Announcements:

WEAPONS OF WARFARE IS THE WINNER OF BEST APOLOGETICS BLOG! Congratulations!

Vox Apologia IV is up at firstpete315. Go read it… or a giant monkey will carry you away.

Apologetics:

AllThings2All has a great post about Scientology. (Plus Scene and Herd goodness!)

The Huntington Apologetics Team has a good post about Judgement vs Judging.

Every Thought Captive covers World Religions, quotes me on Joel Osteen (vannnnity!), touches on Worship and Church Pressures, and has his own little link carnival – which includes a link to one of his older posts.

Wittenberg Gate goes Beyond the Gate.

The Minor Prophet has… a lot of posts. Just go visit, k?

Read the rest of the posts on Evangelical Underground’s front page. Because.. I told you to.

Oh, just in case you missed… EU is my Blog of the Week. Why? Because I said so – and because he’s cool. Can’t you just be cool to get an award? What’s wrong with that? I think “cool” is disenfranchised these days. I’ve givin’ a little back – y’know?

At Ales Rarus, I have to agree… there’s just “some people“. Oh, and Mother Mary is still a hot topic over there. (I hear it’s quite contrary.)

21st Century Reformation has a passion for content.

I look to pastor bloggers and philosopher bloggers and devotional bloggers and apologetics bloggers to begin using blogging to learn and discuss church reformation and become engaged in the discussion.

Eh. I’m not really all that into church reformation, myself. I tend to defend my faith from other faiths as a rule. But, hey… everyone’s gifts are different. Mine don’t tend toward the pastoral, I’m afraid. But… he’s a pastor 😀 Go check it out. You have gifts – and yours may be what God needs to use.

From the Adrian Warnock department: Of course there are apostles today, and The simple gospel in 10 points.

Oh… and AllThings2All gets a Warnie. Acceptance speech?

Weapons of Warfare covers Various Antitheses.

off shore fisherman… A witch is a witch. AWESOME post. Read now.

Also… he asks a good question. “Can you love Jesus too much?” Another excellent read. I like this blog. It’s great due to it’s brevity, and the wisdom in almost every post. Sort of like reading Proverbs.

Challies is having his February giveaway. So… go enter.

James White discusses The Qur’an in the Light of God-breathed Scripture.

Just go read Counter-Cult. I added them over the weekend – and they ROCK.

Also new – but, I’ve sort of been including them by default anyway… The Revenge of Mr. Dumping. His post in the current Vox Apologia is NICE. He says it’s “inspired BY” Vox Apologia… well, I beg to differ. It’s inspiring people to keep entering, in my humble opinion. It’s just that good.

Discourse(s) of the day:

Hookflash, who I had a discussion with recently, is chatting with others about it on the “Infidel Guy” forums.

The “Special Edition”, in essence, is my “weekend” edition of my “Daily Cut”. I run it for both Saturday and Sunday, and basically find what there is to find, and let you all know what’s on my heart, and in the works.

I took a bit of time off today to just read. Specifically, to run through “The Evangelical Disaster”, by Francis Schaeffer. If you’ve never read that book, and you are an Evangelical – and, even if you aren’t an Evangelical, but want to know what we really stand for – read it. I’ll be starting a series this week, covering the book point by point. I’d appreciate anyone else who would like to look it over, and really do a study from it, into what exactly we, as Evangelicals, should, and do, stand for.

See, when we say “I am an Evangelical” – what does that mean, really? Why, when we look at the “Evangelical” community, does our heart break, sometimes? Why does it infuriate some, and energize others, to be referred to as a “Fundamantalist”, or an “Evangelical”? Should it?

What exactly does being an “Evangelical” mean? What is the “chasm” which separates Evangelicals from non-Evangelicals? Denomination? Scriptural innerrancy? Salvation’s importance? What is it?

I’m going to cover all of those topics, and expand on the book itself, a bit. As a “shade tree” apologist ( and as a student of God’s Word – as we all should be) I think it behooves me to do an in-depth study on what it really means to be an Evangelical, a Biblie-believing Christian, and, more specifically, an apologist; not just a “cultural” apologist – but a Biblical Apologist, who stands to confront – lovingly – all “theologies”, concepts, and ideas contrary to the ones laid out for us in God’s Word. Get ready – it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Enough about me. Let’s get to the Daily Cut!

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Ed “What the Heck”man has some further discussion of a previously mentioned Daily Cut topic: “Romanism” – which originates from a statement by a blogger named Rand, who asserts that “Romanists” (Roman Catholics…) will not go to heaven“. And, sadly – I’m not misquoting. Ales Rarus, our resident Catholic Apologist, responds – and Ed is having a much more profitable conversation with Ales about the Doctrine and theology involved.

Since Adrian asks:

(I love him – but… he doesn’t post the right mix of stuff for me to put him in my personal top ten. it’s not his fault. We just have different interests. I like… apologetics/hard-core theology – almost to a fault. He does post on both – but he also gets more into the “linking, more than thinking” aspect of blogging. Which is cool. I use him as a clearing house, more than anything.)

Which reminds me, now that I think of it. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been trying to be a “content producer” more lately. I still do my “Daily Cut” – but I’m purposely keeping out of reporting anything else but what is on the aggregator, or is sent to me via email.

Basically, I want to actually write apologetics. I love pointing others to good posts, and to apologetics – but like I said in my series on The Ghetto – content providers (thinkers) should be doing their thinking – even if they do a bit of linking. I write too much to be linking all the time. So, yeah, anyway. That’s why the Daily Cut is smaller, and posts are more prolific.

The second Carnival of the Godless will be at Pharyngula this week. Watch for an update, and a link to the carnival – so you can look for someone to dialogue with.

Announcements:

Vox Apologia IV will be hosted at firstpete315. Head over there for submission information. The subject, is “What happens to those who have never heard the Gospel?”

The Evangelical Blog Awards have been narrowed down to 5 finalists, in each category.

For our particular category:

Best Evangelical Blog-Apologetics
Joe Missionary
Real Clear Theology
Razor’s Kiss
Bible Archive
Weapons of Warfare

The last three blogs are members of the Apologetics Aggregator.

Apologetics:

21st Century Reformation is discussing The Global Village and Materialism.

Weapons of Warfare takes on The Raving Atheist’s “Basic Assumptions” in his “Debunking Atheism“.

Ryan Wetzel concludes his Circling God series.

The Minor Prophet tackles Satan and Demon Possession. Go comment, and stuff. Interesting topic.

They also cover “The Truth About the Crusades” – which, as we know is an atheistic/agnostic favorite “soft spot”. So, go check it out, and see what you think.

Imago Dei discusses The Myth of Moral Neutrality.

Cults:

Kabbalist leader says: The Jews brought the Holocaust on themselves: By rejecting Kabbalism?
(HT: The Raving Atheist)

Discourses of the day:

Still looking… got one to share?

Around the ‘sphere:

Found on American Digest – “You are only one little link, lost in the immensity of God’s blogroll” – image can be found here. I like it.

Announcements:

Vox Apologia IV will be hosted at firstpete315. Head over there for submission information. The subject, as you can see on your right, is “What happens to those who have never heard the Gospel?” Toughie – and a goodie.

Welcomes:

To the Aggregator:

off shore fisherman

Bible Archive

Imago Dei

Alpha and Omega

Tim Challies

Making the Cut:

Every Thought Captive, with a thoughtful analysis of where the Emergent Church is going right right

Alex Forrest, giving us Geisler’s take on apologetics.

Allthings2all – “The Spiritual Meaning of Grasshoppers“. Must read.

Evangelical Underground, with “Tolerance in Love“.

firstpete315, with Marital Validity among Divorce: Revisited. As a divorcee myself, this subject has a bit of impact. Go check it out.

blogma, with Dogma Dienstag: Is there only one true scripture?, and Westminster Shorter Catechism – Question 5.

Bible Archive, with Elijah: The Proclamation. He also wonders whether the “Death Star” of the blogosphere should be deployed, and how it should be deployed, when it comes to Joel Osteen.

Challies looks at The Minister in the Garden.

Update:

Wittenberg Gate asks: Are you bad Enough to be a Christian?

Discourse of the day:

Hookflash, with “Midafternoon musings“

Here’s a “What’s coming up” breakdown.

(postponed. I mean, seriously.. who cares?) A response to an assertion that Jesus’ General is not a satire of Christianity. (/postponed)

Part two of my response to “Argument from Evil”.

A critique of Joel Osteen’s theology (or lack thereof).

Commenting/Trackback rules.

A discussion about the Evangelical Disaster, by Francis Schaeffer.

A spotlight series targeting “real word blogapologetics”.

A reiteration of my “Challenge: Be an active Apologist”

So, that gives me plenty to do between now and this weekend. I got home at 9:30, and spent most of it replying to comments here. So… g’night.

The Apologist’s Evening Prayer

From all my lame defeats and oh! Much more From all the victories that I seem to score ;

From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh; From all my proofs of Thy divinity, Thou, who wouldst give no sign, deliver me.

Thoughts are but coins. Let me not trust, instead of Thee, their thin-worn image of Thy head. From all my thoughts, even from my thoughts of Thee 0 Thou fair Silence fall, and set me free. Lord of the narrow gate and the needle’s eye, Take from me all my trumpery lest I die.

-C.S. Lewis

Apologetics:

Vox Apologia:

firstPete315 is next week’s host. His “welcome” post is up here.

Aggregatees:

Ed “What the” Heckman goes Spongebob Cache Diving. If you’re interested in the spongebob debate, this looks to be a well-researched look at what was really on the WAFF site. I’ve heard a very similar story on American Family Radio’s, “Today’s Issues”, incidentally. Just as another tidbit, Tim Wildmon, Don’s son, was scheduled to be on the O’Rielly show mentioned in Ed’s entry. He was bumped just before the piece aired. Hrmm.

Ed contributes to the discussion between Rand and Ales, but concerning Mary. Well, Ales is discussing. Rand won’t. So, yeah.

Ales Rarus also weighs in on spongebob.

21st Century Reformation talks about the Cost of a Morally Beautiful Community

Mr. Dumpling is “a little” obsessed with insects. Really. Go see for yourself. He spends “too much time” on the internet too. Heavens to Betsy! We let him visit here??

No, seriously, he has an “about me” post up. However, I must mention: I, like Amy, am crushed by the nondisclosure in his final FAQ answer. I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from it. Thanks a lot Dave. Sheesh. (heh.)

Oh, and I actually had two im conversations, and left my computer for an extended amount of time – at night. You should all be shocked and appalled.

From all of us here at The Daily Cut… (ok, ok – just me) good day!

Reminder: I do these every day. If you post something, and would like it included, as part of my “apologetics” portion in every “Daily Cut”, email me. It saves me time, and you get faster service. Thanks!

Apologetics:

Wittenberg Gate administers a worldview test to Charles Darwin and Christopher Columbus. What do they score? Go check it out.

Ryan Wetzel gives us Circling on God: Part 3. I highly suggest you read it. Oh, and he has some Firefox plugins, too.

Ales Rarus is discussing purgatory. Be nice.

Update: Weapons of Warfare adds to the discussion above.

Dawn Treader has a question: Can Blogs Be Used Effectively In Apologetics? So… go read, and answer.
Every Thought Captive responds first.

Vox Apologia III is up at Revenge of Mr. Dumpling.

Go read it.

Updates:

Jesus General is a humour site with serious intentions. One of these is to reign in the insane cabal who have hijacked your Government and who are currently waging an illegal war on a sovereign country with the sole purpose of stealing the wealth of that country.
The second is to expose religious nutters who seek to justify your ill-advised governments actions as somehow sanctioned by God, but who in reality would be burning people for heresy given half a chance.

Yes, I confess. My ultimate goal is to have you on the rack, plucking at your eyes, until you do my bidding. Then I’ll burn you at the stake… (/sarcasm)

I mean, really. Is the self-deception really this deep? Please tell me, since I have a very understated emphasis on politics on this site (mostly because I am sick and tired of dueling with lefty delusionals who have no clue what logic means), and have since it started…

So, tell me- what do you think about SUDAN? Hrmm?

What about Christian bashing (and please.. I read the comments, and the entries over there. Don’t even bother telling me it’s anything else.) is “serious”? Don’t give me that bullcrap about “it’s just pointing you to the light, not an attack on Christianity as a whole”. That’s all it is. Bull.

Updates:

I must have hit a nerve with “Jesus'” General. Two posts in as many days.

Welcome, troll minions – have a debate!

Plenty of subjects to comment on, and debate about, over in the archives on your right, or in the subject listings on your top left.

Enjoy your stay – and watching my traffic meter jump.

Announcing:

Vox Apologia:

The Vox Apologia III will be held at Revenge of Mr. Dumpling.

Subject: Euthanasia

Submissions must be recieved by midnight tonight. See here for more details.

Carnival of the Godless:

Is up – right now. Now, you apologists out there: You, my dear friends, are your own worst enemies, if you don’t read what they are saying. Additionally, you are failing to respond to my challenge, if you don’t find someone to engage with from among these folks, or the blogrolls of these folks.

So, go, and see. Find someone to talk to – and do it today.

After Action Reports:

I’m French, and going to Hell:

Patriot Boy, at the so-called “Jesus’ General”, takes me to task (satirically) for being French. That, and not equating his obvious satire with the Word of God.

I’m really hurt.

Ok, I’m lying. But, if you ever want to see what the secular community _really_ thinks of you: read that blog. It might be informative. Hope you have a strong stomach though.

His little troll minions, incidentally, invaded Eric’s Evangelical Underground.

He has a point though, when it comes to tradition becoming more important than doctrines – doesn’t he Rand? Protestants shouldn’t have anything to do with those “Nazi Jew” Catholics, as you so descriptively compared them…

But anyway. The comments section is a gold mine of distortion and twisting of the Christian faith, incidentally. If you can stomach it. It’s some interesting stuff to look at, if you’re interested in seeing how people who _hate_ Christianity think of us. It also gives you lots of links to other sites that are anti-Christianity.

What was I saying about “going out to defend”?

Here’s your chance. Get crackin.

Welcomes:

To the Aggregator:

Huntington Apologetics – a new Apologetics-focused blog, in a “group” setting. It is also a “ministry” blog!

The Huntington Apologetics Team (The HAT) is a ministry of Living Hope Bible Church in Huntington, WV. We strive to give rational and orthodox answers to questions that plague Christians and non-Christians alike. Though we are all members of Living Hope Bible Church and subscribe to its general doctrinal statement, not all of what we say will represent the opinions of the members and/or elder board of LHBC.

From their “about” section.

Welcome to the aggregator, and glad to have you!

(Incidentally, they are covering a subject dear to my heart today – Science Fiction authors. How? Go Go read what they have to say about Carl Sagan.)

Apologetics:

Wittenberg Gate encourages us not to lay down our weapons. Excellent point, and some good examples about how we do that every day. It’s an especially pertinent point for us, as apologists – because we live and die by the sword – The Sword of the Spirit.

She also, among other things in her This and That post for today, directs us to some articles from The American Thinker – which you’ll notice is also on my blogrolls to the right. I won’t tell you exactly which ones she’s referring to… you have to visit Dory at the link above!

Weapons of Warfare has what Andrew refers to as a “lighthearted dialogue” about “The God-Rock problem“. It’s a fun read. So.. read.

Andrew also has a list of Informal Fallacies. Another fun hobby of mine, so I enjoyed it. So… go enjoy it too, or something. kthx.

Funky Dung has a question: “I wonder, though, how we are to know when a debate is not worth continuing and how we are end it without feeling guilty for abandoning someone, particularly a brother/sister in Christ, to his/her grievous errors. Thoughts?”

So… have any?

In another post, he’s found that someone is saying “There will be no Roman Catholic in the Kingdom of God.” Among other things. Like, oh this nugget?

Let me make my position clear: A Christian Roman Catholic, to me, is as opposite as a Nazi Jew.

That, however, is… yeah. You get the picture. I might have to have a little chat with “Rand” later. Do I agree with Roman Catholic theology on everything? Nope. Is it permissible, proper, or even Biblical, to say things like the above? No. (There’s my editorial for the evening. That made me mad.)

If the above blogger had the Lamb’s Book of Life spread out in front of him – I’d believe him. Sadly – he does not. Read Funky’s reply, at Ales Rarus.

blogma is moving soon. Tim Challies is designing his site. I’m going to be in prayer about envy for the next week. HE IS CAUSING ME TO STUMBLE! (hehe. Ok, no he’s not. But man… lucky stiff.)

Every Thought Captive is blogging about Lions and Tigers and Bears. No, there is no yellow brick road. I know, your hopes and dreams are crushed. I’m to blame for the endangerment of your fragile psyche. Yes, I feel guilty… Ok, ok. Just go read it. Sheesh. (Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.)

Aw, shucks. Twernt nothin’.

Allthings2all asks: Are you really talking to someone? Good question. So… go read it, and see.

Minor Prophet has a prayer request.

Crap. He just mentioned Hal Lindsey. Well… since he brought it up.. do what the man says. Make up your mind.

More importantly… Where have all the children gone?

NOMINATE ME! Err… umm. Nominate your favorite Evangelical blogger, for each of the categories he gives you. He has a lot of cool nominated people. And stuff. So… are you gonna visit, or what?

Blog of the Week:

Ales Rarus, as blogged by Funky Dung.

He’s 27 years old, and married. (Edit: Sorry FD.) He’s a PhD student in AI. So, yeah.

He was actually raised Lutheran, and is now a Catholic. The name of his blog is a play on words: Ales, for “bird of omen”, in Latin, and Rarus, for “odd”. Avis Rarus, he says, means something like “odd fellow” – so, it’s one of those complicated things that Joe might understand (he whose blogroll is categorized in Latin…).

Anyway, I think his blog is a great read – and, it’s interesting to get a better picture into the Roman Catholic side of Christianity. So there, Rand.

By the by – read his “why I blog” section, on your lefthand side. It’s interesting.

Update 3:
I fixed the “cutoff” problem. It was the “minimum width”, in the CSS, as well as some messed up margin values. HT: Eric, from Evangelical Underground 😀

Now… to find the trackback problem. (And no, it’s not Spam Karma – it was happening before I installed it, and that portion of the plugin isn’t enabled)

Hrmm. Pingbacks work, though. Yay.

Update 2:
AllThings2All has an AWESOME post up – the title is “Not many Noble“. Hint: It’s a quote from a Narnia book. (Which I love – along with C.S. Lewis.)

Go read it. Now. Kthxbye.

Update 1:
A good essay concerning the Russian anti-semitism issue.

Apologetics:
Eric of Evangelical Underground is examining the darker side of “blogfathering”, in his continuation to yesterday’s post on “Finding a Niche Within a Niche.” He’s also created a snazzy new layout.

Alex got “Spywared.” I despise spyware.

Adrian is tracking the ecosystem jumps – and, he was apparently separated at birth from Jollyblogger. Small world…

Dory, at Wittenberg Gate, has another This and That post up. She discusses her homeschooling, among other things- a subject dear to my heart, as I’m a homeschooled-type personage.

The original “topic starter” of the excellent debate at Weapons and Warfare weighs in. He’s doing a series on Catholicism, on his blog. Not entirely to the advantage of Catholicism, it seems.

Minor Prophet points our attention to rising Russian Anti-Semitism.

News:

Illinois passes an anti-discrimination law, which could force churches to hire homosexuals, or risk lawsuits. (HT: EO)

The blogosphere:

Jollyblogger explores Denominational aggregators/blogrolls.

Challies digs into Spiritual Gift Assessments & The Bible. Good post – and interesting topic.

More to come. I’ll post updates on top.