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Gary Patton

Apologetics is not about "Defending the Faith." | Pathways International - 1 views

www.pathwaysinternational.org/...-not-about-defending-the-faith

apologetics faith christianity

shared by Gary Patton on 21 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • The theological field of apologetics is lauded by most and feared by few.  Great strides have been taken by the church to raise up “defenders of the faith.”  Debating others in public on the veracity of Christianity is a spectator sport that rivals all others.
  • I can remember my youth in Christ, and how my brain turned to sponge.  Soaking up every theory, every angle, and every point of view regarding the faith, I too wanted to nail it down so as to defend my position.
  • I read everything I could get my hands on and considered every opinion under the sun.  I also read from those who directly challenged my religion; atheists, agnostics, deists, scientists, and the various writings from those christians would call “the cults.”
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • ly and confrontationally, sparring with them in a sense to see if I had weaknesses in my theological construct.
  • But, deep down in my immaturity, I wanted and needed to be right.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 21 Mar 12
       
      "Purposefully", I can agree with. The rest ...not so much because the attitude it implies seems to conflict with 1 Peter 3:15-17.
  • My love for apologetics had turned to lust.  I had exchanged Christ, my Hope, for the fallacy of “faith defending.”
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 22 Mar 12
       
      Being human and full of flesh, still, I suspect most of us would say about ourselves re the things the authour used to do ...not just on this point: "This is still me when I'm not careful to "walk in the Spirit"! (Galatians 5:16 & 25-26).
  • Personally, I count that time in my apologetic walk as adulterous and Idolatrous.  Where I sought to defend the faith, I was, in many cases defaming Jesus name.  If any of this strikes a chord with you, stop for a moment and ask the Lord for wisdom, then read the rest.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 21 Mar 12
       
      WOW! (Words Of Wisdom)
  • efending the hope within us,” 1 Peter 3:15, to “defending the faith,” our stance, and our pet doctrines.
  • Somewhere along the way, the church went from “
  • I dare say that if any of us had to give a defense of our faith, we could  at least give it a decent showing.  I wonder though, how many could give a solid defense for the HOPE within them.
  • I would ask the same, “What is your hope?”
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 21 Mar 12
       
      This a powerful question that Holy Spirit will use in a convicting way for some of us.
Gary Patton

Can my enemy's enemy be my friend? :: Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi - 0 views

www.aymennjawad.org/...israel-friend-enemy

Islam Islamists israel israeli-arab middle east

shared by Gary Patton on 02 Apr 12 - No Cached
  • Conventional wisdom has generally said that Israel can attain regional support by way of an alliance or coalition of minorities
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 02 Apr 12
       
      Interestingly, "conventional wisdom" when Israel was ruled by Kings thousands of years ago, said the same in lieu of trusting in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Every time they did, the leaders got into trouble and were over-rn by a foreign nation ...except by God's grace.
  • Can my enemy's enemy be my friend?
  • The concept of an alliance among regional minorities sounds like an attractive proposition. But is it realistic?
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • The evidence appears to suggest otherwise.
  • the Alawites, who have under the Assad dynasty dominated the upper ranks of that country's security forces and government, could try to salvage some form of self-rule in the form of a mini-state in the northwest of Syria, should the regime lose control over Damascus.
  • However, the reasoning for courting the Alawites can only be described as bordering on the realm of fantasy
  • When many Israelis think of a loyal minority ally, the country's Druze often come to mind.
  • Another group touted as potential allies of Israel in the region are the Christians.
  • Minority alliances per se shouldn't be shunned, but Israel should pursue regional alliances based more on realism than on the perception of shared oppression, with its need to create a united and mutually beneficial minority front against an almost monolithic Arab-Islamic foe ‏(essentially a utopian dream‏).
Gary Patton

The Purpose of the Bible - 0 views

mobile.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture colossians wisdom

shared by Gary Patton on 02 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 02 Mar 13
     
    Colossians 1:9-14
Gary Patton

Scattered Brotherhood, Letters of the - 0 views

www.scribd.com/...Scattered-Brotherhood-4

Christian spiritual growth wisdom armour of God

shared by Gary Patton on 11 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 11 Jun 13
     
    "Of Myself I Can Do Nothing"
Gary Patton

Why Evangelism Can Be a Long-term Prospect - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture evangelism gospel spirituality spiritual-warfare Islam

shared by Gary Patton on 20 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • 1 Corinthians 2:12-16
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Feb 12
       
      1 Corinthians 2:14, in context below, explains why some unbelievers remain in denial about the truth about Jesus and resist the Gospel. Some BibleGateway Resources listed below, except for Matthew Henry, don't even mention the evangelistic application of this passage, i.e., Asbury Commentary. Might this be because "the natural/carnal man" is considered by many scholars, unBiblically I believe, to be a two-natured Christian? This is not what Bill Gillham believes the Bible says as he shares in his powerful article on this issue ( http://diigo.com/0j8w4 ). gfp (2012-02-19)
  • But [b]a (D)natural man (E)does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are (F)foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually [c]appraised.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Feb 12
       
      The Scripture that buids on this concept, which is NOT mentioned in the helpful cross-references below is 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. Between them, this verse and that powerfully reinforce the truth of John 15:5 ( http://diigo.com/0jv2h ).
  • we have the mind of Christ
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 20 Feb 12
       
      We have Messiah's mind provided we ask for wisdom and, then, listen. (James 1:5-8) Holy Spirit will tell us when and how to best approach another with the Gospel. As Matthew Henry shares about verse 13 above: "The Spirit of God knows much better how to speak of the things of God than the best critics, orators, or philosophers."
  • Gary Patton on 20 Feb 12
     
    1 Corinthians 2:14 in context below explains why some see unbelievers remain in considerable denial about the truth about Jesus and resist the Gospel.
Gary Patton

What Is a Berean Christian? - Bible Gateway - 1 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture teaching wisdom acts

shared by Gary Patton on 18 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • Acts 17:10-12
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 Feb 12
       
      Acts 17:10-12 confirms why Jesus Followers are often taught to use their Bibles like the Jews of the town of Berea in Biblical times. gfp (2012-02-18)
  • ---Amuzgo de Guerrero (AMU)--- Amuzgo de Guerrero &nbsp; ---العربية (AR)--- Arabic Bible: Easy-to-Read Version Arabic Life Application Bible &nbsp; ---Български (BG)--- 1940 Bulgarian Bible Bulgarian Bible Bulgarian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version &nbsp; ---Chinanteco de Comaltepec (CCO)--- Chinanteco de Comaltepec &nbsp; ---Cakchiquel Occidental (CKW)--- Cakchiquel Occidental &nbsp; ---Kreyol (CPF)--- Haitian Creole Version &nbsp; ---Čeština (CS)--- Bible 21 Slovo na cestu &nbsp; ---Dansk (DA)--- Dette er Biblen på dansk &nbsp; ---Deutsch (DE)--- Hoffnung für Alle Luther Bibel 1545 &nbsp; ---English (EN)--- 21st Century King James Version American Standard Version Amplified Bible Common English Bible Contemporary English Version Darby Translation Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition Easy-to-Read Version English Standard Version English Standard Version Anglicised GOD’S WORD Translation Good News Translation Holman Christian Standard Bible J.B. Phillips New Testament King James Version Lexham English Bible The Message New American Standard Bible New Century Version New International Reader's Version New International Version New International Version 1984 New International Version - UK New King James Version New Life Version New Living Translation Today's New International Version Worldwide English (New Testament) Wycliffe Bible Young's Literal Translation &nbsp; ---Español (ES)--- La Biblia de las Américas Castilian Dios Habla Hoy Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy Nueva Traducción Viviente Nueva Versión Internacional Palabra de Dios para Todos Reina Valera Contemporánea Reina-Valera 1960 Reina-Valera 1995 Reina-Valera Antigua Traducción en lenguaje actual &nbsp; ---Français (FR)--- La Bible du Semeur Louis Segond Nouvelle Edition de Genève – NEG1979 Segond 21 &nbsp; ---Κοινη (GRC)--- 1550 Stephanus New Testament 1881 Westcott-Hort New Testament 1894 Scrivener New Testament SBL Greek New Testament &nbsp; ---עיברית (HE)--- The Westminster Leningrad Codex &nbsp; ---Ilonggo (HIL)--- Hiligaynon Bible &nbsp; ---Hrvatski (HR)--- Croatian Bible &nbsp; ---Magyar (HU)--- Hungarian Károli Hungarian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version &nbsp; ---Hawai‘i Pidgin (HWC)--- Hawai‘i Pidgin &nbsp; ---Íslenska (IS)--- Icelandic Bible &nbsp; ---Italiano (IT)--- Conferenza Episcopale Italiana La Nuova Diodati La Parola è Vita Nuova Riveduta 1994 Nuova Riveduta 2006 &nbsp; ---Jacalteco, Oriental (JAC)--- Jacalteco, Oriental &nbsp; ---Kekchi (KEK)--- Kekchi &nbsp; ---Latina (LA)--- Biblia Sacra Vulgata &nbsp; ---Māori (MI)--- Maori Bible &nbsp; ---Macedonian (MK)--- Macedonian New Testament &nbsp; ---Mam, Central (MVC)--- Mam, Central &nbsp; ---Mam, Todos Santos (MVJ)--- Mam de Todos Santos Chuchumatán &nbsp; ---Plautdietsch (NDS)--- Reimer 2001 &nbsp; ---Náhuatl de Guerrero (NGU)--- Náhuatl de Guerrero &nbsp; ---Nederlands (NL)--- Het Boek &nbsp; ---Norsk (NO)--- Det Norsk Bibelselskap 1930 En Levende Bok &nbsp; ---Português (PT)--- João Ferreira de Almeida Atualizada O Livro Portuguese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version &nbsp; ---Quiché, Centro Occidenta (QUT)--- Quiché, Centro Occidental &nbsp; ---Română (RO)--- Cornilescu Romanian &nbsp; ---Русский (RU)--- Russian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version Russian Synodal Version Slovo Zhizny &nbsp; ---Slovenčina (SK)--- Nádej pre kazdého &nbsp; ---Shqip (SQ)--- Albanian Bible &nbsp; ---Српски (SR)--- Serbian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version <option class
  • the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Feb 12
       
      Given the recurring warnings in the Bible, especially the whole Book of Jude (http://diigo.com/0neqs), Jesus Followers are wise to do like the Bereans of the Apostle Paul's day when he taught them something they had not heard before. Use of the Scriptues can, however, turn into bibliolatry when we don't use it in the Spirit. Some religious Christians can arrogantly and legalistically use Scripture as a club against others.
  • Gary Patton on 18 Feb 12
     
    Acts 17:10-12 confirms why Jesus Followers are often taught to use their Bibles like the Jews of the town of Berea in Biblical times.
Gary Patton

"Trials Are For Joy ...Not Fun" - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation James

shared by Gary Patton on 19 May 12 - No Cached
  • James 1:2-8
  • Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter (B)various [a]trials, 3&nbsp;knowing that (C)the testing of your (D)faith produces [b](E)endurance. 4&nbsp;And let [c](F)endurance have its perfect [d]result, so that you may be [e](G)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
  • he must (J)ask in faith (K)without any doubting,
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • &nbsp;For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8&nbsp;being a [g](M)double-minded man, (N)unstable in all his ways.
  • But if any of you (H)lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [f]without reproach
  • it will be given
  • James 1:2-8
  • James 1:2-8
  • James 1:2-8
  • New American Standard Bible
  • Gary Patton on 19 May 12
     
    Christian: "Trials Are For Joy ...Not Fun" James 1:2-8 says trials are allowed by God in our lives to be joy-creating ...not fun... becuase of what they help us to learn for the future when we're wise. gfp (2012-05-18)
Gary Patton

Trials Produce Joy? Say what! | NIV YouVersion - 0 views

www.youversion.com/...jas.1.2-8.niv

bible scripture scripture interpretation James 1 joy trials perseverence

shared by Gary Patton on 29 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • Trials and Temptations
  • When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;14&nbsp;but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.15&nbsp;Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
  • If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.6&nbsp;But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.7&nbsp;That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.8&nbsp;Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,t whenever you face trials of many kinds,3
  • because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4&nbsp;Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Gary Patton

"Trials Produce Joy? Say what! " - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation James 1 joy trials perseverence

shared by Gary Patton on 30 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • James 1:2-8
  • Trials and Temptations
  • Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • because you know that the testing of your faith(B) produces perseverance.(C) 4&nbsp;Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature(D) and complete, not lacking anything.
  • If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,(E) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(F) 6&nbsp;But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,(G) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7&nbsp;That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8&nbsp;Such a person is double-minded(H) and unstable(I) in all they do.
  • Gary Patton on 30 Aug 12
     
    "Trials Produce Joy? Say what! " In James 1:2-8, Holy Spirit shares the secret power of trails that many Christians just "don't get"! GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2012-08-30)
Gary Patton

How Do We Trust God? - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation wisdom Proverbs trust

shared by Gary Patton on 22 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 22 Jan 12
     
    When push comes to shove, you've done everything reasonable you can to overcome your impossible problem and you're holding on by your finger nails, here's the Bible's way out and best advice. My e-Sticky Note on verse 6 shares an interesting mis-translation of a word that changes the entire meaning of this incredible promise from the Living God! gfp (2212-12-22)
Gary Patton

Jesus Warns Great Evil Exists Around Us & Tells Us What To Do - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture matthew Islam islamism islamization evangelism jihadism jihad

shared by Gary Patton on 28 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • beware of men, for they will hand you over to the (G)courts
  • as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles
  • do not worry
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and (M)children will rise up against parents and [b]cause them to be put to death
  • I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so [a]be (E)shrewd as serpents and (F)innocent as doves.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 17 May 12
       
      Jesus Followers are commanded here to exercise discernment and wisdom, in the context of our Master's over-arching command to demonstrate and exercise gentle, peaceable love, while relating to family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues throughout our daily lives. We must love others regardless of what they do or say as noted in John 13:34-35 at http://diigo.com/0l8po . This is especially true when dealing with those of other faiths and sharing Jesus' Gospel because we are His ambassadors here on planet earth. We must NEVER forget that we live in a foreign Kingdom under the influence of Satan who hates everybody, especially Jesus Followers. Jesus' command and why He shares it here is important to remember, every day, in view of the aggressive and widespread advance of radical, violent Islam throughout the world and the current Islamization of Canada and the dangers here of Islamism that Prime Minister Harper warned about in his Sept. 9, 2011 interview on CBC TV at http://diigo.com/0koug . Abroad also, Christians worldwide are currently experiencing organized and Government-sponsored or, at least, unopposed genocide in most Muslim-dominated countries. Christians are persecuted heavily by Hindus in some countries, like India, as well. For more information to pray and give effectively to support persecuted brothers and Sisters I recommend http://www.BaranabasAid.org as a trust-worthy organization. They specialize in helping the persecuted church. Jesus' warning takes on a powerful and troublesome other dimension in the modern world. Many Christians do NOT appreciate it because they forget the companion warning to this one that our God left for Jesus Followers. Holy Spirit inspired Jude to caution the Body of Christ (Messiah) about rwhat he and other Bible writers called "false teachers" at http://diigo.com/0neqs . Anti-Christ, false teachers often were, Jude warns, in the pulpits and pews of some First Century gatherings ('churches' in mistranslated Greek in
  • Matthew 10:15-21
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 17 May 12
       
      Christian: Great Evil Lurks Around You ...Know What To Do? In Matthew 10:16-18 of the God's New Covenant, Jesus (Yeshua) warns His first plus His present day Followers that the world is filled with demonically-inspired evil and evil people. And this situation may be even worse in our modern world for many reason including the greater nearness of the end-of-days and Satan's desperation to keep as many as possible separated from Father God. Overt persecution is a current, ever-present experience in Canada for Christians ...especially active Jesus Followers. This is also true in the U.S. The Lord shares here how Jesus Followers should behave in dealing with others in the cruel and hostile environment in which they must live and work as ambassadors of God's loving Kingdom that will come in its fullness some day ...sooner than many Christians believe. We are to do so, however, in the context of Jesus' over-arching command to love others. gfp (2011-11-02+)
  • Matthew 10:15-21
  • Gary Patton on 28 Feb 12
     
    Jesus warns His Followers how to deal with others and to be wary in the world. We are to do so, however, in the context of Jesus' over-arching command to love others ...regardless of what they do or say. gfp (2012-02-28) 2012-02-28
Gary Patton

"Paul Wrote Scripture According to His Fellow Apostles" - 2 Peter 3:15-17 NASB - Bible... - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation

shared by Gary Patton on 28 Aug 13 - No Cached
  • 2 Peter 3:15-17
  • our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you
  • in which are some things hard to understand
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction
  • Gary Patton on 28 Aug 13
     
    Peter makes clear in 2 Peter 3:15-17 that Paul's Epistles were understood to be Scripture while the Apostles were still alive and ministering around the world. GaryFPatton (2103-08-28)
Gary Patton

John 12:20-25 NIV -"Jesus Predicts His Death & The Wisdom of a Jesus Follower's - Bible... - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation spiritual growth jesus death

shared by Gary Patton on 22 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 22 Sep 13
     
    John 12:24 in context, like John 15:5 & Galatians 2:20 in context, make clear that a Jesus Follower can only be greatly used by Holy Spirit when the allow Jesus to live His life out through them as " Walking Dead Wo(men)!"
Gary Patton

"Jesus Predicts His Death & The Wisdom of His Followers Suicide Also" - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.diigo.com/...f4799233d9340cd9cf7de694f3748d

bible scripture scripture interpretation spiritual growth jesus death

shared by Gary Patton on 25 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25&nbsp;Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Sep 13
       
      In John 12:24, in context, Jesus again confirms that the ONLY we we committed can follow Him is as a " Walking Dead Wo(man)'" by committing suicide also through our own crucifixion with Him. He says the same thing in other ways in Matthew 16:20-25, at https://diigo.com/014z8s & John 15:5 at http://diigo.com/0jv2h . Jesus' Apostle (sent out one), Paul, makes clear his permanent status as a Walking Dead Man in Galatians 2:20. GaryFPatton (2013-09-25 © gfp '42™)
  • Jesus Predicts His Death
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Sep 13
       
      In John 12:24, in context, Jesus again confirms that the ONLY we we committed can follow Him is as a " Walking Dead Wo(man)'" by committing suicide also through our own crucifixion with Him. He says the same thing in other ways in Matthew 16:20-25, at https://diigo.com/014z8s & John 15:5 at http://diigo.com/0jv2h . Jesus' Apostle (sent out one), Paul, makes clear his permanent status as a Walking Dead Man in Galatians 2:20. GaryFPatton (2013-09-25 © gfp '42™)
  • Gary Patton on 25 Sep 13
     
    In John 12:24, in context, Jesus again confirms that the ONLY we we committed can follow Him is as a a " Walking Dead Wo(man)" through our own crucifixion with Him. He says the same thing in other ways in Matthew 16:20-25, at and John 15:5 at http://diigo.com/0jv2h . Jesus' Apostle (sent out one), Paul, makes clear his permanent status as a Walking Dead Man in Galatians 2:20. GaryFPatton (2013-09-25 © gfp '42™)
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