Who made made the waves in the Big Bang?

There's a lot of talk this week about the exciting discovery of the initial waves of gravity as the Big Bang expanded, verifying what's known as inflation.  It appears that the universe expanded faster than the speed of the light in the first split-second of the existence of the universe, and then began to expand at a steady rate for quite a while.

Click here to read about the new discovery, which is probably going to earn a Nobel prize

This is important, not least of all, because it shows the universe didn't always exist.  So why would it start, that's a question that involves a choice making entity. An intelligent being exercising willpower.

The amazing part about the whole discussion is not how divided we are on the questions of the Big Bang between believers and nonbelievers, but that people will study the universe looking for a "cause & effect" that can be measured, tested and analyzed, but not think that there was an ultimate cause.

Science isn't the enemy of faith, and in fact discoveries like we read about this week need to be celebrated.  I see nothing whatsoever in Big Bang cosmology that comes close to contradicting Genesis 1:1.  Science can help us understand "what" we see, but the job of science isn't to give a "why."  The big question remains, since we see these ancient waves of gravity from the early moments of the Big Bang, like ripples in a pond, who made the big "splash" in the pond?

The longest hour is the last one: Has Putin triggered Armageddon?

"And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon" (Revelation 16:16, ESV).

Has Vladimir Putin triggered Armageddon? Is Putin fulfilling the end times prophecies? Is he initiating some great battle that will annihilate mankind? Are we now on the brink of the end? Should we even expect to make it through the year 2014 without a catastrophic end?

Maybe, as you observe the recent events in the Ukraine, you've wondered if we have a glimpse of what's to come — wondering if the movement of Russian troops into Crimea is signaling the beginning of the end. Will Russia finally team up with China (as some have speculated, these two superpowers surely are in the book of Revelation) and fulfill the "Gog-Magog" alliance of Revelation 20:8? Will Russia and China surround Jerusalem and destroy the Holy City?

I doubt it.

We haven't had a decade of consistent world peace before or since Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee. I would guess during the Black Plague people began looking for the end of times, or the perhaps during any of the major revolutions in Europe during the last 1,500 years. Does anyone remember Y2K? Besides, Jesus Himself said, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6, ESV).

But what about all these social uprising, riots, overpopulation, problems in the Ukraine, Egypt, Syria, tension in the Middle East, threats from North Korea, Iran building their bomb, all the tsunamis, earthquakes and bad weather we are having?

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Mark 13:8, ESV).

John, the beloved Apostle who was Jesus' closest friend wrote to the seven churches of Asia — convinced he was in the "tribulation," and the "Kingdom" of God was already in existence: "I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 1:9, ESV). So, we don't have to await the beginning of the Kingdom, it's already here, and the tribulation has already happened — according to John.

No more tribulation? But what about Putin being the antichrist? Sorry. That's a term not even mentioned in the book of Revelation. But, the Apostle John did have a few things to say about the antichrist in his epistles. No. 1: The antichrist already came to earth. No. 2: There were multiple antichrists and the "end times" already began. And No. 3: The antichrist wasn't a world ruler. An antichrist is anyone who denies the Incarnation. For example: "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18, ESV).

"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22, ESV).

"And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already" (1 John 4:3, ESV).

But my preacher, father, teacher (you fill in the blank) said they know when the end of time will happen. Really? Jesus said, "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:36-37, ESV).

Looking for the tribulation or a future Kingdom in each and every current event makes for great literature in the Christian Fiction Department, but it is terrible theology. These things have plainly already transpired. Plus, Jesus doesn't start an earthly Kingdom with a capital in Jerusalem anywhere in the Bible. Instead, at the end He relinquishes His already established Kingdom: "Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:24, ESV).

I believe Jesus is coming back and when He does, we will be with Him forever in heaven. I believe He could come before you drop this newspaper in your recycle bin or He might not return for another 10,000 years. It's true, the Eschaton is a fascinating topic, but to sensationalize it falls short of our calling to be faithful. There's a temptation to obsess about the "End" that leans towards escapism — it's easier to speculate about a spectacular end than it is to humbly/simply bear our crosses daily, today.

Click here for the Timesnews version

Why are we so restless?

Am I the only one, or does it seem like we are becoming a restless people?  Why are we so restless these
days?

Only a few generations back, our ancestors usually lived and died within 10 to 20 miles of their birth.  Today it's nothing to jump in the car and drive several hundred miles for an event with our favorite hobby or to visit family.  We do this without much thought.  We move a lot too, but that's old news and not really at the heart of the issue.

It's not just that we are unsettled, when we are settled, it seems we are fidgety, distracted even.  We are like school children gazing out the window the last week before summer break.  What's up?

I love Bear Grylls and other survival shows.  Admittedly, none of these are filmed in our backyard -- part of the allure is the exotic locations.  Within 10 miles of our home they are building one new Bass Pro shop and two Cabela's.  The outdoors await, easier to conquer than ever!

I think part of our problem which keeps us fidgety and easily distracted is our craving for adventure.  The adventurous spirit of exploration and testing our mettle dies hard.  Ah, maybe not.  Probably not.  Why go in search of a challenge when you haven't beat Angry Birds or Candy Crush yet?  I guess it's just easier to live vicariously through a favorite athlete or to settle for reruns.

Blinded by the slight:

(Kingsport Times news, 11/23/13)

I was starting the grill tonight (I use what's called a "chimney coal starter") and I almost burned this clipping (yes, I have old newspapers in a bin for this).  I'm not sure how I missed this little gem.  Preachers live for sermon illustrations like this clipping.  We open newspapers, scouring them for such pieces as this!  

Look again at the clipping.  When Kennedy was assassinated, the "big" news of the morning here in Kingsport was a new leader at Eastman.  Is a transition in leadership important?  Having been close friends for several years with the recently retired CEO of Eastman and living in this town whose economy is tied closely to Eastman's successes, I can tell you it is a big deal in this town.  But, it's not that big enough of a deal to overshadow the real news of the day.

This clip reminds we can let the insignificant overshadow what's really important when we lose our focus.  This newspaper clip illustrates how an inward-narrow focus can blind us to bigger things outside our immediate realm.  

Are you going through a painful separation of sorts, losing your job, grieving the loss of a loved one?  God has a way of using painful times to shape us -- it's not that He caused the pain, but He sure can use it to mould us (Think Joseph, Gen 50:15-21) 

I'm not saying your pain isn't real, or isn't valid, I am saying, typically there's more to the picture than meets the eye.  It's hard, nearly impossible, to see past the pain, but that's where faith & hope come in.

I Cor 13:12-13, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

II Cor 4:16-18, "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

II Cor 5:7, "for we walk by faith, not by sight."  

Pray for eyes to see eternal/consequential realities and for guidance to walk life's path when the lines get blurred.  

Taking the morning train

If I didn't know the folks who manage Winterfest, I would have been tempted to think this year's theme was manipulated: Like, they caved to the pressure of the ultra-conservatives.  Like, Winterfest was hijacked.  

Over the years, I've spent hours and hours with Dudley and the Winterfest group.  In years gone bye, I've helped unload the moving truck with the stage gear, I've packed literally tens of thousands of Winterfest tee shirts into the "potato-sacks" for youth groups, I've stuffed the materials into the youth leaders' packets till the midnight hour... and I've eaten many meals with Dudley and his crew after unpacking and setting up.  I had the full access backstage passes, I've been in the "green room" eating with Jeff Walling up in the mezzanine!  

I've been around the block with the Winterfest inner circle.  Okay, as a volunteer, I doubt these guys could pick me out in a crowd.  But hey, I felt special :-)

I say all this to say, I know that this year's thematic content was genuine and not something that anyone was pressured into -- but the theme and presentations all seemed so unlike what you'd expect in a "youth rally" of Winterfest proportions.   Why?  This year was definitely "old school." 

How so? Instead of the praise groups like Acapella or Watershed, with mouth-percussionists and several parts being sung, we had one single song leader.... and he had gray hair (gasp)!  For crying out loud, Jeff Walling gave a history lesson on the Cane Ridge Revival! And, Patrick Mead didn't use a single video or PowerPoint in his presentation.  It was as if this Winterfest was dialed into a different frequency, an Oldies station to be exact.   

The 2014 theme of Winterfest was titled "Weave" and it was well done.  Basically, "Weave" was the metaphor of a tapestry being woven together with the application the church is made up of all ages... and kids, don't give up on church when it's not as cool as the youth group.

I love Winterfest, and I think it was a great experience this year.  I hope the youth (and chaperones too) appreciated the subtle message that was sprinkled throughout the weekend: Church isn't all about you.  It's not about you, or your preference.  Church is about God, and we need to lead people to Him, and aim for unity along the way.  If that seed takes root in our youth, and the next generation can overcome the turmoil this generation has had over "worship wars" then the evening train might not be too late.  

"Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" the true story of a devout Muslim with eyes to see!

"Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A devout Muslim Encounters Christianity" by Nabeel Qureshi

Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids Michigan, Copyright 2014

Aided by an impressive cohort of mentors and legendary Christian Apologists, Qureshi brings to print a very valuable book, showing step by long step his transition from being an active Muslim to accepting Christ.  Rarely do I put all other reading materials on hold to focus on one book at a time.  Normally I'm reading at least six books simultaneously, but when I began reading Nabeel's narrative, I devoted myself to reading his story straight through.  Written like a memoir, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" illustrates the Biblical truth that those who have eyes to see, will see.  This book is nearly 300 pages long, but I read through it in just three or four sittings -- it was that captivating.

Written with the utmost respect for his Islamic heritage, Qureshi sets out his journey of faith from being fully immersed in the Muslim world of his youth, through his long emotional trek to embracing the Christian faith.  The grandchild of Muslim missionaries, Qureshi was brought up in a loving home where the Quran was revered and his parents professed their undying allegiance to Allah and his prophet, Muhammad.

Nabeel's story is engaging for several reasons.  For starters, we read about his admirable upbringing in a very devout Islamic setting; he is raised in an idyllic loving home where he gives insight into the mysterious world of Islam.  Most Westerners have no idea what happens within the subculture of transplanted Muslims (Qureshi's family moved to the US from Pakistan) and this glimpse into Nabeel's world is captivating.  I found myself more than once infatuated with his homelife as a youth; their devotion to prayer and congregational life was seriously impressive.  Secondly, this book is so mesmerizing, because Nabeel is transparent about his wrestling match seeking the truth of Who God is.  It's not easy to ask God, "Who are you?" and then to go through the process of analyzing all that you've been taught to believe.

This book is fitting for several audience: For Muslims seeking to know the truth about the Identity of the True God, for those interested in reaching Muslims, for people who are simply interested in learning more about Islam, for those in the pulpit who would like to address this topic more intelligently in a post 9/11 world, and though it is not a textbook, it would serve well in a Seminary classroom too.  I add this last part based on my Seminary experience; I learned more about Islamic culture and the Muslim faith in Qureshi's book than in an entire semester of Communicating Cross-Culturally with Muslims.

One of the real gems in this book is the masterful way Qureshi weaves in Islamic terms into the narrative, and then in the margins, with shaded text-boxes he unpacks these unfamiliar terms.  The terms are all categorized in a helpful Glossary at the end of the book, for further study.  Without employing a dry lecture or boring you with factoids, Qureshi teaches you several key terms throughout the story.  It is a very clever and interesting way to impart the knowledge of the intricacies of the Muslim world without making the reader feel like they are working hard to learn new words.

Towards the end of the book, once God breaks down all the barriers in his heart and mind, Qureshi experiences one vision and a few dreams from God.  I wish Qureshi had elaborated more on the dreams that helped confirm God was guiding him to become a Christian.  He goes into detail recording the content of the dreams, but I felt since these dreams were the capstone to his years of researching both faiths, and his impassioned debates along the way, more coverage of this supernatural intervention on God's part would've helped enrich this wonderful book.

It's hard not to conclude after reading this book that Christianity has too much fragmentation and petty infighting, and see how this book inadvertently highlights the fact we have bigger issues to address than our personal preferences.  We need to look past our denominational squabbles and see there is a field white for the harvest.  A major lesson I took away from reading this book is that no one is too far gone or beyond the reach of the Gospel.  We can never look at a person who is indoctrinated in another religion (even a Muslim) and think, they won't respond to the message of Jesus.  Also, this book reminds us, key relationships are essential in leading someone to Christ.  Qureshi had seeds that were planted and watered by some incredible people who were close to him, who loved him, and who were willing to invest in a long-term commitment.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this story one day picked up and adapted for the Big Screen.  Filled with anticipation, it is a moving narrative with an incredible character arc that has all of the tension, conflict and suspense that makes all stories great.  We are indebted  to Qureshi for sharing his path from the Crescent to the Cross.  May we all be sensitive to the great cost he and other Muslims make, who by turning to Jesus leave loved-ones feeling betrayed and abandoned.

Favorite Earthly possession

                          

A couple of years ago I read the "Green Hills of Africa" by E.H.. I had never heard the term "musette bag" until then; yet that's what Hemingway carried his books in while on safari.  So, afterward I became obsessed with finding a musette bag.  Last year for Father's day my oldest son & his wife wanted to get one for me, and so we all looked online.  I saw this and liked it, and simultaneously my son Drew texted me a picture of this same bag, so I knew it was perfect.  

I didn't want an all canvas bag, and I didn't want an expensive leather one, I wanted a bag that had both.  Mine (pictured above) is an Otium 21108CF, the leather is "crazy horse" leather, and the canvas is high density cotton.  I love the look and feel of this bag.

Normally, in addition to whatever books I'm reading on the go, I carry a flashlight, pack of Via coffee, a Buck/Tops CSAR knife & a firestarter/sharpener, a Buxton genuine leather folio with a legal pad, a Kokuyo pencil case filled Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, a Mylar blanket, an assortment of composition books, and an engraved business card case with my initial on it.  Even though my Dell 1500 laptop fits in it, I rarely ever use it for my laptop.  

I know it sounds weird, but this is my favorite earthly possession.