CARM Newsletter 07-18-07

Welcome to the July 18, 2007 Newsletter

Mini-devotional - Inheritance
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time," (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

This long quote for a mini devotional is almost worth leaving as it is without comment.  But, the truth worth focusing on here is that we who are born again are guaranteed to receive an imperishable and undefiled inheritance.  This inheritance is salvation, eternal life, a glorified body, and the privilege of being able to enter into heaven where God dwells.   1 Pet. 1:13 says, "...fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Notice that we have a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, at the revelation of Jesus.  Look at Colossians 3:4, "When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."  So many things are tied to the return of Christ -- to His glory.  When Jesus comes back we will be resurrected into new and perishable bodies with the full manifestation of salvation and the full privilege of being an heir with Christ before God the Father. 

Rom. 8:23 says, "even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body."  All of us know sickness, fatigue, and inner struggles with sin.  How blessed we will be when we finally receive that perfect inheritance, and along with it, the abolishment of sickness, fatigue, and our struggles with sin.    It is a great mercy that we are born again and that we will obtain an inheritance which is protected by the power of God.  Because it rests in Him, we are free to rest in the hope and faith of what Christ has purchased for us.

Support
I do not like requesting support.  It is one of the least favorite things I do in this ministry.  However, 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.

Last newsletter I let people know where the expenses with the CARM Ministry are, and to my surprise, the monthly expenditures of CARM are $3600.  That doesn't even include my salary.  I'm amazed that God has been providing so steadily now for a year and a half for me to work full time and meet expenses.  It is by God's blessings and the gracious support of Christians that this has been possible.

So, I want to thank each and everyone of you who have been supporting this ministry.  You're making a great deal possible.

Going to North Carolina
We've got about eight people who are interested in a small get together when I go out to North Carolina to attend the 2007 National Conference on Christian Apologetics Friday and Saturday November 9th-10th, 2007 at Calvary Church Charlotte, NC, I.  Again, 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.  It looks like we're going to get a restaurant and reserve a room.  I have a contact there who is researching our options and hopefully in a week or two will have a place to go to.  If you want to attend let me know.

Speak in North Carolina
Since I will be out in Charlotte, North Carolina on the weekend of the tenth, I thought I would put the word out and let you know that I am available for any speaking engagements while I'm out there.  If you are interested in this, please contact me quickly ([email protected]) because we are going to purchase the airline tickets within the next couple of weeks.  Thanks

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.

Radio Show
The radio show is still going well.  In fact, it's getting busier.  There are more and more calls coming in.  Last night, however, we had technical difficulties.  It turns out that a small knob in the control room had been turned down and we didn't know about it.  It was rarely used so the control person (Terri) didn't think of looking at it to get the volume to my headset working.  So, in order to hear callers we had to open up all the doors turn up the volume in the control room, and I would listen to the callers as they echoed down the hallway into the studio.  In all, it was actually kind of fun.

Love and Hate
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 came across your site and it is very untruthful about this Church and way of life. If you were honest in your approach...you would deal with this Faith System fairly and truthfully, but I guess you can not risk this as it would prove to be too successful and turn many to it's teaching. Teachings that are Bible based and deeply Christian and healing!
    • Dear MATT,I am worried about the direction you are taking in life.   THINK...    There is no salvation without our glorious Mother, Mary "Our Lady Of Victory".
    • You guys suck atheism is true and you are trying to brain wash us into being christians. I pity you!
    • How dare you set yourself on high like some great one and pontificate what is Christian and what is not?You are a blind patsy of Satan rather than a servant of the Lord. Who are you to defile the honest attempts of good men and women to know and worship God? You are like the blind know-it-all Pharasees which nailed the Lord to a tree, thinking the you are doing God a service. You are like Paul before his conversion to Christ. You need to respect God a more than what you do and learn how He says to love His People. They are His property, not yours. You need humility. So, Mister Pope, I pray that you shall be converted to the real love of God like Paul was, and that you shall learn to treat God's people better and respect them when their beliefs are different than yours. I pray that you shall be delivered in the name of Jesus Christ
  • Love mail:
    • Dear brothers and sisters at C.A.R.M I like to thank you for what you do I just started to visit you Webb-site and I think it is excellent!!! I have studying cults on an off since the 80's as well. I study out of necessity my wife is a Jehovah’s Witness and I also enjoy to study cults as well. I just started to do an adult Sunday school study on apologetics and I just sent my Pastor you Webb link. I will also share you Webb address with my adult class.
    • Just Wanted to say great job Matt. Sometimes I feel what you feel about being alone when you stand for the truth, but Like Elijah in 1 Kings 18:18 you got some the 7000 faithful here too with you brother.Your ministry is truly a blessing and thanks for responding to that e-mail about your brother Rick, got him on my prayer list. God Bless
    • I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to God and you for all you have done and keep up with the Ministry.  It is an amazing work that God has blessed you with.  I have been using the CARM website for about three years now. I have found it to be a treasure trove on Biblical knowledge by which one can seek answers to our deep questions.  I am a student of theology.  As a teacher of the word, at my church I have used CARM to assist me in preparing lessons as well as posing very important and all too often avoided aspects of the Bible.

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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 a 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. 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.
    7. Online Schools. Theology, Apologetics, and Critical Thinking.  You can support CARM and also learn.
    8. 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.  Podcasting CARM now has podcasting ability for past radio shows:  http://feeds.feedburner.com/carmorgpodcasting.
    9. Suggestions?
      10. - 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

Impute, Imputation
To reckon to someone the blessing, curse, debt, etc. of another. Adam's sin is imputed to all people (Rom. 5:12-21), therefore, we are all guilty before God. Our sins were put upon, imputed, to Jesus on the cross where He became sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21) and died with them (Isaiah 53:4-6). Therefore, our sins are forgiven. Understanding imputation is very important. Imputation is the means of our salvation. Our sins were put upon, imputed, to Jesus on the cross. Our sins were "given" to Jesus. When He died on the cross, our sins, in a sense, died with Him. The righteousness that was His through His perfect obedience to the Father in His complete obedience to the Law is imputed, given, to us. In short, our sins were given to Jesus. His righteousness was given to us. Technically speaking our sins were imputed to Jesus. His righteousness was imputed to us.

 

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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