We have seen today that Jesus is the Creator God, who has always been and always will be. He has given us the Bible, which are His Words from beginning to end, and in Matthew 24:35, He tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” So, as I like to conclude all of the presentations I give, the question I want to leave you with is, who are we going to trust as our authority in all areas? Are we going to trust in, Jesus, the Creator, or man the creation? Thank you.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Jesus in Genesis
We have seen today that Jesus is the Creator God, who has always been and always will be. He has given us the Bible, which are His Words from beginning to end, and in Matthew 24:35, He tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” So, as I like to conclude all of the presentations I give, the question I want to leave you with is, who are we going to trust as our authority in all areas? Are we going to trust in, Jesus, the Creator, or man the creation? Thank you.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
The New Answers Book 4 - Book Review
Over-All Rating: 5 out of 5
Content: 5 out of 5
Format: 5 out of 5
Thoroughness: 5 out of 5
Up-To-Date: 5 out of 5
Age Recommendation: Preteen-Adult
Climate change in the origins debate, that is. In recent years, the emphasis of evolutionary humanists has shifted from defending evolution to offensively questioning and ridiculing creation and the Bible. I regularly hear claims such as," "Creation is religion and evolution is science," "Creation denies natural selection," "Transitional fossils disprove biblical creation," "Noah's Ark couldn't have possibly survived a worldwide flood," "A worldwide flood couldn't have laid down various, uniform rock layers," "Young-earth creation has no scientific evidence," and even "Dragon legends were really inspired by dinosaur fossils excavated by ancient paleontologists"! Meanwhile, coming from Capitol Hill is a push for support of climate-change prevention, abortion, "gay marriage", and a limited freedom of religion for Christians.
Yet, even in such times as these, Christians are faced with a command from Scripture to, "...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." But how are Christians supposed to give this defense? As this verse, 1 Peter 3:15, tells us, "But sanctify the Lord God in you hearts..." We must set God apart as first in our hearts, and hold His Word as our authority in all areas, including in this area of apologetics (giving a defense). This can be difficult, but fortunately, the Lord has greatly blessed His people with many wonderful resources to help equip Christians to have a biblical worldview and to defend their faith. The New Answers Book series, written by various scientists, theologians, and scholars (many who are professionals in their fields), and edited by world-renowned apologist and speaker Ken Ham, are some of the best resources ever published on the issue of creation vs. evolution and the Bible, and the latest addition, The New Answers Book 4, is no exception.
The New Answers Book 4 features new chapters on:
- Atheistic Devices
- Does the Gospel Depend on a Young Earth?
- Was Charles Darwin a Christian?
- Should There Really be a Debate between Science and the Bible?
- What Did the Reformers Believe about the Age of the Earth?
- Are There Transitional Forms in the Fossil Record?
- Could the Flood Cataclysm Deposit Uniform Sedimentary Rock Layers?
- Should We Be Concerned about Climate Change?
- Could Noah's Ark Have Been Made of Wood?
- What about Beneficial Mutations?
- What About the Hebrew Language and Genesis?
- Is Speciation Evidence for Creation or Evolution?
- and many, many more!
Beyond the wide variety of topics covered, Book 4 also features the same, easy-to-read format of its predecessors. Some things which I personally enjoyed about The New Answers Book 4 were:
- Its emphasis on biblical authority in all areas.
- The conciseness of each chapter.
- Its pick-up-and-read style, which makes it easy to get the answers you want at any time.
- The specific topic selection is focused on answering skepticism as well as updating the creation model.
All in all, The New Answers Book 4 is a great resource for those interested in defending the Christian faith, and for those who are seeking answers to questions about creation, evolution, and the Bible. Many thanks to New Leaf Publishing Group for providing me with a copy for review.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Evolution - Forced to Outer Space?
Our planet is truly significant. The only planet with liquid water, and at the perfect distance from the Sun, planet Earth is the only planet with the ability to support life. However, due to the many scientific impossibilities with the idea of the evolutionary origin of life (for example, oxygen is a necessity for life, yet it would also chemically prevent the formation of molecules!), many evolutionists (including DNA co-discoverer, Francis Crick) have proposed an idea called panspermia. Panspermia holds that millions of years ago, an advanced form of life from somewhere else in the universe planted the seeds of life from which all forms of living things would evolve. In the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, atheist Richard Dawkins points to the evidence in the extremely-complex "code of life," DNA, as the fingerprint of a designer--but not the God of the Bible. Instead, Dawkins said that these designers would be intelligent E.T.s, which also would have evolved by natural processes. However, this begs the question, "If life cannot evolve on earth, with all of its life-supporting characteristics, what is the possibility that it could evolve anywhere else in the universe?" Panspermia does not actually solve the problem, it only pushes the problems with evolution to "a galaxy far, far away," where they cannot be solved scientifically through observation and experimentation.
As you can see, this idea of panspermia is simply another way evolutionists try to evade the obvious conclusion: design implies a Designer, information cannot come without an Intelligence, and scientific laws (such as biogenesis) can only come from a Law-Giver. As apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-23, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."
If you want to learn more about E.T.s and the evolution connection, be sure to attend the October Foundations Creation Club meeting to hear Professor Bruce Wood of Shasta Bible College & Graduate School give his presentation, "Is Anyone Out There?" which tackles the E.T. question! This event will be held on Friday, October 25th from 6:45-8:30pm at Church of the Foothills in Cameron Park, CA. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/182465965278039/. Thanks for reading!
As you can see, this idea of panspermia is simply another way evolutionists try to evade the obvious conclusion: design implies a Designer, information cannot come without an Intelligence, and scientific laws (such as biogenesis) can only come from a Law-Giver. As apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-23, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."
If you want to learn more about E.T.s and the evolution connection, be sure to attend the October Foundations Creation Club meeting to hear Professor Bruce Wood of Shasta Bible College & Graduate School give his presentation, "Is Anyone Out There?" which tackles the E.T. question! This event will be held on Friday, October 25th from 6:45-8:30pm at Church of the Foothills in Cameron Park, CA. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/182465965278039/. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Book Review: Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Volume 1
Rating: Five out of five
Difficulty: Layman
Recommended Ages: Teens & adults
"The Bible is full of contradictions!" says the skeptic. You reply in protest, "Show me one!" To your shock, the skeptic flips to a series of passages in the Old and New Testaments, which, to your horror, appear to contradict one another! What do you do now? Do you give up, try to explain it away, or do you give an answer as we are commanded to do in 1 Peter 3:15?
General editor Ken Ham (president/CEO of Answers in Genesis and Creation Museum) leads a team of apologists (defenders of the faith) to refute 40 of the most common alleged contradictions in Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Volume 1. Each chapter covers a separate contradiction, from the two creation accounts in Genesis, to the slaughter of the Canaanites in Joshua, to Jesus' statement of the Father being greater in the Gospels, to the "firstborn Creator" in Colossians. Each of these chapters helps build confidence in the the truth and inspiration of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), and shows that the Bible "is an anvil which has worn out many hammers."
Some of the things I personally enjoyed about this book:
- With each chapter being only a page to two pages long, it is an easy book to pick up and read on the go or when you are in a discussion or debate with someone on Bible contradictions.
- Because the authors stand on the authority of Scripture, all of the research they do comes directly from the pages of Scripture, rather than dismissing each of these "contradictions" as errors.
- As stated throughout, this book helps Christians to better understand the issue at hand and how to refute Bible contradiction arguments from skeptics, by simply defining "contradiction" and reading the passage within context.
- My faith in the Bible was strengthened, as passages which once bothered me due to their "contradictory nature" now fit into their place.
Would I recommend Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Volume 1? I wouldn't only recommend it, but I would say that it is a must have for any Christian's library. Now I have to get my hands on the sequel!
Thank you New Leaf Publishing Group for sending me a review copy!
Difficulty: Layman
Recommended Ages: Teens & adults
"The Bible is full of contradictions!" says the skeptic. You reply in protest, "Show me one!" To your shock, the skeptic flips to a series of passages in the Old and New Testaments, which, to your horror, appear to contradict one another! What do you do now? Do you give up, try to explain it away, or do you give an answer as we are commanded to do in 1 Peter 3:15?
General editor Ken Ham (president/CEO of Answers in Genesis and Creation Museum) leads a team of apologists (defenders of the faith) to refute 40 of the most common alleged contradictions in Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Volume 1. Each chapter covers a separate contradiction, from the two creation accounts in Genesis, to the slaughter of the Canaanites in Joshua, to Jesus' statement of the Father being greater in the Gospels, to the "firstborn Creator" in Colossians. Each of these chapters helps build confidence in the the truth and inspiration of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), and shows that the Bible "is an anvil which has worn out many hammers."
Some of the things I personally enjoyed about this book:
- With each chapter being only a page to two pages long, it is an easy book to pick up and read on the go or when you are in a discussion or debate with someone on Bible contradictions.
- Because the authors stand on the authority of Scripture, all of the research they do comes directly from the pages of Scripture, rather than dismissing each of these "contradictions" as errors.
- As stated throughout, this book helps Christians to better understand the issue at hand and how to refute Bible contradiction arguments from skeptics, by simply defining "contradiction" and reading the passage within context.
- My faith in the Bible was strengthened, as passages which once bothered me due to their "contradictory nature" now fit into their place.
Would I recommend Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Volume 1? I wouldn't only recommend it, but I would say that it is a must have for any Christian's library. Now I have to get my hands on the sequel!
Thank you New Leaf Publishing Group for sending me a review copy!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Caleb LePore's Eagle Scout Service Project
Hello friends!
You are invited to come and see the new movie "Evolution vs. God" by evangelist Ray Comfort, at this month's Foundations Creation Club meeting! Evolution vs. God exposes the blind faith the scientists place in the theory of evolution by interviewing them and "holding their feet to the fire"! This is a great faith-builder for believers and a great witness to non-believers, so be sure to invite friends!
***Attendees will have the opportunity to sponsor creation resources (at 45-50% off!) for FCC leader Caleb LePore's Eagle Scout service project: a new creation section which will be installed in the Church of the Foothills Library!***
When: Friday, August 23rd from 6:45-8:30pm
Where: Church of the Foothills (2380 Merrychase Drive, Cameron Park, CA), in the Worship Center.
Visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/foundationscreationclub) or email us (foundationscreationclub@gmail.com) for more information.
See you there!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Book Review: How Do We Know the Bible is True? - Volume 1
Rating: Five out of five
Difficulty: Easy to read and understand, layman's terms
Age Recommendation: Teens and adults
Often times, when Christians are approached and asked for "a reason for the hope" that they have, they often appeal to an authority other than the Bible to make their apologetic case, whether it be their experiences, their opinions, or external evidence. In fact, most apologetics books on the market today and most apologetics teachers claim that the Bible must be left out of the discussion about the Bible's trustworthiness!
However, as Hebrews 6:13 states, "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself." Thus, we too should hold nothing as authority over God and His infallible Word. So how do we really know that the Bible true?
How Do We Know the Bible is True? - Volume 1 edited by apologetics authors Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge of Answers in Genesis, seeks to answer this question in a way which honors God by uplifting His Word as authority. Unlike most apologetics resources, this book utilizes a Bible-upholding method known as "presuppositional apologetics" which shows that the issue isn't about facts vs. religion or evidence vs. evidence, but about worldview vs. worldview, presuppositions vs. presuppositions (things we assume to be true as a starting point). How Do We Know the Bible is True answers one question per chapter which helps readers to understand how to "rightly divide the word of truth" in a variety of different topics, including inerrancy, Genesis, the Old and New Testaments, the resurrection, the Trinity, and many others.
All in all, this book is a wonderful resource for all Christians, pastors, and anyone who has questions and doubts about the trustworthiness of the Bible. The brevity of the chapters makes for easy reading on the go, and for giving "an answer to anyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) I would highly recommend this book to anyone, and am happy to have it in my library.
Difficulty: Easy to read and understand, layman's terms
Age Recommendation: Teens and adults
Often times, when Christians are approached and asked for "a reason for the hope" that they have, they often appeal to an authority other than the Bible to make their apologetic case, whether it be their experiences, their opinions, or external evidence. In fact, most apologetics books on the market today and most apologetics teachers claim that the Bible must be left out of the discussion about the Bible's trustworthiness!
However, as Hebrews 6:13 states, "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself." Thus, we too should hold nothing as authority over God and His infallible Word. So how do we really know that the Bible true?
All in all, this book is a wonderful resource for all Christians, pastors, and anyone who has questions and doubts about the trustworthiness of the Bible. The brevity of the chapters makes for easy reading on the go, and for giving "an answer to anyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) I would highly recommend this book to anyone, and am happy to have it in my library.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Movie Review: IndoctriNation
Rating: Five Stars (out of five)
Age Recommendation: Teens and Adults
Being homeschooled and having only gone through the first 3 grades in the public school system, I have been somewhat desensitized to what goes on in public education and what kind of effect it as having on children. I recall that in the 1st and 2nd grades, I would often not tell my parents of the things I was hearing and going through at school, preferring to only discuss the good. Students would make fun of me and call me mean, crude names which I often didn't understand. Eventually, God led us to homeschooling, which has enabled me the opportunity to learn and grow mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually, in ways I could never have at a public school. As a result of homeschooling, God has called me to creation ministry to teach people (particularly youth) about the truth of God's creation as described in His Word. Creation ministry has exposed me to much of the indoctrination that is going on in the public schools. But I never knew it was this bad.
In the appropriately-named documentary, IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America, Scottish filmmaker and homeschool father Colin Gunn takes you on a field trip you never can--or will--forget...no matter how hard you try. Using the allegory of (and driving around in) a big yellow school bus, Gunn Productions will lead you through the roots--and fruits--of the public school system in America, demonstrating the reason why education in America is rotten to the core: because, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction," the latter of which American public schools have chosen to follow. By taking apart the history and philosophies of the public school system piece-by-piece, IndoctriNation exposes what ideas and values helped to shape the classrooms of America today, and how a secular mindset has taken over every inch of the public education system, from the standard grade system and testing, to the way classrooms are organized. The fruits of such a mindset is shocking. Poor grades, general illiteracy, school violence, and drugs to name just a few.
Christian parents often believe that if their children go to church and Sunday school, and then get sent to school for the other 5 days of the week, then they will be fine. Most Christian parents would be led to believe that their children are being "salt and light" in their school. IndoctriNation points out the flaws in this thinking, showing how, in order to preserve the next generation of Christian young people, we must not let their minds be taken captive to the mindset of the day (Colossians 2:8) and instead, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
Here are some things that I personally noted about IndoctriNation:
- While much has been written about the public school system from a Christian perspective, Colin Gunn has put together all of this research and information in a format which is easily accessible and comprehensible for parents and students.
- The documentary style is easy-to-watch and always keeps you on your feet.
- The experts who were interviewed provided a professional and intriguing look into different aspects of the public education system, from education styles, to history, doctrine, morals, and much more.
Conclusion: Every Christian parent needs to watch this documentary. It will shake the way they view education in America. No longer would parents so easily allow their children to be spiritually "slaughtered by the masses" in the classroom. I can testify to this, as I once was in line to be robbed of my faith by the lies and indoctrination which is taught in public schools, but by God's grace, He called my parents to homeschool me and my brother. Ever since, God has grown our faith and relationship with Him and has given us a far-better education, social life, and atmosphere in which to share the truth and truly be "salt and light." All in all, I would recommend that any parent and high school student should watch this video--and then share it with others.
(Note: I was provided with my free review copy of IndoctriNation from New Leaf Publishing Group)
Age Recommendation: Teens and Adults
Being homeschooled and having only gone through the first 3 grades in the public school system, I have been somewhat desensitized to what goes on in public education and what kind of effect it as having on children. I recall that in the 1st and 2nd grades, I would often not tell my parents of the things I was hearing and going through at school, preferring to only discuss the good. Students would make fun of me and call me mean, crude names which I often didn't understand. Eventually, God led us to homeschooling, which has enabled me the opportunity to learn and grow mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually, in ways I could never have at a public school. As a result of homeschooling, God has called me to creation ministry to teach people (particularly youth) about the truth of God's creation as described in His Word. Creation ministry has exposed me to much of the indoctrination that is going on in the public schools. But I never knew it was this bad.
In the appropriately-named documentary, IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America, Scottish filmmaker and homeschool father Colin Gunn takes you on a field trip you never can--or will--forget...no matter how hard you try. Using the allegory of (and driving around in) a big yellow school bus, Gunn Productions will lead you through the roots--and fruits--of the public school system in America, demonstrating the reason why education in America is rotten to the core: because, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction," the latter of which American public schools have chosen to follow. By taking apart the history and philosophies of the public school system piece-by-piece, IndoctriNation exposes what ideas and values helped to shape the classrooms of America today, and how a secular mindset has taken over every inch of the public education system, from the standard grade system and testing, to the way classrooms are organized. The fruits of such a mindset is shocking. Poor grades, general illiteracy, school violence, and drugs to name just a few.
Christian parents often believe that if their children go to church and Sunday school, and then get sent to school for the other 5 days of the week, then they will be fine. Most Christian parents would be led to believe that their children are being "salt and light" in their school. IndoctriNation points out the flaws in this thinking, showing how, in order to preserve the next generation of Christian young people, we must not let their minds be taken captive to the mindset of the day (Colossians 2:8) and instead, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
Here are some things that I personally noted about IndoctriNation:
- While much has been written about the public school system from a Christian perspective, Colin Gunn has put together all of this research and information in a format which is easily accessible and comprehensible for parents and students.
- The documentary style is easy-to-watch and always keeps you on your feet.
- The experts who were interviewed provided a professional and intriguing look into different aspects of the public education system, from education styles, to history, doctrine, morals, and much more.
Conclusion: Every Christian parent needs to watch this documentary. It will shake the way they view education in America. No longer would parents so easily allow their children to be spiritually "slaughtered by the masses" in the classroom. I can testify to this, as I once was in line to be robbed of my faith by the lies and indoctrination which is taught in public schools, but by God's grace, He called my parents to homeschool me and my brother. Ever since, God has grown our faith and relationship with Him and has given us a far-better education, social life, and atmosphere in which to share the truth and truly be "salt and light." All in all, I would recommend that any parent and high school student should watch this video--and then share it with others.
(Note: I was provided with my free review copy of IndoctriNation from New Leaf Publishing Group)
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