Article - A Calling to Study

Being Called to Study
by Michael K. Lake, Th.D., D.R.E.

Several months ago, we introduced the new Biblical Life Bulletins (not to be confused with the Biblical Life Journal). The express purpose of these bulletins is twofold: (1) to provide additional information for those seeking to begin and/or continue their education for ministry via nontraditional methods; and (2) to provide supportive instruction for our students that are already involved in continuing their education. In the first bulletin, we dealt with many “Prospective Student” issues, such as:

1. The call to ministry is a call to a lifetime of study.
2. Lack of transformation in the traditional Greco-Roman based educational model.
3. Abuses in nontraditional education:
4. Abuse of issuing unrealistic life experience credits.
5. Abuse of improper course examinations (i.e. open book exams).
6. Abuse of so watering down the educational process that no thesis or dissertation is required at the Masters and Doctoral levels.
7. How proper education should provide the research & study tools you will use the rest of your life.

If you missed this informative bulletin, you can download it in PDF format at our website (www.biblical-life.com/swrc/).

In the second issue, we gave solid tips to current students on how to get into the swing of study once again. These tools can be used well after a student graduates. In fact, as ministers they should be using them the rest of their lives. Again, if you missed this issue, you can download it in PDF at www.biblical-life.com/swrc/ .

With all of that said, let’s move on to the subject of this bulletin. We all should be familiar with the call to ministry. If you are not, the first thing I would ask you is: “Why are you looking to study for the ministry?” It is a calling where you know in the very depths of your heart that God has called you to one of the fivefold offices of ministry listed in Ephesians 4. You can run from it, but you can’t hide from it. It is in your heart and in your blood. You know that if you do not follow after the call and prepare for it that you will be miserable and miss God’s best in your life.

I have been involved in nontraditional education now for nearly a quarter of a century. Like the country singer used to sing, “I was country when country wasn’t cool.” Well, I was involved in theological education by extension (TEE) when it wasn’t cool either! In the early `80’s, we were pioneering many of the standards that are now common place in TEE. I said all that to say this, I have been around the block in training ministers for effective ministry. You need to realize that not only do you have a call to ministry, but you have a call to a specific school that you are to study with as well!

You need to realize that each school is different. God has placed certain emphases within each school. I am not talking about denominational differences either – although that can be a consideration for you. Each school will speak into your life in different ways and will give you different tools and paradigms for ministry. One school will have a set of tools and paradigms that you will need while another will not. This is not a matter of accreditation or cost. It is a matter of what the school speaks into your life. What makes this harder to realize is that you cannot always tell it from just looking at courses listed for a particular program or degree. There is an anointing and a spirit or attitude about each school that is imparted to their students. Unfortunately, in many traditional schools, the only spirit or attitude passed on is one of haughtiness and superiority.

Here are some steps to make the right choice:

1. PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you begin looking at schools and requesting catalogs. Does the Holy Spirit witness to you that you should look further into this school? Does the website information agree with your spirit?

2. Get the catalogs. If you feel the witnessing of the Holy Spirit about a particular school, request or download the catalog. If you download it, take the time to print it out.

3. Prayerfully read over the catalogs. Look for the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read over them. He is trying to help you narrow the list of schools. You should have two piles of catalogs now – (1) the “no witness” pile and (2) the “Spirit-felt witness” pile.

4. Go back to the website. See if they have bulletins, articles, newsletters and samples of their courses on-line. See if they have some sample course lectures in MP3 or real audio stream. Read over the articles, sample lessons and listen to the sample lectures.

Now stop right here. What are you looking for: easy courses; something you can complete quickly? If you are, you need to go back to Mark 11 and learn the lesson of why Jesus cursed the fig tree. You need to look for materials that speak to your heart, that add something substantial to your spirit man, and that call for personal transformation. If the Holy Spirit is already speaking to you through the samples, how much more will He speak and transform your life through the complete program!

You will find articles, sample lessons and MP3 lectures at two locations on our website. Those URLs are:

www.biblical-life.com/swrc/
www.biblical-life.com/Library1.htm

Take the time to download everything you can there. (For the MP3 files, DSL will help.) Read through them, listen to them and seek the face of God while you are doing it.

5. Pick the right school & count the cost. Once you have found the school that is witnessed most by the Holy Spirit and their literature and samples speak most to your life, you are ready to count the cost. Now I am not just talking about the financial investment you are getting ready to make. That is important, and Jesus warns us to consider this before beginning such an endeavor (Luke 14:28-30). More than the financial investment, I am talking about several other things you must invest just as much of:

* Time
* Discipline
* Determination
* Prayer

You must be willing to roll up your sleeves and invest these things too. Without them, you will never graduate. You also need to realize another important truth. Are you ready?

The level of determination, discipline, prayer and time you invest in this call of preparation is the same level you will have in actually “doing” the ministry. If you can’t get it right here, you likely will not develop it once you are in full-time ministry! When you are ordained or installed as a Pastor, there is no super anointing that drives these things into your life. They are cultivated from the time you answer the call, and they are matured through the preparation process. So don’t drop the ball once you enroll. Make a schedule for prayer and study. Keep at it day after day – whether it is convenient or not (the devil will make sure it is never convenient). Take the time and do not let anything else steal that time from you. Make every study session count for the Kingdom.

6. Make application to the school the Holy Spirit has led you to. Don’t sit on it, take action and follow the leading and peace of the Holy Spirit.

7. Get your materials, make your plan of action, make your schedule and begin growing. Your life and the lives of those you minister to will never be the same!

BLCS has an emphasis on “where the rubber meets the road” theology. The Word is meant to be lived, not debated. We also place great emphasis on being Spirit-Filled and a balanced understanding of our Hebraic Heritage. This may or may not be right for you. What you do need to know is unless you have taken the steps I have outlined here, you may pick the wrong school. One thing that you need to lay aside in this journey is the attitude that you are shopping at some super store. It is not how cheap you can get the education or how quickly. Both may in the end lead you down the wrong path. Where is the Holy Spirit leading you? What school will place the most spiritual truths and biblical transformations into your life? These are the right questions to ask that will lead you to the school Almighty God has called you to study with!

If you are called to study with BLCS, it will be my greatest pleasure to welcome you as a new member of our student family. If God is calling you to another school, I ask that God would give you the grace and wisdom to find that school and to enroll.

First lecture posted on new series

We have begun a new series on "The Concepts of the Prayer Closet." The first session has been completed and the notes and audio lecture has been posted in MP3 format.

http://www.biblical-life.com/swrc/

Looking for Serious Prayer Warriors

Like the Marines, I am looking for a few good men and women - individuals of valor - individuals of prayer.

Over the past few weeks, the Spirit of God has been laying on my heart the need for true spiritual warriors - a kind of spiritual Special Forces in the Kingdom of God that will take the time to learn, develop and conduct spiritual warfare on behalf of the Kingdom of God. This is especially true for all of the students of Biblical Life College & Seminary. Not only must all of our students learn the art of spiritual warfare / intercessory prayer, but we all need a team that can be ready at a moment to pray for us as well.

Several things will be expected of each team member:

1. To learn how to conduct spiritual warfare prayers and intercessory prayers.
2. To learn how to pray until you are released by the Holy Spirit (i.e. know when you got the job done).
3. Be ready to respond in prayer whenever you receive an e-mail alert from my desk.
4. Make sure that your spam filter recognizes e-mails from blnews1@fidmail.com as legitimate e-mails. This program will not work if you cannot get the alerts.

Here is what I will do:

1. I will pass long the information on resources that I find that I believe will help you develop as a prayer warrior in the Kingdom of God.
2. I will try to write an article on spiritual warfare each month. It will be e-mailed to you as a part of an alert.
3. Whenever I teach on spiritual warfare, I will make the teachings available in MP3 for the cost of the materials and shipping. (I can fit 12 ninety minute lectures on one CD). I would estimate the cost & shipping at around $3.00.
4. Whenever we receive a prayer need or I am instructed by the Holy Spirit to call you all into prayer for something, I will e-mail you within the hour via Biblical Life Spiritual Warfare Alerts.

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If You Would Like to Join

If you are interested in joining this spiritual warfare team, please e-mail me directly at drlake@biblical-life.com. Make sure to type "Spiritual Warfare Alert" in the subject line. I will personally respond and place you in the special alert database.

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Important E-Mail Address Update

On January 1, we will be changing over to a new e-mail system. E-Mail addresses for BLCS that end in either "fidnet.com" or "fidmail.com" will no longer be used. Please use the addresses before:

General BLCS E-Mail Address: registrar@biblical-life.com or regblcs@centurytel.net
Registrar: registrar@biblical-life.com or regblcs@centurytel.net
Dr. Lake - Chancellor: drlake@biblical-life.com or drlake@centurytel.net

After January first, any e-mails addressed to "Fidnet" or "Fidmail" systems will be kicked back.

The Next Step in Your Preparation

By Michael K. Lake, Th.D., D.R.E.

In the last bulletin, I shared about the call to prepare for the ministry and how that a lifestyle of study is a vital part. In this bulletin, I want to address some of the paradigms I hear continually about classroom study verses non-traditional study. To the surprise of many, this discussion will not be about the overall quality of the educational process, per se. Studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Education show that there are no real differences in the educational results of traditionally trained individuals and those that receive their training non-traditionally. The only exception to this rule would be professionals such as medical doctors, etc. Such hands on professions demand residential training.

What I want to discuss are “real world” issues that deal with life in the ministry. I can speak specifically on this issue since our only purpose is to train aspirants of biblical ministry. I have had many tell me that they need “in the classroom” experience, not because they learn more, but because they need that teacher looking over their shoulder and demanding that homework be completed each week. Although all of us have had that low level of personal motivation at one time or another in our lives, it does not work well for those in the ministry. Someone that is truly going to function well in ministry must be:

• Self-Motivated
• Self-Disciplined
• Self-Determined
• Creative
• One with a sense of real dedication.
  

The list could go on and on, but you get the idea. To succeed in ministry, you must stay motivated, disciplined, be creative in your approaches and have the determination to overcome any roadblocks the devil will throw your way. These all can be developed or should I say MUST be developed to complete your education through theological education by extension (TEE) or by whatever other catch phrase they are using in non-traditional education today. You must learn to make study, discipline and creative problem solving a part of your lifestyle, if you are going to succeed in completing your educational journey. The very skills that must be developed to complete your degree will serve you just as well as the knowledge gained in the courses you take throughout your ministry.

Getting Down to the Basics

Step One – You Have Got to Schedule Time to Study.

If you have never used a daily planner, scheduled times or made to-do lists, then you have not been that involved in ministry very long. The more that you have to do, the more necessary proper planning and controlling your time becomes.

“3 Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.” Prov 24:3 TLB

Although I am not a big fan of the Living Bible, I think that they really hit the mark with this verse. If your life is going to prosper in what God has called you to do, then wise planning, common sense and keeping up to date is a divine must! Get a DayTimer, Franklin-Covey Planner, PDA – whatever you feel comfortable with and start using it. Plan at least three 90 minute sessions of uninterrupted study per week. Then begin working on keeping those appointments and making the best use of that time. You will find that the doers and shakers in the Kingdom of God, as well as in the business world, will constantly schedule everything. In my own life, I schedule times for morning prayer, morning exercise, times for study, writing and (since I love my wife and being married) special times with her each week. What you do not plan for and MAKE time for, you will seldom ever accomplish. This is a discipline that will serve you for the rest of your life and ministry.

Step Two – Integrate Study Habits into Your Lifestyle

The busier you get in life and ministry, the more you will need to redeem the time that you have for study. As I shared in the last bulletin, once you enter into ministry, you will really begin to study. All the study that you complete in your ministerial preparation is simply the foundation. If we endeavored to develop programs that would prepare you for everything you would face in ministry, you would be in seminary until the age of 70! The purpose of college and seminary is to give you the proper foundation and tools that you will need to use for the rest of your life. So here are some tips for redeeming the time:

1. Audio taped lectures. I cannot stress the power of these enough. It takes time to get the great truths of God deep within our spirit, mind and heart. I was recently listening to another Christian educator that stated for you to retain the information given in a lecture or sermon that you must listen to it at least 12 times. Now I am not saying that you must listen to every BLCS lecture that many times. For the purpose of our courses, I recommend that you listen to each message twice. The first time, just listen through it. Enjoy the teaching and get an overall sense of what is being said. The second time, slow down and take notes. Listen for the things that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing to you. You will be amazed at the revelation knowledge that can be generated in these lectures.

Get creative in your listening times. The wonderful thing about audio tapes, CD and MP3 files is that you can take them with you wherever you go. You can listen to them driving back and forth to work, exercising, doing housework, etc. This is why we have been working day and night to convert all of our lectures to the MP3 format. Devices like the iPod make this so much easier. On my iPod, I have about 1,000 of my favorite songs, around 37 audio books and at least 70 complete teachings from my favorite bible teachers and preachers. I keep it in my briefcase (which is usually within arm’s reach of me at all times) so I can pick it up and begin using it when I have a few moments. There are things that God is doing in my life and in my spirit that must be nurtured. Anointed teachings have always been one of the ways God has used. Could you have believed that you could have all the lectures from an entire college course sitting in your pocket and ready for your benefit at any time? Don’t you think its time that the people of God use these technologies for our benefit?

2. Keep a textbook and highlighters with you all the time. For a minister, books have always been of utmost importance. While Paul was in prison, he asked for his books to be brought to him. (2 Tim 4:13) An under-read minister is ill prepared for what life brings his way (or the life of his congregation). An under-read minister will have congregations that are hyped up every week, but seldom fed! So if you are called to ministry, books and reading will become a vital part of your life for the rest of your life. Might as well get into the habit now.

You should keep the textbook of the current course you are studying with you along with a set of highlighters. (My favorite highlighters are the Zazzle by Zebra. They work the best of any I have tested and a five color pack is available at Wal-Mart or Staples.) When you get a few spare moments, jump into your next chapter. Again, like with the audio lectures, read through the chapter first. Then go back over it again, highlighting important statements or information. If a statement is used by the Holy Spirit to spur another thought or idea, I will usually write it in the margin of the book. This way I can use it later.

Once you have read through the chapter twice, then go to the workbook and answer the questions asked. You will find many times that the statements you highlighted are the same statements the professor found important enough to write questions around.

Step Three – You Have Got to Have a Prayer Life

It is the power of the Holy Spirit and His anointing that will take these studies and transform your life. You have got to stay plugged into God. Every failure in ministry (or in a godly life) can be attributed to a failure in prayer. While you are scheduling time to study, listen to lectures or even time with your wife, remember to schedule time with God. That time breathes life into us and rejuvenates our spirit and soul.

A Final Thought

We get many questions about on-line studies. Although these work well for completing an MBA for the busy businessman, I am not fully convinced that it is the most conducive medium for training aspirants of ministry. Why? - for the very reasons I have already given. You need the time listening to anointed teachers to produce life transformations and divine impartations. You need time contemplating what is written in the books to stretch your heart and soul so that the Kingdom of God is increased in your life. For the minister, it is more than just the accumulation of knowledge. It is cultivating an environment for spiritual revelation and impartation. Without creating this type of spiritual atmosphere, I am afraid we will produce a generation of ministers that make ministry a business instead of a lifestyle!

A Call to Prepare for Ministrty

by Michael K. Lake, Th.D., D.R.E.

"Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth." 2 Tim 2:15 AMP

You have felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to start or continue your education for ministry. That is one of the reasons you contacted Biblical Life College & Seminary. You know you must start working on getting that degree, whether it is an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree. You know that it is a tool that you need to take you to the next level in ministry.

I want to take a few moments to examine these words of encouragement from the Apostle Paul to Young Minister Timothy. I also want to use them to debunk some of the trends in nontraditional theological education that is not only grieving my spirit, but I believe, the Holy Spirit as well.

First, most scholars agree that 2 Timothy was the last epistle the Apostle Paul ever wrote. Some even believe that he finished it the night before he became a martyr for the sake of the Gospel. Paul was not writing this letter at the beginning of Timothy’s training for ministry. Timothy was already a graduate of Paul’s School of Theology and had ministered with Paul for years. These words serve as a reminder to Timothy (and to us) that a call to ministry is a call to a lifetime of study. I love how the Amplified Bible brings out the shades of meanings in the original Greek text. "Timothy, study, be eager to study, do your utmost in filling yourself with the Word . . ." These words were written to a man that had been mentored by the Apostle Paul. Who could have asked for a better mentor, save Jesus Himself! Yet, at the end of that mentorship, the Apostle says "be eager and do your utmost in your studies."

One of the things that we have missed in becoming so Greco-Roman minded in our Western culture is we believe that when we receive a degree we have arrived. Our words to describe those that gain graduate level degrees in ministry or theology are: scholar, master teacher, and theologian. All of these are high sounding words that place the individual above everyone else. In our Hebraic Heritage, a Jewish scholar is called a "Sage." Sage means a "master learner." When he arrives, if you will, he arrives at a place to really start learning. What a difference!
This Greco-Roman mindset has permeated education, especially nontraditional theological education. Many schools boast of not how much you will learn or how much the courses will transform your life. Rather they boast at how fast they can get their degree on your wall. It is an injustice to all true theological education AND an injustice to all the saints that have gone on before us.

The abuse of life experience credits is rampant in our industry. I do not care how long you have been in ministry, the rule of thumb is a maximum of 30 semester credit hours (SCHS) at the undergraduate level. Anything more than that is cheating you and anyone you minister to. Now, if you have written books and taught extended series (10 sessions or more), those things can be examined and additional credit can be give. There is a difference. Concrete accomplishments are measured, evaluated and converted to credits. These credits are not just looking at a resume. Let me share with you a true story to prove my point:

At BLCS, we offer LECs based on documented ministry, credits for works completed such as books and extended teaching series. We also offer an Experiential Exam. This exam is one big bad bear of an exam to take - 160 essay questions. It is designed to find out what the individual knows and doesn’t know. It also helps us fill in the educational gaps he has. About ten years ago, we had a seasoned minister that was a regional director for a small Pentecostal denomination contacted us. He wanted to complete his undergraduate degree. He presented an impressive looking resume documenting 25 years of ministry with his denomination. He had not written any books or audio taped any extended teaching series. He wanted more than just the 30 SCHS that could be given for his documented ministry. We set up a time for him to take our exam locally under the supervision of a proctor. When I scored his exam, I could not believe my eyes. Out of 160 questions, he only got two correct. He even missed "Who wrote the book of Exodus?" Which is one of the easiest questions on the exam (all lengthy exams should have a freebee or two). After reviewing everything, I designed a 110 SCH program for him. I told him that with his low score that he should not even receive the full 30 SCHS based on his resume. It would be an educational blunder on our part and an injustice to him and anyone he ministered to. I really strove to design a course of study that would enable him to have the wealth of knowledge that someone in his position should really have. I did not hear from him for about three months. One day I receive an envelope from him in the mail. Naturally, I thought it was his enrollment form. "Surely he prayed through and God placed it upon his heart to really get the education that he (and all those he was leading) needed" I thought. To my surprise, all is contained was a photocopy of his brand new Bachelor degree from a well known nontraditional seminary in Florida. As I prayed about it, the Lord reminded me of the fig tree that He had cursed. Why did He curse the fig tree? Because it was presenting itself as something it was not. This man was like a fig tree full of leaves (i.e. a degree certificate hanging on the wall), but no fruit (of a real education) in his life.

The second abuse is open book exams. Come on friends! Even in High School, closed book exams are the standard! Open book exams render the education to an Institute level – not college or seminary. I don’t care what they call the school or who they are accredited by. It is institute level training, plain and simple!

The third abuse is not requiring a Thesis at the Masters level or a Dissertation at the Doctoral level. These are standards with hundreds of years of tradition. The thesis or dissertation is the proof that you have gained the knowledge and competence to receive the degree. When someone tells me they have a doctorate degree, it is not the certificate I want to look at, it is the dissertation. I want to see and read through the documentation of what God has spoken into their lives.

Finally let me answer the question on why you do not want to speed through the process. A valid college or seminary degree should do several things:

1. It should stretch you intellectually and spiritually. Easy courses do nothing for you.

2. There should be spiritual dynamics that transform your life as you go through them. [If the education does not transform you, what are you going to use to transform others with?] This is also the reason we have developed courses with audio lectures. You can listen to them again and again to get them into your heart. That’s were the transformation will take place!

3. The education should build within you the tools you will need for a lifestyle of study and research.

The study and research does not end when you graduate. Your graduation marks a place in your life where you are really ready to begin the research of a lifetime. That’s what Paul was reminding Timothy of. That is what I want to stress. You are beginning an educational journey that will take you the rest of your life to do correctly. You need it. Everyone that you will ever minister to needs you to have it. Don’t get caught up in the worldly idea of rushing to get the degree on your wall. Why not strive to get every once of knowledge, spiritual transformation and research skills possible from the school you are going to study with. Make sure you do not just have the leaves on your tree. Instead, be sure you are loaded down with the fruits of your education.

Are You Ready for 2006?

Are You Ready for 2006?

Prov 24:3 - Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. TLB

One of the things that we “Americans” always seem to do is to wait to the last minute for most everything. Some of us learned in High School that we could postpone studying until right before the final exam and then “cram for the exam.” Most manage to graduate – some even with good grades. (But you can’t remember a year later what you studied.) In life, the grade is not what you end up with on a “paper” final exam. It is how you respond to life. Are you really prepared for what 2006 holds?

That very statement will make you think that I am prophesying disaster in 2006. Actually I am not. I have found that God cannot really bless most people because they have not prepared themselves for that either! We are unprepared for blessing or challenge. The sad part is that leaves us in a spiritual “limbo” that causes continual discontentment. You can’t buy enough things of this world to cover up the discontent you feel in your heart. The only way to stop it is to prepare spiritually. Here are some ways:

1. Systematic Study of God’s Word

If you are called to ministry then deep, systematic study is NOT something you endure while you are trying to get a degree. You need to learn the habits of study just as much as you need to learn what are in the books and lectures! After you graduate, your need for study will actually increase. When you are in ministry, people will need for you to be informed. They will need for you to have a deep knowledge of the Word of God that can only be developed by years of study – far beyond just getting a degree.

I have found that I study more now than I ever did in college or seminary. While working 12 hour days in administrating the school plus teaching a local discipleship class (as well as having time with my family and wonderful grandchildren), I create the time to read several books a month, listen to about a dozen sermons and several audio books. Notice I said “create” the time. I have learned to become creative in redeeming my time. If I am exercising, I listen to sermons or audio books. If I have a few spare minutes waiting for something, I break out the current book I am reading. I am constantly feeding myself spiritually and intellectually because my family, my disciples and my students need me to. In fact, I need me to as well. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:15:

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” AMP

This was written to Timothy, not while he was in Paul’s School of Theology, but after he had been trained and released into ministry. Paul knew for Timothy to be successful in life and ministry that a continued lifestyle of study was required.

In fact, within our Hebraic heritage, the Rabbis believed that the highest form of worship was study. Why? They knew it was not enough to just worship God by lifting their hands to Him and telling Him how much they loved Him. For them, the greatest love was expressed when they studied to find out how He wanted them to live and then to live life that way. I must say, I agree with the Rabbis of old!

2. A Systematic Prayer Life

I use the word “systematic” because I believe that we need to systematically build prayer into our lifestyle. How much do we spend time seeking the face of the Lord? Notice I said “face” in contrast to “hands.” It is through relationship that we draw spiritual strength from Him. Not in the time we are just asking Him for things. Like Brother Lawrence, we need to learn to practice the presence of God. This includes time alone with Him and purposely building a lifestyle of continual conversations with Him. There needs to be a running dialogue that becomes natural through systematic, purposeful development.

Bringing It All Together

1. If you are already a student with BLCS – pick back up your lessons, roll up your sleeves and get back to work. You need those studies deep down in your spirit. Your family needs for you to have them deep down in your spirit. Anyone that you will ever minister to needs for you to have them deep down into your spirit. That is also why we use audio lectures so much. It helps you get those truths deep down into your spirit. (Do you notice a theme here?) You can listen to them over and over again. Every year I get letters from graduates that went back to our tapes and listened to them again in times of challenge. They brought strength, encouragement and revelation for the situation.

I commission you, in Jesus name, to make study and prayer a lifestyle. May the Holy Spirit aid you in making it a high priority. Whether 2006 holds new challenges, blessings or both – you need to be ready to face them or receive them!

2. If you are looking at enrollment with BLCS – don’t believe the Devil’s lie to put it off till tomorrow. He will see to it that you will always be too busy! He wants you to believe that you do not have time to study and pray as you should. I have the anointing of God upon me right now to tell you that you don’t have time NOT to study and pray. God wants to take you to the next level. That transition is not going to just fall on you out the blue! God wants to build it into your life. God wants to work with you to make it happen. But He can’t do it if you just sit there on your hands hoping that one day it will come.

Now, I am going to tell you something that no other Seminary Presidents will ever tell you. Are you ready? If God has called you to complete your education for ministry – get the catalogs, pray through until you hear from God which school you are to study with and then ENROLL. Don’t look for a spiritual Wal-Mart that will give you the best deal or quickest way to a degree. (Schools that make the studies easy or give quick ways to get that degree on your wall are cheating you and everyone you will ever minister to!) Find the school that God wants you to study with and then do every course they will let you do! Get so deep in the Word that the Devil can’t find you any more! It’s the education and discipline that you learn while going through the process that will enable you for ministry and life. The Devil really doesn’t care what degree you have hanging on your wall, if the knowledge and discipline are not in your heart and life. Get out of the Valley of Indecision and get in the Mountain of Dedication and Commitment! It will change you and empower you for an overcoming life and ministry – in Jesus name!

Tape, CD & MP3 Set Special

Tape & CD Special

Now through the end of December, all tape, CD and MP3 CD set orders for course materials will receive 10% off and free shipping. These orders can be called in, faxed in, mailed in or placed through our on-line store.

If you are mailing or faxing in the orders, subtract 10% of the price of the tape or CD set (Books are not discounted in this special) and subtract the shipping charges.

If you are placing the order on-line, we will subtract the discount and take off shipping before we process your order. This saves us from having to reprogram an entire shopping cart.

Any other items included in the order, such as books, will be given free shipping if included with the tape or CD set order.

Orders must be received by December 31, 2005.

Darcy Kent goes on to be with the Lord

We received this from Dr. Kent today:
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At 4:30 p.m. MST October 28, 2005, the doctors pronounced Darcy Kent as brain dead. It is my opinion that Darcy was with Jesus five days earlier. Rather than sustaining life, the life support systems only prolonged her death. My son Stephan and his two children, Tyler (21) and Sammy (17) have serious choices to make in the coming days. So do I, his three sisters and Darcy’s two sisters and brother. We have found the Grace of God sufficient and His peace made perfect. My prayer is that the presence and peace of God will be so manifested in their lives, that they will be amazed at the calm in the midst of such upheaval. Thank you for your continued prayer support. Your many emails have been a tremendous encouragement to us – particularly me. How comforting it is for us to know that you are interceding on our behalf. Thank you. Love you! - Wilf

Urgent Prayer Request from Dr. Kent

I received this urgent prayer request from Dr. Kent this morning. Let's pray for his family and believe for a full recovery!
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Last evening my daughter-in-law, Darcy Kent (39), my son Stephan’s wife suffered a severe cardiac arrest. She was without a pulse for 15 minutes. She is on life support and the Dr. said that she sustained brain damage. I have never see anyone as devastated as is my son. He lost his mother 18 months ago and now his wife’s life is threatened. He is destitute. I would carry his burden barefooted for him, but this is one load he must. God is able to bring healing to anyone He chooses. We pray that this trial will becomes a powerful testimony and that God will restore her physical and mental capacities. We are prisoners of faith and hope. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me – Psalms 86:7 You have been immense source of strength and encouragement to me during my wife’s illness and home going. I come to you for strength once again. - Wilf

Welcoming New Students

We would like to welcome:

• Donald Banks of GA into our Master of Divinity in Hebraic Herigage Studies
• Craig Perkins of OH into the Diploma in Biblical Counseling Program

May God place the anointing of a Bible student upon you and may you glean great life-changing truths from His Word!

New Website Launched for the National Chaplains Association

We just completed work on a new domain and website for the National Chaplains Association. The new site is:

http://www.nca-hq.org

Let us know what you think!

Update on Dr. Varvel and the National Chaplains Association

About 90 days ago, Dr. Varvel and his wonderful wife, Mary Ellen, stopped by our offices for a few days. One of the reasons for the visit was to brainstorm on ways that his office and mine could better serve the NCA chaplains.

In the course of our conversation, I found that Dr. Varvel was suffering from cataracts and had been putting off having surgery. Since my mother had this done several years ago, I was able to encourage him that it was no big deal and to have it done as soon as possible. [There is just too much to do in the Kingdom of God to let something like cataracts slow you down!]

About a month ago, Dr. Varvel kind of fell off the correspondence radar. I had a hunch that he was taking care of his eye problem. I received word this morning that he just had surgery on his second eye and all went well. They are hoping that he will have great vision without the need for glasses (keep this in your prayers) and he should start catching up with his e-mails and letters shortly.

I appreciate the prayers all of you have given for Dr. Varvel and your patience in his unusual delay in responding to your e-mails and letters. Things should be back to normal or even better than normal very shortly!

Interesting news about Katrina, Our President & the Press

I received this e-mail from one of our students and I thought it was interesting enough to pass it along to you.

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Closer scrutiny reveals the lies surrounding Katrina evacuation and recovery
Thought this was interesting.... Lee Hood.

By Linda Prussen-Razzano
web posted September 5, 2005

Having lived on Long Island for most of my life, I weathered only the most minor effects of hurricanes. Typically, their devastating strength drained along the coastline as they churned northwards. When I was a child, my father comforted me through Hurricane Belle; not by holding me and telling me everything would be alright, but by his activity in securing our house, his purchase of supplies and preparations, and his explanations of hurricanes and their threats.

While the storm whipped overhead, my piqued curiosity prompted me to ask about all different kinds of natural disasters. We passed the time discussing typhoons, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. I never thought I would use this information, but I did; twice.

At 19, my passenger and I found ourselves caught in the only flash flood in the history of Long Island. What started as a heavy rain became an overwhelming downpour within minutes. Not unlike the City of New Orleans, the patch of road on which I traveled was nestled in a natural funnel. In the space of minutes, we experienced more rain in that small bit of road alongside Eisenhower Park than all of Long Island had received in a year. With traffic surrounding me, I had not choice but to inch forward to the overpass that would take me to higher ground. Just moments before my car cleared the water now pouring in under my doors, the engine stalled, and my Monte Carlo sank back down the embankment, eventually to be completely submerged.

We had to wait until the water rose inside the car and the pressure stabilized before we could get out.

The gas pumps at the corner station began bubbling up, turning the water so black you couldn’t see your hand just two inches under the surface. An elderly man, trapped in his car, didn’t want to leave. Plodding through chest deep water, my passenger and I managed to get his door open and help him slog back to safety.

Everyone caught in that mess experienced a loss, but it is nothing compared to Katrina.

The second time I used my father’s sage advice came when I moved to Texas. In the bottom tip of the tornado belt, I knew what to do when the sky turned an ominous shade of green, the clouds started rotating above my head, and where to seek shelter to maximize my potential for living. It was in those few moments, when the doors and windows rattled and I imagined that my new house would be reduced to kindling around me, that all my priorities changed…forever.

The folks in Louisiana and Mississippi experienced wide scale devastation during Katrina. New Orleans, and other parts of the coast, experienced a second, even more devastating blow from the horrible flooding. One is bad enough, but both? It’s a catastrophe beyond comprehension, and our fellow Americans need our compassion, our generosity, and our understanding as they rebuild their entire lives.

We should be coming together, as we did after other catastrophic events in the last decade, to help and heal.

Sadly, that is not the case.

What I find astonishing is the almost immediate response from Bush Bashers to blame everything that happened, from the actual hurricane itself, to the anarchy that quickly erupted, on the President and his administration. When they do so, they not only distort the truth, they outright lie to the public, and they are doing so daily through any media venue that will give them the opportunity.

Lie #1: President Bush doesn’t care about the people of New Orleans.

This outrageous lie is thoroughly debunked by the fact that it was President Bush who pushed for a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans.(1) Governor Blanco issued only a voluntary evacuation order, but admitted that she received a call from the President on August 27, 2005, urging her to make it a mandatory one. He wanted as many people as possible out of the path of the storm.

So much for the President not caring.

Despite the fact that New Orlean’s own Emergency Response Guidelines call for a mandatory evacuation of the City if a strike by a Category 3 Hurricane is projected, with 72 hours advance notice to all residents, Mayor Nagin didn’t order a mandatory evaluation until Sunday. Further, he only did so after Max Maxfield, the National Hurricane Director, called Nagin at his home to plead that he empty the City. (2)

Why did Nagin wait so long? He was worried about the legalities. If people want to affix blame, perhaps they can look at lawyers.

How ironic, that The Drudge Report (3) and Free Republic (4) have pictures of dozens of New Orleans’ submerged and now useless school buses, buses that could have been used to transport residents out of the City prior to the storm, bring in supplies after the storm, and help evacuees escape the flooding. Meanwhile, Governor Blanco issued a request to the State of Louisiana to provide her with buses from local school districts.

According to a Washington Post report on Sunday, September 4, “Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.”

Bush’s offer to have the federal government aid in the evacuation was rejected. (5)

Lie #2: The Bush Administration was slow in coordinating help.

Mike Brown, Under Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for Emergency Response and Preparedness, received the order from President Bush on August 27, two full days before the storm hit the region, to prepare for Katrina disaster relief. (6) The President also declared the entire region under a State of Emergency, so that FEMA could coordinate efforts at the request of the Governors. (7) Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the Federal Government and FEMA are not allowed to interfere with local operations unless they are authorized by state and local leaders.

Blanco did not authorize this until September 1, 2005.

Further, according to an Association Press report on August 30, “The federal government began rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into hard-hit areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, along with doctors, nurses and first-aid supplies. The U.S. Defense Department sent experts to help with search-and-rescue operations.” (8) FEMA was there and helping, in the capacity that was allowed by local officials, but could not swing into full gear until after Blanco gave them permission.

Lie #3: The Bush Administration did nothing to control the anarchy.

The local and state governments have control over law enforcement activities in their state, and such activities could only be coordinated through the federal government with their permission. It was not until terrible reports of rapes and violence, videos of looting, and reports of shoots being fired at rescue workers did Governor Blanco relinquish any claim of control on an out-of-control city.

An August 31, 2005 Fox News Report reveals, “The looting prompted authorities to send more than 70 additional officers and an armed personnel carrier into the city. One police officer was shot in the head by a looter but was expected to recover, authorities said. Blanco said she will ask President Bush for military troops to help keep looting under control.” (9) Almost immediately thereafter, FEMA, the military, and the Bush Administration began to restore order.

Further, on September 2, 2005, the Bush administration “sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law.” (10)

Lie #4: The Bush Administration did nothing to prevent the flooding.

Predictions of wide spread devastation have been known since Hurricane Camille in 1969. Despite these, it was local officials who reportedly appropriated funds designated for levee improvements towards such necessary purchases as a casino, hotel, and other projects.

Amazing, isn’t it?

From the carnage inside the Superdome, to the massacre of the truth on television, this is a sad time for all of America.

Just don’t forget who helped all this to happen….because despite what the media wants you to believe, it wasn’t President Bush.

Linda Prussen-Razzano is frequent contributor to Enter Stage Right and a number of other online magazines.

Footnotes:

1. Associated Press, “Mandatory Evacuation Ordered for New Orleans,” August 28, 2005, 10:48 a.m. CT.

2. Knight Ridder Newspapers, “National Hurricane Director had to call Nagin at home Saturday night to plead: "Get people out..." by Marc Caputo, David Ovalle, and Erika Bolstad, August 28, 2005

3. www.drudgereport.com

4. www.freerepublic.com

5. Washington Post, “Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting, White House Shifts Blame to State and Local Officials,” Manuel Roig-Franzia and Spencer Hsu, Washington Post Staff Writers, Sunday, September 4, 2005; Page A01

6. FEMA Press Release, “Emergency Aid Authorized For Katrina Emergency Response In LA” August 27, 2005

7. Associated Press, “Bush Declares Emergency in Louisiana,” August 27, 2005

8. Associated Press, “Federal Government sent emergency supplies to Louisiana as early as Tuesday,” August 30, 2005

9. Fox News.com, “It’s Not Safe In New Orleans,” August 31, 2005

10. Washington Post, Ibid

Several Thoughts about the Disaster in the South

Each morning and evening I watch the news weeping and in prayer for all those touched by this hurricane. I know that some are dismayed at how long it has taken for the Federal government to get moving on this. We need to look at two things here:

1. The best I can figure, at least 40% of the National Guard and Reservists are overseas fighting the war against terrorism. The percentage may be even higher. To say that they are already stretched beyond their limits is an understatement. We need to pray for our officials and the troops on the ground that they can move swiftly and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit to get their jobs done.
2. We need to understand the magnitude of this disaster. It covers several states. One small area is easy to provide aid, but over three states are almost impossible. Again, we need to pray for wisdom beyond human understanding. Almighty God needs to give His wisdom to our officials on what to do.

There is also a spirit of anarchy loose in New Orleans. Who in their right minds will shoot at rescue crews that are only trying to save lives. It has delayed the evacuation of the sick in several hospitals to the place were many have died waiting for transport. Then we add to the mix gangs of armed men roaming the streets, robbing the victims and reports of raping the women. Body of Christ, it is time we hit our knees and bound up this spirit. It will make the job so much easier on the troops trying to restore order if we do.

If you have a denomination that has the support mechanism in place to offer relief, pray about making a contribution. For those independent ministers, I want to pass along an e-mail I received from Dr. John Looper at the Restoration Fellowship International. If you feel impressed by the Holy Spirit to give through RFI to help the needy over the long haul, here would be a great place:

====================================
Dear Pastors, Ministers, Associates & Friends of RFI:

You are probably like me, as you watch the largest natural disaster
in United States history unfolding in the Gulf Coast region, it's hard
to sleep at night as your heart brakes for the suffering and the dying.
The immense magnitude of this disaster has overwhelmed our gover-
mental structures, agencies and people.

I have already been receiving calls from various places, as to when
and how the RFI association should respond with a unified Home Missions
faith based relief effort to this incomprehensible disaster.

Since this will be a long process, requiring months of relief and emergency
assistance efforts by our nation and by faith based ministries (such as RFI),
I propose that we encourage all of the RFI congregations and associates to
begin to raise and set aside money resources for Home Missions relief efforts.

I also propose, that as soon as the government agencies and first responders
do their initial work over the next few weeks to gain control of the situation and
to determine how faith based ministries can best respond to the enormous
continuing needs, that we collectively come up with a plan of action involving
both volunteers and monetary donations to help our brothers and sisters and
fellow citizens in the Gulf Coast region.

Please give this your heartfelt consideration and respond to me with
your thoughts and suggestions on this urgent matter.

"God bless America. Let Your grace, mercy and compassion rest upon us."
This is my intercessory prayer!

Your friend and servant,

Dr. John Looper
Executive Director

=====================================
Here is their contact information:

Restoration Fellowship Int.
P.O. Box 5822
Cleveland, TN 37320-5822
E-Mail: Jlo2357327@aol.com
Phone: 423/479-4249
Fax: 423/479-4282

Welcome New BLCS Student

We would like to welcome Jerry Cox of GA into our Master of Theological Studies Program. Welcome to the student family of Biblical Life!

New 2005-2006 BLCS Catalog Available

New 2005-2006 catalog now available. You can download it in PDF format at:
http://www.biblical-life.com/Cat_Down_Req.htm

Prayer Request

We received this prayer request from Dr. John Fryters and our campus in Prince Albert, Canada:

=======================
Could you please pray for Cory Havanka, husband of Brenda Havanka, a relatively new student of CHAKAM/BLCS ?

Cory in his mid thirties and his doctors have found a fair size tumor in his neck and throat. It has been given him breathing problems. They have now scheduled various tests (CAT scans, biopsies, etc...).

He has asked for prayer.

Could we please inform the student body and other sources if possible ? Thank you so much.

We are only going to believe good reports. Jesus is our Healer!!!

John

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Let's keep Cory in prayer. Jesus still heals and delivers today!

Tape Special Extended

We have had several reports that there were problems with our on-line shopping cart for students trying to order tapes. We have been tweaking the site - trying to figure out what is causing the glitch. Because of this, we are extending the tape special of $10.00 per tape set used in our programs and free shipping until the end of August. Here are some additional changes:

This will be extended to all orders mailed in or faxed into our offices. Simply write "August Tape Special" on the form before mailing or faxing it in.

Welcome New BLCS Student

We would like to welcome Lee Embrey of Oxford, MS to our Master of Divinity Program. We are excited to have you as a part of the BLCS Student Family! May God anoint you with the anointing of a Bible Student as you begin your program!