What's so Good about Good Friday?

Upwards of 700 years ahead of time, Isaiah the prophet made predictions of exactitude that rival NASA space travel. When sending a probe, satellite or manned flight into space, NASA planners have calculated to the second various important conditions such as planetary orbital location, angle of inclination, period of rotation, space craft velocity, orbital insertion angle & speed. If a lander is involved, further calculations research topography, atmosphere, the spacecraft’s angle of atmospheric entry, landing apparatus selection, deployment timing and radio signal calibration for operations after touchdown.

Isaiah had nothing to go on except the promptings we recognize as God's Spirit within him. Using archaic Hebrew language, he describes the suffering of God's servant for his people.

David, King of Israel, over 1,000 years in advance, writes with startling accuracy of an execution style unheard of during his era. Writing in Psalm 22, King David depicts exact movements of a crucifixion, complete with unrestrained disdain for the victim expressed in the snatching up and gambling for the garments by the attendants.

Both Isaiah and King David record what the gospels later report and history has confirmed: a classic roman execution, and all the trappings of derelict dealings by the executioners- describing actions of gambling for garments, bone-breaking to speed death, yet not needed in Messiah's case; taunts -verbatim- without seeming awareness of that fact from foreigners and locals; the more you read, the more parallel there is.

One thing both prophetic authors proclaim: Forgiveness reigns supreme in one of the most horrific acts in human history. David announces at the end of Psalm 22 that "the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord" "they shall come and declare his righteousness unto a people yet to be born..." Isaiah identifies and reinforces the personal application of this experience as a sacrifice - that which enables one to be received by divinity:

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-6

This predictive power of Old Testament writings is an indication of their supernatural origin: the God announced in the Old and New Testaments has spoken- and it is a good word of redemption which is available for you and for me.

WNY Apologetics Meets Sunday Dec. 7th

The Star of Bethlehem - History or Hoax?

Sunday night, December 7th at 6:30pm

Western NY Apologetics Group will view Rich Larson's theory on the Bethlehem Star (see www.bethlehemstar.net). Using Starry Night software and an original date for the event, Rich - a lawyer - not an astronomer - will take us back in time and examine 9 key points from the Bible that the star must meet to be accurately identified as "the star of Bethlehem."

Amherst Baptist Church
100 Willow Ridge
Amherst, NY

September 7, 2008 Roundtable Discussion

Our next Apologetics Roundtable Discussion will be held at 6:30pm on Sun., Sept. 7th, at University Baptist Church (790 Dodge Rd, Getzville, NY, 14068).


Topic: “Betting on God”

Speaker: Dr. James Beebe

Some Christian writers (e.g., Blaise Pascal) argue that believing in God is the safest bet. They support their case by noting the difference between the blessings of heaven and the flames of hell and asking, “What have you got to lose?”

But can belief in God really be rationally supported in this way? Philosophy professor James Beebe will lead an interactive discussion on the pros and cons of “prudential” arguments for belief in God.

Anyone is welcome to attend. Please invite anyone you know who may be interested in learning more about Christian apologetics.

For more information go to:
http://www.wnyapologetics.com/

August 3 Roundtable Discussion

On Sun., Aug. 3rd, at 6:30pm, the WNYA group will hold its next roundtable discussion. Dick DiTullio, co-founder of WNYA, will lead an interactive discussion about scientific findings and environmental trends that reveal God's hand in the creation and history of our planet.

The discussion will take place AT A NEW LOCATION: Whitehaven Road Baptist Church (1290 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY). Anyone is welcome to attend. Please invite any friends you know who may be interested in discussing and learning more about Christian apologetics or any seekers you may know who might also be interested.

One primary purpose of the roundtable is to gather together Christians who are interested in discussing apologetics and who would like to see apologetics promoted in the WNY region. Another purpose is to provide an informal forum in which "seekers" can hear the Christian faith defended in a respectable way.

Please forward this invitation to anyone you know who may be interested in the event. More information can be found at our new website: www.wnyapologetics.com.

Directions to Whitehaven Road Baptist Church: Take the first exit off the Grand Island bridge ($1 toll). Turn right at the first light (Staley Rd). Turn left at the first stop-sign (Stony Point Rd). Continue on Stony Point about 2 miles to Whitehaven and turn right. The building is on the right within a mile.

New WNYA website

For those wanting to know more about us or who want to find resources on defending the Christian faith, see our new Western New York Apologetics website at:

www.wnyapologetics.com

June 29 WNYA Roundtable Discussion

Date: Sunday, June 29, 2008

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Amherst Baptist Church (100 Willow Ridge Dr, Amherst, NY)

Theme: "The Origin of the Universe: How Science & Philosophy Point to God"

On Sun., June 29th, at 6:30pm, the WNYA group will hold its next roundtable discussion. Tom Wanchick, co-founder of WNYA, will talk offering scientific and philosophical considerations that show that the universe had to have a beginning and that this beginning had to be caused by God.

The discussion will take place in the library of Amherst Baptist Church (100 Willow Ridge Dr, Amherst, NY). Anyone is welcome to attend. Please invite any friends you know who may be interested in discussing and learning more about Christian apologetics or any seekers you may know who might also be interested.

One primary purpose of the roundtable is to gather together Christians who are interested in discussing the rational defense of Christianity and who would like to see apologetics promoted in the WNY region. Another purpose is to provide an informal forum in which "seekers" can hear the Christian faith defended in a respectable way.

Please forward this invitation to anyone you know who may be interested in the event.

Roundtable Discussion May 28th

Theme: "Compatibility of Science and Faith"
Video: John Clayton's Does God Exist? lesson 20: "Fossils and Genesis" (26 minutes)
Participants should read Genesis 1 in preparation. The video may be previewed at http://www.doesgodexist.tv/
Location: Amherst Baptist Church - 100 Willow Ridge Dr, Amherst, NY
Room: Old Library
Date: May 28, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM

Format: We will watch a brief video of the relation between science and faith and will then have an informal discussion of the material.

Anyone is welcome to attend. Please invite anyone you know who may be interested in learning more about Christian Apologetics.

The Western NY Apologetics group plans to hold similar events on a regular basis (monthly or bi-monthly). Future events will likely be at other locations.

Hope to see you there!