Michael Phelps Credits Christian Book With Saving His Life

Nick Park

I thought the following story was interesting given the amount of media attention on the Olympics at present: http://evangelicalfocus.com/lifetech/1867/Phelps_found_help_in_Purpose_Driven_Life

lazybones32

I started reading that book last week and I must say I enjoy it. So far, I would recommend it to any Christian but I'm only at the 10th chapter.

Michael OBrien

There is a series on Youtube that discusses that book in depth. Steve Shives has made videos about many other christian books too.

Giacomo McGubbin

Michael OBrien wrote: »

There is a series on Youtube that discusses that book in depth. Steve Shives has made videos about many other christian books too.

Does he have 23 Olympic gold medals, or is he just another whiner ?

brian_t

Michael OBrien wrote: »

There is a series on Youtube that discusses that book in depth. Steve Shives has made videos about many other christian books too.

As this is the Christian forum it might be a bit more honest to mention that Shives is an atheist.

Delirium

brian_t wrote: »

As this is the Christian forum it might be a bit more honest to mention that Shives is an atheist.

to be fair, it does saying in big text on the linked youtube page 'An Atheist reads the purpose-driven life'.

brian_t

Delirium wrote: »

to be fair, it does saying in big text on the linked youtube page 'An Atheist reads the purpose-driven life'.

To be fair, why should a Christain gave to click on the link to find that out.

In my opimion the atheist poster would have been more honest to mention that fact in his actual post.

Peregrinus

Nobody who doesn't click on the link can be misled by it. And nobody who does click on the link will be misled by it, because it's entirely uprfront about offering an atheist perspective on Warren's book.

Nothing to see here, seriously. There isn't a problem, and certainly no dishonesty.

brian_t

Peregrinus wrote: »

it's entirely uprfront about offering an atheist perspective on Warren's book.
.

Sorry but it's not upfront, you have to click on the link to find that out,

Michael OBrien

brian_t wrote: »

Sorry but it's not upfront, you have to click on the link to find that out,

Steve Shives is a well known atheist and his "atheist reads" series is also well known on Youtube. The series clearly states that, the opening statement by Steve clearly states that. I clearly mentioned his name too.
Also why should it matter if he is an atheist? If a protestant/hindu/muslim/buddhist wrote his views about a catholic apologetic book would it discount his views that he is not of the same religion as the writer? He does read the book, he quotes large parts of it in text as well on the video.
If you disagree with something Steve says about the message in the book, then point it out and show how Steve got it wrong. I thought it was a good series showing the mistakes in the book. Something that a christian should appreciate. Its just an apologetic book, not the bible, so there is no reason to get upset by criticism.

uck51js9zml2yt

Michael OBrien wrote: »

Steve Shives is a well known atheist and his "atheist reads" series is also well known on Youtube. The series clearly states that, the opening statement by Steve clearly states that. I clearly mentioned his name too.
Also why should it matter if he is an atheist? If a protestant/hindu/muslim/buddhist wrote his views about a catholic apologetic book would it discount his views that he is not of the same religion as the writer? He does read the book, he quotes large parts of it in text as well on the video.
If you disagree with something Steve says about the message in the book, then point it out and show how Steve got it wrong. I thought it was a good series showing the mistakes in the book. Something that a christian should appreciate. Its just an apologetic book, not the bible, so there is no reason to get upset by criticism.

He is so well known I've never heard of him.
For the record...Ive never read any of Warrens books either. I've a "thing" about "how to" books:cool:

Peregrinus

brian_t wrote: »

Sorry but it's not upfront, you have to click on the link to find that out,

Yes. The link takes you to a page which is entirely upfront about offering an atheist perspective on the book.

If you don't click on the link, you're obviously not going to be influenced in way by the perspective offered.

If you do click on the link, pretty well the first thing you will learn is that the perspective being offered is the perspective of an atheist. If that bothers you, then you don't have to watch the video.

Seriously, I'm not seeing any problem here. And certainly no lack of honesty.

gctest50

Just the usual "found god and am all shiny brand new now " stunt ?

Police pulled over Phelps in a white Range Rover SUV after he was clocked doing 84miles per hour in a 45 mph zone in Baltimore's undersea Fort McHenry Tunnel

Phelps underwent a breathalyzer test that found a blood alcohol level of 0.14 percent -- well above the Maryland legal limit of 0.08 percent.


http://dailym.ai/2bnRk1F

Peregrinus

gctest50 wrote: »

Just the usual "found god and am all shiny brand new now " stunt ?

The report linked in the OP doesn't suggest that Phelps has ever made either of these claims.

Furthermore, that report explicitly acknowledges Phelps drinking problems, and specifically references his arrest for drink-driving. Whatever the book did or didn't do for him, it happened after his drink-driving arrest; it was part of his response to that event.

If you're going to try and debunk claims made in the Christianity forum, it helps to have some basic grasp of what has been said in the first place. Otherwise scepticism is very hard to distinguish from, you know, idiocy.

solodeogloria

gctest50 wrote: »

Just the usual "found god and am all shiny brand new now " stunt ?

Good morning!

In a sense is a Christian made new by Jesus' death and resurrection in this life? Yes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are a new creation in Jesus because of what He has done (not us by our works). Moreover as long as we still believe and trust in the Lord Jesus nothing can separate us from Christ (Romans 8:28) and nothing can pluck us from His hand if we believe (John 10:17).

In another sense we are very much a work in progress. The Holy Spirit makes us mature so we can be presented to Christ perfectly before Him when He returns. (Philippians 1:6). Even Paul says that we wage a war against sin daily in Romans 7. We battle in the flesh and actually become more like Jesus by wrestling through it.

The whole point of Christianity is that Christians are sinners who are saved by grace. We aren't righteous on our own account but by Jesus'. That changes everything. We don't just follow rules to be saved like every other religion I've heard of. No, we live for Jesus freely by love and we grow with His help.

We need to repent daily in the knowledge that Jesus is what saves us not our works. I'm sure that cynical people like you would live to inform me that I've messed up but that isn't the point. Jesus is my Lord and He is my Saviour. The devil is the one who tries to accuse believing Christians that their sin disqualifies them from Christ.

Not Jesus because that isn't Christianity.

Much thanks in the Lord Jesus Christ,
solodeogloria

beach_walker

brian_t wrote: »

As this is the Christian forum it might be a bit more honest to mention that Shives is an atheist.

Yeah, not to mention that pointing at a video and offering nothing of your own is against the charter of most (all?) forums. Well except Cool,Pics and Vids I guess


OT, I read a few chapters on a flight. It's an interesting book but gotta admit it didn't grab me. Well to the extent that I haven't gone after it since.

In a more general sense, it's been interesting to read about various athletes and their faith over the past few weeks though. It's been nice to see them so open about it. We'll leave aside the hystericals reaction to Katie Taylor though (as per four years ago)...

recedite

I wonder if Taylor Chandler read the book.
Maybe the new born-again evangelical Phelps will stay on the straight and narrow Christian path, but I hope it doesn't all come crashing down in a Ted Haggard type moment.

Giacomo McGubbin

recedite wrote: »

I wonder if Taylor Chandler read the book.
Maybe the new born-again evangelical Phelps will stay on the straight and narrow Christian path, but I hope it doesn't all come crashing down in a Ted Haggard type moment.

Two attempted smears in one drive by, very commendable to some I'm sure.
The second one doesn't even have a tenuous link.
The first link says it all "Queerty - Free of an Agenda. Except that Gay one."

recedite

They are only smears if you believe that having a non standard sexuality is a sin. I think we all understand the Ted Haggard context. He's just an extreme version, but we don't even have to look outside this country to see people using an above average level of religious devotion to keep themselves on the straight and narrow. And often they are publicly critical of same sex marriage etc.. (like the pastor who wrote the book)
To quote Shakespeare, "the lady doth protest too much, methinks".
Sometimes its best just to "be yourself".

FrStone

Jamison Muscular Funnel wrote: »

He is so well known I've never heard of him.
For the record...Ive never read any of Warrens books either. I've a "thing" about "how to" books:cool:

Me too.

Well known must have a different definition for some people...

beach_walker

FrStone wrote: »

Me too.

Well known must have a different definition for some people...

Two and a half thousand twitter followers. Not bad, if he doubles that he'll be on par with the pub I was drinking in last night.

Michael OBrien

beach_walker wrote: »

Two and a half thousand twitter followers. Not bad, if he doubles that he'll be on par with the pub I was drinking in last night.

Steve Shives has 50,000+ subscribers/followers on Youtube (which is what I linked to.