The McDowells Answer Tough Questions

Hi everyone! I hope to be back with you soon. I'm taking classes again, and each one is condensed into just a few weeks, so I have little time for much else but studying! I'm learning a LOT and am really excited to share some great things with you soon...in the meantime, here is a video of Josh McDowell (author of More Than a Carpenter ) and Sean McDowell (author of Apologetics for a New Generation )answering tough questions during a live feed. I hope you enjoy and learn much from these experienced apologists!

Tackling Tough Questions: Josh & Sean McDowell from ConversantLife on Vimeo.

Upcoming Lecture With Apologetic Implications

Thursday evening, March 4, the Christian Leadership College (Lincoln, Nebraska) will host a lecture by Dr. Gerry Breshears, Professor of Systematic Theology at Western Seminary (Portland, OR) titled, "Is Christianity to Blame for Injustice in the World?" The Lecture will take place at 7:00 pm at Lincoln Berean Church. The lecture is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there. Invite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers

Here is a brief description of Dr. Breshears lecture:

Critics charge Christianity with responsibility for so much injustice, war and violence. Christopher Hitchens asserts religion is "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children." Karl Marx characterized religion as "the opiate of the people," used by power brokers to keep people in submission while they exploited them. in this lecture we will ask the question, "Can Christians answer these charges without dismissing the truth that is in them?"

Dr. Breshears will also be teaching a course on spiritual warfare at the Christian Leadership College March 3-6. The public is welcome to register to audit this class. For questions or to register for the class, contact Chasity at cstarkel@clcnebraska.com.

The Hope Venture

The Hope Venture is a newly founded compassion-based venture that I'm really excited about! It is a local (to Lincoln, NE) organization whose goal is to "bring help and hope to people around the world. Through trusted partnerships, The Hope Venture engages primarily in compassion-based projects emphasizing better education, health, clothing and shelter for children, orphans and the needy poor, for the honor of Christ." (emphasis mine). Their mission is to "foster a global community that is meeting the needs of people worldwide by compassionately connecting resources with needs." (Join The Hope Venture page on facebook for updates on projects)

One of the things that makes the Hope Venture exciting is that they really put themselves into the hands of people like you and me, asking that we use whatever forums we have to partner with them in spreading the word about their organization and giving more & more people the opportunity to make a difference.

The Hope Venture just finished their first project which was to fund 1000 backpacks filled with school supplies for an entire year to distribute in India. It was a very successful first project!!

The second project is to fund a new addition to the Home of Hope-Bangalore which takes children in from the streets. They are currently running over capacity and more room is greatly needed if the Home of Hope is to continue rescuing orphans. The Hope Venture wants to raise $11,000 to fund this project.

James 2: 15-16 says, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"

What will you do to put your faith into practice? What good fruits will give evidence to God's Spirit in your life?

I hope you will prayerfully consider giving to help the Hope Venture fund this project. Any amount, no matter how small, helps. (Just click on the "chip in" button at the top of this post to make a secure donation. You will be able to print a receipt at the end of the transaction.) It all adds up, so also consider sharing this post with friends and family. We are children of God called to show Jesus' love to a hurting world - and what a privilege that is!