In the middle of this second decade of our present millennium ...part of a media meme became: "What does it matter?" If you think respect matters or if you think regard for other people's possessions matter or if you think other people matter and that we should not try to possess them ...whether outside us, or inside us. Or if you think insanity matters ...then keep on reading. If you think insanity matters, but you just don't prefer it ...then perhaps you can skip this page, and go to the break, where I'll try to start anew. That is, if you are not afraid. You may think, "I'm not afraid of nothin'". Technically, that's a double negative ...and it means you are afraid of somethin'. Yet, those who feel they're not afraid, and don't back away from anything ...do often back away from logic. But, if you still contend you are not afraid ...begin after the first break.

And of course, those words are not usually spoken in view of respect for what matters to people, and especially to people themselves whom matter to one another.

And we shouldn't 'Kanye' other people either.  " ...but, ______ had one of the best ______ of all time!"   But, Kanye matters ...has a voice, a platform, and a moment in time.  What is done with it can be no better or worse than that choice moment when someone is watching our stage ...and looking to see what we do with it.  And we can either Snagglepuss the moment (Exit, stage left!), or we can stand. We can either shine, or put on our cowboy boots and wait for the next stage. I know sometimes in life, I feel like an idiot ...I'm embarrassed, and I'd like the moment back, but it is what it is.  And in the end, it's not about me ...but, it's always about the One who said, "I AM WHO I AM".  And that's not 'exit, stage left' ...but, Exodus 3:14.  Not Popeye the sailor man, but as reverently as can be said, the GREAT I AM.

We should acknowledge that which is presently before us and seriously accept the moment ...however pretty or ugly it is.

Yes, we can disagree, and ask for answers or strict evaluation ...but, it should not entail total disregard for all others not contributing to our own high personal regards at the time.

So, now that I have everyone's attention ...or likely nobody's at all, let me say what I was going to say all along.

Okay, this is the beginning ...after the first break. It seems like there are two beginnings ...and actually, there are!!

But, at this moment ...let's consider whether it matters whether we believe in evolution, or not.

Okay, it shouldn't have taken you too long to assess that ...or did it??

For me, it was not that simple.

When I was in college, I found the study of evolution to be rather fascinating.  I was interested in it because it was unlike other subjects where I had to study things 'new' that I felt I knew little about ...this subject was not one I was as content to know little about.  As I said, I found it interesting and exciting.

I studied more and more about the various studies and findings people of renown intellects had uncovered for us.  But, I did one thing in a way that brought it all to a halt.  I was confronted with my own logic.  And though my logic was initially very satisfied ...I wanted to travel further, but I couldn't.

And one thing more ...I believed in God, and those beliefs could not fit into logic either.

I was faced with the option of logically believing in neither.

I felt like a philosopher, as I remembered a quote, "I think, therefore, I am."  And yes, logically, one would have to question their own existence.  It was like the final episode of the TV show, Saint Elsewhere ...where their entire existence was only someone's imagination.  That someone was considered very simplistic, or as some would label ...mentally ill.  At that moment, I felt like I was elsewhere.

At that moment, it seemed that the imagination of TV came closer to being real ...and I realized, it is that way because TV is not constrained by that which we constrain ourselves with.  We think we are freeing our minds by accepting new theories that have reached the imaginations of some ...but, those ideas are constrained by the very fact that they are rigidly held to make consistent sense of something that is really nonsense.

Yes, we do have it partly right in all the drama we watch that seems to tap into our imagination as safely labeled ...fantasy. But, the world of which we excite our minds with must have a distinguishing aspect to it ...as to discerning what is entertainment and what is serious.

Our minds often don't like to be constrained ...and often it is because we don't want our choices to be constrained.  So, that is partially why we can so readily enjoy fantasy, but reject that truth in itself has constraints and is real in a Spirit world.

Truth has to have constraints, otherwise we would too readily accept falsehoods as true.

Why is it so important to accept what is true??

Often it may not seem that important ...and often it is not. Well, let me distinguish those moments when it should not be important ...and let you later decide those situations when truth is important. And though I feel it is vitally important that you decide, I will at least provide my most compelling argument for the importance of truth in some situations.

First of all, I don't think it's important to know the truth in situations where you may be wondering who put the dent in your car in the mall parking lot.  We constantly put dents in our children, in our spouses, in our friends ...and those who may otherwise want to be our friends, or we should want to be our friends.  Those dents are way more important, and we know precisely who puts the dents there.  Yet, we seem more concerned over who put the dent in our precious car. The impression we make with others is way more important than the impression made by a dent.

And we may do well not to know ...as I said in the first section, it may be one of those moments where I act like an idiot and want to take the moment back.

When is it important to know the truth??  Is it important to know the truth about God??  And how much do we need to know, or should we feel satisfied with knowing??

I feel God gave us what He felt we should know ...so, to me, it does not become such a difficult question.

The difficulties come when we want to do the same as we've done with the study of evolution.  Yes, we should be excited about the Word of God.  We should find His Word fascinating and interesting. But, what we discover is the truths that He would want us to discover ...not discover that which is not there.

Often we study the Word of God, and it is exciting ...but, if we try to find something there that is a hidden revelation that we feel only the gifted or spiritual can discern, we can get caught up not in the air, but in a rapture of our own imagination which may be leading us away from God's truth.  We may think we are getting closer to God, because we have never been this excited before ...but, though that is often good, there can be times it is not.

An example of this is in the Book of Acts, where some people saw the power of the apostles as they were speaking in tongues, healing people, and casting out demons.  And when they tried to do likewise, to cast out demons, the demon answered and said, "I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, violently leaped upon them and left them badly wounded.

It seems that they found their excitement and desire in the imagining of being able to have the power, seemingly more so than the desire to help free the man from the evil spirit.

God is the authority ...so, what authority do we have in believing in Him??  

We do have the Bible ...and it's important to have a standard, and an authority, to give us correct reference to the truth. 

Yet, do we believe the entire Bible is true ...and if not, how can we say that any of it is true.  We can't pick and choose what we want to believe ...because if we do that, we are not glorifying God as He chose for us to know Him, precisely as He has presented Himself to us in the Bible.

Is it necessary for us to believe all that the Bible tells us?  Does it affect our commission to go out to tell others about Him??

We do seem to always have differences ...they seem evident that they exist, and likely will continue to exist. At least, until Jesus returns to rule for those thousand years.

But, there has to be more understanding ...and a difference between how we view the direction of our growth, and how we view others, perhaps being beneficial to realize everyone is not on the same level.

Back to the the example of casting out demons and other miracles, it is God's discretion and authority to decide how things go ...as on one occasion, Jesus said to his apostles, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a miracle in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me. For he who is not against us is for us.…"

Philippians 1:18, states, "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice."

Now, it is at this moment I am asking you to put forth a little more effort to think about this. It is not contradictory how the Bible presents one thing, and then we see another example not quite the same.  When we feel something matters, or it doesn't matter ...it may be that it doesn't matter so much at this time, but it may matter more as time goes on.

Of course, certain things always matter ...and people always matter, and are not to be considered things.  And people are affected by their motives, and the motives of others.  So, though I agree with Philippians 1:18, and I do rejoice because we share the same Word, the same Bible, and the same news as we read through the Gospels of Jesus (as written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) ...I do also have an inclination to speak the truth as I see it, as I share what we believe in common, yet also what we may not both believe.

I've sat down with several people of a different faith ...or perhaps we could call it a differing set of beliefs.  Sometimes we group it into different religions.  But, on most of those occasions, we sat down with the same Bible in front of us to read. I felt that was sufficient, yet my company had other booklets that they frequently referred to. But, I kept referring to the Bible.  And even though they said they agreed with the authority of the Bible ...many of them looked at Jesus as only a prophet.

Now, how can that be ...the Bible right before us, not only does Jesus say who He is ...God spoke from heaven, referring to Jesus as 'only' begotten, because He wasn't a human.  He became a human ...for us.  

Before that ...He was God, continued to be God, still is today, and will always be. God's Word tells us this ...and if the Bible is not entirely true, then what part of it is??

And you've probably heard of the conversation on whether we follow the 'same' God. 

If not, here it is again:
(http://doweworshipthesamesupremebeing.blogspot.com/)

I felt I had to say all this first ...because it does tie in with whether we believe in evolution or not.

The Bible clearly teaches Creation.  There is nothing in the Bible that would give a hint to evolution. And though some people believe in both God and evolution, I do not see evolution putting God at the center ...and often I don't see God being acknowledged at all.


Many evolutionists, being also atheists ...say that we believe in God because we need to, because we are weak and need God as a crutch.  Yet, I contend that the pure evolutionist needs for God not to exist ...because their argument is weak, and they are in need of a crutch, not having a leg to stand on.

Yes, I know many people who don't see how beautifully the first verse in the Bible ties in with the 'days' of Creation. Yet, I read in the Bible that the angels sang at Creation. What their habitation was before that ...we do not have much information. So, even if we were to agree with a theory, and guess how old that habitation of the universe may have been ...it would not satisfy the evolutionist, because it is not about how old, it's about excluding God for those theorists.

Yes, the focus for the purpose of everything changed from the angels to the introduction of humans ...somewhere around 6,000 years ago. And the angels sang in celebration, (I'd say two-thirds of them did), as it was victory for them and the beginning path of redemption and salvation for all of us who would not have a chance ...if not for Jesus.

Foremost, when we view those who don't believe in God ...we should recognize how we often present a different attitude towards those whom we feel are most in need, compared to those whom act as though they need nothing while in reality they need more.  We have a missionary attitude towards some, and a much less tolerant view towards others ...the others usually falling within the latter category.

Yet, admittedly, many missionaries find those who know they are sinning ...and are carrying the burden, but celebrate if they hear there is a Savior.  In contrast, our neighbors may say it's not sin, attempt to blame you for trying to burden them, and join together to celebrate their majority consensus of free living. 

The Mouk people of Papua New Guinea are an example of a people who literally danced with joy ---Ee Taow!! Ee Taow!! --- upon being told they had a Savior and were forgiven.  The missionaries knew very well what could have happened next, so they told the Mouk people they had to go into the next town to tell them about Jesus. Statistics show that however strong the response to the salvation message ---if the new group of believers don't quickly commit to a witness group, Bible study, or performing pastoral deeds ---they can too soon return to some of their old ways.

In the case of the Mouk people, they did go to the next village to tell those people about Jesus.  And the same is true to a certain extent with us.  A Pastor once guided me into teaching a children's Bible study.  I pleaded that I would be no good because I had never even read the Bible ...yet, I was told they had study guides to follow, so I really didn't need to know much.  But, during that time which I attempted to teach ...and did stand before the children each Sunday, it was I who really learned. Perhaps they merely learned to be quiet while I was teaching ...but, it was a start.

We read in the New Testament of Paul's letters to church after church.  They had formed churches and meeting places ...yet, much quickly went wrong.  And over time, churches split ...and form new churches, and sometimes new religions.

Yet, let's read together the very beginning of our Bible: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."

It looks like the time of decision-making and commitment for the angels had reached it's end of the road.  Whoever had decided ...had decided; and whatever that commitment had entailed ...was more than just curtailed.  It was judgment time for the angels, yet it was just the beginning for us humans. Yes, it did seem about to end ...when it had hardly even started, but it was in fact, just the beginning.  

Yes, there was much to learn. But, the learning would be directed by God, not through evolution. Our attention spans are not so great to think we'd be expected to learn over millions of years.  Our learning began rather simple, but with knowledge enough.  And some highly intelligent fallen Beings were not dormant for millions of years ...one in particular was involved in a rather quick and characteristic deception.

We humans had to learn of the character of God, and also learn a few things about ourselves, foremost learning that we could not guide ourselves, but nor should we let just anyone guide us. We had to learn we needed a Savior.  and we had to learn how important that choice would be.

The angels had their time of judgement ...even though it seems the ones facing the most judgment still have many freedoms. But, that's because they were to be a part of our judgment ...in so many ways, inclusive of the invaluable teaching we receive through contrast.

We will have a time of judgment also ..."the Bible tells us so", though we don't like to sing about it as much.  And judgment always seems to hold a two-fold meaning ...of joy and dread.

There is only one decision in life that ranks higher ...the decision for Jesus to be born as a human, and to die for our salvation.  Our decision to follow Jesus can make God's decision one of joy, or one of dread for us.  

So, I mentioned two great decisions by God ...and one great one by us.

What matters to God is that the most important decision of our life is made based on accuracy.  God wants us to choose Him, and He wants that choice not to be one based on deception ...but one of clear choice.  That's why it is so important for us to clearly know what is true.  If we commit to follow Him, it is not demanded of us that we follow without any error of our ways ...we are not expected to be perfect, or even close to it.  Jesus took care of the perfection aspect of it. It's just that the more inaccurate we are in glorifying Him, the more chance there is that others could be confused, distracted, or deceived.  And beside wanting us to follow Him ...He also wants us to commission ourselves to tell others the truth about Him. 

To glorify God ...is to accurately attribute and describe to others who He is, and to ascribe all good to Him who has promised to prepare a place for us which is very good, actually heavenly.