Get Real

Basically Good

My friend Janna Rust has posted some very good thoughts over at our other blog. Take a look at Truth Talks.

Universal Questions

Where did I come from? What is my purpose? Where am I going? The answers to these three questions can put your mind at ease and give you hope to face each day.

My answers to these questions are:

1)    I came from my mother’s womb but was created in the image of God and designed to have a rich relationship with Him as I live out life on this earth.

2)    My purpose is to share the knowledge of this relationship with others who are also designed to have a rich relationship with Him as they live out life on this earth.

3)    When I die, I’m going to be with Jesus in heaven.

These may not be the universal answers you are familiar with, but they are philosophically sound once you consider the bigger picture.

Christianity vs. Spirituality

What is spirituality? Some say it is the non-physical part of who we are. I agree. Our spiritual being is often referred to as the soul, mind or personality. Your worldview about God will reveal your belief regarding life after death.

Although it might seem hopeful to believe in reincarnation, God designed us to have one life and after this, “face our Maker.” Hoping to have another chance to get it right provides a bleak future. What if you don’t get it right? And, who ultimately decides what is right? Where is the hope in just ceasing to exist spiritually? More importantly, what is the reason for living if we are here one minute and gone the next?

Christianity, on the other hand, is the state of following Jesus Christ. It involves the non-physical part of who we are. As mortal human beings, we communicate with other humans in natural words. However, we interact with God in the spiritual realm because he is Spirit. We do not need to recite a mantra repeatedly, or focus on a word and chant it in quiet whispers. These things do not make us more spiritual. We are spiritual beings in a natural body and the God who breathed life into the body allows us to know him personally through Jesus Christ. The one who created you is the One who will determine your eternal destiny. He’s the One who decided what is right in the book known as the Bible.

Why would you want to be Christian rather than just spiritual? Simple. One provides strength and everlasting life with Jesus Christ who loves you. The other provides strength through the power of you and everlasting life after death in a miserable state apart from God and your loved ones.

I hope you’ll consider Christianity today.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

As promised, I went to the much debated movie, Expelled. This documentary by Ben Stein was complete with interviews from scholars and professors in the scientific community. It is not a “rant” as one reporter from the New York Times wrote. Stein succeeded in his mission: revealing how men and women are being ostracized from the scientific community for discussing the origin of life if it leads to some sort of intelligent design. Most importantly, Stein challenged his audience to use intelligence to draw their own conclusion on the matter.

What could possibly be so threatening to scientists or atheists about the idea of Intelligent Design?

In case you are unclear of the Evo Theory, here’s the abridged version:

Evolution, when referring to the idea of origin by natural processes produces a theory void of God, or intelligent design. Evolutionists believe all living plants, animals and people started by chance from a chemical reaction of sea, sunlight and cosmic energy. The first living substances “formed themselves by chance into one or more single-celled organisms which have since developed through beneficial mutations and natural selection.”[1] Proponents of this view see people as material matter only to the exclusion of all emotions. (If you are and evo’ist or atheist, and I’ve missed something, let me know)

While humans are made up of material, i.e. the dust of the earth, complete with a physical body that includes the physical features, organs, arteries, muscles, etc., they are immaterial also. The immaterial human includes the invisible attributes, i.e. soul, spirit, heart, will, conscience, etc. This material and immaterial make-up supports the whole of the human species, body and soul/spirit. There is more to people than a material body, as Evolutionists would argue.

This is a good thing. It is good because no matter what you believe, you have emotions. Emotions are immaterial. Scientists cannot explain this and this makes them, ummm…angry. Atheists and scientists alike have emotions, they love, they hate, they have joy, they have sorrow. This, my friend is because of intelligent design by a Creator who created man in his image.

If you are logical and use your mind to reason, you cannot ignore the immaterial or emotional part of our species.

The Intelligent Designer loves you and desires a relationship with you. He gave you the ability to understand the meaning of words and the capacity for relationship. I hope you’ll consider these words today.

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[1] Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology, 195.

Body, Mind and Spirit

Body, mind and spirit. Most people would agree that every human is made up of these three parts. After all, without a body, you would not have eyes to read these words. Without a mind, you would not be able to understand the meaning of the words. Without a spirit, you would be similar to a fruit or a vegetable.

If there is ever a debate in this area, it comes with the third element of our make up, the spirit. Once we conclude that we do in fact have some sort of spirit, we wonder about the dynamics of it. Is it merely our personality as some are said to be “sweet-spirited” or “mean-spirited?” Some ponder the grandiose idea that we have always existed in the spirit world and when our body dies, we will just float along with other spirits. The last question deals with the divine nature of the spirit. Are we God? Can we become God?

Your worldview will answer that question. A Christian worldview declares that the Supreme Being of the universe is God—big “g.” He is God and humans are not, nor will they ever ascribe to that position. They cannot because they are the created creature.

In a nutshell, this belief can provide relief and peace. Personally, I mess up so often I am relieved that there is a Someone bigger than me that can offer solutions to my problems. I do not need to look within or muster up strength from my weary self.

Ultimately, my body will die. Thankfully, my mind is in tact. Finally, I have a promise that my spirit will go to be with God forever.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.sharonhouk.com/faq.html

Seen Any Good Movies Lately?

Depending on your view of the world, the adjective “good” can be quite relevant. For me, one characteristic of a good movie is whether it gets people talking.

Ben Stein’s controversial movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed opens nationwide in theaters on April 18^th. The heightened anticipation from scientists and atheists has cyberspace electric with the buzz of this documentary’s release:

LOS ANGELES, March 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- According to Technoranati's BlogPulse which surveys the hottest topics and sites in the world of blogs, a site featuring Ben Stein's controversial new film Expelled is the #1 blog on the net.

The web traffic spiked when P.Z. Meyers, a biology professor at the University of Minnesota,  Morris, attempted to sneak into a private, invitation-only screening of Ben Stein's highly controversial upcoming movie, EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed (www.expelledthemovie.com). But Myers, who is an outspoken atheist and author of the science blog "Pharyngula" got caught and has used his blog to bitterly complain about not being allowed to see the film before its release.

Myers, who was interviewed in Expelled, has apparently been asking supporters to sneak into the private screenings which are being conducted by marketing company Motive Entertainment (www.motivemarketing.biz; which handled grassroots marketing for blockbusters The Passion of the Christ and Chronicles of Narnia) for various leaders as part of the grass roots marketing of the film.

When confronted at the screening by Myers' friend Richard Dawkins, a prominent atheist who is himself featured in the film… (read more)

I hope you will add, “see this movie” to your to-do list this month. You can bet I will and then we can talk about it.

Accountability and Accounting

In less than two weeks, we (US Citizens) will have to give an accounting to one “relative,” interestingly nick-named Uncle Sam, otherwise known as the IRS. Of course, plenty of checks and balances and high-tech computers ensure that we are accountable to that accounting come April 15. But, what about our daily lives? To whom do you answer?

We all have various levels of accountability to society, but different societies have different standards for legality and morality, and an individual can sometimes violate standards and escape accountability. Of course, other units of accountability include family, employment, etc. But, what about our accountability to God—regardless of what we believe about Him?

I have mentioned before, that just because we do not believe something does not mean it is not true. The simplest example is that of law of gravity. If I jump off my roof, no matter how hard I believe I can fly or soar upward, I will crash to the ground. The same holds true to the accounting every human who ever lived will give to God.

There is a promised judgment by the righteous Judge. All will give an accounting for their belief and/or acceptance of denial to the living God.

There is also a promised time of blessing for all of eternity for those who settle their account with Jesus Christ while here on earth.

Consider these things today.

Awakening (Part 2)

Continued from yesterday…

Second, the despondent seeker has already been awakened. All have been “awakened” to notice the emptiness in their soul. The emptiness is the wake up call to seek God. This person says he not religious because he has not had an “experience.” Many people confuse religion with faith; many also confuse faith with experience. These three terms are not interchangeable.

Religion involves rules. Experience involves self. Faith involves a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Can you hear the longing when he says, “one day I may be able to realize that life is change and I can love it for what it is, not what it has to offer me (i.e. a feeling of belonging and love).” What this person does not realize is that the Source of life is what offers the security of belonging and love—even when these warm fuzzy feelings are absent.

The day we meet Jesus Christ of the Bible, is the day that our life will change. From that day forward, each and every day we will have what we need to get through that day and every day of our life thereafter.

Think logically for one minute. What if there really was a God who loved us and created us to have a relationship with Him? What if He really created the universe and evolution is the hoax? Logic says it would be better to trust in a Source that is more powerful than I am to get me through the struggles that are bigger than I am.

I hope you’ll move from logic to faith—faith in God. This is the true awakening.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.sharonhouk.com/faq.html

Awakening (Part 1)

“This pain that I experience after each break up inspires me to come to terms with life and its ever changing nature. I'm not a religious person, only because I haven't had experience, but I have read on awakening. I was wondering if anyone can offer resources for furthering my awakening so that one day I may be able to realize that life is change and I can love it for what it is, not what it has to offer me (i.e. a feeling of belonging and love). Thanks for any help.”

The previous paragraph is from a person reaching out through cyberspace via an online forum called “Personal Development for Smart People.” The “smart people” on the forum offered a book title and these words, “All is full of love. You’ll be taken care of.” I cried at my laptop screen on behalf of the despondent seeker, “How!?” “When!?” “What do I have to do!?”

The person in the quote above has come to some truths about life. First, life is a cycle of highs and lows and comes complete with emotional hurts and sorrows.

However, what this person doesn’t seem to know is that God loves us and wants us to know Him—the One that does not change. This same God would not be the definition of love if he knew we would spend an eternity worse than the present, did nothing to warn us about it or offer us anything different. This is the foundation of hope, security and ability in the craziness of life.

All is “not full of love” but you can be taken care of when you trust in Christ.

To be continued…

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.sharonhouk.com/faq.html

Expelled. Rebelled. Synonomous?

Looks like it!   

Check out this soon to be released movie.

(More on this one later)