300: A FINITE NUMBER... RIGHT?

Well, intrepid blog readers. I have achieved my 300th post!!! And here it is:

I am listening to Sam Frost discuss his paper, "Full Preterism and the Problem of Infinity." In it, he challenges the ubiquitous concept of the infinity of God. I have held to this concept virtually all of my life! No, I did not comprehend it. But I did apprehend it.

Preterism, for the unwashed masses, is an eschatological viewpoint that says the prophecies which Jesus and others put forth in the Bible came to pass in 70 A.D. regarding His return and the end of the age (Old Testament or Covenant). "Full Preterism" says that Jesus returned in judgment to Jerusalem and will not be back physically.

Frost has his own show on Preterist Radio. It is called, oddly enough, "The Sam Frost Show."

Because of a conversation I had with a friend who was instrumental in persuading me to consider the claims of the Bible in light of full preterism (FP), I started reading Frost's paper and listening to his shows on this subject. Therefore, I have been contemplating this Greek concept of infinity.

"Infinity" has historically permeated the doctrines of the Christian faith. Indeed, it has always explained the unexplainable to me. But now, a challenge from Sam Frost has awoken those of us who are listening.

As a Christian, I must take infinity with a grain of salt. It means, according to Frost and others,"unbound." Of course I agree.

The controversy is over "the end of history," or "the end of time," because of its prima facie disagreement with preterism.

It is a commonly held belief that Jesus will return to earth, physically, to consummate "all things." He will, according to the majority opinion in the Church, bring an end to time and usher in the eternal reign on earth of His Heavenly Kingdom.

But in the FP (full preterist) scheme, it is an interesting concept. On the one hand, I hold to a fulfilled interpretation of Scripture. On the other hand, I see Frost's logic and have to agree with it.

Well, does this mean that Christ will return... again? Physically?

I think not. But this is a paradox (apparent contradiction) par excellence for us mere mortals. After all, He reigns... NOW!!! He is here ("I am with you always..." Matthew 28:20)

Frost makes a very credible defense, or apologetic, for his position-- which was also that of Athanasius, a church father. I feel he deserves a hearing before any of us passes final judgment on this very interesting viewpoint worthy of our consideration. Jesus will be happy to lead us to all truth.(John 16:13)

LIVE-BLOGGING WITH RC SPROUL

It has been my wont of late to listen to RC Sproul online (Ligonier.org) while blogging. This is a tolerable addiction, in my view.

For some reason, hearing "the dulcet tones" of Dr. Sproul's voice while expounding some deep theological subject is stimulating to my creative processes, in this case, for blogging.

Well, how much weirder does it get? I am glad you asked.

I also discovered a cool typing tutorial online called TypingWeb. I could say that one item on my "bucket list" is to learn typing. I can now practice the "home row keys" as of earlier today. Woo hoo!

More Internet merriment must surely follow this...

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!!!

As a public service to all of my readers who use Microsoft Outlook 2003/2007 and Hotmail (aka Windows Live Hotmail), I am pleased to post these links to my long-awaited solution to the perennial dilemma of connecting Outlook to Hotmail.

First, there is the solution: Use a Windows Live Hotmail Account in Outlook

And the fix: Outlook Hotmail Connector 32-bit

I have tried for years, but failed (not me, of course-- Windows, heh, heh!)

I am awestruck by the versatility and ability of Outlook to manipulate these static pieces of electronic communication with massive capability and pinpoint precision.

Gosh! What I was missing!

Next post: real worldview issues that matter to you... like the World Cup 2010!

BOSTON VS. LA

Between posts about worldview issues, I am watching the final agonizing minutes of Game Seven of the NBA Finals on ESPN on ABC. Agonizing because I want the Boston Celtics to win, but the LA Lakers are being annoyingly good in the clutch. Kobe Bryant is on the FTL, and... making them. Darn!

Boston (Ray Allen) misses, and LA makes it. Throw away the script. It won't help. Aaaugh.

300... ALMOST

Just a side note: I am closing in on 300 blog posts!!!

Count 'em. No, wait. Blogger does it for me...

Now on to significant stuff.

RANDOM

Okay, the moment of inspiration drove me (led me?) to this post. Now what?

I am preparing to start up new courses in my program of online study toward certification in computer usage and applications. Well, well, well.

I am also listening to RC Sproul at Ligonier.org. Some days, he has the balm of Gilead in his voice and teaching. Jesus sent us His own Spirit, "another comforter," and He does His work effectually indeed!

IT'S A RACE!

Having worked on the 2010 U.S. Census project since March, I have since modified my stance on "race" and ethnicity. I used to take it all in stride, this idea of black and white "races." Then I became reactionary through Answers in Genesis and their teaching the "human race" as the only race. Fair enough. I defended it.

Then I began thinking about the U.S. Census questionnaire and its use of the term race, which was extremely confusing to not a few respondents. Many were incensed at the questions.

To simplify things (for myself anyway), I like to call race another word for ethnicity because that is what it historically boils down to. The Israelite "race," for example, was not permitted by God to intermarry with other nations, or races, in the Old Testament. This would pollute the purity of God's people and compromise their position in His economy and kingdom. I may conclude that God was very concerned about race back then.

In the New Testament economy, God has allowed the progressive dilution of races to the point where most marriages are of necessity mixed-race marriages. Because Jesus/God gave the apostle Peter the vision of clean and unclean animals to eat (which signified Jews and Gentiles being declared equally valid and eligible for salvation in the New Testament economy), we may conclude that God has removed that restriction because in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek... (Galatians 3:28)

This begs the question: any questions?