The Lost Book of Abraham DVD and the Deception of the Mormon Church

The Book of Abraham is a little known book located in The Pearl of Great Price written by the founder of the Mormon religion, Joseph Smith. Smith claimed that the original manuscript he translated back in the 1800s was originally written by the Abraham of the Bible. Could Joseph Smith be right? Could this book belong in the canon of Scripture as Mormons claim?

Watch this very well done documentary by IRR (the Institute for Religious Research, a Christian apologetics ministry), and learn the truth about this book. You'll see the compelling evidence that The Book of Abraham was another fraudulent attempt by Joseph Smith to deceive his followers.

Click here to purchase this DVD in our online store (on SALE for $12.95)
This award-winning, 55 minute video documentary includes English and Spanish options. Loan it to your Mormon friends, and ask them what they think about it.

Charles Darwin Believed that God Exists

I'm doing some research on evolution for the Spanish edition of my book, One Minute Answers to Skeptics (due out later this year) and I came across an interesting quote by Charles Darwin. I found it in Antony Flew's book, There Is A God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. Flew, who is the atheist referred to in the title, points out that even Charles Darwin believed in God’s existence.

Darwin said, “[Reason tells me of the] extreme difficulty or rather impossibility of conceiving this immense and wonderful universe, including man with his capability of looking far backwards and far into futurity, as the result of blind chance or necessity. When thus reflecting I feel compelled to look to a First Cause having an intelligent mind in some degree analogous to that of man; and I deserve to be called a Theist ” (p. 106).

This is an interesting admission by the man who many atheists believe liberated them from belief in God. Darwin realized his theory was only an attempt to show how life may have evolved, not how the universe originated. The theory of evolution does nothing to show how the universe came into being.

June13: "Contending for the Faith Apologetics Conference"

Would you like to learn how to contend for the faith and answer the difficult questions that nonbelievers ask? Then join Ron Rhodes, Greg Koukl, Don Stewart and me at Calvary Chapel Downey, in Downey, California, on Saturday, June 13 for the "Contending for the Faith Apologetics Conference."

Here's the schedule:
7:00 - 8:00 - Registration (cost $5)
8:00 - 8:30 - Worship and Welcome
8:30 - 9:30 - Session 1 Greg Koukl (Bad Arguments Against Religion)
9:30 - 9:40 - Break
9:40 - 10:45 - Session 2 Don Stewart (Ten Reasons to Trust the Bible)
10:45 - 10:55 - Break
10:50 - 12:00 - Session 3 Ron Rhodes (Why Does God Allow Evil and Suffering?)
12:00 - 1:30 - Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 - Session 4 Charlie Campbell (Answers to Skeptics Questions)

Click here for a map. We hope to see you there! God bless.

Rob Bell's Confused Gospel

I've been teaching quite a bit on the Emerging Church Movement over the past two years. If you're not up to speed on this dangerous movement that is taking place within the Christian community, I encourage you to listen to my presentation by clicking here.

I continue to keep my eye on the movement and stay abreast of what the leaders of the movement are saying. Tonight I was reading a recent interview that Rob Bell did in Christianity Today. I found his response to a simple question about the gospel absolutely baffling. Rob Bell's gospel is a confusing distortion of the gospel in the Bible. Here was the question...

QUESTION: "How would you present this gospel on Twitter?"
ANSWER: "I would say that history is headed somewhere. The thousands of little ways in which you are tempted to believe that hope might actually be a legitimate response to the insanity of the world actually can be trusted. And the Christian story is that a tomb is empty, and a movement has actually begun that has been present in a sense all along in creation. And all those times when your cynicism was at odds with an impulse within you that said that this little thing might be about something bigger—those tiny little slivers may in fact be connected to something really, really big." –Rob Bell

What? Where's the cross? Where's the mention of Jesus? Where's the mention of sin, forgiveness, repentance, faith in Christ, salvation, or everlasting life? Contrast Rob's answer with the New Testament gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1ff ("Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures") or John 3:16, 1 Timothy 1:15, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 10:9-10, etc.

The gospel that the Emerging Church leaders are preaching is not the gospel of the New Testament. "I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them" (Romans 16:17).

For a long list of troubling quotes by Emerging Church leaders, click here.

Hermeneutics 101: Interpret Scripture with Scripture

A correct interpretation of the Bible will always be consistent with the rest of the Scriptures. Therefore, it is essential for us as students of the Bible to interpret a passage in light of what the rest of the Scriptures say on the topic. There are Scriptures that are somewhat confusing. Peter himself tells us that (2 Ptr. 3:16)! When that is the case, rather than seeking to make an interpretation based on one verse, it is essential to examine other, perhaps more clear, passages of Scripture.

You recall there in the wilderness, Jesus was fasting for 40 days, when Satan came along to tempt him. We see there in that temptation something pretty interesting. Satan knows the Word of God. He seeks to lead Jesus astray from the will of His Father, by quoting Psalm 91:11.

Satan said, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone (Matthew 4:6).'" [Satan left out an important phrase form that original phrase. He left out the phrase, “in all Your [God’s] ways.” According to the psalmist, a person is protected only when he is following the Lord's will.]

But Jesus replied by interpreting Scripture with Scripture. What did He do? He quoted Deuteronomy 6:16: “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.” Jesus used Scripture to interpret Scripture when he was tempted by the devil. By doing this, Jesus was saying to us that a passage of Scripture must be understood in the light of those clearer and more expressive Scriptures.

So, if the section of Scripture that you are seeking to interpret seems difficult, or vague, go to a clearer passage that speaks on the same subject more thoroughly. This is important to do, or you can easily come to wrong conclusions.

Now, look with me at John chapter 10. I’d like to show you how failing to follow this rule has led to a wrong interpretation (this is just one of many examples that could be cited). Notice that in v. 15 Jesus said, “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" ( John 10:15). We might conclude, based on what Jesus says here, that the death He died on the cross was only for the sheep. And that is what some have concluded. There are Christians today who believe that Jesus’ death on the cross only paid the price for a select group. They call this teaching “limited atonement.” But we need to check Scripture with Scripture. When you do, what do you find out? You find out that Jesus died on the cross for everybody.

1 John 2:2 says, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 Timothy 2:6 says that Jesus “gave Himself a ransom for all.” “Then,” someone might ask, “why not are all people saved?” Because the forgiveness of sins does not occur until a person turns from His sins to the Lord and places His trust in Jesus (Acts 17:30, John 3:16, 1 Jn. 5:12). Christ’s atonement is unlimited, but it’s application is limited only to those who believe. If a person insists on opposing God and rejecting Him, then what Christ did on the cross for that person will not be applied to them. God will not force His salvation upon somebody who does not want it. John 3:16 says, “Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Unbelief is the reason that some do not receive the benefits of Christ’s death.

So, be careful not to base your conclusions, or build your interpretation of a Scripture on a single Scripture, but on Scripture as a whole. Scripture is the best interpreter of itself. Because that is the case, the first commentary you should consult on a passage is what the rest of the Scriptures have to say on the topic being examined. Commentaries, concordances, indexes in the back of your Bible and books on systematic theology can be very helpful in pointing out other verses on topics that you may be unfamiliar with.

So, let Scripture interpret Scripture; incredibly simple and yet so important to put into practice!

Getting Yelled at by a Jewish Lady!

I had a pretty crazy experience a few nights ago as I was flying home from JFK (New York City) to LAX (Los Angeles). I had just had a wonderful weekend teaching at a Calvary Chapel in New Jersey. I was sitting near the back of a sold out Boeing 757, next to the window. The man next to me was an older orthodox Jew named Bob on his way home to California. I had a great conversation with him about Israel, archaeological ruins, Judaism, Bible prophecy, Islam, evidence for the existence of God, etc.

I asked him a lot of questions about Judaism to see if what I had learned about modern day Judaism in the books was really what the average Jew on the street believed today (it was!). It was a delightful conversation. We shared many laughs. Well, after a while I began to ask him questions about the messiah (e.g., How will you know who the messiah is? What will he do?). Most Jews today have rejected the possibility that Jesus is their messiah and believe that the messiah is still yet to come. I followed up those questions by asking him some questions regarding his view of certain passages in the Old Testament that I believe clearly point to Jesus (e.g., Isaiah 53, Daniel 9:26-27) and specifically His death. Jews today do not believe the messiah is going to come and die, but rule and reign as a king.

Well, on more than one occasion he had to admit that the questions were good questions but that he did not have an answer. I then got to explain the Christian perspective on these passages. He really seemed to enjoy hearing our perspective. I think he was a bit surprised that a Christian was so familiar with the Old Testament. (Many Jews believe Christians have sort of cast aside the Old Testament. Why? Well because they think that we think it is old, as in outdated or irrelevant, which of course is not the case).

I think some seeds were planted and I was thanking the Lord for allowing us to sit next to each other. I decided to give him some breathing room to think about what I had said. So I put on my headphones, but then a short time later, to my shock, he tapped me on the shoulder wanting to continue the conversation.

He brought up the Trinity. He said, "What do you think about the Trinity? Do you believe in the Trinity?" I said "Yes" and began explaining the doctrine to him (again from the Old Testament). Well, I was not prepared for what was about to happen.

As I was explaining the Christian view point on this, his wife (a woman probably in her sixties) who was sitting in the row in front of us, unbuckled her seat belt, stood up, turned around and started yelling at us (no exaggeration!):

"Stop talking about Jesus!! Stop it! Stop it! Why are you guys talking about Jesus?? Hunh? I can't take it anymore!! You are giving me a headache!!! I am going to tell the stewardess to separate you!! Why?? Why? Why must you talk about Jesus? That's all you want to talk about! Whhhhyyyyy???"

Bob was scared! She was angry! So what did Bob do? Did he rebuke her for seeking to rob us of our first amendment rights? No. Did he tell her to calm down? No. He was like a deer caught in the headlights of a mad drunk man with his foot on the gas. Bob froze and slowly sunk down into his chair. That was the end of our conversation. For the sake of his marriage and the rest of the people on the plane I didn't seek to continue it either. And I'll admit, there were some thoughts of self-preservation mixed in there as well.

There was not another word for two hours. I put my headphones on and started reading my book. A little while later it dawned on me. I can write a note to Bob! So I tore out a blank page of paper from the back of my book and wrote Bob a note. As I wrote I was catapulted back in time to the third grade. I felt like I was a little kid seeking to avoid being detected writing and passing notes. Well, there was to be no passing of notes. When I was finished, Bob was absorbed in an in-flight movie. So I stuck the letter in my shirt pocket to wait for a more opportune time.

As our 757 came down through the smog, uh, I mean clouds, over Los Angeles, I thought "It's now or never. I've got to give him the note." Well, as I was thinking this, Bob slowly turned to me and very quietly (understandably!) whispered, "Do you have a card?" I smiled, pulled the note out of my shirt pocket and successfully slipped it into his hands. He smiled back. And with that smile I knew he was acknowledging we had successfully gone undetected by his wife. We got off the plane and that was the last I saw of Bob and his wife.

My heart's desire and my prayer to God for Bob and his wife is for their salvation (Romans 10:1). Would you say a prayer for them?

If you would like help witnessing to a Jewish friend, check out our link on Judaism. Much of what I shared with Bob can be found right there on our website. Blessings to you!

Good Friday Should Probably Be Good Thursday

One of the questions I often receive from people when I teach on evidence for the resurrection or apparent contradictions in the Bible concerns Jesus' statement regarding the number of days and nights He would spend in the grave. The question goes like this:

“Jesus said He would spend three days and three nights in the grave (see Matthew 12:40) so how was that fulfilled if Jesus was crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday morning? That seems at best like three days and two nights, but Jesus specifically said three nights.”

Well, what do we say to that? Critics of the Bible point to this passage in Matthew 12:40, then look at all of the “Good Friday” services taking place, then do the math and conclude that Jesus couldn’t count or that the gospel writers erred. This is one of the most commonly cited “contradictions” in the Bible. Well, the critics have overlooked something, as is often the case.

Here’s the solution to the apparent dilemma: Jesus was not crucified on Friday (as churches traditionally celebrate); He was crucified on Thursday.

Let me walk you through some of the reasons I believe this to be the case. First, nowhere in the Bible are we told that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Many people have concluded that He was crucified on a Friday because it says in Mark’s gospel that Joseph of Arimathea came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body “the day before the Sabbath” (Mark 15:42). People read that and conclude that the Sabbath that is mentioned here (and Luke 23:54) refers to the Saturday Sabbath that the Jews observed every seventh day of the week (Exodus 20:8-11). “If that is the case” they say, “Jesus must have been crucified on Friday.”

What they overlook though is that the weekly Saturday Sabbath is not the only Sabbath the Jews were told to observe. Leviticus 23:5-7 says that the Jews were to observe a special Sabbath the day after Passover. Here is what the passage says:

5 “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover. 6 Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work (Leviticus 23:5-7).” (See also Exodus 12:12-16)

Ahh, did you see that? There is a special Sabbath (a day of no work) the day after the Passover, no matter what day of the week Passover fell on. So, question for you: What feast was going on the day Jesus was crucified? Passover (verses like John 18:28 make that clear). The timing of Jesus’ death was no accident. The events of the first Passover in the book of Exodus (when the Lord passed over the homes that had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts) foreshadowed the time when God would provide a way for our sins to be passed over through the blood of a lamb–the Lamb of God, Jesus (John 1:29)–who would take away the sins of the world.

So Jesus was crucified on the Passover, just as God had planned. Passover happened in the first month of the Jewish calendar, every year, on the fourteenth day of the month. What happened the next day? The Feast of Unleavened Bread began and according to Leviticus 23:7, there was to be no work done. That is the Sabbath that is being referred to in the New Testament gospels. And John even confirms that this Sabbath, the day after Jesus’ crucifixion, was a special one. He says:

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away (John 19:31).”

Passover Sabbaths were known as "high days." Every Sabbath day was a holy day to the Jews but this was a "high day," megale hemera in the Greek, which literally means "a great day."

So, knowing that there was a Sabbath the day after the Passover frees us up to back up the day of the crucifixion. We are not bound to a Friday crucifixion with a Saturday Sabbath. We can safely assume the crucifixion happened on Thursday and that Jesus’ own prophecy in Matthew 12:40 was fulfilled just as He said:

“Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).”

Thursday – Friday: Day 1 / Night 1
Friday – Saturday: Day 2 / Night 2
Saturday – Sunday: Day 3 / Night 3

So, with a little investigation into the Old Testament another alleged error in the Bible is laid to rest. The Bible is absolutely trustworthy and it proves to be so the more we investigate it.

Some of you brothers and sisters in the faith are probably saying, “Now hold on here a second Charlie before you go signing off, are you saying we shouldn’t celebrate on Good Friday?”

Absolutely not. I think we should celebrate what God accomplished through Christ’s crucifixion every day. If your church is having a Good Friday service, go and be blessed. Give the Lord the praise and thanks He is due! But give thanks to Him on Thursday and on Saturday and on Tuesday, and you get my point.

But, having said that, if I was a leading a church congregation as a senior pastor, I would talk to my congregation about the timing of the crucifixion next year and announce that we are going to start doing a “Good Thursday” service. Then I would put together a write up for the office counter or church bulletin each subsequent Easter explaining why our church does things a little bit different.

Many blessings on you!

NEW TIMELINE on Daniel 9: "The Backbone of Bible Prophecy"

If you are interested in learning more about "the seventy weeks of Daniel" prophecy (often called the 'backbone' of all Bible prophecy), we posted a prophecy timeline (click here) that I created for an eschatology class I taught a few years ago along with some of my commentary on Daniel chapter 9. I think you'll find it quite helpful as you study this important section of Scripture.

NOTE: To print out any of my timelines to scale (as they were originally designed), you'll need to put in 8.5 x 14" paper in your printer. They will print on 8.5 x 11" paper, but the font will be pretty small.

Don't Mention Jesus?

I was invited by Campus Crusade for Christ and the college pastor at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills to give a talk tonight at Cal Poly Pomona, in California. The Christian clubs on campus are putting on what is called "Gospel Awareness Week" this week and are having different speakers give talks on lots of different subjects with the hope that the Christians on campus will invite their non-believing friends out to hear. My talk was scheduled for 8:00PM tonight.

Fifteen minutes before I was to begin, someone from the school informed the Campus Crusade for Christ leaders that the speaker (me) could not mention Jesus. The leaders came to me and said that there was a dilemma. They shared what they were told and I thought, "This sounds like something right out of the book of Acts...And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus." Acts 4:18). The Crusade leadership asked me, "Do you mention Jesus in your talk?"

That would be a yes.

And I mention sin, repentance and hell.

"Do you have any other talks?"

Plenty. Do you want me to switch topics?

"Well, do those mention Jesus?"

Yes. (I don't give a talk without mentioning Jesus.)

Well, after some deliberation they gave me their thumbs up and said, "Just go for it." Again my mind was drifting toward the book of Acts. ("Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" Acts 4:19-20).

So I went ahead and gave the talk in its entirety just as I had planned on originally. In the talk, entitled "The Universe and the Love of God," I mentioned Jesus, sin, repentance, hell and gave a sinner's prayer at the end.

What happened when it was over? Were we ushered off by the campus security?

No.

Were we tackled by angry students?

No. Nothing happened.

The entire talk went uninterrupted and I even had a couple of good conversations with students afterwards. Why the threats up front then, when nothing materialized from it? I believe Satan was trying to mess up the evening and cause me to lose my footing. He loves to see Christians retreat in silence. Well, we give thanks to the Lord that He was watching over us and that His Word was able to go forth unhindered. But, there's a reason I share all of this with you.

I want to encourage you to pray for the young men and women who are leading Christian groups on college campuses. They are involved in an important work but are in a seriously dark spiritual war zone. They need our encouragement and prayers. If you don't know a college pastor who is involved in this kind of work at your own church, pray for my friend Jeff Manion at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California. He is doing a great work at Cal Poly Pomona.

King Herod's Tomb Almost Certainly Found

I wrote about this some back in May of 2007 when the dig was in its early stages, but Fox News recently did a follow up story on the discovery of what is appearing to be the burial place of Herod mentioned in the New Testament. Click here to read the story.

Zeitgeist Update

Today we totally revamped and lengthened our analysis and response to the online video Zeitgeist by addressing previously unadressed issues (Horus, the Zodiac, Astrology, etc.) and adding some images to make the page more interesting to look at. This is the NUMBER ONE visited page on our entire website month after month. This is very telling of how persuasive this dangerous video has been. Please pray that God would direct people who have stumbled in their faith to this page.

Paul's Eagerness to Share the Gospel is Inspiring!

In Romans 1:15, Paul wrote, "So, as much as is in me, I am ready [the NASB says “eager”] to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also." Paul’s readiness and eagerness to preach the gospel amazes me! He had at this point in his life already been...

1. Stoned in Galatia (Acts 14:19)
2. Imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:23-24)
3. Smuggled out of Berea (Acts 17:4)
4. Chased out of Thessalonica (Acts 17:10)
5. Laughed at in Athens (Acts 17:32)
6. Regarded as a fool in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23)

But nevertheless, Paul remained eager to go and preach the gospel in Rome, a dangerous place, the center of political power and pagan religion. This guy was unstoppable. How can this be? How can a person possess this kind of perseverance? How can a person have this kind of boldness and courage, where neither ridicule, criticism, nor physical persecution stop him? Well, of course, this is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work (Acts 1:8). But there is something else about Paul that I think we must note in Acts 20:22-24. Paul said,

"And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

That’s the key. Paul knew his life was in the Lord’s hands. He didn’t count his life dear to himself. He was willing to lose his life for the Lord, because he had already died to himself. It was no longer him who lived (Galatians 2:20). That is the mindset of a person who is unstoppable.

God, I pray that You would make us unstoppable! Work into us the perseverance, love, boldness and courage we need to reach out to lost and the dying. You helped Paul overcome stonings, imprisonments, shipwrecks; surely You can help us through our setbacks and discouragements. We place ourselves at your feet Lord. Use us. Empower us. Even this week! Amen.

Questions to Ask When Reading Your Bible

I like to read the Bible to my kids at the dining room table every night after dinner. When I'm done reading I like to ask them, "What lessons might we get out of what we just read?" I love to hear their thoughts and responses, which are often times amazing for their ages and sometimes quite humorous. Sometimes the lessons are obvious. Other times, we really have to think, "How might this apply to us?" Well, to help draw the lessons out of the text for myself and my kids I like to ask seven questions of the text...

1. Are there commands to obey?
2. Are there examples to follow?
3. Are there errors or stumbling blocks to avoid?
4. Are there sins to forsake?
5. Are there promises to believe and rejoice in?
6. Are there principles to live by?
7. Are there truths about God to trust in?

These questions have been so helpful to me in my own study time. I suggest that you write these down in the back of your Bible. The next time you read through a section of Scripture and are tempted to shut your Bible and say, "I don't know how that applies to me," refer to this list of questions and go back over the verses you've read and watch what happens. I bet you'll be blessed. God's Word is amazing and full of treasures for the person who is willing to do a little mining.

Norman Geisler Reviews THE SHACK

Dr. Norman Geisler has recently put out a brief critique of the runaway best seller The Shack. As I've discovered in reading the book myself, there are numerous problems with the book doctrinally. Geisler breaks the problems down into fourteen categories:

Problem One: A Rejection of Traditional Christianity
Problem Two: Experience Trumps Revelation
Problem Three: The Rejection of Sola Scriptura
Problem Four: An Unbiblical View of the Nature and Triunity of God
Problem Five: An Unbiblical View of Punishing Sin
Problem Six: A False View of the Incarnation
Problem Seven: A Wrong View of the Way of Salvation
Problem Eight: A Heretical View of the Father Suffering
Problem Nine: A Denial of Hierarchy in the Godhead
Problem Ten: Ignoring the Crucial Role of the Church in Edifying Believers
Problem Eleven: An Inclusivistic View of Who Will be Saved
Problem Twelve: A Wrong View of Faith and Reason
Problem Thirteen: It Eliminates Knowledge of God
Problem Fourteen: It Entails Divine Deception

If you have friends or family members who have read the book, I encourage you to read Geisler's review and then talk to them about it.

Apologetics Conference in Santa Barbara, Feb. 7th

If you live in or near Santa Barbara, California, join me at a free "Contending for the Faith" Conference on Saturday, February 7th from 8AM -3PM. Click here for more details.

Turning the Tables on Skeptics

Has a skeptic or nonbeliever ever told you something like:

~ "Jesus never said He was God."
~ "All religions are basically the same."
~ "The Bible has undergone corruption and cannot be trusted."
~ "The Bible is full of contradictions."
~ "Darwinism has disproved God's existence."

Many Christians are left speechless at such words. This need not be the case. Rather than go into defensive mode (i.e. trying to explain the ways that Jesus did claim to be God, or how the manuscript evidence proves the Bible has not undergone corruption), go on the offense. Put the burden of proof back upon the person who is making the assertion. Ask a simple question or two like, "How did you come to that conclusion?" or "Why should I believe that to be the case?" or "What evidence do you have that that is actually true?" Simple questions like these can accomplish three things:

1. They help build relationship. Nobody likes to sit through a one-sided monologue.
2. They help buy you some time to think of how to respond to the issue.
3. They help expose the fact that most skeptics and unbelievers do not really know why they believe what they believe. Once they see that that is the case, they may be more open to hearing what you have to say. For more help along these lines, pick up a copy of our DVD: How to Expose the Faith of Atheists, Skeptics and Critics.

Do Our Loved Ones Go to Heaven Immediately?

One of the questions I am often asked has to do with the death of loved ones. Here is a recent example from an email we received:

Q. "I was wondering how I could find out the meaning of when the Rapture happens the dead in Christ shall rise. It is my understanding that when my son died as a Christian he immediately was in the presence of the Lord. But when I hear the other I am confused. Can you explain that to me? Thank you so much." -N.E.

Excerpts from my response: The Bible teaches that the believer who dies today goes immediately into the presence of God. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and [what?] to be present [where?] with the Lord.” A believer who dies goes into the very presence of the Lord.

In Philippians 1:21-23, Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart [Where??? Into the ground until the resurrection? No. He says “having a desire to depart…] and be with Christ, which is far better." Paul realized that death would mean he would go to “be with Christ.”

Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me [where?] in Paradise." Where is Paradise? Revelation 2:7 tells us that Paradise in the presence of God.

When the Bible speaks of the dead in Christ rising (1 Thess. 4:16) it is speaking of their bodies being resurrected and reunited with their perfected spirits who have been with the Lord since the time of their death. So yes, you can rest assured your son is with the Lord right now. At the Rapture of the church, we who are alive shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and at the same time, the graves are going to be opened and the "dead in Christ" (a reference to believers who have died before this event) will be resurrected and there is going to be one happy reunion...a reunion that will never end. We look forward to this glorious time! Lord come quickly. Hope this helps you sister. God bless you.

For additional help related to this topic, see our DVD: THE END TIMES: Ten Upcoming Events in Bible Prophecy

The Journey from Atheism to Belief in God

I've just finished a fascinating new book entitled There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind by Antony Flew. If you have friend, a father, or perhaps a boss, who is a hardened atheist and you've tried sharing with them to no avail, then this new book is a great resource to put in their hand.

Antony Flew, a former Oxford professor and long time champion of atheism, shares with his readers how recent scientific discoveries have changed his mind. Antony Flew now believes God must exist. It is fascinating reading. Although he is not a Christian yet, he does believe that Christianity is the most viable of all of the world's religions and he even allows N.T. Wright (an Oxford New Testament scholar) to close off the book with a powerful case for Jesus' resurrection. (This alone reinforces my own belief in God!) Then in one last reflection to end the book, Flew says, "I am very much impressed with Bishop Wright's approach, which is absolutely fresh...It is absolutely wonderful, absolutely radical, and very powerful" (p. 213). These are astonishing words to hear Antony Flew saying and I believe insightful concerning what God is doing in his life. Pray for his conversion and salvation. You can purchase this great new book in our online store (click here).

Expelled Out on DVD

I was too busy earlier this year to get to the movie theater to watch Ben Stein's documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, on the Intelligent Design movement. I finally watched it a few days ago on DVD and thought it was great. If you haven't seen it, you can watch the trailer here. If you'd like to buy a copy on DVD, you can buy it here.

Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, Chuck Smith, Raul Ries and Charlie Campbell at Day Long Seminar: January 17, 2009

If you live in southern California, mark your calendars for Saturday, January 17th. Dr. Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, Chuck Smith, Raul Ries and myself will be speaking at a free all day apologetics and Bible prophecy seminar, "The Challenge to the Church in the Last Days," at Calvary Chapel Golden Springs in Diamond Bar. As is typical with most Calvary Chapel, church-sponsored events, there is no cost! (God is good!) Nor do you have to register. That makes it easy. Just show up with your Bibles, a pen and a note pad and get blessed! Here is a map and driving directions. The day gets started at 8:00AM (Doors open at 7:00AM) and goes until 4:30PM. Lunch will be available for $8. Invite some friends and we hope to see you there.

NEW DVD: If God is Loving, Why is there Evil and Suffering?

At the top of the many people's list of questions about God is, “If God exists and is loving, why does He allow evil and suffering?” In this new 60 minute long DVD, I explore the problem of evil, demonstrate that there are some very good reasons why God allows evil, and reveal how the presence of evil in the world actually turns out to be strong evidence for God’s existence.

If there's one issue Christians need to be prepared to answer when it comes to talking with skeptics and nonbelievers about God, the problem of evil is it!

This widescreen DVD includes many of the images that I use in my PowerPoint presentation. Click here to purchase ($11.95)

The Battle for the Bible Conference, March 7, 2009

Veritas Evangelical Seminary (VES) and the Calvary Chapel Bible College, is hosting their annual worldview conference on Saturday, March 7, 2009 in southern California. This year's theme is:

THE BATTLE FOR THE BIBLE.







Speakers include VES professors:

• Norman Geisler (Reliability of the New Testament)
  
• J. Randall Price (Dead Sea Scrolls and Reliability)
• Ron Rhodes (End Times Prophecy and the Bible)
• Steven Collins (Archaeology and Reliability)
• Sasan Tavassoli (The Qur'an and the Bible)
  

Time: 8:30-4:30PM
Where: 39407 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Murrieta, CA 92563 (Auditorium)
VES Seminary Phone: 951-698-6389
Entry: $20 (at the door, seating is limited)

I hope to see you there! It's going to be a great day of teaching!

NEW EDITION of our best selling DVD

We've recently released a new edition of our best selling DVD (Amazing Evidence for the Trustworthiness of the Bible). It's been totally reshot in a widescreen format, updated with new photographs of archaeological discoveries, etc. If you know of a lukewarm believer or a skeptic who has questions about the Bible, this is the DVD we recommend most. This 70 minute long DVD addresses:

- Archaeological Discoveries
- Fulfilled Prophecies
- Scientific Evidence
- The Dead Sea Scrolls
- The Martyrdom of the Disciples
- Extrabiblical Sources (e.g., Flavius Josephus)
- And More!

Click here for more details or to purchase ($11.95). I hope you enjoy it!! Blessings to you.

Why Are Christians in California Voting Yes on Proposition 8 (defining marriage as only between a man a woman)?

If you live in California and need help explaining to someone why you're voting YES on proposition 8, there is a great 8 page article here by Christian apologist Dr. Frank Turek. One of the things I like about his article is that he shows how it is possible to make a reasonable argument to protect traditional marriage and oppose the legalization of homosexual marriage without appealing to the Bible. I, as you know, am not opposed to appealing to the Bible. But if you are talking to a person who has a low view of Scripture, this may not be a very effective approach.

Below is a brief overview of his argument (his full length article fleshes out each of the points in more depth).

1. Traditional marriage is beneficial to the public welfare.
2. Homosexual behavior is destructive to the public welfare.
3. The law is a great teacher; it encourages or discourages behavior and attitudes.
4. Legalization of homosexual marriage would encourage more homosexual behavior, which is inherently destructive. It also would weaken the perceived importance of traditional marriage and its parenting role, thereby resulting in further destruction of the family and society itself.
5. The law should endorse behaviors that are beneficial and restrain (or certainly not endorse) behaviors that are destructive.
6. Therefore, the law should endorse traditional marriage and it should restrain (or certainly not endorse) homosexual marriage.

Click here for full article.

Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity

There is an amazing story on Fox News this evening about the conversion of Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of Hamas's leader, converting from Islam to Christianity. He says his conversion came about "after I studied Christianity — which I had a big misunderstanding about, because I studied about Christianity from Islam, which is, there is nothing true about Christianity when you study it from Islam...When I studied the Bible carefully verse by verse, I made sure that that was the book of God, the word of God for sure, so I started to see things in a different way..." God is awesome. Lord we pray for Mosab that You would bless him greatly for his courage in following Jesus! Give him Christian friends who can encourage him in his walk with You and help him to be a light to many more Muslims, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen. For help understanding Islam, click here.

Aplogetics Conference for Students, Aug. 23

I'll be teaching at an all day apologetics conference here in southern California, Saturday, August 23, 2008 at Calvary Chapel San Bernardino from 9:15AM to 4:00PM. The conference will be specifically geared for junior highers, high schoolers, and college students. Click here for a flier and more details.

The Gospel of Judas and National Geographic Exposed

World Magazine a Christian news magazine that I think every Christian subscribe to, has an interesting update on "the Gospel of Judas." Do you remember hearing about this supposed gospel written by Judas? It had the mainstream media abuzz two years ago. We addressed it on the ABR website here, but here is what World reported in a recent edition of their magazine.

"Two years ago a buzz swept through academia, marrying scholarship with popular culture on the pages of The New York Times and most every other major news outlet in the Western world. Judas Iscariot, the headlines proclaimed, was more hero than villain, more saint than scoundrel. With the unveiling of the first English translation of an ancient Coptic text titled "the Gospel of Judas," the National Geographic Society handed anti-Christian forces worldwide a perfect supplement to the biblical skepticism already unleashed in Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code.

"Now The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that April D. DeConick, professor of biblical studies at Rice University, almost immediately noticed troubling discrepancies in the translation of the text, carried out by her colleague Marvin Meyer, a professor of religious studies at Chapman University. The Coptic word daimon, for example, was rendered "spirit" in Meyer's version rather than its usual translation, "demon." The change helped portray Judas in a far better light than when Jesus addressed him by that name.

"In another passage, Meyer's translation declares that Judas "would ascend to the holy generation." But DeConick says a negative was left out, and the phrase should have said just the opposite. Overall, National Geographic's characterization of the text has proved grossly misleading. Eager to turn a profit on its $1 million investment in translation and distribution rights, the organization apparently sensationalized its discovery, filling its promotional materials with descriptions of Judas as "Jesus' closest friend" and "the most loyal of all the disciples."

"In reality, the text depicts a Judas who turned Jesus in as a sacrifice to a demon god named Saklas. That narrative squares with responsible academic opinions that the Gospel of Judas is nothing more than a Gnostic fantasy authored in the second century to legitimize a sectarian view of the life of Jesus. No evidence exists to suggest Judas as a possible author or the account as historically based. Scholars now agree it is fiction. But National Geographic isn't offering refunds." (Copyright © 2008 World Magazine, June 28, 2008, Vol. 23, No. 13).

The Real Murderers: Atheism or Christianity?

One of the criticisms that is commonly leveled against people of faith is that religion (and Christianity specifically) has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world. Have you heard that before? I'm sure most of you have. Is the claim true? What facts are there to back up this claim? Do you know how to respond to this claim? If you'd like help in responding to this assertion, Greg Koukl at Stand to Reason has a great one or two page article that tackles this problem head on. I think you'll find it worth reading. Click here to read.

Pray for Pastor Greg Laurie and His Family

Christopher Laurie, son of Pastor Greg Laurie and Cathe Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, went home to be with the Lord this morning in a car accident in Riverside. A resident of Huntington Beach, California, Laurie, 33, served as the art director at Harvest Christian Fellowship for the past three years.

In addition to his parents, Christopher is survived by his wife, Brittany, and daughter, Stella, as well as his brother Jonathan. Christopher and his wife are expecting another daughter in November.

Memorial plans for Christopher are pending. More information will be posted to the Harvest website as details become available. You may pass along condolences and thoughts for the Laurie family by posting a comment on pastor Greg's blog by clicking here.

Spurgeon on Hell

I'm preparing to teach a study on hell in a few days. In my research I came across a quote on hell that I thought was stirring and worth sharing. Charles Spurgeon: "If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for." Be praying for your friends and families without Christ and exhort them to trust in Christ before it is too late. Eternity is coming.

A Resurgence in Interest in Apologetics

Christianity Today (a magazine that I've pretty much given up on because of its support of the Emerging Church Movement) has a worthwhile article on the resurgence in Christian apologetics. Click here to read.

Thought Provoking Article on Burial vs. Cremation

Reading about death, cremation and burial is probably not on your list of things to consider right now (unless you know a loved one who is going home to be with the Lord soon, as was the case recently with my Grandma). But if you are weighing through this issue, there is a thought provoking, helpful, six page article on the topic here by Christian apologists Dr. Norman Geisler and Douglas Potter. They examine the common reasons given in favor of cremation, then respond, and then lay out a Scriptural case for burial rather than cremation. Here are a couple of excerpts:

"Burial Follows the Example of Christ. Jesus’ interment is described in great detail and was clearly a burial (Matt. 27:57–61; John 19:38–42). The fact that Jesus was resurrected three days later (according to Jewish reckoning), in the same body in which He died, gives assurance to the believer (John 20:1–30; Phil. 3:20–21). Burial not only shows respect for the body but it also symbolically anticipates its future — in the resurrection."

"Burial Symbolizes the Hope of Resurrection. As Paul taught, the very body that is sown perishable is raised an imperishable body (1 Cor. 15:42). This is best symbolized by burial, for it anticipates the final preservation of the body in the resurrection. The image presented of the dead being asleep (1 Thes. 4:13–18) is also preserved through burial."

"Another reason given in defense of cremation is that the Bible condemns humankind to return to dust (Gen. 3:19), and cremation only brings that condemnation to pass in a more speedy way. If the body will eventually become dust, then why not hasten it? Cremation seems to be an immediate fulfillment of what the Bible forecasts for all mortals. In short, if God ordained the natural process of returning to dust, then how can cremation be against the will of God?.... Simply because a human practice speeds up what God ordained does not mean it is right. God ordained that all fallen beings would die (Gen. 2:16–17; cf. Rom. 5:12), but this does not justify our killing them to speed up the process. God ordained pain (Gen. 3:16), but this does not mean we should inflict it on others. There is an important difference between what God can do and what we should do. Many babies naturally abort and most adults die naturally, but this does not justify our killing them (Exod. 20:13). Of course, there is a difference. The body is already dead before it is cremated; but this no more justifies cremating it than it does burning a flag because it is going to rot anyway. Again, there is significance in symbolism, and the symbolism of destroying a body that God created and that God will resurrect is the wrong message to send. Likewise, the simple fact that given time the body will turn to dust does not mean that we should turn it to dust immediately after death. God created the body, and He desires that we respect it even in death."

Click here for full article.

Personally, I'm hoping to be one of those who is alive and who remains when the Lord comes for His church (1 Thess. 4:15) for "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

31,000 Scientists Reject 'Global Warming' Agenda

Occasionally I am asked my opinion about the global warming fears that many have. First off I will say that I believe we should be excellent stewards with God's beautiful creation (Ps 24:1 says, "The earth is the LORD'S , and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.") I think we should recycle, throw our trash in the trash can, not throw out our used oil down the local sewer, etc. Having said that, I personally don't buy into Al Gore's radical conclusions and apparently, I am in good standing. World Net Daily reports today that, "More than 31,000 scientists across the United States, including more than 9,000 Ph.D.s in fields including atmospheric science, climatology, Earth science, environment and dozens of other specialties, have signed a petition rejecting "global warming," the assumption that the human production of greenhouse gases is damaging Earth's climate.

"There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate," the petition states. "Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth." Click here to read the rest of this article.

Rob Bell and Brian McLaren: Emerging or Submerging? Free MP3 Download.

I was at a youth pastor's conference in January. One of the workshops there was on the dangers of the Emerging Church (with an emphasis on the teachings of Rob Bell and Brian McLaren) by pastor and teacher Brian Brodersen (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa). If you'd like to listen to Brian's message on the Emerging Church, click here. For more information on the March 8 conference on the Emerging Church, click here.

Rob Bell's Book: Velvet Elvis

I am gearing up to teach on the Emerging Church at the Calvary Chapel Worldview Conference in southern California on March 8th (You're welcome to join us if you're able! Click here for info). One of the many books that I have read recently, in preparation for this topic, is Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. Whoa. I heard there was some questionable stuff in it, but I am absolutely blown away at how many times Bell maligns God's word. Over and over again Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Michigan, says things that are Scripturally aberrant and even heretical (e.g., belittling the virgin birth of Christ on p.26). I am astonished so many people who claim to be Christians have enjoyed this book! Do they have no discernment? Have they studied the Bible? Do they take seriously Scripture's charge to "test all things" (1 Thess. 5:21) or the Bereans example of searching the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11) to see if the things the apostle Paul taught them were in harmony with the Word of God?

If you want an indepth critique of Velvet Elvis, Mark Edward Sohmer has written a careful review of the book (click here to open the PDF file). We owe a large thank you to Mark for his insightful analysis of Bell's book. Sohmer's review also includes a critique of Rob Bell's "Nooma" video: "Bullhorn" (see Appendix B, p. 50).

Conference on The Emergent Church, March 8

Over the past six months there has been one issue that I have been asked about more than any other, and that is the "emerging church." Well, mark your calendars for Saturday, March 8th. The Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California is hosting their second annual worldview conference and is dedicating this year's conference to addressing the emergent church and exposing where the movement has drifted from the truth of God's word. Speakers will include Dr. Norman Geisler, Joe Holden, Lu Wing and myself. The cost is $10 at the door and includes lunch. The all-day conference starts at 8:30AM. Registration begins at 7:30AM. Mark your calendars: March 8th. We hope to see you there. Tell a friend. The address for the conference is: 39407 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., Murrieta, CA 92563

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

There are some Christians and so-called Christians (the Jehovah's Witnesses in particular) who frown upon the whole idea of celebrating Jesus' birth. They often say, "You know, nowhere in the Bible are we told to celebrate Christmas and there is no record that the early church did so." I say phooey on that. I believe we do have Scriptural justification to celebrate Christ's birth. Look at Luke chapter 2:13, shortly after an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds on the night of Christ's birth. It says that "a multitude of the heavenly host [angels] praising God, [were] saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." The angels of God seemed pretty celebratory about the birth of Christ, and I think we should be too. If that excitement over God's fulfillment of dozens of prophecies and the coming of the promised Savior and Messiah spills over into singing "Joy to the World," "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," and the giving of gifts to others, I think we are following right in the footsteps of God [who gave us a gift, e.g., John 3:16, James 1:17] and the angels of God. I think it brings great pleasure to God to see those who seek to make His Son the reason for the season. Sure, it's not something that God has commanded us to do (e.g., "Celebrate my Son's birth once a year!") but that may be why it blesses Him all the more. We are celebrating His gift, we are rejoicing in His coming, out of love for Him, not becase we have some command to obey. When my kids celebrate the fact that I'm their Dad, by making a gift, or telling me something sweet, I don't frown and say, "Stop it! I never commanded you to celebrate. Return the presents! Stop the kind comments!" No. I rejoice all the more that they would freely decide to celebrate (rejoice) all on their own. As you celebrate Jesus this Christmas with a pure heart, you can rest assured that God is delighted in your celebration. The angel told the shepherds, "Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good news of a great joy [sounds like reason to celebrate] which shall be for all the people [sounds like you and me!]; for today in the city of David there has been born fo you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." What a reason to celebrate not just this week, but every day!

I pray that all of you who visit this blog and our website have a very merry, blessed, joy-filled Christmas celebrating along with the angels "His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).

Possible Discovery of Nehemiah's Wall

Worldnet Daily reports that, "Dr. Eilat Mazar, one of Israel's top archaeologists, ended her presentation Wednesday to the 13th Annual Conference of the Ingeborg Rennert Center for Jerusalem Studies on "New Studies on Jerusalem," with a surprise announcement. She had discovered remnants of the fifth century B.C. wall built by Nehemiah, the account recorded in the Old Testament book of the same name." Click here to read the full story.

Reading Heresy Helps Our Faith? Hunh?

I taught at a church here in southern California recently. Afterwards, a few people were perusing the DVDs and books at our resource table. A lady told me, "I just bought a book at Costco to read on an upcoming vacation I'm taking. It's about Mary Magdalene and some of the gospels that the author said were lost. I read the back cover of the book when I got home and it said things about her that don't line up with the Bible. Do you think I should read that book or take one of these books that you have here at the table?" Well you probably know what I was about to say but before I could answer, another lady standing there at the table said, "Oh I would just read the book you got at Costco!"

Did I just hear what I think I heard? Before I could interject, she continued. "Reading books with a contrary point of view will only help strengthen your faith."

"Strengthen your faith?" I was thinking, "Did she ask you the question or me?" She continued, "It will help you know better what you believe!" I was stunned. I think the others listening in were as well. But she wasn't done, "That's why I read The Da Vinci Code!" she said, "It strengthened my faith. I don't see why Christians were so upset with that book." (Click here if you want to see why we we had a problem with The Da Vinci Code.)

Now that she was done, I immediately said that I disagreed and that our time as Christians was better spent reading factual, Biblically sound books that would strengthen and encourage our faith. The woman who asked the question agreed, and then picked up a copy of a book by Ron Rhodes (Answering the Objections of Atheists, Agnostics and Skeptics). Good choice. The other lady walked off.

The Bible warns us that "There will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words" (2 Peter 2:1-3). False teachings are destructive. They lead to the spiritual ruin of countless people. Elsewhere in the Bible, false teachings are likened to "gangrene" (2 Tim. 2:17) and the Bible warns that they lead to the "ruin of the hearers" and "upset the faith of some" (2 Tim. 2:14-18).

Be careful with what you read my friends. Many a Christian has had their faith shipwrecked after deciding to pick up a book by an enemy of the cross of Christ. I pray that the Lord gives you discernment and wisdom as to what you spend your time reading.

The Word of God Sets a Jehovah's Witness Free!

I taught a study on the Jehovah's Witnesses a few nights ago at Calvary Chapel in Escondido, California. A lady came up to me afterwards and said that she had been a Jehovah's Witness for twenty three years and that her parents had been full time "Pioneer" missionaries in Africa for twenty two years. She said that when they moved back to the United States they were treated like celebrities within Jehovah's Witness circles for their long faithful service in a foreign country. She said that one day back in the States she was flipping around on the radio looking for a station when she accidentally stumbled upon a Christian radio station. She said that the man who was reading from the Bible sounded so in love with the Word of God that it provoked her to jealousy! Here was a man, she thought, who wasn't even saved (you must be a Jehovah's Witness in order to be saved according to Watchtower theology) sounding more in love with the Word of God than she ever had been. She said that she determined that she would not be outdone by this man, so she decided to for the first time ever, just to read through a book of the Bible.

She mentioned something that I have known to be true and that is that Jehovah's Witnesses don't do much Bible reading. The Watchtower gives them so much homework to do every week in their Watchtower and Awake magazines, it leaves little time to just sit down and enjoy reading the Bible on their own.

So this woman decided to read through the Book of Revelation. Well, the simple reading of that book brought up some shocking realizations and questions for her. She said that Jesus appeared to be the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last (Rev. 22:12-13, 20 and 1:17), the very same titles ascribed to Almighty God the Father (Rev. 1:8). "But how could this be?" she thought. "Jesus is not God!" In a bit of a panic, she decided to write down her questions and meet with her mom. She insisted that her mom meet with her to answer her questions. When she got together with her mom, her mom broke down in tears and admitted that she had mentally left the Watchtower organization a few years earlier, over the same kind of discoveries. Her mom said that she did not want to rock the family boat by announcing that she no longer believed what the Watchtower organization had taught them. Her elderly mom was standing there next to her nodding her head and wiping away some tears as she was telling me all of this. I almost had to wipe a few tears away myself!

They are now Bible loving, Bible believing, born again Christians fellowshipping at a Bible teaching fellowship. What a joy and what a testimony to the power of the Word of God. Jesus said, "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32). God is good. Do you have a Jehovah's Witness friend? Perhaps you might share this story with them and encourage them (even challenge them!) to try reading the Bible on their own for a couple of months apart from the Watchtower literature and see what God might show them.

For a list of twenty reasons why Christians believe that Jesus is equal in nature with God the Father, click here.

Zeitgeist: The Movie; The Latest Attack on Jesus

Zeitgeist (a German phrase that means "the spirit of the age") is the name of an online video (first released in June 2007) that is making quite an impact on its viewers. In this video, Peter Joseph, the writer and director, seeks to persuade his viewers that the authors of the New Testament borrowed the idea of Jesus' virgin birth, December 25th birth date, twelve disciples, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection from astrological sources and ancient pagan mystery religions that were around long before the time of Christ. The video even goes so far as to claim that Jesus never existed. If you'd like help in responding to these claims, click here. As you will see, there is an abundance of evidence that Peter Joseph has greatly erred in his claims.

A Refutation of Hank Hanegraaff's book, The Apocalypse Code, by Dr. Norman Geisler

One of Christianity's leading defenders of the faith, Dr. Norman Geisler, has released a review of Hank Hanegraaff's problem-filled book, The Apocalypse Code. Click here to go to ABR's prophecy page and you'll see the link there in our list of articles. Geisler concludes his review with this sentence, "It is sad that a man who has fought so hard for so long against cults and aberrant teachings has himself succumbed to a method of interpreting the Bible that is not significantly different from those used by the cults which he so vigorously opposes."

How to Inoculate Your Entire Neighborhood Against the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons with this Simple Strategy

I have been talking with a Jehovah's Witness lady named Christie and a variety of people she brings along with her, now twice a week for the past few weeks. They don't know who I am. I am purposely keeping "a low profile" so that I can continue to dialog with them and ask them questions that I'm praying God will use to open their eyes.

Well, as I was dwelling tonight on the spiritual battle I am in for these individuals, I was reminded that it is a lot easier to inoculate someone and steer them away from the Watchtower Society (before they join) than lead someone out once they have joined. With that in mind, I want to point you to a great FREE resource on our website called THE WARNING TRACT. It is by Matt Slick, of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry. This double sided free, downloadable tract, very succinctly lays out some of the false doctrines that the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons teach (e.g., that Jesus came back invisibly in 1914 [JW's] or that Jesus is Satan's brother [Mormons]). You can click on the link ("The Warning Tract"), open it up and print out as many copies as you want (The tract is laid out three per page). Print out a stack and walk through your neighborhood this week and leave them on your neighbor's front porches. These tracts not only point out the dangerous false teachings of these groups but they also lay out the correct Biblical teaching and a short gospel presentation. Inoculate your neighborhood! They're free. They work. Here is the link. Use them. The late Walter Martin asked for 100,000 of these shortly before he died, that is how convinced he was regarding their effectiveness.

Possible Discovery of King Herod's Tomb

Archaeologists are hailing the possible discovery in Israel this week, of Herod's tomb. Click here to see the story on CNN.com (includes on-site video footage). Click here to read the story on the BBC. For those of you familiar with the New Testament, you know that Herod was the governor of Judea at the time that Jesus was born. He was the one who helped the Jews rebuild the temple in Jerusalem that stood in the days of Jesus (which according to John 2:20, took 46 years to build) and he was the man who sought to have Jesus killed when He was born, who "slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem" (See Matt 2:2,13,16).

Model of Noah's Ark in the Netherlands

A large scale replica of Noah's ark has been built in the Netherlands and CNN.com featured the story without any criticisms or jabs of the actual Biblical account of the Flood in Genesis 6-8. Click here to read the story.

A Victory for Unborn Children in the Supreme Court Today

The Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on partial birth abortion, handing abortion opponents the long-awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench. The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that Congress passed and President Bush signed into law in 2003 does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. Click here to read Foxnews.com story on this.

Jesus Under Fire: A Defense of His Existence, Deity, Resurrection and Claims

Skeptics, and people of other religions have raised some challenging and valid questions concerning Jesus. Questions like...

--Did Jesus really live?
--How do we know?
--Is there credible evidence for Jesus’ existence outside the pages of the New Testament?
--If Jesus was God, why did He not just plainly say, “I am God”?
--Did Jesus rise from dead? If so, what evidence is there?
--Couldn't the disciples have just stolen Jesus body?
--How can Jesus claim to be the only way to God?

I addressed all of these questions and more at a recent men's retreat in Lake Arrowhead, California. If you might be helped by listening to this study, CDs are now available in the Always Be Ready online store ($5.95 ea).

A Response to THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne

Have you heard of the book, THE SECRET? If not, you will. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne, remains the number one selling book on the New York Times Best Seller list. Oprah Winfrey and Larry King have dedicated entire programs to it and millions of Americans are reading the book. Unfortunately there are numerous false teachings in the book and it is leading multitudes into a dangerous New Age worldview. I recently read the book and have written a response to it. If it may be of help to you in your witnessing efforts to a family member or friend who has read the book, you can click here to read it. In the study I outline ten problems with the book. They are:

1. The Secret teaches that the universe is God.

2. The Secret makes people out to be God.

3. The Secret denies the existence of any objective (real) moral absolutes.

4. The Secret denies a coming Day of Judgment.

5. The Secret encourages a self-centered, self-governed life.

6. The Secret removes any need to be thankful to God.

7. The Secret distorts the facts about Jesus.

8. The Secret distorts Jesus’ teaching regarding prayer.

9. The Secret replaces the Bible with itself as the true source of guidance and wisdom.

10. The Secret gives out advice that could endanger a person’s health.

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

The Bible is being taught in public school classrooms

Click here to read Charles Colson's commentary about a recent TIME magazine article that discusses how popular Bible literacy classes have become on secular high school campuses and why almost no one is complaining about them. Interesting and exciting development.

New DVD and CD Resource Refuting the "Lost Tomb of Jesus"

THE LOST TOMB OF JESUS, a two hour documentary that aired nation wide on the Discovery Channel, makes the startling claim that Jesus did not rise from the grave as the Bible says (e.g., Matthew 28:6) but that He died and was buried in a cave with His family, including His wife and child. The documentary, which claims to have DNA and statistical evidence in its favor, goes on to assert that the place where Jesus was buried has been discovered near Jerusalem. Could this be true? In a new hour-long teaching, I respond to the claims in the documentary and lay out compelling evidence that the Biblical account of the resurrection is actually true. The DVD and audio CD are now available in ABR's online store.

CNN: "Scholar: Jesus Tomb Documentary Got It Wrong"

A plethora of scholarly articles have been written debunking the discovery of the so-called "Lost Tomb of Jesus." Thankfully some of this research is making its way into the mainstream media. CNN.com posted an article this morning, "Scholar: Jesus Tomb Documentary Got It Wrong." Click here to read.

If you are in the southern California area today, I will be teaching on this topic at 7:00 PM at Calvary Chapel in Vista, 885 E. Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084. Click here to view a map.

"The Lost Tomb of Jesus": Has Jesus' Family Tomb Been Discovered?

Every year Satan seems to launch an attack on the resurrection in the months leading up to Easter. Last year it was the so-called Gospel of Judas. The year before that it was The Da Vinci Code. Before that it was the Jesus Seminar's findings, and so on. The latest attack is of course "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" and James Cameron's preposterous claim that Jesus' family tomb has been discovered in Jerusalem.

For help on this issue, I offer a rebuttal to the documentary's claims here. Charles Colson points out some of the many problems with the documentary here. You might also click here to see additional resources and articles available on the historicity of the resurrection.

List of Scientists Challenging Darwin Grows

A hundred more of the world's top scientists have signed a statement declaring that they are skeptical of the claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Click here to read the story.

New DVD on the Roman Catholic Church Just Released

We're excited to announce the release of a brand new, updated edition of our Roman Catholicism DVD. Some of the questions that this DVD answers are: Where, when, and how did the Roman Catholic Church come to be? What do Catholics and Protestants agree upon? What do we disagree upon? Why do we disagree? Do Catholic teachings line up with the Bible? Why are there different books (the Apocrypha) in the Catholic Bible? Are those books inspired and trustworthy? If you are trying to share the gospel with Catholic friends or family members this DVD will be helpful to you. Click here to enter the Always Be Ready store.

The Human Body: A Marvelous Testimony to an Intelligent Designer

I have a friend who graduated from med school a few years back. One night, while he was still in school, I was over at his house looking through one of his textbooks. The book was about 800 pages long and filled with hundreds of photographs of the inside of the human body. I was amazed. I mentioned to him that I would find it difficult to believe that any of the students, after seeing the inside of body up close like that, could remain atheists. He said, "Charlie, there are NO atheists in med school." Now, I'm sure that there are some atheistic med school students out there somewhere. But his point was well-taken. The complexity of the human body causes many of them to abandon any previously held atheistic views.

The body is indeed a marvelous testimony to an intelligent designer. It has an amazingly complex nervous system, cardiovascular system, reproductive capability, skeletal system, muscle system, digestive system, ability to heal itself and fight off diseases. I find it difficult to believe that the human body could have come into existence by some mindless process apart from an incredibly intelligent designer, even given millions of years. The late agnostic astronomer Carl Sagan conceded that the brain alone is a "machine more wonderful than any devised by humans" and that it holds "enough information to fill some twenty million volumes" (Carl Sagan, Cosmos, p. 278). Did this marvelous piece of machinery "more wonderful than any devised by humans" come into being by undirected, blind natural processes? I dont have enough faith to believe that. You could leave the barren side of a mountain exposed to wind, rain, the forces of nature, chance and millions of years of time and you would never get a Mt. Rushmore, let alone a living, breathing human being. Why? It takes intelligence. You need intelligent intervention. It would take great intelligence to create a robot that operates like a human, and it would take even greater intelligence to create a real human being.

No one alive today would believe that the faces of Mt. Rushmore came about by millions of year of erosion, wind, rain and undirected random acts. And yet atheists believe that real-life human beings with 206 bones, 640 muscles and hearts that beat over 100,000 times a day, are the product of a mindless, random series of accidents. This is foolish. The Psalmist was right when he said, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

The above content is excerpted from our DVD, "Evidence for the Existence of God" available in ABR's online store ($10.00).

Christians Hail Ethical Source for Stem Cells

World Net Daily reports today: Christian leaders from around the world are hailing the announcement of a source for stem cells – and their related medical research lines – without obtaining them from aborted babies or from lab-created-and-destroyed human embryos.

The announcement in Nature Biotechnology said seven years of research by scientists from Wake Forest School of Medicine and Harvard University concluded that stem cell lines derived from amniotic fluid actually have a greater potential for good than stem cells from human embryos. Click here to read the rest of the story.

The Real Reason Most Skeptics Don't Consider the Claims of Christ

It would be wise when witnessing to skeptics of Christianity to remember that it is not usually intellectual objections alone that keep a person from seriously considering the claims of Christ. Many times, a major reason for their resistance is that they are enjoying a sinful lifestyle that they know will have to change if they are to become Jesus' disciples. Jesus said, "The light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:19-20). Lee Strobel, a former atheist, confesses, "I had a lot of motivation to find faults with Christianity when I was an atheist. I knew that my hard-drinking, immoral, and self-obsessed lifestyle would have to change if I ever became a follower of Jesus, and I wasn't sure I wanted to let go of that. After all, it was all I knew. Consequently, instead of trying to find the truth, I found myself attempting to fend off the truth with fabricated doubts and contrived objections." Knowing that this is commonly the case, I like to ask atheists and skeptics a gentle but pointed question, something like this, "Could it be that the real reason you reject believing in God (or believing the Bible, etc), is that there is something you enjoy doing that you know you'll have to give up if you were to believe?" Surprisingly, sometimes they confess that that is indeed part of the problem. Having that out in the open allows the Christian ambassador to fine-tune his approach and not waste time debating issues that are really just a smokescreen.

Christianity is Not the Only Exclusive Religion

In John 14:6, Jesus claimed to be the only way to a right relationship with God ("I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me"). Peter affirms the same thing in Acts 4:12 ("And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved"). The Bible's clear teaching regarding the exclusivity of the Christian faith is a common target for critics and skeptics of Christianity. It is not uncommon to hear them criticize Christians for saying a person must put their faith in Jesus in order to have their sins forgiven ("What about all the other religions? How can you Christians say that Jesus is the only way to heaven?"). Of course much could be said in response to this whole question, but in this short entry today I thought I'd share with you a quick thought by Ron Rhodes, author of the book Answering the Objections of Atheists, Agnostics & Skeptics. He points out something that I think a lot of people overlook. He writes:

"In the interest of fairness, it is important to recognize that Christianity is not the only religion that claims exclusivity. Muslims claim Allah is the only true God, that Muhammad is His ultimate prophet, and that the Koran is God's ultimate revelation to humankind. Hinduism is unbending in its commitment to the Vedas as scriptures, and reincarnation and the law of karma as the means of salvation. Atheism , for that matter, is exclusivist in its view that all religions that believe in God are wrong, and that atheism alone is the correct view. To chastise Christianity as being the only exclusivistic group is therefore unfair...While saying Jesus is the "only way" may seem narrow-minded, there are many "narrow options" in life that are not necessarily bad. For example, sometimes there is only one operation that can save your life. Sometimes there is only one road out of a forest. There is only one correct formula for Pepsi. When I take a flight to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, I desire the pilot to land only at that airport...All of these things are narrow, but that doesn't make them bad. So it is with the wonderful gift of salvation in Jesus Christ."

For more help on this topic visit our online store and see our DVD or CD entitled, “All Roads Do Not Lead to God.”

Does The Universe Need a Cause?

Many atheists believe that the universe is uncaused and does not need a creator to explain its existence. They give their wholehearted approval to the words of Carl Sagan who said, "The cosmos is all there is, all there ever was, and all there ever will be." Despite the mounting evidence that the universe actually began to exist at a particular point in time, many atheists cling to the idea of an eternal universe because an eternal universe does not need a cause, or we might say a beginner, or creator. In their fantastic book, When Skeptics Ask, Dr. Norman Geisler and R. M. Brooks tell a little parable to demonstrate how absurd it is to believe that the universe does not have a cause:

Two men were walking through the forest and happened across a glass sphere lying on the carpet of green moss. There were hardly any sounds other than the pair's own footsteps and certainly no signs of other people. But both of them saw that the very obvious inference from the evidence of the spere was that someone had put it there. Now, one of these men was a skeptical scientist, trained in the modern view of origins, and the other a layman. The layman said, "What if the sphere were larger, maybe ten fee around--would you still say that someone put it there?" Naturally, the scientist agreed that a larger spere would not affect his judgment. "Well, what if the spere were huge--a mile in diameter?" probed the layman. His friend responded that not only wold someone have put it there, but there should also be an investigation to find out what caused that someone to do it. The layman then ventured one more question: "What if the spere were as big as the whole universe? Would it still need a cause?" "Of course not," snapped the skeptic. "The universe is just there."

Is it credible to believe that the universe is just there and does not need a cause? If little spheres need causes and bigger spheres need causes, doesn't the biggest sphere need a cause too? You might remember this story next time you talk to an atheist.

For more help on evidence for the existence of God, you might consider visiting our online bookstore. We have the book mentioned above, When Skeptics Ask as well as some exciting new DVDs, including Lee Strobel's new DVD, The Case for a Creator.

Expansion of Always Be Ready's Online Store

We're blessed to announce the expansion of Always Be Ready's online store. If you are you looking for theologically sound resources (DVDs, books or audio CDs) that will strengthen your faith or that you can give to unbelievers, we think you'll be excited about our growing list of resources. Our prices are usually about 10% below Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Some of the new resources we have added include:

(1) The Case for a Creator DVD. In this 60 minute long DVD, Lee Strobel (a former atheist and author of the best selling book THE CASE FOR CHRIST) examines the theories that once convinced him there was no God. In The Case for a Creator DVD you will learn about amazing discoveries in cosmology, cellular biology, DNA, astronomy, physics and more, that point to the existence of a Creator. The Case for a Creator DVD is full of spectacular computer animation produced by Illustra Media, the same studio team that released The Privileged Planet, and Unlocking the Mystery of Life.

(2) Unlocking the Mystery of Life DVD. Is life on Earth the product of purely undirected processes like time, chance and natural selection? Or, can the origin and diversity of living organisms be traced to an intelligent cause? The Unlocking the Mystery of Life DVD explores these timeless questions and presents compelling evidence to support an idea that could revolutionize scientific thought - the theory of intelligent design. 67 Minutes.

(3) 101 Answers to the Most Asked Questions about the End Times by Mark Hitchcock. For many believers, the subject of the End Times stirs confusion, apprehension, and dread. No longer! This user-friendly manual answers 101 of the most frequently asked questions about everything from the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, the Antichrist, and Tribulation to the Second Coming and the Millennium. Prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock offers a biblically authoritative resource for understanding God's plan for the end times and eternity. This book is endorsed by Dwight Pentecost (Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary), and Dr. Timothy LaHaye. Paperback, 286 pages.

Click here to enter the store. . .DVDs, Books, or CDs.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am reading a book right now about the history of the early Pilgrims and their arrival here to what is now the United States. After more than two months at sea, sometimes facing 50' or higher waves, the Pilgrims landed on the shores of Cape Cod. Upon arrival, they got off the Mayflower, got on their knees on the sand and thanked the God of heaven for their safe journey and then read the 100th Psalm. You may consider reading it yourself today, realizing that the same God who safely guided those Pilgrims to a new home is also faithfully guiding you, His children, to a new home as well, heaven. We have countless reasons to give Him thanks today. Near the top of my list is all of you who are an encouragement and help to me and this ministry. Thank you for your prayers.

The Case for a Creator: FREE Event at BIOLA on Dec. 7

The Christian Apologetics Program at BIOLA university is hosting a FREE event on Thursday evening, December 7 from 7:30 - 9:30pm. At this event, you'l witness the launch of a much anticipated new evangelistic/apologetic DVD based on Lee Strobel's best selling book. You'll also hear from scholars who are helping to win the debate over Darwinism in our time (William Lane Craig, Jonathan Wells, Michael Behe, Lee Strobel, etc.). Free copies of this DVD ("The Case for a Creator") will be handed out to all attendees (one per family). Call 888.332.4652 or click here for more details.

Nearly Half of Americans Uncertain God Exists

According to a new survey, nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists. The survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain" there is a God compared to 34 percent who felt that way when asked the same question three years ago. Click here to read the whole story. If you want to be better prepared to share with people why it is reasonable to believe that God exists, we have a brand new 73 minute long DVD that gives clear and convincing evidence that God does indeed exist. Click here and then scroll down for more details.

More Help Witnessing to Mormons: The Lost Book of Abraham DVD

If you are dialoguing with Mormons and could use a boost in your witnessing efforts with them, make sure to check out this award-winning new documentary film that investigates the story behind a volume of Mormon scripture called The Book of Abraham. The story is that Mormon founder Joseph Smith translated it from an ancient Egyptian papyrus scroll he purchased from an antiquities dealer in 1835. The Lost Book of Abraham DVD visits prominent Egyptologists and other scholars – both Mormon and non-Mormon – to learn the truth behind this fascinating episode in Mormon history. I can't more highly recommend this resource. It is very well done. Click here to preview video clips and/or purchase a copy.

Can a Scientist Believe in God?

Can a scientist believe in God? A Nobel-nominated chemistry professor responds. Dr. "Fritz" Schaefer is the Graham Perdue Professor of Chemistry and the director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry at the University of Georgia. He has been nominated for the Nobel Prize and was recently cited as the third most quoted chemist in the world. "The significance and joy in my science comes in the occasional moments of discovering something new and saying to myself, 'So that's how God did it!' My goal is to understand a little corner of God's plan." –U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 23, 1991.Great article. Click here.

50 Questions to Ask Mormons

Asking Mormons loving, yet challenging questions is a great way to help them see that they have been deceived. There is a great list of questions to ask Mormons available by clicking here.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Intelligent Design

If you would like to know more about the growing Intelligent Design movement, there is a short and helpful list of answers to the most common questions people have about it at the Access Research Network's site. Click here to read. I am also finding William Dembski's book The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions About Intelligent Design (2004), very, very good. He tackles the toughest questions from Intelligent Design's most zealous skeptics. Dr. Norman Geisler calls this book, "the most brilliant defense of the intelligent design movement in print."

"Evidence for the Existence of God" DVD & CD Now Available

In 2004, Antony Flew, the world’s most influential atheistic philosopher, debater, and author, announced to a surprised world that he had abandoned his atheism, in favor of belief in God. He said that it was compelling new scientific evidence that changed his mind. What evidence was Antony Flew talking about? Is there good evidence for God’s existence? I answered these questions and others recently when I taught at Calvary Chapel Montebello. If you're interested in a great resource for yourself, or to give to a skeptic, you might consider picking up a copy. Click here to purchase the DVD ($10.00) or Click here to purchase the CD ($5.00).

Why Darwinism is Doomed

Jonathan Wells, Ph.D, the author of Icons of Evolution, says, "According to Darwinists, there is such overwhelming evidence for their view that it should be considered a fact. Yet to the Darwinists' dismay, at least three-quarters of the American people – citizens of the most scientifically advanced country in history – reject it....The truth is Darwinism is not a scientific theory, but a materialistic creation myth masquerading as science. It is first and foremost a weapon against religion – especially traditional Christianity. Evidence is brought in afterwards, as window dressing. This is becoming increasingly obvious to the American people, who are not the ignorant backwoods religious dogmatists that Darwinists make them out to be. Darwinists insult the intelligence of American taxpayers and at the same time depend on them for support. This is an inherently unstable situation, and it cannot last. If I were a Darwinist, I would be afraid. Very afraid." Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Should Christians Allow Cultists Into Their Homes?

Should Christians allow cultists into their homes? Whenever I teach on Mormonism or the Jehovah's Witnesses, someone always comes up to my table afterwards and says, "What about 2 John, verse 10? It seems to say that we shouldn't let cultists into our homes." I am in wholehearted agreement with Ron Rhodes when he says, "I do not believe this verse prohibits Christians from allowing cultists into their homes in order to witness to them. Rather it is a prohibition against giving cultists a platform from which to teach false doctrine. The backdrop to this is that in the early days of Christianity, there was no centralized church building where believers could congregate. Rather, there were many small house-churches scattered throughout the city. As we examine the New Testament, the early Christians are seen "breaking bread from house to house" (Acts 2:46; cf. 5:42) and gathering to pray in the house of Mary, the mother of Mark (Acts 12:12). Churches often met in houses (see Col. 4:15; Rom. 6:15; 1 Cor. 16:19; Phil. 2). The use of specific church buildings did not appear before the end of the second century. So, apparently, John is here warning against (1) allowing a false teacher into the church, and (2) giving this false teacher a platform from which to teach. Seen in this way, this prohibition guards the purity of the church. To extend hospitality to a false teacher would imply that the church accepted or approved of their teaching. If the church were to extend hospitality to a false teacher, he would be encouraged in his position and take this action as an acceptance of his doctrine. This should never be." Click here to read the rest of Ron Rhodes answer, and if you have the chance, you might visit his bookstore. His books are all great.

Has King David's Pool Been Uncovered?

There's a buzz of excitement among archaeologists in Israel. In recent days, archeological digs in Jerusalem revealed a tunnel that, according to a number of estimates, leads to a pool used by King David. Click here for the rest of this developing story.

Seventh Day Adventism

Seventh Day Adventists believe that Jesus is Michael the Archangel and that Christians must worship on Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath). What else do Seventh Day Adventists believe? When did this group originate? If you're interested in learing more about this group from a Biblical perspective, click here.

A New Look to the ABR Website

A huge thanks to Rob Nash, Bill Wright, Chris Wee and all of the others who worked so hard on converting our old website to the new one that just launched today. This new website not only looks better, but it is going to allow me to edit typos, update facts, post new material, etc. on my own. With the old website, I wasn't able to do any of that by myself. So, praise the Lord for these servants of the Lord who have freely offered so much of their time, and talents back to the Lord to help all of you who use this website. I am so blessed by their friendship, example, and willingness to help.

Article Refuting Preterism by Dr. Norman Geisler

Preterism is the view held by some Christians that most, if not all, of the events spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, and the Book of Revelation, were fulfilled in the past, in the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Dr. Norman Geisler, the very well respected Christian theologian, author, and seminary president has a brief article on his website listing some of the many problems with this view. Click here to read. We also have a teaching on this issue.

Suicide Bombers Follow Quran, Concludes Pentagon Briefing

WorldNet Daily.com reports today that the Pentagon is finally figuring out that Islam is not the peaceful religion that some have purported it to be. Searching for answers, as to why Muslims are willing to commit suicide and murder innocent people, they have discovered it is because that is what the Qur'an actually advocates! WND writes, "They've found that most Muslim suicide bombers are in fact students of the Quran who are motivated by its violent commands." Click here for story. If knowing the truth about Islam interests you, you might find our DVD on Islam helpful.

New Evidence for Cataclysmic Flood

Sounds like additional evidence for a massive cataclysmic flood, talked about in Genesis 7-8, has just come in. Scientists have discovered that Britian formed when a massive "Biblical-style" flood tore her away from the rest of Europe. Chris Stringer, head of human origins at the Natural History Museum in London, said, "This could have been one of the most powerful flood events ever known on earth." Click here to read.

Does God want you to be rich? TIME Magazine

The cover story of this week's TIME magazine is on the heretical "Word of Faith"/"Health and Wealth" movement. Click here to read a summary of the article on CNN's website. What's astonishing are the statistics: "Of the four biggest megachurches in the country, three -- Joel Osteen's Lakewood in Houston; T.D. Jakes' Potter's House in south Dallas; and Creflo Dollar's World Changers in Atlanta -- are Prosperity or Prosperity Lite pulpits."

A Brief Overview of the Gospel of Judas

If you'd like to learn of some of the problems with the so-called Gospel of Judas (made famous a couple of months ago in the news), check out this overview at Probe Ministries website by clicking here.

Help Equip God's People to Defend the Faith: Schedule A Speaking Engagement

If your church, youth group, men's fellowship, home fellowship, etc. would be interested in having me teach on some issue related to the defense of the Christian faith, please contact Always Be Ready at info@AlwaysBeReady.com. For no charge, I would love to come help equip your fellowship to defend the faith (Jude v. 3). Some of the topics you might consider are listed below:

- Islam
- The Jehovah's Witnesses
- Mormonism
- Evidence for the Existence of God
- Amazing Evidence for the Trustworthiness of the Bible

Apologetics Conference In Washington D.C.

The "LOVING GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND" apologetics conference, featuring William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, Greg Koukl and other well-known defenders of Christianity is coming to Washington D.C. this November 16-18. Click here to see the schedule and learn more.

More Than One Third of Americans Skeptical of Darwin

It's a statistic that would have Charles Darwin turning in his grave. According to a new study, more than one third of Americans don't believe in evolution. Click here to read more.

Pope to Dissect Evolution With Former Students

The Pope is planning a gathering of the minds, if you will, to discuss the theory of evolution and the rising popularity of the intelligent design movement. Hopefully all will come away from the gathering more firmly convinced that the emperical evidence supports Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Click here to read story.

Don't Believe Everything You Read or See With Your Eyes

1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to examine all things carefully and hold fast to that which is actually true. Click here to watch a three minute documentary displaying some of the fraudulent doctored up photographs coming out of the Israeli - Hezbollah conflict. Shame on these photographers who would seek to overplay the damage done by the IDF.

New Apologetics Resource Available in Spanish

For the first time, we have just released a spanish version of my study "Amazing Evidence for the Trustworthiness of the Bible." The audio cd (recorded and translated at Calvary Chapel San Diego just a few weeks ago) is available in our shopping cart for just $5.00. Click here if you are interested. This would be a great resource to give to your spanish speaking friends; there is so little out there as far as spanish apologetics is concerned.

New Film to Document Accuracy of Bible

Worldnetdaily.com has an article today regarding a new film that will document some of the evidence for the trustworthiness of the Bible's account of the Exodus and other Old Testament accounts. Click here to read.

A New Chapter in Ministry

For the past nine years I have served as a pastor at Calvary Chapel in Vista, California. With my pastor's approval, words of encouragement and blessing, I am now launching out on my own into a full time itinerant teaching ministry. Of course, I won't be on my own. Jesus said, "I am with you always, even until the end (Matt. 28:18-20)." I look forward to having more time now to devote to developing new studies, researching, writing, teaching, and blogging! May the Lord bless all of you who enjoy this blog and the www.AlwaysBeReady.com website. I covet your prayers.

Dead Sea Scrolls Coming To San Diego

Someone at Calvary Chapel San Diego yesterday was kind enough to inform me that the Dead Sea Scrolls (ancient hand-written manuscript copies of the Old Testament that help verify that the Old Testament has been accurately preserved down through the centuries) are coming to San Diego in 2007. Click here for more information!

Problems with the So-Called Gospel of Judas

I have been traveling around extensively teaching on The Da Vinci Code for the past two months, and one question, more than any other, continues to arise in Q & A's after the study. This is the question: "What do you think about the Gospel of Judas? Is there any chance that it is true?"

The answer is no.

1. It contradicts authentic, divinely inspired revelation.
2. It was written in the second century, by a Gnostic,* long after the time of Judas. Even National Geographic acknowledges this on their website, even clearly stating that the only surviving manuscript copy we have dates to the third or fourth century.

Is there even a small chance this was written by Judas, one of the twelve disciples? No.

*Gnosticism was a philosophy that developed over several centuries before Christ. Some of its core teachings are:

1. All matter is evil, and the non-material, spirit-realm is good.
2. There is an unknowable God, who gave rise to many lesser spirit beings called Aeons.
3. One evil, lower spirit being is the creator who made the universe.
4. Gnosticism does not deal with 'sin', only ignorance.
5. To achieve salvation, one needs to get in touch with secret knowledge.

Has Noah's Ark Been Found?

Bob Cornuke of the BASE Institute has brought back some very interesting photographs of what is possibly Noah's Ark mentioned in Genesis, chapter 6 and 7. Click here to see the photographs and read more about this developing story.

Sale on "The Da Vinci Code Examined" DVDs!!

An hour long DVD refutation of the so-called facts in The Da Vinci Code is on sale for only $1.00 each on my website, www.AlwaysBeReady.com. Click here and then scroll down in our shopping cart to see more details.

Archaeological Excavation Aims to Unearth the City of Jesus' First Miracle: Cana

The Washington Times reports today on the ongoing effort to excavate the ancient Biblical city of Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle. Click here to read the story.

Dead Sea Scroll and Caiaphas' Burial Box Coming to North America

Click here to read Foxnews.com report.

The So-Called Gospel of Judas Discovered

Foxnews.com reports today on the recent discovery of a document in Egypt being called "The Gospel of Judas." Unsuprisingly, this Gnostic writing from the second or third century, contains a differing account of the details surrounding the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, than that which is contained in the four authentic gospels written in the first century by eye-witnesses to the events. Click here to read the full story.

Testing Darwin's Teachers

The LA Times has an article online today about students in Kansas who enjoy asking sophisticated (sometimes), challenging questions of their biology teacher regarding evolution.

Ancient City Found at 'Kana of the Galilee'

The Jerusalem Post reports today the discovery of an ancient city found, which may be connected to Jesus' first miracle. Click here for story.

New Photo Resparks Interest in Looking for Noah's Ark

A new, high-resolution digital image of what has become known as the "Ararat Anomaly" is reigniting interest in the hunt for Noah's Ark. Click here to see the photo and read the news.

Darwin Smacked in New U.S. Poll: 69% of Americans want alternate theories in classroom

Worldnetdaily.com reports today that a new poll shows 69 percent of Americans believe public school teachers should present both the evidence for and against Darwinian evolution. The Zogby International survey indicated only 21 percent think biology teachers should teach only Darwin's theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that supports it. A majority of Americans from every sub-group were at least twice as likely to prefer this approach to science education, the Zogby study showed. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Dr. Henry Morris Home With the Lord

The Institute for Creation Research said, "After a series of minor strokes in recent weeks, Dr. Henry Morris, founder and president of the Institute for Creation Research, was peacefully ushered into the presence of his Creator, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, February 25, around 6:30 p.m. He was 87 years old. Henry Morris was considered the "father of the Modern Creation Movement", authoring well over sixty books on Biblical Creationism, Scientific Creationism and commentaries on the Bible. His most recent work was the New Defenders Study Bible (released last month) which contained several thousand additional annotations. Dr. Morris was a brilliant scholar and theologian who was used by God in many marvelous ways to launch and encourage the Modern Creation Movement on a global scale. But for those of us who had the privilege of working with Henry Morris, he was a gentle, humble and faithful servant of God who modeled what it means to finish well as he consistently looked unto Jesus and ran with patience the race that was set before him (Hebrews 12:1-2). Plans for a memorial service are being arranged for this Thursday (3/2/06) at Shadow Mountain Community Church. Please pray for the Morris family and the entire staff at ICR during this transition."

The Victory of Reason

Charles Colson's writes today, "At the heart of the furor over Danish cartoons depicting Muhammad are the different values and ideals of two civilizations: one shaped by Christianity, the other by Islam. Of course, it's seldom put that way, especially in the elite media. Instead, the values being defended are called "Western," as if a compass point produced the freedoms we today enjoy in the Western world. Fortunately, there's a new book that sets the record straight. The book is called The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success by Rodney Stark, who is not a Christian believer. In fact, Stark set out to refute German sociologist Max Weber's famous thesis that attributed the rise of capitalism to the Reformation. Instead of refuting it, however, he wound up doing just the opposite, writing about how Christianity's emphasis on reason led to the rise of Europe. Click here to read the rest.

500 Doctoral Scientists Skeptical of Darwin

Worldnetdaily.com reports today that more than 500 scientists with doctoral degrees have signed a statement expressing skepticism about Darwin's theory of evolution. Many of these scientists are professors or researchers from prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian Institute, Cambridge University, UCLA, Princeton, Berkeley, etc..

The statement, which includes endorsement by members of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Sciences, was first published by the Seattle-based Discovery Institute in 2001 to challenge statements about Darwinian evolution made in promoting PBS's "Evolution" series.

The PBS promotion claimed "virtually every scientist in the world believes the theory to be true."

"Darwinists continue to claim that no serious scientists doubt the theory and yet here are 500 scientists who are willing to make public their skepticism about the theory," said John G. West, associate director of Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture. Click here to read the rest of the story at worldnetdaily.com

Goliath's Name Discovered in Ancient City of Gath

There was recently an interesting discovery made in Israel. Reuters reports, "An Israeli researcher said he has made a Goliath of a find -- the first archaeological evidence suggesting the biblical story of David slaying the Philistine giant actually took place. A shard of pottery unearthed in a decade-old dig in southern Israel carried an inscription in early Semitic style spelling "Alwat and "Wlt", likely Philistine renderings of the name Goliath, said Aren Maeir, who directed the excavation. "This is a groundbreaking find," he said of the rust-coloured ceramic. "Here we have very nice evidence the name Goliath appearing in the Bible in the context of the story of David and Goliath ... is not some later literary creation." Maeir, head of the archaeology department at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv, told Reuters that his excavators found the shard, possibly part of a bowl, about two metres (6.5 ft) underground at Tell es-Shafi. The mound where the dig took place is widely believed to be the site of the ancient city of Gath, which the Bible calls Goliath's hometown. Click here to read the rest of the story.

Is Reincarnation Compatible With the Bible?

There are many Biblical problems with believing in reincarnation.

First, Second Corinthians 5:8 says, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." At death, the Christian goes into the presence of the Lord, not into another body.

Secondly, Luke 16:19-31 tells us that unbelievers, upon death, go to a place of suffering, not into another body.

Thirdly, Hebrews 9:27 assures us "it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that to face judgment." Each human being lives once as a mortal on earth, dies once, and then faces judgment. He does not have a second chance by reincarnating into another body.

Reincarnation is a heretical, unbiblical doctrine.

The Privileged Planet: Our Special Place in the Universe

I came across this short write up today by Charles Colson called, "The Privileged Planet: Our Special Place in the Universe" (Nov., 2004).

Do you ever find yourself saying, “I wish so-and-so were still around?” Well, I wish the astronomer Carl Sagan were still around. He died in 1996, but had he lived, he would have found an extraordinary book, The Privileged Planet, by astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez and philosopher Jay Richards, deeply challenging—maybe even disturbing.

Here’s why: In his frequent appearances on the Tonight Show, and in his public television series Cosmos, Sagan was presented as the visionary sage of science. He spoke cheerfully of being inspired by the vastness of the universe and our growing scientific knowledge of our place in it.

Ironically, however, Sagan’s cheerful demeanor didn’t fit his message of cosmic loneliness. Earth has no “special significance,” he said—it’s merely one tiny planet going around an unremarkable star, in an equally unremarkable galaxy, adrift in a universe filled with billions of such galaxies. “Our planet,” he wrote, “is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity . . . there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.”

Sagan’s picture of an insignificant, almost accidental Earth reflects a widely held and rather bleak assumption in modern science. Called the Copernican Principle, or the Principle of Mediocrity, this assumption says that the Earth isn’t special at all.

Now, the Bible places a high value on the virtue of humility, so Christians might be tempted to agree with this picture: Maybe we’re not so significant after all. But there’s all the difference in the world between seeking real humility (indeed a virtue)—and arguing, as Sagan did, for human insignificance by assuming the universe exists for no purpose. Furthermore, the first question anybody should ask (Christian or not) about assumptions like the Principle of Mediocrity is this: Is it true? Or is a materialistic philosophy being promoted in the name of science?

That’s exactly the question that Gonzalez and Richards pursue in The Privileged Planet. And now their book has inspired a stunning new science documentary. What makes the production so wonderfully refreshing is the spirit of scientific freedom and open intellectual inquiry motivating it.

Using state-of-the-art computer animations, awe-inspiring astronomical footage, and interviews with leading scientists, including Robert Jastrow and Paul Davies, the documentary draws a strikingly different picture from the Sagan image of mediocrity. We learn how many things you need to get a planet, like Earth. It takes just the right atmosphere, plate tectonics, a large moon, well-placed planetary neighbors, in the exact right location in a spiral galaxy, and much, much more.

That alone is interesting. But there’s another surprise. Earth also provides the best conditions for scientific discovery. Did you catch that? The very place with intelligent beings is also the best place for scientific discovery. According to the evidence marshaled by Gonzalez and Richards, the universe is, literally, designed for discovery.

Young Carl Sagans need to consider The Privileged Planet. And believers will be encouraged that science is finally discovering what we knew all along—we are a specially blessed people.--Charles Colson, Breakpoint radio broadcast, November 24, 2004.

What About Those Who Have Never Heard of Jesus: Will They Be Condemned to Hell?

This is a common question that unbelievers have. The Bible says that God is loving (Psalm 103:8, 1 John 4:10) and that He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). If a person has never heard of Jesus, the Bible says that God is going to be absolutely fair with them (Psalm 98:9), and that He will judge them based on what they do know through the testimony of creation and their conscience (Romans 1:20, 2:12-15).

If a person responds favorable to the testimony of his conscience or the the testimony of creation and truly seeks to know God, the Bible says that “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).” God has many ways of getting the truth about salvation through Christ to those who seek Him. He can send them a missionary (Acts 10), allow them to hear a radio broadcast, give them a dream or vision (Daniel 2, 7), send them an angel (Revelation 14:6) or a Bible (Psalm 119:130), direct them to a website, etc. so that they can know the truth.

Interview with Charlie Campbell on CSN

Tune in Sunday, January 29 at 2:30PM (Pacific Time) and 5:30PM (Eastern time) to CSN online to hear a half hour program regarding the new book, ONE MINUTE ANSWERS TO SKEPTICS' TOP FORTY QUESTIONS. For more on the book click here.

Should the Apocrypha be in the Bible?

Evangelicals believe that the Bible is made up of sixty six books. (If you want to read about how the church discovered the Books that God decided were to be included in the Bible, I would encourage you to purchase a copy of Norman Geisler’s book From God to Us, How We Got the Bible). The Catholic Church, in 1546, at an event known as the Council of Trent, added eleven Jewish writings to the Bible known as the “Apocrypha” to Protestants and the “Deuterocanonical books” (lit. “second canon”) to the Catholics.

What is the Apocrypha? The Apocrypha is a collection of fourteen Jewish writings that were written down between 200 B.C. and A.D. 100. Eleven of those fourteen books were accepted by the Catholic Church as God-inspired Scriptures and were placed in the Catholic Bible. If you were to open up a Catholic Bible today you would see books in there with titles like Tobit, Judith, First and Second Maccabees and Baruch. Could these books be God inspired Scripture? Not a chance. There are numerous reasons why the early church and believers down through the centuries have rejected the apocryphal books as authoritative or divinely inspired.

1. Neither Jesus nor the New Testament writers ever quoted from the Apocrypha as Scripture.
2. The Apocrypha contains numerous historical, geographical and chronological errors.
3. The Jews themselves never accepted the Apocrypha as inspired.
4. The Apocrypha contains no predictive prophecy to help substantiate it’s claims.
5. The Apocrypha never claims to be the inspired Word of God.
6. The Apocrypha was rejected by many of the leading early church fathers.
7. Jerome rejected the Apocrypha and left them out of His Latin translation of the Bible (the Vulgate).
8. The Apocrypha contains numerous non-biblical and heretical doctrines.
9. The Apocrypha was not formally declared to be authoritative and inspired by the Catholic Church until 1546.

For more explanation on each of the nine reasons above see my study on Roman Catholicism here.

Museum in Florida Displaying Pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls and 1611 Version of the King James Bible

If you live in or near St. Petersburg, Florida, this will be of special interest to you. CNN reports today that, "The Bible's evolution from ancient Hebrew to modern languages and from clay tablets to printed books is a rich lesson in the history of civilizations, the origins of the written word and the revolution of printing. The story of how the text of the Bible has been written and disseminated over the centuries is recounted in a new exhibition at the Florida International Museum that boasts artifacts as rare and priceless as they come, among them bits of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a fragment of the Gospel of John dating to about 250 A.D., a 1455 Gutenberg Bible and a first edition of the King James version from 1611." Click here to read the rest of the story.

An Argument for God's Existence From Desire

Here is an interesting, thought provoking argument for God's existence:

1. Every natural, innate desire in us corresponds to some real object that can satisfy that desire.
2. But there exists in us a desire which nothing in time, nothing on earth, no creature can satisfy.
3. Therefore there must exist something more than time, earth and creatures, which can satisfy this desire.
4. This something is what people call "God" and "life with God forever."

C. S. Lewis, who used this argument often, summarizes it with these words: "Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for these desires exists. A baby feels hunger; well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim; well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire; well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." (Mere Christianity, Bk. III, chapter 10, "Hope")

The Fanciful, Deceptive Imagination of Dan Brown

In his popular, yet highly inaccurate novel, The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown asserts (through a character named Lee Teabing) that the the deity of Christ was an invention of the church at the Council of Nicea.

Here is an excerpt right from the book, “At this gathering [the Council of Nicea] many aspects of Christianity were debated and voted upon – the date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the administration of sacraments, and, of course, the divinity of Jesus….until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet, a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal….Jesus’ establishment as ‘the Son of God’ was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea.” A character by the name of Sophie says, “Hold on. You’re saying Jesus’ divinity was the result of a vote?” Teabing says, “A relatively close vote at that.” (p. 233)

Dan Brown suggests here that the deity of Christ was a late invention by the church, it was proposed at the council of Nicea, and that it barely passed.

For the person who is unfamiliar with the Bible, church history, or what happened at the council of Nicea this might easily be believed. What was the council of Nicea? The council at Nicea in modern day Turkey was a gathering of 318 Bishops (church leaders from all over the Roman Empire) in A.D. 325 to discuss doctrines related to the person of Jesus. This meeting was hardly the place where it first proposed that Jesus was actually God, as Brown suggests. That belief was already firmly in place as the popular teaching of the church (e.g., John 20:28, Titus 2:13).

In the fourth century there was a man by the name of Arius (256 -336) who was causing some disputes throughout the Roman Empire as it related to the person of Jesus. Arius reasoned that since Jesus was “begotten,” (Jn. 3:16) He must have had a beginning. His false teachings regarding Jesus became known as Arianism. Arianism denied the eternality of Jesus. Followers of his teaching, known as Arians, held that the divine nature of Christ was similar to God, but not the same. The Council of Nicea, this gathering together of the Bishops, condemned this teaching in 325 A.D. and reaffirmed what the Bible already taught, that Jesus had the very same nature as God.

Was it a close vote? You tell me. There were 318 bishops that were called to the meeting in Nicea. As for the vote that was finally taken, only five out of 318 dissented; and only two of those five refused to sign the resulting resolutions, which reaffirmed the prevailing view of the church: Jesus was, and is, God.

Hardly a close vote, as Brown suggests in his book!!! Can you imagine a basketball team being beaten 316 to 2 and then the losing team telling people afterwards that, "It was a relatively close game”? This is just one of many inaccuracies in The Da Vinci Code. The movie comes out in May, 2006. For a more thorough treatment on these errors, you can purchase an hour long teaching I did on this topics by clicking here (DVD cost: $12.00).

Is There a Contradiction in the Accounts of the Women at Jesus' Tomb?

Someone emailed me yesterday who was troubled by the apparent contradiction in the Gospels regarding the women at Jesus' tomb on the morning of His resurrection.

Mark 16:2 says, "And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen."

John 20:1 says, "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb."

So, "Which was it? Did they go to the tomb 'while it was still dark?' or 'when the sun had risen?'"

The difficulty is solved when we realize that the women, whether they had stayed in Jerusalem or Bethany, had to walk quite some distance to reach the grave. It was dark when they left the place in which they were staying, but when they arrived at the tomb, the sun was beginning to shine. John was referring to their DEPARTURE ("still dark"). Mark was speaking of their ARRIVAL ("sun had risen"). This is one of a couple of plausible solutions. For more help with apparent contradictions in the Bible, I highly recommend everyone own a copy of When Critics Ask by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. This book addresses just about every apparent contradiction, or error in the Bible. It is excellent.

Why Didn't God Preserve the Original Writings of the Men Who Penned the Bible?

There are thousands of partial and complete handwritten manuscript copies of the Old and New Testament. These manuscripts are on display today in places like the Smithsonian Institute, the Cambridge University Library, the British Library, etc. These manuscripts have allowed scholars to verify that the Bible we have today is the same Bible the early church possessed 2,000 years ago.

To our knowledge though, none of the autographs (the originals) of any of the sixty six books of the Bible actually survive. Someone asked me a while back, "Why didn't God preserve the originals? If we had the originals, then we could know for certain that the Bible hasn't undergone corruption!" Could we know for certain? I don't believe we could. I believe that God has purposely allowed the originals to disappear so that we could actually be more certain that we have a trustworthy copy of the Bible. What are you saying Charlie? Hear me out on this.

Let's imagine the originals were allowed to survive. Let's imagine that they were in someone's possession back in the second century or third century. We'll call him Joe the Scribe. Joe could have changed them! And who would know? Perhaps nobody. But if the original is quickly copied numerous times and these copies are then spread all over the ancient world, and then the original is lost or destroyed, there's no way that Joe could alter the Word of God. Someone might try to sneak an error into a manuscript copy, but the thousands of other copies in circulation would quickly allow the church to cross-check and compare them with one another. The result of the cross-checking? The variants (small slips of the pen, grammatical errors) that anybody tried had tried to sneak into their manuscript would be spotted and the church could come away with great confidence that they have a highly accurate copy of the original.

I believe that God, in His perfect wisdom and foresight, knew the danger of leaving the originals intact and in the possession of any one person or group. Ironically, by allowing the originals to disappear, His Word has actually probably been better preserved.

Mormon Mind Control

I talked with a woman named Jennifer today who was baptized last week into the Mormon Church. I got to dialog with her about some of the differences between Biblical Christianity (and it's view of the Scriptures, God, Jesus, Man and the Gospel) and what the Mormon Church teaches. She seemed interested to hear. When I told her that I would love to give her a book on Mormonism (Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons by Ron Rhodes) so she could do a little more investigation, she said that she was told not to read any literature by those critical of the Mormon church. Isn't that a convenient and easy way to keep your members? Sadly, that is common within all of the cults.

I explained to Jennifer that this close-minded, uncritical attitude toward faith is exactly the opposite of what the Bible advocates. I told her that 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to "examine all things" and to hold fast to that which is good. I told her of the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and how the Bible commends them for daily examining the teachings of the apostle Paul and critically holding them up the light of the Scripture. God wants us to question what we hear and what we are taught. The apostle John said, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 Jn. 4:1)." How do you test the spirit of one who is making some spiritual claim? Isaiah tells us how. He says, "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word [the Word of God, i.e., the Bible], it is because there is no light [truth] in them (Isaiah 8:20). Hold up everything you hear to the inspired, infallible Word of God, and you'll quickly discern truth from error. Jennifer was excited to hear these Scriptures and then gladly accepted the book and some of my notes on Mormonism. Say a prayer for Jennifer tonight.

Was There Really A Flood as Genesis Says?

Click here to read great answers to skeptics' questions regarding the Flood and Noah's ark talked about in Genesis 7.

Need Help Understanding the Problems With Calvinism?

Click here to listen to an hour long teaching by Dr. Norman Geisler entitled, "WHY I'M NOT A FIVE POINT CALVINIST." You will have to register to use the site by providing your email address and creating a password. Then in the media section, type in GEISLER in the "Search for Sermon" and it will pop up for you to listen to. Norman Geisler was formerly the professor of systematic theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, is the author of more than sixty books, and is today the President of Southern Evangelical Seminary. For a more in-depth treatment of this issue, I'd encourage you to pick up his book Chosen But Free. To see a collection of tape recorded teachings by Norman Geisler including, "FIVE MORE REASONS I'M NOT A FIVE POINT CALVINIST", and "WAS CALVIN A FIVE POINT CALVINIST?" click here.

The Statement That There Are No Absolute Truths Is Self Defeating

A popular saying or belief amongst skeptics of the Christian faith is, "All truth is relative." With this statement many skeptics seek to justify, in their own minds, that there are no absolute truths, including those truth claims put forth in the Bible. Yet, when the skeptic says, "All truth is relative" they are, perhaps unknowingly, making a claim that they believe is absolutely true. If what they are saying ("All truth is relative.") is absolutely true, then not all things are relative and the statement that "All truth is relative" is false.

Another closely related and popular sentiment in our society today is, "There are no absolute truths." Yet, this statement, "There are no absolute truths" is an absolute statement which the skeptic claims is true. If their statement is true, it is an absolute truth and there "There are no absolute truths" is false. Both statements ("All truth is relative" and "There are no absolute truths") are self defeating. If you have the opportunity to talk to someone who thinks this way, point out to them that the logical end of their beliefs is that they cannot believe anything at all, including that there are no absolute truths. Nothing can be true for the relativist, including relativism.

Actor Stephen Baldwin Standing Up Against Pornography

Actor and Christian, Stephen Baldwin is on a crusade against pornography. Click here to read today's article at WorldNetDaily.com. If you struggle with online temptaion, may I suggest that you download a FREE software called X3 at xxx.church.com that will help do away with the temptation? It documents any questionable websites you visit and mails a report once every two weeks to your wife, friend, accountability partner, or whomever you designate. Knowing that someone is going to see where you've been on the internet is a great deterrent against temptation.

Debating the Age of the Earth

There are of course a few different views regarding the age of the universe. I personally don't think it is all that necessary that Christians debate this issue. Discussing the age of the universe (or the earth) can be an interesting theological discussion, but the more important fact to keep in mind and rally around is not WHEN the universe was created but THAT it was created.

Maybe My Kindergarten Teacher Was Right After All

Ron Carlson, a Christian apologist and author, said, "In grammar school they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fairy tale. In the university they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fact." Funny how university professors, with a pair of glasses, a beard and a lab jacket can get intelligent people to believe in fairy tales.

Was Jesus' Resurrection an Idea Stolen from Pagan Religions?

More and more lately I am bumping into comments online from skeptics of the Bible who are saying that the authors of the New Testament stole the idea of Jesus' resurrection from ancient pagan sources. This theory is interesting for tickling ears, but goes against the facts. As Dr. Norman Geisler writes, "The first real parallel of a dying and rising god does not appear until A.D. 150, more than a hundred years after the origin of Christianity. So if there was any influence of one on the other, it was the influence of the historical event of the New Testament [resurrection] on mythology, not the reverse. The only known account of a god surviving death that predates Christianity is the Egyptian cult god Osiris. In this myth, Osiris is cut into fourteen pieces, scattered around Egypt, then reassembled and brought back to life by the goddess Isis. However, Osiris does not actually come back to physical life but becomes a member of a shadowy underworld...This is far different than Jesus' resurrection account where he was the gloriously risen Prince of life who was seen by others on earth before his ascension into heaven....even if there are myths about dying and rising gods prior to Christianity, that doesn't mean the New Testaments writers copied from them. The fictional TV show Star Trek preceded the U.S. Space Shuttle program, but that doesn't mean that newspaper reports of space shuttle missions are influenced by Star Trek episodes!" [Norman Geisler and Frank Turek, I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist, p. 312]

C. S. Lewis on Hell

C. S. Lewis said, "I believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside." According to Lewis, there are only two kinds of people--those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "Thy will be done." A person's lostness doesn't stem from any unfairness in God but from their own stubborn rejection of Him. As was the case in Stephen's day, some "are always resisting the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51).

Philosophical Evidence That The Universe Cannot be Eternal, and Therefore Uncaused.

Imagine with me for a couple of minutes that you are holding a copy of THE DA VINCI CODE in your hands which you have been reading. Suppose that before you reached the page that lies before you (let's call it page Z), you had to first read the page before it (page Y). And before you read that page you had to read the one before it (page X), and so on, going all the way back to the first page. Since the book has a first page, your coming to the current page (Z) requires that you first read only a finite number of pages. More pages could be added to the front of the book to lengthen the time it would take for you to get to page Z. (Hopefully Dan Brown won't read this and get any ideas for a prequel.)

Let us suppose that you are a better than average reader and that it takes only one minute to read each page; and let us supppose that you read non stop until you get to page Z. Then, if there are only ten pages to complete before page Z, it will take you ten minutes to get to page Z. How long will it take if you must first read twenty pages? 20 minutes. How about fifty pages? 50 minutes. A hundred pages? A 100 minutes. Ten thousand pages? You can do the math. The important thing to realize is that in every case, no matter how long the book is, there is always only a finite amount of time that it will take to read it. But let's suppose we add an infinity of pages to the front of this book. When will you get to page Z if you must first read all of those pages? The answer is: Never. So if you find yourself reading page Z after completing all the pages before it, you know you've read only a finite number of pages.

The same sort of thing holds for the series of events making up the total history of the universe. Take some event in the actual history of the universe, like your birth. That event can occur only if a finite number of events must occur first. If an infinite number of events must occur before your birth, then you would never have been born. So, either we are halluncinating regarding the fact of your birth, or only a finite number of events occurred prior to your birth. If only a finite number of events occurred before your birth, then the universe has not always existed but had a beginning. Since we are not hallucinating, the universe must have had a beginning. This poses a problem for the atheist. How does something that begins to exist come into being apart from a creator?

(Thank you to R. Douglas Geivett for his helpful insights on this topic in TO EVERYONE AN ANSWER, edited by Francis Beckwith, William Lane Craig, and J. P. Moreland, chapter 4, 2004, p. 65)

A New NBC Show Starring Jesus?

Did anybody watch the premiere of the new NBC television show last night, THE BOOK OF DANIEL? If you did, what did you think about it? Is there anything about the show that you think Christians could use as a springboard for conversation with unbelievers? If you haven't heard about it, you can read a short WorldNetDaily.com article on it here.

The Fine Tuning of the Universe

Astrophysicist Hugh Ross estimates that there are "twenty-nine characteristics of the universe that must be fine-tuned for any kind of physical life to be possible" and that the solar system we live in has forty-five characteristics that are necessary for human life to arise in it. Given the individual and collective probabilities for these characteristics to all arise by chance with precisely the correct values to make human life possible, Ross estimates that there is much less than 1 chance in one hundred billion trillion trillion trillion that there exists even one planet on which life would occur anywhere in the universe.

Is it reasonable to believe that the fine tuning of the universe requires a Tuner? Paul Davies, Ph.D., believe so. He is an internationally acclaimed physicist and author who has held an academic appointment at the University of Cambridge. He said, "There is for me powerful evidence that there is something going on behind it all....It seems as though somebody has fine tuned the nature's numbers to make the Universe....The impression of design is overwhelming." [The Cosmic Blueprint, 1988, p. 203]

I Don't Have Enough Faith to be An Atheist

It seems absurd to the highest degree to think that nothing can do something, let alone create, but that is exactly what atheism requires nothing to be able to do. Perhaps this is why God says, in Psalm 14:1, that it is the fool who has said in his heart that there is no God.

If we reject the idea that there must be an uncaused cause, or Creator, of the universe, we are left with having to believe that everything that exists came into being from nothing and by nothing. But this is absurd. Even atheists have problems with the absurdity of this. Atheistic philosopher, J. L. Mackie, from Oxford said, "I myself find it hard to accept the notion of self-creation from nothing, even given unrestricted chance." David Hume, one of the most ardent skeptics of Christianity ever, said, "I never asserted so absurd a proposition as that anything might arise without a cause." Things that arise, or begin to exist (i.e. the universe), must have a cause. Everybody intuitively knows this. Faith in an uncaused, eternal, power outside of the universe, that brought the universe into existence is absolutely reasonable. I don't have enough faith to believe that nothing brought the universe into existence. I don't have enough faith to be an atheist.

New Book Now Available Through Amazon

You can support the ministry of Always Be Ready and be equipped to respond to skeptics' top forty questions about Christianity at the same time by purchasing my new book, ONE MINUTE ANSWERS TO SKEPTICS' TOP FORTY QUESTIONS (Paperback, 138 pages). It is now available to purchase through Amazon.com for just $9.95. Click here to go right to it. If you have already purchased the book, perhaps you might post a quick review at the same site.

Philosophical Evidence for God's Existence

Philosophically, it seems very reasonable to me that a Creator of the universe must exist. Here's why.

1. Something exists.
2. Nothing does not produce something.
3. Something must have always existed.
4. The universe has not always existed.
The background radiation echo, the motion of the galaxies and the second law of thermodynamics all point to the fact that the universe began to exist at a finite point in time.
5. Therefore there must be an eternal power beyond the uinverse that caused the universe to come into existence.

If you were a skeptic, or are a skeptic, how might you seek to refute this line of reasoning? I'd be interested to hear. For more on God's existence see my study here.

Put the Burden of Proof Back on the Skeptic

Has a skeptic or unbeliever ever told you something like:

- "Jesus never said He was God."
- "All religions are basically the same."
- "The Bible has undergone corruption and cannot be trusted."
- "The Bible is full of contradictions."
- "Darwinism has disproved God's existence."

Many Christians are left speechless at such words. This need not be the case. Rather than go into defensive mode (i.e. trying to explain the ways that Jesus did claim to be God, or how the manuscript evidence proves the Bible has not undergone corruption), go on the offense. Put the burden of proof back upon the person who is making the assertion. Ask a simple question or two like, "How did you come to that conclusion?" or "Why should I believe that to be the case?" or "What evidence do you have that that is actually true?" Simple questions like these can accomplish three things:
1. They help build relationship. Nobody likes to sit through a one-sided monologue.
2. They help buy you some time to think of how to respond to the issue.
3. They help expose the fact that most skeptics and unbelievers do not really know why they believe what they believe. Once they see that that is the case, they may be more open to hearing what you have to say. For more help answering skeptics genuine questions see my new book, ONE MINUTE ANSWERS TO SKEPTICS' TOP FORTY QUESTIONS. Click here.

Judge Orders Priest to Prove Christ Existed

The TIMES ONLINE reported today that an Italian judge has ordered a priest to stand trial and prove that Jesus ever even existed. This raises a question. If somebody were to ask you to state your reasons why you believe that Jesus existed, what would you say? Think it through, do some research, and share your answer by clicking on the comments link below. Keep your answer to a minute long and we'll post the best answer in about a week.

If you need help with this issue, Gary Habermas has written a great book on this topic, THE HISTORICAL JESUS: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Click here to buy from Christianbook.com.

Two Mormon Missionaries Shot While Witnessing

CHESAPEAKE - A 21-year-old Mormon missionary died Monday night after he and his partner were shot while going door-to-door in the Deep Creek area. Read story here.

Artifacts With Links to Bible Unearthed

The Washington Times reports today that, "Israeli archaeologists, screening tons of rubble scooped out of this ancient city's sacred Temple Mount, have discovered hundreds of artifacts and coins, as well as jewelry, some with biblical links dating back more than three millennia." Click here to read the rest of the story.

A Word For Defenders of the Faith by C. S. Lewis

“To be ignorant and simple now—not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground—would be to throw down our weapons and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” –C.S. Lewis

What Did Jesus Teach About the Bible?

Jesus affirmed that the Bible was:

1. Without Error (John 17:17)

2. Historically Reliable (Matthew 12:40, 24:37-39)

Jesus affirmed as historically true some of the most disputed passages of the Old Testament, including the story of Jonah in the whale (Matthew 12:40), the destruction of the world by a flood in the days of Noah (Matt.24:37-39) , and others

3. Divinely Authoritative (Matthew 4:4-10)

4. Scientifically Accurate Regarding the Origin of Man (Matthew 19:4-5)

For example, when He taught on marriage He referred to the literal
creation of Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4-5)

5. Infallible (John 10:35)

6. Indestructible (Matthew 5:18)

If Jesus was a prophet of God, as even the Qur’an teaches, or even if He was a good teacher (as so many are willing to believe today) it would be wise for us to take His Word on the matter.

Anyone Can Say They Are God

Anyone can say they are God, but Jesus did more than claim to be God, He backed up His claims. He proved that He was the Son of God (equal with God, John 5:18) by:

1. Fulfilling hundreds of Old Testament prophecies
2. Performing numerous miracles
3. Living a sinless life
3. Resurrecting from the dead

It's one thing to make grandiose claims, it's another thing to back them up.

The Existence of Evil and Suffering Actually Turns Out to be a Strong Evidence for God's Existence

The very thing that the skeptic says disproves the existence of God (the existence of evil and suffering in the world) is actually a strong evidence that there must be a God. Here is how we might reason this to be the case:

1. Evil exists in the world.
2. Evil is a departure from the way things ought to be.
3. If there is a way things ought to be, there must be a designed plan (or designed standard) for the universe.
Peter Kreeft said in his book, Handbook of Christian Apologetics, “...the very fact of our outrage at evil is a clue that we are in touch with a standard of goodness by which we judge this world as defective, as falling drastically short of the mark” (p. 123).
4. There cannot be a designed plan for the universe without a designer of the universe.
5. Evil is mankind’s departure from this designer’s standard and that designer is God.

For more help on the compatibility of evil and suffering with a loving, all-powerful God, click here.

THE DA VINCI CODE: Examined and Refuted

The Da Vinci Code is adversely affecting the way millions of people around the world view the Gospel, the church, Jesus and the Bible. Written by Dan Brown, the book has sold more than 25 million copies since it was first published in 2003. If you are like most Christians, you don't have the time, or the desire, to read the book. Unfortunately, your friends, family members and coworkers do! If you'd like to know a little about the book and some of the problems with Dan Brown's erroneous claims, we have put together a short article here that we believe will be helpful to you. With the movie coming out May 19, 2006, it is important that Christians be prepared to answer the questions that people will have. I would be happy to come and speak to your church on this topic. If you, or your pastor, are interested, you can email Always Be Ready at Info@AlwaysBeReady.com. I do not charge for guest speaking. Contact me soon, my calendar is filling up as we get closer to the movie release date. We also have a DVD on this topic.

Charles Spurgeon on the Book of Mormon

“One of the most modern pretenders to inspiration is the Book of Mormon. I could not blame you should you laugh outright while I read aloud a page from that farrago.” –Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), British preacher.

National Geographic Society Comments on the Book of Mormon

“Archaeologists and other scholars have long probed the hemisphere’s past, and the Society does not know of anything found so far that has substantiated the Book of Mormon.”
–The National Geographic Society, August 12, 1998. View actual document here.

The Amazing Influence of that Babe in the Manger

“This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.”
–Philip Schaff (1819-1893), historian; The Person of Christ, 1913, pp. 29-30.

Do You Need Help Sharing the Truth With Someone Involved in Scientology?

John Weldon, a Christian apologist and author, has written a good article on Scientology. He examines the origin of the religion and how their beliefs compare with Biblical teaching. Click here to read.

So Much for Free Speech in North Dakota: Students Forbidden From Debating Intelligent Design

So much for free speech in North Dakota. Science Daily reports that, "Students in North Dakota debating programs have been banned from broaching the topic of intelligent design." Click here to read the Science Daily article. This is actually going to be detrimental to the Darwinist camp. The last thing I would want do, if I did not want my children to take interest in the intelligent design movement, is tell them they cannot talk about it! We pray that this decision will result in more kids investigating the compelling evidence for a Designer.

20 Reasons To Believe That Jesus is God

There are a variety of different beliefs amongst the different religions as to who Jesus was and is. Some say He was an enlightened man. Others say He was an an angel or just a good teacher. Christians affirm that Jesus was, and is, God the Son, coequal in nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But on what grounds do we believe this to be so? The answer is the Bible, the inspired, infallible Word of God. That is our authority on the issue. If you are unsure of what to believe about Jesus--perhaps a Jehovah's Witness or Mormon has confused you on this issue--please click here. I outline, on one easy-to-read page, 20 reasons why Christians believe Jesus is God. Hope this helps you. God bless.

Do You Love the Truth?

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) said in his day, "Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it." Of course, the same is true today. How is one to know the truth? The answer is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 8. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).

New DVD: The Bible vs. Book of Mormon

Living Hope Ministries in Utah has just produced and released an amazing new DVD entitled THE BIBLE vs. THE BOOK OF MORMON. Comparing side by side the claims and evidences of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, this DVD clearly and powerfully demonstrates the truthfulness of the Bible and the fiction of Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon.

Always Be Ready has this DVD on sale right now for just $14.95. Click here to see our DVD section. This is a great DVD to give to your Mormon friend, coworker, or family member. For more on Mormonism, we also have the DNA vs. THE BOOK OF MORMON DVD in stock, also produced by Living Hope Ministries. You can read more about it when you view our DVD selection. God is using both of these resources to lead many Mormons out of darkness and into the light.

Darwinism: "Masquerading As Science"

Dr. Jonathan Wells, who earned two doctorates, one in molecular and cell biology from U.C. Berkeley and another from Yale recently said, "My conclusion is that the case for Darwinian evolution is bankrupt. The evidence for Darwinism is not only grossly inadequate, it's systematically distorted. I'm convinced that sometime in the not-too-distant future--I don't know, maybe twenty or thirty years from now--people will look back in amazement and say, 'How could anyone have believed this?' Darwinism is merely materialistic philosophy masquerading as science, and people are recognizing it for what it is....When you analyze all of the most current affirmative evidence from cosmology, physics, astronomy, biology, and so forth--well, I think you'll discover that the positive case for an intelligent designer becomes absolutely compelling." (Interview with Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, 2004, p. 65-66)

How NOT to Witness to a Jehovah's Witness

Many Christians aren't sure how to go about witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses on their doorstep. Here is an example of how NOT to do it. The L.A. Times on December 9, 2005 reported:

"A woman who used a butcher knife to beat a Jehovah's Witness who knocked on her door on Christmas Day was sentenced to three months in jail....The Jehovah's Witness had shown up at Infusino's [the woman with the knife] apartment by mistake and was looking for a neighbor who was interested in the religion. She apologized for the error and tried to leave, but Infusino grabbed her by the hair and pulled her into the apartment."

Do you need help with witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses? Click on the JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES link on ABR's homepage www.AlwaysBeReady.com.

Are You a College Student with Liberal Professors? Sean Hannity Wants to Help You

Sean Hannity (a conservative Christian talkshow host for Foxnews) wants to help expose liberal propaganda and intimidation by university professors. Here is an excerpt from World Net Daily who has an article on this today. Sean said, "All you college kids out there, check your state laws, check your campus laws...Get your little tape recorders if legal, and I want you to start recording these left-wingers. Bring it to this program [Sean's radio program] and we'll start airing it every single time on this program....whenever you have the left-wing professors that are abusive to conservatives, that degrade you, that call you names, that use ad-hominem attacks, that are punishing you for your political point of view, that are purposely trying to indoctrinate you with extremist left-wing views – if it is legal, tape them. If it is not legal, take verbatim notes, get witnesses, bring these articles to the school newspapers, bring it to the local media. Expose these people for the abusive professors that they are, and I guarantee you when there's a series of these instances where we expose these people, I guarantee you this indoctrination process is going to stop dead in its tracks....Fear is a great motivator, and the fear that these left-wingers are going to get fired or be held accountable for their mean-spirited comments against people or their indoctrination is going to be the single-biggest motivation we ever see to get them to stop doing what they're doing to college kids around the country." Read the entire article here.

How Americans View Muslims Post 9-11

"Just before the September 11 attacks, a Gallup survey showed that 45 percent of Americans had favorable views toward Muslim-Americans. Today, 59 percent do. Imagine it--Islamic extremists attack America, and we think more of Islam than before the attack!" -Charles Colson, Lies That Go Unchallenged in Popular Culture, p. 356, 2005.

Do You Have Kids? Help Them Know Why They Believe What They Believe

"Studies have shown that when students lack good defenses, their faith erodes. And two-thirds will forsake Christianity by their senior year of college." Read the rest of this article from THE CHRISTIAN POST here.

Reading this article, I was again reminded of the importance of parents training their kids, from a young age, to know why they believe what they believe. Many parents, who simply tell their kids what to believe, are brought to tears when their college-age kids walk away from the Lord. Do you have young kids? Do you have grandkids? Look for opportunities to talk to them about some of the evidences for God's existence, the trustworthiness of the Bible, etc. Do you need help preparing or learning about some of those evidences? See our notes on our main page at www.AlwaysBeReady.com.

Seventy Percent of Americans Believe Jesus is the Son of God

THE WASHINGTON TIMES reports today that, "Traditional religion is still the bedrock of America, with "very large majorities" of the public steadfast in their belief in God and the birth and Resurrection of Jesus Christ -- with belief in astrology, ghosts and other New Age hallmarks lagging behind. Overall, 82 percent of Americans believe in God, according to a recent Harris poll, which also revealed that 73 percent also believe in miracles, 70 percent in life after death, 70 percent in the existence of heaven, and 70 percent that Jesus is the Son of God. In addition, 68 percent believe in angels and 66 percent in the Resurrection of Christ. Six out of 10 believe in the devil and the existence of hell." Click here for the rest of the article.

Famous Atheist Abandons Atheism for Belief in Intelligent Designer

This is no longer news to some of you, but worthy of posting here for those of you who haven't yet heard. Antony Flew, a world-renowned atheist, author and debater, has abandoned his atheism in light of the latest scientific evidence. Read about his change of mind here. He is not yet a Christian, only a theist, but we pray that God will continue to lead him into the truth.

Scientists Who Are Critical of Darwinian Evolution

Did you know that some of the brightest scientists in the world, from some of the most prestigious institutions in the world (including Cambridge University, Stanford, Cornell, MIT, Princeton, Harvard, etc.), are critical of Darwinian evolution? Often times the liberal media seeks to portray Christians as uneducated, uniformed idiots for believing in a Creator. If you have ever been tempted to feel this way, know that when you affirm a belief in a Creator, you are actually standing with a group of very educated scientists who hold Ph.D.s in a plethora of different fields.

To see a list of scientists who are critical of Darwinian evolutionary theory click here (pdf file).

Easy Way to Inoculate Your Neighbors Against Cults

Have Mormon missionaries or Jehovah's Witnesses been through your neighborhood? Here is a great and easy way to warn your neighbors about both groups and at the same time share what the Bible really teaches. Go to this link over at the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry and download a free door hanger warning tract that you can print out. These work great! Help spread the truth.

Exciting New Archaeological Discovery

We know from the New Testament accounts and extrabiblical literary evidence (Flavius Josephus, the Babylonian Talmud, etc.) that Jesus lived. We also know that the early church believed that Jesus was God long before the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 (e.g., John 20:28). (In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown asserts that the deity of Christ was a fourth century invention by the church.) A recent archaeology discovery in Megiddo helps verify, not only that Jesus lived, but that the early church also viewed Him as God long before the fourth century. See both installments of the story at: www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,174685,00.html and: www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,174772,00.html.

Is it Reasonable to Believe that God Exists?

What evidence is there that the God exists? Well, for starters, we might point to the very existence of the universe itself. Let’s think about this for a moment. There are only three options for the existence of the universe. One, that it has always been. Two, that it came into being by itself. Three, that it was created. The first option (that the universe is eternal) has been utterly rejected by the scientific community. An overwhelming amount of evidence has ruled out the notion that the universe has always existed. The motion of the galaxies, the background radiation echo, and other evidences all point to the fact that the universe sprung into existence at a particular point in time, something scientists call the Big Bang. Option two, that the universe created itself, is impossible. It would be impossible for the universe to have created itself. Before the universe existed there would not have been anything around to do anything. And we all know that nothing can not do anything. Nothing is nothing. It (if we could even call nothing an it!) can’t see, smell, act, think. Nothing is nothing! So option one and two can be thrown out on scientific and philosophical grounds. Option three, that something or someone outside of the universe created the universe, is the only reasonable option.

When you see a painting on a wall, what proof do you need to establish the fact that a painter exists? Nothing else besides the painting itself. The painting is absolute proof that there was a painter. You don’t need to see the painter to believe that he exists. The painting is all the evidence you need. The painting would not be there if the painter didn’t exist. And so it is with the universe. The existence of the universe itself proves absolutely that there is a creator.

New Apologetics Book Now Available

My new book is done: One Minute Answers to Skeptics' Top Forty Questions. Here's what a few of the endorsers had to say:

"I hope many seekers will give serious consideration to the thoughts so well expressed in this timely and pithy book. Well worth reading."
–CHARLES COLSON

"This is a handy book with helpful answers for busy people."
–Dr. NORMAN GEISLER

"The Christian faith is the most reasonable faith in the world, and Charlie Campbell shows that in a straight forward and down to earth way in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and plan to give it away to as many people as I can."
–BRIAN BRODERSEN

In this book I tackle forty of the most popular questions that skeptics and unbelievers ask Christians. Questions like: How do you know that God exists? Hasn't the Bible undergone corruption as it was translated down through the centuries? What evidence do you have that the Bible is actually true? How can a God of love allow evil and suffering? How can a God of love send people to hell? Why aren't dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible? And more!

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