So I was watching a show tonight on PBS. It was about the argument between Intelligent Design and Evolution. I have heard Darwin's theory many times but each time I hear it explained again it baffles me that people don't see evolution is as much faith based as religion.
If evolution is true and man came from monkeys and monkeys from other species that were brewed from some primordial soup that was brewed over billions of years after rocks in space collided, the question still stands, where did the rocks come from? Is there not faith involved in believing "in the beginning rocks"? I know faith is involved in "in the beginning God".
Now when you talk about Evolution, creation or not you have to admit that Evolution takes place. However there are two types of evolution. Micro and Macro. Micro Evolution takes place all the time. Micro Evolution means a change among species. For example during times of drought birds beaks will change sizes to gain access to water in hard to reach places. Macro Evolution on the other hand means a species can change completely. For example monkeys changing into humans over millions of years. Micro Evolution is seen all the time. However Macro Evolution has never been seen by humans. That is why it remains a theory. Sure I believe that birds beaks change during droughts. But I don't believe that birds evolved into dogs or cats.
What do we do with this information. So often we want to argue about it. However scripture does not call us to aimlessly argue about our faith. We are to defend it yes, but for what purpose do you defend your faith? Do you defend your faith out of anger for their disbelief or for sadness of their disbelief. Do you preach because you want them to experience, see and taste that Christ is infinitely more valuable than anything else?
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
the Trinity
I understand the Trinity a little more now. This past Sunday while preaching I explained that the Trinity was one of those things that I don't think we are really capable of completely grasping while here on earth.
I found myself again watching a John Ortberg video on the Internet. Here's the link
http://www.johnortberg.com/videoserver/video.php?clip=ortbergT1067
In this short video Ortberg talks about the Trinity and he refers to it as the "power of shyness." What he pointed out was each member of the Trinity points to another member. It is funny to think of shyness that way. We usually simply refer to shyness as a self centered thing. But the Trinity expresses shyness by pointing to one another. The Spirit points to Jesus in John 15:26, when the Spirit comes he will testify about Jesus. In John 8:54 Jesus takes the spotlight off of himself and points it to the Father. And when we see God in the Gospels, at Jesus' baptism and at the transfiguration, God points to Jesus. He says this is my Son who I am well pleased, listen to him.
All the members of the Trinity pointing to and glorifying one another.
Who are you pointing to? Who gets your praise?
I found myself again watching a John Ortberg video on the Internet. Here's the link
http://www.johnortberg.com/videoserver/video.php?clip=ortbergT1067
In this short video Ortberg talks about the Trinity and he refers to it as the "power of shyness." What he pointed out was each member of the Trinity points to another member. It is funny to think of shyness that way. We usually simply refer to shyness as a self centered thing. But the Trinity expresses shyness by pointing to one another. The Spirit points to Jesus in John 15:26, when the Spirit comes he will testify about Jesus. In John 8:54 Jesus takes the spotlight off of himself and points it to the Father. And when we see God in the Gospels, at Jesus' baptism and at the transfiguration, God points to Jesus. He says this is my Son who I am well pleased, listen to him.
All the members of the Trinity pointing to and glorifying one another.
Who are you pointing to? Who gets your praise?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Getting Over myself
Isn't it all about me? I know it is not but sometimes I really feel my thoughts and actions reflect that. When I was younger my Mom would always say that my biggest problem was "I acted before thinking." It has taken me this long to fully understand this problem. Back then she simply meant I needed to stop saying and doing foolish things. But there was and is something much deeper at the root. I spoke and acted quickly because I thought little about others and even less about God the Father.
My selfishness has switched from hurting peoples feelings at a young age and into self righteousness. I wrongly think people owe me things and I even more wrongly think God owes me things. I am faithful. I attend Church. Heck, I am a church leader! I give lots of my time weekly to bible studies and church meetings. Is it too much to ask for something as simple as a truck that works?
Here is the truth. I don't even deserve an answer to that question. But the faithful God of the Universe answered me. He said that you were not created to simply lead Bible studies or even to drive trucks that worked. I was created to worship. And Christ came to earth and suffered much so that we would be able to glorify God! (Romans 15:8-9) You see it is not about us. We want it to be, but it is not. It is about God!
My selfishness has switched from hurting peoples feelings at a young age and into self righteousness. I wrongly think people owe me things and I even more wrongly think God owes me things. I am faithful. I attend Church. Heck, I am a church leader! I give lots of my time weekly to bible studies and church meetings. Is it too much to ask for something as simple as a truck that works?
Here is the truth. I don't even deserve an answer to that question. But the faithful God of the Universe answered me. He said that you were not created to simply lead Bible studies or even to drive trucks that worked. I was created to worship. And Christ came to earth and suffered much so that we would be able to glorify God! (Romans 15:8-9) You see it is not about us. We want it to be, but it is not. It is about God!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Quick thought about the Lord's Prayer
I was recently listening to a sermon by John Ortberg and he was talking about the Lord's Prayer. One of the things he was saying is that "we often say things so often and so quickly that we don't pay attention to what we are saying." I agree. We all know the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." There is more to it, but I wanted to stop there.
What was revealed to me was that I should not live this life the way I so often do! I find myself in a circumstance and I say to myself "man I can't wait for God to come back so this will be over." But scripture clearly states "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We should not be saying I can't wait for Christ to return simply because we don't like our situation. We can long for Christ's return, yes! But while we are on earth, our prayer should be what it is far too less. Our prayer should be God bring your Kingdom to earth, now.
God your Kingdom is void of pain, of suffering, no racism, lust free. God our prayer as your children is that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father usher your Kingdom from Heaven to Earth through the Church.
Are you ready? When you prayer the Lord's Prayer do you really believe His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
What was revealed to me was that I should not live this life the way I so often do! I find myself in a circumstance and I say to myself "man I can't wait for God to come back so this will be over." But scripture clearly states "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We should not be saying I can't wait for Christ to return simply because we don't like our situation. We can long for Christ's return, yes! But while we are on earth, our prayer should be what it is far too less. Our prayer should be God bring your Kingdom to earth, now.
God your Kingdom is void of pain, of suffering, no racism, lust free. God our prayer as your children is that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father usher your Kingdom from Heaven to Earth through the Church.
Are you ready? When you prayer the Lord's Prayer do you really believe His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Dedicated
I finished reading a biography on William Wilberforce a short time ago. Christian biographies are something that always minister to my soul. If you do not make it a habit to pick up a Christian biography every once in a while, I strongly recommend it. This particular one, “Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce” by John Piper was a gift from my mother-in-law.
For those of you who have never heard of the man, Wilberforce served on Parliament in England from the late 1700s into the early 1800s. Wilberforce was a champion of the faith and saw to it that one of the cruelest enterprises known to man was put to an end in his home country of England. I am of course referring to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Wilberforce however did not see this enterprise ended over night. He felt convictions from the Father early in his life as a believer and saw them out, shortly before his death. Wilberforce dedicated more than half his life to the abolishment of the slave trade and slavery itself. But how did such a man make such a difference, to change the course of an entire nation?
A verse that personifies Wilberforce is Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Wilberforce was convinced that no man had the right to be idle. Upon giving his life to Christ as a young adult, Wilberforce sought to leave Parliament to “dedicate his life to the Lord” by becoming a minister. Thankfully he sought the advice of a very famous theologian John Newton. Newton advised him that his talents could be used by God in the public life. Wilberforce stayed in Parliament but did not function as the other members. Wilberforce knew something that most did not know then, and many still do not know today; if you are in Christ there is no such thing as a secular job. That means as a child of God, all the things you do are done for the Kingdom.
What is it you are doing for the Kingdom? We don’t all have to run out and become ministers (though some should). Most of us need to minister right where we are! Perhaps Wilberforce may have enjoyed more a life of being compensated for studying and preaching scripture, but that was not God’s plan and Wilberforce accepted that. He dedicated and used his status in Parliament to change the course of history for the Kingdom and for his Father God.
There was no easy answer for Wilberforce. The question I am sure he asked was, “How do carry myself in Parliament unto the glory of God?” But he kept asking, and what God revealed to Wilberforce was that he was not put into Parliament to make laws, but to eradicate laws that were offensive to God.
What is your job and whose glory are you doing it unto?
For those of you who have never heard of the man, Wilberforce served on Parliament in England from the late 1700s into the early 1800s. Wilberforce was a champion of the faith and saw to it that one of the cruelest enterprises known to man was put to an end in his home country of England. I am of course referring to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Wilberforce however did not see this enterprise ended over night. He felt convictions from the Father early in his life as a believer and saw them out, shortly before his death. Wilberforce dedicated more than half his life to the abolishment of the slave trade and slavery itself. But how did such a man make such a difference, to change the course of an entire nation?
A verse that personifies Wilberforce is Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Wilberforce was convinced that no man had the right to be idle. Upon giving his life to Christ as a young adult, Wilberforce sought to leave Parliament to “dedicate his life to the Lord” by becoming a minister. Thankfully he sought the advice of a very famous theologian John Newton. Newton advised him that his talents could be used by God in the public life. Wilberforce stayed in Parliament but did not function as the other members. Wilberforce knew something that most did not know then, and many still do not know today; if you are in Christ there is no such thing as a secular job. That means as a child of God, all the things you do are done for the Kingdom.
What is it you are doing for the Kingdom? We don’t all have to run out and become ministers (though some should). Most of us need to minister right where we are! Perhaps Wilberforce may have enjoyed more a life of being compensated for studying and preaching scripture, but that was not God’s plan and Wilberforce accepted that. He dedicated and used his status in Parliament to change the course of history for the Kingdom and for his Father God.
There was no easy answer for Wilberforce. The question I am sure he asked was, “How do carry myself in Parliament unto the glory of God?” But he kept asking, and what God revealed to Wilberforce was that he was not put into Parliament to make laws, but to eradicate laws that were offensive to God.
What is your job and whose glory are you doing it unto?
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