proof of our Father's love for His children. "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:6). While Jonah may have feared he was in Sheol, the place of death, he recognized that God cared for him even when he was at his lowest. Although Jonah had tried to flee from God, He recognized God was near, and that he trusted Him. He did not show a lack of faith in the Lord. In fact, that was never the problem. The problem was that he understood God only too well and didn't want to do things God's way. Vs. 4 Jonah had been trying to flee from Yahweh's presence. He thought God answered his demand to be left alone by abandoning him. Jonah discovered that the most fearful situation an individual can face is separation from God. Separation from God is literal Hell. However, Jonah did not lose faith in the Lord. Instead, he turned to Him in prayer, knowing God would hear. Vs. 5 - 7 Next, Jonah describes his emotions while he was sinking beneath the waves. He refers to the water around him, and especially the weeds encircling his head, just before the fish swallowed him. His sensations went beyond the physical awareness of drowning. He felt as if his soul was dying. God had raised the storm, and in the midst of it and the cries of the sailors, Jonah was cast overboard. He felt abandoned and near death. At this point, he may have realized that because of his disobedience to the Almighty, he deserved to die. What was Jonah's response to all this? He realized his need for the Lord. Instead of wanting to run, he turned to him in faith. He recognized that it was God who had saved him, not only from drowning, but also eternal separation from the Most High. Jonah realized the gravity of his rebellion and the error of turning from the Lord. Like Jonah, the Christian is unable to flee from God's presence. As a believer acknowledges the circumstances in which he finds himself, his correct response should be to turn to God. Vs. 8 - 9 Jonah recognized that in turning from God, he was turning to vain things. All things outside of God are vain, empty. Ellison notes that Jonah may have been thinking of the sailors' futile prayers to their false gods.** Jonah's concern for the protection of Israel from Assyria was commendable, but inappropriate, if it led him to act against God's will. Believers can make decisions based on what seem to be valid factors. Never-the-less, these decisions still can be wrong, if they go against God's will. Worse than disobeying God for apparently good motives is the mistaken assumption that God intends believers to be always happy, that is, free from pain. Therefore, if they are unhappy, then whatever actions they take to alleviate that unhappiness must be God's will. For example, a believer might say, "Oh, I know what I am doing is wrong, but God can't possibly mean for me to stay where I am. Therefore He, in His mercy, will forgive me." "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2). Instead, as a believer you should focus on how your present situation can be used to glorify the Lord. You should respond to your circumstances as Jonah did, with thanksgiving and assurance that God knows where you should be. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:6 - 9) THE BELIEVER'S PRAYERS: One of the first things to note in Jonah's prayer is the need to bring in the element of praise. Here is Jonah in a crisis situation and the first thing he does is praise the Lord. Although believers frequently do remember to praise God, they must make sure their motives remains pure. Praise should never become an obligation, or a "pay off." God is the Christian's loving Father. He wants to meet needs. Why then act as if He needs to be placated? Additionally, why are believers so surprised when He does answer prayer? "Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7: 7-11) Often prayers are made only in the midst of a crisis. Crisis prayers take on a dramatic reality because the one praying is deeply involved in the pain. The prayer's focus, content, and intensity can change drastically. In overwhelming circumstances, sometimes the believer may not even know how to pray. "...the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26). It is natural that prayers regarding painful concerns are made with greater intensity than prayers dealing with other issues. This isn't wrong, as long as other prayers don't become perfunctory. It is vital that you, as a believer, depend on the Holy Spirit's interaction in your prayer life. It is important that your prayers don't become routine, but remain opportunities to spend special time with your Heavenly Father. One of your most difficult challenges is to wait and see God work in a positive way amidst trying circumstances. So often the Christian asks "Why is this happening to Me?" "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation." (1 Peter 4:12-13) Sometimes suffering occurs because the world is imperfect. "...He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). Sometimes you suffer as part of your Heavenly Father's loving care. "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:6). Sometimes suffering occurs for the glory of Christ. "Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me." (Matthew 5:11). Sometimes suffering occurs to benefit others. "But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer" (2 Corinthians 1:6). One of the greatest privileges given to children of God is immediate access to Him. This is true both in times of praise and times of appeal. Circumstances must not become the barometer of your intimacy with your Heavenly Father. The degree of your obedience and the reality of your communication with God says a great deal about the quality of your relationship with Him. God always loves his children and wants what is best for them. Be encouraged because you can always go into God's presence for forgiveness, comfort and direction. "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100) * H. L. Ellison, "Jonah", THE EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARY, Vol. 7, Zondervan Publishing House, 1985, pp. 375-377. ** Ibid., p. 377 Special Studies Holiness and Other Covenantal Attrivutes of God The Bible is an account of God's relationship to man, a covenant relationship. We find this from the day of creation to the eternal relationship we can have with the Messiah. This is the second in a series of articles detailing the individual Covenants found within Scripture. Here the author pauses to consider aspects of God and His attributes in preparation for the continued examination of the covenants in future articles. ================================================================= HOLINESS AND OTHER COVENANTAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD by Dr. Charles Wootten ================================================================= Holiness is an essential aspect of God's nature. As one of His moral attributes, it was sullied by the sin of man. This occurred with the breaking of the Edenic Covenant. (See Morning Star Issue 3.) It is by Holiness that God needs to be known. Holiness is the attribute by which God's glory is manifest. Superficial views of God and His Holiness will produce superficial views of sin and the need for atonement. "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Leviticus 11:44). "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, 'Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy'" (Leviticus 19:2). "Because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'" (I Peter 1:16). "And one cried unto another, and said, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory'" (Isaiah 6:3). "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord'" (Luke 5:8). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.' " (Revelation 4:8). His Holiness is the chief subject of rejoicing and adoration in heaven. In the blood sacrifice of the Adamic Covenant, and even in the New Covenant, there is the redeeming aspect. It is love which produces the atonement, but it is violated Holiness which demands God's vindication over the pleading of love for the sufferer. "And the man said, 'The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.' And the LORD God said unto the woman, 'What is this that thou hast done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.'" (Genesis 3:12,13). The Holiness of God magnifies His grace and redeeming love. It provides for the acceptance of those who are sinners and ungodly. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die" (Romans 5:6-8). R.A. Torrey wrote in his book, WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES, "The wonderfulness of God's love! It would be no wonder if an unholy God could love unholy men; but that the God whose Name is Holy, the Infinitely Holy God, could love beings so utterly sinful as we are, that it is the wonder of eternities. There are many deep mysteries in the Bible, but no other so profound as this." Then "the Lord saw how great was man's wickedness on earth, and how every plan devised by his mind was nothing but evil all the time. And the Lord regretted that He had made man on earth, and His heart was saddened. The Lord said, 'I will blot out from the earth the men whom I created--men together with beasts, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I regret that I made them.' But Noah found favor with the Lord" (Genesis 6: 5-8). Though man was now under the law of conscience, the law of sin continued to drive him away from covenantal relationship with God. This total failure to keep the covenant demanded God's judgment. "But as the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37-39). (See also Genesis 6: 1-13.) The judgment resulting in the breaking the Edenic Covenant was death and expulsion from Eden. The judgment for breaking the Adamic Covenant was death by a universal flood. Before we go into that, let's pause to see how God is revealed in another of his attributes. JEHOVAH-ELOHIM shows a revelation of another of His attributes. He hears, sees, feels, and acts. He heard the noise of sin coming from the earth. He heard "the mouth of the wicked blurting out evil things" (Proverbs 15:28). "A man may arrange his thoughts, but what he says depends on the Lord. All the ways of a man seem right to him, but the Lord probes motives" (Proverbs 16:1-2). God heard the thoughts of the wicked upon the earth. He found "...every one who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly he will not go unpunished" (Proverbs 16:5). This characteristic of His personality is proof that He hears all things that are uttered, whether by mouth or by thoughts. God is revealed as having emotions by His regret over what He heard. This personal emotion of regret, or grief as in some translations, is ascribed to God due to the personal attitude and actions of men. Searching the Scriptures, we not only see these feelings of grief but other emotions as well: God's Anger: "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice" (1 Kings 11:9). God's Repentance: "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6). God's Jealousy: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" (Exodus 20:5). God's Hate: ". . . six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him" (Proverbs 6:16). God's Love: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's Pity: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him" (Psalm 103:13). God's Fellowship: See 1 John 1:1-7. God's Pleasure and Delight: "He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man, and other soul passions" (Psalm 147:10). The fruit of God's Holiness: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). All these revelations of God's personality demonstrate His Holiness. These characteristics of His personality are simply a regard for His Holy Name, Will, and Government. They are unique elements revealing God's personality. These attributes drive Him in the preservation of the universe and all its parts in orderly relation proves the personality of God. "Whatever His soul desires or designs even that He does, and nothing can stand in His way or put Him upon new counsels. Men desire many things which they may not do, or cannot do, or dare not do. But God has an incontestable sovereignty: His will is so perfectly pure and right that it is highly fit He should pursue all its determinations. And He has an uncontrollable power. None can stay His hand. Whatever the Lord pleased that did He, and always will, for it is always best." - Matthew Henry on Job 23. "As to the body of the people, it shall not be a correction in love, but He will execute judgments in anger, and in fury, and in furious rebukes--strange expressions to come from a God who has said, 'Fury is not in me,' and who has declared Himself gracious, and merciful, and slow to anger. But they are designed to show the malignity of sin, and the offense it gives to a just and Holy God. This must needs be a very evil thing which provokes Him to such resentments, and against His own people, too, that had been so high in His favor." - Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 5. God is now turning from His creative dealings with Man to dealings in judgment and destruction. Let us not forget that our God is an Awesome God. This brings us to the point of looking at the omniscience of God. He is a perfect Spirit. He has perfect knowledge. This infinite intelligence of God is defined by Calvin as "that attribute whereby God knows Himself and all other things in one Eternal and most simple act." "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom of and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). The universe as the expression of God's thought and plan demonstrates His omniscience. This is observed in the intricacies of the heavens: i.e. the cycles of nature - the four seasons, the flowing of tides, the life giving structure of the human body. These are all evidence of God's omniscience. The Scriptures teach that God is omniscient; His understanding is infinite; His intelligence is perfect. This is another facet of His revelation. "God's knowledge is universal. It is unlimited in space, time, or quantity. This is the characteristic of His knowledge corresponding to His immensity, eternity, and plenitude, and implied in them. God's knowledge as universal is also His knowledge of all that is possible in any imaginable universe, and of all that is actual in Himself and the existing universe."- S. Harris, in God, the Creator and Lord of All, I: 133-134. "God's knowledge of the actual includes His eternal knowledge of the actions of free agents. The Bible teaches that God not only foreknows, but in many cases has foretold the actions of men; yet is recognized the freedom and responsibility of the agents fulfilling the prophecies. And God is revealed in the Bible as not only foreknowing and foretelling the actions of free agents, but also as knowing what, under different circumstances, they would have done but never did." Ibid. p. 136. From all eternity "the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, Observing the bad and the good" (Proverbs 15:2). From His omniscience He sees and feels that "in the harvest of the wicked there is trouble," (Proverbs 15:6) because "a man's ways are before the eyes of God; He surveys his entire course" (Proverbs 5:21). From the Holiness of God's judgment "the wicked man will be trapped in his iniquities; He will be caught up in the ropes of his sin. He will die for lack of discipline, infatuated by his great folly" (Proverbs 5:22-23). Thus Man's deeds ad actions, words and thoughts, imaginations and sorrows are known by the Omniscient God. Article three will show how God's attributes relate to His covenants. Specifically the Noahic Covenant will be reviewed. A covenant which God put in place prior to the judgment on the failed Adamic covenant. Bible Quiz Bible Quiz  This month's quiz follows the theme of Education. Match the teacher in the first group of names with the student in the second group. Check your answers by looking up the Bible verse next to the teachers' names. 1. Balaam (Rev 2:14) 2. David (2 Chronicles 3:1-3) 3. Eli (1 Samuel 1:20-28) 4. Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21) 5. Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) 6. Jehoiada (2 Kings 12:2) 7. Jesus (Luke 19:8-9) 8. Jethro (Exodus 18:15-19) 9. Moses (Numbers 27:18-20) 10. Philip (Acts 8:27-31) a) Balac b) Elisha c) the Ethiopian d) Jehoash e) Joshua f) Moses g) Paul h) Samuel i) Solomon j) Zacchaeus Messianic Studies Why Messianic Jews by Rachmiel Frydland The Messianic Studies column explores the world of the Messianic Believer. Like the church at large, Messianic Judaism contains much diversity. It is made up of numerous views as to what it means to be a Messianic Jew, who we are, what we call ourselves and what we believe. This column will be used to explore this variety, giving the reader a broader perspective of Messianic Judaism than found elsewhere, exposing those of us who are Messianic Believers to the wide spectrum of practice found within the movement. Hopefully we will succeed in helping our Jewish brothers and sisters to understand why we follow Yeshua as our savior. We also hope that what is provided here will give our gentile readers both a better understanding of their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as the Jewish roots of their own faith. ================================================================== WHY MESSIANIC JEWS by Rachmiel Frydland ================================================================== To ask why we are Jews is to ask why a bagel is a bagel. A bagel tastes like a bagel and not like a doughnut, although a bagel- hater defined a bagel as a doughnut dipped in cement. Now a Jew is a Jew because he was born a Jew and because he wants to be a Jew. In most cases even if he does not want to be one, he will be compelled to admit it; otherwise, others will point a finger at him, asking, "Aren't you Jewish?" The term Jew is related to Judah, Jacob's fourth son from Leah. Judah (Yehudah in Hebrew) means praise to the Lord. His mother Leah wanted thus to express her gratitude to the Lord for giving her this fourth son. The descendants of Judah were aware of this derivation, and sometimes were reminded of it by descendants of other tribes challenging them to live up to their name. We have to admit that some Jews succeeded in assimilating with their Gentile neighbors through intermarriage, change of name, and denial of their identity. Usually it was a long, ardent process and took several generations to achieve. On the other hand, there were groups and individuals who, though not descendants of Judah or from any of the other tribes of Israel, succeeded in their efforts at being absorbed into the people called Jews. This was not easy. The people of Shechem wanted to do it and even went through the full rite of circumcision of every male, yet were slaughtered and never succeeded to penetrate the hermetically sealed tribes of Israel (Genesis 34). Sometimes those attempting to join them gave them trouble, like the "mixed multitude" of Exodus 12:38, and the Gibeonites of Joshua 9. However, in most other cases these non-Jewish groups seem to have been gradually absorbed and assimilated into the Jewish body by intermarriage. Large influxes took place in the Persian period, as reported in the book of Esther in the Bible, and in the Maccabean period, when whole tribes under the threat of extermination, preferred circumcision. The most prominent are the Khazar tribes of the present central Russia who accepted Judaism. The story of their conversion was described and popularized by the famous philosopher/poet Yehuda Halevi. Today, both in Israel and in the Diaspora, Rabbis are working hard at teaching and preparing prospective converts to Judaism. In some cases, at least these converts are absorbed into the Jewish mainstream by intermarriage. Messianic Jews Among the 14 million Jewish people there is a group of perhaps twenty or thirty thousand people [note: this figure is much larger today than when this article was written - Ed.], born Jews, who believe in the Torah and the rest of the Tanakh and practice Jewish customs and religion. They also believe in Jesus. Some, if not most of them, prefer to call Him by His Jewish name, Yeshua. Although small in number, they are a vocal group, constantly challenging the Jewish spiritual and secular authorities with their presence, demanding recognition as Jews. It would be easiest for these Jewish believers, among whom is also the writer of these lines, to accept the advice of rabbinic leaders and put aside our beliefs in Jesus. The Jewish authorities work very hard to achieve it. Organizations and individuals spend their time and hundreds and thousands of dollars toward this end. Among the best known are the Pe'ilim, Keren Yeladdenu, supported by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Israel, and many more who do it as a full or part time job. Why do Messianic Jews resist? What lies behind their obstinacy, not only continuing to believe themselves but also spreading their faith to others? The answer as we see it is spiritual. This spiritual aspect can be summarized as follows: Prophecies Demand It We believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah because He alone gives sense to the words of our Jewish prophets. There is Isaiah 53 with its minute description of the suffering servant who was despised and rejected, afflicted with pain and stripes, by whose "stripes we are healed." He then dies, is buried, yet is revived and suffers all this "for the affliction of my (Isaiah the prophet's) people." All this can best be applied to one person only--Yeshua of Nazareth. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98) teaches that this chapter refers to Messiah. The Targum of Jonathan begins the passage with the words Ha yatslakh avdee Mashikha, "Behold my servant the Messiah shall prosper...." Common sense says it must refer to Jesus. The same goes for many other prophecies which speak of the time of His birth, like Daniel 9:26: "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary...." (The city and sanctuary were destroyed A.D. 70. Messiah had to come and be cut off before then.) The manner of His birth in a supernatural way is recorded in Isaiah 7:14: "Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6 (5 in Heb.) says: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. The place of his birth is foretold by Micah, the prophet, in verse 5:2 (5:1 in Hebrew): But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. The manner of His death is found both in Psalm 22:17, "they pierced my hands and my Feet (Masoretic text -- "Like a lion they are at my hands and my feet"), and in Zechariah 12:10, "They shall look unto me whom they have pierced," which the Talmud in Sukkah 52 applies to Messiah ben Joseph. We have heard arguments against His Messianic claims by the fact that some prophecies like Isaiah 2 (breaking swords into plowshares) and Isaiah 11 (lamb and lion dwelling together) have not been fulfilled as yet and that our explanations for a future fulfillment by His second coming creates too long a hiatus (of close to 2,000 years). But what is 2,000 years in the sight of God, waiting patiently for His people to respond and accept His Anointed One--Yeshua, ben Elohim? Personage Spotless We hold on to our faith because of the spotless Person He was. His contemporaries testified of Him that "He doeth all things well" (Mark 7:37). He could challenge his contemporaries saying to them, "which of you convicteth me of sin?" and they held their peace. Some modern Jewish and non-Jewish scholars point out His lack of originality in many of His sayings. Would it have been better if He had contradicted the words of the prophets? Others assert that His teaching is too idealistic (e.g., the turning of the other cheek), and therefore impractical. But who can find fault in a Man who constantly goes from the South to the North of Israel, then Judea and Samaria, doing good, healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, opening the eyes of the deaf, making the lame to walk again and preaching the Good News of salvation to the poor, the needy, and the outcast? Rejected by the leading Pharisees and by the High Priests, He died a martyr's death by crucifixion at the hands of the cruel Roman soldiers. But this is not the end of the story, for His 12 disciples plus a number of others see Him alive after He died and proclaim Him the risen Savior. For this assertion nearly all of them had to pay with their lives, dying like their master a cruel death from the hands of pagans and of unbelieving Jewish leaders. Yet these believing Jews never flinched. They knew for sure that He is alive. Personalities of His Followers We are convinced that He is Messiah because of the transformation in the personalities of His followers. Who could transform Simon Bar Jonah, the fisherman on the shores of Galilee, to become the leader of Messianic Jews in Israel and abroad, and finally to be acknowledged the first bishop and highest authority next to Jesus by millions of people of the whole world. What about Saul of Tarsus, convinced that he, with the letters he had from the High Priests, would completely knock out all belief in Jesus? He met the risen Yeshua on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and from a persecutor of the Gospel he became a proclaimer of the Good News. He himself was greatly persecuted by unbelieving people everywhere until he finally died a martyr's death at the hands of the Romans in the time of Nero. People Who Accepted Him From the first book, Bereshit (Genesis), to the last prophet in the Tanakh (Old Testament), Malachi, the Messiah's activity involves "the people" or the nations. Ya'acov Aveenoo (our father Jacob) foresees it and says: The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10) Isaiah the prophet sees Him as the "root of Jesse which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to Him shall the Gentiles seek" (Isaiah 11:10). In Isaiah 49:6 Messiah is proclaimed with these words: It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee a light to the Gentiles, and that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Malachi says of Him (1:11): For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles. Peace That Messiah Gives Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua found that only in Him they have rest, peace, and satisfaction. They heard Messiah's invitation, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). They verified it in their own lives. They read the record of His promise, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). They found Messiah to be the Great Gentleman who always keeps His promise. The result is that we can say together with one of the first hasadim of Messiah Yeshua, Simon bar Jonah, called Simon Peter: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Messiah, the Ben Elohim. (John 6:68-69) by Rachmiel Frydland, reprinted with permission from the Messianic Jewish Computer Net, 12939 Conway Rd., Creve Coeur, MO, 63141, Harvey Smith, Sysop. (originally reprinted from The American Messianic Jewish Quarterly, MESSIANIC LITERATURE OUTREACH, P.O. BOX 37062, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45222) Anee M'Amin Anee M'Amin ANEE M'AMIN is Hebrew for "I believe". Every month this column will feature the testimony of a Jewish believer in Yeshua (Jesus). Alyosha Ryabinov has been a long-time friend of both the Kehilat Ben David and Beth-El Bible Fellowship congregations in El Paso. It was through these congregations that our Senior Literary Editor, Al Murillo met Mr. Ryabinov and was able to provide Morning Star with this interview. Alyosha Ryabinov was born and raised in the Soviet Union. He studied classical music and became a concert level pianists. He is Jewish, but he only knew that because it was written on his passport. But God had plans for Alyosha, and this is his account of how God has been fulfilling those plans. ================================================================= Al: Alyosha, I understand that you began to study music in the Soviet Union when you were five years old. Could you tell me a little about your life in the Soviet Union and how that has affected your music? Alyosha: I started to study music when I was five years old. Actually, I was born in a family of musicians. My father played the violin, my mother played classical guitar, and my grandfather was a violinist and composer. So, basically, I had no choice. I had to practice and was even pushed by parents when I didn't want to practice. I think that, as I was growing, I started to enjoy music more, but being a kid, sometimes I'd rather play outside than play the piano. Only, maybe, when I was thirteen years of age did I really feel that I enjoyed practicing and wanted to become a musician. Al: How long were you in the Soviet Union? Alyosha: Well, I was twenty years old when we emigrated. Al: And what did you know about your Jewish heritage at that time? Alyosha: I knew that I was Jewish. It was written in my passport under "Nationality." In the Soviet Union, we considered nationalities a little bit different than in the United States. You may be born in Russia, but you have Ukrainian parents; so your nationality is Ukrainian, not Russian. And so, if your parents are Jewish, you're considered Jewish. It doesn't matter whether you believe in God. My parents were Jewish. Of course, they didn't know anything about Judaism and traditions. But, I was aware that I was Jewish. I also was quite young when I found out about anti-semitism, and that makes you even more aware of that fact. Al: So then, most of this time you didn't have any knowledge of Messiah or any type of relationship with your God? Alyosha: Well, not only did I not have any knowledge about Messiah, but I didn't have any knowledge about God at all. Al: Could you tell me then a little bit about how you came to know Messiah and how you came into a relationship with Him? Alyosha: Well, all through my teenage life, once in a while, I would start thinking about God because I would wonder why there was so much teaching against God. I, practically every year, had a class in Atheism. And, if it is true that God doesn't exist, then why is there so much effort to prove that He doesn't exist? By the time I was about fifteen years of age, I started to see that I did not fully trust the Communist party teaching about communism. I just stopped believing that. And so I thought, well, if I don't believe that, I should also not believe what they teach about God and Atheism. When I graduated from music college at the age of nineteen, because of anti-semitism, we started the process of emigration. And, because of a lot of pressures and anxieties, I really wanted to turn to God and I wanted to find out for sure if He was real. So, one day I prayed to Him to help us to get out of Russia. Al: And, did He do it? Alyosha: Yeah, in about one week we received permission to emigrate. Al: So this began your acknowledgement that God was real. What events or persons then led you to seek God more deeply. And again, what impact did all of this have on your life and music? Alyosha: About a year after I came to the country, I began to want to know about Jewish history and I asked people what would be a good book to read about Jewish history, and they told me "the Bible." Somebody gave me a Russian Bible and, since I wanted to know about Jewish history, I started from the beginning. Of course, the first time you read the Bible there is so much there. It is not possible to get everything. When I fully became a believer, first, God had me die to music. The old man has to die, and old music has to die. I started to sense when I became a believer that I could not just do regular concerts because I felt that everything I do in my life should give glory to God. Something was just inside that was dissatisfied with these concerts that were not giving glory to God. I didn't feel reward, even with the concerts that went very well, because I thought it was so much work to learn these compositions and then I would come up and play for two hours, and that was it because these were the type of concerts that I wanted to prove how well I played and to show the quality of playing. And, there was a lot of tension involved, and it wasn't pleasant. So, I gave it up because I believed that if I did something for the Lord, it should be...joy should be involved with that, and that wasn't pleasant. I gave up only the goals of the concerts, but I did not stop playing piano. I played. And, I started to play some songs, Christian songs, hymns, but it all went into the background. Then, I was reading in the Bible about the Levites and how they were separated. There are three families that were inside the Levitical priesthood that were supposed to be in charge of music, and their descendants. There were some accounts in the Bible about these concerts they would put on, and there was a time of worship and tremendous celebration. And, it was probably awesome music because there was a great number of musicians that sang and played musical instruments. In II Chronicles, chapter 5, if I remember right, there were a hundred and twenty trumpet players, and then a cloud would come in and immerse the whole nation in the presence of God. And so, I saw that God gave music so that we can be able to come into his presence and be able to worship Him. In some ways, it's even a link between this world and the heavenly world. In Heaven, there's a lot of music. So, I had new inspiration to start writing music. One to praise God, and one to reflect His Salvation, especially to the House of Israel. And then in three years, when I moved from Chicago to Oregon, there was a piano there. Actually, let me go back. Before I got married, in 1984, I had a chance to go to Israel, and there I met some musicians in Natanya that write worship songs that are sung in most congregations of Jewish believers there, beautiful songs. And, I got a book from them because I enjoyed it. So, when I came home, I got married and went off to Oregon for our honeymoon. I would take that book and often play the songs. And, I sensed that they were written under the Spirit of God, and I wanted to do something with them. So, this was a time when I also was very much interested about my own background as a Jew because, you know, it was kind of a pressure inside here that people would call me Christian because I believed in Yeshua, yet I knew that I was Jewish. It's hard to reconcile that. When I was going to church, most of the teaching was coming out of the New Testament, yet I was longing to know more about my background. So, I started to study more in depth the Old Testament. I was attracted to the books that most people are not attracted. I mean those books are like Leviticus and Numbers and I and II Chronicles. People like to read more those books of Kings than Chronicles. But I saw that there's a lot of music in those books, and a lot on worship. I think that if you really want to learn about worship, that's the books to read--I and II Chronicles. I just brought up one event about the celebrating of the dedication of the Temple. That's quite tremendous. You also read how King Jehoshaphat led the army against the enemy and the musicians went first to praise the Lord and so that did everything. The enemy just fought against each other. And so, music is also a powerful tool in warfare against the enemy. And, of course, when you read Psalms, there are quite a few of them that talk about that God would put a new song. And, of course, David talks about that new song. Same thing if you're a new creature in the Lord, you should have a new song. And so, I had a desire to try to write something as worship. First, I didn't feel very confident to write. I hadn't been writing for three years. So, I took those worship songs that I learned in Israel and just arranged them for piano. Eventually, I produced my first tape. I wrote piano compositions out of them. Then, as I saw that God was giving me inspiration, I started again to write my own compositions. First some praise songs, then some longer sonatas, and now I'm involved in writing symphonies. Al: So the Lord has brought you out of the Soviet Union to the United States. You've had the opportunity to visit Israel. You've been married, and do you have any children? Alyosha: Yes, I have two children. Al: Has the Lord ever put on your heart to return someday to the Soviet Union? Alyosha: Well, actually, I did return once. I wouldn't want to live there. But, last year, the Lord allowed me to go back and play in the city of Kiev. Actually, I played in four cities, but Kiev was where I was born. I played there in the same music school where I studied music, where a lot of friends came and relatives, and even teachers. Al: Were those there receptive to your music? Alyosha: Very receptive. They were telling me that they felt the freedom of the music. They asked me, "Is that because you live in a free country?" I told them that in a free country I see a lot of people in bondage. It gave me an opportunity to share the Lord. Al: What do you feel the God's direction is for your music. Do you see yourself going on always as a concert pianist, or do you see new opportunities opening in different directions. Alyosha: Actually, my desire is to be more a composer, but once in a while still to come out and play. Right now, I do a lot of concerts, and it interferes with all my desires and plans to compose. But, I believe it will balance more evenly later 'cause I'm working on an opera, "Esther," and quite a few symphonic pieces, and it all takes time. I would like to see other people involved with these projects. Like, there are a few pianist, not many, but a few who play my compositions already. And, one of my sonatas we are planning to choreograph. Perhaps by March there will be a full ballet to it. So, I see how other people start to get involved in this whole thing. And, of course, if I finish my symphony and write opera and opportunity would come to be performed. Of course, it involves a lot of people. It's a new experience for me. Al: What word would you have for young musicians or musicians who are wanting to dedicate their talents to the glory of God. any words of encouragement? Alyosha: Well, of course, to read Psalms. On one hand, you have to, as a musician, you have to change your direction there from becoming fully professional to learn to worship the Lord and be able to praise Him through music. But, on the other hand, as you read Psalm 33, it says there, it talks about the new songs that God has put in David, but it says "play skillfully." So that means that you still have to practice. Can't ride on just a talent. And I believe that God requires quality too. I think that the majority of Christian music has lost the quality, and I would like to see that restored because I believe that the ancient temple had a very quality. I was not the same kind of music that we have now, but it was very professionally done. Al: Let me give you this opportunity to say a final word to our readers. Alyosha: I want to say this, that the most exciting part in my life since I became a believer is to know that Messiah gives me eternal life. This is because I grew up as an atheist. I didn't know anything about God, and I didn't know that I can live forever. And so, when I discovered this wonderful thing, it excites me the most to know that we can live forever if we know the Messiah. Jewish people in this country and non-Jewish people, they have so much knowledge, and most people don't want to deal with that. So, I just want to tell them not to take for granted the freedom to turn back to the word of God. ================================================================= If you would like to find the same relationship with the Messiah that Alyosha has, contact Morning Star and we will put you in touch with someone who can help you. The Word for Today The Word for Today by Pastor Geoffrey Kragen Pragmatic: Relating to matters of fact or practical affairs, often to the exclusion of intellectual, artistic or spiritual matters. Practical as opposed to idealistic. I'd been looking for part-time work for quite some time. During that period I had been turned down for a job that appeared perfect. I was discussing the situation with a friend who wasn't a believer. He said if he received my resume he'd be afraid to hire me because of excessive qualifications. He went on to suggest that I rewrite it so it would play down my strengths. And why not? After all, I wasn't trying to get a job based on my administrative skills! I just needed some basic part-time work. We expect non-believers to give this kind of advice. Unfortunately, sometimes other believers also encourage us to be pragmatic, not lie, but simply not tell the entire truth. And, as pressures build, we're tempted to "be practical," for we have bills to pay and families to feed. We live in a society which says we must be practical, i.e. "the end justifies the means." "We must use the world's methods if we are to succeed. Pragmatism is the way we should deal with issues in our own lives and regarding the needs of the church." Some argue: "God has given us common sense, so let's use it." I remember years ago when I served on a church board that was responsible for restoring an old building in San Francisco. When it was suggested that we needed to check with the local inspector, some members pointed out that this was unwise, because of the problems that would result. A couple of us responded, "But we must be honest!" They replied, "Yes, but we must be practical, as we are in our business." The problem with pragmatism isn't the practice in and of itself. The problem is what this kind of approach to life says about our view of God and our relationship to Him. When considering pragmatism, we must ask if we truly trust the Lord. By our actions are we not demonstrating we believe we can solve our problems by depending on our own wisdom instead of God's? Are we not valuing the world's supposed wisdom above spiritual wisdom? "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise" (Psalm 111:10). Pragmatism is nothing more than lack of trust in God and focuses on our own desires rather than His will! If pragmatism is the analysis of problems with no input from the spiritual perspective, then it isn't an option available to the believer. Our decisions must be made from the perspective of what God wants of us in our specific situation. We have two responsibilities within the Christian walk. First, we are called to glorify God. "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above" (Psalm 148:1). Second, we are called to make disciples. "Yeshua came and talked with them (the disciples). He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim (disciples), immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age'" (Matthew 28: 18-20). How effectively are we glorifying God? How effectively are we making talmidim, if our approach to life is pragmatic? How are we showing our faith in Him if there is no discernible difference in our walk versus the walk of unbelievers? As I was pondering the advice received concerning my job situation, the Lord brought one major issue to mind. I had been praying that if He wanted me to take on a part-time job, He would find me just the right one. How could I expect Him to answer my prayers if I chose to take actions that were dishonest and would not honor Him? The answer was obvious: I couldn't! And so the Lord provided a job where all my friend's perceived negatives were the basis of my being hired. Praise The Lord! Let us step back and review how we approach the difficulties of life. Is our response one of pragmatism or is it one of seeking the will of the Lord? Let us remember that we are here to glorify God and live accordingly! "And This is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him - none! If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1: 5-7) SCUD Warnings SCUD Warnings by Jerry Johnson S piritual C ounterfeits U ndermining D octrine W A R N I N G S EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Sin is OK, accountability isn't, and it's not your fault anyway! There are probably a few of you out there who already know what or, to be more succinct, who I'm talking about. Quite recently, for the second time in as many years, a famous televangelist was caught in the hired company of a prostitute. What was most fascinating to me is that just a day or two after he stepped down from his pulpit, he returned saying that it was OK for him to go back to preaching because God told him he "had just had a bad day" and that if anyone were to ask him about the incident he was to tell them "it's flat none of your business." Finally, a couple of days later, he stated that he was stepping down for a while because demons had overtaken him on that occasion and he couldn't help himself. Right. I am sympathetic toward those who struggle with addictions of any form, but not very patient with those who change the rules to try to gain a no stick finish and therefore having nothing messy cling. Sorry, but I'm a self-declared expert on my own sin nature and sin is never OK. God always requires accountability, and I'm always at least substantially at fault - regardless of who or what is pressuring me - I am the one who yields. (Yes, your honor, I confess! I was the one who ate the last ding-dong.) Now, this column is not going to be a diatribe against televangelists (OK, OK, its not going to continue to be a diatribe), but that televangelist is an excellent example of what happens when you get "John Wayne in the Pew." It has been a natural tendency of Christians throughout nearly 2,000 years of church history to try to assimilate their culture and their Christianity, and in doing so, some cultural values are elevated to the status of doctrine. Some of the earliest cases of this are seen in the Judaizers who wanted to keep Christianity tied to Jewish law, and those of Greek philosophical persuasion who wanted to carry their gnostic dislike for the flesh into Christianity. The trouble is Greek philosophy and Christianity were SO incompatible that the attempt at blending them resulted in the heresy that Jesus and "the Christ" were separate entities. It would be interesting to see if there was a relationship between America's Manifest Destiny doctrine and the missions movement... off hand, I don't know. But, I digress, and quite often, I must admit. It is my personal belief that the American evangelical church, with a few notable exceptions, has also allowed a cultural value to so embed itself into our expression of faith, that it has actually weakened the church by leaving out an integral part of the checks and balances system that God intended for the church: Submission OH NO! NOT THE "S" WORD! - Yes, the dreaded "S" word. We Americans are both so individualistic and proud of our individualism, I know I tend to be, that we've let a general "nobody's gonna tell me what to do, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Rambo attitude" inculcate itself into our relationship with God, fellow believers and our church. And yes, literally, parenthetically, there is the opposite approach very evident in small "heavy shepherding" groups all over. These groups instill a sense of only corporate personality and responsibility and we'll discuss them and the inevitable "papal infallibility" claims of their leaders in a future column. If we look honestly at scripture, and honestly at most Christians and most churches, it is pretty clear that submission has gotten either a bad rap, or been functionally ignored in most cases. So, why, when something is so simply and clearly defined in scripture is it so simply and clearly avoided. Well, first, let's see who we are supposed to submit to: 1) God: Ephesians 5:24, Hebrews 12:9, James 4:7 2) Governmental authorities: Romans 13:1 & 5, Hebrews 13:17, I Peter 2:13, Titus 3:1 3) Other believers: I Peter 5:5, Ephesians 5:21, I Corinthians 16:16 4) Church authorities: Acts 16:4, Hebrews 13:17 5) Elders: I Peter 5:5 6) Wives to husbands: I Peter 3:1 & 5, Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18 (Notice, its not all women to all men.) So, what's so tough about submitting to those people? When's the last time you took a close look at politicians, some church leaders, your bosses and some of your fellow believers?! The simple reality is, we don't want to submit to these people because we feel we can't really trust them. In fact, to be honest, often we probably feel that THEY don't submit to anyone and we've got it together more than they do, so why in the world would we want to trust their judgment? The biggest, and the most integral, part of this problem is that we often feel that same distrust toward God. Sorry, but let's be honest. Our sin nature is generally compelling us to stay in charge of our lives and Satan tries to continually tell us that God is going to take away the stuff we value and lead us into too much discomfort. And the simple fact is, if we've based our life on ourselves and the beliefs of this world, God will try to take away what keeps us from conforming to Christ and that process will tend to be uncomfortable. The reason that submission is so tough to consider is not the fact that we do not trust the people that we are to submit to, it is that we do not believe God is in charge of the process. After all, if we were thoroughly convinced that God was intimately and integrally involved with our lives (see Romans 8:28), then we could relax in the knowledge that whoever we may have to submit to, God can use that person and the situations that are created to conform us to the image of Christ. "But you don't know that boss that I would have to submit to... he's a tyrant!" As a point of perspective: In the epistles, when it says to submit to the king, that king was Nero of Rome, who used to light the roads to his orgies with the burning bodies of believers. As scripture repeatedly states, it's no big deal if you respond well to someone who treats you well, the world can generally pull that one off, but to respond in love and submission to those who mistreat you is true testimony of someone acting TOTALLY out of the realm of "normal." One of the most startling examples of someone trusting God when they had no human reason to is Job. He lost his family and his possessions, his wife was a pain in the neck and his friends a pain in the posterior and then, in Job 13:15, he makes a radical statement: "Yeah, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Now that is trust! The "secret" to submission is really pretty basic. In the church, the people are to submit to each other and the leaders, who in turn submit to their board and/or elders, who are comprised, in turn, of congregation members. It works best when everyone is accountable to someone else. With bosses and the government, we are to submit, being an example of Christ. We do all these things, NOT because we trust the people in charge, but because we believe that God loves us so much that He is involved in our daily lives and He is the one we choose to trust. We do not submit to man, we submit to God and it shows in the way we relate to others. Next time: Self Esteem Theology Prayer Guidelines Prayer by Guinn Jenkins PRAYER By Guinn Jenkins (Excerpted from The Home Educator's Examiner, Lawrenceville, Georgia.) It has been especially delightful to me to witness the offering up of prayers from the sweet voices and hearts of young children. As soon as a child can talk. he can pray. Our children learned to give thanks to the Lord, pray when afraid, pray when hurt, pray when sad, pray when sick, pray for others with all the same needs, pray over all meals. Whatever the problem or need, the solution was prayer and thanks to the Lord for the answer. They also learned that God would answer in the way He knew best. Here are a few dos and don'ts in teaching children to pray: Do encourage them to talk to Jesus as a real person who loves them and wants to hear them. Do help them to express their prayers in their own words. Do help them to recognize answers to prayers that the Lord has specifically provided. Do pray with them often at mealtimes, during family devotion times, before classes. before tests, and during their own special times with the Lord. Any time is a good time to pray. Do give them an example of prayer to follow. Remember, your children may not remember what you say, but they will always imitate what you do. Don't demean their prayers in any way. Don't teach them to memorize prayers that they learn to repeat mechanically. This can become what Jesus called 'vain repetition." (Instead teach them to memorize Scripture.) Prayer can easily lose meaningfulness when learned to be repeated by rote. Don't allow other things to take priority over time for prayer with and for your children. Children can pray, and pray effectively. Teach them that prayer is building a relationship instead of ''laying themselves down to sleep." It is a delight rather than a duty. Someone very special wants to hear from them personally. The preceding article was from the April/May 1991 edition of THE TEACHING HOME. Copyright 1991 By The Teaching Home. (Used with permission from The Teaching Home) Christian Life Department People Profile People Profile Morning Star Senior Editor, Teresa Giordanengo, conducted this interview with Thelma Scott and Murray Scott of Memphis, Tennessee. She had the privilege of spending a very enjoyable evening with Mr. and Mrs. Scott when she was in Memphis last May. Thelma: Education : BS and MED plus 45 hours, Memphis State University. Experience: 33 years, classroom teacher. 2 years, coordinator Memphis ACOT. Professional Organizations: Life Member of National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, Memphis Education Association, Beta Gamma Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, Honor Society. Honors: Recipient, Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship Who's Who in American Education, 1988-1989. Murray: Education : BS and MED plus 45 hours, Memphis State University. Experience: 30 years, classroom teacher. 2 years, high school principal. 3 years, elementary school principal. Professional Organizations: Member of National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, Memphis Education Association. =================================================================== Teresa: Thelma, you have been involved in the teaching profession for many years. What influenced you in becoming a teacher? Thelma: You must remember that when I was selecting my occupation, there were not as many options available for women as there are now. Perhaps the one factor that influenced me most was the fact that my mother had been a teacher. I cannot remember when I first decided to become a teacher. As far back as I can remember, I had always wanted to be a teacher. I can remember as a small child, perhaps first or second grade, I would teach my dolls and my younger brother and sisters. Teresa: Murray, likewise, you have been teaching for many years. Why did you choose the teaching profession? Murray: I had no idea that I would ever become a teacher. I was majoring in business in college. A relative of mine who was on the school board, where there was a shortage of teachers, asked me to accept a position. At that time, you could receive a teachers certificate after only two years of college education. I was also encouraged by the late president of the University of Tennessee, Dr. Andy Holt. It did not take long in the classroom for me to decide that teaching was the place where I felt perhaps I could make a difference. I then finished my degree in education by attending night classes and continued until I finished my masters degree and even 45 hours beyond in the field of education. Teresa: Thelma, as a parent yourself, what changes have you seen in the classroom that is a direct result of today's changed home atmosphere and lifestyle? Thelma: The greatest change is lack of parental involvement. When I first began my teaching career, parents were involved in the educational process. Today, parents are concerned, but there are so many factors that prevent parental involvement. Single parent homes, two parent careers, outside influences such as television, upward trend of our mobile society are just a few factors that have caused major changes in the educational process. Teresa: Murray, looking back in history, we have become more educated and our curriculum has changed so much. What has been the greatest contributing factor for this constant change? Murray: Probably the greatest contributing factor is our changing society. We are constantly attempting to meet the demands of society. Every invention means another change in education. As knowledge doubles, education must change in order to meet its demands. Teresa: Murray, is there a rule-of-thumb that a student can follow today as a guide in determining how much education he/she needs in order to survive in today's world? Murray: There is really no rule-of-thumb. The best advice anyone could give would be that the student needs all the education that they can achieve. When we are teaching students, especially those in elementary school, we are working without knowing what will be needed when they will be ready for the world. When I was in elementary school, who would have thought I would have ever been sitting in my home chatting via computer with people across the nation. I even remember asking what a MODEM was, since I have been teaching. Our knowledge is growing so fast there is no way to know what is going to be needed in the next ten years. If I had that knowledge, I would make a fortune. Teresa: Thelma, How does the United States student compare in the test scores with other countries and why? Thelma: You cannot really compare the test scores of our country with those of other countries. You must realize that in the United States, we educate ALL children, not a select few. There are laws that require students to attend school until they reach a certain age. This is not the norm for other countries. Since all test scores are lumped together, we cannot make an accurate parallel. Teresa: Thelma, what do you think of the current trends in education in our country vs. the past? Thelma: Education is actually better now in many ways than it has ever been before. We always look back to the "good ole days", but do we really want to return? What we really want is the best of all the worlds. There is so much more to learn now than there ever has been before. Think of the knowledge that has been accumulated in the last fifty years. Perhaps our students today know as much or even more than students did at that time, but their knowledge is not concentrated in just the 3-Rs as it was at one time. When I was in elementary or even high school, my teachers would not have known about computers and telecommunications, but today students use these as tools in education. Teresa: Murray, you are currently teaching for the America OnLine Network System. I was your student online and I enjoyed your History Class very much and I learned a great deal! Anyone who subscribes to America OnLine can be a part of this educational program. Please tell us about this wonderful learning experience. Murray: Yes, it was certainly a pleasure having you in my American History Course, and I might add, you were a very good student. Your contribution and input made my teaching very enjoyable. I never dreamed when I was teaching you that you would be visiting in our home here in Memphis. Both Thelma and I remember that evening with pleasure. America Online offers many educational opportunities. At the present we have approximately eighty teachers from across the nation with a variety of educational background and training who are teaching over seventy-five different courses this term. You can study anything from Photography to Calculus by enrolling in courses here online. If you have a need that is not met, then leave a message and a teacher will be found to teach your particular request. Teresa: Murray, what are some of the different courses available on line; how does a student access them, and what is the possibility of earning a degree online in the future? Murray: We really have a broad spectrum of courses in the Interactive Education Services online . It amazes me that we have as many courses available for a student to select!! Some of the different courses are English and Languages, Mathematics, Social Sciences and History, Natural Sciences, Computer Science: Hardware and Operating Systems, Computer Science: Applications and Software, Computer Science: Programming, Arts and Professions. There are others available and the student may find a complete listing by downloading the catalog that is found in the Interactive Education Services, selecting registration. Keyword: IES. Students must register for a course in order for them to access the room where instruction is given. There are no plans just now for a student to earn a degree online, but who can predict the future? Perhaps in a few years some college will grant credit for courses given online. Certainly many of the teachers who are teaching online are certified to teach college level courses. Teresa: Murray, what is possibly on the horizon for future education via the modem? Murray: The future for education via the modem is unlimited. I observed a group of students on a field trip in Arizona one day who were sending information back to their classrooms and securing additional data from research resources as they conducted onsite experiments. When they were unable to identify specimens they were observing, their classmates in the classroom did the research and relayed the information via the modem. The interaction was great. Teresa: Murray, I understand that America OnLine has some of the finest teachers on staff. Please tell us how this has come about. Murray: We must give credit for the excellent staff to our Interactive Education Services Coordinator, Mark Hulme. Applications are submitted to him and screening is done. He has done a superb job in coordinating and leading this part of the educational arena of America Online. Teresa: Murray, soliciting homework help from the teachers online in a given subject is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn. Please tell us how this is possible and also about the GED program available. Murray: We offer homework in practically every subject available. There is a "Teacher Pager" in operation where a student may leave a request for help. These requests are relayed to a teacher familiar with that area of education. For example, suppose a student would like help with American History. When I sign online, I get the request and immediately either locate the student online, or send E-Mail setting a time to meet and discuss the material. Besides the "Teacher Pager", we also have scheduled "Academic Assistance" each evening. The schedule is listed under the keyword: IES. For example, Tuesday evening, at 9:00 PM EST, I assist students who need help in SAT, ACT, and GED Preparation. I also help in these subjects at 10:00 PM EST on Wednesday evening. There are others who are available for a variety of subjects at various times. Teresa: Thelma, you are involved with the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow. Please tell us what this is all about. Thelma: ACOT stands for Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow. This is a research project sponsored by the Apple Computer Corp. in cooperation with various school boards across the nation. ACOT's mission is to change the way people think with and use technology for learning. Teresa: Thelma, how are you involved in the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow? Thelma: I have served in several roles in ACOT. I taught the first classroom in Memphis, TN. I then served as coordinator for two years, assisting the teachers and acting as a liaison between the classroom and the ACOT offices in Cupertino, California. I now work with the ACOT telecommunication project giving technical assistance to the ACOT accounts on AOL. Teresa: Finally, Thelma, is there any last point you would like to leave with our readers? Thelma: Our education system has a multitude of problems. In order for it to improve the citizens of our nation need to support the teachers, students, and leaders. A word of encouragement will always gain more than criticism. Try encouraging those students you know. Show your appreciation to the teachers. Show that there is really someone who cares. Teresa: Murray, is there any final thought you would like to leave with our readers? Murray: I would like to encourage the readers of this publication to be aware of the many opportunities available on America Online. Remember that education is an ongoing process and a debt due from one generation to another. Thelma and I would like to express our appreciation to Terri for permitting us to participate in this educational issue of "Morning Star". Education Christian Education by Donald O'Hare Christian Education by Donald O'Hare Central Christian Academy Houston, Pennsylvania In any school system, the most important questions that must be answered are, "What is being taught," and "Why is it being taught?" Christian education seeks to teach God's eternal truths and how to apply these truths to ones life. The following statements enable us to answer these two questions from a Biblical perspective. This list is only a partial and non-inclusive of any subjects, but we hope this will give you an idea about the real "nuts and bolts" of Christian education. I. A BEDROCK FOR EDUCATION - GOD'S TRUTH A. For the Christian, all avenues of knowledge stem from God and are interpreted in the light of His nature and works. B. Knowledge is defined as an acquaintance with an understanding of, and a clear perception of truth. C. The Bible pictures God as the source of all life and truth. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 D. Any truth which comes to man must be an expression of the nature of God. E. God's truth is revealed in several ways: 1. General Revelation - through creation - Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20 2. Special Revelation - in Scriptures - Hebrews 1:1,2, Psalm 119:105, 130; In the Son - Colossians 2:3,9, John 14:9, 8:12 3. Man and Truth - There is earthly wisdom - I Cor. 1 and 2, James 3:15 II. THE GREAT COMMISSION - Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." A. Most subjects taught in a Christian school should point to and undergird this mandate. III. TAKING DOMINIONS - Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the seas, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth'." A. The Christian school seeks to equip the student with God's truth, understand his purpose for being, and exercise his authority over Satan and God's creation. IV. READING A. "In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3 B. God is a communication God. He created man to communicate with himself and his fellow man. C. God gave us His word that He might speak to us through the Bible, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17 D. The primary purpose of reading is to decode the written Word of God. Deuteronomy 17:19, Matthew 4:4. E. Illiteracy is a bondage that enslaves man, reading sets men free and gives hope. Romans 15:4, John 8:32 F. Objectives for reading at Central Christian Academy: 1. The student will be taught by a phonics based method, which will enable him to decode words and slowly begin the reading process. Early success inspires natural curiosity. 2. Parents are educated as to the importance of growing a strong reader. They are encouraged to read to their child at an early age. 3. Students are introduced to good quality books to help develop a hunger to read. 4. Each student will show proficiency in decoding skills, comprehension, study skills, vocabulary and critical reading. 5. These reading skills will be applied to other curricular areas. V. WRITING A. God created man for communication with Himself and with His fellow man. Writing is a powerful tool to influence people. B. God wrote the Commandments. Exodus 31:18 C. Written records help us to know the past. Psalm 102:18 D. The Great Commission is being fulfilled by able Christians who can communicate the written Gospel to others. E. Learning Outcomes 1. The student will realize that the ability to write is a gift of God, to be used for His glory. 2. The student will desire to write well in all situations. 3. Students will write neat and have good form in all written work. 4. The student will demonstrate an appreciation for good handwriting. 5. Students will compose essays, compositions, and research on various subjects. 6. Students will be able to express written thought to meet practical requirements of life. 7. The student will be able to express his personal thoughts and feelings by writing. 8. The Holy Spirit helps students to improve their writing skills with much practice. 9. Writing skills will be applied in all subjects. VI. SPELLING A. Words of truth must be written correctly. Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10 B. Ideas can be communicated through proper spelling. I Corinthians 14:33 C. Students will be able to spell the most frequently used words. D. Students will demonstrate correct spelling in all written communication. E. Students will be familiar with the use of a dictionary to determine correct spelling. VII. ENGLISH GRAMMAR A. Biblical Background 1. Language must be logical and consistent with reality. Philippians 4:8 2. Language must be with grace, manifesting the grace that dwells within us. Colossians 4:6 3. Language must be seasoned with salt. Colossians 4:6 4. Language must be pure, free from filth and smut. Ephesians 4:29 B. Learner Outcomes 1. The student will