Sorry, Mr. Dennett ...

I didn't know of you ...I didn't even own a computer, let alone access to any website.  So when I was simply living my life, that world after college, I was asked by someone whether I believed in evolution.  I thought I'd give a different sort of answer, "I believe in the evolution of confusion."   This got their attention, and we had a quite extensive conversation after that, thanks to that one opening line.  I later began writing down my thoughts, it emerged into book form, and I thought I'd entitle it, The Evolution of Confusion.  Well, Daniel, I know you feel you've evolved further than me ...and I guess your website has. But I have not evolved, I was created ...by an intelligent Designer and Creator.  And like it, or not ...you were too.

While I was in college, I was intrigued by evolution ...certain aspects of it, that involved things I hadn't thought about.  I became so interested that I delved deeper.  What I found was, how evolution ...couldn't be.

I realized the danger of trying to think too much ...which actually helped me at first, but other times it can be detrimental.  Wisdom is knowing the difference.  And wisdom comes from God.

Basic truths we need to know ...

Foremost on the list of things we need to know is:  God has revealed to us who  He is.  Jesus did not contest the validity of anything that was written in God's Word before He came to earth.  And the people back then knew well the truth ...they had a good understanding of it.  


Though some chose to manipulate it, the reason some of the leaders acted as they did ...was because they feared the truth, they knew the truth.  But sadly, what they knew ...was not enough to overcome their own selfish ambitions, so they attempted the thwart the truth.

They knew it better than most of us.  How many of us believe what we've always been inclined to think, not what is precisely written?  It is good to read what is written ...so as not to lose the truth among the perceptions of it.  But we should not go beyond what is written, in essence, writing portions of it ourselves, in our own minds ...then often sharing it with others.

Let's begins there ...where? How about the beginning ...

We know how a husband and wife prepare a room for their first child.  That is love!

But let's mention one thing first ...freedom of choice.  Love extends beyond itself...but really doesn't reach true definition without freedom of choice.  I think it is crucial to our understanding ...to understand the angels, especially the third that stood to oppose God.

Intertwined within this story are many rather simple points ...having endured how long-winded I am, please bear with me for a few more crucial points:

1) God loves us ...and that includes freedom of choice.

2) We have freedom of choice ...and that means we can choose against God, against His love.

3) God is righteous ...He will not allow your freedom of choice to forever infringe upon my freedom of choice, especially when it is detrimental to me, therefore it may seem necessary to separate those holding views in conflict. (That does not mean that when my spouse and I have a conflict, we must be separated, nor do the children board up their bedrooms and forbid me to enter.  Most conflicts can be reconciled, and we look to God to guide us through the process.  Yet, when we have huge ideological differences, it may not only affect how we interact with others, but also how we respond to God.  Though we may not agree, this separation is through our own doing, by our freedom of choice.  It is important that we understand what we are choosing though. And reconciling should not be a process of making us feel comfortable with turning from God's ways ...but by repenting and turning back to Him.)

The fruition of what is against love, does not accept nor tolerate love.  Love wants others to mend, make peace, reconcile, and forgive.  The opposite wants to destroy.  God will not allow good to be destroyed, and therein we find His righteousness.  That which is not good is not destroyed either ...it is left to its own choice, freedom of choice.  Though that choice is not determined by how good.  It is solely due to whether we choose He who is truly good ...only Jesus.  It's whether we accept Him for who He is, and what He did for us ...by accepting His own death, so we can have life.  That's one choice that some feel is too difficult to accept, but there is a full package of other fancy wrapped choices.  Many of us taste those delectable choices, and decide we like them.  But, to be open with yourself, admit it, what are you really left with? You'll find only an empty wrapper in the end, left to itself. 

The main characters in this quartet of books, did not always do right, but the direction they chose to go always drew them to do eventual good, beyond themselves.  Their happiness was often determined by what they felt was right, not just for themselves, but for others ...and they did not demand it, they waited for it.

Let's not lose what has made us great ...in spite of those who do not join us. We must pursue what is right.

Let us realize that we differ on how we perceive what is right.  Our main problem is that we've moved God out of so many aspects of our lives.  That is not wise.  And we'd be a bit wiser ourselves if we realize that He is God ...He is our Savior ...and He is our Lord.  We should follow Him.