Theology Thursday

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

[tran’-sub-stan’-shee-ay‘-shun] (Latin transsubstantiati, “change of substance”)

The Roman Catholic doctrine that refers to the change by which the substance (not the appearance) of the bread and wine in the Eucharist becomes the actual body and blood of Christ. That is, Jesus is not merely symbolically or figuratively present, but is really (or actually) present in what was previously just bread and wine. In 1551 the Council of Trent defined this, “by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.” (Session XIII, chapter IV). Eastern Orthodox Churches agree that the bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ, but they don”t seek to define how the change takes place the way Roman Catholics have. They are content to call it a mystery. Protestant churches all deny this doctrine.

EVANGELICAL

[ee''-van-jel''-ih-kul] (Greek euangelion, “good news” or “gospel”)

A transdenominational term that finds roots in the historic church, but most commonly, from a theological standpoint, represents those who identify with historic Protestantism and are committed to 1) the necessity of conversion to Christ, 2) the authority of Scripture, 3) the spread of the Gospel message, 4) a belief in the Five Solas of the Reformation, 5) a belief in the Nicene Creed and Chalcedonian statement of faith. Evangelicalism is not represented by any leader or institutional structure, but is representative of an ethos the permeates many Christian traditions.

ANACHRONISM

[uh-nak''-ruh-niz''-um] (Greek ana, “against” + Greek chronos, “time”)

The fallacy when one misplaces a contemporary usage of something (words, events, customs, etc.) and enforces it upon the past. In theology, this is often done with word usage and can cause great misunderstanding. For example, the word “catholic” today carries a connotation associating it the current Roman Catholic Church. Often when one reads early church documents they will see the word “catholic” and enforce their current understanding of what it means to be catholic into their understanding when, in truth, the word meant something much different.

AMILLENNIALISM

[aw’-mih-len''-ee-uh-liz’-um] (Latin a-, “before” + Latin mille, “thousand” + Latin annum, “years”) norInaugurated Millennialism

A particular view of Christian eschatology that teaches the
Kingdom of God was inaugurated at Pentecost and will conclude at Christ”s Second Coming. Unlike premillennialism, the amillennial view asserts there will not be an established period in which Christ “physically” reigns upon the Earth. Rather, He reigns as King in Heaven at the right hand of the Father through his established church. The most notable early church father to accept [and systematize] this position was St. Augustine.

EMERGING CHURCH

The “emerging church” is a representative designation for a growing ethos or way of thinking among many dissatisfied Christians (primarily those in Protestantism). While there is no primary leader or credal unity among those in the emerging church, there are certain characteristics that stand out among “emergers,” as they are called. These characteristics are not necessarily found in all emergers, but are representative of the emerging ethos.

1. Epistemologically, they are less optimistic about our ability to come to know “the” truth, but find value in many perspectives.

2. Theologically, they are prone to questioning traditional theological dogma.

3. Politically, they call for change and social activism and often a disassociation with the Republican party.

4. Sociologically, they call on the church to reach out to those in need with love and compassion.

5. Missionally, they focus on “mission” as the everyday role of Christians that should permeate every aspect of their life.

Frugal Friday: Save Money on Entertainment

Save Money on Entertainment

• Cancel magazine subscriptions.
• Use the library for books, magazines, and movies. See if you can reserve them online and then just pick them up.
• Read newspapers online.
• Prepare special dinners at home, rather than going out to celebrate.
• Eat out only once a month.
• Use hotel points and airline miles for vacation.
• Split an entree with someone else when you go out for dinner.
• Do free things for entertainment: Hiking, free city concerts, board games.
• Only order from the dollar menu when eating out.
• Go to the park and have a picnic.
• Take advantage of “get in free” days at the museum, etc.
• To find special festivals, get a free state tourism guide.
• If you find that you go somewhere a lot (a zoo, amusement park), buy a season pass.
• Entertain at home. Have friends over for dinner, or have a game night and just serve snacks.
• Make your own “take out” style meals. Pizza is a good way to start. And if you do a recipe search for your favorite restaurant foods, there are some good knock offs out there!
• Trade babysitting with friends who also need a sitter.

Frugal Friday: Save Money on Miscellaneous Things

Save Money on Miscellaneous Things

• Only get haircuts every 8-10 weeks, instead of every 6 weeks.
• Cut your own hair.
• Do your own manicures.
• Shop for Christmas gifts year round to catch the good sales.
• Compost…it’s good for the garden.
• Dumpster dive, if you’re brave (I am not) and it’s legal where you are.
• Never spend change. Collect it and put it in a savings account.
• Get rid of excess stuff. It costs less to store and maintain.
• Sell it on eBay or Craigslist.
• Or have a garage sale.
• Or give it away on Freecycle.
• Sell homemade items on Etsy.
• Don’t watch TV or read sales papers. It cuts down on wants.
• Enter blog giveaways.
• If you get a raise, don’t increase your lifestyle. Save the extra or pay off debts!
• If you’re a two income family, make sure the second income is more than the expenses associated with working.
• Pay off debt as quickly as possible. Saves on interest.
• Make sure you get get the best interest rate on your savings, CD’s, etc.
• Invest your money. Make it grow.
• Use a budget.
• Use a spreadsheet to keep track of variable expenses.
• Use cash.
• Change your mindset. Instead of thinking “what do I need to buy?”, think, “what do I have that I can use?” That’s how people got through the Great Depression.
• Give stuff you don’t use to others. It gets your mind off of your situation and onto others. And it promotes a sense of contentment and gratitude.

Worship Wednesday: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Remember to turn off the player below.

Tasty Tuesday: Shrimp and Grits

Cheese Grits

• 4 cups water
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Bring water to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Add grits and cook until water is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and cheese.

Shrimp in Butter Cream Sauce

• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1 large clove garlic, minced

Rinse shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned; drain well. In grease, add shrimp. Cook until shrimp turn pink. Add lemon juice, chopped bacon, parsley, scallions and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes.

Spoon grits into a serving bowl. Add shrimp mixture and mix well. Serve immediately.

Meditation Monday: Submission

"Submission places you under God's protection.  rebellion opens you up to the influence of Satan in ways you may not even realize.  When we place ourselves under the spiritual covering of the authorities God has placed in our lives, God protects us.  On the other hand, when we insist on having it our way and stepping out from under that protection, we become vulnerable and give the Enemy (Satan) a new opportunity to attack us."
Lies Young Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free 
page115

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Eph. 5:21

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.

1Sa 15:23  

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. 

Pro 21:1  

Theology Thursday

SOLA SCRIPTURA

(Latin, “the Scripture alone”)

Belief of Protestants that Christian Scripture is the final and only infallible authority for the Christian in matters of faith and practice. Sola Scriptura was coined during the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, but according to Protestants, is found throughout Christian history. The belief in Sola Scriptura contrasts both the Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah”s Witness, and Eastern Orthodox belief that along with Scripture there necessarily exists an infallible authority which either interprets the Scripture with ultimate authority or adds new revelations to supplement the Scripture. Hence, in these traditions, the Scripture is not the final, ultimate, or only infallible authority as there are other authorities equal to that of Scripture. Protestants, on the other hand, while respecting the existence of other authorities (tradition, experience, reason, creation, etc.), do not believe that these are equal to that of Scripture and therefore must always be tested by, and submitted to, Scripture.

EASTERN ORTHODOXY

A tradition in Christianity that claims to represent the church the most faithfully due to its adherence to the traditions, beliefs, and practices of the early church. Though many would see the Eastern Orthodox church as simply “Catholicism without a Pope,” the Orthodox would reject such a simplified identification. Not only do they not have a living infallible authority, such as the Pope, but they approach theology from a more mystical, and less rationalistic, perspective. Their theology primarily comes from the first seven ecumenical councils as, according to the Orthodox, these councils represent a perfect representation of the Christian faith. Claiming to be the most “ancient faith” and an uncompromised liturgy, the Eastern Orthodox church boasts over two-hundred and fifty million members worldwide.

PROTESTANTISM

A tradition in Christianity which found its self-identity as “Protestant” in the sixteenth-century Reformation. Protestantism began when the church, according to Protestants, lost the Gospel during the middle to late middle ages and reformers began to “protest” this loss. Martin Luther, often seen as the father of Protestantism, rejected the Pope”s claims to infallible authority, believed that the Gospel was being lost to a system of works-based salvation, and confessed the Bible alone was the only infallible and ultimate source of authority for the Christian. Protestantism is not a church, but a tradition which claims to have restored or reformed the Gospel, and hence, the church. Protestantism is made up of thousands of denominations (various expressions of the Protestant faith) and boasts nearly four hundred million members world-wide.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM

A tradition in the Christian faith that distinguishes itself as the “one true church.” The primary distinctives of Roman Catholicism from other traditions of Christianity are 1) the bishop of Rome who claims apostolic succession, infallibility, and the authority of Peter the Apostle, 2) its claims to absolute and infallible authority in matters of faith and practice, 3) its claim to doctrinal fidelity with both the history of the church and biblical interpretation, and 4) the unity that is produced by such fidelity. Other major Christian traditions that would deny such claims are Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Roman Catholicism boasts of over one billion members.

ARIANISM

[air''-ee-uh-niz''-um] The teachings of 4th Century theologian Arius who lived and taught in Alexandria, Egypt. His controversial teachings on the relationship of Jesus Christ to God the Father led to the Council of Nicea. Arius believed that Jesus was not one with the Father, and that he was not fully divine in nature, though almost. The Council deemed Arius’ teaching heretical and homoousioswas declared the official teaching of the Church.

Friday Funny: Death and Ducks

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary
surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet
pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's
chest.
 
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and
sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has
passed away."
 
The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the
vet..
 
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean
you haven't done any testing on him or anything.
He might just be in a coma or something."
 
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the
room. He returned a few minutes later with a black
Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on
In amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his
Front paws on the examination table and sniffed the
duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the
vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
 
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out
of the room. A few minutes later he returned with
a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately
sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back
on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and
strolled out of the room.
 
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry,
but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably,
a dead duck."

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys
and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman..
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!"
She cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
 
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my
word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the
lab report and the cat scan, it's now $150."

Worship Wednesday: Christmas Collection

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.   

Luke 2:1-5  

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.   And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 

Luke 2:6-10 

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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."   And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,   "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"  When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 

Luke 2:11-15

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

Luke 2:16-20 

Merry Christmas, 
Love, MissyLou

Tasty Tuesday: Oreo Dessert

1 large box of instant vanilla or white chocolate pudding

3 cups of milk

1 package of double stuffed Oreos

1 package of cream cheese, soft

2 small containers or 1 large container of whipped topping

1 - 2 cups of powered sugar (depending on how rich you want it)

Blend one row of cookies in a food processor and place in the bottom of a large bowl.  Ina separate large mixing bowl, blend pudding and milk until well blended making sure there are no lumps of pudding.  Add whipped topping and blend.  Add cream cheese and blend well.  Make sure the cream cheese is soft or it will lump.  Add desired amount of powdered sugar and blend.  Pour mixture of cookies.  Blend remaining cookies and place on top of pudding mixture.  

Tasty Tuesday: Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon Spice Island® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 16 to 18 large marshmallows
• 
  ICING:
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Spice Island® Pure Vanilla Extract
• Pecan halves

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; beat into creamed mixture.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, cut marshmallows in half. Press a marshmallow half, cut side down, onto each cookie. Return to the oven for 2 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• For icing, in a small saucepan, combine butter, cocoa and milk. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Cool slightly; transfer to a small bowl. beat in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the cooled cookies. Top each with a pecan half. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Meditation Monday: Our Circle of Influence

"Every woman whether rich or poor, married or single, has a circle of influence. [Every woman has a circle of influence. That’s you. You have a circle of influence] within which according to her character, she is exerting a certain amount of power for good or harm. Every woman, by her virtue or her vice, by her folly or her wisdom, by her levity or her dignity, is adding something to our national elevation or degradation.  A community is not likely to be overthrown where a woman fulfills her mission, for by the power of her noble heart over the hearts of others, she will raise it from its ruins and restore it again to prosperity and joy [the influence that each of us has as a woman]."


British pastor from the 17 and 1800s, 
John Angell James