Religious – Page 2 – It seems to me . . .

The Gambling Christian

By Bob Beanblossom

5 January 2018

The title of this article is “The Gambling Christian.” Is that an oxymoron, or is gambling a legitimate Christian activity? I saw a discussion on Facebook recently that got me thinking about my position in the issue. I thought I would just sit back and watch the comments. But, that’s not my style.

It seems to me that, like all issues of Christian behavior, we need to separate the opinion from the biblical position—if we can find one. The Bible was written thousands of years ago to folks in a far different environment, with lifestyles and living conditions that we have a hard time understanding (if we even take time to think about it). We are charged with using the services of the Holy Spirit and our God-given intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom to discern as closely as possible what the original message said, then to make informed applications for us today. With that said, let’s build a biblical case for or against gambling, as the Word leads. All Scripture is from the King James Version of the Bible.

Casting Lots

Casting lots is not only mentioned in the Bible, but God directs this action, perhaps similar to a throwing of dice, as a method of making decisions. The first directive was in Leviticus 16:8 where Moses, at God’s behest, directed Aaron, his brother and the high priest, to cast lots over two goats to determine which would be the sacrifice and which would be the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:8). Joshua used this method to distribute the Promised Land among the tribes (Joshua 18:6-10). This is not gambling, but a God-sanctioned heads-or-tails approach to decision making hundreds of years before there were coins to toss.

As with all that man touches, the good can be adapted to evil. Casting lots is gambling when it becomes chance instead of choice. Perhaps the most memorable description of casting lots as gambling, though not the only one recorded in Scripture, is the incident of the Roman soldiers who seized Jesus’ garments as He hung on the cross. They cast lots to see who would win what items of clothing. This was so despicable to God that all four Gospels recorded it (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; and John 19:24). This leaves little room to support any idea that a game of chance is supported by the Word. But we will keep looking.

Gambling in the Bible

Words like “gamble,” “wager,” “lottery,” “card(s),” and other modern terms associated with gambling are simply absent from Scripture. Gambling was known and practiced among those whom the Hebrews came into contact with, but was not part of God’s plan for His people. Solomon comes as close to the modern attitude of gaming with his lament in 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 bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Jesus repeats and amplifies this in Matthew 5:44-45, making application for His followers. In our context, the application is not fatalism, the “what will be, will be” attitude, but a responsible lifestyle that recognizes our shortcomings as we address the needs of others. This may be the crux of the matter for the idea of Christian gambling. We will look at this from an inward perspective—what is my responsibility to God as far as my behavior; and from an outward perspective—what is my responsibility to others.

Inward Perspective—My Relationship with Jesus

These issues revolve around our individual concept of who Jesus is, and who we are in relationship to Him. We can only brush the surface here. Jesus is eternally God (John 1:1-2). The purpose of His earthly ministry was to “seek and to save that which was lost (you and I)” (Luke 19:10). He alone is the way to achieve a relationship with our Creator; one that has eternal consequences for each person ever created (John 14:6). We are called to “walk worthy of the vocation” that He has called us into (Ephesians 4:1): our life purpose is to worship and serve Him, on His terms: He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-6) who will not tolerate divided loyalties (Matthew 4:10).

Divided loyalties seem to be the Scriptural foundation for this application. The Word warns us against those who “serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good works and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18). Our application will draw on two aspects of this verse. Serving our “own belly” refers to satisfying our own desires, our own cravings, our own greed. Gambling promises something for nothing. No work. No benefits are produced. It also demands an expenditure of time, energy, and money that draws us away from our relationship with and service to our Savior. The other aspect is one of influence. We will discuss that in the next section.

The discussion moves naturally to one of motive. Why would I want to gamble? This requires an honest answer. We hear: “I do it to relax;” “I gamble to have a little fun—I know my limits and stop then I get there.” More honestly, gambling exists solely for the purpose of getting something for nothing. How we fit into that purpose is not relaxation or fun, but we attempt to get something for nothing—against the odds that will be defeated by just one more spin, pull, hand, or whatever. And like we would like our lawmakers to do, we must realize that the “something” always comes from “someone.” Winners can only be made on the backs of losers. Only. Back to motives. Money–representing the power to acquire, influence, and empower—can become addictive as the drive for more overrides the original purposes (see Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21). Covetousness is simply wanting what is not ours—that which we have not earned—and is an abhorrence to God (Psalm 10:3). Covetousness is loving something (money, power, winning, stuff) more than Someone (God). It is not part of the Christian worldview established by Jesus Christ. Remember Satan tempting Jesus? He tried (and failed) to find a weak spot in Jesus’ morality and devotion to His Father. We do not have His righteousness or His fortitude: our devotion is fragile and sometimes situational. The results are disastrous for our relationship with Jesus Christ: “the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The something-for-nothing attitude is divisive; too often it becomes an addiction: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). An addiction is a master that competes with our relationship with God. Gambling is a need that grows and destroys—it is a need that can never satisfy: “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). If I keep going back to a particular behavior, it doesn’t matter what I call it, it is an addiction. The application for this section is that gambling is a non-Christian attempt to receive personal increase without personal effort, in direct opposition to His Word: “if any would not work, neither should he eat . . . we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 excerpted). We are to work and to consume the fruits of our own labor, not that taken from a “loser.”

Outward Perspective—My Witness to the Saved and the Lost

We won’t spend much time here. This is the familiar argument of avoiding the appearance of evil so that we don’t adversely influence others (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The counter-argument is one of individual Christian freedom: “All things are lawful to me” (1 Corinthians 6:12a). The rest of the verse is important—it can’t be divorced from the opening phrase: “but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12b). I promised that we would return to Romans 16:18. This verse amplifies the thought in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 in an important way for us: “and by good works and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18b). It strongly suggests that, should we consider behaviors not specifically addressed by Scripture, that we apply this test: will others who are not as mature in their Christian walk (and by application, too, those who do not yet know our Lord as their personal savior) be adversely impacted by our actions. I would add that sometimes the “hearts of the simple” who question a particular activity may actually be wiser than we consider, as we, immersed in our behavior, deceive ourselves as the chief priests and scribes did (Matthew 21:15-17): “why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).

Have you noticed the firestorm that arises when Christians discuss gambling in a public forum? Do you understand that non-Christians are watching? No matter how we might hold that we can’t please all the people all the time, the real issue is whether we are maintaining our witness: are we credible witnesses of the life changing power of Jesus Christ? If I look like the world, talk like the world, and act like the world, what need is there for a non-Christian to make any change? What do we have to offer? This, of course, transcends gambling and extends to our entire lives. It is a big deal. It is not something we can fix, but reminds us that we rely solely on the Holy Spirit to lead and direct our lives as we, like Paul, are prisoners of our Lord (Eph 3:1; 4:1).

We should not only consider the bigger “they,” but our own household. We are charged with teaching our own children biblical precepts and practices (Deuteronomy 4:10). Our children are turning away from the church at record numbers. The power of the Holy Spirit has not diminished. The message has not changed. The call has not changed. Perhaps it is the witness of the individual messenger. His message is clear, needing little interpretation: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” ((2 Corinthians 6:17).

Parting Thoughts

The question on the table is about “The Gambling Christian.” We asked in opening if that was an oxymoron, or is gambling a legitimate Christian activity? I have presented some considerations from a scripture that is silent on the particular activities that we call gambling. I have derived some applications that I hope are legitimate, based upon the original meaning and historical context of the scripture. Now it is your turn. Remember that you have a Guide to direct your path: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossiams 3:16).

Everyone Does It

By Bob Beanblossom

28 December 2017

It seems to me that sometimes we need to fall back and regroup, to put theory and opinion aside temporarily and look at life as it is. This is not to minimize these, but help assure that they actually have strong basis in the “real world.

I’m going to tell you a story. This is not a “Once upon a time” story. It is not suitable for all readers and you might consider your audience before you share it.

This story begins, “Once, a few years ago, in Tipton County, Tennessee . . .” It is real. Tragically real. Before I tell you the story, I want you to know that it has a moral, a purpose in two parts, bound together–each distinct, but inseparable: 1) actions have consequences, and 2) the phrase, “It can’t happen to me” is a bold lie that leads to self-destruction.

The Brief Story of a Man Called Bones

Once, a few years ago, in Tipton County, Tennessee, I was called out to join a small team of investigators from the local sheriff’s office. We were there to recover evidence from what appeared to be a suicide. When I arrived, the team was on hands and knees in and around a dry creek bed searching for evidence and remains. A yellow electrical cord was secured to a tree limb hanging out over the creek bed. At the other end was an empty loop too far above the ground to reach. About all that remained of a young man were scattered bones, separated and returning to the natural elements from which they came. The work of time had been efficient, making the job painstaking—carefully remove anything that didn’t look like a bone and collect it and log the location. Foul play had to be ruled out. It was. His cotton jeans and t-shirt had rotted away as had his skin and organs. At some point his remains slipped from the self-made noose and his body slipped into the creek bed. Small bones such as fingers were difficult to find in the mud and gravel. The bones of his feet were easier—his socks were a synthetic blend that survived, holding them together. When no more could be found, the search stopped and I transported two boxes of bones to the sheriff’s office for preliminary review by the Medical Examiner (ME). At that point it was possible to be detached, almost clinical, in the investigation. Almost.

The ME determined that a large percentage of the bones were there but the skull was missing. It was recovered downstream several days later. As we laid out the bones in the rough shape of a man, the ME made some observations. Bones (a suitable name for our victim) had a broken rib near his heart. It had healed like a blacksmith’s joint where a piece of metal is wrapped around a joint and beaten to tightly hold it together. The joint was large and the rib alignment poor. Doc said this would probably have caused continual pain. His 4^th lumbar vertebra had been severely damaged and his body had formed an arthritic bony skirt that extended below the disk and over the top of the 5^th lumbar vertebra. Doc said that this would be the cause of even more continuous pain. Other lifestyle clues emerged. Bones was beginning to take on life: he was a young man who lived in constant nagging pain from a damaged and neglected body.

The investigation soon gave Bones a name and filled in details of his all-too-short life. He had early-on engaged in “recreational” drugs because “everyone does it.” He became alienated from his family, his behavior increasingly self-destructive. After a car wreck caused injuries left to heal on their own, his drug use became “medicinal” as he attempted to relieve his constant pain. As his demand for drugs increased, his ability to produce income decreased. He stole from family, friends, and strangers, lost jobs as tools “disappeared” when he was around: he became a petty criminal. He was no longer able to function as a productive citizen or even an intelligent criminal.

At some point the increase in pain and decrease in drug effectiveness intersected and he decided to take his own life, a life that was without value to him. An ironic twist is that the investigative team probably cared more about him throughout the investigation than he did about himself in the final days of his life. He took his extension cord to the woods, near a residential area—near his own home. There he died alone and unloved—at least in his own mind.

I will not debate the pros and cons of drug use and abuse, either prescription meds or illegal/quasi-legal street drugs. This is not about that. I will not debate access, of lack of it, to medical attention. This is not about that. This is about self-destructive behavior that is the result of poor personal choices fueled by an “I am in control of my own destiny” mindset. It is about responsible behavior.

This is an individual case. It is real. You might rationalize that it can’t happen to you or a loved one—even as you may recognize the symptoms of a downward spiral in their behavior—or yours. Once begun it is hard to reverse. It is not just drugs and alcohol. It includes the many addictions that destroy rational thinking and productive behavior. It is about friends rejected and “friends” who would help destroy you even as they destroy themselves. Some helpful programs exist that are caring and designed to encourage and empower, to overcome addiction and all that goes with it. But ultimately the cure rests upon the individual, the individual burdened with chemical, physical, emotional, and relational addictions that the unknowing can barely imagine.

But there is an answer. Don’t leave me now—this is the best part. We can’t help Bones. But there is serious help for you right now. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:27-29). Let me break that down:

1) Come unto me—that is you and me. All of us that God created. In another place He said, “For God so loved the world (that’s you and me), that He gave His only begotten Son (that’s Jesus), that whosoever (that’s you and me again) believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (we are not taken out of our world when we accept Him, but He gives us the strength to overcome the old world when we do)” (John 3:16)

2) all ye that labor and are heavy laden—this is not just jobs and work, but the burdens of our mind, the doubts and fears, the pain and hurt.

3) I will give you rest—this is not a maybe, a sort-of: He does give each of us emotional and mental rest that leads to an inner peace that you often see in some Christians who just seem to stand out, not because of what they say, but of how they live. But—and this is important—this promise comes with requirements.

4) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart. His yoke is simply deciding to accept Him as your personal Savior. Not as a “fox-hole Christian” who is a saint today and a haint tomorrow when the pain is less. Accepting Him is just the beginning. By aligning yourself with a Bible-teaching church, and personal Bible study, we learn of Him. Through prayer we develop a personal relationship with Him, a friendship where He is the leader and we are the follower. He will never leave you. You can ignore Him. Others can discourage you. Life may seem about to overcome you. But He is only a prayer away. Believing in His saving power in your own life and learning about Him is called faith. He says he is meek and lowly. We would say that He picks His battles. The enemy is not our friends and family that love us (even if they have a real problem understanding where we are coming from), but those who try to keep us in the same sewer where they live. You can defeat that enemy by prayer and the friendship and support of Christian friends. One of the benefits of salvation is that Jesus gives us a powerful ally—the Holy Spirit—to actually live within us and give us power to live the life that He wants us to live—for our own good. It’s not boring. It’s not quiet and passive. It is more exciting than any drug-induced trip or any daredevil activity can possibly be. And there are no downers, no hangovers.

5) Now comes the promise: ye SHALL find rest unto your souls. No holding back. No “do this, do that, do the other.” Accept Him as your Savior and being to learn who He is and how He wants you to live, and He WILL give you rest in your heart and mind and soul.

The world doesn’t go away. As we said at the beginning of this story, actions have consequences. What has been done will still have to be dealt with. But through His power and your obedience to Him, life can be taken head-on with a joy that is not a feeling but an understanding deep within that becomes action.

Your life is not about statistics and studies, not about the odds. The odds are certain that each and every one of us will die. All of us. Your life is about how you live, and that is your choice. Make it hard and useless, full of pain and heartbreak, or join with the Creator of the universe and live the life He intends for you.

There Were Shepherds in the Field

By Bob Beanblossom

27 November 2017

It seems to me that we don’t give the shepherds who received the message of Jesus’ birth the attention that they deserve. Not because they were special. Far from it. Because they weren’t—they weren’t politicians, theologians, business executives, but just plain folks. In many ways they were like us, not very special in man’s sight, though we hate to admit it; not among the elite, though we sometimes attach ourselves vicariously to successful teams or brands; not among the who’s who directories in our fields, though we are hard working and provide as best as we can for our families; not even among the most faithful in our churches, as examples to our own families. Just average folk. For some reason, God chose these shepherds from all the people in the world to receive the announcement of the most important event of all time–the birth of the birth of God’s own Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Without second-guessing God, and meaning no disrespect to the shepherds, here is a paraphrase that I hope will cause you to go beyond the language to the hearts of these men who lived to protect and raise their flocks that they might in time be sacrificed to the uses of man. I trust the dialect will set a scene, a mood, rather than detract from the message. If you find it offensive, then please go directly to Scripture and read it again there, because it is the story of God’s love for each of us.

There Were Shepherds in the Field

Luke 2:1-20

Out in the country, there were some shepherds watch’en their flocks all night, jus’ like every other night for the last thousand years and more. They gathered in the open hill country to protect their sheep from wolves and other varmints out looking for a square meal. The night was quiet and peaceful. The shepherds talked quietly as men talk around a campfire. All of a sudden, sumthin’ turned the night sky bright as day; it lit up the whole field and they were really skeered. It was a lone angel. Just one, but more than they had ever seen. What was strange was it didn’t bother the sheep at all. He told us to settle down, he didn’t mean us no harm. In fact, he had some really good news: over yonder in the city, a Baby was just borned; not just a baby, but The Baby, the One who would bring a heap of peace and joy to the whole world, even us. This here Baby is the one that God promised the old folks years ago: His name is Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, greater than Caesar and David and even Solomon. Sounds sorta like something the priests talk about that our great prophet Isaiah said years ago.

That angel told us to go on up to the city and see for yerself. My friends and I will look after your sheep fer awhile. I know it’s crowded over thar with the festival going on and all, but it’ll be worth the walk. He won’t look like much. Just a new baby. He don’t have a great throne and bunches of servants and lots of fine stuff. He don’t even have His own room. There weren’t no rooms left for his folks—jus common workin’ folks–with the festival and all, so they are hanging out in a stable for now. Jus’ then, that angel brought on a whole army of his buddies. Couldn’t even count ’em thar was so many. They sang a song for us, went like, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” He told us to git on now—they’ed welcome us. That sounded good, but those city folk didn’t think much of us shepherds. We kinda smelled like our sheep and didn’t really dress up to snuff for them. Then the angel and his friends jus’ up and left. Did I tell ya that they just kind’a hung out up in the air—they didn’t walk up on us but jus’ floated around. Jus’ appeared and disappeared. And he told us not to be skeered. Yeah, right. A hungry bear skeers me—me and only my long stick and sling ta change his mind. That’s nothin’ like how that angel and his friends made me feel. Skeered—if you only knew!

Anyways, after they left and it was quiet and dark and all again, we kind’a wondered if we had had a weird dream or somethin.’ But we all saw and heered the same thing, so off we go to King David’s city. Warn’t far. We could see it on the hill with the walls and fine buildings and all. Didn’t see the angel around, but he said he’d watch our sheep. We believed him about the baby, so we believed him about the sheep. After all, angels are from God and He don’t lie.

So, we took off, up the road to town. The gate was open, people everywhere. No one seemed to know anything about this new baby, but we found one of the inns that had a young mother and her husband stuck in their stable, just in from Bethlehem, and just in time to have a brand new baby boy. There they was, sharin’ the stable with the animals. Mary—that was her name—told us that her baby was the Child of God Himself, not of Joseph, her husband. He didn’t seem concerned. He tended to Mary and the baby like all was normal. The baby didn’t look like a king, just a little baby. But there was somethin’ special about Him, just like there was somethin’ special about the whole night. We tole them thanks for lettin’ us see Him, and left out. We tole everyone who would listen about what had gone on that night—what we seen and heard. Some believed us, some thought we wus just drunk shepherds come inta’ town for some action when we shoulda’ been out in the fields with our sheep. But we knew better. We got back down to our flocks and all was well. The angel had looked after them just like he said he would. We wus still kinda’ excited: the angel and his buddies; the trek into the city when we should’a been with our flocks; seeing the Baby and talking with His mother; telling folks all about what had happened. We kinda’ carried on a bit.

Gave us lots to think about. Like whar the priests and those other important folks were? Didn’t see no Roman soldiers. Figured they might be upset when they heered about a Jewish king. Why us—a bunch of shepherds that city folks try to avoid? But it was true. We wus thar. We know. We seen the face of God and He looked us right in the eye. Glory to God in the highest. We ain’t never gonna be the same.

From the horse’s mouth

by Bob Beanblossom

7 October 2017

It seems to me that a rule of “followship” is that the work of the original person is often so distorted by his followers that he would have a hard time recognizing it. Here is an example:

“. . . as this process of extermination has acted on an enormous scale, so must the number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed on the earth, be truly enormous. Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory.” Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species.

In other words, Charles Darwin said this:

We have ample fossil records of extinction in marine sediments (such as occurs in a massive flood–Bob)
We have no fossil record of transitional record of species-to-species life forms (what is called today macro-evolution to distinguish it from variations in the flu virus, or the size of horses, where the virus changes, but is always a virus, and the horse shows variations, but remains a horse–Bob)
Darwin recognized the problem with his theory (and modern science claims that there is no problem, although it stands today exactly as it did when Darwin wrote these words–Bob)

The problem is not with science but with philosophers-as-scientists who have abandoned the pursuit of truth for the god of secular philosophy. The scientific method–observe, postulate, test, revise, peer review and falsification–has been discarded for models and simulations that have carefully selected parameters to assure particular results to support the dominant worldview that has replaced God with man.

Evolutionary secularism has given us a world where biblical moral foundations and empirical truth of which God alone is the source, has been replaced with a confused me-ism in which we can’t even find the restroom that corresponds with our birth-plumbing, where self-discipline means getting our own way at any cost, and where we blame inanimate objects for man’s failure as individuals and society.

The answer lies–only–in Jesus, who “is come to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). This from the oldest continually read and revered book in the world. Is it possible that the collective experience of thousands of years of men with their God carries a little more weight than the politician who lies and deceives to get elected to blend with the establishment, or the atheistic scientist who claims that “Evolution is fact–trust me.” Both operate on the same level of smoke and mirror truth.

The question is simple–Do you choose God’s unchanging truth where He gave His Son that each one of us could be saved; or the relativist’s ever-changing, self-serving scramble for personal pleasure and gain at the expense of everyone else?

Evolution–Incredible Worldview

by Bob Beanblossomm

27 September 2017

It seems to me that the more I consider evolution, the more confused I am. The evolutionist believes that all life, including man, originated by chance from pre-existing inorganic elements (primarily Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, but including many more) that somehow got together and combined to form organic lifeforms that could sustain themselves:

1) that could exist in the climatic conditions that existed,

2) breathing the air that just happened to exist, or being able to extract oxygen from the water that just happened to be there,

3) by locating, identifying, and eating whatever ‘food’ just happened to exist (which themselves, had to evolve before they could be eaten),

4) by being able to extract nutrients and disposing of waste from those food sources,

5) by having another of their species readily available, of the opposite gender, that also evolved accidentally with whom to mate so that the species could reproduce (gender confusion would have been species suicide every time evolution produced a new species and the process started all over),

6) and on, and on, and on.

My imagination just isn’t that good. Is yours? Remember–it all occurs by chance: chemicals getting together to form not just complex organic compounds, but essential specialized self-sustaining reproducible systems and highly specialized non-interchangeable organs, ready and able to replicate themselves on the cellular level and on the being level reproducing each “after his kind.,” yet morphing now and then to produce a complete and new species. Just because, I guess.

Sorry, I’ll just have to stick with Genesis 1 and 2, and a lot more between Genesis and Revelation. Not to mention observation–just seeing what I see.

And we haven’t even considered where that first pile of chemicals (and the earth they occupy and form) came from

On Their Knees

By Bob Beanblossom

25 September 2017

It seems to me that I’m missing something. Again.

I am not a sports fan. I don’t watch sports on TV or follow any teams or players.

That said, it is hard to miss the current hoo-rah over players who fail to show any national pride by not standing for the National Anthem. These, as I understand it, are those guys making millions of dollars for themselves, their teams, and their leagues while playing in taxpayer-subsidized stadiums.

I got the part that they are protesting. After all, I went through the 60s.

The part I am missing is, as usual, responsible, thorough, factual reporting that presents a balanced picture of events. I know. I’m expecting too much of modern “journalism.”

But, what I’m missing is this–and it may well have been reported. How many fans in the stands did not stand for the Anthem? Is this a protest by the populace, or just the elite who are somehow not getting everything they want when they want it the way they want it. You know, the millionaires who spend themselves into bankruptcy before they even retire.

I understand that these players are a minority. Most of us of any color, religion, age, gender, educational level, or whatever, will never have the opportunity to garner the fame (or notoriety) or income that they have achieved. I do wonder if the ability to beat someone else to a pulp legally is a meaningful criterion for listening to their political and social agendas. Their opinion on shoes, maybe. But their considered opinion of the American system that has just had an eight-year black president, black CEOs and other top execs of major corporations, college presidents and tenured faculty, not to mention all sorts of sports idols–well, it seems to be a bit faulty.

Back to the question: How many regular Joes and Janes in the stands refused to honor our National Anthem and the thousands of men and women over far more than 200 years who were sacrificed so they could freely protest and succeed in their chosen field.

This is not to say, of course, that our nation does not need to take to our knees. We desperately need to get on our knees before God and seek His will and leadership in our individual lives and for our nation. These folks, however, don’t seem to be in quite that mode. That just suggests that we need to learn from them and not follow in their ways, but lead our families, communities, and nation in following our God.

The Center

by Bob Beanblossom

10 August 2017

It seems to me that when we begin to think that we are the center of the universe, that everything revolves around us, and that everything should work for our pleasure, we should remember who is really at the center, the heart of it all:

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11).

Imagine that. There is somebody bigger than you and me. And, although we are …part of His eternal plan, we are only a part of it.

Yet we are such an important part of it that He wants us to be a good part of it forever. To that end He provided a solution to reconcile our sinful ways with His righteousness: read John 3:16-17 again: “For God so loved . . .

Got an Answer?

by Bob Beanblossom

30 August 2017

It seems to me that as we, at least occasionally, reflect on our world and the meaning of life, that we can get bogged down in detail and miss the bigger issues. As Christians, we can accumulate a quiver of Scriptural “proof texts” with no idea of the immediate context, the subject of the book, or even the message of the Book.

The Apostle Peter said that we should be ready to answer every man who questioned the reason for our Christian hope (1 Peter 3:15). If we answer tha…t question in one or two sentences, we might be a little shallow. Here study and reflection must join with prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be effective. If our message is against other worldviews while not able to support our own, we have a problem.

A big part of our answer is whether our worldview, as expressed by our lifestyle, matches what we say or teach. As John Valk noted in “Christianity through a Worldview Lens, “‘practicing what one preaches” is an enormous challenge for all humans.”

The answer, according to Valk, comes from “critical and thoughtful reflection, comparisons, and even some audacious assertions.” In other words, it comes from the study demanded in 2 Timothy 2:15, and walking the walk as commanded in Ephesians 4:1-3.

The God-hole

by Bob Beanblossom

9 September 2017

It seems to me that people indeed have a God-hole deep in their beings, one that cries out to be filled one way or another. It is a driving need that can be suppressed, but only by substitution.

If we have not filled this need in the only rational and viable way possible–through accepting the salvation offered by Jesus Christ, then we invent gods to denigrate as we substitute ourselves as supreme beings: rational, wise, and adequate.

The gods we invent and hold up as the g…ods of others are small and petty, inadequate for the task. We, on the other hand, exercise only the purest and noblest rationality as we judge the world from our pedestal in the light of our superior wisdom.

In the end, in those dark quiet moments, the doubts and fears of our own inadequacies haunt us.

The answer is clear but not appealing even in our doubts: surrender our all to the God of Creation. The Apostle Paul even called himself a prisoner of his Lord. In our world that is against the demands of rationalistic Me-ism.

That same Apostle also wrote of one of the benefits of surrendering to God: it brings pease that passes all understanding. The fears of self-doubt are replaced with a deep inner peace that can’t be displaced even in the reality of an imperfect and sometimes devastating world.

The choice is clear: millions of individual Selfs as false centers of the universe (a logical impossibility), or the God who created and sustains everything by the word of His power, and who cares enough about you to provide a personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus.

Proof of Evolution

by Bob Beanblossom

12 September 2017

It seems to me that if the best of modern science is not able to create a viable lifeform (a being that can live, grow, and reproduce) from a handful of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms (the components of all organic compounds) that we can draw two complementary conclusions:

1) evolution as creating life from those elements by chance, no matter how much time is allotted, simply is not a realistic option.

2) intelligent design is the only option, and the designer must be mo…re intelligent and better equipped than the best that humanity has to offer.

Since evolutionists promote their worldview as scientific fact, I simply ask for one bit of scientific evidence (not theory or computer simulations) that proves me wrong. Just one.

And, I will stipulate micro evolution that is actually variation, such as the constant adaptation of virus that makes them difficult to control. But even here, with the ongoing adaptation, a virus is still a virus.

Just one verifiable species to species change that is macro evolution. The kind that makes monkeys out of rational men