All posts filed under: z19

Eye for eye, tooth for Photo: Laurence Vagner/Flickr

Is the Bible different from the Qur’an?

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There is a video circulating on the internet produced by two men, Alexander Spoor and Sacha Harland from Holland, who seemed to compare the violent actions of Islamic extremists to Christianity. What they did was take a Dutch Bible and enclosed it in a paper cover that made it look like a Qur’an. They then took this book into the streets of Holland and had people read selected verses from the Bible thinking they were reading the Qur’an. Explaining their YouTube video, entitled The Holy Quran Experiment, the two said: [Islam] has been under huge scrutiny lately and is often [criticized] for being an aggressive religion… but what about Christianity? In this video we disguised a Bible as a Quran and read some of it’s most gruesome verses to the people. This is what they had to say. Though people read from a few passages, what seemed to catch everyone’s attention were the verses in the Old Testament: “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,” Moses (Exodus 21:24 NASV) The “eye for …

Park Rangers destroying one of 6 Marijuana fields found in North Cascades National Park Complex Photo: Park Ranger/Flickr

Two studies show increased health risks associated with Marijuana usage

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As governments race ahead to see who can be the most progressive by legalizing Marijuana use, two more recently released studies are showing the negative risks associated with using Cannabis. Perhaps the biggest problem with the legalization push is the growing perception that it is a safe drug leading many young people to use the drug. According to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry by researchers from New York’s Columbia University, the rates of Marijuana substance abuse among Americans has doubled between 2001 and 2013. In their study reported by Reuters, they compared two adult surveys on Marijuana usage involving 40,000 adults in 2001/2002 with a 36,000 adult survey in 2012/2013. Between these two periods they discovered: Marijuana usage doubled. The increase was particularly noticeable among blacks, Hispanics, women, middle age and older people and southerners. Abuse or dependence problems had doubled with three out of 10 people (7 million Americans) reported being diagnosed with an addiction disorder associated with Marijuana usage compared to only 1.5 out 10 in the earlier survey. The increase was …

Burnaby, British Columbia Photo: Derek K. Miller/Flickr

Top American physicist comes out: He doesn’t believe in man-made global warming

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Though theoretical Physicist Freeman Dyson is a strong supporter of Barack Obama, he disagrees with the U.S. President in one fundamental area — Dyson does not believe in man-made global warming. Dyson stated this while Obama is on the campaign trail pushing governments to approve a global warming treaty at this year’s climate conference to be held in Paris November 30 – December 11, 2015. Dyson used to believe in man-made Global warming and was one of the first scientists to begin studying it 25 years ago when he worked for Oak Ridge National Laboratory. But after years of research he no longer does. Dyson is a prolific author writing several books and scientific papers on a variety of issues. He has also received many awards for his work. He just did an interview with The Register after writing a foreword for a recently published scientific paper. In the interview he states that while he is 100% behind Obama, the Republicans are 100% right to question man-made global warming. The paper that Dyson wrote the …

How Dr. Chauncey Crandall raised a man from the dead in the ER

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Dr. Chauncey Crandall is a cardiologist based in Palm Beach, Florida. He also is a Christian and believes in the healing power of God which was dramatically displayed on October 20, 2006. At the time, Dr. Crandall was working at the Palm Beach Gardens Hospital when auto mechanic Jeff Markin, then 53,  came to the emergency room (ER) at the hospital. He had been on his way to work and wasn’t feeling good. His boss convinced him to go to the hospital. Markin had just entered the ER when he collapsed to the floor due to a massive heart attack. His heart had stopped beating. ER staff frantically worked on Markin for 40 minutes trying to resuscitate him including shocking his heart several times. Towards the end, they called in Crandall, but there was nothing that could be done. When Crandally arrived, another attempt was made with the defibrillator, but Markin’s heart monitor continued to display the ominous flat line. Markin’s fingers and mouth were already turning black. Dr. Crandall declared the man dead at …

Despite there brutal treatment of Christians, ISIS terrorists are turning to Christ because of dreams. Photo Video Capture/ABC News

Another Muslim Jihadist becomes a Christian because of a dream

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Gospel Herald is reporting another conversion of an ISIS militant because of a dream. The report came via the Christian Aid Mission (CAM) who provides aid to indigenous groups in various countries around the world. The ministry was providing help to a refugee family in Amman, Jordan. When a jihadist fighter of the family heard his relatives were receiving help from Christians, he decided to visit and deal with the “unclean pigs.” When he arrived, the man actually went to a Christian meeting intending to slaughter the CAM missionaries. However, for some unknown reason he was unable to follow through with his plan. According to director of CAM for the Middle East, that night the jihadist had a dream where Jesus appeared to him. The next day he showed up at their ministry stating: “I came to kill you, but last night I saw Jesus, I want to know what you are teaching — who is this one who held me up from killing you.” The missionaries shared the Gospel with the terrorist and he …

RIGHT: Roll of fossilized barbwire Photo Creation.com | LEFT: Photo Choo Yut Shing/Flickr

New species of dinosaur discovered — Barbersaurus

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We often hear news of paleontologists discovering the fossilized remains of a new, yet unheard of, dinosaur. According to their reports, it will typically be tens of millions of years old. Unfortunately, it has been ingrained into our minds that if it’s a fossil it must be millions of years old. That’s because most people don’t realize fossilization can take place in just a few years. We know this because of the discovery of a new dinosaur species — Barbersaurus. Discovered in Australia, it is a bit odd-looking — actually it looks like a heavy hula hoop. It was smaller than your typical dinosaur, weighing only 165 pounds or 75 kg. It is difficult to nail down its age, but a best guess is somewhere between 45 and 95 years old. It was discovered by a young Australian girl, 11-year-old Amy Lewis. Her parents, Col and Jo Lewis, owned a trailer park near Australia’s Eighty Mile Beach located  on the Northwest coast of Australia. This fossilized object was none other than a roll of barbwire …

Ynys Llanddwyn Lighthouse, Newborough, Wales, England Photo: Alex Brown/Flickr

A psychiatrist’s encounter with demon possession

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In an article published in the New Oxford Review, Dr. Richard Gallagher — an associate professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College — said a woman he worked with displayed overt signs of demon possession including levitation and paranormal acts. Julia, a pseudonym, was a former Catholic and first went to a Catholic priest seeking help believing she was being attacked by demons. From there she was referred to an official Catholic exorcist, who after a thorough examination, brought in Dr. Gallagher to examine Julia’s mental condition. Based on a number of sessions with Julia, Gallagher determined she was demon possessed. Gallagher states her actions were not only witnessed by himself and other fellow “mental health professionals,” but also by nurses, priests, lay people and nuns. Gallagher says most psychiatrists and doctors are not open to demon possession, despite frequent encounters with patients claiming they are under demonic attack. As a result, most in his profession routinely miss instances of genuine demonic possession. Written from a Catholic perspective, Gallagher provides insight on possession from …

Justin Bieber in concert. Photo: Joe Bielawa/Flickr

Pop star Justin Bieber ‘comes out’ about his faith in an interview with ‘Complex Magazine’

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In a recent interview with Complex Magazine, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber had some interesting things to say about Jesus, Christianity and the Church. There have been reports over the past several months that Justin is making a serious attempt to straighten out his life — and a big part of it has been his return to Christianity. Justin comes from a Christian home and has a praying mom. This past spring, the mega pop star was even seen attending a music worship conference put on by Australia’s Hillsong, but it was noted he wore a controversial Marilyn Manson t-shirt one day. Though some question the sincerity of Justin’s faith, it is becoming increasingly clear that he is serious and it is changing his life. For a while it seemed he was getting in trouble with the law almost weekly from drag racing while intoxicated with an expired driver’s license in Florida to accusations of assault in Canada, but more recently Justin’s biggest controversies center on his faith in Christ. In his interview with Complex …

Finding the right path through despair. Photo aha42 | tehaha/Foter/CC BY-NC

Finding your way through the valley of despair

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Recently, in a Sunday morning message, a friend shared about the loss of his two-year old grandson to cancer. Doctors diagnosed Lucien with leukemia early in his first year.  Cancer treatments and long hospital stays were the norm for this family. The promise of remission brought hope. Sadly, the cancer returned. Two years, two months and two days from his birth, Lucien passed. The prayer and support Lucien’s family received from their church and community during this time was phenomenal. Lucien, in his short time on earth, had become a celebrity in his own right. As well, his young and talented parents became well-known as they bravely fought their greatest battle sharing their journey through Facebook, photos and videos. Their Celtic music brought them reprieve in the dark days following their son’s passing. Gary, the grandfather, shared about the decision he personally faced following his grandson’s death. The family fought the hardest battle of their lives as they hoped, prayed and fasted for Lucien’s recovery. The previous two years had taken every ounce of emotional, …

Inside St. Mary's Church of Zion in Axum, Ethiopia. The church claims to house the Jewish Ark of the Covenant, and some suggest it is behind the curtains. Photo: Flickr/A.Davey

The Queen of Sheba and the Jewish Ark of the Covenant

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In my previous post, I wrote about the mystery behind the disappearance of the Jewish Ark of the Covenant, the most important piece of furniture in the Jewish Temple. The Ark was where the Presence of God sat in the Temple’s Holy of Holies. I looked at he numerous theories on what happened to the Ark which just suddenly disappears. In this post, I want to discuss one of the more interesting theories. There is an Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, Ethiopia — St. Mary of Zion — that claims to have the Ark of the Covenant. Unfortunately, they won’t let anyone study it to independently verify if this is the Ark. On May 12, 2008, Archaeologists from the University of Hamburg announced they found the palace of Queen of Sheba in Axum, Ethiopia. But in a strange twist, they also tied the discovery to the mysterious disappearance of the Jewish Ark of the Covenant. According to the team, headed by Helmut Zeigert of the university’s archaeological institute, the palace, dated to 10 BC, was …

Alise in the hospital. Photo on right: Alise with her parents Jamie and Chris Nipper. Photos: Facebook

Doctor says Alise is alive and well because of prayer and divine intervention

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The Nipper family are from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. On July 29, they were at a friend’s place for a pool party when their three-year-old daughter Alise drowned. Alise and her mother Jamie had been swimming in the pool when the weather took a sudden turn for the worse and people headed inside. It was only when they were in the home that Jamie realized her daughter wasn’t there. She thought Alise was inside somewhere taking off her life jacket. Panicked, Jamie ran outside to search for her daughter and after a couple searches of the pool found Alise underwater. She saw her foot sticking out from beneath a raft. It appears when everyone started going inside because of the lightning, Alise had taken her life jacket off outside and somehow fell back in the water. Jamie jumped in and pulled out her daughter hoping she had just fallen in. But a few minutes had already passed and Alice’s face was blue. She was not breathing and there was no pulse. A friend at the pool …