Moody Distance Learning

There's Still Time To Come Along! | Moody Israel Study Tour 2012

2011-10-24T10:10:00.000-05:00

There is still time for you to join us for our upcoming Israel Study Tour on March 11-22, 2012! Sign up today and experience a tour to Israel that will transform your faith in God and your ministry. Credit is available to students.

Israel Study Tour Promo from ETS Productions on Vimeo.

Visit www.moody.edu/israel for more information.

Missions Conference Agencies 2011

2011-10-11T17:18:00.001-05:00

Autumn has arrived, 8-week classes are coming to an end, and so Missions Conference is upon us. For on-campus students, talking with the missionaries who have traveledhere to Moody's Chicago Campus is one of the best parts of the week. Chatting witha missionary is an excellent way to learn more about where and how God’s workis happening, and even more, listening to stories and asking questions may givedirection in where you may be called to serve. Yet, with Missions Conferencemoving so quickly, it may be near impossible to learn about as many of theministries as you would like. Thus, one of the prime ways to keep learningthrough and after Missions conference is visiting each missionary’s sendingagency websites or even better, following them on Facebook and Twitter.

As Moody Distance Learning, we want to help you connect with the missionaries here on campus. So we've provided a listing here of all the social media outlets we can find. Please interact with these organizations. Take some time this week to visit a couple websites or Facebook pages. Or join in the conversation on Twitter by following us ( @moodydl ), following our official hashtag ( #mbimc), or following any of the agencies below.

Here are over 50 agencies that have missionaries represented at MissionsConference:

Association of Baptists forWorld Evangelism (ABWE)

Website: www.abewe.org

Africa Inland Mission

Website: www.aimint.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/africainlandmission

Avant

Wesite: www.avantministries.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AvantMinistries

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AvantMinistries

Cadence

Website: http://www.cadence.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cadenceintl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cadenceintl

CAM International

Website: www.caminternational.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CAM-International/16603499379

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CAMTransform

Child Evangelism Fellowshipof Chicago

Website: www.cefchicago.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cefchicago

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CEFChicago

Chosen People Ministries

Website: www.chosenpeople.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChosenPeopleMinistries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ChosenPeopleUSA

Christar

Website: www.christar.org

The Christian and MissionaryAlliance

Website: http://www.cmalliance.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greatcommission

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cmalliance

Converge Worldwide

Website: http://www.convergeworldwide.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/convergeworldwide

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/convergemedia1/converge-worldwide

CrossWorld

Website: www.crossworld.org

English Language InstituteChina

Website: www.elic.org

Every Child Ministries

Website: http://www.ecmafrica.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Every-Child-Ministries/102690459783349

Fellowship InternationalMission

Website: www.fim.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fimworldwide

Frontiers

Website: www.frontiers.org

Grace Brethren InternationalMissions

Website: http://www.gbim.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/GBIM/130944469088

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/GBIMissions

Greater Europe Mission

Website: www.gemission.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GEMission

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/gemission

Hellenic Mission

Website: http://www.hellenicministries.com/Home.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hellenic-Ministries/174396072577632

InterAct Ministries

Website: www.InterActMinistries.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterActMinistries

International Teams

Website: www.iteams.org/us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Teams-USA/288696983116

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/iteamsusa

Jews for Jesus

Website: www.jewsforjesus.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jewsforjesus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JewsforJesus

Josiah Venture

Website: www.josiahventure.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/josiahventure

Kentucky Mountain Mission

Website: www.kmminc.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KMM.YHBC

Latin America Mission

Website: www.lam.org

Life in Messiah

Website: http://www.lifeinmessiah.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Life-In-Messiah/120915979267?ref=ts

Morning Star Development

Website: http://msdev.homestead.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morning-Star-Development/64472574123

Native American BibleMinistries Inc.

Website: http://www.nabm.org/

New Mission SystemsInternational

Website: http://www.nmsi.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NMSINTL

New Tribes Mission

Website: www.ntm.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newtribes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/newtribes

One Mission Society

Website: http://www.onemissionsociety.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onemissionsociety

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/1MissionSociety

Operation Mobilization

Website: www.omusa.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/omusa.org

Twitter: http://twitter.com/omusa

OMF International

Website: www.omf.org/us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OMFInternational

Pioneer Bible Translators

Website: www.pioneerbible.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pioneer-Bible-Translators/53417493206?ref=ts

Pioneers

Website: www.pioneers.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PioneersUSA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/pioneersusa

Rural Home MissionaryAssociation

Website: http://www.rhma.org/

SEND International

Website: www.send.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SENDInternational

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SENDIntl

SIM

Website: www.sim.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/siminternational

Twitter: http://twitter.com/simintl

South America Mission

Website: www.southamericamission.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southamericamission

South Asian Friendship Center

Website: http://www.safcbookstore.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Asian-Friendship-Center/152279618119023

TeachBeyond

Website: www.teachbeyond.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/TeachBeyond/214686219504

TEAM

Website: http://www.teamworld.org/

Trans World Radio

Website: http://www.twr.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twrglobal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/twrglobal

UrbanPromise

Website: http://urbanpromise.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanPromise

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/UrbanPromiseDE

Village Missions

Website: http://www.village-missions.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/villagemissions

WEC International

Website: www.wec-usa.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/WEC-USA/138973469454428?ref=ts

World Impact

Website: http://www.worldimpact.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/World.Impact.Inc

World Venture

Website: http://www.worldventure.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldventure

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/worldventureusa

Wycliffe Bible Translators

Website: www.wycliffe.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WycliffeUSA

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Wycliffe_USA

Youth For Christ

Website: http://www.yfc.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yfcusa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/yfcusa

Zion Evangelical Ministriesof Africa

Website: http://www.zema.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zion.ZEMA

Friday, March 16 | Bet She’an • Jordan Valley • Judean Wilderness • Qumran

2011-08-26T15:15:00.004-05:00

This morning we journey past Mt. Tabor, where Deborah and Barak led the forces of Israel to victory, before arriving at the Spring of Harod where Gideon chose his 300 men. We continue down the Jezreel Valley to the ancient city of Bet She’an. We will walk through the remarkable restoration of the Roman ruins that sit in the shadow of the hill where the Philistines once displayed the bodies of King Saul and his sons. We then proceed down the Jordan Valley past Old Testament Jericho, the ancient Canaanite city where the “walls came tumbling down.” We continue on, entering into the Judean Wilderness where Christ was tempted for 40 days. Our next stop is Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Late afternoon our journey takes us to the lowest point on the face of the earth, the Dead Sea, where we will overnight along its shores.

Tuesday, March 13 | Caesarea • Mount Carmel • Megiddo • Mount Arbel

2011-08-19T08:53:00.003-05:00

This morning we will visit Caesarea where Peter proclaimed the good news to the Roman centurion, Cornelius. We will see the famous Roman theater, harbor, newly excavated hippodrome and palace, and aqueducts. We continue on to Mount Carmel to visit the traditional place where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. Next we arrive at Megiddo, Chariot City of King Solomon, where we will explore its remarkable excavations and view the Valley of Jezreel, the location for the future gathering of the nations at Armageddon. Our next stop is Mount Precipice for a magnificent view of Mount Tabor and Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. We will pass the Horns of Hittim where Saladin defeated the Crusaders before ending our day by walking to the top of Mount Arbel for a breathtaking panorama of the Sea of Galilee and the biblical sites of Jesus’ public ministry. We will have Dinner and overnight along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

MBI Israel Study Tour 2012

2011-07-29T17:04:00.002-05:00

Dear Moody Alumni and Friends,

Our annual MBI Israel Study Tour is here!

Come explore the Land where Jesus changed the world with His message, death and resurrection.
Deepen your understanding of God’s word as Moody Professor Walt McCord and Vice President and Dean of Educational Resources Bill Blocker provide the spiritual significance of more than 50 significant Biblical sites, including:
Garden of Gethsemane, Upper Room, Garden Tomb, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mount Carmel, Temple Mount and many more!

Enjoy Israel during her limited time of spring breezes and lush greenery.

Transform your faith during this unique experience with up to 45 other Moody students, alumni and friends.

Earn class credit.

Visit our website to read what previous participants have to say about the trip.

Our next study tour will be March 11-22, 2012. The cost is $3,995, which includes airfare, hotel stays, entrance fees, and daily breakfasts and dinners. Space is limited, so reserve your place as soon as possible by registering with Morning Star Tours. Because your trip fees must be paid in full by December 30th, 2011, we recommend that you contact family, friends and others who may support you as soon as possible.

Learn more about this unforgettable journey today!

If you are considering the trip and have questions, please contact Jantzen Loza, MBI Israel Study Tour Coordinator. E-mail him or call 312.329.8927. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Israel Study Tour 2011: Conclusion

2011-04-15T13:43:00.003-05:00

Students and faculty returned about a month ago from an incredible study tour in the land of Israel. While no description could fully explore the details of this wonderful, annual trip, we wanted to share a perspective from one of the students along with a few pictures. Moody's Israel Study Tour occurs every spring and is open to anyone who is interested, providing available spots.

“One of the things that impacted me the most during my time in Israel was knowing I was standing where the great biblical characters actually stood. It's not that I didn't believe prior to the trip, but I now can envision and feel the biblical record in a different way. We stood on the cobblestone entry to the ancient city of Dan (Laish). The stones are dated to be 4,000 years old. Well, about 2,000 BC Abraham was rescuing Lot at the city of Dan. Prof. Walt McCord (our tour guide) repeated three times, "Abraham walked on those stones." The Bible comes alive. Similarly, in the ruins of the synagogue in Korazin, we stood by the Moses seat and the spot where scrolls were held. The floor is from the time of Christ. Walt was able to say with confidence, "Jesus stood in that spot, on those stones as he selected the scroll for reading and then he sat in that seat - right there." The Bible is an accurate historical accounting of real people in real places. Seeing might not be believing (because a trip to Israel certainly isn't mandatory for faith), but seeing definitely reinforces and augments the faith.

Another type of learning was to see the Bible and secular history intersect. For instance, we stood on top of Mount Carmel and got shivers recalling the great miracle God performed in support of Elijah's challenge to the false prophets....a fantastic supernatural event. At the same time we're looking down on the Jezreel Valley where every major empire of the ancient world has marched and where Armageddon will commence. Past, future, supernatural, and major human events overlapping in one magnificent spot at our feet!”

- Jeffrey Clark, Israel Study Tour participant 2011

Israel Study Tour 2011: Update #5

2011-03-08T12:05:00.000-06:00

[this post is part of our Israel Study Tour. Check out the link on the top-bar of the blog to view all the posts for this trip]

Hello everyone,

Only 6 days before we depart to Israel! We want to make sure you have Bill Blocker’s cell phone number. He will be having a phone with this number during our entire time in Israel. It is supposed to be used for emergency purposes only.

Emergency phone can be reached by callers dialing:

From USA & Canada	In Israel
011-972-57- 8919843	0-57- 8919843

Also, Walt McCord will have his cell phone with him at the airport on Sunday in case you need to get a hold of a tour leader, 219-688-8170. It is important that you are wearing your name tags provided by Morning Star so that we can recognize you.

Second, on arrival in Israel you can request to not have your passport stamped with an Israel stamp if you plan on going to a Muslim country in the future (except for Jordan, Turkey, or Egypt). Ask Walt McCord at the airport if you have questions.

Third, do you have a small travel alarm clock and watch for the trip? Some students use their cell phones for both in the US, and that will not work in Israel. J Speaking of phones, you can have family call directly to the hotels we stay at in Israel at 10pm (Chicago time) and that is 6am Israel time. Copy the hotel phone # list that was sent to you by Morning Star and leave this with your family. Our weak-up time in Israel is 6am; breakfast 7am; on the bus by 8am. Check to confirm your home phone international rates, and do not plan to call direct from Israel unless you want to pay up to $5 per minute.

And last but not least, are some of you planning on staying at the airport in Israel for 9 days? If not, please fax us the last page of the attached document on travel abroad and conditions for participating in Moody Bible Institute’s Study/Travel Abroad program. The last page is a requirement for all participants who are on a Moody approved trip. Please fill out, sign, and email or fax this last page back to me at 312-329-4234. Remember, you can go on the flight to Israel without us having this document, you just can’t get on the bus in Israel until we have it :-)

See you in less than a week!

Walt, Bill & Zelda, Ernest, and Katha

Israel Study Tour 2011: Update #4

2011-02-28T11:29:00.001-06:00

[this post is part of our Israel Study Tour. Check out the link on the top-bar of the blog to view all the posts for this trip]

Hello,

Can you believe it? We are less than two weeks away from heading to Israel. Remember to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before flight departure. People will be arriving from all over on various schedules so come wearing your nametag that Morning Star will provide in the package they are sending out this week. That way we can identify all tour participants.

According to the current weather forecast temperatures are supposed to be in the 60s with occasional rain showers. Make sure to have a pair of shorts and one swimming suite (for the Dead Sea), warm clothing (in layers), and rain gear.

Some of you have already returned the last page of the Study Travel Abroad document, however, there are several that have not returned it yet. The last page is a requirement for all participants who are on a Moody approved trip (no matter if student or non-student). Please fill out, sign, and fax (312-329-4234) or scan and email (kalbert@moody.edu) this last page back to us. Remember, you can go on the flight to Israel without us having this document, you just can’t get on the bus in Israel until we have it :-)

Also, here is information on baggage allowances for our trip. Please try to pack as light as possible (think layers), and functional. We will not be in any settings where casual clothing is not appropriate. At some “religious” sites all people are required to be “modest” - this means all knees and shoulders must be covered (no shorts allowed). Have along a pair of pull on sweat pants for those days. If it is warm and you want to wear your shorts at other times, then you can just pull on these extra pants for the holy site. Also, in Israel you will need an adapter for electrical equipment (like a charger) to work. Don’t plan on taking a lot of electrical gear, but if you must, consult the attached document for this and other information like changing $.

One last item for today. Make 2 copies of your passport picture page today and have them in your suitcase and carry on luggage so if you lost your passport (which hopefully will not happen), we could make the necessary arrangements.

Get ready!
Blessings,
Walt, Bill & Zelda, Ernest, and Katha

A quick reminder for Israel Tour Participants

2011-02-15T17:02:00.000-06:00

Just a friendly reminder to complete the Israel pre-trip survey by February 28th, 2011. You should have all received an email with a link to the survey. Let us know if you have any questions.

Israel Study Tour 2011: Update #3

2011-01-31T14:24:00.006-06:00

[this post is part of our Israel Study Tour. Check out the link on the top-bar of the blog to view all the posts for this trip]

Hello!

As you prepare to walk the Land that Jesus walked, it is our desire to help you grow closer to Him . Our trip to Israel is going to be here before we know it, and I am sure your anticipation is building every day. I am very much looking forward to taking this trip with you.

As we get ready to visit Israel in March, we want to help you make the most of your trip starting now.

Please check this site often! We will continue to send updates to you through email, but you can check the blog anytime for the most up-to-date information.

The more you can familiarize yourself before the trip with geographical, historical, and biblical information about the sites we will be visiting the better. Here are some tools you will find helpful:

· Israel geography quiz game: http://www.purposegames.com/game/israeli-geography-quiz

· List of sites we will be visiting with links to photos and information online.

· Videos to help you in what to expect on the trip:

o http://www.youtube.com/user/israelTour09

o http://www.moody.edu/uploadedFiles/Education/Undergraduate/webundergrad_dlcisraeltour.html

In a few weeks I will mail you a Israel Trip 2011 Spiritual Formation Guide for you to use before, during, and after our trip. You will also be receiving a link to a pre-trip questionnaire for you to complete before the trip. Keep your eyes open for an email from me in the coming weeks with instructions for how to complete the questionnaire, as well as an email with information about your tour hosts.

Again, I sincerely look forward to meeting you and journeying through Israel and God’s Word together.

Thank you,

Bill Blocker, DMCE

Israel Study Tour 2011: Update #2

2011-01-27T14:17:00.004-06:00

[this post is part of our Israel Study Tour. Check out the link on the top-bar of the blog to view all the posts for this trip]

Hello Everyone!

As we already promised you will be receiving a few emails from us preparing you for the tour to Israel. Less than 7 weeks till we depart! Time will fly until then…We would like to highlight four areas for your consideration as you prepare to go.

First - Download this document on traveling abroad and conditions for participating in Moody Bible Institute’s Study/Travel Abroad program. The last page is a requirement for all participants who are on a Moody approved trip. Please fill out, sign, and fax (312-329-4234) or scan and email (kalbert@moody.edu) this last page back to us.

Second - You are responsible for your passport, and it needs to be valid at least 6 months past the date we return from Israel.

Third - Remember, this tour does involve a fair amount of daily walking, so you will need to be prepared to walk up to 3 miles per day.

Fourth - We hope that you have all received your travel package from Morning Star including “The New Christian Traveler’s Guide to the Holy Land” by Charlie Dyer. Even though our tour to Israel is still about 7 weeks away we would already like to make you aware of some packing ideas. There is a packing list on pages 27-29 in the guide by Charlie Dyer which should help you prepare for Israel. Each person is able to check in one bag and bring one carry-on and a purse so try to pack light and efficient.

I (Walt) will give you my wife’s packing list and then you can decide what you might like to do. We almost always have some rain in March and the temperatures can dip into the 40s. However, we have also had weather with temperatures in the 80’s. Of course, in Israel rain is a reminder of God’s blessings. So, we try to be very happy for them when it rains

The key to clothes in March is layers so that you are prepared for cold as well as hot days. Here’s a packing list of Walt’s wife who has travelled to Israel many times in the month of March:

1. 2-3 t-shirts

2. 2 sweatshirts

3. 2 pairs of blue jeans

4. 1 pair of black jeans

5. 2 long sleeve t-shirts

6. heavy socks (3-4 pairs)

7. white sport socks (10 pairs)

8. hiking boots (ankle high)

9. walking sneakers

10. Northface jacket (lighter weight) – water proof

11. Waterproof lined coat with hood (big enough to wear sweatshirt or Northface jacket under)

12. hat, scarf, and gloves

13. long johns (pants at least)

14. umbrella

Note: You will also need to bring a “modesty kit.” What this means is that at certain sites, men and women are required to have their legs and arms covered. In light of this, it is a good idea to have a simple shawl or jacket with you on the bus to drape over your shoulders should you be wearing short sleeves that day, and a pair of long pants or a long skirt to put on over your shorts if you happen to be wearing shorts. Your tour guides should notify you the night before as to whether or not you will be visiting “modesty” sites. That way, you may just choose to wear pants the whole day and bring a shawl/jacket—remember, layers are important because the weather can change a lot throughout the day.

Furthermore, we attached the FAQ that is part of the travel package sent to you by Morning Star. Here it is again electronically for your convenience.

We hope you are getting excited about visiting the Holy Land!

Walt, Bill & Zelda, Ernest, Katha

Israel Study Tour 2011: Update #1

2011-01-14T14:18:00.002-06:00

[this post is part of our Israel Study Tour. Check out the link on the top-bar of the blog to view all the posts for this trip]

Dear Israel Tour 2011 participants,

The day is coming closer and in 2 months from today we are already landing in Tel Aviv, IsraelJ I hope you are getting excited about the tour just as I am!

You will be receiving more information on the tour within the next 1-2 months, such as a travelling package including travelers guide, a spiritual formation preparation, packing list, etc.

In addition, we also need some information from you in regards to medical needs. I know that some people have already mentioned special dietary needs. We are trying to be aware of who needs special meals or medical assistance so if you could send that information if it concerns you that would be great. Please make sure to bring all the medications you need on the tour, and maybe some extra supplies just in case. Once abroad it is often hard to get the medical supplies you need.

Click here for an attached hotel list with the flight information. For those of you that are travelling to Chicago from a different state, please make sure to arrive here early enough so that you won’t miss the flight to Israel. It would be ideal if you could arrive the day before we leave. If that’s not possible please try to make sure to arrive in Chicago early morning on March 13^th.

Let me know if you have any other questions. More information will follow.

Blessings,

Katha

Dreaming in 2011

2011-01-13T19:40:00.000-06:00

For most of us 2011 has already lifted off and is in full swing. Classes started earlier this week, jobs and children's actives have come out of hibernation from Christmas holiday. Life is a busy again.

Closing 2010, we blogged about the hope of characters in the Christmas story, particularly Mary. A popular thing to start the New Year off is hope in our resolutions. Growing up I always made ridiculous resolutions, making me out of touch with the idea of looking ahead and expecting something; my resolutions were often self centered and overrated. By the time I finished High School, New Years resolutions were a thing of the past. My disposition on resolutions hasn’t changed, however I’ve com to understand that the storyline of the Bible shows men and women who dreamed for God to do big things; things that went a little beyond news year resolutions. They didn’t wait till the calendar turned over, but for us a new year can be a great reminder to dream again.

Hebrews 11 talks about the lives of these dreamers. Verses 33-38 make it clear that the life of the dreamer varies; some shut mouths of lions and quench fire, others live in holes in the ground and wonder homeless while on earth, and yet verse 39 says that all of these were in the midst of hope; even in death they hoped for their dreams to become reality, and they never gave up.

Considering this persistent faith, a habit a mentor in my life has practiced is making BHAG’s every year. BHAG means Big Hairy Audacious Goal; something bold to ask God for or expect him to do. The challenge is to seek God on a bold issue for an entire year with the persistence of the saints in Hebrews 11, who dreamed their whole lives. I wondered what it would look like to take bold requests before the Lord for that long, and the prospect of being a dreamer as Abraham and Moses was also intriguing.

Creating the list of BHAG’s was difficult; being specific takes emotion and focus. The next step, writing them down, is challenging. When a BHAG is a passing thought it is safe, yet once our desires are written on paper, we become vulnerable. By writing them down we make these requests a reality; the needs are real. Sharing these BHAG’s with a person or small group is risky too. What if none of them come through? What if God says no, or worse yet, seems to not answer them at all? Doubts and shame begin to flood our mind, yet this is part of the process of a dreamer. Every saint in Hebrews 11 had these moments, and the Bible says they pressed on. We are encouraged to do the same.

2011 is just over two weeks old, but you can make a BHAG anytime for any amount of time. The goal is taking the boldness and freedom Jesus’ provides and seeking God for powerful, life transformation. Healing for a friend, the growth of relationships, the fulfilling of a ministry calling; these are some of the BHAG’s 2011 holds for me personally. Each request requires faith and persistence, and Romans 5 tells us this builds character, which produces hope, which does not disappoint.

This year, take time to go beyond the cliche new years resolution and dream. Dream big. Make one or two or five BHAG’s to seek the Lord on in 2011, remembering the saints who have gone before and paved a road of persistent faith rooted in Jesus Christ.

Write The Story

2010-12-22T15:11:00.000-06:00

Looking at the Christmas story, it's impossible not to notice the faith of all those involved. Wise men travel across the known world, shepherds leave their job, all on the inkling they are chasing something great. Of all characters scripture tells us were involved with the story, Mary is perhaps the most profound. Showing up in the beginning of Luke's gospel, this young virgin is given a bold proclamation that she is pregnant, and not just with any child, but one who will be the savior of the world. How does Mary respond to this statement? Luke tells us she fully believed everything the Lord had told her. (Luke 1:45)

Did you get that? Mary didn't believe half way, she didn't "kind of" think the angel was right, she put full faith into God's word and was called blessed. I can only imagine the conversations Mary had with neighbors. Telling people she was pregnant or how great her child was going to be must have taken some nerve. What if the baby didn't come or was not as incredible as foretold? Mary would be a laughing stock for the rest of her life. Yet Mary chose to believe God, even though she probably felt foolish in the sight of man.

We have considered how we remember and tell the story, but perhaps the greatest call on our lives is to write a story as time moves forward. Mary wrote her story with boldness and faith. She wrote it believing promises God told her, no matter how foolish they seemed, and she was called blessed for her belief. When considering the future, fear is a common emotion humans experience. Fear of the unknown, fear of our finances, if our children will turn out how we want, wondering if that significant other will ever come.

In spite of the default human emotions, as we turn the corner towards a new year we would do well to look at the future not with fear but with faith. That begins with hearing God's voice, but it continues with a heart of asking God for bold things and believing His word.

Faith. Boldness. Confidence from the Lord. These are the virtues that marked the characters of the Christmas story, and they should be our own as we continue to write the story.

Tell The Story

2010-12-14T19:32:00.000-06:00

As you may have noticed, the title of these posts doesn’t say “Tell Your Story”, but rather uses The Story. The titles direct the attention not to our own lives, but to the truth that every life is involved in a much bigger story. Our first post alluded to the idea of a meta-narrative. As Christians, we see the string of history throughout the Bible in four simple stages; creation, fall, redemption, restoration. While this story spans the Bible and history, it also becomes personal for each soul, as we have the opportunity to personally make a decision to move from our fall to redemption through a relationship with Christ.

We assume most readers of this blog are already in that part of the story; they have been redeemed and are struggling towards sanctification, which will culminate when they reach heaven- the final chapter. What this post is about is not where you are in the story, but how you are telling it.

Think about the chapter Christians get to be a part of- it’s the most exciting one. We don’t live in the chapter of slavery and lies, we live in freedom and truth. What’s even more exciting is that we get to journey alongside others who are turning the pages from death to life. Yet to take part in redemption also means to spread it to others. This Christmas season, as you have reflected on God’s faithfulness in the past, we challenge you to be part of the story right now. Tell the story with those you invite into your home, with the heart you model for your children, with the priorities you make even as the holiday schedule tightens up. Take in part the redemption chapter you’re in and tell the story.

Remember The Story

2010-12-08T00:52:00.004-06:00

All over our culture, we are presented with narratives- from commercials on TV, to sports highlights of a teams season, to movies we watch in a theater; we are surrounded by the idea that life could be condensed into a story. On some level that's not true; we are created by God in a unique way that surpasses the confines of any story. Yet on another level, it’s entirely true that there is an over-riding story of humanity the Bible clearly speaks to, and that mankind gets to participate in.

We will be looking at the role story has played throughout this past year and into the next, as we lead up to the date of the greatest story- God becoming man in the flesh. Today’s entry will focus on the idea of Remembering The Story.

Throughout the Bible, specifically the Old Testament, we see scenes where patriarchs and prophets take a moment to remember something, the twelve stones by the Jordan river (Joshua 4), a Psalm re-telling Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Psalm 105) - all examples of remembrance. One Psalm gives reason for this remembrance; it’s important for the older generation to pass on examples of God’s faithfulness to the next (Psalm 78:1-8). Remembering is a necessary concept for this to take place.

In 1 Samuel 7 the prophet Samuel practices the idea of remembering in a unique way. While the Israelites are repenting before the Lord at Mizpah, the Philistines hear about this and decide to attack them. The Israelites become aware of this and cry out to Samuel, who makes a sacrifice to the Lord on behalf of the nation. The passage then tells us that “the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites” (1 Samuel 7:10). The Israelites then attack the Philistines during their confusion and gain victory. After this, Samuel takes a stone and sets it up to commemorate God’s help.

Remembering God’s acts in our past serve as a blessing not only to ourselves, but to the next generation as well. Telling our story is important, not to draw attention to personal gain, but tell of God’s deliverance in hard times. As the Christmas season comes upon us, we wanted to challenge our students to make story part of their families this Christmas season. Through a visible reminder or discussion about God’s faithfulness, we invite you to help everyone remember the story.

We're having a contest...

2010-11-01T10:40:00.000-05:00

Possibly you’ve heard about the contest we’re having at MDLC for students. By registering for the spring semester, you could win a Moody Bible Institute sweatshirt, t-shirt, or coffee mug! Here’s how it works:

Register for a spring semester class between Nov 1-7
Become a fan (click like) for MDL’s Facebook page
Post on our wall and tell us which class you signed up for

That’s it! If you’ve got questions post them on our Facebook wall or comment here on our blog. If you are ready to enroll right now, click here!

Missions Conference, From the World, to Chicago, to You

2010-10-18T12:30:00.000-05:00

Last week was the annual Missions Conference here at our Chicago campus. Our students had the opportunity to connect with and hear from Missionaries from around the world. Over 130 missionary representatives were on campus from dozens of different mission organizations. One of the main things students were able to do was connect with these different organizations and hear real-life stories of these missionaries. We at MDL would also like to connect you to some of these organizations. If you missed the post last week, check it out here, and learn more about missionaries throughout the world.

Missions Conference 2010

2010-10-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Here at Moody Distance Learning, we love connecting our students with one another and ministries around the world, mostly using the technology of social media. This week, on-campus students are attending Moody’s annual Mission Conference, and while the event is not open to the public, we’d still like to share some of the organizations represented with our online students.

Mission Conference is divided into main sessions and breakout sessions. Main sessions feature keynote speakers and involve the entire student body. For breakout sessions, students are given a choice of which one they want to attend. Our main session featured the following speakers and organizations. We’ve posted their social media links so you can further connect with them:

Sky Jethani http://www.skyejethani.com
Dr. David Garrison http://www.churchplantingmovements.com/

We had over 35 organizations represented for breakout sessions, here are links to a few of them that are using social media to connect with the rest of the world:

Africa Inland Mission- facebook.com/africainlandmission
Avant Ministries - twitter.com/AvantMinistries
CAM International - twitter.com/CAMTransform
International Teams- http://twitter.com/ITeamsUSA
Jews for Jesus- http://twitter.com/JewsforJesus
Josiah Venture NFP - http://twitter.com/josiahventure
New Tribes Mission
Operation Mobilization- http://www.facebook.com/omusa.org // http://twitter.com/omusa
SEND International- http://www.facebook.com/SENDInternational // http://twitter.com/SENDIntl
SIM- http://www.facebook.com/siminternational // http://twitter.com/simintl
Wycliffe Bible Translators- http://www.facebook.com/WycliffeUSA // http://twitter.com/Wycliffe_USA

Be sure to follow our twitter account, @MoodyDL, all week long as we tweet quotes and links from the conference, using the hashtag #mbiMC

We hope you enjoy these links, and even as a distance learning student are able to share in the excitement of what God is doing in all parts of the globe. Do you have a favorite missions organization or missionaries you track with? Let us know in the comments!

Study Tips: Bible Study Resources

2010-09-29T10:30:00.005-05:00

Our last study tip comes in the form of a very helpful blog put together by Bobby Moss, an MDLC professor. If you’ve been blessed to have Bobby as a professor you know he has a knack for finding resources on the web to assist with bible study and education. Bobby has created a blog with over 15 different links of resources for studying the Bible, along with a summary of each link and what they are useful for. This website has value for school projects in classes such as “Study and Teaching the Bible” as well as use beyond MDLC. Check out the link below:

http://study-teach.blogspot.com/

Study Tips: Formatting Papers

2010-09-20T10:30:00.003-05:00

One of the most important parts of education is being able to present information learned in an organized and well-formatted manner.

Generally, most papers follow the MLA style format. This format is taught in our introductory college writing course as well as high school english classes. For older students those courses seem to distant to recall from, enter the OWL Writing Lab. A project out of Purdue University, the OWL (Online Writing Lab) exists to provide correct grammar and formatting help for students worldwide. Check out the page on MLA Formatting for examples and help: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

When writing biblical papers, particularly in upperclassman and graduate studies, students are often asked to write in SBL formatting. SBL stands for “Society of Biblical Language” and is the format used to present research by scholars at the annual conference on various biblical topics. Fortunately, SBL has a great resource on their website explaining how to format papers to their guidelines: http://www.sbl-site.org/educational/default.aspx

Formatting a paper comes to the climax in the bibliography. Often the most troublesome of all the pages in a paper, teachers often grade critically of how this portion of the paper is formatted. Fortunately there is a website that can take most of these troubles away. Easybib.com allows you to enter the ISBN number of books, or fill the information in manually, and automatically formats them. An incredible website with an easy to understand and use interface: www.easybib.com

Study Tips: CLEP Exams

2010-09-17T10:00:00.004-05:00

Today’s tip isn’t directly related to studying, but it is valuable information for students that will aide them in pursuing their degree.
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) tests are officially sanctioned tests that allow students to earn college credit for knowledge they have already acquired. There are over 30 tests currently that students can take for a wide variety of class credit. While none of the Bible credits in Moody’s degree programs can be CLEP’d, most general education credits can be, which will save time and money. The table below shows the classes that can be CLEP’d and the tests associated with them:

MDLC REQUIREMENTS	CLEP EXAM	MBI’s Required Score	Credits Applied to Curriculum
Introductory English or College Writing	English Composition (no essay)	50	3
Introduction to Psychology	Introductory Psychology	50	3
Developmental Psychology	Human Growth and Development	50	3
Math for Liberal Arts AND Quantitative Reasoning	College Mathematics	50	5
Math for Liberal Arts	Algebra or Trigonometry or Calculus (alternatives)	50	3
Life Science AND Physical Science	Natural Sciences	50	6
Life Science	Biology (alternative)	50	3
Physical Science	Chemistry (alternative)	50	3
Intro to Literature	English Literature OR American Literature	50	3
Intermediate Computer Skills	Information Systems & Computer Applications	50	3

Reminders:

Retakes are allowed, but not for six months from the original test date. It is advised to study well and pass the first time as this saves time and money.
CLEP tests must be taken six months prior to the planned graduation date, so get them done early in your education plan.
There are a wide variety of resources available to study for each specific test. Searching book sites such amazon.com or half.com will turn up various books that can help with each specific test.
Questions regarding CLEP should be directed to the College-Level Examination Program at 609-771-7865 or at collegeboard.org/clep.

Study Tips: Test Taking

2010-09-15T10:30:00.007-05:00

Taking tests is a necessary but often stressful part of going to school. Today we share two tips about how to study for and take tests.

Make your own practice test: After you finish reading, pretend you are a professor who is writing a test for the chapter. Review the reading material and begin to make your own practice test. If you were reading from a text book, look at the margins to see which words they pointed out or deemed important. Some books even have practice questions at the end of each chapter for review. Look over the discussion boards from the reading and note any interesting points your class-mates brought up that you might have missed. Try to think of multiple or similar answers for questions so you can distinguish between link minded concept's in the reading. Use the tools mentioned at the end of this post to create a practice test and evaluate yourself.

Create visual flashcards: Flashcards are not out the window just because High School is over. Flashcards help you study and organize information so that you can effectively comprehend it and use it on a test. Make flashcards that will help you remember important terms, verses, and dates. While the method is fairly simple; a question or term on the front of a card, and the answer/definition on the back, it is still as effective as ever. This will help ensure that you grasp the study material as you’ll find that it’s almost impossible to answer a question about something you don’t really understand. Review these cards and quiz yourself before your actual test.

While the method of making these resources is self-explanatory, there are excellent resources available online to make digital flashcards and practice tests. If you’re interested in saving trees, check out a few of these links:

www.studystack.com: An excellent website with lots of pre-formatted cards. You can make your own cards or use the ones already on the website. This website also allows you to reorganize information into fill in the blank, matching, and other types of quizzes to pratice on.
Mobile Device: There are plenty of free applications available for the iPhone/iPod Touch that are great for studying on-the-go with a flash card like program. Head over to the application store, such as iTunes, for your device to see if there is a free app to help study.

Study Tips: Reading to Comprehend

2010-09-13T11:11:00.010-05:00

Comprehending the reading material for a class is one of the most important skills needed to recall and apply information. In this study tip we share our three point approach to reading:

Pre-Reading: The value of a textbook- While it may sound like an odd place to begin, understanding the value of the textbook or article that needs to be read is the first step. Editors and authors have done a significant amount of work into organizing and titling the information, and to not use this as an advantage when reading would be a waste. Begin by reading a books table of contents, making a mental note about the progression of subjects through out the book. If the chapters have summary sections at the beginning or end, read those first! They provide a roadmap of thought for the brain. Both textbooks and articles have titles and headings to their sections, which should act like signs on the side of the road, letting the reader know how many miles are left and what the next stop in thought will be.

While Reading: Take Notes - As reading begins, keep a post-it note handy to take notes about the reading. These notes should include a personal summary of the content using the headings in the reading as guidelines. After these summary notes, any terms that are important or difficult to understand should be noted so they can be looked up after the initial reading. Some sections of the book may have to be re-read once a term is understood; that is perfectly okay! Finally, try to take the notes and terms from the sticky note and write down the thesis of what was just read. This doesn't have to be the thesis of the whole book, but simply the big idea the autor tried to convey in the article/chapter the note applies too. Save this post-it note for later test review, as a note in your own words is easier and more familiar for memory.

Keep Going! As important as understanding the content on a page is, so is finishing the material. Go into the process knowing you might read some sections more than once, and that you can always go back and re-read a chapter or paragraph after you finished the larger section. Students will often get sidetracked by nitpicking details in the text, instead of moving along and coming back later. Most of the time the confusion sparked in the middle of a chapter will resolve it's self by the conclusion. This is where taking notes is helpful, because when the time comes to re-read, the highlighted portions will show what is most important.

Extra Links: Here are some other articles on the Internet involving reading comprehension that added to our own thoughts: http://www.ehow.com/how_2089129_comprehend-reading.html
http://cikguade.blogspot.com/2008/10/5-study-secrets.html

This Is A Special Place - Remembering Sept 11

2010-09-11T09:00:00.005-05:00

[Today's post is written by guest blogger and MDL Professor, Bobby Moss. You can visit Bobby's own blog here. We're grateful he agreed to share his thoughts with us on this difficult subject.]

In the summer of 2006 Jeannette was 5 ½ months pregnant with our first. We hadn’t taken a real vacation in a few years, so we decided to have a nice last fling before the two of us became the three of us. There was no need for negotiations on where we would go, we were in complete agreement within seconds: New York City.

This was the best vacation of my life! Most of our time was spent in Manhattan; we didn’t venture into the other boroughs much except a little into Brooklyn. From our hotel in Greenwich Village, every day my pregnant wife & I ventured out to take in the second greatest city in the world (Sorry New Yorkers, Chicago rules). Though we regularly pick fun at tourists in Chi-town, always looking up while they walk slow and spin around to see things, we totally played the same part while we were in NY.

Our first two days were spent mainly in Midtown. Doing our own head-up slow spin through Times Square, we tried to imagine what it would be like watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Around 5^th Ave we walked into some beautiful churches and incredibly overpriced stores. Being an Apprentice fan at the time, I wanted to walk through the lobby where the fired would exit, and while we were there the Donald walked through, complete with comb over and smug sourpuss look on his face. From Central Park we could see the Dakota, where Lennon was shot, and from a ferry ride to Staten Island we were in awe of the torch holding beauty.

For the third day we connected with our friend James, a veteran New Yorker, so he could take us on what he called, “a narrative walk.” The narrative began in Greenwich Village and progressed to Lower Manhattan so he could take us through what he experienced on 9/11.

James started our journey with, “My old apartment is right over there. I’d come to this corner and start heading to the subway to get to work, but I could always see the towers from this spot.”

James worked in a building adjacent to the towers. With emotion and vividness, he recalled sitting at his desk and feeling the first plane hit. Speechless and in shock, he and his coworkers were watching the live CNN feed when the second plane hit, seeing on the screen what in the same second caused their floor to tremble. Everyone in the building was moved to the basement, to a workout gym. With wet towels from the gym to cover their faces, they were eventually evacuated and led to safety.

This entire account he explained as we walked through the Financial District. We were in front of his old building when he described the planes hitting and we walked the same evacuation route he took as he explained that the ash they walked through was like a heavy gray snow from a Midwest winter.

We then went to Ground Zero.

It would probably be a safe assumption that I am not the first person unable to really articulate what it is like to experience walking around an empty space that shouldn’t be. But try to conjure up in your mind what it would be like to walk that same space while being next to someone who survived it, someone who by their own account knows they very well could not have.

New York is a very busy city. Ground Zero is a very quiet place. People walked around the site in respectful silence and deep ponderings. Even the construction noise going on seemed muted. Around Ground Zero is a line of sign posts that stand sentry to those who walk by:

This is a special place.

This is a special place: honor it, respect it, and protect it.

Whenever I remember those signs, “This is a Special Place,” I try to think of how James might take them. He was in a building next to the towers and walked through ash to get to safety – and it’s a special place?

A place where your sense of security and hope is attacked and even stripped away is…special?

A place where almost 3,000 needlessly died, many of them your co-workers & friends, is…special?

A place where spouses vanished, a parent gone is…special?

A place that represents staggering numbers of loss is…special?

But let’s personalize this a little.

Nothing I have experienced in my life can be equated with 9/11. That’s true for almost all of us. So I am not trying to be irreverent by saying that we all have such places in our lives where a sign stands, “This is a special place.”

Everyone has a place, a moment, an experience where they were forever changed because of the painful reality of life, be it brought on by one’s own choices or the choices of others. Those places where we were shattered:

Where the bully pushed.

Where the spouse left.

Where the parent abused.

Where the pastor failed.

Where the job was lost.

Where the bad decision was made.

Where the regret happened.

Where the promise was broken.

Most people avoid those places. They are not considered special, they are hidden or buried or denied. They are remembered with bitterness and walked away from with regret, never wanting to again be visited.

Though these responses might seem less painful than returning, how can they be? These reactions are a denial of what has occurred and an avoidance of the impact. Devastating as the locales are, they are all indeed special places, and they should be maintained as such.

I am not suggesting that we relive the past merely to torture ourselves with the painful memories, nor am I suggesting wallowing in self-pity. It would be dishonorable to equate special with cheerful. Such a place is not special because it is endearing. This distinction must be grasped.

But that painful place is indeed a special place.

It is a special place because it causes us to look back and honor what was.

It is a special place because it forces us to gratefully consider the present.

It is a special place because it grants us opportunity to look forward with hope.

We maintain those places as special because we are now living within the tomorrow that we thought would never come, and by God’s grace there is another tomorrow ahead.

We maintain those places as special not so we can live in them, but so that we can from time to time visit them: to remember, to cry, to cherish, to evaluate, to dream, and to hope.

9/11 was a horrible day.

For better or for worse, things will never be the same.

Every New Yorker who visits lower Manhattan today and walks to Ground Zero will see what was. With joy and with sorrow, each of them will remember their loved ones. There will be tears. There will be quiet.

Every New Yorker will also see what is and what will be. The space is not entirely empty now. Mayor Bloomberg of NY gave an update this week on the progress of rebuilding the World Trade Towers site. Foundation has been laid and floors are rising.

And in their midst, around the perimeter, they will see the blue sentries declaring to outsiders, “This is a special place,” and they more than anyone know what that means.

The places in our past that seem far from special are fertile soil, and God is ready to rebuild and restore. He can restore what is horrific; He can use our sweat, blood, and tears to paint a thing of beauty.

This is a special place.

Return there.

Honor what was. Gratefully see what is. Have hope for what will be.

9/11 was a horrible day.

Today is new.

“But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” Gen 50:19-20a

Study Tips: Staying Organized

2010-09-07T10:10:00.011-05:00

Every year students lose papers and forget about homework assignments because of a disorganized approach to school. Starting off the study tips for this semester is a strategy to stay organized.

[Throughout the month of September, MDLC will host study tips on this blog for our students. We hope these tips are a blessing to students as they continue to work hard at their degree programs throughout the year.]

Keeping the Workspace Clean: The toughest battle many students face is keeping the work area free of clutter; when the time for homework comes they are often overwhelmed with tidbits of papers. Some quick tips to keep your work area clean:

Filing System - There are many routes to go in filing papers. Some prefer the binder method of high school classes, others a filing system according to subject. Any of these options are good, just make sure at least one is applied! A system to organize papers is the first step to ensuring every item coming into the work space has a place to go.
Deal with it - When you touch a paper or get an e-mail, do something with it. Don't set it back down on the desk or leave it sitting open on the computer. Respond or file it away so that it's not in the way, and when the paper is needed, you will know exactly where it is.
Clean Up - When finished with schoolwork, make sure the desk area and computer documents are closed and put back in their proper folders. Nothing is worse than leaving in the middle of work and coming back to realize no one has any clue which document belongs where.

Planning Ahead: When Noah built the ark the rain hadn't come, but he still planned ahead and was prepared for when it did. Here are some quick tips to making sure the rain of work won't catch you by surprise:

Calendar- Find a calendar that works. There are many digital and analog solutions to keep people organized. A lie that many students believe is that they will remember everything, no need to write it down. While many of us do have good memories, when more and more information pours into the brain, our memory becomes less reliable. Scheduling homework assignments will help you be more aware of whats to come and ensure you don't miss due dates.
Daily Planner - Similar to a calendar, daily planners help manage day-to-day ToDo items. Some students prefer to have both a calendar and planner, and others simply use their calendar. Once again, the strategy is to find the option that works for you and then stick with it. Write down lists of homework responsibilities each day, pacing yourself throughout the week.
Use Blackboard Resources - Every Moody Distance Learning Class coms with a document planning out the assignments, readings, and discussion boards for each week. Don't let the hard work of the professors go to waste! Use these documents as an aide in scheduling to plan ahead. For every class, this document is located in Blackboard under Assignments, look for the folder titled "Schedule and Assignments".

SRA Program

2010-09-03T15:10:00.005-05:00

Your Fall 2010 SRA Team

Today our MDLC blog would like to highlight the SRA program. SRA stands for Student Resource Assistant. If you currently take distance learning courses or have in the past, chances are you've probably spoken to an SRA multiple times.

Your SRA is here to help you! The SRA Program exists to serve students in any way possible. Each SRA helps students by introducing them to blackboard and helping them be successful in their courses, assisting students in the completion of their degree, providing a consitent point of contact for each student, and helping resolve any issues students encounter.

When you were accepted you should have gotten a e-mail from your SRA. If you don't know who your SRA is, call our office at 1-800-758-6352. Remember, we want to see you graduate with the degree you are pursuing and go out into the world equipped to build Christ's kingdom. Let us serve you!

Wisdom Resources

2010-08-18T09:41:00.000-05:00

Continuing our series of wisdom this month, we wanted to post a blog to our students with some of the resources our staff at MDLC consider wise on the Internet. These resources are materials free of charge that were recommended because of their commitment to pursuing wisdom and truth in light of the revelation of Jesus. They are also great for MDLC students because they focus on those going into vocational ministry and are helpful for equipping future ministry leaders.

Girls Gone Wise - http://www.girlsgonewise.com/ The Moody Publishers book has a comprehensive website giving vast amounts of articles, ideas, and downloadable content to women of all ages. They provide numerous resources on virtually all aspects of womanhood; resources that all come from a Bible centered perspective that pursues wisdom and it’s creator above all. They have a Facebook and Twitter as well if you’re looking for a daily dose of wisdom or to stay connected to others who have read the book. Remember, you can also pick up the book from http://www.moodypublishers.com at anytime.

Resurgence Blog: http://www.theresurgence.com/ The Resurgence is a missional movement that trains leaders to serve the Church and transform cultures for Christ. They are focused on solid theology and biblical teaching. This link is to the resurgence blog, a website with numerous resources for those in ministry, particularly in the area of church planting. Resurgence is full of wisdom for those who are seeking to understand how to interact with culture without watering down the gospel. Articles are updated almost daily and many free media resources are available.

The Gospel Coalition - http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ This site is a collection of many resources, blogs, and other publications by pastors from around the world. There is much theological wisdom on this page. Similar to the Resurgence, this website offers numerous resources for those headed to vocational ministry, although it’s content is not limited for those working in a church. The main difference would be that this website is focused toward a broader group of the church, where resurgence is often pin-pointed at church planters. Visit the Gospel Coalition to become involved with a biblical movement aimed at keeping the gospel at the center of the local church.

http://esv.to - We have been using the ESV Online in our Proverb tweets this month and with good reason. This awesome tool is great for social media because of it’s compact size for links, which redirect to the full website, http://www.esvonline.org. Not only will you find a full online version of the ESV bible, but if you make an account you can keep study notes, highlighted verses, and more online. That way you can access the same Bible and notes from any computer in the world; the book of wisdom combined with wisdom for technology makes this an incredible resource.

Beyond the Web - Our goal for this post is to point out free resources on the Internet; beyond these websites there is another resource for those who plan on studying the Bible long term in the form of Bible software, such as Logos. Logos has many different packages for different students of the Bible, and discounts for those in undergraduate programs or seminary. Staff and students at Moody use Logos and have been blessed by it’s innovation and comprehensive library of books. You can find out more at http://www.logos.com

What about you? - Familiar with any of the wisdom resources on here? What other websites/podcasts/books do you consider a wisdom resource? Comment on our blog and share the resources you consider wise with the rest of the student body.

Fall semester dates to remember

2010-08-05T11:00:00.044-05:00

The Fall semester is just about to get underway; here are a few important dates to remember:

Aug 20 - Registration ends for first section and 16-week classes

Aug 24 - Classes begin! bit.ly/9k2tJr

Oct 18 - First section of classes ends!

Oct 22 - Registration for second section closes

Oct 26 - Second section of classes begins!

Nov 1 - Enroll for Spring Semester :-)

Nov 11 - Daylight Savings time

Nov 25 - Thanksgiving

Dec 13 - Exam week for second section and 16-week classes

Dec 20 - Fall classes end- you did it!

We want you to have the best possible semester, so if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your SRA, or give our office a call at 1-800-758-6352.

Fall Registration Is Just Around The Corner!

2010-06-28T11:07:00.000-05:00

The Fall semester is just weeks away, and it is time to register! This semester, as a reward for those who register early, we are giving away two sets of 5 books by Jonathan Edwards, a $50 value! If you register for classes by July 31, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of these two sets!

Already registered? Don't worry, you will also be entered into this contest. Anyone who has registered by July 31 will have a chance to win.

These are the books you could win:

Jonathan Edwards: Lover of God
Jonathan Edwards on Beauty
Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell
Jonathan Edwards on the Good Life
Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity

And the Answer is...

2010-06-17T14:21:00.000-05:00

Dr. Dyer explains these two pieces in this 1-minute clip:

This is the passage where the two pieces of pottery are mentioned:

Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
¹"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' ⁷"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' ⁹" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' ¹⁰"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. ¹¹"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' ¹²"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you. ¹³"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Thanks to all who participated, and congratulations once again to Nate and Brad, our winners!

Name These Ancient Pieces of Pottery!

2010-06-14T13:15:00.000-05:00

What are these? These two broken pieces of pottery were once part of two different everyday-use items in Jesus' day. In fact, He told a parable involving these two items at one point during His teaching.

The question for you is, "What are these two pieces, and in which passage of Scripture are they found?"

Answer this question for a chance to win a free book!

Leave your answer as a comment on this post or on our facebook post. The first two (2) people to respond correctly (with the correct Scripture passage) will receive a free book from Moody Publishers. Read more about that book here.

Summer 2010 Courses

2010-04-27T19:04:00.007-05:00

Summer is right around the corner, but did you know you can still take classes to work towards your degree? Here is an overview of the classes we're offering for the Summer of 2010

Online Semester-Based Classes: 8-week online classes are from May 25 - July 19. These classes are a great way to get ahead for the fall semester and make sure that you are using every opportunity to work towards your degree. For a complete list of the courses we are offering in the summer, click on this link

Regional Classrooms: A great way for you to get classroom experience and still complete your degree if you live in the Chicago area. All classes will be offered at our campus in the city. We have two sections, the first is from May 24-June 24 and the second is from July 12-August 5. To see a list of classes and times visit our website here.

Independent Study / Online Self-Paced: You can always sign up for an independent study or online self-paced course and get six months to complete it. These are a great way to work on your degree at your own pace. Most courses are offered in these formats, and you can check out our website to see if the course you want is available in this format.

We hope you will take advantage of our summer programs and sign up for a class. Remember, even one class now is one less class later on in the year, and you're that much closer to graduating with an accredited, Bible-based education. If you need help signing up, remember to check out our tutorial videos on how to register for a class or call us at 1-800-758-6352. We'd love to talk to you and answer your questions. Sign up today!

New Videos Up!

2010-04-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

In our continual effort to create a great learning environment, we have begun to implement multiple forms of technology and social media into our philosophy. One of the things we have created is a group of video tutorials that will help with common tasks in Distance Learning.

Please let us know what you think about the videos by leaving a comment below!

The first video we created is a video on how to set up e-mail forwarding. This tutorial will help you set your Moody e-mail account to forward to your home e-mail address.

The second video we created is a video on how to register for a class. This tutorial will help you register for a class using the student portal.

The third video we created is a video on how to drop a class. This tutorial will help you drop a class using the student portal.

The fourth video we created is a video on how to apply for an extension. This tutorial will help you apply for an extension for your class.

The fifth video we created is a video on how to apply to our undergraduate program.This tutorial will help you apply to Moody Distance Learning using our main website.

The sixth video we created is a video on how to apply to our non-degree program.This tutorial will help you apply to Moody Distance Learning using our main website.

Thoughts for Pondering…

2010-04-08T12:21:00.003-05:00

And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ~ Acts 2:2

I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? ~ Jeremiah 32:27

The word unique is badly overused, but it’s the right word to describe the events that unfolded on the day of Pentecost. Since unique means “one of a kind,” it applies only to persons, things, or events that have no equal. The perfect example is Jesus Christ in the flesh, God’s “one and only Son” (Jn. 3:16).

Pentecost was also unique as the birthday of the church. The church’s “birthday gift” was the coming of the Holy Spirit in a dramatic display of power to live inside believers, in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise (Jn. 14:15-17). Also in fulfillment of this promise, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell a person at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13). Paul’s statement also shows that the Spirit’s baptism unites Christians together in the body of Christ.

The miraculous events of Pentecost capture all the attention–and it was a miraculous day. God provided a witness to the new work He was doing.

The first witness to Pentecost was not in words, but in wind and fire. The words for wind and spirit are closely related in the Greek language. The blowing wind speaks of the Holy Spirit’s coming in power; fire in the Bible often signifies the presence of God.

It was also miraculous that the believers could praise God in languages they had not learned. The fact that the gift of tongues in Acts 2 was known human languages is confirmed by the word “language” (vv. 6, 8).

We are not denying God’s power or sovereignty when we say Pentecost is unique. Could God reproduce the miracle of Pentecost? Of course; He’s God! But the purpose of Pentecost has been fulfilled. Our calling today is to seek the Spirit’s power and filling (Eph. 5:18).

— Excerpt taken from “Today in the Word”