Saturday Morning Prayer

Lord, I pray you would give me a heart…

for those on the roadside of life,

for those who, for whatever reason, are not in the mainstream of life,

for those who lie crumpled and cast aside,

for those who are forgotten and ignored,

for those who are in some way blinded to the fullness of life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

New Song Inspiration: Jason Gray’s “Fade With Our Voices”

Like last week’s inspiration, this is a new song that I just heard.  I think the music is good…but the message again, broke me.  So watch (the video is well done) but more importantly, listen to the words.  And tell me what you think.  Would this be a good song to learn at your church?  Why or why not?

Not Always Welcome

Don’t think for a moment that when you are suddenly clear about your mission/vision and you head out to do miracles that you are always going to be welcomed by others.

Look at Matthew 8:34, Luke 10:10-11.

“Take me, or leave me,” He said, “But be willing to face me.”

Why the “Creationist Vs. Evolutionist” Battle is not necessarily Christians Vs. Scientists

Some Christians, in the name of defending Christianity and God, have attacked evolution.  Some rightly so.  But how you defend your view is as important as what your view is.  So, while trashing evolutionists as people who believe that humans evolved from random sludge, some Christians have actually hurt the cause of Christ.

The reality is that many Christians are evolutionists.  They just believe that God was part of the process.  And even more Christians while disagreeing with evolution, do not hold to a literal “6 days of creation.” 

There are basically 5 views of the origin of humans:

1. Naturalistic evolution: This is an attempt to account for all forms of life including humans by means of the processes of nature.  Supernaturalism is expressly excluded according to naturalistic evolution.
2. Fiat creationism: This is the idea that God, by a direct act, brought into being virtually instantaneously everything that is.  Both the direct action of God and the shortness of the time (literal 6 days) span of creation are stressed in this view.
3. Deistic evolution: This is the view that God planned the creative process and that He used evolution to accomplish His ends.  After God created the first form He removed Himself from the evolutionary process.
4. Theistic evolution: This view is similar to #3 above and yet there are important differences.  According to theistic evolution God is involved not only with the very beginning of the creative process, but also at key points thereafter.  God was directly and supernaturally responsible for creation (including that of humans).  God used a previously existing creature when He made a human being.  God created a human soul and infused it into a higher primate.
5. Progressive creationism: This sees the creative work of God as a combination of a series of creative acts (from the beginning) and a processive operation.  At various points in time God created new creatures without using previously existing life.  Between these special acts of creation evolutionary development took place.  Progressive creationists hold that God in a special act created man from the dust of the earth; He did not use a previously existing primate when He made the first man.  This view rejects macroevolution but accepts microevolution.

So where do you fall?  It seems to me that views 1 and 3 are incompatible with Scripture.  Sincere Bible-believing Christians have held views 2, 4, and 5.  I cautiously favor view 5.

At the same time, there are some great scientists and thinkers that are evolutionists and are claiming that “faith and science both lead to truth about God and creation.”  Rachel Held Evans’ blog from yesterday speaks to this very topic.  So CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT.

Jesus was a Servant

Jesus, knowing that He was God and that He was about to go to the Father, knelt and washed His disciples’ feet.

Jesus, Lord of Lords, saw Himself first and foremost as a servant.

Great leaders do the same.

If “Balloon Boy” Had Tried That in Nazi Germany

“Cruise Control” Vs. “Race Car” Spirituality

Today I’ve been thinking about “cruise control” spirituality versus “race car” spirituality (Jerry Bridges coined the terms).  Most of us are on cruise control.  We’re not living in “disobedience.”  It’s just that we’re content to be “in the pack” and just keep up with everyone else so as not to feel out of place or inferior.

Race car Christians want to keep growing.  They don’t care about how they compare to others but how they compare to Christ’s likeness. 

Which am I?  Which are you?

How to Insure Getting Beat Up by 65,000 Fans

Remind me never to take my boys to a big-time soccer game.  I could envision this happening…

Sandwiched by Exhaustion and Guilt

Why do we get sandwiched by exhaustion and guilt?  Exhaustion for doing too much and guilt for feeling like we’re not doing enough.

Jesus did not heal everyone nor raise all the dead.  He knew His mission, and He stuck to it.  He was very conscious about His boundaries.

Extra Crispy “Murder Mystery Chain”

Enjoy!  I am the first detective to enter the scene.