New site is here!

As the old saying goes, the enemy of good is perfect.

So it goes with my new site, as I told you about in the last two posts.We have to move on!

And yes, now you can check out the new site! iApologia.com.

There I want to continue to have a platform "Where Science, Reason & Christianity Meet."

As you will see, the site has a total makeover. I have added a speakers page to answer common questions for those who want me talk to their group. Also, I added a store page where I link to many great resource so you can dig deeper.

If you do get the latest posts via email, you will not have to do a thing, just sit back and enjoy the new content!

If you don't get the latest posts via email, please click the email icon below to sign up. Plus, if you sign up for email updates, I will send you my free quick guide "Why Science Points to God."

If you read via RSS, please click the RSS icon to update the address for your reader:

The old IBITE logo is going by the wayside too for the new iApologa logo. The "crossed Z" logo has been switched for the gecko silhouette.

You see, the gecko is one of those animals with some really great designs, especially its feet. Not sure what's so cool about the gecko feet? Well start your search out at iApologia.com by visiting a past post on the gecko (click here), then feel free to continue the conversation at iApologia.com!






Click below to go to iApologia.com!

 



Happy reading!

New Site Comming Tomorrow!

My last post noted that a new site was coming. It is just around the corner! I plan on making it go live tomorrow: Monday, June 13, 2016.

Brand new site, brand new name, brand new logo.

In the mean time, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email off to the side or comment below. Also, if you know of those who would be interested, feel free to forward them the latest information!

IBITE Blog News, Big Changes Coming!

I've been quiet of late...but I’ve not been idle, behind the scenes that is. You see, I've been chomping at the bit for sometime to update. IBITE blog needs to grow a little. It needs to be a little more official and more focused.

I’m excited to say that what this means is we have a new site coming!

It’s still in the works, but it’s coming along well.

So what can you expect? Well...it's going to have four major changes.

1) It’s going to have a total makeover and have a much more professional feel. This update will make it more flexible in adding content and give more options behind the scenes. This translates into a richer and fuller experience for you.

2) Another item I’ve added is a speaker’s page. Some have requested more information about me and my speaking topics.

3) There are some posts that are superficial tastes of the topics. So many times there are many resources that I know about or have that I would like to share with you. The main area for these resources will be on a “Store page”. On that page, I’ll give you links to items I recommend from Amazon and other places.

4) I’ve been advised that the name needs an update, more descriptive. So what is the new name you ask? Well that is going to have to be a secret! In other words, you will have to stay tuned to find out! I'll tell you on day zero :)

Alright, there you be! Now you have the lowdown. Keep sharing the site with others and feel free to keep in contact by commenting below the posts! I would love to hear from you. Also, one thing from you, what other changes would you like for the site? Feel free to tell me by commenting below or email me off to the side.

5 Amazing "Alien Technologies" in Life That Strike Down Darwinistic Evolution

Terrestrial Alien technology

Digging in the deep jungle tangle, you are in search for lost ancient civilizations. Finding primitive technology is your expected end because of the surrounding primitive cultures.

Your slow sleepy digging suddenly is awakened by the earth's yawning mouth, you are plunged down into the bowels of the earth. A hidden cavern awaits your arrival. Heart pounding, you crawl over the mess, and then you stumble into a maze of artifacts.

The Comfortable Christianity Conundrum and Why You Should be Concerned

The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer | Public Domain

We like our comfort. We like are personal peace. We like our prosperity. However, if your Christianity is comfortable, you are not a Christian after the breed of the Apostles and ancients. In fact, not even like Jesus! Now I'm not trying to tell you that you should seek out an "uncomfortable life". No. I am saying if you are doing as the Bible teaches, you will not be comfortable!

Nor does Christianity mean going to "church". We don't go to “church”. We are the Church. If you just "go to church", you are not a Christian. Sitting on a bench or chair at "church" does not make you any more Christian than sitting in a garage makes you a car. Nor is sitting through a sermon, homily or lecture fulfill your Christian duty, your Christian duty is much bigger, changing lives; yours and others. Christians who are part of the Church are followers of Christ. A servant of God. A citizen of God's kingdom. A mimicker of the Master.

Has Science Killed God? Four Reasons Why That Idea Does Not Make Sense.

Some atheists say things like "science has fired God" or "science killed God." What about some who say "science is making belief in God obsolete and incoherent"? Or what about this, "we are getting smarter and we can now explain things without invoking God."

Just like a previous post, "Reason vs. Faith", where I argue that reason and faith are compatible, I want to make a similar claim here, science and God are compatible. There is no conundrum.

Most damaging to the "science makes God obsolete" idea, is science is dependent upon Christian ideology, like a child to her mother. Like the rest of life, such as beliefs and cultures, how we interpret the world is based upon the presuppositions that form our worldview. Science is no different. Modern science arose only once in history and in one place, Christian Europe. The culture was saturated with the Christian faith and philosophy.

The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Post 3 of 3)

Are Christians supposed to keep the Ten Commandments? Are Christians supposed to keep the Sabbath? Are we free from the laws of the Old Testament?

Even though these series of posts were aimed at the Jewish believer, it is relevant to any believer. I have noticed that many, included myself at one time, did and do not quite understand Paul's teachings.

The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Post 2 of 3)

In a post in this series, we looked the purpose of the Law of Moses. If you have not read that post, please do before you keep reading this one (click here). In this post, we will look the law as a unit, the past covenants God gave people and what happened to the Law of Moses.

Like I said in the previous post, I feel that the argument that these three post make is the best one out there concerning how we interact with the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law in light of Scripture. Also, like said in the other post, the following is taken from Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s study at Ariel Ministries. Please see note at end of post for more information and disclaimer.

Read the first post in this series here.
Read the third post in this series here.

The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Post 1 of 3)

Are Christians supposed to keep the Ten Commandments? Are Christians supposed to keep the Sabbath? Is there a distinction between God's moral law, God's ceremonial law and God's legal law in the Old Testament? What was the old law for?

This three part series will address these and other questions. I feel that this is the best argument concerning how we interact with the Ten Commandments in light of Scripture.

8 Wrong Ways To Read the Bible And 1 Way You Should

Maybe one of today's most deceptive Christian traps is illicit Bible reading methods. These methods are easy and common, but so seductive. Sadly, many have learned these methods through "Christian osmosis" and at times these ideas are taught. Almost all of us have probably used some, if not most of them at one time or another. However, these make for weak Christians, Christians who don't have a solid foundation. That is why I'm sharing the below list of eight to help slow down this runaway "bad Bible reading method" train.

Some of the Most Murderers "Regimes" Since the Early Nineteen-Hundreds, The Last One will Stun You!

We are disgusted with Hitler, with Stalin and with Mao. Rightfully so, we all know they were sick, sick people murdering millions. Some say "God has a special place for them in hell", and maybe he does, I don't know. We wonder "why didn't people step up and stop them"? How could the rest of humanity allow such atrocious atrocities? How could these criminals of humanity and their henchmen do such horrible deeds?

These are all deep questions that we need to perpetually ponder. But I do have to wonder how clean our hands are? In United States alone, where Christianity is a majority, the murderous deed of snuffing out unborn human baby's lives go unchecked. In addition, the sad fact is that many who name the name of Christ do these murderous deeds as well, taking the life of their unborn progeny.

Are Unborn Human Babies Alive? A Biological Perspective Of Life.

Biologists like lists and categories. Lots of them. In my very last biology class as a student, we talked about one such list, a list that describe the attributes of life. This class was virology, so obviously we were interested if viruses are even considered alive, which some push to the outskirts, if they are even life!

While there are a number of variations of lists that distinguish life from non-life, most overlap. I wondered how an unborn human baby would fair to such a list. So I put the unborn human to the test.

The Truth Ain’t Enough. Why You Should Inoculate, Not Isolate

Click for credit.

Just The Truth Please?

A counterfeiter once walked into a gas station, slapped down a seven and asked for change. Without skipping a beat, the attendant handed him a three and four dollar bill and said “good day.”

One of the most annoying "Christian" myths is that many think law enforcement, who deal with counterfeiting, only memorize the "real McCoy" to spot the fake. I want to scream every time I hear this. Yes, you need to know truth, for sure. Since the false is deviations from truth, you can’t know the false until you know the truth. However, it is not the only thing cops learn, they also learn classical examples of the counterfeit.

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.

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.