There is much that one can say when he sets out to define the Gospel. In this post, I will try to keep it simple. The Gospel is simply, “Good News.” What is that good news? It is that God has made a plan to save us from ourselves. “Why is such a plan necessary,” you ask? Because each of us is sinful and, very simply, our sin separates us from God. At this point, I could detour through creation and the occurrence of original sin, but instead, let me justify man’s sinfulness by simply suggesting that you look at today’s news (I have enough faith in humanity that it can be any day’s news, the day that you read this will serve just as well as the day on which it was written). What you see in the news will suggest that man is very sinful; you will find murder, every kind of sexual perversion, destruction of the family, overt attacks on decency, and unethical conduct at every turn. Your response may be, “I’m not doing any of that stuff, how does this apply to me?” I challenge you, when was the last time that you used God’s name inappropriately, cast a lustful eye on someone who wasn’t your husband or wife, or looked at material that carried your thoughts to a lustful place? Have you put money into savings that might have helped someone “in Jesus’ name“, or have you lusted for more stuff, a car with more whistles and bells, perhaps? We all sin, and we do it because we are human. This is an inescapable fact. We are not righteous (righteous means living right) … and we are far from Holy.
The problem with sin is that it separates us from God. To die, separated from God, simply means that we cannot be with God in the afterlife, and not being with God in the afterlife, is definitely not a good thing.
The Gospel is God’s plan to save us from a nasty alternative, that’s why we call it His “plan of salvation”. We access that plan by believing that Jesus died in our place and by honestly asking God for forgiveness.
The Gospel is a very good thing … for now … and it is an even better thing, when our body is dead, and we are a spirit.
Caesar documented his personal exploits in approximately 100 BC. The oldest available copies of those manuscripts date to about 1,000 AD. An entire millennium elapsed between Caesar’s original writings and the oldest existing copy of his manuscripts. Only ten copies of these manuscripts survive. Absolutely no one doubts the existence of Caesar.
Plato wrote in about 400 BC. The oldest copy we have of his writing dates to 900 AD. Only seven copies of Plato’s manuscripts survive. Yet, no one doubts the existence of Plato.
Accounts of the life of Jesus were written shortly after his crucifixion. The earliest existing copies of those manuscripts date to as few as 200 years after His lifetime. Five thousand of these manuscripts survive. It is inconceivable that many people still question the very existence Jesus and His mission.
I am amazed at the bias against the life changing, and live giving, story of Christianity.
I don’t do social media. Why, you ask? Because for the most part it has become the home of the self-serving. The people who make daily postings to Facebook appear to be always engaged in self-promotion. And, quite honestly, that’s not my thing. Yes, I want people to think that I am thoughtful, maybe even insightful, but the essence of my life is not found in what I ate, where I vacationed or how I have remodeled my “master suite” (yes, I dared to use the word “master”, and no, I don’t have a suite).
Yesterday, my cousin called to tell me that my hometown historical society has received years’ worth of photographic negatives from the town’s local newspaper. Those photos, which encompass the dates of my residency, are being posted to Facebook. “I should have an account,” he said. So, I started thinking about that. Out here, on the wide-open internet (where you find this bit of cyberspace), I have been able to set my own standards. I tell you what is on my mind and rarely bother you with what is in my belly. But Facebook operates to a whole other standard. Being unsure if I could meet the expectations of the average Facebook reader, I have decided to do what I will call, The Great Facebook Experiment. I have decided to post here that content (about me) that would qualify me as a genuine and knowledgeable “Facebooker.” So here we go. Over the next few days, I will entertain you, and doubtless spur your insane jealousy, by posting the most minute details of my lavish lifestyle. I will leave nothing to the imagination.
Let’s start with yesterday, 25 April 2023 (as I have it well documented):
Yesterday morning I imposed myself on the busy staff if the local Well Pet Clinic. While there, I exercised my notorious animal handling skills to interact with a young Pit Bull named Dakota. She was heading to her “forever home” and I spent some time wishing her well. Of course, I was thrilled when one staff member pointed out to another that she, the pit bull, had taken a liking to me. My self-image thusly reinforced, I strutted off to take on the day.
At 1800, I drove cross country to a local apartment complex. Upon arrival, I set a cat trap in the shadows behind a dumpster (pictured here). I am highly skilled at slipping into neighborhoods, where I do not live, then depositing or retrieving a cat trap. It is interesting to see the various items that, while tossed in the general direction of the dumpster, miss their mark, and therefore litter the surrounding area. In this photo, my best brown cat trap is set against a variety of trash, including a disposable diaper that had doubtlessly been successful in its original application.
While behind the dumpster, I discovered that another kind soul had left an item of delight for both the feral cats and the local wildlife. At the same time, I realized that I had been seriously “one-upped.” I decided to leave the cat trap anyway and, navigating heavy shrubbery, I returned to my truck. This photo shows the food offering that had been left earlier by what turned out to be one of my own kitty rescue comrades. How does one compete with that (and we all know that the essence of life is competition, right)?
While we are wallowing in my success, let me add a word about my truck. It is the sought after 2010 Toyota Tacoma single cab; it is equipped with 2.4L (four cylinder) engine, a manual transmission, manual door locks, hand cranked windows, and of course, it has no distracting satellite radio. My plan is to drive it for another tenth of a million miles and still make a tidy profit, selling it to one of the many illegals who enter this country each day.
Upon returning to my vehicle, I discovered some “pandemic era” hand sanitizer. I decided that I could clean myself sufficiently to skip dinner prep (a trip to the refrigerator) and eat out. I settled on an “easy in, easy out” dining option that requires no reservation. That decision resulted in the scrumptious meal shown here. The cat food in the background is a bit of kit that is carried by every seasoned and knowledgeable cat trapper. It provided a nice seafood “surf” aroma in the small and sun warmed cab, enhancing my decidedly “turf” Whopper with cheese.
Now, when the day is done, “guys like me” don’t settle for just any accommodation. I need to be coddled in the very finest. I want complete control over my surroundings and most of all, I want to share this with my most intimate upscale friends. Of course, in my astronomical socioeconomic position that is easily accomplished. First let’s take a look at one of my very influential friends, shall we?
This is Mittens. He’s Head of Extermination in my luxurious sleeping area. His background is one of travel and personal adventure. Until my organization came forward with a better offer, Mittens lived the feral lifestyle (late nights, lots of kitty girls and party, party, party … just, not always including dinner). On his first night in our house (circa 2015), we moved him directly to the basement. That move precipitated some pretty big changes for the rest of us. He couldn’t stay down there alone, could he? Of course not, not with the kind of benevolence that one encounters around here. A single bed was moved from the bonus room to a spot just behind my basement workbench. Soon, both Mittens and I discovered how dark one could make a windowless basement. It’s cool, if not a bit humid, and we were the very first to know about it when the basement flooded a year or two ago.
But all that borders on the mundane, so let’s get back to accommodation, shall we? There is much you can do to “fine tune” the ambience of the unfinished basement. With tastes that lean toward the equestrian, I was delighted when my sister-in-law gifted me what has come to be known as the “horsey blanket.” It is front and center in this photo of my world class accommodation.
The cement block wall is both understated, yet functional, and the cast-off cardboard box suggests the excitement of some new toy having just arrived. Unseen to the casual observer is a carefully calibrated three-inch rise toward the bedhead, which comfortably accommodates my GERD.
And what is a boudoir without entertainment? Bedtime entertainment is provided by a $5.00 CD changer, obtained at the local equivalent of Goodwill. The player provides low level drive to an eBay sourced graphic equalizer (which is missing only one plastic button). That grand assemblage then delivers only slightly distorted audio to the input of the decidedly upscale Crown D-60 amplifier. This particular D-60 is one of three obtained from an electronic scrap “breaker” (look it up, that’s the proper name for the dissembling of things into salable scrap metal). I will add here that everyone, who is anyone, has a “breaker” as one of his, or her, personal friends. Finally, that impeccable system drives a set of Audio-Technica headphones, which are only slightly larger than might be optimal for bedtime listening. See for yourself, I am well stocked with CDs and reading material and the lighting is decidedly subdued … Just elegant!
All that remains, to fully authenticate my over-the-top lifestyle, is to flaunt my airy and awe-inspiring office space. In fact, I am sitting there right now, with only a partially obstructed view of a cement block wall. The luxurious texture of the wall is gained from the random nature of those little gray balls that make up the “cinder blocks” themselves. One block, which was randomly placed almost directly in front of me, is adorned with mud that has clung to it since the building’s construction.
Art, of course, is an essential part of any decor. In my case, the cinder block is punctuated up by a poached photo from the internet (probably copyrighted), a scan of four photos relating to my Naval service, and a plot associated with the current sunspot cycle (always display something that suggests you know more than you do about science or medicine). This photo captures the grandeur of my view.
Lastly, a workspace that promotes productivity must include clean lines and open space, both can be seen in this view of my workspace
What have I learned from this exercise? I have learned that mindless babble about the elegance of my lifestyle, and the posh locale where it is lived, requires no thought whatsoever. Further, it imparts no information of lasting value. You have no better insight into my faith or my philosophy than if I’d used this time to walk the dog, or to take a much-needed nap. I think this experiment has settled the matter; I am not a candidate for Facebook.
Postscript: There really was no moral to this story, it was simply a spoof on Facebook … until I found one. It speaks to a simple life: “Better is a handfull with quietness … than both hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 3:6
What did God have in mind when he created us? First, there is just one precondition for this discussion, you must believe that God is indeed our creator. And that, as our creator, God has the right to test us and to judge our performance.
Now, let’s look at what God was thinking when He put you and me on the earth. First, in what seems like an unlikely move, God created man on the same planet to which he had recently banished one of his highest-ranking angels, Satan, or simply, the Devil. Now why would God co-locate something that He cherished, his creation, man, with someone that hated God and was certain to hate and wish to destroy anything that God had made? I suspect that He did it, so that man would have plenty of choices to go along with his God given free-will. And, why give us choices? Because God wants to know what each of us will ultimately do with Him, and over our lifetime, He gives us many opportunities to decide. Let’s look at some typical options. Most people will lust for wealth, status, and material possessions, long before they will lust for a relationship with God. They will give travel, recreation, and a comfortable retirement priority over understanding God’s promises, living God’s Word, supporting God’s church, or sacrificing anything in God’s name. Few will desire a closeness to their creator, few will seek an active role in His kingdom.
What if I wanted to change my direction? For that, we simply exercise free will. We take advantage of the rescue plan that God made available to everyone. If you are one who feels a desire for Him, let’s look at God’s plan. It is simply to believe in Jesus, God’s Son, who became a one time for all time sacrifice for man’s sin. Why a sacrifice, you ask? At the time that Jesus lived, sacrifice was an integral part of the Jewish law. For thousands of years, Jewish law had directed the repetitious sacrifice of flawless animals to simply “cover man’s sin”. God’s plan included the one-time sacrifice of His perfect and flawless Son, Jesus, not just to cover our sins, but to “completely cleanse us of them”. God offers true freedom to all who believe and are truly repentant. The central concept in Christianity is to believe in Jesus, who died to forgive us of sin, rose again to represent us to His Father, and to direct our forever future.
What did God have in mind when He created us? Simply this: That of all the mass of humanity that would ever inhabit the earth, relatively few would have a true desire for Him. He made the way, and He gives us all the choice. He most certainly knew that His plan would separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the chaff. Daily, He is gathering those who desire Him to Himself. And, He will be satisfied with the few, so long as they are the ones who truly seek a closeness with Him. In essence, He is permitting us to sort ourselves. Our response to God’s plan, is what the whole of your life, and mine, is about.
For an overview of Christianity (for the skeptic) look Here.
In nature, everything tends toward entropy. Putting that another way, in nature, order, tends always to descend into Chaos, never the other way around. If you build a new house and never touch it again, in one-hundred years, it will be in tumbledown condition, or if you buy a new car and simply park it, in one-hundred years it will likely be unsalvageable. In one-thousand years, both of those items will likely have deteriorated to a point where they cannot be found. Now, I want you to think very clearly for a moment. In the material world, as we know it, does anything that is of use to us self-organize from nature’s default state, which is Chaos? The answer is simply, “no.” There has never been an automobile that has self-organized, nor a home that built and furnished itself. In fact, not the smallest automotive or construction component has emerged on its own from the chaos of nature. The same is true of technology. Copper wire did not simply appear on its own, nor did it “evolve” into a telephone system.
Now, with those things in mind, let’s move on to the biological world. Why would nature somehow reverse itself in the case of biology; enabling order to more easily overcome Chaos? Specifically, let’s consider biogenesis. The smallest component of every living thing is the single living cell. In it, information is stored, as a chemical code, and subsequently used in the construction replacement parts to repair the cell, or to replace worn-out cellular components. In a living cell, the information had to exist first, before a fully functioning cell could exist. Where did that information come from? What is the genesis of the information itself? To some, it is reasonable to suggest that it came from an intelligent agent, external to the process. Science, however, holds to the idea that, somehow, simple chemicals can self-organize themselves into this complex data driven machine, and that this amazing synthesis can occur completely by chance. That chance they know is, for all intents and purposes, non-existent. To accommodate this, scientists have recently proposed the existence of an infinite number of universes, the multiverse. The idea being that, if they can somehow accommodate an infinite number of opportunities, the most remote possibility will eventually occur. To many, this issue remains rather simple, if information-based life can arise by chance, then why not computers, housing, and automobiles … or even a single nail or lug nut.
Accepting that man is a created being, is the first step toward an understanding of Christianity.
Girls in Kenya study by solar powered light …a Compassion International photo
Most people I know are totally wrapped up in themselves. They have big plans for retirement, and they have an abundance of “stuff.” What they spend on two after dinner drinks is more than a month’s income for many people in the world today. These people have a bucket list, while others have anxiety over where they’re going to find the next meal for their family. We are so blessed, and at the same time, we are so blind.
This post is more than a suggestion, it is a request. In fact, I suppose that am begging you to commit just a few dollars each month to helping others. If you don’t have any idea where to start, let me introduce you to Compassion International. If you are not presently “giving or doing,” this is an excellent starting place. Now let me point you to Africa. There are thousands of families in Africa who have neither running water nor electricity. There are kids there, who can’t envision anything more than a grade school education and a life-long scramble for food and survival. Should you succumb to this solicitation, let me give you some further tips. Sign up for a birthday gift and, in addition to the entry level thirty seven dollars each month, give a small family gift. Just twenty-five dollars from you, nets an African family twenty-two fifty, more than a month’s wages in many countries.
Susan and I are delighted with the feedback that we get from one of our African families. They use the extra money to buy goats, and when they get seven goats, they sell them off and buy a small plot of land. They were delighted recently, when one of their goats had a kid, giving them a leg up on amassing the next herd of seven. They bought a solar panel, so that our sponsored child could read and study at night, and when we upped our family gift to fifty dollars, they were able to pay “school fees,” so that our sponsored child can attend secondary school. Why is that important? Because he wants to be a pilot, and with that lofty goal, completing high school is essential.
So, what is the total monthly cost? With a twenty-five-dollar family gift, it is just sixty-two dollars each month. With a fifty-dollar family gift, it will cost eighty-seven dollars each month. For some of you, that is a big deal and I know that. For others, simply maintaining your “lifestyle” for one month will consume eighty-seven dollars many times over. I know too, that many of you are savvy investors. Well, please accept this tip from me: you will never make a better investment than this one.
So, please consider it. I thank you for your time and I thank you in advance for your generosity …
I recently bought an item on eBay. There was an upgrade option, and once I had the basic product, I knew that I wanted the better one. As a result, I’ve had several conversations with the vendor. In each one, either he or his wife has ended the conversation, with the single word, “Blessings.” Yesterday I asked him about it, and I learned that they, like me, are Christian believers. I also learned that, as an avocation, they are missionaries to needy kids in a Colorado “gambling town.” That led me to a look at their website and their YouTube offerings. In a word, I was wowed! They are blessed with something that I couldn’t have dreamed of; the ability to put things together that will attract kids, in this age when kids are so terribly misinformed. More than that, they share my interest in apologetics, scientific and physical fact that leads toward a belief in God, instead of away from it.
Last night, I realized how truly “amateur” this site is. I questioned my approach, “is this therapy for me, or an outreach to you?” I questioned my openness and my lack of formal training in any of the subjects that interest me. In short, I questioned the utility of this entire effort. This morning, I woke up with the answer. I think the real question is, “who is your audience, and how much do you have in common with them?” What have you experienced that you can share? Yes, that was it. This site is about experience, and I pull no punches. Experience is a hard teacher. And who is my intended audience? It is typically going to be adults. Imperfect adults, just like me. Adults who have been steeped in science and scientism, to a point where faith becomes an unlikely option.
So, step out of the way. I am, in fact, renewed. In my world, time is precious, but I just happen to have several ideas that have been brewing for several weeks now. I must sit down and write them up. The wizard that I met, also suggested that I try making shorts for YouTube. I can envision that. So, if you happen to identify as my audience … stick around, I don’t think we’re finished just yet!
Sometime, circa 1970, I was involved in the founding of a brand new church. At the outset, it consisted of just seven families … enthusiasm ran high. I was in my late twenties …
With so few congregants, everyone had responsibility. I was a bus captain. On Saturday, I knocked on every door in two different neighborhoods and, on Sunday morning, I loaded a bus with kids. I played my trombone along with the congregational singing … and made friends like Joe Zulo, who also played the trombone … Joe was much better than me.
Later, I was the treasurer … Paying the rent and writing the pastor’s paycheck …
Everyone was important then … and … the pastor greeted each of us with a vigorous handshake … and … he always called me “Brother Sam!”
If you liken that church to an atom, we were the nucleus … a tightly bound core … we were the heat and the gravity that held the church together …
Somewhere along the line … and for various reasons … bonds weakened and, after a while, we moved on to another church … where … we were quickly assimilated. It wasn’t long until we were, once again, to use the atom analogy, drifting toward the nucleus … I would say we ended up in maybe the fourth or fifth valence ring. There was decidedly less heat, and the bonds were less tight … things happened that should not have happened … inside the church … or out.
It was a slow walk but, as a family, I allowed us to simply … fade away. It was a familial disaster … the world can blind you … and … somehow I didn’t notice the drift …
How then, did the next forty plus years unfold? Divorce … kids that grew up in the world, instead of in church. And, as a family, the guy who was supposed to be the captain had walked away from the helm, jointly our compass was spinning.
Later … when my morals were scraping the very bottom … I met a girl (much younger) and I felt bad for her … because … her life was just as messed up as mine. That’s strange, isn’t it? But you know what? For some reason, I was still on God’s radar. He knew what could not be fixed and He knew very well what could.
So … that girl and I fell slowly into a relationship. It took forty years … and a wedding … and a little house that we filled with rescue animals … then a bigger house that we built with rescuing animals in mind. And … at times … we saw the hand of God … but it was subtle.
Somewhere … after wasting all those years … a church is picked off the computer screen and we attend. It sticks … we like the pastor … and slowly … we are reacquainted with the Savior.
Inside me, something kicks in … a desire to serve … but … I am not part of the founding party … I am not “Brother Sam,” and I am not prepared.
There are other things that have gone missing too. I am now seventy-five … by everyone’s reckoning, an old man … I am short on energy … and anyway, all the existing ministries have been wrapped up by the regulars … maybe some, by members of the founding party … I know how that works.
We simply must do something … so, we start our own mission program … this website, a part of it … and, for three years now, our little “one family mission program” has proved rewarding … in fact, it has thrived.
Like many older people, I decided that perhaps prayer was my mission. It was there that I met Satan head-to-head … Satan doesn’t like prayer. I struggled with doubt (God allowed it) and I recovered with a grasp on Apologetics (and, a fledgling insight into the Bible).
But still … there is no mission for an old man … I fret. Where are those most encouraging words “Brother Sam?”
A stray cat brings us in contact with another congregation … we see evangelism and community … things that aren’t happening in “our” church (in all fairness, I am sure there was community there but, in three years, we did not manage to find it).
In these new acquaintances, I begin to see traces of that upstart church … forty years prior. I envision bonds … I envision heat …
The pastor at “our” church retires and the “atmosphere” changes …
One Sunday morning we are dressed and ready, but we are running late. We can make it to this “new church” … if we leave right now …
Meanwhile, I propose to the new-hire minister at the “old church” that we establish an “evangelism team.” Folks to stand by, at the ready, should someone be moved to follow Jesus … can you believe it, I was turned down … I was assured that it was “already covered” … but it wasn’t … and the die was cast.
We began to attend the “new church” regularly … as regularly as we could. With thirty-six animals … we are … for all intents and purposes … farmers. Another mission … and there’s no end in sight.
I am watching the nucleus. The folks in the heat … the ones with strong bonds … they have spent the past forty years preparing … not compromising. The first five valence rings contain ushers, nursery workers, the bus and security ministries … not to mention a literal army of adult volunteers that show up when it’s time for Vacation Bible School … Those first few rings … where the heat is.
I continue to fret … I’m not sure why.
By this time, however, our animal sanctuary is employing kids from this “new” church … and when they visit, we frequently consider some spiritual idea … and the lady that helps keep our house in order … is from this “new church” too.
We begin to call it “our church” …
Finally … on 11 October 2022 … some long elusive concept condenses to understanding …. Yes, we are back. And … I am old now and suffering from lack of energy. I couldn’t hack it, even if there were an opportunity much closer the fire.
Here’s the crux of what I have discovered: I left the church, having known the tight bonds of the nucleus … and the heat that warms the close-in electrons. I am back a different person. I wasn’t here from the founding … I am still ill prepared …my energy is flagging, and my time is divided … not to mention (my time is) running out.
What then is the hope? Let’s stick with the atom analogy …
When you return to Christianity, most of us are destined to land in a higher … and admittedly …colder orbit. Let’s say somewhere out near the 13th valence ring.
That results strictly from a lack of human resource … our own. You simply aren’t equipped to align with any other locality. Initially your brain doesn’t know that … but it is absolute.
Is that bad?
Well, no … and that’s another part of the 11 October 2022 discovery …
It may (actually) be a privilege to inhabit the 13th valence ring … and I am sure that you are asking, “why?”
Because, as hobbled as my efforts might be, I am legitimately seeking God’s way and His desire these days. I’ve spent time grinding out a personal understanding of Christianity … as a continuum … from creation, all the way to the “new earth.” I have a thin grasp on apologetics … in a word, I am probably as prepared as anyone with my background can be. I possess the minimum facts that are required to explain the awesome significance of Jesus.
How can that happen “way out here?”
Well … that’s easy … many who will show up … and attach themselves this far from the nucleus … are very much in need. They didn’t have my good start … with strong bonds … down close to the heat. They are here out of curiosity, or desperation, or because my church reminds them of the church that they attended “back in Kentucky.”
I will watch for them. I will patrol for them. I will shake their hand … and ask their name. I might also ask, “Are you allergic to cats” … “Oh, you like them!” I will use all the assets at my disposal to engage the lost … these potential “one-timers,” who might just pop out of “our“13th valence ring and combine with some other atom before next Sunday …
But I do have one request … please shake my hand and call me “Brother Sam.”
