In this final episode on the resurrection, look at some of the NT promises regarding our own future resurrection from the dead, explore what our resurrection body will be like, and explain the theological and practical implications of the general resurrection. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thin…

I share some post-Easter thoughts (including a “pet the peeve” segment) and begin a discussion on our own future resurrection from the dead. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thinkingtobelieve…

In this final episode on the Shroud of Turin, I talk about art based on the shroud, reasons to doubt the Shroud is authentic, and where the Shroud shows up in the historical record. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parle…

I look at various attempts to recreate the Shroud image through naturalistic means before moving on to other ways we can know the Shroud is older than what the carbon dating suggests. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Par…

I discuss how the image on the shroud was made, as well as the age of the Shroud and the infamous C-14 dating from 1988. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thinkingtobelieve…

What is the evidence that the Shroud of Turin is the real burial cloth of Jesus and bears His crucified image? In this episode I begin to cover 17 points of evidence that point to authenticity. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToB…

The Shroud of Turin is the purported burial cloth of Jesus Christ, bearing the image of a crucified man. Is it authentic and evidence for the resurrection, or just a medieval forgery? This is the first episode in the final sub-series in the resurrection series. I start by examining the features of the cloth itself, as well as the image of a crucifi…

In this miscellany episode I offer my short thoughts on worship music, being thoughtful about our language, the centrality of truth, words of advice to aspiring preachers, why religion is not a bad word, conversation etiquette, and end with a Pet the Peeve segment about where waitresses place the bill on the table. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email:…

I covered the final four differences in the gospel accounts: 1. Did Peter just look into the tomb, or did he enter it? 2. Why did the angels tell the women to tell the male disciples to meet Him in Galilee if Jesus was going to appear to the apostles that same day in Jerusalem? 3. Why did Jesus tell the apostles to stay in Jerusalem if they had not…

I address three Gospel differences: 1. Did all of the apostles disbelieve the report of the Emmaus Disciples, or only some of them? 2. Did Jesus ascend to heaven the same day as His resurrection, or weeks later 3. Was Jesus’ first appearance to the apostles to 10 or 11 apostles Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook:…

We know the Synoptic gospels simplified their empty tomb narratives, so how did that affect their portrayal of the event? Why did Luke leave out the appearance of Jesus to the women? I also explore differences related to the Emmaus disciples narrative. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobe…

I continue to examine differences in the empty tomb narratives. In this episode, I address differences in where the women were when the angels appeared to them. I show how the differences can be resolved when we recognize that there were two tomb visits. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb twice. She left before the angels/Jesus appeared to the remaini…

I do a walkthrough of the four gospel accounts’ concerning the empty tomb, resurrection, and post-mortem appearances of Jesus, comparing and contrasting them to identify similarities and differences. Then I begin to harmonize the empty tomb narratives, addressing the following differences: 1. Which women went to the tomb? 2. Did the women journey t…

I explored the various compositional devices used in Greco-Roman biographies and provided Biblical examples of their use in the Gospels. These compositional devices explain many of the so-called errors and differences in the Gospels. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Get…

Part 2 of harmonizing the resurrection accounts. Still establishing the foundation for harmonization by looking at how the ancients recorded history. Explained how differences in words and events can be explained. Started looking at Mike Licona's work on compositional devices. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: …

Skeptics point to so-called contradictions in the Gospel accounts as reasons to doubt their claims that Jesus rose from the dead. I'll spend several episodes harmonizing the resurrection accounts in the Gospels, but in this episode I begin to lay the foundation for how we should think about so-called contradictions and what's really at stake. Web: …

Covered more objections to the resurrection of Jesus, including -- Why didn't Jesus' disciples always recognize Him after His resurrection? -- Why did the apostles wait so long to proclaim Jesus' resurrection? -- If the evidence for Jesus' resurrection is so good, why do only Christians believe it? -- Didn't Jesus tell Thomas he wasn't blessed prec…

I address more questions and objections: -- Was Jesus' "appearance" to Paul truly a resurrection appearance? -- Jews did not bury crucified victims. Jesus was left in an open tomb and most likely eaten by dogs/birds. -- Jesus’ Body Would have been Unrecognizable -- Why Didn’t Jesus Appear to Unbelievers? -- The Doctrine of Resurrection was a Later …

I address the following questions and objections: o When Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? o Where is Jesus’ body now? o It’s difficult to know what’s true about history. o The ancients were just gullible and easily accepted miracle claims o The Resurrection is Not a Historical Conclusion o Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence, and you h…

I continue my examination of non-miraculous explanations for the historical facts including the spiritual resurrection theory, deification theory, wish fulfillment theory, and more. Then, I argue that the resurrection hypothesis is the best explanation for the historical data. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: …

Now that we've established the historical facts, all that remains is to determine what best explains them. The explanation offered by Jesus' disciples was that Jesus was raised from the dead. Non-Christians, atheists, and anti-supernaturalists do not want to accept that explanation, so they have proposed a great number of alternative, non-miraculou…

I cover the four remaining historical facts that I'll argue are best explained by Jesus' resurrection from the dead: 5. The conversion of James 6. The conversion of Paul 7. The changed behavior of the disciples 8. The origin of the disciples' belief in the resurrection Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook…

Not only did the disciples discover Jesus' tomb to be empty, but Jesus also appeared in the flesh to various individuals and groups at different times and in different locations. I explore the reasons historians are convinced that the disciples had some sort of experience of Jesus after His death. I also harmonize all of the various resurrection ap…

I present six lines of evidence in favor of the historicity of the empty tomb, and explain why this historical fact is significant in the case for the resurrection of Jesus. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thin…

I present the reasons that have convinced the vast majority of historians that Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and why this historical fact is significant. I also address other matters related to Jesus' burial, including the location of Jesus' tomb, the rolling stone that covered the tomb, how long Jesus was in the tomb, and whe…

The first line of historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection is Jesus' death by crucifixion. In addition to providing the evidence that has convinced virtually all historians of this fact, I also explore the nature of crucifixion, how it killed its victims, the shape of the cross, the date of Jesus' crucifixion, and more. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.co…

Some claim that there's no evidence that Jesus even existed, or that the evidence we have is less than compelling. Nothing could be further from the truth. I provide a number of reasons to think Jesus was a real historical person, including what is recorded about Him in early, non-Christian sources. Not only do non-Christians take it for granted th…

Even if it's true that Jesus rose from the dead, so what? It may be odd. It may be amazing. But why should it matter to me? What's the significance of Jesus' resurrection from the dead? I lay out nine reasons that Jesus' resurrection changed the world, and ought to change your life. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Face…

I've started a new series on the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. In this first episode, I rehearse the various topics I'll cover in the series and talk about a historical approach to the resurrection of Jesus. Christianity is based on certain historical events, and and to the degree that those events can be verified or falsified,…

In this final episode in my Political Theology series, I argue that our approach to voting ought to be to make a moral difference, not just a moral statement. As such, we should not vote for third parties or stay home on Election Day. I also make the case that Christians should still vote for Trump and the Republican Party despite the steps both ha…

God takes positions on moral issues. Political parties also take positions on moral issues. As such, God takes sides when it comes to politics. All political parties fail to represent God’s point of view on certain issues, but they don’t all fail equally. God is on the side of the party that will best fulfill His purpose for government: justice. Th…

It's common knowledge that "you can't (or shouldn't) legislate morality," but in reality, this is a common misunderstanding. Morality is all that you should legislate. The only question is whose morality will be legislated. It would be religious discrimination and anti-democratic to exclude the voices of Christians simply because they are religious…

Does the First Amendment require a strict wall of separation between the government and the people? No. It was intended to prevent the federal government from establishing a national religion or disestablishing any state religion, and to prevent the federal government from interfering in the religious beliefs and expressions of individual citizens.…

Many have claimed that America was founded as a secular nation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only were our Founding Fathers deeply religious, but they expressed their religion publicly and their Christian religion deeply informed the principles on which this nation was built. Contrary to the claims of those who wish to rewrite Ameri…

Government was God's idea. It's an institution He created to promote justice in human societies. As such, good government requires the participation of the just. Even God is involved in government. He sets up kings and kingdoms, and brings them down. There is no wall between politics and religion. There is a relationship between the two, but we mus…

In this final episode of the series, I answer objections to the wisdom model of decision making and respond to verses that are commonly used in support of the Spirit-led model. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @t…

In this episode, I apply the wisdom model of decision making to ministry and marriage, showing how Biblical principles and wisdom should guide us in our ministry and choosing a spouse. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Pa…

I provide a number of Biblical examples demonstrating that most decisions are to be made in light of wisdom, not divine revelation. Then, I provide some principles for decision making, talk about how to obtain wisdom, and offer some clarifications regarding the wisdom model. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: fa…

When God speaks, how does He speak? There are five Biblical characteristics of divine revelation: (1) It was rare; (2) It came to those who were not seeking it; (3) It was clear; (4) It was supernatural in nature; (5) It often went against the dictates of wisdom. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/t…

In part 2 of my series on Simplifying God's Will, I examine the Biblical data on God's will. I argue that the Bible teaches God's will for our lives is more general in nature, primarily related to our moral growth; not who we marry, what career we choose, etc. While God can have a specific will regarding some aspects of our lives, it is rare, and G…

I'm starting a 6-part series on finding the will of God. In episode 1, I compare and contrast the two models of God's will, and argue that only one is based in Scripture. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thinkin…

In this miscellany episode, I exegete two passages in 1 Corinthians 3. I argue that when Paul warns people about the way they are building (with gold, silver, and precious stones vs. wood, hay, and straw), he is not talking about individual Christians' spiritual development. He is talking about the way in which ministers in Corinth were ministering…

I finish up the existential argument by showing how atheism cannot, but theism can satisfy our deep longing for objective morality, free will, immortality, and love. I end the podcast by providing a real life example of how an atheist came to Christianity, in part, because she realized that only Christianity could satisfy her existential needs. Web…

My final argument for God's existence is a version of the existential argument. I argue that our existential longings can only be explained by and fulfilled by a theistic God: the desire for meaning and purpose in life, objective morality, immortality, free will, and love. People must either (1) believe there is a God who can fulfill our deepest lo…

I wrap up my discussion of Aquinas' Five Ways by examining both his Fourth and Fifth Ways. The Fourth Way demonstrate that the grades of perfection we observe in the world can only be explained by the existence of a maximally perfect being. The Fifth Way demonstrates the existence of an intelligent being who guides everything towards their natural …

For his Third Way, Thomas Aquinas argues that the existence of contingent beings can only be explained by the existence of a necessary being whose essence is identical to His existence. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve P…

For his Second Way, Thomas Aquinas argues that a causal series can only be explained by a first, uncaused cause who is the source of all causation. In a related argument - the existential proof - Aquinas argues that things whose essence is distinct from their existence can only be explained by a being whose essence and existence are identical; i.e.…

I started my exploration of Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways, beginning with his First Way - the argument from motion. Aquinas argues that only God can explain why things change. Change can only be explained by a First, Unmoved Mover; i.e. a Being who is the ultimate source of all change, but is itself not changed by anything. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com E…

The current legal situation regarding abortion law in Arizona has revealed a strategic divide among pro-lifers. All pro-lifers want to make abortion unthinkable in this country, but disagree as to the best way of achieving that end. Abolitionists take an all-or-nothing approach, while incrementalists attempt to end abortion in a series of multiple …

I offer four more arguments for God's existence from human equality, free will, miracles, and the resurrection. I argue that the notion of human equality has no place in a materialistic worldview, but can only be grounded by a transcendent source like God who. I argue that there can be no free will in a materialistic universe. Freedom of the will r…