No Such Luck

What is luck?  Outcome determined by chance?  That is probably a definition many would agree with.  But is it real?

Superstitions exist in the belief that it is.  They hope to perform some action to obtain good luck or avoid bad luck.  While superstitions may be difficult to prove via a rational analysis, there may be a practical basis at the origin of some.   The September 25th, 2011 edition of Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley puts a humorous perspective on several. 

One final thought for Christians who confess Christ as their Lord and Savior.  By their own statement they will acknowledge that the God is in control of their lives.  If so, what place does random chance take in their lives?  

The biblical worldview makes no such allowance for luck.  Instead it shows the plan and purpose God has for everyone and that plan can be known. 

Something to think about.

Enjoy.

The Best Discussion

STRTweets posted an entry last week linking to Joe Holland's blog post on "8 Tips for Talking to Kids About the Sermon".  In that original article Mr Holland begins and ends with two observations about kids:

1. They retain more than you think they do
2. They understand more than you think they do

Both are accurate statements in my experience.  The first is encouraging to any parent wanting to pass along their values to their children.  The second echoes my previous thoughts on the ability of children to think critically.

In between those two observations, he makes a number of good suggestions on how to create opportunities to introduce your children to Jesus.  My own experience as a parent is filled with both failure and success, many of each, in making those introductions.  Especially in the area of post sermon discussions.  The remainder of this post focuses on some elements of the successes, as additional considerations in addition to the "8 Tips" linked above.

We've tried a number of techniques to both emphasize a sermon message and to use it as spring board into broader family discussions.  When children were very young, completing the picture in a children's bulletin was a start.  That graduated into writing any three notes about the sermon, which typically became a song title, picture and Bible verse.  Finding the right balance after those early stages has been more challenging and varies between children.  Particularly when as a parent you believe a child isn't "working at their potential", to use a common school phrase. 

Two things that have generally worked well in our family have been big picture discussions and chasing rabbit trails.  The big picture is typically easy to grasp, even for wandering attentions, and leads naturally to a discussion on life application.  Often though, it branch off down a rabbit trail, which has lead to all sorts of interesting insights.  In both, open ended questions help encourage thinking and typically provide guidance for where the conversations will or should go.

In the end, the best discussion might be not be a specific discussion technique at all.  It might be the experience of spending time and talking with your children.  It just might provide a memory of what you value to them, in more ways than one.  Something to pray about.

Enjoy.

In God We Trust

The American Family Association (AFA) commissioned Christian songwriter/singer Eric Horner to write a moving patriotic song to honor our national motto, "In God We Trust."

A very nice song with great lyrics. Enjoy.

Capitol Tour

Fascinating perspective on what the Founding Fathers believed and what the meaning behind their words as they framed the documents which formed the United States. I'll let David Barton do the rest of the talking.



A hat tip to B.T. for sending this my way.

Rhyme For Christ

Regardless of where you stand on television, pop culture - or Christ - I think you'll smile at the rhyme/rap that Tamara Lowe presented at Christ Fellowship.



A fun audible collage of images of the world, yet focused on the Truth - in 1 minute 42 seconds. Enjoy.

Hat tip goes to Tanner of WSOC FM who aired this during the morning drive time show today.

Collected Entropy - 2010.05.31

Collected Entropy since the last post with this title. No particular order, rhyme or reason. Mostly too long to tweet.

• Two West Charlotte Lions softball players show compassion and faith in an unexpected way - by offering to pray for an opposing team mate during a game. A heartwarming example of putting feet to faith, even in this seemingly small way.
• Sarah Dyvig of Oakdale Elementary was honored as Char-Meck's Teacher of the Year. Having a family full of exceptional teachers, has provided an appreciation of the dedication and hard work required for this profession. I also have an appreciation that even while in the spotlight, Mrs Dyvig wouldn't give away her husband's special fishing spot. Is there an award for that?
  
• The WSJ published a nice opinion piece on what we owe to the soldiers currently on the battlefield and to those in the future. The one line summary: "Look ahead, not back. If we commit soldiers to battle, we must support them unstintingly." Well said.
  

He Is Risen

"He is risen" -- Matthew 28

Those three words are at the center of the Christian faith and the celebrated by the holiday known as Easter. What do they really mean on an individual level?

Jesus Christ came to earth to provide atonement for man to God. He lived a perfect life, then fulfilled God's plan by going to the cross and dying in place of all men, by taking their sins upon Himself. Three days later He demonstrated His victory over death through His resurrection. Death now holds no power over us and we can now be justified to God by placing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ.

Christ's death was not an accident. It was part of a larger redemptive story. A plan of love and compassion that God has for all men. For you.

No matter what we've done or where we've been, how large or small the failures to meet God's perfect standard are, the gift of forgiveness of sin and having a right relationship with God is available for all. We can be certain of it because - He is risen.

Americanism

We just got back a little while ago from the first night of the Real Evangelism conference, being hosted again this year at FBC Indian Trail. These conferences are always excellent and this year Mike Huckabee was the keynote speaker.

If you're thinking "here comes a political rant"...wait. This is simply a collection of observations from Huckabee's speech, which will have a conservative Christian viewpoint, but will not be political. A semi random collection of thoughts from memory. Now decide to click "Jump" in your RSS reader or not.

Bailey Smith (of the conference name) provided the introduction for the Governor. One of the points he made was in providing several definitions of "Americanism" from the latest Webster's dictionary. It provided an appropriate segue for the main elements of Huckabee's speech.

Mike Huckabee spoke for almost an hour on Biblical values and morals in America, from the perspective of those values. To my recollection, he did not mention any sitting politicians by name, nor did he label any current directions in government.

What he did do is identify that our hope can not be in elected officials - and - our blame therefore cannot be either. Two points were identified that would collapse society: consolidate power into the hands of a few; release individuals of responsibilities and risk. Each individual was charged with the responsibility to live according to their beliefs.

There were a set of parallel structures in society he identified, which further illustrated personal responsibility, that went something like this:

- Parents equip their children to live independently
- Pastors equip their congregations to perform ministry
- Leaders should equip people to need less government, not more

There were many other historical points about America, parallels drawn from Judges 9 to current mindsets, the changeable nature of current society and many more topics. Overall an engaging, sometimes funny and overall excellent presentation.

So back to the original definition - Americanism: loyalty to the United States and its institutions. It was clear to all in attendance tonight that Mike Huckabee is most certainly a loyal American and an unashamed Christian.

Real Consequences to Religious Beliefs

The devastation in Haiti is difficult to comprehend through mere images on television. The great suffering that the Haitians are enduring is equally if not more so difficult to grasp. Those that live according to a Christian worldview, who believe that all life has meaning and purpose, no doubt feel moved to reach out in some way. Because of this, many organizations are accepting donations from those who can afford and are willing to contribute to relief efforts.

The media is flooded by ideas and suggestions for what could and should be done in Haiti. In the analysis there is also considerable commentary on the country itself. Questions have been raised about why Haiti, one half of the island of Hispaniola, has great problems that plague it's people and it's culture. While on the opposite side of the island,the Dominican Republic, exists in a vastly different world.

In this week of opinions and analysis, Pat Robertson ignited a firestorm with his comments about Haiti being cursed by God. These words have been repeated and analyzed by many, including a press release by his own ministry. Writers with much greater theological insight than myself have considered and written about his remarks, both for how he was wrong, and how the basis that may have driven Robertson's remarks was right. However you see those remarks, they do serve to open the discussion on the reality of real world consequences to religious beliefs.

John Piper stated a similar view back in April of 2009, on how spiritual beliefs and the lifestyles derived from them can have physical consequences. However, his remarks somehow avoided similar backlash and attacks. There are probably a number of factors to explain the difference in the two comments, not the least of which is how something is said, what is said and who says it.

Tom Gilson, of The Thinking Christian, said Robertson's statements were "...assuming too much freedom to speak for God." I agree. As Christians, we cannot directly identify God's justification or purpose in natural occurrences, like the earthquake in Haiti, anymore than we can the waves on the ocean.

As originally stated, consider what it is that you feel about the situation in Haiti. If you feel lead to give or to go, then do so. If you have a faith that you believe is genuinely real, if you believe that there are real consequences in this physical world for spiritual activities, then begin praying for the Haitians and all those attempting to help. If that isn't your belief, then begin considering what you do believe and why.

One final consideration from Del Tacket, of The Truth Project: "Do You Really Believe That What You Believe Is Really Real?"

Values and Freedoms

Christians are still being martyred for their faith. North Korea provides the latest example in the execution of a woman last month, for distributing Bibles. Why don't Western cultures based on Christian values and freedoms stand up against these atrocities? Maybe they're too busy with art shows.

These stories made the mainstream media, but sadly there are many more.

Ideas have consequences. When will we start making choices accordingly?

Worldview Matters

The Washington Post has an article Three Minutes to Fort Totten which describes the actions of four individuals who were on the Metro train 112, car 1079 which crashed last month.

On the surface it is a great human interest story. It portrays four people who gave of themselves and helped others while overcoming fear and obstacles in the midst of a tragedy. Its the kind of thing that you don't see much of, but when you do, its inspiring.

I find it interesting that two of the persons who stayed behind to help were US military personnel, one was directly identified as a Christian. I don't think that was a random correlation. As BreakPoint points out when referring to this same incident, the military is one of the last places in America where men and women are taught to put others first. As also should Christians.

Worldview matters. Thankfully few of us are called to live out our beliefs in the middle of a crisis. So what's our excuse in everyday life?

Encouraging A (Perpetual) Mentality of Adolescence

All parents want better for their children than they had for themselves.  Some parents go to great lengths to make this possible in the short term for their children.  Others try and shield their children from the realities of life and consequences of their actions far into the child's teen years.  Many times that shielding is not just from external challenges, but internal as well - from having to think critically.

Just as failing to let children learn from the consequences of their actions will lead to wrong actions in an adult world, failing to challenge them to think will lead to their acceptance of wrong ideas.  Students, particularly at the high school level, are capable of much more than the popular media gives them credit for, with its encouragement of perpetual adolescence.  If we can teach biology and chemistry in high school, why not real theology?

A recent article by John Stonestreet, writing for BreakPoint addresses these and several other issues in a high level outline for challenging students.  Reading this article might raise some questions on how we're preparing our children, students and ourselves to respond to the issues in our culture.

Are We Or Aren't We?

A Christian nation that is. Not that every citizen is a Christian, but that this country was founded on and still operates on a rule of law that is derived from Christian beliefs. This historical foundation is the basis of our freedom today.

The question is particularly relevant as President Obama continues to state that America is no longer Christian. Holding to that worldview has a definite impact.

A guest columnist on OneNewsNow.com puts an excellent perspective on the President's knowledge of history in an article titled "Arrogant Americans, Mr President?" which contains the following quote:

Barack Obama's first foreign trip as President of the United States has confirmed the naiveté so many of us feared during the election cycle. But worse than that, it has also demonstrated that our president suffers from either a complete misunderstanding of our heritage and history, or an utter contempt for it. Neither is excusable.

There are a lot of things going on right now in Washington that I believe are detrimental to our country. But it is our country. Why does our President continually see fit to condemn it?

Laying Down

This week I'm going to have my gall bladder removed (too much information?). Its an operation that has been becoming increasingly more necessary for me and so I'm hoping for a wide range of symptoms to go away after everything is healed. It is a common surgery, lasting only from 40 minutes to 2 hours, able to be done as outpatient if all goes well.

I'm not really excited about having four holes cut in my chest or the steps that follow, but I'm not really worried either. If I was going to worry, it would be about complications during anesthesia, contracting MRSA or a staph infection while in the hospital. The reality is that of course I have no reason to believe that any of that will happen. However, every time a person has surgery performed, there is a measure of some size in facing death. Without being overly dramatic, it does make you think.

This week I'm going to lay down and place (some of) the trust for my life in a team of medical professionals. Every day when I lay down I'm secure knowing that I've placed the trust for my life in Jesus Christ. This week or many years from now, I know my eternal destination is Heaven and that my salvation is secure. I know this not through anything I have done or accomplished, but because I accepted the free gift of salvation as offered to all by Jesus Christ when I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.

There is a God. He is real. We can know Him. He has a plan for your life. Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior?

If you want to know more about the Christian faith or accepting Jesus yourself, please follow the links provided and/or contact me. When I am back on my feet or at least able to sit in front of a computer again, I'll return any comments privately. At this time I don't have any interest in hosting a moderated debate via this blog. But I'm always interested in sharing the hope that I have. Ask me.

Looking forward to the future.