If you have checked out some of the blogs that I have been reading, you have probably noticed that there are two of them that are written by confessed atheists: Skeptico and School of Thought. I have found both of these blogs to be very interesting and intellectually stimulating.
For example: Recently the author of Skeptico posted a blog entry titled Still no evidence prayer works. As a Christian who believes very strongly that prayer works I was intrigued to read what this person had to say. It made me think about my prayer life and how I would respond to such a person. Check out how he ends his post: "Ironically, Paul Kurtz of the skeptical Center for Inquiry will be undergoing cardiac surgery today. I wish him well, and I won’t be praying for him." That is really too bad. So I will pray for Paul and I hope you will join me in doing that (actually…I left a message on this person’s blog indicating I will be praying for Paul). Prayer does work and I hope the author (and Paul) feel the power of prayer.
The reason I am writing this post is to say that we need to expand our minds and explore where and why people have problems with Christianity. If we can understand the argument it might better inform how we share the Gospel with people. I believe many evangelism efforts fail because we don’t understand people. Faithful (and effective) evangelism begins with relationships. We need to get to know people and most importantly, LISTEN.
So I encourage you to check out blogs written by people who have different beliefs than you. If you are ONLY reading things by people who have similar beliefs as you, then you are not going to be as intellectually stimulated. If you’re a Christian find a blog written by an atheist or a Muslim for example. You get my point. I am still exploring blogs and I understand that I need to expand my reading base. Let me know if you have any recommendations for me. Take care and God bless. -edh-
P.S. Don’t forget to pray for Paul.
The Heart of a Pastor 
People who want “proof” rarely get it.
Thanks for the comment…and I agree. I have read a number of blogs were that seems to be the mantra “Give me proof that God exists.” “Give me proof that prayer works.” It just doesn’t work that way. People want “proof”?…all I can do is share my experience of God and hopefully someday God will break into their heart. In the mean time I keep praying.
EVERYONE has a different belief than me, Some say I a whack job,
I refuse to Kowtow to Fuzzy Kitten Theology, Joel Olsten et al. Sure I agree that Christian need baby steps to salvation, and sure Olsten fills a grade school starter for those people. So he does have a usefulness. But when those people realize that it is not about them it is about a relationship with God where they gonna get the meat and potato’s? Will Olsten say ” your graduated to the next tier of salvation theology? AND what if they die before they quite worshipping feel good or self esteem theology? They go to hell because there pastor didn’t want to bum them out over requirements of righteousness?
SIGH
I have Blogged with Atheist, they wore me out, talk about mean! You cannot convince them, Intellect is there Idol. Though the meanest was flabbergasted after hitting with a tirade when I said that i loved him and I prayed for him.He was speechless, and so I prayed for him. 🙂 felt good
Muslim Blogs,,,Oy Veh! why bother. There in error. It is one thing to read the Quran, It’s another to read the Hadiths. You can Blog with both Muslims and Atheists at http://info.detnews.com/faithtalk/lettersindex.cfm
I have been searching for this answer is Yahweh Allah, I asked, talked, bloged and read and the answer I have found is this:
Mathew 7:15-23 Bad fruit being Islam
John 15: 1-8 We have been grafted to the Jewish race.
Muslims even though I would stand with them if persecuted, they follow the sun God and not our God.
But then again, I could be crazy
Maranatha
Rick
I too believe the likes of Joel Olsten have a place in God’s mission but they can not be all a person listens to or follows. “Fuzzy Kitten Theology” is not what Jesus came to proclaim. Jesus loves everyone, but he also called a thing what is was. He called sin, sin and called all people to confess their sins and repent. Jesus did not water anything down like the Olstens of the world do.
I hear you that blogging with atheists is tiring. I responded to an atheist a while back about free will. I thought I gave a good response but I got no where. Basically they called it “crap”. Oh well, I will continue to join you in praying for them.
Thank you for the website and I will indeed check it out. I do believe that Muslims are in error, that is what my faith says, but I also believe there is room for dialog and common ground.
Thank you for stopping by and contributing to the conversation. I appreciate your comments and thank you for “stimulating” me (and others). God bless.