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  • Introduction to Biblical Apologetics…Shared Unapologetically

    That title may seem like a conflict in terminology. But, given that ‘Apologetics’ is defined as ‘making a defense’, it makes more sense that we who believe what the Bible says would share it without apology. But, there is a huge gap in today’s world between sharing and defending our faith.

    We need to start by looking at some research done by the Barna Group and Answers in Genesis, the folks who gave us The Creation Museum and The Ark Adventure. By the way, if you have not been to either or both of these Christian sites, you really must. If you care at all about defending our faith in today’s world, it is a trip worth your time, energy and money – and it’s not that expensive. So, go! Take your kids, take your church youth group, take your church’s young parents group, take your church’s Sunday School teachers.

    Back to the research project, in which the Barna Group found that 70% of the children of church-going families are leaving the church as soon as they are out on their own.  Yes!  Read that sentence again. SEVENTY PERCENT of children brought up in the church are leaving as soon as they can make those decisions for themselves. So, Answers to Genesis surveyed this group of young adults to find out why. They received a smattering of reasons, but THE most prevalent was that they did not believe the Bible stories they were taught in Sunday School – they did not want to perpetuate the stories that even their teachers didn’t believe. To put an exclamation on that statement, young adults who had been brought up in Sunday School left the church at a higher percentage that those who were just taken to church. (Already Gone by Ken Ham, Britt Beemer, and Todd Hillard – Answers in Genesis)

    What that tells us is that it is not enough to simply share Bible stories with our youth. We have to tell them these stories are TRUE and that WE believe they are TRUE. Furthermore, we need to teach that there evidence – real scientific evidence – of these truths. Let me give you a scenario to demonstrate. Let’s say that little Johnny goes to Sunday School and learns about Noah’s Ark. The teacher uses a picture of cute little arks bobbing on the water with cartoon animals sticking their heads out of the windows (we’ve all seen it), and maybe a cute little song about the animals coming 2 by 2.

    The next day, Johnny goes to school and shares what he learned with his friends on the playground. Along comes Billy, the playground bully, who teases Johnny for believing such a nonsense story. What does Johnny do? NOTHING! Because nobody told Johnny that the story was true, or even that his teacher believes it to be true. Nobody gave Johnny any clue that there was any real evidence that it is true. We might as well be teaching our children with Aesop’s Fables!

    What if we teach these stories as if they are true – because they ARE – and tell our children about the evidence that’s out there. Now, little children may be too young to understand all the science behind that truth. But, we can at least teach them that if there were no world-wide flood, we would not find fish fossils on top of mountains! Then, we can teach them more about the science as they progress to the point that they are ready for that.

    We need to teach people at all ages how to defend our faith. Gone are the days when the Bible is just accepted as the ultimate authority. Here’s another example; this one for adults. We live in a day when even most Christians don’t really believe the Biblical account of creation. Face it; it’s true. Most people – even most CHRISTIANS – believe that evolution is real science and that the Bible simply short-cuts the story to 6 days. So, if evolution is true, we’ve had literally eons of animals being born and dying, each generation getting more complex until, voilà, we have man in some primitive form.  OK, here’s a question for you to ask people who believe that: If evolution is true, and eons of generations of animals have come and gone to get us where we are today, then why did Jesus have to die on a cross? Think about that for a minute. Why did Jesus die? To pay our ‘wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23a). Why? Because death was the penalty for sin, for the original sin of Adam and Eve. If there had already been eons of death on earth, then death did not come as a penalty of sin and we have no ‘wages of sin’ to pay. So, Jesus would not have had to die to pay that price for us to save us from our sin.

    That is the way we have to teach our Bible classes in a day when everyone questions everything, and there are so many voices competing for our minds and souls.

  • Protecting Children

    I want to tell you a story from when I first became a daddy. Our son was perfect, and my wife and I were thrilled at such a gift! We loved him so much and vowed before God to love him, to protect him and to bring him up in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – as I believe all good Christian parents should do.

    When he was old enough to start adventuring about on two feet, I set out to ‘baby proof’ the house. I put the little two-prong protectors in all of the outlets, I put the cabinet drawer and door locks in, I put the little corner protectors on all of the end tables so that he wouldn’t fall and get hurt by the sharp corners – all the things they tell you to do to ‘baby-proof’ a house with a new toddler. When I was done, I turned to my wife and said, “There, our son is safe in this house!” Does that sound familiar to any other daddies out there?

    That very same day, I sat down in a rec-room chair and Joshua, still a little unsteady on his feet, toddled over to be picked up. As he approached, he tripped on my big foot and fell into the end table and blood went everywhere! He had split his eyebrow, not on the corner of the table, but on the edge. That was our second trip to the ER with him (the first is a story for another time).

    I asked God why He allowed our son to fall and cut himself? The answer I got was that I had determined to make my son’s world safe of my own ability. Of course, the reality was that I could never fully protect him – it was foolish to think that I could.

    Our children are never completely safe as long as they are in this world. But, it is incumbent upon us, as parents, to turn our children over to God’s loving protection. Certainly, we should do what is prudent as parents to keep our children safe – but realizing that of our own power, we can never protect our children the way He can. Our son still carries the scar of that moment in his eyebrow, a constant reminder to me to turn my burdens over to God, “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22a). “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

    The same is true of us as adults. We will never live in a completely safe world. But, if we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior, then we will be His children. He will give us the keys to His Kingdom and give us the authority to bind Satan’s demons and loose God’s angels to protect us (Matthew 16:19). As believers, we will also be able to claim the principles of Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Will that protect us from all harm? No! But it will give us the assurance that no matter what we go through, it will be for His glory, and will ultimately be turned to good for us as well as for His Kingdom.

    The first step is to recognize our sinful nature and recognize that we need to repent of that, and turn to Jesus Christ. If you have never done that, I urge you to go to PeaceWithGod.net and do it now. Become a child of God today and rely on His unlimited resources, instead your limited resources, to keep you safe from the wiles of the devil. If you would like to discuss that, contact me here RockysRamblings@gmail.com, I’d love to talk with you, pray with you, answer your questions, or help you settle into life as a new Child of God!

  • Who Am I To Judge Another When I Myself Walk Imperfectly

    A follower of Rocky’s Ramblings asked me to share some thoughts on this topic some time back, and I thought it was particularly appropriate to our current national situation, so I’m re-sharing. At the outset, we need to recognize that this theme actually contains two statements: ‘who am I to judge’ and ‘I walk imperfectly. I’m going to separate the two and then pull them back together at the end.

    The first part of that statement sounds like the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”  At first glance, Jesus seems to be admonishing us to go about living our lives, turning a blind eye to the spiritual needs of others.  After all, would that not require that we judge them as needing spiritual help?  Is Jesus absolving us of any responsibility for lives falling apart around us – to ‘live and let live’ lest we be guilty of judging?  To answer that question, we must understand that ‘to live and let live’, is more accurately ‘to live and let die’…the very opposite of our Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).  Yes, Jesus does tell us here to ‘not judge’.  But, He was not telling us to simply allow immeasurable mayhem and false teaching to go unchecked – in the spiritual or political realm, in our churches or families.  Clearly, Jesus has a deeper message about judging, which requires that we dig deeper to find it.    

    Jesus continues in the very next verse with, “For in the way (emphasis added) you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2)  Drop down a few verses to Matthew 7:6, and see that Jesus, in the same lesson, admonishes us not to give what is holy to dogs and not to throw pearls before swine.  I don’t think he’s talking about tossing valuable jewelry to the family pets or livestock.  So, clearly, we must be able to discern (make a judgment call) as to what or who He is calling dogs and the swine.  Hop on over to John 7:24, also the words of Jesus, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”  So, Jesus teaches us to ‘judge not’ AND to ‘judge rightly’.  So, it is clearly not as simple as saying that we should never make ‘judgments.’ There are good Biblical reasons to use good discernment – to make judgment calls -at some level.

    The second part of that theme, ‘…when I myself walk imperfectly’, sounds a lot like Matthew 7:4, again, the words of Jesus Christ, “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?” At first glimpse it seems to agree with the ‘judge not’ doctrine that we just tagged as wrongly applied. But, here’s a quandry: if we are not to judge, and we are to live and let live (die), then what allows us to judge ourselves as walking imperfectly? What does that even mean? But, that’s a much bigger question, and one for another day.

    Let’s go back to Matthew 7:4 and look to the very next verse, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  Should we NOT help our brother with the speck in his eye?  Notice that Jesus says, FIRST take the log out of your own eye, THEN you can see to take the speck from your brother’s eye.  What Jesus was actually telling us all through Matthew 7:1-8 is that we SHOULD be working toward helping our brother with their spiritual needs.  But, that begins by cleaning up our own lives, lest we deal with our brother’s as hypocrites.

    As Christians, we are to live our lives in accordance to what we say we believe.  In fact, Peter admonishes us by referring back to Leviticus, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16) If we are not striving to do so, we are rightly indicted of hypocrisy when trying to ‘remove the speck’ from our brother’s eye and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with nonbelievers.  From this perspective, we should take this theme as a challenge to live our lives so that we have proper standing to say, as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

    by Rocky Rockwell, RockysRamblings.com

  • Choosing a Church…to leave?

    As I go through my morning communications, I look for meaningful articles, videos and sermons to enrich my spiritual life, and to give me wisdom worth sharing. I have decided to do that right here on my own website, rather than continue dancing with the devil on social media. What a perfect day to do that, a divine appointment, as I came across an article on Crosswalk.com that is one of the best, most succinct, summaries I’ve found on the warning that Apostle John shares with us in Revelation 2 & 3 about churches to avoid.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge advocate of church, attending church, getting involved in church, and otherwise heeding the admonition in Hebrews 10:25, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

    Here is the article; may God use it to stir your heart to embrace your church, or seek a new church that you can embrace.

    10 Churches You Might Want to Avoid, by Jennifer Heeren, CrossWalk.com contributor

  • What If He Meant What He Said?

    I was recently asked to fill the pulpit and lead online Bible studies on the Wednesdays on either side of that Sunday, while our local pastor and his wife took a well-deserved vacation. I chose my Title from a relatively new song by Mark Lowry that fit well with what I believe God has been helping me understand as I search for ways to share His Gospel in ways that help people see what Jesus meant when He told us that we need to be born-again, that He would give us life more abundantly, and what He expects of His followers.

    Preceding Wednesday Bible Study: The Abundant Life Part 1

    Sunday Sermon: What If Jesus Meant What He Said

    Following Wednesday Bible Study: The Abundant Life Part 2

  • COVID-19 Therapy: HydroxyChloroquine

    Two videos that Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have been shutting down as fast as anyone can share them. These two videos are from a briefing with America’s Frontline Doctors – doctors that have treated massive numbers of COVID-19 patients with Hydroxychloroquine. I’m not a doctor, and would not even presume to tell you whether it works or not – that’s between you and your doctor. But, you at least deserve the opportunity to watch the videos so that you can decide for yourself who’s lying to us.

    Video 1: the Briefing of their findings

    America’s Frontline Doctors Address COVID-19 Misinformation

    Video 2: their response to the social media censoring of their findings

    America’s Frontline Doctors Respond to the Social Media Censorship of Their Findings. (This link will take you to another secure website to view).

  • Samaritan’s Purse Challenge

    It has been a while since I’ve posted a new show. To those who have been waited with bated breath for the next show, I do apologize. I will explain below. But, first, I want to introduce this very short, but very important video.

    You’ve all seen the online challenges: you know, the ones with the pristine picture of a log cabin in the woods, asking if you could live there if you had to give up the electronic medium of the day. Here’s just one example.

    Well, I’d like to think that I could, and would – and they wouldn’t have to pay me a million dollars. But, then I realize that I would not be doing anybody any good living like that. So, I decided to come up with my own challenge, one that will give you an idea of the direction I’m hoping to take my show and my life. Here’s the challenge:

    This came about as I realized that in 2017 the US saw a number of national calamities, forest fires in the West, hurricanes in the East. I had just retired, and realized that I’m still in pretty good shape (for a guy my age), and I could not just sit here and do nothing. So, I volunteered to help in the disaster response to the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. I can’t begin to share with you what that week-plus meant to me, and how great it felt to be bone-tired at the end of every day, but fully satisfied that I was doing something that was making a real difference in the lives of people in desperate need of help. If you’d like to talk with me about that, contact me through my e:mail address: Rocky@RockysRamblings.com . I’d be happy to chat with you and share my experience.

     

    I want to share another quick video clip, this one from Samaritan’s Purse about a relatively new project reaching out to help the Rohingya refugees pouring – literally pouring, by the thousands – from Myanmar into Bangladesh.  We help support a nurse with the  Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE), who shared this with my wife and me. The hospital where she works is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to meet this tremendous need. Here’s the video:

    If you are interested in donating, click on your choice of organization:

    Samaritan’s Purse 

    ABWE 

     

    As always, until my next post, here’s wishing you safe – and meaningful – Rambling!

     

  • Rocky Rambles to Christianburg, Virginia to Explore the Duncan Imports and Classics Showroom

    So, what is JDM, and what does it have to do with the auto market? Come along with me to the Duncan Imports and Classics Showroom and find out! Once you’ve seen this video, you’ll need to ramble out to see it for yourself!

    The first thing you’re going to need is a map…

    Map to Duncan Imports & Classics Showroom.

    The showroom is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays by appointment.

    For a Saturday appointment, just call Jerry Hylton 540-808-8317 or Gary Duncan 540-381-3200, and they will happily make arrangements to accommodate your request.

    Here is the showroom website, so that you can see some of the things we discussed on the show – like the comparison between the JDM mini-trucks and US Market ATV’s…

    Duncan Imports & Classics Website

    If you are interested in seeing cars that you won’t see in other showrooms, this is definitely a rambling opportunity for you!

    And, as you head out, make sure you are driving a safe, well-maintained vehicle.

    Your Defensive Driving Tip for the Week:

    Whatever brand and/or style of vehicle you drive, make sure that you have a mechan with the right tools and training to work on your car. Today’s cars are so finely-tuned, that with out the right diagnostic machines and the right training, your vehicle will never operate the way it was designed to. As an old-school, backyard mechanic in my youth, this was a tough realization. But, in this modern, high-tech world, this is the best way to make sure that you are driving a safe, well-maintained vehicle that will get you there and back safely.

    Until my next episode, here’s wishing you Safe Rambling!

  • Rocky Rambles to Colorado Springs to Share a Trip to the Top of Pikes Peak and through the Garden of the Gods

    I recently rambled out west to Colorado Springs, Colorado to visit my old stomping grounds and visit family and friends. I drove to the top of Pikes Peak, ducked into Santas Workshop and toured The Garden of the Gods, all of which were favorite rambles as I grew up in Woodand Park, just north of Pikes Peak. Today’s episode is a look at what you can expect when you ramble out to see these three sites on your own – which I highly recommend!

    Here is a website with lots of information for your trip to Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

    If you want to drive up the Peak, here is the map to the Pikes Peak Tollgate.

    On the show, I had an impromptu opportunity for an interesting interview with Prickly Pear, an Old West tour guide for Adventures Out West, a company that provides a number of ways to tour the Colorado Springs area. Check it out!

    In the show, I mentioned my surprise that the elevation of Pikes Peak is now recorded as 14,115 feet above sea level. Growing up in Woodland Park, Colorado, in the northern foothills of Pikes Peak, we knew the elevation to be 14,110 feet above sea level. So, I went looking for an explanation. Here is that explanation, along with some other interesting stories about America’s Mountain: Pikes Peak Fun Facts.

    The comparison of perspectives of Crystal Lake is an interesting way to show you the effect of elevation. From the top of Pikes Peak, at 14,115 feet above sea level, you are looking almost straight down on a blue crevice. Each thousand feet drop from there makes the lake more more flat, and what we are more used to seeing. Note that this is not about the relative size of the lake in each picture. Pay attention to the perspective. Then, the last photo looks back up at Pikes Peak from the shores of Crystal Lake. By the time I got back down to that level, the peak was obscure by clouds. So, I borrowed a picture from Ron Pate Photography, with Ron’s permission. It’s a great shot, and he has lots more pictures from his travels on his website, http://patespage.com/. I encourage you to look through his gallery.

    Santa’s Workshop

    Kids of all ages enjoy visiting Santa’s Workshop on the way up the mountain to the Pikes Peak Toll Road. They will thank you for taking time out from your touring opportunities to do something they will enjoy.

    Garden of the Gods

    Garden of the Gods Trading Post

    The Trading Post’s website does not identify private events, other than Motor Coach Tours. But, with my inside informants…I can tell you that if you contact them, they’ll make accommodations for your special event. Tell them that Rocky sent you!

    As always, I encourage you to ramble out to see Pikes Peak, Santa’s Workshop, and the Garden of the Gods. And, make sure you are driving a safe, well-maintained vehicle when you do!

    Defensive Driving Tip

    When you’re driving in mountains, or any terrain with steep hills and lots of twists and turns, don’t let your speed get away from you. Use you transmission to save your brakes from getting hot. But, use your brakes to keep your transmission from getting too wrapped up. Above all else, take your time and give other drivers lots of extra room.

    Until my next post, here’s wishing you…Safe Rambling!

     

  • Rocky Rambles to Booker T. Washington National Monument in Franklin County, Virginia

    If you’ve ever been confused between the story of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, you’re not alone. But, you’re in luck, because the good folks at Booker T. Washington National Monument will help you with that. Park Ranger Betsy Haynes explains…

    The park is located at 12130 Booker T Washington Hwy, Hardy, Virginia. Click on the address to see it on a map, from which you can build directions from your home.

    Here is the link for all sorts of information about:  Booker T. Washington. That is your key to everything and all the contacts you need, especially for attending special events or setting up a special tour.

    Before I continue on about activities at Booker T. Washington National Monument, here is the link to the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, the university started by Booker T. , who hired George Washington Carver, who developed all his research about peanuts at the this university.

    Back to Booker T. Washington National Monument activities. Here is their activity page, with some of the special events mentioned

    Juneteenth Celebration

    The third (3rd) Saturday of June every year is their , the day the park commemorates the news that Booker T. Washington, his mother Jane, and the rest of the plantation were informed of emancipation – the dissolution of slavery – and sent Jane taking her family to West Virginia as free people. The day is commemorated with children’s activities, food vendors, and a living history recreation of the time news of emancipation came to the Burroughs Plantation. The day is capped off with a free Gospel Concert in the evening. This year’s headlinners are: The Joybells, Darrell McFadden and the Disciples, Perkins & Envision, Larnell Starkey & The Spiritual Seven, We are DMD, and The Appointed Messengers for Christ.

    Junior Ranger Month

    July is Junior Ranger Month at Booker T. Washington National Monument. Check the webpage for details.

    Harvest Time Event

    History Comes Alive at Booker T. Washington National Monument! Come experience craft and farm demonstrations by expert living history reenactors. Children’s activities, food vendors, and horse-drawn wagon rides compliment a fun and educational family event you will not want to miss! This event is FREE!!

     An Old Virginia Christmas

    An evening event with living history of a Virginia Christmas in days gone by – including the celebration of the Yule Log!

    We also discussed volunteering in the park. If you’re looking for such an opportunity, contact the staff at Booker T. Washington NM, or any other specific park. Or, you can tap into a nation-wide effort to unite potential volunteers with host sites. Click here:  Workamper 

    You’ll definitely enjoy a ramble out to this great park. AND, it’s free to the public!

    As you go about your rambling, make sure you are driving a safe, well-maintained vehicle to get you there and back safely.

    Defensive Driving Tip for this Week:

    Leave your attitude at home. Road rage causes accidents. Monitor your mood. If you are running late, just had a fight with the boss, or the spouse – or just sorta fed up with humanity on a day, check that mood and remind yourself that you still want to get to your destination safely. Imagine the mood you’d be in if you killed someone because you drove under the influence of a bad attitude.

    Until my next episode…Here’s wishing you SAFE RAMBLING!