Furious Love Trailer

Darren Wilson directed and released a movie a few years ago called Finger of God. It was a documentary outlining real-world miracles caught on video at different churches and places around the world. I highly recommend renting or buying it if you can. I came across the link below, showing the trailer for Wilson's follow-up film Furious Love. It is quite something. Click below then sit back and watch as it loads automatically. It is good to know that in the face of popular mainstream Hollywood films such as Avatar and the like, there are still Darren Wilsons out there capturing the important things!

http://www.furiouslovethemovie.com/

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One Heartbeat Away

I recently finished reading One Heartbeat Away by Mark Cahill (see an earlier post on this blog for more info on the author). This is the kind of book I wanted to write. Imagine my surprise when I realized it had already been written! Kudos to Mark for this instructional book. If you are a non-believer, or even an agnostic and you aren't for sure either way about God - you need to read this book. After thinking about the evidence that Cahill presents, then you may make your decision. At least you will have the facts.

This post isn't so much a book review as it is praise. Cahill did a really good job laying out 12 chapters that take the reader from raw evidence for God from nature, onto evidence for believing that the Bible is actually trustworthy, and finally into looking at who Jesus really is. Many of these types of books simply repeat the same information over and over again; not so with this one. Each chapter is important. Another downfall of these kinds of books is that they can be too narrow or biased in presenting the evidence. Aside from over-quoting Charles Spurgeon, Cahill is complete and generous in his presentation of the information. Don't get me wrong, this book is written for 2 kinds of people: 1.) non-believers that know very little of the Bible, and 2.) brand new believers. You won't find a slew of atheistic evidence in order to create a balanced meal here - just the facts as they point to Christianity. But that is okay, since those facts alone are compelling enough I believe to sway most readers, as long as they actually give the book a chance. But that's the trick isn't it? Our culture is busy and so are we. Do we really have time to ready anymore, let alone think?

A pastor once told me that a hundred years ago, the church didn't have to try to convince people that mankind was sinful and needed God. Nowadays the church has to first convince people that there IS a God, then move on to defining sin, and then finally on to the person and divinity of Jesus. The task of evangalization is much more difficult today. People are proud and so is our culture. We probably shouldn't be surprised by this. Bible readers out there know that we are warned about the "immorality of these times" frequently by Christ. In the last 50 years our planet has gradually but surely slipped from a belief in morality to a belief in "anything goes." Christianity is on the front lines of the battle. Famous philosopher Voltaire said that the Bible would be extinct in less than a century. It is still here. Whether it gets passed down to subsequent generations is up to the current generation. Let's not drop the ball on this one!

Cahill finishes the book with a chapter on Reflecting the light of the Son. By this he means that Christians should be an outward gift of Christ to the rest of the world. We can hardly argue that. We will fail from time to time - we are still human. Cahill draws a sharp designation between the religious and those who are actually in Christ. There will be hypocrisy in the church, there always has been. But if you look closely, what about that man or woman who took the time to try to tell you about Jesus? There are good apples mixed in with the bad ones. If we are sincere in our prayers to find God, he will send us a good apple.

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Evolution Humor

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Interesting Quote...

"I had to learn who God was from atheists. They had to teach me who not to believe in, before I was instructed not to believe..."

- Alyosha Ryabinov (from 'Supernatural' with Sid Roth)

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you who have been reading this blog. Your support and loyal readership means quite a bit to me! It has been a pleasure adding articles and supporting information for God and Christ over the past year. I will probably be taking a short break over the next 2 or 3 weeks, but I will be back in January.

Stay safe, stay warm, and most of all remember the God who loves you. Try not to confuse the American version of Christmas with the spiritual version. It's all about Jesus. Take care, and see you soon!

- Jon

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The Season...

I had originally published the following short essay about 2 years ago. At that time, we were more or less unaffected by the current economic downturn - at least to the degree we are experiencing it now. Because of this, I feel that the lesson contained in the piece below has become somewhat tempered. I don't think "we are as bad about this as we used to be," so to speak. Nonetheless, it still holds relevance for the 2009 Christmas season, as anyone who has participated in Christmas shopping of any kind will attest to. I hope you enjoy it:

Here we are ready to go into another Christmas holiday season. The lights are up, the decorations have been set out, and the caroling has begun. The problem is, no one is listening. We are all out shopping – running from store to store and mall to mall. We are extremely concerned about what we will get Uncle so-and-so, or our spouse, or our kids… or even what we will receive ourselves. But what about Christmas? Not the season for consumerism in America (if it weren’t for Thanksgiving our country would begin advertising in August) – but what about the actual meaning behind it?

Many would say the meaning of Christmas is gift giving. Our children would say it’s about Santa, or getting the perfect remote control car, or setting up a tree; but mainly about presents. And who could blame them? They have eyes, they watch mommy and daddy drop hundreds of dollars at the mall.

Many would say the meaning of Christmas is family. The fact remains that Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year in our country. Air travel, car travel, gas prices, money, and least of all trying to find a way to get everyone together in one place at one time….. and then to get along! But who doesn’t want their children to remember their first couple of Christmas’ as being surrounded by relatives and good food! This is what I distinctly remember as a young boy.

Some would say the meaning of Christmas is all of the above rolled into one, and certainly this isn’t far from the truth. But I seem to remember one more thing. It seemed to involve a woman named Mary, and a manger, and something about a savior-born-as-child. I believe there were wise men, and a large star in the sky, and a good deal about reverence and holiness. Or was this just a nice fairy tale?

In fact, the reason for the Christmas season is Jesus Christ (Christ-mas). It is the celebration of the birthday of the most important person in all of creation. It is about giving, but not presents. It is about family, but not just a gathering. It is a remembering of the all-important gift of God to humankind. It is interesting not that Americans celebrate it, but HOW we celebrate it. Did I get what I wanted….. did he/she get what she wanted…. have we saved enough money to meet these demands….. were there enough Tickle-Me-Elmos to go around, or will there be mothers fighting in the isles of department stores…..

Where is our head, where is our heart? So this season if you are one of the lucky ones, and you had enough money to get everyone a new such-and-such, and you will share this wonderful day with loved ones, and you don’t get stranded in a snow storm or caught in a department store feeding-frenzy on Christmas Eve, then don’t forget to thank God. But more importantly, tell your kids to do the same.

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Interesting Quote

"Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning..."

- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

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Welcome

Welcome back to A Logical Faith. It is almost Christmas, and we are reminded that this season is about more than shopping and setting up Christmas trees and ornaments. Hopefully you are a return visitor. But even if you are new to this blog, I hope you stick around and read to your heart's content.

Not everything on this website is apologetics based, but a good majority of it is. There is such an abundance of evidence in favour of God that I never run out of material to publish. Your comments are always welcome, and if I can, I try to respond to all of them - so check back if you leave one.

Thanks, and happy reading...

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The Great Reversal: Antony Flew

There have been more than a few articles written about Antony Flew. He is a British philosopher that spent the majority of his life refuting theism. He was known by many as one of the pillars of atheism, by which many professed atheists "hung their hats." In 2004 however, this all changed, as Flew authored the book There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. The mere mention of Flew and his book incites anger in many people. If you don't know who Flew is, it would be analogous to the Pope renouncing his Catholic Faith or Hitler building schools for the Jewish nation -- he did a complete 180 degree turn.

So why the sudden change? Some of his more outspoken critics (people that used to uphold Flew as an eminent philosopher) are now blaming his change of heart on his old age. How boring. Have they read his book? Some argue that his contributing editor Roy Varghese actually took charge of the majority of the book. This claim has been widely rejected by many, including Flew himself. It's interesting to me that someone so revered by so many while he was a non-believer, should be so quickly written off and forgotten when (after decades of study) he finally changes his mind. I have included a link to an interview with Flew at the end of this post. You be the judge on whether or not he is "declining due to old age."

So lets discount the knee-jerk reactions of his critics and nay-sayers for the moment, and examine the more interesting question. How does someone go from one end of the spectrum to the other end? Not slightly askew mind you, but ALL the way to the other side. It occurs to me that it just may be that Flew has finally allowed himself to see the big picture. The nail in the coffin of his atheism was the recent discovery of consistent complexity in nature, specifically biology. After years of looking at the glass half empty, something happened. His book outlines several good arguments in favor of God, as well as a good many critiques as to why the atheistic beliefs of his contemporaries fail. But this still points us back to the question, "why the big change, and why now?"

May God continue to work in all of us. I believe this change of heart demonstrates that it is NEVER too late to accept (as St. Paul mentions in the book of Romans) the fact that God's creation itself is evidence to His divine existence. It just happened to take Flew until the later years of his life to see this truth. Far be it from us to consider ourselves "too intelligent" to believe in God. May we never become too educated or too learned to look up at the stars in the night sky, or a beautiful sunset and say, "there is no creator."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbyTwmaJArU

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Mark Cahill: Christians Must Evangelize

Penn Jillette (famous magician and front man for the Penn and Teller act) is a professed atheist. He has said the following about Christian evangelization, "I know there is no God... but if you believe that someone is going to hell unless he or she repents and accepts Christ, then there comes a time when you must basically tackle that person to get them out of the way of that oncoming truck." Penn has a point. Even though he doesn't believe what the Bible says, he openly displays his respect for Christians who aren't afraid to share the gospels with other people.

And we as believing Christians must do the same. God has called us to go out and preach the gospel to all the nations via the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20): "All authority on heaven and earth have been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

So then, why are we so hesitant sometimes? Embarrassment? Shame? Fear? Mark Cahill is a Christian author and speaker. He has written two influential books (One Heartbeat Away and One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven). I recently listened to one of his talks, and he tells us some pretty staggering facts. He gives us the statistic, "every second, 7 people on planet earth will die, and take their final step into eternity. By the time you put your head on your pillow tonight, 600,000 people will have died." His call for us is to do something about it.

There are many Christians who preach on how to reach out to the lost* -- there is Ray Comfort, the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, even Billy Graham. But Cahill is a recent standout. His enthusiasm is evident when you watch him speak. His message is infectious. I have included the link to one of his most interesting talks below. It is rather long, but if you want more of what I have written about here, feel free to click and enjoy. The real question is 'what can you and I do today and tomorrow to further the kingdom?' As my pastor recently challenged our church; think of 3 people in your life that could benefit from the best news in the history of the world. And then do something to act on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VA2b_s6yaI

* I have always disliked the term "lost." Prior to accepting Christ, I had periodically been referred to as lost. If you don't like this term either, feel free to exchange it for any of the following, which in my mind mean the same thing: seeker, inquirer, non-Christian.

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Reading "The Shack"

Many of you may have already read the William Paul Young book "The Shack." I recently borrowed it and sat down to peruse this 250 page novel. The story begins with a character named Mackenzie (Mack), and lays out his encounter with the Holy Trinity. Mack and his family had a terrible family tragedy when they were out camping and his youngest daughter Missy was kidnapped. As Mack searched for her, it became more and more apparent that she would not return, and later we find out that she was indeed murdered by her assailant. Since Mack's grief has no real outlet, the book begins when God sends him a note in the mail asking him to meet at a shack in the woods; the same shack where the killer had taken his daughter. God could see that Mack was stuck and in serious need of help.

To be honest, this book deserves two separate reviews. Part 1 should be a critique on the style and story-telling ability, and part 2 should be a review on Young's use of theology. Instead, I will attempt to intertwine both of those threads into this one review, and see where we end up! Since I have a 7 year old daughter, I was hooked into the original premise of the book immediately. It caught my attention and didn't let go right up until the end. Young's use of language was acceptable (neither superb nor below average), but the real compliment is reserved for his ability to hold the reader's attention. I could not put the book down. This novel has an ability to heal people's hurt I think. His depiction of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is certainly unorthodox (we will get to this in a minute), but if you can see past that - it is quite an engrossing work of fiction.

Unfortunately Young's use of theology is off... quite a bit off. Had I not known much about the Bible it would not have been an impediment. But because I did, certain things caught my attention. It was very interesting to me that a book based on the Biblical understanding of God often failed to be accurate in that respect. Much of the book centers on not following "the rules" however, and Young makes sure that readers know that his version of God is 'constantly full of surprises.'

Most of the inconsistencies I was able to overlook simply because the book was so well written, and I don't mind a fresh perspective on all things spiritual. To be fair, the author portrayed God as kind, good, and forgiving. A great many popular works of fiction fail to do this. Kudos to "The Shack" in that regard. The main thing that bothered me however, was that Young all but completely ignores one of the most important truths of the Bible: salvation through Christ alone. There are almost no references to it, a total of only 2 by my count. Young skims the subject matter with phrases like this, "(God speaking) All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two-way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship, but it is the nature of love to open the way." Here Young gives part of the truth, but if the reader didn't know the Bible or have a relationship with Christ already, this wouldn't be enough information.

Why am I so hard on Young regarding this point? Because the rest of the book is written with a great deal of care. Why not the most important promise of the Bible also? We may never know, it is not for an author to explain himself. If people reading this book use it as a signpost which leads them to the Bible, then we have a huge success of a book on our hands. If they read it and then stop, never moving on, but instead taking what is taught in "The Shack" as total truth, then the novel has failed. If you are reading it or have already read it, I would advise you to allow yourself to enjoy this book - but then move on and read The New Testament. Again don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and I think it has great potential to lead people back to God. As long as they keep asking the hard questions, and read the Bible also.

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Archaeology Speaks...

"No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries."

- Dr. Nelson Glueck

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Discovery vs. Invention

I am reminded from time to time that man does not invent everything. Many things simply exist, and it almost appears that we were allowed to discover them. Take for example things like the placement of our planet in just such the right way to allow our scientists and astronomers to study not only our own vast solar system, but also neighboring ones. We could have been placed anywhere on the galactic spectrum, but we just so happened to end up with a birds eye view with which to enjoy the heavens.

Take also for instance mathematics. I am no genius when it comes to algorithms and geometric proofs. But even I can tell that 5x5 would equal 25, whether or not human beings came into existence or not. Stop and think about this for a minute. What this means is that an extremely large, accurate sub-system of numbers and patterns exist in our world, by which not only can we figure out certain physical laws, but that we can also project data well beyond our own sphere of understanding, so much so that we often are left uttering things like, "this can't be true", or "that is simply amazing." Incredible minds like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking have no explanation for it; they are in awe.

The point is this: mathematics (the multiplication table for example) existed before we did. Man did not create it, we just discovered it. How amazing to stumble onto something so powerful and ordered. Just like DNA and the physical laws of the universe, this points to an intelligence that is doing the ordering. If not, then we are extremely lucky - dare I say ridiculously lucky. But then to calculate luck and chance, we would need math.

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Interesting Quote

"The usual approach of science constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?"

- Stephen Hawking

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Sermon: Following the Truth

Here is my latest sermon message. Trouble distinguishing between what is true and what isn't sometimes? You are not alone. There are a slew of different belief systems floating around in America today. So is it really okay for people to subscribe to whatever system they want? Does living that way have consequences? Click play below and find out!

God's Chorus...

I ran across this song some time ago. It is by no means new music, it's been out for years I think. It is Watermark singing "Light of the World." This is one of my favorites when it comes to Christian music. How interesting to think that even the best music we hear while on earth, will pale by comparison to God's Chorus in Heaven. That alone would be worth the price of admission in my book!

Hope you enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-3Sh7QNdk

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Why Do People Reject Jesus?

I found this video on YouTube by Greg Koukl (Christian apologist) and thought it was interesting. He addresses the issue of why many people might ignore much of the evidence out there about Christ, and reject what the Bible tells us. There is an especially interesting point from Koukl at the end of the video regarding Pride.

This is a short one, about 2 minutes. Hope you enjoy!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t0Y_VUuNYc&feature=related

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Interesting Quote...

"Just because it doesn’t make sense to you, doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense."

- Adrian Rogers

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Are You a Good Person?

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Are you a good person? Who among us would say no, right? I have included the link below to an interesting "quiz" created by the folks at WayOfTheMaster.com ministries. It poses all 10 of the commandments in ways that relate to you and I. It's kind of lengthy, maybe 8-10 minutes or so, but I found it to be very insightful. How many people walking around today need Christ but don't even know it?

Take the interactive questionnaire and see how you stack up! Click on the link below to begin:

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/goodperson.shtml

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Bible FAQ: Did You Know....

Remember David from the Bible? Of course you do! David was one of the most beloved of all Israel's kings. Some scholars though had denied that King David was a real historical figure. They thought he was just a creation of the Old Testament. Their skepticism changed, however, in 1993 when an excavation at Tel-Dan in Northern Israel revealed the now famous stone tablet with an inscription referring to the House of David.

In 1994 two more of these fragments with the same inscriptions in Aramaic were found; again mentioning the "House of David." In 1995 Time Magazine ran an article based on this discovery. The writing and inscriptions were dated to the 9th century B.C., just about one century after David's rule. The article expressly stated that, "the skeptics claim that King David never existed is now hard to defend."

Not bad for a "mythical" character in the Bible, who some thought never existed. It would appear that he actually left a mark in history, he actually had a home. We can be grateful that the Bible is a historical document, as well as an exemplary show of Faith and Truth.

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Anger and the Bible

My mother-in-law is a guidance counselor for an elementary school (2 of them actually). She runs an anger management group. Guess what the average age of the attendees is? KINDERGARTEN! Does the world need the Bible? I would say so.

When I first heard this, I began to search the Bible for scriptures about anger, and I noticed an over-abundance. As I list out some of the verses below, try to read them with an ear toward the action statements contained within the scriptures themselves. There is something that God requires us to do when it comes to the subject of anger.

Here are the scriptures I came across:

* Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil (Psalm 37:8)

* Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you (Proverbs 20:22).

* Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)

* But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Collossians 3:8)

* Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)

Did you notice something? All of these scripture passages (and many more that I haven't listed here) require from us a choice. Words and phrases like, "refrain, do not, you must..." tell us that God wants us to manage how we handle anger. I think God is telling us that although you can have a gut reaction when you are offended or slighted, the amount of time we allow this anger to boil is up to us. How we deal with anger is an act of the will, not simply some automatic or animal instinct that we can't possibly control. We are active participants.

I personally hope those kindergarten kids come to grips with this truth someday, and someday soon. It will take a degree of maturity to grapple with this idea; that anger is controllable. Perhaps they didn't have parents that modeled this for them, or maybe they simply lead frustrating lives already. But one more thing - when I think of situations like this I must remember to ask myself, "where would I be without the Bible." And just as important: where are you, with regard to anger?

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Interesting Quote

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."

- Albert Einstein

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Bible FAQ: Did You Know...

Did you know that for a number of years, some skeptics actually disputed the New Testament accounts about Pontius Pilate? No hard artifacts existed at the time to confirm his existence and position, and later extra-biblical historical mention of him was suspected as having been improperly borrowed from the Christian scriptures and later creeds. Then, in 1961, archaeologists found a first century theater inscription at Caesarea Maritima in Israel, dedicated from "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea," to "Tiberius Caesar." What the Bible had professed and preserved in scripture had achieved hard artifact verification nearly 2,000 years later. Chalk one up for God's people!

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Intent Precedes Content...

Running this blog has been a great joy to me. During the past months I have been able to dig in and research the different aspects of Christianity, as well as tackle some of the different types of evidence across the board in various scientific fields. One of the things I have noticed quite a bit recently, as I have been browsing back over some of the comments that people have been posting to my articles; is the notion that if someone has truly made up their mind already, there is no changing it.

Take a simple example to begin with. Lets say that I grew up in a household that venerated the tradition of eating pizza every Friday night, no matter what. Throughout my early childhood and even up into my teens, I rarely missed a Friday night pizza dinner. It was a good opportunity for my parents to take a break from cooking, and we all really like the pizza place down the road. But later in life I began to increase my sphere of knowledge, and was introduced to the idea that there was something better out there than pizza... that there was such a thing as Peking Duck (don't worry this is just an example. I haven't lost my mind and abandoned pizza!). And not only was Peking Duck available at numerous restaurants around town, but that I could eat it whenever I needed to, not just on Fridays!

Sound silly? I think this is close to what happens when people refuse to listen to God's "still, small" voice. They do not follow the evidence, the history, or the witness of others to their logical end. Sure we can have different views on how to interpret the evidence, even among Christians there are disagreements. But the issue runs deeper than this. In this sense, Intent can come prior to Content. If I don't allow God at the outset, then guess what? There is no room for God within the construct or paradigm of how I interpret the evidence. I am finished before I even begin. I have decided not only to avoid Peking Duck altogether, but I won't even drive past the Chinese restaurant.

Now this can work both ways of course. Couldn't someone presume the supernatural where it doesn't exist? This is what makes new converts to "religion" so interesting. They haven't had the bias of growing up Catholic, or Baptist, or whatever. They have come to believe based on their own understanding of the arguments. In a sense, they have "earned their stripes" in the school of independent study. We should admire this determination. Because if you are going to believe in something, you should know why. Are you certain that God doesn't exist? Or are you simply driving past the restaurant, without even stopping?

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God Proof #12

The Bible is an amazing book. Its 66 books were written by some 40 authors over the span of some 1,500+ years. And through it all, the Bible remains seamless and harmonious. One interesting fact when we talk about proving God, or proving the authority of the Bible comes by way of fulfilled prophecies. Now by prophecy, I am not talking here about the looser sense of the word in movies and the popular writing of today. I mean the utterances spoken by the prophets of God in days gone by, of which the veracity has already been proven for all to see.

Lets look at just the prophecies of Jesus Christ alone. There are roughly over 300 of them that can be traced back and proved to have already come to pass! Some critics will offer this rebuttal to the data: "well, maybe Jesus had read these prophecies, and then purposely tried to position himself in the right place at the right time in order to fulfill them publicly." Now this is rather silly, as most of you probably can sense from the outset. Did Christ plan to be born in the right town and at the right time? Did Jesus say to himself, "well next week I have to die at the hands of Pontius Pilate on a cross to fulfill Isaiah 53?" I'm afraid that simply doesn't fly.

Now what do I mean by prophecies fulfilled? Here is a short list of examples below:

He would be born of the seed of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3, 22:18), of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12f), etc. The city in which He would be born (Micah 5:2), that Jesus would come while the temple was still standing (Malachi 3:1), that He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), that He would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), that He’d be rejected by His own people (Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:7), the exact time in history when Christ would die (Daniel 9:24-26; 483 years after the declaration to reconstruct the city of Jerusalem in 444 B.C. This was fulfilled to the very year.), how He would die (Psalm 22:16-18, Isaiah 53; Zech 12:10), and that He would be resurrected (Psalm 16:10).

So what does this all mean? Is it just old wive's tales that were written in one part of a book, and verified at another part of the same book? That would be a good argument if the book were written by the same author in the same lifetime. But as I stated above, it was spread out across generations and hundreds of years. Okay, so maybe all the writers simply looked back across the pages and invented accounts to fulfill the prophecies, right? Remember that the Bible is a historical document as well as an inspired book. The person and existence of Jesus (remember we are talking here only about prophecies related to Christ; we haven't touched on the other ones) vindicated over 300 such predictions, in ways that defy backward plagiarism.

Weak arguments exist, but so do strong rebuttals. At the end of the day, I'm afraid we are left with good evidence for the veracity of the Bible, as well as proof that it was inspired by God. Not only do the prophecies tell us that Jesus was the real deal, but they also tell us that God knows His plan for the past, present, and future - and knows it well. As C.S. Lewis put it in his book "Mere Christianity", '... we have reason to be uncomfortable...' Or in the case of the Christian believer; we have reason for our assurance.

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Interesting Quote

"Where the eye is focused, there the imagination finds its raw material. The right focus must be won at immense cost and discipline. Train the eye to see the good, and the imagination will follow suit."

- Ravi Zacharias

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What Do We Know About “Knowing?"

Last night I had the chance to view the film “Knowing” starring Nicholas Cage. In the film Cage plays John, a physics teacher at a university, who discovers a piece of paper with strange number strings written on it which his son Caleb brought home from school. The piece of paper had been sealed in a time capsule for 50 years, and recently un-earthed. Once John realizes that the number strings contain dates and longitudinal coordinates for both past and future disasters, the plot begins to take off.

At first it appeared that the film would just be another take on the Bible code phenomena, which by itself isn’t necessarily that compelling. But as the movie unfolds we begin to see that it is more or less Hollywood’s take on the Rapture (this is the idea among some Christian faiths that Jesus will come down and deliver all the saved people prior to the Great Tribulation). While I personally feel that the concept of the rapture is based on a misinterpretation of 1 Thessalonians, the film itself still did a good job of displaying the Christian worldview in a positive light. This is a big deal, because most of the media and especially Hollywood, depicts the Christian as often neurotic or psychotic. Kudos here to the director, who appeared to have taken the time and effort to ascribe a degree of respect to the Bible.

While certain things in the film were not Biblically accurate, it was nonetheless refreshing to see a thoughtful and even suspenseful dramatic presentation of end time events. Though other smaller films have sought to give attention to the concept of the end times, this movie had an A-list cast and excellent special effects. All the better to appeal to today’s younger cultural market.

Where this film did succeed was the idea of redemption and renewal. Without giving too much of the plot away, it was clear that one of the main ideas toward the end of the film was that certain human beings (those who had been “called”) were to be saved from destruction and redeemed in order to begin anew. This idea does go hand-in-hand with the book of the Revelation in the Bible of course. God tells us that we will have a new Earth and a new Heaven at the end of the age. How interesting to see a major motion picture attempt to capture this truth and beauty in today’s world! Overall I would have to recommend this film – not a bad way to spend a Saturday night. And don’t worry, I promise it will at least be stimulating enough to have an interesting conversation once its over. How many movies can we really say that about?

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Ricky Gervais on Religion...

I came across this video of actor/comedian Ricky Gervais giving his thoughts on religion and God. Ricky is most noted for his role as the bumbling boss on the BBC sitcom "The Office." That show was enormously successful and showcased his talent for being funny. You will note in the video link below, however, that there is nothing funny about his falling away from God.

His honest feelings may be coming through here. An emotional experience started him on his journey away from Christ. Some confusion about where the need to be spiritual comes from is also present. The main thing I noticed was his admission that he still lives according to Christian values and morals, even though he has renounced Christ. I don't think Ricky's position is too far from many people in today's world. It deserves serious answers from thinking Christians, and we must not criticize the views of people like this. He is not the aggressive and brazen atheist denouncing God in every facet of existence. He is just a person needing the peace of a creator - like the rest of us. Click below to view this short, interesting video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAfuKfmE1Tc

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Ummm God, What About my Checkbook?

The US is going through one of the worst financial downturns in years. Businesses are closing across the country at an alarming rate. Employees are being laid off. As of the writing of this article, some sources are quoting the American jobless rate at close to 10%. Even if you have a job you are still nervous. If you don’t, chances are you have probably been job-hunting for at least a year, if not more. It would appear that currently we are living in a culture of fear. Fear of financial ruin, fear of losing our 401k, fear of instability in general.

During this time it is normal to ask “where is God in all this?” Are we simply a product of our economy? Bound by the ebb and flow of normal economic lulls and highs? Is God out to lunch? Does He even care? As I have been thinking about these questions, a few things have occurred to me. Both my wife and mother-in-law have provided interesting insight here, as well as the Bible itself. Let us examine for a minute what we really lose vs. what we gain when our environment forces us to tighten the belt a bit. Now let me start off by clarifying that I am not forgetting about people who have lost their homes, lost their retirements, or cannot afford to eat. For these things there is no easy answer. But lets talk for a minute about some of the things that relative wealth (and America is still a wealthy nation) allows us to do.

When our materialistic needs are being met, I believe we have a tendency to become cocooned. Let me explain. If I have enough money to get the groceries I need, to take my family on vacation, to make every mortgage payment, and to keep up on some of life’s more enjoyable activities; then what purpose am I fulfilling? Sure I can contribute to charity or to church if I choose to do so – that is the good part. But what is happening to my spiritual side? Might I not become more or less a little apathetic when it comes to caring about other people? Or for that matter, needing other people? Needing God? If I can live on my own “island” and everything is comfortably provided, then what need do I have to seek out the rest of the world? I can simply keep buying HD television sets, new cars, and upgrading my cell phone each year. If I wanted to, I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone face-to-face at all.

But what about when that financial current is rattled? What about when I get laid off, or my spouse gets laid off, or all of a sudden I can’t make my mortgage payment? Well I can react in 1 of 2 ways. The first way is that I can hoard everything I have left, panic, and become depressed or even angry. Angry at God and/or everyone around me. The other option is to see this as an opportunity to possibly live the way God wants Americans to live. Needing each other and helping each other. Stepping out from behind the Internet or cell phone and into the real world. We must come outside of our comfortable bubble; we must leave our “island” (at least temporarily) and begin to wade through the deep water. In times of trouble God’s people should not become bitter. Though Job was subjected to severe circumstances in the Old Testament, he never rejected or renounced his creator. I don’t think God is punishing America. But if it is a judgment, we may in fact deserve it. What does a country get when it sets itself up as its own creators? When we are shown that our wealth is always transitory? I think we come face to face with our real selves -- for better or worse. As my family and myself are by no means aloof from this latest economic recession, I am hoping that I come out of it with the lesson learned, and not the anger. I am hoping the same for America.

The Official Business Card

Questions That Jesus Can Answer:

* Who Am I? * Where Am I Going?
* What Comes Next? * What is Love?
* Who Is God? * What Kind of Life Should I Live?
* Where Did We Come From? * How Should I Treat People?
* How Can I Get to Heaven? * What Does Life Mean?
* What is Forgiveness? * How Can I be Saved?
* Why Doesn't Wealth Fix Things? * What is Atonement?

Get the Picture?

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Is God Still Alive?

Hello and Welcome! Let me assure you that God is still alive and well, even in times of dismal financial circumstances.

Thank you for taking time to read this blog. Comments are always welcome. I hope the information contained on this website will help you to further understand that 1.) there is a God, 2.) Yes, He actually does care about us, and 3.) you can have doubts or questions and still be faithful.

Stick around a while and enjoy the posts.

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St. Thomas Aquinas Quote

“The things that we love tell us what we are.”

This quote from early Christian writer Thomas Aquinas seems to put the onus on us by giving us this simple way to think about what we consider important. If we are given to the materialistic desires of the world, then maybe we fill our hearts with money, possessions, or something worse. Jesus said "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." But rather turn your eyes toward Heaven and the things of God. I lost some friends and co-workers today due to financial limitations within our company. It reminds me that this world and everything in it is transient. I hope someday when I am no longer around, that people can say about me, "he really had his priorities in check," or "he loved what was important." If God ranks on this priority list for you and I, then by His very nature we will have loved the right things. If God is the center, then the fruits of the spirit follow suit: love, kindness, gentleness, righteousness.

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Life is Meaningless? Think Again...

I enjoyed listening to Ravi Zacharias' counter argument to the statement offered by some atheists and materialists that "life is ultimately meaningless." Ravi is an accomplished speaker, author, teacher, and Christian apologist. Click on the link below and listen to his answer. It is a short video, only about 2 minutes long. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4e_AOqlllc&feature=related

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Appetite and Existence

We are provided an interesting clue to the origin of man when we think about the relationship between desire and being satiated. Consider first some common scenarios that we have around us from which to choose. Appetite or hunger for example. If I am hungry, it is because I lack something within myself (namely food), and I can point to the reality of an outside source -- a pork chop, a salad, etc. – which will satisfy this hunger once I have indulged. There is also the example of being physically too cold or too warm, if you will. Our bodies are set at a certain temperature (this varies slightly for different people of course) from which if we stray too far in one direction we will be too cold. Too far in the opposite direction, we will become overheated. As such there is a balance or an ideal which exists on our planet that meets this need we have regarding an acceptable temperature range.

If we go a little more abstract, we can talk about the need for companionship for example (either social or marital). Although many of us have different levels upon which we communicate with others, almost none of us would be happy living alone in a box with no connection to the outside world for the rest of our lives. People need other people, we need companionship in some form. I would also argue that this need/fulfillment relationship goes farther than the statement “it would be nice to have a friend in my life.” No, I’m afraid that it is actually a need. We can see from just a few of these examples that there are certain things operating in this world and within ourselves that have a need vs. satisfaction relationship. In other words, we have the need as human beings because there are people or objects or things outside of us that we can direct these appetites toward, and thus become satiated.

Now let us take this another step farther. We have no desire within us which does not have an object or source with which to satisfy that hunger. Isn’t it natural or logical to conclude that because man most certainly has the need to apply meaning and purpose to his existence, that this hunger or need has an object outside of itself by which it can be fulfilled? In other words, since we have the craving for God in our lives, for something higher, or better, or more moral, or more fair - could we not assume that there is a God which can meet this need? If not, then we must make arguments for things like evolution creating within us the need to lead more fulfilling lives. We must thank the first amphibian that grew legs and crawled onto land for the yearning for purpose. We must look to the first warm pool of chemical sludge in the Pre-Cambrian period for our morality. If one seriously attempts to do this, they end up in an argument of words without meaning: “Morality is what we make it, truth is whatever works for you, etc.”

No, I’m afraid that man is not simply a Cosmic Joke. We are called to be more than that. There is a reason that you and I are programmed to look for something greater. A reason that nothing in this world ever really seems completely fair or just. A reason that no matter what law is passed, or what initiative is set forth, human error can still unravel it. Let’s face it. We have a notion of perfection planted inside of us, it is left to God to meet that need. Until He is present in our life, we remain incomplete.

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Interesting Quote

"Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable."

- G.K. Chesterton

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God's Love Defined

We often take time to remember Jesus, to remember His sacrifice for us on the cross. But how does He think of us? We are told God loves us in the Bible, but how does this really look? And to what degree does He love us? Let’s look at some examples in the Bible, and see what this love really looks like. I came away with 4 ways to describe God’s Love in particular (although there are many others).

First Matthew 10:29-31 relates, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Here we see that God’s love is incalculable. He knows us through and through, inside and out. This is reassuring, but also a little scary – isn’t it? That someone could know us better than we know ourselves!

Second if we turn to the book of Psalms, we see Psalm 52:8 which says “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. “ Likewise Psalm 136:1 says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Here the psalmist shows that God’s love has no time limit. It goes on forever. If He can forgive a sinner 2,000 years ago, He can forgive you and me today.

Thirdly 1 John 2:4-6 also speaks about God’s love for man. It says “The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” His love is shown here as disciplined. Real love seen here as coinciding with obedience. A conscious decision. When we walk inside the faith (and not outside of it), His love is made complete in us.

And finally Romans 5:7-9 tells us “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love is merciful. Though we didn’t deserve it, we received it. Though we mocked His son on the cross, we received it. Though we mock Him sometimes today with the great sins of our time (abortion, pornography, dehumanization) we received it. He is capable of loving us so much more than we can ever give back to Him, but He does it anyway. His love is incalculable, forever, disciplined, and merciful. In other words – it is perfect!

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On Forgiveness

I recently found this quote from C.S. Lewis (famous Christian writer) regarding forgiveness, and why it is so important to cultivate it in ourselves, and other virtues like it. He said:

"Remember, we Christians think man lives forever. Therefore, what really matters is those little marks or twists on the central, inside part of the soul which are going to turn it, in the long run, into a heavenly or hellish creature. We may kill if necessary but we must not hate and enjoy hating. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it. In other words something inside us, the feeling of resentment, the feeling that wants to get one’s own back, must simply be killed."

Humbling to think that what we do in this life can reflect in such detail that higher form of life in heaven to which we are all called. Holding grudges is popular and widespread, and even sometimes gratifying. But then why are we gratified? What part of ourselves are we feeding? The heavenly part or the hellish part?

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Beacon of Hope: Medjugorje

Ever heard the phrase, “The Bible is really just about God dealing with people thousands of years ago.” Maybe the wording is slightly different, but the attitude demonstrated here seems to be that God doesn’t intervene in our world anymore, if He ever did at all. Though there are many proofs that God does still intervene today, what I am about to describe seems to be one of the most accessible and recordable forms of God’s activity in recent history.

I will give a quick overview of the account given from a little village near Bosnia-Herzegovina called Medjugorje. Many of you have some knowledge regarding the purported appearance of the apparition of the Virgin Mary within the last few hundred years. There were occurrences in Lourdes, Garabandal, and Fatima for example. At all of these locations, witnesses described seeing her and then receiving specific messages. Mary would appear for a time and then stop. The Catholic Church recorded the messages and held the appearances in high regard (though to this date never officially endorsing them). If your skepticism alarms are beginning to sound off; hold on a minute! This is not a ghost story or a UFO sighting – keep reading.

We have available to us a collection of apparitions that are still going on to this very day in the village of Medjugorje! This is significant because it allows us a portal to look through in which the six people that Mary reportedly appears to regularly are still living. They have all six been put through rigorous tests by various government officials, psychologists, and priests. They were forced to submit to polygraph tests, as well as humiliation and insults from local nonbelievers. Still their testimonies remain unscathed. To date millions of people (not just Catholics) have gone to visit this area. There have been both conversions and healings. I have included a link below showing video of one of the purported miracles caught on tape; it is called the Miracle of the Sun. From time to time pilgrims will witness the sun bouncing around the sky, coming closer, then farther away, or simply changing appearance. Thousands of people at a time witness these phenomena.

All of us must make up our own mind when it comes to Medjugorje (and things like it). It has appeared on national news shows like Nightline in the past. A man I know personally and respect has visited this area a number of times and personally witnessed some of these events. Jesus said that the way to judge whether or not something is good is by its fruit. Thus far, the fruits of Medjugorje have been the same as the messages given: that God wants from us prayer, conversion, fasting, and penance. If it is true, then we are fortunate enough to be alive at a time when God has proven that He “will never forsake us, never abandon us.” One final thought. Medjugorje is popular among Catholics because it involves the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. But this event is not just for Catholics. It is a God thing, and that is sufficient for me. The website is http://www.medjugorje.org/ if you want to learn more (NOTE: this website also appears in this blog's list of other Christian websites).

Miracle of the Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlPHHl0AjZk

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The Author of Love

Where does love come from? Is it a human invention? Is it simply a collection of emotions like butterflies in the stomach, or is it something more? Different people have different definitions of love. But I think that if we dwell upon the subject for any length of time, we must come to the conclusion that it is more than just a “feeling.” Although going on a first date can provide us with that nervous stomach and romantic fireworks emotion, it doesn’t last forever. This is simply the honeymoon stage. What comes after is more interesting. And I think we can agree that what comes after is more like an act of the will, as opposed to an ooey/gooey feeling.

This I think is how the love of God works. In the Bible He lists out for us numerous examples of love both given and received, and usually it involves a decision of the will. For example, deciding to make sacrifices for your children even though it may be detrimental to yourself. Deciding to stay with your spouse through difficult times, when it may seem easier to cut and run. Remember the Israelites in the desert? How often did God probably want to throw his hands up regarding humanity! But still He is a faithful God.

Now please don’t assume that by this new understanding of love that it is somehow less than strictly an emotional definition. The two go hand in hand to some extent. But the main thing is this: that God loved us enough to sacrifice the life of His Son on the cross for us. It is one thing to imagine that this sacrifice was purely mythical or symbolic. Another thing entirely to come to realize that it actually happened. That Jesus was actually flogged by Roman soldiers. That the nails used in the crucifixion on Calvary were real. It is this love that God has for us, if we are willing to accept it. I am glad that the author of love will accept people if they desire Him. Even more glad that He will accept me!

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Interesting Quote

"The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man."

- G.K. Chesterton

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Consistent, But Not So Coherent

There are more than a few public figures today that are espousing theories or modes of logic detrimental to Christianity in particular, but when you actually read their arguments you come to find out that they are quite lacking. In other words, very smart people can make quite a few mistakes when it comes to spiritual truths. To help illustrate this, I recently viewed a video of a talk given by Greg Koukl (Christian apologist). Koukl was examining some of the arguments popular today regarding the New Atheist.

Richard Dawkins (renown atheist) in particular is quite popular for his seductive use of language and wit, but (as Koukl demonstrated) when we actually stop to look at his arguments, we can see the inconsistencies in the logic. Now I want to make it clear from the outset that I am not just picking on Dawkins. Christopher Hitchens, Bill Maher, and the like are equally popular among the nonbelieving crowd; and all get into the same trouble. Lets take a look in this post at some of Dawkin’s key arguments against the existence of God from his book ‘The God Delusion.’ This book came out some years ago, and is standard reading for many atheists today. The points below are from page 187 of this book, where Dawkins lists all of his major precepts for why he doesn’t believe in God. Keep in mind while you are reading that his final assertion is … therefore God almost certainly does not exist. To that end, what his arguments should do is further that conclusion with each premise. Lets read below and see what actually happens. I have added my own comments after each of his points:

* “One of the greatest challenges to the human intellect has been to explain how the complex, improbable appearance of design in the universe arises.” Now this is true, but does nothing to further Dawkins’ argument that ‘God almost certainly does not exist.’ It is just an interesting introductory note. We will give him a pass on this one, hopefully his next proposition will be more compelling.

* “The natural temptation is to attribute the appearance of design with actual design itself.” Also interesting, and possibly true, but does nothing to further the specific conclusion that ‘God almost certainly does not exist.’ Not yet anyway. Remember a good argument consists of premises that should in the very least help propel the thesis to its end result. If Dawkins is arguing against God, he hasn’t succeeded yet.

* “Although we currently have no natural explanation for the appearance of Design, we should not give up the hope of a better explanation arising in Physics as powerful as Darwinism is for Biology.” This statement reflects Dawkins’ hope that his atheism will someday be verified beyond a shadow of a doubt. An interesting piece of information about himself, but again – does nothing to further his end conclusion.

* “The temptation to infer a Designer is a false one because the Designer hypothesis immediately raises the larger problem of who raised the Designer?” Also an interesting opinion, but posing the question “who made God” in no way speaks to whether or not there is a Designer. It just pushes the question back. This premise also does nothing to further his conclusion!

* “The most ingenious and powerful explanation is Darwinian Evolution by natural selection… Therefore God almost certainly does not exist.” Remember this is an opinion without a logical construct. The premises prior to this conclusion have in no way built a supporting foundation. It is entertaining reading; but that is about it. After all, does Darwinian Evolution explain the cosmos, the fine-tuning of the planet, etc.? Can this one theory really be enough to arrive at the conclusion that God doesn’t exist?

Okay, now we have had some fun at the expense of Mr. Dawkins. But what I am getting at is that even the most elite academics make emotionally charged mistakes when it comes to spiritual things. If he were to stick with biology I’m sure he would be quite competent. But when transitioning into the realm of philosophy, logic, and theology - he (and many like him) remain less than proficient. Bill Maher says in his new film Religulous, “you don’t know what happens when you die, because I don’t know what happens when I die, and you don’t possess any special powers that I don’t.” I would answer that he is off the mark a bit. The special power that we possess is God.

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