On September 11, 1993, I received word that my 14 year old cousin, Chris Marshall, lost his life in an accident.
Every year on the anniversary of that day his mom and dad, my uncle Tim and his wife Dottie have relived those sad events. When the World Trade Center was decimated on September 11 2001, the sorrow became greater still.
Today I want to share a message Tim wrote to his son, on the 5th anniversary of what most of us now know as “9/11.”
Perry Marshall
~
Dear Chris,
Hours from now, around dusk, our hearts will once again remember those moments 13 years ago when we heard the news that you had been badly injured and were on the way to the hospital.
Within an hour we heard the doctor say:
“Mr.and Mrs. Marshall, in spite of all our efforts your son did not make it.”
I can still hear the screams in that tiny waiting room at St. Thomas and the immediate crying that filled the room. I felt so alone at that moment and could not really process what had happened. It truly seemed like a bad dream.
However, the dream has lasted for 13 years and I still don’t see you coming through our door. I still visit your grave and tend to it as I always have. I know you’re not here any more and it hurts so much.
The big question that we humans have is: “Why?” I struggled with that one for a long time until I finally realized there are no answers here.
This earth is not the place where a massive question like that can be fully addressed. In the years that have passed I have watched the frustrated actions of people who apparently think this earth is all there is. They are in a frenzy–whether its to get more stuff or power than everyone else or to worship this world itself under one banner or another. I guess they’re scared, Chris.
All I know is that as these years have passed I feel less and less attached to this world. I feel I am blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth and we have many nice things, but that’s pretty horizontal. My gaze has gone vertical more and more and I have learned what you know: apart from Almighty God there is no hope, but in Him there is all hope.
Five years ago today was the second worst day of our lives as we watched in horror as some sadistic butchers who worship a false god killed 3000 people. Hate and evil were revealed and this nation was shocked. Our hearts were broken because we knew that suddenly thousands of people felt the hurt and loss we had known for 8 years.
It was a tearful day and I remember making my visit to your grave at dusk that evening. I cried more than I had ever cried before, but I know I was feeling their grief along with my own, What a sad and horrible day! Since then there has been a panorama of events and more attacks and more death.
I have felt the heaviness of praying for the 9/11 families and for those of our soldiers who have died since. I have also prayed for your best friend-Michael Adkins- who joined the Marines when he graduated and is serving now in Kuwait repairing Marine aircraft.
I have been reminded that freedom is never free. There is always a blood sacrifice. It’s true for a nation-whether we like it or not. It’s true for human beings, too, and we cannot escape the significance of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all who will believe.
As my mind has processed all of this I keep going back to August 28, 1986 when during a service at church you nudged me and said: “Dad, I want to accept Christ tonight.” As we made our way to the altar, Craig Fry-the youth pastor-said: “Well Dad you know what to do,” and I knelt with you as you received that wonderiful, free gift of salvation for yourself.
That moment was revisited on the night of Sept. 11, 1993 in the aftermath of that horrible news that my youngest child was dead. The feeling came over me that you were watching all of us for a while–then you were gone. Strange to say but there was a peace that came over me in that. I don’t understand it. I just know it’s true.
Losing you changed our lives, just as it did for those who lost loved ones 5 years ago. We feel a bit less at home here now. We look for heaven a little more. In the months before this day we have had reminders of how changeable everything is.
Since back in May we have been told to expect Meemaw Stinson to join you, She nearly has a few times and at age 98 she says she’s ready to leave. With that backdrop I have been reading a book “Ninety Minutes in Heaven” by Don Piper. It’s a most intriguing book. This man was pronounced dead–no pulse, no heartbeat–after a terrible wreck.
Ninety minutes later, as a friend of his who felt impressed to get in that mangled car and pray, he came back to life. While he was gone he says he went to heaven’s gates, which he says cannot be described in human language-nor can anything he saw, and was greeted by many loved ones and friends. He said he had never felt so loved and welcomed ever before.
The thing that was so interesting to me was that he said his loved ones and friends looked just as they did the last time he saw them. He had no trouble recognizing them– whether they were young or old. As I thought about it, it made sense. They have not yet received their glorified bodies.
So, Chris, I know I won’t have any problem in finding you when I get there. I can’t wait for that big hug and I know there won’t be any time limit on it! I will finally be home and it will be worth the wait. I’ll leave behind those I love…but they’ll be along one day too. There won’t be any more sorrow, such as we experienced on Aug. 15 when we had to put little Molly-your dog- to sleep.
We put her ashes with you, Chris. It seemed only right. No, I’ll leave all of that behind ro go to a place where it’s never “Good-bye” it’s always “Good Morning!”
For that and many reasons I could never wish you to be back here. Until then, we press on to achieve the purpose for which God has us here and now. I’m not sure when it will be all over for me, but keep watching and before long I’ll see you at those Gates.
With all our love,
Dad, Mom, and Steve
I Thess. 4:16, 17
This letter is properly placed at the end of “7 questions to disprove christianity”. Faith is the language of heaven and with out it we cannot communicate with God. His evicence is every where and irrefutable and can only be seen and known by faith. This, the spiritual world, is eternal; the physical world (everything experienced by our natural senses) is temperal and passing. Bill Courtney
I have learned over the years (I’m 65) that most Christians want to believe what they do. It’s not a matter of reasoning or serious research. They minimize criticisms made to their “faith”, and maximize any seemingly positive evidence to support it. Looking over some of the comments on this web site support my beleif. I’m an emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Hawaii. I returned to school for a PhD in statistics over 20 years ago. I’ve now written a number of leading books on statistical modeling, and have (hopefully) been contributing to the discipline. My interest, which runs across both philosophy and statistics, is in reasoning and the giving of appropiate support for various hypothesis and beliefs.
For those who actually want to learn why atheists (I prefer the term nontheist), or theists who believe that tenets of Christian are mistaken, believe as they do, I suggest reading Martin’s “The Case Against Christianity”, Doherty’s “Challenging the Verdict”, Barker’s “Godless”, and Ehrman’s “God’s Problem”. Victor Stenger’s new book on the New Atheists is also an excellent indictment of Christianity and of religion in general.
So many times I am told that the Universe has to have a reason for its existence — it could not have appeared without a reason; but they never ask the reason for God’s existence. They were taught that God does not need an explanation, or is his own explanation, and don’t see the inconsistency in holding such a position. But they were taught this when they were young, so it “feels” acceptable. It is just as probable that matter in some form, as expressed in a multiverse of which our universe is only a transitory instance, has always existed as it is that nothing existed before the “universe”. In terms of priority, it is actually much more likely that the universe always existed than it is that nothing existed before the universe. Why – because we can see the universe and the existence of things in it? But, theists who believe that nothing is prior to the universe (which does not even make sense) forget that they have no problem with God always existing.
I’ll never forget talking to a couple of young Morman missionaries who came by the house wishing to convert me. I asked about the the Morman belief that American Indians are members of a tribe of Jewish settlers, about battles the two groups of pre-Columbian Native Americans had (between the ones who were more white-appearing and the darker-appearing). They used chariots with wheels and horses, and had steel swords. Of course, horses were brought to the America’s with the Spanish (yes, I know horses originated in North America, but had become extinct there for thousands of years), and Native Americans had no knowledge of wheels or of steel. I asked why they believed the stories of the lost Golden tablets, or Moroni, etc, when so many important items in the Book of Morman were in factual error. The response — neither missionary cared at all, telling me that they believe it on faith. They also said that their religion made them feel good and secure, so it made no difference if it were true or not. The one claimed that he simply beleived.
These people would have been fervent believers in the Roman or Greek gods if they were born in the related areas at that time. Or Norse gods if they were Vikings, or in Mohammed if born in Baghdad, or…. They are simply believers. And nearly every believer, no matter what the “faith”, claims that there is overwhelming support for their beliefs, and that all others are mistaken. And they don’t see a problem with this?
Religion had an important role to play in early civilizations, giving each tribe or cultural group a commonality of beliefs and a sense of placeness in the world. It was an explanation. But now religion can be horribly harmful, especially when one person or group tries to impose its beliefs on others.
Joseph,
I am not one the “blind faith is all you need” religious people that you describe. I think that reason, logic, science, history and philosophy all support the Christian worldview and many articles on my website back up that statement. If you wish to challenge any specific fact then feel free.
The universe cannot have always existed because of the law of entropy. An infintely old universe would have burned out by now.
Therefore any position that says the universe is infinitely old is anti-scientific. A good place to discuss this sort of thing is my other website http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com.
Logically, ONE thing has to exist without a prior reason. Logically it cannot be the universe itself; Godel’s incompleteness theorem tells us that. Thus the only logical conclusion is that the universe is caused by an uncaused, boundless, immaterial conscious agent. I will blog more about this on http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com soon.
I have Doherty’s book. If you take a highlighter marker to every unsubstantiated assumption and assertion he makes (i.e. “more likely, what really happened is _____” as he goes on to literally invent alternative versions of history) half the book will be yellow.
Also I have read most of the other authors you quote. I do not find a single one of them to be persuasive. Stenger dismisses his most formidable opponent, Hugh Ross, out of hand – without once directly taking on his testable creation model. Ehrman takes a scatter plot of historical data points, throws out the cluster of points in center; then based on the outliers at the edges, concludes that no conclusion can be reached. William Lane Craig makes a powerful case against Ehrman’s thesis in the famous debate they did together.
You yourself seem to claim that there is overwhelming support for YOUR beliefs.
Does the fact that we disagree mean that neither one of us are right?
Or… does it mean that no more than one of us can be right?
Perry Marshall
Science has produced evidence (the basis for all known facts).
We now know the earth is not 10,000 years old. In the future, with technological advancements, we will understand more and more our beginnings (unless creationists burn scientists at the stake like witches).
Being raised a christian,I find it indicative of religous groups to embrace science to suit their present day needs, but repute it without logic when it challenges their superstitious beliefs.
Although it doesn’t look promising now (surprisingly) given the strength of religion in this “modern era”, I have hope (not faith) that logic will overcome nonsense and society can become healthy and responsible as a whole.
It’s a shame that children are not protected from religious beliefs, such that they could be open minded to explore as they wish and let the imaginations take us all to greater levels. As much as we have advanced, we are regressing exponentially with the god answer to the unknown.
I dont believe in Thor, the easter bunny, god, or any other fictional placebos that are necessary to motivate some people. However, I have extremely strong family values, a thirst for a sensible quality of life, sincere friends and above all, morality beyond what I witnessed being raised christian.
Fear is religions best marketing tool, if fear is what it takes for you to be a good person, then perhaps religion IS for you. I know that when I die, my conscience will no longer exist, thats it, no special fairy tail ending like a Hollywood movie. I accept that as being not only logical, but fair, seeing as I have had the luck to have made it past the cervix to the egg!
Nonteistic people garner full respect (in my opinion) simply because their level of intellect is not limited by the control of a group that refuses to let go of its past, rather than learn from it.
Todd Kurchina
Todd,
I have devoted my site http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com to showing that there is no conflict between modern science and faith. In fact what I found, interestingly, is that modern science turns out to be incompatible with atheism.
History is the signpost to the future.
Lets not make the same mistakes again.
Religeon is the problem, not the solution.
Hi Robert
Did the real problem not begin and continue from the very beginning due to the first man and woman turning away from God’s guidance? Did this not permeate until our day? Would it be possible for humans to turn from the disobedience inherited and turn to God in obedience to be once again guided? Mankind are heading towards nuclear anihilation and only obedience to God will save us.
The 7 lies are utter rubbish(sorry to say) When we encounter hurt or pain/suffering, our first question is “WHY ME??” See, how selfish we are. We are born in this world to not not have joy and pleassure 24/7,but we have to endure everything -life is a package whether we like it or not.It is thru the painthat we learn to forgive, tolerate, understand, be humble etc etc. I believe in GOD and without trust, I will be in pieces
Anna, When we look at the God of the Holy Bible, the creator, He says that because God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son to redeem sinful mankind and open the channel of fellowship between God and man. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. We can still have life regardless of some suffering we have to do through. By life, I mean the knowledge that we have eternal security of heaven after our earthly existence is over and that God is with us (Emmanuel) so we can be joyous and have pleasure even here on earth.
Dear R Drake
Yes God sent his only begotten son. And the world hated him and Jesus said to his followers John 14:18-20 If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before YOU. If YOU were part of the world the world would be fond of what is its own. Now that YOU are no part of the world, on that account the world hates YOU. Bear in mind the word I said to YOU. A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute YOU also; if they have observed my word they will observe YOURS also. But they will do all these things against YOU on account of my name because they do not know him that sent me. (words are in capital when spoken to in plural)
Many if not all Christians come to realise that following the example of Christ today incurrs hatred just as it did in the 1st century because the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one 1st John 5:19.
Thanks for the tautriol! I typically only take one RAW image as I don’t like carrying around a tripod but the multiple RAW do giev the best results
Dear Sir ;
I would like to inform you that the book of muslims is really a book of God, lets ask why this book really is from God ? the answer is :
1-in the periode of mosess the science was the magic science God give moses some miracle best than magic science to let people beleive that moses is really messenger of God. later the torah was changed with bad people for that reason God send jesus.
2- in the periode of jesus the science was medecine , God give jesus the power of treating difficult desease, first he is created without father(medecine said that we should married to get child ) , all this things are just to let people beleive that jesus is messenger of God. later the bible was changed just for money by bad people , for that reason God send Mohamed.
3- in the periode of mohamed 1400 years a go which is also our periode, the science is complicated , this periode is the periode of science, God assert that the book of mohamed will never change like torah and bible and promise that he will protect it, also said that the book in itself is miracle he will don’t give mohamed other miracle , the miracle is just this book, in this book God said that i will show my slaves my sign in the earth, in the sky , in there selves just to let my slaves beleive that this book is the truth, this book is called quran he is a simple text of science . before enstein before 1400 years go the quran said the expanding theory of the world , the organisation of galxy , supernova theory , that the iron is not from the earth ,the percing stars , ….etc see this web site:
http://www.science4islam.com/
http://www.islamicity.com/science/
http://www.islampedia.com/ijaz/Html/Scientist_All/Index.htm
Best regards
Dear Perry Marshall;
just small question :
can Muhammed said from his mind that when we browse the sapce and when we want going outside it , we will make a collision with fire and fired copper as result we can not go outiside because our electronic devices will be unable to make it’s correct work. can muhammed said that before 1400 years a go ?
God said in the quran : ” humain and genius if you can going outiside the earth and the sky ,go but you can do this only with a sultan( mean here science), but you can not success because I will send on you fire and copper “.
when you go to the NAZA you will see some copper on the spacial vehiculs.
why is Muhammed not in the Christian bible ? by another word the bible speak about the soviet empire , the Islamic empire is with the same importance, so why the bible don’t speak about Muhammed , at least if Muhammed was not right the bible should said something like that , to guide people for not fellow this person ?
Response :
The quran said that Muhammed is mentioned in the bible and the torah , but some bad people change the bible , they drop him from the bible for many reasons. One of this reason is the translation, the old bible was in Hebrew language which is very close to Arabic in some sense some people translate the bible to Greek language and they translate the name Muhammed to “ Altogether lovely” , I think this is not correct because if we translate to some languages is not right to translate names , for example I can not translate Mr Black to Monsieur Noire in French language Mr black stay Mr Black in French , for example they translate the name of Massih to Christ which mean “ passe your hand on something” , the Christ is Jesus , he use this manner to treat some disease . The Best reference for this subject is the islamic scientist Ahmed Deedat this last was Christian before , he is from india and live in south africa , he proof that Muhammed was in the bible , he found the same verse in the bible and in the quran but he found that the name Muhammed is translated to “altogether lovely” I think it is in the chapter 5 verse 16 salmon of the bible to confirm See this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhazm0UdlTc
the same proof if you want to read :
http://www.islam101.com/religions/christianity/mBible.htm
Muhammed and jesus are messenger of God no difference between them they have the same mission.
God send Muhammed to tell people that jesus is not God but messenger of God and to correct what is changed in the bible and to complete the mission .
See also this they are very interesting video :
Christian scientist confirm that quran is true :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOYpjZywUPA
top scientist comments on the quran miracles :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUUPYs0gElU
Best regards and hope this new year you will see the truth
Perry:
I just happened to look back at this site again. I read your response. I – and nearly all astrophysicists — will take issue with your notion of entropy. And your notion of logical necessity runs contrary to most all contemporary philosophy. But the real question that I believe you need to seriously ask yourself is this: Is there any evidence or any argument that would persuade you to abandon your current beliefs? There are lots of types of evidence that would change my mind. But what evidence would you count against your position? Be specific. If you don’t have an answer, and nothing would change your mind, then your view is simply one based on emotion and not reason. A reasonable view must allow for the possibility of falsification.
Joseph,
I remember you. We exchanged emails about information theory about 5 years ago.
About 6-7 years ago I completely opened myself up to the possibility that atheism might be true. I was open to any and all evidence and arguments that might persuade me to abandon my beliefs. And I almost did abandon those beliefs. I held it all with an open hand.
And then I went exploring: “Within the atheist worldview, is the world rational? Do the atheist explanations make sense?”
I asked questions like:
How does atheism explain the big bang and the emergence of matter energy space and time from a single point?
How does atheism explain the fine tuning of the universe?
How does atheism explain the origin of life?
How does atheism explain the process and details of evolution?
And that is what convinced me that atheism is irrational. The evidence that atheism is irrational is overwhelming.
I do not find atheism’s answers to any of these questions rational or even scientific. Atheism doesn’t believe in cause and effect. Or it rejects all conventional definitions of entropy. Or else it gives you a hand-waving shell-game explanation for the origin of life as essentially a random accident. Or it tells you that evolution is driven by random copying errors in DNA when in fact cells have extensive error-correction mechanisms just like Ethernet. Cells are intelligent and direct their own evolution through an incredibly sophisticated process of natural genetic engineering.
Joe, you are MOST WELCOME to come and present your case and I will listen to it. But based on our conversations so far the question in my mind is: Are YOU, Joe, really willing to follow the evidence where it leads?
Or are you committed to atheism?
Atheism does’nt have have to explain everything. It just tries to be rational, I think. Not accepting supernaturalist answers for questions we can’t answer.
Science is not the same thing as atheism. Atheism tries to see beyond the supernatural, the root of which is superstition. Belief in gods.All gods.Even the god of the ancient Isrealites. Just superstition.
Thats just what I think, just my opinion, I don’t speak for atheisism.
Dear Perry;
I just want to show you this web site :
http://www.quranmiracles.com/
also want to tell you that the quran the book of muslims respond accuratly to the question mentionned in the comment of Dr joseph
“How does atheism explain the big bang and the emergence of matter energy space and time from a single point?
How does atheism explain the fine tuning of the universe?
How does atheism explain the origin of life?
How does atheism explain the process and details of evolution?”
the atheism don’t respond to these question but the quran the book of muslim respond to this question.Also I want to inform you that the quran consider the science of the creation of the earth and univers as the bigger science than the creation of humain . furthermore God in this book said that who arrive to be great scientist he will fear God and he will know how God is Great.besides that I want to inform you that the quran use the word of “koffar” for people who don’t beleive this book. this word is very accurated in arabic we said “kafar al bathrata fi torab” mean he put the grain of plant in land and cover it , this mean that the koffar know the truth and they know that the quran is the truth but they cover and hide the truth for some reasons. your questions Perry make me respect you and feel how you are very near to God , also increase my beleive to quran , because as I have told you before God in the quran said ” I will show my slaves my signs in the earth , in the sky until they confirm that this is the truth ” mean here the quran . now you ask questions and the quran respond you and show you the signs of God so don’t be kaffir and be objective and muslim you will wine your life after death and don’t wast your time we can die now and our work stopped and we will be juged , no work after death, just judgement so profit and don’t waste your time.
Best Regards
zine el abidine
You sound so angry. And so does the God that you believe in.
I do not want to believe in an Angry God.
I do not like angry people, and I do not like Angry Gods.
They are both irrational.
I know Tim in my heart. Because I also lost a son in an accident.
Please pass this on to him. This is a private club we never wanted to join.
It is helpful sometimes to know you are not alone.
http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/you-will-never-get-over-it-loss-of-a-love/
Dear Perry
another day comming to proof that quran is really the truth
Allah Almighty Said: “We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and inside their selves, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things? (The Noble Quran, 41:53)”
As I was reading my Precious Holy Quran, I stumbled upon Noble Verse 12:84 and felt that there was indeed a Great Scientific Statement in this Precious and Holy Noble Verse. It reads:
“And He turned away from them, saying, “I am grieving over Joseph.” His eyes turned white FROM grieving so much; he was truly sad. (The Noble Quran, 12:84)”
Notice how Allah Almighty Said that Jacob’s eyes turned white due to his grieve over the loss of Joseph, peace be upon both of them.
Allah Almighty also Said about the Noble Quran:
“We send down (stage by stage) in the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss. (The Noble Quran, 17:82)”
“Had We sent this as a Quran (in the language) other than Arabic, they would have said: “Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger an Arab?” Say: “It is a Guide and a Healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes): They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!” (The Noble Quran, 41:44)”
The following scientific articles clearly and indisputably confirm Allah Almighty’s Holy and Divine Statement in Noble Verse 12:84:
Inspired by the shirt of Yousof (Joseph), an Egyptian Moslem scientist, unprecedently, managed to manufacture an eye drop to treat the cataract. How?
see this :
http://www.answering-christianity.com/whitening_of_eye_miracle.htm
Best Regards
which religion is the truest, simplest and closest way of realizing god? which religion is the best?
Monideepa,
Read the book of John: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%201&version=NIV
Dear Perry
are you serious about your response ? , this link proof that you are wrong. why you give monideepa a wrong response , what you give monideepa is not sound , this link is very correct and proof that jesus said that a prophet comme after him called Muhammed
http://www.islam101.com/religions/christianity/mBible.htm
another visual version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhazm0UdlTc
best regards
Monideepa How well do you know your own religion?
9/11 was not an act by no muslim terrorists,it was set straight by a bunch of american governmental officials, CIA, Homeland security and Saudia Arabia along with Israelis. Ask George Bush,he knows. It feels as if you are just looking for someone to blame, and you found that religion in its entirety is what you found to be the easiest target,just saying. God said in Matthew “You preach peace on earth, but my mission will not bring peace in the material affairs of men — not for a time, at least. Division can only be the result where two members of a family believe in me and three members reject this gospel. Friends, relatives, and loved ones are destined to be set against each other by the gospel you preach. True, each of these believers shall have great and lasting peace in his own heart, but peace on earth will not come until all are willing to believe and enter into their glorious inheritance of sonship with God. Nevertheless, go into all the world proclaiming this gospel to all nations, to every man, woman, and child.
I have read different parts of your site and find it very well done, particularly regarding the intelligent evolution. I have a question for you. While the intelligent evolution is a process guided by an algorithm that led from the first cell to man, as this possibile according with the Bible? Adam lived 6,000 years ago according Scriptures, while the first Homo Sapiens Sapiens developed form evolution is lived 200,000 years ago. The chronological aspect is what I find really difficult, if not impossible to reconcile Bible and Science. It seems to me that even if CLEAR adn SURE man is designed by God, if this drawing was made 200,000 years ago, this destroys HOWEVER the TOTAL validity of the Bible that speak of 6,000 years. Genealogies of chapters 5 and 11 of Genesis, speak clearly of 6 thousand years, maximum 10 th. yrs not of 200 thousand years! I find no convincing explanation of these two chapter as “merely simbolic” of “genealogies with 194,000 years full of holes” :-/ from the old earth creationism, and I also find unconvincing explanations from the young-earth creationism that the earth and universe has only a few thousand years and all the datations of Homo Erectus, Sapiens, Neanderthal are all false :-\
This is my problem. Sorry if what I said may be not inherent in this section, feel free to move wherever you want, just tell me where via email: brellotto@yahoo.it and send me the link so I can read your response.
God bless you,
Biagio from Italy
P.S. Sorry for bad english :p
Dear perry ;
as the quran promised the islam will be the dominated religion
see this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueMwkjvlGL4&feature=related
best regards
Perry,
This is a beautiful letter. From a father’s heart, totally vulnerable, to his son’s ears and soul. What could be more sincere? We all know most of us men don’t “do” sentimental so well. But your uncle, in this writing, poured out all of his deepest feelings straight from the heart.
I couldn’t help but get choked up while reading, wondering if I would have the strength to press on should the same happen to my son, who is now only 8 years old. I can’t say, at least with a lot of confidence, that I could.
Only in Christ can one have that healing, a healing that can come only from the eternal hope that we, as believers, have in Him, and only in Him. The part where he talked about the day Chris decided to “accept the Lord” as his Saviour, that part brought a sigh of relief to me, and I’m sure to all who read it. That was glorious.
I’m blessed to “know” you, even though we’ve never met. And I’m proud that a successful entrepreneur can proudly and without shame profess his faith in Jesus in a public forum such as this blog.
Looking forward to leaning on coffeehousetheology.com a lot more in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Jim in NJ
Hi Perry,
I am a former Deacon of a Baptist church in Scotland but have been losing my faith over a number of years for reasons that have to do with my temporal situation, but I feel the need to turn back to God.
I am really impressed when I read your challenge to the atheists on the information system in DNA and think that this alone, without any other evidence, should cause all atheists to re-think their position if they are truly open to alternative explanations.
As for me I only have to look out of my window at the wonderful world in all of its magnificence and complexity to understand in the deepest part of my being that God is.
Unfortunately that does not help me, partly because my temporal situation is so stressful and irredeemable, but partly because the proof for God, good and sufficient as it is, does not lead me to a personal God who cares for me. Moreover it does not lead me back to Christ because I cannot see the atonement in the simplistic way that many of my former brethren do, i.e. as some sort of transaction that purchases “salvation” for those who give mental assent to the idea that He cancels their sin by His death and will thereby give them (but only them) eternal life.
What say ye?