Waiting

It seems like much of my life this past year has been spent waiting, so I think it was an appropriate topic for my sermon this past Sunday. If you would like to hear it, you can download it from this link.

http://www.highlandcommunitychurch.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=48&Itemid=120

I Did It

Sunday night, when we returned home from drill, we were trying to get the kids ready for bed. I laid Micah's clothes out for him and asked him to change into his PJs. I few minutes later he comes into the living room and announced "I did it!" Sarah and I laughed as we complimented him on his great achievement, but then I asked him if he realized his pants were on inside-out. "Yeah dad," he replied, "but the tag is in the back."

A Fog from the Grog

This passed Saturday Sarah and I went to our annual military Dining Out. I had to do the Invocation and Benediction, and we got to sit at the head table. We had three hundred people there. It was a really great event, and Sarah and I had a lot of fun.

Thanks Mom and Dad

Last Tuesday, I went before my Ordination Counsel. In the Evangelical Free Church, like in many denominations I suppose, it takes many years and a lot of hours of study in order to be ordained.

Well, I passed my Ordination Counsel. To help me celebrate, my parents bought me this picture, which I really enjoy. I thought I would say thanks and show it off.

A Measure of Modesty

After a year of intense training to become proficient at the art of pooping, my three year old son Micah has finally gotten the hang of it, but for some reason, he has gained a sense of modesty. He has recently informed Sarah and I that he would prefer that we not help him while he is trying to poop. I personally have no problem with this, because I have a rather sensitive nose. But I have come to realize that his modesty can be somewhat awkward in public, and let me explain.

He will often ask us to step out of the stall as he is taking care of business. After a minute or two of grunting, groaning, and a flush, I will usually see him open the stall door, pants to his ankles in all his glory, proudly boasting of his accomplishment and asking for help with his pants. I usually just smile at the guy staring at us and say, "that ones mine."

So much for modesty.

So I'm Wondering Mr. Dawkins

This morning I was watching Richard Dawkins, one of the world's most publicized atheist, on YouTube. He was speaking on several points from his book God Delusion. I understand that I will never have a chance to debate, or even meet Professor Dawkins for that matter, but if I could, here are a couple of things I would like to ask him about.

Since he and I can agree on the Law of Relativity and that the universe has a beginning, roughly 13 billion years ago according to most physicist and astronomers, why is it more plausible to believe that a universe, that contains such order, could come about out of random chance rather than by a Creator? I don't claim to be an expert in any field of science, and I know that many atheist are very smart, bright, intelligent people. But, I simply don't understand how we can get such order out of supposed chaos.

My second question would be in regards to Christianity, and would be, "how could 12 Jewish men fathom up such a hoax as the resurrection?" To the Jews, the Messiah would come during the last days and set up an earthly kingdom. Why would these 12 men have thought any differently than that? In their minds, when Jesus died that was it. The end of their dreams to see the Messiah come to power would have ended with his death. Why would they then turn around and steal his body and make up a story that he rose from the dead? They would be putting their own lives at great risk for a lie they knew wasn't true, for a story that made no sense in the minds of the Jews, and ultimately would gain them no power or glory to their knowledge. They did not know that Christianity would spread. Because the disciples so adamantly believed and spread the news about Jesus and the resurrection, I am only left with the logical conclusion that these men saw the resurrected Christ. Thus it must be true.

I understand these thoughts are based off the classical Teleological argument and the Argument for the Resurrection. I also know they have been debate many times throughout history, but I believe they are still strong argument for Theist Christianity.

My Little Carpenter

A Salute to the Bean Brewers

Like most homes, my home is filled with the delightful sounds of children, the cries of sadness from one who is not getting their way the joyous giggles of another as they rip up one of my recently written bills. Though my children are one of the greatest joys of my life, it is often very difficult to concentrate when I am at home. So, I often like to go down to my local coffee shop, "Cup of Joe" to study. I have spent hours there the last couple of months working on my ordination paper.

So I would just like to say thanks to "Cuppa Joe's" and all the other coffee shops around the world from all of us bloggers, students, cops, old ladies, and the like that frequent your shops on a weekly basis. Thanks for the smiles, patience, the hours you let us sit there, and most of all the cup of joe.

Thanks