Evolution is a Fairytale: Thursday's Thoughts...

In January 2005, two remarkable events occurred. The first was that Oxford atheist and Darwinian scientist, Richard Dawkins, was publicly asked what he believed to be true but could not prove. This was an interesting question because he is on record as saying that you should not believe anything without evidence. Now he concedes, “I believe, but I cannot prove, that all life, all intelligence, all creativity and all design anywhere in the universe is the direct or indirect product of Darwinian natural selection.” He continued, “ Design cannot precede evolution and therefore cannot underlie the universe.” In other words, he admits that much of what he believes, including his fundamental assumptions about the universe, are a blind leap of faith, unsupported by evidence.

The other extraordinary event was that the international doyen of philosophical atheism, Prof. Anthony Flew, now aged 81, publicly announced that he has abandoned his atheism, and had done so on the basis of scientific arguments, which now persuade him that there is a God.

So two of the most prominent atheists in their fields have made startling confessions. The scientist admits that much of his belief cannot be supported by scientific evidence, while the philosopher abandons the very atheism that made him famous, precisely because of the scientific evidence. How much intellectual fun is that?

What Dawkins cannot verify concerns the creation of the universe. What persuades Flew that there is a God is the current scientific evidence about the origins of the universe.

Come and hear more about this on Sunday night as we uncover some of the popular dialogue between creation and evolution and discover the real relationship between faith and reason. Sunday night, 6PM @ Grace Church of Glendora.

Evolution is a Fairytale: Does Science Contradict Religion?

I've been looking at some other articles this morning and one in particular drew my attention - especially in anticipation of our guest speaker this weekend. This particular aticle responded to the belief that science is the only path to objective truth and is therefore in conflict with the subjective feelings and irrational dogmas supposedly characteristic of Christianity. One thought raised by the author (Philip Vander Elst) is:

"The advance of science over the last half-century has revealed powerful new evidence that life and the universe are the product of intelligent design, especially in the fields of astrophysics and microbiology. At the cosmological level, it has become increasingly apparent that the physical laws and parameters governing our universe (e.g. the force of gravity, the energy density of empty space, the difference in mass between neutrons and protons, etc.) are so exquisitely fine-tuned to permit the emergence of life, that even the tiniest alteration in any of these laws and parameters would have catastrophic consequences. Astrophysicist, Dr Hugh Ross, for instance, has identified 148 astrophysical parameters that must be ‘just so’ for a planet to exist that can support human life, yet the odds against this happening by chance are, he calculates, many times greater than the total number of stars in the entire universe! Given such facts, even so great an astronomer and former atheist as Fred Hoyle, has written: “I do not believe that any scientists who examined the evidence would fail to draw the inference that the laws of nuclear physics have been deliberately designed with regard to the consequences they produce inside stars.” That and other such observations from Hoyle have prompted Harvard astronomy professor, Owen Gingerich, to comment: “Fred Hoyle and I differ on lots of questions, but on this we agree: a common sense and satisfying interpretation of our world suggests the designing hand of a super-intelligence.” Or to put it even more plainly, consider the verdict of Robin Collins, an American scientist with three degrees and two doctorates in mathematics, physics, and philosophy: “The extraordinary fine-tuning of the laws and constants of nature, their beauty, their discoverability, their intelligibility – all of this combines to make the God hypothesis the most reasonable choice we have. All other theories fall short.”"

Join us on Sunday night at 6pm to find out more. (Grace Church of Glendora, 1515 S. Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91740)

Evolution is a Fairytale: Monday's Musings...

We're having a discussion this week that will focus on the popular debate between creation and evolution. We're having a guest speaker in on Sunday night but I'll still spend some time glancing over relevant books, articles, etc. One thing I'm interested in reviewing myself is whether or not faith and reason are mutually exclusive. Popular opinion seems to hold that it is. But I just found a couple of comments by some guys you might be familiar with:

Albert Einstein said, 'Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.' And C.S. Lewis makes the point that, 'The laws of motion do not set billiard balls moving; they analyse the motion after something else … has provided it.'

James May explores this dichotomy further and writes: "As an accumulated body of knowledge about the physical world, science is a magnificent tool, but as a description of the human condition it is clumsy and inadequate. Isaac Newton himself believed that science revealed the majesty of God’s created order. There may not be any ‘monsters’ in the forest, but it is another question to try to remove God as creator, and to destroy human value, morality and significance. Knowing how a clock works does not tell us the time. We may be able to describe life’s mechanisms, but what does it mean?

It is an error to read the creation story in Genesis through our modern eyes as primarily a scientific account of how the world came into being. It is rather a description of who made it, and why humans have a special place in it. Many Christian scientists therefore see no intrinsic disagreement between the biblical creation narrative and evolution as a possible description of the process God used during creation, though many doubt that evolution has the explanatory scope that is often claimed for it.

The Bible reveals what science is cannot explain: the origin of all matter created out of nothing, the basis of human value and purpose, and the reason human beings make such a mess of the world. Most importantly of all, it reveals the justice and mercy of the loving God who created the whole universe and then revealed himself within it, in the historic person of Jesus Christ."

Divorce is ALWAYS Destructive: Thursdays Thoughts...

WOW! I've almost missed an entire week...

Perhaps it's a result of Casey and Oli (or #16 and Olive) having left me to fester in the broom closet all alone and with too many loose ends to tie up. Come back fellaz; your COMPANY NEEDS you!!!

That said, it has been a busy week. So I decided to find some quiet time this morning and came to Classic Coffee on Scooty Puff so that I could continue studying and writing with fewer interruptions. This is my "sanity break" - coming up for air after too much time in text.

This week we're looking at divorce and having just read some intersting analysis from the Barna Group I thought I'd share some stats from their 2008 study as well as some analysis offered by George Barna himself:

• Among adults who have been married, the study discovered that one-third (33%) have experienced at least one divorce. That means that among all Americans 18 years of age or older, whether they have been married or not, 25% have gone through a marital split.
• Born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce: 33% have been married and divorced.

George Barna, who directed the study, noted that Americans have grown comfortable with divorce as a natural part of life.

"There no longer seems to be much of a stigma attached to divorce; it is now seen as an unavoidable rite of passage," the researcher indicated. "Interviews with young adults suggest that they want their initial marriage to last, but are not particularly optimistic about that possibility. There is also evidence that many young people are moving toward embracing the idea of serial marriage, in which a person gets married two or three times, seeking a different partner for each phase of their adult life."

Divorce is easy and marriage is hard...come and find out why Grace states that divorce is always destructive.

Update on our man in the Pearl...

Hey,

For those interested in knowing how Dave is doing, here's an update I received from his dear old mum earlier today:

"If you haven't heard, Dave has been placed with his host family on a farm. The accommodations are better than some, with a 10ft X 12ft concrete building to himself. There are three of these buildings on the farm and the family lives in the other two. For the next 10 weeks, he has a daily 45 min bike ride each way to the training facility for intense language and culture school. Upon completion, he will be given his two year assignment.

He was going to have to figure out how to do his laundry. I guess that's where the host family comes in handy."

Please keep Dave in your prayers and check out his blog for regular updates: http://davidinthepearl.wordpress.com/

GAY IS NOT OKAY: Wednesday's Wonderings...

Most Christians have a hard time separating the sin and the sinner. Jesus did not. He didn't make the distinction between the outward sins and the less visible sins of the heart. So why do we?

Mike Haley was just one speaker at Biola's Torrey Conference last year. The conference focussed on "Sex and the Soul". In one session titled: "Beyond 'It's Wrong': A Christian Response to Homosexuality" he described a unique approach to this issue. Instead of elevating sexual sins committed between homosexuals to a whole new level and completely ostracizing the gay community through judgment, he calls for a response that encourages all sinners to strive for holiness. His simple reasoning is that any individual will sin less the closer they walk with Christ and the more they resemble Him.

I don't have an audio or video file from the conference. But I do have a clip of Mike Haley sharing some thoughts with the Catalyst Road Trip in 2008:

GAY IS NOT OKAY: Monday's Musings...

As the nation’s culture changes in diverse ways, one of the most significant shifts is the declining reputation of Christianity, especially among young Americans. A new study by The Barna Group conducted among 16- to 29-year-olds shows that a new generation is more skeptical of and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago. Why is this?

"Interestingly, the study discovered a new image that has steadily grown in prominence over the last decade. Today, the most common perception is that present-day Christianity is "anti-homosexual." Overall, 91% of young non-Christians and 80% of young churchgoers say this phrase describes Christianity. As the research probed this perception, non-Christians and Christians explained that beyond their recognition that Christians oppose homosexuality, they believe that Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians. One of the most frequent criticisms of young Christians was that they believe the church has made homosexuality a "bigger sin" than anything else. Moreover, they claim that the church has not helped them apply the biblical teaching on homosexuality to their friendships with gays and lesbians."

Are we guilty as charged? Keep an eye out for further postings on this topic throughout the week, and come to the service this Sunday night to discover what the Bible really says and what role the church and the gay community have played in creating this common perception of Christians.

Human Life is Sacred - Thursday: Abortion

Another issue we’ll be dealing with this Sunday is abortion. There will be a lot more said on Sunday night with reference to this issue. There are many aspects to the issue itself, but fundamental to the pro-life vs. pro-choice position is the question, at what point in the process of gestation does the unborn become a person?

I believe that the fetus has full personhood from the moment of conception. Professor Scott Rae forms the argument this way:

1. An adult human being is the end result of a continuous growth of the organism from conception (this premise has hardly any debate).
2. From conception to adulthood, this development has no break that is relevant to the essential nature of the fetus (this is the debatable premise, but any proposed breaks are not comments on the nature of the fetus).
3. Therefore, one is a human person from the point of conception onward (and no one debates that this conclusion follows from the above two premises).

One key to this argument is: From the moment of conception, the fetus possesses all the capacities to develop into a full adult. Therefore it is wrong to speak of a fetus as a potential human being. Rather, the fetus IS a person with the full potential to develop all of its latent capacities.

If you’re interested in this topic I would highly recommend Scott Rae’s book Moral Choices, the Stand to Reason website: www.str.org, and coming along on Sunday night to hear from Pastor John.

Human Life is Sacred - Wednesday: Another Issue We Often Muddle

Euthanasia: there is a distinction between refusing treatment and causing death. But we do little to enlighten people when we do not differentiate between euthanasia and refusing medical treatment.

Another tactic employed by advocates of euthanasia is to present euthanasia as the only recourse for people who are unable to die as they wish. Rob Moll writes: "'Death with dignity' or the 'right to die' need not be euphemisms for suicide. Dying can be done in relatively comfortable and painless ways, without intrusive machines and tubes. For the increasing number of patients with progressive illnesses, we need not offer death by prescription—especially when doctors can instead pursue patient comfort and give patients time to prepare themselves psychologically, relationally, and spiritually for dying."

What do you think; is death with dignity only plausible through some form of suicide? Does it really even matter? Why or why not? Come and hear from Pastor John this weekend.

Human Life is Sacred - Tuesday's Thoughts on Stem Cell Reserach

Stem Cell research is definitely a hot topic and that's one of the reasons we'll be looking into it a little more this week. It seems to me that many people weigh in on this topic without the least bit of basic knowledge on the subject (when is that not true of a politically incorrect topic and bullish individuals?); but this specific issue seems to be one in which many are particularly lacking. Now, I don't have an adequate knowledge myself, which is why I'm taking some time to look into it this week. But it would seem that I know a little more than some leading speakers on the issue.

The last time I read anything about stem cell research was probably at the end of 2006 when I was breezing through Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation, and laughed at the sheer lack of basic research and understanding on the issue. His polemic attack on Christianity completely failed to address the key distinction between embryonic and adult stem cell research. An oversight that is common among people who have little regard for the sanctity of life. Back then it was the case that more breakthroughs were being made with research on adult stem cells than embryonic stem cells. In fact, no breakthroughs had been made with research carried out on embryonic stem cells, so it seemed fair for pro-life advocates to rally against the destruction of embryos for fruitless study. A case made stronger by the promise of advances in induced pluripotent stem cell research. And three years on it would appear that the pro-life case is even stronger.

Congressman Mike Pence acknowledges the distinction as he reflects upon the empty promise of embryonic stem cell research. He writes: "There is no right more fundamental than the right to life. There is no realm in which more exciting progress has been made than that of science. And the two are not inherently opposed to one another…I am a Christian who believes that life begins at conception and that a human embryo is human life. Therefore, I believe it is morally wrong to create human life to destroy it for research...Over the past two years, scientific breakthroughs have rendered embryonic stem-cell research obsolete, effectively removing any perceived need to destroy human embryos in the name of science. Adult stem cells have been used to treat an estimated 11,000 patients in the United States in the past two years alone, and over 70 diseases, including Parkinson's and diabetes, have been treated using adult stem cells.

But that's not all. By adding strands of genetic material to adult skin cells, researchers were able to turn normal skin cells into cells that are biologically identical to embryonic stem cells. These altered cells are known as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and unlike embryonic stem cells, iPS cells do not require the destruction of human eggs or embryos...Ethical stem-cell research is a marvelous and wonderful exploration of human cells that will lead to more life-saving discoveries...Not only are iPS cells more easily obtainable, but they are also more cost-efficient and effective."

More to come on the sanctity of human life this week and especially this Sunday. Make sure you’re at Grace to discover what the issues are and how to respond.

Are You Ready To SERVE?

Last night we explored the concept of work as outlined in the Bible and contrasted it against the popular opinion of society. We discovered that society says that work is a means to an end – we work to live. Scripture tells us that we live to work. Society says that it’s okay to hate work or deny it. To avoid it and be enabled to do so because the government will provide for you. But Scripture says the exact opposite. It says that work is part of our purpose. It says that it’s not the role of the government to provide but the role of the church. God wants us to work so that through the church He can provide for those who can’t. So we are called to work and to provide for those in need. But not for those who willfully choose to be in need.

Work is intended for the fulfillment of man, the benefit of the community, and then, most importantly, Scripture teaches that through work God should be glorified. Is that true of you?

Are you ready to serve? To serve through your work and to serve in the church? COMAPNY122 NEEDS YOU!