Mosab Hassan Yousef becomes a Christian

JP: I found this encouraging and you may as well.
Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Hamas leader, becomes a Christian
Excerpts:
Mr Yousef, who is known as Joseph by friends at the Barabbas Road church in San Diego, California, arrived in America 18 months ago but only recently made “the biggest decision of [...]

“Is it possible to have life in Christ without love for Christ?”

JP: My response to the “World from my Window – ‘Question of the Day’“. Click to the site to see my full response including dropping the “n” from “men“
Here is the “TULIPBURGER” response (the picture of which looks very unhealthy – but very tasty!):
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19).
To [...]

A Distinction between Israel and the church

JP: Good read from the Baptist Bulletin. This view of the church and Israel will be important In our study of Romans chapters 9-11.
Why Dispensationalism Still Matters
Excerpts:
…. dispensationalists believe in a distinction between Israel and the church. This does not always mean an absolute distinction. After all, the two institutions share the same God, the [...]

Against the bleak backdrop of Roman culture

JP: Relevant to our study of Romans. Blog quotes from a section of the ESV Study Bible.
Abortion and the Early Church
Quote from the ESV Study Bible essay on “The Beginning of Life and Abortion”
The noncanonical Jewish wisdom literature further clarifies first-century Judaism’s view of abortion. For example, the Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides 184–186 [...]

Sanitizing sin

JP: Good read by Jay Adams: Relevant always but especially synchronizes with our study upcoming in Romans 1:18-32.
Sanitize: “to make more acceptable by removing unpleasant or undesired features”
Call It What You Like
Excerpts:
It doesn’t matter a bit what you call it, the Bible is clear about what it calls it—and leaves no doubt. Sin is “sin.” [...]

God, Man, Philosophy

JP: Image above is from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.
Our lesson this week (February 4th), will be from Romans 1:18-32.
The attached handout and notes will be the basis for our discussion:

God, Man, Philosophy (Color version)
God, Man, Philosophy (Black and White version)
God’s Wrath on the Unrighteous (Romans 1:18-32)

Paul’s Concern for the Romans

Remains of the Appian Way in Rome, near Quarto Miglio
JP: Outline for our Bible study for Wednesday night January 28th, 2009
Paul’s Concern for the Romans
Comment: Some view Paul’s Epistle to the Romans as the Gospel of Paul. The great purpose of the epistle is to answer the solemn question: ‘But how can a man be [...]

Romans Outlined

Above: a page from Paul’s letter to the Romans from the Chester Beatty museum
JP: Resource for our Wednesday night Bible study:
Romans Outlined

Pluralism is a spiritual fallacy which we must condemn

JP: Good read by Chris Anderson
Sound Words: The Right to Be Wrong
Excerpt:
Ours is a day in which religious tolerance is equated with religious pluralism. In reality the two are very different. Whereas tolerance is a political principle for which we rejoice (“all Americans have the right to worship as they please”), pluralism is a spiritual [...]

An Open Letter to Fetal Humans

JP: Pointedly satirical warning about abortion in the form of an open letter to unborn fetuses.
Four Reasons You Might Be Aborted: An Open Letter to Fetal Humans
Introduction:
To my fellow humans who are entering that most precarious stage of human development.
Let me begin by congratulating you on making it through the embryonic stage. Too many of [...]