E-Flash From Dan, March 5, 2009

E-Flash Quote:

“He’d had to make his way alone, and no one—not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires, not even geniuses—ever makes it alone.”
Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers



Dear E-Flash Friends;

I picked up my brand new bifocals, two days ago. I’ve never had bifocals before. Since then I’ve fallen down the stairs twice, wandered unknowingly into dangerous traffic, and had a fifteen minute conversation with Nadia that turned out to occur while I was in a room by myself.

. . . And I haven’t even started wearing the new glasses yet. [Comic rim shot, here.]

But I was told that this was all a normal part of the adjustment procedure. So, pretty soon things should be fine.

How’s your life going? Good, I hope.

I always like to send out a little reminder about the time change prior to the conversion to “Daylight Savings Time”. So, don’t forget to move your clock ahead one hour this Saturday night, March 7th.

By the way, hope you’re planning to be here this Sunday. We’re going to look at a very important and encouraging and well known passage of Scripture, Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8-10. This passage contains wonderful, hopeful truth about the incredible saving grace of God and His excellent work in our lives. I believe we will be blessed.

We have had very good attendance at church, lately. It sure seems like people are in a spiritually receptive mood, these days. So, this would a great time for all of us to take a little risk and invite someone to church. Can you think of someone you could invite? Who knows what God might do? I’m praying for something exciting!

Have a great week.

Blessings,

Dan


P.S. Don’t forget that we’ll be showing the video presentation of “Indescribable” on Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. It’s a highly rated, “image-rich journey through the cosmos, allowing us to peer into God’s universe to discover the amazing magnitude of His greatness and grace.”

How Do They Get So Good?

Review of: "Talent Is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin

Geoff Colvin deals with a fascinating and worthwhile subject: How do extraordinary, world-class performers get to be so good? This is an outstanding book!

The basic argument of the book is that high level skill is achieved primarily through tons and tons of hard work over a long period of time. (In other words, I’ll have to write a lot more book reviews in order to start getting more people to find my reviews “helpful”.) So, rather than innate skill or some kind of mysterious “giftedness” being the cause of exceptional performance, Colvin writes, “[t]he factor that seems to explain the most about great performance is something the researchers call deliberate practice.” The concept of “deliberate practice”—which is a little bit more rigorous and demanding than what might be thought of as “practice” in the more general sense—is explained with some detail in the book.

In addition to disputing the idea of some kind of special giftedness, Colvin disputes the idea of high IQ or special innate ability for memory as explanations for superior ability and achievement. In fact, his chapter that deals with the development of memory, among those who require it in their field of endeavor, was very enlightening.

“Talent Is Overrated” deals with the study of peak performance in a broad range of fields of including the arts, science, business, chess, music, writing and sports and provides interesting stories and examples of the world class achievers in the various disciplines. This is helpful because it is interesting to see that the principles of great performance apply—at least in a basic sense—in a pretty general way to all fields of endeavor.

Leaders will be interested to note that Colvin explains the application of some of the key concepts of exceptional performance to organizations rather than just looking at the matter as it applies to individuals.

Because the bottom line of great performance is identified as years of “deliberate practice”, Colvin states that the “deepest question about great performance” is this: “Where Does The Passion Come From?” It’s a fantastic question and I’m glad that he dealt with the issue. Why do the world class performers submit to the long, exhausting, difficult, often painful work that is required to achieve their level of mastery? Is the motivation intrinsic or extrinsic, or a little of both? That is the subject of the last chapter of the book.

I find the message of “Talent Is Overrated” to be extremely encouraging and motivating because it convincingly reports that you do not have to blessed at birth in some super-human way in order to develop exceptional skill in your field—I’m already out of luck if that’s the case. This means high-level performance is possible—with a lot of hard work—even for us mere mortals.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Nothing We Desire Can Compare With Wisdom, Proverbs 8

Review of: "Loving Wisdom" by Paul Copan.

Loving Wisdom provides solid and interesting theology, apologetics and philosophy.

The whole book is good, but I found three of the four chapters in Part III to be particularly interesting: The Problem(s) of Evil; The Hiddenness of God; and Hell.

In chapter 12, The Problem(s) of Evil, Copan has a section dealing with “Principalities and Powers”. I don’t recall seeing much reference to the effects of “principalities and powers” in other apologetic treatments of the problem of evil. It was a helpful perspective.

Chapter 13, dealt with “The Hiddenness of God” providing some probing thoughts on the matter. For example, to those who complain that God does reveal himself clearly enough, Copan suggests that perhaps, “the more evidence one has of God, the more resentful one might become toward him.” Copan quotes atheist Thomas Nagel who confesses that “he doesn’t want there to be a God.” I’ve read similar expressions from other atheists. For a person who feels this way, to have more revealing evidence from God of His existence probably would not be helpful or desired.

Chapter 15, “Hell”, was also interesting. One of the more fascinating ideas that Copan suggests is that in hell resistance to God is likely to increase rather than decrease. Says Copan, “despite hell’s miseries, the condemned wouldn’t prefer God’s presence; resistance continues in hell. The more they would be exposed to God, the more they would come to hate him.” In other words, it’s not likely that those in hell will be saying, “Hey, I’ve changed my mind, God, I love you! I’m ready for heaven now! Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound . . . !” He refers to the rich man suffering in Hades (Luke 16) pointing out that he “doesn’t necessarily prefer a God-centered existence; he just wants relief.”

I’ve also noticed that having read “Loving Wisdom” I feel much wiser. It’s almost as if I’ve had a Solomonic wisdom injection. You can probably tell just from reading this book review, huh? It’s clear that those who know me can sense a difference, they’ve started calling me, “Mr.-Know-It-All”.

That’s a good sign, right?

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Is Christianity Good For the World?

Review of: "Is Christianity Good For the World?" by Douglas Wilson and Christopher Hitchens


“I wish you guys would continue debating a little bit longer.”

That’s what I told Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson a couple of days ago. Neither one responded to me, which is reasonable since I was sitting in a room by myself. I had just finished reading “Is Christianity Good For The World”, which is a debate between Hitchens and Wilson that originally appeared in “Christianity Today”, a Christian magazine.

“Is Christianity Good For The World” is a short book, 67 pages, it was too short for me, I wish it would have been longer. But, again, no one’s listening to me.

I liked the topic, the value Christianity has or, from Hitchens’ perspective, doesn’t have in the world. Since Christianity is the largest and, arguably, most influential religion in the world, with adherents numbering in the billions, the topic is worthwhile.

I thought the debate format was an interesting treatment of the subject.

And the two debaters were excellent. On the anti-Christian side is writer, journalist, atheist, irascible public intellectual, the-always-interesting, Christopher Hitchens.

Defending the Christian position is pastor and really smart guy, Douglas Wilson. (My apologies to Wilson. I ran out of fun, descriptive words like “irascible” in my introduction of Hitchens.)

Both Wilson and Hitchens are witty, intelligent, well read, and capable intellectual defenders of their beliefs.

I admit that I’m biased, but I felt that Wilson made the stronger argument. When I refer to the “stronger argument”, it’s not just that I felt Wilson won the debate, but that his arguments were more convincing. And, interestingly, Wilson made some strong points that went unanswered by Hitchens.

Part of what makes Wilson’s success in the debate commendable is the fact that Hitchens is such a clever and witty writer that sometimes I suspect he wins support for his position just because he’s so entertaining.

A good, quick, fun, interesting book.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Have You Lied To Any Nazis Lately?

Review of "When God Goes To Starbucks", Paul Copan

Books which are written to answer “real” questions with practical, real-life wisdom need to grapple honestly, then, with the kind of authentic issues that cause people concern. Paul Copan’s, “When God Goes To Starbucks” does that admirably.

What are some of those real questions? Well, for example . . .

“Is it okay to lie to Nazis?”

[By the way, according to Copan, the answer is yes, “deception is morally permissible . . . under certain specific conditions.” But you have to read chapter 3 in the book to get the full explanation.]

“Does the Bible condemn loving, committed homosexual relationships?”

“Aren’t the Bible’s ‘Holy Wars’ just like Islamic Jihad?”

“Why are Christians so divided? Why so many denominations?”

[Copan is a very smart and highly educated man, but, he missed the obvious correct answer to these two questions. It’s simple to see that Christians wouldn’t be divided if everyone would just come to see things my way.]

Oh well, he did a pretty good job, other than that.

Copan has written several books along the lines of “When God Goes To Starbucks” and he does a good job of writing in a way that is accessible to regular people and, yet, provides thoughtful answers that are not so lightweight that they lack genuine intellectual substance.

From one of those “regular people” . . .

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

If You Listen Carefully, You Can Hear The Atheists Screaming

What if a highly respected, well-known, Oxford-educated, atheist philosopher changed his mind, late in his career, and decided that he, now, believed in God?

You say, “Well, he would probably write a book with this kind of sub-title: ‘How The World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind.’”

You’re right. And that brings us to Antony Flew’s book and this review.

This book is a little bit autobiography and a good bit of philosophy with a little bit of the philosophy of science. (It’s everything I can do to resist some kind of reference to: it’s “a little bit country” and “a little bit rock and roll”.)

Flew provides a good bit of information about his background, and this helps the reader see the larger context of his life. I found this to be interesting.

To those of us who believe in God there is great satisfaction in the fact that Flew stresses, numerous times, that one of his guiding intellectual values has long been to follow the evidence wherever it leads. And “the evidence” has led him to this conclusion: “I now believe there is a God! So there!”

Alright, if you look in the book the “So there!” part isn’t really included in the text. But, in my imagination, it’s a nice little shot.

Flew provides his evidence for belief in God and makes a good argument.

It is also interesting and satisfying to theists that Flew credits recent scientific advances as a significant factor in his opinion regarding the existence of God. This is satisfying to theists because sometimes belief in God is portrayed as an entirely unwarranted; blind leap of faith; embraced by uneducated people—usually wearing no shoes or socks; with no rational basis whatsoever.

Since I’m a Christian, I found another line in the book to be quite pleasing. Flew says about Christianity, “If you’re wanting Omnipotence to set up a religion, this is the one to beat.”

I know, I know, atheists and non-Christians will find that to be ridiculous and aggravating. But, it’s still true that he wrote it. So there!

The book has two interesting appendices, one written by Roy Abraham Varghese, who is the co-writer of the book and one written by Bishop N.T. Wright. Bishop Wright’s essay on “The Self-Revelation of God in Human History” is outstanding.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Pursuit of Morals

*Note: This entry first appeared as a “Letter To The Editor” in the Southtown Star newspaper. In the published piece a couple of lines were edited out. I am including the edited lines here. This is my response to an editorial by the editors of the newspaper which ran on Sept. 7, 2008, entitled: “Radical Change Needed To Fix Societal Woes”.


Pursuit of Morals

I appreciated your editorial “Radical Change Needed To Fix Societal Woes”, September 7, 2008. You are certainly right that there are problems of violence in our culture that have morality at their root. And I join with you in admitting that these are not issues that have a quick and easy fix.

One of the questions that the editorial raised, for me, was “how do we inculcate and encourage good morals?” When we read that more120 people were shot and killed in Chicago this summer, it’s hard to avoid the issue of morality.

I would like to suggest that the inculcation and pursuit of morals will always require that truths about ourselves must be honestly faced—truths that will not necessarily be comfortable. As a culture, we seem to be pretty big on comfort and trying to ensure that no one ever feels guilty. I admit that I find that comfort-seeking tendency in myself, as well. However, wrestling, personally, with moral truth will often make us uncomfortable. This is a form of discomfort we must be willing to endure. Most of us would agree that it is a form of discomfort which is preferable to the discomfort of a bullet.

Also, morals, by definition, have to do with right and wrong and the pursuit of that which is right. This will mean that those who hold up standards of right and wrong—parents, teachers, clergy, and other leaders—should not be quickly and thoughtlessly labeled intolerant and small minded. Morality, in our culture, is sometimes actually discouraged because those who would champion standards of right and wrong fear being labeled as repressive, backward, and other names that are even less pleasant.

Also, some seem to have great disdain for the mention of God and/or religion along with the subject of morality. And it is understandable in a religiously pluralistic society that introducing God into the discussion could heat up the debate. However, the founders of our country assumed that our morality would involve God and that without that basis it would not work.

This is what George Washington said in his “Farewell Address” to our new young nation: “And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure--reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

It can be difficult for naturalistic and materialistic worldviews to provide a solid philosophical basis for morality because they ultimately fall back to the kind of relativism that is part of the moral confusion that your editorial correctly laments.

So, even though I know references to God and religion can, in some ways, make the discussion of morality more difficult, the alternative seems to be to continue in the direction we are currently heading.

The obvious question is: How’s that working?

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Review of "Is Believing In God Irrational?"

Are Skeptics Unbiased Or Are They Just Unaware of Their Bias?

Amy Orr-Ewing has written an interesting, persuasive and accessible book that deals with very relevant questions she has encountered in the course of her work and travels.

Now, that I read the line I just wrote, it occurs to me that it sounds a lot like something you would read in a book review. But, having re-read it, I stand by the statement. “Is Believing In God Irrational” is a helpful book on the subject of apologetics.

Orr-Ewing does a great job of explaining how atheists often sneak their philosophical presuppositions into their arguments while acting as if they are approaching the subject of God as neutral, rational, scientific observers basing their opinions solely on scientific, empirically verifiable fact.

Orr-Ewing effectively points out how critics of religion and/or Christianity often apply a double standard, exempting their viewpoint from the criteria by which they judge Christianity.

For example, she notes the assumption of skeptics that “you as a Christian are biased by the circumstances of your life”—something that any defender of Christianity has certainly encountered. She continues with the unbeliever’s argument, “[however], I as a skeptic am completely neutral in my thinking.”

It’s remarkable how completely dispassionate and neutral and totally rational all of the skeptics of Christianity are, isn’t it? Mr. Spock would be proud.

Orr-Ewing goes on to say, “Isn’t it just as likely that the secular thinking of the questioner has been passed on by the environment of the person and is culturally conditioned?”

This is an excellent point and, yet, it is one that seems to escape some very smart people. It makes you wonder if there is a measure of very intentional self-deception occurring.

For a weightier treatment of the subjects she raises you would have to go on to some other books, but this is an excellent response to a number of genuine and valid questions that seems to come from a very authentic Christian heart.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

Review of "Passionate Conviction"

"Passionate Conviction" is a collection of essays gathered from several Christian apologetics conferences which were held by the Evangelical Philosophical Society, “the largest society of Christian philosophers in the world”. Counting the president of the society, their membership is now up to three.

That’s a joke. Relax. Actually, there are a significant number of Christian philosophers.

The book is divided into six parts with each part containing at least two essays:

Part 1, Why Apologetics?
Part 2, God (which includes arguments for His existence)
Part 3, Jesus
Part 4, Comparative Religions
Part 5, Postmodernism and Relativism
Part 6, Practical Application

It is a good and helpful book, although, it is typical of books on apologetics in that the writing can be a little dry. In fact, if you will quickly fan the pages of the book you will actually get a little poof of dust. (I know, the jokes are getting worse as we go along, but I’m amusing myself, slightly.)

My favorite chapters were:

In Intellectual Neutral, by William Lane Craig. Craig argues for the importance of deep thinking and study—in other words, “the intellectual life”—to the life of faith. He quotes J. Gresham Machen, “The church is perishing to-day through the lack of thinking, not through an excess of it.”

Living Smart, by J.P. Moreland. This deals with “integration” which has to do with unifying areas of our lives that involve diversity and yet, are part of the whole of who we are and what we believe as followers of Christ.

Christ in the New Age, by L. Russ Bush. It’s interesting how many really old ideas have become part of what is now considered to be “New Age” thinking. It’s also interesting to see how effectively New Age thinking has penetrated and influenced American culture; including the Christian church.

Reflections on McLaren and the Emerging Church, by R. Scott Smith. I found this chapter interesting because I find the “Emerging Church” movement to be interesting. I’m somewhat fascinated by what “catches on” and captures the thinking of a group of people. By the way, for a very helpful book on the subject of the Emerging Church, check out “Why We’re Not Emergent”, DeYoung and Kluck.

Dan Marler

E-Flash From Dan, September 2, 2008

Dear E-Flash Friends;

While I was buying an iced tea, yesterday, I had an impromptu chance to invite an acquaintance to our Fall Kick Off services, which begin this week (Sept. 7th).

She said, “You know what? I might just show up.”

I said, “That would be great!”

Then, she told me that she had recently been kicked out of her church. (I’m pretty sure she was joking.)

I told her, “Don’t worry about that. I’ve been kicked out of my church three or four times now, but I just keep coming back.”

We both laughed and then she called over two big guys and they walked me out of the establishment. Apparently, my sense of humor has a very narrow appeal.

Just wanted to remind you that our big “Fall Kick Off” is coming this weekend! I’m excited. I hope you are, too. We’re starting a new series titled: “What Creates A Unique Life?”

Surveys consistently reveal that the majority of Americans identify themselves as “Christians”, even as “born again Christians”. And, yet that seems puzzling to some of us because the attitudes and behaviors and beliefs of many people don’t seem to reflect a commitment to God and His influence in their lives.

Interestingly, further research has revealed that in addition to identifying oneself as a Christian, there are some fairly simple, but very important biblical beliefs that help to determine whether a person’s life gives evidence of God’s presence and influence.

People who claim to be Christians but do not hold these beliefs, in general, do not appear to live life in way that is much different than unbelievers. On the other hand, people who claim to be Christians but DO hold these key beliefs, in general, live lives that are different, changed, unique—not perfect, for sure, but more Christ-like.

Our fall kick off series will be investigating these biblical beliefs and values that are important to creating a unique life—in other words, an authentic Christian life. I believe this will be an interesting, helpful, challenging, encouraging series for all who come.

Can you think of someone you could invite? Would you pray about the matter and then take the risk of making an invitation? Would you pray that God will bless us and that he will use us to bear fruit through our church?

I’m grateful to be able to partner with you in ministry.

Thanks and God bless,

Dan



P.S. We are having a prayer service for our Fall Kick off, with a time of worship, on Saturday, September 6th, at 7 pm. I hope you can come and worship and pray with us that God will move powerfully and mightily in our church, in the coming year.

E-Flash From Dan, Aug. 21, 2008

Dear E-Flash Friends;

What makes a unique life? What are the factors that will make your life everything that it’s supposed to be?

Here’s a related question: What beliefs and values distinguish Christians whose lives seem no different than unbelievers, from Christians who’s lives are truly different and marked by God?

Are you curious?

Good. That’s what we will be talking about starting on Sunday, September 7th, 2008, at our Fall Kick-Off service. We’ll start a new 7-week series that day, titled: “What Makes A Unique Life?” I really hope you’re planning to be here. And I want to encourage you to invite someone to the fall kick-off. Can you think of someone for whom you could pray? Someone you could invite?

I believe we could pack the church on this day and start our new ministry season with excitement and effectiveness and, most of all, glory to God! If we will all invite someone, it will be an incredible day. It could be a day of new spiritual beginnings for many, as well. It would be so cool to be a part of God’s work in that way, wouldn’t it?

We have lots of invitation cards at the church. If that would help you to invite others, please feel free to take a bunch and hand them out.

You say, “Dan, I know a lot of people I could give those cards to, you don’t have enough of them.”

Oh yes we do. Keep handing them out and we’ll keep printing up more!

Our church has a calling to help hurting people find and walk with God. (I keep finding that there is no shortage of hurting people.) I trust that you agree with me that it’s a high honor for us to serve Him and help people come to know the truth and saving grace of Christ.

I’m looking forward to September!!!

Blessings,

Dan


P.S. By the way, the message for this Sunday (Aug. 24th) is going to be very interesting. We’re going to be talking about “judging” others and the idea that some people think that Christians are “too judgmental”. We’ve probably all heard that complaint before, right? Well, we’re going to talk about some of the realities of judging and judgment and the true and not-so-true baggage that comes with those words. I think it’s going to be very challenging and helpful teaching. Why not invite someone this Sunday . . . in a way that seems very kind and non-judgmental?

Thank You, From Dan

To the First Church of God in Oak Lawn:

I’m overwhelmed and humbled by your surprise 50th birthday party for me.

Wow, you got definitely “got” me! (You have to be careful about surprising a guy at my age, you could trigger some kind of episode.)

Thanks for the many gifts and cards and expressions of love and appreciation. I was deeply touched. I determined, last Sunday, that I am, for sure, the most blessed man on planet earth. I’ve been thanking God all this week for allowing me to be the pastor of such a wonderful, kind, gracious, loving congregation of people . . . with just one or two exceptions.

(Come on, that’s a joke, I’m kidding.)

Please accept my sincere thanks and my love.

Blessings,

Dan