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1) Was it a tactical mistake for the United States Army & Philippine Commonwealth Defense Forces to surrender to the Japanese?
2) Was a prolonged defense possible?

The Imperial Japanese Army celebrating.




Japanese Imperial Army Victory March Nanking 1937 日本軍の勝利は1937年南京行進

Katsura Garden

by: Oliver Shanti

Oliver Shanti - Senzei Kentaka's Katsura Garden

by: Oliver Shanti


One of my favorite instrumental songs.
Love it.


Oliver Shanti - Spring In Lhasa

Nightingale



yanni - Nightingale (live)


This is one of my favorite songs.

Butterfly Dance


Yani- Butterfly Dance

On Your Shore


Enya - On your Shore

Wild Child


Wild Child - Enya

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your
love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in
you.

Chorus:
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring
hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Chorus:

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we're born to eternal
life.

A beautiful Catholic Mass Hymnal.


by: Aled Jones


make me a channel of your peace

Sweet. Naay pictures?

Quote from: simplylee on May 20, 2009, 01:43:44 PM
hahahaha natapos na gyod  dong hapit na gani to mauga
enjoy imong studies diha!

Ate Lee,
kamusta man ka dinha? How is everyone doing in Bohol? Hope you are doing good, by His Grace!

Bran.

Very nice song. Thanks for sharing this with us, Em.

Ate Ging,

I have not yet. I will try to find this book in Barnes and Nobles this weekend.

How is it?

God's Glory


Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

bwaahaha.

Koddi, where were you born?

Quote from: Ginger on September 10, 2010, 07:42:38 PM
Nindot mag laag didto dapit sa K of C, Els. 

Ako pood, Aleth. When I go back to Philippines, I want to spend time with you as well. Now that I know what areas to visit again in Bohol.

How are you doing? What is new in your life? I miss you.

Quote from: st. agnes on September 10, 2010, 07:14:03 PM
Kuya Bran! member ka sa Kof C? ako hubby member sad ana..

hehe, yes. I am a Knight of Columbus.

Give my regards to my brother knight, your hubby! hehe.


God Bless you both, Elsie. May He shower you and your family with graces abounding.

Quote from: jorgeanna on December 01, 2009, 12:14:16 AM
Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

hehe i love it!

how about this one:


a simple smile can melt the coldest icicle.

be slow to anger, and quick to forgive.

alleluia !

Quote from: Bambi on September 04, 2010, 05:21:22 PM
I have him around for about a period of 13 yrs. Who roamed with me around and push my wheelchair after a knee OP.  Who did understand forgetting to greet his last 35 birthday in Vegas.  Who surprised me with bundle of beautiful red roses and baked a delicious chocolate cake upon waking up and totally forgot our 8th year wedding anniversary.  Thanks GOD!

Amen, Bambina!

You both are lucky to have each other. More power to you both, and more love to come!

God Bless.

"man shall not live by bread alone, but by Every Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God....."

"knock and the door will be opened unto you..."

Quote from: jorgeanna on September 10, 2010, 12:50:21 PM
Thanks, Lorenzo...

Way sapayan, Anne.

Catherine, my old flame,


I never had the chance to recite you the poem that I wrote for you that summer in 07'.
So I will do so here.
Tho it be late.


:

If the books in alden hall could announce the joy
when i see you come by me with the seriousness of it all

could the desks by pertucci's organic chemistry lab describe?
describe the pounding of my heart when you came to help me,
helping me stir my beaker, compare contents in our graduated cylinders,
and watch the effervescence of our distilled product.
Do they?

The truth is, sweetheart, is that i have never met a woman as determined as you.
You are not only beautiful, intelligent, but confident in your answers and in your decisions.
Carbon or not, metals be damned, non-metals be heralded out,
i have come to see the beauty of the human element.
And that, my dear, takes its form in the beauty that is You.

(written April 27, 2007)

Dear Catherine,


I have no strength to write to you via email or call you because i fear the effects of reading your reply, or hearing your voice. I am weak when it concerns you.

You know, tho we have parted ways , over 2 years now, I still think of you from time to time. How are you doing now? How is your work life and job treating you?

Apple, i have moved on and have another love. I admit. But i find myself thinking about you from time to time.

Honestly, i do miss you.



Al

I know how you feel, Anne. But am sure you will be fine, just hang on there. By the time you know it, you'll be going home again to see family.

Hugs,

Suzanne Toolan, RSM: I Am The Bread of Life

Suzanne Toolan's "I Am The Bread of Life. Performed by Cathy Ekaitis on Martin guitar and vocal with Joe Ekaitis, vocal. Recorded live at St. Mary's Church, Fontana, California.

cute and smart?

I agree that death penalty should be enacted for hardcore criminals; however, there should be a viable judicial system so that innocents should not be condemned to death for crimes they did not commit.

Taken when I visited the Basilica Minor de Senor Santo Nino de Cebu for the first time.
Pit Senyor~

Let's revive this thread.

Interesting. How do the members of Tubag Bohol Dot Com feel about this?

Tubag!

"you'd make a great dad,..."

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. 

~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Beautiful, Vhinz and Toy.

Quote from: bol-anon nga cebuano on September 10, 2010, 07:41:13 AM
yes bran that's correct. even if you have small or short penis but you know how to apply TDK, that's fine. 

puahaha. Its how many times we can make our partners orgasm, and how many 'times' we enjoy with our partners, not the size.
A man can have the size of a horse' penis, but can be, unfortunately, a 1-minute Jimmy.

Luoy pood ang partner.

but of course, mon ami. and to intensify the delight to our tongue, let us also add some freshly picked strawberry , dipped in melted Godiva chocolate.

Winnie the Pooh Puppy. Adorable little thing.

Dear R_____________,


I miss you, buddy. Wish i could still confide in you. Watch over me, bro.


Love you always,
You are ever in my prayers,
Al

Dear ______________,


How are you now? Its been ages since we last met and sat down for coffee and talked. I hope life has been kind to you, and that you remain as you always were to me--kind, benevolent, and a beautiful soul. I hope to see and talk to you soon. Perhaps in New Years we can schedule something.


Your good friend,

She never gave me flowers, but she did get me a bracelet with her and my initials in it. I wear it all the time.

Quote from: bol-anon nga cebuano on September 07, 2010, 12:16:54 AM
i'd prefer the former since they are far more sexier than their british counterparts.
aside from that i like kristin davis even if she's already 45. she's still very pretty and sexy.

hehe. you have such a solid point, Ray. They say that the older the berry, the sweater the juice.

It's good to know that you also like WWII, Ray.


I'd love to talk with you about other things regarding other WWII theaters.

Nice results.

Quote from: bol-anon nga cebuano on September 09, 2010, 11:45:18 PM
hahaha, just kidding bran. im contented with what i have, i mean the size of my birdy.

hehe, ingon kono mga puti baji nga ang pinoy--gifted in sexual libido, and longevity. Basta maka contento ang atong partner, ug ma contento pood ang laki, mao ra na. Not to mention our fertility.

hehe, ug ang laki nga naay 12-14 inch penis, pero dili ka fully satisfy anb baji, ug dili pood maka anak sa baji, in the scheme of things, wa jamo. hehe.

Kai ang anatomy sa vagina sa babahe, ang pleasuring spot is not deep in the vaginal orifice--too deep and we will hit the uterus (and fallopian tubes!) hehe. Ang sensitive spot sa babahe (sex spot) is in the first 1-2 inches, in the anterior-nodal ridge of the vagina, sa opening jud. The region where the clitoris is located. This is why the girth of the penis is important, and the curvature is necessary in order to intensify the female's sensation. When peaked, she will climax, otherwise known as Orgasm.

It is the girth, the curvature, and the longevity of the male's sexual potency and of course 'secondary techniques' that matters when it concerns sexual performance and pleasure.

Very nice; I never knew that Loon produced so many priests.

Quote from: bol-anon nga cebuano on September 09, 2010, 06:21:37 AM
mao diay dagko ug bunal ang mga westerners kay wala may tuli. maypa wala sad ko nagpatuli sa una. hehehe

brod Ray, there are some exercise techniques that can actually help in the size and girth of your penis.

Quote from: ben on September 09, 2010, 09:29:53 AM
I still get confused between pisot (guy with no tuli) and piso (baby chicken).

haha, for me, Ben, it also sounds weird hearing that word. "Pisot".

Thanks for the link Ray.

"have  a nice day, and i'll talk to you again tomorrow, okay?"

"i just want you to know that i do love you."

Sweet beauty in the foreground.

Is this how you swim?

hehe. Are you in love?

JLS - Everybody In Love **HIGH QUALITY** official 5 star!! * * * * *

lol, total kisser diay.

Quote from: jorgeanna on September 05, 2010, 09:14:40 AM
good for you. how did you do it? maybe next time i will follow what you did.......

honestly, i wrapped t-shirts and what not on said bottles, and then placed it in a plastic box and then placed the box in my check-in baggage.

Quote from: fdaray on July 10, 2010, 04:24:32 PM
X-ray, xerox. xylophone xanthates, xanthidia, xanthippe, xanthogen, xanthosis, xenelasia, xenocryst, xenodochy, xenograft, xenoliths, xenomania

Mr. Daray, you take the prize!

Bow.

Quote from: islander on July 04, 2010, 11:53:16 AM
did you know that the largest pearl in the world was found in the palawan sea in the philippines in 1934?  the 'pearl of lao-tzu' or 'pearl of allah' weighs 14 pounds and is estimated to be 600 years old.  its current worth is pegged at us$42 million.

lol,  'pearl of allah' ? We should find it and then split the profits, Isle.

Alhamdullilah! (?)

Luxury SUV at its finest

Driving new Mercedes GL 350 BlueTEC 2010

This is by far, probably the most beautiful SUV out there.

The epitome of a Luxury SUV.

2010 Range Rover Sport goes off-roading

lol, is it a boat or is it an SUV?

Beauty and Power.

What a gorgeous, gorgeous ride..


2010 Land Rover LR4 Off Road

I admire automobiles, in general, Virgil.


1. I am a fan of Japanese automobiles and engineering. I own and drive a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and can attest to how durable it is in snowy/icy conditions, as well as have operated it in muddy terrain. I never once experienced any engine problems with the Montero, nor had operation problems. It's a gas guzzler (lol!).

2. I've also driven my parents' Toyota 4Runner & Toyota Sequoia , and can personally attest that when you drive a Toyota SUV, you are given not only comfort, safety, easy access, as well as luxury at the same time. I am a firm believer of Japanese Automobiles.

I also have a special heart for German cars. Especially Porsche; only because I've also driven my mom's Porsche Cayenne S.

I can't choose between Japanese or German automobiles. They both make really good automobiles. lol.

Ray, undoubtedly the main obstacle to the German Military High Command , aside from the Allies, was Hitler himself. His greatest blunder was declaring war on Russia via Operation Barbarosa. This protracted total war with the Soviets drained the German Military Machine's resources, and the theater of operation in the East was the major reason why the Reich was in desperate need of oil supplies, that and the same time, taking the Oil rich North Africa would secure the Reich's southern flank, and at the same time starve the British' colonies in the East of much needed supplies.

For me, I think that the total capitulation of North Africa would have been possible had he done the following (or of the said processes came to effect):

1. Hitler never should have invaded Russia; maintaining a neutral stance with the Soviets, or at least waited till German successfully invaded and conquered Britain. This would have preserved manpower and allowed effective consolidation of newly-conquored regions and much needed raw materials/resources.

2. Rommel should have taken an early offensive in the war; in my opinion, waiting gave the allied 8th Army time to set up a defense that was responsible for the expulsion of Rommels' offensives.

3. The North African theater should have utilized the air force to great advantage; much like Germany's Blitzkrieg strategy against the French in 1940.

4. Rommel should have sent in amphibious assault troops into the Allied positions days prior to his offensive, and enacted decommunication operations. This would have reduced the allied 8th Army's internal communication, and would have preoccupied the 8th army for a time, giving Rommel the much needed advantage. Rommel should then have invaded immediately, whilst the allied 8th army was preoccupied.

Question to you tho:
Where was the Italian Navy in this scenario? The Italians had one of the largest navies in the Mediterranean during this time; it would have helped if Il Duche' sent in 3-5 cruisers, and some destroyers, as well as its carrier to pulverize the Allied defenses. Don't you think?

Get out of my way, snow!

4runner in cul de sac snow

The Toyota 4Runner.


Toyota 4Runner

This could, perhaps, be the perfect combination of Luxury, power, and offroading capability.

Japan's Finest.


4Runner 4Wheeling

Quote from: vrglguapo on September 09, 2010, 01:32:37 AM
I love this Mitsubishi Pajero 10 times winner of Dakar Rally..Dakar Sampiyonu ve Yeni Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi, imo, reigns supreme in the world of Offroading.

Its an 'All in One' vehicle.

The Epitome of Japanese Mechanical Engineering.

Mitsubishi Montero Sport rips through snow.

Beautiful machine.


little snow drift Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Behold, I conquer the muddy terrain. Get out of my way. 


Montero Sport muddin'
Beautiful piece of machinery..

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport crosses the Wasgamuwa River.


Beauty and Power. Combined. 


Monetero Sport Crossing the Wasgamuwa River

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Limited Series.

montero sport 4x4 off road adventures

Anne, is your heart calling for your beloved husband?

There is solace in knowing that love is rewarded always with posterity in the wait. May you find strength in knowing that your beloved yearns for you as you yearn for him.

Rey, donde es los cuadros? agradece a mi amigo!

by: A. Lorenzo Lucino Jr.

On His Patience

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3: 8-9

Evade Partiality Towards the Poor


And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor.

James 2: 3-6

We Are His First-Fruits


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James 1: 17-18

The Love of God Is Abounding


For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 57:10

Confidence In Christ's Promise

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
1 John 4:13-15

Quote from: ben on September 08, 2010, 09:03:03 AM
Tinuod, wai tuli mga Europeans.  Danghan americanos angay tuli pero sa Europe nagtoo mga taaw morag genital mutilation.

General trend here in the United States is to circumcise the male baby after delivery. The physician usually asks the parent if they would want the male to be circumcised, and its custom for the parent to acquiesce. In certain , rare , circumstances, they decline to do so (usually do to a penile development abnormality, which requires some time to alleviate before circumcision is elected).

Standardized naman ni diri sa US of A. 

Quote from: vrglguapo on September 08, 2010, 02:31:39 PM
made in Taiwan man kining klase sa banig...

hehe, bisan Taiwanese or Pilipino, mo ganahan jud ko mo tug sa Banig. Sayang lang wa jud ko ka palit ug banig , di pood lagi mo sud sa ahong carry-on bag.

Lami mo tug sa payag nga naay banig. simple, yet comfortable.

Quote from: islander on September 08, 2010, 08:10:34 PM
present!  isles here, not the tokoy mamma mia.  we lost her, huhuhu.  and found her again.  oh, happy heart.

nagdamgo kag porsche cayenne turbo, ako nag-nightmare over a lost and found puppy.  will there ever be an american car that's designed like a puppy?  

hehe dag damgo ko kai guapo man gud. Gusto ko ani. Dream car.

As for the latter, sure am sure there are. In terms of friendliness, cuteness, and small size:

the color scheme looks nice, it matches you, me-thinks.

2010 Ford Fiesta.

Quote from: kan-ogong on September 06, 2010, 11:39:44 PM
para nako Japanese car and pinaka best. di ba sa US tan awa ang mga mitirk nga mga car sa gilid sa kalsada puro American car.wala ka makita nga mga japanese car.

Kan,

I will agree with you that in general, Japanese Automobiles are designed for excellence. I'm a confident owner of a Mitsubishi Montero Sport (Pajero Sport) and can tell you that the Japanese designed my vehicle as an 'All Terrain SUV'. It can drive through snow, through muddy terraine, off-road in around hills/mountains, on paved roads, on grassy roads etc. The V6 engine is as competitive as any other American-built SUV, handling is excellent: given its power steering and easy access add-ons.

Having driven my father's Toyota 4-Runner and my mother's Toyota Sequoia; the same can be said for Toyota vehicles. These vehicles are built not only for comfort, luxury (if you go to higher-end models), as well as performance and safety standards. The Toyota dealership is popular here due to :
1. Economic affordability
2. General Safety standards
3. Performance standards
4. Luxury , ease of access standards
5. Design: interior & exterior

Thus, making it a competitive brand, even amongst the American-built automobiles.

PS. Toyota is no longer a 'purely' Japanese company. Most of the Toyota automobiles are manufactured here in the United States.

---

In defense of American automobile industry tho, the quality of American automobiles have risen these past 2 decades and are known for their endurance, performance, safety, power and luxury comforts. Ford, for example, is the main competitor to Toyota. And additionally, there are really good American brands out there (for the average buyer to the high-end buyer):

1. Cadillac
2. Lincoln
3. Chevrolet
4. GMC
5. Ford/Mercury
6. Chrysler

mao bitaw, bai Bedo, lisud bitaw ni mog concentrate sa trabaho when na guba-guba atong balay  ug pamilya. In any case, I  hope only the best for Tiger, his x-wife, and kid.

Physical relationship is simple, but managing and coping with the effects when it destroys one's family requires some--mental stamina

Dali na, tug na ta. 

   
   

Today as never before, Christians are being called upon to give reasons for the hope that is within them. Often in the evangelistic context seekers raise questions about the validity of the gospel message. Removing intellectual objections will not make one a Christian; a change of heart wrought by the Spirit is also necessary. But though intellectual activity is insufficient to bring another to Christ, it does not follow that it is also unnecessary. In this essay we will examine the place and purpose of apologetics in the sharing of our faith with others.

The word "apologetics" never actually appears in the Bible. But there is a verse which contains its meaning:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you the reason for the hope that is within you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).

The Greek word apologia means "answer," or "reasonable defense." It does not mean to apologize, nor does it mean just to engage in intellectual dialogue. It means to provide reasonable answers to honest questions and to do it with humility, respect, and reverence.

The verse thus suggests that the manner in which one does apologetics is as important as the words expressed. And Peter tells us in this passage that Christians are to be ready always with answers for those who inquire of us concerning our faith. Most Christians have a great deal of study ahead of them before this verse will be a practical reality in their evangelistic efforts.

Another question that often comes up in a discussion about the merits and place of apologetics is, "What is the relationship of the mind to evangelism?" "Does the mind play any part in the process?" "What about the effects of the fall?" "Isn't man dead in trespasses and sins?" "Doesn't the Bible say we are to know nothing among men except Jesus Christ and Him crucified?" "Why do we have to get involved at all in apologetics if the Spirit is the One Who actually brings about the New Birth?"

I think you will agree that today there are many Christians who are firmly convinced that answering the intellectual questions of unbelievers is an ineffectual waste of time. They feel that any involvement of the mind in the gospel interchange smacks too much of human effort and really just dilutes the Spirit's work.

But Christianity thrives on intelligence, not ignorance. If a real Reformation is to accompany the revival for which many of us pray, it must be something of the mind as well as the heart. It was Jesus who said, "Come and see." He invites our scrutiny and investigation both before and after conversion.

We are to love God with the mind as well as the heart and the soul. In fact, the early church was powerful and successful because it out-thought and out-loved the ancient world. We are not doing either very well today.

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


Most Christians today seem to prefer experiencing Christianity to thinking about or explaining it. But consider these verses:

Matthew 13:23: "But he who received the seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit." They all heard it, but only the "good soil" comprehended it.

Acts 8:30: "When the Spirit prompted Philip to join himself to the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch (who was reading Isaiah 53), he asked, `Do you understand what you are reading?' The eunuch replied, `How can I except some man should guide me?'"

Acts 18:4: Paul at Corinth was "reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath and trying to persuade the Jews and Greeks."

Acts 19:8: Paul at Ephesus "entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God."

Romans 10:17: "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Again the emphasis is on hearing with perception.

2 Corinthians 5:11: "We persuade men," says Paul. Vine's Expository Dictionary describes this Greek word like this: "to apply persuasion, to prevail upon or win over, bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral considerations."

All of these words--persuasion, dialogue, discourse, dispute, argue, present evidence, reason with--are vehicles of communication and are at the heart of Paul's classical evangelistic model. Can there be saving faith without understanding? Can there be understanding without reasoning? The Bible would appear to say no. Paul urges believers in 2 Timothy 2:15 to study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed.

J. Gresham Machen, a great Christian scholar, said the following words in 1912 to a group of young men at Princeton Seminary:

QuoteIt would be a great mistake to suppose that all men are equally well-prepared to receive the gospel. It is true that the decisive thing is the regenerative power in connection with certain prior conditions for the reception of the Gospel. . . . I do not mean that the removal of intellectual objections will make a man a Christian. No conversion was ever wrought by argument. A change of heart is also necessary . . . but because the intellectual labor is insufficient, it does not follow that it is unnecessary. God may, it is true, overcome all intellectual obstacles by an immediate exercise of His regenerative power. Sometimes He does. But He does so very seldom. Usually He exerts His power in connections with certain conditions of the human mind. Usually He does not bring into the kingdom, entirely without preparation, those whose mind and fancy are completely contaminated by ideas which make the acceptance of the Gospel logically impossible.

If these words were true in 1912, how much more are they needed today?

The Swiss cheese theory of knowledge goes something like this. Most scientists today have a very good knowledge base of their own specific area. This includes being very aware of its particular weaknesses. But most only have a rather popular understanding of other fields and actually believe that everything there is pretty solid. So as the scientist pokes his head out of the hole in the Swiss cheese and scans the horizon, he sees some pretty big holes in the immediate area, but as he looks beyond his own field, the holes seem to disappear. Now if he were able to step back from his private hole in the cheese and actually look at the whole thing, he would quickly see that the entire block of cheese is riddled with holes.

Dr. Charles Thaxton, currently teaching at Charles University in Prague, told his audience at the recent meeting of the Evangelical Theology Society that more and more scientists are beginning to step back from their own private hole in the Swiss cheese of naturalistic materialism and are stepping back to see that the entire thing is riddled with holes.

The first hole to appear was that the universe was not infinite. The Big Bang theory has left in ruins the idea of a self- perpetuating universe. Something or Someone has caused our existence. Then even within the context of the Big Bang, mathematicians determined that there is still not enough time for the universe to produce life. Then with the invention of the electron microscope we began to see that the cell was not just a blob of protoplasm, but a highly complex machine operating at a speed and level of complexity that far outstrips our most complex computers. On top of that the time period to produce the first life suddenly was reduced from a billion years in the early earth to less than 100 million years. The ability to form even the simplest building blocks of life became nearly impossible to achieve in the early earth. If you are a reader of TIME magazine, you saw in a recent issue that the earliest complex life appeared in what has been known as the Cambrian explosion. This period was first thought to encompass 75 then 30 and now less than 10 million years. Scientists are becoming very uncomfortable because they simply cannot see how natural processes can accomplish all this. Not only is the Swiss cheese full of holes, but the holes keep getting bigger.

The biggest hole Dr. Thaxton described involved biology and the DNA molecule. We have stressed this point many times at Probe. If you recall, it goes something like this: DNA contains the information in each living cell for its formation and all of its processes. Primarily this is accomplished by the fact that the sequence of nucleotides in segments of DNA called genes, code for the sequence of amino acids in proteins. The function of the protein is dependent on the sequence of amino acids and hence on the sequence in DNA. The genetic code is therefore an informational code. Information theory and communication theory are united in proclaiming that informational codes only arise from an intelligent source. Naturalistic materialism cannot accomplish that.

In a conversation with me after his lecture, Dr. Thaxton indicated that he first of all wanted to communicate that science is not the enemy. If something is true, science will support it. And second, that the evidence concerning DNA is available to almost anyone. It is solid persuasive evidence that will cause any open inquisitive mind to stop and consider the implications. With many skeptics today, that small window is enough for the truth of the gospel to get through.

The Christian church has been sharing and defending God's truth for almost two millennia. During those two thousand years there have been many challenges to the faith. As we enter a new millennium it is still necessary to give serious consideration to how we can best defend the gospel with our theology intact. Dr. Thomas Oden, professor of theology at Drew University, recently addressed the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society by answering seven questions pertaining to how the faith can be defended theologically.

1. Is the willingness to suffer for truth intrinsic to the Christian understanding of the truth? Dr. Oden answers by stating that "No Christian teacher is worth listening to who is not willing to suffer if need be for the truth that is being taught." Thus if we are going to stand for the truth in the face of opposition, we must realize that it may include persecution, even physical persecution. This sobering truth is found throughout the New Testament. Its application continues today.

2. How is the concept of the "non-Christian" world best understood evangelically? "It can only point to a world which lives in despair," not realizing that the redeeming love of the Incarnate living God has been revealed. But as we live in the midst of such despair, we should be cautious to not take the world's fallenness more seriously than the world's redemption through Jesus Christ.

3. What is happening in the confessing evangelical movements within the North American mainline? The answer to this question can give us hope. The mainline denominations, which have progressively abandoned historic orthodoxy over the past thirty years, have begun to experience the movement of the Holy Spirit. The faithful remnant within these denominations are gaining momentum which can effect needed changes. Thus we should observe these movements and learn what God is doing as opposed to spending all our energies voicing "moral outrage and repeating negative grievances."

4. Is the history of exegesis recoverable after a century of reductionist historicism? Dr. Oden states that "the Holy Spirit has a history. When this history is systematically forgotten, it is incumbent upon evangelical guardianship to recover it by new rigorous historical effort." The wisdom of the past has been dormant much too long. It must be recovered. We need not continue to suffer from amnesia.

5. At what point will we learn to kick the post out of ultramodernity? Perhaps you have heard the term postmodernism. Dr. Oden makes a distinction between this word and ultramodernity by asserting that postmodern describes the orthodox person who has gone through the nightmare of modernity only to awaken in the "central tradition of classical Christianity." Ultramodernity best describes the ravings of the "academic avant garde." "The period after modernity is a required course for evangelicals who attest the risen Lord amid a dying culture."

6. Where is the Holy Spirit leading evangelical apologetics? After suffering through the demise of Western thought, the Christian community is now being led back to a study of the word of God made known in history.

7. Will the church endure? Dr. Oden believes that even though the church has always struggled with apostasy and always will, "the church as body of Christ will be preserved till the end of time."

These seven questions and Dr. Oden's answers certainly provide food for thought. The apologetic task is great and sometimes threatening. But God is still at work among His people.

Christianity is uniquely tied to history. At its very core it depends on historical events as a test for the validity of what God has done on our behalf. As Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15, if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. Thus, the historical reality of the resurrection of Christ can be seen as a foundation upon which all believers can build their life in Christ.

What if, as some recent historians have argued, we can have no objective knowledge about history, that we can never really know what happened in the past? Most historians now recognize that personal preferences, group affiliations, different systems of historical interpretation, and different world views create a barrier between the historian and what really has occurred. But is the barrier total and unscalable?

Dr. Gary Habermas, professor of philosophy and theology at Liberty University, recently addressed the topic of apologetics and history at the Evangelical Theological Society's annual conference in Philadelphia. His address noted some of the strengths and weaknesses of evangelical scholars in their use of and contributions to the study of history. However, what might be the most important issue dealt with was this growing assertion in Western academia that knowledge of the past cannot be known objectively. If this position is accepted as valid, then we can never know that Jesus Christ even walked the earth other than in a personal subjective way through the eyes of faith. One way some historians state this view is that history is only found in the historian's mind; that is, it cannot be found in the facts or evidence of past events. Philosopher Karl Popper writes, "There can be no history of the past as it actually did happen; there can only be historical interpretations; and none of them final; and every generation has a right to frame its own."

Dr. Habermas points out some weaknesses of this position. First, just because one holds personal prejudices and preferences it does not follow that objective standards cannot be established. Do we nullify a doctor's diagnosis of an illness because of his feelings towards his patient? Second, the claim that all historical knowledge is relative is self contradictory. By merely making this claim about history one is assuming that at least one claim about history is somehow true. Could there not be others? Third, many historians write as if historical relativism is true, but then ask us to take their works of historical interpretation seriously. Charles Beard's writings on the founding of our constitutional system ask us to accept many of his conclusions about what really happened as true, yet he has been an advocate of historical relativism. Fourth, prejudice can be recognized and handled. Thomas Nagel writes, "The very fact that biased thinking can be detected and its sources investigated shows that objective explanations in history is not necessarily hopeless." Finally, the study of history employs normal inductive measures that render knowable conclusions. Evidence can be offered, debated, and interpreted for historical events just as it is in the search for scientific knowledge.

Although much work needs to be done in the area of linking apologetics and the work of historians, there is good reason to believe that the effort is worth making.

Inspiring, really.

Praise be to God, thank you for posting this. It reminds us that the truly simplest of things matter most.

Quote from: simplylee on September 08, 2010, 11:02:41 AM
nahan ko ani nga color 

Ate Lee,

If you like this color, then I surmise you must love Loboc River & its cruise.

What do theologians talk about when they get together? Not always theology. At the recent annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, the opening address by Dr. J. P. Moreland was about the need for believers to understand philosophy in order to advance the kingdom of God.

For many of us, our contact with philosophy probably comes from Colossians 2:8 which says "See that no one take you captive through philosophy and empty deception." So why would any Christian want to have anything to do with philosophy?

Many Christians today feel that they and the church have been pushed to the edge of the cultural discussion: they feel marginalized. How did Christians in the past earn the right to be taken seriously in their culture? What did they do in the "good old days"?

Dr. Moreland spoke of John Wesley's requirements for a minister of the gospel. What was first on his list? A capacity for sound reasoning. And what should he study? "Logic, metaphysic, natural theology, and geometry!" Most seminary students today don't even take one course in philosophy, and yet we expect them to understand the times and know how to answer the philosophical skeptics who love to ridicule Christianity.

What did the great Church Father Augustine say in the fifth century? "We must show our scriptures not to be in conflict with whatever our critics can demonstrate about the nature of things from reliable sources." Philosophy was the main tool Augustine used in this task.

Philip Johnson, a distinguished law professor at the University of California-Berkeley, speaks and writes pointedly about the weaknesses of what he calls philosophical naturalism. This is the philosophy that undergirds not only evolution, but also much of the way our culture looks at all of life. It proclaims that science gives the only facts we can know are true, and if science cannot study something, then it isn't important. This is a deeply held philosophical position, and Dr. Johnson's arguments have been philosophical ones, but he has made them understandable to most of us. He has been an excellent example of using philosophy to show the weaknesses of a world view that attacks Christianity.

What can the church be doing to carry forward the task of "letting philosophy provide structure and sharpness to our discourse in the public square"? We need to integrate philosophy into the everyday work of the church. We can encourage our seminaries to hire at least one philosophy professor. We can make classes and institutes a part of the church's teaching ministry and attend them. We can set aside funds for students who want to study philosophy. We can bring Christian philosophers into the network of the church to both teach us and be a part of the body of Christ.

"As the history of the church has shown us, the broader development of the life of the mind is important for advancing the kingdom of God, and learning philosophy is crucial for developing a broader life of the mind."

So, perhaps each of us needs to think a little more and encourage those who lead us to teach us how to think carefully, logically, and clearly so that we can have accurate, well-thought-out answers when people challenge our Christian faith. As Peter says, God expects us to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).


Are you prepared?

Suffering For Christ


"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

I Peter 3:15-17

Christ's Authority


Acts 3:6 "But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - walk!"

Acts 2:38, "And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let each of you be baptized In The Name Of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."













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