How the Big Bang Theory and Harry Potter Fit Into One Minister's World

To begin, I appreciate the opportunity afforded in this blog to express what perspective I possess upon the "things" we all see and experience in this world.

I am a full-time minister leading a non-denominational Christian church in the South Suburbs of Chicago. For obvious reasons my paradigm for interpreting the world around me begins and ends with a belief in the existence of God. That said, there are several misconceptions that are widely cataloged in the collective consciousness about people of my persuasion and I would like to clear some of those up:

1. I believe the Big Bang Theory is a reasonable explanation for the mechanism by which our physical universe came into being. I don't think the Bible is dogmatic about the "how" of universal creation- sound scientific theory and Biblical faith are not mutually exclusive. The point the Bible is making is that the One God created it all; the mechanism is vague and illusive.

2. It is also perfectly reasonable to follow the principals and "rules" of the Christian faith without somehow becoming the leader of a desert commune, a celibate monk or a generally drab human being. If done correctly, a person in my shoes should be one of the most fun, carefree and passionate neighbors on the block.

3. I cannot listen to contemporary Christian music without feeling embarrassed. This is an area Christians haven't quite figured out yet.

4. I don't see America as a Christian Nation. The more that people claim it is the more the rest of the world begins to despise Jesus. There is much to admire about our country but its devotion to following Jesus is not one of them.

5. I am fine with Harry Potter. I am sometimes embarrassed at how much my wife loves this series at times. Yet, if more human beings carried the mantle of honor the way this fictional character does we'd have a finer world.

6. I think most churches are a fine place for women and children and a miserable one for men. If you are a man and hate going to church don't feel bad because that is how I felt most of my life and to some degree still do. We need to fix this.

7. Being a faithful Christian does not mean you will be more "blessed" in the material world. Most God followers in the Bible were poor or became poor as a result of their faith. Religious leaders with expensive cars, clothes and homes are definitely the exception rather than the rule in the Bible, especially the New Testament.

8. I believe the entire Bible is true. Thus, while I embrace the scientific quest to explain the nature of the reality around us I also fully accept the reality of miracles. People raising from the dead, seas dividing and the blind seeing cannot fall into the realm of observable and repeatable scientific explanation and must be accepted as something superseding what the scientific method can deduce.

Why a list of eight? Because I feel your attention may waiver if I made the list any longer. This list could go on and on, but perhaps this will suffice as an introduction to my blog.

While I will almost wholly avoid the topic of politics, I will dive into the arena of sports, media, current events and community- the topics that now shape our popular and cultural philosophy.

So allow me to say how much my family has enjoyed the painting of the new mural on Dixie and 187th. While dismayed, my oldest son thought it was an image from the '70s (when in reality it portrays a time several decades older) the '70s being my decade of birth-thus associating his father within a classification of near antiquity, it is yet a beautiful snap shot of the historic community in which I now live.

Whoever commissioned this piece of art should be congratulated. I know that this wall with its mural will soon become an image my three sons will later recollect when they visit their childhood memories as adults.

They will remember the walks we took past that wall on the way to get ice cream at Cold Stone, on the way to Homewood Days, and on long walks where we discussed the Red Sox, the existence of Big Foot and of course girls.

I pray the memory of that wall will always help them find their way home when they get lost.