CARM Newsletter 05-17-07

Welcome to the May 17, 2007 Newsletter

(Sorry, had to resend as HTML and not text.  My bad)

Slow Summer
 Please remember CARM during the slow summer months

Back To Old Style

Thanks to everyone who responded to the newsletter-appearance-issue.  If you remember, in the previous newsletter I asked people to go to a link and vote on what kind of e-mail newsletter style they would prefer.  Here are the statistics.  60% said the stay with this style.  7% requested straight text and 33% requested an e-mail pointing to a newsletter on the CARM Web server.  So, I'm going with the first and third options.  Again, thank you very much for your feedback.

Interesting Request

A young man in Portland, Maine, who is 18 years old has requested that I attend a Jehovah's Witness gathering (A district convention).  But, it is too far and too short notice.  because he is young, his parents don't feel comfortable having him go by himself -- which explains his invitation to me.  But, If there is a Christian in the area of Portland, Maine who would be interested in attending with this young man, Jonathan, then please let me know and we'll forward your information to him.  It's the 2nd and 3rd of June, Friday and Saturday.  If interested, please contact me at [email protected].

Emergent Churches

I have been researching emergent churches and plan to release a section on CARM on that topic.  Emergent churches seek to relate the gospel to present day, postmodern society.  Some emergent churches are good and some are not.  They range from orthodoxy to idiocy.  There are two emergent churches in Seattle, Washington.  I plan, in the next few weeks, to drive there from Boise Idaho and attend a service or two at each church.  Also, there is another emergent church in Santa Cruz, California.  I hope to drive down there and attend a service.  Both of these excursions would help me get a "feel" for the emergent church meeting.  It is one thing to write doctrinally, it is another to write experientially.  And it is the latter issue that has become important in the emergent church movement.

Browser Looks

Recently people have commented on how the CARM homepage looks in different browsers.  I know it looks good in Internet Explorer version 6 and 7, and also in Firefox.  If there are any irregularities in the homepage on a browser that you use, could you please take a picture of it and send it to me at [email protected].  I will try and make the corrections.  But, if you happen to be savvy in CSS, and know how to fix code for cross browser compatibility, please let me know.  Thanks.

Video Camera

A very kind Christian has donated $2000 to CARM for the purpose of purchasing a video camera.  I have been researching them for about two weeks and have concluded that I need a 3 CCD camera, audio jack input, that does not have to be HD.  The camera I had initially looked at has problems so I'm trying to research and make a proper choice.  The purpose of getting this camera would be to develop DVD quality video lessons, lectures, interviews, etc. for distribution through CARM.

As more and more of the culture, particularly the youth, grows up in front of television and movies, the video genre is very important and CARM needs to be there, ready, to produce quality material.

If you know of a good camera in this price range, or of a used one, please let me know at [email protected]

Logos Software

By way of reminder, if any of you are interested in perhaps one of the very best, if not the best, Bible programs available, please check out http://www.logos.com/carm.  I use it all the time.  If  you purchase software through the CARM link, you can get a discount and it helps to support CARM as well.

If you get anything at Logos, use CARM as the coupon code during checkout.

Please Support CARM
 $5 a month.  If you have not already, would you please consider a monthly donation of five dollars? You can easily set it up at http://www.carm.org/goods/donations.htm

Love and Hate Mail
CARM is constantly getting e-mails of thanks and praise and condemnation.  Here are a few...in the raw.  (At the suggestion of a reader, the hate mail is first so that the last taste in your mouth, is the love mail).

  • Hate mail:
    • Stop doing satan’s work, you co workers of the devil Religious free masons. Your condemning people to the pits of hell.   Your taking the truth and adding poisons to it. You discust me.
    • Your website dishonors Jehovah so much, do you know this or do you care? Reply back please, because I want to help you. Thank you
    • I went to your website to see if I could get some information on Unity and its teachings with regard to its founders.  I found what I was looking for, and continued to read the "information" there was offered on different cults and religions.  What I found was biased and negative opinions regarding every other religion/cult or belief except yours.   You must be a pentacostal or some other extreme form of "Christian".  But your rhetoric shows you not to be a true Christian because you put down others' beliefs and glorify only yours.  What really got me was the interpretation or offering of the Muslim faith.  The quote you used made the religion sound bloodthirsty and negative.  Islam is the religion of peace.  You misrepresented it.    Too bad.  This fact makes what could have been an informative website just another platform for radical religion.  and I don't expect an answer -- and you may not even read this -- but that's OK.  I know you're out there in your own radical world.  Now I know what to stay away from.
    • How can u say all that crap u put on that website about Wicca? Do u really even know the basics? Have u seen god well have u, how can u believe something that is 2000 years old? Oh the bible is based on LOVE yeah right get real the bible is full of HATE, HYPOCRISY, LIES, and too strict for anyone. How about u wake up god fail u.
    • You so-called CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS & RESEARCH web site does not proceed from true Christianity
  • Love mail:
    • I want you to know that God used you to bring me back to Him. My wife and I have been deeply affected by your work - or rather God's work through you. Because of your articles defending the Truth, my faith was restored. We have recently left our old church which was stale, and buried in traditions. We will continue to support and pray for your ministries and I hope that these courses will help me to defend our Great God!!
    • Regarding "This Age and the Age to come"  Well done!  I found it very interesting and enlightening. I can not say at this time that I agree with you 100%, but you definitely got me thinking. So, now I must head back to the drawing board, search the Scriptures, meditate, and pray fervently.  However, you got me thinking and that's a good thing.  Your ministry is in my prayers and God bless.
    • Dear Matt, we definitely need the ministry of CARM in this day of apostasy.  I've used a number of things from your website. I pray God will raise up people who are able to. God bless you as you work for Him.
    • I have asked God to greatly bless this site, it is soooooooo incredibility important because it preach's Christ and Him crucified.
    • I stumbled onto your site and I want to thank you guys for "earnestly contending for the faith". May God bless you guys for doing the dirty work in His service.

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    Same as Last Newsletter

    1. Podcast Link -  If you are interested in listening to the radio podcasts of faith and reason,  there are several options.  One is to go to the CARM home page and click on the radio link, or go to www.carm.org/radio/radio.htm, or click on this link http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=432798 and enter your e-mail address.  Its free and you'll be notified every time the podcast page is updated.
    2. Feedback and Suggestions - I would love to have feedback and suggestions from the CARM readers about the website, the radio show, and this newsletter.  Please feel free to let me know what you would like covered and/or addressed.  [email protected].
    3. Please Support CARM - CARM is supported by the voluntary gifts and offerings of people like you.  I have revamped the donations system and hope that this new year will bring in more support so that we can hire an additional staff person.  Even $5 a month can make a big difference.  CARM is on the front lines and we need all the help we can get.  Please pray for us.  We need it.
    4. Discussion Boards - The CARM Discussion Forums are doing extremely well.  In less than a year we have over 13,700 people signed up as participants. We even have a donation option for people to support the Ministry and have extended posting privelaes.  If you are interested in learning how to defend your faith as well as finding out what others believe about vendors, than the CARM discussion forums are the place to be.
    5. Chat Room http://www.carm.org/boards/chat.htm.  Want a live discussion?
    6. Thanks Again - Thanks to all of you who have been signing up for the online schools and donations to CARM.    They have been a real encouragement to this Ministry as they have increased lately.
    7. Prayer Ministry - CARM does have a prayer Ministry.  If you are interested in joining us as we pray for others' needs, or if you have needs that you need prayer for, please go to http://www.carm.org/prayer.htm and sign up.
    8. Online Schools. Theology, Apologetics, and Critical Thinking.  You can support CARM and also learn.
    9. Live Radio Show! - The show is called "Faith and Reason with Matt Slick."  I am on for one hour, five days a week, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain Time). It's a live call-in show where people can ask all kinds of questions dealing with Christianity, the Bible, cults, counseling, the occult, etc.  You can call in to the number is 208-377-3790 and/or listen live via the Internet at www.myfamilyradio.com on the AM station.  P odcasting CARM now has podcasting ability for past radio shows:  http://feeds.feedburner.com/carmorgpodcasting.
    10. Suggestions?
      Do you have any suggestions for the CARM newsletter or the CARM website?  If so, please contact us at [email protected].  We want to know what you think, areas of need that you would like to see addressed, as well as any comments you might have.
      11.

From the CARM Theological Dictionary
Hades
New Testament term for the Hebrew “sheol,” which is the abode of the conscious dead. It is apparently a place (Acts 2:31). In Revelation it is referred to as a creature on a horse (Rev. 6:8). In Rev. 1:18, it says that Christ holds the keys to death and Hades.

Be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium

In Jesus,

Rev. Matt Slick, your missionary to the  Internet. Equipping the church to defend the faith in a secular society.

_________________
Notes

  1. Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

 

 

 

 
 
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