But in this chess set where I am "playing" with the Lord, it is slightly different. It is still the same where i make my move... and God made His. Each time i move, God sees and then he makes His moves and i sees.
But the Lord is not here to beat me in this "game". His moves are not to harm me but to give me a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Whether i make a good move or a bad move on the chess set, the Lord moves in to protect and love me. When i make my move in the right direction, the Lord moves to opens His storehouse of blessings. When i make a wrong move, the Lord still moves in to love and pour His grace and mercy upon me so i can stand up again.
In this "game" of chess, there will eventually be 2 winners, God and myself. God wins when He moves to make me conform to His will and purpose, conforms into the likeness of His Son Jesus.
Beloved.... Isn't God good? The Lord moves to bless us... Our Lord is a good God. So rest assured that God moves for us to mould us and build us up and He does this to make us all Winners!
Glory to God!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Lord Will Not Withhold Any Good Things From Us
Have we ever wondered if the Lord will really bless us? Do we sometimes doubt that the Lord may just withhold something good from us when He can actually give it to us?
Before the fall, the Lord placed Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. The Lord gave them everything they ever need and even the authority to rule, subdue and multiply.
But Eve , when she was tempted by the serpent was convinced that the Lord was withholding something good from her. She thought that maybe God did not want the very best for her since he placed one restriction on her... ie. not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Eve was tempted and sinned, so did Adam.. her husband who was with her.
The Bible says in Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare his only Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also along with him, graciously give us all things?"
My friends.... the Lord is a good God and He who did not spare His son Jesus Christ, will not withhold any good things from us.
If anyone of us is facing struggles in our work, problems with our finances, somone sick at home, relationship troubles, let us not give up and say that the Lord has given this to us and so be it. My friends... how can God be glorified in these situations?
Let us approach the throne of grace boldly and pray to God... standing upon His promises and asking the Lord for victory and grace.
The Lord is our Great I Am. If there is a need for Healing, the Lord says ... I Am your Healer..., if a need for peace, the Lord says I Am your Shalom... If a need for provision, the Lord says I Am your Provider.Amen!
God is good all the time and will not withhold His love from us. So then let's believe in His goodness and in His faithfulness and not hold back in asking Him for Victory!
Glory to God!
Before the fall, the Lord placed Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. The Lord gave them everything they ever need and even the authority to rule, subdue and multiply.
But Eve , when she was tempted by the serpent was convinced that the Lord was withholding something good from her. She thought that maybe God did not want the very best for her since he placed one restriction on her... ie. not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Eve was tempted and sinned, so did Adam.. her husband who was with her.
The Bible says in Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare his only Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also along with him, graciously give us all things?"
My friends.... the Lord is a good God and He who did not spare His son Jesus Christ, will not withhold any good things from us.
If anyone of us is facing struggles in our work, problems with our finances, somone sick at home, relationship troubles, let us not give up and say that the Lord has given this to us and so be it. My friends... how can God be glorified in these situations?
Let us approach the throne of grace boldly and pray to God... standing upon His promises and asking the Lord for victory and grace.
The Lord is our Great I Am. If there is a need for Healing, the Lord says ... I Am your Healer..., if a need for peace, the Lord says I Am your Shalom... If a need for provision, the Lord says I Am your Provider.Amen!
God is good all the time and will not withhold His love from us. So then let's believe in His goodness and in His faithfulness and not hold back in asking Him for Victory!
Glory to God!
The Lord Is Fierce - Fiercely Devoted To You
My friends, do we sometimes picture our Lord Jesus as someone "soft"... , someone that is gentle...., mild and meek all the time...?
Do we picture him as someone who keeps quiet when others bully him, someone who smiles all the time and takes no offense at anyone even when they climb all over him..?
Well i do and it is not entirely wrong that the Lord really is a gentle and loving God. BUT he is definitely not weak and soft.
Consider the things He has done :
Who is the one who sent forth the flood and destroyed the whole earth except Noah and his family?
Who is the one whose fury burned against Pharoah and sends those horrible plagues to destroy the entire land of Eygpt except those where his people lived in?
Who is the one who created the mighty lion? Or the fearsome killer whales? Or the crocodile?
Who is the one who made the heavens? And also Hell...
My friends... the Lord is a might warrior... strong and courageous. He knows to fight and destroy... He knows to burned and wiped out his enemies. He is fierce..... and fiercely devoted in His love to you and I.
His love is so passionately strong that He dies on our cross.... not giving up but fiercely embraced the suffering for us... determined that He takes our place for us so that we can take His place in heaven.
He fiercely conquered that death that was meant for us and was raised Victorious!!
As the psalmist says : "One thing God has spoken. two things have i hear: that You, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord , are loving." Psalm 62:11-12
Let's embrace God's passionate love for us today and enjoy the protection that He gives to us. That He is strong and He is also loving.
Do we picture him as someone who keeps quiet when others bully him, someone who smiles all the time and takes no offense at anyone even when they climb all over him..?
Well i do and it is not entirely wrong that the Lord really is a gentle and loving God. BUT he is definitely not weak and soft.
Consider the things He has done :
Who is the one who sent forth the flood and destroyed the whole earth except Noah and his family?
Who is the one whose fury burned against Pharoah and sends those horrible plagues to destroy the entire land of Eygpt except those where his people lived in?
Who is the one who created the mighty lion? Or the fearsome killer whales? Or the crocodile?
Who is the one who made the heavens? And also Hell...
My friends... the Lord is a might warrior... strong and courageous. He knows to fight and destroy... He knows to burned and wiped out his enemies. He is fierce..... and fiercely devoted in His love to you and I.
His love is so passionately strong that He dies on our cross.... not giving up but fiercely embraced the suffering for us... determined that He takes our place for us so that we can take His place in heaven.
He fiercely conquered that death that was meant for us and was raised Victorious!!
As the psalmist says : "One thing God has spoken. two things have i hear: that You, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord , are loving." Psalm 62:11-12
Let's embrace God's passionate love for us today and enjoy the protection that He gives to us. That He is strong and He is also loving.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Wrestling Match With God - A Winner Emerges
My Friends if you are caught in a wrestling match with someone... you probably will stand a 50-50 chance of winning or losing. Your chances of winning is higher or lower depending on how weak or strong your oppnent is?
What happens if one day... the Lord allowed you to wrestled with Him?
The good news is this... In God's wrestling match... the Lord wants you to win! He wants you and I to prevail and win not because he is weaker tham us or that he gives in to our whims and fancies ... but because He wants to bless us out of that wrestling match.
You see.... our Lord don't have to win... He just wants us to learn something out of it so that he can bless us from what we have learnt! Isnt our God a good God? He first gives us the grace to learn and then rewards us after we have overcomed when in the first place it was His grace that helps us.
In the bible in Genesis 32:22-31 ... We find Jacob in a wrestling match with God. Not the typical WWF match that we see on TV, but a match where the Lord allowed Jacob to hold on to him. He allowed Jacob to come to the end of himself as he held on to God for his dear life that unless God bless him , he will not let God go. He does not want to die in the hands of his brother Esau.
Out of that wrestle, the Lord allowed Jacob to win and made him a Winner by also changing his name to Israel (He Struggles with God). Jacob has struggled with God and has overcomed! Verse 28
My friends... if you are in a situation now and you find yourself praying to the Lord and the Lord seems slow in responding.... dont give up because finally out of that wrestle... the Lord will make you a Winner in Him. He is just waiting for the right moment to turn your situation around and bless you.
God Bless!
What happens if one day... the Lord allowed you to wrestled with Him?
The good news is this... In God's wrestling match... the Lord wants you to win! He wants you and I to prevail and win not because he is weaker tham us or that he gives in to our whims and fancies ... but because He wants to bless us out of that wrestling match.
You see.... our Lord don't have to win... He just wants us to learn something out of it so that he can bless us from what we have learnt! Isnt our God a good God? He first gives us the grace to learn and then rewards us after we have overcomed when in the first place it was His grace that helps us.
In the bible in Genesis 32:22-31 ... We find Jacob in a wrestling match with God. Not the typical WWF match that we see on TV, but a match where the Lord allowed Jacob to hold on to him. He allowed Jacob to come to the end of himself as he held on to God for his dear life that unless God bless him , he will not let God go. He does not want to die in the hands of his brother Esau.
Out of that wrestle, the Lord allowed Jacob to win and made him a Winner by also changing his name to Israel (He Struggles with God). Jacob has struggled with God and has overcomed! Verse 28
My friends... if you are in a situation now and you find yourself praying to the Lord and the Lord seems slow in responding.... dont give up because finally out of that wrestle... the Lord will make you a Winner in Him. He is just waiting for the right moment to turn your situation around and bless you.
God Bless!
We Are The Righteousness Of God In Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5: 21 says " God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
We are not becoming but have becomed through the sacrifice of Christ the righteousness of God. Do you believe that? How much do you believe that?
In the new covenant that our Lord Jesus has established for us through his blood, He has fullfilled the law. There is no need to sacrifice an animal each time we sin or year after year by the high priest. Jesus says "It is finished". It isnt just in the physical atonement but also in the spiritual atonement of our lives.Not just that we can go to heaven when we die... but most importantly the Lord has given us fellowship with Him and wholeness in life before we see Him face to face.
We must have been very clean under the blood of Christ when we compare the present to the latter way of offering sacrifices and the ease of fellowshipping with the Lord now through the blood of Christ. The Bible says that the Lord will not with-hold any good things from us if He in the first place has not withheld His son.
If you think about it.... it is an overpayment for our sins. Because of the quality of the "lamb of God" that was offered on our place. Our sins can never outweigh the sacrifice of Christ. It is an overpayment.... So now how can we not be cleansed and be assured that God is pleased with the payment of our sins. Like the sacrifice in days of old, the Lord was crushed and beaten... torn in his flesh , limbs and organs broken... he was led like a lamb to the slaughter. His blood was drained and the Lord's fury burned upon Him. As the Father poured down His cup of judgement upon the Man who became sin on our behalf.. He did it so brutally that the work was finished and the justice of God fully met. The requirements of the law was fulfilled.
The Lord died in our place on the cross(our cross). He died in our place so we that we can take his place as sons and daughters of God. When the devil accuse us, we have the cross to show him that the justice is met and the atonement finished.
Let's live our lives remembering the finished work of the cross. It is finished!
We are not becoming but have becomed through the sacrifice of Christ the righteousness of God. Do you believe that? How much do you believe that?
In the new covenant that our Lord Jesus has established for us through his blood, He has fullfilled the law. There is no need to sacrifice an animal each time we sin or year after year by the high priest. Jesus says "It is finished". It isnt just in the physical atonement but also in the spiritual atonement of our lives.Not just that we can go to heaven when we die... but most importantly the Lord has given us fellowship with Him and wholeness in life before we see Him face to face.
We must have been very clean under the blood of Christ when we compare the present to the latter way of offering sacrifices and the ease of fellowshipping with the Lord now through the blood of Christ. The Bible says that the Lord will not with-hold any good things from us if He in the first place has not withheld His son.
If you think about it.... it is an overpayment for our sins. Because of the quality of the "lamb of God" that was offered on our place. Our sins can never outweigh the sacrifice of Christ. It is an overpayment.... So now how can we not be cleansed and be assured that God is pleased with the payment of our sins. Like the sacrifice in days of old, the Lord was crushed and beaten... torn in his flesh , limbs and organs broken... he was led like a lamb to the slaughter. His blood was drained and the Lord's fury burned upon Him. As the Father poured down His cup of judgement upon the Man who became sin on our behalf.. He did it so brutally that the work was finished and the justice of God fully met. The requirements of the law was fulfilled.
The Lord died in our place on the cross(our cross). He died in our place so we that we can take his place as sons and daughters of God. When the devil accuse us, we have the cross to show him that the justice is met and the atonement finished.
Let's live our lives remembering the finished work of the cross. It is finished!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Being the Disciple That Jesus Loves
I have learnt recently that there is a difference between saying "I am the Disciple that Jesus Loves" versus "I am the Disciple that loves Jesus". The former focuses on the love that Jesus has for him but the latter focuses on his love for Jesus.
Well... there is nothing really wrong in us proclaiming our love for God.... in fact the psalmists is always singing songs of praise and adoration to the Lord. But the difference between a love that lasts and a love that may falter lies in whose love we focus on.
In the Bible... the Lord always teaches us to focus on Him being the one who can sustain and empower us. 1 John 4:10 says that "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us....". The focus that the Holy Spirit is drawing us to see is on Himself and the Love that He can and meant to give to each of us.
In the Bible, Peter boasted about his own love for God in a way that his placed his confidence on his own love rather than on the great love of God for him. In Matthew 26:33, Peter said "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will". Seeing that Peter said it in the flesh... Jesus immediately said "I tell you the truth...... you will deny me three times".
John, the Disciple that Jesus loves, on the other hand remained rested in Jesus's bosom when Jesus said that someone in their midst will betray him. It was Peter... who boasted about his love for God who had to ask John to ask Jesus who it is that will betray him. John remained close to the Lord, unshaken and undeterred when he stood at the foot of the cross with Mary.
What gave John the strength and the courage to do so? The continual revelation of Jesus's love for him.
Do you want to be full of God's life in you?
Ephesians says this.."... that you being rooted and established in love, may have the power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Friends, when we focus on the love that Jesus has for us... we will be rested and confident that in everything we do, the Lord will work it out for our good, both in the good times as well as in the bad times. And the growing in this revelation of God;s love for us will fill us to the measure of all of God's fullness in our lives.
When trouble comes.... we know that the Lord loves us deeply and will stand alongside with us. When we fall... we know that the Lord still loves us so much that He will lift us up to walk with Him in victory again!
He has first loved and provided for us all that we need in life when He died and finished the work on the cross.
What a wonderful God we serve! Let's grow each day, hearing more and learning more about how much the Lord loves us. God bless!
Well... there is nothing really wrong in us proclaiming our love for God.... in fact the psalmists is always singing songs of praise and adoration to the Lord. But the difference between a love that lasts and a love that may falter lies in whose love we focus on.
In the Bible... the Lord always teaches us to focus on Him being the one who can sustain and empower us. 1 John 4:10 says that "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us....". The focus that the Holy Spirit is drawing us to see is on Himself and the Love that He can and meant to give to each of us.
In the Bible, Peter boasted about his own love for God in a way that his placed his confidence on his own love rather than on the great love of God for him. In Matthew 26:33, Peter said "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will". Seeing that Peter said it in the flesh... Jesus immediately said "I tell you the truth...... you will deny me three times".
John, the Disciple that Jesus loves, on the other hand remained rested in Jesus's bosom when Jesus said that someone in their midst will betray him. It was Peter... who boasted about his love for God who had to ask John to ask Jesus who it is that will betray him. John remained close to the Lord, unshaken and undeterred when he stood at the foot of the cross with Mary.
What gave John the strength and the courage to do so? The continual revelation of Jesus's love for him.
Do you want to be full of God's life in you?
Ephesians says this.."... that you being rooted and established in love, may have the power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Friends, when we focus on the love that Jesus has for us... we will be rested and confident that in everything we do, the Lord will work it out for our good, both in the good times as well as in the bad times. And the growing in this revelation of God;s love for us will fill us to the measure of all of God's fullness in our lives.
When trouble comes.... we know that the Lord loves us deeply and will stand alongside with us. When we fall... we know that the Lord still loves us so much that He will lift us up to walk with Him in victory again!
He has first loved and provided for us all that we need in life when He died and finished the work on the cross.
What a wonderful God we serve! Let's grow each day, hearing more and learning more about how much the Lord loves us. God bless!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Why Does God Allow Evil?by Rick Warren
The horrific mass murder of innocent Americans leaves all rational people shocked, angry, grief-stricken and numb. Our tears flow freely and our hearts carry a deep ache. How could this happen in our nation?
As mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors and coworkers begin to share their stories of the horror, this tragedy will become even more personal. As it becomes more personal, it will become more painful, and as our pain deepens, so will the questions. Why does God allow evil to happen? If God is so great and so good, why does he allow human beings to hurt each other?
The answer lies in both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: our capacity to make choices. God has given us a free will. Made in God's image, he has given us the freedom to decide how we will act and the ability to make moral choices. This is one asset that sets us apart from animals, but it also is the source of so much pain in our world. People, and that includes all of us, often make selfish, self-centered and evil choices. Whenever that happens, people get hurt.
Sin is ultimately selfishness. I want to do what I want, not what God tells me to do. Unfortunately, sin always hurts others, not just ourselves.
God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing our ability to choose it. He could have made us puppets, or marionettes on strings that he pulls. By taking away our ability to choose it, evil would vanish. But God doesn't want us to be puppets. He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love is not genuine if there is no other option.
Yes, God could have kept the terrorists from completing their suicidal missions by removing their ability to choose their own will instead of his. But to be fair, God also would have to do that to all of us. You and I are not terrorists, but we do harm and hurt others with our own selfish decisions and actions.
You may hear misguided minds say, "This must have been God's will." Nonsense!
In a world of free choices, God's will is rarely done! Doing our own will is much more common. Don't blame God for this tragedy. Blame people who ignored what God has told us to do: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
In heaven, God's will is done perfectly. That's why there is no sorrow, pain or evil there. But this is earth, a fallen, imperfect place. We must choose to do God's will everyday. It isn't automatic. This is why Jesus told us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
The Bible explains the root of evil: "This is the crisis we're in: God's light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness ... because they were not really interested in pleasing God" (John 3:19, Message Translation). We're far more interested in pleasing ourselves.
There are many other questions that race through our minds during dark days. But the answers will not come from pollsters, pundits or politicians. We must look to God and his Word. We must humble ourselves and admit that each of us often choose to ignore what God wants us to do.
No doubt houses of worship across America will be packed in the coming days. In a crisis we cry out for a connection with our Creator. This is a deep-seated, universal urge. The first words uttered by millions on Sept. 11 were "Oh God!"
We were made for a relationship with God, but he waits for us to choose him. He is ready to comfort, guide and direct us through our grief. But it's your choice.
Churches and ministries may reprint this article with the following attribution: Used by permission of Pastors.com, c. 2001.
As mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors and coworkers begin to share their stories of the horror, this tragedy will become even more personal. As it becomes more personal, it will become more painful, and as our pain deepens, so will the questions. Why does God allow evil to happen? If God is so great and so good, why does he allow human beings to hurt each other?
The answer lies in both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: our capacity to make choices. God has given us a free will. Made in God's image, he has given us the freedom to decide how we will act and the ability to make moral choices. This is one asset that sets us apart from animals, but it also is the source of so much pain in our world. People, and that includes all of us, often make selfish, self-centered and evil choices. Whenever that happens, people get hurt.
Sin is ultimately selfishness. I want to do what I want, not what God tells me to do. Unfortunately, sin always hurts others, not just ourselves.
God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing our ability to choose it. He could have made us puppets, or marionettes on strings that he pulls. By taking away our ability to choose it, evil would vanish. But God doesn't want us to be puppets. He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love is not genuine if there is no other option.
Yes, God could have kept the terrorists from completing their suicidal missions by removing their ability to choose their own will instead of his. But to be fair, God also would have to do that to all of us. You and I are not terrorists, but we do harm and hurt others with our own selfish decisions and actions.
You may hear misguided minds say, "This must have been God's will." Nonsense!
In a world of free choices, God's will is rarely done! Doing our own will is much more common. Don't blame God for this tragedy. Blame people who ignored what God has told us to do: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
In heaven, God's will is done perfectly. That's why there is no sorrow, pain or evil there. But this is earth, a fallen, imperfect place. We must choose to do God's will everyday. It isn't automatic. This is why Jesus told us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
The Bible explains the root of evil: "This is the crisis we're in: God's light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness ... because they were not really interested in pleasing God" (John 3:19, Message Translation). We're far more interested in pleasing ourselves.
There are many other questions that race through our minds during dark days. But the answers will not come from pollsters, pundits or politicians. We must look to God and his Word. We must humble ourselves and admit that each of us often choose to ignore what God wants us to do.
No doubt houses of worship across America will be packed in the coming days. In a crisis we cry out for a connection with our Creator. This is a deep-seated, universal urge. The first words uttered by millions on Sept. 11 were "Oh God!"
We were made for a relationship with God, but he waits for us to choose him. He is ready to comfort, guide and direct us through our grief. But it's your choice.
Churches and ministries may reprint this article with the following attribution: Used by permission of Pastors.com, c. 2001.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The DIFFERENCE Between Science and God
> > > > 'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his> > new students to stand.
> > > > 'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
> > > > 'Yes sir,' the student says.
> > > > 'So you believe in God?'
> > > > 'Absolutely.'
> > > > 'Is God good?'
> > > > 'Sure! God's good.'
> > > > 'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
> > > > 'Yes.'
> > > > 'Are you good or evil?'
> > > > 'The Bible says I'm evil.'
> > > > The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.
> > > > 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you
> > can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
> > > > 'Yes sir, I would.'
> > > > 'So you're good...!'
> > > > 'I wouldn't say that.'
> > > > 'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
> > > > The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'
>>>>The student remains silent.
> > > > 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
> > > > 'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'
> > > > 'Er...yes,' the student says.
> > > > 'Is Satan good?'
> > > > The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
> > > > 'Then where does Satan come from?'
> > > > The student : 'From...God...'
> > > > 'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there
> > evil in this world?'
> > > > 'Yes, sir.' 'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
> > > > 'Yes.'
>>>> 'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
> > > > Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:
> > 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'>
> > > The student: 'Yes.'
> > > > 'So who created them?'
> > > > The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
> > >> 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
> > > > The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
> > > > The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
> > > > 'No sir. I've never seen Him'
> > > > 'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
> > > > 'No, sir, I have not.'
> > > > 'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
> > > > 'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
> > > > 'Yet you still believe in him?'
> > > > 'Yes.'
> > > > 'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
> > > > 'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
> > > > 'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
> > > > The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
> > > > 'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
> > > > 'And is there such a thing as cold?'
> > > > 'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
> > > > 'No sir, there isn't.'
> > > > The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
> > > > 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
>>>> You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'
> > > > Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
> > > > 'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
> > > > 'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
> > > > 'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright> > light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have> > Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
> > > > The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
>> This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
> > > > 'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
> > > > The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
> >>> 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
> > > > 'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life> > is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
> > > > 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
> > > > 'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'
> > > > 'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
> > > > The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
>>>>'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'
> > > > The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the Commotion has subsided.
> > > > 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
> > > > The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.
> > > > 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
> > > > Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
> > > > Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
> > > > 'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
> > > > Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
> > > > To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
> > > > God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'
> > > > The professor sat down
> > > > 'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
> > > > 'Yes sir,' the student says.
> > > > 'So you believe in God?'
> > > > 'Absolutely.'
> > > > 'Is God good?'
> > > > 'Sure! God's good.'
> > > > 'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
> > > > 'Yes.'
> > > > 'Are you good or evil?'
> > > > 'The Bible says I'm evil.'
> > > > The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.
> > > > 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you
> > can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
> > > > 'Yes sir, I would.'
> > > > 'So you're good...!'
> > > > 'I wouldn't say that.'
> > > > 'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
> > > > The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'
>>>>The student remains silent.
> > > > 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
> > > > 'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'
> > > > 'Er...yes,' the student says.
> > > > 'Is Satan good?'
> > > > The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
> > > > 'Then where does Satan come from?'
> > > > The student : 'From...God...'
> > > > 'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there
> > evil in this world?'
> > > > 'Yes, sir.' 'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
> > > > 'Yes.'
>>>> 'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
> > > > Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:
> > 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'>
> > > The student: 'Yes.'
> > > > 'So who created them?'
> > > > The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
> > >> 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
> > > > The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
> > > > The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
> > > > 'No sir. I've never seen Him'
> > > > 'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
> > > > 'No, sir, I have not.'
> > > > 'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
> > > > 'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
> > > > 'Yet you still believe in him?'
> > > > 'Yes.'
> > > > 'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
> > > > 'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
> > > > 'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
> > > > The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
> > > > 'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
> > > > 'And is there such a thing as cold?'
> > > > 'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
> > > > 'No sir, there isn't.'
> > > > The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
> > > > 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
>>>> You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'
> > > > Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
> > > > 'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
> > > > 'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
> > > > 'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright> > light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have> > Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
> > > > The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
>> This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
> > > > 'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
> > > > The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
> >>> 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
> > > > 'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life> > is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
> > > > 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
> > > > 'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'
> > > > 'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
> > > > The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
>>>>'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'
> > > > The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the Commotion has subsided.
> > > > 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
> > > > The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.
> > > > 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
> > > > Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
> > > > Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
> > > > 'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
> > > > Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
> > > > To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
> > > > God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'
> > > > The professor sat down
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