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A number of people lately have been intrigued to meet a French theologian, and have asked me to tell them the story of how I, a French atheist, became a Christian scholar. Even the theologians and apologists I met recently at the ETS Conference in Baltimore (where by God’s grace I was delivering my first scholarly paper) seemed to care (understandably) more about my conversion from atheism than my immediate theology paper! Therefore, it seemed fitting to type it up properly, to have a clean telling of that story of God breaking into my life, ready to be shared with...

Baden-Baden has been a spa town since Roman times, drawing tourists for its therapeutic waters, and more recently for a festival hall that features prominent classical artists. It also has a Faberge museum, which seems appropriate at this time of year: Christmas in Germany is like a brightly decorated eggshell with no egg inside. The forms of the holiday are merrily observed, but not the faith. To declare one’s belief in a personal God counts for proof of mental defect here as well as in most parts of Europe, especially among educated people. Nonetheless there is more faith left...

The Messianic prophecies were written over the span of a millennium by several Old Testament prophets. They spoke of a Messiah who would one day come to earth and walk among mankind. These prophecies mentioned specific names, locations, and even the timing surrounding His appearance. The known date of completion for the Old Testament writings is 430 B.C., so these prophecies were in circulation at least 430 years before the time of Christ. ************ The outline we will be following for this discussion is as follows: 1) Introduction: What are the Messianic Prophecies? 2) The Messianic Lineage 3) The Messianic...

"'I will declare the decree:' the LORD has said to Me, 'You are my son, Today I have begotten You.'" (Psalms 2:7) One of the most contentious issues between modern day Jewish and Christian scholars is whether the Messiah would be the "Son of God." The Christian New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus believed he was the Son of God, and that the disciples believed this as well. However, most 20th century rabbis claim that the Messiah is simply a man. In 1992 I had a discussion about the Messiah with a Jewish physician, a man who was a Torah...

One of the more interesting aspects of argument between Christians and atheists is the habit of some to assume that the existence of a possible naturalistic explanation decisively rebuts any assertion of a supernatural cause — regardless of the improbability of the naturalistic explanation (given the current state of scientific thought). So stories of miraculous healing are dismissed as doctor’s errors or the placebo effect or, simply, wishful thinking. Other kinds of claimed encounters with God are dismissed as “coincidence” or even madness (and, to be clear, coincidences do exist, and some people are insane). But the ability to articulate...

CLAREMONT (CBSLA.com) — A local church nativity scene depicts a homeless Virgin Mary at a bus stop with a newborn Baby Jesus swaddled in burlap. The theme for this year’s display at Claremont United Methodist Church on Foothill Boulevard is “Commercialism and the Oppressed.” Church leaders say the eyes of God are always watching and people should reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. “We want to draw attention to those people who are on the margins who Jesus would be standing with today,” said Pamela Bunce of Claremont United Methodist Church. The Southland church is known for its design...

(LWI) – Rev. Martin Junge, General Secretary of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) says relations between the Lutheran and Catholic churches have reached an epoch-making turning-point. Speaking during a panel discussion, held 18 December, in the Lutheran church in Rome, Junge emphasized that the relationship between Lutherans and Catholics was being transformed “from conflict to communion.” Precisely in a world “in which religion and faith are regularly portrayed and perceived as trouble makers,” he said it was a phenomenal testimony that the Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches continued to move “towards a profound communion that frees us to serve God...

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he is trying to bridge a split in the Anglican Church over same-sex marriage. The Most Rev Justin Welby told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs he wanted to listen to both sides. He also admitted to moments of frustration on the issue. He did not discuss his previous opposition to gay marriage, saying it would be "inappropriate" while the Church was debating it. He also told the programme about growing up with an alcoholic father. 'Listen carefully'On gay marriage, he told presenter Kirsty Young: "When I listen to people I know that I'm listening...

Average Catholics asked today how often they read the Bible likely would say that they do not read the Bible regularly. However, if asked how often they read Scripture, the answer would be different. Practicing Catholics know they read and hear Scripture at every Mass. Many also recognize that basic prayers Catholics say, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, are scriptural. But for most Catholics, the Scripture they hear and read is not from the Bible. It is from a worship aid in the pew. Scripture always has played an important role in the prayer life of...

Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon December 19, 2014 Morning Reading The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. —Proverbs 16:33 If the disposal of the lot is the Lord's whose is the arrangement of our whole life? If the simple casting of a lot is guided by Him, how much more the events of our entire life—especially when we are told by our blessed Saviour: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered: not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father." It would bring a holy calm over...

heated dispute between a pro-life protester and parishioners of First Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obispo ended with police involvement and multiple citations issued on Dec. 14. However, after initially citing protester and Paso Robles resident Danny Ehinger for two municipal code violations on Dec. 14 and sticking by the decision in a conversation with New Times on Dec. 15, SLOPD Capt. Chris Staley said on Dec. 17 that the department has decided to dismiss both citations. “We reviewed the case with [SLO City Attorney Christine Dietrick], and we decided to dismiss both of the citations,” Staley said. “She didn’t...

Background: On Nov 5th, 2014, Dr. Gregory Fiebig, a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University (a Christian university), presented his pro-abortion views at the "Life vs Choice" public forum. His statements included, "I’m very strongly supportive of pro-choice, and I have a very theological reason for that." Days later, Dr. Fiebig gave a more detailed defense of legal abortion in a letter to IWU's student newspaper, The Sojourn. In a letter to the IWU community, President Dr. David Wright offered no evidence to change the perception that Dr. Fiebig supports legal abortion. This is why we are calling for Dr. Fiebig...

Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon December 18, 2014 Morning Reading Rend your heart, and not your garments. —Joel 2:13 Garment-rendering and other outward signs of religious emotion, are easily manifested and are frequently hypocritical; but to feel true repentance is far more difficult, and consequently far less common. Men will attend to the most multiplied and minute ceremonial regulations—for such things are pleasing to the flesh—but true religion is too humbling, too heart-searching, too thorough for the tastes of the carnal men; they prefer something more ostentatious, flimsy, and worldly. Outward observances are temporarily comfortable; eye and ear are...

ALEXANDRIA -- The First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, which lost some members about a year ago after a dispute involving its gay choir director, will close its doors for good at the end of 2014. David Mantor, pastor of the church, said the decision to close the church resulted from falling attendance, membership and financing problems. Mantor said statistics he's seen from United Methodist Church headquarters show a "downward spiral" of membership and donations across the whole UM church for the past 30 years. "This is a problem that's going on everywhere," Mantor said. "And that's why we're closing."

“And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself” – the prophet Elijah to the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:27 How boring would life be if we only spoke to one another with necessities? How mundane would play-by-play sports be if sports announcers were replaced with the equivalent of the Emergency Response System robot voice? That is exactly what we would have in our daily conversations without the crayon of the English language known as “sarcasm”. I will be the first to admit that I...

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life... The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when: Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have...

A clinic worker described one of the women who came to her clinic for an abortion: “Another [woman coming in for an abortion] who identified herself as Christian, was very active in her church. Before the abortion she said, “I’m in church six days a week, yet here I am.” She said that her religion forbids abortion, but after a good conversation she said that maybe her church was “too comfortable” in its position against abortion. She thought maybe they needed to examine the aspects of the issue that they were comfortable with. Even though she was steeped in her...

Sorry, senator -- it's not happening. To the surprise of approximately nobody, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is proceeding full steam ahead with plans to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. The Tea Party icon has already settled on a location for his campaign headquarters (Houston), made the requisite appeals to GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, and decided on a campaign strategy. That strategy, National Review’s Eliana Johnson reports, centers on energizing the GOP base, not wooing moderates and independents to the Republican fold. Of course, the hard demographic truth is that a Republican can’t win the presidency by relying on...

Your prerequisite in all things is to first acquire My Presence for in My courts there are libraries of scrolls providing the wisdom and knowledge in first acquiring the understanding to decipher and illuminate My Word in Spirit and Truth and it is in the interpretation of your heavenly languages, "that exist even now in the alcoves of your wellspring" but these can only rise up into reality and understanding as you manifest and operate totally in the Menorah of light " The Manifold Wisdom of God " My very fullness indwelling you as "an eternal light of My Kingdom...

I wrote in my book, “unPlanned,” about a church that kicked me out when they found out that I worked for Planned Parenthood. I often get questioned about that, whether I still think they made the wrong decision. My answer is a resounding YES. I try not to go down the “what if” road very often. It isn’t fruitful and just makes you feel crummy. But, just for the sake of this article, let’s go there. What if I had been ministered to instead of shunned by that church? How could my life be different? Well, maybe I would have...