Today is a very nice Fallesque sort of day. (That is if Fallesque is a word even, which is what spell check seems to say.) It reminded me a little bit of my favorite season back home. I have always loved the fall time, even when it gets drizzly and wet; there is just something about it that is always so beautiful. The otherwise normal colors of red, yellow, and orange break into shades and tints that create an amazing spectacle. The air smells so fresh and crisp, full of flavor and change. But most of all, it's about the Apple pie and Cider. If you thought I was going to go off on how a leaf touches the depths of my heart, you were wrong. Although the leaf comes close, the food of fall is what really gets there. You can drive down the road to several different stands where families sell homemade apple cider, where retired women get together and bake pies to sell, and where the colors will just blow you out of your chair. (Yay! Hyperbole!) Anyway, it’s days like this that make me wish I could fulfill my gluttonous desires to drink copious amounts of cider on a cool day. But then again, I'm paying 75 cents less per gallon than they are in New York, so it makes the change almost, just almost though, worth it.
Someone gave a devotion the other day in Dr. Hood's class about evolution and creation. The young man stated that after researching it for a few years, he could not deny it as a high possibility, whether started by God or not. Dr. Hood then stated that it made no sense to her, being a molecular biologist paraphrased, as "I can't see it worth crap". But what she amended was more striking: that despite what we think or do not think about evolution/creation, we are all ending up in the same place, so why fight and bicker?
Many Christians would immediately wish to burn you for saying "evolution" to them, or will at least say to you, "Well at least I know what's right" or something else arrogant and condemning. Do not mistake me, however, for saying that all Christians are like this, in fact it is a disgusting and spotlighted minority that is. For instance, Dr. Hood said that it was great to be at a place where we are not forced to learn one set thing and ignore the rest, but instead have an opportunity to test and study everything for ourselves. Wherever one's studies lead them, what is most important in the debate is that they know Jesus and have a relationship with him. In the end, we are all going to the same place (yes, even those who like evolution or god-inspired evolution) so like she said, why argue about that now? There are more important issues that pertain to how we actually live as Christians other than countless debates, arguments, and philosophies regarding "exactly" how it all must have happened. Do not mistake me for saying that everything is relative, because it is not. We are talking about people who are Christians anyway, who share in the same promises and mercies, not those who mold relativity to every aspect in life. But let's get over it people, we can at least respect each other enough to let someone have a different opinion without thinking that they will burn in Hell for reading about evolution. One can look at Lower criticisms, such as the definition of day in Genesis, and find that the focus of the two creation chapters are vague about exactly "how", but instead show the significance of "who" made creation. The text shows that God is sovereign, and to this I firmly agree. However, to say we know for 100% exactly how something happened is almost naive. To me, if you have an educated opinion, I can respect that; and I do not care for useless debates. Our salvation is not determined by how we think God created the earth, but by how we react to the choice given to us by Jesus to follow and the Sovereign father or not.
We are all still learning as we move in the Christian walk, which never stops. I haven't gotten there, none of you reading this has gotten there. Be respectful of others, and do not sacrifice something so much more important for pride, contempt, and arrogance.
There are places this post could go that I have not and choose not to address, please keep in mind that this was written before class and on the side. Also be reminded this just applies to the scope of Treating Christians and evolution, it is not a broad concept to be applied readily to other areas of the Christian faith.
Many Christians would immediately wish to burn you for saying "evolution" to them, or will at least say to you, "Well at least I know what's right" or something else arrogant and condemning. Do not mistake me, however, for saying that all Christians are like this, in fact it is a disgusting and spotlighted minority that is. For instance, Dr. Hood said that it was great to be at a place where we are not forced to learn one set thing and ignore the rest, but instead have an opportunity to test and study everything for ourselves. Wherever one's studies lead them, what is most important in the debate is that they know Jesus and have a relationship with him. In the end, we are all going to the same place (yes, even those who like evolution or god-inspired evolution) so like she said, why argue about that now? There are more important issues that pertain to how we actually live as Christians other than countless debates, arguments, and philosophies regarding "exactly" how it all must have happened. Do not mistake me for saying that everything is relative, because it is not. We are talking about people who are Christians anyway, who share in the same promises and mercies, not those who mold relativity to every aspect in life. But let's get over it people, we can at least respect each other enough to let someone have a different opinion without thinking that they will burn in Hell for reading about evolution. One can look at Lower criticisms, such as the definition of day in Genesis, and find that the focus of the two creation chapters are vague about exactly "how", but instead show the significance of "who" made creation. The text shows that God is sovereign, and to this I firmly agree. However, to say we know for 100% exactly how something happened is almost naive. To me, if you have an educated opinion, I can respect that; and I do not care for useless debates. Our salvation is not determined by how we think God created the earth, but by how we react to the choice given to us by Jesus to follow and the Sovereign father or not.
We are all still learning as we move in the Christian walk, which never stops. I haven't gotten there, none of you reading this has gotten there. Be respectful of others, and do not sacrifice something so much more important for pride, contempt, and arrogance.
There are places this post could go that I have not and choose not to address, please keep in mind that this was written before class and on the side. Also be reminded this just applies to the scope of Treating Christians and evolution, it is not a broad concept to be applied readily to other areas of the Christian faith.
Last week the imminate doom of hurricance Rita had some weird and often nerdy responses from LeTourneau students. It was as if some alien invader had embedded itself in the storm and hopped into all of our minds to make us get all antcy and weird(er). The euphoric sense of thrill and happiness hit campus with a rage as students conjured up glorious visions of grandure, bought rafts, and ran around during the ran like they were seizing a beach on D-Day. All in all, the hurricane was a bit of a let down, but lack of death and destruction is a good thing too. It was looking like stuff could really get going at lunch, then it turned east and flew away like carpet bagger from a KKK meeting. Despite this, the weekend was very fun, and the damage looks a lot better than it was supposed to be in Houston, which is great. In other affairs, tea is good, really good; New York Super Fudge is awesome; and sunny days like today keep me warm.
Here is the extent of Rita at LeTourneau...
Here is the extent of Rita at LeTourneau...
I haven't written anything in awhile, but my summer blogging hiatus is over now with a description of yesterday's Spree Show. 13 people in all went to this latest one, which included a new roab design (shown in the pictures), and a set of songs from an upcoming ablum. It was really great to get to go spend a day in Dallas with some awesome people, eat Mom and Pop Schmorgan's chili, and go to a bookstore that made me feel smart. In other events, the semester is going well, and I am having a great time doing work and getting to new some of the awesome new (and old) guys on the floor. Since I've already spent a blog on the awesomeness of the Spree, I'll just let the pictures do the talking from here.
