TO THE EVOLUTIONISTS COURTESY OF DEL TACKETT

I've written about The Truth Project before. I've enjoyed it in our Small Group. But this past lesson, Lesson 5 Part I on science should be required viewing.

It all comes down to design versus randomness. The evolutionists believe the latter. That somehow there was total nothingness, if you can imagine, and then poof! or Big Bang! and there was everything. Or, of course, the beginning of everything, because everything evolved. Into the intricacy, the perfectness that we have in the design of a peacock's feather, Dr. Tackett suggests.

And our solar system, and the stars, and the human body. Randomly created? or as Psalm 19:1-4 states "by the glory of God and the work of His hands."

To my picture of the scrabble letters. He poses the following: how long would it take to drop scrabble letters on a table to get just two lines of Shakespeare, and two short lines at that: "to be or not to be/ that is the question." Once you have that figured out, then where did the paint on the letters come from?

It's really not all that Zen-like, that "what is the sound of one hand clapping." It's just pointing out random is just that. Yet, that is what our leading scientists and universities would have us believe. That the cosmos always existed or it had a beginning. If it always existed then why did the energy behind it not run out as energy does? If it had a beginning, then why does it take less faith to believe it was by design and the Word of God, than by randomness?

Heady stuff. The Crawfords, our hosts for Small Group, offered the final two insights that I'll leave you with. Jim pointed out the law of irreducible complexity which states something can't evolve: it must be complete all along. Lori took the more spiritual path suggesting that God uses technology to reveal more of Himself.

I can't wait for Part II.

SO IS THIS WHAT OTHERS SEE

when they look at me?

I promised a little salt and light discussion. In scripture we're told to be salt and light. We're told that others should see God's glory in us. That others should want what we have; that is, the love of Jesus in our hearts and in our lives.

Then there is I. Two cases in point.

A neighbor of mine drops f-bombs and GD's on me as we talk. Oh, he's pleasant all the while, but his language is punctuated with expletives. I don't know whether to hope it's only with me that he feels that comfortable or if that's his normal conversation with everyone else. Neither thought is comforting. But if it is the former, then why does he unload on me? What does he see in me that makes him think it's acceptable to do that?

My other example comes from the golf course. Once in awhile when my wife and I play golf, we get paired with another twosome. Almost always, they are respectful to her. Most are somewhat surprised at how far she hits her drives, but they are cordial to us both and we generally have a good time.

Once last Summer while playing the course we live on, she bailed after 7 holes to cook supper because I had BSF and had to eat early. I drove her home and returned to play the last two holes. As soon as we got to the tee box, the expletives started. So while they were perfect gentlemen for 16 holes, once my wife was removed from the scene, they relaxed their language--or reverted to their vulgarities.

Again, what made them think I'd approve or tolerate? What did I look like to them? Well, my fear is that I looked no different than a non-Christian. And that's the problem.

I suppose I'm side stepping the issue. If I ignore the f-bomb, which isn't as offensive as the GD or JC to me, I could still address the problem by saying something like,"Man, don't say that around me; I love Jesus." Now I just have to put it into practice.

But will I?

AT THE CROSS

"I wonder if I turn people off when they see my cross?" my wife asked the other day.

"What makes you think that?" was my response. And there's not a day that goes by that she and I don't wear our cross necklaces. I, with one I've had for twenty-five years; she with several. Her favorite is the one we purchased in Israel that shows the grafting in of the Gentiles described in the book of Romans (11:19)

On many occasions I've heard her explain the meaning. What a great chance for her to witness to what the Lord has done. So it really surprised me when she asked if people were turned off by the cross.

She went on,"You know how you are when you see someone wearing a Chicago Cub tee shirt." Just in case that needs explanation, my St. Louis Cardinal allegiance allows no room for anything but dislike for the Cubs. "It might just be the same way for a non-believer who sees my cross."

"I don't think so at all. After all, we're told to be salt and light to the world." But she did get me thinking. "Do people who aren't Christians look at any kind of Christian display and have the attitude, 'just consider the source' and reject on sight?" Not that either of us are worried about rejection of us personally, but we don't want anyone to reject our Lord and Savior.

Rather interesting, this jewelry food for thought. I'll address salt and light more in my next entry. By the way, we're still wearing our crosses.

"YES, I AM COMING SOON"

Jesus' last words. Well sort of. At least that's the last words in red that the Bible attributes to Him.

He had another set of last words from the gospels, "It is finished." (John 19:30).

And He had another set of last words after He was resurrected. "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:20)

Of course, no others would measure up. But I find it interesting to read about others' last words. Many of these come from a tract entitled, "Famous Last Words".

"to die will be an awfully big adventure." Sir James Barrie in Peter Pan.

"called home," penned by Emily Dickinson as she sat at her desk.

"what is the answer?" After not hearing an audible response, she continued, "then what is the question?" Gertrude Stein

"Don' let it end like this. Tell them I said something." Pancho Villa

"I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." George Washington

"And Jefferson still lives." John Adams (they both died on July 4; Jefferson died first)

"I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon." John Newton

"I've never felt better." Douglas Fairbanks

"I am about to--or I am going to--die; either expression is correct." Dominique Bouhours, French grammarian

As Jesus hung on the cross, He exclaimed, "Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46) Several others have used this verse as their dying words. While interesting, what's vitally important is not what one says before dying, but what decision one makes while living.

There's no reason to fear or wonder where you will spend eternity. It's all rather clear. You'll spend it with God or you'll be separated from Him. Take time right now to invite Jesus Christ into your life. Don't delay. We aren't guaranteed time to make peace with God, to plan our last words. It's simply the most important decision you'll ever make.

THEY EVEN HAND RANG THE CHURCH BELL TO SIGNAL THE START OF WORSHIP

This isn't quite the church we attended this Summer while stationed in Coronado. Well, we're not military, though a lot of the town of 23,000 are. And a whole lot more edging up to 1 million population for the Summer months.

There were two churches of our denomination on the island. One had an 11:00 Sunday morning start, much too late for morning folks like us. The other, a church we had tried earlier in the Spring, was not our choice for more than one visit.

So besides the ringing of the bell, what made us choose our Summer church? Nostalgia probably. Certainly along with the study of The Word. Without close attention to scripture, no church would have a chance.

What was nostalgic then? First, it was a beautiful old church built in 1890 by the same designer of the famous Del, the beautiful hotel of Coronado. Steepled, it was just a few blocks off Orange, the main drive of the island. Wood. Pews, sanctuary, stained to perfection, yet with an aged look.

Stain glass behind the alter, a beautiful Bible scene catching early morning sun. Plus, they even had the old wooden attendance plaque on full display announcing attendance numbers, Sunday School numbers that week, visitors from the previous week, and contacts made. It made me think of former Sunday School Director Russell Laur who would announce the figures in worship service and add, "You be in your place next Sunday, and I'll be in mine."

It still worked in Coronado. Along with some good old hymns mixed in with some new ones and special music. Great sermons by different pastors because the lead pastor was on sabbatical.

I'm glad we were led to that church. Sometimes it's good to get some of that old time religion once again.

MY BUDS

at least a lot of them are worried. About the election. About the economy. About their savings.

I would love to say, not me. But even though I know the Matthew verse, "Today has enough worries of its own," I can't completely trust God to provide. Mark that down as a confession. Why can't I? Has He provided for me? Time and time and time again. Have I provided for me? Only through His help.

So if I have His..tory on my side, if I have a biblical world view, if I have trust, then why do I think God needs me to worry?

Or another way to look at it. If God allowed me to have money and it was His plan all along, then if He decides I don't need it anymore, then I should thank Him for blessing me. In both cases. I mean Job taught us that.

Provision, trust, watchful care, the love of the Father. They all come into play. As for me, I'll follow Him. He's a great leader.

WHAT TO DO WHEN WE ARE IN NEED

Oh, to have a genie. Or a Jeannie like the old tv series. But we have so much better, so much more permanent, so much more lasting. We have the Word of God.

Several places in the New Testament answer the question of what we are to do when we are in need. I list just a few with partial reference. Some may well be familiar; some may be new. But I still have a little left-over teacher in me that I don't want to do the telling; I want you to do the searching. So as a former Superintendent of mine used to say, "Have at it."

Heb 4:16 ...approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Luke 11:1-6 ...the Lord's Prayer

Matt 7:7 Ask, seek, knock...

1Thess 5:17...pray without ceasing

Rom 13:14...make not provision for the flesh...

Matt 6:33 seek ye first the kingdom..

James 5:13 is any among you afflicted? Let him pray...

Matt 11:28 come to me...I will give you rest.

Eph 6:10-11...be strong in the Lord...put on the full armor of God...

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ...

This is only a partial list as well. Lean on the Lord. He's there. 24/7.

FORGIVENESS AND THE SHACK

Christian fiction. An oxymoron? To some extent. The Left Behind series, an exception, at least for me. Add to that William P. Young's The Shack.

I know there are many that may disagree. Much comes from the non-biblical portrayal of the trinity in Young's book. The Holy Spirit is given a human form and called Sarayu. Jesus lies on His back with the main character and looks in wonder and awe at the stars. And The Father God is a Black woman who spends much of Her (?) time cooking. I can't reveal anymore. To many, that's probably too much. In fact I considered deleting the trinity part because I'm afraid I may have portrayed Young in a negative, even blasphemous light.

If I did so, it's my fault, not the author's. It's just so difficult to explain how lovingly and trinity-like that they are illustrated in such as unusual, untraditional way. They walk Mack, the main character, through the grieving process. He struggles. They're there.

It's a book about forgiveness. It's a book about acceptance. It's a book I recommend highly.

I wonder if it was coincidence or Providence that the bookmark I picked up and used through my reading was from my daily devotionals that stated Psalm 30:2. "O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." Read the book and see how Mack needed the triune God for that purpose.

REV. BILLY GRAHAM'S PRAYER FOR THE NATION

On the cusp of our nation electing a new President, I thought it only fitting to publish the prayer offered up by Rev. Graham.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it lottery. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen