Poetry Because Jesus Knows My Name

Jesus knows my name.
Among all of creation,
He knows ME.
Formed me to be
Special in my own way.
Placed His seal of approval on
This body,
This spirit,
This mind,
And called it good,
Called it blessed,
Provides all I need to live,
And grow into
The person,
The individual,
He created me to be,
A person He came for,
Lived for,
Died on Calvary for,
And rose again for.
Because He lives He offers me,
Not only forgiveness,
But also salvation, light & life abundantly,
With Him as Lord, Savior,
Friend and Guide.
All I need do is clutch His hand,
Accept His plan created just for me,
By He who knows my name,
Gave me life,
As I ask Him in, I find I
Like the person I am with Him inside, for
In His loving embrace.
I know hope and peace and life
For today, tomorrow & for all eternity.

© 2016 , 2020, 2023 Carolyn R Scheidies 

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Blog St. Patrick and the Irish

St.Patrick's Day is really not a native American holiday at all, but was imported by the Irish. Still, how many of us, even as adults, take the opportunity on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, to pinch a friend who "isn't wearing the green."

Surprisingly enough, St. Patrick wasn't really Irish at all. Almost 600 years ago around 400 AD when Rome controlled much of the world, Patrick was born into the home of a noble Roman family who lived in Britain.

By the fifth century Christianity had spread throughout most of the Roman empire, and Patrick's family espoused the Christian faith.

At the time, the Irish often raided the coasts of Britain (and other countries) carrying away goods as well. as individuals to be used as slaves. Patrick became one of these unfortunate slaves when, at the age of 16, he was captured, taken to Ireland and sold.

For a young man brought up in, if not luxury, at least in comfort, herding sheep and being all alone in the mountains without adequate food or clothing was a sore trial. Still, he wrote in his "Confession" (his account of his spiritual journey) that it was up there he began to truly believe in God and to love him. He believed God spoke to him there and helped him endure those long lonely years.

Finally, after six years, he escaped, but it was some time before he was able to return home. Even then he could not settle down, feeling God was calling him back to Ireland.

Hampered by his lack of education, Patrick went to study for the ministry at the monastery of Lerins located on an island off the southeast coast of France. He also studied at Auxerre, France, and under the tutelage of the French Bishop Saint Germanus gaining some of the best learning of the day.

However, when a missionary was to be sent to Ireland, Patrick was NOT the one chosen. Later, when this bishop died in 431, Patrick was given his heart's desire, the assignment to go to Ireland.

He was not content to stay in the few pockets of Christianity already established in the country. Instead, he went to the Druid-controlled north and west. Patrick endured much hardship, but, the people knew he really cared about them. As they came to hear him, many believed.

Eventually he made friends with some of the chieftains whose own sons and daughters came to faith. Because Christianity leaches kindness and justice for all and the importance of each individual, the conversion of the people brought changes to the Irish society.

One example is that many slave owners, after embracing Christianity, freed their slaves. Patrick lived his faith by buying and freeing others himself.

As for the legend about his driving the snakes out of Ireland, no one knows the truth. Still, like many legends, there might be some truth in the story, for Patrick lived a long time and did many good and kind things for the people of Ireland.

As for the Shamrock, one legend has it that Patrick used the green three-leaf clover...the shamrock...to teach the people about the Trinity. This is the Christian belief that God is one, yet three, the Father, the Son (whom we know as Jesus) and the Holy Spirit.

Today, besides his "Confession," and his "Letter to Coroticus", a handbell, said to have belonged to St. Patrick, is kept in the National Museum of Dublin. St. Patrick left much more than these physical items.

Patrick was loved not just because he went to Ireland, but because he taught the people to care about each other. He also taught tolerance between the British and the Irish. Patrick deserves the appellation of Saint. He left a legacy well worth following.. .selfless concern for others rooted in and guided by his faith in Jesus.

(c) 1998, 2020 Carolyn R Scheidies
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Blog politics The “Science” of Evolution

Something from nothing. The earth is founded on the principle of cause and effect, yet evolution theory seeks to create something from nothing. The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that everything is in a state of decay. Yet evolution theory claims just the opposite, that things without added input or energy produce something new and completely different.

Scientists are far from agreement about the theory of evolution, which though in reality a “theory”, is usually taught as proven “fact” in public schools. There are many, many scientists who have followed facts with an open mind and come to the conclusion that the evolutionary theory has so many holes that it should be buried in one of them.

Even many scientists who hold to the basic idea of evolution, realize their theory doesn't meet the basic standards of true scientific inquiry—an open mind and following the facts where they lead.

An evolutionist who sought to mix evolution with theology, Dr. Edwin Conklin, once a professor of biology Princeton University 1908-1935 wrote, “The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing shop.”

Dr. Dean H. Kenyon, professor emeritus of biology San Francisco State University and a driver of the Intelligent Design movement, wrote, “We have not the slightest chance of a chemical evolutionary origin for even the simplest of cells.”

Dr. Michael Egnor, professor neurosurgery and pediatrics, State University of New York, Stony Brook, who also has come to believe in Intelligent Design, writes, “Darwinism is a trivial idea that has been elevated to the status of the scientific theory that governs modern biology.”

Finally, from Geneticist, Dr. Francis S. Collins, Director National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, said, “The spiritual worldview provides another way of finding truth. Scientists who deny this would be well advised to consider the limits of their own tools.”

Unfortunately, as Ben Stein's 2008 movie “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” so well documented, many scientists who decide that evolution is not valid find themselves ostracized by a scientific community, lose tenure, teaching positions, and are smeared by their fellow scientists who refuse to allow anyone to deviate from the party line.

At its core, evolution is atheistic. No god of any sort is allowed in any evolutionary inquiry. Scientists refuse to examine other possibilities such as what Isaac Asimov, an atheist, wrote about in one of his stories that would explain the Intelligent Design perspective.

His story explained Adam and Eve. They were placed by an intelligent computer from another place starting a new race on earth.

Many who hold to the theory of evolution get furious when anyone questions their findings, assumptions, speculations, or logic. They don't answer with facts, but with put-downs and without even considering any other possible perspectives. And that isn't science.

Even science goes back to this, “In the beginning, God…” Genesis 1:1

© 2011, 2020 by Carolyn R Scheidies
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* Quotes from the book THE DEATH OF EVOLUTION © 2010 Jim Nelson Black