Ghost Adventures & Paranormal Television

I've publicly confessed to being a bit of an addict of paranormal activity shows, especially Ghost Adventures (GA), but for what I think are good reasons.

The goal of GA, stated many times during their 8 seasons, is to gather what they think is scientific evidence for life after death from all over the world through their interactions with ghosts, which they understand to be once-embodied humans who now live among us in spirit forms.

Now, I’m the first to acknowledge that their evidence could be faked and the noises they catch could be bugs or animals or people (I have a student who promises me her dad and a friend made the noises recorded here by the GA Crew at the Bird Cage Theater).  However, if you chose to trust the guys on this or other shows, the evidence they've gotten is nothing short of amazing, even jaw-dropping.

I think a Christian should watch this show, not all the time, but a couple times.  Why?  Positively, these shows, if real, give one of hundreds of lines of evidence that prove the Christian worldview is true, namely, that reality is not purely physical, as naturalists / materialists say it is.  Rather, reality is both physical and non-physical.  However, other than entertainment value, that's about where the positive effects of shows like GA end.

If the Christian worldview is true, then these shows don't give evidence for life after death at all (see Hebrews 9:27), but give a lot of evidence for demonic activity--the guys on GA admit they interact with demons regularly.  Shows like GA actually give proof that demons are real, and a real threat to people today, even physically (watch this clip from GA).  This proof should warn anyone watching to stay far away from the occult, or bad things can happen to you (watch the first 9 minutes of this GA video), both from demons and from God who will punish you (see Deut 18:9-14).

Also, since these are demons, we learn from the Bible that these entities are dominated by pride since they are foolishly rebelling against the God they once served in the presence of.  Their pride drives them to bring more attention to themselves, and occult activity, which these shows encourage people to open themselves up to, give them that attention.  I've personally seen how powerful a recruit it is for getting people into "paranormal investigation," a 21st century form of necromancy and divination, which can lead to demonic possession, and even worse.  What could possibly be worse than possession?

Ultimately, shows like GA can have horrendous eternal consequences because it actually attacks the central message of Christianity.  It is a modern day scheme of the devil that Christians should be aware of (2 Cor 2:11) that keeps people from Jesus.  How? By propogating the lie that there is life after death apart from His sinless life, substitutionary death and victorious resurrection.  Jesus in the worldview of GA is completely unnecessary (unless one is attacked by a demon)--no wrath, no hell, you just live on!  I don’t think demons care what you’re deceived with, as long as you’re deceived, and this is a new, powerful tactic they are using.

So, in the end, I encourage you to repent of your sins and entrust the safety of your soul after death to Jesus, not to paranormal investigators who are, I think, getting evidence, but not for life after death.

These are my reasons--take them or leave them!  I hope that helps!  TII!!!

Its The End of the World as We Know It and I Feel...Hot!?!

While many in our culture denounce Christians for hysterically spreading fear-mongering rhetoric about the end of the world, you and I have been bombarded in the media with talk of a coming global apocalypse caused by--are you sitting down?--the "carbon footprint" left by pollution from our cars & homes (insert shriek of horror here!).

As this becomes a bigger topic of discussion in movies and news coverage of the coming elections, many will face this kind of rhetoric in our families, classes and at our jobs. The results can be quite subtle, however, often in the form of a quasi-compassionate, self-righteous attitude as evidenced by accusations like "You aren't going green?" and condemnation for those who aren't obsessed with recycling, or driving a hybrid (Have you experienced any of this?)

After all, they confidently assert, "Almost all scientists believe human-caused global warming is a closed case." Therefore, their condemnation is justified, saying "Everyone knows the danger is real and they aren't doing their part to save the planet!"

But, is that true? Is it really a closed case? Please take 3 minutes and read this article, cut & paste it on to a Word document and file it on your hard drive where you can access it later. It is the truth needed to battle the global warming rhetoric that's so rampant in our day and only getting louder. The opening line says it all: "Nearly 32,000 scientists sign a petition that says they reject the claim that humanity is causing global warming."

Thanks to the Bible, we know how this world is going to end and it's not going to be the result of human carbon emission! It'll be the result of God's wrath against human sin at "the day of the Lord" which "will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare" (2 Peter 3:10). That's real global warming!

Since we know this, Peter goes on to say "live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (3:11-12) and "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him" (3:14) because "we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" (3:13). I want to make sure I'm doing my part to usher in that day! Don't you?

Eva Cassidy

When I went to Germany for a month in 2001, I roomed with a friend who bought a CD in a local general store by a singer I'd never heard of named Eva Cassidy. He played it over and over again, and I cannot thank him enough for doing so because I absolutely fell head over heals in love with her voice.

I got home and instantly went out and bought the CD and played it to death.

You can find out a lot about her here, here and here. Briefly, she died of cancer in 1996, but I found out just recently that there was an amateur video made of a concert she did in a small venue and most of the clips are posted on YouTube.

Above is my favorite Eva song, and if you like it I recommend you buy the aforementioned CD, called Songbird. You will thank me forever for introducing her to you.

Together for the Gospel 2008 Ads

I saw this ad for T4G today. The others are funny (which I currently can't find online or I'd give you a link for them), but I thought this one was hilarious.

Jonathan Edwards Sale!!!

In honor of Jonathan Edwards' 304th birthday (today, Oct. 5th) Desiring God is selling all of their Jonathan Edwards' stuff for 30% off here.

U.S. Senator Suing God

Read the article here. Only a U.S. government official would do something like this.

The Evangelism Linebacker

If you need a good laugh, click on the first video here and meet the Evangelism Linebacker.

Are You Kidding Me?

This has got to be one of the craziest things I've ever seen (the only thing crazier, I think, is Shark Week on Discovery).

Check out the pictures of this guy frolicking with LIONS!!!

All Books $5 at Desiringgod.com!!!!!

Desiring God Ministries is putting all of John Piper's books on sale here for $5 on June 27-28 only!

What Is That Thing!?!

Elwood, a 2-year-old Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix, was "crowned" the world's ugliest dog yesterday. Read more about him here if you want.

And if for some strange reason you just can't get enough of ugly dogs, click here.

Phil Wellman's Explosion

If you have not seen this yet, I think it is a wonderful example of the Proverb, "A fool's anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor" (12:15).

There was nothing wise or prudent about his actions, and there was no doubt that he was angry.

Want a Better Memory? Than Sleep!

This is an interesting article about the effect sleep has on our memories.

In summary, the better the sleep pattern, the better the memory.

I wonder if the opposite is true because my memory has gotten worse since having horrible sleep patters in graduate school and seminary.

Two Very Different Premies Survive

I thought this was a heart-warming story that anyone would love to read about concerning the two premature twins pictured above.

Why do they look so different? Click here to find out.

NYC Cabby, Diamonds & the Image of God

Because I'm assuming (maybe unfairly) that the New York cab driver and the jeweler starring in this article are not Christians, I thought this was a wonderful story that highlights the image of God in all human beings and God's common grace to the jeweler who left 31 diamonds in his backseat.

Graduating College at 100

Click here to read the heart-warming story of Marvin L. “Hub” Northen, the 100 year old Baylor University graduate.

I am impressed with Baylor for rewarding someone who put family before career. They recognized something very noble about that decision.

Yet, if a woman made the same decision, would their professors consider that noble and praiseworthy, or misogynistic and repressive? Just wondering.

<<< The Enemy Within >>>

Just in case you're interested, my friend and I are blogging through Kris Lundgaard's The Enemy Within here.

If you'd like to contribute to the discussion, email me at counterculture3@hotmail.com and I'll send you an invitation to join the blog.

Next, we'll either do C.J. Mahaney's The Cross-Centered Life or the Justin Taylor version of John Owen's Overcoming Sin & Temptation.

Book Buying Strategy

I heard a guy today say "Nobody reads books anymore." Well I guess I'm counter cultural because most of the time I tend to agree with Erasmus, a quote I first saw on a Border's bookmark, “When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.” Therefore, I REALLY needed a chart like this one. Enjoy!