Hitchens Comments…
By Duane | July 4, 2008
These Christopher Hitchens audio grabs were played during a recent Issues Etc. radio program. [Issues Etc. is an American radio show that I podcast, because good Christian radio is virtually non-existent in Australia]
…Well religion I describe as a poison because I think it attacks the very heart of our integrity. It says that we wouldn’t have any knowledge of right or wrong, any ability to distinguish between good and evil if we were not afraid of a celestial detention…
Topics: Apologetics, Atheism, Ethics/Morality | 2 Comments »
The 1 John Test - How Christian are You!
By Adam | July 3, 2008
In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus tells us the Parable of the Weeds in verses 24 to 30. He says that in any church you will have wheat and weeds growing together equivalent to saved and unsaved people. He said don’t try to pull out the weeds because sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. I think the point here is that you don’t want to be a weed, a hypocrite or a false convert. So how can you tell if you’re wheat or weed? Well the Bible gives us many criteria to determine this. And a great one I think can be found in 1 John. And based on 1 John, I’m going to give you a little quiz so you can see where you are in Christ. Cold, Lukewarm or On Fire?
A good indication as to the content of 1 John can be found at the end of 1 John where John writes in his concluding remarks 1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life”. John gives us 10 signs in the preceding chapters of 1 John so that you can know that you are a true Christian. You can examine yourselves using 1 John to see if you are in the truth. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Adam's Two Sense, Christianity, Theology | 3 Comments »
Blogments
By Duane | June 30, 2008
I was over at TalkWisdom this morning and discovered a new word.
Blogment [Blog-ment]: n. A comment left in response to a blogpost that is sufficiently long and detailed enough to qualify as a blogpost in and of itself.
I don’t know if this is a word that has gained enough usage to become officially accepted into the blogosphere lexicon, but that is my definition based on my understanding of the word in its proper contextual usage.
For a recent example of a blogment on this site see here.
So what would be the opposite of a blogment; a blogpost that is more like a comment. An inverse-Blogment?
Topics: Apologetics, General | 8 Comments »
The Book of Speculations
By Duane | June 30, 2008
It’s a work in progress that’s been sitting in my drafts folder for so long I just couldn’t be bothered thinking about it anymore. Besides, I’m certainly no poet. Add a verse if you like.
The Book of Speculations; perhaps you’ve heard of it?
A book that’s often-quoted, full of human guile and wit
The book is rather large though it was never canonized
And has rather common usage among the church of Christ
Compiled of common wisdom and hearsay from a friend
And an actual verse of scripture may be cited now and then
The book is ever-changing with an in-built claims adjuster
And can’t often be distinguished from opinionated bluster
Topics: General | 2 Comments »
Watoto
By Duane | June 27, 2008
A recent sermon preached in my church was about love. You know, real love. Not simply the emotion, but the selfless act of love that benefits another, sometimes at cost to ourselves. Real love. The kind that motivated God to become a man and hang on a cross at great cost to himself and great benefit to us. I always feel inadequate as a servent of Christ when hearing sermons about this as it is a reminder that I do not love as I should. This has bothered me for quite some time.
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You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)
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Topics: General | 1 Comment »
Finding Forgiveness
By Duane | June 26, 2008
Below is a 2½ minute scene from an episode of the TV Series ‘ER’, which depicts a perfect example of a dying man who is ready to hear the gospel. Acted to perfection, I found it to be particularly moving.
Some notable quotes include:
. . . all I’m hearing is some new age “God is love” one-size-fits-all crap.
. . . I want a real chaplain who believes in a real God and a real Hell.
. . . I need answers, and all your questions and your uncertainty are only making things worse.
. . . I need someone who will look me in the eye and tell me how to find forgiveness, because I am running out of time!
Topics: Christianity | 3 Comments »
You’ve heard of the Planet of the Apes? What about the…
By Duane | June 23, 2008
Gee, that planet of the humans who believe they’re related to apes, looks a lot like Earth. What are the chances?
Topics: Worldview | 30 Comments »
Co-Option Argument Falls Short
By Duane | June 22, 2008
[Originally posted, Oct 16 2007]
Following a recent discussion I had on the merits (or in the case of the views held by one of my work colleagues, ‘de-merits’) of Intelligent Design, which included discussion about the failed ID Trial in Dover, Pennsylvania, I was reminded of the very poor case that stands as support of evolution by natural selection.
Topics: Worldview | 4 Comments »
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