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Posts Tagged ‘What did Jesus say?’

TEMPLES OF LEARNING

Posted in Me & The World, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 21, 2026| 1 Comment »

My wife thinks I have too many books. With three loaded-down bookcases in our home, she’s probably right. But if we’re to take this atheist meme seriously, then I — a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God — should only have one book. The Bible.

So how to explain me and so, SO many other Jesus followers around the world who have extensive fiction and non-fiction libraries cluttering up their homes?

I have biographies and books on Irish history (I’m a student of that country’s 1916-23 revolutionary period), Canadian history, photography, hockey and music. In addition, I have lots of books that help me better understand what it means to live and pray as a Jesus follower.

On the fiction front, I have most of novels written by Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, Jan Karon, Star Trek writer Peter David and Canadian fantasy writer Guy Gavriel Kay.

I think you get my point. This atheist meme is a simplistic stereotype with little credibility. But it does make this subtle charge that’s worth exploring: Jesus followers are unthinking slaves to whatever the Bible says.

Maybe you, a person open to spirituality, find yourself agreeing with that claim. So why are there so many books written about the Bible? I’ll tell you why: because it’s open to so much exploration and interpretation. Consider just this point: The Bible says God created the world in six days. But what are days? Another part of the Bible says that to God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. See what I mean?

My point is this: yes, some people are, indeed, unthinking slaves to whatever the Bible says. Just as some atheists are unthinking believers that all Jesus followers are less intelligent than atheists. But many aren’t.

If the claim made by the atheist meme resonates with you to the point of dismissing Jesus of Nazareth, then I hope this blog persuades you to reconsider your position.

There is all kinds of room for Jesus-following scientists, bus drivers, farmers, PhD candidates, journalists, waiters/waitresses, university professors and stay-at-home moms. That means there’s room for YOU — and I regard that as one of the many great things about following Jesus.

Interested? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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MEANINGFUL or DESPERATE?

Posted in In The News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 17, 2026| 1 Comment »

Was it a real, meaningful life decision? Or a desperate and cynical way to manufacture hope in the face of impending death?

That’s the question that occurred to me when I read about the last few months of Scott Adams’ life. The American author, cartoonist and media personality, best known as the creator of the comic strip Dilbert, died earlier this month after a very public battle with bone and prostate cancer.

Not long before his demise, Adams, 69, revealed that he was abandoning his agnostic worldview in favour of Christianity.

“Adams explained that his evolving perspective was shaped in part by interactions with Christian friends and supporters who had been praying for him and sharing their faith during his illness,” said an article on the Beliefnet website. “Their examples, conversations, and care influenced Adams to reconsider questions of God, eternity, and salvation.”

The article went on to explain that Adams “indicated the Christian vision of hope beyond death, combined with the moral and relational framework of the faith, had become increasingly compelling to him as he grappled with his own mortality.”

I can imagine some folks will roll their eyes and opt for the ‘desperate and cynical way to manufacture hope in the face his impending death’ explanation for all this. And I understand their skepticism.

But even if you’re not the cynical type, there’s something else to consider — an important point made by my pastor friend Ross Carkner.

Noting that he didn’t intend to denigrate Adams’ decision, Ross pointed out it’s not about comparing and selecting one spiritual belief system over another. That strikes me resembling a business or government tendering a project and picking the cheapest, most advantageous bidder as the “winner”.

It’s about a man — Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God. During His physical time on Earth, Jesus taught us how to live our best lives, showed us who God is, then paid the price for all the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to do. Put plainly, Jesus told anyone willing to listen that He is “the way, the truth and the life.”

Jesus also said this: “Anyone who hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and have entered into life.” In other words, eternal life begins RIGHT NOW for people who commit their lives and their future to Jesus.

Did Scott Adams understand this and accept this? Or did he commit his final days and his eternal future on a system of beliefs and morals? I hope you, as a person open to spirituality, can fully understand the difference and what it can mean for YOUR life.

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