My nose is running. My eyes itch. I’m pretty sure it’s allergies because, although my nose and eyes are red my throat isn’t.
It’s another ordinary workday and Ernie and I are riding the bus to our downtown place of employment at az.gov.
While I’m preoccupied with sneezing, finding a dry spot on my handkerchief, and general misery Ernie says,
“Darwin’s theory is a pathetic joke.”
I feel another unwelcomed and gigantic sneeze coming on, but before it detonates, in a stuffy nasal voice, I get out, “Are you talking about evolution?” Ernie ignores my question.
“Of course, I guess, every comedian wants to be taken seriously, don’t they?”
There are no dry places remaining on my hanky. I dab at my tender nostrils while asking, “Joke … Comedian? … Seriously?” Ernie disregarded my comment.
“Seriously, think it through, we evolved from primordial soup? Does this even make sense? Proponents of this lame idea should be ashamed of such drivel!”
“Drivel?” Ernie didn’t acknowledge me.
Ernie rattled on, “Those who believe natural selection is sensible make me wonder what they’re afraid of? Because, look it isn’t complicated, it’s truth vs. lies. God created everything in the heavens and on earth … it is what it is. This other stuff is nonsense.” Ernie turned his head and looked at me. He scrunched up his nose.
Through a foggy headed blur I said, “Um, huh?”
“I say,” Ernie says, “Give it up because there’s far more rational and reasonable evidence for a Creator’s cause and design than there is for random chance going rouge … go ahead and check the science.”
“I …”
“What’s more,” Ernie continued, “once you do your due diligence, you’ll conclude Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be.”
“Okay.” I couldn’t concentrate on objecting.
“No really, don’t be afraid to objectively check it out for yourself. Quit being intimidated by what others think. Think for yourself. By the way, you look awful.”
The bus pulled to the curb and let us off. A new day has begun.
Audio:
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This morning, reading a Men’s Devotional Bible on Gateway entitled, Shadow of Doubt, I tried to work through the take away questions:
(Here are the questions)
What are your core beliefs?
What spiritual truth are you sure of?
When was the last time someone challenged your faith?
How did it affect you?
What did you respond to the challenge?
What would you do differently next time?
(Here are my answers)
My core beliefs are:
God is here. God knows what he’s doing. God can be trusted. I believe this because God sent his son—Jesus, to bring us back into relationship just as he promised.
What spiritual truth are you sure of?
I’m certain that without God’s mercy I’d still be on my deathbed.
When was the last time someone challenged your faith?
Today when someone said (like it’s fact), that God is an irrelevant bad joke.
How did it affect you?
I was angry and wondered how this someone could speak with such careless disrespect? Further I wondered how this person came to accept this lie?
What would you do differently?
Confront lies with truth. For example, deliver a demon-possessed man. Heal a woman with a long-term illness, or bring to life someone’s dead daughter. In other words, act more like Jesus.
All of Jesus’ actions were directed by God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus loved as God loves, and so should I.
Thanks for listening to Lee’s Nite Radio.
5 Starter References toward free thinking:
1. Genesis 3:1-15
2. John 1:14-18
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-4:8
4. 2 Peter 1:12-21
5. Romans 1:18-32
Bonus Video: truth vs lies
Books worth considering
