CARM Newsletter 07-11-07

Welcome to the July 11, 2007 Newsletter

Mini-devotional - Don't be afraid.

"Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid," (Mark 6:50).  The context of this verse is when Jesus was walking on the Sea of Galilee and the disciples saw him approaching and were frightened. He said "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." These words can be taken from their context and applied in different situations and I suspect most of them would be appropriate. But context is always the most important part of understanding Scripture. As I've said, Jesus was walking to the disciples on the water. Now think about that. The disciples were in the boat fishing about three o'clock in the morning. The wind was against them and the situation was getting dangerous. Ten out of the darkness, a figure comes walking to them.

But this is impossible. No man can walk on water. This cannot happen and so the disciples were afraid because they understood what was and was not possible.  What they were seeing made no sense. This is why they were afraid.  But the problem is their fear could only become real because of their ignorance of Christ really was. They did not understand that he was the creator, the sovereign of the universe who could command wind and water. And though the situation was dark and dangerous Jesus performed a miracle and came right to where they were -- doing that which was impossible.

When he got into the boat the wind stopped. In other words, in his presence they were safe. In fact, you never find any place in the four Gospels where anyone dies in the presence of Christ. Why? Because with Christ there is safety.

Life can become quite dark and dangerous. But Christ is always aware of your situation, of where you are in life. And though things around you may look bleak, the impossible can occur because Jesus is God in flesh and he promised us that he would always be with us (Matt. 28:20). Therefore, we must trust him and believe that when things are difficult, they are such because he has allowed it in our lives and since he loves us so deeply, what he allows must be for our good even though we sometimes fail to see the light.

As the disciples went about their work in darkness, and though they could see no light because of the storm, the True Light came to them in the midst of their danger -- but not right away. They were delivered, but only after the situation was bad enough that the miraculous could be seen.

Keep your eyes open for the miraculous.

Support
I do not like requesting support.  It is one of the least favorite things I do in this Ministry.  But, the summer months are very lean and I'm asking that CARM not be forgotten.  There are people supporting, and we are able to pay the bills, but just barely.  We have no buffer at all.  Only half of what we need for the radio show is coming in and the support is been steadily dwindling these summer months. 

Recently, on the discussion boards, someone asked where the money for CARM goes.  I thought I would reproduce the answer here.
  • $950 monthly in taxes to Feds
  • $500 month radio costs
  • Printing costs for material, about $500 monthly.
  • Postage, about $150 monthly
  • DVD costs from supplier, about $300 monthly
  • Hardware, software, office supplies, $200 monthly...lately, much more due to video stuff.
  • $300 premium due in 2 weeks and about $50 monthly for worker's compensation
  • Office phone, $50 monthly
  • Cell phone, $60 monthly
  • Internet Merchant fees, $150 monthly.
  • Internet about $40 monthly, high speed.
  • Occasional trips (Seattle, Calif.) for research, so plane fair, hotel, etc. Don't do it much, but averages about $100 month I think.
  • Books used in research, about $75 monthly.
  • Gas for car $75 monthly - I do a lot of driving for CARM.
  • $400 monthly for two workers who help out at CARM.
  • My tax guy bailed on me, so I'm way behind and have to find another tax guy, approx. $600 to do the taxes, due in about a month.
  • Webhosting is free, by God's grace and a friend's help...but, CARM's hosting would be about $300 monthly... no kidding!
  • That is just CARM stuff...
  • My salary, about 50K yearly - we teeter on being broke all the time. Wife has no medical insurance but requires $250 meds monthly (Marfan Syndrome), 3 daughters (gymnastics, piano lessons, home-schools supplies), their and my medical insurance, mortgage, food, etc., car bills and insurance, ...expensive. We don't go out to living it up, either.
  • I have no savings and no retirement account except for one 401K with < $4000 in it.
  • Every week I pray that God blesses us so we can make my salary.
So, please remember CARM.

Going to North Carolina
I am still planning on attending the 2007 national conference on Christian apologetics Friday 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]  Please note that I am collecting emails from people and will mass email people about getting together.  Thanks.

CARM Blog
CARM now has a blog.  It's an experiment.  If you would like to check it out please go to www.carm.org/blog/

Stickam.com
We are still working on the stickam.com chat system at www.carm.org/boards/chat.htm.  We're still experimenting and learning.  Remember, Stickam is not a godly place.  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.

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.

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:
    • [This one is a doooooozy, but this is what I face frequently in online debates, discussions, etc., and this is a good example of what is out there.] 
      "I had the misfortune of finding your site while looking for insults against Christians.  It was like watching a masochist lash himself, but you guys are into that kind of thing, I hear.  I hate to give addicts a fix but how about trying these insults on for size? You are the ubiquitous filth of the world which howls at not having been able to completely smother the light of reason.  You couch your hate, racism, and sexism in the corpse of a dead Jew and bribe the desperate on the dollars of your minions.  Jesus is dead.  He has not come back because people do not rise from the dead, you *******!  You are no different for any other T.V. addicted imbecile, who drools and gawks, weeps and screams in defense of his favorite show or football team, defying all comers and sense.  The bible isn't called the greatest story ever written for nothing it's fiction, air-for-brains.  To kill, denigrate, cause suffering (physical or mental) to another human being because of a story is unconscionably selfish, self-righteous and evil.  Only the lowest, feeble minded ego-less coward would declare that he had the corner on truth.  You have no life, no joy, no happiness, no money because if you did, you wouldn't waste your time hating people you don't know and trying to control their lives so you can prove to yourself that you are better than they are since you deprive yourself of life, joy, happiness and money because a bunch of fairy tales tell you so.  It seems to me your god sits on the throne and waits for the pathetic lifeless zombies of the world to do his work for him...If you stopped harassing people with your dribble and busybody wheedling what would your god do?  Do you think he would he get off the throne?  No, he wouldn't because he is just a figment of your feeble imagination.  But why don't you give the world a break and wait and see what happens when you don't bow down and ....***...***..**.**?  But no, you won't stop being a cannibal and loving it because then you would have no purpose for your useless, only good to feed bacteria meat-sack life.  By the way his so-called son was a Jew from the Middle East not a Nordic barbarian.  If you don't even know what he looked like how can you pretend you have any idea who Jesus was?  Face it, you only make the world worse with your filthy lies, telling people that you know the face of the divine, and it is your own white one.  Look in the mirror ******* and you will only see someone picking their nose and eating it!  All you do is hide behind your so called truth because you are too cowardly to face a chaotic world that you don't control.  Get over it.  You don't know where you came from.  You don�t know where you are going.  You don�t know why you are here.  There is no heaven up there only stars and that is for the best, waste-of-space. I know you people glory in martyrdom, I hope you get your wish.  I look forward to it everyday
  • Love mail:
    • I just want to thank you and encourage you for your wonderful website. I am a committed Christian, who was rather caught unawares by a Jeheovas witness the other week. My faith and more specifically my doctrine had never suffered such a challenge. Your website has helped me answer the challenges and has provided me with some very valuable information. The Jeheova's witness is calling back next week, so i think we will have a lot to talk about.
    • I just wanted to thank you so much for all the info on CARM. I recently got injured at work and have spent a lot of time at home on the internet trying to win souls for Christ. I also get to talk to a lot of Mormons and such that come knocking on my door. You would not believe how much of Carm I use for references. It is a GREAT witnessing tool, thank you.
    • 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.

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    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 privileges.  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?br />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

Immutability
TThe divine attribute of unchangeableness. God said in Exodus 3:14, "I AM that I AM," signifying His eternal sameness and His sovereignty. He cannot change His moral character, His love, His omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, etc.  God is "From everlasting to everlasting," (Psalm 90:2). Immutability does not mean that God does not vary. The incarnation is just such an example of variation. Also, God's attitude toward a person is changed when the person becomes a Christian. For example, the enmity between God and man is removed (Rom. 5:10). Mormonism denies the immutability of God. It says that God was not always God, that He was a man on another planet who became a God (Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie, p. 321.).

 

 

Be fishers of men, not keepers of the quariumbsp;

In Jesus,

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

_________________
Notes

  1. Walvoord,Notes

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

 

 

 

 
 
CARM ison