Random thoughts and questions from tonight.

-Putting thought to paper (or blog) is an amazing thing to do. It takes a lot of effort but bears rich rewards if you can apply reason to reality to find wisdom. In fact, much like praying before a God who knows you perfectly, writing your thoughts out helps in the process of obtaining wisdom by exposing hypocrisy in your thought processes. The best way to find wisdom is to ask questions and discover certain principles that never change. Once you've found those principles, you have an immutable foundation upon which to build your life. This foundation leads to a strong conscience and character and a hatred of deceit.

-A friend writes concerning the scriptures: "Okay, whatever. I'm done talking about the Bible because I don't know anything from it. I am useless."

My response: "That's foolish to say lil' sister! Ask me for scriptures for proof instead of lambasting yourself. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions! You won't gain wisdom by denying your creation as a daughter of God, made in His image!"

-A question I asked on Facebook: "How does gay marriage infringe upon our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Does another person's marriage take away your ability to live life as you see fit?"

A friend writes: "I feel that if our nation was to legally endorse gay "marriage" then the judgment of our heavenly father would be upon the whole nation."

My response: "Doesn't the judgment of God fall upon people for every sin? Does God deem one sin as more worthy of eternal justice than another? Doesn't our allowance of abortion as a country place us under God's judgment already? We are either under judgment already or we are not."

(The picture above is an illustration intended to reveal conceit and is not in alignment with my beliefs)

Another friend writes on this topic: "A gay man thinks the same as a straight man. Therefore no limitation [on marriage] should be made. But what about those with a mental disability that could cause harm to oneself or another? Is it okay then to have limits?"

My response in part: "Who determines mental disability? Even mentally disabled people can be wise and make proper decisions. I know plenty of mentally enabled people who make incredibly destructive choices. Wisdom is not constrained by one's ability to think but rather by one's ability to have empathy towards others. Mentally disabled people I have known are some of the most loving people I have ever met."

-A third friend ask how I got on the topic and I said: "[My reason is] anger over the conduct of judgmental Christians who would rather judge their unbelieving neighbor instead of loving their enemies as God loved them when they were His enemies!"

Government by coercion or conscience?

Government should have a very specific and limited jurisdiction which can be expressed using the idea of natural law which is a characteristic of the Creator. We will get back to natural law, but for now, this begs the question: What is government? There are two types: An impartial, coercive external government and a personal, internal, conscience-driven or spirit-led self-government. Relating to external governance, the institutionalized type we have all encountered I will simply call "the government." This encapsulates the regulatory, bureaucratic, legislative, judicial and executive authorities of national, state and local governments. In defining these two types, it is now possible to determine the authorities of each.

According to natural law, the authority of the external governance must extrapolate an order of individualistic natural rights according to human nature that it is authorized to defend. Because natural rights are vested in the person and not the government, the authority of the external governance comes from a society of moral individuals. Using reason, this can only be done by a community through the application of rational thought and techniques to observe the universe. Because all created things bear a partial image of their creator, we can discern that there are things we humans have in common with our own. One of these commonalities is reason and it is shared with no other creature.

Because we can discern aspects of creation, we see around us a reasoned universe that obeys certain laws. Our Creator vested interest and skill into us as His creation and provides specific natural laws for us to abide by. Just as the laws of physics apply equally over time and space, natural law, by definition of being a law, applies to all people equally. Thus, an edict is handed down by our Creator that obligates those under natural law to protect the unalienable rights of all by "[organizing the government's] powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness." (Declaration of Independence)


No governing structure has the authority to bind and loose one law-abiding individual over another. It is necessary then for the government's power to be universally enforced over the law-breaker. When relativistic social laws are allowed to discriminate between people, class and race warfare erupt and justice is lost. Natural laws and the rights given therein must transcend class and race. The Declaration of Independence states that among these rights are "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

We are not given the gift of life so that it can be arbitrarily taken away by another recipient of the same gift. Having been given life, we have a cosmic expectation and the liberty to enjoy it as we see fit insofar as it does not infringe upon the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of others. We exercise the liberty of enjoying our life through the pursuit of happiness (or property as the Founders would also have said). Thus, without the protection of our pursuit of happiness, or fruits of our labor such as land and wages, we are stripped of the liberty to pursue happiness in our lives. Without the right to pursue happiness in our lives, the right to the gift of life has little meaning.

Reasonably, any use of a sovereign's self-government that infringes upon the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of another is cause for the coercive authority, or government, to engage itself in order to protect the victim, bind the law-breaker, reestablish order and force restitution. In a two realm system of governance in which natural rights are extended to individuals and the protection of those rights given by the people to the government, this is consistent. Quite simply, the protection offered by the government provides for equality of all people as a gift from God, equality before the law, and equal protection of rights.

Government operates by the consent of a moral, law-abiding citizenry in order for it to punish behaviors that infringe upon the natural rights of others. Government being instituted by the people, it is a fundamental responsibility of said people to dispel any government that fails them in such a duty. As our Declaration states, "...Whenever any form of government becomes destructive [of securing our rights], it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government." Is our government operating under the consent of the governed and protecting us?

Freedom of religion, but not freedom to proselytize?

Coming from NPR (a government sponsored news outlet), I was wary of this article and video of Christians in China. Also, having read books such as "Brother Yun" and various articles from Voice of the Martyrs magazine on persecution in China, I am hyper-sensitive to propaganda that China allows to escape its borders concerning religious/spiritual activity (especially through government supported media outlets. All one needs to do is read up on Chinese persecution of the Falun Gong, Muslims and Christians.

When the state religion is Communism, the state is loathe to relinquish its godhood. Knowing of the state sanctioned Three Fold (or Self) Church and their legal limitations, I approach statements from the state-sanctioned pastors with caution: "Relations between church and state are 'extremely good'" one pastor says. "I believe there is total religious freedom!" You'll hear the rest in the first third of the video.

Listen or read intently and you will notice many logical and reasoning inconsistencies. That being said, the article does a decent job of revealing an expanding reality in the country even though the only people talking with the media are those whom the state gives a voice to. God bless!

There is joy in the waiting.

People often ask if I have a girlfriend the answer to which has, for all but a month of my life, been an emphatic "no." Most usually, when asked by Christians I know (or family), I get the response that "It'll be OK. The right person will come at just the right time!" Well, I'm not in a rush and I'm not hoping for someone to show up at the wrong time!

I believe in a sovereign, all-mighty God, who has my best interests at heart. To the core of my being, as a creation that bears the image of the invisible God, my purpose is to grow in His love and admonition. Thus, for every moment of my life, I have the opportunity and privilege to offer my heart and every action and thought up to His divine providence.

It is meant as worthy of great honor to seek Jesus' face as a single man. Having many friends who are married and being able to ask their advice on how to wait upon the Lord clarifies the journey that leads up to marriage. I am able to focus on my own growth in the Spirit and His ways so that, in the fullness of His timing for me, I might be a man deserving of the woman He has specifically fashioned to have my heart. It is good to learn from the experiences of those who have gone before me!

Waiting for the right woman should be an occasion for joy and hope just as waiting on the Lord to return is. His promises are good and certain for He is the Giver of EVERY good gift...even patience. I have often reminded myself that being single and happy is far better than being in a relationship and miserable. Also, a good friend of mine has often said, "Evan, you have NO IDEA how bad it is to be married to someone you don't enjoy." This is wisdom people; to not be unequally yoked!

In chains and liberated!

A friend wrote a letter about her son whose body is wasting away from a little-known disease called LEMS. She expressed a remarkably poignant thought that I wanted to share.

"It's so true that if we are to suffer well we must have good theology. Hard questions do arise, and we are compelled to press into the character of God and His purposes. However, in trying to gain that, I am reminded that God is not so much interested in changing our perspective on suffering as He is in changing us."

In part, this is my response motivated by a providential encounter with an extraordinary man:

"AMEN to that, sister! And yet, He is still deeply concerned about forming our understanding of suffering through the process of changing our hearts!

I wanted to share a story with you. I was sitting in front of the school today (as I am known to do) and a man with a walker emerged from the breezeway. I literally jumped out of my cart to ask of his business and also to offer my help if necessary. He was deeply scarred in many places and could barely shuffle along although his balance was good. He may have been near 40.

I introduced myself so he gave me his name of Ross. We shook hands as he launched into a spiel about how he had basically been a hedonist in his younger life and had gotten into a horrible, drunk accident that almost killed him. He gave many gory details of a well-memorized speech on himself and the statistics. It took years for physical therapy to get him back to being able to walk again, let alone speak.

He mentioned to me that he had been a prisoner trapped in his own body to which I responded by asking, "Are you still a prisoner in your own body?" He said that he was not and I (meaning to share the Lord with him) replied "Praise God!" His eyes lit up and we launched into a conversation about God's goodness and His amazing promises. I was thankful to hear that he was saved and had the promise of an end to his physical infirmities at the resurrection."

After sending the above letter back to my friend I was happy to recall some deep wisdom about the resurrection and the giving of good gifts to those who cannot repay them. Check it out:

Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." ~Luke 14:12-15

Can you see? This is the gift that all of us who are imprisoned in these bodies of sin and death long for! We seek a release that can only be found in a loving God who invites us to Him when we are broken with nothing to bring but needy hands. His love for us is so great that He is overjoyed when we give him our chains in exchange for His riches!

Living without fear in the face of suffering.

A friend of mine told me a joke today. Two men are stranded on a remote Pacific island after their plane crashes. One of the men bemoans their fate and shouts "we are finished" to the sky. "We'll never make it out alive" he groans! The second man gently urges him not to worry.

"Why?"

"Because I make $1,000,000 a month," comes the response.

"OH NO!" the whiner says. "We're doomed!"

"No we're not" is the calm response of the first man. "I make $1,000,000 dollars a month!"

"How in the world does that help us when we're stranded?" comes the choked cry.

"Because I tithe 10% and there's no freaking way my pastor is losing all that money!"

I'm going to try to weave a thought with this illustration. It has nothing to do with tithing and everything to do with a seemingly unnatural lack of fear in the face of certain death. It is not about what we can expect for our actions but what we have been granted by the actions of another.

There are two types of people who don't fear death: The fool and those who are justified in Christ...and the fool is lying. Empirically, death is the mortal enemy of all and the implications of that enemy lead us only to a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10)

In a perfect creation, death could not exist simply because there could be no decay. The supreme existence could not by nature fall into ruin. In such a life, we would reap a consummate harvest from every ounce of labor we committed ourselves to. But in the circle of life of this world death is the rot that bides its time in the marrow of every bone. This rot of decay is thus our greatest fear because our mortality proves our brokenness and sin.

Enter glorification: It is the most generous promise offered by God, through Christ, to mankind for in it we have the covenant of a perfect renewal for all of creation. The hope of glory is our triumph over sin's curse of the flesh. So what is the proof of this hope? This is where the true circle of life makes its full turn. The mast upon which it rotates is greased by the Christian's suffering in this world. Thus we rejoice, for having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. (Romans 5)

The truest sign of the world's judgment then is this: That the Christian who suffers for righteousness' sake finds hope in his promised glorification and proves the condemnation of the world. To rephrase Philippians 1, "You are not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."

Addicts.

Two young women at my school are addicts. One thrives on anger and the other finds acceptance in drugs. How do I know this? They told me. Now for the story! My first meeting with them was detailed in a previous blog post titled "YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT"! After that encounter, I applied myself to pray for a conversation with the girls. I knew I would get one.

A couple weeks later, after school had been dismissed, Angry was standing at the corner waiting for her drunken father to show up. Seeing the chance to fulfill my prayer I approached her with the light-hearted comment, "I never got to introduce myself before yelling at you." I reached out my hand and she accepted it with a smile on her lips and a name on her tongue. Not what I expected! We only shared some simple small talk but it was a beginning!

I began seeing the two girls at school more often and gave a smile and "good morning" to them when I saw them. Knowing I didn't hate them, they returned the favor. This continued up until a few weeks ago when they came out of their class all riled up. I happened to be in front of the school and they walked my way with what can only be described as "the look".

Miss Addict suffers from what I can only be described as diarrhea of the mouth. In other words, she has no filter between her brain and her tongue. She immediately jumped into a conversation with me about all the problems she and miss Angry suffered from. This is how I came to know of their troubles. I listened and made some comments suggesting that I understood what she was talking about. In truth, I did understand, being a spiteful addict myself. I have been to group meetings to fight it. Maybe we will get into that another time! Suffice to say that my sins lined up very effectively with theirs. The girls went on their way after setting their dark, not-so-secret secrets on the table in front of me.

I prayed for them some more and today the addict showed up, sans miss Angry. "I'm moving to Tennessee," she said. Some small talk later, I simply said that I would, "pray to the Guy upstairs" for her. "Thank you" she said. Fifteen minutes later, both exit to the front of the school. Seeing them both together, I asked how anger management and the addictions were coming along. With a shrug and an "All right" I responded with a chuckle and told them a joke from Alcoholics Anonymous circles: You know you've only recovered from alcohol when you've given up the coffee and the cigarettes. I told them that I knew it wasn't going well because, no matter how much progress they had made on one point of anger or addiction, they simply fortified another segment of it. " 'Progress' is often a transfer from one bad thing to another" I said.

With agreement between us, miss Angry and miss Addict began to walk off. That's when I did it. That's when I tossed the subtle bomb at them with the comment, "You know, there is only one way that you can be healed." With a turn, miss Addict asked, "Oh yeah? What is that?"


"To know a God who can fix your heart."

"I need to have that," she murmured as she turned away.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
~Acts 4:12