I took a friend to lunch recently to talk about his faith journey. The subject of life and conception came up. He wondered if I believed in life beginning at conception. Was I “anti-abortion?” I said to him what I always say to that question… “I believe in a woman’s right to choose ~as long as it doesn’t end a human life….” He paused. What?! Instead of framing the debate “choice vs life”… I reframed it to be “we agree on choice… tell me about life.” He told me that he didn’t think life began until… “well, I don’t know.” He was sure we shouldn’t do “too many abortions” in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. I asked him… “Why? If it’s not a life, what’s the big deal bout taking it out anytime between conception and birth… You just told me it’s just a piece of tissue… A wart to be removed…” He smiled… “Okay I admit it… I am not consistent.” I was able to share with him why the Bible, history, philosophy, and SCIENCE clearly teach that life begins at conception. The Bible teaches liberty and choice, but choices have limits. Everyone would agree with that. We can exercise liberty as long as we don’t kill others? Our conversation allowed him to think about “what is a “person.” Of course, I am passionate about the sanctity of life personally because my son Quinn barely escaped death as his birth mother walked out of a planned parenthood abortion clinic October 2009 saving his life. I am so thankful to God. We learn that no one is beyond help. Since God came to “glue us” back to Him. Our ability to be “glued” is not based on our stickiness. It’s based on God’s. No one is beyond hope and help. Not one person in your life, no matter what they’ve done is beyond God’s ability to repair. The same with any situation, If God can solve the “how do you make a son that is given eternally with a child that is born” puzzle that confounded people for hundreds of years, he can solve and make good on the doubts and concerns confounding you right now. So, the first piece of EPOXY EVIDENCE THAT CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH IS 1) The Epoxy God is Two Parts. That reminds us that God came to Glue us to Himself. So, The Epoxy God is Two Parts, but The Second Piece of Epoxy Evidence is...God Has a Unique Start. What do I mean by unique start? Well, the way we’ll see the God of two parts is to look for his unique start… A virgin will be with child. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us. What’s fascinating to me about this passage is how a deep theological doctrine about God… is the answer to some very practical relational problems. Joseph and Mary are in anguish. A divorce is imminent. Hearts are crushed. Future plans have crumbled. They are both scared. Confused. Hurt. And they are in the middle of God’s will??!! God comes to Joseph in his pain, relational chaos, and says… You can trust Me right now. I have some Christmas Evidence to Strengthen Your Wavering Christmas Faith. He tells Joseph, “do not be afraid…” Why? He gives Joseph evidence #2… The Angel Says.. The Epoxy God Has a Unique Start. A Virgin Birth Composed of Two parts. One part is Mary…. The Second Part is “The Holy Spirit’s” doing. Part 1: “That which is conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit” Part 2: “She will bring forth a Son and HIS name is Jesus”…
Christmas Faith is Strengthened through Christmas Evidence. The Bible offers The Bible Offers evidence to Strengthen our Confidence in Christ’s claims, birth, and final work. Hundreds of years prior to His arrival, prophets laid out specific details of the Messiah’s birth. Studying these prophetic predictions strengthens our confidence in God, His power, His wisdom, and His timeless plan. Doubts Are Natural: Do you ever have moments where you wonder… “Is this all really true? Am I really sure that I haven’t placed my eternal destiny into a story about a talking snake and a magical Resurrection? Do you ever hear all the theories from different religions and philosophies and wonder if Jesus is really… the ONLY way to God? With the pressure of multi-culturalism and relativism in our culture… Isn’t only natural to at least wonder? As you approach the holidays, it’s easy to see real life pain and allow doubt to creep into your life: Your son and daughter-in-law are struggling with infertility, your mom is dying… Your grandfather passed away this past year… You got a medical report, Audit notice, or pink slip… just in time for the Holidays…. Whatever the “thing” was or is, it has you doubting God’s love. God’s presence. And God’s plan. Michael Jordan is a friend who has been attending our church for about a year. He would call himself a skeptic or maybe an explorer. I interviewed him on stage last January. He shared his doubts about faith and God stem from the hypocrisy of church people over the years. However, he has been coming, listening, watching. He even decided to go on our Belize mission trip last year and is planning to go again this year. We were at a lunch a few weeks ago and he shared some interesting “coincidence” that have him thinking about his doubts. As a boat lover who sold high end racing boats for years, it was a big deal for him to go to Belize and miss the annual boat show he attended faithfully for 20 years, but he went. As a medical supply company he often has supplies in his bag. He had several tools in his bag used to check a patient’s blood. He pulled them all out of the bag. He even turned the bag upside down to dump them out. He filled his bag with toys and candy for the kids. As they arrive at the hospital in Belize. Michael realized that the hospital needed some Oxidizers… The very thing he dumped out of his bag a week earlier. He reached into his bag to get a toy and sure enough… There was one medical tool in the bag. He turned to me and said, “Chad, I don’t have an explanation for this… But I imagine you do. What I know FOR SURE, is that I emptied and dumped everything out of that bag that was medical.” We laughed as he is beginning to see God draw Him near despite his doubts. Michael is learning evidence for his faith. “We know doubts are a part of life for all of us. Doubts Are Natural: God comes to us in our doubts and doesn’t say, “I can’t believe you feel that way.” He doesn’t say, “Just believe… Faith is the absence of facts.” No, No, No. God comes to us and welcome our honest doubts. God Offers Evidence to Strengthen Our Faith When it is Weak. Christmas Faith is Strengthened through Christmas Evidence.…
