paravanes:meditations

Is the Genesis creation account reasonable? Can any reasonable person trust this account of creation? How much of it is fable, fairy tale, or historical imagery? These are sensible questions, and ones I would expect of anyone who takes the time to consider the claims of Biblical Christianity. Despite the mockery and teasing sometimes attached to those who trust in and believe the Genesis account, there are some good reasons to trust the reliabilty of what's written there. Let's look at four reasons why embracing the Genesis creation account can bring believers peace of mind, confidence, insight on how to live well, and a deep understanding of our origin and our purpose. The Genesis account says God formed human persons, called "man" in some translations, from the soil of the earth.  It makes sense to me that, based on this account, people who lived in Africa--the place science says the earliest human persons lived--had brown skin, similar to the soil from whi...

Earlier this month, I sat at a small table and enjoyed an unexpected conversation with two people I've known for quite a while. Not surprisingly, the topic moved to the so-called "problem of evil." I'm not a philosopher or a theologian, but I don't think you have to be either of these to consider or be disturbed by the problem of evil. Also, I don't think you have to be either of these to want a reasonable way to think about why evil exists alongside the presence of a loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful God. The faithful, the agnostic, and the atheist have struggled with or attempted to outline or answer the problem of evil for a very long time. Some have suggested there is no God. This approach solves the question of why a loving and all-powerful God would allow evil, but doesn't address the question of what to do about evil or even why evil is defined in certain ways. Evil is usually attached to thoughts or experiences that make us sad or creat...

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, e  just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith." - Romans 1:16 and 17 Do you and I feel as free as we should to share our faith? Do we anticipate "sharing our faith" means arguing, straining to convince the uninterested of what may seem  (to them) to be irrelevant or unimportant?  Witnessing isn't about debating or convincing; it's about a natural sharing of life experience. If witnessing begins to feel like anything else, it's no longer witnessing. Tell what you know and what you have experienced. Leave the results to God. This is what stress-free witnessing feels like. It can become a way of life.  It should be one of our highest joys. Begin and end your day with the verses f...