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Attitude Church Devotional

What Eats You Up?

John chapter two ends with an abrupt account of Jesus cleansing the Temple. This whole process occupies many hours of His time. He made a scourge (John 2:15). No doubt, He spent much time in thought and prayer as He sat and braided the small cords.

His actions were not a brief fit of rage but calculated deliberate actions. Jesus was passionate about the way that people approached the place of worship, and what they did while they were there.

The disciples watched with wide eyes as Jesus drove the merchants out of the temple with the whip that He had made. They called to mind Psalm 69:9, and David’s words about suffering shame and ridicule, even from family because of his dedication to God.

That day Jesus demonstrated in vivid fashion the care and thought that should go into approaching God in worship. He demonstrated that it matters what we do, how we do it, and the motivation that is in our hearts.
Others around us may never know why we are in worship, but Jesus certainly does, and he cares.
So, what east you up? Is it a passion for serving God, or something else?

Categories
Doctrine Faith

It’s A Miracle!

In John 2:11 we read that Jesus’ first miracle “manifested His glory.” It was a significant event to all who saw or heard of it.

It is easy when we read our Bibles to imagine that miracles were a commonplace occurrence. We tend to picture Abraham walking out of his tent every morning, stretching, yawning, and getting his latest instructions from God over coffee. Yet, he often went YEARS without hearing anything from God!

The thing that made this miracle so significant was that this was a truly rare occurrence. God performed miracles with purpose. They were designed to confirm the truth of the message being delivered by the speaker (Hebrews 2:3-4), and to produce faith in us as we read about them (John 20:30-31).

While God doesn’t do miracles today, we can benefit from the ones we find in Scripture. We should pay attention to them, and learn the lessons that they teach. They are there to help your faith grow.

Categories
Attitude Devotional

Whatever He Says…

The first miracle that Jesus ever performed was prompted by the initiative of His mother, Mary. The instructions that she gave to the servants were simple. “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5).

What might have happened if the servants had ignored Jesus’ instructions? What if they had only kinda done what Jesus had said? They would have ended up serving water instead of wine, and their employers would have been upset.

I imagine that the servants thought Jesus’ instructions to be odd at best, but they followed them. Exactly. When we approach Jesus, so much more than a party is at stake. So, are you willing to do whatever He says? If so, He can do amazing things in your life.

Categories
Death Perspectives

The Certainty of Uncertainty

Over the last few weeks, the city of Austin has been rocked by a series of deadly bombings. A host of law enforcement agencies have collaborated to find and stop the perpetrator. Meanwhile, residents have been called upon to be vigilant about their surroundings and any suspicious packages.

The bombings have brought with them an air of uncertainty, but the reality is that certainty about the future is always an illusion. I recently heard a character on a TV show say, “The future holds many possibilities, and they all end in death.”

The tragedy of events like these reminds each of us of the frailty and brevity of life. The wise king Solomon said, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). As we dream and make plans, it is easy to forget the certainty that this life will end and that nobody knows when that will be.

For that reason, we ought to approach each day as a gift not promised, not to squander it, but to be sure that we are prepared to face eternity and that the legacy that we leave is one of integrity.

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Attitude Perspectives Victory

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Elizabeth Swaney is a very average skier from Oakland, California. She’s certainly not a bad skier, but there is nothing about her skills that stand out. Yet, last week she caught the world’s attention by competing at the Women’s Half-Pipe event in the Olympics at Pyeongchang. She was stacked against twenty-three of the world’s best athletes in the sport, and her qualifying run was scored dead last, trailing far behind the next lowest score. As the world scratched their heads and wondered how she even got there, she was celebrating the achievement of a dream.

So how did she do it? She studied the rules of qualifying to participate in the Olympics, and she took the long path to get there. Rather than dazzling the world with amazing skills, she showed up for world cup events that weren’t well attended. Lots of them. Over the last two years, she has racked up enough points to qualify for the Olympic competition.

Often, achieving great things doesn’t require exceptional abilities or privilege, it just requires that you show up consistently. God doesn’t expect you to achieve incredible things, but he does expect you to show up. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Are you working toward your goals, or are you just waiting for greatness to strike?

Categories
Devotional Evangelism Perspectives

Unclaimed Fortunes

On August 26, 2017, at a Sam Food Mart in Lewisville, TX some nameless individual purchased a lottery ticket worth one million dollars. However, winning lottery tickets are only redeemable for a limited time. After the expiration of 180 days, on Thursday, February 22nd the ticket became totally worthless. Whoever the lucky, or perhaps unlucky, person was that purchased the ticket, they held a small fortune in their hands and never even realized it.

How many valuable opportunities are missed because we are too blind, too busy, or too afraid to see them? Many Jews had the opportunity to meet the Son of God and hear Him speak, but they were unwilling to accept the truth of the opportunity before them (Mark 4:12).  For those Jews, and for many today, the problem was that the Gospel challenges them to change, and change is often uncomfortable.

In Exodus 4:2, God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” It was simply a humble shepherd’s rod, but with that rod, God would bring great deliverance to the nation of Israel. Just as Moses’ rod or the unclaimed lottery ticket, opportunities of measureless value, and often the very change for which we have been praying is in our hands this very moment. This should challenge each of us to give pause, and ask, what blessings or opportunities am I failing to see?

Categories
Devotional Forgiveness God Perspectives Restoration

Better Late Than Never

Red Gerard is a pretty typical 17-year-old. He loves skateboarding and golf … and Netflix. On Saturday, February 9th he stayed up late into the night binge-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Netflix. The next morning his alarm went off at 6:00, but he did not stir. It wasn’t until his roommate came to drag him out of bed that he realized he had overslept on one of the most important days of his life, and now he couldn’t find his coat.

After borrowing his friend’s jacket, Red grabbed a late bus to the mountain and proceeded to win America’s first gold medal at this year’s Winter Olympics. This makes him the youngest American man to win gold in over ninety years. His day had gotten off to a rough start, but he showed up anyway and achieved great things.

In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells a parable of a man who is hiring labor for his vineyard. Even into the very last hour of the workday he goes out and hires workers and pays them for showing up. God understands that you can’t change the past. You can’t go back in time for missed opportunities or to fix mistakes. All you can do is move forward from where you are, and that’s exactly what He expects you to do.

Maybe you find yourself running behind. It could be that you didn’t start working toward your goals. Maybe you couldn’t find the resources or opportunities you needed. Whatever the case, today is the best day to start toward your goals.

Categories
Attitude Church God Heart Restoration

Five Reasons to Come to Church

 

How long has it been since you have been to church? Friend, that’s too long! There are several reasons why you may not be going as often as you could. Maybe you’ve just gotten busy. Maybe you just don’t see the value. Maybe something has been said or done that turned you away. Whatever the case may be, please consider these five reasons you may want to make plans to attend this Sunday:

Because You Want To

That’s right, you want to. We all have those occasions where we know we should go somewhere, but we don’t feel like it. Yet, after having gotten out of the house and gone, we’re glad that we did. Sometimes that’s the way it is with church. It is an opportunity to gather with other people who are focused on doing good, and everything that is right. It is an opportunity to encourage and be encouraged. It is an opportunity to bring your prayers before the God of Heaven and Earth. It is an opportunity to pause and reflect on what really matters in life. It is an opportunity to show your thankfulness and love for God.

You may not feel like going to church, but do it anyway. You’ll be glad you did. “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)

Because Jesus Invited You

Jesus is amazing. And He has done some amazing things for you. He left Heaven and came to earth to be poor, ridiculed, mocked, tortured, and mercilessly killed; all so that you could be in Heaven with Him (John 1:10-12). He left us an example and showed us how to live an abundant life here on Earth (1 Peter 2:21; John 10:10). In Heaven He now stands at the right hand of God, pleading on your behalf (Romans 8:34).

He thinks the church is special. He died for it (Ephesians 5:25). He built it (Matthew 16:18). He wants you to be a part of it (Revelation 22:17). When you think about all the awesome things Jesus has done for you, it is worth considering that maybe there is something to the church you might have missed. It is also worth considering that since Jesus has done all those things, it’s the least we can do to accept his invitation as a sign of gratitude.

Because A Friend Invited You

Christians have amazing blessings to be excited about. So, it should come as no surprise when somebody invites you to church. They want to share the wealth. When Philip found Jesus, the first thing he did was go tell somebody he cared about (John 1:45). If a friend has invited you, it is because they care. If not, then consider this that very invitation.

Because Your Soul Needs It

The pressures of life are real. The struggle is real. God knows what you are going through, and He cares. That is part of the reason why He asks us to go to church. It is an opportunity to take a step back from the grind of life and see things from an eternal perspective. It is an opportunity to drink deeply from the water of life and learn valuable information from Scripture.

Have you ever taken a drink of water when you didn’t feel particularly thirsty, only to find that when you tasted the water you couldn’t get enough? Your body needed water, but you didn’t realize it. Our souls can be the same way with God’s Word. You may not notice anything missing in your life, but your soul still craves to be fed from Scripture.

Because You Learn More About God

We can know certain things about God by observing the world around us (Romans 1:20). We can tell that He is powerful, that He is thoughtful, and that He cares about His creation. Beyond that, we can know very little unless He tells us. What does He want? Will we see Him again? What happens after we die? What can we expect from Him? All these questions can only be answered by studying what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture. Going to church is a great opportunity to study those things together and to learn things you might not learn on your own.

This list is by no means exhaustive. There are lots of great reasons to go to church, but you’ll never know what you’re missing until you do.

Categories
Perspectives Translation

Out of Context and Out of Character

This past weekend, the Eagles won their first Super Bowl. However, almost eclipsing that news, is the backlash from a commercial for Ram Trucks. The advertiser used a sound bite from one of MLK’s speeches as the centerpiece of their effort to sell a vehicle. The backlash has been swift and firm. Perhaps the greatest irony of all was that within that very speech Dr. King condemned the divisive tactics of automobile ads.

So much communication these days happens 140 characters at a time. That makes it easy take somebody’s words out of their original context and assign a meaning to them that they did not originally have. For example, one could quote from the Bible: “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:5) “Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:37) That might make it appear Jesus encouraged suicide! Yet, when considered in its context, we realize that the two quotes are unrelated, and Jesus was encouraging mercy and kindness.

Whether you are watching a truck commercial, reading the Bible, or even a meme about waiting on the Lord and Eagles (hint: Jeremiah wasn’t talking about a football team). It is important to think critically about what is being said, where the information originated, and the intent of the original speaker or writer.

Categories
Faith God Perspectives

The Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking and Leonard MLodinow: A Book Review

The church is familiar with the narrative of the Big Bang and has spent a few decades learning how to refute that theory. It would seem that we’ve done a good enough job that the leading atheistic minds have abandoned the Big Bang and moved on to a new theory, known as String Theory, M-Theory, or the Multiverse Theory, which he hails as “the only viable candidate for a complete ‘theory of everything’” (emphasis his).

FROM THE DUST JACKET

The dust jacket sets this book forth as the only plausible explanation for the origin of the universe and everything in it other than the idea of a benevolent creator.

GENRE

Dewey Classification 530.142 (Theories of Mathematical Physics)

LOC Classification QC794.6 Physics > Nuclear & Particle Physics > Radioactivity > Grand Unified Theories

CONTENTS & SUMMARY

  1. The Mystery of Being (3)
  2. The Rule of Law (13)
  3. What Is Reality? (37)
  4. Alternative Histories (61)
  5. The Theory of Everything (85)
  6. Choosing Our Universe (121)
  7. The Apparent Miracle (147)
  8. The Grand Design (169)

Chapter One begins by asserting that Philosophy is dead because it has not kept up with modern science, and as such, scientists are the ones who hold the answers that explain the existence of all things. Hawking then goes on to explain the basics of Quantum Physics. He explains that his theories will be based on the (dead?) philosophy of model-dependent realism, which he defines as ascribing the quality of absolute truth to any information received through the five senses. Finally, Hawking sets forth M-Theory as the idea that he is championing.

Chapter Two begins by recounting a Viking myth that explained the movement of the sun and moon through the sky. He sprinkles these gems throughout the book in an apparent attempt to marginalize all religious thought as ignorant and unworthy of serious consideration. He goes on to explain that as patterns in nature were discovered beginning with Greek philosophy, that laws of nature could replace the capricious rule of “gods.” He concludes by laying out scientific determinism as the basis for the remainder of the book.

Chapter Three begins by asking the question, “But how do we know we have the true, undistorted picture of reality?” (p. 39) He explains that our perception of reality is affected by the lens, or (dead?) philosophy through which we view it. He makes the concession that the model of reality in which God created time and the universe is just as possible as the model that he advocates. He then sets forth his (admittedly subjective [p. 52]) standards for validating a model of viewing reality:

  1. Is it elegant?
  2. Does it contain few arbitrary or adjustable elements?
  3. Does it agree with and explain all existing observations?
  4. Does it make detailed predictions about future observations that can disprove the model?

Finally, he concludes that no single model, or theory, can explain everything. Rather, a “network of theories called M-theory,” is the explanation that he uses.

Chapter Four lays out the uncertainty principle as it relates to quantum physics and the Buckyball experiments. This principle forces Hawking to alter his philosophy of materialistic determinism to state that “the laws of nature determine the probabilities of various futures and pasts rather than determining the future and past with certainty” (p. 72). Another key principle of quantum physics that he discusses is the idea that observing a system alters its course. Even though he demonstrates that quantum physics does not apply to large objects, toward the end of this chapter he begins applying principles of quantum physics to the universe as a whole.

Chapter Five begins by relating a brief history of the discovery of scientific laws and focusing on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. He then dives deep into theories of quantum mechanics, leading to the introduction of String Theory, which involves the space having not three, but eleven dimensions, one of which is time itself. From there it is a small jump to posit the idea that there are actually multiple universes, each with its own set of natural laws.

Chapter Six concludes from the fact that the universe is expanding, that there must be a point in the past in which it was infinitesimally small: The Big Bang. From there, he tries to pass quickly over a significant concession. “Since we don’t have a complete quantum theory of gravity, the details are still being worked out, and physicists aren’t sure exactly how inflation happened. But according to the theory…” (p. 129). Inflation and The Big Bang are critical to this theory because the universe must have at some point been small enough for quantum mechanics to be valid. Another necessary point to his argument is the fluidity of time. If time is immovable, with a beginning and an end, then Hawing says God is a necessary fact. However, even if time is fluid, this does not rule out the possibility of God.

While the Feynman sum of Quantum Physics, applied to the universe, implies the possibility of a multitude of universes, all springing into existence at the same time, each different from our own. However, because observation changes things, and we have observed our universe being as it is, that has become reality. “The histories that contribute to the Feynman sum don’t have an independent existence but depend on what is being measured. We create history by our observation, rather than history creating us.” (p. 140)

Chapter Seven begins by enumerating all of the circumstances in our universe, solar system, and the planet which “just happen” to be exactly what is needed for our existence. However, these “coincidences” are easy to understand because our universe is one of many thousands that exist, and our observation of it necessitates its existence.

Chapter Eight returns to basic existential questions. “Why is there something rather than nothing? Why do we exist? Why this particular set of laws and not some other?” (p. 171). Hawking notes that some claim that God is the simple answer to each of these questions, but says that “it is possible to answer these questions purely within the realm of science, and without invoking any divine beings.” (p. 172) He draws his thoughts to a close by noting that “M-Theory is the only candidate for a complete theory of the universe … and this has yet to be proved.” (p. 181)

Key Ideas

M-Theory is the basic idea that our universe is actually not as unique as it might seem because it is simply one among many thousands created by random chance. M-Theory, however, is not testable, and even if it were, allows for any possible result, and therefore is not falsifiable. It also is dependent upon String Theory, which is also not testable but does not require M-Theory.

Because M-Theory is based on String Theory, and both theories are not falsifiable, or even testable, they fall outside the realm of true empirical science. Rather, they are a segment of what is known as “theoretical physics.” By allowing a series of assumptions which are not proven, neither can be, the author comes to the conclusion that our universe exists as one among many. However, he ultimately fails to answer the question of why and how our universe (and all the others) came to be. Rather than “solving the problem” of beginning, it was simply moved further away in space and time. Now, rather than not being able to explain the origin of one universe, he stands unable to explain the origin of many thousands of universes.

Finally, M-Theory suggests that anything that might be possible will eventually happen. As Brother Jeff Miller points out, this is like arguing that given enough monkeys and enough typewriters, you will eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare. However, even granted this position, it might be possible that a God like the one described in the Bible could exist (which possibility the author concedes multiple times in the book). Since that is possible, then according to M-Theory, in one of the many universes, that God would exist, and since that God is omnipresent across both time and space, He would exist in every universe, including our own.

Main Arguments

  1. Philosophy is dead, and science holds all the answers to life’s deepest questions.
  2. Therefore, the existence of the universe is approached from a philosophy of materialistic determinism and model-dependent reality.
  3. If the existence of the universe can be explained without invoking supernatural beings, then there is no reason to accept the existence of the supernatural.
  4. Although it is not testable, and cannot be proven, M-Theory could explain the existence of the universe without the supernatural.
  5. However, M-Theory demands the existence of dimensions and universes which are outside of this natural universe, i.e. supernatural.

Notable Quotes

“Traditionally these are questions for philosophy, but philosophy is dead.” (p. 5)

“There may be different ways in which one could model the same physical situation … one cannot be said to be more real than the other; rather we are free to use whichever model is most convenient.” (p. 7)

“Ignorance of nature’s ways led people in ancient times to invent gods to lord it over every aspect of human life.” (p. 17)

“If nature is governed by laws, three questions arise:

  1. What is the origin of the laws?
  2. Are there any exceptions to the laws, i.e., miracles?
  3. Is there only one set of possible laws?

… The answer traditionally given to the first question … was that the laws were the word of God… SO if we involve God in the answer to the first question, the real crunch comes with the second question: Are there miracles, exceptions to the laws?” (p. 29)

“Scientific determinism: Given the state of the universe at one time, a complete set of laws fully determines both the future and the past. This would exclude the possibility of miracles or an active role for God … It is, in fact, the basis of all modern science, and a principle that is important throughout this book.” (p. 30)

“… so it seems that we are no more than biological machines and that free will is just an illusion… since we cannot solve the equation that determines our behavior, we use the effective theory that people have free will.” (pp. 32-33)

“It might be that to describe the universe, we have to employ different theories in different situations. Each theory may have its own version of reality, but according to model-dependent realism, that is acceptable so long as the theories agree in their predictions whenever they overall.” (p. 117)

“The problem is, for our theoretical models of inflation to work, the initial state of the universe had to be set up in a very special and highly improbable way.” (p. 130)

“Time, however seemed to be like a model railway track. If it had a beginning, there would have to have been someone (i.e. God) to set the trains going … The realization that time can behave like another direction of space means one can get rid of the problem of time having a beginning.” (p. 134)

“We are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe. If one were religious, one could say that God really does play dice.” (p. 139)

“The fine-tuning in the laws of nature can be explained by the existence of multiple universes.” (p. 165)

“M-Theory is the only candidate for a complete theory of the universe … and this has yet to be proved.” (p. 181)

Value of the Book

The ideas set forth in the book are touted as the best and only atheistic answers to the questions concerning the origin and nature of the universe. As such, it behooves us as Christians to understand those ideas, and be able to think honestly and critically about them. Being able to enter a meaningful discussion about these theories, and then to demonstrate the logical fallacies of these ideas may very well be just the thing that is needed to bring a soul to Christ, or to keep one from leaving the Faith.

Works Cited

Hawking, Stephen and Mlodinow, Leonard. 2010. The Grand Design. First. New York : Bantam Books, 2010. p. 198. 9780553805376.

Miller, Jeff. 2017. 7 Reasons the Multiverse Is Not a Valid Alternative to God. apologeticspress.org. [Online] 2017. [Cited: January 11, 2018.] http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=5396#.

—. 2013. Can Quantum Mechanics Produce a Universe from Nothing? apologeticspress.org. [Online] 2013. [Cited: January 11, 2018.] http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=4584&topic=93#.

 

 

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