June 3, 2015

Does Inspiration Imply Dictation? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.



http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=565

Does Inspiration Imply Dictation?

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Sometimes honest and sincere people apparently believe that God dictated every jot, every tittle, and ever word in the Scriptures, thus making the Bible writers little more than mechanical robots that dutifully copied down the Scriptures—verse by verse, as it were. If God had dictated the Bible, however, the style and vocabulary of each book of the Bible would be the same throughout. Yet, a simple reading of the Scriptures proves that the mechanical dictation viewpoint is incorrect. The fact is, the personality and style of each author are evident in every book of the Bible. Paul’s writings are different from Peter’s, and John’s are different from Luke’s. At times, Bible writers even used different words to teach the same story or to give the same commands.
Take, for example, one of the differences between Mark’s gospel and Luke’s gospel. When writing about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter heaven, Mark said it is “easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye” (Mark 10:25). Mark uses the Greek word rhaphis (needle), which means a sewing needle. On the other hand, when Luke used the same analogy (Luke 18:25), he employed the Greek word belone, which frequently was used when speaking of a surgeon’s needle. The same principle is taught in both texts, yet different words are used. Luke was a doctor (Colossians 4:14), and so he used the kind of needle with which he was most familiar. Likewise, Mark used the term for a seamstress’s needle, most likely because that was the kind of needle he was most accustomed to seeing. Is this a contradiction? No. Two different personalities are reflected in the words, but the idea is the same. Although the concept may be somewhat difficult to understand, inspiration involves the selection of the exact words, yet allows room for the personality of the individual to be reflected in the writing. And while inspiration extends to every word of Scripture, it does not rule out either human personality or human personal interest. Simply put, when the Bible writers claimed inspiration (cf. 2 Peter 1:20-21 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17), they did not have mechanical dictation in mind.
The correct view is to understand that the Bible’s inspiration is verbal and plenary. This means that the Bible writers penned exactly what God wanted them to write, without errors or mistakes, yet with their own personalities evident in their writings. By “verbal,” we mean that every word in the Bible exists because God permitted it (via the direction of the Holy Spirit). King David clearly recognized the validity of this kind of inspiration when he said: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2, emp. added). By “plenary,” we mean that each and every part of the Bible is inspired, without anything being omitted. (“Plenary” means full).
By employing the verbal and plenary view of inspiration, God ensured that the independent Bible writers penned only that which was correct and consistent with His will.

From Mark Copeland... "DISCIPLINES FOR THE DISCIPLE" The Discipline Of Fellowship



                     "DISCIPLINES FOR THE DISCIPLE"

                      The Discipline Of Fellowship

INTRODUCTION

1. Thus far in our study of spiritual disciplines we have looked at...
   a. Prayer - especially the value of secret, simple, and steadfast prayer
   b. Meditation - contemplating God, His works, His words, and things
      worthy of virtue
   c. Fasting - a means of humbling one's self before God when joined
      with sincere prayer
   d. Singing - which edifies the singer as well as praises God

2. Let's now take a look at the spiritual discipline of fellowship...
   a. The Greek is koinonia and means "to share in, fellowship with,
      participation" - CWSD
   b. The early church continued "steadfastly in...fellowship" - Ac 2:42

3. The idea is that Christians did things together...
   a. They assembled together for worship
   b. They spent time together in such activities as prayer, singing,etc.
   c. They valued the time together as something beneficial

[To grow spiritually, we need to exercise ourselves unto godliness (1 Ti
4:7), and fellowship with other Christians is an important spiritual
exercise.  To appreciate why, consider...]

I. THE NEED FOR FELLOWSHIP

   A. THE PROBLEM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS...
      1. Many Christians do not value their time with other Christians
      2. As evidenced by their:
         a. Sporadic attendance of regular church services
         b. Failure to visit and support gospel meetings elsewhere
         c. Lack of interest in home Bible studies
         d. Unwillingness to extend or accept offers of hospitality
      3. The main reason is the problem of self-centeredness
         1) Interested only in things pertaining to themselves
         2) With little concern for the needs of others
      -- Self-centeredness is a real problem for many Christians today

   B. THE REASON FOR SELF-CENTEREDNESS...
      1. Many of us lived through the "Me Decade"
         a. The 1970's, distinguished by self-centered attitudes and
            self-indulgent behavior
         b. A time in which there was...
            1) A rapid rise of crime against others - rape, theft,assault, murder
            2) An increased use of drugs and alcohol as a way of escape
            3) A turn to philosophies and religions which involve
               preoccupation with self:
               a) "Looking Out For #1"
               b) Transcendental Meditation (TM) and Yoga
            4) An emphasis on consumerism and materialistic gain
         c. A decade followed by the "Greed Decade" (the 1980's)
      2. Cultural trends today have produced many self-centered people
         a. We live in a highly mobile society
            1) New families move in, and others move away
            2) Many live great distances from the place of worship and
               from each other
         b. Technology designed to bring us closer together, can easily
            move us apart
            1) Phones, email, etc., greatly increase our ability to communicate
            2) But we can become stretched out so thin through such
               technology that we do not develop meaningful relationships
      -- Such things have made it much easier to become isolated from
         one another

[The problems of self-centeredness and isolation can be greatly reduced
through the spiritual discipline of fellowship.  Allow me to explain
what I mean by describing...]

II. THE PRACTICE OF FELLOWSHIP

   A. THROUGH ASSEMBLIES OF THE CHURCH...
      1. We assemble regularly to exhort one another - He 10:24-25
      2. This we do through worship services and Bible classes
      3. Each time we assemble, we have fellowship with one another
      4. A main goal in such assemblies is mutual edification - 1Co 14:26
      -- Faithful attendance of all the services of the church
         contributes greatly to fellowship

   B. THROUGH BIBLE STUDIES IN THE HOME...
      1. Early Christians often met in their homes for Bible study - Ac 5:42; 20:20
      2. Such settings allow for personal attention and application of Scripture
      -- Involvement in home Bible studies provides wonderful
         opportunity for fellowship

   C. THROUGH VISITING OTHER BRETHREN...
      1. Area churches often have special events like gospel meetings
      2. This provides the opportunity for fellowship with brethren in
         other places - Php 1:5
      -- Attending gospel meetings is a great way to experience
         fellowship

[Any occasion to be with brethren to praise God and study His word is an
opportunity to practice the discipline of fellowship.  To encourage such
practices, let me conclude by briefly mentioning...]

III. THE BENEFIT OF FELLOWSHIP

   A. TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES TO ONE ANOTHER...
      1. To have a care for one another - 1Co 12:26
      2. To teach and admonish one another - Col 3:16
      3. To serve one another in love - Ga 5:13
      4. To pray for one another - Jm 5:16
      5. To restore one another - Jm 5:19-20
      6. To be hospitable to one another - 1Pe 4:9
      -- When we fellowship frequently, such duties are more likely met

   B. TO RECEIVE HELP FROM ONE ANOTHER...
      1. We need encouragement to remain faithful - He 3:12-14
      2. We need comfort in times of tribulation - 2Co 1:3-5; 1Th 5:11
         a. Note that comfort comes from two sources:  from God and each another
         b. Thus God comforts both directly and indirectly
      -- When we fellowship frequently, we are blessed by one another's
         faith and comfort

CONCLUSION

1. As we think of the various "Disciplines For The Disciple"...
   a. Let us not limit such spiritual exercises that can be done alone
   b. Let us also value spiritual exercises that we can do together

2. In our desire to exercise ourselves unto godliness...
   a. Beware of the danger of self-centeredness and isolation
   b. Be aware of the value of assembling together in our churches and
      in our homes

Through such fellowship with other Christians, along with private
prayer, meditation, fasting, and singing, we will grow in grace and
godliness as disciples of Christ...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

eXTReMe Tracker 

From Gary... Each, according to their need...


At least an hour or so (more like two) is spent taking care of my dogs.  They are with me day and night and sometimes they act up. Buddy is the temperamental one; before I give him a bath, I always have to walk him first- or he pees on the rug in retaliation. If I ignore him for an extended time period- he WILL find the biggest piece of paper possible and then chew it into a thousand pieces. Pal is more stable, but if he should happen to sleep in another part of the house, I can be sure that he will come into my bedroom about 6:45 am and begin to bark softly, then louder, then the  loudest he can- until I get up!!! And as for giving him a bath, well, it is an exercise in strength and determination on my part!!!

Buddy and Pal are very, very loving dogs- but they do have their problems, just like some of the other dogs listed in the pictures below them. I hope you enjoy all of the pictures, because I do!!!

My Dogs, Buddy (left) and Pal


 Future contestant on America's Got Talent


Anyone know a dog psychiatrist?


Spiritual, boy- NOT Literal


We REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS!!!


You're on candid camera

And people, like dogs have their problems. Consider this story...

Luke, Chapter 15 (WEB)

 11  He said, “A certain man had two sons.   12  The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them.   13  Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.   14  When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.   15  He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  16  He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.   17  But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!   18  I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.   19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’ 

  20  “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.   21  The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 

  22  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.   23  Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;   24  for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate. 

  25  “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.   26  He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.   27  He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’   28  But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.   29  But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.   30  But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 

  31  “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.   32  But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’” 


The wayward son had to realize his sin and seek forgiveness. The faithful son needed to realize that he had problems too!!! The father (representing God in this parable) loved them both and dealt with each according to their need.

Wait- am I talking about people or dogs today??? Hard to tell isn't it?  Need to change things in your life? Don't wait for someone to put a sign around your neck- change already, change!!!

Note: this applies to both dogs and humans!!!

June 2, 2015

From Gary... Bible Reading June 2



Bible Reading 

June 2

The World English Bible


June 2
Ruth 1, 2

Rth 1:1 It happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
Rth 1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Rth 1:3 Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Rth 1:4 They took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they lived there about ten years.
Rth 1:5 Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.
Rth 1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.
Rth 1:7 She went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
Rth 1:8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house: Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.
Rth 1:9 Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
Rth 1:10 They said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people.
Rth 1:11 Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Rth 1:12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;
Rth 1:13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? would you therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Yahweh is gone forth against me.
Rth 1:14 They lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her.
Rth 1:15 She said, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god: return after your sister-in-law.
Rth 1:16 Ruth said, "Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God;
Rth 1:17 where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me."
Rth 1:18 When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her.
Rth 1:19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. It happened, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?
Rth 1:20 She said to them, "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
Rth 1:21 I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty; why do you call me Naomi, seeing Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
Rth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Rth 2:1 Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
Rth 2:2 Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. She said to her, Go, my daughter.
Rth 2:3 She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
Rth 2:4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, Yahweh be with you. They answered him, Yahweh bless you.
Rth 2:5 Then said Boaz to his servant who was set over the reapers, Whose young lady is this?
Rth 2:6 The servant who was set over the reapers answered, It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
Rth 2:7 She said, Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house.
Rth 2:8 Then said Boaz to Ruth, Don't you hear, my daughter? Don't go to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
Rth 2:9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them: haven't I commanded the young men not to touch you? and when you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Rth 2:10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?
Rth 2:11 Boaz answered her, It has fully been shown me, all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn't know before.
Rth 2:12 May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
Rth 2:13 Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens.
Rth 2:14 At meal time Boaz said to her, Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar. She sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she ate, and was sufficed, and left of it.
Rth 2:15 When she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don't reproach her.
Rth 2:16 Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don't rebuke her.
Rth 2:17 So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
Rth 2:18 She took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.
Rth 2:19 Her mother-in-law said to her, Where have you gleaned today? and where have you worked? blessed be he who did take knowledge of you. She showed her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.
Rth 2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Yahweh, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. Naomi said to her, The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.
Rth 2:21 Ruth the Moabitess said, Yes, he said to me, You shall stay close to my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
Rth 2:22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.

Rth 2:23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

Jun. 1, 2
John 9

Joh 9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
Joh 9:2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him.
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.
Joh 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Joh 9:6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man's eyes with the mud,
Joh 9:7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.
Joh 9:8 The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn't this he who sat and begged?"
Joh 9:9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him." He said, "I am he."
Joh 9:10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?"
Joh 9:11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.' So I went away and washed, and I received sight."
Joh 9:12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know."
Joh 9:13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees.
Joh 9:14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
Joh 9:15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see."
Joh 9:16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them.
Joh 9:17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."
Joh 9:18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight,
Joh 9:19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"
Joh 9:20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
Joh 9:21 but how he now sees, we don't know; or who opened his eyes, we don't know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself."
Joh 9:22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.
Joh 9:23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him."
Joh 9:24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."
Joh 9:25 He therefore answered, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see."
Joh 9:26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
Joh 9:27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't also want to become his disciples, do you?"
Joh 9:28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
Joh 9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don't know where he comes from."
Joh 9:30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
Joh 9:31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.
Joh 9:32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.
Joh 9:33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
Joh 9:34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.
Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"
Joh 9:36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?"
Joh 9:37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."
Joh 9:38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshiped him.
Joh 9:39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."
Joh 9:40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?"
Joh 9:41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. 
 

From Jim McGuiggan... A Strange Hymnbook

A Strange Hymnbook

 The psalms, like many of our hymns, were written by individuals when they were in a certain mood. Note the different tone and subject in so many of them. But sometimes we "preach" too much on texts and don't "sing" them. Sometimes I think of a Jew lying there in the shade somewhere grinning and admiring the whole world situation with God in it—that’s Psalm 1. That’s how the book opens and it closes with this: "Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!"
Psalm 1 is like a boy, under a tree, contented and smiling, watching his pup, admiring it and rejoicing in it, seeing all its great qualities and listening to its snuffing and growling, full of life and spreading it around while the boy looks and thinks, "You’re somethin’ else!"
The whole book of psalms is called "tehillim"—praises, the book of praises. Even the lament psalms are part of the five books that make up the "tehillim". The protests of the psalms, the weeping and complaining were all brought to God as part of their trust in God. They didn't go down the road to some Ba'al shrine or over to Molech's place and complain about Yahweh. No, they came to God.
They didn't get off with a group of complaining Jews and whisper treason and dis-ease, spreading the stories of their disappointments and periods of bewilderment in unlit streets or gloomy cellars. No! They sang them—in church! In church, for pity's sake! This was no arrogant spirit that looked around to see if others were impressed by their boldness. It wasn't an ugly attempt to prove that they had "authentic faith" that would even put God in the dock. These sang their broken hearts to the one that had earned the right to hear their complaints first hand.
And when the happy psalms were sung the poor and downtrodden sang them along with their richly-blessed brothers and sisters. They didn’t begrudge the blessings to those that had them. And when the sad and groaning psalms were sung, the happy people sang them along with their hurting brothers and sisters. The lonely people and those under pressure in one way or another were not left to sing alone. Nor were they "put up with" while they sang their hurt to God. No! Their brothers and sisters added their voices to the voices of the anguished and carried the sad sounds higher into the air—just so God could hear them.
But they all sang out of the same hymnbook. The people of Israel by the Spirit of God and in light of their history with God put all their songs together, put them in a hymnbook and stamped PRAISES on the cover.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Another Muslim Elected to Congress by Dave Miller, Ph.D.



http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=2432

Another Muslim Elected to Congress

by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

When Representative Julia Carson died in December 2007, Indiana voters were required to elect a replacement for the remainder of her term in the U.S. House of Representatives. So they selected her grandson, Indianapolis City Council member, Andre Carson. What is notable about the 33-year-old Carson is the fact that he converted to Islam about a decade ago (Cebula, 2008). That makes him the second Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress in two years, following closely on the heels of the election to the House of Keith Ellison of Minnesota (see Miller, 2006).
Many Americans—those who have been influenced by the social and political liberalism of the last few years—praise this diffusion of America’s historic values. They believe that such diversity is healthy and serves to strengthen the fabric of society. They have swallowed the politically correct propaganda, touted over the last 50 years, that pluralism is the superior ideology, and that all religions are equally valid, authentic, and true (see Miller, 2008).
Contrary to current claims that the Founding Fathers of America advocated “pluralism,” “diversity,” “multiculturalism,” and equal acceptance of all religions, ideologies, and philosophies, the truth is that they feared for the future of the nation should its Christian foundation be compromised. The Founders insisted that the Christian religion provided the beliefs and values that give cohesion to the American Republic. They well knew and believed that one’s religious beliefs affect his character and moral values. They insisted that the nation draws its strength from the God of the Bible and the moral precepts He enjoins on a people. The dissolution of those values via contrary religious encroachments will lead to the demise of the Republic. Pluralism, therefore, spells national suicide.
The Father of American Geography, Jedidiah Morse, cogently articulated the rationale of the Founders and most early Americans when he insisted:
The foundations which support the interest of Christianity, are also necessary to support a free and equal government like our own. In all those countries where there is little or no religion, or a very gross and corrupt one, as in Mahometan and Pagan countries, there you will find, with scarcely a single exception, arbitrary and tyrannical governments, gross ignorance and wickedness, and deplorable wretchedness among the people. To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoy. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom, and approximate the miseries of complete despotism (1799, emp. added).
Americans would do well to sit up and pay attention to these sobering, prophetic words that forecast what is to come, should this nation continue down the path it is now treading in its disregard for God. Americans desperately need to heed the words of God via the psalmist: “Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:22-23). “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).

REFERENCES

Cebula, Judith (2008), “Second Muslim elected to Congress,” Reuters, March 11, [On-line], URL:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080312/us_nm/usa_politics_muslim_dc;_ ylt=AoYm_wx0lWq7W4uyD7lpTyNH2ocA.
Miller, Dave (2006), “A Muslim Now In Congress?” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL:http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3141.
Miller, Dave (2008), “U.S. House Honors Islam: The Destructive Corrosion of Diversity,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3587.
Morse, Jedidiah (1799), A Sermon, Exhibiting the Present Dangers and Consequent Duties of the Citizens of the United States of America (Hartford, CT: Hudson and Goodwin), [On-line]: URL: http://www.archive.org/details/sermonexhibiting00morsrich.

Alien Life, Evolution, and Telescopes by Dave Miller, Ph.D.




http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=1905

Alien Life, Evolution, and Telescopes

by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Astronomers from more than 30 research institutions in 15 countries are working together to select a site for a giant telescope that they hope will read TV or radio signals from alien civilizations. Slated to cost $1 billion, the Square Kilometer Array, or SKA, would be the world’s most powerful radio telescope. Speaking at a conference of the International Society for Optical Engineering in Orlando, Florida, project astronomers said they hope to find “immediate and direct evidence of life elsewhere in the Universe” (“Sites Under...,” 2006).
The scientists admit, however, that they face several “ifs.” First, they may be unable to “eavesdrop on the latest episode of little green men’s reality shows” since the instrument might not be able to actually decode the transmissions. Second, any programs received would be several years old, because of the delay in light transmission to Earth. Third, astronomers are unsure how to recognize such signals. Last, but certainly not least, astronomers concede that there may well be no signals for the simple reason that there may be no little green men (“Sites Under...”). Indeed, the irrational preoccupation with “extraterrestrial life” fails to take into account the perfectly plausible alternative explanations for the spaciousness of the Universe (see Miller, 2003).
Nevertheless, astronomers insist there are other worthwhile uses of the telescope: “The instrument would also serve to study the evolution of the universe from shortly after the fog of the Big Bang explosion, believed to have originated the universe, lifted” (“Sites Under...”). Never mind the fact that the Big Bang theory itself has been blown to bits, its credibility completely debunked (cf. Thompson, et al., 2003).
Think of it. One billion dollars—to be wasted. Imagine what that money could do if directed to more noble and worthy purposes. When we reject belief in the Creator of the Universe, confusion, futility, and superfluous pursuits are inevitable (Psalm 14).

REFERENCES

Miller, Dave (2003), “The Universe—A ‘Waste of Space’”? [On-line], URL:http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2261.
“Sites Under Review for Telescope that Could Detect Alien TV” (2006), World Science, July 10, [On-line], URL: http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/060711_ska.htm.
Thompson, Bert, Brad Harrub, and Branyon May (2003), “The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique,” [On-line], URLhttp://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2635.