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Dean

A Thought From a Marine

Well today is Memorial Day, and first I'd like to pay homage to those who have sacrificed so much to protect our nation, I'm simply one of those men who was fortunate enough to come home from War.

Its been almost 4 years now since I signed up for the Marine Corps and since that time I've experienced a lot. I've been to boot camp, where I wash pushed to my ultimate limits both physically and mentally, I had sand kicked in my face, another human yelling at me constantly 24/7, and punishment for not paying attention to details. I've been in the back yard of a man who speaks Arabic, who's family is poor, who's son thirst for water and freedom, yet the only thing he's had to drink for the 50 years he's been on this earth is war and the tyranny of one history's most infamous leaders, Saddam H. I've been shot at, I've seen bombs go off, I've heard the sound of thunder whistling out of the barrel's of tanks and howitzers, I've endured the loss of loved one's at home and abroad. I've come home from war to hear the stories of friends being spat on or being called baby killers, I've sat in classrooms were the men who have fought against me were called freedom fighters, I've seen protest signs and patriotic flags, I've been there done that not because I had to but because I wanted to.

Yet, even with the bombs going off or the hecklers heckling, the insults flying none of it can compare to what Jesus must have gone through when he decided to lay down his life, not because he had to but because he wanted to. I would like to say that those experiences could relate a little bit to what Jesus went through those hours before he endure the cross, but to even think it would be a gross miscalculation. Yet, those experience help me realize just how much our savior gave so that the lost could be saved, so those in the dark could see the light, and that those who are dead can have everlasting life.

"And I thank you, thank you, Lord"

The Need for Restoration not Reformation

I recently was reading through a periodical called The Spiritual Sword, the title of the issue was "What Is Happening To Us?" When I looked through the pages I was shocked. The first article dealt with the topic of immersion baptism being apart of salvation, I was amazed at what i found. The highlighted quote was by Gary Holloway from Lipscomb University in which he stated "Currently there is some controversy among Churches of Christ regarding immersion. Many of us cannot deny that there are many devout Christians who are unimmersed." The author would late go on to tell about a sermon given by Mike Williams in 2006 titled "Baptism and Christian Unity," in which he would say that baptism is more or less an unimportant issue. He concluded by stating "And so, we have decided we will not be contentious, and we will be encompassing, and embracing all who choose to come here and walk with us." I was shocked that a Christian University, would say such a thing. Thankfully, the Spiritual Sword did not go on to support any of these ideas but would refute each claim which was made by those who were seeking to reform or change the Church of Christ.

Don't get me wrong I'm all for the idea of allowing people into the church, but not at the cost of violating basic Biblical doctrines such as baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I ended up reading the majority of the Spiritual Sword and realized that the Church which Jesus establish had reached a crossroad. I've realized that there are those who are setting out to reform the church of Christ, attempting to make it more appealing to the popular culture while ignoring scripture. So how can the problem be solved? By restoring the foundational beliefs which the Biblical writers wrote about. Restoration is what is needed, not reformation. Basing doctrinal beliefs on what the culture thinks is exactly why there are so many quarrels within the church today. But if we all take a step back, put presuppositions aside and take the Bible at face value, can the split that is taking place be fixed ?I'm a firm believer it can be, even though there are those who will never adopt N.T. Christianity, but I believe the majority of those in error can be won back.

If this is to happen then the brotherhood cannot simply ignore the change agents within the church, we have to reason and talk with them, not in a militant manner but with love, compassion and the desire to know God's will as the forefront. There is nothing wrong with debating issues in an open forum, if the principles which were mentioned earlier are in use then the Bible will answer the questions of right and wrong and we should not be afraid of that. The church needs restoration not reformation.

IMPACT

Authority of the BIble.

Over the past few days I've had many conversations with a wide variety of people, black, white, baptist, gnostic, atheist, and even brothers within the church. There was one thing which was always the topic...the Bible. With most of my conversations there was a wide variety of topics, from politics, role of Christians serving in the military, instrumental worship and the list could go on. But the one thing I realized was the the constant statements "well I think this means" "or at least that's what I think" and then it hit me....the Bible was being subjected to man's opinion and wasn't being allowed to speak for itself.

For instance I had a conversation with a person who believed that the Bible sets no sexual ethic, therefore gay marriage might be acceptable. Now I do not mean to treat this sin any different than lying, cheating, stealing or murder, it was just the topic. However, through the conversation the proponent of gay marriage suggested that because Jesus never said anything about it ruled out the possibility of it being definitely wrong. Although, the person who supported the previous stated position failed to realize that these position where spoken about in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 1 Timothy 1:10. Surprisingly, the person sidestepped scripture putting it off on the notion of "that's not what it means."

The point I'm trying to make is that the Bible is the authority of God and provides us with everything we need to be fully equipped (2 Tim 3:16). Therefore, because it provides us with everything we need to please God spiritually, we need to take God at his word not what we think or want the Bible to say. The sad part is there are more and more Christians who are allowing the culture to dictate what God's word says and what they believe. Our responsibility to uphold the truth of scripture no matter what culture says or imposes. Because if the Bible can be formed to any doctrine and everything is acceptable how can Christians claim divine truth if someone can make the Bible fit any secular thought or idea? Simply put if the Bible can mean anything then it ultimately means nothing...doesn't it?

Keep The Faith

Impact

Thoughts from the past, lesson for the future

As I sit here at my desk I know that in a few hours our country will pick the next president. I've cast my vote i've prayed my prayers and all I can do is wait. Polls show the man I support is behind and he will probably lose, yet through all which might come, gay marriage, the repeal of partial birth abortion, and a whole host of things that could hinder my rights as a Christian, i'm strangely comfortable with it. Not to say that I support what might come down the legislative pike, but i have this promise. This promise from a man who hung on a cross and died for my sins. In him I have all spiritual blessings, I have no condemnation and I have forgiveness of sins. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Great I Am. It is in him that I have the promise of eternal life if I live by the commandments he has given me. The great thing about this promise is that no natural disaster can shake it's foundation, no war can destroy it, public opinion cant alter it, congress cant abolish it and the president can't veto it. It is this promise which I clinge to when the sun is shining or when the storm clouds roll in. Some say that if Obama is elected Christianity is dead. Well i respectfully disagree. Obama does not change who Christ is, what Christ did, and the promise I have in him. He does not change Jesus Christ. It is through this name that we have the ability to live no just and earthly life but an eternal life, free from saddeness and pain....Jesus Christ....there is just something about that nameRomans 8:31-37

THE EVOLUTION DELUSION: CAN A CHRISTIAN BE AN EVOLUTIONIST?

Whether it be in textbooks, classrooms, or just casual conversation between friends and family, evolution is largely assumed to be true. Sadly, the supposed evidences behind the theory are skewed, inaccurate, systematically chosen and forced from the field of research into text book creating the delusion of fact. The evidences which do not support the theory are tossed out and passed off as religiously motivated. Yet, the evolution delusion has seeped through the walls of the Church to a point where preacher, elders, deacons, and brethren are trying to compromise God’s word. Is there any evidence in the Bible which shows that evolution cannot be acceptable? Here, then, are a couple of reason why there cannot be a compatible compromise between God’s word and evolution.
The most important reason why evolution cannot be compatible with the Bible is the source of creation. Darwinian evolution claims all species had a common ancestor which, with time, gradual change, natural selection, and random mutation, formed different species. The guiding force behind the evolutionary process is not God, but simply mother nature herself. On the contrary, the Bible suggest in Genesis 1:1 “God created the heavens and the earth.” Obviously, God cannot be the guiding force behind an unguided process, like evolution. If evolution is true, then by default there is no God, but if there is a God then Darwinian evolution cannot exist.
The second reason why evolution cannot exist scripturally is simply due to the evidence we can observe in the world, with the evidence given in God’s divine word. Evolutionist, suggest that species can evolve into different species. For instance apes into man, or dinosaurs into birds. However, the Bible says in Genesis 1:21 “God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind,” Further more in Genesis 1:24-25 God said “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind…God made the beast of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.”
To this day we can observe dogs making dogs, cats making cats, yet we have no evidence of dogs making sharks.
Therefore, scripturally speaking there is no evidence for the theory of evolution to harmonize with God’s divine word. When all the evidence is gathered, studied and properly analyzed the case for evolution is nothing more than a simple delusion.

Dinosaurs...how old were they again?

In text books, college classrooms, or just casual talk between friends and family it is often assumed that Dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago (I just love how they come up with round numbers...every time). But recent findings have led some to believe that the age of Dinosaurs could be substantially younger then what has long been taught as a dogmatic truth.

In October of 2006 Dr. Mary Schweitzer, assistant professor of paleontology at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, managed to isolate soft tissue from the femur of a supposed 65 million year old Tyrannosaur Rex. However just examining a T-Rex bone was nothing compared to what would follow next. (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/ncsu-nss032405.php)
As Dr. Schweitzer went to study the components of the bone itself, she extracted soft tissue, which was still in tact. While scientific estimations suggest that organic molecules in fossils do not preserve past 100,000 years, somehow, some way, this T-Rex fossil still has soft tissue, and when placed under a microscope blood vessel were still in tact, and contents could still be squeezed out of them.(www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7285683/,http://thefirstsixdays.com/EvidenceofMenandDinosaursArticles.htm).

So hooow old are these fossils suppose to be? for the longest time many scientist assumed 65 million years old, now due to this scientific breakthrough, the aging of dinosaurs should be re-examined by the scientific community. The question is, will it? With Dr. Schweitzer's discovery, a long standing hypothesis faces its greatest challenge yet.......Evolution or Creation?