The Top 10 Resurgence Posts of 2012

Resurgence » God Family Mission Culture Human Trafficking

Before we kick off the new year, we would like to take a moment and look back at everything we discussed here on Resurgence in 2012.

In case you missed any of the most popular articles throughout the year, or if you just want to read them again, here are the 10 top posts of 2012:

10. CAN MEN AND WOMEN BE ‘JUST FRIENDS’?

Amanda Edmondson, September 25

Though men and women work, attend school, and socialize together, can they really be friends? Here Amanda Edmondson answers this question and provides some practical guidelines and boundaries.

9. 15 THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT ABORTION

John Piper, January 22

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is a day that has been set aside each year since 1983 to observe the value of human all life—born and unborn. This post from John Piper captures 15 things to consider about abortion.

8. 9 WAYS TO FIGHT THE TEMPTATION OF PORNOGRAPHY

BJ Stockman, March 10

Unfortunately, there is a proliferation of pornography. This post focuses on a biblical and grace-centered way to resist the temptation to view porn. Though this post is primarily aimed at men, this is also helpful for the growing number of women who are addicted to porn as well.

7. PUFF OR PASS: SHOULD CHRISTIANS SMOKE POT OR NOT?

Mark Driscoll, December 6

This past November, Washington State and Colorado legalized the recreational use of marijuana. This decision, of course, leads to a host of pastoral questions and issues for Christian. This article is from the introduction of Mark Driscoll’s free eBook with the same title.

6. 8 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

Lindsey Holcomb, March 12

Heartbreakingly, many victims of sexual assault are children. Lindsey Holcomb, coauthor of Rid of My Disgrace with her husband, Justin, provides eight ways parents can protect their children from sexual abuse.

5. A FATHER’S FRIGHT OF TWILIGHT

Mark Driscoll, November 16

Twilight is an incredibly popular vampire-themed novel and movie series. Here Mark Driscoll shares his concerns with this series as a pastor and father.

4. 10 WAYS FOR MOMS TO RESPECT THEIR SONS

Jen Smidt, April 9

Respect is defined as a deep admiration for someone elicited by his or her abilities, qualities, or achievements. How can moms respect their sons without making them idols? Jen Smidt provides 10 tips for moms (p.s. dads can benefit from this article as well).

3. 5 NOTES ON DATING FOR THE GUYS

Brandon Andersen, August 28

As Christians, what does it practically look like to date? Brandon Andersen provides insight to help Christian men date in a way that honors God and the women they pursue.

2. SEX-TRAFFICKING AT THE SUPER BOWL

Justin Holcomb, February 2

Did you know that the Super Bowl, like other large sporting events, is a magnet for sex-trafficking and child prostitution? Did you know it is possibly the largest sex-trafficking event in the U.S.? With this article, Resurgence director Justin Holcomb not only reveals this disturbing reality, but also provides six practical ways that you can fight sex-trafficking.

1. FOR THE GALS: 8 PRINCIPLES FOR DATING

Jen Smidt, March 19

Though dating can be exciting, it can also be confusing, heartbreaking, and tumultuous. Jen Smidt looks back upon her dating experiences and provides eight principles she would have told herself years ago before getting married.

Originally Posted @ www.TheResurgence.com 

30 Things You Might Not Know About CS Lewis

November 29th marks the eleventy-fourth (114th) year since C.S. Lewis was born. Last year I listed some of my favorite quotes from his writings. This year I thought I would share some of the more interesting facts about his life.

1. He was not English. Though many think and refer to him as such, he was actually born in Belfast, Ireland. So he technically he was British but not English.

2. He changed his name to Jack. In 1902 he announced to his parents that he would, from that day forward, be referred to as “Jacksie.” It was later shortened to “Jacks” and then finally “Jack.” He would be Clive no more.

3. He never learned to drive.

4. His favorite sound was adult male laughter. 

5. His ideal happiness was “to be always convalescent from some small illness and always seated in a window that overlooked the sea, there to read these poems (Renaissance Italian epic) eight hours  of each happy day.”

6. He loved the sea.

7. He failed his Oxford entrance exam, twice. He took the Responsions at least two times and failed the math section. He was allowed entrance into Oxford in 1917 because he served in the military.

8. He had dreams of lions. Prior to writing The Chronicles of Narnia he had strange dreams of lions and pictures in his head of a faun carrying parcels.

9. J.R.R. Tolkien did not like the Narnia stories. Tolkien did not like the Christian allegory, nor did he like the mixing of myths. It appeared he was fond of Aslan though.

10. Aslan is Turkish for “lion.”

11. He often addressed Jesus as Aslan in prayer.

12. Some argue that Tolkien based Treebeard on Lewis. I cannot prove this, but I’ve heard it in more than one place.

13. His conversion to Christianity was not when he wrote in Surprised By Joy: “You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape? The words compelle intrare, ‘compel them to come in,’ have been so abused be wicked men that we shudder at them; but, properly understood, they plumb the depth of the Divine mercy. The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.”

This was simply his conversion to theism from atheism in 1929. It wasn’t until 1931 that he and his brother went to Whipsnade Zoo. Warren drove the motorcycle while Jack sat in the sidecar! He wrote, “When we set out, I did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and when we  reached the zoo, I did.” The evening before this trip, Lewis had a long discussion with Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien about Christianity.

14. He did not affirm the inerrency of Scripture. To be clear, he highly regarded the Bible and its authority. He read the Bible constantly (Authorized Version). But he would not have used the same language about the Bible as evangelicals do today.

15. He wasn’t a fan of the Reformation. He thought the issues involved could have been handled more appropriately. He referred to it as “farcical.”

16. He smoked . . . a lot!

17. He drank . . . a good bit!

18. He was a shabby dresser.

19. He was extremely generous. Douglas Gresham recalls a story where Jack and a friend were walking to a meeting one day when they were approached by a beggar. The beggar asked them for some spare change whereupon Jack gave him everything he had. Once the beggar had gone, his friend said, “You shouldn’t have given that man all that money Jack, he’ll only spend it on drink.” Jack’s reply – “Well, if I’d kept it, I would have only spent it on drink.”

20. He married Joy Davidman in the hospital. This was about a year after he married her in a secret civil ceremony due to the denial of her residency by the British Home Office. But he wanted a church ceremony, hence the hospital wedding.

21. A Grief Observed was originally published under the pseudonym N. W. Clerk. Lewis wrote this work after Joy died in 1960. Many who read the book sent Lewis copies hoping it would help him in his plight!

22. Mere Christianity never mentions the Resurrection. He did however write on the Resurrection in Miracles and other works.

23. He read every single book from the 16th century. To prepare to write his English Literature in the 16th Century, he read every single volume from the 16th century in Duke Humphrey’s library, the oldest part of the Bodleian Library.

24. The Screwtape Letters was his least favorite to write. He said he never wrote with less enjoyment. Having to “switch sides” was difficult for him.

25. He wrote to Kathy Keller. Kathy Keller is Tim Keller’s wife. She wrote to Lewis when she was 12. There are four letters from him to her in Letters To Children and volume three ofLetters of C.S. Lewis.

26. He shared a boat ride to Ireland with Martyn Lloyd-Jones in 1953. The two met before this when Lloyd-Jones attended a lecture by Lewis and afterward had lunch with him.

27. He was not a Calvinist. He said in a letter (3:866) “I’m no Calvinist.”

28. He died on November 22, 1963. This was of course the same day Kennedy was shot as well as when Aldous Huxley died.

29. Walter Hooper referred to him as “the most thoroughly converted man I have ever met.”

30. He said about his writings, “After I’ve been dead five years, no one will read anything I’ve written.” He’s been dead 49 years. Thankfully Mr. Lewis, you were wrong! Happy Birthday!

GB

Originally Posted @ http://yearnforgod.org/

Ray Comfort at Huntington Beach, CA on the Pier... Again

Christ's Call: Radical Obedience by K.P. Yohannan

Soldiers Deck of Cards

Nick Vujicic Extraordinary Testimony

Praise God for a good graduation speech...

The Problem With Education: We Don’t Know What it Means, But the Government Does

I read a quote from G.K. Chesterton that prompted this post:

“The most important fact about the subject of education is that there is no such thing. Education is not a subject, and it does not deal in subjects. It is instead the transfer of a way of life.” -G.K. Chesterton

We believe that “education” is the transference of knowledge. And so we argue over who is best qualified to transfer knowledge so our children will be properly educated. When actually, knowledge is only a small part of a total education.

The question we should be asking is, “Who is qualified to ‘transfer a way of life’to my children?” and “What ‘way of life’ matters to me?”

For example, who is teaching my child that he is fearfully and wonderfully made (as is his neighbor), foundational to who he is, who he will become and how he will live out his purpose? Or, is he being taught that since there is no Creator, life doesn’t have intrinsic value? Even this one part of our children’s worldview radically affects the life-choices they’ll make.

Who is teaching her that application of knowledge is more important than a letter that grades short-term memory? Who is taking her by the hand, showing her the world and how everything is related to everything else? Who is telling her that “wisdom calls out” and that she is equipped to search for and find it on her own?

Who is telling him that everyone has different strengths? That he can run with his brilliance as an artist and not be labeled if he doesn’t demonstrate equal ability in math?

Is it good enough for someone else–something else–to shape the very life of my children, their opinions, beliefs, values and self-worth?

I have long maintained that education can not be “neutral”. Assuming that education is, indeed, a transfer of a way of life, this fact becomes more obvious.Every institution, whether family, school, church or other, imparts a belief system where something or someone determines the values inherent to that system.

Unfortunately, founders of the modern system of education understood this well–that education shapes people, not just teaches them the three R’s. Those like John Dewey voiced his intention to use the classroom to erode any faith except the religion of humanism*. And largely, under the guise of “learning”, Christians regularly submit their children to the transferring of a way of lifeby a system that rejects most of their core values and beliefs.

As a Christian, submitted to the lordship of Christ, I am bound to “transfer a way of life” to my children that is wholly consumed with Him. Education, means then, to a Christian, that all facets of life–including the small one of imparting knowledge–must spring from an inherently Christian worldview–a transferring of life, lived out each day in a thousand ways.

Education: It’s so much more than academics! Let’s not pluck this small part out and make it an idol while neglecting what it means to prepare children for ALL of life.

* “I am convinced that the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers that correctly perceive their role as proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being…The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and new — the rotting corpse of Christianity,together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism, resplendent with the promise of a world in which the never-realized Christian ideal of ‘love thy neighbor’ will finally be achieved.” Humanist Manifesto

Originally Posted at www.generationcedar.com 

John MacArthur - Predestination

Ronald Reagan Tribute

10 Ways For Mom's To Respect Their Sons

By jen Smidt

START EARLY

It is never too early to start showing that you respect your sons. I know as a young mom I was so concerned about discipline—when, where, why and how to discipline. I wanted this bundle of boy contained into a well-behaved, manageable package. Is that offense punishable by swat? Is he disrespecting me? Why is he so loud and messy? While those are fine questions to ask, looking back, I would rather have spent more time asking myself if I was treating my boys with respect.

My sons thrive in our relationship when respect is generously given. If I want them to look for a wife who respects them one day, I better demonstrate what that looks like now.

WHAT IS RESPECT?

Let me first say respect is not making my son an idol and bowing down to his every need. Respect is defined as a deep admiration for someone elicited by his or her abilities, qualities, or achievements. A mother’s respect is also not based upon her son’s achievements at the beginning (unless you count squirting her in the eye with confounding accuracy at diaper changing time).

“

If our boys are continually being shielded from natural consequences, they will have a distorted sense of self and sin.

”

A mother’s respect for her son is founded upon his image bearing of her heavenly Father and belief that God has given her a powerful gift to steward for a season. A mother’s respect is born out of respect for Jesus and the cross: his life makes my life and my son’s life possible. A mother’s respect is based upon her trust in God to develop a godly man, husband, father, and leader out of the tiny one that she holds but for a brief moment.

WHAT RESPECT LOOKS LIKE

I wanted to offer some practical principles to help show what it looks like for a mom to respect her son.

1. SET JESUS AS THE STANDARD

There is no man other than Jesus who demonstrates perfection. You will never go wrong in upholding him as the source, pointing to him as the example, and depending upon him for the answers.

2. PRAY FOR THEM AND OVER THEM

You aren’t in control of their lives, you never will be. What better time than now to put yourself in submission to God’s plan for your sons by releasing them in prayer? Mothers have an awesome responsibility to pray for the intimate details that she knows about her son’s heart.

3. WATCH YOUR TONE

Respect is often given and destroyed in the little things. I know the look in my son’s eye when I speak to him with a harsh or shaming tone—it is the pain of disrespect. Speak graciously, kindly, and firmly to your sons.

4. LET THEM MAKE DECISIONS

Start small with choices like red or blue shirt, and move to increasing responsibility over time management and bigger life choices. Give them opportunities to lead in your home: chores, devotions, and family nights can be planned and executed by sons growing in maturity.

5. SERVE THEM

Love them with food, fun, folding of laundry. Let them see that you are willing to sacrificially serve them. Teach them to be grateful and one day they may actually thank you.

6. TEACH THEM TO SERVE YOU

Respectable men serve others. Servanthood does not come naturally to most of us. As you cheerfully serve your son, make sure you instruct and involve them in active service also. There will come a time when it is no longer sacrificial but sinful for you to be folding your boy’s undies.

7. NO SECRETS

Hidden sin is an insidious trap for men. Cultivate a climate of open confession and generous forgiveness. It is much more powerful for your son to feel like he can freely confess sin than have to hide in fear of your reaction.

8. NAME SIN BIBLICALLY

Do not fall into “Boys will be boys” thinking. Differentiate between childish foolishness and downright rebellion. Instruct the former and correct the latter. Name their sin with accurate descriptions from Scripture so they can repent.

9. NAME CHARACTER BIBLICALLY

Read to them and have them study passages of Scripture that speak to men (1 Cor. 16:13-14). Have them memorize passages of Scripture that describes their identity and riches available to them in Christ (Ephesians 1) so they can rejoice.

10. LET CONSEQUENCES FALL ON THEIR HEADS

Respectable men recognize the painful effects of sin. If our boys are continually being shielded from natural consequences, they will have a distorted sense of self and sin. Let them feel the pain of their sin coupled with the restorative effects of grace.

Mothers, respect your sons. Give them this gift early on and by God’s grace, they will grow in respectability and become the godly men we recognized in them from the start.

Originally Posted at www.TheResurgence.com 

ARE YOU READY FOR AN EYE-OPENING, GUT-WRENCHING FILM?

Here's a new, eye-opening film from Unearthed feauturing the Resurgence's leaders, Mark Driscoll and Justin Holcomb. 

UNEARTHING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

When Unearthed was formed, we had our hearts set on producing a documentary that would expose the mechanics of the global sex trade. For a solid year, we traveled, filmed, raided brothels, rescued victims, and had our hearts crushed by the magnitude of sexual brokenness that surrounded us. You can watch some of that work here.

When it came time to edit the film, we decided that the last thing the world needed was another depressing documentary that explained how badly sex trafficking sucked. So, we pulled the plug on it, we prayed, we waited, and we listened.

THE ROOT OF TRAFFICKING

We all have responsibility to the victims of this injustice, and we're thrilled that 85% of the money that comes into our doors goes right back out to some of the best organizations in the world that rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate the women & children that live in this hell.

But who's going after the victimizers? Really...who's made it their ambition to kill this thing at the root? If we rescued every victim today, we'd wake up to a demand for 100+ million new slaves tomorrow. If a victim's care is the only weapon in this battle, it'll continue to do a cyclically miserable job of winning.

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If we rescued every victim today, we'd wake up to a demand for 100+ million new slaves tomorrow.

”

We've got to go after the heart of the issue, and that is the hearts of men. Men perpetuate the demand in sex slavery. Men in our cities, backyards, and churches can fuel the global sex trade with their "private" sexual decisions, which often create massive global impact.

Take porn for example: a 97 billion dollar per year industry that's got almost 80% of men and 35% of women ensnared. Americans spend so much on porn each year that it breaks down to $50 per person, and we account for only 14% of the global porn share. While specific connections can be hard to trace, we know that porn profits directly fund the acquisition of new women and children being forced into sex slavery.

THE HEARTS OF MEN

Jacob's story in the video above isn't an isolated incident. Jesus is continually transforming abusers into protectors; addicts into free men and traffickers into rescuers. Over the next year, we're creating a film called The Hearts of Men. It's a raw, unfiltered examination of how sin distorts sex, who's affected, and how the Gospel changes all of it. We know that to win this war, we need to engage men and right now they aren't just asleep on the battlefield, they're fornicating on it. A generation of God's sons need to be reminded who they are in Christ: chosen, washed, sanctified, and justified.

Men, we're coming after you, in love, because we know that when the gospel changes you, everything changes.

Find out more about Unearthed here


Originally Posted at www.TheResurgence.com

Jesus Is Risen - EASTER 2012 Marshill Church

Originally Posted at www.marshillchurch.og 

Why Jesus Creates Art.....

Originally Posted at www.TheResurgence.com

KONY 2012 - http://www.invisiblechildren.com/

Manhood - Maturity and courage comes to those who seek it

Manhood from Hazardous Journeys on Vimeo.

Risk - The proving of leadership through adversity

Risk from Hazardous Journeys on Vimeo.

Dominion - To explore and declare the glory of God in creation

Dominion from Hazardous Journeys on Vimeo.

Dear daughter: Had we known that you had Down Syndrome, we would have killed you when we had the chance.

An unbelievable story out of Portland, Oregon where a couple is suing a local health center for three million dollars for the “wrongful birth” of their daughter. You read that right, “wrongful birth.”

“The Levys filed suit against Legacy Health, claiming that Deborah Levy would have aborted her pregnancy had she known her daughter had the chromosomal abnormality.”

Read the disturbing article here.

Franky, I don’t know why the parents have resorted to handling this litigiously. After all, they can prevent all the inconveniences they’ll have toendure by simply performing a post-birth abortion (the inevitable next step in our “civilized” society’s ever-spiraling descent into complete and utter barbaric savagery and depravity).

I am curious at exactly how the parents’ moral compass functions. Does the same moral compass that would have allowed them to extinguish their precious daughter before birth (had they known she was not as “healthy, strong and bright” as their sons), now all of a sudden prevent them from extinguishing the same defective child after birth? How do they make that distinction? Where do they draw that line? How long will there even be a line?

And we dare look down our long noses of sophistication from our ivory towers of progressive enlightenment and condemn the Nazis for doing the same thing. We are but a nation of hypocrites.

Originally posted at www.defendingcontending.com on March 9th, 2012

Why Jesus Creates Sex - Pastor Mark Driscoll

Matt Chandler - God is for God (Code Orange Revival)

Lecture - Dr Peter Williams - New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts

Sharing the Gospel with Break Dancers

Here Am I Ministry: breakdancers from slava fesyuk on Vimeo.

Matt Chandler - David & Goliath & The Gospel