Vox Veritatis: The Impossibility of God Part 1

Here is a great post written on the Vox Veritatis blog that refutes the stupid argument against God by trying to prove that the Bible gives contradictory descriptions of God's nature. The article does a good job of showing how silly that really is. Take a look!

Vox Veritatis: The Impossibility of God Part 1 - Prolegomena

Rhoblogy: The EvilBible.com Project, Part 1 - Murder in the Bible

Today on the blog Rhoblogy, in contributing to Mariano's idea of we cohesively tackle the same subjects, a post has appeared discussing how Murder is discussed in the Bible. The author did a great job knocking down the ideas about murder given to evilbible.com and I think the response is well-written and a must-read. The only thing I would add, and it may be covered in a future part of his series is the question of does the Bible say "You will not kill." or does it say "You will not murder." in Exodus 20:13. We see in Ecclesiastes 3:3 says:

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

The King James Version uses "kill" in both Exodus 20:13 and Ecclesiastes 3:3, but more modern translations like the NIV use "murder" in Exodus 20:13 and "kill" in Ecclesiastes 3:3. They are not the same words, this is why this is important the word in Exodus 20:13 is "Ratsach" which means "murder" but in Ecclesiastes 3:3 the word is "harag" which is a different word. It makes sense given that "murder" and "killing" are not equivalent. For example, killing someone who breaks into your hows to kill your family is not murder but it is killing. However if you planned to find an opportunity to stab someone when no one is looking to kill him or her - that's murder. Killing enemy soldiers who are trying to kill you in a war is not murder. The difference is intent - the reason behind the action.

Here is the link to the article:
Rhoblogy: The EvilBible.com Project, Part 1 - Murder in the Bible

The Bible & Rape

Today on his blog at Atheism Is Dead Mariano is going to cover the faulty assertion that the Bible condones and advocates rape. Whenever I hear some stupid idea such as that I wonder what orifice the writer pulled such an idea out of. In keeping with Mariano's theme I will be looking at one particular case concerning rape from the Bible found in Judges chapters 19-21. The story is very horrific a man allows a group of men to rape and murder his concubine to save his own life. The Bible only reports that this happened...in no way does God or anyone condone the act. As a matter-of-fact it leads to a civil war among the Israelites. I challenge anyone to find a verse that prescribes that this is what we should do. I'm even referring to the Levite announcing the crime by cutting his dead concubine up into 12 pieces and sending one to each of the tribes of Israel's territory. God did not tell him to do that. Based on what the rest of the Bible says I can't find anything that tells us it's good, God glorifying behavior. I'm also referring to the way the rest of Israel allowed surviving Benjamites to take wives. God did not tell them to do that! All the nation was outraged by the crime and the aftermath. Why report the story? The story underscores the cultural reality of the time summed up in Judges 21:25 which says:

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

This is scary and sums up the state of our own country. When a society is left to itself and does not respect God, this is what you get.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 9 of 14

Here is Mariano's 9th part to his scriptural refutations of Dan Barker's stupid claims. This one deals with the lie that Jesus taught that we should ignore and hate our parents. Thanks to this article I learned the term for this is called"Filial Misanthropy" There is no Biblical leg to stand on this issue to substantiate that it is a God-sanctioned practice. Check out the article.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 9 of 14

Personality Tests

When I used to do Network Marketing I learned about one way sales people learn how to interact with people is be able to recognize different personality types in yourself and others. It turns out that there are 4 types of personalities that have been identified. When I was first exposed to this information, it was presented as if each person fits in one type. However today, the conventional viewpoint is that we are all combinations of each type with one or two types dominantly affecting how we think and behave. Each of the four types have been called by different names. For the purposes of this post I will list them and the corresponding order matches for each trait or temperment. I also will provide links for more information and who came up with the identifications.

Famous Greek physician Hippocrates who lived from 460 until 377 B.C.

choleric

The choleric can be considered to be highly excitable: this person’s emotions are very easily aroused. This person is vehement in speech and action and his/her movements are carried out swiftly. He/she is bold and ambitious but tends to be incautious.

sanguine

Has a tendency towards excitement, whereas the phlegmatic have a tendency towards inhibition. The sanguine person is stable, yet active. He/she is courageous, hopeful, amorous and cheerful, but somewhat inconstant. He/she is courteous, lively, alert, and demonstrative.

phlegmatic

Stable and calm. He/she may even look cool, sluggish or apathetic. Normally quiet and reserved, he/she does not easily become friendly or antagonistic.

melancholic

Can be seen as the opposite of the choleric because this person is highly inhibited. The melancholic person is characterized by slowness of thought and a tendency to be depressed. The melancholic has difficulty making friends, but he/she is reliable because constancy and determination are the other traits.

Here is an online personality test based on this idea.

Myers and Briggs

In 1958, Isabel Myers and her mother Katheryn Briggs wrote a paper titled Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI for short), in which they proposed that there are actually sixteen different human personality types.

Ms. Myers had been reading various obscure psychology textbooks when she stumbled across Psychological Types. Being intelligent and perceptive, she immediately realized that here was a masterpiece of psychological thought, written by one of the greatest geniuses in human history. She read the book cover to cover, and thought long about how to expand Jung's ideas into a complete model of human personality.

Ms. Myers came to realize three things:

1. That everyone chooses not only a first-choice or "Primary" function, but also a second-choice or "auxiliary" function.
2. That if the primary function is judgmental, then the auxiliary function will be perceptive, and vice versa.
3. That if the primary function is introverted, then the auxiliary function will be extraverted, and vice versa.

In this system, then, a person

has 2 choices for orientation, introvert (I) or extravert (E); two choices for method of information intake, sensing (S) or intuition (N); two choices for method of judgment, thinking (T) or feeling (F); and two choices as to which function is used in the outer world, judgment (J) or perception (P). Hence there are 2x2x2x2=16 different MBTI personality types, as shown in this chart:

ISFJ	ISTJ	INFJ	INTJ
ISFP	ISTP	INFP	INTP
ESFJ	ESTJ	ENFJ	ENTJ
ESFP	ESTP	ENFP	ENTP

Tests were created to help determine which of the sixteen types the test taker was, and after a time, when many people had taken these MBTI tests, personality "profiles" (correspondences between MBTI type and the personalities of individual people) emerged. When one examines these profiles and compares them with the "temperaments" of Hippocrates, a clear correspondence emerges:

• SJ = Guardians
• SP = Artisans
• NF = Idealists
• NT = Rationalists

Human Metrics is a website for take a test that scores you using these ideas.

True Colors by Don Lowry - 1978

Red

The Red color personalities make up 15 percent of the population and are very direct, totally self-contained and will not let you see their weaknesses. They are extremely focused, are very intense and like to get straight to the point. They must be in charge at all times and are totally motivated by money and success.

They dislike indecision and have no time for chit chat about family or relationships. When talking to a Red, it is important to stroke their ego, show them respect and let them believe they are in total control of the conversation at all times. Although they are very goal-oriented, they are short tempered, domineering, impatient and un-teachable.

Blue

Blues personalities are open and direct with their feelings and make up 15 percent of the population. Although th

ey make up a smaller percentage of the population, there are many Blues are drawn to network marketing because they are very fun-loving, high energy, extremely creative individuals. When you ask them a question, they will go on and on, giving you more information than you needed, and in the process probably forgetting what the question was to begin with.

Their weaknesses are that they tend to talk too much, are unorganized and are poor with follow-up (one of the best things you can do for a Blue is to teach them to use an auto-responder). But if you can train them to focus and to follow a system for success you will have one of the hardest working and resourceful team members you could ask for.

Yellow

Yellow personalities are open yet indirect with their feelings and make up 35 percent of the population. They are dependable, great listeners, exceptional team players, and are and supportive and nurturing. They are the best at using both sides of their brain. Key words to use when communicating with a Yellow are "team", "together", "relationship" and "family." They are very open with their feelings, but when you ask them a question they don’t volunteer any more information than is required. They enjoy life and hate pushy people or any kind of confrontation.

Their weaknesses are that they are overly sensitive, take things personally, tend to be followers and are not goal-oriented. However, if you take your time and build a strong relationship with them, teach them, and help them, you’ll have a remarkable and very loyal team member that "plays well with others."

Green

Green personalities make up 35 percent of the population. They are indirect, self-contained, and very pragmatic and logical. They rely on the confirmation of facts and figures before any decision can be made or any action can be taken. They are extremely organized, very good planners and are always accurate, persistent and great on follow-through.

They might, however, sometimes be perceived as being depressed and lonely. They tend to be over-analytical and hard to please, making them slow to begin any project until they have all the information required and it has been graphed, analyzed, dissected and scrutinized to their satisfaction. They hate pushy sales people and need to be allowed to sell themselves on your MLM business opportunity. After they do, their expertise and attention to detail will make them invaluable members of your network marketing team.

The above website even make an equivalence:

Equivalents for the 4 Personality Types

• Hippocrates (370 BC): Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic,Melancholy
  
• Plato (340 BC): Guardian, Artisan, Philosopher, Scientist
  
• Kretschner (1920): Melancholic, Hypomanic, Anesthetic, Hyperasthetic
  
• Sprangler (1930): Religious, Aesthetic, Theoretic, Economic
  
• Fromm (1947): Hoarding, Exploiting, Receptive, Marketing
  
• Psycho-Geometrics (1978): Triangle, Squiggle, Circle, Square
  
• D.E.S.A.: Dominant, Expressive, Solid, Analytical
  
• LEAD Test: Leader, Expressor, Dependable, Analyst
  
• ARRAY (Knaupp): Production, Connection, Status Quo, Harmony
  
• PSI: Controller, Promoter, Supporter, Analyst
  
• Gary Smalley: Lion, Otter, Golden Retriever, Beaver
  
• Biblical Characters: Paul, Peter, Abraham, Moses
  
• Children's Literature: Rabbit, Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore
  
• Charlie Brown Characters: Lucy, Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus

I've recently learned about another way to look at these types. It's from the Laugh Your Way to A Better Marriage ministry by Pastor Mark Gungor. He worked with Larry Bilotta on an online test. Each temperment is called countries: Perfect, Fun, Peace, and Control. What I like most about this test is that each trait is given a store so you can truly understand how much each trait fits you.


Here is the results of my Flag Test.

Open publication - Free publishing - More flag page

Movie Review: Fireproof

I recently had the opportunity of seeing the movie Fireproof. I liked it. I thought it was brilliant. Okay, I've got to come clean and admit that my lovely wife, Mitsouky, twisted my arm to watch it. I think everyone should see it because it has much to say about marriage that can be applied no matter how long you've been married or your race you can use the movie to help you think about your own marriage. The story is not just about how God can reconcile husband and wife back to each other but also how God reconciles people back to himself. The movie actually focuses on the husband's point of view but when I saw they related to one another I could see mistakes they were both making. It wasn't all him or all her cause their maritial problems. The movie points out a more fundamental fix: if God isn't part of your life and your marriage then you have set yourself up for failure. This was shown how the main character Caleb was only able to look past himself and love his wife only by loving God first. I don't want to give away all the story...you've got to see it. What I got most out of it was realizing that my role as husband does not depend on my wife and what she does. I should love her and value her no matter if she acts like she accepts it or not. I've heard that before but seeing really helped me understand it better.

My wife and I attended a seminar back in February called Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage and it covers how to relate better to your spouse if you are both already Christians....really practical stuff. The movie does not give much in this area. The folks who made the movie did put together the Love Dare book that showed up in the movie. Here is a link to the main site for the web site.


Here is the movie's trailer

Tax and Spend by Barack Obama

Apparently there are some Americans that are not happy with the change in Taxes. They are staging a demonstration kind of like the Boston Tea Party from the American Revolution. Here is what I found from YouTube:

Revolution is brewing... This April 15th go to your local tea party! There will be tea parties in over 500 cities! Find out where your cities tea party will be here: http://www.taxdayteaparty.com

Tax Facts

I found the perfect video to commemorate Tax day. Remember Jesus paid his taxes and we have to pay them too.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 8 of 14

Mariano has again written an masterful defense of what the Bible actually says instead of Dan Barker's imagination. This time Mariano shows how Barker's assertion that the Bible condones polygamy is wrong. He needs to go to the teachings of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, for a mandate for polygamy.
Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 8 of 14

Public Apostasy

A video has been posted on YouTube as a public statement of apostasy, decrying the stance of the Roman Catholic Church against the use of condoms and "safe" sex teachings. The video attempts to be humorous. You be the judge.





The video offends my own sensibilities because although I don't think for a moment that Jesus is happy with an church denomination on every point, I do believe that Jesus wants us to use His word as the final authority for all we stand on, say, and do. Reality is what He says it is. The maker of this video, and those that think like him, think that we should do extra-marital sex is okay and anyone should be free to have sex with whomever they choose and how ever they choose. Therefore, to avoid diseases and "unwanted" pregnancies while we selfishly seek to fulfill our own carnal pleasures and desires, "safe" sexual practices is the only intelligent solution because "they're going to do it anyway...let's keep them safe". From my own point-of-view: fine. Why not, if that is what people want? Doesn't affect me. Do you know what the problem is: Our Lord. Our Master. Our Creator. The one who gives us life and sustains that life says no. As long as we keep disobeying Him and refuse to submit to God we will keep having problems as we watch our society slip into the toilet socially, economically, physically,and emotionally - as individuals, families, and nation.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 7 of 14

Mariano has again written another awesome post refuting Dan Barker. This time the discussion is about Barker's assertion of God allowing and condoning child sacrifice. Mariano did an awesome job talking about it. I agree with his points. The one thing that I think a little differently about is about Jephthah's story told in Judges 11:30-39. In my NIV Bible it does have aq footnote that says that Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering but dedicated her to God so she could not marry or have children. What I learned from Mariano is that a literal translation (Young's Literal Translation) of the Hebrew from Judges 11:40 could be:

And it was an ordinance in Israel that the daughters of Israel went from year to year to the daughter of Jephthah, that they might comfort her for four days in a year.

instead of how I'm used to reading it:

And it is a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to tell again of the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in a year.

The Young's Literal Translation does seem to imply the thought that Jephthah's daughter did not die because it says that girls went to see her for four days every year. When I studies this, I looked at the words used (okay it was a lexicon, so it does not prove anything) and I could not find anything that made me think that it she did not die. Every other translation I could find says that the girls held a memorial for her every year.

Mariano even pointed out another point I had not considered:

Clearly, if we do not choose and pick but consider the greater context of the Torah we know that if it was a clean animal he would have offered it as a burnt-offering and if a human then they would be consecrated to the LORD.

I'm not sure where he got this from. I made comment on his blog to ask him about it and I'm sure he will get back to me soon. The truth is whether or not Jephthah sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering has no bearing on Mariano's brilliant exegesis on why Barker is wrong. We got to face it. No where does God condone or prescribe for us to serve him by human sacrifice. That is why abortion is most-often an abominable evil. It's child sacrifice a foreign evil deity: our own selfish desires as people.


Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 7 of 14

Going to be Busy The Next Few Days

Due to the fact that my wife will be going into labor very soon (think any second), I will not be able to do many new posts. We may Twitter from the hospital, but most likely not! WE're at home now but you know how quickly things can change. It's just a matter of waiting for now. Please pray for us.

History of Fighting Games

There is a great video on YouTube that is a short documentary on the history of Fighting video games. This is one of my favorite genres!

Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage

Last February, my wife and I attended a Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage seminar. It was great. Pastor Mark Gungar did a great job. He discusses about how men and women think differently about the same things. He talks about how to use and understand each other about personality differences. He talk about the key to great sex and how to stay married without killing each other. Seminars take place all over the nation and some of them are live and some of them are video based. In my area the next seminar is by video April 24, 2009 in Fairfield, CA.

1 Corinthians 1:18-30 on a Tie!

Dr. James White is scheduled to debate Atheist Dan Barker at the end of April. This will be a great one. To commemorate his debates, Dr. White often creates neck ties with scripture written on it. Of course the scriptures are not in English but often in Greek if its from the New Testament. This particular tie has the text from 1 Corinthians 1:18-30 in Greek in uncial font. "Uncial" means that the text is written in all capital letters. On the left is a picture of the tie. I wish I could get one one day. I know, I know. I don't read Greek, but I would like to learn.Click on the link to see the whole tie better. Here is the text (from the NIV).

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Was Anyone Saved at the Cross?

Dr. James White has written a blog post where he posts a link to a previous article he wrote defending the reformed understanding of Jesus' atonement for our sins when he went to the cross. You can read the post called: Was Anyone Saved at the Cross?

I really like this article. Dr. White wrote that at one point that he was a "Four-Point" Calvinist. He struggled with the concept of the "Limited Atonement" just as I do. He talks about how he had come to accept all five points of Calvinism. As always he offers solid explanation of Bible verses. One Bible verse that I wish he had expounded on is 1 Timothy 4:9-11 which says:

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things.

This was one of the scriptures that those who argue against Calvinism use. I have not heard the reformed interpretation of this particular scripture. I think I'll call in to James White's web cast one day to ask.

This Is Why We must Watch And Pray

Being the father of a little girl myself, in the same region of the United States where this story took place, I had to comment. Did you hear? A little girl 8 year-old went missing last March 27, and then found April 6 in an irrigation pond in a suit case! This happened in Tracy, CA. I have cousins and an aunt who live in Tracy, CA. I was like who could do such an evil thing. They arrested a Sunday School Teacher!!!!! A woman!!!! What is happening?! We still don't know if she really did it, and if she did what was her motive? The world is loosing its mind more and more...slipping into oblivion. Well, Jesus said that there would be days like these. Jesus is the only cure. Read the article: Missing Girl Sandra Cantu.

Greg Grunberg Interview

Greg Grunberg, the actor, is interviewed on CNN. He talks about his son's epilepsy and he talks about his activism concerning the disease. He's started a new website called TalkAboutIt.org that gives information on epilepsy. He also talks about being on Twitter and he talks about being involved with creating a new IPhone application/service called Yowza. You've got to hear Greg talk about this.


Embedded video from CNN Video

Bart Ehrman Get's Owned on the Colbert Show

I found this article, Bart Ehrman on the Colbert Show, by James White on his blog. When I read it, I had to comment on it and I want to call attention to what Dr. White commented. Here are his comments:

Colbert wins, hands down. Bart takes it good naturedly. But when you only get a few words in edge-wise, you are going to try to go for your "best stuff." You may find the extensive review Ben Witherington is offering of Jesus, Interrupted quite useful (Part 1, Part 2), especially since Witherington and I would hardly be theological bedfellows, yet, he sees the same imbalance that I have noted, and he likewise raises the issue of why a textual critic is basically handed carte blanche to run amuck through the entire NT field of study. [Note: I have been playing with the idea of organizing my response to Ehrman canonically, sort of like Archer's Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, except using Ehrman's favorite texts, as presented in Misquoting Jesus and Jesus, Interrupted as the source material. I think this might assist especially college and university students in accessing the information].
In any case, if you would like to see Ehrman's facile assertion that Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not present a divine portrait of Jesus refuted with depth and fullness--and that nearly a hundred years ago--you will want to read B.B. Warfield's classic work, The Lord of Glory. Compare Ehrman's surface level argumentation with Warfield's in-depth scholarship and rejoice that truth abides even during times of degradation and apostasy.

Here is the Video:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Bart Ehrman
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

I thought that the interview was hilarious and Ehrman had the look on his face of a deer caught in headlights. I thought that it was really funny. I know Colbert is a comedian but sometime he nails an issue. He perfectly summed up Ehrman's message when he asked Ehrman his first question:

"Why is the Bible a big fat lie and I'm an idiot for believing it?"

Ehrman tried to argue that Jesus was not portrayed as being deity in Mark, Matthew, and Luke but He is in John and Jesus' crucifixion being markedly different among the four gospels. Dr. James White called him out on that in the following YouTube video. Dr. White refutes him sufficiently and people need to know that the conclusions that Ehrman draws are wrong.

Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 6 of 14

Mariano, has published his 6th part of his series of articles correcting Dan Barker. This one deals with Barker's appeal against Christianity because the Bible tells us disobedient children should be stoned. Read Mariano's exegetical answer where he examines what the Bible really does tell us what to do. Silly, Barker, God is right. You and any of us who deny Him are wrong.
Atheism is Dead: Dan Barker - Scriptural Misinterpretations and Misapplications, part 6 of 14