What a topic - it is amazing and polarizing at the same time. Amazing because of the implications and polarizing because of individual opinions held by those who have read it. The real issue is not about the plausibility of the Son of God resurrecting from the dead, but in the truth of the Bible in general. If you hold that the Bible is absolute fact then it is no stretch of the imagination to believe in the bodily Resurrection of the Christ, but if the Bible is held in even the slightest uncertainty in your thinking then this, the greatest of the Bible stories, is shrouded by a cloud of doubt. So the question is not, "Did the Resurrection actually take place?", but "Is the Bible reliable?"
Three complaints generally surface when speaking with those who have questions about the validity of scripture. 1. The Bible is antiquated - too old to be relevant, God should send new revelation to our generation. 2. The archaeological record is not consistent with the what Scripture records. 3. The Bible is full of contradictions.
Fortunately for me there are ample reasons to believe the Bible is reliable. 1. The Historicity of the Bible - more manuscripts and ancient writings on this book than any other. In eastern and western texts the Bible is still 99% textually pure with the others being copy errors and misspellings. Yes there are a few parts of scripture that have come under serious question in recent decades, but all in all the text itself has for thousands of years remained remarkably pure. No matter what you believe you must admit the uniqueness of the text.
2. The longevity of scripture - It is the anvil that has worn out many a hammer. Just the fact it has stayed around when so many have tried to burn it, regulate it, or deny it right out of existence must say something.
3. The archaeological evidence in support of scripture. Read any reputable author on the subject, check numerous web sights, the evidence is mounting rapidly. The more anti-Bible archaeologists claim that certain evidence does not exist, and then poof somebody finds more stuff to validate scripture (see Hittite empire, throne of David, walls of Jericho).
Point is if the Bible is accurate then the Resurrection is a reality and there just may be a thread of hope for the world we live in. If the Bible is really a book of fairy tales then the Resurrection is just another one of those tales and life ends at the grave. We can quibble about all the details, and don't get me wrong I enjoy that as much as the next guy, but the reality of the Resurrection is a hope all should be able to embrace in faith.
It really all comes down to faith doesn't it - a monumental leap to believe in the fantastic account of scripture, or the equally gigantic choice not to believe. One of the saddest things I have ever read was in C.S. Lewis' book The Last Battle, Peter is speaking towards the close of the life of Narnia, all the Kings and Queens are present for the event. All except Susan, when questioned why she was not present Peter explains that she is, "no longer a friend of Narnia". Susan had no doubt grown up, got educated, and realized it was the cool thing to do to live without faith. Go figure that same thing happens right here on good old planet Earth. Later - RLR
Friday, March 21, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Spring Sports
It seems spring might actually be sprung here in the average state of Oklahoma. Although still chilly, it even snowed a little yesterday, there are the tell tale signs of the new season everywhere. Birds a chirping and little bits a greenery are appearing scattered throughout my yard. Saturday it was 77 degrees and beautifully sunny.
This time of year always does something special to me, always excites me and sends me into an almost euphoric state of youthfulness. Four little words that in my youth meant the world to me
" MARCH MADNESS - SPRING TRAINING" as a Hoosier fan and horsehide hurler from way back this is by far my favorite time of year. Unfortunately there are numerous reasons why the season has lost it's luster. I will give you a comprehensive list of said issues, and you may feel free to add your own as well:
1. The early defection of College stars to the NBA - Do you believe that if great players stayed at least three years as they did a decade and a half ago we would be discussing Tyler Hansborough and Michael Beasley as national player of the year. A freshman and a, dare I it, white guy as colleges best players. The other nominations are Kevin Love (he is a freshman and a white guy), D.J. White, and Derrick Rose. I love D.J. because he's a Hoosier, but c'mon you know better than that. While Derrick Rose may be an outstanding pro prospect he has not been a dominant player at the college level yet. Doesn't he shoot like 50% from the line, okay for Shaq, not so good for a PG who handles the ball at the end of a close game. All this to make one little point - lack of star power in the NCAA's
2. The NBA influence! Pure basketball, pure shooters, pure point guards (D Rose might be an exception) all are become scarce in the NCAA. I really could care less about watching or listening to a bunch of thugs playing one on one. I can go to north Tulsa and get that for free. You would think that watching the Celtics ( should this be pronounced seltics or keltics)the Cavs and the Spurs that team basketball still works. Why dosen't anyone on the college level get it. Texas lost to Tech this weekend because Augistine and Abrahms forgot they could also throw the ball to other guys wearing the same color as them instead of just at the orange round thing.
Okay on to baseball....
1. At the risk of sounding like a coverall wearing hillbilly - are there any Americans playing America's favorite past time anymore. I love baseball, I love seeing a RHB's knees buckle when a LHP throws a wicked slider, seeing a lefty with his right arm extended over his head bat in hand as the ball edges past the right field foul pole. Man that is good stuff, I could go on for ages,a good pick off move, back to back homer, a blocked ball in the dirt that saves a run, and the mother of them all,the suicide squeeze, but all the Gonzalezes, Martinezes, and Rodriguezes are making it so you can't tell the players without a program.
2. The steroid scandals - I am sickened at this whole issue. The mess congress has made out of it, the fact that players partook and then lied, and the fact that the record book is now all amok with falsehoods and half-truths. Guys like Clemons and McGwire (neither of which did I ever really like) take so much away from guys like Maddux and Junior who did things the right way. They were not as dominant, but they were fun to watch, and never gave me a sick feeling in my stomach like I had just seen something perverse (see M McGwires forearms). You can have you freakish bald Barry Bonds give me a chubby Terry Pendleton playing the hot corner or fouling off pitches until he gets one he likes, Kruck, Gwynn, Puckett, or even the noble Chris Sabo. That was when baseball was a beautiful thing - now is a bunch of addicts and aliens (legal I hope) and it has lost my attention and my affection.
The green shoots of grass are nice, love to hear the birds sing, and while I will see what Dickie V has to say about the big dance, and I'll check on the Big Red Machine spring will just never be the same. RLR
This time of year always does something special to me, always excites me and sends me into an almost euphoric state of youthfulness. Four little words that in my youth meant the world to me
" MARCH MADNESS - SPRING TRAINING" as a Hoosier fan and horsehide hurler from way back this is by far my favorite time of year. Unfortunately there are numerous reasons why the season has lost it's luster. I will give you a comprehensive list of said issues, and you may feel free to add your own as well:
1. The early defection of College stars to the NBA - Do you believe that if great players stayed at least three years as they did a decade and a half ago we would be discussing Tyler Hansborough and Michael Beasley as national player of the year. A freshman and a, dare I it, white guy as colleges best players. The other nominations are Kevin Love (he is a freshman and a white guy), D.J. White, and Derrick Rose. I love D.J. because he's a Hoosier, but c'mon you know better than that. While Derrick Rose may be an outstanding pro prospect he has not been a dominant player at the college level yet. Doesn't he shoot like 50% from the line, okay for Shaq, not so good for a PG who handles the ball at the end of a close game. All this to make one little point - lack of star power in the NCAA's
2. The NBA influence! Pure basketball, pure shooters, pure point guards (D Rose might be an exception) all are become scarce in the NCAA. I really could care less about watching or listening to a bunch of thugs playing one on one. I can go to north Tulsa and get that for free. You would think that watching the Celtics ( should this be pronounced seltics or keltics)the Cavs and the Spurs that team basketball still works. Why dosen't anyone on the college level get it. Texas lost to Tech this weekend because Augistine and Abrahms forgot they could also throw the ball to other guys wearing the same color as them instead of just at the orange round thing.
Okay on to baseball....
1. At the risk of sounding like a coverall wearing hillbilly - are there any Americans playing America's favorite past time anymore. I love baseball, I love seeing a RHB's knees buckle when a LHP throws a wicked slider, seeing a lefty with his right arm extended over his head bat in hand as the ball edges past the right field foul pole. Man that is good stuff, I could go on for ages,a good pick off move, back to back homer, a blocked ball in the dirt that saves a run, and the mother of them all,the suicide squeeze, but all the Gonzalezes, Martinezes, and Rodriguezes are making it so you can't tell the players without a program.
2. The steroid scandals - I am sickened at this whole issue. The mess congress has made out of it, the fact that players partook and then lied, and the fact that the record book is now all amok with falsehoods and half-truths. Guys like Clemons and McGwire (neither of which did I ever really like) take so much away from guys like Maddux and Junior who did things the right way. They were not as dominant, but they were fun to watch, and never gave me a sick feeling in my stomach like I had just seen something perverse (see M McGwires forearms). You can have you freakish bald Barry Bonds give me a chubby Terry Pendleton playing the hot corner or fouling off pitches until he gets one he likes, Kruck, Gwynn, Puckett, or even the noble Chris Sabo. That was when baseball was a beautiful thing - now is a bunch of addicts and aliens (legal I hope) and it has lost my attention and my affection.
The green shoots of grass are nice, love to hear the birds sing, and while I will see what Dickie V has to say about the big dance, and I'll check on the Big Red Machine spring will just never be the same. RLR
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