Motivation and Love

Some personal experiences over the last few years have given me a fascination with motivation. How are people motivated? How are people motivated to adopt an idea? How are people motivated to repent? How are people motivated to surrender to Christ? How are people motivated to obey God's word? How are people motivated to make changes that are in their own best interest?

Last night Jennie and I had a 2.5 hour conversation about this topic and her comments have inspired this posting. These questions about motivation have been answered in various ways by various people but here is what Jennie and I came up with last night .....

The apostle Paul wrote that it is God’s love that motivates us to repent. Romans 2:4 says: “… do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

The apostle John also wrote of the importance of love. He commanded us to love one another …..

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John also said that the God that we follow is one who loves …..

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John also said that an indication that God abides in us is our love for others …..

1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

The apostle also points out that we are motivated to love God because God first loved us ……

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

Paul believed this as well and he connected the dots. He said that “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) So Paul is saying that God demonstrated His love for us, even during a stage in our lives when our minds were not inclined to obey Him and we had sin in our lives. Why? I believe because our ability to obey God is a response of being loved ourselves, whether that love comes from God directly or from His people.

The goal of loving others was highly valued by Christ. Matthew records this instance of Christ being interrogated by the Pharisees (Matthew 22: 34 – 40):

But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Jesus also said that people would know that we are His followers if we love each other.

There are a lot of folks out there who know a lot. They’ve matured in Christ and have a lot of wisdom. But if that maturity is not accompanied by love, it means nothing. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:2: “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Stuart Witt's "Diary of a Last and Final Flight Home"

A selected excerpt from James Dobson's Focus on the Family newsletter for August 2007:

"...I did want to share the following e-mail with you, which I received earlier this spring and which has been circulating across the Internet (never fear — its accuracy has been verified). It was written by Stuart Witt, a former Navy pilot who now manages an airport not far from here, in Mojave, California. It concerns the war in Iraq and particularly, the shameful way in which our culture is infatuated with the latest celebrity scandals while our true heroes — the men and women in uniform — are often ignored.

Mr. Witt was in Maryland on Feb. 16 to attend a Navy ceremony. As it so happened, his return flight from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles was also carrying the body of 1st Lieutenant Jared Landaker, a Marine helicopter pilot from Big Bear, California, whose helicopter was shot down in Iraq. Mr. Witt’s commentary is written in the form of a diary; and although it is rough in places and contains a few technical terms familiar primarily to pilots and military personnel, I believe the sentiment behind what he has written will shine through. Here, then, is Stuart Witt’s “Diary of a Last and Final Flight Home.”

Diary of a Last and Final Flight Home

Feb. 17, 2007, 0350: Curbside at 24th and M, Washington, D.C. Sixteen degrees with a light breeze. Going home after my second week of freezing temps to my home in Southern California. Fly my aircraft, ride a horse, climb a mountain and get back to living. I’m tired of the cold.

0425: Paying the taxi fare at Dulles in front of the United Airlines counter, still cold.

0450: Engaging the self-serve ticket machine, and it delivers my ticket, baggage tag and boarding pass. Hmmm, that Marine is all dressed up early . . . ? Oh, maybe . . . hmm, “Good morning, Captain, you’re looking sharp.”

Pass security and to my gate for a quick decaf coffee and 5 hours sleep. A quick check of the flight status monitor. UA Flt 211 is on time, I’m up front, how bad can it be? Hmmm, that same Marine, he must be heading to Pendleton to see his lady at LAX for the long weekend all dressed up like that. Or maybe not?

“Attention in the boarding area, we will begin boarding in 10 minutes. We have some additional duties to attend to this morning, but we will have you out of here on time.”

That Marine Captain now has five others with him. BINGO, I get it, he’s not visiting his lady, he’s an official escort. How I remember doing that once, CACO duty. I still remember the names of the victim and family, the Brunos in Mojave . . . all of them, wow, that was 24 years ago. I wonder if we will ever know who and why?

On board, 0600: “Good morning, folks this is the captain. This morning, we have been attending to some additional duties, and I apologize for being 10 minutes late for pushback; but believe me, we will be early to LAX. This morning, it is my sad pleasure to announce that 1st Lt. Jared Landaker, USMC, will be flying with us to his Big Bear home in Southern California. Jared lost his life over the skies of Iraq earlier this month, and today we have the honor of returning him home along with his mother, father, brother and uncles. Please join me in making the journey comfortable for the Landaker family and their uniformed escort. Now sit back and enjoy our ride: We are not expecting any turbulence until we reach the Rocky Mountains; and at that time, we will do what we can to ensure a smooth ride. For those interested, you can listen in to our progress on button 9.”

Up button 9: “Good morning, UA 211, you are cleared to taxi, takeoff and cleared to LAX as filed.” From the time we started rolling, we never stopped. First Lt. Landaker began receiving his due.

Four hours and 35 minutes later over Big Bear Mt., the AB320 makes a left roll and steep bank and then one to the right . . . Nice touch, Captain. Five minutes out from landing, the Captain says, “Ladies and gents, after landing I’m leaving the fasten seatbelt sign on, and I ask everyone in advance to yield to the Landaker family. Please remain seated until all members have departed the aircraft. Thank you for your patience. We are 20 minutes early.”

On roll out, I notice red lights, emergency vehicles everywhere. We are being escorted directly to our gate, no waiting anywhere, not even a pause. Out the left window, a dozen Marines in full dress blues, Highway Patrol, police, fire crews all in full dress with lights on. A true class act by everyone, down to a person from coast to coast. Way to go, United Airlines, for doing the little things RIGHT, because they are the big things; air traffic control for getting the message, and to all law enforcement for your display of brotherhood.

When the family departed the aircraft, everyone sat silent. Then I heard a lady say, “God bless you and your family; thank you.” Then another, then another, then a somber round of applause. The Captain read a prepared note from Mrs. Landaker to the effect of, “Thank you all for your patience and heartfelt concern for us and our son. We sincerely appreciate the sentiment. It is nice to have Jared home.”

After they departed the aircraft, I found myself — along with 30 others from our flight — looking for a window. Not a dry eye in the craft. All of us were bawling like babies. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life. We all stood silent and watched as Jared was taken by his honor guard to a waiting hearse. Then the motorcade slowly made its way off the ramp.

I have finally seen the silent majority. It is deep within us all. Black, brown, white, yellow, red, purple: We are all children, parents, brothers, sisters, etc . . . we are an American family.

Early in our taxi out from the gate at Dulles, the gent next to me (a Fairfax city council member) and I were talking to the flight attendant and mentioned that we had sons serving on active duty. We commented, “What do you say? How tragic, they must be devastated.” The flight attendant said many of the passengers had told him the same thing, so somewhere in the flight he shared his tidbits with Mrs. Landaker. Our flight attendant had been struggling with what to say, to find the right words, so he told the Landaker family about passengers who were parents of service members who connected with their grief as parents.

After I collected myself, I stepped back to their row, two behind me, and introduced myself to Mr. Landaker (a veteran of Southeast Asia as a tanker) and Jared’s uncle and brother. What a somber moment. Their Marine Captain escort was a first-rate class act. He had been Jared’s tactics instructor and volunteered for this assignment. As he said, “Sir, it is the least I could do, he was my friend and a great stick. He absolutely loved to fly. It’s an honor to be here on his last flight.”

1115: On my connecting flight, my mind raced. How lucky I was to have had an opportunity to fly my father to Spain and ride the carrier USS John F. Kennedy home in 1981. The same year Jared was born. How lucky I was to have my father on the crow’s landing when I made my final cat shot in an F-14. Jared’s father never had that chance. Jared was at war, 10,000 miles away.

When Mr. Landaker and I were talking, he shared with me, “When Jared was born, he had no soft spot on his head and doctors feared he would be developmentally challenged. But, he became a physics major with honors, high school and college athlete, and graduated with distinction from naval aviation flight school! He was short in stature, but a Marine all the way.” Visit his life story on line at bigbeargrizzly.net. Bring tissue.

Feb. 7, 2007, Anbar Province, Iraq. 1st Lt. Jared Landaker, United States Marine Corps, hero, from Big Bear, California, gave his life in service to his country. Fatally wounded when his CH-46 helicopter was shot down by enemy fire, Jared and his crew all perished. His life was the ultimate sacrifice of a grateful military family and nation. His death occurred at the same time as Anna Nicole Smith, a drug-using person with a 7th-grade education, of no pedigree, who dominated our news for two weeks while Jared became a number on CNN. And most unfortunately, Jared’s death underscores a fact that we are a military at war, not a nation at war. Until we become a nation committed to winning the fight, and elect leaders with the spine to ask Americans to sacrifice in order to win, we shall remain committed to being a nation with a military at war, and nothing more. (And possibly no funding if Congress has its way!)

1st Lt. Landaker, a man I came to know in the skies over America on 17 Feb. 2007, from me to you, aviator to aviator, I am unbelievably humbled. It was my high honor to share your last flight. God bless you.

Semper Fi

Chimney Rock Pictures

A view of the river near our campsite.









Austin spinning his left eye!









Christine and Hannah exploring the river.

Swimming twins.

The twins and Austin playing poker for rocks!

New friends.

Did God Bless Mother Teresa and Kill John Lennon?

There is an e-mail floating around the internet that insinuates that John Lennon’s untimely death was a consequence of presumptuous remarks made by the Beatle in a 1966 interview published in the London Evening Standard. The Evening Standard quotes Lennon as saying …

'Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now…’

The inference in the often forwarded e-mail is that Lennon’s hubris resulted in a divine punishment. The philosophical argument presented in the e-mail is: blasphemers are punished by God by having Him end their lives prematurely.

However, a philosophical argument can be proven false if just one observable event is found that contradicts it. Such can be found when considering the lifespan of humanist Isaac Asimov who said:

"I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say that one is an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. … I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect that he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time."

Asimov lived for 72 years. Other non-believers also lived long lives: Bertrand Russell 98 years, Clarence Darrow 81 years, Voltaire 84 years, George Bernard Shaw 94 years, and Jean Paul Sartre 75 years.

What about the reverse theory? Does God distribute blessings for good behavior?

There is a movement within Christianity that promotes the teaching that if you are obedient to God and invoke the power of His name that you will have health and wealth. This movement is called ‘word of faith’ or the ‘health and wealth gospel’ and it has many slogans, including ‘name it, claim it’.

Many nationally known speakers promote the health and prosperity gospel. A good sample of these teachings can be found in an article by proponent Kenneth Copeland entitled ‘How to Prosper From the Inside Out’. In the article Copeland states that God’s will for Christians is prosperity. Here is a quote from the article:

‘If you're a businessman, that means the Holy Spirit will show you how to increase your profits and reduce your expenses…If you're a student, it means the Holy Spirit will show you how to excel in your classes. In fact, if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and are baptized in the Holy Spirit, somehow inside you is the answer to every financial problem, every spiritual problem, and every physical problem that exists.’

What is Copeland’s basis for this teaching? He bases the idea on a verse in the New Testament which says ‘Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.’ (3 John 1:2) It is important for the reader to notice, though, that Copeland is ‘proof texting’ his teaching. ‘Proof texting’ is an action by a speaker or writer where an idea is put forth and then ‘proven’ by various scripture quotations. ‘Proof texting’ can be valid as long as the writer does not twist the meaning of the scripture by taking it out of context. Verse 2, read stand alone, seems to imply that God wants us to prosper and be in good health. However, is that the meaning we get out of the verse if it is read in context?

Before looking at the scripture in context it is helpful to understand a little bit about these three letters written by the Apostle John. First John was written to the Christians of Asia Minor. It is a general sermon that lacks personal references. Second John is slightly more difficult to unravel. It’s written to the ‘chosen lady’ but scholars are not sure if the ‘chosen lady’ is literal or a figurative reference to a church. Third John, however, is clearly a very personal letter written by John to a ‘beloved’ friend named Gaius.

Here now are the words of Third John, in context …

‘The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.’ (3 John 1: 1-4)

In context you see that 3 John 1:2 is not a general comment by God indicating that it is His will that all Christian’s prosper. Instead it is a personal remark to Gaius in which John affectionately prays that he will prosper and be in good health. Don’t we all want our friends to prosper and be healthy? That does not necessarily make it God’s will for every Christian!

There is an important principle to understand here. In order to correctly interpret scripture it needs to be read in context. An old friend of mine would frequently say ‘context is king’ and he taught me the ‘sandwich’ principle. Do you want to understand what a Bible verse really means? Read the verse before and after it! That’s the sandwich principle.

Another method of verifying the context of a Bible verse is to try to understand it in the context of ALL other scripture. Let’s apply this principle to the idea of the ‘health and wealth’ gospel. Is it God’s will that Christians be healthy and wealthy? Does a relationship with Christ automatically mean that Christians avoid suffering? How does the WHOLE Bible answer these questions? Let’s look …

Does the Bible teach that Christians will suffer? Psalm 34:19 says ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.’

Why do God’s children suffer? Suffering produces dependence on God. Dependence on God allows Him to assist us with the power at His disposal. When God’s powerful assistance is demonstrated to us and in us it brings Him glory. Look at this exchange between Jesus and His disciples recorded in the New Testament …

‘As He (Jesus) passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’ (John 9:1-3)

Suffering also deepens and strengthens our relationship with God. The New Testament records these words of James: ‘Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.’ (James 1: 2-4)

God uses suffering to test our mettle. Because of this, Peter said that we should not be surprised at the intense challenges that face us …

‘Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation … Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name…Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.’ (1 Peter 4)

Remember, God has a plan for us when we suffer. He uses suffering to humble us so that we retain our servants heart. He uses suffering to teach us to trust in Him and not ourselves. Suffering can also provide us with the experiences that enable us to empathize with others who are suffering.

My wife and I went through the trial of having premature twin boys. They came 14 weeks early. Our oldest weighed less than two pounds at birth. His brother weighed less than three pounds. It was a very difficult time but now we have the unique ability to encourage others who are going through that same challenge.

The Apostle Paul said ....

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

'For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1)

Entering into a relationship with God does not automatically mean that your problems and trials go away. It is no guarantee of health and wealth. But the Bible does promise that God is with us in our suffering and that it drives us closer to Him! That is why the Biblical writer James encouraged us to “consider it all joy when you encounter various trials”.

(The portion of this posting on the topic of suffering was inspired by a sermon by youth pastor Frank Shimkus.)

Easter Trip To Chimney Rock

A gap in the rocks.

Josh coming out of Moonshiner's cave.

A 'God's eye' view of Lake Lure.

Jesus: Republican or Democrat?

Everybody loves Jesus don't they?! People are always invoking Jesus name to promote their ideas.

I had a friend once who was a big drinker. He drank often and one time he said to me 'If Jesus came down to earth today I think He would go into a bar because that's where all the sinners are.'

I've seen bumper stickers recently that proclaim 'Jesus is a liberal'. I'm sure there are a decent number of Democrats who think that if Jesus were in the United States today He would be a Democrat. And I'm sure there are the same number of Republicans who are convinced that Jesus is a Republican.

Everybody wants Jesus on their side! But I wonder if people really knew what Jesus said, would they still want Him on their side?!

I think that what both Christians and non-Christians often forget is that Jesus was and is counter cultural! When he was on earth He upset the religious order. He called the religious leaders of his day 'whitewashed sepulchres'. He put politicians in uncomfortable positions.

We think we know Jesus and we think we know what He was really like, but so often those opinions are based on our own ideas and not on the historical documentation which recorded Christ's words and actions.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah recorded for Israel God's messages. In that scripture God says ...

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways." declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Jesus claimed to be one with God the Father. John records that Jesus is eternal and was present with God at creation. So to be a follower of Jesus we have to understand His thoughts and His ways.

Jesus was counter cultural. What Jesus said was out of the mainstream. And Jesus specifically told His disciples what following Him would entail ...

Jesus told His disciples that if they want to be great in God’s kingdom, they have to be everybody's servant. Jesus modeled servanthood by wrapping a towel around His waist and washing His follower's feet.

Peter, selected by Jesus to be the leader of the church after His ascension into heaven, records these words which reflect Christ's spirit: '... all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.' (1 Peter 3) Jesus talked about constantly forgiving and 'turning the other cheek'.

The faith and community started by Christ is counter to man's inclinations. Our tendency is to devise a set of rules and then attempt to follow them to gain God's favor. The world's religions rely on this premise. The five pillars of Islam, the eightfold path to enlightenment, all of these religious disciplines are based on the idea that man works to achieve favor with God or spiritual enlightenment.

But Jesus' views on salvation are upside down. Jesus talked about people and the sinfulness that we all have. Jesus talked about forgiveness and that all of mankind needed to be forgiven of their sins. Jesus didn't just teach about ways to earn God's favor, He Himself claimed to be that way! He claimed to have the authority to forgive our sins and the New Testament records that Jesus frequently forgave people's sins when they had done nothing to earn that forgiveness!

Jesus said that the way to have a relationship with God wasn't through works but by trusting in Christ Himself, that Jesus' personal sacrifice, His death on the cross, paid the penalty for all of mankind's sins.

Jesus claimed to be God and He claimed to be the ONLY way of salvation. He said:

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also ... I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.' (John 14)

Jesus said that He loves us so much that He wants to have a relationship with us. The New Testament records that Jesus calls out to us: '... I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.' (Revelation 3:20)

Ossuaries, Film Makers, Characters, and Martyrs

Oded Golan is an Israeli antiquities dealer who has uncovered some artifacts that created great excitement in the archaeological world. One of Golan's most famous 'discoveries' is the James Ossuary.

In the first century Jewish families would store the dead bodies of their loved ones on rock shelves in family caves. When the bodies decomposed, family members would take the bones and stack them in an ossuary or bone box and tuck them into a niche in the cave.

The James Ossuary was a bone box that contained the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus". This ossuary became the subject of a 2002 Discovery Channel movie directed by Simcha Jacobovici when the ossuary was connected to the brother of Jesus of Nazareth, described in the New Testament.

The discovery of the James Ossuary and the corresponding Discovery Channel movie gained worldwide attention and then later the archaeological community was shaken when Golan was suspected of forging the "James, brother of Jesus" inscription. The Israel Antiquities Authority labeled the ossuary a fake.

Golan was arrested on July 21st, 2003. When he appeared in court, police brought along as evidence forgery equipment that they claim they found in his home. The equipment included stencils, stones and partially completed forgeries. Sixteen months later Golan was indicted in an Israeli court and accused of being in a forgery ring that operated for more than 20 years. The trial is still going on. In spite of the controversy, documentary movie director Simcha Jacobovici still believes in the authenticity of the inscription on the James Ossuary. In a recent Newsweek article Lisa Miller and Joanna Chen label Jacobovici as a "maverick, a self-made Indian Jones".

This year, Simcha Jacobovici in conjunction with "Titanic" director James Cameron has completed another 'ossuary' documentary called the "The Jesus Family Tomb". The documentary claims that Jacobovici found ossuaries in an Israel Antiquities Authority warehouse that contain the bones of Jesus, Mary, and Mary Magdalene along with some other relatives. The movie hasn't been shown yet but Jacobovici's claims are already starting to crumble under scholarly examination. People of faith should not shy away from an examination of Jacobovici's claims.

Matt Slick, writing for Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, recently wrote this: "Remember, looking at evidence and using logic is what Jesus taught us to do. Jesus said to doubting Thomas in John 20:27, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” Jesus himself urged Thomas to examine the evidence and believe based on that evidence. In other words, Jesus taught to examine evidence and make a logical conclusions based upon it."

While I have read extensively about this controversy over the last few days, the purpose of this posting is not to delve into the strength or weakness of Jacobovici's claims. Other writers have covered this topic much better than I could. I would encourage you to read more in these excellent internet articles:

Jesus’ Tomb: Fact or Fiction

Has the tomb of Jesus been found?

Oded Golan is now standing trial in Israel, suspected of forgery of historical religious artifacts. His controversial James Ossuary is being used by Simcha Jacobovici to validate the alleged 'Jesus family tomb'. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the Jerusalem cave where Jacobovici's ossuaries were found, claims that the idea that these ossuaries could belong to Jesus and his family does not hold up to archaeological standards and accuses the filmmakers of just using the Biblical names to make money. In a recent Time magazine article Jacobovici and company were labeled as a new breed of 'speculative historians' who write a book, make a splash, and then take the money and run. In a story like this, motives will be questioned. But what about the motive and character of those who told the other side of this story? What about those primary historical sources who knew, believed in, and wrote about Jesus Christ?

Matthew, who wrote the first gospel which described the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was killed for his belief in the resurrection in the city of Nadabah in A.D. 60. Jesus' disciple Peter, also a New Testament writer, wrote that God raised Jesus from the dead. Church history tells us that Peter was crucified upside down for his faith because he did not feel worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Christ.

James the Less, who referred to himself as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, was beaten and stoned by the Jews and according to Foxe's Book of Martyrs had "his brains dashed out with a fuller's club" because of his proclamation about Christ. In fact 11 of Jesus' twelve disciples where martyred for their faith in Christ. The 12th, John, the beloved disciple, escaped death but was banished to the Isle of Patmos by Domitian.

Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria. Doctor Luke, who carefully laid out a history of Christ and the New Testament history of the early church, was hung on an olive tree for his belief in Christ.

I don't know about you but when I look at the witnesses on each side of this issue I'm more inclined to believe the guys who gave up everything they had in order to tell their story. I don't think I'll ever turn my back on Christ, but if I do it won't be because of a flimsy story like Simcha Jacobovici's "Jesus Family Tomb" based on speculative history and evidence provided by the likes of an Oded Golan.

The Jesus Family Tomb and Speculative History

When I was a kid in junior high, two or three crazes a year would blow through our neighborhood. The craze would involve what all of the neighborhood kids were into at the time. Several are memorable .......
Mimicking Evel Knievel with a cinder block and piece of plywood. We'd make those 'ramps' and ride over them with our bikes. Another craze involved riding our bikes down to Cumberland Farms (a New England convenience story like 7-11 or Circle K) and buying Wacky Packages or Bazooka bubble gum. Another one comes to mind, when Cumberland Farms started selling 'Near Beer'. You could buy a six pack and the cans looked like real beer. Crack a can open and it smelled and tasted like real beer, but it wasn't .... it didn't have any alcohol in it.
A friend of mine and I had the bright idea of giving some to his little brother (I'll name him Edward to protect his anonymity) . Our goal was to convince him that it was real beer. We gave Edward a couple of cans, which he guzzled down. He convinced himself that he was drunk! He acted drunk and silly and my friend and I were very amused.
Edward's antics reminded me of another craze that's become popular over the last few decades. This craze involves what has come to be called 'speculative history'. Many popular novels have been published in the last few decades that have some degree of speculative history in them.

There have been novels written about the pilgrims who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts that suggested that they were promiscuous. Other speculative historians (with an agenda) have suggested that Abraham Lincoln was gay. Another novel suggests that Daniel from the Old Testament was able to resist Potopher's wife because he also was gay. Dan Brown's DaVinci Code is a speculative history that ignores real, early church history. The Discovery Channel documentary 'The Jesus Family Tomb' which will be broadcast Sunday evening is another speculative history which gets a lot of mileage off of a teaspoon of spurious historical evidence. The documentary claims that Jesus did not rise from the dead physically.

But there are folks who buy into these tales and they remind me of my 'drunken' friend Edward. They're buzzin', but for all the wrong reasons!
Here is a 'must read' article on speculative history and the alleged 'Jesus Family Tomb' on time.com: Rewriting The Gospels

The Question of Evil

On February 2nd American radio talk show host Neal Boortz posted a brief article on his website, Nealz Nuze, which discussed terrorism and the nature of man. In this posting I will delve into the nature of man in light of Neal's comments. In his article entitled 'Americans Taking Terrorism Seriously' Neal had this to say:

"According to a new poll, most Americans say terrorism should be taken very seriously. That's good, but there's only one problem. Every time we try to do something to stop terrorism, the appeasers react and send Democrats to Congress. Which means we're not taking terrorism very seriously. So why the contradiction?

The answer is simple...most people lack the will to fight a protracted war against terrorism. If we can do it in a week .. maybe a month, that's fine. But if it is going to take years to bring the Islamic terrorists under control .. Americans don't have the patience for it. A lot of people can't be convinced that some people are inherently evil. We like to buy the lie that most people are basically good and that if we were only nice to them or listened to their grievances, that they'll be nice back to us. We try and domesticate Islamic terrorists...legitimize them by trying to negotiate with them. There's only one problem: it doesn't work.

The only way to fight terrorism is to fight terrorism. And the way you do that is by killing them before they kill us. It's messy work, but somebody's gotta do it. So while the polls may show that Americans take terrorism seriously, you have to wonder if they really do when the same poll shows such opposition to the war in Iraq, which is filled with Islamic terrorists.

People can't have it both ways...you can't be against terrorism and for the terrorist. That's John Kerry's job."

While Boortz has some colorful political comments in his posting, the purpose of my remarks isn't to wade into political matters. Instead I'd like to look at the issue of the basic nature of man. Are men inherently evil, as Boortz suggests, or are men basically good? What does the Bible say about the nature of man?

First, the biblical book of Genesis says that man is higher than the rest of creation. We are given dominion of the earth by God and are commanded to cultivate and keep it. Genesis also says that man is special in that we are created in God's image. We humans have stamped on us the image of God. That is why cruelty is not tolerated in my household. My children are not permitted to be mean to each other or to say derogatory things about others because each human is created in God's image. My children know that they are not allowed to make fun of classmates because in doing so they would be making fun of someone created in God's image.

But what about the presence of evil in the world? If mankind is created in God's image then why does evil exist? The Bible makes it clear that men are 'free agents'. We have the freedom to choose to disobey God and in fact the first created human pair did rebel against God and choose to sin. Because of that, the Bible says that men have a 'sin nature' or an inclination to be selfish and to violate God's rules.

So within mankind there is a friction. On one hand we are created in God's image. On the other hand we are fallen. The apostle Paul summed up this quandary beautifully when he said:

"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7: 14 - 24)

The Law that Paul is referring to is God's law or will as expressed in Scripture. He says that he wants to follow the law but sin within him wages war against his mind.

So we are created in God's image but we are fallen and have a sin nature. As Boortz says, we are inherently evil. Fortunately, this pronouncement is not a bitter end to a sad story. Listen to what Paul says in the first verse of Romans 8 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".

How can we be inherently evil and yet not be condemned by God?! The answer is, according to Paul, to be 'in Christ Jesus'. We are all sinners and yet Christ took our sin away from us when He died on the cross for our sins. If we give our lives to Christ, if we confess our sins and ask for God's forgiveness, we can bypass God's condemnation and have a relationship with Him. The Bible also says that if we follow Christ, He enables us to live good lives. The Bible says that God replaces our hearts of stone with a heart of flesh. The way of salvation is a simple prayer of confession to God. Paul sums it up in Romans chapter 10 .....

" ...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

The hound of heaven loves you, He is willing to forgive you and make your life into something beautiful. If only you will make that confession of faith and belief.

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