The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society

The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (1 of 4) - Listen Now
You’ve probably heard people say “Well, that’s true for you but not for me” when referring to some opinion or religious belief on which they disagree. Are there any “truths” that can be considered universal or absolute?


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (2 of 4) - Listen Now
Absolute truth is under attack – and the search to find it has become more and more difficult. Join us today as Ravi shares part two of his message and looks at the rise of secularism and its negative effect on absolutes.


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (3 of 4) - Listen Now
For the last few days Ravi has looked at the progress of secularization against the concept of absolute truth. Today he’ll begin a look at the second enemy Truth has in our culture.


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (4 of 4) - Listen Now
Ravi Zacharias concludes his powerful message, “The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society,” with a look at the final philosophy opposing the very concept of truth.

Conversational Terrorism

Someone posted this link in the channel...

I think it is both funny and true, so why not read it and learn the tactics of our opponents?

All of the techniques listed in this document have actually been witnessed, told to us by someone else, or dreamed up. They are described in first person for clarity of motive.

The intent of detailing and naming these insidious tactics is so that the reader may AVOID USING THEM, to quickly recognize if someone else is using them, and for fun. There is much humor in the way people (consciously or unconsciously) conversationally cheat.

It is hoped that exposing these tactics will help muzzle the growing abuse in our conversational landscape. Give copies to both perpetrators and victims (only NOT for profit use).

The examples are overblown in an attempt to be both clear and funny. Use your imagination to think of how you (perish the thought) and others have used these techniques in the past.

They have been grouped by major category, with the best (worst!) saved for last.

Read on...

Trust Him

Evidence for God from Cosmology - Lee Strobel

Brotherly love

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)

(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)

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Think long before voting pro-choice

Mother's Day in Poland - a proper article on the Day...

This is a terrific and heartening story of fight, love and victory. This is also an important voice in the debate against abortion.

At 18 months old, Amillia Taylor is already entering the terrible twos.

When life doesn't go her way, she stamps her little foot, pushes out her lower lip and makes her demands with a sweet baby lisp.

She is, her parents say with a smile, a 'proper little madam'. But it's a fighting spirit which has served Amillia well.

Because this bright, beguiling toddler was born at just 21 weeks and six days into her gestation - a whole two weeks before the existing abortion cut-off.

Against all odds: Amillia Taylor's tiny feet in the doctor's hand

Read on...

A Fine Portion of Listening

	God, Are You Really Fair? Dr. James MacDonald Dr. James MacDonald continues his series "Answering Life's Toughest Questions"
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Real Answers
	How can God be a God of love if He sends people to hell for eternity? Listen to Chuck Swindoll's answer! » More Answers
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Ministry Podcast
	Winning Walk Radio with Dr. Ed Young Dr. Ed Young » More Podcasts
Faith Talk Radio Feature
	Truth For Life Pastor Alistair Begg » Listen Now

The North Korean Human Rights Crisis

BORN AND RAISED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP

For further information: http://linkglobal.org/

T in TULIP (Paul Washer)

Närmare, Gud till Dig

Jesus för världen

O Store Gud

Futile efforts of arrogant men

In light of the latest developments in Californian legislature the words from the Bible describing human futile efforts and God's laughter at these become even more significant.

Our wonderfully independent societies of the West have rejected His authority. People who take pride in calling themselves enlightened, spiritual, tolerant and multicultural, erased their Creator from their lives. They usurped the complete sovereignty over their lives and embraced the fake freedom of will. Blindness is ruling the world. Blindness and amnesia, historical ignorance, humanistic arrogance, deafness to the loud and clear Word of God. Christ, when on Earth, was healing the blind and the deaf. opening their eyes and ears to the truth of God. Today's society chose to close their eyes and ears to this truth, deeming their own wisdom higher and better.
The gate to hell stands wide open. In fact, it is invisible and well-hidden under the pretences of tolerance, beauty of feelings, human rights to performing every possible immorality in the name of self-fullfillment, and the hell's inside is painted in nice shiny colors, with pink hallway these days. The prettier it is made, the more dangerous it gets. The more lure it presents, the less substance it contains. The sweeter smell, the more bitter aftertaste.
We stand and watch this, and the only hope we have is God's Providence. We know He is using it for good, though the people are using it for evil. This does not let us off the hook, so we have to stand and preach the Biblical truths and the Gospel, believing that even among those thousands of happy sinners celebrating in California there are a few who will repent and believe, and who will serve Christ.
Many good things have come out of the bad circumstances. Many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ used to be horrible sinners before God stretched His Grace over them and softened their hearts. This is not going to be a different outcome. Everything is pointing to a great shift, probably initiated by a total depravation and sin, but out of these horrors a revival will come, when people realize that their own efforts proved futile, stupid and contradictory to their goals.
No society thrives and develops in a moral decline. No society grows when anything goes. No society likes zero boundaries in community law. We are not better, wiser and richer than the societies of old, the ones that perished when degradation took over their good intentions. In fact, we are worse, because in spite of their examples we still make their mistakes and are proud of them.
The awakening will hurt. It will probably be the awakening into Islam, into physical and spiritual enslavement of the liberal, post-modern man, who will go into it blind and deaf, proud of his steps, not aware of the consequences. He will wake up. Pain does it to you.

Dear Lord, Our Saviour, keep us safe in our trusting You and following You. Make our days fruitful, open the hearts of many, wipe the tears of many, give them Your Salvation and show them the beauty of Your Cross. In Your precious Name I pray, Amen.

What is happening to the society?

Listen to Dr. James R. White to find out.

Silencing Christians

SilencingChristians.com will webcast and The Inspiration Networks will broadcast Speechless...Silencing the Christians. Sign up to be reminded to watch each episode and take action. Americans are at greater risk of losing their basic freedoms today than ever before in the history of this nation. Political correctness and the voice of the liberal minority are undermining the morals and values of mainstream America.

Renowned author and commentator Janet Parshall takes you on a journey across the country to meet citizens who have been arrested for speaking out at a public rally, students who are being forced to attend classes that require them to recite verses from the Koran and to stage their own jihad and activists pushing social tolerance to such an extreme that the Bible itself is being labeled “hate speech.”

Follow these cases and learn how you can take action to stop the erosion of your personal freedoms on this episode of Speechless ... Silencing the Christians.

Genocide

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)

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Listen to an interview with PASTOR CLENARD HOWARD CHILDRESS, JR., Northeast Region President and Assistant to the National Director of Life Education And Resource Network (LEARN), about the Black Genocide.

Debate between Swedish atheist and Christian

...or: Know what you believe in and why you believe it. Unfortunately, Sievert has no clue, and in spite of his kindness, he makes matters worse...

This is really sad - the atheist is so easy to defeat, if only the Christian knew what he believed in. He is a good example of shallow understanding, of giving in to post-modern way of thinking, of seeking peace with the enemy. And the atheist? Same old arguments, refuted thousand times, arrogant, sure of his victory, supported by the journalist.

So why do I post it? Because I could so easily refute this arrogant man today... And because he will never be refuted on this TV station, in this country. Not because of the lack of Christians who are able to do that, but because of the silent consensus of the humanists, who, themselves using laughable arguments, are too afraid of real Christianity to let it enter and demolish their house of cards.

Sovereign

Mark Kielar's Testimony

Life is precious

Since it is my birthday today :)

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From writings of William Wilberforce

Wilberforce William A PRACTICAL VIEW OF THE PREVAILING RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF PROFESSED CHRISTIANS, IN THE HIGHER AND MIDDLE CLASSES, CONTRASTED WITH REAL CHRISTIANITY - Upload a doc

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Essentials of Reformed Doctrine

Question: "What was the Protestant Reformation?"

Answer: In understanding the history of Protestant Church and the Reformation, it is important to first understand that one of the claims that the Roman Catholic Church makes is that of apostolic succession. This simply means that they claim a unique authority over all other churches and denominations because they claim the line of Roman Catholic Popes back throughout the centuries, all the way to the Apostle Peter. In their view, this gives the Roman Catholic Church a unique authority that supersedes all other denominations or churches. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, this apostolic succession is only “found in the Catholic Church” and no “separate Churches have any valid claim to it.”

It is because of this apostolic succession that the Roman Catholic Church claims a unique authority to interpret Scripture and to establish doctrine, as well the claim of having a supreme leader in the Pope who is infallible (without error) when speaking “ex cathedra”—that is, in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians. Therefore, according to the Roman Catholic view, the teaching or traditions of the Roman Catholic Church as they come from the Pope are equally as infallible and authoritative as the Scriptures themselves. This is one of the major differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants and was one of the foundational reasons for the Protestant Reformation.

Of course, the Roman Catholics are not the only ones who try to claim unique authority through apostolic succession or by tracing the roots of their church back to the original apostles. The Eastern Orthodox Church also claims apostolic succession, although their claim is very similar to the Roman Catholic view. The split between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism did not occur until the “Great Schism” in A.D. 1054. There are also some Protestant denominations or groups that will try to establish a “Trail of Blood” that can be traced back through the centuries to the first century church and the apostles themselves. While these Protestants do not hold to apostolic succession in order to establish the authority of a “Pope” as an infallible leader, they still look to that connection to the early church in at least some small degree to establish the authority of their doctrines and practices.

The problem with any of these attempts to trace a line of succession back to the apostles, whether it is Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant, is that they all are attempts to derive or support the authority of what they believe and teach from the wrong source, that of some real or perceived connection with the apostles, instead of deriving it from the Word of God. It is important for Christians to realize that direct apostolic succession is not necessary in order for a church or denomination to have authority. God has given and preserved the supreme authority for all matters of faith and practice in His Holy Word, the Bible. Therefore, an individual church’s or denomination’s authority today does not come through some tie to the first century church and the apostles. Instead, it comes only and directly from the written Word of God. A church or denomination’s teachings are authoritative and binding on Christians only if they represent the true meaning and clear teaching of Scripture. This is important in order to understand the connection between Protestantism and the Roman Catholic Church, and the reason that the Protestant Reformation took place.

In regards to the history of Christianity and the claims of apostolic succession, as well as the Roman Catholic Church’s claim of being the one true Church with unique authority, it is important that to understand a couple of key points. First, we must realize that even in the days of the apostles and the first century church, false teachers were a significant problem. We know this because warnings against heresies and false teachers are found in all the later New Testament writings. Jesus Himself warned that these false teachers would be like “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15), and that there would be both “tares and wheat” that would exist together until the day of judgment when He separates the saved from the lost, the true “born again” believer from those that have not truly received Him (Matthew 13:24-30). This is important in understanding church history, because from almost the very beginning false teachers and false teachings have been invading the church and leading people astray. Despite this, there have also been true “born again” believers who held fast to the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, throughout all ages, even in the darkest period of the dark ages.

The second thing to realize to correctly understand church history is that the word catholic simply means “universal.” This is important because in the early Christian writings of the first and second centuries, when the term catholic is used, it is referring to the “universal church” or “body of Christ” that is made up of “born again” believers from every tribe, tongue and nation (Revelation 5:9; 7:9). However, like many other words over time, the word catholic began to take on new meaning, or came to be used in a new sense. Over time, the concept of a “universal” or “catholic” church began to evolve into the concept that all churches formed together one church, not just spiritually, but also visibly, extending throughout the world. This misunderstanding of the nature of the visible church (which always has contained both “wheat and tares”) and the invisible church (the body of Christ which is only made up of born again believers) would lead to the concept of a visible Holy Catholic Church, outside of which there is no salvation. It is out of this misunderstanding of the nature of the universal church that the Roman Catholic Church evolved.

Prior to the Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in A.D. 315, Christians had been persecuted by the Roman government. With his conversion, Christianity became an allowed religion of the Roman Empire (and later became the official religion), and thus the “visible” Church became joined with the power of the Roman government. This marriage of church and state led to the formation of the Roman Catholic Church, and over time caused the Roman Catholic Church to refine its doctrine and develop its structure in a way that best served the purpose of the Roman government. During this time, opposing the Roman Catholic Church was the same as opposing the Roman government and carried with it severe penalties. If one disagreed with some doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, it was a serious charge that often resulted in excommunication and sometimes even death.

Yet throughout this time of history, there were true “born again” Christians who would rise up and oppose the secularization of the Roman Catholic Church and the perversion of the faith that followed. Through this church-and-state combination, the Roman Catholic Church effectively silenced those who opposed any of its doctrines or practices, and truly became almost a universal church throughout the Roman Empire. There were always pockets of resistance to some of the unbiblical practices and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, yet they were relatively small and isolated. Prior to the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, men such as John Wycliffe in England, John Huss in Czechoslovakia, and John of Wessel in Germany had all given their lives for their opposition to some of the unbiblical teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

The opposition to the Roman Catholic Church and its false teaching came to a head in the sixteenth century, when a Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther posted his 95 propositions (or theses) against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on the Castle Church door at Wittenberg, Germany. Luther’s intention was to bring reform to the Roman Catholic Church, and in doing so was challenging the authority of the Pope. With the refusal of the Roman Catholic Church to heed Luther’s call to reformation and return to biblical doctrines and practices, the Protestant Reformation began. From this Reformation four major divisions or traditions of Protestantism would emerge: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, and Anglican. During this time God raised up godly men in different countries in order to once again restore churches throughout the world to their biblical roots and to biblical doctrines and practices.

Underlying the Protestant Reformation lay four basic doctrines in which the reformers believed the Roman Catholic Church to be in error. These four questions or doctrines are How is a person saved? Where does religious authority lie? What is the church? And what is the essence of Christian living? In answering these questions, Protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, and John Knox established what would be known as the “Five Solas” of the Reformation (sola being the Latin word for “alone”). These five points of doctrine were at the heart of the Protestant Reformation, and it was for these five essential Biblical doctrines that the Protestant Reformers would take their stand against the Roman Catholic Church, resisting the demands placed on them to recant, even to the point of death. These five essential doctrines of the Protestant Reformation are as follows:

1-“Sola Scriptura,” or Scripture Alone: This affirms the Biblical doctrine that the Bible alone is the sole authority for all matters of faith and practice. Scripture and Scripture alone is the standard by which all teachings and doctrines of the church must be measured. As Martin Luther so eloquently stated when asked to recant on his teachings, "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen."

2—“Sola Gratia,” Salvation by Grace Alone: This affirms the Biblical doctrine that salvation is by God’s grace alone and that we are rescued from His wrath by His grace alone. God’s grace in Christ is not merely necessary, but is the sole efficient cause of salvation. This grace is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life.

3—“Sola Fide,” Salvation by Faith Alone: This affirms the Biblical doctrine that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. It is by faith in Christ that His righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice.

4—“Solus Christus,” In Christ Alone: This affirms the Biblical doctrine that salvation is found in Christ alone and that His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to God the Father. The gospel has not been preached if Christ’s substitutionary work is not declared, and if faith in Christ and His work is not solicited.

5—“Soli Deo Gloria, For the Glory of God Alone: This affirms the Biblical doctrine that salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God for His glory alone. It affirms that as Christians we must glorify Him always, and must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God, and for His glory alone.

These five important and fundamental doctrines are the reason for the Protestant Reformation. They are at the heart of where the Roman Catholic Church went wrong in its doctrine, and why the Protestant Reformation was necessary to return churches throughout the world to correct doctrine and biblical teaching. They are just as important today in evaluating a church and its teachings as they were then. In many ways, much of Protestant Christianity needs to be challenged to return to these fundamental doctrines of the faith, much like the reformers challenged the Roman Catholic Church to do in the sixteenth century.

Pilgrim's Progress

This book was one of my fascinations while I was a student of english Philology. Little did I know that one day I will love it even more, but this time for faith reasons...

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan - Upload a doc

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Do not be anxious about anything

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)

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Christianity without Christ

"There is a Bible on a pedestal in Gretta Vosper's West Hill United
Church in Toronto. She would prefer it did not have a special place,
she said, because it is just a book among other books. In a similar
way, the cross that is high above the altar has no special meaning, but
there are a few older congregants for whom the Bible and the cross are
still nice symbols so there they remain.

Though an ordained minister, she does not like the title of reverend. It is one of those
symbols that hold the church back from breaking into the future -- to a
time "when the label Christian won't even exist" and the Church will be
freed of the burdens of the past. To balance out those symbols of the
past inside West Hill, there is a giant, non-religious rainbow tapestry
just behind the altar and multi-coloured streamers hang from the
ceiling.

"The central story of Christianity will fade away," she
explained. "The story about Jesus as the symbol of everything that
Christianity is will fade away." "

Read on...

Must believe that he exists

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)

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Some things worth listening to and reading

Faith Channel Feature
	The Suffering of Christ Part One A Alistair Begg Why did Jesus have to suffer and die? Did He deserve it? Was He guilty? Was it all a big mistake? The cross isn't simply a piece of jewelry; it symbolizes the most important sacrifice ever made.
Ministry Article
	This World is Not My Home Dr. Adrian Rogers » More Articles
Real Answers
	Why do Christians worship God on Sunday instead of the Sabbath? Listen to John MacArthur's answer! » More Answers
Featured Ministry
	Precepts for Life Kay Arthur » More Ministries
Ministry Podcast
	Running To Win Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer » More Podcasts
Faith Talk Radio Feature
	HomeWord with Jim Burns Jim Burns, Ph.D. » Listen Now

Unsearchable Riches | Frances J. Crosby

1. Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ,
   Wealth that can never be told!
   Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace,
   Precious, more precious than gold!
   
   
   • Refrain:
     Precious, more precious,
     Wealth that can never be told!
     Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!
     Precious, more precious than gold.
     
     
2. Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!
   Who shall their greatness declare?
   Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn,
   Pearls that the poorest may wear!
   
   
3. Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!
   Freely, how freely they flow,
   Making the souls of the faithful and true
   Happy wherever they go!
   
   
4. Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!
   Who would not gladly endure
   Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth,
   Riches like these to secure!

Speaking the truth in love

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)

(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)

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