Another CC Classic

Agnostic Poster

So as not to leave out the agnostics,

I have created this poster.

The OTHER Eddie Eddings

These albums, I have recently posted, are my father's. He was the original "Eddie" Eddings. He was an extremely gifted musician. He could play piano, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or guitar. I idolized him as a child. He wrote songs recorded by many country western stars including, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Earnest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely, among others. He was a talented singer as well, and had a promising career. But he was also an alcoholic and an agnostic. He mocked the faith and turned from a larger-than-life personality into a demon-possessed wife-beater. I have very few good memories of him during my childhood. But, I loved him.
My mother divorced him when I was ten. My first step-father was an atheist, the next step-father, a man by the name of Beau Deal, believed the Bible was true, although he didn't live it himself. (We actually smoked marijuana together one evening) I was a rock musician by then, and my drug of choice was LSD. God used Beau and my mother, who no longer agreed with the atheism of my former step-dad,  to point me in the right direction. One evening, I came home, after taking way too much LSD, and couldn't control my mental state. While I was being carried off by paramedics, he placed an old Bible in my hands. I, of course, couldn't read in my mind-warping condition but, the pictures I could understand. I hadn't seen that Bible since my grandmother used to tell me of the stories - using the same paintings - of Jesus and His virgin birth, sinless life, death and resurrection. I gripped that Bible and wouldn't let go as I stayed up all night in the hospital going through demonic hallucinations.
When God saved me months later, I visited my dad, who lived on the north side of Houston, Texas. I gave my testimony of saving grace while I saw his visage change to a hatred that had always scared me. I was shaking, literally.
Years passed, and as I grew in the Lord, I was no longer afraid of him. I witnessed to him many times after that, as did others. As far as I know, he remained an agnostic till the day he died.
I spoke at his funeral and shared the Gospel with everyone there. I could see many country western musicians who attended who had the same problems.
His music is now being found on several CD's and rockabilly blogs. I just wanted to share a little about his life. I wasn't there the day he died. I visited him a few days before and shared the Gospel for the final time. I do miss him.

Philosophy in need of a Physician

A Letter from Richard Dawkins-Skeptic

Hi Eddie,

First, let me point out that I have a hyphenated name. "Dawkins-Skeptic", after my mother who married Ludloe T. Skeptic thirty some-odd years ago. (Fact is, every other year was odd, being numbered and all). I am not the infamous atheist. I work at Burger King.

Second, we met once in Wal-Mart in the light bulb section and you gave me your blog card.

Anyway, I am unabashedly, a fan of yours, and I, for one, and "Tea for Two", would like to know if you eat some kind of brain-food to help with your humor. If so, please let me know so I can avoid eating it.

A full-time 5-Pointer,

Richard Dawkins-Skeptic

Dear Richard,

How generous of you to admit that you are "unabashedly a fan."

The next time I run into you it will be my pleasure to give you a good bashing, once and for all.

I am a long-time dependent on unnatural foods, I naturally attribute to them my unnatural strength, unnaturally magnetic appeal and unnatural sense of humor.

I find it amusing that God predestined me to be an theist-turned atheist-turned agnostic-turned Christian/Arminian-turned Christian/Calvinist. Being a Calvinist, I actually have more freedom to enjoy the life God has granted me and humor is a big part of my being.

Thanks for writing.

Eddie

The Bankruptcy of Atheism

Jack: Hey Ben, heard you got religion!
Ben: Well, not really...Jesus saved me and gave me a new life.
Jack: You gotta be kidding, man! There is no God!
Ben: Could I ask you a question?
Jack: Sure, go ahead.
Ben: Do you happen to know everything?
Jack: No dude, and neither do you!
Ben: You're right. But, what percent of TOTAL knowledge do you possess? Ten percent?
Jack: C'mon, man...no one has that much. I just read where scientists believe that we are on the fringe of knowledge. So, I know, like a small percentage of a portion of less than one percent!
Ben: Okay, let's just say you know ONE percent of EVERYTHING there is to know in the universe.
Jack: All right...for arguments sake...
Ben: Well, is it possible that God could exist outside your one percent of total knowledge?
Jack: Yes, theoretically, yes...
Ben: You're a most remarkable atheist then. Two minutes ago, you stated that there was no God, and now you say that it is possible there is one. Why don't you make up your mind?

(two days pass and Jack and Ben meet again - this time Jack has a friend with him)

Jack: Hey Ben, been thinking about our conversation. I think I used the wrong term. I'm not really an atheist. I'm an agnostic!
Ben: Congratulations!
Jack: You like that?
Ben: Yes, that's a lot better. You're in a stronger position because you are telling the truth - you just don't know! By the way, what kind of agnostic are you?
Jack: Are there different kinds of agnostics?
Ben: Yes, among agnostics there are two main denominations, the ordinary agnostic and the ornery agnostic.
Jack: What do you mean by that crack?
Ben: The ordinary agnostic claims, "I don't know there is a God or not!" but the ornery one says, "I don't know, you don't know, nobody knows, and nobody will ever know!" If you say you know that I don't know then I will ask you how you know that I don't know!
Jack: Look man, I quit right there! I'm just a plain, ordinary agnostic. Julian Huxley was a brilliant scholar, and he was an agnostic!
Ben: Granted, Huxley was a brilliant expert in his field, in biology. But, how could any man be brilliant in agnosticism, which means "not knowing"... I just took a course in hermeneutics. Do you know what hermeneutics is? No? Does your friend know what hermeneutics is? No? Neither of you know? Then which of the two of you is more brilliant in not knowing hermeneutics?
Jack: Man, I gotta go. We'll talk more later.
Ben: Sure, later on.