Hmmmm

I just finished mowing my backyard! You like?


I think it's starting to get darker sooner.

Shack attack

So I've known about the supposedly-wildly successful book "The Shack" for about a month now, and in that month I've heard some pretty disturbing things. This book has supposedly sold millions of copies, is being handed out by churches, has people saying that it has changed their lives and that they prefer it over the Bible. Now that alone would appall me, but it only gets worse.

The book is basically about a guy who has gone through tragedy in his life, and God invites him to meet in a shack. And in this shack, he meets "god". "god the father", "god the son" and "god the spirit", all as separate people, all talking to him and each other throughout the book. Oh yeah, "the father" starts out being a woman named Papa. An older, black, grandma-type woman (think the Oracle in the Matrix movies, baking cookies and everything). "Jesus" is a middle-aged middle-eastern man, and "the spirit" is a tiny oriental lady.

I've read a great review about this book on Tim Challies' blog (a link to his blog is over on the right), but then I found out that Dr. Michael Youssef preached on it less than a month ago. He conveniently listed 13 heresies that are in the book (which is not exhaustive), but I thought I'd list them here:

1. God the Father was crucified with Jesus
2. God is limited by His love and cannot practice justice
3. On the Cross, God forgave all of humanity, whether they repent or not. Some choose a relationship with Him, but He forgives them all regardless
4. Hierarchical structures, whether they are in the Church or in the government, are evil
5. God will never judge people for their sins
6. There is not a hierarchical structure in the Godhead, just a circle of unity
7. God submits to human wishes and choices
8. Justice will never take place because of love
9. There is no such a thing as eternal judgment or torment in hell
10. Jesus is walking with all people in their different journeys to God, and it doesn't matter which way you get to Him
11. Jesus is constantly being transformed along with us
12. There is no need for faith or reconciliation with God because everyone will make it to heaven
13. The Bible is not true because it reduces God to paper

Here is a link to Dr. Youssef's page about the book: link
Here's a link to Tim's review: link

I could go on and on about this, each of those 13 above could be a post all by itself. Needless to say, DON'T buy this book, DON'T read this book, and DON'T let your friends read it either. As Dr. Youssef put it, blatant evil is one thing, subtle heresy is even worse, don't kid yourself or listen to anyone that would say "it's just a fictional book".

It's ALIVE!!!

I live. Honest. Yes, it's been awhile since I posted, but I warned you (see blog title). I'm on the upswing of illness, there is light at the end of the tunnel for my current project at work, and things just feel like they are slowing down. I don't know why, maybe it's because I've been sleeping more with this blasted cold. Noah is doing Awanas on Wednesdays now, which puts Carrie and me at the Wednesday night service at church, which is cool. Yes, it is another thing, but what can you do?

We're going to be doing a 40 day fast with our church for a number of things, one of which is the upcoming election. Carrie is trying to convince me to fast soda. Which also happens to be what Kevin told me to fast. Hmmmm... I'm not entirely convinced, but my wife has her ways of making me bend to her will (I can just see the sad eyes and pouty lip now). So I'll probably be fasting soda.

Is it Friday yet?

So I'm home with the kids because Carrie has a dr. appointment. I could go into details and what's wearing on me, but it really all comes down to one thing. I need a vacation. I've been so busy lately, I really think it's starting to wear on my physically. Bleh.

Sunday Sunday SUNDAY!!!

As posted below, I've been busy, but by God's grace, I have had good priority management. I am now off to bed, but I did manage to work out a "rough-draft" of an outline for our discussion on Catholicism this Sunday. By the way, for anyone looking into studying false doctrines and religions, http://www.carm.org is legit. Here's what I have so far (I just KNOW I'll have to cut back further :( )

Things to talk about:

• Sola gratia - what is grace?
• Unmerited favor

• Sola fide - what is justification?
• Justification by faith ONLY

• Peter as the first pope
• Do you smell what the Rock is cooking?

• Papal infallibility
• A man who cannot be wrong

• Apocrypha
• Adding to the Word

• Tradition vs. Sola Scriptura
• Is Scripture sufficient or does tradition add to it?

• Indulgences
• The depravity of tradition

• Sacraments vs. Solo Christo
• Is grace provided by Christ or works?

• Purgatory
• Christ's death not sufficient?

• Mary vs. Soli deo gloria
• The goddess Mary

• Mass
• The "recrucifixion" of Christ

• Compare to Morms, JW, Islam
• So close it's scary

• Gospel for the lost
• Hold to RCC = not a child of God

• Testimonies of ex-priests
• What mattered to them?

I warned you

So Carrie has very politely pointed out that I have neglected posting here as of late. I have no one to blame but myself, I suppose, but there just isn't enough hours in the day to do everything. I've actually been neglecting many things, and this was one of them. I haven't logged in to WoW in over 2 (3?) weeks. I STILL have not finished Twilight Princess, and I've had the game since it came out. My garage is only half clean still. And I'm pretty sure if I were to try any song on Rock Band, it would be a dismal failure. Oh, and my "ark" as not seen very much progress, though I've documented some pretty good ideas within the last few weeks.

So what has been taking up all my time? Well, I'd be lying if I didn't mention Final Fantasy Tactics on my PSP. Thank you very much Kevin, I have been fully addicted to it lately, to the neglect of other free-time activities. I played this game on the PS1 about 12 years ago (!!!), and I didn't even get close to finishing it. The translation was bad, the story was convoluted, and much to my chagrin, I couldn't level-grind my way to superiority. Well I'm older and wiser now, they redid the story parts, and now it's a very entertaining game. And I can take it anywhere and there's multiplayer, so Kev and I can do missions together. Hurrah.

Also, I have been doing lots of reading and studying on Biblical things! I suppose I can hold my head up high, because of all the things I've neglected, God's Word is not one of them. I am preparing to teach about the Catholic church on Sunday, and I have never been more excited to teach before. I think what gets my goat about it is that Catholicism has become the "face" of Christianity in the public eye, and I don't think we could have picked a worse "denomination" to put there. But of course the world will do anything to undermine the gospel, so should we really be surprised? Also, precept will be starting up again soon, so I'll be a studying fiend for several more weeks for that. *phew* Didn't I say I learned my lesson about not posting for a while?