A Beam of Light

As I open the door, a thin beam of light races into the dark cold morning air. It cuts through the darkness with relentless precision and lingers confidently in the chill world. That beams marks a special reality which is taken for granted every single day. Only light creates beams of intense manifestations of itself. Darkness is limited to creeping along in the shadows. Darkness cannot cut through light like a finely honed sword. The reason is that light exists. Light is an emanating reality comprised of actual matter. Darkness on the other hand exists only due to the existence of light. Light requires an understanding of darkness but darkness does not exist on its own. Darkness is nothing and undefined. Darkness flees before light because it is of a different reality. This truth opens some amazing parallels and lessons which I will not further pursue here. But I challenge you to recognize the unique difference between darkness and light.

3 Things Naturalism Can't Provide

Link to article about naturalism.

Sunday School Stories

I realized recently as I was reading the Bible that there is a problem as we grow older. For those who grew up in church, there are distinct memories of many popular Bible stories. We remember Daniel and the lion's den. We can tell you about David and Goliath. We can give you details about many conversations and miracles of Jesus. All of this is exciting and good to both learn and remember throughout our lives. However, there is an important step I feel we tend to miss. We never return to these stories seriously as adults and ask the next level of questions. We may know the story and lessons from the story. Those are excellent and should be recounted. However, we need to further ask why the story was there in the first place. We need to explore why certain stories are next to each other. We need to mine the depths of the relationships and reasons behind the stories chosen. It is imperative that we don't neglect those stories we think we know so well merely because we are not sure what questions we should be asking.

Genre Balance

Let me begin with an example:

Exhibit A:

"Where am I?" Metaphysics says

No question can be asked unless

It has an answer, so I can

Assume this maze has got a plan.

If theologians are correct,

A Plan implies an Architect:

A God-built maze would be, I'm sure,

The Universe in minature.

Are data from the world of Sense,

In that case, valid evidence?

What in the universe I know

Can give directions how to go?

All Mathematics would suggest

A steady straight line as the best,

But left and right alternately

Is consonant with History.

Exhibit B:
For, in the first place, no man can survey himself without forthwith turning his thoughts towards the God in whom he lives and moves; because it is perfectly obvious, that the endowments which we possess cannot possibly be from ourselves; nay, that our very being is nothing else than subsistence in God alone.

I would hazard a guess that as you read each of those exhibits, you did so with different perspective. You automatically saw and recognized that they demonstrated different styles of writing; or genre. You recognize the genres easily and almost unconsciously adapt how you read and understand each genre. However, we as Christians leave this very basic act of reading behind as we approach the pages of Scripture. God has encased His word in a book with many genres of writing. This provides depth and character to the truths contained and makes clear that God is not easily defined. The problem is that we approach the Bible in only one way. Generally we are most familar with the genre of letter in the Bible. Familiarity drives our comfort. Most of us would not feel comfortable reading a modern legal document yet at times it would be vital. The Bible includes genres of many kind; historical, narrative, epic, apocalyptic, letter, poetry, prose, prophetic, biographical and the list continues. Our mistake is usually one of two. We avoid the genres which we can recognize but don't understand or we interpret a genre incorrectly because we don't recognize it. We must all of us become better literary scholars so that our reading of Scripture is more beneficial. I will give two basic questions to ask as you read Scripture.

1.   What style of writing (genre) is this passage?
2.   What about this style of writing is unique and thus impacts how I understand?

I am willing to help you answer these questions up front so that your future readings are more enlightening. Let's not neglect God's word or mishandle it just because God is more creative than we are.

Two Worlds

I was recently reading a book by A.W. Tozer. He expresses in there that every human lives between two worlds. We live in the material natural world and in the spiritual world. While the part of me which enjoys science fiction finds this mental picture enjoyable, the truths are indeed powerful. He uses the illustration of a scaffolding surrounding a cathedral under construction. The scaffolding is our body and the cathedral is our soul. The scaffolding doesn't last long and will be destroyed but the cathedral endures. They physical body is only a temporary structure for developing our understanding and life in the spiritual realm. The problem is that we so often pursue the material world and ignore the reality of a part of us which is eternal and can have lasting communion with God. We must consider the spiritual world more and recognize that it is through that world we must come to God. (God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.)

The Moral Dilemma of Evolution

I recently read an interesting article (blog post) about the difference between the gradistic classification of evolution and the cladistic classification form. I found the debate oddly interesting because of the impetus behind it as such. The struggle for evolutionists regarding animals is the continued existence of supposedly primitive forms of now current species. This of course seems to suggest that while natural selection gave us newer forms, the previous forms were still quite fine to survive just as they were. However, even deeper of a problem is that struggle with race equality that evolution precipitates. It was this issue which gave rise to Hitler and the founder of Planned Parenthood. Of course, thinking evolutionists need to find some way to discourage their view from promoting racism or addressing the lack of intermediary forms coupled with the persistence of primitive forms.
Therefore, they have adjusted their classification method to state that all current forms have evolved equally. Therefore, the most basic fungus or insect is equally evolved as humans and thus every culture is equally evolved but different. While the presentation does not satisfy the missing links, the cause and effect issues, the time concerns, or all the numerous intellectual issues with evolution, it is highly encouraging that those who profess evolution are seeking for moral answers to the broken fabric of their system.

Alphabet Coup

As I "write" these letters, I am fully aware that their rather ideological existence remains largely to serve my need to communicate. It would be quite a surprise if these letters suddenly extricated themselves from the screen and decided on a new order that better suited their interests. Instead, I move them around and place them in an order which I either enjoy or find useful toward some end. For example, with just a few letters, I feel that I have created a witty title which precipitates the concept of this post. I put the letters in a specific order and chose specific letters for that purpose. Thankfully, they remain inanimate and so the idea which I had is communicated to the reader (or if I am lucky; readers).

It is thus amazing that the Bible states that God is the author and perfecter of our faith. The idea of author resonates with my passions and thought process and I immediately think of the above scenario. But is not my life and faith rather similar to that of the letters on this page. In the grand scheme, my existence serves little purpose if not wielded by the master wordsmith. I know the Bible speaks about us as clay, however, if anyone has seen the result of my physical artistry, they would know that the word idea is far more powerful. As life moves sometimes overwhelmingly forward, I cling to the faith and relationship in Christ as my sole source of meaning. I don't see the words which he is writing, but I must recognize my place as a letter (preferably a capital "R") and look forward to reading the story later.

A Deviation From The Norm

I hesitate to write this but felt compelled to state just a very small part of my opinion. I normally avoid political diatribe. However, the recent discussion on gun rights has reminded me of how easily people are misled. Here is the wording of the 2nd Amendment. "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." It is a simple and yet dynamic phrase that is causing much consternation in our nation today. Here is my comments to both sides.

To the gun control people: It is first of all frustrating that you lie to the American people about the use of guns in crimes. The Sandy Hook shooting did not use an "assault rifle." Your use of terms are misleading and improper. If you want to have a discussion, use proper terminology and address the facts. Secondly, remember that this line of text stands for a purpose much greater than hunting and self defense. This country was established upon the will of a people using firearms to compete against the government troops on the field of battle. It was therefore necessary to establish forever that the American public would be able to maintain a force able to combat the governments army. This right was lost long ago as the weapons which the military possesses are far more advanced than anything available to the public. The debate over whether someone can have more bullets is rather menial and thus silly. Let's have a discussion about violence.

To the gun rights people: See my previous comment that your 2nd Amendment rights were discarded long ago. Therefore, save your vitriol to some degree. But again I want to point out that the amendment, while mentioning arms is first and foremost about a well organized militia. What I see in your arguments is more concerned with yourself. First make yourself a well organized militia and then ask for your guns. If you are really concerned with what the amendment is about, you would realize that it is directed to ensure people remember that in unity of mind and discipline of life and body was the revolutionary war won. Quibbling selfishness only undermines your argument. And also, recognize that there is a problem with violence and consider how you can help that problem rather than just your own.

Korean Reminder

As I track the news regarding the current animosity in Korea, I have been reminded of a few things. I first remember my grandfather who served in the military during the Korean Conflict. While we as Americans have forgotten much of the details of that time in history, it remains a constant personal reminder of a man I never knew. However, there is a more important lesson I have learned.

America invested about three years and over thirty thousand lives in this fight. However, much of that has been forgotten already by the general public. About sixty years have passed and the conflict rages in increasing intensity today with the renewed possibility of hostilities. What then was the impact of that sacrifice so many years ago? For what did those men give their lives?

I do not question the conflict nor its impact politically. That is not my area of expertise nor intent. What I do realize is that our lives are precious and dedicated to something each and every day. The question we must face each day is the worth of our goals and endeavors. Will the energy we expend each day matter for something important? We exhaust ourselves on all sorts of things. But is our effort going to a cause which will last the test of time and stand worthwhile against the backdrop of eternal history?

Only that which directs glory to God will stand against the abrasive and destructive power of time and perpetuity. As the old hymn aptly said, "Only one life twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." Any war of human creation whether actual war or our own battles for personal achievement will ultimately fall as worthless endeavors.

We See What We Want

Have you ever purchased a car or looked at a car you truly desire. After the obtaining or realization, you then make a new discovery. As you drive around town, you begin to see that particular car more frequently. Once we become aware of a specific car and see it every day or think about it, we more easily spot it through the thousands of cars we pass each day. This phenomenon is due to the fact that our brains filter out true perception of things we don't actually want to see or pay attention to.

This becomes true in many aspects of life and I have been recently challenged to explore the ramifications. If I more actively realize that God is at work in my life providing opportunities for the gospel and thankfulness will I not see the blessings more readily. If my mind is more actively thinking on things which are eternal or from God, will I not more consistently see God at work through the many details of life. If my brain can see every Chevy Camaro that passes me by, can I not see God at work in the details of my life?

A Reminder of Reasonableness

This past weekend, I happened to catch a documentary on PBS concerning the popularity of Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The main questions the producers asked were "Why is Hamlet popular?" and "Is Hamlet still relevant?" However, since I am odd, I picked up on a completely unrelated point which quite fascinated me.

Hamlet is of course one of the most quoted plays although many people may not realize what they are quoting. "To be or not to be" remains a famous quote and the full line is well known for what is essentially English literature. But the question is, was that actually what Shakespeare wrote? In the documentary, they mentioned that there are only a few copies of the text of Hamlet which are relatively close to the time of its writing around 1600. Yet each of these copies present significantly different texts including that famous line. Even Wikipedia mentions this conundrum; "Three different early versions of the play are extant, the First Quarto (Q1, 1603), the Second Quarto (Q2, 1604), and the First Folio (F1, 1623). Each version includes lines, and even entire scenes, missing from the others."

This sort of discontinuity becomes very interesting when held up next to the text of Scripture. While Hamlet, written about 1600, has two or three copies which are vastly different, the New Testament was written about 100 and has thousands of old copies and pieces. If you examine the age and quantity of the copies of the Bible, you will realize that the textual evidence of a consistent record of the Bible is overwhelming. Lee Strobel spends a whole chapter in his work The Case For Christ dedicated to explaining how we know the record of Scripture we have today is amazingly close to what was actually recorded.

This fact is no mere trivia tidbit. The Bible claims to be written by eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ. It is important that we as Christians are able to effectively argue that the Bible represents a reliable witness of eyewitness testimony. From that point forward, many other details can be argued with greater surety.

The more I read and study, the more I realize that our faith, while still faith, can be measured and tested by the facts. The Christian faith is intellectually reasonable and consistent. While I have never argued these points in order to win someone over, they are beneficial points to learn for personal growth. Every Christian should ask the questions and find the answers for themselves. Then you will be ready to answer the questions when someone else asks you.