Artifacts of a Life Once Lived

Maybe it's just me, but I find it interesting that there is a seemingly increasing front against the cultural American Christianity known as Evangelicalism, not to mention against God himself (thank you Christopher Hitchens , Sam Harris , Richard Dawkins , et. al.). I say this because of some recent books published where each author at one time considered himself a conscious, consenting troop in the evangelical front. I find this trend particularly interesting, because I myself, an "evangelical" (though I might act a lot like our beloved Apostle Peter when confronted with a potentially threatening situation concerning my allegiances to the evangelical identity, though not concerning my faith [knock on wood...]) must seriously consider the issues raised within these publications. John Marks, author of: Reasons to Believe: One Man's Journey Among the Evangelicals and the Faith He Left Behind? Bart Ehrman, author of: God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our

Intro: When Christians - both Protestants and Catholics alike - talk about Scripture, authority, tradition, intellect, and how it is that they have come to view the world in which they exist, how they believe that it began and how they think it will end, and how to live rightly in the face of its seeming unconquerable evil, most Christians will unashamedly and without a thoughtless moment speak that it is only within the ancient pages of the Scriptures that they find their basis for knowledge, reality, true virtue, and ultimately their final hope. In all actuality this reality of reliance upon Scripture is only the result of the goodness and favor of the Lord, for, as confessing evangelicals we believe it is only through his Word that the world is made alive because of the working of the Spirit in the creation through that Word. To that end, it is only with great thankfulness that we approach the Scriptures as the only true eternal revelation, being authoritative over all creation,

Chesterton on the greatness of AMERICAN VIRTUE . Please bear in mind the notion of "sarcasm."

Sometimes we need to reflect on where we are and where we have come from and where we are going. I am in desperate need of reflection. I have been given so much information over eight years of education (specifically Christian), yet I have had so little time to stop, process/evaluate, and adjust. Is there a breaking point? I think there is. There is a point where I have to admit to myself that I cannot grasp, let alone consider, all of the difficulties raised in my encounters with new and continuously evolving knowledge. What is more is that there are a seeming infinite more problems that I will never even encounter for the simple reason of my finiteness! These four years at Seminary have been an agonizing time of learning, growing, testing, failing, succeeding, hurting, loving, maturing, and just plain old perplexity. I have come so far from where I once was (I refer mostly to my religious loyalties), yet I have reached a point of sincere befuddlement. It seems that my education has

"Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:11 What kind of person ought I to be? I am tempted to say that the kind of person I ought to be is the kind of person that is revered by society. What kind of person is most revered by society? In particular, western society? I feel pretty confident enough to say in front of a crowed that it would seem that the most powerful people, those who appear to carry significant weight in the public sphere, are those who are revered by society. Who are the most power