The danger of liberal seminaries

Seminary also introduced me to the historical study of Jesus and Christian origins. I learned from my professors and the readings they assigned that Jesus almost certainly was not born of a virgin, did not think of himself as the Son of God, and did not see his purpose as dying for the sins of [...]

Weekly roundup

Five minimal facts on the resurrection – I like how they are facts that most non-Christian scholars agree with as well.

Jesus was killed by crucifixion
The disciples believed that Jesus rose and appeared to them
The conversion of the church persecutor: Saul of Tarsus (aka the Apostle Paul)
The conversion of the skeptic James
Jesus’ tomb was empty 

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A bunch of reasons that [...]

Orators or heralds?

Heart of Flesh had a great summary of a conference on Reformed theology.  I especially liked the distinction one of the speakers made about motives in preaching:
He compared the Greek orator to the Roman herald. The Greek Orator was crafty in speech and was the celebrity in his time. His success was measured by how many crowds he drew [...]

Guess who’s coming to dinner?

Our associate pastor had the following on a list of questions for our Acts Bible study (I’m not sure what the point was . . . we never got around to answering this one):
If you could share a meal with any four historical figures (besides Jesus), who would you choose?
I assume he excluded Jesus because [...]

6 words

Some former co-workers did an exercise where they tried to tell about their life in a six word sentence. 
Background: Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story, using only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”
Here are two versions for me.  The first isn’t a sentence, so technically it didn’t qualify.
1. [...]

Time Magazine: The Abortion Campaign You Never Hear About

This is a rerun from 2007.

I have had the privilege of volunteering at a CareNet Pregnancy Center for several years - counseling guys that come in, teaching pro-life training, joining the Board of Directors and teaching a class called “Man to Man” to prospective dads.  Crisis Pregnancy Centers don’t get much publicity, and when they do it is often [...]

Perfect timing

From an episode of The Simpsons:
Isn’t it amazing that the same day you got a pool is the same day we realized we liked you?  The timing works out great, don’t you think?
Terri & Sherri, speaking to Lisa
It reminds me of how the liberal church has changed in the same ways culture has: Pro-legalized abortion, [...]

The tomb is still empty

Spoiler warning: The next paragraph gives away the ending to the Gospels.
My favorite part of The Passion of the Christ was the understated scene where Jesus is sitting in the tomb on Easter morning and then He just stands up.  That’s it.  No humans saw him get up, though angels may have. 
The resurrection is the [...]

Good Friday – “It is finished.”

Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity [...]

Weekly roundup

What makes a good church?  This is a handy checklist if you are looking for a church home. 
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When Muslims convert to Christianity – it is good to know these top 9 reasons so we can do our part

1. Christians practiced what they preached.
2. Christians appeared to have loving marriages in which women were treated as [...]

Horton Hears a Pro-life Argument – updated

Update: I originally posted this last April.  Apparently the author and his wife were pro-legalized abortion.  Who would have guessed?  Seems like if nothing else he would have wanted more youngsters to have the opportunity to read his books.   “Pro-legalized abortion childrens’ author” seems oxymoronic to me.
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Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss was written in [...]

Something everyone should be able to support

I’d like to put in another plug for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). Staffed largely with volunteers and funded mostly by donations (100% in many cases), they help women and families in their time of need. They significantly outnumber abortion clinics.
In theory, pro-choicers should support these as well (especially pro-choice Christians). The centers aren’t lobbying against abortion, [...]

Masquerade!

This is a theme passage for false teachers.  Notice how it uses the word masquerade three times, and how they appear as angels of light.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not [...]

8 (or possibly 10) facts / habits

Tammi and Political Cowboy originally tagged me with this game last year, then Elisa gave me a similar tag today.  The request was close enough that I’m recycling this post (gotta save those electrons!).  I did add two bonus facts to the original since Elisa’s requirement was ten.
I need to hurry up and finish while [...]

Weekly roundup

The Condom Conspiracy – Sex, lies, STIs and teenage girls 
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These seem to correlate:

We have no idea what political party Eliot Spitzer belongs to

NPR caters to extreme Left

Democrats trust press more than Republicans do 

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Self-refuting pluralism – regarding the objection to Christianity that it can’t be true because if you were born in a Muslim country you’d [...]

Prison ministry weekend – updated

Original
Hey – if you are the praying type – and I know many of you are – please say a quick prayer for the prison ministry weekend I’ll be at the next couple of days.  Mainly, pray for the 42 prisoners who will be participating, plus all the inside and outside team members.  I’ll be [...]