Hello all!

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve written an actual post here, and the main reason for that is that these last two months have been quite challenging for my wife and I.  In the beginning of May, my wife was diagnosed with a bacterial infection that ended causing her to be hospitalized for six weeks, with four of them being in the ICU.  The good news is that she has since made a miraculous recovery, and though she isn’t completely out of the woods, she has come so far.  One thing I would appreciate prayers for is her kidneys.  The infection caused acute kidney failure, and as result she has been on dialysis for a while.  Her kidney is improving, and we believe God is going to bring them back to full function, but your continued prayers are appreciated!

Anyway, during these past few months, I’ve had time to re-evaluate certain things in my life, and I’ve taken a second look at how I spend my time.  While all this was happening, being concerened about what some ODM I’ve never met said about some pastor I never met really never crossed my mind.  It really became obvious how little most of the opinions expressed Christian blogosphere matter.  On the other hand, I do appreciate that I was able to share prayer requests with the writers here, and that through modern technology, more people were able to pray for wife than would have been possible before.

Another thing that I really appreciated during this time was how I was able to depend on the body of Christ when I needed it most.  While my wife was lying in a hospital bed, on a ventilator, with all sorts of tubes coming out of her, it really didn’t matter to me what my friends thought of Rob Bell, the Rapture, or a lot theological issues.  All that mattered is that they we there for me.  What mattered was that friends gave up their time to be with me in the hospital.  What mattered is that I knew people loved my wife and I.

So, yes, I will acknowledge that a lot of the things we discuss here will fade away during times of crisis.  That doesn’t mean it’s wrong for us to discuss and disgree about them.  It just means they each have their place.  However, it has also heightened my sensitivities about people attacking my brothers and sisters in Christ needlessly.  What we are involved is truly spiritual warfare, and unfortunately it seems that some have chosen to take aim at those they should be fighting with and for.

I’ve seen many examples of this, but perhaps one of the most ridiculous I’ve seen recently is this.  Now, I have to admit that I actually have been to one of Ken Ham’s lectures, and at the time I actually found him to be smart and articulate.  It’s perhaps because of that fact that I find his attacks on Hugh Ross to be saddening.  I would have no problem if he simply stated he disagreed with Ross on many issues, but what good is done labeling him a “compromiser”?  Aren’t they actually working toward the same goal – convincing people that God is the Creator and that the Bible can actually be trusted?  Granted, Ham and Ross would interpet that statement in different ways, but I don’t believe that one of them loves God more than the other because of that.

I do not want this post to become a young earth/old earth debate.  I really have little interest in debating those views.  Yes, I have an opinion, and I’m sure most people who read this do as well.  But if we can’t share our opinions on a subject without showing love to those we are debating, I believe both sides have already lost the debate.

I guess my point is this.  As Christians I believe that it’s easy to forget that we are in a war, and that are enemy is real.  We cannot afford to be taking each other out with “friendly fire”.  This becomes most evident in our times of greatest need, and I hope that we are able to remember it in our everyday lives as well.

Grace and peace.