As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I was wondering: just exactly how does an Atheist celebrate thanksgiving? Does he? Whom does he thank?
If I were to believe that I just happened to be here by chance, am I truly thankful for anything, or did I just get "lucky" that my genetic structure evolved over millions of years to present the intricacies that I am.
If you stop to think about it, there is no other area that we would give credit to Chance. How would you react if someone were to say this about the Mona Lisa:
"Many people believe that the Mona Lisa was painted by DaVinci. These people are fools. DaVinci never existed. If you believe he did, you are leaning on a crutch of tradition. Any enlightened person would most certainly realize that the Mona Lisa evolved over many years. Once upon a time, there was nothing on the canvas. Then, in one "Super Splash," paint appeared on the canvas. The paint eventually separated into different colors. Over the years a stick figure was formed, and that stick figure slowly evolved into the slightly chubby, non-attractive female specimen that we see today."
Can you imagine someone actually believing this? That's absurd! And yet, it is considered foolish to believe that the universe, our world, even ourselves with our genetic intricacies were actually created, not evolved. Which is the more difficult to believe - that some paint on a canvas just appeared, or that the Universe was created? Come on, people! In the "Age of Reason," as it has been called, let's take a step back and think about what is truly logical.
Christian comedian Mark Lowry jokes, "I would be an atheist too if I had that much faith." Since I don't have enough faith to believe that I am just an accident that showed up after millions of years of things happening just the right way for me to be standing here, I'm content to settle for the fact that I am the product of a Loving Creator. I will thank Him for that this week.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"Do you want to get well?"
"Do you want to get well?" It's really a silly question if you think about it. It's even more absurd when you look at John 5:6 and see Jesus asking it to a man who has been crippled for the last thirty-eight years. Doesn't it seem obvious? Who wouldn't want to get well! But the real question is not if you want to get well. The real question Jesus is asking is, "Do you think it's possible for you to be healed? Do you trust Me? Do you have faith?" Do you? Do I?
The next scene is maybe even more ridiculous. Jesus just tells the man, "Pick up your mat and walk." Imagine what's going through the invalid's mind. "He can't be serious, can He?" The guy has probably heard this before - "Hey crippy! Just get up and walk. One foot in front of the other - it's easy." But this time there's no jeering; no sarcasm. There is a sincerity in Jesus' voice that makes His command to walk so absurd it just might work. So the Invalid has a choice to make. He can step out on faith and see what happens. After all, if he can't walk after all, he won't be any worse off than he is now. And so he grabs his mat and takes the first step in his new life.
The truth is that Jesus asks us all this same question: "Do you want to get well?" And then he waits for our response. Will we be content to stay in our current state, or will we have the audacity to pick up our mat and see if our legs move? The choice is yours to make.
The next scene is maybe even more ridiculous. Jesus just tells the man, "Pick up your mat and walk." Imagine what's going through the invalid's mind. "He can't be serious, can He?" The guy has probably heard this before - "Hey crippy! Just get up and walk. One foot in front of the other - it's easy." But this time there's no jeering; no sarcasm. There is a sincerity in Jesus' voice that makes His command to walk so absurd it just might work. So the Invalid has a choice to make. He can step out on faith and see what happens. After all, if he can't walk after all, he won't be any worse off than he is now. And so he grabs his mat and takes the first step in his new life.
The truth is that Jesus asks us all this same question: "Do you want to get well?" And then he waits for our response. Will we be content to stay in our current state, or will we have the audacity to pick up our mat and see if our legs move? The choice is yours to make.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Josh Hamilton
Unbelievable. That's what I was thinking the whole time during the Home Run Derby last night. Sure....he didn't win, but does that honestly bother anyone? This kid who had wasted three years of God-given talent and a $4 Million signing bonus on heroine, cocaine, and alcohol put on the greatest spectacle that Yankee Stadium has ever seen - and it's had it's fair share of great spectacles: 26 World Championships; Don Larson's Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series; Ruth's 60 homers; Maris' 61 homers; Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jackson, Jeter. And yet, perhaps the greatest moment of all came from a Non-Yankee - his name being chanted by the Yankee faithful. Unbelievable.
Add to all this the fact that his pitcher was a 71-year old American Legion Youth Baseball coach from Hamilton's home in South Carolina. Then there's the dream that Hamilton had - that he had just finished hitting in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium and was being interviewed - and reality happened just like the Dream. Unbelievable.
And yet, even as Josh Hamilton was crushing baseballs into the New York night, something much larger was on display: redemption. There is no greater story that I have seen which speaks to the power of God and the redemption of Sin found in Christ Jesus than Josh Hamilton. He had ruined his life; he says himself that there's no way he should still be alive. But God still had a plan for him.
On June 14, 2008 the shrine that is Yankee Stadium became a pulpit for the redeeming power of Almighty God. And Josh Hamilton made sure that everyone in the stadium and the nation knew that it wasn't about him - it was about the One who has saved Him. It was about the grace and forgiveness that God offers freely in Jesus Christ, the most unbelievable thing of all.
Add to all this the fact that his pitcher was a 71-year old American Legion Youth Baseball coach from Hamilton's home in South Carolina. Then there's the dream that Hamilton had - that he had just finished hitting in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium and was being interviewed - and reality happened just like the Dream. Unbelievable.
And yet, even as Josh Hamilton was crushing baseballs into the New York night, something much larger was on display: redemption. There is no greater story that I have seen which speaks to the power of God and the redemption of Sin found in Christ Jesus than Josh Hamilton. He had ruined his life; he says himself that there's no way he should still be alive. But God still had a plan for him.
On June 14, 2008 the shrine that is Yankee Stadium became a pulpit for the redeeming power of Almighty God. And Josh Hamilton made sure that everyone in the stadium and the nation knew that it wasn't about him - it was about the One who has saved Him. It was about the grace and forgiveness that God offers freely in Jesus Christ, the most unbelievable thing of all.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Being Christ's Hands and Feet
Our youth ministry had our annual service project, IMPACT, this past week. This week always amazes me. I am amazed how teenagers will give up a week to climb on someone's roof and do manual labor just to serve someone they don't even know. I think we truly were Christ's hands and feet.
I wouldn't say that our church has a "heart for the nations" yet, but I think this is how the seed is planted that will grow into a desire to go abroad and serve others in Christ's name. After all, in Acts 1:8, Jesus says, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." I think that means that missions has to start in your own backyard. Hopefully, that is what we are instilling in our youth. I pray that this attitude will move from our teenagers into the rest of our church.
May God use our service to glorify Him and to birth a desire to take His name to other areas of our state, nation, and world. Amen.
I wouldn't say that our church has a "heart for the nations" yet, but I think this is how the seed is planted that will grow into a desire to go abroad and serve others in Christ's name. After all, in Acts 1:8, Jesus says, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." I think that means that missions has to start in your own backyard. Hopefully, that is what we are instilling in our youth. I pray that this attitude will move from our teenagers into the rest of our church.
May God use our service to glorify Him and to birth a desire to take His name to other areas of our state, nation, and world. Amen.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My First Blogger Blog
So, this is my first blog on Blogger. I have a MySpace blog, but I've stopped using it for some unknown reason.....maybe I think more people will care about what I have to say on Blogger. Maybe I just wanted another place to place my random thoughts.
First, for an introduction. My name is Kyle Bueermann. I am the Youth Pastor at FBC Kermit, TX (a small oil community in West Texas). I am married to Michelle, and we have a son, Noah, who was born on October 19, 2007. Life is great. I hope you will come and read about all I have to blog about!
First, for an introduction. My name is Kyle Bueermann. I am the Youth Pastor at FBC Kermit, TX (a small oil community in West Texas). I am married to Michelle, and we have a son, Noah, who was born on October 19, 2007. Life is great. I hope you will come and read about all I have to blog about!
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