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Lesson 7: Romans (9)-11

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Overview Chapter 9 Israel’s Past, selected, chosen by God to reveal God’s person and plan to the world. Chapter 10 Israel’s present, rejection of Messiah that results in God setting aside His people, the Jews. Chapter 11 Israel’s future, one day all Israel will be saved, restored, reunited in the people of God. Paul’s audience=Roman church =Jews and Gentiles, he speaks to both.

I. Past: Israel Sovereignly chosen Romans 9

A. Children of Privilege Romans 9:1-5

B. Children of Promise Romans 9:6-13

C. Children of Mercy Romans 9:14-18

D. God’s Sovereignty Romans 9:19-33

1. Who are we to argue with God?

2. What did the Prophets say?

3. Why has God turned to Gentiles?

II. Present: Israel Willfully Rejected Romans 10

A. Reasons for their Rejection Romans 10:1-13

B. Remedy for their Rejection Romans 10:14-17

C. Results of their Rejection Romans 10:18-21

III. Future: Israel Miraculously Saved Romans 11

A. Partial Rejection Romans 11:1-10

B. Purposeful Rejection Romans 11:11-24

C. Promised Restoration Romans 11:25-36

I. Past: Israel Sovereignly Chosen – Romans 9

A. Children Of Privilege Romans 9:1-5.

Paul initially persecuted the Christians, they were his enemy, the he was converted, Jews considered him traitor and he became their enemy- he preached Jesus as Messiah, accused him of turning his back on the religion of his birth, questioned his sincerity. This may be why he says READ Romans 9:1-3. Isn’t His burden for them convicting? It is for me. Have you been continuing to think of that person you love that isn’t yet a believer? Lesson we learn from Paul, even though we may not have the opening to speak to them, we can keep praying and we can keep loving them. Israel’s advantages Romans 9:4, 5. 1. Israelites=named the people of God. 2. Adopted as sons of God. 3. Glory of God= shekinah glory=visible manifestation of God, a bright cloud that followed Israel in the wilderness, later filled the Temple. 4. Covenants= Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David. 5. Law given thru Moses. 6. Temple services=worship. 7. Promises=that still fill the pages of the OT Promises to a nation, that one day there will be a Kingdom centered in Jerusalem ruled by the Lord Himself to which all nations will go to worship. 8. Patriarchs - giant figures in Jewish history=Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David “the fathers” of the faith. 9. Messiah came from Israel by human history.

BUT in spite of these blessings, being children of privilege, Israel failed. When Messiah came Israel rejected Him, crucified Him. They, just like we sometimes do, when confronted with new truth “chose a misguided notion of self-preservation over self-examination and correction.”

Some of you Jews are wondering-Does Israel’s failure mean God’s Word has failed?

Word failed= “ship going off course” Answer is No! Romans 9:6 - God is faithful to His purposes, His promises even when we are not.

B. Children Of Promise Romans 9:6-13.

Reason why God’s Word has not failed is Romans 9:6b, 8. Paul’s point is that being a physical descendant of Abraham, Issac, Jacob does not automatically make one a recipient of God’s promises - only those who are spiritual descendants. God sees 2 groups: those who are physical, biological descendants and those who are physical, biological and spiritual because they have the FAITH of their forefathers. This is the same argument we saw back in Romans 2:28= 2 groups: circumcised outwardly and those who has received a circumcision of the heart. The promises were made to the later. Paul gives 2 OT examples to illustrate that there has always been election, God’s choosing within the nation.

1. Abraham had 2 sons. Ishmael born first, but he was son of the handmaid. Issac born second, son of the promise, mother was Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

2. Isaac had 2 sons Romans 9:11 God chose Jacob. Challenging to understand Romans 9:13. Near-Eastern rhetoric. Paul quotes Malachi=later prophets who is rebuking Israel for their negligence in worshipping God. Opens up w/Malachi telling them that God loves them, how have you loved me? God responds “I chose you, loved Jacob, hated Esau” Comparison, contrast between the kind of feelings for the sons, not based on merit, but on God’s choosing. Only one of the twins could inherit the family line through which Messiah would come=God chose Jacob over Esau to receive the Promises.

Certainly some of you are asking “Isn’t God being unfair in His choices?” Romans 9:14

Right here I would like Paul to explain the doctrine of election, he has his chance. I kinda understand that Isaac should be the chosen one, son of wife, promise. But will you explain why Jacob was chosen over Esau? We know the rest of the story, Esau despised his birthright and Jacob valued it. But is that the reason? Paul is silent and doesn’t say.

C. Children Of Mercy Romans 9:14-18

Instead when you ask READ Romans 9:14, he says simply “no” and basically says What’s at issue is not a question of fairness or justice (God by His nature cannot be unfair) but God’s freedom to choose based solely on His own will=Sovereignty of God. What God does is determined by who God is: He is Merciful as Powerful 2 OT illustrations of God’s sovereign decision: remember He is not under obligation to give anyone mercy=all have sinned, but He chooses to have compassion on some= what he told Moses. Pharaoh=ask did he hardened his heart or did God harden his heart? Study the text carefully we have to say yes to both parts, but here in this context Paul is arguing that God can harden just as well as God can have mercy= his Sovereign choice READ Romans 9:18.

D. God’s Sovereignty Romans 9:19-33.

OK Paul, if God is totally in charge, He’s sovereign, chooses some, overlooks others, how can I be blamed for lack of faith? Maybe I can’t help it if I don’t believe? It’s God’s fault not mine right? This attempt to blame God for everything that goes wrong is as old as the Garden of Eden. Adam said, it’s not my fault God, the woman You gave me made me eat of the fruit. Blame God game. Paul answers the question with asking 3 questions of his own.

1. Who Are We To Argue With God About His Sovereignty?

Romans 9:20-24 God chooses our parents, genetic structure, time/place of our birth, born w/some pre-determined facts about us. Then he like a potter shapes our lives with the clay of our hearts. Just like the clay can’t complain how it’s shaped, Paul says God has the same authority over our lives, even us Romans 9:24. Ok you want to talk about God’s sovereignty?

2. What Did The Prophets Say? Romans 9:25-29

a. Gentiles-Hosea (Romans 9:25, 26) God had foretold He would turn away from Jews/call Gentiles.

b. Remnant-Isaiah (27-29) God also foretold that He knew only a remnant of Israel would be saved. Believing Remnant of Jews and the believing Gentiles=”my people”.

3. Why Has God Sovereignly Turned To The Gentiles

(Romans 9:30-33) Gentiles believed, accepted Jesus as Messiah, Jews stumbled over believing in Him, they rejected him.

If we stop here, then we would just conclude, God chooses and we are robots, He makes all the choices and we have no free will - that’s not true. God is completely Sovereign but we have responsibility of choice too. Move to the tension of these 2 truths: God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. Paul will build an argument in Chapter 10 for their accountability.

II. Present: Israel Willfully Rejected - Romans 10

Paul affirms again his love for them.

A. Reasons For Rejection - Romans 10:1-13

1. They were sincere, but sincerely wrong about Jesus Romans 10:2. Their zeal for God was great but w/o knowledge, they did not know the “righteousness that comes from God.”

2. They were proud and self-righteous Romans 10:3 established their own righteousness, proud of their own good works, would not admit a need for a Savior.

3. They misunderstood their own law Romans 10:4-13.

Everything about the Jewish faith pointed to a coming Messiah: the sacrifices, priesthood, temple services, religious festivals, covenants. Law showed them they were sinners, needed a Savior, instead of letting the Law lead them to Messiah, they held on to the Law to make them righteous. Paul contrasts 2 ways to right relationship with God again uses OT to explain his points. Leviticus 18:5 - If you want to live by the law, you must obey it, all of it. Yet, no one ever has, we’ve all broken the commandments, we’ve all sinned. But there’s another way. READ Romans 10:6 again he quotes Moses: righteousness by faith, by quoting Moses here he not difficult or complicated, its available, accessible, near, you don’t have to perform difficult works, in fact READ Romans 10:9, 10. Salvation by faith, trust and belief that Jesus is Lord. READ Romans 10:11-13.

Application: We have been talking about the gospel and salvation since Romans 1. I know that most of you here have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, settled, for most of you and I are either living in Chapter 7 or 8 depending on how faithfully we’re dealing with our sin nature. But I wonder if someone here is still uncertain about their relationship w/God? This is a clear as it gets for how one is saved. Confess and believe Jesus. Only you know your heart- but if you have not received God’s free gift, today is the day to make that certain. You may want to talk to your leader or me or a good friend in your group. Scriptures say ‘today is the day of salvation’

B. Remedy For Their Rejection - Romans 10:14-17

Only way anyone can be saved is Romans 10:13. Reverse logic: Romans 10:14, 15. Before they call they must believe, in order to believe, must hear for its hearing the Word that creates faith Romans 10:17. Emphasis is on the oral communication of the gospel. Today we have many opportunities to tell others about Christ: internet, books, media, never lose sight of the personal one-on-one face-to-face contact. READ Romans 10:14 how can they hear unless someone preaches to them. Definition of preacher is anyone who is willing to tell others about Jesus, God expects us all to be preachers Acts 1:8 “you shall receive power when the HS comes, be my witnesses…” Paul quotes Isaiah - Witnesses have beautiful feet. Who was it in your life that had beautiful feet and brought to you the gospel in such a way that brought you to faith? A parent, a friend, a pastor? Have you thanked them? What about you? Do you have beautiful feet? Are you willing to share Jesus with others? How will they hear if you don’t tell them?

Truth: Remedy for rejection is hearing and believing

Romans 10:16 = not all who heard believed

C. Results Of Their Rejection - Romans 10:18-21

Some of you are asking “Maybe the Jews never heard the gospel?” Romans 10:18 yes they have

OK, but if they heard, maybe it’s that they didn’t understand? No. This has been their attitude since the time of Moses, the Jews have refused to accept the plain revelation of God. Paul quotes Moses and Isaiah, concerning Israel READ Romans 10:21.

Most of you are thinking of family members, friends, Jewish heritage, asking “Is God going to get tired of holding out His hand, will His patience with Israel wear out? Is there any future for the nation? Paul answers those questions in Chapter 11. Learning the truths in this chapter changed my life, changed the way I think about world events, changed the way I think about Jewish friends, when I went to Israel, I thought about how one day I would return there with Jesus.

III. Future: Israel Miraculously Saved - Romans 11

A. Partial Rejection - Romans 11:1-10

Paul asks what you’ve been thinking Romans 11:1. Did God reject his people? No Paul says look at me, I’m a Jew that has embraced Jesus. If God had permanently cast off the entire nation, no Jew could be saved. Yet, Paul had been called by God, converted by faith to Christianity (Acts 9) Paul shares the story of Elijah=concludes God has always had a remnant among the Jews, same is today. 100 Messianic churches in Jerusalem today. Existence today of Jews who have received Jesus as Messiah is evidence God has a plan for His people.

B. Purposeful Rejection - Romans 11:11-24

Three purposes God planned to accomplish thru the “transgression of the Jews”:

1. Salvation would come to Gentiles Romans 11:11b. Study Paul’s missionary journeys in Acts, you see a pattern: Paul would go to the synagogues, Jews first, preach Christ, a few believed, but more often he was kicked out, after their rejection, turned to the Gentiles who believed, started churches.

2. Gentile faith would move the Jews to jealousy Romans 11:11b.

3. One day Israel’s fullness will bring greater riches to the entire world Romans 11:12

Paul turns and says Romans 11:13 I’m talking especially to you Gentiles, understand this

Two illustrations:

1. Baking (Romans 11:16) - Jewish farmer raised a grain crop, he would bring the first shoot to the priest as offering. Similar when baking use the grain, first piece of dough was given as offering. If part is holy, all is holy. “When a representative piece is consecrated to God, the whole belongs to him, so when the first converts believe, the conversion of the rest can be expected to follow” STOTT

2. Gardening (Romans 11:16-17) - Allegory of the Olive Tree. Tree= people of God, whose root is the patriarchs. The branches broken off = unbelieving Jews who have been temporarily discarded, grafted in branches = believing Gentiles. You Gentiles, don’t become prideful, arrogant or prejudiced against the Jews, always be God’s chosen people. READ Romans 11:28, 29

When we study the last 200 years, we see Sad, shameful, contrary to biblical teachings points in Church history where we have been anti-semitic, that prejudice has been open, militant and promoted by the church. Shame on us. There is no room in the church of JC for Gentile pride or any feelings of superiority to the Jewish people. No room for crude anti-semitic jokes, no room for exclusive anti-semitic memberships. No room in the Christian life for any feelings other than love, concern for the salvation of Israel. Paul makes this very clear, sad to say, most who call themselves Christians haven’t read chapter 11.

C. Promised Restoration - Romans 11:25-36

READ Romans 11:25-27 Mystery. Partial hardening = key word “fullness of the Gentiles, last Gentile is saved, church age ends. Then God will turn again to the Jew and “All Israel will be saved” All Israel will accept Jesus. When will this happen, when will the fullness of the Gentiles actually happen? No date on the calendar. Zechariah 9-14 sound very much like this time, Second coming of Christ. It’s all God’s Plan, His purposes, His calling, His gifts His mercy, and God does not change.

Benediction (Romans 11:33-36) - Paul is overwhelmed and stops to praise and worship God. Pray.

Homework questions are available in the student study guide which may be downloaded from the "Related Media" box on the series home page:

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The Spring 2011 Inkslinger: Beasts and Burdens

Starting March 28th, the Inkslinger will begin accepting short story, poetry and photography submissions for Spring 2011, with the theme of “Beasts and Burdens.”

Submissions for this semester will explore situations that get (or got) out of hand — little inconveniences that grow into giant dilemmas, physical or spiritual enemies who stand in the way, and other things that clamp down hard and never let go. We’re looking for work about the fight against such beasts and burdens — succumbing to them, overcoming them, and perhaps battling them for a lifetime. We want your words about the little and big things that turn daily life into its own animal.

We are excited to see your submissions! Email them to between March 28th and April 8th.

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"OIDS Billing"

When: Wednesday, September 13, 2017
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Where: Birmingham Bar Center
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Gar Blume of Blume & Blume will discuss tips and tricks of billing indigent defense cases and appeals to the Board of Adjustments in this program entitled "OIDS Billing".  Application pending approval by the Alabama State Bar for 1.0 hour MCLE Credit (including 0 ethics).  Free for current members of the Birmingham Bar's Solo/Small Firm Section - all others may attend for $30.00 registration fee.  Contact Cedrick Coleman for additional information.

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God’s will is not always done – Bible verses

Bible verses which show that God’s will can change depending on man’s actions

Man’s free will is even more obvious in the Bible than the trinity (which is VERY obvious) and we can be read about man’s free will from the first page of the Bible to the last. Below are just a few examples. One would think that the obvious FACT that people so often have hardened their hearts against God and rebelled against Him, would be proof enough that God’s will does not always happen, but strangely enough there are people who don’t feel this is clear at all. Believe it or not, but they believe that God predestines/causes/forces/decrees people to rebel against him! If this is true, then we would just be doing God’s will by being wicked and rebellious, and we really should be rewarded for doing His will instead of getting punished for something which is totally out of our control. The word ”sovereign” is not in the Bible (KJV) but isn’t our Lord powerful enough to create man with free will? Or is this too difficult for Him? Wouldn’t God be in control even though man has free will? The Bible is a book FULL of examples of people who are NOT obeying God, resulting in God’s wrath against them! If man does not have free will, then GOD is to be blamed for our actions. If we are born ”totally depraved” as some think (another unbiblical expression) then whose fault is that? Are we ”totally depraved” according to God’s will or against his will? Where did this depravity come from, if not by God? Please close your ”reformed” type of books with all kinds of gnostic claims which deceive you, and open up your Bible and see what it says. If I go for a walk with my dog and decide to let it loose for a  while, can we say that the dog has overpowered me and made me lose control over it against my will? Did the dog remove some of my sovereignty? Did I lose control over the situation even though I’m well aware of the likely behavior of my dog, including the tiny risk that it might find a rabbit and chase it?

New Testament

Matt 11:20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matt 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Matt 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Matt 17:17 Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?

Matt 15:6 …And you voided the commandment of God by your tradition.

Matt 23:37.O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how  often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Mark 7:13 making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered. And you do many such things.

Mark 3:35 whosoever shall DO THE WILL OF GOD, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him

Jn. 7:17 Jesus said, If any man will do his will

Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Acts 8 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,—: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

1 Tim. 5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

1 Thess 4 brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you OUGHT to walk and to PLEASE GOD.. Therefore he who rejects this does not REJECT man, but GOD, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, BUT to the will of God.

2 Cor 5: 19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though GOD WERE PLEADING through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, BE RECONCILED TO GOD.”

1 John 2:7 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Old Testament

Zechariah 7: 11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. 13Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:

Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt

Numbers 14:27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me?

Hos. 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children

Isa. 5:Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Isa.1:2 I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me?

Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured...

Isa.66:3 Regarding those who would not hearken to the Lord, God said ”I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels

Gen. 6:5 it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth

Exodus 32:14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people

1 Samuel 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

Lev 26:23 IF YOU WILL NOT be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; THEN will I also walk contrary unto you.”

Jeremiah 8:5Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. 6I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. — 9The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

Jeremiah 15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting evil that I thought to do unto them.

Jeremiah 26:3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Jeremiah 32:35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech;which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Jeremiah 42:10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

Eze:33:11-16 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then THEY turn from their sins and do what is just and right. If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back that which he has stolen, walks in the statutes of life, WITHOUT SINNING; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.”

Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Ezekiel 36:32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: BE ASHAMED and confounded FOR YOUR OWN WAYS, O house of Israel.

Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; andGod repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Ps. 81:11. Yea, they have chosen their own ways

Ps. 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heartGod judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Ps. 78 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Theological Development Through the Scriptures (from PinPoint Evangelism)

Genesis 2:19
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them

From this passage, what was God’s reason to bringing the animals to man? It appears by the language used, God didn’t know what Adam would in fact name each animal; this appears to be the point being made.& is correct, then this could not be the actual reason why God performed this act, and the wording of Scripture becomes vague.

Genesis 18:20-21
The  outcry  against  Sodom  and Gomorrah is so great and their sin  so grievous that  I will  go down and see if what they gave done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me.  If not, I will know.

This verse is truly a stumper if absolute foreknowledge is true. God himself states quite openly that he will do something (go down) in order for him to know something. Now did he know it before he went or not?  How can God use the future tense when addressing his knowledge?  To say that God already knew but the wording is just saying that he will also know in the future does violence to language not to mention that it is stating the obvious. God uses language as we do.  To do anything else would be utter folly. How could God faithfully communicate with man if he pulled a Clinton speak.  If God’s word usage is different that ours is, we  have a communication dilemma of the first order. (The analysis of this story provides wonderful insights into God’s nature and will be the subject of another paper altogether.)

Genesis 22:12
”Do not lay a hand on the boy“, he said. “Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Here again God states that he has just learned something.  Some scholars try to get around this by stating that the angel who delivered this message was interjecting his own opinion. Well if this is the case, then Abraham didn’t withhold his only son from the angel.  This is clearly preposterous, but it shows the length that theologians will go to in order not to change their theology.  God tested Abraham to know what he would do.

Exodus 4:8
Then the Lord said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground.

They MAY believe!  Why is God giving Moses all of these contingencies?  If God knew exactly how the Egyptians were going to react, then these instructions make little sense. Was he trying to give Moses the false belief that He didn’t know exactly how things were going to turn out? Remember that this is God instructing Moses. This sounds like plan A, B and C.

Exodus 13:17-18
When  Pharaoh let the people  go, God did not lead them  on the road through the Philistine country, though that was  shorter.  For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. This passage seems to let us in on God’s deliberation of how he is going route the nation of Israel.  It clearly says that the reason God didn’t take the most direct route was that the people “might” turn back. Here we see that God knows and inderstands the people’s hearts and their “probable” reaction to a war at this point, but clearly the outcome is not certain. Remember, this is God speaking as it is in quotation marks. God made the people take the long route through the desert because he was not sure of what the outcome would have been had he not.

Exodus 16:4
In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

Why does God test us?  Theologians say that it is for our sakes and not God’s. This is indeed strange.  Do you learn anything in a test, or does that which is already in you become manifest. Clearly the schoolteacher doesn’t expect a student to learn from a test.  A test is to determine what a student already knows.  Now some may say that we cannot relate a school teacher’s knowledge to that of God, and I would indeed  agree.  However, this Scripture appears to correlate the two.  God tested them in order to find something out. Are we going to say that God already knew, but he wanted to stimulate his sense of vision?

Numbers 14:11-12
The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people that me with contempt?  How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?”  I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger then they.

Here we see God asking questions of Moses that we can confidently conclude that Moses didn’t have the answers to. Clearly God knew that Moses didn’t have the answers.  Why then was God making these comments?  Could it be to show his breaking heart?  Why would God ask these questions when he already knew the answer?  The final point is even more curious.  God states emphatically that he will do something that he knew that he would never do.  God didn’t strike them down with a plague, and he didn’t make Moses’s descendants greater and stronger than Abraham’s.  So, if God knew that these were all false statements, were does these lead us?  Did God mislead, lie to, and manipulate Moses?  If you cling to absolute foreknowledge, you are in fact leveling this charge whether you want to or not.

Numbers 14:30
Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Here again we see God reneging on a promise.  Now if God knew when he made the promise that he would not keep it, then he lied to the people. He gave them a false hope that he knew he would later dash to pieces. God even swore with an uplifted hand to do something that he knew he wouldn’t ever do. Where does this leave us?  If this is true, can we ever trust in a promise of God?  Does believing God require more stupidity than faith?

Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in you heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Here again we bring up the whole testing issue.  This appears to be quite plainly stated.  Does our theology call God a liar?  Why did God humble and test the people?  A forty year long test appears to be a bit over the top if God already knew everything.  If God already knew what was in their heart, then I think God owes the people an apology.

Deuteronomy 13:3
The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Judges 2:22
I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did.

Judges 3:4
They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses.

Does anyone think that this passage is talking about literal sight?  While this test does involve observation, it is not for observation purposed only.  For completeness however, the Judges 3 passage has a dual purpose as stated by God.  The first was to train the Israelites for battle (v2), and the second was to “see” what they would do as far as obeying God’s command (v4).

I Samuel 23:10-13
David said, ”O Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard DEFINITELY that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me.  Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to  him?   Will  Saul come down  as your servant  has  heard?   O Lord, God  of Israel, tell your servant.”   And  the  Lord said,  “He  will.”  Again  David asked,  “Will  the  citizens  of  Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.”  So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

Now  what  do  we  have  here? David  asks  God two  very  direct  questions  and got two  direct answers.  David asked would the town be destroyed.  God said ‘Yes’.  David also asked would the  people  of the town  give  him over to Saul.   God again  said  ‘Yes’.  However,  none  of his happened.  Didn’t God know what David was going to do?  Was God misleading David?  Upon hearing this, Saul didn’t even go to the town that God said that he would destroy.  Why didn’t David simply throw up his hands and cry, “Woe is me”, when God told him his future?  Why did God tell David how things would be if he in fact knew that they would never be?  How can God say that Saul will go to the town and not be in error when Saul never goes?  Is God lying to David or just “pulling his leg”?  The obvious answer is that if David stayed there, these things would have happened.  David obviously didn’t believe that God’s knowledge of the future was unalterable or he would have just sat there and succumbed to his fate.   No, David knew what God  said would happen if  he  didn’t  change  something.  He also  knew that if  he  did change something, what God said would not happen and would be invalid.  The future is open!

I Kings 20:42
“This  is  what  the  Lord  says:  ‘You  have  set  free  a  man  that  I  had  determined  should  die, therefore, it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’”

God  determined  something  knowing that there was  no  possible way of it happening?   Also, “therefore” is a contingent word, but if God knew absolutely that he would spare the king, then there is no contingency about this or any other act.  God simple determined that he should die, and made up this scenario to justify his actions.  This is clearly a false statement, but what else could this mean?

II Chronicles 32:31
But when the envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.

Again, wrongo!  God didn’t leave him to know anything!  What kind of radial theology is this! God already knows everything from eternity, from before the foundations of the world!  We need to rewrite the Bible and take out all of this bad theology and these misleading passages.

Jeremiah 3:7
I thought  that  after  she  had  done  all  this  she  would  return  to  me  but  she  did  not,  and  her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.

This passage appears to have God admitting to a mistake in his knowledge. Was God mistaken? What about absolute foreknowledge of all future events, how could this be?  How can God think one thing  about the  future, be incorrect, and still  have  absolute  foreknowledge of all future events?

Jeremiah 3:19
I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me.  But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of  Israel, declares the Lord.

What!  We have found another passage that needs to be expunged from the Bible!  Clearly the thought of God being mistaken about the future acts of man cannot be true!  Heresy, I say!

Jeremiah 7:31
They have build the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire – something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.

Jeremiah 19:5
They  have  built the  high  places  of Baal to  burn their  sons in the fire as offerings to Baal  – something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.

Jeremiah 32:35
They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though  I  never commanded,  nor did it enter my mind, that they  should  do  such  a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

All of these verses state the same thing.  Now I will be serious for a moment. God states that this thought ever entered his mind.  What can this mean except God did not think that man could stoop to  such  a level as to  do this horrendous thing.  Will you accept what God says about himself in his Word, or will you refuse to believe it, instead clinging on to what man’s tradition has told you is an attribute of God? Remember that the only concept of God that is correct is one that can be determined through the Scriptures.   Omniscience is  not  found in the Bible.  God knowing the future is never directly stated.  Some verses may appear on the surface to imply this attribute, but an implied attribute must square with all Scripture.  If it does not, the implication of God’s  character  or essence  is  incorrect.  If your logical  conclusions derived from selected Scriptures do not harmonize with other Scriptures, then you need to reconsider your theology. Do not wave your hands and try to explain away passages with obvious meanings.

Jeremiah 26:2-3
Tell them everything I command you do not omit a word.  Perhaps they will listen and each one will turn from his evil way.

“Perhaps”,  what  kind  of  word is this  for  God to  be  using?   This passage again  alludes to a contingent event, but our theology states that God knows absolutely what the outcome of the event will be.   To a god with  absolute foreknowledge no event is  contingent all events are absolute.  If this is indeed the case, why does God address man with contingent language?   Is God trying to portray an idea that is false? Would the prophet think that with such language that it was vitally important to not omit a word?  In the end, the people did not listen, so why did God have Jeremiah do this, to justify his own actions, to make the guilty guiltier?

Let me make one additional point here.  God  knows absolute reality.  If to God there are no contingent events (a  mandatory conclusion if absolute foreknowledge is true), the absolute eternal truth is that there are no contingent events.  If you believe that your future is contingent, then you must be deceived. It matters not how God knows the future and who determines it.  If God knows the outcome, then that outcome must occur. Therefore the concept of contingency is lunacy. Everything is  fate.  If  you think that the future is  open, then you cannot believe in absolute foreknowledge.  For centuries,  theologians  have been  arguing  if  we  are  free to determine our future or does God decree it.  This is unimportant for the discussion at hand.  If the future is fixed, then regardless of how it was fixed, it is fixed.  Your future has been determined absolutely,  and  you  have no  other choice except to walk those steps.  Your  future  has  been known, and therefore cannot be altered if God knows it unchangeably.

Ezekiel 20:6 & 15
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I should not bring them into the land I had given them – a land flowing with milk and honey, most beautiful of all lands.

These passages reiterate one listed earlier, but they are listed here for more clarity.  Here God stated he searched out an area for the people knowing before the search which area it would be, and that the people would never see it. Strange actions indeed.  He then swore to them with an uplifted hand that he would so something, and then later  raised his hand again and swore the opposite.  Now did God mean it when he swore the first time or just the second?  How could he be sincere the first time if he knew inevitably that he could never do it?  Do we start to have a credibility problem with God?  How do we know when he tells us something that he will indeed do it and not renege?

Ezekiel 22:30
I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.

Did God just have some time to burn off so he performed a useless search?  Was God’s heart in the search since before he commenced searching, he knew what the outcome would be?  Was he constrained to search to prove a point?  The question is: Why does God do futile things?

Ezekiel 33:13
If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered, he will die for the evil he has done.

Again, we have more credibility problems with God.  He states emphatically that someone will live when he knows when he gives the statement that it could be false.  Then if someone takes God at his word (that he will live) and lets his guard down, he then risks death.  What kind of message is this?  If God tells you something, don’t believe it?

Psalms 69:28, Exodus 33:32
May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.  The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”

In the first verse we see that David has a notion that God will write someone’s name in the book of life, and at some later date, that person might be removed. Now if God knows absolutely who is going to be saved before he created the world, then what is the point of a holy eraser?  Where did David get such an idea?  Well one place might have been Moses.  Somehow, Moses had bad theology.  But wait, it appears that God propagated that bad theology.  God didn’t just let Moses’ theology  stand, but he compounded it even further.   The  fruit of  this theology is found in Revelation 3:5 when John the Apostle reiterated this idea thousands of years later.

Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.   I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

The obvious converse of this passage is that non-overcomers will be blotted out.  Interesting!

What is not meant by the denial of absolute foreknowledge

By denying God knows the future free will choices of man, it is not assumed that God doesn’t know certain future events.  Clearly God has prophesied future events that have come to pass.

These events however could be spoken of as certainties previous to the event, because God has the power to do whatever he so wills.  Nothing can stop his plan.  Therefore, if God decided to have  Jesus  born in Bethlehem,  no force in the  universe  could thwart  his  plan.   He therefore knows the future act absolutely because he has determined to cause the event to occur when the time has been fulfilled.  This is how a Calvinist views every event.  However, I believe Scripture shows that this is the exception and not the rule.

The denial of absolute foreknowledge also does not mean that God does not know everything. Clearly Scripture teaches that God has  full and complete knowledge of everything that exists (I John 3:20).  The question therefore is, does the future exist?  If you decide that the future does in fact exist in some manner as related to God, then it is incumbent on the reader to prove such a position.  This position cannot be simply assumed.  If in fact the future does not exist, then it is not incumbent upon God to know it.

Now this is not to say that God couldn’t have created a world in which he did know the future, but that he did not.  One could ask themselves, if in this world God knows all  future free actions, how would a world where he didn’t know differ from it?  How would the Bible be worded differently?

6 thoughts on “God’s will is not always done – Bible verses

  1. Pingback: God's will is not always done – Bible verses | Bjorkbloggen | Christian Dailys

  2. Pingback: God's will is not always done – Bible verses | Bjorkbloggen – speakingintonguesblogs

  3. I believe God’s perfect foreknowledge of all events that happened, are happening, and shall ever happen, is perfectly compatible with both God’s Sovereignty and man’s free will. Man is not forced to do anything, Man chooses what he chooses by his own free will. God knows beforehand all choices that a man will make. If God does not know the future, then God is not omniscient. If there is something that God does not know, the God is less than God, but is a god of man’s own imagining. Of course, God knows of the existence of evil, but God has no evil within Himself. Thus Calvinism is false, because it posits falsely that God knows and God causes evil.

    • Hey Scott

      <<I believe God’s perfect foreknowledge of all events that happened, are happening, and shall ever happen, is perfectly compatible with both God’s Sovereignty and man’s free will. Man is not forced to do anything, Man chooses what he chooses by his own free will. God knows beforehand all choices that a man will make.

      I agree with most of that, but how do you explain the verses (in the post under which you are writing) which seem to suggest that God doesn't always know our choices?

      <<If God does not know the future, then God is not omniscient.

      Where is the verse for this though?

      <<Of course, God knows of the existence of evil, but God has no evil within Himself. Thus Calvinism is false, because it posits falsely that God knows and God causes evil.

      Amen to that!

      God bless you

  4. The Bible doesn’t say God is sovereign, it proves it. It doesn’t say man has free will, but proves man is no robot. Salvation is of the Lord, not of man. Without faith it’s impossible to please God. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Man is totally evil apart from God’s mercy to save some. People think God’s will is adjusted by our choices, when it’s the other way around. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

    • Hello and thanks for your comments.

      <<The Bible doesn’t say God is sovereign, it proves it.

      Sure, but the question is what "sovereign" means. Is God sovereign enough to create man with free will, and make man responsible for his own choices?

      <<It doesn’t say man has free will, but proves man is no robot.

      Right, man is not a robot, but if calvinism is correct, and if man doesn't have free will but God directs all his steps, then man would indeed be a robot.

      <<Salvation is of the Lord, not of man.

      Yes, this is something that I have not heard a single christian argue against. But for some reason many calvinists bring up this claim as though some christians dispute it. Can man cleanse and save himself? Of course not. So salvation is of the Lord.

      <<Without faith it’s impossible to please God. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Man is totally evil apart from God’s mercy to save some.

      Does man want to be totally evil, or is he evil against God's will? If God is responsible for making man evil and unable to believe in him (unless he chooses to make them believe), then doesn't it follow that GOD is guilty of preventing certain people from pleasing him? Surely God wants to be pleased, and surely therefore he would like people to believe in him? Eph. 2:8-9 confirms that salvation is by grace through faith, so believing in God seems to be something that he expects from us. Also, seldom is v. 10 quoted which says that we are supposed to WALK unto good works. What happens if we choose not to? Or does God force some people to walk in those good works and prevent others from doing the same? Whose fault would this be?

      <<People think God’s will is adjusted by our choices, when it’s the other way around. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

      There are also several passages that says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart but those verses are not as popular among calvinists. If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart from scratch, does this mean that Pharaoh wasn't really totally evil after all, which you claimed earlier? Did Pharaoh obey God's will by refusing to let his people go? If yes, will Pharaoh end up in heaven since he obeyed God to 100%? Who will those be who end up in hell? People who disobey God? CAN people disobey God in the calvinistic world?

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Solving Problems, Not Solutions - How Time and Materials Pricing Model Motivates Your Vendor

The topic of the time & materials pricing model is becoming a frequent topic in business conversations. Especially between software development vendors and their clients. If you are the later, you are wondering whether going with the time and materials model is worth the risk. A cooperation that does not clearly specify the final development price may indeed sound like an uncertain investment.

Yet, if the outcome of your project is a so-called “painkiller” product that will solve some real life problems, then, in my opinion, taking the risk is something to consider.

Fixed or flexible? Choose Wisely

The time & materials model goes well with projects where the key goal is to create a software product (like eg. SaaS). It also works when building an internal management system for your company.

For products and internal systems, the goal is effective problem solving. At Accesto, we often suggest using the solutions that already exist on the market and are proved to work well and more importantly, are continuously being developed and improved. For example, using Mailchimp (an email marketing platform) that we proposed to our client instead of creating a new complex mailing system. Or integrating Kibana (the analytics and visualization platform) for reports and graphs generation from usage of client’s API. In both cases, making use of already proven solutions saved thousands of dollars.

solving problems

Of course, there are projects where the key to success is following the specs as long as it doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. When creating a software product, your goal is to find the best solution for a real problem, and make sure people will want to use it.

It doesn’t matter if you are creating a software product for users outside of your company or an internal system. In both cases, the fixed price model can cause some constraints.

In some situations, the fixed price is a quite a natural choice. The time and materials model may not be the perfect fit for various IT projects. If there is a precise specification that the developers need to follow, the fixed price model is the perfect solution. Let it be an implementation of a documented standard like the LTE standard in the telecom branch. Or a legal regulation that needs to be strictly followed which defines the implementation. Having a precise scope allows for the fixed price model to be implemented.

Not better than specified

However, the fixed price model is a two-way street. A fixed price implies a fixed project scope. No vendor will agree to a precise price without having a precise scope of specification. It needs to define all product or system features, like functionality or technical aspects.

Listing all the problems and letting the vendor find the solution for an agreed price doesn't work. Such an approach could result in getting the cheapest solution and you or your customers will get the short end of the stick by not having a quality product.

Usually, the vendor will simply not agree to these conditions. To agree on the fixed price, he will ask for the specifications of particular solutions to your list of problems.

The process of creating the specifications itself consumes lots of time and money. And, of course, creating them does not guarantee the success.

Fixing the scope at the beginning of the project means making decisions at the moment when you have the least amount of knowledge about the whole project. Most of us make bad assumptions at the beginning of new projects. In this industry, testing and getting feedback is what makes a project successful.

This is precisely why you don't want to block yourself from being able to adjust to the market. Working on a fixed price budget doesn’t allow for fast adjustments. When there is a need to make them you need extra investments of money and time.

Ending up with a product that doesn’t meet the expectations and needs of its end users is not your end goal.

Motivated to create a solution, not to solve a problem

Practice shows that even when one identifies a specific problem, they may not know the best possible way of addressing it. This can be challenging from both a business and technical perspective. And when you limit the vendor to the fixed price and scope, they may not want to come forward with other options outside of the specified scope.

Focusing on a precise solution narrows the vendor's view and literally kills his creative process. You end up with having a dev team focused on finding a solution instead of solving problems.

By fixing the price and the specification we show the vendor a final reward and a clear path leading to it. And that leaves them little or no room for creativity.

Daniel H. Pink in his book - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us illustrates this case well. Pink gives a set of examples of how familiarity with final reward and a well-known process of accomplishing the tasks kills the motivation to think outside of the box and find innovative ways of addressing problems.

According to Pink, a predefined process of work can indeed have a positive influence on effectiveness. However, it's true only in case of repeatable, reproductive tasks. So if your goal is to implement some standard, then this approach is right up your alley. But if you want to create a new, distinctive and customized product creativity is much needed.

Good idea? Keep it to yourself!

When the vendor is tied up with a fixed contract his goal is to accomplish the specified tasks for a specified amount. New ideas may come as obstacles on the path to this goal. Therefore, the fixed price model may actually cause the dev team and the vendor to keep the good ideas away from you. Each new idea usually causes a change in the project scope that affects the whole project and causes delays. And this is something that no vendor likes in fixed price driven projects.

Fixed price kills creativity

As it often happens, changes in the scope don't imply an increase in project's budget. It means that one feature has to replace another. When the scope changes, the additional specification is needed and this is all accompanied by constant negotiations. All that consumes time and money. In this case, the more changes that are made results in bigger overhead. Being innovative simply does not pay off for the vendor. Hence, they continue to focus on the specified solution, not the problem itself.

Vendor as a partner

I am far from making general statements. The fact that a fixed price contract may de-motivate the software development company from finding and suggesting better solutions does not imply that they will not do it. But if you decide on this type of contract, you should be aware of this potential negative impact. In such a case, the chances that your vendor will become your digital partner will decrease. By a partner, I mean someone who will fulfill their work duties but will also tell you where you might be wrong and suggest better ways of approaching problems. An honest partner will do this for you, even if it means less financial reward for them.

In his TED talk, designer Alastair Parvin told a story of an architect who was asked to re-plan an old Victorian school. The problem was that the narrow school corridors got congested between classes. He could have started his re-planning work, but instead of focusing on the particular solution of reshaping the corridors, which would cost several million pounds, he focused on the problem itself.

Looking at the problem from a wider angle, he suggested a much simpler and cheaper solution. Instead of having one school bell for all the pupils, he would place several smaller bells that would go off in different places at different times. This solved the congestion problem by distributing the traffic through the corridors. And it cost significantly less than the reconstruction of an antique building.

Similar cases happen in IT projects. Actually, there are a lot of similarities between IT and the design/construction industries. Acting as a product owner for our customers in Accesto for over 6 years, I have been working on many projects in which the final solution that was implemented was quite different from the original idea. Still, it solved the same problem.

One example is when we received an order for a design of an ERP system that among other features included a complex notification system. The goal was to constantly inform all employees within the company about the ongoing work of other co-workers. Surely, we could have designed that, no problem! But questioning the reason of the notifications I had discovered that customer’s real need was having the possibility to work together on a common set of documents without overriding each other's work. The notification system was to help them by informing them who was working on which document at the time.

Now, the solution that we proposed may surprise you. Instead of designing the notification module from scratch, we suggested a Google Docs integration. This completely solved the problem and provided full transparency in regards to the changes others were creating in common documents.

This example shows how a project's cost and, how sometimes, the whole project itself can be influenced by switching from the mindless implementation initial assumptions to focusing on finding the right solution for real problems. That is what I call “solving the problems, not the solutions” approach.

Does your vendor challenge you?

A good dev team is not one that will blindly follow your vision but one that will challenge it. Your vendor should question your assumptions and make you think. Maybe instead of creating a content management system (CMS), they will simply use existing tools and invest saved time for refining more important features.

In this case, the time & materials model will leave their hands untied and they will be more motivated for such simplifications. If you are interested in this topic read our previous blog post and sign up for our newsletter.

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June 25, 2014 AT 2:00 am

Microbe cross stitch! #WearableWednesday

Etsy user aliciawatkins has these adorable cross stitch sets in her store- super nerdy and cute!

Instant collection of 5 microbe cross stitches, completed in 3″ natural wood embroidery hoops

Choose your 5 by noting which ones you’d like in the purchase order notes at checkout. Use the drop-down list to select the first one and to look through the list to decide on your other 4.

(Note: the drop-down list sometimes includes the same microbe twice, listed under its common name and its scientific name.)

Nab a set here! These remind us of our adorable Ohm Sweet Ohm Cross-Stitch Kits. If you want to try making your own cross stitch pick up one of ours here.

Flora breadboard is Every Wednesday is Wearable Wednesday here at Adafruit! We’re bringing you the blinkiest, most fashionable, innovative, and useful wearables from around the web and in our own original projects featuring our wearable Arduino-compatible platform, FLORA. Be sure to post up your wearables projects in the forums or send us a link and you might be featured here on Wearable Wednesday!

Check out all the Circuit Playground Episodes! Our new kid’s show and subscribe!

Have an amazing project to share? Join the SHOW-AND-TELL every Wednesday night at 7:30pm ET on Google+ Hangouts.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

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December 22, 2015 AT 3:00 pm

Ray McCarthy Bergeron on re÷belief, a Film Made with 3D Printed Zoetropes #ArtTuesday

Nice interview with Ray McCarthy Bergeron from the Creators Project:

We asked Bergeron about the ins and outs of making such a time-intensive and captivating film:

The Creators Project: Can you briefly outline the plot in your own words?

Ray McCarthy Bergeron: Through the perspective of a boy, you witness a personal story that recalls 9 very specific instances of my life. These are memories that have repeatedly haunted me throughout my youth and adulthood. The memories regularly reflected times of bliss mixed with sullen, miserable moments. Ultimately the film is about cycles; a story about growing up, religion and relationships.

Check out the full interview and don’t miss Ray McCarthy Bergeron’s site!

Screenshot 4 2 14 11 48 AMEvery Tuesday is Art Tuesday here at Adafruit! Today we celebrate artists and makers from around the world who are designing innovative and creative works using technology, science, electronics and more. You can start your own career as an artist today with Adafruit’s conductive paints, art-related electronics kits, LEDs, wearables, 3D printers and more! Make your most imaginative designs come to life with our helpful tutorials from the Adafruit Learning System. And don’t forget to check in every Art Tuesday for more artistic inspiration here on the Adafruit Blog!

Check out all the Circuit Playground Episodes! Our new kid’s show and subscribe!

Have an amazing project to share? Join the SHOW-AND-TELL every Wednesday night at 7:30pm ET on Google+ Hangouts.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

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Maker Business — Lessons Learned Scaling Airbnb 100X

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Electronics — When do I use X10?

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April 27, 2016 AT 6:00 am

These Earth-Saving Robots Might Be The Future Recyclers

We covered Liam, Apples iPhone deconstructing robot earlier this year on the blog. NPR’s all tech considered has an interesting article with a rundown of other robots that might be the future of recycling. Via NPR

When trash is sorted for recycling by hand, the job can be dangerous. According to a report published last year by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health and other organizations, 17 people died between 2011 and 2013 on their jobs at recycling facilities in the United States due to unsafe working conditions.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists all the hazards workers can be exposed to when sorting out waste, ranging from chemical exposure to lifting injuries. Electronic waste, in particular, exposes workers to multiple chemicals that may harm their health, including ammonia, mercury and asbestos.

According to the Apple’s recent environmental report, the company has collected nearly 90 million pounds of e-waste through its recycling programs, which is 71 percent of the total weight of the products it sold seven years earlier.

But Fortune editor Philip Elmer-DeWitt wrote that Liam the robot wouldn’t scale up because Apple sold more than 230 million iPhones last year. He writes:

“One Liam is not going to make much of a dent in the toxic mountain of electronics waste Apple has helped create.”
While Apple told Mashable’s Kelly that no other company it knows of is disassembling technology products in this way, there are many interesting “recycling robots” like Liam out there, although most are still just prototypes — except for ZenRobotics, a company from Finland.

Using Smart Software To Sort Trash

The ZenRobotics Recycler utilizes artificial intelligence to identify and sort materials from mixed waste. Show samples of materials to the system, and the software will learn what to do with it. According to its website, the company has the “first commercially available robotic waste sorting system.” This month, it announced plans to deliver its first robots to the U.S.

Dane Campbell, a systems engineer with PLEXUS Recycling Technologies, the company that brought ZenRobotics into the United States, says robotics in the waste industry in the U.S. is not the new idea — but artificial intelligence is.

He says current machines sometimes have problems sorting out materials like plastic bags from newspapers, thus causing sorting facilities to rely on people. According to Campbell, the machines can cost up to $1 million each.

Recycling may become more expensive — a New York Times opinion article pointed out last October — as more materials are thrown into the recycling dump, sorting will take more supervision. But automation remains expensive. The falling commodity prices might also hurt the recycling business.

A U.S. startup, AMP Robotics, aims to change that by offering “scalable recycling.” The company is fairly new, and founder Matanya Horowitz says he had the idea to bring robotics to the recycling industry because conditions for recycling workers can be “dull, dirty and dangerous.” He says “recycling is ripe for this technology.”

The company sold one machine last month and is still looking to improve the system. According to Horowitz, the machine will work like those found in a food processing plant.

Read more

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Delinquent IRS taxes can result in tremendously bothersome upshots including bank account levy, tax liens and wage garnishment. Furthermore, if it is proved that you deliberately evaded taxes, you may end up in jail. For many individuals, paying back taxes is not an easy job in current erratic fiscal circumstances. If you are in a similar condition, and want to avoid IRS wrath, the best option is tax debt relief. With IRS tax debt relief, you could pay lesser percentage of the amount owed or over a period of time considering your financial circumstance.

Most of the people do not realize the adversity of the situation and try to procrastinate, hoping that everything will get settled down automatically. This lack of communication with the IRS only results in the loss of wages, property and added penalties. The best approach to solve IRS tax problems is to face them head on. There are two ways and means for countering IRS problems: handling the situation singlehandedly or obtaining the services of an experienced tax professional.

IRS tax debt relief involves complex tax and legal procedures and intensive paperwork, one minor mistake can washout your case. If you possess these legal and technical proficiencies, then you can save some dollar bills by piloting your case on your own. You will also need significant tolerance and determination because most of the IRS agents are not overnice gentlemen you might like – after all they deserve to be a little unforgiving due to the nature of their job. Worst of all is that in the end you may get exactly the opposite results of what you anticipated.

It is nearly a mystery how tax relief services eliminate IRS tax problems? Actually, it is a legal, technical and systematic process which has different phases and you need to be a tax or legal expert to understand all these. Tax relief services are indispensible for individuals who owe an IRS tax debt, especially those who have a huge outstanding amount. Learning how this process works can help you get started and get your problems solved more efficiently.

Most of the companies that offer tax relief services have different kind of specialists including enrolled agents, CPAs, Tax attorneys and accountants. These professionals have specific qualifications and licenses. Some of them are even former IRS agents who have deep insight of the tax settlement process. If you are hiring one, make sure they have qualified and experienced knowledge and skills to resolve your specific tax problem.

Beware of some scammers who charge the whole fee upfront and never even contact the IRS. There are a few legitimate tax resolution companies that charge a retainer fee i.e. you have to deposit some money before you can avail their services. Alternatively, there are companies which do not require a retainer fee but rather a flat and reasonable fee for the entire process.

Tax Resolution Services for all your Tax Problems

Looking for trustworthy tax resolution services but don’t know where to turn?

It’s never too early to start thinking about your taxes and tax resolution services – especially if you anticipate tax problems.

Why Tax Masters May Not Be Your Best Option for IRS Tax Problems

Tax Masters isn’t your only choice when looking for a solution to your tax problems. Tax Masters isn’t necessarily your best choice, either. It’s true that the company’s strong presence on television and the Internet is hard to ignore. But all that really means is that Tax Masters has a bigger advertising budget than many of its competitors.

Experience matters more than words

Is Life Insurance a Sound Investment?

Absolutely Yes. Life insurance is the best Tax Free Retirement investment you can find!

Most investors who invest in the stock market are usually advised by their stock broker and or financial advisor to check their investment choices with their tax advisors. The problem is, most investors never consult with their tax advisor regarding their investment choices which usually results that their investment end up either with big losses on wall street, or with a large tax bill that ends up losing a substantial portion of their principal investment amount.

Bigger is NOT Always Better – Just Ask Dissatisfied JK Harris Clients

UPDATED 10/7/2011 #JK #Harris files for bankruptcy protection.

The website of tax representation firm JK Harris boasts hundreds of locations nationwide. The site promises three simple steps to tax relief beginning with a free initial consultation with a JK Harris sales consultant. The company claims to have assisted a quarter of a million people with their tax problems.

Do you have tax problems? Call the reliable tax help line now at 1-877-78-TAXES [877-788-2937].

We have solutions to tax problems. If you have unfiled tax returns, call the tax help line at 877-788-2937. If you have back taxes, and cannot pay the entire amount due to financial hardships, call us and we will gladly help you. We also can represent you in case of an IRS tax audit, you will not have to face the IRS, we will represent you before all administrative levels of the IRS.

When you call our reliable tax help line, you will always speak with the principal of the firm, Mike Habib EA, so you will not speak to sales representatives like other companies do. Mike Habib will be your power of attorney and will work with you and the IRS to negotiate the lowest and best possible resolution for your tax problem.

How to Research Roni Deutch and other Tax Resolution Companies

Today I’m going to teach you a lesson. This lesson uses Roni Deutch as an example of what to look for when you’re in the market for a tax resolution company to help with your tax problems. Personally, I have nothing against Roni Deutch. Like a lot of other companies, Roni Deutch just happens to be in the same business as I am and that business is offering tax relief to individuals and companies who have tax problems including tax audits, unfiled tax returns, wage garnishment issues, payroll tax problems, IRS tax liens and other problems with the IRS.

Get to know the BBB

Employment and Payroll Tax Audit & Examination:

The IRS announced its plan to audit the first 6,000 employment tax audits and small business will be their audit target. The IRS will start examining 2,000 companies every year over the next 3 years.

The IRS will utilize its audit findings to target a select group of businesses and aggressively audit their payroll tax and refine estimates to close the tax gap. IRS audit agents are specially trained to audit employment and payroll tax for the audited businesses.


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Welcome Jan Crisostomo

Join us in welcoming Jan Crisostomo to the Sentry team!

If you’re an engineer, you may recognize Jan’s work from such emails as, “Engineering opportunities with [Company]!”, “Just following up on my previous email”, and “PLZ DON’T BLOCK ME”. Jan has recruited and managed talent programs for tech companies like Google and Dropbox, most recently at Bessemer Venture Partners where she advised and recruited for a variety of early-stage startups.

Jan will help build the Sentry team as Head of Talent, which she finds ironic since she has no talents. When she’s not self-consciously crafting third-person biographies, Jan can be found sipping tea, traveling, and writing chapters for her inevitable cult classic The 4-Hour Nap.


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Ask the Vet: Insulin Resistance, Cushing’s Disease, & Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Understanding each condition, and the relationships between them

My friends and I have a small wager resting on your answer to: Can Insulin Resistance be present in both Cushing’s Disease AND Equine Metabolic Syndrome? Also any advice you can share to help us remember which condition is which and how to tell them apart would be most appreciated! – CB, Nevada

Dear CB,
I hope the wager involves chocolate and that you were the one correctly voting “yes” that insulin resistance CAN be present in both Cushing’s Disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

As luck would have it, I recently attended the 2013 AAEP Annual Convention, which featured an entire half day on Geriatric Medicine/Metabolics. While it can be challenging to keep up with all the new information associated with these two separate but related conditions, the fact that multiple teams of researchers across the US are actively researching the underlying causes, best diagnostics, and most appropriate treatments is a good thing for our aging equine population.

In a nutshell, Cushing’s Disease, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is a collection of clinical signs due to overproduction of certain pituitary hormones. It is caused by an enlarged and overactive pituitary gland normally kept in check by inhibitory dopamine from the hypothalamus. PPID is a commonly diagnosed disease in the senior equine population, affecting over 20% of horses more than 15 years of age. Common signs include weight/muscle loss, behavioral changes, secondary infections, and changes in haircoat. Laminitis may also occur.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome, or EMS, is a collection of endocrine and metabolic abnormalities associated with the development of laminitis in horses. Faulty insulin metabolism is a key component of EMS and can include both insulin resistance (IR) and hyperinsulinemia. IR is the failure of tissues to respond appropriately to insulin while hyperinsulinemia means elevated levels of insulin in the blood. Collectively they are referred to as “insulin dysregulation,” the new term you may hear veterinarians using or read in magazine articles, which simply means an excessive insulin response to sugar.

Here’s where it gets tricky (as if it wasn’t tricky enough already!): horses with EMS always have insulin resistance while horses with PPID may or may not have it. Since researchers now believe the laminitis associated with these two conditions stems from faulty insulin metabolism, horses suspected of having either EMS or PPID should be tested for insulin resistance. This means that in addition to whatever testing your veterinarian suggests to diagnose PPID—such as a resting ACTH sample or the TRH Stimulation Test—a separate test should also be performed to check insulin status.

There are two recommended tests to check insulin status in the horse: the oral sugar test and the fasting insulin concentration. Both are easy to perform on site (no hospital stay required) but the oral sugar test is more sensitive and therefore recommended as the first choice.

This may seem like a lot of complicated information when all you really want to know is if your horse has one of these conditions and if so, how to treat and manage it. However, it’s important to have some grasp of the underlying problem in EMS, PPID with insulin resistance, and PPID without insulin resistance so that the appropriate nutrition, management, and prescription medication (if necessary) can be started. For example, while oxidative stress is a factor in all three conditions—and for which antioxidants like Vitamin E are recommended—only horses with faulty insulin metabolism really need the sugars and starches in their diets limited. So a horse with PPID that has normal insulin function can and should have access to high-quality hay, pasture, and other forage sources to help maintain gut health and good weight.

While I may not have simplified things for you and your friends, hopefully this cutting edge information on two very common conditions in horses has given you some food for thought!

Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA SmartPak Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director Dr. Lydia Gray has earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and a Master of Arts focusing on interpersonal and organizational communication. After “retiring” from private practice, she put her experience and education to work as the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s first-ever Director of Owner Education. Dr. Gray continues to provide health and nutrition information to horse owners through her position at SmartPak, through publication in more than a dozen general and trade publications, and through presentations around the country. She is the very proud owner of a Trakehner named Newman that she actively competes with in dressage and combined driving. In addition to memberships in the USDF and USEF, Dr. Gray is also a member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association (IDCTA). She is a USDF “L” Program Graduate and is currently working on her Bronze Medal. Find Dr. Gray on Google+

Posted in Ask the Vet

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8 comments on “Ask the Vet: Insulin Resistance, Cushing’s Disease, & Equine Metabolic Syndrome
  1. Jani says:

    I have a 15 y/o American Saddlebred with Cushings and is IR as well, I have a question on how this disease effects the muscles as I see there are many opinions out there that do not specify this as a common side effect….I have intermitent lameness that is not foot related and x-rays were clean….I have therapy for him 2 x’s a month and he does swim quite often in a free swim facility. He’s developed several strange muscle lumps that are not painful to the touch but seem odd. Your help is appreciated.

    • SmartPak SmartPak says:

      your situation proves just how complicated and confusing metabolic and endocrine problems are in horses. In general, Cushing’s Disease leads to muscle atrophy or breakdown, but if you feel your horse has not “read the book” when it comes to these conditions I highly recommend you speak with your veterinarian about your concerns. He or she (sometimes with the help of a second opinion from a referral center or teaching hospital) may recommend additional diagnostic testing or adjustments in prescription medication, diet, and management to cope with unusual findings. – Dr. Lydia Gray

  2. Kelly says:

    Thank you Dr. Gray for you explanation. What is your suggestion on where to learn about horse diseases with out going to vet school. I have been out of horses for a while and there are a lot of new things out here. It can be confusing. Thank you.

    • SmartPak SmartPak says:

      Hi Kelly, thanks for asking!
      I can steer you toward a few more resources if you’re interested in learning more about equine health.
      SmartPak’s Equine Health Library is chock-full of good information, so that would be a fun place to start.
      I’d recommend you continue to browse the SmartPak Blog as well. Also, the most important resource regarding equine health conditions will be your veterinarian. Your vet is the absolute best resource for understanding your horse’s unique health needs, and so I would encourage you to keep that line of communication open. – Dr. Lydia Gray

      Equine Health Library:

  3. Chuck says:

    We have a pony that may have Cushing IR. He’s being tested next week. We’ve been giving him the Smartpak’s Smart Tendon, and we’re wondering it this is good for him?

    • SmartPak SmartPak says:

      Hi Chuck, it’s excellent that you’re working with your veterinarian to determine exactly what’s going on with your pony; that is absolutely the most important step! While we are aware of no issues regarding the ingredients in SmartTendon, we encourage you to discuss your pony’s complete diet, including supplements, with your vet, as you work together to develop a complete management program for him. – Dr. Lydia Gray

  4. Debbie says:

    I have a diagnosed Cushings horse. He is 17 and has been on pergolide 2 years and is doing well. His cresty neck and fat pads are gone and his energy level is good. He is getting ribby and I can see loss of top line and muscle loss in haunches. My vet said to make sure he gets lots of work. Can I give him cocosoya to help with weight gain? His coat and hooves are good. Heavy winter coat that sheds out slowly but completely. What other supplements would help him? I want to enjoy him for many more years.

  5. Kirstin Davy says:

    I need some help with my cushings horses. They are miniature horses. I am feeding a low starch diet, they are not on grass but are getting hay. I buy my hay in small amounts so I have not had any of it tested. The supplements they are on is Platform Performance Wellness and Evitex. One mare is doing well the other 2 are not. I have bloodwork pending ( ACTH, Insulin panel as well as a geriatric panel). I was getting pergolide (compounded powder) thru you but I can not afford the Precend. What else can I do for them? I look forward to any advice you can give me. Thank you.

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Sheepskin Health Benefits

Sheepskin is super special and has numerous health benefits.  A number of studies have found that sheepskin can have extensive health benefits for babies, children and adults.

Sheepskin & Asthma – Health Benefits

In 2014 researcher Dr Christina Tischer, from the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen Research Centre, undertook a study of 2441 healthy babies. said animal skin may have an abundance of the microbes that can protect against allergies.

They found those who slept on animal skin were 79 per cent less likely to have asthma by the time they were six, compared to babies who were not exposed to it.

By the time the children were ten, the children were 41 per cent less likely to have asthma. SnugRugs sell real sheepskin Cot Toppers for babies.

Sheepskin Health Beneifits

Sheepskin can protect against asthma in babies

Sheepskin & Sleep – Health Benefits

Sleep is imperative for good health. We spend approximately one third of our life in slumber. The length and quality of our sleep determines how we function physically and mentally in the day. Sleep allows our brains to rest and our body to rejuvenate. Our heart rate slows down and hormones are released, to allow our vital organs to recover. Having poor or broken sleep has a detrimental affect on physical and mental health. It is thought that a third of people in the UK have Insomnia, a serious medical condition. Many things can interfere with a good nights sleep: stress, stimulants, anxiety, illness, depression and fear of not being able to sleep. Sheepskin can help with relaxation, crucial for good sleep. SnugRugs has a range of quality sheepskin bed underlays which will allow many years of good sleep sleep.

Medical Sheepskin Health Benefits

Bowron Sheepskin Underlay

Sheepskin Health Benefits – The Miracle of Nature

Genuine natural sheepskin is very dense. Wool fibres cushion and protect, supporting weight evenly, thus reducing the risk of bed sores. Sheepskin insulates; it keeps you warm in winter by trapping cold air and warming it and conversely, keeps you cool in summer by absorbing moisture from your body then releasing it into warm air. At SnugRugs Sheepskin is our passion. We sell an extensive range of sheepskin products. Driven by the belief that nothing is better than sheepskin, we use our experience and expertise of the sheepskin industry to promote quality products you have come to expect.

Sheepskin Health Benefits

Cats love relaxing on Sheepskin too…


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The Rankings and Ratings that REALLY Matter

Mrs. Loo, I want to get into a good college”.

This is the statement I’ve heard more than any other this year.  And every time I hear it, I find myself trying to figure out what it means.  Is the student talking about just the Ivies?  Maybe not an Ivy, but a “known” school?  A good public university?   What does “good” mean?  Can I quantify it?  I probably can.  And the equation looks something like this:

College =

  1. A college that ranks in the top  25 schools in U.S. News and World Report
  2. A college that my family, including my extended family, has heard of
  3. A college with a low acceptance rate
  4. A college that is “worth” all of the hard work I have put in the last four years

These aren’t necessarily bad things to look for in a college.  But, let me try to re-write this equation:

College =

  1. A school where you will be both challenged and inspired to learn
  2. A school where you will develop relationships with both faculty and students
    that will help you know yourself and develop your passions,
    gifts and talents
  3. A school that has good outcomes with regard to your future
  4. A school that will feel like a second home because you feel that it’s where you “fit”

Don’t get me wrong.  Rankings and ratings can be helpful.  They often give us a quick look at the quality of  something.  We use them all the time.  If I want to go out and eat, I use Yelp.  Should I buy those pair of boots on Amazon?  Of course I’ll look for the 5-star  rating.

But in the case of college rankings, the jury is still out on how helpful they are.  In fact, a lot of experts in higher education dismiss the US News and World Report rankings because of the methodology that is used in determining the rankings.  If you want more information, here are two balanced articles on the topic:

College Rankings Can Be Good, But U.S. News’ Miss the Mark

College Rankings Leave Key Questions Unanswered

So, what is a more helpful measure of whether a college is “good” for me?  It’s like trying to match two pieces of a puzzle.  You have to know which two pieces fit. One piece is the college.  The other is you.

College Puzzle

Another way we rank colleges is by how high or low their acceptance rate is.  The ‘best’ colleges have the lowest acceptance scores.  But these rankings can also be a bit misleading. Because  colleges don’t really talk about who actually applies.

It may surprise you that about 70%-80% of well-qualified students get into their top choices. Yes, you heard that right.  The college frenzy has been helped by the unprecedented number of students, qualified or not, who can now apply to college.  The real numbers show that for a majority of qualified students, they do get into one of their top choices, .

Again, if you’d like to do more reading, you can find the information here:

New York Times: For Accomplished Students, Reaching A Good College Isn’t as Hard as It Seems

Do 80 Percent of Top Students Really Get Into an Elite College?

So, what would I like you to take away from this blog post?  Two things:

First, there are MANY  “good” colleges out there for you.  They might not have a brand name, but they are places where you can learn, develop relationships, use your talents, and thrive.

Second, fit is far more important than a brand name, especially at the undergraduate level.  And my hope is that the next four years of your life will be just as good a fit as the four years you have spent at SBS.

So, take a deep breath, take a look at who you are, and be confident that God has a plan for you that will help you  grow into the person He wants you to be.

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