“Original dinosaur tissues in fossil bones are probably the most controversial finds in all of paleontology. Secular scientists have difficulty interpreting them. They debate whether the tissues are real, based on laboratory-measured tissue decay rates, or whether the tissue decay rates are real, based on plainly observed tissues.”
Read the rest of the article by Brian Thomas M.S. here.
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Posted by Chris
Jimmy DeYoung is a prophecy teacher whom I listen to once in a while. The man knows his Bible. I agree with much of his take on government here. I’m not so sure about his view of Daniel 7 and I am surely not certain that the “false church” will be headquartered in Rome, Italy.
It is clear there will be a “taking away” event. Many call it the rapture. The main reason I believe in this event comes from the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. I hope that Mr. DeYoung is right about the possibility of the rapture happening at any time. I agree with him that there will be a 7 year tribulation and a Millennial kingdom. I lean towards the pre-trib view of the rapture but don’t hold a solid position on the topic.
With the recent events in the Middle East, those of us who are interested in Bible Prophecy are watching the events surrounding Israel closely.
God has made a commitment to the people of Israel.
“The Lord Jesus is called ‘shomer Yisrael, the one who guards Israel’; this Keeper never slumbers and never sleeps, but is always on duty. Psalm 121:4.”
May God Bless the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
CR
2 Comments | Bible Prophecy, Commentary, News, The Middle East, theology | Permalink
Posted by Chris
Reposted from the Cracked-Pot.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Perilous, chalepos; Strong’s #5467. Harsh, savage, difficult, dangerous, painful, fierce, grievous, hard to deal with. The word describes a culture that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices.
The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy and us to continue our walk in Christ, standing fast in the face of increased evil. Now as then, people are characterized by all kinds of self-centered and unnatural perversions. Some will speak Christianize to maintain an outward pretense, but all the while refusing the reality of what the Christian faith expresses.
The power denied by them is the heart of Christianity—the fact of a risen Redeemer, the truth of the inspired (God breathed) Word of God and the indwelling and overflowing of the gift of the Father, the person of the Holy Spirit; who works within believers and transforms their lives to image of Christ.
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Posted by Chris
“…the trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ..” 1 Peter 1:7
Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship moves not to its harbour; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too. Let the winds rush howling forth, and let the waters lift up themselves, then, though the vessel may rock, and her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway towards her desired haven. No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength had you not been supported amid the water floods. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.
Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: the full portion will be measured out to you in due season. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise him for that degree of holy confidence whereunto you have attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92)
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It’s rare that I put up two of Mr. Spurgeon’s works back to back. When I read this yesterday, I felt it speaking to the church today. No one knows exactly what lies ahead. After this last U.S. election, there are some very gloomy stories out there. I’ve read more than one.
I would like to add a few of the verses that precede this one to close this post. – CR
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
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Posted by Chris
“The eternal God is thy refuge.” Deut. 33:27
The word refuge may be translated “mansion”, or “abiding place”, which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we “fear no evil.” He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life’s conflict, we turn to him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the “secret of the Lord is with them that fear him”, the secrets of them that fear him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to him strengthens us. We think of him in the person of his dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labour in his cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father’s heart to make glad by bringing home his wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92)
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Posted by Chris
By Rob
I am a Christian I’m just not obliged to acknowledge the founder
I love Jesus But not enough to obey his teachings
His ways are not my ways My ways are my ways
I believe in being salt of the earth as long as that means “making the world a better place”
I believe in the Bible but it isn’t factual
I believe God spoke to us in His Word but personal revelation can trump his Word at any time
The Bible speaks words of truth to me but those words can mean whatever I want
I believe in Heaven and Hell but what kind of God would condemn you to hell?
Jesus said I will be outcast, set apart and persecuted but I believe we should ignore our differences and unite by our similarities
I believe in equal rights for all people of all faiths, lifestyles and preferences Just not for Bible-believing Christians who are the ones keeping the church from growing
God’s Son Jesus was beat, tortured, starved, stabbed, whipped and abused but God has a wonderful plan for me to prosper and not harm me
I believe we have to be tolerant of everyone except those who don’t believe what I believe
What I believe is what the church has always believed at least that is what the emergents tell me
I’m Orthodox to the bone but lack the spine to support it
Posted by Pastor Ken Silva here.
2 Comments | Commentary, theology | Permalink
Posted by Chris
The results of the election are not surprising, given the polls and predictions in advance. However, they are nonetheless shocking and sobering. Voters have chosen to confirm an Administration in Washington, D.C. that has undertaken the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe vs. Wade forty years ago.
It is heartbreaking and distressing to see that our nation will continue being driven down this path for another four years; a decision that will, of course, drive the rest of the world more deeply into a culture of death.
This “choice” means that more babies will be killed through abortion and abortifacients, more mothers and fathers will suffer harm, more families will be destroyed, and our nation will slip further away (in national policy matters) from our Christian roots and founding principles—especially the principle that we are endowed with unalienable rights, the first of which is the right to life; and the principle, enshrined as the first right in our Bill of Rights, of freedom of religion.
It is a frightening time. But, as Christians, we know that the Lord has won victory over death. We know that the Lord is still with us, and that He can do mighty deeds! We never give up hope, never despair.
Today and going forward, Heartbeat International continues to start, strengthen, defend, and support pregnancy help ministries all over the world.
Today and going forward, Heartbeat continues to answer the call at Option Line®, 24/7, via the phone (800 712 HELP), internet (OptionLine.org), live chat, and email, connecting those in need to life-saving help in their own community.
Everything we do saves lives and advances a culture of life. We continue to do what God is calling us to do.
One of my favorite reminders from Holy Scripture is Psalm 20:7, “Some put their hope in horses and chariots, but we put our hope in the Lord our God.” How seemingly “old-fashioned” to put hope in horse and chariots when we now have atomic weapons and spaceships that explore outer space! Yet, at one point in the history of the world, horses and chariots were the most powerful war implements imaginable. The things of this world are ever-changing, including technology and political power. But God does not change. He can always bring life from death.
We will continue full speed ahead! We know the Lord will bring many fruits from our labors, as He always has. We are willing to bear any burden to assert our right, as a Christian organization, to do what we are called to do, even in an increasingly anti-Christian atmosphere. We will continue the fight for LIFE, armed with His love and empowered by His grace. We covet your continued prayers for courage, wisdom, protection, and success.
You make all of this possible with your support, prayers, and partnership. Thank you!
In Christ,
Margaret Hartshorn, Ph.D., President
Margaret Hartshorn is the President of Heartbeat International. Heartbeat International works to inspire and equip Christian communities worldwide to rescue women and couples from abortion through the development of neighborhood pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, and adoption services. These ministries provide life-saving help in a truly life-changing way by assisting women who are at risk for abortion with the life-affirming, practical support they need to choose life, then prepare them to parent or to place for adoption. Heartbeat serves as the leadership supply line for the Pregnancy HELP Movement worldwide.
I work at one of the help centers mentioned at the Heartbeat website. Without exception, those whom I saw today who work to save lives felt as if they had the wind knocked out of them after last night’s election results. As I have repeatedly asked on this blog site, “How can God bless a nation that has turned its back on Him?” The only thing that will save the United States of America is a return to the God of the Bible. I have thought for a long time that this return will not happen. Sadly, last night’s decision confirmed my beliefs.
CR
You can see Heartbeat’s website here.
8 Comments | Abortion, Commentary, LIFE, News | Permalink
Posted by Chris
At church today, the bulletin printed the memory verse for the month. It is:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
I immediately thought of the Message Bible (A friend has referred to it as the Massage Bible).
Here’s Romans 15:13 in the Message Bible:
“Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”
The God of green hope?
The Message Bible that I have has some interesting endorsements. It is not surprising that it receives praise from Richard J. Foster and Bill Hybels. Mr. Foster is a “Living Spiritual Teacher” and Quaker mystic. Mr. Hybels is the founding and senior pastor at a mega church called Willow Creek Community Church in the suburbs of Chicago (South Barrington). Willow Creek’s theology and some who are allowed to speak there are questionable to say the least.
Here’s a Message book jacket quote by Rebecca St. James, the popular Christian recording artist:
“There is so much that is fake about our society. My generation is craving something that is real, honest, and true. The Message is straight up! It’s modern, relevant, and direct.”
I respect Rebecca for many reasons. How she could associate her name with the Message Bible I don’t know. Maybe she isn’t aware, like so many others, that it adds words that aren’t in the original Greek.
I am passing along a word of concern to those of you who read the Message Bible.
Here are a few similar opinions:
Chris Reimers
2 Comments | Commentary, Helps, theology | Tagged: The Message Bible | Permalink
Posted by Chris
By Manny Rodriguez
He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
There are nearly forty self-revealing names for God in the Old Testament. In these names, we can grow in the knowledge of God’s nature and character. In just two verses of Psalm 91 three titles of God are given besides the personal name of the Lord (Yahweh, YHVH or four-lettered name in Hebrew. ) Elyon, (the Most High), Shaddai (the Almighty), and Elohim (here meaning “the Sublime God.”) Almighty, shadday– Strong’s #7706. All powerful; when it appears as ‘El Shadday, it is “God Almighty.” The all-sufficient God; in Him all fullness dwells, and out of His constant fullness His own receive all things. El sets forth God’s Almightiness, and Shaddai, His exhaustless bounty; i.e., the all-bountiful One.
This is the name by which the patriarchs (Gen. 17:1; Ex.6:3) knew God. Sheh-day or Shadday is therefore the all-sufficient God, eternally capable of being all that His people need. Hopefully that will put some wind in your sail.
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Posted by Chris
Thoughts on the Election of 2012
November 15, 2012I found this statement by James White at Manny’s blog Cracked-Pot. I could not have said it better.
CR
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