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This week we continue the journey from the formation of the universe to this little blue planet of ours as we look at the formation of the solar system and face Isaac Newton’s dilemma.  Here again we see God’s hand.

“Though these bodies may, indeed, persevere in their orbits by the mere laws of gravity, yet they could by no means have at first derived the regular position of the orbits themselves from those laws…[Thus] this most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being.”  Isaac Newton, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, 1687

“These gas giant planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – with their respective masses, distances from the Sun, and orbital configurations, not only served as the inner planet’s protective “fence” but also influenced Earth’s mass, distance from the Sun, and orbital features, all of which turned out to be just right to allow for the possibility and survivability of (later) advanced life.”  Ross, Improbable Planet, 2016

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God loves you!  That is the single most important truth in the Universe.  This week we look at God's purpose, God's plan, the atonement and the resurrection.  God's love for you changed the world forever in the miracle of the resurrection!

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This week we move from the big bang to the Milky Way Galaxy as we continue our journey to Earth.  Spoiler alert: the fingerprint of intelligence is starting to become visible again!  God’s love for us shows through.

“Size, age, type, and metallicity all conspire to drastically reduce the number of galaxies capable of harboring not only life but even terrestrial planets.  Our Milky Way is among the 2 percent most luminous and, hence, most metal-rich galaxies in the local universe, putting it way ahead on the scale of habitability.”  Gonzales and Richards, The Privileged Planet, 2004 pg 289-290

“Only in a spiral galaxy is a long history of life possible.  A spiral galaxy of the just-right size and the just-right structure can yield adequate heavy elements for life as well as a possible location where a planetary system can reside for billions of years without being exposed to deadly radiation and without gravitational disruptions from adjacent stars and molecular clouds.”  Ross, Improbable Planet, 2016 pg 31

“For a long history of life to be possible, life’s host galaxy must reside within a grouping of galaxies that includes no supergiant galaxies and remains distant from any dense cluster.  The group must contain a sufficiently high availability of dwarf galaxies to ensure that this one special spiral galaxy can accrete enough gas (from the dwarf galaxies) to sustain it’s spiral structure for many billions of years.  The number and density of dwarf galaxies must not be so high, however, as to generate any significant disturbance or warping of the host galaxy’s spiral arms.  Also the group must be sufficiently dispersed that large and medium-sized galaxies cause no disruption to the symmetry, size, or shape of the host galaxy.”  Improbable Planet, 2016, pg 30 

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This week we start moving forward looking at the number of steps it will take to get us from the Big Bang to our little blue planet.  Along the way we may see God’s third miracle in our journey from nothing to us.  God’s fingerprint shows helps point us to His great love for us!

“Even with so much still to discover and learn about the way the world is and how it came to be this way, an abundance of evidence suggests an answer to the why question: we are here to seek and to find God and then to use all the resources he has so painstakingly and generously provided, within the amazingly stable and optimal climate epoch he established, to encourage people from every ethnic and cultural group in the world to receive God’s redemptive offer.  God’s desire to bring redemption to a vast and variegated population explains why the history of the Milky Way Galaxy, the solar system, Earth, and life looks as it does.”  Hugh Ross, Improbable Planet, 2016

“A common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.  The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put the conclusion almost beyond question.”  Hoyle, The Universe: Past and Present Reflections, 1982

“All galaxies in the early history of the universe, and low-mass galaxies forming right now, are metal-poor, making them unlikely habitats for life.  Similar problems attach to globular clusters and irregular galaxies. We now have reason to suppose that large spiral galaxies like the Milky Way that formed at about the same time are substantially more habitable than galaxies of different ages and types.  The metal content of a galaxy is highly dependent not just upon its age but also on its mass.  Without enough metals, there aren’t enough materials for building terrestrial planets. And without terrestrial planets, there are no environments suitable for life.  Our very massive, spiral galaxy, then, is an especially suitable home for a habitable planet and solar system, while providing an optimal position for viewing and discovering both our own galaxy and the wider universe.”  Gonzales and Richards, The Privileged Planet, 2004

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This week we get a bit closer to the answer in our journey of the question of whether or not we were created or if the universe is just the product of chance as we look at a few of those next steps after the Big Bang with the creation of stars and galaxies.  Don’t forget how much God loves you!

Discovery Channel, Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking: The Story of Everything, 2011

“In the first few minutes of the Universe, gravity’s cooling effect doesn’t much care whether nuclear reactions are taking place.  The Universe will expand and cool regardless.  Thus, the nuclear reactions have one and only one chance: there is one short period of time when the Universe has the right temperature to power a certain reaction, and if the right ingredients aren’t ready, then too bad.  The temperature isn’t going back up.”  Lewis and Barnes, A Fortunate Universe, 2016, Cambridge University Press

“A common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.  The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put the conclusion almost beyond question.”  Hoyle, The Universe: Past and Present Reflections, 1982

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On this week’s episode we prepare to pick back up after the creation of the universe and the fine tuning of the universe with a look at whether or not the Copernican Principle holds water.  Spoiler alert!  God’s love is stronger and a better explanation of how we got here.

“In its modest form, the Copernican Principle states that we should assume that there’s nothing special or exceptional about the time or place of Earth in the cosmos.  This assertion has a certain plausibility, since without any other information, it’s reasonable to suppose that our location is a random sample of the universe as a whole.” The Privileged Planet, Gonzales and Richards, 2004, Regnery Publishing, pg 248

“What, for instance would count against the Copernican Principle…If human beings, Earth, or our immediate environment were highly unusual or unique in some important ways, then we would have reason to doubt it.  If the cosmos seemed specifically fitted for our existence, or the existence of life, then that would also count against it.  Conversely, evidence that confirmed the mediocrity of our surroundings, or the cosmos itself, would count in its favor.”  The Privileged Planet, Gonzales and Richards, 2004, Regnery Publishing, pg 249

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We wrap up our Christmas story study for the month of December this week looking at a last few objections and conspiracy theories related to the Christmas story.  Please don’t let any of this stand in the way of finding God’s great love for you!!

Luke 2, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.”  NKJV 1982 Thomas Nelson

Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977), 15

Matt 1, “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.”  NKJV 1982 Thomas Nelson

Isaiah 7, “[10] Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, [11] "Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above." [12] But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!" [13] Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? [14] Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” NKJV 1982 Thomas Nelson

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You are the most valuable thing in the entire universe.  Because God loves you so much He gave the greatest Christmas gift of all 2,000 years ago, His Son Jesus.

New King James translation of the Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982
Ephesians 1 and Luke chapter 2

“But supposing God became a man – suppose our human nature which can suffer and die was amalgamated with God’s nature in one person – then that person could help us.  He could surrender His will, and suffer and die, because He was man; and He could do it perfectly because He was God.  You and I can go through this process only if God does it in us; but God can do it only if He becomes man.”  Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, 1942, Pg 58

A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965, Bill Melendez, Charles M Schultz

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This week we look at the two different narratives of the Christmas story and find out that they compliment each other quite well.  In the end, the Christmas story is all about how much God loves you!

Bauckham, R. (2017). Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

New King James translation of the Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982

Luke chapters 1-2 and Matthew chapters 1-2

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This week we take a look at some of the more outlandish Christmas conspiracy theories that have gained followers on the internet.  Once we get through all the noise, we can get that much closer to the truth: God loves you!

“The works of our Savior were always present, for they were true: those who were healed, those who rose from the dead, those who were not only seen in the act of being healed or raised, but were also always present, not merely when the Savior was living on the earth, but also for a considerable time after his departure, so that some of them survived even to our own times.” (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., p. 4.3.2)

Bauckham, R. (2017). Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

1st Corinthians 15, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” (The Holy Bible, New King James Version, 1982)

“Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others…and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law he delivered them to be stoned…” 20.9.1 (Flavius, Antiquities of the Jews, 2010)

Is Christmas PAGAN? In defense of Christmas - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugxJBb0lPXQ&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtenB8U2zaFeNvAFPbb5-LO

Come Let Us Reason, Editors Paul Copan and William Lane Craig, 2012:

-        Mary Jo Sharp (Does the Story of Jesus Mimic Pagan Mystery Stories)  

-        Mark Foreman (Challenging the Zeitgeist Movie)

“The bishops at Nicaea were more accustomed to persecution rather than pampering.  Many of them had lived through the injustices of Emperors Diocletian (ruling c. 284-305) and Maximin (ruling c. 286-305).  Diocletian was eager to confiscate Christian writings, burn Christian buildings, and arrest Christian clergy.  Maximin didn’t hesitate to execute, disable, or exile those who refused to renounce Christ.  At least one of the bishops at Nicaea had personally experienced Maximin’s cruelty.  Paphnutius lost his right eye and gained a limp in his left leg – before being banished to the mines – as a result of confessing his faith.  There were more victims of persecution at the hands of others.  Some lost use of their fingers because their nerves had been seared with hot pokers.  Still others lost limbs altogether.  The marks of persecution were so prevalent that one ancient writer said, “The council looked like an assembled army of martyrs”!  Of course, men who suffered such physical injuries for the sake of spiritual integrity were not about to be told what they should believe about Christ – imperial pressure or not.”  Reinventing Jesus, Komoszewski, Sawyer, & Wallace, 2006