We have now finished our 7th class. We continued our three class sub-series dealing with biology, and it's been fun. The pdf for the seventh class is here, while the mp3 is here. The dialogue runs from the beginning to about the 5:10 mark. After the dialogue, we discuss it until about the 9:45 mark, followed by the class material.
We discussed the apologetic from the design present in human biology. In order to discuss it, I gave some general information about the machinery of our cells, along with some arguments based on those cellular components. This area of apologetics is much deeper than can be covered in an hour, and I encourage anyone interested in it to delve deeper into Biological Apologetics. The dialogue was again adapted from CARM, and was based around the discussion about moral truths and their basis.
As always, the same old spiel applies. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or queries, feel free to contact me through email, by comment on this blog, or through phone. I always appreciate constructive feedback, even if it is something you think I said in error, so feel free to share your input.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Apologetics Class, March 26th, 2014
We have now finished our 6th class, and are halfway through this series. We started our three class sub-series dealing with biology, and it looks like it will be more profitable than it was the last time through. The pdf for the sixth class is here, while the mp3 is here. The dialogue runs from the beginning to about the 8:15 mark. After the dialogue, we discuss it until about the 13:30 mark, followed by the class material.
We discussed the apologetic from the design present in nature. In order to discuss it, I gave some general information about how biology as a science functions, along with some questions that biology has not been able to answer without appealing to the supernatural. The two sides that were expressed are not the only two options, but were meant to give a feel for the material. This area of apologetics is much deeper than can be covered in an hour, and I encourage anyone interested in it to delve deeper into Biological Apologetics. The dialogue, picked to be fitting for our subject material, was again from CARM, and was based around the discussion between a naturalistic evolutionist and an apologist.
As always, the same old spiel applies. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or queries, feel free to contact me through email, by comment on this blog, or through phone. I always appreciate constructive feedback, even if it is something you think I said in error, so feel free to share your input.
We discussed the apologetic from the design present in nature. In order to discuss it, I gave some general information about how biology as a science functions, along with some questions that biology has not been able to answer without appealing to the supernatural. The two sides that were expressed are not the only two options, but were meant to give a feel for the material. This area of apologetics is much deeper than can be covered in an hour, and I encourage anyone interested in it to delve deeper into Biological Apologetics. The dialogue, picked to be fitting for our subject material, was again from CARM, and was based around the discussion between a naturalistic evolutionist and an apologist.
As always, the same old spiel applies. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or queries, feel free to contact me through email, by comment on this blog, or through phone. I always appreciate constructive feedback, even if it is something you think I said in error, so feel free to share your input.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Apologetics Class, March 19th, 2014
We have progressed through our fifth class. The pdf is here, while the mp3 of the class is here. The dialogue runs from the beginning to about the 4:10 mark. After that we discuss the lesson material.
We discussed the different interpretations, hermeneutics, and events in the scripture relating to the End Times, or eschatology. We discuss different methods for interpreting prophetic timing, the series of events that are foretold to be a part of the end times, and the four main methods for interpreting scripture relating to the end times. The dialogue for this week was again an adaptation from CARM, which was based around a discussion of whether the idea of the Trinity is illogical.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
We discussed the different interpretations, hermeneutics, and events in the scripture relating to the End Times, or eschatology. We discuss different methods for interpreting prophetic timing, the series of events that are foretold to be a part of the end times, and the four main methods for interpreting scripture relating to the end times. The dialogue for this week was again an adaptation from CARM, which was based around a discussion of whether the idea of the Trinity is illogical.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Love is not a fight, but something worth fighting for
Lord,
We pray today that you would open our eyes to the battles we fight daily. We are constantly at war with society around us, the urges within us, and the Enemy outside of us. We pray that you would make us aware of the costs of fighting our own battles, and the associated rewards. We pray that you would make us aware of the rewards and costs of fighting the battles that we are called to fight for you. We pray that you would give us the wisdom to know the difference. We also ask, that as we fight every battle, you would allow us to understand that fighting some battles shapes us in the image of Your Son, while fighting others battles shapes us into the image of our own design, and we pray that you would strengthen us to continually be disciples, learning and seeking to grow in our knowledge of Your Word, Your Love, Your Name, and Your Grace.
We ask all this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Today, I'm writing to discuss battles. We have, throughout history, acted as a warrior species. We are constantly involved in battles, wars, and conflicts. Our greatest leaders and teachers are seen as those who through force of will, charisma, or sheer military domination, have enforced peace, as only he who can enforce peace is a great warrior. I would hope that we could see that as a design that God has implanted upon us. God is the ultimate warrior, in that He is powerful enough, that when He desires peace, He creates it.
In one of my favorite books of the bible, in the third chapter, the Preacher says, "There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace."
This is not a time for hate. This is a time for love, it is a time for building bridges and communicating our positions. When we accept that those who we are talking to are enemies, we lose sight of their inherent worth as creations of the Most High God, and we see them as stepping stones. I have many friends who disagree with me vehemently about God's existence. Does that mean that they have nothing to teach me? No. Does that mean that because they are wrong about God's existence, I should disregard their counsel? Not at all.
The Jews and the Samaritans disagreed about the basic tenets of their religion, and yet, when God was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" He responded to a Jewish man that a Samaritan, who acted in love, was more a neighbor than their priest. So, who is my neighbor? The gay, naturalist/humanist physicist who cares about me enough to respect me, or a random person who has never met me, who I agree with about politics and religion? Is it the woman who says that what I stand for is rubbish, even though she and I both care for those who cannot care for themselves, or the self-righteous talking heads who spout enough truth to feel confident in their re-election? When I take my eyes off of which fights are worth fighting, and which fights are more worth being civilized discussions, where people talk calmly about why they disagree, I start down a road where those who might need to hear what I have to say are too distanced by my methods to hear my message, and in that time, I am sinning more by closing them off to the Gospel than I am by taking a moral stance on a particular issue which does not decide their salvation.
When we fight without God's guidance, we lose ourselves more than we lose battles.
Article about the Fight
We pray today that you would open our eyes to the battles we fight daily. We are constantly at war with society around us, the urges within us, and the Enemy outside of us. We pray that you would make us aware of the costs of fighting our own battles, and the associated rewards. We pray that you would make us aware of the rewards and costs of fighting the battles that we are called to fight for you. We pray that you would give us the wisdom to know the difference. We also ask, that as we fight every battle, you would allow us to understand that fighting some battles shapes us in the image of Your Son, while fighting others battles shapes us into the image of our own design, and we pray that you would strengthen us to continually be disciples, learning and seeking to grow in our knowledge of Your Word, Your Love, Your Name, and Your Grace.
We ask all this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Today, I'm writing to discuss battles. We have, throughout history, acted as a warrior species. We are constantly involved in battles, wars, and conflicts. Our greatest leaders and teachers are seen as those who through force of will, charisma, or sheer military domination, have enforced peace, as only he who can enforce peace is a great warrior. I would hope that we could see that as a design that God has implanted upon us. God is the ultimate warrior, in that He is powerful enough, that when He desires peace, He creates it.
In one of my favorite books of the bible, in the third chapter, the Preacher says, "There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace."
This is not a time for hate. This is a time for love, it is a time for building bridges and communicating our positions. When we accept that those who we are talking to are enemies, we lose sight of their inherent worth as creations of the Most High God, and we see them as stepping stones. I have many friends who disagree with me vehemently about God's existence. Does that mean that they have nothing to teach me? No. Does that mean that because they are wrong about God's existence, I should disregard their counsel? Not at all.
The Jews and the Samaritans disagreed about the basic tenets of their religion, and yet, when God was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" He responded to a Jewish man that a Samaritan, who acted in love, was more a neighbor than their priest. So, who is my neighbor? The gay, naturalist/humanist physicist who cares about me enough to respect me, or a random person who has never met me, who I agree with about politics and religion? Is it the woman who says that what I stand for is rubbish, even though she and I both care for those who cannot care for themselves, or the self-righteous talking heads who spout enough truth to feel confident in their re-election? When I take my eyes off of which fights are worth fighting, and which fights are more worth being civilized discussions, where people talk calmly about why they disagree, I start down a road where those who might need to hear what I have to say are too distanced by my methods to hear my message, and in that time, I am sinning more by closing them off to the Gospel than I am by taking a moral stance on a particular issue which does not decide their salvation.
When we fight without God's guidance, we lose ourselves more than we lose battles.
Article about the Fight
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Apologetics Class, March 12th, 2014
We have now had our fourth class. The pdf is here, while the mp3 of the class is here. The dialogue runs from the beginning to about the 3:50 mark. After that is a discussion of the dialogue, followed by the lesson material starting around 14:00.
We discussed the different accounts of creation, and how they are supported by Christians and different interpretations. We outlined different ways to approach the subject of creation, and some common discussion topics in the "creation debate." The dialogue for this week was again an adaptation from CARM, which was based around a discussion of whether people can be saved without hearing the Gospel.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
We discussed the different accounts of creation, and how they are supported by Christians and different interpretations. We outlined different ways to approach the subject of creation, and some common discussion topics in the "creation debate." The dialogue for this week was again an adaptation from CARM, which was based around a discussion of whether people can be saved without hearing the Gospel.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Apologetics Class, Feb. 26th, 2014
The third class, and the first quarter of the classes in this series, is now behind us. The pdf is here, while the mp3 of the class is here. Also, the set of quotes I read at the beginning is here. The dialogue runs from the beginning to about the 4:30 mark. After that is a discussion of the dialogue, followed by the lesson material starting around 11:55.
We discussed the basics of science and religion, and how the two interrelate. We discussed common issues in discussing science and religion, and we discussed diferent ways to communicate about the shared agreements in the two. The dialogue for this week was again an adaptation from CARM, which was based around a discussion of the evidence for the existence of God.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Apologetics Class, Feb. 19th, 2014
Since we have managed to avoid another snowpocalypse, we were able to have the second class on apologetics, finally. The pdf is here, while the mp3 of the class is here. The dialogue runs from the beginning to about the 7:15 mark. After that is a discussion of the dialogue, followed by the lesson material starting around 11:50.
We covered some of the typical philosophical arguments for the existence of God, although we did not go in depth in any particular argument. The dialogue for this week was again an adaptation from CARM, which was based around a short version of the transcendental argument for God's existence.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. If you think that something I said is in error, or offensive, please let me know, as I greatly appreciate feedback.
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