5 Christmas Myths That Some May Thought Were in the Bible, But Aren't.

Click for credit.

As you gather with family and friends for Christmas celebrations, here are some fun conversation facts to tell everyone! In a previous post (see here) I talked about 3 Things You Thought The Bible Says About Christmas, But It Doesn't. Here I have 5 more myths that some may think that are taught in the Bible but really are not.

3 Essential Tools to Own Your Knowledge for Deception Prevention (And Why Doubting Is Not a Sin)

Car in snow. Public Domain. Click for credit.

The air was cold and crisp as I started driving home. The roads were clear so I zoned out. About the same instant as I noticed white flakes in the air and the white fluffy stuff on the road, was when I started losing control. Going down an incline, I started to veer. Yes, in one instant the road changed from clean to slick. My speed was just too fast and the car started to spin out of control. While providence may have been the ultimate cause of stabilization, I also feel that experience on ice may have helped.

Back on the road, I was grateful for previous experiences, not during the time of emergency, but rather safely on open slick parking lots. I want to stress this point; I had experience, experience during a time of safety and low stress situations for practice.

This point is essential for the prevention of deception. You need to interact with truth and wisdom in low level situations and practice your knowledge. Here I want to talk about asking questions to address your doubts, and help you affirm your understanding by writing and speaking. This way you own your beliefs.

Doubting is not sin

Garrett Hardin, click for credit.

Late Garrett Hardin, a scientists who was an agnostic, told a story of his teenage years, it is so depressing to me. He was out hunting with his father and there was small talk. Garrett asked who made God. Sadly his dad, with fervor, told him he must never ask that question. This experience was a major step towards Garrett’s agnosticism. However, this conversation did not just effect him, but many others because of his influence! How much better it would have been if his dad would have allowed Garrett space to ask questions and try to give a response or be willing to research the answer if he did not know it.

One Amazing Idea Every Christian Should do for Christmas (Plus 8 Secret Tools Creative People Use to Be Creative!)

How can one be a follower of Christ without a desire to tell others the Gospel? I don't really know. However, you know how it is, many people don’t like to hear the Gospel. But one time in the year most are not only okay with hearing the Gospel, but expect it!
Check out your contact list for an opportunity to express Christ through your cards, letters, family pictures or gifts. A picture of Santa or a tree is a waist stamp, card and envelope.

Search for cards with powerful messages. Since they can be hard to come by, you may want something special, make them yourself! Don't worry if you are not creative. That's why this post was written! I would like to give you some ideas that creative people use to be creative (not just with cards but with all things in life). Plus I want to give you ideas for the card content.

Was Jesus' Resurrection Fiction? (Plus A Great Short Video!)

One of these days, if it has not yet happened, one will inform you that the New Testament account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is “fiction”. Plus, he or she will say that the accounts are late dated, generations after Christ, when myth is made.

This is a real concern, because if the account of Jesus is false, it means that Christianity falls! In fact, the apostle Paul pointed out this exact possible weakness in 1 Corinthians 15. If Jesus did not raise from the dead…our faith is in vain.

Maybe he was also saying to the skeptic “OK, here you go, you want to disprove Christianity, you want to destroy it, than feel free to take aim at the resurrection and Christianity is DEAD if proven false”! If one wants to falsify Christianity, here is the “Achilles heal”.

Why Billy Died Even Though He “Trusted” God! (Why Truth Ain’t Enough to Protect you from Error, Here’s What Else is Needed.)

Flash floods. Bad storm. The dam overflows…then brakes. Billy hears the rush of water hit his house as he awakes. Floods rise as he climbs on his table, but the water is getting higher. Standing upon a chair on the table he grabs the beam, he swings, smashing the window that leads out to the roof. All the way he prays for his life. Faith wells up in him. He knows God will spare his life. Climbing up to the peak, sitting on the gable, he awaits for the salvation of God -- for a miracle. The water continues to rise, creeping up the roof nearing his feet, his faith wavers.

A Magician’s Art of Deception, And The Third Way (& Only Way) To Find Truth

Join me, if you would, and think about a magician’s act, who’s not mesmerized by the “trickery”? We all know the card tricks, “death defying” antics, and captivating“disappearing” and then “reappearing” moves are basically misdirection, sleight of hand and skill. Simply: a type of deception we like. Try sleight of hand on small children, they love it. Tricks leave people saying “how was that done?” Even if we know every step of the magician’s trick, we love the experience.

It seems we are the same way in other areas of our life. Society's glitter draws crowds. Charismatic religious teachers unintentionally or intentionally cause misdirection. Rather than a focus on Christ, there is a focus on sports, a promotion of a culture or a clawing for money. While a magician's misdirection can be controlled, the simple person is illiterate to life’s parasites. We can’t risk being simple, not for a follow of Christ, we need to understand truth and why it’s true.

What Are Cultic Type Groups And Why Is There "Trouble In Amish Paradise"?

Cults vs. Cultic type Groups

We have been talking about spotting deception for a number of posts now, and there's more to come. However, here’s a ripe example of how a little knowledge can help prevent deception: understanding the cults and, specifically for this post, cultic groups.

While many abuse the word "cult" without proper justification, there is a real concern. A cult of Christianity is usually defined, by Christians, as a group that deviates from core Christian theological doctrines along with displaying characteristic sociological attributes. Today we see many groups like that, those who deviate from classical Christianity. Many “cult watch” organizations delineate these reasons (1).

However, while deviations from classical Christian beliefs define cults, there is another area of concern that needs to be addressed because it’s pervasive throughout many different groups, even mainline Christian denominations. This concern is “cultic” groups, or groups that have cult like tendencies in their sociological structure. While cultic groups share very similar sociological structure with cult groups, cultic groups usually hold to orthodox Christian teaching. Cult watch organizations will note these characteristics of sociological structures as cultic in nature (1).

3 Sure-Fire Ways To Build Your Knowledge ‘Mental Filter’

The cold “clickety-clack” sound, the motion, the rolling down the hall on the cart, you shiver. Eyes on the ceiling, studded cold bright lights flash past, you turn the corner into the elevator. Exiting the ‘cave’, your gurney is shoved past streams of scrub clad humans flying around. A ruptured appendix, you feel sick with pain, and now this. Surgery. You shiver again as you enter Pre-Op. The nurse-anesthetist comes and introduces himself, another nurse is giving you some meds and questions are flung at you from all sides. Your abdomen is in pain and you feel sick, and cold. Another shiver. More questions, questions that you’ve already answered a hundred-million times.

Then quiet.

3 Essential Tools to Build Your ‘Mental Filter’ In The Art Of Deception Prevention

Should Christians approve same-sex marriage? This was the question that one book author was trying
to address. His answer was in the affirmative. While I only got through the first chapter or two, what I read stunned me. What struck me was not his arguments or even his position, he did not bring anything new or compelling to the table, rather his case was all emotional. Unsurprising, his arguments were not biblical nor based on biblical precepts. It seemed that he was trying to change people’s minds with emotions first, then when (or even if) he would come to the arguments, people would be more likely to be persuaded. While he was a great writer, I could see right through his superficial emotional arguments. I already knew the truth of the Scriptures, I knew proper thinking skills and logic, and I also knew how rhetoric works. In a previous post (see here) I gave an overview of knowing how to prepare others, and yourself, against deception. The first and main step in helping build a “bulletproof” mind is to know the truth and why it is true. However, knowing the truth is just one aspect of a whole package that needs to work together for deception prevention.

The Art of Discernment, the Tools That You'll Want to Know for Mind Protection

Ideas Have Consequences

Let's call him Joe. He was armed with a charming and charismatic personality. He was smart, bold and confident. In addition he was a follower of Christ. He came from a “sheltered” Christian home.

I still can remember it like yesterday, he would sit at the college library's desk checking out books for patrons. However, he was not alone. I'm really not sure why I thought his coworker was an atheist, maybe it was something to do with the words on his shirt or maybe it was the books he read. But I would see these two in deep conversation from time to time. A couple years later, Joe became an atheist. I'll let you make the mental connection if you want, did this other guy plant seeds of doubt? Was Joe too confident trying to deal with strange philosophies that he was not prepared to deal with?

Colossians 2:8 comes to mind “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Six Concerning "Christian" Ideas, And What The Bible Says About Them

A recent conversation got me concerned. The ideas were not new to me, but what was interesting was the volley of ideas that kept coming, kept coming without biblical justification. A Christian of a number of years, explained it is not good when Christians have “head knowledge”. In other-words, we should not study the Bible and he was also negative about memorizing Scripture. Preparation before hand for our interactions with those who would oppose the Gospel was also criticized. Rather silence in the face of opposition was promoted by him. In addition, he was very negative concerning being evangelical, meaning we should not share the Gospel verbally. Our lives only should shine our Christianity (This should be a given for all, but it's not to be our only witness, it does not negate our verbal evangelism. Our words are part of our life.).

However, none of these thoughts were backed up with Scripture. One can't be too surprised because these ideas are not scriptural and second, since it was expressed that one should not study Scripture, how could one know?

A Very Obvious Reason Biology Points To God! (Which You May Not Have Thought About)

Once I met a German engineer working to reinvent the vacuum cleaner. When I say reinvent, I mean that! A totally different design. If he and his team were successful, they would do well. If not, he would be knocking on doors for a new job.

Hard, Hard Work!

Engineers, designers and artists understand how hard it is to design. It is time intensive and there is great need for attention for highly specified patterns. Perfection is the goal, mistake free. As an artist draws the human face and or body, with realism, its a hard strenuous process. Those that do it well have spent years practicing. In fact, very few artists can draw a human well. There are patterns to be memorized, specifications to be accounted for and proper proportions are a must. Then there is perspective and foreshortening. This is just the copy of the human design, and it's hard, it's not the original creative design! Humanoid robots have another level of design, the amount of work is immense!

Designing is an emotional process, whether success or failure, praise or criticism. When one criticizes a design or if it fails, it is depressing. When successful, creativity is rewording and exhilarating. Designers and engineers are very sensitive to their creativity and hard work. The process of designing can be enjoyable as well.

When Does Life Begin? The Answer According To A Biologist.

We all know human life is valuable. But when does it begin? "If the unborn is not a human person, no justification for abortion is necessary. However, if the unborn is a human person, no justification for abortion is adequate" [1]. What evidence can we find from science?

First we know that the first stage of life is alive. In fact even gametes (reproductive cells from the male and female, sperm and egg respectively) are alive (biologically speaking) even before they unite to form the zygote. In other words, even though gametes carry half the genetic code, they are still biologically alive.

After the union of the two gametes, they morph into the zygote, caring a full set of genes, the start of a new person. One at day one of conception, one year old, ten years old, or a hundred years old will have the same DNA code as those first cells in the zygote stage of human life (besides accumulated mutations). In other words, your DNA as a zygote has the same sequence now, only now you have many cells containing that same DNA code. The DNA and cell type is not any animal, plant, bug or bacteria, it is human.

This demonstrates a number of items, first life is continuous, a human zygote is alive, made from the union of two living cells. Second, the zygote has a specific DNA finger print, meaning that it is a distinct entity from its mom and dad. Third, the type of DNA and cell type is human.

We know human life is intrinsically valuable. This leads us to the conclusion that taking an innocent human life, including a zygote or fetus, is terribly wrong. It is human, so it is wrong kill the baby at any stage of development.


[1] Greg Koukl

What Some Christian Prisoners Said After Release (The Answer Will Surprise You), And What It means For You

A few years ago, thugs broke into a Christian training camp for young Indian men. The thugs beat, falsely accused the learners and thew them into prison. These young men (late teens, early twenties) wanted to learn more about God so they could go back to their villages with the Gospel. It happened near the end of their training and they were looking forward to move back to their homes and villages to share the gospel. These guys live in some of the most dangerous sections of Northern India where percussion of Christians is rampant.

Being falsely accused of wrong doing, they were thrown into prison with horrible living conditions. Fortunately they were released some time later. Being exposed to even worse conditions then what they grew up with, mercy overflowed and they had a desire to go back into the prisons and jails to help other prisoners hear the Gospel!

In another case, one African circuit preacher was told that he must be beat if he wanted to share the Gospel to the people of a village, he submitted to the beatings every time he came, just so he could preach.

These both are contemporary persecution stories.

Now if all you wanted to do is read the stories, you may want to skip the rest. It will not be a fun read, it is a challenge. It is sharp. Most will not like it!

Stop Here!

OK, you decided to continue to read.

Let's look at us, our excuses. In our first world cultures we have so many reasons we can't share the Gospel. Its too hard. We don't have enough time. What are people going to think of us? We don't know the people. It's not how our culture does things. We don't want to be embarrassed. Speaking does not change people (so why are you trying to change me by speaking?). Just live it – don't speak it. Others will come and muddle with our Church's culture (all gatherings have a culture). The excuses are endless.

Looking To Christ

But if you are a Christian, you are supposed to be a follower of Christ, aren't you? That's the definition last time I checked. Interestingly, God had only one son, he was an evangelist - a missionary. All the apostles (save one), over 70 disciples, and many other of his followers spoke the Gospel! On the street corners. In the Jewish synagogues. At the temple. In the markets. Stadiums. In any venue that was open they spoke it.

Why else do you think most of them were martyred, Jesus and many disciples? Don't you think they could have lived a peaceful life if they just sat there, been a good example and prayed?

Just look through Church history. Did Christians speak the Gospel? Did they produce written Gospel messages? You bet!

What about those in persecuted lands, are they speaking with their neck on the line – literally?

Are we better then them? Why are we ignoring a dying world?

Do You Just Live It And Not Speak It?

If a house was on fire, would you not tell people? You would not just get out yourself, hoping they will see your actions and follow, you would say something, wouldn't you? If you knew a train was doomed at the end of the line, would you not try to warn the people and the engineer? Or would you jump off, hopping others will follow? How selfish are we anyhow? What of the above excesses is more valuable than a soul going to Hell?

One once said that if a Christian is not willing to speak the Gospel, one is not one himself.

You see, we in the western countries are addicted to something. What you ask? Personal peace and affluence.

We love this life, our cultures and organization more then Christ. We are selfish. One may even call us narcissistic.

So what should we do?

One once said the following: "Declare your faith. Defend it. Dissent from the culture around you when that culture cannot be reconciled with your beliefs. It's really not that hard. No desert crossings. No burning at the stake. Probably not even that much embarrassment" [1]. (Click here for an example to help people see their sin and need for Christ the biblical way.)


What encounters have you had with others when you have shared Christ's teachings, death and resurrection? Are people open to listen? Do you see change?



[1] Hewitt, Hugh. The Embarrassed Believer. World Publishing 1998. pg 84

Image source: Flickr/CC/M M (This is not the image of the Christian men involved in the beatings).

Captain Nemo And His Sub Expose This One Silly Belief.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea

Verne's fictitious whaler characters chased Captain Nemo's stupendous submarine all over the ocean. Wild imaginations of a gigantic whale haunted them. You see, captain Nemo's design for his vessel, Nautilus, was somewhat based upon marine creature's hydrodynamic shapes.

Ideological Framework

The single most pervading intellectual ideology of our time (and maybe ever) is the materialistic, neo-Darwinian framework. Many feel that "nature designs" new biological structures. Functional? Complex? Specific? Meaningful?

What? a mindless process designing?

Minds vs. Material

Interestingly, from our experience, we never see natural process pregnant with engineering abilities. We never have. If this concept weren't couched in such technological language, plus holding such high esteem within academia, it would sound foolish.

In fact, the only design originator from our experience is a mind. Why would we ascribe the mindful enterprise to inanimate objects? Do non-animate objects have the capabilities of designing, imagining or communicating?

The same definition of nothing is the same as what rocks think about. Other inanimate objects think about the same thing.

Fall On Your Face And Worship That Stone!

When we look back at ancient cultures and the "uncivilized," we are humored by idol worship, how silly of those people to think wood and stove carvings are life's creators. Modernity strangely struggles with a similar scenario, with the more technical phrase “nature designs.”

This strikes me as facetious. 

It takes multitudes of highly trained, intelligent minds to design a machine functioning like the fictional Nautilus. Hours of mindful fabrication and manufacturing are poured into the creation of submarines. Some are breath-taken, thinking that they're learning from nature's exquisite self-design, when in reality they're looking at seemly endless designs created by the Ultimate Mind.

If you enjoyed this topic and others like it, you can get the latest posts sent straight to your in-box! Please click here to be one of the first to receive the latest articles. You don't want to miss out! (Click here.) 

What biological designs interest you? Bioinspiration is a term to describe when we use these biological designs for new technology. How could you put them to work for yourself? Do you think that natural process have the ability to create complex, meaningful design? Why and how?

Image source: Wikipedia

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Before the Universe

Near the end of his article (here), Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist who stared in the series "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey", talks about what was prior to the universe's existences.

After making some slightly disparaging remarks toward the theists view, he postulates a couple other "where the universe came from" ideas. The multiverse and it "just popped into existences from nothing". It seems that for himself, he holds to the safe and seemly intellectually superior skeptics view of "I don't know". Then he rises the good o'l question of if God did it, who made God?

The Two Main Competitors Problems

However, I'm blown away with the lack of cogency of the only two real competitors to an intelligent being: the infamous multiverse and the "popped into existences from nothing" views. I'm not trying to sound saucy here, but really, are those the best hypothesis out there?

The multiverse hypothesis has big problems, namely its conjecture in some minds and it's not really possible to demonstrate even if true. It seems to me that if multiverse true, you would still need something to bring them all into existence, who is that prime mover? Plus the complexity of making all those universes rises to infinity.

POOF, Like Magic!

So the naturalists view is still left with the universe(s) going "POOF"... into existence, for no reason? Nothing makes everything? Magic without a magician? I'm scratching my head.

Tyson concedes these views usually don't satisfy people, as you can see why. However, it seems to me he takes them more serious than the possibility of a "prime-mover."

So, Who Made God?

Seemingly, in an attempt to discredit a deity, one of his last questions (more or less rhetorical), asks the infamous question of "what was around before God?" or otherwise cashed out as "who made God?" This question has been answered by the fields of theology, history and philosophy.

The "who made God" question has this problem, who would have made the creator who made the creator? You see, it becomes an infinite regress of creator creating creators - forever. Silly, I know.

A preacher once preached that the Earth sits upon nothing (without getting technical about gravity). An old lady came up afterwords and said "I don't agree with you, the Earth rests on turtles." So the preacher asked "What's under those turtles?" She responded "more turtles." To which he replied, and under those?" Out of finality, she said, "turtles all the way down!"

So What About That God Question?

However, there is an answer to this question. A good one, quite simple and elementary. With just a little knowledge of theology, history and philosophy, Tyson should have known better (except for the fact that he seems to degrade the field of philosophy, while philosophizing). In philosophy this "prime-mover" is also called the "uncaused-first-cause". In other words, this "prime mover" has always been in existence, thus uncaused. He is not dependent upon the space time continuum. In fact, we read in history and theology (ie. the Bible), this exact thing - one who isn't dependent on time and who is eternal.

Even as a scientists he should have known better. We know from experience things that began to exist must have a cause. We know the universe had a beginning, came into existence. We also know that the causes must be outside of the thing that comes into existence. Outside the Universe there's no space, time or matter. To cause a universe and life, this cause must must be super powerful, smart and be able to make choices as well! Plus only minds cause the creation of large amounts of meaningful information, DNA anyone? This uncaused-first-cause must be spaceless, timeless, immaterial, eternal, smart, powerful, has a mind and personal. Ah, that sounds familiar....

What If We Did Not Know Who Made It All?

Even if there was no answer to this question, a being who created everything still seems to be a perfectly good argument. Just because we would not know who the "prime-mover" was, does not seem to effect the idea that there was an original "prime-mover." Does one have to know who painted a picture, carved a horse or even committed an homicide to recognize agent of causation?

Great Rhetorical Value?

But the question, "who created God", seems to be misleading. This rhetorical questions seems to be meant to raise questions in the uninformed mind. Seemly it is an attempt to discredit those who hold to this view. Even though he may view his ignorance as more intellectual, it seems that he created a straw-man for the theists, rhetorically dismissing it while trying to make it look unreasonable.

However, in reality, the most logically satisfying view is the one he seems to dismiss. It is the most logical and coherent. We have a robust worldview with amazing explanatory power. The naturalistic worldview is broken, having very limited explanatory power, a degraded view that has lame and tenuous answers - a view that does not match reality.

You will not want to miss the next posts. If you found this one helpful, you will want to keep an eye open for others. The best way is to click here, because you can get them straight to your inbox so you don’t miss out! (Click here.)

So, what's your view? Do you agree with Tyson? Or does a Creator seem to be the best explanation? Why?


Image source: "Tyson - Apollo 40th anniversary 2009" by NASA/Bill Ingalls. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

How To Spot Deception and Prevent Yourself From Being Swayed by Illicit Arguments (Post 2)

The Maxim I Like

Most catch phrases concern me, especially when one uses them at whim without reflection and deep background knowledge of the meaning and potential pitfalls. However, there is one I kind of like. Penned by nineteenth century Alexander Campbell, this maxim address Christian religious authority: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent." In other words, when the Bible teaches a concept, we follow it. When it is silent on a topic, there is freedom for personal decision.

How To Spot Deception and Prevent Yourself From Being Swayed by Illicit Arguments (Post 1)

Adding to the Scripture

If one does not hold the Bible as the ultimate authority and from God, there are greater concerns then what I'm about to address. However, I assume you hold the Bible to be foundational. I'm very concerned when people, Christians, elevate other concepts to biblical level. Or as Jesus put it “...teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Paul expressed it in Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” This is a real concern of mine. To add insult to injury, those “extra” teachings usually become precedent over the Bible.

Biomimicry's Amazing Potential For New Designs in Technology

It was 1948, George was out walking his dog through the Swiss Alpines, when he was attacked by nature's nemeses, the cocklebur. As he plucked these annoying structures off his clothes, inspiration flashed across his mind, inspiration from the common, annoying bur.

Along with his friend, he created what he called “locking tape”, but that name never stuck. We known it as … Velcro.

Biomaterials

You see, biology hides amazing structures, materials and chemicals. They are energy efficient designs, biodegradable materials and chemicals that heal and protect. In addition, biomaterials are manufactured at body temperature! Compare that to our manufacturing practices - high temperature.

Biomimicry

These master designed biomaterials are stupendous. We, as intellectual humans, have spent millennia engineering. We have been perfecting the manufacturing art and amassing our knowledge of technology and materials. However, nature's structures and systems are superior to ours. There abides brilliant designs, fine tuned “technology”, systems that outperform ours. In the quest to solve real world problems, organisms harbor superior information infused systems. In fact, some engineers make it their business to mimic these super designs. We call this biomimicry.

Termites and Temperature control

Consider, if you would, our temperature controlled buildings. Our houses, office spaces and industrial complexes use lots of energy. Is there a design in nature that is somewhat more efficient than ours?

Travel with me to south Africa, and check out the termite mounds that stud the region. Some of these reach the height of 10 feet. These structures are impressive, they have intrinsic temperature controlled systems. These termites “farm” a fungus for food which grow best at exactly 87 degrees Fahrenheit. But listen to this, the ambient temperature ranges from 35 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit! A circulatory system of cooling vents are opened and closed for temperature control. Plus these networks keep the mounds at perfect moisture and oxygen levels.

Can we learn something from these? Designers, using the principles of termite mound ventilation, designed an 18-story shopping complex. Mechanical air conditioning and heating are absent, yet this building remains comfortable. Using its ventilation network, breezes pull fresh air through the building. This building is uses just 10 percent of a traditional building's energy usage.

Conclusion

So can we solve some of our energy, design and pollution problems using biological solutions? Yes. Some of these structures are stronger and lighter than ours. All are biodegradable. All manufactured at mild temperatures. All are environmental friendly. This is an exciting time to be in science and technology!

One can see the mind behind these structures. The designs are beautiful. The uses are abundant. The applications are exciting. The keener we are to these master designs, the better a steward we will be with the gift of nature. The more we talk, think and use biomimicry, the more aware we can be to apply them to novel areas.

If you enjoyed this topic and others like it, you can get the latest posts sent straight to your in-box! Please click here to be one of the first to receive the latest articles. You don't want to miss out! (Click here.)



What other uses of biology can you think of that has helped technology? Do think these structures help point to a designer? 


Image source: Filcker/Joe Ross

An Urologist’s Principle You Can Use in Communicating Christ

While I was assisting in an urology procedure, the type where the patient wants to be knocked out and hopes he is unknown by staff, the doctor explained his patient communication method. His “technique” was his vocabulary, the type that would make great grandma Elsa blush in embarrassment. Very easy to understand terms – crude. Simplicity was his claim, however I think he liked the "shock and awe" effect. I must say, he seemed to have a good practice and was well liked by his patients.

While I don't advocate crudeness and speech laden with coarse language, his advice still sticks with me – in another context – Christianity.

The Biblical Writers Used Common Languages, Why Shouldn't We?

Christians of diverse backgrounds use theological esoteric language. This is a common phenomenon in so many groups I know. Usually select biblical words are amplified and repeated ad nauseum. Sometimes groups unintentionally change the meanings. To add insult to injury, some words and phrases from older Bible versions have also changed meaning. Others tag a concept with a non-biblical word or phrase. Christian subcultures start expecting others to understand their definitions. Shock and maybe even suspicion of another groups arise when understanding and clarity are absent. Other groups commitment to Christ is questioned.

For Example...

For example, here is a non biblical phrases: “ask Jesus into your heart.” I think this phrase, if not explained, breeds sloppy understanding of the gospel of Christ. While one should ask Jesus to “come in” in a sense, the phrase misses the point of Jesus taking over ones' life. This phrase is anemic and elementary in nature.

Another popular word is one being or getting “saved”? Perfectly good word, even biblical, but I think many feel it is just being saved from “Hell”. This is true as far as it goes, but Jesus also saves from our sin, not just forgives, but transforms us to turn from sin so we despise doing evil deeds.

One common word in Christianity is “repent”. It’s a great word - it was even used by Jesus. However, because of the translation and the evolution of word meaning, many think that it means “feeling sorry” or “humble”. While this is somewhat true, the main Greek meaning is a change of mind. We don’t necessarily “repent for our sins”, rather we “repent from our sins” or “repent towards Christ”. In essence, it has a very similar meaning as converting to Christ, as can be seen in Acts 3:19. The writer uses the two phrases to point to the same concept: turn to Jesus to get your sins blotted out.

Maybe the two most common phrases are “believe in Jesus” or “have faith in Jesus”. Both are perfectly good terms. However, to some, I think they have come to mean “I say Jesus is my Savior, now I go on with my life as before.” No change in behavior follows. No change of focus. No turning from sin. However, if one has true faith or belief, one will follow and obey Christ. You can be hired for a job, believe you are hired, but never go in and work or do your job - sorry but you aren't an employee anymore - if you ever were! No pay check.

How To Fight This Habit

Some can't even explain Christ's work without those over abused words. So how does one fix this mind set? Do as I try to do in my posts - come up with other ways of saying the same thing. New phrases, explaining the old, causing people to stop and think rather than mindless mimicry. Understand what you mean by what you are saying. Explain rather than use catch phrases ad hoc. Slogans are good, I like some, but assure accuracy and form a solid knowledge of their meaning.

Word and phrase variety helps promote understanding. Don’t just use one or two phrases. In addition, try to find modern words and phrases that help get the point across. Jesus and the apostles did that all the time. Both Luther and the KJV translators accomplished this - which is why their translations were well known and appreciated.

Changing from entrenched slogans will help you and diverse Christians understand each other better. You help yourself by forming a deeper knowledge. Simple and diverse language will not harm the knowledgeable. Both the simple and “technical” language will be understood by them. However, you will help those who do not know or follow Jesus of Nazareth. Those are the ones who need to understand their state of affairs and standing with God. They need to know to turn to Christ and be citizens in in his Kingdom, obeying him as King - not some special word or phrase!


Are there other words and phrase that concern you because of their abuse? If so, please share below. 




Image Source: Flicker/Amy Medicine

The Little Girl and Her Watch

I once read a parable of a little girl – living before the time of atomic clocks – who noticed all clocks in her village told a different time. Ambitiously she set out to get everyone synced to the correct time – her time. Walking down the dusty streets, going from house to house and shop to shop, she attempted to persuade all that their time needed modifying. Our little character was destined for disappointment, none were willing to change, all happily living in his and her own asynchronous worlds. As the setting sun glared into her squinting eyes, she approached the last house in the village. Sitting on the porch sat its owner – an old man. Again failure, he too had no desire to change. However, with a mysterious wave of his hand, he expressed that he had good news. Slowly rising, he hobbled to his little herb garden where sat a large, beautiful sundial. "The sun" he said "gives us the ultimate standard for time, which is shown with the shadow on its face." With that he offered to help change her timepiece. But alas, she too had no desire to change.

We also live in a society that leans heavily upon "tolerance" and "acceptance" of all views. Morality is relative. All religions go to heaven. 

Obviously, some culture issues need empathy and "tolerance". However, there are issues that are core to our existence that give no flexibility – like morality. We happily live in our asynchronous world, each doing right in his or her own eyes. Most ignore the ultimate standard, saying each can make up morality for himself and they are all equal. 

When people call for tolerance because someone else opposes their views, they themselves are being just as intolerant. The cry for tolerance in this sense is self-refuting. However, we should never have tolerance for bad ideas – only tolerance for people. 

Image Source: Wikipedia

The One View Some Christians and Some Atheists Agree On - And Why It is Wrong!

Interestingly, prominent agnostics, atheists [1] and Christians of various persuasions agree on at least one thing, philosophy is of little worth. Other Christians are afraid of the enterprise. Our Western culture downplays classical education – such as philosophy. Even so, philosophy is pivotal, yes pivotal. Especially for our days.

We all have a philosophy and use it, the question is do we do it well? Simply, philosophy is the love of wisdom, it stretches back millennia, notably from the Greeks. However, one can't ignore the elegance and power of Scriptures support for knowledge and wisdom from Proverbs 4:5-11

Elijah, The Voice And What It Means For You

Elijah just won a great victory over the idolatrous religion and priests of his day. God showed him and all Israel his power by setting a fire upon the water logged sacrifice, destroying everything. After having his life threatened by Jezebel, Elijah departed into the wilderness with the mountain of God as his destination. Let's listen to the first part of the conversation.

God, Hell and Truman of St. Helens

Is God mean? Just because one doesn't believe on him, will he send that person to Hell?

Maybe.

However, another perspective may help us better understand.

Lets rewind back to the 1980’s. Harry Randall Truman lived near Spirit Lake leading up to the fateful day of May 18, 1980. He became a short lived celebrity – he refused to believe he was in danger. He loved the lake and it’s associated mountain – desiring to eventually die there. If he were to leave, heartbreak would probably have killed him because he loved his surroundings. He knew the risks, he just did not believe the reports. But on that fateful day, against the hopes and desires of those around him, it happened, Mount St. Helens blew, burying Truman 150 feet under debris.

Another narrative comes to mind – one that God wrote. You see, we also are in a predicament – impending doom awaits us unless we move. Think about this – 100 out of 100 people will eventually die. But there is another problem, worse. Hell is at the doorstep of death.

We have all done wrong and are broken humans. Who has not lied, lusted, stole or blasphemed God? Even if just one of God’s holy laws is broken – we still broke the law. Justice must be served. Just like a prison, Hell is a good place for bad people. It's not an evil place as some think. It's bad for those who go there – but good for justice.

There is only one fix, a path away from this impending doom. So narrow and so hard, many ignore its existence. Some believe but don't follow. This path was made by that great teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Standing at its entrances, he beckons all to enter. He wants all to turn and come to the safety of God's mercy. Most will reject. Not wanting God, they hate him. The path we take now will dictate the location of the here after: with God or away from him.

Without God it's Hell.

Being a loving God, he will not force people to love and follow him – he lets us have free will. Just as a man's true love will not force a women to marry him, so also is God's love. As Truman would be unhappy severed from his lake, so are people with their life. His life was the lake and the mountain, if he wanted to really live, he would have had died to his love. Some love their life – but in the end comes death. This reminds me of that great Nazarene teacher who once said "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it" [1].

But the first story brings home another thought, even if Harry did believe those around him, if he really did trust the experts, action would have to have been riveted to that trust or else he still would have been doomed. Obedience must be in sync with belief. Just as one writer put it, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead” [2].

Death and Hell are impending upon all of us, we have only one other option, turn and follow Jesus’ escape path.

Sources:
[1] Luke 17:33
[2] James 2:17
Image source: Wikipedia

Why Critical Thinking Skills are Essential, But Not Sufficient

For one like me, whose mind never seems to rest, there is a burden that I call “the thinker's bane.” You see, as thoughts increasingly swirl around in my mind my brain at times aches some. It's genetic. Writing helps releases those thoughts. But there is a concern when one thinks, one needs true knowledge and proper thinking skills so errors are avoided. Proper thinking skills are called logic or reason - these aid with truth. However, one needs more than just proper thinking, ones needs something to think about. Whether you are a deep or shallow thinker, you still need the two: knowledge and logic.

Martin Cothran, a classical education proponent, once told a story of a debate he took part in. A college biology professor and the chairman of the Kentucky State House Education Committee took the position that, instead of memorization, students should be learning "critical thinking skills" [1]. While Martin was not against "critical thinking", he said there needed to be more memorization in education as well.

He notes what he told his opponents, "I said that I doubted whether they even knew what 'critical thinking skills' were. And as it turned out, they couldn't give a definition." He went on to say "[w]hen the moderator of the debate asked me what my definition of critical thinking skills was, I answered: 'Logic.'"

Logic is given a bad rap by many post modern Christians, but this is confusing to me. Feel free to check out the first chapter of the biblical book of John, Jesus is called the "Logos!" The word logic is derived from logos and they have similar meanings. Think about this, as far as I know Jesus never made a logical error! Ah, now it makes sense.

In Martin's same piece, he made an interesting statement, "We can’t teach children thinking skills if we don’t know what they are—and we can’t teach them how to think if they don’t have anything to think about." Interestingly, this seems to be very similar to the teachings from the book of Proverbs, from the first chapter. Knowledge and wisdom are greatly praised.


[1] The Critical Thinking Skills Hoax
[2] The proper use of knowledge, in which logic is its main tool.
Image source: Flicker/Sodanie Chea

The IBITE Vision, And What It Means for You

A number of years ago, A biography of Patrick of Ireland was given to me [1]. He was connected with a fifth century group of Christians from ancient Britain (not Roman Catholic), he seemed to have had two main goals. One was for Christians to follow Christ closer, and the second, his heart was for the Irish people to come to Christ. Possibly he became the greatest missionary since Paul. His story, among other reasons [2], made me think bigger – giving a bigger vision for my life – this site is one aspect of that vision. Since inception, this site has reached literally thousands of people from around the world. From Christians to atheists, I have had diversity of visitors. This is not said in pride, rather I'm humbled for the impact that this little site may have and I present it for a following explanation.

The Vision, The First Main Goal

I would like you know that vision, it may be bigger than some think. It is not just focused on my own life, my family, or the group of Christians I meet with. The first focus is that I can be a positive challenge the unbeliever - to leave a stone in his or her shoe. I want to tear away the clutter of secular philosophies and their false views of Christianity. I want them to see their sin, turn from it and follow Christ. I want them to know “The Way”. I'm no Patrick, but my desire is to have a positive effect on all who want to hear. Maybe I can put a stone in another's shoe - I don't know, but I do what I can and leave the rest up to God. I hope you do the same.

The Second Main Goal

On the flip side, I have a second goal. My desire is that all Christians may come closer to Christ, follow and obey him more - whoever they are. My hope is that all would understand original mere Christianity. I want to encourage all to focus on Christ and his Kingdom - serving him in truth and in spirit. This is done by taking the focus off our desires, the perceived “essentials” and from the sin of this world, and fix their eyes on Christ and his Kingdom.

Reasons and evidences are presented so Christians can be more confident in this harsh world. I want them to know what Jesus taught so they can have knowledge what they believe and live that knowledge. I want them to understand why they believe it so they can have an answer for those around them, whether one asks or they initiate conversation.

This site is not for any specific group of Christians. Rather I try to post items that relate to many people - all my readers. For example, this was the case in a previous post on teachings, that many groups hold, that the Bible does not teach [here]. All the items presented are common among many Christian groups. One item I got push back on was “Altar Calls” - a novel practice that many groups practice. Another was the “Spirit Led” philosophy that some think started around the holiness or pietistic movements and spread rapidly to present evangelical Christianity and elsewhere. This one seems to always get push back from Christians of all strips - it is so desirable by so many, including myself. However, history is fairly clear on both items - but people can become emotional when we assess them.

Feel Free to Push Back

However, push back is okay, feel free to challenge my posts. That’s why I allow comments below, if one wants to respond. This is how we learn, by asking questions and assessing the reasons. However, I would ask everyone to be respectful, no character assassination and emotional responses - I don’t allow those to be posted. Always use love and respect, with reason and wisdom.

On the other hand, if the vision of this site is not yours, if what I say offends, if you have no desire to think deeper about what you believe and no desire to help others come to Christ – then feel free to stop reading. This site may not be for you. Of course, I desire all to read and grow, but if not, that’s fine. However, please, before passing judgment upon this site or me, check out the evidence I present and my motives. If you are a follower of Christ, please don't gossip and spread discord about this site or the writer.

For More Information

For more on the intent and goals of IBITE blog, visit these pages:

The Goal Of IBITE

The Kingdom of God

Ten People

What are your thoughts on Patrick of Ireland, what have you heard about him? What is your motive for life, if you are a Christian, what are you doing for the furtherance of the Gospel of the Kingdom? If you are an atheists, agnostic or from some other religion, what is preventing you to come to Christ?


[1] Let Me Die in Ireland, the True Story of Patrick
[2] Such as Paul calls us all to be ambassadors [2 Corinthians 5:20], which he was as well, he behaved godly and spoke about the gospel of the Kingdom to all.

New Research Says Life Started Hot, But Here's What They Won't Tell You.

Up From a Hot Micropore We Arose – Did Life Start Hot?

In a recent Nature Chemistry article, we are informed that some scientists feel they may have found a mechanism for the formation of life’s precursors, DNA replication in hot rock micropores [1]. An experiment was set up to mimic hot rock’s micropores in the supposed early earth environment. However, this experiment unintentionally demonstrated that naturalistic process could not have started first life, rather a mind is needed.

10 Christian Teachings That You May Have Thought Were Biblical, But Aren't!

So I need a job. Ah, a chef position would be great! After application I get an interview. I expect questions like "have you ever made Louisiana Gumbo?" or "Grilled Mediterranean Chicken?" or maybe "Braised Lamb Shank?" 

False!

I get questions like "do you believe that we should use forks here?" or maybe "we hold it to be true, because of our tradition, that plates are the best thing to eat off of. Do you agree?" 

I'm floored! What should I say, "your silly?" Eating off of plates is great - but really, who cares! Maybe a spoon and bowl would be good to eat soup! 

Christian Rituals

Christian rituals, traditions and practices are much like this tale. While interesting, giving us a window into a culture, there is concern with dogmatism. This concern arises out of the observation that most groups become infected with the tradition veneration mentality. Some so revered, one has to wonder why God forgot to add some of them to the Bible. While not all Christian's venerate rituals, most do.

Nor am I saying they are all wrong. Some are great, others inconsequential and still others seem to transgress biblical teaching. Most are "un-biblical" rather than "non-biblical". In fact, an argument from tradition is a logical fallacy - just because we have done something (or not) does not make it right or wrong. While morally many may be kosher, we need to step back, assess and question them. Many are novel, some are as recent as within the past 200 years! Christians throughout early church history knew nothing about them. Most only form consistency and uniformity, but intrinsically none can shape unity and godliness. They are just parts of a culture.

Some of these are emotionally loaded positions. However, history is history, of which we must come to grips. Here are ten of them that many groups of Christan's practice.

Pews

Around the 13th and 14th centuries, the Church saw the evolution of backless benches which matured into the modern pew. By the fifteen century, pews became commonplace in church buildings [1]. In contemporary times, we see some gatherings divorcing the pews for chairs and seats. In fact, in some countries, people stand and in other places the congregation sits on the ground. None of these ways are more holy or respectful than any other. The Bible does not speak to this issue.

Altar calls

Beginning in the late 1800's altar calls were born. Some say Charles Finney popularized the idea. They have no biblical grounding nor historical Christian roots beyond that time. While altar calls may have helped many, concerns are real. Some are given false hope. Emotions and peer pressure seem to dominate the response by those who come. The stimulating and melodramatic sermons, the stirring music, and pleading friends and family can cause one to step down the "sawdust trail." But many go forward without a true intellectual and a fervent desire to follow Christ - which is this tradition's greatest down fall. 

Testimonies

Diverse Christian groups have some type of testimony time. Opportunity is given to converts for membership, and/or candidates for baptism, to bring their testimony for congregation approval. The first centuries of Church history knew no practice. In fact, Acts records that believers were baptized on the spot after confession of faith. While this is a testimony in a sense, it is not the long drawn out testimony that John Calvin introduced in the 1500's, which is where it's rooted. Some modern denominations still follow John Calvin's tradition of a requirement of in-depth testimonies before membership and baptism [2]. While this process may have good facets, it is not sacred. There are no commands or precedents set by Jesus and the apostles for this practice.

Hearing the voice of God

Many denominations, dynamic modern teachers and books instruct us that we need to "hear the voice of God" and "feel led of the Spirit" and "God whispers to us". Proof for this practice is taken from misinterpreted Bible passages. Rhetorically, it is sublime with its immensely spiritual sounding ring. This practice is done by those to figure out the "Big decisions" in life, such as who should be the preacher, what house to buy and when finding a mate. Arbitrarily opening the Scriptures "to find God's personal direction", by reading phrases and words out of context, is one main mode for this teaching. However, one abuses the text of God's Holy Word. Feeling a peace, confirmations and signs are also part of this practice - all subjective in nature. However, this tradition is less than 200 years old! Scriptures do not teach this practice, it does not logically makes sense, nor does it have deep historical Christian foundation - it started around eighteen hundred years after Christ [3]. 

Four Part Harmony

Like with any cultural element, confusion and uncertainty reign when we try to find the origins. The same is true with four part harmony hymns, what makes up most modern songs and hymns. While many feel that the "old-time hymns" are the best, and maybe they are, they do not realize that they aren't really "old-time." In fact, the early church sung in a type of antiphonal singing. This is where different groups sing back and forth at each other, maybe in response or repetition. As time passed, Gregorian chant's became the mode of song and worship. Rather than beat-wise music, it was step-wise. Some credit Martin Luther as the one who popularized four part harmony in Christendom. The two great awakenings then introduced much of the "old-time" music that have become a symbol of worship in the evangelical west. Again, while the music sounds good and many songs have great depths of meaning, four part harmony, just like other traditions, have no biblical roots. 

KJV Onlyism

Just to prevent up front confusion, Jesus and the Apostles did not use the "Authorized King James Bible version". While it may seem obvious to most, others seem confused. Rather, the King James Bible Version (KJV, or Authorized Version) was translated over 400 years ago in England. It has had a number of revisions. When translated, the version was in the language of the common person - everyone could read it who could read. The version that many herald as the original 1611 version really is not, it is the 1769 edition, an edit of the original 1611 version. Even modern publishers still modify their editions. While the KJV is a great version, the language of the KJV Bible is no more holy or reverent than any other solid modern version. The militant response by proponents has its genesis from the 1930's by a Seventh-day Adventist writer. Just like modern versions, it too has problems with accuracy. In places, text is written that is non-existent in the ancient Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ironically, the translators of the KJV wrote the following in the preface to their version: "Therfore as S. Augustine saith, that varietie of Translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the Scriptures: so diversitie of signification and sense in the margine, where the text is not so cleare, must needes doe good, yea is necessary, as we are perswaded." (Old English spelling.) In other words, they seem to agree with Augustine's argument, and in addition use it to make another point - I don't sense KJV onlyism in their writing [4]!

Denominational Membership

While some may argue that membership to a specific denomination had its roots in the Catholic church, with its cradle to grave system, it seems that the Congregationalists had a major role to play in the perceived importance of this tradition. Interestingly, it took about a millennium and a half for this practice to start. One has to wonder why the importance when Jesus and the Apostles never taught this practice. However, while it may have had some good effects, sadly, membership to a denomination has increased our misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God and Christ's body. All true Christians who follow Christ's teachings are members of one kingdom and one body.

Bible Chapters and Verses

You may be surprised to find out that the Bible does not have verses and chapters - not in the original at least. The Geneva Bible, written about 1500 years after Christ, started the trend for chapters and verses in English Bibles. While these additions do help us find things fast and specify location, they are artificial barriers and seem to encourage people to take thoughts out of context. We need to continually fight the urge to pull passages out of context.

Sunday School or Children's Church

Again, just like many of the other practices and traditions, Sunday School or Children's Church is novel to Christianity. After starting in the eighteenth century, it grew rapidly to many denominations. While it has done much good for children, especially the poor and those from non-Christian homes, there is a growing concern that it splits up the family during worship. Also, at home, parents are less likely to train their children in the ways of God, some think that Sunday school is all that's needed. Again, like all the other items in this post, this practice aught not be venerated. If parents decide to send their children, that is there decision. If they decide to keep their children with the main body of believers, so be it, that was how it was from the beginning.

Dressing Up For Church

Dressing up for gatherings has no biblical roots, rather it became popular during the first half of the nineteenth century. Ancient church leaders, to even more modern ones (such as Wesley), spoke against dressing up [5]. Some say it shows respect to God, however, this is just spiritual sounding rhetoric. Actually the Bible seems to teach otherwise [6]. Christians throughout the ages taught we should be clean and neat. However, modern formal dress, and post-modern rakish, injudicious fashions have no biblical grounding. True respect is obedience to Christ's commands!

What should we do?

Each one of these items are so ingrained in many group cultures, it has become a symbol for Christianity. While most of them aren't against original Christianity, we need to keep going back to the foundation of Christ. Our defense should not be the traditions and practices. Rather, we aught to preach and defend Christ and his teachings.


There you have it, reasons for better thinking! Join the many who receive the latest updates, because you will not want to miss the latest! Sign up now (click here)!

What are your experiences? Can you think of any others? What are some traditions that you have come to appreciate and why (other than for the sake of "tradition")? 

References:
(1) Viola, Frank; Barna, George (2008). Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. p. 35. ISBN 9781414341651.
(2) Bercot, David. Myth of Christian America audio set.
(3) http://ibitedge.blogspot.com/2014/04/three-silly-christian-practices.html
(4) http://www.kjvbibles.com/kjpreface.htm
(5) http://www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com/documents/church-practice/dressing-up/dressing-up-for-church.php#.VLXkDN-c3Qo
(6) Surprisingly the Bible does not speak much on clothing. However, there seems to be some basic guidelines, including the two passages here: 1 Timothy 2:9, 1 Peter 3:3.

Image source: Wikipedia/Kurpfalzbilder.de

The First Church of the Navelites

Whether it's true or not I do not know, but this story is food for thought. A number of years ago, a gathering of christians split over a disagreement over whether or not Adam and Eve had belly-buttons. Yes, you heard me correctly.

What happened? they lost focus on the important essentials, they lost focus on Christ.

So this naturally raises a question, are we susceptible to this same childish and ungodly behavior? What about us? Are we at times missing the forest for the trees? What is the big picture of Christianity?

Are we focused on sports or Christ?
Are we focused on traditions or Christ?
Are we focused on fashion or Christ?
Are we focused on "anti-fashion" or Christ
Are we focused on money or Christ?
Are we focused on our job or Christ?
Are we focused on vacations or Christ?
Are we focused on hunting or Christ?
Are we focused on our house or Christ?
Are we focused on music or Christ?
Are we focused on movies or Christ?
Are we focused on our car or Christ?
Are we focused on self or Christ?
Are we focused on the silly "controversial" topics or Christ?

Now I am not saying all the above are wrong. I'm just asking this in a minimally way, I am just asking about our focus. How much time and focus do we invest in any of the above items verses Christ and his teachings? What did Christ teach? What did he do? How did he act? Are we trying to follow him?

Did we turn from sin to Christ? Do we live a righteous life? Do we help the poor? What about the orphans and the widows? What about those in prison? Do we share the Gospel of the Kingdom?

That's what Christian means - a follower of Christ!

Image source: "Eccehomo1" by Antonio Ciseri - Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

The Gaps that Naturalism Fails To Answer (And What It Means For You)

Interesting conversation

Recently, I had the opportunity to communicate with some people about origins. I pointed out that naturalism, as a world view, has many problems. Problems such as the lack of explanation for the formation of the laws of physics, the reason that there is something rather than nothing, the origin of life's building blocks, the information source within the cell and the origin of life. One must say that these are big issues. Real BIG! I was perplexed when one responded with something to the effect of “these are just small gaps that we have not yet explained, you are just pushing your God into the gap.”

My response was simple - these are not small gaps, they are LARGE gaps, so large that they are the foundation of existence!

Another thing befuddles me, many Christians swallow the naturalistic world view “hook, line and sinker.” Many feel that naturalism can explain the origin of life and information. It can't intrinsically. They exchange a robust world view with amazing explanatory power for a degraded view that has lame and tenuous answers - a view that does not match reality!

IBITE Science Facebook page!

Switching gears to a new topic, I want to note that we have a new Facebook page for those of us who like science, but are disillusioned by the closed minded and naturalistic mindset that dominates many popular sites. Here's the Facebook description:

IBITE Science is a network of scientists and people who like science.

Natural science is the search for causes and truth in the universe. It is the intellectual and practical activity of studying structure and behavior while accumulating knowledge through the scientific method. Sometimes the evidence points to natural phenomenon, and other times to intelligent causes. We are open-minded. In other words we try to "follow the evidence where it leads."

In addition, we want to be both edgy and just have fun a times.

There you go, feel free to like the page and the posts! Even if science is not your field, interesting memes and articles are linked there. Please feel free to interact on the page as well! https://www.facebook.com/ibitescience