Danielle Belton's The Black Snob - The Snob Blog - White House: A Year In Photos

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White House photographer Pete Souza's finest.

Danielle Belton's The Black Snob - The Snob Blog - White House: A Year In Photos

Line of Fire Debate - James White and Michael Brown Debate Calvinism

As you may know, if you have been following my blog, I've been engaged in discussing Calvinism with my brothers-in-Christ, Brennon and Dave, as it pertains to the exegesis of Ephesians chapter one. The discussion of corporate and individual election as well as human autonomy and free will invariably come up in in such discussions. I've profited greatly...it's always good to hashout out your thoughts and ideas with others especially if they disagree. It's also a gift when you get to see professional theologians do the same! These past two days, January 26 and 27th, James White and Michael Brown did just that concerning Calvinism. My own studies have lead me to agree more consistently with James White, but I really appreciated Michael Brown. It was so sweet. No hostility. They treated and respected one another with love although they disagreed. All debates should be like that. Because each interaction was less then an hour, neither one was able to go into as much depth as they wanted to. They basically stayed on the surface, but both were able to articulate their positions on what they believe. The issue was that they were not able to really go into scripture to explain how it supports them in much detail. Fortunately, they agreed to appear on James White's web cast in the near future and verse-by-verse walk through the Bible examining and cross-examining the texts that they agree to discuss. This, I have got to hear. In the meantime, I would recommend listening to their exchange on Michael Brown's radio broadcast, Line of Fire. He has posted both days on his web site. Yoou can use the link below to hear them.


Line of Fire
January 26, 2010
January 27, 2010

Stand to Reason Blog: Dawkins Lectures Christians

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I have found this interesting link from Twitter and I am so glad it was pointed out. Atheists like Richard Dawkins are having a field day between the fact of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and Pat Roberston's ignorant remark. Dawkins is reported in the article to have said:

Loathsome as Robertson's views undoubtedly are, he is the Christian who stands squarely in the Christian tradition. The agonized theodiceans who see suffering as an intractable 'mystery', or who 'see God' in the help, money and goodwill that is now flooding into Haiti , or (most nauseating of all) who claim to see God 'suffering on the cross' in the ruins of Port-au-Prince, those faux-anguished hypocrites are denying the centrepiece of their own theology. It is the obnoxious Pat Robertson who is the true Christian here.
Where was God in Noah's flood?....

Dawkins is saying that Roberston saying that Haiti deserves what happened shows the correct Christian understanding of what happened/ I completely disagree. Again, there is no proof that Roberston's idea saying that Haiti made a deal with Satan for their independence, but I'm amazed that this quote makes me think that  Dawkins agrees with Roberston!  That is the only reason that i think that it's hypocritical for Christians to aid Haiti.  The article's writer makes a great point. I quote it as follows:

Bertrand Russel, the famous 20th century atheist, once challenged what a Christian would have to say at the bedside of a dying child where God had not intervened to heal. But what is the atheist’s response? Too bad. The only natural response from atheism is "Tough luck, Haiti." The suffering is not even tragic or evil, it just is the way it is because there is nothing transcendent. There is no good, there is no evil, there is no tragedy in Darwinism. There is only survival and natural processes that bring death or spare us for now. Nothing more.

I agree. By helping Haiti, Atheists are acting against their worldview, not Christians. Christians are following their worldview because we believe that God demands that we help those who need it. We know that it is right. But as an atheist, many agree that we should help Haiti. But why? I mean what happened to "Survival of the Fittest" and "Natural Selection". Why should we not allow those who are strong enough to survive this and  let the weak die? I have an answer for this, however atheist don't unless they abandon their worldview. I welcome their hypocrisy because it does nothing but helps Haiti in general and my in-laws in particular. We need to help Haiti because that is the right thing to do that God wants us to do. Thanks for the help, Richard Dawkins.

Stand to Reason Blog: Dawkins Lectures Christians

Atheism is Dead: The Bible Among the Myths

Mariano, has provided a comprehensive post on some resources available that allows one to evaluate the misconception that Christian doctrines and Theology in general, and our understanding of Jesus in particular are "borrowed" from pagan and mystery religions. He has done me the honor of referencing some of my blog articles as wells as some of his in his list. He also refers us to John N. Oswalt's book.  The link to his resoursce list is below:

Atheism is Dead: The Bible Among the Myths

Another website I must mention if you want to read more about this is Tekton and look at a post I did about the founder of that site, JP Holding. Here is the link.JP Holding on the Christ Myth.

What is up with Australia?!!!!

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I'm wondering what is so special about Australia in 2010!? I mean I'm sure it's a great country and all and great people live there and are from there. It just seems of late that Australia is getting first dibs on a few things I care about. I'm trying to not get jealous.

For example, how is Marvel and BET going to premier Black Panther in Australia first and exclusively in no other markets. I mean do they even have BET in Australia? I still can't figure this out. But since some people in Australia have been nice enough to share the first two episodes (and I hope they continue to share the rest of the six) I keep my continual moaning and groaning to myself.

And I find out that there is going to be a major global Atheist conference in Australia this year in March because I read the Atheism Is Dead. blog. I mean some of the best atheist will be together in public and away from where I can hear them in person. It seems like Australia is finally getting its due for hosting more international events. I'm happy for them, really, but I sure hope it doesn't mean that America is becoming less important