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 Respond to Critics.