into this world, so that

Something small today, and silly. First, that's a mean-looking Jesus doll. Second, if you're going to have David quote Ps23, for the love of mercy, choose the KJV. Third, unless the figures quote more than a few verses, how playable are they? Why the need for flexible posing? In what dimension are there people playing with a Moses doll and re-enacting the parting to hear him quote just the first commandment?

I don't mind when believers intersect with popular culture. As this interview proves, that's not a terrible thing when carried out right.

abusive speech from your mouth

Making history here. You might never have believed a Cruise reference would ever grace these pages. But he is the latest in a list that includes Madonna, Koresh, and Heaven's Gate. Society mocks him for his religious beliefs, and granted they deserve to mocked, but not in the subtle ways the media does it. They can't outright offend a whole religion, so they merely mention his beliefs in articles that describe his irrational behavior, and then let the readers connect the dots subconsciously.

Their purpose isn't the mockery of individual religions, however, but rather mockery of all religion. Once you have it in your head that Scientologists are crazy, it's not a far stretch to then connect insanity to the truth. Freedom of the press is an extension of the freedom after the fall to sin and run away from God.

now judgment is upon this

No surprise here. Did you expect any different from the world? You nine might not think you'll answer for this, but you will, and in a way that you won't for your other ridiculous decisions. It's one thing to proclaim evil good. It's another altogether to say His very word is evil.

Won't be a split decision on JDay, I promise you.

and to enter into His glory

Feeling unworthy. Knowing unworthy. Wondered about the manner in which we enter the heavenly city. The natural instinct might be to say up on your legs, running and leaping with the unfettered joy of being home with your family. And not arguing that isn’t the case. Just wanted you to consider that the opposing side might be true, and that’s on your hands and knees.

Your natural instinct at this idea might be denial. You are free from sin by grace, so free to stand. You are newly created in His image and pure, so free to stand. You are in your Father’s house, and like the prodigal son, delirious with joy, and like the blind and lame, leaping in happiness. Again, not arguing against this thought.

But the rebellion might simply be man’s ungodly response to humility. Initially you might be aright, but the second that realization hits that you are in the presence of God, you are down in worship, brother. The second the weight of glory and the majesty hits you, you are down in awe. The second the realization hits that you are unworthy, completely unworthy of being where you are – seriously, defend the natural inclination, if you will. But don’t claim it’s the more realistic one, or the more likely one. Home or not, you are so much smaller than the One.

not without honor

"Don't Back Down" {2Tim1:8-18}
* Good sign of perseverance: no shame. Shame opp of honor
* Stand w/o shame
- Begins w/ v7 actually -- no spirit of timidity
- by His power, who has called us {IPet4:16}
- by grace
- who destroyed death -- but we are NOT here to mark time
- find your purpose
* Suffer w/o shame
- Ten levels of persecution: disapproval, ridicule, pressure to conform, job loss, property loss, harassment, phys abuse, prison, torture, execution
- "because I know whom I have believed"
- that day = day of His return {2Tim4:7}
- shame now? shame on that day
* Serve w/o shame
- Guard the treasure w/ HS
- Support those who stand for truth -- Onesiphorous, another great minor, recorded for all eternity

what if God, although

What if you can't tell what the test of faith is? What if the test is a stepping out, a branching out, a being out? Or what if the test is a staying sound, a living still, a being content? Or what if the test is the thinking through, making a choice, and standing firm? Or what if the test is the handling of it all to all?

Or what if?

will burn up the chaff

This, this is the reason there exists such tension twixt science and faith -- because you fools make it that way. Look at your first sentence: "...a surprising degree of spirituality in a science-based field". There is nothing suprising about religion in science. Especially when the point of science in His view is that the intricacy and perfection point to Him. That's clear throughout the OT and NT.

Instead, you fools paint them into two different corners. You'd rather see the tension. It's clear from the poll that most of those scientists don't want to be on the wrong side of the shore come JDay. It's clear from your choice of words, media, that you don't care.

lies over their heart

With everything going on in this world, this is what makes your cover? Dinosaurs? And not only dinosaurs, but the subheadline "How they really lived" as if you had uncovered secret videotapes showing their lives. As if you had invented a time machine and gone back and seen them with your own eyes. This is how speculation becomes truth, by the shameless hawking of the media driven by bias.

You give science such credence that any remotely plausible theory with a smidgen of scientific "proof" that sounds reasonable is given the label of truth. And yet, given the historical records of the Bible, far more than any other document ever, that is labeled as fables and fairy tales.

Cover story: Reality at the lake is going to hit you pretty hard.

with reference to which

You find the unlikeliest places to see references to Jesus. Today's spot: Prov30:4. The reference to ascension and descension. The establishing of the ends of the earth. And the kicker, the reference to His name and the name of the Son?! And this in the OT.

Sure, some of the matched prophesies from Isaiah or others could mean any number of things. But when it is specific to things like the trinity in places you wouldn't expect aligning with places you would expect -- well, it reminds you of the consistency of God, and the truth of His word meeting you where you are.

to the end that thoughts from

Which would you rather have: a life of not knowing God, but letting yourself be caught in the last few years of your life, or a life of serving God, but like Solomon, an end in record of a backturn?

On one hand, not knowing God all your life, how could you stand it? Knowing Him, and knowing how good it is to know Him, why would you ever want to delay that? You would want to know Him as early as possible, and not regret not knowing sooner. Most would make the claim that this is the worse of the two options.

But I tell you what, on the other hand, ending badly just before you're about to see Him is not recommended. In fact, it is probably more disappointing at the throne that your last days, after having walked with Him for so long, that your last ones be apart. Like Moses, the penalty for close knowledge of Him and then a straying is harsher than the regular.