Update on Kris

Hi Friends,

As you know, we have been battling multiple skin cancers over the last few years.
They have become more complicated and frequent.

A week ago Kris had some lumps/skin cancers removed. Our doctor called us and asked
us to come back for further testing. We got results yesterday from a PET scan and the results show
that the cancer has moved internally to the lymph nodes.

Please pray for discernment and wisdom for the many decisions we need to make.
Also, please pray for David and Kyleigh.

Love,
Bruce and Kris

Week 3 - Anthropology | Who is Man?

Here's the outline from this week's topic (from mytruthproject.org):

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Outline
Lesson 3 – Anthropology: Who is man?

1. Introduction – The Problem of Evil and Who is man?
   
   
   
   1. Primary Doctrine – Who is Man? Who is God? - The answers to these two questions form the foundation of everyone's worldview
   
   
   2. The cosmic battle within – Galatians 5:16-17 – Our sinful nature is in constant conflict with God's Spirit – Romans 7:15-25, Romans 6:12, Romans 8:5-14


2. Man's Essence
   
   
   
   1. States of man
      
      
      
      1. Innocent – Genesis 1:27
      
      
      2. Fallen – Romans 5:12, Genesis 6:5
         
         
         
         1. Hell – Revelation 20:15, Hebrews 9:27
      
      
      3. Redeemed – Revelation 5:9
         
         
         
         1. Glorified – 1 Corinthians 15:42
   
   
   2. Dualistic or Monistic – Both flesh and spirit or purely material?
   
   
   3. Naturalistic Philosophy Implications – no gods or purposive forces, no foundation for ethics, no free will, no life after death, no meaning in life


3. Man's moral state and Man's needs
   
   
   
   1. Abraham Maslow – Hierarchy of Needs – man's ultimate objective is self-actualization – The Pernicious lie – getting in touch with your inner nature
   
   
   2. Basically good or sinful? – Depravity of man – Man's propensity for evil
   
   
   3. Carl Rogers - "I do not find that evil is inherent in human nature."
   
   
   4. Scriptural Truth – Put to death your earthly nature – Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5-10


4. If evil is not inherent in man, then where does evil come from?
   
   
   
   1. Abraham Maslow - "Sick people are made by a sick culture ..."
   
   
   2. Carl Rogers – "... experience leads me to believe that it is cultural influences which are the major factor in our evil behaviors."
   
   
   3. Social institutions and authority structures are blamed for man's evil actions – provides basis for understanding the battleground over social institutions today


5. Why should "evil" bother someone with a secular worldview? – the question of evil is more difficult for them than us

Week 2 - Philosophy & Ethics

What a great discussion! Thanks for everyone's input. Here's the outline of yesterday's topic (from mytruthproject.org):

Download a printer-friendly PDF of this page.

Outline
Lesson 2 - Philosophy & Ethics: Says Who?

1. Introduction – Have you been taken captive? - 2 Timothy 2:24-26
   
   
   
   1. Scriptural warning against hollow and deceptive philosophy – Colossians 2:8
   
   
   2. Carl Sagan’s Worldview – "The Cosmos is all there is, or ever was, or will be"
   
   
   3. Assumptive language – A powerful and dangerous form of knowledge
   
   
   4. Cosmic Cube – Illustrates the naturalistic worldview belief that there is nothing outside the cosmos; reality is a closed box and all truth must be materially perceived
   
   
   5. Biblical presuppositions – God is and He has revealed himself to us (general revelation through our world and specific revelation through His word)
   
   
   6. God’s Nature - Transcendent and immanent – He is above and works within the box


2. Philosophy – What is it?
   
   
   
   1. Webster 1828 definition vs Current definition – God has been removed from the discipline of philosophy in today's culture
   
   
   2. Philosophical Questions – What is existence? What is the meaning and purpose of life?
   
   
   3. Universal and Particulars – Aristotle and Plato's philosophical dilemma – How do we arrive at Truth? How do we make sense of the unity and diversity of our world?


3. Postmodernism – Can you live it?
   
   
   
   1. What is Right? What is wrong? - Ethical implications of postmodernism – There is no basis for ethical standards or ethical language in a naturalistic worldview
   
   
   2. Plato's Question – "Is an act right because God said it, or did God know it was right and told us about it?" – His laws are an expression of His nature
   
   
   3. Naturalistic philosophy implications – Darwin's views in non-assumptive language
   
   
   4. Statistical Ethics – Our culture determines ethics through normalcy and survey data


4. Worldview – Formal worldview vs personal worldview
   
   
   
   1. Lack of a personal, biblical worldview in America – We fail to see Christianity as a worldview that governs every area of life
   
   
   2. Our worldview drives how we think, act, and feel – What we really believe
   
   
   3. Consequences of a non-biblical worldview: We buy the lies and conform to the world


5. Conclusion and Solution – Renewing of the Mind – Metamorphoo – Romans 12:2
   "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."