Christmas and Advent adventure

My family ----   Benjamin, Lianne and I would like to take this time to WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A JOYOUS ADVENT AND WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS.

See you all in January 2010





Blessings

Benjamin, Lianne, Eric

Copenhagen summit / Global Warming---- part 2

 Basic facts on Global warming:

1.  Greenhouse gas especially CO2 is the main culprit for global warming. Fact: CO2 make up only 1 to 2 % of earth's atmosphere.  Water vapor makes up 95 % of greenhouse gas.
2. Origin of emissions of CO2.   Fact:  2 to 3 % of CO2 comes from humans,  rest 97 to 98 % from nature.  Put it another way,  human contribution to greenhouse effect amount to 0.28% of 1%, about 4 to 5 % from volcanoes, decaying plants, animal activity, ocean biologic activity.
3.What can be learn from CO2 levels over those millions of years (assuming evolutionary time scale) :  During Cambrian period when life suddenly appeared CO2 was 18 times that of today's level !!  During Jurassic Period when dinosaurs were around, the CO2 level was 9 times that of today.
4.Do we have any evidence of the Earth's temperature in the past?  During the Cambrian period and Jurassic period the average temperature was about 18 C or 10 C (degree) higher or warmer than today. !!
5. Are there any evidence of association, causation between CO2 levels and temperature ?   There are NO relationship, association, causation between CO2 levels and temperature.
6. Has global warming cause more significant or increase the frequency or severity of hurricanes, typoons?  Cateory 1 to 5 strength of hurricanes or typhoons has not increased outside the natural range of variability.
For more details check out the references listed below.
I do not see any evidence thus far that CO2 is the trouble maker and that we certainly do not need to be under 'expert panel' to impose their regulation and tax on the world, especially when these same people appear to have conflict of interest.


http://cei.org/pdf/5820.pdf
(Al Gore's science fiction) Must read
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/greenhouse_data.htm
http://www.searchanddiscovery.net/documents/2007/07005gerhard/index.ht
http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/CCC%20Home%20Page.aspx
http://www.realclimate.org/
http://www.ajsonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/301/2/182












Below an article by Big Government which I copied and paste
Hot Air and Fire


ClimateGate Just Got Much, Much Bigger

Posted By Christopher C. Horner On December 16, 2009 (1:29 pm) In Environment

Over at ICECAP.us Meteorologist Joe D’Aleo has posted an item on a “Russian Bombshell” highly relevant to the ClimateGate scandal. The Russian media first posted the story and now some Brits are loving it.



The long and the short of it is best summarized by the Telegraph’s James Dellingpole: “What the Russians are suggesting here, in other words, is that the entire global temperature record used by the IPCC to inform world government policy is a crock.”

That is, we have yet further evidence that the data is being cooked to make the long-running claim of an increase in global temperatures, and now to diminish the apparent cooling of said temps. As the gang at EU referendum tout, “it is in Soviet Union that the CRU, NOAA, NASA show the greatest warming.”

Around the world temperature stations have been widely decommissioned in rural and higher elevations, and we see an over-emphasis on increasingly urbanized (and therefore warmer) stations in the curious selection process as to what temperatures should count, and how much. The latter point references the fact that the data is then adjusted, and we are also seeing an increase in adjusting urbanized (that is, artificially warm) temperature records not down, but upward.

Excerpted in pertinent part, Joe Writes:

On Tuesday, the Moscow-based Institute of Economic Analysis (IEA) issued a report claiming that the Hadley Center for Climate Change based at the headquarters of the British Meteorological Office in Exeter (Devon, England) had probably tampered with Russian-climate data.

The IEA believes that Russian meteorological-station data did not substantiate the anthropogenic global-warming theory. …The data of stations located in areas not listed in the Hadley Climate Research Unit Temperature UK (HadCRUT) survey often does not show any substantial warming in the late 20th century and the early 21st century.

The HadCRUT database includes specific stations providing incomplete data and highlighting the global-warming process, rather than stations facilitating uninterrupted observations. …

IEA analysts say climatologists use the data of stations located in large populated centers that are influenced by the urban-warming effect more frequently than the correct data of remote stations.

The reason this cherry-picking is relevant — as is the apparent similar gamesmanship being played with other countries examined in recent days including China and New Zealand — because our NOAA compiles the global dataset and the rest work from it. So when CRU claimed that it “lost” its raw data, what they’re saying is the claim to have lost which stations they chose from NOAA’s compilation, making it impossible for those who wish to check it to discern how they got the answer they did.

If it is what it appears to be, and my dozen years working with these people and the past few weeks peeking further inside thanks to ClimateGate tell me that it is, then this is root-cause corruption.

Meanwhile, they are scrambling madly to stitch up an agreement in Copenhagen politically committing the U.S. to the long-desired wealth-transfer. The question is which moves faster, the collapse of the increasingly likely scientific fraud, or the global governance set.


Blessings



Eric

Copenhagen summit / Global Warming

As Christians we have the mandate/ responsibility for our environment.  Thus, when statement like 'we need to clean up our environment,'  ' we are polluting our environment and need IPCC = UN's  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.'   According to IPCC 2007 report, the coming century if CO2 emissions continue without being restrain, the Earth's temperature would likely rise between 1.8 to 4 C and may even hit 6C which would be disastrous.  According to their latest scientific research the emissions are rising so fast that the Earth is firmly on track to hit 6C if action is not taken according to Dr Pachauri the Nobel-Prize winning head of IPCC.
  Dr. Pachauri listed some of the consequences of global warming i.e floods, increases in tropical syslone intensity, more extinctions of wild species and more melting of the Greenland ice sheet causing sea levels to rise aroung the world by more than 20 feet.
  You may want to refresh your memory on Global warming: SPPI report posted Sep 12 '09 by Allen Jang
  In my next blog I highlight what this Global warming really is all about.  In the meantime it is of interest to note the 'Climategate scandal' and Dr. Rajendra Pachauri the head of IPCC stand to gain several hundred million dollars in European Union carbon credits in emission deals.



Blessings



Eric

1Kings and Christmas

Here is Ana one of our regular blogger.  She has something to share.  Unfortunately, this website is unfriendly so I do what I can with my limited knowledge.

 Go ahead Ana.  And Thanks for sharing with us



Christmas is often a whirlwind of gift-buying, holiday events and "shoulds" for women.

I should get so & so that gift. I should go to that holiday event. Slowing down to enjoy

the holiday season or to participate in an event to help the less fortunate is often the

least of our priorities.

        If we look at the story of King Solomn in the Bible, we can gain some insights that

might apply to the holiday season. King Solomn had an excess of riches and material

goods that eventually lead to his not giving his full heart to God. ie I am able to provide

for all my needs in life so I really don't need God & his message to lead a fulfilled life.

     If we slow down and look for the true "meaning of Christmas" ie remembering that

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and taking time to participate in relationships with

others, then we will enjoy the holiday season much more!

ADVENT

ADVENT

This season covers over four Sundays and end at Christmas Eve.  It is an anticipation for our Lord's Birthday.  It is also a season when we should be preparing our hearts and minds for the real reason why Christ was born and in return what and why we celebrate.



Blessings



Eric

I say CHRISTMAS , you think of .....?

Christmas  !!
The first thing that come to your mind when I say Christmas is :   Gifts , Gifts, Gifts.  
Oh no I have to spend those hard earn money or wow gifts from my .....

I like to take redirect your attention to :
1.  Date/ Origin of Christmas
2. Real meaning of Christmas

   Most of us really don't believe that Christ was born on Dec. 25.  Do we or can be at least be reasonably certain as to the month (s) of Christ birth?  
To answer  (1) :  let us start with shepherds cultural background. During those times the shepherds literally stayed with their sheep day and night out in the open fields --- this would be around early spring.  Notice also   Ezra 10:9-13  Here it would seem foolish to be out with their sheep in the rain (winter)   Nov-Dec.  Lk 2:8 shepherds literally camp out with their sheep.  It would seem that Christ was born somewhere between May to Oct.  
   Why Dec 25 ?  Remember the church fathers were up against pagan festivities.  The grand daddy of them all was 'Saturnalia.' which was celebrated around Dec 17-24th.  Dec 25th was the end of winter solstice a date declared by Emperor Aurelian as day of birth of the Unconquered Sun.  This date was also a celebration of the Roman god 'Saturn.'   "Sun of the Righteousness" or Mithras was also celebrated on Dec 25 .  The early church father was clever enough to use this ploy  to redirect this celebration to a Christian celebration.   This was to advance the gospel for Christ.


   Final thought on this coming Christmas .
Let us understand that date or month of Christ birthday is important only in that His mission is one of Salvation for Mankind.  
Let us than this Christmas:  Spend less and give more

For further details check out this website:


http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v

Calculating Christmas




Blessings




Eric



  

   

Response to ThanksGiving

Thanks for the Input Eleanor


The early day heroes of faith were willing to risk all to protect our right to the freedoms we are so blest with today.  But.. they are wanning, are we willing to risk ourselves to maintain our spiritual freedoms for future generations? The measurement of our thanks for the blessings we enjoy is what we do with them and what we are willing to risk to maintain them for future generations.

Thanks giving

As Thanks Giving approaches, we take time to give Thanks to God, our Lord Christ for the many Blessings he bestow on us individually as well as a community and as a Nation.  It is well that we reflect on heroes like George Washington, Abe Lincoln how they gave Thanks to God.  It is also reflective for us to compare how much we have change since the time of those heroes and now. 
Both heroes called on us to humble ourselves in penitence for our disobedience. We must confess our sins with contrition, ask for God’s mercy and give Him praise for his love, for all of His care for us.
On this Thanks Giving Day, let us begin in the Church with repentance.  That we as a nation has abandoned the first decalogue and so like the Book of Judges conform to the world.

Have a safe and wonderful ThanksGiving with family and friends



Blessings



Eric

Book of Judges--old and irrelevant for the 21the Century Christian?

I like to share with you this morning's sermon which is still relevant in 21th Century.

Synopsis:

1) Peace, abundance, blessings
2) Complacency, lukewarm reception to the 'hand that feed' the people, leading to a generation that turn away from God, a nation that is illiterate in understanding what God has done for them
3) Pain, and suffering resulting from self flagellation and still not able to comprehend the Truth
4) Cry out to the Lord
5) Lord hears the cry of his people and send a deliver/ Judge.
( modified and adapted from Steve Harms sermon)

Rephrase it

Cycle of the book of Judges essentially deals with :
A) Sin: Israel disobey the First Decalogue ( Exodus 20:1-17)
B) I AM judgement/Servitude: Nation loses its freedom to their enemies
C) Supplication: Israel cries out to God for help
D) Salvation: Israel is delivered and temporary peace

Relevant expansion on Book of Judges:

FAITH: Each generation must walk that path on their own--- FAITH. A generation grew up and not know who God is (Judge2:10-11) Does it sound like 21 Century America? How did we come to this condition when Christians are marginalized by society. I suggest to you that as Christians we have failed because of our disobedience to the First Decalogue/Decalogues. I am not going to argue from a Dispensationalist or Theonomic Reformed view or any views. Suffice to say I lean towards the view that the Law of Christ fulfilled the Law o fMoses. The point I want to make is that Christians are marginalized because we have not equipped our 'ambassadors' be they high schools or university students, or members of Church Body, with the proper equipment to defend their faith. How can we expect NOT to LOSE our 'ambassadors' when they are confronted with questions like: Do you really believe in Jesus -- son of the Virgin Mary. That He was resurrected. Please dont bring up the 'God of the GAP.' We are not conversant enough to defend the onslaught of unbelievers who question us about I AM, on salvation history and lives by an ethic that believes in oneself ( Oprah for example in her : New, new, age:--- The Secret) or some other god--materalistic wealth, sex, science. Against such odds men like Gideon, Barak ( no relation to Barak Hussein Obama) these heroes of faith tremble, but by faith-- grounded in the Lord, they overcome their fear and prevail.
     As Christians we must equip ourselves so that we can like Apostle Paul in his dialogue in Act 17 articulate in an Irenic evidential, coherent manner persuade them of the truth of the gospel. The benefits are two fold:  As Christians we are able to show that our worldview is indeed the BEST explanation, thereby reinforcing our believe on solid ground and not be lost by false ideas.  Second, their hearts will be pricked and let the Holy Spirit do His work.

SIN: " The only thing needed for evil to win is for good men to do nothing,"
Here we see nation's leadership failure much like ours. In the name of inclusivness and tolerance, Christmas is discriminated (Christophobia). In education we have what is commonly mistaken as 'Separation between church and state.' Justice Black stated that the First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. Constitutional scholars disagree because Black incorporated OUT OF CONTEXT Thomas Jefferson's 'wall of separation.' Essentially, at every level of government where this nation was founded on Christian principles is now showing Christians the door, if not barring them from entering.

Punishment: We are losing our liberty, our First Principle where our Founders build this Nation on. Universal Health Care. As Christians who can say NO to that. Where in the Constitution can you show me that mandate Universal Health Care. Second, since when does Uncle Sam tell me that I have no choice but to buy health care otherwise I will be fined and libel to be jail? It is like telling us we must trade in our car/clunker to get another car. Third, and most telling, these same people who make all these rules are not bound by them like you and I !!!!

Supplication: Currently, we are about to cry out to our Lord for deliverance. And when we cry out to our Lord, are these cries 'crocodiles tears?' That is to say we claim we have sinned yet we appoint a leader without turning to God for guidance?

Deliverer!!!!!!!!!!
Most comforting of all is Our Lord is in Control. We have been given gifts, if only we use them.


Your thoughts ?



Blessings



Eric

Sign of respect?

The Bow that even embarrass the Japanese.

Check out on the 'you tube' about Obama's bow. What do you think?


Blessings


Eric

Essence of Christianity/ RESURRECTION

At house worship in San Gabriel on November 8, 2009, I challenged followers of Christ and the unchurched on the topic: Resurrection.

It should be noted that this house church consist of members that have Ph.D, Head of Science Department at a local high school, two medical students who will eventually earn M.D; Ph.D, and the challenger himself has a M.B.B.S degree ( British degree equivalent to M.D in USA)

It should be noted that the topic itself can be considered googolplex. Thus for me to even mention it will not do any justice. Nevertheless, I will attempt to give the basic highlights/essentials of the Resurrection.

As a Christian when I present Resurrection to unchurched or even to my fellow brethren my aim is to articulate coherently, cogently, in an intellectual manner why I believe what I believe.

A. Our culture is biblically illiterate
B. Books like 'The Jesus Dynasty-- The hidden history of Jesus, his Royal Family and the Birth of Christianity' by James Tabor or the Jesus Seminar. Jesus is just a good man, prophet lower than Mohammed, lived in hearts of his followers, did not physically rise from dead and so on.
C. Books you may want to have in your library to develop your mind and heart. a) The Risen Jesus and Future Hope by Gary Habermas. History of Christianity by Montgomery to name afew.
D I present the following evidences for you to ponder in an honest and sincere manner. These are historical data that honest skeptics consider to be true.

1. Jesus was crucified and buried
2. Disciples were dismayed, disenchanted, depressed due to death of Jesus
3. Few days later Jesus tomb was empty
4. Actual experiences of Christ walking, talking among his disciples
5. Disciples were transformed to be what they were meant to be--spread the Good News even at the cost of their own lives
6. Resurrection was the central to the preaching of the early church
7. The church was born and grew because of Resurrection
8. Sunday is the first day of worship. This is significant as these men were Jewish.
9. Was a skeptic but James became a believer when he saw Jesus
10. Paul also became a believer when he too experience the physical appearence of Jesus

Tests the above historical data with all sorts of theories out there and you will come to the conclusion that Jesus Resurrection is True


Blessings


Eric

Essentials vs Non-essentials

This afternoon I had an interesting experience. It was one of those few days when I had extra time and was looking for a church that can use my passion and love for Christian Apologetics. I was explaining to this brethren who is in a position of authority , what most apologists knew as to why Christianity has been marginalized and why we are losing our children when they leave for University when I mention about instrumental music. I stated that instrumental music is a non-salvation issue and non-essential and I would be comfortable in worshipping with my Christian brethren. Unfortunately, this brethren look at it from a different perspective. Instrumental music worship is not scriptural--I agree, (disagree with the following) : it is a sin and therefore false worship must stop. These are fallen christians and will not inherit the kingdom of God. I disagree to those statements.
I have not even mention about complementarianism vs egalitarianism. This will really throw a monkey wrench into our discussion.

What I would like to highlight here is : ESSENTIALS VS NONESSENTIALS


We must distinguish between the essentials of the Christian faith and the non-essentials. Concerning Salvation: We need to be able to state exactly what the Bible says is essential for salvation. In other words what exactly is the content of what a person needs to believe to be saved. I am not going to try to discuss the essentials of salvation but to try to show the reader that one need to distinguish that so as not to get lost and 'fight the peripheral fight.'

I will start out with The Essentials as that is the most important. Like Francis Schaeffer said:
True Truth. Not dependent on culture, time, season, location, or situation. It exists as True or False in and of itself. The followings are the Essentials of Christianity
God (Jehovah) is the sovereign Lord and creator of the universe.
• The Bible is God’s inspired word to mankind.
• Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, who came to earth to present the gospel.
• Christ was crucified for our sins, was resurrected, and ascended back to God.
• Christ commanded all Christians to evangelize.
• The Lord’s Supper is a weekly communion service with God.
• Baptism was established for the remission of sins, so that believers might be reconciled to God, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• The Church was established on the Day of Pentecost and continues to serve the spiritual and physical needs of believers.
(Adapted from Visalia Community Church of Christ.)

Non-essentials Truth/ Truth that are non-essentials. Here we have issues that does not pertain to one's salvation. Glossolalia has that ceased or not. Complementarianism vs Egalitarianism

Most Christians confuse the above with


True relativity. These right and wrong depends on culture, time, regions, seasons, locations. An example while worshipping should women wear head covering.

I welcome comments



Blessings


Eric

Electromagnetic fields

I am concern about the high tension wire that the House Church will be exposed to when they move over to Pasadena. Below are links to cell phone radiation and electromagnetic fields. See especially the Bioinitiative Report !!!!!! Very technical but uptodate. Bottom line : Children and elderly are prone to develop tumor. Rest of age groups are not immune either.

http://weepinitiative.org/Bioinitiative.html


Blessings


Eric

Faith vs Knowledge Christianity : Is there a difference?

Thank you Ana for the challenging question.



What are your views on faith-based Christian belief vs knowledged-based Christian belief? I have always been a Christian based on faith but as I became more aware of knowledged-based Christian belief ie arguments from Intelligent Design, historical evidence for Christ this has deepen my spiritual walk and made it easier to talk to others about my faith. Has faith-based Christianity been more important or knowledged-based Christianity walk been more important?

Ana

THANK YOU !!!

Dr. James Dobson

Thank you for your steadfastness, consistency, love for God and God's children. After three decade of your guidance, fight for us you have not only the foresight and ability to say it is time to let other leader(s) take the helm, you make sure that these were capable leader(s).

We LOVE you and may God continue to Bless You and your love ones

On Behalf of AsianChurchofChrist I would like to take this opportunity to say : We are indebted to your guidance and your role model for many of us. THANK YOU, SIR !


Blessings


Eric

Please Protest !!

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/10/27/larry-davids-piss-christ/

Above is a link where this guy and HBO allow Larry , whoever he is, he piss on the picture of Christ. Christians are ridiculed because we are supposed to believe that those drops of urine on the pissed picture of Christ are tears of Christ.
Questions: 1) HBO and this guy Larry obviously do not have the guts to do that to other religion especially Islam. Why? Are Christians pushover? Let me rephrase-- if an acquaintance were to come to your home and started to insult your wife or make explicit sexual remarks to her, what would you do to that individual? Ignore, weak protest, or ????
2) All this for a laugh???
3) Unless we as Christians PROTEST by calling HBO and Larry show this will surely continue and there will come a time when physical abuse will occur, mark my word !!
4) Do not ignore and think it is OK for the time because we as Christians have again fail to follow God's plan to be 'fruitful, have dominion over the earth.'


Blessings


Eric

The Shroud..controvery cont.....

Thanks Allen for your input. It is important to understand that the ESSENSE of Christianity does not depend on 'The Shroud.' If shown to be False -- so what !! If shown to be true AMEN.
Below is a paper I wrote for my 'Christian Apologetic' class. I apologize for it's length. Those who are interested can research more by asking and we can provide you with more information, both pro & con.

The Authenticity of the Shroud of Turin

By Eric Quek
In Partial Fulfillment of CSAP 691 MD
In Defense of the Resurrection
Professor Clay Jones

Submitted May 18, 2008

A religious question has been needlessly injected into a problem which in itself is purely scientific, with the result that feelings have run high, and reason has been lead astray. If, instead of Christ, there were a question of some person like a Sargon, an Achilles or one of the Pharaohs, no one would have thought of making any objection… I have been faithful to the true scientific spirit, treating this argument with the sole intention to find the truth… I consider the Christ to be an historical personage and I do not see why anyone should be scandalized that there exists a material trace of his existence.[1]

The historic relic known as ‘The Shroud of Turin’ makes it first public appearance in 1357. [2] In this paper, we will investigate the authenticity of ‘The Shroud of Turin’ from a historical view point. We will also enlist aid from several fields of specialty namely: chemistry, physics, radiology, medical and scripture. Methods of investigation for the authenticity of the ‘Shroud of Turin’ will include gathering of relevant data pertinent to the issue at hand namely: the application of scientific principles from various fields, from different specialties, testimony of experts who have investigated this relic, from the relic itself, and from scriptures. Scriptural evidence will be viewed with more valued than even expert witnesses or the scientific tool used to examine the ‘Shroud.’ Independent sources will naturally strengthen our case for the authenticity of the relic.
To prove the authenticity of the ‘Shroud’ we need to ask some pertinent questions and not simply do a match up of similarities between the Gospel descriptions of Christ’s ordeal comparing it to the relic. First question would be how do we determine that this relic is authentic? Second, how do we differentiate this relic, which is supposed to be the burial cloth of our crucified Lord, from thousands of other crucifixions? Lastly, the most crucial question is, can we harmonize the medical perspective with the scripture? Let us begin our investigation with: 1) Marks from the wounds of the deceased that are on the ‘Shroud.’ 2) We will then examine Pontius Pilate coins in relation to customary practice. 3) Amulet on the body of the crucified person and it’s meaning. 4) Iconography noted to be standardized by sixth century contrast that to early paintings. 5) Is it paint or human blood on the Shroud and its significance in relation to forgery and body washed after being crucified?
Marks from the wounds have been classified into five sections by Barbet. They are: 1) bilateral wrist and feet impalement, 2) numerous contusions on the torso, 3) numerous contusions on the lower extremities, 4) numerous blood clots on the scalp and 5) a large puncture wound on the side. Most artistic tradition depicts Christ’s hands
being impaled rather than through the Space of Destot, which is the space between the bones of the wrist, which will support the weight of the body. If this site is correct the
median nerve would not be damaged because the anatomical boundary for the median nerve, Capitate, Semilunar, Triquetral and Hamate which are located on the ulnar side of the wrist, not radial side as is depicted on the Shroud.[3] This would challenge the current believe that median nerve is damaged and ‘that is why on the shroud, the two hands when seen from behind only show four fingers and why the two thumbs are hidden in the palm.’[4] Critics point to this and ask for an explanation?
In 1593, Sebastiano Rodante identified an arterial and venous bleed on the forehead on the Shroud.[5] This is significant because no artist at that time knew of this type of physiology in detail. In addition, wounds on the scalp indicate something more like a cap that must be used to make those scalp wounds. More wounds on the face such as large swelling below the right eye, a swollen nose, a triangular-shaped mark on the right cheek are consistent with the recordings of the gospel. The other visible bloodstain on the Shroud is noted on the left side of the frontal image which corresponds to right side of the body between the fifth and sixth ribs. Visible on the Shroud in the region of this wound is a separation of blood and clear liquid. Judica-Cordiglia a forensic medicine professor, radiologist Moedder and Barbet all agree that this fluid was part of a postmortem issue of blood and clear fluid resulting from a puncture wound that reached the heart.[6] Proponents say that this would agree with the scriptures.
How was the Shroud wrapped around the body and is there any other evidence of more than one cloth? Was Christ wrapped in strips of cloth? Diana Fulbright does not believe Christ was wrapped in strips of cloth because of several reasons.[7] First there was the time element, Friday afternoon where all commerce would cease for several hours before sundown. In the scripture Christ died at the ‘ninth hour,’ or about 1500 hours. It would have taken several hours for permission to release the body and more time still needed to remove the body from the cross. Several things now come to light under these reasoning. Time will not permit Christ body to be ‘wrapped in strips of cloth,’ in addition; it was not the Jewish custom during that time to practice an ancient Egyptian custom. Critics point to John 19:40 which say “in strips of linen”[8], which is plural. How would they account for that?
According to Jewish enshroudment custom, the cloth was folded over the head and down to the feet. There was a chin band and a modesty cloth, a wrist band and a ankle band. It is the Jewish custom to tie the mouth shut. The face cloth or Sudarium of Oviedo measures two feet nine inches by one foot nine inches. Monsignor Guilio Ricci has direct access to the Sudarium in 1955 and had been studying blood stain on it. Whanger used the Polarized Image Overlay Technique and found seventy congruent blood stains on the face portion and over fifty congruent blood stains on the back of the head and neck.[9] The significance of this is that there are no stains or images on the Shroud where the chin band was place. Proponents say this is in line with the fact that the chin band absorbed all the blood stains and thus none found on the shroud.
Proponents point to the fact that time is of essence thus the anointing is likely to be used as an antiputrefacient where these aromatic san was packed around the body of the deceased. This would account for little or aromatic detected by current scientific methods.
Whanger was able to use his Polarized Image Overlay Technique to identify the Filas coin as during the time of Tiberius in A.D.29. They found at least seventy-four points of congruence. In addition, the pattern on the back of Filas coin was noted to be from the 16th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. It is currently accepted that there is little archaeological support for a first-century Jewish practice of placing coins on the eyes of the deceased.[10]
In our next investigation, we will examine the image of the two seated figures at the midline of breastbone on the Shroud. Dr. Whanger has theorized that the amulet was put there as an act of mockery. There is another evidence of mockery found in a box like
structure on the forehead which was desecrated.[11] All this point to the fact that the man was mocked for whatever reason prior to his death.
Depiction of Christ by artists prior to sixth century varied. It was not until the sixth century that standardized artistic representation of Christ was noted. This Shroud like image has since persisted until present day. It was Paul Vignon and later Edward Wuenschel who started a systematic approach to iconography.[12] They have shown several specific markings appearing consistently in Byzantine portraits of Christ and of the Shroud.
In terms of paint on the Shroud or blood, according to chemist Walter McCrone and Dr. Alan Adler, both arrived at a different conclusion. McCrone concluded that the Shroud is a painting based on his findings of protein, iron oxide and ‘vermillion.’ He believes that the artist used the protein as a pigment binder to make the body image with iron oxide. However, Heller and Adler noted that McCrone did not distinguish two types of red particulates, birefringent and non-birefringent, nor did he note three types of iron compounds present.[13] According to Adler, McCone’s protein is amido black which is neither specific nor sensitive as a test. In addition, Adler et al demonstrated twelve tests
confirming the presence of whole blood on the Shroud.[14] Critics of the Shroud pointed to the bright red color of the blood stain. They argue that normally; when whole blood discolors rapidly it turn black-brown and not bright red color. Proponents’ counter by
arguing that it is not active bleeding that causes this bright red color. Instead it is from postmortem exudates.
Most proponents would concede that the body was unwashed. Defenders for an unwashed body cite the Jewish law (Halachah) where fewer than four conditions will prohibit a Jew from having his body washed.
They are: 1) a bloody and violent death,
2) death by capital punishment for religious crime,
3) an outcast of Jewish community
4) a Jew is murdered by Gentile.[15]
Opponents point to the fact that this is a 16th century Code for Jews. If this is true than this would contradict John 19:40 where he say that ‘this was in
accordance with Jewish burial custom.’ In addition, majority of biblical exegetes is of the opinion that Christ body was washed.[16]
Scriptural silence from this writer’s view is the strongest evidence against the Shroud’s authenticity. All four gospels mention about the empty tomb, the neatly preserved burial cloths. None mentioned or hinted about material trace on the burial cloths given the gravity of the situation. The next objection that this writer has is the apparent contradiction with John 19:40 where most biblical exegete scholars believed that Christ body was washed which contradict any given explanations from science. Third question that needs to be answered concerns the wrappings mentioned in John 19:40. Fourth question has to do with ‘about a hundred pounds weight of mixture of myrrh and aloes.’ Why was no myrrh and aloes found on the Shroud when clearly the scripture indicated that they were ‘bound with linen wrappings?’
On the other hand, a case for historical argument can also be made. The way this man was buried using a long linen sheet, jaw-band, closing of eyes, binding of hands, stigmata on the side of the fifth and sixth ribs which is unique, numerous other stigmata on his forehead, back, wrists and legs. From forensic medicine it has been determined to be Jewish man.
In conclusion, the evidence for forgery of the Shroud is unwarranted. Rather, the stigmata, unwashed body, the quality of the linen cloth, the crowning with thorns are all unique in recorded history. On the other hand, this writer is of the opinion that as stated earlier scriptural evidence carries significant weight. Based on the following evidences this writer rejects the authenticity of the Shroud based on : 1) the silence of the scripture especially when resurrection is of such importance to Christianity, 2) unconvincing evidence for the unwashed body as opposed to the scripture, 3) coins on the man’s eye were not Jewish custom, 4) no satisfactory answer for wrappings and not wrapping, 5) absent finding from current forensic science as to about hundred pounds of myrrh and aloe on the Shroud, 6) this writer has also taken into consideration where the interpretation of data from scientific evidence can be based on subjective interpretation.

Bibliography
Borkan, Marc. “Science and the Authenticity of the Turin Shroud.” Vertices: The Duke University Magazine of Science, Technology, and Medicine. Vol. X, no. 2, (Winter 1995): 18-52.

Fulbright, Diana. “A Clean Cloth: What Greek Word Usage Tells Us about the Burial Wrappings of Jesus”, 2005. http://www.shroud.com/pdfs/n62part7.pdf. (accessed 4/24/08).

Guerrera, Fr. Vittorio. The Shroud of Turin: A Case for Authenticity. Illinois: Tan Books & Pub., Inc., 2001.

Heller, J.H. and A.D. Adler. “A Chemical Investigation of the Shroud of Turin.” Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal. Vol. 14, No 3 (7/27/81): 81-103.

The New International Version Bible. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1995).

Whanger, Mary and Alan. The Shroud of Turin: An Adventure of Discovery. Tennessee: Providence House Pub., 1998.

Wikipedia. “Shroud of Turin.” (accessed 4/4/08).

[1] Marc Borkan, “Science and the Authenticity of the Turin Shroud”, Vertices: The Duke University Magazine of Science, Technology, and Medicine. Vol X. No. 2 (1995): 18-52, cite Wilson 1979: 33-34 and Van Cauwenberghe 1992:17.
[2] Wikipedia. “Shroud of Turin.” (accessed 4/4/08).
[3] Fr. Guerrera Vittorio. The Shroud of Turin: A Case for Authenticity. (Illinois: Tan Books & Pub., 2001), 82.
[4] Mac Borkan. “Science and the Authenticity of the Turin Shroud”, cites Frederick T.Zugib, M.D., Ph.D, ‘Pierre Barbet Revisited,’ Sindon, No.8, 12/95), 110.
[5] Ibid. 38.
[6] Ibid. 26.
[7] Fulbright, Diana. “A Clean Cloth: What Greek Word Usage Tells Us about the Burial Wrappings of Jesus”, 2005. http://www.shroud.com/pdfs/n62part7.pdf. (accessed 4/24/08).
[8] The New International Version Bible. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1995).
[9] Mary and Alan Whanger, The Shroud of Turin: An Adventure of Discover. (Tennessee: Providence House Pub., 1998), 52.
[10] Mac Borkan.29.
[11] Whanger 62.
[12] Marc Borkan 30.
[13] J. H. Heller and A. D. Adler. “A Chemical Investigation of the Shroud of Turin”. Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal. Vol. 14, no. 3 (1981): 99.
[14] Ibid. p99.
[15] Marc Borkan. Science and the Authenticity of the Turin Shroud cites Rabbi Solomon Ganzfried. Code of Jewish law, translated by Hyman E. Goldin, LL.B (New York: Hebrew Pub. Co., 1961), p 99-100).
[16] Ibid. 37.

News of The Shroud

An article on The Shroud came out on Yahoo on Thursday alleging that a team of Italian atheists have "reproduced" the Shroud, thus claiming they have proven that The Shroud is a Medieval painting. To our readers, please be informed that this is the 4th such claim made over the past 30 years by someone claiming they have reproduced The Shroud. The claims have proven to be hollow. In each and every case, none of the so-called reproductions matched the image on the Shroud for its sharpness/clarity (i.e., they all came out somewhat distorted, blurred, etc.).

Besides, if it took a team of modern-day atheists/skeptics trying to wack their brains on how it could POSSIBLY be done, that does NOT mean that WAS how The Shroud was actually made...unless you're going to claim that the alleged Medieval forger(s) were genius-of-a-sort and knew of some unknown process and kept their marvelous technique a secret, never reusing it again....ever, only to have this unknown process rediscovered by this modern-day band of skeptics.

Besides, the article says a pigment was used by the team of skeptics. The STURP (Shroud of Turin Research Project) team of 27 scientists, however, using scientific instrumentation capable of detecting one part per billion, officially concluded after their intensive investigation that NO pigments were found on The Shroud. The trace Iron oxide (i.e., rust, which can be used as a pigment) found is not surprising seeing how The Shroud had been kept in a metal box for centuries (millenia?). These, however, were randomly distributed on both the image and non-image portion of the cloth. Besides, to be used as a pigment, the iron oxide needed to be mixed with a liquid and suspended in spit, animal fat, earwax, or some other binding substance. Such were not found on The Shroud. The lone member of the STURP team who makes this spurrious claim, the late Dr. Walter McCone, was unable to travel to Italy and was thnus NOT present when the team examined the cloth.

Health Care Bill -- How important is that to you

See and understand what your representatives -- represent you at their Ivory Tower opps I mean Washington

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/No_-you-can_t-see-the-health-care-bill-8352156-63636167.html#

Blessing


Eric

Jimmy Carter -- How Bizzare

Check this out ...


Jimmy Carter to Eat Live Frog on “60 Mins.”
Sep 25, 2009
In what critics are describing as a “shameless effort” to remain relevant, former President Jimmy Carter has agreed to eat a live bullfrog next Sunday night on the CBS program “Sixty Minutes”.
CBS execs are clearly thrilled, predicting a ratings bonanza beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. “The broadcast will be live,” said CBS President Les Moonves, quipping “as will the frog.” But friends close to the Carters are not amused, fearing the stunt will tarnish the former President’s legacy. But Carter remains defiant, describing the act as a “vindication” and as a “valentine” to his rural childhood in Plains, Georgia.
Veteran media watchers are puzzled, calling the whole thing “bizarre”. Some have suggested Carter was stung by the controversy over his remark that cast SC Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst as “racially motivated.” Eating a small amphibian on a nationally-televised program would serve to “turn the page”, with the added boon of possibly revitalizing the former President as a player on the international stage.
Carter was also thought to be upset that “Dancing With the Stars” had recently rejected him as a contestant. Learning they had welcomed the participation of former House Whip Tom Delay was “the last straw”, according to his wife, former First Lady Rosalyn Carter, who told one friend that while casting about for a way to “leap-frog” ahead of his detractors, her husband’s thoughts had drifted to an incident from 1934, when he was eleven. That memory seems to have sparked the idea for the “Sixty Minutes” appearance. But details of this incident remain unclear, although Carter’s late brother Billy spoke of it in a 1978 interview:
“There was an old redneck feller who lived in a shack by the river. Everybody called him ole Frawg, but I never knew why. My brother Jimmy and I would go down there to taunt him and chunk rocks at him. But one time that man taught us a lesson. One rock hit ole Frawg in the small of the back and he went down. Jimmy run over to see if he was still breathing, but as soon as he got close, ole Frawg grabbed him by the ankle! The old feller was just playing possum! He drug Jimmy to his shack and I ran home. Later on, when Jimmy came home he told me that ole Frawg had said, “You boys think you kin get the better of ole Frawg. But ole Frawg gonna teach you a lesson.” Then he reached down into a cedar bucket and pulled out a bullfrog as big as his fist and he talked to it real tender, callin’ it his brother. And then he chawed the critter’s head off. Jimmy started crying, but ole Frawg said it didn’t taste half-bad. He said his tastebuds wasn’t worth a damn on accounta he smoked so much ter-backy. And he allowed as that old frog was in a better place than that stinky bucket. Years later, when he had become a midshipman at Anapolis, Jimmy told me how the story had affected him, and how some day he’d tell the world about ole Frawg.”
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©2008 Eric Metaxas. All rights reserved. There's a time for joking around and a time to be serious; this is not one of them. --Anonymous

Conversion of Muslim to Christianity

Get a glimpse from a former Muslim who converts to Christianity. Currently he is the President of Liberty Theological Seminary. You can check that he is legitimate by going to Liberty Univerity and search for him under Ergun Caner. I search for Gary Habermas in the Liberty University and found him. Dr. Habermas taught a class which I attended on the Resurrection of Christ.





http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=027454a783c841250ba7


Blessings


Eric

Rama what ?? and Christians participating with them!!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-09-18-ramadan-christians_N.htm?csp=34


Sterling Drive Church of Christ pastor Ben Ries and McLaren, Brian from the Emergent church participated in Ramadan. The idea is to honour God- by expression of peace, fellowship and neighborliness.



As Ries stated : "The concern is that somehow, I'm endorsing this other path. But I tell people I believe Jesus is the son of God. I believe he is the way and the truth and the life. But I believe I don't get to say who goes to hell and who doesn't. That's God's job."

Mclaren on the other hand is commited to peace making in response to 9/11.

Others like Dr. Mohler disagree with Brian and Ries.

How then should we as Christians response ? Are there any examples from the Scriptures to gleam from and guide our path ?

I believe we do. It is essential we do not confuse our attempts to out perform our neighbour in kindliness vs True Truth as Frances Schaeffer said. By that I mean what did God reveal to us and how we can know our belief to be true and be passionate about it. In addition, we must be able to understand and define what a loving witness as shown by Christ and his apostles. I love my daughter but I will discipline her when she is out of line. If I fail to do that I not only fail as a father but I really dont love her.

Some basic questions : When Christians participate in Ramadan, what are they trying to share and defend? That Muslims and Christians worship the same God? There are no major doctrinal differences between the two and that these minor differences and they are not impasse. Or maybe they are trying to have a dialogue with each other?

How does Paul 'dialogue' in Act 17. ? He presented his case by articulating coherently, cogently, with evidences. His argument and intent was to persuade them of the truth of the gospel. What they do with the truth was their own responsbilities.

How many of us actually check out Muslim's web sites that challenge Christianity as oppose to Christianity countering their challenge? They outgun us by far. Ravi Zacharias an apologist estimated that there are about 20,000 Muslim trained apologists in the world. How many Christians do we know are apologists--missionary does not have the skills of an apologist.

Back from detour, the bottom line for Paul as the need to persuade people of the truth of Christ's gospel, as he demolish arguments and pretension that are against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10

Blessings

Eric

My Genes make me do it

Next time someone says that ' their genes make them do it' ask them to check this site out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/science/11gene.html?_r=1&oref=slogin



Blessings


Eric

Death by Strangulation courtesy of Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

http://www.informz.net/pfm/archives/archive_854811.html

On September 16, 2009 Sen. Baucus has mandate that each individual is required to obtain health insurance or face substantial tax penalties. What transpire is essentially a government gag order . Red flag to anyone who thinks a government insurance plan will play fair with its private competitors. Please read the Humana letter to see the type of free speech that politicians like Mr. Baucus find threatening and are working to subvert. This is one of the reason why government should not be given more power.

Blessings


Eric

Progressive Marriage vs Traditional Marriage

Excellent article on the debate on marriage between a man and a woman or person and person.
This article articulate in a fair manner from legal point of view on both sides.
Thanks to Allen Jang for sharing this article with us


http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol31_No1_Stewartonline.pdf

Follow-up on " Importance of being Deceptively Dishonest."

Why are we allowing Joe Wilson the "RUDE, UNCIVIL" man who is suppose to represent his constituent be beaten up by the media, his own republican party and worst by Christian conservative? Was he not civil in his response when the President spoke in front of congress and the American people all those " TRUTH." From my perspective I PRAISE, and am PROUD to stand by Joe Wilson's side and say to THE PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES: YOU LIED to the American people , SIR !
You took and oath to protect the constitution and to serve the PEOPLE of AMERICA, not the special interest .
Some of you readers may say: Wilson was not civil afterall the President did request for civility. To call someone a liar in the middle of his speech smacks of rudeness, barbarianism it seems. Yes, the man who weeks ago told his opponents " I dont want the folks who created the mess doing a lot of talking. I want them to just get out of the way," said with hope in his eyes “I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility.” When the facts are out there and Obama and his administrative and those on the other side of the table are serious about REALLY wanting to HELP, change there are LOTS of GOOD Options which does not require those briefly enumerated in my previous blog.

I must stop here and make a statement. Eric why are you going into politics like Health Care and Global Warming when Christianity is about Spiritual aspects of things.
Do you think I am going off on the deep end of Christianity ? Your thoughts on that


Blessings



Eric

Global Warming : SPPI report

SPPI’s Monthly CO2 Report is now posted:http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monthly_report/august_co2_report.htmlNo heat buildup in the oceans = no global warming:SPPI’s authoritative Monthly CO2 Report for August 2009 announces the publication of a major paper by Professors David Douglass and Robert Knox of the Physics Department in the University of Rochester, New York, demonstrating that the heat buildup in the oceans that is a necessary fingerprint of manmade global warming is not occurring. This is another mortal blow to the alarmist cause in the climate debate. Report, page 4. “Science should be done by observation, meditation, calculation, and verification. Politicized science cannot usefully inform political decisions.” Editorial comment: Page 3. The IPCC assumes CO2 concentration will reach 836 ppmv by 2100, but, for almost eight years, CO2 concentration has headed straight for only 570 ppmv by 2100. This alone halves all of the IPCC’s temperature projections. Pages 5-6. Since 1980 temperature has risen at only 2.3 °F (1.4 °C)/century, not the 7 F° (3.9 C°) the IPCC predicts. Pages 7-9. Sea level rose just 8 inches in the 20th century, and has scarcely risen since 2006. The oceans are not warming. Pages 10-11. Arctic sea-ice extent is currently at its summer low, but there is more summer ice than there was in 2007 or 2008. In the Antarctic, sea ice extent reached a record high in 2007. Global sea ice extent shows little trend for 30 years. Pages 12-15. Hurricane and tropical-cyclone activity is almost at its lowest since satellite measurement began. Pages 16-17. The Sun is still very quiet. There were no sunspots in August at all. Page 18. The (very few) benefits and the (very large) costs of the Waxman/Markey Bill are illustrated at Pages 19-21. Science Focus this month reprints a paper giving the reasons why the great ice sheets will not collapse. Pages 22-28. As always, there’s our “global warming” ready reckoner, and our monthly selection of scientific papers. Pages 29-34. And finally, a Technical Note explains how we compile our state-of-the-art CO2 and temperature graphs. Page 35.

Took the liberty in posting this information from email send to me from Allen

America the Land of Free ??

Please see this link :

Come to conclusion yourself


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3DDKNG2uvI&feature=related

Blessings


Eric

Importance of being Deceptively Dishonest

What a Title ! This is to point out some highlights from Obama speech to the Joint Session of Congress on his health care.

Highlights:

1. Presumption that more government involvement will solve medical crisis. Truth of the matter--only about four percent of a nation’s population actually has no health insurance, that is not a crisis. It is a problem, not a crisis.
2.Obama wants to eliminate inefficiency and waste . This can be done by creating an Independent Medicare Advisory Council—an unelected, largely unaccountable group of 'experts' charged with containing Medicare costs such a group, working outside of "normal political channels," should guide decisions regarding that "huge driver of cost . . . the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives . . . ." In Reality nonpartistan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) doesn't think so: Its director, Douglas Elmendorf, told the Senate Budget Committee in July that "in the legislation that has been reported we do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount."
3.Employer Mandates Would Make Coverage Affordable. In other words Obama wants to provide every American with some basic consumer protections that will finally hold insurance companies accountable." The opposite is True. How? Workers bear the full cost of their health coverage, either directly through contributions or indirectly through lower wages. An employer mandate really means that workers must receive a portion of wages in health benefits. Is it not common sense that if you provide a “public option” that the current system of employer-based health insurance will collapse? Remember, employers voluntarily provide coverage for their workers. With the added mandates the President seeks to impose, what’s to stop them from simply paying a fine and transferring their employees into a federally run system – and thereby both dramatically increase the costs to the federal government, leading inevitably to rationed care?
4.No federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place. Truth is Capps amendment to the House bill (HR 3200) explicitly allows abortion coverage in the public health plan and subsidizes health plans that cover abortion. In fact, every amendment to exclude abortion coverage from health care legislation was defeated by the liberal sponsors.

Again the Truth in really taking care of those who are uninsured would be to have a patient and market centered and oriented driven policy respectively. How ? Tax benefits for those who have no insurance coverage, similar to those who received coverage through their employer. Vouchers for Medicare patients as this would allow them to pay for their own coverage.Reform tort laws will save billions each year in wasteful spending; and changing costly state regulations to allow people to buy insurance across state lines. Rather than another top-down government plan, let's give Americans control over their own health care.

What are your thoughts on Obamacare?



Blessings


Eric

Wonderfully and fearfully made

Abortion: It is a woman's right or is it?
Please revisit this issue to this link.

http://www.informz.net/pfm/archives/archive_833757.html

Blessings

Eric

EVIL, PAIN, SUFFERING --- GOD ?

How many times have you been going the opposite direction from God ? I for one have lost count. I thought God was going East when He was going West. Thus my story begins with Angie when she diagnosed herself with cancer of the lung about eight years ago in LA while working as a director of Employee Health. We prayed earnestly for God's healing hand and direction. We were very agressive in our treatment for Angie. She underwent surgery, radiation, chemo. Things were looking good as her cancer of her lung appear to be in remission. The oncologist said that after 5 years if it does not get bigger or return she is as good as cured. We were very happy and continued to praise God living a life we thought was going well. Short of five years her symptoms return with a vengence. Like before we turn to God for strength and comfort. Unfortunately, this time chemo and radiation appear to be ineffective. Metastasis has been widespread. All this time in her pain, suffering Angie ALWAYS greeted her family with a SMILE and was always there physically when she can or spiritually. Friends that know her was awed by her LOVE for others and God. Even in times of sickness she struggled to teach BLS and attend those meetings. Her last few weeks with her family, Angie privately requested that I let her go. She told me that GOD did not grant our wish. Do you know how much I HATED GOD during those times. This is my wife, my LOVE, mother of my children. Angie literally is the BETTER HALF. Who we are today is because of her LOVE for us.
This reminds me of C S Lewis book " A Grief Observed." Lewis a top notched apologist to had similar experience when his wife Joy a divorcee had remission from her bone cancer but relapsed and died. His faith was literally 'shaken to the core.' He too was angry, wondered if God is there or maybe God was a sadist.
Like the top notch that he is, Lewis was able to finally come to grips with Evil, Pain, Suffering. Here is his quote:

Bridge-players tell me that there must be some money on the game, 'or else people won't take it seriously.' Apparently it's like that. Your bid--for God or no God, for a good God or the Cosmic Sadist, for eternal life or nonentity--will not be serious if nothing much is staked on it. And you will never discover how serious it was until the stakes are raised horribly high; until you find that you are playing not for counters or for sixpences but for every penny you have in the world. Nothing less will shake a man--or at any rate a man like me--out of his merely verbal thinking and his merely notional beliefs. He has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses. Only torture will bring out the truth. Only under torture does he discover it himself.

In lay man's term : No pain, no gain.

What are your experiences with Evil, Pain, Suffering. Have you too gone North thinking God is heading that direction when He actually was heading South?
I want to thank Ana for sharing her personal story, her ups and downs with the Lord. This gives me inspiration to share the above with you. Part 2 on Evil, Pain, Suffering ---- God ? will be posted next week?

Blessings

Eric

Another Response to Anyonymous & Atheist Camp

It seems to me that the atheist/agnostic "Anonymous" response found below (Tues., 7/14/09 "comment" #3, that atheists don't force their kids to be atheist), appears to be "wishful" thinking that is rather simplistic/idealistic. For example, the former atheist John Clayton related how his parents (both members of the American Atheist Association) often belittled religion and the Bible and painted a glorious picture of an atheistic world. Where's the neutrality that "Anonymous" seem to imply that atheists are blessed with and Christians are woefully lacking in? And shouldn't Clayton's late father know better since he was the former chairperson of the Dept. of Philosophy at Cornell University? And when John Clayton became an adult and a scientist and renown science educator, he explored some of the so-called silly Bible teachings that he was indoctrinated in and was surprised to discover that they weren't in the Bible at all! They were merely atheistic assumptions and story-telling! At the same time, I've met Christians who did not force their religion on their children. The bottom-line is this: parents, both atheists and theists, tend to bring their children up in a fashion that is consistent and comfortable with their own world-views. That's human nature. People will be people. Neither side is free from some intellectual pressures or biases. Let's not bask content in the "glittering generalities" of a simplistic portrayal of the world of thoughts but take the time and effort to delve deeper and explore.

Allen Jang

Response to Anonymous Athesist Summer Camp

Thank you Anonymous for your response to our blog. I believe we can agree that none of us believe that children of athesists are " evil spawn" nor are athesists "evil." I would like to address your second statement, namely "supernatural world," "evidence." Please allow me to point out the 'usual' ---presumption of atheism ! This is the assumption or the claim that in the absence of evidence for the existence of God, we should presume that God does not exist. So your believe is default in position and that we theist have a special burden of proof to show God exists. Along that line of thinking the alleged presumption appears to blend atheism with agnosticism. Example: The statement that " God does not exist" is just as much a claim to knowledge as the assertion " God Exist." Notice the former requires just as much justification as the latter. Note also that the agnostic make no knowledge claim at all with respect to God's existence because he does not know if God exists or not thus he require no justification ( We are talking about soft agnosticism=to ignorance.)
Once again thank you for your input

Blessings

Eric

Change for the Better--- Latest News for Blog

Hi Everyone,

I have good news.

It seems this blog site is not USER FRIENDLY !!! Several of you have tried to post but due to technical difficulties you have not done so. Thank you for your input by contacting me directly. Chen is currently spearheading the project to see how best we can make this user friendly. You will be updated ASAP

I have the latest news about the this website an its reorganization.

Dr. Jang Allen and I have discuss this quite extensively, that is the goal(s) of our website.
Christian or secular statistics show that we are losing our young adults, University , College, High School " Christians" at a very alarming rate. The most important reason is that these group of "Christians" were not properly armed to go out to the secular world to survive let alone witness for Christ. Take a moment and ask yourself two basic questions:
1) Do you believe Christ died physically and was resurrected as the Bible claim. Can you coherently defend that position
2) Do you really believe the Bible to be infallible. Can you articulate in a logical manner so as not to mention the God of the Gap theory?
In other words the it is VERY IMPORTANT to be able to defend your faith in a Logical, Coherent, Irenic manner. We must strive to achieve: Develop a heart and mind for our Lord.
Yes, our website will continue to be the clearinghouse for different information. But the main emphasis will be to help us grow in our hearts and minds that is emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
Please pray for the growth of this website so that we can advance our goals for the Lord


Blessings

Eric

Big Bang and Time

Thanks Brother Jang on your brief outline on Gravitational Time and White Hole.

Big Bang and Time

Good morning, dear brother. Since I couldn't sleep through all the things happening during the night, I decided to make good use of my time and explain a little more about White Hole and Gravitational Time Dilation. Albert Einsten, Ph.D. in Physics, said that time can slow down at different places in the universe based upon space warping due to massive gravitational objects. This can be found succintly put in this astronomy website:http://woodside.blogs.com/cosmologycuriosity/2006/06/gravitational_t.htmlNo one had any serious problems with it. Then Stephen Hawkings, Ph.D. in Physics, built upon Einstein and stated that time can slow down at different places in the universe in what he called a gravity well ("the lower [in a gravity well] the slower")http://woodside.blogs.com/cosmologycuriosity/2006/06/hawkings_astron.htmlAgain, no one had any serious problems with it. Then experiments with atomic clocks at sea level, mile high Colorado, and in high altitude airplanes showed a successive but minute difference in time aging to demonstrate experimentally that what Hawkings said is true. But then when a Christian who has a Ph.D. in Physics used what the secular scientific community has used to explain away the time paradox of Creation and apparent ages, then atheists had problems with it because they didn't want Christians to have a reasonable explanation. This is intellectual hypocrisy (i.e., "it's scientific for me, but unscientific for you"). EXPLANATION: When D. Russell Humphreys explained how Einstein and Hawkings show how the earth can be literally only a few thousand years old while at the same time starlight, the 4K background radiation, etc. does show that the universe can indeed be billions of years old. How can this be? Humphreys said that Einstein and Hawkings make possible the use of two different clocks, one within the event horizon (until it was eclipsed by the shrinking and then disappearing White Hole [shrinking because it's ejecting all the known physical matter and energy and even time out into the known universe in order to create everything at the Big Bang, which was what led to the emptying of the White Hole] and one outside the event horizon, namely the rest of the universe out to its edge or 4K background radiation that was ejected after the Big Bang. Due to super gravitational well, time inside the event horizon (i.e., Earth) would be aging very slowly--in the thousands of years at the Creation, Big Bang, or Genesis--while time outside the event horizon would be aging super "fast" (now known as "normal" time because we now live in this part of the universe). The problem is that Humphreys (this first camp includes most ICR scientists) try to use this mainstream idea to argue that there was not a Big Bang but that was unnecessary since many other Christian physicists (a second camp) said that this basically sound argument can be used with the Big Bang as God's moment of Creation. I'm with this second camp. I believe God could've used the Big Bang to create and that the universe can indeed be billions of years old, and yet, measured from the Earth, God did do it all in 6 literal days! P.S. You can post this on your blog if you wish!

Atheists Summer Camp

http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/2023517.html

Above is the link or you can read the story below. What are your thoughts on Athsists Summer Camp?

In a couple of days I will be posting ' Evil and God.' Would like you to consider and share your thoughts on that when it is posted.
Blessings

Eric


Atheists put own stamp on summer camp in Sierra foothills
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Published: Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2009 - 12:00 am Page 1A Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2009 - 8:49 am
NEVADA CITY – At Camp Quest, campers may not believe in God, but they do have faith in their community.
On Sunday evening, 49 children from across the western United States arrived at the camp nestled in the hills outside Nevada City. It is one of five summer camps in the country for the children of atheists and other nonbelievers.
In a campground in Malakoff Diggins State Historical Park, the campers have many of the traditional summer experiences. They practice archery in the meadow, participate in team competitions and gather around the campfire at night to sing.
Their activities, however, have a decidedly secular twist.
Campers play games that encourage critical thinking such as one called Evolution and another where they are asked to prove something invisible doesn't exist.
Before meals, they learn about freethinking heroes such as Margaret Sanger and Isaac Asimov. Many of their camps songs promote rational thought such as their version of this children's classic:
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
You're a ball of gas that's very far
32 light years in the sky
10 parsecs which is really high...
Here, it's all about celebrating their belief in not believing.
"It's important for them to have a place to learn how to investigate the world and to not accept what they hear," said camp director Chris Lindstrom of Los Altos. "Plus the kids enjoy meeting other kids from similar families."
It makes them feel a part of a larger community.
Atheism has been a subject of several recent best-sellers, including Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" and Christopher Hitchens' "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything."
Nonbelievers make up a small part of the population. According to the Pew Forum's 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, 1.6 percent of the adult population consider themselves atheist; 2.4 percent call themselves agnostic.
Camp Quest, which started in 1996 in Ohio, is now offered in Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, Ontario and California. Attendance at the California camp, officially called Camp Quest West, has gone from 14 to 49 in four years.
Campers attribute the growth to positive word of mouth on atheist chat sites.
Soon after the campers arrived Sunday, they gathered outside the dining hall. The children's ages range from 9 to 17. Most campers are from California; some traveled from as far as New Mexico.
After a brief introduction, they heard how Socrates questioned the religion of his day. Afterward, the campers headed inside for a spaghetti dinner. One joked aloud that here, at least, they wouldn't have to say grace.
Everyone who heard him laughed.
Many campers said they were relieved to be with kids from other atheist families.
"I live in a small town and at my school a lot of the kids will flaunt their religion," said Cameron Musser, 16, who wanted to attend the camp to be around other nonbelievers. "We don't have to worry about that here."
Rebekah Hinckley, 12, learned about the camp from her parents, who thought it was worth the drive from Oxnard and the $450 cost of the six-night camp.
While their parents are atheists or freethinkers, many of the children said they are unsure of their beliefs. Hinckley said she is not ready to label herself an atheist.
"I don't really believe in God," said Hinckley. "But really, I'm just not sure."
That's exactly the kind of thinking-for-yourself that is encouraged at Camp Quest.
One lesson in critical thinking involved a campfire story about an invisible monster name Schree. Camp staffers pretend they believe that a monster exists because their parents told them so or a friend who told them about it is really cool. They promise to pay a camper $10 to prove it doesn't exist. No camper has ever won.
"It helps them learn that these kind of arguments don't go anywhere," said Lindstrom. "And that they shouldn't believe everything they hear."
Several campers have been to Camp Quest before. This is the camp's fourth season. Last year was canceled because of nearby fires.
Alexa Garcia, a 13-year-old from Albany, has attended the camp twice. She likes the camp philosophy but also the activities. "I don't consider myself anything right now. I just like the camp," she said.
At 10, Lili Thorson is one of the youngest campers. Her father picked out the camp for her. Lili does not know what she believes or doesn't believe, though. "My dad told me I'm too young to decide yet."

Kingdom Triangle cont.

Part 2 . Here JP highlight the first foundation of the triangle:
1) Recovery of Knowledge.
He recommend that we 'return to the first four centuries of Christianity and take some lessons from the early church.' This way we ground Christianity in knowledge, rather than unsubstantiated faith statements.
Second foundation:
2) Develope a path of spiritual formation. His guidelines are: self-denial and reliance on God. Matthew 16: 24-26 Please take time to read these scriptures before you go further. The key to Jesus claims is that the ONLY way to find 'happiness' is to develop a life of character and virtue, a life that manifests kindness, wisdom, goodness. This classic sense of happiness is lost among us today. Instead 21th Century modern man view happiness as pleasurable satisfaction.
Third foundation:
3) Restoring the miraculous power of the Kingdom of God. We as Church of Christ members are very skirmish about this. We barely even teach, study or preach on this. We are missing a big blessings from the Kingdom of God. Spencer wrote in The Washington Times that in communist China there are millions of recent conversions to Christianity. Believers now outnumber national members national members of the Communist Party. (Richard Spencer, Millions All over China Convert to Christianity, The Washington Times, August 3,2005, A-1, A-11) What is happening here and why? Philip Jenkins distinguished historian from Pen State U. documents and attributes these growth to a God that intervenes daily in everyday life, including miraculous events. JP documents many reports of supernatural activities. I will mention one or two, end of drought in answer to Christian missionary's' prayer in a Buddhist village in Thailand resulting in over 100 families becoming Christians, significant numbers of demonic deliverance. A counter argument even among Christians would be that these are uneducated people they expect and are easily fool by such things. JP also documented miracles in US. Incidentally, JP is a distinguished professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology. Not someone to dismiss likely. Richard Swinburne and Gary Habermas ( distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Theology at Liberty University) whom I also had the good fortune and pleasure to learn under them also believes in miracles happening daily.
In conclusion: JP challenges us to Revolt. Do not let those baggage hinder you down. Instead, strive for knowledge, strive for personal discipline and practice and restore the transforming and miraculous power of God's Kingdom for Ashlan is and has always been on the move.

Blessings

Recover the Christian Mind, renovate the Soul, restore the Spirit's Power

Two things I would like to start out with before I continue. 1) I want to thank my friend and blogger Anna who recommended that I write a book review for the readers who may want to 'thicken' their Christian Worldview, 2) I will briefly touch on Evil and will at a later time blog with you on that topic but the main bulk will be reviewing this book which I CANNOT OVEREMPHASIS it's importance in terms of Christian growth and living.

Kingdom Triangle by J.P. Moreland

He is one of my professor at Biola University whom I had the privileged to sit under his feet and learn.

This book challenges us on several levels. Among several topics, one of them is about God Hiddenness. Why does he not show Himself to us ? Are there criteria for His Presence? Does God still produce miracles in the 21th Century?

Part 1: 21th Century Worldview Crisis
J.P ,as he is affectionately known, points out that currently there is a battle currently going on between scientific naturalist, postmodernism and 'ethical monotheism.' There is a wide spread hunger to understand the ultimate question: Why do I exist and is there any meaning in my life? JP put forth a strong case that Christianity offers such and answer to our purpose here on Earth, about objective values, God and afterlife. While scientific naturalism and postmodernism fails. For example JP points out that there are six ( 6 ) key factors that must occur to have a 'rich, objective meaning to life that can be known and realized in our lives.'
These are: 1) Free will to ground our lives, 2) Real intrinsic value that can be known and factored into our lives, 3) Ability to acknowledge the reality of evil, provide an explanation of its origin and offer hope that is utlimately redeemed and defeated ( I will take up that challenge at later date), 4) Intrinsic value of human beings , 5) Must be teleology (things that happen for a purpose or future goal, 6) Must have a satisfying answer to question: Why must I be moral?

Stay tune for more

Blessings

Reflection on July 4th

My family trust you and your love ones had a delightful 4th July. I like to take a moment an have us reflect on the meaning of Declaration of Independence. This also tie into " Our Nation is No Longer a Christian Nation."

On this day the founders establised principles that are grounded in a higher law, namely: " the laws of nature and nature's God."
These principles include all men are created equal by that they meant certain inablienable rights not bestowed on us by government. These rights are liberty, self-government. Governments 'derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. These principles allowed us to be what we are. It is also significant to note that the signers of the Declaration closed by invoking the aid of Divine Providence and were will to 'walk the walk and talk the talk.' Many signers were captured by the British, imprisoned, displaced or even lost their love ones during the Revolutionary War.

In conclusion: It is important to reflect on this 150th anniversary of Declaration in light of the widespread ignorance of our country's history among the public today as evidenced by the national Assessment of Educational Progress Civics Test in 2006 where most eight graders could not explain the purpose of the Declaration of Independence.

Blessings


Quek family

Blog suggestions

I took the liberty to post this letter from my friend Anna, who like me is searching and learning to LOVE GOD .


Dear Eric,

Hello, I hope all is well with you. I have a suggestion for your blog. The review of other religions is interesting but it may be hard for others with limited knowledge of other cultures to participate. How about a Christian Book Review? I am attaching two sample book reviews for your consideration.
Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis 1952
This is a elegantly written defense of Christianity which is very intellectually satisfying to read.During the first 5 chapters of the book, Lewis discussed the idea of a Universal Morality or Natural Law. He goes on to elaborate why there must be someone (God) behind this idea of universal law. He then argues that Jesus made several implicit claims to divinity and sums this up in a famous section:“A man who is merely a man and said the sorts of thing Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic or ... else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut he up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about his being a great moral teacher. He has not left than open to us. He did not intend to.”
If you have ever had intellectual doubts about Christianity this book will rejuvenate your faith.. He then goes on to explain what Christians believe, how Christians must then behave, and discusses Christians values such as forgiveness, hope and faith. I also found the last quote of the book particularly inspiring:
“Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions, and favorite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end; submit with every fiber of your being and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, depair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”I think this quote describes what a daily walk with Christ is really like and encourages us to keep on going when the way is difficult. Has anyone else read this book? Comments anyone?
Finding God in the Questions by Dr. Tim Johnson 2004
Many of us are spiritually searching and wondering if we can question God and if religion is relevant to our everyday life. If you have many questions, then this is the book for you. This book encourages you not to shy away from your questions but notes that this is where God meets us – wrestling with heartfelt questions about faith. Dr Johnson takes on modern science in the first section of the book where he reviews arguments about whether God exists or not. He argues that the Universe was specifically designed for human life by our Creator and is not the result of a series of accidents. In later sections of the book he answers the questions: What is God like (as taught by the Bible)? And How should faith shape our lives? My favorite answer to this question in the book is the discussion of the parable of the final judgment :, “Then the King (God) will say to the people on his right, “Come you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me” The righteous then answer, “When did we do these things?” The King (God) then replied, “I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did for me!" I think this section summarizes how we can put our Christian faith into action. We have to get outside our “comfort zone” and help other is real need! Comments anyone?********************************************************' The stack of books on my desk is growing & I have only recently become more aware of the vast Christian literature on faith questions and apologetics. Please let me know what you think. Discussing these books with others through a blog format would be spiritually enriching. GodBless! Ana

Dear Ana,

Thank you for your suggestion. I will definitely keep that in mind and in the future will review books which will help us grow.