Treasure Digest

• The Case Against Darwin
• Is Life Worth Waiting For?
• When Sharing Is Stealing
• Forgive From the Heart
• Grandparents/ Grandchildren: The Vital Connection
• Be Ready to Give an Answer: What Is Fasting and Why Do You Do It?
• Share Your Treasures!

The Case Against Darwin

The Case Against Darwin (Why the Evidence Should Be Examined) by James Perloff (published by Refuge Books) is a concise exposé of some of the problems with the theory of evolution. The book has only three chapters and is only 83 pages long. It is, however, well documented with over four pages of references. (It is a condensed version of the author’s 321-page Tornado in a Junkyard: The Relentless Myth of Darwinism.)

Chapter 1 covers some of the social consequences of the theory of evolution. It has influenced the thinking of society for the past 150 years. Its connection with some of the terrible atrocities of our times is given. Historian Will Durant gives a good overview. As quoted on page 18, he said, "By offering evolution in place of God as a cause of history, Darwin removed the theological basis of the moral code of Christendom. And the moral code that has no fear of God is very shaky. That’s the condition we are in."

In chapter 2, Mr. Perloff offers seven evidences against Darwin’s theory. He reviews things like mutations, the complexity of the simplest cells and the "irreducible complexity" (page 16) of biochemical systems. The astronomical improbability of the old argument that given enough monkeys, typewriters and time, the works of Shakespeare could be produced is explained.

In the last chapter some supposed evidences used to support the theory are reevaluated. Ideas like Haeckel’s embryos (page 53), which I have seen in biology textbooks, have been shown to be fakes. The argument that blood and seawater have the same percentage of salt content is also totally erroneous.

The book was interesting and informative. It was a pleasure to read about some of the wonders of creation without the incessant assertions that everything evolved. The last sentence in the book says, "Science is about the truth, and it neither fears nor suppresses the search for it" (page 76). Unfortunately, too often truth is suppressed if it has any connection to God.

— Thomas Seltzer
Elder, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, congregation

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Is Life Worth Waiting For?

Modern society allows almost every real or imagined need to be instantly realized. We live in an age of fast food, credit cards and unprecedented access to all kinds of information via the Internet and news media. The message is clear: If you want it, you can have it right NOW (something that definitely appeals to our human nature). If we’re not careful, we too can become sucked into the dangerous tendency to expect instant gratification. Indeed, throughout history many Christians have fallen away because they became tired of waiting for Christ’s return and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

How does the Bible approach the idea of waiting? God has continually shown patience and mercy during His relationship with mankind (1 Peter 3:20). He expects us to follow His example. David, a "man after God’s own heart," did just that (Psalms 27:14; 40:1), and we should too. God in turn provides strength for those who wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31). What kind of attitude should we have while waiting? God wants us to be eagerly anticipating the coming of His Kingdom (Romans 8:23). Those who do this have a place in God’s family and eternal life when Christ returns.

The word waiting often has the connotation of passivity, but people often feel restless and want to do something. Waiting on God is not a passive experience! It is a time to prepare ourselves through prayer, Bible study and fasting. It is a time to serve in the Church and in the community as God builds His character within us. Waiting for God is an active process, and we must do so eagerly and with earnest expectation and trust in the timing of God’s coming Kingdom. Eternal life is most definitely worth the wait!

—Debbie Werner
Portland West, Oregon, congregation

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When Sharing Is Stealing

A lot of people don’t realize that when they download music from the Internet, they are breaking a commandment—they are stealing. I used to think downloading music wasn’t stealing because someone must have purchased the music in order to make it available on his or her computer, right? Wrong!

First of all, who knows if the person purchased the CD or stole it, but let’s say a person does buy a music CD and makes it available to share with thousands of others through peer-to-peer programs through the Internet.

However, what does this do to the artists who made that music CD? Don’t just think about the rich musicians (though God doesn’t say it’s OK to steal from the rich, either). Most people trying to make it in the music business don’t make much money, and the current trends of file "sharing" are making it even harder for the new artists and less popular groups. These artists aren’t getting your money if you’re downloading their music from the Internet. Let’s make things clear. It’s not some gray area between good and bad. Downloading music without paying is definitely bad.

Let me try to put this in a different manner: Imagine if you could somehow buy an expensive pair of pants, put it inside a machine and get an exact copy of it. Even better, imagine that same machine will send pairs of the pants to all the people who had been planning to go to the store to buy them. It’s the exact same thing—people will no longer need to go to the store to purchase them when they can get them from you for free! That store may end up laying off workers or going out of business because of you. It’s such a cleverly hidden way of stealing.

—Victor Cabrera

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Forgive From the Heart

Christ warned us that if we want to be forgiven by God, we must forgive others from the heart. Consider the parable of the servant who was forgiven a great deal, yet wouldn’t forgive a fellow servant a small debt.

"Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (Matthew 18:32-35).

The word forgive literally means to not require compensation from someone. When we forgive, we release a person from having to pay for an obligation to us. (Only God can forgive the person spiritually, upon his or her repentance. Thankfully our God is both just and merciful.) It is relatively easy to decide as an act of will to release a person from paying a debt, but when you’ve been dealt a huge injury and you will be hurting for years to come, it’s hard to completely let go of resentment and revenge. Over the years, I have repeatedly caught myself in denial—I had said the words of forgiveness, and meant them and acted on them—but deep inside I was still hurt and angry. I had not completely let go.

Matters of the heart—the emotions—can’t be solved by mental resolve or force of will. Matters of the heart have to be resolved in the heart. The dimension that I had missed was compassion. The more I learned about the people who had offended me, the more I was able to feel compassion for them. That compassion melted away anger and resentment, and enabled me to let go completely.

Jesus showed compassion to those He met. He healed the sick (Matthew 9:35-36), and raised the poor widow’s only son (Luke 7:12-14). And on the cross He expressed His compassion in forgiveness: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).

We are commanded not only to forgive, but also to extend compassion (1 Peter 3:8; Jude 22; Colossians 3:12). For me, it is the dimension of compassion that makes forgiveness of life’s great hurts possible. Before I can forgive from the heart, my heart must be moved to compassion.

Jesus has great compassion for us (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15-16), and we must learn to have that same compassion towards our fellowman. We don’t want to come before the judgment seat of Christ and be told, "Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?"

— Jay Turner
San Jose, California, congregation

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Grandparents/ Grandchildren: The Vital Connection

The book Grandparents/Grandchildren: The Vital Connection by Arthur Kornhaber, M.D., and Kenneth L. Woodward (published by Transaction Publishers, 1997) was inspired by 8-year-old Billy who insisted on telling his therapists in session after session about the love he had for his grandparents and how only with them did he find a refuge of love and acceptance, without feeling guilty or sad.

Billy’s very revealing drawing is reproduced at the front of the book and is a universal image of the human family. It portrays the family as a pyramid of family connects—children supported by parents who in turn are supported by grandparents.

As a result of in-depth interviews with some 300 children as well as grandparents, it was found that the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is second in emotional power and influence only to that of the parent/child relationship.

There are four factors the authors isolated that are necessary to achieve and maintain vital connections between grandparents and children. The first two factors, time and place, are essential and without them there can be no intimacy. A child spells love, T-I-M-E. In this society of dual career parents, this is even more essential. A great way for grandparents to serve, if they live close by, is to give their grandchildren a second home while Mom and Dad are at work. This is a great way to build emotional bonds from a very early age, and I know from experience that it is well worth the sacrifice.

The third factor is commitment to the family, including a sense of family history where work is for the family, and not the reverse. A great way to promote this is by hanging pictures on the walls of the three generations, including photos of the grandparents holding each grandchild.

Last but not least is personal altruism—understanding the needs of your children and grandchildren and responding with love to them. Reading books like this is a great way to start and fits in with what God would have us do. Another good place to start is by investigating such Web sites as www.grandparenting.org founded by coauthor Arthur Kornhaber who was referred to by Tom Brokaw as "the Dr. Spock of grandparenting." Being a living sacrifice to your beloved grandchildren is enjoyable now and will pay big dividends later.

—Marilyn Braley
Houston South, Texas, congregation

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Be Ready to Give an Answer:
What Is Fasting and Why Do You Do It?

What Is Fasting? Unger’s Bible Dictionary explains that the word fast in the Bible is from the Hebrew word sum, meaning "to cover" the mouth, or from the Greek word nesteuo, meaning "to abstain." For spiritual purposes, it means to go without eating and drinking (Esther 4:16).

The Day of Atonement—also called "the Fast" (Acts 27:9)—is the only fast day commanded by God (Leviticus 23:27), though other national fast days are mentioned in the Bible. Also, personal fasts are clearly expected of Christ’s disciples (Matthew 9:14-15).

We encourage those with health problems to consult a qualified medical practitioner before fasting.

Why Do You Fast?

The Bible gives examples of God’s people occasionally combining fasting with their prayers so as to stir up their zeal and renew their dedication and commitment to Him. King David wrote that he "humbled [him]self with fasting" (Psalm 35:13). Fasting is a means of getting our minds back on the reality that we are not self-sufficient. Fasting helps us realize just how fragile we are and how much we depend on things beyond ourselves.

The Bible records that great men of faith such as Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and Jesus Himself fasted that they might draw closer to God (Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Daniel 9:3; 10:2-3; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Matthew 4:2). Jesus knew that His true disciples, once He was no longer there in the flesh with them, at times would need to fast to regain and renew their zeal to serve Him (Mark 2:18-20).

James tells us, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Constant prayer and occasional fasting help us to do this.

We are not to fast to have people feel sorry for us or to think we’re pious (Matthew 6:16-18). Isaiah 58 gives both bad and good examples of fasting, contrasting wrong attitudes and actions (verses 3-5) with the right approach of outgoing love (verses 6-10). Daniel and Nehemiah set the example of having a repentant frame of mind (Daniel 9:3-4; Nehemiah 9:1-2).

Fasting also helps us learn the lessons of the Day of Atonement: forgiveness, reconciliation to God and the need to resist Satan and pray for the time of his removal (Revelation 20:1-3), which was portrayed in type by the Azazel goat on Atonement (Leviticus 16:20-22).

—Sources: God’s Holy Day Plan and Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion.

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Share Your Treasures!

Do you have any short items of biblical wisdom, humor or practical information that you would like to share in this section? Or if you have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org.