Boy slave 'crucified' by Sudanese Muslim
A Sudanese slave who was assigned to watch his Muslim master's camels was "crucified" when he was caught sneaking out to attend a Christian church, according to reports from Voice of the Martyrs.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Microsoft releases more Zune info
You can now get more information about Zune @ Microsoft's Zune Virtual Press Room. You can also check out the Zune Insider Blog. It seems that Zune is definetely "coming Zune".
What Jesus demands from the world
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Success in Europe
After a shock defeat at the hands of Arsenal and only mustering a draw against Reading, Manchester United returned to their winning ways in Europe, beating Benfica 1-0. Read full match report...
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Why save for a rainy day, when it's pouring outside?
Donate now to The Global Fund. No amount is too small.
Gotta read to succeed
Below are some books I'm mulling ordering soon (from Amazon of course). All come highly recommended from various sources:
- Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview
- An Essential Guide to Public Speaking: Serving Your Audience with Faith, Skill, and Virtue
- To Everyone an Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview
- Christ-Centered Preaching,: Redeeming the Expository Sermon
And these magazine subscriptions (from Magazine City of course):
"Poor" Islam?
If we collectively take the reaction in the liberal media vis-à-vis “9/11”, the cartoon controversy and more recently Pope Benedict’s comments, we can only conclude that Islam is the innocent victim of Western imperialism and chauvinism and the great evil to be feared is not terrorism but discrimination against Muslims.
The fact is, dedicated Muslims are not pragmatists, which is hard to swallow for most liberals. The characteristic delusion of liberals is to believe, even against all evidence, that other people, including totalitarians are at heart very much like themselves. Franklin Delano Roosevelt seems to have thought that he could charm Stalin into a reasonable frame of mind and Lyndon Johnson thought he could make a deal with Ho Chi Minh. And as they say, the rest is history.
The public is therefore at the mercy of commentators who are constantly reassuring us that Islam is a religion of peace, and these extreme reactions and forms of violence are inconsistent with Islam. Fair enough, believe what you wish. But it is no secret that Islam vigorously opposes freedom of religion. Although we are quoted “there is no compulsion in religion”, when the rubber hits the road, this is not what is practiced.
Even within Islam itself, the Shiite and Sunni factions appear to hate each other as much as they do the West. “Conflict between Shiites and Sunnis has existed since the 7th century. Because Mohammed didn’t appoint a successor, or caliph, there was disagreement as to who should succeed him. Sunnis believe the caliph should be appointed. Shiites believe he should come from Mohammed’s bloodline” (See, A Kingdom Divided Against Itself).
In an analysis of what has gone wrong with Islam, Bernard Lewis had this to say: “To a Western observer, schooled in the theory and practice of Western freedom, it is precisely the lack of freedom – freedom of the mind from constraint and indoctrination, to question and inquire and speak; freedom of the economy from corrupt and pervasive mismanagement; freedom of women from male oppression; that underlies so many of the troubles of the Muslim world” (Atlantic Monthly, January 2002).
The Islamic mindset seems to be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the majority (if not all) of her problems stem from “crusades against Islam” led by evil Western governments, the chief culprit being America (the great Satan). She needs to realize that the majority of her problems are the logical outworking of her worldview, and can be only be addressed by radical reform and moderation.
Obligated to both wise and foolish
“I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish (Romans 1:14).”
In the rant titled, “Where the hell is it?”, the writer makes a very simple mistake. They are equating the limits of their understanding with the limits of reality. Immanuel Kant made the same mistake, poor fellow (apologies to any neo-Kantian philosophers amongst us).
Now I don’t know what constitutes “right knowledge” (perhaps a lecture on the 360 degrees of knowledge?) Who knows? But here is a nugget of right knowledge from the Apostle Paul: “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger” (Romans 2:5-8, NIV).
Monday, September 25, 2006
Dr. Ikael Tafari stikes again
In his latest offering, The Concept of God, Dr. Tafari writes, "the sociology of religion can help us to stress a discontinuous line – the missing links as it were – between religions, rather than a hard, continuous, dividing wall. Such a dotted line between faiths means that one would not invest in dogmatic notions of superiority/inferiority among different creeds."
Of course, this is promptly after "dismissing" (in his own confused mind of course) one of the most central doctrines of Christendom - the Trinity. SMH. Reason #165, the Nation is fast becoming a comic book publication.
Letter to the Editor: September 25, 2006
THE RELIGIONISTS don't know where hell is, or if such a place really exists. They can't even decide what hell is. Which one is it? It is the lake of fire (Rev: 20:10) or the pit (Rev 11:7)? Or is it a place where you will be given oozing puss to drink like the Qur'aan describes (Ch 14:16)? Or a place where you'll be roasted (Qur'aan 17:18)? Or a prison (Qur'aan 17:8)? Also, how did the pit get there?
How did a big place of fire get beneath us? Did God create it down there? Why is it that scientists haven't discovered it yet, being that they have dug holes straight down to the centre of the earth?
Why is it you can't find hell if it really is a place that exists? Scientists have listened to the ground; they have all kinds of advanced technical equipment with computers.
Have they heard crackling fires? No!!! Because hell is a state of mind. It is what you make it. It exists within you, for each one will pattern his or her hell according to what he/she believes it is. They don't hear anyone down there screaming or hollering from any torture. So what makes you believe that there is someplace "down there" where you will go if you are a sinner?
The Bible? Let's be real! There's nothing in the Bible has been proven to be fact yet. You can't even prove that the characters in it ever existed, let alone a place called hell! The hell that your preachers, teachers, pastors, rabbis, imams and sheikhs preach to you about is another trick to keep you trapped under religion. We need right knowledge.
– KHUNSU SOBEK
I wouldn't even waste time responding to that nonsnense. It is quite funny though. Especially the part that reads, "The Bible? Let's be real! There's nothing in the Bible has been proven to be fact yet. You can't even prove that the characters in it ever existed, let alone a place called hell!" There are some objections that are so asinine, that I think you discredit Christendom by even responding. This is one of them. I'm even surprised it was published. But I'm not completely surprised, the Nation is not exactly a newspaper for serious readers.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Muslim furore 2.0
Iranian Leader Urges More Papal Protests
Al-Qaida in Iraq warned Pope Benedict XVI on Monday that its war against Christianity and the West will go on until Islam takes over the world, and Iran's supreme leader called for more protests over the pontiff's remarks on Islam. Read full story...
Two types of sinners
No doubt you have heard countless “profound” utterances that start something like this, “There are only two types of people in the world…” My personal favourite is, “There are three kinds of people in this world; those who can count and those who can’t. But some folk prefer to lump us all into one category. You have probably heard it said, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NIV).
It’s true that we are all sinners but there is a crucial difference. There is a category of sinner, let’s call them group A, who, “are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24, NIV). Group B on the other hand, “rejects the Son (of God)” and “will not see life; for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36, NIV). There is really no middle ground here; in the words of our Lord – “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son” (John 3:18, NIV).
Those who choose to accept Christ’s provision of the cross do not habitually (or continually) sin because, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him” (1 John 3:6, NIV). “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray,” by misquoting Romans 3:23.
So, which category of “The Sinner-hood” do you belong to?
Regeneration - mankind's only hope
Some people hold a Walt Disney theology where Christ and their need for him is concerned – everyone seems to think you are a “good person” (and just between you and me, you quite agree). So why drag Christ into all of this. The humanists are therefore content to preach “mere morality” – be a “good” person (whatever that means) – and hope that things will get better.
Well they won’t. “Mere morality” misses the mark. The command which the LORD gave the to Israelites, also applies to us: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Lev. 19:2, NIV). This is what the Old Testament prophets and Christ aimed at. Holiness is infinitely greater than “mere morality.” For where there is true holiness, what we call “good, decent” behaviour will almost become second nature. The thing is, there can be no holiness without repentance. And I can think of no better definition of repentance than this old children’s hymn: Repentance is to leave the sins we loved before; And show that we in earnest grieve, By doing so no more.
No doubt the secular humanists will continue with their futile attempts to moralize society. But if we are truly serious about changing our society, we will have to work from the inside out. We have to admit and deal with the fact that the heart of mankind is desperately wicked. No economic, political or social theory will suffice. Man (no matter how highly he thinks of himself) is utterly lost without Christ. So, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:7, NIV).
Monday, September 18, 2006
Colts 2-0: Manning goes for 400 yards!
Manning threw three touchdown passes, broke John Unitas' franchise record for completions and led the Colts to scores on six of their first seven possessions in a 43-24 rout over Houston that wasn't that close. Read full game report...
Friday, September 15, 2006
Two fat cats!
The two cats in the picture belong to my friend Dan from Canada! They are HUGE! ROTFLOL!
The battle within
We are so busy fighting crime, drugs, AIDS, terrorism and poverty that we are in danger of forgetting the real battle. The battle of sin. The battle within. The exchange goes something like this:
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:15-20”). Admittedly a wretched state (and a mouthful). But thanks be to God, victory can be had through Christ!
It only makes sense to continue with the other “battles” if we obey Jesus’ command: “repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Although, if everyone focused squarely on dealing with the battle within, all other battles (noble as they are) become moot.
When philosophy leads to the wrong conclusion
"If naturalism were true then all thoughts whatever would be wholly the result of irrational causes...it cuts its own throat." – C. S. Lewis [A Christian Reply to Professor Price]
Naturalism is a classic example of philosophical presuppositions leading to the wrong conclusions. The naturalist denies any power higher than his reason and therefore has a distorted picture of reality. For the naturalist, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. As Paul Copan points out, the naturalist is guilty of what is known in logic as the "self-excepting fallacy." Simply put, he does not hold his own beliefs to the same standard he expects of others. He explains away the religious beliefs of others as the product of their DNA and experience, suggesting that they are invalid. Yet, perhaps by a miraculous stroke of genius, he does not consider his own reasoning abilities untrustworthy, even though, according to his own worldview, they themselves are also the product of his DNA and experience. The naturalist will refuse to defend his faulty presupposition although this is precisely what he expects of others.
Even more embarrassing for the naturalist is that his worldview is self-refuting. The naturalist claims to reject the metaphysical while at the same time ignoring the fact that naturalism is itself a metaphysical framework. As many people have repeatedly shows – naturalism cannot be scientifically proven. Naturalism masquerades as science, when in fact “it is really an un-provable philosophical assumption that guides experimentation. Naturalism itself is not the result of experimentation”.
The next time you look at the starry hosts, fool yourself that this is all time plus matter plus chance. Or do the sensible thing and echo the words of the Psalmist: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world (Psalm 19:1-4, NIV).”
The Greek and the Gospel
Allow me to introduce you to “the Greek” (1 Corinthians 1:23); manufactured in schools, universities and colleges all over this world. The Greek is very well-read and has an intense aversion to anything religious. Ask him almost anything and he knows it. Ask for a quotation from any of the old poets, philosophers or anyone else and he can give it you. He is always ready to save the whale, the rain forest or Internet (www.savetheinternet.com). He is prepared to save everything – but his soul. Raise the subject of “Christ and Him crucified” and he is bound to say, “Stop your cant! I wish to hear nothing of the sort!”
The sate of the Grecian is a sad one indeed. He believes all philosophy except the true one. He studies all wisdom except the true wisdom of God. He pursues all learning except spiritual learning. He likes everything which man makes and nothing which comes from God. The old, old Gospel is foolishness to him. Address just one doctrine in the Bible, he shuts his ears and no longer wishes to keep your company. Declare God’s Truth to him – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12, NIV)” – but he will have none of it. He will declare you a narrow-minded bigot and wish you a good morning.
The basic problem with the Grecian is that he is so full of himself, there is no room for Christ. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit wish to come and make “all things new”, but alas, “there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7, NIV).” We should hold no enmity towards the Grecian, for he is to be pitied. Until he accepts the free gift of salvation found only in Christ Jesus, he will be forever wrapped up in himself. A very small bundle indeed.
Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh
Yesterday Microsoft released a "technical refresh" for Office 2007 Beta 2. I downloaded and installed it (all 494MB of it!). I can't wait for the final release of Office 2007. This will be worth the upgrade. Check out more information on Office 2007 here...
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Solskjær settles British encounter!
Ole Gunnar Solskjær was the hero as Manchester United FC opened their UEFA Champions League campaign with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Scottish champions and Group F rivals Celtic FC. Read full story...
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Pope invites dialog with Muslims
Pope Benedict XVI said Tuesday that Islamic holy war was against God's nature and invited Muslims to join in a peaceful cultural dialogue. In a speech at Regensburg University, Benedict made an unusual reference to jihad, or holy war - a concept used by today's Islamic extremists to justify suicide bombings and other attacks. Read full story...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Apple releases new iPods
Today Apple has released new versions of the iPod, iPod nano and iTunes. Check it out...
Monday, September 11, 2006
Preach Christ crucified
"Dr. Chalmers' experience is a very valuable one to those who think that the Christian ministry ought to preach mere morality, for he says that, in his first parish he preached morality and saw no good whatever arising out of this exhortations. However, as soon as he began to preach Christ crucified, then there was a buzz, a stir, and much opposition, but grace prevailed."
Giggs goal keeps United @ the top
The Reds returned to the top of the table with victory over Tottenham on Saturday, thanks to a first-half header from the in-form Ryan Giggs, which ensures United have made their best ever start to a Premiership campaign.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
New DVD: Has Christianity Failed You?
Has Christianity failed you? The barriers to belief in the Christian gospel often reach far beyond the intellect as we search for truth and meaning in a fallen world. Too many people have been disappointed or hurt by the church and/or individual Christians -- and then, have turned away from Christianity, harboring deep-seated feelings of distrust and bitterness.
On May 11, 2006, Ravi Zacharias and Michael Ramsden, before a sold-out audience at Atlanta’s renowned Fox Theatre, tackled the seeming failure of Christianity to respond with relevance and compassion in real-world experiences.
"That’s how it has failed us – when it becomes part of the judgment that divides us rather than the Grace that unites us."
Disc One replays that dramatic evening, with both messages, plus a 35 minute Q&A session in which some of the most difficult personal conflicts were voiced by earnest seekers. On Disc Two, Ravi and Michael continue to respond to those questions that could not be addressed during the evening because of time constraints; as well as other bonus features. This set is jam-packed with content!
Order your copy from RZIM (I put mine in yesterday) ;)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
US population set to hit 300 million
Sometime in October the U.S. will join China and India in the very small club of countries with at least 300 million residents. Read full story here...
Solid Ground: September/October 2006
How do Christians talk effectively about the One who said He was the truth when much of our culture considers distintions like true and false completely superfluous? Read newsletter here...
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