AGE OF MANUSCRIPTS

Through the years there have been many arguments over the age of the New Testament manuscripts. Some would feel that later Bible writers may be exagerrating the age, or some may even have faked the writings. Here is a powerful bit of information from the Hyde Park Fellowship concerning the manusript of Matthew:

"...importance are the manuscript findings of Mark and Matthew! New research which has now been uncovered by Dr. Carsten Thiede, and is published in his newly released book on the subject, the Jesus Papyrus mentions a fragment from the book of Mark found among the Qumran scrolls (fragment 7Q5) showing that it was written sometime before 68 AD It is important to remember that Christ died in 33 AD, so this manuscript could have been written, at the latest, within 35 years of His death; possibly earlier, and thus during the time that the eyewitnesses to that event were still alive!

The most significant find, however, is a manuscript fragment from the book of Matthew (chapt.26) called the Magdalene Manuscript which has been analysed by Dr. Carsten Thiede, and also written up in his book The Jesus Papyrus. Using a sophisticated analysis of the handwriting of the fragment by employing a special state-of-the-art microscope, he differentiated between 20 separate micrometer layers of the papyrus, measuring the height and depth of the ink as well as the angle of the stylus used by the scribe. After this analysis Thiede was able to compare it with other papyri from that period; notably manuscripts found at Qumran (dated to 58 AD), another at Herculaneum (dated prior to 79 AD), a further one from the fortress of Masada (dated to between 73/74 AD), and finally a papyrus from the Egyptian town of Oxyrynchus. The Magdalene Manuscript fragments matches all four, and in fact is almost a twin to the papyrus found in Oxyrynchus, which bears the date of 65/66 AD Thiede concludes that these papyrus fragments of St. Matthew's Gospel were written no later than this date and probably earlier. That suggests that we either have a portion of the original gospel of Matthew, or an immediate copy which was written while Matthew and the other disciples and eyewitnesses to the events were still alive. This would be the oldest manuscript portion of our Bible in existence today, one which co-exists with the original writers!"

Hope

This is a picture of our son Nicholas on the left. Next to him is Pete McClain, his roomatte at East Tennessee State.

Nicholas will be home with us this Saturday for the holidays. He'll be with us for a month, so the fatted calf gets slaughtered on Saturday - our boy has returned! The big event in the Zockoll household occurs on Saturday - we go out and buy the Christmas tree!

Nothing in the world - no fame, fortune, corporate climbing, talent, sports championship - could ever match the power and joy of a close-knit family. Nothing.

And so now we see the holiday in a much closer view. One of my favorite passages is Luke 2:25-36 where it says
"a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout, looking for for the "Consolation of Israel " and the Holy Spirit was upon him and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ (Messiah) and he came in the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for Him the custom of the Law then he took Him into his arms and blessed God and said:

"Now Lord, You are releasing Thy bondservant to depart in peace, according to Thy word for my eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES and the glory of Thy people Israel"

What a great passage!

Look at the name CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. Jesus is the fulfillment of the hope that Someone would come and finally bring an answer to the grief that plagued the people. HOPE. His name was HOPE, and His reach would extend beyond the Jews to include the gentiles. That's me.

HOPE.

As a poverty-stricken student trying to make it through college (many of my friends and roomates never realized that I was called in to the business office and told that I was the finanacially neediest student on campus in a university of almost 7000 students) I was constantly in hope for financial deliverance from the worry of being asked to leave because of my school bill. It wasn't like I wasn't trying; because I attended a nonpublic Christian university, I was not eligible for grants, so I held down three jobs: night cleanup, weekend yard maintenance for an elderly couple, and haircutting in the dorms. I took jobs wherever I could find them, but deep down I wished I would one day be delivered and given a reprieve from the money stress.

The day came in my Junior year when the school said I would need to leave because of my school bill, and I was crushed. I called to the Lord, hoping that there would be a miracle...

...and one came. A farmer in Virginia had set up a financial memorial for needy students - in honor of his late daughter- , and I was one of four receipients of a private gift - enough to see me through graduation. I thanked the benefactor and I thanked the Lord my Hope.

And I still see Him as my Hope.

The story is told that the well-known atheist Jean-Paul Sartre stated just before his death that he has such monstrous feelings of despair that he would tried to convince himself by saying...

“I know I shall die in hope.”

Then in profound sadness, he would add...

“But hope needs a foundation.”

Here is my hope: Jesus. I KNOW my Redeemer lives and I am going to Heaven when I die. This life is not the end of it all.

Jeremiah 29:11 Jehovah states: "I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

My salvatio is secure because "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29).

This is my joy this Christmas season.

I mean it.

A Different God

This is the last day of classes before exams start and the semester ends. For me, this will be the last time I get to teach some of the seniors at Christain Academy of Knoxville, and it's like seeing your kids head off to a foreign land. You're happy, but you know you're going to miss them. Terribly.

Jill will be taking her third day of medical exams. So far things seem to be going well. Please keep her in your prayers. Last night a good friend, Sharon McDuffie, stopped by and cheered her while Peter and I took care of things around the house. Earlier in the day, Marilyn and Christy Gillman kindly took little Julianne for the day, babysitting so that Jill could be at the doctors while I was at work.

That's a funny way for me to describe my job - work. It's hard for me to consider it that way. It's a missionary experience, and most of all, it's a joy. I don't don;t use those words lightly. God has allowed me to be part of life-changing opportunities. I get to make a difference - you absolutely cannot top that in my book. Sharing truths in the Bible that are of eternal consequence - it's fantastic.

Peter, Jill and I had a great devotional time last night, and Jill shared the strength of a friendship with God. We were looking at the love of God.

Psa 17:7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].

Think about this - are the Hindus' gods loving and kind? Can the Islamic god Allah be known as kind? Will Buddhists think of their lives awashed with kindness by any overseeing source? No - study all their doctrines and you will see spiritual oversight that doesn't include love. Yet, Jehovah God is love.

Jer 32:18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands

During these times of stress, I have seen God walk me through the fire and lift my head. What a devotional adventure I've enjoyed!

My family and I have personally experienced God's love in these past few months - mainly through God's children. When we were sick, fellow Believers rushed to our aid to help us along. When the bills started mounting up, secret gifts helped us carry on. When depression hit me like a bulldozer, there were plenty of gentle hands lifting me up. These were God's people, my friends. These were Christians who have the heart to listen to God's leading, and act. You can see it, too. You can read their hearts and see their compassion and as I look, I see Jesus written all over them. Best graffiti in the world!

Psa 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness

Seriously, now - is any other god known as loving? This is one of the great truths that separates and lifts Jehovah above and beyond. He cares. He loves.

MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO FORGIVE

Mark 11:25 - "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”


It's hard to forgive, isn't it?

At a recent chapel I shared some of the dificulties of my childhood, but I entered into dangerous territory. As I was preparing for the message, I started remembering...

...remembering too much...

...too many details...

...too many feelings of hurt...

...and I started getting angry. All over again. Of things that occured over twenty five years ago.

Sometimes I don't want to forgive. I want to keep the anger and depression inside.

Then I look to Mark 11:25 and see the need to forgive. Forgive is the Greek word aphiemi and I find a powerful definition. Included in the explanation is that the word "forgive" means to "to let go", which is what I desperately needed to do. It has happened, it has happened. Nothing I can do now will change what has occured int he past, so why bring it up again. Then I see the definition includes "give up a debt". How many times have I heard a bitter person say, "Someone OWES me for my pain. The one who forgives will give up that "debt" of restitution.

Finally I see that the definition of "forgive" means "to leave in order to go to another place". It brings to mind a friend of mine who is in his fifties, but will not forgive nor forget. His life revolves around his childhood hurts but he will not release the grasp, just like the child who will not let go of the candy so that his hand can relax and he can be freed from the jar. Listen, I want to be able to move on. I want to go to another place, a place of peace that only God can explain (Phillp 4:7).

Forgiveness can make that happen.

Thomas a' Kempis was right

On the left is a picture of the Zockoll House in London. I have a relative, Jim Zockoll (distant uncle) who is a very successful entrepreneur in the London area.

We had the opportunity to visit him two years ago when we were in England and enjoyed the visit with a relative whom I've never met. Uncle Jim is retiring now, selling his Dyno-Lock and Dyno Rod companies, but staying very active in the London business scene.

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I can't tell you how much we appreciate your prayers for Jill. She will be seeing a specialist today; in fact, she'll be making three visits to find some specific answers about her collapse on Sunday and her continuing physical decrease. Discouragement is the biggest enemy right now, but even as the enemy tries to frustrate us, I keep seeing more and more answers in ministry come our way. There have been great joys in watching young people take a serious step toward serving the Lord at CAK and the chapel messages by Dave Park of His Passion Ministries seemt o be getting more and more strong. The battle is before us, and I don't want to back off.

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I find it almost incredible the lengths that people will go to make a name for themselves without so much as a thought about eternity. Matthew's words come to mind: "What good is it if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" How can people be so short-sighted? I recall a man standing face-t-face with me and telling me that the most important thing in his life for his son was to get him a sports scholarship. A sports scholarship is the most important thing in his son's life? Through the years I've heard people obsessing about money, fame, career, and other mundane pursuits...and Heaven is nowhere to be found.

For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.
... Thomas a' Kempis (1380-1471)

A time of trust

Thanks for the e-mails of support, my friends. Jill seems to be doing much better. I'm writing this Monday morning (6:30 a.m.) so I do not know how Jill is doing since she's still asleep. The latter part of yesterday was uneventful, with Jill getting up and eating a bit before heading back to bed. She was able to sit up and talk with me for awhile, but

mostly she's been getting rest. Please pray that we get to see the needed specialist today. Please pray that discouragement not set in. We've been watching Jill battle this for years, and just when we seem to see some light, darkness sets in again.

When things like this occur, it really puts our lives in perspective. In view of concern for the health of a loved one, each family member's thoguhts become more focused on dependency on the Lord. I pray that Jill will have a strong recovery and that in the process, I might see Jesus more clearly and trust in Him.

Psa 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Jer 39:18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

We often think of great faith as something that happens spontaneously so that we can be used for a miracle or healing. However, the greatest faith of all, and the most effective, is to live day by day trusting Him. It is trusting Him so much that we look at every problem as an opportunity to see His work in our life. It is not worrying, but rather trusting and abiding in the peace of God that will crush anything that Satan tries to do to us. If the Lord created the world out of chaos, He can easily deal with any problem that we have. - Rick Joyner

Need your prayer

It's Sunday afternoon, and I am writing and asking for special prayer. During the church service Jill came to me and tearfully told me that she was losing feeling in her right leg and couldn't hold her head up. We immediately got a nurse and had her attend to Jill. We were to bring her home and keep a close watch on her to see if we needed to get her to the ER.

This may be a reaction to new medication or it maybe Epstein Barr/Fibro Myalgia or the other diseases taking a new attack. I have had nurses and doctors on the line and although they said this was not a stroke necessitating a trip to the ER, they said to keep her flat on her back and keep watch on her.

My mother in law Marlene is here helping Peter and I on this watchcare duty. We have been to doctors for over 12 years and have really seen no breakthrough and this has been a very scary incident.

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I jsut got off the phone with the doctor and he said the problem was more sensory than motor so no need to go to ER, but to keep a close watch on her through the day. Jill has severe aches and burns in her muscles.

Friday thoughts

I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
- Isaiah 61:10

I can be in complete agreement with the words of the prophet as I sit here at our house on 609 Fernwood at 6:33 a.m. and consider:

As I've been told my wife Jill suffers from Epstein-Barr and a low grade form of measles along with mono on top of her Fibro Myagia, I can rejoice that last night we all enjoyed her darting about the house putting up Christmas decorations and laughing the whole time;
As I remember the horifying night of trauma, seeing little Nicholas almost die from a suffocating seizure when he was one year old, I rejoice in the fact that he is at collge now, involved in Bible studies and sending home word of yet another A on his test. He's well and good;
As I look and see the patch up jobs we've had to do in our old antiquated tile shower, I rejoice int he fact that we DO have a shower - in fact, two of them, and the hot water flows faithfully every morning;
As I recall a pretty brutal week at school, especially with an irate parent who was overly bitter and cruel, I can honestly rejoice in the fact that the Lord has given me five classes chock full of 12th grade students whom I love, and that I can play a small part in their Biblical training;
As I fuss over a slow computer and call the help line to get it up and running, I can rejoice that through this little computer I've been able to write and publish six novels and a devotional, reaching people with the written word and telling them about Christ through the message of story-telling and devotionals;
As I sit here and shake off the chill of the morning, I rejoice that Jesus has given me Peter, my 14 year old whom I will take across town to breakfast as is our regular Friday custom since school started, and I can hear Peter crack up about some weird news item or odd program while we watch the overhead TV;
As I go under the house and try to clean out the remining smell from a cat who got under our house and tried to "mark his territory" (you get the idea); I can glance up and see the insulation underneath the florring and be glad for a warm house that takes care of keeping my family safe;
When I sit in my classroom and wrestle with the grades or a whining student who just can't understand that you really must study if you wish to pass the class, I get gladdened when I have a grad pop in to say hi or for a student make me promise that we'll get together for a meal during the holidays;
When I sit here in the silence of the morning, I truly rejoice in the Lord that Jesus is watching over a struggling person like myself and has prepared a place for me when I leave this life. I cannot even begin to imagine how fantastic that will be.

The word from the local Tennessee weather station is that we'll have a smattering of snow. Now, that may not sound like much to my friends in Colorado and in Michigan, but it's been quite awhile since we've seen anything white coming from the sky in a large amount here in East Tennessee. I was chatting with a gentleman at a restaurant last night (Jill teases me about how I'll get into casual conversations with total strangers, but I can't help it - talking with other people is like reading a book. I feel like I'm browsing through a library.) who reminded me that it has been five years since we've seen a snowfall of any significance. Here's hoping that we get a nice snowfall on Friday. It's a 30% chance, but it just might happen.

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Nicholas will be home in a little less than two weeks from ETSU. He got a 98% on his computer test, and his grades are great so far. He's as hyper about the holidays as we are.

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Dave Park has been our speaker in chapel for the last two weeks and will continue through the month of January. Fantiastic man and a strong, strong speaker of the Word. His ministry is His Passion and you can see some of the God-honoring work they do by clicking here:

www.davepark.com

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This has been a trying week. I have had one counselling session after another, and many are of students who are hurting....really hurting. I feel quite drained but I am also encouraged by the magnificence in the steady climb of these young people through the reaching out of Jesus in their lives.

"Oh, this is a reality, not a fable, that the Lord Jesus Christ is our friend. And we should not be satisfied till we are brought to this." - George Muller

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Please pray for some major decisions we must make soon. Please pray also for Jill to be relieved from some of the many sicknesses that plague her. She has been diagnosed with numerous disease infestations in her body, one of which has stripped her of all energy. She is told that in effect, she has had a form of mono for years! It is very hard for her during the winter months.

Christ: a burnt offering?

Paul tells of the life and work of Jesus in Ephesians 5:2: "... Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

He was referring to one of Jesus' names, that of a burnt offering.

Wait, you say. I knw Jesus as Savior, and Whose names include King, Lord of Lords, and Everlasting father...but Burnt Offering?

Yes.

When you would first walk into the tabernacle, you would immediately see the Burnt Offering Altar in the Tabernacle's Outer Court. In the Burnt Offering Altar the priests sacrificed animals for their own sins and for the sins of the people. The first chapter of Leviticus tells us of the necessity of this sacrifice in order to be accepted before God and forgiven (Leviticus 1:4).

The requirements weret that a male animal be sacrifice, and this could include a a ram, a goat, a bullock or a a pigeon. (Leviticus 1:3-17). The animal must be without blemish, just as Jesus was the Perfect Lamb who died, totally consumed as this offering, so that we might be made alive.

By all accounts of justice, we should die for our sin. However, God made a way, first told in the Old Testament: "the life of the flesh (of a burnt offering or sacrifice) is in the blood, and I have given it you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11,8). The death of the one offered means you can have restoration to the God (Leviticus 1:4).

Just like Abraham told Isaac that "God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8), Jesus was given for our sins that we wouldn't have to suffer the penalty of death.

Ephesians 5:2, shows that Jesus became the burnt offering as the One who "loved us and gave Himself up for us" on the cross, "an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma".I am reminded that Jesus, "Who did no sin, neither was there any deceit found in His mouth" (I Peter 2:22) was wholly consumed in death "carrying up our sins in His body onto the tree" (I Peter 2:24), so that we can be made right with God.

Jesus the Burnt Offering!

Bravo, Oscar!

This is a commentary posted on a great site by one of my former students and a great friend, Oscar Hyde (the fellow in the picture with the great grin). This is in response to an article he read by an evolutionist. For the whole post, click on the link at the bottom of this post.

...here is Oscar's response to the evolutionary claims (highlighted in yellow). Please read carefully:

There are actually certain creationists who do happen to believe in devolution by natural selection. In fact, natural selection is the greatest idea that Darwin ever presented to the world, because it’s actually evidence for creationism - at least, against evolution.

Now, I’m not committing the same error for which I just corrected Mr Kealey above.
Because it is against evolution.

Let me explain:

#1. I am a creationist, and I do actually believe that the earth is roughly 6,000 years old.

#2. I believe that God created original “kinds” of animals. Many people (including some creationists) read this as “species”, but it’s not, partially because it was written over 3000 years before Carolus Linnaeus.

#3. Said original kinds had far more genetic information than today’s animals. As these kinds bred, genetic information was transferred from generation to generation… however, various information was lost in each offspring. This would explain, for example, different types of dog/wolf/dingo/etc. - there was an original dog “type”, which has devolved (by losing information) into the vast range we have today. (Think of inbreeding amongst modern pets, but on a larger scale.)

#4. Now, after the Flood, the animals on the Ark bred, and their descendants moved around. Different groups of descendants had different concentrations of information. Those with the information to survive in that environment did; those who didn’t didn’t (natural selection). But - and here’s the important thing - all the information was originally present.

That’s quite diffent from “goo-to-you-via-the-zoo” evolution, where huge amounts of new genetic information are added (unless you think that an amoeba has more genetic information than you do).

Bravo, Oscar!

Read more of Oscar's insight at
http://completegeek.nfshost.com/2006/11/08/what-the-papers-say/#comments

Thankful for your prayers

These past few months have been a very trying time for me, but I feel the prayers of my fellow Christians as I endeavor to serve the Lord daily. At a spiritual retreat last month for our school, I asked for prayer; the pressure was just too great. Satan was trying to wreck our household, what with Jill's sickness, my deadlines, Nicholas' college bill, Peter's schooling challenges and various counseling emergencies. I could hardly raise my head.

Yet without so much as a word, the entire group of retreat leaders and the student senate came over and laid hands on me, praying fervently for my recovery and wellness in Christ.

It has helped.

I have been able to take steps in seeing my faith strengthened. Jill's latest doctor's visit has given us hope. Other answers, small but evident, have been popping up here and there.

We received an anonymous letter from some dear Christian people that has been a nuclear answer to prayer.

Look, I don't seek some miraculous response that knocks me over with piles of money or total recovery. I'm not looking for a me-first life. I jsut want to be able to draw closer to Jesus and know that I can take the steps He shows me.

In ther words, I don't want me to trip over me. I don't want to be in the way of myself.

I want Jesus to have total leadership, and I'm seeing Him doing that more and more each day.

Psa 3:4 - I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Psa 18:6 - In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.

Psa 120:1 - In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Jon 2:2 - And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, [and] thou heardest my voice.

Simon the Zealot

A lot of times I think about how I must constantly be aware that friendship builds bridges of relationships to those who do not know Christ. Often my excuses are "I'm too busy," or "That person isn't exactly in my circle of acquaintances," or simply, "They're different from me." Then I think of Simon the Zealot.

Simon Zelotes, (the Zealot) was one of the twelve disciples of Christ's earthly ministry . "Zealot" was added not only to distinguish him from Simon Peter mainly to display that he was a member of an organization that was a nationalistic political group. These members were a rough crowd. They were violent, emotional and especially anti-Roman. The Zealtos were a branch of the Pharisees that had a no-nonsense appraoch to traitors.

Simon was most likely 40 years old when he became a disciple, follwing Jesus for most likely nationalistic purposes. Initially he could have imagined that Jesus would head the revolution to rid the Romans ruling their land. Jesus has other plans.

Simon changed from violence to peace. Jesus knew that the Zealots and Publicans were bitter enemies. One group worked against the Romans, the other for them. Even so, Jesus chose a disciple from both groups.
Please understand...Matthew was chosen by Jesus. His name was initially Levi and he was a tax collector, the very people Simon's group went after.

Yet through Christ, the two opposite poles not only got along, they prayed together and ministered alongside one another.

"Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays." - Andrew Murray

Salvation Army sing and ring!

Happy birthday to my good friend Oscar Hyde in England! Oscar is now 16 years old. We send our love across the Atlantic to you, my friend!

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This Saturday I will be at the West Town Mall in Knoxville along with some of my students, ringing and singing for the Salvation Army. We're going to be having a little songfest as people come by to put their money in the kettle for the Salvation Army. This is going to be fun! I am not a singer, not at all - but I enjoy the Christmas carols, and I've always had a desire to help out the Salvation Army at the kettle locations. If you are in the area, we will be at the mall between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. near the main entrance.

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"The eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy. " —Psalm 33:18

I think the one thing I missed most in my childhood is that I didn't have a daddy who was around to see the important things that mean so much to a child. I first learned to ride a bike on my own. My baseball games, wrestling matches and football games had no fatherly spectator.

It heartens me to know, though, that my Heavenly Father is watching over me with a constant and loving eye. Just when things get hardest, I get the gentle nudge to remember that I'm not alone.

Yesterday I read the blog of a fellow who angrily wrote that he could not find God evident - he couldn't see Him, hear Him, smell Him... the fellow was not a Christian, and was trying to put God on his own terms. I felt for the young man, because in reading, I saw that he was putting God on the level of a policeman, theater usher or a schoolteacher - a limited level. God's so much more than that.

I've felt God's hand as I prepared a message to deliver to a congregation. I've experienced God's power as we heard a dynamic message in school chapel yesterday. I've seen God when I saw the conversions of numerous people, from business executives to Viet name war vets.

And I've felt Him when I've been hurting and needed Someone to help me through a struggle.

To quote David Enger,

"One of the wonderful joys of being a believer in Jesus is knowing that our Father in heaven is always watching over us. The promise expressed by David in today’s psalm applies to us wherever we go. Whatever confronts us, the “eyes of the Lord” are on us and His ears “are open to [our] cry” (Ps. 34:15)."

The Craig debates

This is a sample of some of the craftwork done by my brother Brent. He resides in Salisbury MD, working for the Utz Corporation. Brent has won three national art display titles and two regionals, I believe. Still, he has time to do artwork on the side and have great showings at local craft fairs and conventions!

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I've found some fascinating reading in the apologetics and head-to-head debates of William Lane Craig. Specifically, I've followed the 1996 debate that took place at North Carolina State University on the subject Does God Exist? The debate was between William Lane Craig and Douglas M. Jesseph, both well-respected in their fields. Follow this excerpt from the debates (the entire debate can be read at http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/jesseph-craig0.html). It is Dr. Craig's response to the question about God's existence, specifically in the area of morality (His words are marked in yellow):

What about objective moral values in the world? Here Dr. Jesseph simply asks, "What are objective values?" Objective values are values that hold independently of whether anybody believes in them or not. That is what an objective value is, and I submit those can't exist unless there is God to ground them.

He says, "Well, what is special about human beings? I answer that they suffer pain."

But what I want to know is why on an atheistic view is it wrong to inflict pain on organisms? Animals do it all the time to each other, and that's all we are on an atheistic view. Richard Taylor, the ethicist, imagines people living in a state of nature without moral laws. Suppose one person kills another one and takes his goods. Taylor says this:
Such actions, though injurious to their victims, are no more … unjust, or immoral than they would be if done by one animal to another. A hawk that seizes a fish from the sea kills it, but does not murder it; and another hawk that seizes the fish from the talons of the first takes it, but does not steal it -- for none of these things is forbidden. And exactly the same considerations apply to the people we are imagining. (Richard Taylor, Ethics, Faith, and Reason (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1985), p. 14.)

In a world without God, who is to say what is right and wrong? Who is to say that moral values exist? It seems to me that we would just be like these animals in the animal kingdom. But, as I think we both agree, this is obviously wrong. There are objective moral values that exist, and therefore it follows logically and inescapably that God exists.

Bravo, Dr. Craig! I enjoy reading your simple and straightforward answers. Occam's Razor, indeed - the simplest answers are most often the correct ones. Simplicity gives a clear answer here.

Booksigning on November 18th

My pastor Sam Polson took this camera as I was signing books at Cedar Springs Christian Bookstore on Saturday November 18th. Let me tell you, this is one ugly author. That's one of the reasons I gave up a career in televsion and stuck to radio.

Advent Devotional Day 2

This marble artwork is the "Annunciation, Birth of Jesus and Adoration of the Shepherds" completed by Nicola Pisano in 1260. It is part of the marble baptistry in the town of Pisa.

Luke 1:26-29

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Something new was happening in Mary and Joseph's life. The routine was broken. The old would be replaced by the new. This news troubled Mary - what would God have her do? We often become troubled when we have to break the routine, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. We're comfortable with the familiar, happy with the regular pattern.

The proof of it is in your holiday traditions. For instance, the Zockoll household has plenty of them. One of them is that I buy a small present for each family member to open on Thanksgiving Day to start the holiday season. We also enjoy the tradition of reading Scripture and giving testimonies at the Thanksgiving table each year. Then there's buying the tree - we'll do it this weekend. We start early, I know, but that's the way we are.

I used to have a private Christmas holiday tradition: I remember as a teen, I would walk the streets of our small town in Delaware, walking the whole perimeter of the town and seeing the homes of my friends and their families as they celebrated the night before the special holiday. It took a few hours but I always had this secret little tradition of seeing other people enjoying the holiday.

No doubt Mary and Jospeph had their routine. Wouldn't a craftsman such as Joseph have a normal day to day pattern? Yet God was about to turn their world upside down - and it would be great. They were ready. They were willing.

What if they had rejected the interference?

Ever think about it? What if they ignored and even ran from the announcment?

Many times I'm afraid we run from God's calling and we miss monumental opportunities in our lives to see God work in amazing ways. Have you been ready for the Lord's leading? Pray today that your heart would be ready for any new opportunity that God might send your way.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL DAY 1

Good day to you! Well, the holiday season has officially begun, and the Advent walk toward Christmas officially starts here.

Let me ask you, what Christmas gift are you going to give to Jesus this year? perhaps its a gift to a charity. Maybe it's finally witnessing to that non-Believer who needs to hear the words of hope.

How about displaying to others what the kingdom of Heaven is like?

Matthew 13:31 and following: He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”

Could you start planting the seed of hope to people around you? Just a small seed, representing Jesus Christ and what He means to you.

Volunteering and reading the Bible to an ESL class, or sending a greeting card with a promise of prayer in it to a lonely neighbor. Giving some groceries to a needy family along with a message of hope. Raking an old lady's lawn. Reading the Bible to a shut-in. Making a phone call to a relative who hasn't heard from you in a while.

Plan now on the presents - the seeds - you will be handing out this season.

You might be amazed, as the Scripture says, as how it grows and how people will find their rest in it. It will become monstrous and become a refuge for many who seek solace in this world. Jesus will make the refuge possible; you only have to plant the seed.

I can recall, as a child in a single-parent household, ho we struggled to make ends meet. There were six of us kids and my mom was hurting finanacially. One night as we were eating a simple dinner of homemade waffles, a knock came at the door. A nearby church was droppng off bags and bags of groceries. We didn't attend that church but it didn't matter; the Christians wanted to help us. I will always remember the cheerful face of the man who happily brought in the bounty to us and how we kinds just beamed. I think that was the first time I saw an act of Christian kindness towards our family and it's always stayed with me. I've tried to imitate that act many times over the years, because I know what it meant to me then. It was a seed of love openly displayed that grew in the heart of this little boy. It was the love of Christ.

May you look for ways to plant the seed this season. It should be first on your gift-giving list.

Thankful, thankful

It's 8:11 am. and I have been up most of the night working on our smoked turkey. Here at the Zockoll household we present two turkeys to our guests, a smoked turkey and an in-the-stove turkey. The smoked turkey is coming along fine, but I'm chilled from having to dodge out into the night air and throw in more charcoal, clad only in my pajamas.

I am so thankful for the many things that God has placed in my life. I can think of at least four times in my youth that I could have been killed and never have enjoyed the opportunity of a life getting to see blessings here on earth.

As a kindergartner, I was swimming at a band camp that my father was hosting, and got caught in the middle dividing line rope of the pool and went straight to the bottom. They had to pump the water out of me.

Then, as an eight-year old (I don't think anyone in my family, my mom or anyone else knows of this to this day) I was downtown, trying to figure out a way to cross the busy main street of Dallastown, PA after running to a friend's house to play. I looked to my right and started to sprint across the street when after only one step, I heard screeching to my left. I turned and saw a delivery van sliding towards me with the driver standing on his brakes. I was almost hit, and it surely would have been fatal at the rate he was moving.

Then there was the time in Delaware that I jumped off the front hood of a moving car that was doing about thirty five (stupid teenage goofing around - I slid about twenty feet on my back) and the time the policeman almost shot me as I was running away after breaking the law and turned a corner - I almost ran into the officer, who had his gun drawn (one of the incidents that led to my salvation).

Thankful, that, despite my stupidity, I am still alive to enjoy my beautiful wife Jill and my wonderful children, Nicholas, Peter and Julianne.

Thankful for an amazing church, West Park Baptist Church. Thankful for friends. Thankful for my great job at CAK.

Most of all, I am thankful for Jesus. I mean it. I am stunned by His love. I am truly thankful. Thank you, Savior.

THANKSGIVING EVE

To the right is a picture of my amazing church, West Park Baptist Church. Our pastor, Sam Polson, is a blessed teacher of the Word and a very dear friend. I cannot begin to tell you of the numerous times Jill and I were carried through many a rough time because of the prayers and care of these dear fellow Christians. PLus, the Scripture is given without any watering-down, and that's what I need.

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Hard to believe, but my book, Fireside Psalms, sold out of its first order! If you'd like to get a copy of this Advent devotional, please click on Barnes and Nobles' website here:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=fireside+psalms&z=y&cds2Pid=9481
or Amazon's website here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fireside-Psalms-Thanksgiving-Christmas-devotional/dp/0595415318/sr=1-1/qid=1164066841/ref=sr_1_1/103-7845402-8092646?ie=UTF8&s=books

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Please make sure that you stop by our house during this Thanksgiving vacation! I love it when friends , family and former students come by for a coffee and conversation.



It's finally here - can you believe it? Today school will have an abbreviated schedule and I'll be heading home to help prepare for the guestsd who will be coming. We'll be having Jill's parents, Robert and Marlene Livesay, heading over from Oak Ridge. We'll also be hosting the Skurtu family from just down the street. Perhaps if anyone else wanders by, we'll throw out an extra plate for them as well. Nicholas is coming home from ETSU for the holidays, and I imagine he's ready to chow down.



Peter and I are trying to pace ourselves as far as how much to eat. There's a reason, and we take it very seriuously around here (okay, maybe not too seriously): You must not eat too much on Thanksgiving Eve or you'll not have your stomach sufficiently ready for the feast on Thanksgiving.

And here is what we'll be sharing during the opening parts of the feast. Maybe you'd like to copy this and read it aloud before your opening prayer.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV) - "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."

Psalm 107:1 (NIV) "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Psalm 31:19 (NIV) "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you."

Psalm 95:1-6 (KJV) "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."