Bill Nye the Science Guy vs. the Bible

Recently the famous “Bill Nye the Science Guy” was in the news. He was in a video that went viral in which he said that creationism should not be taught to children. “Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science, in all of biology…its very much analogous to trying to do geology without believing in tectonic plates…I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world that’s completely inconsistent with everything we’ve observed in the universe that’s fine. But don’t make your kids do it.”

Almost immediately after Nye slammed the idea that God created all that we see in the universe, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins chimed in. “I don’t think that religion has anything useful to teach us” said Dawkins to a reporter at CNN. He went on to say that evolution is an undeniable fact—“It’s as certain as the fact that the earth and the other planets orbit the sun.”

Well…don’t bet the rent money yet. If you are talking about microevolution, where changes can be seen within a species, yes, evolution is undeniable. You can breed a Chihuahua and a Great Dane and produce a Chi-Dane, but you will still have a dog. Sit Fido—good boy! Macroevolution on the other hand has never, ever been proven. One species has never evolved into another species. There is no evidence anywhere in nature. And experiments in the science lab leave evolutionary scientists moping next to their Bunsen burners.

A belief in evolution is not the result of scientific research as much as it is a philosophy. Belief in evolution is an “a priori” point of view. Harvard’s professor of biology Richard Lewontin let the cat out of the bag when he said, “It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated…”

Let me translate; “We are not concerned about the facts. The only acceptable theories concerning the origins of life are those that fit in with our preconceived ideas.” Incredible, you say. Yes, indeed. But do all scientists think this way? The answer is, no. There is a very significant group of scientists, biologist, chemists, physicists, and geologists who do not support the idea of macroevolution. Here is a list of those scientists: www.dissentfromdarwin.org. And here is another: www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/bios/default.asp, and here is still another: http://creation.com/creation-scientists.

 All of these scientists (and there are most likely many more) deny that evolution is “the fundamental idea in all of science” and “as certain as the fact that the other planets orbit the sun.” Two times Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Arno Penzias, said: “Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life, and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural’) plan.” Let me translate again, what he means is: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).”

God Will Meet Your Needs

In the midst of our nation’s bad economy and the upheaval engulfing the countries of the world, let me encourage and comfort your hearts. God will meet your needs. The Word of God says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1).”   “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).”

But why would God provide for your every need? The answer is that He cares for you. The Bible says you can cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).” Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:31-33).”

Therefore make the Lord God Almighty your shepherd. Cast all your cares upon Him. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And give. Give? Yes! “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38).”

If you are working at any type of job and receiving an income, take a portion of your pay and give it as an offering to the Lord. Be an answer to prayer and give to someone in need. And if you do not have a job find a way to serve, look for ways to help others, volunteer. In other words—give. It was because of the generosity of the Philippians that Paul wrote, “Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen (Philippians 4:18-20).”

Ask the Lord to be your shepherd. Cast all your cares upon Him. Seek first the kingdom of God—let the things of God be your first priority. And Give. God will meet your needs.

 

Career Advice from Solomon

All of us need good advice now and then. What if we could get it from the wisest person who ever lived? What if you could get career advice from King Solomon? Speaking to Solomon God promised, “I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you (1 Kings 3:12).” Solomon was a “wise guy” not the mob kind of wise guy, but an extremely successful king.

Here are four golden nuggets of advice from the writings of Solomon in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Take the advice and run with it. You will be blessed in your work.

Work when it’s time to work

It is written in Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler,  Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”

The ant works when it is time to work—in the summer when the weather is favorable and food it plentiful. Like the ant we should work when it is time to work. Be self-motivated, industrious and diligent. The sluggard sleeps when he should be working. Proverbs 10:4 declares, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Seek good counsel

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” Your multitude of counselors should be people with insight and experience. They should be people who are not only smart but who truly care about you. These counselors could be family members, friends/fellow Christians, co-workers, and your pastor. And remember the advice is only as good as the character and quality of the advisor.

Don’t rush into things

Proverbs 21:5 advises, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” Being diligent doesn’t mean being rash. We want to make good decisions, not just quick ones. Doing something too quickly without knowing all the details can actually slow a project down because of unforeseen problems. Rushed, careless decisions can hurt you as much as laziness and sloth. But then again, on the other hand,

Jump in

We read in Ecclesiastes 11:4, “He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Sometimes you can be too cautious and miss the moment. There will always be unforeseen events and or troubles affecting your career or a project you are working on. Don’t always wait for everything to be perfect. Don’t procrastinate—jump in, “get ‘er done”, persist and move forward.

Finally, the one key to making all of this work well comes from another very wise man; the Lord Jesus Christ. His key piece of advice is about priorities. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [that you need to live and work and be your best] shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).” That is very good advice.

 

Political Conventions and Worldviews

This week the Republican Party is having their convention in Tampa, Florida. This event will be followed by the Democrat Party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Besides nominating each party’s candidate for President of the United States, conventions are a means for displaying and shoring up each party’s worldview. The election decides which worldview prevails.

A worldview is a comprehensive framework of what someone believes and thinks that determines how he or she behaves. A worldview has to do with our convictions. And everyone has a worldview. It is a part of being human. All of us need some creed to live by, some compass by which we find our directions in life.

Our views and attitudes about life affect all of the decisions we make about how we live. For example, when your marriage gets tough is divorce an option? What constitutes a real marriage in the first place? When taxes are unjust does this give you license to cheat? Will you fire an employee as soon as it is economically beneficial to you? The answers to these and all of the questions we face in life spring up from our worldview.

This is important because what we believe has a direct bearing how we deal with life’s issues—personally and politically. Most of the issues before us in the election stem from basic worldviews. Democrats in general believe government must encourage or even mandate remedies to social ills. Republicans generally believe the less government the better, encouraging personal responsibility. Most issues, even tax issues, boil down to moral issues. Michelle Obama was absolutely correct when she spoke to the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s General Conference in June. She said, “there is no better place than church” to get a bearing on political issues, because they are “essentially moral ones.”

But what determines our morals or worldview? As Christians our worldview must be forged and tested by Scripture. Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone must be the primary rule for what we believe and how we live. This means first of all that we must read the Bible and understand its doctrines. Then we must check our attitudes and actions to make sure they line up with the Word of God. When we fail to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) there will be reasons (usually not good ones) to act upon beliefs held by a culture that has long drifted away from a godly perspective on life.

For example, it is compassionate to give to those who have need. The early Christians who “were possessors of lands [plural] and houses [plural] sold them.” They then gave the profits to the apostles who “distributed to each as anyone had need (Acts 2:34, 35).” This was a voluntary giving to others. No one compelled the giving. The houses and lands belonged to those who owned them (Acts 5:4). But they gave out of a sense of grace and love. Would it have been right for the apostles to “tax” the rich to give to the poor? Is it right for the government to do so? When government takes more than it should, does it rob us of the chance to be gracious and compassionate? Is it right for a government to put its people and their children in debt? Our worldview determines our concept of the role of government in life, the responsibilities of the church and our own personal responsibilities.

The Bible is vital to our developing a biblical perspective on life. When the apostle Paul wrote to his young associate Timothy, he said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).”

Scripture, the Word of God, is profitable (cha-ching, cha-ching!) for doctrine; teaching us what to believe. It is profitable for reproof; showing us where we are wrong. And it is profitable for correction; helping us to get back to a biblical worldview so we can bring glory to God and good to others.

So if you have the time and inclination to watch the political conventions coming up in the next two weeks, look for the presentation of their worldview. But let me encourage you to develop a biblical worldview: “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Romans 12:2).”

Sunset On Mars

It may not look like much. But just think about what you are seeing in the photograph above. NASA’s rover has taken a snapshot of a sunset from another world. Go ahead and look at it again. Fascinating isn’t it? It is even beautiful in its own stark way.

The photograph instantly made me think about God—the Creator. Genesis 1:1 declares “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And earth is a lot different than Mars. Mars is stark, empty, sterile and devoid of life. Earth is teeming with life. And the Creator planned it that way,

For thus says the Lord,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

(Isaiah 45:18)

The Hebrew word translated “in vain” means empty, a waste, in other words like Mars. The earth was not made to be like Mars. The very manner in which the earth has been created and made suitable and fruitful for our habitation points to the great goodness of God. The Bible says that, “…since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead (Romans 1:20).” We can see God exists and that He is powerful by all that is made, like the sunset on Mars.

But God has also given us witness that He is good. Scripture declares “Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).” God is good. And The Bible reveals that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4).”

The next time you gaze up into the starry sky stop and think about how powerful God is. And the next time you bite into a juicy peach remember how good God is. And let your heart worship. “Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1).”

The Profit of Hard Work

Proverbs 14:23 proclaims an important work-life principle: “In all labor there is profit.” Or as the translation called The Message puts it, “Hard work always pays off.”  The verse promises that diligent effort under the blessings of God will always be profitable.

The “profit” that God’s Word speaks of is the result of your work when you are finished. It is the fruit of your labor, the gain that comes from your toil.  For many of us that profit arrives via our pay check. And pay checks are good and big pay checks are even better. But the profit that comes from our work does not have to be limited to monetary gain.

Here’s what I mean. A teacher receives a pay check but the minds of his or her students’ are enlightened. The farmer sells his crops and receives money, but people get to eat. Carpenters, electricians and plumbers build a house and a family has a home. Those in the medical profession bring healing, the police protect, and designers make things beautiful and functional.

Our goal in work should be to bring glory to God and good to other people. In this way the profit from our hard work can be realized not only immediately but also for years. Your work can become a blessing to your employer, your family, your co-workers, your customers, your neighbors and even to people you may never meet. We can be assured that the profit will come—somehow, somewhere, someday to somebody. How can we be assured of this? God promised!

Make the decision to see your work as bigger than the work at hand or the pay check at the end of the week. Whether you are getting paid to work or you are a volunteer providing an act of service; whether your work seems insignificant or unappreciated, God sees what you are doing. “Hard work always pays off.” That’s a promise you can take to the bank.

Some Thoughts About Christ

In chemistry, he turned water into wine.

In biology, he turned five loaves of bread and two fish into enough food to feed over 5000 people.

In physics, he walked on water.

In medicine, he cured the sick without administering a single drug.

In psychology, he helped put people back into their right mind.

In religion, he is the only way to be saved and gain access to God.

Amid the deepest of human misery, disbelief and shame, he is called Savior.

The greatest human in history, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had no servants, but millions call him Lord.

In history, he is the beginning and end of God’s plan of salvation.

He committed no crime, yet he died for the sins of the whole world.

With only purity of heart towards God, he surrendered his life for you and me and God has raised him up from the dead.

In government, he will return as King of kings and Lord of lords and rule the world in righteousness and there will be peace.

Jesus Christ loves you more that your father and mother. He loves you more than anyone ever will. He loves you with the deep, faithful, sacrificial and enriching love of God

He is offering to every soul that trusts him forgiveness, peace of heart, joy and life everlasting.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16, 17).”