Why did God choose to have the dinosaurs blasted into extinction?

That is a very awesome question! And I love this question because it allows the scientist in me to come out! In order to answer this, we have to look at the concept of micro-evolution. Micro-evolution is different from macro-evolution.

Macro-evolution is part of Darwin’s theory that says we evolved from common ancestors with apes, which is scientifically inaccurate. The Bible clearly states, in Genesis 1, that God created the heaven and the earth and all life on earth, including us and apes.

Micro-evolution, though, is different. That is where small changes occur within a species through either changes caused by humans or by natural selection. For example, a long time ago, someone said, “Hmmm…I wonder what will happen if I cross-breed a poodle and a cocker spaniel?” So, they tried it and today we have a very common breed called a cockapoo. Scientists have also cross-pollinated plants and created new types of plants and flowers.

Now, let’s get back to your question about dinosaurs. I think that dinosaurs were a victim of micro-evolution and became extinct due to natural selection or some natural catastrophe. I think that some of them didn’t survive the great flood, some may not have been able to adapt to the changes in climate or were unable to forage for food after the great flood and slowly died off.

I’ve been told by some of my scientist friends that this is not uncommon. There are many other species of animals that are extinct now too, for whatever reasons. Ever heard of the Quagga? It was half-horse and half-zebra and became extinct in 1883. How about the Thylacine? It’s been called the Tasmanian Tiger and became extinct in 1936. How about the Irish Deer, the largest deer that ever lived? It became extinct about 7,700 years ago.

So, why did God choose to make them extinct? That is a question I do not have the answer to but I can tell you this much: God has an unstoppable plan and the extinction of a species of animal is part of that plan and only He know the reasons for it.

What are Nephilim? They mention them in the Bible but are they real?

That is a very interesting and awesome question! First off, Nephilim are beings in the Bible that are described in the Book of Genesis, the first book in the Old Testament, as children born from “the daughters of men” and the “sons of God.” (Genesis 6:1-4)

No one really knows who the “sons of God” are; there are many biblical scholars that have theories but the truth is that we really don’t know. At any rate, the Nephilim came into the world during the time just after Adam and Eve but before Noah. They were also described as giants because in the Book of Numbers, in the Old Testament, it says, “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." (Numbers 13:33)

So, are they real? We must accept them to be real if we believe the Bible to be true. The Bible cannot be partially true and partially not true. We must believe on faith, just like we believe in angels, that the Nephilim existed. So are they around today? Probably not. There is some speculation that because the “daughters of men” and the sons of God” chose to have children together that God used that to justify the great flood and destroyed the Nephilim.

But, if they are still around today…I think Shaquille O’Neal is one! He’s huge!!! ;)

How is Jesus alive if God is always alive?

Cool question! And the very cool answer can be found by looking in our Bibles.

In the Book of John, which is the fourth book in the New Testament, Jesus tells his disciples, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” (John 14:9-11)

Jesus is explaining that He is God! There are many other places in the Bible in which Jesus says that He is God, too, but I particularly love these verses because Jesus doesn’t mince words or speak in parables here…He is pretty clear that if you’ve seen Him, you’ve seen the Father and that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.

So, if Jesus is God and God is alive…then, Jesus is alive! Does that make sense? It can be a little confusing but once you realize that Jesus is God then you’ll know that He’s alive right now and watching over you!

If God took nothing, how do things appear? Do they appear from his voice or does it come from his nothing?

We know that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, but you ask a very interesting question when you ask if it came from nothing.

Let’s look at the Book of Genesis, the very first book of the Old Testament, and look at Chapter 1. In Genesis 1:2 it clearly shows that the earth was formless and empty. This shows us that everything on earth and in the heavens came from nothing.

Next, if we read the rest of the verses very carefully, we will see that in all of the instances of creation, it says, “And God said…” Then, after God said it, it came into being. So, basically, God spoke everything into existence. Not only did He speak everything into existence, He named what He created too! He called the light, day and the darkness, night. He called the great expanse, the sky! He did that for the creation of the seas, the land, the plants, the animals and, of course, human beings.

Wow…I know that sounds so unbelievable but our God is all-powerful and capable of doing what we think would be impossible. It’s not like He had some super computer and some helpers and a machine that built stuff based on data He input. God created everything by just thinking it and speaking it.

How large is God?

That is a very awesome question! So, let me throw some fun factoids your way to give you an idea of just how large your God is:

The Earth is in the Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way is 588 quadrillion miles across.
Scientists believe there are 50 billion other galaxies in the universe.
At the Pacific Ocean’s deepest point, Mount Everest could be submerged and the summit would still be nearly two miles from the surface.
Your body makes and destroys 10 million red blood cells every hour. If that ratio is off by 1%...life ends.
It is true that no two snowflakes have ever, or will ever, look the same.
Scientists believe there are 2,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars in the universe (though we can see only 6,000 in the night sky!)
It’s estimated that as many as 5 million species in the world have yet to be discovered.
The energy in one hurricane is equal to that of 500,000 atomic bombs.

And, who endowed the heart with wisdom and gave understanding to the mind? Who marked off the earth’s dimensions and set the foundations for all life? And, most importantly, who gave His one and only Son to die for us so that we could have eternal life?

You ask how large is God? God is large. And in kind of a twist to God’s answer to Moses, more importantly, God is.

Why do we get baptized?

That is a very awesome question! First off, let me just say - because sometimes folks are confused by this - that you do not need to be baptized in order to be saved or to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Being saved is a decision you make by admitting you are a sinner, believing Jesus is who He says He is and choosing to accept Jesus into your heart.

Baptisms are a very public and symbolic way of sharing with others your decision to accept Jesus as your Savior and to follow him with your life and heart. The practice of baptizing people with water was first shown in the Book of Matthew, the first book in the New Testament. In Chapter 3, we get introduced to a very strangely described person named John the Baptist. He is really a different kind of person in the way he dresses and in the stuff he eats! But, he is baptizing people in the River Jordan. He says it’s for repentance of their sins. (At the end of that chapter, he baptizes Jesus, who while sinless, gives us a model we follow!)

In the Book of Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament, Peter (one of Jesus’ original disciples) commands us to, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38)

Again, we see that the act of baptism is a symbolic way to repent by “washing away your sins” and then rising again (just like Jesus did when He was resurrected) and walking in the newness of life that Jesus has to offer. Very cool - no doubt!

Did God make the Big Bang? Are both of them on the same page?

In the Book of Genesis, the very first book of the Old Testament, in Chapter 1, verse 1, it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Despite our best scientific theories, the Bible just does not mention a “Big Bang.” For better or worse, the Bible is not a book of "how" everything came into being. It is a book on "why" everything came into being!

Genesis tells us that God was very deliberate in His creation of the earth in that He spoke it into existence. He knew exactly what He wanted and He created it perfectly.

Did you know that the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun is perfect in that if we were any closer we would burn up and if we were any farther we’d freeze? Did you know that the Earth is tilted on its axis just perfectly? Do you think that just happened by chance?

The question for everyone who grapples with the idea of a “Big Bang” is: what was there before the Big Bang? If that is the start of creation, what created the “Big Bang”? Hmmm…

The Bible is not like a food bar at a cafeteria ....we can’t choose to believe part of the Bible and then not believe another part. All of it is God's Word. This is where faith comes in. Since God and His Word don't contradict, if there is something which appears to be a contradiction (like the Big Bang vs. God speaking creation into existence) then there is a problem with our understanding of science or our understanding of the meaning of Scripture (or both!), but God's Word doesn't contradict itself. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that someday science will have the ability to agree with much more of the Bible than it does now!

If you steal and give back, is that good or bad?

We all know that stealing is not good. It is one of the Ten Commandments. “You shall not steal” Ex. 20:15. But what about if you steal and give it back? Does that make everything okay? - Good question!

A couple of examples in the Bible of where stealing is mentioned is Exodus 22: verses1, 3-6, & 14 and Luke chapter 19. These examples show us that if there has been stealing then the person who has stolen needs to take steps to try and make things right, to pay back what has been taken. We call this restitution.

Let’s look at Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke chapter 19. As a tax collector Zacchaeus had cheated people by taking more money or possessions than he should have. The first thing Zacchaeus had to do is recognize he had been stealing and confess it, which he does in verse 8. But, in addition to confessing that he had stolen he also promises to pay back four times the amount he stole from anyone. He was committed to making things right with those he had stolen from. In other words, Zacchaeus brought about restitution. One of the things that I think is interesting is that Zacchaeus was promising to pay back four times the amount he had stolen. Zacchaeus was eager to make things right with those he stole from. His offer to pay more was a reflection of his heart.

If I steal, God wants me to recognize my sin. He wants me to be sorry that I have stolen and confess what I did. Then He wants me to do all I can to make things right with the person from whom I stole.

Personally, when someone has stolen from me, I have had to ask God to help me forgive them. With God’s help, forgiveness wasn’t hard to give, but being able to trust that person again may take some time.

Why is God called “The Rock”?

God is referred to as a rock often in the Bible. You see the reference in both the Old and New Testaments. When the Bible talks about God being a rock, it is using a metaphor comparing two things that are alike. The Bible often uses metaphors to help us understand something. When God is referred to as a rock it represents constancy, strength, power, presence, a strong support, and refuge or a safe place that protects.

One of my favorite verses that refer to God as a rock is Psalm 18:2, it says “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” When David wrote the words of this Psalm he was going through hard times but he kept his focus on God. He found comfort and security knowing God was with him. David is a wonderful example to us.

We can (and should!) look to God as our rock, the one who is always there for us to protect and support us, and a place where we can find security.

How do we know God is in existence?

That is a great question! And, a pretty deep question … it’s not whether or not God created the world but whether or not there is a God, right? So, let me give you six reasons why I believe there is a God:

(1) The sheer complexity of our planet … it’s size, shape, the way it rotates, its gravity, its temperature, the right mixture of oxygen and nitrogen so that we can breathe… shows that there had to be a deliberate designer. It just couldn’t have happened by chance.

(2) For many, many years scientists have believed that the universe began with one big explosion of gas and light, which many people call the “Big Bang” theory. They believed this was the singular start of everything as we know it. That means at one time, it didn’t exist. It had a start somewhere…so what caused that? Guess what? Scientists can’t answer that question. We know, from Genesis 1:1 that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

(3) How do we explain how nature works? There are certain things that are “for sure things” in our world…they are called universal laws. For example, why does gravity remain consistent? Why does the speed of light not change? Why does a hot cup of cocoa left on a table become cold? Basically, why are things so reliable?!?! I’ll tell you why: we have a God in Heaven that made it that way. He was deliberate in the way things are.

(4) How does DNA work? Do you know that each one of us has our own unique DNA? There are no two human beings that have the same DNA. No two human beings have the same fingerprint…not even twins! Computer programs are very complex, would you agree? But a person’s DNA…their genetic code...has three billion numbers and letters telling a cell to act in a certain way. How is that possible? Because you are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Father in Heaven and He created your inmost being. (Psalm 139:13-15)

(5) We know God exists because He pursues us. He is constantly inviting us to come to Him. The fact that you wonder about Him is great! That means He is on your mind. He wants us to ask questions about Him and He wants you to know Him. God loves you more than anyone ever has or anyone ever will. He loves you so much, He gave His one and only Son for you so that you would never perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16)

(6) Finally, unlike any other religion or revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us. No one else in the history of religions has claimed to be God. Jesus did. No one else has ever died and rose again. Jesus did. Jesus said that God exists and that you’re looking at Him! Jesus did things that only God can do. He performed miracles and caused blind people to see and deaf people to hear. He made the lame walk again and even raised the dead!

So, does God exist? If you look at the six facts that I have listed, could you say He does?

Where is Heaven?

Heaven is a real place - Jesus said so in John 14:1-3 when He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Heaven is also known in the Bible as the “New Jerusalem” and it is an eternal city that is described beautifully and in-depth in Revelation 21 and 22. I think my favorite description is in Revelation 21:3-5 which reads, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new.'"

So, where is it exactly? No one really knows. It is beyond our Earth and beyond the universe. I know that is hard to imagine, but I just wanted you to know that no matter where it is, it is a real place and a place that has no sadness, no death, no mourning, no crying or no pain. We will have glorified bodies (and no one knows what those look like but we will know each other somehow) and we will be in the constant presence of God. Pretty exciting, huh?

When did the church get started?

When you read the Book of Acts in the New Testament, you will see how the original twelve disciples started the early church during the Pentecost when they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is described in Acts 2:3 as appearing like “tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” It enabled the disciples to speak in tongues and to preach God’s Word. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, delivered the first sermon and the church grew to 3000 that first day! (Acts 2:41)

Acts 2:42 goes on to describe the early church and how committed everyone was to each other. Grab your Bible and read it - it's awesome!

In Acts 7:54 through 8:3 we see that the stoning to death of Stephen and the beginning of Saul's great persecution against the church actually helped spread the church. The persecution caused the church at Jerusalem to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria. As we look back in history, though the time was painful for Christ-followers, it also represented a time when the church began to spread across the world, something that is still occurring.

And the church that started with the Holy Spirit's movement through Peter's sermon won't be stopped! Honest!

Why do we have wars and why can’t people just compromise?

Wars have been around since Satan battled God’s angels and was thrown out of Heaven along with a third of the angels that took his side. Wars are a result of sin.

Sin is a state we are born into and, although we try to overcome our sin nature by ourselves, we just can’t do it. That’s why Christ had to die for us. Only by His sacrifice was sin defeated.

And, one of the biggest sins is: PRIDE. When prideful, sinful people can’t get along or can’t agree, that’s when wars occur. They are just too stubborn and prideful to give in and compromise.

If Satan is evil in Heaven and in the Bible it says there is no sin in Heaven, why did Satan sin then?

WOW!!! That is a very awesome question! And, to be quite honest with you, I don’t know the answer to that question and I don’t think anyone, other than Jesus, really knows. But, here’s what I do know to be true:

God absolutely hates sin. He cannot even be in its presence.
There is no sin in Heaven.
Satan was once God’s most perfect angel named Lucifer and he was cast out of Heaven because he sinned against God.
A third of the angels also sinned and were cast down to Earth with Satan.
Satan is also known as the “accuser of the brethren” because he gets to go to the Throne of God and point out the sinners to God but Jesus protects us by saying, No, Satan, you’re wrong, They are covered by my death.” (Job 1:6-12 and Revelation 12:7-9 tell some of the story!)

So, there are a lot of bible scholars who believe that there are different realms of Heaven and that when Lucifer sinned against God it was in one of the realms of Heaven but not Heaven itself. There are also some Bible scholars that believe the Throne of God isn’t in Heaven but just outside Heaven which would allow Satan to come close to Heaven without being able to get it to Heaven itself.

We have to remember that God is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present. He has an unstoppable plan for us and for Satan. Don’t forget…Satan is not God or the opposite of God. He is a created being just like you and me. God created Satan. Satan cannot create life, he is not all-knowing, he is not all-powerful and he cannot be in two places at once. Never, ever think that God and Satan are equal because they are not.

In fact, if God wanted to, He could make Satan disappear with just a thought. But, God has a plan for us all, including Satan, and God’s plan is perfect and unstoppable. We cannot ever imagine or begin to know why God does some of the things he does or allows some of the things he allows. We will never know, until we go to Heaven, why God allowed Satan to sin.

What if someone in your family is smoking? What will God do?

That is a very awesome question! And the very simple answer is that God will continue to love them. You see, God loves us all. He is our Father in Heaven. And, He loves us unconditionally, despite our flaws.

And just like their Heavenly Father, good earthly fathers will also love their children unconditionally even though they sometimes do things that disappoint them or make them sad.

Now, does God want that person to smoke? No. Does God want that person to stop smoking? Yes. Could He make that person stop smoking in an instant just by using His powers? Yes, if He wanted to ---- but God gave us free choice. He wants us to honor Him by our own free choice.

Do I think that someone who smokes is bad and misses out on heaven? Absolutely not! This is not a salvation issue. God knows we are imperfect and sinful creatures. That is why He sent His one and only Son down to Earth to die for us. It is through Christ and His gift of grace that we are saved and have eternal life.

Do I think smoking is unhealthy and bad for you? You bet! Absolutely!! It's a pretty good idea not to mess around with smoking :)

Were the dinosaurs here first or Jesus Christ?

That is a great question! And the truth is that there is a Biblical answer to this question. In the Book of John, the fourth book of the New Testament, it starts out: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” Now, that sounds very confusing doesn’t it? I mean, when I first read that I said to myself, “what or who is the Word?” Then, I read John 1, verse 14, which says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

The Word is Jesus! So, what that means is that Jesus was here in the very beginning. And, here’s the most important thing to remember: this clearly shows that Jesus is God. Jesus was not created, He was the Creator. He has always been here. Now, I know that sounds even more confusing because people always ask, “Well who created God?” And the simple answer is, no one. God has always been here and He was the one who created the heavens and the Earth. Remember Genesis? God took six days to create the Earth and everything in it. And, because Jesus is God, he created everything in the world too…including the dinosaurs!

When people paint their stuff black, is that bad?

You know what? Jesus knows us so well and knows a lot about what our favorite things are, including colors. For example, my favorite color is purple and Jesus knows that. For others, they may like red, or blue, or green, or yellow, or…yes…even black. And Jesus knows those colors are favorites of some people. And that’s okay…even the color black.

But, what we really have to look at is the heart of that person and ask them why is black their favorite color? Or why are they painting things black? Let’s use red as an example here. My wife loves red. She loves red roses, she loves the reds and greens of Christmas and she loves a red sunset. But, if she told me she likes red because it reminds her of blood or the devil, I’d have a major issue with that! If someone likes black because it reminds them of evil things or of the devil, then I’d say that was a bad thing. BUT, here is the wonderful thing about Jesus: He is always there with His gift of grace ready to forgive anyone and offer them eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross. So, if someone liked black for all the wrong reasons, Jesus still loves them and is there waiting for them to accept His gift of grace.

Again, just liking the color black and painting things black isn’t a bad thing. It’s the reasons behind it that can be bad. But, even that badness can be forgiven by our Lord And Savior, Jesus!

Is there more than one way to God?

This is an aweseme question!

Jesus said, in the Book of John, Chapter 14, verse 6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So, what that means is that Jesus is the only way to God. There is no other way.

That is true for each and every person in the world, regardless of what they believe or what religion they are - it's a fair shake cuz everyone needs Jesus to get to God!

AND, the great news is that you don’t have to earn Jesus’ love or salvation. He gives it to you, like a present. It is called the gift of grace. It is a gift from God and all you have to do is accept it! Pretty cool, huh?

If you know God is by your side, how can you still feel scared?

That is an awesome question!!! I actually love this question because I’ve had a lot of kids ask me this in person and it gives me the chance to ask a question back and that question is: Why are you scared?

I can promise you that it’s not because God isn’t there for you. He is always with you and thinks about you more times than there are grains of sand on a beach. He also knows every hair on your head and knows your every thought, hopes and dreams.

So, where does this fear come from then? Why do we get scared? And believe me, we all get scared at one time or another. Is it Satan trying to deceive us and to discourage us from trusting God completely? Satan does know that if he can create doubt in your mind, that’s when the fear can creep in. Satan is a master liar. He will do everything he can to make you doubt God’s love for you; he will even twist God’s Word! Remember what he said to Eve in the Garden of Eden? Satan came as a serpent and convinced Eve to take a bite of the apple by saying to her, “Did God really say not to eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) Then that darn serpent said, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

He tricked Eve and sin came into our world. Once sin entered the world, it allowed doubt to also enter our minds. When we doubt God’s love for us, we get scared. It’s not because we don’t believe in God, it’s because Satan makes us doubt that God is who He says He is and that God couldn’t possibly do all those things.

But, remember this…it’s all about faith in God. Know in your heart that God is who He says He is. Know that God is good all the time and that He cannot sin. Know that God loves you and that He has plans for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

And when things seem to be going bad, remember this: “TRUST in the Lord, your God, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Do all people have to read the Bible?

That is a great question! And here is my answer to you: if people really want to know God, then, yes, they need to read the Bible. The Holy Bible is the Word of God and teaches us many things about who God is, why the Earth was created, why things happen they way they do and how we are supposed to live. Even for those people who don’t know God yet can learn a lot from the Bible. It’s kinda like an Owner’s Manual on life!

But, for those of us who are Christ-Followers, the Bible is a very important piece of our faith. We can go to church and learn some things, we can pray, we can sings songs to God and we can talk to our Christian friends and learn even more…and that’s great! BUT, if you really want to know who God is and what his unstoppable plan is, you have to read His Word.

I remember the first time I picked up a Bible. I remember thinking, “Oh, man! This is wayyyy too much reading! Where do I start? What’s the important stuff??” Then, I had a very good friend, who is also my small group leader, tell me to start with the Book of John in the New Testament. It talks about God’s love for us and why He sent Jesus to us. If you haven’t read it, start there. You don’t have to read it all in one day either. Then, as you learn about Jesus, you’ll want to learn more about Him.

And, believe it or not, the Old Testament has some really cool stories in it! And they all show God’s love for us and His unstoppable plan for us. The story of Noah and the Ark, the story of Moses and leading the Hebrews out of captivity and the miraculous things he did with God’s help, the story of Samson and Delilah, the story of David and Goliath and the stories about King Solomon are so amazing! And the best part is…they’re true!

So, do all people need to read the Bible? Absolutely!!!!