Tag Archives: Bible

Angus T. Jones.

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Angus T. Jones from two and a half men says that he has found Christ. And this is wonderful news to hear this. In his process of finding Christ. He has come out to say that he believes that the show he has grown up doing, is “filth.” And asked that his fans stop watching the show.

Now my issue is not if two and a half man is filth or not. That gets into the realm of personal opinions. After all, one man filth is another mans entertainment. However, I am worried what he has done, especially in the public arena may comeback to bit him.

See, when many people first find Christ they tend to dive into the baptismal waters head first without checking just how deep the pool is. And become gun-ho about it. Usually resulting in them becoming vary conservative.  They will end up going around announcing homosexuality is wrong, evolution is a lie, birth control is a sin, etc… Only later to reject such things and become more liberal in their beliefs. With some finding that they did not actually find Christ, with it being a phase in their life. Only to end up rejecting theism in all its forms.

So my fear is he may change. And feel regret for what he had done. Of course he could live out his life with no regrets. Heck he may even because more of a conservative. Then no harm has been done. However, with so many, especially the young like him. Who come into Christianity guns blazing only to have that euphoria where off. I cannot help but hope that he does not look back on this and think that he had said something that may regret.

Adding to this may be that he may have violated his contract. And may end up in court because of what he said in public. I doubt he will. But it is one not soon good outcome of this entire mess.

Anyway – I will be praying for the young man. And hope no one holds this against him one way or the other.

A beautiful paragraph from the bible.

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Psalm 56

1-4 Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around,
stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by
but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty
to beat me up.
When I get really afraid
I come to you in trust.
I’m proud to praise God;
fearless now, I trust in God.
What can mere mortals do?

5-6 They don’t let up—
they smear my reputation
and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up,
sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise,
wait their chance to get me.

7 Pay them back in evil!
Get angry, God!
Down with these people!

8 You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.

9 If my enemies run away,
turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I’ll know
that God is on my side.

10-11 I’m proud to praise God,
proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
what can mere mortals do to me?

12-13 God, you did everything you promised,
and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
in the sunlit fields of life.

From the the message Bible.

Re: SmartRant 4 — GERMAN CIRCUMCISION BAN!

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Here is a video responce I made with a video that YouTube User SmartRant had made.

[Note: There are paroles between male and female circumcision. And it would be vary difficult to find differences between the two. Only when we get into the rare and extreme forms of female circumcision (Type III) are there areas of differences that can be argued.]

SmartRants video I am reply to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIluEdsuDks

Smart Rants YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/SmartRant

Video use protected under US Copyright Act, title 17 512 (g)(f).

http://www.aclunc.org/issues/technology/blog/asset_upload_file939_6218.pdf

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) conclusion on how the supposed benefits (remember the AAP has not updated their information on circumcision in a long time,) do not outweigh the risk associated by circumcision. The statement from the AAP says:

“Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision.”

Royal Dutch Medical Association Ban on forced male circumcision

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/05/27/us-dutch-circumcision-idUSTRE64Q52H20100527

Female circumcise does not remove a women ability to enjoy sex

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17970975

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2837-female-circumcision-does-not-reduce-sexual-activity.html

Female circumcision reduces HIV infections (Power point link)

http://www.mgmbill.org/stallings-study-female-circ.ppt

Circumcision: A History Of The World’s Most Controversial Surgery

http://www.amazon.com/Circumcision-History-Worlds-Controversial-Surgery/dp/0465026532/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341007148&sr=8-1&keywords=circumcision

Flesh and Blood: Perspectives on the Problem of Circumcision in Contemporary Society

[Note: There are paroles between male and female circumcision. And it would be vary difficult to find differences between the two. Only when we get into the rare and extreme forms of female circumcision (Type III and Type IV) are there areas of differences.]

A good samaritan.

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Last night when heading to the store to by food for a dinner party that Luz was doing for some family members. Where she would introduce them to home made Philippine style food. We found a great example of a good samaritan.

While driving Luz car to the store I we had a front tire blow out. However, it was not unexpected, as just moments before I had somehow just new that the tire was going to blow. I gripped the steering wheel, expecting the blowout.

Moments after, sure enough the tire exploded. We had no cellphone on us so we pulled into a parking lot that turned out to be a private Christian school. Wee did this with the idea, I. Would walk to get help.

While in thhe parking lot we had a white car pulled in with the school principal and some of the Christian school staff, who had been car pooling to the school for some late night work at the school, come and help us. One women took Luz and Elijah home while I remained waiting at the car for a tow-truck.

Now I shoud say that, even if I had the donut tire with me, I would not be able to drive the car because, when the tire exploded it damaged some of the parts in the car. Anyway – Finley when the tow truck came to take the car to the shop where I would have taken a cab home. The same women who drove my wife and son home, pulled up and offered to drive me home to.

She really had gone out of their way to help us out. And was a true good samaritan.

Beaverton Grace Bible Church, opening Pandora’s box.

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It would seem Beaverton Grace Bible Church has opened up Pandora’s box on them self. After filling a law suit for an absurd amount of money ($500,000.00). Ultimately this is a vary bad situation for Beaverton Grace Bible Church, its pastor and the others involved.

Before I get into that a little more, let me give a brief back store on this. Julie Anne had once attended Beaverton Grace Bible Church but when she had left the church, she claims that the pastor instructed members to shun her and her family. She ended up posting a review of Beaverton Grace Bible Church on line, which she also claimed that her reviews she had posted, were being removed. Not wanting to be silenced, she decided to start a blog titled “Beaverton Grace Bible Church Survivors” where the church could not silence her. And to help other who were in the same situation from the church.

Within only a short period of time of starting the blog Julie Anne found herself (and three others) with this law suit for defamation. In the 54-page lawsuit, some of the reasons given had been because, she used words like “cult” and “creepy”

If what she claims is true it would seem such words are fitting. For example, if you leave a cult, the leaders of that cult will tell its members to shun them (And she claims that is what happened). They will even try and silence them or their critics (Removing comments, would be a form of censorship and a lawsuit could do that to). Or even try to intermediate them, sending a message to their current members, that this could be you. And frankly, to me, that is what this law suit appears to be, a message of intimation. With the church asking for $500,000.00 from a stay at home mom, who is on a limited budget.

I mean what kind of pastor (or anyone, for that matter) could actually sue a mother (or anyone) on a limited budget for such a huge amount? Asking for this extravagantly large amount of money not just affects the mom but effectively taking food, necessity’s and other things away from her family, who are not part of this. That to me is not a very Christian thing to do.

Ultimately, in the end, this lawsuit only ends up working ageist them (Which may be why the bible tells Christians not to sue other Christians for such stupid things). It is a bad situation for the church no matter the out come. Let’s say for a moment that the church’s claims are true and Julie Anne was wrong (Hypothetically). And the church actually could win the suit. Now the church and its pastor is viewed as bully, not really for the lawsuit itself, but for the $500,000.00, they are asking for (Personaly such a view would be true in my eyes, even if Julie was in the wrong). Not to mention because of this large amount, people are likely to end up still viewing the church as a cult and creepy. So it does not help for them to have done this.

If the church lost the lawsuit (Which, frankly, to me seems to be the likely outcome), then people will view the claims of Julie Anne as justified. Even if the church was correct in their accusations of her.

I mean, just look at the reviews on the church now. If they thought, the few bad review’s thay had with her then were bad. Then they need to look at them now, as it is just comment after comment of the church and pastor being bashed. Along with a negative ratting that can’t get any worse than it is now.

Bickering over the words Christmas and holiday.

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Well it’s that time again. You know when people start arguing and bickering over the use of the words “Christmas” and “holiday.” Frankly, I think such people have nothing better to do.

Personally, I don’t really care. As a Christian it will always be Christmas to me. Even if, say, the state changes our Christmas parade to a holiday parade. What somebody else called it doesn’t affect me. Because to me and my family. It will be Christmas, no matter what it’s called.

I’m not offended, although I find it tacky to call it holiday when it has been called Christmas for a long time. But again, it doesn’t affect me. I’m not even threatened by this political correctness, annoyed sure, but threatened no. Because Christmas is not about what word to use publicly. And if people think that is so important to them than they really do not understand all that goes into such a wonderfully blessed day.

For me and my family it’s a celebration of Christ, as well as a really great excuse to get family and friends together from all over the US and even the world. And spend the day together. It is a time to be generous and forgiving, it is a wonderful day. No matter what word is used.

It’s not the word that is the important thing. You can call whenever you want, but in the end it is the message that is important. So, whatever it is called as the message will remain.

Men… How about you do your part, as it is in the bible.

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[Here is a old post from my old blog. I think it is important to repeat this post.]

There is some debate over the relationship that men and women have biblically. Some say that men and women need to submit to each other as they are equal, others say that women must be subservient, obaying their husbands every command, that is unless it is to sin. And they must do the housework, cooking, cleaning, etc. usually, these men are opposed to women getting jobs outside the house.

Now this posting is not going to be on the topic of who is right, biblically. Although that does seem like a good post for the future. Instead, this post is going to be on the topic of something I observed, particularly about the men who’s biblical view is that only women submit to their husbands and that the wife should stay at home doing all the housework. And what I have observed is something that seems to be consistent with the vast majority of these kind of man. And that is that many if not most seem to be more in love with what the wife does for them. Then they are with their wife.

I remember one particular instance where I watched as this man who almost always preached the same thing over and over, which was that women need to be subservient to their husbands. And how the wives need to do all the housework. There seem to be almost nothing in between. And when I watched as he made these YouTube videos . I noticed in many of them his wife would be in the background doing housework and this was very revealing. Because this tells that he was getting to sit down and do something that he enjoys, while his wife was working. So instead of showing his wife that he loves her and helping her out around the house so that things can get done so that they can sit down together and enjoy the time. He decided to let her do all the work so that only he gets to sit and relax doing what he wanted.

So let me ask my readers something… Is that man showing his wife that he loves her, While he is sitting down making YouTube videos or perhaps even watching television, all the while his wife is laboring away taking care of their children and doing housework? It doesn’t sound like he loves her very much. If at all.

I think a man who loves his wife would actually assist his wife when it comes to housework. Sure, he might come home from work and relax for a little while. But after that, he needs to get off his lazy butt and help his wife, showing her with his actions that he loves her. And not just loving what she does for him.

Remember the story of the good Samaritan found in the Bible? All these different men walked around this man who needed help, who was laying in the road and they did nothing. But then here comes a good Samaritan who helped this man and brought to a Inn. Helped dress his wounds and then paid a man to care for him while he was gone. The story shows how one person’s actions showed that he truly loves his neighbor. So why is it that many of these men who’s biblical view is that women should submit to their husbands and do all the housework, won’t even get off their butts for their wives to help them?

Helping one’s wife around the house takes a lot less effort than it would be to help somebody on the side of the road who requires assistance. Yet these men are unwilling to lift a finger for their own wives. So I asked again… Are they showing their wives that they love them when they’re not willing to help them around the house?

Men when it comes to your wives, the Bible makes it clear. You are to love your wife. But you’re not doing that. If you’re not willing to help your wife. She’s not just their to do what you want her to do. She is not your servant or slave. She is your wife. You need to love your wife and if you’re not willing to do anything that would show her that you love her, all the while you are demanding that she do what the Bible says. You’re a hypocrite. And you are not deserving of such a great woman.

So do your part, and love your wife…

Condemning other believers.

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“

When believers differ over scruples or matters of opinion, they should not look down on or condemn each other. The Greek for look down on means “despise” (see NRSV) or “reject with contempt.” The stronger one faces the temptation to despise the weaker brother or sister. The weaker one is in danger of condemning the stronger brother or sister. Neither attitude is acceptable. Believers should not despise or condemn, because God does not; instead, God has accepted them both. (The Greek word for accepted here is the same word used in verse 1, where Paul explains what we must do.) They all need to remember, first of all,their corporate status as believers, forgiven and saved by God. God accepts people who some of us might feel are unacceptable because of their beliefs or practices. Paul responds to both brothers in love. Both are acting according to their consciences, but their honest scruples do not need to be made into rules for the church. Our principle should be: In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in everything, love.”

Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., & Wilson, N. S. (1992). Romans. Life application Bible commentary (262). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers

Question answered that young Earth creationist ask.

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One thing young Earth creationists are well known for is making Christians look bad with their arguments. Usually these arguments are in the form of questions. For example, they will ask a question in regards to evolution. And as we know young Earth creationists are adamantly against evolution. So they will ask a question with the idea being that if the person being asked cannot answer the question or science has no answer for the question then automatically evolution is false and their version of creation is true.

When they are asked the same question. All they do is say, God did it. Ultimately what this boils down to is a multitude of logical fallacies. The first being the false dichotomy. Next being an appeal to the unknown and the ultimate highly popular God of the gaps fallacy. And the sad part is people do fall for this.

However, other people don’t fall for it and they will answer honestly saying “I don’t know.” Which is the most honest answer anyone can give when they really don’t know something. And it shows that persons honesty and credibility in the discussion compared to a person who instantly goes for the God of the gaps fallacy.

As a Christian myself, this kind of dishonesty is just blatantly repulsive to see from others claiming to be Christians. And this is very damaging to Christianity in general. Because, as history shows, when we don’t know something and we say God did it. Instead of I don’t know. It makes us Christians look really bad. After the question is find the answer.

One such question that continues to pop up on young Earth creationist websites, and apparently now in a young Earth creationist pamphlet, is the following:

This is a good question. Not answering that obviously does not mean evolution is false (after all evolution is an observed phenomenon with mountains of data and research and evidence to back it up). It just means evolution has not been able to answer that. But to the young Earth creationist. They try and make it seem as though if evolution can answer something, then evolution must be false. But they don’t apply this logic to such things as gravity. And after all, there are a lot of questions about gravity that have not been answered. But you don’t see them denying gravity do you?

Anyways, this question is a good question,. I myself have wondered how this could take place. And there are a lot of hypothesis out there in the scientific realm discussing some more plausible than others. But it does take some digging to find these hypothesis.

However, one of these hypothesis using the power of prediction has moved from the realm of hypothesis into the realm of working theory. And that is the idea that single cell organisms would organize themselves into a multi-cellular organism for the benefit of survival. And that is what happened.

According to a peer-reviewed laboratory study, titled: “Phagotrophy by a flagellate selects for colonial prey: A possible origin of multicellularity”. Single cell organisms were observed changing into multicellular organisms. In this study, they observed single cell organisms remaining single cell organisms through many generations. They then introduced a predatory organism into the study. And within hundred generations, the single cell organism developed into a multicellular organism made up of self replicating clusters of eight cells in response to the new environmental pressure.

So not only has evolution here been observed (yet again) . This goes way beyond the young Earth creationist flawed arguments of macro/micro-evolution . This is a huge jump in evolutionary terms. Going from a single cell organism to a multiple cellular organism that self replicates other eight cell clusters.

This, although only goes to show the flaw in what young Earth creationists try to do with these questions. Making Christians look very dishonest. Not to mention stupid when such questions have a high track record of later being answered.

I take a different position , and that is when I don’t know something I answer “I don’t know”. The way I see it. If we are to ever find direct scientific evidence for God. We are not going to do that by holding science back by stopping at God dun it.