Approaching a Christian Worldview of History

When an individual hears the term "a Christian worldview of history," there are probably several interpretations that may present themselves in one's mind. Perhaps the idea created will focus on biblical history from thousands of years ago. Or perhaps the said individual may determine that this idea focuses specifically on the history of the Christian religion. While these ideas are understandable, the term itself goes much further than the history of Christianity. This term focuses less on the past event and focuses primarily on the historian conducting the research. If this historian is looking at history using a "Christian worldview," their way of approaching and working with the subject will create a unique result that will remain beneficial to the historian even after the research has concluded. 

A step that should be considered when studying history with a Christian worldview and perspective is how Christians can use the guidelines found in the Bible to approach the subject. While many secular historians can quote sections of the Bible, the advantage Christian historians have is that the Bible to them is the living word of God that holds truths that are alive today. When a Christian approaches any kind of history, they should do it in a discretionary way, wanting to follow the teachings of the Bible. This can be seen in many different ways, but working unto the Lord rather than men, and concepts involving integrity, honesty, and morality should be vital to a Christian historian. 

By making these virtuous traits a top priority in our work, our Christian approach will be clearly seen by our peers and the rest of the world, regardless of whether one is studying the life of Jesus Christ, Henry VIII, or Abraham Lincoln. If a Christian historian put the practice of a Christian in their work it will be noticed and seen by the world. While there are many other examples that can be used when determining what a Christian worldview of history is, I believe it ultimately starts with the heart, and wanting to follow the Word of God by doing their work to the best of their abilities, "Unto the Lord, not men."

Written as assigned for Liberty University's HIST-491 Senior Capstone Seminar Assignment

All Things Work Together for Good...

Me: God can I ask you a question?
God: Sure.
Me: Promise you won't get mad?
God: I promise.
Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do you mean?
Me: Well first, I woke up late.
God: Yes,
Me: My car took FOREVER to start.
God: Okay,
Me: At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait.
God: Hmm...
Me: On the way home, my phone when dead, just as I picked up a call.
God: All right.
Me: And on top of all that, when I got home I just wanted to soak my feet in my new foot massager, and relax. BUT it wouldn't work! Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?
God: Well, Let me see...The Death Angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send on of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.
Me:...Oh...
God: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your rout that would have hit you if you were on the road.
Me: Oh wow...
God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick, and I didn't think you wanted to catch what they have. I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.
Me: Okay...
God: You phone when dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.
Me: I see God.
God: Oh yes, and that foot massager. It had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm Sorry God.
God: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me in all things, the good, AND the bad.
Me: I will trust you.
God:And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.
Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you, Thank you for everything today.
God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God, and I love looking after my children.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8

Codename Pictures

Hey Everyone!!

Well, the reason I haven't been posting much, is becasue of the Christmas play. It has been a very stressful few months for me. But now that the play is over, I can relax. Well, not really. :) Christmas is in 12 days, but after Christmas, I will be stress free! (Hopefully) Anyway, the Christmas program was last night, and it went AMAZING!! I am so proud of the cast. We got video of the whole thing, but we didn't get pictures of the play. But we did get pictures before the play. And here they are! :) Hope you like them!!


This is Marie putting a wig on Tommy, one of our hippy shephards. It looked so funny! :)


This is Michaela and Hope, who played Abigail and Leah, twin sisters.


This is the The sisters in the play. Erin, Michaela, Hope, Cori, and Faith who played Martha, Abigail, Leah, Cara, and Grace.


All the siblings in the play.


Me with the kids.


Stan, Cole, and Tommy who play Stan, Sheep 4, and Dan.


Julia and Zack, who play Timothy and Eliz the Gainstas. :) heehee


Laura and Jerry, who play the parents (Innkeepers)


Andrew and Kayla, and a baby doll we found in the kids class, who play Mary and Joseph and Jesus. :)


Our very cute sheep played by Kinsey, Kennedy, Harper, and Cole. :)


Brianna and Mara, who play Rachel and Ana. The childrens friends.


Abby and Charles, who play Camera Person, and Caleb Feilds, a reporter for the Bethlehem Action News.


Abby and I.

After the play, we went to Big Boy, and had Dinner with most of the cast. I got more pictures there with a Cell Phone, and I haven't uploaded them yet. But when I do, I will try to post them on here. Anyway,thats it! Thanks for reading!! ~Sammy

My Dress for a Tea

Hey guys!!! Hope you all had a great fourth of July! Mine was awesome! Anyway, I'm super excited about Saturday, because we are having an American Girl tea party at my church. Me and four other girls are dressing up like some of the American girls. I'm dressing up like Rebecca. And my grandma made me a Rebecca dress. It looks just like her meet dress. Here are some pics.







The dress is awesome! I love it! My grandma did a great job. I will post more about the tea later. Thanks for reading!!!

Back from ONU!

Hey everyone!
We Just got back from IL Friday night, and it was SO much fun! We left Thursday Morning, and got back around midnight Friday night. We did all of our talent stuff Friday, and everyone did awesome! I think I did well, better than the aduction. But we won't know our score until church this morning when they tell us what score we got. I just want to have a better score than the score I got on the aduction. :) Hope I do. Anyway, here are some pictures of the teens that went.


This is a picture of us by/on the ONU wall. I am at the bottom. Cori and Abby are there too.




A Closer picture of the last one


Picture of the teens on the steps of one of the buildings


A pic of the teens and there siblings who went. (Jerry, our youth leader is the one standing on the wall)


The silly face picture. :)


A few of the teens in our group. (I'm not in this one)

Like I said, it was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to next year.

~Sammy

Nervous about Next Thursday

I know...I know, I haven't posted in almost 2 weeks! And I'm sorry! And I have no excuse that I haven't been posting. Life is just Busy. Oh well. Anyway, I don't really have much to talk about. Everything is pretty much the same. But oh well, let me think of something I can write about. Hmm...well, We are going to Illinois next week. I'm excited, but I'm also a little freaked. I have to sing and play the piano in front of people. I did it last year and it went fine. The only people that are in the same room as you are the people there that are supporting you, and then a judge. So, it's not all that bad, but I'm a little nervous about playing the piano, cause I haven't played that song in over a month. So, I have to dust it off, and start working on it again. And I'm also singing Beautiful Beautiful again. The last time I did it was the adiction. And this is the real thing. But I don't have to use a mic, which is why I get nervous when I sing. I'm always afraid that the Mic will make some funny noise and ruin my song. But since I'm only going to be singing in a small classroom, I think I'll be fine. :) Anyway, I guess that's it! If I don't post again till we go, then the next time I write I'll tell about it. We are leaving Thursday Morning around 5:00am, and we are getting back late Friday night. So please pray that all goes well.

Thanks! ~Sammy

A New Look, A Fun Party, and a Ticket to Chicago.

Hey Guys!!! If you haven't noticed, I have given my blog a whole new look. New Background, New mix pod music, New Everything. I was getting tired of Everyday from HSM2 playing whenever I got on here. I mean, I like that song, but I was getting Very tried of it. Anyway, oh yeah. The party is on Saturday, and I'm SO excited! I have been planning for what seams like FOREVER!! And I think it's going to be fun. I think that when I have party's, I like to make it more fun for the guests, other than for me. That's one of the reasons, I'm having a scavenger hunt. So my friends can have fun, other than it being all about me. I don't want to sound braggy. Hopefully, I'm not. Oh yeah!! And on Saturday, I told you that we went to that competition thing, well, I did the three things. I got 95 out of 100 on my singing, and 88 out of 100 on my piano. Which means that I get to go threw to Chicago! And the Sticks Competition, We got a perfect score of 100. It was alot of fun, but very tiring. We went home that night so tired, none of us wanted to get up for church the next morning. But, we did. And that's when they gave up our scores. It was alot of fun. And I can't wait till May to go to Chicago!! And when your in Chicago, you have to go to... The AG Place!!! Yeah!! Anyway, I post more later this week. ~Sammy

Bouncy Houses, Competitions, Scavenger Hunts, and Awards.

Hey Guys!!! I'm SO excited because today, I'm going to the bouncy house(Bounce Mania) With my friends Cori and Abby. I'm really excited!!! It is 9:27am right now, and we have to be there by noon. So, I hope that it will be alot of fun. Also, my other friend Brianna, is coming over to spend the night tonight, because tomorrow morning, me, and I think about 15 other teens from my youth group (Including Cori and Abby) Have to be at our church at 6:45am to go to a town about an hour away from where we live to do a talent competition. I'm going to sing this song, ">

And then I'm playing a song on the piano. (Fur Elise) And then I'm doing the sticks drama. I think it's going to be alot of fun.

And, now my friends know what my Birthday Party is going to be. A Mall Scavenger Hunt!!! Tada!!! I think It's going to be alot of fun! Yesterday, me and my mom went to the mall and got the answers to some of the questions. Some of them are pretty hard, so you who are coming, beware!!! LOL!!!

One more thing. I was on my friend Cori's blog, and I saw that she gave me a bunch of awards. Some this month, others were in November 09. So, In this one post, I'm going to clame all of them. So here I go.



On this award, I have to tell 7 things about myself that you might no know. Okay, here I go.

1. I used to have pet Angel Fish
2. I have always lived in the same house
3. I was a preemie when I was born (A month early)
4. I love eggs, but hate egg salad sandwiches
5. I'm the only person in my family who has ever caught a fish
6. I broke my arm in first grade
7. I have never owned a cat

I'm going to tag for this one...

Moriah
Tsavah
Kittyland
Anne
Shelby Larson
Iona
Emma
Lulu

Okay, on to the next one...




This is Cori's homemade award. What I have to do for this one, is tell 7 things that make you happy that are a little unusual

1. Youth Group
2. Playing the Piano
3. Hanging out with my BFFs
4. blogging ;)
5. Writing
6. Playing with my dog
7. Taking Pictures

And I'm going to tag the same people I tagged for the last one. :P

Moriah
Tsavah
Kittyland
Anne
Shelby Larson
Iona
Emma
Lulu

The next one. ;)



This award is for anyone who promised to stay pure. So, there is no list for this one. :)



I don't have to do anything for this one!! So, I'm going to tag the same people.


Moriah
Tsavah
Kittyland
Anne
Shelby Larson
Iona
Emma
Lulu

Okay, so I think that it. Now I'm tired to typing. LOL!!! I said I started typing at 9:27, and now it's 10:05. I've been typing forever. Anyway, thanks!!

~Sammy

I LOVE Sticks!!

Hey Guys!!! Before I talk about this posts subject, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to draw the winner of the giveaway on Saturday instead of Sunday. So make sure that you come back on the 27th to see who wins!!!

Okay, Well, I was IMing Jasmine from Dolls n' Wool(www.dollsnwool.blogspot.com)
about Sticks. And you may think, "Why would you want to talk about pieces of wood?" Well, maybe first you should what sticks are. Sticks is a dance/drama that about nine kids in my youth group are doing. What we do is take these long wooden sticks and do a drama to music with them. It's alot of fun. We are doing a performance to How Great Thou Art by Newsong. We have been working on this for about a month and I think it going really well. Here are some pictures of us practing.















We are going to competition in March and I'm really excited! I'm also going to play the piano, and sing. So, I have to start practing!! See ya later! (Oh yeah, only one week from today till my b-day!!) ~Sammy

Programs and Presents

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! The Christmas Program is tonight!!!!!! I'm So excited!!!!! We set up the props on the stage this morning, and we have to be at Church tonight at 4:30. (The Program will start at 6:00) I can't wait!!! It's going to be SO cool!!! I just hope that they don't call me up to say something cause I wrote it. I don't like talking in front of a bunch of people. I would post the play on my blog, but it would take FOREVER to load. Oh well, I'll try to post pictures. Well, the other day, my Aunt gave me a question to ask you all. The question is... What was the best Christmas Present you ever got? Please post and tell me. Well, my favorite present was Kirsten, my first AG doll. Anyway, I would love to know your answer!!!! Thanks!!! -Sammy

A Manger Carol

Hey Guys!!! I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving!! I sure did!! My Grandparents and Uncle came over for lunch, Turkey, Stuffing, Potato's, Corn, Bread, Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potato Casserole, and of course, Pumpkin Pie. Then that night, we went over to my cousin's on my dad's side of the family, for more desserts. It was a great day!!! But this post isn't about Thanksgiving, It's about, "A Manger Carol." What's that???? Well, Like I said in a past post, I wrote, and directing the Christmas program that the youth group at our church is going to preform. And I'm going to post about that. Well, First, I'm going to tell you about the play. The story is a Christian version of "The Christmas Carol." In the play, Bethany Coleman, (My Friend Michaela) Is a Spoiled, Rich, girl who's father owns a department store, (Coleman's Department Store, that is,) and Bethany thinks Christmas is all about her. So She wants the Church choir that her father hired to sing at the department store on Christmas day, to sing un-Christian Christmas songs. But Molly, the Choir director, (My Other Friend Cori) Wants to sing Christian Christmas songs. So Molly prayers that Bethany will learn the true meaning of Christmas. So that night, while Bethany's Sleeping, her Grandfather (My Friend, Brianna's dad)Comes, and tells her that she will be visited by three angels, The Angels of Christmas Past Past, Past Present, and Past Future. (The Past is the first Christmas, so, Past Past, is before the First Christmas, past present is on the first Christmas, and past future is a couple years after the first Christmas.) Anyway, The Angels are Gabriel, (My Friend Julia's brother) who tells Mary that she is going to have Jesus, Cal the Shepherd, (Nick, a kid in the Youth Group) who shows Bethany the Shepherds and Angels, and Mary, (My friend Erin) who shows Jesus (Jerry, the youth group leader) healing a blind man when he is an adult. So then when Bethany Wakes up, she goes and talks to Molly, who helps her accept Christ. The play is about 45 min long, and at the end, Ariel, (A girl in the youth group) sings Mary did you know. So, I'm really excited about it. It's going to be on the 13, which is only 12 days away!!! Please pray that the program goes well!!! And here are some pics!!!


Michaela (AKA, Bethany)


Bethany and Grandpa Coleman


Bethany and Gabriel



Bethany and Mary



Jesus, blind man, and his disciples (Jesus has a cool wig):)


Chior singing Bethany's choice of Song



My friends Abby, Brianna, and Hope.


Practicing the Lines


Practicing curtain call-or at least trying to. :)

As you can see, it's alot of work, but It's also alot of fun. :)

We Got Lost in the Fun at Farmer Charley's Corn Maze!

On Sunday night, Me and my Youth Group went to "Farmer Charley's Corn Maze." It was so much fun. I have been there three other times, but this year was one of the best. Every year, the maze is a different theme. This year it was The Wizard of Oz. The maze that we went threw was shaped like Dorthy and Toto. Anyway, you go threw the maze, and you find these questions that tell you what way to go. But you will only go the right way if you answer the question right. Our Youth Group split up into three groups, and my group got threw it first.

Here are the people in our group.

Front Row L-R: Cori, Brianna, Brittany, Mara, Me, and Abby
Back Row L-R: Dave (Brianna's Dad) Nick, (Another adult in the group) Tiphanie, and my Mom.

I loved my group! Anyway, It was more than just a corn maze. After we finished the maze, we went on this ride where you sit in this large tub thing, and a tractor pulls you around. It looked slow, but it was anything but. There were also these long tubes that you go go in and people can roll you around. Or you can try to walk on them. But it was really hard. There was also a petting zoo, pumpkin chucking, and at the end, we all went on a hay ride and sang Christmas Carols, Veggie Tales, and Sunday School songs. It was a great day. Here are some pictures. It took forever to put on, but I finally did. Hope you like them!!!