Anti-Creationists Fear AIG's New Museum

Here you can find summaries from the National Center for Science Education of negative reactions from the scientific establishment toward the Creation Museum being opened today by Ken Ham's "Answers in Genesis" ministry (You can go to the Museum's own site here.

If you read the criticisms, you find them alternating between hysteria and despair. The hysterical part includes claims that those who believe what the museum shows will definitely be lacking in scientific understanding and won't make it through college level science classes. The despair is their acknowledgement that young earth creationists are not limited to the "lunatic fringe" of society--which means a whole lot more people accept creation accounts that diverge from evolution than you would expect when evolution has been taught as the only true science for over 40 years.

Me? I'm planning to visit sometime this summer, and I won't need the museum to convince me that God made the world in six actual, literal days, thousands rather than billions of years ago. But I'll enjoy seeing their representations of it!

"The Realignment of America"

This is another fascinating read, by one of the commentators I respect the most in the world of political affairs.

This is right on the mark!

I just read Fred Thompson on National Review Online, and you should, too. Whether or not you think he should run for president, this article should remind people that our world situation in regard to the present conflict in Iraq is not really new.

Twelve Hours in Ministry--Two Lessons in Marriage

Yesterday afternoon, I led a beautiful bride and her handsome groom through the vows and promises that began their life together. It was a simple ceremony but filled with the holy--God's gift of the marriage covenant was being entered into once again by two of his children. The bride and groom were almost emphatic in their recitation of their vows. Their smiles and whispered words at the unity candle were evidence of their joy. They have many hopes and dreams, and while they cannot know all the challenges they will face, they are excited to face them together, and to embark on all that God's plan for them contains. Their lives are full of promise. Congratulations, Kenny and Nikki.

Last night, I led a wife of over 60 years to the hospital bedside of her husband where she struggled to reach his cheek for a final kiss. Unconscious, his occasional twitches were the evidence of the severe brain injury he had suffered that is going to take his life in the next few hours. Barring divine intervention, he will not awake on this earth again. His wife said quietly to us, "What will I do without him?" Partners in a life that knew all the expected joys and sorrows, endured separation during a world war, involved hard work for both, and raised three sons and has seen grand- and great grand children; his impending departure at 89 was still unexpected. But she could still say with a twinkle in her eye, "He was sure a pretty good man to me." Their lives are a promise fulfilled. Well done, Karl and Lois.

Some "Ancient Customs" are More Important than Others

I can hardly believe it.

As you may know, the worldwide Anglican communion is seriously divided, with African, Asian, and South American leaders standing for biblical orthodoxy, while the U.S. Episcopal church and its Canadian cousin are the liberal "bad seed," and England's Archbishop of Canterbury is trying to hold everyone together.

Conservative Episcopalians have sought relief from their liberal hierarchy by seeking supervision by bishops of the more conservative branches of Anglicanism. Thus, Archbishop Peter Akinola from Nigeria is coming to America to consecrate the new head of Nigeria's North American branch of its Anglican communion in Virginia.

All of this greatly upsets Archbishop Katharine Schori, presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church. She complains that such a move violates the "ancient customs" of the church.

Hmmm... let's forget the fact that at 400 years old,the Anglican communion is not all that ancient. It seems like Bishop Schori and the U.S. Episcopal leadership has managed to violate a few other "ancient customs" of Anglicans. Consider the following:
*they reject the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ alone
*there is no longer insistence on belief in heaven, hell, the virgin birth, or the bodily resurrection
*the church allows the ordination of women
*the church allows the ordination of homosexuals
*the church undertook the consecration of a homosexual bishop, who is about to marry his male partner
*the church blesses of same sex unions
*the church does not oppose abortion
*there is no upholding of scriptural authority
*there is no discipline of sinning members, even under the communion's own rules

I guess that some ancient traditions are more important not to offend than others.

See the story here.

Dear Anonymous

To my engaging, anonymous friend... I remain intrigued by your observations, including those of your last, unpublished comment. Thanks for the thoughts and clarifications, and your expressions of concern about CU. You raise excellent and valid points. I have no personal way of responding to your posts to further dialog, and don't necessarily want to have a public discussion when I am somewhat out of the loop on things you may know. I'm also trying to be careful not to disparage or affirm people or institutions without careful thought, especially in "printed" form! So, I'll leave it here for now. I would be glad to email responses, even to an "alias" if discussion is desired.