Does Satan Exist?

Pastor Mark Driscoll does an excellent job in proclaiming the Gospel during this ABC Nightline Face-Off. Annie Lobert's testimony is extremely compelling. Deepak Chopra and "Bishop" Pearson demonstrate the lunacy of a world-view that is not based upon the truth of God's Word.

While you are at it, scroll down to the "Does God Exist?" Face-Off with Kirk Cameron.

An Amazing 13 Year Old

Even though the BBC tried to portray her as some kind of "freak", Deborah comes off as a real human being, well on her way to being prepared for Eternity.

Tea Party, Anyone?

The April 15th Albuquerque Tea Party will be held on Montgomery Boulevard. Hmm, could it be that the IRS office is on Montgomery? Check the Tax Day Tea Party website for information about an event in your hometown.

Now I need to come up with a slogan for a sign.

Update, Here is what I am am going to put on a sign:

KING GEORGE III WAS AN AMATEUR (front)
NO KING BUT KING JESUS (back)

Maybe coupling this with a Gadsden Flag T-shirt will send the right message.

First in Line?

Is Mr. Porritt planning to be first in line for his brilliant idea?

I didn't think so.

Mission Statement

We have recently adopted a mission statement for our church. It consists of seven (7) words:

Worship God, Love People, Serve the World.

As we have examined the importance of this statement I have prepared the following information to disseminate to all of our members:

Worship God

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” - Luke 4:8 (ESV)

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. - Matthew 22:37 (ESV)

Love People

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. - John 13:34 (ESV)

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:18 (ESV)

Serve the World

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 (ESV)

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)

Symbolism: This ancient symbol for the trinity is used due to the fact that God the Father is worthy of all worship, Jesus Christ is the demonstration and example of God's love, and the Holy Spirit equips God's people to perform acts of service to his glory. Our mission reflects God's will for His people as seen in His attributes.

NIMBY

Hypocrite.

Perspective

Have you ever noticed that some people are natural optimists? One of these ever-cheery people is my Dad, who always answers the question "How are you?" with a strong "Great! But it is going to get better!" Honestly, there are times when I don't feel great, and also times when I doubt things are going to get better (I take after my Mom who is more of a pragmatist than my Dad).

Yet, as a Christian, I am assured that things are going to get better. This was reaffirmed as I was reading the Pocket Paperback, Anger Management, extracted from the works of Richard Baxter. The book concludes with "A Brief Life of Richard Baxter" by J.C. Ryle in which we see recorded these words from Baxter when close to death and asked as to his state:

"Better than I deserve to be, but not so well as I hope to be." (pg. 55-56)

This sounds similar to my Dad's quip, recognizing that both sentiments are grounded in a firm belief in God's providential care for his children.

"...no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9, ESV)

Great, better than I deserve. It is going to get better, I am not yet as well as I hope to be.

A Bad Day...

...to be a Corrections Officer in New Mexico.

What would restrain an inmate already doing life without parole from killing a prison guard? I recognize that no human system is perfect, but many death penalty mistakes would be prevented by instituting the Biblical mandate that no capital punishment be given without at least two independent witnesses:

A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. - (ESV)

Sometimes Democrats do the Right Thing

I am encouraged that 65 House Democrats have sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder opposing any attempts to re-institute the (misnamed) "assault weapons" ban that expired in 2004. These include my Congressman, Martin Heinrich, as well as Harry Teague from the south part of our state.

The letter can be be seen in its entirety here. As the owner of at least three of the weapons on the Attorney General's proposed "hit list" I am well aware that these firearms have been mis-characterized and demonized by the gun control crowd. Mine haven't been shooting up schools and shopping malls so they must be defective. It is a good thing that I keep them in a safe! Just the other day I sent a letter to the editor to the Wall Street Journal objecting to a poorly reported article, stating:

The so-called assault weapons that were subject to the 1994 Clinton ban as well as President Obama’s recent attention do not “fire rounds more quickly than standard weapons” as stated in your article. Weapons that “fire rounds more quickly” are machine guns, which are already heavily regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934 and subsequent laws. The weapons that have received recent scrutiny are distinguished from “standard weapons” only by cosmetic features that do not make them any more lethal or dangerous. The centerpiece of the assault weapons ban is the AR15 platform which has recently proven to be the most popular firearm for sportsmen and target shooters as well as by those who wish to defend their lives and property.

The fact that there are deranged individuals who misuse firearms, and other tools, should not negate the need for law abiding citizens to possess modern firearms for self-defense. As has been recently demonstrated in several horrific incidents, “when seconds count, the police are only minutes away”.

I am glad that the signers of this letter made several of the same points. It is good that they "get it". My thanks to all who signed this letter.

Do we really care what Time magazine thinks?

While there has been no lack of responses in the bogosphere to the recent Time magazine piece, I believe that Bro. Thabiti's perspective on the matter is spot on:

Pure Church: Why the Time Magazine Trumpeting of New Calvinism Is a Bad Thing

The Bailout

This about sums it up completely and succinctly:

We are taking money from businessmen like George Bailey to give it to crooks like Potter.

You can read more here.

Time Magazine Article

Time magazine has rated the "new Calvinism" as #3 in their series on 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now.

The article is fairly balanced, but I picked up a bit of a "sneer" in the tone of the opening paragraphs.

#3? Who would have thought?

Update: It appears that this is not the first time that Time Magazine has written on Calvinism, as shown in this article on a "Calvinist Comeback" from February 1947. I also detect a bit of a "sneer" in this one as well.

Youth Ministry Satire

This might be closer to reality than we would want to admit.


Ignatius from travis hawkins on Vimeo.

"God wants to raise up a generation of flamers...."

Upcoming Collapse of Evangelicalism

Micheal Spencer, the Internet Monk, has posted a series of articles on the Upcoming Collapse of Evangelicalism that has received notice in various places, including the Drudge Report and the Christian Science Monitor.

Even though Spencer claims that he is not a prophet, it is hard to miss the prophetic nature of his analysis:

"This collapse will herald the arrival of an anti-Christian chapter of the post-Christian West. Intolerance of Christianity will rise to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes, and public policy will become hostile toward evangelical Christianity, seeing it as the opponent of the common good.

Millions of Evangelicals will quit. Thousands of ministries will end. Christian media will be reduced, if not eliminated. Many Christian schools will go into rapid decline. I'm convinced the grace and mission of God will reach to the ends of the earth. But the end of evangelicalism as we know it is close."

The Church is secure, but the sad counterfeit that much of western evangelicalism represents is hopefully soon going to be nothing more than a bad memory.

Maybe once the sham comes to an end we will realize that Jesus was serious, dead serious, when He said:

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. - Luke 21:12-19 (ESV)

Gospel Tract

Jolly Blogger gives us a Failed Gospel Tract to contemplate.

Amazing

I am more and more amazed at how this turned out every time that I see it.

A Trillion Dollars

A million here, a billion there.
Ever wonder what a Trillion Dollars looks like?