TRAVELS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. My young friend, Levi, a student at Criswell College, is at Oxford. You can see his pictures here. He has many papers to write, so I am praying for inspiration for him.
He will soon be joined by another friend, Dr. Scott Swain, a professor at Southwestern Seminary. He attended my Sunday School class until he was recruited to teach a similar class at another church. I am hoping Scott and Levi meet up sometime while they are there.
When you add that College Daughter is in Spain and the Baby is going to Canada, I am feeling staidly domestic. However, after the College Daughter had her luggage lost and got airsick, I felt pretty good about staying home.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN. I am back in town, though not at work. I have not taken two consecutive weeks off in years. It feels pretty good. Added bonus: since Monday is July 4, I also get that off.
I came back yesterday for a meeting at work. The boss is trying to upgrade my position. It went well and I am grateful for it. It is always nice to know your boss supports you.
We managed to take Tall Boy on the last leg of our vacation, so he has kept the Baby happy and content. They are quite cute together.
And, yes, I started getting back into the routine by going to our favorite Starbucks last night.
I came back yesterday for a meeting at work. The boss is trying to upgrade my position. It went well and I am grateful for it. It is always nice to know your boss supports you.
We managed to take Tall Boy on the last leg of our vacation, so he has kept the Baby happy and content. They are quite cute together.
And, yes, I started getting back into the routine by going to our favorite Starbucks last night.
Monday, June 27, 2005
TRAVEL UPDATE. We have returned from Aggie Land and have been home for the week end. We sent to see Batman Begins on Friday. That was fun. We met the Son-In-Law and his family for dinner Saturday night. His father, affectionately known as Radar, his mom, his brother the band director, and newly pregnant sister-in-law all came and we had a great time. We met at an Outback. The prime rib was yummy.
It was a nice feeling. With the Baby is preparing to leave for college, he College Girl gone most of the summer on various ventures, the Oldest up North performing, and my mother moving to Wichita Falls, to counter the feeling that the family is shrinking by spending time with this part of our extended family.
The only moment of sorrow was when the sister-in-law of the son-in-law told everyone at the table she was the only one there that did not vote for President Bush. We had to have a moment of silence before we could continue. Radar has promised to find a good counselor for her.
We are supposed to be leaving right now to take the College Daughter to the airport. We are just waiting for the Little Woman to get back from her errands so we can go. Then we are going to spend a couple of days running around out of town again.
I'm warming up to this idea of not working.
I here the hotel has wireless, so I will try to keep you informed.
It was a nice feeling. With the Baby is preparing to leave for college, he College Girl gone most of the summer on various ventures, the Oldest up North performing, and my mother moving to Wichita Falls, to counter the feeling that the family is shrinking by spending time with this part of our extended family.
The only moment of sorrow was when the sister-in-law of the son-in-law told everyone at the table she was the only one there that did not vote for President Bush. We had to have a moment of silence before we could continue. Radar has promised to find a good counselor for her.
We are supposed to be leaving right now to take the College Daughter to the airport. We are just waiting for the Little Woman to get back from her errands so we can go. Then we are going to spend a couple of days running around out of town again.
I'm warming up to this idea of not working.
I here the hotel has wireless, so I will try to keep you informed.
Friday, June 24, 2005
SUNDAY'S LESSON.
Why is it important that we know that Jesus was fully God and fully man, even while on earth? Because the heresy keeps popping up that he was not God. Let me give you some examples.
ARIUS
The first guy to know is Arius. Around the year 319, he was a priest in Alexandria. He began to teach that Jesus was not fully divine, but was less than the Father. He taught that Jesus did not exist through all eternity, but was created (begotten?) by the Father as an instrument of creation and then salvation.
Although the bishops opposed his views, they caught on. Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea became his patron. However, he was heroically opposed by one of the early church leaders, Athanasius. Athanasius spent his entire life opposing the Arian philosophy. At times it appeared Arianism might prevail, and he was called Athanasius Contra Mundum (against the world). He was exiled 5 times.
The Emperor Constantine called the council of Nicaea to settle the issue. The council was attended by several hundred pastors and bishops and voted overwhelmingly (all but 2) to condemn Arius and confess that Jesus was of the same substance as the Father. The Nicene Creed came from this council.
Here is the creed:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Jehovah's Witnesses believe God is a single person, not a Trinity, who does not know all things and is not everywhere. He first created Michael the Archangel through whom He created all other things. This creative work took God 42,000 years. After Adam sinned, God instituted a system of redemption. When it came time for the savior to be born, Michael the Archangel became a human, in the form of Jesus. Jesus grew and kept all the laws of God and never sinned.
This attempt to recognize only the Father as God and relegate Jesus to the status of many only, is sometimes called.Monarchianism. Monarchianism teaches that there is one God as one person: the Father. Orthodox Christianity is Trinitarian and teaches that the Trinity is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. In addition to Jehovah’s Witnesses, others in this group include Christadelphians and Unitarians.
Christian Science also denies that Jesus is God.
THE JESUS SEMINAR
The Jesus Seminar was originally formed in 1985 under the sponsorship of the Westar Institute to “renew the quest of the historical Jesus.” Thirty scholars participated in the first meeting and approximately 200 people now call themselves “fellows.” There is not much new in what they do, but the Jesus Seminar received extensive coverage in such periodicals as Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, as well as on network television.
The founder of the JS is Robert Funk. He said the following in a Keynote Address to the Jesus Seminar Fellows in the spring of 1994:
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that his death was a blood sacrifice, that he was going to die for our sins."
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that he was the messiah. He certainly never suggested that he was the second person of the trinity. In fact, he rarely referred to himself at all."
· "Jesus did not call upon people to repent, or fast, or observe the sabbath. He did not threaten with hell or promise heaven."
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that he would be raised from the dead."
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that he was born of a virgin."
· "Jesus did not regard scripture as infallible or even inspired."
Notice: at the heart of his claims is that Jesus is not God. His claims also show you why it is important that we cling to the truth that Jesus is God. If he is not, Funk’s other points become valid, that he could not save us from our sins or promise us heaven based on his resurrection.
THE DA VINCI CODE BY DAN BROWN
Now fast forward again to the last few years and the stir caused by the Da Vinci Code. Again there is nothing new in the premise of the book, but publicity from magazines and television have presented it as if it is a newly discovered truth, rather than a pot boiler based on the same old ideas.
In fact, the book seems to be, at a minimum, based on the theories of the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail,written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, published in 1982 and popularized bya BBC TV documentary. It is not accepted by scholars as accurate. The Da Vinci Code, makes reference to this book, and uses several of the above claims as key plot elements. The writers of HBHG have attempted to sue Dan Brown for plagiarism, on the grounds that his book uses their research and at least one of the characters.
The book makes the claim that until the Council of Nicaea in 325, that the church viewed Jesus as a man and that the council changed the doctrine to state that Jesus was God. What the council did, however, was acknowledge that the view of Jesus presented by himself, the apostles and the early church was the deity of Christ, and that Arius had invented a false doctrine that must be condemned.
Jesus certainly claimed to be God, it was why the Jews had him killed.
The apostles presented Jesus as God.
Peter, immediately after the resurrection preaches that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (see Acts 2:36). The term “Lord” means deity or God. Peter was just repeated what Jesus taught him, as Jesus applied the same scripture to himself that Peter was preaching from, Psalms 110:1 (see Luke 20:41).
John clearly says “the Word was God” in the very first verse of his gospel.
Matthew records that the angel told Mary that Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah 7:14 in that he was “God with us” (1:25). He records Jesus’ power over nature, sickness and death. He records Jesus claiming to be Lord of the Sabbath (12:8). Jesus was transfigured before the 3 disciples. You could go through all the gospels and find examples. Paul also clearly presents Jesus as God.
The confession of the church from the beginning was Jesus is Lord. The word for lord is “kyrios”. The Greek translation of the Old Testament which we call the Septuagent (LXX) used Kyrios (kurios) for Yahweh, the tetragrammaton, the name of God the Father.
When Caesar decided to be worshipped, he was referred to as lord\kyrios. The confession was Caesar Kyrios. Jews would not make the confession, for they would not say Caesar was God the Father.
Christians applied the Greek term “Kyrios” to Jesus. They also would not confess Caesar Kyrios, on Kristos Kyrios. They died for it. It is an appalling disrespect for the Jesus Seminar Fellows to say these martyrs did not believe Jesus was God when they died for that very confession.
It is ludicrous for Dan Brown or Robert Funk to claim otherwise in light of the scripture. However, their influence is felt. In 1998, Jesus Seminar Fellow, Marcus Borg, spoke for three days at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Myers Park is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Myers Park Baptist Church education minister Bill Doles, in introducing Borg, said that Myers Park is "open to new light."
These ideas will never go away. They will come back again. If we do not learn and teach the truth, the church will be lead astray by false teaching.
Why is it important that we know that Jesus was fully God and fully man, even while on earth? Because the heresy keeps popping up that he was not God. Let me give you some examples.
ARIUS
The first guy to know is Arius. Around the year 319, he was a priest in Alexandria. He began to teach that Jesus was not fully divine, but was less than the Father. He taught that Jesus did not exist through all eternity, but was created (begotten?) by the Father as an instrument of creation and then salvation.
Although the bishops opposed his views, they caught on. Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea became his patron. However, he was heroically opposed by one of the early church leaders, Athanasius. Athanasius spent his entire life opposing the Arian philosophy. At times it appeared Arianism might prevail, and he was called Athanasius Contra Mundum (against the world). He was exiled 5 times.
The Emperor Constantine called the council of Nicaea to settle the issue. The council was attended by several hundred pastors and bishops and voted overwhelmingly (all but 2) to condemn Arius and confess that Jesus was of the same substance as the Father. The Nicene Creed came from this council.
Here is the creed:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Jehovah's Witnesses believe God is a single person, not a Trinity, who does not know all things and is not everywhere. He first created Michael the Archangel through whom He created all other things. This creative work took God 42,000 years. After Adam sinned, God instituted a system of redemption. When it came time for the savior to be born, Michael the Archangel became a human, in the form of Jesus. Jesus grew and kept all the laws of God and never sinned.
This attempt to recognize only the Father as God and relegate Jesus to the status of many only, is sometimes called.Monarchianism. Monarchianism teaches that there is one God as one person: the Father. Orthodox Christianity is Trinitarian and teaches that the Trinity is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. In addition to Jehovah’s Witnesses, others in this group include Christadelphians and Unitarians.
Christian Science also denies that Jesus is God.
THE JESUS SEMINAR
The Jesus Seminar was originally formed in 1985 under the sponsorship of the Westar Institute to “renew the quest of the historical Jesus.” Thirty scholars participated in the first meeting and approximately 200 people now call themselves “fellows.” There is not much new in what they do, but the Jesus Seminar received extensive coverage in such periodicals as Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, as well as on network television.
The founder of the JS is Robert Funk. He said the following in a Keynote Address to the Jesus Seminar Fellows in the spring of 1994:
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that his death was a blood sacrifice, that he was going to die for our sins."
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that he was the messiah. He certainly never suggested that he was the second person of the trinity. In fact, he rarely referred to himself at all."
· "Jesus did not call upon people to repent, or fast, or observe the sabbath. He did not threaten with hell or promise heaven."
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that he would be raised from the dead."
· "Jesus did not ask us to believe that he was born of a virgin."
· "Jesus did not regard scripture as infallible or even inspired."
Notice: at the heart of his claims is that Jesus is not God. His claims also show you why it is important that we cling to the truth that Jesus is God. If he is not, Funk’s other points become valid, that he could not save us from our sins or promise us heaven based on his resurrection.
THE DA VINCI CODE BY DAN BROWN
Now fast forward again to the last few years and the stir caused by the Da Vinci Code. Again there is nothing new in the premise of the book, but publicity from magazines and television have presented it as if it is a newly discovered truth, rather than a pot boiler based on the same old ideas.
In fact, the book seems to be, at a minimum, based on the theories of the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail,written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, published in 1982 and popularized bya BBC TV documentary. It is not accepted by scholars as accurate. The Da Vinci Code, makes reference to this book, and uses several of the above claims as key plot elements. The writers of HBHG have attempted to sue Dan Brown for plagiarism, on the grounds that his book uses their research and at least one of the characters.
The book makes the claim that until the Council of Nicaea in 325, that the church viewed Jesus as a man and that the council changed the doctrine to state that Jesus was God. What the council did, however, was acknowledge that the view of Jesus presented by himself, the apostles and the early church was the deity of Christ, and that Arius had invented a false doctrine that must be condemned.
Jesus certainly claimed to be God, it was why the Jews had him killed.
The apostles presented Jesus as God.
Peter, immediately after the resurrection preaches that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (see Acts 2:36). The term “Lord” means deity or God. Peter was just repeated what Jesus taught him, as Jesus applied the same scripture to himself that Peter was preaching from, Psalms 110:1 (see Luke 20:41).
John clearly says “the Word was God” in the very first verse of his gospel.
Matthew records that the angel told Mary that Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah 7:14 in that he was “God with us” (1:25). He records Jesus’ power over nature, sickness and death. He records Jesus claiming to be Lord of the Sabbath (12:8). Jesus was transfigured before the 3 disciples. You could go through all the gospels and find examples. Paul also clearly presents Jesus as God.
The confession of the church from the beginning was Jesus is Lord. The word for lord is “kyrios”. The Greek translation of the Old Testament which we call the Septuagent (LXX) used Kyrios (kurios) for Yahweh, the tetragrammaton, the name of God the Father.
When Caesar decided to be worshipped, he was referred to as lord\kyrios. The confession was Caesar Kyrios. Jews would not make the confession, for they would not say Caesar was God the Father.
Christians applied the Greek term “Kyrios” to Jesus. They also would not confess Caesar Kyrios, on Kristos Kyrios. They died for it. It is an appalling disrespect for the Jesus Seminar Fellows to say these martyrs did not believe Jesus was God when they died for that very confession.
It is ludicrous for Dan Brown or Robert Funk to claim otherwise in light of the scripture. However, their influence is felt. In 1998, Jesus Seminar Fellow, Marcus Borg, spoke for three days at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Myers Park is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Myers Park Baptist Church education minister Bill Doles, in introducing Borg, said that Myers Park is "open to new light."
These ideas will never go away. They will come back again. If we do not learn and teach the truth, the church will be lead astray by false teaching.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH. I received this from the Oldest Daughter and thought I'd share it with you.
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT,DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?
My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now timeto begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are>some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening. Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption. Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China. I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York .
A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change. Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care. It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens.
Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn>tootin." Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from America.
To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic. God bless America. Thank you and good night.
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT,DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?
My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now timeto begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are>some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening. Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption. Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China. I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York .
A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change. Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care. It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens.
Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn>tootin." Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from America.
To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic. God bless America. Thank you and good night.
HOME FROM AGGIELAND. We finished our trip to College Station. The Baby registered for classes, got a post office box, participated in yell practice, and generally saw the campus.
The Little Woman and I took our picture under the Century Tree. The legend says if you kiss under the tree you will stay together forever. We did it in 1972 and it has held true so far.
We saw two families from our church there, also taking their daughters around. The Baby will have no problem having friends and contacts.
The College Daughter is supposed to make it home today before leaving for Europe to study abroad. Then the Baby will go to Canada for a mission trip. The Oldest is, of course, still up north performing for the summer.
My children lead exciting lives.
I am proud of them all.
The Little Woman and I took our picture under the Century Tree. The legend says if you kiss under the tree you will stay together forever. We did it in 1972 and it has held true so far.
We saw two families from our church there, also taking their daughters around. The Baby will have no problem having friends and contacts.
The College Daughter is supposed to make it home today before leaving for Europe to study abroad. Then the Baby will go to Canada for a mission trip. The Oldest is, of course, still up north performing for the summer.
My children lead exciting lives.
I am proud of them all.
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