Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?
- Clarence Darrow
I've always found it annoyingly unethical for reporters to say something like this, "I've got a source who says this, he's breaking a judge's order to give you this information." There's something wrong with that. I'm not the only one that thinks that, right? I guess it's more common these days to have sources like that. I guess most people would say, the djinni's out of the bottle so I have to report this no matter where it comes from.
"...attorneys intend to appeal Thursday's decision to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles, Louisiana, said the source, who requested anonymity because of the gag order imposed by the judge."
I would like to recommend a website to you. Some of you familiar with bensfriends.com may have heard about it already. It is "a blog and forum whose mission is to edify Christian brothers and sisters by providing a place to publish and discuss news and ideas from a Christian, Biblical, Fundamentalist worldview." Guests are welcome to read anything and everything, but people (ideally Fundamentalists, since this is a venue to discuss fundamentalism) may join and comment and start threads.
I have been there since it opened checking it out. I've read many of the threads dealing with all sorts of things: music, theology, methodology and so much more. I think it will be a good place for discussion about Fundamentalism. I have not really done justice to the site in this announcement. The work that has been done on it is amazing. So please check it out if you can.
The web address is http://www.sharperiron.org/.
I would also like to offer this link that discusses, if not SI, but Fundamentalist blogging/web discussions that are currently going on.
I was reading a magazine at the Pain Clinic yesterday, and I saw an ad that said something like will you face his wrath? and left a URL. wrathofgod.info.
I was curious so I went there.
It's funny too, because I didn't recognize the ad though I had seen similar commercials. It was for the Discovery Channel's series on Rameses: Wrath of God or Man?. They were discussing the plagues of Egypt. I wanted to see it. But I missed it.
So...Anyone see what they had to say to disprove the Bible? Maybe I'll catch it in rerun.
Virgin Mobile has done it again with one of their TV commercials. If you haven't seen one of them, count yourself blessed. You can never be sure what you will be subjected to. But now, in what must be the epitome of postmodern America, we are subjected to a silly song that promises us a happy "Chrismahanukwanzakah" by living "without a plan"...a phone contract that is. If that's funny, it is because our society has no idea where Truth can be found. Somehow in this ad, they have mixed and confused religion, tradition, legend and sexuality with blatant commercialism. They ask who knows what religion is right? I praise God that my religion isn't a system. My salvation is in a Person. And He is Truth.
I was at Desiring God today reading and looking around.
I found this quote about controversy. Having (amicably) discussed certain controversial topics lately with friends from church, I thought this quote was apropos.
Let me begin today with a brief introductory word about controversy. The main thing I want to say is that doctrinal controversy is essential and deadly. And the attitude toward controversy in various groups of Christians depends largely on which of these two they feel most strongly. Is it essential or is it deadly? My plea is that at Bethlehem we believe and feel both of these. Controversy is essential where precious truth is rejected or distorted. And controversy is deadly where disputation about truth dominates exultation in truth.
~ John Piper (emphasis mine)
This word about controversy comes in the context of baptism, but it is certainly not limited to it.
I know I shouldn't just post a link to an interesting article with harsh words for Fundamentalism without commenting on it. Nevertheless, I am going to. Is this an endorsement of the entire article? No. But I do believe it has some good thoughts. Very good. It isn't too long. I hope you can read it. I will try to post some thoughts on it soon.
Fundamentalism and Biblical Interpretation
Oh how I regret going to this "christian" website I found somehow. It is a joke of course. It isn't Christian at all. I'm not going to give you the real URL. It isn't worth your time. But it made me think...and write...
What is really sad: How much their mocking reminds me of how so many Fundamental Indepedent Baptists preach/come across (especially on some websites I've seen). I see now very clearly some of my dissatisfaction in our circles is our heart attitude.
I know the world will always think we are crazy (1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 2:14), hence their mocking. But there are ways...I think biblically approved ways, to deport ourselves that show God's glory (Matthew 5:16).
I'm providing a link to a blog entry at www.graceandpeace.us.
The entry is a quote from Bryan Chapell's Holiness by Grace. David explains his purpose for posting the quote far better than I can paraphrase him. I hope that you will check it out.
I couldn't sleep more than a few hours last night and when I couldn't return to sleep I began reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I finished it. It was very interesting. I'm not sure what to make of it though. I will have to think about it some more.
Well, that certainly makes me think again about my question the other day. You can't deny that M. L'Engle is writing Science Fiction with as much physics as she packs, but she quoted Scripture quite a few times (in fact, even aliens were quoting it).
Hillary, did you say you had read these books?
I am curious enough to keep reading certainly.
I'm done with research for now. I've started one of my novels. So here's a question that my sister asked, "How does a Christian write science fiction without distorting God's Truth of Creation?" Christa is going to kill me, because I think I have misquoted her. Christa tell us what you mean/meant. I am determined to get you involved.
And maybe this will get Bensfriends talking too (or anyone out there that likes to read my blog, I welcome your comments too!). I want some feedback (please). That's what the discussion category is for. If it sounds like I'm being belligerent, it's because I take 2400 mgs of trileptal a day and I have a pounding headache!
No really, I apologize if I sound mean. I really do appreciate it when you comment on my blog and give me ideas and correction or direction.
I want to write; I want to write well and for the honor of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
So please speak up. That's what we are doing here at Bensfriends (and other Christian blogs), right? Networking for the Body?
grace and peace
I would like to share a World web article with you about reading. It is very interesting and makes good points and good suggestions. It is very long (I exaggerate not.), but also thought provoking at points. Other times it is simply reminding us of what we as Christians already should know. If you have the time, I invite you to read it. (I suppose...the pun is intended.) This article was sent to me by my sister.
I don't know how long this link will work, but I think believers should read this article. It discusses women in the Bible. It's pretty lengthy, but offers insights into our culture and the biblical "scholars" of today.
Has anyone ever heard of Principle Approach Education? Our family got a news letter from them today, and they were making some pretty big claims about restoring America or as they put it: "'the character of the Republic.'"
This brochure is for The Noah Plan which I assume refers to Noah Webster from the picture of the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language (although, I wouldn't discount the alluded pun of the Biblical Noah from the tone of the newsletter).
I don't mean to be cynical. And maybe that's part of the problem they are referring to in America these days. I will do some more research. But I am very curious to see who has heard about this.
Here are some websites:
The Foundation for American Christian Education
Principle Approach International
More on Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin...
President Bush has said that Lt. General Boykin "didn't reflect [the president's] opinion" about Islam.
The article continues...
Boykin said in a statement Friday he was "neither a zealot nor an extremist," was "not anti-Islam or any other religion," and offered a "sincere apology" to those offended by his remarks.
I was a little disappointed in my senator (from Virginia, if you didn't know), John Warner, who wants Boykin to be temporarily reassigned. I've often wondered about public figures and faith. How much can they disagree with public opinion and get away with it. What he said is true (if you believe the part in the bible where it says God is the only God), but it seems like when Christians speak the truth as public figures they are censured and forced out of their positions.
Should that stop Christians from being so vocal? Should that make them more politically correct? Is it better for them to be politically correct and have a long career because they can have a long testimony in that job, or should they speak the truth no matter how short a tenure they will have if they do?
Here's more news on this story:
The General won't be fired for Islam remarks (this article is much the same as the previous one with a few new things set into it.)
It was Boykin himself who asked for the investigation on his remarks to make sure he wasn't being inappropriate.
Does anyone know anything about Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin? I read this article about him at yahoo and was disturbed and encouraged at the same time.
If you want to really get "upset" read this article by James Carroll. He uses William Boykin as a negative example of a "theology [that] is dangerous now."
I am going to pray for Lt. Gen. Boykin and for the leaders of this investigation, and for James Carroll. I will pray that Boykin didn't say anything inappropriate, and that he has a good testimony. And I will pray that the investigators don't take some things that Believers hold to be true about Islam as misconduct. As for Mr. Carroll, the words of Jesus come to my mind from Matthew 5:44. He commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Mr. Carroll has attacked our God. So we need to pray for him.
Would anyone care to comment on this article about religion in politics?
What's going on these days? Why do people think that repackaging the Bible will actually help the cause of Christ? I freely admit that the Bible has a power of its own that can't be defeated by human thinking. But we want genuine faith and belief in Christ not hip Christians who "walk the walk and talk the talk" because it's the "cool thing" to do.
I'm talking about this article from ABC News. My friend Jen commenting on the article said, "We need to reach the lost." But she also said, "We are not like the world," and gave a very good example from Scripture: (Romans 12:2) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
We shouldn't be ashamed of the Word of God. We don't need to hide it or disguise it in a magazine. We are in a free country. We are blessed. We can freely speak Jesus' Name aloud and we don't have to fear that police will take us away from our homes and family. Are churches aren't in danger from the government. But the people of the church are in danger if this is our method of winning the lost and keeping young Christians reading their bibles.
We need to reach the lost. But we are supposed to do it the way Jesus and the Apostles did. We need to stand out. We need to preach the Word and share the Gospel.
We aren't supposed to mix into the system and become some worldly spiritual mélange.
We were talking about point of view in my philosophy class on Tuesday night. God has given us each a point of view. For now I am talking about a physical point of view. If I were standing on the left side of a desk and you were standing on the right side, we would each see the desk differently. It is easy to see that each of has a point of view physically.
But we also have a metaphysical point of view. As we approach an idea or issue, each of us brings his or her own perspective to that discussion. One's upbringing, beliefs, convictions, and faith shape a person's perspective and how he or she will face that idea or issue.
As a Christian when I enter a Natural History museum, I automatically bring my faith in God as Creator with me. Therefore, when I see displays that give evolutionary dates, I reject those immediately.
It is harder for us to realize, I think, that other Christians, by virtue of their unique upbringing, beliefs, and convictions can have different positions than our own. I think we get caught up in our own point of view so often because of tradition that we think that everyone else must be wrong because they don�t do it our way.
I'm not preaching ecumenicalism. Not at all. We have to remember that we are to be separate and holy. But also of like mind. It's okay if we differ on some traditions or church government or translations.
But we need to be Spirit filled so that our point of view is derived from Scripture and our paths directed by Providence.
jmb
(Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. {6} In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
I had my first Practical Reasoning class this evening. I knew that going into it, the class was going to be difficult. As Christians we have values, principles, and commands from God Himself that must be obeyed and cannot be contravened by man's reason. My first class was about the fair-minded, critical thinker. The instructor gave us an essay that he had written and that he uses as an introduction to his course.
There were many things in this essay that I could agree with, but most I have to hold at arms length and examine them in light of Scripture.
I hope that you will engage me in this topic that was very prevalent in Mr. Hilton's essay: Open-mindedness.
I simply want to ask some questions, and perhaps get some responses back.
Two of the essay's definitions of open-mindedness are
receptive to new ideas,
a willingness to be persuaded.
How receptive can a Christian be to new ideas? Or should I say, how receptive should a Christian be to the new philosophies of the World? How does one define receptivity? Is receptiveness an attitude of freely listening?
Should a Christian be willing to be persuaded in any argument? How do we draw the line? How do we discern which arguments we can be willing to be persuaded on and which we cannot before we hear the argument?
As you can see this is an interesting question. I hope you don't think I am floundering. I am not. "But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14 KJV). So please ponder this and answer or ask more questions.
jmb