:: 03.16.2007 - 10.43 PM PST USA ::

A Long Wait!

:: Due to some life and technical difficulties, we have not been able to update our site for a considerable period.  Even more considerable is the amount of time that has passed since we have added to our blog! (See previous post below...) Well, there is a bit of light at the end of this proverbial, technical tunnel, so here is a new entry!

First, there is still much content we need to add. Secondly, so much has happened in the world in general and specifically in and amongst those who take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, as time and technology permits, we will be working hard to update our content as well as our blog. We wish you all peace in the Lord Jesus Christ and thank all of you who have submitted your feedback...

LOAH Staff

:: 01.31.2004 - 8.05 PM PST USA ::

Change...

:: Wow, this world is changing, and at such a rapid pace!  With technology (and especially that involving communication), ideas, theories and philosophies take shape, are discussed and put into practice throughout the world in months, weeks and even hours whereas they used to take months and years (and even decades) in previous centuries.  Whereas mankind used to live fairly mundane and consistent lives (unless adventure was actively sought), now adventure, history and change aggressively breaks into each house to force all to participate. We have seen this on a small scale in our own lives here at LOAH, with the birth of a second child and the loss and finding of a new job all in the space of a month.

However, just imagine being an Iraqi right now! To have gone from not being even able to imagine free elections and actually having another candidate other than Saddam for which one might vote to being fully liberated from oppresion and arriving home rejoicing with a purple finger!   Truly, these people who have had much cause to weep, both before the fall of Saddam and since, finally have as their cause joy and celebration at their new-found freedom and power. They (as have we/the coalition) have paid a very heavy price to see this day; we should rejoice with, and pray for, them...

:: 10.24.2004 - 10.49 PM PST USA ::

Halloween/Reformation Day...

:: 01.14.2004 - 21.40 PST USA ::

The Master's Hand...

:: Happy New Year!  We hope that you all have had a wonderful Christmas celebration and are surviving the winter basking in the warmth of your fire place and/or in the love of your families.

I wanted to point out an excellent article addressing the irreducible complexity of many biological systems and the implications of same.  In short, it quite clearly demonstrates the fact that these microscopic systems, such as the biochemical processes that take place within the eye in order to achieve sight, must have been designed since there can be no functioning intermediary form.  In other words, the system that processes a photon of light must have all its parts in order to function; any one of them missing or denatured would cause it to fail and thus logically eliminate the possibility of these systems evolving in any Darwinian sense.

Do not let the biological terms deter or stymie you, as the author's summaries and explanations will be fully sufficient for your understanding.  Happy reading...

:: 10.19.2003 - 16.21 PST USA ::

A rated G, 90 minute, 2002 release by Crusader Entertainment ; directed by Jon Purdy and stars Tony Goldwyn as Joshua...

:: Some of us got together and watched the movie 'Joshua' without having any knowledge of its premise.  I think the not knowing made for an interesting experience.  The basic storyline was that an unknown man comes into Smalltown, USA, rents out a place and begins to interact with those in that town.  Some of his actions are surprising and his words even more so.  At first, my wife and I were a bit taken back by what the makers of the movie were portraying this man to be.  For example, he was seemingly able to see into what people were thinking ("I know what you are thinking..."), presumptuously did things with other people's property (took it upon himself to begin tearing down an old Baptist church so that it might be rebuilt - what if they had wanted to keep it as it was for a memorial?) and was even able to 'heal' a broken ornamental wooden carving as well as carry a 500 pound log on his shoulders for a few miles.  Our first thoughts were of indignation: "They are making this man out to be Jesus!  What man could ever do the things he is doing?  This is a bit over the top!"

(NOTE: Over-all, we have a favorable opinion of this movie, but we will also present what I think there are some valid concerns.)

:: If one is thinking that he was supposed to be an ordinary man, then this is a normal response.  It was only when we figured out (late in the movie - we were slow that day!) that he was supposed to be Jesus that much of what he had done in the movie made sense and the flames of our indignation were extinguished!

(Hello!  Jesus - Joshua...  I know, it seems obvious, now!  We were given this movie to watch by an anti-theist, so we were not sure what to expect!  This gives us more hope for her now...)

:: However, though finding out that the character of Joshua was supposed to be Jesus did give us some consolation, it also raised other concerns.  Just as it was hard to see a man do things that only Jesus can do, it was just has hard seeing him do and say things Jesus would not do and say (or not say that which Jesus would have!).  The first thing we noticed was that the makers of this movie draw an unbiblical dichotomy between God's Law and His love.  The Law is viewed (quite biblically!) as hard and condemning, but also (quite unbiblically!) somehow separate from God's love.  Joshua never had any anything negative to say about anyone and those that violated his law 'just needed more love' or were 'afraid to love'.  One of Joshua's over-simplified comments was that the Bible is a 'love letter'.

:: On the surface, this does not sound incorrect or unbiblical, but let's take a look at these suppositions.  Is God's Law really separate, or even opposite, of his love?  Should the Law not be taught in churches because it is too condemning and makes people feel bad?  First, God's Law is not separate from his love, but is rather a result of his love!  To put it simply, can true love ignore justice?  God gave us his Law, as He has told us in His Word, to shut the world's people under the conviction and condemnation of their sin so that the Law, as a tutor/teacher would to lead them to seek forgiveness and life in Christ:

For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.  Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?  May it never be!  For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Gal 3:18-25)

:: The movie seems to condemn the preaching of the Law while the Bible says that it is this very thing that shows people their need for Christ!  In fact, God's love cannot even be understood apart from the condemnation that the Law put upon us all because of our sins and the just punishment that was meted out upon Christ on our behalf.  The problem is not that the Law should not be preached, but rather that it must always be followed by the grace, mercy and forgiveness given to us through faith in Christ.  Rather than saying this, as the Lord Jesus Christ would have said, the movie opts for more of the liberal world's view of love - just be kind and charitable to all and all will be drawn by that love to Christ.

What I am not saying is that people are not drawn by the love of Christ, but I am saying that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has not been adequately and fully taught unless both the condemnation of the Law and the grace of Christ are proclaimed.  In other words, the movie would have been just that much better/more complete if Joshua had confronted sin as Jesus did and then led them life via repentance and forgiveness.

God's love was most fully, poignantly displayed in the cross of Christ where the Law and the Gospel met.  Paul sums it up thus:

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus Christ is the epitome of righteousness and love; He remained on the cross to pay for our evil deeds, to pay the due penalty of the Law so that we might have the Gospel of grace and forgiveness.

Another aspect of Joshua's character in the movie that we found significantly missing was our Lord's ability to discern and rebuke evil hearts as he was able to sense and praise true faith.  Some of the most hardened or vial characters in the movie (a clearly corrupt and unbelieving Catholic bishop, a quack charismatic traveling 'healer', etc.) did not receive even one harsh word or rebuke as our Lord did those religious fakes and pretenders of His time (see Matthew 11:20-24; 23).  Though Jesus commanded that we not judge (Matthew 7:1-6), as, I suspect, we are not able to correctly discern the intent of other's hearts as He was, He Himself condemned those who were Satan's children as such.

I suppose one could say that those with whom Joshua dealt were all predestined to eternal life and therefore he did not need to condemn them, but I think this portrays to those watching the movie an unbiblical view of the world.

In short, this is, for the most part, a beautiful movie with some important flaws, but it will definitely provide a good starting point for one trying to reach anti-theists (Remember, it was an anti-theist who gave us this movie!) and it provides for a means for great family discussion!  It is heart-warming and does exhort the mature Christian (who already understands the relationship between God's love and His Law, as well as His sovereignty over all...) to remember that the motivation for all of God's work, and therefore our own labors after Him, is love.  There were other good things about this movie and some others that detracted, but it was over all a blessing...

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