Things That Are Different Are Not the Same by Mickey Carter

This is a book I'm currently reading and I wanted to recommend it to you all. The

author is Mickey Carter, who is the Pastor of Landmark Baptist Church in Haines City, Florida. My wife graduated from his Bible College, Landmark Baptist College, and this book was required reading in one of her classes. I found it in our bookshelf and it's been very useful in helping me understand why we believe God preserved His Word, and why the King James is that preserved Word. It's short and easy to read, and will give you a solid spiritual understanding of this issue. Click below for more detail:
Things that are different are not the same: The truth about the battle for the preserved King James Bible

20 Cool Ways to Make Extra Money

We all can use some extra cash but let's face it, if you had the time to get an extra job, you would! Here are some great ways to earn extra money without spending a lot of time, or breaking the bank to get started.

1. Start And Monetize a Blog
This is one of the coolest, newest ways to make money with zero investment out of your pocket. Google Adsense and other advertising companies have made this a very profitable venture and extremely easy to start and learn (why do you think I'm writing this one?). Go to Blogger or Wordpress, create your free blog, and start posting! For some help on how to make money with it, check out ProBlogger and Skelliewag. Follow their tips to create a cash cow.

2. Sell or trade stuff on Craigslist
You can make a lot of cash with your junk. Click the title to check out a longer post for ideas!

3. Recycle used toner bottles
TonerBuyer.Com and EmptySolution.com will pay you a nice bounty (up to $22.00 per) for those empty toner bottles that your office throws away everyday. You can even hire some teenagers to run around and collect them from local businesses and mail them in for some hefty cheddar!

4. Start a home-based business with Mary Kay or Party Lite
Before you groan and move on, hear me out. Women LOVE this stuff and you can sell buckets of candles and cosmetics over the holidays. Take a catalogue to work, get some friends to host a party, and you're golden! My wife raked in over $300 with her very first Mary Kay party. If you're a guy, tap into that resource called "girlfriend" or "wife". Sign up under her name, run the back end business stuff, and get her to do some parties. Vanity sells!

5. Write a children's book
I know it sounds crazy, but this is a huge industry and authors are making BANK! You don't have to have expertise, do any research, or even be a good writer. You can even illustrate with stick figures! For some info on how to get started, check out The Purple Crayon.

6. Create a forum or top site
You can create a top site list for a niche that you are interested in. Bloggers and website owners who want to keep their name in front of web surfers are always looking for added visibility and are happy to join. These sites can be monetized with AdWords and the like. Check out Top Site List Planet, Top Site World, or Top Site Lists to get started with a free top site hosting service.

7. Start an e-commerce website
If you have a couple Franklins and are willing to shell out, this is actually very easy. Paul Phillips at American Solutions For Business does this for a living, and can set up the site for you, handle the inventory, shipping, and billing. All you have to do is sit back and rake in the profits. So create a cool brand of something niche. Make your own tee-shirts with your blog logo and create a cult following. Sell custom shoelaces. Get creative. Go crazy. You might just turn that insanity into cash flow.

8. Day trade
This is sometimes considered a respectable form of gambling, however there is actually a science to it (unlike gambling which I don't promote). Be aware that you can win big or lose big with this one. That being said, day trading is very lucrative if you are savvy and have the time and intestinal fortitude to stomach it. Open an account with E*Trade, TD Ameritrade, or Charles Schwab and dive in. They have analysis tools and people you can talk to, and there is a wealth of information at the bookstore, library, and online. Experience is going to be your best teacher, and you may lose more than you make at first but persistence is often rewarded. Try this book to get spun up:

9. Sell books on Amazon.com
My brother went crazy with this and made some spare cash. It turns out certain textbooks go for quite a bit and the buyer pays for shipping. All you have to do is list your collection, and when you get a buyer drop your book in the mail. Easy.

10. Go to school and collect scholarships
I heard about a kid who applied for so many scholarships that he ended up bringing in $2,000,000!

11. Flip cars
Okay, I'm not talking about driving recklessly and collecting the insurance settlement, I'm talking about buying cars and reselling them. If you are mechanically inclined, you can purchase a car that needs some TLC, add a bit of your personal touch over the weekend (IE, fix whatever causes it to be currently inoperable) and resell it for a couple hundred buck profit. No sweat? That depends on you. I gave this one a go and quickly found the learning curve to be very time consuming. You should only try this if you already know what you are doing, or you are willing to invest the time to learn (it can become somewhat of a hobby). Also, be aware of the tools that are required for your project as these can end up costing you more than what you make on the vehicle.

12. Get a paper route
This should be a last resort as it is exhausting. I only list it because it was a source of income for me when we were going through hard times, and it doesn't require you to give up your day job (just a lot of sleep).

13. Be a poster guy for a weight loss company
Anyone have any idea how much the Jared Fogle, the subway guy got for losing his weight and advertising? Why not find out first hand? Pick a weight loss product you like, take a picture of yourself before, than shed those pounds and take an "after" photo. They'll probably pay you for your testimonial, and you'll be thinner!

14. Start a non-profit and be the ED
Everyone's about saving the earth or fixing world poverty. Why not cash in on their goodwill? Start a non-profit organization and make sure you get appointed the Executive Director. You'll be able to get government grants and private donations, and you can write your own salary! How cool is that?

15. Do surveys online
Get paid to take surveys? Sure, why not? Check out http://surveymonster.net/ or similar websites for details.

16. Buy and sell coins
Another hobby that can make you bank. If you are like me and are sorely disappointed that your '90s era baseball cards haven't made you a multi-millionaire like you thought they would when you were a teenager, this is the hobby for you. You still get to collect things, and coins have a great appreciation rate.

17. Get a metal detector and find cool stuff to hawk
This is especially cool if you live near a beach in LA or Miami. Rich people get stupid and lose their suave watches just like the rest of us. No sense it letting all that stupidity go to waste; get out there and start hawking!

18. Scam the multi level marketing system
This will definitely be the subject of a much longer post, but there are ways to work the system with some of the MLM companies and make huge cash from the start. It requires planning and strategy, but if you and a group of friends can organize and hit the ground running, you may just build up a network in record time and become the next success story.

19. Become a tax write-off guru, or just hire one
Last year I donated my old junk to the Goodwill. Since it was all "junk" to me, I wasn't going to write it off for very much. Then I used Turbo Tax's donation estimator, and it came back saying my old junk was worth $1200.00! Many of us pass up write-offs that would otherwise bring in a couple of g's at the end of the year simply because we're too lazy to itemize, or we just don't know. If you think that's you, find a good tax dude and tell him you need help. He'll get you on the right track. Uncle Sam has plenty of suckers to extort without you being one of them.

20. Rent out your truck
I have a big, green, gas-hog 1973 Ford 100 that I've yet to flip (see money-making idea number 11). Before I had this truck, I was always annoyed that I didn't have a pickup to use on Saturdays for dump runs, etc. Then the light bulb went on. Surely there are other home-owners like me who are equally annoyed at their current truck-challenged state and would be eager to rent my truck on Saturdays! If you have a truck you don't use that often (or you are waiting to put in a new neutral switch so you can sell the thing and get it out of your yard), why not put a sign on it that says "Rent My Truck-$20/Day" and park it on some high-traffic street Friday night. Come Saturday morning, you may just find yourself $20 richer (or one truck poorer-make sure you lock it). I haven't looked into the liability and insurance issues, so you'll have to figure that out yourself. Hey, it's worth a call to your insurance company, right?

Is Name Calling Really Wrong?

Among the religious academics, you will get scorned for saying that someone is an idiot (even if it's the truth), or they are a "troll" (meaning they are picking a fight on a forum just to stir things up). Name calling is looked down upon as fighting dirty, and is considered a recourse only for those who are ignorant. The "true intellectuals" are supposed to be above all that nonsense. The term "ad hominem" is loosely tossed about, partly because anything Latin makes you sound smart, and partly because people think that name calling falls into this category of fallacies. I would like to challenge that thought.

First of all, the definition for an Ad Hominem attack is as follows:

An ad hominem argument, also known as argumentum ad hominem (Latin: "argument to the man", "argument against the man") consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

You can see that using an ad hominem argument would be like saying, "You're wrong and I know this because you are an idiot!" or "...because you are fat!" There is no logic behind this, therefore it's an ad hominem (an attack against the person). To simply call someone an idiot is not an ad hominem attack, because you are not making an argument. You are making an observation. There is nothing low, ignorant, or dirty about speaking the truth. Hey, there are a lot of idiots on the internet and the truth hurts!

Secondly, Jesus called names:

Matt.3
[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matt.12
[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matt.23
[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Luke.3
[7] Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Now I'm sure in the NASB, NIV, and NKJV He says, "Oh you bunch of silly men!" or something limp-wristed along those lines, but in the Bible, we can see that He ripped them up. If it's okay for Jesus to do, it's okay for me. The next time I call someone an idiot and they accuse me of using an ad hominem fallacy, I'm going to point them to the King James Bible and the above verses for my proof text.

My Reply to His Reply to My Reply to His Reply to My Reply

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You equivocated in your use of John 1:1 with Ps. 119:81.

There is no fallacy in my argument, as is evidenced by the use of the word logos in John 1:1:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God , and the Word was God .

The word used to describe the Second Person of the Trinity is the same word used throughout the New Testament to describe God's Word which was given to man. The following is an example of one of the many references to the Bible using the Greek word Logos.

2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God , a workman that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the word of truth .

Based on the Greek, John chapter one makes the case that Jesus is the Word of God given by inspiration to man. The have the same relationship as water and ice. Fundamentally the same but manifested in different forms. The capitalization is present because in this case the word "Logos" is referring to the Second Person of the Trinity, who is also manifested in flesh:

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

and in the form of written revelation:

Joh 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew we don't have logos in Psalms 119:89, we have dabar:

Ps 119:89 ¶ LAMED. For ever <`owlam>, O LORD , thy word is settled in heaven .

As you say, this too refers to the written Word of God:


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
In Ps. 119:81, "word" is a reference to God's special revelation, given to Israel via Moses (compare with vv. 91-95, where his "word" is also termed "ordinances," "law," "precepts," and "testimonies").

...however we see in John chapter one that the two references to "word" refer to the same thing. God's Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, in His verbal manifestation. I see no other way of reading these passages.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You then say, "It existed before the creation of the World." What is the referent of "it"? The second Person of the Trinity, or God's spoken revelation? These two things are not the same.

I think the fact that you make a distinction is leading you to some heresies (or at least wrong conclusions). John 1:3-4 says that it was the Word (Jesus) that created the world:

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

...so when God said, "let there be light" He was not at that moment creating the second Person of the Trinity, He was the second Person of the Trinity manifesting Himself in verbal form.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
Again, you equivocated when you said "The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form.”

Here, I think you misunderstood me and I will attribute it to the lack of a properly placed comma. The phrase was intended to mean, "The truth is, the Word of God is Jesus in written form." I wasn't saying that the truth is Jesus. Jesus did say, "I am the Truth..." however that wasn't the point I was trying to make.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You again used the same fallacy when you said, "They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read." For this statement to be true, you would have to admit that the Bible is Jesus Christ.

The above is only a fallacy like you say it is if my statements about Jesus and the Bible are false. John 1 indicates Jesus and the Bible are two different manifestations of the second Person of the Trinity. Because this is true, it's not wrong to say that the "Word" exsisted in Heaven before it was written in human language. In fact, the Bible indicates this in Psalm 119:89 and John 1 (not to belabor the point). You and I clearly differ on this point.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You then say, "Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration." This time you are again equivocating on the word "translation." The inspired words written down by the original biblical authors were not a "translation." A translation is a given text transformed into another language. When the biblical authors wrote the Scripture, they were not "translating" eternal truth (Jesus?) into another language. Your use of the word here may be used that way in a poetic sense, but that poetic sense of the word "translation" is not in accordance with the way the word is normally employed in speech.

The Bible is and eternal truth. It exsists outside of the boundries of human language, speech, and verbiage. It is not bound to the feeble limitations of a particualar language or group of languages. To limit God's eternal Word to the Hebrew, Greek, and Armamaic is to say that God isn't big enough to give us His Word, exactly the way He wants it, in any other language. That would be a feeble God indeed. In reality, we see God giving us His eternal, perfect Word through imperfect men using imperfect languages, and yet they produced a perfect Bible. If God did this to give us the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, why couldn't He do this when the Bible was translated into English, Spanish, Tagolog, etc.? It's true that the Greek doesn't translate word for word into English. We don't claim that it does. We do however believe that God has given us His Word in a perfect form in the English language. Because God is bigger than human language and He is ultimately the Author of the Bible, He has full liberty to direct the translation in order to ensure it says what He wants it to say.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
Would you say Pharaoh's words "existed before the creation of the World"? Of course not, and yet you have already said that since the "Word" did, so must the Bible have. All this confusion is the result of your numerous equivocations.

I believe the entire Bible existed before the creation of the world, and that would include the words Pharaoh spoke. God knew everything that would occur throughout history before He created the world. We can see this in 1Pet 1:19-20 where we are told that before the foundation of the world (prior to Adam and Eve's sin) God knew He would need to provide Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sin:

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

If God was thinking this far ahead, it's not hard to believe that He already knew everything that Pharaoh would do and say.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
If any true preservation is taking place, it must be in the languages the Bible was originally written/inspired in (and that, obviously, cannot be English).

True preservation, in the sense in which you are speaking, takes place only in Heaven since that is where the Word of God originated (again, see Psalm 119:89). Because we are told in the Bible that God's Word will be preserved on earth, we can say it has been preserved. We mean that it has been protected from corruption and destruction, not that it has been maintained in the original language. The original human language is essentially irrelevent because even it is an intermediary, however it does aid us in study and research.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
Of course the manuscripts differ -- and thus, the discussion of preservation must surround the manuscripts. There are different views regarding preservation of God's word through the manuscripts, and one view is that the Textus Receptus represents the most appropriate preserved manuscripts. But then if that is true, any translation from the Textus Receptus would be faithful to God's word, and the Textus Receptus itself would be inspired.

Exactly. The difference between them all (for Riverwalkers sake since he is so bent on the Geneva Bible) is that the preceding Bibles were translated prior to the English language being standardized in it's spelling and grammar.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
-- but, of course, the translations are not a preservation of God's word, the Textus Receptus is. And so, you have no ground to argue against the NKJV, for example, which is based on the Textus Receptus just as the KJV is.

Wrong. The NKJV is not based on the Textus Receptus. It is based on the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus just like the other modern versions.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You can talk about the preservation of the KJV, and that only since 1611 -- you cannot talk about the KJV preserving God's word, since God's word was written in the first century, and English didn't even exist as a language when God's word was inscripturated.

You're right. God has not always chosen to preserve His Word in English. It seems He has given the English speaking people a perfect Bible because of the prominence of the language. This does not mean He isn't also preserving His Word in other languages.

You say that you believe God preserved His Word in the original languages. The Vaticanus and Sinaiticus upon which the modern versions are based are corrupt manuscripts. Men like Origen, Jerome, and others damaged God’s Word for the sake of the Catholic Church. The debate about whether God’s Word is preserved in the Textus Receptus or the KJV is among KJVO’s, because if you subscribe to either position, you must throw out all modern English translations. They all go back to the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts.

His Reply to My Reply to His Reply to My Reply

Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott4
thx. I wonder if I will get a response.

Oh, don't worry, you've got one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott4
Wow, I appreciate your detailed response. Is it possible to create a thread without name-calling? I doubt it (someone will offend), but let’s try...

No problem, and we'll see how it goes.

Quote:
John.1
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Pss.119
[89] For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

The Bible indicates that the Word of God existed before it was written in the "original languages". The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form (John 1). It existed before the creation of the World. When God gave it to man, He inspired men to write it in a language they could understand. They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read. Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration. In fact, we can see many instances throughout the Bible where God inspired translations. An example is when Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court, he spoke Egyptian but his words were translated into Hebrew when the Old Testament was written. This translation was inspired by God.

The fallacy you employed above is called equivocation, and you used it a number of times before you reached your conclusion.

You equivocated in your use of John 1:1 with Ps. 119:81. In Scripture, the context of the verse determines the meaning of the word. In John 1:1, "Word" is a reference to the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God (prior to the incarnation), as is proved from v. 14 where we read that "the Word became flesh." In Ps. 119:81, "word" is a reference to God's special revelation, given to Israel via Moses (compare with vv. 91-95, where his "word" is also termed "ordinances," "law," "precepts," and "testimonies"). The KJV itself acknowledges the difference by using a capitalized "Word" in John 1:1 (as a title for a Person) and a lowercased "word" in Ps. 119:81 (as a reference to God's spoken revelation, i.e., not a person).

You then say, "It existed before the creation of the World." What is the referent of "it"? The second Person of the Trinity, or God's spoken revelation? These two things are not the same. You have equivocated here, because the two verses are not referring to the same thing (hence "Word" and "word"). God's spoken revelation is not the same thing as the second Person of the Trinity. When God said "let there be light," he did not at that moment "create" the second Person of the Trinity. Your not distinguishing between the second Person of the Trinity, and God's temporal revelation to mankind through the spoken (and written) word, can potentially lead to any number of serious heresies.

Again, you equivocated when you said "The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form (John 1)." "Truth" is not the same as a Person. You cannot say that "truth" is "Jesus." Of course the source of truth is God, and the second Person of the Trinity is God, and so he is true and everything he says and does is true, and we can call him "Truth," and the written word that he inspired is true, but you are nevertheless equivocating on the word. I can say, "the world is round," and that is a truth statement, but that does not mean the statement "the world is round" is Jesus Christ.

You again used the same fallacy when you said, "They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read." For this statement to be true, you would have to admit that the Bible is Jesus Christ. That is the blunt way of demonstrating the equivocation you have employed, especially if you believe "truth" and "Jesus" are the same thing.

You then say, "Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration." This time you are again equivocating on the word "translation." The inspired words written down by the original biblical authors were not a "translation." A translation is a given text transformed into another language. When the biblical authors wrote the Scripture, they were not "translating" eternal truth (Jesus?) into another language. Your use of the word here may be used that way in a poetic sense, but that poetic sense of the word "translation" is not in accordance with the way the word is normally employed in speech.

Your next few sentences ("In fact, we can see many instances throughout the Bible where God inspired translations. An example is when Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court, he spoke Egyptian but his words were translated into Hebrew when the Old Testament was written. This translation was inspired by God.") are proof of what a am saying here, because Pharaoh speaking in Egyptian and Joseph translating his words into Hebrew is the ordinary use of the word "translate" (not the "poetic" sense you used in reference to inspiration). Joseph simply recorded Pharaoh's words in Hebrew, and they are inspired as written by Moses, a true account of what Pharaoh actually said. But it's the Hebrew words written by Moses that are inspired and God's word, not the original words spoken by Pharaoh.

Would you say Pharaoh's words "existed before the creation of the World"? Of course not, and yet you have already said that since the "Word" did, so must the Bible have. All this confusion is the result of your numerous equivocations.

Quote:
It is not a moot point since you can't study the originals. They don't exist.

And now you are equivocating on the word "original." I was referring to the original language Scriptures, not the original autographa, which of course no longer exist. As copies of the original autographa have been made, it is through those copies that God's word has been preserved. And those copies are, of course, in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek -- anything in any other language cannot be a preservation of God's written word, since God's written word was inspired in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Quote:
This is something that a lot of non-KJVO's ignore, but the original autographs have all been destroyed and all we have are manuscripts, the oldest of which date to 400 years after Christ's death.

No one is ignoring it, you are simply equivocating on the word "original" and thus misunderstanding, or misrepresenting, others' views. There were the original autographa, which were written in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The contents of the original autographa were preserved through copies, and all those copies were in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. If any true preservation is taking place, it must be in the languages the Bible was originally written/inspired in (and that, obviously, cannot be English).

Quote:
The manuscripts in question differ greatly, which account for the differences in the modern Bible versions when compared to the KJV.

Of course the manuscripts differ -- and thus, the discussion of preservation must surround the manuscripts. There are different views regarding preservation of God's word through the manuscripts, and one view is that the Textus Receptus represents the most appropriate preserved manuscripts. But then if that is true, any translation from the Textus Receptus would be faithful to God's word, and the Textus Receptus itself would be inspired. Translations based off the Textus Receptus would each equally be legitimately held in esteem as translations of God's word, so far as they are faithful to the original language manuscripts -- but, of course, the translations are not a preservation of God's word, the Textus Receptus is. And so, you have no ground to argue against the NKJV, for example, which is based on the Textus Receptus just as the KJV is.

Quote:
Just because you study the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic doesn't mean this discussion is moot.

Yes it does, because you have taken the discussion of inspiration to translations -- discussion surrounding inspiration and, particularly, preservation must regard copies of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. You can talk about the preservation of the KJV, and that only since 1611 -- you cannot talk about the KJV preserving God's word, since God's word was written in the first century, and English didn't even exist as a language when God's word was inscripturated.

Quote:
It's true that there are differences in the languages and things change when the Bible is interpreted, but God is bigger than language and translation, and can make sure that whether the Bible is being translated into Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, English, or Spanish, it says what He wants it to say. It is perfect.

When the last book of the Bible was written, God stopped inspiring men for creating inscripturated revelation with his authority. If you believe God truly "inspires" men when they translate the original language Scriptures (into, e.g., English, like the KJV), then there is no need for preservation. Preservation is an important doctrine because inspiration has ceased. No translation of the Bible is perfect; all you need to do is learn a foreign language to know that.

Quote:
If God cared enough to give us the Bible, why do you find it hard to believe He would care enough to preserve the Bible in a perfect form?

I do believe he has preserved it in a perfect form; just that that form cannot be in English, because if it were, it wouldn't be preservation, it would be inspiration.

My Reply to His Reply to My Reply

Wow, I appreciate your detailed response. Is it possible to create a thread without name-calling? I doubt it (someone will offend), but let’s try...


John.1
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Pss.119
[89] For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

The Bible indicates that the Word of God existed before it was written in the "original languages". The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form (John 1). It existed before the creation of the World. When God gave it to man, He inspired men to write it in a language they could understand. They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read. Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration. In fact, we can see many instances throughout the Bible where God inspired translations. An example is when Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court, he spoke Egyptian but his words were translated into Hebrew when the Old Testament was written. This translation was inspired by God.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
A translation is a translation, and it's only as good as the translation is faithful to the original languages. Seeing as how I study the Bible in the original languages (and not in English), it's a moot point. Are you going to say that my Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek Bible isn't the preserved Word of God? Indeed, it's the only true preserved Word of God, because God didn't move men by the Holy Spirit to write in English -- English, of course, didn't even exist when the Bible was written. So, obviously, it would be impossible to claim that any English translation is a preservation of God's Word when God's Word was never originally written in English.

It is not a moot point since you can't study the originals. They don't exist. This is something that a lot of non-KJVO's ignore, but the original autographs have all been destroyed and all we have are manuscripts, the oldest of which date to 400 years after Christ's death. The manuscripts in question differ greatly, which account for the differences in the modern Bible versions when compared to the KJV. Just because you study the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic doesn't mean this discussion is moot.

It's true that there are differences in the languages and things change when the Bible is interpreted, but God is bigger than language and translation, and can make sure that whether the Bible is being translated into Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, English, or Spanish, it says what He wants it to say. It is perfect.

If God cared enough to give us the Bible, why do you find it hard to believe He would care enough to preserve the Bible in a perfect form?

His Reply to My Reply

Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott4
I'm saying that many doctrines must be accepted by faith because they cannot be proven. Prove to me that Jesus saves. You can show me in the Bible, but you can't PROVE that your soul has been saved from Hell; you have to trust in Christ that He will do as He promised.

Yes, that is called faith in what the Scripture teaches. Scripture teaches that salvation is through Jesus Christ, and if I am in him, I will be saved. Can I empirically prove that I am in him? No, but such proof is irrelevant to faith.

Quote:
I can show you where God promised to preserve His Word in the Bible, and this is a doctrine, however I can't scientifically prove that He has done so (although there is much circumstantial evidence). I accept it by faith.

So far so good.

Quote:
You say that because there is no mention of the King James in God's Word, our belief that God has used the King James to preserve His Word in our age is not a Biblical doctrine. I don't believe that God spells out every detail in the Bible. We are told in James 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." God doesn't give us the exhaustive list of trails we will face in life, but that doesn't change the doctrine that if we experience trials, it will work patience. If you said, "I'm experiencing a trial that is not listed in the Bible, therefore I don't believe it will produce patience," you would sound immature.

King James had nothing to do with preserving God's Word, but he had something to do with propagating it by authorizing a translation that he approved. Those are two different things.

Quote:
Likewise it's silly to expect that God would have spelled out the names of every version He would use to preserve His Word, but preservation is still a Biblical Doctrine so we can by faith believe that there must be the preserved Word of God available.

But the Word of God was not written in English, and the preserved Word therefore cannot be in English. God's Word was written down in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek -- to preserve it means to have it in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. An English translation is just that, a translation, and thus an essential modification to God's Word: the language was modified, and thus it is not a preservation of God's Word. A translation (if faithful) contains the same concepts and communicates the same thing as the original language Bible, but it has essentially changed on account of it being written in a new language. If it's in a new language, it goes without saying that it's not a preservation of the Bible. I'm not arguing that translations of the Bible are wrong; they are obviously necessary, but translations are for propagation, not preservation, as contemporary language inevitably changes.

Quote:
I don't understand why you are fighting this so hard, except that maybe you feel you would be looked down upon for accepting this Bible truth at face value. Let me assure you that you may lose some friends, but you will gain others and we all aren't as dumb as we look.

I do accept what the Bible says at face value, I just don't believe there is anything special regarding the King James Version as compared to any other faithful translation. A translation is a translation, and it's only as good as the translation is faithful to the original languages. Seeing as how I study the Bible in the original languages (and not in English), it's a moot point. Are you going to say that my Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek Bible isn't the preserved Word of God? Indeed, it's the only true preserved Word of God, because God didn't move men by the Holy Spirit to write in English -- English, of course, didn't even exist when the Bible was written. So, obviously, it would be impossible to claim that any English translation is a preservation of God's Word when God's Word was never originally written in English.

My Reply to a KJV Only Critic

Q. Can you prove that God preserved his word?

A. Many doctrines must be accepted by faith because they cannot be proven. Prove to me that Jesus saves. You can show me in the Bible, but you can't PROVE that your soul has been saved from Hell; you have to trust in Christ that He will do as He promised.

I can show you where God promised to preserve His Word in the Bible, and this is a doctrine, however I can't scientifically prove that He has done so (although there is much circumstantial evidence). I accept it by faith.

You say that because there is no mention of the King James in God's Word, our belief that God has used the King James to preserve His Word in our age is not a Biblical doctrine. I don't believe that God spells out every detail in the Bible. We are told in James 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." God doesn't give us the exhaustive list of trails we will face in life, but that doesn't change the doctrine that if we experience trials, it will work patience. If you said, "I'm experiencing a trial that is not listed in the Bible, therefore I don't believe it will produce patience," you would sound immature.

Likewise it's silly to expect that God would have spelled out the names of every version He would use to preserve His Word, but preservation is still a Biblical Doctrine so we can by faith believe that there must be the preserved Word of God available.

I don't understand why you are fighting this so hard, except that maybe you feel you would be looked down upon for accepting this Bible truth at face value. Let me assure you that you may lose some friends, but you will gain others and we all aren't as dumb as we look.

Answering Tough Questions

2Tim.2
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1Pet.3
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

As a youth worker, I am ofter asked questions about the Bible, about our standards, or about other related issues that are often difficult to explain. When you find yourself in a situation like this the temptation can be strong to refer the young person to another who may be more knowledgeable about the subject than yourself. Before you pass the buck, however, consider the benefits of challenging yourself to find the answer:

1. If you do some studying, you will be obeying 2 Tim 2:15


2. You will gain more credibility amoung the youth in your ministry, and they will be more inclined to listen when you preach/teach.


3. God will use these situations to solidify in your own mind what you believe and your own faith will be strengthened.


4. You will no longer have to rely on the study of another for your convictions, because you will be able to point back to your own study of the Word.


5. The next time someone comes to you with that question, you will be ready to give them an answer (now you are also obeying 1 Pet 3:15).


6. You will reduce the workload on the Pastor and other leaders by not passing deep questions off to them.


7. You will be an example to the other workers of how one should study their Bible.


8. You will become well equipped to train up new leaders because you are well grounded in the Word.

Hey, ministry involves work and committment so don't shy away from the idea of digging into the Bible for some answers. You'll become a stronger Christian and God will reward you for your efforts!

Are You Thankful for the Rough Times?

James 1:2 - 4 [2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We always hear preachers say that it's easy to cry out to God in the hard times, then they exhort us to remember God during the good times. I have the opposite problem. When times are good I remember to thank and praise God, but when I'm going through trials I have a hard time remembering to even ask God for help. I get frustrated and discouraged and don't feel like spending time with Him, which tends to make things worse. The truth is God wants us to recognize that the trials are just as good for us as the blessings because they strengthen us spiritually. The next time you are going through a valley, challenge yourself to ask God for help and thank Him for the opportunity to learn to lean on Him.

HooRay! A New Address!!!

You can now visit this blog at www.YoungFundamentalists.com!!! The old address will still work, however this one is shorter and easier to remember. Tell your friends!

How to Decide Where You Stand on the KJV Only Controversy

The following was my thought process that helped me come to a conclusion on the King James Only controversy. If you are undecided on this issue, try the following:

1. Before addressing which version is perfect, the definition of "preservation" must be resolved. When we have two different ways of defining preservation, we will never be able to move forward to the deeper questions like which one is the "preserved" Word of God. If you define preservation as simply maintaining the fundamental doctrines of the faith, than yes, all modern versions could be considered acceptable. Sadly, many lose such finer points as the virgin birth (changing the word "virgin" to "young woman") or the Deity of Christ (changing the reference to Jesus as the "Son of God" to calling Him "God's Servant"). Many say that these are of no consequence, but I would argue that for a new believer, they may skew his/her doctrine. If you seriously want to come to a decision for yourself, I would suggest starting with deciding, based on your own study of the Bible, to what standard God promised to preserve His Word. The conclusion you come to will be a good starting point for further study.

Matt. 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Ps 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

2. If you decide that you believe God promised to preserve His Word forever, and that means every word (not just idea or doctrine) than the second thing you must decide is which version has the preserved Words of God (since all versions differ, only one can be correct, right?).

The King James Version Only crowd didn't just pick their favorite, they picked based on a specific criteria. There are two different underlying manuscripts. The KJV is the only English translation in mass production today that comes from the Textus Receptus (for a quick explanation of the Textus Receptus, visit The Answer Book by Sam Gipp). The other modern versions are based off of the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. When boiled down to which underlying manuscript is the most accurate, the issue becomes much easier to wade through. Scientifically, non-KJVO's claim their manuscript holds up better under textual criticism, however KJVO's claim they can trace it back and see alterations by men who did not fear God (the Catholic Church played a big role in producing these corrupt manuscripts). The truth is that we don't have the "original autographs" (original writings), and are using around 6,000 different fragments to create our English Translations. Many modern day versions are based on the corrupt texts that Wescott and Hort compiled from the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts, and therefore have many passages missing, changed, or corrupted when compared to the Textus Receptus (click here to view their ommissions).

3. If you decide that you agree with using a Bible that has been translated from the Textus Receptus, than you can reaffirm your decision by looking at who is in each camp. On one side we have those who say that the King James Bible is the only preserved, inerrant Word of God for the English speaking people, and on the other side are those who say that all English versions are acceptable. If you believe point number one (that God preserved every word) than you can only be in one camp. There is nobody that claims that the NASB is the preserved Word of God to the exclusion of all others, nor the NIV, the NKJV, etc.

This is my simple yet effective thought process in wading through the information overload that is out there on this issue. I continue to study, read, and discuss the finer details, however I do so knowing that when God makes a promise, He will keep it.

The Atheist and the Bear

An atheist was walking through the woods.

"What majestic trees"!

"What powerful rivers"!

"What beautiful animals"!

He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right On top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Time Stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was still.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"?

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps You could make the BEAR a Christian"?

"Very Well," said the Voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Time Management Help

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

There is much to do and very little time to get it all done. Our eternal rewards will be determined by what we get done while we are here on Earth. I pray this month's article will prove to be helpful as you strive to serve the Savior.



YES, YOU CAN GET IT ALL DONE!

Almost everyone I know complains that they have more to do than they can get done in the time they have. I often find myself saying the same thing. But the truth of the matter is that we have all the time we need to succeed. Our problem is that we do not effectively manage our time and workload. Denying the truth about our faults during the time of our pilgrimage here on Earth will not help us in the future when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Things we can't use to excuse our failures:

1. Ignorance We can't blame ignorance because the answers are available if we seek them. All we have to do is take the time to learn. The only reasons we don't learn what we need is that we are too undisciplined, apathetic, or feel unable to learn. Believing you lack the intelligence to learn is really a lack of faith. The bible clearly states that God will give you the wisdom you need if you ask Him. (James 1:5)
2. Help We can't blame a lack of help because we are the ones who are responsible for recruiting volunteers and training them to help. If there is no one to recruit or train then we probably have the wrong priorities. Our job is to reach people for Christ. If we do, then we will have a pool of people to work with. If we don't reach anyone then we have few people to serve and our work load is so small that we can do everything ourselves.
3. Time We set our own priorities, even if we work for someone else. Bosses reward production and success. If you are producing and can show your boss how you can produce more if they allow you to control your time, they will more than likely concede. So, in reality, if your boss controls your time it is probably because they don't feel you will do a good job if left to yourself.
4. Money Budgets are great but there is never enough money to pay for everything. However, you will find that people in your field will often lend you the resources that will teach you what you need to know, or they will teach you what you need to know for free. However, I recommend that you spend your own money to improve. It has been said that you are what you spend money on. Financial commitment helps insure you don't waste the resources available. When things are free you often treat them like they are worth nothing.
5. Spiritual Gifts Some feel ill equipped to accomplish what they have been called by God to do. My response to that is that God is not a cruel taskmaster and He would never call you to a ministry without providing the gifts required to accomplish the work. 1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
6. Incompetent Boss. This is the worst excuse of all and I hear it all too often when counseling with church staff members. More full-time Christian workers are placed in the body in a subservient relationship than in the most senior position. It follows that God will not place the vast majority of His servants in a position where they cannot succeed. So that means that God will prosper you even if you are under the control of a less than stellar boss. King David served Saul for years, but he was blessed by God for his faithfulness.

Things we can do to help get it all done!

1. Environment: Your office is very important. When we hire someone on our church staff the first thing we do is set them up in a really nice office. We let them design it themselves and then we buy them a good computer and great communication equipment. They can perform work from anywhere, but they prefer to be in their office. Their offices are quiet, comfortable, well lit, and conveniently located near each other. You may not be able to spend lots of money on offices, but you need to understand that the environment can be a major distraction and make it hard to get any work done. If the room is too hot or cold people won't want to be there. If it is noisy and furnished with Salvation Army throw away furniture the workers won't want to bring people to their office for appointments or to accomplish work. The bottom line is that if you outfit people in unprofessional environments don't expect them to perform professionally.
2. Organization Structure is vitally important. You must have your files organized and know where everything is. Your organizational systems must be designed to eliminate wasted time and allow you to know exactly what you are doing and when you are going to do it. Everything can be organized; even disruptions and drop-ins. You can publish when you are free to receive drop-ins, when you return telephone calls, when you like to receive tasks from your boss, and when you need to be left alone to perform work. There are probably more books written on organizing your environment, time, and calendar than anything else.
3. Goals Without written goals you will accomplish little more than reacting to things that happen to you. In most ministries the telephone rings all day long, emails arrive by the hundreds, and there are so many things that need to be accomplished routinely that you will not find any time to accomplish the things that really matter. Study after study has proven that those who succeed do so because they have clearly defined, written goals.
4. Workable Plan If you do not plan when you are going to work the plan that leads to the accomplishment of your goals you will spend your day reacting to minutia and not progressing toward your goals. I know you have probably heard this speech a hundred times, but it is still the single most important thing you can do to get everything done that you need to get done. There must be a time when you sit down and decide what you are supposed to accomplish and design a way to get there. The plan must be workable or it won't work. It is just that simple.
5. Constant Progress You need to constantly examine your progress toward your goals or you will drift off course. Multitudes set great goals and devise great plans to get there, but after a few months they realize they have fallen back into the disastrous routine of reacting to the endless tide of meaningless expectations others have cast upon them. It should be no surprise to learn that people who are successful are successful because of the things they decide not to do as well as by the things they decide to do.

Learning to work efficiently and developing the discipline to do what you have learned is a life long process. Leaders are readers and learning is the wind in the sail that powers their ship to success. Yes, the bible is the most important book on leadership, but it is not the only book on leadership and management you should read. I encourage you to visit your local bookstore or visit AMAZON online and scan the resources available. While most of the books are not written by Christians, they teach principles that are biblical. Remember that Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, taught Moses about delegation. While Jethro was not a Hebrew, God chose to use him to help Moses learn how to handle his workload.

Lastly, it should be noted that knowledge is not the end goal. Multitudes who are overweight know how to lose weight. The problem is that their flesh fights against their heart and mind and makes it difficult to do what they know is right. The same thing happens to those who are trying to implement the leadership skills they know. They have to overcome entrenched bad habits and implement what they know is right. This is a problem for me as well as every other person who leads.

The solution to this truth is reading, prayer and practice. We must continually refresh our vision of leadership and pray regularly and fervently for the Lord to help overcome our flesh. We must then constantly exercise the new desired behavior until it becomes ingrained and replaces our old behaviors. So, start praying now and see if God will do as He promised. Remember, you have not because ye ask not.

-Excerpt from Jeff Wade's monthly newsletter. Subscribe at www.bibleleader.com to receive your own!

Is the NASB Poisonous?

Originally Posted by AmazedbyGrace
When you called the NASB a perversion - you were referring to the entire book, which includes Jn 3:16.

As stated previously, I use a KJV. Even preferring that bible over others, I would NEVER call another version of God's Word a perversion. That is blasphemy because they all contain the Words of God.

BTW, the current KJV differs in MANY points from the 1611...So which one is perfect? Using your logic, how can YOU know you are using the right one?

There are no doctrinal differences in translation between the NASB and the KJV. They are both able to make one wise unto salvation and gain a better knowledge of the Lord.

Please retract your statement that the NASB is a perversion.

Me:

I agree that a person can get the doctrine of Salvation and other basic doctrines from different Bible versions, but if that's all you are interested in you don't need a Bible. A Gospel tract has the doctrine of Salvation, Repentance (I hope), Sanctification, etc. God gave us more than a simple Gospel tract because there are a lot of finer points to the Bible He wants us to understand. Many of them are lost in the Greek manuscripts from which the modern versions are translated, because they were altered by men like Wescott & Hort. How do I know which one is the right one? I use the one which was translated from the manuscript with a clean history of preservation (the Textus Receptus), and trust God that when He promised me in Psalms 12:6-7 that He would preserve His Word forever, He was telling the truth.

Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

I don't have to fill a glass with poison to kill someone, I just have to add one drop to the pure water and it becomes corrupt. This is the Devil's strategy because he knows Christians would smell a glass full of poison, but will be fooled by just a drop.

Canoe Racing

This summer we had a teen activity which we called "canoe racing". It was more like "canoe ramming" thanks mostly to my junior-high boys and their death wish. We had some close calls, coming very close to tipping the canoe which were aggravated by their incessant desire to ram every other canoe in sight. At one point they practically ran down an abnormally "wide" fly fisherman, apparently mistaking him for a canoe (he wasn't too happy about that).

We did end up racing however...once. Most of the leaders were so exhausted after the first hour that we took the canoes back early and hiked for the remainder of the activity. They guy on the dock was less than excited about us slamming into each other with is rental boats, but he's probably back in school now and couldn't care less. If you want a good time, cheap thrills, and an activity that will guarantee your church never gets invited back to the lake, try it out. You only live once.

A blonde's mom dies

A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out. Her boss, concerned about all his employees’ well being, asked sympathetically, “What’s the matter?”

The blonde replies, “Early this morning I got a phone call saying that my mother had passed away.”

The boss, feeling very sorry at this point, explains to the young girl. “Why don’t you go home for the day, we aren’t terribly busy. Just take the day off to relax and rest.”

The blonde very calmly states, “No, I’d be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it and I have the best chance of doing that here.”

The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

Well, a few hours pass and the boss decides to check on the blonde. He looks out over his office and sees the blonde hysterically crying!! He rushes out to her, asking, “What’s so bad now. Are you gonna be ok?”

“No!” exclaims the blonde. “I just got a call from my sister. She told me that HER mom died too!”

A Call To Action

Occasionally, I like to post a message on the Fighting Fundamental Forums just to stir up the hornets nest of idiots over there. One of my recent messages was the following:

King James Only Youth Ministry Helps

Hello all, I'm writing a blog called Young Fundamentalists that is specifically for providing links and resources to Youth workers. We are really lacking in solid Independent Fundamental Baptist resources that take a stand on the King James Bible and don't compromise on standards of morality, music, etc. My goal is to compile those into one place for all of you (like myself) that work in youth ministries. I welcome your feedback!

I've had over 20 replies to this in the past two days, and most of them have been reactions to the fact that I mentioned the King James Only position, like this one:

First of all, get off the KJVO rabbit trail. You said you wanted feedback...

I responded:

Guys,Don't get so hung up on the KJV Onlyism. My site is about helping teens get excited about serving the Lord, and helping youth directors do the same for their teens. The fact that I take a stand on the King James Bible and don't compromise by using other perversions shouldn't be a source of contention (especially on this page), but a relief!

The most recent reply to this has been:

This guy (meaning me) is not calling the Word of God a perversion. He is making a play on words about different versions such as the NASB, NIV, NKJV, etc.. being perverted versions of the Word. Let's make the distinction here.The camp among IFBs which erroneously believes the KJV to be the only reliable translation even going so far as to elevate KJV to inspired status, commits numerous logical and scholastic errors. Over the years, I have seen the fruit of this legalistic thinking morph itself into its own doctrine on par with the Apostolic creeds, even the Word of God itself. The doctrine become so all encompassing that it supplants all other teachings and the subject of discipleship becomes making sure everyone understands the supremacy of their doctrine rather than becoming more like Christ. These sects tend to be militant as most any legalistic system tends to be. Following the rules become the important aspect of life. Breaking of the rules calls for harsh condemnation. Grace is a foreign concept to these people.

This is supposed to be a forum for Independent Fundamental Baptists, so it's really sad that these people have been so indoctrinated by modern worldly philosophies, and influenced by the devil's alterations of the Word of God. This is just another reason why you young people out there need to rise up and tow the line. Don't let people like this define Christianity!

www.SoulWinning.info

If you want an absolutely incredible soul winning resource page, check out http://www.soulwinning.info/. I believe this page is operated by the same people who publish http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/. I found these as I was browsing sites that have MP3 sermons available for download. There are a ton here, as well as links to good tract producers and you can even listen to Shelton Smith do his Sword of the Lord broadcast! If you are a soul winner, or you are aspiring to become one, this is a great place to start.

Teen soulwinning has been something we've enjoyed in our ministry during the longer summer evenings. It's a neat activity because it gives teens who otherwise don't get exposure to serving God in this capacity a place to learn under the supervision of their youth director. If you want your teenagers to develop a heart for God and a desire to win the lost, get them out there knocking doors and sharing the gospel!

Compare

The following was written by Dr. Arthur Maricle, Pastor:

"The fundamental dividing line between Biblical Christianity and the cults is the authority of the Bible. The world's largest, oldest, wealthiest, best organized, and most dangerous cult is Roman Catholicism.

For Romanism to preserve its membership in the face of aggressive evangelism on behalf of fundamentalist Christians (like us), she must convince her followers that her dogmas are rooted in Scripture. She has even been sly enough to convince liberal theologians and backslidden evangelicals that she is "biblically correct", and thereby enhance her attractiveness to those who value peace over truth in the ecumenical movement

.
How does a Catholic theologian handle the difficulties inherent in convincing a rational adult human being that his religion, which is the antithesis of true Christianity, is Christian? And how does he make his church's pagan beliefs and practices appear to be Biblical (which is like asking how one goes about making an outhouse resemble the White House)?"

For the rest of the article, go to "Compare".

Spin Story Of The Year...

A good friend sent this to me.

This is how stories get changed to protect important figures...

Judy Wallman, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered
that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, was hanged
for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only
known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the
back of the picture is this inscription:

'Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885,
escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by
Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.'

Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton for comments.

Hillary's staff of professional image adjusters sent back the
following biographical sketch:

'Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His
business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian
assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning
in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a
government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings
with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital
investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In
1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in
his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.'


And THAT is how it's done folks!

TeenFocus

If you are in Youth Ministry, you understand how vital it is to keep coming up with new and fresh ideas. TeenFocus is a resource that has been created for that purpose and is full of sermons, ideas, and help for youth workers. An excerpt from the site says:

Curt GoldsboroughYouth Pastor, Rogers City Baptist Church

"TeenFocus.com has been a great encouragement to me over the past months. The game and activity ideas are great, and the practical teaching on youth ministry has been a special blessing. I guess my favorite part is the forum where I can ask questions, toss around ideas, and discuss any and every area of youth ministry. It's fun, uplifting, and a breath of fresh air at a time when most youth ministry resources have gone liberal."

This is a service provided by Gospel Light Baptist Church and they charge a small subscription fee to subscribe ($5.95 currently). I believe it is well worth it. Check it out and let me know what you think!

National Youth Workers Conference

Brother Eric Capaci at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Hot Springs, AK has perhaps a heart for youth ministries more than any Pastor I know. Every year he hosts the National Youth Workers Conference which just this year expanded to the West Coast and was hosted at Brother Tim Ruhl's church, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Chico, Ca. This is an absolute must for any youth leader or worker who is looking for ideas, inspiration, and encouragement in the ministry. For a sampling of the messages that are preached, check out the website at http://gospellight.org/nywc2007.html.

Only a few more PayPerPosts

Hello all, thank you for being patient. The more I muse over this blog and what it's purpose in life is, the more clarity I gain on what the content should be. In thinking over it this weekend, I've decided that if it is going to go beyond being a source of entertainment and an outlet for my rants, I need to add valuable resources that will be beneficial to my target audience. When I realized this, I also realized I needed a target audience. While it currently focuses on all things Independent Fundamental Baptist, I believe that may be too broad a subject to cover. There are ample resources out there for Independent Fundamental Baptists already, so I am going to narrow the focus even further to Independent Fundamental Baptist youth ministries. Since this is what I am actively involved in, I want to provide helps for Youth Directors while keeping the site interesting and fun for the youth themselves. I do want to encourage all of you who currently read my blog but do not fall into either of those categories not to despair. You are still welcome, and I value your loyalty!

"Brother David, what about your money-making efforts?" you may ask. I'm glad you did. My other blog, Spare Change will be focused on earning extra money. Be aware however, that in order to get it started on PayPerPost, I have to fulfill 10 posting opportunities on this blog. I will try to make them as painless as possible, but I wanted you all to know it's not permanent.

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youth ministry help

Send Me Your Soul Winning Stories

We went door knocking and once again encountered some bitter people. I had a guy tell me that he isn't religious, but if there was a God everyone would go to Heaven, so the Bible must be wrong. How can a man who doesn't believe in God presume to know what God is like? That didn't make sense to me...

Anyway, I want to hear your craziest, scariest, most outlandish soul winning story. I want to hear about the time you were chased by dogs, attacked by bees, punched in the nose, arrested, burned at the stake...you get the idea. Email them to me at dgscott4@comcast.net or write them in a comment. I will post the best ones on the blog. If you don't have any, quit playing with your computer, get out there and make something happen!

She was so blonde that...

She thought a quarterback was a refund.
She managed to trip over my cordless phone.
On the bottom of the job application where it said 'Sign Here' she wrote 'Aquarias'.
She sent me a fax with a stamp on it.
She told me to meet her on the corner of "Walk" and "Don't Walk".
She tried to place a bag of M&M's in alphabetical order.
She put lipstick on her forehead because she wanted to make up her mind.
She took a ruler to bed so she could see how long she slept.
When she got an AM radio, it took her 10 month to figure out she could use it at night.
She spent 25 minutes staring at the Orange juice box cos it said - "concentrate"
She got stabbed in a Shoot out.
She used to sit on the tv so she could watch the couch.
She tried to drown a fish.
If you offered her a Penny for her thoughts, you'd get change.
She got locked in a grocery store and starved to death.
She took a Spoon to the Super Bowl.
It takes her 2 hours to watch 60 Minutes.
She asked for a Price-check at the 'Everythings a Pound' store.
They had to burn her school down to get her outta 4th grade.
When I was drowning in a lake and screaming out for a life saver she asked: "Grape or Cherry?" She thought Meow Mix was a record for Cats.
She thought that Taco Bell was a Mexican phone company.