Please Take Some Time To Watch This

This is a great video about the fight to keep the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program alive. It also highlights the struggle to bring parental rights and school choice to parents and children across the nation:

Calvary Chapel Goes Off The Deep End

I grew up in the Calvary Chapel movement and I respect many things about their churches. They believe, as I do, that the Scriptures are God-breathed and mean what they say. They have amazing outreach and do great missionary work. They encourage their followers to study the Scriptures for themselves. Good stuff.

But Chuck Smith and a couple of others recently responded to a caller on their KWAVE radio show by calling someone who is "very close" to her that recently became a "five-point Calvinist" a heretic. By extension they called any of us that believe in election a "cultish" figure as well.

Listen to the arrogance in the host as he chuckles through each Scripture they use. Listen to the proof-texting they participate in as they take verses out of context. They seem to refuse to participate in any exegesis of the subject and instead power through the typical Arminian arguments. Chuck Smith, the leader of the Calvary Chapel pseudo-denomination, didn't spew the most virulent attacks on Calvinists but he sat there and added to the attacks.

Besides calling us cultish, the worst of the attacks was a statement that we Calvinists believe in a "Christianity without Jesus." What an irresponsible and offensive thing to say. Since I came to understand that my Arminian beliefs of my childhood were not adding up Scripturally, I have a gratitude and love of Jesus and his redemptive work of death and resurrection I never had before. It is shameful they would say such a thing.

Another point to consider is their lambasting of the Doctrine of Limited Atonement. I blogged about this a while back here. Calvary pastors that believe as these guys do on this KWAVE broadcast limit the atonement's effectiveness. Christ died for everyone but it only worked for some. Calvinists limit the atonement's scope. Christ died for the elect and it is effective in saving them. He would have died for one (like a Good Shepherd that leaves the 99 for the 1) but his atonement is effective for countless believers who embrace Him through His election. So we both limit atonement. The question is whether the Scriptures point to a limited effectiveness or a limited scope.

I could write paragraphs about how ignorant about Biblical Calvinism they are but I'll just link to the video and let you decide. It includes a Calvinist responding. I don't know if I'd respond the same way but he has some good points.

What Is the Foundation Of Your Economic Beliefs?

What Is the Foundation Of Your Economic Beliefs?

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My Favorite Chicken Stir Fry Receipe

Chicken & Edamame Stir Fry

High Protien and High Fiber stir-fry meal

Ingredients

1. Kosher salt (or Redman's Sea Salt) & Pepper
2. 8 oz. udon noodles, cooked & rinsed
3. 2 boneless chicken breasts cut into thin strips
4. 1 T cornstarch
5. 2 T vegetable oil
6. 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
7. 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
8. 1/2 napa cabbage or whole bok choy, thinly sliced (about 1lb)
9. 2 Cups frozen edamame, shelled
10. 2 T rice vinegar
11. 2 T soy sauce

Directions

1. Toss chicken with cornstarch, season with salt & pepper
2. Heat 1 T oil in large skillet or wok. cook chicken in two batches, 2-4 minutes, transfer to plate.
3. Add 1 T oil to skillet, add onion & garlic - 1-3 minutes
4. Add cabbage & cook 2-4 minutes or until tender
5. Add edamame, vinegar, soy sauce, chicken, & noodles, season with salt & pepper
6. Cook, tossing, until noodles & edamame are warmed through - 3-5 minutes

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Happy Holidays!

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

Santa had some trouble over Northern Iowa...

What Do You Know About Public Education?

Do you think Iowans are better informed than Utahns?  I seriously doubt it.  If anything, there are fewer organizations and advocates for transparency in public education and far less organization behind School Choice in Iowa than Utah:

Pretty Amazing Statistics