Opening Statements. . .

   Divinity, evil, the "human condition" and everything in between. . .no mater what you believe, everyone must come face to face with the question of purpose. Pastor A.R. Bernard said (Quoting Dr. Myles Munroe) "Once the purpose of something is not known or understood, abuse is inevitable."  One of the most compelling arguments for the existence of God is the answer to the question of purpose. Think about it. . .the vast majority of what is humanly observable serves a purpose. It seems so irrational to turn around and say that all of it is ultimately futile and useless. A sentiment King Solomon grappled with only to come to a interesting conclusion. . .(See Ecclesiastes 12:13) These questions get more complex when issues of design (nature verses nurture) and morality (good verses bad) come into play. Then you come to the question of free will. . .For the Christian the answers are readily available and are both sound and liberating.
   What's funny is that many of the things I have accepted by faith I have come to question, only to find the answers to be the ones I've held by faith from the very beginning. The story is told of a group of learned men climbing some mountain of knowledge for years. As they finally make their way to the summit they are surprised to  see a bunch of believers and theologians chillin' eating veggi-burgers.  . .(I may have exaggerated on the end of the story but you get the idea. . .) I don't want to be the guy climbing for years just to find out that where I started out at would have gotten me to the top much faster. So for the believer the answers are good ones but also dynamic and have very important implications. Purpose is given readily by design. . .(pun not intended) but with the the choice to accept or reject it (free will) and how well ones choices fits the determined design is the "bar" by which morality is gauged. (I think. . .)So what is really interesting here is that a new factor is now taken into consideration (from the Christian point of view) and that is the nature of motivation. Actions are telling only of the heart and motivations of them caring out the actions. (See Jeremiah 17:19 and Mathew 15:18)
   The Irony of it all is this. . .as I write this I am constantly questioning why I am questioning. The scientist inside me won't let the answers I find be biased by anything (especially my own potentially deceitful motivations) Do I question because I have legitimate concerns or because I am looking for an excuse to "do what I want"? I seek accountability in my search from both God and those who have some invested interest in questions of this nature. So let  the answers come and may I be ready to accept whatever comes, regardless of how I "feel" about it.