Who Knew Twitter Was Useful?

I just read an article from G4TV's blog and it contains a new interesting use for Google Maps and Twitter.

Outbreak 2.0: Tracking Swine Flu Through Google Maps And Twitter

from G4 TV - TheFeed

Can't get enough swine-flu excitement? Who can?!? Thankfully the Internet has evolved to the point where everyone can track their favorite diseases and outbreaks like never before. First up is a Google Map that pinpoints every reported case of swine flu around the world. From Mexico to America to Spain to New Zealand, you can follow swine flu victims across the globe.

Speaking of follow, your day isn't complete unless you've received Twitter updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Busting out emergency updates one tweet at a time, CDC's Twitter page gives you up-to-the-second information on the latest swine flu conference calls, respirator suggestions, and recommended antiviral drugs.

Now if I may be serious for a moment (channeling Lance Storm), it's pretty amazing that the Internet has evolved to the point where millions of people can easily get updates on a disease outbreak. While some will check out the information simply because it's there (Wikipedia syndrome?), others will use it to keep their family and friends safer. It's truly amazing.

Source

Steve Harvey: Stick To What You Know

I was shocked to find out that Steve Harvey has written a book about male/female relationships. After picking my Jaw off the floor, I realized that I have no reason at all to take his advice. I happen to have the book as a PDF. Take a look at the book

Open publication - Free publishing - More steve harvey

Harvey's book is called "Act Like A Lady; Think Likeex A Man". I think fundamentally this is bad advice. He is right when he says that women can't expect men to act and think like women. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to mention from what I read that men can't expect women to think like us either. The fundamental problem is that Harvey's advice conflicts with the Bible. I think he's right many men are driven by:

his title (who he is), how he gets that title (what he does), and the reward he gets for the effort (how much he makes)

The question I have is this: Is this the right motivation we should have?
According to our creator...no. Our motivations should be centered to follow Jesus.
I also wanted to point out that although Harvey has gone on record saying that he has not turned his life over to Christ. He at least has that much sense. I would argue that he has a "head" knowledge of who Jesus is because no way he could say what he does in the following video unless he knew something about Jesus.

Norman Geisler vs RC Sproul - Free Will vs God's Sovereignty

I do not agree with everything Dr. Geisler says in this video but I know it's worth sharing. It's interesting. I read his book Chosen But Free but he was unable to convince me that humans have complete total free will when it comes to accepting salvation. I used to think that. I used to think that a person who chooses to reject Christ is just just more stupid than I. This is not true. I can't believe I was ever so stupid to think that. Geisler's book is a response to Dr. RC Sproul's book Chosen By God (which I still need to read). I did read Dr. James White's book The Potter's Freedom. I'm planning to write a more substantial post detailing what I've learned. For now here is Dr. Geisler lecturing on Calvinism.

Here is RC Sproul lecturing on the material he presented in Chosen By God




Here is the lecture by Norman Geisler on the material in which he used in Chosen But Free and it's call "Why I am not a 5 point Calvinist".




I really wish Dr Geisler would either debate Dr White or Dr Sproul on this subject.

Too Much Time?

I have seen a video on YouTube where someone made a life-size (and I assume working) Batmobile! I'm torn in opinion. On one hand, I think that dude had too much time on his hands! On the other, I think it's really, really cool!

What?!! The Earth Is Flat?

Many Atheist criticize Christianity because of the persecutions of Galileo and other scientists during the Renaissance for announcing that the earth is round. They tell us that the Bible is unreliable and stifles science because the religious leaders who considered the idea of a round earth being an anathema based on what the Bible says. No where in the entire Bible does it say that the earth is flat! Those people said that because of their own cultural biases. They did not want to admit that they were wrong. Today, I don't think that you will be able to find a Christian try to assert a flat earth. What about Islam? James White has posted a video from YouTube where a Muslim scholar defends the Islamic teaching of a flat earth! I'm shocked. The man is from a school of interpreting the Koran in such a way that it cannot be wrong! Even if it is wrong compared to everyone else you know to be true. That's scary!

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 14 of 14

Check out the conclusion of Mariano's series dealing Dan Barker's rhetoric serious and unsurmountable blows!
Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 14 of 14

In Memory of Thuy Trang

I know that this is not new news. Unfortunately, it has not be widely reported. She was a great actress and I enjoyed her on Power Rangers. She was the first yellow ranger. She died in 2001 but I only recently came across the news report.

Powerpoint Tool Showcasing Makayla

Okay, I have found a really cool tool for sharing powerpoint presentation. You can present them online live. You can embed them in blog/website or convert them into YouTube videos. Best part: It's free. This is a powerpoint that Mitsouky put together of our daughter using pictures from the first few weeks of her life.



Uploaded on authorSTREAM by mmcelhaney

Announcement: New Features

I have added a couple of new things to this blog, What Had Happen' Was:
1. Search Engine for searching for keywords in each of my three blogs using Google's technology.
2. Answer.com feature for looking up the meaning of words in the blogs. Just double click the word.

Homeland Security Labels Bible Prophecy Students Terrorists

Come'on! Is anyone truly surprised? I love this article that I read on this particular blog. It's really well-written and I think everyone should read it. (I'll paste it below because it's hard to read on the original source blog).

By Nathan Jones
LighthousePrayerLine.org


Are you a student of Bible prophecy who has discovered that the Bible teaches the planet will soon be under the control of the one-world government of the Antichrist before Jesus comes and institutes His one-world government? Do you believe the Bible teaches murdering our children is wrong and homosexuality destroys lives and that we should speak out against them? Do you feel the increasing immorality is fueling increasing crime, and wish to defend your children with a firearm? Do you love America and want to see it obey its own Constitution limiting federal power and enforcing its own immigration laws? Are you a military veteran who has bled for the freedom of your country?


If you can answer "yes" to just one of these, then you are now considered by America's own Department of Homeland Security to be a "domestic rightwing terrorists."

The Document

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Extremism and Radicalization Branch, in coordination with the FBI, released their ten page Homeland Environment Threat Analysis on April 7, 2009, titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." The purpose of this "one of a series" of threat analysis is "to facilitate a greater understanding of the phenomenon of violent radicalization in the United States" so that all "law enforcement officials... may effectively deter, prevent, preempt, or respond to terrorist attacks against the United States."

While the document declares the Threat Analysis must be made in an "overt and transparent manner," the document also commands that "no portion of the LES information should be released to the media, the general public, or over non-secure Internet servers."

The Threat Analysis reports that "domestic rightwing terrorists" are energized by a series of current political and social factors: the economic downturn, the election of an African-American president, the possible passage of new restrictions on firearms, immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, anti-Semitism directed by a perceived "cabal of Jewish 'financial elites,'" the rise of a "New World Order," and the large numbers of returning "military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities."

In response to these factors, the DHS claims "domestic rightwing terrorists" are recruiting veterans for paramilitary training and purchasing and stockpiling weapons and ammunition. They are teaching "their children specifically xenophobia and antidemocratic ideals." And, they are using "the Internet and other information age technologies" for the purposes of planning and implementing "violent extremist attack" upon the government.

The document claims such violence has already begun "in two instances in the run-up to the election" when "extremists appeared to be in the early planning stages of some threatening activity targeting the Democratic nominee, but law enforcement interceded." It also cites the Oklahoma City Bombing by since-executed Timothy McVeigh.

The document parallels today's conditions with 1990, stating "prominent among these themes were the militia movement’s opposition to gun control efforts, criticism of free trade agreements (particularly those with Mexico), and highlighting perceived government infringement on civil liberties as well as white supremacists’ longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage."

For people who are concerned about an impending collapse of the United States, the Threat Assessment warns that "historically, domestic rightwing extremists have feared, predicted, and anticipated a cataclysmic economic collapse in the United States." Those who believe this may happen are "conspiracy theorists" who fear "declarations of martial law, impending civil strife or racial conflict, suspension of the U.S. Constitution, and the creation of citizen detention camps."

That concern, the document claims, is fueled by those who believe in "'end times' prophecies." The document says end-time Bible prophecy teachings "have been linked with the radicalization of domestic extremist individuals and groups in the past, such as violent Christian Identity organizations and extremist members of the militia movement."

On a brighter note for all Americans involved, the Threat Assessment reports it "has no specific information that domestic rightwing terrorists... [are] currently planning acts of violence." Also, it shares the view that "both rightwing extremists and law-abiding citizens share a belief that rising crime rates attributed to a slumping economy make the purchase of legitimate firearms a wise move at this time."

The DHS/I&A "will be working with its state and local partners over the next several months to ascertain with greater regional specificity the rise in rightwing extremist activity in the United States, with a particular emphasis on the political, economic, and social factors that drive rightwing extremist radicalization."

The Response

In only the few days since what must have been its leak to The Washington Times newspaper, the DHS Threat Assessment has created a clamor of angry responses. Americans who love their country, its laws and the Bible feel insulted and betrayed that our own government would label over 50% of the population "domestic rightwing terrorists."

Well known speakers like former President Ronald Reagan's son Michael have expressed their incredulity. And Jay Sekulow, chief counsel at the American Center for Law & Justice, is even "preparing a legal analysis and will be launching a nationwide campaign in the days ahead to demand that Homeland Security remove the references from its warning."

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the report, saying that only the definition of right-wing extremism that was included in a footnote should be reworded to be more sensitive.

My Analysis

Concerning the DHS Threat Assessment document, I've read over the ten pages and have found it disturbing. Its claim that Americans who do not agree with the liberal bent of the current administration are paranoid, shows just how paranoid the current administration is.

In part, I can understand the racism element involved in the government's paranoia. Despicable white supremist groups do ooze out of their pits now and then and wouldn't mind taking a pot-shot at President Obama, or anyone else outside of their hometown for that matter. For these white supremist groups the Threat Assessment is certainly addressing, it is well-founded to keep an eye on such groups. But, that racism is somehow tied to the pro-life and pro-marriage movements is an outrageous inference.

As for the paranoia that conservative values equal terrorist values, that inference shows the highest and most unfounded levels of paranoia. The United States has been a nation composed of many ideologies and values throughout its history that for the most part have lived peaceably side-by-side. That the liberal ideology would believe it has to call competitive ideologies "terrorists," proves those who hold to that terminology must themselves be fearful bigots. Fearful bigotry produced the most dreadful event in American history - the Civil War. Is that what the current DHS guard is advocating?

As for Christians who believe in God's moral law and students of Bible prophecy, being seen as terrorists is a chilling thought. Christians only have to look at other large democracies like India to see that democracy doesn't protect its Christian citizens when the government would rather not have them around.

When did such a transition take place in the United States, that our "apple pie" Americans who love God and country such as myself would be seen as the enemy? The answer coincides when the values of the Bible were ejected from our society. A free and truly democratic society that values life and liberty cannot survive without those who hold to God's moral law. True freedom requires Jesus Christ, the Bible, and a foundation that rests firmly on what God calls right and wrong.

I do hope that every intelligence agent who is scouring my article to discern the thought and intents of my heart comes to understand this.

Your Response

Homeland Security gives addresses to its personnel for comments and questions. We, too, should also offer DHS our comments and questions in a civilized and loving fashion.

"For comments or questions related to the content or dissemination of [the Threat Analysis] document, please contact the DHS/I&A Production Branch at IA.PM@hq.dhs.gov, IA.PM@dhs.sgov.gov, or IA.PM@dhs.ic.gov."

Atheism is Dead: From Zeitgeist to Poltergeist, Part 2 of 12

This post is the second in Mariano's series of articles discussing Hitler's relationship to Christianity and Atheism. Check it out!

Atheism is Dead: From Zeitgeist to Poltergeist, Part 2 of 12

Pevensie15 | AJ's Blog: Cumulative Case for God's Existence

There is a young man who's blog is always very interesting. When I read this particular post I had to share it. You must check it. In this one post he does a great job of summarizing the 5 best arguments against atheism. These are the main points used by scholars such as William Lane Craig (his picture is on the right). The five points are:

1. The cosmological argument
2. The teleological argument
3. If God does not exist, then objective moral values do not exist (ontological argument).
4. Another argument is the historical evidence for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the dead.
5. Challenge: You can know that God exists wholly apart from any evidence. You can know He exists from personal experience.

Read AJ's blog for more extended discussion.
Pevensie15 | AJ's Blog: Cumulative Case for God's Existence

If I remember correctly, this line of argumentation for the existence of God is called the "Evidential" technique for the first 4 points and the last one is "Experiential". While I think that all these points are true and it does not require to argue for the infallibility of the Bible or the Deity of Christ or most Christian doctrine, I believe it has merit. The problem is that many atheists like Christopher Hitchens are able to point out that the argument can only get you to prove the existence of a god, not the God of the Bible if you use only points 1, 2, and 3. I believe that some people do come to Christ using this method. God does use this...no question. The bottom line is that it take the Holy Spirit to reconcile sinners (all of us) to God. You can't argue a man to salvation. I'm just thankful that these 5 points are just tools that God can use through us.

Apostle of Mormon Church Message From Easter 2009

On Saturday night, April 11, 2009 I was amazed to see a video from the head Apostle of the Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints. During my lifetime, Mormonism has changed much. Instead of the cult that Joseph Smith founded, many Mormons think of themselves as just another Protestant denomination of Christianity. Unless you have some familiarity with Mormon doctrine, it was almost impossible to distinguish this man from any other clergy of Christianity. As a matter of fact, I agreed with almost everything he had to say about Jesus and what he did. Take a look.





After seeing this, you may wonder why I'd bother to post about this if I agree with so much about what the man has said. Two reasons. One: It is important that we do not allow ourselves to be confused. Mormonism is not Christianity. Here is a videos that I think do a great job showing how different Mormon doctrine is.

Check out this video on Mormon Theology



And two: The talk about God the Father turning his back on Jesus while Jesus was on the cross. It's not damnable heresy. It preaches well, but it really sticks in my craw because it is saying something the Bible does not say. Many people who teach this viewpoint say that God turned His back on Jesus because God is too holy to look upon sin and all the sins of humanity were on Christ during His crucifixion. My problem is two fold. If God cannot look on sin, then He would not be able to look on any of us. And Jesus was not saying that His father had forsaken him when the Bible say in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34:

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

What I have learned that in the day and culture of Jesus on Earth, if you wanted to call attention to a passage in the Old Testament, all you had to is quote the first sentence and then everyone will know you are talking about the whole passage. You see Jesus was quoting Psalm 22. If you read the Psalm you will find a perfect description of everything Jesus experienced - written 1000 years earlier! And it you read that Psalm you will see that the one who is suffering is vindicated and triumphs! Truly powerful. I'm resisting the temptation to copy and paste the Psalm in this post. I will hotlink to it instead.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 13 of 14

Can Christians have christmas trees? According to Dan Barker: No. That is where Mariano comes in.
Here is the 13th article in Mariano's series of refutation of Dan Barker. This one not just works for Dan Barker but I can see it being applied to Jehovah Witnesses also. This one is about celebrating Christmas and having Christmas trees at home. It's a good read. Take a look at the link below.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 13 of 14

Is God Necessary for Morality? William Lane Craig Debates Shelly Kagan MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315

I found another great debate on the Apologetics 315 blogs. The topic: Is God Necessary for Morality? I think it's important to remember that Christians are not arguing that atheists and other people who are not Christians are not capable of moral acts or grasping moral ideals. The argument is that without God, those morals have no basis. Let me give an example. We all agree that it is wrong for me to walk up to you and just stab you because I feel like it. The question is "Why?" Why is it wrong? I mean if I can do it that fast enough that you can't stop me then why not? If anyone can answer that without appealing to a standard above you and me, that I would like to see. Here is the link to the post on Apologetics 315.

Is God Necessary for Morality? William Lane Craig Debates Shelly Kagan MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315

Jon Stewart Comments on Torture and Laws that Are Never Going To Pass

I've got to admit: I watch the Daily Show at times. It's always funny how they present the news. It's sarcastic, yet the facts reported are true. This week, he had two subjects that must not be ignored. The first segment is about Torture and if American officials should be held accountable for the torture of suspected terrorists? No matter what you think the answer is this is very funny and thought provoking.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
A Brief History of Torture
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

Here is the other segment about will the US accept a United Nations resolution that will give children the right to freedom of religion and outlaw corporal punishment? And other laws that will never happen along with one-world government.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Sh#t That's Never Gonna Happen - Global Currency
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

I have to disagree with Stewart. I'd like to think that he's right and a one-world currency or restricting American civil liberties because of an international governing body could never happen. Unfortunately, the way I and many others read the Bible these very things will take place. I liked his point that in now way would we join the one-world currency bandwagon because we haven't even adopted the metric system. But I think that is the awesomeness of Bible prophecy. Even the seemingly unlikely will take place if the Bible says it will.

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, on Fox News

Just when people say that Christians don't practice what they preach, God raises someone up to prove the critics wrong. Although it cost her winning Miss America 2009, Carrie Prejean chose to honor God and tell the truth rather than compromise her stand for God. I admire that. May we all do the same when our time comes. She was interviewed on Fox News and I'd bet she surprised a lot of people. What did she do that was so amazing? She really obeyed Jesus.

Middle Knowledge & Free Will: What Does God Know And When Does He Know It

As you probably already know that one of my favorite blogs is Pros Apologian which part of Alpha and Omega Ministries. One of it's regular contributors TurretinFan
has put together a series of very interesting blog articles about Middle Knowledge. It's a multipart series of posts. I will link to them below and following that will be a playlist of videos. This is really important. It's about exploring the question: What does God know and when does he know it?!

Middle Knowledge - Part 1
Middle Knowledge - Part 2
Middle Knowledge - Part 3
Middle Knowledge - Part 4
Middle Knowledge - Part 5
Middle Knowledge - Part 6

I thoroughly enjoyed the series. The information presented is invaluable. I admit the talking cartoon was a tad...creepy...but if this is the voice of the author he has a great voice for communicating verbally. This information is important because it is about the nature of God and what He does.

It is unavoidable that "Middle Knowledge" was developed so that people who believe that humans have free will can still argue that God is in sovereign control of everything. For that reason alone, agree that we should throw out the thought. However, I think that the idea that God puts people into circumstances and situations so that they will voluntarily choose to do things that they would not have done otherwise. Here is an example from scripture (2 Chronicles 7:11-14):

When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
"I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

Recall that in this passage God uses chastening to "inspire" repentence. What I like is that these verses totally knock down Middle Knowledge because it shows that the main driving force is God and his purposes first. It's God's world, we just live in it.

This not saying the same thing that Middle Knowledge says because God know what He has to do to cause a person to move the way He wants them too. However, God can just make a person choose what He wants them to choose apart from their own will. For example we know for a fact that God restrains evil. Proverbs 21:1 says

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

One last point. The Bible reveals two different "wills" of God. One is identified by the Greek word "Thelos" which refers to the purposes which God will put his power into fulfilling. This corresponds to God's free will as defined in this series. The other is "boulomai" which refers to God's desire but not to what He will put his power into accomplish. This corresponds to the "natural" knowledge has because of his omniscience - knowing all possible paths He could take.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 11 of 14

Mariano has posted his 11th article in his 14-part series refuting atheist Dan Barker. This is another high-quality article! This time the Dan Barker asserts that when Jesus told the young man to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor he was talking to all his followers. Dumb assertion I know, but I'll leave it in Mariano's capable hands to refute this. Read his post at the following link.
Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 11 of 14

Heroes Webisodes "Nowhere Man" Part 1 of 4

The latest Heroes webisode series, Nowhere Man" just started. Here is part 1 called "The Truth Within". The series follows the character Doyle whom has the power to make anyone do what he wants. He attempts to go straight after already been shown to be a villain. Lots of luck there.