1. The Ica Stones from South America are proposed to be ancient stones with carvings of a number of different kinds of dinosaurs. While controversial, if authentic, this would indicate that ancient man had to have seen and lived with these creatures so as to be able to carve them. (2, p30)

Conclusion: It appears this may be one point of evidence indicating that scientists may not be correct concerning either the dating of dinosaur life or of human life, or both, emphasis on the word may.

See also: 
1) Wiki: Ica Stones
2) "Thunderbirds: Did the American Indians See 'Winged Dinosaurs'? by Bill Johnson

Parent topic: Science Mistakes

The Haak Bible was written in 1637 with an attached commentary by Dutch Reformed theologians.

1. The commentary on Genesis 1:5 says, “The meaning of these words is that night and day had made up one natural day together, which with the Hebrews began with the evening and ended with the approach of the next evening, comprehending twenty-four hours.” (1; 2, p125)

Conclusion: The commentators of the Haak Bible believed the Creation days to be literal 24 hour days.

See also:
1) Haak Bible
2) Refuting Compromise by Jonathan Sarfati

Parent topic: Genesis 1, Creation

1. The G12 strategy has a remarkable track record for large exponential church growth. The model is based off of one used by Dr. David Yonggi Cho, pastor of one of the world’s largest churches. (1, p43)

2. They charge a fee that is not insignificant of $120 a month for a church to be a member of the network. (1, p43)

3. G12′s goal is to unite the Christian church and to make disciples of all nations. (1, p43)

4. The man who started the network, Cesar Castellanos Dominguez, says he got the idea from a vision from God in 1983. (1, p43)

5. G12′s principles are: win, consolidate, disciple, and send. (1, p43)

6. One of the controversial features involves the consolidate principle. For this process, they ask members to be involved in an Encounter weekend event. They tend to be highly secretive and intense. Those involved are not told where they are going, cannot bring anything, cannot leave until it is over, and are shown a number of graphic displays for the purpose of greater understanding in sin and forgiveness. (1, p43)

7. There have been complaints from a large number of the G12 churches and pastors who have cried for help, saying that the membership has only hurt the church body. (1, p43)

“For over six years we have received cries for help from pastors and Christian laypeople across Latin America who have paid dearly for their churches’ adoption of the G12 model… [G12 can] bring drastic changes, virtually wiping out existing church structures and programs.” Ricardo Becerra, director of Centro de Investigaciones Religiosas (2)

8. There have been reports of ruined Christian faith, mass confusion, psychological damage, torn church bodies and families, and the downfall of denominations, says Ricardo Becerra. (1, p43)

9. G12 does not apply a traditional leadership method, but instead allows anyone who has gone through their training to be involved in leadership, often causing chaos. (1, p43; 2)

Conclusion: One should both look at the methodology and the fruit of a ministry. Here, the fruit is mixed. The growth of churches and members is huge for the G12 Vision. However, many of those churches and members have been harmed in the process, and as a result of G12′s controversial techniques. This is a ministry to be watched and critiqued and those thinking of getting involved warned.

See also:
1) "Controversy Swells around the G12 Vision for Church Growth" by Phil Fleischman, V.31 N.2
2) "Encountering G12" by Ricardo Becerra
3) G12 Cult Web site
4) Wiki: G12 Vision
5) G12 Vision Web site

Parent topic: Church

1. The Bible gives examples of promises God made, only to end in failure. God promised Israel the land of Canaan, but we see in Judges 1:19 that even though God was with Judah in battle, they failed. (2, p66-7)

Conclusion: There is much more to be said about the promises made in the Bible. This will be expanded upon, but for now, it appears that we cannot simply take promises (such as those promising health and wealth) we find in the Bible as though they stand for each Christian today. There must be something more.

See also:
1) Failure: The Back Door to Success by Erwin Lutzer
2) Hard Questions, Real Answers by William Lane Craig

Parent topic: Bible, Failure, Psalm 1:1-3

1. Failure should be distinguished from persecution and trials. For instance, Christian discrimination is not failure, but persecution, and trials can produce character such as maturity. This is not a failure, even though it may be difficult, and one may not reach the intended goal. (2, p63-4)

2. It could be argued that God has no specific will for our lives. The Bible speaks of sovereign will and moral will, but not individual will. Therefore, failure is just a part of doing things of our own free will and volition. This may not be comforting, but if such an argument succeeds (to be expanded later), then we cannot blame God for failure.

3. Failure just may be part of God’s will for our lives. He may even lead us into failure. There are some virtues one can only learn through failure. (2, p67-9)

4. True success is not necessarily gaining fame or power or a good job or a spot on the New York Times best sellers list. True success is getting to know God better, and the material success may be a sign of that. But so might material failure. (2, p69)

“It is not success in the eyes of the world that ultimately counts, but success in the Lord’s eyes.” (2, p69)

5. This all should give hope and encouragement in times of failure, for our failure may be a part of the bigger plan in glorifying God, which is a success. (2, p69)

6. Though we may fail a goal, we should strive to succeed in the way in which we handle that failure. (2, p69)

7. Success is also defined as when we actively love one another. (2, p69-70)

8. Learn from our failures. It would be unfortunate to have to fail twice, just to learn the same lesson. (2, p70)

9. Don’t give up. Unless your failure ended in your death, then life goes on. All you have is the present, and what you will make of the future. No regrets; no quitting. (2, p71-3)

“If you’re going through hell, keep on going. Don’t slow down. If you’re scared don’t show it. You might get out before the Devil even knows you’re there.” Rodney Atkins

Conclusion: Failure should not be a surprise. It is expected. Learn from it and never give up. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture.

But what if…

A. Someone says, “Psalm 1:1-3 says a Christian following God will prosper, and you can’t use your experience of failure against Scripture. That is a promise and he will come through.”

See also:
1) Failure: The Back Door to Success by Erwin Lutzer
2) Hard Questions, Real Answers by William Lane Craig

Parent topic: Behavior and Attitudes, Psalm 1:1-3

1. As of late 2010, a Rasmussen Reports poll showed that 48% of voters would support an earmark ban. Only 36% opposed such a ban. (2, p14)

Conclusion: While difficult to get through the Senate, it appears that they would have the public’s support on an earmark ban.

See also:
1) Wiki: Earmark
2) "Party Lines in Full Senate Blurred by Earmark Battle" by Elisabeth Meinecke, Jan. 2011
3) "Voters Favor Ban on Earmarks, But Not Strongly"

Parent topic: Federal Legislation

In the first verse of Deuteronomy, the writer claims that the book records words spoken “beyond the Jordan in the wilderness by Moses.” Some read “beyond the Jordan” to mean “east of the Jordan.” The author of the book is therefore to the west of Jordan, which is Canaan. Moses died before entering Canaan. Therefore, the argument is that Moses could not have been its author.

1. It is now well known that the phrase “beyond the Jordan” is the technical phrase for the name Paraea, or “The Other-side Land,” or what is now called Transjordania. (1, p49; 4, p466; 5, 244)

Conclusion: Verse 1 does not imply the location of Moses and the author of Deuteronomy to be separate places.

See also:
1) The Book of the Law by G. T. Manley
2) Coffman Commentary of Deuteronomy 1
3) "Historical Evidence of Post-Mosaic Authorship"
4) The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
5) A Survey of Old Testament Introduction by Gleason Archer Jr.

Parent topic: Deuteronomy 1, Author of Deuteronomy

1. If we were to take this instance, as well as each of the other instances of the phrase “until this day,” its usage is properly within the context of the past 40 years of wilderness travel, up until the last days of Moses’ life. (2, p466; 3, p243)

Conclusion: The phrase in question does not imply a longer period of time than the 40 years the Hebrews traveled in the wilderness. Moses can still be the author.

See also:
1) "Historical Evidence of Post-Mosaic Authorship"
2) The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
3) A Survey of Old Testament Introduction by Gleason Archer Jr.

Parent topic: Deuteronomy 2, Dating Deuteronomy

1. It is accepted that while the rest of the book is reasonably assumed to be authored by Moses, this portion was an addition, probably by Joshua. This is a common practice, both then and now. (1, p172; 2, p466; 3, p244)

Conclusion: While this portion concerning the death of Moses appears to have been written by someone else, probably Joshua, it says nothing as to whether the rest of the book was written by Moses.

See also:
1) The Book of the Law by G. T. Manley
2) The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
3) A Survey of Old Testament Introduction by Gleason Archer Jr.

Parent topic: Deuteronomy 34, Author of Deuteronomy

1. Deuteronomy was not written by a prophet, during the prophetic time, so it is unlikely a prophecy.

2. Moses was blessing the tribes, which is different than prophesying.

3. Within the culture of the times, people went barefoot or in sandals and so their feet became very dusty and dirty. It was a luxury to have it bathed in oil. The verse is not a prophecy but a picture of the prominence a certain tribe of Israel was to have. -The Quest…, 296

4. The oil used is not the oil we think of today for energy, but a very different item, made from completely different products.

Conclusion: It is unlikely that Deuteronomy 33:24 contains a prophecy about the discovery of oil in Israel. It was not written by a prophet, was instead a blessing, in context speaks of prominence, and is completely different than oil we use for energy today.

See also:
The Quest Study Bible

Parent topic:  Deuteronomy 33