God vs. Darwin

When I was a kid, I didn't really know there was such a thing as evolution. And when I first heard about it, I was completely shocked that anyone actually believed that God didn't create the Heaven's, Earth, and everything in it. Other beliefs were just absurd to me, and although I don't remember talking with my parents about evolution, I'm sure if we had a discussion on it, it would have went something like the cartoon.

As I've gotten older and talked with people from all over the world about it, I've realized that more and more people actually believe in evolution. Truthfully, I haven't spent a whole lot of time on the subject, although I've read a few books on it, but it hasn't been something that I'm too interested in studying. Especially since I believe that God created...period. 

Well, this afternoon, Alyson and I watched the movie, Expelled. Below is the trailer for the movie - so interesting. If you have never watched it, I would totally recommend watching it. If nothing else, to begin dialogue.



What was interesting to me, is that Ben Stein's movie seemed to be a fair discussion between the two debates, and either shocking or not, Mr. Stein concludes that he believes in Intelligent Design. Actually what I got out of the movie is that he believes that God created, and that things have had minor changes over time. The coolest part is that Mr. Stein interviewed tons of scientist, and not just Christian ones for this documentary to come up with his conclusion. 

Anyway, what do you believe? I know I'm biased, but I find it easier to believe that something way BIGGER than me (God) created everything than believe in a once in a never chance of something being created out of nothing. 

your church can't save you!

I recently found myself around a couple people who seem to hold denominations a little too high for their own good. Unfortunately, this is a problem that I have seen for years in many local churches. My reaction to these kind of people are always the same - shock and hurt. 

Over the years a question that continues to come up in my mind is, “why do so many people hold denominations in such high regard?” Please know up front I pastor a Baptist church. However, I still like to wrestle and study up on questions and thought processes that I hear people around me discussing.

Denomination’s, as I understand them, main differences have nothing to do with fundamental truths of Scripture but about particular points that make no one any more or less Christian to begin with. For instance, to be a Christian, we must admit we are sinners, believe Christ is the Son of God, confess we need/want Christ in our life, and then pursue Christ daily at all costs. Current denominations exist for the “pursuit” process, but it seems as though many denomination’s congregants seem to pursue the denomination more than Christ. And here really lies the problem for me. Why is that?

As I have pursued Christ and researched the Scriptures, everything seems to point to “one” church or “one” body (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1: 22; 4:4). And on top of that, Jesus seemed to speak wherever the people would listen, and Paul would travel around preaching in every church (1 Corinthians 4:17). If there were denominations in the First Century, Paul and Jesus didn’t seem to think much of them. I mean Christ kept praying for unity (John 17: 20-26), and Paul preached that we would agree with one another so there wouldn’t be any division (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Yet people continue to persist that their denomination is most correct and that to lose a denominational name would be to lose one’s identity.  

I'm not saying here that denominations shouldn't exist. I'll probably always go to and pastor a Baptist church unless God calls me elsewhere. However none of us should allow our denomination or church define us and give us our identity. My prayer is that my family, friends, and church find our identity and hope in Christ and not a denomination. In the end, in the very end, a denomination will send you to hell, whereas Jesus Saves (Acts 4:12)!

What do you think?

 

txt 10 commandments

A friend of mine sent me this not too long ago. I have been seeing it on several other blogs so I thought I would post it too. Pretty clever - wish I would have thought of this first! Below is a list of the 10 Commandments and how we would have gotten them if God had texted them to Moses. Can you figure them out? I guess I'm not up with the current text lingo. I didn't know some of these...

GOD TEXTS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. no1 b4 me. srsly. 

2. dnt wrshp pix/idols
3. no omg's
4. no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r) 
5. pos ok - ur m&d r cool
6. dnt kill ppl 
7. :-X only w/ m8
8. dnt steal
9. dnt lie re: bf
10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8. or ox. or dnkey. myob. 

M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl. 

ttyl, JHWH. 

ps. wwjd?

(HT: McSweeny)

Ninja! hiiii-ya!

This is hilarious! Just thought you may want a little something something to keep you smiling today. If you watched this video in its entirety and now consider yourself a ninja, you are responsible for your own actions. So please, "don't go ninjing nobody that don't need ninjing!" 

Cussing Pastor

I haven't felt the best today. I think my allergies are starting to act up a little. But as I have been lying around here, apart from going out for a late lunch, I've been reading tons of blogs. Somedays, I need to get revitalized and this is one of the ways I do it - reading blogs and catching up on random people's lives (as I look back over that sentence, it sounds kind of crazy. oh well, it's true). 

Anyway today I came across a blog and it had this excerpt from Ed Young, Jr. He is talking about pastors who use what he calls "cool" words or words that people think are cool. Does your pastor use these words? What do you think about what he is saying? Would love to hear from you!

Miracle Maker

This weeks been an awesome week for me. I left Sunday after church to go to Student Life camp with our youth, came back on Wednesday to preach a sermon, preached another on Thursday, been in meetings most of today, and now putting together a sermon for Sunday. I love being busy, and I love having the opportunity and pleasure of sharing the Gospel "Great News" message of Jesus! 

I know I have mentioned something like this before, but I seriously can't hear the redemptive message of Jesus without being overwhelmed with awe and tears. This week at youth camp, I had the amazing opportunity to see Jesus work in 14 of the youth at our church, and hundreds of youth from all across the south (I think that's where most of the people were from). I found myself being overwhelmed with the awesomeness of Jesus each night and wishing you all could be with me and watch the miracles Jesus was continuing to act in the lives of these youth.

Literally, Jesus has proven to me over and over and over just how much of a miracle worker He is. Thank you Jesus for working miracles in my life. Thank you Jesus for providing hope for the FUTURE and hope for TODAY. Thank you Jesus for entrusting me to bear Your Name. Thank you that your mercies renewed this morning, and they will tomorrow morning and all the mornings after that. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to speak your name, the name that brings freedom and the name that one day ever knee will bow and tongue will profess that is Lord. Thank you for reminding me this week that You aren't through with us yet! 

Jesus is truly the miracle maker! Has Jesus worked a miracle in your life or someone you know? Please let me know... Let's encourage one another!

Below is one of my favorite songs by "Delirious?". 

Who is Jesus?

For the most part it seems that most people, Christians included, do not fully understand who Jesus is. Many Churches and Christians portray Jesus as some weak and unloving individual. I am truly convinced that if we could understand just how much Jesus loves us we would act and live differently. Not that we would live more "holier" but we would live in freedom and excitement that Jesus is the God who loves unconditionally; we would worship out of pure joy and love for our Creator and not fear. 

One church in particular did a spoof on how they picture the world sees Jesus. Here it is...

How do you see Jesus? Is this video an accurate portrayal of the God you serve? If so, then I'm afraid you don't know the Jesus I know and am getting to know better.