CARM Newsletter 07-06-07

Welcome to the July 06, 2007 Newsletter

Mini-devotional - First Fruits

"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep," (1 Cor. 15:20).  Jesus' physical resurrection is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith.  This means that you cannot deny it and be a Christian.  The resurrection of Jesus is proof of the acceptance of his atoning sacrifice by God the Father.  But, Jesus' resurrection isn't simply a resuscitation of a dead body.  It is far more than that.  Jesus was raised in a glorified body.  This is why he is called the "first fruits".  Jesus is the first one raised in a glorified body, a body that will not suffer decay, sickness, nor death.

Because Jesus rose from the dead this way, we Christians will rise from the dead in glorified bodies as well.  This is his promise to us.  It is a message of hope and confident expectation in the work of Christ.  Our resurrection will occur in the future and though there are debates about exactly when it will happen, it will happen nonetheless.  When Jesus returns, those who are asleep (those who have died as Christians) will be the first ones to receive their glorified bodies.  Then, those who are still alive on earth will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye.  "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed," (1 Cor. 15:51-52).  It is by faith that we accept and believe in the future glorification of all Christians.

So, take comfort in knowing that though our lives now are full of difficulties and the imminent approach of sickness and death, the final victory which was accomplished 2000 years ago on the cross guarantees that we will be changed and will longer be subject to sickness and death.  This is one of the great accomplishments of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.

Going to North Carolina
Lord willing, I will be attending the 2007 national conference on Christian apologeticsFriday and Saturday November 9th-10th, 2007 at Calvary Church Charlotte, NC, I.  I won't be speaking.  So, if there are any CARM-ites out there who would like to get together for dinner or something, please e-mail me at [email protected]. 

Stickam.com
Stickam is a video place like youtube.  They provide a great service for free and we are trying to figure out exactly how to use it for the promotion of the gospel.  I've created a few accounts there and will be, hopefully, using the system to disseminate Christian information via teaching videos.  If you are interested in checking out the video experiments of carm, please consider the chat link, www.carm.org/boards/chat.htm.  We're still experminenting and learning, though.  And, I need to warn you.  Stickam is not the most godly place to visit.  But, that's where unbelievers hang out by the droves.  So, that's one of the places we Christians need to be so we can preach and teach the truth.

Video Production
Woo hoo.  Someone sent me a video editing program.  That is going to help a great deal.  I just bought some lights yesterday and have the microphone setup arriving next week in the mail.  It has taken a long time to research and gather the right equipment to began developing videos (not to mention the cost!).  Of course, the first ones will be less than stellar but, hopefully, as we learn more and more the quality and length of the videos will increase.  I want to thank all of you who have supported this effort thus far.

Logos Software
Check out http://www.logos.com/carm for a great Bible program.  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.

Support CARM
Please remember to support CARM through these difficult and slow summer months.  We survive through the generation contributions of Christians.  Remember, we have three online schools (theology, apologetics, and critical thinking), with which you can support CARM.  If you sign up for them, to be helping us out a great deal.  We also accept any donations.

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:
    • i think you guys are idiots.... stop spreading false stuff
    • You guys are some ******** people, you need to learn the truth about religions before you try and exploit them for what "dark" intentions they may have. and anyway if it is such a rebellion over god then why do wiccans befriend christians in some cases. ill tell you they aint stupid like you people. face it there is no rebellion, its just you guys trying to be all high and mighty about your beliefs to get rid of your insecurities
    • There is no jesus no god no devil. Religion is bad - it is the main cause of war - I can understand that people follow a religion for purpose and morales. As we have evolved there is no disputing that science has replaced religion marginally. Science is the search for fact where is religion is based on faith. Every day decisions are based on fact not faith. When we die that is it. We do not tread on an ant and think it is going to some heaven. I would like to see how you can make me believe in jesus & God
    • To whom it may concern, the fact that there exists such a thing as apologetics demonstrates the weakness of the theistic position. Reading apologetic arguments on your website is frightening. The fact that there are people who are stupid enough that they can't see how absurd these arguments really are is what is scary. For your information evolution's explanation for human origins is as much of a fact as water is H2O or that the world is flat. Your denial of that is scientific imbecility.
  • Love mail:
    • I think this is a wonderful Website.  It was sent to me by my sister and I am just beginning to get into it.  I love to learn about the Word of my God and what I have read so far if very enlightening.  I have been here for the last couple of hours enjoying every minute.  I guess I had better go and have breakfast now because the morning is ebbing away.  I just felt that I should give you a little encouragement.  May our God continue to bless you in your endeavors.
    • Strange how hate full the hate mail is and how loving the love mail is! I wonder if this reflects the hearts of the senders? Actually, I am sure it does. Dear friend in the Lord keep up the good work. We will pray for you as you have to face up to the hate!
    • It is no coincidence that I found your website, I was guided by the holy spirit to find the answers I needed.  First I wanted to thank you for creating this website, for your devotion to Lord Jesus Christ our savior, and your ministry.  I prayed for you that you would continue to grow this and everything in God you are working for, I hope you strengthen many more Christians faith, save those who want to be saved, continue to spread the truth of the only true Gospel and destroy these false faiths.  I'm pursuing a degree to become a minister myself, "for by faith we can move mountains".  I ask that you will pray for me as well, that I will grow as a man in Lord Jesus, overcome all obstacles that stand in the way of my goals and dream, and save many of my brothers and sisters along the way.
    • I am a university student in South Africa who loves and fears the Lord with all his heart and today I decided two spend couple of hours on your site and I must really say this maybe you don't usually get many responses from the visitors of your site, what a marvellous piece of work whose foundation is the word of God , GOD BLESS YOU ANd MAY YOU CONTINUE TO TOUCH MANY SOULS AND CLEARLY INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. My words are not enough to describe my joy from what I have learnt on your site. The stuff and everyone who works around the clock to bless us, may you recieve hundred folds goods in return.

    -----------------------------------------------------------
    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.

    •  

 

From the CARM Theological Dictionary

Image of God
 Man was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26).  The image of God is generally held to mean that people contain within their nature elements that reflect God's nature:  compassion, reason, love, hate, patience, kindness, self-awareneness, etc.  Though we have a physical image, it does not mean that God has one.  Rather, God is spirit (John 4:24), not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

 

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.

 

 

 

 
 
CARM ison