Evolution vs. God

Movie Review by Anne McCoy

 

Welcome to another movie review, this time a documentary that will change lives.

 

Before you read this article, comment below whether you have watched the DVD pictured below:

 

Evolution VS. God DVD box

If you have not, here is a synopsis directly from one of the DVD's social media pages:

Hear expert testimony from leading evolutionary scientists from some of the world’s top universities:

• Professor Peter Nonacs, UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Professor Craig Stanford, USC Biological Sciences and Anthropology
• PZ Myers, Biologist, University of Minnesota Morris
• Gail E. Kennedy, Associate Professor (Ph.D.) UCLA Department of Anthropology 

A study of the evidence of vestigial organs, natural selection, the fifth digit, the relevance of the stickleback, Darwin’s finches and Lenski's bacteria—all under the microscope of the Scientific Method--observable evidence from the minds of experts. Prepare to have your faith shaken.

You also need to know that the format of the presentation is Ray Comfort interviewing the names listed above as well as a number of students.  (I presume the students are from those same schools; I'm not sure.)  He simply poses several questions, such as, "How do you know that evolution is true?"  "When did you start to believe in evolution?"  "Are you willing to provide me with one, single, observable instance of evolution?"  Each individual answers the questions and the footage is assembled to represent their answers.



A few interviewees in the presentation

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As all you film makers know, an interviewer may not always get the answers he wants, but it is quite easy to represent answers in a light favorable to your view.  Now before you shoot me, I'm not saying that Mr. Comfort has done this in this video.  My impression is that Mr. Comfort is quite respectful as he approaches each person, requesting their opinions about his questions.

Leading through various lines of reasoning, each attempts to prove evolution from various points of view.  Some very quickly reply that they "trust that the experts have done their science correctly" while other do indeed bring up examples of "Darwin's finches, Lenski's bacteria" and so forth.

Towards the end of the presentation, the nail-in-the-coffin statement is made by Professor Gail E. Kennedy:

The problem with those who are unable to see evolution,

 I think, is they don't have imaginations.

 

 

I am thankful and proud to say that what I believe regarding the origins of life and matter is written by Almighty God who just happens to also be the one and only perfect Maker of both!  I do not need an imagination to know Him or to know what He has done.  I just said who He is, here is what He has done: First, He created a beautiful and perfect world for His most special creation, Man, to inhabit.  Second, when we disobeyed His created order, He became God in the flesh, the sinless Son of Man Jesus Christ, and died on the cross to pay for my disobedience and yours.  We are offered this gift because we are created in His image, not evolved from a puddle.

 

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Earlier I brought up the issue of misrepresented answers to an interviewer's questions and that was not a bunny trail.  I do have a major problem with this documentary and that is this: all the promotion-type videos I have seen for it thus far are NOT RESPECTFUL of the interviewees or their views.  In the promo I saw, Mr. Comfort asked a question and the next clips only showed the interviewees saying, "umm," "hmm," "Let me think a second," "not sure," and so forth.  Other cuts were made so that the answers did not make a lot of logical sense and/or made their expressions appear comical, etc.

 

Notice the screenshots above from the full video; I chose snapshots of normal faces of people speaking to a mic.  I did that on purpose.  Check this out: not good, not good either, and very bad.

 

The above described behavior in the editing process is not loving to the people, no matter what they may think, and is definitely not going to encourage them to hear anything you have to say!

 

My conclusion is this

 

-- the DVD is a very good witnessing tool and I highly recommend it for distribution everywhere.

-- when you are witnessing, be very cautious of making fun of the other person or attempting to make them look silly.

-- Never be ashamed to declare to anyone that Jesus Christ is Creator and Lord!

 

 

Thank you for reading this article; I hope you were edified!

 

Additional, highly recommended resources:

• Answers in Genesis
• Lee Strobel's Case for a Creator
• Institute for Creation Research

and of course,

• Source of Truth

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Next up on the blog will be an introduction to my first series article.

Dear America, it's 2015.  Do you know where your children are?  (Part 1)

 

 

*Photo credits*
 DVD box: my trusty scanner
 Youtube snapshots: my trusty screen clipper

Christians are Cucumbers

Silver dew drops, each holding a tiny sun, dancing across a sea of green.  Every color of summer peeking from buds yet to see the light of morning.  The mighty oak whispering a quiet 'good morning' to the garden, far below.  The garden.  The place where new things happen every day.  The place where things that were not, suddenly are.  The place I go to listen.

I listen to all the insects receiving the sweetness of life and giving back dusty pollen.  I listen to the funny little frogs, falling with a 'plop' when they miss their tasty morning treat.  I also watch.  I watch the sun slowly rise over the eastern windowsill and shine down in this place of mine.  I watch the shadows run from under every leaf and stem. Now I also watch the plants in this new light.  Each one is not changed from yesterday, not enough to see.  But looking out over the whole garden, it looks just a little bigger and a little greener.  That special miracle called growth seems to happen when no one is looking.  Except one corner of the garden, right near the gate when I came in.  That's where the cucumber vines live.  Reluctantly pulling myself up from the soft, sandy soil, I crawl across the garden pathway to inspect this plant.  I gently lift the dwarfed and yellowed vine, looking for signs of disease or invading bugs.  I am puzzled by the lack of water in the stem even though the leaves are whole and well shaped, if small.  Perhaps the water drains the wrong direction here.  But no, all the other cucumber vines are strong, tall, and healthy and bearing quite well slightly early in the season.  What is the difference?

This vine is growing by itself.  Not near the climbing fence and not near the other vines either.  It is slowly crawling towards the open field.  Its tendrils are wrapped not around the other vines but around some scraggly weeds.  Its flowers are drooped and leathery; its roots poke above the muddy surface.  This vine definitely has no cucumbers on it.

I was guided when I was first planted.  I was watered and fed too, good garden food.  Weeds were kept far, far from my place of growing.  But only I can choose my friends.


Up next week, Evolution vs. God

Coming soon!

In the next couple of weeks, I shall post a story from a few years ago that still affects how I live today.  Think on the importance of friendship and how you view it in your life.  See ya soon!

Christians are Cucumbers

For now, a gorgeous piece of music by my friends!  (And one of my favoritest songs, BTW...)

You Raise Me Up -- Jordan & Bethany Strang

Polycarp: Destroyer of Gods

Movie Review by Anne McCoy

Thanks to Media Talk 101, I had a chance to see the newly released movie Polycarp at San Antonio's film festival!  What an encouragement and blessing in the midst of a literal dark age in media!  The ministry of Henline Productions is like few others that I have seen.

POLYCARP: DESTROYER OF GODS

 

Synopsis from the producers: A young slave girl, Anna, is rescued and adopted by Christians in 2nd Century Smyrna and befriended by their aged bishop, Polycarp.  As Anna is taught by Polycarp and her new family, she struggles to reconcile her beliefs with those of the Christians.  When the Roman proconsul demands that all citizens worship Caesar to show their allegiance to Rome, Polycarp and the Christians must find courage to stand for their faith against the growing threat of persecution.  Anna is forced to come to grips with the truth and choose whom she is willing to live and die for.

 

I'm not going to spoil the story for you, but here are a few of the things that stood out to me.

 

The things of this world are passing away.  Through hardships, trials, joys, and successes, Polycarp reminds the church that God will provide God's way in God's time and we don't really have to worry about it.  What if they take your stuff?  Even your income source?  Even all your ministry for the Lord?  By the way, you are not responsible for a ministry if God decides to give it to someone else.  It's His, right?  These faithful Christians discover that He can take care of it real well!

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItvZlve0re0Bzc0mzpJhx57leKApKkO4

 

 

 

It's okay to be human.  Remember, that's what God made you.  Polycarp and the Christians remind us that none of us can be perfect and that sometimes a lot of times, humans get scared.  Sometimes the hard way, each individual learns that you must not bottle up your fears and concerns and questions and just 'be tough'.  God is your Heavenly, Divine daddy.  He wants to hear what scares you and what you desire, too.  Talk to Him.  Then listen.
 

Luke 12:26-31

The power is really God's.  When various members of the Christians are faced with persecution and death, they are naturally afraid.  Choosing to rely on Christ's strength and example is their only hope and what a hope it is!!  Each one knows that he or she is about to step into the Presence of the Divine for eternity.

He is not here.  He is Risen!

God loves you.  He loves you enough that He sent Jesus Christ as a man to die in your place and pay for your sins.  He didn't stop there either; He raised Jesus from the dead so that you could know for certain that He is God and so that you can have eternal life in Heaven!  This is how much He loves you and me!

 

1 John 4:19

 

This last thought is really the core of the whole message, in my opinion.  Anna learns that no matter what garbage the world may throw her way, her one and only Heavenly Father will carry her from day to day and all she needs to do is hold tight to Him.



Dear Friend, the same is true for you now as it was for Anna in the 2nd century.  The gift of salvation is free.  Reach out your heart and accept it today!

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*Photo credits*
Polycarp Banners: www.polycarpmovie.com
Jeff Vanderstelt Quote: lots of practice :)
Yellow Sundrop Flower & 1 John 4:19: www.sarahmolliephotography.blogspot.com
Cross in Sunrise: Louis Gervais

 

Hey, I started blogging!

Do you love music?

 

Quick post from this weekend; we went to a concert!  Check out the music below and praise God that some faithful remain.  God bless y'all and I'll be back with the first post, a movie review regarding #cwvff2015.

 

I Forgive You by the Josties (my favorite)

 

I'll Be A Man by the Josties

 

And last but not least....

 

Song of Hope by the Josties