I have been reading the book Kisses from Katie, a book about a girl who moved to Uganda right after graduating high school to teach preschool and ended up choosing to live there for the rest of her life. She has started her own non-profit that sponsors children and she has adopted 14 girls. She has a ministry to women in the slum and feeds over 1800 children each day so that they can go to school. Her home is always open. In her book she told this story that touched me so deeply...
Katie's girls haven't been able to get over their habit of playing with trash. Even though they have a number of toys to play with, they insist on picking through the garbage to find things to play with...things like old toilet paper rolls, used strings of floss, medicine bottles, etc. One day, Katie looked out and noticed that the bush in the back yard was covered with trash. She went out to see what was going on, and her daughter excitedly asked her if she wanted to buy things from her "store". She proceeded to pick up some stones to use as money to buy these pieces of garbage that her daughter saw as treasures.
Even though I am often so blind to my depravity and need for God, I was truly like a piece of trash without Jesus. I didn't do anything to deserve attention or love from God. But I am so thankful that he sees so much differently. When he looks at me, he does not see a piece of trash. Only he could pick me up and make a treasure out of me. It is only his love that would actually choose to become the payment that would secure a relationship with me. When I see garbage in me, he sees treasure. He sees potential. He sees love.
I want to see the way He sees.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Faith and the Origins of the Universe
For my English class, I had to write a paper and submit it for publication...what better place than a blog?! So here it is:
“People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive” (Pascal, qtd. in Goodreads). This is the reality that we face in our understanding of the origin of the universe. Pascal’s statement has been proven in both science and religion. While science is constantly seeking to prove theories of the origin of life, the core question about how life began remains a mystery. Therefore, beliefs must develop out of fascination for a particular theory of the origins of life. Since scientists readily admit that no one can know for sure how life began and believers in a divine being have little scientific proof for him, it is clear that all scientific or religious conclusions must be based on faith. With this in mind, we ought to be wary of dismissing altogether the possibility of intelligent design.
No matter how much evidence seems to exist, even prominent Darwinists willingly admit that no one knows how life began. The well known scientist in the world of Darwinism, Richard Dawkins, admits this (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed). Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society, says of intelligent design that “it is unproven, so in that sense it’s nonsense” (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed). Unfortunately for Shermer, even Darwin himself admits that, “Science as yet throws no light on the far higher problem of the essence or origin of life” (qtd. in Today in Science History). In Sheremer’s reasoning, science also provides a nonsensical way of explaining the origins of life.
In his article on science and religion, Gregg Easterbrook provided evidence of the growing importance of intelligent design to science. He revealed how scientists are becoming increasingly open to the idea of the spiritual aspect to the origin of the universe, stating that, “many scientists are reaching out to spiritual thinkers to help them comprehend what they're learning” (Easterbrook). After briefly presenting the beliefs of Georges Lemaître, Edwin Hubble, and other cosmologists, he made the statement that, “Nobody knows beyond foggy conjecture what caused the big bang, what (if anything) was present before that event, or how there could have been a prior condition in which nothing existed” (Easterbrook).
Before moving any further, let us consider what scientific knowledge is. Why should we trust scientific explanations more than religious explanations? What are the processes that scientists use to form theories on the origins of the universe, and are those processes absolutely reliable? According to Aristotle, scientific knowledge is obtained when we know “the cause why the thing is, that it is the cause of this, and that this cannot be otherwise” (“Aristotle’s Logic”). Since we cannot prove with absolute confidence what caused life, we cannot have scientific knowledge, as defined by Aristotle, regarding universal origins. There has not yet been a scientist who has been able to successfully prove what the cause of life is, that it is the cause of life, and that this cannot be otherwise. That is why scientists formulate theories. That is why there are multiple theories.
Many scientists have rejected intelligent design as a legitimate option for years. All people searching out the answer for the question of how life began in the first place, however, must face the possibility that there was a designer. But, why should they even give that possibility the time of day? To say that there is a designer is to step out of science and into the supernatural. This reasoning is what has caused the separation between science and religion. They are thought of as two separate entities and two different ways of thinking. In order to accept the concept of the supernatural in creation, one must be willing to redefine their understanding of science. In order to redefine their understanding of science, they must address what their understanding of science has been based off of. Going back far enough to the very root of science, before laws and processes were developed, they will find that they must address the issue of faith.
What many atheistic scientists have failed to realize is that the base from which they understand the universe is very similar to theistic scientists and believers in intelligent design. While the structures that have been built look absolutely opposite, the foundation remains the same. They both start from the same place. Because the origin of life is a mystery to every person, theories and beliefs must be based on faith. The theory that is most appealing is typically the theory that a person will choose. Those who hate the idea of god, whatever the reason may be, will most likely agree with theories that do not include the hand of a higher being in the formation of life. Those who believe in god, whatever their reasons may be, will most likely agree with explanations including the hand of a higher being. Either a person has faith in chance or a person has faith in God. What a person believes about the origins of the universe is the base from which they form their worldview. Why, then, should intelligent design be any less legitimate of an option than any other theory?
Pascal made the statement that, “Faith indeed tells what the senses do not tell, but not the contrary of what they see. It is above them and not contrary to them” (qtd. in Goodreads). Faith excluding God says that somehow a universe emerged from nothing and that all elements needed to support life emerged out of nowhere creating out of perfect chance an environment that has successfully sustained life for billions of years. Faith including God says that though we cannot see him, he is the one who creatively formed a universe and that he is the force sustaining life. What is causing our hearts to beat right now? Certainly, we do not have the ability to give ourselves life. There really are only two options: chance or God.
We have seen that since faith is the base of both belief in intelligent design and any other theory about the origins of the universe, no matter how much can be explained by science after life’s origins. People believe what is most appealing. Even some of the most accomplished and respected scientists have admitted that the origin of the universe is a mystery and cannot be fully explained by science. Therefore, what is believed must be based on faith. Intelligent design should not be dismissed because it seems more supernatural and therefore less scientific or reliable. Intelligent design is just as reasonable as anything else. Before dismissing the possibility of God altogether, I challenge you with this wager from Pascal:
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” (qtd. in Brainy Quotes)
It is just as much of a wager to believe that the universe is the product of chance.
“People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive” (Pascal, qtd. in Goodreads). This is the reality that we face in our understanding of the origin of the universe. Pascal’s statement has been proven in both science and religion. While science is constantly seeking to prove theories of the origin of life, the core question about how life began remains a mystery. Therefore, beliefs must develop out of fascination for a particular theory of the origins of life. Since scientists readily admit that no one can know for sure how life began and believers in a divine being have little scientific proof for him, it is clear that all scientific or religious conclusions must be based on faith. With this in mind, we ought to be wary of dismissing altogether the possibility of intelligent design.
No matter how much evidence seems to exist, even prominent Darwinists willingly admit that no one knows how life began. The well known scientist in the world of Darwinism, Richard Dawkins, admits this (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed). Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society, says of intelligent design that “it is unproven, so in that sense it’s nonsense” (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed). Unfortunately for Shermer, even Darwin himself admits that, “Science as yet throws no light on the far higher problem of the essence or origin of life” (qtd. in Today in Science History). In Sheremer’s reasoning, science also provides a nonsensical way of explaining the origins of life.
In his article on science and religion, Gregg Easterbrook provided evidence of the growing importance of intelligent design to science. He revealed how scientists are becoming increasingly open to the idea of the spiritual aspect to the origin of the universe, stating that, “many scientists are reaching out to spiritual thinkers to help them comprehend what they're learning” (Easterbrook). After briefly presenting the beliefs of Georges Lemaître, Edwin Hubble, and other cosmologists, he made the statement that, “Nobody knows beyond foggy conjecture what caused the big bang, what (if anything) was present before that event, or how there could have been a prior condition in which nothing existed” (Easterbrook).
Before moving any further, let us consider what scientific knowledge is. Why should we trust scientific explanations more than religious explanations? What are the processes that scientists use to form theories on the origins of the universe, and are those processes absolutely reliable? According to Aristotle, scientific knowledge is obtained when we know “the cause why the thing is, that it is the cause of this, and that this cannot be otherwise” (“Aristotle’s Logic”). Since we cannot prove with absolute confidence what caused life, we cannot have scientific knowledge, as defined by Aristotle, regarding universal origins. There has not yet been a scientist who has been able to successfully prove what the cause of life is, that it is the cause of life, and that this cannot be otherwise. That is why scientists formulate theories. That is why there are multiple theories.
Many scientists have rejected intelligent design as a legitimate option for years. All people searching out the answer for the question of how life began in the first place, however, must face the possibility that there was a designer. But, why should they even give that possibility the time of day? To say that there is a designer is to step out of science and into the supernatural. This reasoning is what has caused the separation between science and religion. They are thought of as two separate entities and two different ways of thinking. In order to accept the concept of the supernatural in creation, one must be willing to redefine their understanding of science. In order to redefine their understanding of science, they must address what their understanding of science has been based off of. Going back far enough to the very root of science, before laws and processes were developed, they will find that they must address the issue of faith.
What many atheistic scientists have failed to realize is that the base from which they understand the universe is very similar to theistic scientists and believers in intelligent design. While the structures that have been built look absolutely opposite, the foundation remains the same. They both start from the same place. Because the origin of life is a mystery to every person, theories and beliefs must be based on faith. The theory that is most appealing is typically the theory that a person will choose. Those who hate the idea of god, whatever the reason may be, will most likely agree with theories that do not include the hand of a higher being in the formation of life. Those who believe in god, whatever their reasons may be, will most likely agree with explanations including the hand of a higher being. Either a person has faith in chance or a person has faith in God. What a person believes about the origins of the universe is the base from which they form their worldview. Why, then, should intelligent design be any less legitimate of an option than any other theory?
Pascal made the statement that, “Faith indeed tells what the senses do not tell, but not the contrary of what they see. It is above them and not contrary to them” (qtd. in Goodreads). Faith excluding God says that somehow a universe emerged from nothing and that all elements needed to support life emerged out of nowhere creating out of perfect chance an environment that has successfully sustained life for billions of years. Faith including God says that though we cannot see him, he is the one who creatively formed a universe and that he is the force sustaining life. What is causing our hearts to beat right now? Certainly, we do not have the ability to give ourselves life. There really are only two options: chance or God.
We have seen that since faith is the base of both belief in intelligent design and any other theory about the origins of the universe, no matter how much can be explained by science after life’s origins. People believe what is most appealing. Even some of the most accomplished and respected scientists have admitted that the origin of the universe is a mystery and cannot be fully explained by science. Therefore, what is believed must be based on faith. Intelligent design should not be dismissed because it seems more supernatural and therefore less scientific or reliable. Intelligent design is just as reasonable as anything else. Before dismissing the possibility of God altogether, I challenge you with this wager from Pascal:
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” (qtd. in Brainy Quotes)
It is just as much of a wager to believe that the universe is the product of chance.
Works Cited
“Aristotle’s Logic.” Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2011.
Dawkins, Richard, and Michael Shermer, perf. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Dir.
Logan Craft, Walt Ruloff, and John Sullivan. 2008. Rocky Mountain Pictures.
Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Darwin, Charles. Today in Science History. N.p., 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.
Easterbrook, Gregg. "Wired 10.12: The New Convergence." Wired.com. Dec. 2002.
Web. 10 Nov. 2011.
Pascal, Blaise. Brainy Quotes. N.p., 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.
Pascal, Blaise. Goodreads. N.p., 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.
Friday, July 22, 2011
He Is Real
God is a man.
"I know he is."
No, right now, he is a man.
If he is a man, where is he? If he is a man, that means he is someone that I could touch. If he is a man, that means that he has legs and feet. He has eyes, a nose, a mouth. In fact, He is a Jewish man. He has a beard. He needs a place to sit and something to stand on. He has thoughts ("thoughts on steroids" as Lara would say!). Thoughts toward every person living and breathing.
So Jesus is somewhere, not just in the form of a gas or something immaterial. Somewhere that has real tangible form. He is on a glorious throne surrounded by musical adoration of angels, cherubim, seraphim, creatures, and elders. The incense of our intercession is arising before him and he is taking into consideration each prayer. He is governing all things from that real throne. And he is thinking about me right now. He is thinking about you right now.
I don't think we understand the importance and the implications of this! I know I don't! It is the anchor of our faith. The one thing that makes Christianity different from every other religion. We say we believe that Jesus is divine and he is still a man, that he is in Heaven. But do we really believe it? Just think about it for a minute. He's real.
My little life and all of my problems and concerns just got smaller and less important to me. Who is Jesus? What is he like? What is he thinking about? This is what is truly important.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Giant Sunglasses
Have you ever put on a pair of sunglasses, and fifteen minutes later forgot that you were even wearing them? When you put them on, your perspective changed. Everything got darker. And even though the way you were seeing the world around you wasn't how it looked in reality, you had adjusted and forgotten that things were actually different. The lights were brighter and the colors were likely more vibrant. If you were to take the sunglasses off, you would see things the way they truly were.
A long time ago, in 185 A.D., a man named Origen was born into the city of Alexandria. Origen put a giant pair of sunglasses on Western Christianity, really on us, and we have forgotten that we are wearing them.
Alexandria was a city conquered by the renowned "Alexander the Great", who was a student of the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle was a student at the school started by the well-known Greek philosopher, who studied under Socrates, Plato. In a secular world, Plato managed through his philosophical writings to draw a thick line between what is visible and what is invisible. He came to the conclusion that what is seen is real; what is unseen is ethereal and mysterious.
Origen, having been born into a city that Alexander the Great had established upon Platonic thought, took on the goal of assimilating the secular worldview of Platonism and the Christian worldview. Sadly, he was extremely successful. He managed to convince us that when the Bible talks about heaven, it is a realm that is mysterious, ethereal, and unknowable. Since we can't see it, it must not have tangible form. According to Origen, even Jesus, when He ascended into heaven, disposed of his physical body and now has no real form. The famous leader in the reformation, Augustine, was deeply influenced by Origen. And even Martin Luther, the "father" of the reformation supported Origen's writings.
And now, almost two thousand years later, we are still looking at our sphere, seen and unseen, through a lens that has led us into a tragic deception. To us words like "supernatural" and "mystical" are normal in discussions about heaven. I have just learned that there isn't even a word in Hebrew or Greek, found in the Bible, that can be translated "supernatural". We have strayed from the way the authors of the Bible and early believers viewed heaven, our eternal home, and have distanced ourselves from it's reality. Now, we just skip over verses in the Bible, like Hebrews 12:22-24 or 1 Kings 8:30 or Jesus' multiple references to His home (and ours!) because we have been conditioned to think we can't understand them. I have recently realized how much of the Bible I have missed because I don't try to understand it in the way the early church did.
But guess what...
There is a real place called Heaven that God created to dwell in with man. It's not just a gas or cloud of smoke. It is tangible, even though we cannot see it from our earthly and sin-tainted perspective. We have pictures of it in the Bible that we almost never take into consideration. Jesus is a man, with hands and feet and a face. And he is in Heaven, making it beautiful and glorious. It's not just an idea; it's a real place, and He's a real man.
I have been awakened to a desire to know more about this place where the Bible says I will spend eternity. If it is just as real as the computer I am typing on, and I am really going to live there one day, and most of all if it is where God dwells right now (not swirly light ethereal god, but real, tangible, touchable God), it is of utmost importance that I familiarize myself with it, and that I fall in love with the man enthroned in the center of it.
It's time to take off the sunglasses we didn't know we were wearing.
Reference:
I pretty much learned all of this from Stephen Venable's notes on "Biblical Foundations of Night and Day Worship and Prayer". You can listen to his teachings and get the notes at http://www.ehc.org/series.jsp?sectionid=3&id=9. I would encourage you to listen to the teachings and read the notes! You will be ruined (in a good way;)!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Vitamin D and the Son of God
It was a windy day here in Colorado Springs.
I love how God reveals himself even in nature. In my nutrition class, I learned about vitamin D and how it is important for bone health. Vitamin D is mostly obtained through the rays of the sun. In order to get it, you basically just have to go outside and sit in the sun for 10-30 min (before you get a sunburn!). I think it is cool that in order for us to have healthy bones, we need a nutrient that we don't get from food as much...but from the sun!
Isn't it the same with God, except to a much greater level? Every day, it is so important to sit before God and just let him love you. As my friend Courtney would say, to "soak in some rays from the Son of Man"! Haha! Declare over yourself what He says about you in the Word. Without vitamin D, your body can't regulate the amount of calcium each part of the body needs. Our bones are the structure of our bodies, so it is critical that they are healthy! Without taking time to let God just love you and to just look into who he is, the structure of your spirit loses it's ability to function correctly.
I need that more. I want to live confident in who I am to Jesus.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Online School
A week and a half ago I began my short journey of online schooling, and so far I love it! It is so nice to have a flexible schedule and get to take tests whenever I want. I am taking Nutrition, Sociology, and Statistics, all pre-requisites for nursing. I am looking forward to this semester! (Thankfully I'm taking Stats with Beth, so we can help each other!)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Root Canal?!
Yesterday began and ended well, but the middle was not so fun...
I had two cavities on the right side of my mouth that I had to get filled, so I went to the dentist yesterday to make it happen. On one of my teeth (furthest one back on the top right side) the dentist was going to take out the prior fillings and put in a more durable "inlay", so that it wouldn't get as many cavities. As she was digging out the filling for a little less than 2 hours, she started to seem a little concerned. She needed an x-ray...I started praying that it wouldn't be as bad as she thought. But, it was. I needed a root canal because the decay went too far down. So, they gave me directions to the dentist that was actually able to do a root canal. After another 2 hours of holding my mouth open while my tooth was being drilled out and the nerves underneath killed, I was finally done at the dentist. It was a bit of an emotional day, but Beth and Tanner were so kind as to take me out for dinner! My mouth was pretty sore, but I thought I'd be up to it. Here's the delicious sandwich I attempted to eat. I had no idea it was going to be so huge!
And, tomorrow I get to watch my beautiful niece Ty all day so that Tanner and Beth can have a date on the slopes. I'm pretty excited!
Monday, January 10, 2011
"In my flesh I shall see God"
Job 19: 25-27 (NKJV)
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
I was pondering this verse today. I got a new Bible study software called Logos (and it's awesome!), and on it there is a daily devotional book. It's called Morning and Evening, by Charles Spurgeon. This evening was on this verse, "And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God." This was part of Job's reply to his friend who was telling him that all the bad things that were happening to him were because of his sin. The rest of the chapter before these verses, Job is going through all of the things God allowed to happen to him, and it is horrendous! To name a few, he was stripped from his glory, hopeless, outnumbered, rejected by those who used to love him, a stranger to even his own wife, and so sick in his body that he was looking death in the face. After all this, Job still said, "I know that my Redeemer lives!" His eyes were not on his circumstance, but on the perfect will of the Father. Even through all this, his spirit remained strong and even grew stronger.
And then he says, "In my flesh I shall see God." To see God is unfathomable. No one has ever seen him. One tiny glance would kill us because our bodies can't handle it! But the fact that this statement of Job's is true for all who believe blows my mind. One day, we will have resurrected bodies that will have the capacity to see God. And we will worship Him forever. But, first the earth will face the greatest tragedies ever. Christians will face persecution with more intensity than in all of history. In the midst of chaos, I want my response to be like Job's response. I want to be able to follow God so closely that I could never fall away. When people are falling beside me, I want to be one who stands for the hope that Jesus promised us. I want to be able to worship God and stand in awe of Him when there are tragedies all around me.
Then, after God judges the earth, I really will get to see Him. That is beyond comprehension.
I wrote this song the other day based on Psalm 1. I truly believe that by living in the Word and meditating on it day and night, I will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus and I will be able to stand in that day.
Like a Tree
I want to be like a tree
Planted by the stream of living water
And I want to stand in your counsel, Lord
Not tossed to and fro by circumstantial waves
My delight will be in your flawless law
And let me bear good fruit when the season is right
Let me stand in agreement with you even as you judge the earth
For I want to be standing in that day
Sunday, January 9, 2011
A long while later...
The Call Sacramento was a long time ago, and a lot has happened since then! So, here are a few highlights:
*October 18 - Mission's training! For this internship one of the great opportunities we had was to go on a missions trip...but first we had to do some training in order to maximize our experience and bless our contacts. During this weekend, we learned all about Chinese culture and what is to be expected of us. We learned that we must ALWAYS eat what they give us with a smile, whether we want to puke or we love it. We learned how important it is that we stay in communion with the Lord, even when there's not much time. And we learned the importance of community and a servant's heart. It was a really fun experience!
*October 25-November 12 - Hong Kong/China Mission's Trip! Basically our goal on this trip was to go to strategic locations in Hong Kong and China to cover the city and the nations with prayer and worship. And we did just that. We also got to minister at a couple of churches and do some street evangelism, passing out tracts. The thing that the Lord showed me was just the magnitude of what He is doing in the earth. He is truly setting up the stage for His return by uniting the church and opening doors for the Gospel to reach every tongue, tribe, and people group! We only got a small glimpse, but it was enough to make me want to give my life for this one purpose: Knowing God and making Him known! (The picture is of our group at Tienamen Square in Bejing)
*Home for Thanksgiving - this was a much needed break. It was so good to see everyone and get to share about what God is doing! (We are at Erik's hockey game in this pic!)
*December 17 - Graduation! A few weeks after Thanksgiving, I graduated from the internship with the four other interns. The Lord did so much in my heart during the internship and gave me so much direction for my life! He gave me a heart for the lost, the church, and intimacy with him. I also made some awesome friends in the community here.
*December 18-27 - Christmas Break! Another much needed break, and it was so good to see everyone. I love spending time with my family and friends. (This is pretty much one of the only pictures I took...I really should've taken more!)
*December 27-Jan 1 - Onething Conference in Kansas City! 30,000 people gathered in Kansas City to worship and receive teaching. Peoples lives were changed, and it was also very good for my own heart, as I just consecrated my heart to the Lord again. (Sorry...I don't have any pictures)
Since Onething, I've been leading worship at the prayer room and looking forward to starting classes online at Pikes Peak Community College on the 24th. My plan as of now is to pursue a degree in nursing and continue to be involved at theWall. I'm trusting that if this is the Lord's will, He will open all of the doors! God is so good in the way He leads and I am so excited about what He is doing in the earth!!!
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