BOOK REVIEW - "WHEN CULTURE HATES YOU: PERSEVERING FOR THE COMMON GOOD AS CHRISTIANS IN A HOSTILE PUBLIC SQUARE" BY NATASHA CRAIN

Nobody really wants to be at odds with society. But that's not always possible, especially when those with a differing world view are trying to influence society in a guiding it to lemming cliff, and you opening your mouth about a better alternative is considered a threat. Apologist and podcaster Natasha Crain has written the timely book "When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the common good," which informs us why we're in this situation and guidelines on response.

Part One, consisting of the first five chapters, is titled "Understanding the Hate." In this, Crain reminds us that Jesus and Scripture warn we will be hated by the world. We are introduced to the concept of "the common good," and how that "common good" can be politicized for the purpose of trying to silence those from a traditional Christian worldview. Crain answers five objections to a Christian influence in the public square, as well as giving us the acronym ACT to describe how we should persevere: 

1. Know your (Biblical) Authority, 
2. Strengthen Conviction, and 
3. Maintain Tenacity.

The second part of this book, "Responding to and Persevering Through Today's Most Prominent Charges," gives suggestions on how to deal with antagonists like the mainstream media, secular social justice advocates, and feminist and LGBTQ+ activists. In each of five chapters, dealing with charges of being Dangerous Christian Nationalists, Power-Hungry Oppressors, Controlling Misogynists, Cruel Rights-Deniers, and Hateful Bigots, Crain defines the issues and focuses on the reality as opposed to the subjective, inflammatory name-calling. Each of these chapters include Quick Responses to 5 Popular Challenges and 7 Actions for the Common Good. She closes the book with an admonition to let our light shine in spite of hate, and provides resources.

As I stated at the beginning, this is a timely book, and I recommend it for personal reading and to discuss in small groups.

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'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #22 - "TOTAL TRUTH" BY NANCY PEARCEY

Those who regularly read this blog know that I use different fonts. The font I chose for today is one Blogspot calls "Philosopher," and that's a fitting font for writing about "Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity" by Nancy Pearcey, who was influenced by Francis Schaeffer's L'Bri Institute. 

This book starts off looking at the major philosophical views, which she terms as lower story and upper story. Lower story, or Aristotlean, focuses on the physical, what we can sense, what we can explain rationally and logically. Upper story, or Platonic, is more focused on values, aesthetics, beauty, etc. The second section deals with evolution, pointing out that its popularity is because it's a plausible naturalistic creation theory. Part three of the book focuses on the role of truth with evangelicalism.

I do have some disagreements For example, she has the view that the various forms of creationism (i.e. both old earth and young earth theorists) ought to stop debating each other and turn our fight to the common enemy of evolution. While I see the rationale for her opinion, I also see why young earth creationists hold that view strongly. And while I'm sometimes hesitant to call myself evangelical, I am more in that camp than she is. Neverthe less, this is a book designed to make you think.

And if you want more, there's her follow-up "Saving Leonardo," where her focus is a history on the arts, looking at what she terms "two paths to secularism," which are the lower story (here called determinism) and lower story (or the continental tradition) theory from "Total Truth." She does a great job at looking at the two views. One thing is she showed several paintings which were large colored geometric shapes. There were artists from both angles that painted that way, but the determinist had solid dividing lines, while the edges of the continental was more fuzzy. By the way, there was also a picture in that book painted by my friend Grace Carol Bomer (Becky and I got to visit Grace's studio in Ashville about 25 years ago).

 

'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #21 - "SUPERHEROES CAN'T SAVE YOU" BY TODD MILES

 

How many apologetics books defending biblical Christology from several different false teachings can be called fun? If you don't think that's possible, you probably haven't located this book yet.

In "Superheroes Can't Save You: Epic Examples of Historic Heresies," Todd Miles takes a look at seven deviations from an orthodox view of Christ. He does this by comparing those teachings with seven different superheroes. For comic book fans like myself, you'll find representatives both from DC (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern) and Marvel (Ant Man, Thor, the Hulk, and Spiderman). 

Each chapter follows this format:

1. Introduction to the superhero and autobiographical insights
2. The heresy (or false teaching or "bad idea about Jesus"
3. Who follows this heresy today? (In this section, he'll mention particular groups that hold to that teaching but also ways that someone may be slipping into a particular trap of thinking that isn't accurate.
4. What does the Bible say?
5. Why does it matter?

'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #14 - "MERE CHRISTIANITY" BY C.S. LEWIS

 

I mentioned at the beginning the book "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." Only two of my 25 are on that list, and Lewis' classic "Mere Christianity" is the first. (The second is tomorrow). Now, to be honest, there are classics in the book's list that I haven't taken time to read (e.g. Augustine's Confession and Calvin's Institutes).

Who knows why I didn't finish this book when I first started reading it in '84, but I finally read it more recently and studied it with my pastor at that time (Richard Walton). While I don't agree with everything Lewis says, this book definitely is an effective defense of the faith. It originally was a radio program in England during World War II where Lewis was able to define what a Christian was.

While it didn't make my list, I also read "C.S. Lewis & Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century from the Most Influential Apologists of our Time" by Scott R. Burson and Jerry L. Walls. It helped me become more familiar with these authors. I found it interesting that the two authors seemed to identify more with Lewis (both did a lot of research on Lewis), but I finished the book being more of a Schaeffer fan instead.

'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #13 - "LOVE YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND" BY J.P. MORELAND

I was in a meeting with church leadership training, and the group leader shared the chapter of "Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Live of the Soul" that dealt with how this focus translated into the local church. That chapter hooked me, and I thus read this book. Twice.

But which of the editions did I read? Both. The second edition  (which is what the cover is for) adds material to the first chapter, and rewrites the third of four parts of the book. To be honest, while both editions are good, the original fit the purpose of the book, examining the role of the Christian mind in evangelism, apologetic reasoning, worship, and fellowship. The second edition instead gives a strategy on how to reason - again, useful, but I missed the deleted information.
 

'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #4 - "EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT" BY JOSH AND SEAN MCDOWELL

 I have been aware of this book and its author Josh McDowell since high school. During that time, I saw a film featuring McDowell - "What's Up, Josh?" which is a fictional story with Josh playing himself. 

"Evidence That Demands A Verdict: Historical Evidences For The Christian Faith" is divided into three parts: The Historicity of Scripture, the Life and Resurrection of Christ, and personal transformation. This was followed by a second volume, "More Evidence That Demands A Verdict," and "The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict" co-written by his son Sean.

I mentioned with the first book I recommended ("Another Gospel" by Alisa Childers). While it's already obvious not all the books are on apologetics, you'll see it a common theme for this series.

'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #1 - "ANOTHER GOSPEL" BY ALISA CHILDERS

 My list of 25 summer reading books, listed in alphabetic order by title, starts with "Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity. Author Alisa Childers (former member of Zoe Girl, daughter of Love Song's Chuck Girard) tells of her experience with a Progressive Church, which left her questioning her faith, and how she was reassured of the truth of Scripture.

Progressive Christianity is like other groups in asking the same question Satan (as the serpent) asked Eve: "Yea, hath God said?" Instead of trusting the Word of God and thus the God who gave that word, they prefer having questions without answers, because if there's no answers, you can't give a wrong one. 

This is the first but not last Apologetics book in this list. 

BOOK REVIEW - "FAITHFULLY DIFFERENT: REGAINING BIBLICAL CLARITY IN A SECULAR CULTURE" BY NATASHA CRAIN

 

Pressures to conform. Some give in so they can be part of the in-club. Some give in so they won't be part of the out-club. Such pressure is not new: Remember when Israel asked the prophet Samuel to give them a king so they can be like other nations? Or that a lot of people in Jesus' time believed in Him but not publicly for fear they would be kicked out of the synagogue?

"Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture" by apologist and podcast hostess Natasha Crain points out that there is nothing wrong in being different if not fitting in is based in the truth.

In the first three chapters, Crain points out that a Christian world-view is now a minority view. She adds that secularism isn't just not being non-religious, but that this world-view is anything but neutral, pushing others to either join their lemming parade or keep quiet, at the risk of being demonized. And that pressure is affecting contemporary Christianity as well, where "compassion" is redefined as accepting what society claims is okay.

The remainder of the book encourages us to have our beliefs (Chapters 4-6), our thinking (Chapters 7-9), and our living (Chapters 10-12) to be faithful to the principles and doctrines of Scripture and resisting elements of secularism such as nationalism, individualism, virtue signaling, and "cancel culture." 

I recommend this book. 

BOOK REVIEW: "JESUS' ALTERNATIVE PLAN: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT" BY RICHARD ROHR

I checked this book out when a Bible study I'm involved with was about to start on the Sermon on the Mount. He gives background information. For seven chapters - Rohr doesn't start dealing with the Sermon on the Mount until chapter 8. There are 9 chapters. No, it wasn't much help.

There were other things that bothered me about this book. It came across as a cross of mystical and liberal. For example, he does not believe that the Gospels were written by the person they're attributed to. He regularly states Jesus was killed. Traditional churches usually say "Jesus died," which is consistent with the Biblical view Jesus gave up His life for our sins; Rohr's method sounds like it was the Religious Leaders in control, not Christ. Shortly after reading this, I heard him referred to on podcasts I listen to as being progressive and new thought.

I recommend this for those who know the Bible well enough to realize what's off base and then read it so you can respond to what doesn't fit. As a book on the Sermon on the Mount, I do not recommend it.

BOOK REVIEWS - THE NEW BRAVE & THE BOLD: "THE BRIDE AND THE BOLD" AND "THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS" BY SHOLLY FISCH (WITH A SPIRITUAL LESSON THROWN IN)

 For those unfamiliar with comics in general and DC in person, "The Brave and the Bold" was a title which teamed up Batman with other heroes - and occasionally one not so heroic, like the Joker or the Riddler. When I read that title in the '70's, I found it a bit dark. However, this six part series by Sholly Fisch, including "The Bride and the Bold" and "Through the Looking Glass!," is much more fun and aimed at a young audience.

In "The Bride and the Bold," Batman and Wonder Woman stop a plan by a pair of Wonder Woman's old foes. However, God of Love Eros was upset with the violence, believing Wonder Woman was sent to show love, not beat up on the baddies, so he puts her and Batman under a spell where they fall in love and plan a wedding. Of course, one bad lady is jealous and thus rounds up the two heroes' rogue galleries to crash the wedding. Of course, most of the wedding guests were superheroes, so you can guess the rest.

"Through The Looking Glass!" starts with Batman and the Flash facing off with the Mad Hatter and Mirror Master. The bad guys flee through a mirror, with the heroes in pursuit, and end up in a Wonderland-like Dimension, and then Mirror Master returns to reality taking the mirror with him so the heroes can't escape. Or can they?

As stated, these are aimed for a young audience. However, if you happen to be an old comics fan like yours truly, you'll enjoy seeing familiar faces both among the good guys and the bad guys. It's also a short book (you can read either one in 15 minutes).

One fun thing about this series is it ends with some questions that relate to telling the story (both the writing and the drawing).

I definitely recommend these books. But would you believe one of these has a theological lesson, possibly unknown to the author? (SPOILER ALERT)

In "The Bride and the Bold," Eros is displeased seeing Wonder Woman fighting Giganta and Mouse Man with Batman helping, so he makes them fall in love. But when the wedding has the heroes beating up on the bad guys, Eros thinks that's worse, saying that Diana (Wonder Woman) was sent to spread love. Then, Eros' mother Aphrodite shows up and points out that Wonder Woman is showing love by defending the defenseless from the bad guys. 

As Christians, we're given an example that we need to stand up for faith and defend our brothers and sisters in Him. Unfortunately, many - including believers - claim that standing up against false teachers and refuting error is judgmental and unloving. No, tolerating evil is what's unloving.

JEFF'S FAVORITE NON-FICTION LIST, 2023

School of Athens by Rafael

Maybe I'm wrong. Is my list that everybody's waiting for, and thus the one to save for last, my fiction list? Or is it my relatively recent added song list? For me, the capstone of the year is my non-fiction reading. 

I'm trying to remember if I ever put this list in order of my favorite to the least favorite. I avoid it on the other lists, but I can think of two reasons why this would differ:

1. Because on the others, I interact with several of the authors and singers, and I don't want to make someone jealous or worse, for the authors at the bottom to feel discouraged because they're not higher on the list, and 
2. More importantly, the message of the books are more the reason for higher numbers than artistic skill.

As I started, I was ready to put them in alphabetic order. I just changed my mind. I AM going to put them in order from the one that blessed me the most to the one that blessed me tenth. However, I'm not going to go into descriptions, though I will include a link to my book review to give more details.  The titles of the books may be enough to let you know what moved me, and maybe interest you as well.

Ready?

1. Changed Into His Likeness: A Biblical Theology of Personal Transformation (New Studies in Biblical Theology) by J. Gary Millar. Book Review Link.
2. Pray & Go: Your Invitation To Become A Great Commission Christian (Church Answers Resources) by Thom S. Rainer. Book review will be posted Jan. 9, 2024.
3. Reflections On The Existence Of God: A Series of Essays by Richard E. Simmons III. Book Review Link.
4. A Primer On Biblical Literacy by Cory M. Marsh. Book Review Link.
5. I Would Die For Him: One Student's Story of Passion, Service, and Faith by Brent and Deanna Higgins (a biography of their son B.J. Higgins). Book Review Link.
6. The Sermons To The Seven Churches of Revelation: A Commentary and Guide by Jeffrey A. D. Weima. Book Review Link.
7. Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths, second edition, by Michael J. Vlach. Book Review Link.
8. Letters From Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation (Greek for the Week) by Chris Palmer. Book Review Link.
9. Forged From The Reformation: How Dispensational Thought Advances The Reformed Legacy, edited by James I. Fazio and Christopher Cone. This compilation includes contributions from two authors mentioned above on this list: a pair of chapters by Cory M. Marsh (item 4) and a foreword by Michael J. Vlach (item 7). Book Review Link.
10. Awaken Your Call: Daily Readings For Prophets And Intercessors by John Eckhardt. A collection of 30 readings. I don't agree with a lot of what this author says, but he definitely has a heart to encourage the church to be what it should be. Book Review will be posted January 25, 2024.

 

A NEW ADVENT APPROACH? PART 4 OF 4 - AN ADVENT OF EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS

A partially live nativity scene at Cincinnati Zoo - the rabbit is live.

You may have seen Advent calendars focus on hope, peace, joy, and love. The first one I paid attention to looked at the Prophets, the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men. Those who have been reading the last four weeks will see a new set of four themes for Advent:

1. An Advent of Gratitude and Encouragement,
2. An Advent of Mercy and Grace,
3. An Advent of Truth and Discernment, and this week,
4. An Advent of Evangelism and Missions.

As an old Malcolm & Alwyn song from '73 points out, "The World Needs Jesus," and if anything, it's a 1,000 times truer today as it was 50 years ago when that song came out. But, as Paul says, "How shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:14-15a)

Evangelism and Missions go hand in hand. Evangelism is sharing the Gospel with those you encounter in your day to day life (e.g. Peter and John and the lame man at the temple), while missions is going to those who don't have believers they encounter day to day (e.g. Paul and friends going to Cyprus, Galatia, and Macedonia). 

Now you may say, "I'm grateful for those who are called to serve this way." Ah, but who did Christ call to serve this way? His disciples. Which ones? All of them. Now does that mean we're all to go overseas? No, but we all can evangelize.

This emphasis is fitting for these four weeks of Advent. We started off with gratitude and encouragement. Isn't our gratitude for our salvation best shown by joyfully sharing with others what God has done for us? And isn't the most important thing to do to encourage others is telling them how God can save them from their sins? Not that easy? Again, encouragement comes in play here - we can encourage others to share the Gospel, here and abroad.

Second week was mercy and grace. Isn't that what the Gospel is about? And not only is the message about mercy and grace, but we need to practice it. Jesus said we're being sent as sheep among wolves; Glenn Penner in his excellent book In The Shadow of the Cross: A Biblical Theology of Persecution and Discipleship, points out that we're being sent to the wolves.

Week three, we dealt with truth and discernment. The Gospel is called the truth of God through the New Testament. And with discernment, we need to be discerning in our ministry of evangelism and missions, as we will be dealing with false teaching, false teachers, and false perceptions.

How many think this is a good view of Advent?

By the way, with today being Christmas Eve, have a Merry Christmas (or a Joseph Christmas).

 

BOOK REVIEW - REFLECTIONS ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: A SERIES OF ESSAYS BY RICHARD E. SIMMONS III

 

 Is your philosophy consistent with real life? Are your beliefs concerning God and the origins of this planet and life based on careful study and examination of said belief system, or is it really based on wishful thinking? If you find your view don't match up to reality, do you admit you're wrong and adjust your thinking, or do you defend those views even if they border on nonsense?

In "Reflections on the Existence Of God," Richard Simmons III (not to be confused with the energetic exercise guru) gives a series of 56 essays dealing with these questions. Topics on these include the existence of evil and suffering, beauty, whether we have consciousness or are just robots, the debate on macro-evolution and intelligent design, and whether Christianity is historically accurate.

I found this book both thought provoking and enjoyable. Simmons has a conversational style, and treats other authors with respect, regardless of whether he agrees with them.

This is an ideal book either to challenge a friend or to give yourself things to think about and energize your own faith.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 25 OF 48 - PSALM 115:1-3

Bald Eagles (obviously), Louisville Zoo

 1   Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
    But to Your name give glory,
    Because of Your mercy,
    Because of Your truth.
2   Why should the Gentiles say,
    "So where is their God?"
3   But our God is in heaven;
    He does whatever He pleases.
          Psalm 115:1-3, New King James Version

Just as obvious as the fact that the birds I pictured above are bald eagles, it should be obvious that 100% of the glory belongs to God and the remaining 0% belongs to us, on a good day - typically, less than that.

This is Old Testament. In the Jewish mindset, the Gentiles (aka the Nations) were the outsiders of the Kingdom of God. In the church age, the doors to the Kingdom opened wide to the Gentiles. So let's forget using this in context with a nationality but with those who have not asked God for permission to enter His Kingdom. 

Yes, God is still in heaven. Yes, He still does whatever He pleases. But it is our job to give God the glory so people will know He's in charge and not just a myth.

 

IF I WAS RICH ENOUGH TO START A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR?

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary/Boyce College, Louisville, KY

As the title indicates, no, I don't have enough money to start a scholarship program. But if I did, what would I make it for? Well, I have a clear-cut answer for that! Not a list of possibities: my mind's made up!

My scholarship will be specifically for singers/songwriters to get a degree in Bible. No, not a minor in Bible with a major in music. The major should be for a Bible, theology, pastoral studies, or apologetics degree. 

The scholarship would also be only for certain Bible colleges/seminaries. Of course, it would be one that believes the Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant. It would not only teach that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), but that they are training students to go into the world and evangelize. 

Is that controversial enough? Let me go further. That school will also be teaching recent creationism and dispensationalism! Essentials for salvation? No. But both of these views are based on the Bible meaning what it says. A school that doesn't agree with this does not deserve a penny of my money.

What is the purpose of this scholarship? I believe there is a place for musicians in Christian ministry. I also believe there's a need for musicians releasing Biblically based music. For that reason, I'd put most emphasis on a Bible major; the theology would depend on the school. I would see how homiletics training may be of value (which is why I included Pastoral) and I would be excited to see Scripture defended via songwriting.

Any thoughts on this?

 
 

 

 

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 5 OF 12: WHAT'S UP, JOSH?

 If I made a list of favorite albums or songs, you'd find I tend to the obscure. I was in a group when a member asked us to submit our 100 favorite Christian items, and I believe it was around 40 of my top 100 were not on anybody else's list. So far, I've got a hunch my movie list hasn't been as obscure... until now.

"What's Up, Josh?" is a 1975 Christian movie. They may have been inspired for the title by Bugs Bunny's tagline, as well as a '72 WB comedy movie starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. Plot wise, it's what I considered a typical Christian movie, about a young adult overwhelmed with complications in life and learning the answer is in Jesus. 

You probably are guessing the main character is named Josh. That's a good, logical, natural, and wrong guess. Neither is it the protagonist's Christian roommate. No, this is referring to the speaker at on-campus meetings that the roommate invites the protagonist to, named Josh McDowell, who plays himself.

My hunch is most of my readers recognized Josh's name. In the movie, Josh deals with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and deals with alternative views of what happened. This movie planted a seed on my interest in Christian apologetics. 

Most of the movies I've listed are available on Amazon. Sorry, not this one. However, it is up on YouTube if you want to take an hour and watch it. 

Allow me to add - "Thief In The Night" was a movie that almost made this list. That movie and others I've liked were produced by Mark IV (this one wasn't). One thing I like about Mark IV is that everybody doesn't come to Christ, just as in real life. In fact, sometimes the protagonist doesn't become a Christian.

 

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR: JUDGING NCFCA CONTESTS!

Official Logo of the NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communications Association

I can start this blog by saying I'm excited today. Of course, does "today" refer to when this blog is posted (Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023), or to the day I'm writing the blog (the previous Saturday, five days in advance)? Well, yes, I'm excited to write this blog, but I am referring to the date this is published.

Why am I excited? Tonight and tomorrow I will be judging speeches for the Online East Regions Mixer of the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA). On March 2nd and 3rd I'll be judging debate rounds for the Online Central Regions Mixer. And in May, I'll be judging speeches and debates in person at the Region 6 Championship here in Indianapolis! 

Maybe sometime I'll do an interview abourt the NCFCA and give the history. Please forgive me for not talking about how it formed and rather focus on why I enjoy doing it and hopefully encourage you to do the same.

My first exposure was when a friend of ours who was homeschooling her children invited us to judge. I don't remember what Becky did, but when I was looking at the topics, I was excited to see contest types was Apologetics. Some may know I wrote a novel with that as a theme. In the NCFCA contests, Apologetics is one of three limited preparation speeches (along with "Impromptu" and "Extemporaneous Speaking." For Apologetics, the student picks from 2 or 3 topics, and spends 4 minutes preparing for a 6 minute speech on the selected topic. 

By the way, what qualifications did Becky and I have to judge the speeches? You might say my Toastmasters experience was a factor, but not really. The speeches/debates are judged by three groups of judges: 1) Parents of NCFCA competitors, 2) Alumni (students that partipated before they graduated High School), and 3) Community Judges. The best way to describe a Community Judge is a none of the above. The organization desires to have people from different backgrounds and experiences judging the speeches so the students have exposure to various perspectives. To judge the Apologetics contests, you have to agree with the Nicene Creed, but that's the only qualification.

A couple of years later, I was at a Toastmasters event, and one of the people encouraged us to judge NCFCA contests. I signed up and was pleasantly surprised to find it was the same organization. This time, I judged a Team Policy debate. There are two forms of Debate competitions: Lincoln Douglas Values one on one debates where it deals with a value (e.g. national security takes precedence over freedom of the press), and Team Policy two on two debates, which focuses on proposing legislation to solve the topic of the year (e.g. Election Law needs to be reformed). A third type of debate, Moot Court (resembling arguing an appellate case) has their own events.

To judge either a speech or debate round, one needs to make a three hour commitment, which includes training. They are thankful for anybody willing to serve as a Community Judge for one round. But I enjoy the speeches and debates enough that I take a day off work and judge several contests. The longest day was when I judged every event for a day once. 

Of course, I didn't judge in 2020, because COVID struck during that time. In 2021, they had on-line events, and I judged some including a couple of moot court competitions. My honest opinion - that was the most work! In other events, I don't have to do any prep; not true in this case.

Last year, I goofed up. I signed up for a live event thinking it was on-line. Nope. 😭

I mentioned the types of debates. There are usually 11 varieties of speech contests, falling into three categories. Above I told you about the limited prep such as Apologetics and Exptemporaneous Speaking, which deals with current events. They also have platform speeches (e.g. Persuasive and Informative) and interpretation, where one or two speakers recite(s) a work of literature (or sometimes their own). 

One non-NCFCA story from a NCFCA event. One time, after judging a tournament, I saw a gentleman sitting at a table who I thought looked familiar. I was correct- It was Gary Varvel, then cartoonist for the Indianapolis Star! I had a nice conversation with him.

Yes, I'm excited about judging NCFCA contests! Did I get you excited enough to check out when speeches are in your area and volunteering and judging? I didn't? Well, I suggest you find a tournament to judge anyway, because the great speeches and debates by these home school students will do a better job of getting you as hooked as I am!

How do I find it? You can go to their webpage (click here) or their Facebook page (click here).

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THE FIRST CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER/APOLOGIST - A LOOK AT JUSTIN MARTYR

Would you believe there was a time when you could identify a philosopher by how they dressed? Likewise, would you believe there was a Christian who chose to wear the outfit of a philosopher?

Justin Martyr became interested in philosophy as a young man in the early 100's. He sat under Stoicist, Aristotlean, and Pythagorean followers before focusing on Platonist teaching. He still wasn't satisfied until he encountered an older Christian.

As mentioned above, Justin chose the garb of the philosopher. This gave him opportunities. For example, it lead him into a friendly dialogue with Trypho the Jew, which Justin put in print... er, written form. 

Bryan Litfin, in his book Getting To Know The Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction, distinguished his ministry with Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius' letters were those of a pastor, strengthening the Church. Justin's primary ministry was to those outside, and he presented the Gospel in a way that reached those of the Greco-Roman society.

Justin did not feel philosophy (or more technically true philosophy) was at odds with the Gospel. He also showed some early wrestling with the realization that the Father was God and Jesus, the Logos, was God, and the Father was not Jesus.

This early church leader did live up to his name. He knew of the consequences taking the name of Christ could have; in fact, the martyrdom of Christians drew him before he came to the faith.

Justin is known for the above Dialogue With Trypho. He also wrote his First Apology and Second Apology. In the former, he gives a picture of what a second century church service looked like.

How do we deal with different people of different backgrounds? Justin Martyr was an early example on contextualization, but while he changed his presentation of the truth, he didn't change the truth.

RANDY SINGER BOOK REVIEW TRILOGY PART 2 OF 3 - THE CROSS EXAMINATION OF OLIVER FINNEY

 

In 2006, Randy Singer released two books in connection with each other: one fiction and one non-fiction. Yesterday, I reviewed the non-fiction book, The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ. Both dealt with the issue of apologetics, but in different way. In the Non-fiction book, Singer focused on who Jesus is. This one deals more with comparative religions.  

The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney was Singer's sixth, and the next to the last to be published by Waterbrook Press. When he switched to Tyndale, his first seven were re-released with the new publisher. While six of them retained their original titles, this one was renamed The Judge.

This book was published before I started writing my novel (which is now finished and in the process of finding a publisher), but I have just read it. I found it interesting because there are some similarities: both this book and my novel are mysteries and both deal with the field of apologetics. Both also have a lot of speaking by the characters in the process of the story, with most of the speaking in both cases "edited out" by the author. That is where the similarities end -- we took completely different tracks on how we dealt with apologetics.

How did this novel fare on both accounts? I might subjectively say that Singer could have been stronger on apologetics but I think he accomplished his point -- please read this to make up your own mind. As far as being a mystery, this is superb, a story that will keep you guessing. I thought I had figured part of it out, and was wrong -- and Singer gave enough hints for me to feel one could figure it out.

As usual, Singer has memorable characters. Singer has hints of being a fan of reality TV (which is also hinted at in his fourth novel, "Self-Incrimination) and of solving ciphers.

I highly recommend this book. Since it's my favorite book by my favorite author ... you bet I recommend it!

RANDY SINGER BOOK REVIEW TRILOGY PART 1 OF 3 - THE CROSS EXAMINATION OF JESUS CHRIST

 

I will swear to tell the truth and the whole truth: Attorney, Minister, and Novelist Randy Singer is my favorite author. I have read all 14 of his novels (and craving #15 - he hasn't had a new release since 2017). He also has written some non-fiction.

I will be doing a three part series focusing on three of his books. The two fiction books don't have  a lot in common. In fact, one of them was one of his two novels where he doesn't bring back a character from a former story (not counting, of course, his debut). The non-fiction, on the other hand, ties in to the novels.

Maybe sometime I'll do a blog looking at Singer as an author. Or I might review some of his other books. Or both. But until then...

The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ is a rare non-fiction book by Christian attorney and legal suspense author Randy Singer. This book was released in 2006 at the same time he released his 6th novel, The Cross-Examination of Oliver Finney (later re-released as The Judge). There are similarities, but there may be more in Singer's 2014 release, The Advocate, Singer's venture into historical suspense (or, more accurately, historical legal suspense).

The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ's first and last chapter is a fictionalized account of Christ's trial by Pilate and Crucifixion, told in the second person so the reader identifies more with the main character. Singer revists that in the 1st person narrative in The Advocate.

The remaining eight chapters look at eight confrontations between Jesus and the Pharisees, pointing out that it's possible we're more like the Pharisees than we want to believer. It deals with issues like fasting, the Deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and politics, among other things. (He also gives a good defense for a public defender representing a party that obviously is guilty.)

If knowing Singer's a lawyer and a novelist isn't enough hints that he's a good story teller, then reading this book will convince you. Besides the two fictionalized chapters, Singer tells a variety of tales from the Bible, history, current events, the courtroom, personal experience and even some hypothetical situations.

I recommend this book.