What Churches Should Know about Divorce

Posted on by
Share|
Myths Christians Have Been Told About Divorce

Much of what you’ve been taught about marriage and divorce is wrong.

  1. Remember hearing that church attending Christians divorce as much as the rest of the country? WRONG.
  2. Remember hearing that feminism is the cause of divorce? WRONG, long before The Feminine Mystique (1963), divorce was rampant in America.
  3. Longing for the “good old days” when everyone stayed together. WRONG.
  4. When America was a God-fearing nation our marriages were much better than other countries. WRONG, Europeans have been shocked by our high divorce rate for more than 200 years.
  5. The Puritans didn’t allow divorce for anything other than adultery or abandonment by an unbeliever. WRONG.
  6. Divorce is lower in areas with a high Christian population. WRONG, the South has the highest reported divorce rate in America.
  7. Facebook causes divorce. NO PROOF. Wall Street Journal says this claim was made as a marketing ploy by an online divorce-service provider. There’s no solid evidence that this is true.

Our churches, ministries, and radio hosts harm the cause of Christianity when they use poor statistics and urban legends. We become the laughing stock of people who are better informed. Use of bad statistics has become a scandal in Christianity.

New! Presentation: What the Church Needs to Know about Divorce

Download this 34-slide deck and let me know what you think. I created this for a 45-minute session, so it doesn’t include the stats on pornography or divorce rate by region. If I’ve missed something or been inaccurate, please let me know. (Don’t leave a comment on this blog. Just email me directly:  gretchen@[see the domain name above].com.)

Finally, if you would like to see this published as a booklet, please let me know.

What Churches Need to Know About Divorce-part 1-v2.1  [DRAFT 2.1]

 

For part 2, click:  What the Church Should Know About Divorce-Part-2-v1.2

How to Report a Fake Text Message from an Unknown Sender

Posted on by
Share|

 

If you receive a text message on your mobile phone from an unknown sender making an offer that seems to good to be true, there are many things you can do.

  1. You can search the phone number or code to see if others have reported the same thing at SMS Watchdog.   You can also leave an anonymous complaint on the SMS Watchdog site.
  2. To remove yourself from the sender’s list, send a text back that says only: Stop
  3. If the text includes a message about charging you a fee, contact your cell phone carrier to remove or block it.
  4. If the text message is from a business, you may file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. There is no charge for filing an FCC complaint. You can file your complaint using an online complaint form. You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by calling 1-888-225-5322.
  5. Send the text message to your carrier by forwarding the message on your phone to 7726 (7726 spells SPAM).
  6. Be aware of some common fake text messages (SMS or MMS fraud*) offers:
  • Fake Lottery
  • Fraudulent gifts or gift certificates or rebates
  • Hoaxes via text message
  • Fake contests, sweepstakes or giveaways
  • Phony virus protection
  • Fraudulent debt reduction services

 

 

* SMS = Short Message Service;  MMS = Multimedia Messaging Service. These are types of cell phone text messaging.

How to Help Single Mothers – Part 5: Know the Facts

Posted on by
Share|

One of the most important ways to help single mothers is simply to know the truth about poverty in America.  Not all single mothers have low incomes but many do.

1.  How many workers in America earned less than $26,364 in 2009?

A.   20 %     B.  30%     C. 40%     D.  50%

2.  What percentage of people lived in poverty in America in 2010?

A.  2.9%     B. 8.5%     C.  15.1%     D. 17.7%

3.  Divorce is declining in which of these two groups since the 1980s?

A.  Those with a college education    B. Those without a college education

4. What percent of single mothers with children under age 18 live under the poverty line?

A.  18.2%      B.  26.9%      C.  37.1%      D. 54.1%

 

ANSWERS:

1.   D – 50% of workers in America made less than $$26,364 according to the Social Security Administration. Find links to actual data here.   http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/netcomp.cgi?year2010

2.  C – 15.1% of people live below the poverty level in America. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/index.html

3.  A. – Divorce among the college educated has declined since the 1980s, but the divorce rate has increased in those without college educations.  “The Evolution of Divorce 2009″ http://www.virginia.edu/marriageproject/specialreports.html

4. C.  37.1% of single mothers with minor children live below poverty level according to the U.S. Census 2005-2009 data.  http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2009_5YR_G00_S1702&-ds_name=ACS_2009_5YR_G00_&-redoLog=false

New! Feasts of the Bible DVD Study

Posted on by
Reply
Share|

Rose Publishing launches new DVD, leader guide for understanding the significance of the Feasts of the Bible

Contact: Don Otis, 719-275-7775, interviews@veritasincorporated.com; www.rose-publishing.com

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 12, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ — What do the feasts of the Bible have to do with the coming Messiah? The seven feasts of Israel lay out the redemptive program of God. They show God’s intended appointment schedule with His people but also point the way toward the coming Messiah.

Dr. Sam Nadler is a Jewish believer in Jesus who was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish home. He is the host of a 6-session DVD series on each feast as well as the author of the accompanying 96-page leader guide, 96-page participant guide, and a 240-page handbook, Messiah in the Feasts of Israel (Rose Publishing).

Beginning with the Sabbath, he shows how it is the starting point of God’s redemptive plan. “God created us to relate to Him in His image . . . the finished work of creation is as finished work with redemption through Sabbath.”

In Passover, God shows his people that He is the ultimate redeemer. God wants not just a clean home, but a clean heart too, explains Nadler. While sin breaks relationship with God, the feast of Pentecost brings us together. It is a season of giving of the law and a season of giving of the Spirit. The diversity of many tribes and peoples come together in one body.

At the feast of trumpets, “When trumpets blow, it is the trumpet of redemption,” says Nadler. There will be a day when God opens the book of life because He is sovereign over all creation. If there is a book of life, there is also the need for personal faith in Messiah.

The feast of tabernacles is the culmination of the work of God, a gathering of the nations where God is looking to restore a lost humanity to Himself. Lastly, the Day of Atonement is a solemn humbling of the soul. “Forgiveness, and all that it means, was done on the cross” says Nadler. Because of the Atonement, we can come into the very presence of the living God.

Dr. Michael Brown says, Messiah in the Feasts of Israel, “Demonstrates with undeniable clarity how the feasts and holy days of Israel are of importance to the church today.” Through the feasts, God is drawing mankind to Himself, expressing His desire to know and be known, and showing the way to salvation.

About the Author
Dr. Sam Nadler, the series host and president of Word of Messiah ministries, provides a unique perspective: a Jewish Christian perspective. Nadler’s orthodox Jewish background and Christian beliefs bolsters the series’ authenticity and accuracy.

To watch 1 of the 6-sessions for free or to learn more about this product, visit:
www.feastsofthebible.com/samples

Rose Publishing continues to live up to its title as Christian Retailing’s “2011 Supplier of the Year,” with this visually enticing and easy-to-understand DVD series, Feast of the Bible.

Title: Feast of the Bible DVD Series
ISBN: 9781596364653
Price: $29.99

Title: Feasts of the Bible Box Set
ISBN: 9781596364646
Price: $99.99

Rose Publishing, Inc.
Phone: 310-353-2100
Email: info@rose-publishing.com
Company Website: www.rose-publishing.com
Product Website: www.feastsofthebible.com

For further information contact Don Otis @ 719.275.7775 or
email: interviews@veritasincorporated.com<a

8 Signs of a Healthy Prayer Life

Posted on by
Reply
Share|

I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”
— Charles Spurgeon

“Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius.” — George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon

Have you ever experienced the discouragement of an unanswered prayer? Have you found yourself questioning God, wondering “Why didn’t he answer my prayer?” and “Why is he silent now when I need him the most?” As you sit there, you may realize that prayer sometimes seems like a one-sided event, even though we know God’s there.

How do you respond to his silence? Do you try to “figure” God out—the purpose behind it all—asking “Was it because I sinned?” “Is a better opportunity coming?” or “Have I lost God’s favor?” Answering these questions will most likely leave you disappointed and confused. After all, our Lord’s ways are mysterious.

Instead of resorting to gimmicks stating to “pray this and receive,” it’s time to deepen your understanding of prayer itself with Rose Publishing’s What the Bible Says About Prayer pamphlet. Experience the peace that comes from diving into a deeper communication with God.

What the Bible Says About Prayer Will Show You:

  • How to pray.
  • Four simple kinds of prayer (ACTS).
  • How Jesus prayed.
  • Phrase-by-phrase analysis of the Lord’s Prayer (in chart form).
  • Denied prayers throughout the Bible.
  • What to do when God seems silent.
  • What to do when waiting for an answer.
  • Over 100 biblical examples of prayer.

8 Signs of a Healthy Prayer Life

  1. Prays frequently and persistently
  2. Asks in faith
  3. Acknowledges God’s will
  4. Depends on the Holy Spirit
  5. Avoids selfish and hypocritical prayers
  6. Accepts when God says no
  7. Knows what to do when God seems silent
  8. Listens for God to answer

This little 14-page, full-color pamphlet is just $3.99. ALSO — It’s available to download right now.

Queen Esther – A Woman in Danger

Posted on by
Reply
Share|

The story of Esther in the Bible is often told as a romance. But it is really a story of a young woman with a hidden identity who lives in great danger.

  • She is part of a hated minority group.
  • She is married to a wildly emotional king who executes people at will
  • A powerful and violent enemy of her family is the second-in-command in the kingdom.

FREE – Download fascinating facts about her life. Click here.

Find out:

  • The meaning of Esther’s name
  • Why the Jewish people from Northern Israel (Samaria) were in Persia
  • Who was King Ahasuerus (King Xerxes)?

Or enter in your browser: http://www.rose-publishing.com/client/emarketing/echart122/echart122_receive.cfm

If you enjoy this free Bible eChart, you can sign up to receive one new FREE Bible eChart in your email each week!  Click here to sign up.

If you want to know more about Queen Esther, download the full-color introduction about her life: Here’s the 14-page pamphlet on Esther. (You can also download it for your computer or iPad. Click here. Also it’s in Spanish.)

First Impressions of the Livescribe Echo Pen

Posted on by
Reply
Share|

My new Livescribe Echo Pen just arrived yesterday, and already I’m loving it.


First, I should explain that I’m not an early adopter. I’m a busy person who doesn’t have time to mess with new gadgets. I hate facing a long learning curve.

But Livescribe is so easy to use, it can be functional in just 5 minutes. The instructions that come in the box couldn’t be easier. (Can you tap on a square that says “Tap Here”?)

Livescribe is perfect for people who like to take handwritten notes, and yet want them on a computer to save and search them later. I am often in meetings where note-taking via laptop would be rude, so Livescribe is perfect for this. No scanner is needed. I simply write on the special dot paper (comes in a journal like Moleskine or a less expensive spiral-bound notebook). Then connect the pen to the computer and the page automatically shows up. This page can be saved to your computer, emailed, sent to Evernote, posted on Facebook, etc.  And yes, it does handwriting recognition. Your text is searchable. I find that it recognized cursive writing better than printing…but this is just my first day.

Best yet!  You can go back later to that same page and add notes in the margin. Next time you connect your pen to the computer, it will update that page. No need to search for the page and delete it first.

Here’s one of my early tests. Click the orange button first.
The text in black was being written without the audio.
The text in green was being written as I was recording the audio. Now the audio is tied to an exact place on the page. Move your mouse over any of the green text and click to hear the accompanying audio.

Gretchen’s Pencasts
brought to you by Livescribe

Rose Publishing Awarded 2011 'Supplier of the Year' by Christian Retailing Magazine

Posted on by
Reply
Share|

TORRANCE, Calif., May 12, 2011– Rose Publishing was named “Supplier of the Year” by Christian Retailing magazine at the annual Retailing ReBoot conference.

The Torrance, Calif.-based publisher was presented with Christian Retailing’s Supplier of the Year award for “outstanding contributions in the development and service of Christian retail.”

“We are truly honored,” said Gretchen Goldsmith, president/CEO of the company in Torrance, California. “Our staff has worked hard to give people what they want: full-color Bible maps, charts, and time lines at an affordable price.”

Rose Publishing specializes in Bible reference material that explains the Bible visually. The easy-to-understand approach has resulted in the company’s #1 market share in the industry for Bible Maps/Atlases and for Old Testament Biblical Studies.

“Rose products sell very well. They are well-designed and give a concise treatment to a wide variety of topics,” says George Thomsen, General Manager, The Harvest Store.

The company is also one of the top-ranked publishers in the general Bible Reference, New Testament Bible reference, and Christian apologetics categories, according to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Category Analysis Report for 2010.

“I have found that in this past year when many people have reduced incomes, our book sales have been down, but our sales of Rose pamphlets have increased. I don’t know what our sales would be without their products,” said Nancy Shockwiler, Manager First Word Bookstore

The affordably priced pamphlets ($3.99 each) and the reproducible books put full-color material within reach of teachers, even during a recession. Churches that have seen a decline in giving over the past two years, find Rose Publishing’s products a better value than the black-and-white Bible study booklets costing $8.99.

The company has seen its web traffic increase 400% due to the free Bible charts they give away every week via email. (Sign up at www.rose-publishing.com/echarts)

“Rose Publishing’s site is now ranked in the top 1%,” said Gretchen Goldsmith, quoting the WebsiteGrader.com statistics. “People want easy-to-understand Bible study material and we give away some wonderful samples. Our mailing list grew 10 times over in just 12 months.”

Rose Publishing was founded in 1991 by a Sunday school teacher and a public school teacher. They realized that there were very few good Bible charts, time lines, and maps on the market for their classes and began creating their own on the dining room table. Other teachers started asking for the charts and the company was born.

From those few charts locally, to thousands of loyal customers worldwide today, Rose Publishing is the only Christian publisher that specializes in Bible charts, time lines, and maps.

Rose Publishing, Inc.
4733 Torrance Blvd. #259
Torrance, CA 90503 USA
Phone: 310-353-2100
Toll Free: 800-53-CHART (800-532-4278)
Fax: 310-353-2116
Email: info@rose-publishing.com
Website: www.rose-publishing.com

www.rose-publishing.com/client/client_pages/pressreleases.cfm

Should Ayn Rand's Upcoming "Atlas Shrugged" Movie Appeal to Christians?

Posted on by
Reply
Share|

According to the Los Angeles Times, promoters of the movie version of Ayn Rand’s best selling book Atlas Shrugged are targeting Christians as a key audience for their limited release movie.

I’m not sure why they think that Christians, at least those Christians who take Jesus’ teachings seriously, would be aficionados.

Rand doesn’t fit neatly into any Christian values-based marketing plan.

—Rebecca Keegan, Los Angeles Times

But it’s not the sex scenes Keegan refers to later in her article, it’s something far deeper.

Many years ago, I and other seniors in my high school class started reading Ayn Rand books and devoured Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. At first, it was heady, wonderful and seductive: All about self-reliance, personal responsibility, hard work, and disdain for bureaucracy, red tape, inept people, and productivity-killing laws.

I ate it up, until I realized what would happen if I applied her principles to people I loved who had mental illnesses and disabilities. This is a self-interested philosophy that knows nothing of Jesus’ teachings to love and care for those who are “naked, hungry, or in prison.” I don’t know how the movie will differ from the book, but the book has a clear message underlying the captivating storyline: If you aren’t productive you aren’t of any value.

What do you like/dislike about Ayn Rand’s writings?