The Greatest Things in Life

Brother Bill Cantrell ( the preacher from my home congregation of East Huntsville Church of Christ) did a lesson a year or so ago entitled "The Greatest Things in Life." This was one of those lessons that helps to remind you of your priorities and making sure that they are where they need to be. Last May I presented this lesson at the Lone Cedar Church of Christ (where I go when in Florence). Here are the points from that lesson: Something to think about.

1. The Greatest Vocation in life- The work and service of God.
2. The Greatest Work in life- Soul Winning
3. The Greatest Joy in life- Our Salvation in Christ
4. The Greatest Victory in life- Victory over the world.

5. The Greatest Fellowship in life- Fellowship with God, Christ, and other Christians

6. The Greatest Loss in life- The Loss of a Human Soul

7. The Greatest Neglect in life- When a Christian neglects the Salvation that he has had in his possessions.

8. The Greatest Prize in life- Eternal Life in Heaven

9. The Greatest Privilege in life- The Privilege of Being a Son of God

10. The Greatest Purpose in life- Glorifying God

-Ben Stevenson

I am Second: Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford

Here is a video of two great athletes who seem to have their priorities in line. Colt McCoy is a member of the Church of Christ. He attends Westover Hills Church of Christ while living in Austin, TX and when he lived in Buffalo Gap, TX he attended Oldham Lane Church of Christ. I have been told that Sam Bradford is also a member of the Lord's church but I do not know where he attends. In this video Colt and Sam talk about setting a good example and taking a Stand. Good to see high profile athletes setting that precedent. Here is the video:

Teammates

As I have mentioned before there are many great things that I have learned through sports. I have learned patience, perseverance, victory, defeat, etc. However, one of the things I cherish most in athletics is the opportunity to be part of a team. Teammates have a special bond with one another. It is a group of guys, or girls, striving toward the same goal. Each person may have a special individual goal but the collective goal of the group is the same. Being part of a team is a special thing and it can often be overlooked. Being part of a "team" is also something that is often overlooked in our spiritual lives. We read in Genesis 4:1-10 about the story of Cain and Abel. In verse 9 we see where God asks Cain where is brother Abel is and Cain replies, "... I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" This scripture has been looked at from the pulpit many times. We are asked the question, are we our brothers keeper? Well I am here to tell you that to an extent, yes you are. Just like on a sports team when a guy makes a mistake or possibly shows a lack of effort you, as a teammate, are suppose to be there to pick his spirits up or get him in gear. It is your job as a teammate to try to make sure that he is working as hard as he can to help the team reach their goal. (Of course this is to be done after you have already made sure you are doing all you can to reach the goal.) Now, if that guy won't listen to your advice then there is nothing you can do about it, but at least you tried to help pick him up and help him improve. The same can be said of our spiritual lives. When we see a brother mess up(as we all will according to Romans 3:23) we need to be there to pick his spirits up. If we see a brother not putting forth the effort to served the Lord and do his will then we need to be there to try and get them in gear. After all as Christians we should all have the same goal in mind, Heaven. I think that Proverbs 27:17 says it best, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." We must be there to help keep our teammates strong in the word and surely they will do the same for us as well. We can not win the game alone, whether it be in sports or in life. We need good coaching, which God has laid out for us in his word, and we need good teammates to help keep us along the right path to reaching the goal.

-Ben Stevenson

"When you need a friend, you can always count on your teammates." -Jim Brown

Dinosaurs and Evolution

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2528412371399195162#

This is a video of Kent Hovind speaking on the truth of dinosaurs and evolution. He is quite entertaining, and he really knows his stuff. It would be a real blessing for you to watch.
- Colton Scott

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind." -Albert Einstein

A Different Type of Drug Problem

I know it may be small but please read the article above. This article was one that was emailed to me last week. I know that the people who wrote this article are older than me and it applies to that generation maybe more than it does to my age group. But, I do know that many of these same characteristics were instilled in me as a child. Church was something that me and my family were going to rain, shine, sleet, or snow. I can remember missing little league games on Wed. nights because I had to go to church. At the time I hated missing those games. At the time that was the most important thing to me and I didn't fully understood why church was so important. Looking back I greatly appreciate my parents for making me miss those games to go to church. They were instilling in me from an early age that God never comes next in our family and in our lives. This is an idea that is so often forgotten about in our world today. This is an idea that I think needs to find it's way back into our churches, homes, and communities. God, His truth, His word, and His love are something we all could stand to be addicted too.

Christian Unity

It is pretty safe to say that Christianity is under attack in the world today. Atheism is spreading, and atheists are becoming louder. One would think that Christians would ban together and fight back. This isn't the time to turn the other cheek, this is the time to overthrow some tables (Matt 21:12), but that's not what's happening. Instead, Christians are not fighting back. We're not even banning together.
I can't even begin to name all of the different denominations and divisions among Christians today. It seems like anytime there is a tiny disagreement between two Christians, there is a new church established. In America today, only 60% of people claim to go to church on Sundays. That 60% should be doing everything that it could to be reaching out to the other 40%, but it's not. Instead, that 60% is too busy fighting amongst one another.
Is this what Jesus had in mind when he established his church? Certainly not. The bible only tells us of ONE church. Ephesians 3:21 says, "To him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus." In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, referring to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build MY CHURCH." Ephesians 4:4 says "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling." What does the writer mean by "one body"? Well, let's take a look at Ephesians 1:21-22 which says, "And He put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body". His body is the church. So if there is only one body, there can only be one church.
So if the bible states that there is only one church, why are there so many different churches? Why is there so much disagreement? Why can nobody agree about what the bible says? It's because so many people aren't reading their bibles! The Gallup polling organization surveyed many U.S. citizens and asked them some basic bible questions. Six out of ten did not know who gave the Sermon on the Mount. Fifty percent could not name the four gospels. Less than fifty percent could name Genesis as the first book of the bible. Eighty percent believed that the bible says, "God helps those who help themselves." And twelve percent of those polled thought Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. (Kyle Butt, A Matter of Fact). Is there really any wonder why there is such disagreement about the bible? It's like were all arguing over the rules to a board game instead of just reading the rule book.
The bible makes it very clear that there is only one church. Obviously that church should be the one of the bible. So what do we do now? We need to come together as one. Paul told the Philippians to be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (Phi 2:2). And who should we look to as our leader? Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:23 says, "Christ is the head of the church, and he is the savior of the body." When asked about the most important matter of the law, Jesus said that we were to love our God with all of heart, and treat our neighbor as we would like to be treated. I'm afraid that as we sit here and bicker back and forth with one another, we're missing the whole point.
-Colton Scott

Why Go to Church?

This was an e-mail sent to me not too long ago. It is short and sweet but I think that there is defiantly a good message to be learned from this post. I don't know what newspaper it came out of or in what city or town it was from but it is something we all should think about:

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and
complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've
gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard
something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a
single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are
wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor"
column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until
someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has
cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the
entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this ... They
all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my
wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be
spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to
something! Faith sees the invisible , believes the incredible and
receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual
nourishment!

-Ben Stevenson

Is Intelligent Design Scientific? by: Kyle Butt

Evolution, Intelligent Design, and Testability by Kyle Butt, M.A. [Español Printer version | Email this article

As modern science has acquired the ability to see deeper and deeper into the natural world, problems with the waning theory of evolution continue to plague its proponents. A multiplicity of natural, biological systems exhibit complexity that could not have arisen through natural, evolutionary processes. In response to these findings, the Intelligent Design movement has begun to gain major footholds in academic circles. In a nutshell, intelligent design suggests that many natural systems are too complex to have evolved.

In an attempt to discredit intelligent design, supporters of evolution have made and repeated one primary line of attack. They posit that intelligent design is not scientific because it cannot be tested. The writings of those who bring this accusation against intelligent design are legion. In an article titled, “UNLV Teachers Dismiss ‘Design’ Theory,” the author quotes Stanley Smith, professor of the Department of Biological Sciences, as saying: “[S]cience includes hypotheses that must be tested and proved or discarded.” Smith then stated: “All science follows the scientific method, in which we make observations in nature, create testable hypotheses as to why we see patterns that we do and then conduct experiments that test those hypotheses” (as quoted in Thomas, 2005). Smith further quipped that intelligent design does not meet this criterion. Associate professor of biological sciences, Steven de Belle, commented on intelligent design as well. He stated: “‘It is not science. The defining feature of the scientific method is lacking in ID,’ which includes making observations and testing hypotheses” (Thomas, 2005).

In an article describing the University of Kansas decision to teach a course on intelligent design as religious myth, Paul Mirecki, the chair of KU’s religious studies department, and teacher of the new course, commented on intelligent design in this way: “Creationism is mythology.... Intelligent design is mythology. It’s not science. They try to make it sound like science. It clearly is not” (Gendall, 2005).

In his article titled “Scientific Theories More Than Guesses,” Jonathan Hoffman wrote: “Thomas Harrington correctly pointed out that a scientific theory is testable and falsifiable. What he failed to state, however, is that ‘intelligent design’ does not meet these criteria” (2005).

Here, then, is the alleged situation. Evolution is scientific because it is testable and falsifiable, and has been tested and confirmed. Intelligent design, on the other hand, is not scientific because it cannot be tested and cannot be falsified, and therefore should not be viewed as science. In order to sort this out, it would be appropriate to see just how testable and falsifiable the theory of organic evolution really is.

Every evolutionary scientist must recognize that the fundamental tenet of organic evolution is the idea that life arose from non-living material substances such as chemicals. This idea, often referred to as spontaneous generation, certainly is a testable idea. Ironically, however, biological scientists have been testing this idea for centuries and have discovered that life in this Universe does not and cannot arise spontaneously from natural processes. This fact is well-known and admitted even by evolutionary scientists. George Wald wrote in Biological Sciences: “If life comes only from life, does this mean that there was always life on earth? It must, yet we know that this cannot be so. We know that the world was once without life—that life appeared later. How? We think it was by spontaneous generation” (1963, p. 42). David Kirk noted: “By the end of the nineteenth century there was general agreement that life cannot arise from the nonliving under conditions that now exist upon our planet. The dictum ‘All life from preexisting life’ became the dogma of modern biology, from which no reasonable man could be expected to dissent” (1975, p. 7). And Martin Moe stated:

A century of sensational discoveries in the biological sciences has taught us that life arises only from life, that the nucleus governs the cell through the molecular mechanisms of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and that the amount of DNA and its structure determine not only the nature of the species but also the characteristics of individuals (1981, p. 36, emp. added).

According, then, to every piece of experimental data that has been collected, life in this material Universe does not arise from non-living chemicals. Thousands of experiments have been designed and executed, each of which verifies this fact (for more information see Thompson, 1989). And yet, the general population is being led to believe that evolution is scientific because it is experimentally testable and falsifiable? If, by scientific, it is meant that, regardless of the outcome of the experiments, the theory will be maintained, then by all means evolution is scientific. In reality, the origin of life according to organic evolution has been tested and disproved. Therefore, if the foremost precept of organic evolution is untestable (at the least) and has been satisfactorily disproved (at the most), how can its advocates maintain that it alone belongs in the science classroom?

Is intelligent design scientific and testable? Can intelligence be tested and verified? In reality, intelligence in the Universe can be tested and verified. The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project is a classic example of the testability of intelligence. Basically, millions of dollars were pumped into a project to detect codes or messages from outer space that would indicate intelligence. Those involved in the project recognized that mathematical patterns, codes, languages, algorithms, and various other “fundamental laws” would be accepted as evidence that some type of intelligence did exist. The premise that can be surmised from the SETI program is that intelligence could be recognized and distinguished from non-intelligent, natural explanations; the required criteria for this recognition being some type of code, mathematical sequence, physical patterns, etc. Such codes have been found in biological systems such as DNA and living organisms (see Butt, 2005).

Another example of testing for intelligence would be that of the IQ (Intelligent Quotient) test designed to measure intelligence scientifically. Countless tests have been designed to assess the amount of intelligence possessed by individuals. Web sites that discuss such testing often use words and terms for their tests such as “scientifically valid,” “intelligence testing,” “developed by Ph.D.s,” etc. (see IQtest Home Page). From such admissions, it can be inferred that intelligence is measurable and testable. If a person could take the different aspects of IQ tests that verify intelligence and apply them to things that are studied in the natural world, then intelligence could be tested and verified. In essence, that is exactly what has been done in intelligent design books such as Michael Behe’s Darwin’s Black Box and William Dembski’s Intelligent Design.

W.R. Thompson, in his introduction to the 1956 edition of Darwin’s Origin of Species, stated it perfectly when he said:

It is...right and proper to draw the attention of the non-scientific public to the disagreements about evolution. But some recent remarks of evolutionists show that they think this unreasonable. This situation where scientific men rally to the defense of a doctrine they are unable to define scientifically, much less demonstrate with scientific rigor, attempting to maintain its credit with the public by suppression of criticism and elimination of difficulties, is abnormal and undesirable in science (p. xxii).

In truth, proponents of evolution know that it cannot withstand open criticism. Furthermore, they know that evolution cannot be tested nor is it any more scientific than intelligent design; in fact, it is less so. Therefore, in order for them to keep it ensconced in textbooks, they must suppress criticism of it and not allow its varied and numerous flaws to be considered critically. The situation that has arisen due to this irrational adherence to evolution is nothing short of “abnormal and undesirable in science.” The next time someone demands that evolution is testable, ask for the experimental evidence that confirms that life came from non-life and observe the tell-tale silence that speaks the truth.

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Finishing the Race

Life is a race that we all must run. Whether we like it or not it is something that we have to do. Its life and we all must live it. But how do we run this race? Do we run it with endurance? Do we run it knowing that it is a race that we must finish? 1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” We often hear in sports about “being a finisher.” There have been many quotes and inspirational speeches about being a finisher. We can defiantly apply this to our Christian lives. We, as Christians, must be finishers. Christ came to set an example for us that we may follow in his footsteps. One thing, of many, that we can take from Jesus’ life on this earth was that he was a finisher. Even in the Garden Of Gethsemane when he prayed that if any way possible could this cup pass from him, he still went on to finish the will of his father. We must be finishers as we run the race known as life. We see people around us daily who burn out and fall short of the finish line. This reminds me of the bible character Agrippa when he spoke to Paul after Paul had given him his testimony. Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Almost? Too often we use this word almost. What is almost? Is it a maybe, or kind of, or I think so? Almost is falling short of heaven. It doesn’t matter how close you are or how great you have been; almost is not enough. So how do we live our lives? Do we live like finishing truly is everything? Or are we happy with almost? If we are then we are headed in the wrong direction. Sure we will stumble along the way. No one said the race was an easy one. When we fall we must pick ourselves back up and continue to run. It is not how we start the race, but it is how we finish. Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to me of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” We must run the race with patience. Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” It is a marathon, not a sprint. We can’t just take off full speed and run out of gas before cross the finish line. Endurance is the key in the spiritual race that we run every day. And as we run we must help those along the way. We must get them to steady their pace so that they can finish the race with us. We, as a Christian people, should be trying to help as many people finish this race as we can. For once we reach the finish line we will rejoice and realize that the race was defiantly worth running.

“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.” –John Wooden

-Ben Stevenson

Would A God of Love Create A Place of Misery?

In the world today, there are many who question God. Why does God do this? Why does God allow that to happen? Why has God done this to me? This is nothing new. People have been questioning God for forever. Once Job suffered his hardships, he was quick to question God. One topic that many people want to question God about is Hell. Is it real? Would God really send someone there? Do good people go to Hell? If yes, then why? Does Hell, a place of eternal torment, make God any less great? This was a topic that really tested my faith not too long ago. It's a question that demands answers. Once one really decides to study his bible, he or she will realize that the answers aren't too hard to find.
Is Hell a real place? The answer is yes. The bible mentions Hell several times. In Matthew 13:42 we read that Hell is a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Hell is just as real as Heaven. Why would God prepare such a place like that for us? He didn't. God never intended for any of us to go to Hell. The bible tells us that Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41). Why do people go to Hell? That's easy. People go to Hell because they refuse to go to Heaven. God couldn't make it any easier. He sent his son to die for us, so that we could live with him in Heaven, and many in the world today still refuse to do what's right. Is this God's fault? Certainly not. Is God sending them to Hell? No. They are sending themselves. It is God's intention for each and every one of us to live with him for eternity, but if they want to follow the devil, then God will let them do so.
Well, what about good people who haven't been saved? Do they go to Hell? I want to make this point very clear, I am not in the business of trying to send anyone to Hell. I am not judging anyone. I am only stating what the bible says. That being said, if someone has not done what the Lord has told them to do to go to Heaven, that person is not going to go to Heaven. I know this, because I know that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). That's a tough concept to understand. But it's the truth.
So, if someone lives a good life, follows the golden rule, but hasn't followed God completely, they have to go to Hell? Why is that so? How can God be so good, if this is the case? Let me explain it like this: I want to tell you about a guy named Jim. Jim is a senior in high school. He makes good grades, performs well in sports, and is just an all around great guy. Jim is the first one to help out a friend in need. Everybody loves Jim. One night, Jim is at a party, and he decides to have a few drinks. He feels fine, and he decides to drive home. Jim is stopped by the police and is arrested for driving under the influence. Now Jim is a great guy, but he has made a huge mistake. He is scheduled for court the following week. Jim shows up at court and walks up to see the judge, who happens to be his father, to find out his punishment. His father tells him that he has to pay a fine of one thousand dollars or serve up to six months in jail. Jim is very upset. He says to his father, "Dad, you know I don't have that kind of money." His father says, "I know son", and he then pulls one thousand dollars out of his pocket. Instead of accepting the money, Jim turns his back on his father and starts to walk out of the courtroom. What should happen to Jim? Should he have to serve his six month jail sentence, since he couldn't pay his fine alone, and refused to accept his father's gift? Of course he should. He may be a great guy. He may be loved by everyone. But he made a mistake, and justice has to be served. His father even offered to pay his debt, so that he could be set free, but he refused. The last thing his father wanted was to see is his son in jail, but what else could he do? Nothing. I know this is just a silly made up story, but I think you get the point.
Just like the father in this story didn't want to see his son in jail, our heavenly father doesn't want to see us in Hell. He has done everything in his power, without imposing on human free will, to make sure that we don't go to Hell. So, does Hell, a place of eternal torment, make God any less great? Absolutely not.
-Colton Scott

"There's good deeds and then there's good intentions, and they're as far apart as Heaven and Hell."- Ben Harper