Scott's Blog - 12/29/06

Does God Want Your Money?

Let's open up the Scott Richards Live Mail Bag and tackle one of the most often asked questions we receive!

Dear Pastor Scott,
Thank you for allowing our questions.  What a wonderful service to both
believers and unbelievers!
I have a question that has been on my heart for about a month now.  It is
about tithing.
God calls us to tithe 10% of our income; the first 10% belongs to Him.  But
this is a huge struggle for me. Ten-percent is a lot of money for my family.
Currently, I'm juggling bills- robbing Peter to pay Paul.  I feel if I
tithe 10% I'd be robbing Paul to pay Christ one week and robbing Christ to
pay Peter the next week.  This can't be right.
Should I tithe 10% inconsistently, or pay less (such as $20 a paycheck)
consistently?
I truly want to give- and not due to guilt or anything- but I don't want to
be irresponsible to my family and have our car repossessed or our utilities
shut off.  In an attempt to give time, and less money, I have offered to
volunteer with the Church, but that was just not working.
Should I just give and have faith God will provide?  What if I can't afford
it?  Any suggestions?

Tracey

Thanks for bringing up such a practical and personally relevant issue Tracey. There are few issues that generate more confusion in Christian circles than the subject of giving. Grasping three New Testament principles can go a long way toward clearing up this crucial aspect of our walk with the Lord.

The Practice of Giving

Should believers be involved in a regular practice of giving? The Biblical answer is yes.

 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. (I Corinthians 16:1-3)

In this passage we see three solid Scriptural guidelines for worshipping the Lord through our giving. 

Giving is to be predictable - The first day of the week (Sunday by Jewish reckoning) was the day that New Testament believers met for worship. Giving was to be as much a part of the normal Christian worship experience as prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Giving is to be pervasive - Notice that by the use of the phrase let each of you,  Paul emphasizes that all the members of the church should be involved in giving. Studies show that in the average fellowship no more than 30% of the people give on a regular basis. Giving isn't someone else's responsibility. It is a privilege that the Lord wants all His children to enjoy.

Giving is to be proportionate - God's people are to give individually, storing up as he may prosper. Giving isn't to be restricted to a legalistic standard. There will be times when we will be able to give more based on our circumstances. There will be other times when we will give less. It is not the amount, or the proportion God is concerned about, as much as the heart that accompanies the offering.

The Passion of Giving

The second aspect of giving that the Bible gives us has less to do with amounts, as much as attitude.

 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:


      “ He has dispersed abroad,
      He has given to the poor;
      His righteousness endures forever.”

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. (II Corinthians 9:6-11)

True Biblical giving begins with the heart - True giving is an expression of love, not legalistic duty. Paul tells us to let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. If giving causes us to wince, roll our eyes, or mutter, "Oh, all right!", we have missed God's best for us. It is better not to give than to allow giving to become a source of bitterness and resentment in our lives. We need to check our hearts before we begin to write a check!

True Biblical giving produces a healthy sense of hope - There is an old expression, "You will never out give God." No one will ever give from a heart filled with love for God and His people who won't be blessed in return. But notice that God reserves the right to determine how we will be blessed. We will be enriched in everything for all liberality. God may bless us financially as we give. He may bless us relationally, giving us a greater sense of compassion for others. He may bless us spiritually, allowing us a greater insight into His own generous, gracious character. But when we give, we should give with a sense of excitement and expectancy, looking forward to how the Lord is going to reward our giving!

True Biblical giving produces a harvest - When we are involved in giving we place ourselves in a chain reaction of blessings that God bestows on His people. Our giving may make a difference in the lives of people we will never meet this side of heaven. But Heaven takes notice of their heartfelt thanksgiving they offer not only to the Lord, but also for those who share His heart.

The Precaution of Giving -

There are few areas of worship that yield more tangible results than being involved in regular giving. But there are a few pit falls in this area that we need to avoid.

Be sure to give to the Lord - This might sound really obvious, but it is a point a lot of people miss. If we are not careful we can find ourselves giving to a place, program or personality and lose sight of the Lord. 

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." (Matthew 6:1-4)

Be sure not to neglect solid scriptural stewardship - As Tracey's e-mail illustrates, many sincere Christians have left bills unpaid so they can give to the Lord. But we need to realize that God desires to see us take care of business in our personal obligations as well. 

 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;  and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;  that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. (I Thessalonians 4:9-12)

It is pleasing to God when we give inside the church. But it is also pleasing when we have a solid testimony with those outside the church. That begins with paying our bills!

Be sure to avoid legalism - There are some who teach that unless we give a minimum of 10% of our income to God we won't be blessed (at best) or be cursed (at the worst). The concept of tithing is a decidedly Old Testament concept. In all the instructions we receive in the letters of Paul, Peter, John, James and Jude concerning giving the word "tithe" is never used. I believe that setting a 10% standard to shoot for in our giving is a good one, but it is not a commandment in the New Testament sense. I would hate to see someone who was prospered of the Lord cut off possibilities of expressing God's love tangibly because they had already hit their 10% for the month. In the same way, I would hate to see someone feel condemned and unworthy of God's blessing because they were unable to hit a10% figure for the month. If we look at giving as a "Get-to", not a "Got-to" we will be pleasing to the Lord and a blessing to others

As we give we receive the greatest blessing of all. We begin to practically share our heavenly Father's generous, gracious heart!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (II Corinthians 9:15)

Scott's Blog - 12/28/06

Oh, Yeah? Says Who?

Let's open up the Scott Richards Live mailbag and tackle a question that will not only allow us to reach others with the Gospel, but also raise a question with far reaching implications for our own faith.

What secular evidence is there that Jesus was a real person? Unbelievers seem to think the biblical accounts are a special case of eyewitness account that have no value because they advocate a position, so I'd like to know what extra-biblical evidence I can use to address people who claim that he never even lived.

- Rudy 

Rudy, I can relate to the experience that lies behind your question. Every now and then we run into people who are so adamantly opposed to the message of Christ they try to deny He ever existed. CS Lewis once remarked that in light of the overwhelming historical evidence for Jesus' life, death and resurrection, no thinking person would ever deny He existed unless of course they deeply wished he hadn't.

But in these days of the "No Spin Zone" and "Rather-gate" it is fair to ask if the eyewitness accounts of the New Testament are corroborated by outside sources.

The resounding answer is "Yes!"

Secular Roman historians such as Suetonius (also rendered Seutonius) in his "Life of Claudius", Tacitus in his "Annals" and Pliny the Younger in his letter to the Roman Emperor Trajan, all speak of Jesus as a historical figure. 

Perhaps the most compelling reference is found written by the Jewish historian Josephus in his Antiquities -

Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man IF IT BE LAWFUL TO CALL HIM A MAN, for he was a doer of wonders, A TEACHER OF SUCH MEN AS RECEIVE THE TRUTH WITH PLEASURE. He drew many after him BOTH OF THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES. HE WAS THE CHRIST. When Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, FOR HE APPEARED TO THEM ALIVE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY, AS THE DIVINE PROPHETS HAD FORETOLD THESE AND THEN THOUSAND OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT HIM, and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day (Antiquities 18:63-64).

The words in capital letters represent those that some scholars feel were added by later copyists of Josephus. But another source shows the fact that Josephus was decidedly impressed with a historically real Jesus.

Professor Shlomo Pines found a different version of Josephus testimony in an Arabic version of the tenth century. It has obviously not been interpolated in the same way as the Christian version circulating in the West:

At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon their loyalty to him. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive. Accordingly they believed that he was the Messiah, concerning whom the Prophets have recounted wonders.

There is no shortage of evidence for a an open minded individual to conclude that Jesus existed. This raises two key questions. First, what is it about the New Testament that would lead a person to conclude it is not a truthful account of the life of Jesus? Eminent secular scholars of ancient history such as Sir William Ramsay have called Gospel writers such as Luke "a historian of the first rank." 

To charge that the Gospels were frauds raises a couple of unanswerable questions - Why would followers of a leader who called Himself the embodiment of truth, tell lies in His name? (John 14:6) If they decided that the end justified the means and perpetuated lies to create their new religion, why die for a lie? (Acts 4:19)

Which brings the discussion back to CS Lewis' observation. Why would any thinking person deny Jesus' existence, unless they desperately wished it wasn't so? 

Our mission at that point is to respectfully probe the life experience of the questioner to discover why they are so opposed to Jesus. Chances are we will discover there is a bad experience with some representative of Christ or the church that fuels the fire. It is also possible that there is a moral issue present that the reality of Jesus would threaten that motivates the position. 

Perhaps the best way to get down to that heart to heart level is to ask a simple, but convicting question - If I were to answer that question to your satisfaction, would you consider becoming a Christian?

If the answer is no - then it is clear the issue isn't that the person can't believe, but that they won't believe.

If the answer is yes - then share away!

Scott's Blog - 12/22/06

Christmas and Cosmic Confusion

There are certain signs of the Christmas season we can anticipate every year. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack frost nipping at your nose. Mall dwellers mauling each other to get their hands on the latest "must have" toy or game of the year. And, of course, the annual planetarium shows and PBS specials on the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem. 

You know how these programs proceed. They will quote a snippet or two from the book of Matthew regarding the coming of the Magi.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2)

From this point they will attempt to explain this account in purely scientific terms. A good summary of what we usually hear is provided by Space.com.

At least four theories have been advanced to explain the Star from a purely astronomical viewpoint.

Possibly the first idea put forward was that it was an unusually bright fireball meteor seen streaking toward the horizon. But as most skywatchers know, such an object can be seen to flash across the sky in a mere matter of seconds hardly long enough to lead the Magi halfway across the Orient to the little town of Bethlehem. So we can confidently lay this concept to rest.

Not so easily dismissed, however, is the possibility that the Star was a bright comet.

Comets can remain visible to the unaided eye for weeks either in the predawn sky or at dusk. It is not impossible to conceive that a comet with a bright star-like head and long gossamer tail pointing like some cosmic finger toward the horizon could have drawn the Magi to Bethlehem.

The famous Halleys Comet, last seen in early 1986, also flared in the sky during August and September in the year 11 BC. However, most authorities dismiss it due to the poor time fit. Although it seems unlikely that another great comet could have appeared nearer to the accepted time frame of the Stars appearance and went unrecorded, we can never really be sure.

Besides, comets were viewed as omens of evil, such as floods and famine as well as the death not the birth of kings and monarchs. The Romans, in marking the death of the Roman General Agrippa, for example, used the 11 BC apparition of Halleys Comet as a benchmark. With this in mind, comets would seem to be wrong as the heavenly sign that would signal the coming of a newborn king.

Exploding star

Perhaps the simplest answer is a nova or supernova outburst: a new star blazes forth where none had ever been seen and leaves no trace for us to find in the future.

Although their names imply a new creation, these spectacular objects are in reality dying stars, although they are new (albeit temporary) additions to the nighttime sky. The appearance of a nova is unpredictable a really bright one becomes visible perhaps once every 25 or 30 years.

Going on this assumption, we actually should be due for a bright naked-eye nova at almost anytime now, since the most recent one appeared back in 1975 (not far from the bright star Deneb in the constellation Cygnus).

Most bright novae suddenly and unexpectedly flare into prominence literally overnight, attracting the instant attention of sky-conscious people. But after several days or weeks of such prominence, it gradually fades back to obscurity.

Even more spectacular but much rarer are supernovae; stars that suddenly blow themselves completely apart, briefly producing an incredible energy output equivalent to the combined light of an entire galaxy of stars.

At the height of its outburst, a supernova can shine with a brilliance capable of casting shadows and can even be seen in broad daylight truly a celestial announcement worthy of the birth of a king.

In our Milky Way galaxy, over the past thousand years, there have been four brilliant supernovae, in 1006, 1054, 1572 and 1604. Clearly, we are long overdue for another, though the stars don't necessarily play by any odds we might calculate.

Although a nova or supernova is the most satisfying explanation for the Star, there is a serious problem with it, in that there doesn't seem to be any definitive record of a bright nova appearing in the sky during the time that biblical historians believe the Magi made their journey.

One nova apparently did appear, bordering the constellations Capricornus and Aquarius during the spring of 5 BC. But the Chinese records, which describe this object, imply that it was apparently not very conspicuous at all.

Perhaps a planet

The final possibility is one or more of the bright naked eye planets.

The likelihood that the Magi could have confused one or more of the familiar planets with a star seems remote. However, sometimes two or more of these restless wanderers come together in a striking conjunction. Perhaps a planetary grouping of particular beauty; an exceptionally close conjunction of two planets or groupings of three or more creating an eye-catching geometric figure in the sky may have taken place between the years 7 and 2 BC.

A gathering like that would be quite unusual to the unexpecting eye.

One such event that is often cited occurred on the evening of Feb. 25, 6 BC involving Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and happened in the constellation of Pisces, the Fishes. If you have ever visited a planetarium for the traditional Christmas show, you probably already know the thrill of watching as the planetarium projector races back through time to recreate this unusual event.

Another possible explanation for the Star of Bethlehem is the three-times passing of Jupiter and Saturn between May and December in 7 BC; a rare triple or "great conjunction."

Jupiter appeared to pass one degree north of Saturn on May 29; practically the same on Sept. 30; then finally a third time on Dec. 5.

There is no doubt about the visibility of these events, mostly opposite to the Sun in nighttime skies. As for their astrological impact, the Magi would have certainly noticed that both planets did not appear to separate widely between their conjunctions. In fact, for eight consecutive months the time it might have taken to travel the 500 miles or more from Babylonia to Judea Jupiter and Saturn remained within three degrees of each other, from late April of 7 BC until early January of 6 BC.

A fist held on an outstretched arm covers about 10 degrees of sky.

But perhaps no other planetary grouping can equal that of the two brightest planets Venus and Jupiter for the explanation that we seek. And if we take the only known account of the Star literally, as given in St. Matthew, then what we really need is the appearance of not just one, but two "stars." The first appearance would have been seen well in advance of the Magis arrival in Bethlehem, and the other at the end of their long journey.

Perhaps the signal for their star was to be a sign in the constellation of Leo, the Lion.

To the early Israelites, Leo was a constellation of great astrological significance and considered a sacred part of the sky. A very close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter would have been visible in the eastern dawn sky of the Middle East from about 3:45 to 5:20 a.m. on Aug. 12, 3 BC.

When they first emerged above the eastern horizon, the two planets were separated by only about two-fifths of the Moons apparent diameter or 12 minutes of arc. As a comparison, the separation of the stars Mizar and Alcor in the handle of the Big Dipper is also 12 minutes. Planets this close are very striking, if they don't differ too much in brightness.

Incidentally, St. Matthew wrote that the Magi stated in their meeting with King Herod: "We have seen his Star in the East and have come to worship him." It has never been clear if they saw the star in the eastern sky, or if they saw it from the East. The fact that the Aug. 12, 3 BC conjunction of Venus and Jupiter occurred in the eastern sky and may have also started the Magi on the journey (from the East) to Bethlehem means that both bases are covered with their statement -- reported by St. Matthew -- to King Herod.

Venus ultimately vanished into the glare of the Sun, but Jupiter and Leo remained in the night sky during the next ten months. During this time a number of additional planetary conjunctions took place, all of which would have been of great importance to the priest-astrologers of the time.

All this sounds quite interesting and even compelling until we take the entire description of the behavior of the Star of Bethlehem into account.

First, this "star" was not a consistent phenomenon. It would appear and disappear. The star was consistent enough to lead the Magi to Jerusalem. But once they arrived, it seemed to have vanished. This is what lead to the Magi asking their classic question, "Where is He who is born King of the Jews?" The consultation with Herod and the chief priests and scribes would not have been necessary if their form of guidance was still in plain sight. To add to this mystery Matthew tells us the "star" reappeared after the Magi met with Herod.

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. (Matthew 2:9-10)

Did you also catch another aspect of this "star" that categorically removes it from the realm of astronomical phenomena? The "star" went before them until it stood over the place where the child was. As anyone who has earned a Boy Scout merit badge in avoiding being hopelessly lost in the woods knows, stars are a great way of showing direction. Find the North Star by drawing a line down from the leading edge of the Big Dipper and you can avoid walking in circles at night. But if you keep following the North Star you will notice that it always stays ahead of you. It can show direction, but not a position on the ground.

As such the Star of Bethlehem wasn't a star, a conjunction of planets, a comet, or a super nova. So what was it?

The word translated "star" in most versions of the Bible is the Greek term "aster". We get our term "asteroid" from this root. Interestingly, "aster" can mean a star in the heavens. But in a more broad sense it can also be translated as "a shining forth" or "a light source". 

Is there an example in the Bible of a light source that has the capability of showing both direction and position on the ground?

Fascinatingly, the answer is yes. It is found in the record of how the Lord provided guidance to Israel during their time in the wilderness.

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)

The "shining forth" that guided the Wise Men to give Jesus His proper welcome was nothing short of the miraculous intervention of God. No other theory fits the facts.

Does that seem like an awful lot of bother on God's part just to bring a group of worshippers to His Son? Consider the lengths God was willing to go to bring us to the same place.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:5-11)

May we be wise enough to follow the leading of the light of God's Word to worship His Son this Christmas!

For more information on the Star of Bethlehem from a solidly Biblical point of view, visit The Star of Bethlehem written by members of Answers in Genesis

Scott's Blog - 12/21/06

A Christmas Card From the Crazed

I know that the holidays can bring out the worst in people. Normally calm and patient people will fight for a parking space in the mall. Credit cards will melt from being swiped once too often. Budgets will be blown. Power plants will be taxed by light displays and the new trend toward gas powered inflatable Christmas characters in the front yard.

And then there are Christmas cards. Just when your hand is recovering from addressing greetings to 3,000 of your closest friends, you go to the mail box and find one more from your third cousin twice removed on your Uncle Sidney's side.

It's enough to make you blow a gasket.

I only wish we could write off this holiday greeting to a case of Christmas stress!

---

---

Jesus, Mahdi both coming,
says Iran's Ahmadinejad
In New Year's greeting to Christians worldwide
asks what Christ would do if he were here today

---

Posted: December 19, 2006
11:52 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

 

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appearing at "The World Without Zionism" conference Oct. 26, 2005

In a greeting to the world's Christians for the coming new year, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he expects both Jesus and the Shiite messianic figure, Imam Mahdi, to return and "wipe away oppression."

"I wish all the Christians a very happy new year and I wish to ask them a question as well," said Ahmadinejad, according to an Iranian Student News Agency report cited by YnetNews.com

"My one question from the Christians is: What would Jesus do if he were present in the world today? What would he do before some of the oppressive powers of the world who are in fact residing in Christian countries? Which powers would he revive and which of them would he destroy?" asked the Iranian leader.

"If Jesus were present today, who would be facing him and who would be following him?"

Ahmadinejad then made a connection between Jesus and the Imam Mahdi, believed by Shiites to have disappeared as a child in A.D. 941. When the Mahdi returns, they contend, he will reign on earth for seven years before bringing about a final judgment and the end of the world.

"All I want to say is that the age of hardship, threat and spite will come to an end someday and, God willing, Jesus would return to the world along with the emergence of the descendant of the Islam's holy prophet, Imam Mahdi, and wipe away every tinge of oppression, pain and agony from the face of the world," Ahmadinejad said.

Ahmadinejad has been urging Iranians to prepare for the coming of the Mahdi by turning the country into a powerful and advanced Islamic society and by avoiding the corruption and excesses of the West.

He sees his main mission, as he recounted in a Nov. 16, 2005, speech in Tehran, as to "pave the path for the glorious reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance."

With Iran's continued development of nuclear technology in defiance of the West, some analysts fear Ahmadinejad's intent is to trigger the kind of global conflagration he envisions will set the stage for the end of the world.

Ahmadinejad hosted a conference last week examining whether the Nazi genocide took place, drawing Holocaust deniers from around the world. The Iranian president has described the Holocaust as a "myth" and called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

"The Zionist regime will be wiped out soon the same way the Soviet Union was, and humanity will achieve freedom." he said.

Last month, he said he believes the world is rapidly becoming "Ahmadinejadized," with global leaders following in his footsteps.

"I have traveled to all the continents except for one, and I know what is going on out there. Everybody is eager to hear the Iranian people's message," the Aftab-Yazd newspaper quoted the president as saying, according to Agence France-Presse. "The world is rapidly becoming Ahmadinejadized."

The hardliner said Iran's "two big missions are constructing the country and introducing a model for humanity."

"Ahmadinejadized"? Sort of rolls right of the tongue, doesn't it? I wonder what the marketing mavens in Tehran will come up with for their next big ad campaign - "Anti-Semitic Fever! Catch it!"?

But our friend Mahmoud does raise an interesting question. "What would Jesus do if He were in the world today?"

I think we can cross "Exterminate the Jewish State" off the list.

I am fairly sure if Jesus was in the world today, and had the chance to talk with Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad, the conversation might not be all that different from one recorded in the Gospel of John.

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He." (John 4:19-26)

Jesus was dealing with a Samaritan woman. The religious system of the Samaritans was remarkably similar to the Islamic faith of Amadinejhad. Both borrowed bits and pieces from the Old Testament. Both were based on a claim to be God's true chosen people. Both were fueled in their zeal by a hatred of the Jews. Both were intensely concerned with territorial claims and counter-claims, rooted in religious fervor.

But both needed a word of correction.

The Jews are not the enemy. Rather the world owes the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob a huge debt of gratitude. God chose to make them the nation through whom would come not only His Word, but also His Son.

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. (Romans 9:1-5)

But even more importantly, if Jesus were here, and would talk to Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad, He would bring this religious, but misguided man to the most important life changing truth - that He is the promised Messiah. It is His Word, not that of Mohammed or some hidden Mahdi, that leads to eternal life.

There are reports coming out of Moslem dominated countries of people discovering that truth, sometimes in decidedly supernatural ways. Let's pray that this man who has come to embrace a message of hate and destruction comes to know the true Prince of Peace.

Scott's Blog - 12/20/06

Loose Lips Sink...Nations?

Have you ever made an off hand remark that you would give anything to take back?

Like the time you asked a lady, "How far along are you?" And have her reply, "I'm not expecting!"

Nothing is worse than that, right?

Now try to imagine making one of those poorly thought through remarks and see it not just endanger the peace of a gathering, or your personal reputation, but the potential security of an entire nation.

If you are Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, you don't have to imagine anymore.

FIRESTORM: OLMERT SHOCKS WORLD BY ADMITTING ISRAEL HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS

 

UPDATE: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stunned Israelis and the Islamic world Monday by admitting that the Jewish state has nuclear weapons. "Israel doesn't threaten any country with anything -- never did," Olmert told a German television network during his trip to Europe, according to various news reports. "The most that we tried to get for ourselves is to be able to live without terror. But we never threatened any nation with annihilation....Iran, openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel, Russia [have]?"

Was it a slip of the tongue, or did Olmert mean to abandon decades of Israel's policy of "strategic ambiguity," neither confirming nor denying having nuclear warheads? It's not yet clear, but it was a dangerous development. Why? Because it gives Iran, Syria, Russia and the Islamic world the ability to accuse Israel of having a double standard for saying Iran should not have nukes when Israel already does. What's more, it comes on the heels of new U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates shocking Washington and Israel by confirming in sworn Senate testimony that Israel does in fact have nuclear weapons. Already, Olmert's comments have created a firestorm of controversy inside Israel, and calls for his resignation. Given the Prime Minister's already low standing in the polls (his approval ratings are hovering at a dismally low 20-25% after the Lebanon War), pressure could begin to build to bring Olmert's government down.

From a prophetic point of view, this slip of the tongue could provide diplomatic cover for a UN resolution demanding Israel give up her nuclear weapons. If they refuse this could be used as a justification for military intervention against Israel. (See Scott's Blog 12/13/06 for the potential tie in to predicted end times events)

But from a personal view, it also sheds light on a challenging passage of Scripture.

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:1-2)

Some have supposed that this passage refers to the moment when pastors and teachers of the Bible will stand before Jesus and see their takes on the Word reviewed by the Author. Certainly we can expect that this will be the case. Praise God that the judgment of believers will be only one of rewards or I know that I would be in big trouble. There have been times when I have gone back over my sermon notes from 20 years ago and said to myself, "I can't believe I taught that!" When I catch a real gaffe, I ask the Lord to forgive Me and fall back on one of the most precious promises in the Bible:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

But if Ehud Olmert's slip of the tongue can teach us anything it is this - It is not just the proclamation of our lips that can get us into trouble, but the position of our lives that can really do damage. If a commentator on Israeli TV had said something to the effect of "Everyone knows we have nukes. Why deny it?" The world would barely muster a yawn. But put those words in the mouth of the Prime Minister of Israel and it's a completely different story.

In the same way, the dime store variety philosopher sipping a cup of coffee at Starbucks can say, "That's what God looks like to me.." and we can consign it to just a sharing of opinion. But once people discover that we are Christians, who believe the Bible is the very Word of God, we find ourselves in a different place entirely. When we say, "This is Who God is.." we'd better know what we are talking about. Not just because we will give an account to God some day, but because what we say and do is constantly being exposed to a "stricter judgment" by all who hear us.

Best way to avoid a case of spiritual foot-in-mouth disease? Ask the Lord to make this passage real in your heart!

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6)

Scott's Blog - 12/19/06

As today is my 14th anniversary, I thought I would share with you the greatest gift God has given to me this side of salvation!

“ Many daughters have done well,
      But you excel them all.”
       Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
      But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
       Give her of the fruit of her hands,
      And let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:29-31)

Scott's Blog -12/18/06

The Measure of Maturity?

If you were asked to name the most outstanding characteristic of a spiritually mature Christian, how would you respond? 

Some might point to a grasp of Biblical knowledge and doctrine.

Others might point to a prominence in position, a visible role in the church.

Some might point to the active operation of spiritual gifts or a prayer ministry that seems to bring results.

But would it surprise you to learn that God defines genuine spiritual maturity in a way that is not much different than the conclusions of a recent study on the behavior of teenagers?

Study: Why Teens Don't Care By Sara Goudarzi LiveScience Staff Writer posted: 07 September 2006 05:33 pm ET

If you ever sense teenagers are not taking your feelings into account, it's probably because they're just incapable of doing so. The area of the brain associated with higher-level thinking, empathy, and guilt is underused by teenagers, reports a new study. When considering an action, the teenage medial prefrontal cortex, located in front of the brain, doesn't get as much action as adults. "Thinking strategies change with age," said Sarah-Jayne Blakemore of the University College London Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience.  "As you get older you use more or less the same brain network to make decisions about your actions as you did when you were a teenager, but the crucial difference is that the distribution of that brain activity shifts from the back of the brain (when you are a teenager) to the front (when you are an adult)." Teen thinking In the study, teens and adults were asked how they would react to certain situations. As they responded, researchers imaged their brains. Although both adults and teens responded similarly to the questions, their brain activity differed. The medial prefrontal cortex was much more active in the adults than in the teens. However, the teenagers had much more activity in the superior temporal sulcus, the brain area involved in predicting future actions based on previous ones. Adults were also much faster at figuring out how their actions would affect themselves and other people. "We think that a teenager's judgment of what they would do in a given situation is driven by the simple question: 'What would I do?'" Blakemore said.  "Adults, on the other hand, ask: 'What would I do, given how I would feel and given how the people around me would feel as a result of my actions?'" Developing sensitivity Children start taking into account other people's feelings around the age of five. But the ability develops well beyond this age, the new research suggests. And while some of this sensitivity could be the result of undeveloped regions in the brain, the experience that adults acquire from social interactions also plays an important role. "Whatever the reasons, it is clear that teenagers are dealing with, not only massive hormonal shifts, but also substantial neural changes," Blakemore said. "These changes do not happen gradually and steadily between the ages of 0–18. They come on in great spurts and puberty is one of the most dramatic developmental stages." The results of the study were presented today at the BA Festival of Science in the UK.

The bottom line of this study is that the hallmark of genuine maturity is the presence of compassion and empathy towards others in making moral decisions. An immature person's thinking rarely makes it past their own nose. A mature person cares about consequences for others. The immature person asks, "What's in it for me?" The mature person asks, "How does this impact all of us?"

What a striking parallel to some of the most famous words in the entire Bible.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13)

Real spiritual maturity can only be measured in one simple way - How far along are we in letting the love of Jesus flow through our lives? The good news is we don't have to wait for our brains to be properly wired to have this love as a life style. All we need do is ask the Lord of love to fill us with His Spirit and create a love no person can imitate or simulate. 

Have you asked the Lord for that gift that keeps on giving today?

Scott's Blog -12/15/06

The High Road Called Humility

Do you ever spend time watching the news? I can remember as a kid thinking there was nothing that could possibly be more boring than "The Huntley-Brinkley Report". When will these adults quit blabbering so we can get back to the cartoons? But I must admit my attitude over the years has changed. I find the news incredibly interesting in days like these. Not just because so many of the events reported seem like they were lifted right out of a copy of "The Late Great Planet Earth", but also because if we are perceptive there are some intensely insightful spiritual lessons to be learned.

Just such a lesson was taught in the unlikely venue of the White House Press Briefing earlier this week.

To set the stage, White House Press Spokesman Tony Snow had created a buzz by calling a question by NBC reporter David Gregory "partisan". 

Now there is no doubt that aggressive reporters like David Gregory run a real risk of making themselves the story in these gatherings. And in some circles Tony Snow's remark was not only considered appropriate, but far too long in coming. "Whoo! Hoo! Way to lay it on 'em Tony!"

But interestingly, Tony Snow didn't feel that way. 

Consider this transcript of this week's White House Press Briefing.

Tony Snow Apologizes To David Gregory

Wow. 

Take a look at how discussion and debate operates in the media in our day. The purpose of most discussions on the issues isn't to determine the truth, but to win the debate. We have all seen example after example of how any tactic including insults, rudeness, and talking over the other speaker are fair game as long as your side prevails. Win the day, or the sound bite and you've been a successful spokesperson. Game, set, match. 

When was the last time we have ever heard one of these usual suspects use the words "And I thought a lot about that, and..I was wrong."

When was the last time the rules of debate were, "And if I expect you to do right by us, you have every right to expect that I'll do right by you."

This apology generated a rending of garments in some places, with the insinuation that Snow had somehow backed down from a principled stand, or lost his nerve.

But what he said was anything but unprincipled, and certainly not weak.

It was a textbook example of a trait that isn't highly prized in our ultra competitive culture, but is held in high esteem in heaven. It is called humility.

 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time (I Peter 5:4-6)

Biblical humility is not self depreciation. It is not playing the wimp. But it is a bowing of our selves before a higher principle than our own ego or reputation. It is acknowledging that ultimately God determines who the real winners and losers are, and that the wise decide to do things His way.

It is having the courage to admit when we have stepped out of line, and to seek to make amends with those who have been negatively affected by what we have done.

Tony Snow took that high road called humility. Who would have thought that such a deep spiritual lesson would be put on display at a White House Press Conference?

.

Scott's Blog -12/14/06

Would Jesus Shop At Wal Mart?  And Other Distractions

You've seen the question raised on t-shirts and wrist bracelets - What Would Jesus Do?

Some have taken this a step further and asked - What Would Jesus Say?

Others have even asked - How Would Jesus Vote?

But the question of the day on Fox News Channel's "Your World With Neil Cavuto" was a real eye opener - Where Would Jesus Shop?

The debate revolved around the pre-Christmas ad campaign "Would Jesus Shop at Wal-Mart?"

The answer provided by primary speaker, Baptist Pastor Joe Phelps is an emphatic , "No!"

Updated: 2:29 p.m. MT Dec 13, 2006

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A new television ad by the union-backed group WakeUpWalMart.com features a pastor asking, “Would Jesus shop at Wal-Mart? Should you?”

Accompanying the ad, is a letter to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO Lee Scott that was signed by more than 130 clergy members. The letter asks Wal-Mart to provide a “higher standard for its employees and their families,” which the letter says would reflect “the best of Christian values.”

WakeUpWalMart.com provided the ad to The Associated Press on Wednesday and said the spot is to run in 43 media markets.

Pastor Joe Phelps of Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., asks in the ad, “Can we continue to shop at Wal-Mart without insulting God?” He lists allegations that Wal-Mart has violated child labor laws and engaged in gender-based discrimination, and says half the company's 1.3 million U.S. employees aren't covered under the company health plan.

Wal-Mart spokesman Dave Tovar said the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is backing negative attacks while Wal-Mart is creating jobs.

“The fact is, union leadership is wasting millions of its members' dollars on a failing campaign against a company that is good for working families,” Tovar said.

As I watched the debate and heard the charges and counter charges fly back and forth, I was struck by a statement the pastor made. In trying to justify a pastor taking a stand on corporate culture, Joe Phelps stated that Jesus wasn't simply concerned with "some platonic concept of the soul."

My response was, "Really?"

There is a fascinating insight into the priorities of Jesus on seemingly secular matters recorded in the book of Luke chapter 12.

Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:13-21)

It seems to me that Jesus was infinitely concerned with the soul. So much so that He declined to get involved in thorny financial/family dust ups and emphasized the eternal rather than the temporal, the spiritual rather than the financial.

Why?

Perhaps King Solomon said it best.

Keep your heart with all diligence,
      For out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Why did the Judge of all the earth beg off from rendering what would have undoubtedly been the last word on a sticky financial dispute? Because there was a bigger issue at stake - the eternal destinies of human beings. Their souls.

Which brings us back to the Would Jesus Shop At Wal-Mart? campaign. The reason I would never get involved in something like this either pro or con is simple. I believe Jesus has called me to share His Word. I believe that the only way to bring about a just or righteous world is by changing the hearts of the people who are in it - one heart at a time. Jesus for instance never preached against the institution of slavery because he was more interested in seeing people set free from slavery to sin.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:31-36)

When God changes the hearts of people, institutions, corporations, even entire nations follow suit. But trying to effect change in the hearts of people by trying to change institutions, corporations or nations is a fools errand.

Perhaps if people invested as much time, effort and energy in introducing people to the Savior as they do protesting corporate policies we would see real change.

And touching people with the Word of God is certainly the answer to the question, "What Would Jesus Do?"

Scott's Blog -12/13/06

Fig Tree Update

If you are a regular reader of Scott's Blog, you know we spend quite a bit of time taking a look at the events of the day from a prophetic perspective. Sometimes I am asked, "How can I develop the discernment to recognize current events that have prophetic significance?" The best place to start is to keep an eye on "Ground Zero" in God's plan for the future of His kingdom - the nation Israel. 

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!" (Matthew 24:32-33)

In passages like Matthew 21, it is clear that Jesus regarded the fig tree as a symbol of national Israel. We are also told that one of the clearest signs of the return of Christ will be the return of Israel to her historic homeland after long years of exile. This return will be followed by a nearly cataclysmic invasion of the fledgling nation by an overwhelming coalition of her enemies. God will intervene supernaturally, destroying this force, with the end result being a national turning of Israel to true faith in their Lord. This sequence of events is graphically laid out for us in Ezekiel 36-39. 

Believe it or not, this remarkable series of predictions is not just something that catches the eye of Evangelical Christian prophecy buffs. It is also becoming an issue of intense interest in extremely unlikely quarters!

Consider this article published on the internet service of Yedioth Ahronoth, the largest English language news service in Israel.

Modern day Gog and Magog

Similarities between Ezekiel's prophecies, today's Mideast reality uncanny
Ines Ehrlich

Current world events are beginning to increasingly resemble the 2,500 year old bible prophecy made by Ezekiel in chapters 38-39. Ezekiel foresaw the rise of Russia (or Turkey, depending on the interpretation) in a coalition with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries (Sudan, Ethiopia and Libya).

The coalition is foretold to attack Israel from the north in a bid to destroy it during the earth's "last days," commonly known as the "war of Gog and Magog."

Throughout history it was thought that the prophecy had been put on hold, until perhaps today when it seems frighteningly more feasible.

In Joel C. Rosenberg's book "The Ezekiel Option," the author points to Ezekiel's prophecies in chapters 36-37, which have largely come true.

Rosenberg then asks the obvious question: If prophecies such as "the rebirth of the State of Israel, the return of the Jews to the Holy Land after centuries in exile, the re-blossoming of desolate desert land to produce abundant food, fruit and foliage, and the creation of an exceedingly great army" materialized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, then why shouldn't the next prophecies come true in our lifetime?

Let's try and place the biblical names and locations into today's reality, and see the parallel unfolding of events:

Gog is commonly believed to represent a person's name rather than a place, a tyrannical leader who may hatch an evil plan – in today's reality this "honor" could be most suited to the President of Iran, Ahmadinejad, or perhaps Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon .

Magog, according to some scholars, refers to Russia and the republics of the former Soviet Union, or perhaps Turkey. Others will argue that the exact location has not been fully ascertained and that the word Magog may simply be a generalization for an enemy of Israel, leaving the location open.

Under attack

According to the prophecy in question, "many peoples with you" who will attack along "the mountains of Israel" implies that other countries will be involved in the Russian (or Turkish), Iranian, Sudanese, Ethiopian and Libyan coalition, and who border on the mountains of Israel. This includes Lebanon, Syria and possibly Jordan as well.

Is it so farfetched to imagine the axis between Hizbullah, Iran and Syria, especially after the second war in Lebanon when these three forces overtly united and continue to support each other's goal to destroy Israel?

In his book, Rosenberg notes a conspicuous absence of Egypt and Iraq in the original prophecy, which also makes a lot of sense at this point in time. Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 and Iraq is embroiled in its own war of survival and both are unlikely to join a coalition against Israel.

According to the prophecy Magog "will build a military coalition and prepare a strike against Israel." Gog "will use overwhelming force against Israel" - could this be referring to nuclear force? And his coalition will "come like a storm…like a cloud covering the land."

But let's not become hysterical. According to the prophecy, there is no need for Israel to become alarmed, "as the Lord God will bring judgment upon the enemies of Israel beginning with Gog (the tyrant)."

Ezekiel prophesizes a great earthquake and the turning of Gog's forces against each other. The next step, which prophesizes God subjecting the enemy to "pestilence, blood, torrential rains, hailstones and fire from heaven," is unclear and sounds like someone pressed the nuclear button, and if so, then who, and who in the region would survive it?

But as in all happy endings, Israel, it is prophesized, will regain its economic prosperity.

So the question remains: Should we wait for future developments and hope for the best, or look more closely at Ezekiel's prophecy and consider preemptive action to stop what may be seen as an imminent threat rising from the "anti-Israel coalition?"

With this said, Ezekiel's prophecy says nothing about an Israeli pre-emptive strike to avert a possible attack – and indeed, it appears such a strike is unlikely considering the current state of our dubious, weak leadership.

 Ines Ehrlich is an editor at Ynetnews

The truly ironic thing about this article is that it is not only an article about Biblical prophecy, but the fact that a mainstream Israeli newspaper would run such an article may be prophetic in itself. This could very well be another sign that God's fig tree, Israel, is beginning to blossom!

We live in truly exciting times. Keep your eyes on Israel. Even the seemingly menacing developments in the Middle East can be a wonderfully encouraging reminder that the day of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed!

Scott's Blog -12/12/06

Rewriting History

It was the philosopher Santyana who uttered the immortal line, "Those who will not learn from history are condemned to repeat it." 

I wonder what Santyana would have to say about those who attempt to re-write history - even history that can be confirmed by eyewitnesses still living today?

That's exactly what they are up to in Tehran this week.

Holocaust Conference Begins in Iran

Dec 11, 4:43 PM (ET)

By NASSER KARIMI

 

(AP) Iranian top cleric Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, center, speaks, as Rabbi Moishe Arye Friedman, left,... Full Image

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran hosted Holocaust deniers from around the world Monday at a conference examining whether the Nazi genocide took place, a meeting Israel's prime minister condemned as a "sick phenomenon."

The 67 participants from 30 countries included former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Holocaust skeptics who have been prosecuted in Europe for questioning whether 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis or whether gas chambers were ever used.

"The number of victims at the Auschwitz concentration camp could be about 2,007," Australian Frederick Toben told the conference, according to a Farsi translation of his remarks. "The railroad to the camp did not have enough capacity to transfer large numbers of Jews," said Toben, who was jailed in 1999 in Germany for casting doubt on the Holocaust.

The two-day conference was initiated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an apparent attempt to burnish his status as a tough opponent of Israel. The hard-line president has described the Holocaust as a "myth" and called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Earlier this year, his government backed an exhibition of anti-Israel cartoons in a show of defiance after Danish cartoons caricaturing Islam's Prophet Muhammad were published in Europe, raising an outcry among Muslims.

 

(AP) Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, from the United States, a member of 'Jews United Against Zionism',... Full Image

Organizers and participants touted the conference as a scholarly gathering aimed at discussing the Holocaust away from Western taboos and the restrictions imposed on scholars in Europe. In Germany, Austria and France, it is illegal to deny aspects of the Holocaust.

Duke, a former Louisiana state representative, praised Ahmadinejad for his "courage" in holding a conference "to offer free speech for the world's most repressed idea: Holocaust revisionism."

"In Europe, you can freely question, ridicule and deny Jesus Christ. The same is true for the Prophet Muhammad, and nothing will happen to you," Duke said. "But offer a single question of the smallest part of the Holocaust and you face prison."

Also among participants were two rabbis and four other members of the group Jews United Against Zionism, who were dressed in the traditional long black coats and black hats of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The group rejects the creation of Israel on the grounds that it violates Jewish law.

Rabbi Ahron Kohen urged participants not to deny the Holocaust. "If we say that this crime did not happen, it is a humiliation and insult to the victims," he said, according to a translation of his remarks.

 

(AP) Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, speaks during a conference on the Holocaust, in... Full Image

But he added that Zionists have used the Holocaust to "give legitimacy to their illegitimate project," the creation of Israel.

Another participant, Robert Faurisson, has been convicted five times in France for denying crimes against humanity - most recently last month, when he was fined for denying in an interview with Iranian TV that the Nazis meant to exterminate Jews.

Faurisson, a retired university professor, has regularly caused outrage in France, claiming that no gas chambers were used in Nazi concentration camps.

The gathering brought quick condemnation from Israel and Germany. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on the world to protest, terming the conference "a sick phenomenon."

German Parliament President Norbert Lammert protested the conference in a letter to Ahmadinejad, calling it anti-Semitic propaganda "under the pretext of scientific freedom."

 

(AP) Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, speaks during a conference on the Holocaust, in... Full Image

Israel's official Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, said the Tehran conference was "an effort to mainstream Holocaust denial" and "paint (an) extremist agenda with a scholarly brush."

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki dismissed the criticism as "predictable," telling delegates there was "no logical reason for opposing this conference."

"If the official version of the Holocaust is thrown into doubt, then the identity and nature of Israel will be thrown into doubt," said Mottaki, whose ministry put together the conference. "And if, during this review, it is proved that the Holocaust was a historical reality, then what is the reason for the Muslim people of the region and the Palestinians having to pay the cost of the Nazis' crimes?"

A statement from Ahmadinejad was expected to be read to delegates Tuesday.

The conference fit in with Ahmadinejad's policy of seeking to cast Iran as an alternative power to the West - in politics, science and academics. His anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. stances have brought out crowds of supporters during visits to Asia and Africa in recent years, and he has used those themes to rally support at home.

Ahmadinejad has said the Nazi genocide during World War II was a "myth" and "exaggerated." He has also repeatedly said Palestinians had to pay the price for European guilt over the Holocaust.

The Tehran gathering coincided with an independently convened academic conference on the Holocaust in Berlin, where historians affirmed the accuracy of the Nazi genocide data and questioned the motives of those behind the Tehran forum.

Wolfgang Benz, head of the Center for Research on Anti-Semitism at Berlin's Technical University, said people who deny the Holocaust "know perfectly well what happened."

"They want to use what happened - through denying it - to effect something else, to articulate the crude old anti-Semitism against Israel," he said. "It's about politics ... not about scholarship."

When we look at this trip into the Alice In Wonderland School of Modern History an undeniable truth becomes apparent. No one would deny the Holocaust took place unless there was a desperate personal need fueling the fantasy.

Ahmadinejad and his underlings want to put a nice academic finish on their plans to do in six minutes what Hitler and his death camps accomplished in six years - wipe out 6 million Jews. 

David Duke, a former Grand Dragon of the infamous Ku Klux Klan, wants to justify his bigotry in the eyes of the world. 

The "Jews Against Zionism" believe that only Messiah can re-establish Israel, so the current nation is illegitimate.

Robert Faurisson wants to find a way to avoid going down in history with the prestigious "Crimes Against Humanity" club membership on his resume.

All have an axe to grind.

This is not the stuff of scholarly investigation. It is not the way to ascertain the facts of history. But it is certainly a hall mark of human nature.

Consider this insight from Jesus.

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than 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)

Ironically, this same "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up" mentality has a funny way of showing itself when another historical reality - the resurrection of Jesus becomes the subject of discussion. 

When seemingly intelligent people tell us that Jesus survived the horrendous physical savagery of the cross, revived Himself in the tomb, pushed an 800 pound stone out of the way, overcame an armed to the teeth Roman guard who was there to protect Caesar's seal or be crucified themselves, made it back to the disciples looking like a trauma patient in the ER and somehow convinced them He was the glorious risen Christ, whom they weren't even looking for, and inspired a band of uneducated cowards to turn a world upside down with this message, there has to be another axe to grind.

It is not a search for truth that leads to get-togethers like this week's "Travesty in Tehran". It is not a search for the truth that leads to cable TV programs on so called  "mysteries" of the Bible and half baked conspiracy novels like "The DaVinci Code". When we see the stark difference between the facts and the fantasies put forth to take their place, we can only conclude such things are not motivated by a desire for light, but a delight in darkness.

Scott's Blog -12/11/06

Life Lessons On the Long Run

One of the word pictures that is most consistently used to describe the Christian life is that of a race to be run.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

I have to admit, this picture really resonates with me. Probably inspired by my grandfather, Ralph Osborne, who ran the mile at Kansas, I am one of those people who have found a way to enjoy what most try to avoid like the plague - a good long run. And like the writer of Hebrews, I have come to the conclusion that there are some really wonderful insights into our relationship with God that can only be found out of the road.

One of the most profound examples of this phenomena happened to me in my first 26.2 mile race, the Los Angeles Marathon. My training partner gave me some great advice prior to the race. "No matter how excited you might be, stay on your training pace. Stop and drink at all the water stations. You will see a lot of people running away from you at the beginning, but don't worry. You will see most of them again around the 20 mile mark."

I have to admit that being wedged in with 16,000 other runners, hearing the gun go off and then, for three minutes, going exactly nowhere as this mass of humanity began to move, was an adrenalin charging event. But I tried to keep a level head and follow my coach's advice.

And believe me, there is a lot of bad advice to be had as you run with different people for three to four hours. One group I fell in with told me that drinking all that water was over rated. I was tempted to stay running with them past the aid stations, but I decided I trusted my training partner more than a bunch of strangers. 

Imagine my shock when that group of self proclaimed experts dropped out at the 8 mile mark!

My coach also turned out to be somewhat of a prophet. Lo and behold, around mile 18 I started to see the very same people who had rocketed away from me at the beginning of the race. 

And rocketing they were not. 

In every marathon the organizers run what has come to be called "The Band-Aide Bus". It comes along and picks up those who are injured or have simply run out of gas. The Band-Aide Bus is a great source of motivation, because no matter how crummy you feel, you don't want to end up with that collection of depressed and defeated souls.

I will never forget passing a passenger to be of the Band-Aide Bus. About mile 23 this poor fellow had not only hit the wall, he had also fallen in the gutter by the side of the road. 

Above him stood this old, old man. Leaning over him and saying, "Get up! It's only three more miles! You can do it!"

This runner, despite his training and drive and ambition, wasn't going to move another inch.

As you can see, the life lessons are pretty easy to spot.

Life Lesson #1 -Listen to Your Coach, Not Your Feelings!

I have seen a lot of people begin their race for God like a rocket, fueled by feelings. But what happens when we don't "feel" like God is with us, or when in the face of personal rejection or persecution, following Jesus makes us feel bad? Or perhaps some temptation from this world threatens to make us feel better than our faith? It is following God's principles, not our passion that will see us through to the end.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (I Corinthians 9:24-27)

Life Lesson #2 - Listen to Your Coach, Not The "Experts".

Into each life will come people who seem to have the flash and dash and confidence in their own ideas that may only vaguely relate to God's Word. 

No matter how much God-talk and spiritual jargon gets thrown around, don't just consider what people may say, but what comes out of their lives.

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:17-21)

When push came to shove, I decided to follow my training partner's advice because I knew he had successfully run 10 marathons. He set an example I could trust. In the same way, listen to Jesus. He presents His credentials of a perfect life and a resurrection from the dead as our reason to trust Him. The best people to trust are those whose lives reflect the true touch of our Savior.

Life Lesson #3 -Listen To Your Coach - Not Your Circumstances.

I have never met any sane person who considers running 26.2 miles "easy". When we set out to run a marathon, sooner or later we will encounter a level of pain. At that moment we will face a choice - evade the pain (and quit) or endure the pain (and finish the race). Endurance tends to be an undersold commodity in our culture today. Even in Christian circles there are always those who seem to be selling some new path to instant spiritual maturity. But not so in the Bible.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-3)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

Are times tough? Do you feel like your faithfulness seems to hurt rather than help? Are your circumstances beckoning you to the Band-Aide Bus of life? 

Rejoice! It only means you are really running the ultimate race. At the finish line awaits an ultimate reward.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (II Timothy 4:6-8)

Scott's Blog -12/08/06

Your Money or Your Life?

Let's open up the SRL mailbag and tackle one of the most often asked questions we receive on the program!

Hi Scott,

I have a question:

Is tithing required for Christians in the new covenant as a commandment.  A lot of prosperity teachers say that those who don't tithe are not allowing God to bless them.  Is this Scriptural?

Thanks so much for raising such an important and relevant issue! There are certainly those who make the case that tithing is the key to God's blessing. They also make it clear that those who fail to give 10% of their income (gross, not net!) fail to receive God's blessing at best, or find themselves cursed at the worst. The key passage these teachers inevitably site is found in the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi.

    “ Will a man rob God?
      Yet you have robbed Me!
      But you say,

      ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’
      In tithes and offerings.
       You are cursed with a curse,
      For you have robbed Me,
      Even this whole nation.
       Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
      That there may be food in My house,
      And try Me now in this,”
      Says the LORD of hosts,

      “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.
       “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
      So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
      Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
      Says the LORD of hosts;
       And all nations will call you blessed,
      For you will be a delightful land,”
      Says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:8-12)

Seems pretty straight forward doesn't it? Tithing certainly seems to be the key to a blessed life. Withhold the 10% and get ready to duck!

But before we ask the ushers to come forward, we need to ask a couple of key questions. 

First - Who is being addressed in this passage? In context, this is the people of Israel. The practice being described was a kind of spiritual income tax that all Israelites were expected to pay to support the upkeep of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as to pay the priests and Levites who served there. When we take a look at the other mandatory offerings God's people were expected to make during the year, the actual total has been estimated to be around 20-30% of the average person's income.

The tithe and the other attendant offerings were a way of all Israel to participate together in the support of worship in God's Holy nation. In a very similar way, seeming to fail to pay your fair share is a great way of getting into trouble in our day. Just ask actor Wesley Snipes.

Second, do we see the practice of tithing commanded in the New Testament?

The closest we come to such a command is Jesus correction of the giving practices of the Scribes and Pharisees.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (Matthew 23:23)

Jesus doesn't say they shouldn't have tithed. But if they tithed and forgot about serving God from the heart, they had missed the point. 

Some will say - "See! Jesus says we 'ought' to tithe!" But again we have to ask, who was Jesus speaking to, and in what historical situation? The simple answer is He was dealing with Israelites, who still had a Temple standing, and were still obligated to support it by Old Testament Law. in this situation tithing was completely appropriate.

So, how about us?

Here is something I'll bet you never thought you'd hear a pastor say -  tithing is never commanded for New Testament believers. We don't live in a theocratic nation. There is no "national temple" to support. Pastors are not government employees. In issuing a fairly comprehensive statement about what God's commandments were for Gentile believers, James, the half brother of Jesus, gave this statement.

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

   To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

   Greetings.

 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law"—to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

   Farewell. (Acts 15:23-29)

Did you catch what is conspicuous by its absence? Tithing.

So is giving to be a part of our experience of growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus? 

The New Testament answer is a resounding "Yes!" But on a very different standard and with a very different heart from the Old Testament system.

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:


      “ He has dispersed abroad,
      He has given to the poor;
      His righteousness endures forever.”

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (II Corinthians 9:10-15)

New Testament giving flows from a heart of gratitude toward God. it is God's way of teaching us to share in His generous character. When we give, we are learning to love, not just with our lips, but with our lives. When we use our resources to bless others, rather than make life easier or more pleasurable for ourselves, we find ourselves acting just as Jesus did. 

New Testament giving is a "Get to" not a "Got to". Have you ever had someone give you a gift, but then make it seem like a big deal and a sacrifice on their part? Or even worse, act like you "owe them one" now? When I catch wind of that attitude I would rather have the person keep the gift than accept it with all kinds of strings attached. Did you know that God feels the same way? Our giving isn't to be grudging, or under compulsion. It is to be an exciting opportunity to grow.

Personally, I see no problem with people using a 10% mark as a way of making sure their giving is a regular part of being a good steward with the material blessings God provides. But it is not a commandment. God may put on your heart to give in many different ways, in many different situations, at many different levels in our walk with Him. If we make love for the Lord and for His people our standard in giving we will never go wrong.

Scott's Blog -12/07/06

Pastor Pillow, Deacon Sheets and Rocky Balboa?

A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend the national convention of the Screen Writer's Guild. Along with all the world class Hollywood style schmoozing, glad handing, and contact making that goes on at these affairs, they offered a series of seminars taught by successful writers. One of these lectures left a lasting impression on me. The speaker was sharing on the structure of an effective screen play. He revealed to us that most movies and books follow a tried and true format called "The Hero's Journey". An average, flaw filled person finds his or her normal routine life shaken by a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The person comes to a point of crisis where they could take the easy way out, or reach deep within for the courage and strength to face their greatest fears. They take on the challenge, and then when all seems lost, find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. They are then personally transformed by the experience. The credits roll.

I was amazed at how many movies and books fit this pattern.

But then came the real mind blower.

This absolutely secular speaker, in an absolutely secular environment said, "All great stories are about redemption. It all has to do with the suffering Messiah who triumphs over the grave. There is something about that story that won't leave us alone."

I had no trouble realizing why that story won't let us go. In fact, there are times even the story tellers find themselves deeply effected by this Messiah who seems to call to them from a distance.

If you want a classic example, look no further than the famous "Rocky" series. 

The Gym of the Soul

by Stuart Shepard, managing editor

Rocky Balboa finds redemption. Can Rambo be next?

 

"No matter what, you can overcome your past," he said. "With help, if you look to God, you can overcome your past and be reborn."

Hmm. That's an interesting quote. You may be wondering who said it. Sounds like it would be from a prominent evangelical leader, or maybe someone with a powerful testimony, or perhaps a youth pastor hoping to break through to a crowded room of young people.

Or, would you believe, Rocky Balboa?

Or, to be more accurate, Sylvester Stallone, the actor who created and starred in the iconic series of films about the down-and-out boxer who became the heavyweight champion of the world — several times over several movies.

Stallone spoke of being reborn in a teleconference with pastors and religious leaders concerning the faith elements of the unlikely sixth movie that's due out Dec. 22.

And, OK, I'll admit, it's my personal favorite series of movies. Except, perhaps, for that fifth one that never should have been made. Yes, I own the DVD boxed set. And now I'll have to buy a new one when the sixth — and theoretically final — film gets added.

And, yes, when I dialed in, I was skeptical. Alright, I'll admit, I laughed out loud when I learned that the film was being marketed to the "faith and values" crowd. I believe my exact words were, "I'm not believin' this!"

But then I listened in.

Please know the reason I'm such a fan of the Rocky films is not just because they are about an underdog who gets a million-to-one shot at the title. I'm not even a boxing fan. But I love stories about redemption.

Stallone reminded those of us on the call that the opening shot of the original film is of a painting of Jesus looking down on Rocky in the boxing ring in a rundown gym. And no, I didn't have to go back to verify that, I already knew. But, I've long wondered why he chose to open with that. I never guessed Stallone himself would explain it to me, but this week he did — oh, and to everybody else on the call.

He first explained that he felt compelled to write the first film, and he believes that drive came from above. He said the character of Rocky was meant to reflect the characteristic nature of Jesus.

"It's like he was being chosen, Jesus was over him, and he was going to be the fella that would live through the example of Christ," Stallone said. "He's very, very forgiving. There's no bitterness in him. He always turns the other cheek. And it's like his whole life was about service."

But, Stallone confessed, his own life didn't follow the humble example of the boxer who made him a Hollywood star.

"I was raised in a Catholic home, a Christian home, and I went to Catholic schools and I was taught the faith and went as far as I could with it," he said. "Until one day, you know, I got out in the so-called real world and I was presented with temptation. I kinda like lost my way and made a lot of bad choices."

No joke, said all the subscribers to People magazine.

But, Stallone added, he's been going through a change in his life. He's realized that he was wrong to place his career and fame ahead of his family.

"The more I go to church," he said, "and the more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus and listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, I feel as though the pressure is off me now."

And, admitting that the analogy might be a little pedestrian, he made a correlation between physical and spiritual fitness.

"You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else. You cannot train yourself," he said. "I feel the same way about Christianity and about what the church is: The church is the gym of the soul."

And, he said, his life experiences are what allowed him to write the final chapter of the epic series.

"I needed to actually go through my trials and tribulations," he said, "before I could be man enough to know how to write that kind of story that Rocky Balboa is."

So, as someone who began listening on the call as a giggling skeptic, and who does not expect Rocky Balboa to be heralded as a Christian film, I have to confess I was won over by the real-life story of redemption I heard.

So, what's next for Stallone?

I can only imagine Rambo sneaking into Burma to free Christian missionaries who are being held by militants. And, as the invincible one-man army looks into the eyes of the ordinary folks from Oklahoma and South Carolina who are risking their lives for the Gospel, he is swept up by their commitment.

Oh, wait.

I'm. Not. Kidding.

"It rekindles something in him. He doesn't believe at first, he's seen too much. He's bitter. But when he meets these people and looks into their eyes, he's swept up in it, and literally he's just taken on this journey," Stallone said. "He's a Christian warrior! Can you believe it?"

I'm believin' it.

This interview is a shocker on a number of levels. But of all the spiritual insights we receive from a very unlikely source, the most profound is the answer to the age old question - "If I have a personal relationship with Jesus, why do I need to go to church?"

The simple answer is that the Christian life isn't a whole lot different than the classic training scenes we find in a Rocky film.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (I Corinthians 9:24-27)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. (II Timothy 2:2-7)

There is no doubt that the Christian life will challenge us to the core. It will bring us to that place in the hero's journey where we will either cash in our faith, or commit to go the distance. There will be times when it will seem a lot easier to spend time at Bedside Baptist with Pastor Pillow and Deacon Sheets than to pull it together and head off to fellowship. But at that moment, Sylvester Stallone's observation is as right on as anything I have ever heard from Billy Graham.

"The more I go to church," he said, "and the more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus and listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, I feel as though the pressure is off me now...You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else. You cannot train yourself," he said. "I feel the same way about Christianity and about what the church is: The church is the gym of the soul."

Scott's Blog -12/06/06

Apocalypto Now?

If there really is no such thing as bad publicity, and controversy really does sell tickets, look for Mel Gibson's new release "Apocalypto" to be a box office success.

PLOT DESCRIPTION

As the foundation of the Mayan civilization begins to crumble, one man's previously idyllic existence is forever changed when he is chosen as the sacrifice needed to appease the gods in director Mel Gibson's mythic, end-times adventure. The Mayan kingdom is at the absolute height of opulence and power, but leaders are convinced that unless more temples are constructed and more human sacrifices made, the crops, and ultimately the people, will suffer. When Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) is chosen as the sacrifice that the gods have demanded, he rails against his grim fate by attempting to navigate a horrific new world of fear and oppression. Now determined to save his family and escape a harrowing demise, Jaguar Paw prepares to risk it all in one desperate, final attempt to preserve his dying way of life. Inspired by such ancient Mayan texts as the Popul Vuh, Apocalypto marks a comprehensive collaboration between director Gibson, Cambridge-educated screenwriter Farhad Safinia, and world-renowned archeologist and Mayan culture expert Dr. Richard D. Hansen -- whose services as a special consultant on the film lent the production an unprecedented degree of historical accuracy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Although I will wait for the toned downed cable network version to arrive before seeing this personally, I must admit the subject matter is fascinating to me. Last summer I had the opportunity to visit the Central American nation of Belize. Along with some amazing opportunities to share God's Word, we also had the chance to visit the spectacular Mayan ruin called Xunantunich.

When I walked into this awesome ruin, I had to admit I was taken by the incredible architectural achievement that lay before us. But there was also a sense of heaviness, an almost strength sapping feeling that went beyond the effects of heat and humidity.

Our tour guide provided an insight into why. 

Xunantunich was a thriving political, commercial and religious center around 800 AD. The faith of the Mayans there was an eye opening one. They believed in both a heaven and a hell. Their notion on Hell, called Xaibalba was so frighteningly detailed it would make Dante blush. Xaibalba was inhabited by demons and gods who delighted in inflicting the most mind bending tortures imaginable on those unfortunate enough to end up there. 

There was one way to make sure you didn't end up in Xaibalba - offer yourself as a human sacrifice to the gods.

It was an idea that certainly caught on. In one month -yes, a month - at Xunantunich 80,000 people were offered by the priests to the gods. The priests would skillfully remove the heart of their victims in a way that would allow it to be held while still beating. The body would then be tossed off the top of the Castillo - the structure you see in the picture above.

Most went to their deaths willingly, convinced that this was the way to salvation.

Sincere? To have your heart cut out by a priest who was high on a concoction of poison derived from sting ray tails you have to be sincere.

But the Mayans were wrong. Dead wrong.

Some theorize that this practice was instrumental in hastening the collapse of this amazingly advanced, but spiritually destructive culture.

I guess that is why I find the subject matter of Gibson's film so compelling - and relevant to our day. More and more our society is falling victim to a remarkably similar path to spiritual danger. We tend to measure the validity of a belief system on the sincerity of those who follow it. We major on spiritual sentiment, but dismiss the importance of spiritual content. The words of the apostle Paul seem more relevant now than ever.

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. (Romans 10:2)

Sincerity is a wonderful and commendable quality. But it is absolutely worthless - even destructive - unless it is invested in truth. The Xunantunich sacrifice and the suicide bomber of our day have one thing in common - sincerity divorced from truth.

In days like these the words of Jesus are crucial to keep at the forefront of our thinking.

“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)

Scott's Blog -12/05/06

Why We Can't Just Get Along

There are three rules for successful investment  in real estate - Location. Location. And location.

Funny, but those same three rules apply to a conflict that will eventually result in the Battle of Armaggedon.

In case you missed it, the two top competitors for the 2006 Joseph Goebbels Award for Greatest Enemy of Israel got together for a hate-fest in Doha, Qatar last weekend.

Ahmadinejad: Israel will disappear By JPOST.COM STAFF Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh held talks in Doha, Qatar on Friday. The Islamic Republic News Agency reported Saturday Ahmadinejad saying, "As everybody knows, the Zionist regime was created to establish dominion of arrogant states over the region and to enable the enemy to penetrate the heart Muslim land." Saying the Israeli regime was inherently a "threat," and was "on the verge of disappearing" Haniyeh praised the support of the Iranian government and nation for the cause of the Palestinian nation. "The Iranian nation's brilliant stand in the rightful battles of the Palestinians encourages them and signifies their deep understanding of Islamic principles," Iran's official state-run news agency reported. "The Intifada (uprising) of the Palestinian nation will continue until the cause of the Palestinians is materialized and Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) is liberated," added Haniyeh. Ahmadinejad went on to say that, "Today scores of Western politicians are in doubt as to the future of this illegitimate regime and its existence has come under question. "There is no doubt the Palestinian nation and Muslims as a whole will emerge victorious," the Iranian president told Haniyeh. "The continued commission of crimes by the Zionist regime will speed up the collapse of this fictitious regime," said Ahmadinejad.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Photo: AP

We have to give Ahmadinejad and his Hamas side kick Haniyeh credit for candor. It is funny that no matter how blatantly they state their aims, our Western press simply doesn't take them at their word.

Particularly insightful are Haniyeh's words, "The Intifada (uprising) of the Palestinian nation will continue until the cause of the Palestinians is materialized and Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) is liberated."

Al-Quds Al Sharif isn't a reference to Jerusalem in general. It is a description of the real bone of contention in the Islam-Israeli conflict. Consider this definition of Al Quds Al Sharif  from a Muslim web site.

The Online Guide to Al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem

AT THE HEART OF JERUSALEM is the Noble Sanctuary, Al-Haram al-Sharif, enclosing over 35 acres of fountains, gardens, buildings and domes. At its southernmost end is Al-Aqsa Mosque and at its centre the celebrated Dome of the Rock. The entire area is regarded as a mosque and comprises nearly one sixth of the walled city of Jerusalem.

Here is the source of the entire conflict in the Middle East - a thirty acre parcel of land called the Temple Mount. Although Israel allows this site to be run by the Waqf, a group of Muslim clerics who prohibit all non Moslem prayer on the site, this is not sufficient. The Moslems will not be happy until the Jews are completely gone from both the city of Jerusalem and it's most holy site. The Jews on the other hand will never part with the site of their most Holy place. 

This is not a conflict that can be negotiated to a settlement. 

This is also no surprise to students of Biblical prophecy.

The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:1-3)

There are two things we can be sure of in this increasingly frightening "clash of civilizations". The hatred of the enemies of God's people will continue to fester and grow. But no matter how well armed and politically shrewd these enemies might be, their plans will ultimately fail. Israel will continue to exist as a living miracle, and a potent sign that we are nearing the time of the return of Jesus.

Scott's Blog -12/04/06

Tossed By a Wave?

What can make or break our spiritual lives? Sometimes it can be something as small as a wave.

A little wave pushed Yusuf Islam, once Cat Stevens, to Islam

Sun Dec 3, 3:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Yusuf Islam, formerly the pop star

Cat Stevens, said that a small wave literally washed him ashore and pushed him toward Islam, in an interview with CBS television.

Islam, who recently released his first commercial album in nearly three decades, "An Other Cup" said that he got caught in a current off Malibu beach in California in 1975 and prayed for help.

"Suddenly I was petrified. I thought this might be it," he said. "I said, 'God, if you save me, I'll work for you.'"

"And then a little wave, you know, came behind me," he said. "It wasn't very big. But it was that miraculous moment when suddenly the tide was going in my favor."

The singer, now 58, said he was already on a spiritual quest, but that the frightening swim gave him a push. He read a copy of the Koran given to him by his brother. Two years later he converted to Islam, changed his name and ended his career as a pop singer.

Islam made headlines in 2004 when a US-bound plane he was in was diverted due to post-September 11 security measures.

As Stevens, the singer had several hits in the 1970s, including "Wild World," "Moonshadow" and "Father and Son." But early reviews of his new album have not been enthusiastic.

It is a funny thing that an entire life's path can turn on seemingly small things. In Cat Stevens' case it was a last minute deliverance from a rip tide. Or was it?

More crucial to this story may have been his brother handing him a copy of the Koran.

You see in life there arrive certain teachable moments. Something happens that jolts us with the notion that there might just be more to life than news, weather and sports. 

This shouldn't surprise us. The Bible tells us that God is continually about the business of providing spiritual wake up calls. Jesus described this process in this way:

 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:7-14)

Jesus tells us the number one priority of the Holy Spirit in this world is to wake people up to their need for a relationship with God. He is here to reveal that the way to this relationship has been provided in Jesus' death and resurrection, and that each person must accept or reject that offer of salvation. Our eternal destiny will depend on it.

Into each life God will issue a call, an invitation to come to Him in a personal way.

But the Bible also tells us that there is a deceiver in this world who will also work over time to either turn down the volume on that message, or turn us aside to a path that leads us anywhere but to a true relationship with God.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (II Corinthians 4:3-4)

Some may well react by saying, "Who are you to say that Cat Stevens has chosen the wrong spiritual path?"

Me? I'm nobody.

But Jesus has some pretty direct things to say on the subject. He not only claimed to be the way, truth and life, no one coming to the Father but by Him (John 14:6), but also warned us of the possibility of being lead astray by false prophets.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

How interesting that Jesus would say that the proof of a belief system would be in the fruit that comes from the doctrine.

What impact has Islam had upon Cat Stevens? Among other things, the singer of "Peace Train" was embroiled in controversy a few years back when he was quoted as saying the idea of bumping off an infidel who insulted Islam (Salman Rushdie) was a good idea.

This whole story makes me wonder what would have happened if someone had handed Cat Stevens a Bible as he caught his breath on that beach in Malibu.

And it makes me wonder how many teachable moments and turning points in life are happening around us all the time.

It makes me wonder if we will be the ones who reach out with the love and truth of Jesus.

How can we be prepared to take advantage of these turning point moments?

First, pray. 

Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2)

It does more good to plead with God about men than to plead with men about God. 

Second be perceptive.

Opportunities to share are all around us, all the time. Sometimes all it takes is a respectful question to open a door.

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this:


      “ He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
      And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
       So He opened not His mouth.
       In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
      And who will declare His generation?
      For His life is taken from the earth.”

So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:26-35)

Third, be prepared.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (I Peter 3:15)

What a blessing to be able to share with this world that there is more to base our faith on than a near miss with a bad current, or man's thoughts and rituals. Let's pray for chances to seize teachable moments and point people to the love of Jesus.

Scott's Blog -12/01/06

A Bridge Too Far?

 It has been said there is only one thing we can do better here on Earth than we can in Heaven.

It's not worship. Heavenly worship will have even the most wonderful time of communing with God we experience here on Earth beat all to pieces.

It's not fellowship. When there is no more sin separating you from me and me from you we will be able to freely share in God's love like we never have before.

It's not Bible study. When we know God even as we are fully known all our questions will be answered.

So why are we still here? What can we do better here on Earth than we will be able to do in Heaven?

Reach the lost - because there are no lost people in Heaven.

The Bible tells us this should not only be our purpose in this world, but also our passion.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ^[), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)

There is no doubt that job one of the Christian life is to get the Good News of Jesus to those who need it most - those who are on the outside looking in. Paul tells us the best way to do this is to build bridges, not barriers with people. We do this by communicating the message of Christ respectfully, calmly, lovingly - without compromise. 

Ah, but there is the challenge. How do we make inroads into the hearts of nonbelievers without leaving our convictions by the side of the road? 

This is a line that is all too easy to cross. Consider this report of a well intentioned bridge building mission that may have become a bridge too far.

Pope hailed for praying toward Mecca like Muslims

 

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Pope Benedict wound up a fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise from the local press for visiting Istanbul's Blue Mosque and praying toward Mecca "like Muslims".

The Pope, who sparked protests across the Muslim world with a speech two months ago seen as criticizing Islam, looked relaxed and pleased as he entered the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit for a mass at the end of the sensitive four-day trip.

His first visit to a mostly Muslim country, held under tight security for fear of protests by nationalists and Islamists, was highlighted by a series of conciliatory gestures culminating in a stop on Thursday afternoon in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque.

"The Pope's dreaded visit was concluded with a wonderful surprise," wrote daily Aksam on its front page.

"In Sultan Ahmet Mosque, he turned toward Mecca and prayed like Muslims," popular daily Hurriyet said, using the building's official name.

His gestures, including support for Ankara's bid to join the European Union and praise for Islam as a peaceful faith, seem to have persuaded the Turks to move beyond the tension following his speech quoting a Byzantine emperor as calling Islam violent.

But in Islam's Middle Eastern heartland, Arab commentators still call for Benedict to issue a full apology for his speech. Shocked by the protests it triggered, the Pope has said he did not agree with the controversial quote but has not apologized.

Catholic officials also presented the mosque visit, where Benedict stood in silent prayer while Istanbul Grand Mufti Mustafa Cagrici prayed aloud, as a key moment of reconciliation.

Most have seen Benedict's gesture as purely diplomatic in nature, assuring a mostly hostile Turkish public that he came in a spirit of good will. But consider how the Moslem world would interpret the head of the church of Rome praying toward Mecca "like Muslims". Was the Pope ratifying the instructions of Mohammed concerning proper prayer and worship? If so, was Benedict implicitly saying that Mohammed was a prophet whose words came from God? Although Benedict and the Vatican would never make such a statement, it would not be a stretch for the average Moslem to draw that same conclusion.

And there is the fine line we must walk in evangelism. 

No one wants to come across as boorish, ill mannered, or "holier-than-thou" when we share our faith with non believers. But neither do we want to be so "diplomatic" or deathly afraid of offending that we end up saying to those who are barking up the wrong tree spiritually, "Don't worry. I'm sure as long as you are sincere it will all work out well in the end."

It is important to build bridges, but also to draw distinctions. No one demonstrated this more perfectly than Jesus. In John chapter 4, Jesus built a bridge that was considered outrageous in His time by entering into a conversation with a Samaritan woman. For historic reasons the Jews viewed the Samaritans as half breeds and spiritual sell outs. The Samaritans saw the Jews as religious bigots and hypocrites. Jesus went the extra mile to reach out to this woman in love, but without compromising truth in the process.

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He." (John 4:19-26)

The result of this conversation? This woman's entire Samaritan village put their faith in Christ.

Conviction, with compassion - without compromise. These are the essentials for building real bridges, not barriers in sharing the love and truth that is the Good News.

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