Thanks J, it is good to see you aren't just plain crazy (just kidding man) ;^P

kat, The Spirit does the work of conversion, not us. We are called to love and be witnesses, not converters. Our aim should not be to convert others but to be obedient to Him and His commands to be the witnesses He calls us to be and let the only One who can reach the lost, reach them - The Spirit. This isn't a semantic difference either. When our goal is to convert someone we assume the rol...more

kat,

The Spirit does the work of conversion, not us. We are called to love and be witnesses, not converters. Our aim should not be to convert others but to be obedient to Him and His commands to be the witnesses He calls us to be and let the only One who can reach the lost, reach them - The Spirit.

This isn't a semantic difference either. When our goal is to convert someone we assume the role of God. Just like with the old bumpah stickah "God is my co-pilot" the wrong person is flying the plane.less

Excellent article again by Throckmorton! The idea that this country is or ever was a Xian nation is redonkulous.

Cutting 100 billion from an almost 4 trillion budget equals .025%. That is a cut of $1 every $400 - easily made in our budget and we all know it.

Agreed on Ike. Problem is that both Democrats and Republicans have involved the military more and more and expanded their missions more and more and that requires more and more money. If you want to cut the military budget by any serious means, one needs to retract the military from the what 50 or more countries we are in?

Some of us were and vocalized AND voted Republicans out as a consequence for the spending spree back then. You might not have noticed that uproar and lack of support at the polls for Republicans in 2006 & 2008 that brought the Dems to power. Guess you weren't paying attention. Nice tired and worn out bumper sticker-like post though. Like most bumper stickers it lacks substance though. Try ag...more

Some of us were and vocalized AND voted Republicans out as a consequence for the spending spree back then. You might not have noticed that uproar and lack of support at the polls for Republicans in 2006 & 2008 that brought the Dems to power. Guess you weren't paying attention.

Nice tired and worn out bumper sticker-like post though. Like most bumper stickers it lacks substance though.

Try again.less

B el, It takes time whether in the hems and hollers or within the concrete jungle - people are people!

NF, I never disagreed with you about the biblical witness through translation (I had no idea of where you stood/stand on that issue). My criticisms were directed completely at Ehrman who is only a biblical scholar in the sense that he has degrees (heck I have theological degrees) but his work is nothing short of pack-in lies, distortions, half-truths and sensationalism - and he knows what h...more

NF,

I never disagreed with you about the biblical witness through translation (I had no idea of where you stood/stand on that issue).

My criticisms were directed completely at Ehrman who is only a biblical scholar in the sense that he has degrees (heck I have theological degrees) but his work is nothing short of pack-in lies, distortions, half-truths and sensationalism - and he knows what he is doing. He didn't study under Bruce Metzger and get passed by Metzger not understanding certain basic things like variants and transmission.less

You point out a truth db and we should all take it to heart. Of course, Jesus spoke sometimes harshly (most of the time not) in reference to those who prop themselves up as ministry leaders when they are not ministers of His gospel.

Your faith, intention and dedication I don't question one bit Bel. My issue is with traditions that contradict the word of God. We see in the NT that when church leadership is instituted we have a division of 2 - one elders and the other deacons. One focusing on prayer, the Word and "bishoping" the souls in the flock (and there is no gradation of the elders). The other is a ministry of primarily p...more

Your faith, intention and dedication I don't question one bit Bel. My issue is with traditions that contradict the word of God. We see in the NT that when church leadership is instituted we have a division of 2 - one elders and the other deacons. One focusing on prayer, the Word and "bishoping" the souls in the flock (and there is no gradation of the elders). The other is a ministry of primarily physical mercies (like distributing the food to the widows for one example). Nowhere is anything else shown to be the model of how God through His Spirit instructed the church to form leadership.

Very flexible on how it can work within that basic paradigm but the basic paradigm is still there. In God's word we find that whats good for the goose is good for the gander in the basic structure.less

Great, a "war room" for a "culture war" that should never started or keep continuing...

I applaud your desire and work to help those local bodies Bel. But it would be far better to follow the Scriptural model instead of trying to bend a crooked wire the opposite direction so as to try to get the end straight. We should be looking to remove the original bend instead it seems.

or maybe the black UN helicopters coming in cognito....?

Oh Ala, I don't hold my breath, people have a choice to believe what is true or not. There are still flat-Earth folks but most have converted so there is hope for you yet! lol ;-)

Obviously RSR still can't do a simple google search to see what the American people saw plastered all over the news... Stating your inability to have an intelligent conversation isn't an insult either - it is an observation. Sam Harris: "Francis Collins is an accomplished scientist and a man who is sincere in his beliefs. And that is precisely what makes me so uncomfortable about his nominati...more

Obviously RSR still can't do a simple google search to see what the American people saw plastered all over the news... Stating your inability to have an intelligent conversation isn't an insult either - it is an observation.

Sam Harris:
"Francis Collins is an accomplished scientist and a man who is sincere in his beliefs. And that is precisely what makes me so uncomfortable about his nomination. Must we really entrust the future of biomedical research in the United States to a man who sincerely believes that a scientific understanding of human nature is impossible? " Published: July 26, 2009

Sam is not so subtly saying that Collins should not be the head of NIH. Sam was opposed to Collins - thats one.

Took all of 4 seconds with a google search...less

Of course 20% means something, no one disputes that that has any idea about textual issues. Bart spends his time glossing over the issue and making the statement about the variants trying to give a false impression (that it is a big issue that has much impact and he knows that is untrue). MOST people and every scholar (he who claims to be a scholar of Scripture that claims any translation/versi...more

Of course 20% means something, no one disputes that that has any idea about textual issues. Bart spends his time glossing over the issue and making the statement about the variants trying to give a false impression (that it is a big issue that has much impact and he knows that is untrue).

MOST people and every scholar (he who claims to be a scholar of Scripture that claims any translation/version we have today is inerrant is not a scholar by any means. The issue isn't inerrancy today it is about whether or not the translations are faithful and true. Bart uses the variants in a way (by giving a false picture to those who know little if anything about the issue or the larger issue of textual transmission) to make it seem like the translations are so far off that they are not faithful and that is sensationalism that is not accurate.

And that is just one instance and a much smaller one than many of Bart's other claims (like the Greek in the gospel of John claiming that the "Day of Preparation" saying preparation for the Passover).less

nellie, I posted below a few days ago with proof in just a couple instances that were easily found by listening to his "Great Courses - NT" lectures. That doesn't even scratch the surface either. RSR telling half-truths and lies again - so normal.

Actually Collins doesn't accept the theory completely Steve. He rejects part and parcel the dogma of an enclosed system of naturalism which the theory is claimed to be based off of.

WOW!! RSR continues to blater on incoherently!! SUCHG A SURPRISE!!!! Anybody who paid attention during the Collins appointment time KNOWS it to be true and one can easily find all the statements if one wasn't paying attention. Nice try RSR, Blather on! (it only demonstrates to everyone else that you have nothing to offer in way of polite, constructive or intelligent discourse...)

Sorry watch, Jones never got close enough to nibble on my nose. He is evil. Well said DP!