The Journal

Below are Journal entries, eclectic commentary, and information bulletins for site additions in 2009.  A kind thanks to my dear wife for proof reading these comments from time-to-time.  Most recent posts are shown first.

12/31/2009

Beginning 2010, I'll be taking a break from posting to The Journal, while regular correspondence duties will continue.  There are a number of 'projects' which have fallen victim to my 'new-found-ability' of procrastination.  Without the daily task of posting to the Journal, I hopefully will have no excuse for tackling and accomplishing these projects.  I would also ask readers for prayers relative to my ongoing health and pain management.

12/30/2009

I believe I've tentatively fixed the problem with our Search Engine.  For now, it may look a bit different, but at least it's functional.

12/20/2009

If you're staying inside next to a crackling fire while seeking protection from the apocraphal effects "globe warming," here's my movie recommendation (mature audience) at the end of 2009...after the kiddos are in bed.  Julie and Julia is something of a cinematic masterpiece.  Nominated for two Golden Globe awards (and numerous others, the acting is superb and the storylines are creative and heart-warming.  An overall good movie.  

12/19/2009

If you're contemplating some last-minute giving here at Christmas, consider a modest donation to Angel Tree.  Angel Tree reaches out to the children of incarcerated members of society.  Whether the parents of these children justly deserve their prison sentences or not, the children and spouses who bear and suffer from the wrong or criminal behaviors need comfort and compassion.  God can and does use these ministries of kindness to touch individuals, despite Chuck Colson's doctrinal/neo-evangelical/ecumenical shortcomings.

12/18/2009

A missionary working in Budapest, Hungary recently sent us a Hungarian (Ugric language) translation of The New Birth Explained, written by Miles J. Stanford.  So often, evangelistic missions fail to establish newly born-again believers on a safe-and-sound foundation.  Subsequently, converts become vulnerable to numerous doctrinal errors and even cults.  Rule:  Avoid efforts to build spiritual superstructures on faulty foundations; share The New Birth Explained.   

12/6/2009

Naturalists of a feather flock together...

Hard-core atheists, homosexuals, and evolutionists all share something in common--a tormented conscience. Denial of the fact is ubiquitous. Strain as they may, they cannot live with the ontological angst that accompanies their unbelief and rejection of self-evident truths. Consequently, their pathology demands that they fight against any and all who suggest the existence of God and transcendent values.

"...God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity...they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

And we should add, DISAPPROVE (slander) of those who don't.

Also read:  The Tyranny of the Minority

12/3/2009

Brother,

I just wanted to take a moment to say THANKS for your Journal articles.  I usually check it each day to see what your have unearthed since the previous.  I guess, at this stage, I shouldn't be surprised at what you reveal.  Just keep that shovel digging.

Lord, do come quickly.

Bob

12/5/2009

CLIMATEGATE: Follow the Money, Find the Power, Expose the Lies

CRUtape Letters:  For decades, the general public has been unaware of the loss of integrity and objectivity in the scientific community due to its embrace of postmodernism.  But the recent, Climategate scandal has, to a degree, pulled back the curtain.  Yesterday, WSJ's Daniel Henninger wrote an excellent article regarding its significance - Climategate: Science Is Dying, Science is on the credibility bubble.  Of course, Christians aware of the decades-long struggle to liberate the empirical data supporting Intelligent Design are no strangers to this science cabal and its secular 'priesthood'.

11/29/2009

11/25/2009

A new, 4,732-word ecumenical statement has been issued by one hundred forty-eight (148) Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Evangelical signatories.  The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience heralds the “2,000-year tradition of proclaiming God’s word, seeking justice in our societies, resisting tyranny, and reaching out with compassion to the poor, oppressed and suffering.”  The Declaration seeks to affirm: “1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.”

As with most ecumenical statements, it’s not often what’s said but what’s omitted that is critically important.  In my opinion, the editorial hands of Orthodox and conservative Catholic activists have been overly heavy upon the document.  The various subjects discussed show a strong bias in favor of religious humanism, rather than balanced Scriptural truth.  American Evangelicals appear to be increasingly co-opted.

For example:

• Under Life, reference to the quintessential doctrine of the Fall is entirely omitted.  This grave omission causes a progressive distortion of the Christian faith, both in part and in whole, and thus results in failure to “proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season.”  Any “pro-life” position based upon the “dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God,” and seeking to protect the innocent unborn cannot equally protect those guilty of murder from capital punishment.  Such position is morally inconsistent, ethically dysfunctional, and an abject miscarriage of justice.  God has delegated to society the responsibility for the imperative execution of murders—Genesis 9.

• The section on Marriage is largely designed to defend the biblical revelation of God’s social designs from destructive efforts to redefine reality and those seeking to assuage their conscience of immoral behavior.  While the covenantal nature of Divine marriage is mention twice, the Church’s historical mishandling of the Apostle Paul’s analogous comparison of marriage to Christ and His Bride tarnishes the document.  The "great mystery" mentioned in Ephesians 5:32 is NOT marriage, but rather "Christ and the church" just as Paul states.  The Church was neither prophesied nor revealed in OT Scriptures.

• In their effort to develop a statement on Religious Liberty and despite the century-long attack upon the veracity of canonical Scripture, Orthodox contributors were allowed to insert reference to the second century Epistle to Diognetus.  This section highlights the loss of freedom for religious conscience together with the rise to power and influence upon public policy of libertine/tyrants in America, Canada, and Europe.  The history of the development of religious freedom in America is a complex one, with Enlightenment and Biblical definitions of freedom often in opposition.  Any Christian statement on so-called religious liberty must be balanced against the biblical truth/mandate of the Creator's/Christ's claim as Lord of creation..."We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5.  As the Declaration rightly concludes, “Disintegration of civil society is a prelude to tyranny.”

Some might find it surprising, but Dr. Mark L. Bailey, President, Dallas Theological Seminary signed on to the document.  PS.  The Dan S. in the comment section at First Things is not me.

11/23/2009

Janet Tavakoli on "Financial Meth Labs"

Financial Oligarchy = Crony/Pirate Capitalism

Libertarian Capitalism = Immoral/Unbiblical

11/22/2009

One of the common experiences for "born-again" (John 3:3-7) believers is the occasional reflective return to the memories of one's pre-conversion life (religious or non-religious), together with the study of various aspects of history.  The value of such exercise is to better understand one's spiritual journey as well as provide a more robust context for current events.  As many know from my testimony, I was raised in a liberal/traditional American Catholic family.  For the better part of the decade following my conversion, my prior family life and parochial schooling was the primary lens through which I understood Catholicism.  Then, I discovered the insightful explanations of Kenneth R. Samples, which opened a door to seeing the broad diversity which makes up global Catholicism.  This is vitally important since I receive email from Catholics and former Catholics worldwide and need to understand their cultural/religious context.

I recently stumbled upon The Catholic Right: A Series, by NYC attorney Frank L. Cocozzelli.  Mr. Cocozzelli is a liberal ("progressive") Catholic associated with the Religious Left.  Appearing to have begun in 2006. the series is comprised of ongoing articles--a grand effort to 'connect-the-dots' regarding the Catholic Right's role in the larger "Religious Right."  While most readers of withChrist.org may feel the subject matter has little to do with them, you might be surprised.  The intellectual influence of Catholics: liberal, traditionalist, ultra, etc. is more ubiquitous than you might imagine.  Their rise to power and influence in America, which historically considers itself "Protestant," is a fascinating story.  For example, when you encounter any syndicated outlet (e.g., Fox News, et. al.) of the media empire owned by Rupert Murdock (News Corp), you're largely encountering an element of the Catholic Right.  Further, the series of articles provides insight into the various factions and underscores the very deep divisions among American Catholics.  If you decide to read, keep in mind that Mr. Cocozzelli's biased perspective is both liberal (modernist-humanist) and politically Leftist.  He is a faithful ally of the current liberals and progressives in the Obama Administration.  These articles are not easy to locate, so I'm organizing them below.

Part 1, Part 1a, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31, Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38, Part 39, Part 40, Part 41, Part 42, Part 43, Part 44, Part 45, Part 46, Part 47, Part 48, Part 49, Part 50, Part 51, Part 52, Part 53, Part 54, Part 55, Part 56, Part 57, Part 58, Part 59, Part 60, Part 61, Part 62, Part 63, Part 64, Part 65, Part 66, Part 67, Part 68.

11/16.1/2009

Temple Mount Heat / Hard Empirical Evidence - "Israel displayed for the first time Wednesday a collection of rare coins charred and burned from the Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple nearly 2,000 years ago. About 70 coins were found in an excavation at the foot of a key Jerusalem holy site. They give a rare glimpse into the period of the Jewish revolt that eventually led to the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, said Hava Katz, curator of the exhibition.  The coins were excavated from an ancient street below the Temple Mount, experts said. Archaeologists had to sift through debris and remove boulders thrown off the Temple Mount during the Roman raid before they found the road and the hoard of coins. The exhibition shows not only coins minted in Jerusalem during the rebellion but also European, North African and Persian coins that were found around the holy site from various periods."   Jerusalem (AP), Michael Barajas

While the President of Iran publicly promotes the lunacy that the Holocaust never occurred, a greater lunacy circulates throughout the Islamic world.  The Grand Lunacy?  That the history contained in the Old Testament is pure Jewish myth.  Accordingly, Israel has no legitimate claim to the land, to Jerusalem, or to the Temple Mount.  The coins were likely put on display as a not-so-subtle rebuttal to Muslims.

11/16/2009

Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law & Education, Phillip E. Johnson, IVP, 1995.  While this book was written nearly fifteen years ago, my appreciation is renewed each time I pick it up. As a retired University of California law professor, Dr. Johnson's book is extremely lucid and a pleasure to read. His ability to drill to the heart of current cultural issues is second to none. Used copies are available on Amazon for as little as $1, plus $4 for shipping. Do yourself a favor and order up a copy.

"If God really does exist, then to lead a rational life a person has to take account of God and his purposes. A person or a society that ignores the Creator is ignoring the most important part of reality, and to ignore reality is to be irrational.

"The most influential intellectuals in America and around the world are mostly NATURALISTS, who assume that God exists only as an idea in the minds of religious believers. In our greatest universities, naturalism--the doctrine that nature is 'all there is'--is the virtually unquestioned assumption that underlies not only natural science but intellectual work of all kinds.

"If naturalism is true, then humankind created God--not the other way around. In that case, rationality requires that we recognize the Creator as the imaginary being he always has been, and that we rely only on things that are real, such as ourselves and the material world of nature. Reliance on the guidance of an imaginary supernatural being is called superstition.

"The domination of the intellectual world by naturalism has important consequences for the popular culture, where theism remains prevalent. The United States is formally a democracy, but on matters involving "religion" the Constitution is supreme, and the judges have the authority to say what the Constitution means. [Yes, that often spells trouble.]  Moreover, the voters get their information about what is going on from newspapers and television [now the Internet as well]. The judges who make the legal decisions and the journalists who report the news get their education at the universities, and they normally interpret events in the light of what they have been taught. To the extent that they have learned to take a naturalistic understanding of reality for granted, they will tend to assume that persons who base their thinking on the premise that God is real are irrational and hence dangerous when they influence public policy."   

11/11/2009

Oops! - Shortage - Peak Gold

Today, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard wrote openly about what we all knew was coming, Barrick shuts hedge book as world gold supply runs out.  A 'hedge book' is a company's portfolio of speculative positions (options/hedges) designed to provide financial protection(?) from either a rise or fall in price.  Shortages of the physical metal have been rumored for some time as more and more investor want to hold the real stuff in their hands.  Canadian gold giant "Barrick bit the bullet in the third quarter, taking a $5.7bn [billion] charge [write-off] against earnings on [bad bet] hedge contracts."  Barrick is looking to cover these huge losses by attracting additional equity capital, but if they're unsuccessful, they and other big speculators may go belly-up.  Central banks have stopped dumping ("leasing") their gold vault reserves, while trillions of $FRNs held by the Chinese and others are still looking for a safe haven from falling value.  Let the bidding begin!  Are we turning the corner on the long-talked-about "breakout" in the price of gold?  The sky's the limit if Geithner/Treasury's actions don't match the hollow rhetoric.  The Treasury Sec is between the rock (gold) and a hard spot.  Current policies are politically accommodating, but mathematically "unsustainable."

11/10/2009

At the most recent election, Washington State Voters Approve Gay-Partnership Measure.  Dubbed the "everything but marriage" law, libertines of all stripes launched the next wave of assaults on those who would deny homosexuals the "right" to marry.  In addition to the WSJ article, readers may find the exchange/dialogue (Comments) over the oxymoronic subject of homosexual marriage of interest.  I hope to retain the thread, reformat, and include in the withChrist.org archive.

11/9/2009

The tragedy/Jihad murders at Fort Hood could have been avoided.  Intelligence agencies and the U.S. Army knew of Hasan's contacts with al Qaeda and Anwar al-Awlaki, but are infected with a mental paralysis which runs deep in America's institutions and leaders.  The light was turned up brighter in July 2007 with the publication of Major Stephen C. Coughlin's thesis, "TO OUR GREAT DETRIMENT”: IGNORING WHAT EXTREMISTS SAY ABOUT JIHAD.  Major Coughlin was subsequently fired from his position on the military's Joint Staff.  For a brief review of his thesis, click HERE.  In the current public dialogue regarding Islam, any Muslim who adheres to the historical teachings of Mohammad and Islam is dubbed an "extremist" according to the fearful PC crowd.  Islam (Dar al-Islam) is at war with any and all who are not Islam (Dar al-Harb).  Wishing or hoping it is otherwise will not make it so.    

11/6.1/2009

Wall Street Journal poll

11/6/2009

11/4/2009

Creation Ministries International has completed their website overhaul project and the results are exciting.  Click on their logo to go to their website home page.  What do they believe?  Their complete statement is found HERE.

1) Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole creation.

2) The days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages, but are six [6] consecutive twenty-four [24] hour days of Creation.

3) The Noachian Flood was a significant geological event and much (but not all) fossiliferous sediment originated at that time.

4) The ‘gap’ theory has no basis in Scripture. Nor has the day-age idea (so-called ‘progressive creation’), or the Framework Hypothesis or theistic evolution.

5) The view, commonly used to evade the implications or the authority of Biblical teaching, that knowledge and/or truth may be divided into ‘secular’ and ‘religious’, is rejected.

6) By definition, no apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record. Of primary importance is the fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who do not possess all information.

11/2/2009

Today’s antagonism between young Calvinists (monergism) and young Arminians (synergism) takes on the flavor of gang rivalry…like Crips and Bloods.  Here in the 21st century, these polarized groups often ‘rumble’ in cyberspace using increasingly slick dueling YouTube videos.   Each group dons its emblems and colors.  For example, here’s a popular Calvinist hooded sweatshirt complete with portraits of stalwart, Reformed-oriented theologians (Owens, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, and Spurgeon) together with the five Reformation “solas.”  These ‘young turks’ are confident they know their stuff, so make sure to act intimidated if you encounter them.  Tongue-in-cheek...

10/27/2009

Libertarianism is a serious mental disease among today’s conservative Right.  It is nearly as anti-Christian as the Statism on the Left.  Its ignorance and moral bankruptcy is vividly seen in its vocal opposition to government regulation of toxic financial derivatives (the equivalent of suitcase nukes in the hands of terrorists).  As America descended into its post-Christian milieu, Statism on the Left and Libertarianism on the Right rose to prominence in a yin yang fashion.  However, unlike traditional Chinese theory, no state of so-called quiescence is possible.  Without a return to a biblical framework, the Nation is doomed to “grope for the wall like the blind…grope as if we had no eyes…stumble at noonday as at twilight…as dead men in desolate places.”  Isaiah 59:10

10/26/2009

Last Tuesday, PBS Frontline put their one-hour special "THE WARNING" online.  This is a 'must watch' documentary of the political drama surrounding the financial derivatives markets.  The movie and website are available HERE.  Click on "Watch the Full Program Online," then Video Timeline tab for additional supplemental clips.

Pay close attention to Alan Greenspan's testimony before Henry Waxman - "Now He Tell Us!" video clip.

Waxman:  You have been a staunch advocate for letting markets regulate themselves.  And my question for you is simple, Were you wrong?

Greenspan: Yes…I found a flaw, but I’ve been very distressed by that fact.

Waxman:  You’ve found a flaw…in…the reality?

Greenspan:  Flaw…flaw…in the model that I perceived is the critical-functioning structure that defines how the world works…sort of speak.

Waxman:  In other words, you found that…your…your view of the world, your ideology was not… right?

Greenspan:  Precisely.  No, that’s precisely the reason I was shocked…because I’ve been going for forty years or more with very considerable evidence that it was working exceptionally well.

I guess no one ever suggested to him that empiricism (as a source of knowledge) was highly overrated.  Alan Greenspan's economic "model" was largely built upon the atheistic and libertarian worldview of Ayn Rand.  Did Ronald Reagan understand this when he nominated him to be Chairman of the Federal Reserve?  Probably not.  If you're even slightly inclined to think that worldview doesn't matter...think again.  Further, be aware that radio commentators Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, etc., all non-Christians, have followed this same libertarian ideology into a philosophic quagmire.

PS. The derivatives time-bomb has not been defused and sits atop the inverted pyramid of debt.  See 9/8/2009.

10/21/2009

I’ve previously commented, positively, on Ronald Nash’s book The Word of God and the Mind of Man.  The late Professor Nash wrote numerous books and is my favorite author in the realm of Christian apologetics and philosophy.  His style places subjects within the grasp of the average reader, yet each work contains ample footnotes and references for even the most scholarly.  He earned his doctorate from Syracuse University and subsequently taught at: Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green; Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida; and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.

Pertinent to the hour is his SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, published by CSS Publishing in 2002.  “Nash examines which economic theory is most conducive to social justice.  A champion of the free market, he indicts socialism in all forms.  Much of the book answers the arguments of political liberals and disentangles capitalism from caricatures.  Nash argues that moral problems in a capitalistic society will not be improved through new [so-called progressive] economic structures.” 

A partial list of his publications can be found HERE.  If and when I find a better list, I'll change the reference.

10/21/2009

LESS TIME THAN YOU THINK?

 On October 14th, Lord Christopher Monckton,

 noted climate change skeptic, spoke at Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

      Also, see information at GlobalClimateScam.com

10/20/2009

"The United States must live within its means once its economy recovers if it is to preserve global confidence in the U.S. dollar's status."  U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.    [Underline mine.] 

Mr. Geithner has just explained to us that fiscally responsible choices can be delayed until the current Administration's round of irresponsibility has effectively created another illusion of economic prosperity.

Prior to the current recession, both the Nation's level of debt (public and private) as well as its private savings rate reached historic highs and lows, respectively.  Relative to income and productivity, America's decades-long economic run has been an unsustainable exercise in living beyond our means...and listening to economic nonsense like the above.  

Facts:  1) The U.S. economy will not recover to its pre-recessionary levels, 2) confidence in the U.S. dollar has been damaged to the point it cannot be restored, and 3) the U.S. standard of living is 'going in the tank' whether we like it or not.  Geithner is buying political time for the current Administration.

10/19/2009

“True wisdom is not manifested in trying to see resemblances in things which differ, but in discerning the real difference among those things which resemble one another.”

10/17/2009

“YOU LIED!”  The shout thundered.

The Congressman who uttered these two words was subsequently rebuked and politically forced to apologize with little thought, discussion, or concern as to the substance of his charge. 

In a post-Christian culture and with the 'end of the age' (2 Tim. 3:1-5), deception and lying by persons in both high and low positions seem to be rather common place--status quo.  So much so, that we likely won’t be surprised when the reply comes “Of course I lied!  What else did you expect?”

Today’s so-called Christians don’t seem exempt from gullibility, deceiving or being deceived (2 Tim. 3:13).  Remember Obama’s appearance and statement at mega Saddleback Church?  “I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman ... for me as a Christian it is also a sacred union…you know, God is in the mix.”  Now jump forward to his recent appearance at the annual dinner for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the leading organization promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.  “There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones—good and decent people—who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes.”

For whatever reason, Christians erroneously believe judging someone’s claim to be "of the faith” is somehow off limits.  Contrary to postmodern relativism and skeptics, the premise that believers CAN and SHOULD discern the difference between “sheep and goats” is woven throughout all Scripture, both OT and NT.  Jesus said, “Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper (honest or righteous) judgment” (John 7:24).  What!?  How is that possible?  And the Apostle Paul’s declares, “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment” (1 Corinthians 3:15).  What!?  The darkness says, “Impossible!”

Believer, your path is clearly laid before you:

Now this is the basis for [God’s] judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.  John 3:19 NET

Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world.  The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12 NET

I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.  John 12:46 NET

But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children – children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.  John 1:12, 13. NET

For you [born-again believer] were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  Ephesians 5:8-11 NIV

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor…Ephesians 4:25 NIV

If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.  1 John 1:6 NET

10/14/2009

Carefully reading a church or organization’s “Statement of Faith” is often telling.  Having read hundreds of them over the past 40 years, the most blatant errors now seem to leap from the page.  For example, compare this errant description of the Second Coming of Christ…

The Physical Return of Christ:  Jesus Christ at His second coming will victoriously descend from heaven to earth to consummate His judgment against Satan, his demonic hosts, and unbelieving humanity, resulting in their eternal separation from God.  Moreover, God will lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation, and eternally dwell among His people in the new heavens and new earth. (Matthew 24; 25; Romans 8:19-23; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 19:11-21)       Bold emphasis mine.

…with the truth found in 2 Peter 3:10-13 and Revelation 21:1.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  2 Peter 3:10-13. 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  Revelation 21:1

The difference should be obvious, hopefully.  At the root of this eschatological error is the fundamental failure to see that God has judged and condemned the First Adam and the First Creation, and by His sovereign love, grace, and mercy, established the Last Adam and a New Creation in their place.  Their humanistic concept of Divine redemption involves amelioration—i.e., change, not the Biblical exchange found throughout the Apostle Paul’s and other NT epistles.  For them, the only thing wrong with the First Creation is God’s curse (Genesis 3), which they claim will be "lifted."  This is radically contrary to the Word of God (heresy) and the results are devastating.

10/9/2009

“He [Jesus]was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.”  John 1:10

For born-again Christians, it should come as no surprise that the world loves and honors it own.  Jesus told us as much in John 15:19 and 5:44:

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

“How can you believe if you accept praise [honor] from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”

If consistent with these realities, genuine Christians should not be annoyed over the fact that Alfred Noble (1833-1896), the inventor of nitroglycerin/dynamite and unregenerate pacifist, created a multi-million dollar foundation for the purpose of issuing awards to various citizens of the world system, and in particular, an award for “peace” consistent with his pacifist ideals.  [There is a fierce irony here.  Noble earned his über wealth by selling explosives to the various global militaries.]

Noble set forth criteria for his ‘peace prize’ in his Last Will and Testament: “…to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”  Consistent with the Noble Committee's observation and acknowledgement that "he [Obama] had not yet actually achieved many of the goals that he had set out to accomplish," his conciliatory speech to the theonomic Islamic world in Egypt, his lack of support for American troops on the battlefield, and his participation at the abominable United Nations, do in fact show merit to warrant this worldly award.  Most importantly, Barack Obama shares Alfred Noble's pacifist creed of appeasement--the humanistic panacea to bring about so-called “peace” in the world.

“Do you think I [Jesus] came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”  Luke 12:51

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:27

PS.  On the one hand, such pacifistic nonsense by a leader of the civilized world creates a power vacuum in Israel and places the planet in peril.  On the other, such behavior advances the global drama several more steps in the direction of God's plan set forth in the Book of Revelation.  Come Lord Jesus.

10/8.2/2009

Those political cynics who believe or assert that the current Obama Administration is no less moral than any prior Administration have either lost their minds or never had one to begin with.

"President Obama has been agitating for the authority to criminalize political opponents since he took office.  First there was the raft of DHS reports profiling conservatives as terrorists. Then came the push for a new fairness doctrine, subsequently refined to be achieved in diversity regulations to be imposed on local radio stations. Following these attacks on free speech was the much debated hate crimes legislation, considered by many to be a back-door path to silencing critics of the administration. But, while dangerous to free speech, none of these draconian policies could do as much damage as new regulatory czar Cass Sunstein's shocking proposal to ban "falsehoods" -- a term left up to the Obama administration to define.  If Sunstein succeeds, free speech will be truly dead in America."  John Griffing

Does this sound stranger than Orwellian fiction?  Had enough yet?  Read: Ministry of Truth, Obama-style 

10/8.1/2009

Several Christian denominations (Roman Catholic, Orthodoxy, some Baptists, Campbellites, etc.) claim to be the unbroken continuation of the Church established by Christ and the Apostles, and thus the one and only expression of genuine Christianity.  Each denomination's claim involves differing approaches to the how, why, and value for such ecclesiastical succession.  But these arguments are largely irrelevant for the born-again believer.

It is the historical belief of Christian evangelicals and fundamentalists that such claims are spurious and have little-to-no spiritual value.  Such assertions may serve the purpose of creating a 'voice of authority' (power/control) for leaders and some psychological comfort of assurance for members of the denomination.  However, what is spiritually important is whether an individual believer, or believers collectively, are in union with the "Head" of the Body/Church (Colossians 1:18)--the Risen Lord Jesus Christ via the New Birth.  There is no possible spiritual union apart from the New Birth.  The unregenerate sinner is "dead" in "transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).  Thus the Apostle Paul wrote of the "unspiritual" who lack, "connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow" (Colossians 2:19).  To widen the analogy, imagine a physical human body without a head.  This is the state (spiritual condition) of Christendom, figuratively speaking.  While the members may be outwardly religious, they have no spiritual connection to Jesus Christ--Head of the New Creation (Galatians 6:15).  And as Apostle Paul emphasized, that's what really counts!

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." 1 Peter 1:23

10/8/2009

In this era of postmodernism, revisionist history abounds.  According to postmodern theory, historical facts are really not facts at all.  Rather, they are simply the subjective interpretation of events by some particular historian or individual (supposedly always motivated by some bid for power), without any viable methodology which could help in ascertaining the facts.  Thus according to postmodernists, histories are nothing more than the expressions of differing individual realities.

10/2/2009

Your Aunt Ethel?

This may be an ancestor for the small-cranium liberal/Leftist crowds, but I don't recognize any family similarities.  Sorry guys.

10/1.1/2009

Agnostic David Berlinski is a writer, thinker, and raconteur who lives in Paris. His latest book is The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions, was released in paperback this past month, September 2009.

(working to get video here)

"Here's what so unacceptable to the Left. The Declaration of Independence invokes "Nature's God" as the author of our liberties. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration, argued that the same God that designed life and the rest of nature also guarantees our rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Darwinism directly undercuts Americans' belief that any Designer did or does any of that. If there's no design in nature, there are also no genuine rights of the kind the Founders believed in. So the war on intelligent design is really a war on the Founding values of our country. It's a crucial part of the wider liberal effort to extinguish the flame of freedom."  Center for Science and Culture

10/1/2009

Many young or immature Christians have little understanding of the difficulties faced by the average American church congregation.  In addition to the dysfunctional issues affecting both individuals and families during the current Great Recession, financial problems rank near the top.  Since many churches are modeled along the lines of a business franchise, they experience many of the same pressures.  Will customers grace our doors and buy our 'product'?  Will income (giving/tithe) exceed both fixed and variable expenses?  Are we growing or shrinking?  What about the competition?  Is our marketing efforts and 'branding' appropriate?  Can we maintain cash flow and service debt?  Can we retain qualified employees?  Are we facing bankruptcy or moral ruin due to scandal?

One of the latest gimmicky fads in churches is "prayerwalking."  Listen to this hype:

"God is using prayerwalking all around the world to pave the way spiritually for His glory to be revealed. You can participate in this special movement of God’s spirit. Through prayerwalking, lives will be changed as Christians begin praying for and sharing their faith with those in need." 

Among Christian humanists, and in particular the Pentecostal/charismatic variety, it is not uncommon to claim God's endorsement and involvement for their own religious agenda.    Here is a list of counter-claims to the falsehoods contained in the statement:

• God is NOT "using" praywalking.

• God is NOT "paving the way spiritually" for His glory to be revealed.

• Praywalking is NOT a "special movement of God's spirit."

• Praywalking is NOT God's way of "changing" lives.

Religious humanists fail to understand that God does not operate on their terms, no matter how attractive or exciting they believe their programs to be.  God operates upon the principle of life out of death, an inviolate principle which was established at Calvary.

“For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal body” (2 Cor. 4:10)

9/30/2009

The 9/28 entry has been re-worked.  So, if you initially read it, please re-read the comments below, particularly the linked entry regarding Utopian communities.

9/28/2009

Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, “Where is his [Christ’s] promised return?  For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”  For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water.  Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.  2 Peter 3:3-6  NetBible  [underline mine]

A clear mark of an evil heart* is the act of deliberately suppressing self-evident facts (e.g., 2 Peter and Romans 1:18).  The elimination of the biblical creation narrative has been brought about by a deliberate effort to eliminate from or make relative the Judeo-Christian worldview in public education.  Without that narrative, the "educated" masses are unaware [ignorant] of the historical Fall (Genesis 3) and its corresponding universal consequences (e.g., Genesis 3:14-19).  A recent correspondent genuinely asked, “Why do we have to work?”  Further, without an understanding of the Fall, mankind has no contextual reference for SIN or SINS, nor any need for a Divinely-provided "salvation."  And this is the root cause for the pervasive godless secularism of the Western democracies.

Today’s world has fully embraced a technologically-advanced paganism.  Despite whatever evidence there may be to the contrary, the masses are being led to believe the lie (one of many) that dysfunctional events (“crisis”), in social, economic and environmental realms, are solely attributable to private ownership and capitalism…oh and lest we forget, George W. Bush.  As I’ve previously written, an increasing number of individuals vainly imagine our planet as a sort of pre-Fall Garden of Eden, a cornucopia of plenty, a place where public nudity should just 'feel right' and working shouldn’t really be a necessity...if only government fairly and effectively redistributed the Earth's bountiful resources.  Being illiterate of history, they believe the planet's brokenness did not occur in some ancient past; rather, it took place during the post-Industrial centuries.  For them, economic scarcity** (Gen. 3:17-19) is not a universal fact or condition; rather, it’s a series of imbalances and inequities brought about entirely by the Industrial Age and evil behavior of so-called “greedy people” who've gamed the system***.  And of course, "greedy" is progressively defined downward to include anyone who has something more than yourself.  Further, they believe their “green solutions” to environmental issues are capable of magically transcending the limits and laws of physics to which other prior “bad” choices (realism) were subject to and bound by.

_________________________________

* The direct references to lies, lying, deceive, deceit, or deception in the Bible total in the thousands.  Is it any wonder why the Lord Jesus referred to the Devil as the "father of lies" (John 8:44), and the Apostle Paul describes this celestial being as "the god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:4).  How does the Devil "blind" minds?  Through lying and deception.

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.  They perish because they refused to the love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."  2 Thess. 2:9-12.  NIV

** The pagan Gaia community refers to this as the "scarcity mythos."  For example, see the "Regenerative" and "Transition" Culture movements.  These are modern-day reincarations of the Utopian socialist/transcendentialist communities (e.g., Amana, Owenite, Brook Farm, Fruitlands, Oneida, etc.) or the "Christian" variety (e.g., Shakers, etc.) of the 19th and early 20th century, but with a genuine pagan worldview.  Key words: sustainability, regenerative, abundance, green, resilience, transistion, permaculture, etc.

*** This description is true of the plague of global investment brokers/bankers who created the derivatives bubble and paid themselves exorbitant "bubble bonuses."

9/26/2009

I've attached an good instructional video at the top of America's Political Spectrum in the 21st Century.

9/23/2009

"...a very good man...but just a very bad wizard..."

As I mentioned on 9/7/2009, the Internet is being used to "pull back the curtain" on the wizards of high finance.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday upgraded its assessment of the U.S. economy, saying growth had returned after a deep recession...  Click to read article

However, Chris Martenson makes these observations.

Then later...  Permanent Open Market Operations (or "POMO")

9/22/2009

Here's an article I found of value: How Do You Know You’re Not Wrong? A Response to Skepticism, Paul Copan

Christian apologist Copan uses arguments from reason and natural law to expose the incoherence of skepticism held by the unregenerate mind (Rom. 12:2).  For born-again Christians, 1 Cor. 2:6-16 goes further to reveal a transcendent realm of knowledge and certainty unavailable to those who are "dead" to the spiritual realm and do not participate in "the mind of Christ."  The agnostic crosses into the realm of self-contradiction when he asserts that no one can "know" with certainty.  While he may personally lack certainty, this does not preclude someone else from possessing knowledge and certainty to which he has no access.

9/17.1/2009

Here's a newly-designed online version of MJS's THE NEW BIRTH EXPLAINED published via ISSUU.  No takers by an Adobe artist yet, so I muddled through on this new cover.  Enjoy!

9/17/2009

Panel to Investigate Financial Crisis - The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission will hold its first meeting today as it looks for the root cause of the financial crisis. The investigation might be the White House's best opportunity to reinvigorate its regulatory revamp. Critics argued that the causes are already known (deceptive mortgage lending and reckless debt securitization, to irresponsible banker bonuses and unregulated over-the-counter derivatives markets) and that going back through them is a waste of time. However, proponents pointed out that no single panel with the authority to subpoena has thoroughly examined the crisis.  Read entire article here.

Following up on what I've written about for years, the Commission will like focus on effects rather than cause, so that further legislation can be passed.  Hopefully, they will also address the problem of failure to enforce existing legislation, the hallmark of our libertine culture.  Since they will unlikely reveal the true causes, I'll give it to you right here.

1. A global system of fiat money.  Global fiat money violates biblical principles of ethics.  It has no built-in checks and balances, so it's fully vulnerable to a variety of abuses by those at the top.

2. The ascendant rise of the philosophy of radical Libertarianism in commerce.  Note the philosophic similarity with today's predominant humanistic religions.  It is no coincidence that an ideological follower of atheist Ayn Rand (1905-1982), Alan Greenspan, together with global computer technology, laid the foundation for the global debt bubble.  His brand of laissez-faire capitalism set the stage for the inverted pyramid shown below (9/8/2009) and the abuses mentioned above, which together triggered the widespread financial hemorrhaging.  Like the old Soviet Union and public education, the current system appears too big and entrenched to either be reformed or fixed.

Chart by Libertarian David Nolan 

9/15/2009

We are always looking to enhance our visitor/reader experience.  I recently became aware of ISSUU™ and feel the service could help improve the appearance and functionality of the websites.  If you're a regular reader or supporter and would like to collaborate in enhancing various withChrist.org or MJS documents, please drop us a line.  We're specifically looking for someone with artistic/graphic skills (i.e., Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign) to help design publication covers.  PS.  This is not a solicitation for contract services.

9/13/2009

The president has asked for a $4 billion increase in the foreign affairs budget which is a very strategic part of World Vision’s own budget. To put that into perspective, the total humanitarian assistance budget for the world is about $25 billion a year, and the total foreign affairs budget is about $49 billion. The humanitarian portion is less than 1 percent of the federal budget and is equal to what we’ve given to the auto industry in the past few months.

Since January 2008, the total bailout and stimulus monies passed amount to about $2 trillion, and if we were to have that money, it would fund the humanitarian assistance budget for 80 years, just to put that into context. So in the context of these massive stimulus and bailout packages, the $4 billion increase that the president has requested is the equivalent of throwing a five cent tip into the tin cup of the world’s poorest 2 billion people who are the most affected by the global economic crisis.  Richard Stearns - President of World Vision.

Underline emphasis mine.

“…if we were to have that money, it would fund the humanitarian assistance budget for 80 years…”  I rather doubt it.  Having gone on a spending orgy with other peoples’ money, the recipients would likely return in a few years for more, with the claim to having been short-changed the first time around.  The history of wealth transfer schemes is typically not a pretty one—corruption, waste, graft, etc.  Both money and sex have the potential of bringing out the worst in human nature.  And some of the first tell-tale signs are covetousness and envy.  Inherently, what's taking place are violations of both the 8th and 10th Mosaic Commandment by the citizenry.

So, despite the monetary/fiscal insanity of the bailouts and stimulus programs, why shouldn’t the Religious Left, the Democrats, and Barack Obama expand their health care proposal to cover the entire planet, and bring an end to global poverty as well?  Seriously, what’s the problem? 

It’s got to be lack of love and compassion.  It isn’t lack of fiat money, because that doesn’t appear to be a hindrance to the current proposals or any other fiscal high-wire acts* of the Federal government and the Central Bank.  The Treasury issues IOUs (bonds) and the Federal Reserve monetizes them!  Magic!  Why should a few more tiny zeros stand in the way of expressing real concern and care?  Why are all the liberals so small-minded?  Of wait, they’re not!  They’re the “smartest guys in the room,” or so a majority of the electorate thinks.  So, why not propose true universal coverage that is genuinely non-discriminatory?

PS.  I always wince at bit when engaging in satire.  A genuine fear is that some individual will miss the humor.

*  "The U.S. has failed to fix the underlying problems of its banking system after the credit crunch and the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc."

"In the U.S. and many other countries, the too-big-to-fail banks have become even bigger.  The problems are worse than they were in 2007 before the crisis.

"We’re going into an extended period of weak economy, of economic malaise.  The U.S. will grow but not enough to offset the increase in the population.  If workers do not have income, it’s very hard to see how the U.S. will generate the demand that the world economy needs.

"The Federal Reserve faces a 'quandary' in ending its monetary stimulus programs because doing so may drive up the cost of borrowing for the U.S. government.  The question then is who is going to finance the U.S. government?"  Joseph Stiglitz, Noble Prize-winning economist.

If you think you know the answer to his rhetorical question, drop me an email.

9/11/2009 

I recently became aware of an effort to erroneously label Miles Stanford and withChrist.org as "Amyraldian dispensationalists."  Sounds serious, doesn't it?  However, Amyraldism was never the belief of J. N. Darby et al, nor Miles Stanford, nor has it ever been our view.

Amyraldianism or Amyraldism is a variant of Reformed/Covenant theology (expressed by French Protestant pastor Moses Amyrald, 1596-1664) that sought to acknowledge the broader character of Christ's atonement but erred into a 'hypothetical' universalism, as well as watered down the consequences of the Fall.

The Reformed website, Theopedia, has written the following: "In the United States, essential Amyraldism may be found among various evangelical groups, perhaps most notably among dispensationalists in independent Bible churches and independent Baptist churches--although the term Amyraldism is not used."  Based on my day-to-day experience, the comment is more speculative than factual.  While a small minority of 4-point Scofieldian or Arminian dispensationalists may fit the historic Amyraldian definition, the effort to explain dispensationalism using Amyrald's theology appears new and novel to Theopedia.  In all my reading, I find no connection mentioned during either the 19th or 20th centuries.  If I've missed it, please send me an email and provide a source.   

Given the Reformed/Calvinists' bent to generally besmirch Darby and all Dispensationalism, their broad-brush theological imprecision has come to be expected.  I continue to spend countless hours explaining the tenets of Pauline dispensational theology to those who write with honest questions.  See comments regarding the Five Points of Calvinism and Arminianism.  Also see, Limited vs. Unlimited Atonement.

9/10/2009

Yes, regulation of the market is needed.  However be assured of this, the Democrat-proposed medical healthcare "public option" will be as equally godless as present-day public education and will, in a short amount of time, crowd out any and all health alternatives.  The principle of the lowest common denominator will go to work as soon as the final congressional vote is cast.  The parallels in argumentation between today's proponents of government-funded healthcare and the 19th century proponents of public education are striking.

If passed, religious objections to abortion and euthanasia will be ruled 'out of bounds' upon the basis of the system's need for so-called 'neutrality' as well as 'separation of church and state'.  They destroyed genuine education and a majority of the public is now too 'dumbed-down' to realize the fact.  If they succeed, they will destroy healthcare, as we know it, as well.  Death by 'public-option' bureaucratization will become the new status quo.

9/8.2/2009

Americans are asleep.  American Christians are asleep.  America's religious liberals, having embraced the tenets of Enlightenment humanism, are blinded by hate against conservatives who imply the moral authority of God in their lives.  Their blindness ironically results in denial toward both the overt terrorism and covert subversion taking place by fundamental Muslims, as well as the brutal theonomic goals of Islam.  Like a twist on the Stockholm syndrome, liberal's and the Left's fear and cowardice has turned them into pawns of radical Islam.  The Muslims know it and are successfully exploiting it.  The advocacy of Shariah law for America by allies of Barack Hussein Obama should alarm, but sadly seems to only draws yawns.

Currently, you can watch the unabridged version at their website.  Do this in memory of 9/11.  Click here.

PS.  The movie's use of the label "radical Islam" is really a misnomer.  So-called "radical Islam" shown in the movie is orthodox Islam...Islam as Mohammad instructed his followers to practice it.  Dr. Jasser, the movie's main commentator, is a 'westernized' (liberal) Muslim, and not taken seriously by a large portion of the Muslim world.  It is Dr. Jasser's hope that Western secularism will slam the door on 'radical' Islam.  But the secularists find more pleasure in fighting with passive Christians, than risking their lives and opposing militant Muslims.

Contrary to popular misunderstandings in the West, there is very little equivalency between fundamental Muslims and fundamental Christians.  Given Islam's advance around the globe, I marvel at those who still believe in either Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, or Preterist eschatology (which are all variants of Christian triumphalism) can remain intellectually viable.  Premillennialism is quickly becoming the only eschatology that fits today's world.

9/8.1/2009

New Global Currency?

How Might It Emerge?

9/8/2009

9/7/2009

Why do governments and tyrants need to control the Internet?  Because the Internet...

"...pulls back the curtain and exposes with bright luminescence everything formally hidden in the darkness...at the speed of light."  TM

9/6.1/2009

More spin than at a traveling amusement park.

The graph above is included in the January 2009 report, A New Era of Responsibility Renewing America’s Promise.  Despite the current Administration's continuous efforts to blame any and every problem on the prior Administration or Republicans, the facts don't support the rhetoric and the line has become 'shop worn'.  Many of today's policy failures can be traced to Liberal/Keynesian policy makers.

As shown, the decline in manufacturing employment started in the late '70s.  During the '60s, the widespread thinking on college campuses was that the world was entering an "information age," (can you hear the song, Age of Aquarius playing in the background?) manufacturing was considered passé (old school), and tomorrow's graduates should strive to make "big money" by becoming "knowledge workers."  Computer degrees were considered chic.

Well, American education worked its magic.  America began a shift from a nation of producers/manufacturers to a nation of consumers/information handlers.  A large percentage of manufacturing either moved to Asia or now originates there. Yet, the mantras of the '60s and '70s die hard.  In the same report linked above, you'll read, "Tough choices have been avoided, and we have failed to make the wise investments we need to compete in a global, information-age economy."  I don't think so.  America was an early leader in the information-based economy.  Alan Greenspan repeatedly cited statistics showing macro enhancements in productivity due to adoption of information technology.  American's did not avoid making "tough choices."  Based on the advice of a failing and misguided academy, America, in hindsight, made the wrong choices.  It chose to give up so-called "dirty" manufacturing industries in favor of so-called "clean" information-based ones.  But wait, we outsourced the clean industries too.  And, how long do you think we can sustain a consumer culture based on borrowed money?

9/6/2009

Those who are NOT clear on God's provided righteousness (justification), set about to create, via works/merit, a justification of their own (Romans 10: 2-4).

For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.  For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.  NetBible

Those who are NOT clear on God's provided righteousness (sanctification), set about to create, via rule and disciplines, a sanctification of their own (Colossians 2: 20-23; Galatians 6:14-16a).

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.  Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!  And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them.... NetBible 

9/5/2009

The core mission of withChrist.org is to help believers "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18).  One of our guiding principles is Ephesians 4:15, "...speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ."  Due to today's widespread confusion over the meaning of "love," a more detailed explanation may be helpful for both visitors and regular readers of this website.

The ministry of withChrist.org is established upon two ‘linked’ principles: 1) to speak the truth in love, while 2) not resorting to the principle of accommodation.  This biblical love is found throughout Scripture, is universally demonstrated by faithful parents who raise their children well (Heb. 12:9), and is altogether different from the humanistic emotionalism generally found in society.  Many craven Christians and Christian leaders accommodate their audience by compromising and betraying the truth.  Such capitulation, they reason, will gain them a 'rapport' and in turn result in a favorable response toward the Savior.  But this never turns out well.  They inevitably are reduced to the level of their worldly audience rather than drawing lost unregenerates to the truth.  In their misguided effort, they may even extend human approval to what God clearly deems incorrigible and has condemned.  For those who walk this path, the price paid, spiritually speaking, is infinitely too high for what little is gained.

By contrast, the world equates love with accommodation and approval.  Those who fail or refuse to accommodate their views or grant approval for that which is sinful are falsely accused of being unloving or even “hateful.” Do you see the problem?  Biblical Christians and the world are operating under radically different definitions and concepts of love, to say nothing of the meanings of dozens of other words used in the Bible.  Much of this is attributable to the ruin caused by the anti-biblical philosophy of postmodernism.  Postmodernism claims the meanings of words are wholly arbitrary, i.e., linguistic relativism.  These wide variations in the meaning of words inevitably cause breakdown in communication and dialogue, as well as allow misunderstandings to prevail.     

9/3/2009

Readers and supporters of withChrist.org represent a broad spectrum of cultural backgrounds and intellects.  Such is the blessing and challenge of maintaining the website, the Journal, and personal correspondence with those who write.  So, you just never know what you might find here.

A parody (pronounced /ˈpærədiː/; also called send-up or spoof), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation.  Wikipedia

9/1/2009

The primary goal of ecumenical "unity" movements is to deny the truth spoken by Jesus Christ in Luke 12:51.   

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but division."

Why division?  Because Christ is the Cornerstone (Mark 12:10; 1 Peter 2:7,8) and Head (Col. 2:19) of a New Creation (Gal. 6:15), not a reformer of the Old.  The Cross marks the 'dividing line' between the Old and the New.  Authentic Christians are members of the New Creation.

“How many earnest and religious people belong to ‘the Old Adam Improvement Society.’ It is the recognition of the Christ-life, it is union with the Risen Christ, that men need instead of the culture of the religious self-life.” E.H.  

8/31.1/2009

Obama vs. Honduran Democracy: The Obama administration is using its brass knuckles to support Latin American [socialist] thugs.  Click to read WSJ article.

8/31/2009

In many ways, humanistic philosophies and theologies are similar to the Tower of Babel mentioned in Genesis 11:1-8.  Neither are commissioned by God, for he has already spoken and set forth sound doctrine (propositional truth) and wisdom in His Word--the Bible.  A major difference between now and then (Babel), is that God does not directly intervene to disrupt men's vain construction plans.  Today, deconstruction and demolition has been left to the Church. 

"I have read John Frame's book, [No Other God: A Response to Open Theism] and found it to be well written, very well referenced and a wonderful study of God's attributes.  He systematically destroys every argument Boyd and others of his ilk make.  He sites 5 or more Scripture references for every one Boyd et. al. hang on to.  I highly recommend it.  I still hope to get to reading the Ware and Piper works, but Frame did such a thorough job of refuting the misguided theology of Boyd, I am off on another course at the moment."  Chuck in Albuquerque

8/28/2009

"The relatively few number of Muslims who dare to convert to Christianity do it in extreme secrecy. That is because the penalty for leaving Islam is death in all schools of Sharia, both Sunni and Shiite. Those who wrote Sharia centuries ago knew that keeping Muslims in total submission would be very difficult to maintain, and thus they established barbaric laws condemning Muslims to death for exercising their basic human rights to choose their own religion. Sharia never entrusted its enforcement only to the formal legal system. Islam promises heavenly rewards to individual Muslims who take the law into their own hands.

"The end result is a chaotic society where everything happens behind closed doors but at a very heavy price to interpersonal relationships. Fear and distrust of others exists in all Muslim societies. Muslims are not just distrustful of the West, but they are distrustful of one another. In Muslim society, people are often more afraid of their neighbors and family members than of the police. Thus, we see husbands or fathers pressured to apply Sharia by killing an adulterous wife or daughter, or a perfect stranger participate in the killing of an apostate in the public square. Very few get arrested or punished for such crimes across the Muslim world. The ingenious Sharia uses vigilante street justice to bring about Islamic submission. That is why civil unrest and honor crimes go wherever Islam goes. The power of Islam comes from turning Muslim against Muslim -- with a reward in heaven."  ND

The following, which is circulating in cyberspace, is attributed to ex-Muslim author Nonie Darwish.  According to Ms. Darwish, they are summaries written by a third party and sourced from her most recent book, Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law.

JOYS of MUSLIM WOMEN

• In the Muslim faith, a Muslim man can marry a child as young as 1 year old and have  sexual intimacy with this child, consummating the marriage by 9.

• The dowry is given to the family in exchange for the woman (who becomes his slave) and for the purchase of the private parts of the woman, to use her as a toy.

• Even though a woman is abused, she can not obtain a divorce.

• To prove rape, the woman must have (4) male witnesses.  Often after a woman has been raped, she is returned to her family and the family must return the dowry.

• The family has the right to execute her (an honor killing) to restore the honor of the family.

• Husbands can beat their wives 'at will' and he does not have to say why he has beaten her.

• The husband is permitted to have 4 wives and a temporary wife for an hour (prostitute) at his discretion.

• The Shariah Muslim law controls the private as well as the public life of the woman.

• In the West World ( America ) Muslim men are starting to demand Shariah Law so the wife cannot obtain a divorce and he can have full and complete control of her.  It is amazing and alarming how many of our sisters and daughters attending American universities are now marrying Muslim men and submitting themselves and their children unsuspectingly to the Shariah law.

• By passing this on, enlightened American women may avoid becoming a slave under Shariah Law.

What is interesting, from a sociological perspective, is the comment regarding American college-age women marrying Muslim men.  As difficult as it might be for the author to believe or understand, the phenomena of so-called "enlightened" women submitting to Shariah Law may be a 'whipsaw' reaction to several generations of unfettered autonomy and attendant spiritual emptiness found in Western feminism.  Ironically, such extreme personal debasement may represent one more legacy of modern feminism.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there is no greater irony than the liberal Left’s lack of concern regarding historic and contemporary Islamic/Muslim theonomic oppression, in contrast to their extreme phobia of so-called biblical Christianity!  The zenith of bigotry.

8/28/2009

Click Above  

American public education should be the poster child for socialism.  The problem, of course, is that their solution will never supplant the power of the mass of individuals having a vested interest in public education.  In many districts, sending your kids to public school is the equivalent of tossing them into a wood chipper, à la Saddam Hussein.  The tragedy is that this crisis falls most heavily upon minorities, not because of lack of money, but because of compounding pedagogic illiteracy.

How many graduates are willing to admit their functional illiteracy, or a least their serious handicap?  None.  How many teachers are willing to blow a whistle and indict themselves?  None.  How many politicians will speak the truth openly and forfeit votes?  None.  Reform will never work due to the depth of corruption and level of moral and philosophic bankruptcy, to say nothing of the spiritual dimension which is a nihilistic wasteland.

For an educational 'phoenix' to rise from the ashes, one-by-one public schools should be required to undergo the equivalent of a forced bank closing.  Line up private bidders for the net assets, hand out vouchers to the students, and close the doors on a Friday.

8/25/2009

More Truth About Race in America:

Every Critic a Racist, John Stossel

A Deck Stacked with Race Cards, Jonah Goldberg

And on a final note, we hear from the icon of godless Communism, Fidel Castro--a elite Marxist who has plundered the medical care of millions of Cubans to keep his own self alive, that all of Obama's critics are "racist, right-wingers."  One can find comfort knowing our Just God has created a "Lake of Fire" and a "Hell."  Evil will ultimately be held to account.

8/24/2009

It is not surprising to see the double standards and hypocrisy of liberals and the political Left.  For nearly four decades they howled regarding the involvement of conservative Christians into political and public policy realms.  Violations of "separation of church and state" they loudly claimed.  America's government was intended to be "secular."  However, we see that so-called Jeffersonian "wall of separation" only protects in one direction.  Like the liberal clergy before them, the political Left extends its power by utilizing church pulpit.

Obama to preach his [socialistic] healthcare message to religious [liberal Jewish, liberal Protestant, liberal Catholic, and so-called "progressive" evangelical] leaders.

There is no doubt that many elements of Western culture are in need of reform.  However, history has proven that the 'gospel' according to socialism is hollow.  Being out of touch with reality, it cannot deliver on its utopian promises.  Rather than raising the dignity of mankind, it destroys it.  Like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, so-called "progressives" and liberals have 'cherry-picked' particular NT ethics which appear to advance their political agendas.

As I stated in The Roots of Religious Liberalism and Christian Agnosticism, "...liberalism culminates in attempts to reconcile science and humanism with traditional Christianity, stresses the ethical teachings of Jesus and a social gospel, envisions God as a co-worker in the task of reforming the world, and believes human nature is essentially good."

8/6/2009

American Psychological Association (APA) Revises Treatment Guidelines to Allow Counselors to Help Clients Reject Their Same-Sex Attractions

  "...the American Psychological Association said Wednesday that it is ethical -- and can be beneficial -- for counselors to help some clients reject gay or lesbian attractions.

"According to new APA guidelines, the therapist must make clear that homosexuality doesn't signal a mental or emotional disorder.

"But if the client still believes that affirming his same-sex attractions would be sinful or destructive to his faith, psychologists can help him construct an identity that rejects the power of those attractions, the APA says.

"But we have to acknowledge that, for some people, religious identity is such an important part of their lives, it may transcend everything else.

"...the task force also gained an appreciation for the pain some men and women feel in trying to reconcile their sexual attractions with their faith. There are gay-affirming churches. But the task force acknowledged that for those from conservative faiths, affirming a gay identity could feel very much like renouncing their religious identity.

"...there has been little research about the long-term effects of rejecting a gay identity, but there is 'no clear evidence of harm' and 'some people seem to be content with that path'."

Full Wall Street Journal article here.

The APA's acknowledgement and acceptance of non-affirming approaches is certain to spark additional rage within wide sectors of the homosexual community.  How can any group or individual, demanding UNIVERSAL AFFIRMATION to maintain a sense of well-being, NOT be considered in a state of “mental or emotional disorder?” Want complete answers? Look outside of science and the APA.

8/5/2009

Socialism is a utopian dream based on an anti-Christian worldview.  As such, socialists are first-rate pragmatists.  When the dream cannot be achieved due to lack of resources, a good socialist will figure out ways to eliminate people so as to effectively address the problem of economic scarcity.  And history has proven, over and over, that socialistic systems suffer a downward spiral of chronic scarcities.  The end is a Gulag Archipelago.

111TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

H. R.______

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Isn't it time for all Americans to read the fine print??

8/3.1/2009

"Democrats already plan to repeal the Bush tax cuts, but that won’t raise enough money. So they’re proposing an income tax surcharge on “the wealthy,” but that won’t raise enough either. Democrats have no choice but to soak the middle class because only they have enough money to finance the liberal dream of yoking the middle class to cradle-to-grave government entitlements.

"The undeniable reality is that you can’t run a European-style welfare-entitlement state without European-style levels of taxation on the middle class (and eventually without low European-style growth and high jobless rates). It’s looking more and more like Mr. Obama’s no-middle-class-tax pledge was one of the greatest confidence tricks in American political history."

8/3/2009

Because evangelicals believe biblical truth is "knowable," AS WELL AS neither self-evident nor a universal possession, they engage in evangelism.  Only evangelicals are capable of speaking the genuine "Good News" with certainty to mankind.

However, there is a huge gulf between evangelicals and today's modern cultures that surround them, and it's not the evangelicals who've moved.  First, men today reject any claim to "real knowledge" which is not based on scientific finding.  For secularists and other liberals, it's near sacrilege to question whether Hume or Kant were wrong.  Figuratively speaking, the door into other realms of real knowledge was effectively closed several hundred years ago.  For moderns, Biblical revelation is a myth--a cleverly devised myth by individuals who supposedly want social power 'on the cheap'. 

Second, modern men are not closely in touch with the basic realities of life.  For example, today economic scarcity is also said to be a myth--a myth devised by capitalism.  Without greedy plunder on the part of capitalists, there would be more than enough to go around...or so they claim.  For them, government can and should provide a cornucopia of entitlements:  food, housing, education, comprehensive medical care, etc, even entertainment.  Like the laborers in Christ's parable (Matthew 20:1-16), people today are so absorbed with the issue of "equity," they can't mentally comprehend the concept of gift (grace).  Such explains the hardness of heart ("stony ground") in today's modern culture.  If I am entitled to everything (upon one basis or another), where is there room left for grace?  There simply isn't! 

7/26/2009

The cancer of Pentecostal doctrine takes it toll........again.  Tony Alamo finally goes to jail.  The past 100 years plus is a procession of sex and financial scandals among charismatics, as well as the worst...murder/death of children due to their fallacious "demon possession."  Liberal "christians" wish to indict all fundamentalism; secularists indict all Christianity.  The mainstream media's silence on this subject is a monumental tragedy.

Keep in mind, Pentecostal/charismatic teachings typically build on an humanist theological foundation (Arminianism).  Other denominations share the same foundation, but the radical subjectivism is held 'in check'.  Generally speaking, Anglicanism through Wesleyan/Holiness has imbibed religious liberalism, rejecting the veracity of the Word of God, and generally suffer the consequences of philosophic agnosticism.  As the Apostle Peter explained, "...ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). 

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.  But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever!  Amen" (2 Peter 3:17,18).

7/25/2009

Wall Street has 'tape worms', and thus no integrity.  This NYT article will confirm your 'gnawing' suspicion.  Stock Traders Find Speed Pays, in Milliseconds

The financial term for this activity is illegal arbitrage.  When individuals are caught trading with the advantage of inside information, they usually have gone to jail.  Apparently, this is not the case for "high-frequency" traders.  To make matters even worse, Wall Street appears to even be exploiting the Federal Reserve.

"The Fed has emerged as one of Wall Street’s biggest customers during the financial crisis, buying massive amounts of securities to help stabilize the markets. In some cases, such as the market for mortgage-backed securities, the Fed buys more bonds than any other party."

“You can make big money trading with the government,” said an executive at one leading investment management firm.  "The government is a huge buyer and seller and Wall Street has all the pricing power.”  Wall Street profits from trades with Fed

7/21/2009

Without being a born-again Christian with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12-16), one cannot adequately understand with certainty that God truly exists and that the universe (albeit a “broken symmetry” due to the Fall) is His handiwork (Psalm 19:1), the work of an Intelligent Designer.

Without being a born-again Christian, one cannot understand that God has one purpose: to glorify Himself in Christ.  This involves glory in two (2) spheres, the earthly and the heavenly (Ephesians 1:7-10)

Without being a born-again Christian, one cannot understand that Israel (God's earthly people) is the focus of God's earthly activities, that God made a perpetual covenant with ancient Israel and gave ownership to her of the land (Genesis 17:7-8) as an eternal possession/inheritance.  ALL competing ownership claims are fraudulent and will be exposed.  The Jewish people were returned to their land to await a coming judgment (Ezek. 20:34-38).

Without being a born-again Christian, one cannot understand that God has judged and rejected the Adamic race and has established a new Head of a New Creation (1 Cor. 15:22-28, 45-49; Gal.6:15), with new Life (read the Gospel of John) via a second birth (John 3:3).  Reforming the old is not "sustainable," as is commonly understood among the current generation.

Without being a born-again Christian, one cannot understand that support for Israel by all other nations (including America) must cease, so that her people (Jewish) will have absolutely NO hope except they turn (repent/change their thinking) and call upon (Deut. 4:30) the Name of the Lord Almighty for deliverance.  At that time (still future), Israel will realize and acknowledge that they crucified the Lord of Glory, their Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.  All other nations (including America) will face judgment as well (Joel 3:1-2).

Without being a born-again Christian, one cannot understand that modern-day Israel will in fact WAIT TOO LONG to deal with adversaries, and will subsequently be intimidated and overwhelmed (not destroyed, Islam wants Jerusalem for itself) by the enemies that surround her.  This sets the stage for the glorious Return of the now Risen Lord Jesus Christ, the Millennium (1,000 year, Rev.20: 2-8), and the Co-Reign of Christ's Bride, the Church, the collective of born-again individuals.  This is God’s heavenly work.

7/18/2009

But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  1 Timothy 5:8

Suffice to say, this verse is subject to much subjective interpretation and abuse.  Sadly, among modern-day evangelical and fundamental Christians in America, it is often assumed to mean that the husband should provide a middle-class, materialistic standard of living for his family.

Remember Stanley Johnson in the LendingTree commercial?  This was quite a commentary/indictment upon life in America at the end of the 20th century.  [No endorsement of LendingTree is intended.]

Stanley was/is the stereo-typical “Christian” father and husband.  Expectations run high for all members of the family, and when those expectations aren’t met, the husband/father is supposedly “open to blame” (v. 7).

Based on a broader understanding of both OT and NT moral values, the Apostle Paul would have eschewed this definition of "providing" for family.  Life in ancient Israel and the Mediterranean certainly did not include widespread personal debt or anything like our modern consumerist society.  Neither did they have the added complexities of government programs and the miracle of modern healthcare (albeit expensive).  I’m not arguing that all debt is wrong or that the benefits of modern life are inherently evil and should entirely be avoided.  Rather, I desire to place a 'check' on how some Christians use and abuse Paul’s teachings regarding "family" responsibilities.

Fathers and husbands who are not idle, who own an obligation to “provide” for basic living necessities for those who cannot provide for themselves (children, infirm parents, etc,), are not failures, not losers, not “worse than an unbeliever.”  Life in the modern world is complex, with complex issues.  This is particularly true in the context of the current, global recession/depression!  Millions of honorable and hard-working men are or have already lost their jobs or businesses.  Make sure you recognize appropriate interpretational principles when applying biblical teachings to your life today.

7/15/2009

The current Administration and its radical policies, e.g., nationalized healthcare, trillion-dollar economic stimulus, etc., highlight the sad reality that America has deteriorated from a post-Christian culture into an anti-Christian one.  The truth and reality, that humanity lives in a fallen world, is either absent or repressed in the broader public consciousness.  Denying reality has become today's mantra.

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; from dust you are and to dust you will return.”  Genesis 3:17-19

During the past month, an adult individual wrote and asked me, “Why is it that we have to work.”  I was initially taken back by the question, wondering about the inquirer's sincerity.  But after further correspondence, I found the they were genuinely perplexed as to why working was necessary.

The public’s way of looking at the world (“worldview”), no longer includes awareness or acceptance that economic scarcity was and continues to be brought on by the Fall, and that “painful toil” is a necessary part of life in a post-Fall world.  Rather, the public is seduced by political utopians into believing that such scarcity is entirely the result of inequitable distribution of existing wealth and the planet’s resources.  What their solution?  With government's “equitable redistribution,” there will be more than enough for all, so they claim.

But this is both the illusion and lie of all economic systems (i.e., socialism, communism, etc) which deny or denigrate the inalienable right to private property.  Such redistributions distort the moral imperative that some form of genuine productivity (toil) is necessary for survival.

Under these anti-Christian systems, there is progressively less and less available to provide for humanity at the end of each day.  Workers are punished through ever higher-and-higher taxes; profligates are more-and-more rewarded*.  In the end, the “solution” becomes some form of genocide as a pragmatic way to solve the problem of scarcity.

* I recently overheard an amusing conversation between two young liberals while sitting in a local restaurant.  A young female and a companion had attended a bluegrass "music" festival in Telluride, Colorado.  She characterized it as having had something of a "communal" atmosphere.  She then proceeded to explain/complain how shortly after their arrival at the concert, their camping provisions of food and drink were seized, added to the community storehouse, and largely consumed by other attendees, all without their consent.  Despite efforts to rationalize the situation, her emotions simply refused to "go-with-the-flow."  She inherently sensed that something wasn't right with this behavior, despite the reality that such forced "sharing" mirrors the redistribution policy goals of the current Administration. 

6/30/2009

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready.  My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’ But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22: 1-14 (NETBible)

Contrary to popular evangelical belief, God is NOT testing humanity to see whether some individual(s) here or there will accept the "gospel of God’s grace" (Acts 20:24).  They won’t…end of story!  All such “testing” by God ceased with the crucifixion of the Son (Second Person of the Trinity) at Calvary.  All humanity is ‘bound’ in unbelief (John 16:9; Romans 3:9-20).   Like those initially “invited to the banquet” (representative Israel), all humanity is either indifferent or hostile. Thus, for nearly 2,000 years, God the Holy Spirit has sovereignly (like the slaves mentioned above, “…added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  Of course, "being saved" includes an exercise of the will (volition).  Yes, by faith we believe unto life eternal.  But hidden from our view is the Slave sent to persuasively and effectively "gather" us into the figurative "wedding hall."

Now you may have noticed, toward the end of Christ's parable above, that one poor fellow wasn't dressed appropriately.  In our day of common and casual dress, his forceful rejection may seem "over the top" to most readers...if you fail to understand the spiritual meaning for his lack of wedding attire.  So then, how are you dressed??

6/29.1/2009

If there is any doubt that America elected a socialist president, who is aligned with socialist/communist sympathies, read the following WSJ article entitled, Honduras Defends Its Democracy.  It is absolutely despicable to see the U.S. Secretary of State (Hillary Rodham Clinton) standing shoulder-to-shoulder with long-time avowed Communist Fidel Castro, Nicaraguan Daniel Ortega, and the left-wing dictator of Venezuela Hugo Chávez.   

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs claims, "our goal now is on restoring democratic order in Honduras."  However according to O'Grady, no military coup is taking place.  The military is following directions of the Honduran Supreme Court and its Congress, while the ousted President was attempting to run roughshod over their Constitution, à la Chávez.  As for BHO's comments of a "coup", you be the judge.  One has to wonder what the next U.S. election will look like...if there is one?  More Marxist dictatorship under the guise of "democracy?"

PS. These leaders are infused with Marxist hatred toward biblical Christianity.  The peoples of Central and South America have been the victims of both secular dictatorships as well as the darkness and corruption of Roman Catholicism.  Pray for believers in these deeply troubled nations.  

6/29/2009

It's been a great spring and early summer.  Lots of rain, greenery, flowers!  So I hope you'll all excuse my absence.  Getting outside and away from the computer is a must.

Reuter's reports, "The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), which acts as a forum for central banks, said government efforts to revive the global economy might have only a temporary impact because banks are not being pushed hard enough to fix their underlying problems.  Financial products should be treated like medicines and sold to consumers only when they are certified safe to prevent a repeat of last year's financial meltdown, the world's central bankers said on Monday."

 "Underlying problems"?  Yes, that's code for problems which are barely visible to a largely illiterate public.  It's warehouse-upon-warehouse of financial 'toxic waste', with little beneficial purpose other than as a basis for charging fat commissions.

"Medicines"?  This is pure toned-down understatement.  The truth is that exotic forms of financial instruments (derivatives, swaps, options, etc.) CAN act like nuclear bombs.  Rather than hedging risk, they amplify risk, and collectively are a massive financial 'house-of-cards'.  These financial products marginally serve the economic common good, rather their primary purpose is to line the pockets of global/domestic brokers, traders, and hustlers!

Those so-called "free market" advocates (Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, etc), who bemoan any and all regulation and government interference are acting like libertarian ideologues, not genuine conservatives who anchor their views in a Judeo-Christian worldview. 

Beware!  Here is the heart of the current crisis among conservatives.  None are willing to face down the popular philosophic relativism in the realm of knowledge.  None are willing to openly and unapologetically anchor their views in a dispensationally-interpreted Bible.

6/3/2009

Have you wondered Who Will Rule the World?

5/22/2009

I will be away from the computer for awhile.  Diane and I have a wedding to attend; then, we plan to take a few days of vacation.  Also, the main computer (laptop) must be sent off to HP for a minor keyboard repair.  Please pray that nothing goes wrong...e.g., the computer becomes "lost," etc.  See you in June.

5/13/2009

There just seems to be no end to the religious ‘pitch’ men and women (2 Cor. 2:17) working to create substitutes to the true Gospel revealed by the Risen Christ and to biblical Christian living.  People continue to climb onboard to ride these bandwagons.  True, some exploit more Scripture texts than others, but all fall short of the “not I, but Christ” life set forth in Paul’s epistles.

The explanation for this widespread deception (2 Tim. 3:13) as well as "falling away" (2 Thes. 2:3) is at least three-fold.  First, Western society has largely embraced Enlightenment humanism and religious humanism is compatible with the Enlightenment tenet that man is basically good.  Remember this point when you read point #8 of the paper linked below.  Second, the Word of God anticipates doctrinal deception as a ‘mark’ of the end of the Age (1 Tim. 4:1, 2; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4).  Lastly, the century-old distinction of dividing the Bible into OT and NT (Testament = covenant) has likely predisposed a majority of readers to think of the Bible's central theme as the contrast between these two Israelite covenants (important as it is).  Surely, our Hope draws near.

In an effort to answer the variety of email requests to critique” this-or-that religious sideshow, I’ve put together some basics which readers will likely find have universal application.  Download, read, study, print, share (easy 2-page format), use for Bible study outline, etc:

The Biblical Christian Life versus Covenant Theology’s (CT) Kingdom Living 

PS.  Thanks to Bill Blake for the inspiration behind this article!  He provided a majority of the points.

5/10/2009

It appears that this website, and many others, is not playing well with the recently-released MS Internet Explorer 8.0.  In short, IE8.0 is being reported as very buggy.  For some reason, text information contained in the right hand margin disappears.  The "Compatibility View" doesn't alleviate the problem.  IE7 and earlier versions work fine. Recommendation: do not upgrade to IE 8.0, if given the option.

In the mean time, please use Mozilla Firefox 3.0.10, Apple Safari 4 beta, or Internet Explorer 7.0 or earlier as your browser.  PS.  Apple Safari has incorporated some of neat panorama image features.  Using their "Top Sites" page, you can create a panorama of your favorite and often-visited websites...don't forget to include withChrist.org.

5/7/2009 

Joel Rosenberg's Weblog:

"My conclusion after several days at the AIPAC conference: the mutually warm words of appreciation for 61 years of U.S.-Israel relations notwithstanding, a train wreck is coming between the Netanyahu administration and the Obama administration over Iran and the 'peace process'. I pray it can be avoided, but at this point Netanyahu and his team understand the apocalyptic death cult they are facing in Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, and President Obama and his team do not."

5/3.1/2009

Readers will not want to miss the HBO miniseries, John Adams (available in DVD).  While I cannot speak to the historical accuracy, the theatric production of the historical period and the acting of Paul Giamatti (John Adams) and Laura Linney (Abigail Adams) is both heart-moving and exquisite.

5/3/2009

At times, living the Christian life is often like camping.  You set up the tent using 6" stakes fastening the corners.  During the night a strong wind buffets the tent and loosens the stakes.  Some may even come loose.  The tent flaps around and you lose sleep wonder whether you'll end up in the lake.  When you return home, you visit your local hardware store and buy 24" stakes or buy a camper/RV.

This past month has me hunting for some longer stakes.  I've been working on several projects.  Some are complete, while others are 'works in progress'.

First, I've created a new page, General and Special Revelation - How God has Revealed Himself.  The page contains a link to Dr. Sam Storms' worthy three-part article in .pdf format.

On a related note, I've begun putting together a compilation of quotations by the late Dr. Ronald Nash from his book, The Word of God and The Mind of Man.  The Roots of Religious Liberalism and Christian Agnosticism is a 'work-in-progress', but I'm willing to share what I've crafted so far to stimulate interest and possible comments on the subject(s).

Finally, I've completed my review of Dr. Emerson Eggerichs' fine book, Love and Respect.  Eggerichs tackles the challenge of resurrecting the long-forgotten idea of respecting men and its vital role toward a healthy marriage.

4/27/2009

Similar to the decade of the '70s, various financial schemes and frauds are finding root in a gullible, and vulnerable, public.  While the 'financially-educated' crowd have suffered substantive real losses, others claim to offer simply "too-good-to-be-true" financial returns to those willing to make blind leaps.  Other scams offer "thousands a month" working from home or on the Internet.  Whether evangelical Christians are more vulnerable, due to their willingness to be trusting (i.e., so-called faith) or desire to be home with family, than the rest of the public is open to debate.  Nevertheless, believers should beware of any and all offers that have an above-average level of attractiveness--aka shiny things.  Remember Thomas Tusser's adage:  "A fool and his money are soon parted." 

4/22/2009

This website affirms the classic, evangelical Protestant doctrine of Special Revelation.  The doctrine of special revelation was taught by: OT prophets, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and the Church (with variation) over the past two thousand years.

There is no more critical issue in theology than that of authority: by what standard, on what grounds, from what source, and for what reasons do we believe something to be true and therefore binding on our conscience (beliefs) and conduct (behavior)? Donald Bloesch put it this way:

“Is authority to be placed in human wisdom or cultural experience, or is it to be located in an incommensurable divine revelation that intrudes into our world from the beyond? Does it lie within the compass of what we can ordinarily discover or conceive, or does it break into our world as a new reality that overturns human imagination and conception? Is it a truth waiting to be uncovered through diligent searching, or is it a word personally addressed to us, calling us to repentance and obedience?” (A Theology of Word and Spirit, 185).

Simply put, the inspiration and authority of the Bible is the bedrock upon which our faith is built. Without it, we are doomed to uncertainty, doubt, and a hopeless groping in the darkness of human speculation.

The above quotes in italics are from Dr. Sam Storms' introduction to his three-part article entitled, Special Revelation: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  [Note:  The doctrinal statement of Enjoying God Ministries and Dr. Sam Storms is classic/historical Protestant evangelicalism (good), except for #8 which is "continuationist" in regard to the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as non-dispensational (not good).] 

I would like to create a comprehensive resource page on this vital subject.  A part of my goal is to demonstrate the consistency found throughout a broad spectrum of Protestant evangelicalism.  Please email me links to online sources which address the doctrine of special revelation.

4/21/2009

Amending the Constitution would appear to be the only route left available to traditional marriage advocates, but this action highlights the one necessarily unavoidable weakness of the Constitution — in order to legislate morality, you need a moral people.  As John Quincy Adams wrote, "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."  Red Giants

Amending the U.S. Constitution is both remote and a dubious legal endeavor.  John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) was the 6th President of the United States and son of John Adams (2nd President).  John Quincy also wrote, "The highest glory of the American Revolution is this: it connected, in one dissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."  The above statements must be understood in the context in which they were written.  Adams was not referring to just any "moral" or "religious" people, but specifically to Christian peoples.  Generic morals and non-Christian religion may have civic value, but they did not, nor can they ever form an adequate basis for America's unique constitutional, democratic, representative government.  John Quincy knew as much.

The American public is witnessing the final stages (financial and political) of collapse of the Nation as a republic.  The spiritual collapse, which came and went at the beginning of the 20th century, has been followed by progressive moral and cultural decline.  Longstanding constitutional protections are quickly being dismantled and America’s religious/political past is becoming just a memory in the minds of a few.  During the past two decades, we have devolved into a fascist-like culture, and now the fascist-like state has arrived.  So, what do I mean by “fascist” and “fascist-like?”

While historians and political scientists disagree on a precise definition, all forms of fascism “forbid and suppress criticism and opposition…”  Fascists do not believe in free speech (1st Amendment to the U.S. Bill of Rights) nor respect the right of dissent, except their own of course.  Rather, they politically advocated a single-party state maintained by the tyranny of their dictatorship.  Any election results which would remove them from power are simply invalidated.  Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua are current examples of established leftwing dictatorships.  Leading up to our current fascist-like state, three varieties of radicals—political/liberal, postmodern, and the atheist/secular—have laid the cultural foundations for today’s fascist ethos.  Also see Jonah Goldberg’s, Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning.  Paperback available soon.

Political/liberal – Until the most recent national election, the political/liberal fascists were, like communists, a small but significant minority.  Their rise to power coincides with the general secularization of American culture.  Liberal/socialist political views have progressively grown large by reason of several decades of hegemony in institutions of higher education.  For a comprehensive understanding of the political Left and fascism on modern-day, college campuses, read any of the several books written by David Horowitz, as well as visit his website FrontPage Magazine.

Postmodern – If the essence of political fascism is tyranny, then philosophic and religious relativism (together with their literary handmaiden—postmodernism) has provided the framework for all forms of fascism to flourish.  “Politically-correct speech” is an expression of cultural fascism brought on by postmodernism.  For a more detailed explanation of postmodernism, see Post-modernism .  Postmodernism emerged as epistemological relativism invaded the literary realm of higher education and knowledge.  According to postmodernists, words and language are the purely-human creation and power tool of various interest groups.  Empowerment results from the ability to control the definition of words as well as the use of language.  [In the religious realm, it was the radical liberal theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968) who rejected the historical Christian doctrine of special revelation and maintained that human words were/are incapable of carrying a cognitive word of God.(2)]  It is the effects of postmodernism then, which have broadly spawned today’s demand for diversity and so-called “tolerance” on the one hand and fascist attitudes and behaviors on the other.  How so?  If all opinions are equal in value, then raw power is all that matters and suppression of opposing views is justified on pragmatic grounds.  The individual who screams the loudest, not truth, is the winner in any discussion or debate.  Postmoderns believe that all exclusive claims of religion are bogus.  The “truth” claims of historic evangelical Christianity are simply efforts to seize and retain power.  According to them, all so-called universals, “metanarrative,” are purely local.  No view can claim superiority over any other view.  Some of the most extreme forms of cultural fascism today exist among homosexual activists.

Atheist/secular – This form of fascism has developed from the principle of the supremacy of lowest common denominator, entrenched in public schools (1), together with the dogma of Darwinism.  Today’s secular Darwinian scientists constitute an academic hegemony on par with the religious tyrannies found in Islam and in Roman Catholicism’s past.

Islamic – This fascist threat to America is currently more foreign than domestic.  However, that equation is changing quickly.  Read: Islamic Economics and the Final Jihad - The Muslim Brotherhood to the Leftist/Marxist-Islamist Alliance, Jonsson, 2006.  When one understands the historic, theonomic nature of Islam, Islamic fascism can clearly be seen as a redundant term.  Orthodox Islam is a religion with a goal to conquer the entire world.  Suppression of all criticism and opposition to Islam is set forth in the Koran and is a fundamental tenet of the religion.

(1) The Secular Revolution: Power, Interests, and Conflict in the Secularization of American Public Life, Smith, 2003

(2) The Word of God and The Mind of Man, Nash, 1982.  This is an important book for those wanting to understand the veracity of God's written Word. 

4/15/2009

Chris Martenson is one of several financial 'Paul Reveres' of our day.  His analysis of what is happening to America (us), financially, demands very close attention.  That's why I've recommended his Crash Course for the past several years, ordered his DVDs and made copies for friends, as well as have held presentation meetings in our home.  Yet, his most recent daily commentary is a real zinger.  Let me quote from AMERICA IS BEING LOOTED.

"My cynicism stems from the fact that, as I string together the dots comprising this entire bailout fiasco, I can come to only one conclusion: Our “public policy” is not being conducted in the interests of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Public policy appears to be in the grip of a very powerful and self-interested cabal that seemingly has no concern for the future or the health of this country and does not even see the need to be cautious enough to mask its efforts.

The fact that the bailout trajectory did not waver in the slightest while passing from the Bush to the Obama administration indicates that the bailout is not a function of who’s in political power, it is a function of something else, of some other power."

In my opinion, the framework for the cabal's ability to "loot" America was most recently laid by libertarianism, any many so-called "free market" philosophers.  Libertarianism is utopian and not Christian.  Unfettered, these robber barons have made victim of us all.

PS. If you can't see the entire article, sign up for his free account.

4/14/2009

"Within the past five decades, relativism and postmodernism have become the ruling philosophies of Western culture.  Confusion now abounds within the Church and many so-called leaders have fallen prey."  Those words were written nearly 15 years ago and conditions have only gotten worse.  New Creation Christians need to keep in mind that religious personalities like Rick Warren, Joel and Victoria Osteen, etc., are symbiotic creations of leftwing, secular, mainstream media "MSM".  These religious 'wolves' need media hype to generate popularity and thus bankroll their tens of millions.  The MSM has a well-defined ideological purpose and agenda in showcasing those they choose, who are also willing to serve, to represent so-called "evangelical Christianity in America."  Their goal is to equate "conservative" evangelicalism with hypocrisy and "right-wing fringe," while erroneously portraying religious liberals as the historic representatives of the evangelical tradition.  Of course, this ploy is a falsehood designed to shape and control public sentiment and mislead the masses of religiously illiterate.  Beware!   

4/11.1/2009

It’s been nearly four decades since the “radical ‘60s,” and 36 years since the momentous Supreme Court judicial failure of Roe vs. Wade (1973).  The opposition (evangelical, Catholic, etc.) and pro-life message has been generally ineffective in bringing change.  I say “generally,” so not to diminish those have spent hours of their lives dedicated to the ‘cause’.  However, these movements figuratively resemble efforts, albeit earnest, to hold back ravaging flood waters with 2lb sand bags.  Why?  The bottom line answer is their failure to understand the cause for the abortion tragedy--the secularization of American and European society via the vehicle of publicly-funded education.

The Roman Catholic pope is not entirely in error when he recently warned the world regarding its drift into a “desert of godlessness.”  The inaccuracy lies in the fact that it’s been no unconscious “drift.”  Rather, society has set course and has sailed directly to the humanistic point we find ourselves.  The original architects of publicly-funded education knew exactly where and how they wanted to take society.  What they possibly didn’t understand was the unintended consequences of their actions.

4/11/2009

A Systematic Theology for Classical Pauline Dispensationalism?  < click here

Classical Pauline Dispensationalism, “CPD” (a biblical framework for interpreting Scripture) is built upon the recovery of biblical truth which began with Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) and the Protestant Reformation (first stage), followed by John N. Darby (1800 – 1882) and the early Plymouth Brethren (second stage).

4/7/2009

The modern Pentecostal/charismatic movement has many faces which span a broad spectrum.  I have the opportunity to see many of them via the email I receive on a regular basis.  Some who write are fiercely arrogant as well as ignorant--a deadly combination--and do not appear to have yet suffered the practical effects of their heretical theology.  At the other end of the spectrum are those who appear broken, possibly beyond repair.  It is only at this point that the failure has adequately prepared these believers to accept the 'tough' love of safe and sound doctrine.  To 'minister' to such, an undershepherd must possess a heart of butter, but with the hide of a rhinoceros.  Below is a superbly-composed and articulate email from a believer (anonymity always maintained) who has been crushed and who figuratively lays by the side of road.

How does one find help to discern what is going on in their life?  How do you know the difference between a "spiritual" issue and a "psychiatric" issue?  Are they not closely related?  In the Bible the Lord healed those with "psychiatric" issues.

I'm feeling desperate for answers.  A couple of years ago I started in a study on spiritual roots of illness.  At that time I was truly struggling in my life to get it back on track.  Feeling the Lord had never really wholly captured me, I was dealing with fear, anger, frustration, rebellion, lonlieness and a true lostness.  I was crying out to Him for help. I'd been through a divorce, the loss of my home... and was struggling to find the next step.  I was feeling empty and without direction.

The Bible study seemed to open up a demonic influence that I didn't understand.  I began fighting spirits day and night, and then watched my facial features begin to change.  I went to a conference put on by the study providers in Georgia.  They did "mass casting off" of spirits.  After I came home, it seemed like the spiritual fight was stepped up a notch.  I was struggling greatly, not knowing what to do.  I had never been taught basic warfare.

My facial features continued to change, and it seemed as if I were being torn in half.  I woke up one morning to hear, "I'm removing covering".  I didn't understand.  Two weeks later, there was a vision of the heavens tearing and a bright light hurled at a vision of me with my daughters.  I was obliterated.  I haven't heard from the Holy Spirit since.  A tormenting spirit has come.  There is no peace between me and the Lord.  The Word brings no peace.  I've been hospitalized three times.  Every morning I wake up feeling more empty than the day before.

There is no place to turn.  Doctors want to medicate.  Deliverance ministers stick Bibles in your gutt and stare you in the eyes. I went to see Dr. Kraft at Fuller, and he wanted me to visualize holding a sperm and an egg and see Christ uniting them to make me.

All I want is my relationship with the Lord back, and along with it, the relationship of my family.  Everything is in shambles.  I've had to change job sites because I was hauled off in a police car because I was trying to explain to a friend that I was sure I took on spirits at the conference.   

I'm frightened.  I feel so separated from God, and I don't know how to bridge the gap.  It seems as if the Holy Spirit has been snuffed out.  I cry out to Jesus, but I hear nothing in return.  I don't know how much further I can press.  Something inside wants to kill me.  But then I go straight to hell... and the torment I feel now is nothing like what it will be there.  I don't know how to get better.  I just can't believe I got this far off the pathway with the Lord.

Are there people who have discernment in the Spirit that can tell what is happening and how to break the bondage?  Who can I trust?  And why won't the Lord relieve the torment?  All I need is to hear some encouragement from Him.  Then I'd know I'm turning a good corner.  Right now, I just want to give up... at the same time, I'm fighting to hold on.

[signed]

Hopefully dear reader, your heart has been touched by the sad plight of such a one.  How can you be of help here?  First, you can take a moment and specifically pray for this individual, who is representative of tens of thousands of others who are not as articulate or are not "fighting to hold on."  Second, you can also continue to support this ministry with your prayers--which are as precious as gold.

4/6/2009

G20's Global Currency - Like many other students of biblical eschatology over the past 180+ years, I have waited in anticipation for the advent of the universal medium of exchange, predicated by a global crisis.  This G20 act forfeits any vestige of national sovereignty and subjects all wealth, from top to bottom, to subtle seizure and transfer.

"A single clause in Point 19 of the communiqué issued by the G20 leaders amounts to revolution in the global financial order.

"We have agreed to support a general SDR allocation which will inject $250bn (£170bn) into the world economy and increase global liquidity," it said. SDRs are Special Drawing Rights, a synthetic paper currency issued by the International Monetary Fund that has lain dormant for half a century.

"In effect, the G20 leaders have activated the IMF's power to create money [out of thin air] and begin global 'quantitative easing' [upon the recipients of its own choosing]. In doing so, they are putting a de facto world currency into play. It is outside the control of any sovereign body."

"He [the Beast] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name."  Rev. 13:16, 17.

3/29/2009

One of the few stalwart conservatives left in the Republican Party--Senator Tom Colburn of Oklahoma.  Dr. Colburn, a physician, testifies regarding the change death of our Nation. 

Before this election cycle is over, many who voted for the current President and Administration will have haunting doubts about how they cast their vote.  The so-called "change" will not make the pain go away.  In fact, it's becoming far worse.

3/27/2009

"Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's proposal for comprehensive changes to regulation of financial markets was met with opposition from some, resignation from others.  Instead of blatantly fighting the proposal, many hedge-fund managers, investors, lobbyists and market participants will strive to limit measures they see as being overly intrusive, according to this article. The Treasury's proposals focus on four areas: risks to the overall economy, closing oversight gaps, stronger protection for consumers and investors, and global coordination of initiatives."  CPA Newsletter.

Where is the Dr. House of the financial/regulatory world?  Oh, that's right...they got rid of him.  The Conservative Party of the UK is not entirely dead yet.

In conclusion to a piece of recent correspondence addressing the regulation issue, I wrote, "A quest for pure autonomy was the original sin of the Devil."  By truly understanding this sentence and keeping it in mind, the believer is enabled to spot theological, political, and social errors more quickly.

3/24/2009

Michael Spencer (self-described postevangelical reformation Christian in search of a Jesus-shaped spirituality) has gleefully predicted the collapse of American evangelicalism as known during the 18th through 20th century.  And anyone paying the least bit of attention should detect that America's freedoms are being rapidly removed under the current Administration and a subtle form of tyranny is advancing.  The current financial crisis will likely be the pretext (not that the Left needs one) for removing the last vestiges of both American freedom and biblical Christianity from the culture.  For a rather blunt/raw explanation of the financial crisis, read:  THE BIG TAKEOVER - The global economic crisis isn't about money - it's about power. How Wall Street insiders are using the bailout to stage a revolution.  I will emphasize again the importance of Chris Martenson's CRASH COURSE, and the value of taking steps to prepare for a very different future.  

3/5/2009

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made.  So people are without excuse.  Romans 1:18-20

For centuries, the Christian community has distinguished between general revelation (Creation) and specific revelation (the Bible).  General revelation (that which may be known about God and truth) is largely described in the verses quoted above.  What can we glean from the text?

1) God exists.

2) As an expression of His righteousness and holiness (ontological essence), God is from time-to-time moved to passionate anger/wrath (Greek - orge) against evil.

3) God has revealed a degree of knowledge about Himself, which is self-evident to all mankind.

4) Due to unrighteousness (inherited through the Fall), mankind suppresses the truth.  It is an inherent characteristic of men’s fallen nature to suppress knowledge of truth (reality), wherever found.

5) Moral accountability is maintained.

It is extremely important to not read into the Scriptural text what does not exist.  General revelation is adequate to establish moral culpability.  But it does not make it possible for all mankind, in their own power, to either repent, believe the truth, or comprehend special revelation.  "Coming from humanistic Pelagianism instead of from the Scriptures, Arminianism bases salvation upon the will of fallen man. It is an anti-sovereignty, anti-security, anti-dispensational, anti-grace, pro-works religion. The teaching is that God, through redemption, bestows a 'common grace' upon all men, thereby making it possible for the individual to exercise his free will either for, or against, God."  So-called 'common grace' does not offset the effects of the Fall!

The broad philosophical relativism of German existentialism, during the late nineteenth and twentieth century, lead to postmodernism and anti-foundationalism.  The moral relativism of the ‘60s was but one of many outward social expressions of these underlying views.  All were formal efforts to suppress truth.

The Age of Obama brings this suppression of truth and reality to a climax.  His administration, as well as members of the Democrat-controlled Congress, firmly believes that principles and laws are only arbitrary ‘social constructs’, which can be bent and changed by government fiat.  Their goal is to recreate reality more to their childish and utopian liking.  The financial markets are signaling a pending ‘revolution’ against the Age of Obama.  PS.  The "Baby Boomer" generation, who voted heavily for Obama, has yet to wake up to the reality that their retirement future has been totally destroyed by the liberal agenda.  Maybe the greatest 'disconnect' in all recorded history...

2/23/2009

Q.  I was reading The Message bible and in Philippians 4:1 it translates "...filled me with such pride..."  I've always heard pride was BAD.  Is there any instances that God has it?

A.  Your question demonstrates the importance of having 1) good word study tools, and 2) a reliable 'word-for-word' translation, rather than a paraphrase version.  I own The Message (TM) as part of an 8 translation, parallel NT.  The New Century and Contemporary English also erroneously render the Greek word, stephanos, "pride" as well.  I'm comfortable with NET, NIV, NKJV, and ESV, but double check them against the original language  The NET and ESV are not shown below, but would be on the left side of the chart.

A copy of Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words or Strong's Concordance quickly clears up the humanistic suggestion that "pride" best conveys the meaning.  In context, stephanos means "an emblem of life, joy, reward and glory."  The KJV renders the word, "my joy and crown."

Romans 12:3 (NET) instructs us, "For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith."  When it comes to 'self image' (how we view or think about our self), "sober discernment" is an imparative.  We must satisfactorily integrate the teaching of the believers two natures.  http://withChrist.org/MJS/imagination.htm.

Pride might be defined as "thinking MORE highly" of oneself than one should.  In 1 Corinthian chapter 1, pride is seen and equated with self glorification.  The Greek verb is kauchaomai, meaning to boast or vault (negative) or to glorify God (positive), "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."  One must be absolutely clear on the difference.

It is biblical to loath the "old man," that life we inherit from the First Adam, but inappropriate toward the "new man."  Again, "sober discernment" is necessary to see the difference between the old and the new--discernment which is impossible if one's theology is not based on Pauline-revealed truth. Hope this helps.

2/19/2009

Click on the map to read the explanation/story.

The distinction between "religiosity" and "spirituality" can be found throughout the entire Bible.  Most religiosity is based on some form of 'law-system'.  However, the "spirituality" spoken of by the Apostle Paul is unique.  It is the exclusive condition of being joined together with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, and prefaced by the New Birth mentioned by Christ himself in John 3.

2/15/2009

I recently listened to an NPR (National Public Radio) interview of academaniac (my newly-coined term) and prolific author Stanley E. Fish with regard to his recently published book, Save The World on Your Own Time, Oxford University Press, 2008.

Professor Fish, a vocal proponent of anti-foundationalist philosophy, is living proof that today's taxpayer-funded university is an intellectual wasteland.  Fish advocates that academic training be strictly limited to equipping students with the analytical skills necessary to "interrogate" physical data.  Finding or giving meaning to that data is "someone else's job."  Thus the significance and play on words, "...on Your Own Time."

In the process of exploring the theme of educational philosophy and knowledge, I came across and read excerpts from Duane Litfin's Conceiving the Christian College, Eerdmans Publishing, 2004.

Duane Litfin is the president of Wheaton College and his book is "designed to help those who are interested in Christian higher education explore anew the unique features, opportunities, and contemporary challenges of one distinct type of educational institution."

President Litfin sets forth ten axioms regarding Christian higher education:

1) God exists.

2) Through the agency of his Son, God created the universe and all that is in it.

3) We can therefore entertain an intellectual construct called “reality.”

4) This reality is complex and multi-dimensional.

5) This reality, though complex and multi-dimensional, is also coherent and unified, centered upon the person of Jesus Christ.

6) God has created humans with the capacity to apprehend, however fallibly and incompletely, this reality.

7) Genuine knowledge is therefore feasible for humans.

8) Human knowledge of reality stems from two prime sources: special revelation* and discovery**.

9) We can therefore maintain a distinction between truth and error.

10) All that is truthful, from whatever source, is unified, and will cohere with whatever else is truthful. 

 What an exercise in intellectual contrasts!

*  For centuries, the term special revelation has referred to the spiritual reality sovereignly disclosed by God in His written Word, the Bible, and exclusively revealed to those "born again," while "hidden" from the rest of humanity (1 Cor. 2:6-16).

**  Romans 1:20 states that an accurate understanding of physical reality can be "seen" (i.e. discovered) though use of men's five senses, and this ability is available to all humanity.

2/14/2009

The mainstream media regularly confuses conservatism, which is not laissez faire, with libertarianism, which is.  It is the utopianism associated with the libertarian view of man that advocates little-to-no government regulation.  The appropriate balance can only be found within a biblical worldview.  Here is one more candid discussion regarding risky behaviors that have been transferred to the American public.

Did you follow and understand the dialogue?  Probably not.  You're not trained in finance and banking.  So, let me create an analogy to simplify things.

You catch a bus to Las Vegas and convince the casino ("house") that you're very wealthy.  They allow you to place very large bets at the table.  You loose millions...even billions.  The fraud becomes known and you can't cover your losses.  Because you've caused a huge crisis, you call your Congressional representative for help.  He turns to the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury and says, "You're the experts, you handle this problem."  The Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury design a plan to 'print up' the necessary money to payoff your debts to the casino.  Problem solved?  Not really, because the losses are simply being shifted.  The newly printed money (USD) has value because it extracts value from the existing USD in circulation.  Everyone who holds USD looses because they are forced to bear the burden of your risky behavior at the casino.

Berkeley law professor Phillip E. Johnson poignantly explains what he calls "libertarian socialism".

Everyone has a right to live exactly as he or she pleases, but if something goes wrong, some abstraction called "society" is to blame and must pay the bill for damages.  The savings and loan debacle of the 1980s was not an isolated incident but a paradigmatic example of the delusionary character of American thought near the end of the twentieth century.  The S&L [financial bankruptcy] debacle occurred because the government freed financiers to make risky investments and at the same time insured the depositors who put up the money from any loss.  The same generous public policy applies to individual behavior.  Everyone must be free to make risky choices, and everyone must be protected from unpleasant consequences by social insurance that is ultimately provided by government, which is to say by everyone else." 

Society did not learn the lesson twenty or so years ago. They voted into office articulate libertarian socialists as our representatives.  So now, the disaster is 100X.

It is no coincidence that society (including Reformed believers) believe more "law" is the answer to behavioral problems.

1/27/2009

Here's an exercise in discernment for readers.  I'll give you the story and facts, then you fit the pieces together.  I will choose my words carefully since withChrist.org is not interested in multi-million-dollar libel lawsuits.

Christianity Today's online lead story yesterday was titled: Cult Watchers Reconsider - Former detractors of Nee and Lee now endorse 'local churches.'  The so-called "cult watchers" are Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute (CRI); Gretchen Passantino Coburn, director of Answers in Action; and Professors Mouw, Loewen, and Kärkkäinen on behalf of Fuller Theological Seminary.  The endorsement comes in the form of an official statement:  The Local Churches - “Genuine Believers and Fellow Members of the Body of Christ”.  Beware!

Hank Hanegraaff ("Bible Answer Man") considers himself "charismatic," and has often been a vocal anti-dispensationalist.  Like Hanegraaff, Gretchen Passantino's roots go back to Walter Martin.  Fuller Seminary was the spawning ground for the Wimber phenomena, as well as 'demonism' teachings.

Now...you do the math.

It is true that Miles Stanford recommended Nee's The Normal Christian Life in The Green Letters.  However, he both qualified that recommendation as well as warned believers regarding the aberrant views of both Nee and Lee.  Having observed the effect of Nee's teachings upon believers for nearly 40 years, I also wrote a brief article entitled Soul Eradication.

1/26/2009

Like the proverbial 'bad penny', the Rev. Ted Haggard has resurfaced to haunt the neo-evangelical crowd and discredit evangelicalism in general.  The HBO television channel has produced a documentary "special," to be broadcast January 28th, regarding Haggard's homosexual philandering and grand hypocrisy.  The fact that Haggard would consent to be showcased in front of tens of millions of public viewers is prima facie evidence of his sick and reprobate mind/ego.

If Haggard understood how his cultic doctrines led him down the road into the depths of the "Slough of Despond" (Bunyan) and HBO was willing to acknowledge the same, the 'testimony' might have redeeming merit.  But that's not the objective here.  The homosexuals hope to strike a fatal blow toward any and all religious/moral objection to their lifestyle.  The Rev. Haggard is the pathetic dupe, and ChristianityToday magazine is complicit in the 'cover up' of doctrinal issues.  

What the documentary is sure NOT to bring out is the fact that sexual and financial scandal is a historic hallmark of the Pentecostal/charismatics denominational tradition--the hyper-emotional expression of the humanistic Anglo-Catholic religious world.

The liberals' goal is to make Ted Haggard the representative 'poster adult' for all so-called, conservative Christians and biblically-based Christianity.

Reformed minister Doug Giles expresses his contempt for the younger neo-evangelicals in his sarcastic Townhall.com article: Obama’s Evangelicals: The Liberals’ New Useful Idiots. The neo-evangelicals have the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), together with the late Dr. Donald Barnhouse and Dr. Walter Martin, to thank for the ecumenical 'love-stance' which led to cultic compromise with the law-based Seventh-Day Adventism and heretical Pentecostalism/charismatics.

1/22/2009

Does your God bite his fingernails?  No, I haven’t become a Mormon, and yes my question is a figure of speech, albeit an important one.  Medically, there may be several explanations for why people bite their fingernails, but popular perception associates the pathology with nervousness, anxiety, apprehension, and possibly fears.

For as vast number of today’s so-called Christians, God suffers from anxiety and apprehension over how men will exercise their “free will.”  Figuratively speaking, their God sits at the edge of the universe and bites his fingernails.  Miles Stanford described their humanistic thinking with these words: “God determines nothing, He gives nothing except so-called common grace which removes the inability to choose Him, and He secures nothing.”  For the religious humanist, man is sovereign.

As Martin Luther accurately understood, the question of whether man has autonomous “free will” is the “hinge upon which all turns.”  To embrace the presupposition that mankind has free will inevitably alters the entire meaning of both OT and NT.  Both Judaism and Christianity are reduced to legalistic systems, complex moral codes given by God with the intent (falsely assumed) that men can with 'grit'...succussfully keeping their commands.  The Message of the Cross and Grace are thereby rendered meaningless.

However, the most devastating effect of religious humanism is in the realm of knowledge.  A God who determines nothing is, more or less, incapable of effective and clear communication.  This undermines the veracity of Scripture, thus rendering it the words of men rather than the Word of God.  In time, all knowledge becomes relative and meaningful communication becomes exceedingly difficult.

1/21/2009

We all know how very important the environment is to Barack Obama's supporters.  Yes, "sustainability" of our fragile planet is a very high priority of theirs.  The truth is self-evident.

For those who have never been to Washington, DC., this view is of the National Mall area looking south toward the Washington Monument following the inauguration.  The litter was estimated to be 130 tons.  I've done some travel and I'm always puzzled by the mentality of cultures that litter.  What's amazing is all the rationalization of why the litter was left.  Were these folks never taught to "take it with you" and "leave only footprints?" 

1/20/2009

Following the election of Barack Obama, many Christians have been sadly confused as to what their attitude should be, in light of verses like Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Timothy 2:2, toward this liberal and socialistic incoming Administration.  Some erroneously think that since he won a democratic popular vote, that he is somehow God's "choice," i.e., the best for our Nation.  This is 'wacky' theology*.  God permits evil; He doesn't endorse it.  The will of any majority is NOT, de facto, the will of God on earth.

The passage in 1 Timothy instructs us to pray "for kings and all those in authority."  However, it doesn't explain 'how' believers should pray.  Should believers pray for the "success" of an ungodly leader?  Of course not!  We should pray (and vote if living in democracy) that the ungodly never achieve positions of power, and if they do, that they are deposed as soon as the next election.

The second part of verse 2 outlines the objective for these political-specific prayers, "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."  Further, Romans 13 defines the role of legitimate government, and we should pray that political leaders acknowledge and formulate policy around these truths.  Consequently, believers can pray that leaders refrain from decisions which lead to conflict, chaos, or widespread unrighteousness (i.e., the demeaning of life, liberty, morality, and the confiscation of property through excess taxation or abuse of fiat currency).  If political leaders do not hold these values, but some other set of so-called values, it is perfectly righteous to pray for failure in their 'reign of unrighteousness'.

* Out of unfamiliarity with the issues and by taking civic liberty and religious freedom for granted, many believers today have defaulted back to something that resembles the Middle Age dogma of the "divine right of kings," which existed prior to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the rise of England's parliamentary democracy.  Two books I've recommended before to clear away the fog: Toward a Biblical View of Civil Government, Culver, Moody, 1974, and Never Before In History, America's Inspired Birth, Amos and Gardiner, Foundation for Thought and Ethics, 1998.

1/11.1/2009

I have a feeling the Obama 'bomb' is about to hit the Boomer generation.  Many have falsely believed their long years of contributions (trillions of dollars) into Social Security and Medicare, combined with a Democrat Administration, would result in benefit protection.  Get ready...you're in for a shock!  Obama continues to hint at benefits cuts for Social Security and Medicare recipients, this on top of having had their 401k and pension plans financially devastated.  Read about the upcoming so-called "Grand Bargain" in this linked article.

One individual from GenerationX once made (jokingly?) the following comment to me, "Euthanasia is the best answer to the Social Security and Medicare funding crisis."  

1/11/2009

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  John 8:36

America is historically thought of as a bastion of religious freedom.  Of course, the meaning of this "freedom" has become distorted as our culture has looked to and drawn upon the ideas rooted in the Enlightenment period (16th and 17th century) and later philosophers, rather than the Bible for meaning.  The Enlightenment, and its heir religious Liberalism, denied the possibility of biblical revelation and enshrined reason as the ultimate authority.  Postmodernism took this a step further and enshrined the individual as sole arbiter of meaning, regardless of reason or any other factor.  The Bible posits a worldview with the God who is there at the center.  The Enlightenment posits an opposite worldview in which Man is God and God is Man.  Herein lies the source of America's so-called "culture wars."

If man is God, then men have the power, even the right, to define the meaning of words and language as they see fit.  Herein lies the essence of postmodernism.  Today's postmodernists consciously seek to redefine the meaning of words as an effective means for bringing about "change" and recreating a world to their own liking.  Taking the liberty to redefine words is an ancient evil.  The prophet Isaiah warned Israel regarding this perversion, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (5:20).  And John Locke has been credited for saying, "Whoever defines the word, defines the world.”

For the past decade, liberals have worked hard to change the meaning of "evangelical" in an effort to marginalize Christians and Christian influence upon society.  The term "evangelical" is intentionally used in the most broad fashion (unbounded), in an effort to also subtly undermine the concept of antithesis.  Mainstream media continues to mislabel a wide variety of religious individuals as "evangelical."

Such was the case with an NPR's December 9th, Fresh Air interview of Frank(y) Schaeffer, 'prodigal' son of the late Francis Schaeffer.  Following upon his book Crazy for God, he continues his narcissistic quest of casting dispersion on his parent's ministry and wildly besmirching evangelicalism as a whole.*  This is all 'red meat' for both religious and political liberals.  His pandering to the secular and atheistic Left by claiming to having been a former leader within evangelicalism is simply a circus side-show...self-aggrandizement.  To what degree his parents were responsible for his character deficit, we will never know.  [What is often conveniently ignored in these interviews is the fact that Franky Schaeffer left evangelicalism nearly four decades ago in favor of the Eastern (Greek Orthodox) Church.]  The audio clip was brought to my attention, to which I wrote the following response.

In my opinion, Franky Schaeffer won, hands down, the 2008 religious postmodernist award for twisting the meaning of words with the following statement, "As a born-again Christ-centered believer, Obama offers a spiritual vision of life founded on the Sermon On the Mount."  Given Francis Schaeffer's emphasis on preserving antithesis, this statement represents the zenith of contempt and hate of this son toward his father.  To what depths will he go in an effort to garner media attention and earn book royalties?  Tragically, history proves, individuals of this sort sooner-or-later self-destruct.

* Popular lecture titles for Franky include:

• Inclusive Spirituality In An Exclusive World--Beyond Certainty, Finding Comfort in Doubt and Mystery

• Embracing Mystery Over Rationalism:  My Journey From Being the Son of The 20th Century's Most Famous Evangelical Theologian, to The Most Ancient of All Christian Faith Traditions -- the Greek Orthodox Church, and

• Confessions Of A Former Fundamentalist--My Journey From Right to Left    

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