The Faith Puzzle

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The Faith Puzzle

Aspects of Faith

Tim Richards was a pastor...until he became an agnostic. Hear his story and the reasons he returned to faith. Four engaging, entertaining and thoughtful presentations for believers who doubt and doubters who are curious about belief.

About The Faith Puzzle

What Is It?

"The Faith Puzzle" was a series of talks and artistic presentations given during October / November of 2015. The series explores important issues pertaining to doubt, faith and Christianity. To see the talks and other presentations, just click the links at the top of this page. There are also additional resources listed for each section to assist you in exploring various aspects of faith.

Tim Richards started his career as a pastor. After a crisis of faith, he left the ministry and went into business where he developed several business ventures over a span of almost 20 years. In this series Tim shares the story of his crisis of faith and some of the things that brought him back to God. He is joined by a variety of artists and actors.

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Contact Us: info@thefaithpuzzle.org

Participating Local Churches:
Calvary Chapel
Dungeness Community Church
Fairview Bible Church
Independent Bible Church
Olympic Bible Fellowship
Olympic View Church of God
Sequim Bible Church
Sequim Community Church
Sequim Valley Foursquare
Sequim Worship Center
True Vine Fellowship
Sequim Adventist Church

The World Around

"The World Around" Lecture #1 of The Faith Puzzle series

"Susan Therapy" Sometimes all you need is a safe place to ask why

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The World Around

Part 1

Links to Explore
The Double Slit Experiment
Even the most devout rationalist must face realities that at time supercede reason. Check out this famous experiment from the logic defying world of Quantum Mechanics

The Information Enigma
Information drives the development of life. But what is the source of that information?

Does Science Make Faith Obsolete
A video discussion with Dr. James Tour, an organic chemist and professor of Materials Science and Nano Engineering, Rice University.

Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is one of the leading think tanks on the topic of intelligent design. They offer a variety of online resources. Here are a few:

The Double Slit Experiment
Youtube Channel
Evolution News & Views

John Lennox
John Lennox is a Professor of Mathematics at Oxford and a prolific speaker and writer on the intersection of science and fait.h

Reasons to Believe
Reasons to Believe hosts a team of researchers led by Dr. Hugh Ross. Dr. Ross is an accomplished astronomer with a degree in physics from the University of British Columbia, a National Research Council of Canada fellow and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Toronto. He conducted research for several years at the California Institute of Technology and in 2012 was awarded the Ide P. Trotter prize by Texas A&M in recognition of his work demonstrating the connections between science and religion. His teammates are similarly qualified in their fields. Together they provide a rich resource for exploring faith and science.

How Life Begins
A fascinating look at how a human life comes into existence. As you watch try to keep telling yourself "It's just an accident...it's just an accident...". If that doesn't work, sit back and marvel at the complexity, ingenuity and marvelous design of a Magnificent, Creative Mind.

Richard Dawkins & Randolph Nesse (trying to be careful what they say)
This short interview is rather amusing. Listen as Dr Nesse slips up and uses language which the very atheistic Dr. Dawkins finds troublesome. Even better is watching Dr. Nesse try to fix the mess by pointing out some of a structure that illustrates the randomness of evolution - only to end up explaining how it really isn't so random at all.

TEDx Talk: Life's "Complex Interacting Molecular Machines"
A great presentation about the complexity and design of our world by a researcher who does not embrace Intelligent Design though based on his own research, we think he should.

Electric Eel
This video dates from the 1950's but is a fascinating look at the capabilities of the Electric Eel.

Books to Read

Related Information

The Case for a Creator, Lee Strobel

Lee Strobel does not posses scientific credentials but what he does have is an investigative reporter's training and skill. With a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Yale, Strobel went on to become a journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Throughout his education and most of his career, Strobel was an avowed atheist.

When his wife became a follower of Jesus he was shocked and determined to debunk her new-found faith. He set about a personal quest to do just that, beginning with an investigation of the life of Jesus. What he found not only surprised him but ultimately changed his worldview. He went on to write a series of books examining various topics which critics of faith often wrestle with. In "The Case for a Creator" Strobel devotes chapters to a variety of topics and questions related to the origins of life. In each chapter he interviews an expert in that field. The interviews are conducted from the perspective of a skeptic. Strobel keeps the pace moving and any reader, whether technically oriented or not, will find this an interesting read. This is an excellent and broad-ranging introduction to the topic of origins. There is also a great bibliography at the end of the book which provides a great launching point for further reading.

Darwin's Black Box, Dr. Michael Behe

When Dr. Behe released this book in 1996 it sent shockwaves through the scientific community. It is still generating discussion today. Behe is the Professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University so the man knows his subject. The principle he introduced into the discussion of origins was one called "Irreducible Complexity." This is not a long book, and Behe does a good job of using simple illustrations, like a mousetrap, to explain some technical concepts. There are some technical sections in the book, but the author knows these will not be of interest to all readers and has structured the book in such a way that readers can decide if they want to delve into some of the more complex data. It is a fascinating and foundational book for those seriously investigating the evidence for intelligent design.

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Books to Read

Related Information

Signature in the Cell, Dr. Stephen Meyer

The cell which Darwin conceived of as merely a simple blob, we now know to be a highly complex mechanism packed with micro engines and information. This book takes a detailed look at the information in the cell and the evidence it contains for a designer. Meyer also tackles some of the key philosophical underpinnings that direct much of modern research and the discussion of origins. This is a more advanced book but an excellent read for anyone who really wants to grapple with the evidences of design.

The Privileged Planet, Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez & Dr. Jay Richards

A reality that researchers have increasingly come to recognize is what has been termed the "Anthropic Principle" or the "Fine Tuning" of the universe. It is the recognition that the presence of life on our planet is only possible because a multitude of factors all align with uncanny precision - almost as if someone or something had fine tuned or designed the world for our existence and flourishing. In "The Privileged Planet" Gonzalez and Richards take a close look at many of those key, fine tuned components and examine the arguments posed to wave away the appearance of planning.

For more information contact us at info@thefaithpuzzle.org

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The Problem of Evil

"The Problem of Evil" Lecture #2 of The Faith Puzzle series

Christina’s Favorite Music

The Problem of Evil

Part 2

Links to Explore

A Debate Between...
...Professor John Lennox and Michael Shermer on the nature of evil and suffering

Professor Mary Poplin...
...tells her story of moving from atheism to faith and meeting Mother Theresa

Lessons from My Daughter
Jo Dee Ahmann blogs about her journey in the passing of her daughter, Christina

Right & Wrong: A Clue to Meaning in the Universe
This discussion is taken from some of CS Lewis's writing

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Books to Read

Related Information

Unspeakable: Facing up to the Challenge of Evil, Os Guiness

Os Guiness is always a thoughtful and insightful author. In this book he grapples with the topic of human evil. He examines both the causes and proposes solutions to man’s darkest dilemma.

The Problem of Pain, CS Lewis

This is one of the classic books dealing with pain and suffering from a Christian worldview.

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Books to Read

Related Information

Disappointment with God: Three Questions No One Asks Aloud, Philip Yancey

Yancey is one who has long wrestled with the topic of pain and suffering and those times when God just doesn’t seem to make sense. He writes with honesty and sensitivity.

The Case for Faith Lee Strobel

Journalist and former atheist, Lee Strobel interviews a variety of leading thinkers and asks the hard questions about faith

The Historical Jesus

"The Way” A little parable about finding your way home

“The Historical Jesus”: Lecture #3 of The Faith Puzzle series

“The Potter”: Lessons about God from the Potter’s Wheel

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The Historical Jesus

Part 3

Links to Explore

Searching for the Historical Jesus
Dr. NT Wright engages Princeton’s hardest questions

Is Jesus History?
John Dickson delivers a lecture at Georgia Tech

The Journey
Dr. Os Guiness - A Thinking Person’s Quest of Meaning

Books to Read

The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel

Strobel, a former atheist and long time journalist for the Chicago Tribune, interviews an array of scholars asking them the tough questions about Jesus - his life, death and the claims of resurrection.

More than Just a Carpenter, Josh McDowell

A long time best seller on the topic of Jesus life. Explores a wide range of topics and the historical evidence for the life of Jesus.

The Jesus Legend, Paul Rhodes Eddy & Gregory Boyd

This is a more scholarly work for those who want to dig deeper into the issues surrounding the life of Jesus.

The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey

Yancey explores the question of who Jesus really is once the layers of church history are stripped away. Yancey’s books are always richly illustrated, well researched, personal and thoughtful.

The Christ Files, John Dickson

A good survey of all the historical documents, biblical and non-biblical, that address the life of Jesus. Includes a good discussion of the Gnostic Gospels.

For more information contact us at info@thefaithpuzzle.org

The Missing Piece

"The Missing Piece” Lecture #4 of The Faith Puzzle series

“What If?” : Performed by Darcy O’Brien

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The Missing Piece

Part 4

Links to Explore

Defining Moments - From Desperation to Hope

3 Life Changing Stories

Brian “Head” Welch...
...gained worldwide fame as the guitarist for the band Korn but life was out of control

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus
The amazing faith journey of Nabeel Qureshi

Testing Assumptions
A former atheist meets Mother Theresa. Professor Mary Poplin shares her life experience

Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis

This is Lewis’s spiritual autobiography. Follow him through the development and reluctant abandonment of his atheism. The end result was for Lewis a surprise, but a joyful one.

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

This book has become a classic. Lewis combines a unique perspective in his defense and explanation of Christianity. He is a great thinker, imaginative writer and former atheist so he understands his topic from the inside out. This is a must read book for anyone serious in the search.

Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians, Kelly Monroe

This is a collection of writings by a wide array of leaders in business, science & philosophy relating their own thoughts and journeys of faith.

Born Again, Chuck Colson

Those familiar with the Watergate scandal of the Nixon administration will recognize Colson as Nixon’s “Hatchet Man”. The only member of Nixon's cabinet to actually go to prison. However, for Chuck, prison was not the end but the beginning of an amazing life of faith and bringing transformation to thousands of prisoners around the world.

Porridge or Passion, Jonathan Aiken

Jonathan Aiken is not well known in the U.S. but was a rising political star in Great Britain. His downfall was both surprising and cataclysmic; yet in the middle of great trial, he found the missing piece . Aiken chronicles his journey with brilliance and candor (and a a little surprise for those who have read Chuck Colson’s book).

The Faith Puzzle
  • Home
  • About
  • The World Around
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  • The Missing Piece

Does faith make sense? Is God real? What is this journey of life really all about?

The Bible Says There is Only One Way to Heaven

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”—Romans 3:23

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”—Acts 3:19a

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.—Romans 10:9

The Bible tells us, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). God’s Son Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins—and He rose from the grave, defeating death. If you repent of your sin and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can have assurance that you will be saved from eternity in hell, and one day you will live in heaven with the Lord forever.

Are you ready to accept God’s gift of salvation by repenting of your sins and surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ?

A suggested prayer: Father, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask You to forgive me. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus. I believe that He died on the cross to save me from my sins. I believe that He rose from the grave. I receive Him now as my Lord, Savior, and Friend. I choose to repent and turn away from my sin, and I ask You to help me live for You each day. Thank You for giving me a new life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

To grow spiritually:

Pray
Pray to God—speak directly with God. It’s important to spend time praying every day. God says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Bible
Read the Bible—The Bible is like a love letter from God. It is filled with precious promises for you, and you can trust it to guide your life as you read it each day. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

Fellowship
Fellowship with believers—You need a Bible-believing church where you can meet Christian friends who encourage you. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Share
Tell others—Share your faith in Jesus Christ with the people you know. Pray that God will reveal when and how He wants you to share the Gospel. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples (Psalm 96:3).

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