Pastor B Interlinc

Why Is The Resurrection Such A Big Deal

Writer: Sean McDowell

Check out the Interlinc Blog Here

The historical fact of the resurrection is the very foundation for the Christian faith. It is not an optional article of faith—it is the faith! The resurrection of Jesus Christ and Christianity stand or fall together. One cannot be true without the other. Belief in the truth of Christianity is not merely faith in faith—ours or someone else’s—but rather faith in the risen Christ of history. Without the historical resurrection of Jesus, the Christian faith is a mere placebo. Worship, fellowship, Bible study, the Christian life and the church itself are worthless exercises in futility if Jesus has not been literally and physically raised from the dead. Without the resurrection, we might as well forget God, church and following moral rules and “feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

On the other hand, if Christ has been raised from the dead, then He is alive at this very moment, and we can know Him personally (see 1 Corinthians 15:4). Our sins are forgiven (see v. 3), and He has broken the power of death (see v. 54). Furthermore, He promises that we too will be resurrected someday (see v. 22). We can trust Him because He is sovereign over the world (see v. 27). He will give us ultimate victory (see v. 57), and He has a plan for our lives (see v. 58).

The Centrality of the Resurrection
The resurrection has been the focus of the church since its inception. The New Testament book of Acts, which tells the story of the beginning of the Christian church, illustrates this well:

  • In the first chapter the 11 apostles were trying to find a replacement for Judas. One criterion for the selection of an apostle was that he “must become a witness with us of His [Jesus’] resurrection” (Acts 1:22, NASB).
  • In Acts 2:23-24 Peter gives his first sermon on the day of Pentecost. The keynote of his address was, “This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (NASB).

Paul refers to the resurrection of Jesus 53 times in his letters. Most of these texts assert the primacy of the resurrection, the assurance it gives us of our own future bodily resurrection or both. He emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection in his letter to the Thessalonians: “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, Who rescues us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, NASB, emphasis added).

British scholar N.T. Wright explains how central the resurrection has been in the life of the church:
There is no form of early Christianity known to us—though there are some that have been invented by ingenious scholars—that does not affirm at its heart that after Jesus’ shameful death God raised Him to life again. Already by the time of Paul, our earliest written records, the resurrection of Jesus is not just a single detached article of faith. It is woven into the very structure of Christian life and thought.

Atheist Gerd Ludemann Gets It Right
Even Gerd Ludemann, an atheist scholar who has severely criticized the Gospels for their supernatural content, recognizes the importance of the resurrection to Christianity. He explains, “The resurrection of Jesus is the central point of the Christian religion. . . . Evidently everything quite simply depends on the event of the resurrection of Jesus.” We may disagree with Ludemann about the fact of the resurrection, but he hit the nail on the head regarding its importance.

To say that Jesus, His early apostles and the Christian church has placed significant emphasis on Jesus’ resurrection is to put it mildly. Everything Jesus taught and lived for depended upon His death and resurrection. All the promises and prophecies in the Bible depend on the resurrection. The whole history of God’s plan to restore His relationship with man and woman depends on the resurrection. It is not overstating the facts at all to say that the resurrection of Jesus is the single most important event in the history of the world. Your life and mine depends on the resurrection.

Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, a best-selling author of over 15 books, an internationally recognized speaker, and a part-time high school teacher. He’s also a long time Member of Team interlinc.  Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog: seanmcdowell.org.

From Team interlinc: Here’s a brand new Rockin’ Resurrection Day Playlist to share with your students  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3DzpHzwtIXAAVtBIRPLrzI?si=776c7c4454fe485c

Pastor B Christmas, Winter

Have You Found What You Are Looking For?

A couple thousand years ago, there were some devout followers of God. They were in search, somehow, with all their resources, to an answer that many looked forward to across the ages. A leader to establish a Kingdom that would reign for eternity. 

It was as if these seekers knew without a doubt that something was up. It could have been culture and society that pointed to a certain time of arrival. It might have been ancient writings that described a prophetic calendar that matched up to this moment. Other leaders began to speak of a certain time being near.  Whatever it was, these men used all that they had at their disposal. They watched the stars. They read the manuscripts. They waited in anticipation, and then, one day, God, Himself, clearly pointed the way. 

-Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 

For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

Out of the East, some peculiar men began a journey. After putting aside all their other ambitions, appointments, and family commitments, they began a journey to find a king. They found “ a King,” but what they were looking for was not in this place. 

-When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 

I believe here in America, we have stopped searching for a King. After all, we pride ourselves on winning the war between the tyranny of an earthly king and the rights of individuals. This is empowering. This brings freedom. 

However, this also makes us kings of our own realms. We might not be searching for a king, but like the wisemen, with all the resources and knowledge at their disposal, we are looking in the wrong place for a king. We look to ourselves in our seeking. Like the wisemen, we need direction from the Word of God.

-and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 

for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 

These men found direction from both the sky above and the ancient texts from below. On their journey, the Word of God points them the correct way, while another King has motives of his own.

-Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 

And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 

“Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 

After listening to the king, they went on their way.

With knowledge and direction, these three wisemen, who might have been kings themselves, seek after the greatest treasure to be found. All of their encounters, all of their travels lead them to this point. Their reaction explains what they have found.

-When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. 

The mystery in this search for a king has now been revealed. The reaction is exceedingly great joy and worship of the true king. What they searched for, they found.

-Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 

Have you found what you have been looking for? You might even think to be a wise king yourself.

Do you have exceedingly great joy and satisfaction are you rule the day? 

I believe Jesus Christ, the true King, is what you might have been searching for. 

Pastor B Uncategorized

Teaching Students to Stop Waiting for the World to Change

By Tim Elmore

Original Article Here

Back in 2006, musician John Mayer released a song for millions of twenty-first century young adults. It was called, “Waiting on the World to Change.” 

While the tempo is upbeat and cheerful, the lyrics represent a melancholy, even despondent mood. They express a powerlessness to make any difference; that the power lies with “the man.” So, our job, Mayer notes, is to wait for the needed change. Instead of taking charge of our lives, we’re encouraged to just wait for external change to happen. 

This may explain the cynical, even jaded, mood of millions from Generation Z.

A Shift in Culture 

Over the last sixty years, young people have slowly drifted toward this mindset. Research psychologist, Dr. Julian Rotter, created a scale to measure whether graduates were entering their careers with an external or internal locus of control. Here’s what he measured: 

  • Internal locus of control represents a mindset that believes that you are responsible and in control of your own success. 
  • External locus of control represents a mindset which believes that somehow fate or external forces control your outcomes. 

Interestingly, nine years into his research, Dr. Rotter discovered that those who maintain an internal locus of control become measurably more successful in life. They take better care of their health and fitness, their marriage and family, their job and career. It makes sense. If we believe our success is up to us, we take ownership of our behavior and attitude. This is good news. The bad news, however, is sobering. Since Julian Rotter first administered these evaluations in 1954, students have shifted toward an external locus of control. They’re looking outward to someone else to ensure their success—mom, dad, employer, counselor, or coach. 

We can only assume why this might be. Perhaps students are scared or uncertain about life. It might be that they’re simply overwhelmed. Maybe they think no one is really in control. This, however, leads to feeling like someone else owes you. 

Are We Benchwarmers?

Consider this: We approach life either as players in the game or substitutes on the bench. 

Athletes feel something completely different based on whether they are in the competition or on the bench during a tough game. From the bench, you can yell and scream, stand up, or squeeze a towel in your hands, but that’s it. You can’t directly impact the outcome when you’re not actually playing. It’s only when you’re in the game, playing, that you feel different. 

The key shifts we must help students make to return to an internal locus of control are:

  1. How they see their life (their perception).
  2. How they approach their life (their practice).

They must stop looking at externals that may go wrong. That’s not in their control. Life will give us lemons, as they say. Where students must focus is how they perceive it all, concentrating on their responses to the lemons, not the lemons themselves. That’s in their control. Once they nail their perception of life, maintaining a “control the controllable” mindset, life gets better. 

Next, they must act in response to that internal mindset.  

Arthur Brooks, one of my favorite authors, recently released a book called Build the Life You Want. In it, he tells the story of his mother-in-law who, at age 93, was one of the happiest people he’d ever known. Her name was Alpina, and she lived in her room alone, impoverished, and dying after a long life. But she was happy. The reason? Somehow, at age 45, “she stopped waiting for the world to change and took control of her life.”

How Do We Do This?

First, Alpina began to look for decisions in her life where once there were only impositions. For example, Alpina once felt she was stuck in a bad job at a pitiful company. Then she awakened to the fact that she’d been CEO all along. She couldn’t snap her fingers and all would be perfect, but she had power over her own life wherever it was, embracing an internal locus of control. 

Second, she took action based on that realization. She switched from wishing others were different to working on the one person she could control: herself. The choices she made, not her feelings at the time, led her to transform less productive emotions into positive ones like humor, gratitude, hope, and compassion. Happiness was not a chase but a choice.

Third, managing herself freed Alpina to focus on the foundations on which she could construct a much better life: her family, her friendships, her work, and her faith. Instead of numbing the pain anyone can feel inside, these types of people think and act differently. Oprah Winfrey calls them the “people who have every reason to be unhappy and yet are not.” They’re the “lemonade-making, silver-linings-finding, bright-side-looking, glass-half-fullers.”

This completely removes the chore of waiting for the world to change.

Pastor B Uncategorized

Six Crippling Realities We Must Address in Today’s Kids: Part One

Six Crippling Realities We Must Address in Today’s Kids: Part One

Behavior, Culture

Original Article and more from Tim Elmore Here

October 10, 2023

I spoke to an audience of parents recently and found a common thread among their concerns for their children. One after another shared how their child or teen: 

  • Needed extra attention to complete assignments. 
  • Was easily upset or paralyzed by normal hardships.
  • Hesitated to take on new projects or opportunities.  
  • Struggled to adapt to new situations.

Unfortunately, this is a pattern I hear too often from educators, parents, coaches, and employers. The issues below have diminished the drive for maturation in many kids. I see less holistic maturation and more categorical maturation. Too many teens, for instance, have lower aspirations to get their driver’s license when they’re eligible. They’re less likely to move out of a parent’s home as adults, and they prolong their adolescence as they postpone various adult responsibilities. Truth be told, adolescence is expanding on both sides: kids enter adolescence earlier, being exposed to realities sooner, yet they remain in it longer, postponing adult tasks.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that all of these current realities are terrible. Throughout history, adulthood has arrived at different ages in cultures around the world. I’m only suggesting that if our young adults are capable of growth and progress and we let them settle for less, we’ve failed in our job as caring adult leaders. 

My goal in this brief series is to identify the handicaps today’s emerging generation faces and then identify how caring adults can compensate for these through our healthy responses. 

1. Exposure is up. Experience is down.

We all recognize that children are exposed to information earlier than in past generations, thanks to our portable devices. Some nine out of ten preschoolers are on a tablet by age four. Simultaneously, however, parents have been so safety conscious that we’ve removed some traditional risk-taking behaviors for fear kids will be endangered, such as exploring on their own, walking to a community park, or even riding their bikes outside the neighborhood. As a parent, I recognize how unsafe our world seems today, but the data shows it’s actually safer than it was when I was a child. The 24/7 news cycle has cultivated fear-based leadership: we fear abductions, accidents, and litigation. Social researchers confirm, however, that calculated risks accelerate their maturation in a way no video or lecture can. Motor skills and their prefrontal cortex develop as they take risks through independent experiences. Without them, we cultivate “artificial maturity,” which looks real but is only cognitive, not holistic growth. 

What should we do? Create a plan to allow kids to try new things, to enjoy experiences that are unpredictable or unguaranteed. These should be age-appropriate and calculated to expand their perspective and mature them socially and emotionally. Eventually, these experiences should be unsupervised. They can include climbing the jungle gym at five; riding a bike to unfamiliar places at eight; trying a job at twelve; driving a car as soon as it’s legal; traveling without parents, etc. Many teens from Generation Z not only suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) but FOMU (fear of messing up). We must nudge them to try new, scary experiences, proving that failure isn’t fatal but rather helps them to grow in the process. Messing up (and learning from it) prepares them for young adulthood. 

2. Stimulation is up. Critical thinking is down.

We’ve all become accustomed to the constant pinging of our smartphones: notifications, text messages, alerts, pop-ups, you name it. I have no doubt, we are the most stimulated generation in history. Sadly, the unintended consequence is we begin to depend on the ping or the ring and fail to pause and reflect on our own. We slip into reactionary mode and seldom make time for critical thinking, where we analyze or evaluate an idea without the input of someone else. I read recently that seventy percent of Americans do not think on their own and an equal amount don’t know basic facts about their country, according to a report by Rachel Quigley in The Daily Mail. They allow commercials, pop-ups, ads, and billboards to tell them what to do. It’s alarming. If there’s truth in this statistic, we’re not in good shape to shape the future. When stimulation is high, we begin to play defense rather than offense in our lives. We can become overwhelmed with thousands of messages coming at us daily. In this state of exhaustion, we tend to look to others for endorsements or direction on what to buy, where to travel, who to know…almost everything. Obviously, this isn’t evil, but we become imitators, not originators. 

What should we do? Look at their calendar and together plan for margin in the coming weeks. Choose to cut some of the noise and clutter from their days. Margin will save us going forward. Then, begin to talk about the input you receive on a regular basis. Debrief movies, textbooks, conversations they had, news stories and classes. Process how to think about them. When they share opinions, ask them to communicate their reasoning. I did this with my kids as they grew up. We enjoyed countless Starbucks drinks, evaluating and thinking critically about these items. Today, children need to take time to think and form their own perspectives, apart from their parents. Teach them to affirm who they are, so they don’t seek so much validation from others.

This is the first part of a three-part series. In next week’s post, I will continue this list of crippling realities and what to do about them. To read part two of the series, click here. 

Pastor B Parent Cue

The Best Way to Communicate With Your Kid at Every Phase

Parent Cue Article

One of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do in your parenting is learn how to communicate with your kid. Communication in and of itself has never been easy, but add an age gap, youthful angst, and a budding vocabulary, and you might find yourself feeling like you’ll never get it right, that you and your child will always be in a perpetual state of misunderstanding each other. 

That feeling is totally understandable. Most of us either haven’t learned or truly practiced what real communication is—an exchanging of ideas in a safe environment where everyone feels heard and, hopefully, understood. For many of us, the process of communicating can feel downright uncomfortable, leaving us fleeing from awkward conversations or responding in ways we aren’t proud of. 

But here’s our chance to get it right. Now, with our kids, is an opportunity to shape what true communication is in the next generation. We have the power to raise kids who are not only confident enough to express themselves and communicate their needs, but also to nurture compassionate listeners. In each phase, your kid’s communication style will be different. Here are some ways you can best communicate with your kid, no matter the phase they’re in:

Phase: Preschool 

In the preschool phase, your kid is learning what they can do, whom they can trust, and exploring the depths of their emotions. It’s important to establish yourself early as a safe place for your kid to express themselves. The way you communicate in this phase should convey that you’re not afraid of their big feelings and that you’re going to stay right there while they express them. 

Empathy is the name of the game here: While their feelings seem blown way out of proportion to you, that blueberry you accidentally dropped down the garbage disposal was important to them, and you should respond as such. Affirm their feelings in that moment with understanding, using words like, “You didn’t want that to happen” or “That didn’t turn out the way you’d planned.” Then, follow up with affection and remind them you’re here to listen if they want to talk. 

Phase: Elementary school

When your kid enters elementary school, you’ll start to notice how much they crave having your attention. If you had a dollar for every time your kid said, “Look at me! Watch this!” you’d likely be sitting on the deck of your very own yacht by now. It’s also during this phase, particularly in second and third grades, that your kid starts to compare themselves to others. 

When communicating with your elementary schooler, it’s important to get down on their eye level when talking to them and give them your full, undivided attention. Resist the urge to multitask in this moment—eye contact can go a long way in this phase. When you talk, make sure you start a conversation off with praise for their efforts, reminding them what a good kid they are and using words like, “You should be so proud of yourself when you . . .” Be sure to give them space to express their views without judgment before expressing your own. 

Phase: Middle school

Once your kid becomes a middle schooler, you might’ve noticed a little—ahem, a lot of—resistance on the communication front. You’re not alone: It’s during this phase when your kid is fighting to discover their unique identity, and this is often not without a bump against authority, namely you. 

While they may appear bold and confident, it’s likely a façade. At this phase, your kid is second-guessing everything, asking themselves where they fit in the world and among their peers. So, the best thing you can do in this phase is perfect your listening skills. Your kids will have a lot of feelings—ones they may or may not want to share with you. But once they do share, know that moment is really important. Affirm who they are, and remind them of their strength and capability. 

This is also a great time to call in reinforcements and invite other caring adults into your kid’s life. While this may be hard to hear, your kid might not always feel comfortable talking to you about what’s on their mind and heart. Just make sure to have someone you both trust waiting in the wings to step in with wisdom and understanding.

Phase: High school

In the high school phase, what’s top of mind for your kid is finding a place to belong and living their purpose. During their sophomore year in particular, your kid is clarifying their values, but it often comes off as rebellion and counterarguments. As difficult as communicating may seem in this phase, your kid needs to hear from you that you trust them, that you’re listening, and that you love them, no matter what.

This phase is also marked with a huge transition for your kid: They’ll be leaving home soon. No doubt, your kid is feeling so many things all at once, and likely, fear is the predominant emotion. When communicating, make sure you’re conveying how much you love your kid and that you are their partner in whatever’s to come next. While many things feel uncertain, their place at home will always be something they can count on.

Learning to communicate well is hard, yet important work. And while you may not get it right all the time, know your effort and your desire to understand your child and be understood by them makes you a great parent. 

Topics: Family Life, Featured, Phase

Pastor B Family Devotional, My Life, Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Summer

Jesus Is The Anchor For Your Soul: Family Discussion

We met up with our friends, Craig and Beth Hall, to catch up and talk about a new life adventure navigating new waters.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. 

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:19-20a‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • Do you have your own BOAT STORY?
  • What thoughts do you have about the importance of an anchor?
  • How can navigating new waters on the ocean be similar to navigating new waters in your life?
  • What are some of the things you heard from the video that might be needed to take a trip on the ocean?
  • What might be some things you need to navigate the next season of your personal life?
  • What are your thoughts about the image of an ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL?
  • What might keep your SOUL firm and secure?
  • Why might we have HOPE?
  • How is Jesus the anchor for your soul?
  • As this school year ends, how can you focus on Jesus as the ANCHOR FOR YOUR SOUL?