2012: Joining the Fray

Just a quick two-cents on the 2012 movie and phenomenon. I don't trust ancient pagan calendars, occultic seers, or quack investigators to tell me how it's all going to end.

I do, however, trust Jesus Christ on the subject because he has proven himself trustworthy. If you haven't, I would check out his teaching on the topic.

The movie poster above might be a subtle statement that Christ was wrong about it all - an impression I got when I saw it on a billboard in Dallas. Yet I suggest that statues may fall, but the words of Christ remain forever!

By the way, I do want to see the movie, but only for the special effects. That's about the only thing it has to offer.

Hey Twinkle Toes!

Does popular footwear say anything about the culture? I've never done a study on it but have been noticing how flimsy and unstable today's popular flip-flops and sandals are - on both women and men.

My concern is not how footwear looks, but how vulnerable they seem to leave a person. In fact, I know how ridiculous I look wearing shorts and gym shoes with my socks rolled down. This is a fashion improvement over tube socks pulled up to the knees but not by much ("socklets" don't help, they slip under my heel and are uncomfortable).

But the Boy Scout in me says Be Prepared! I feel naked wearing sandals even to the grocery store! A guy in line behind me the other day was wearing terry cloth house slippers! Don't people know there are terrorists and criminals out there? Or, at least the possibility for adventure? I'm serious!

If Albertson's catches fire, it will be me saving you while you're flip-flopping through frozen foods! It will be me standing up for you when you're sliding around on the floor trying to escape a mugger!

I'm old-fashioned in this, so let me just address the men: Men! If you're always wearing flip-flops, house-slippers, and flimsy sandals, you are looking to get beat up! You must think we are safe, there are no people to help, and there is no adventure awaiting you!

Don't remind me of the ancient battles fought in sandals or barefooted. They didn't have a choice, and their feet were tough as leather anyway. Besides, the army with the best footwear and healthiest feet always have the advantage.

So, here are your marching orders. Being that we are not safe, there are potentially people to help, and your God-given quest for adventure could ensue at any moment, get something solid on your feet any time you leave the house!

"Take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace". (Ephesians 6)

A Sign from God?

Brace yourself! This really happened last night. Draw your own conclusions.

Earlier this week, my daughter and I were looking at a beautiful night sky. I said, "Payton, what if we were to ask God to cause a shooting star right now to show us He's there and He's with us?". Her first-grader eyes got big.

I asked, "Do you know what I think He would say? I think He would ask, 'Why do you want me to flick a little space dirt when I've done so much better? Look at the stars! Look at the heavens!'".

So I quoted Psalm 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they communicate knowledge".

"I think it would be kind of insulting to God to ask for a puny little meteor when He's done so much more!". She agreed but kept her eyes on the sky as we walked inside.

Then, last night my oldest son Kody accompanied me to a dialogue between Christians and atheists at the University of Texas at Arlington. At thirteen, he has become very interested in philosophy and science and how they relate to his faith.

I moderated the event which featured my good friends Zach Moore, Kip Lewis, John Ferrer, and Michael Craven. Kody took notes among the college kids and older adults as rigorous, intelligent arguments for and against God were presented.

Driving home we were deep in discussion about it all when I told him about my conversation with his sister. I said, "I think Gideon in the Bible (Judges 6:36-40) would not be satisfied with one shooting star. He was kind of doubtful. He would probably ask for two shooting stars the next night, then three, then four... rather ridiculous".

As we continued discussing how God reveals Himself, we turned North East and suddenly a meteor flashed across the sky and flamed out at the horizon. A shooting star!

"Unbelievable!" Kody said quietly. "Dad, did you see that? What are the odds!".

"Not very good that it was a coincidence", I laughed. "I think God just sent us a little nod. A 'God Nod'! In His own timing". There had been huge brush fires in the area and most portions of the sky were not clear.

It was a faith-building, bonding moment. I am very thankful.

Is God Dead?

That was the question asked by Time magazine on this day in 1966. Obviously, the question was whether the concept of God was dead in a progressively secular and tumultuous society.

I have so much to say on this I'm in a whirlwind! As a Christian, I see extremely encouraging and overwhelmingly discouraging signs toward God in America.

The theological landscape is so strange today it's difficult to define. The studies conflict. But one thing seems to be the case: there is an increase in unbelief and retreat from mainstream denominations and identity.

Yet, there has also been a renaissance of Christian philosophy in the academy and apologetics among the laypeople (with the exception of the Emergent Church which seems to be a backlash. They downplay or reject apologetics).

It is not possible to over-emphasize the role of the internet in all this. I'll never forget the slap-in-the-face discovery of The Secular Web in the mid 90's. I thought my apologetics studies were a "secret weapon" in evangelism. Yet the "Internet Infidels" knew everything I did! They had an excellent three-fold strategy:

1). Dismantle Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell to defeat the typical American Christian who constantly referenced it in on-line battle.

2). Defeat Christianity by debunking it's foundation: the Resurrection of Christ.

3). Defeat theism in general by refuting the traditional arguments for God, especially those being strengthened by the work of Norm Geisler and Bill Craig, among others.

To bring it home, as a result we have smarter non-theists and smarter Christians! Now what?!

I welcome your comments.

(The image above is a recent photo of the "Crown of Thorns" galaxy by the Hubble telescope.)

Take a Deep Breath When Sharing Your Faith

I'm a glutton for punishment. I have a lunch-break routine of going into various chatrooms and sharing my faith. Not just any chatroom, but ones dedicated for such discussions.

I used to go in just to open up a can of apologetics upon some obnoxious soul. Wrong motive. Real seeds and true evangelism can be planted in these rooms if done biblically.

Warning! The abuse is horrible! I've had to learn when to shake the dust and move on.

Two recent stories. I encountered a guy suggesting a new Wii game in which one could whip and scourge Jesus. The room erupted in laughter and glee. I took a deep breath to control my anger then confronted the guy firmly.

I told him he wasn't far from the truth. I directed him to Isaiah 53 and asked him why he was so hard-hearted. Amazingly, he softened and we ended up having a good conversation on the historicity of Jesus and what the Gospel was all about.

God gave me terrific grace in the room. People began asking me questions and listened intently to my answers.

Not so gracious was an encounter with a "Postmodern Artist" a few days later. She does an "art piece" wherein she places the American Flag in an entry way where one cannot avoid walking on it. Urine from surrounding jars is poured on the flag to "evoke a reaction", she said.

I didn't take a deep breath this time and angrily told her what I thought about her so-called art. I said it was nothing more than a psychological/sociological experiment with no aesthetic value whatsoever.

She then cursed me real good! But why? Didn't she want my reaction? I asked her why she was chastising me for reacting. Wasn't that the point? Apparently not. It got so ugly I left the room.

I sent her a note of apology and she replied she was not referring to her own work, but that of noted artist Scott Tyler (pictured above). We agreed to talk again - and I hope we do.

Expect a Jonas Brothers Crucifixion

These guys are loaded with talent! Their popularity is volcanic! And, they are followers of Jesus Christ and blessed with parents who keep them grounded.

They went the strictly Christian-music route first, but it seems God opened a bigger door for them - a door out of the Christian-music ghetto into the mainstream where millions listen rather than a few hundreds or thousands (Not every Christian musician can do this. Look at Jessica Simpson!).

It will become increasingly popular to malign them because the girls like them and they are so good looking. Worse, they are "wholesome" and wear "purity rings" as a pledge to remain abstinent until marriage. Horrors!

But Rock is no longer about rebellion though the eternal adolescents in major media outlets still think so. Unless Joe Jonas acts like Keith Richards, they'll hang him up with Donny and Marie.

What's funny is that the JoBros are actually the rebels these days! They crank their guitars - purity rings dancing with lasers! They pray backstage then rock the house! They are normal and not self-destructive!

The JoBros are doing the Christians-in-entertainment thing right. Their job is to do a good job in mainstream music. How long would you last on your job if you preached at every staff meeting or witnessed on the in-store PA before you announced the specials? "Be wise in the way that you act toward outsiders..." (Col. 4). To do otherwise is compromise!

Nevertheless, Nick, Joe, and Kevin need to brace for the backlash. As hard as they try to make it about the music, there are just too many in our backwards media and society who think it's cool to hate them.

If sales start to slip, the Jonas Brothers can always revive their career like Ozzy Osborne: bite the head off a dove, fry your head on drugs, use the worst language possible, pretend to be into Satanism, and urinate on a wall of the Alamo. Works every time!

"Why Shouldn't I Kill You?"

This video sums it up nicely. (Well, actually it's not very nice!)

First notice that "should" is used here as a moral should or "ought". Moral oughts are prescriptive; they prescribe what one ought to do morally.

Our genetic predispositions and appetites may describe what and why we do something we consider ethical, but they cannot prescribe what we ought to do ethically. Why not? Because moral values and duties are so intrinsically of persons that they require persons to make the prescriptions. Since when can mere matter prescribe anything morally? (This is why I think objective moral values and duties are ultimately anchored in the nature of something both Ultimate and Personal).

This is a problem for Materialists (and Naturalists). Their only recourse is to offer some kind of reductionism, i.e. "persons" are reducible to matter, and this is worth studying, though I don't have the space now to say why I think it fails.

But let me jump to the Big Objection I often hear from my atheist friends on all this. They ask: "If you found out God does not exist today would you begin to rape, pillage, and kill?".

The answer is: who knows? Because, the question is flawed! It essentially says, "Keep the universe and your moral intuitions the way they are now, then assume God does not exist. Don't you still have your moral intuitions?".

Who knows if we would have these moral intuitions if there were no God to "write them on our hearts" (Romans 2:15) or produce a moral universe? To say we would still be the moral agents we are if there were no God Begs the Question!

A sub-question is whether our morality would erode if we ceased believing in God or found that he didn't exist. Yes, I think so!

"There is no God, no hereafter, no punishment for evil. We can do what we wish. I thank God, in whom I don’t believe, that I have lived to this hour when I can express all the evil in my heart".

This is what Communists torturers said to Richard Wurmbrand and his fellow prisoners while inflicting unspeakable pain on them.