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Welcome to the Blessed X

Hey there to all who stop by. Today I'd like to welcome Christian Turner especially since I just talked with him tonight about the website. No longer does theblessedx.com exist, so this blog is the only location now. That means that the forum is gone, the merchandise is gone, and the newsletter sign up is gone.

This was pretty inevitable. The site was neglected for some time and finally went bust. The blog it was based around (here) lives on, however, and that was really the core of the site anyway. Now, you all can enjoy the offerings in the simple blog form. I actually think it's better.

For Christian, I've included a link that should take you to the post on Daniel 9. Like I said, I don't really touch on the end times stuff, but I do get into the mathematics of the 493 weeks. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Daniel's Seventy Weeks

Communion

I said that I'd come back and give this a little further explanation. First, let's view the communion as it happened.

Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-23

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."

"Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.

He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."

After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.


It would behoove you to imagine, as you take communion, that you are sitting at the table with Jesus, just as his disciples did. It's closer to what's actually happening than you might think. After all, in Galations 2:20 Paul tells us,"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." So, to imagine that he's right there with us is not only sobering, but is also true.

Communion has, at its essence, the crucifixion. Every time you undertake to practice communion you are acting out the crucifixion. I just recently read a short story called The Martyr's Song, by Ted Dekker. It tells the story of a woman who reads a story about martyred Christians regularly so that the memory of what happened doesn't fade. It really sunk in that recounting that story and taking communion are similar acts. You can admit it, we are a people that have incredibly short memories. In time, even the holocaust will fade from memory. Knowing that, many have undertaken to provide constant reminders of that atrocity as a means to preserve the memory. Those that work to keep it alive in our psyche do it so it lasts as a standing warning of what can happen.

However hard we try, though, memory becomes a 2 dimensional piece of trivia with the passage of time. For instance, Alexander the Great, who, it is said, came to think himself deity, was guilty of slaughtering entire peoples and carrying out mass brutality, but he's now remembered as "The Great". His claim was that he conquered for his own glory. By contrast, Hitler conquered for the glory of the Fatherland--a much more selfless approach by comparison.

Like I said, as time passes, we forget. Memories that once caused the living pain to recount get lost in the shroud of history never to be anywhere near as poignant as it once was. It's almost on par with blasphemy to point out that the holocaust will probably eventually be remembered as a small blip on the radar screen rather than the life altering tragedy that it really was in its time. In the scope of history, what's another tyrant?

That is why we have to work so hard to preserve our memories. The Jews did it with Passover as a way to remember the angel that "passed over" the houses of the faithful while stopping and killing the Egyptian firstborns at every other house. It was a means to keep alive the memory of their God. Even those that actually experienced it began to grumble at God in the very beginnings of wandering through the desert. To us, that seems ridiculous, but look at the luxury (by comparison) that they came from and consider what you would do if everything you once clung to was now gone. We in the "first-world-countries" are oftentimes consumed with our lives and concerns and very much take for granted the luxuries we have. If any of us were thrust into a desert to wander, relying solely on God for provision, it might not be such a different story.

Ultimately, it was a tradition passed to us not by church fathers or the Catholic popes, but by Christ himself--God. He knew us better than any other and, as can be seen throughout the Bible with his treatment of his people, he knows that we forget. Jesus, in his Godly wisdom saw to it that we had something to remember him by. So, when practicing communion, do it in remembrance of Him.

On Communion in Reply to Cyndi

This is the beginning of my answer to your question. On the surface there is much I can say about the taking of communion, but I'm certain there's more to it than I can say now without having done any work to research it. That being said, I'll attempt to give a concise answer now and then revisit the subject later when I've discovered the finer points.

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1 Cor. 11:26

First, communion is definitely a tradition. It was taking place early in the church--as early as the first century. (1 Cor. 11:17-34) The tradition, as with all traditions, can turn into a mindless ritual if not done properly. It is supposed to serve not only as a reminder, however, but an opportunity as well.

Secondly, I daresay that if we were to take communion every day and were forced to give an accounting for our sins regularly that we would not only grow closer to God, but also that we would never run out of things to examine. A heart that no longer requires improvement is dead. Our goal in this life is to continually improve ourselves--to become more Christ-like.

The act of communion is a time for spiritual meditation. We take time to listen to the voice that guides us and tells us what we should work on. That time is seldom grasped outside of the church, so communion serves a purpose in that it gives us those moments to truly reflect.

Thirdly, the actual partaking should only be done with a clear conscience. This means that you're required to make yourself right with God before drinking and eating. I don't know if most people fully understand the weight of what they're doing when they take communion, but it should be well understood. (Read this to find out how serious it is.) Partaking in an unworthy manner is on par with heaping judgment on your shoulders.

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Cor. 11:27-29

The price you'll pay is an unknown, but you can be sure that doing this hypocritically will not have a pleasant outcome.

So, now understanding the weight of the tradition you can begin to appreciate that the tradition is never to be taken lightly. It can become a monotonous ritual only if you become careless or don't understand it. If you've become careless, then you need to examine yourself and make it right before partaking.

Having said all that, a person who feigns examination and true repentance will likely suffer from it. It is a lesson that he or she will learn through the discipline of God. They may endure hardship that forces them to turn back to God--after all, he works that way.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11

Communion

Cyndi: Communion has been a baffling concept for me for about two years now. I try so hard to look at it from every possible light. I try to think of it as a shower, the act of refocusing diffused light, and many other analogies. Unfortunately, I typically arrive at the same conclusion no matter how many different analogies pop into my head: it is a ritual.
This isn't necessarilly bad, I suppose. It's an act of obedience, and it somewhat reminds of baptism. But baptism seems more practical to me. Communion is supposed to be very personal, and very meaningful. I don't disagree with the fact that periodically, we all need a reminder. We all need that point that gets us back on track, right where we belong. However, my problem is this: communion is often associated with a return to a right life, and right living. If a person is headed astray, then communion may perhaps remind him of where he belongs, but if he is not ready to return, but communion arises, he may partake and feign a return, but it won't be lasting. This seems pointless to me. A person will return when they are ready. I realize it is a point of self-examination, and I think this is good, and that everyone should examine their lives regularly. I just feel that the "body and blood" idea is very much a ritual. Don't many come to Christianity from other faiths to escape such ritualism?
Any thoughts? This has been bothering me for a long time now.

Death Penalty & War

The other day I decided to make a recording on my drive home. It deals with our Biblical standing on the death penalty and war. I hope you enjoy it.

Listen to the broadcast

Make sure you read the written conclusion at the bottom of this post!

Reference scriptures:

Matthew 5:38-42
You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:17
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

These are the scriptures that kicked off my thought process. Read and tell me what you think.

Fox's Book of Martyrs

This book details the manner in which the disciples met their deaths. Read it if you haven't. It will give you tremendous perspective.

Genesis 9:6
And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

This is the scripture that sets forth the death penalty. Many would separate it from the Mosaic Law (Law given to Moses) and say that it is exempt from the work of Jesus and therefore remains in effect today.
Genesis 4:3-4a
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

This scripture demonstrates the precedent of giving the Lord an offering or sacrifice that was in practice even before the Flood.
Genesis 7:1-2
The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate,

This portion of scripture clearly shows that there was already an established distinction between clean and unclean animals. Noah knew exactly what God was asking him to do, no doubt, because the law had been given to these antediluvian (pre-flood) people.

Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.

Noah already knew to sacrifice to the Lord and did it right after the flood. Not only did he just sacrifice, but he sacrificed "clean" animals and birds. In the audio I say he sacrificed a lamb, but I was mistaken.

Romans 13:1-4
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

This is the Biblical order that the government has the authority to carry out capital punishment (the sword).

Conclusion
The laws we institute in our government become like the laws of gravity. If you leap from a cliff, it is nobody's fault that you fall to your death. In the same way, the laws of this country simply take effect when you commit a crime. You live under these rules by choice (more choice than you have over escaping gravity). Therefore, the only one to be blamed when a murderer is executed is the murderer.

War is simply an extension of our "gravity" in that if another nation or people attacks us they have subjected themselves to our laws. If they do not attack us then they are not under our laws. In the same way, if they make an agreement with us to abide by our laws, then they are subject to war if the agreement specifies such upon violation.

If you argue that the death penalty should be done away with because of a seriously flawed system then we have departed from the Biblical argument and I can level with you. When does a flawed human justice system become too flawed? That I can see.

Let me know what you thought. Thanks!

Reasons Not to Believe

Well, you’ve probably seen the news and even the documentary about the supposed tomb of Jesus. According the documentary, in the tomb, discovered in 1980, six notable ossuaries were found. They were labeled Yeshua bar Yosef (Jesus son of Joseph), Maria (Mary), Yose (Joseph), Matia (Matthew), Mariamene e Mara (Maria the Master believed to be Mary Magdalene by the filmmakers) and Yehuda bar Yeshua (Judah son of Jesus believed to be the son of both Jesus and Mary Magdalene by the filmmakers). This, of course, provides more reason for atheists not to believe.

Upon further investigation, however, the whole thing seems more like a doubtful concoction. Amos Kloner, the original excavator of the tomb described the documentary as “nonsense” in his comments. Rather than first seeking a peer-reviewed scientific article to publish the theory the story was presented to the media and purported to be respectable. Jodi Magness, an archaeologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said that this documentary’s makers “have set it up as if it's a legitimate academic debate, when the vast majority of scholars who specialize in archaeology of this period have flatly rejected this." (Cooperman, A., 2007)

After reading numerous articles concerning the story and documentary’s claims the argument for this actually being Jesus’ tomb becomes more and more shaky. DNA evidence is fractured and inconclusive. These were all common names that people of the day had. This family was from the area of Judea where individuals were called by their first name and father’s name while Jesus came from an area that called him by his first name and city of origin: Jesus of Nazareth. Many respected archeologists, not filmmakers, including the original excavator, have cast numerous denunciations over the claims of the documentary.

To make the claims that this documentary makes and to believe that it poses a true question or threat to the resurrection of Jesus and therefore Christianity is pretty ludicrous. It’s another notch for an uncaring atheist to throw out in an argument, but for the people seeking truth this is no more than a clever ploy to capitalize on the inquisitive market. Its popularity will make the filmmakers lots of money because it’s so controversial, but the truth will come out and the whole thing will eventually fall into obscurity. The basis it stands on can’t hold it up to scrutiny for very long. So, don’t worry brothers and sisters, your faith is well placed and will not fail you.

-Steve

Cooperman, Alan. (March 2, 2007). 'Lost Tomb of Jesus' Called a Stunt. Leading

Archeologists Denounce Documentary As Fiction. Retrieved March 7, 2007 from http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/03/07/religion/030307tomb.txt

Apologetics January 22, 2007

Topic1: Asked by Ed: It seems like the prevailing Christian view is, regarding accepting Jesus, that one has to accept Jesus to go to heaven. If we follow that logic, if one does not accept Jesus, that person goes to Hell. This says that the default is Hell. Unless one takes action, one goes to Hell.

What if that is backwards? If God loves us and wants us to join him, what if it is the other way around? What if the default is heaven? What if one has to reject Jesus to go to hell? If this were the case, it would explain why babies go to heaven. People who have never heard of Jesus and therefore, never had the opportunity to reject Jesus would go to heaven too. That answers a lot of questions.

Answers: God is just. A loving and just God will give everybody the chance they are due. Just as with the point of accountability (Dt. 1:39, 2 Sm 12:23, & Is 7:15), people who haven’t heard are not held to the same standard as those who have.

Romans 1:20 says “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Therefore, it can be ascertained that the proof of God lies in his creation. That creation is His signature of sorts. Although the whole truth may not be known, i.e. Jesus Christ in all detail, the simple acknowledgement of the true creator might be what God is looking for.

Also take note of Romans 2:13-15: “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)” It is well known that God knows the hearts of men and judges accordingly. He has the knowledge of a wicked heart that, given the chance, would reject him. And he has the knowledge of a good heart that, given the chance, would accept him.

Finally, Romans 10:14 says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” and verse 17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Take into consideration Hebrews 11:1 which says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The very creation is evidence of a God that is not seen. The pursuit of truth that drives humans embraces the life within them and leads to the understanding that there is more beyond this life; this is the substance of the hope for life after death. If one takes an honest look at the world he or she lives in, that person will quickly realize how much suffering, pain, and death there is. This should clue them in that something is awry in the world. This is the evidence of sin. With these elementary levels of understanding, one can deduce that we are in need of a higher power. Our inabilities and finite lives are evidence enough that something or someone more is required to set things right. Could these rudimentary truths be the very thing to be understood from what has been made? Given an honest evaluation, I’d say that men are without excuse.

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 1:39, 2 Samuel 12:23, Isaiah 7:14, Romans 1:18ff, Romans 2:13ff, Romans 10:12ff

Topic 2: In Romans 8:29ff predestination is mentioned. Ed made the point that perhaps God, knowing the hearts of men, predestined them to be born in places in the world that would basically doom them to be one religion their whole life, i.e. Islam. He mentioned that 99% of all people die in the religion they were born into and this seems like a case for predestination in action. The topic was not covered thoroughly and will be picked up again next week.

Truth

Recently I was asked about religion in general and whether there is an original standard that can be trusted and if so, how can it be known. This actually took place in my class studying religion and came from my teacher. I can tell by some of his statements that he doesn’t really believe in all this religion stuff, but he’ll take money to teach it. I only make that speculation about him—it may not be the case at all, but from what I gather, this is the case. At any rate, I took some time to respond to his questions and below is my response.

---

In response to your question, "What is the "original standard?"-- Who is to say what it is and on what basis? And what is the 'truth behind religion?'", I'd like to weigh in with some of my thoughts.

The idea that truth in the "sacred realm" cannot be known is an escapist mentality appealed to to avoid having to think about mortality, eternal responsibility, or possibly the realization of some previously unknown set of consequences. To write it off is either laziness or reluctance based on some preconceived notion about the subject instead of a conclusion based on evidence or lack thereof. I am not accusing anyone here of taking such a position; I bring it up because I meet with it frequently.

Now, barring rejection without good reason, what good reason is there to believe in a "sacred realm or reality"? In my years as an unbound Christian I've immersed myself (and consequently my faith with me) in many areas of critical thought. I haven't limited myself to merely reading the Bible and only reading critical analysis by other Christians. Instead, I've gone to many neutral, critical, and even anti-Christian sources to find out what has been said about my chosen faith.

First, let me explain a little about myself. As with many people that purchase a new car, I wouldn't know how it all worked before I bought it. I didn't feel that I needed to understand the fuel mixture computer as a prerequisite for buying my car--I just bought it based on face value and trusted that a new car would run. Similarly, I became a Christian without knowing much about the Bible. I was raised believing in Christianity as much as Santa-Clause. My child-like mind couldn't distinguish in a critical way to make an educated decision while I was young; I just accepted it because my parents accepted it and lived it. Later in life, I was faced with the decision to truly take this faith and define myself with it or to reject it and live life how I saw fit. Presented with a rudimentary understanding of the Bible and the faith, I chose to pursue it as my own for life.

From that point, I found myself asking question after question, but then found it difficult to get answers to those questions. I discovered opposition from non-Christians who pointed out elements that seemed contradictory and I was bombarded with questions about the nature of a loving God that exercised sovereign authority over a world filled with suffering and other questions like it. I began to lose my faith and seriously question my eternal destination. Throughout this time, I had only read my Bible sporadically, sometimes with large gaps of time between readings. I eventually realized that I was standing on my own strength.

After a long conversation with my new wife about my struggle, I resolved, with her support and advice, to actually read the Bible. During my reading I began to understand things that were complete mysteries to me before. The big questions about suffering, those who don't hear the message of Jesus Christ, and the nature of a Triune God all began to take shape in my mind with valid and surprisingly logical answers. An understanding of my faith gave me answers to these once difficult questions.

After finding my foundation right where it was supposed to be, I moved on to more difficult fields of study like Greek, historical accuracy, archeological confirmation, and scientific arguments. Needless to say, I've found nothing that has proven to be a true contradiction. There are differences in accounts, but these differences are complementary and not contradictory. There is some question about historical accuracy, but throughout our short archeological history the seeming inconsistencies have later been validated by more recent findings. And projects like RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth) done by the Institute for Creation Research have shed light and validity on the Bible's claim to a young earth. Finally, the scriptures themselves, written over a 1700 year span, make amazing predictions that were later fulfilled with precise accuracy. In one instance, a specific number of years is given to the cutting off of the Messiah. The math comes out to exactly the time of Jesus' crucifixion.

I only say all this because I think it conveys a reliability to you the reader. Reliability is a basis for trust. This trust can be placed on the writings that have earned it. Then these trustworthy writings go on to make great claims about a reality outside our own and a God that created it all. So, what is the original standard and truth behind religion? That there really is something to it, and that some people don't just believe it for no good reason. The evidence and reliability is there, it just requires action on the part of the seeker.

Revelation 12 and Christmas

My mother-in-law Bonnie sent me a link to the blog of a friend of Maggie and I that provokes some thought. Rather than posting the body of what Kev said here, I'll give you a link to the article. This way, you'll have the opportunity to bookmark his site and visit it from time to time. It's always a good read because Kev is a talented writer. He was a journalist before going to China to teach at a university there. His current teaching profession is a major calling from God. So, take a trip over, read this article and others, and bookmark it to your favorites.

The link: Not So Silent Night

Just a Theory

How would you respond to someone who tells you that he or she does not believe in biological evolution because it is "just a theory"?

In the event that I was told that evolution is “just a theory,” I’d respond as follows here. In March of 2005 a discovery was made that rocked the world of evolutionist scientists. An excavation took place in Bozeman Montana that lasted 3 years. Paleontologists unearthed the skeletal remains of a T-Rex (Mayell, H. 2005). Mary H. Schweitzer, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh took samples from a freshly broken thigh bone and found intact, soft tissue. The finding challenges our knowledge of decay or, more likely, our modern evolutionary concepts of dinosaur extinction. If the extinction, that took place 65 million years ago, did not take place 65 million years ago, the geological time table must be questioned. If the geological time table is questioned and deemed unreliable, the very development of species must be questioned.

It just so happens that many of the greatest opponents to evolution are Christians. Some of those Christians also happen to be respected scientists as well. One such group is the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). ICR began a project RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth) that set out to study radioisotope relationships. “It was concluded that the uranium (238U) and polonium (Po) radiohalos frequently found in granitic rocks had to have formed simultaneously.2 This implies that hundreds of millions of years of radioactive decay (at today's rates) had to have occurred in a matter of a few days!” (Snelling, A 2005) Research this and then consider the implications that it presents. The documentation is extensive and ultimately calls the age of the earth into question. With a shortened lifespan for earth the evolutionary concept begins to come apart at the seams.

Another interesting element worth consideration is the map drawn by Admiral Piri Reis. During the year 1513, in the libraries of Constantinople, the Admiral Piri Reis, with the help of older source maps, drafted a map that challenges the current understanding of civilization and dating methods. The map accurately depicts the uncovered coastline of Antarctica. The latest time that this map could’ve been drawn, according to modern dating methods and theories concerning the ice caps, was 4000BC and the earliest time was around 13,000BC (Hancock, G ). From this small piece of information one can trace out evidence for advanced civilization in prehistoric times, evidence for a flood, and ultimately evidence for a younger earth with an inconsistent geological time table.

Another difficulty within evolution is known as the Cambrian explosion. Many scientists grapple with the inconsistency between the theory and the evidence. “The question of how so many immense changes occurred in such a short time is one that stirs scientists. Why did many fundamentally different body plans evolve so early and in such profusion?” (WGBH Educational Foundation and Clear Blue Sky Productions, Inc. 2001) The proposed answers draw heavily on speculation.

Some point to the increase in oxygen that began around 700 million years ago, providing fuel for movement and the evolution of more complex body structures. Others propose that an extinction of life just before the Cambrian opened up ecological roles, or "adaptive space," that the new forms exploited. External, ecological factors like these were undoubtedly important in creating the opportunity for the Cambrian explosion to occur. (WGBH Educational Foundation and Clear Blue Sky Productions, Inc. 2001)

If one delves a little deeper into the claims listed above, these claims are exposed as suggested theories formed to answer the questions of the already struggling theory of evolution.

If one takes the time to research the opposition, a mere claim that evolution is “just a theory” becomes an understatement. A large amount of evidence undermines the concept and leaves a mere misallocation of time spent learning it. My answer would conclude with a challenge to back up the statement. Only by actually researching it can an individual speak with conviction on the matter.

References

Mayell, Hillary. (2005). T. Rex Soft Tissue Found Preserved. Retrieved December 13, 2006

from

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0324_050324_trexsofttissue.html

Snelling, Andrew A, Ph.D. (2005). Polonium Radiohalos: The Model for Their Formation Tested

and Verified. Retrieved January 2, 2007, from http://icr.org/article/2467/

Hancock, Graham. (1995) Fingerprints of the Gods. New York: Crown Publishing Group.

WGBH Educational Foundation and Clear Blue Sky Productions, Inc. (2001). The Cambrian

Explosion. Retrieved January 02, 2007, from

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/4/l_034_02.html

Defibrillation

Statistic-June 24, 2004: More than 8 in 10 Americans are Christian, including roughly half who are Protestant and about a quarter who are Catholic.

• The following tribute is sometimes credited to Phillip Brooks, who wrote the hymn, “O Little Town Of Bethlehem.”

“He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman; He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.

“He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

“While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race.

“All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life” (quoted in Kennedy, pp. 7-8).



• Jesus was not attractive. Isaiah 53:2 “He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him” (NASB)

• Jesus had no wealth to launch a significant movement (Lk. 9:58; 2 Cor. 8:9).

• He was reared in one of the most despised communities of his country (see Mt. 2:23; Jn. 1:46; 7:52). The query, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” was proverbial in Canaan.

• He had no formal rabbinical training (Jn. 7:15). Even his own people had little regard for him (Jn. 1:11; 7:5; 6:66). And yet, somehow, he changed the world forever.

• In his famous speech on St. Helena, Napoleon exclaimed:


“I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ, and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and any other religion the distance of infinity . . . Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires. But upon what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him” (Monser, pp. 503,508).

On the day of Pentecost, the church gained 3,000 men. (Acts 2:41) That’s minimum. Women and children were not counted.

By Acts 4:4, the number of men was 5,000. It is estimated that by the time Stephen was martyred, at the church was at least 20,000 strong.

From here, Christianity spread throughout the land and flourished.

Martyrs

1. Stephen: died by being stoned to death.

2. James the son of Zebedee, the elder brother of John: as James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his conduct by the apostle's extraordinary courage and undaunted ness, and fell down at his feet to request his pardon, professing himself a Christian, and resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. Hence they were both beheaded at the same time.


3. Philip: He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54. Upper Asia

4. Matthew: killed by the axe. Parthia, and Ethiopia

5. James the brother of the Lord: At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a club.

6. Mathias: He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.

7. Andrew, brother of Peter: he was taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground. Edessa

8. Jude, brother of Jesus: crucified at Edessa, A.D. 72

9. Bartholomew: cruelly beaten and then crucified

10. Simon: crucified, A.D. 74

11. Thomas: thrust through with a spear.

12. Mark: was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.

13. John: cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury afterwards banished to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation and died of old age.

14. Luke: hanged on an olive tree

15. Peter: was crucified upside down in Rome.

16. Paul: beheaded by the sword at the order of Caesar Nero.

I counted a total of 30 times that we are warned not to forget about God or his words.

It seems that the world has forgotten however.

Acts 2:42-47 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-33 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

Acts 8:4-8 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.

Amazing and wonderful things occurred in the early days of the church. The question is why don’t those things happen with any sort of frequency now?

What are we missing that our fire is not spreading like the wildfire of the old church?

Christians today seem to have fallen into a comfortable rut.
We must be the ones that strike up a new revival. Young and old, strong and weak, it is our business to defibrillate the Christians of today and bring them back to being on fire for God.

2 Cor 4:16 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Matt 5:13-16 13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.