RonParrs.com: Notes from My Desk...

Does the Bible Still Matter in 2012?

Some say that the Bible is so old and archaic, that it's "irrelevant" for today's modern and cosmopolitan society.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, we find in the Bible virtually every answer to every question modern men and women have as we traverse life.

Truth, after all is eternal. Truth is "black and white". Truth is "truth". And that's what we lack in 21st century western society. We need and even crave a standard. Today's post-modern and post-Christian thinking of "what true for you may not be true for me" comes up wanting in too many circumstances.  Even though we may argue about public crosses and Ten Commandment postings, we need truth. We need a standard with which to not only guide our lives, but to provide stability.

By the way, the Bible is still the best selling book. There must be a good reason!

After all the very visible fighting about public displays of religious symbols— from 10 Commandments plaques to graveyard crosses to faith-themed war memorials to holiday manger displays—you might have developed the impression that most Americans don’t think the Bible matters today and they like it that way.

Continue reading via the link below:

via www.foxnews.com

Why the Secular Left Despises the Christian Right

I don't know about you, but do you as a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ feel sometimes hated by the world in general?

Is that feeling heightened when you attempt to share Christ with a person who is not only "secular" and unchurched, but also liberal in their views (worldview)?

The fact of the matter is that some of these people despise us just because of Who we represent: God. They want nothing to do with Him or His Word or His saving grace. Unfortunately and sadly, they are doing exactly what the apostle Paul spoke of in Romans 1:18 - 31. They deny God and furthermore suppress His Truth in their lives.

A good, although short article by Jason Carlson and Ron Carlson. Click on the link below.

via www.christianministriesintl.org

How Easter Killed My Faith in Atheism

I LOVE Easter and the Easter/Passover Season. It is my absolute favorite holiday time of the year.

In Easter we find all that Christianity means as well as all that it brings to mortal men and women. In Easter we find true hope and forgiveness. In Easter we find life and assurance in a "hereafter". You could even say that we are demonstrated that there is a guarantee of a hereafter supplied by a loving, but just God. Jesus Christ overcame death in His Resurrection.

Passover was a foreshadowing of what God had in store for His creation. We just needed to wait for His perfect timing.

Back in January 2012, humorist Ricky Gervais presented his arguments (there's a link to this in the piece below) for atheism and why he thought he was a better "Christian" than many Christians. In this follow-up essay, writer attorney, former atheist and Christian apologist Lee Strobel offers his defense of Easter (author of "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Easter") and how this season and holiday changed his life forever.

Continue reading by clicking on the link below from the Wall Street Journal.

via blogs.wsj.com

What to Do About Jesus

So, what do we do about Jesus?

That truly is the bottom line in all of our lives. Is he good teacher? A godly man? A baby in a manger at Christmas? Do we even question His life? Did Jesus really exist?

In my post on the Deity and Humanity of Jesus, we looked at Philippians 2:6-11.

"...Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
   and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father."

The Doctrine of Hell

 

 

The Doctrine of Hell is one subject that, unfortunately, too many pastors, Sunday school teachers (including myself), and lay people just don't talk about. And we all have way too many excuses and reasons why we don't.

We Christians should talk about hell. It is a real place. Remember that Jesus Himself spoke of hell on more than one occasion.

Hell is a place of eternal torment and punishment for those who would not have God in their lives. Whether we like it or not, hell is just punishment for the unbeliever. God is eternally Holy and Pure. Man is not, nor will he (or she) ever be, unless we take and put on the free gift of salvation offered by God through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The good news, as Pastor David Platt discusses in this podcast, is that hell is completely avoidable. And as Christians, we must speak about it.

A short (about 13 minutes) audio podcast. Worth listening to again and again. Click on the link below.

David Platt is the author of the book "Radical: Taking back your Faith from the American dream". An excellent read for anyone who is sick and tired of "doing church" and desires to make a difference in God's Kingdom. An absolutely thought provoking, life-changing and outstanding book.

The Doctrine of Hell, Theology Refresh: Podcast for Pastors with David Mathis, February 17, 2012 | by David Platt | Topic: Heaven & Hell

via www.desiringgod.org

Islam’s Public Enemy #1: Coptic Priest ‘Hates Islam,’ Converts Muslims to Christianity

Islam’s Public Enemy #1: Coptic Priest ‘Hates Islam,’ Converts Muslims to Christianity | TheBlaze.com

 

All Christians need to be as bold as this Egyptian Christian priest in proclaiming the liberating Word of God. From TheBlaze.com.

"The Coptic priest who for years was the bane of Islam’s existence, appears to be back in action after an unexplained year-long hiatus.

"The charismatic Father Zakaria Botros used to appear weekly on Arabic satellite television from 2005-2010 where he, citing directly from the Quran, allegedly exposed multiple theological flaws with Islam while simultaneously evangelizing from the Bible. And he was successful.

"During his time on television, Fr. Zakaria reportedly garnered nearly 60 million viewers, mostly Muslims, and inspired mass conversions to Christianity."

To continue reading this article click on the link below, courtesy of The Blaze.

via www.theblaze.com

10 Reasons to Believe in a Historical Adam

By Kevin DeYoung , Christian Post Guest Contributor

In recent years, several self-proclaimed evangelicals, or those associated with evangelical institutions, have called into question the historicity of Adam and Eve. It is said that because of genomic research we can no longer believe in a first man called Adam from whom the entire human race has descended.

I'll point to some books at the end which deal with the science end of the question, but the most important question is what does the Bible teach. Without detailing a complete answer to that question, let me suggest ten reasons why we should believe that Adam was a true historical person and the first human being.

1. The Bible does not put an artificial wedge between history and theology. Of course, Genesis is not a history textbook or a science textbook, but that is far from saying we ought to separate the theological wheat from the historical chaff. Such a division owes to the Enlightenment more than the Bible.

Continue reading this article here at the Christian Post.

 

via www.christianpost.com

Review: "Heaven is for Real"

"Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent.

I just finished reading this great little book last night. A good friend gave it to me this past Christmas 2011. 

We're only less than one month into the 2012 American political season to choose a President, and I just needed a mental rest. I needed a mental shower as it were. I finally picked this book up from my reading pile and literally didn't put it down! Actually finished it in 2 nights. Pretty astounding for a guy who is not a fast reader.

This book is a such a blessing. There is something "drop dead" honest about a child and what and how they experience things.  

This a glimpse of Heaven itself through a 4 year old boy's eyes. It is his experience.

Sharing Our (My) Faith

Something that many of us struggle with is "sharing Jesus".

We are supposed to be bold in our faith, but sometimes it's just hard. For me, it's part shyness, part not wanting to be seen as a hypocrite, part not knowing what to say. I'm sure most of us have either struggled with or are struggling with this aspect (sharing, witnessing, whatever you want to call it) of our Christian walk.

The other side of "sharing Jesus" goes something like this: "my spouse (friend, neighbor, child, etc) is a good, solid believer but won't share Jesus openly with other people." They want to know why that's so.

Well, I can't give a reason why, but what I will say is, "it's personal".

Let's face it, sharing what Jesus Christ has done for us (me) is not only an individual issue, it is a very personal issue.

The Unbelieving Mind

The Christian is in a knock-down, drag-out war with the culture around us.

The worst part of the battle is the constant double-standard foisted upon us. When we believers call for a return to morals and Godliness, we have to hold a mirror up to our own lives first. And when we stumble and fall, we're (Christians) at least willing to admit our wrong doing (sometimes), seek forgiveness and repent or turn toward Godliness.

Unbelievers, for the most part, wave the red flag of guilt in our faces, reminding us of the standard we are to be following and adhering to. But when it comes to their sin - yes, let's just call it that - out come the excuses. The omission, the "I didn't know", the "well everybody else is doing it". And we Christians are called the "hypocrites".

I don't know about you, but I'm tired.