This is a nice shirt ;)
SQL Query tee @ ThinkGeek.com
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The "Wow" starts now...
Today, Microsoft released the newest version of their operating system, Windows Vista. ActiveWin.com has already posted a review of Windows Vista Ultimate, one of the many (and I mean, many) flavours Vista comes in.
The Children of the Devil
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Manning and the SuperBowl
"There they were, standing together in the hall, just begging for a joke to be cracked. Peyton Manning and Dan Marino at one end, a crowd of people at the other, everyone killing time late last week in the Colts' facility." Read full story...
Friday, January 26, 2007
Christianity and Humanism
"It is important to understand that a Christian cannot be a humanist. There are those who claim to be “Christian humanists” or “religious humanists.” But humanism and Christianity are not compatible. Paul Kurtz, former editor of The Humanist, addressed the subject of “Christian humanism” and observed: “Humanism cannot in any fair sense of the word apply to one who still believes in God as the source and Creator of the universe. Christian Humanism would be possible only for those who are willing to admit that they are atheistic Humanists. It surely does not apply to God-intoxicated believers” (1973, p. 177). Humanist writer Corliss Lamont has gone so far as to state: “Passing to the New Testament, we see plainly that its theology, taken literally, is totally alien to the Humanist viewpoint” (1977, p. 50)." Read full article by Bert Thompson
Thursday, January 25, 2007
w.bloggar
Main Features
- Post and Publish on most blogs/cms
- Edit Posts and Templates
- Save Posts locally for further publishing
- Import Text files
- Add links and images
- Format text font and alignment
- Multiple accounts and blogs
- Post preview
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
I use a lot of Alcohol...120% to be exact!
"Alcohol 120%, is a powerful Windows application that makes it easy to create backups of DVDs* and CDs. In addition, the program lets you store your most used CDs as images on your computer, so you can call them up at the click of a button."
I use this program quite often and it's very good. Small, easy to use and it just works. Can't say any of that about Nero 7.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Barack Obama joins White House race
"Barack Obama, America's fastest rising political star, on Tuesday beat Hillary Clinton to the punch when he announced he was taking the first legal step towards declaring his 2008 presidential candidacy."
Monday, January 15, 2007
Expanding Horizons
Stand to Reason equips Christian ambassadors with knowledge, wisdom, and character. An effective ambassador has three essential skills:
- Knowledge - an accurate grasp of the foundational precepts of the Kingdom
- Wisdom - skillful, tactical, fair, and diplomatic use of knowledge
- Character - a mature expression of virtue, warmth, and personal depth
Christian particularism in a pluralistic society
The essence of political correctness is this: power reigns over truth. Where there is no commitment to truth, power gains the upper hand. No wonder so many people today believe the politically correct view that at all religions worship the same “god” in different ways. Nobody is really wrong (or right) – all roads lead to Rome.
Diametrically opposed to this is the idea of Christian particularism – “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). The New Testament is crystal clear on this issue. Christ’s atoning death alone provides salvation – Jesus is the only way.
This particularistic doctrine was just as repugnant and scandalous in the polytheistic world of the Roman Empire; as in contemporary Western culture. Materialism and consumerism pervades our culture and shapes how many think about everything, including worldviews. Consumers want choice. Christianity’s claim to be the only way to God and salvation seems narrow and cruel. Christians are therefore branded as narrow-minded and intolerant.
To be honest, much of what is said against Christianity in this regard is unimpressive and amounts to little more than ad hominem attacks on Christians. The fact that someone believes they have the truth does not automatically mean they are arrogant or intolerant. Everyone holds the view they do because they think they are right (at least we hope so). Conviction does not equate to intolerance. Furthermore, the truth of a proposition is quite independent of the moral qualities of those who believe it. Even if all Christians were arrogant and intolerant, this is no way proves their view is false.
Now, Christ was a particularist if ever there was one. “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews”, could hardly be considered as open-minded statement by popular culture. John Piper wrote, “If a worshiper of God does not see in Jesus Christ the person of his God, he does not worship God.” Why? Because Jesus makes known to man the image of the invisible God – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Paul puts it this way, “For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, "made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Again, in Hebrews 1:3 we read, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…”
No religion leads to God. Only following Christ, totally dependent on God’s grace and Spirit, leads to God. That is not religion. That is relationship. The Christian teaching that Jesus is the only way to God is no less tolerant that any other view. Every belief system has certain non-negotiables, or else they will inevitably end up dying what philosophers informally call “the death of a thousand qualifications.”
By definition, truth is narrow and exclusive. 2 + 2 = 4, not 4 or 5 or 6. It is the same with Christ – “No one comes to the Father, but through me.” He meant what he said.
The problem of evil revisited
“Epicurus’ old questions are yet unanswered. Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?” This was how David Hume framed the problem of evil in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.
But if we only tackle this problem at an intellectual level it would be of little help to most people. For most, this issue is emotional, not intellectual. People are hurting deeply and don’t care one bit about philosophical solutions. God is in the dock, charged with allowing gratuitous evil and suffering in the world (especially in people’s lives).
Reflection on the cross of Christ can bring this problem into perspective. Christ endured physical and emotional pain beyond human comprehension. None of us can even begin to imagine what he went through in bearing the punishment of sin for the entire world.
Only when we fully comprehend what Christ went through on our behalf will we realize that it is not God, but man who is in the dock. The real problem of evil is the problem of our evil. So the question is not how God can justify himself before us; but rather, how can we justify ourselves before God? The answer is the cross of Jesus Christ.
The cross is mankind’s only hope. It is where Christ redeemed us from the evil in our hearts. All we are left to do is to accept his invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me … and you will find rest for your souls.” In the midst of life’s pain and suffering, there is one who is both willing and able to help. May we accept his invitation; this very day, this very hour.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Recommended Reading from RZIM
"Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man." – Sir Francis Bacon
Blogger offering custom domain hosting
Blogger is now offering the option of using your own domain name. I might now rethink my move to TypePad. Hmm...
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