Last week, standing with the Bible skeptic Michael on the common ground that science affords, we continued to look to the stars to see what we might learn. What we have been looking for is evidence that the universe had a beginning, because if the universe had a beginning, then it had to have a Beginner.

Last week we stepped out onto the back porch with the Bible skeptic Michael, and we looked up at the moon and the stars and the planets. From this common ground we asked ourselves this question; “Did the universe have a beginning, or has it always been here?” The answer of course, is the first step of a far-reaching journey attempting to answer the question; “Is God dead?” After asking this initial question last week, we summarized our thoughts by making the following claim: 1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause 2. The universe began to exist 3. Therefore, the universe had a cause We then concluded that the first claim is straightforward, and almost no one disagrees with it; everything that begins to exist does have a cause. But for the second claim; “The universe began to exist,” we said, sets at the heart of the argument because how a person answers this claim points either to a creator, or it points away from one. For these reasons, there is much to be said about the second claim here this week.

Where to begin? Two weeks ago, we made the comment that for the Christian, everything needs to have warrant, or approval from Scripture. That includes how and what we study about God. In search of scriptural warrant last week, we looked in Scripture at Paul’s repeated use of classical philosophy in his speech and teaching as an example for us. And week before last we looked at God using observations from nature to present an apologetic (defense) of Himself to Job (Job 38-41). Thereby giving us approval from Scripture to use created things from nature, (science, philosophy, and history) in building a defense of the existence of God and the truthfulness of Christianity (1 Pet 3:15). And so, the question now is this; with scriptural warrant from God and Paul in hand, where do we begin to answer the question, “is God dead?”

If you’re happy and you know it, Smile! (Is everyone smiling?) Then I will tell you about a wonderful Easter planned for everyone that lives around here! The Chamber of Commerce is palnning a day at Lee Park on March 30th. Easter egg hunts for all ages, games, food and a lot of fun! The Chamber Bingo Night at the Cave was a huge success on Thursday night.

It is a nonnegotiable truth that Christians dearly hold the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and final authority in all matters of faith and salvation such that all religious study must begin, and end with Holy Scripture. That is, all our studies of God must find warrant (approval) in Scripture. Last week we looked at God preparing, then presenting a defense (apologetic) of Himself to Job (ch. 38-41) by calling forth a multitude of witnesses from nature to testify. And in so doing He gives warrant for the study of nature to deduce truth about God.

The Chamber of Commerce is going to have Bingo Night at 6 pm at the Washita Theatre on March 7th. The charge is 50 cents a card.

How will higher rates affect you? As you know, interest rates have risen considerably over the past couple of years. But what does this mean to you, as a consumer and as an investor? From a consumer’s standpoint, it’s not hard to see the effects of higher interest rates.

It is the Christian understanding that “long ago, at many times and in many ways,” God spoke to His people through the prophets (Heb 1:1 ESV), and that He has in fact spoken to His people through two distinct mediums; through general revelation in nature, and through special revelation in the Bible. But it was from the book of nature found in general revelation that God defends Himself against Job’s questioning.

With the launch of this column last week, we officially set sail on a grand and far-reaching journey that will eventually take us from the utter-most reaches of the cosmos, to the very depths of human consciousness in order to investigate and possibly answer the age-old question; “Is God dead?” If you missed last week’s column, grab a back copy, catchup, and welcome aboard!