Albert Mohler and RC Sproul Start Historic Debate Over Geology, Evolution and the Age of the Earth

February 2nd, 2011

The cost is not just within the church but born by the whole community. The compromise within the church is deep and the battle is shaping up to be fierce. But reformation must begin in the church before it will spill over and transform the world.

Yes, compromise in the church is deep, but we need heavy hitters like this… More, we need you. It is good to have a few million dollar apologists. But it is far better to have millions of one dollar apologists.

Sure, the debate will be good for the church… It will be good for the culture. But it will not be easy!

Albert Mohler and RC Sproul start historic debate over geology, evolution and the age of the earth

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One of the Best Apologetics on the Right to Life

February 1st, 2011

James Lankford: "The Right to Life is Self-Evident"

How I wish I could vote for this guy… but what I can do is pray for him and ask for God’s blessing on him.

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Rick Warren and the Daniel Plan

January 27th, 2011

Check out the the posted workbook and the introductory seminars at Saddleback Church.

Rick Warren, so-named America’s Pastor, introduces the Daniel Plan. The Decade of Destiny, seemingly veiled dominiionism, is unveiled and with it, the world-renowned medical doctors are introduced. In the workbook, a short bio on each of the doctors is provided for you. What is not provided for you in these bios are the spiritual qualifications of these doctors. For those who exercise discernment, you may find that at Renew America.

Rick Warren ‘s impetus for this is, as he says “The Father made your body, Jesus paid for your body and the spirit lives in your body so you better take care of it! That is an issue that God spoke to me about, and said you need to do this for your sake, Rick.”

O_o Hmmm… I am confused here and have to ask… is that law, or grace? It sure smacks of law to me!

I am all for all of us getting healthy for that sake alone. I am sure it does have some spiritual benefits now by helping stamina and drive. But, please do not confuse it and put it in the place of the gospel.

Our entire mission should be that until the whole world hears the gospel, we should not stop proclaiming it. Even if the whole world hears, I am sure we should not stop!

We are all appointed one day to die, and taking care of our bodies is important. However, remember what the bible says in Luke 12:22-25

“And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Jesus then asks a very rhetorical question in verse 26.

” If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”

I understand the context of the scripture may pertain somewhat to the subject matter at hand, but my point comes from the first part of Jesus’ question in Luke 12:26. Jesus makes the point that not one of us can add any stature to our lives!

We are instructed to seek first the kingdom of God… this is our calling. Matthew 6:33 says further, we are to seek after righteousness… and then we will be provided everything we need.

Sloth, gluttony and covetousness are at the root of America’s health problems. And yes, these are sins. So the problem that we have is sin. What is the Bible’s remedy?

It’s Jesus and His finished work on Calvary!

By this, I know Saddleback is tackling the problem the wrong way. They are doing it through the law, and law brings wrath (Romans 4:14!) They have prepared a yoke for you, and are asking you to willingly carry it. The only way out of this problem is REPENTANCE, not work!

But then, it leaves a greater question to churches… Why are these sins accepted, covered and not confronted as other sins, like adultery or homosexuality?

What Rick Warren is instructing you to do is NOT seek righteousness, but work to obtain something else for yourself. The real issue at hand is not just to become healthy! That cannot provide the cure. This case, as with any other stronghold sin, requires repentance, and necessitates a like-minded brother or sister with who are willing to be and to hold others accountable. What a concept!

But, back to the seminar…

After reading these short bios, Rick introduces each doctor and what they will speak on.

First… Dr. Amen will speak on motivation meaning, and will come back later on stress, belief and brain health. One question that pops into my mind is belief in what? And another, will the psuedo-science of psychiatry be involved?

Next, Dr. Hyman will speak on the fascinating topic of functional medicine. It will be a “whole systems” approach to health. Why do I immediately think holistic, universality?

And, finally… Dr. Oz will speak on losing weight and keys to longevity. He sends a personal hi from the studio of “30 Rock.” The words Daniel Plan are introduced… we will learn from the best! Dr. Oz exclaims “We believe that you could become a national model for many of the congregations and houses of worship to get healthy.”

All three of these doctors, who Rick says are his friends, have agreed to put together this Daniel Plan. The website is introduced… and I am sure there is a reference to Daniel, and his friends, Hannaniah, Asariah and Mishael.

Let us take a look at this Daniel Plan by going to the source, Daniel himself. Daniel opens his book by giving us the setting of how he and his friend s came to be in the Babylonian palace of Nebuchadnezzar. How some of the (already) FITTEST young of the royal and noble clans of Israel would be educated in the customs of the Chaldeans. We’ll pick it up in Daniel 1:5

The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.

So, the king of Babylon would care for these young teenagers as royals. They would be provided a portion from the king’s table. But as we read further, we come to Daniel 5:8-10.

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”

It was not that the king’s diet was bad. It was that Daniel “resolved he would not defile himself.” He was required to keep the Kosher dietary laws that all of Israel agreed to keep under the old covenant. Whether the king’s delicacies were pork, some other forbidden meat, or it wa just not bled properly, is unknown. But, it was not simply because it was meat. That would violate the command God gave to all after the flood in Genesis 9:3-4. But Daniel knew, vegetables would not have been sacrificed to other gods and would not defile him.

Daniel gave the servant an option, he said…

Daniel 5:12-13: “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

The servant agreed, and Daniel and his friends drank water and ate vegetables. We know what happens in the story… but have we really payed attention to the details?

Do you understand why the eunuch was upset to begin with? Could it be that just eating vegetables is not really healthy in the long run? Let’s find out…

Daniel 5:16 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food.

So, at the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends looked better and FATTER than all the other youths who ate the king’s food. Do you understand? They were FATTER!

O_o Hmmm… I know, it is confusing! This “plan” as described by Daniel actually made fit people fatter than others not fed the same diet!

Here is how the account of this dietary saga ends, in Daniel 5: 17-20.

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

Think about it!

So God blessed Daniel and his friends, causing the diet that they ate to keep them healthy, in fact, in better health than all the rest of the youth. The food from the kings table was not wrong to eat because of its nutritional value, but only for the promise they had made to God not to defile themselves. It was God who blessed them, for their commitment to keep His ways, not just eating a diet of vegetables!

I am not telling you to not try to be healthier, but please… do not spiritualize it! There are plenty of reasons to stay healthy. But, when spiritualized, many dangers become imminent… Not the least of which is spiritual deception by the teachers involved.

We are promised by Rick Warren that The Daniel Plan will be promulgated through small groups. Be very prayerful, there are many who do not discern the danger. To most, I am sure this is coming to your small group, and soon. And there will be many who will be deceived… missing the grace of God, and the free gift of Jesus Christ… salvation!

That would be terrible indeed.

It is best for us to refect the teaching of those who would place us under a yoke other than that Jesus gave. Make no mistake. It is a yoke, and it fits right in line with the United Nations Agenda 21… A bold plan that is being implemented in every facet of society to further sustainable communities. Sustainable communities requires some form of population control, though tacit (meaning unspoken) just let your mind wonder.

Saddleback would like everyone to join them in this endeavor. It is cloaked in Biblical themes, but is it really a mechanism for control? This fits, conveniently, into the current global political, ecological and economic pressures to centralize control. The church is the last stronghold, but is quickly succumbing to this deception.

Guard yourselves, make sure you know… Satan tempted Eve by corrupting “God’s words.” See for yourself in Genesis 3:1. He asked Eve “Did not God say…” Look to those who teach you, make sure they are not the doing the same.

Jesus warned us, in the parable of the mustard seed, in Mark 4:30-32, and as Dr. Thomas Ice explains it in Consistent Biblical Futurism…

“Even though specific prophecy is not given concerning the present church age, we have seen that the New Testament does paint a general picture of the course of this age. We learn that the purpose of this age is to preach the gospel throughout the world, knowing that there will be various responses to the message. As the church starts out small, like a mustard seed, it will nevertheless grow into a large tree where birds will come and dwell in its branches. Thus, the larger that Christendom grows the more apostate it will become.”

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Pastor Joel Osteen on Homosexuality and Sin

January 25th, 2011

Here is a teaser for an upcoming interview for Wednesday 26 January 2011 that appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight blog today.

Piers Morgan sits down with author and pastor Joel Osteen, and his wife Victoria Osteen.

What is interesting, is Osteen has apparently ben coaxed by Piers to call homosexuality a sin. Something Osteen has been reluctant to outright declare.

Joel Osteen, once again provided a national stage, seems to have missed a golden opportunity! I say seem, only because in TV anything can be edited… but consider the following exchange between Morgan and Osteen on the topic of homosexuality:

MORGAN: Say a friend of mine like Elton John watching this at home, who with his partner – a civil partner, David Furnish – have just had a surrogate child which was born on Christmas day. They’re going to be pretty angry what they hear. They’re going to think who are you to call them a sinner.

J. OSTEEN: Yes.

MORGAN: But why are they sinners in your eyes?

J. OSTEEN: Well, it’s strictly back to what the scripture says. I mean, I can’t grab one part and say God wants you to be blessed and live an abundant life, and not grab the other part that says, you know what? You know, live that kind of life. So it comes back to the scripture. I’m not the judge. You know, God didn’t tell me to go around judging everybody.

Osteen chose to be backed into a corner by a question from Morgan. A simple grasp of doctrine and theology would have prompted me to immediately say this back to Morgan.

ME: Piers, I believe that Elton John is a sinner. And yes, I believe his partner is a sinner, too. In fact, I KNOW it! It is not judgment or condemnation but fact.

I also know something else… I know that you, Piers, are a sinner! I know that I, too, am a sinner! The bible declares so in Romans 3:23. In Romans 3:10 it says, there is none righteous.

Homosexuality is a sin, yes. So is lying, stealing, lusting… heck even going shopping is really coveting. Yep, you got it, coveting is a sin.

But… given this predicament, What do we, as sinners, do?

That is where the good news enters. Romans 5:8-9 declares that Christ died for us and that through Him we are saved from God’s wrath. We must repent.

John 3:16-18 makes it very clear. I don’t judge you, nor do I condemn you or any other person. Your own sin does that. WE must believe on Who He is, and what He did and move from condemnation to salvation.

And John 3:36 tells us He that has the Son has life, and he who does not, the wrath of God abides on him.

Come on Pastor Joel… study to show yourself approved. (2 Timothy 2:15)

And Piers… Is not calling Joel a judge then putting you in the same supposed predicament you would like to hang on Joel?

I mean really… How can you JUDGE HIM?

One word to describe the Piers’ dudgeon! Hypocrisy! Yeah, I judged!

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SPIN THE BOTTLE BONUS | Potential Church

January 25th, 2011

Checking out the message…

Spin The Bottle 1 – EXTENDED from Potential Church on Vimeo.

The first use of the title “Spin the Bottle” is suggested as away to pick someone. O_o Hmmm… perhaps a stretch to this, but let’s keep an open mind.

A See-’n-Say is brought out and demonstrated as a n analogy to spin the bottle, even so far as calling it “the G-rated” version?

With the carnality involved in the introduction, I may not want to stick around for the rest. After all, there is promised to be a lot of questions about sex, love and dating…

Pastor Troy then sets some ground rules and what he expects to accomplish.

1. Scripture teaches a worldview.

2. Teach you how to find the answers in scripture.

3. Force you to wrestle with the truth.

He states, the enemy will try to keep you away from the teaching… but promises the series is going to radically change your life!

Great! Pastor Troy then explains how he will then endeavor to answer the questions…

First, does the bible speak directly to the issue?

If it doesn’t, then is there a biblical principle that applies?

If not, we go with Pastor Troy’s opinion. (At least he promises to let us KNOW when he does that!)

Marriage

And now we come to our foundational illustration and scripture, well the scripture part is up for debate.

He gets out the paints, blue and then yellow. He describes how each are different, but if blue and yellow mix, they become something different… green. He is using this as an analogy to marriage.

But then, curiously, he states sin entered the world and the enemy tried to hijack our green (our marriage?)

That is a stretch. That was a result of sin entering the world.

O_o Wait!

Sin entered the world only to destroy the relationship between man and woman?

Hmmm… no. Sin came as we (man) put ourselves in the rightful place of God.

But Troy pushes on… stating the enemy wants to replace intimacy with sex. Huh… not the way I read it.

Matthew 19:4-6 is read… it is from the Message. The Message is a paraphrase of the bible, it is not a direct translation… read the two versions for yourself and see if there is a radical difference in the idea being conveyed.

The Message: He answered, “Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.”

ESV: He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Do you understand the subtle difference in meaning? First, there is a command that is omitted in the Message paraphrase… even looking to other translations where the accepted phrase is “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast (or cleave) to his wife.” Cleaving is an action word… cherish has its roots in feelings, which are subject to whimsy. The idea is not to simply emotionally cherish, but to NEVER let go, as Jesus does for His bride!

The Message’s paraphrase has corrupted the picture of marriage presented in Genesis 2:24… This is the FOUNDATION for Pastor Tony’s “teaching” here!

Please consider these related passages and how they are paraphrased in the Message and translated in the ESV…

The Message: (Genesis 2:24) “Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.”

A man does not leave his mother and father to embrace his wife. If the picture here is how Christ treats His bride, the church, something is drastically wrong. If all that Jesus does is “embrace” us we are in very grave danger, I think.

Let us look now to the ESV translation of the same phrase…

ESV: (Genesis 2:24) “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

I would guess subtly, that hold fast and embrace could connote the same idea, but not all the time. If you were sliding down an embankment to you assuredly perilous doom, would you prefer I hold fast… or embrace you?

Do you see the idea here?

Perhaps he used the reference for its inference to art. I do not know. But what I do know, is that if this is the foundation, it is indeed suspect. Using a paraphrase is much like preaching from someone else’s sermon. It surely is not expository preaching!

Nor should it be treated as ever be treated as any other translation. It is simply a paraphrase. One man’s idea of what is being said.

Back to this captivating illustration…

He, God, made blue and yellow to come together to make green. Here are the points Pastor Troy makes about yellow and blue (women and men.)

1. Yellow and blue are different.

2. Yellow and blue must become one to get green.

I think I am loving this analogy, though. Women and men come together under the covenant of marriage, only.

This is a great picture of marriage, and not just a sexual union. Having the colors yellow and blue represent women and men, shows the stark differences between us, while highlighting the similarities.

But watch… how men and women, being different, come together in a marriage relationship and become something even more different… yet similar!

Perhaps there will be another point made later in the series, but I cannot resist. I ask… if two men marry, say blue and blue, when they come together, what do you have?

You see the picture, there is nothing different!

3. The tones are arrived at by yielding.

And I like this to, because this is true.

The Questions

Question 1a. Is it okay to have sex before marriage?

Does the bible speak directly about this?

1 Corinthians 6:16-20 in the Message is his go to verse, calling it “scripture.” While the Message presents the idea correctly… it is not a translation.

Pastor Tony answers the question correctly, sex is only permitted in a marriage relationship. Though I would have added to a partner of the opposite sex.
But he then asks why would God give me a desire I
can’t fulfill?

He backs up a few verses to 1 Corinthians 6:13, this time in the ESV. Because the idea is conveyed correctly and accurately there.

Now… he brings out the cheesecake! Marriage is like cheesecake, and sex, just the whipped cream. I guess it works… but not completely. There is no prohibition of whipped cream, nor any requirement to consume whipped cream on cheesecake. What if you have something other than cheesecake?

Whoops, Pastor Troy said it. He wants to shepherd hearts and wants you to reach your “God potential!”

Then we segue into an analogy of submitting to God’s will as being underneath an open umbrella in the rainstorm. If you are under the umbrella, you won;t get wet. But there is an implied protection under that umbrella.

Question 1b: Is petting or oral sex okay?

Does the bible speak directly about this?

No, but there is a principle that applies in Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:18 and Matthew 5:28.

Flee before it creates lust!

He hits a home run on this one!

Question 2: My girlfriend and I have always tried to have a Godly relationship… but we had sex. Does that mean we do not belong together?

Pastor Troy applies 2 Corinthians 6:14 about unequally yoking.

There is a principle that is missed. Instead of dating, why not court? Setting boundaries is great, but perhaps being chaperoned is better. This forces us to become accountable to someone else!

Marry! 1 Corinthians 7:9 is then applied… correctly, too.

There are other similar questions alluded to, one that will be answered later. I suspect to use for the presentation of the gospel and invitation.

Question 3: My boyfriend and I are living together for over two years, we want to do right. If we get married at the courthouse, do we have to be married at church?

It is about the commitment, not the ceremony! But he stresses the need to get married now, or move out!

There are other questions in a similar vein that are alluded to you, and Pastor Troy says to get married. If it is just a piece of paper, i.e. the marriage certificate, you would already have it!

You don’t say it with your mouth, you say it with your actions. Good on you, Pastor Troy!

His marriage is the best thing in his life? I think he has missed something.

Question 4: Me and my friend have been hooking up. I want to stop, she doesn’t. Is it okay to stop being her friend?

Yes! (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Question 5: Should you forgive your boyfriend for physically putting his hands on you?

Assuming abuse…yes, we forgive. But outside of marriage, get out of the relationship. If there is apology, make sure repentance (change) follows! Stopping the relationship until that happens!

Question 6: What should you do if your fiancée is on a dating website listed as single and what he is looking for?

Troy answers correctly. Give him what he wants, single!

Question 7: I am married to a man who is not a Christian.

(Many questions in this vein.) How will this affect my salvation?

It doesn’t. But, my husband’s non-belief is a problem. What do I do?

Sage advice is given. If your proposed partner are traveling in two different directions… no matter what they say, if you are not yet married… step away!

But if you are married, you cannot step away from your marriage. 1 Peter 3:1 is applied. You stay in the relationship and follow after Christ.

Further, 1 Corinthians 7:10, a wife must not leave her husband, and a husband must not leave his wife.

He goes on to say after the permitted reasons for divorce you can remarry. (Comments reserved.)

Question 8: What does the bible say about sexual positions?

The bible does not speak to those, but there is a principle applies. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, things haven’t changed.

But, what about pornography if we watch it together?

1 Corinthians 6:18, Matthew 5… flee from lust.

Question 9: I lost my virginity at 15, will it make any difference that I have abstained? I still feel dirty, what do I do?

Colossians 2:14-15… the bible speaks directly to this.

The segue is made into a great presentation of the gospel.

Yes! Good on you, Pastor Troy!

Conclusions

The message is a help for some, though, using a paraphrase in the same way a bible translation is used leaves a lot to be desired. One is a faithful and scholarly rendering of the original languages… the paraphrase is not.

All in all, the principles applied are correct, and the bible is applied correctly. However, the introductory reasoning of the role of sin is misunderstood.

The consequences of sin are all too evident in our relationships. And this is what I think Pastor Troy meant to convey, he did somewhat. It is almost as if he said we sin because we wanted to have sex outside the covenant of marriage, and that is simply incorrect.

Sadly, there was no correlation applied to how Earthly marriage is a picture of the ultimate marriage. Proper understanding of this relationship is crucial to understanding our relationship to God. It includes the intimacy of the sexual union within marriage!

I think this is a series devoted to marriage. And as such, will wait to see how it continues. I sure hope Pastor Troy shows us how what we do on Earth is a picture of the future marriage supper of the Lamb. We (Christians) are the bride of Christ!

Think about that as you listen to this message series! Right thinking helps to bring everything said into proper perspective.

But the danger of the lure (Spin the Bottle) used to hook us into the series is suspect. It is way too suggestive, outright carnal!

We must be wary about using carnality to attract people to church. We then need to serve more carnality to keep the goats fed, and the neglected sheep begin to starve.

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You Die Anyway, So What’s the Whole Point?

January 21st, 2011

Author’s note: The video clip has been removed. But in it, a pastor’s 13 year old daughter… very boy crazy, very irreverent and obviously rebellious… exclaims about Christianity “You die anyway, so what’s the point?” The parents, are at the end of their rope… is it any wonder?

—

So, really? What is the whole point?

And Jesus says in Matthew 16:27…

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Preacher’s kids… typically the ones who are the most incorrigible… but why are they that way?

Could it be that we (read non-preachers) do not hold these kids accountable, but excuse their behavior, in order to not irritate our pastors?

Can I ask… How do you stand on that, biblically?

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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee blasts republicans on healthcare repeal

January 21st, 2011

The Democrats have sent in the light infantry. (Hey speech police, are we still allowed to type that?)

Texas Congresswoman and Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee really took it to the Republicans and their attempts to repeal healthcare reform recently.

Among Ms. Lee’s comments was a gem calling the repeal unconstitutional! “The Fifth Amendment speaks specifically to denying someone their life and liberty without due process,” she declared.

She continued, “Can you tell me what’s more unconstitutional than taking away from the people of America their Fifth Amendment rights, their Fourteenth Amendment rights, and the right to equal protection under the law?”

So stealing people’s sweat and treasure to pay for someone else to have healthcare is a-okay?

Hmmm… really, now!

This just makes for more late-night laughs, as the information superhighway is strewn with the wreckage of reckless, ill-informed commentary from Congresswoman Lee. You may occasionally stumble upon one of her myriad attempts at “clarifying” her comments. Hey, thanks Al Gore!