If Science Were a Crossword Puzzle

A blogger called "Saint Gasoline" has an anti-creationism post called "If Science Were a Crossword Puzzle." The cartoon depicts a crossword puzzle "accurately" completed by a scientist committed to naturalism, and "inaccurately" completed by a creationist:

The blogger portrayed what he considered "obvious" (and everything within one's worldview is self-evident, obvious, and needs no defense). He writes, "The questions and the size of the boxes, of course, represent the evidence."

Of course.

But the cartoon really illustrates what happens when a proponent of naturalism sets the rules.

Note, for example, the “proper" answer to # 3 down: "Is the flagellum irreducibly complex?" The "proper" answer according to the naturalist is supposed to be "no." But (brhahaha!) look what the idiot advocate of intelligent design put down: What's a two-letter word for "yes." Uh, "si"?

And then there's #7 across. The statement: "____ mutation causes genetic change." The "proper" answer is supposed to be “random.” Only a proponent of the theory that life resulted from blind chance would say that, but of course, that is how the crossword puzzle is set up.

This is actually a perfect illustration, but not of how "creationists" can't operate within the scientific method. Instead, it illustrates the way that proponents of a naturalistic worldview have set the rules and require everyone to conform to their worldview.

Texas Censorship?

The Texas legislature has authorized $22 million in funding to boost the state's film and computer-game industry. Time magazine recently did a story on the fund because monies won't be released to any project that "portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."

According to correspondent Hilary Hylton in Austin, "the broad language of the Texas law has raised First Amendment concerns for the Motion Picture Association of America":

Before the Texas bill was signed earlier this month on an Austin sound stage, the MPAA urged Gov. Rick Perry in a letter to veto the legislation. "Motion pictures made in the United States are the most popular form of entertainment worldwide because filmmakers are free to tell stories on film without fear of government censorship."

Now, see if you can follow their logic here. Filmmakers can produce whatever they want in Texas, but the MPAA says that if Texas residents don't pay for it, we're censoring the artists. This logic fails to grasp the protections of the First Amendment found in any Civics 101 class.

Buried deep in the story (seventh paragraph in ten), Dallas producer and filmmaker Todd Sims said, "No one is saying you can't shoot a movie in Texas that makes Texas look bad. All we are saying is you are not going to get a grant." And all filmmakers enjoy what the story calls a "generous sales tax exemption" on production costs regardless of content.

Oh. Never mind then.

Song of the Week: Mat Kearney's "Girl America"

The player for the featured "Song of the Week" can be found on the upper right corner of the weblog for one week.

For your Independence Day, all this week here's Mat Kearney singing "Girl America" from the album Nothing Left to Lose (iTunes; Amazon)--

My girl America is just a youth in this world
Her smile is more precious than the sparkle of pearls
And though her age reads she's just a young girl
The age behind her eyes show the pain that she's swirled
Through the hand that's been dealt though it's quiet as kept
The weight that she felt last night when she slept
And as she crept into the dreams of the things of her past
Seems to have grown so fast, way beyond her own class
Though they're right there with her, her brothers and her sisters
A natural born leader even when her peers dis her
My girl, she's at a crossroads, people praying for her
Some are preying on her magazine ads, sex, drama
Smoking marijuana, longing for a father to call her, 'daughter'
She's part of a generation longing for reconciliation
And this future that they're facing and this poison that they're tasting
My girl, I know this love you're chasing

My girl America's crying when she's lying on her bed at night
I can see that she's screaming when she's dreaming for her freedom
My girl America's dying while she's trying just to stop this fight
Don't stop believing, my girl America

Boys with hungry eyes have been beating her door
Telling her that's what she's for, trying to rob at her core
Then leave calling her a whore, but still she knows there's more
I know she knows there's more because there is a voice she can't ignore
'Cause it was founded in the foundations, from the day of her creation
“In God We Trust” engraved on the treasures of her nation
And the void that the boys can't fill
With the tipping of the bottle or the popping of the pill
But still most of her friends don't care as they glare
Ready to drown down the funnel as they frown down the tunnel
They stumble and they tumble breaking down into rubble
My girl America, stop can't you see
It's not the circumstances that determine who you're gonna be
But how you deal with these problems and pains that come your way
It's for you that I pray with hope for a brighter day
And so I say, your deliverance is coming

My girl America's crying when she's lying on her bed at night
I can see that she's screaming when she's dreaming for her freedom
My girl America's dying while she's trying just to stop this fight
Don't stop believing, my girl America

Faith like a child from your first birth
You left it in the dirt on your worst hurt
And I see each tear and every scar
The hands that have held you where you are
And I can see we've strayed so far
A king born under that morning star
As a crown of thorns was placed to erase
Each tear that's touched your face
And his palms and sides were pierced with spears
He hung in love just to draw you near
My girl, out of this whole world
Can't you see this is where we started?

My girl America's crying when she's lying on her bed at night
I can see that she's screaming when she's dreaming for her freedom
My girl America's dying while she's trying just to stop this fight
Don't stop believing, my girl America

Developing Our College-and-Career Ministry

Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter designed for church leaders. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.

This Sunday morning, you’ll get a chance to meet Courtney Carlson and her husband, Benji. This Sunday night, you’ll get a chance to vote for her as our new College-and-Career Minister.

Those who serve on the deacon body, the Personnel Committee, Finance Committee, and Missions Committee have all discussed this opportunity. They back the recommendation to add her to our staff. Now’s your chance to vote on this recommendation.

Hillcrest is in a good position to reach the “college and career” cohort. In terms of our location, we’re one exit ramp away from one of the largest off-campus sites for college students (the Far West area). In terms of our program, the Bold Service and Common Ground Café have given us some “tools” to reach this age group. In fact, since putting these things in place, we have attracted a good number of 18-to-25 year olds even though we haven’t provided any trained leadership for the group.

We think it’s time to put a “match” to that “kindling,” and we believe Courtney is that match. Courtney is thirty-year-old newlywed who has a degree from Fuller Seminary. She has just completed two years as an intern at UT’s “Baptist Student Ministry.” While there, she grew the Wednesday noon lunch program from an attendance of 20 to 100, with a major focus on outreach to unchurched students.

Our recommendation is to bring her on staff in a part-time capacity with the challenge to help us reach young adults 18 to 25 years of age.

A large part this age range includes college students, but this age range also includes young adults already in the workforce, recent college graduates, and even students in postgraduate programs. The common denominator: every young adult in this age range is learning how to “do life” on their own. They are asking, “How do I find true love?” “How do I manage money?” “What do I want to do with my life?” “Will I adopt or reject the values I was raised with?” As a church, we need to be able to offer them biblical answers to these important questions. An intentional, targeted ministry to 18-to-25 year olds will help.

Meet Courtney this week, and be in prayer about the recommendation of our church’s leaders. We will vote in a special called business meeting this Sunday evening, 6:30pm.

Adventures with Tom

Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 750 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here. Central Texas is blessed with a lot of great spots for “day trips” out of Austin, and we’ve planned four of them for the Hillcrest Family this summer. You’re invited on all four trips, but make a special effort to join us on the trip that’s hosted by those in your age range.

Destination One: Join the 65+ age group at the Enchanted Springs Ranch in Borerne on Friday, July 13. The church bus leaves at 3pm and returns at 10:30pm. We’ll tour the wild animal park, visit Old West Town, and have a fine BBQ brisket dinner while watching the play “Last Words – A Western Yarn.” You have until July 9 to pay your registration fee of $35 for adults and $25 for kids 3-12. Contact Marylou Draughon at 452-3851 or loubelld@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Destination Two: Join the 20-34 age group at Pioneer Town in Wimberly on Saturday, July 21. The church bus leaves at 9am and returns at 4pm. Enjoy a BBQ lunch, volleyball, ping pong, pool, and swimming in the Blanco River. There are two playgrounds for the kids. You have until July 11 to pay your registration fee of $10 per person. Contact Patty Waldo at 836-2054 or patty@waldos.net for more information.

Destination Three: Join the 35-50 age group on Large Marge the Party Barge on Sunday, July 29, from 5:45-10:00pm! Tour Lake Travis in style, swim, and enjoy a meal onboard! Tell us what special dishes you’re bringing to our pot luck meal! You have until July 22 to pay your registration fee of $10 per person. Contact Melinda Johnson at 310-0590 or melindaj@flash.net for more information by Evite.

Destination Four: Join the 50-65 age group at the Rock Box Theater in Fredericksburg on Saturday, August 11. The church bus leaves at 11am and returns at 9pm. We’ll enjoy lunch and shopping, and stay for the only professionally-cast, live music show in the Texas Hill Country! You have until July 8 to pay your registration fee of $28 for the evening show. Contact Sheila Eveslage at 343-1318 or teveslage@earthlink.net for more information.

Sounds like fun, huh? Don’t miss these four summertime chances to mix-n-mingle with your church! And if you’ve been trying to introduce your THEMs to your Hillcrest Family, sign ‘em up for an “Adventure with Tom!”

My thanks to the four Adventure Coordinators as well as Jami Dismukes and Karen Raulie for organizing and promoting these events!