He's Here!

The Spirit of Christmas

By Greg Koukl

Although the biblical meaning of Christmas is more in place for Greg than ever, he misses the emotional experience it no longer holds for him--a poignant reminiscence from his past.


I have a confession to make.

In the past few years I've had some difficulty getting into the spirit of Christmas. Now that I think about it, when I say the past few years I guess I mean the past 20 years or so. I guess my whole adult life I've struggled with this and I've wondered why. Maybe you have the same difficulty. Even mentioning the phrase "the spirit of Christmas" raises a few issues for me. It's usually uttered in the context of criticizing the excesses of the holiday season. Christmas season used to start just after Thanksgiving in the good old days. Now it seems like Thanksgiving itself has been lost all together, swallowed up by an ever expanding Christmas commercial season that devours now almost a quarter of our calendar year. That's pretty pathetic, in a way. People observe that and say, gee whatever happened to the true spirit of Christmas. Or they mourn the loss of the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Tossmas!

Something I've posted for the last couple of years.

The Death of Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens' was strident in his outspoken hatred for God . He was good with words both in print and in public speaking settings, and his supporters loved him for it. He was flippant in his treatment of Christ and Christians alike.  He found Christians praying for his salvation distasteful and urged them that it was as socially insensitive as offering atheism to a dying Catholic.  

Apparently, he held this unwavering position shaking his fist at God until his dying day. While God only knows what took place in the last moments of Hitchens’ life, (see Luke 23:39-43) one thing is for sure,  if he could send a message now, it would be on bended knee urging everyone he knows to repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 “My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends,”

 -Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

  Mark 8:36

The Ultimate Question

  What shall I do to inherit eternal life? You know the commandments, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.” If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.  The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. God demonstrates His own love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.  Repent therefore and be converted, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. Eternal life is found in knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

A History, The Kettle and The Gospel

Each year, as part of our normal evangelistic efforts, we approach the familiar red kettles and bell ringers of the Salvation Army with the message of the Gospel.  In past years, I have engaged them verbally with a brief history of the organization they are serving as an ice breaker. Then I have made my way into sharing the Gospel with them. Most were gracious and even thankful that I spent some time talking to them.

This year I got to volunteer along with other co-workers in ringing the bell. Believe me, these folks have nothing but time on their hands while minding the red kettle. Your time spent with them will be welcomed.

This year, I'm doing things a little differently. I'm still talking to people, but I'm leaving them with a brief history/gospel tract page. Maybe we'll also tape candy canes to them for a festive touch.

Click Here to view a printable version of our Brief History/Gospel  page.

What Is Atheism

From the Blog and brain of Chad Williams.

All too often on the street I run into people that are self-proclaimed Atheists but, when pressed to give a response as to why they believe that “God does not exist” they recant: “I never said I believe that ‘God does not exist’ I simply lack a belief in God’s existence.”

Is a lack of belief in God’s existence really Atheism though? Certainly not, and when pressed to give an explanation as to what they believe; more times than not they wind up giving a description of Agnosticism.

A true Atheist however is not someone that is open to the possibility of God’s existence. A real atheist is not one that merely lacks a belief in God. A genuine atheist is one that affirms there is no God.

The term Atheist comes from the Greek ἄθεος (atheos). In English this comes out as two words:

ἄ represents the “negative” or “no”

θεος represents “God”

Atheism is the negative (ἄ) contrasted form of God (θεος), which is to say that there is “no God.”

Claiming oneself to be an Atheist -in it’s truest form- comes with a burdensome task as it asserts anegative, that is to say, it affirms that God does not exist which comes with shouldering quite a burden of proof. Of course they are not up to the task and therefore they pour a different meaning into the word “Atheist” and so the word games and redefinitions begin.

They want that provocative title “Atheist” but when their feet are put to the fire on it, they describe themselves to be more Agnostic; or as the Latin form puts it Ignoramus. I guess identifying oneself as anIgnoramus just doesn’t have the same rousing ring to it.