Here By Design

025

 Create…design…

These are terms that most all people would throw about when talking of crafts, woodworking, interior decorating, or art. However, insert the terms created and designed into a conversation about the earth and its beginning, and we will immediately bring a battle of worldviews into the discussion.

Your worldview is the lens through which you view life. Your worldview is your paradigm, your philosophy, pertaining to the reason we are alive, how the human race was born, and the origin of time, space, and matter. Additionally, your worldview affects all decisions that you make and the value you place upon human life.

005

People operating from a Christian worldview look at all of creation as a work of God Almighty as outlined in the Genesis account. First, we view man superior to the animals because he was created in the image of God. Next that man is now fallen, a sinner, as a result of his initial disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Finally, we preach the redemption of sinful man through Jesus Christ alone by the forgiveness of sins. Our sins are forgiven through the spilled blood of God’s sinless son, Jesus, on the cross of Calvary over 2000 years ago.

Creation, Fall, Redemption, the divine narrative of the Author of Life.

Let’s take a look at the predominant counter worldview I would propose is pursuing the minds and souls of people today, that of naturalism, or an evolutionary worldview.

An evolutionary worldview holds that man evolved over millions of years from a series of natural processes under the chance of macroevolution. This suggests a large scale change in kind with the change being progressive. Catie Frates, a biblical scientific creationist teacher refers to evolution as “the ultimate frog to prince fairy tale.”

Evolutionists preach macroevolution although it cannot be tested nor proved by the scientific method. It is neither repeatable nor observable. In fact, ask any evolutionist to point to a change in kind from one species to another and they will not be able to give you even one example on the level of macroevolution. Sure, they can provide various examples of microevolution; what we could call adaptations to environmental change, but no change in kind. Moreover, they cannot determine the origins of the first proposed amino acids that would have kicked off a form of living organism on earth in the first place.

Further disheartening to evolutionists is the fossil record supports only fully formed fully functional species with no transitional fossils. They don’t have a leg to stand on… pun intended.

090

Dr. Henery Morris of Institute for Creation Research puts it this way:

Since there is no real scientific evidence that evolution is occurring at present or ever occurred in the past, it is reasonable to conclude that evolution is not a fact of science, as many claim. In fact, it is not even science at all, but an arbitrary system built upon faith in universal naturalism. (Henry M. Morris, 2013)

Dr. Morris continues to explain:

The fact is that evolutionists believe in evolution because they want to. It is their desire at all costs to explain the origin of everything without a Creator. Evolutionism is thus intrinsically an atheistic religion.

Did you catch that? Evolution is a religion…not a science but a religion.

Some may prefer to call it humanism, and “new age” evolutionists place it in the context of some form of pantheism, but they all amount to the same thing. Whether atheism or humanism (or even pantheism), the purpose is to eliminate a personal God from any active role in the origin of the universe and all its components, including man. (Henry M. Morris, 2013)

It is imperative for each of us to understand that evolutionists and creationists are faced with the same scientific data. The difference lies in our interpretation of the data and the causation of the earth that we see around us today.

Evolutionists need millions and billions of years, plus a good deal of imagination, to explain merely the topography of the earth today. Creationists explain the same data as a result of a catastrophic world-wide flood as the Genesis account teaches.

Study the Word, the world around you, and the scientific evidence to date, and decide for yourself. You might be surprised to find, we are here by design.

405

Share This Post With Your Friends!

When Cancelled Plans Lead to a Better Path

Jason Mooney Falls

Often plans don’t go according to our schedule. Disappointments, delays, and roadblocks often test our ability to give thanks in all circumstances. A detour can threaten our peace of mind and unsettle our spirits. No doubt anyone who has lived a very short time can identify with disappointment…even kindergartners cry, “that’s not fair!”

Occasionally overturned plans lead to better paths.

Jason and Heather Horseshoe Bend

224

1401610_10151931719870664_749651187_o

So was the case with our trip to Arizona with Going the Distance Adventure Ministries (GTD). Leader and ministry founder, Doug Garner, joked he feared the government shutdown would lead to a Grand Canyonless trip to Arizona. However, due to Doug’s tenacity, tireless efforts, and the Lord’s blessing, we were able to experience abundantly more than Plan A had allowed for.

Initially, our itinerary included the choice of a  day hike to Plateau Point or a ride to the North Rim to conquer the 26 mile Rim to Rim hike in one day. Many of us had trained for months for this chance of a lifetime hike from Rim to Rim. We also planned hours of rest and relaxation in Williams, Flagstaff, and Sedona, Arizona. Conversely, with the government shutdown here is what we were able to experience as Doug’s Plan B:

  • Hiking (22 miles) and Camping in the Supai Indian portion of the Grand Canyon with the breathtaking views of Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls (which towers 26 feet above Niagara).

582

570

293

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Ron Havasu Falls

Havasu Jazz Hands

Mooney Falls

545 A

630

  • Horseshoe Bend

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Brooke at Horseshoe Bend

868

Ron and Brooke Horseshoe

group

  • Antelope Canyon

699

739

732

CG Ladies

  • Flagstaff and Williams, Arizona

115

1385482_314809928657261_69889678_n

  • Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona

625

616

Bell Rock B

1375905_674940932524779_108276641_n

Interspersed between all of these beautiful sights was apologetic teachings on the world wide flood and the subsequent formation of one of the world’s natural wonders, the Grand Canyon by Dr. Aaron Walp. After two years listening to Dr. Walp’s teachings and a year of bits and pieces reading on my own, I can confidently say that the rocks are crying out to the glory of God. It is the glory of man to study and understand the story the rocks are telling.

It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. (Proverbs 25:2, NLT)

As we have settled back into our “normal routines” I have pondered the lessons learned on our adventure. There are many to share, and many more pictures to help illustrate the lessons. I can’t wait to weave the stories and the spiritual truths together over the next few weeks with you as I share our pictures.

In the face of unexpected changes and revealed truths, God answers our prayers in His own way and time to bring about the most glory for Himself from all the nations.

Praise you Lord Jesus for safe travel and a Plan B that exceeded our expectations!

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! (Psalm 61:1-4, NLT)

wings

signature

*Special thanks to my fellow GTD friends for the use of a few of these photos.

Share This Post With Your Friends!