Author Archives: John Paine

About John Paine

Unknown's avatar
This blog is topical and devotional--we post whatever interests us, whenever. If you want to follow in an orderly fashion, please see our Kaqexeß page.
October 5, 2013

Facts & Faith Symposium

By John Paine

Facts & Faith

(A Three-part Vine Life Symposium)
November 10th, 17th and 24th, 2013
6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Community Chapel

The Christian faith is founded in reality.  The events in the Bible really happened, and the Bible is completely trustworthy in all that it reports and represents.  Not completely convinced?  Join us for a three-night symposium entitled Facts & Faith as we present the astounding corroboration of the Bible that is found in science.  The Williamsburg Community Chapel was founded by scientists, who will participate in a facilitated panel discussion to answer questions from the audience after viewing one special video each evening, including:

1- The Case for a Creator (Lee Strobel documentary)
2- Dual Revelation (from Reasons To Believe)
3- Cosmic Fingerprints (Hugh Ross presentation to Willow Creek Church)

Topics will cover: the incredible fine tuning of the universe from cosmology, astrophysics, and biology; the concordance between God’s Dual Revelation in the book of Scripture and the book of nature; and the incredible accuracy of Old Testament writing that is just now being appreciated in 21st century scientific discoveries that even prominent atheists agree can only be explained by the existence of an intelligent designer.  Please join us for teaching and sharing that will definitely lift your appreciation for the veracity of the Bible.

Click here to register (it’s free).  Registration is not required but helps our hosts provide the coffee and seating.

HT: Arlene Vander Loon, Eileen Grant, Jessica Grimes, Marion Paine, Dave Rudy, Clarke Morledge, David Thompson, Dick Terman, Ken Petzinger

1 Comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Facts & Faith, Topics

September 21, 2013

Life After Death (Part 1)

By John Paine
Serenity

Serenity by Henri Martin, 1899

Have you ever tried to share the concept of Heaven with someone who doesn’t understand much about the Christian faith?  The theology of Heaven can be a stumbling block to those who have haven’t thought much beyond caricatures of floating angels and harps in an afterlife.  How can something that every reasoning adult must process be so subject to myth and misconception? Can an apologetic approach help?

Yvonne Brendley recently gave me back issues of Bill Brendley‘s Areopagus Journal, published by the Apologetics Resource Center. The Fall 2011 edition addresses the topic of life after death.

So is there evidence for life after death?  This journal will address biblical, historical, philosophical, and scientific evidences that support the reality of life after death as well as refute false ideas about it.
Craig Branch, Senior Editor, Areopagus Journal, Fall 2011

Continue reading

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Apologetics, Topics

September 2, 2013

Unwinding with Alvin Plantinga

By John Paine

“Be merciful to those who doubt;”
Jude 22 (NIV84)

Alvin Plantinga

Alvin Plantinga speaking to students and faculty at Baylor University on April 26th, 2012 (photo credit: Chris Derrett).

Have you ever heard a presentation of the Gospel that goes something like this: “Hell is hot, death is certain, Jesus saves, turn or burn”? This is the Ripley’s (Believe It or Not) version of the Gospel. While this presentation may work—if only pragmatically—on a theological level, it’s a complete mess on a personal, relational level. It falls so short of the mark. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who hear the message of Jesus Christ just this way.

I came across a common theme in atheists’ objections to Christianity three times last week—specifically that Christians are misguided. You know: the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales and legends, a loving god wouldn’t allow evil and suffering, there is no god, hell is an invention, science disproves Christianity, and so forth. (If you’re not running into these objections might you be playing it a little too safe in sharing your faith?) One atheist posted a rant in which the sophomoric level of his uninformed statements exposed his unwillingness to think rationally about theism and Christianity. They also pointed to a long line of Believe-It-or-Not presentations that left negative impressions. (His argument denying the plausibility of God was solely based upon his personal conviction that there can be no such thing as hell.) Who ‘shared’ their faith with him, and how? Too much truth and not enough grace? Continue reading

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Apologetics

August 28, 2013

Rhetoric That Still Matters: “I Have a Dream”

By John Paine

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering his “I Have a Dream” speech—50 years ago today.


 

I still get emotional reading this speech. This is how you start a revolution. This is rhetoric that still matters.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Witnesses

August 20, 2013

Embarrassing Witnesses

By John Paine

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

One the greatest joys we have in producing this blog is sharing material from authors, pastors, thinkers, and theologians who are insightful and effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.  Whether you read these posts as a committed Christian or a scathing skeptic, we appeal to your intellect “with gentleness and respect,” as prescribed in 1 Peter 3:15.

We try to keep things positive, partly because so much of the negative passion that comes out in contemporary writing is self-defeating, but mostly because of the love that is modeled for us by Jesus Christ. We have produced lists of resources, people, and tools that—in addition to the material shared in individual posts—can help you discover the veracity of the Scriptures.

But…much as we would like never to write an unkind word, Jesus also modeled (in fact commanded) discernment.

There are people who make being a disciple of Jesus Christ much more difficult than it should be for the rest of us.  Some have large media outlets (even universities) behind them.  Some have presidential-sized egos and ambitions.  Some, quite frankly, are weirdoes and snake oil salesmen.  Some have been caught perpetrating scams.  Some have been investigated by the U.S. Senate for their overseas dealings or their accumulation of personal wealth while operating under the guise of tax-exempt ministries.  The common thread is a thirst for affluence, power, or attention (and strangely enough, an appetite for expensive jets). Continue reading

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Witnesses