On so-called “Good Friday” I discovered that David Platt’s Secret Church would be simulcasted in my area.  The announcement promised a six-hour event, running from 7 PM to 1 AM.  I decided that I had to go.  I did not know what to expect.

My location of choice was First Baptist Church Woodstock, though other locations were available.  Participants could also have streamed the event using a high-speed internet connection (in which case they would have PDF documents to follow along).  Those going in person paid five dollars to have a spiral-bound copy of the book.  This even was dubbed “10″ because the series is in its tenth year, with this series entitled “Crucifixion, Salvation, and the Glory of God”.

I had heard of David Platt before, but have not read any of his books.  He had visited Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Atlanta, but I missed that event.  I decided to see what he is doing and I provide my own analysis in several sections in this blog:

• Theological Commentary
• Technology Commentary
• Social Commentary
• Business Commentary

Continue reading “Secret Church 10 #SC10” »

I have a friend, Gary, who is both a Christian and divorced.  He recently posted a note on Facebook supporting what the Bible says about keeping marriages together.  He used strong words like grace, mercy, and reconciliation, which I continue to believe should have zero practical meaning to an agnostic or atheist.

In support of his post, here is my response:

Continue reading “Marriage and Christianity” »

Someone referred me to Julia Sweeney, and I found many videos from her on YouTube.  I chose one which was delivered as part of the well-known and respected TED series. TED is an organization which invites many speakers to talk on various topics, and I like to use my iPhone version to see what talks are interesting.

This post will share a link to the video, and then provide an analysis of that video.

Continue reading “Analysis of Julia Sweeney — Letting Go of God” »

Dr. Martin Gaskell is an astronomer who has filed a lawsuit against the University of Kentucky for religious discrimination. You can read the story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/martin-gaskell-former-uni_n_798108.html

Having read the information, I have concluded that this issue is not about Dr. Gaskell personally, but about a preexisting culture war involving the Answers in Genesis organization, also based in Kentucky. Specifcally, the state of Kentucky has chosen to fund AIG’s Noah’s Ark theme park. See http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/12/02/ark-attraction-attracts-major-media

In this blog post, I reprint the letter I sent to Dr. Lee T. Todd Jr., President of the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Lee T. Todd Jr.
Office of the President
101 Main Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0032

Dear Dr. Todd:

Continue reading “Martin Gaskell and the University of Kentucky” »

I plan to be part of the team producing the Perspectives class in Buckhead (area of Atlanta, GA).    The specific location is Peachtree Presbyterian Church.

The class information is at http://class.perspectives.org/Class/Class_Home_Page.aspx?ClassId=223

This class was first developed by Ralph Winter, a trained engineer, to teach God’s heart for people groups to college students.  Since its inception, it has found rapid growth among many believers looking for more detailed instruction on Christianity.

The website has a lot more information about what this class covers, and if you are in the Atlanta, GA area you should consider coming.  You can email me if you would like to talk about this class.

Mike Licona has recently published a new book (went on sale on October 7, 2010):

The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach

Today, November 4, 2010, I am joining some other bloggers in an attempt to draw interest in this specific book, and encourage people to purchase a copy at Amazon.com.  This marketing effort has been organized by Brian Auten, producer of Apologetics 315.  Brian has interviewed Mike Licona in the past, and Brian believes that his blogger friends could help promote this new apologetics book by all posting together.  I have chosen also to purchase my copy today from Amazon.com.

I do not know Mike Licona personally, but I have seen him present with Dr. William Lane Craig at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in the Atlanta, GA area.  That presentation was a recap of a recent debate in South Africa where the two apologists appeared together.  Recently, South African Christians have been troubled by liberal scholars who have cast doubt on the core orthodox Christian teachings, and particularly ones supported by a large body of evidence.  Craig and Licona went to South Africa to present that body of evidence.

No one can “prove” the resurrection, and science can never do better than “fail to reject the null hypothesis”.   I believe the resurrection evidence supercedes the null hypothesis:  that there was no resurrection.  I have read and heard many presentations presenting this evidence, because the resurrection is a key historical assertion, central and essential to the Christian faith.  I am looking forward to reading this book and providing a review on this blog (and I have to get back on a regular blog posting schedule).

Here are some links if you want to know more about Mike Licona:

Reviews and Endorsements of the New Book

Mike Licona’s Website, RisenJesus.com

More Than a Theory  Review Chapter 18

This last chapter finishes what I believe could have been one long chapter (chapters 16 through 18 combined in one).  This chapter delves into what I believe is Ross’ beliefs on the social dynamics of science.  It serves as qualitative evidence of his own phenomological journey, but also his qualitiative theories on the role of science and theology together.  They form a intereseting nexus of ideas which attracts me to RTB, and opens the discussion to more than just the Intelligent Design aspects.

As I wrote previously, I believe Darwinianism (and it’s subsequent spinoffs like neo-Darwinism) to essentially be social sciences.  I know that the 19th century intellectuals were attempting to create clarity in establishing colleges within universities.  I have a more university-minded approach to these topics, and would like to hear from different experts from different areas.  I believe the greatest achievements in science and technology are not due to the sole expert or leader or guru, but rather to teams of people devoted to specific causes and working together.

Continue reading “Extra Credit” »