I still have a couple more posts up my sleeve for my series on Evolution versus Creation, but I just had to take a few moments to share with you about a Rebelution Conference I attended this Saturday.

You see, the Rebelution (started by Alex and Brett Harris) is a teen movement that encourages teens to rebel against the low expectations of today’s society and live their lives in such a way that glorifies God. For the past several years, they have been holding Conferences all over the U.S. and they use these opportunities not only to present their views on what God intended the teen years to be, but they also share the Gospel with those in attendance. Obviously, this part of the Conference is the most crucial, and many of the volunteers have been praying for a good response for quite some time. And do you want to know what we learned? God still answers prayer!

Instead of doing as most people do after presenting the Gospel, they did not ask those who had accepted Christ to simply raise their hand while everybody had their heads bowed and their eyes closed. Rather, they explained that if you could not publicly stand for Christ in an environment where other people would be excited for you and applaud, then you could not possibly stand for him when you went back to school, work, or even to a non-Christian family. Instead, they were asked to stand up  and shout, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” (No, I’m not kidding)

At first, there was a chilling silence. Nobody moved. In a room filled with nearly 2,000 people, you could have heard a pin drop. Then all of a sudden, somebody stood up and yelled, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” Then there was another, and another, and another. Before you knew what was happening, dozens and dozens of people were saying through tears, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” It was honestly the most beautiful sound I have ever heard, and I know for a fact that I’m not the only one who teared up. All told, about 200 people (out of the 1,905 in attendance) stood and made a public profession of faith that day. Some were teens, some were parents, and some were even volunteers – but either way, it was amazing.

Do you have an unsaved loved one in your life? If so, let me advise you not to neglect praying for them. It really works.

Let me begin by clarifying that I am by no means a scientist, nor an expert on fossils, DNA, or any of the other things I have been covering in this series. However, even from the little insight that I do have into these aspects of Creation, it is clear to me that random chance could not possibly produce them. I say this because, though I do have a few good points to make about DNA in relation to Evolution, keep in mind that a learned geneticist would probably have much more to say on the subject.

First of all, it is important to know that DNA is found in every living thing - even the simplest of single-celled organisms! To  put it as bluntly as possible, DNA tells our body how to operate. For instance, you could take all of the components that make up a human being and throw them in a pot, but you would not have a human; you would have a mess. DNA fixes that problem by storing information about our hair color, personality (and just about anything else you can think of), and then causes our body to function accordingly. In other words, DNA contains an immeasurable amount of complex information that is essential to our survival. Now picture this:

While walking through the field, you suddenly come across a CD. After looking it over for any sign of what it might contain, you head home and stick it in your computer. To your surprise, it is filled with information on how to build a bicycle. It tells you the exact measurements for the tires, the type of chain to use, and every other piece of information needed to build a state-of-the-art bike. But instead of realizing that the information on this disc was obviously stored there by an intelligent designer, you conclude that this disc, as well as the information it contains, is merely the result of random chance. When people question you about how this could possibly happen, you explain that natural deposits in the earth’s crust collected, forming the disc, and that magnetic fields somehow caused this information to be stored in its memory. Still, people are uncertain of your theory, so you further expound that, over a period of millions of years, it is in fact very possible. 

Thought this would be ridiculously absurd, DNA itself is more complex than any compact disc, and the information it contains is far more detailed than how to build a bicycle. Yet thousands of scientists consider it the product of Evolution. They give no credit to a Designer, despite the fact that DNA cannot form spontaneously  out of chemical elements. Yes, that’s right. Despite the common sense argument against evolution, Scientists must ignore their own laws in order to make their theory work. Doesn’t sound like Science to me!

A study of Creationism versus Evolutionism is not nearly complete without first giving careful consideration to the fossil record. If you are not familiar with fossils, consider them nature’s history book. They tell us what kind of animals existed in years past, and sometimes even such data as what they ate, and how they died. Naturally then, if Evolution is so widely accepted by Scientists, you would assume that fossils give at least some indication that evolution occurred, right? They don’t.    
                  

Consider the bat, for example. Many modern Scientists believe that this creature evolved from mice. They believe this despite the fact that no intermediary stages of this transition have been found in the fossil record! Hundreds of fossils have been found of mice, and hundreds have been found of bats – yet zero have been found of a mouse in the process of transitioning into a bat. Now if this were the only occurrence of a gap in the fossil record, I would probably be willing to let it slide. But the fact is, this is true for every suggested evolutionary process Science has suggested. You’ve heard of “the missing link”? Well this phrase is actually very misleading, for there would have to be hundreds of thousands of these links – and they are still looking for the first one! Most of what are termed “missing links” such as Lucy and Nebraska Man have been found to be hoaxes. Actually, Nebraska Man turned out to be nothing more than a pig’s tooth!
To quote Dr. Stephen Jay Gould, an evolutionist himself, ‘The absence of fossil evidence for intermediary stages has been a persistent and nagging problem for evolution.” You can tell me that Evolution is possible until your blue in the face,  but I don’t want theories; I want facts. Whether or not an animal could evolve is not the issue. I want proof that they did, and that proof just does not exist.

As a final thought, I’m going to close with this quote from Darwin himself,

“I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything; and to my astonishment the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion out of them!”

If I were going to become an Evolutionist, it would be helpful if the founder of the theory actually believed in it himself.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”                                                                                                                                                               -Genesis 1:1

The beginning of time has been the topic of heated discussion for centuries. Questions like “Where did we come from?” “What are here for?” and “Where are we going?” are not only popular concerns, but they are also completely valid. Who wouldn’t want to know whether they are the magnificent creation of a loving God Who cares for them deeply, or if they are in fact the product of a process called evolution that depends on nothing more than random chance. If the former, then they are created in the image of God Himself and are thus of great value; if the latter, then they are nothing more than a collection of molecules and atoms that find their origin in an abyssal pool billions of years ago (i.e. worthless). With such a stark contrast between our two options, you can see why this is such a controversial issue.

As Christians, it is our duty to know our beliefs and be able to defend them (I Peter 3:15). Sadly, many believers today have no facts whereby to defend their Creationist views. Yes, our faith might be enough for us and an individual, but those who have been raised to believe in Darwin’s theory will scoff at those who reject Science over faith. That is why I am going to devote the next few posts to equipping you to defend your Creationist views (assuming of course that you are a Christian). You’ll find that my posts will use pure Science as their backbone. I will reference Scripture only as necessary so you will be more likely to persuade even the most devout atheist against evolution. Once you have accomplished this, he or she will be more open to discussions about God and the Bible, and consequentially to salvation.

I’m going to touch on the obvious topics associated with evolution (such as the fossil record), as well as the not-so-obvious ( DNA, for example). As the type of person that could talk for hours about Creation Vs. Evolution, I’ll do my best to contain myself and keep this series to a moderate length. Be checking back very soon for the first post of what I hope to be a very exciting series.

Some may call  me a “holy roller” - this I can’t deny.

To live is Christ, to die is gain; with Him I’m crucified.

 

To go one day without Him, Oh what agony would bring!

But with Him daily by my side, my heart has learned to sing.

 

Sorrow often comes my way, of it I’ve tasted my fair share,

But come what may, no man can take what’s  waiting for me there.

 

On that side  of Jordan, no tears will fill my eyes

For former things will pass away, and Christ will be the light.

 

In that city beyond the clouds, there is no sorrow or despair:

Only peace and joy and love - how I hope to see you there!

Yesterday evening, I went over to my Aunt’s to do some yard work she had asked me to do, and one of my tasks was to clear out a flowerbed that had grown up into the likes of a small jungle. I knew this was probably the only time I would ever be given permission to weed-eat a flowerbed, and thus  I powered up my weed-eater and began demolishing everything in sight (note: it’s not as fun as it may sound). After a few minutes of this, the job was coming to a close. “Only a few more minutes, then I can head back to the house.” I told myself.

This pleasant outlook came to a screeching halt when I apparently disturbed a wasp’s nest of some kind (or that of some other stinging bug). All of  a sudden, my lip felt like it was on fire. I immediately dropped the trimmer (while it was still on), and began moving toward the front yard – all the while being stung again, and again. By the time I finally got away from whatever was chasing me, I was about halfway to my cousin’s pool – where I intended to go as a last resort. Thankfully, it turned out to be just one determined little wasp, rather than an entire swarm (though there was a very angry swarm of them flying all over the place in the very same spot where I was first stung).

My point behind all this? Stay away from sin. Just like a swarm of angry wasps, sin is hard to get away from once you’ve found yourself surrounded by it. In fact, the only way to be freed from it is to plunge headfirst into the blood of Jesus. No, unlike wasps, you can’t outrun it. You can’t hope that it will decide to just leave you alone. You’ve got to, without reserve, surrender your life to the One Who defeated sin.

You might think that sin will be fun, and for a while it might be; but sooner or later, you’ll get stung. And take my word for it, it hurts to get stung.

 

This has to be one of my all-time favorite songs. The other night there was a meteor shower and I just sat outside singing the second verse over and over, “I see your power in the moonlit night, where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright. We are amazed in the light of the stars, they’re all proclaiming Who You are: You’re beautiful.” 

I may not be as good as Phil Wickham, the one who sings the song, but I thought I’d make this post a little bit more personal and include a video of myself singing rather than just posting some video I found on the web. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

"And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp."

                                  -Numbers 11:1

We live in a society that has mastered the art of complaining. It doesn't seem to matter if we have been blessed with all that our heart could ever desire, we still find something to be unhappy about. But in reality, whether we are rich, poor, or anywhere in between, God has called each of us to contentment - something that does not mix with an attitude of dissatisfaction.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."

                                 -I Timothy 6:6

When somebody expresses a complaint, it is an indication that they are not satisfied with the way things are. All the blessings they have already received simply aren't enough; they've got to have more! But what many people fail to understand is that, as Paul says here, Godliness with contentment is gain in itself. You say you want more than you've got now? Then pray for contentment, and you'll have gained more than any earthly treasure could ever impart. You see, even if you had a nicer car, a bigger home, and a larger bank account, there would still be somebody out there who has more than you. Thus, you would still be discontent, desiring to have more. But when you are learn what it means to be content, it doesn't matter how much money you may or may not have, you are thankful and satisfied with what you've got.

In another passage, Paul admonished the Thessalonians, "In every thing give thanks." (I Thessalonians 5:18). This means that no matter our circumstance, we should still maintain a thankful attitude. If we are on a mountain, or trying to climb out of a valley, we should praise God all the way.

As of late, some of our close family has been in the process of moving. With moving being such a cumbersome task, we went over to their new house this morning to offer our assistance and, as the only guy in the house, I was granted the "privilege" of moving furniture. After rearranging the bedroom furniture at least three different times, my cousin offered me permission to use that experience as an illustration on my blog. And that's what I'm going to do.

First and foremost, it is important to note that moving furniture is not an easy task, though it is often necessary. Whether it is because of a recent change of address, or even just switching things around for a fresh look, things must be changed up a bit from time to time. In like manner, our priorities often need to be adjusted to make provision for new responsibilities that we are being faced with, while still taking care that we don't allow ourself to become too consumed with things that are of secondary importance to God and His Word. And just like a piece of heavy furniture, our priorities often usually put up a pretty good resistance when we attempt to move them. To illustrate this, let me share with you a story from my own life:

Over the past two months, I have been the Prayer Team captain of an upcoming Rebelution Conference. This requires me to devote several hours each week to fulfilling the various responsibilities associated with my position, such as planning prayer meetings, sending out e-mails which include encouragement and prayer requests, and even just praying for the Conference in general. Furthermore, I went back to school last week, which obviously takes up a lot of time as well. With that said, I obviously don't have as much time on my hands as I did at the beginning of summer. Times such as these require us to step back and take a good look at our priorities, and see what changes would be beneficial. Sometimes those changes leave us feeling renewed and refreshed; other times they leave us feeling inadequate and disheartened.

For me, my "furniture moving" required making some changes I wasn't too enthusiastic about. For instance, you've probably noticed that my devotions are now being posted only 2-3 times weekly, whereas I used to post them on a daily basis. Well the fact is, I found I was unable to keep up my personal relationship with God, fulfill the duties of Prayer Team captain, keep up with my chores, and maintain a good relationship with my family (not to mention other things), all the while writing a new devotional every single day. I just couldn't do it. While I'm hopeful that one day I'll be able to post daily devotions again, right now circumstances just won't allow it. In short, rearranging our priorities doesn't always mean weeding out frivolous things that waste our time; it often requires apportioning our time more appropriately among things that are not wrong at all, such as spending time with our family, reading the Bible, and other things of that nature.

Is their any pieces of "furniture" in your life that you need to move, or perhaps even remove completely? If so, remember that it won't be easy, but if you have God as your centerpiece, He'll show you where things belong. And not only that, but He'll help you move it if it is too heavy.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

                            -Proverbs 3:6

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee."

                            -Deuteronomy 16:17 

Edmond Burke once said, "No one made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." This means that no matter who you are, you can make a difference. It means that even if you aren't able to do much, what you can do is important and you are robbing yourself of countless blessings if you do nothing at all for fear of having little impact.

The truth is, none of us are able to do much on our own. I know of nobody who could single-handedly evangelize the entire world,  put an end to poverty, or even meet the needs of their own neighborhood entirely by themselves. In fact, I think that's the way God intended it to be. I mean if we could do all of that on our own, we'd be nearly helpless to the sin of pride - not to mention that the body of Christ is designed to operate as just that: a body, with each individual doing what they can.

The apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 8:12, "...if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." In other words, if we are eager to do something for the Lord, God doesn't look down on us and think about how little we'd really be able to do; He looks at what we He can do through us, and when God is working through us there are no limits to what He might accomplish.


Perhaps God has been trying to use you, but you feel all too insignificant, not seeing how on earth you could ever accomplish what He is calling you to do. If you're in that boat, I know how you feel. In fact, I've been there myself. But just remember, where God ordains, He sustains. He wouldn't call you to do something if it wasn't possible. Do what you can, and God will make up the difference.

"One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."

                            -John 6:8-9, 11-12

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings."

                            -Proverbs 1:5,6 

In this portion of Scripture, Solomon begins a long chain of proverbs on how to attain (and retain) wisdom. To speak personally, I always have a hard time reading an entire chapter of Proverbs at once because you could literally spend an entire day focusing on only one verse. To put it in the words of a pastor I once knew, "Proverbs is just so full of meat", and this verse is no exception.

Before he goes very far in his instruction, Solomon first speaks of the necessity of  "...understanding a proverb, and the interpretation." These words are a very fitting introduction to this 31 chapter book because, though it may be "full of meat", it won't do us a bit of good if we are unable to understand any of it. In the same way that a car is useless without its respective key, reading 100 chapters of Scripture per day is of little to no value if we lack the understanding whereby we may apply it.

In the 8th chapter of Acts, Philip came across a man reading the words of Isaiah the prophet. Notice, though, what he said in verse 30: "Understandest thou what thou readest?" No, he didn't inquire as to the number of chapters he'd read that day; he wanted to know if he understood it. Though it is imperative that we set aside a good amount of time each day for prayer and Bible study, we shouldn't feel guilty if the Lord speaks to us in such a way that we only end up reading a single chapter due to the deep meditation spent on a handful of verses. While some people boast of being able to read through the Bible in a short length of time, God isn't looking for speed-readers; He's looking for people who will study His Word earnestly and diligently, regardless of what their CPD (chapters-per-day) average is.

So here's my challenge to you: when you are done reading this post, go and open your Bible. Read the first chapter that you see, then come back and comment with a few words, not stating what you read, but what you learned. And as a word of advice, you might consider beginning your study with a prayer similar to David's: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Psalm 119:18)