Head-dibs

"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, ' The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?" He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" But he said, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn . "'"

While you are packing your swim trunks and stocking up on sun screen, see if you can name these famous bodies of water. Oh, and you can use these as diving boards (spring boards, get it? It’s a joke) for witnessing situations while waiting in line for smoothies: 1) Jesus told a blind man to wash in this pool and receive sight. 2) Naaman “dipped” in this river and was healed of leprosy. 3) Daniel saw a vision of a ram in this river. 4) Ezekiel saw visions of God here. 5) Elijah slew the prophets of Baal near this brook. 6) Moses led the Israelite through dry land to this sea. 7) Another name for the Sea of Galilee. 8) A river that flows out of Eden. 9) The water here was bitter. 10) Seraiah was commanded to read a book and cast it into this river. 11) Jesus taught in a ship in this body of water. Almost two weeks ago I posted "Bows and Arrows". Were you able to identify the following people from the Bible? Who . . . 1) . . . was the first archer mentioned? Ishmael (...

The is the fourth post in response to Dr. Miller’s article “The Difference between the Bible and the Qur’an” where I intend to address his mention of mistakes in the Bible. Preparing for this response caused me to remember how the rationale behind such argumentation from any critic of the Bible intends to suggest that the Bible demands belief, whereas other tolerant approaches only invite belief. In other words, the Bible (subsequently, biblical Christianity) is less preferred because it is too demanding. I could not help but remember that Martin Luther is quoted to say, “Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing, and he must do his own dying.” God’s Word demands belief and expects obedience for upon his death man must give account for what He has done in context of God’s standard, which is found in scripture. Dr. Miller’s entire contention is less about what the Muslim perspective is on scripture and more about his personal response to scripture. I am conv...

“ This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope .” (Lamentations 3:21) Memory is frequently the bond slave of despondency. Dispairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: “My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me;” and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Like a two-edged swor...

This is the third in a series of posts responding to Dr. Gary Miller's paper, "The Difference Between the Bible and the Qur'an." Dr. Miller attempts to draw distinguishing marks between the Bible and the Qur'an based on some misunderstandings and oversights of the former "minister" now turned Muslim. One primary misunderstanding Dr. Miller introduces into his argument that the Bible is less the Word of God in that (in his opinion) men are speaking for God instead of God speaking for himself. In the last post we considered one feature of the Bible books that the Qur'an cannot claim, namely those passages that God Himself actually wrote with His own hand--if God wrote it, it must be true. What does one do when God affirms He will be in the mouth of the one who speaks, such as He did through Moses to Pharoah (and the subsequent aftermath that brought the downfall of one nation and the establishment of another, as in Ex 4:12)? Dr. Miller repres...

562-345-5920. No, I'm not kidding.

This is the second in a series of posts responding to the he article “ The Difference Between the Bible and the Qur’an ,” based on a lecture by Dr. Gary Miller, a former minister who apostatized to Islam and is considered to be an apologist for the Muslim community to the west. Dr. Miller attempts to draw a distinction between the Bible and the Qur’an by calling into question the genre and voice of the biblical text. He says plainly, “The Qur’an is a dictation. The speaker in the Qur’an—in the first person—is God talking directly to man. In the Bible you have many men writing about God and you have in some places the word of God speaking to men and still in other places you have some men simply writing about history.” The Bible did not fall out of heaven as a black tome with “KJV” stamped on the cover; that is, the Bible was written over a 1,500 year span (over 40 generations), by more than 40 authors who lived in different places, at different times, in different moods, on three c...

I was recently given an article “ The Difference Between the Bible and the Qur’an ” which is based on a lecture by Dr. Gary Miller, a former minister who apostatized to Islam and is considered to be an apologist for the Muslim community to the west. The article wastes no time beginning with an description of the Bible (described as a book written by multiple authors containing writing about God as well as recording words spoken by God to men, while in other places, a simple record of history) against the Qur’an (a dictation, God talking directly to man). The contrast attempts to call into question the authority of the biblical books based on authorship, genre and voice leading to this premise: The Qur’an must be the word of God because it claims to have one author and is a speech directly from God; furthermore, the Bible cannot be the Word of God because it has more than one author and only contains words about God. Is this true? While there is an apparent difference between the auth...

A few weeks ago my family and I were shopping in another part of town and (as usual) I armed myself with a pocket full of tracks, but left my tract bag in the car. Stepping inside the store we waited while a tall woman wearing a hijab selected her shopping basket. I flinched when I realized I had a couple of tracts (here is one ) reserved for witnessing to Muslims in my bag, which I left in the car. Since the whole family was with me, I wrestled with taking a moment to rush back to the car and get the tracts, or shepherd my family through the store—I chose to wait and help my wife. As we made our way through the store, we kept crossing paths with the Muslim woman. Making our way to the check-out, I noticed she was hurriedly closing her sale while we were just getting started and I started kicking myself for not going after those tracts. Note to self: carry one. My mother closed her sale and was helping her to the car while my wife and kids closed our sale inside. To my surprise, I noti...

"Fling him into his office. Tear the “Office” sign from the door and nail on the sign, “Study.” Take him off the mailing list. Lock him up with his books and his typewriter and his Bible. Slam him down on his knees before texts and broken hearts and the flock of lives of a superficial flock and a holy God. Force him to be the one man in our surfeited communities who knows about God. Throw him into the ring to box with God until he learns how short his arms are. Engage him to wrestle with God all the night through. And let him come out only when he’s bruised and beaten into being a blessing. Shut his mouth forever spouting remarks, and stop his tongue forever tripping lightly over every nonessential. Require him to have something to say before he dares break the silence. Bend his knees in the lonesome valley. Burn his eyes with weary study. Wreck his emotional poise with worry for God. And make him exchange his pious stance for a humble walk with God and man. Make him spend and be ...

See if you can identify the following people from the Bible. Who . . . 1) . . . was the first archer mentioned? 2) . . . was wounded by archers, then asked his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword? 3) . . . shot an arrow as a warning signal for his friend to flee? 4) . . . was hit by an arrow at random, then died? 5) . . . was hit by archers and died in Jerusalem? 6) . . . said that his condition was like being surrounded by archers? 7) . . . was angry when the king struck the ground three times with an arrow? 8) . . . prophesied that the king of Assyria would not shoot an arrow in Jerusalem? 9) . . . lamented over Saul and Jonathan and taught the children of Judah to use the bow? 10) . . . sent his son with his bow to get venison? 11) . . . reminded the people assembled at Shechem that hornets, not bows, had defeated their enemies? Need a hint? Scroll down. All the answers are in the Old Testament . ;-) I will post the answers later in the week.

"It is a matter of lamentation that men know not for what end they were born into the world until they are ready to go out of it." Sir Thomas Smith, Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth ( circa 1577)

"There is a time and place for everything under the sun, including discussions about religion. Whether you are religious or not, if someone is trying to draw you into a conversation , or perhaps an argument , regarding religion or morality but the timing and situation is awkward and uncomfortable, this article will help you find a way to avoid a heated debate as politely as possible." Read the rest here . Just so you know it's out there.

“It is no marvel that the devil does not love field preaching! Neither do I; I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit. But where is my zeal if I do not trample all these underfoot in order to save one more soul?” John Wesley

"[Th]e law must be preached to self-righteous sinners. We must take care of healing before we see sinners wounded, lest we should say, Peace, peace, where there is no peace. Secure sinners must hear the thunderings of mount Sinai, before we bring them to mount Zion. They who never preach up the law, it is to be feared, are unskillful in delivering the glad tidings of the gospel. Every minister should be a Boanerges, a son of thunder, as well as a Barnabus, a son of consolation. There was an earthquake and a whirlwind, before the small still voice came to Elijah: We must first show people they are condemned, and then show them how they must be saved. But how and when to preach the law, and when to apply the promises of the gospel, wisdom is profitable to direct." George Whitefield

“I never was more opposed and never met with so great success. I hope I shall learn more and more every day, that no place is amiss for preaching the Gospel. God forbid that the Word of God should be bound because some deny the use of their churches! The more I am bid to hold my peace, the more earnestly will I lift up my voice like a trumpet, and tell the people what must be done in them before they can be finally saved by Jesus Christ.” George Whitefield

The story is told of a boy who lay dying of his wounds in a Civil War hospital. Realizing he was near the end, a Christian nurse asked, “Are you ready to meet your God, my dear boy?” His eyes opened and a smile grew on the young soldier’s face as he answered, “I am ready, dear lady, for this has been His kingdom.” As he spoke, he placed his hand upon his heart. “Do you mean,” asked the nurse, “that God rules and reigns in your heart?” “Yes,” he whispered, then died—his hand still lay over his heart after it ceased to beat.

The time was 1884. The place: Montgomery, Michigan. A spiritualist was stricken with a disease and his life was ebbing away. He had such a hatred for Christ that open his death, he requested that his body not be carried to a church for funeral services nor should any pastor be called upon to officiate. As he lay in his bed dying, he turned his face to the wall and began to talk to himself about his future. His wife, sitting by his bedside, saw that he was greatly troubled and tied to comfort and console him by telling him not to be afraid. She told him that his spirit would return to her and they would still be with each other then as now. But he would not find comfort in her words. With a look of despair, he said, “ I see a great high wall rising around me and am finding out at last—when it is too late—that it is easier to get into Hell than it will be to get out .” A few minutes later he died to receive his reward of unrightousness.

Dr. Wernher Von Braun , one of the most important rocket developers and champions of space exploration during the period between the 1930s and the 1970s, said: “I believe in an immortal soul. Science has proved that nothing disintegrates into nothingness. Life and soul, therefore, cannot disintegrate into nothingness, and so are immortal.”

A great Puritan evangelist, John Rogers, warned his congregation against neglecting Scripture by telling them what God might say: “I have trusted you so long with my Bible … it lies in [some] houses all covered with dust and cobwebs, you care not to listen to it. Do you use my Bible so? Well, you shall have my Bible no longer.” Rogers then picked up his Bible and started walking away from the pulpit. Then he stopped, fell on his knees, and took on the voice of the people, who pleaded, “Lord, whatever Thou dost to us, take not Thy Bible from us; kill our children, burn our houses, destroy our goods; only spare us Thy Bible, take not away Thy Bible.” “Say you so?” the minister replied, impersonating God. “Well, I will try you a while longer; and here is my Bible for you. I will see how you use it, whether you will search it more, love it more, observe it more, and live more according to it.” Thomas Goodwin was so moved by Rogers’s dramatic presentation that when he left church he wep...

Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile. His last reported words were, “I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth to become food for worms. Such is the fate of him who has been called the great Napoleon. What an abyss lies between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ! ”

"There is one thing that mars all the pleasures of my life. I'm afraid the Bible is true. If I could only know for a certainty that death is an eternal sleep, I should be happy. But here is what pierces my soul-- if the Bible is true, I am lost forever !"

""How is it that I, wanting light, have not found it yet? Why am I left to grope like a blind man for the wall, and stumble at noon as if it were the night? Why has the Lord not revealed himself to me?" You may have been seeking the light in the wrong place . . . . It is possible that you may have been the victim of the false doctrine that peace with God can be found in the use of ceremonies. . . . It is possible, too, that you have been looking for salvation in the mere belief of a certain creed. . . . It is possible that you may have sought it in the wrong spirit. . . . If none of these arguments have touched your case, let me further suggest that perhaps you have not found light because you have sought it in a half-hearted manner. None enter heaven who are only half-inclined to go there. Read more here:

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Let’s assume that the average person dies at 70 years old. If you are 20 years old, you have just 2,500 weekends left to live. If you have turned 30, you have 2,000 weekends left until the day you die. If you are 40 years old, you have only 1,500 weekends left. If you are 50, then you have just 1,000 weekends. If you are 60, you have a mere 500 weekends left until the day death comes to you. If there was one chance in a million that Jesus Christ ‘has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,’ you owe it to your good sense just to look into it. (from The Evidence Bible, "The Will to Live" by Ray Comfort)