Are We There Yet?

I watched with amusement the hoopla surrounding the announcement of the fossil that some scientists were extolling as the “missing link”.   It was suggested that this was undeniable proof of Darwin’s theory of evolution.  The fossil was nicknamed “Aunt Ida” so as to encourage the idea this is an ancient relative of humans.  Google even modified their logo a couple of days ago to reflect an image of the ancient fossil of a lemur.

Well, it seems that, to borrow from the Bard, it was “much ado about nothing.”  Even a layman’s glance at the fossil itself seemed to stretch the limits of credulity to suggest this was the slam dunk for evolution.  Now that others have examined the evidence itself, the claims of Ida’s “handlers” are called into serious question.

Chris Beard, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, takes critical aim at this overhyped discovery HERE.

While I don’t share Dr. Beard’s take on origins, his debunking of the “missing link” claim is helpful.

(HT:  Justin Taylor)

There’s a fascinating article floating around the internet written by the “Internet Monk”, Michael Spencer.  The article is entitled “The Coming Evangelical Collapse” that  you can read HERE.  Spencer argues that evangelicalisms marriage to conservative politics will earn it scorn, derision, and ostracism to the point of persectution.  I must admit, this article has had me thinking all day about the ministry of the gospel in the times in which we live.  Are we manifesting the gospel in the way we should?  Are we equipping our children and youth to articulate and defend the gospel?

I think Sean Lucas, Church History Prof at Covenant Seminary offers a very helpful response you can access HERE.  Any thoughts on Spencer’s assertions?  What is the future of evangelicalism?  How should the church prepare and/or respond?

Long time, no post I realize.  My friend, Ed Eubanks, posted some very helpful thoughts on how to pray for President Obama that are well worth sharing.  You can find them HERE.

Last night I caught bits of an interview on Fox News they did with Mosab Hassan Yousef- the son of one the leaders of Hamas.  He tells of his coming to faith in Christ out of Islam.  I was amazed to see his willingness to be interviewed on camera concerning his faith.  He reportedly has a death sentence issued by Al Quaeda.  You can read more about him HERE as well as see video clips.  Let’s pray for his safety and growth in grace.

I was in a staff meeting at First Pres of Macon, GA.  The conference table was surrounded by several pastors, secretaries, and other support staff.  Suddenly, the receptionist barged in.  We had just received a call from the distraught wife of one of our members.  A plane had hit one of the World Trade Center buildings and he was there for some training for his new job.  A plane?  Probably a Cessna veered off course, I thought. After all, those are really big buildings. I had seen them in person only three days before when I flew out of JFK back to Atlanta on my way home from a missions trip to Odessa, Ukraine.   The meeting broke up.  Maybe someone ought to go see the wife.  I’ll go.  I know the husband fairly well.

One of the secretaries turned on a radio. It was no Cessna that hit the tower. It was a passenger jet. Then, as I stood in her office doorway the radio announcer said another plane had hit the other tower.  My knees felt weak.  I drove to the home of the woman who called the church.  What would I do?  What would I say?  What was going on?  Were we at war?

I arrived to find the wife, her Mom, and her husband’s Mom there as well.  Oh boy.  Still no word from the husband.   I prayed with them- still can’t remember anything I mumbled in that prayer.  We all then watched the TV in mute shock as the towers fell.  I felt helpless and useless.  What do you say?  Did we just watch this husband and son die?

Within moments the phone rang.  It was him.  He was alive and well.  Praise God!  He had evacuated the building under the watchful supervision of New York Policemen and firemen- many of whom undoubtedly died that day.

A day we’ll never forget.

Russia invades Georgia (thankfully for me, not the state) on a pretext.  Apparently, Georgia’s pro-western stance has Russia irritated to say the least.  Ukraine is not on Russia’s list of favorite nations for the same reason.  They may have been behind the attempted poisoning of the Ukrainian president that occurred a few years ago.

These are troubled times.  My thoughts and attention have been drawn to that part of the world quite often.  Having visited Ukraine twice, I have a special interest in the work of the gospel there.  Our church supports a missionary couple in Odessa with whom we are good friends.  I keep a picture in my office of the Reformed church in Odessa that was given back to the church after the fall of communism.  My prayer is for peace for Georgia and that region and the ceasing of violence.  I pray our nation will take the appropriate posture towards Russia that communicates our deep dissatisfaction at this aggression.

Russia and China- two nations (like our own) that need our prayers.  May God protect His people in Georgia, Ukraine, and in China.

I read a heartwrenching article in the most recent issue of World Magazine (subscription required).  What caught my attention was the author’s quotation and reference throughout from the book of Habakkuk- a book we just recently considered as a sermon series entitled, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense”.  These are very difficult times for the people and for the church in that country under “President” Mugabe who has stolen the recent election and allows thugs to roam free.  God has been so good to us who live in this country.

Those of us who live in Houston County, particularly the Warner Robins area, are especially grateful that the I-75 landmark that unfortunately has been most associated with this area for some time is soon going to be leveled to the ground.  I’m speaking of the strip club known as Cafe Erotica that sits- for the moment- at the Warner Robins/Centerville exit on the interstate.  This establishment, along with its “we bare all” billboards, will soon be a thing of the past.  Since opening in the early ’90s it’s been the sad way to point people to Warner Robins as in, “well, you take the exit where the nudie cafe is…”.

Today I read this editorial in the local paper cleverly titled “When No Nudes is Good News”.  While the author was glad that this business is history in that the “tackiness” factor has been eliminated, he basically argues that this was a legitimate business that harmed no one.  He was glad that this was pure economics at work-persons of means simply bought out the place for a different use- rather than the county passing an ordinance banning such a business.  After all no one was dragged into this business kicking and screaming and, of course says the author, you “can’t legislate morality”.  The author’s father once owned a lucrative pool hall that was closed down years ago in true “Music Man” fashion- “we have trouble that starts with ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for POOL!”   In his opinion, the “church ladies” won that battle.

While I share the author’s enthusiasm that the clothing optional restaurant is now a thing of the past, his logic escapes me.

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I think these kids need a lesson in contentment and real sacrifice. Two sisters in Salt Lake City, Utah, ages 9 and 7 went on a protest walk against high gas prices. They don’t even drive, so what gives? It seems Mom had to cancel cable TV to help with the family budget as the price of gasoline hits record levels. Oh the pain, the pain! No more countless hours of “Hannah Montana”! What will these poor children do? I doubt they’ll miss a meal.  I doubt they’ll have to start using candles to light the home anytime soon.  Apparently, Mom and Dad thought their 60’s era protest tactics all due to the loss of a luxury were something of which to be proud.

Let the record show that I love cable TV- especially during the college football season when there are a boatload of games to view. Let the record also show, I’m frustrated too with gas prices that seem to do nothing but climb.  But reading this article affirmed how blessed are here in the States.  I think Mom and Dad needed to have a conversation with these two about what REAL sacrifice looks like. I think my Depression era grandparents would have had a few thoughts.

1) The same-sex marriage celebration in California. There’s been overwhelming positive press coverage of the new court ordered “right” in that state.  We are getting closer and closer to an accepted popular view that if you hold to the Biblical definition of marriage being a covenant between one man and one woman then you are a bigot.  The rapid change in our culture is astonishing even for a young 44 year old like me.

2) Oil/gas prices I know we still don’t pay as much for gas as they do in Europe, but Europe is much smaller and much more adept at mass transportation.  If we had more of it (buses, trains, etc.), I’d use it.  I rode the DART in Dallas!  My wife says a big “no” to a motorcycle.  Sigh.  Where’s that skateboard I used to have?