Jan 19thHe’ll Have to Show Up
I was listening to Salman Rushdie on NPR this morning, and the radio host asked him what it would take for him to believe in any sort of God. He stated, “He’ll have to show up.” I’ve said the same myself. It’s interesting to me that the entire weight of the New Testament rests on the fact that He has done just that. For a long, long time I dismissed those claims, but then He showed up in a very personal, undeniable way in my life. At that point, there was no more “god of our many understandings” as Gene Robinson addressed him. There was just that great eternal Presence who quickly convinced me that I wan’t in control of nearly as much as I liked to think I was.
I remember one of a number of jaw dropping moments when we arrived at John 10 in our ladies Bible study. Even though I had read the Old Testament book of Ezekiel before, I had never realized that God had said that he himself would one day come and rectify the situation of a priesthood that was corrupt and abusive. When Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd,” he was making an extraordinary claim. And he was making the claim that God did indeed “show up.”
Tonight I got home and found a Scientific American article in my feed reader about a group of Darwinian theorists from a number of disciplines, including my own of anthropology, who have gotten together in Edinburgh Scotland to discuss the evolutionary orgins of religion. It’s interesting to read these things and remember my own state of mind when I would have agreed with the sentiments expressed and look at the reasons that I no longer can. When someone, like me, whose entire world view is structured around the idea that there is no such thing as God because he has never shown up suddenly begins to run face first into this God who wasn’t there, it calls for a paradigm shift. Paradigm shifts, both scientific and personal, happen when the observations no longer fit the theory and a new one has to be developed. The psychological explanations of the article’s author are fine, but they don’t explain physical phenomenon that occur when God “shows up.”
Still a fascinating subject to me. I’d like to see some of these guys have their own paradigm shifts.
Jul 21stWhat’s up Doc?
Still not a whole lot. We did have some fun with the neighbors’ corn while they were on vacation by putting some ears we had bought at the grocery store on sticks so they would think they already had corn on the stalks. Fun, fun, fun. 
I’ve been evaluating Nancy Guthrie’s new book, Hoping for Something Better: Refusing to Settle for Life as Usual, to see what kind of potential it has for a ladies Bible study either at home or at the church. I’m thrilled with what she has put together. Hebrews has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible for a couple of reasons – 1) chapter 12 literally saved my Christian life at a time when I was wondering if I would ever make it past first base, and 2) it’s been the book that most consistently raises my spirit right up into the throne room of heaven. I can point out verses in just about every chapter that have lifted my soul right out of my skin and into the very presence of God, and I like that. Nancy seems to have found all my favorites and then some.
So I’m in that in-between time where one major step is finished (for now – I sure hope that wasn’t the only time I’ll ever be directly involved in foreign missions!), and I’m actively praying and preparing and starting to plan for the next step.
Jul 6thWords of Wisdom
Today’s Word of Wisdom:
Don’t inhale the mouthwash!
Sorry, but things have been a little slow since getting back home. I have a wedding to do pictures for tomorrow, and I’m waiting for a book I ordered that looks like it might make an interesting Bible study to do at home with some ladies in the neighborhood. I really did inhale some mouthwash this morning, though, and it was not a pleasant experience. Talk about the red eye express!
Aubrey called, though, and she passed her National Registry exam, so she’s officially a paramedic. Hip, hip, hooray! Congrats kiddo!
Dec 6thSuprize, suprize, suprize!
After dad and sis kept the secret for two weeks, I was able to surprise mom by flying in for her 70th birthday this year. And she was surprised!
So after spending the day doing a little baking . . .
(Mmmmm, doesn’t that bread look yummy!)we went up to the church for Bible Study . . .
Wait! Did you say Bible Study? It looks like they’re dancing with Santa! (They were!)
And then to the annual Salvation Army ritual that I remember so well . . . Counting money. They’re in full swing now with the Christmas kettles, and so the nightly ritual goes on. It is this ritual that provides a large portion of the Salvation Army’s operating budget for the coming year, so keep that change coming.
And finally a nice drive through Winter Wonderland!
Thanks for visiting!
