Yesterday, FBC was visited by Mr. & Mrs. K.M. Johns, a couple who have been ministering to India for over 30 years. They have come to visit the U.S. and churches in the American Baptist denomination.
They gave a greeting from our brothers and sisters in Christ from India. They also spoke to our Sunday school classes. Then they taught the children during a portion of the service. Mr. Johns shared his personal testimony as to how his father had died while he was very young. This led to a series of events which brought him to an orphanage. Because of a missionary sent from America years ago, Mr. Johns received Christ. Today Mr. and Mrs. Johns teach children about Christ and do many other things as well for our Lord's Kingdom.
After all was said and done, they went out of their way to meet the Scott City Christian School kids. The reason was simple. The SCCS raised $500.00 for the couple while collecting "change" over a period of about six months. This made a big impression on the missionary couple. When all was said and done, I think my family will be left with the bigger impression.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Witnessing to Mormons and Scripture Alone
Today I was caught completely off guard. Two mormon missionaries showed up at my door. Once again, they were female. I realize that is unusual, yet it is true. I have not kept up on my mormon witnessing skills, but I stuck to the basics and survived the encounter. Actually, I caught them in so many contradictions without ever discussing the Book of Mormon, that perhaps the Holy Spirit will use today's conversation to change their hearts. Only time will tell.
I have just recently started a new book written by James White called Scripture Alone. I have only read the first third of the first chapter, but it gave some great ideas on how to share the sufficiency of Scripture with those who deny that God still speaks to His people through the Bible and does so with clarity. So I highly recommend this book. How can you go wrong when just the first ten pages make it worth the money. If it can help me witness to mormon missionaries, it can help you in your understanding of the great doctrine delivered to the Saints.
So now some shameless advertsing. Click on the link (book) and get the book.
I have just recently started a new book written by James White called Scripture Alone. I have only read the first third of the first chapter, but it gave some great ideas on how to share the sufficiency of Scripture with those who deny that God still speaks to His people through the Bible and does so with clarity. So I highly recommend this book. How can you go wrong when just the first ten pages make it worth the money. If it can help me witness to mormon missionaries, it can help you in your understanding of the great doctrine delivered to the Saints.
So now some shameless advertsing. Click on the link (book) and get the book.
Hunt's Conspiracy Saga Continues
For those of you who read Dave Hunt and have been following his meltdown and anti-Calvinism crusade will enjoy some humor that David Hughes has written. Keep in mind that Dave Hunt has made the claims that there is a Calvinistic conspiracy against him (conspiracy theories seem to be the rage of the day) and that Acts 1-15 were originally written in Hebrew (his claim in order to get around Acts 13:48).
Here is an imaginary excerpt from an imaginary book about an imaginary conspiracy:
Introduction
A stiff, cold breeze followed him through door, making it difficult for him to close and sending a chill down the spine of Sarah.
“Sorry Sarah”, Hunt said, closing the door and brushing the snow from his shoulders. “Any calls?”
“No Dave, not one. Just a few emails. Expecting any?”
Dave knew that they would come—phone calls, letters, emails, and faxes, all demanding an explanation for the claims he made about Acts 13. But he could not say anything. He could not reveal his source. He promised. He pinky swore.
“Sarah, did you happen to find any other sources for my claims?” he asked as he took off his coat and hung his hat on the hook.
“Yes I did Dave, and I’ve already responded to a couple of emails with the list of scholars I found through my extensive online research.”
“That’s wonderful!” Dave felt deep relief. He now had a response to all the questions and did not have to give up his source.
“But Dave, there was something strange about the list.”
“What’s that?”
“I attempted to contact some of these scholars. It seems that most of them have disappeared mysteriously.”
“What?” Dave felt a chill even though the room was now toasty-warm. “What do you mean they disappeared?”
“Well, they wouldn’t answer my emails. But I did get a response from one of them. His name is Dr. Phillips. He wants to meet with you. Here’s his number.” Sarah handed the sticky note to Dave.
“Why did you try to contact the sources?”
“The plot would go nowhere if I hadn’t.” She said, then continued with her typing.
Dave retreated to his office. The shelves were lined with hundreds of books, most of which he read through the previous week, carefully underlining and taking notes. He peered at the phone number on the note and picked up his phone. He dialed.
“Uh…hello?” The voice on the other end crackled.
“Dr. Phillips?” Dave asked.
“No no. This is Hideaway Pizza. Would you like to order? “
“No no,” Dave Responded. Are you sure this is Hideaway Pizza?”
“Heh. As sure as I am that Spurgeon believed in limited atonement.” The young man said with a laugh.
“Actually, he wasn’t….er..he was……well, at least he was inconsistent. Anyway, sorry. “
Dave looked again at the note. “Oh, that’s a FIVE.” He muttered to himself. He dialed again.
“Yes?” A quiet voiced answered.
“Is this Dr. Phillips?”
“Yes, it is. Mr. Hunt I presume?”
“Yes”, Hunt replied. “You had some information for me regarding the book of Acts?”
“Shhh!” the man said tersely. “Not over the phone! I’ll meet you at the café at the corner of 45th and Guadalupe. Thirty minutes.” The phone went dead.
The drive to the Minuteman Café was a short one, but the thoughts running through Dave’s head on the way over made it seem longer. As he sat in the booth, a small man wearing a dark coat approached and slid into the booth across from Dave.
“Are you Dr. Phillips?” Dave asked.
The man looked around the room, scanning the other tables. The restaurant had few patrons, and the man was scanning each of them with his eyes suspiciously.
“Yes” he whispered. “I am Dr. Phillips. I don’t have much time so listen to me carefully. You are onto something very big. Much bigger than you or me. What you stated in your book is accurate. Who was your source?”
“I can’t tell you that,” Hunt said. “I pinky swore.”
“It was Ted Anderson.” Phillips said.
“How did you…”
“There are only four of us who know. We guard a very important and dangerous secret. There used to be twelve of us. Eight have met with misfortune, including Ted.”
Hunt was shocked. “What happened to Ted?”
“A bizarre accident. A shelf above his desk with the entire set of the Early Church Fathers collapsed on top of him. Poor guy. Those are heavy.”
“I wouldn’t know. Do you think it was an accident?”
“All eight people who have died have met with similar ‘accidents’”.
Hunt was puzzled and now a little frightened. “What information do you have for me?” He asked.
Phillips once again scanned the room carefully. He then slide removed a thin, wooden box from his coat and slid it across the table. “Open it.” He said.
Dave’s fingers fumbled with the latch but at last freed it from the catch. The box was very old, but what was inside looked infinitely older.
“What is it?” He said. There, in the box under a layer of plexi-glass was what appeared to be a fragment from a very old document. It looked as if it were made from fibers in a mesh pattern.
“That, my friend, is what Calvinists don’t want you to seek. It’s what they sought to destroy for centuries. Calvin and Luther tried to destroy all copies. And now a modern conspiracy seeks to destroy what is before you.”
“What is it? It has some sort of gibberish written on it. Is that Greek.”
“No. Hebrew. It is the first five verses from Acts 13, from a document that pre-dates by at least two days the earliest Greek manuscript. ”
“What? I was right? My source was right? That means that the rendering of Acts 13;48…..”
Phillips finished his statement. “….could very possibly although not conclusively be rendered different than that of the modern versions. That is why that document before you could possibly although not conclusively be very dangerous. You must be careful. Now that you know, your life is in danger.”
Here is an imaginary excerpt from an imaginary book about an imaginary conspiracy:
Introduction
A stiff, cold breeze followed him through door, making it difficult for him to close and sending a chill down the spine of Sarah.
“Sorry Sarah”, Hunt said, closing the door and brushing the snow from his shoulders. “Any calls?”
“No Dave, not one. Just a few emails. Expecting any?”
Dave knew that they would come—phone calls, letters, emails, and faxes, all demanding an explanation for the claims he made about Acts 13. But he could not say anything. He could not reveal his source. He promised. He pinky swore.
“Sarah, did you happen to find any other sources for my claims?” he asked as he took off his coat and hung his hat on the hook.
“Yes I did Dave, and I’ve already responded to a couple of emails with the list of scholars I found through my extensive online research.”
“That’s wonderful!” Dave felt deep relief. He now had a response to all the questions and did not have to give up his source.
“But Dave, there was something strange about the list.”
“What’s that?”
“I attempted to contact some of these scholars. It seems that most of them have disappeared mysteriously.”
“What?” Dave felt a chill even though the room was now toasty-warm. “What do you mean they disappeared?”
“Well, they wouldn’t answer my emails. But I did get a response from one of them. His name is Dr. Phillips. He wants to meet with you. Here’s his number.” Sarah handed the sticky note to Dave.
“Why did you try to contact the sources?”
“The plot would go nowhere if I hadn’t.” She said, then continued with her typing.
Dave retreated to his office. The shelves were lined with hundreds of books, most of which he read through the previous week, carefully underlining and taking notes. He peered at the phone number on the note and picked up his phone. He dialed.
“Uh…hello?” The voice on the other end crackled.
“Dr. Phillips?” Dave asked.
“No no. This is Hideaway Pizza. Would you like to order? “
“No no,” Dave Responded. Are you sure this is Hideaway Pizza?”
“Heh. As sure as I am that Spurgeon believed in limited atonement.” The young man said with a laugh.
“Actually, he wasn’t….er..he was……well, at least he was inconsistent. Anyway, sorry. “
Dave looked again at the note. “Oh, that’s a FIVE.” He muttered to himself. He dialed again.
“Yes?” A quiet voiced answered.
“Is this Dr. Phillips?”
“Yes, it is. Mr. Hunt I presume?”
“Yes”, Hunt replied. “You had some information for me regarding the book of Acts?”
“Shhh!” the man said tersely. “Not over the phone! I’ll meet you at the café at the corner of 45th and Guadalupe. Thirty minutes.” The phone went dead.
The drive to the Minuteman Café was a short one, but the thoughts running through Dave’s head on the way over made it seem longer. As he sat in the booth, a small man wearing a dark coat approached and slid into the booth across from Dave.
“Are you Dr. Phillips?” Dave asked.
The man looked around the room, scanning the other tables. The restaurant had few patrons, and the man was scanning each of them with his eyes suspiciously.
“Yes” he whispered. “I am Dr. Phillips. I don’t have much time so listen to me carefully. You are onto something very big. Much bigger than you or me. What you stated in your book is accurate. Who was your source?”
“I can’t tell you that,” Hunt said. “I pinky swore.”
“It was Ted Anderson.” Phillips said.
“How did you…”
“There are only four of us who know. We guard a very important and dangerous secret. There used to be twelve of us. Eight have met with misfortune, including Ted.”
Hunt was shocked. “What happened to Ted?”
“A bizarre accident. A shelf above his desk with the entire set of the Early Church Fathers collapsed on top of him. Poor guy. Those are heavy.”
“I wouldn’t know. Do you think it was an accident?”
“All eight people who have died have met with similar ‘accidents’”.
Hunt was puzzled and now a little frightened. “What information do you have for me?” He asked.
Phillips once again scanned the room carefully. He then slide removed a thin, wooden box from his coat and slid it across the table. “Open it.” He said.
Dave’s fingers fumbled with the latch but at last freed it from the catch. The box was very old, but what was inside looked infinitely older.
“What is it?” He said. There, in the box under a layer of plexi-glass was what appeared to be a fragment from a very old document. It looked as if it were made from fibers in a mesh pattern.
“That, my friend, is what Calvinists don’t want you to seek. It’s what they sought to destroy for centuries. Calvin and Luther tried to destroy all copies. And now a modern conspiracy seeks to destroy what is before you.”
“What is it? It has some sort of gibberish written on it. Is that Greek.”
“No. Hebrew. It is the first five verses from Acts 13, from a document that pre-dates by at least two days the earliest Greek manuscript. ”
“What? I was right? My source was right? That means that the rendering of Acts 13;48…..”
Phillips finished his statement. “….could very possibly although not conclusively be rendered different than that of the modern versions. That is why that document before you could possibly although not conclusively be very dangerous. You must be careful. Now that you know, your life is in danger.”
Thursday, January 27, 2005
The Jesus Seminar and the Light of Truth
Does the name Dr. John Dominic Crossan ring a bell? No. How about the Jesus Seminar that was given so much air time on ABC News with Peter Jennings? Ahhhh, now you remember. Those are the liberal scholar wackos who determine which Scripture passages are true by voting with marbles.
It has been announced that James White and John Crossan will be debating the question "Is the Bible True?" Now those of you who desire to see the enemies of God become dismantled limb by limb will not be disappointed. This debate may be as lop-sided as John Pipa verses Dave Hunt on the Atonement.
It must be admitted that Crossan is no fool as to the arguments that conservatives put forth. So we will have to wait and see how the cross examination goes. It is one thing to get air time with idiots like Jennings who don't have the foggiest idea about Christianity, but it is quite another to go up against a Christian apologist who is very capable of not only proclaiming God's truth, but defending it from the likes of the Jesus Seminar.
The debate will take place before the Alpha and Omega's Cuise in late August as part of the trip.
It has been announced that James White and John Crossan will be debating the question "Is the Bible True?" Now those of you who desire to see the enemies of God become dismantled limb by limb will not be disappointed. This debate may be as lop-sided as John Pipa verses Dave Hunt on the Atonement.
It must be admitted that Crossan is no fool as to the arguments that conservatives put forth. So we will have to wait and see how the cross examination goes. It is one thing to get air time with idiots like Jennings who don't have the foggiest idea about Christianity, but it is quite another to go up against a Christian apologist who is very capable of not only proclaiming God's truth, but defending it from the likes of the Jesus Seminar.
The debate will take place before the Alpha and Omega's Cuise in late August as part of the trip.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Oh Unions of Differing Faiths
Every once in a while, a conversation concerning a high school age or college age young person and the topic of marriage comes up. Each time the question is, "Should our baptist youth be dating or marrying a person of a differing faith?" I don't even mean differing faiths from say a baptist to a methodist (which can be quite different historically speaking), but faiths that differ from each other as mormons and protestants.
I realize we live in a Rodney King "Can't we just all just get along world", but seriously, what kind of fellowship does light have with darkness? Do we now think that donkeys can be equally yoked with a bull and pull that ancient plow?
There used to be a time when truth divided. I suppose that if there is no such thing as truth, then we may do whatever we desire to be true. For those of us who desire and love the truth of God, then we must be consistent in our walk with Christ. We must seek to understand the purpose that God has given to marriage and not take God's will lightly.
As Jesus taught, "the two shall be one flesh."
I realize we live in a Rodney King "Can't we just all just get along world", but seriously, what kind of fellowship does light have with darkness? Do we now think that donkeys can be equally yoked with a bull and pull that ancient plow?
There used to be a time when truth divided. I suppose that if there is no such thing as truth, then we may do whatever we desire to be true. For those of us who desire and love the truth of God, then we must be consistent in our walk with Christ. We must seek to understand the purpose that God has given to marriage and not take God's will lightly.
As Jesus taught, "the two shall be one flesh."
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Salvation Part 6: Redemption
Before we deal with the issue of "So I can get saved and do what I want like kill people", we need to look at the term "redemption". Quite often, I think we overlook Peter's words when he says, "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold...but with the precious blood...of Christ".
To redeem means to buy. Now let's be consistent. If Jesus purchased something, then it must belong to Him. If we are going to say that Jesus purchased everyone in the world ever, and yet billions of people go to hell, then Jesus didn't get what He paid for. Does Jesus own His people when He purchased them or not?
We may not like the teaching of particular redemption, but if Jesus bought you, then you belong to Him. It is really that simple. "How do we know if Jesus purchased us" you might ask? Well, I think we will have to continue with that on our next blog.
To redeem means to buy. Now let's be consistent. If Jesus purchased something, then it must belong to Him. If we are going to say that Jesus purchased everyone in the world ever, and yet billions of people go to hell, then Jesus didn't get what He paid for. Does Jesus own His people when He purchased them or not?
We may not like the teaching of particular redemption, but if Jesus bought you, then you belong to Him. It is really that simple. "How do we know if Jesus purchased us" you might ask? Well, I think we will have to continue with that on our next blog.
Friday, January 21, 2005
The Double Standard of Science
Let me clarify a little futher about the "truth" of evolution. I have asked enough evolutionists to know that the different theories that are put forth are just that, theories. They are theories or mechanisms by which scientists are searching to figure out how evolution happened.
In other words, evolution is tue, scientists just don't know for certain how it happened. So they don't know when it happened for certain, how it happened for certain, where it happened for certain or anything else for certain, but it did happened. In a public debate, I remember listening to one evolutionist argue that, "Hey, evolution must have happened because we are here."
What is being ASSUMED is that evolution is true, now let's prove it. Is that science? I thought the definition of science was supposed to be atheistic, naturalistic, materialistic? I thought science by it's own definition was to be led where the evidence takes you. Yet, science is attempting to prove what it already believes. If I do that with the Bible, that is considered circular reasoning, but if an evolutionary scientist does it, it is simply science. Slight double standard?
Let God Be True, and Every Man a Liar
In other words, evolution is tue, scientists just don't know for certain how it happened. So they don't know when it happened for certain, how it happened for certain, where it happened for certain or anything else for certain, but it did happened. In a public debate, I remember listening to one evolutionist argue that, "Hey, evolution must have happened because we are here."
What is being ASSUMED is that evolution is true, now let's prove it. Is that science? I thought the definition of science was supposed to be atheistic, naturalistic, materialistic? I thought science by it's own definition was to be led where the evidence takes you. Yet, science is attempting to prove what it already believes. If I do that with the Bible, that is considered circular reasoning, but if an evolutionary scientist does it, it is simply science. Slight double standard?
Let God Be True, and Every Man a Liar
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Iriony, Irony
I didn't even have to wait 24 hours to hear men contradict themselves. Just today I was listening to ABC News on the radio. One of their big stories is a new evolutionary theory. Yes, a new one. It seems that a new dinosaur extinction theory is now being promoted. Now dinosaurs are believed to have died off from lack of oxygen while having full stomachs. This being quite different from past theories.
Now the obvious question must be asked. Is this true for everyone except the Scott City science teacher? It certanly isn't true for me. It certanly isn't true a young lady who has believed God instead of the lie. Men's theories come and go, but God's truth remains.
Let God be true and every man a liar.
Now the obvious question must be asked. Is this true for everyone except the Scott City science teacher? It certanly isn't true for me. It certanly isn't true a young lady who has believed God instead of the lie. Men's theories come and go, but God's truth remains.
Let God be true and every man a liar.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Truth From an Evolutionist?
Today in our local school, one of my friend's daughters learned a valuable lesson. Apparently God is lying to us. The earth, she was told, is billions of years old. When she said, "That is not true," the teacher began to mock her beliefs by saying that it must be true for everyone else, but it is not true for her. Now everytime the subject of evolution comes up, the teacher continues to mock how it is true for everyone except her.
Imagine that. An evolutionist mocking God's truth. On what basis is evolution declared true? Science proves it of course. How does science prove evolution? Since science is atheistic by definition, then everything must have a naturalistic explanation. Observations are the only way we know things.
Hold on now. Is the definition of science atheistic and naturalistic? What about the laws of logic? Who proved them to be true? Did we observe them is a test tube? How do we know observations are the only things we can know? Where did that rule come from? By the way, who has observed evolution? Was the teacher there?
I asked my son tonight, if he were allowed to go back to day 20 of the creation, how old would Adam look like? If he were an evolutionist, would Adam be considered a liar if Adam said he was only 20 days old while looking like he was 25?
Who is telling the truth anyway? Last time I checked, ALL of the science text books have been changed to meet the more modern scientific claims and the refuted earlier claims of science, but I discovered that when God speaks, His words stand forever. In a court of law, if someone has to keep changing their story [think of John Kerry and the Swift Boat Vets example], then perhaps that someone is a liar.
Let God be true and every man a liar.
Imagine that. An evolutionist mocking God's truth. On what basis is evolution declared true? Science proves it of course. How does science prove evolution? Since science is atheistic by definition, then everything must have a naturalistic explanation. Observations are the only way we know things.
Hold on now. Is the definition of science atheistic and naturalistic? What about the laws of logic? Who proved them to be true? Did we observe them is a test tube? How do we know observations are the only things we can know? Where did that rule come from? By the way, who has observed evolution? Was the teacher there?
I asked my son tonight, if he were allowed to go back to day 20 of the creation, how old would Adam look like? If he were an evolutionist, would Adam be considered a liar if Adam said he was only 20 days old while looking like he was 25?
Who is telling the truth anyway? Last time I checked, ALL of the science text books have been changed to meet the more modern scientific claims and the refuted earlier claims of science, but I discovered that when God speaks, His words stand forever. In a court of law, if someone has to keep changing their story [think of John Kerry and the Swift Boat Vets example], then perhaps that someone is a liar.
Let God be true and every man a liar.
Salvation part 5: Our high Priest & Intercessor
In a debate with the imploding Dave Hunt, John Pipa demonstrated the unified work of Jesus as being our High Priest with the atonement. Since we evangelicals don't have "priests" in this New Testament era, we often miss the rich meaning being being drawn from the Old Testament.
Under the Old Covenant, a priest would intercede on behalf of a particular people and mediate between two parties, God and Israel. We know from Hebrews chapters 7-10, that the Old Covenant priesthood was insufficient to bring about forgiveness of sins. They were simply a shadow of the substance which is fulfilled in Christ.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus, as our High Priest, intercedes and mediates on behalf of God's people. The offering that Jesus offers is His own scarifice. This New Covenant is a perfect Covenant simply because of who the High Priest is and what He offers to God.
Can you imagine Jesus in heaven pleading and interceding on behalf of a particular man, Jesus asking the Father to save him or her, Jesus offering His shed blood for him or her, yet, Jesus fails to save that person due to their "free-will"?
The Savior of the Scriptures is a powerful Savior who is ABLE to save us while we were yet UNABLE and sinners. I am very thankful that Jesus saved me from my worst enemy. ME!
Under the Old Covenant, a priest would intercede on behalf of a particular people and mediate between two parties, God and Israel. We know from Hebrews chapters 7-10, that the Old Covenant priesthood was insufficient to bring about forgiveness of sins. They were simply a shadow of the substance which is fulfilled in Christ.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus, as our High Priest, intercedes and mediates on behalf of God's people. The offering that Jesus offers is His own scarifice. This New Covenant is a perfect Covenant simply because of who the High Priest is and what He offers to God.
Can you imagine Jesus in heaven pleading and interceding on behalf of a particular man, Jesus asking the Father to save him or her, Jesus offering His shed blood for him or her, yet, Jesus fails to save that person due to their "free-will"?
The Savior of the Scriptures is a powerful Savior who is ABLE to save us while we were yet UNABLE and sinners. I am very thankful that Jesus saved me from my worst enemy. ME!
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