Thinking ProPer: Thinking in a way that acknowledges God's sovereign Providence guiding the past, present, and the future. ProPer thinking is hard because to do that, we first have to recognize that we are not in control, and He is. But in addition it means three things:

1. History isn't meaningless. (Deut 28:29, Romans 8:28) There is a reason for what happened millions of years ago, when we became uni-celled creatures. No, I'm just kidding. But there is a reason for what happened hundreds of years ago, (Prov. 16:4, Eph 2:10) because It is probably influencing our lives to this day. The more you read about history from a Christian point of view, the more you can see God's control, and His plan. My pastor has encouraged his congregation many times to read the book of Esther, because it shows so plainly God's working Providence, and I also encourage you to go read it as soon as possible.

2. We have a role in making history. We are to do all things for the glory of God, with this responsibility we are to carry ourselves accordingly and use our future for the glory of God that includes making choices accordingly. (Phil. 1:22) It also means that we can not be lazy, because laziness prohibits us from using our time wisely. (Prov. 10:26)
   

3. History teaches us that God is sovereign and He rules over all. If you tell an atheist about the prophecy's in the bible, he will have a hard time telling you how that series of events happened without someone divine guiding them. (John 3:3) History speaks forth His praise! And we need to give him praise for what He has done. (Luke 2:20, 5:26)
   

And the Providential History Festival is dedicated to making known the providentiality's of history. The annual PHF has had three very successful trial runs, and is now opening it's doors to the public. This year people from as far away as Indiana are coming to Nebraska to participate. This is going to be a big event, and I greatly encourage you to come, and bring your friends and family with you. Now, some of my readers in the far out places of the USA might be intimidated at this proposition, but you should consider it.

That said, I encourage you to study history so as to understand Providence more fully, to take part in history and do your part in His kingdom, and give praise to the One who has written history.

Psalm 111:4: He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Why Adhere? - (Part 4) Because of the people who have adhered

Another reason, although slightly lesser than because the Bible is God's word, to believe in the Bible is because of all the examples of the people who have been converted to Christianity and all the people who were Christians all their life – for whatever reason. Some Christians might include the following:

Johann Sebastian Bach was a musical genius and believed that every note he wrote should be good enough to be dedicated to God. For every song he wrote, at the top he would write J. J., which stood for Jesu Juva, Jesus help me. At the end of every song he would write S. D. G., Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone the glory. He was such a great musician that he could have easily made his fortune playing for princes, but he decided to play and write music for the church instead.

Lord Kelvin, whom the Kelvin scale is named after, also a mathematical physicist and engineer, said: “The atheistic idea is so nonsensical that I cannot put it into words.”

Woodrow T. Wilson, a devout Presbyterian and United States President said: “When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the word of God, because you have found in it the key to your own heart, your own happiness and your own duty.”

Some other scientists might include:

Louis Agassiz, Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, George Cuvier, Henri Fabre, Michael Faraday, John Ambrose Flemming, William Herschel, James Joule, Lord Kelvin, Johann Kepler, Carolus Linnaeus, Joseph Lister, James Mazwell, Gregor Mendel, Samuel F.B. Morse, Issac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, Blaise Pascal, Louis Pasteur, Lord Raleigh.

Professors and doctors might have:

Alexander Balmain Bruce, Alfred Edersheim, Ernst Wlhem Hengstenberg, Fenton Hort, C.S. Lewis, Benjamin Warfield, Brooke Foss Westcott, Aage Bentzen, Edgar Sheffield Brightman, Umberto Cassuto, Thomas Kelly Cheyne, Martin Diberlius, Samuel Rolles Driver, Burton Scott Easton, William H. Green, Abraham Keunen, Melvin Grove Kyle, T.W. Manson, Rev. Alan Hugh M'Neile, Rev. Cuthbert Simpson, Julius Wllhausen.

Historical figures could include:

Franklin Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, John Winthrop, Alex de Tocqueville, David Brewer, George Sutherland, William Douglas, Benjamin Rush, George Ashington, Benjamin Banneker, Haym Salomon, John and Abigal Adams, Noah Webster, Victor Hugo, Daniel Defoe, Johann S. Bach, Ludwig Van Beethoven, George Frederick Handel, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, John Knox, Martin Luther.

Some contemporaries would include:

J. Duncan, Randy Stinson, John Piper, Wayne Grudem, Raymond Ortlund Jr., James Borland, Thomas Schreiner, D. A. Carson, S. Johnson Jr., George Knight the third, Douglas Moo, John Frame, Vern Poythress, William Weinrich Gregg Johnson, George Rekers, Donald Balasa, H. House, Dorothy Patterson, Weldon Hardenbrook, Dee Jepson Elisabeth Elliot, Dr. David Menton, Dr. A. Charles Ware, Dr. Terry Mortenson, Dr. Andy McIntosh, Timothy Ball, Calvin Beisner, Den Chilton, Jonh Christie, Richard Land, Jason Lisle, Michael J. Oard, Roy Spencer, George Taylor, Larry Vardiman, Jay Wile, J.N.D. Anderson, Gleason Archer, F. F. Bruce, Ralph Earl, Joseph Free, Norman Geisler, Canon Green, Harold Greenlee, Ernest Kevan, Paul Little, Bruce Metsger, John Montgomery, Henry Morris, William Nix, W. J. Sparrow-Simpson, Peter Stoner, John Stott, Merrill Tenney, Merrill Unger, Howard Vos, Donald Wiseman, E. J. Young, James Perloff.