Anti-Semitism and “Who killed Jesus?”

This is a rerun from 2006.  Long time readers: Try to look surprised.
In light of Mel Gibson’s alcohol-fueled anti-semitic comments as well as an article in the Houston Chronical religion section that referred to stupid things Christians sometimes say to Jewish people, I thought it would be worth posting this from my Christian FAQs (Frequently [...]

Getting added to “do not call” lists . . .

I think I’m on the “do not call” list for a few cults/religions (mainly the types that come to your door). It isn’t because I’m not friendly to them. On the contrary, I figure if someone with a false religion comes to my door and wants to talk about God, then how much easier does [...]

Am I growing in my faith?

Some penetrating questions from James MacDonald to help assess if your relationship with God is growing:

Does my life give evidence of a person truly redeemed by the Son of God?
Does my faith endure in hard times as well as good times?
Does my life reflect a growing pattern of righteousness?
Do I have an increasing hunger for [...]

Quote of the day

The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator.
Louis Pasteur

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

There is a lot of smoke around the Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR) issue. Here are some facts that are downplayed or overlooked altogether.
President Bush didn’t ban ESCR completely. He just vetoed the use of Federal Funds for it (read: your tax dollars). If you want to donate your money for ESCR, go ahead! Just [...]

Take Two!

 Some friends taught us a fun variation on Scrabble called “Take Two.” It is a lot more fun than regular Scrabble because you are constantly forming words. The regular version moves too slowly for someone with a short attention span like me. Plus, you don’t have to try to read upside-down.
Here is an overview:

Purpose: Form [...]

Quote of the day

I’m a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan (the first football game I ever watched was the 1972 “Immaculate Reception” game), but I liked this quote from Tom Landry, former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys (and former arch-rivals of the Steelers).
To live life to the fullest and truly enjoy it, we need to understand and abide [...]

Before you give . . .

Giving can be fun and rewarding, but we need to use wisdom in making giving decisions.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God [...]

Disproportionate response?

War is to be avoided, but not at all costs. As some have said, “Except for ending slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism and for providing religious and political freedom, war has never solved anything.”
Some have labeled the Israeli response to Hizbollah attacks as a “disproportionate response.” But consider the following:

Muslims leaders around the world have [...]

Quotes of the day

.

God is dead.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
——–
Nietzsche is dead.
God
.
.
Hat tip: Chappel Temple, my pastor at Lakewood United Methodist Church

Why pray if God already knows everything?

 Yes, God is omniscient, so He knows everything. Everything. Some people use that as an reason not to pray. Yet it can also be an excellent reason to pray all the more. If He already knows everything you’ve done, said and thought yet has still forgiven you (assuming you are a Christian), then only good [...]

More on parental notification

From the Houston Chronicle:
The Senate reopened the abortion debate Friday in advance of the midterm elections, this time over a bill that would make it a federal crime to take a teenager across state lines to end a pregnancy without a parent’s knowledge.
Supporters of the bill say such incidents often occur when a girl, or [...]

Thought for the day

Waiting for God is hard. Wishing you had waited for God is really, really hard.

Getting into Heaven

A common evangelism question to ask is, “If you died tonight and God asked you why He should let you into his Heaven, how would you reply?” This is designed to get the person to think of the very real fact that we will all die, and each day we are one step closer. (Now [...]

Are apologetics important?

First, what are apologetics? Apologetics are a justification or a defense of something. In this case, it is a reasoned defense of the accuracy of the Christian faith.
Apologetics are dismissed by some who say you can’t argue someone to Christ. Yet there are many good reasons to be able to give some basic reasoning for [...]

Planned Parenthood: Your tax dollars at work

There are so many reasons to dislike Planned Parenthood.
Despite their claims, Planned Parenthood wants to reduce abortions as much as McDonald’s wants to sell less hamburgers. One person commented that PP offers birth control and that reduces abortions. But some of the birth control they give out has been defective (see below) and their main [...]