Statistical Significance (say what?)

Before my blogging days I shared my thoughts as a facebook note. i was going over my notes today, and found one I would like to share.

 I do not claim to know all the answers, but I do know that God wants us to share the truth. He has put a passion in my heart for people to know the truth about their lives. What you believe about creation vs. evolution can truly shape how you view yourself, and the world. If you simply came to exist by chance, then what is your purpose in life? But if you were created, then your life is given a whole new meaning. 

So today I was reading my Psychology text book and something just occurred to me that I would like to share. Throughout the book it includes thoughts about evolution, explaining our lives through this theory. I normally just laugh a little and skim over the ideas that try to explain how we have evolved from nothing. Today I read something that I could not just skim over, and I quickly searched back through the book to find some definitions. In the beginning of the book it explains how we can scientifically examine things. It introduces what is called Statistical Significance.

Statistical Significance: "A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance." (Myers, p. 37) 

The book goes on to explain that "proof beyond a reasonable doubt means not making much of a finding unless the odds of its occurring by chance are less than 5 percent..." (Myers, p. 37) Therefore, a psychologist should not approve a theory unless it has a very low statistical significance. THEN, about three chapters later, I was reading about how science proves our existence and I read this...

"Had the energy of this Big Bang been the tiniest bit less, the universe would have collapsed back on itself. Had it been the tiniest bit more, the result would have been a soup too thin to support life..." (Myers, p. 169) 

so...WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? If science claims to use statistical significance, it would have to agree that the Big Bang theory is not very probable. In fact, it is very unlikely. So why is it taught as truth in schools today? We are being brainwashed into believing that "atoms no different from those in a rock somehow formed dynamic entities that became conscious..." (Myers, p. 169) Wow. That just sounds silly to me. 

I am SO thankful to know that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14)

"...God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish..." (1. Corinthians 1:20) 

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female he created them...then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!" (Genesis 1:1,27,31) 

God's power

"The kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

Many people believe in God. In fact, many people talk "fancy talk" about God in their lives. BUT, the question is not only do you believe. The question is are you living by God's power?

While thinking about this I was reminded of Matthew 5...otherwise known as the Beatitudes.

Jesus begins each line with "Blessed are..." 

(Check it out)

I was struck by the verse that talked about the kingdom of heaven as it relates to the verse above.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

      for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

The verse in 1 Corinthians says that the kingdom of God is Living by God's power.

I don't know about you, but I would much rather live by God's power than by my own (there's really NO comparison)...In order for this to happen, we need to grasp the kingdom of God/heaven. 


The verse in Matthew says that the kingdom of heaven is given to those who are poor in spirit and realize their need for him (God). 

Ask yourself these questions...

• Do you realize your need for God?
• Do you live your life knowing that every breath you take is only possible because of God's grace.
• Do you know the difference between what we deserve from God, and what we receive from God? 

Do you answer yes to these questions, but live like it doesn't matter?

OR are you living each day by God's power?

"What do you have that God hasn't given you?" 1 Cor. 4:7

The shepherds

This week I have been thinking about the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth.

"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them...

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”


(from Luke 2)


Do you think the shepherds ever looked at the sky the same? The "radiance of the Lord's glory" was shown to them while they were simply watching their sheep in the fields... an ordinary routine.


Yet God showed up in their ordinary, and made them a part of the extraordinary! 


I drive 40 minutes to work every morning. Sometimes this drive (sitting in traffic) can seem mundane...annoying...or just simply ordinary. 
However, this week God spoke to me in a new way. 


This is what He told me:


Look for the extraordinary in ordinary things

These were taken on different days this week!!

On these mornings, God reminded me of His promises.

I love you

I am with you

I am thinking of you

You are my treasure

I have great plans for you...today

My mercies are new every morning

Now (maybe a little like the shepherds), I cannot look at the sky, and not think of God. He has shown me His glory, His beauty, His love. 

 "The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

Don't let all the distractions of Christmas steal from the extraordinary beauty of God's glory! How is He speaking to you today? Don't miss it.