End of End Times

[From two consecutive Facebook posts - May 25/26, 2015]

We are not just living in the end times. We are living in the END of the end times. We are past the tipping point ... there is no stopping it. Ignore if you must, but this is real. Here's how I know:

1. The Bible says so. And the Bible is the only book ever proven to accurately foretell the future. When the Bible discusses the final end days, it describes where we are today and what we are seeing. For those that know the Bible, it's clear. To those who don't, it's not.
2. Israel is a nation. The END of the end times started in 1948 with the formation of Israel as a nation again. They weren't for 2,000 years but they are now. This, in itself, is a miracle. And they are at more risk today than ever in history, as prophesy describes. 
3. The UN labels Israel as a racist state and America (its leadership) seems to be following suit, taking the side of those continually attacking Israel from all angles. To Israel, God says, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you." Gen 12:3 When the "nations" march on Israel (this is happening now through politics), watch what happens. This is not my prediction, but prophesy, and it's coming true before our eyes. 
4. The UN and the US have forced Israel into a two-state "solution". Israel continues to be forced to give up land for "peace". They give up land, but no peace because the other side has no intentions of recognizing Israel - in fact, they hope to wipe them out of existence. As predicted thousands of years ago.
5. "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord." Joel 2:31 Check the blood moons (eclipses) on record following 1948 and wait and see what else happens VERY soon. Again, not my prediction, but prophecy.

I used to think guys like this were just whack-jobs.

There is so much more, but this post is already too long. I'll follow with more. If you've read this far, bless you. Stay tuned. This is important. It is information on the end of our age and when it does end, there will be no more "choosing" to accept or reject God. The choice - if you've not made it - will be made for you.

This is not a kooky message of doom, it's a pleading for urgency to quickly look deeply into this.

Further signs of End Times, plus what's still to come:

1. Before 1949, the "blood moons" (eclipses) did not happen in this frequency for 500 years. In the two years following the formation of the State of Israel (1948), there were 4 blood moons specifically on Jewish holidays. In 1967, there was a 6-day war where Israel regained their home of Jerusalem. In 1967 and 1968, guess what? 4 blood moons on Jewish holidays. Since 2014, there have been 3 blood moons on Jewish holidays, and the last will be this year during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets where it will be a super-moon (where the moon is the closest it can get). This was prophesied. After this year, it will not happen again for another 500 years.
2. Once again, there is a rise in worldwide anti-semitism. Who does the United Nations continually blame? The terrorists leaders of Palestine and other terrorist aggressors in the region? No. They blame the Jews who have tried again and again for peace, and only fight to defend themselves. This same anti-semitism is happening in Europe and it's happening here in America. This was prophesied to happen shortly before Jesus returns.
3. Ezekiel 38 and 39 describes a great war to come. Iran (also areas of Iraq and Afghanistan), the Sudan, Russia, Turkey and others will be involved. At the time this prophesy was written, the religion of Islam didn't exist, so Ezekiel didn't realize he was describing the current Muslim world. The Islamic State believes that they are called by Allah to destroy Israel and usher in the end times. Because this is true, they should never be allowed nuclear weapons. This is not like Norway or some other western country. Norway has not stated intentions to decimate all Swedes, for example. But there may be no stopping it, since it is prophesied. America has changed its policy lately ... Israel was planning to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities (since they said they plan to destroy Israel and all), but our leadership said that if they tried, we would shoot their planes from the sky. We - as a country - no longer truly stand with Israel. Ezekiel was written 2500 years ago and described the exact geo-political situation that exists in the region today.
4. How will this war start? Watch for these things: Israel will likely bomb Iran. They may be forced to do so as a preemptive strike. Russia has said to Israel, "If you bomb Iran, we will come after you." (paraphrasing, of course). But when the "nations" attack in response, Israel will not fire a shot. God will step in and destroy the aggressors. It will take 7 months to bury the dead and 7 years to clean up all the debris ... that's how enormous this war will be. 
5. There will be a 7-year covenant between Israel and the individual known as the "Anti-Christ". This covenant (agreement) will likely be in response to the great war I just described in (3) and (4) above. He is called "the abomination of desolation" first by Daniel, then again by Jesus. Paul calls him a "Son of Perdition".
6. Before these 7 years start, it's probable that we (true Christian believers) will be raptured, so we won't experience all that follows. So if you can't get a hold of me all of a sudden, you may want to try calling your other Christian friends to see if they're gone, too. Then you may want to start seeking God.
7. Sometime soon, Israel will rebuild the Temple on the Temple Mount where it was originally built (but destroyed and replaced with a Muslim Mosque - the Dome on the Rock). 
8. Halfway through the 7-year covenant, The "Anti-Christ" will go into that temple and proclaim Himself God. Right then, the greatest tribulation will begin and continue for the remaining 3.5 years.
9. In 1949/50, the blood moons were about the reestablishment of the NATION of Israel. In 1967/68, they were about the reestablishment of the HOLY CITY (Jerusalem). Last year and this year, the blood moons are about the reestablishment of the HOLY TEMPLE.
10. At the end of the 7 years, Jesus will return to establish His kingdom here on earth. Those left, if not already killed by the tribulation, will be cast into the fire. They will mock and scoff until the very end, enslaved by their pride.

Woof, right? Our God is in control - no denying that. And our Bible is true. Jesus is returning ... and soon.

Non-believers are likely thinking, "Greg is off his rocker" or they are saying (I hope), "I really need to look into this." Either way, this is the prophecy that has come to pass and will come to pass. If you start seeing these things, stop thinking, "Aww, that's just a coincidence", and start seeking God. In fact, cut to the chase and do that now. I am not looking to say, "I told you so". I don't want to. I want you to be saved. PLEASE make this a priority to look into for yourself. I know that it is true, but I can't convince you unless you're willing to open up and consider. God is waiting and wants you.

Speaking Out of Turn

Many non-believers speak as though they understand Christianity, but as they speak it is obvious they do not.  It is difficult to discuss spiritual topics with someone who has made up their own set of rules, and believes that they know better with no basis for their stance.  I'll explain ...

My friend and former colleague from Austria, Detlev Riecke, is a huge man.  He stands 6'9" or so and has a good 100 pounds on my measly 245 pounds (working to lower that number).  During University and later, he played professionally a game that few Americans have even heard of.  It's called "handball".  But it is not the handball you're picturing, which is pretty much racquetball but without the racquet.  It's closer to lacrosse or hockey, I suppose, but with many other rules and fundamentals that are different.  I won't even try to explain because - hear this - I don't really know.  I think I get it, but I'm likely way off.  In fact, if Detlev reads this, he'll likely say I didn't really explain it well above.  Oh well.  But this is the point of this post.  If I were to speak of this sport as though I know it or - worse - if I were to step onto a professional handball field (court?) and make up my own rules as I think I believe they exist or think they should exist, it would be an insult to professional handball players.

This, reader, is what non-believers do when they speak out of turn as though they know what Christianity is.  

The likes of my current pastor - Matt Chandler, my former pastor - Dan Wooldridge, Dietrich Bonnhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, David Platt, Francis Chan, Ravi Zacharrias, Billy Graham, Tim Keller, et al, have studied the "sport" and truth and complexity that is Christianity for decades, and still have much to learn.  In fact, they will never know it all, as God's ways are - and God's mind is - so much higher than ours that we aren't capable.  You can liken these Christian scholars to someone with a Doctorate and 25+ years experience in the neurosciences.  A seasoned Neuroscientist or Neurosugeon knows more in the cuticle of her right pinky finger than I will likely ever know about the anatomy, chemistry, and functioning of the human brain, let alone the mind.  It would be akin to questioning the authenticity, the details, the "truths" uncovered by these neuroscientists with my "alternative" way of thinking, as though my uneducated opinion mattered more.  Pure arrogant pride.

Back to handball.  The world we live in was created by Him.  He made the field, the ball, the players and, yes, the rules of the game.  Some acknowledge the Rule-maker and are trying their best to follow the rules.  This starts with studying the rulebook extensively, going back to it regularly ... even daily ... then acting on what's been learned because we have faith that the Rule-maker knows better than we do what's best for us.  To be clear, while these players are doing their best, they still mess up periodically.

Then there are others who just stepped on the field without even peering into the rulebook.  In fact, they may even deny the rulebook.  They run around tripping people, laying down on the field, staring straight up and otherwise neglecting the actual documented rules of the game.  This is because they don't know the actual rules, nor do they care to.  In their minds, THEY are the "rule-maker".  Driven by ego and pride, they believe they know better.  And they are outraged when someone tells them - even if softly and in loving terms - that they've committed a foul.  "How dare you tell me what I want to do is wrong!   How hateful!  How judgmental!  What right do you have?"

They question those following the rulebook for handball.  They lash out.  They say they know better and/or mock those who follow the rules of the game.  They do not want to believe in a rule maker, so they come up with alternative theories and will stand by them, no matter how illogical, irrational and far fetched ... all to avoid what occam's razor says is the most obvious answer:

An ultimate Rule-maker created the structured game we are playing, along with the rules that make the game safe, fair, and fun ... all toward a perfect end goal.  

And at the end of the game, when unbelievers have denied the Rule-maker and ignored His rules, it will be too late.  They have no idea that those who have acknowledged and believed in the Rule-maker, and tried to follow His rules (without injecting their flawed worldly perspectives) will go to a perfect place with no more tears, no more pain, no more fear ... eternal and unimaginable joy.  And those who have chosen to reject Him and follow their own rules (rules based on nothing more than opinion and feelings and whatever everyone else says), will NOT go there.  They will joke in the mean time about "going where all their friends are".  Hilarious ... until they get there.

God is asking something quite simple, but admittedly difficult of us:  Acknowledge Him ... Turn away from sin (as God defines sin), swallow our pride, humble ourselves, and believe in Christ Jesus, taking Him in as our Lord and Savior.  That simple and that difficult.  The playing field has been set.  The rules have been established and well documented.  He allows us to choose for ourselves whether to follow the rules or not.  He will not force us ... the result of that would not be a loving relationship.

But understand that those who have actually studied these things to a level of depth far exceeding that of yours or mine may know something we don't yet know.  In fact, they do.

God bless.

Conversation with an Atheist (Part 6 of ?)

ATHEIST:  Okay.  So - from what I hear - Islam is, like, the fastest growing religion on Earth.  How are you so sure THAT's not the one true religion?  They seem pretty sure.  Heck, they're willing to behead you for it.

ME:  Yeah - that's not new.  They've been that way since the beginning, starting with Muhammad.  He was all about conquest.  Jesus - quite the opposite.  I talked about the historicity of Muhammad's claims ... 600+ years after Jesus died, one source, tons of contradictions - although later texts are supposed to abrogate or trump earlier texts - and so on.  Also, their growth is not really from consensual conversions.

ATHEIST:  What is that suppose to mean?

ME:  I mean their growth comes predominantly (almost completely) from force and/or from raising large families.  New Christians come from those who choose, on their own, to become Christian.  Of course, Christians have kids, too, but they are rarely if ever forced to stay in the church once they are adults, and CERTAINLY would never feel as though their life was threatened if they chose not to be a Christian.  We're seeing that now in some countries:  pay a tax (for not being Muslim) that you can't pay, or convert to Islam, or be executed.  Bottom line, the two religions are like night and day - some would say "literally".  The "religion of peace" claim - wrong.  The earlier peaceful verses are abrogated by later more violent verses.  This is on of the rules of the Qu'ran.  They're also instructed to lie whenever necessary if it helps to spread Islam, such as telling everyone it's a religion of peace, when the Qu'ran really says to take over the world by all means necessary - by being peaceful at first, until they are a large enough portion of a population to show force.  You should check out a video I watched recently called, "Three Things you May Not Know about Islam".  It's legit and quite revealing.  In essence, the probability that Islam is true is extremely low, but those who are Muslim literally don't know any better.

ATHEIST:  That doesn't mean it's not true, though.  There are Christians who don't know any better, too.

ME:  Very true.  Some Christians are going on mostly or completely blind faith.  They're just lucky that they're inadvertently right [smirk].  I'm just saying Islam being true is not even close to likely.  It's almost ALL faith, no evidence.  But anything - I suppose - is possible.  You see, it's like I was saying with regard to Atheism ... there is no absolute proof of that either.  I mean, there is no proof that God doesn't exist, etc.  ALL world views take faith to some degree.  In fact, one of my favorite books is called, "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist" by Norman Geisler.  It really comes down to how much proof is there for one worldview over another?  Atheism - virtually no evidence.  Islam - very little to no evidence (one man's testimony).  Christianity - mountains of unbiased (and some biased, of course) historical evidence.  In a court case, if you had fingerprints on the murder weapon, 500+ witnesses, DNA, receipts, and a video confession, you would say that the guy did it.  There is THAT much evidence for Christianity.  People simply don't look into it, so they don't know this.  The issue is, they won't look into it, generally because they don't want it to be true for some reason, or they think they already know what it is, even though they are way off.

ATHEIST:  Well, you've got me intellectually intrigued.  I'll need to double-check all of what you're saying, but if it's true, it merits further research on my part.

ME:  Are you a reader?

ATHEIST:  Yeah - love to read.

ME:  Here's a good list of books to start with:

• I mentioned Lee Stroebel's "The Case for Faith" and "The Case for Christ" already.
• I'd also get my hands on "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, for a more cerebral analysis.
• I mentioned "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist" by Norman Geisler. That will address a number of your questions in significantly more detail.
• With regard to Islam vs Christianity, there is an awesome book by Nabeel Qureshi called, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity".
• Virtually any book by Ravi Zacharias is gold.  "The End of Reason" would be a great one for you to pick up, or just watch a few of his talks on YouTube at major secular colleges.

ATHEIST:  Okay - that's enough for now!  Geesh.

ME:  Sorry.  I've just learned so much from so many books - getting ahead of myself.  Anyway, why don't we do this ... you read one of these, then we'll talk.  If you have a book you'd like me to read - say "The God Delusion" or "Undeniable" by Bill Nye, I'm up for that, too.  It can be our own little book club.  That sound fair?

ATHEIST:  It does.  

ME:  Okay.  Let's choose one to start with.

ATHEIST:  How about "The Case for Faith" to start with.  Before I can swallow the whole Jesus thing, I need to understand why any faith in a God of any kind is worth further consideration.  Then I think I might want to go with "Undeniable" if you're up for that.

ME:  Coolio.  Get back together in a few weeks?

ATHEIST:  Let's make it three.

Reader:  Will you continue?  (Next Part coming soon ...)

What is Porneia and What Does God REALLY Say About Marriage?

πορνεία (porneia)

Porneia.  From the Greek root meaning "any type of sexual relation outside of God's intended definition of marriage".  This includes adultery, unmerited divorce, pre-marital sex, incest, watching pornography, and so on.  It is not just about the "hot topic" we seem to discuss ad nauseam today.  And to be clear, I too have sinned in some of the ways listed above.  But I'm forgiven.  So are you, if you accept Christ.  All God asks is that we acknowledge that He says these things are not okay, turn away, and try as hard as possible to sin no more (this is called "repentance" - one of those churchy words).

The concept of two people committing to one another did exist in some form before the writing of the Bible, but that means little.  God introduced it to mankind in the Garden of Eden, LONG before it was ever jotted down on a scroll.  Marriage - according to our Creator - is a reflection of God and His people.  Jesus = the groom.  The Church (us) = His bride (yes, even the dudes).  The basic fact that man and woman are inherently different (although equal) is why marriage exists.  We - as husbands and wives - become "cleaved" together as one flesh, and are intended to be a reflection of the relationship between Jesus and His people.  And this is why Christians have such an issue with redefining the term "marriage".  They have an issue with it because it's defined as God defines it.  Anything else is - inherently - not marriage.  It's something else.  Choose a different word.  This truth - stated by Christians - is stated out of love.  We know what God says about those who choose to continue defying Him.  Christians don't want THAT for anyone.  They do not hate anyone (I certainly don't).  They are not bigots.  And they are not discriminating (I am not).  They are simply following and communicating what God says is true (that's what I do, and what I'll continue to do).

There are two general options we have:  (1) subscribe to what God says and acknowledge that He simply knows best, as our Creator and the writer of the instruction book, even if we don't understand, or (2) Go off of our own personal understanding and feelings, tied to absolutely nothing concrete.  

I used to believe that porn was no big deal.  It was not harming anyone, so what's the problem?  But as I studied God's Word, it struck me that it was NOT a victimless crime.  It altered my relationship with my wife, completely skewing my expectations.  It impacted my relationship with my daughter, with female co-workers, my Mom, my sister ... every woman.  God already knew this before I figured it out.  Bottom line, He knows infinitely more than we do.

Is God Anti-Gay?  by Sam Allberry

I am in the middle of a great book right now called "Is God Anti-Gay" written by a Christian man who has strong same-sex attraction.  He explains it far better than I do.  Spoiler:  God does not hate people who identify as "gay".  Quite the opposite.  So, please, before jumping to conclusions about what Christians think, or how they "hate" (or any other misconceptions), read the book.  It's very well covered.  Bottom line, God loves everyone and so do Christians.  But love also means telling someone the truth.  God did not MAKE us to be a "certain way" that He did not intend.  This is a lie.  He made us ... then the sin in the world makes us do things that are displeasing to Him.  Me included.

Sidenote:  Skip the "people in history used the Bible to support slave ownership, so you're wrong here too..." argument.  Truth is, slavery WAS justified with the twisted use of scripture by some - by Christians and non-Christians alike.  But that was an evil and not what scripture ACTUALLY says.  The bible does NOT support slavery, although it does speak to those IN slavery already.  "The idea that God or Christianity encourages or approves of slavery is shown to be false. In fact, anybody who was caught selling another person into slavery was to be executed. However, since voluntary slavery was widely practiced during biblical times, the Bible proscribes laws to protect the lives and health of slaves. Paul, the author of many of the New Testament writings, virtually ordered the Christian Philemon to release his Christian slave from his service to "do what is proper". In addition, numerous verses from the New Testament show that God values slaves as much as any free person and is not partial to anyone's standing before other people."  Learn more >>

Sidenote 2.0:  You may ask, "Why are Christians so vocal lately about this particular sin?"  Answer:  We wouldn't be if it weren't being shoved down our throats daily.  Frankly, it is no worse than any other sin - seriously.  God hates my stinging sarcasm (It's pride, and I'm working on it) just as much as any sinful sexual act, but I'm not out trying to push everyone to accept my stinging sarcasm as "okay" either.  It's on almost every show, a large percentage of headlines recently, et cetera.  We're being forced to state our beliefs on the subject, and we're conveying those beliefs.  We are on the defensive, sitting here believing what we've believed since God told us thousands of years ago.

In summary, I am no ones judge.  I am equally a sinner, just like everyone else is.  But God is everyone's judge.  There is no getting around that in this life.  So, we - as Christians - can either "mind our own business" and watch those who are not in Christ continue to sin, and ultimately land in hell ... OR we can speak up, in love, and face the backlash from those who think we're somehow hateful.  Because I love, I must choose the latter.

Conversation with an Atheist (Part 5 of ?)

ME:  You get enough to eat?

ATHEIST:  Oh yeah - stuffed.  So, this "new life" stuff.  I've got to be honest - seems a little crazy.  Be honest ... do really believe that?

ME:  Oh yeah.  I not only believe it, I've experienced it.  It's easy to believe when it's happened to you, but it's not always easy to convey a personal experience to someone, especially when they'd prefer not to believe it.

ATHEIST:  So, you had an experience.  Kind of like a alien abduction or something? [smirk]

ME:  Yeah ... no.  So, it's something that you've probably always sensed.  I mean, we aren't this body right?

ATHEIST:  Huh?

ME:  I mean, if you didn't have arms or legs, would you still be you?

ATHEIST:  Yeah - of course.

ME:  How about if you were just a head, and you could somehow still live.  Would you still be you?

ATHEIST:  I suppose.  Where are you going with this?

ME:  My point is ... we're not this shell we live in are we?  We're something more.  You inherently get that, right?

ATHEIST:  Yeah.  I know, the soul or the mind or whatever.  Okay, so what?

ME:  So, the Bible tells us that we were all born into sin.  We will sin and we continue to sin.  This is a fact and no one is exempt ...

ATHEIST:  Yeah, you covered that.

ME:  ... and the wages of sin is death.  Remember that part?  That means that, as long as we are in sin, we are dead ... spiritually.  Our bodies are living, but our spirit is a dead man walking.

ATHEIST:  Sounds pretty depressing.  Pretty hopeless.

ME:  I know, right?  But that's why the good news is so crazy good!  Jesus IS hope.  Jesus died for us so that we can live.  God has his sites on us to pay for our sin, but Jesus took the bullet and then some for OUR sin.  Amazing news, right?  So, through Him, we gain an eternal life.  That eternity doesn't start when we die ... it begins the day we accept Jesus!  And the day I accepted Jesus ... the MOMENT I accepted Jesus, I knew it was true.  I knew it in my mind, my soul, my heart ... The Holy Spirit entered me.  Period.  End of story.  Life has not been the same since then!

ATHEIST:  Wow - you're pretty enthusiastic about this.

ME:  I am!  And ever since I learned the truth, I can't help but talk to people about this.  I want everyone to have what I've found.  If you found out an incredible truth that could change someone's life for the better, wouldn't you want to tell everyone?

ATHEIST:  I suppose I would.

ME:  On that day I accepted Christ, I was literally born again!  The first time I was born, it was physical, through natural processes.  The second time was through the spirit of God.  Now, even though my body will die, I (the real me) will live forever.  I know that sounds like something from a movie, but where do you think they get these ideas?  Something in all of us knows that it's true.

ATHEIST:  I'm not sure I'm liking this.

ME:  Not liking what?

ATHEIST:  You're starting to make sense.  I agree with what you said before:  I'm not sure I want to believe this.

ME:  But if it IS true - which it is - everything is at stake!  If I'm right, you stand to spend eternity without God - in hell.  If you're right ... well, we all lose don't we?

ATHEIST:  I guess that's true enough.  But I have so many more questions.  There are so many more things that just don't make sense to me.

ME:  That's okay, that comes with time.  Just know that there aren't any questions that have not been asked and answered.  Like I said, you don't have to understand everything, and you certainly don't have to be perfect.  I certainly wasn't, and I'm still not.  But I am through Jesus, and only through Jesus.  God wants you just as you are, even with your doubts.  Are you ready to accept Christ into your life?

ATHEIST:  I don't know.  Seems like I'm missing something here.  Let's just talk for a bit more.

ME:  Cool.  What else is on your mind?  I'll chat about this as long as you'd like.


Reader:  Ready for the next part?  NEXT >>

Conversation with an Atheist (Part 4 of ?)

ME:  "So, the fundamentals.  Let me take a minute to explain what we actually believe, if you don't mind?"

ATHEIST:  "Go for it."

ME:  "Alright, in your personal opinion, what do you think it takes for a person to get to go to heaven when they die?"

ATHEIST:  "Well - assuming their even IS a heaven [smirk], I guess I'd have to say that you need to live a good life, do good things, give to the poor, be nice ... generally do more good things than bad things."

ME:  "What if I told you that there are a quite a few criminals and murderers in heaven and many really "good" people (by our worldly standards) in hell?"

ATHEIST:  "I'd say that sucks.  I'd say that isn't fair.  I'd say that can't be right."

ME:  "And for 38 years, I would have agreed wholeheartedly with you.  But I wasn't looking at it from God's perspective.  Basically, I was thinking that my perspective mattered most.  It was actually pretty arrogant thinking in retrospect.  I - the creation - was somehow smarter and wiser than the Creator?  Bottom line, you can do all the right things and still go to hell.  And you can do all the wrong things and still go to heaven.  THAT'S reality. Turns out, it has less to do with our good works and everything to do with our faith.  In fact, works without faith is literally worthless, and - just as important - faith without works is dead."

ATHEIST:  "You're going to have to explain this a bit more.  That makes zero sense.  In fact, it sounds absolutely wrong on so many levels."

ME:  "There are a few basic things to understand:

1. We're guilty.  No getting around it.  God laid out some laws and we couldn't or wouldn't follow them.  Not just the 10 Commandments, but other laws laid out in the Old Testament.  It says in the New Testament that Jesus did not come to abolish the laws, but to fulfill the law.  Jesus himself actually said that.  And like I said earlier, he clarified God's laws in some distinct ways, like saying that envying someone else's things, even if only in our minds, was stealing.  He used the word "fulfill" - that's important.  I'll come back to that.  But God takes sin very seriously ... the wages (what we owe) for sin (our coming short of following the law) is death (both physical and spiritual).  That's pretty serious.
2. No one is good by Him.  We throw around the word "good" so loosely today that we've lost what it means.  It used to mean "perfect", in essence.  You asked before, "Why do I need a god to be good?"  The answer is, you can't be good with or without God.  Not on your own.  You and I have probably sinned in some way at least 50 times each just this morning.  Things you wouldn't say are sin or "all that bad" are extremely bad to God.  And He won't stand for it.  Have you been even slightly angry with anyone today?  Sin.  Have you been even slightly untruthful with anyone?  Sin.  Have you peered at a woman with even a glimmer of hunger?  Sin.  Only He is perfect.  Only He is good.  He came and lived a life as a human to show how it's done, but also to die for our sins, not His.  He could only do that if He had never sinned.  He was the "sacrificial lamb" that represented the last sacrifice needed.  When He died, he cried out, "It is finished!"  No one is good but Him.
3. He offers an incredible, free gift.  Why did Jesus have to die on a cross, you wondering.  He died for us.  The gift God offers is this:  Trust in Me and you will be wiped clean, white as snow.  All that you've done?  Gone.  You are literally born again.  Not physically - because our physical bodies are completely temporary.  We are born brand new spiritually.  And when we believe on Him, God sees Jesus when He looks at us, because He fulfilled the law on our behalf.  As a result, God sees no sin, no fault in us.  Nada.  We are GOOD - but only good because Jesus Christ is in us and we are in Him.  This is where the term "born again Christian" comes from.  I know, I used to think that was just a synonym for "freak", too.  It comes down to whether we want to accept the gift or not.  It really is that simple.  If we reject it, so be it ... but we don't get God anymore once we die.  We've made that choice.  If we decide to accept it, we get all of His promises.  However, it must be a decision of the heart, not just of the mouth or of the head.  God knows our hearts and knows the fakers from the genuine article.
4. Jesus hated - I mean HATED - religious people.  He still does.  He called them thieves and vipers and whitewashed tombs (meaning they looked great on the outside, but were rotting corpses on the inside).  Religious people, following rules to get to heaven, are missing the point.  A change of heart leads to wanting to do good things, like you might want to do nice things for your wife because you love her and trust her.  However, doing good things does not really lead to a changed heart.  Hanging curtains for my wife does not make me love her.  I love her, so I hang curtains for her.  God knows the difference and cares about the heart and the heart only.
5. We have free will.  We can choose to accept Him and drop our plans for His ... OR ... we can choose our own plans.  In essence, the choice is God's way or your/my way.  With God or without God.  God doesn't really send anyone to hell.  In fact, He doesn't want anyone to go there.  He wants them to come to Him ... to live a life that He knows (because He's infinitely wiser than we are) is our best possible life ... the one He created for us to live out.  And His plan is FAR better than one based on our ideas.  So in the end WE send ourselves to to hell for eternity, or we choose to spend eternity with Him in perfect bliss - no more tears, no more pain.  Joy.  We can talk in more depth later as to why He gives us free will, but it really comes down to relationships.  How many loving relationships start with one person forcing another person to love them?  Spoiler - the answer is zero.  For a real relationship, there must be a choice.  God knows this because He created love.  He IS love.
6. All you have to do is make a choice.  You don't have to understand it all yet.  You don't have to be perfect.  He wants you just as you are.  He loves you.  You'll never be perfect, so stop trying.  Just come as you are, drop the pride, and pray to accept Jesus into your life with a sincere prayer.  That's the first step on a long journey.  A journey worthy of traveling.
7. Pray this prayer:  "God, I'm done with believing I've got it all under control by myself.  I am a sinner, no matter how good of a guy I think I am.  I need to be saved and I'm ready to give up control and pass control of my life to you.  I believe you are good and you know what's best for me.  I'm ready to start living the life You have planned for me.  I pray this in the name of Jesus.  Amen."

ATHEIST:  "That's it?  Just a simple prayer like that and I'm in heaven when I die?"

ME:  "Yes."

ATHEIST:  "What about the guy with his fingers crossed as he says it, not meaning a word of it?  He gets off scott free?"

ME:  "The prayer and the prayee both know if it's genuine.  It's not for me or you to determine if someone else has or hasn't accepted Jesus.  That is always between them and God."

ATHEIST:  "Man, I feel like I'm being duped here.  It can't be that easy."

ME:  "Easy?  No.  Simple?  Yes.  Nobody's life is absolutely easy.  Believing and having eternal life does not mean you'll never have troubles again.  You just have something to make sense of it - to stay joyful during a storm in life.  And - most importantly - you will have a new life."

ATHEIST:  "I'm still not completely getting the new life thing."

ME:  "Let's talk about that.  But first, I'm hungry - want to order something?"

ATHEIST:  "Sure.  I could eat some chicken.  You paying?"

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Conversation with an Atheist (Part 3 of ?)

ATHEIST:  "Alright - no evading the slavery question.  You can't deny that people who said they were Christians owned slaves.  And they thought that was okay because the Bible says it's okay.  How do you answer THAT one?"

William Wilburforce,

leader of the movement to

abolish the slave trade

ME:  "Yeah - no denying Christians owned slaves.  And many of them most definitely used the Bible to justify it.  Truth is, though, they were wrong ... and the Bible - in actuality - does NOT support slavery, although it does discuss it and provides direction for those who were servants and slaves.  That's not the first time a book as influential as the Bible has been twisted to meet someone's desires.  Both Christians AND non-Christians have been guilty of this.  Again, it's a flawed human thing, but that does not excuse Christians who were slave owners.  However, it was Christians, like William Wilberforce, who fought against the slave trade as a result of his conversion to Christianity.  His newfound faith is what drove him to right this wrong.  Now - to address what the Bible says.  There are verses all over the Bible that address, refer to, and advise those in servitude.  Some of the slavery (like the Jews enslaved in Egypt) was full on slavery.  Some of it was servitude, many (I'll venture most) times voluntary, for various reasons (e.g. a person owed something to another, so they gave themselves and their service for a period to pay that debt).  That said, scripture definitely acknowledges that there was, in fact, slavery (as well as murder and other horrible things) and those who were in that position could better their situation, or show Christ in themselves, or remove the mental burden of their situation through thinking differently, being thankful to God even in their tough situation.  In any situation, despite the gravity of any situation we're in, we have a choice to be content and be joyful, or to wallow in our misery and worsen the situation.  Keep in mind, God never promises an easy life.  He knows bad things will happen to us because sin is in the world (not His choice and not His doing).  But he knows what is best for us as we go through these things.  He is with us, crying with us for a time, then lifting us up ... I know, I know - you're a long way off from believing that."

ATHEIST:  "I don't know.  I guess I can understand that.  He's like a good father who can't take the pain away when his child goes through something really hard.  And he knows that - if his child it to learn and grow - he can't take his child out of the situation every time.  They need to experience seemingly bad things in order to grow.  Like muscle being torn in order to become stronger.  In retrospect, we learn that the "bad things" actually were the best things to ever happen to us.  If they hadn't happened, certain good things couldn't have happened.  We can see the design after the fact.  Of course, this is all assuming that God even exists.  I'm just saying, I get it."

ME:  "Couldn't have said it better.  And slavery seems pretty horrible.  Lots of horrible things happen in this world, though.  Some even worse, but I don't even like to think about those."

ATHEIST:  "Okay, I said I'd let you get back to your fundamentals, but that is one thing I've got to know ... How could there be a God that is presumably all-powerful who would allow sex trafficking, rape, beheadings, kiddie porn.  He's either not doing anything because he's not all-powerful, not good, or simply not there."

ME:  "That's a tough one, but there are answers.  Honestly, though, I don't have a lot of those answers.  No one does ... no one but Him.  I read an awesome book last year called "If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn.  The subtitle is "Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil".  Keep in mind, God does not MAKE bad things happen.  Although he may allow them to happen to serve a greater plan that we just don't understand.  He makes good things out of even the worst situations.

STILL ME:  Here's a really good analogy I heard that may give you a feel for why some "bad" things happen:  A bear is trapped in a bear trap in the woods.  Why is he trapped in a bear trap?  Because sin is in the world and - as a result - bad things happen.  It's not the bear's fault, so it's not HIS sin that caused it necessarily.  Anyway, some hikers come along and see the bear trapped.  They want to help and approach the bear.  From the bear's limited perspective, he's already in agony and scared silly.  THEN, some humans are approaching ... another horrible thing.  Potentially worse.  He feels threatened and is terrified.  Now, a bear trap works based on a concept only humans might understand.  You actually have to push a limb FURTHER into the trap to release it.  Doing this, though, makes the bear believe that the hikers are trying to further hurt the bear - even kill him.  So, are any of the things the hikers did for the bear bad, in reality?  No - they were helping ... and eventually they freed the bear.  But the bear never understood that, did he?  Because he's a bear.  A bear can't understand what a human understands.  Now, IF there is a God who has infinite power and wisdom, can we assume that his intelligence and understanding is even further above ours than ours is above that bear?  Maybe, no matter how horrible WE think something is, there is a reason that we just don't have the capacity to understand.  Again, I'm not saying I fully understand the horrors of this world, but I do trust God, and I know that He is good and He has a plan that has already played out.  You see - He's outside of time, so He's in the past, right here in the present, and He's in the future ... at the end of time."

ATHEIST:  "Wow - I've never thought about it that way.  Love that analogy.  I may have to read that book.  I mean - well, if I really consider looking into this and all."

ME:  "Of course.  So, back to the fundamentals, cool?"

ATHEIST:  "I'm in this deep, might as well go further.  If nothing else, I'll have a story to tell my friends about almost getting brain washed by a Christian.  Heh."

ME:  "I'm hoping for better than that, but I'm not expecting anything.  Thanks again for talking as much time as you have.  Great questions."

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