Merry Christmas (4th Day 97)

Today we celebrate God's incomprehensible plan to save us from eternal death, a plan in which His Love is so magnificent that He gave Himself for us. Today is rememberance of the start of that Journey of Love that started in Bethlehem and was completed on Calvary.

All praise to God Most High; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Merry Christmas,
Bill
WV88

Judge Rules Against 'Intelligent Design'

Judge Rules Against 'Intelligent Design'

The problem with people who become renowned in their area of specialty is that they begin to believe they are experts in everything else. Most times that is not the case. For example, being a judge may make someone believe they are an expert on the law because they have been given power to interpret and apply the law. But it does not necessarily make them an expert in other things, such as science.

There has been a recent decision by U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III in Pennsylvania that mentioning "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolutionary theory is trying to inject religion into science classes. He therefore barred a Pennsylvania school district from mentioning "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolutionary theory. The Washington Post reported the judge’s ruling containing a scathing opinion that criticized local school board members … for their "breathtaking inanity" in trying to inject religion into science classes.

All of a sudden, this expert on the law has become an expert on science.

First of all, we have to ask, “What is religion?” According to Dictionary.com, religion is defined as follows:

• Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
• A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship
• The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
• A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
• A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

While Intelligent Design presents the existence of a supernatural creative force as the explanation for order in the universe, I wouldn’t quite call it a “religion” (at least by the definition above). “Intelligent Design” does not promote rules of behavior normally associated with recognized religion; it does not even acknowledge a specific god; it doesn’t even call this creative force God. It does not display reverence for a supernatural power any more than the Darwinists “worship” evolution as the only correct answer.

While science is based on things observable, if something is not observable, does that mean it doesn’t exist? Science has proven not. Magnetism, gravity, and nuclear forces are not observable in themselves, but their effects are. Therefore, these forces are determined to exist.

What of scientific theories that conflict with other scientific principles or observations? Entropy, a scientific principle, is defined as: a measure of the disorder or randomness in a closed system; the tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity; inevitable and steady deterioration of a system. Evolution proposes just the opposite. Evolution proposes random chance has caused order to occur that creates diverse life forms. Entropy and evolution don’t quite agree. Entropy says things should become disordered and evolution says they should become ordered.

When the universe exploded into existence, the most probable thing to happen would have been for the universe to continue to become random and dispersed, not ordered to such complexity as to cause life. Evolution is illogical.

I think if Judge Jones was being truly honest, he would just say he prefers his religion over that of the Intelligent Design group. You see, atheism is a religious position as vehemently fought for and defended as any religion that acknowledges God or gods. Ruling that you can present one set of beliefs (atheism) and forbid another (theism) by calling it “religion” is the epitome of hypocrisy. If the Intelligent Designer of the universe did happen to present himself, herself, itself visibly to the world, wouldn’t Judge Jones feel really stupid?

(Note: My reference to evolution is to macro-evolution or trans-species evolution, not adaptive evolution within species.)

If you love me (4th Day 85)

Last night on the History Channel there was a show about the ancient prophets of Israel and Judah. The prophets, to include Moses, Micah, Isaiah, Ezra, and others, all prophesized the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel because the Israelites failed to keep God’s commandments. (At least that was the common theme until I dozed off.) Every prophesy was fulfilled.

I thought about this and how it seemed unlike the God we Christians profess. It bothered me that God would punish those whom He loved, yet failed to keep His Commandments. Didn’t He realize humans were imperfect and could never keep His Law? Christianity teaches us that we are redeemed through the Blood of Christ and that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. We are saved by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone. Period. (Or at least that’s God’s promise to us.)

I thought about why God would give us such Commandments and make keeping them a condition of his favor. I thought more about the Commandments themselves. Each Commandment describes what we should do to have a right relationship with others and with God. The Commandments, if kept, are an assurance of an enhanced life, an abundant life. For in keeping God’s Commandments, we find fulfillment, peace, happiness, gladness, satisfaction.

Then I thought about something Jesus said. He said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) In Exodus and Deuteronomy, God associated keeping His commandments with loving Him. “…those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Deuteronomy 5:10)

What God is telling us is that by keeping His commandments, we are showing that we love Him. Does that mean if we fail to keep all of them, God thinks we don’t love Him? Certainly not! God sees into our hearts and knows our weaknesses and frailties. It’s our trying that pleases God, because in trying we are showing what’s in our heart. It’s in not trying that we disrespect God.

And is keeping the Commandments only enough? No! We must love God first. When the rich young man confronted Jesus about how to get eternal life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus was telling the young man that he had to love God first; to love God before anything else.

So, why did Israel get into so much trouble because they failed to keep God’s commandments? First, they failed to follow good advice. But more importantly, they turned away from God; they stopped loving Him. God didn’t abandon them. They turned away from Him; they abandoned Him; they lost His Presence among them and His protection.

The good news is that God never stopped pursuing His people. And God will never stop pursuing us. As we move through this Advent season and anticipate Christmas, let’s think on how God has continued (and continues) to pursue us. Let’s return our Love to Him as a child to a Father.

God Bless you.

De Colores,
Bill

He isn't a Tame Lion (4th Day 81)

I took my son to see The Chronicles of Narnia today and am more than thrilled with the movie. It followed the book perfectly and truly represented what I had visualized when I read the book years ago. I strongly recommend you to see it.

Many movies based on books never do the book justice, but in this case, the movie was dead on. I read an article based on an interview with C.S. Lewis' stepson, who was involved in the production of the movie. He said that they were very careful to create a visual impact that would be exactly as described in the book; he said he wanted it to be as he imagined it when he read the book.

If you are a Narnia fan, you won't be disappointed. If you know nothing of the seven books of the Narnia chronicles, you'll find it to be a wonderful and gracious story. Don't miss this wonderful story.

De Colores,
Bill
WV88

Except through Christ (4th Day 80)

Dear brothers and sisters,

I promised a couple days ago to write to you about C.S. Lewis, especially since The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie (the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia) opens on Friday in theaters.

Let me start by saying that if you have never read the entire Chronicles, I strongly encourage you to do so. Of course, I like fantasy and the Chronicles are fantasy at its best; they are not just children’s stories. I hope the movie is true to the story and does it justice, though no movie can ever capture the imagination like a good story read or told.

But what I want to talk about is C.S. Lewis’ view on a certain subject. I really don’t know how to describe what I’ve observed without the risk of being totally wrong, but I’ll try. I believe that Lewis believed in a God that is merciful beyond bounds and never gives up on His creatures. Lewis seems to be saying in several of his writings that God will go to almost any limit to forgive and reconcile us to Him, even beyond death. (That’s the tricky part!)

I noticed it first in one of the later books in the Narnia series. (I won’t provide too many details because I don’t want to spoil any part of the story.) It was when Aslan confronted a declared enemy and said (as well as I can remember), “Though you didn’t know me, you kept my commandments; you did my Will.” When I first read this, it made me think of God’s mercy extended toward non-Christians. Not non-believers or unbelievers, but those who have never been exposed to Christianity.

The second time I came across this notion was reading The Great Divorce where Lewis is more obvious that he believes God extends his mercy to the unconverted even after death. Unfortunately though, most of the non-believers still refuse God’s grace, even when confronted with it face-to-face.

Lastly, in Chapter 5 of Book Two of Mere Christianity, Lewis makes the statement, “But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him.”

I, too, have wondered about this. Jesus told us that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. That’s the details of God’s plan for redemption.

Jesus also told us that He is the way and the truth and the life—no one comes to the Father except through Him. Surely, if we disbelieve Jesus and have no faith in Him, we are condemned. We have made a conscious decision to reject Jesus. But what of those who do not know Him, for whatever reason, but keep God’s law that is written on every person’s heart? I don’t know and it is not for me to know. However, when Jesus said, “no one comes to the Father except through me,” wasn’t He establishing Himself as the Judge of all mankind, and as Judge, He will ensure justice and mercy?

I don’t have the answers, but I do ponder the question. There are people I pray for almost every day that they will come to Christ. I know that I cannot bring them to Christ, only the Holy Spirit can do that. However, I am commanded to pray for others, and I do not need to know the logic or reasoning for that; I need only to obey.

Christ is the Judge. He is the perfect Judge! He will judge each and every person according to the condition of their heart. There are multitudes that have better, cleaner hearts than I do. But I know my salvation is secure because of God’s promise, His covenant with me through the Blood of Christ.

As you grow in your Faith, think on these things. You may not ever feel you know the answer. You may not ever find the answer. But consider what God has revealed about Himself to us and be content with knowing that God is Perfect! These unanswered questions are only for God to answer, but in searching for the answers, we discover Truth as God reveals it to us.

Blessings!

De Colores,
Bill
WV88

Saint Nicholas (4th Day 79)

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Today, December 6th, is the Feastday of St. Nicholas, or St. Nicholas Day. In Germany (and most of Europe), the tradition is that on this day children would leave their shoes outside on the doorstep. Soon, St. Nicholas would come by and fill their shoes with candy if they had been good, or coal if they had been not so good.

You can follow the link above and this link to find our more about the historic St. Nicholas: St. Nicholas-Catholic Online

Such traditions are wonderful and call us to remember the heritage of the Church.

De Colores,
Bill
WV88

Out of Egypt (4th Day 78)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I want to share with you a wonderful book. It is Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice. You may be familiar with Anne Rice for her fictional writings of the supernatural about witches and vampires. One of her books, Interview with the Vampire, was made into a movie staring Tom Cruise.

Her latest book is about the unrecorded years of Jesus as a child of age seven, beginning with his family's return from Egypt to Galilee. (If you remember, an angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod's murder of all children under two.) It is a wonderful story of the child Jesus. To say any more will spoil it for you. You must read it, but first you should read the Author's Note at the end of the book.

The Author's Note is Anne Rice's story of renewal as she does the research for the book. Again, you must read it for yourself. I will say though, that like Lee Strobel in The Case for Christ and even C.S. Lewis (and even Saul of Tarsus), Anne shares with them a common experience of disbelief and is later convinced beyond faith in the authenticity of Jesus.

I say beyond faith because those of us who believe by faith will always dismiss the arguments of skeptics and the non-believers, no matter how convincing. But when someone confronts the unbelievers with facts and critical analyses that would be demanded of any other historical claim, and finds that Christianity withstands such challenges and more, it is joyous to hear that our Lord vanquishes all.

And since I have mentioned C.S. Lewis, let me save for next time discussing the phenomenon of the renewed interest in The Chronicles of Narnia as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe hits the theater this Friday.

In remembrance of me (4th Day 77)

Today was a good day! Being the first Sunday of the month, we had Communion at worship today. My wife and I were servers of the bread and wine. It is one of my favorite things to do, to serve the Communion.

Jesus said to do this "in remembrance of me." What does that mean? It's more than just remembering Jesus--we think of Him all the time--it's re-experiencing Him and what happened on that last Passover meal. It's reliving it. This is my body given for you...this is my blood...poured out for many...

In this second week of Advent, remember Jesus and anticipate His return, as well as His arrival.