This is a time-lapse video of one of the most amazing places on Earth. Enjoy!
Monthly Archives: March 2013
The Church as a Model for Atheists
Scripture tells us that God placed eternity in the hearts of men, and the sentiment to seek God, to worship, and to have fellowship with a purpose beyond just a “get-together.”
Surprise, surprise… even those who are atheists provide evidence for this in their actions.
The Sunday Assembly in London is an atheist church, a godless church, which has copied the practice of the Body of Christ. They meet on Sundays, they sings songs, have some announcements, a reading, and a sermon from guest speaker.
The godless are copying the godly.
It might be a good thing.
They claim to be very open-minded and I hope they would eventually invite a Christian speaker to present to them a Christian worldview and the Gospel, which may give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to change some of them. What an amazing testimony that would be!
On the other hand, this may turn into a larger movement, an alternative to the real Church which will deceive many towards perdition.
In a Christian Post article, Matt Slick, president and founder of Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, says that a movement like this is dangerous. “The devil is working through them to replace the Christian church with the church of the devil. Atheism is the ultimate denial of God,” Slick said. “This movement is a manifestation of the enemy of the Gospel trying to replace Christianity, corrupt it and weaken it.”
“It might be that they become united and become a stronger front against Christianity. That is my concern. This has potential to do a lot of damage to the Church”
If Satan has the capacity to disguise himself into an angel of light to attempt to deceive the masses, he surely can use a copycat church to do the same.
Our job is to show unbelievers that even atheists feel the deep longing for that Something, for the unknown God of Acts 17, for the need to gather with purpose. Under the light of Scripture we know that purpose is to worship the One and true God.
Theology 101: Angels and Our Relationship to Them
Angels are created, spiritual beings with moral judgment and high intelligence, but without physical bodies (1).
The Bible makes it clear that these heavenly creatures take a particular interest in us. Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:10-12 that there are “things into which angels long to look,” things that have to do with the grace and manner in which God provides salvation to humans. This is a fascinating process for them, as they are unable to experience redemption first hand which involves the greatest event in the universe, the death and resurrection of Christ.
The writer to the Hebrews makes a powerful statement about angels joining us in spiritual worship when he states that we “have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God…”
The Bible also tells that angels can take human form and interact with us. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” Hebrews 13:2. This verse encourages us to minister to others who may truly be “angels” of whom we are “unaware.”
Scripture also makes it clear that angels can convey physical protection for us. An angel send by God shut the mouth of the lions in the den where Daniel was thrown. An angel delivered Peter from prison. Angels also came and ministered to Jesus after His temptation.
When we find ourselves in life and death situations and suddenly find that we are able to make it out untouched, we can certainly consider that an angel send by God perhaps rescued us. When you avoided that car accident in a miraculous way, or something made you turn around to catch your baby just in the nick of time, that may have been God ministering to you via an invisible angel…
There is strong biblical support for this. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12
And then there is one of my favorite verses about the relationship between children and angels: “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” I find the phrase “their angels” fascinating. It results that children have angels assigned to them, and these creatures are continually also in the presence of God.
These concepts on the doctrine about angels as well as the verses supporting them can serve as great comfort for believers, knowing that God uses such means to protect us and our loved ones.
(1) Grudem, Wayne 1994; Systematic Theology; pp. 405-406
Rob Bell and… Other Ways of Understanding God
Rob Bell is baaaaack… and is promoting his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About God in the video below.
The former pastor of Mars Hill mega church compares God to a Oldsmobile he used to drive in his youth, charging that historic Christianity is no longer relevant for our generation. The punch line in the video promo comes toward the end when the says: “Is God going to be left behind like Oldsmobiles? I don’t think so, because I believe there are other ways, better ways of talking about God, understanding God, because I believe God is with us, and for us.”
At this point Rob needs a cold shower to wake him from the stupor of false teaching. Be aware of anyone who claims to have a new way of presenting Jesus and his Gospel, because Jude tells us in Jude 1:3 “I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
There is no “other ways” of understanding God as Bell claims. God does not conform to the image of the modern generation, nor will He allow Himself to be dragged through the distortion of relevance by Universalists like Bell.
He states that God is “inviting and pulling us, all of us, into a better future than we can ever imagine.”
That sounds so good, so exciting, so relevant, but the truth is that such as statement is a lie from the depths of hell! I believe Universalism, that is the idea that in the end God will save everyone, is one of the biggest threats to those Christians who are not grounded in Scripture.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Everyone unfortunately will not be saved, and this is due to lack of saving faith in Jesus.
Watch the video below and be aware of the false doctrine of Universalism.
Abortion as Risk Factor for Breast Cancer
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is one of the premier medical publications in the world, and this week it came out with stunning new data (here) about the increased incidence of advanced breast cancer among women ages 25-39.
Advanced breast cancer was defined as that type of cancer which has metastasized to locations other than the breast at diagnosis, and 70% of these young women die in less than 5 years from diagnosis. The study found that between 1976 and 2009 the rate of advanced breast cancer grew by 90% in this age group.
These are alarming statistics!
While the article does not speculate on reasons for these results, the drastic increase in breast cancer begs the question if abortion is associated with and potentially causative of breast cancer. After doing a PubMed search I found data which may support this association. For instance, a Chinese study involving about 1,300 patients found a positive association between abortion and breast cancer (here). Also here, here and here.
Such a link is more detectable in patients who had 2nd trimester abortions.
It is important to note that many mainstream pro-choice groups deny this association, and have data to back up their claim. But this data is taken from Europe (large Dutch study) where pregnancy terminations are performed very early in the 1st trimester, and the link to breast cancer cannot be elucidated as well as in 2nd trimester cases.
Professor Angela Lanfranchi, MD, F.A.C.S., an Ob-Gyn doctor, explains the biological connection between induced abortion and breast cancer:
“A woman gains protection from breast cancer by completing a full-term
pregnancy. In utero, her offspring produce hormones that mature 85
percent of the mother’s breast tissue into cancer-resistant breast tissue.
If the pregnancy ends through an induced abortion or a premature birth
before thirty-two weeks, the mother’s breasts will have only partially
matured, retaining even more cancer-susceptible breast tissue than
when the pregnancy began. This increased amount of immature breast
tissue will leave the mother with more sites for cancer initiation, thereby
increasing her risk of breast cancer.”
The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the devastating impact abortion is having on our society and the lives of the women involved. There are also many other studies showing negative health consequences as a result of abortion. This is the truth and it must be told, even though the abortion platform is trying to suppress it.
Dilation and Evacuation: Raw, Real and Evil
I am beginning to devote a considerable portion of Delight in Truth to the Pro Life cause because the Spirit of life, the One who raised Jesus from the grave, the One who gives life (Romans 8:11) to our mortal bodies is Pro Life.
I am posting in the video below the testimony of Dr. Anthony Levatino, a board certified Ob-Gyn who used to perform abortions and who became Pro Life after his daughter was struck and killed by a car.
He said: “If you haven’t gone through that kind of tragedy, you don’t have a clue. You may think you can imagine it, but trust me: You have no idea what it’s like to lose a child, in any way.”
Seeing his daughter die was so traumatic for him, that he began seeing abortion as the violent death of someone’s son or daughter, and he became a Pro Life activist.
The video contains a short clinical description of what a dilation and evacuation around minute 2:45.
The ending is bound to leave a mark in your soul.
Chinese Propaganda… in Our Christian Media!
I had written a post (here) about the online magazine Christianity Today, questioning whether it can be called Christian based on some the articles, editorials, and opinion pieces they publish.
So, it was not surprising to see an article in Christianity Today entitled “China Isn’t Trying to Wipe Out Christianity” which is basically an apologetic piece on the claim that persecution is really not that bad in China.
Having lived in communist Romania until age 13, and having seen the persecution methods employed by that government against my local church, I can testify that what I read in this article was a message influenced by communist propaganda. The communist Romanians had freedom of speech, religion and assembly as part of their core values. Allegedly. And theoretically. But they were vehemently persecuting the existing ne0-Protestant churches for their FAITH under the banner of national security. Any prayer meeting was seen as a national threat. Every church was suspected of being a potential western ally. Every faithful Christian was a potential revolutionary. All of these to cover the real motive which was religious persecution.
They used the seemingly legitimate national defense excuse to accomplish their atheistic goals of suppressing the truth and stamping out religious practice.
And the propaganda disseminated in this article by Christianity Today follows some of the same old techniques we have seen in the former eastern communist bloc. For example:
1. The government is really not after those practicing their faith in house churches. Oh no. They are after anti-government elements that pose a national threat… So I ask… National threat from whom? Is the US or western Europe about to go to war with China? How ridiculous does that sound? Are they afraid that individual house cell meetings for prayer are going to topple a massive totalitarian government? Even that is highly improbable!
2. The Chinese government is not persecuting the faith, they are trying to suppress protests which can be embarrassing. So I ask… Why are Christians trying to protest in the first place if they are not persecuted for their faith?
3. The Chinese government is not persecuting Christians… only the ones who are trying to publicize human rights violations. Again, when freedom of religion is suppressed, that is a human rights violation translating into religion persecution.
Quote from the article: “The point here is not in any way to minimize the seriousness of these cases, but simply to point out that these believers were not persecuted for their faith or even for belonging to a house church…” This is exactly what the propaganda is! That the persecution has nothing to do with faith but with anti-government activity. We have seen this cover story time and time again in Romania.
This is an old trick and we are not going to fall for it!
Can we now see how ridiculous it is to blame Christian “trouble makers” to divert attention from the real underlying impetus of the atheist Chinese government, their real motive being the persecution of the Christian faith? And Christianity Today is buying it despite multiple other reports and assessments with respect to the intense persecution of the faithful in China!
Even though Christianity Today may not (want to) discern the truth, we know that our brothers and sisters in China are suffering at the hands of an atheist totalitarian regime which wants to inhibit their faith in God. We will continue to pray for these Christians and remember Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Pro Life Victory in Arkansas
This week the pro-life movement in Arkansas gained a small but important victory in the battle against abortion.
Both houses of the legislature passed the “pain-capable unborn child protection act” or anti-abortion pain bill for any baby over 20 weeks gestation. The bill argues that the fetus is capable of feeling pain and therefore suffers a horrific death at the hands of the abortionist.
Even though democratic governor Mike Bebee vetoed this life saving bill, both houses of the legislature came through with an override and the bill is now passed.
The constitutionality of the law will most likely be challenged by the ACLU, but for now the law stands.
Progress is slow and methodical, but the pro-life movement continues to grow especially among younger people, many of whom are Catholics and Evangelicals. One could argue that is not a victory because it only limits abortion, and it does not ban it completely, and I agree that any abortion is an act of depravity and a grave sin.
But in the grand scheme of abortion legality which is here to stay for the foreseeable future, our time-tested course is to chip away at this behemoth from any and all angles. These kind of pro life victories help invigorate those who persevere in this legal and spiritual battle.
The sanctity of life is held up by the testimony of the One who’s Spirit is called the Spirit of life (Romans 8). Our actions and testimony must be in line with the One who is called the Spirit of life.
Pet Care… After the Rapture?
In an effort to highlight the things that some of today’s Christians are concerned with, I bring to your attention this little scheme targeting Christians who love their pets.
You can go to the Christian site www.aftertherapturepetcare.com, and for a fee you can register your pet to be matched with a volunteer of the atheist worldview or perhaps a non-Christian religion who will take care of your pet in the aftermath of the Rapture event.
It was such an entertaining venture watching the video below and scrolling through their site, that I had to share this with my beloved readers and friends 🙂
What people will do these days to make a buck going after the emotional bond between people and their pets!
And to think that Christians are so tied to their worldly possessions, including their pets!
Imagine this.
The Rapture occurs and we meet the LORD in the air with our incorruptible bodies. Assuming the predominant premillennial view common among evangelicals today, the Rapture occurs at some point in the Great Tribulation (beginning, middle, end) and the elect is taken up. Imagine the chaos, the oppression of the AntiChristic reign, imagine God’s wrath being poured out on the earth via physical and spiritual disaster… Matthew 24;21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”
Now image some pet volunteer who was left behind in the greatest disaster that this planet has ever endured finding and looking after your non-raptured pet! Funny and ridiculous!
Just another way to make money off the gullibility of people.
Watch this promo for “After the Rapture Pet Care” via “Chief of the Least” and be entertained!
Delight in Truth 
