Convergence

Things That Make You Go Hmmm....The Theory of Evolution

Today I went to the Georgia Aquarium for the first time. It was really cool because I got to see a lot of cool fish that I would never see anywhere else. Like this one:

And this one:

What was kinda fascinating about the whole thing was looking at some of fish and realizing how closely they resembled other non-fish animals. Take the sea lion, for example...

The more I stared at the sea lion the more I could see its similarities with an actual lion. Same thing with the whales. Watching them swim around the tank, it seemed as if their bone structure has some similarities to humans. It all made me think, could there be some small truth about the theory of evolution? I mean, not to by any means discredit God or anything, but could it be that God made the most basic elements which, under his direction morphed into something else? If we look at fish, could it be that he made goldfish and then over time a goldfish morphed into a catfish, which morphed into a whale, which morphed into a sea lion, which morphed into a lion, etc., etc.? And did Adam really name all of those animals and all those fish at the same time? I mean, there were so many different kinds of fish in that aquarium it was unbelievable. What if God told Adam to name some of them and the rest he came back and did years later. Or what if God told Adam to name some of the animals but by the time some of the animals came around Adam wasn't even around anymore so God just blessed some scientists to come up with some cool and complicated names years later. I mean maybe? Just maybe? Either way, it still makes God look pretty cool to me...

To check out more cool pictures from the aquarium, check out the photo album on the left or just click here.

The Jesus I Thought I Knew

My apologies if the title of my last blog offended anyone. It's just that lately I feel like my theology is being rocked to the core. I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I knew who God was. But I'm starting to discover that maybe I had Him all wrong in certain aspects. The more I read, listen and reflect I'm getting a better understanding of what God likes and what He doesn't like. What He desires and what He doesn't desire. I mean, things like what has more priority with God? That I get rich or that the poor get fed? Does He really care how much money I give or is He more concerned with how I give or whether or not I give from my heart?

And I'm realizing just how radical Jesus was. We say it all the time but Jesus came and hung out with sinners--the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the liars, the adulterers, the alcoholics, the--(GASP)--gays and lesbians. I feel like we spend so much time bashing these people and judging them when Jesus showed them love and their lives changed as a result. Jesus grabbed a bunch of nobodies and told them "Follow Me." Those first disciples were the outcasts of society, low on the totem pole. But Jesus said to follow Him. And that's just what they did. He shifted the paradigm all over the place.

What angers me is that this Jesus that I'm discovering now doesn't really line up with the Jesus that's been fed to me through religion. I guess maybe I'm finding what Jeff Henderson calls my holy discontent and reaching toward my frustration alignment (http://www.groupcurriculum.org/questions/questions.jsp?messageID=161 or http://resources.northpoint.org/store/shop.do?pID=708).
Our churches have pumped this fake Jesus like a cheap drug, this counterfeit who tells people to judge people for not being like them. Who delights in ritual and formulas to achieve holiness. Who forces everybody to look and be a certain way and to look and be perfect when the come in the door. It just doesn't seem to line up with a guy who went after nobodys. A guy who told rich men to sell all they have and give it to the poor. A guy who constantly went off on religious leaders. And a God who said things like this:

"These people praise me with their words, but they never really think about me. They worship me by repeating rules made up by humans. So once again I will do things that shock and amaze them, and I will destroy the wisdom of those who claim to know and understand." - Isaiah 29:13-14

Christians Suck.

I had a shocking revelation the other night as I drove home the other night from 7:22, a single's Bible study service. I had a long talk with God and I told Him "You know what? I really suck at being a Christian." And I know that might sound really harsh, but I really do. And the truth of the matter is that I think we all suck as Christians. Otherwise, if we didn't suck, the world probably wouldn't be in the shape it's in now.

God was very clear in His Word about what we should be doing while here on earth. His commands say things like love the people that hate you. Give to the poor. Take care of widows and orphans. Preach the gospel and be a witness for Him whether you feel like it or not. I realized that I haven't really been doing my part in much of any of these areas. When there's been someone else in need, when have I rushed in to help any way I could, even if it meant going out of my way or inconveniencing my plans. When was the last time I fed someone who was hungry? When was the last time I forgave someone who did me wrong? When was the last time I stood up for justice?

The truth is, for a long time I've patted myself on the back for being the "Good Christian." I thought I was deserving of a blessing or recognition because I showed up at church every Sunday without missing a beat AND went to Bible Study during the week. I thought I'd arrived because I had a deep revelation and other people couldn't get on my "level." (Where did we get this idea that one person should be esteemed more highly than another because they theoretically can recite more scriptures??) But God is not impressed by those things. The gospel is so much bigger than that. It involves giving of yourself for others. Isn't that ultimately what Jesus did?

Somewhere there's a disconnect, Look in any major city and you'll find tons of churches filled with those of us who claim to be Christians. But yet there's still devestation right around the corner. Faith without works is dead. So I guess we all suck. Ah, but there's hope for us all. God has given us a great deal of grace regardless of our shortcomings. But now we must step up to the plate in whatever area God lays on our hearts. As for me, one of the things I'm seriously considering is going on a missions trip in the near future. But even on a daily basis in the interim, I can show true, genuine love. And that can manifest itself in a number of ways--whether it's taking the time to provide a listening ear for a friend, smiling at a stranger, or feeding a homeless person before I enjoy my chicken dinner at Gladys and Ron's.

God's call goes way beyond Sunday rituals. It's a selfless life of obedience and sacrifice.

Why Believe?

At times I don't know why I believe what I believe. I have no earthly idea why any intelligent human being would believe in God. It just makes no sense. All this talk about sin and apples and "The Fall" and evil in the garden. It doesn't seem to add up. Why should the average person in a Starbucks and Ipod world care about two naked people in the bushes--what do they have to do with my life--whether they existed or not?

Whenever I start thinking about these types of questions, it always leads me back to other questions like what is the meaning of life? What am I here for? I think everybody, whether they believe it or not, wants to know the answers to those questions.

When I was a junior in college I just couldn't seem to figure out who I was. I didn't know where I wanted to be. All I did know was that I couldn't seem to fit in anywhere. I was like my own piece of a 1000 piece puzzle but I was lost. My experience with God was abusive. I kept hitting myself and he kept loving me for some reason although I didn't know it...I have lots of bad habits. Like falling in love with guys who could care less. Like telling myself over and over that I can't do something. Like feeling worthless. But one day I finally saw God opening the door for me to come in and I decided to take the offer. It was the weirdest thing--I felt like I could breathe for the first time in my life. I felt like I could see clearly. I didn't want to kill myself anymore. I wanted to live. And that's why I believed...

But sometimes I still think about the garden. And it still doesn't add up. Why do I believe in a God that I cannot see? Why do I believe the stories? Quite frankly, I don't know. It's hard to explain. But I do know that one day when I sat on the floor with a bottle of pills, wantingn to end my life, he opened the door. And when he opened the door, I didn't get all the answers to life's problems. I just felt accepted. And for me that was enough  to give it a try.

Dear God...

I just came back from the Labor Day Retreat and my heart is bubbling over with the passion that I once had for You. I'm so sorry that my human nature makes me sporadic at times but my heart is so in love with You. Sometimes I have a hard time comprehending why You love me so much. I mean, there are so many things I have done in my past that I'm not particularly proud of. And let's be real, I did or even thought some things today that weren't very Christ-like I guess. Why a holy God like You would even accept someone like me is beyond my comprehension. I feel Paul when he said:

"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:21-25

It is for this very reason that I am so thankful for what Jesus did for me on the cross. Thank you for your perfect plan to save me from the bondage I inflict on myself. Thanks to You, no matter how long I choose to wallow in it, the truth is that I am not bound by any kind of sin. I have the freedom of Christ to rise above anything.

And God I thank You for your Word that is so rich with truth. Why is it that we Your children are so resistant to the real truth of Your word? Sometimes I think we just like to make up stuff, to make up rules and regulations for people to follow. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it's like musical chairs--we just like to bop around in circles see who's going to fall down when the music stops playing.

I'm not impressed by religion anymore. I want to know Your will for my life. But the crazy thing is that Your will for my life is right now. It's not 10-20 years from now. It starts right here, in my living room. I want to know the truth. And we try so hard to figure out every little thing. I really don't think we have any answers but we think we do. So in the meantime we're corrupted on speculations and interpretations. But the reality is that this life is a journey. And what a beautiful journey it is! Let's be bold to live it to the fullest!

And if I had one prayer right now it would be that You would give me to boldness to speak the truth to people who think they've got it all figured out. I know that the irrelevance of our churches has got to bug You. I know it bugs me. Big time. I fear for what happens if we don't get it together...

Please forgive me for being so selfish. Your kingdom is so much bigger than me, it's bigger than my career, it's bigger than my home decor, it's bigger than the guy I have a crush on, it's even bigger than whether or not I get married. Please help me to keep things in perspective so that I can be a better example of what it means to have hope not in this crazy, jacked up world but in a life that goes on and on and on--forever--and on and on and on....