Fisher of Men

Built on Sand

Bill — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:04:48 +0000

“Absent an absolute moral authority independent of fallible humans, the only meaning “wrong” could have (pertaining to conduct) would be “in opposition to X,” or “falling short of X’s standards,” which are only persuasive to those who have already accepted X.”

Calvin Freiburger

Classic Comment #3

Bill — Wed, 26 May 2010 04:15:59 +0000

A friend who has had an undeservedly long job search left the following comment on Facebook:

“I’m pretty sure job-hunting will play a key role in hell.”

What is Going On?

Bill — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:49:00 +0000

I enjoyed reading this article by James White. He specifically says he’s not an expert on Islam. That’s why I was fascinated by the following entry on Facebook regarding the Ergun Caner situation. I suggest you read the original article, with an eye to answering the question of whether James White thinks he’s an expert on Islam. Then, read the conversation between Craig and me. Either I or Craig see the world completely upside down and illogically.

Craig Daliessio

So one of the detractors who I won’t name but whose name is also a color, is attacking ALL of Caner’s friends / supporters by name. In the same post he says he is a foremost expert on Islam because he has a “substantial Islamic section of his library”. Here’s some info…no matter how many times you watch “The Godfather”…you still won’t be Italian.

Bill Phillips

Craig, Where does he claim to be a foremost expert on Islam? All I can find is this: “I have consistently eschewed the title of “expert on Islam.” Honest people know I refer to myself as a student of Islam.”

Craig Daliessio

you’re kidding right?. You missed the whole line about the number of books in his library? Hey how IS the kool-aid?

Bill Phillips

Thank you for that insight.

Craig Daliessio

Thank you for showing up here on a site designated for those who want to stand and pray for Dr. Caner and dragging that stooge into the conversation yet again. You know…nobody would know what a Remora is if not for sharks. White should thank God every single day of his life that there even IS an Ergun Caner because unless he was there for White to attach his sucker to, nobody outside of a few hundred extremists and the 50 or 60 people who attend his “conferences” would even know who he is. Go start a James White fan page and see the doors bust open with members. You want me to be polite? Seriously?

Craig Daliessio

here is a quote from White’s own blog (coward.com) where he blasts someone for questioning his stature as an Islamic expert: White writes, “I hear Peter Lumpkins (one of the chief purveyors of addled thinking in the promotion of Canerism today) has raised questions about my being an expert on Islam. Once again Lumpkins shows himself utterly incapable of either research, or honesty, or both.”

Bill Phillips

1. I am praying for Dr. Caner.
2. I didn’t say anything about wanting you to be polite. Though it seems like the obvious thing for someone who professes the name of Christ.
3. Your original comment was about Dr. White. I only asked for your clarification, of which I’ve received an abundance. Thanks.
4. There is no reason for anyone who reads that entry to accept your misrepresentation of it. I don’t care to defend it or Dr. White, as there is no need for a defense.

Craig Daliessio

Germans didn’t feel the need to defend Hitler either.

Encouraging Comment

Bill — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:57:02 +0000

I noticed an encouraging comment from Rose. She’s put me in quite interesting company. I appreciate her kind recommendation. I can’t help but agree completely with everything she’s said.

May 5, 2010 at 6:08 pm

Rose

Jonathan, you might want to check out these sources for some excellent tracts:

1) At this site, you can order some excellent full gospel tracts OR create one of your own which they will customize and print for you.

Custom Tract Source: http://www.customtractsource.com/Holiday-Items_c_41.html

2) Transfired ministries: http://www.transfired.org/tftracts.html

3) Living Waters (WOTM) http://www.livingwaters.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=8&Itemid=199&lang=en

4) Fishers of Men has tracts you can download and copy. There is a wonderfuil tract there for Christmas. I copied it out unto pretty Christmas paper and put it into every Chrisimas card I mailed this year.

http://billphillips.wordpress.com/downloadable-tracts/

Never underestimate the power of a good full gospel tract. A tract ministry is something even the shyest person can do. Just putting them in the envelope with the bills you pay…leaving one in the tube at the drive in bank…putting one in a library book you are returning….one next to a pay phone in the hospital lobby…in the restroom. Sure maybe some of them just get tossed…but if even one gets read and plants a seed in a hungry heart…it is worth the little bit of effort it takes to hand them to people or to plant them. I won’t stop. i love tracts!

Classic Comment #2

Bill — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:40:57 +0000

Here’s another classic comment from Glenn Christopherson on this post.

Those who push so hard to sell the scam of global warming need to be more concerned about eternal warming.

Joseph Smith Did Not See God the Father

Bill — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:45:04 +0000

I had a little debate with some Mormons in the comments on a Youtube video. The Mormons I’ve talked to elsewhere on the internet, and in real life are usually very nice people. These Youtube Mormons weren’t nice at all. I think it may be because Youtube is even more anonymous than other internet sites. It inspired me to make a quick video on the topic.

The way the Youtube Mormons decided to deal with my objection was to say that since I believe in one God, and people have seen Jesus, then people have seen God, and my objection is moot.

I hope that they think that through a little more. Hopefully this video will lead to more discussions with Mormons, either here or on Youtube.

Classic Comment #1

Bill — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:02:23 +0000

Sometimes someone says something outlandish, and someone else puts their finger right on the problem. You can’t help but enjoy reading a comment like that. Here’s an exchange from Defending Contending:

Someone going by the name “Chatal” said,

HOW DARE YOU TELL PEOPLE, ALL ARE NOT CHILDREN OF GOD. BLASPHEMY, THIS SITE SHOULD BE TAKEN DOWN AND THE WORDS WRITEN ON THIS SHOULD NEVER BE READ BY ANYONE.”

And here’s the classic comment from The Pilgrim:

Dear Chatal:

Thank you for your opinion and your candidness regarding your dislike of freedom of speech.

I’m not sure what or who you were referring to as I don’t see anything in the original post about “children of God” so I’m assuming you were referring to someone’s comment (which I do not have time to read all of right now).

Your anger and displeasure are misdirected. You see, your issue is not with whoever said “all are not children of God” but it is with God Himself. So please take up your fight with Him after you have read His inspired Word.

Children of God are:

John 1:12 Those who receive Jesus

Romans 8:14, 16 Those led by the Spirit of God

Romans 9:8 Children of the promise, not children of the flesh

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Believers, not unbelievers

1 John 2:29-3:2 Believers

1 John 3:9-10 Those who practice righteousness

Children of the Devil are:

Matthew 13:37-39 The tares are the sons of the evil one

John 8:38, 41-45 Those who reject Christ and His words

1 John 3:8, 10 Those who practice sin/do not practice righteousness
I hope this clears up your misconceptions.

Sincerely,
- The Pilgrim

Christians and Their Faults

Bill — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:18:49 +0000

The church and Christians are guilty of many sins, but the question is this: has it followed the example of Jesus too closely or betrayed Him in committing these crimes?

By what standard do we judge the sins of the church? By our own? Then that is of no consequence. By the standards of Jesus? Then we admit his ethic is desirable. If so, then why do we not seek to follow him and confess him too?

Besides all this, whether we confess Him or not, we are not blameless ourselves.

Jim Gourlay

HT: Fixed Nails

A Dose of Common Sense

Bill — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:53:06 +0000

“I am not certain why small business owners, the job creation engine of the country, should see their taxes raised in order to protect bond holders of automobile companies or banks, or for union jobs to be preserved in companies that are clearly not competitive.” -John Mauldin, Frontline Weekly Newsletter, May 2, 2009

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Bill — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:45:21 +0000

I like to scroll through the blogs tagged with “evangelism” on occasion, and if there’s something terribly wrong I’ll comment. If there’s an inspiring story of courage and boldness in witnessing I’ll comment. The other day, I happened upon this blog, dripping with sarcasm towards an event and preacher I’d never heard of–Tony Nolan at Winter Jam.

I truly have no idea what went on Winter Jam, and I’ve never heard of Tony Nolan. I would normally assume that it would be the usual unbiblical Christian M.O. Trick people into coming to some worldly event, and then pop them with the gospel–not usually a biblical gospel, but a squishy version thereof. However, the blogger was mad at Tony Nolan for mentioning hell and sin, so maybe it wasn’t all that bad.

I decided to pick one facet of the blogger’s mistake that I’ve discussed at length in the past. The mistake is saying that creating converts is a bad thing. I really have little patience for it, because I think it’s a very basic mistake, and comes from either:

Saying there are people somewhere between saved and unsaved.
Believing that the gospel isn’t adequate for salvation. We need to add our impressive discipleship techniques to make it really work.

Either way, I think we need to stand against those mistakes, and I left a comment asking for the blogger’s definition of convert. He said that a convert is “an individual who simply calls on Jesus and continues living life in their previous manner.” So, according to him all converts are false converts? I don’t know if he thinks a convert is going to heaven or hell, but I say you’ve either converted or you haven’t. You’re either born again, or dead in your sins. If someone converts, and continues living in sin, they are false converts. The problem is that you’re distorting the definition if you’re redefining all converts as false converts.

Later his girlfriend left a comment saying,

This blog was more important then what someones definition of “converts” and “disciples”. I am sure there are many definitions in the dictionary at your local library!!! Do you have a library card??? Oh wait what about the internet you can find it there too. http://www.dictionary.com is a great tool when in doubt.

This portion of her comment was leveled at me, and I decided to play along and said,

I agree that there are accepted definitions of disciple and convert available in every dictionary. Hopefully, the terribly unbiblical use of the terms by [the blogger] will lead him to borrow your dictionary or your Bible.

The latter phrase (borrow your dictionary or your Bible) was replaced by the blogger with “[edited due to negativity].” Furthermore, I was warned that I was in danger of being banned from the blog.

Neither the blogger, nor his girlfriend offered any sort of biblical defense for any of their viewpoints. I think at some point it becomes clear that they have no defense, and don’t know the Bible very well. I pointed this out to them, and the fact that it appears that Tony Nolan and any commenter who disagrees with them is likely to receive the “intense criticism” that they choose not to stand for themselves.

Finally, the blogger defends his criticism of Tony Nolan, saying it’s OK since he’s a public figure. I guess that pesky verse about “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” doesn’t apply if the other person is a public figure. Not only that, but the blogger took the opportunity to heap more criticism upon Tony Nolan for having the audacity to defend himself on the blog. The blatant hypocrisy on display amazes me.

Personally, I have no problem with calling people on their mistakes, and aspire to be teachable and humble when called on my mistakes. The blogger and his girlfriend pulled no punches with their sarcasm, and I think my sarcasm was mild in comparison. I don’t necessarily think I sinned in responding with sarcasm, but I’m open to opinions. I don’t even necessarily think the blogger and his girlfriend sinned with their sarcasm. The sin arises when they demand to be treated differently than they treat others.