Truth Friday Books (Xmas book list)

Brian Morley has written Mapping Apologetics which provides a survey of the dominant apologetic approaches.  Morley is professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at The Masters University in Santa Clarita, California (been there 2x).  He is also the cofounder of the Faith and Reason Forum:

https://www.faithandreasonforum.com/

Straight out of West Texas and Howard College comes a courageous and strikingly compelling defense of young earth theory.  Assistant Mathematics Professor Jay Hall has written Is a Young Earth Possible? which argues for a youthful world from history and science.  Have the scientific experts misdated the earth?  Hall tackles such diverse topics as Eisenhower and old maps, depression, the Solar System and dinosaurs.  The age-of-the-earth controversy relates to key issues in the public square such as climate change, homeschooling, government funding of science, bullying, depression, fake news, net censorship and free speech (Sacha who?).  You can get the book on Amazon by searching “Young Earth Possible.”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1088860788

What is Young Earth Science (YES)?  How old is the world?  Are radiometric dating methods reliable?  Is Darwinism substantiated by scientific evidence and valid arguments?  How does the Renaissance of Catastrophism relate to the age of the Earth?  Has plate tectonics occurred more rapidly in the past?  These and other queries are answered in this exciting and fully documented work, YES - Young Earth Science:

https://www.amazon.com/YES-WorldView-Fallacies-Collapse-Darwinism/dp/0692320075

Hall & Smith (not to be confused with Hall & Oates ♫) have written a complete topical treatment of Proverbs and James.  They categorize all of the proverbs and all the verses from the book of James.  God’s Wisdom provides the context for wise thinking in its Introduction and Conclusion.  If you are looking for a guided tour through the divine wisdom of Proverbs and James, you will find this volume most helpful:

https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Wisdom-Norbert-Smith-Ph-D/dp/1463754345

Do you hate Maths? ... you have found the cure.  This 190 page powerhouse includes 39 chapters (3*13) and includes such mind-expanding topics as limits, differentiation, chain rule, Mean Value Theorem (MVT), optimization, integration, Arc Length, Surfaces of Revolution, L’Hopital’s Rule, Hyperbolic Functions, integration by parts, numerical integration, Taylor series, polar coordinates y  mucho mas!  Are you allergic to MathTalk? Here is your solution. Feel the energy of Calculus in your life today‼

https://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Easy-Jay-Hall-ebook/dp/B00B3YWYNI

This book answers the question that Ben Stein has brought to the attention of today's culture conflict with his film "Expelled" ... Who is the Intelligent Designer?  Can Intelligent Design and Darwin work together?  What is the source of extra-cosmic information?  Can we find any good news along this cosmic odyssey?  Is it true that, "Intelligent Design is Creationism?"

https://www.amazon.com/Who-Intelligent-Designer-Jay-Hall-ebook/dp/B0018NFVWK

J. V. Fesko (Ph.D., Univ. of Aberdeen) is academic dean and professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary (Escondido, CA).  Do you know the classical Reformed approach to apologetics?  Read Fesko's tome to get the info on Creation and Scripture.  Believers should always rest on the authority of Scripture but nature speaks truth as well (Job 12:7-12):

https://www.amazon.com/Reforming-Apologetics-Retrieving-Reformed-Defending-ebook/dp/B07FCTQDBV

Big Spring, TX - Sanctuary City (for the UnBorn)

Per KBST, 1490 AM - "The Mighty 1490" ...

Big Spring City Council Members urged to make Big Spring a Sanctuary City for the Unborn, 11/12/19 ... During last night’s meeting of the Big Spring City Council, several members of the public took time to urge to council members to make Big Spring a sanctuary city for the unborn.  This would require council members to pass an ordinance that outlaws abortion within the city limits of Big Spring.

https://www.facebook.com/KBestMedia/posts/2896524723704598

Mark Lee Dickson said this at the meeting, “They [Planned Parenthood] kill babies, they prey on the most vulnerable.  I ask that you expedite the passing of this ordinance.”

https://www.news-journal.com/news/local/longview-pastor-takes-sanctuary-city-for-the-unborn-pitch-to/article_009419f6-ad5e-11e9-8232-63699555a09d.html

Dickson of White Oak is the pastor of Sovereign Love Church in Longview.

https://www.news-journal.com/news/local/longview-pastor-takes-sanctuary-city-for-the-unborn-pitch-to/article_009419f6-ad5e-11e9-8232-63699555a09d.html

If you could hear your baby say "I love you Mommy!" would you say "goodbye" to your precious son or daughter?

What about assault and abortion?

https://adamslostdream.blogspot.com/2012/09/rape.html

Man-on-the-street interviewer Ray Comfort has a super video on this topic:

http://180movie.com/

From the Big Spring Herald:

Support for the ordinance was overwhelming, as half a dozen residents from the standing-room meeting spoke about their personal experiences, moving members of the audience and the Council itself.  When Dickson asked for a show of hands as to how many in attendance supported the ordinance, nearly everyone raised their hand.

In the early 1970's even the funny papers were Pro-Life‼  Have you ever heard of Eggbert?  Just search "Eggbert cartoon."

Ban the Ads - Ban the Bibles?

Twitter recently decided to ban political ads.  Hmmm ...  Bradley Smith (Institute for Free Speech, Law Prof. @ Capital University) had this to say:

Twitter’s new policy, and [Jack] Dorsey’s explanation for it, demonstrate a muddled understanding of the purpose of speech. ...  By Dorsey’s logic, free speech should be allowed only when it is ineffective. ...  He wants "regulators" to “ensure a level playing field.”  Does that mean limiting the dollars that Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can raise online? Does it require MSNBC and CNN to give equal time to conservative voices? ... A primary reason why the Founders adopted the First Amendment was their recognition that we couldn’t trust government to decide what is “fair.”

You can hear Al Mohler's take on this issue here.

According to Jerry Johnson (NRB), "Silicon Valley does not want conservative talk and Christian talk; they want to push progressive and Leftist values.  It's just the fact."

CBN reports that,

The NRB wants Congress to hold [Mark] Zuckerberg’s feet to the fire over these allegations of censorship.  They say there are five major questions he should answer, including how the social media juggernaut defines “hate speech” and how they respond to comments by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, who acknowledged that some social media platforms "routinely block or discriminate against content they don’t like."

"Some Men I Know Are Really Women"

YES, that was a provocative title, but what are the biblical roles for men and women in marriage and the church? A good crowd from our church went to the Abilene Theology Conference (TX) recently where this was the topic.  Bruce Ware (God's Lesser Glory) was the speaker.  

Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood (ed. by Wayne Grudem) has  chapters by Dr. Ware.  One review of the book states:

These writers explore key issues, including the interchangeability of male-female roles, the meaning of submission, and the historical novelty of egalitarian interpretations of Scripture. This book will demonstrate how some views of manhood and womanhood tamper with our understanding of God’s character and why the extremes of male domination and feminism destroy the beauty of our sexual differences-differences that celebrate the excellence of men and women as God created us.

If you are not familiar with the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, be sure to check it out and learn more about the Danvers and Nashville statements.

Ryan Anderson (Heritage Foundation) has written When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment.  The book takes on the transgender movement relative to psychology, philosophy, biology & public policy.

Another helpful book is God and the TransgenderDebate by Andrew Walker (Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission) which deals with questions like:

•      Can someone be transgender and Christian?
•      Should I mind if people who are biologically the other sex are in my restroom?
•      Is it true that Christian teaching is harmful and can lead to depression and higher suicide rates?

What was my question to Dr. Ware?  "Young Earth or Old Earth & why?"  Plz. get your copy of Is a Young Earth Possible? right away!  Here are some talks from the 2018 Abilene Theology Conference.

New Book: extreme longevity, dinos, Darwin and YOU

My new book is out!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1088860788

You can use the "Look Inside" feature for the Kindle version:

https://www.amazon.com/Young-Earth-Possible-Science-Youthful-ebook/dp/B07W8VBK2Y

Chapters

1) Deep Time Versus History                          

2) Ike Likes Maps                           

3) Evidence for a Youthful World

4) Planet Have Your Say              

5) The Magnificent Seven            

6) Darwin Lied - Science Died               

7) Is Evolution Wrong?                  

8) Evolution is Depressing            

9) It's Kind of Essential                 

10)  Renaissance of Catastrophism     

11) The Day the Earth Trembled

12) Dragons are Dinos                           

13) Straight out of the Solar System                                 

14) What Difference Does it Make?      

Is a Young Earth Possible? argues for a youthful world from history and science.  In the 1970’s, Australian doctors Robin Warren and Barry Marshall proposed that the bacteria Helicobacter pylori caused ulcers.  It took two decades before their conclusion was justly recognized by the scientific establishment.  Has Big Science misdated the earth?  Is a Young Earth Possible? relates to a number of key issues in the public square such as climate change, homeschooling, government funding of science, bullying, depression, fake news, net censorship and free speech.

"Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another."  1 Cor. 15:39

Just Say "NO" to Net Censorship!

Instagram recently crushed scores of popular meme accounts that collectively have tens of millions of followers.

https://www.complex.com/life/2019/07/instagram-bans-dozens-of-accounts-in-meme-page-purge

Will the next victims of net censorship be those who hold to a young earth?

http://youngearthscienceblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/net-censorship-and-end-of-young-earth.html

President Trump recently held a Social Media Summit regarding the oppression against alternative views by Google, Facebook and Twitter:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-presidential-social-media-summit/

I propose a Social Media Summit for those who hold to Biblical Creation and a youthful world.   

#YoungEarth #SixDays #Darwin #StopTheBias #FreeSpeech #Gen1_11

Ez. 14:14

TotalYouth.us

M+F = 1 = MRG = SOS

Vision Scriptures

One Sunday, while visiting Destiny Church in Fort Worth where James Womack is pastor, we were given a card with a number of Bible verses on it tagged "Vision Scriptures."  We visit Destiny several times each year.  Here are the helpful passages:

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

    but blessed is he who keeps the law. Pr. 29:18 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28

What is impossible with man is possible with God. Lk. 18:27

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11

O Lord, you are my God;

    I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

    plans formed of old, faithful and sure. Is. 25:1

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

    and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

    and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. Is. 54:17

Commit your work to the Lord,

    and your plans will be established. Pr. 16:3

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths. Pr. 3:5,6

Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you. Dt. 31:6

I know that you can do all things,

    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2

Is anything too hard for the Lord?  At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son. Gen. 18:14

Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jer. 32:17

But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?

    What he desires, that he does. Job 23:13

For the Lord of hosts has purposed,

    and who will annul it?

His hand is stretched out,

    and who will turn it back? Is. 14:27

Declaring the end from the beginning

    and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, "My counsel shall stand,

    and I will accomplish all my purpose." Is. 46:10

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. Eph. 1:11

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph. 3:20,21

Notice how these passages emphasize creation and God's sovereignty and providence.  But that brings up the question "Who is the Intelligent Designer?"

Our helpful ebook gives a complete compilation of all Scriptures on God as Creator and God as Sustainer.  This answers the question that Ben Stein has brought to the attention of today's culture conflict with his film "Expelled." Who is the Intelligent Designer?  Is it an alien as Clinton Richard Dawkins proposed?

What are the implications of Creation.  Can we find any good news along this cosmic odyssey? Is it true that, "Intelligent Design is Creationism?"  Why trust the Bible?  What about theistic evolution?  Get the book today and find out.

The Dark Side of Mindfulness

Eastern meditation usually focuses on your breathing, a certain word or something similar.  This practice is quite different from Christian meditation:

I will meditate on your precepts

    and fix my eyes on your ways. ...

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

    your servant will meditate on your statutes. ...

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

(Ps. 119:15,23,27)

Mindfulness has even reached into many public schools, often in very subtle ways and going under unusual names to camouflage the connection to Eastern mysticism.  Here is an excellent and well documented paper by a lawyer on the dangers of on stealth Buddhism.  Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), said that this technique will  

... take the heart of something as meaningful, as sacred if you will, as Buddha-dharma and bring it into the world in a way that doesn’t dilute, profane or distort it, but at the same time is not locked into a culturally and tradition-bound framework that would make it absolutely impenetrable to the vast majority of people.

Christopher Dingwall-Jones, writing for the Church Times, has noted some lesser known aspects of mindfulness:

As far back as 1992, David Shapiro, a professor in psychiatry and human behaviour at the University of California, Irvine, observed in a study of the effects of meditation that, out of 27 subjects, 63 per cent had experienced negative effects, such as anxiety, depression, sobbing, and mild dissociation.

Some mindfulness practitioners have become detached from themselves or had dark psychotic hallucinations.  Others feel a sense of terror or may turn suicidal.  When mindfulness was taught to inmates, it did not have the positive effects hoped for.  The title of the paper with the research on this is quite explicit: "Is There a Dark Side to Mindfulness? Relation of Mindfulness to Criminogenic Cognitions."  Criminals usually have these characteristics: "... feeling more deserving and entitled than other people, a failure to accept responsibility, a negative attitude toward authority, a tendency to focus only on short-term outcomes, and being fairly insensitive to the impact of criminal behavior."  Mindfulness training did not cure these ills.

Let's follow the example of the first Psalm:

Blessed is the man

    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and on his law he meditates day and night.

Stating the Church (Catechesis Any1?)

Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.

This is one of the questions posed by Ligonier on the "State of Theology" survey by self-identified Evangelicals in 2018.  As for what is an evangelical I'd recommend Martin Lloyd-Jones' book:

Happily, a full 94% agree with this statement ...

There is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Incredibly 73% say that Jesus is a created being‼  Has the term "evangelical" lost its meaning?

Here are the results for this statement:

Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.

What is the solution?  Catechisms and confessions.  Luther's catechism is helpful (menu @ top right).  Also, the Heidelberg confession.  Spurgeon's catechism is quite good.  What do you think is the cure for Low Theology Evangelicals?

Who Owns the Future? (Real Time vs. Fake News)

Remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, "My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose." (Is. 46:9,10)

What is Young Earth Science (YES)?  How old is the world?  Are radiometric dating methods reliable?  Is Darwinism substantiated by scientific evidence and valid arguments?  How does the Renaissance of Catastrophism (the view that most rocks were formed rapidly) relate to the age of the Earth?  Has plate tectonics (Continental Drift) occurred more rapidly in the past?  These and other queries are answered in this exciting new fully documented work, YES - Young Earth Science.  This widely illustrated book features support from history, philosophy, geology, biology and physics.  Discover this creative and multidisciplinary approach which provides affirmation that this planet is thousands of years old and not billions.  Omniculturalism (looking for the good, true and beautiful from all cultures in all times) favors Catastrophism which supports the young earth stance.  This valuable anti-bullying tool provides the scientific grounds for YES.  Many who harshly ridicule young earth theory need to read this book and learn the genuine empirical warrant for YES.  YES - Young Earth Science contains over 450 footnotes and more than 130 charts, graphs and illustrations.  Although some parts are more technical, this book is for all readers with a general science background.

My book relates to a number of key issues in the public square such as climate change, homeschooling, government funding of science, bullying, depression, mental health, fake news, truth journalism, ethics, net censorship, school choice, suicide prevention and free speech.

Buy your copy today and please get an extra to give away.