tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post292111172363190180..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: How Steve Jobs and Christ defeated death and preached the gospelPhil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-8706900340943285862011-10-18T09:30:17.594-07:002011-10-18T09:30:17.594-07:00Got it, thank you. I misread you, sorry. I say wit...Got it, thank you. I misread you, sorry. I say with no sarcasm, when one is ostensibly commenting on a post (as opposed to submitting an independent essay) and begins "I quite disagree...", I think you're talking about the post, yet making the same objection I do!<br /><br />And that does happen.<br /><br />So, thanks, and amen.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-25544942053705449042011-10-18T09:19:06.821-07:002011-10-18T09:19:06.821-07:00DJP, it seems I worded my first sentence to sound ...DJP, it seems I worded my first sentence to sound as if I was disagreeing with you, and for that I apologize. See that my disagreement was with the accolades that Jobs' speech received. That is what I meant to say, if I did not. The first accolade I saw was on the national Nightly News which aired that segment on the day of Jobs' death. Other accolades came from various places, notably Facebook. I <i>did</i> read your entire post. Please see that I was in agreement with you, but was referencing the immediately next line spoken by Jobs, "Everything else is secondary," a line which is commonly neglected in places where Jobs' speech is shared. If I did not make that clear, I sincerely apologize. May I request that you take a closer look at what I wrote in my very first line. Thank you for pointing out my unclear communication.Monty Dicksionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03693458475578352659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-74763462016407185622011-10-18T04:39:53.229-07:002011-10-18T04:39:53.229-07:00Monty... I can't understand how that comment i...Monty... I can't understand how that comment is in any way a response from someone who has read my entire post.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-34521300538287890642011-10-18T00:12:25.206-07:002011-10-18T00:12:25.206-07:00I quite disagree with the accolades given for the ...I quite disagree with the accolades given for the speech by Jobs. Here is why:<br /><br />Re: Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement address, 06/12/2005<br /><br /> Immediately following the quote provided by Dan Phillips/Yurie Hwang, Steve Jobs said, <b>“Everything else is secondary.”</b><br /><br /> Nowhere in his address did he have any advice or mention any consideration for preparation for life’s final period. This is noticeable, given his state of health at the time and his other reflections on death.<br /><br /> It appears that to Jobs, God was a non-issue and a non-entity. I am reminded of the passage from Ephesians 2:12, “without hope and without God in the world.” Such is the picture that we get of Steve Jobs. Yet his focus on self and “life is all there is” philosophy was so highly valued at this prestigious university event.<br /><br /> Further, I point to recent mention in the press that was made which indicates that Buddhism was Jobs' worldview of choice.<br /><br /> Shouldn’t people “believe in themselves”? Sure. But if you’re leaving God out of the picture, you’re going to get to the end of the road, and what will you find there? You’re at God’s front door. And you’re out of time. Your dreams, your aspirations, everything you wanted, everything you ever wanted to become – those are the things that you will find to be, not just <b>secondary</b>, but totally worthless.<br /><br /> Those advocating that the focus of life should be “Believe in yourself” might not believe in God, but that doesn’t mean that one day sooner or later they will not be faced with whether or not their beliefs amount to anything.<br /><br /> God bless Steve Jobs. He said absolutely nothing of any eternal significance, even when he knew that eternity would be his next big event. I find that simply amazing. Unbelievable.<br /><br /> Be alert to “Believe in yourself,” or its variants, such as "listen to your own inner voice." Be aware. Don’t be fooled. When they say “Believe in yourself,” they usually are really saying, “Believe in yourself instead of God.” That’s bad advice – very bad advice.Monty Dicksionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03693458475578352659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-66841393647542285262011-10-14T06:54:32.453-07:002011-10-14T06:54:32.453-07:00Thank you for this thoughtful and biblical post. M...Thank you for this thoughtful and biblical post. My favorite Pyro post in a long time (and that's saying something).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-62325943821267947552011-10-14T04:53:11.886-07:002011-10-14T04:53:11.886-07:00Thank you, Kent.
Sonja, thanks. That is actually ...Thank you, Kent.<br /><br />Sonja, thanks. That is actually an evangelistic tract I wrote for use in door to door evangelism under a pastorate in the mid-eighties. Glad it was a blessing, thanks for saying so.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-23755571919556269212011-10-13T23:34:39.853-07:002011-10-13T23:34:39.853-07:00Dan,
Tremendous observation about the Jobs Stanfo...Dan,<br /><br />Tremendous observation about the Jobs Stanford speech. Excellent thoughts.Kent Brandenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-41746932447324360042011-10-13T20:00:38.191-07:002011-10-13T20:00:38.191-07:00Good stuff and put the prophet into prospective fr...Good stuff and put the prophet into prospective from the media accolades. A talented and creative mind who embraced Buddhism and created a cult of iIdols. <br /><br />DJP, a post of your's from the past that I reread this evening. <br /><br />http://www.bibchr.com/hcikg.html<br /><br />Most excellent. A great resource in many ways. :) Thank you.Sonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12400678595605810974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-62937751387869007382011-10-13T13:48:36.498-07:002011-10-13T13:48:36.498-07:00I loved the "Secular Prophet" article, m...I loved the "Secular Prophet" article, mostly because it validated some suspicions I've had for a long time. I already had that scheduled to go for my Friday Random post, but I'm adding this too. Fantastic follow-up.JGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03116405895683599572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1183564456137558202011-10-13T13:22:02.129-07:002011-10-13T13:22:02.129-07:00I have to agree with Frank... when Dan writes, I&#...I have to agree with Frank... when Dan writes, I'm reading and when Phil preaches I'm listening and when Frank is being who he is... I'm, well, you never know!<br /><br />Excellent post Dan...just a quick point, when I think of all the high praise going to Steve Jobs and some of it was definitely earned, Isaiah 2:22 always come to mind.The Bible Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10950235301070129749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-65981924594439367742011-10-13T12:50:59.582-07:002011-10-13T12:50:59.582-07:00Frank,
I'd say you three all complement each ...Frank,<br /><br />I'd say you three all complement each other very well. I can see what you are getting at, though. That's why I think that both of his books will be extremely well-read. I'm reading and re-reading them both and can't decide which I like better...even though they are totally different styles of writing.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13987985549747283669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-89339001999587156082011-10-13T12:47:30.890-07:002011-10-13T12:47:30.890-07:00Wow. Frank and Stefan are right. Another one of th...Wow. Frank and Stefan are right. Another one of those "waitaminnit, WHAT?!" starts, followed by "ooooh - well what's the real story then?" ended by "Jesus" posts, that I think on again and again.<br /><br />I forwarded it to a friend with a husband at Apple who professes Christ, but has been somewhat sucked in by the culture there and is struggling in his faith. She was thankful to get it.Rachael Starkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10781158372237369417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-75378242309349439392011-10-13T11:29:03.402-07:002011-10-13T11:29:03.402-07:00And this is why I need you to write my book for me...And this is why I need you to write my book for me. Thanks for the masterful insights brother!Yuriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18241662775221669029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-48910769734771829302011-10-13T10:09:18.436-07:002011-10-13T10:09:18.436-07:00"...and I, well, am what I am"-Cent
Ame..."...and I, well, am what I am"-Cent<br /><br />Amen. You are one of the "Team Pyro Three Amigos", and an excellent brother in Christ, with a gift of exhortation and a good writer. <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA1NPaCBIVg&feature=relateddonsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-49934467806453089892011-10-13T09:54:48.032-07:002011-10-13T09:54:48.032-07:00Brilliant, excellent, true.
The mystery is that t...Brilliant, excellent, true.<br /><br />The mystery is that the heart is also aware of the deception, no?<br />Romans 1:19Paul Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04326199469075718169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-72081251566989075222011-10-13T09:15:32.650-07:002011-10-13T09:15:32.650-07:00You know, there are two facts about our blog which...You know, there are two facts about our blog which always seem to fly under the radar:<br /><br />1. DJP is the one who posts most of the highest-viewed post on our blog (he has 5 of the top 10, and and 10 of the top 20 -- he is by far the most persistently linked-back to member of this blog team).<br /><br />2. He is also the one that has "made it" by blogging. Phil made it before blogging, and I, well, am what I am -- and that's not much. DJP's rep is from his stellar insights as a self-published religious essayist.<br /><br />Someone should pick up on that. He's the really talented one. Anyone missing that must have something stuck in their eye.FX Turkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798420127955373559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-8517125119028024162011-10-13T09:14:00.693-07:002011-10-13T09:14:00.693-07:00Wow. Refreshing post.
I have read a number of fl...Wow. Refreshing post. <br /><br />I have read a number of fluffy, beatifications of St. Jobs lately- some from Christians praising him for his passion, drive, creativity, etc. <br /><br />In our consumeristic culture we are quick to heap praise on those who deal us our techie-fix rather than examine the worldview of what we're being fed. <br /><br />Jobs is highly exalted- in this life- simply because people love their IPhones. <br /><br />Christ is highly exalted because He is worthy of it. <br /><br />Oh, death! Where is thy sting!APMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09981769512480371230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-32975779493387709192011-10-13T09:13:21.662-07:002011-10-13T09:13:21.662-07:00Isn't it simply amazing what people will chang...Isn't it simply amazing what people will change and deny in order to avoid changing their minds about Jesus, and denying themselves?DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-17421413254887654912011-10-13T09:09:00.163-07:002011-10-13T09:09:00.163-07:00Well done. Death is quite ugly. A friend of mine j...Well done. Death is quite ugly. A friend of mine just died of stomach cancer. Another friend of mine just lost their second child. Their first they lost in crib-death.<br /><br />Death is a heinous thing indeed. And then there is the death of deaths. <br /><br />And then we have our Lord Jesus Christ, who conquered death. Awesome!<br /><br />As horrible as death is, and Jesus showed us in His own death, eternal life becomes that much more joyous doesn't it!<br /><br />DL Moody said: "Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don't you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now."<br /><br />Thanks for the excellent article/post.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-35704915502375864352011-10-13T08:49:41.628-07:002011-10-13T08:49:41.628-07:00Sorry to be OT here... but I wanted to share James...Sorry to be OT here... but I wanted to share James MacDonald's latest blog post... <br /><br />http://jamesmacdonald.com/blog/?p=9806<br /><br />I can't help but wonder if Luke Mac had a son to father talk after Tom's recent blog post here.<br /><br />/back to SJobs... ;)Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137758239305541715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-32347348470650753912011-10-13T08:44:59.948-07:002011-10-13T08:44:59.948-07:00Dan:
This is a very good reminder of the illusory...Dan:<br /><br />This is a very good reminder of the illusory promises of the world, as against the real promises of God in Christ.<br /><br />You're at your best when you write on how the revealed truths of Scripture bear upon people's lives, and how we should live in light of that knowledge.<br /><br />I could only wish that there were more of these sorts of posts on this blog, since such practical, biblical exhortation serves as a Gospel call to the lost, and points us so directly to our one true Saviour.Stefan Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530690016594029847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-76152642532635465082011-10-13T08:34:47.182-07:002011-10-13T08:34:47.182-07:00Afresh I see that that the logo, the apple with th...Afresh I see that that the logo, the apple with the bite out of it, says more than at first sight.kateghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13870043371240806213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-84444720426955676252011-10-13T08:33:49.463-07:002011-10-13T08:33:49.463-07:00Amen, brother! I said something along the lines of...Amen, brother! I said something along the lines of this in response to a friend posting this quote of Jobs on facebook the other day, and was lashed out at by fellow believers as "being powerful enough to decide who gets into heaven." Um, no, God decides who gets into heaven, and He has gracefully laid out the criteria in His Word. So sad that Christians would rather listen to the pretty lies of the world, than to the holy, all sufficient Word of God.<br />Sigh. Even so, Come Lord Jesus...Allison Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01325048414979646068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-49912446130501945222011-10-13T08:25:52.434-07:002011-10-13T08:25:52.434-07:00Bravo, Dan. I have seen numerous friends on Faceb...Bravo, Dan. I have seen numerous friends on Facebook posting and liking this Jobs quote. While it's tempting to believe that our destinies are concealed in our hearts, and that our intuitions will always lead us to the right decision, those are lies straight from the pit. My former heart of stone led me into much foolishness before it was replaced, and it still tries to drown out the new heart and Spirit I've been given.Colloquisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08530006843488477150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-9860947850611651092011-10-13T07:47:41.423-07:002011-10-13T07:47:41.423-07:00Excellent post, Dan. It is funny that as Jobs dec...Excellent post, Dan. It is funny that as Jobs decries dogma, he is expressing a dogma of his own. Or rather, an ancient dogma that lies behind all evil.Matt Aznoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01886592758527878686noreply@blogger.com