Some Good Thoughts at Stray Thoughts

Barbara over at Stray Thoughts has probably one of the best blogs for Christian ladies that you can find on the internet. Even though I am not her target audience, she has a regular place on my bloglines and she writes well. While there are a lot of posts that are specifically geared towards women, she is also very purposeful about being a testimony and representing Christ well on her blog.

Her post on June 3rd is aptly titled, "OK, I've had about enough". In it, she takes on the blasphemous and frustratingly common expression "O my God." The prevalence of this expression has reached epidemic proportions and I appreciate her words on the subject.

Just my thoughts,

Frank

Jesus Walked on Ice?? You have to be kidding me

In one of the stranger attempts to explain away a miracle of Christ that I have seen, an article in the April 2006 edition of the Journal of Paleolimnology suggests that rather than walking on water, Jesus actually walked on ice.

Here is an article about the article: Jesus Could Have Walked on Ice, Scientist Says

I wonder if this scientist or the author of the article actually took time to read the Biblical account of this story.

Mt 14:24-33 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

If you notice, in the story, there are a number of factors that make this "theory" rediculous.

1. The disciples (of whom a majority are experienced fishermen who had spent much time on this very lake) are in a boat and don't notice all the supposed ice.

2. Christ not only walks on water Himself, He also bids Peter come out and walk on the water, without letting Peter know where to find the floating ice.

3. Apparently Peter's ice was not any good, as Peter began to sink.

This attempted explanation reminds of the old discussion when people claim that the Israelites only crossed a swamp instead of the God parting the Red Sea. Okay, then explain how Pharoah's army all drowned in this swamp.

Christ walked on water. It was a miracle. The disciples recognized it as such and responded the way we all should respond to the miraculous Christ - they worshipped Him.

Just my thoughts,

Frank

File under Bible_, Culture_War, Fundamentalism_

The Book of Daniel - Cancelled!

Does "Speaking Up" Make a Difference? Apparently So.

It is easy some times to wonder if speaking up about an issue is worth it. Sometimes you wonder if by talking about a controversial issue, the controversy itself helps the thing that is controversial. It is encouraging to learn that the voices of the people have made a difference in the case of NBC's The Book of Daniel.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted an article about a new TV show on NBC called The Book of Daniel. The title of my article was called NBC's Newest Venture into Blasphemy and it explained some of the issues regarding this show.

Thankfully, there were many others who felt the same way and called and wrote their local NBC affiliates and the advertisers and NBC has cancelled the show.

I don't have a lot to say about it right now and I working on a bigger post, but I heard this today (HT: Jason Steffens - a poster at SharperIron). The article that Jason links to a World Net Daily really gives a lot more details on the story, the controversy and the decision to cancel it. It is called NBC Pulls the Plug on the Book of Daniel and is worth a look if you want more information.

NBC's Newest Venture into Blasphemy

It is not that unusual to find the entertainment industry denigrating Christ and Christianity and promoting a value system that is diametrically opposed to Biblical values. As Christians, this should not surprise us. The Bible clearly indicates that the world system and those who follow it will be against Christ and Christians.

James reminds us that being a friend of the world (as in the concept of the world-system) is to be an enemy of God

James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Jesus told us that the world hated him and that likewise the world will hate us.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The most recent attack of which I am aware is a new show that is debuting on NBC TV tonight called "The Book of Daniel." All one has to do is to see the commercials promoting this show to know that this show is designed to ridicule Christ and is taking the entertainment's long standing war against Christ even further than before.

In this show, the main character is an Episcopal minister with a prescription drug problem who has dysfunction surrounding him in the form of a pot-smoking daughter, a fornicating son, a adulterous father (also a minister), and a lesbian church secretary. So far, it seems about normal for your typical Hollywood portrayal of a minister and his family.

The writer, Jack Kenny - an open homosexual, apparently did not think that was enough, so he adds in a generous dose of a "Jesus" character (white robe, long hair and all) who speaks to the minister and repeatedly gives him unBiblical and unChristian advice. An example of that advice has the character of "Jesus" telling the minister "He's a kid; let him be a kid" when dealing with the 16-year old son's fornication.

Belief net comments on more of Kenny's religious beliefs.

Kenny "is, as he puts it, ‘in Catholic recovery,' is interested in Buddhist teachings about reincarnation, and isn't sure exactly how he defines God and/or Jesus.
"I'm a spiritual person," he says. "I don't know specifically what's going on up there. I think there must be something going on, whether it's an energy we're all connected to or an old white man with a beard and a robe.

The full story can be found here.

As a society, we have moved past the point of things like this being "shocking." In a sense, we have come to expect it. As Christians, we understand that the hatred and mis-portrayal of Christ by the world stems from a rejection of His person and a rejection of His salvation. I wonder, however, if we are failing to be salt and light when we don't take our objection to such a blasphemous show to the powers that be in charge of our local affiliates.

According to this story and this story, it appears that just such a response worked in Terre Haute, Indiana, as the local affiliate there has decided against broadcasting and promoting this blasphemy.

On a tangential note, can you imagine the outcry if NBC had decided to do the same type of show centering on a Muslim Imam with Mohamad showing up and giving advice contrary to the Koran?

Information about this show can can be found at CitizenLink and BeliefNet. Even Tom Shales of the Washington Post has some things to say about this latest venture of "entertainment."

Just my thoughts,

Frank

File under Culture_War