Re: Answersingenesis: Feeling God's pleasure

From: James W Stark (stark2301@voyager.net)
Date: Wed Apr 11 2001 - 20:51:53 EDT

  • Next message: psiigii: "Re: Answersingenesis: Feeling God's pleasure"

    on 4/8/01 8:56 PM, psiigii at psiigii@home.com wrote:

    It encourages me to hear this resonates with others here. The one thing
    that I get the most from here is reading the thoughts of those who take the
    Word of God seriously. What is discussed here is very important: scientific
    integrity does matter. Open discourse is an essential part of this process.
    The whats, whens and hows of creation is not the key issue, however, and
    that we remember this--especially approaching Easter--is good. We have been
    sent into the world to glorify Him in doing what He's called us to do
    (endeavors in science and science education for many here) SECOND-- we are
    to bear witness to Him FIRST. It encourages me greatly to see this in so
    many of you here.

                       
    Howard
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Jonathan Clarke <mailto:jdac@alphalink.com.au>
    Cc: asa@calvin.edu
    Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 6:23 PM
    Subject: Re: Answersingenesis

    Hi Howard

    Something you wrote struck a strong chord with me.
     
     In the movie "Chariots of Fire", Eric Little told his sister, "When I run,
    I feel His pleasure." Likewise, I feel that when we use the capabilities He
    has given us as scientists to do the things He's called us to do (including
    anthropology, paleontology, physics, geology, biology, etc.) and we do those
    things seeking the truth for His glory, we feel His pleasure and can
    experience the awe of grasping-- though just in thimbles-full -- the
    excellence of His knowledge and wisdom. I, as most who subscribe here,
    believe God gave me a mind to use for His glory. In saying this I thus
    admit that having used that mind, I see a totally inadequate epistemological
    basis for YEC. I

    This has always been my favourite part of "Chariots of Fire". Perhaps
    participation in the historical sciences is as controversial for evangelical
    Christians in our day as participation in sport was in the 1920's.

    Faith involves (or should involve) a transfer of focus from the "I" to
    "Thou". Much of what passes as science-faith discussion seems to focus on
    the "I" and the "It". However personally some of the times I have felt
    closest to God is when I have been not the rocks, contemplating the history
    of of a mountain range of a region. I have very much experienced a
    consciousness of "Thinking God's thoughts after Him" (is that Bacon's
    phrase?). Contemplation of creation should lead to awe and then to worship
    of the creator. This was the experience of the psalmists based on their
    limited knowledge, we, who know so much more, should be able respond
    similarly.

    Respectfully Jon
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
                        The embolded portions of the above concern me in how
    humans truly experience the presence of God.

                       How can we separate our personal experience of pleasure
    from that of God's pleasure?
             If we feel God's pleasure when we run, are we projecting our
    pleasure upon God?

           When we experience sexual pleasure, can we feel God's pleasure in
    that act? I thought sexuality was
           separated from spirituality. Are the tantric experiences of Eastern
    followers feeling the pleasure of
           God in their acts? All mortal life experiences sex and death, but
    immortals do not experience death.
           Since God is immortal, God is beyond sex. Is God also beyond our
    experience of sexual pleasure?
           Thus, separating sexuality from spirituality. Or can we project any
    of our feelings upon God?

           For me to experience the presence of God, I must focus on or be aware
    of God's presence during an act, be it prayer
           or a meditative searching for truth or a moment of awe. Is a choice
    to focus on God a necessary condition for God to feel
           our pleasure or sense of gratitude?

           Jim stark



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