{"id":6120,"date":"2021-01-29T15:15:21","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T15:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/?p=6120"},"modified":"2025-03-31T14:49:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T14:49:17","slug":"lets-start-at-the-very-beginning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2021\/01\/lets-start-at-the-very-beginning\/","title":{"rendered":"Let&#8217;s start at the very beginning"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner]<style type=\"text\/css\" data-type=\"the7_shortcodes-inline-css\">.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-2b844269e34b5dbc6bde390d29f03cac.enable-bg-rollover .rollover i,\n.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-2b844269e34b5dbc6bde390d29f03cac.enable-bg-rollover .rollover-video i {\n  background: -webkit-linear-gradient();\n  background: linear-gradient();\n}\n.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-2b844269e34b5dbc6bde390d29f03cac .rollover-icon {\n  font-size: 32px;\n  color: #ffffff;\n  min-width: 44px;\n  min-height: 44px;\n  line-height: 44px;\n  border-radius: 100px;\n  border-style: solid;\n  border-width: 0px;\n}\n.dt-icon-bg-on.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-2b844269e34b5dbc6bde390d29f03cac .rollover-icon {\n  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);\n  box-shadow: none;\n}<\/style><div class=\"shortcode-single-image-wrap shortcode-single-image-2b844269e34b5dbc6bde390d29f03cac alignnone fadeIn animate-element  vc_custom_1613317053676 enable-bg-rollover dt-icon-bg-off\" ><div class=\"shortcode-single-image\"><div class=\"fancy-media-wrap  layzr-bg\" style=\"\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"preload-me lazy-load aspect\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D&#39;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#39;%20viewBox%3D&#39;0%200%201000%20500&#39;%2F%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/earth-1756274_1920-1000x500.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/earth-1756274_1920-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/earth-1756274_1920.jpg 1919w\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\"  data-dt-location=\"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2021\/01\/lets-start-at-the-very-beginning\/earth-1756274_1920\/\" style=\"--ratio: 1000 \/ 500;\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]You might not agree with what I&#8217;m going to say, but that in itself will just prove my point.<\/p>\n<p>Let me begin by saying that I disagree. In fact, we all disagree. We disagree about politics, about religion, about football teams, about diets, fashion, music, money. We disagree about everything and anything. Say something and someone will disagree.\u00a0Arguments are everywhere and are about everything. Now, with social media, you can argue with total strangers on the other side of the country or the world, and online arguments can get really vicious.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve been in quite a few arguments in my time. I&#8217;ve won a few and I&#8217;ve lost a few. In actual fact, I have lost all of them. Yes, I might have scored a few points or even got my own way, but arguments don&#8217;t change minds, they just deepen the divide between them. Arguments can lead to violence and have caused many wars.<\/p>\n<p>Discussions, on the other hand, can change minds and often bring enlightenment to both parties. The difference is that people who discuss aren&#8217;t trying to land punches &#8211; they are trying to come to an agreement.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I read the Bible a lot. There is a lot of Bible to be read &#8211; about 750,000 words.<\/p>\n<p>The first ten words cause a lot of argument. Those 10 words are enough to put people off reading the remaining 749,990.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]People believe in the Creation, or they don&#8217;t. People believe in Evolution or they don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p>And so we get an argument. Just because we don&#8217;t understand &#8211; and I do mean <em><strong>WE<\/strong><\/em><em>.<br \/>\n<\/em>Lack of understanding is what keeps the argument going.<\/p>\n<p>Too many people who read the Bible have very firm opinions and will not accept any dispute of its content. When anyone questions those first 10 words, all hell can break loose in an argument.<\/p>\n<p>Normally, arguments arise because of misunderstandings between two parties, but the misunderstanding here is the misunderstanding of the text and the context. The importance of the context was that those first ten words were written nearly 3,500 years ago. David Attenborough wasn&#8217;t doing the Planet Earth series at the time. Aristotle was the closest we got to that &#8211; about 2000 years ago when he worked out that the world was round. Even then, it was only 500 years ago that Magellan proved it wasn&#8217;t flat by sailing round it &#8211; and he still hasn&#8217;t convinced everyone![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Another matter to bear in mind is the size of everything. Genesis was written by Moses for a relatively small nation in a relatively small land.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>God made two great lights, the sun and the moon\u2014the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. (Gen 1:16-17)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Counting and measurement in all societies back in those days was not exact or extensive and in many cases would get to the stage where they would count to a level, after which everything would add up to <em>lots<\/em> or\u00a0<em>much.<\/em> The mass of planet earth would be beyond all comprehension, so the concept of galaxies is non-existent. In Genesis 1:16 we are told that God made two great lights &#8211; the sun and the moon &#8211; but there is no mention that the moon orbits the earth or the earth orbits the sun.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=&#8221;fadeInLeftBig&#8221;]And this is the point. The Bible was written for one purpose &#8211; to tell people about God and his love for all mankind. It tells us who he is, what he has done for us and the plans he has for us. It tells us in a way that people will understand, and the story of the Creation was told in a way that the people of the time would understand.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]&#8221;It doesn&#8217;t mean that there wasn&#8217;t a Big Bang. I&#8217;m sure that when God created the heavens and the earth it was pretty noisy.&#8221;[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]&#8221;It doesn&#8217;t mean that there was no evolution. There is plenty of evidence that there has been.&#8221;[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ten words. Any discussion has to be longer than ten words or it&#8217;s just a sentence.<\/p>\n<p>To put people off a relationship with Christ by insisting that they must accept the description of the Creation is a sentence &#8211; a death sentence. To refuse to have a relationship with Christ just because the description of the Creation seems daft is, in fact, daft.<\/p>\n<p>Discuss&#8230;&#8230;.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]You might not agree with what I&#8217;m going to say, but that in itself will just prove my point. Let me begin by saying that I disagree. In fact, we all disagree. We disagree about politics, about religion, about football teams, about diets, fashion, music, money. We disagree about everything and anything. Say something and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[426,5],"tags":[3,22,38],"class_list":["post-6120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-christian","tag-bibleblogs","tag-creation","tag-god"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfWaLo-1AI","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7242,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2022\/12\/14-plans\/","url_meta":{"origin":6120,"position":0},"title":"14 &#8211; Plans","author":"Robert Pender","date":"16\/12\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7243\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I have always been a great believer in making plans, especially when we are doing something special or going away somewhere. It is best to get it right and not miss anything out. Be in control! The trouble is that we are seldom, if ever in control.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7182,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2022\/12\/11-held-and-healed\/","url_meta":{"origin":6120,"position":1},"title":"11 &#8211; Held and Healed","author":"Robert Pender","date":"03\/12\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7183\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\"][\/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text] Held Well, that has been a bit of a week! Last weekend, I probably did a bit much. It's hard to tell, to be honest. In August I was as fit as a fiddle, now there are a few strings broken. I know I can't do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7329,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2023\/03\/19-words-mean-everything\/","url_meta":{"origin":6120,"position":2},"title":"19 &#8211; Words Mean Everything","author":"Robert Pender","date":"12\/03\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"If you have been following my blog you will know that in November last year I was diagnosed as having terminal cancer. In episode 8 of this series, I described how the oncologist told me that if I did not get chemotherapy I would have two or three months to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/words.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/words.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/words.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/words.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pender.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/words.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7072,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2022\/09\/just-thinking-what\/","url_meta":{"origin":6120,"position":3},"title":"3 &#8211; Just thinking what?","author":"Robert Pender","date":"30\/09\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7073\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\" style=\"vc_box_shadow_3d\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Most of the time, all is calm, then I'm in a bit of a storm. I was never a great fan of big dippers and so I always kept away from them. The trouble with this big dipper is that it comes to get me! I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1865,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2010\/11\/can-i-help-mr-cameron\/","url_meta":{"origin":6120,"position":4},"title":"Can I help, Mr Cameron?","author":"Robert Pender","date":"28\/11\/2010","format":false,"excerpt":"I was interested to read that Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, is going to spend \u00c2\u00a32million on measuring the happiness of the British people. Happiness, according to the dictionary is a state of well being and contentment. I do not see a lot of contentment in the society in which we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christianity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christianity","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/christian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7454,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2023\/09\/25-believe-it-or-not\/","url_meta":{"origin":6120,"position":5},"title":"25 &#8211; Believe it or not","author":"Robert Pender","date":"01\/09\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7463\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\" style=\"vc_box_shadow_3d\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Believe it or not, it is exactly one year ago today that I contacted the GP surgery with my current condition. Believe it or not, I thought I had an infection. If you read my blog from the start of this series, you will find that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6120"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7650,"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6120\/revisions\/7650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}