12:38 AM - Devoted to the Main Things (Acts 2:42-47)
Current mood: determined
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Devoted to the Main Things (Acts 2:42-47)

Following the supernatural birth of the church in Jerusalem, God's people were gathered together and there was priority placed on being…

·         Steadfast in the Scriptures (Psalm 119:9, Jeremiah 15:16, 1 Peter 2:1-3)

·         Faithful in Fellowship (Acts 2:42-47, Philippians 2:1-2)

·         Regular in Their Remembrance (Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-34)

·         Persistent in Prayer (Isaiah 56:7, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Application/Discussion Questions:

1.       What barriers do you see in your life that keep you from being devoted to the things noted in this passage?

2.       Are there any practical steps God is calling you to take this week as a result of this message?

3.       Agree or disagree?  Your devotion (or lack thereof) to God's Word will have a direct impact on your devotion to the other things?  Why or why not?

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08:42 AM - ALERT! friends of ASPATA, DROP HIS FRIENDSHIP!

Brothers and Sisters,

Aspata has contacted me and has requested that you drop his friendship if you are his friend.  Someone has hacked his profile and posted sexually explicit photos on his blogs.  I'm warning you so you don't view his blog and are forced to look at them.  Since he is unable to log in to delete the offensive graphics, he is asking that you drop his friendship so that you are not associated with the inappropriate content.

Thanks,

ex)

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09:09 PM - My Weakness, Lord
Current mood: perplexed
Category: perplexed Religion and Philosophy

My weakness, Lord, is seeing no purpose.  My weakness, Lord, is longing for companionship.  My weakness, Lord, is dwelling on loneliness.  Yet I know my weakness, Lord, is for Your glory.

I truly feel like a child before You. 

I become discouraged simply because I do not know what is going to happen.  I see little purpose in my life.  Either I have not seen it, or You have not revealed it to me.  I try to be patient and it is so hard.  After years of going without, the desires of my flesh are strong.  Direct my footsteps and take away my anxieties that may hinder me from becoming who You created me to be.

Fill my heart with love for people.  I do not feel like I have much.  My heart feels like a squeezed sponge that has never been refilled. 

Why am I here?  What is my purpose? Why do I have these anxieties?

Build me up with integrity and virtue and love.  Give me an uncompromising mind concerning Your ways.  Help me to relax and to see that You are teaching me something.  Make me quiet and make my heart still.  Strip my soul to be naked before You in my mind.  I cannot pretend to understand much about You though it fills me with awe to try.  I endeavor to know You.  I seek out Your ways.  My motives are pure to my detriment and if this is the way it is to be, I would rather suffer for a lifetime so I could know You better.

I do not want to leave You or forsake You.  Do not do the same to me.

Make me a bold lion for Your name.  Strengthen my spirit with resilience.  Show me the straight and true path that I may follow it boldly as a disciplined soul reaching for virtue of the highest order and the integrity of Christ.  Everything else is only… 

Do not take Your hand from me.  Do not turn Your voice from me.

Take anything from me that You do not want me to have and brand me as Yours.  If it is to be this way, then take away the desires you have given me.  Where You lead I will follow, but You know me, Lord.  Light the path with You, the Unmistakable Light, and allow me to see it clearly.  It is what I need. 

I am nothing without You.  I have nothing without You.  I do not want anything that You are not willing to give me.  Say it isn't so, that I should be alone and if it is to be this way, then take away my desire for companionship because sometimes, it is more than I can bear.

In my weakness be not far off

In my distress be not far off

You know that I'd have You hold my heart

but I'm not sure exactly where to start

In my frailty won't You comfort me

I am a snail with no shell in the noonday sun.  If You have to keep taking from me so I will depend on You, then take everything.  I will not fight.  What good would it do?

Make me the leader You know I am.  I am only as strong as I am vulnerable and I will only grow as far as I am needed in the life of another.

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12:13 AM - Evolution: Just Another Religion Requiring Faith
Current mood: luminous
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Let's jump right in:

The evolution theory has no testable proofs. It is based on historical science which is neither 'historical' nor 'scientific' because it fails to meet the first prerequisite of the Scientific Method - beginning with an observed phenomenon (which was developed by Sir Francis Bacon, known Creationist). God and evolution are both excluded from the arena of science. Both are beyond the realm of human observation.

From an expert in the philosophy of science, Dr. Michael Ruse:

"Evolution, akin to religion, involves making certain a priori or metaphysical assumptions, which at some level cannot be proven empirically."

- Dr. Michael Ruse, professor of philosophy, various universities and organizations

Here's another quote from a leading voice in evolutionary theory, the late Stephen J. Gould:

"And humans evolved from ape-like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered."

- Stephen J. Gould, Harvard University

Evolution is just another religion requiring faith.

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02:34 AM - Frequently, I wonder what Massachusetts would be like
Current mood: imaginative
Category: Writing and Poetry

Context: I once belonged to a certain internet dating site. As I was perusing through some pictures, I saw a photo of this girl from Massachusetts that I liked. That was the inspiration for this poem written some years back.

Frequently, I wonder what Massachusetts would be like

I'm looking at your photograph and suddenly

I'm wondering what it would be like with you

And I think...

Maybe, if it were Spring, we'd be settled by a setting sun

stuck to the evening sky, slowly sliding

Maybe we'd be dressed in playful tempests of scent

from the flower-filled fields… or from you!

(I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference)

Maybe in the early Summer, I could place a butterfly on your knee

and you would smile at me

and then

by Summer's end

you would cradle my fragility

(I'd slide it over, sheer and free)

Maybe in the Autumn, we'd be bundled in a vineyard with mouthfuls of gooshy grapes

or trekking through a bright and cozy wood

reflecting the colors dabbing our faces

hiding laughter in secret places

and what when Winter comes?

Without?

Alone?

Naturally, I'm wondering what your movement would be like

Additionally, I'm wondering how you would say hello

Would you give the word to me

or just let it be?

…trailing with indifference…

…and grey…

Maybe you'd be near so I could tug that lock of hair

(Secretly, I'm wondering if your ankles are scrumptious when bare)

Inevitably, I'm wondering all about your kiss

Does nimbleness reside on your lips?

Like acrobats with tangerines and lively hips?

I'm looking at your photograph and suddenly

I'm wondering what it would be like to know

expero

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11:08 PM - Refute That Statement |[RTS]| 1 : All God Really Wants…UPDATED!
Current mood: curious
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I lifted this sentence from a post on my blog entitled Empiricism: A Glaring Flaw of New Atheism. It was written by a proponent of atheism.

Statement:

"all God really wants according to the bible is human love and worship which is 100% self centered"

How would you, as a Christian, refute this statement?

Thank you everyone for commenting. I may not respond to all of them on this blog.

Here was my response, although some of it was copy/paste after a little research:

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01:40 AM - Empiricism: A Glaring Flaw of New Atheism
Current mood: strong
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Hello my friends. It's been some time since I've posted so, while I further flirt with the idea of jumping back into the blogging arena with original writings, I'll throw this out there for your amusement. *If atheists would only admit that they have a pre-suppositional belief in the non-existence of the supernatural (which is a faith), conversation would be much more interesting.*

Empiricism: A Glaring Flaw of New Atheism

by Brian Thomas, M.S.*

Atheism is a worldview in which there is no God. Adherents believe that life sprang from natural forces, not an intelligence, and that the cosmos made itself--or at least organized itself out of raw materials that were just there. "New atheists" include Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion; Christopher Hitchens, who wrote God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything; and Sam Harris, with The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason. Their bestselling books are characterized by vitriolic disdain for those who believe in God.

The new atheists do not restrict themselves to passive disbelief. Rather, they actively admonish others to not believe in God, and take strong steps to rid the world of its "contemptible" acknowledgement of any deity, and especially of theism.¹ As Dawkins said, "I do everything in my power to warn people against faith itself."²

An ironic feature of new atheism is its strong faith in the inferiority of having faith. Before they attack it, new atheists first redefine faith to mean "belief without evidence." Then they limit evidence to that which can be tested through empirical science.³ This is absurd, like requiring an experiment to prove a father's love for his children. Just as we use our senses, logic, and circumstantial evidence to deduce the truth of a father's love, we can discover God through non-empirical means.

New atheists believe that empirical science is the true path to understanding. However, since the very concept of "empiricism"--that science is the only way to "know" something--is not itself a product of any scientific experiment, it distills to a faith after all. Faith is not "belief without evidence," but rather a decision to reckon as true (actual or real) something that is not visible. Empiricism is an idea. Ideas are not visible. New atheists therefore have strong faith, though not in God.⁴

Many popular philosophies are self-refuting, which means that they do not meet their own standards and thus self-destruct.⁵ One example of a self-refuting claim is the common statement "all truth is relative." This cannot be. If all truth is relative, then the supposed truth that "all truth is relative" would itself be relative, and therefore not true. Consider the assertion "we cannot ultimately grasp meaning in an absolute way." If that were true, then one would not be able to grasp the meaning of that very statement.

A good way to deal with self-refuting truth claims is to ask honest questions about them. For example, a response to the assertion "all truth is relative" could be to ask, "So, is that relatively true?" Likewise, one who denies that truth is knowable could be questioned with, "How can we then know for sure that truth cannot be surely known?"

Empiricism is also self-refuting, and therefore should not be believed. Its essence could be stated as "experimental science is the only way to know something for sure." We might then ask, "What was the scientific experiment that demonstrated that experimental science is the only way to know something for sure?"

In contrast to the self-refuting doctrines that atheism must hold to, theism is aligned with the reality of a transcendent and necessary Being; not, as new atheists claim, with a fairy tale. Biblical theism begins with the sensible concept, assumed in Genesis, of an infinite Creator who formed a finite creation. Knowledge of our holy God is generally available through our observation of the natural world. This is enough to reveal man's sin-induced separation from Him.⁶ However, only the Bible reveals that He has performed the necessary work to reconcile us back to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ, and for His glory.⁷ So based on the evidence of what He has made and done, we can believe in and know Him.

References

1. Theism is a worldview that holds that there is one God who exists outside the universe and who created and sustains the universe. The three theistic religions are Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
2. Dawkins, R. 2006. The God Delusion. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 306.
3. Empirical science uses the scientific method, and is therefore limited to investigating repeatable events in the physical realm.
4. Geisler, N., and F. Turek. 2004. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 25-27.
5. Ibid, 38-41.
6. Romans 1:20.
7. 2 Corinthians 5:18.

* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer.

Cite this article: Thomas, B. 2008. Empiricism: A Glaring Flaw of New Atheism. Acts & Facts. 37 (9): 15.

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11:22 AM - Biblical Distinctives : The Life-Changing Scriptures
Current mood: enlightened
Category: Religion and Philosophy

The last time we looked at some RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION < Please visit here if you wish before continuing.  This time we will consider THE LIFE-CHANGING SCRIPTURES. 

Now then, I have decided to list the study verses and then the questions to be considered.  The class is designed to assist in evangelism.   I don’t expect you to post the answers to the questions here on my blog unless of course you want to.  You are free to discuss any questions, answers, verses or other related verses you want.  However, I would like to encourage everyone who has the time to study these verses to post the principle, or meaning, of the verses that you come up with in one or two sentences that is easy to remember and can be shared with others.  I was debating on whether I should post the principle I came up with or not, but I think I’ll leave it off for a while so as not to influence your thinking.  One thing I noticed is that everyone’s principle can be somewhat different and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  If some are errant, let’s please remember we are here to learn and that correction is to be welcomed and just because I am writing this blog series doesn’t mean I am correct.  Okay, let’s begin!

Verses in the Spotlight

Jos 1:8  (LITV) This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, and you shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you shall be on guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall prosper your way, and then you shall act wisely.

Psa 19:7-11  The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul. The Testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the simple wise.  (8)  The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart. The commands of Jehovah are pure, giving light to the eyes.  (9)  The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of Jehovah are true, they are righteous altogether.  (10)  They are more precious than gold, even much fine gold, and sweeter than honey and drops from the honeycomb.  (11)  Also Your servant is warned by them; in keeping of them is great reward.

Psa 119:105  NUN: Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psa 119:160  The sum of Your Word is true; every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Isa 40:7-8  The grass withers, the flower fades because the Spirit of Jehovah blows on it. Surely the people is grass.  (8)