tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40936899219716965042024-02-18T21:25:56.748-08:00Christian Summary ApologeticsSummary apologetics gives easy and concise arguments that are easy to use in conversations and in brief talks.JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-90351290490763252002020-05-15T06:15:00.001-07:002020-05-15T06:15:21.256-07:00need for apologetics for youth<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="__DdeLink__2_584914436"></a><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">1. Dr. Tofflemire, so you have written a book on apologetics tell me about it.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Yes It is titled </span><b><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Evidences for God and His Creations.</span></b><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> available from Author House. </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">It has over 200 references and surveys the top authors and findings on apologetics and on why the Bible is true, and God exists. </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">2. Why did you feel lead to write this book?</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">There are statistics that 50% of high school youth and 70% of college youth drop away from the Christian faith due to the naturalistic teachings they receive. These teachings say that there is no God and no miracles. How sad it is to send your child off to school and have him come home an atheist.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">3. Is there a way to prevent this loss of our youth?</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Yes statistics show that if the child has had classes on apologetics and world views, that this loss is greatly reduced. Parents, churches and some Christian schools can provide such training. My Book and web site has such training. Also there are many good apologetics training packages for youth available. I have used a good youth package from Answers in Genesis that went over well with HS age youth. It had videos, questions for dialog, study guides, interactive activities.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">4. Do you think churches are providing this training?</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">For the most part no. Youth are given fun times, fellowship, and worship with almost no teaching on apologetics. Their questions and challenges to the the faith presented by atheistic professors are never answered. They doubt the bible being true. This is a greater problem when they leave home and go to college.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">5. Does this have an effect or their morals and actions?</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Yes they end up believing in relative morals. With this view- what ever their friends and society in general believes is what they believe and it can change with time. This leads to loose sex, homosexuality, same sex marriage, crime, even drug and alcohol use to get high. If one believes the Bible is true, your morals are anchored in It, to true and unchanging moral standards.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">6. So are you available to help with this training?.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Yes I would love to and and feel called </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">t</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">o do so. I am </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">near </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">in</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> Athens</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">, Tn. but can travel around and show training packages or do training. I used to live in Jacksonville , Fl.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">7 Can you tell a little about yourself?</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Yes I have had training in public speaking and am a distinguished toastmaster, I also have a masters in Christian ministry and a Dr. degree in Environmental engineering. I have given sermons on the Bible being true at local churches, and have been a past youth leader.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">8. Thank you Dr. Tofflemire for sharing about your book Evidences for God and His Creations and the need to train youth in apologetics, we will have your contact information on file here. </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Ref.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Book is available from Author House as publisher, or online book stores like amazon.</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Web site; </span><a href="http://creationapologetics.com/"><u><span class="16" style="color: maroon; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';">http://Creationapologetics.net</span></u></a><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Dr. James Tofflemire phone 904-705-6534, email </span><a href="mailto:engtuffy@comcast"><u><span class="15" style="color: navy; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';">engtuffy@comcast</span></u></a><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> .net</span><span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Liberation Serif'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-bidi-font-family: FreeSans; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Droid Sans Fallback'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-60644819933029239202020-05-07T14:06:00.000-07:002020-05-07T14:06:10.795-07:00G. Koukl book on Tactics for evangelismKoukl has a great book titled "Tactics ". It is directed toward good witnessing and evangelism and incorporates some apologetics. I have a summary of it on my web revised site Creationapologetics.netJTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-76373469839950771222020-05-01T07:40:00.002-07:002020-05-01T07:40:38.486-07:00Revised apologetics bookI have done a new updated version of my apologetics book: Evidences for God and His Creations. It has many new references.JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-21961005852117277682012-12-14T12:18:00.000-08:002012-12-14T12:18:28.178-08:00How Do We Know the Bible is True? Vol. 2 by Ham and Hodge 2012<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book has 31 chapters and 352 pgs. Many chapters support the truth of the Bible, but some deal with other topics, like Atlantis. It is easy to read and understand. Chapter Summaries are below and I add a little from the web.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduction </b>Ham raised the question What is the world’s most dangerous book? He first noted <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Darwin</st1:place></st1:city>’s Origin of the Species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fueled racist ideas, and Hitler used evolution in his philosophy and policies. Australian Aborigines were also killed and put in museums as specimens to observe. Evolution led to naturalism and atheistic philosophy, where morals are relative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marxism was also promoted by these views. A second dangerous book is the Koran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of its verses promote killing of Pagans(9:5; 8:12), and terrorist activities like 9/11. He concluded in noting the Bible is the most dangerous book, because of the life changing message. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.1 Ham noted why young people are leaving our churches</b>. They are given little teaching on apologetics and the Bible being true in churches. When they go to public schools they are swayed away for the truth of the Bible, due to the naturalistic teachings. This change of views occurs in middle school, high school, and in college. The book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Already Gone</i> documents this from detailed survey results. Some 90% of children in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> attend public schools. He recommends that apologetics be taught in churches and the parents should also learn about it. Most youth classes do not cover it. Thus many youth believe the Bible is not historically true and favor relative morals of the culture. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 2</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hodge noted that most colleges started as Christian are now secular. Harvard, Yale and <st1:place w:st="on">Princeton</st1:place> are examples</b>. This shift appended in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s as evolution became the favored philosophy. A book documenting this is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sacred and the Secular University </i>by Roberts and Turner. The book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Already Compromised</i> by Ham and Hall also noted how even Christian colleges are more secular and often have a weak view of the inerrancy of the Bible. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 3</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hall noted this shift to the secular in Christian colleges</b>. They have a weak vie of inerrancy of the Bible which leads to other views like the following: 1. Genesis is allegorical and not literally true. 2.The earth<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is millions of yrs old; there was no world wide flood. 3. The History of Adam and Eve is also allegorical, as we evolved from apes, and the fall is allegorical.4. Alternate views of the early history are used like The Gap Theory, the Day Age Theory, Theistic Evolution, Progressive Creation, and the Framework hypothesis. The book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Already Compromised</i> documents this from survey results of Christian colleges. Many parents are not aware of this trend and need to see their children have a grounding of teaching in apologetics.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 4 Who Created God?</b> Hodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is eternal and needs no creator; time is infinite and God created time. Elohim is used for God and this hints of plurality but a single unity. God is the ultimate authority on his existence (Heb 6:13).</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 5. Why is the Bible Unique</b>? Broggi <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. The Bible declares if is God’s word. (3800 times God said or Thus says the Lord)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by the inspiration of God. 2. The Bible is historically accurate: Luke was a good historian says Wm Ramsey pg 50. In 1806 the French Institute of Science listed 80 historical inaccuracies in the Bible. Now all of then have been proven wrong and the bible correct. 3. The Bible has Supernatural unity and Construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has about 40 authors, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a unified book that is well preserved. 4. Its Prophesies cam true. There are no verifiable fulfilled prophecies in the Koran, the Book of Mormon or in the Upanishads. 5. The Bible is very well preserved when compared to other books.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 6 What is Apologetics</b>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ham and Hodge. 1 Pet. 3:15 in Greek Apologia means a reasoned defense. There are different types of apologetics: 1. Classical 2. Evidential 3 Presuppositional 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clarkian- The best worldview is the most logical 5. Shaferian- the worldview that gives the best answers.6. Carnelliam- the most coherent. It is good to tailor you arguments to what the unbeliever thinks and do this with gentleness and respect. Some atheist world view challenge areas: Why wear clothes, animals don’t; how do you define right and wrong? Arbitrary, inconsistent, violations of preconditions for knowledge. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 7 Findings of the Jesus Seminar</b> Chaffey noted that the seminar meet for the first time in 1985 The group included Atheists, liberal protestants, Catholics, Jews. ½ had went to liberal divinity schools. The results were published in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Five Gospels, The Acts of Jesus</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel of Jesus. </i>The group rejected the inerrancy of scripture and miracles. They voted with colored beads on the truth of Jesus sayings in the Gospels. By taking all of Jesus miracles out and many of his gospel sayings, a very strange gospel appeared. They attributed the early gospels to coming from a Q source, but no Q source or document has ever been found. They rated the Gospel of Thomas higher in reliability than the other gospels.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 8. Theistic Evolution</b> – Patterson There are a number of different views of creation among Christians. The Theistic Evolution views are promoted by Biologos and Francis Collins, Peter Enns, Joel Hunter, Bruce Waltke, and Tim Keller. The definition and details of this view varies somewhat: There was evolution and God started it and sometimes guided it. They hold to the big bang, and an old earth, and biological evolution. They differ on whether Adam and eve were real people, but man evolved from ape. Intelligent Design founders also hold to a big ban and old earth. Progressive creation is a view held by Hugh Ross, founder of Reasons to Believe. They favor the big bang and a form of the day age theory, along with a local flood. They believe all human came from Adam and Eve, although there were earlier hominids. These view compromise scriptures to some degree and favor alternate interpretations of Gen. 1-3.<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Wm Craig’s view in Reasonable Faith notes some room for various interpretations including the 24hr day view. <a href="http://www.reasonablefaith.org/rf-tools/download-materials"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.reasonablefaith.org/rf-tools/download-materials</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His audios 5-6 of the Doctrine of Creation also as 170-171, talk about creation and Genesis and the possible day-age theory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Craig makes the point that although Genesis is an Historical narrative, early Genesis 1 has some flowery and majestic language and repeated phrases, not typical of a narrative: “Then God said, let there be- and it was so, Evening came and then morning the 1<sup>st</sup> day.” This could imply some majesty and hidden meaning beyond a straight history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 9 Trusting the History of the Gospels</b>. Patterson says this comes down to an issue of authority: this Bible is true, or man’s findings of science. It is also an issue of consistency: Most Christians would say the Bible is true on the resurrection and miracles and on the fall of Adam and Eve, but not on the age of the earth. A recent poll of protestant pastors showed that only 30 % believed in a young earth of about 6000 yrs, while 34% believed in an old earth of 4.5 million yrs. That poll found that 74% believed that Adam and Eve were real people, and 64 % disagreed that God used evolution to create people. This is inconsistent in that the history is told is early Genesis. At what point in Genesis do we find a truly historical event?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is all of Genesis in error? A survey of evangelical colleges noted 91 % believed the flood happened, with 58% believing it was worldwide. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 10 Christian Unity</b>- Steve Ham. Unity in Christ is an important principle, but it does not teach it comes thru consensus of opinion(especially opinion of the world). John 17:11-19 is a verse on unity in Christ; the end of it has the verse “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” In Romans 14 Paul noted that holy days and foods are not the major items of faith, and we should still love or brother although we disagree with him. However many verses emphasize the importance of the authority of the scriptures and their being true. Scripture affecting Christian doctrine are especially important. How do we know man is a sinner and the penalty of sin is death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we need a savior? How do we know the world is not what it originally was? Unity for the believer is available in Christ, rather that by consensus of opinion. <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Col</st1:place></st1:state> 2:8 says “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” In today’s world there is a reliance on authorities even in theological areas; thus many Christians check their brains at the door, relying on these authorities. The doctrine of perspicuity(clarity) of scripture is relevant here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martin Luther taught this as a major issue in fight for the reformation.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.theopedia.com/Clarity_of_Scripture"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.theopedia.com/Clarity_of_Scripture</span></a> </div>
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The <a href="http://www.theopedia.com/Doctrine" title="Doctrine">doctrine</a> of the <strong>clarity of Scripture</strong> (often called the "perspicuity of Scripture") teaches that "the meanings of the text can be clear to the ordinary reader, that God uses the text of the <a href="http://www.theopedia.com/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a> to communicate His person and will."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"The witness of the Church throughout the ages is that ordinary people, who approach it in faith and humility, will be able to understand what the Bible is getting at, even if they meet with particular points of difficulty here and there." This doctrine is in contrast to other positions like that of the <a href="http://www.theopedia.com/Roman_Catholic_Church" title="Roman Catholic Church">Roman Catholic Church</a>, which asserts that Scripture is imperspicuous (unclear) apart from the interpretative framework of the Catholic church and tradition. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarity%20of_scripture">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarity of_scripture</a> Calvin taught that we need the aid of the Holy Spirit to interpret scripture.</div>
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This does not mean that all scriptures are easy to understand; some are more difficult than others. Genesis is classified as an historical narrative book </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 11 Radiocarbon Dating</b>- Snelling noted it is assumed that C14 has formed in the atmosphere at a relatively constant rate from cosmic rays hitting N atoms. This combines with oxygen to form CO2 with C14 in it. This is then taken up by plants and by animals. When they die not more CO2 is taken in so the C14 in them decreases; this is the basis of the dating. The ½ life of C14 is 5730 yrs, and is nearly all gone in 10 half lives of 57300 yrs. C14 is measured in an AMS instrument that needs calibration. It has been found that all supposedly ancient carbon like in coal, fossils, oil, limestone and diamonds, contains some C14-dating them at 20,700 to 55,000 yrs. Creations geologists believe, when the instruments are properly calibrated the ages would be less than 10,000 yrs. Three assumptions are used in C14 dating: 1. The rate of C14 production has always been constant. 2. The atmosphere has had the same C14 level in the past as now. 3. The biosphere has always had the same C14 levels. Snelling sates that none of these are completely true. The earth had a stronger magnetic field initially and it is declining; this meant a much lower rate of C14 formation early on due to shielding of cosmic rays. Also during the flood vast amounts of C14 were buried. These factors lead to shorter C14 ages for the bio-deposits of about 4350 yrs. dating the flood. Also many of the bio-deposits date about the same.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 12 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Radioactive Dating of Rocks-</b> Snelling Geologists use 5 radioisotopes for dating rocks:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>U235, U238, K 40, Rubidium 87 and Samarium 147. They change into daughter elements of- lead 206, lead 207, argon 40, Strontium 87 and neodymium 143.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geologists often look for samples of cooled molten rock like granites, or basalts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three assumptions are often used in the process of dating: 1. The conditions at time zero when the rock was formed can be known-assumed. 2. The rocks sampled have been isolated from outside interferences-weathering, ground water etc. 3. The decay rates have maintained constant throughout history. Snelling stated that all 3 assumptions may be in error. When fresh lave is radio dated it often gives false high ages of up to a million yrs. This is due to wrong assumption of the amount of daughter element at time zero. When the same rocks are dated by 4 different radioisotopes, widely varying dates result, showing the inaccuracy of the method. The main value of the method is to show relative but not absolute dates- which rock is older or younger.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap 13 The Shroud of Turin</b>.- Hodge. The cloth 1<sup>st</sup> appeared in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 1357 and has a negative image on it. It was carbon dated at 1500 yrs ago- the Middle Ages. Luke 23 does mention a linen shroud used to wrap Jesus’ body. However it would have gotten bloody and was probably removed before strips of lines were placed over him, along with a separate head cloth. This is the Jewish custom for burial. Thus was done with the initial cloth is uncertain. Forging of relics was common in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 14 Chronology Wars</b> –Pierce noted that it was common to exaggerate lists of kings among cultures to appear the oldest. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region>’s history went back 1800 yrs, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>’s 11000 yrs and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>’s 730,000 yrs. Isaac Newton had an interest in this and studied it. “<st1:city w:st="on">Newton</st1:city> explains -After Cambyses carried away the records of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the priests were daily feigning new kings, to make their gods and nation look more ancient.” This deals with the Persian invasion of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 525-32 BC, where they took the records and destroyed them. He also found the Greek history in error. Manetho constructed an Egyptian history in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Century BC. Later a Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus examined this and wrote a new reduced version of the Egyptian Kings. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newton</st1:place></st1:city> also rejected Mantheo’s list and favored a list more in line with Diodorus. Secular historians give little weight to the Bible or its history.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 15 Has Noah’s <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ark</st1:place></st1:state> Been Found?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hodge The bible says it landed in the mountains of Ararat, which is a range of mountains. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Ararat</st1:placename></st1:place> is a large extinct volcano that is 16,854 ft; there is a little Mt Ararat at 12,782 ft. There are a number of eyewitnesses who claim to have seen the ark on the glacier slopes of Mt Ararat as noted in B J Corbin’s book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the volcano was formed under water and rose up during the flood, pillow lavas would be present, maybe covering the ark. There are some pillow lavas at 14,000ft; perhaps they formed after the flood. Fossils are found in the mountains of Ararat but are rare on Mt Ararat. Thus some geologists think Mt Ararat is not a good candidate. Another proposed site is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Cudi</st1:placename></st1:place> at 6,880 ft in the Ararat region. Mt Cudi <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is cited in Jewish references, like the Book of Jubilees and by others. It is not volcanic and has legends associated with and a landing site. It is reported the wood was taken for salvage long ago. Hodge stated Mt Cudi is a better candidate than <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Ararat</st1:placename></st1:place>..</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.16 Theophanies in the Old Testament</b> – Chaffey Some say Christianity is a new religion(2000 yrs ago) and there are older ones that could be true. The newness of a belief does not determine its truthfulness. A theophany is an appearance of God and there are many in the Old Testament: Abraham, Jacob, Moses. At times the Angle of the Lord in the OT may have been Christ. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 17 Annihilationism</b> and Hell- Hodge They take a position that God is to loving to punish someone in hell for eternity. So in lace of hell they chose brief hell, non existence- annihilation. They say hell is reserved for fallen angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible supports hell as eternal punishment. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 18 Hell for Evangelism </b>Comfort <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His method of sharing the gospel uses hell.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 19 The Reformation</b> Broggi Early leaders were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>luther, Calvin Know, Bullingger, Malanchthon, Crammer and Lattimer. Luther posted his 95 Theses o the door of the Church at Wittemburg, affirming scripture and opposing some corruption the Catholic Chruch. There were 5 truths affirmed: 1.Solo scripture- scripture is primary and thebeilver can read it.; 2.Solo Gratia- grace alone for salvation not works; 3. Solo Fide Fiath aone for salvation; 4. Solus Christus- Christ alone for salvation; 5. Soli Deo Gloria- To God alone be the Glory. With the printing press this widely spread to other countries.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 20 Adam and Eve Real People</b> Purdom Some liberal Christians and Biologos believes human originated thru evolution from a population of about 1000 in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>. They also believe that the creation of man and the fall is allegorical. Scripture teaches the existence of a literal Adam and Eve. Other figures like Job 31:33 and Paul 1Corin. 11:8-9 and 1 Tim. 2:13-14, and Jesus Mark 10:6-8 refer to a literal Adam. Research has noted that the Mitochondrial Eve is the grand mother of us all about 200,000 yrs ago. Also the Y chromosome Adam if the great father about 1423,000 yrs ago. Assumptions are used in the age calculation, and some use assumptions that give lower ages.. Certain assumptions also go into the 10,000 initial population estimate. Different assumptions by scientists are consistent with 2 people forming the human race.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 21 The Missing Old Testament Books</b>. Edwards The 22 books of the OT were divided into 39 in more recent versions. Ezra at about 400 BC. accepted these books as sacred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some books noted in the OT but not considered scripture are as follows: Book of Jasher, Book of Wars of the Lord, Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, Book of Acts of Solomon, Chronicles of King David, Records of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathan the Prophet, Records of Gad the seer, Prophecy of Ahijah, visions of Iddo the seer. The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Apocrypha</b> are a group of books after Malachi and before the NT.: Prayer of Jeremiah, 1<sup>st</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and 2<sup>nd</sup> Esdras, Tobit, Judith, book of Ester extended. Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus(Sirach), Baruch, The song of the three Holy Children, the History of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Manasses, and Maccabees. In early bibles some of the Apocrypha were included in early bibles and in the Catholic bible as lesser books. Praying forhte dead was noted in Maccabees and in Baruch. Some other books are the Book of Enoch and ehe Sibylline Oracles. The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew OT done I the 3<sup>rd</sup> century BC. It has no Apocrypha. See Wikipedia below.</div>
<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Intertestamental books </span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible"><span style="color: purple;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible</span></a> </span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_apocrypha" title="Biblical apocrypha">Biblical apocrypha</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudepigraph" title="Pseudepigraph">Pseudepigraph</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilegomena" title="Antilegomena">Antilegomena</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The intertestamental books, largely written during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertestamental_period" title="Intertestamental period">intertestamental period</a>, are called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_apocrypha" title="Biblical apocrypha">Biblical apocrypha</a> ("hidden things") by Protestants, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuterocanon" title="Deuterocanon">deuterocanon</a> ("second canon") by Catholics, and the deuterocanon or <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagignoskomena" title="Anagignoskomena">anagignoskomena</a></i> ("worthy of reading") by Orthodox. These are works recognized by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches as being part of scripture (and thus deuterocanonical rather than apocryphal), but Protestants do not recognize them as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_inspiration" title="Biblical inspiration">divinely inspired</a>. Many other Christians recognize them as good, but not on the level of the other books of the Bible. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism" title="Anglicanism">Anglicanism</a> considers the apocrypha to be "read for example of life" but not used "to establish any doctrine".<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-39articles-6#cite_note-39articles-6">[6]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther%27s_canon" title="Luther's canon">Luther</a> made a parallel statement in calling them: "not considered equal to the Holy Scriptures, but are useful and good to read."<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-7#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The difference in canons derives from the difference in the Masoretic Text and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagint" title="Septuagint">Septuagint</a>. Books found in both the Hebrew and the Greek are accepted by all denominations, and by Jews, these are the protocanonical books. Catholics and Orthodox also accept those books present in manuscripts of the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament with great currency among the Jews of the ancient world, with the coda that Catholics consider <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Esdras" title="3 Esdras">3 Esdras</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Maccabees" title="3 Maccabees">3 Maccabees</a> apocryphal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Most quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament, differing by varying degrees from the Masoretic Text, are taken from the Septuagint. When the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Jamnia" title="Council of Jamnia">Jews closed the Old Testament canon</a>, two criteria were used, that the book be written in Hebrew or Aramaic, and that it be no younger than the time of Ezra. This process led to the 24/39 books of the Tanakh and Old Testament (even though Daniel was written several hundred years after the time of Ezra, and since that time several books of the Septuagint have been found in the original Hebrew, in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls" title="Dead Sea Scrolls">Dead Sea Scrolls</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Geniza" title="Cairo Geniza">Cairo Geniza</a>, and at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada" title="Masada">Masada</a>, including a Hebrew text of Sirach (Qumran, Masada) and an Aramaic text of Tobit (Qumran); the additions to Esther and Daniel are also in their respective Semitic languages. The unanimous consensus of modern (and ancient) scholars consider several other books, including 1 Maccabees and Judith, to have been composed in Hebrew or Aramaic. Opinion is divided on the book of Baruch, while it is acknowledged that the Epistle of Jeremiah, the Wisdom of Solomon, and 2 Maccabees are originally Greek compositions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Esdras" title="1 Esdras">1 Esdras/3 Esdras</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Esdras" title="2 Esdras">2 Esdras/4 Esdras</a><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-8#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Tobit" title="Book of Tobit">Tobit</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Judith" title="Book of Judith">Judith</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Additions_to_Esther" title="Additions to Esther">Additions to Esther</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom_of_Solomon" title="Wisdom of Solomon">Wisdom of Solomon</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirach" title="Sirach">Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Baruch" title="Book of Baruch">Baruch</a> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_Jeremiah" title="Letter of Jeremiah">Letter of Jeremiah</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prayer_of_Azariah_and_Song_of_the_Three_Holy_Children" title="The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children">Song of the Three Young Men and Prayer of Azariah</a><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-The_Rest_of_Daniel-9#cite_note-The_Rest_of_Daniel-9">[9]</a></sup> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_(Book_of_Daniel)" title="Susanna (Book of Daniel)">Story of Susanna</a><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-The_Rest_of_Daniel-9#cite_note-The_Rest_of_Daniel-9">[9]</a></sup> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_and_the_Dragon" title="Bel and the Dragon">Bel and the Dragon</a><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-The_Rest_of_Daniel-9#cite_note-The_Rest_of_Daniel-9">[9]</a></sup> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Manasseh" title="Prayer of Manasseh">Prayer of Manasseh</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Maccabees" title="1 Maccabees">1 Maccabees</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Maccabees" title="2 Maccabees">2 Maccabees</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Additional books accepted by the Eastern Orthodox:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Esdras" title="3 Esdras">3 Esdras</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_Esdras" title="4 Esdras">4 Esdras</a> (in an appendix to the Slavonic Bible) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Maccabees" title="3 Maccabees">3 Maccabees</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_Maccabees" title="4 Maccabees">4 Maccabees</a> (in an appendix to the Greek Bible) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_151" title="Psalm 151">Psalm 151</a> (in the Septuagint) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Additional books accepted by the Syrian Orthodox (due to inclusion in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshitta" title="Peshitta">Peshitta</a>):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Baruch" title="2 Baruch">2 Baruch</a> with the Letter of Baruch (only the letter has achieved canonical status) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms_152-155" title="Psalms 152-155">Psalms 152-155</a> (not canonical) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church" title="Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church">Ethiopian Tewahedo church</a> accepts all of the deuterocanonical books of Catholicism and anagignoskomena of Eastern Orthodoxy except for the four Books of Maccabees.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-10#cite_note-10">[10]</a></sup> It accepts the 24/39 books of the Masoretic Text along with the following books, called the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_translations_into_Amharic#New_Haile_Selassie_I_Bible_.281962.29" title="Bible translations into Amharic">narrow canon</a>".<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-11#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup> The enumeration of books in the Ethiopic Bible varies greatly between different authorities and printings.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_the_Bible#cite_note-12#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_Baruch" title="4 Baruch">4 Baruch</a> or the Paralipomena of Jeremiah <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Enoch" title="Book of Enoch">1 Enoch</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilees" title="Jubilees">Jubilees</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meqabyan" title="Meqabyan">1 Meqabyan</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meqabyan" title="Meqabyan">2 Meqabyan</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meqabyan" title="Meqabyan">3 Meqabyan</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Biblical_canon#Ethiopian_broader_Biblical_Canon" title="Ethiopian Biblical canon">Ethiopian broader Biblical Canon</a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 22 the Missing New Testament Books</b> Edwards The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gnostics</b> had widespread heresies: Marcion, Vlentinus, Basilides, Carpocrates and Marcus. Books: The Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Philip, </div>
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Some False Gospels: The Gospel of Judas, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, the Arabic Gospel fo the Infancy, The Gospel of the Pseudo Matthew, The Gospel of Peter, the Secret Gospel of Mark. The Nag Hammadi Libray was formed from old writings found in this city in 1945. The Gnostic ones are note above and in addition there is of note- The Gospel of Mary, The Gospel of the Egyptians, the Apocryphon of James, and others. The History of Joseph the Carpenter supports the Catholic doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Mohammed was more familiar with some of these false gospels than the 4 true gospels. Some good books include The Didache, The Esistle of Barnabus and the Shepherd of Hermas. All of these lack the ring of truth of the accepted NT books.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 23 Has the Bible text been changed over the yrs?</b> <st1:place w:st="on">Rhodes</st1:place> Is. 40:8 The word of God stands forever. 1 Pet. !:25, Mark.13:31 there are 5686 partial and compete manuscript copies of the NT. The copying errors in them are very minor. Compared to other historical writings is has many more copies and is well preserved. There are four families of manuscripts: Alexandrian, Western, Caesarean and Byzantine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947 were are great confirmation, some dating to 1-3<sup>rd</sup> century BC. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.28 Giants in the Old Testament</b> Chaffey<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The OT makes reference to many of these. There is not good skeleton evidence of these. There is evidence of many animal species that have giants; 23 are listed. There have been non-biblical reports of giants. We do know of some recent tall men: Robert Wadlow was 8ft 11 in. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wadlow"><span style="color: purple;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wadlow</span></a> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 29 the 10 Plagues of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place></b> -Fazekas <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is note noted in Egyptian history because they removed embarrassing episodes. One example is the battle of Kadesh with the Hittites who defeated <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>; this was put in their history as a victory. The 10 plagues were blood, frogs, lice, flies, murrain cattle disease. Boils, hail, locusts, darkness and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are 3 ways people view this: 1. total denial, 2 affirm with natural explanation, and 3. credit God for the supernatural miracle. The miracles have 5 characteristics: 1. intensification, 2 Advance prediction, 3. Discrimination-only in selected areas with Jews favored, orderliness, 5 moral purpose. Ref. Sparks, B “ Red Algae Theories of the Ten Plagues: Contradicted by Science” Bible and Spade 16 # 3 2003 ; 17 #1 2004.</div>
JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-54578499807232705742011-11-07T12:39:00.000-08:002011-11-07T12:39:52.266-08:00Book Review: The Christian the Court and the Constitution by Sekulow<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sekulow, J. A. The Christian the Court and the Constitution, ACLJ <a href="http://www.aclj.org/">http://www.aclj.org/</a> 2000<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ACLJ=<placename w:st="on">Amer.</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype> for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law and Justice: Pro-life, pro-family, pro-liberty; <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Virginia Beach</city></place></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 2.25pt;">“<span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By focusing on <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">U.S.</place></country-region> constitutional law, European Union law and human rights law, the ACLJ and its affiliated organizations are dedicated to the concept that freedom and liberty are universal, God-given and inalienable rights that must be protected. </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: 'Lucida Sans'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Jay Sekulow</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is Chief Counsel of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">American</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> for Law and Justice (ACLJ), one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. He is an accomplished Supreme Court advocate, renowned expert on religious liberty, and a respected broadcaster.”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdaXHtSB66RLvFGxQI3RMSGcAhTOxs5WLzsLwgOtn5kRYN7FWO0VTO_ZIng6o1kX1u6EaGLoG3e-pH32MikIuwzyUuV7qu1BOnFvYK6o32kp4J9F559PE0CeApm0XBh1vpXh9GSwQRzUB/s1600/AboutJay-Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdaXHtSB66RLvFGxQI3RMSGcAhTOxs5WLzsLwgOtn5kRYN7FWO0VTO_ZIng6o1kX1u6EaGLoG3e-pH32MikIuwzyUuV7qu1BOnFvYK6o32kp4J9F559PE0CeApm0XBh1vpXh9GSwQRzUB/s320/AboutJay-Photo1.jpg" width="320px" /></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span class="caption4"><span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow arguing a case at the Supreme Court</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 2.25pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #463f37; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jay Sekulow is an attorney with a passion for protecting religious liberty - freedom - democracy. For nearly a quarter of a century, he's been on the front lines - working to protect religious and constitutional freedoms in the courts, in Congress, and in the public arena.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 2.15pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">A book review follows: He noted that Isa. 53 is good for witnessing to Jews.p.11 Jews for Jesus influenced him. He won his first supreme court case on the witnessing in the LA airport.p.16 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 2</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.1</b> We may give out tracks and witness in public places: streets, sidewalks, parks, airports bus and train stations; this is protected 1<sup>st</sup> amendment free speech. Handing out free tracks is not soliciting; soliciting is selling something for money.p20-22 Loitering means you do have not legitimate purpose. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 2.</b> Lamb’s Chapel and the Use of Public Facilities. An evangelical church applied to rent a school facility during nonschool hrs for a movie series by James Dobson- Focus on the Family and was denied by the school, although it was available to other groups. The Supreme Court overturned this. Now this can apply to public buildings that are used for groups. Procedures; Apply to use a Gov. bldg., if denied, write a letter citing Lamb’s chapel decision. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 3</b> Picketing and Demonstrating:p.30 You may express opposition near an abortion center with signs and literature, when standing on public streets and sidewalks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not block or obstruct traffic, or make excessive noise in a neighborhood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When planning a march<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or demonstration with a substantial number of people<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you may have to apply for a permit.p.32 Leafleting is different the solicitation. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 4</b>. Nat. Day of Prayer. Public places may be used for this if they have also been used for art and craft fairs, political events, etc. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.5</b>. Public Nativities: p.36 are permitted in public areas in some cases. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. </b>6. Removing Pornography. p. 40 Picketing and distributing literature and even taking pictures is allowed on public sidewalks. You may apply to the city council for an ordinance against them within certain distances from churches and schools. Zoning out or certain areas is also possible. See study data on effects of them. You may write a letter to business management. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 2.15pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Section 3 Chap. 1</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">. Students’ rights of free speech: P.45<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students can witness, and hand out tracts in school, but not disturb a class doing it.(in a hallway, cafeteria, or school yard) They can have bible clubs, carry a bible, and pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See Mergens case. The constitution never mentions the words ‘separation of church and state’; What is prohibited is school sponsored church activities by school officials, but not by students. In the Mergens case even schools fund may be used for a bible club if also used for other clubs. A bible club can advertize on campus. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 2</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Graduation prayer and talks: p.55 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayers and talks are allowed by students</b>; they should be more generic and not offensive. Inviting prayer by a clergy may be a problem. P59 Students could pray at the flag pole on a special occasion; the nat. day of prayer. Moment of silence is also allowed. <place w:st="on">Holiday</place> observances: Christmas cards are allowed, and students can say Merry Christmas. Choir hymns are allowed in the context of cultural advancement.p63 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.</b>3 Opting out of objectionable classes: p66 Parents may exempt children from experimental or values related curriculum(Hatch Amendment-Pupils rights). This includes occult teaching, visualizing and meditations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sex Edu. should tell of abstinence not just birth control or favor homosexuality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amorality can’t be favored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents can monitor classes. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 4</b>. Pres. Clinton directed school super.: Students have right to pray, express their faith. The Equal Access Act affirmed Bible Club at school if other clubs are allowed. Students can pray and have p. 77 discussions in cafeteria, and hallways; before and after school events, flag pole. They can express beliefs in the assigned school work if relevant. Can distribute literature, school may regulate the time and place. School can teach values. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 5</b>. Rights in the Workplace: p 79 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title 7</b> To qualify: 1. Have religious belief, 2. Inform the employer in writing, 3. Was discharged or disciplined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can share gospel with coworkers at work; have Bible on desk; have; some religious holidays off; speak or act in a way that violated religion. Private business can have religious prayers, literature, business ethics trg., can do witnessing. etc.p91,96<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gov. employees have more rights by constitution.p94 Title 7 applies to business with 15 or more employees, must fine in 180 days to EEO /separation of church and state is not I Constit.p.94 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 6</b>. Changing Local Laws: P105<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1<sup>st</sup> approach is usually to local school boards or City councils. You must have a well prepared case, have some support and an attorney is good. You can let the news know.</span></div>JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-50089019723164930992011-10-26T18:42:00.000-07:002011-10-26T18:42:37.769-07:00Ham K.& S. Raising Godly Children in and Ungodly World<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ham K.& S. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Raising Godly Children in and Ungodly World</i>, Master Books, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Green Forest</city> <state w:st="on">Ak</state></place>. 2008<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.</b> 1 K. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ham noted that his parents set a godly example and upheld scripture</b> in and ungodly country <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place>. He raises the question of what legacy will you leave? <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Col.</place></country-region> 3:23, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Luke 6:40</b> “A pupil is not above his teacher, but after he has been trained, will be like his teacher.” The number of Born again Christian’s there is only about 1-2 % and those that attend church about 5-7%. In <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Darwin</city></place>’s book the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Descent of Man</i> he noted the link between apes and man. In Columbine HS one of the killers wore a tea shirt saying natural selection. He noted that C. Sagan cited and article on the fraudulent embryonic recapitulation promoted by E. Haeckel false embryo diagrams in 4/22, 1990 Parade mag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> has been noted as a Christian nation, 90% of our children attend public schools. 70% of the students walk away from the church after HS. P 30<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers complain that student lack politeness and respect. Also surveys showed that only 9% of teens who are classified as born again, believe in absolute moral truth. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ham’s father struggled with not being able to square scripture with science; nevertheless he held scripture was correct. “Even if we can’t find an answer to explain why the secular idea is wrong, we need to continue to search and wait for the answer</b>.” Job. 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Ps. 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.” Prov. 2:3-6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ham says the AIG ministry is itself a memorial to my parents and the legacy they began. P37 Ref. noted: Bahnsen, G. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Always Ready</i>, 2004; Edwards, B. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothing but the Truth</i>, 2006 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap</b>. 2 S. Ham If all we has was the word: p. His Dad read the word, believed it, defended it, lived it, taught it. Back then the bible was there main resource not psychology or child raising books. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All scripture is God breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Tim. 4:2; 3:14-15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>J. MacArthur book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our Sufficiency in Christ</i>, noted that Christian psychology is an oxymoron; Psychology is fundamentally humanistic; They use secular theory and add a few Bible verses to support it. The goal of scripture is sanctification as in Rom. 12:2 be transformed by the renewing of your minds.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 3</b> The theologian in each of us. 2 Tim. 2:15 Handles the word of truth. They hold to 2 points: 1. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God’s word is sufficient for raising children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2. The defense of the authority of scriptures is key.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who studies and applies the scriptures dutifully is a theologian. 2 biblical concepts: 1. The bible as and axiom: a self evident recognized truth. 2. The bible should be read in an exegetical manner. The root word of axiom is axel. It is the central point about which things rotate. It should be the central point about which our beliefs and convictions revolve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gen. 1-3 answers the question- Why is there death and suffering in the world? Theology isn’t a theory; it reflects truths that have great practical significance in day to day life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exegesis means</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">out of</b> – the process of bringing forth truth from scripture. It usually favors a straight forward reading of scripture, but takes grammatical and historical factors into account. A second method is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eisegesis</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reading into</b>-here data external to scripture is used to aid in interpreting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is discussed in K. Ham <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Six Days and the Eisegesis Problem</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also see G. Goldsworthy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">According to Plan</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The many miracles do not fit with strict science and naturalism. Nevertheless they are central to the Christian faith. 1 Cor. 15:12-17, 1-2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if one can’t take Gen. 1-8 as historical, then why should we take other historical narratives in the bible being true?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bible gives us the big picture of history, but is not exhaustive in astronomy, biology and geology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fall, the flood and the <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Babel</place></city> dispersion are certainly true. Ham, K. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Blood: The Biblical Answer to Racism</i>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 4</b>. Godly Generations: Ham gives the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">example</b> of a group of modern people in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Australia</country-region></place> left for jungle life to pursue simple existence and shed worldly constraints. In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one generation they were primitive</b> and shed much or society’s knowledge. When Europeans discovered the Aborigines they were also considered primitive; however they descended from Noah and had flood legends with some similarities to the bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ham’s son <place w:st="on">Canaan</place> also was probably not well taught by Ham and had serious problems. Noah said cursed be Canaan, Gen. 9:25; these are the people of <city w:st="on">Sodom</city>, and <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Gomorrah</place></city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books of Kings and Chronicles tell of generational problems and ungodly kings. Solomon’s compromise began with allowing foreign wives to worship pagan Gods. These pagan influences then infiltrated the people, 1Kings 11:1-4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solomon’s son Rehoboam continued making compromises and allowed idol worship. Then King Asa made the idolatry worse in 2 generations, 1 Kings 15:11-15. Later King Josiah rediscovered God’s word and tried to correct many of the problems, 2 Kings. A deviation from commitment to God’s word inevitably leads to problems. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thus there is a compelling reason to maintain God’s word and teaching in families to raise godly generations</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken made a commitment to pass the word of god on to further generation at age 10 during a missionary program. His future wife Mally also did so at another location. They met at a church service in Jan. 1971 and were married in Dec. 1972. They had their first child Nathan in 1976 and tried to continue the godly training of their child. Ken was a Christian HS teacher. The family is the backbone of a Christian nation.p 79 Mat. 19:4-5 refers back to Gen. as the basis of marriage. Obviously Jesus would not quote a myth as the basis of marriage. Mark. 10:6-7 He arrived in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">US</place></country-region> in 1986. Malachi 2:15 that he might seek godly seed. Thus one of the purposes of marriage is godly offspring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does God say about training of children? In talks he as asked the audience to write this down, but they have difficulty. We get so much advice from other sources. TV has aired more obscene programs and lowered biblical values. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov. 22:6</b> Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Priority pictures</b>: which will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">last forever</b>? Which can be taken to heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not animals Ecc. 3:21 Eternal values: Phil 3:7-8; Mark 8:36-7; Mat. 6:19-21 Treasures in heaven.p85 Conclusions: 1. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a legacy can be lost in one generation</b>, 2. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The family is fundamental</b> and allows godly offspring. 3. The consequences of an ungodly or godly legacy left are very great. 4. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We need to put high priority on training up godly children</b>. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 5</b>. God has no grandchildren. P 91 Every child must eventually decide for himself. To raise godly children you must first have a personal relationship with Jesus. J. McDowell <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beyond Belief to Conviction</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the most important priority for your child’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parent does set an example, a passion for Jesus. Mat. 3: 1-10 John the Baptist rebuked the Pharisees – they said they were sons of Abraham- salvation does not come from your lineage. <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Rom.</country-region></place> 8:14-7 our lineage is in Christ. Mat. 5:9 Peacemakers shall be called sons of God. We need to be at peace with God, not like the worlds peace which is tolerance. Tolerance of Islam, homosexuality, sin, etc. The family should be salt and light to the world. Gal. 2:19-20; 4:4-6 2 Cor. 5:17; 1Cor. 3:16-7; <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Rom.</country-region></place> 8:1-2.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 6</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Diligent Dads</b>: p 103 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three Factors</b>: Compelling Conviction to raise a godly generation, personal relationship with Christ, Clear understanding of your roles and responsibilities. God has a special plan for you. Isa. 38:19 the father to the children shall make known thy truth. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph. 6:4</b> Fathers--bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps.78</b> Fathers, teach your children so they’ll not forget to teach their children. We do have a problem forgetting God and his message. Josh. 4:1-9 12 stones; Judges 2:10-13 The generation after Joshua lost their legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">US</place></country-region> role reversal: the mother often trains the children; the father neglects his spiritual role. Fathers do not often read the bible with or pray with their kids. There is a trend of homosexual behavior with lack of male leadership in the home. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What’s needed</b>: 1. Pray with your wife, 2. Pray with your kids especially at bed time, 3.Study the bible in family view and read some to them. 4. Go to church and get plugged in.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 7</b>. A Girl named Ruth. p.115<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruth was loyal to her mother in law Naomi. Ken noted how his wife Mally has been very committed in supporting him, the ministry and family. The role of a Godly mom is in Gen. A helper for <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">Man.</state></place> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov. 31</b>:10-31 An <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">excellent wife</b> is worth more than jewels. She is a woman of character, integrity, and action. She can advise her husband as she knows him well. The old saying is true: Behind every good man is good woman. See Tim. 2:3-5; Eph. 5:22-28; 1 Pet. 2:21-3:7; Eph 5:25 Both husband and wife are called to model their lives after Christ. In real life we have orphans, foster kids, divorce, and single parents, role reversal.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 8.</b> Creating the Environ. of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sanctification.</b> Unless the Lord builds the House, they labor in vain who build the house. Ps. 127:1There is a time for everything. Ecc. 3:1-2 Sanctification begins by communicating both the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">content and authority</b> of the Bible. Heb. 4;1-2; 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 2 Pet. 1:19-20 For children to have a strong faith, they need to be taught that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the content of scripture is real</b>, not just symbolic or illustrative. Some churches teach bible stories as being symbolic and myth like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An example is Noah’s ark as a rounded stuffed boat with the animal heads sticking out. This boat would surly sink in a flood. The world holds it is an obvious fable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must distinguish between the real and the Easter bunny and Santa Claus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Books: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leading little ones to God.; A faith to Grow </i>on by J. MacArthur; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Family Portrait</i> by C. Catherwood</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. </b>9 Welcome to the War. P.151 1Pet. 1:8-9 The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">family is under attack</b>. The culture promotes premarital sex, abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and easy divorce. There is no such thing as absolute truth or morality. As in Jn. 10:10 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three ways</b>:1. secular humanism 2. peer pressure, 3. compromise. Only 1/9 of born again Christians believe in absolute moral truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The public schools have a big secular influence. 1 Cor. 15:33 “Bad company corrupts good character” The bad in a group will influence more than a good, in worldly and school settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loot at Lot in Gen. 18,19 The bad brought <place w:st="on">Lot</place>’s relatives down. Jer. 10:2 Even in a Christian environment this can be true. Compromise occurs by Christians who do not see God’s word as infallible. This opens the door of a slippery slope to all kinds of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">weakening</b>: history, morals, miracles, gay clergy, sex before marriage, recreational free sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Darwin</city></place>’s evolution grew out of naturalism as in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Turning Point</i> by T. Mortenson. A Christian college can be more destructive than a secular college; The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cc</b> may offer a lot of compromise as truth; the basis of this is largely secular. At a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sc </b>you expect secular challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ps. 11:3 If the foundation if a structure is weakened, the whole structure can collapse. When this compromise of the word’s authority occurs, the structure can fall. Examples: Jud. 17:6 Rev. 3:15-6; Feeding of the 5000, 4000 were 2 events as in Mat. 16:9 (Mat. 15, 16)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mat. 7:13-14 narrow is the way of the gate and broad of destruction. Often we must go the opposite direction of the crowd, against peer pressure. Ham <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The War of World Views</i> 2006; Answers Academy 13 session course by AIG</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 10</b> Vegemite kids p.171 Vegemite is an Australian topping that takes getting used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The authority of the bible must also be taught early. 2 Tim. 3:14-15 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three options for schooling:</b> 1. Public Education (90% send the kids) 2. private Christian schools, 3. home schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He favors option 3 or 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christian schools must be carefully observed, as they have varying teachings. Home schooling is growing and more networking is available. M. Luther recommended Christian edu.(p.174)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In secular schools the secular indoctrination is great and the peer pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However bible clubs are generally allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Salt Argument</b>: Mat. 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt looses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. A person can’t be salt unless they have salt, and some good arguments and grounding in Christ. There will be the pressures of no moral absolutes, pre marital sex, and false religions. Some parents and their children have little salt to begin with; the little they have is then contaminated and diluted is secular schools. Many say I have got good kids and psychologists confirm it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all</b> have a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sinful</b> nature and none of us are good enough to resist all temptation. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maturity comes with</b> training, discipline, and renewing the mind according to scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children are immature and often unable to distinguish good from evil on some issues or situations. Eph.4:14; 1 Cor. 13:11 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They are easily led astray</b> in a pagan world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even adults can be led astray. We, even if away working, have responsibility to monitor our child’s development, teach biblical truth, and monitor the child’s friends. Resources: <a href="http://www.gocampus.com/">http://www.gocampus.com/</a> , <a href="http://www.aclj.org/">http://www.aclj.org/</a> , www.chirstianlaw.org , <a href="http://www.thehomeshchoolmagazine.com/">http://www.thehomeshchoolmagazine.com/</a>, book; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Starting a Campus Club</i>, <a href="http://www.youth.ag.org/">http://www.youth.ag.org/</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 11</b> Submission, Discipline, and Nutrition: p.189 Post modernism teaches relative truth: If it is right for you, it must be right. Tolerance is also the buss word. Extreme tolerance leads to lawlessness. With tolerance most behavior is promoted as long as it is not harmful to the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should tolerate persons of differing beliefs but we do not need to agree with or say nothing of the beliefs. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut. 5:16</b> gave a command of honoring Father and mother with a reward. Eph. 6:1-4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents need to provide godly examples and teaching and submit to God as children to their parents. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb. 12:5-11</b> on Christian discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steven suggests spanking is Ok if done with explanation, love and a hug after. p197 Nutrition: The word of God is food, and we need to be fed frequently (Deut 8:3; 1Pet. 2:2) We are not to exasperate our children, by confusing, abusing or aggravating them. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Discipline</b> is an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">important</b> factor in parenting. It is a tool that aids honor and respect. Love and forgiveness is part of the process. Discipline: Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 29: 15; 13:24; 19:18.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 12</b> The Family Fortress: p.211Ps. 127:1-5 Unless the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lord builds the house</b> they labor in vain.-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behold children are gifts from God. Ps. 33:16-18 God the protector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jn. 10:10 I am all you need. Ps. 113 children are of the Lord. Prov. 27:11<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be wise my son. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer</b> for our children <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is important</b> p224 1 Thes. 5:17 pray without ceasing. Ps. 139:13<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You knit me together in my mothers womb.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Epilog: the Revelation of a legacy p.229 They tell of the passing of their father in 1995 and what a legacy he left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also built a small ark. Poem p 234. b 1951</div>JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-52624863790968816962011-10-08T09:40:00.000-07:002011-10-08T09:40:56.892-07:00Answers Book for Teens AB4T by B. Hodge; T. Mitchell; K. Ham, Masters Books 2011<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="author1"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The AB4T is briefly revied below:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="author1"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is a question and answer book with 15 chapter questions and 96 pgs. The 1<sup>st</sup> question is on the truth of the Bible and the 2<sup>nd</sup> on why there is pain and suffering. It can be useful for answering witnessing questions to non-believers. It is illustrated with some pictures. It covers some of the typical questions found in more detail in the Answers Book series for adults. However it has some unique questions: A chapter on sex, one Homosexuality and one on what actions Christian students can do in school. The student is generally free to mention his beliefs and even hand out tracts as long as it is not disruptive. Bible clubs in school free time are generally allowed. The book would be suitable for a teen church school class.</span></span></div>JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-25331695563695765482011-10-07T12:34:00.000-07:002012-12-14T12:12:20.937-08:00Ham, K. & Hodge, B. How Do We Know the Bible is True? Vol.1 2011 book review<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This book is a good collection of articles on Bible truth and other topics. It has 28 chapters by various authors. You can find the table of contents on Amazon.com. It covers 300 pgs. I have done detailed summaries of some the key chapters on the primary topic: the truth of the Bible and its inerrancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How to interpret the Bible is also included.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap.1</b>. How do We Know the Bible is True? P.15-24 by J. Lisle. The bible answers most of life’s major questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has done miracles in your life. This is only subjective evidence. We believe the Bible by faith. This is not a good argument for a non-believer. 2 Pet. 3:15 says we should have an answer for why we believe. The bible itself says it is true: 2 Tim. 3:16. This is valid but it is a circular argument and begs the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless most people believe what a book says about itself, unless they have good evidence to the contrary. One argument is that the text is quite consistent although written by different authors at different times. It has many old manuscripts from close to the time of writing. This is truer for the Bible than for almost any other ancient written work. It also contains some history that has been verified by archeological evidence. This makes the book unique. Still this only demonstrates that some or most of the Bible is true. It contains much fulfilled prophecy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some skeptics might say this is a coincidence. The Bible does show some agreement with findings of science. Some would find exceptions to this. Lisle stated that the laws of logic being true and God giving them is a good argument as is the uniformity of the laws of nature and physics. By God giving them we know they are universal, otherwise we don’t. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 2</b> Is the Old Testament Reliable? p.25-34 B. Edwards. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Old Testament (OT) writers believed their message was God breathed. There are about 400 statements in the OT “Thus says the Lord”. The prophets often identified themselves as God’s spokesmen. Jesus, Paul and Peter quoted the OT often. One unique thing about the OT is that it describes a God who is one while other nations hand many Gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the Bible tells it as it is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Army defeats and embarrassing sins of God’s leaders are told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In literature about history of other countries like <country-region w:st="on">Egypt</country-region>, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Rome</city></place> (when written by their own historians) they often deny or omit any battle defeats or problems of the leaders. Nevertheless, some more neutral historians document that there were in fact defeats and problems. Many prophecies in the OT came true. Archeology has verified much history of the OT.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 3</b> Is the New Testament reliable? P.35-43 B. Edwards: Two important verses in the NT are 2 Tim. 3:16 and 2 Pet. 1:21. These tell of all scripture being God breathed and given through men moved by God. 1 Cor. 2:12-13 tells that the men of God spoke through the Holy Spirit. Occasionally Paul distinguishes what God say and his opinion. After the death of the apostles, most of their letters were accepted as cannon equal to the OT. In John 16:13 Jesus gave the disciples two promises: a divinely aided memory and understanding. Some of the disciples may have kept notes on parchment. See Luke 1:63, 16:6, Tim 4:13. Jesus likely spoke in both Aramaic and Greek. Robinson stated that most of the books of the NT were written by 70 AD. There is also considerable historical confirmation of the details in the NT.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 8</b> Did Moses Write Genesis? p.85-101 by T. Mortenson & B. Hodge: Some recent authors and seminary courses have suggested that Moses did not write the Pentateuch. Instead they claim that at least 4 different authors wrote portions of these books and then one or more redactors (editors) combined the writings into books and into its present form. There are the J, E, P, and D authors in this Documentary hypothesis. The authors of this article argued for Moses are the author: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">First</b> they cite 4 pgs of scriptures stating Moses as the author. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2<sup>nd</sup></b> they note Moses was highly qualified to write and they think he had older records and oral traditions to use for early Genesis in addition to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Toledoth (Gen. 5:10) states “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally this means a written record. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3<sup>rd</sup></b> there are fallacious assumptions and reasoning’s that are part of the documentary hypothesis: 1. They assumed their conclusion that God did not divinely inspire the text; many of the view authors were deistic and some atheistic. 2 Based on evolution and some views of history, the art of writing was unknown at the time of Moses and before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, more recent findings of archeology have noted some written records predating Moses, thus somewhat invalidating this claim. There is also the possibility that not all early written record have been found. 3. They assumed that the author/s were different that other Hebrew authors and incapable of using more than one name for God or more than one style of writing. 4. One of the biggest evidences is that there is no J, E, P, D manuscript evidence ever found. There are also no old Jewish commentaries that mention such documents. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4<sup>th</sup></b> The biblical doctrine of inspiration does not require that all books be dictated by God to the reported author. Records could be incorporated into the final document by God’s direction. There is evidence that some biblical authors did research or remembered old experiences and then incorporated them into their books(Peter, Luke). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5<sup>th</sup></b> It is sometimes cited that Moses couldn’t have written about his own death as in Deut. 34:5-12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joshua could have finished the book, but that does not diminish its value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also arguments that a few events in the Pentateuch occurred after Moses death. The authors refute this that they could be prophetic statements or misinterpretations. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 11</b> How Should we interpret the Bible? P. 121-137 by T. Chaffey:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some twist their interpretation of the Bible to fit science. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hermeneutics </b>focuses on sound biblical interpretation and is taught in seminaries. The Greek word for it means to explain to interpret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 40 authors of the Bible wrote indifferent genres and different cultural backgrounds and settings. Yet according to 2 Tim. 3:16 the Holy Spirit moved each to write an inspired, inerrant and infallible word. God allowed the authors personalities and writing styles to also be expressed. In reading the Bible we should use standard rules of grammar and interpretation; and the historical-grammatical approach. Our goal and that of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">exegesis </b>is ‘to read out of the text’ the authors intended meaning. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Several basic points</b> of Hermeneutics include the following: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carefully observe the text</b>: Note the parts of speech, singular or plural, verb tense and exactly what it states. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Note the Context</b>: That is to day you can’t take small quotes out of context. For example Ps. 53:1 “The fool has said in his heart there is no God.” It would be wrong to take out the phrase ‘there is no God’ and imply the Bible says this. The context usually clarifies the meaning. Similarly historical context is important: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mosaic Law period, the time of Christ or post resurrection: The Mosaic Law for the sacrifice of lambs doesn’t apply now, because Christ was the lamb for all. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Clarity of Scripture</b>: Most of scripture is plain and easy to understand at a basic level. Prov. 8:9 “They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge.” 2 Cor. 4:2: “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” The protestant reformers held that scripture was clear in its basic message. The Catholics held that scripture is best interpreted by the church officials. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Compare Scripture with Scripture</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is based on the principle that God can’t contradict himself or lie. Num. 23:19 “God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind.” Heb. 6:18 “so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie.” Not all Bible passages are equally clear, and one passage on a similar topic can shed light on another. There is the saying ‘the sum of God’s word is truth’ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5</b>. Note the<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Text Classification</b>-4 main groups: Historical books, Poetry, Prophecy, and Epistles. This deals with the genre of literary style. One would expect a more literal interpretation in a historical book. This is not to say that some figurative phrases can’t be found in the historical books. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Church’s Historical View</b>: Some books of church discipline note the view of history and prior tradition as important. The creeds are especially important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most topics of theology have been studied and debated by great theologians in past history. Thus on should not quickly adopt a new view that differs from the historical view. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genesis is a historical book</b>. Some commentators have broken Genesis into two sections: 1-11 and 12-50 on the basis that Chap.1-11 is primeval history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chaffey argued the text does not support this. The genealogies in Chap.11 cite Abram and he continues on in the succeeding Chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the toledoth (this is the history or generations of) phrase occurs throughout most of Genesis. Lastly the New Testaments authors, Paul and Jesus often cited from Gen. 1-11 as history.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 21</b> Why Should we Believe in the Inerrancy of Scripture? p.227-35 B Edwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cited 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21, 1 Cor. 2:13, Deut. 18:18, 2 Sam. 22:31, Prov. 30:5 and Jer. 1:9. The active mind of the writer and the directions of the Holy Spirit were operating together. When we talk of inerrancy it refers to the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Inerrancy doesn’t mean that there are no apparent contradictions</b>, but that these can be resolved. Jesus and Paul quoted and believed the OT. The early church leaders from Clement to the protestant reformation believed in the truth of the scriptures.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chap. 22</b> Are There Contradictions in the Bible? P.237-247 by J. Lisle. You may hear it said: Isn’t the Bible full of contradictions and fairy tales? The Bible speaks of ax-floating heads, the sun going backward, creation in 6 days, an earth with pillars, people walking on water, a talking snake etc. Only the contradictions charge is a serious one. Some charges are psychological and opinion: Like miracles can’t be true and also the Bible. This is a circular argument that begs the question. To be a true contradiction A=not A; these must apply in the same relationship at the same time. Some conflicts are a false dilemma. Some points can’t be taken out of context or violate figurative languages of appearance. For example the earth having pillars is figurative. Sweeping generalizations may be false. The Proverbs are not indented to be universal rules. Murder is wrong but there exception in self-defense and war. Only the original Hebrew and Greek tests are held to be inerrant. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some contradictions are only inferred </b>and not stated in the text. Jesus travel in early life to <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Egypt</country-region></place> in Mat. 2:13 or to Jersulaem in Luke 2:22 is an example: the exact times are not stated. Another type of contradiction in the X and only X. Example: one demon possessed man in Mark 5:2-16, Luke8:26-37 vs. two men in Mat. 8:28-34 The one man text does not say only one man. Apart from the bible how do we know contradictions are always false and the laws of logic true? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If its only from experience, that can be faulty. </div>
JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-42621299867803493022011-07-20T13:03:00.000-07:002011-07-20T13:03:57.370-07:00New Book With Author House:<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Evidences for God and his Creations: Nature, the Flood and the Bible. A Summary Apologetics Book </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: #dddddd 1pt solid; margin-left: -0.25in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 6pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 6.0pt 0in 0in 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> See video </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21qWWKAoJFE"><span style="color: purple;">Tells of release of a new book on Apologetics with Author House</span></a> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21qWWKAoJFE</span></div></div></span>JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-84161804162463603072011-04-06T18:01:00.000-07:002011-04-06T18:01:02.872-07:00I updated my web site on apologeticsWold you like to share your view on creation?: young earth or old earth; world wide flood?JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-19585550389802433392011-03-25T07:55:00.000-07:002011-03-25T07:55:37.981-07:00I posted a new video on youtube on values:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhdy_LvnQoM<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhdy_LvnQoM"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhdy_LvnQoM</span></a> </span>JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-22860964210890730592011-02-16T17:27:00.000-08:002011-02-16T17:27:10.837-08:00I have done a video on Youtube on Summary Apologetics<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3n0DA686fw"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3n0DA686fw</span></a></span>JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4093689921971696504.post-16937040796223527662011-02-05T15:47:00.000-08:002011-02-05T15:47:37.561-08:00New Web Site and Bog in Jacksonville, Fl areaI have started a new web site: <a href="http://creationapologetics.net/">http://creationapologetics.net/</a> To share and outreach on creation and apologetics and witnessing topics. Come and check it out.JTofflemriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847750311372996636noreply@blogger.com0