A national “Bible Bee” contest will be held for the first time next year and will distribute more than $260,000 in prize money with $100,000 being awarded to the first-place winner of the top age bracket.
Sponsored by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, the first annual National Bible Bee will encourage Bible memorization for children and youth from 7 to 18 years of age. Local Bible Bee Contests will be conducted throughout the United States on Saturday, September 12, 2009, followed by the national level competition two months later.
“We are excited to introduce our first annual National Bible Bee,” the Shelby Kennedy Foundation stated in a public announcement. “[T]he goal of the Bible Bee is to build godly character in young people by calling them back to the lost discipline of Scripture memorization.”
The idea for the Bible Bee is based on the Scripps National Spelling Bee, where youth...
DJC49, how very true, while some explanations of the Trinity are rather simple like this one by Easton, "Trinity a word not found in Scripture, but used to express the doctrine of the unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons. This word is derived from the Gr. trias, first used by Theophilus (A.D. 168-183), or from the Lat. trinitas, first used by Tertullian (A.D. 220), to express this doctrine. The propositions involved in the doctrine are these: 1. That God is one, and that there is but one God (Deut. 6:4; 1 Kings 8:60; Isa. 44:6; Mark 12:29, 32; John 10:30). 2. That the Father is a distinct divine Person (hypostasis, subsistentia, persona, suppositum intellectuale), distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit. 3. That Jesus Christ was truly God, and yet was a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. 4. That the Holy Spirit is also a distinct divine Person." Christians still think there is a divine mystery to it, The Trinity--Part 1, because simple-minded men can't not comprehend an infinite God.
DJC49 wrote: Prayer itself does NOT impel God to convert anyone, rather, it is a MEANS instrumental in the "setting the stage" for His elect unto salvation.
May I add that I believe the Lord, through His Spirit He has given us, burdens His saints to pray for those things He intends to give in time (i.e. the salvation of a loved one) to the end that we may glorify Him for prayers answered and our joy may be full. Of course I cannot argue this from scripture... it is just a heartfelt conviction.
Thinking christian wrote: Hello DJC49 Just a question. Do you think the prayers of saints have any impact on Gods conversion of a man? Is there evidence from the N.T, and where are we commanded to pray for sinners?
Just a brief follow-up on my previous post to you, *Thinking christian*
Here are a few more verses from the NT which argue for an integral role that prayer plays in bringing conversion to sinners:
John 17:20 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (Here, Jesus prays for believers not yet in existence that they "all be one" SO THAT even others -- the world -- might believe that the Father had indeed sent the Son!)
2Thess 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you" (Prayer for the dissemination of the Gospel)
Luke 10:2 "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: PRAY YE therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest" (Prayer for more preachers) ___
N.B. Prayer itself does NOT impel God to convert anyone, rather, it is a MEANS instrumental in the "setting the stage" for His elect unto salvation.
John Yurich USA wrote: There is nothing mysterious about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is totally comprehensible and totally logical.
It's nice to know that this same *John Yurich* who has yet to figured out why he should not remain in the Roman Catholic Church can fully and totally comprehend the Triune Godhead.
DJC49 wrote: In every one of the Great Doctrines of Christianity we are confronted with profound mystery. Many of the questions we have concerning the nature of: the Trinity.
There is nothing mysterious about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is totally comprehensible and totally logical.
Thinking christian wrote: Hello DJC49 Do you think the prayers of saints have any impact on Gods conversion of a man? Is there evidence from the N.T, and where are we commanded to pray for sinners?
In every one of the Great Doctrines of Christianity we are confronted with profound mystery. Many of the questions we have concerning the nature of: the Trinity; Jesus Christ; our union with Christ; etc., can not be fully explained. Such is the case with election as far as HOW, in time, it is carried out and what part prayer plays in election's fulfillment. It is indeed a mystery -- yet it is evident that prayer plays an essential part. Yes, God elects, the results is certain, but He has sovereignly allowed men to participate in the realization of salvation of His elect through preaching, prayer and many other contingencies.
Paul believed in election. Did he not? Yet he wrote in Rom 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire AND PRAYER to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."
And in Matt 5:44 we read: "... and PRAY FOR THEM which despitefully use you, and persecute you" What manner of prayer might this be?
God accomplishes His "decree of election" through MEANS & secondary agencies which include integrating men and their prayers into the process.
DJC49 wrote: Enough of your silly "hypermen" nonsense. Let this come as no surprise to you (I'm quite sure that it doesn't), but Calvinists know that God uses MEANS to accomplish His sovereign will concerning the salvation of His elect. These MEANS include: the Gospel; sinful men and the foolishness of preaching; the prayers of these sinful men; and a host of contingencies to accomplish His election.
Hello DJC49
Sorry to butt into your conversation with Mr.Dispy. Just a question. Do you think the prayers of saints have any impact on Gods conversion of a man? Is there evidence from the N.T, and where are we commanded to pray for sinners? I can think of a place where we are told not to pray for the world.
These are genuine questions, and are not intended to begin a controversial debate, which seems to be the norm on this site when questions on election etc. arise. I would just like to know your thoughts, as these questions have been rolling about in my head lately.
DJC49 wrote: Please don't lose any sleep over what I am about to tell you, but, even my imprecatory prayers (if I were to enter into any) would be a PART of the dynamic complex of MEANS which God uses to accomplish the salvation of His elect! Sorry, but I don't have a schematic on how exactly God saves His own. (And I KNOW how much you pre-trib/pre-mill Dispies absolutely LOVE charts and diagrams!) _____ BTW, ALL Calvinists are "5-pointers." ALL the petals of the TULIP are necessary with Christ at the center. Denying any one of the 5 points makes one something other than a Calvinist -- some sort of hybrid -- some sort of mutation.
Oh, I sha'n't lose any sleep over this. I have long ago stopped trying to explicate just how God accomplishes his will. When I consider how he saved me, it boggles my mind. How could I ever know exactly what he might do with one of my prayers, unless he tells me himself?
Thanks for the chart, by the way. It's not as colorful as others I've seen, but is quite clear. It is remarkable what others cannot see sometimes. --- And as noted, I have removed myself from the Calvinist debate, since it edifieth not.
DJC49 wrote: Well let me tell you something, *Bayou Bob*, I, for one, have absolutely NO problem with or qualms about calling "pastors" and leaders like Joel Osteen HERETIC! It's men like him who are leading HUGE congregations of sinners down paths towards perdition by preaching a false gospel. It's men like him against whom the Church should be invoking constant imprecatory prayers. If the apostle Paul were around today, he would be proclaiming: "LET HIM BE ACCURSED!" -- for preaching another gospel which is no gospel at all.
If this chappie is a heretic preaching a false gospel, then he should be exposed and the Christian public warned against such. It is a lack of such teaching in the churches that many members end up going along to meetings full of error and false doctrine. God's people perish for lack of knowledge oftentimes.
I notice that many imprecatories are uttered in the NT against religionists, rather than sinners without a hint of religion about them. The Lord himself hated religion, especially the religion of the Pharisees: "how shall ye escape the damnation of hell?"
I have noticed over the years that men with religion are the hardest nut to crack, but the Lord CAN do it.
Mr. Dispy wrote: Why, then, would you pray against the means God is using?
Please don't lose any sleep over what I am about to tell you, but, even my imprecatory prayers (if I were to enter into any) would be a PART of the dynamic complex of MEANS which God uses to accomplish the salvation of His elect!
Sorry, but I don't have a schematic on how exactly God saves His own. (And I KNOW how much you pre-trib/pre-mill Dispies absolutely LOVE charts and diagrams!) _____
BTW, ALL Calvinists are "5-pointers." ALL the petals of the TULIP are necessary with Christ at the center. Denying any one of the 5 points makes one something other than a Calvinist -- some sort of hybrid -- some sort of mutation.
DJC49 wrote: Enough of your silly "hypermen" nonsense. Let this come as no surprise to you (I'm quite sure that it doesn't), but Calvinists know that God uses MEANS to accomplish His sovereign will concerning the salvation of His elect. These MEANS include: the Gospel; sinful men and the foolishness of preaching; the prayers of these sinful men; and a host of contingencies to accomplish His election.
Why, then, would you pray against the means God is using?
(BTW, not being a 5-pointer does not mean I am an Arminian. I'm neither. It's a false dichotomy invented by men.)
Mr. Dispy wrote: I thought election meant (for Calvinists, anyway) that what some pastor does has no impact on whether someone would be saved....? Are you now saying that some element of human will might enter into salvation? (I certainly hope not - I don't want your hypermen colleagues to turn on you with imprecatory prayers for apostasizing!)
Enough of your silly "hypermen" nonsense. Let this come as no surprise to you (I'm quite sure that it doesn't), but Calvinists know that God uses MEANS to accomplish His sovereign will concerning the salvation of His elect. These MEANS include: the Gospel; sinful men and the foolishness of preaching; the prayers of these sinful men; and a host of contingencies to accomplish His election.
DJC49 wrote: It's men like him who are leading HUGE congregations of sinners down paths towards perdition by preaching a false gospel.
I thought election meant (for Calvinists, anyway) that what some pastor does has no impact on whether someone would be saved....? Are you now saying that some element of human will might enter into salvation? (I certainly hope not - I don't want your hypermen colleagues to turn on you with imprecatory prayers for apostasizing!)
Bayou Bob wrote: My point is that we shouldn't be calling anyone's Pastor a heretic. ( ) But, I notice that in step with Calvin, Modern Calvinist's love calling people derogatory names.
Well let me tell you something, *Bayou Bob*, I, for one, have absolutely NO problem with or qualms about calling "pastors" and leaders like Joel Osteen HERETIC!
It's men like him who are leading HUGE congregations of sinners down paths towards perdition by preaching a false gospel. It's men like him against whom the Church should be invoking constant imprecatory prayers. If the apostle Paul were around today, he would be proclaiming: "LET HIM BE ACCURSED!" -- for preaching another gospel which is no gospel at all.
Jim Lincoln wrote: Bob, were trying to avoid about how words are to be spelled, in modern American English or in Elizabethan English--we're trying to keep gentlemantly fighting around here from turning into a brawl!
My point is that we shouldn't be calling anyone's Pastor a heretic. But, I notice that in step with Calvin, Modern Calvinist's love calling people derogatory names.
Biblical Calvinist, you have to be a premillennialist, if you're going to be Biblical! You notice those articles were by John MacArthur, whose a 5-pointer Calvinist, I don't think anyone has got him thinking correctly about this and become a 4-pointer, q.v., Calvinism & Arminianism. But then, nobody in this life can be perfect.
Bob, were trying to avoid about how words are to be spelled, in modern American English or in Elizabethan English--we're trying to keep gentlemantly fighting around here from turning into a brawl!
Brian Edwards | 7/17/2008
COMMENTS | 
) But, I notice that in step with Calvin, Modern Calvinist's love calling people derogatory names.
What a filthy swear word to use in relation to Calvinism. 
jim lincoln from nebraska: "it's a pity of what's happening to..."
