August 17, 2015

From Gary... Bible Reading August 17

Bible Reading

August 17

The World English Bible

Aug. 17

Job 5-8

Job 5:1 "Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

Job 5:2 For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

Job 5:3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

Job 5:4 His children are far from safety. They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

Job 5:5 whose harvest the hungry eats up, and take it even out of the thorns. The snare gapes for their substance.

Job 5:6 For affliction doesn't come forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;

Job 5:7 but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Job 5:8 "But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,

Job 5:9 who does great things that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number;

Job 5:10 who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields;

Job 5:11 so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.

Job 5:12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can't perform their enterprise.

Job 5:13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

Job 5:14 They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope at noonday as in the night.

Job 5:15 But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

Job 5:16 So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

Job 5:17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

Job 5:18 For he wounds, and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.

Job 5:19 He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you.

Job 5:20 In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.

Job 5:21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.

Job 5:22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.

Job 5:23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.

Job 5:24 You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.

Job 5:25 You shall know also that your seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.

Job 5:26 You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.

Job 5:27 Look this, we have searched it, so it is. Hear it, and know it for your good."

Job 6:1 Then Job answered,

Job 6:2 "Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

Job 6:3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

Job 6:4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

Job 6:5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

Job 6:6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Job 6:7 My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.

Job 6:8 "Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

Job 6:9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

Job 6:10 Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Job 6:11 What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

Job 6:12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

Job 6:13 Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

Job 6:14 "To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Job 6:15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

Job 6:16 Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

Job 6:17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

Job 6:18 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

Job 6:19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

Job 6:20 They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

Job 6:21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

Job 6:22 Did I say, 'Give to me?' or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'

Job 6:23 or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'

Job 6:24 "Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Job 6:25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

Job 6:26 Do you intend to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

Job 6:27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

Job 6:28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

Job 6:29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

Job 6:30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?

Job 7:1 "Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

Job 7:2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

Job 7:3 so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

Job 7:4 When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

Job 7:5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

Job 7:7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

Job 7:8 The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

Job 7:9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.

Job 7:10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

Job 7:11 "Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 7:12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

Job 7:13 When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint;'

Job 7:14 then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:

Job 7:15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

Job 7:16 I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

Job 7:17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

Job 7:18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

Job 7:19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

Job 7:20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

Job 7:21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."

Job 8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

Job 8:2 "How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

Job 8:3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

Job 8:4 If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

Job 8:5 If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.

Job 8:6 If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

Job 8:7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

Job 8:8 "Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

Job 8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

Job 8:10 Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

Job 8:11 "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

Job 8:12 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

Job 8:13 So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

Job 8:14 Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.

Job 8:15 He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

Job 8:16 He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden.

Job 8:17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

Job 8:18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

Job 8:19 Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

Job 8:20 "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

Job 8:21 He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

Job 8:22 Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."

Aug. 17, 18

Acts 27

Act 27:1 When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

Act 27:2 Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

Act 27:3 The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.

Act 27:4 Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

Act 27:5 When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

Act 27:6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.

Act 27:7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

Act 27:8 With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Act 27:9 When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

Act 27:10 and said to them, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."

Act 27:11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

Act 27:12 Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.

Act 27:13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.

Act 27:14 But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.

Act 27:15 When the ship was caught, and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.

Act 27:16 Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.

Act 27:17 After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.

Act 27:18 As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.

Act 27:19 On the third day, they threw out the ship's tackle with their own hands.

Act 27:20 When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.

Act 27:21 When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

Act 27:22 Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

Act 27:23 For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

Act 27:24 saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

Act 27:25 Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me.

Act 27:26 But we must run aground on a certain island."

Act 27:27 But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land.

Act 27:28 They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.

Act 27:29 Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.

Act 27:30 As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow,

Act 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these stay in the ship, you can't be saved."

Act 27:32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off.

Act 27:33 While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

Act 27:34 Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads."

Act 27:35 When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat.

Act 27:36 Then they all cheered up, and they also took food.

Act 27:37 In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.

Act 27:38 When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

Act 27:39 When it was day, they didn't recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it.

Act 27:40 Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

Act 27:41 But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

Act 27:42 The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.

Act 27:43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;

Act 27:44 and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So it happened that they all escaped safely to the land.

From Jim McGuiggan... THE WORST CRIME OF ALL

THE WORST CRIME OF ALL

It’s true we get back to business as usual after hearing another story of the awful evil in the world—we’ve no alternative; we can’t stand permanently stunned; life must go on. Still, don’t we adjust quickly after the initial shock at the report of some truly savage event? Yes, we do, but just the same, maybe it’s strange that we’re shocked at all. Wouldn’t you think that history ancient and modern, the daily news from all the media—wouldn’t you think these would have made us shockproof? There’s something amazing about that. There’s something else that’s astonishing—it’s God’s amazing patience and trust in humans.
As soon as I wrote that last sentence I thought how startled or angry many people would be if they read it. Some would think he’s an idiot if he trusts us and some would rage against him (presuming he even exists); they’d say his patience is at humanity’s expense; they’d say his patience isn’t a virtue—it’s a crime! They’d say it isn’t God who is patient; it’s humans. They’d think of Edwin Markham’s words:

Two things, said Kant, fill me with awe

The starry heaven and the moral law.

But I know something more mysterious and obscure

The long, long, patience of the plundered poor.

That truly makes sense to me! A quick glance at history and that makes sense to me; at a national and an individual level that makes sense to me. If things are anywhere nearly as bad as they appear how can Christians, with straight faces and pious songs, go on speaking about God’s trust and patience? There’s no simple answer to that question—there may be a correct answer to it (and I believe there is), but it’s not a simple one; it’s profoundly complex and richly textured but there is one and it climaxes in someone called Jesus Christ who saw the world not only as it is but as it should be and as it will be. Well, that’s what he said; but of course, the question is, “Can we believe him?”
Humans, whether they believe in God or not can’t help but feel that there ought to be someone. The atheist H.J. Blackham confessed that for him the greatest argument against non-belief was not a rational argument—it was that it was “too bad to be true!” What is demonstrably false should be acknowledged as false—humans get that! They do! But if a proposal is one of cosmic and unyielding despair, if it’s too bad to be true, people don’t want to believe it and that means if there’s something, some story, some argument, some event that defies unyielding despair they’ll go for it. If it’s in anyway reasonable and suggests that non-belief with its pointlessness (Blackham again) is too bad to be true, then distressed humans will take sides with it. They’ll go for God—they’ll go for a God like Jesus Christ if they get the chance to hear about him. They’ll go for such a God even if they don’t understand why he doesn’t now step in to right all wrongs and obliterate agony that tempts millions to curse existence itself. They’ll settle for a promise if that promise has any foundation to rest on rather than settle for the arguments that support atheism with its despair and pointlessness message.
“There’s an answer,” they will insist, “there must be” and the words of some alleged wise man or woman aren’t enough to bury their longing to believe that there is right and wrong; and if they know that then maybe there is Someone who knows it also. In their best moments they know this too: though they know the job is far beyond human accomplishment, they’d fix everything even if it took a thousand lifetimes and if they would maybe there’s someone who will, someone who’s able; someone who cares at least as much as they do.
Let someone (Jesus Christ) come to them to tell them that what they feel down in their bones is true, that what they want to be true is indeed true and humans in their millions will believe his Story. (Do humans embrace lies in the face of demonstrable truth to the contrary? Of course! But they also embrace truth in the face of a life full or a world full of plausible, persuasive lies.)
Look what happened to Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote. It was written as a fierce protest against overly-romantic literature about chivalry and knightly conduct all dressed up in clothing too unreal. His central character is plainly a lunatic who makes a mockery of outlandish literary knights. But somehow in the great mystery of humanness the novel took on a life of its own and it has become one of the Western world’s greatest literary forces promoting chivalry and knightly behavior and making it desirable. The literary argument against chivalry becomes its greatest champion. He makes us want to be Don Quixote—a sane one, of course, but in our best moments we’d rather be the lunatic than all his sane critics who want to cure him!
I offer the observations not as proof that atheism is false, only that no one wants atheism’s pointlessness, only that atheism will always be a minority view and that to even stay alive it will continue to feed on food from the Hebrew—Christian Scriptures, as agnostic T.H. Huxley said it did.
On his quest to right all wrongs or die in the process, Don Quixote, Cervantes’ glorious madman, comes across a self-hating, man-hating and world-hating scullery maid working in an inn where the flagrantly immoral and cynical traders gather.* She’s a self-confessed prostitute, used, abused and sneered at by her patrons.
When he sees her and calls her Dulcinea and "fair virgin" the heartless users laugh out loud and she is doubly embarrassed—not only does she know better, her vile companions know it only too well—Dulcinea indeed; fair virgin” indeed! Nevertheless, in that woman who calls herself a whore and a slut he sees beauty and honor and denies what she and they say about her and claims he knows her better than she knows herself. "I have dreamed thee too long...I see heaven when I see thee Dulcinea...I have sought thee, sung thee, visioned thee." He sees her this way because he sees woman that way—he sees woman as the “soul of man.” His lunacy is lovelier than the sanity of the world he moves in!
At one point he sends his aide, Sancho Panza, to ask her to give him a token he can wear in battle and Sancho calls her Dulcinea; she angrily rejects the name. "It's what he calls you," he tells her and she wants to know why and his friend confesses he doesn't know but he insists that "knights have their own language for everything."
On the night when he is keeping vigil, believing that in the morning he is to be dubbed a knight he is alone and speaks to himself: “Don Quixote, take a deep breath of life and consider how it should be lived.”

Call nothing thine except thy soul
Love not what thou art,
Only what thou may become.
Do not pursue pleasure
Or thou mayest have the misfortune to overtake it.
Look always forward.
In last year's nests, there are no birds this year.
Be just to all men, courteous to all women.
Live in the vision of the one for whom great deeds are done,
Dulcinea.

She, coming up behind him, snaps, “Why do you call me by that name?”
Because it is yours.
My name is Aldonza
I know you milady
I think you know me not
All my years I have known you, your nobility of spirit, long have I seen you in my heart.
Why do you do these things? These ridiculous things you do?
I come in a world of iron to make a world of gold.
The world's a dung heap and we are maggots that crawl on it.
No, milady knows better in her heart.
What's in my heart will get me halfway to hell and you...your head is going to end up a stranger to your neck.
That doesn't matter...only that I follow the quest…
[Spits] That for your quest…What’s this “quest”?
The mission of each true knight is duty; nay, is privilege
[and at this point he sings The Impossible Dream].

Later Aldonza is dragged off, used and dumped. Don Q turns up
and swears the crime will be punished and she snarls back:

Crime? Do you know the worst crime of all? To be born!
For that you get punished your whole life.
Dulcinea!—Quixote says to her..
Enough of that! Get yourself to a madhouse!
Rave about nobility where no one can hear.
Milady.
I'm not your lady!
I'm not any kind of a lady.
A lady has virtue and maidenly airs
That a blind man could see that I lack
It's hard to develop these maidenly airs
In a stable laid flat on your back.
Won't you look at me, look at me
God won't you look at me?
Look at the kitchen slut reeking of sweat
Born on a dung heap to die on a dung heap
A strumpet men use and forget.

“Never deny that you are Dulcinea,” Quixote says and she snarls back,

Take the shades from your eyes and see me as I really am.
You have shown me the sky but what good is the sky
To a creature who'll never do better than crawl?
Of all the cruel villains who badgered and battered me
You are the cruelest of all.
Can't you see what your gentle insanities do to me?
Rob me of anger and give me despair
Blows and abuse I can take and give back again
Tenderness I cannot bear.
So please, torture me now with your sweet Dulcineas no more
I am no one, I am nothing
I'm only Aldonza the whore!

Don Quixote is robbed of his insane vision by the lords of the mirrors. They take his eyes off his glorious quest and make him look closely at himself with his pathetic appearance and too obvious limitations and make him see “the world as it is” rather than the world as it should and could be. With the loss of vision he sinks back into agedness, weakness, illness and purposelessness.
But one convert, one genuine convert changes everything; one Aldonza reborn as a Dulcinea restores his blessed insanity and in one he sees ten and in ten he sees a hundred and in a hundred he sees a thousand and in a thousand he sees a world. They called him mad because he refused to keep his eyes focused on the world “as it is”
We need to keep in mind that this book was written as a satire, a withering criticism of outlandish and unrealistic literature and look what happened. Year after year it remains at the top of the list of history’s greatest novels. Why do famous painters like Picasso link Don Quixote with Jesus of Nazareth? Why after we’ve brushed aside the silliness in the “knight of the woeful countenance” do we still want to be like him?
There’s something in the character we know as Don Quixote that makes us think of Christ. He turns out to be the hero, while we despise the men of abuse and are thrilled at the transformation of Aldonza. He rescues her not only from any band of men who would buy or rape her—he rescues her from her self-hatred that results in the hatred of all men and the hatred of life itself.
But how does such a thing happen? I mean in literature and in life? In the case of Quixote and Aldonza an insane man sees beauty and dignity and decency in a woman who knows it isn’t there; but he makes her want it to be there! He makes such a life desirable and though he fills her with agony and though what he sees is at war with everything she thinks and feels and robs her of the energy that rage brings, she wants to be the vision he sees rather than the one she sees when she looks in the mirror.
Yes, but how does it happen? It’s a great question but while we’re working on the lovely mystery we ought to acknowledge the reality of such transformations and thank God for them.

· I’ve taken this material from Dale Wasserman’s stage play adapted as a musical movie called The Man of La Mancha. The music and lyrics are from Joe Darian and Mitch Leigh. The movie could easily have been better made but I think it is one of those “must see” creations.

Fishbowl Foolishness by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=1170

Fishbowl Foolishness

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

The town council of the city of Rome, Italy has passed some rather unusual laws recently. The most startling concerns the illegality of goldfish bowls. That’s right, goldfish bowls are now outlawed in Rome (“Rome Bans...,” 2005). Animal rights activists say the bowls are cruel. The council also passed a law requiring citizens to regularly exercise their dogs. Such pronouncements reflect significant erosion of the Christian worldview.
After creating the animals, God created the first human beings, setting them apart from the animal kingdom by creating humans in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Humans possess a soul—a spirit—that lives on after the death of the body (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Zechariah 12:1; Luke 16:22-31; Hebrews 12:9; James 2:26). Animals do not share this spiritual dimension in common with humans. Animals are not human, and are not to be regarded as such. The Bible speaks directly to the question of the relationship between humans and fish. Humans are to “have dominion (i.e., rule) over the fish of the sea” (Genesis 1:26,28; cf. Psalm 8:6-8)—which surely includes confining them to fishbowls! In fact, the Bible declares specifically that, among other things, “all the fish of the sea...are given into your hand...[and] shall be food for you” (Genesis 9:2-3, emp. added).
When humans stray away from God and the proper view of life and human existence provided in His inspired Word, they end up with distorted sensibilities (see Miller, 2004). They end up exchanging the truth of God for lies, and worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

REFERENCES

Miller, Dave (2004), “Where Godless Evolution Leads,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2651.
“Rome Bans Goldfish Bowls” (2005), Reuters, October 26, [On-line], URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051026/od_nm/italy_pets_dc;_ylt=ArSNdiSc xxeineP6q4Sq6Oys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3NW1oMDRpBHNlYwM3NTc.

Combatting Evolution Education by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=1616

Combatting Evolution Education

by	Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

There is no doubt that for several years, there has been a battle being waged for the minds of the young people of this nation with regard to the matter of origins. Will they accept the atheistic General Theory of Evolution or believe in the Creation account as detailed in Genesis chapter one? Or will they compromise between the two? Or just try to ignore the debate and stick their head in the sand? The side that each person chooses to take in the debate could have long-lasting ramifications for them and the next generation. The atheistic choice will send them to hell, and affect the lives of all whom they influence along the way. The approach of compromise leads to an interpretation of the Bible which pits it against itself and has the potential of watering down a person’s view of a host of biblical doctrines—all ultimately boiling down to a lack of faith in “God said.” The apathetic, ostrich-like approach boils down to a person sitting on the sideline while the forces of Satan flood society uncontested. And yet Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32).
In light of ongoing debate over teaching the General Theory of Evolution in various public school systems, which we have been documenting for several years (e.g., Warren, 2011; Brooks, 2011; Deweese and Brooks, 2009), some have rightly asked what Christians can do to combat the forces of pseudoscience in this critical area. This question has compelled us to give a few suggestions to that end.

Encourage individuals in your church/community to run for office where they can make a difference. Sheila Butt, mother of our very own Kyle Butt, was elected to office in Tennessee where she serves as a state representative. She is, therefore, in a position of potentially significant influence in this debate.
Flood decision makers with letters from people all over your area expressing your opinions on the matter. Contact other churches to assist in a concerted effort to that end. Perhaps write several versions of letters that can be used in bulk so that people will be more likely to send them in. The more letters that lawmakers receive every day, the more likely they will feel pressure to hear our voices. Try sending DVDs of our Truth Be Told and Silencing of God seminars and related books (see http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=101; http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=97; http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=421; http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=49; http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=51). Books, especially, are hard for any of us to throw away.
Get the local media involved. We all know how much the politicians are affected by the media.
Host Creation/Evolution, as well as Silencing of God seminars all over the state and publicize them heavily (see http://apologeticspress.org/pdfs/Seminar_flyers/APSeminarList4Speakers.pdf). I recently spoke in South Carolina, where the hosting congregation used highway billboards to advertise the seminar. In fact, they spent several thousand dollars in advertising the event, including saturating their area with postcards and radio spots about the seminar. If local churches come together to host a seminar, more money could be pooled for advertising.
Engage in consistent, fervent prayer. Host weekly Tuesday night or Thursday night prayer gatherings with Christians for the sole purpose of fighting the evolutionists’ agenda in the school system. Be sure to remember the coming elections in your prayers as well. God can easily raise up individuals who can make a significant difference in this fight if we have the zeal to plead with Him for assistance.
Donate Creation/Evolution materials to local community and school libraries. If the next generation is taught the truth, the future will look much more promising. Hitler certainly championed effectiveness of indoctrinating youth with his agenda and such is the position of the homosexual community today, as well.
Make sure that Christian public school teachers are equipped with materials to hand out to students who ask for information on the controversy (see http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=1314).
More prayer.
Encourage everyone at your church (and others) not only to have a subscription to Christian evidences journals, such as our very own Reason and Revelation (for adults) and Discovery (for children), but to order subscriptions for friends, neighbors, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. who could also benefit from the information. Some elderships have even chosen to purchase subscriptions to Discovery magazine for every young family in their congregation.
Devote at least one quarter of Bible classes each year specifically on preparation to defend the truth (i.e., about the existence of God, the inspiration of the Bible, the importance of God in government and society, Creation/Evolution, etc.). The focus would be, not simply learning the material for themselves, but to prepare them to teach it to others. Perhaps even pair members of the congregation during the Bible class and have one person play the atheist and the other play the Christian to see if members are prepared to teach the truth at a moment’s notice—especially when caught without notes (cf., 1 Peter 3:15). Our Christian Evidences and Creation/Science bookmark reference cards would be beneficial for this option (see http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=281; http://www.apologeticspress.org/store/Product.aspx?pid=282).
Encourage parents to consider homeschooling their children or sending them them to private Christian schools. Thousands of parents throughout the country have pulled their kids out of the public school system in order to ensure that their children are being trained in the way they should go—in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, rather than of monkeys. Some families simply cannot take advantage of this possibility (especially many single parent families). And some areas of the nation are handling the subject in an appropriate way, thus eliminating the necessity of this option. However, many areas have been so infiltrated by Satan’s forces that children are being adversely affected in ways that parents do not know and have not anticipated. Yet it is still their responsibility to train and nurture their children. All parents will be held accountable for rearing their children. It is not the duty of their teachers.
Even more prayer. Encourage your church to set their phones to remind themselves to pray every two hours of every day.
Encourage individuals and churches as possible to support A.P. financially on a monthly/yearly basis. Combating atheism, evolution, humanism, etc. is what we do, but as a non-profit organization that relies heavily on donations, we simply cannot do it without financial support. In spite of the state of the economy, our Web page had over 8.1 million hits last year from people in more than 180 countries. It is undeniable that your financial support will directly affect the lives of millions!

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have other ideas that would be effective in combatting atheism and macroevolution (contact our offices at 334-272-8558 or e-mail us at mail@apologeticspress.org). As always, thank you for your interest in and support of Apologetics Press.

REFERENCES

Brooks, Will (2011), “Does Evolution Belong in Biomedical Curricula?” Reason & Revelation, 31[3]:18-20, March, Apologetics Press, http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=3796.
Deweese, Joe and Will Brooks (2009), “A Response to the 21^st Century Science Coalition Standards of Science Education,” Reason & Revelation, 29[6]:41-47, February, Apologetics Press, http://www.apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=610.
Warren, Jim (2011), “Hart Schools Chief: Evolution is Viewed as Fact in State Test,” Kentucky.Com: State, http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/12/1992514/kentuckys-plan-for-biology-tests.html.

God’s Longsuffering is Not Eternal by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=791

God’s Longsuffering is Not Eternal

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

One of God’s most encouraging attributes is His longsuffering. The merciful patience of God Almighty gives His redeemed, albeit imperfect, church hope and support. Immediately following a reminder to the Christians in Rome that the Old Testament was “written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope,” Paul referred to God as “the God of patience and comfort” (Romans 15:4-5). Throughout the Old Testament, Bible writers portrayed God as longsuffering (meaning, “to suffer long with”), especially in His dealings with the Israelites, who constantly rejected His guidance (cf. Numbers 13-14; 16; 21:4-9). Jesus and the New Testament apostles and prophets also spent ample time magnifying God’s merciful patience (cf. Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 3:20). The apostle Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [of Jesus’ Second Coming], as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, emp. added).
Unfortunately, the picture of God often painted in the 21st century seems to leave the impression that God’s longsuffering will go on forever. Portraits of God’s justice and vengeance often are neglected (Hebrews 10:26-39; Romans 12:19), while His compassionate patience toward sinners is so accentuated that God’s longsuffering is transformed into an eternal patience. Such a concept, however, stands in stark contradistinction to God’s revealed will.
The fact is, God will judge the world one day (Acts 17:30-31), and He will take “vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). His longsuffering is not an “eternal” suffering. The ungodly people of Noah’s day learned this point. God delayed His destruction of the world by water for many years (perhaps as many as 120 years; cf. Genesis 6:3) while Noah preached righteousness to them (2 Peter 2:5). Eventually, however, God’s longsuffering came to an end. Centuries later, God again revealed His mercy and longsuffering when He conversed with Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah. Six times Abraham petitioned God not to destroy Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33), and six times God agreed to spare the city from His vengeance, even if as few as ten righteous people were found therein.
Time and again, God has dealt patiently with sinful mankind. Yet, we must recognize that God’s longsuffering with sinners eventually ends. It ended in the days of Noah. It ended for Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Abraham. And, it eventually will end for all the unfaithful when Jesus returns (2 Peter 3:10). God most certainly is longsuffering, but such forbearance with wayward saints and alien sinners will end one day. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

Mythology and the Bible by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=420

Mythology and the Bible

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Over the last several centuries, many have attempted to mythologize the inspired Word of God. Atheists vigorously attack the Genesis account of creation, calling it nothing more than a fictitious story that should be placed alongside (or even “behind”) myths like the Babylonian creation account. Liberal theologians similarly labor to make Scripture conform to secular sources, claiming that the Israelite religion is a mere “Yahwization” of pagan religions (i.e., attributing to Yahweh what pagan religions attributed to their gods). Such attempts to mythologize Scripture represent a blatant attack upon God’s Word and should be refuted with every ounce of energy we possess. In defending the Bible against such attacks, however, Christians must realize that even though the Bible is not based on pagan mythology, on occasion it does contain allusions to it.
Sometimes Bible believers go the extreme and claim that the Bible never would contain such highly imaginative and creative language. But consider Isaiah 27:1. In this passage, Isaiah wrote: “In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will slay the monster that is in the sea.” Here, the inspired writer makes reference to leviathan in a prophetic passage depicting the future victory of God over His foes. From his book, we can be assured that Isaiah was a strict monotheist. But he did “draw upon the common stock of poetic imagery known to his people just as contemporary writers allude to mythology to illustrate a point without thereby expressing or encouraging faith in the story so used” (Pfeiffer, 1960, 32:209). In explaining the language of Isaiah and other Bible writers who may have alluded to mythology from time to time, John Day commented: “Canaanite mythic imagery was the most impressive means in that ancient cultural milieu whereby to display the sovereignty and transcendence of Yahweh, along with His superiority over Baal and all other earthly contenders. Although the Hebrews did not borrow the theology of Canaan, they did borrow its imagery—here the imagery of Baal’s enemy…Leviathan” (1998, 155:436).
A mythological element also can be seen in the poetic language of Job 3:8: “Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.” [The KJV rendering “who are ready to raise up their mourning” misses the reference to leviathan, which is obvious in the original language.] In this verse, leviathan can be identified properly with a mythological creature described in Ugaritic myths called Lotan. According to such mythology, a marine monster named Lotan was capable of altering the entire world order by eclipsing the Sun or Moon with its body. Does this mean that Job was a believer in mythology, or that the book of Job is a mythological production? Certainly not! Throughout the book that bears his name, Job is presented as a devout monotheist who rejected then-popular mythological concepts (cf. 31:26-28). Within the context of chapter 3, Job, who is “cursing” the day of his birth, employs the most vibrant, potent, and proverbial language available to call for the elimination of that day. Job was “probably doing nothing more than utilizing for poetic purposes a common notion that his hearers would understand. This would have been similar to modern adults referring to Santa Claus. Mentioning his name does not mean that one believes such a person exists” (Zuck, 1978, p. 24).
Even though the Bible may make allusions to mythology, “neither the book of Job nor any of the Old Testament has the slightest hint of belief in any such mythology” (Smick, 1970, p. 229). To suggest that the godly men and writers of the Bible believed in these mythological creatures is to make an abrasive and completely unwarranted assumption that should be avoided at all costs.

REFERENCES

Day, John N. (1998), “God and Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1,” Bibliotheca Sacra, 155:423-436, October-December.
Pfeiffer, Charles F. (1960), “Lotan and Leviathan,” Evangelical Quarterly, 32:208-211.>
Smick, Elmer (1970), “Mythology and the Book of Job,” Sitting with Job, ed. Roy B. Zuck (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).
Zuck, Roy (1978), Job (Chicago, IL: Moody).

From Mark Copeland... "FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT DENOMINATIONALISM" Maintaining Unity In The Local Congregation

              "FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT DENOMINATIONALISM"

              Maintaining Unity In The Local Congregation

INTRODUCTION

1. The challenge of "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" to a 
   great extent revolves around the problem of religious division that
   begins in the local church
   a. Every denomination today began as a result of religious division
   b. And religious division normally finds it origin with brethren in
      a local congregation unable to resolve their differences

2. While having the same standard of authority is essential to unity in
   religious matters, I also stated that it alone is insufficient, as 
   suggested in this quote by Barton W. Stone:

   "But should all the professors of Christianity reject all their
   various creeds and names, and agree to receive the Bible alone, and
   be called by no other name than Christian, will this unite them?  
   No, we are fully convinced that unless they all possess the spirit
   of that book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union."
   (As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead:  A Story Of The
   Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56)

3. It is essential that those who seek to allow the Bible, and in 
   particular the New Testament, to be their standard of authority...
   a. Possess the proper Christian attitudes
   b. To apply those attitudes when handling the Word of God
   -- Otherwise, the "sword of the Spirit" (Ep 6:17) will be abused to
      the detriment of all parties involved

[To appreciate what I mean, in this lesson we shall examine how Paul
dealt with the problem of division in the early church, and the 
solution he offered that we might "maintain the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace."

We begin by first noticing what Paul described as...]

I. A MAJOR CAUSE OF DIVISION

   A. THE SITUATION AT CORINTH...
      1. Paul found it necessary to write "that there be no divisions 
         among you" - 1Co 1:10
      2. There were contentions among them, manifested by breaking up 
         into parties and calling themselves after different men - 
         1Co 1:11-12
      -- Sounds a lot like religious division today, doesn't it?

   B. PAUL'S EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM OF DIVISION...
      1. As Paul wrote to them, he realized he was dealing with "babes
         in Christ", who instead of being "spiritual" were "carnal" - 
         1Co 3:1-3a
      2. Indeed, the root of their envy, strife, and divisions was 
         their carnality - 1Co 3:3b
      -- Conditions today are not really all that much different; where
         division exists, carnality (or spiritual immaturity) is often 
         a major cause of the problem!

[This is not to say that there are never any substantive issues at 
stake when division occurs.  But any hope for resolving differences 
over such issues is stifled when the parties involved are filled with 
envy and strife.

This may help us appreciate why Paul so frequently focused his 
attention on the development of attitudes which increase the likelihood
of overcoming differences so that unity might prevail.  Let's take a 
look at these...]

II. ATTITUDES FOR MAINTAINING UNITY

   A. TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS, PAUL TAUGHT THE VIRTUE OF...
      1. "Lowliness" - Ep 4:2
         a. This word means:
            1) The having a humble opinion of one's self
            2) A deep sense of one's (moral) littleness
            3) Modesty, humility, lowliness of mind
         b. Without this virtue, members in the body begin trying to be
            the "head" of the body, a role reserved only for Christ
      2. "Gentleness" - Ep 4:2
         a. This word can be translated as gentleness, mildness, 
            meekness
         b. It is not a quality of weakness, but of power under control
            1) Moses was a meek man (Num 12:3), but capable of great
               strength and boldness
            2) Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart" (Mt 11:29), but we
               see where He drove the money changers out of the temple
         c. Thus it is being gentle, even when there is the potential
            for being harsh, but gentleness is more conducive for 
            maintaining unity
      3. "Long-suffering" - Ep 4:2
         a. The idea here is one of patience, forbearance, 
            longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs
         b. When the body consists of members who are not perfect, and
            often sin against each other, maintaining unity is not 
            possible unless they are willing to endure each other's
            imperfections
      4. "Bearing with one another in love" - Ep 4:2
         a. Similar to longsuffering, "bearing" means to sustain, to 
            bear, to endure
         b. What makes such "longsuffering" and "forbearance" possible
            is another virtue: "love"
         c. As Paul wrote in his chapter on love:  love suffers long...
            is not provoked" - 1Co 13:4-5
         d. Indeed, the virtue of love is the "tie" that binds all 
            these virtues together - Col 3:12-14
      5. "Endeavor" - Ep 4:3
         a. Displaying these virtues does not come naturally nor easy,
            nor does maintaining unity
         b. Thus the need for much effort, as Paul uses a word which
            means "to exert one's self, endeavor, give diligence"
      -- Only by giving diligence to display ALL these virtues, can we
         hope to "keep (maintain) the unity of the Spirit in the bond 
         of peace" - Ep  4:3

   B. TO THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI, PAUL DIRECTED THEM TO...
      1. "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit" - Php 2:3
         a. It is necessary to point out those attitudes we should NOT
            have!
         b. For possessing these attitudes will destroy unity
            1) Both involve "self-centered" attitude
            2) Rather than a "Christ-centered" attitude
         c. Therefore, it is required that we rid ourselves of:
            1) The DESIRE FOR EXALTING SELF ("selfish ambition")
            2) The IMPROPER ESTIMATION OF SELF ("conceit")
         d. In place of these, we should substitute...
      2. "in lowliness of mind" - Php 2:3
         a. In other words, humility - cf. Ep 4:2
         b. This will effectively replace the problem of "conceit"
         c. Humility should be easy to maintain if we remember our own faults
      3. "let each esteem others better than himself" - Php 2:3
         a. This should be easy for us to do...
            1) For we are aware of our own defects, but we do not have
               the same clear view of the defects of others
            2) We can only see their OUTWARD conduct; in our case, we 
               can look WITHIN
            3) We see our own hearts, with all its faults; we cannot so
               look into the hearts of others
         b. In writing to the brethren at Rome, Paul exhorted them to
            outdo one another in this regard - "in honor giving 
            preference to one another" - Ro 12:10b
      4. "look out...for the interest of others" - Php 2:4
         a. This attitude eliminates the problem of "selfish ambition"
         b. It is the attitude of MATURITY, and was the attitude of 
            Christ! - Ro 15:1-3
         c. So it should be the attitude of every Christian!
      -- As strongly suggested by Php 2:1-2, these qualities in verses
         3-4 contribute to the unity that produces fullness of joy!

   C. TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA, PAUL...
      1. Cautioned against the improper use of our liberty in Christ
         a. While it is true that we must stand fast in our liberty and
            not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage... - Ga 5:1
         b. ...we should use our liberty as an opportunity to serve one
            another in love - Ga 5:13-14
      2. Otherwise, abuse of our liberty gives the flesh opportunity to
         destroy one another! - Ga 5:15

   D. TO THE CHURCH AT ROME, PAUL WROTE...
      1. We should pursue things that lead to peace and edification - 
         Ro 14:19
      2. That the strong should be willing to bear with the scruples of
         the weak - Ro 14:1,13; 15:1-3
      3. That the weak in faith must be careful not to judge (condemn)
         those whom God has received! - Ro 14:3-4
      -- Such attitudes are necessary, are we will not be able "with 
         one mind and one mouth [to] glorify the God and Father of our 
         Lord Jesus Christ!" - cf. Ro 15:5-7

   E. FINALLY, TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH PAUL MADE IT CLEAR...
      1. That knowledge can puff one up, but it is love that edifies 
         ("builds up", in contrast to knowledge which "puffs up") - 
         1Co 8:1
      2. That we who have liberty in Christ should be careful that we 
         don't use it to the destruction of our brethren who are weak 
         - 1Co 8:9-12
      3. That we should therefore be willing to forego our liberties if
         it can help keep a brother from stumbling - cf. 1Co 8:13; 
         10:31-11:1

CONCLUSION

1. From personal experience, I can attest that:
   a. Where members display these attitudes in addition to their 
      devotion to the "apostles' doctrine"...
   b. ...there will be a congregation of Christians in which love and
      unity will prevail

2. That's not to say there will always be perfect understanding and 
   agreement on every subject
   a. When people from every conceivable background come to Christ, we
      should expect some differences
   b. When there will always be brethren at various levels of spiritual
      growth, we can expect some challenges

3. But if we can...
   a. Agree that the teaching of Christ as expounded in the "apostles'
      doctrine" is our standard of authority in religious matters
   b. Inculcate the Christian attitudes described in this lesson into
      the heart of every member
   ...then we shall be able to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
      bond of peace" (Ep 4:3) as we all continue to "grow in the grace
      and knowledge of Jesus Christ" (2Pe 3:18), to the glory of God!