Last Meal

I found it interesting that the most requested final meal of inmates on death row was a cheeseburger and fries (read about it here). I would probably pick the same thing (add a milkshake), but I have to confess it feels a little creepy to share culinary choices with murderers and rapists.

Okay, so clock's ticking . . . what's your final meal?

Does God know the future?

Had an interesting converstation with a friend on Facebook today (thanks Keith). He was prodding me for my thoughts again on a subject we've discussed before. Here's the transcript (edited, of course):

12:54pmKeith
I have a theological question for you. Explain what your justification is for God's ability to only know every thing that has happened and not everything future included

12:58pmAndy
Let me ask you this first: Does God know God's own future?

12:59pmAndy
If not, then how can He know our future (aside from bringing about the fulfillment of His will and design) in any specific detail?

1:00pmKeith
hmmm.....I don't think so. Otherwise how then would you explain him changing his mind when Moses asked him to spare lives?

1:01pmAndy
You would have to say He knew He would change His mind.

1:01pmKeith
right....and that doesn't make sense.

1:02pmAndy
And if that's the case, then how does He know our future without it impinging on our freedom AND without our future being little more than a ruse?

1:03pmKeith
agreed.....so .....prophecy

1:08pmAndy
Forthtelling aside, I see in prophecy not so much prediction as predetermination. As I'm sure I said to you before, if I tell Oscar that he will be punished if he lies to me, and then he lies and is punished, that's similar to God saying Israel will suffer punishment for its sins. Or you could say that prophecies concerning Jesus' birth are simply God bringing it about in a way He has forordained. You could also argue from the perspecitve that the writers of the Gospels picked and chose which prophecies they saw Jesus as the fulfillment of. In other words, there are many "prophecies" that did NOT refer to Jesus but perhaps could have . . . had He done something to fulfill them.

1:10pmKeith
Is that a slippery slope to saying that Christ was not the chosen one, rather he was just fulfilling prophecy that was written about someone else?

1:12pmAndy
Well, it's commonly accepted that the Suffering Servant referred to a person (or nation, i.e. Israel) contemporary with Isaiah but we also believe it refers to Jesus as well . . . so, is that a slippery slope?

Jesus said I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. If that's the case, then even if the law (or prophecies) referred to someone else originally, Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all that God had revealed to the Nation ofIsrael.

1:13pmKeith
i accept that :-)

1:17pmAndy
Back to the future . . .

1:18pmAndy
If when God created us, time, as we know it began, and as time bound beings with personal freedom we are able to make free choices and those choices have real influence over future events, then how can we say that God knows the future when it does not yet exist? Is it really limiting to God to say that He doesn't know something that can't be known or doesn't exist in His creation? I don't think it is. Although we may feel worried about limiting God, it doesn't seem that He's worried about it because He's already done it by creating us with autonomy and more especially through His own Incarnation in Jesus Christ.

So, what do you think? Does God know the future?

The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.

--Mark Twain

Straining credulity . . .

I just read a USA Today article concerning the guest list at the White House so far in this administration. It notes that some of the first visitors were prominent celebs and lobbyists. Nothing too surprising there. But here's what absolutely blew my mind:

"The list also includes some names that would draw attention at first glance: Michael Jordan, Michael Moore, William Ayers and Jeremiah Wright. The White House was quick to note that the visitors were not actually the basketball star, the documentary filmmaker or the controversial activist and preacher — just people who share their names."

Are you kidding me? Do they really expect us to believe that it's just a coincidence that there are four people with the exact same names who happened to receive an extremely rare invitation to the White House. In my 35 years of existence, I've never known a single person who shares any of those exact names.

Please hear me out, I'm not a Fox News junkie (never watch it) or a fan of polarizing talking heads like Limbaugh or Coulter, but I've got to say to this--C'mon! Whatever happened to truth and transparency and avoiding politics as usual?

U2 Concert

For those who missed it, here is a replay of the live U2 concert in Pasadena on Sunday night.

As a side note, my sister-in-law who lives in LA said she could hear the concert outside and there was about a 30-second delay. Amazing when you consider the footage was concert quality and was being beamed live around the world.

Enjoy.

A God Moment

Very few times in my life can I point to an occurrence similar to what we experienced recently. More specifically, while I've obviously never heard God speak audibly, on a very few rare occasions, an answer to prayer or bit of guidance has been so specific, direct, and timely that it's about as close as you can get to experiencing God's activity in your life in a tangible way.

For those who've never been a part of one, planting a new church from scratch is, well, a scratchy business. Emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually it can be a bit like a ride across the Rockies--up and down, ad infinitum.

Last week was yet another valley for us. Questions with no answers piled up like the autumn leaves outside. On Wednesday morning after breakfast, Barb and I were reading the Psalms together, and then Barb prayed for us. But she prayed something we don't often pray--she prayed that God would provide us with definitive encouragement on that very day, encouragement that we were still in step with Him on this whole church planting thing. "Lord, show us today that You're not through here yet and that we aren't crazy for doing this."

As the day went on, her prayer made its way to the back of my mind until I'd nearly forgotten it. Then, that evening, just before we left the house for some errands, I decided to check my e-mail. What followed was an unmistakeable God-moment for us. Here is the message that greeted us:

"Hi Andy and Barb--
I just looked at your new website and read through all the pages. It looks great! I felt prompted to encourage you and share something God is reminding me--we are not after a destination or end product, but each day is about being who Jesus called us to be that day. I don't share that because I think you are focused on the wrong thing at all, but Jesus reminded me of that recently (more than once, because I am slow I guess) when I was having feelings of discouragement.

Lord Jesus,
Please encourage Barb and Andy and their walk of faith. They are surrendered to You and depending on You to use them. When they are discouraged, fill them supernaturally with the amazing power of Your Holy Spirit. Remind them that their love and obedience is all You desire. Protect their marriage and their children from plans that would harm or destroy them. Provide them with discernment and clarity as they seek Your direction. Meet their needs and fill them to overflowing with You. Amen.

Praying for you both as God brings you to mind!"

In a moment of grace and through the obedience of an old faithful friend, God broke through the noise and spoke peace and encouragement into what is at times the disorienting fog of following His will.

I share this to reveal to you a God who still demonstrates His care and guidance in tangible ways. I share it to encouarage someone else walking through a valley. And I share it to say thank you to the person who listened to the Holy Spirit and delivered God's grace that day.

Poker Playing Priest

Came across this article on a priest who's playing poker to "raise funds to help build a new, bigger church." You can read it here.

So what are your thoughts on gambling and the way of Christ?