An Intellectual Journey

In my early adult life I began to wonder about God and Christianity.  And I began to ask myself questions along these lines:

Is this Christian faith—that I say I believe—something I really do believe?  Or, is it something I’ve just accepted because it is what my parents have handed to me?

Can the Christian faith hold up to hard questions and intellectual scrutiny?  Or, is it simply a blind leap in the dark?

This began a process that has prompted much thinking, questioning, searching, self-reflection and study.  I am not a brilliant person.  But I have enough intellectual capability to think and reason and investigate.  And this has led me to discover and read authors such as:  Paul Little, Ravi Zacharias, G.K. Chesterton, Josh McDowell, Philip Johnson, William Lane Craig, C.S. Lewis, James Sire, Norman Geisler, Frances Schaeffer, Os Guinness, J.P. Moreland, Charles Colson, Paul Copan, N.T. Wright, Lee Strobel and many others.

I have discovered that the Christian faith has an incredibly deep and rich intellectual heritage.  It turns out the hard questions have actually been asked and wrestled with for a long time.  In fact, I found that questions I would have never even thought to ask have been grappled with for many centuries.

Have all my questions been answered?  No!

But I realize, now, that no worldview, philosophy, or scientific approach can answer all the questions.  There are simply things we do not know.

It’s almost like “life” says to all of us, “There are things you don’t get to know.  Get used to it!”

Do I still have faith in Christ at this point in the process?  Yes.  I still believe.  My heart still tells me that He is the way, the truth and life.  I cannot walk away from that conviction.  This may sound strange to those who do not share my convictions, but the truth of Jesus seems as true to me as the fact that I breathe.  But now my intellect is satisfied that it is a reasonable faith based on truth that is supported by credible evidence.

Dan Marler

Oak Lawn, IL

There Has Never Been A Leader Like Jesus

“All through human history, as far back as recorded time…kings, princes, tribal chiefs, presidents and dictators have sent their subjects into battle to die for them. Only once in human history has a king not sent his subjects to die for him, but instead, died for his subjects.” – Charles Colson.  There has NEVER been a leader like Jesus.

E-Flash From Dan -- Some Thoughts About Chuck Colson

Dear E-Flash Friends;

I feel some sadness at the passing of Chuck Colson.

I read many of his books and heard him speak—in person and through recordings—numerous times; I was always stirred, challenged and motivated.  So, I almost feel as if I knew him personally.  Unfortunately, I did not have that pleasure.

Many of you know that Chuck went from being a convicted felon who served time in prison due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal to being an eloquent, brilliant and powerful spokesman for the Kingdom of God.  One of the comments that I read today about Chuck referred to him as “one of the most significant voices and lives of our time.”

An interesting thought about Chuck was expressed by author, Eric Metaxas, who said, “He allowed a humbling period to define him and his whole posture to the culture.”  That is true and it is an insightful comment about the character of the man and the reality of Christ in his life.

Every now and then someone comes along who is able to communicate weighty ideas having to do with subjects like theology, apologetics, worldview, spiritual maturity, leadership, government and society from a Christian perspective and in a way that is challenging, yet, understandable to regular people like me.  Chuck was one of the those rare, exceptional, helpful people.

Although I’m sad, I’m also excited to think that now Chuck is experiencing the glory of Christ in the way that only happens when we pass from this earthly life.

Well done good, faithful and humble servant.

Love and blessings,

Dan Marler