Reality Christian Magazine by Miguel Mendoza

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REALITY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

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CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE

HITLERS INCENDIARY INCENTIVE

WHY DO YOU THINK HE KILLED SO MANY JEWS?

WOULD YOU GO TO HEAVEN IF YOU DIED TODAY? 5 THINGS EVERY PERSON MUST KNOW

CAN ATHEISTS JUSTIFY BEING GOOD WITHOUT GOD?

WHY ATHEISTS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY DEFINING GOODNESS

THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES TWO ATHLETES MAKING A MONUMENTAL IMPACT

“...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures... He was buried, and... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” -1 Corinthians 15:3-4

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Reality Christian Magazine.com 6

Reality Christian Magazine FEATURES Scientfic Facts in the Bible Page 10 The CLASS ACT Page 12

Cover Photo Courtesy of Jockey International Inc.

Chef Tony’s Story of Hope Page 16 Hitler’s Incendiary Incentive Page18 Back to the Garden

The Impact of Christian Athletes in Professional Sports

Page 20

Do You Know Page 22 The Wounded Human Spirit Page 26

The Impact of Christian Athletes Page 28 Contributing Writers: CLASS Act 2012.com Merritt Robinson Derek Wohlers Ray Comfort

Can Atheists Justify being Goog without god Page 24 Reprinted by Permission: Dr. Norman Geisler Crowin Financial Ministries Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs Evangelism Explosion

F o l l o w u s o n fa c e b o o k a n d t w i t t e r

www.realitychristianmagazine.com

Is Your Foundation Rock Solid? Page 30

Advertising Opportunities: P.O. Box 3385, San Dimas, CA 91773 (909)592-9279 Publication: Miguel Mendoza miguel@realitychristianmagazine.com 7

Work as unto th By Crown Financial Ministries

n addition to supplying our physical needs, work plays a very imIportunity portant role in our spiritual lives, as believers. It provides the opto put into practice spiritual principles that would otherwise

be mere academics. A Christian can study every passage in the Bible that deals with serving others and read every biography on those who were noted servants and still not really understand the principle of surrendering rights. On the job, however, the opportunity to yield our rights presents itself every day. The way we do our work day by day provides the best exterior reflection of our commitment to serve the Lord in a real, physical way. It doesn’t matter whether that work is in the home, on an assembly line, or in a corporate office. Our true Christian beliefs will be reflected more clearly there than in any other environment outside of immediate family relationships.

Current attitudes Somehow Christians have been duped into believing that work is a secular activity and, therefore, they shouldn’t expect to feel spiritual about a job. Many Christians view their jobs with drudgery. They are dissatisfied with their vocation, disgruntled on the job, and resentful of others’ successes. This attitude destroys our greatest area of outreach and witness.

Praise of Men “He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). Those who are resentful about the success of others, whose feelings are hurt because of the lack of recognition, or who use jobs as their alter egos all suffer from the same spiritual malady: They are in service to men instead of to God. If a Christian approaches a job with the attitude that some person must recognize him as “better” or “best,” there almost always will be disappointment, because the first time the boss forgets to show appreciation, resentment creeps in. It is interesting to note that the workers whose bosses praise them most highly are usually the ones who require the least praise. It takes a lot of energy to remember to praise someone for everything he or she does right. What a joy it is when a boss finds a quiet, efficient, selfstarter who continually looks after the interests of other employees. Those qualities are so rare that the boss is torn between promoting that person and keeping him or her at the present job. 8

“Whoe shall whoeve sha

he lord

Biblical Admonition There seems to be a common characteristic in Christians who don’t rely on praise from others: they take literally the principle of work in Colossians 3:23-24. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” The key is that they look to the Lord for their rewards, and in doing so they find His standards of conduct are so much higher than men’s that they surpass their bosses’ expectations.

Conclusion

ever exalts himself be humbled; and er humbles himself all be exalted” -Matthew 23:12

Being God’s emissary on the job is not difficult; it’s impossible in our own strength. Only by yielding our rights to Christ can the world really get a glimpse of Him through us. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). The only way a Christian can avoid the traps of ego, pride, and resentment is to know that God is in total control of all circumstances and strive to please Him. For additional resources by Crown Financial Ministries, visit www.crown.org 9

RealFacts

Scientific Facts in the Bible Amazing truths written thousands of years before they were discovered by man.

Top 5 Facts and Verses

2 3

Scientific Fact

The Bible claimed that the earth freely floated in space. Science then thought that the earth sat on a large animal. We now know that the earth has a free float in space.

Scripture

Job 26:7 (written 3500 years ago): “He stretches out the north over the empty place, and hangs the earth upon nothing.”

Scientific Fact

The Bible claims that all creation is made of invisible material. Science then was ignorant of the subject. We now know that the entire creation is made of invisible elements called “atoms.

Scripture

Hebrews 11:3 (written 2000 years ago): “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Scientific Fact

Scientific Fact The Bible claimed that there are billions of stars (“host of heaven” is the biblical term for the stars). When it made this statement, no one knew how vast the numbers of stars were as only about 1,100 were observable. Now we know that there are billions of stars, and that they cannot be numbered.

Scripture

Jeremiah 33:22 (written 2500 years ago): “As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured.” Comfort, Ray. Scientific Facts in the Bible. Bellflower, California: Living Waters Publications, 2001. Print. 10

Science expresses the universe in five terms: time, space, matter, power and motion. “In the beginning (time) God created (power) the Heaven (space) and the earth (matter)... And the Spirit of God moved (motion) upon the face of the waters.”

Scripture

Genesis 1:1,3 (written 3,450 years ago): “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth... And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Scientific Fact

Scientists are beginning to understand that the universe is expanding, or stretching out. At least seven times in Scripture we are clearly told that God stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

Scripture

Isaiah 40:22 (2,800 years ago)“It is He that . . . stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in.”

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realissues The

class Act

The initiative to repeal SB 48

new initiative to overturn SB 48 is currently under way. The Children Learning Accurate Social Science Act is currently collecting signatures to place the measure on the ballot in 2014. They have until July 11 to collect the necessary signatures. Approved by the state legislature last year and implemented in January, SB 48, officially known as the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act, requires that social science curriculum discuss transgender, homosexual, and bisexual figures in history. This mandate is for all grades, including kindergartners, and parents are banned from opting their children out of such instruction on moral or religious grounds. When he signed SB 48 into law this past July, Governor Jerry Brown rationalized his actions with the claim that “History must be honest.” But the bill he signed specifically required an incomplete and inaccurate presentation in all social science classes in our public schools. Supporters of SB 48 said it was needed

by Written ct 2012 A ASS

to prevent discrimination in the classroom and that those involved in the gay rights movement deserve to be recognized. Of particular concern to Christian conservatives is an element of the law that forbids any classroom instruction that paints homosexuality in a negative light, a mandate that pro-family experts say prevents teachers and students from discussing such issues as the health risks associated with the gay lifestyle and objections over gay marriage. Senate Bill 48 required curriculum that is positive toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other minority figures. But it also prohibited curriculum that reflects adversely on the same groups. The Los Angeles Times condemned the new law by noting, “Real history is richer and more complicated than feel-good depictions.” In contrast, The CLASS Act assures that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other minority figures are not excluded from inclusion

in California curriculum while requiring accurate historical portrayals of all individuals. Jack Hibbs, one of the sponsors, noted SB 48 simply went too far. “We all know that the issue of homosexuality is controversial. It is unacceptable to require that our schools shine a spotlight on this lifestyle on the one hand and then demand that history books and teachers censor shortcomings on the other.” Kevin Snider of Pacific Justice Institute Center for Public Policy believes the proposed initiative provides an appropriate balance. “We drafted an initiative that responds to

members that testified against the legislation as it made its way through the California Legislature grew into a coalition that recently collected nearly 500,000 signatures to qualify a referendum against SB 48. As impressive as that effort was, it fell short of the 504,760 signatures needed to qualify the referendum. The same number will be required for the initiative. “This initiative ensures that people recognized in social science curriculum are included because of their contributions to society, not their sexual conduct,”

“We all know that the issue of homosexuality is controversial.” -Jack Hibbs the perception that some want to ignore the contributions of certain individuals. This initiative prohibits history book exclusion of anybody based on their membership in a protected class. But it requires an accurate, historical portrayal of any individual.” This is not the first effort to reverse the negative effects of SB 48. The small number of community

said Karen England. “The CLASS Act focuses social studies where it should be— on an individual’s contributions to history, not their sexual preference.” To help with the repeal effort, California voters are encouraged to download and sign the online petition for the CLASS Act at www.StopSB48. com.

Visit CLASSACT2012.com for information on your right to host a petition drive at your church as well as the text of the CLASS Act Initiative. 13

What is the Class Act? The Class (Children Learning Accurate Social Science) Act is an initiative filed in response to passage of SB 48 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the law that uses all social science curriculum, including history books and other instructional materials, to teach children as young as five not only to accept but also to endorse transgenderism, bisexuality, and homosexuality. The Class Act Initiative demands the accurate teaching of history. With this initiative in place no person will be left out because of his or her sexual preference, but rather their contribution to history will be the focus not their sexual preference.

We must gather 700,000 signatures by July 11, 2012 to qualify this initiative for the ballot.

Will you help?

www.StopSB48.com 14

Paid for by Stop SB 48, ID #1339956 â&#x20AC;˘ 660

How you can help: There are three thing you can do today to help us get the Class on the Ballot and overturn SB 48:

l Download and Sign a Petition Visit our website and download a petition, or visit a nearby petition center. Sign the petition and mail it back to us right away.

l Make a Donation As you can imagine, and undertaking of this size is extremely expensive. Any amount can help us print and distribute more petitions.

l Tell Your Friends The more that join the effort, the greater our chance of success.

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realstory

Chef Tony’s Story of Hope Tony Lancaster is the owner of Chef Tony Catering, a catering company serving delicious foods for all occasions in Southern California. He works at Kilroy’s Sandwich Factory in Pasadena where he’s currently waiting on the opportunity to become part-owner of the successful sandwich factory—a very far and distant position from where he was just a few years back, hopeless.

truggling from a life dependent on alcohol, drugs, and sexual addiction, Tony hit rock-bottom in 2008 after an 8 day run of no sleep or food. Despite seemingly having it all on the outside—a wife, two homes, money, a good job, and an endless array of toys— on the inside, Tony was self-destructing. He could not find a drug tough enough, alcohol powerful enough, or sexual experience strong enough to satisfy his enormous cravings. Tony sought immediate medical attention and was placed in an outpatient program. In spite of being married for 13 years, he hid his addictive behaviors from his family and friends while living a double life. He began attending Alcoholics Anonymous to help with the addictions but stopped going when his life and relationship with his wife was temporarily restored. As a result, his addictive behaviors began to creep back into his life which resulted in a divorce with his wife. Drinking and using drugs consumed him and in the span of 18 months he got 3 DUI’s, Tony lost his business, two homes, his car, and wasted his entire life savings. Tony became homeless, helpless, and so guilt ridden all he wanted to do was die. A chance encounter with his high school teacher proved to be life-changing when he learned about her son’s suicide through drug and alcohol use. “I was so scared; he was just a year younger than me… Years of disappointment and broken promises, all I could do to kill the pain was go get some crack and Vodka.” The next day, Tony looked into a mirror and saw a reflection of his soul. “…

it was black as coal. I fell to my knees, I asked God to help me or take me. ” He did both. Tony entered sober living and went back into the rooms of AA. It was there that he found three friends that had something he wanted, God. They invited him to a book study at Christ’s Church of the Valley in SanDimas, California. Coincidentally, he met a girl named Ann who had also begun attending that same church just a few weeks prior. After a lifetime of believing in his own version of God and pursuing empty addictions, Tony had finally come to the place in his life where he was willing to surrender all of his life, all of his addictions, and all of his secrets to God. He finally realized that he was a sinner; he recognized that Jesus Christ died on a cross for his sins. He turned away from his sins, and received Jesus Christ into his life. Tony is now a new man who is a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. “I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I am sober only by His grace and I now have Ann as my wife. I no longer take to get mine; I get mine through giving and through the grace of God.” Today, Tony reaches out to individuals in recovery by serving at a Celebrate Recovery at his home church. He married Ann, has a beautiful family, and is blessed with a wonderful job at Kilroy’s. Together with God and his partner, they are on a journey to bring hope and love through ministry in the marketplace. Tony wakes up everyday eager to serve our Great God, to honor Him and give Him all the Glory. w w w . c h e f t o nys o c a l . c o m

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realworld

Hitlers Incendi By Ray Comfort

Why do you think Hitler killed so many Jews?

ome think that it was because he had his paintings rejected by a mainly Jewish panel at an art school in Vienna. A couple of other theories are that he may have been bitter because a Jewish prostitute gave him a sexually transmitted disease, or he was jealous because some of the Jews were able to make money while Germany was economically depressed. But that doesn’t make sense. Perhaps a man could become angry for any of those reasons and take his anger out on some Jewish person by murdering him. Or it could still make sense if he took a gun and murdered a family of six Jews, or a handful of Jewish coworkers. But to kill 600 would be crazy, or 6,000 would be insanely out of proportion. Adolf Hitler killed six million Jews! So as far as I’m concerned, there has to be something more behind this…and I believe there is. Back on April 26th, 1938, all Jews (except

[1] http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/appropriation6.htm

for the very poor) were forced by law to disclose their wealth. If Jews refused to reveal their wealth in detail, their property could be confiscated and they could get up to ten years hard labor in prison[1]. No doubt there was compliance from millions of Jews across Germany. They didn’t know it, but when they obediently filled out those disclosure forms, they were signing their own death warrant and that of their families. Every time Hitler killed a Jewish family, he seized their assets. The Nazis knew exactly what each family was worth and where to find their valuables. All it took was a threat of torture or a threat to kill his family, and the father would sign over his insurance policies to them. Hitler got their house, their car, their savings, their jewelry, bonds, the gold out of their teeth, the clot- hes off their backs, and the hair from their heads. He raked in billi-

diary Incentive ons of dollars from killing Jewish families, and when you kill an entire family, no one is left to complain! Experts now tell us that just under one third of Hitler’s massive war machine was financed directly by Jewish blood. His propaganda-machine brainwashed millions into thinking that the Jews were the scum of the earth and that he was the nation’s savior. He had them eating out of the palm of his evil hand. When he came into office, Germany was a mess. People were almost starving. There was a 40% unemployment rate, and in a comparatively short time he had pulled it up by its bootstraps and given it back its dignity. All the while he was murdering Jews and lining his own pockets. It’s a huge lesson on how a politician with unlimited power can manipulate the masses. American abortion has the same incendiary incentive. It is a multi-billion dollar industry. You don’t need to look for smoke billowing from a chimney to find a co-

ncentration clinic in your area. Just Google “abortion,” “prices,” and your zip code. If you want your 16 week baby killed in the womb, according to current prices, it will cost you $690. If you want your 19 week baby killed (just three weeks later), it will jump to a massive $2,690. Think about it. The abortionist gets all that for a mere 15-20 minutes work. He just has to rip off the baby’s head, its arms and legs, and pull it out—along with the remaining bloody torso. He then assembles everything on a table to make sure the entire body is out of the womb, and then drops it all into the trash. If he does that 1015 times a day, you are talking big money— around $10,000-$15,000 for a day’s work. It has nothing to do with a woman’s choice. It’s all about lining pockets and using a well-oiled government sanction killing machine. Adapted from, “Hitler, God, and the Bible, (WND). See also www.180movie. com. For additional resources, visit www.heartchanger.com

Back he to t en Gar d BY MERRITT ROBINSON

pring is probably the busiest season in the garden. Weeding, fertilizing, mulchto restore fellowship with His creation by caling and planting are typical activities to create ling humanity back to the garden. a beautiful garden. Similarly, Christians must You might ask: how does the garden relate spend time in the “garden of the Lord” if they to Christianity at this present time? Similar to desire to be in fellowship with Him. I n GenAdam, modern day Christians can easily lose esis 2:15-17, the Lord placed Adam, the first sight of their relationship and responsibility human, in the Garden of Eden. Adam was to the Lord because they do not observe the given specific commands, when situated in commands of God. When we look at Genthe garden of the Lord. First, Adam was to esis 2:15-17, there is one word which sumtill and keep the garden (Gen 2:15). Second, marizes humanity’s relationship with God… he was to avoid eating any fruit from the tree worship. Christians are called to worship the of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17). Lord through service and obedience. God The Bible indicates Adam failed to honor the called Adam to service by tilling and keeping Lord’s command. As a result of sin, Adam the garden. Additionally, the Lord instructed and his wife, Eve, were Adam, while he was in expelled from the garthe garden, to obey His den and separated from command of not eating Christians communion with God. from the tree. I would Genesis 3:23-24, furpropose that service and are called ther indicates the Lord obedience are essential sent Adam and his wife characteristics when it to worship Eve east of the garden comes to our relationship in response to their sin. with the Lord. the Lord From a Jewish perspecWhere are you when thro ugh tive, humanity’s eastern it comes to your relationexodus from the garden ship with the Lord? Do service and you find yourself east of represented the ultimate in separation. It should the garden? Realize the obedience be noted that Cain was Lord is calling you back also expelled from the to the garden with the presence of God, east purpose of serving and of Eden, after he murdered his brother Abel. obeying while experiencing unbroken fellowDespite human sin, the Lord still desired to be ship with Him. These essential characteristics in fellowship with His creation. I would assert will provide a spring harvest which leads to the Lord relentlessly tried eternal life.

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Realfaith

Do you know? Do you know for sure that you are going to be with God in Heaven? If God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven?” what would you say? The Bible tells how you can know for sure that you have eternal life and will go to be with God in Heaven? The Bible says there are 5 things you need to know about eternal life:

Man. Jesus Christ came to earth and lived a sinless life, but while on earth, what did He do? He died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose again from the grave to purchase Heaven is a free gift!. And because Heaven a place in Heaven for us. Jesus Christ bore our is a gift, like any other genuine gift, it is not sin in His body on the cross and now offers you earned or deserved. No Amount of personal eternal life (Heaven) as a free gift. effort, good works, or religious deeds can earn This gift is received by Faith. Faith is a place in Heaven for you. Why is it that no one the key that opens the door to Heaven. can earn his way to Heaven? Saving faith is not mere head knowledge, like Because Man is a sinner. Sin is transgressing believing certain historical facts. The Bible God’s law and includes such things as says that the devil believes there is one God, lying, lust, cheating, deceit, evil thoughts, so believing that there is one God is not saving immoral behavior, and more. And Because of this, man cannot save himself. If you wanted faith. Saving faith is not mere temporal faith, to save yourself by good deeds, do you know that is, trusting God for temporary crises such how good you would have to as financial, family, or physical be? “Be perfect, even as your needs. Now these are good, Father which is in Heaven and you should trust Christ for is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). these, but they are not saving With such a high standard, faith! Saving faith is trusting in no one can save himself. Jesus Christ alone for eternal However, in spite of our life. It means resting upon sin, God is merciful and Christ alone and what He has therefore doesn’t want to done rather than in what you punish us. The Bible says that have done to get into Heaven. “…God is love.” (1 John 4:8). But the same Bible which “…Believe (trust) on the Lord tells us that God loves us also Jesus Christ, and you will be tells us that God is just and saved…” (Acts 16:31). therefore must punish sin. You have just read the He says “…I will by no means greatest story ever told about clear the guilty…” (Exodus 34:7). We have a problem. the greatest offer ever made On one hand, God loves us and doesn’t want by the greatest person who ever lived—Jesus to punish us. But, on the other hand He is just Christ. The question that God is asking you and must punish sin. now is would you like to receive the gift of God solved this problem for us in the eternal life? Because this is such an important matter, person of Jesus Christ. Who is He? The Bible tells us clearly that He is the infinite God- let’s clarify just what it involves.

Source: Evangelism Explosion International www.eeworks.org

Faith is the key that opens the door to Heaven

It means that you need to transfer your trust from what you have been doing to what Christ has done for you on the cross. Accept the living Christ as Savior. Open the “door” to your heart and invite Him in. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him…” (Revelation 3:20). Receive Jesus Christ as Lord. Give Him the “driver’s seat” and “controls” of your life, not the “back seat.” Repent. Be willing to turn from anything that is not pleasing to Him. He will reveal His will to you as you grow in your relationship with Him. You can go to God in prayer right where you are. You can receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ right now. If you want to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, then call on Him, asking Him for this gift right now. Here’s a suggested prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You for Your gift

of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But You loved me so You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in Heaven for me. I now trust in You alone for eternal life and repent of my sin. Please take control as Lord of my life. Thank You so much!” 5-15-1 5-15-12 Expiration Date: Expiration If this isDate: the sincere desire of your heart, look at what Jesus promises Spring B to those who believe in Spring Him: “…I say unto you, he that believes on 3-30-1 3-30-12 Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47). MAR 13 If you have truly MARCH repented (turned away) from your sins, placed your trust in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death, and received the gift of eternal life, you are now a child of God! Forever! Welcome to the family of God! What’s next? Read the Bible everyday, spend time each day talking with God in prayer, worship God by attending a church that honors Jesus Christ and teaches you the Bible, fellowship with Christians who will help you grow, and tell others what Jesus Christ means to you!

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Can Atheists Justify Being

Good Without God ? By Norman Geisler

There is a new atheist’s ad out with a picture of Santa Claus and the words: “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake.” This is clever, but is it possible? Let’s analyze it more carefully.

First, if there is no Moral Law Giver (God), then how can there be a moral law that prescribes: “Be good.” Every prescription has a prescriber, and this is a moral prescription. Second, what does “good” mean? How is good to be defined? If it can mean anything for anyone, then it means nothing for anyone. It is total relativism. Being “good” for some (like Nazis) can mean killing Jews. But for Jews it is evil. Hence, on this view there is no objective difference between good and evil. Third, what does “goodness” itself mean in the atheist slogan. Being good “for goodness sake” implies that something is just plain good in itself. That is, it is an ultimate goodness. But this by definition is what Christians mean by God. Everything else has goodness, but only God (the Ultimate) is goodness. In this case, the atheist is using “goodness” as a surrogate or substitute for God. This maneuver is not uncommon for atheists. Before the Big Bang evidence, atheists were fond of doing this with the word “universe.” It was supposed to be eternal and, hence, needed no Cause since only what begins needs a Beginner. Carl Sagan employed the term “Cosmos” as a God-substitute. He said, “the COSMOS is everything that ever was, is, or will be.” It sounds a little like what Psalm 90 declares: “From everlasting to ever-

lasting, thou art God.” Bertrand Russell atte24

mpted the same tactic in his famous BBC debate with Father Copleston. When asked what caused the universe, he replied that nothing did. It was just “there.” But how does an eternal, uncaused universe from which everything else came to be differ from an Uncaused Cause (God)? However, in the light of the Big Bang evidence that the universe had a beginning, these answers lack scientific support. As agnostic Jastrow put it, “The scientist’s pursuit of the past ends in the moment of creation.” And “This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but theologians. They have always accepted the word of the Bible: `In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth’” (God and the Astronomers, 115). Fourth, Dembski and Wells give another objection in recent book (How to be an Intellectually Fulfilled Atheist (or not), 115): “Atheism is a belief with scientific pretensions but no scientific backing.” It has no scientific backing for believing in an eternal universe, The Second Law of Thermodynamics still holds. The universe is running out of useable energy and, therefore, cannot be eternal. And it has no scientific backing for the spontaneous origin of first life. Again, as Dembski notes, “Until science can show that physical process operating under realistic prebiotic conditions can bring about full-fledged cells from nonliving material, intellectual fulfillment remains an atheistic pipedream” (ibid.).

One cannot be good without there being a God.

Fifth, the truth is that many of the great atheists themselves understood well that without God there is no basis for being good for goodness sake. The famous French atheist, Jean Paul Sartre said, without God, “I was like a man who’s lost his shadow. And there was nothing left in heaven, not right or wrong, nor anyone to give me orders” (The Flies, Act III). Nietzsche said that when God died (see the “Madman” in Gay Science), then all objective values died with Him. And a subjective understanding of goodness to which everyone can assign their own relative meaning, is not goodness at all– let alone being goodness for goodness sake. Sixth, atheists fail to make an important distinction. One can be good (as many atheists are) without believing in God. But one cannot be good without there being a God. That is, they can believe in a moral law (and live accordingly) without believing in God. But they cannot justify this belief without reference to a Moral Law Giver (God). This leads to one last observation. Seventh, the fact is, that you cannot have an objective moral law without a Moral Law Giver. But atheist are the first to insist there must be a moral law–otherwise,

6 7

how can they mount their argument against God from the injustices in this world. C. S. Lewis says this clearly when he wrote, “[As an atheist] my argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line” (Mere Christianity, 15). Thus, he reasoned from this objective moral law to a Moral Law Giver (God). The atheist must make his painful choice: Either he loses the basis for his argument against God from evil, or he must admit there is an objective moral law which leads to a Moral Law Giver. One thing is certain: without God, the atheist cannot have objective goodness for goodness sake. Indeed, since “for goodness sake” is a euphemistic phrase meaning “For God’s sake,” then the atheist ad, both literarily and logically, should be rendered, “Why believe in God? Just be good for God’s sake.” In other words, it is precisely because there is a God that we can really be good. Without an absolutely good God, there is no real objective basis for being good.

For additional resources by Dr. Norman Geisler, visit www.normangeisler.net 25

RealHome

N U O THE W H . EMER

BY DR

ICHS

GGER SON E

A husband can wound his wife’s inner spirit when he comes across as unloving. A wife can wound her husband’s inner spirit when she comes across as disrespectful.

hen my son David was in his 20’s he W went to Harlem where he umpired Little League baseball. One day a father of one of the

little boys showed up drunk at the baseball field. It so happened his eight year old son lost a lens from his glasses in centerfield and was searching for it. As the father wandered onto the field nearing his boy, he began screaming at his son for losing the lens. David called “Time.” My son and others went out to center field to look for the lens. However, the dad kept shouting threats and obscenities at his son. Then, he cocked back his fist and punched the little boy in the face. The boy went down. As David painfully observed, he saw the precious little boy lying there stunned. Then he sat up, fighting back the tears. He would not cry. Immediately, David went to him. Putting his arm around him, David gently said, “Don’t worry, you didn’t mean to lose it. We’ll find the lens. It will be ok.” The boy burst into tears. My heart broke when David told me this. The minute David touched him, this little boy sobbed. His little spirit responded to love. Do you recall what it is like to be eight? At a moment like that, this little boy was confused. In his young mind, he had done a

bad thing in losing his lens. He knew he didn’t mean to, but “motives” aren’t understood at that age. After all, his dad was mad, so he had to be bad. He had no idea what others felt. As far as he knew, they felt the same way his dad did. Oh, theinsecurity this little one must have felt at that moment. But he also felt another pain: a crushed spirit from the screaming, a bro-ken heart from the fist. Deep within he was created by God to be loved, but no one loved him. He was designed to be valued that moment. But he also felt another pain: a crushed spirit from the screaming, a broken heart from the fist. Deep within he was created by God to be loved, but no one loved him. He was designed to be valued and treated as significant. So, he held backhis tears. If he cried, it could get worse. Everyone might turn on him. He felt so alone and scared. He wanted someone to comfort him. Then a hand was placed on his shoulder and an arm came around him. He heard the soft voice of a kind man who had been playing baseball with him. “Don’t worry, you didn’t mean to lose it. We’ll find the lens. It will be ok.” The boy burst into tears. It was love. It was honor. He was rescued. Oh, if only dad had joined in and said, “Will you forgive me?” Friends, every human spirit longs to be

D E T D I N R I P S N A HUM respected. Every human spirit cries out, “Does anybody love me? Am I significant to anyone?” Looking beyond this little boy, what about you? May I suggest to you that the Bible reveals something? There is a Scripture that implies that a wife can be wounded when feeling unloved and a husband can be wounded when feeling disrespected. Ephesians 5:33 says, “each one... must love his wife... and the wife must respect her husband” (NIV). This verse shows a wife needs love and a husband needs respect. I infer that when a wife feels unloved and a husband feels disrespected each can feel deep hurt. A wife is wounded if she hears her husband exclaim, “Nobody could love you!” A husband is wounded if a wife shouts, “Nobody could ever respect you!” You and your spouse are worth this consideration. God intends to put His loving hand on your shoulder and to say, “It will be ok.”

If you need healing or want to bring healing, I show you how this can happen in my book The Language of Love and Respect. There we go in depth (available on our site). www.loveandrespect.com 27

The impact of Christian Athletes in Professional sports

at such a personal level shows you how strong his faith really is. If you follow sports, you know this man’s story. He spends his time off at missions doing any work he can—surgery, building, destruction, preaching, etc. He rarely fails to mention God in interviews. He even tends to walk back to the podium if he forgets to say “God Bless.” Tim Tebow is leading the charge of professional Christian athletes proclaiming Jesus Christ to his fans and teammates. Tebow has become an inspirational leader in professional sports and is persistent to give God the glory at every opportunity possible. Recently, Tim Tebow has been under fire by critics for speaking out too much about his faith. Regardless, these critics have not faltered Tebow’s unyielding faith. On the football field, he has proven to be a winner—most recently leading the Denver Broncos deep into the second round of the playoffs despite heavy doubt about his quarterback fundamentals. Tebow is now with the New York Jets and is preparing for the 2012-2013 NFL season. If Tebow wasn’t a rising star in the NFL, you can bet he’d be becoming a preacher, missionary, or one of many other faithbased jobs. He has a passion for God that is sadly unmatched by many people. Expect his evangelizing to be ever-present as he continues his career with the New York Jets.

Photos from left to right by Jeff Gross (Getty Images), The Associated Press, DailyCaller.com, Chris Carlson

ujols is one of the best players in the MLB. You can’t pitch around him because he’s got such a long, searching swing. He routinely hits them into the corner and over the wall. He is quickly rising on the record charts. You can even compare his talents to that of ARod. However...there’s one thing that many people don’t realize. He attributes all he’s done to God. “It doesn’t matter if I hit a home run. It doesn’t matter if we win a game. It doesn’t matter if I go four for four,” Pujols says. “Whatever happens at the end of the day, as long as I glorify His name, that’s what it’s all about.” He met his wife right after she rededicated her life to Christ after becoming a single mother. They started going to church weekly and he recognized that their relationship was nothing without God. One of the more admirable things he does is that he attributes it all to Christ when it’s at a personal level. You’ll often hear a scantily clad singer at the Grammy’s say “and I want to thank God!” In their personal life though, they live it as though they have no morals. This man is different. “The kids look at me, ‘Ah, you’re my hero.’ I want to teach those kids. ‘Hey listen, God is my hero. He died on the cross for my sins, and He’s the one. That’s how I wanna live -like Him and I want you guys to do the same thing.’” The fact that this man, who is a national superstar, shares his faith

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Is Your Foundation Rock Solid?

FAITH D

How having a foundation of faith rooted in Christ and a foundation of strength rooted in your core will yield a life altering transformation.

eveloping a mobile, flexible, functional, strong, and powerful body capable of enduring the physical and mental marathon that is our sanctification takes faith, obedience, and hope. This transformation is initiated internally where the results are not seen by the human eye but stability and strength is continuously developed day after day. This internal transformation of the muscle’s greater ability to stabilize and produce strength is witnessed on the outside through the performance of the individual. This key group of muscles are known as the lumbo-pelvic region and are attached to the pelvis and actually wrap around our spine. These muscles play a major role in every movement we make whether grabbing a plate from the cupboard, playing with your kids, shooting hoops, lifting weights, I mean anything. If this foundation is weak; built on clay, for example, and is not solid as a rock (Isaiah 28:15-17) one will never experience their true physical potential. Ever! It is truly amazing how all things begin and end with God’s redemptive plan of the sacrifice of Jesus. This plan is made evident in the way God designed our human body. Remember if the muscles of our lumbo-pelvic region, which is the foundation of stability and strength, are weak it will be evident in our physical performance. The same is the case if a man or woman’s foundation of faith is not rooted in the stability and strength of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it will be made evident

in the performance of their life. When our life is over we will stand before God and the fruits of our labor will be judged and tested by His fire (2 Cor 5:10). Now if that doesn’t encourage you to examine yourself (2 Cor 13:5) and seek the Lord with a new found vigor I don’t know what will. This transformation occurs from deep within our hearts where God lays His foundation for our lives to be built upon. It is from this foundation that the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16) is manifested through our lives and seen with the human eye by the fruit it produces in us (James 2:18). Remember the fruits of the Spirit are not deeds done by your own will. They occur by an inward transformation: Deciding to make Jesus Christ your Lord and believe he is your Savior. These deeds will be manifested through your life as it is governed by the Lord Jesus Christ through God’s Holy Spirit. Do not just believe in God, for even the demons do that and shutter at the sound of His very name. But, experience God’s will for your life by allowing him to guide you in His direction built upon His foundation and NOT your own. True strength is created from the inside both physically and spiritually, and will only be experienced when the motivation to achieve true strength is not for your own glory, but for God’s! Derek Wohlers; CPT, CSCS Life Performance Enhancement www.LPEcoaching.com Fitness & Sports Performance Training

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