Mormon men become hotter-day saints for calendar

Sometimes it is better to say nothing. This story speaks for itself:


NY Daily News, USASep. 27, 2007


It was just a little sexy this week when Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney stood up in his power suit in San Francisco and blasted Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to New York.Oh, how forceful! And from such a pillar of a peace-loving religion.


Romney’s not all the Mormons have cooking these days.
Twelve new calendar boys are baring their bods and declaring their love for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Meet the poster boys for missionary style in their steamy new calendar, “Mormons Exposed.”
Members of the religion are forbidden to drink alcohol, coffee or tea, smoke cigarettes or have premarital sex. Each year, 50,000 young Mormons go on two-year missions to Third World countries around the globe to help feed the poor and teach people about Mormonism.


Each of the 12 men featured in the sexy calendar has recently returned from a mission, and calendar creator Chad Hardy, a sixth-generation member of the Mormon Church, hopes that by baring their beefy physiques the young gents will help dispel the uptight image that many have of the Mormon faith.

“What a great way to show the world that Mormons aren’t these stuffy, puritanical people,” Hardy said.

“It’s a way to showcase the different side of the Mormon male, and a lot of people think it is a great way to create a dialogue between different religions.”

If only more buff young men of faith would take their tops off in the name of religious understanding - the world would be a better place!


Mr. April, 24-year-old student Jonathan Martin, says he thinks the calendar is funny, but says he was kind of nervous at first.

“I had a little bit of apprehension, but then it was actually fun and lighthearted,” Martin said. He agrees with Hardy that the calendar will help take the stuffy edge off Mormonism.


“We are individuals, and we make our own decisions, and we take our religion seriously as well as our individuality.”


Plus, for Martin, who is hoping to break into the entertainment industry and has already written a screenplay, it wasn’t a bad way to get his name out there.


Of course, there’s been some backlash from conservative church members.
“Yeah, some people have told us we deserve to be excommunicated and that we are going to hell and aren’t properly representing Mormons, but a lot of people have been really supportive, too,” Hardy maintains.

The calendar went on sale three weeks ago exclusively at http://www.mormonsexposed.com/

and has already sold 1,000 copies. Hardy expects sales to increase as the holiday season approaches.


Each of the young missionaries who “bare testimony” in the calendar will have the opportunity to donate proceeds from sales to the area of the world where he served his mission.

Tailgating at a Baptism

NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C., issued an invitation to tailgate in the parking lot before a celebration of 562 people being baptized




ANDERSON, S.C. (BP)--The idea of tailgating before a baptism celebration might seem rather unusual to some, but at NewSpring Church, it's part of an effort to reach people with the creativity and relevance found in the Bible.

The fast-growing Southern Baptist congregation baptized 562 believers during a celebration staged in its parking lot with more fanfare and excitement than most churchgoers typically expect."We invited people to come tailgate before the baptisms like they would before a football game," said Tony Morgan, chief strategic officer at NewSpring in Anderson, S.C."People brought their RVs and set up tents.

There were televisions going with people watching football games before the baptism service started," Morgan told Baptist Press. "People brought grills and they were making food for themselves and sharing with others. It was pretty fun."The church, which is about 20 minutes from the Clemson University campus, set up three above-ground pools in the parking lot, and two pastors in each pool took about 90 minutes to baptize the 562 people, Morgan said.

Morgan believes it's entirely appropriate to party before a baptism because the ordinance is a celebration."It's acknowledging a commitment that someone has made with Christ, and it's something to be celebrated," he said. "Actually, I personally see our event to be more consistent with the purpose of baptism -- people making a public statement of a faith commitment that they've made.

"The Sept. 8 baptism event was the culmination of a five-week series preached by NewSpring pastor Perry Noble titled "Illuminate" during August in which he compared a life without Christ to a life with Christ.

"Through that series we had around 800 people receive Christ," Morgan said. "So the final Sunday of the series Perry preached a message about baptism. In each of our four services, we baptized someone during the worship part of the service and then Perry taught about that.

"NewSpring began as a Bible study for college students in Noble's home in 1998, and soon a core group of people cast a vision for the church plant.

"With a church on practically every corner, it hardly seemed like Anderson needed yet another church," NewSpring’s website says; "however, research showed that nearly forty-eight percent of the people in the county didn't attend church on a regular basis. So this core group had a vision: 'Why not create a church that would adhere to solid, Christian doctrine but would be entirely different from the other churches in the community?'"

The group chose to focus its ministry on three main areas: making the church the "most creative place of worship on the planet," doing everything with "110 percent effort, quality and effectiveness," and teaching people how God and the Bible are relevant to their lives today.

In January 2000, 115 people gathered for NewSpring's first Sunday morning service on the campus of Anderson College, the website says. Six years later, they finished construction of a 2,500-seat auditorium and saw more than 900 people accept Christ and nearly 800 follow in baptism last year alone.

"All I can say is that Perry has committed to making the name of Jesus famous," Morgan said in assessing the rapid growth.

"That's the sole focus for his ministry and for the ministry of NewSpring Church, in that everything we do in our worship services, everything we do through our ministry programming, everything we try to communicate to our community reflects that focus.

I think God is honoring that."Granted, the sermon titles and some other things the church does can be a little edgy compared to most Southern Baptist churches.

But the philosophy of the church's leaders is that creativity is necessary for accomplishing the Great Commission, as noted on the pastor's blog Sept. 12."The apostle Paul said in Scripture that Christ must be preached ... and NewSpring, you have my promise that HE will always be our focus!" Perry wrote. "BUT you also have my promise that church will never be boring -- we do not have a boring God -- His bride should not be boring either.

The Bible is the most exciting book that has ever been written ... and we will present it in its totality, with passion, sincerity and creativity!!"

All age groups are catching on to the ministry style, Morgan said, including a woman who is 101 years old."The funny thing is we had tried to seat her in the back of the auditorium thinking she might not prefer the loud music, and she wants to be up front close to the action," he said.

With about 5,000 members but 8,000 in attendance on Sundays, Morgan noted that a lot of people who attend the church's services aren't members. Whether those people are searching or haven't finalized their commitments, he sees promise in the fact that they're gathering at all.

"I think it's a great thing when people in the church can come together and celebrate the transformation that Christ is making in people's lives," Morgan said.

ME CHURCH! IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU

ME CHURCH- where it's all about ME, ME, ME!


If, God forbid, we give out a man-centred Gospel, this could be the kind of church we end up with - watch this 90 second Google Online video

Ramadan has begun

Many people may not have realized that Ramadan has begun. I would think that even fewer people know what Ramadan is. So I would like to provide some information to everyone:

The following is from the Between Two Worlds blog:

What is "Ramadan"? According to Norman Geisler and Abdul Saleeb's book, Answering Islam: The Crescent in Light of the Cross, "Followers of Muhammad commemorate his receiving of the Qur'an by fasting in the ninth lunar month of Ramadan. They are expected to refrain from eating food during the daylight hours for this entire month. However, they are allowed to eat from sunset to sunrise during this time." For more info, see the Wikipedia article on Ramadan.


To learn much more about Islam, you should check out the following link. It contains many videos you can watch online: Videos

Something you can do during this time is use these 30 days of Ramadan to make Muslims a special focus of your prayer life.

To assist with this, a website called 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World has some helpful resources.

In particular, you can download for free (or pay to order) their 50 page, illustrated prayer guide booklet [that] contains insight, prayer points and background articles.

Here's the link to a PDF of the booklet: 2007 30-Days Prayer Booklet.

SERMON REVIEW

Today, the sermon I want to look at is:

You are just as close to God as you want to be

by: Pastor Wilbert Unger

You can listen to the sermon at this link: Sermon

There is nothing really wrong with the sermon, but I think it can be used to teach a few important lessons.

1. What verse-by-verse teaching is not. During the sermon, the pastor does go verse-by-verse through 2 Peter 1:1-7. However, all he does is read a verse, give a commentary and move on to the next verse. True verse-by-verse teaching involves much more.

2. The need for an outline. During the sermon, information is given about 7 verses, but it is not presented in a way that can be remembered. I think outlining the passage is helpful.
Let me explain what I mean.

2 Peter 1:1-7
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

If you read that section of scripture, I think everyone can see the natural division in the text.

Verses 1-2 serve as an introduction:
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

Notice the following about the introduction:

1. Introduction:
A. THE AUTHOR:
- SIMON PETER
- A SERVANT
- AN APOSTLE

B. The Audience:
TO THE SAVED
to them that have obtained like precious faith with us

C. THE DESIRE:
PETER WANTS grace and peace to be multiplied


That is a simple outline that everyone could remember. I could preach on the two verses in the introduction for about 4 Sundays.

Now everyone should clearly see that beginning in verse 3, the text clearly changes and it begins with a certain theme that goes to verse 11.

Then in verse 12, you have the word "wherefore." So verse 12 is saying, "based on the things before, you should know this."

So you should now be able to build more on your outline:

Verse 1-2

Verse 3-11

Verse 12-21

We have given the first section a title: Introduction

We still need to give the next two sections a title:

I will not post the rest of my outline; I will wait and see what the readers of the blog can come up with.

So get to work and e-mail me your ideas at:
tsrk30@sbcglobal.net

Giving vs Fund Raising

Today our Feature sermon is:
The heart of the problem

Brief Sermon Overview:
What gives God more glory, joyfully giving out of our abundance or fund raising to operate church ministries?

To listen to the sermon follow this link:Sermon

NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS MOVIE

Video of the new Ten Commandments Movie

CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SEXUAL ABUSE

The Catholic Church has been dealing with the sexual abuse scandal over the past few years. I want to give everyone some of the latest information about the scandal, but before I do I need to remind everyone of an important fact. The Catholic Church claims that they are the true church.

Just recently this was once again made clear by the current pope.

Vatican congregation reaffirms truth, oneness of Catholic Church

By John ThavisCatholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS)

-- In a brief document, the Vatican's doctrinal congregation reaffirmed that the Catholic Church is the one, true church, even if elements of truth can be found in separated churches and communities.

Touching an ecumenical sore point, the document said some of the separated Christian communities, such as Protestant communities, should not properly be called "churches" according to Catholic doctrine because of major differences over the ordained priesthood and the Eucharist.

You can read the entire article here: Church

The Catholic Catechism claims the following:

"The Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism explains: 'For it is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained.'" Pg. 215, #816

"...all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation..." Pg. 224, #846

Please understand the claim. The Catholic church is the one true church and they use some language that indicates that you must be a part of the true church to experience salvation.

Meanwhile the supposed true church is doing the following:

From NPR.ORG

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego has settled lawsuits with alleged abuse victims for $198 million, twice the amount church officials offered just a few months ago. The settlement resolves decades-old allegations from scores of men and women molested by priests.

SAN DIEGO September 8, 2007, 5:09 p.m. ET · The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego said Friday it has agreed to pay $198.1 million to settle 144 claims of sexual abuse by clergy, the second-largest payment by a diocese. The agreement caps more than four years of negotiations in state and federal courts.

Earlier this year, the diocese abruptly filed for bankruptcy protection just hours before trial was scheduled to begin on 42 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse. Bankruptcy could shield the diocese's assets, but a judge recently threatened to throw out the bankruptcy case if church officials didn't reach an agreement with the plaintiffs.

The San Diego diocese initially offered about $95 million to settle the claims. The victims were seeking about $200 million.

"The diocese has always been committed to resolving this litigation in a way that fairly compensates these victims of abuse and would still preserve the ongoing ministries and programs of the church," Bishop Robert Brom said in a press release Friday.

"We pray that this settlement will bring some closure and healing to the years of suffering experienced by these victims."

In the largest payment yet in the scandal, the Los Angeles Archdiocese settled 508 cases for $660 million in July, two days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in the first of 15 trials involving 172 abuse claimants there.

The Diocese of Orange agreed in 2004 to settle 90 claims for $100 million after a judge promised to set trial dates and begin the discovery process if settlement talks collapsed.

Bishop Tod D. Brown later said he couldn't risk a trial in a state where a jury once awarded $30 million to two people who claimed they were sexually abused by clergy.

The Diocese of San Diego, with nearly 1 million Catholics and holdings throughout San Diego County, is by far the largest and wealthiest of the five U.S. dioceses to have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under the shadow of civil claims over sexual abuse.

Dioceses in Spokane, Wash., Portland, Ore., and Tucson, Ariz., have already emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Davenport, Iowa, diocese, which faces claims from more than 150 people, is still in proceedings.

Sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests has cost the U.S. church at least $2.3 billion since 1950.

Some of the largest known payouts to victims since the crisis erupted in 2002 include:
— Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2007, agrees to pay $660 million to about 500 people.

— Diocese of San Diego, 2007, agrees to pay $198 million to 144 people.

— Diocese of Orange, Calif., 2004, $100 million for 90 abuse claims.

— Diocese of Covington, Ky., 2006, up to $84 million for more than 350 people.

— Archdiocese of Boston, 2003, $84 million for 552 claims.

— Diocese of Oakland, Calif., 2005, $56 million to 56 people.

— Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., 2007, agrees to pay about $52 million to 175 victims to emerge from bankruptcy protection; sets aside another $20 million for any future claims.

— Diocese of Spokane, Wash., 2007, agrees to pay $48 million for about 150 claims to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

— Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., 2005, pays $35 million to 33 people.

— Archdiocese of Louisville, Ky., 2003, $25.7 million to 243 victims.

— Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., 2005, agrees to fund a settlement trust worth about $22 million for more than 50 victims to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

———
On the Net:
San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese: http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/

Would anyone like to add all of the numbers up to get a total?

The one true church necessary for salvation! Make sure you are there and bring your children and your money because we need the cash!

AC/DC's Hell's Bells Played During a Church Service

If I told you that a church had their praise band play AC/DC's Hell's Bells during a service, would you believe me? Well I may not have believed it myself, but that is exactly what happened.

Here is the story which was found at the Extreme Theolgy Website:

AC/DC's Hell's Bells Played During a Church Service

I've posted this under Purpose-Driven Critique because Pastor Perry Noble of Newspring Church is very open about the fact that he is a big Rick Warren fan and that he is purpose-driven.

He recently had his Praise and Worship band play AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" as a part of the church service. The video is posted below. In the video, Perry Noble defends his decision for playing this song by saying "110 people met Jesus".

How on earth can we believe that people are "Meeting Jesus" in churches that are playing "Hell's Bells" in their services?

The church of Jesus Christ is not called to invite people to 'Meet Him". The church is called to preach God's Law and the Gospel. The church is supposed to call ALL people to repentance from sins and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

If you are offended by my saying that, I would invite you to read a post from a few months ago entitled "Repentance: The Ultimate Message of Love"

To see the Video follow this link:
AC/DC

WHAT THE CHURCH IN AMERICA IS DOING!

The Extreme Theology blog has posted some great articles over the last few weeks, and I want to share some of the information.

The post should speak for itself:

Extreme Theology Blog

Pitting Evangelism Against Discipleship

Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC is a living incarnation of the seeker-sensitive deeds NOT creeds thinking that has invaded the church.

He recently preached a sermon series entitled “Confessions of a Pastor” and he did all of us a huge favor.

He candidly and passionately articulated his disdain for doctrine, discipling and feeding God’s sheep with God’s Word.
(some video from the sermon is posted below)

I’ve seen this over and over again with churches that have gone Purpose-Driven. Sound Biblical teaching is replaced with self-help 'practical living' sermons, hymns and songs with ANY deep doctrinal content are replaced with me-centered 7/11 songs, and those who complain about the lack of doctrinal depth and missing Biblical content are mocked and ridiculed and forcibly shown the door. But, normally this is done in private.

Furtick, in the video below, decided to do this in public.

Listen carefully and you will hear how Furtick and others like him justify their entertainment-driven, relevant, self-help topical services. Its all in the name of evangelism and ‘kingdom multiplication’.

The most telling quote from Furtick’s diatribe is:
“If You Know Jesus This Church is NOT for you!”

His attitude is this:
We don't teach from Books of the Bible because it gets in the way of evangelism.
We don't offer different kinds of Bible studies because it gets in the way of evangelism.
We don't teach doctrine because it gets in the way of evangelism.
If you want to be fed God's word or have the Bible explained to you then you are a fat lazy Christian and you need to shut up and get to work or you need to leave this church because we ONLY do evangelism.

Notice also that "serving in the church" is the ONLY benchmark Furtick accepts as a good work for Jesus.
What about serving Jesus by being a good spouse, parent, child, student, employee or business owner? Furtick and countless others like him, in their myopic obsession with evangelism and numbers have literally ignored their duty to feed and care for God's sheep and make disciples.

What is at stake is the Gospel itself because the people who attend these churches won't have enough Biblical grounding to withstand even the most ridiculous 'wind of doctrine'.

These men, by pitting evangelism against their Biblical duty to 'make disciples' are setting the church up for Total-Apostasy.

Please take the time to read the scriptures passages I've supplied below the video.

Watch Video


The contrast between the two is stark.
John 21:15-17 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”


Matthew 28:19-2 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


John 8:31-32 So Jesus said ...“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”


Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.


Titus 1:7-10 "For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not tbe arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers..."


Titus 2:1-10 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, uworking at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.


2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.


1 Corinthians 1:18-25 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, -- “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” -- Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and lthe wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY

September the 8th is the day the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary. I obiously disagree with many of the catholic churches' teaching about Mary, but I thought I would use this upcoming day as an oppurtunity to provide the readers some information that may prove to be useful.

Here are a few articles that give historical background to the celebration:

Birth of Mary

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Feast of the Nativity of Mary

Here is the sermon I preached last night on this subject:

Happy Birthday

VIDEOS ABOUT ISLAM

Larry Wessels and Steve Morrison deal with topics in Islam in a video series.
They are uploading some of them to the net:

Islamic Holy War - Jihad


Answering Islamic Apologists (Part 5)


Did Mohammed Marry a Nine Year Old Girl.

MOTION PICTURE ABOUT CREATION CONTROVERSY

It’s a movie that Ferris Bueller would take the day off to go see. What freedom-loving student wouldn’t be outraged to discover that his high school science teacher is teaching a theory as indisputable fact, and that university professors unmercifully crush any fellow scientists who dare question the prevailing system of belief? This isn’t the latest Hollywood comedy; it’s a disturbing new documentary that will shock anyone who thinks all scientists are free to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.

Produced by Premise Media, “Expelled” will be marketed by Motive Entertainment, the company that has spearheaded significant Hollywood blockbusters, including “The Passion of the Christ,” “Polar Express” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Rocky Mountain Pictures, an established distribution company, which has enjoyed numerous box-office successes, will distribute the film.

Ben Stein, the lovable, monotone teacher from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and The Wonder Years is on a journey to answer one of the biggest questions ever asked: Were we designed or are we simply the end result of an ancient mud puddle struck by lightning? Stein, who is also a lawyer, an economist, a former presidential speechwriter, author and social commentator, is stunned by what he finds on his journey. He discovers an elitist scientific establishment that has traded in its skepticism for dogma. But even worse, along the way, Stein uncovers a long line of biologists, astronomers, chemists and philosophers who have had their reputations destroyed and their careers ruined by a scientific establishment that allows absolutely no dissent from Charles Darwin’s theory of random mutation and natural selection.


For information about this film check out the following links:

http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/news/home.html


http://www.expelledthemovie.com/home.php


To view trailers of the movie follow these links:

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php


http://www.expelledthemovie.com/video.php

Did Ignatius teach the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation?

Many Christians love to find a qoute from an early church father to try to defend a doctrine they may believe. Many Roman Catholics love to use a statement made by Ignatius to defend their teaching of Transubstantiation. The question that everyone should ask is, does the qoute really teach what some today claim?

Let's get some background, and then seek to find the answer.


Who was Ignatius?
Ignatius of Antioch, early Christian bishop


What is Transubstantiation?

Transubstantiation:



Now that you have the background, here is a link to an hour long discussion about the infamous qoute by Ignatius:

Audio discussion

Truth and Honesty in Evaluating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In the latest edition of Reformation21, Issue 24 (September 2007), an article appears by Dr. James White titled "Truth and Honesty in Evaluating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Click here to read.