Currently not being added to, but you are welcome to read previous entries.
 
The Pastor’s Corner is written by the pastor of Coronado Bible Church.
 

Scientific or Genetic Adam

“In human genetics, the Y-chromosomal most recent common ancestor (Y-MRCA, informally known as Y-chromosomal Adam) is the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) from whom all currently living men are descended patrilineally. The term Y-MRCA reflects the fact that the Y chromosomes of all currently living males are directly derived from the Y chromosome of this remote ancestor.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-chromosomal_Adam)

Okay … that was a mouthful, but did you catch the gist? Modern genetics accepts that “all currently living males” are descended from one common male progenitor. A plethora of articles refer to him as Scientific Adam or Genetic Adam. Similar articles discuss Mitochondrial Eve. Though it’s much harder to track genetic succession through the mother’s mitochondria, many scientists are convinced they have traced all living women back to one ancestor. Of course, most geneticists are only tracing these lines back to the “emergence of anatomically modern humans.” They believe that our common ancestors arose from humanoids of inferior evolutionary development. This belief is necessitated in their materialistic, closed-universe worldview.

As I’ve read through articles about our genetic parents, every article goes to great pains to state upfront that this cannot be evidence in support of the Biblical Adam and Eve. So every living man and woman on the planet can be scientifically traced to two progenitors, but the Genesis account must be a “myth.” Romans 1:18–20 comes forcefully to mind,

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Do scientists who reject the Biblical narrative do so based solely on “evidence” or is there an a priori reason. Tune in next week. 
 
 


Study Finds …

“Creationists and conspiracy theorist share the same cognitive error.” As a person of faith, headlines like that grab my attention. I’m not a conspiracist … but I am a creationist. I see evidence everywhere that a masterful, all-powerful designer engineered and created this amazing cosmos we live in. I wondered what my “cognitive error” might be. A recent study by the University of Fribourg has kindly identified my mental deficiency as “teleological thinking.” And the authors of the study do believe it is a cognitive deficiency. Here are a few quotes …
  • “This kind of thinking leaves people prone to some grossly erroneous beliefs”
  • “Such thinkers are often ill-equipped to comprehend basic scientific facts.”
  • “This type of thinking is anathema to scientific reasoning and especially evolutionary theory

So what is this awful aberration known as teleological thinking? According to the Fribourg study, “a powerful cognitive bias which entails the perception of final causes and overriding purpose in naturally occurring events and entities.” In other words, if you believe that there is a creator, purpose or goal to our universe, you are guilty of erroneous thinking.

It’s interesting that the researchers identify this as “a powerful cognitive bias.” In fact, at one point they accuse creationist of “confirmation bias” … the tendency to interpret new evidence as validation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.”

So, a group of people who have decided that a Creator cannot possibly exist and that there is no ultimate purpose to the universe … do a study “revealing” that everyone who interprets the evidence differently is guilty of fallacious thinking? Evolutionary theorists have closed the door on any meaningful debate and labeled all dissenters as mentally deficient … or willfully blind. Their stance is indeed a powerful cognitive bias, one that is anathema to scientific reasoning. Read carefully, think deeply, respectfully challenge unconfessed bias and non sequitur reasoning. Don’t be bullied into silence … or out of your faith.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:3,6
 
 


What’s new?

I’m a child of my age when it comes to technology … always fascinated with what’s just around the corner. I’m a combination of a very technically minded father and an extremely imaginative mother. Even so, I never dreamt of the kind of technology contained in my cellphone. I never would have believed that computers would exist that could pick my face out of crowd or listen to and translate what I’m saying into another language.

Or what about this? A neuroscientist and biomedical engineer (Theodore Berger) at the University of Southern California in LA has designed silicon chips that mimic the signal processing that neurons use to create memories. He and his research team have proven that “silicon chips externally connected to rat and monkey brains can process information just like actual neurons.” That’s the plot for a Saturday Sci-fi flick right?

How about this one? “General Electric is making a radical departure from the way it has traditionally manufactured things. Its aviation division is preparing to produce a fuel nozzle for a new aircraft engine using a sophisticated printer.” You’ll excuse me if I don’t want to be on the test flight.

So … what’s new? Is it even possible to keep up with the answer to the question? But ask me about the most extraordinary, shocking, revolutionary news I’ve ever heard … and I have to look backward, not into the future. Two-thousand plus years ago, God became man, lived among us and died in our place to remove the sin-guilt of all humanity. How could any news be more radical? And … for all the hype we give to the latest results of human intelligence, it will never produce better news!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    (John 1:14)

 
 See Philippians 2 for more scripture regarding Christ’s humanity.
 
 
(Reprinted from March 9, 2014)
 


The Ever-Rolling Stream

My mother-in-law posted that meme on her Facebook feed. It’s funny … but less so because it’s true. I had no clever comment to post … so I just posted, “Ugh.”

It reminded me of the question once asked by a famous philosopher, “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” I never knew what his doctorate was in, but they always called him Dr. Seuss.

You plan and schedule and project, but then you blink, and the year is gone. Isaac Watts put it more seriously in his hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past.” He wrote,

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.

Watts was paraphrasing Psalm 90 which speaks to the brevity of human life and counsels, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Watts’ imagery of time as a relentless and irrepressible torrent intrigues me. It is too strong to swim against, though many try to stem its tide. Others simply surrender to its inevitability, navigating through life’s stream with all the purpose of a fat camper on a floaty. They are carried swiftly toward eternity, but there is no thought for their Maker … and little thought for their fellow man.

We are powerless against the flow of time but are not powerless in the flow of time. We who know Christ traverse the river with unsinkable hope … a hope that others desperately need. Paul asked the Colossians to pray that he might have the power to proclaim the Gospel clearly … and then he challenged them to use their time to the same end. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” The Good News of Jesus Christ saved you from time’s torrent and for eternity. Throw out a lifeline!

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Col 4:5–6). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
 
 


Anniversaries

Twenty-nine years of marriage doesn’t just happen: it requires commitment, investment, patience and forgiveness. So, I’m not saying this anniversary isn’t an accomplishment. But I would want to emphasize that … we’ve been blessed! We didn’t do this on our own. We grew up knowing Jesus and that at the core of real love is self-sacrifice. That’s priceless! We grew surrounded by examples of marriages that were loving, loyal and that lasted. That’s huge! We’ve had positive role models along the way and positive peer pressure to make our marriage work. I should be writing Thank You notes!

One “Thank You” would be to Zerald Zimmerman (honest, that was his name). I’m sure Zerald is with the Lord now … either that or he’s 115 years-old. In the receiving line after our wedding, Zerald shook my hand and then held it in a tight grasp. He said, “Jon, your bride is pretty cute!” I said, “Thank You.” He fired back, “What you mean thank you? You had absolutely nothing to do with that.” I blinked. His eyes began to twinkle, and he whispered, “If she’s still cute in 20 years then you can take some of the credit.” It struck me in a way it never had, that I was responsible for Sue … responsible for whether she turned out better or bitter … whether she became more lovely from knowing she was loved. It was only 20 seconds Zerald … but thank you for the reality check!

Another thanks would go out to whoever taught us to speak words of appreciation. I spent the last week thinking about some of the things that have strengthened our relationship. This rose to the top; we consistently thank each other for just about everything. It’s habitual … but that doesn’t diminish its power. In my role as a pastor, I can’t count how many times a spouse has told me they don’t feel appreciated. That’s a shame, because it costs very little to say thank you.

One more … the biggest thank you of all goes to God. Here’s one was can all get in on. Our God is the picture of faithful enduring love. Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.