Science and Faith

As some of you know, I've been taking a college science class outside of my "school" for extracurricular work. It is a lot of fun and I'm learning a lot. Something really bothered me at the beginning of class though, evolution. Evolution is the belief that everything God made, was actually created by something or someone else. Some people call it, "The Big Bang Theory" where everything was suddenly just here. Others say that humans were animals once, well, where did the animals come from...the trees? Some people just don't care and don't want to have to care. The earth is here, so what? I was watching a movie with my brothers called, "Expelled" well I didn't watch all of it, but I got enough. This man was interviewing all of these Science teachers who had lost their jobs. Why did they lose their jobs? They suggested that there was a possibility that there actually is a God who could have created this earth. The reason so many scientists don't believe in God is because they have been taught "If it can't be proven, it doesn't exist." What a sad way to live. There is no "scientific way" to prove that God exists. That is what faith is for.

Mathew 17:20

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Mathew 6:30

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

And my personal favorite:
Mathew 14:31

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Faith and Science...

I am not judging scientists or even science. science is an amazing and beautiful thing :)

Hearts

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." - Proverbs 31:10

Several weeks ago, my parents and I went to the State Fair on opening day. We had a great time, doing mostly one thing--eating. Well, at one point we grabbed some roasted corn and cotton candy and just sat down at the picnic tables to enjoy when I couldn't help but notice a group of teenagers at another table, each girl with a guy, each guy with a girl. They looked about our age. As I observed, I wondered what their parents thought about the girls wearing shorts shorter than they're supposed to be and guys touching them in places they shouldn't be touching. And it wasn't just at the picnic tables. Everywhere we went, we could see a guy and a girl loving on each other, and they couldn't be married. They didn't even look 20.

The Proverbs verse above doesn't need to apply to just wives, but it can apply to husbands as well. How many people out in the world are people with noble character? It's probably easier to find a ruby than a person who truly loves and serves God with all of his heart. There aren't too many of them out there anymore.

As teens, "falling in love" and all that type of stuff is a big thing in our lives. All of us have at least one person we have a crush on, we've got to admit that. Some of us wonder why it's so easy for the rest of the world to find a girlfriend or boyfriend; however, more than half the time it's a shallow relationship where the girl and guy just want each other for the wrong reasons. As Christians, we don't dress up with slinky clothes or flirt around, yet that's the only reason why the world is able to pair up. What about us? What if we never get a girlfriend or boyfriend?

You know what? That's GREAT! It's a lot better for us to have no one than to have someone we're not truly happy with. I encourage you--DON'T JUST SETTLE FOR ANYONE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING SOMEONE! The song "Adelaide" by Anberlin comes to mind: Shouldn't need anyone just scared of being alone. To be honest, I have thought thoughts like, "What if I never find anyone?" But then I ask myself, "Would you rather have anybody just because, or be alone and away from an unsubstantial relationship?"

CHALLENGE: Make a list of what you are looking for in a guy/girl. Don't forget that #1 on your list should be that the other person is a Christian; 1 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" And don't write that list based on a particular person. Here are some instructions:

1. Write the list with the qualities you want in him/her. Add things you want in his/her personality, his/her interests, etc. And it's okay--you can put looks too, though it might not matter in the future.
2. Look over your list. Are those qualities pleasing to God? Cross out anything that might not be.
3. PRAY OVER YOUR LIST! Ask God to give this person strength to wait for you! Ask God to send you this person, and He'll most likely send you someone even better.

I've done this, and it's proved to be helpful in "filtering," so I don't just like every cute guy I see. Looking over the list today, I thought, "Wow, this is a really special guy"; not just any average guy you see at the mall or the State Fair.

Becoming Less

• Since the beginning of John, I've been impressed with how much he lowers himself and gives all glory to Jesus. Starting in the first chapter in verse 15, John stated, "He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me." In our second day of reading, priests and Levites asked him, "Who are you? Are you Elijah? Are a you a prophet?" He (v. 19) "confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'" John only replied in verse 23, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John was the one born first, yet he always made Jesus first--no questions, no complaints.

• Everyone knows I always picture myself as a princess, and though we all are princes and princesses, sometimes I forget that I'm only royalty because Jesus is King. I've noticed, particularly this week, that I had been acting selfishly. I've realized that I'm not as selfless as I thought I was. Trying to live as if I can do everything and figure out everything by myself, I've almost forgotten to rely on God. In fact, I'm so much into myself that it's starting to get sickening, not just to myself, but moreso to the people around me. I know I might be called a hypocrite for writing this blog. To this day, I'm still trying to let go of myself. It's not easy.

• I think most of us here have spent a great deal of time in front of people. I know Grace and I are fond of performing on stage, and Justin and I both play in church band. Though it's your job to entertain people in a stage play, it's different when you're leading worship. I've got to admit I struggle with pride while playing. At first, I try to focus my heart and mind on worshiping God. Then, I get concerned whether or not I'm playing the right chords. Eventually, someone new or someone good-looking walks in, and I am so concerned with impressing them. Finally, I'm completely sidetracked and, afterward, begging God for forgiveness before taking the Lord's Supper. I hate things to be that way. I don't want to be fighting myself during worship time, then asking for forgiveness afterward, every Sunday. This is why I totally agree with my favorite Bible character, Paul: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do (Romans 7:15)."

• I wish I could be like John: "He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30)," or maybe I should quit wishing and start doing. Yeah, that's a better idea.

Living Loud?

James 2

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.


15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.


Just a few fragments from James.
I didn't get my point from James but it's good backup.

What I wanted to say is that it hit me suddenly today what part of the reason is that businesses collapse and organizations struggle and Churches split.

It's partly because of example.
All those who are leaders or who have control over something, have great influence.
Greater than you might think.

For example, a pastor is caught in something ungodly. Instead of just getting a new pastor the church is not only discouraged but might as well cease to exist.

Every person over eighteen can vote, but how many do?
this has a great influence over who becomes president.

The head of a business makes bad decisions and as a result the whole company is losing money.

The way you live your life will not only influence you, but can a have a very, very strong influence over others.

No matter who you are.

Not that it's all about what you do, just like faith without works is dead so works without faith in Jesus are dead.

But you will still influence others more by what you do than what you say.

And I know you might say that you don't influence anybody but trust me, you do, whether you
know it or not.

"Cool" Jesus

I was at Mardel the other day, and I've never felt so in awe at a store before. Looking around, I was amazed at all the "Christian" things we have: Christian books, Christian t-shirts, Christian music of every genre, Christian movies, even Christian Guitar Hero. We've got it all. We've taken what the world has and made the "Christian version" of everything. What more do they want? Our stuff is just as cool as theirs.

And yet, Jesus is still not "cool" enough for the world.

Don't get the wrong idea. There's nothing wrong with expressing yourself and wearing your faith on a t-shirt. There's nothing wrong with writing a song or a book about God. However, it seems like we've created so many things that have caused us to lose touch of who Jesus really is--a loving, gracious, merciful Savior.

I remember seeing a Christian music video online. While Christians raved about the song, one person commented, "I hate it when Christians are trying to be cool." We always try to sugar-coat Jesus, giving Him an electric guitar, making Him wear blue jeans, and dressing Him up to look pleasing to the crowd.

I don't think the world wants a "cool" Jesus. The world right now is hurting, dying, and desperately crying out for Him without even knowing it. They don't need any shirt, rock song, book, or movie. They need His love, His grace, His hope. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." He didn't say, "Wear a t-shirt with My name on it so everyone will see it and think I'm cool and praise your Father in heaven." He said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds." But, unfortunately, American Christians aren't exactly like that, are we?

Our life should be more Christian than our t-shirt, book, whatever. I think the world would better respect a Jesus that loves and cares for them than a Jesus that wears blue jeans and aviator sunglasses.

So, as we read John, let's pay attention to who Jesus really is and vow to show it to the world.

1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
3 A ruler [a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD

and so on......

The top collum takes the fragements of todays reading on the wicked and contrasts it with
the bottem one on the righteous.

This is pretty much what Proverbs is like, but it's making a very important point,
evil and good should not, cannot, exist together in harmony.


In our lives, to be specific.

Its a simple concept, but hard to follow.

But thank God He has given us the strength to
fight our old nature and live in the light!

Oh yeah, and remember to smile.
Its really important as you already know.
=D