“Living Fossils”—Evolution’s Innate Circular Reasoning

From Apologetics Press:

"Another earthshaking find within the evolutionary community only spotlights once again the inherent irrationality of the faltering, fallacious theory. During a Southeast Asian expedition, retired Florida State University science professor, David Redfield, captured the first photos of the Laotian rock rat, once believed to have gone extinct more than 11 million years ago. The fossilized remains, collected previously from sites in Pakistan, India, Thailand, China, and Japan, were thought to verify this last known relative of a long-extinct family of rodents known as Diatomyidae (“Retired Professor Captures...,” 2006). Surprise, surprise—another alleged “ancestor” eliminated from the tattered evolutionary tree.

Observe the two contrasting, conflicting, mutually exclusive approaches to the created realm:

1. Evolution: All animals we see today are advanced forms of primitive precursors, and descendants of a single ancestor. As more advanced forms have evolved by means of adaptation, natural selection, survival of the fittest, and genetic mutation, the earlier forms were naturally displaced and disappeared. Fossils, millions of years old, represent life forms that were the evolutionary predecessors of present life forms, but which went extinct long ago.

2. Creation: God created a spectrum of animals during the six-day week of Creation. While reproducing only after their own “kind” (an ambiguous Hebrew term that likely parallels the modern taxonomic classification “family”), these animals were created with the genetic potential for producing a variety of other species, giving rise to the diversity of animal life presently on the planet. Along the way, due mostly to environmental factors, many animals have become extinct. However, other species have escaped detection by humans for centuries, only to be rediscovered in some remote area.

Which of these two viewpoints fits the actual physical facts? Obviously, the latter. Evolutionists repeatedly find themselves in the embarrassing position of discovering that the alleged evolutionary ancestors of current life forms, that supposedly went extinct millions of years ago, are in fact still living. They are forced to cover their tracks by inventing a self-contradictory, nonsensical term to identify these anomalies—in this case, “living fossils.” But that’s like a round square. Philosophers and logicians refer to such duplicitous posturing as irrational and “logical contradiction.” Evolutionists call it “science.”

REFERENCE
“Retired Professor Captures a ‘Living Fossil’ on Video” (2006), Research in Review, June 13, [On-line], URL: http://www.rinr.fsu.edu/rockrat/more.html."

...And So, Let It Begin...

Today marked the inauguration of President Obama. And already the White House website announces the new administration's goals regarding "civil rights".  Of course, the page includes a statement of their desire to protect the "civil rights" of those of the homosexual community, among others. And of course this is no surprise. 

That said, let me encourage you to continue to be faithful to the Gospel as we live quiet and peaceful lives and live as light amidst a crooked and perverse generation.

And let's be faithful in prayer for those who govern our nation.

Hamas War Report #1

Got a link to this via email from Jerusalem Prayer Team. Watch and be informed. And, if you have the time, go to the YouTube site and leave a comment expressing your support for Israel as they are ridiculed for desiring to protect themselves from Islamic terrorism.

O'Reilly Speechless: Jill Stanek on the O'Reilly Factor

"O'Reilly Factor interview replayed as one of 5 highlights of the year 12-28-00. O'Reilly uncharacteristically speechless listening to RN Jill Stanek describe her experience of holding a live aborted baby at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL"

The Gift No One Wants

Paul Washer contrasts the Biblical Gospel with the contemporary "Gospel" so common today. I strongly recommend you give this a listen!

Allow Me To Reintroduce The Christ!

And Now, The New "World Teacher"

I won't say much for this, except to say that it has to do with "Maitreya" who is alleged to be the new "world teacher". Could this be part of the "strong delusion" that the Lord will send (2 Thessalonians)? Could be. But make sure in Whom you have trusted.

My main point in posting this is to suggest that this presents an open door to evangelism. The web site allows comments, so why not take advantage of it? We sow seeds and trust God with the results.

Here's what I sent:

"The Bible tells us that one day, the world will unite under one government, one religion and one economy. It will last for a few years, then will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ who will judge all things according to His own Righteousness. The one called the Antichrist and all those who follow him will be cast into the lake of fire, where they will spend eternity.

2 Thessalonians tells us that in the latter days, God will send a "powerful delusion" to those who refuse to believe the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Is Maitreya part of this? I don't know. I only know one thing...The only "Teacher" I'm interested in is Jesus Christ. The God Who created the heavens and Earth. He's the One who died for my sin and teaches me through His Word, the Bible. It gives us all we need for life and Godliness. Through its pages we can be transformed from death unto life. There is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Warning: Do you think you're a good person? Good enough to enter heaven? God gave us Ten Commandments for a reason! Ever told a lie? What would that make you? A liar...as it would me! Have you ever stolen anything? I don't care how small it is or was or how long ago, if you have stolen anything that makes you a thief before God because He has said "You shall not steal". Ever hated anyone? Jesus said "You've heard it said that you shall not kill, but I say to you that if you hate someone you've committed murder in your heart"! And haven't you ever lusted for someone? That makes you and I guilty of adultery. So, wouldn't that make you a lying, thieving murderous adulterer before a HOLY God? It does me! And God is JUST and must punish sin! That means eternity in Hell! It is appointed for a man to die, then comes the judgment. And there will be no parole, and no lightening of the sentence. God is a JUST and HOLY GOD. But God is also loving. And because He is loving he sent Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, to live the perfect life that satisfies God's Law. But then he gave Himself over to suffer God's infinite, Holy wrath. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says "He Who knew no sin became sin for us that we may become the righteousness of God". He paid a debt for you that He did not owe in order to pay a debt you could never pay. The Just Judge came around to your side of the bench and payed the penalty for you. That is how God Loved you and me. And he did it without distorting or surrendering his justice. In return, He commands all to repent (turn from sin and unbelief) and put their trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Turn from your sin and trust in what He did...just like a man would trust in a parachute before jumping from a plane....because one day *YOU* will make the jump into eternity."

Yes, I'm Still Here...

Just a word to let you all know that I've not moved away, died or anything like that...at least not yet.

There has been much going on in my life and it's taken my attention away from writing here and even at Facebook, where I've been focusing more.

And things are going ok. Looking for work, praying that something turns up. Trying to remain faithful to the Lord in the midst of trying times.

Thanks for your patience and be assured that I'll be posting again as the Lord leads.

Tim

Close Doesn't Count...

I like horse shoes. Haven't played it in nearly a decade but I've always enjoyed it when I can play it. Maybe this spring we'll set something up in our back yard. Seems like we even have a now-banned-as-unsafe set of "lawn darts" from the 70's somewhere. I think my mom has them.

We all, in the natural sense, like to play in the margins. We like the give and take. "Kind of" hitting the target but if we don't quite do it, well, that's ok. And I think that's the appeal of lawn darts and horse shoes. It allows us to get in the vicinity of the goal and as long as we get closer than anyone else, hey, that's wonderful...we all go home feeling like we've accomplished something.

But God doesn't call us to live and play in the margins. He doesn't call us to compare ourselves to others who call themselves Christians, who compare *them*selves to even others who call themselves Christians...and on down the line. He calls us to compare ourselves to Him and His Word.

I think I'm pretty typical of many who would name the name of Christ. Foreign missions work has a certain appeal to me. Seeing the pictures of the poor in other countries. The hungry. You want to help them. You give some money or something for whatever reason. Some to merely salve their guilty conscience because they've been whining about their slow internet connection or that the chicken didn't turn out right this afternoon. Some even because they really care to get the gospel (or what they believe to be the Gospel) to those who need it.

Where I live we have lots of churches. Our town has always been known for being populated by two things -- church buildings and bars. That's changed somewhat as the factories have closed down because we seem to have more eateries per square inch than ever before.

Over the past year I've had the opportunity to visit many of the local churches long enough to get a feel for what they value. One of them I attended as long as 36 years ago while dating my first girlfriend. 

At least one of these churches takes what appears to be great pride in sending people on missions trips. Just a month or two. Maybe longer. And when the people come back they tell everything about what they did -- usually it amounts to giving out food and clothing which of course is a valid thing to do. Every great once in a while you'll hear them mention the Gospel. 

But what gets me is how people make such a spiritual thing about "going out there somewhere" to some foreign country to "do missions work". Someone comes back from one of these trips and it's made out to be some large accomplishment. And maybe sometimes it is...maybe someone actually begins to think about someone other than themselves or something other then their own needs.

But what I don't understand is the pomp and circumstance that surrounds all this "go to the foreign mission field" stuff while we won't even go to our neighbors who are lost? And why is this? The principle that the Scriptures teach is that if you are shown to be faithful with little you will be given more. Jesus said that in Luke 16.

I can't know the motive of those who do this. Maybe it's genuine concern. Maybe it's a sense of adventure. Perhaps it could also be for the sake of "spiritual appearance". Maybe a mixture of each and a few more things.

But what does this say of us? Does it not say something of "missions as a hobby"? Or maybe even "the Christian life as a hobby"?

You say "How dare you say that!" I can hear people in my town saying that! But my response is "If you are really so all fired concerned about the lost, why can't you even present the gospel to your next door neighbor? You mean you'll spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a trip to some foreign country but you won't share it with your neighbor when it costs you nothing but a walk to the next yard?" 

American Christianity wants to be entertained. It likes to "dabble". And dabbling in missions gives the aura of genuineness. And it's safe because, after all, you have no real investment in what you are doing. Generally you go, stick your toes in the water and then come home. There are no real consequences. "Play time over!"

And I've never seen anyone dabble on a missions trip to China involving the underground church...or to Korea where you can be killed for possessing a page of the scriptures...or the Sudan where Christians pay for their faith by being nailed to crosses.

And no, I've never gone overseas. I'd like to. 

But more than that, I'd like to be more the type of Christian who serves Christ in the mission field I live in. Right Here. Where I cannot hide behind anonymity.

How can we say we believe in the great commission when we won't even talk to the lost in our own town about the thing they need most? The thing they need most has nothing to do with "felt needs" but rather being saved from the eternal wrath of a holy God Who cannot look upon sin!

But so many of us would rather salve our consciences by sending clothes overseas (and I am not putting down sending clothing and food to the needy overseas) than help our spiritually dead and naked relatives and friends understand how to be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ that comes through repentance from sin and faith in Christ!

We think of the book of James where he says real faith is shown when you give what you have to someone that is in need. Clothing. Food. Basic necessities. You say "I do that!". Great! That's fine!

But the lost have a need that so many of us are ignoring...the food of the Gospel...which we have, don't we? Or the clothing of the Righteousness of Jesus Christ? Or do we not have that to share?

James would say that if we won't give what we can to those who need it, it is a sign that our faith is dead. And I'd challenge anyone reading this to show me wrong in saying that if the physical is important, how much more the spiritual? For a man can die clothed and go straight to hell and a naked man may die and wake up in heaven!

Which is more important to you? The physical? You say you know Christ? If you don't see the spiritual as much more important, I question your claim and don't even try to tell me I shouldn't.

You say "but you don't understand, you have to make them feel better before you can attract them to Christ" and I say that a person must feel *worse* before coming to Christ. As a matter of fact, you must come to deny yourself (which means a refusal to associate with what you are and have been) before you can be converted! "If anyone would be my disciple, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24)

That's not a call to a "higher level of Christian living" ala Ryrie and others but a call to salvation. Period. 

And what doctor would you have the slightest respect for who worried about setting the broken arm of a child screaming in agony while that child bled to death from a severed jugular? I would hope you'd be horrified by such a doctor. "But I must make him feel better first!". No. The child will perish. And the doctor would be guilty of malpractice.

People, we have to quit "playing missionary". If we are really converted, we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). That means that where ever we go, we represent Christ. We never "punch out" if we really know Him. 

So you wanna go to a mission field? Great! Why not start with the one that begins at the other side of your front door? Or would James challenge the validity of your profession of faith? 

I remember one pastor saying "You're being awfully black and white. That's not how things are!" Oh Really? Let's see. The Bible is our sole authority, is it not? And does it not speak of light and dark, lost and found, condemned and saved? Just and unjust?

So, we're not in a game. We're not here to hobby around with religion. And Jesus warned about that. It's called being "lukewarm". James would say it's dead faith. 

The best translation I've heard of Hebrews 11:1 starts with "Faith is the substance..." of unseen things. In other words, faith is something you can *see* because it is something that shows itself. Just like James says, isn't it? 

You say you have faith? Great! Show you have a faith to share by sharing it!

If it's an issue of "I want to but don't know how", know that I used to be in the same position. But don't stay there. A great place to learn how to do Biblical Evangelism is www.wayofthemaster.com. Or, ask me! I'll be more than happy to help.

Paul Washer - Narrow Way of the Regenerate - Sermon Jam

Paul Washer: The Holiness of God

Part 1:


Part 2:

Proud of Yourself?

*Just* Another Christmas? (The Short Version)

I've been reminded that there are newspapers out there that strictly enforce word count limits on a "letter to the editor". And my original article was way past that at around 650...but I didn't know that until I sent it. That is probably why it was put in the "Guest Opinion" section...longer articles there.

Some of you are interested in getting the article in your paper but are wondering how to cut the message down to 250 words or less. A friend at Facebook contacted me about this. Here's what I wrote for them and you can use it as well. It weighs in at 243 words, according to my word processor.

Also, remember you can find papers to submit it to at http://www.50states.com/news/ :
---------------------------------------------

Here we go! Another Christmas. Will it be just more empty boxes? Let's hope not, it shouldn't be. Because Christmas isn't just about “things” it's about a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He came here to die for us. Born a child, lived a perfect life. Why? Because we have all violated God's Law, the Ten Commandments! We've all lied, we've probably all stolen something at one time or another...no matter how small...and we've all been guilty of hating someone, deserved or not. And Jesus said that hating someone reveals a murderer at heart!

Worse, the Scriptures tell us that no liar, thief or murderer will enter heaven, but be found guilty on the day of judgment and have to pay the ultimate penalty – hell.

Just ask God to forgive? What judge could just forgive a thief? That would make the judge unjust, wouldn't it? Sure it would!

But Jesus Christ is the Judge that removed His robe and came around to our side of the bench and died for us, enduring God's righteous judgment. He became our sin.

Our part is to "open the gift" God offers by repenting of our sin (turning from it) and trusting in what Jesus did for us so long ago. So, do you want to pay the penalty yourself? Repent, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as a skydiver would trust in a parachute. That's faith that saves. Take the “good” test at www.needgod.com .

And Now for the Halftime Show!

You may remember that some time back I was recording my weekly weight loss here in the left margin of my blog. Eventually, I moved it to my Facebook account where I'm fairly active.

Last July 10th, I was up to 285 pounds, which is 100 pounds over. It took a long time to get there and it's taken some time to lose some of it. And it'll be even longer before I'm down to 185, which is close to what I should be.

Anyway, it is my pleasure to announce to you that as of today I am down to 235, which represents the halfway mark of my loss goal. Here's what the process looks like in a line chart:

Well, as many of you are well aware, a football game is played on field 100 yards in length. And at halftime, you have the halftime show, right? Well, since I've reached the weight I have, I'm officially at "half time"...so logically we must have the halftime show. It'd only be right...!

So. Here you go. Enjoy!