What Hollywood Believes - Stephen King

Stephen King said:

"I think he's always been there [his work]...G0d is different in different books because it depends on the people you're writing about. I don't see myself as God's stenographer. As someone who believes in God, believes that God is a logical outgrowth of the fact that life fits together as well as it does, but that doesn't mean that we know God's mind."

King was discussing the existence of God and I agree with him. The fact that life and the universe fits so well together does point to God's existence and there is no way we can know all of God's mind except for what he has revealed to us. I could not tell if King believes that God has revealed himself or how. As a Christian I know the Bible is that revelation.

Ding Dong...Palin Is Gone

I just heard that Sarah Palin has announced today that she is resigning from her post as governor of Alaska. Some suggest that she doing this to free herself for traveling the country so she can run for President in 2012. The thought is that she won't be the target of investigations anymore for what she spends and where her time goes. On the Black Snob blog it's suggested that perhaps some scandal dealing with money will be coming out and she's getting out of the way of the explosion. I think that might be true.

source

What Hollywood Believes - Howard Stern

Howard Stern said:

"I'm sickened by all religion. Religion has divided people. I don't think there's any difference between the pope wearing a large hat and parading around with a smoking purse and an African painting his face white and praying to a rock."

I'm disappointed by Stern's remarks. No shocked, but concerned because of the platform he has. People listen to him. We as people mistakenly equate religion with spirituality. In the West we are great at compartmentalizing. Religion becomes a set of rituals and behaviors we follow for a definite time each week. Otherwise we live as we choose regardless of what those rituals say we believe. It's a lie. While those who worship rocks and other idols (worshiping anything outside of God is an idol) are often way more sincere and consistent in how what they say and do matches what they say they believe. However they believe a lie. Ultimately it's equally sad to live a lie as it is to believe a lie. I disagree with Stern there is a difference. Being a Christian is more than just rituals and behaviors. It should afgfect everything we say and do - how we live.

Truthbomb Apologetics: Featured Article: It Does Not Matter What the Bible Means to You by C Michael Patton

Chad has posted a link to great post on a theology blog, called Parchment and Pen. The article is called It Does Not Matter What The Bible Mean to You. The article points out that the people approach the Bible subjectively when they read it. At worse, some Christians believe that God will miraculously give them a message just for them and only them, and at even more worse people use their own culture, experience, and ideas to interpret the Bible without thinking about if it really is saying what they think it is. Okay, I'm not sure which is worse, but either hermaneutic (method of interpretation) will lead you down the wrong path. This is how some people could read Matthew 27:52,53 and conclude that the Bible has zombies! Iknow, try not to laugh.

⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

This article by Michael Patton goes a long way in explaining how this happen and why. He also councils that when we read the Bible we should be informed about the circumstances, culture, historical background of the writer when we read the Bible. He's not saying that men wrote the Bible. God inspired these people to write and guided them, but he didn't dictate it. He used their personalities and style to write the scriptures. 2 Peter 1:19-21 says:

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

I highly recommend this essay!

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Truthbomb Apologetics: Featured Article: It Does Not Matter What the Bible Means to You by C Michael Patton

Terminology Tuesday: Epistemology - Apologetics 315

There is a great series of 10 posts coming out every Tuesday over at Apologetics 315. Each post will define a different term from Apologetics jargon. This week's term is "Epistemology" and it's the first term defined. Check it out. I can't wait to see what next week's term will be! I'm looking forward to expanding my vocabulary

Terminology Tuesday: Epistemology - Apologetics 315

Truthbomb Apologetics: A Pre-Release Strike: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Over at Truthbomb Apologetics, Dan Brown's new book is being announced and resources for finding out the truths behind the book are listed. This post is important. I am certain that a movie will be made based on this move too.

Truthbomb Apologetics: A Pre-Release Strike: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Is It Gospel? Hazakim's" Book of Books"

I love this song....let me just get that out first. The important thing to understand that the duo, two brothers, making up the group Hazakim refer to their music as "Hip Hop Hopologetics". They use hip hop music to praise God and teach apologetics. I enjoy the way they put their music together and the messages they convey. They have a new album coming out June 23, 2009.

This particular post is about Hazakim's song "Book of Books". I like this song because it talks about how important the Bible is. It reminds me that it really is a gift from God. In the Bible we get to hear the voice of God as he moved people to write down and record his messages. The Bible is extremely relavent for us today as it is for all time. This song is a great apologetic.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Take a listen to the track:

Hazakim - Book of ...

This song is most definitely a gospel song.

Astrophysics Points to the God of the Bible MP3 Audio by Hugh Ross - Apologetics 315

Over at Apologetics 315 - Astrophysicist, Hugh Ross explains how the fine tuning of the universe is evidence for the existence of the God described in the Bible. Listen to the mp3.

I like the lecture a lot. Hugh Ross did a good job of showing that the Universe was created out of nothing and points to a cause who is just like the God described in the Bible. The evidence says that the cause must be external to the space-time continuum.


Astrophysics Points to the God of the Bible MP3 Audio by Hugh Ross - Apologetics 315

The Surahs of the Qur'an in Chronological Order

On his blog, James White posted a chart containing a chart placing the Surah of the Koran in a possible Chronological order.

96	68	73	74	1	111	81	87	92	89	93	94	103	100
108	102	107	109	105	113	114	112	53	80	97	91	85	95
106	101	75	104	77	50	90	86	54	38	7	72	36	25
35	19	20	56	26	27	28	17	10	11	12	15	6	37
31	34	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	51	88	18	16
71	14	21	23	32	52	67	69	70	78	79	82	84	30
29	83	2	68	3	33	60	4	99	57	47	13	55	76
65	98	59	24	22	63	58	49	66	64	61	62	48	5
8-9	110

What Hollywood Believes: James Taylor

James Taylor was quoted in What Hollywood Believes as saying that he believes that spirituality is an important part of recovery from drugs and alcohol. However he did say that his songs were "spirituals for agnostics." I think what is really telling is his answer to the question: "Does not having faith in a person God make it harder to stick with a 12-step recovery program?" He said:

"Twelve step programs say an interesting thing: Either you have a God, or you are God and don't want the job."

This freaked me out. I hope not all programs teach such a bad idea. It really speaks to where we are in our culture however. People have taken god off the thrones of their lives and replaced Him with themselves. This is why we are in the state we are in as a species and society.

James White debates Imam Shams

Last week Dr. James White debated the leader of the largest Mosque in New York, Imam Shams. I've had the opportunity to see portions of it. Hopefully we will get to see and hear more of it considering that it was well-documented. Dr White commented on it in his blog and he was on the Iron Sharpens Iron radio program discussing it. The link is on his blog. He even was nice enough to post some of the debate on YouTube

What Hollywood Believes: Bob Dylan

What Hollywood Believe records two thought from Bob Dylan that I find interesting. In the first one Dylan said:

"I feel a heartfelt God. I don't particularly think that God want me thinking about Him all the time. I think that would be tremendous burden on Him, you know. He's got enough people asking Him for favors. He's got enough people asking Him to pull string."

I get his sentiment, I just don't agree. God can do anything and can hear the prayers and thoughts of every human being every where and every when at the same time. I agree we should be more concerned with serving Him rather than what He will do for us.

When Dylan was asked about the nature of religion I really liked what he said.

"Well, religion is repressive to a certain degree. Religion is another form of bondage which man invents to get himself to God. But that's why Christ came. Christ didn't preach religion. He preached the Truth, the Way and the Life. He said He'd come to give life and life more abundantly. He talked about life, not necessarily religion... "

"A religion which says you have to do certain things to get to God...,which is by works: you can enter into the Kingdom by what you do, what you wear,what you say, how many times a day yopu pray, how many goood deeds you may do...That type of religion will not get you into the Kingdom, that's true. However there is a Master Crerator, a Supreme Being in the Universe."

Paul's Earthly Remains Found?

Fox news is reporting that the remains of Apostle Paul's body has been found under the bascillaca that bears his name in Rome. I've got two points:

1. What kind of remains were found? It's been 2 thousand years under most circumstances a human body would have long fallen into dust.
2. I think it's debatable as to whether or not Roman Catholic doctrine really reflects the writing of Apostle Paul.

Sunday Quote: John Polkinghorne on Fine-Tuning - Apologetics 315

Here is another great Sunday quote from Apologetics 315. This was awesome.

Sunday Quote: John Polkinghorne on Fine-Tuning - Apologetics 315:

“When you realize that the laws of nature must be incredibly finely tuned to produce the universe we see, that conspires to plant the idea that the universe did not just happen, but that there must be a purpose behind it.”

– John Polkinghorne

I fully agree because when you study the order of the universe...its structure...its qualities and characteristics you must can't help but be struck by the sheer awesomeness and the unmistakable fact that it is bigger than you. Something that has such intricate and ingenius design - from the galaxies to the Solar Systems to the planets to our bodies to subatomic particles - point to a mind that thought it up and carried it out. It's the only logical conclusion.

Gospel According To Transformers 2

One of the criticisms of Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is that it has no plot, no deepness. There are those who think that there is nothing of philosophical value in this movie. I could not disagree more. Yes there were plenty of action, spectacular special effects, and Megan Fox. Plenty of eye candy but nothing to make you think about anything important, right? Wrong. I saw duty and sacrifice modeled and exampled as themes in this movie and its predecessor. From the first film the theme "No sacrifice, no victory." was also drawn upon. We see several human and Autobots choose to do what was right to protect others no matter the cost to themselves. Another point is that came up is that we can choose to be good or bad like Jetfire or Wheelie. See the film to see what I am referring to. One of the quotes from the film that got my intention was when Optimus Prime said to Sam Witwicky:

"Fate rarely calls upon us at a time of our choosing."

That is profound especially our culture seems to be scizophrenic when it comes to what we believe about free will and destiny. Which is it? Do you choose your lot in life or does it choose you or does God orchistrate everything?

"Fate" is defined as follows:

1.	something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot: It is always his fate to be left behind.

2.	the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; time: Fate decreed that they would never meet again.

3.	that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny: Death is our ineluctable fate.

4.	a prophetic declaration of what must be: The oracle pronounced their fate.

5.	death, destruction, or ruin.

6.	the Fates, Classical Mythology. the three goddesses of destiny, known to the Greeks as the Moerae and to the Romans as the Parcae.

–verb (used with object)

7.	to predetermine, as by the decree of fate; destine (used in the passive): a person who was fated to be the savior of the country.

While "destiny" is defined:

1.	something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune.

2.	the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events.

3.	the power or agency that determines the course of events.

4.	(initial capital letter) this power personified or represented as a goddess.

5.	the Destinies, the Fates.

It seems to me that fate and destiny are almost the same thing. I'd say that we don't have the complete control over the circumstances that come up in life or what our ultimate purpose is in the plans and purposes of God, but we do have choice about our attitude and how we respond to that destiny.

What Hollywood Believes: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he believes in God, but he defines that with respect to the fact he know evil exist. He seems to hold to the duality picture of reality. If there is evil then there must be good. I bought this for a while until I realized that there was point in the past where there was only God. No Angels, No Universe. Nothing but God. God is good. Therefore good can exist without evil! God's existence is not contingent on anything. But everything including the devil is contingent on Him.

Dialogue Comparing the Bible and the Qur'an

Respones to Jacob vs Jesus.

Over at the The Good Atheist blog there is a post the author made that argues that he can fulfill the same test for godhood that we Christians believe the Jesus passes. Through several "straw men arguments" the author says things about Jesus with nothing to back up his assertions then knocks the down with extreme prejudice, sarcasm, and condescension. Apparently the author believes that there are 3 tests.

1. Declaring to be God without proof.
2. Performing miracles without proof.
3. Dispensing moral platitudes without having scientific knowledge like the age of the universe and other scientific knowledge.

Why are these straw men? Simple. I want to quote given by many Christians that was summarized by Ben in his comments:

Did you also fulfill 200+ prophecies predicted 700+ years before your birth? Perhaps you died on a cross (as predicted you would, btw), then were resurrected 3 days later?

Ben explicitly challenged the post author's, Jacob's, assertion that there is no proof of Jesus' claim being true, by giving proof. The only way Jacob can answer the above question is by saying "No, but Jesus did." Instead of addressing the proof, Jacob danced around the issue by saying that proof doesn't matter because Jesus' claim is accepted by faith. It is a shame that he thinks faith and reason are mutually exclusive. They are not.

The way Jacob seems to be rejecting the evidence the Bible gives for his miracle working. Fine. Let's look at it a different way. Jesus' enemies had tried to explain away his miracles by claiming Jesus used the power of demons to accomplish his mighty deeds. IF there were no miracles, then why would they need to lie about how Jesus did those things. You can't use the power of demons to fight demons. Remember, "a house divided against itself cannot stand." No, Abraham Lincoln did to not come up with that statement. He was quoting Jesus.

And lastly, Jacob must think he's omniscient. How do we know what Jesus know and what he didn't know. He made the universe, why wouldn't He know what the age of the universe is? You can't argue from silence. We can't know all He did and did not know. The only thing we know he did not know is the date of his coming back. He said He didn't know.

Jacob, if you wanna know if Jesus was God or not, go back to the drawing board and study the evidence.

What Hollywood Believes: John Travolta

John Travolta is a scientologist. He's been with scientology since he was 21 years old. He says that it helps him put things in perspective."A film not doing well isn't a disaster - a plane crash is a disaster,..." He said thast he believes that there is life after death but you get to get to choose to be reincarnated or "just hang out, whatever you feel like." He admits that he prays and when asked to whom he prays he answered, "To the yet-not-fully-understood God concept."

I'm real disappointed with Travolta's answers because God is not a concept and I think it is a cop-out to throw your hands in the air and just say we don't know a lot about God because we cannot fully understand Him. We can't know everything about God and how he does what He does and why but we have no excuse for not know what he has revealed and walking in that. If you want to know more about God you can know.

Neda Agha Soltan, killed 20.06.2009, Presidential Election Protest, Tehran, IRAN

Neda Agha Soltan has been in the news because she has become a symbol for the Resistance fighters protesting the Iranian Elections over the past few weeks. Here are a couple of videos from YouTube showing what happened to her and who she was.