A Servants Quarters

Reminiscence

2009-02-27T12:29:00.003-05:00

Blogging has helped me grow in many ways and I figured it would be good to end this blog in a "looking back" kind of way. I'd heard many opinions of Blogging or otherwise sharing ones thought online. Some consider it almost to be part of a new communal consciousness; others consider it extremely dangerous to share any kind of information online. To me, this is an experiment of no true cost to myself and at the same time great gain as well. What have I gained…?

Well, having my inner thoughts and views subject to the scrutiny of any passing eye has lead me to act and think in a way that straightens a once crooked road, if you get my meaning. I certainly do not want to be thought of as irrational, uncaring, ignorant, hypocritical, or arrogant.

Additionally, this has refined my thoughts and the process I think by. It has helped in my vocabulary, my spelling (a little), and how I express myself on a number of wide range topics. In a way, all this thinking and writing and being accountable for my thoughts has helped me mature by making me very aware of how I think, which I’ve noticed is something that many people don’t really attempt to learn.

Anyway, as much as I might love to do this it has to end eventually and I really have slowed to a crawl lately. So that is it for now, I'm signing off; it has been fun, thanks for playing, I hope you enjoyed it.

The archive on the left side of page will remain open to anyone who wants access to those 300+ posts. I will be checking back from time to time and comments will find their way to me, but a new chapter is beginning elsewhere...

Tough Talk (part 1)

2009-02-27T12:28:00.002-05:00

In the last two weeks we have been addressing youth relationships in Sunday school. It is proving to be an eye opening process. We are not playing into the who should you date and what you should do on a date angle. Instead we are ditching the cultural dating of America for the historical and biblical model of courtship. This is likely going to be rejected, but they will be aware of the right way and why they ought to do it. The truth is that both the idea of “dating” and the idea of “adolescence” stem from evolutionary foundations and do not occur in any culture aside from the past 200 or so years. These two ideas have generated so much destruction in our culture in that time period and can be attributed with the some of the reason behind the horrid stats of divorce, abuse, teen pregnancy, and more in this country.

Simply put, adolescence was supposed to be the time in between childhood and adulthood where a child was allowed to partake in adult activities on a limited basis to learn adult things. But if a child does not need to accept the responsibility in order to gain access to adult things why mature? You can see as well as I that in our society the age range of adolescence has expanded as generations have been considered adult by their ages and not their maturity; they are able to act, but to not act as adults should.

This leads into the dating scene in America which is truly godless and selfish. In today’s dating world we teach that one should test the waters, gaining experience, and learn by trial and error. This has created a love’em and leave’em mentality and plenty of broken families or broken hearts.

The biblical models for these things are different and it pains me that the church has forgotten. The right way is not to think a child is ready before they are. You would not give your child a stick of dynamite and tell them to learn by doing, but you give your child the ability to enter into relationships without understanding and then encourage them to light the fuse? Where is the love in that methodology?

This brings me to a long lost topic below...

Tough Talk (part 2)

2009-02-27T12:27:00.002-05:00

Not long ago I spoke with some people on a topic that has always been with me. In the past marriage and divorce have been topics to avoid here on the blog, but today in America divorce is something that effects the vast majority. With a topic like that how can you speak without addressing nearly all the hearts touched by it? Still, since the blog is closing down all bets are and some things ought to be stated despite the risks.

As with the earlier addressed topics of “adolescence” and modern “dating”, the topic of divorce is one that God’s people ought to take seriously, even if the godless world could care less. Yet, this is not the case all around me. It is fair to say that before a person was saved they may have married, divorced, and re-married. But it kills me that what seem to be rock solid Christians who are enjoying what the bible calls adulterous relationships. Let me glance over this for any wandering eyes.

Genesis 2:24 tells us that God created marriage to be between one woman and one man and even gives minor attributes to the state of marriage.

Mark 10:3-9 tells us that marriage is a life-long union and that Moses’ divorce concept does not override Gods works, marriage is life long.

Romans 7:1-3 tells us that marriage is a bond until death and we should treat it as such while claiming Christ

Matthew 5:32 tells us that divorcees can’t hold extra-marital relationships without invoking adultery as the original union remains

Luke 16:18 tells us that people who divorce must remain single or cause adulterous relationships.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 tells us again that divorce is not to be done, but if it is done reconciliation abstinence is the only remedy.

Hebrews 13:4 tells us that marriage should be honored and kept pure as it was created and those considered adulterers (marriage corrupters) will be judged accordingly as it is a sin.

Unfortunately, people today misunderstand what divorce was and who created it. In this way they turn to the only allowable reason for divorce, which is unfaithfulness (Matthew 5:30-32). So today society thinks that divorce is a free pass, a clean start, but the divorce that Moses created was actually more like today’s legal separation; the vowels were still active, but the two parties didn’t have to deal with each other. The key point here is that the vowels are still active.

The point being, that while the church and the secular world both seem to think divorce is a clean slate, that is not how God sees it. A person can get a divorce according to God under one instance, but even then the union is still active until death. As sad as it may be for a divorced person to not be able to re-marry, ever, it is sadder still to think of the masses committing a life long adultery in the name of love because they failed to understand God’s true view of this heartbreaking topic.

Dragons and Unicorns

2009-02-27T12:26:00.000-05:00

A lot of mocking follows where the bible believer goes these days. People attack the biblical pastor, biblical student, and biblical political figure with little discrimination. The reasons are varied and yet with all that variety one thing shines true; under a hint of scrutiny the reasons are steeped in confusion (often strengthened by emotion), not based in truth. Over the years I have developed a keen eye for interpretations, presuppositions, and other assumptions and it is wonderful, in a way, to be able to see the mistakes people make in reasoning. Still, I imagine if the people who reject the bibles account really knew that the bible held accounts of unicorns and dragons (some that breathe fire) they would all the more attack it under the assumption that such creatures are mythical because they were raised in a world that believed so.

To these mockers I imagine that Hollywood movies and special effects would flood their minds as they chuckled at the bible believer. Yet all the Christian needs to do is ask, “why not?” They might say that such animals are impossible or mythical, but the Christian could say “why” again. Point of fact, the Narwhal (uni-horned white whale), which has a single elegant horn on its head and the bombardier beetle which can squirt a chemical concoction from its backside which is both stinky and explosively hot. So it is fair that the bible believer asks why these creatures (large lizard creatures and uni-horned horses) which are spoken of in scripture are assumed mythical. Is it because they truly couldn’t have existed or because the unbeliever automatically rejected the scriptural account on baseless reaction from rebellion? It is a fair and provocative question.

In reality, a trustworthy eye-witness account such as the bible is not to be assumed as false without reasoning, even by the staunch unbeliever. In reality, animals such as the “electric eel” do not show signs of their special shocking gift in their bones so why would a fire breathing dinosaur? In reality, dinosaurs (“dragons”) walked with men from the beginning. And the possibility of a single horned horse is more than possible. Truly, our world is filled with wondrous things, but we must be careful to keep our assumptions and our facts separate.

Afterglow and Echo

2008-09-26T10:25:00.003-05:00

I’ve been watching some episodes of Ghost Hunters, the sci-fi channel show, online. Compared to other shows of its kind this is quite professional, though its factuality is possibly in question I am treating it as real for the purpose of this post. I certainly have an opinion (if you can call it that) about Ghosts. Shock of all shocks, I hold to a predominantly biblical view of such things and while the bible doesn’t speak directly about "Ghosts" it has much to say about life, death, and “spirits”. As for life and death, they are the only two real states to be mentioned so the ideas like purgatory and hauntings are not truly biblical. A dead person can, God willing, be seen/heard here on earth, but the circumstances of those occasions do not place them under the standard definition of ghosts.

As for the term spirit, we know that God’s Word tells us about “spirits” in many ways. Some of the talk of spirits is in reference to a spirit of love or a spirit of enmity, but these are obviously meant to help portray the emotion or condition within a person. Some places the word spirit is in reference to human souls or the Holy Spirit, but never as a haunting. In other places the term spirit is referring to true spiritual entities though; separate from mankind and God. These are things that are not human and not God; the likes of fallen angels otherwise known as demons by most of us. The rule regarding these is that they are deceptive and dangerous to humans, not to be trusted or even trifled with by the average person.

Anyway, as I watch and listen to them I noticed over and over that they aimed to be empirical in their work; using meters, cameras, recorders, and thermal imaging equipment. They would go out and collect data from a location then bring it back and review it looking for signs of “Ghosts” or other paranormal activity. That in itself, dangers aside for the moment, is admirable. Instead of letting a camera chase them around a spooky location gathering only personal experiences, these guys try to debunk and get some form of empirical evidence.

However, and this is the point of the post, when they have personal experiences or when they have the data reviewed and in front of them it does not clear up the matter. They never come to a sound conclusion on anything, not because of the lack of evidence, but because they have no guide to help them interpret the data and experiences they have. While they seem to have interesting adventures and the equipment seems to do well as they use it, they only have blinking lights and ethereal voices at the end of the day. They come home from these adventures with a few pieces to a puzzle and begin the process of inferring (guessing as to) what is missing.

Using God’s Word they might be able to interpret their findings accurately. The spirits they find are not people who pass away nor are they residual emotion, but the deception of various dark spirits. The question is, would they accept the help that God has provided? If they were shown to be arbitrarily guessing at what was going on, would their search for answers really bring them to an acceptance of God? Or would they reject Him for rebellions sake anyway, choosing a faith in the confusion of unguided theories?

Stopping by...

2008-09-24T13:55:00.007-05:00

So a lot has been going on and a lot of thoughts worth mentioning have come around the past month; yet none have made it to the blog here. Soon there will be several and what I expect to be a final post. I figure it is okay to finally shut down at post number 300. I'll leave this up obviously and maybe finish the archive on the right so it can all be accessed from start to finish.

In the meantime, I've been struggling with a lot these days; personal struggles and struggles in service mostly. It isn't that I am depressed or falling apart (nobody worry), but that life is simply not easy all the time. It does not matter how talented you are, how laidback or hard a worker you are, some times life pours it on. These are the times when we get to show ourselves though. A man's strength can't be seen until he lifts something heavy after all and the same thing goes with spiritual matters.

On the business end of things, I've got my hands full at church. Sunday school for the 15-18 year olds and youth group devotions for a rowdy bunch of 12-18 year olds. On top of that the new service is starting to pick up again with the addition of a new worship leader, but our sound tech is gone so I think I'm in charge of coordinating with the new leader. Also, if all goes well, the Small Group will be starting in mid October, but as is I don't know for sure.

Today I took a few minutes and re-read some letters I had written on youtube; they have me pining for the days of debate and discussion with people. I really miss that even though it rarely seemed to matter to them, but no time exists for more than re-reading old letters these days.

Perspective: "Religions"

2008-09-10T08:27:00.006-05:00

The question is, “where did all the other religions come from”? It is a question that comes up often by inquisitive youth and elderly alike in Christian circles. The answer is linked to the tower of Babel and the flood of Noah much as cultures, skin colors, and languages also are linked to those events; I thought it would be interesting to go over. We should begin by remembering that between the flood of Noah and the tower of Babel all people on earth were derived from the line of Noah’s family and Noah himself was a godly man. (That is in fact why he alone was found righteous in all the world.)

From the “fresh start” after the flood, all people should have been instructed to worship God by the patriarch Noah, but the bible tells us that Noah’s descendants quickly turned to themselves and their own ability over a generation or two, creating the tower of Babel and the empire surrounding it. God eventually confused all the people around by making them speak different languages and so they gathered with like-speaking people and migrated away; forming the cultures and eventually defining the physical features in those cultures we see today.

As the newly separated people groups (cultures) pass their history through the generations they hold fragments of truth which can still be seen today. (For example most cultures still have a flood account that resembles the flood of Noah and most of these cultures also have an account o the tower of Babel as well.) However, they also had turned their hearts from the God of Noah and in doing so began deifying and worshiping both nature and themselves, which is a practice seen in all but a few religions today. The bible tells us in dozens of places how people who refuse the true God and their true history only grow in futile thoughts and confusion. Turning from God they worship the wrong things and end up making creation out to be god when that is not the truth (Romans 1:25). So with the historical account of the bible we have a witness of actual history that accounts for the fall, the flood, and the tower (most of which are all found in most world religions) and that allows us to know that the other religions are in fact warped views of history created by a series of fallen people groups post-Babel.

This is only a summary version of the whole answer of course, but consider how muddled and confused people are when they try to guess at historical events, be it recent or long ago; like having a few pieces to a puzzle and deciding to draw in the missing pieces by inference. Instead, why not use the written accounts God has painstakingly passed down to us? The bible is more than a set of spiritual lessons, it is our history. If applied, the answers are easily found. Give that old tome a chance to speak and it may tell you more than you imagine.

In stereo...

2008-09-10T08:11:00.006-05:00

With this blog slowly falling into a black hole of its own I thought it would be good to at least stop and share a special find with all those music lovers out there. It is a place called stereofame which is set up almost as a game. The true point of the site is to gather unsigned artists to a community and let them share their works, but the site is set up also for listeners like myself. When you sign up you choose to be either a listener or an artist and then you earn points by either listening and reviewing or being reviewed and listened to, in a nutshell. You can check out stereofame or my profile here.

Oh and for those who are indeed musically interested, though perhaps not musically inclined, the old samich platter forums have been updated. We are no longer a gaming community, but a music community. So stop by and make some noise... (^_^)

Black Holes

2008-08-15T13:43:00.017-05:00

Someone recently posed a question about blackholes and just after writing them on it AiG released this article, go figure. It, and many other astronomical phenomena, are truly amazing and sometimes terrifying. Black holes certianly fall into both categories, but what do we know and what should a Christian think of these monstors?

What we know is that up in the vast expance are many distortions and dark spots which we call black holes. We are lead to believe that these "black holes" are a consequence of the death of stars and their eventual compaction under their own enormous weight. Eventually, as the star "dies", it is unable to maintain a resistance to it's own gravity and so the mass of the star begins to colaps inward to the center where it is compacted and becomes very dense, creating what is called a singularity which acts as a kind of gravity well. (See Image) This is about the extent of what we can pretent to know for sure however, because each black hole has what is called an event horizon. This is a radius that, once inside, nothing can ever come back out; not even light, hense we cannot see inside of the "black hole".
A Christian Perspective:

Black holes are not directly mentioned in scripture and so we can't use a direct scriptural insight in that way, at least to my knowledge. We can however apply the biblical history to interpret the idea or reality of such black holes. Does the idea of a black hole fit Gods perfect creation? No, but it does fit a "fallen" creation in the same way disease, death, and pain fit a fallen creation and that does fit a Christian worldview. We are talking about a dead star, which is then caught in the grip of its own gravity. So, we know that they fit the idea of the fall which is accounted in the word of God. A fallen creation would produce a myriad of degrading processes from genetic mutations to dying stars which generate these proposed black holes.

Truly, a black hole is a frightening concept and yet is not hard to believe within a Christian worldview where God has removed His sustaining power and things are in a constant state of decay, fitting a biblical view perfectly.

Embrios

2008-08-15T09:52:00.004-05:00

Now, I'm not one for motorcycles and I try to keep the grown-up toy spending to a minimum, but this thing is awesome and I would certainly want one if I wouldn't be pushing 45 years old when they become available for the general populace. I suppose it isn't very practical, but it would be so much fun to scoot around in assuming you weren't going too far and didn't need to carry anything significant wth you. It's called Embrio, or at least this model of it, but the uni-cycle has taken many forms since it was first concived. For some reason I've always paid attention to one-wheel transport.

This reminds me of the countless hours I used to spend sketching and dreaming up new (or new to me) inventions; new ideas for travel and new ideas for bio-mechanical equipment like prothstetics. On the other hand the name Embrio reminds me of the protestors standing outside the abortion clinic a few blocks away this morning.

Future Schooling

2008-08-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

In addition to the future Bible study in September I've also been given a chance to continue to lead Sunday school this year. Previously I'd been leading Sunday school for the 18+ group, but most have either gone on to college or are working most Sundays now so it was decided, for now at least, that I'd let that group alone aside from normal contact. Maybe I can connect with them in some fashion online through sites like facebook and myspace; continuing the lessons, devotions, and discussions in that fashion.

The new Sunday school class is the 14-18 (high school) age bracket. These are all kids who have been in the youth group over the past two years so they are familiar to me. The interesting thing is that, because of their age, this could take many forms. I had been preparing a lesson about being "life-guards" as Christians, creating parallels between the attributes and practices of a pool or beach lifeguard and a Christians attributes and practices. Granted this would have worked better in Spring and Summer than Fall and Winter, but...eh...what can you do?

None of that matters though as I can keep it for later, right now the kids in that class have expressed a desire to get back to bible based lessons which is interesting. Specifically, the accounts in scripture that are often called "bible stories". Things like the burning bush, the flood of Noah, Joshua's two man army, the lamp that didn't burn out, wandering in the deset and passing through the red sea. Things like that and how they connect to us now; still being life lessons, but also being straight out of the bible. I'm glad to hear that this is what they want to do as it presents a unique opportunity for me. More on that later...

Sessions Past

2008-08-01T14:45:00.004-05:00

Well the elective Sunday school session is over and so I'm on a hiatus from teaching for the time being. The sessions came together well, considering the size of the topics and the time constraints, and were very well received. Throughout the sessions we covered a great deal and ended on a great note. While many individual topics were covered such as understanding the topics of creation, the global flood, and dinosaurs through a biblical worldview.

That is the key to all of it, a biblical worldview; it is also the cause of the many compromises and confusions we suffer as Christians today. While we come and go each week, pressing towards repentance and bible knowledge and proper worship we fail to understand how to reconcile certain aspects of our lives between Secular understanding and the truth within Gods word.

Anyway, I'm not going to ramble about it as I've got less energy these days for blogging, but I wanted to mention that it went well and that a Bible study was requested by many on the same and many other topics. That bible study is proposed for early-to-mid September at the moment and I'm thrilled about it. So much to share...

Against the tide

2008-07-14T07:29:00.004-05:00

So the new Sunday school venture is going well, but I will admit this is a hard topic to shorten into three hours. We're talking about the compromises the Christians and the church have made because of outside influences; namely secular science. Some of the topics we'll be covering are Dinosaurs (whether the secular history of them is true and whether the bible has anything to say about them), Noah's flood (whether it happened as the bible says and what the evidences of it is), and the 6-Day creation vs. secular timescale conflict (which is what we did this last weekend). For the later, it went well, and I think many recognized that the bible shouldn't be compromised to any authority, if nothing else. It seemed that the most resistance which came was as to whether it is important or not. Comments like, "well I think its important, but it isn't a big issue. It doesn't matter how God created so long as He created." I wasn't surprised to hear it, but I was hoping it wouldn't come because of the extent we went to overrun those very thoughts in the lesson.

Consider that we do know how God created, because the bible tells us plainly. He created from nothing because their was nothing. He created in solar 6-days because the bible makes that very clear. When He stopped creating nothing else popped into being. He created man last (day 6) and as His masterpiece, the centerpiece of creation. These are things we do know so why falter in faith here and then claim that faith is a must elsewhere? Either we trust Gods word or we do not and that is the truth of it. But their are many reasons to uphold the biblical creation, from a Christian standpoint.

1. Compromising creates a stumbling block to the gospel for non, new, and even old Christians.
2. To compromise is a degradation of Gods perfect word which is the foundation of our beliefs.
3. Altering the scriptures makes God untrustworthy, because we are saying the bible is not trustworthy.
4. It places death before sin (fossil record in the geologic column), which makes Gods punishment unwarranted as death is in the world because of Adams sin according the bible.
5. It erodes many foundational Christian doctrines and ultimately destroys Christian faith.

Are you going to tell me that these few (of the many not listed) consequences of adding secular ideas the bible are not enough of a reason? Many Christians are aware of scriptures like (Luke 16:13) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Obviously this was spoken to the context of money, but it applies to things of the spirit and things of the truth equally as well. Take a stand; gain wisdom and a reasoned faith through study and be faithful in all ways.

Cedar and Breeze

2008-06-18T09:19:00.008-05:00

To start, apart from branches wide,
I'd fallen from heights unknown to me.
Striking hard the stone below,
barren earth from edge to edge,
no chance for me was all to see.

By water and sky I am taken
from once a seed among my kind.
Replaced within a company of many,
a harbor of Cedars and deep soil,
a new home in shade I would find.

Through season and soil, rain and light,
from seed among stone I had struggled.
I have grown strong to bear by forces unseen,
but it is the Cedar and soil that I hope in,
with my brothers in shade we now huddled.

Time has passed and we are found,
breaking through the ranks up high.
Time it is to take our place,
with those who have been our help,
standing one in a million now breathing a sigh.

With a pride and resolve we had planted deep,
reaching for heights to make our purpose.
In water and soil we had placed our hope,
in thickness of trunk and span of reach,
but here we stand and are made worthless.

The Cedars huddle to ponder their value,
unable to see what lay past the distant stream.
A peaceful whisper pours over these trees,
like something unseen, like forces before,
it is cool, fresh, and many give to lean.

As this wind stirs the canopy we shed our disease;
we shed of our death on the soft earth in shade.
Swaying begins though not with all,
this wind is not welcome with many;
with it comes a new life unlike what we had made.

As I bend before the might of a breeze,
today brings new resolve as roots pull free.
If ahead their be cutting, refining and pain, let it be,
let it be, for I can serve no greater cause
than what my maker has in store for me.

I am a Cedar, tall and strong;
yet today by a breeze I bend.

Calling: Salvation from Ignorance?

2008-05-30T11:01:00.003-05:00

So I read today that their are an estimated 100 untouched tribes living in the jungle, one of which was recently found. This is the front line of evangelism and by evangelist I mean "willing" Christian. We are all called, but few will go. This raises a question and also provides a good reason to speak on a particular topic which is in the post below.

Question: Are those that do not hear the gospel saved through ignorance?

No. While our sensibility wants them to be spared it is not so and we well know it. From basic experience we know that ignorance of the law is not a way out of being guilty. Besides, the guilt people have is borne of sin (crimes or lawbreaking) which they have committed, not ignorance of the law. They are not guilty because they didn't know any better, but because they broke the law. Also, what was the point of Jesus telling us to go and making a point of informing us at all if understanding the gospel is what brings condemnation? It would be more appropriate in that case to leave us all in ignorance, but that is not what we have been told to do. The idea that ignorance is a form of protection is simply is not the reality of things. We must all follow a basic plan...

-Hear the gospel message (Romans 10:17)
-Believe on His Son (John 3:16)
-Confess Christ's name (Matthew 10:32-33)
-Repent of their sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 3:19)
-Have those sins remitted through baptism (Acts 2:28, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21)
-Remain faithful (Hebrews 10:26, Revelation 2:10, John 14:15, )
-Speak the gospel (Ezekiel 33:8-9, Matthew 28:19)

Calling: Theo-Jello

2008-05-30T10:46:00.006-05:00

While the above is a high calling and one I should respond to as much as you should, I have a strong need to call "Christians" back to their first love. To call them from confusion and apathy to repentance and faith. That is where I have been led it seems, more so than to those who have never heard. The European nations have already fallen and the US is in the midst of the fall.

We have corrupted and lost sight of God. We claim as individuals and as a group to stand on the solid rock of God and God's word, but we stand on Theo-Jello as the image shows. We lack passion, endurance, appreciation, trust, and hope. What’s more we refuse to recognize this, offended that we are being criticized and afraid that we are possibly in the wrong in our faith.

What is the price for falling away? What is the price we are willing to pay?

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;" - Isaiah 30:1

Conversations with unbelief (Part 6)

2008-05-30T10:05:00.001-05:00

I've been swamped and distracted, but I have something here that was interesting.

Unbelief comes in many forms and I'm aware of that, but this was an unusual one even for me. I have a video on "junk DNA" on youtube and a woman commented on it about her apparent belief in what we will call the "alien or fallen-angel seed theory". Where-by the race of mankind is seeded by aliens which were "mistaken" to be angels and deities. If that is not a blatant attempt at replacing religion of supernatural with that of a natural one I don't know what is.

In conversation I was pleased to be able to use a bit of presuppositional apologetics and its effect was that of an a-bomb. The discussion ended with, "Please don't send me any notes. I don't believe in your Myth of God or Christ. So spare yourself the time and energy." I wouldn't say this was a good ending, but the approach certainly hit the mark as accurate as a sniper and this harsh severing of the discussion was evidence of it. So I wanted to share some of the dialogue to share what this looks like in a conversation instead of just "on paper".

The overall plan in this approach is to show how nothing can be known with confidence apart from a belief in God. A belief in God is essential to drawing any conclusions at all. It can then be argued quite well that the God of the bible is the only one that makes sense, is logically consistent. A more specific version of this is the "transcendental argument for God" and like this it removes any ability to fight out of the opponent unlike the many other arguments for Gods existence.

So there it is "on paper" and in brief the post below is the ending dialogue of the above mentioned discussion. We barely broke into the talk before she refused to go further. So this is just broaching the topics themselves.

Conversations with unbelief (Part 7)

2008-05-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

"Why must you think in terms of a Deity? A god?"

I think in terms of a deity simply because it is the foundation for everything we think and do, even if we do not realize it. A case in point would be truth (or morality, reasoning, logic, etc..). Without a higher authority who sets the standards for these things? You see if their is no set standard to appeal to then all appeals are arbitrary opinion. Even your disapproval of my belief in God is founded on arbitrary opinion if no higher authority guides you. The same can be said that without a higher authority to guide what is true and what is not your opinion of the truthfulness of your own claims is valueless. This, and much more, is why even you should consider the necessity of God in the world. What are our opinions based in if not an ultimate authority?

"If a being is different than us or perhaps more elevated, that does not constitute a deity. The idea is absurd! There is no suggestion that any single deity created anything whatsoever."

Only an ultimate being constitutes a logically consistent deity and that is what I was referring to; not simply a more impressive creature. By the logic implied their is an endless regression in your theory of things, but an endless regression is a logical fallacy by any standard. For instance, we (creature "A2Z") are created by creature "Cp9" which was created by creature "0Fr" which was created by creature "23w" and so on. What does this gain you? Especially in light of a non-eternal universe which requires an initial creation. Such a creation demands an ultimate deity, Ie. God.

As for suggestions of God I would list many if you are really interested in hearing them. From science to logic to eye-witness testimonies, even my own, God is clearly seen and so as the Word of God says, "...He is clearly seen...so no man is without excuse" when it comes to believing in Him.

"No single god is required....only in your mind!"

My earlier point negates your claim here in that you say this as if it is true, but you have no authority to appeal to for a standard of truth; their is nothing guiding you that is able to dictate truth which makes it your arbitrary opinion.

Besides this point, there are many ways that a single God is required. For instance the idea of an ultimate being requires a single being because if their are two or more separate ultimate beings which one is ultimate? Neither can be if they are equal. So a single ultimate is necessary...

You can see as well as I can that everything from the world we live in to our ability to reason requires a single ultimate God. Without an ultimate authority our search for truth and our current conclusions are in real danger of being arbitrary and pointless. So I maintain that when one comes to this conclusion, or is unable to argue it successfully, then it is time to consider what that very real God wants us to know.

Heart of the Debate

2008-04-29T11:55:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have not understood the nature of this debate between Evolution and Creation, here is a very clear example of the foundational issues that lie at its center. One cannot believe both so a clear choice must be made. Each one brings its own consequences; a believe in Creation implies a creator, an ultimate authority we need to submit to, while a belief in evolution removes things like morality, hope, logic, and truth from that persons worldview. These are often thought of as side issues to bigger things, but the choice between evolution and creation is far more important.

While the nature of the debate is noted above, their are many consequences to be noted. Most of these are geared towards Christians who are struggling with whether evolution is important and whether it is compatible with their faith. The truth is that these are so utterly incompatible and these two videos are a very direct look at these issues.

Surviving...

2008-04-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

Tonight I got to sit and watch an episode of Survivor; not a show I invest time in. This night on survivor a man whom apparently no body liked was in a position to gain temporary immunity through winning a contest. He could have done it, but opted instead to eat with those that obviously did not like him. Of course these people turned on him, though that truth was not fully realized by him at the time.

What I want to note about this show, is that while the groups on the show and countless viewers mocked and ridiculed him for making that choice and giving up that immunity, the truth is that he, in a fleeting moment, made the only wise choice available. He chose forgiveness, friendship, and trust over his financial gain. For a brief instant he chose to do the right thing, but the people who watched could only see failure.

On the surface his move was foolishness since he could have made a great safe stride forward to winning and gaining power over the game, but I dare say that he exhibited power over the game by making the choice he did. It is fair that his choice was foolish, if the right thing was to deceive and hurt in an effort to gain, but is it as foolish as being on a show like this in the first place? A show where the game is motivated by greed and self-validation, where snakes still whisper lies.

It makes me all the more sad, to think that this show, running for so many seasons, is so well loved and yet has so deeply confused its viewers. Having appealed to a deep seeded sin of mankind, it has won the minds of many. Now, I'm not saying that this guy was a good man. It is likely that he has backstabbed as much or more so than the next man, but for a moment an example was given and so few noticed it. Reminds me of another man who made a short example for all to see and how those who saw it turned away by and large. They are not remotely the same in impact or level of worth, but the concept is the same.

On Expelled

2008-04-28T11:01:00.003-05:00

Well, while the battle rages on I want to swing by here and make note of a special movie. It is only playing in a handful of theaters but one of those is near my home. It is a documentary of sorts, called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". (The Trailer is below.)Not to explain the entire premise of the film, but it is set against the evolution vs. creation or science vs. religion debates. More specifically, the Intelligent Design movement vs. the evolutionary establishment’s dogmatic doctrines.

The host of the film is Ben Stein who many people will recognize and the film itself revolves around his personal journey to understand the issue which has been important to him for a while now. He begins a bit skeptically, exploring the fight between ID and evolution in academia. He tends to, as most have done, side with the majority vote which is evolution; believing that the majority of academia and science have claimed that it is simply sound teaching. Quickly he realizes that their is much more going on as he meets with evolutionists and ID proponents who have been ostracized or discredited simply for following where the science leads them; in those cases the science had led them to evidence for an intelligent designer.

Ben then starts interviewing both sides of the battle, many big name evolutionists included, to piece things together. Looking for truth, not to provide a one sided view, but to see which view is stronger and if their is truly a conspiracy of sorts in the academic circles. What he finds is the truth indeed, but it is a sad truth that many creationists and apologists have known for some time. The truth is our arguments, especially in science, go ignored and discredited with little hesitation or inspection by the evolutionist establishment.

Over the course of the film, Ben discovers many things; an academic world that functions more like a communist nation than the free world it claims to be. He also discovers just how utterly bankrupt the idea of evolution is and from the mouths of the evolutionists no less. Lastly he reveals what is long been known by some, that the nature of this fight is not in the science, but in the heart. If you can spare the hour and a half, if you can spare the 7 dollars, please see this and consider what it says. Ignoring a point and concluding on it is not a rational way of denying what it says and what it says is important to every single person. If not in the theaters though, at least rent it in a few months. Talk about it and pass it around if you can. This is important...

Disclaimer:
"Expelled is not a Christian film per se; its emphasis is not on the Bible, Jesus, or Christianity. However, we believe that Christians will enjoy the documentary, as it is very much pro-logic, pro-liberty, pro-life, and pro-intelligent design—which also means that it is very much anti-macroevolution." -ApologeticsPress

Big Valley View

2008-04-16T08:10:00.000-05:00

In a welcome occurrence, one of the founders of the Big Valley Creation Science Museum has contacted me through youtube. Mainly to say hello and find out who I am since I have the Big Valley Creation Museum Promo on my youtube site, shown below. It is so pleasant to meet people like these in and among the crowd of ignorant mockers. "Rare" doesn't do the situation justice...

He was a teacher who quit his job to help found the creation museum in Alberta, Canada. It is a bit smaller than the one in Kentucky which AiG owns, but it is packed full of evidences for creation. Feel free to watch the video for a tour...

I asked him how it happened and let him know I was interested in making a move in the future as well. His advice was appropriate and encouraging.

"...put it off and procrastinated for a couple of years while working at the high school before I finally got down on my knees to fast and pray for a couple of weeks to sort out where I was going in life. Had my answer within fifteen minutes, and felt like a bit of a bonehead for missing what appeared to be the blatantly obvious!"

However, over the years, he has become painfully aware of the depth of the problem which infests even Christians in the field.

"...Actually, I've been running a course in "Starting your own creation ministry/museum" in Akron for the past two years. But I'm thinking I'm either going to switch it to invitation only, or not run it at all. Unfortunately, I've seen so much backstabbing of creationists against other creationists, that I'm hesitant to share in a "public setting" except those I have a chance to meet and discern."

As he notes, it is not so much that biblical Christians are without means or without understanding, but that even within the hearts of Christians their are many troubles. This is not a business for early believers, but of those maturing and tempered in faith. Hopefully he will continue as an independent researcher and lecturer if not also keep trying with this class of his.

Conversations with unbelief (Part 4)

2008-03-25T11:18:00.002-05:00

It has been a long time since I was on a forum talking about God; mostly because of the time it requires. If you have been around you might remember a time when I was a member of the InfidelGuy forums. It was an in-valuable experience for me as an apologist. I stopped fighting others there just before the site fell. It was down for a short time and is now back up. InfidelGuy is run by a radio-host named Reginald; his aliases being InfidelGuy.

He has been around for some time and has made a name for himself among other infidels (unbelievers). I had never met the man, but only those who promote his agenda, until yesterday. He stumbled onto my youtube account and made a comment attempting to dismantle my video, it was one of the Dilbert videos I had used in this blog and so he was able to follow the links to that blog post. He then made another comment here on the blog to the same effect. Both comments seemed calm and perhaps showing a willingness to discuss the issue.

In my normal course of action I removed the comment from my youtube video and turned it into a PM (private message) discussion. One can't have much of a conversation in the little comment boxes on youtube, but the PM boxes are much larger. Besides, I want my videos to be clean of insults and trash talk. The videos are there for the sake of what they say, not to be used as a way to get noticed by making rude comments. Anyway, I PMed him and then addressed his blog comments. If you are interested in what the leader of a large scale atheistic radio-show would say on this blog or interested in my reply (which is also there) please go to Critical Thinking Part 1, at the bottom of the page.

While he has not returned to the blog yet to further discuss anything, he has made two very harsh and wholly unnecessary replies to me on youtube, revealing the heart of his agenda as well as the heart of an unbeliever, agressive and shrouded in darkness.

Conversations with unbelief (Part 5)

2008-03-25T10:16:00.010-05:00

Here is my initial reply to his youtube comments, in letter form, attempting to have a discussion with him.

His reply after I attempted to turn into a private conversation for reasons mentioned above;
"Coward. I can destroy your flimsy response with ease, but you don't want anyone else to see. Typical. When I didn't see any responses.. I knew you were full of s***. Truth seeker indeed."

My response;
Call me what you will, Reg. Let God discern our intentions, let the Lord judge our hearts. In the meantime, I have written you, but don't see this epic response of power. I didn't see any better on your forums back in the day, perhaps things have not changed in the hearts and temperaments of unbelief.
Romans 1:21-22,
-Dan

His reply from a follow-up youtube comment he had left in the wake of the first;
"What a coward.. you didn't post my response. lol.. Typical."

My response;
What is typical is your insult and temperament. Indeed, what coward returns to his very attacker and says, "Would you like to talk about your assertions with me or did you just come to create spectacle with yourself in the middle"? So...Would you like to talk about your assertions...?

Normally, I don't post these things, but because it is short and because it is with a high-profile person, I wanted to expose our small meeting. I'm still waiting for his response.

Light Fantastic

2008-03-21T08:10:00.002-05:00

Tonight around 7 I drove to Moe's for dinner. Taking a break from writing and working out I was blessed to see a devastating sunset. It's been a while...

This sunset was not full of colors. It did not swallow up the entire sky with its glow. It was not one of those neat inverted sunsets, but it was awe-inspiring. So much so that I wanted, even seriously considered, driving into it until it had set over the horizon. It was just the sun in the sky with clouds passing through, but as they passed the light came so boldly through that the edges of the cloud seemed peeled back by the light. Sometimes we forget the power of the light. That it is hardly understood and yet so commonplace to us we forget it's place in the world. When I think of light I think of God in this dark world. No less do I think about the scriptures on light; not the least of which is John 12:46.

"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark."

Today, briefly, this verse took on a more tangible tone for me. It was wonderful. What do you think about in the sight of a sunset? Color? Vastness? Technicalities? These are all good, I think these things as well, but don't forget the artist; don't forget the lights creator.

Road-worthy

2008-03-21T08:07:00.001-05:00

Today on my way to work the police were again setting up their new device for catching speeders. It is a great deal more crafty than traditional methods and has caught many already. I am not an emotional driver nor am I a impatient under most circumstances, but I am not a slow driver by any means. Putting it another way, I earn my tickets, but this is not about my driving ability or yours. This is about warnings. Another lesson from the road, on the heels of "signs and signs".

As I rolled past it again, during a lunch hour run to Wendy's, people coming the opposite way were making an effort to warn us about the speed trap. Flashing headlights signaling "danger ahead, look out".

I usually think that doing this is polite, but I tend not to warn others when I have the chance on the road. In my mind it is a warning from one criminal to another, saying "lookout impending justice is just around the bend." I don't want to help people get away with being bad drivers so I don't flash my lights anymore. Sure I will appreciate some one else’s efforts, but I would not be angry if they hadn't warned me and I got a ticket because of it. Point of fact, I wouldn't have gotten the ticket because of the lack of warning, but because I was breaking the law. I earned the ticket so how can I be angry at anyone else!?

For this reason I don't flash my lights to warn others, but today as I drove the ironic hypocrisy struck me. In the life of a Christian, warning others of impending judgment is essential! God has it so that judgment will come and we are all "speeders" in His eyes, but if I warn those I see they may not see that earned condemnation. So in a certain context I was humbled by those flashing lights. In the end thought, calling others to repentance and warning others of speed traps are two very different things. I do need to remember the importance of this lesson for a while, let it sink in, let it brew.

Just a thought for the road.

Self-Destructible

2008-03-21T08:01:00.004-05:00

They say that children act indestructible and that they ignore or are oblivious of their limits. This is true. It is also true that as we grow we do not fair much better in our old age. I see this in my life and the lives of the general populace around me each day.

Now, I don't remember feeling or claiming to be invincible, but I recognize I had little caution and did not see my limits at the time. A lot of time has passed since those days; I no longer believe that I could beat up a ninja or one day have super powers and jumping off of tall objects now gives me visions of broken bones. As an adult I see my limits as temporary, but effective none the less. The specifics aren't important.

The point is that I see adults who show little caution to their current situation and imminent future. People have lost, or possibly never really had, the idea of consequence for their ideas and ways of living. Things of the spiritual world go dismissed or unheeded. How is this different than the days of our youth? Do you think each morning about the consequence of what actions you plan on taking today? Do you think each night that you might not have another morning to do the right thing? And isn't the real question, "Why haven't you acted on those questions?"

This is how we don't grow as we get older; we go on day to day, aware of the dangers we're in only half-way. Knowing that an end comes, but not acting as though it’s true. Knowing that our very souls are in danger, but dismissing it to get another item done on our list of things do to or worse, dismissing it to go back to sleep.

I don't have any ending to this blog, it is what it is.

Flabo-dynamic

2008-03-21T07:56:00.004-05:00

Slightly obscure reference anyone? (^_^)

About a month ago, maybe two, I ordered a Bowflex machine. They are pricy, so I only ordered one of the low end models. Still, it does over 60 exercises and I've only been using about 20 of those so far. I purchased this after doing the math and considering the potential value in my health which was great. This has been on my mind for many years and is way overdue. So anyway, rambling aside I bought it and have been using it almost nightly.

It is nice to feel the way I felt in high school again. No, I don't mean healthy; I mean "in pain". It's nice to feel the "burn" and then ache for a few days. I know that pain and I know it means I'm growing again, getting stronger again. It will be a long time before I look like the guy on the box (Ha-Ha), but I'd settle for less.

Unfortunately, a weight lifting machine doesn't do much for fat burning in the problem areas and it doesn't help with cardio much, but that is manageable through other less costly venues. Health and fitness isn't something people would peg me for I think, but it has always been on my personal list of important things. Motivation is not hard to come by, but endurance in the long run is something else. We'll see...

Random Thoughts #383

2008-03-11T12:06:00.001-05:00

Hello strangers! I've experienced a slight lull in forward motion the past few weeks; the posts below are all that were written over the past month or so. Reminds me of the times I had burned out before except that this time it is not a physical burnout. Not to worry, He gives me strength and passion to continue and things do seem to be on the mend again. God never does let me get too settled these days and so just as I feel like I've got a slight grip on the youth ministry thing (both at church and online) the focus is altered, again. More on that "direction" later…

I think part of the problem of this lull is the removal of a long term sin a battle that never ends has seen a turn of the tide. I have been shaken by scripture regarding it; it has a way of doing that when we let it speak. Has that ever happened to you reader? Among many verses the one that crushed me were Hebrews 10:26, 2 Peter 2:2, and 1 Peter 4:7. Events of the past month have been spiritually charged, but a war once waged in the mind has spilled over to the flesh and not just my own. People around me are waging wars previously not known. Perhaps what I'm talking about and what you are thinking are two different things, but for the care of others I can't say much here.

In addition to the above, I think the lull has to do with calling. Not just to repent, but to ministry. I've never flet so deeply wasteful then the past 6 months at my job. Part of that might have to do with the fact that I have little to no work most weeks. Part of that might have to do with the atmosphere here; I feel like Lot in Sodom and it disgusts me. The major reason though is that my job contributes nothing of value. Even if I worked with Christians and had interesting and abundant work, I'd still be doing nothing for God here. Last year this started to bug me and I said that I'd use this job as a way to fund my life in part-time ministry (and so I have done for nearly a year), but now I don't think it is enough. So I think that a large part of this lull has to do with the unhappiness in my career. Guess I'm ripe for change, but change to what?

Tooth and Claw 1

2008-03-11T12:05:00.001-05:00

In dreams we are not so limited as in the natural world, but at the same time very few of us can make use of that freedom. Of course, people like me are bound to what random events and things our minds can conjure up in a dream. Sometimes, a dream will roll through that has obvious significance; I'll wake and not forget so quickly. On occasion, the events will linger and I'll be provided an insight. So I keep a record of certain dreams, detailing events and their sequence, detailing emotion and motivations, so I can remember later. Most of the time these insights provided are not ones I choose to share; involving people and topics I would rather not express about, though it would probably be an interesting read. Last night is hazier than most of these "special" dreams, but at the same time what is clear is clear indeed. Since it has to do with me alone, it is fair game.

So in an among events with no reason and hazy sequence walked a lion, roaming and beautiful. The likes of what you might see in a movie, it was large and strong, not worn by the weather or by battles past. At the point in the dream we met gazes I had been ushering another out of a house full of black bears and pet dogs. Stepping outside and looking to my left it galloped out from the side of the house and stopped, looking at me.

I turned to run to the right, knowing I couldn't fight this animal. Heading for a nearby building even though I knew I couldn't out run it on a long distance. I was right and wrong at the same time. As I opened the door it pounced and tackled me, but I managed to get into the roll, ending on top apparently stronger than I had believed. Staring into the face of it a new face took shape; this one more humanlike. It spoke in growls, but I did not understand the words or their meaning, looking not violent or angry it had reason in its eyes. We struggled for a long moment as it spoke and I pinned it to the earth by its neck.

Then I woke from what was one of a series of sudden and strange dreams I had that night. What insight can be gained though from something so random? That is the question isn't it...

Tooth and Claw 2

2008-03-11T11:39:00.000-05:00

Well, after considering the dream itself, the context or influence I'm likely to have dreamt it in and the insights after waking, I have come to two reasonable and potentially reliable conclusions. The first possibility is that the lion represents Satan; the next is that the lion represents Jesus, the lion of Judah. Neither of these sit well with me given the dream itself. (For those of you who do not know Jesus is also given the title the Lion of Judah in scripture. Satan, the adversary of God, is referred to a lion roaming about to see who he can catch.)

Considering the night I had before this dream, it makes sense that it would be a portrayal of Satan, stalking me and catching me. I did not have a good night; could I take it back, I would. In my willful mistake Satan had overcome me and so we wrestled that night and for some time after. He would want to fell me and I would want to resist him, but as a believer (sinful still) I am not so easy a prey. The lion in my dream found this to be true. Even though he caught me and we have wrestled I am not finished, turning to my savior for His strength to continue. A vivid image and a timely one. Could it be that God wished me to be conscious of that struggle and gave me a presentation of it to analyze?

On the other hand, given the situation it is just as possible that I was running from and wrestling with Jesus. After all, a sinners recourse is to flee even if we know their is nowhere to hide and Jesus does chase after us when we wander. Could it be that I was watching a portrayal not of failure and then victory, but a portrayal of failure and then correction as the lion tried to bring me down from fleeing? If that were so I can even see how I would be able to pin the lion, not because I am superior, but because He did not want to harm me. If only I knew what the lion had said, maybe I could know. If only you knew the details of that night, maybe you could too.

Dreams are not just pointless either way; while they are not all without reason, they are not always what they seem either. Worth the time to consider if you dream like I do. Remember though, if you "interpret" dreams, do so with the aid of God or at least through a "God filter". I'm of the opinion that dreams communicate more than we realize and God is not the only unseen out there.

Emergency Parachutes

2008-03-11T11:37:00.000-05:00

Fasting is unfamiliar territory to many of our brethren. We know it in terms of the 30-hour famine the youth do each year. We know it from the scripture where Jesus and others fasted. Yet the majority of us haven't done it, nor have we done it for the right reasons.

I was desperate the other week, following the "Hollow Eyes" account. So I decided not to eat and not to go to my friends place or watch cartoons at home. I put music on and committed not to eat anything or be distracted by entertainment or people. I was so committed to the task because of concern for a laps on my watch; again if you haven't read it see "Hollow Eyes". I had not had a great week in terms of connection to God so I needed a fast way to get back on track and it came to mind, "I should fast and pray all day."

While I'm very inexperienced still, I will say that I've never experienced something like that before. All day pacing and praying and singing songs to God. Listening to Christian music and chatting with my Lord. I barely even left my bedroom the whole day. When it should have been boring I was content. When I should have been hungry I was content. When had every reason to be scared for the immanent future I was content. I can't explain how fasting works, but I can attest to it's use. Seeking intimacy with God is only right, but it can take time in normal circumstances. However, when you remove the distractions of food, people, entertainment, and other personal desires all that is left to think on is God and you, that relationship.

Needless to say I was quite ready for the next morning in Sunday school, having not eaten for well over 30 hours. I didn't need to be though as it all went quite smoothly, but still I learned something special that weekend. If you'll do it and if you can do it I recommend doing it wholly, not in part. A fast that is only partial is missing the true power of the fast itself.

Hollow eyes

2008-03-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

The topic of possession is one I've talked about before, though not for some time. I have every reason to believe it still happens, thought many claim otherwise. Still, I have never witnessed it myself. Anyway, something happened at church the other week and, weak as it is to attempt to share the power of such an event through text, at least it's an account of things.

A youth brought a friend with her to church and to Sunday school; a sweet, though jittery, young woman. She contributed in Sunday school and came to the church service afterwards. She seemed to be sick the entire time she was present and after the service the youth who had brought her in asked if someone could pray over her. This a powerful moment and the pastors wife was present so I did not take the lead on it, instead I waited around and cleaned up after the people had left the service. I apparently missed out a great deal however.

Later I learned that the youth and the Pastors wife were praying over the girl only to upset a dark spirit or demon. The Pastors wife filled me in on the events afterward and so I am not relaying a story of many passed lips and changes. I was told that the youth had heard another youth speak the Lords prayer and began to have a fit. Speaking angrily in strange voices and seizuring about. Eventually the Pastor himself had to come and remove the spirit. All in all it was nearly 3 hours of spiritual struggle. This event had me...concerned...as the young woman was likely to be in my Sunday School class after the event and it would not be hard for a dark spirit to find a home in her again if God did not fill her up immediately. The possibility existed that I may have to deal with this as well; both exciting and unnerving me at the same time.

Thankfully she has come in the past few weeks and though she is facing much hardship right now she has invested herself in God so far. Pray she continues and don't forget that we live in the same world as Jesus and the disciples 2,000 years ago. Legion and the other possessed are still among us.

Pristine Packers

2008-03-11T11:35:00.000-05:00

In Sunday school, though it hasn't been going well the past month, we are trying to pack for college. Figuratively and literally each morning we open an old suitcase and place one item in it. The first week we started off with a double dose; packing both a compass and a map. The compass was our convictions and the map was an awareness of our surroundings. These are two things that we, as Christians, aught to take everywhere. We have yet to pack anything else because the turnout has been so low in past weeks. Instead we have talked about "Hot Topics" until a better turnout occurred. When that happens we will resume packing with a nightlight, representing Truth. Talking about how Gods truth reveals what the world that is in darkness. Truth is one of my top 5 favorite topics and so I am excited about it.

Assuming that we ever get to do it, the following week will also be about truth, but not about the nightlight. Instead we'll be starting a several week process of packing clothes; each piece representing part of the armor of God. The Belt of Truth will be a belt, duh! The helm of salvation is obviously a hat of some kind. The breastplate of righteousness is a shirt and the gospel of peace is a pair of shoes or boots. The shield of faith is going to have to be a watch or jewelry of some kind. Lastly we'll talk about the sword, which I may represent with an actual blade or maybe a pen. Past that their are many topics to deal with, but I want to time it so that the last two topics are a means of connection to their church family and the bible itself.

Aside from the fact that we've lost 3 straight weeks already (and next week isn't looking good) I really am excited to handle this. These kids are in various places in their faith, but they are facing new hardships where many of them will feel alone and surrounded. I pray that we can address these things before that time comes.

Pressure Mark

2008-03-11T11:02:00.001-05:00

Self-Inflicted Retrospection: A longwinded post.

Since it's a new year now I look back over the more than 265 posts made to this blog. I notice how distinct the change was from the first 5 posts to the last 5 posts; how my perspective has changed early on. How my writing has changed and how I have changed.

The very first posts were light hearted, almost whimsical, takes on my world. I was serious about what I wrote and on occasion dug deep, but I compare it to now and the difference is staggering to me. I wondered what the difference is and it seems to be the filter I see the world through and my foundations which have certainly changed; that place I stand on to make decisions and gain insight.

Posts now are much less creative than they were as I tend to utilize my creativity less these days, but my analytical skills have grown by leaps and bounds. I suppose that in a glance this is the difference between then and now. Don't get me wrong, the creativity has not gone missing, but that just isn't as important as the other things on my mind.

The progressively heavy nature of posts over time reminds me of a book I read a while back. It was called "The Barbarian Way" and in it was a spot to talk about how God changes us. Specifically the changes that we take to be negative. Things like a hightened passion, being burned out from service, or at times coming across to others as quite insane.

One of those mentioned was John the Baptist, who is often portrayed as wearing animal skins, living alone in the woods, and eating bugs. At the same time he was alive for God in a huge way! The author considered what that person would look like today and ended up comparing it to a homeless man in the city who walks around talking while looking up in the sky. A person who is seen as merely a shell of a man, but who may very well be chasing after the heart of God in a powerful way; having given up much (even a bit of sanity) to be nearer to God. The author made many good points here that I can't make now, but all this has a ring of truth to it. Believers who chase after more and more are sometimes burned out and at times seen as crazy or obsessed by their faith.

Now, I am not crazy (I think), but I have a tendency to do things in faith that others consider strange. I am not obsessed in the creepy violent sense, but determination and desire do breed obsession so maybe it fair to say that I am obsessed. I am not "always on" with my faith, but I am on more often than not; having driven myself to exhaustion more than a couple times already. So looking back I may mourn for the loss of the whimsical, but I would not change it back. These are the things God has done in me; driving me to learn, to mature, and to press against the walls once built (with my own hands) to keep me safe. It would do good to remain rounded here and I bet more fun to read, adding creativity and comical thoughts, but this is not where I have been directed. Still, I'll take some time and exercise the creativity muscle soon.

Lessons in servitude

2008-02-04T15:36:00.000-05:00

So as not to disappoint my millions of readers, ha-ha, here is an update of things in motion.

I'm well these days, but quite tired. It is difficult to find inspiration or maybe energy to blog with and I don't want to lower the standard as to what my blog is. (Not sure what that meant exactly, but it sounds good.)

In recent days my time has gone in large part to conversations and debates through youtube. Though it has already begun to slow a bit (and thank God for it) their were a handful of people wanting to talk all at once. Ranging from a 19 year old boy to a 49 year old scientist; talk about range. The demands of putting together and guiding these discussions is taxing. Especially when matched to a full-time job, studies, friendship maintenances, and church events.

Speaking of which, though perhaps not entirely joyful, I have been given the very opportunity that I was waiting for the past 2 years. The lack of joy is not for the opportunity, but for the circumstances in which it was presented. The Sr. High youth Sunday school teacher fell ill a month ago and no one had taken his position. While he is on the mend it is not completely likely that he will be back for his job. The joy rolls in however, when I think of God's timing and providence in my life. Is this when I wanted the job? No. Is it how I wanted the job? No. But looking back it is exactly right in time, place, and people. No big surprise there, but a revealed joy to be sure.

So with a weekly Sunday school on the plate, I will have to cut back on personal writings like the books, online discussions, and journal entries I've been trying to manage; not to mention the small groups planned. While that doesn't sit right, yet, I'm sure God knows what is best and will grant the ability to manage whatever needs to be. He is always that good to me, a happy pawn in service. (^_^)

The Maker

2008-01-18T10:58:00.000-05:00

"The watchmaker" is a reference to God; the one who designed and created things we see and know today. It is a very old concept and one that has seen much use. Within the past decade however, an atheistic writer has coined the revision, "The Blind Watchmaker" as an insult to Gods creative works in an effort to state that their is no God because God would not make the world as it is. While God did not make the world "as it is" today (thereby removing the bite of his commentary) people still hold onto this phrase as a rebuttal to the videos point.

Their are many complaints about this video, but one I hear a lot is that you cannot compare metal and plastic mechanics to organic mechanics. Essentially, "watches, being made of inorganic material, don't evolve so the comparison is fallacious". However, they say this missing the point...

Obviously, a watch needs a designer as it is just matter (chemicals, minerals, etc) and no person believes matter can self-design. Most evolutionists would agree to this point, but once they do they backed into a corner as the truth is they all accept the notion of matter self-designing when they claim evolution to be true. At one point long ago, according to them, inorganic materials mixed and created "organic" life. They then go further down that rocky road to claim that these organics composed of inorganic materials can generate complexity to give the appearance of design.

Is this not the weakest and most self-defeating argument they could create?! A shame so many trust it implicitly. In reality the watchmaker argument for Gods creations still rings true. Take a look at the video...

On the Tube

2008-01-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

My youtube account has been updated with clips from various AiG videos which can be used online as a reference for others or as a jumping point for discussion. It has already served as both in the short time I have had it posted. I'll be sure to use them here as well, but feel free to go watch some of them or the older clips @ my youtube account.

On that note, I recently got into a discussion on youtube with a boy named Mike from the UK. Now, starting off a discussion by mocking or insulting someone is not new on "the tube", but instead of ignoring my response to his initial commentary, he replied! We have gone back and forth now over half a dozen times and it seems as though he is gaining a perspective. This is note-worthy in that it is rare and seems to be having an effect. What is not rare is that I have not heard back from him in some time now and he was usually very quick with a reply.

I always wonder what the effect was after a discussion like this? Did I say what I should have said? Did it read in the same way I wrote it? I never know the answers to these questions, but I try harder each time to be clear and kind. Clarity and kindness are two rare attributes in the average conversation about God, especially online. Pray that the Holy Spirit is working on his heart even if he doesn't come back to the conversation.

Letter Press and Page

2008-01-14T15:58:00.000-05:00

Well, the last of it is ordered and I'm excited for it! Soon the Church library will be stocked with different apologetic materials; over 2 dozen DVDs ranging from the children’s level all the way up in apologetics and christian education. As of now the many books which have been ordered are in transit, so with the last bit of material in the mail now I feel like the library won't be the vast wasteland it once was. Granted, getting people to go there and check out the materials is a whole other matter.

However, the plan is (and has been) that upon stocking the library with materials I could finally start up the many small group or bible studies I have laid out. Since the studies are not anything like the ones I've seen from our church over the years I can only imagine what the interest will be in them. It doesn't matter if only a few come at first, so long as they are affected by it it will be a success. Who knows, it may breed more interest as it goes and I can always try and start up a kids version for the youth.

We'll see, but whether the turn out is good or bad I'll be able to pull from the libraries resources now, instead of scrambling to create my own stuff. Plus, when someone asks for information on a topic, I can direct them to a source in the library instead of having to write out a 10 page letter, citing sources they might not find. It's been a long time in coming... (^_^)

Home Front Challenge

2008-01-14T15:16:00.000-05:00

Recently I started getting ready for the JWs (Jehovah's Witnesses) which have been coming around. I imagine they are here because of all the new houses and developments in the area near us. I'm sure to the JWs this is represents a fresh chance to recruit and/or train up young JWs. I have long wanted to hold a discussion with them, but did not have any training of my own and talking to them requires a bit of training or experience. Long ago I read up on them, but not enough to hold a lively on-the-spot discussion and so purchased a book called "The 10 most important things you can say to a JW". It is small, but it is well designed. Acknowledging false doctrines and the verses that JWs quote, then using other verses to debunk their theology. The book also makes sound arguments against their bible revisions (NWT) and the Watchtower Society that runs the organization.

The watchtower society (which I have written about before) has created a profoundly damaging theology. Ultimately, it is a problem with their source, not them as they are often well trained and very passionate about the cause they claim. They are only following the directions they have been given which is much like other Christians, but the difference is that they are listening to men first while Christians are (or should be) listening to God first; one is a corrupted source and the other is not. Consequently, poor understanding and bad theology runs rampant within the organization.

So I've spent several nights marking a spare KJV bible with point/counterpoint verses, quick notes, and questions. It will take patients and practice, but most good things do. If you have the heart for it, go by this $15 book and Practice. I know how it sounds to some, very arrogant, but these are God fearing people who are not saved. Hence they need our help as much as those who are ardent about God not existing. These things, these conflicts, are not about arrogance but about love for fellow man...those unaware of the danger they are in.

Stealing lights & waves

2008-01-03T12:31:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've been known to find things on the internet; things I shouldn't find. To the degree that, if you are trying to imagine what I could mean, you might very well be right. In fact, the spectrum implied is so broad that you probably are. While no exact details are to be provided, this is a confession, brought on in part by a short conversation recently held. While many of the places I have visited I no longer return to, I still found myself wandering where I shouldn't. So in that light I am handing over my internet; forfeiting it.

In years past and still today, I've been nestled deep in the internet; pressing into its recesses for all manner of things. In other words, I've been the guy you go to if you wanted to find things that shouldn't be found. Even in those darker times I felt the injustice of it pressing down on me. I ignored it then, only dealing with what I chose to deal with. "Oh it's enough that I'm trying to correct my life in terms of X so Y and Z will just have to wait till later.", I would say in an attempt to justify it. Songs, shows, movies, programs, or whatever; it would be mine if I wanted it while employing the above excuse.

So over the years I had put my digital fingers on countless things, very few of which I have today. These days I pay for programs I use and I generally pay for my music services (Napster, etc), but I've been watching movies and cartoons online and while I can see the legal loopholes that exist, their are no moral loop-holes to speak of, only condemnation. For this reason it has to go; as Christ has said, "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,".

He is correct, it is sinful and in all reality sin is lawbreaking. What we don't often realize is that all these broken laws are driven by desire for personal gain; be it money, fame, respect, power, influence, items, satisfaction, or anything else. So after many years of searching the depths it is time to put up my hands and let it go. I will always have it for emergencies, but it is guarded by someone trust worthy. I will always have it at work as well, but at least I am limited there in several ways. So, while I have a handful of movies downloaded (from over the weekend) I aim to make them the last. If I want any from here I'll be paying for them in some fashion, either renting or buying.

I said once before in a poetic rebuttal to an atheist concerning misuse of the internet, "Ah, the internet, a very large two sided sword. Wield her well, children of the keystroke." My own words ring both true and bitter, but it is better I lose my internet then my eye; better the internet than my soul or yours. It is true that we all have sinned and make mistakes, but the quality of a persons faith is reflected in their passion for God and willingness to repent; it's important to remember that.

*No this is not my New Years resolution.

Rhyme and Reason...

2007-12-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

...or a Reason to Rhyme?

The Question; Why Christ in Christmas? To understand the answer to the question we need to know who Christ is, why He came, and what He did. (All of that is shoved into this image.) After that Christmas makes sense, but without those points confusion comes in waves.

So the image shows three things; first it shows a tree on the left, which symbolizes the fall of man and the introduction of sin into human history. From this point on in all of humanity (each and every person) is morally misshapen and often morally bankrupt. God made a covenant (an agreement or sorts) with mankind that sins can be atoned for by shedding animal blood as sacrifice. This is because sin must be paid for with death…that is its cost. So God allowed man to sacrifice animals, symbolically transferring the sin to the animal and paying the price of sin with their death. This was a lesser covenant by comparison with what was prophesized about the coming savior.

The baby in the middle is the one called Jesus "the Christ" (anointed one) who is mankind’s Savior from ourselves. He is the fulfillment of law and the embodiment of what God wants to communicate to us. He is God, but has subjugated himself; yielding all Godly power and ability to be like man and walk with man. He is a baby born by miraculous events who grew up blameless and following God's will until such a time when He began to teach others the same. He taught for roughly 3 years until He was willingly nailed to a cross and killed as a pure sacrifice.

Which leads us to the cross image on the right; the Son of God who came to earth as a child to (among other wonderful things) create a new covenant between God and man. God saw that mankind was misusing the old covenant and that something new must be done. Since Christ lived a sinless life (the only one to ever) when He became a sacrifice for the sins of man a new covenant was made. The old covenant between man and God had it so that man had to shed the blood of animals to atone for sin, but now through Jesus’ life and actions man has no need to shed blood again, ever. The new covenant has it so that Jesus one time shedding of blood and His death was enough for all of mankind so long as you accepted the covenant and followed in faith and love.

So now an offer has been extended and while my explanation may seem gruesome at points it is just a very straightforward description. The point is that God has made every acceptable effort to reclaim us; we only need to Believe in Jesus and Repent of our sinful ways and Seek God with our hearts and minds, our sins are forgotten and we have new (eternal) life. If you didn't know, now you do and if you'd like to talk about it email me at dbair@skellyloy.com or contact me through "comments".

This is why Christ is in Christmas, it is not a vain or hollow tradition (it's not supposed to be), but instead it is meant to be a celebration of the complete revelation of God to man and the salvation given freely to mankind.

Have a Merry and Christ-filled Christmas!

(This will be the last post until the New Year.)

Starligh Star-bright

2007-12-12T09:25:00.001-05:00

(Brought on by an article from AiG and a neat desktop "wallpaper".)

*For a downloadable desktop image click the links below.
800x600 - 1024x 768 - 1600x1200

That Christmas long ago the sky was shining with beams of brilliance from the angels proclaiming something extraordinary and a special star lit the early morning sky. On that first Christmas morning the Creator of the world had now come to join the history of the world as a baby. That which was promised and prophesized many times over even so long as 6,000 years ago, the birth of the Savior of mankind had finally come!

As you appreciate the twinkling lights on these December nights (assuming we can see them through the clouds and light pollution), let them remind you of that time and those events. It can and will be fast paced these coming weeks, but don't miss out on the real light in human history, Jesus the Christ, our Savior and King.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (John 8:12; Matt. 5:16)

Random Thoughts (#207)

2007-12-11T14:06:00.000-05:00

A few articles and cartoons this past year have me thinking about Christmas a little different than normal. Above is a cartoon from AiG that is comical and relatable to many of us as it seems that their is at least one person in each town that over-does-it with the Christmas decorations. We may “ooo” and “ahhh” or we could giggle at the gaudy looking lights and statues. But it prompts me to question what kind of preparation am I (are we) making for Christmas on the inside. Scripture tells us that our bodies are a temple for the Lord and that the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, which is true on many levels. If we could look inside ourselves at where we are inviting Christ and the Holy Spirit what would we see?

Would we see a building full to the brim of garbage, stinking festering? Would we see an empty building dressed up in lights and decoration? Would we see pristine living conditions and yet a locked room or two? Or would we see a place that is warm, well lit, and open; a clean place where shadows are fleeting?

This Christmas many have or will dress up their homes, nothing wrong with that, but while you drive by them or while you put up your own consider these things. Are you dressing up and cleaning out the temple? We all know that so many people only bother to dress up the outside of their "temples", but God is far more concerned with the inward things and He wants a place to celebrate and be celebrated this Christmas season.

Holiday Quiz Time

2007-12-11T09:26:00.000-05:00

Being that it is the Holiday season, I thought I'd share this mini-quiz with you all. It comes from an article (AiG) and the answers can be found there (at the bottom) or you can message me. I thought this would be worth posting because of the noticeable loss of history over tradition. (They do share a common bond, but no they are not the same.) In large part we seem to have forgotten the history of the traditions like where traditions came from and consequently why we continue them. Then, having forgotten the true reasons we have replaced the meaning of these traditions with celebrations of various other things. St. Patrick's Day has become about drinking and the color green, but that is not its true origin or intention. The questions below are not nearly encompassing, but they are interesting and the average person is unaware of them.

Holiday Quiz: "How well do you know the history behind some of the holidays?"
1. What meats made up the Thanksgiving meal of the Pilgrims?
2. Why do we give candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween?
3. Why is the day after Thanksgiving called Black Friday?
4. Why is the shamrock associated with St. Patrick’s Day?
5. What prominent Christian event occurred October 31, 1517?
6. Why is the poinsettia associated with Christmas?
7. Why do we celebrate Easter with eggs and a bunny?
8. Why does Santa Claus wear red?
9. Who really was St. Nicholas?
10. Bonus: True or False; A star led three wise men to the stable to see Jesus.

To quote from the article; "During the coming holidays, will your focus be on barcodes or Bethlehem? On the risen Savior or a chocolate bunny?" It is a good point I think, but first we need to know the why of the celebration don't we? What good is the celebration if we don't know what we are celebrating? Sure we have a focus, but is that focus accurate? Maybe this isn't a big deal to you (I'm not big on the holidays either), but it's worth a few minutes to ponder and maybe check the answers to these questions.

False Reality

2007-12-03T10:33:00.000-05:00

This is another clip from the Dilbert cartoon series. I love the Dilbert office comic that runs in the newspaper every day because it is surprisingly relatable. The cartoon is a bit different though as it involves other topics like the concepts of morality and various evolutionary ideas. While I often grind my teeth over the way most cartoons and shows portray these issues I got a great kick out of how this cartoon addressed the issues. While I don't take Dogbert's (the dog) side specifically, I love the things he addresses against Dilbert who is an evolutionary proponent.

Clip Focus 1
News Caster: "...and we'll implicitly mock the people who hold opposing viewpoints."
Dilbert: "Evolution is a scientific fact, unless your ignorant."
While I can't know the intention of the writer who put this in, I can say that it is accurate to a large extent. I can go online at virtually any site and be mocked by dozens, yet the few Christians around will rarely return fire. Whether the evolutionists think it is fact or not their should be no call for insults and personal attacks if truth is your foundation. This is becoming far more apparent to people as noted in recent polls and commentaries from film directors; that the average evolutionist is hard nosed and loud by comparison to the average Christian. The reason? I'm sure their are many, but none will ever validate the belief and likewise the belief does not validate hostility. Still I'm glad it is so, as it makes our jobs easier in the long run.

Clip Focus 2
Dilbert: "Theirs extensive fossil records!"
Scientist: "It's a skull fragment of our earliest ancestors; I have found the missing link!"
News Caster: "Thanks to computer graphics, and clay, we have reconstructed the missing link."
Here in the clip we see one of the evolutionists claimed strongholds (though it only speaks against them) the fossil records. How does it actually speak against them? As the scientist and news person note, their are no (I repeat no) transitions between species; hence the ongoing title "the missing link". That alone should negate it as a proof of evolution, but then their are the dozens of fakes where persons find a piece and attribute to it more information than it actually provides. A prime example of this is the Lucy skeleton, which is in fact a handful of bone fragments not a whole skeleton. (Lucy has since been proven to be no "missing link".) These are often (as the clip noted) just evolutionists making unfounded claims that fragmental evidence equals a missing link. Arranging information and assuming end results is not what I would call scientific.

Clip Focus 3
Dogbert: "My theory is that all the species that ever existed are still around, they're just hiding."
Dogbert: "Hi Bob."
While I do not quite get behind Dogbert here, he makes a wonderful point; that of "living fossils". Living Fossils are those creatures that were thought to have died out millions of years ago and yet have resurfaced after some time to prove themselves as existent. For evolutionists this raises a series of startling questions such as why hasn't it evolved in the "millions of years" it supposedly has existed? According to them it aught to have evolved a little, but no fossil, living or dead, has ever shown this. Another good question is if this creature has been around and they didn't think it was how many others that we count as extinct are their below the surface? In any case, none of these are a problem for Bible believers as this is just what one would expect given the biblical history therein.

It was surprising to me to see an evolutionistic cartoon character get the short end of the stick again in full view of the public and since it won't happen often I thought it worth mentioning.

Infected Systems

2007-11-27T15:15:00.000-05:00

Well that bit me on the behind! I distinctly remember a few weeks ago making the confident statement, "No, I didn't get the flu shot. I usually get a 24 hour bug (cold or flu) once or twice." As if to say, it's no big deal to get sick, my immune system is up to the job. Pssh! Maybe next year I'll get the flu shot.

Starting out Friday with a cold, turning definitely flu-like during a long Saturday in bed; still confident in my bodies ability to fight it off mind you. Then Sunday rolls around and things haven't gotten any better. Sunday was very long and I couldn't eat or walk much. By now symptoms were a sore and swollen throat, light headedness, lower backache, neck pains, enduring headache, and wounded confidence. Sunday night revealed a fever bout that prompted me to take Monday off and seek medical help. Thankfully, it fell on the perfect time or at least the perfect time for such a nasty experience.

My friend and neighbor had already taken that day off in advance and was eager to help me get to the doctors and back as well as run for supplies. On top of that this was one of the precious few weekends I did not have pressing obligations. If it had to happen...it had to happen this weekend, but it is strange to be thankful for what the Doctor thinks has become Strep-Throat.

At any rate it's true what the book says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28 True getting sick is not "good", but it is also true that we will suffer in a suffering world. He did not promise His people a pain free life, only that things will work out for the best.

Big Bang - Big Conflict

2007-11-23T11:22:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder if God could have used the big bang theory that scientists claim is viable? Ever wonder what the difference really would be between the Creation account of Genesis and man's phony baloney theory? Honestly their are many reasons why the big bang theory and the Genesis account can not exist in harmony, but below are a few plain-as-day examples to look over; clicking them aught to open larger versions.

As can be seen in the image above, the Bible says that Earth was created before the stars and that trees were created before the sun. However, the big bang view teaches the exact opposite. The Bible tells us that the earth was created as a paradise; the secular model teaches it was created as a molten blob. The big bang and the Bible certainly do not agree about the past in order of events. Whenever this kind of mismatch can be seen one or both must be incorrect. Since the Bible is God's word, a direct account of history, perfect and unchanging while the big bang is revised over and over again, without an end in sight, it is clear which is trustworthy.

Further, many people don’t realize that the big bang is a story not only about the past but also a prediction about the future, as can be seen above. The most popular version of the big bang teaches that the universe will expand forever and eventually run out of usable energy. According to the story, it will remain that way forever in a state that astronomers call “heat death.” But the Bible teaches that the world will be judged and remade in fire so a paradise can be restored. Their is a rather large difference at face value between the big bang and the Genesis account.

*More can be found on the topic here, towards the bottom of the page labeled "What are some of the problems with the big bang hypothesis?"

Turning Tide

2007-11-19T10:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I used the Valueless post as a jumping point for the youth to try and talk about some of the more pressing evolution vs. creation issues. As usual I put several hours creating visuals and points to touch and rehearsing it a bit, only to be left with a ten minute window to stuff it into. Instead of even trying I gave up.

I just talked about how it is surrounding them, how it effected Pekka-Eric Auvinen, and how evolution teaches a lack of purpose. (Taking only a brief moment to let them know how important the topic is to me and that they can come to me whenever about these kinds of things.) From there we went over how we all have value, but sometimes those values seem to be in flux. Maybe because friends/enemies make comments and sometimes because we see what others have that we don't. Sometimes, as was the case in our evo-example, a value system can be learned by believing what the world tells us is the value for life.

Ending it all out by going over God's value for us. Noting the order and scale of creation; how it was all built for us, who are the focus of it. Noting that God has since then been patient, forgiving, and above all loving towards a rather...frustrating creation. Noting lastly that God's word tells us that our values are all equal and that value is set in stone, unchanging, no matter what we do that seems to change it (up or down). The nice thing is I saw some interest in both the evolution talk and the talk of values, though most of the kids were more interested in their chitchat.

When I look at what we covered I am satisfied. It's only when I think of all that had been prepared (20 hurried minutes worth) that I get frustrated; all that I want to share with them each time, which is (in reality) far too much for one sitting with our youth. So the deal is I'm probably going to press against our usual ten minute time span, but I'm going to mix in my passions as much as I can, when I can. I'll be using visuals and recent events more because that seemed to get interest and it helps them in thinking critically with current events. All in all, it isn't so bad, who knows, it may be the opening to a very nice chapter in youth devotions.

Valueless

2007-11-09T10:41:00.000-05:00

In recent news their has been a shooting at a high school, but not in the US. This time the dark hand of the evolutionary worldview have come to rest on Finland. A young man named Pekka-Eric Auvinen has taken the lives of several students with a handgun, but he left behind a telling sign of the true power in this war between evolution and creation. If you ever wonder why I go on and on about it here is one potent answer. Pekka-Eric Auvinen labeled himself before leaveing this world and as such decided to act in an effort to clear out the weak so the strong could survive. "...I, as a natural selector, will eliminate all who I see unfit, disgraces of human race and failures of natural selection. No, the truth is that I am just an animal, a human, an individual, a dissident..."

This comes as no shock to creationists, who have long known that this is the heart of evolution; a lack of value on life, of value on self or others, of responsibility or moral code, of reason for being or caring.

You could say, "Well most evolutionists aren't hopeless killers" and you'd be correct, but only because most evolutionists would never admit (or perhaps don't realize) that their beliefs do not allow for morality, purpose, or any measure of value aside from survival of the fittest. Reducing each man, woman, and child to animals striving to survive and procreate. Nature itself neither creates nor holds a concept of morality, no value aside from one species outliving others. Yet this is what evolution is, a standalone philosophy of life.

Granted this side of evolution is not what is directly taught in schools, but as we can see from this and many other high-profile examples the kids are being asked to put their faith in this system and when they look for guidance, for value on who they are, they find nothing because nothing of the sort exists in the evolutionary worldview. Unfortunately then, any who do not abandon that worldview, taking on ridicule and confusion, are lost to the void. This is not the first evolutionist who put his money where his mouth was. Others include Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, Joeseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Jeffrey Dahmer, and now Pekka-Eric Auvinen. Now, let me go one step further and then stop so you don't think these examples are simply misguided evolutionists; here are a few quotes for you to ponder from the very founders of this hollow faith system called evolution.

Charles Darwin-
"At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes . . . will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the negro or Australian [Aborigine] and the gorilla."

Craig Venter-
"We are dealing in big ideas. We are trying to create a new value system for life. When dealing at this scale, you can't expect everybody to be happy."

James Watson-
"...there is no firm reason to anticipate that the intellectual capacities of peoples geographically separated in their evolution should prove to have evolved identically...Our wanting to reserve equal powers of reason as some universal heritage of humanity will not be enough to make it so,..."

Random Thoughts #615

2007-11-08T09:36:00.000-05:00

Another recent event worth mentioning is the so-called "octopus girl" from India, pictured below. Named Lakshmi Tatma, this little girl was born joined to a parasitic twin. The joining left her with eight limbs (four functional ones) and two sets of several organs including kidneys, spines, stomachs, and hips. Surprisingly she was born healthy it seems and has since undergone a 40 hour surgery to remove the dead weight of her dead twin.

While I'm pleased that she has survived both her unusual birth and rare surgery, this is further evidence that God's word is true and that the ever touted evolution is a hollow claim. While many misinformed will claim that being born with oddities proves a mechanism for evolution the following remains painfully clear.

-These limbs and extras were not from changes in her genetic code, but from the merging of two whole human fetuses.

-No functionality was found in the "spare" limbs that would make this a benefit to her, in fact their existence prohibited her from even walking.

-These oddities, while unusual, proved no natural mechanism for producing new genetic information. These are pre-existing genes that were used.

And lastly, this case once again proves that the Curse recorded in Genesis, our fall from Eden, is still in effect today; snowballing as it goes. I only put this event in context to evolution as many people in the coming months will take it to be more than it really is. It's an example of just what a sad state the world is in and also a victory for modern medicine in that cleaning up the mess was no small feet, excuse the pun.

Dangerous False Direction

2007-11-07T14:58:00.000-05:00

Not knowing the background of children’s tales may not seem important, but it is, at least it is for those of you with children or involved with children.

Years back when the Harry Potter explosion occurred and its movies and books started to go mainstream their was controversy and today their is the rise of yet another very similar controversy. The movie coming out is called the Golden Compass. It was written by ardent secular humanist (atheist) Phillip Pullman as part of a series called "His Dark Materials". Phil is the kind of motivated man that says comments such as, "My books are about killing God" and how he wants to “…kill God in the minds of children”. These books revolve around the adventures of children (looking much like Narnia), but they culminate in these children actually killing God. Not just a generic God mind you, but one named "YAHWEH"; bearing a striking resemblance indeed and one that falls in line with Phil’s atheistic agenda.

While the Harry Potter books are obviously geared towards witchcraft these books are more similar to Narnia (or at least the movie is). It almost makes parents relax thinking when they see the trailer, "Oh this is going to be like Narnia", but just as with the Harry Potter books this story starts out employing low-key and friendly elements while moving steadily towards evil. If you define evil as I do (that which God defines as against Him) then tell others about this upcoming disaster. Especially in reference to your children and their friends...

Parents seem far less upset by this Narnia look-alike (Golden Compass) than they were about the obvious witchcraft promotions in Harry Potter. Yet both of these storylines are anti-biblical and promote a subtle degradation of children’s morality, not to mention how they can unfairly test our children’s belief in God at such a young age. According to scriptures (Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4), parents (and other influential persons) have a duty to raise their children with sound understanding; rejecting the ways and teachings of the world.

Should we be lazy or apathetic at the cost of the children? Please forward this to others and talk to your children about it, or research this for yourself first with some of the links below.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4347226.stm

http://www.facingthechallenge.org/pp7.php

A Critical Need (Part 1)

2007-11-06T14:33:00.000-05:00

This is a clip from the Dilbert cartoon series that had something very important to say and in fact it was done with such shocking clarity that I had to post on it. In this clip Dilbert, a proponent of evolutionary ideas, is called out after claiming that he believes only "science", "facts", and "proof". Dogbert (the little dog) stops him and reminds him that in reality he only assumes what he hears is true. Implying then that his general revelations and certainties are bordering on pointless. In truth Dilbert is doing what most do, choosing what information is acceptable as information comes; filtering out what he will and will not believe while verifying neither for himself. He is applying his presuppositions and his faith which for him are founded in secular science.

Dilbert: "Personally I require scientific evidence before I believe anything"
Dogbert: "No you don't."
Dilbert: "Yes I do!"
Dogbert: "No you only think you do, but in fact you rely on media reports that scientific evidence exists. You don't actually see the evidence yourself."
Dilbert: "I don't have time to read all the scientific studies myself."
Dogbert: "So you're not gullible your just busy..."

A Critical Need (Part 2)

2007-11-06T14:06:00.000-05:00

This clip raises a very important topic that has had me worried for some time now; the issue of thinking critically. Thinking critically involves putting in extra effort when we see something or hear something. In this example we are talking about believing what we hear from any given source. I mean, is the scientist really any more trustworthy than the wandering street preacher? NO! You cannot know the heart (motivation) or mind (understanding) of any person. Yet all the time we read an article and trust in it's value, implicitly if it comes from people with letters after their names. This is so illogical it would be laughable if not such a danger to us. Its one thing to say, "I heard from *source* that *blank* is true." However, it's is a wholly different thing to claim "I know that *blank* is a true because *source* said so." The difference is that the first one acknowledges potential error in the source while the second one illogically assumes it to be true.

Now, I know I am not perfect and still commit some of these same mistakes, but I know that many more are even less capable (or perhaps less inclined to pay attention to it) than I am which is a dangerous state to be in. I want to plead with people, with the readers and passers-by, to start considering the nature of how they deal with information. Without questioning, without checking logic, without looking into what we are shown and fed, how do we know if it is true? Why we don't stop all the time to ask ourselves, what am I assuming and what do I actually know is crazy to me now after the past few years of watching others deal with confusion easily avoidable!

Anyhow, this is just another thing to think about; before we accept something, even something small, take a moment to consider it the claim is true. If you don't know the answer either don't accept is as true (don't make it a part of your accepted understanding) or put in the slight effort to verify it.

Quote-tastic

2007-11-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

This is a low quality video I found a while back that contains several great quotes from influencial Christian Evangelists. (Though in point of fact all Christians need be Evangelists just as they need be Apologists and Creationists. That the title evangelist need be applied in their case only says how poorly the majority are doing.) Anyway, not much else to say about it as it says so much already.

Sinkholes and Hallowed Grounds

2007-11-05T15:15:00.000-05:00

If you could follow my weaving thoughts for a day you'd see a lot of this; one thing leaping to another and finding connections. Sometimes finding a conclusion before following out the thought, only to have to back-track and see how it was reached. Anyway, thanks for reading my random ramblings.
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A sinkhole can be caused by lots of things as it is only a cavity or void underneath what looks like regular ground. It could be under a road, under a house, or it could be under open field. The topic hops into my tiny brain because outside of the building I work in there are two sinkholes. One in the road between the buildings and one a few hundred feet away at a sewer grate. They showed up because the groundwater levels are so very low right now. The river, only a hundred feet away, is low enough that you could walk across it and not get your knees wet. Since the ground is always holding a certain amount of water in it a lot of empty spots between the grains of dirt and rocks appeared when the drought hit. With no water to fill the gaps the air came in and the grains of dirt settled down further under the weight of cars and houses. This left significant holes under the blacktop, or at least that is the only noticeable event this past summer that might activate the sinkholes.

Image: Basic function of sinkholes

Now in church this Sunday we talked about Halloween which has many pagan customs and a few Christian ones. Halloween used to be called all hallows eve (precursor to all saints day), but was reduced to Halloween in stages. The term hallowed came back to me today while walking to the car and then connections started appearing. "Hallowed sounds like hollow", I thought as I looked over at the sinkhole. I then thought about what a sinkhole is, a void under the surface. Then it came together; "People have voids under the surface". Voids even they are unaware of. Voids they are in danger of becoming lost to.

So then the term hallowed came back, leading me to think of the God shaped hole in all of us. The thing most people try to fill with something other than what was intended. How everything can seem fine on the surface and then, seemingly suddenly, their footing gives way. Their once firm foundation now fallen, leaving them with a sense of helplessness, weakness, and surprise. If only they filled the holes with the God that fits...

Bear Fruit By Faith

2007-11-05T15:09:00.000-05:00

*An old responce to someone that I finished, but never sent; in reference to a believers question about the below contradiction and if it condemns Christianity to failure. Figured I should put it to use somewhere.
___________________________________________

Some have said their is a "contradiction" of grace and works in Christianity, but is this true?

Really it is just confusing for people to grasp the idea of "salvation by grace", not works, but then to attach the honest comment, "but faith bears good fruit" implying action with it. While not an actual contradiction of any kind I think sometimes this becomes our excuse not to move forward and take up our crosses. We are saved and that doesn't require our efforts, but truth is our faith is hardly faith if we don't act faithful!

Specifically, it takes no faith to 'say' that Jesus is what He claims, but it takes faith to believe it. Even then it only takes a little faith to believe the claim, but it takes even more faith to want to follow after Him, taking up our cross, as is only right since Christians are those who "follow Christ" not just those who believe He is real. They can't know until they are told, until the confusion is removed and the truth revealed.

So what does that say to us individually? I mean sure, we believe, but to what measure? Is it evident by our lives and is that evidence affecting others? Is it strong enough that we face fears and make self-sacrifices for the glory of our professed King? Do we seek out the answers to the broken hearts and minds of the world? Important questions to all of us; it is a 'must' that we not just be saved, but live as if we believe what we claim!

Some days...

2007-10-23T08:13:00.000-05:00

...are harder than others. (^_^)

Some days have us striving in ways that can make us look silly or make us frustrated for lack of progress. Some days we get our hands caught in the cookie jar or maybe we make a clean getaway, only to feel guilty later. I’m sure this cute pup has been in those shoes before and will again, but I'm no better. While this picture is adorable to me, bringing up these light thoughts, it is also a deeper example of how people operate as well.

We desire and we act on those desires; this much we would all agree on, but would you agree that we ‘only’ act on desire? An action is a result of feeling; all action requires a motivation which is the driving reason behind the action. There are only then two types of motivations and these are selfish and selfless desire. We often think we understand this, but do we in a minute to minute, day to day, kind of way? Selfish acts do not deny self and selfless acts are when we act for another without personal gain, perhaps even personal loss. This is trickier than it seems which is why it is worth talking about. Is it selfless to give away what you don’t need? No, it is no personal loss to give that which has no true value to you. It is only truly selfless when it is a loss for you, so the point is that in a selfless act you have no interest in (or are seeking no benefit) to self. Is it selfless to “do the right thing”? Not if you’re doing the right thing so as to not feel guilty or to avoid the sin of apathy. This motivation is an internal benefit and is at the core of the decision, hardly selfless motivation.

The point to all this is that selfish people are hardly aware of the depths of their selfishness. I am with you all on this; the accuser is accused as well. Still, it is true and worth investigation as Christ-followers. What is our deep motivation behind each decision? How do we benefit from each act? Even in what seems like a loss are we still benefiting? I’m sure we can all name a person who acts and thinks like the pup above, but we fail to notice when we do the same because we aren’t doing it with a gadget, an outfit, or our finances. Ours is an unseen selfish…

Here are some thoughts on self-denial that are worth your consideration.
More can be found about Selflessness (Self-Denial) here.
-Selflessness requires a lack of benefit to self, even to personal loss.
-Selflessness is not such if no true loss is met; it is at best a kind act.
-Selflessness cannot come without self-denial.
-Selflessness (or self-denial) and Selfishness cannot exist at the same time; one negating the other totally.
-Self-denial does not occur to benefit self, but to benefit others.
-Self-denial does not come from personal desires, but from acting as God has commanded; for that namesake.

Searching the Light

2007-10-22T08:47:00.000-05:00

Morning all, no crazy conversation here today; just an update and a small reflection. I finally got to see the opening day of our new service and I have to say, I am not all that pleased. Yea, I know, that isn't what I expected to say either, but nothing seemed to go right. Technical problems, musical problems, flow problems, and most of all their was no detectable movement of the Holy Spirit. The songs were the same ones that brought me tears the two weeks prior, but this week hardly moved me. I looked around and saw faces that were shall-we-say, uninspired. I too contributed to that mess, and I'm none-to-pleased about that fact.

So as I thought and talked about the rough morning, one worked so hard for and yet not seen to blossom, the mistake became very clear. One that stung a bit as I (and everyone else) knew better than to make the mistake our own. Truth is it's not about "our service", it's about worshiping Him. It's not about success or failure, but about following His direction with a proper heart. It's not about what we hope for, it's about trusting and hoping in Him for what He wants. Even though we started out with this understanding, the past few weeks have been so intense and hectic we got lost. We need to go back now, to the heart of worship ourselves. Sure the details need addressed, but not at the cost we are paying. So while I intend on continuing my contribution toward the service (and the youth), I am not honestly as concerned about it. What good will that do anyway; to be distraught over this.

A long time ago I told one of the youth involved, "...either God will use this for His glory or He will tear it down...all we can do is try and let Him do what needs done." It is as true now as it was then I suppose, but I did (at some point) find myself overly complicating that. Feeling stressed that it might not work out right away, or possibly ever. Funny because I'm okay with it not working, but I find myself not being okay when it comes to the details I think I can affect.

Breakdown on the Beltway

2007-10-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

Been talking a good bit lately about how life changes on us in what seem to be unexpected ways. How things break down and wear out over time; things like our cars, our houses, our clothes, and our bodies. Thanks to "the fall" we are not under God's perfect and sustaining umbrella anymore. Sure He holds the world together by the power of His word, but that isn't supposed to mean all is supposed to be perfect right now. It's more like a partial punishment as opposed to an utter annihilation over what we did and still do.

At any rate I found a cute picture on AiG that depicts a poor guy on a treadmill struggling to get back into shape or maintain his figure. I and I'll bet many of us can relate, though most people laugh at me for saying so because I'm short and skinny, but my baggy shirts could easily hide a large gut for all they know.

This cartoon makes me think back to the diet that Adam and Eve once had. One that was far far healthier than ours today. Makes me think I aught to start eating fruits, veggies, and nuts while drinking only water. It would be so much healthier than what I generally do and it worked for Adam and Eve.

So yea, I like how the cartoon below notes that eating fruit, one of the healthier foods, is what brought on our various health issues.

Standing on Ancient Stone

2007-10-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

The following is my response to a question raised by the Pastor about how to respond to people who call believers "close-minded" or "bigots".

To the ending question my reply would be, "What basis do they have to call us bigots if they have no absolute authority steering that claim?" If we are truly speaking the word of God then the answer is, "They have no basis!"

I think the world's claims of bigotry are quite hypocritical as 'everyone' has a foundation which rejects other foundations, making them biased and closed-minded towards something though hey don't often realize that. Specifically, each person has a closed-mind or an aversion to other views whether they recognize it as such or not and this levels the playing field 'for' us, removing the sting of such a claim. (The door swings both ways so-to-speak.)

I suggest, in patients and love, turning their very claim on them by showing that they have no foundation to make that call, no capacity to discern what is right and wrong while apart from God's word. Without God each man does as he pleases with truth and morality, but if that is so then he can't claim that 'we' or anyone is wrong! He believes it is subject to opinion (choosing as he goes) if he does not follow absolute authority and the only absolute is God! At this point the door has swung wide to explain how God 'is' absolute and the only authority,using the Word itself and the truth that their is not another option when it comes to these things.

Granted disbelief doesn't need a reason (in fact it requires a lack of reason), but the truth is everyone has a ruling power in their lives that narrows the persons view on topics like morality and truth. Pointing out things like this can really shake the foundation of unbelief; opening a crack in the foundation for the Word to work.

Now, I've been accused of many things in the past; brought on by claiming that the bible was true and consequently God's views on truth, morality, knowledge, life, love, etc. (Just last week someone called me a closed-minded religious zealot for believing in a global flood if you can believe it.) Since it isn't PC to be exclusive in any way we get blasted for our firm foundation in Christ, but it is to be expected really; we are at WAR with a world that utterly opposes God's authority. So when these claims come we can strap on the armor, sword, and shield provided us (Ephesians 6:10-17) and get to the fight with confidence in our King's authority.

Sad that He has had to face this in the heart of every individual since Adam, save for one, and that one (Jesus) had to face it head on, to the cross, calling us to follow along.

Tall tales & shady portrayals (Pt1)

2007-10-10T14:13:00.000-05:00

Time for a big one because I was asked, on a few occasions of late, about updates on the supernatural encounters that sometimes roll through my life and so I figured I'd post something on it. It ended up being three posts in total, but only this post is about my encounters.

1. In the past three days I have encountered a moving shadow of sorts in my bedroom, twice. It doesn’t talk and it doesn’t take a defined form. Surprisingly it doesn’t even make me nervous.

2. The nightly whispers (not house creeks or noisy neighbors) have subsided in large part after a couple month stint of rather late nights. I'm thankful for this temporary reprieve as it makes for rough sleeping.

3. One night about a month ago, the night before going out door-to-door to talk about searchlight and worship (See post "Ding Dong Yo") I was visited by something unruly. The only reason the encounter stood out is that at one point, wide awake and watching cartoons, it blew a cold puff of air in my left ear. So much so that my hair moved; as if someone had leaned a few inches from my head and let a quick burst of breath out. I prayed and it moved back to the far side of the room for the remainder of the night.

These aside very few encounters have passed my way lately, but I couldn't tell you why. Certainly nothing as intense as the couch encounters that, come to think of it, I don't know if I ever wrote about...at least I can't find it if I did.

Generally I steer clear of posting on this stuff for one reason. I leave these tales untold because it seems very few people have a biblical view of the supernatural and, because they do not interpret the world (both natural and super-natural) with such a biblical worldview, opinions vary greatly on whether the supernatural even exists let alone if my experiances are truth or not. Meaning that without a biblical worldview to guide understanding people get lost easily, being swayed by all manner of ideas. Consequently some disregard the supernatural entirely while others embrace it falsely.

If we are Christ-followers then let us not believe the tall tales the world has come up over the word of God. If we claim the bible is truth and that God is absolute in His determinations of reality, then let us not accept extra-biblical information when it conflicts. (e.g. ghosts, aliens, monsters, dimensional creatures, etc) Either God's claims are right or not, we can't have a bit of both when dealing with the thoughts of a perfect being. People generally miss-understand what the supernatural is, what is and isn't really going on, and having no background on how to interpret it, re-interpret what I might say to fit their favored ideas of the super-natural. This is why I avoid it in general conversation even though I enjoy the topic.

Tall tales & shady portrayals (Pt2)

2007-10-10T14:12:00.000-05:00

So, what is a biblical view of potential supernatural encounters? I am no expert on these things, but here is the basic breakdown of what's real and not when it comes to supernatural encounters.

Things that do not exist:
-Ghosts are non-existent if one defines ghost as dead persons roaming the earth for any reasons. This is unscriptural and based on ancient mythology in non-Jewish or Christ-following cultures. These are demons not dead people as dead people do not "stick around" afterwards (Job 7:9-10) and they are adept at lying (2 Cor 11:14, 1 John 4:1).
-Aliens are non-existent as explained in three different ways in the post "Ufo-ology vs. Reality"; two of which are scriptural and one is naturalistic.
-Monsters are non-existent from a scripture standpoint as they can only be a part of creation because God never loosed supernatural monsters on us aside from the allowance of demons and "dark spirits". Then, being limited to natural creatures, they would have been created in the beginning at which point creation stopped and if they had been made then their would be a decent populace to behold by now. It could be said that creatures remain unfound in remote locations, but the concepts of vampires, werewolves, undead, the boogieman, and other urban legends/myths are all null and void when compared to scripture. Natural creatures (animals) are real, supernatural creatures ("monsters") are not.
-Dimensional beings are non-existent to any rational understanding. Primarily routed from scriptures and logic combined; the only one who created was God and He stopped at one point. This means if He created He did so in the 6 day period of creation. All of scripture shows how the focus is about the struggle of all creation (man and angel) to glorify God over itself. God does not give even a slight evidence of other dimensions OR creatures within. Consequently their is no scientific or scriptural basis for a rational conclusion that other dimensional creatures exist beyond what God has plainly created in those 6 days.

Things that do exist:
-"God" is both the creator and the keystone of our very existence (Genesis 1:1). He is the definition of supernatural (He exists beyond all natural understanding) though He defines (He has the authority to define what is real and true) and sustains the natural world as well (Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:3). He interacts with us in different ways (Romans 1:20, Romans 8:26, 1 Kings 19:12, etc), but His interactions can be defined as both natural and supernatural as He works in any way He chooses.
-"Angels" are messengers of God and an entirely separate creation from humans. (Hebrews 12:22-23) Angels do seem to have different classes as described in scripture. They can take different forms (Isaiah 6:2, Matthew 28:2-3) and while they are defined as messengers (Greek "aggelos", Hebrew "mal'ak") the message does vary depending on the way God intends to use them (Acts 7:53, Acts 8:23, Genesis 21:17, 1 Kings 19:7-8, Acts 27:23). The idea of a guardian angle is not scripturally sound and instead stems from new-age or so-called "Christian" mystic practices.
-"Demons" (plural) are the lesser creatures within the ranks of the Devils army and are also called "evil spirits" (Matthew 8:16, Luke 4:33-35). These hold no one physical form or method of maliciousness, but being as they stem from the father of lies (John 8:44) it is only fair to conclude that they too are exquisite liars, taking forms and approaches that suit the situation and best furthers their efforts. These, to my understanding, consist of the scores of angels that followed Satan’s lead and were cast down because of it. They, again to my understanding, are not bound to another realm (hell) and are so able to affect the world (Luke 8:2, Matthew 8:31-32).
-"Devil" (singular) is the original rebel (also known as Satan which means adversary or Lucifer which roughly means light-bearer or dawn-bearer) and leader of the rebellion against God. He is the angel that decided not to toe-the-line and chose to glorify himself over God. Because of this he was cast down and rules over hell with some power in the earthly realm as well. I do not know that he visits earth himself, only God would know that I think, but he doesn't need to with all the little helpers he has as mentioned above. (Ezekiel 28:12, Genesis 3:1, Revelation 12:9-10, Revelation 20:2)

This is the limit to what can be in that this is all that God claims to have created for us, with us, or concerning us. Again, if we are Christians then let us not believe the tall tales the world has come up with. (e.g. ghosts, aliens, monsters, dimensional creatures, etc) If we claim the bible is truth and that God is absolute in His determinations of reality, then let us not accept extra-biblical information when it conflicts.

Tall tales & shady portrayals (Pt3)

2007-10-10T14:08:00.000-05:00

why three posts on such a strange topic? Why talk about something like this? Only because their is so much confusion about it. I am not by any means well versed on it, but I know enough to realize that nothing exists outside the realm of God's doing and that scripture provides the only basis for understanding the supernatural.

I can see as well as anyone that the media outlets and the imaginations of men have been building up ideas and "possibilities" of what the supernatural can be for thousands of years. This means that (as with the multitude of religions) their are scores of choices for people to sink their trust or hope in, but only one source can provide the truth.

I can also see how so many people, having adopted the naturalistic/materialistic worldview have decided that no supernatural event or thing is possible, or at least knowable. This is pure irrationality from the first claim (it is self-refuting), but people do believe it anyway just like they believe that ghosts and aliens are real.

The point is that if people are being led astray by the many options it is worth our time as Christians to sit down and define terms; to stop and say what is assumed and what isn't. To note that without an absolute source (one outside mans corruption) we are left making it all up as we go. Meanwhile their is a truth that can be known and answers to all our questions. In that, it is worth the time to think about these things and apply them to help lessen to confusion even slightly, both ours and anyone we talk to on these topics.

One might ask, "Why is a biblical basis required to understand the supernatural?" Implying that Christians can't just assume they are right any more than another person, but the problem is that when ideas conflict so utterly, only one truth exists. When compared and tested only the Christian worldview both survives its own claims and the insults hurled at it. God knows better than us and has given us enough information to know what to believe on most topics even though popular theory suggests otherwise.

A slice of Eden

2007-10-04T14:55:00.000-05:00

Just a passing thought and a reminder of days we have not seen.

When I go over to my parents house their are dogs. When I go over to my uncles house their are cats. In weeks past I was struck by a thought as I sat with one of the puppies. She has a habit of being very afraid of strangers and yet once she welcomes you in she goes from dog-mode to cat-mode, rubbing the length of her side against you and leaning on you where you stand or sit. A very loving dog indeed. I sat with her outside for a few minutes as she sat down against me. That wasn't close enough of course so every few seconds she would shift her weight against me a bit more, thankfully she isn't a large dog. Her complete comfort-ability is what struck me at that moment. It stood in stark contrast to the rabbits and birds and other animals that flee at the mere sight of humans. It made me think for a minute, "Is this what Eden was like in terms of animals and people?" Maybe that isn't really important, but it was an interesting moment. We know that animals and man had no fear of each other, no aggression towards each other, in Eden. We also know that things are so very different out here in the world.

Anyway, tonight I'll leave work and as I pass the birds on the fence and in the rose bush they will fly away. The squirrels under the trees will bolt and climb to get away. This is what we see as normal and truly it is, but it wasn't always so. So next time you cuddle with your puppy or kitty remember their love for you and your love for them. It's a little slice of Eden... (^_^)

ilLogicaLinguistics

2007-10-04T14:54:00.000-05:00

This is a quick-vent and a diagram of a problem I am seeing a lot in my travels. The problem is that people do not have a decent understanding of logic or how it works. This has come into play countless times in the past few years and is very hard to help people with.

I think the issue can be understood better by looking at language, any language. While it is true that people can learn to speak language by being around a language in use any person can recognize that their are many tiers within any language. Those who are uneducated in a language do not have as vast a vocabulary and do not understand what constitutes correct sentence structure. Those who study and practice the language will certainly have a better ability to apply the rules of grammar and will also know a larger vocabulary. This is how logic works as well...

What frustrates me is that people 'realize' that language is learned in tiers and yet not mastered by living within it, but they can't seem to understand how logic functions in the same way. I suppose that the answer is simple enough; they do not yet have the logical where-with-all to understand the logical contradiction itself. Instead an assumption is made in place of logic that what a person picks up along life’s journeys is what true logic is. Like a person with no type of real training in their chosen language might think that they speak properly and understand al that is necessary in that language.

Perhaps then, because of the circular nature of the problem, their poor logic is almost always followed by application of further poor logic; one overlapping the next. I can't count the number of times I've been accused of committing logical fallacies by people who are incapable of recognizing their own logic mistakes. On average the conversation dies because they don't understand what I am saying about logic or why it is important. Half the time they never conclude, even with help, that a fallacy has been committed on their part.

*If we were talking about Football or Pizza Shop or Cartoons logic wouldn't be as important, but in talking about the big questions it is of the utmost importance if one wants to find the truth.

Boney McGee

2007-10-04T14:49:00.000-05:00

"The robust composite skeleton of a Neanderthal (L) is unmistakably different from that of a modern human (R) in this handout image from the American Museum of Natural History. Neanderthals, the stocky kin of modern humans, were far more widespread geographically than previously thought, with some trekking into southern Siberia before vanishing about 30,000 years ago, scientists said on October 1, 2007." -Reuters

You know where this is heading don't you? (^_^) The next sentence will have to do with some evolutionary justification. But do you see what I see? I see two distinctly human skeletons. One older and with slightly larger dimensions, but both are so very human. Note that their are no wings, no fins, no scales, no exo-skeleton, no gills, no extra arms/legs, and no tail. Without making an assumption a person can only conclude this is not a transitional form, but instead is a fully formed human.

Oh, but I can hear them now, (1)"But they have subtle differences in structure as you can see!" and (2)"It is a representation of transitions!" and (3)"This is an example of natural selection at work; that's why Neanderthals aren't alive today!"

1. Subtle differences are changes within a species; driven by mutations, adaptations, or natural selection. This does not give rationale to the conclusion that humans (or any other creatures) are a transitional form between species.

2. (See above.) Their is no evidence that each creature is simply at different stages of the evolutionary ladder. (This is a relatively recent grasp at straws by the evolutionary activists to side step issue of a lack of transitional forms which would be evidence for their beliefs essentially making them all transitional forms.) At some point one would still see a species change from one form to another and that has never been found in fossil records. (Also, See below.)

3. Yet natural selection is not a catalyst for new genetic information which is well known at this point in even secular scientific circles. That a species dies off means that any potential for genetic variation is lost with it. While the more suited do survive they are not being handed new genetic info with witch to drive evolution and transitional forms.

It's crazy to me that with the understanding we have on the subject today, this type of blatent propaganda is still infiltrating our society.

Bleed for something...

2007-10-02T13:54:00.000-05:00

Yet another video purchased from Worship House Media for use in web-ministry. This one is about the importance of blood and none more so than the blood of Jesus shed on the cross to provide grace for us, the damned and the doomed. Why blood?

In the beginning, after the fall, God has deemed that only blood can atone for our sins; through sacrifices we gain some temporary form of cleanliness. Over several thousand years the blood of animals was made to be our hope, but the blood of animals can no more save than the blood of men. It is all imperfect and once we sin again we will just need more atonement. This is why we need to accept Jesus as Savior and King. His perfect blood is a permanent atonement.

Not to say that the blood of men isn't an important thing of course as it keeps us alive, but the blood that was shed for us is greater than our own while man and animal are dirty, impure. The blood of Jesus pours out for us as it seeks to remove shame and hopelessness. Can we accept that an innocent man (truly innocent) was made to die so that we might live? What's more can we ignore it?

It's not easy to imagine a perfect (sinless) life. It is not easy to imagine being guilty for the shear volume of crimes we have committed each day. It is not easy to comprehend how blood removed guilt; since it mixes the physical and metaphysical worlds together. It is enough to blow a mind, but with the Word of God in hand these things can be known. Seek and believe...

Accounting for lost time

2007-09-24T09:35:00.000-05:00

So I was writing a few emails today, before starting work, and realized how detached I had become from family and friends. Not that I don't care of course; I just have lots going on. Still, I recognize it is too much even for a loner like me. So I'll post some of what's been happening recently.

-The youth group is about to kickoff again this Sunday and I have to have devotions ready for every other weekend. That is exciting as I really wanted to get time talking to the kids, but the down side is it will rarely be about the things I want it to be.

-Also, that contemporary service that I was talking about earlier is set to go off in two Sundays. There is so much to plan for it still (not to mention the side events) that we are having three meetings a week to try and get it all under control. It is all so very exciting, but very exhausting. It will be nice to have a service like that for people (myself included) to worship at.

-I got an invitation to a 10 year reunion for high school. Shut up…I’m old, I know. I doubt I’ll go; it seems to be about drinking and showing off families. Plus most of my high school friends were a year behind me or they aren’t in the area now so they won’t be there. I can only think of one reason to go at all and it isn’t as motivating as it aught to be right now.

-Another cool thing is how those apologetic sites are starting, slowly, to generate a bit of attention. So I’m excited that people are just starting to use those websites and respond. (Side Note: It’s weird how apologetics sounds like apology, but it was originally understood to mean giving or having a defense. So an apologist is a defender for something. Generally someone who is able to answer or direct a person who has questions or critical comments against Christianity or God. Basically, I study and practice so that I can help people deal with their confusion or apprehension in regards to God…in case I didn’t explain that before.)

-This coming weekend I hope to do the brakes on my car, but I'm a bit gun-shy after the last time. It didn't go as well as it could have and even though what broke wasn't my fault it was still quite pricy, making me think twice before diving in again.

-I have to go get my license renewed this week. Apparently it expired mid-may and I didn't know it. (^_^)

-Besides that stuff (over the past few weeks) I haven’t had time for much else. No time for traveling; no time for climbing and falling out of trees. In those precious spare moments I just put on some cartoons and power down.

Self-destructing Science

2007-09-18T09:05:00.000-05:00

A current hot-topic these days is how scientists are so close to "creating life in a lab" and how this is supposed to further give credence to evolution. Obviously I'm not the only one who thinks this is fruitless as the article states and also the cartoon below.

The question this all raises (as the cartoon and article note) is that if intelligent scientists must gather special materials and use special (non-natural) methods to create even a minimal semblance of life (under very controlled conditions), then how is this not evidence for intelligent design? Moreover, how could it possibly be evidence for chance evolution?

Truly, it gives me a strange hybrid feeling (both sad and comical) to think of these men and all their ability or knowledge, not to mention their finances, as they scramble to defeat themselves, foolishly believing they can overcome the God of creation. All the while missing the huge flaw in the evolution theory, the problem of information without an intelligent source.

The image below (from AiG.org) is a wonderful depiction of the current situation, one that has been ongoing for over 50 years now.

Talking to Unbelief

2007-09-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

Recently I was taken to a myspace journal entry about a persons reason for disbelief in God. It started off with talk of thermodynamics, as if a scientific argument was driving his decision on God. Then he changed entirely and justified his unbelief with what Christians refer to as "the problem of evil" or "the problem of suffering"; that a good God would never let the world as it is. Their-in lies the true reason for his disbelief, as his point was now not about science but instead that he didn't believe because of his aversion to suffering in the world. This is not an issue of evidence or proof as he had no backing for the claims that then followed other than his wounded heart. We talked a little about these things, but that door has closed to me now.

Semi-on topic, I always figured that all people could be convinced in some fashion and that all one had to do was find that crack in their armor. (IE; challenging the heart, the mind, the conscience, the pain or hope they hold, etc...) These days however, I realize it isn't that simple. Even a person utterly without resistance can refuse to fall before the Word of God. All that is really required to stay in unbelief is the will or desire to do so.

*The image below is familiar territory both in terms of scripture and also my efforts online.

Good Pudding

2007-09-11T10:32:00.000-05:00

I do a lot of debating and apologetics work online so I have to be up on answers to all sorts of critics. Many of these critics, such as the one in recent posts "Excerpts of War 43", focus on evidence of God in creation. In reality this is not a debate of evidences as much as it is between worldviews. A worldview is made up of your a priori commitments or presuppositions; those things that you hold to be true at the core of your understanding without question. Everything else is derived off of that core belief and most people don't keep this in mind when debating evidences, causing most to end in frustration. A person who comes to cast questions on a God topic, yet is unwilling to address or reconsider their presuppositions, will never be able to see evidence for God.

For instance a person open to the possibility of Gods existence can hear the statement, "that things have been created means a creator exists" and they can see the truth in that. It then is evidence leading to the existence of God. However, if a person comes to a discussion and with a fervent belief that nothing exists outside the natural world (the majority of atheists and so-called "science" believers) they will hear the same statement as the first person, but will refuse it because it does not make sense within the framework of their presuppositions. Since it is in opposition in that way, they refuse it as evidence and instead find another way to interpret the world.

Below is an interesting video I purchased from Worship House Media about what evidence for God can be when you aren't already decided on the matter and are thereby willing to consider these things. (Though I wouldn't try using these in a debate it would be good for general discussions.) Anyhow, the proof is in the pudding they say...

Loyalty to Royalty

2007-09-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

We all have a king in our lives. Something or someone that gives us direction in the things we do and say. Something that we use as a keystone in our lives. Something we submit ourselves to in thought or in deed.

Recently I posted a series of videos on youtube and myspace which I purchased from the Worship House Media site. One of these is a creation based off of S. M. Lockridge's sermon on Jesus the King. It is an awesome video that lists different aspects of Jesus, creating a view of Him that is scriptural and raises Him up as the true King of Kings. Their is none greater than is Jesus the Christ, that's my King!

Still, if every person has a king they serve (be it money, family, power, or lust as these are all person desires made to be in the place of God) it begs the question, "Who's your king?" No other king can save you. No other king can help you. No other king is as interested in you as you are in it. Consider these things and seek Him all the more.

Signs and "Signs"

2007-09-06T15:06:00.000-05:00

Driving down the road can tell you a lot about the area you’re in or at least it can tell you a lot about the state of your society, our society. What I see isn't promising...

Simply looking at the ones along my route to work we’ve got a billboard that promote lawyers that specialize in getting DUI persons out of trouble. We have a billboard that promotes divorce lawyers using images of attractive bodies; as if to say, "Hey look what's waiting for you". We have billboards of plastic surgeons which note that they are "focused" on the body and face as if to say, "Hey you, you aren't good enough but we can make you better." Truly, examples of poor morals and a heavily confused society abound when it comes to the plentiful billboards around the area.

These signs are what to us then? Are they just the norm to be accepted and ignored? Are they simply someone else’s idea of advertising strategy? Or are they really a sign of what people are looking for today? Is it really a sign of bankruptcy in "developed" areas and cities?

Honestly? As I travel out to less "developed" areas I tend to see more and more billboards for hometown dinners and hometown stores. Most of which do not rely on anything other than their name and maybe a logo. Hardly controversial or inappropriate. I also see many "religious" commentaries and promotions. (I quoted "religious" to note that I don't always agree with the commentaries themselves and the kind of Christian revolution they imply.) Still, it is a return to morals and wisdom by comparison as I drive away from home. In a grand scheme though, as cities grow and rural areas fade the future is sure to hold more of what I see around here.

I suppose I'm just commenting on what I see; noting that the "signs" are pointing towards rough waters ahead.

Of angels and butterflies

2007-08-31T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go out surveying for work again. I usually take the offer a few times a year to get out and get some exercise, but this time I bit off a bit more than I can chew. It was at a limestone quarry up near state college and we were surveying a series of wetlands and channels on-site.

Factors like being in the sun all day, swarmed with insects, dodging poison leaves or thorn bushes, and navigating the ugly terrain carrying all the gear made it very difficult work. Mostly because nothing was close or easy to get to. Even points that were only 4 feet apart required me to climb down and then up or walk 50 feet up and back down the channel. At one point I even found myself hanging nearly upside-down in one of the deeper trenches; having caught my left leg in a tree root while climbing down into it. While it was interesting to see the quarry and the work going on there I found myself only wanting to leave by the half-way point; grumbling under my breath about how much it sucked.

Then their was a surprise appearance by an old friend. Many months back I posted about a little white butterfly who broke the negativity of my day. A messenger of sorts to remind me of better things. Well I doubt it was the same guy in the literal sense, but it was the same guy to me. He would flutter by and hover near me. I'd say, "Hey there. Haven't seen you in a while." and I'd smile because of the encounter. That much got me thinking about that same message delivered so long ago.

Throughout the day he came to walk with me on several occasions and I do mean that; the little white butterfly would pull up beside me and proceed to keep the same pace and direction I was. We talked a little bit along the way about how I appreciated his company in such a strenuous time. It was not only a reminder to see the good in things like the chance to view and appreciate creation, but also was just a reminder that He is always there to keep us on the right path...keep us focused and strong.

At any rate, I'm getting older. Their was a time when a day climbing wouldn't have phased me much. Now however, I went home and fell asleep before the sun when down. (^_^)

Excerpts of War 43a

2007-08-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

Just got done with one of the larger non-forum debate I've had so far. I was challenged privately on youtube to give "empirical evidence" for a divine creation or creator. This is very simple to do, but is so rarely understood or (as in this case) so rarely accepted. The debate went something like this and it is posted for all to read at the URLs in the post titled "Excerpts of War 43b".

After defining what empirical evidence was, to make sure he wasn't going to wiggle out of it, we began. The first evidence I listed which is scientifically verifiable (as far as science can verify anyhow) is that things exist without natural cause. Meaning no natural process or law is known that can create matter or information from nothing. Simple enough, but my debater seemed to think this wasn't empirical. He then decided that I was using a "god of the gaps" argument. If you don't know this is when a person holds a starting position on a topic as well as an ending, but then does not have a reason to make the jump from that starting position to their conclusion. An example would be, "I don't know where the universe came from so God must have done it." Yet this is not the argument I proposed, instead pointing to known natural laws and their shortcomings. Then reasoning that if natural processes are not up to the task their is logic in concluding that the super-natural is at hand. Looking to simply make a crack in his foundation to work with, smomething that might open the door to more than the natural world in our discussion.

This didn't seem to get through to him and he went on mocking and making comments about me deciding on God by way of "lack of knowledge". To which I remarked (over and over) about the nature of his belief and how it is no less filling in gaps than I. In fact, his is even more so than mine ever has been. He would mock my conclusion for not being scientific enough for him (without giving his reason for doing so), but would then state that he believed evolution even though science doesn't fully understand it. In essence he believe evolution was a guarantee even without empirical evidence or a complete knowledge on it. I believe the two faced nature of his argument reveals his distaste for God more than it does a rational belief in science.

And so on we went round after round, occasionally I would list other evidences that could be dealt with empirically or logically and he would mock them or ignore them. At points he would attempt a refutation, but they were not strong arguments as they were self-defeating either by way of logic or non-empirical hypotheses. (Remember that 'he' demanded we remain empirical.) The real dissapointment is that all the way through he made the same mistakes, logical fallacies and the like, while holding to his presupposed evolutionary stronghold. It never once let him consider that God could be creator. I did try to get him to talk about presuppositions (as it would have helped us get to the real point of the debate) but he never remarked on the proposal.

One good thing was that at the end I was told "now unless you have some great revelation please ...give it up" and I excitedly took that opportunity to reveal what has happened in this debate as well as offer up a very compact gospel message...step by step, referring to scriptures all the way. It is posted below along with the ULRs holding the conversation. Feel free to look them over if it is something you’d be interested in. If not that is fine as I'll be leaving them up for a long time anyway in case they are needed for proof of the actual conversation we held in the future.

Excerpts of War 43b

2007-08-28T09:14:00.000-05:00

"now unless you have some great revelation please ...give it up." -evolutionist

Great revelation you say? Disagree or agree as you will, but this is the Word of God and as such your denial is pointless. Here is your revelation step by step...

God knows that men seek to be self sufficient and in that light they often refuse to believe that they are created, that they are not in the power-seat; instead looking to nature for guidance instead of its creator and sustainer. Jeremiah 10:8 "They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols."

Sadly without God you can have no real wisdom (as God is the author of wisdom) and this is also well noted in His word. Romans 1:21 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

God warns us 'all' against such thoughts even though we have not earned His love and concern. Isaiah 5:21 "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight."

His correction is a clear sign that He wants better for us and even though it goes against our apparent nature it is for the best. Job 5:17 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."

This is what happens in our world and the creation/evolution debate is a glaring example of it. Those who do not recognize the creator (or choose not to) fall victim to believing that nature or chance is their creator. So they turn and worship that because it cannot tell them what is right and wrong. Sadly those who fall victim to this futile thinking are locked in sin and will be found guilty of their crimes come their day in God's court. The only way out is through Jesus, who is God, who has made Himself a sacrifice so that your sins and mine can be washed away, so that our criminal record can be forgotten in court. This only works however if you truly turn from futile thinking and seek Him. Is it for you? It is for everyone! 1 Timothy 2:4 "God our Savior, who desires ALL MEN to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"

Some say "when will it come", as if it will not, but He is only giving you more chances as the days pass. Do not count Him as unable or non-existent because you have not met Him. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Some say "when will it come", as if to say they will wait till the very end. This too is unwise. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 "Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."

Consider this my friend, as you are not aware of all things even as you claim I am not, this is not something to be mistaken about. The price is far too high. Open your mind and heart to the possibility, pray that God come and reveal himself and keep a keen eye to see Him. Why Jesus? Because He is the beginning and the end. Because He is the only way, the source of truth, and the source of life. 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"

As for me, you may think to reply in opposition, though I pray not, Here is why I speak these things to you. I am a sinner who has a long criminal record (lots of sin) and Jesus, my God, came and blessed me with His love and mercy. He has instructed me to speak and what to speak as the Word tells us to as well. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," Colossians 1:28 "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."

The reply I got to the above message was a clear sign of how impacting our discussion had been for him...

"lol...i was tempted to respond to your "great revelations" with text from batman #1." -evolutionist

ULR's where the discussion can be read:

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss.html

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss2.html

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss3.html

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss4.html

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss5.html

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss6.html

http://www.79day.echoechoplus.com/Download/memoryofakiss7.html

Far to Reach

2007-08-24T13:46:00.000-05:00

So I am not sure what the plan is here. Am I trying to accomplish a bunch of personal desires OR God is trying to stretch me to the breaking point these days with tasks? Of course I love all that has been happening, but I would love it just a bit more if I could actually get these things done and still have a few hours a night to relax. Because the wave of percieved responsibilities is so intense right now I wonder if I am really just mixing in the things I want to do with the things He wants me to do. Creating not just a full plate, but instead an overflowing plate.

Anyway, on top of the work I enjoy each week their is an upcoming conference in September for internet ministries and evangelism. I want to go bad, but I don't see how. Even if I could get off work at this point (Sept. 19-22th) I don't have the money to get a hotel and pay the conference fees as well. Not to mention all th egas money; it's a 10 hour drive one way. Oh, but it looks awesome...!

Here are some of the cooler sessions during the four day seminar:
-Evangelism in Second Life
-Effective Models for Evangelistic Testimonies
-Creating a Relevant Ministry
-Communicating Without Words
-Internet Marketing Strategies For Ministry
-Blogging In Community
-The Edges Of Cyberspace
-Integrity On The Internet
-Visual Communication Strategies
-Design Is Credibility

It would help me a great deal as this is where my heart has been for some time, in internet ministry and evangelism/apologetics online. If I don't go I'll still have plenty to do of course as I wanted to start a video blog and their is the wiki thing from earlier. Plus their is the on-going apologetics Q&A sites and the sporadic but intense forum debates each week. Oh and who can forget about that school work which keeps getting pushed back. =P I guess we'll see...

IMC Website

Open Source Understanding

2007-08-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Well that was somewhat disappointing...

I recently decided to make a series of wikiHow pages on Apologetics. WikiHow is an open source how to site operating under a Creative Commons License. This means that anyone with a free account and the urge to edit or create articles is welcome to do so. Now, I knew prior to writing that these pages were open to editing by every passer by with a free account, but in coming face to face with the prospect of having someone with a confused understanding of the topic make revisions to my article I stopped the process.

While most wikiHow articles are important to the original writers I doubt very much that articles like "How to turn your blender into a weed-whacker" or "How to make a ninja hat out of a tee-shirt" are of the same importance in the grand scheme as say "How to defend against: The problem of Evil" or "How to defend Jesus's Divinity". They do not deal with absolute truths nor do they need to adhere to a strict bible based view of life. I don't know that I can stomach someone editing and possibly misleading others from what I intended.

Anyhow, I am still quite interested in the process and will probably test run one or two just to see what mess is made of it, if any. Who knows, if it goes well maybe I'll still get to post up all 10 articles...

How do you figure?

2007-08-10T20:22:00.000-05:00

The article I'm talking about: Article

Can someone explain this to me? I'm not completely lacking in term of psychological understanding and that is exactly why this article was made blog-worthy for me. Whether you know it or not psychology is a heavily divided science. One of these divisions has been easy to see for some time. (IE; Christian vs. Secular, etc...) This article is the first time I had ever seen a psychologist tout an evolutionary view even while the bulk of modern psychology is firmly based in it already. This woman mentioned in the article, Lynda Boothroyd, is apparently an evolutionist and wants to make it known that in her sight it is a good way to approach her field. "But why", I ask? More to the point, I intend to show how a foundation in evolution is only capable of producing confusion and ultimately more problems for those that employ it, both in making general choices and in psychological uses. This is easier than you might think.

We start at the foundation level...evolution is ultimately a belief in matter-to-man. No particular reason exists there, no purpose or motivation for anything, just a series of accidents. The deal is that in an evolutionary view we are no better than a trash-can full of garbage or the maggot squirming within. Farther up the chain, sure, but with no better reason for being. All are made of matter and all were made by chance according to such a worldview. So when she goes to give advice what moral foundation does she have? It can only be popular opinion or her own less popular opinions as their exists no ultimate morality for her to adhere to in this worldview. In fact from an evolutionary view she aught never say anything than, "Do whatever you want and try to survive as long as you can, oh and by the way breed as much as possible." Thoses are the things that hold true to the matter of creatures evolving; anything else is her simply ad libbing.

So, when Lynda's client asks her what to do about a particular problem they face what will she say? (Keep in mind a true evolutionary foundation.) She has to say do whatever you want or whatever makes you feel good. Is that the kind of deep down guidance that you are looking for when you consider visiting a psychologist? If you are, you clearly aren't looking for actual guidance on right and wrong for whatever predicament you are in. This is all she has to go on however as evolution has no moral center, no guiding light. Say she does pull out other ideas than the extreme ones I mentioned, they are still only founded on popular opinion and not any absolute morality, no true understanding on right and wrong.

This is all in stark comparison to a Christian psychologist. One who understands what an ultimate authority is and how to apply it to the betterment of a person. Knowing they're more than just an accident in space; he can tell people the what and why of their purpose. Being more than a pile of morality relative choices hoping for a good outcome; he can say, "here is the morally correct way to go".

As you can see this is the tip of the ice-berg. It doesn't take 4-6 years of training to unravel either. Lastly, it is in plain view if you take the time to look and ponder. Strange that something so completely revealed for all to see is still plainly overlooked.

Reflecting on the Portal

2007-08-07T11:30:00.001-05:00

Well, it's official! I can't watch TV like I used to. Every time I get to watch the TV I find that I no longer simply 'enjoy' the shows. Morality on TV aside, I am actually referring to worldviews and logic fallacies committed in each show. Bad premises and irrational plans or conclusions are made to be sound. Sure the shows have characters that are fun or interesting and often have neat visuals. Sure they are energetic mind journeys to places and actions we'll never take part in. Sure I used to glaze over and simply see a TV show as fun, visual, adventures in worlds that we not my own even if they looked identical, but it just isn't an option now. Every channel I watch, even my favorites (cartoon network and the discovery channel) are riddled with "knowledge, falsely so-called".

It stands then that the countless pairs of glazed eyes which stare into the box each night will fall further and further into such misleading principles and foundations, even though most people would claim they have "strong minds". It is reasonable to say that anything we stare at and enjoy frequently will become some part of how we grow and think and live. Even if you only admit to it happening subconsciously you then have to admit that the subconscious is what leads the conscious. "Thought is the father of deed", as they say.

Maybe next time you hear the comment of "TV will rot your brain" you might give this more than a passing thought. Maybe the next time you watch your favorite show, be it a sitcom/documentary/sci-fi adventure/etc, you will give some thought to just how you are effected by it over the years. Has it convinced you of saying "okay...maybe" to something you clearly should not? Just some thoughts here as I look back and realize what had happened to me, then realizing how it is happening to others around me. Take it as you like.

UFO-ology vs. Reality

2007-08-07T11:18:00.000-05:00

Hopefully I don't upset anyone on this topic as I have many relatives and friends who enjoy the show I plan to use as an example. The shows premise (basically) is that alien life had long long ago seeded many planets and connected them with inter-planetary gates which can be used as the creatures evolved enough and are "ready". This show is meant as a work of fiction obviously, but deep down how many of it's viewers think life exists out there in the universe? How many people are subtly swayed at the many prospects it touts including humans being seeded by ancient alien races. How many watchers also watch the conspiracy driven UFO/area 51 documentaries? The point here is to briefly remark on the impossibility of alien life from two very different fronts as alien life can only have come from one of two models, evolution and divine creation.

A. The first model is evolution and evolution is (as documented here often) no more than a broadly accepted hypothesis where by nothing become something. If the earth is perfect for life as no other planet has (to date) and evolution does not occur here then evolution cannot hope to occur where the requirements for life are unavailable.

B. The second model is where God would purposefully create another set of beings elsewhere. First we must put all speculation aside since speculation is not truth, but imaginings. Then we must pull from a divine and trustworthy source so as not to fall into our own imaginings again. Here we are left with the Bible and what does it say about the possibility of other creation? It clearly says "No!" in two places.

Place 1: In the creation account their was nothing, then their was the earth, then all the stars and plants and elements and animals. Then their was mankind after which God STOPED CREATING! Whoops, their goes both the possibility that He had created prior to creation (by definition) and the idea that He created after the creation week. Since the creation account does not include such a record of "alien life" and since it is entirely focused on God and mankind it is safe (both rational and logical) to say that God did not create aliens elsewhere.
Place 2: The theme of salvation comes from Gods own mouth; He defines it and upholds it. It is 'for mankind' because we are fallen in a sin filled world and need rescue. Ok then, picture what it would mean to have another creation out there floating around. They did not cause sin to enter the universe but they now feel its effects thanks to Adam and Eve. They were then innocent and have been punished? Not likely. Past that, we cannot assume they were given the gospel of salvation/redemption and if they were it would not be the same gospel because ours would not apply to the innocent. Yet scripture says that their is 'only one gospel' and that sin effects 'all of creation'. Here we see a logical and doctrinal contradiction if God were to make a second creation elsewhere. Un-believers say yes one of many mistakes, but believers have understanding of Gods nature and of the inerrancy of the Word, knowing better than to agree to God being in error.

Hopefully this was clear and to the point about why there cannot and are not any "aliens" out there. Given this it makes me sad to think of all the money wasted on training and then funding researchers in the field of alien issues, not to mention the cult followings of laymen and conspiracy theorists. What a waste of time to be willingly indoctrinated in this area, looking for something that isn't there in any logical or scientific sense.

Stacks of confusions

2007-08-07T09:20:00.000-05:00

Several months ago while researching the potential link between genetics and homosexuality (for a conversation held at that time) I came across a site claiming to list the pros and cons of homosexuality from a "neutral position". A neutral position is virtually impossible, but in all honesty the site was mainly free from personal opinions and listed many statements from both camps. While the site proved to be useful to me in responding that no known link has been found that commits a person to such a disposition; it made one glaring mistake on a completely separate (yet utterly important) topic. That of slavery and the use of the bible.

You might be thinking, "Why speak about slavery and the bibles worth when talking about Homosexuality?" A very good question and instead of explaining it I will just quote the site, which is itself quoting another source. "Where the Bible mentions homosexual behavior at all, it clearly condemns it. I freely grant that. The issue is precisely whether that Biblical judgment is correct. The Bible sanctioned slavery as well, and nowhere attacked it as unjust. Are we prepared to argue today that slavery is biblically justified?" This was the sites "Christian angle" on the topic of homosexuality and it couldn't have made a worse stand from a Christian perspective. I wrote to them twice trying to provide reason to change it. Appealing to their desire for accuracy and sense of duty in being correct as well as "neutral". Last time I checked nothing has been changed. I had sent them material written by more professional persons than myself and was ignored.

At any rate my beef here is not about homosexuality, but about biblical slavery. Their are many reasons why the above quote is wrong and in many ways, but as for this post I am concerned with biblical slavery. Here are a few reasons why the quote is mistaken in the view it presents, that the bible condones slavery:

1. Slaves under Mosaic Law were different from the harshly treated slaves of other societies, more like servants or bondservants than what we consider the harshly treated slaves of the past several hundred years.

2. The Bible doesn’t give an endorsement of slave traders, but the just opposite (1 Timothy 1:10). A slave/bondservant was acquired when a person voluntarily entered into it when he needed to pay off his debts.

3. As with many things, the Bible recognizes that slavery is a reality in this sin-cursed world and doesn’t ignore it, but instead gives regulations for good treatment by both masters and servants and reveals they are equal under Christ.

4. Israelites could sell themselves as a slave/bondservant to have their debts covered, make a wage, have housing and be set free after six years. Foreigners could sell themselves as a slave/bondservant as well.

5. Biblical Christians led the fight to abolish slavery.

An article I sent to them:
Answers in Genesis: Slavery

Close like a horseshoe...

2007-08-02T20:13:00.000-05:00

The new Apologetics Q&A site WAS up and running for about 10 minutes. I am currently looking into it so if you would like to use it in the future please come back soon and remember your questions. For the time being email me at dbair@skellyloy.com if you have needs in this capacity. Thanks for your patients.

Apologetics Q&A

*EDIT: After a slight bout of frustration all is back in motion. YAY! (Except for myspace which suffers from another issue entirely.)

Youtube and Myspace get the Kingdom Call

2007-08-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

In the very real war between good and evil, darkness and light, their is no neutral. So where do you stand? Do you know? Here's a bit of background to help figure it out.

A long time ago (in the beginning) two people made a couple very bad decisions to ignore Gods warnings and become self-serving, uninterested in a relationship with God above them. Since that time every person has done the same more often than not, choosing to do things our way or to ignore doing what is right only to get what we want be it a thing or a feeling. These bad choices are our "sins", which is another way of saying we broke Gods laws for us. We are then criminals, guilty of lawbreaking, and no good judge would let a criminal go unpunished; likewise God will not let us go without punishment. That of an eternity outside His protection in a place called hell. So can we avoid that? No, we can't on our own since we have no means of paying the fines for our "crimes", our sins.

So are we hopelessly doomed then? Nope, their is good news! God sent His son Jesus "the Christ" to die in our place so that all our previous mistakes would be forgiven and never counted against us, in God's courtroom. Essentially, Jesus has paid the fines and removed our criminal record as long as we go to Him, believe in Him, and follow Him. (All this leads to a life lived for Him. This is the life of a true convert, not simply a Christian in title only.) This forgiveness is free and open to all who want it. Truly their is so much more to being Christian than rules; their is freedom, love, and peace. Their is also (as the video mentions) a struggle between all that which rejects and refuses God and those who live for and serve God.

Since God tells us that none can escape judgment just as none escape death itself in the end. Will you be counted among the friends or enemies of God? The choice is yours. Whose team are you on now? Is it were you aught to be? He's waiting to hear from you. He's waiting for you to come find out who He is.

Conversations with unbelief (Part 1)

2007-07-31T08:16:00.000-05:00

(The following three part post is my recent folowup to my neighbor, briefly mentioned in the post "Ding Dong Yo".)

Hey neighbor,

I appreciated you talking with us on Saturday and I (Dan) really wanted to talk more, but we both had places to be and things to do then. So I wanted to offer up a conversation at your leisure if you wanted. I can always be reached at the contact info provided.

Honestly I greatly enjoy discussions like the one we were having. I spend a great deal of time studying (and then talking about) things like evidence, logic, presuppositions, and truth. I know you had objections to things like the Divinity of the Bible and how Logic leads you to believe in random chance existence; both of these are genuine questions and hurdles for people in the world today. (Both of which are addressed very slightly on the next page.) After all, the world is not God friendly with both the sciences and media pressing for anti-God worldviews; leading us all to believe their is no reason or evidence that God is real, even though evidence abounds.

Still, I wonder why people assume that group B is right and not group A without giving equal time to seek the truth in things. Learning the background and biases that may drive the groups. Truth in all things is what we really want, isn't it? And truth can not contradict itself and still be true so ultimately only one worldview can be right. If you're at all like me you want to know the “true truth” as well.

Anyhow, like I was saying, I love delving into this and often do so if you ever want to talk about things or pose seemingly impossible questions please do. (^_^) If you don't want to get into a discussion I of course understand and in that case I do hope you give AnswersinGenesis.org a chance to answer your objections. You seem like a cool guy even though we were coming from different worldviews and that's not the most common thing in my experience, so I wanted to open the door here.

Yours in Christ,
-Dan (of the door-to-door variety)

Conversations with unbelief (Part 2)

2007-07-31T08:15:00.000-05:00

1. Divinity of the Bible:

As for the divinity of scriptures I understand it is hard to believe, but before passing judgment on the topic we have to have the right starting points. As I mentioned briefly before we cannot start off by assuming that a work claiming to be divine is fallible simply because all non-divine works are fallible. This is an assumption and by definition, not logical.

So how then can we pass judgment fairly on it? Only by subjecting it to tests and trials, it is logical. Essentially by "putting it to the test" and thereby finding that it is either a mess OR that it produces evidence for divinity "beyond reasonable doubt". Beyond reasonable doubt implies that it would then be illogical to disbelieve that it were divine. This would be a fair “proof” then, no?

So does it contradict? Does it have relevance? Has it really been shaped by generations of men? These are some very core questions that can be used test the Bible itself and I encourage you to give it a chance to let it prove itself. Bring questions to it and then read it fully to see how it compiles into a divine work. This is a necessary step and logical as well as testing a chapter here and a verse there is not adequate to pass judgment on a work that works as a whole after all.

If you don't want to read the word and would instead like to pose these questions to me to "prove" beyond reasonable doubt (providing evidence and rational reasoning) please do not hold back. I've been around for some time so this is a challenge I not only offer to you but have taken on myself, to date, without fail. In any case it is illogical to pass judgment on it without testing it, relying on assumption or personal desire.

Conversations with unbelief (Part 3)

2007-07-31T08:05:00.000-05:00

2. Logic and Chance Existence:

Ok, I will pose some questions to you on the topic of chance existence and logic leading to a belief in chance existence. You may throw this in the trash, but I'd ask you to be read them once at least, perhaps even ponder them a bit.
- Is it logical to believe in a creation without a creator? If so how Or based on what? If science, then do I really know what they say is as solid as they claim or am I just trusting in people who have their own worldviews that drive their opinions?
- Can I say a car has to be created but a giraffe with its irreducible complexity can happen by random processes? How do I justify that call? You may need to study giraffes to get this question. I have a DVD that delves into it a bit that you can have if you want.
- Can I say that it is logical to believe in right and wrong for myself and apply it to others but say that their is no divine source to say what is right or wrong? Doesn't that mean I am wrong to say others (who differ) are wrong, which is a logical contradiction.
- Is it logical to think that information (DNA information or languages for example, which is always orderly, structured, and with a purpose) can happen randomly? What basis do I have to believe that?
- What is chance really? (Even the flip of a coin is not random at all; existing by and being dictated by systems already in place such as gravity, inertia, friction, weight by elemental mass, and imparted trajectory, etc.) Where then is the chance in it really? If what I believe is chance is actually the world running on structured systems how can I still believe that chance allows for the creation of something from nothing logically, as noted above?

All these lead to two basic questions; what am I basing my belief in chance creation on really, given all the above? Does it make logical sense? These are a few questions and may seem like an attack (certainly not intended on my part), but I just wanted to pose something to you that you may appreciate when given thought. Again please don't be a stranger with comments and critiques of this.

Ding Dong Yo

2007-07-21T15:03:00.000-05:00

Ok, well I just got back from hurdle 1-of-3. I don't know if I ever explained this on here before or not but before I'm 30 I have set up 3 personal achievements that go against my very being, but ultimatly serve for the better. These are (in order)... 1.Door-to-Door witness/evangelism 2.One on One encounter of the random variety to share the gospel (the whole thing not just that Jesus died on a cross) and 3.Street Preaching to passerbyes attempting to draw a crowd to hear the gospel.

Today a friend of mine came with me to go door-to-door in the neighborhood, meeting and greeting and talking to strangers. While I was honestly looking for a chance to use the gospel we were concentrating on just getting conversations going and mentioning things like worshiping God and the Contemporary service coming soon. In part getting over the hurdle of actually going out to do it and in part putting on a welcoming face for those in the neighborhood. It helped a bit in gathering intel for the area and what people wanted in a worship wervice. Then we closed by talking about the creation museum and asking if they had prayer needs.

We did meet a lot of people, but a lot of doors never opened for us of course. This I believe is due to the number of JWs and Mormons that come around. A shame as those that did answer were very friendly and (once they understood why we were coming around) were very friendly even when they had different worldviews. Most of them were interested in more traditionsl services and so we did not talk about much Contemporary stuff except for one or two people. Many were now inactive members of churches not in the area and one man even offered to help with the construction of our Contemporary service.

I only got two opportunities to share the gospel and didn't do it in either case. The first time was when an atheist opend the door and we talked about his past in the church and his problems with it. Since he had church background he had most likely heard it before, but that is no reason to not say it. (I am writing him a letter of contact info and comments to encourage his interest in our discussion so maybe that will open up the door for the gospel again.) The second person was a young Muslim woman who would have been ideal, except I was in too much shock to know what to do at the time. It was quite unexpected to meet a Muslim or Jewish person in this area...or so I thought. So I basically tryed to talk about how she worshiped simply to save the conversation from becoming a staring match. Maybe I'll re-group and go back to these two houses next week anyway with a better plan, maybe.

Over all it was a great experience and I don't think it will be difficult to go back out tomorrow or next Saturday or whenever. However, I do need to take full advantage of opportunities with the gospel and also find away to get doors to open easier. Maybe a sign that says "We are not JW or Mormon" that I can wave in front of the peep-hole? We'll see...

Curiously Inspired

2007-07-21T14:51:00.000-05:00

I was in the bathroom at work, thinking about apologetic articles I had recently finished reading and a thought found its way into my head. "Create either a website that gathers Christian apologists or a site that accepts hard questions from people who need help in their apologist efforts."

Wow, both of these ideas are really exciting to me. Granted I have had exciting ideas come before and eventually I get overwhelmed or distracted by other things, but I would love to see this through. Over the years I have met many strong apologists and many more people who were in need of a way to answer their critics so I doubt it would be hard to get started. I can already set up a web page and system to handle it all. I can even imagine, with the help of those mentioned a moment ago, how to get the word out.

The only two stumbling blocks are 1. Me and my endurance with projects like these and 2. managing the discrepancies that can exist between certain Christian apologists. The second one should not be an issue if a system is in place to govern that lifts the Word and the Gospel above all else. The first one however, is always a thorn in my side. As soon as it becomes a chore to me I will begin to procrastinate it which would be unacceptable. This can be fixed though by the governing rules and by creating a small heirarchy where two trusted others can make decisions in my absense.

Man this is would be a dream for me. The places and ways it could be useful are almost endless in my mind. I'll pray about it and give thought to its workings, but don't be surprised if I have more to say later.

"I" of the Golem

2007-07-17T12:30:00.000-05:00

This is a writing experiment for funnzies! Make a strangely creative title and then write about it. Let the title brew before you write so that the creative juices are really flowing and you may find that you have several levels to write on which really opens up a lot of options in the experiment.

What then is a Golem? Is it just a character in the Lord of the Rings? No, no it is defined as an artificial construct in the form of a human which is endowed with life, a stupid or clumsy person, or an automaton.

So, why "I of the Golem"? Because I really see us as the Golem sometimes; no less a construct. In our human shape we are little more than building blocks of "stuff" that has the breathe of life poured into it. Sounds like a Golem to me. Also, mankind as a whole is often clumsy about it's choices in life. Often basing decisions in false truths, lack of evidence, or pure personal desire. Where would a Golem be without direction from its owner? Chances are good that without guidance or instruction the construct would be very clumsy, pushed around by every wind of doctrine and theory. Effected to the point of living irrationally. On top of this we are tools of the tool maker, servants of the master, and creations of the creator. That which creates does so for a reason, it does so with purpose. Even those artists today that create "for no reason at all" are creating with intent and hope for their creations, not to mention that creating "for no reason at all" is in itself a reason. Therefore all creations have reason and purpose even if such a purpose is not known or is less than a good reason.

The "I" in the title is my way of seeing the golem speak of its own accord. A symbol of its search for truth and purpose which can only be found in its creators arms. That point in our lives where we begin to crack open the doors to the larger questions, seeking purpose and direction. Questions like "Who am I?" and "Am I doing what I was made to do?" This is where the title comes from. So what reason were you made for?

Sailing Spheres

2007-07-17T09:52:00.000-05:00

Changing the topic for the moment I have enjoyed the sport of Golf on several occasions of late and while I am horrible at it, often injuring myself, I always look forward to going back out. At this point I am considering getting a lesson or two so I can cut back on my rather powerful slice. In the interim though I have been trying little adjustments and reading golf tips to find out what I am missing, so far to no avail.

Aside from the joys of seeing a well designed course with carpet like grass on a gorgeous afternoon their are lots of things I think about when I golf. For instance I think about how hard it is for us to design, dig up, re-plant, and maintain such a beautifully landscaped course while it only took God one day to throw together all the earth. I think about how hard it is to strike a dimpled ball with a club face and send it flying straight and true down the course. It seems so simple on paper, but the systems and creations He put around us to work within are so hard for us to master, in fact it is impossible for us to master. I think about the wind when I hit. How it will affect my shot (as if I can produce anything but a slice these days) and then I realize that the wind I am straining to understand on the confinement of this little course is but a small fraction of the movement of the winds over the earth. Makes me smile and chuckle as I rack my brain and strain my muscles to hit through a stiff breeze. This is just a passing thought on those things that we often overlook. How we are so often focused on self glorification or gratification that we miss the greater picture and then wonder why we don't have a better appreciation for God works.

Really, we are the focus of creation but we are no less a creation ourselves. It is humbling and appropriate to remember these things and our true place in the world.

Random Thoughts (#926)

2007-07-12T15:43:00.000-05:00

Today, a question was posed to me that I felt led to write about. "why do you think god is putting us through this...?" POW! What a question. Thankfully it was rhetorical, the questioner knew I would not have the whole answer and I admit I do not know if God was making a specific statement to him in the sense he was asking. The question itself has two levels though; the lighter of the two is "why is this happen to ME"? The true heart of that question (at the foundation) is "why does God allow bad things in the WORLD?"

The first part of any answer to these should mention that God allows sin in the world as surely as He allows free will and that it is not Him that brings pain and suffering in all its forms. It is OUR CHOICES or the CHOICES OF THOSE AROUND US that effect us. How do I know? For starters theirs the whole story of Eden where their was no sin and all was good. Then sin came (by our choice), everything fell apart, and we are basically still at that point now aside from available salvation. But still the questions come... Should I take it personally as if I am being punished? Can I find the reason and make amends? Does God just have a mean streak? Having the answer to where sin came from and why doesn't always stop us from finding questions and trying to blame God for it. In that light lets take a closer look at this. Would God ever use suffering as a test? Yes. (See Job) Would God ever use suffering to guide us? Yes. (See Jonah) Would God ever use suffering to build us up? Yes. (See Paul’s letters) Would God ever use suffering to bring justice? Yes (See Sodom and Gomorra) Would God ever use suffering without reason? Nope. Does every act of suffering we have part in stem from Gods direct influence? Nope. (See the Fall of man)

So we are getting a picture of God and suffering that is scriptural which does not portray Him as delighting in evil or the suffering of His creation. Now would be a good time to mention Gods love since He is not evil or neutral but GOOD! Two of His most basic natures after all are Love and Justice, both of which are completely relevant to the topic. Signified so often by His actions of mercy, justice, grace, and forgiveness in scripture. All the sin that passes from generation to generation born of the first sin from the first Adam is wiped away by the sacrifice of the second Adam, one generation after the next. God came down from safety n the throne and bore all worldly evils, ultimately sacrificing Himself for those that hate Him, for what? Not for fun. For us and as proof that He is not evil but LOVING!

So after all this I have barely scratched the surface of the topic in this post and even with all that I have to say on top of this I only know part of the design of things that our Glorious Maker has done. But it should be clear both from the Word and from reasoning that God is good regardless of our suffering. It is all the more important that we hold fast to His goodness to make it through these tough times whether it is a personal agenda of His or general sin in the world weighing down on us. Otherwise we are "biting the hand that feeds us" and trying to make it on our own when help sits in waiting. Keep these things in mind when you are suffering, remember that God is good and that He loves us all. It will only be harder to do it alone and it would only be misplaced to blame God for being anything but good to us. See past the suffering to the greater things.

The Avg. Lineup

2007-07-12T15:23:00.000-05:00

Lately I’ve been having more conversations online again and more are on the horizon. This is something I’ve been doing a long time and I just took a little time to write about a few of the types of people I find in these conversations.

1. "Mr. Know it all": Will hear your point and completely disregard it on the basis of believing that he knows better. He will often believe this because he has read one or two articles on the subject or has seen it argued elsewhere as apposed to having a sound argument himself. On occasion he will actually have a wealth of knowledge on the subject, but remember having a wealth of knowledge does not justify a position on its own. He often does not fight you to seek or share the truth, but instead fights you because you challenge his worldview. If you are right he is wrong and must act accordingly.

2. The Scarecrow: This guy, whether on purpose or not, will consistently create straw man arguments, red-herrings, and commit equivocation without knowing it, causing conversations to become muddled and loose focus. This often leads him and others to think he has one the argument when in fact he hasn't.

3. MR.ROFL: This guy is not laughing with you, but at you. It is usually a plain disregard though it can often be coupled with the first two mentioned, carrying an actual response. Stopping the conversation to question his motives and biases behind his comments will usually stop him in his tracks as he will not want to come cross as a jerk to those watching.

4. Mr. Maybe: This is the guy I like to see. He did not come to the conversation to submit, but can recognize when he is wrong and is honestly looking for the truth. It may take a few rounds to get through to him but being patient is not hard as he is a welcome change of pace from the first 3 types. When you recognize him and that he is starting to open up prepare the gospel message for him appropriately. Not just JC, but the whole message because he may need "reason" and he may have reservations or questions that need addressed.

5. Mr. Bizzaro: This guy should be your best friend, but poor doctrine or scripture understanding has him making comments that inhibit or even harm both Mr. Maybe as well as the flow of your conversation. He means well but can easily sway the flow of the conversation, distracting others from or confusing the point you are making. It is a problem that must be addressed on top of the topic you are first addressing in the discussion. This can be taxing but has to be done for our well meaning brother.

6. The Silent Witness: These are those who never speak up but on occasion to say that they agree or that you have done a good job explaining something. You can never be sure of where they stand or why they don’t hop in the discussion but it is nice once in a while to see their comments. It reminds you that you’re not actually fighting alone; that others are watching and tracking the battle of the day. Maybe they are learning, maybe they are laughing, maybe they are grumbling…who knows, but when they do talk they are getting behind you.

A tough question to answer...

2007-07-03T11:23:00.000-05:00

I know it might seem like I drone on (and on) about the Creation Museum and in fact I do, but I have since been asked on several occasions "what is it"? Because of this I have been trying to refine how to explain it briefly but also accurately. Not easy considering all that exists to explain. So, here is what I am trying to say to the question, "What is it?"

The Creation Museum is first a museum of history which is very different from secular museums because its reference point is the Bible as opposed to the various atheistic/naturalistic worldviews. This is a key point to make, worldviews and presupposed starting points of understanding the world. The museum makes this distinction early on by presenting real life examples and instances where the secular worlds answers differ from Christian answers on any given topic.

Once this point is made, that starting points (presuppositions) will always influence the way you view the world, the museum goes on to explain how the bible can and does explain the world around us so very well. Given any topic (Geology, Geography, Astronomy, Genetic, Anthropology, Language, Archaeology, Documentary Records, Fossils, etc) the bible does not contradict observable and testable science (observable and testable are the emphasis). This is important because most people see the bible as religion, not history. It is assumed to hold wisdom and tradition, not accurate history. And yet when put to the test it never fails to show its divine and infallible nature.

After this key point is made the actual museum starts. The account of creation itself followed by the fall of man. Then the great flood and the confusion of Babel. Then came the introduction of religions and gods and miss-applied worship systems. Then the arrival of Christ, His death on the cross, and the completion which is to come. All this is detailed with facts and figures which are verifiable or testable in the science realm so that people understand that this is not just a "religious story" but is at the very least a viable account of history to be considered alongside evolution and the big bang which permeate nearly every museum around the world.

At different points in the museum examples are given as to why the world is as it is. The societal and moral issues we face not planting ourselves in the Word of God and Biblical history. Matters like the Scopes trial and the removal of God from both school and science have cause a great deal of trouble for the world that had once chosen to reject Gods grace and wisdom. Between these and the earlier examples it becomes clearer and clearer that in this battle of worldviews it makes less sense to believe in atheistic so-called science (as found in schools and the media) over the Bible when not only does the Bible never change but it is never wrong when tested. This is very crucial to choosing worldviews (something every person has) because atheistic/naturalistic sciences are always found to be wrong and in need of revision. Science which is also driven by fallible men and women who have worldviews of their own which they use to interpret their findings and press their agendas.

As you can see it is not something to say in brief or the point is missed or at least I have not seen a way to do so yet. Of course, the museum is pressing not to force their worldview, but to instead force the visitor to re-evaluate why they believe what they do and whether it is right to believe that, given that a choice exists. In truth the harder you look the more sense it makes. Why then do people have the opinion that the Bible is just a story? Dare I say it is because of naturalistic and atheistic sciences that press evolution and big bang worldviews on the media. One man having a grudge against religion says it is not true and the man next to him hears that. He has seen TV and heard the other mans words and assumes that they are both in line and so are accurate. His worldview is comprised of what then, assumptions and biases. Even if he claims that science denies the Bibles account he cannot give verifiable reason for these claims. When put to the test verifiable and observable science has no qualms with God, God made all things and they should to declare His craftsmanship!

Point being people have worldviews that are based on nothing all the while God is calling out with a tearful eye to bring them home, but until they understand their biases and mistaken assumptions (sometimes even after that point) which drive them how will they see the truth? Why not a state of the art museum...? Why not indeed…

Creation Fest '07

2007-07-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

Hey Everybody,
As you can see things have either been too busy or too uneventful the past month to warrant posting here. (It was the former not the later.) I'll just pick up where we are at and (if later find the time) I'll go back and post on what has happened. Hope all things are going well out their, but chances are good they aren't.

Last Saturday two friends of mine and I went out to Mount Union PA to join in on the last day of Creation Fest '07. It was a first time thing for all of us and I was not sure what I was expecting. It took a while to find because the directions weren’t the best and when we got their the place was naturally packed. Still, it had a welcoming feeling and it was a beautiful day. Once we got in the parking lot and started walking towards the music we realized just how many tents, trailers, and campers were packed into the area. It was staggering once I noticed that around every bend was another dense grouping of them, one after another on the way to the stages. When we got there (to the stage) it was empty so we kept walking to find the other, on which was Cool Hand Luke. We found a nice spot on the hill and sat to listen. We must have been there for 6 hours, listening to CHL finish his set and then came Edison Glass, John Reuben, Sanctus Real, DUB, and Flyleaf. Suddenly I was all sunburned and it was nearly 7:30pm. I don't generally like live music, but it was such a nice day, the bands did a great job, and the atmosphere there was comforting. After that we went back to the main stage for the evening service speaker and then Kutless and Newsboys, all of which rocked. We left before the Newsboys were finished and so we beat the traffic, getting home by 1:00am.

Highlights, besides the music, I would have to say consisted of seeing all the types of Christians that came. And man if you ever want to get a feel for what a Christian looks like you should check this place out next year. Their were older couples, goths, punks, geeks, jocks, rocker-types, nature people, and "normal people" all over. Really it is a testament against the stereo-typing that people do. Another highlight that lasted a while in the noon-day sun was a rainbow-sun-halo. The picture below will give you an idea of what I mean, but it was a rainbow that did not touch the horizon. Instead it encircled the sun itself. It occurs naturally (not to say God didn't influence it that day) but in any case it was beautiful and rare. It hovered over us on the hill as the music played. I have never seen the sun do this but I have seen the moon do it several times in the night sky. So, their are many other things to talk about concerning this, but I want to change the topic now slightly.

Their were two events (maybe three) that I took a bit hard. It wasn't the speakers that spoke between the songs or the songs themselves. It was my reaction to events as they would unfold. Moments were my heart says "Go!" and my body stands still, it's regret over inaction. The first one was early in the day we saw that they were doing baptisms in the lake next to the main stage. I wanted to go but did not. This is the least of my regrets as I will do it next year, having remembered a towel and extra clothes. The other two regrets came simultaneously. Late in the service the speaker spoke of being prayed for, not just by people or Christians, but by the righteous (it's in scripture). All prayers are useful but the prayers of the righteous can be used to heal essentially. The speaker then opened a "prayer tent" and asked for youth workers to come and help out as people came to be prayed for. He made a good point to say "if you aren't right with the Lord don't come to pray right now" and so I stood there. I don't think I am in the best place still, not wholly useless or damaged, on the mend in fact, but I can say that while I wanted to go help with the tent it would have been wrong of me and that upset me. That I was unable to do so meant that I should go get prayer instead, but again, as loud as the heart screamed the heavier my feet became. And so I stood, missing it all...later that night, while watching the crowd pulsate and scream and the Newsboys perform I had a thought come. While God has granted me much in the way of talent and training, I have such limited ability to live out loud. I can honestly say I am depressed by the thought and I don't get depressed easy.

So I'm looking to go back next year and (as in previous years) stronger for the struggle. I intend to get baptized and I intend to seek Gods healing hand through the prayers of His people, even to take part in the tent next year. I've already started this process, but please if you are reading this put my name out among your friends. I ask for your prayers to be bold and courageous with this grace given life I have. Such attributes are not common to me, an introvert at heart. In this (and some other areas) progress has been made, but I would ask for true healing if He will allow it.

Museum Slideshow Action

2007-06-05T08:52:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. Here is a quick slideshow I threw together of the images of the Creation Museum. They are cropped and sized small so quality is down. I have also put the pictures in the "Picture Viewer" (just above the "ASQ Music" box) on your right so you can see the better quality images. (Now, not all the pictures I took made it in the viewer and slideshow, but I have to be choosey when starting out with 145 images.)

*Click "Picture Viewer" and it will pop-up a flash image viewer. Click on the images in the "Creation Museum" section and the full sized image will pop-up.

Looking back at history...

2007-06-01T15:05:00.000-05:00

So my overall thought on the Museum is that it was well worth the drive time, gas, hotel, achy feet, speeding ticket (lol, yea I got one), and any other trouble incurred to see this place. It is a titan of Christianity shouting the gospel out against the changing winds of this world. I know that it meant a lot to me to take part in this as I had waited for some time now and it seemed to mean just as much to my friend.

Places like this are a rare commodity in a world where many Christians see the terms "Creationist" and "Christian" as two separate topics. As if a Christian can be so without a biblical Creation. That would be the equivalent of saying "I'm Christian but I don't believe in Christ" or "I'm Christian but I don't believe in the resurrection" or "I'm Christian but I don't believe in the Bible." These are the pillars that Christianity stands on. They will never crack or break, but if you don't use them you are without stability, without Gods grace given anchors and ultimately without reason for excluding them.

Anyway, this place which amounts to more than 27 Million (built on donations) is a beacon of reason and hope though you may hear otherwise for some time to come. It is a shame that so many came that day and likely the days that followed just to scoff and speak of "reason" as their true motivations. While the truth is reason is far from their motivations and I wonder how many standing their shouting are aware of that. They are shouting and picketing for autonomy and rebellion of authority. Anyhow, I wonder how many atheists will come to mock and find truth. How many weakened Christians will come looking for answers to old age and evolutionary ideologies and find renewed hope in the form of answers and rebukings.

While the museum certainly provides a rich and heart tugging experience to those who go even more answers and hope can be found at AiGs web ministry. It is all text and pictures, but until you get to the museum this is a wonderful place to educate and strengthen your faiths. It was for me. So, I wonder what is next on the horizon for this ministry if anything. Another museum overseas? A theme park of similar quality? An online school of sorts? Who knows, but I hope this titan keeps building and moving over the lands, doing the work God would have it do.

Images will be coming next...hang in there.

Sailing the 7 Cs

2007-06-01T14:31:00.000-05:00

A text walkthrough of the Creation Museum...

On the 28th my friend and I took a long road trip to Kentucky to see the opening of the Creation Museum there. I like road trips but it was a bit too long to do in a day so we left early on Sunday and stayed in Gove City Ohio to ease the drive time. On Monday morning we took of for the museum and got to it about 11:00am. Out front were stone walls and black steel gates and standing guard over the entrance were two metal stegosauruses. Of course it would not have been opening day without the picketers, news teams, and police officers scattered about.

As we rolled in, all kinds of excited, we took notice to the lines and the traffic and yep, more media and police. It took some time to park the car behind the complex and get into line. We must have stood in line for almost 3 hours before it was all said and done. All kinds of people had come including people from overseas and some rather proud atheists who wanted to take part in it all. During that time period their was a balloon animal maker roaming about, camera crews doing on the spot interviews, and a pavilion tent set up where a musician (Buddy Davis) was singing creationist songs (he was pretty good and entertaining).

After getting into the building and getting our tickets we made our way into the actual museum which has quite an entrance. Full of sights and sounds and atmosphere. On the left was the "Dragon Hall" book/gift store and on the right was the Cafe area which has very tasty and affordable food. Dead center though was the entrance to the museum. The room held several animatronic dinos and people, display cases, plant life, and quite a few nature sounds. The line moved rather slowly, but it gave everyone plenty of time to drink in all the information and sights that were presented. Before really getting into the bulk of creation history several rooms were devoted to separating evolution from creation, why they don't mix and the differences between them (as well as the many examples of false truths held by popular sciences). How all people see the same evidences in the world and somehow come to those two very opposing viewpoints of history. It needed to be done first and I can understand why. Then just before moving on two rooms were shown; the first was devoted to revealing why Gods Word is the correct starting point to find truth and history. The second room was about what happens when we chose wrong in where we go to find truth and history. Revealing topics like societal breakdown and the scopes trial. Each room was rich in sights and sounds as well as information; nothing looked like it was last minute or out of place.

After making the point of presuppositions and world views to the public it moved on to a biblical view of creation. First up was a short movie about each of the first 6-days of creation. It was quite a beautiful movie and after it we stepped into a bright and very well designed room full of vibrant pictures and video displays. It was their to reveal Gods design in both nature and scripture. An amazing room and if I ever go back I'd spend more time there for sure. As I moved on I couldn't help but be pleased with how well each room transitioned seamlessly into the next, revealing our history to the public.

After the design room we moved on to the first of the 7Cs, Creation. Here we walked through a small Eden where Adam named the animals and the animals stood around grazing. Very beautiful room lined with readable plaques that explained the situation. At the far end of the room Adam and Eve sat enjoying their lives while a dinosaur ate from a tree a few feet away. Through the doorway was a room where Adam and Eve were swimming or bathing and above them in the tree sat the Serpent. These rooms were all non-animated but were very well made. Very beautiful to look at and at a glance might have passed for real. As we moved on down the rooms you could see the serpent, the temptation, the first sin, and then the second. Each one more full of sadness, panic, and fear in the mannequins than the last. Once through these smaller rooms it opened up into a room depicting the changes that took place on earth when God was not holding it all together. The plagues talked about poisons, death, pain, carnivorous eaters, and other various topics which just came on to the scene while an animated dinosaur feasted on its prey.

After The Fall came a room where Adam could be seen working the cursed earth while the children argued and Eve was pregnant. The little plaques along it again explained the differences between life in Eden and life after it for Adam. How Adam had to work very hard for food, how Eve had birthing pains, and how the family felt conflict. At the far end of this room was a depiction of the moment after Cain slew Able, the first death. Moving past that room leads into a large ark room, both animated and not. On one side is an outside view of the ark where workers built. On the other side was the interior of the ark like a cutaway section of the boat was sitting in the big room. Just past this room was a set of several depictions of the arks first use and it's last moment before coming to rest as well as several structural depictions. The next room to see was lined with wall mounted diagrams and images of the floods evidences around the world. Geology, geography, and how the arks passengers repopulated the lands.

The following room was on the fourth C, Confusion. Here we see the second rise of man on earth and how they were very impressive but not watching or seeking God, choosing instead to build the Tower of Babel and the rise of religion. Here several points were made including, how all languages trace back to the Tower at which point more than the original language was created. It was also detailed as to how we are all from one bloodline ultimately and remarks on the topics of genocide and racism in that light.

Being through biblical history up to that point, we made our way into a waiting room to see a movie about the last 3Cs, Christ, The Cross, and Consummation. The video was awesome and rounded out the tour perfectly. It, as the names of the last 3Cs imply, did not talk about evidences but instead talked about Gods plan for mankind which includes a spotless lamb to be sacrificed and take away sin. It was not only history but also an evangelism effort. Excellently done.

From their were had to run like mad to get to our 4:00 showing of the Planetarium. It is just what it sounds like, planetarium with reclining seats. The show was so very awesome. Possibly my favorite of it all, though all of it was wonderful. It talked about what we do know and what we do not know. It showed the scale of the cosmos in relation to earth, the concepts of light years, star charting, as well as many more abstract and lesser considered thoughts.

After the 20 minute plaetarium show we ate at the cafe which was very affordable and tasty before leaving for the road. I made sure to stop at the garden area on the way to the car and get some pictures because it is a very nice place about the length of the building. From there we simply headed home all wound up from the experiance.

Advertizing Creation

2007-05-31T14:12:00.000-05:00

So here is a commercial running currently for the Creation Museum in Kentuky that I just got back from a few days ago. It was unbelieveable and I am writing a big post about it including many pictures. It should be up in a couple days, but until then I wanted to give you something neat to watch. (^_^)

Click to play