Time-travel: Wanna go?

Take a Quantum Leap with me…

                                … back to the year 30 AD

Yes – we’re talking time travel!  The thing of science fiction, Hollywood and nerd  scientists.  Between H. G. Wells and Albert Einstein scientists and fiction writers opened our minds and consciousness simulating our imaginations, releasing scores of dreams and visions.The speed of light – the laws of space and time – the theory of relativity – quantum physics – Casimir energy – Einstein-Rosen bridges – black holes – phantom Energy – Kerr Rings – wormholes – cosmic strings – Alcubierre drives – quantum foam… lions and tigers and bears – oh my!  

And we haven’t even thought about the ‘time-travel’ paradoxes yet!

“Paradox,” you say. “What a ‘time-travel’ paradox?”

Nothing much – just think about a time traveler going back in time to kill himself as an infant. If he were to do so, he never would have grown up to go back in time to kill himself as an infant, so how could he….  But, that can’t happen you say. I know…I know.

Oh yes – our imaginations are soaring (as well as national aspirin sales).

Believe it or not, it’s easy to travel in time – going forward. You see, travelling at or near the speed of light transports you into the future!  Oh yes – it’s pure physics.

So, to travel in time – all one has to do is travel fast – very, very fast!

The fastest manned vehicle in history was Apollo 10 which traveled at speeds of 25,000 miles per hour.    To travel forward in time you only have to go 2000 times faster than that. Go any slower and you’ll be sucked into a black hole.

This is due to a strange fact about the universe. There’s a cosmic speed limit, 186,000 miles per second, also known as the speed of light. Nothing can exceed that speed. It’s one of the best established principles in science.

Ok – so what’s the problem?   Well – to travel backwards in time – now that’s a different story…

If you think about it, we’re all constantly engaged in the act of time travel. At its most basic level, time is the rate of change in the universe — and like it or not, we are constantly undergoing change. The planets move around the sun, the sun moves in the galaxy, you and I age – things change.

We measure the passage of time in seconds, minutes, hours and years, but this doesn’t mean time flows at that nice convenient, constant rate. Just as the water in a river rushes or slows depending on the size of the channel, time flows at different rates in different places. In other words, time is relative.

So time travel comes down to the relationship between time and space. Human beings exist in three spatial dimensions of length, width and depth. Time joins the party as that most crucial fourth dimension. Time can’t exist without space, and space can’t exist without time. The two exist as one: the space-time continuum. Any event that occurs in the universe has to involve both space and time.

Just think about this: The Milky Way galaxy is roughly 100,000 light-years wide, so light from its more distant stars can take thousands upon thousands of years to reach Earth. So, seeing that light is essentially looking back in time. When astronomers measure the cosmic microwave background radiation, they are staring back more than all of known time into a primordial cosmic age. Yes – that’s time travel – my friend – time travel.

While there’s nothing in Einstein’s Theory of Relativity that precludes time travel, it’s not as simple as turning a dial on some shaking contraction       or stepping into a ‘wardrobe’. Further, once the science is addressed and overcome (yeah- right!), the very premise of pushing a button and going back to yesterday violates the law of causality, better known as cause and effect.

You know ‘cause and effect’ – the idea that when an event happens in our universe, it leads to yet another event in an endless one-way string of events. Here’s the law: In every instance, the cause occurs before the effect – at least in our universe it does. Think not?Just try to imagine a different reality, say, in which a murder victim dies of his or her gunshot wound before being shot. It violates reality as we know it; thus, many scientists dismiss time travel into the past as an impossibility.

But – is that the end of the story?  ….Or is it just the beginning….

A clay tablet dating from the 1st Century in ancient Israel is uncovered.

 There is writing on it – a name – in English – from the 21st Century!!!

      Solving the mystery of the Pyramids…

“David…what do you know about the pyramids?” Alex asked.

“Not much, about what most people know, I guess.”

“And what would that be?”

“Well, let’s see, they’re in Egypt; built by the pharaohs thousands of years ago, as their burial tombs.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” he said. “Oh, they were built by slaves, and Charleston Heston set them free. You know, “let my people go.”

Alex failed to see the humor, “Yes, it makes good theater, seeing hundreds of slaves pulling a massive block of stone up a ramp on the side of a pyramid—but it’s all rubbish…”

Alex shook his head in disgust, “The world has been fed a diet of lies and deception about the pyramids and has swallowed it hook, line and sinker. It’s insulting to the ingenuity of these great structures, the lack of respect they receive.” Pushing back from the table, he stood, “it’s all there, in front of our eyes, the ancient ones left it all in place for us to see and we refuse to. The pyramids have stood as open scrape books of their civilization, and we reject their existence.” He paused, looking directly at David, “do you realize there is no modern engineering feat that comes close to the pyramids?”

“…Because the pyramids look like a pile of rocks, people tend to dismiss them. There are over 2 million blocks in the Great Pyramid of Giza alone, some weighting upwards of 70 tons. That pyramid stood 481 feet high with each side measuring 756 feet with a maximum deviation of less than 1 inch. The sides are curved in to match the curvature of the earth and rise at a precise angle of 51⁰ 52’ with a deviation of less than five-hundreds of one percent of degree. Amazing, since people didn’t even believe the earth was round until thousands of years later…

“…I could go on with more facts about the construction of each of the three major pyramids in Egypt that would confound your modern engineering mind, but their construction is only the tip of the iceberg, just the beginning of the marvel. There is a much greater mystery to them. How the pyramids were built is a question that’s asked repeatedly, but it’s the wrong question. A better question is: ‘Why were they built?’ Why are they scattered randomly across the middle of open desert? Such a massive construction effort…why?”

“I can tell you for certain why they weren’t built. They weren’t built to be tombs. Not only have no mummies ever been found in them, but they wouldn’t go to so much detail, precision and work to build a tomb in the desert. And, it’s my opinion; they never contemplated such a thing because…they never planned on dying. They intended to live forever.”                (except from “Beneath the Turbulence”)

        …the code of the Zodiac Constellations…

“To understand the pyramids David, we need to put aside the material marvel they are and look at the cosmic marvel they are, something Allen showed me.”

“…The Great Pyramid was aligned, by its architects, to be exactly one-third the distance between the equator and the North Pole and is an exact mathematical relationship of the dimensions of the earth. This is truly remarkable for people who didn’t know the earth was round, much less the true size and shape of it! Its north-south axis is aligned to within three-sixtieths of a single degree of true north. David, that’s more accurate than the Greenwich Observatory in London! To position a structure that covers over 53,000 square meters to that precision is not possible today; so how was it done then? The pyramids are a precise mathematical model of the earth. Again, it begs the questions, not only how, but why? Why be so precise for a mausoleum sitting in the middle of the desert? A tomb? Calling the Great Pyramid a tomb is like calling the Buckingham Palace an outhouse. I could spend the next week with scores of facts that would prove false any contention that they were built as tombs by the Pharaohs of Egypt. We haven’t the time for that, and it’s not necessary to show you what they’re not built for—I’d rather show you what they were built for…”

“…The Sphinx had the body of a lion and the head of a man, crouching there, for thousands of years. Why David? What’s it doing? What’s it for? Why was it built? It’s not placed randomly but is precisely aligned with the rising horizon to the east. Precisely David, not close—but exact. Again it begs the questions, ‘Why bother? Why use such unwieldy sizes and materials? Why such precision? Why such meticulous design? Why?”                                                         (except from “Beneath the Turbulence”)

…and a unique form of gold found on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission…

All come together in a travel corridor—a corridor that goes back 2000 years to                   the year 30AD – to the time of Jesus of Nazareth.

“So, if I’m not a time traveler, and didn’t write those tablets—then who did?”

“But David, who said you didn’t write them?” He was surprised it was Allen who spoke.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Your interrogation proved I didn’t do it.”

Allen answered meticulously, measuring every word as if listing the factors of a     mathematical equation, “That’s correct…it proved…you… didn’t do it…yet.”

David was stunned, “Yet? What’s that mean? You still think I did it?”

“No…we think you…will do it.”

“But, you said you believed me that I don’t have a time machine.”

“That’s true; we believe you have no such device.”

“Yet, you think somehow I came here from 2000 years ago?”

“No, we believe you came here from now, but you’re going to go back to 2000 years ago.”

…David looked around at the group, “You guys have built a time machine, haven’t you? That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”

“No, we haven’t built a time machine, and I don’t believe such a machine can be built,” Allen answered, “but we may have found a time machine, and have figured out how to use it and how such travel was done.”   (except from “Beneath the Turbulence”)

Is this for real?  Is this a hoax?  Or a ruse – hiding a terrorist cell planning massive mayhem and destruction?

A determined group of scientists wants to know. An avowed atheist, also want to reluctantly know…and the Department of Homeland Security wants to know.

Travel with this dysfunctional team as they journey through this time corridor to 1st Century Israel, dodging Egyptian warriors, Roman legionnaires and a country in turmoil, to find the evidence of who the man called Jesus really was. Was he a crazed man with his own agenda? A deluded prophet? A liar and fraud? Or was he actually who he claimed to be – the Son of God?

An uninvited traveler journeys with them, bent on a private mission of revenge and personal glory. If they can make the return journey back to the 21^st Century, what they discover and reveal will not only impact the world but will change each of their lives for eternity.  

“Beneath the Turbulence” – an exciting, simulating and invigorating story of time-travel and history is presented in two volumes, both volumes are included in the book. 

Volume One: “The Journey” describes the science driving the journey back in time, coupled with the suspense of evading the Department of Homeland Security, who considers them potential terrorists. ,

Volume Two: “The Journal” chronicles the trials and adventures encountered while seeking the truth of Jesus traveling in First Century Egypt and Israel under Roman rule.

Click on the cover to get your copy today.

      Until Next time – Embrace your Bridges – for they define who you are.

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A First Century Mystery

A Roman Tribune plays the role of Columbo in the most famous game of “CLUE” known to the world, called – “Where’s the body?”

We all know the story of the empty tomb – the excited women – the missing “Messiah”. That is – we all know it from that side of the tomb.

But, what was it like from the other side? The Roman side of an empty grave? The tomb that was sealed with the Roman Governor’s seal and guarded with Roman soldiers?

‘RISEN’ has taken up the challenge in resolving the mystery.

“I’m yet sticky with filth.”  

Thus said the Tribune Clavius when summoned to Pontius Pilate. And thus sets our understanding of Clavius’s soul – ‘yet sticky with filth’.

Clavius, a role portrayed with depth and sensitivity by Joseph Fiennes, is accustomed to brutality, bloody combat and death, but not without a price. He is drained, depleted, battle weary and emotionally dead. In the opening battle scene, he brutally kills a Jewish rebel leader, named Barabbas.  (“Barabbas”? Is that coincidental or is that God’s way of evening up the score?) The constant gore and butchery of quelling those pesky Jewish insurrections in a remote, desolate land far from the ‘action’ of Rome, has taken its toll, robbing him of hope and peace, leaving him numb and yearning for nothing more than…

“…a day without death.”  

Upon returning to the Antonio Fortress, (interestingly placed below the old city of Jerusalem), his day isn’t quite over yet.  He is summoned by the Governor, something that happens all too often. It seems Pilate “has a situation” and he needs Clavius to tidy up the loose ends. Those “raving Jews” wanted a man named Yeshua, who claimed to be the “messiah” disposed of.

“I had to crucify him,” Pilate says almost regrettably, (a sentiment one finds hard to accept knowing the history of this brutal dictator who crucified and slaughtered thousands).

Clavius ensures that Yeshua is dead and securely buried in a sealed tomb with Roman guards posted.

End of story – right?

No – of course not – it’s only the beginning. The inevitable happens – the body doesn’t remain in the tomb.

Let the games begin – after all – we can’t have dead people walking about – can we?

“We must find the body,” Pilate raves. “Find the corpse of this cursed Yeshua before it rots.”

Exploded frayed ropes – two anemic looking drunken guards – discarded, bloody grave clothes – a stone tossed aside – lies and bribes from the Sanhedrin – all lead to …nothing…no body.

Does Clavius ever find his missing body?   Oh yes – with a little twisting of the arm and a bag of coins, Yeshua’s disciples are found. And they did, in fact, have the body with them.

Only – the body isn’t dead, but is very much alive, and in a scene straight out of The Twilight Zone, this hardened Roman warrior melts into the stone wall as he encounters the true power of God in the flesh. This moment just happens to coincide with the arrival of ‘doubting’ Thomas. While he probes the wounds in the wrists and side of the Messiah, the eyes of a smiling Yeshua probe deep into the soul of the Tribune.

What do you do when you encounter the impossible? He does the only thing he can do – he follows the walking dead man. In this case it means following the followers of Yeshua, like a stray, lost dog; finding acceptance among them, and ultimately – friendship.

When finally he is alone with the murdered, living man, Yeshua asks him what he seeks in life, and then answers his own question: 

“A day with no death?”

Clavius leaves all behind – to travel a new road – to places we know not of – but with a new found peace, after witnessing the ascension of Jesus and hearing His great commission.

We are set up for a sequel – as we know not where Clavius is going or what roads lie ahead for him.

‘Risen’ is excellent historical fiction that intertwines Biblical scripture with “what might have been”.  The historical is historical and the fiction is fiction – and in those scenes where the two intermix, the purity of the Scriptures was not compromised. One area where liberties were taken, was the reference to Mary Magdalene being a quite popular “woman of the streets”.  This was based on church tradition and finds no merit in Scripture.

The battle scene, Roman soldier dress, weapons and warfare was as realistic as ever shown, and Jewish culture along with Sanhedrin attire and demeanors were portrayed as accurately as history tells us.

The portrayal of crucifixions reflected the known information of such executions.

Jesus is shown smiling, laughing and gracious. He is a miracle worker and His disciples love Him as their father and leader. When Bartholomew (who would have fit right in on a California beach as a surfer dude) is threatened with crucifixion himself, he spreads open his arms and laughingly replies: “I would happily submit”.

Clavius sums it all up by leaving his life behind, saying “I believe. I can never be the same.”

‘Risen’ does something the previous stories of Jesus failed to do: it makes the non-believer pause and think about the resurrection from an outsider perspective. It’s not the usual scenes of blinding lights and rolling thunder with the women running about in alarm. No, rather it presents a barren, empty tomb and proceeds to answer the question that Pontius Pilate asked:

“How could he follow a Hebrew?”

Watching Clavius undergo a life-altering transformation, leads us to one answer – the one that Lucius, Clavius’s protégé, hesitantly offers to Pilate:

“Perhaps it is true.”

Amen – brother – Amen.

                            Until Next time – Embrace your Bridges – for they define who you are.

 

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The Redwood – Revisited

In September of 2013, I published a post entitled  “Let us be Redwoods” . Please take a moment to click on it and then come on back, ok?  I’ll wait here for you….

….Okay – ready?   Thanks.

Last week, 2 1/2 years after the original post, I reposted it? Why you may ask?

Good question – it’s one  I asked myself while doing it without really knowing the answer.

“Why am I resending this?”

For some reason I felt a strong pull inside telling me to repost it. It literally, popped into my head to do it. Weird.

In addition to that, for the last few weeks the ‘Shema‘ has been on my mind.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up…”  Deuteronomy 6:4-8

Yesterday, I think I heard the answer.

“ONE” was the message spoken by my pastor this morning. He quoted the opening of the ‘Shema’ and also these words prayed by Jesus:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.“  John 20:20-21

Th mighty oak is a strong and powerful tree. It’s roots burrow deep into the ground – 30, 40 even 50 feet down in the earth, grabbing firm in a death-defying life grip. When the storms come, with the turbulence, the assault and the violence, they bend, twist, crack and snap in the raging, swirling winds.

And though they are mighty and stong, the tree can break free from its grip on the earth, and slowly, steadedly pull up and away from the deep roots, tearing up the ground, cracking, ripping, smashing –  crashing  to the forest floor in a hunderous explosion of  brokenness, destruction and death.

Do you know how high 300 feet is straight up?  It’s a football field stood on end.

The Statue of Liberty is 305 feet high.

How high is The Leaning Tower of Pisa?                        The Capitol Building?                    The Tower of Big Ben?

Redwood trees grows to heights greater than 300 feet – exceeding 360 and 370. Imagine a single tree towering over our Lady of Liberty!  Here – take a look…

If we were to design such a tree, our ‘educated’, logical, scientific brains would think that we drive the roots of the Redwood down into the bowels of the earth itself in order to keep it standing during the storms (storms? just sheer weight and gravity should make it topple over like a top!).  But, as we know – that is not the case. Their roots are only two to three feet deep!  Can you imagine a 370 foot tree being supported and held up by 3 feet of roots? It defies logic – science and engineering. Think if the Leaning Tower of Pisa only had a two foot foundation!

The Redwood Tree is not only an amazing example of God’s creative genius and power, but it’s the revealed answer to God’s riddle of “ONE”!

“No way” – you say. In the forest there are many redwood trees and each are individual, stand alone trees. “Ain’t no riddle there mister, sorry  don’t see the connection  fella.

Oh, but our eyes only see on the surface – it’s under the surface that we find the answer to the Redwood’s success – and it’s there where we find the  “ONE”.

Yes – there are many Redwood trees – that’s the beauty of it – they survive.  Many trees – and each is an individual – each tall, straight and strong. Each having its own root system. It’s shallow, to be sure – only digging 2 to 3 feet into the earth – but those roots spread out – interwine – connect – even fuse with the roots of its neighbor – forming – you guessed it –  “ONE”  unified, solid community foundation where “ONE” supports “ALL” and “ALL” supports “ONE”.

When the storm rages against any single tree – it’s raging against the community – against a unified mat that withstands and defeats any and all storms. God’s love is the sap that fuses the roots together!

And here’s another thought to chew on:   High above – overhead in the sky – the redwoods form a protective canopy – a covering – that shelters the oak, the pine, the hemlock and the beech tree – providing them cover from the storm. Think of those trees with the deep roots – that are looked to for their fruit – (our pastors and leaders) – they have refuge and shelter under the canopy of the shallow rooted redwoods (the flock)!

Scripture tells us to be “rooted” in the word and to “love” one another with the “love of God”. That “love” is the ‘sap’ that flows through the roots, fusing and joining together all the community of God.

What a marvelous mystery God has given us!

Until Next time – Embrace your Bridges – for they define who you are.

 

 

 

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FAWN Thanksgiving!

It’s the time of Thanksgiving! 

The harvest is full – creation is vibrant, overflowing with a bounty of blessings. The scent of crisp apples – fills the air while field after field of corn, soybean, cabbage and potatoes  – fill the silos…  

 

Large, orange pumpkins are magically being transformed into spicy, sweet pies…

 

Turkeys run in fear – knowing their time is short…

 

And we rejoice in the richness of blessings our God has provided for us.

Yes – it’s Thanksgiving and we have much to be thankful for, and from all of us at

 – we extend our sincerest wish that you and yours have a…

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Joyful – Enriching – and Happy Thanksgiving 2013.

And while we are thankful –  let us never forget those who are hurting…

…those among us who have suffered setbacks and huge financial and personal losses from fires, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, mud-slides and natural disasters of all sorts and types creating tragedies, loss of property and most of all – loss of loved ones.

Our hearts go out to you and we feel your sorrow and your pain – but we also feel your strength.

And let us not forget that… 

Monday – November 11^th is Veterans Day –

No – it’s not a bargain shopping day – it’s a day for us to show honor – appreciation and to give thanks for those who, across the years, from one war zone to another, heard and answered the call – paying the price – for the freedoms we hold, enjoy and cherish so dearly. Freedom doesn’t come without a price. To those who fought the fight yesterday and to those who continue to fight the fight today – across the oceans – on foreign soil…to those who returned home whole and well – and to those who returned home not well in body or mind, and…lastly…to those who didn’t return home….

…we honor you!            

   

Thank you veterans – you men and women who heard the call – who felt the need and who said:

 

“Here am I – send me.”

May God bestow a special blessing upon you and your families.

And we must not forget, in our prayers and in our hearts, those who are persecuted…

 locked up against their will, away from their families, who will see no Thanksgiving dinner – no pumpkin pie – feel no hugs or kisses. Those who are beaten, abused and left in a dark, disease ridden hole – those who are tortured, gunned down and murdered for nothing more than what they think, believe and hold dear.

Each of us must always stand against tyranny and against those who work to destroy the human mind, seeking to kill that human spirit that thirsts after truth. Whether it’s our own belief or others – we must never allow the freewill to be stomped on. God gave us that gift and once we step over onto that slippery slope – then there is no belief that is safe.

And let us never forget those who simply have nothing to be thankful for – and never have had.

Those millions upon millions of helpless victims of AIDS, starvation, malnutrition and inhuman treatment by their fellow man. Those countless children born into misery – born into death – having no hope for joy in life.

We must never forget them – for they only have – those who remember them.

  

It is only through our compassion and love for our fellow men and women that we can bring joy to others but also find that inner peace that comes with finding our own purpose and happiness.

When the final rolls are called – we must be found vigilant and working diligently for those who cannot do so for themselves…

.

…until that day when all will rejoice!

 Yes – we are thankful at FAWN for what we have and who we are.

We are thankful we are able to respond to our fellow man.

And we are thankful for you.

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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Scientists and Believers – Why is there a War?

The war rages on and on…

…battle lines are drawn…blood is spilled…

On the one hand are the science followers who believe in theories of time-based creation and evolution, ignoring basic foundations and the lack of supporting evidence. (In fact, there are two separate schools of science ‘religion’. One requires billions of years for things to occur, while the other requires only thousands.) Science argues with science and both argue with faith.

On the other hand are the Bible fundalmentalists who insist upon a simple 7-day creation and ignore any legitimate evidence that challengenes their interpretation of it.

And both sides ignore the facts of history in front of them. For example, as the world was emerging from the stone age, the Great Pyramids were already thousands of years old, constructed with a curvature that exactly matches the earth and laid out to duplicate the Milky Way 10,500 years ago. How was this done?  Who did this? Who knew the world was round? It wouldn’t be proven until thousands of years later. Who knew about a Milky Way and why duplicate it in the desert? How were they built by primitive people to stand for thousands of years, when they can’t be duplicated with today’s technology and engineering? Is there a connection between them and our existence?

They have no answers, but do these questions stop them? No. Both sides ignore these things, rationalize them away and continue to persist in their own dogmatic, preconceived beliefs, spending their energy on calling each other names.

The dogma that scientists follow in uncovering pre-history is as stated by J.V.N. Talmage,  “The archaeological finds of pre-historic cultural objects must be so arranged that the cruder industries must always be dated earlier than those of a more advance type, regardless of where they are found.”

Uh -oh! Doesn’t it wrinkle the old parchment now when “very advanced” civilizations are discovered – beneath the layers of prehistoric civilizations! Whups – let’s just ignore that civilization.

The conventional theories of science are problematic in that they offer wild theories and guesses without proof or logic. A ‘spark’ caused a ‘big bang’ to occur, somehow and at some time that in someway started everything in motion.  No one knows when, how or from where that initial ‘spark’ came from and theories come and go like idols in Hollywood.

Species evolved from nothing and then cross evolved somehow, although there is no evidence of this. There is no fossil evidence of evolution between species. Yet the world believes it without question. (Actually, new findings tend to disprove cross-species evolution.) The proof of ‘macro-evolution’ is not forthcoming. The proof of evolution is ‘micro-evolution’ – changes within a species –  and that’s adaptation. As new discoveries are made and new facts come to light, the timelines get re-juggled and fossil histories are rearranged to fit into the already preconceived ideas and theories.

On one hand, there is much evidence of the universe being millions or even billions of years old, even given the flaws and distortions of carbon dating methods. But religious fundamentalists refuse to consider this and only generate discord, dissent with a spew of useless words defending their position and condemning the person presenting.

On the other hand there is no true evidence of life being that old, only of it being thousands of years old – a mere flicker in the hands of time.

There is massive amounts of evidence to show early forms of ‘humanoid’ type of beings on earth, that predate 7000 years and the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. How is this reconciled? Biblical accounts themselves, leave open the idea and possibilities of other ‘people’ existing at the time of Adam and Eve. For example, Who did Cain marry? And who was Cain ‘fearful’ of? Who were the people of ‘Nod’? Rather than take an open and honest look at these things, fundamentalists dig in and conjure up a web of fantasy.

Are the ‘experts’ on either side, willing to step out of their strongholds and look at evidence openly and objectively? Apparently, not. Bible ‘scholars’ and scientists alike, are too busy defending their paradigms and calling one another names, rather than attempting to piece the puzzle together.  Both sides create their own puzzles and if a piece is in the wrong place – they’ll force it in and defend it to the death!

But, is science and the Bible really irreconcilable? Or could (should ?) there be agreement? If the Bible is the account of creation and God, and science is the understanding of creation – then shouldn’t science confirm and support the Biblical accounts?

When Bible scholars ignore science, they become entrenched in their stories they speculate and go to ridiculous extremes to rationalize their faith and claims. They make science the enemy and turn the Bible into mythology.

When science tries to answer the questions without including God, then it becomes derogatory and condescending and becomes a religion of its own worshipping its own theories. It generates speculation – turns the speculation into theory and then worships its own theories. It makes religion the enemy and speculation becomes faith.

There should be no “enemy”.

We must always keep two things in mind.

First:  Science does not determine whether the Bible is true or not true.

The “latest” word in science has never been the “last” word in science.

The newest discovery or breakthrough, no matter how earth shattering will itself be refuted, revised or rejected when the next discovery or breakthrough comes out that “blows our mind”.  The thing that science does the best is to correct, disprove, and replace existing misunderstanding and misconceptions while generating new speculations. It’s good for disproving things but not very good at proving things. Over time, theories build upon theories and gradually a picture begins to form, but the picture is always fuzzy, distorted with many portions missing.  Science is an ongoing, work in progress – it is not an end product. 

Theories change every year. Currently the “Big Bang”, the “Oscillating” and the “Steady State” theories are in vogue. Every few years someone new comes along and throws out some new idea. But they all have one thing in common – they don’t know what, how, when or where the original “spark” came from.

Science leaves a void – the big question of “Why?” No animals consider those questions – only humans. Why is that? There are four essential things that science cannot explain regardless of what theories it proposes:

                1. It cannot bridge the gulf between ‘nothing’ to ‘something’.

2. It cannot bridge the gulf between something and life.

3. It cannot bridge the gulf between life and humanity – self-conscious life with free will.

4. It cannot answer “Why”. Why is there life? Why did life begin? What’s the purpose of life?

So, it takes the easy way out and states, “Well, that’s not the job of science, that’s religion’s job.” Then they attack religion.

I beg to differ. Science is discovering and understanding the world and universe around us. Why and how that universe is there is precisely the goal of science and of humans.

Second: The Bible is not a science book. It’s not written or designed to explain the how’s and when’s of everything. The Biblical account of creation is not a scientific thesis. It is not designed to explain creation to us – it’s designed to tell us the story of salvation.

The problem with understanding the Bible is that we read it from a modern perspective with modern language, modern interpretations, modern understandings and modern scientific principles.  But, is that the way it was written? Were those the understandings of the writer? What was the writer’s perspective? How did his language express that perspective? What was the writer’s purpose? All scripture is given by God – but are all translations? Are all interpretations? Of course not – we’ve watched them change down through the centuries and now there are over 50 different translations and we watch as different groups clinging to different translations as being the only “perfect” one over all the others.

I believe to understand the creation account as given in Genesis – one must understand what it meant to the writer. To do that, one must research the original texts, how they were written, the language used, the time it was written and the purpose of the writings. I’m not sure we can do that, but Jewish scholars will be the most reliable sources.

In general, Biblical creation is based on faith.

In general, scientific theory is based on speculation.

With the inability of science to prove its theories, science speculation is becoming increasingly based on faith.

If we say that the initial “spark” of life or existence came from God, it’s ridiculed. But, is that any more mythical than the scientific theories of creation? Think that’s hard to believe and accept? Well then try believing and accepting that somehow, someway and at some time a live cell, a little amoeba (that no one knows where it came from or how it came to be in existence) crawled out of a sea (that no one knows where it came from or how it came to be) unto land (that no one knows where it came from or how it came to be) and transformed itself into a tadpole – into a bird – into a dinosaur – into a primate, into a human – all by the simple magic of ‘time‘, even though there is no proof or evidence of such changes ever occurring. And, of course, everything had to be just perfect for all this to happen, temperatures, air, water, nutrition, etc. and we don’t know where all that came from or how it’s controlled either;  and of course they had to survive these changes, even though it’s impossible to exist without them; for all these things to have happened. But by saying the magic words  “given enough time abbra cadabbra kazaam! anything can happen, let it be so!”  And somehow it happened.

That’s kind of out there, wouldn’t you say? I predict that, if the world lasts, it won’t be long before the theory of evolution will go the way of the dinosaur and all the current “experts” will be touting a new theory – one that they’ll all cling to as ‘gospel’, and one which will not include God. After all, that’s what the war is all about, isn’t it? You see, if we accept a creator, then we must accept an authority. That’s the part that really troubles men.

What if…

…the universe came into existence billions of years ago.

…but life (as we know it) only came into existence within the last 10000 years?

…Genesis 1:1 is a true account of creation…

…but it’s not the whole story?

…Genesis 1:2 – 2:3 is a real 24 hour, seven-day account of creation…

…but it’s not about the same creation…

…but rather a second creation?

What if there were two separate creations, one a long time ago and the other only a few thousand years ago – separated by millions or billions of years?

The issue between science and Bible is not which story of creation is right – the issue is what did God want to tell us in the story of creation? What’s its purpose?

Well – Light the torches…and stoke up the fires – let the witch burnings commence.

 

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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Who Winds Your Clock?

All my life I’ve had trouble with clocks…

…Trying to keep them running – wound up – on time – not stopping… seems like clocks and me… well…kinda like oil and water.

It’s been an ongoing battle. One I don’t think I’ve ever won for more than a few minutes (hmm… with out having a working clock I’m not sure how long actually…).

I tried the wind-up ones that I could never “wind-up” quite properly. They were always in need of winding or I was over-winding.

Electric? Every time I had one of them and set it right – there’d be a power failure.

Going digital didn’t help – I’d come home to a house full of flashing digits! Not only ‘clock – clocks’ – but television clocks – radio clocks – microwave oven clocks – dryer – washer clocks you know what I mean – you’ve been there.

Going battery-powered didn’t help – clocks either ran slow or stopped, and I never had the right battery on hand. When I did…well changing the battery was usually the end of the watch…

I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t like wristwatches – they always seemed confining and heavy (I know, I know – they only weigh a couple of ounces, but when you don’t want or like something – doesn’t it always get heavier and heavier?) They have those tiny little knurled knobs to pull out and spin around in your fingers making the hour and minute hands dance across the face (I always have trouble with those little knobs. They seem to get lost in my fat fingers all the time.) The digital ones weren’t any better – I don’t know about you but I need a pin to push those little buttons!) I use a watch that clips onto my pants. Yeah – same knurled knobs – but bigger. Have a hard time keeping them – I think my Dry Cleaner has a collection of them.

Anyway – trying to keep one working – and staying within +/- 24 hours of actual time – has been a losing battle for me.

Well the other day – I was given an…

ATOMIC CLOCK –

You ever see one of this things?

There is a battery – but it’s charged by solar power – and there are no adjustment knobs – only one switch (a big one too!) on the back, that says “ON” and “OFF”. Hey I like this already!

Well – getting it home, I flipped that switch to “ON” and hung it on the wall.

WOW! It was something to watch (pun intended). 

At first it didn’t do anything.  Then it moved around in a half circle – stopped – moved backwards a quarter circle – then stopped again. I shrugged my shoulders and began walking away thinking “yeah, just like all the rest”, when I heard a whirring sound and turned back. The minute hand was moving around the face of the clock – fast – then faster and faster. The hour hand followed trying to catch up.

The darn thing is demon possessed!

It traveled around covering every hour of the day, until it came to the hour it was and the hour hand stopped like it hit a brick wall. The minute hand began slowing down, slower and slower until it ticked its way to the actual minute it was! (How do I know, you ask? Well, I turned on my trusty cell phone and -Yup! Right on the money!)

The giant, solar-powered computer in the sky was keeping it on track!

Amazing.

I went around the house and set every clock to it.

“Okay, so what?” you say?

Well, I got to thinking – it’s kinda like me, isn’t it?

I try to keep myself powered up and adjusted to the place I think I should be, and I either ‘forget to wind’ myself, ‘overwind‘ myself, can’t manage those little knobs and buttons of my life and personality and end up broken. Inaccurate – stalled – or experiencing a power failure, ending out of control, flashing mindlessly and useless to anyone needing me!

I found that I’m not good at being my own power source – can’t really wind my own controls or set myself.

But, by allowing the ‘solar-power’ in the sky to power me and to adjust me – spinning my hands around – clearing out all the inaccuracies in my heart and mind – until I’m powered up, accurate and running “like a clock”.

The Master Clock is in control and I get the proper instruction and after spinning my gears round and round, I run precisely and perfectly.

Amazing.

I just needed the right power source and the right master clock and I’m running in sync with life.

Kinda feels cool to be in sync with the master clock – wouldn’t you think?  Give it a try – you may like it.

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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The sound of Silence

“This… is…

“I want to welcome you all.  Joining us today on our panel, we have…

                …from our Nation’s Capital – Senator Puff N’ strut;

                …from the National Mis-Media Association we have Anchor person “I Tell it my Way”

                 …and our returning champion, straight from the heart of America, Prosperity Pastor, ‘Ain’t I Righteous!”

“Okay, let’s get started then.

For our first category, the answer is: 

“The one thing Syria, Iraq, Libya, Turkey, Pakistan, Eritea, Tanzania, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and many other countries throughout Africa and the Middle East, have in common.”

DING!

“Senator Puff N’ Strut rang in first.”

“Receiving billions of American dollars to support and promote corrupt, deceptive terrorist governments?”

“No, while that may be true Senator, that’s not the answer.”

DING!

“Anchor woman ‘I Tell it my Way’.”

“Oppressive governments overturned by democratic patriots spreading freedom.”

“I’m sorry but that’s not the right answer.”

Silence.

“Pastor ‘Ain’t I Righteous!’ did you want to ring in?”

Silence

“Would someone nudge Pastor Righteous  please?”

“Huh? What? Oh, sorry, was counting my blessings. Would you repeat the answer please?”

“The one thing Syria, Iraq, Libya, Turkey, Pakistan, Eritrea, Tanzania, Egypt, Kenya , Nigeria, and many other countries throughout Africa and the Middle East, have in common.”

“Oh yes! Hallaleulah! The question is: “Name countries we can gain funding for. Now you can donate on my website and I’ll send you a handkerchief dipped in the River Jordan and …”

 Well???  

Do you know what the question is?  Here, I’ll tell you:

“Where are  people,  having a common belief, being systematically killed or driven out of their homes, while the world looks the other way?”

– A Catholic priest was killed outside a church in Egypt.

– In the town of Arusha last May an attack left one person dead and 40 injured.

– The body of a Christian merchant was found decapitated in a cemetery.

– A Coptic Christian priest was shot by gunmen in an outdoor market.

– Muslim extremists in southern Egypt burned dozens of Christian homes and stabbed four believers to death.

– A suicide attack on a historic Christian church in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 75 people.

– Eritrean authorities arrested 39 high school students because of their faith in Christ. Morning Star News  reported that the students have been detained and suffer beatings. They face a long imprisonment unless they renounce Christ.

– An estimated 1,200 Christians, mostly Protestant, are currently incarcerated in Eritrea because of their faith.

– A brutal public murder of three Catholics in Syria, was attended by a cheering crowd.

– Muslims in southern Egypt killed two Christian men for failing to pay them money.

– A Christian Alawite girl was pulled off a public bus by armed jihadist and was beheaded in broad daylight.

– Muslim extremists in Somalia burned dozens of Christian homes, raping, stabbing and hacking to death those Christians who resisted fleeing.

– More than 130 churches have been burned and destroyed along with hundreds of people murdered by machetes in Egypt.

– In the Sinai, a young Coptic priest was shot dead, while the body of Magdy Lam‘i Habib, a Christian, was found mutilated and beheaded.

– In the town of Arusha an attack left one person dead and 40 injured.

– Al-Qaeda linked terrorists initiated one of the bloodiest church attacks in Baghdad with nearly 60 Christians hacked and slaughtered to death.

– In the recent mall attack in Kenya, Christians were signaled out and killed.

– Thousands of fathers, mothers, pastors and citizens are imprisoned, tortured and being brutally mistreated, because they won’t recant their faith.

The list goes on and on and on and…

…and the world – yawns.

The greatest persecution in history is occurring right this minute – right before the world’s eyes. Over 100 million Christians are being persecuted for their faith across the earth. Entire communities and villages are being erased off the map. Children are slaughtered in front of their parents or taken away to serve as ‘sex slaves’ for the very people doing the killing.

A global religious cleansing is underway, with the full support and blessings of religious and political leaders.  It has become difficult in the last few months to keep up with the attacks—so many and nonstop are the reports emanating from around the world. Grizzly stories of murders, rapes, and beheadings are increasingly appearing in the news.  It seems everywhere Christians and their churches are under attack.  As a result, ancient Christian communities are collapsing before our very eyes and the Christian population in the Middle East has shrunk from 20% in 2007 to 5% in 2012 – that’s a 75% decrease in population!

In the face of this humanitarian mega-crisis, the world has been shockingly silent.  

Don’t look to our panel for help.

Oh …Okay…if you insist…let’s look:

Let’s see, who was our first contestant? Right – Senator Puff N’Strut – government…right.

There was a time when our government – we the people – would stand up and say “That’s enough! No more!”  But, that time is not today. Actually, our government is part of the problem. Consider:

– The president supported the take-over by the (now ousted) Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt against the will of the majority of  Egyptians. Morsi’s misrule of Egypt included the persecution and execution of Christians, the collapse of the tourism industry, a government on the verge of bankruptcy, and a crackdown on democracy-promoting organizations.

– None of these conditions existed before the President helped force former Egyptian President Hosni  Mubarak out of office. Instead of using the over $1 billion in foreign aid the U.S. gives the country as leverage for improving conditions in Egypt, the President  handed the money (our money) over with no strings attached.

– Since then, not only have Egypt’s Christians and churches come under intense attack in ways unprecedented in modern history, but Al-Qaeda’s black flag has been raised on many of them.

– Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says the United States should stop funding the enemies of Christians  across the Middle East. Paul said  Christians in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Egypt are on the run and are being persecuted, and America should stop helping “the people who are chasing them.”

“There’s a war on Christianity not just from the liberal elites here at home, but worldwide,” he said. “And your government, or more correctly you, are having to pay for it. You’re being taxed to send money to countries that are not only intolerant to Christians but openly hostile,” he charged. “Christians are imprisoned or threatened with death for their beliefs.”

“It angers me to see my tax dollars supporting regimes that put Christians to death for blasphemy against Islam, countries that put to death Muslims who convert to Christianity, and countries that imprison anyone who marries outside their religion. I say  no more money to countries that are doing that to Christians,” Paul said.

Hey! Maybe there is hope from the government after all!

– Defense officials announced that U.S. aid to Egypt would continue, with a delivery of F-16 fighter jets.

– President Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have been pushing Congress to allow the United States to help the Syrian rebel movement, which includes al Qaeda terrorists.

– Christians are killed and churches are burned in Egypt; Christians are either killed or systematically driven out of the country in Syria, Turkey, Nigeria, Iraq, etc. etc., and the  President has decided the major humanitarian issue is homosexual rights in Russia.

– On NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” Jay Leno asked the President about the new Russian law. The president gave his sternest look —somewhere between the “al Qaeda is on the run” look and his “Iran will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons” look — and he said he has “no patience and will not tolerate countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.”

Gee – I don’t recall any transgenders getting publicly beheaded. Wouldn’t it be neat if he was equally as impatient with countries that kill Christians?

– Next door in Syria, the President is planning to train and arm the rebels fighting Bashar Assad.   These are the rebel known for the public beheading of a Catholic priest and the burning Christian churches and Christians.

– Libya is another war-torn state that had the dubious benefit of the President’s  “leading from behind.”  You recall Libya right? There, our ambassador and three American heroes were murdered as part of the festivities in connection with a 9/11 anniversary celebration in Benghazi. Our leaders said it was because of a video. Not only was that not true – but who cares what the cause was – right?  Well, a year later the murderers are still, not only free but unidentified and there’s been so many lies and distortions that the President’s pledge to bring them to justice is as hollow as his Secretary of State’s denial of wrongdoing .

Meanwhile the killing and displacement of Christians continues without constraint.

Whoops! I guess there’s no help there.

Our second contestant is National Mis-Media Association’s, anchor person ‘I tell it my way’.

Do we need to even say anything?

The average joe citizen on the street has no knowledge of the things mentioned above.  You see, the press has already decided what’s important for the average joe to know, even before the news is made. Besides the average joe doesn’t want to know.

He’s too busy texting – playing Candy Crunch – getting high or watching his 401k.

What’s happening in America’s newsrooms is not a slippery slope – it’s an avalanche of misinformation. no information or useless information, while ignoring any and all the news of the world that is changing all around us and the average joe has his head buried in the sands of ‘self’. It’s a perpetual whirlpool, sucking the willing and unwilling alike down into an abyss of nothingness.

And that brings us to our third and final contestant – Prosperity Pastor, “Ain’t I righteous’.  

Surely, he cares and will stand up for his ‘brothers and sisters’ across the world. After all, there are thousands of churches and millions of ‘Christians’ spread across the country.

They love Jesus and Jesus was all about love of our fellow men – and these are his brothers and sisters – who better to care – right?

Ah, at last, we find a champion for the world’s persecuted Christians. Let’s all stand up and shout with joy!!

Silence.

Let’s demand our government – our corporations – our banks and organizations of mercy and humanitarian aid rise up and make their voices and muscles heard for justice.

Silence.

Let’s march – protest – shout out our voices to the world!

Silence.

Hello? Is anyone out there?

Hello?

Oh, he left?

What’s that? He left us a message? Great! What is it? He said:

“Ain’t I blessed!”

I have a question for you:  Tell me – will America wake up or is it too late?

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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Don’t let a Tragedy – keep you from the ‘Land of Promise’

Overcoming Tragedy is never Easy – And sometimes – it doesn’t happen.

Everyone is familiar with the Biblical story of Terah – hearing the voice of God telling him to leave his home and find the Land of Promise (Canaan).

It’s a great story. Terah became Teraham and is called the “Father of Israel”. It’s a story that inspires each of us to persevere and keep our vision in sight.

NO? You never heard of Terah???

Oh! I’m sorry – that was Abram – wasn’t it?  Yes, that’s right – Abram, who became Abraham and is called the “Father of Israel”.

But, then who was Terah?  

How many of us know the story of Terah?

Hmmm – would you like to hear it?   Ok. I’ll be short.

There once was a man called Terah. He lived in the land of Ur or the Chaldeans (that’s an ancient land over by Mesopotamia – what we’d call the Middle East today).  Here, you can read the story yourself  –  you’ll find it in the Book of Genesis (that’s the first book in the Bible).

“Now these are the records of the generations of Terah..Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans. Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves… Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there…and Terah died in Haran.”  Genesis 11:27-32 NASB

Well that’s it. That’s the story. What do you think?

Oh – you didn’t get it? Missed it? Here – let me help.

You see, in the first verse of the next chapter Abram hears the voice telling him to leave and go to the land of Canaan.

Terah was Abram’s father and he heard the voice first! He took his family and left the land of Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan.

But he didn’t make it.  He died in the land of Haran.

Why?

Look at what happened – Haran, “died in the presence of his father…”  Something happened that caused Terah’s son – Haran – to die right in front of him. We don’t know what it was, but, knowing the times it was then, there’s a good chance it was something violent – something bad – that gave Terah enough grief and pain, that when the ‘voice’ came telling him to go to Canaan – he left.

But, whether bad luck – or an evil presence – or whatever you may think it was, he journeyed through the land of Haran!

Did you get that? A land having the same name as his dead son had! And, it was too much for him to get over!  It brought back all the pain and grief and he couldn’t leave. He settled in the land of Haran – he settled in his grief – in the memories of his dead son – and he died there.

He couldn’t get over the grief inside and because of that he never reached the land of Canaan. He never became the “Father of Israel”. The “call” went to his son, Abram, and he became the “Father of Israel”.

Grief can be overwhelming – devastating – vision killing – death-dealing.

And tragedy and grief will find each of us at some time in our journey through life – and it’s a guarantee that somewhere – somehow – sometime – we’ll find ourselves in the land of Haran and forced to face it again.

Will we give up and die there?

Or will we gather ourselves together, face it and move on – and reach our vision – our land of Canaan?

Just remember – when you’re in the land of Haran – there is a land of Canaan. It’s waiting for you. You can reach it.

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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A Shouting Moment!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

                                                                                                                                                       Psalms 23   verse 5 KJV

We each face those times.

You know the ones. Where we go through some very difficult times and it’s very easy to allow those times to pull us down and push us deep into a quicksand of despair and despondency…

…well

…there’s also a time to get over the gloom and doom and hold our heads up high!

And That’s a  SHOUTING MOMENT!

God is pictured as caring for us so much that in the midst of the forces of evil that attempt to destroy our life and soul, He is preparing a table for us!

In the very presence of our enemies!

They can’t see what is happening right in front of their eyes. They think we’re done in– washed up – down and out.

But a table is being prepared – right in their presence!

They only see the process we went through to get here and they think it’s all over.

Our faith in God tells us otherwise.

The Pharisees and Sadducees only saw the crucifixion – they didn’t see the Ascension into heaven!

“Eyes have not seen and ears have not heard….”

There is an anointing coming on our heads. This means God’s blessing will be poured out on us by the Holy Spirit, and a cup that runneth over will be given to us. This refers to the shepherd’s cup, that was a hollowed out stone and held 30 to 50 gallons of water and which the sheep drank.

This is a shouting moment!

So lift your heads and rejoice in the Lord!

Rejoice – rejoice – rejoice

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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Heinz 57 Religion

Seems like every day on the news, there’s a new call against Christianity.

“Separation of state and church.” “No praying in the schools.” “No Ten Commandments in the courthouse.” “No preaching on the corners.” And on and on the merry-go-round turns.

Sometimes it seems that everything is allowed – except Christianity.

Yet, there are more denominations – more churches – more TV evangelists, etc. etc., than ever before in history! How do we explain this apparent contradiction?

For example: Doing some research recently, I was astonished to learn that, in addition to the bushel basket full of ‘traditional’ denominations (Catholic, Baptist, Methodists, Lutheran, etc. etc. etc.), as of 2011, across the globe, there are 18, 210 separate ‘denominations’ of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement alone!

So many denominations!  So much internal dissention and disagreement over minor doctrinal points, giving credence and fuel to those who seek to undermine and destroy our faith.

Is the problem with religion in America, that there’s too much religion in America?

This is a key argument being voiced by a number of ‘theocratic scholars’ and it’s become ‘intellectually’ popular to theorize there is, not only, too much religion in America, but that it’s also become ‘too intolerant’.

Hmmm—maybe—maybe not. Maybe both are symptoms of a larger problem—the real problem.

Before allowing myself to get engrossed in a debate on these ‘symptoms’, I go back and ask myself the basic root questions for these arguments first:

                Why are there so many religions?

                What is the measure of intolerance?

Whether modern history revisionists like it or not, the truth remains that Christianity was bipartisan and was the moral character defining America right up to being the driving force behind the civil rights movement. The modern ‘crisis of confidence’ in Christianity can be traced to the increase in technology and globalization. An awareness of alternative faiths, non-Western cultures and spiritualism grew and was postulated. This caused questions and doubt to take root in America that Christian faith alone didn’t speak definitively for, or of, God. With the age-old weakness of man to incorporate his own belief systems into the ‘mind of God’, these new—found ‘spiritual revelations’ gradually began merging with the Gospel into belief systems that became man-based, works-manifested and worship compromised. Truths that supported a Christian worldview began to splinter off, forming divisive sect groups. Meanwhile traditional denominations withered on the vine.

The result is a spiritual “age of accommodation,” wherein the Gospel and secular thought are conveniently intertwined to form ‘religion’ that is pleasing to the ear and gentle on the spirit. Christianity has turned from the supernatural to the natural; from the Gospel to psychology and from the Kingdom of God to the kingdom of man. The ‘good news’ of earthly prosperity and health, as a prelude to eternal glory is now spread universally. And, by the way, eternal life and goodness is now available to everyone—everywhere, as long as they have a ‘good heart’ and ‘feel good about themselves’.  After all, there are no “bad” people and there are many roads that lead to God—not only one- don’t you know? (Besides that – there is no “hell” anyway – only “heaven” for everyone.)

Don’t we wish it were so!?

Where have the traditional denominations gone?

Into hibernation. They’ve withdrawn into themselves, wallowing in self-righteousness and self-satisfaction; happy just to bide their time, waiting for rescue from this world by a self-proclaimed rapture to magically wisp them away from all the trials and tribulations of the world.

Well – good luck with that.

Has the Gospel changed?

Although there are new translations coming out every day, the Gospel itself has been unchanged for over 2000 (maybe 6000 depending on how you chose to look at it) years. Christianity began as a single Gospel—meaning a single message. But, from the beginning, before it was even written, “false teachers” rose up imputing twists to the Gospel. Jesus, Himself, warned against these people, and it was a main theme of Paul—Peter—James—and John. It was called “deception” then and it’s called ‘deception’ today. In other words, men twisted the Gospel for their own means and ends. It’s been twisted so many times, in so many ways; it’s become the proverbial “Gordian Knot”.

So then, is there too much religion in America?

Well, it’s the wrong question. It’s not a question of quantity – it’s a question of quality. There is too much ‘bad religion‘.

There has been a slow, but steady decline of the Gospel of Grace based on Faith, while there’s been a significant concurrent increase in alternative, watered-down, compromised belief systems based on human works, human deeds or mystical mind-games.

What’s the root cause behind this?

Deception. Deceive men into thinking they know better than the God who created them does. Give them something new to meditate on – spiritual myths, the ‘inner’ man, the absence of a God or the ‘great unknown” – “I don’t know if there is or not a God. See how intellectual I am to admit that?”

If that doesn’t work then give them the Gospel back—but spin it a little so that it’s easy to digest. Let’s take out the ‘intolerable’ idea that some things are “right” and some things are “wrong”. After all—we don’t want to offend anyone—do we?

Is it intolerance then, to believe the Gospel?

What is the measure of intolerance? At one time it was ‘intolerant’ for society and family to have illicit sexual morality. Today, it’s ‘standard operating procedure’. It’s normal, accepted, and if you should openly question it – you are ‘intolerable’.

Good! Now we have a test case! Let’s compare results:

Has the pain, heartaches and consequences of sexual immorality changed? Are more people getting STDs now than then? Are more unwed mothers suffering now than then? Are fatherless children suffering more now than then? Are cities-crime rates- urban development-family life-character- lower or higher, now than then? Are people more friendly? Are they ‘good Samaritians’? Or are they epidemic? Out of control? Rampant?

You don’t need to answer-everyone already knows.

Look around. The alternatives mentioned above have changed every aspect of American society -in a negative way, and continue to threaten the very fabric that holds us together. Every level and aspect of American society – crime, politics, education, law, morality, etc. has been degraded and soiled.

Is America better off now than before?

The continual rise of a variety of alternative, watered-down, pseudo-Christianities, based upon humanists and man-deeds—has obviously been a total disaster for America.

So I ask, why is it now ‘intolerable’ to speak against sexual immorality when the results are by far a thousand-fold more disastrous for America?

What has changed is not the offense being committed – but the measurement of the offense. A measurement is a standard that something is compared against. The standard has changed. Man changed it – to meet his ever changing deception about himself and about God.

So, that brings me to a personal question: Am I intolerant?

If believing there is a God—and that He created everything—and that He cares about us enough to make a way for us to know and love Him—and if He shows us the way to do that—and tells us that’s the only way to do that…then…

…count me as intolerant.

Call me Christian, and if in your mind that means “intolerant”, then so be it.

Until Next Time:

Embrace Life’s Bridges – For they Define Who You Are

DK LeVick

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