The New Creationism

This looks interesting. Paul Garner would be a very well placed person to write such a book.

The New Creationism – Building scientific theories on a biblical foundation – Paul Garner
ISBN: 9780852346921  £8.95/$15.99

The Evolution/Creation book to read in Darwin year 2009.  Showing the most up to date creation research at a readable level.
Foreword written by Dr. Andrew Snelling.
Supported, commended and recommended by multiple PhD holders and multiple creation organisations.

‘Paul Garner powerfully demonstrates that when starting with the foundational truths of Genesis (six day creation, an historical fall, global flood, real tower of Babel, etc.), creationists can build scientific models that are far superior in their explanatory power than the evolutionary ones. This book is greatly needed in helping to popularise creation model-building as it introduces the reader to the best contemporary creationist models in astronomy, geology, biology, and so on -- and at a level the layperson can understand.’

www.epbooks.org / www.epbooks.us

Secularism and Idolatry

Independent faith schools to face Ofsted inspections
The Government is to send Ofsted inspectors into independent faith schools to make sure they are preparing pupils for life in modern Britain.

• "Modern Britain" is thinly disguised code for "secular Britain, as politicians would like it to be". Whenever you read that politicians are applying some "modern Britain" test, you're reading about politicians' social engineering efforts.

• Religious teaching that politicians don't like, and homes that implement that teaching, are a de facto part of modern Britain just as much as teaching they do  approve of. So what they really mean is "the bits of modern Britain I personally prefer."
  
  
• Decisions about how children should be prepared for life in modern Britain are the right and responsibility of parents, not government. The real issue isn't so much that the government's sending inspectors here or there - it's that it dares to think this is part of what parents want it to do in the first place.
  
  
• Obviously if some parents decide to send their children to an off-beat, particularly whacky (according to the inspectors' tastes) school, they presumably had a reason. Is it now the government's job to over-ride such wishes and tell us it knows best? This bit never gets put into the manifestos, but we keep getting it...
  

Quoth the article:

"Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, has asked Ofsted to carry out a survey to ensure these schools are meeting regulation standards for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils."

• That job title never fails to send a severe chill running up and down my spine. Orwell eat your heart out!
  
  
• Note: the government has no embarrassment about determining what it thinks the "spiritual, moral, social and cultural" standards it wants your children to adhere too.
  
  
• Are there many people in the country who actually believe that the government is the standard-setting exemplar of moral, spiritual, etc., excellence?
  
  
• And in particular, just when was it determined that Ed Balls was the absolute epitome of these things such that he should be enforcing these things upon us?
  
  
• So, presumably Mr. Balls is launching out into looking at independent schools because the state schools under his direct control have achieved so highly in producing children of moral, spiritual, social and cultural excellence? He's done so well that he had a bit of spare time on his hands and thought he should spread the brilliance around a bit?
  

The relevant laws at present express a fairly vague and lightweight specification of just what these standards mean. The vagueness might be good, or on the other hand might present a golden opportunity for social engineers to argue that they're being broken. e.g. the requirement that pupils are to be given an "appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony" might, in the eyes of the social engineer, require that pupils are taught that all cultures are equally valid. Actually wife-beating is acceptable in many parts of British Muslim sub-culture. Are we really meant to respect that? The standard itself seems to assumes the secular position that all religions and cultures are equally valid. Not likely the framers were thinking of that - more likely it's meant to be a wedge for forbidding the teaching of doctrines which secularism regards as heresy, e.g. that homosexual indulgence is a definitely inferior and positively sinful way of life, etc.

Q. What are the standards of moral and spiritual excellence we should be aiming for our children?
A. That they should learn to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbour as themselves; to exercise repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, expressed in a life of heartfelt and joyful obedience to the Saviour's revealed will.

Q. Judged by the standards of Christianity (as expressed in the question above), what should we make of Mr. Balls' schools, given that they a) do not promote the God-given standard and b) promote a different standard in its place?
A. They're full of idolatry.

I hope my point is clear. Secularism is not a "neutral" middle ground. It's a replacement for Christianity, and Christians need to start looking at it as such.

Darwin Film Trailer

My Internet's not really very happy about streaming video, so I haven't actually watched this, but in my opinion CMI who are behind it are a very reliable creationist ministry. They've put a lot of money and time into this film, so it ought to be very useful:

Darwin Film sneak peek
On March 1 also be one of the first to view a trailer from CMI’s much awaited Darwin Film on our new website. The title will remain under wraps for just a few more days but we think you’ll get the feel of some of the stunning locations, scenery and overall quality of this exciting production.

Tomorrow's Bible study (GW)

The aim of this series is for a couple of new converts to start the Christian life with a Christ-centred focus. Kenya's "Christianity" is all about me getting saved, and then on to other things (signs and wonders, health, wealth and prosperity, etcetera). With a proper view of the glory of Christ, counterfeits lose their sparkle.

Ephesians 1:15-23 – The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

What were the two ways by which Paul knew that the Ephesians were true Christians? (v15)

What had Paul been doing ever since hearing about the Ephesians' Christianity?

What did Paul pray for for them, and why?

a. (verse 17)

b. (verse 18-19)

A good thing to ask yourself is this. As a young Christian, what do I think I need? What would I pray that God would give me? Is it the same things that Paul prayed for, and that he says I need?

Where have we seen God's “incomparably great power for us who believe”?

After raising Christ from the dead, where did God then raise him to?

How does Paul describe Christ's present authority?

How long will it continue?

Why did God give Christ this authority? That is, does Christ use it for?

According to Ephesians 2:6-7, what is God's plan for the future for us?

Being a Christian must change how we think about the world and about the future. The most important fact in the world is that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lord and King of Kings – not only now, but to all eternity. Our great need is to know him in that way. With that knowledge we are to rely on him, to serve him, to love him and to wait for his glorious coming. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just “something extra” to believe. It is the most important fact in the world today and forever.

Drum roll please...

Having few others round here to share my interest in running with, dear blog readers, I dump it on you. If I could run a bit lot faster, I could catch up with some of the world-class athletes pounding the Rift Valley roads and chat with them... but pending those miracles, you it is.

Having got my 10 mile time down under 80 minutes (to 79:55), the attempt to then get it under 79 minutes was proving harder than I'd hoped - 79:38 and then 79:25. But, this morning, drum roll please, I charged down a time of ... ... ... 76:29 ! Not a misprint, seventy-six twenty-nine! It might have been faster if my guts had not been in revolt most of the way. On the other hand, perhaps the brake they applied helped me to pace the run better. I think the main cause of improvement must be the 15, 16 and even (once) 17-mile runs of the last few weeks, building up my stamina. Those hurt. Did I mention we're up at 7,000 feet?

Next goals for the next few weeks: 12 miles and then 15 miles at an 8-minute/mile average, and 10 miles in 75. Goal is to get it down to 70 by six months' time - I was beginning to think that was out of the question but it's back on now.

A good run like that leads me feel invigorated for the rest of the day. Apart from the bits where I fall asleep. The application of all of this is that progress in most things is gradual and the result of continual practice... I find that lesson easier to get in running than other things. If we can make 6-month plans to run up and down hills, why not in something of more eternal importance?

Secularism - here's how it goes

"Parents face prosecution over gay lessons protest"
Christian and Muslim parents in London who kept their primary school children away from controversial lessons promoting homosexuality could now face legal action by the local council.

I spot a pattern that's played out again and again by the UK's secular government:

• Stage one: government comes in to help - give a little expertise, lay down a few "best practice" guidelines, etcetera.
• Stage two: government starts providing funding - and gets more say.
• Stage three: government is now in control, whilst still allowing other approaches.
• Stage four: the government's provision is now standard, and other approaches are only tolerated, whilst being subjected to increasing amounts of regulation and inconvenience and semi-official disapproval.
  
• Stage five: either you do it the government's way, or they start prosecuting you.

The above story is an example of how that's happened in the world of education in the UK. Widespread education began as a church and charity venture, led by those with a heart for it and for the children. Then government crept in little by little... until we arrive at today where government-directed education is standard... and if you don't agree to swallow whatever controversial approach their so-called "experts" insist on, they'll threaten you with punishment. Your preferences for educating your children in some highly controversial area doesn't agree with theirs? Sorry.

Thankfully there's still freedom in the UK for parents to choose another approach, and it's time -whether independent schooling, co-operatives between like-minded parents, or mum home-schooling. We're past the days of the pioneers now, and nobody choosing any of these approaches will be going it alone. The days are increasingly passing in many areas when Christians can credibly say, "oh, the state schools are not that bad - they just teach them bare facts and we teach them the missing parts about God's world at home." State education's (with a very few notable exceptions) anti-Christian nature is not subtle any more and Christians need to know what they're doing with their children before it's too late.

Not every student cheers the cockles of my heart...

End of term exam (missions course)...

Q. Give as many reasons as you can why the gospel spread in the Roman Empire in the early centuries after Pentecost.
A. World peace, development of the steam engine, publication of David Livingstone, commitment and zeal of the believers, uprightness of believers.

Q. List as many places as you can where Paul and Barnabas were persecuted, and what persecutions they faced in those places.
A. Thessalonica: they were blamed to have burnt the city.

Q. Give as many reasons as you can why the Reformers were involved in few missionary efforts outside of Europe.
A. The outbreak of World War I and II

Q. Which year did William Carey travel to India in?
A1. 1419
A2. 1973

Q. Who was the Portuguese explorer who found the route to India?
A1. William Carey
A.2 Jonathan Edwards

Q. What was the name of Carey's first convert?
A. Ethiopian eunuch

Q. Name a New Testament letter that Paul wrote to a church that he did not plant or visit.
A. Jude

Q. How was Paul supported financially as a missionary?
A. He had his own tent.

After noting those ones down, few answers seemed surprising any more. Only 5 of 27 students scored higher than my wife, who had not been on the course. Reassuringly for me, in every question but one, (there were about 30 questions in all), at least someone got the right answer. (Nobody could recall that the first place Paul went to on the first missionary journey after leaving Syria was Cyprus). Interestingly, three of the students who claimed in the initial questionnaire to have read the Bible twice or more (and thus were a small minority of the class), were amongst the weakest - were they telling the truth?

These students are at the end of their 4 years of training and most will now be the teachers of others. By my reckoning, 3 or perhaps 4 showed a minimum standard of attainment, and this is my assessment after adjusting for the generally lower standards here. Is there a work needing to be done in Africa to equip church leaders? Yes there is... do pray!