Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

I recently watched the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.  The film was thoughtful, entertaining and at times intentionally and sarcastically humorous.  While be no means a comprehensive argument against current evolutionary sciencentific claims, the content none-the-less poses some solid questions.  In an educational system that is unabashadly embracing evolution as truth (rather than a theory with many holes) I appreciated Ben Stein’s attempt to keep the conversation going.

Here’s a trailer of the movie:

Giving Thanks for Light and For Glory

Bethany and I assembled our Christmas tree tonight.  ( A side note: I succeeded last year in selling Bethany on the idea of an artificial tree, so with this year I figure we’ve made up for half of the cost of it over a real tree, and in 2 more years we’ll break even on tree costs. And they look so much nicer. And I’m not afraid our dried out tree will burn the house down.)  Well, the point is I love the lights on the tree. There’s something peaceful about dimming the lights in the house and looking at the light of the Christmas Tree.

So that brings me to what I want to say thank you for.  God, my Father, you have given us your Son, the Light of the world.  I want to thank you publicly for Your Son Jesus, of whom You said:

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:9-13 ESV)

The Incarnation. God, as man, stepped down and walked among us. The light of the world, in the world in the flesh. Light. And not just any light, but a glorious one.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV)

That we have seen Jesus’ glory is God’s grace to us. That we can continue to see his glory continues to be God’s grace to us. Thank you God for your Son Jesus. You allowed me to see His glory, and have given me a new life. By Your grace, may my eyes see again and again, and always be compelled by your glory.

The Illusion of Our Power

I read through the Old Testament book Nahum yesterday and again this morning.  It’s a great reminder to me of God’s bigness and control and involvement in world affairs.

In our churches we focus much on the goodness and mercy of of God.  Nahum acknowledges as much too:

7 The Lord is good,

a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in him…

Nahum’s focus, however, is on God’s judgment of the people and leader of Nineveh.  The same people that Jonah was sent to to preach repentance had, well, un-repented I suppose.  God’s word through Nahum was that the time of mercy had ended, and now because of their wickedness God would wipe them off the map.

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance on his foes

and maintains his wrath against his enemies.

3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power;

the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished…

6 Who can withstand his indignation?

Who can endure his fierce anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire;

the rocks are shattered before him.

This is the same God who I worship, and of whom John says “God is love.”  We must remember that God’s goodness leads not only to mercy, but also to justice.  May we remember as Christians that our hope rests in this God who controls the fate of nations.  May we also remember the fate of those nations who felt God’s wrath because they practiced gross injustice.

Random thoughts from my day off (so far)

So after a long few days preparing and running Operation X, an outreach experience for our student ministry I am taking the first of a few days off. It hasn’t been uneventful however. I’m currently at a Krispy Kremes in Mesa waiting for our Mazda to get fixed.

I went first for a physical and blood work to be included in our adoption paperwork. Fun.

That’s the picture with 2 needle marks.

The first was done by what I now assume is a rookie in the ways of blood drawing. After pushing the needle around for a while she called for relief from a non-rookie (needle still stuck in my arm) to take over.

So this weekend I witnessed some real God-moments in kids lives as the Holy Spirit moved in a worship and prayer session Saturday night.

Just now I got news from my mom that one my sisters is in the hospital. “Coincidentally” I’m just down the road so now I’m more anxious for my car to be ready and to get there before stopping by Queen Creek for a staff photo.

Besides that I’ve been thinking about whether I really, truly care about evangelism the way I should and could. It’s too easy to get caught up in doing things and jobs and realizing that another year has passed and wondering if I’ve really spent my life spreading gospel above all else.

Reflections on an Historic Night

The verdict is in, this marathon of an election that has consumed so much is complete,  and Barack Obama is the President Elect of these United States of America. My emotions are mixed, and although John McCain received my support and my vote, I will take a cue from his gracious exit speech, and focus on my hopes tonight.

I am hopeful for a nation that has selected it’s first African American president. I am hopeful because young people appear to be energized in a political process in greater ways than before. I am happy to live in a nation that allows candidates to battle hard for it’s Presidency, and the winner-elected by it’s citizens- is welcomed and applauded by his supporters, and even his defeated opponent. I am hopeful, even though many of my views differs from his, for my President Elect has succeeded in inspiring a hope about tomorrow for so many that want to believe our nation may have its brightest days ahead.

Mostly I am hopeful, optimistic, and happy to know that “on Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other faith is shifting sand.” So tonight, I will sleep secure and I will do so because I follow a God who is sovereign over all and a Jesus who is the King of Kings (and presidents).

Jesus once said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s, so tonight I applaud the achievement of Barack Obama’s team, and I give God all respect and hope for tomorrow.

At the end of a long war for independence from Britain, in his final communications as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington wrote about this unusual in experiment we the “Citizens of America” are still sharing in today:

They are, from this period, to be considered as the Actors on a most conspicuous Theatre, which seems to be designated by Providence for the display of human greatness and felicity.

Washington believed that the American experiment was a gift to shine a beacon of freedom to the world, and that no other reason but the hand of Providence could explain the unique opportunities the infant nation (or soon to be one) had been granted. I hope America can increasingly be a blessing in our world, but more-so I hope that Christians can be.

Jesus told his followers that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. May God grant to Christians in America increased opportunity to preserve, save, flavor, and lighten this world of ours because of or in spite of or irrespective of these concluded elections.