Archive for May, 2005
05.25.05
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:11 pm by Perry
Can science and Christianity ever be compatible? Are Christians to live within and be part of the world and yet have a total disregard for modern scientific knowledge? It concerns me that there are people who hold to the belief that the earth is a mere six thousand years old.
I know that there are a vast number of sources, museums, and authors who have sought to support the idea of a catastrophic creation only a few hundred-thousand years ago; in fact, I have read a good number of such writings. The arguments and scientific support, though, is flimsy and transparent.
Are we to believe that Adam and Eve had dinosaurs roaming through the Garden of Eden? Is it possible that Cain and Abel had a pet velacoraptor? Surely such an assertion is ludicrous! If humans and animals did co-habitate then why have we not found any human skeletons (or even single bones) that have a corresponding carbon-date? I have realized that most Christians have a very limited knowledge in these topics and even less of an interest in researching or addressing them.
I understand what the bible says when it says that the things of God are foolish to men but surely we are not to be ignorant structure, nature, and history of our planet. A strict fundamental interpretation of the bible would obligate one to stand firm against modern scientific evidence and everything we know about the development of species through adaptation and the earth’s uniformitarian development. To assertion that modern science and the bible are compatiable has been given a name by modern Christianity, heresy.
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05.11.05
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:53 pm by Perry
A good friend recently showed me a Psalm that I had not considered in a long time. We were doing a study of Phillippians when he refrenced Psalm 51 to emphasize a point that Paul was making. The Psalm itself was so powerful though that it held my attention throughout the rest of the study. Truly, this psalm speaks volumes about waht it means to come before God and say, "I have nothing to give, nothing to offer, and my only hope is relying on you and your grace". The title of the Psalm, "a contrite sinner’s prayer for pardon", embodies the magnitude of humility that we are to use when approaching God and His glory. Please read the Psalm and give your insight, I would love to hear what other people think.
Psalm 51
1Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18By Your favor do good to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 8:37 pm by Perry
I am going to be getting married in November (for those of you who didn’t already know!). Most people, though, don’t know what type of family I am marrying into. Miriam comes from a family that sits on the border of hickhood. She grew up in what country people reverently call "the sticks" where her neighbors were direct family and a turkey farm.
In this setting there are only a few things to do. Watch TV, work on a farm, get drunk, or shoot guns (hopefully not any of those two at once). I, for the first time, was able to participate in the back country tradition of shooting violent weapons and poor defenseless milk jugs and bowling pins. It was truly an experience. Being the more "civilized" city-boy that I am, I have always been the outsider at family gatherings. I think that taking part in this gun ritual. Check it out:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/onepoorkid/51845.html#cutid1
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05.10.05
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:30 pm by Perry
What makes a person successful? How do we judge a persons worth? According to the world, money, fame, and health define the worth of a person. If we were to go to earthly morals then we would judge our lives according to family, friends, and happinness. But what does it mean to live a worthwhile life as a christian? Paul answers this question in Philippians.
Before knowing Christ Paul was successful, well-known, and an advocate for his faith. To the world and him (at the time) he was living the way that a respectable person would. In Christ though Paul tells us that this is all a loss. Without Christ our desires, actions, and ambitions are like dirt. The value of our lives and all things we do in our lives are judged by how we live for Christ with Him on the throne of our lives:
"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ," (Phil 3:8).
All things! All things are nothing when set beside the glory of God. With this knowledge we can only say that we must set all things aside that lead us nowhere in the sight of Chirst and turn to live or lives for His glory.
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