Where they burn books...

...they will burn people, or so the saying goes from Heinrich Heine. I've been reading Eric Metaxis' book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy in which much is detailed about the early days of Hitler's rise to power. One of Hitler's biggest issues was the authority of the church, which was one of his first conquests after being elected into power. Another first act was to have many books burned that could be used to subvert his own authority. Heine's books were among those burned, ironically. Why am I pointing all this out? Read on.

The Five Pillars of Islam - Salah

Every day throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, a call goes out from mosques five times a day to remind Muslims that it is time to stop what they are doing and give homage to God through prayer.  This prayer is called Salah and is obligatory for all Muslims, save for a few that it might present a hardship too. Salah is simply the ritual prayer.

Where they burn books...

...they will burn people, or so the saying goes from Heinrich Heine. I've been reading Eric Metaxis' book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy in which much is detailed about the early days of Hitler's rise to power. One of Hitler's biggest issues was the authority of the church, which was one of his first conquests after being elected into power. Another first act was to have many books burned that could be used to subvert his own authority. Heine's books were among those burned, ironically. Why am I pointing all this out? Read on.
This past year, Terry Jones, a pastor of a small church in Florida took it upon himself to burn the Qur'an, despite a lot of opposition. A church in North Carolina held a non-KJV Bible burning in 2009. The church in NC also burned music and books by popular Christian authors as well. Of course, book burning is "protected" as free speech by the United States Constitution, supposedly, but I would ask, to what extent? Is book burning inherently wrong? Heine's words proved prophetic in that the Nazi's did burn people as well.

I'm not saying that Terry Jones or the pastor in NC intend to set people on fire, but have we come so far in America, that we would claim free speech while stifling the very freedoms our nation was built upon? Generally speaking, book burnings are un-American. Protesting the building of religious buildings in the name of freedom of religion is also un-American. Yet, these same people claim to be great Americans and great Christians. We need to remember that the Nazis built their platform on being good Germans. We need to be careful, lest we do the same thing.

I do believe there are or should be limits to free speech, particularly when it comes to our matters of conscience. Congress has, for years, attempted to pass a flag desecration amendment, which has continued to fail, in the name of free speech. I think books rate higher than the flag, simply because of the information we can glean from them. The burning of books is an anti-intellectual exercise to stifle free speech. It smacks of a totalitarian belief that others who don't believe the way you do should be oppressed and forced to your point of view.

As Christians, we are not called to suppress other people's viewpoints, but we are encouraged to tell them about the Word, that is Jesus Christ. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word. We must proclaim this. We speak of burning Qur'ans, and yet, even the Muslims would not dare to burn the Bible. We must not stoop lower than our opponent, whether in the name of free speech or even in the name of Jesus. That is not what Jesus would have us do. He has called us to make disciples, not burn books.

The 5 Pillars of Islam - Shahada

Essentially, the Shahada is the Islamic creed which declares God's oneness and Muhammad as God's messenger. It literally says, "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is God's messenger." This is very similar to the Jewish Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4, which states, "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." Both affirm the oneness of God. Christianity itself, affirming the Old Testament, agrees to the oneness of God in that there is one God.

The Five Pillars of Islam - An Introduction

Muslims are to follow what are called the five pillars of Islam. I am going to expound on each pillar in separate posts, but would like to list them and give a brief summary of each here. 

The Candy Shop: A Sex-trade Fairytale

I was shocked to discover that Atlanta, GA is the number one city in America for child-trafficking. While that's disgusting to say the least, a group of filmmakers and others have decided to do something about it by creating a fairytale movie.

The Candy Shop Trailer:



The Candy Shop Movie itself (rather dark):




(ht: Take Your Vitamin Z)

The Candy Shop: A Sex-trade Fairytale

I was shocked to discover that Atlanta, GA is the number one city in America for child-trafficking. While that's disgusting to say the least, a group of filmmakers and others have decided to do something about it by creating a fairytale movie.

The Candy Shop Trailer:

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/15468391 w=580&h=247]

The Candy Shop Movie itself (rather dark):


[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/20833462 w=580&h=247]

(ht: Take Your Vitamin Z)

The Gospel, Justice, and Osama bin Laden

Monday morning, May 2, 2011, I wake up to the news that Osama bin Laden had been found and killed after a firefight in the Pakistani city of Islamabad. How does one react to such news? The most sought fugitive in the world was finally found and seemingly brought to justice. Chants of "U.S.A." were heard around the U.S. White House building as Obama made his speech Sunday night. Is there much to rejoice over? Is this justice?

Visualize.Me Changes the Way You View Your Resume

This looks like an interesting service. It supposedly turns your resume into charts. Take a look at Ashton Kutcher's Resume:

Now, help me and you get early access by clicking the following link: http://vizualize.me/yxlwj and entering your email. Thanks.

Visualize.Me Changes the Way You View Your Resume

This looks like an interesting service. It supposedly turns your resume into charts. Take a look at Ashton Kutcher's Resume:

Now, help me and you get early access by clicking the following link: http://vizualize.me/yxlwj and entering your email. Thanks.

[Book Review] "Quitter" by Jon Acuff

Jon Acuff used to be a serial quitter. Of jobs, that is. Now, he's found his dream job of writing books and speaking at conferences and events while working for Dave Ramsey. Acuff has even written a book about it. While this seems to be a trend of people getting their dream job making lots of money and then writing a book about it, Acuff is not really part of this trend, it seems. You might better know Acuff as that guy who wrote the hilariously funny Stuff Christians Like and writes http://www.stuffchristianslike.net. In Quitter, Acuff details how he went from working eight different jobs in eight years to working his dream job of writing and speaking. There's a lot to like in this book with Acuff's witty writing style and humor. With a book about quitting your job, Acuff does not tell you to quit your day job, yet. What he does do is give you an outline of how to go from your day job to your dream job while working and liking your day job.  While the book is informative and fun to read (I read it in less than a week), I think that a lot of people will never be there with moving to a dream job. While a Christian, this book is not a Christian book. I don't believe that God ever wants us to be dissatisfied with the work we do, yet it was unclear where Acuff stands on this issue, because he talks about being dissatisfied with jobs, until now.

What's funny is that I've read Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness and was not all that impressed, especially since we were already doing most of what Ramsey told us we should be doing. Though, this is the book that Acuff says helped him to be able to afford getting his dream job, and maybe it did help him and his wife get their finances straight. Overall, the book was informative and helpful. I have degrees in theology and missions which I don't believe I am effectively using right now, but would like to. This is why, in the middle of this reading of this book, I started http://gospelformuslims.wordpress.com in order to share my knowledge of how to share the Gospel with Muslims with Christians. Will it ever do well? Who knows, but I am partially inspired by Acuff in this venture. In all, I'd recommend this book if you really do have something that you'd like to be doing and you're sort of stuck in a rut of the day in and day out of a daily grind of a job. God calls us to be satisfied in Him, first and foremost, but sometimes it's hard when the cares of this world take over.

We must look to Christ first to be satisfied in Him. He might have bigger plans for us, just as he had bigger plans for Acuff. God made it clear that we should move to Columbia to pursue my Master's degree. He has yet to make it clear where we should go from here, but I do know this, He always has a plan for our lives. The first and foremost of that plan includes our satisfaction in Him. The rest will follow. Even if you are not satisfied with your job, you can be satisfied in Christ. If God leads you to your dream job, he will make it clear what steps you should follow. Maybe this book will help.

The Arabic Name for God, Allah

The question has often arisen among Christians, particularly Western Christians as to whether or not the name Allah can be used to refer to God as a Christian. I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about who Allah is and what He represents in the various faiths. I aim to get rid of a lot of misconceptions in this post and even touch on the use of the name Isa (Jesus) being used as well.

Jumu'ah Friday

Every Friday around the world, millions of Muslims gather together in their mosques for a sermon from their imam and a congregational prayer service, much like the Jews have on Saturdays and the Christians have on Sundays. What I would like to do is post a prayer each Friday for the salvation of these Muslims from the darkness into light. If you would, pray throughout the day. You may pray this prayer or come up with your own. If you think about it, offer it up about noon, when they will be at their prayers.

Jumu'ah Prayer

Our Father, creator of all living things. We come before you this day on behalf of the millions of Muslims who do not know you as their Lord and Savior. I pray that, as they gather together in their mosques today, that they would see they are lost. They do these things out of a basis of works, and not out of a heart of faith. Father, I ask that you would grant them new hearts to see you, and not the god of Islam, a god that demands works that only he deems are good or not.  Please save them from their religion of works and bring them into your salvation. Help them to see that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God as Peter so boldly proclaimed to Jesus. Only you can save them from their sins.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior,

Amen.

[Book Review] "Quitter" by Jon Acuff

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=godatthecen-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0982986270
Jon Acuff used to be a serial quitter. Of jobs, that is. Now, he's found his dream job of writing books and speaking at conferences and events while working for Dave Ramsey. Acuff has even written a book about it. While this seems to be a trend of people getting their dream job making lots of money and then writing a book about it, Acuff is not really part of this trend, it seems. You might better know Acuff as that guy who wrote the hilariously funny Stuff Christians Like and writes http://www.stuffchristianslike.net. In Quitter, Acuff details how he went from working eight different jobs in eight years to working his dream job of writing and speaking. There's a lot to like in this book with Acuff's witty writing style and humor. With a book about quitting your job, Acuff does not tell you to quit your day job, yet. What he does do is give you an outline of how to go from your day job to your dream job while working and liking your day job.  While the book is informative and fun to read (I read it in less than a week), I think that a lot of people will never be there with moving to a dream job. While a Christian, this book is not a Christian book. I don't believe that God ever wants us to be dissatisfied with the work we do, yet it was unclear where Acuff stands on this issue, because he talks about being dissatisfied with jobs, until now.

What's funny is that I've read Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness and was not all that impressed, especially since we were already doing most of what Ramsey told us we should be doing. Though, this is the book that Acuff says helped him to be able to afford getting his dream job, and maybe it did help him and his wife get their finances straight. Overall, the book was informative and helpful. I have degrees in theology and missions which I don't believe I am effectively using right now, but would like to. This is why, in the middle of this reading of this book, I started http://gospelformuslims.wordpress.com in order to share my knowledge of how to share the Gospel with Muslims with Christians. Will it ever do well? Who knows, but I am partially inspired by Acuff in this venture. In all, I'd recommend this book if you really do have something that you'd like to be doing and you're sort of stuck in a rut of the day in and day out of a daily grind of a job. God calls us to be satisfied in Him, first and foremost, but sometimes it's hard when the cares of this world take over.

We must look to Christ first to be satisfied in Him. He might have bigger plans for us, just as he had bigger plans for Acuff. God made it clear that we should move to Columbia to pursue my Master's degree. He has yet to make it clear where we should go from here, but I do know this, He always has a plan for our lives. The first and foremost of that plan includes our satisfaction in Him. The rest will follow. Even if you are not satisfied with your job, you can be satisfied in Christ. If God leads you to your dream job, he will make it clear what steps you should follow. Maybe this book will help.

'Uncontacted' Amazon tribe found in Brazil - Americas - Al Jazeera English

'Uncontacted' Amazon tribe found in Brazil - Americas - Al Jazeera English

It's amazing that we keep finding new tribes today. Video at the link above.

Female Genital Mutilation - Islamic or Cultural?

There are a number of so-called scholars of Islam out there who write blogs, articles, and appear on cable news channels who often bring up the practice of female genital mutilation (fgm) in their writings and talks on Islam. They often put it out there as a strictly Islamic practice and this is yet another reason why Islam is not a peaceful religion, since they mutilate young girls with the practice of fgm.  So, is this practice Islamic or cultural?

'Uncontacted' Amazon tribe found in Brazil - Americas - Al Jazeera English

'Uncontacted' Amazon tribe found in Brazil - Americas - Al Jazeera English

It's amazing that we keep finding new tribes today. Video at the link above.

Qur'an Burning and the Gospel

Is it Christian to burn another religion's holy book all in the name of claiming to show that the other religion is false? That's the question we must ask ourselves as we look at the example of Terry Jones, that "pastor" in Florida that deemed it fit to burn a Qur'an while serving as the "pastor" of a local church called the World "Outreach" Center. Would Jesus or Paul have burned a Qur'an? Muslims are clearly outraged, but the only place we've seen this outrage is Afghanistan. The deaths are not justifiable, but I can understand their outrage. As well, Jones apparently thinks it's okay to protest a mosque in the name of Jesus Christ as well. Of course, the government did deny him his free speech rights, which is equally as wrong, but where is Jones' Christlikness in all of this?

New Blog: The Gospel for Muslims

I have started a new blog at The Gospel for Muslims. The purpose of this new blog is to educate Christians using my knowledge and experience on how best to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslims. Please visit via the link posted, bookmark, and subscribe via RSS and/or email to get updates. I will be migrating a number of posts from this blog over there as well as take requests via the poll on the site.

[Poll] What topics would you like me to cover?

[polldaddy poll=5163628]

New Blog: The Gospel for Muslims

I have started a new blog at The Gospel for Muslims. The purpose of this new blog is to educate Christians using my knowledge and experience on how best to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslims. Please visit via the link posted, bookmark, and subscribe via RSS and/or email to get updates. I will be migrating a number of posts from this blog over there as well as take requests via the poll on the site.

Introduction to the Gospel for Muslims

On September 11, 2001, many Americans turned on the news to see the World Trade Center towers in New York City burning from two planes slamming into them. A plane had crashed into the Pentagon building in New York City as well. Another plane was downed in the Pennsylvania countryside as the passengers overwhelmed the hijackers in the cockpit. Who was behind these attacks? None other than the al-Qaeda terrorist group, affiliated with the religion of Islam. Soon after, we were sending our troops into Afghanistan to take down the Taliban and search for Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, who was assassinated by a secret Navy group in May 2011, nearly 10 years after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.

[Book Review] Secure Daughters, Confident Sons by Glenn T. Stanton

Glenn T. Stanton has written one of the most important books of the 21st Century related to raising children in a "gender-neutral" world. In "Secure Daughters, Confident Sons," Stanton lays out the gender differences for us in opposing chapters so that we can see how boys and girls are different and how we, as parents can embrace those differences to raise boys who are secure in their masculinity and girls secure in their feminity.

[Book Review] Secure Daughters, Confident Sons by Glenn T. Stanton

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=godatthecen-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1601422946Glenn T. Stanton has written one of the most important books of the 21st Century related to raising children in a "gender-neutral" world. In "Secure Daughters, Confident Sons," Stanton lays out the gender differences for us in opposing chapters so that we can see how boys and girls are different and how we, as parents can embrace those differences to raise boys who are secure in their masculinity and girls secure in their feminity.

The book is laid out in two parts. In Part I, Stanton tells us what makes a good man or woman, what a boy or girl needs most, and the various journeys to manhood or womanhood. He uses examples from his own life with his children as well as examples from his research at Focus on the Family. One thing to note is that this book is not a theology book, and it should not be treated as such. So, don't be disappointed if you find few Bible references. However, the information found within is very pertinent to the Christian family.

Having two daughters and a son myself, and having grown up in a family where I was the son with two younger sisters, I enjoyed reading the differences and nodding my head, agreeing, and laughing at what Stanton put forth. When today's society says that we should encourage a two-year old boy who puts on his sister pink dress as part of the dress up play of his older sisters, Stanton says we shouldn't encourage this, but we also shouldn't worry, because boys will turn around and go back to having their cars crash into buildings anyway. We've had a six-year old boy come over and play Barbies with my seven-year old daughter. But, what does he do? He gets the Ken dolls and has a boxing match. Boys will be boys, no matter the supposed social construct. He says that girls given "boy toys" such as fire trucks will have tea parties with the fire trucks. Girls will be girls.

In part II of the book, Stanton focuses on why boys and girls need mothers and fathers. I've always said this, myself. Fathers and mothers balance each other out. Boys need a father to show them how to be respectful to women. Boys need a mother to show them what to look for in a wife. Girls need their father for protection and to see what a good husband looks like. They need their mother to know how to be feminine. Stanton talks about disagreements between mom and dad, play, the sexual aspects, language development, discipline, mercy, and how gender is not a social construct.

Regardless of how you may feel about Focus on the Family, this book is necessary to stand against what society calls a social construct. When some parents are encouraging their boys to dress like girls, painting their toenails and fingernails with pink nail polish, or even not exposing the gender to the world, we, as Christians need to stand firm and say that yes, there are gender differences. In the end, boys will be boys and girls will be girls. Stanton does just this and we should applaud him for it. One thing that also helped me in this book was to see my wife in a different view. I can see her gender differences and know why she is the way she is. Perhaps it's not just a parenting book, but also a marriage one. One thing is for sure, homosexual couples cannot raise secure daughters or confident sons because there is one half of the equation missing. We need mothers and fathers to raise children.

This book was free as part of Multnomah's Blogging for Books. If you like this review, please rate it below.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/9747

A Father's Faith

Charles Martin Coppenbarger
(1953-1996)

This year marks the 15th anniversary of my father's sudden illness and death.  He would also have been 58 this month. On this Father's Day of 2011, I want to reflect a bit on how we, as fathers, should lead our families in the faith, especially being the father of three children myself, even as my father did. I have many memories of my father ensuring that we were in church or that there were church activities available to us.

A Father's Faith

Charles Martin Coppenbarger
(1953-1996)

This year marks the 15th anniversary of my father's sudden illness and death.  He would also have been 58 this month. On this Father's Day of 2011, I want to reflect a bit on how we, as fathers, should lead our families in the faith, especially being the father of three children myself, even as my father did. I have many memories of my father ensuring that we were in church or that there were church activities available to us.
At the age of 19, I had no idea that would be the last year of my life with my father. Things seem to be going okay, I suppose. I was sort of taking a break from college, sort of involuntarily due to money, but working as pizza delivery driver full time, attempting to get into management. I spent most of my money on gas, video games, cds, comic books, and collectible card games. I still spent time with my family, of course, but at the time we attended different churches. Not because of theology, mind you, but because of youth groups. That's beside the point. A few years earlier, my parents felt that this other church youth group would be better for my middle sister than the one we were at previously, so they switched churches while I was away on a missions trip. I continued at my church because I could drive and that's where my friends were.

I tell this story because my father ensured the best well-being for my family spiritually in this decision. I was not always the best child, even being the oldest, but who of us was ever the best child. We typically fall in one of two camps on this: thinking we were the best child, or thinking one of our siblings was the favored one. Too bad if you were an only child. You were the best and the worst child.

One thing I do know, is that we were always in church. It could have been a KJV-only fundamentalist hellfire and brimstone church (I think that was only once, but it was the one I was saved in at age 7, go figure), or the type we most often attended, a PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) church. Either way, my father made sure we had a church home. As fathers, this is our primarily responsibility. The shepherding of our family. In the same way that Jesus is the chief shepherd, so we, as fathers are called to reflect Jesus as shepherds to our family. Our wives and children are our flock. Whether we lead them in devotions, encourage them in their Bible memory verses, or take them to church, we are responsible for setting the path of salvation before them. We cannot save them, but we sure can preach the Gospel to them.

Another way to shepherd them is to spend time with them. When I was a teenager, we would get up on Saturday mornings and go fishing at a pond at a church friend's house. We wouldn't catch much, if anything, but we had a lot of fun doing it. My first car was a 1981 Buick Skylark. It ran about 1/4 of the 2 years we had it, but it sure was a lot of fun taking the engine apart or rebuilding the carburetor with my dad. He taught me how to use power tools such as a table saw or a band saw. I still have his table saw in my shed, which I have used from time to time.

We learn what it means to be a man from our fathers. We learn how to treat women from our fathers. We learn some of that from our mothers as well, but we see how our fathers treat their wives, our mothers. This is important as you shepherd your children. God has called fathers to a high calling as examples to both our wives and children. Don't let this responsibility burden you, but let it free you as you see your children make right choices (with lots of prayer) in the future. They'll make wrong choices too, but that's our sinful nature still within us until Christ comes back.

Maybe your father has passed on, as mine has, or you still see him and you can identify with some of what I have written. Maybe you can't identify with it because your father may have been non-existent or abusive or in the home, but absent. Know this, however, that there is a Father in Heaven who will never let you down. He is not abusive. He is not absent. He is ever-present with you, shepherding you. I hope my personal example of my own father encourages you. At times, I look in the mirror, and I see him staring back at me. I see him in the things I do, whether it's fixing a toy, or working on a vehicle. My earthly father is still with me, in ways, not in the New Age way of his spirit being here, but in the work that I do. In the way I shepherd my own family, my father is with me. My father is in Heaven because he was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, but he left his mark on me and my sisters.

God the Father also leaves his mark on His children and it's a more permanent one. It's called the Holy Spirit. It's what changes us for the better if we did not have a father or a good example of a father growing up. We can thank God for changing us to be like Him. Let us thank God for Godly fathers here on earth that lead by example. That's not to say there aren't good non-Christian fathers, but only through Christ can earthly fathers truly lead. If you can, call up your father and tell him you love him and thank him for all that he has done for you.

Classic Christian Rock Music

I was listening to my iPod on the way to church last night and a Deliverance song, "Horrendous Disc," started playing.

Classic Christian Rock Music

I was listening to my iPod on the way to church last night and a Deliverance song, "Horrendous Disc," started playing.
It took me back to when there was a plethora of good Christian rock music steeped in Biblical lyrics. I began to wonder what happened to all of that and who some of my favorite artists were from the '80s and '90s. That's not to say there isn't any good Christian rock today. I enjoy Switchfoot, P. O. D., anberlin, Kutless, and Jeremy Camp's first album, "Stay," but I miss White Heart, Whitecross, and Petra, though some of those are touring again. Here's some of my favorites from back in the day.

• Petra - They always had scripture to back up each and every song, which was doctrine as song. Go ahead, listen to their old stuff and see if you don't get straight scripture from them. There's a story that their record label once left the scripture verses out of the liner notes and Bob Hartman went after them on it, but it was too late, the albums had been shipped. I can't find a reference for this, so if you know the story, let me know. They are touring again with Greg X. Volz as Classic Petra.
• White Heart - Starting out with Steve Green (yes, that Steve Green) and discovered by Bill Gaither, they developed a rock sound that would rival Petra, of course. The last concert I went to with my dad was the Petra-Whiteheart co-headliner tour with Grammatrain and Johnny Q. Public opening. We traveled to Gainesville, GA for that show, 4.5 hours away. That was in 1996. Apparently, they were supposed to do a reunion concert last year, but I haven't seen much more info about it.
• Whitecross - Their song, "In the Kingdom," got me hooked. They are also back together after many years apart and have recorded a new album. The lead singer went to be a missionary in the interim. That's pretty awesome.
• Bride - They had some pretty good stuff coming out of the late '80s and early '90s. In recent years, their stuff has kind of waned as styles of music have changed. "Kinetic Faith" and "Snakes in the Playground" are probably their best albums.
• Stryper - To be honest, I used to hear and think bad things about Stryper. In the late '90s, I finally picked up some of their music, after seeing Michael Sweet in 1994 at AtlantaFest. The only album I'm kind of hesitant on is "Against the Law," but that's also their only mainstream secular album and the last one they did before the broke up. They are back together again, of course, recording and touring. Michael Sweet is also the lead singer for Boston.
• King's X - Not a Christian band, per se, but Christians in a band, at least at the time. Ty Tabor is perhaps the only one who professes to be a Christian now, and lives it. I was disappointed when Doug Pinnick "came out" as a homosexual, but I don't see him as trying to be a posterboy as some "Christians" do when they "come out." He doesn't flaunt it and I pray that he comes back to Christianity. King's X has never broken up or gone away. They're still touring and recording.

Who are some of your favorites from the past-gone era? Deliverance, Bloodgood, Barren Cross, others? There are plenty to choose from. I only highlighted a few, for brevity. This post could go on for pages.

Down Syndrome Babies Are Being Murdered

Zach Nielson writes:

I just got back from a run in our neighborhood.  On the way I passed a woman with Down's Syndrome.  These days whenever I see a person with this syndrome it always sobers me, saddens me, and angers me.  Why would that be?

Because today 90% of women who are given the news that their baby in the womb has Down's, elect to have that child terminated through abortion murdered.  I know that language sounds quite harsh and potentially inflammatory.  But shouldn't we call it what it is?  If we can agree that it is a human person in the womb, (we don't need a Bible to prove this, just a 10th grade science class) shouldn't we call it what it is?  If it is a human person in the womb, should we be shocked when we hear the word "murder"?  Shouldn't that shock lead us to stop the practice of it instead of softening language so that people's feelings don't get hurt by the word "murder"?

Technology is taking us to very a dark place.   We should see it coming.  The days are looming upon us when we'll be able to know everything about the baby in the womb.  Things beyond characteristics such as hair color, eye color and potential height to tendencies towards certain personality distinctions or even certain diseases.

Could we be inadvertently creating a "master race" of people through abortion?  Should this not cause us to shutter? (See Eugenics) Can you imagine a culture where people are constantly wondering, "Wow, how did they guy make it out?  He is a freak!  I wish he had been terminated."  If it is acceptable to terminated a child simply because they have Down's Syndrome and a parent doesn't want to deal with this challenge, what other types of kids should we add to the list?  The scope of technology in the future is going to allow our list to be extremely long. 

Read More

Just so you know, we have always refused the genetic testing of the baby in the womb, three times now, much to the surprise of at least one doctor. It's unneccesary, to be honest, if the baby has been created by God, as we believe all babies are. To destroy that life is to play God with your body, regardless of the politics of abortion. Let's stop this playing God with genetics. You become as bad as the Nazis when you start selective abortions.

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Down Syndrome Babies Are Being Murdered

Zach Nielson writes:

I just got back from a run in our neighborhood.  On the way I passed a woman with Down's Syndrome.  These days whenever I see a person with this syndrome it always sobers me, saddens me, and angers me.  Why would that be?

Because today 90% of women who are given the news that their baby in the womb has Down's, elect to have that child terminated through abortion murdered.  I know that language sounds quite harsh and potentially inflammatory.  But shouldn't we call it what it is?  If we can agree that it is a human person in the womb, (we don't need a Bible to prove this, just a 10th grade science class) shouldn't we call it what it is?  If it is a human person in the womb, should we be shocked when we hear the word "murder"?  Shouldn't that shock lead us to stop the practice of it instead of softening language so that people's feelings don't get hurt by the word "murder"?

Technology is taking us to very a dark place.   We should see it coming.  The days are looming upon us when we'll be able to know everything about the baby in the womb.  Things beyond characteristics such as hair color, eye color and potential height to tendencies towards certain personality distinctions or even certain diseases.

Could we be inadvertently creating a "master race" of people through abortion?  Should this not cause us to shutter? (See Eugenics) Can you imagine a culture where people are constantly wondering, "Wow, how did they guy make it out?  He is a freak!  I wish he had been terminated."  If it is acceptable to terminated a child simply because they have Down's Syndrome and a parent doesn't want to deal with this challenge, what other types of kids should we add to the list?  The scope of technology in the future is going to allow our list to be extremely long. 

Read More

Just so you know, we have always refused the genetic testing of the baby in the womb, three times now, much to the surprise of at least one doctor. It's unneccesary, to be honest, if the baby has been created by God, as we believe all babies are. To destroy that life is to play God with your body, regardless of the politics of abortion. Let's stop this playing God with genetics. You become as bad as the Nazis when you start selective abortions.

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Mistaken Western Views of the Middle East

Tammy Camp writes a helpful post titled "Western Fallacies shattered in the Middle East". She is currently travelling in the Middle East and writes:

My favorite banter went like this:

Silly US Friend: “Tammy, Osama Bin Laden has been killed.  It’s dangerous over there in the Middle East.”

Tammy: “I think I’m in the safest part in the world now. Don’t you think Al-Queda’s just a little mad at the US?”

Silly US Friend: “Oh, yeah you have a point.”

The local perspective of Osama Bin Laden’s death was not one a westerner would expect.  When I sat down for a chit chat with people in the region the response would be very similar to this:

“Osama Bin Laden is a bad representation of the Middle East. One black sheep has caused a decade of discrimination and shame upon people in our region and of our culture. We are relieved this is finally over.”

About the "region":

First I would like to address the idea of a “region.”  Although Egypt and Libya are considered Middle Eastern countries, they are in Africa. Yes, Africa…..you know that other continent?  My travels usually take place within the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) which most in the region consider to be the main parts of the Middle East which lies in the continent of Asia. Yes Asia, not Africa.

So saying that is dangerous for me to travel in Kuwait because it is not safe in the “region” is like saying don’t travel to the United States because 100 people are protesting in Alaska. The world is a big, big place. 

 On women:

On the flip side, I find the women in the region to be extremely lucky.  Rather than a common US casual relationship that leaves women asking themselves, “Is he into me or not?” it is very clear in the region.  Women are sacred and treated with the upmost respect.  The truth is, the women are the ones running the show in the Middle East. No joke.

Read the whole post. 

Permanence

Permanence:
 ""

Dealing with servers as often as I do, I must agree. Though our naming convention here at work for the web servers generally relies on names from the original Star Wars trilogy. For example, we have Lando, Ackbar, Han Solo, and R2D2. Retired are Leia and C3P0. Our kids names were relatively easy as we decided on what we wanted their names to mean, not to mention, the Biblical meanings.

Mistaken Western Views of the Middle East

Tammy Camp writes a helpful post titled "Western Fallacies shattered in the Middle East". She is currently travelling in the Middle East and writes:

My favorite banter went like this:

Silly US Friend: “Tammy, Osama Bin Laden has been killed.  It’s dangerous over there in the Middle East.”

Tammy: “I think I’m in the safest part in the world now. Don’t you think Al-Queda’s just a little mad at the US?”

Silly US Friend: “Oh, yeah you have a point.”

The local perspective of Osama Bin Laden’s death was not one a westerner would expect.  When I sat down for a chit chat with people in the region the response would be very similar to this:

“Osama Bin Laden is a bad representation of the Middle East. One black sheep has caused a decade of discrimination and shame upon people in our region and of our culture. We are relieved this is finally over.”

About the "region":

First I would like to address the idea of a “region.”  Although Egypt and Libya are considered Middle Eastern countries, they are in Africa. Yes, Africa…..you know that other continent?  My travels usually take place within the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) which most in the region consider to be the main parts of the Middle East which lies in the continent of Asia. Yes Asia, not Africa.

So saying that is dangerous for me to travel in Kuwait because it is not safe in the “region” is like saying don’t travel to the United States because 100 people are protesting in Alaska. The world is a big, big place. 

 On women:

On the flip side, I find the women in the region to be extremely lucky.  Rather than a common US casual relationship that leaves women asking themselves, “Is he into me or not?” it is very clear in the region.  Women are sacred and treated with the upmost respect.  The truth is, the women are the ones running the show in the Middle East. No joke.

Read the whole post. 

Permanence

Permanence:
 ""

Dealing with servers as often as I do, I must agree. Though our naming convention here at work for the web servers generally relies on names from the original Star Wars trilogy. For example, we have Lando, Ackbar, Han Solo, and R2D2. Retired are Leia and C3P0. Our kids names were relatively easy as we decided on what we wanted their names to mean, not to mention, the Biblical meanings.

"A Place Of Healing" by Joni Eareckson Tada Free Audio from Christianaudio.com in June 2011

Description: In this eloquent account of her current struggle with physical pain, Joni Eareckson Tada offers her perspective on divine healing, God’s purposes, and what it means to live with joy. Over four decades ago, a diving accident left Joni a quadriplegic. Today, she faces a new battle: unrelenting pain.
The ongoing urgency of this season in her life has caused Joni to return to foundational questions about suffering and God’s will. A Place of Healing is not an ivory tower treatise on suffering. Its an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God.
Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her. Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes and heartbreaking no and find new hope for thriving in between.
Download Here

Free eBooks from Monergism.com

Reformed Christian bookseller Monergism.com has a list of free ebooks for you to download. They are available in either Kindle (.mobi) or .epub format. Authors include Octavious Winslow, A. W. Pink, and Jonathan Edwards.

Download Here

(ht: Challies)

 

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"A Place Of Healing" by Joni Eareckson Tada Free Audio from Christianaudio.com in June 2011

Description: In this eloquent account of her current struggle with physical pain, Joni Eareckson Tada offers her perspective on divine healing, God’s purposes, and what it means to live with joy. Over four decades ago, a diving accident left Joni a quadriplegic. Today, she faces a new battle: unrelenting pain.
The ongoing urgency of this season in her life has caused Joni to return to foundational questions about suffering and God’s will. A Place of Healing is not an ivory tower treatise on suffering. Its an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God.
Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her. Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes and heartbreaking no and find new hope for thriving in between.
Download Here

Free eBooks from Monergism.com

Reformed Christian bookseller Monergism.com has a list of free ebooks for you to download. They are available in either Kindle (.mobi) or .epub format. Authors include Octavious Winslow, A. W. Pink, and Jonathan Edwards.

Download Here

(ht: Challies)

 

Related articles, courtesy of Zemanta:

• How do I read these EPUB or MOBI format ebooks?
• Free audio downloads of works by Jonathan Edwards
• Jonathan Edwards (roundup)
• Jonathan Edwards - How Far We Have Fallen (via) Desiring God

John Hagee Responds - JESUS: MESSIAH OR SAVIOR?

Repost from November 19, 2007

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

The below italicized statement below is from John Hagee in response to my "open letter" I emailed to him about a month ago. Interesting stuff. I will attempt to respond to each of his points respectfully, soundly, and Biblically. Give me your thoughts.

JESUS: MESSIAH OR SAVIOR?

Many Christians have constructed a catch 22 concerning Jesus as Messiah. The catch 22 is this:

"Jesus came to be Messiah but because the Jews rejected Him as Messiah He had to go to the cross, hence the Jews are the Christ Killers."

I'm not sure where he got this statement. Perhaps it's inferred from his viewpoint of other Christians, but I have never thought this. Jesus went to the cross because it was foreordained for Him to go.

From Genesis 3:15, God promised a Savior to the World.

¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring¹⁰ and ^gher offspring;

^hhe shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

10 Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis

g Isai. 7:14; Mic. 5:3; Matt. 1:23, 25; Luke 1:34, 35; Gal. 4:4; 1 Tim. 2:15

h Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 20:1-3, 10

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

¹³ Behold, ^bmy servant shall act wisely;¹

he shall be high and lifted up,

and shall be exalted.

¹⁴ As many were astonished at you—

^c his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,

and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

¹⁵ so ^dshall he sprinkle² many nations;

^e kings shall shut their mouths because of him;

^f for that which has not been told them they see,

and that which they have not heard they understand.

53 ^g Who has believed what they heard from us?³

And to whom has ^hthe arm of the Lord been revealed?

² For he grew up before him like a young plant,

^i and like a root out of dry ground;

^j he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

^{3 k} He was despised and rejected⁴ by men;

a man of sorrows,⁵ and acquainted with⁶ grief;⁷

and as one from whom men hide their faces⁸

he was despised, and ^lwe esteemed him not.

^{4 m} Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

^n smitten by God, and afflicted.

^{5 o} But he was wounded for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

^p and with his stripes we are healed.

b See ch. 42:1

1 Or shall prosper

c [ch. 53:2, 3]

d Lev. 4:6, 17

2 Or startle

e ch. 49:7, 23

f Cited Rom. 15:21; [Rom. 16:25]

g Cited John 12:38; Rom. 10:16

3 Or Who has believed what we have heard?

h See ch. 51:9

i ch. 11:1

j [ch. 52:14]

k ch. 49:7; [Ps. 22:6; Mark 9:12]

4 Or forsaken

5 Or pains; also verse 4

6 Or and knowing

7 Or sickness; also verse 4

8 Or as one who hides his face from us

l [John 1:10, 11]

m [Matt. 8:17]

n Ps. 69:26

o [Rom. 4:25]

p Cited 1 Pet. 2:24

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

I could post all of Psalm 22, but I'll leave that to you to search. In short, Psalm 22 shows that Jesus fulfilled scripture when He was on the cross. I have never believed that Jesus went to the cross because He was rejected as Messiah. He was Messiah, and was rejected, but the Isaiah passage predicts that He would be rejected.

Fact: According to Webster's Dictionary the word "Messiah" means "the expected king who delivers from oppressors." A Messiah is one who rules and reigns over a given people.

Fact: The God of the Bible is absolutely sovereign! That means He is in control of everything in heaven and on earth all the time. If God is not sovereign; He can't be God.

Question: What was God's Sovereign will for Jesus Christ from the foundations of the earth?

Revelation 13:8 reads that Jesus Christ was the "Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world." This verse says it was God's Sovereign plan for Jesus to die as Savior before the world was created in Genesis 1:1.

Most people confuse the role of "Messiah" and "Savior." To be Messiah you must live. To rule and reign you must live. Jesus came to die and be the Savior of every person on earth.

Ok, on some of these points, I agree. Hagee recognizes that Jesus was foreordained to die as Savior. I have posted verses that agree with this statement. However, is Hagee denying the resurrection here? Jesus did live. Maybe my eyes are glazed over when I read the Gospel accounts of the empty tomb, and the dead coming out of their tombs and appearing to people. I don't know. I must be reading it wrong. Jesus says in Matthew 28:18, that all authority had been given him in Heaven and in Earth. This indicates a rule and reign. If Jesus was not reigning as the promised Messiah, He would not have this authority. Hagee must deny that the very word "Christ" means "Messiah". What does Peter say?

^{13 x}Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say ^yJohn the Baptist, others say ^zElijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, ^a “You are ^bthe Christ, ^cthe Son of ^dthe living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, ^e “Blessed are you, ^fSimon Bar-Jonah! For ^gflesh and blood has not revealed this to you, ^hbut my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, ^iyou are Peter, and ^jon this rock¹ I will build my church, and ^kthe gates of ^lhell² shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you ^mthe keys of the kingdom of heaven, and ^nwhatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed³ in heaven.” ^{20 o}Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

x For ver. 13-16, see Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20

y ch. 14:2; Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7

z Mark 6:15; Luke 9:8; [ch. 17:10; Mark 9:11; John 1:21]

a John 11:27

b See ch. 1:17

c See ch. 14:33

d Deut. 5:26; Josh. 3:10; Ps. 42:2; Jer. 10:10; Dan. 6:20; Hos. 1:10; Acts 14:15; 2 Cor. 3:3; 1 Tim. 4:10

e [ch. 13:16]

f [John 1:42; 21:15-17]

g 1 Cor. 15:50; Gal. 1:16; Eph. 6:12; Heb. 2:14

h 1 Cor. 2:10; 12:3; [ch. 11:25; John 6:45]

i [ch. 10:2; John 1:42]

j Eph. 2:20; Rev. 21:14; [ch. 7:24]

1 Peter sounds like the Greek word for rock

k Job 38:17; Isai. 38:10

l See ch. 11:23

2 Greek the gates of Hades

m [Isai. 22:22; Rev. 1:18; 3:7]

n [ch. 18:18; John 20:23]

3 Or shall have been bound … shall have been loosed

o Mark 8:30; Luke 9:21; [ch. 17:9]; See ch. 12:16

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

Interesting. Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Christ (Messiah). Jesus says not to tell anyone yet. Why? The Holy Spirit reveals that Jesus is the Christ. Not flesh and blood. That means signs, wonders, and physical kingdoms mean nothing when it comes to Jesus being the Messiah. Here is what Strong's has on the word used for "Christ".

5547 Χριστός [Christos /khris·tos/] adj. From 5548; TDNT 9:493; TDNTA 1322; GK 5986; 569 occurrences; AV translates as “Christ” 569 times. 1 Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. 2 anointed. Additional Information: Christ = “anointed”.

adj adj: adjective

TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume

GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger

AV Authorized Version

Strong, J. 1996. The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) . Woodside Bible Fellowship.: Ontario

THERE IS NO DUAL COVENANT! The Bible says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Jesus Himself stated in Mark 14:8, Luke 24:46 and Mark 10:33-34 that He had come to die for the sins of the world as Savior. Again, you must live to be Messiah. You cannot be both Messiah and Savior!

In the Luke passage, Jesus claims to be the Christ again. Jesus is talking about having to die in these passages. Not about being the Savior, but He does mention being the Christ (Messiah). As far as the Dual Covenant issue,

^{31 o} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make ^pa new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ³² not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when ^qI took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, ^rthough I was their husband, declares the Lord. ^{33 s}But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it ^ton their hearts. ^uAnd I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ ^vfor they shall all know me, ^wfrom the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For ^xI will forgive their iniquity, and ^yI will remember their sin no more.”

o ver. 31-34, cited Heb. 8:8-12

p Luke 22:20; 2 Cor. 3:6

q [Deut. 1:31]

r See ch. 3:14

s ch. 32:40; Ezek. 37:26; Cited Heb. 10:16

t Ps. 37:31; 2 Cor. 3:3

u Hos. 2:23; Zech. 8:8; 13:9; Rev. 21:7; See ch. 30:22

v Isai. 54:13

w See ch. 6:13

x ch. 33:8; 36:3; 50:20; Mic. 7:18; Acts 10:43; Rom. 11:27; Cited Heb. 10:17

y Isai. 43:25

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

The fulfillment:
²⁸ For ^sno one is a Jew ^twho is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹ But a Jew is one ^uinwardly, and ^vcircumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. ^wHis praise is not from man but from God.

s ch. 9:6-8; [Gal. 6:15]

t [ver. 17]

u See 1 Pet. 3:4

v [Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Acts 7:51; Phil. 3:3; Col. 2:11]

w 2 Cor. 10:18; 1 Thess. 2:4; [Gal. 1:10]

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the "Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The only thing a lamb can do is to be slaughtered as a sin offering.

Fact: Jesus claimed to be Savior several times in the Bible. He never claimed to be Messiah to the Jewish people. In John 4 Jesus told the woman at the well, a Gentile, who He was, knowing the Jews and Samaritans had nothing to do with each other. I go into this in great detail in my latest book, "In Defense of Israel."

Fact: Jesus repeatedly in His ministry told His Disciples and followers to "tell no one" about His supernatural accomplishments. If Jesus wanted to be Messiah by popular demand, He would have wanted His supernatural exploits to be told by everyone to spread His popularity.

Sixty-four times in the four Gospels Jesus instructed those who were excited about His being the Messiah to "tell no one." He refused the role. He never promised to be Messiah. The Jews did not reject Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who refused to be the reigning Messiah because it was God's Sovereign will for Him to die on the cross.

Fact: Bible proof that Jesus did not come to be Messiah is found in Matthew 26:26-30 where Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, was celebrating Passover with His 12 Disciples in what Christians call "The Lord's Supper."

In the Passover there are five cups of wine that Jesus and His Disciples would drink together. These five cups have been and still are celebrated by observant Jews who keep the Passover.

The fifth cup is the Messiah's Cup. Luke 26:28, Jesus claims to be the Savior of the world by saying, "For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sin."

In the next verse, Luke 26:29, Jesus rejects the Messiah's Cup saying, "But I say unto you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."

Jesus rejected the Messiah's Cup because He knew He was about to die. He promised His Disciples that He would drink the Messiah's Cup when He returns to earth the second time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Fact: If an Almighty and Sovereign God sent His Son into the world the first time to be Messiah...God failed! The truth is, God cannot fail...never.

Jesus was sent to the earth the first time to die as the Lamb of God.

I trust this simple explanation will clarify any concerns you might have concerning Jesus the Messiah and Jesus the Savior. Let us prepare for the soon coming of King Jesus, our Deliverer and Lord of Lords. It will be very soon!

As for the rest of this, I'm not completely sure where Hagee is getting his doctrine. I believe it to be from the Jewish theology itself. What he is stating appears to be exactly the same reasons that the Jewish people overall reject Jesus as the Messiah to this day. There is good news. Jewish people are accepting Jesus as the Messiah. They are believing that Jesus died for their sins. They are coming to repentance. Romans 11 suggests that one day there will be a massive repentance of Jews. It's not that there's Christianity and then Judaism. There's not the Church and then Israel. Salvation is from the Jews because it is from Jesus Christ (the Messiah), the son of David, who has all authority in Heaven and on Earth, and rules with an iron scepter (Psalm 2), until all the enemies are put as a footstool at his feet, when He will come to judge the nations in righteousness and truth. I, too, look forward to Jesus' return, but I already recognize Him as Messiah. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world. The Jews did not recognize this. Hagee does not see this. He is blinded by non-Biblical theology. It's like dispensationalism, you must look for it in order to see it. He looked for a way to prove that Jesus was not the Messiah, and so he found it. He missed it. He's looking for a conquering king, but only found the suffering servant. Jesus is both. He holds the keys to death and hades. Satan does not have these. Satan has very little power except what God gives him. Let us forever look to Jesus our Messiah, making Him our joy and our treasure. Amen!