A brief Introduction:While studying to be a pastor in college I abandoned my faith. In fact, I abandoned everything I thought I believed and rebuilt.
To my own surprise at the time, I found that Christianity was much stronger than I had thought. As I rebuilt my belief system, I realized that there needed to be people out there responding to the questions people have. I had them myself. So, while not continuing on to be a pastor, I have focused on educating people about what Christianity is all about and responding to the various charges and accusations made against it.
There are some obvious challenges to being successful in that capacity, but a big part of it consists not in arguing with atheists and skeptics, but rather in providing Christians with accurate information in the first place to prevent them from leaving the faith in the first place.
Questioning is a very normal and natural part of growing up, and I am convinced that it is not wrong to ask questions of God at any age. God doesn't strike people down. On the other hand, if people are going to reject Christianity, it is my aim to at least make sure they reject the real Christianity and not a false view of it. Also, much heartache can be avoided by educating Christians properly to begin with. My experience has helped me... but it was unnecessary.
Paul said that some plant, some water, and others reap the increase. My job is to go out into the land and move rocks- or break them if necessary- till the land, and struggle through knee deep fertilizer... all in the effort to allow those who come later to plant, water, and reap the harvest. I look forward to the prospects of either serving you as someone who needs to haul rocks out of the field, or as someone who can look at the field, detect problems, and help farmers more effectively plant, water, and reap.
Here Begins my Blog
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I wanted to alert regular readers of this blog that if they are a Missouri resident, they will have the opportunity to hear me present in the Jefferson City area August 9th and in Lincoln, MO, on August 10th.
On August 9th, I will be speaking at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson City during their Bible Study hour. The topic will be pro-life in nature with some apologetics thrown in.
That afternoon, from 2-4 p.m., I will be speaking at Faith Lutheran in Jefferson City. The title and description of this session is
“Life and Life to the Fullest!” The Value of an intelligent Pro-Life Witness and Keeping Teens Closer to Jesus and the Church
In Lincoln on the 10th, at Heit’s Point Lutheran camp, I will be speaking from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., telling the story of the birth of our daughter, who was born with spina bifida. Like Down Syndrome children, spina bifida children are often aborted, many times at the strong suggestion of doctors, nurses, and even relatives. For more about this aspect of my story you can pick up my book, We Chose Life: Why You Should Too, at http://www.wechoselife.com
For an example of a presentation that I’ve given, you may watch this video of a presentation I delivered at a St. Louis area Lutheran high school in the spring:
Every now and then I read something that really get on my nerves even though nothing any more surprises me. Recently I came across a man named Jacob M. Appel and his stomach turning positions. Now, as I mentioned, it doesn’t really surprise me. However, I think it may be a surprise to some folks… I here think of some atheist friends who laugh away my assertions that there are certain aspects of atheism and secular humanism that logically, if not inevitably, degenerate into certain positions and attitudes. However, I am also thinking of some fellow Christians who think you are a fundamentalist prig if you make abortion your ‘one issue.’ Here are some that I think might fit the bill. These folks may be surprised at what Mr. Appel has to say, too.
Have I mentioned that it doesn’t surprise me? Why should it? Abortion on demand is just an extension of a certain viewpoint which reduces all value and meaning to the individual human or the ‘collective judgement’ of the human society. If you compromise on abortion I wonder what principle you invoke to prevent it from descending willy nilly into bestiality, euthanasia, infanticide, human cloning, and worse. I am speaking here to the ‘moderate’ Christians and secular humanists who wouldn’t dream of endorsing such things. What we have to ask of your viewpoint is what non-arbitrary principled line of demarcation exists to keep your ‘moderate’ views on abortion and embryonic stem cell research (to name two related examples) from morphing into that which you abhor. Read the rest of the entry… »
About two years ago my wife and I were informed at the twenty week ultrasound that our daughter very likely had a birth defect and it was very likely spina bifida. This was devastating. Another ultrasound was scheduled for that afternoon to get confirmation and in the hour or so we had at home trying to frantically organize our logistics (childcare, workplace, etc) we researched spina bifida. There was a range of possibilities, some of them very serious. Also, we knew of a spina bifida child who was the ‘worst case’ scenario, so we had our object lesson in hand.
An hour later we were at the hospital and the doctor was asking us if we wanted to abort our child.
Now, my wife and I are well educated as things go. But that doesn’t mean we knew even half of what needed to be known about spina bifida in order to make an informed decision about aborting the child. I can only imagine, remembering how grief stricken we were, how others might rush into the decision. Though we weren’t well educated regarding spina bifida, we were, nonetheless, well grounded. That is, we knew what we believed and why we believed it and the logical application of our believes was evident to us in this new, unpredicted circumstance.
We chose life.
Our daughter is almost two years old now and I can testify that the joy she brings completely overwhelms the troubles associated with her condition. (Like Heaven triumphs over Hell, ala Lewis’s The Great Divorce) And really, how different is this from any other non-disabled child? All children bring troubles- but we have them anyway. A disabled child might have more troubles- or they might not, rather, the troubles are of a different sort. But the joys outweigh the troubles out of proportion. More troubles equals more joys. See the parable of the Prodigal Son.
With this experience in mind and wishing that I could do something to persuade others to make the same choice that my wife and I did, I have written a book, and it is now available for purchase.
We Chose Life: Why You Should Too is 84 pages short and geared towards parents who have suddenly found themselves in a similar situation.
However, anyone considering abortion will find my book directed at them. Pro-lifers will find various uses for the book. First, it will strengthen and enhance their own views. Second, it can be used as a tool, something to put in the hands of those they know are facing such issues (ie, life after the birth of a disabled child), and Third, a teaching tool to help promote a pro-life view among our youth and in Christian congregations.
The book is available through the web page, direct from me, through Amazon.com.
I am open to talking to anyone recently informed that their child has a disability such as Down Syndrome, spina Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, etc. If you are that person, contact me. If you know someone, put us in touch.
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