The Veritas Theology Forum has now moved to our new location and time.
Veritas Theology Forum
3633 South Yale Avenue
Sunday Evenings 6:30 - 8:00
Veritas will meet in the Tulsa Junior League building which is on the southeast corner of 36th and Yale. Praise and Worship will start promptly at 6:30 followed by a break for snacks and teaching until 8:00.
For more detailed directions please visit http://jltulsa.org or call 827-2452 with any further questions.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Veritas Update 02.26.08
“Wow”
This seemed to be the coined phrase this week in Veritas. It was all Pastor Jerry could say before he introduced Sam Cupps and Ruby Bibbs up to tell us about the California trip and how we all felt upon hearing about it. More than anything, it is our fumbling attempt to express how incredible it is to witness what God is doing in this ministry.
It was great to hear firsthand about the Steeling the Mind conference. Pastor Jerry did a great job and was well received. “It’s so hard to categorize everything that happened,” said Sam. “It was like walking in a whirlwind of favor.”
Ruby had an equally great testimony. “The conference was phenomenal and Pastor Jerry was phenomenal. We heard things at this conference that you just don’t hear everyday.”
However, Pastor Jerry put it all in perspective by explaining the message he delivered in California was, “not about where to put your money, this is about where to put your heart.
His interview with Senator Chuck Grassley on the Jan Markel show went very well also. Pastor Jerry interviewed Grassley for about 30 minutes concerning his investigation into six ministries and spent the remaining hour and a half discussing the ministry of JRMI.
Beyond these wonderful testimonies Pastor Jerry cast some excellent vision for Veritas as we launch into our new work.
Did you know that if you make $40k or more you are in the top 1% of the worlds wealthiest? Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle so how can 80% of American’s be saved as they claim to be? Perhaps, we here in America have more deception than we can even realize.
Part of this deception is that of thinking we have been doing a good job of reaching this country for Christ. We live in a post-modern, information age where different movements have been spawned to reach this generation with little effect. For your reference, consider the Emerging Church movement which offers a very user friendly church at the expense of making the Gospel of Jesus look weak. The Prosperity movement of our previous generation has obviously had some rotten fruit in the basket.
So what approach does the Body of Christ take in reaching this post-modern age?
IRENE
POLEMIC
APOLOGETIC
These are three methods the church has used in reaching the lost, and even teaching the found. Picture a triangle with Irene at the top and Polemic and Apologetic at the bottom.
Polemic is the preferred method of the American church. Consequently, this is how most of the world thinks of the church. This is the war within the church. The Polemic method is dogmatic and demanding as it commands adherence.
The Apologetic method takes the message out of the church. This method seeks to explain specific issues of the faith. While a good method for debate, it rarely brings about conversion does not go far past lively conversation.
The Irenic method is the method of Paul. This method accurately considers and represents everything. While a majority of Christians think it is wrong to consider points that don’t relate to their specific doctrine the goal of Veritas is take a knowledgeable approach to defending and promoting truth. If God’s word is indeed true, what do we have to be afraid of?
Wow.
This seemed to be the coined phrase this week in Veritas. It was all Pastor Jerry could say before he introduced Sam Cupps and Ruby Bibbs up to tell us about the California trip and how we all felt upon hearing about it. More than anything, it is our fumbling attempt to express how incredible it is to witness what God is doing in this ministry.
It was great to hear firsthand about the Steeling the Mind conference. Pastor Jerry did a great job and was well received. “It’s so hard to categorize everything that happened,” said Sam. “It was like walking in a whirlwind of favor.”
Ruby had an equally great testimony. “The conference was phenomenal and Pastor Jerry was phenomenal. We heard things at this conference that you just don’t hear everyday.”
However, Pastor Jerry put it all in perspective by explaining the message he delivered in California was, “not about where to put your money, this is about where to put your heart.
His interview with Senator Chuck Grassley on the Jan Markel show went very well also. Pastor Jerry interviewed Grassley for about 30 minutes concerning his investigation into six ministries and spent the remaining hour and a half discussing the ministry of JRMI.
Beyond these wonderful testimonies Pastor Jerry cast some excellent vision for Veritas as we launch into our new work.
Did you know that if you make $40k or more you are in the top 1% of the worlds wealthiest? Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle so how can 80% of American’s be saved as they claim to be? Perhaps, we here in America have more deception than we can even realize.
Part of this deception is that of thinking we have been doing a good job of reaching this country for Christ. We live in a post-modern, information age where different movements have been spawned to reach this generation with little effect. For your reference, consider the Emerging Church movement which offers a very user friendly church at the expense of making the Gospel of Jesus look weak. The Prosperity movement of our previous generation has obviously had some rotten fruit in the basket.
So what approach does the Body of Christ take in reaching this post-modern age?
IRENE
POLEMIC
APOLOGETIC
These are three methods the church has used in reaching the lost, and even teaching the found. Picture a triangle with Irene at the top and Polemic and Apologetic at the bottom.
Polemic is the preferred method of the American church. Consequently, this is how most of the world thinks of the church. This is the war within the church. The Polemic method is dogmatic and demanding as it commands adherence.
The Apologetic method takes the message out of the church. This method seeks to explain specific issues of the faith. While a good method for debate, it rarely brings about conversion does not go far past lively conversation.
The Irenic method is the method of Paul. This method accurately considers and represents everything. While a majority of Christians think it is wrong to consider points that don’t relate to their specific doctrine the goal of Veritas is take a knowledgeable approach to defending and promoting truth. If God’s word is indeed true, what do we have to be afraid of?
Wow.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Veritas Update 02.19.08
In less than two weeks we move into our new facility at our new time of 6:30pm.
Pastor Jerry's presentation at the Steeling the Mind conference was incredibly fruitful.
Everyday, we are challenging believers to think and thinkers to believe.
The Vision of Veritas is happening.
Next week is our last at Beams of Light. Pastor Jerry will catch us up on the trip to California and everything coming up. You will not want to miss it.
This is a great time to be alive. God bless you.
Pastor Jerry's presentation at the Steeling the Mind conference was incredibly fruitful.
Everyday, we are challenging believers to think and thinkers to believe.
The Vision of Veritas is happening.
Next week is our last at Beams of Light. Pastor Jerry will catch us up on the trip to California and everything coming up. You will not want to miss it.
This is a great time to be alive. God bless you.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Veritas Update 02.10.08
With the big move into our new facility directly in front of us Veritas took a day to recap how far we have come as a group and forcast where we are going. Additionally, Pastor Jerry covered a very exciting schedule ahead for JRMI. It is truly amazing what God is doing in us.
In little more than a year, Veritas has systematically solidified a solid base of foundational theology for our membership. In a day and an hour confirmed to be the last for mankind, this theology class has fought the good fight against the deceptive leanings of American Christianity and pounded through to the establishment of solid doctrine as we have devoted ourselves to becoming vessels of the "New Wine" God is pouring out upon the earth. Through diligent teaching, and an approach that requires asking the tough questions, we have grown together out of the doldrums and are the precipice of a great work.
In Veritas, Pastor Jerry has taken an exciting approach in his teaching of many topics ignored by the Body of Christ at large. We have explored a full study on the process of Salvation by capturing its Biblical representation and its interpretation through history, particularly in the Calvinism Versus Arminianism debate. Veritas proceeded through a daring examination of the popular "Word of Faith" and "Prosperity" movements and the details of their proponents and the doctrine they adhere to. Recently, Pastor Jerry has been taking the class through a complete teaching of Genesis 1-12.
This exhaustive and dynamic approach has the benefit of an intertwined teaching on history as it relates to the Bible and the church. And we are just getting started. In the near future Veritas is going to delve into such topics as Eschatological Foundations, a deeper understanding of Biblical Prophecy, a complete study of Islam and we are going to cover a complete study on the nation of Israel.
In our new facility, Veritas is going to expand our format to include Praise and Worship, more guest speakers and food for fellowship at every event. We are planning many trips and events outside of our evening meeting time of Sunday's at 7, including a trip to Israel in 2009. Veritas will be unlike anything formerly seen in Tulsa and our vision remains unhindered.
Veritas has two more weeks at Beams of Light Family Church before we switch to our evening format. Join us next week as Pastor Lee takes over the teaching while Pastor Jerry travels to California for the Steeling the Mind Conference. Please keep him, Sam Cupps and Ruby Bibbs in your prayers as the travel, and pray for their families while they are gone. Meanwhile, our passion and our prayers are with you as well as you proceed in the establishment of the Kingdom of God in your life that you may take it to a deceived and dying world.
God bless you.
In little more than a year, Veritas has systematically solidified a solid base of foundational theology for our membership. In a day and an hour confirmed to be the last for mankind, this theology class has fought the good fight against the deceptive leanings of American Christianity and pounded through to the establishment of solid doctrine as we have devoted ourselves to becoming vessels of the "New Wine" God is pouring out upon the earth. Through diligent teaching, and an approach that requires asking the tough questions, we have grown together out of the doldrums and are the precipice of a great work.
In Veritas, Pastor Jerry has taken an exciting approach in his teaching of many topics ignored by the Body of Christ at large. We have explored a full study on the process of Salvation by capturing its Biblical representation and its interpretation through history, particularly in the Calvinism Versus Arminianism debate. Veritas proceeded through a daring examination of the popular "Word of Faith" and "Prosperity" movements and the details of their proponents and the doctrine they adhere to. Recently, Pastor Jerry has been taking the class through a complete teaching of Genesis 1-12.
This exhaustive and dynamic approach has the benefit of an intertwined teaching on history as it relates to the Bible and the church. And we are just getting started. In the near future Veritas is going to delve into such topics as Eschatological Foundations, a deeper understanding of Biblical Prophecy, a complete study of Islam and we are going to cover a complete study on the nation of Israel.
In our new facility, Veritas is going to expand our format to include Praise and Worship, more guest speakers and food for fellowship at every event. We are planning many trips and events outside of our evening meeting time of Sunday's at 7, including a trip to Israel in 2009. Veritas will be unlike anything formerly seen in Tulsa and our vision remains unhindered.
Veritas has two more weeks at Beams of Light Family Church before we switch to our evening format. Join us next week as Pastor Lee takes over the teaching while Pastor Jerry travels to California for the Steeling the Mind Conference. Please keep him, Sam Cupps and Ruby Bibbs in your prayers as the travel, and pray for their families while they are gone. Meanwhile, our passion and our prayers are with you as well as you proceed in the establishment of the Kingdom of God in your life that you may take it to a deceived and dying world.
God bless you.
Bibles for Pakistan - Update
JRMI Partners: Here's just a few children that you have helped in Pakistan. Most of these children have never owned their own Bible. (And some of them have never even seen a Bible in their own language.) But now, thanks to JRMI partners, the truth of God's Word is penetrating yet another village in the 10/40 window. Glory to God!
Thank you for loving the Lord enough to love others,
Jerry
Thank you for loving the Lord enough to love others,
Jerry
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Veritas Update 02.03.08
Over the last two weeks in Veritas the class took more of a scientific appraoch to explore the possibility of the longevity of life presented in Genesis 5. To premise this possibility two questions were asked:
Is it possible that people lived so long, and if so, how?
What exactly is it that causes people to die?
You see, people were not origionally created to die. The question of "why" we die has perplexed mankind for ages. Strangely, the answer to this question has always been hanging big and bright, right over our heads. While the sun is, of course, the source of light and life for our planet, the Ultraviolet and Alpha and Beta rays hiting our bodies are aging us everyday. When you are outside, in your home and driving in your car you are literally being subtly poisoned by the same source that gives you sight and sustenance.
So has the sun dramatically changed since the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden?
This is highly doubtful, so the obvious question remains: What could God have set in place at the onset of creation that would protect us from the sun?
Water Canopy Theory
Did you know that besides concrete, water is the only thing that will dilute, or block, the suns deadly influences from your body? The major theory Veritas investigated this week was the possibility that a water canopy once covered the earth and protected mankind. However, there is no testable model as we cannot recreate a canopy over the earth to test its effects. So, in order to to come to a reasonable speculation on this theory, Veritas explored certain observations which employ the use of deductive reasoning to convey an operational conclussion.
A water canopy would bring about a total tropical environment were it cover the whole face of the earth. Additionally, a water canopy would provide greater atmospheric preassure, higher oxygen levels, blocked UV Rays and longer life. Plants, animals and people would be more robust. The earth would operate much like a greenhouse and there would be virtually no need for rain. But how can we possibly assume any of this happened?
Oxygen samples are fossilized in ancient amber depositsw and reveal that the earth at that time had higher oxygen levels. A Teradactyl could have never flown in our current earth environment. With its size, it would have needed greater atmospheric preassure to get lift. It is now known, thanks to fossils from Antarctica to the Northern Hemisphere, that the entire planet was once tropical. Moreover, there is substantial evidence that not only did reptiles used to be bigger, so did people and plants as well. One great resource to explore more evidence on this topic is the Creation Evidence Museum in Glenrose, Texas and veritas is planning a trip down there in the near future.
However, the primary, and confirming, resource the class looked to for evidence of this canopy was the Bible. Genesis 1: 6-8 states; "And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to seperate water from water." So God made the expanse and seperated the water under the expanse from the water from the water above it. And it was so. God calle the expanse "sky." (NIV)
Notice, God seperated the water below from the water above and called the expanse sky. Literally, there was water above the sky. True science and the Bible are never at odds with each other. Rather, they serve to confirm a Creator.
Further evidence is seen in the lifespans of man. Some have speculated that the ages in chapter 5 represent dynasties. But that argument is put to rest in the account of a post flood environment. Immediatley, we see that the lifespans of men diminish quickly. Considering that nothing in the Bible has ever been disproven, the Water Canopy Theory holds powerful credibility.
Join us next week as Pastor Jerry moves into teaching upon Genesis 6. This will not be a class to miss. Until then, may God bless you and keep you as you go forth spreading the fame of His son Jesus and the Gospel of His salvation.
Is it possible that people lived so long, and if so, how?
What exactly is it that causes people to die?
You see, people were not origionally created to die. The question of "why" we die has perplexed mankind for ages. Strangely, the answer to this question has always been hanging big and bright, right over our heads. While the sun is, of course, the source of light and life for our planet, the Ultraviolet and Alpha and Beta rays hiting our bodies are aging us everyday. When you are outside, in your home and driving in your car you are literally being subtly poisoned by the same source that gives you sight and sustenance.
So has the sun dramatically changed since the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden?
This is highly doubtful, so the obvious question remains: What could God have set in place at the onset of creation that would protect us from the sun?
Water Canopy Theory
Did you know that besides concrete, water is the only thing that will dilute, or block, the suns deadly influences from your body? The major theory Veritas investigated this week was the possibility that a water canopy once covered the earth and protected mankind. However, there is no testable model as we cannot recreate a canopy over the earth to test its effects. So, in order to to come to a reasonable speculation on this theory, Veritas explored certain observations which employ the use of deductive reasoning to convey an operational conclussion.
A water canopy would bring about a total tropical environment were it cover the whole face of the earth. Additionally, a water canopy would provide greater atmospheric preassure, higher oxygen levels, blocked UV Rays and longer life. Plants, animals and people would be more robust. The earth would operate much like a greenhouse and there would be virtually no need for rain. But how can we possibly assume any of this happened?
Oxygen samples are fossilized in ancient amber depositsw and reveal that the earth at that time had higher oxygen levels. A Teradactyl could have never flown in our current earth environment. With its size, it would have needed greater atmospheric preassure to get lift. It is now known, thanks to fossils from Antarctica to the Northern Hemisphere, that the entire planet was once tropical. Moreover, there is substantial evidence that not only did reptiles used to be bigger, so did people and plants as well. One great resource to explore more evidence on this topic is the Creation Evidence Museum in Glenrose, Texas and veritas is planning a trip down there in the near future.
However, the primary, and confirming, resource the class looked to for evidence of this canopy was the Bible. Genesis 1: 6-8 states; "And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to seperate water from water." So God made the expanse and seperated the water under the expanse from the water from the water above it. And it was so. God calle the expanse "sky." (NIV)
Notice, God seperated the water below from the water above and called the expanse sky. Literally, there was water above the sky. True science and the Bible are never at odds with each other. Rather, they serve to confirm a Creator.
Further evidence is seen in the lifespans of man. Some have speculated that the ages in chapter 5 represent dynasties. But that argument is put to rest in the account of a post flood environment. Immediatley, we see that the lifespans of men diminish quickly. Considering that nothing in the Bible has ever been disproven, the Water Canopy Theory holds powerful credibility.
Join us next week as Pastor Jerry moves into teaching upon Genesis 6. This will not be a class to miss. Until then, may God bless you and keep you as you go forth spreading the fame of His son Jesus and the Gospel of His salvation.
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