Category: Random

Proving There Is A God, Sodom Found (Maybe), and Scientists Reducing Faith

Posted on by Alan

 NewspapersI saw three interesting articles on the Internet today. The first says there is no way to prove there is a God:

“Why God Cannot Be Proven: A Star Trek Argument”

Basically, it claims you can always posit that anything that seems supernatural is actually just a smarter alien using non-supernatural means that seem magical to us.

I would suggest, instead, it fits my saying that “proof is in the eye of the beholder”—that people will not believe what they don’t want to believe. However, in fairness to the writer, proof of an infinite being might itself be infinite, and we have finite brains. We may have no choice but to have faith bridge the gap…

But that faith would still be based on evidence versus the false modern equivication of faith with blind faith.

The second article says they may have found the biblical city of Sodom: Continue reading “Proving There Is A God, Sodom Found (Maybe), and Scientists Reducing Faith”

Acts 2:15 doodle

Doodling Acts 2

Posted on by Alan

I lead my church’s tween/teen class, and I’ve been trying new approaches to keep the Bible studies interesting. The latest addition to my repertoire is personal erasable boards. Although they are for other purposes (that I may explain someday in another post), I allow the kids to doodle…and their team can get points for good ones. The one below (which is actually for Acts 2:15, not Acts 2:14…that’s on me, not the artist) wasn’t the greatest artistry displayed this last Sunday, but I sure liked it. 🙂

Acts 2:15 doodle

In case you aren’t familiar with the story (you have to start at the beginning of Acts 2 to get the complete picture, however)…

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them:“Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day (Acts 2:14-15).

The Lord has blessed me with a class of great kids…

Hateful, Horrible, or…?

Posted on by Alan

I had an interesting interaction with Penn Jillette this afternoon. Thoughts about our Twitter dialogue? Is he right, am I right, or are we both wrong?

https://twitter.com/AlanCult/status/635546990546255872

https://twitter.com/AlanCult/status/635550029701230592

In case the tweets don’t come through, here are the text of each: Continue reading “Hateful, Horrible, or…?”

Truth (Something to Consider)

Posted on by Alan

I’ve developed some great friendships on Twitter.

Wait! What does that say about me if I develop most of my friendships when limited to 140 characters or less?! 🙂

Either way, I’ve developed some great friendships on Twitter, and one of the folks I appreciate most is Jeffrey Guterman, whose Twitter profile describes him as a “mental health counselor and author.” He and I view the world from different angles, but I’ve had some of my most rewarding tweet dialogues with him. Here is an example of how he takes the time to explain difficult concepts (we were discussing contradictions and truth):

Continue reading “Truth (Something to Consider)”

Like a Trapped Moth

Posted on by Alan

Moth trapped by a windowThis is a post that I meant to write three weeks and a few days ago. Although the company I work for is great, conditions as of late have made me feel I have little control of my fate—that I am trapped by circumstances.

I am sure I could have done certain things more effectively, but am convinced I have done a good (perhaps great) job given what was on my and my department’s plate.

But, it doesn’t matter. I am trapped like the moth in this picture. I don’t really advertise all that I am accomplishing (nor my successes), and as such often cannot even put them in words. Instead, all certain people see are what I could have done better (or that they perceive I could have done better), not all I did in the background that made the incredible look mundane. Continue reading “Like a Trapped Moth”

How Do You Treat Your Friends?

Posted on by Alan

Three friends standing togetherI have a lot of concern about Christians who, in my opinion, treat others in an un-Christlike manner when calling for accountability or discernment. If they get taken to task on social media, I am less than empathetic. If anything, I enjoy them being zapped.

Then…

I developed friendships with a few of them. When those few get attacked I now want to step up and defend them (and have). What does that say about me?

That I still have a lot of opportunity for growth. Lord, please have me care as much about my opponents as I do my friends.

Lane with 'no entry' painted on it

Cast Out

Posted on by Alan

Man using his hand to tell you to stopThis is a post I really don’t want to write, but also think must be written.

Generally averse to controversy, I recently stepped foot into what might be considered unfriendly territory. Inhospitable…not because I disagree with those who hold that land (in many ways I’m entirely in sync)…but because many who inhabit its hills and valleys do not take kindly to suggestions that method/tone/whatever-you-want-to-call-it matters when it comes to biblically-mandated church discernment and discipline.

And in fairness to them, often those who call them on it seem to just be trying to change the subject (using it as a method of deflection) and never answer the core questions at hand. Not to mention, too frequently those who challenge individuals on tone exhibit extremely bad behavior themselves.

Now, I am not claiming perfection, but I think it would be fair to say I did not exhibit bad behavior (extreme or otherwise). Worst I did is commit a couple misdemeanors; definitely no felonies while strolling up and down the highways and byways of that foreign land.

However, a couple days ago I went to reenter the territory, looking forward to interacting with its residents. Oddly enough, I actually thought I may have become one of its citizens. Maybe a black sheep of sorts, but they felt like fellow countrymen. Sure, some of the conversations within that land were uncomfortable, but I was also shown great kindness and fellowship.

But, I was barred entry. Continue reading “Cast Out”

Islam symbol with weapons

“The Right to Blaspheme Is the Right to Believe”

Posted on by Alan

Islam symbol with weaponsThere aren’t many articles I would consider a must read, but this one by Daniel Greenfield fits that category:

“The Importance of Blasphemy”

You really should take the time to digest Greenfield’s piece, but I’ll at least share the quote that inspired how I titled this post:

In a multi-religious society, in which every religion has its own variant theological streams, the right to blaspheme is also the right to believe. Liberal theology can contrive interchangeable beliefs which do not contradict or claim special knowledge over any other religion. But traditionalist faiths are exclusive.

Everyone’s religion is someone else’s blasphemy. If we forget that, we need only look to Saudi Arabia, where no other religion is allowed, as a reminder.

Greenfield’s post also spends some important time distinguishing Islam’s expectations from other exclusive faiths…along with a lot more (including recognizing that “Egyptian President Sisi’s gesture of attending a Coptic mass was so revolutionary because it challenged the idea that Egyptian identity must be exclusively Islamic”).

It’s worth five minutes of you time, trust me. 🙂

P.S. If you are interested in this subject, please also see “It Is Wrong. Full Stop.”

Hat tip to Instapundit.

It Is Wrong. Full Stop.

Posted on by Alan

Pistol with french flag pattern in handThere are times when the word “but” should never occur in a sentence. One of them is when apologizing. Just apologize. Don’t say, “I’m sorry, but…”

Well, unless you really aren’t apologizing.

Another time to not use the word “but” is when someone murders someone else. For instance, say, when radical Islamist terrorists kill 12 people at a satirical French magazine.

It is wrong. Full stop.

I do not believe in needlessly offending anyone—I am a Romans 12:18 kind of guy. But, whenever I think of this horrendous act I don’t care what they did or said or ate for breakfast.

It is wrong. Full stop. Continue reading “It Is Wrong. Full Stop.”

Snoopy in a snowball fight

Advice from a Beagle

Posted on by Alan

Okay, okay…I know this wasn’t the intent of this “Sundays with Snoopy” strip, but…come on…doesn’t it sort of fit Proverbs 26:17? 🙂

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears (English Standard Version).

Snoopy in a snowball fight

If you click on the image it’ll bring you to the original Facebook post.

Countdown2.Christmas vinyl album

Christmas Album “Must Haves” (2014 Version)

Posted on by Alan

Countdown2.Christmas vinyl albumAnother Thanksgiving has past, which means I can openly listen to Christmas music again!

Time now for my yearly list of Christmas album “must haves”…which is alway last year’s with some tweaks. I mean, you don’t honestly expect my taste in Christmas music to change drastically year-to-year do you?! 🙂

Now…before I unveil this year’s “winners”…I should note that if you love Christmas music as much as I do, every album listed below can be heard on my brand new Countdown2.Christmas Radio station. As of writing this post, it has only been around a couple weeks…and…for instance…at one point today we had 246 listeners all over the world. Give it a listen, will you?

Finally…I realize this list is growing…and if you are starting your collection it might be a bit much to ask you to get them all. So, this year I’m going to give you the top ten-ish in groups of five-ish. Hopefully that will be more helpful than confusing. 🙂

Top 5:

Continue reading “Christmas Album “Must Haves” (2014 Version)”

Cloverton

Cloverton’s “Hallelujah”

Posted on by Alan

ClovertonI am a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas music, but I am very proud to break that habit with the addition of five songs by Cloverton to the Countdown2.Christmas Radio playlist. I’m sure a lot of it is Lance Stafford’s unique voice, but I can’t say enough about how the whole band takes Christmas classics and…somehow…gets me to hear what I’ve never heard before in the songs’ messages.

Even though I have listened to (and have sung) them so many, many times during my 50 years on this earth.

Sadly, the tune with which I discovered them (“Hallelujah”) is not available for airplay yet, but you can enjoy it on YouTube:

[youtube=https://youtu.be/kIoNfQ97RME&rel=0&w=512]

May their talents bless you as they have blessed me as we all remember the reason for the season.

Cross posted on Countdown2.Christmas.

Like Christmas Music? Try radio.countdown2.christmas

Posted on by Alan

Santa with treeOur sister Christmas site is countdown2.christmas, and it now has it’s own Christmas music station thanks to Radionomy! Although a bit more is mixed in, its playlist is based on our “Christmas Album Must Haves”. Trust me, it’s the best Christmas music on this planet :-), so you should give it a listen: http://radio.countdown2.christmas (Yes, there is really a .christmas domain extension now…)