Saints on the Loose!

Winter Jam

2012-02-15T08:03:00.002-06:00

Skillet is headlining the Winter Jam tour of Christian bands. The Skillet album, Comatose, reached Gold record status in 2009.

In an interview with Mary Colurso, music critic for the Birmingham News newspaper, Skillet founder and lead singer John Cooper says, "I'm passionate about Christian music; I grew up listening to it. You don't want to be one of those bands who have success and give up on the Christian world. I love Christian music. ... I began my career writing what I would call overtly Christian music - songs that I would say only Christians can relate to. Then I started thinking: There might be a better way to say what I'm going to say, less blatant, more issue-driven. Every song doesn't have to be based on a Bible verse. They're more about my world view. If you play music that people relate to, it gives them hope. it makes them more open to what you're trying to say. Some people will hear your music and say, "I'm not into the Christian thing, but they rock, and I respect that."

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle. Instead, click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin . When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Teddy Bear Valentines

2012-02-14T00:52:00.001-06:00

There were at least fourteen Christian martyrs named Valentine. Any or all of them would be dismayed at some of the more crass things which have developed around the holiday named St. Valentine’s Day.

An example is the television commercial posted below. It is considered by many to be quite cute and witty. To a Christian eye it is full of phallic symbols, sexually suggestive poses, and a not so subtle pushing of the giant teddy bear’s groin towards a woman. The spoken text is just as suggestive. The main impression of commenters on You Tube is that it is insulting to women.

Let’s be clear.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Teddy Bears, even giant ones.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to impress your girlfriend or wife.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the current St. Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating romance.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with marital sexuality. It is a gift from God.

What is offensive about this commercial is its leering, manipulative attitude. Instead of romance, it is promoting a “game” where you win by getting what you want.

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle. Instead, click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin . When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

She Listened to the Lord

2012-02-13T10:11:00.011-06:00

Kylie Bisutti won her dream job as a Victoria 's Secret lingerie model in 2009 in a competition with 10,000 other models. In 2012, she quit the financially lucrative position because she had come under conviction that the lifestyle she was leading was in conflict with her Christianity . She is still a model, but now it is not in her underwear. She had become convinced that "My body should be only for my husband and it's just a sacred thing."

After the Cleansing of the Temple

2012-02-12T08:28:00.002-06:00

In every well-known Bible passage there are other, sometimes many, insights "hidden in plain sight." In the incident of Jesus' cleansing the moneychangers from the Temple, there are other things being said.

1. Jesus has the authority to define the proper use of the Temple.
2. Children are welcome into the previously all-adult world.
3. Jesus opened the Kingdom of God to everyone, including the blemished people, the lame and the blind. This infuriated the religious leaders who insisted that it was blasphemous for blemished persons to enter the Temple.

"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

" And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there." Matthew 21:12-17

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel. Leviticus 21:16-24

Book Comment: 10 Lies About God and the Truths That Shatter Deception

2012-02-11T07:24:00.042-06:00

10 Lies About God and the Truths That Shatter Deception (2009) by Erwin W. Lutzer discusses several very hard questions. Pastor Lutzer challenges several misconceptions which have crept into the belief systems of many in the modern church.

The misconceptions are:
1. "God is Whatever You Want Him To Be"
2. "Many Paths Lead Into God's Presence"
3. "God Is More Tolerant Than He Used To Be"
4. "God Has Never Personally Suffered"
5. "God Is Obligated To Save Followers of Other Religions"
6. "God takes No Responsibility for Natural Disasters"
7. "God Does Not Know Our Decisions Before We Make Them"
8. "The Fall Ruined God's Plan"
9. "We Must Choose Between God's Pleasures and Our Own"
10. "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"

If any of this shocks you, get this book and see why Pastor Lutzer says what he does.

Hello, Qatar!

2012-02-10T15:37:00.001-06:00

مرحبا، قطر! مرحبا بكم في مجموعة من القراء من مئة وخمس دول أخرى الذين يزورون أيضا هذا بلوق.وآمل أن تجد بعض من وظائف مفيدة أو ذات مغزى.
"ترجم هذه الصفحة" أداة مباشرة فوق "عرض صفحة مجموع" عداد لديها القدرة على ترجمة النص الإنكليزي من هذا بلوق مباشرة إلى لغات أخرى عديدة، بما فيها اللغة العربية.

مائة وستة بلدان هي: ألبانيا، الأرجنتين، أروبا، أستراليا، النمسا، البحرين، روسيا البيضاء، بلجيكا، بليز،البرازيل، بلغاريا، كندا، جزر كايمان، تشيلي، الصين، الجمهورية التشيكية، كولومبيا، الكونغو، كوستاريكا،كرواتيا، قبرص ، الجمهورية التشيكية، الدنمارك، جمهورية الدومينيكان، إكوادور، مصر، السلفادور،استونيا، إثيوبيا، فنلندا، فرنسا، جورجيا، المانيا، اليونان، هونغ كونغ، هنغاريا، أيسلندا، الهند، اندونيسيا،ايران، العراق، أيرلندا، إسرائيل، إيطاليا وساحل العاج واليابان والأردن وكمبوديا، كينيا، الكويت، لاوس،لاتفيا، لبنان، ليسوتو، ليتوانيا، لوكسمبورغ، مقدونيا، ماليزيا، مالي، مالطا، المكسيك، مولدوفا، المغرب، ميانمار، هولندا، كاليدونيا الجديدة، ونيوزيلندا، نيجيريا، النرويج، باكستان، بنما، باراغواي، بيرو، الفلبين،بولندا، البرتغال، قطر، رومانيا، روسيا، وسانت كيتس ونيفيس، والمملكة العربية السعودية، السنغال، صربيا،سنغافورة، سلوفاكيا، سلوفينيا، جنوب أفريقيا، كوريا الجنوبية، اسبانيا، سري لانكا، السودان، السويد،سويسرا، تايوان، تنزانيا، تايلند، ترينيداد وتوباغو، تونس، تركيا، أوغندا، أوكرانيا، الإمارات العربية المتحدة والمملكة المتحدة والولايات المتحدة، فنزويلا، فيتنام، اليمن، زيمبابوي.

Secular Christians

2012-02-10T07:16:00.001-06:00

"I am grieved by nit-picking, small-minded Christians, and deeply troubled about shallow Christians who think everything is black and white, who have simple answers for life's most difficult questions. But I'm outraged by "secular" Christians who have been fully immersed in the moral relativism of a post-Christian world." Gary Kinnaman

The Longest Palindrome in the Bible

2012-02-09T11:37:00.031-06:00

In the Bible, the names David, Natan (Nathan), and Anna are natural (probably unintentional) palindromes, as is the word “abba (אבי),” a Hebrew word most correctly translated as “Daddy, or "my Father” and used by children referring to their own father. It is the word Jesus used in referring to God the Father (Mark 14:36).

The longest palindromic word in the Bible is לְאִיתִיאֵל ("to Ithiel"), occurring in Proverbs 30:1. This is the only mention of the man Ithiel in the Bible. The word is repeated, probably for emphasis.

"The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal," Proverbs 30:1

דִּבְרֵי אָגוּר בִּן־יָקֶה הַמַּשָּׂא נְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר לְאִיתִיאֵל לְאִיתִיאֵל וְאֻכָל׃

Palindromes

2012-02-08T11:35:00.001-06:00

The palindrome is a literary device in which a phrase, number, word, or sequence reads the same when read either from the left or the right. The word “palindrome” was invented in the seventeenth century by the British writer Ben Johnson (1572-1637), from two Greek words; palin (πάλιν), meaning “again,” "back," "further," or "on the other hand," and dromos (δρόμος), meaning "road," “way,” or “direction.”

The earliest known palindrome is from 79 AD/CE, found in the ruins of the city of Herculaneum which was destroyed along with Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted. 79 AD is squarely within the late New Testament period.

The palindrome found in Herculaneum is actually four palindromes, a word square, cut into a square block of stone. The Latin inscription reads “Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas” which in English reads as “The sower, Arepo, holds works wheels.” The phrase reads the same if read from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, and bottom to top.

SATOR

AREPO

TENET

OPERA

ROTAS

The New and Old Testaments

2012-02-07T08:11:00.002-06:00

The New Testament was originally written in all upper case letters with no spaces between consecutive words. The Old Testament was originally written in all upper case letters with no spaces between consecutive words and with no vowels. Neither language used any punctuation. The paragraph below will give you an idea of how this would look in modern English.

THENEWTESTAMENTWASORIGINALLYWRITTENINALLUPPERCASELETTERSWITHNOSPACESBETWEENCONSECTIVEWORDSTHELDTSTMNTWSRGNLLWRTTNNLLPPRCSLTTRSWTHNSPCSBTWNCNSCTVWRDSNDNVWELS

Common Greek

2012-02-06T07:43:00.004-06:00

In yesterday's post I mentioned the Koine or "common"Greek in which the New Testament was written. The Koine dialect was the one commonly in use in the known world during the Hellenistic and Roman historical periods. The word is a feminine form of the Greek word "koinos (κοινώς)," translated as "common." It was the language of the common people and the lingua franca, the language used in common by the entire Mediterranean area, the language everyone understood and spoke even if their primary language was something else, similar to the status of Hindi in modern India.

Classical Greek had several dialects. The dialect spoken in Athens was called Attic. The Ionic dialect was spoken in the Greek city states across the Aegean Sea from Athens. Koine Greek developed from the Attic and Ionic dialects. Because it was the dialect spoken by Alexander the Great, Koine was spread throughout the known world. Many Christians believe that this was in preparation for God's presentation of the Gospel to the world.

Carrying a Numbrella

2012-02-05T19:33:00.002-06:00

My three year old granddaughter was playing with an umbrella recently and she asked me, "What is this called?" She is very smart and inquisitive.

I told her it was an umbrella and she went around saying "Numbrella."

The reason she was saying this is that in English we add an "N" between ending and starting vowels in consecutive words so as to avoid what is called a hiatus. (What she heard me say was "a numbrella.") To us the hiatus sounds almost like a hiccup. So, properly, it is "an umbrella" rather than "a umbrella." But, of course, my granddaughter is three and doesn't yet know proper English grammar.

This made me think of the Koine (Common) Greek used in the New Testament. The same device is used for two vowel sounds occurring consecutively. I think that this device originated with the ancient Attic-Ionic versions of Greek. Some of the linguists out there may know if it is found in earlier languages.

(Not all languages use this device. In Samoan for example, every vowel is fully pronounced even when two vowels occur in succession; the surname Tuiasosopo is pronounced as "too-ee-AH-suh-so-po". The name of the Hawaiian oo bird is pronounced "oh-oh.")

The Paradox of Belonging to Jesus

2012-02-04T11:42:00.001-06:00

"When they are wholly His, they will be more themselves than ever." C. S. Lewis

Unusual Christian Places: Christ of the Abyss

2012-02-03T11:24:00.001-06:00

The Christ of the Abyss statue is in about 25 feet of water near Dry Rocks, about six miles east-northeast of Key Largo, Florida, in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. It is a copy of "Il Cristo Degli Abssi," (1954) located in the Mediterranean Sea near Genoa, Italy. The original statue was cast by Guido Galletti. The copy was placed in the waters off Key Largo in 1965. It is a popular scuba diving site.

Firestorm: The Contraception Mandate

2012-02-02T22:12:00.003-06:00

As I have stated repeatedly, this is not, never has been, and never will be a political blog. That will not stop me from speaking on matters of religion which touch upon politics. There is currently in the United States a political firestorm begun when the Obama administration mandated that employee health plans must cover contraception, including the abortifacient "morning after pill." While churches, synagogues, and mosques are exempt, any affiliated entities such as hospitals and social services are not. The response did not take long, and it shouldn't have.

Some suggest, as I have in the past, that Christian organizations should renounce their tax exempt status, refuse federal funding for "faith-based initiatives," and take no federal or state funds for any reason.

One commenter on the LifeSiteNews.com listing below says that the mandate applies even for employers who take no federal funds. Does anyone know if that is true? Even if it is, I still think separation is a good idea. Jesus said to render to Caesar what was Caesars and then he handed the coin back.

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/southern-baptist-leader-obama-contraception-mandate-is-not-only-a-catholic

http://www.christianpost.com/news/catholic-bishop-blasts-obama-admin-for-contraception-mandate-68039/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2094206/Catholic-Church-showdown-Obama-U-S-faith-leaders-denounce-contraception-mandate.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/01/health-reform-preventive-services-and-religious-institutions

The website of the National Abortion Rights League
http://www.naral.org/

Film Comment: Rick Wakeman: Amazing Grace

2012-02-01T23:57:00.005-06:00

Rick Wakeman: Amazing Grace (2007) is a concert film featuring Rick Wakeman (b. 1949, England), the virtuoso keyboardist best known for his work in the progressive rock music group Yes. Wakeman began his career as a studio musician to artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John, and Cat Stevens. He has produced music for over forty years (over 100 solo albums in addition to his work with Yes) in the genres of rock, progressive rock, pop, electronica, jazz fusion, classical, and Christian music, and has won numerous awards. The instruments he uses include the grand piano, electric piano, organ, Moog synthesizer, Mellotron, and the Birotron.

The Amazing Grace concert was recorded live using a grand piano, an orchestra, and a choir. The music was arranged and orchestrated by Wakeman. Wakeman, in a flat deadpan voice (he is, after all, a keyboardist, not an announcer) introduces each song with a short bit of its history. Then he does what he really wants to do, play the piano.

Wakeman's musical style is heavily ornamental and complex. He makes it look simple and easy, but his skill is the result of a lifetime of study and practice. Oftentimes, the camera fixates on his fluidly moving fingers, which never miss a key, never slip no matter how quickly they move, displaying technical and artistic virtuosity.

I criticized the music and images on another Amazing Grace film for being overly sentimental and syrupy. There is none of that here. The video here does contain some beautiful imagery; it also contains scenes of war and natural disasters. Rick Wakeman has lost none of his edge. He realizes that Christians do not have to retreat into "pretty." Christians can stare evil in its face. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

Wakeman seems to be in the place he wants to be while playing his grand piano. His face never changes as he plays, he is thinking of only one thing. The one time he smiles is at the end of Amazing Grace, the last song in the concert, sung by his daughter, Jemma. It is the smile of a proud father.

The songs in the concert film are:
Ode to Joy
All Things Bright and beautiful
O Come, O Come, Emanuel
Nearer My God to Thee
Morning Has Broken
Abide With Me
Amazing Grace
There is a Green Hill Far Away
Glad That I Live Am I
Jerusalem
When We Walk With the Lord
All People That on Earth Do Dwell
I Vow to Thee My Country
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Day Thou Gavest
Amazing Grace

Christians

2012-01-31T23:50:00.000-06:00

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian. Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions. Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list. This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Lisa Diane Whelchel: (b. 1963, Texas, USA) Actress, singer, writer. From 1977-1978 she was a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club.

James Spann: (b. 1986, Alabama, USA) Television meteorologist.

Solomon Halevi: (b. ca 1350, Spain - d.1435; aka: Pablo de Santa Maria) HaLevi was the Rabbi of Burgos, Spain, theologian, bishop. In 1391, he converted to Christianity and claimed to be a descendant of the line of Mary. He became the Bishop of Burgos and the Chancellor of the King of Castille. Jewish tradition vilifies him as an apostate.

Diego Sarmiento de Valladares: (b.1615,Spain – d 1695) Roman Catholic Bishop, Grand Inquisitor of Spain (1669-1695). In 1681, he declared that the Spanish nobility could not hire Jewish converts to Christianity to act as wet nurses for their infants because their milk would ruin the children.

Edward Drinker Cope: (b. 1840, USA – d. 1897) Paleontologist, comparative anatomist, herpetologist, and zoologist. He published over 1400 scientific papers and discovered, described, and named over 1000 vertebrate species. Quaker.

You Have to Have Faith

2012-01-30T08:44:00.034-06:00

If you have seen many vampire movies you know the often repeated scene where a scared out his wits victim grabs a crucifix and holds it up to ward off an advancing vampire. Of course, the vampire grabs and crushes the crucifix, and then says, "You have to have faith!" Then the biting begins.

There is a story in Acts 19:13-16 where two unbelieving Jewish exorcists attempted to use the name of Jesus as if it were a powerful magic incantation. Their idea was to use the magic to cast a demon out of a possessed man. Instead of being cast out, the demon had its slave beat the two men and chase them away.

"Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew,and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." Acts 19:13-16

Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: He Would Be Buried With a Rich Man

2012-01-29T20:41:00.000-06:00

“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:9

“When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” Matthew 27:57-60.

Film Comment: Daredevil

2012-01-28T08:43:00.142-06:00

The film, Daredevil (2003), is based on a comic book series. Daredevil is one of Marvel Comic's second-tier characters, much less well known than The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Spiderman, or the Fantastic Four. The film includes several comic book insider references and, as do all Marvel films, has a cameo by the legendary Stan Lee. Be aware that the film, while rated PG-13, includes extreme violence and some profanity.

The superhero Daredevil is in reality blind attorney Matt Murdock. Yes, blind. As a child, Matt Murdock was involved in an industrial accident which destroyed his eyes but enhanced all his other senses to the point that they almost produce sensory overload. He feels the heat of your breath; his fingers can feel the indentation in the wood produced by a pen writing on a sheet of paper on a desk; he can sense movements in the air around him; he can hear your internal organs at work; he can identify you by your smell as you enter a room; and his enhanced sense of balance means that he has become the world's best acrobat.

By day an attorney, at night Matt becomes Daredevil, a vigilante in a form-fitting red leather suit, complete with small devil horns on his forehead. Motivated by the murder of his boxer father, Jack "the Devil" Murdock, Matt swears to fight crime and to "seek justice, one way or another." Matt's way is extreme violence against rapists, muggers, thieves, and other low-life scum who exist in the underbelly of the city.

The reason this film is germaine to this blog is that the film highlights the fact that Matt Murdock is, at least nominally, a Christian. This was established as early as Daredevil #119. Matt's Christianity was brought to the forefront by the writer Frank Miller (who, by the way, is an atheist) during his run as the book's writer and has become one of the character's most identifying aspects, playing on the conflict between his beliefs and his actions. In Ultimate Spiderman #109, Daredevil states that he is Catholic.

Matt Murdock is a Roman Catholic and the comic books (and the film) are full of cathedrals with stone gargoyles, crosses, stained glass windows, priests, nuns, and other overtly religious images. Matt hangs around his church and talks to his priest, but seems to avoid actual church services, though he does occasionally go to confession. He actually believes but can't give up his quest for revenge. He doesn't want to be a bad man, but he fears that he is a devil.

After severely beating a mob enforcer, Matt realizes he has been observed by the man's son. He turns to the boy and says, "I'm not the bad guy, kid. ... I'm not the bad guy. ... I'm not."

Matt is stuck in the limbo in which many religious people find themselves. He is blind, even though he thinks he can see. People like Matt believe intellectually, perhaps even emotionally, but they are unable or unwilling to commit, unwilling to give up their favorite ways of doing things, unwilling to give control of their lives to the Lord. They are neither hot nor cold for God, they are lukewarm.

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" Revelation 3:15-16

Freedom Biker Church

2012-01-27T08:26:00.001-06:00

The grace of God is for all people. Praise the Lord.

www.freedombikerchurch.com Read their statement of faith.

The Joe Paterno Controversy

2012-01-26T20:08:00.001-06:00

Former Pennsylvania State University football coach was buried today. He was a near-legendary man, having coached at the university for 62 years (47 as the head coach.) He was loved by millions of people, including me, because he represented hard work, integrity, and personal responsibility. He demonstrated that one can win while staying strictly within the rules and that advancing age does not have to be an impediment to one who continues to work hard. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and ended his coaching career with two national championships and an overall record of 409 wins, 136 losses, and 3 ties.

The reason I am writing about Coach Paterno on this blog is the scandal which ended his coaching career. On 5 November 2011, one of Joe Paterno’s former assistant coaches, Jerry Sandusky, was arrested on 40 counts of sexual abuse of eight young boys over a 15 year period. Some of the offenses occurred on the Penn State campus.

The investigation determined that Coach Paterno was made aware of at least one of the events by a subordinate. Fulfilling his legal obligation, Coach Paterno reported the information to his immediate supervisor and then said nothing else. On 7 January 2012, Coach Paterno was relieved of his duties (the university president was also dismissed) by the university for his failure to do more. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said “… whether you’re a football coach or a university president or the guy sweeping the building, I think you have a moral responsibility to call us.”

Coach Paterno died of lung cancer on 22 January 2012. At his funeral the sentiment was clear; that he was treated badly and did not deserve to be dismissed. His son, Jay Paterno said, “Joe Paterno left this world with a clear conscience.” Tom Corbett, the Governor of the State of Pennsylvanua said, “His legacy as the winningest coach in major college football and his generosity to Penn State as an institution and to his players, stand as monuments to his life … His place in our state’s history is secure.”

As I said at the start of this post, though I never met him, did not attend the university, and have never been to State College, Pennsylvania, I loved Coach Paterno for what he represented: personal responsibility. That is why my disappointment in him is so great. At the moment when he could have stood up as a Christian man and, regardless of the consequences, done what was morally proper, he seems to have turned and retreated into his house.

A Descendant of Peter the Apostle?

2012-01-25T10:39:00.020-06:00

Twelver Shiahs, who comprise about eighty-five percent of all Shiah Muslims, believe that Bibi Narjis Khatun, a female descendant in her maternal line of Jesus’ disciple, Saint Peter, became the wife of the 11^th Imam Hasan al-Askari. A son of this marriage, Muhammad al-Mahdi, became the 12th and final Imam. (Other traditions say that Narjis was a Byzantine slave or a black African slave. She may have been of Persian and/or Roman descent. If descended from Peter, she was, by Jewish tradition, Jewish.)

There probably is no way to prove historically that Narjis was a descendant of Peter. Since Peter probably had children, it is, at least, possible.

Clearly, Peter and the other disciples of Jesus were married, as would be entirely normal for Jewish men of the biblical period. The Bible plainly says that Peter was married. (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39, and 1 Corinthians 9:5) Clement of Alexandria (Stromata, III, vi, ed, Dindorf, II, 276) said that Peter had children as did Philip, and probably Paul.

Ignatius of Antioch, in The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians, chapter 4, verse 30, said “… of Peter, and Paul, and the rest of the apostles, that were married men. “ Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, was in a position to know this because he was trained as a student by the Apostle John.

What Does It Mean?: Apostle

2012-01-24T20:37:00.001-06:00

ἀπόστολος The Greek word apostolos (apostle) comes from the words “apo (away from)” and “stellein (to send),” meaning, “sent off.” The idea is that of an “emissary” or “messenger,” sent with a message. The designation of “apostle” was a function, not an office or position. Sometimes apostles were elected and at other times they were appointed. (Galatians 2:8; Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 5:20, 8:18-23, 9:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:2.)

Remember that the early Christians operated from a Jewish understanding. The Greek "apostle" is equivalent to the Hebrew “shaliah.” A shaliaḥ (שָלִיחַ‎; pl. שְלִיחִים, sheliḥim) was a Jewish legal emissary or agent who performed an act of legal significance for the sender(s).

The Twelve Apostles were called “emissaries” when they were “sent” (Matthew 10:1-8) They were usually called “the Twelve (τοῖς δώδεκα)” or “followers” (mathetai, μαθηταὶ). They were not leaders of individual churches, and others (Junia, Andronicus, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Apollos, and Paul himself) were called apostles.

In the biblical sense, it is entirely appropriate to refer to Padraig/Patrick (ca 387 - 493) as the Apostle to the Irish; John Eliot (ca 1604 -1690) as the Apostle to the Indians; and John G. Lake (1870-1935) as the Apostle to Africa.

The Waterproof Bible

2012-01-23T09:43:00.032-06:00

At first glance, the Waterproof Bible sounded like a silly novelty to me, but the more I read about it, the more sense it made. I still don't need or want one, but I can see how it would be very useful to some people.

This Bible is made of plastic which feels like glossy paper and which can be marked with a ballpoint pen or a dry ink highlighter. Originally known as The Outdoor Bible, there are editions of the NIV, KJV, ESV, NLT, and NASB versions.

The Waterproof Bible will float if dropped in water so it can be carried and used by hunters, boaters, fishermen, by missionaries in rainy climates, or at the beach or pool. It would be ideal for use by soldiers in combat assignments. One commentator suggested that it would be excellent for use by children.

Film Comment: Amazing Grace

2012-01-22T11:44:00.002-06:00

Amazing Grace: Hymns That Changed the World (2007) is documentary film produced by Questar Entertainment. There is a "Praise and Worship Extra" on the DVD which, to me, was overly syrupy and saccharin with lush strings, beautiful nature scenes, and a rich baritone narration. There was nothing wrong with it, but I felt that I had to wipe off a little sugar from my face. Watch the DVD extra material if you like that sort of thing.

The "meat" of the disc is the documentary itself. This makes the DVD totally worthwhile. The totally unexpected stories behind five beloved hymns are recounted by pastors, musicians, and hymnologists. The often tragic lives of the writers of the hymns are discussed. Out of their pain and because of their faith, these men produced five of the most powerful hymns ever written: "It Is Well With My Soul," "Silent Night," "How Great Thou Art," "What a Friend We Have In Jesus," and the most remarkable story, "Amazing Grace."

I strongly recommend that you watch this excellent DVD. I obtained my rental copy from Netflix.

Christians

2012-01-21T00:05:00.020-06:00

Robert Craig Knievel: (b. 1938, Montana, USA – d. 2007, aka: Evel Knievel) Motorcycle daredevil. Between 1965 and 1980, he made over 75 ramp to ramp motorcycle jumps, most of which were successful. Those which were not resulted in 433 broken bones. He converted to Christianity several months before his death. “… the power of God in Jesus just grabbed me.” Reformed.

Harry Tong: (b. Kiribati) Politician, brother of Anote Tong (b. 1952), the president of Kiribati.

Levi Stanley: (b. 1818?, England – d. 1908; the King of the Gypsies) He was the husband of Matilda Stanley.

Matilda Joles Stanley: (b. 1821?, England – d. 1878; the Queen of the Gypsies) She was the wife of Levi Stanley.

Kim Young-sam: (b. 1927, Korea) President of South Korea (1993-1998). Presbyterian.

Biblical Sources of Phrases in Common Use: Time Heals All Wounds

2012-01-20T02:34:00.003-06:00

Although "Time heals all wounds" sounds as if it might be of biblical origin, it is not. It is probably from Geoffrey Chaucer (1304? - 1400), "As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure." (Modern English paraphrase: As time causes hurt, time heals) or, more likely, Menander (342 BC/BCE - 291 BC/BCE), in Fragments dclxxvii, "ράνṯων ἰαṯρὸς ṯῷν ἀναγκαίων κακῷν χρόνος ἐσṯίν" Translation: "Time is the healer of all necessary evils."

Arguments Within the Church Over Homosexuality

2012-01-19T10:39:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, I posted about newspaper columnist Leonard Post having insulted conservative, traditional Christians by, at least indirectly, saying that they are bigots for opposing same-sex marriage. Homosexuality is one of the many subjects which cause intense arguments within the Church. My understanding is that the subject of homosexuality falls under the category of a Persuasion. Very few doctrines should fall under the category of Conviction, doctrines over which we should utterly break all fellowship and, in effect, to use an old theological term, declare anathema (ἀνάθεμα, Greek for "cursed" or "accursed."). Anathema applies to the doctrine or attitude, not to the person, who, of couse, can change their mind.

Convictions: Examples include the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith; matters crucial to salvation. Acts 10:1-35 is an example of a conviction level argument, over the doctrine of salvation by grace and not by works. These are matters over which Christians must be willing to fight and permanently separate if necessary.

Persuasions: Examples include millenial views, the age of the Earth, the exact nature of Heaven and Hell. In Romans 14:5, Paul talks about Persuasion level beliefs, in which each man may "be fully persuaded in his own mind" but remain in unity with other believers who disagree. "Persuaded" or "convinced" is a translation of plerophoreistho (πληροφορείσθω), from the verb plerophoreisthein, "to be fufilled," "to be fully convinced." The believers may choose to worship separately while recognizing that the others are also Christian, because we "all stand before the judgement seat of God."

Opinions: Individual preference. Examples include the best Bible translation, the proper model for church government, whether or not to use music in church services, whether or not women should "cover" their heads in church, whether or not to use real wine in the Lord's Supper, where Cain got his wife, should Christians smoke. Paul speaks of this level of belief in 1 Corinthians 7.

What They Think of Us: Someone Finally Said It Out Loud

2012-01-18T09:29:00.004-06:00

Someone finally said it out loud. So, they think we are bigots.

As I have said repeatedly, this is not, never has been, and never will be a political blog but sometimes my comments may be about subjects which touch on politics. Recently Leonard Pitts , a columnist for the Miami Herald newspaper, insulted every Christian who opposes same-sex marriage on scriptural grounds. In criticizing presidential candidate Rick Santorum, Pitts calls Santorum a bigot because of his opposition to same-sex marriage based on "lame arguments built of straw and fear." In effect, Pitts has said that to hold the position makes one a bigot. I don't believe that Pitts actually intended to insult such a large group of people although his statements could be viewed as part of the obviously growing secular hostility toward historical Christianity.

Did You Break the Rock?

2012-01-17T21:22:00.001-06:00

My three year old granddaughter fell face first at the park recently and hit her forehead on a large rock. Her parents did all the right things and had her checked for a concussion Other than a large swollen place on her forehead, she seems to not have been seriously injured. When I saw her, I asked her if she broke the rock. She smiled and nodded "Yes." She was back up and going strong.

When Christians hit a rock, how do we respond? Do we lay on the ground and moan or do we get back up and "go strong?" Do we do it under our own power, by our willpower? That is a glorification of self. As Christians, we are to glorify God.

A very detailed discussion of the Christian response to adversity can be found here.

When we face difficulties, we can try to overcome them in our own power, and often, we will fail. Or we can remember what Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

We may not have "success" from a human standpoint, but "success" from God's viewpoint is obedience to and dependence on Him.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

We can do this because we do not have to rely on our own fallible willpower. As Christians indwelled by the Holy Spirit, we have the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16

Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

2012-01-16T08:12:00.000-06:00

The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens are more popularly known as The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. The zoo features a collection of wildlife mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. It is known for successfully breeding several endangered species. In 2009, the zoo had 738,000 visitors.

The zoo was founded in 1940 by Aharon Shulov (b. 1907, Ukraine - d. 1997), a professor of zoology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The animals live in enclosures duplicating their natural habitats. The zoo houses over 2,200 animals representing 271 species,

Female Images of God: A Mother and Her Son

2012-01-15T20:06:00.000-06:00

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Isaiah 49:15

Names in the Bible: Hamor

2012-01-14T00:13:00.003-06:00

Hamor the Hivite was the ruler of Shechem (2 km west of modern Nablus, West Bank). He was the father of Shechem, who raped Dinah, a daughter of Jacob. Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, killed both Hamor and Shechem (and all the males in the town) in revenge. (Genesis 34: 1-31)

Being named for a donkey/ass would not today be considered to be a compliment in most cultures, but in ancient Palestine, the ass or donkey was considered to be very valuable. Also, the donkey was considered to be very strong and reliable.

"And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. (חֲמֹרִים "hamorim," the plural of "hamor") Genesis 30:43

Hello, Cyprus!

2012-01-13T06:51:00.003-06:00

Γεια σας, η Κύπρος! Καλώς ήρθατε στην ομάδα των αναγνωστών από εκατόν τέσσερις άλλες χώρες που επισκέπτονται επίσης αυτό το ιστολόγιο. Ελπίζω να βρείτεορισμένες από τις θέσεις χρήσιμες ή νόημα.
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Merhaba, Kıbrıs! 104 diğer ülkelerde de bu blogu ziyaret okuyucuları grubuna hoş geldiniz. Ben size bazı yararlı ya da anlamlı bir mesaj bulmak umuyoruz.

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Worshipping the paper

2012-01-12T00:14:00.000-06:00

"... I think God was wise in not allowing the original autographs to survive, He wants us to hear His word and obey it, not worship it. If we had the original manuscripts (or anything old enough that it could possibly be an original), I'm afraid people would set up shrines and worship the paper." Alan Kent Scholes, in What Christianity is All About (1999).

Hello, Portugal!

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

Olá, Portugal! Bem-vindo ao grupo de leitores a partir de 103 outros países que também visitam este blog. Espero que você encontre alguns dos posts útil ousignificativo.
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Book Comment: What Christianity is All About

2012-01-11T09:46:00.002-06:00

What Christianity Is All About. How You Can Know and Enjoy God (1999) is a highly readable book of apologetics which talks about God, revelation, the Bible, Jesus, salvation, man, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Satan, and eschatology. The main thing I took from the book is the idea of categories of belief, which the author defines using biblical references. To quote the author, Alan Scholes, "The New Testament writers themselves held more than one category of belief. They held some beliefs as non-negotiable for all Christians, others as matters of individual conscience on which believers could have diversity of understanding without disunity, and other beliefs as solely matters of personal preference or style."

The three categories of belief outlined by Scholes are convictions, persuasions, and opinions. He gives several examples.

Convictions: the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith.
Persuasions: millenial views, the age of the Earth, the exact nature of Heaven and Hell.
Opinions: the best Bible translation, the proper model for church government.

Holding every belief on a conviction level is divisive and unbiblical; it may even be idolatrous and heretical. Understanding that Christians may disagree on some subjects and still be recognized as legitimate Christians is one basis for Christian unity.

Film Comment: Forbidden Games

2012-01-10T21:46:00.000-06:00

The 1952 French film, Forbidden Games (Les jeux interdits) , won numerous best film awards including a 1952 special foreign film Academy Award and a Golden Lion best actress award for the five-year old Brigitte Fossey . Some of the published comments describe the film as "childhood innocence corrupted," "the horrors of war through the eyes of children," "children using their powers of fantasy and denial to deal with death in wartime." It is a film which is both funny, creepy, horrifying, and incredibly sad. The children are real children, not little adults.

Paulette (Brigitte Fossey) really is the center of the film. Film critic Roger Ebert says of her, "Fossey's face becomes a mirror that refuses to reflect what she must see and feel." And it is her eyes that house the mirror.

The plot of the film: a young girl is orphaned in a Nazi air attack on civilians fleeing from Paris and is taken in by a ten-year old boy and his family. The boy helps Paulette secretly bury her dog, which died along with her parents in the air raid. Worried that the dog is alone in the ground, the children begin to bury other dead animals and they create a secret cemetery, stealing crosses to place on each grave. They build an elaborate fantasy world around the cemetery. The fantasy world will, of course, eventually come crashing down.

In this film, as with most others I view, I appreciate and understand the artistry and intentions of the filmmakers. I also see things which may or may not have originally been intended; specifically, I see things through a Christian lens.

The main thing which I see in this film is how all the adults failed the children. The Nazis callously killed adults and children alike with their air raids. The adults who pulled Paulette onto their wagon were so intent on their escape that they failed to restrain or go after Paulette when she jumped off the wagon to retrieve her dead dog. The kindly and basically well-meaning peasant family who took Paulette in were so wrapped up in their sometimes silly adult dealings that they basically ignored the children because they were "just" children. The priest is more interested in catechisms and confessions and correct ritual than in understanding the children. The government officials who come for Paulette want to make sure their papers are properly completed. The kind nun at the train station tells Paulette to quietly sit on a bench and then leaves her alone. None of the adults, except for the Nazis, are "bad people." They just fail to actually see the children. Sometimes you have to take a crayon, get down on the floor, and color with a child.

National Championship Football Game

2012-01-09T18:49:00.001-06:00

Please forgive me this indulgence. I am excited about the University of Alabama football team playing tonight against the Louisiana State University team for the national championship of college football. Both teams are in the same football conference, The Southeastern Conference, and amazingly, in the same division of the conference.

The videos below are of Sara Evans, an outspoken Christian, singing the United States national anthem at an Alabama football game and of her husband, Jay Barker, also an outspoken Christian, who is now a radio talk show host but was formerly a collegiate (University of Alabama, of course) and professional football player.

Update: The University of Alabama football team defeated the Louisiana State University team 21-0 to win the national collegiate championship.

Rhema Marvanne Sings "Amazing Grace"

2012-01-08T00:48:00.004-06:00

Rhema Marvanne Voraritskul is a gospel music singer, a pianist, and an actress. She is ten years old, born in Texas (USA) in 2002. She is of Thai-Caucasian ancestry. The Rhema Marvanne Story: (Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle. Instead, click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin . When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Rhema sings "Amazing Grace."

The First Religious Broadcast on Radio

2012-01-07T07:03:00.004-06:00

0n 22 January 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA), Radio station KDKA broadcasted the regular Sunday morning worship service of the Calvary Episcopal Church . Today, Christian broadcasting remains on radio worldwide. About 1949, some radio evangelists began to move into the new medium of television.

Hello, Mali!

2012-01-07T00:33:00.000-06:00

Bonjour, le Mali! Bienvenue dans le groupe des lecteurs de 102 autres pays qui ont également consulter ce blog. J'espère que vous trouverez quelques-uns desmessages utiles ou significatives.
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Hello, Chile!

2012-01-07T00:29:00.000-06:00

Hola, Chile! Bienvenido al grupo de lectores de cien y otros dos países que también Hola,visitan este blog. Espero que algunos de los mensajes útiles o significativas.
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Book Comment: Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?

2012-01-06T02:36:00.003-06:00

Campus Crusade for Christ is the world's largest Christian ministry. In 1952, the founder of the ministry, Bill Bright, wrote a small 16 page evangelistic tract entitled "Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?"
The tract has been in print ever since and has been used millions of times in personal evangelism. It is also used by evangelicals to explain the evangelistic approach of the tract to non-evangelical Christians. Copies of the tract are available from the organization. Wide distribution of the tract is encouraged by the organization.

The Four Spiritual Laws are:
1. "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life."
2. "Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life."
3. "Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life."
4. ""We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives."

Each of these Laws is amplified and explained in the tract. In the more recent printings of the tract, several websites are recommended.
www.startingwithGod.com
www.growinginChrist.com
www.whoisJesus-really.com
www.everystudent.com

Some Reasons Why Mormons Are Not Christian

2012-01-05T10:35:00.092-06:00

Mormons insist that they are Christians but there are many sharp divergences between orthodox Christian doctrine and Mormon doctrine. Listed below are just a few of them.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: Do not add to scripture. Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19
Mormon doctrine: The Mormon canon includes three additional scriptures: The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Doctrine and Covenants.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: God is not a man, but a spirit. (Numbers 23:19; John 4:24)

Mormon doctrine: God was once a man like us and, even now has a physical body.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: There is only one God, who created all of existence. (Isaiah 44:6)

Mormon doctrine: There are millions of Gods, each of whom has created his own universe.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: God is pre-existent and eternal.

Mormon doctrine: God was once a man on another planet who earned godhood by his good works. He and his wife populated this world with their spirit children (us).

Orthodox Christian doctrine: Jesus is pre-existent and was present at the creation.

Mormon doctrine: Jesus was the first spirit child of God and his wife. He married several of the Marys named in the New Testament. His first brother was Satan. We are subsequent sons and daughters of God.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: God is one God who exists as three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Mormon doctrine:The Trinity is three gods united in purpose.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: The ultimate destiny of individual Christians is sinless perfection in an eternal relationship with the Lord.

Mormon doctrine: Each Mormon man may become a god through his good works and create his own universe. He and his wife will populate their universe with their spirit children.

Orthodox Christian doctrine: Salvation is by grace through faith based on the shed blood of Christ. Good works are a result of salvation.

Mormon doctrine: Salvation is by faith and by following the commands of God. The shed blood of Christ is not the source of salvation. Salvation is conditional on faith, repentence, baptism, and keeping the commands of God.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23.