What modern American life is really like

What A Wonderful World
by Tom Wacaster

Since the mid 1920's our nation has been fed a steady diet of humanism, evolution, and atheism. Every attempt has been made to get Jehovah God "out" of the picture, and put man at the center, and science as the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful "god" that instructs, enlightens, and informs. The particular point of focus in the battle for the minds of men has been our educational system. For the past sixty years the liberal, humanistic, anti-God haters have dominated the class rooms of our public education system. Consequently we are witnessing the collapse of moral integrity and Biblical ethics that were the mainstay of our society for the previous 200 years. The battle has been waged in the class room as both sides of our present cultural war have sought to get the upper hand and capture the minds of our youth. There are signs, however, that the pendulum is beginning to swing back toward center. From one end of our nation to the other, states are taking a closer look at "intelligent design" as a plausible explanation of the origin of our universe and man. Some States now require that evolution be taught as a "theory" and not scientific fact. Others, such as Kansas, have introduced "intelligent design" into the classrooms of their public schools. Of course the media, along with liberal organizations such as the PTA and NEA, are refusing to go down without a fight. When one watches the main stream media it is rather astonishing that those being interviewed are extremely biased toward anything that has any religious overtones to it, in spite of the fact that evidence abounds for intelligent design and against evolution. I am fully aware that the politically correct notion is that "anybody who has any intelligence at all" knows that evolution is a fact, and Genesis 1 is nothing more than "myth." But for just a moment, let's forget about being "politically correct," and lets put on our thinking caps and consider the evidence that points to design as the only logical explanation for this world, the universe, and mankind. Physicist Paul Davies, in his book God And The New Physics, observed: "It is hard to resist the impression that the present structure of the universe, apparently so sensitive to minor alterations in numbers, has been rather carefully thought out.The seemingly miraculous concurrence of these numerical values must remain the most compelling evidence for cosmic design." Even the most hardened of atheists (such as the late Carl Sagan) have admitted that the conditions on our planet are "just right" to sustain life. It is an undeniable fact that the balance of the fundamental laws of physics are such that our universe appears to have been "fine tuned" in order to provide a place for life to exist as we know it. So much so, in fact, that one noted scientist observed that "it appears as if this world was actually created in order to prepare a place for man to dwell." Lee Strobel likens it to the following:

"I like to use the analogy of astronauts landing on Mars and finding an enclosed biosphere, sort of like the domed structure that was built in Arizona a few years ago. At the control panel they find that all the dials for its environment are set just right for life. The oxygen ratio is perfect; the temperature is seventy degrees; the humidity is fifty percent; there's a system for replenishing the air; there are systems for producing food, generating energy, and disposing of wastes. Each dial has a huge range of possible settings, and you can see if you were to adjust one or more of them just a little bit, the environment would go out of whack and life would be impossible. What conclusion would you draw from that?"

While science has, to a large degree, been dominated by non-believers, we are seeing a new generation of scientists who are taking a closer look at the evidence. Over the past three decades scientists have discovered that just about everything about the basic structure of our universe is balanced on what one has called, "a razor's edge for life to exist." Noted atheist turned believer, Fred Hoyle admitted, "Someone has been monkeying with the physics." The gravity or our world, the location of the earth in relation to the sun, the moon and other planets, and even the eco-system of this world in which we live all "scream" that some intelligent mind was behind it all. Let's borrow one example from Lee Strobel's book, The Case For A Creator:

The [cosmological] constant, which is a part of Einstein's equation for General Relativity, could have any value, positive or negative.[A]stronomical observations show that the cosmological constant is quite small, very much smaller than would have been guessed from first principles.The fine tuning has been estimated to be at least one part in a hundred million billion billion billion billion. That would be a ten followed by fifty-three zeroes. That's inconceivably precise. Put it this way. Let's say you were way out in space and were going to throw a dart at random toward Earth. It would be like successfully hitting a bull's eye that's one trillionth of a trillionth of an inch in diameter. That's less than the size of one solitary atom.

When we consider the conditions that go into making our world a suitable place for human habitat, we stand amazed at the intelligence that it demonstrates. We are awed at the God Who could so "fine-tune" our world so as it make it a suitable place for human life. Indeed, ours is a Wonderful World! Only the "fool" would say, "There is no God." He is a fool for the simple reason that he has the same evidence staring him in the face, and still refuses to see God.

Consider the beauty of our world from another standpoint. Most of us think in the concrete rather than the abstract. Consequently something is beautiful, amazing, astonishing or astounding only if we can see it with the eyes. I read about a group of Geography students who studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they each considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes: Egypt's Great Pyramid, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, St. Peter's Basilica and China's Great Wall. While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are...to touch and to taste, to see and to hear . . ." She hesitated a little, "and then to run and to laugh and to love." The more I thought on her answers the more I came to appreciate the value of those things that we can never touch with our hands. Perhaps it would do us good, from time to time, to stop and seriously consider the truly great "wonders" of the world.

When winning isn't really winning

I have known some people in my lifetime for which winning an argument is one
of the most important things they can do. They are not secure unless they
get the "last" word in or make the last jab. The problem is that even though
they may win the argument or at least silence the one they are arguing with,
they may be the looser in the long run.

Have you every asked yourself; just what winning that argument cost you?
What about the respect of others, friendships, your ethics, your sense of
well being or your ability to sleep nights?

I received the following story from some unknown author that kind of fits
right about here. "Last year I replaced several windows in my house and they
were the expensive, double-pane, energy efficient kind. But this week I got
a call from the contractor complaining that his work has been completed for
a whole year and I had yet to pay for them.

Boy or boy did we go a round. Just because I'm old doesn't mean that I am
automatically stupid. So, I proceeded to tell him just what his fast talking
sales guy had told me last year, "that in one year the windows would pay for
themselves." Well, there was silence on the other end of the line, so I just
hung up and I haven't heard from them again. I guess I must have won "that"
argument."

Now I know that the story is probably just that, "a story," but after I read
it I chuckled and felt good for the fellow for being so witty. At least I
did until I started to think more about it. Maybe you did too, but think
about it for a moment. The fellow in the story may have won the argument and
even saved a bunch of money and you may be saying, "That's right! He was
able to win one!" But what was the cost to his integrity? What about the
contractor who had to pay for the windows and the labor? What does our
reaction to the story say about our value system, our honest our sense of
right and wrong?

There is a simple scripture that fits here, yet one which we don't use
nearly enough. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that we are suppose to live in
such a way that people can see our good works and glorify the Father. He
also said that we are to treat others, as we would like to be treated
ourselves.

How about it, is it time to re-think your value system, your sense of right
and wrong, your ethics? My prayer is that God will open the eyes of our
hearts and help us to daily take on more of His values.

Russ Lawson

Freedom of speech threatened in America

Freedom of religion and freedom of speech threatened in America!

OK, I admit it, hearing the story below upset me. How far can our world go
in trying to suppress our Christian rights to freedom of religion? Why am I
upset let me share what is happening in our country.

Dateline Tennessee:

Kendra Turner says a teacher at Dyer County High School in Tennessee has
banned her and her classmates from using Church speech in the classroom.

A 17-year-old was suspended from school after telling a fellow student
'bless you' after they sneezed.

But she didn't think it was that big of a deal when a fellow student
sneezed, and she used the common expression.

Turner said, that the teacher said, "We're not going to have godly speaking
in my class, and that's when I said we have a constitutional right." The
teacher said "Kendra was being disruptive," is demanding her constitutional
rights.
Kendra says she doesn't want any trouble for the teacher, but wants it known
that 'it's alright to defend God'. 'It's our constitutional right because we
have a freedom of religion and freedom of speech."
In all honesty to me it seems that it is the teacher and principle, perhaps
the school board who needs suspended. Kendra is right! The constitution does
guarantee us the right of free speech and the freedom of religion. How has
the educational system (in some places) gone so horribly wrong as to think
that they can overthrow the constitution? It's time that "we the people"
stand up and be counted. Elections are coming, officials can be voted out or
in by us. The root of the problem is that many say, "Yes, someone should do
something. just not me!" Do you realize that only a small percentage of
those who have the right to vote actually do vote? Then those who don't take
the time to make their voice heard where it will count, complain about the
lack of change.

You may think that all of the letters you write and calls you make to those
in power over you and your children make no difference and they may not. But
when you give up the fight in your small corner of the world, who is going
to take it up? You matter! Your voice is important! Be the burn under the
saddle, be the flea that continues to bite and irritate talk with your
friends and when the time comes get out of your easy chair and out from in
front of the television and vote your conscious. The simple truth is that no
one can do it for you.

Russ Lawson

Let us vote and allow the majority to rule

YOU AND ME GOD, AGAINST THE WORLD

Have you ever felt like the whole world is against you? Some times it feels
that way doesn't it. Even if you are right and know you are right, the world
often is really not interested in what is right, they only want what they
want anyway.

This little story kind of puts things in perspective.

A preacher had been having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they
could agree upon nothing, and controversy filled the air until meeting on
Sunday itself, became an area of conflict, and unhappiness filled the
church. The leaders of the congregation organized a meeting of 10 elders and
the preacher. They met in the conference room, sitting about a magnificent
mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue it
became more and more apparent that the preacher was a lonely voice in the
wilderness.

The leader of the meeting said, "Come, Preacher, enough of this. Let us vote
and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper, and each
man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may
examine them, Preacher. It is 11 to one against you. We have the majority."

Whereupon the preacher rose to his feet, "So", he said, "You now think
because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, I stand here,
and he raised his arms impressively, and call upon our Holy God to give us a
sign that I am right and you are wrong."

Suddenly, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of
lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was
filled with smoke and the elders were hurled to the floor.

But the preacher was untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his
face.
Slowly, the speaker for the elders lifted himself above what was left of the
table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his
clothing was in disarray. He said, "All right, 11 to two. We still have the
majority."

I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:15-18 writing
about a man named Alexander. He wrote to Timothy: "You too should be on your
guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first
defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be
held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so
that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles
might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will
rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly
kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Paul said, he stood all alone for the truth of God's word, but he also
understood that "the Lord stood" at his side. I can promise you (from
experience) that at times, if you stand for truth, for purity, for
righteousness, at times it will seem that you stand all alone. Never forget
that God is with you always.

Russ Lawson

Isaiah 42

IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHOICE

Technology, isn't it great all of the things we can do now with our
"electronic devices"? I have just recently been dragged reluctantly into the
world of "Texting". I hardly ever use it, I prefer to speak to someone on my
phone, but I understand that it is the preferred choice of communication for
millions of people. I'm just not sold on it yet. A good friend recently had
a questionable experience with her text messages.

She was trying to communicate with her hairdresser about having her hair
colored. The hairdresser sent this message regarding her choices: "Do you
want to stay blind or go with another shade?" Of course the hairdresser
meant to say "blond" instead of "blind," but it got me to thinking about
making choices.

There are so many in our world who choose to stay blind when they have a
chance to see. Of course I am speaking about being spiritually blind. Many
of us scratch our heads in confusion as we try to understand why so many
people refuse to accept the love of God into there lives. They struggle
blindly in the world looking for a peace that cannot be found there, yet
this is not a new problem. It goes back to the beginning of creation. It
seems that people have always looked anywhere they could, except to God for
what is missing in their lives. Yes, even Jesus had to deal with this. When
talking to his disciples about their lack of understanding he said, "Do you
have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you
remember? (Mark 8:18).

Maybe it's time that we understand that it is time to make some serious
choices in our lives. Our choices are more important that whether or not to
be blond this month or not. Our choices are whether or not to serve God or
not. And don't try to avoid the issue, because it is truly your choice and
it has eternal consequences.

Isaiah 42:6a-7 tells us about God being: " a light for the Gentiles, to open
eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the
dungeon those who sit in darkness". That's what the coming of Christ did,
but he doesn't force anyone to accept his offer, it's truly your choice.

Russ Lawson

Prayer - asking, seeking, knocking

Asking God

I was going through some old files today and ran across the following
saying, "Never is there a knock at Heaven's gate, that it is not heard in
Hell and the devil rushes out to silence it." That saying has a lot of
meaning if you stop and think about it for a moment. When is the last time
you "knocked at heaven's gate?" What am I talking about? When is the last
time you talked with God? When is the last time you spent time praying and
communing with the ruler of the universe? If you want to have a relationship
with God and have the power of heaven on your side, then you have to spend
some time "knocking on heaven's gate" in prayer.

Understand this, the more you pray, the more Satan is going to fight against
you. When things don't seem to go the way you want, it doesn't mean
necessarily that God has refused you, but perhaps that Satan is just working
harder to stop you from seeing the answer. I have a friend (George) who one
time told me, "If you are having problems you must be doing something right,
otherwise Satan wouldn't bother you. he doesn't care about those he already
has." Peter says it well in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that
your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings."

So keep these things in mind and continue to "knock," maybe even bang on
heaven's gate. God hears us and will listen to us if we take time to keep
our lives in tune with him. John 9:31, "We know that God does not listen to
sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will".

My prayer for you is that you will continue to "knock on heaven's gate,"
often, repeatedly, again and again trusting that our Father will hear you
and grant your requests.

Russ Lawson

The free mp3 sermon podcast

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