The Merry Month of May

The first day of May has been for centuries a day of celebration in England and for some communities in America.  It has no religious significance and its origin was a Celtic celebration of the beginning of Spring.  It is a day celebrated with maypoles, dancing and other activities.            

On a site on the internet called “Important Dates in History” you may discover what happened in any month of any year.  Checking the year 1935, I discovered that in May of that year the Hoover Dam, the greatest engineering feat in the world up to that time, was completed.  Also that month the Canadian government began circulation of the last Canadian silver dollar.                                                                                         

One very important event to me is not there, the birth of a baby boy in a duplex apartment in Ensley, Alabama.  As you may guess, that baby boy was me.  If you look at June, 1944, you will see that the allies stormed the bearch at Normandy during the Second World War.  But another date important to me is missing.  It was then that a nine year old boy gave his life to Christ during Vacation Bible School at Ensley Baptist Church and was born again.  I could list other dates significant to me, such as graduations, marriage, and births, for example.  But the most important event of all is yet to come.  That is the day I will be born from this world into the presence of Jesus Christ.  I don’t know that date and hope it isn’t near.  But it will be great and it is a time I can anticipate with joy, because I know that it will be a promotion and a heavenly celebration. How about you?                        

Grace and peace. 

AM I A MONKEY?

            I recently read a recently published little book of that name written by Dr. Francisco Ayala, biology professor at the University of California, Irvine.  He points out that the theory of evolution is accepted universally by scientists but that it does not conflict with the bible.

            For a number of weeks I’ve been teaching the first eleven chapters of Genesis on Wednesday evenings.  I have presented all the problems inherent in accepting this portion of the Bible literally.  I proposed that these chapters be received as a parable.  Doing so does not negate the claim that the Bible is “truth without any mixture of error.”  The truths taught concerning God being the creator and the author of life are not challenged, only the literalness of the account, i.e. six twenty four hour days; a “firmament” (heaven) with water above it and water below it.; etc.

            Of course, for those who insist on a literal interpretation of every word in the bible, this makes me, in their eyes, one who “does not believe the bible.”  I become that dreaded enemy called a “liberal.”  This in spite of the fact that I believe the bible is “truth without any mixture of error” from cover to cover.

            When it comes to the evolution of species, so ably defended, or presented, by Dr Ayala, I am still not fully convinced.  It isn’t that I have a problem with the concept and its theological implications.  God could have used it in His creation process.  Our origin would still be God’s doing.  It is just that there have been too many frauds and shaky assumptions by zealous promoters of the theory.  That there has been evolution, of that I have no doubt.  What I am not yet convinced is that all the various species are the result of evolution rather than specific creation.

            Am I a monkey?  Certainly not!  Although the DNA of our closest ape cousins are quite similar, and apes have been taught sign language, the gap between us is still huge.   And I admit, some of my human brothers and sisters do exhibit animal behavior.  But they should know and do know the difference.

            By the way, I do like, bananas, which were featured on the book's jacket.

Grace and peace.

Tax Time

            If it is April, it must be income tax season again.  In fact, Monday is the deadline for filing income tax returns. There is a lot of anti-tax sentiment around at present.  The platform of “No New Taxes” helped a lot of people, particular in the "Tea Party," get elected to public office this past year.  In the face of declining revenues during a period of economic recession, government bodies are electing to reduce services rather than find new sources of income.  These politicians will face the voter backlash which is sure to result from all all the cutbacks.

            Alabama is one of the lowest tax states in the nation, and the taxes are some of the most regressive, i.e. poor people pay a disproportionate amount of taxes compared to middle or upper income families.  But in the realm of politics, things usually are not fair.  I would support a redistribution of taxes, to cause wealthy individuals, landowners, businesses, and others to pick up their fair share.  And I am not opposed to new taxes, except as they impose more of the public burden on the poor.

            To me, paying taxes is a privilege.  When I consider all for which we depend upon the government, I think we have a bargain.  Think about it.  We have safety provided by the military, police, firefighters, paramedics, etc..  Also, we have increased safety provided by controls on food and medicine.  To these add entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and education.  And someone must provide roads, airports, train terminals,sea  ports, i.e. the entire transportation infrastructure.  I could list a host of other things government bodies do for us.  All these benefits make our taxes look good.

To some who resented paying taxes to foreign rulers Jesus said, “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.”   There will always be death and taxes.  Death is overcome in Christ and taxes are necessary to any society in this world.

Grace and peace.