As the years of life go by, the list of things I would love to do grows ever longer. But there is a list that differs from this one in substantial ways...my bucket-list. These are the things I feel that I really need to do to satisfy my curiosity and quench my thirst for the unexperienced. These are the things that must be experienced firsthand. These are the adventures that have been nagging me for years.
A few items on my bucket-list have already been checked off: sitting in a brand new $650,000 Lamborghini, traveling down the road in New Zealand, visiting 6 continents and living overseas. These are just a few (I may have forgotten something), but the list of events that has not yet happened is far longer. What in life is really worth experiencing? What difference does it make whether or not I get to climb around the Great Pyramid? One quick answer in my mind is that I want to live all the days of my life. Before I kick the bucket, I want to squeak out as much life out of life as possible. A deeper reason is that I have a keen sense the an audience of One is what will matter most once I cross into eternity. God Himself has granted me life and I intend to use it to the max!
I can't help but wonder what is on your bucket-list...
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Sunday, September 7, 2014
An Acquired Taste
I think beer tastes disgusting. The smell of durian is gross. The way rambutan looks is quite freaky. Perhaps you disagree with these 3 opinions...no problem. Certain things grow on us over time. It may even be that most foods that we eat, perhaps even enjoy, are part of our lives simply because we grew up with them being eaten in our homes or have been shoving them down our cake holes for so many years.
It makes one wonder about the way we develop an acquired taste for other things, like truth. Truth is an acquired taste. With around 27,000 religious groups around the world, there are plenty of different flavors to choose from, but logic would tell us that not all groups can be correct about all points of doctrine. Someone is wrong, and maybe someone is right about something(s). If something is truly true one could expect it to remain true and to stand the test of time. If it is a factual truth (like the earth orbits the sun) then it will remain true until, and unless, something substantive changes. It is not false simply because someone decides they do not agree or even like the particular fact that is true.
Many people have developed an acquired taste for atheism. One rather famous example is Richard Dawkins. He believed in the existence of God for the first decade of his life and then chose to acquire a taste for evolution, though he would probably qualify this by saying that the "facts" left no alternative. People who are atheists feel that, since we cannot see God and there is so much suffering in the world, God is dead--nonexistent.
Even more people have developed an acquired taste for agnosticism. The confidence that exudes from a number of atheists is too bold for those who simply resign themselves that we can never know if God is real or not. They see the same problems around the world and wish that peace was a reality for all humans, but they do not have enough proof to commit to God's existence or nonexistence.
The largest number of humans, however, have developed an acquired taste for theism. One could show, admittedly, that most would not ascribe to the God of the Bible, but they are pretty sure that a "higher power" exists. Some of these people are famous, and some are not (like me).
When it comes to food, an acquired taste may not be a big deal. When it comes to truth, it makes all the difference. All humans ask 4 questions in various ways:
1. Who am I? The quest for significance.
2. Where did I come from? The quest for origins.
3. What is my purpose? The quest for meaning.
4. Where am I going? The quest for assurance.
Having read the Bible many times, it seems to me that those who have acquired a taste for atheism, agnosticism or anything other than the Bible's version of truth have simply not tasted long enough. It sounds convenient for me to say this, but I have made it a practice to study more thoroughly the least understood and seemingly contradictory passages of the Bible. Time and time again I have been surprised by the extreme attention to detail which the biblical authors demonstrated. The timeless truths which have been recognized as axiomatic by a multitude of people are still relevant in 2014 and beyond.
More than this, the truth of the Bible, which I believe is God's message for all people, has changed the course of my life for the better. Having read most of the Quran, the entire Book of Mormon, some Buddhist and Hindu scriptures and a fair amount of ancient texts, nothing compares to the clarity and subtlety of the biblical text. I've tasted and seen that the Lord is good. It's an acquired taste for sure, but it has never left a bitter taste yet. Perhaps it is time for you to try a taste of the Bible. What if the Bible really does contain the truth? What if Jesus really is the way? What if you die without even a nibble?
It makes one wonder about the way we develop an acquired taste for other things, like truth. Truth is an acquired taste. With around 27,000 religious groups around the world, there are plenty of different flavors to choose from, but logic would tell us that not all groups can be correct about all points of doctrine. Someone is wrong, and maybe someone is right about something(s). If something is truly true one could expect it to remain true and to stand the test of time. If it is a factual truth (like the earth orbits the sun) then it will remain true until, and unless, something substantive changes. It is not false simply because someone decides they do not agree or even like the particular fact that is true.
Many people have developed an acquired taste for atheism. One rather famous example is Richard Dawkins. He believed in the existence of God for the first decade of his life and then chose to acquire a taste for evolution, though he would probably qualify this by saying that the "facts" left no alternative. People who are atheists feel that, since we cannot see God and there is so much suffering in the world, God is dead--nonexistent.
Even more people have developed an acquired taste for agnosticism. The confidence that exudes from a number of atheists is too bold for those who simply resign themselves that we can never know if God is real or not. They see the same problems around the world and wish that peace was a reality for all humans, but they do not have enough proof to commit to God's existence or nonexistence.
The largest number of humans, however, have developed an acquired taste for theism. One could show, admittedly, that most would not ascribe to the God of the Bible, but they are pretty sure that a "higher power" exists. Some of these people are famous, and some are not (like me).
When it comes to food, an acquired taste may not be a big deal. When it comes to truth, it makes all the difference. All humans ask 4 questions in various ways:
1. Who am I? The quest for significance.
2. Where did I come from? The quest for origins.
3. What is my purpose? The quest for meaning.
4. Where am I going? The quest for assurance.
Having read the Bible many times, it seems to me that those who have acquired a taste for atheism, agnosticism or anything other than the Bible's version of truth have simply not tasted long enough. It sounds convenient for me to say this, but I have made it a practice to study more thoroughly the least understood and seemingly contradictory passages of the Bible. Time and time again I have been surprised by the extreme attention to detail which the biblical authors demonstrated. The timeless truths which have been recognized as axiomatic by a multitude of people are still relevant in 2014 and beyond.
More than this, the truth of the Bible, which I believe is God's message for all people, has changed the course of my life for the better. Having read most of the Quran, the entire Book of Mormon, some Buddhist and Hindu scriptures and a fair amount of ancient texts, nothing compares to the clarity and subtlety of the biblical text. I've tasted and seen that the Lord is good. It's an acquired taste for sure, but it has never left a bitter taste yet. Perhaps it is time for you to try a taste of the Bible. What if the Bible really does contain the truth? What if Jesus really is the way? What if you die without even a nibble?
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Life Without God
Have you ever thought about what life would look like without God? This may indeed be a new idea for some, but it is important to think about. For the next few paragraphs I will explore what this means for us.
What this does not mean is a physical universe truly devoid of God Himself. Certainly non-existence because there is not Creator to start the ball rolling is oxymoronic. The idea that life began from non-life is statistically impossible. So we are not talking about God's absence, but rather about our choice to remove Him from our personal lives either actively or passively.
What this does mean is a lifetime lived as a practical atheist. Many people believe in God but live life no differently because of His presence. If all God-lingo was removed from your everyday conversations, would it even change your ability to communicate or the substance of your dialogue? What percentage of your 168-hour week would be affected if you took out any and all activity directly tied to the Big Man upstairs? And what about the many thoughts that float across your conscious and subconscious mind?
Life without God would mean taking out of our cultural context certain words and expressions like "omg," "heavens to betsy," go to h--l," and a literal host of others. It is true that we could get used to this in time, but it certainly would be difficult.
Life without God would mean removing churches, signs with Christian symbols, the 10 Commandments, and rewriting history itself to reflect merely a time in our past when we superstitiously believed in this particular higher power. It would be a lot of work and maybe even nigh impossible to completely eradicate.
Life without God would mean dealing with all of those who stubbornly hold on to the ideals of the Bible. To allow them to die off would not be an option. History has made it quite clear that a true Christian will strive to spread the Message to as many as are willing to hear and believe. Killing the Christians off has been tried quite a few times and met with surprising results. Whenever the Christians have been under the most persecution, they have grown numerically the most. Tertullian said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." It would take a large group of highly disciplined people a very long time to get the job done, if it would even be possible.
Life without God would mean doing life all alone. Yes, you may have family and friends who support you in ways, but when the chips are down the number diminishes sharply. For most people, the number would be 0-3 people that would stick it out, especially if you committed some heinous crime. But more than this, you would be alone in the sense of any power to affect a miracle of any sort. Praying would be completely pointless. This pale, blue dot we call home would be a very depressing place during the lower points of life.
Life without God sounds bleak...depressing...hopeless. It is! But there is a God who actually agrees that a life without Him is not worth living. He knows that and has prepared the documents to give sufficient proof of His care for humans. He created a world that is simply stunning in beauty and complexity, even though marred by deterioration and death. He even put eternity in your heart. Deep down you know there is more...and He wants to be connected with you. He doesn't want you to live your life without God, so choose life.
What this does not mean is a physical universe truly devoid of God Himself. Certainly non-existence because there is not Creator to start the ball rolling is oxymoronic. The idea that life began from non-life is statistically impossible. So we are not talking about God's absence, but rather about our choice to remove Him from our personal lives either actively or passively.
What this does mean is a lifetime lived as a practical atheist. Many people believe in God but live life no differently because of His presence. If all God-lingo was removed from your everyday conversations, would it even change your ability to communicate or the substance of your dialogue? What percentage of your 168-hour week would be affected if you took out any and all activity directly tied to the Big Man upstairs? And what about the many thoughts that float across your conscious and subconscious mind?
Life without God would mean taking out of our cultural context certain words and expressions like "omg," "heavens to betsy," go to h--l," and a literal host of others. It is true that we could get used to this in time, but it certainly would be difficult.
Life without God would mean removing churches, signs with Christian symbols, the 10 Commandments, and rewriting history itself to reflect merely a time in our past when we superstitiously believed in this particular higher power. It would be a lot of work and maybe even nigh impossible to completely eradicate.
Life without God would mean dealing with all of those who stubbornly hold on to the ideals of the Bible. To allow them to die off would not be an option. History has made it quite clear that a true Christian will strive to spread the Message to as many as are willing to hear and believe. Killing the Christians off has been tried quite a few times and met with surprising results. Whenever the Christians have been under the most persecution, they have grown numerically the most. Tertullian said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." It would take a large group of highly disciplined people a very long time to get the job done, if it would even be possible.
Life without God would mean doing life all alone. Yes, you may have family and friends who support you in ways, but when the chips are down the number diminishes sharply. For most people, the number would be 0-3 people that would stick it out, especially if you committed some heinous crime. But more than this, you would be alone in the sense of any power to affect a miracle of any sort. Praying would be completely pointless. This pale, blue dot we call home would be a very depressing place during the lower points of life.
Life without God sounds bleak...depressing...hopeless. It is! But there is a God who actually agrees that a life without Him is not worth living. He knows that and has prepared the documents to give sufficient proof of His care for humans. He created a world that is simply stunning in beauty and complexity, even though marred by deterioration and death. He even put eternity in your heart. Deep down you know there is more...and He wants to be connected with you. He doesn't want you to live your life without God, so choose life.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Why I believe in God.
Today's world is rapidly changing and pluralistic. They say that technology doubles about every 4 years or so. More than 60,000 new books are published every year. Theories are constantly being modified or discarded. There are also around 27,000 different religious groups on planet earth. Some are barely indistinguishable from each other while others are diametrically opposite. So why do I believe in God? Let me tell you.
Number 1: I believe in God because of the natural world. When I was 12 years old, I remember looking up into the sky and thinking, "What an amazing place to live...this world is filled with so many cool things." I have learned a few more things about this home we call "earth" and the rest of space, time, and matter. The more I learn about this gigantic universe the more I am filled with awe at the sheer size and inconceivable complexity. To think that there are more than 60,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars other than the sun is mind-bending. To realize that ants outnumber humans at least 10,000:1 is startling. To know that the sun's temperature is within the narrow range that ensures deuterons can form, but a lethal explosion does not just end life on earth is humbling. In short, the things which are in existence show fine-tuned precision, orderliness, and beauty. Explosions never produce any of these things. The Big Bang is a Big Dud. If extreme complexity exists, there must be a reason. I think God makes sense. If He exists, then He would be more than a sufficient cause for everything in this universe.
Number 2: I believe in God because of the philosophical world. I have never been impressed with the intelligence of animals. There's a monkey that "knows" about 2,000 words, but my little girl will know 500% more words by the age of 10. A dog that receives a treat every time he repeats an action based on the same cue is nice, but little children can easily master how to manipulate adults to get what they want. I am not anti-animal, I am pro-human. I think that humans possess infinitely more ability to reason than animals. Animals are never caught on hidden cameras planning a birthday party for anyone. We see thousands of wildebeests on nature films running from a lion. Why don't they surround the lion and dogpile the lion? Humans can think of things which surpass all animals. So you say, "It's because we evolved upward." But I say, "Smart genes or smart God?" The very fact that humans can even believe in a "higher power" shows something. Most of the world believes in God/god(s). The ability to philosophize about God's existence is important. Humans, from Tertullian to Thomas Aquinas to Ravi Zacharias, have demonstrated great arguments for God's existence. They are cogent, reasonable, and convincing.
Number 3: I believe in God because of the spiritual world. Around the world, people practice religion. They may have different symbols, practices, and outfits, but they do many things the same. Whether or not a particular religion is true or not, nearly every person on this pale blue dot believes in something that is greater than humans. This indicates to me that every human has a "God-shaped-hole" inside. We sense the need to fill it with something. Even atheists have this need which they fill with money, popularity, or other. People around the globe are incurably religious. How can this be if we are merely products of chance and fortuitous circumstances? I think this is the case because God is real.
Number 4: I believe in God because of the supernatural world. My mom was healed right in front of my eyes in 1986. She had every symptom of colon cancer. (Indeed, my mom's sister, Sheila, later died from colon cancer in 1996.) At church one Sunday evening, 2 people invited anyone with a physical sickness to come forward. My mom made her way to the front, they prayed for about 10 seconds and she was immediately healed. The next morning, she was jumping and screaming with joy--something she could not do previously. I saw a man stand on hot, glowing coals for about 10 seconds in Indonesia. He was doing a dance while under a trance. When he finished and was coming out of his self-induced trance, I got within 2 feet of him and studied his feet. They were dirty, but not hurt in the least. My friend in Russia personally knows a man who died outside during the winter. The man was dead for a couple of hours before some Christians prayed for him. He is not dead anymore...the prayer brought him back to life. I watched a man pour different kinds of strong acid directly on his skin a number of times without injury whatsoever. The list could go on and on and on. There are things that happen in this world (including ghosts, UFOs, exorcisms, healings, etc.) which remain inexplicable if God/god(s) is/are not in existence. I believe in God.
Number 1: I believe in God because of the natural world. When I was 12 years old, I remember looking up into the sky and thinking, "What an amazing place to live...this world is filled with so many cool things." I have learned a few more things about this home we call "earth" and the rest of space, time, and matter. The more I learn about this gigantic universe the more I am filled with awe at the sheer size and inconceivable complexity. To think that there are more than 60,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars other than the sun is mind-bending. To realize that ants outnumber humans at least 10,000:1 is startling. To know that the sun's temperature is within the narrow range that ensures deuterons can form, but a lethal explosion does not just end life on earth is humbling. In short, the things which are in existence show fine-tuned precision, orderliness, and beauty. Explosions never produce any of these things. The Big Bang is a Big Dud. If extreme complexity exists, there must be a reason. I think God makes sense. If He exists, then He would be more than a sufficient cause for everything in this universe.
Number 2: I believe in God because of the philosophical world. I have never been impressed with the intelligence of animals. There's a monkey that "knows" about 2,000 words, but my little girl will know 500% more words by the age of 10. A dog that receives a treat every time he repeats an action based on the same cue is nice, but little children can easily master how to manipulate adults to get what they want. I am not anti-animal, I am pro-human. I think that humans possess infinitely more ability to reason than animals. Animals are never caught on hidden cameras planning a birthday party for anyone. We see thousands of wildebeests on nature films running from a lion. Why don't they surround the lion and dogpile the lion? Humans can think of things which surpass all animals. So you say, "It's because we evolved upward." But I say, "Smart genes or smart God?" The very fact that humans can even believe in a "higher power" shows something. Most of the world believes in God/god(s). The ability to philosophize about God's existence is important. Humans, from Tertullian to Thomas Aquinas to Ravi Zacharias, have demonstrated great arguments for God's existence. They are cogent, reasonable, and convincing.
Number 3: I believe in God because of the spiritual world. Around the world, people practice religion. They may have different symbols, practices, and outfits, but they do many things the same. Whether or not a particular religion is true or not, nearly every person on this pale blue dot believes in something that is greater than humans. This indicates to me that every human has a "God-shaped-hole" inside. We sense the need to fill it with something. Even atheists have this need which they fill with money, popularity, or other. People around the globe are incurably religious. How can this be if we are merely products of chance and fortuitous circumstances? I think this is the case because God is real.
Number 4: I believe in God because of the supernatural world. My mom was healed right in front of my eyes in 1986. She had every symptom of colon cancer. (Indeed, my mom's sister, Sheila, later died from colon cancer in 1996.) At church one Sunday evening, 2 people invited anyone with a physical sickness to come forward. My mom made her way to the front, they prayed for about 10 seconds and she was immediately healed. The next morning, she was jumping and screaming with joy--something she could not do previously. I saw a man stand on hot, glowing coals for about 10 seconds in Indonesia. He was doing a dance while under a trance. When he finished and was coming out of his self-induced trance, I got within 2 feet of him and studied his feet. They were dirty, but not hurt in the least. My friend in Russia personally knows a man who died outside during the winter. The man was dead for a couple of hours before some Christians prayed for him. He is not dead anymore...the prayer brought him back to life. I watched a man pour different kinds of strong acid directly on his skin a number of times without injury whatsoever. The list could go on and on and on. There are things that happen in this world (including ghosts, UFOs, exorcisms, healings, etc.) which remain inexplicable if God/god(s) is/are not in existence. I believe in God.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
It's About Time!
For years I have intended to start writing more. So here it finally is. My friend, Mike, encouraged me to start this and I am jumping in head first...literally.
You have to know a few things about me some of which will excite you and some of which may incite you.
I am a theist. I believe God is real and interupts history. I think everyone should make an effort to get to know Him.
I believe the Bible is the only book in the world that got it right. I think everyone should make an effort to understand it.
I believe evolution is complete bunk. I think everyone should make an effort to get to understand the real story of Creation.
This brings me to one of my passions--dinosaurs. I love everything about them.
Now that these things are off my chest, I am ready to begin.
You have to know a few things about me some of which will excite you and some of which may incite you.
I am a theist. I believe God is real and interupts history. I think everyone should make an effort to get to know Him.
I believe the Bible is the only book in the world that got it right. I think everyone should make an effort to understand it.
I believe evolution is complete bunk. I think everyone should make an effort to get to understand the real story of Creation.
This brings me to one of my passions--dinosaurs. I love everything about them.
Now that these things are off my chest, I am ready to begin.
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