I Believe in Intelligent Design — I Am Waiting for Proof Otherwise — And it’s Just not There

At church I am in the middle of a great series called, “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.”  It talks about how hard it is for people to think critically concerning life’s biggest questions.  I find that people today can’t make tough choices concerning what is right and wrong, not only in their lives, but also can’t or won’t take stands when it involves society around them.  In other words, they don’t even want to convict the worst criminals without video coverage posted on YouTube.  This was most evident when Casey Anthony was found not guilty on all charges concerning her child going missing and found dead.  The jury could not even find her guilty of child abuse.

This week I am talking about Intelligent Design vs. Evolution.  I really don’t care if people believe in Creation or not.  What I dislike though, is when evolutionist say that all the evidence is on their side.  God is not afraid of science and neither should we.  He created it.  The problem lies in the fact that nobody was around 6,000 years ago (Creation), let alone 5 billion years ago (Big Bang Theory).  The bottom line is that if you do not believe in God, then you have to believe in a whole bunch of random chances happening over a really long time.  Notice that when an evolutionist can’t explain something, he just adds a couple of more million years to his hypothesis. I happen to believe in a Divine Creator who made us around 6,000 years ago.  He planned us and explained what we needed to know in the Bible.  My main point in this entry is this:  whether you believe in Creation or Evolution, you must believe your theory based upon faith.  You have to have faith in God, or faith in a whole bunch of random events happening.  Either way, you have to take a leap of faith.

To help you in your quest, I am adding a whole plethora of resources here that will give you a great deal of information from some really smart people.  Since I am no expert (but I am a critical thinker), I will not fool you by trying to get into all the science, but I can point you in the right direction.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian_worldview/whats_a_christian_worldview.aspx

http://www.colsoncenter.org/wfp-home

http://hsvisualresources.com/science/evolution-vs-creation-ken-ham/

Stop Using Seeking as a Way to Avoid the Truth

Do people really want to know what the truth is, or are they simply looking for a truth that is popular?  Jesus said that the truth will set you free.  Notice He did not say it would make you popular with the culturally elite of the world.  We have in Christendom a ten year old movement labeled loosely as the “Seeker Movement.”  It is where we are targeting people who are seeking the truth.  One of the founders, Bill Hybels, recently said that they were completely re-evaluating their evangelism model because their churches are really good at creating seekers, but not transforming them into disciples.  This is not a criticism of Hybels or the seeker movement, but I do want to expose those who keep seeking but never seem to find the truth with a challenge to quit using seeking as an excuse to not follow Christ.   My theory is that most seekers know the truth, but they do not want to commit because it is unpopular, too hard, or simply goes against what their flesh desires to do.

If I just invite someone to church is it the same as fulfilling the Great Commission?  The answer:  Yes.

The Great Commission was Jesus’ command to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  The biggest concern most people have about Jesus’ command to evangelize the world is people telling me they do not know what to say.  The good news is that most church’s altars are staffed with volunteers who do know how to connect or reconnect someone  to Christ.

Case and point.  Just this week a young mom brought a neighbor and friend to church.   After the message was done and the altar was open, the first one up to the altar was this young lady with her friend in tow.  She committed her life to Christ.  As I greeter her at the door she thanked me for the service and said she felt as if that sermon for just for her.  I get no credit as God knew just exactly what she needed.

So, lets all get busy inviting people to church, it just might change their life.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

This is one of my favorite verses of all time.  The reason it is such a blessing to me is because it states the promise that God will work on my behalf behind the scenes when I ask.  In my life, it seems like everyone else in the world is working against me, it is nice to know God is working for me.

This promise does have several conditions though…

Four components of Romans 8:28:

• A knowing…or in other words you have to have confidence in not only God’s ability, but His’ desire to work on your behalf
• Understand that God is working on our behalf behind the scenes where you can not always see (that is why we have to have faith)
• A real love of God…the Bible says if you love God you will keep His’ commands
• Be called according to His’ purposes…God’s has a plan for this world, His’ church and people and you have to seek His purpose for your life not do your will and ask God to bless it

As you will find often in scripture, God has wonderful promises for Christian believers, but you do have to do it God’s way.

Here are some great questions to ask one another before you get married.  Some people feel like they can change their spouse after they get married, only to find out people do change…but very little.  So, to make sure there are no surprises I am giving you some questions to ask one another before you get married.

To make this really work answer these questions by yourself, then go back and compare them with your fiancée.  Be ready for a long night, because these may seem simple and easy, but they unpack quickly.  The very one that seems like a slam dunk may become an unnavigable mountain.  Answer them now, or fight about them later.

Questions Before Marriage

Would your family support your choice to marry?

Is there anyone in either of your families that disagree with your marriage?

How many children do you want?

When do you want to start having children?

Who will take care of the children during the day?

What hobbies do you plan on keeping up with?

What kinds of past friendships do you plan on maintaining?

What religion will you be?

How will you raise your children in respect to religion?

Who will handle the money?

How many checkbooks do you plan on having?

While both are workings whose money is whose?

Will you rent or buy?

Where do you want to live?

What will you name your children?

Will you have pets?

What kind of school will your children attend?

How will you work out disagreements?

Who will work?

Who will stay home?

Who will do what chores?

What is the role of the husband?

What is the role of the wife?

What is your political party?

Will you buy a car?

What are your major goals and dreams in life?

Where will you spend holidays?

What family traditions do each of you want to carry on with your children?

Are there any quirks your future spouse has that you want to change?