Traitors for Christ
You know that you have gone too far when the Church of Satan disavows your actions:
"Classy: Pro-abortion protesters drown out 'Amazing Grace' with chants of 'Hail Satan'"
Resulting in…
Reality is, a spirit that would encourage someone to fight for abortions beyond 20 weeks (or, in my opinion, at any point in a pregnancy) is the same spirit that leads the Church of Satan. Still ironic the latter doesn't want to be tarnished by the former…
Some folks probably look at Christians as a bit nutty because orthodox ones believe that all humans can be traced back to two original parents (Adam and Eve) about 6,000 years ago.
Well, maybe we aren’t so crazy after all…
“All Europeans are related if you go back just 1,000 years, scientists say”
And, not only that…
The cold, hard genetic evidence points to a warm and fuzzy fact. “It underlines the commonality of all of our histories,” Coop said. “You don’t have to go back many generations to find that we’re all related to each other.”
Interesting, eh?
P.S. If you are a Christian who discounts the creation narrative as mythological, allegorical, or a just word picture of what really happened (e.g. as describing evolution), all you’ve done is moved your problem forward to the story of Noah: Continue reading “Not So Crazy After All”
I remember Charles Krauthammer talking about how tyrants believe in "One man, one vote."
"One time."
Which, of course, is the time they get voted into office.
I think a similar thing happens in Christianity. Someone realizes that denomination(s) have gone outside the Bible for doctrine (or have misinterpreted it)…and (rightly) decides with like-minded people to learn what Scripture really says.
Then, of course, they document their conclusions, fully convinced that this time they’ve got it right, and anybody else who concludes something different is wrong.
I imagine God is sad every time…but not surprised. 🙁
I want to add a new part to the adage "We become like the god we worship."
We are most likely to emulate our god’s bad attributes.
Although some might argue that this means I am not a Christian (in that I do not hold all the "common doctrines of Christianity"), I think C.S. Lewis (from Mere Christianity) has the definition of "Christian" right:
Far deeper objections may be felt—and have been expressed—against my use of the word Christian to mean one who accepts the common doctrines of Christianity. People ask: 'Who are you, to lay down who is, and who is not a Christian?' or 'May not many a man who cannot believe these doctrines be far more truly a Christian, far closer to the spirit of Christ, than some who do?' Now this objection is in one sense very right, very charitable, very spiritual, very sensitive. It has every available quality except that of being useful. We simply cannot, without disaster, use language as these objectors want us to use it.
I think it came out yesterday or the day before…but here is JJ (and Dave) Heller's new video, "Who You Are":
[youtube=http://youtu.be/F8jilr8qsYU&rel=0&w=512]
A great couple who I wish all the success of the world without any of its trappings…
I was at one of my favorite haunts in Dublin, California (Half Price Books) and saw this:
Followed by this:
Thoughts? Are these "good ideas"?
Now, I can tell you this…whether or not a Liberty Bible or an American Patriot's Pocket Bible is a good idea, this is not: Continue reading “Good Ideas or Bad Ideas?”
Another large tragedy, another Christian leader taken to task for saying that it might be connected to the judgment of God on America. From what I can tell it first began with an article from Right Wing Watch, “Dobson: Connecticut Shooting was God Allowing ‘Judgment to Fall Upon Us’ for Turning Our Back on Him” which included this quote from Dr. James Dobson’s radio program from this past Monday, “A Nation Shaken by the Sandy Hook Tragedy”:
Our country really does seem in complete disarray. I’m not talking politically, I’m not talking about the result of the November sixth election; I am saying that something has gone wrong in America and that we have turned our back on God.
I mean millions of people have decided that God doesn’t exist, or he’s irrelevant to me and we have killed fifty-four million babies and the institution of marriage is right on the verge of a complete redefinition. Believe me, that is going to have consequences too.
And a lot of these things are happening around us, and somebody is going to get mad at me for saying what I am about to say right now, but I am going to give you my honest opinion: I think we have turned our back on the Scripture and on God Almighty and I think he has allowed judgment to fall upon us. I think that’s what’s going on.
Man, I don't even sound this good to myself while singing in the shower. 🙂
[youtube=http://youtu.be/TC34O8yPR2Y&w=512&rel=0]
Hat tip to Dan Phillips over at Biblical Christianity for the video. (Via Dan's @BibChr Twitter Handle.)
My list of Christmas album “must haves” are pretty much the same as last year. Let’s just say that…err…being under-employed means Ramen Noodles are a better purchase with a few bucks then even the most inexpensive Amazon MP3 download…although I have convinced my wife to at least let me spend a couple dollars. 🙂
First, the "must have" albums:
Some singles:
A few non-“must haves”…but worth giving a listen (like Michael W. Smith, these four are all Christian artists…which you gotta admit makes sense given the “reason for the season”):
And 2012’s “honorable mention” that might end up on next year’s official list:
Now, I probably could have created a decently long list of honorable mentions if I didn’t limit it to what I bought this holiday season, so you may also want to see what Ella Fitzgerald, Martina McBride, Louis Armstrong, Carole King (isn’t she Jewish?), Amy Grant, The Jackson 5, Pink Martini, Andre Rieu, and Celine Dione have done.
Well, there you go…what’s on your list? Let me know…I always love a great excuse to buy more music! 🙂
Now, if you don’t know Jesus Christ, this would be a great season to find out how a carpenter’s son changed history. Spoiler: it’s because He wasn’t just a carpenter’s son. 🙂
Look past how we Christians have represented our Savior so badly over the ages and instead listen to the voice of One who is truly worthy of your worship…and not only at Christmas…but every day of the year.
Finally…a very Merry Christmas to you and yours…
P.S. With Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis…you just need to find a good collection for the money. With some of the other ones you’ll want to make sure you get the album I specifically listed…with a couple of them, not all their Christmas albums are good, especially if you like traditional arrangements as I do…
P.P.S. The Christmas tree pictured in this post was decorated by none other than my awesome 5 year-old Augie and my beautiful wife Michelle…
A few days back I shared a post about "the 42 worst nativity sets" which included a rubber ducky nativity…and today this tweet came through (via a retweet):
The rubber duck nativity has arrived – I have warned the congregation this years crib will be different 🙂 pic.twitter.com/u5OZ6skc
Here's the conversation that ensued: Continue reading “Is a Rubber Ducky Nativity Sacrilegious?”
I’m of two minds with this post of "the 42 worst nativity sets" (title capitalization the author’s). I think my favorite is the one the thumbnail shows — which I actually believe is cool, not "worst." (The image is from here.)
Thoughts? Is it blasphemous to create some of these? (I’d say yes.) Blasphemous to put together a post including them? (I’d say maybe.)
Blasphemous to have a post about a post that includes them? 🙂
Perhaps God wasn't clear enough in this list…
6 "None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD. 7 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness. 9 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. 10 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. 11 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she is your sister. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's relative. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's relative. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity. 18 And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive (Leviticus 17:6-18, English Standard Version).
…for the three people involved in this to understand their level of depravity:
Dear E. Jean: My mother is an attractive, interesting woman who reads ELLE and The Economist, dresses fashionably, and maintains a petite size 2 frame. Recently, I found out that my 39-year-old husband (of 14 years) has been having sex with her when he attends conferences at the resort near where she lives. When he told me, I was bothered by the fact that it didn't bother me. Continue reading “Depravity”
Traditores (Traditores.org) is not a “discernment ministry.” However, I promised friend on Twitter that I would provide evidence that Benny Hinn is a false prophet. Since it’ll be a wee bit difficult to do that in 140 character pieces, I’m writing this post instead. 🙂
First, when I say “false prophet,” I am talking about a prophet in the context of a foreteller, not a forth teller. A prophet in the Bible can just be someone who speaks for God (minus anything supernatural), and even though I would suggest Mr. Hinn also has some pretty messed-up theology, this article only deals with when he claims to have had special revelation and it hasn’t come to pass. As such, this is what I’ll use as a test of whether a prophet is false or not: Continue reading “Is Benny Hinn a False Prophet?”
Admittedly depressed and worried…here are my initial Twitter thoughts from November 7, 2012 (from looking at what is being tweeted…including by Christians):
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266203585031839745
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266204113090527232
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266204294527721472
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266204721717604354
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266205384702820352
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266205534670163969
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266206078797230080
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266206467412090880
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266207201994092545
https://twitter.com/AlanCult/statuses/266207443820875776
Ultimately, I think my "A Christian Voter's Guide," "A Christian Voter's Guide (2012)," and "Christian Voter's Guide Bible Study" say much of what folks need to consider, even after the election.
Let's all just hope that the result of this presidential election is God blessing us instead of God punishing us, but let's praise Him regardless!