Do You Outsource Your Theology?

These are tough times for theology. Good doctrine seems to be assaulted on every front. From the church to the seminary, men and women, boy and girls have neglected the study of God. But this neglect on the part of the church might not be the kind of neglect one might expect.

Lately it would seem that this neglect is not of the active sort. Theology books are selling like hotcakes. It would not be a mistake to say that there has been a sort of resurgence in reading theology. Between the advent of E-Readers and the publication of a plethora of good books on God, many people can become and, indeed, are becoming theologians. On one hand, this is good and commendable. Pastors long for their people to understand theology and actually enjoy studying it. So this soaking up of theology is certainly not all bad, but it can be neglectful of God and His truth in a very real and profound way. Let me explain.

If people are actively reading and learning theology then how can it be that theology could actually be neglected? Well, the answer has to do with source. Where do people get their views on God? Think for a moment about where you get your views on God. If someone asks you a theological question do you answer with a explanation from a systematic theology book? Or, perhaps, do you appeal to well-known proponents from certain theological groups? Again, much of this sort of theological pursuit is good and healthy. But there is something inherently dangerous, lazy, and not very wise to locate the source of your theology primarily in a system or a scholar instead of in scripture.

A good corrective to this tendency would be to read and study scripture and then read and study scripture some more, perhaps even investing in some good commentaries to supplement your reading. Sometimes the English translations (for various reasons I won't go into now) distort the original authoritorial intent revealed in the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament. You don't necessarily have to become an expert in biblical languages but you ought to consult those commentaries that actually exegete the original text. Spend more time in the text and your theology will be refined and developed exponentially.

Some may respond that they do this already. The unfortunate reality, however, is that the rampant biblical illiteracy in the church, at least the American evangelical church, exposes a bitter truth. Despite what they profess, people know little of the things they confess. Spend more time in the word than you do in the pages of your favorite Christian author. Be more exegetical than theological. The end result will be that you know more about the 5 chapters of 1 Peter than you do about the 5 points of your favorite theological system. But that's definitely not a bad thing.

New Book...I am Gonna Read!!!

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas we often are distracted by all the other things going on around us and, although we speak fluent allegience to Christ, all too many of us forget about daily obedience and how Christ himself talks about that being a sign of our love for Him. This Christmas let's not just offer lip service, but let's be the beacons in a dark world that the Lord has called us too! We wish you all a merry holiday and a year filled with opportunities to make the gospel central to everything you are, all that you say, and all that you do! Let's remember that we are the slaves of Christ to a lost and dying world and that they need us to be who He called us to be!

"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!"
— Benjamin Franklin

Because, Baby It's Cold Outside!

I need to move back to the Southwest! After growing up in Alaska, Spending the last 10 years in a climate more frigid than California, I think I have frozen enough for one life! Just saying, "It's Cold Outside!

Recipes

While creating a new recipe for lunch this week with what I had on hand, I began to see how many recipes were accumulating on this site. Now I love recipes, but technically, my husband and I share this sight for family purposes and I did not thing that it was very "sharing" to make our site even more my site. So I decided to make a place to post just my recipes. I need the quick reference place too especially when I think I chucked a ton of my recipes when I moved. So if you are looking for recipes here follow this link to visit over there. I know I love to cook and I will continue to post our favorite recipes on this other site. Just thought you should know!

Blessings,
Larissa

Little Momma

Lately my little girl has begun mimicing me. When I tell her brothers to do something she will chime in with "Yeah, you do it!" Or "Go!" or she will simply copy what I say, adding an extra amount of oomph to whatever I said. Will has taken to calling her "little Momma" and if it wasn't so funny and she didn't know it was so funny, I would be horrified! But man, it's just hysterical to see this chunky little bundle of energy thinking she is a momma in training, which is exactly what she is!

And How True It Is!

"You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have."

— Corrie ten Boom

Because My Husband Loves The Original!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

The Cost of The Gospel In the Life of a Christian...Are You Willing To Pay?

“We honor the old prophets, we honor the Tozers and Spurgeons but we don’t want to pay the price they paid, and they paid the price by being men who walked alone who lived with God and who loved His word.”


“How could we have such a low view of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have to manipulate men psychologically to get them to come down and pray a prayer? …How many times have I heard evangelists say, “It’ll only take five minutes.”? No my dear friend, it will take your life–all of it!”


"He is not some little accessory... as through He was a cherry on top of ice cream! You have Jesus and Jesus has you or you are barren and wasted and lost."

-Paul Washer

Pie Pie

I am often asked to describe the personalities of my children. I have frequently thought over who they are, even at such a young age, and figured that maybe it would be fun for them, when they grow up, to read the description that I have given to more than one individual. So although this is open for all to enjoy, this is for the treasures that I am currently borrowing.




Our fourth admitee to the crazy society is our only little girl, Pie Pie. She is darling of the family, although she certainly doesn't act as if she were the youngest. She thinks that she is large and in charge and she is the houses self appointed authority on what happens around her. She is not in the least shy, although she is decidedly a momma's girl, she is not adverse to other people and branching out. And she LOVES babies, she is always rocking or feeding or singing to one or another of her babies, and sometimes three at a time. She loves trying to be a good momma.
 
What I love about this girl is that she is so self assured. She knows exactly what she wants and is tenacious in attaining it. This amazes me since I am of a personality which lacks ambition almost  completely, I know this girl will do things that she sets her mind to accomplish. But she has such a sunny personality, every morning she awakes with a smile and a spring in her step, dancing around the house (yes she wiggles when she walks and does little steps and dances while she moves around the house). She has also developed quite a sense of humor for a two year old. Her and daddy are often making jokes together and this girl has unquestionable timing. She comes out with the funniest one word answers to things delivered in such a quirky attitude that it is simply hilarious to watch and hear. Plus she has a wonderful belly laugh! The best laugh in the family, apart from Grehsam's little high pitched giggle.
 
Her bossiness is a weakness for her however, she thinks she can tell people when they can and can't do stuff and she tends to bully Gresham too often and is frequently in trouble for it. She is not in charge of the universe no matter what her perception may be, so her ambition will be a problem for her as long as she pursues it toward her own ends and not towards those of His glory alone. We love this little bit of Spunk! She is a very happy little sprite in our mostly male home, our girl tends to be less serious than the boys are and is such a happy girl that we enjoy her company, all of us. We are thankful we got our chica after so many fellas!

Faith and Obediance Go Hand in Hand

For faith is only real when there is obediance, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obediance. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How Much IS a Brood?

Announcing Crazy-Five-O



I want to see little children adorning every home as flowers adorn every meadow and every wayside. I want to see them welcomed to the homes they enter, to see their parents grow less and less selfish and more and more loving because they have come. I want to see God's precious gifts accepted, not frowned upon and refused.
-Elizabeth Prentiss


So I ask you, do we qualify as having a brood yet or not?

No Postage Necessary

We wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy celebrating the Birth of Christ our Savior this season! We will be!!!

I am Certain You are Dying to Know That......

Drinking: Orange Juice, did I even mention how I DON'T Like Orange Juice and here I am drinking it! Lame!


Recovering: Well, I would Love to recover from the Drama that has been 2010, but I have 3 more weeks to wait! Let's hope it is drama free!

Reading: Well, I have read several stinkers lately and have decided to take a little break from my list. I have been reading a bit but mostly, just school stuff with my boys.
Studying: Reading several Psalms while I have been deciding where to head next.

Linking: YouTube Shoah Foundation Page. I recently stumbled across these full length taped interviews with Shoah survivors and their families. I have read widely not only on the holocaust but also on WWII in general and it never fails to learn more the more you are exposed to. I have only watched a couple of these over several weeks, most are over 2 hours long, but they are very interesting, I think they should be more interesting to Christians as the Jewish people are clearly spoken of frequently in scripture. I have also learned through one of these videos about a pastor who was imprisoned in Dachau for excersizing church discipline on members of his church who engaged in Nazi activity. He was a member of the confessing church and one of the first martyered for the faith. This is just one example of how closely the history of Christianity is linked with the Jewish people.

Watching: I have watched some Sherlock Holmes on Netflix lately, loved the books I have read by Doyle and Jeremy Brett brings the old detective to life.

Listening To: my baby girl has recently begun "reading" books to people. Right now she is sitting at their little table reading herself a book, I have no idea exactly what it all says, but she is content to tell herself a story, I love this age right now, if only she would use the potty!

More Proof That We Are The Original Crazies

"Hey Momma, Have you ever seen a legless pig running?" --Silas


"I am not a piece of work I am a piece of Gresham!"--hmmm, I wonder...

 
"Don't tickle my belly button, momma, your hand might fall into my belly and feel my food!" -Kace

Reposting: Because It Is Still True Today

G-Man

I am often asked to describe the personalities of my children. I have frequently thought over who they are, even at such a young age, and figured that maybe it would be fun for them, when they grow up, to read the description that I have given to more than one individual. So although this is open for all to enjoy, this is for the treasures that I am currently borrowing.

Our third little man is so different from the elder two we frequently joke that he had to have been switched at birth. He is the beginning of the blond/blue-eyed tradition in our family, where we are currently tied. He smiles a lot of the time, is very friendly and can talk up a storm! When he was just two we would ask him to say things like "penal substitute" or "incarnation" or "transubstantiation" and he was easily able to communicate those words to us. We were amazed because he rarely talked much before two, but when he began he knocked our socks off.

He is usually every ones favorite, when ever we visit people or make new friendships. Somehow he just knows how to get along with people, enjoys being pleasant to others and loves making friends of people. Although he does have a bad habit of whining more than any of the other kids, which we believe to be his greatest weakness. He is learning to communicate without ever whining and does well when he remembers not to whine or succumb to baby talking.

He is the only one of the four who can play pleasantly on his own. He enjoys being alone and entertaining himself. He makes up songs when he is playing alone that make no sense but are very cute and very funny (he reminds me of another little dreamer I know...you know who you are, girly!). He loves to dress up as a soldier or a warrior with swords and all. He also pretends to be animals frequently, although you cannot usually know what animal he is until you ask him to do something and he responds "I am not G, I am a kitty (or a dragon, baby, doggy, etc.)!" We all laugh at him because each of his alter ego's have a name and a personality that is unique to each one.

He is our night owl. Where the other kids are relatively good about going straight to sleep this little fellow finds a second wind almost nightly, where he wants to hang out with us adults, or simply play quietly in his bed. If he didn't have the earliest riser in history as a brother this fella would go to bed late and get up late. He has an easy personality so when he does stay up late with us he just hangs out with us, snuggles, or plays quietly, he is a joy to be around at these times especially. He is still only three so we are still learning exactly what makes this fella who he is, but we are so thankful for his sunny, easy, restful personality.

For us however, there is a time coming when our spiritual warfare will be finished, our perspective enlarged, and our understanding increased. Then we will look back upon the experiences through which the Lord led us and be overwhelmed by adoration and love for Him! We will then see and acknowledge that mercy and goodness directed every step. We shall see that what we once mistakenly called afflictions and misfortune were in reality blessings without which we would not have grown in faith. Nothing happened to us without a reason. No problem came upon us sooner, pressed on us more heavily, or continued longer than our situation required. God, in divine grace and wisdom, used our many afflictions, each as needed, that we might ultimately possess an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, prepared by the Lord for His people.

We very often fail to see our present circumstances in right perspective. Look back over the past, however and compare what you have been brought through with your frame of mind during each successive period. Consider how wonderfully one thing has been connected with another so that what we now count as our greatest benefits are rooted in incidents that at the time seemed insignificant. We have sometimes escaped from the grave dangers not by any wisdom or foresight of our own, but by the intervention of unforeseen circumstances. So both the revelation of Scripture and our own individual experiences confirm the wisdom and good providence of God. He watches over His people from the earliest moment of their lives. He overrules and guards them through all their blind wanderings and leads them in a way that they know not.

--John Newton