prodigal

Why did the prodigal's father let him leave?
Why did he not go after him?

Election in a Christian Family

A recent incident in my own family has got me thinking about this idea of how Christian families automatically assume that their entire family will be part of the elect. Many of them "make a decision" at a very young age (4 or 5) and then grow up in the bubble of christianity. They go to church, sunday school, youth group, have all christian friends. So what happens when they get older and decide to reject everything they have been taught? How much effort should be given towards winning them back? For how long? Until they are 18 years old? Is it worse to have them consider/call themselves a christian and yet live with obvious sin in their lives or would it be better for them to forgo the label of christian? Are we wasting our time if she is not one of the elect?

Why Santa is an antiChrist

Christmas is not a christian holiday. Or more accurately Christmas was not origionally a christian holiday. There are many historical theories as to the origions of the celebration that has come to be known as Christmas, none of which are christian. One of the oldschool popes created a special mass on Dec. 25th to celebrate Christ's birth (probably because the pagans seemed to be having to much fun in their celebrations during a dreary time of year). So should we not celebrate Christ's birth at this time of year? God forbid! The danger is the same for us today as it was for the church in Corinth where Paul warned the believers to beware of mixing their religious celebrations with the pagan festivals 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 and by doing that they created a distraction from Christ.

Santa Claus is a prime example. Think about him right now. Think about what he claims to be. I will help you, sing the song "Santa Claus is coming to town" in your head (or outloud if you prefer). Santa claims to be all-knowing --only God is that. Santa claims to be everywhere at the same time --only God can do that.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Just think about it. Do you think it is a coincidence that santa and satan are spelled with the same letters rearranged?

What happens when your child finds out that santa is only a fairy tale? They also assume that Jesus Christ is also a fairy tale because like santa, you must believe that He exists even though you can't see Him.

OK I said that I wouldn't go on.

Lets not waste our efforts trying to "take back" a holiday that wasn't ours to begin with. Let's focus our efforts on clebrating the fact that God loved us so much that He gave us the biggest, best, most expensive, most wonderful gift in the universe, Himself! Merry Christmas!

The Church Model

Guys, what model should the church follow:

a. armory/fortress
b. hospital/triage
c. school/classroom
d. clubhouse
e. other (your choice)

Please explain which one you picked and why. Then I will ask another follow-up question with regard to our interaction with people (specifically divorced people).

Ayn Rand --Objectivism

I have a young man in my youth group who is intersted in this 20th century philosopher and her work. Anybody have any feedback regarding Ayn Rand and her way of thinking?

video of an interview with Phil Donahue

An Ayn Rand Lexicon

free will

Did Jesus have a free will? a sin nature? please use scripture to support your answers.

Is Fasting for today?

Should the new testament church be fasting?