Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Making Me Mad

So I am severely annoyed at my religious studies book... want to know why? Well even if you didn't I'm going to tell you. So here's quote number one:
"The Bible teaches neither creationism not evolution..."
Right, so let's open our Bibles at the very beginning to see if this is true... starting with Genesis 1:1: In the beginning, God CREATED the heavens and the earth. (emphasis mine). I fail to see how the Bible doesn't teach creationism. It seems fairly explicitly stated in my opinion. God CREATED... doesn't leave much room for argument, does it?
Really, what I've gathered so far is that the author's argument is that much of Genesis is a good story that shows us how to live but not much else. My argument? Then what's to stop someone from saying that Jesus is nothing more than a story to teach us how to live. Honestly, if you get rid of one part of the Bible, what's to stop you from throwing out the whole thing?!?!
Another quote: The stories of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob and their progeny also should not be accepted as accurate history.
Yet another one: No doubt with the retelling of the story of the journey from Egypt hyperbole flourishes.
For those of you who are now looking for a dictionary to look up the word hyperbole: it means a gross exaggeration. I assume the author might be referring to the crossing of the Red Sea, manna, water coming out of the rock, the plagues....but I'm not 100% positive. I also believe that the author is totally wrong in stating that, because in case you haven't guessed it by now I believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God.... everything in it is truth.
But you know what makes me really angry??? It's not so much that I have to read bald faced lies because I know what I believe, it's more that the people in my class, for whom this will be their only exposure to Christianity and the Bible, who are only taking this class to fulfill a Gen Ed, will think that this author is reporting proven facts. My biggest concern is for the people in my class who don't know what they believe and will be swayed because an author speaks "authoritatively" on the subject.
I know God can work even in this... but it makes me mad

Monday, January 5, 2009

Still God

Wow.. I can't believe that it's 2009! Time is really flying; it seems like just yesterday I was nervous about starting high school and now I only have 1 1/2 years left of college! Amazing!

There has been a song that I have just thought is completely awesome lately. My favorite part is the bridge (at least I think it's the bridge, it's not the chorus and it's not another verse... so I'm going to call it the bridge). The words are:

All of my life
in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
I just think it's an amazing reminder of who God is and that it doesn't matter what's happening in our lives: God is still God, I am still not, and I still have a reason to worship. With everything that is happening in the world lately, I just think this is a good reminder for everyone. The economy may be uncertain, jobs are hard to come by, wars are occurring, sickness is spreading, but through it all God is still God... He still loves us enough to die for us, forgive us, and have a relationship with us... Do we still love him enough to sing to and worship Him? I sure hope the answer is yes. My uncle was just diagnosed with cancer, another uncle with Hashimoto's (sp?) disease, hours are being cut drastically for some family, and yet through it all God is still God.
This is my prayer in the desert
when all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
For God is my victory and He is here
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co heir with Christ
So firm on his promise I'll stand
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
All of my life
in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
All of my life
in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
All of my life
in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
All of my life
in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
And this is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I receive I will sow
Hillsong: Desert Song