As I write this article it’s still Friday December 21st 2012, but I will have to finish it tomorrow the day after the end of the world. I’m still relaxing in my bunker and have made myself hidden like a groundhog. Actually, I have a gym workout yet to do and some errands to run, to get Santa ready for Christmas. All joking aside, I’m saddened by the various people worldwide who … [Read more...]
Flew, Dawkins And God
In “There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind”, the British philosophy professor, late Antony Flew, shared his reasons for converting from atheism to deism. “We must follow the argument wherever it leads”, a principle that Plato attributed to Socrates, was the norm to which Flew followed (Flew 2007: 46). With increasing evidences of the … [Read more...]
Luke's orderly birth narrative for the healthy skeptic
Below is my summary of the sermon, He Came to Us: Knowing we are skeptics, preached by Jim Applegate out of Luke 1. It is the third part in a four part series of the significance of Christmas in each Gospel, with the theme of "He Came to Us" throughout the series. Part 1 (Matthew) | Part 2 (Mark) | Part 4 (John) Luke 1: 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a … [Read more...]
Materialism, Atheism, and the Denial of Freewill
If we start with an impoverished worldview – one that fails to embrace all of reality’s nuances – it means that we have a faulty worldview and that our conclusions will be skewed. The atheist starts out with the presupposition or worldview that there is no spiritual reality, just matter and energy – what you see is what you get. Accordingly, thinking and choosing must also be … [Read more...]
Unbelievable radio interview – Mormonism (part 2)
I already blogged about part 1 of the interview between two Christians and a Mormon on the Unbelievable radio program. I had some thoughts about the second half of the interview. In my view part 2 went downhill from part 1. They continued to treat each other with great respect but Dayton (the Mormon) started sidestepping major issues, avoiding giving straight answers and so on. … [Read more...]
Christians, Jews, and the Baby Messiah (Part 2)
Most Jews and Christians agree that after a long time of trouble, God will establish Israel as the foremost nation in the world and will bring about universal peace. That’s where the Messiah comes into the picture. Some Jews believe the Messiah will be a man from the lineage of King David, with impeccable spiritual credentials, who will lead Israel to defeat the great armies of … [Read more...]
A Prayer for Connecticut
Father God, at times like these we are at a loss for words in our grief. Every fiber of our being cries out against the evil, violence, and pain we see. Our hearts are broken and we weep deeply as we hear about the anguish the victims in Connecticut are experiencing. … [Read more...]
An Unexpected Peace: How the Arrival Of Jesus Impacted the World
“Glory to God in the Highest; and on earth, peace, and goodwill to those on whom His favor rests.” __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ After being told that peace had arrived in the form of a child in a local manger, the Jewish shepherds who received this message would have likely … [Read more...]
The Controversy (and confusion) that is Christmas
Inevitably, as I drive through bumper to bumper traffic that comes with every December evening, I start muttering: "It's the most horrible time of the year...." Lest I be misconstrued, I also enjoy the season. But I draw the line when the circumstances border on the absurd - the traffic on the roads are practically unbearable. Everything comes to a standstill, simply because … [Read more...]
Signs in the Stars
"Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Thus was the question posed by the Magi upon arrival in Jerusalem, presumably to Herod, the king in situ at the time. What had they seen? Why did they come to Jerusalem? It makes sense that, if they were looking for the King of the Jews, they would go to Jerusalem. … [Read more...]