Posted on 08/27/2005 9:28:07 PM PDT by Crackingham
Dinny the roadside dinosaur has found religion. The 45-foot-high concrete apatosaurus has towered over Interstate 10 near Palm Springs for nearly three decades as a kitschy prehistoric pit stop for tourists. Now he is the star of a renovated attraction that disputes the fact that dinosaurs died off millions of years before humans first walked the planet.
Dinny's new owners, pointing to the Book of Genesis, contend that most dinosaurs arrived on Earth the same day as Adam and Eve, some 6,000 years ago, and later marched two by two onto Noah's Ark. The gift shop at the attraction, called the Cabazon Dinosaurs, sells toy dinosaurs whose labels warn, "Don't swallow it! The fossil record does not support evolution."
The Cabazon Dinosaurs join at least half a dozen other roadside attractions nationwide that use the giant reptiles' popularity in seeking to win converts to creationism. And more are on the way.
"We're putting evolutionists on notice: We're taking the dinosaurs back," said Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, a Christian group building a $25-million creationist museum in Petersburg, Ky., that's already overrun with model sauropods and velociraptors.
"They're used to teach people that there's no God, and they're used to brainwash people," he said. "Evolutionists get very upset when we use dinosaurs. That's their star."
The nation's top paleontologists find the creation theory preposterous and say children are being misled by dinosaur exhibits that take the Jurassic out of "Jurassic Park."
"Dinosaurs lived in the Garden of Eden, and Noah's Ark? Give me a break," said Kevin Padian, curator at the University of California Museum of Paleontology in Berkeley and president of National Center for Science Education, an Oakland group that supports teaching evolution. "For them, 'The Flintstones' is a documentary."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
There is a large misconception of "freewill". While it's true that we make choices, it is the Lord who determines the results. Those who suggest otehrwise would seek to limit God's utter sovereignty over His creation. I can will myself to be rich, I can will myself to be taller, I can will myself to have a nicer car. Those things that I will may or may not play out the way I want them to,
Pro 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
But I take comfort in the LORD'S providencial care of me,
Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
So, regarding Free Will and heaven:
To the regenerate Christian, there is one driving force - to serve God and to live by His precepts and Laws. Our goal is heaven, where we can finally be made perfect in His sight, and spend our days worshipping Him in all His glory and majesty. We are made holy and righteous, we will have no other "will".
This whole notion of "free will" is man-made, as the unsaved doens't want anything to do with God or His law. "Free will" is a way that man attempts to excuse away fleshly desires, and seeks to say that God is not sovereign over their lives. Our inherent nature is sin, naturally our will is set against doing what He commands of us. This notion of "free will" is how many assuage their own guilt, rahter than repenting before the Lord and committing their lives to Him.
>>Do people make mistakes in heaven?<<
No. Silly to the point of being blasphemous. Heaven is perfection.
If you simply accept everything said on this board as Gospel you're in for some woe . . .
A child is safe in the arms of God until they are old enough to understand the consequences of sin and how to be saved. No one is held accountable for something they cannot grasp and understand. Matthew chapter 18 (specifically verse 10) spells this out.
Those who have knowledge of the law are judged by the law. Those who do not have knowledge of the law are judged by the law written on their hearts, their consciences bearing witness. Romans 2:12-16
(taking your adice)
A child is safe in the arms of God until they are old enough to understand the consequences of sin and how to be saved. No one is held accountable for something they cannot grasp and understand. Matthew chapter 18 (specifically verse 10) spells this out.
Those who have knowledge of the law are judged by the law. Those who do not have knowledge of the law are judged by the law written on their hearts, their consciences bearing witness. Romans 2:12-16
I expect to have free will in Heaven and I expect I will choose to love the Lord and if I exercise that free will not to choose to love the Lord, I expect I will be cast out like the fallen angels.
Do you suspect that you are enslaved to your genes or do you exercise free will?
Then being Baptized as a baby is a waste?
Yes.
As is Baptism for the dead . . .
Boy you sure shot full of holes the old explanation about free will and the existence of evil.
I'm stealing that.
Either that or God goofed when he designed his master plan ...
You said: I'm stealing that.
I'm honored that you'd be willing to pass it off as your own.
Giving you full credit of course. I know there's something about not stealing in The Ten Commandments somewhere.
But I don't think there's anything about joshing around.
You truly honor me. I thank you. I was kind of wondering whether anyone had read what I said. It was something I felt I needed to say, whether it was read or not.
Full disclosure: I am a lawyer, for what it is worth.
Oh, great. How much is this going to cost me?
How much you got? I also teach my Sunday School class, so let's call it a late Sunday School lesson.
Best to you.
God bless.
I am watching the DHC about a 'mermaid' baby. Why would God do that to a baby that you claim is 'safe in the arms...'.
Why don't you ask Him?
If it's references you're looking for I'd recommend the book of Job. "The Problem of Pain" and "A Grief Observed" by C. S. Lewis also.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.