YF and the Holiday Programme!

Thinking of... what to blog about.

Today is Sunday! And Sunday means going to Youth Fellowship at the Adelphi, #07-03, at 11am where we worship God, and listen to testimonies and the occasional lecturer. Most of the time we break up for cell group, where we do Bible Study. And we get to catch up with friends.

And oh yes... the guys-in-charge there have a special Holiday programme lined up.
On 4th December, Thursday... Movie Marathon from 10am to 6pm.
On 11th December, Thursday... Lord of the Rings Movie Marathon from 10am to 6pm. Showing "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers".
On 19th December, Friday... Board Games Day from 10am to 5pm!
On the 25th (!) there is a Christmas Service from 11am to 12.30 pm, followed by lunch :)
And on the 28th of the same month, Sunday... it's Sports Day, 10am to 4pm! Location not sure yet though...

All are at the Adelphi, #07-03, opposite Funan IT Mall. Please come (yes, you who are reading this)! For the movies... bring your own snacks. And erm... if you don't know where it is, tell me below. Ok?

This morning... was really interesting. :) [thinks really hard about what I wanted to say]
Michelle, the head of YF, was talking about how she was leaving for the States next year. She's getting married, so there'll be some adjustments made. She introduced us to Chosen Generation (CG for short) and about its history and its future. It turns out that next year would be exciting. Though I'm not that much on fire for Christ yet. There will be more mission trips to the mission field. Like Myanmar, Tibet, Thailand, Philippines... scary.

And then she talked about this story in the Bible, about Jesus and the adulteress, whom the Pharisees brought to Him to condemn.
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John 8:1-11
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
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Some people say that when Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand, He was writing the 10 Commandments, and when the Pharisees saw what He had written, they realised, "Oops... that's me. I didn't honour my father and mother" or "Oops... I murdered someone." Then they went away full of shame. Other more charismatic people say that God gave Jesus words of knowledge, that when He wrote in the sand, He knew exactly what each Pharisee had done, and when they read the words, they went away convicted. But whatever it is, it made them go away.
But who was the only one in the crowd without sin? It was Jesus, who was perfect and lived a sinless life. He had the right to throw a stone at her. But He didn't. Instead, He looked at her with compassion, and forgave her.

And Jesus is so cool too! He knew how to play a pun on the words 'leave' and 'live'. 'Leave your life of sin' is entirely opposite from 'live your life of sin'. :)
This brings to mind Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

And then I realised another thing.
This morning my mother and my younger sister were quarrelling. My mother was accusing my sister of being self-centred as I saw it. And my sister was defending herself, that she was being protective of our littlest sister.
And then I was able to see both sides of the issue strangely enough. I can't explain it any other way, other than the Holy Spirit was giving me wisdom on how to speak.
John 14:26 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. "
And I remembered that only God knew what is really inside our hearts. No one else knows, not even Satan, your bestest friend, or your mother. We leave it to God to judge. In the meantime we let the Spirit work in us, letting Him change us into something better. And it doesn't matter if you can't keep up with expectations, because Jesus accepts us just as we are, cleansing our sins with His blood, a dear price He paid for us who are not worthy of His love.
...
:)
At the start of the worship time, the worship leader Lynette told us of 2 Samuel 6:14-15.
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

Imagine King David, king of Israel and Judah, wearing his linen ephod, the equivalent of undergarments, dancing with all his might, his 100 percent, in the streets, in the public for all to see, just to bring joy to the Lord! It's quite unbelievable.
So when we worship, we should put in 100 percent as well, not caring about how silly you look, or what others would think... you worship to bring joy to the Lord, to praise Him for how much He is worth to you.
And dance and sing to your fullest!

:):):) Lots of smiley faces today. For He has made me glad :)

Thinking of... the people who Satan has ensnared, stuck and refusing God's help.

With God, everything is possible...
Because I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me!

[Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."]

I don't know how to talk effectively. But no matter because [points above] everything is possible with God.

Funny Conversation just took place.
My sister was in school, and she called from the payphone to home, asking if we were picking her up.
Just when I answered, she suddenly said, "Hello? Hello? Why are you not answering?"
And there I was nearly shouting into the receiver, saying "Hello? Can you hear me?"
[obviously something wrong with the connection]
It was as if I could hear her, but not answer, and she could answer me, but not hear me at all. Like a great chasm that works like a one-way mirror, just that it handles audio.

And then I thought back to this discussion, which I just visited and was in a great muddle about, where there were Christians and non-Christians arguing about whether the Bible and Creation were true, and about evolution. Both sides presented chunks of facts and arguments...[message count at 288!] but both sides were just shouting back at each other.
It was just like the non-Christians shouting at the Christians, asking for answers, and the Christians hearing everything, but unable to get their answers back at the other side. Maybe it's spiritual, that the 'god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.' (2 Corinthians 4:4)
I think God just showed me how it is in the spiritual realm.

2 Cor. 4:5
"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake."

And then for the past few days, while I felt like I was walking in the darkness of a dry desert... God has shown me how wise He is, and He has humbled me too. For the past week, I had been showing false humility... But in this time of trial, where it was as if all the things of the world were silenced, when I felt as if God wasn't even there, where nothing brought me joy, even prayer or worship... God has carried me through it. I have learned so many things. I know that nothing else can bring joy except knowing God. All these because God has provided it.

Isaiah 50:10
"Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God."

:Feeling sort of positive now, but still walking:

And this was posted in the Christianity.com Forums here:
"The Dark Night of the Soul" is a term coined by Jt. John of the Cross. One might think this is a negative experience, but it is not. It may be a time of spiritual work, much like surgery is to a sick person. It is a time of deliverance; it draws us closer to Jesus into that deeper place.

How does one know if they are experiencing such a thing? I have felt aloneness... as if God wasn't there. I've even felt lost. Perhaps dry spiritually. Ones emotions can be numb. It may be a period of letdown after a spiritual high. I have felt a loss of longing.. to even read or pray. Nothing seems to satisfy: not the preaching nor the worship. Not from the effects of disobedience, but knowing that you are in right standing, yet also knowing you aren't touching heaven nor is heaven touching you.

Is. 50:10 "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God?" This is not a description of a disobedient child of God; it is a righteous one who is walking in darkness!

What affect does this darkness have? All the appetites of a man are quieted.. no desire for anything prevails. All the senses are quieted.. doesn't want to look, see, hear, eat, or smell anything. Just a feeling of "nothing is worth any effort." How is this a good thing? All the trivialities of life are quieted and put to death so that the virtues can be awakened. No more selfishness, no more useless activity, no more pride, no more false joy.. it all dies away.

Is this suffering to be rejected? Having been through this, I know you may want to fix it, but don't. Be faithful to God and cling to what you last knew as well as a hope for the future. Patience will have it's perfect work in this darkness. Don't try to explain this to anyone, just endure and be transformed. Withdraw when you can (Jesus withdrew to himself). Keep yourself in a deep, inner, listening silence.

"God is freeing you from yourself and taking from you your own activity." St. John of the Cross. It is a deeper death to self so that we may be resurrected in newer, deeper life. A deeper relationship with our Lord, Jesus.

:):):) God is Goooooooooooooooooooooood.

Thinking of... Super Duper Sumos (my little sis was watching it)

Lord, now I know how you would feel when I leave you for another thing, or person.
What am I to do?!

Thinking of... Jesus

The Cave People

Long ago, or maybe not so long ago, there was a tribe in a dark, cold cavern. The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill. Loud and long they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds in the cave were mournful, but the people didn't know it, for they had never known joy. The spirit in the cave was death, but the people didn't know it, for they had never known life.

But then, one day, they heard a different voice. "I have heard your cries," it announced. "I have felt your chill and seen your darkness. I have come to help."

The cave people grew quiet. They had never heard this voice. hope sounded strange to their ears. "How can we know you have come to help?"

"Trust me," he answered. "I have what you need."

The cave people peered through the darkness at the figure of the stranger. He was stacking something, then stooping and stacking more.

"What are you doing?" one cried, nervous.

The stranger didn't answer.

"What are you making?" one shouted even louder.

Still no response.

"Tell us!" demanded a third.

The visitor stood and spoke in the direction of the voices. "I have what you need." With that he turned to the pile at his feet and lit it. Wood ignited, flames erupted, and light filled the cavern.

The cave people turned away in fear. "Put it out!" they cried. "It hurts to see it."

"Light always hurts before it helps," he answered. "Step closer. The pain will soon pass."

"Not I," declared a voice.

"Nor I," agreed a second.

"Only a fool would risk exposing his eyes to such light."

The stranger stood next to the fire. "Would you prefer the darkness? Would you prefer the cold? Don't consult your fears. Take a step of faith"

For a long time no one spoke. The people hovered in groups covering their eyes. The fire builder stood next to the fire. "It's warm here," he invited.

"He's right," one from behind him announced. "It's warmer." The stranger turned a saw a figure slowly stepping toward the fire. "I can open my eyes now," she proclaimed. "I can see."

"Come closer," invited the fire builder.

She did. She stepped into the ring of light.

"It's so warm!" she extended her hands and sighed as her chill began to pass.

"Come, everyone! Feel the warmth," she invited.

"Silence, woman!" cried one of the cave dwellers. "Dare you lead us into your folly? Leave us. Leave us and take your light with you."

She turned to the stranger. "Why won't they come?"

"They choose the chill, for though it's cold, it's what they know. They'd rather be cold than change."

"And live in the dark?"

"And live in the dark."

The now-warm woman stood silent. Looking first at the dark, then at the man.

"Will you leave the fire?" he asked.

She paused, then answered, "I cannot. I cannot bear the cold." Then she spoke again. "But nor can I bear the thought of my people in darkness."

"You don't have to," he responded, reaching into the fire and removing a stick. "Carry this to your people. Tell them the light is here, and the light is warm. Tell them the light is for all who desire it."

And so she took the small flame and stepped into the shadows.

Max Lucado's
The Woodcutter's Wisdom and Other Favorite Stories

Another one from the Christianity.com Forums ::here::

Thinking of... Life

I have absolutely no social skills at all. Thus the awkward silence you get from me.
But Jesus knows what's inside of my heart. I don't know myself. The heart is deceptive.
I just can't put my feelings into words. I'm lousy at literature. Even after CAP.

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Thinking of... CAP

Out here in the field
Not everybody wants to hear you
To see you
To know you
For all you know, you might just be a plain jane
A party pooper
Or just really boring.
In frustration you look to all others
Who have in the past listened to you
Noticed you
Sympathised with you
And they don't reply.
Where would you go to then?
The answer: Almighty God
Wonderful Counsellor
My Shepherd
A Friend who knows all your thoughts
And, despite all your prickliness and thorns
Which deter all other people
He has an amazing ability to love
Even hypocrites
Know-it-alls
Smart alecs
Holier-than-thous
Aliens
Or the one that just doesn't fit in.
He has an amazing ability to listen to you
Comfort you
Guide you
And just pick you up in a gentle bearhug.
He is my Lord and my Shepherd
Able to do everything
Able to be everywhere at once
Able to carry me through the hard times.
Under the shadow of His wings
You will be loved.

My grandmother has fallen
Fallen she has
And zoom! In a flash she is in a hospital bed.
Looking at her in that dim room
I see five others
All with that faraway look
With that same pink pajamas
With the same greying hair
All lying back.
Some have visitors, some do not
Some have loving attention, others don't.
I look at the IV drip, liquid going in
I look at the urine bag, liquid going out.
Out there, the clouds gather in dark sponges that look wet and threatening.
My grandmother's legs are cold
I massage it for her
Trying to get some life back into her veins
She complains about the nurses
The doctors, the care they give
My mother feeds her
And she says:
"When you are young, your mother feeds you,
When you are old, you feed your mother."
And I see her, looking like the mother my grandmother was
Stooping over her, gentle words to encourage eating.
In the corner ward, an old lady snores
My mother says she sleeps all day and all night
She has a stroke;
But she is conscious while she sleeps
And when her children visit
It is only for a short while
It is getting dark
My grandmother wants us to leave
And I imagine how it is to sleep here at night
Nodding off, waking up again
Looking at five other beds
Just like yours
Looking at the outside world
Through a row of slanted stained glass pieces
With no one to remind you of the family you have
No one to look and listen to you
I hold my grandmother's hand and squeeze it
Trying to offer her comfort
We cannot bear to leave
Slowly, as day progresses
As visitors leave
We wash our hands, pick up our bags
And plod slowly to the door
I look out to the corridor
An entire row of similar rooms like this
Each a scenario, a situation, not that different
I look back at my grandmother
She gazes blankly at an unknown object
On a mimed shelf
And we fade into our own worlds of thought and thinking, living for ourselves
Forgetting that reminder of our own mortality.

Tell me how to write a poem please
I have no idea how to do it
Tell me how to write so that
Critics will pick it
Students will analyse it
And teachers will pluck every remaining feather from it, visible or not
I write my thoughts out
And see people discovering things that weren't there
See professors examine it under a large magnifying glass
And I wonder, what exactly goes on in my head.
Tell me how to write with hidden purpose and motives
Whether I know it or not
Will I be famous?
A century after, and have people knowing it?
Slap myself
It will be forgotten, read once and forgotten
Just to give amusement
Just to entertain
Just to pick up your train of thought once, and set it back on its tracks again.

Hello. Three poems of emotions and feelings to warp your heads.

My surface thoughts after CAP camp.

Thinking of... CAP Camp and all the people I met.
Mode: Sad, reflective, confused, frustrated, wants to share Christ.

Repeat: CAP Camp is over.
I've been treating it like an anti-Christian thing. Life is not just about writing poems, meeting other poets, reflecting on the sad, pathetic state of the world, and living in the lap of luxury.
From the first day when Dr. Chris Mann talked about Cosmic Dust, I understood why God allowed me to read about Evolution and Creation the week before. I don't believe that Jesus is just a shade who hangs around talking to you, like the people who lived and died and who met you and hang around as those who speak to you. Jesus is not a shade. He created the world, He died for our sins, He's the most important part of my life, He... is God. He's not just the Man from Nazareth who is unassociated with us. As God also, He knows each and every one of our thoughts and motives in our hearts.
I'll be quite honest and blunt here. CAP camp, with its 12-hour thing, didn't allow for a time where I could get lots of open spaces and quietness (no people around!) to reflect. Even when I got home, I just didn't feel like it. I confess it's my fault mostly, because I slowly put myself in control of my life. Jesus was back there somewhere in my head.
Fine, I am confused and frustrated.
I've met people who angered me, I've met people who were previously strangers. But the times when I sat down and talked to God, getting to know Him and not all about Him, helped me to talk to others without knowing all about them, just knowing them. I've tried really hard. I just feel defeated.
I remember the guys around my age band, how I shamelessly tried to flirt and act cute when I was not thinking clearly most of the time. I feel like a hypocrite, liar, helplessly flustering. Without God, I am just a coward, pretender, and He-knows-what.
But in God's eyes, I am God's beloved.
I need to catch up on quiet time and prayer.
Maybe I'm just the foolish man who built his house on sand, and when the storm came, it battered my house on its foundation on sand.

The Winner
Author Unknown

I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game - - a serious game -- two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing - I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same.

The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn't seem to care. They were having fun.

In the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who now guarded the goal.

The game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you're five years old -- because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them. Team Two swarmed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalie. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalie gave it everything he had, recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them.

Team Two scored two goals in quick succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac -- shouting, running, diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late -- they scored a third goal.

I soon learned who the goalie's parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office -- he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was no use; he couldn't stop them.

He didn't quit, but he became quietly desperate futility was written all over him. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder - yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay - to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling.

After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I've seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed to the referee - and then he cried.

He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees and put his fists to his eyes - and he cried the tears of the helpless and brokenhearted.

When the boy went to his knees, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife clutched his arm and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass him." But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn't supposed to - the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes, and all - he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I've never been so proud of a man in my life.

He carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son."

"Daddy," the boy sobbed, "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried, and they scored on me."

"Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they scored on you. You're my son, and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And, son, you're going to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. Go on, now."

It made a difference - I could tell it did.

When you're all alone, and you're getting scored on - and you can't stop them - it means a lot to know that it doesn't matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field - and they scored two more times - but it was okay.


I get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage. I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being - and Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees - sinful, convicted, helpless.

And my Father - my Father rushes right out on the field - right in front of the whole crowd - the whole jeering, laughing world - and he picks me up, and he hugs me and he says, "John, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son, and because I control the outcome of this game, I declare you -- The Winner."

I posted this because... it reminds me of God's love.
And I am telling you, Christianity is not legalism. Being a Christian doesn't mean going to church only because it's a family activity, or you have to because it's a tradition. To be a Christian means to follow Christ. "Follower of Christ".
Christianity is not a religion. You don't have to be overtly religious. To sing of a love that you've experienced, to pray and spend time in God's presence for half an hour everyday... it's not being religious. It's more natural.
He is knocking on the door to your heart. Let Him in.

How Shall They Hear

Have you taken time my friend, to share a smile today?
Or listened to the voice inside that burdens you to pray
So many friends and neighbors, so many close at hand
Have never heard the gospel or of the promised land

What is it that we wait for, to share the words of love
About the Saviors freedom or our heavenly home above
Do you know your neighbor or a friend that lives so near?
Will they come to know Him if we don't overcome our fear?

We have within our hearts my friend, the answer to it all
But our silence hurts the Kingdom when we fail to make a call
How will they find this peace we have if we don't take the time
To see if friends and neighbors, have this peace of mind

How shall they hear, if we don't speak a word about the cross
And of our Saviors who came to die, for a world that is so lost
Take time today to share a word, no matter what the cost
Of what the Lord has done for you, when you met Him at the cross

::Found at Christianity.com Forums, posted by peacetoall here.::

3 Reasons why we need Jesus

Posted by Lesley: Nov 15, 2003, 9:55 PM


Someone asked me today why do I need Jesus.

So this is to remind me and any others that may need to be reminded of how we really need Jesus!

1.... Because we have a past.... We cannot go back, but HE can. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean and give us a new beginning.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

2.... Because we need a friend. Jesus knows the worst about us, yet HE believes the best. Why? Because HE sees us not as we are, but as we will be when HE gets through with us. What a friend!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

3.... Because HE holds the future. Who else are we going to trust? In HIS hands we are safe and secure - today, tomorrow, and for all eternity. HIS Word says, "For I know the plans I have for you... Plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray; I will listen" (Jeremiah 29:11)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

::Taken from here.

Thinking of... evolution and creation.

A tale of two fleas
by Carl Wieland

Imagine a colony of fleas living inside a motor car, the only home they have ever known. Two of them- let's call them C and E-begin to scientifically investigate this world of theirs. By studying the processes going on in the car, they discover all the basic laws of chemistry and physics- motion, gravity, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and so on.

Everything they have learned can be proved by repeatable experiments, so they eventually agree on every conclusion. Finally a young flea asks them a fateful question: 'How did this car come about in the first place?'

C: 'That's obvious- it has been built at some time in the past by an intelligent designer.'
E: 'Whaaat? I never heard you talk like that before. Oh, I know, you're one of those religious cranks who believes in that book in the glove compartment, the manual, supposedly written by this designer. Don't you know that our best Fleabrew scholars now agree that it is a bunch of myths written by pre-scientific nomadic desert fleas?'

C: 'How do you account for the car, then, without a maker?'
E: 'Please don't get me wrong- you can believe in a maker if you wish, but you have to realize we can't teach that to young fleas in science classes. Obviously, the scientific processes and laws which we have been studying are and have been slowly and gradually building this car up from simpler substances.'

C: 'You must be aware of some of the tremendous scientific difficulties with such an idea.'

E: 'All scientific ideas have difficulties, and I'm working on these. But I'm open-minded enough to change my ideas on how this car evolved as further research results come in.'

C: 'Would you change your ideas on whether it evolved?'

E: 'How could I? The only alternative to evolution of this car is its creation, and that would be a religious idea, not a scientific one. It would mean relying on a process (creation) which we can no longer observe, and a maker whom we cannot see. I'm surprised at a scientist like you holding to such mystical ideas.'

C: 'Actually, it's my science that's helped me to conclude that there must be a maker. You must realize that you can't run an experiment to prove your ideas either.'

E: 'Now that's unfair. You know how slowly iron filings are deposited into the crankcase- it would take hundreds of millions of years for them to coalesce into a new crankshaft. But at least we can see something happening.'

C: 'Your philosophy seems to stop you from even considering the possibility that there really is a car-maker. If there were, would you expect to be able to study the (past) processes of car-making, or the maker? Actually, I think the idea that there was a maker is much more scientifically valid than yours.'

E: 'What do you mean?'

C: 'Well, the the things we observe happening in the car fit better with the idea that it was once made and is now wearing out. Do you remember that second law of thermodynamics we discovered? Overall, everything in this car is wearing out, running down. None of the scientific processes that we have studied has the ability to make this car. I think this is very good evidence for creation. And this evidence is consistent with the book that claims to be the maker's manual, so it makes good sense to believe what it says.

Another important evidence for creation is the organization of the components of this car- that is, the relationship between its parts. You see, a coil has no natural tendency to line up with a distributor and a spark plug in such a way as to make a spark- when these three parts work together, they are all obeying the laws of science- no mysterious processes are at work.

Yet everything we know about them forces us to the conclusion that they must have had that order, that relationship, that purpose if you like [E shudders at this point] imposed upon them from outside originally. This is positive evidence for creation. You yourself recognize evidence for creation- if you see a beautiful painting, say a Van Fleagh, you recognize it as the result of creative intelligence. You know this because you know that canvas and oils have no natural tendency to come together in that way. You recognize creation although you may never see the creator or the act of creation.'

E: 'I can see the point you're making, but... I refuse to believe there's anybody out there...'.


::Taken from here::

Thinking of... php, b2, greymatter, ftp... because I just read about them.

You know those views through the camera where the image is all blurry because of the focus?
I've lost my focus, moving too far away from Jesus. Help. Now I need to refocus.
Once, you had it all clear, ready to shoot the amazing view, but then a sudden noise at the side disturbs you.
You pause and think the side-noise is more important. Then you swivel your camera to the side.
When you discover that it is but a passing breeze, you swivel your camera back.
But to your frustration, you can't get the exact view that you had just now.
You have to find it all over again.

That's how I feel now.

I had a clear view of Jesus this morning.
But I chose to turn away to the Internet, games and seeking knowledge.
Now I feel distanced.

Visit the 2/13 site!

Thinking of... "Trust in the Lord".

The Uniqueness of Christianity

All religions agree that mankind is in a mess. The Bible puts it this way: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6). Each religion sets out its own way of rescuing us from this desperate situation. Let us think of the problem as that of a man who has fallen down a deep well. The question is how to get him out.

First comes Mohammed who looks over the top of the well and says; "if you will only keep the five rules of Islam then you will be able to escape from the well. You must pray five times a day, eat no pork, drink no alcohol, keep the feast of Ramadan and make the pilgrimage to Mecca".

Contemporary Rabbinic Judaism is no different. They will pile on the man more rules and regulations based on the 10 commandments. "Keep the Law" and you will be accepted. But a man has only his own strength to keep these commandments, so after a few steps up he falls back again and cries out for help.

Then comes Buddha who looks over the top of the well and says: "I can see You are in a mess; the problem is due to pain and desire. If you follow the noble eightfold path you will escape from these ultimately into Nirvana." The man may find inner peace but he is still down the well.

Jesus comes to the top of the well and looks down and says: "I can see that you are in a mess; you will never get out by means of your own resources. As I said through one of my prophets: "Can the leopard change his spots or the Ethiopian his skin? No more can do good who are accustomed to do evil." Jeremiah 13: 23.

"I will have to let down a rope and come down into the well myself in order to rescue you. I will hold you firmly because you do not even have the strength to hold on to me yourself."

Only Christianity speaks about God becoming a human being to rescue us. In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd (10:11, 14), the Good shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep (10:15), who draws all true worshippers together into one fold (10:16).

On what evidence do Christians base this claim that Jesus is the only way? Mainly on Jesus' own words. Jesus claimed to be the only Saviour "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). From His own words, both Jesus' followers and his opponents recognized that He claimed to be God, the only one able to save us from sin and death (see also John 20:24-29; John 10:31-33).

:: Read more from here ::

My cousin, who is 30 plus and a non-Christian, was discussing with me about all religions leading to God, just the other day when we dropped by for a visit. She thinks that God has all these caretakers (e.g. Gods of other religions) to take care of the people, just like a principal needs deans and clerks.
This is not the case. I forgot to mention to her about the importance of salvation.
She says she believes there is a God, but I didn't question her about whether she believed Jesus was the only way to God.
I admit it. That day I was feeling spiritually weak and rather down. I wasn't in the mood for interacting. So I holed up myself in this corner and started talking to her about it. And I made a pretty weak stand for what I believed in... that day's incidents keep coming up in my brain.

If you're reading this, tell me about what you think of this site's layout. I'll keep your comments in thought. I have this urge to change it all.
Please?

We talked about Hagar at YF today.
But before that we sang songs of worship. And I was just thinking so hard about why we had to worship in the first place. I thought that we could only worship only if we felt like it, only if God had done some miraculous change in our lives, that we actually witnessed it. Somehow I felt like I didn't. And for the rest of the worship time, I just didn't feel like worshiping God. Worship=worth-ship. You're telling God how much He's worth to you. I thought that if you didn't experience anything with God and are singing it in the lyrics... you were just a hypocrite and liar. And I did feel like a liar and a hypocrite. I wanted to get closer to Him and know Him better.
And then Elaine, the worship leader, said something that answered my thoughts. As if God heard me. She said something (in essence, note!) that God is the only one worthy of our worship because only He has come down to die for our sins. Only He has loved us so much, that He was willing to hang on the cross (see my Wed, Oct 22nd entry on the reality of crucifixion) for us, sinners stuck so deep in a smelly, dark, dank pit. And because of that, we should be worshiping Him. I think she said something else... but my mind regresses. But she did convince me then that I should sing to God, and so I did. We were singing,

"And I cry holy, worthy, holy is the Lamb,
And I cry holy, worthy, holy is the Lamb."

Before that we sang something about how God's awesome love has freed us from the chains, how that is liberty, and how "Jesus You set me free today". I can't find the song. It's just... so true.
I think I've got an extremely long way to go before I know God... maybe He's trying to push each lesson deep into my heart so that I'll remember clearly. He is wise. I guess I'll have to wait for His time.
Lord, how come I can't speak to You?

Thinking of... salvation.

Gah. Gah gah gah, gah gah gah gah. Gah gah gah gah gah gah, gah gah, gah gah gahgah. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Below is a handy one from christianstories.com.

A Letter To You From Satan
author unknown
I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful. I like that about you.
I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living. Fool! You are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.
You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way we'll be together twice. THIS WILL REALLY HURT GOD! Thanks to you. I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life. With all of the good times we've had..... We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, partying, stealing, lying, hypocriting, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults and those in leadership position, NO respect for the church, bad attitudes: SURELY you don't want to give all this up!
COME ON, Fool, let's burn together forever. I've got some plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible. I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in. HA HA HA You make me sick!
Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older. I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.
Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. IF YOU WERE SMART, you would run somewhere, CONFESS YOUR SINS, LIVE FOR GOD with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you...... IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.
P.S. - And if you really love me, you won't share this letter with anyone.

::End of story::

It's a wonder anybody will visit this place... so if you're reading this, you're probably feeling really bored and have nothing to, or you are concerned about my life right now.
Right now I feel extremely unloving and sore-in-the-heart. It's like I'm missing this huge thing that's supposed to be there, and without it my heart squeezes on me. Owwwie.
And... I have a stinking suspicion that this 'thing' that is missing.... is God.
I don't really remember what happened. All I know is, last week I fell sick, and I had the opportunity to spend time with God at home... and I thought all was going well. Until... somewhere in the middle of last week. I can't remember.
And right now I feel like I'm stuck in this deep smelly pit of muck and goo, feeling really tired and discouraged, thinking nobody will ever like me, just wishing for a miracle to poke me right in the face. I think I know what my problem is, but I need somebody 'maturer' to tell me my problem. It's hard for me to pray, because I don't know how to communicate with God right now.
I don't know, I keep thinking that I have the knowledge: all that stuff about God in Heaven, the triune God, how God is everloving, always forgiving, cannot stand iniquities, how Jesus came to save us.
It's just that, I haven't really applied it yet. To myself. And I don't know how to do it effectively.
And I'm worried that if I don't mean it, it won't solve all my problems. I'm hurt inside.
And I don't know how to accept this help out of the mucky pit from Jesus. In real life. How do I say and mean it "I want out and away... I accept your offer! Help me Lord Jesus!"
Somebody see past my prickliness outside, and bring out my real problems within me.
GAHHH.

The Professor Teaches About Evil and Christianity

"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."
"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. "Ahh! 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 them? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you could...in fact most of us would if we could....God doesn't."
[No answer]
"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?"
[No answer]
The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?" He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "In philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones. Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er... Yes."
"Is Satan good?"
"No."
"Where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From... God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?" The elderly man runs his bony fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking student audience. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun this semester, ladies and gentlemen." He turns back to the Christian. "Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?"
"Yes."
"Who created evil?"
[No answer]
"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness. All the terrible things - do they exist in this world? "
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"Who created them?"
[No answer]
The professor suddenly shouts at his student, "WHO CREATED THEM? TELL ME, PLEASE!" The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the Christian's face. In a still small voice, he asked, "God created all evil, didn't He, son?"
[No answer]
The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace the front of the classroom like an aging panther. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues, "How is it that this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?" The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world. "All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death and ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over the world, isn't it, young man?"
[No answer]
"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?" Pause. "Don't you?" The professor leans into the student's face again and
whispers, "Is God good?"
[No answer]
"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor. I do."
The old man shakes his head sadly. "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 felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus... in fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?"
[No answer]
"Answer me, please."
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"You're AFRAID... you haven't?"
"No, sir."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"...yes..."
"That takes FAITH!" The professor smiles sagely at the underling. "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son? Where is your God now?"
[The student doesn't answer]
"Sit down, please."
The first Christian sits...defeated.
Another Christian raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the class?"
The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, yet another Christian in the vanguard! Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering."
The Christian looks around the room. "Some interesting points you are making, sir. Now I've got a question for you. Is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"Is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No, sir, there isn't."
The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The second Christian continues.
"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 273 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 -273°C. 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. A pin drops somewhere in the classroom.
"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor?"
"That's a dumb question, son. What is night if it isn't darkness? What are you getting at...?"
"So you say there is such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes..."
"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 and give me a jar of it. Can you... give me a jar of darker darkness, professor?"
Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him. This will indeed be a good semester. "Would you mind telling us what your point is, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must be in error...."
The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!"
"Sir, may I explain what I mean?"
The class is all ears.
"Explain... ohhhhh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable effort to regain control. Suddenly he is affability himself. He waves his hand to silence the class, for the student to continue.
"You are working on the premise of duality," the Christian explains. "That for example 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 cannot even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understood them. 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, merely the absence of it." The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from the desk of a neighbor who has been reading it. "Here is one of the most disgusting tabloids this country hosts, professor. Is there such a thing as immorality?"
"Of course there is, now look..."
"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of morality. Is there such thing as injustice? No. Injustice is the absence of justice. Is there such a thing as evil?" The Christian pauses. "Isn't evil the
absence of good?"
The professor's face has turned an alarming color. He is so angry he is temporarily speechless.
The Christian continues, "If there is evil in the world, professor, and we all agree there is, then God, if He exists, must be accomplishing a work through the agency of evil.1 What is that work God is accomplishing? The Bible tells us it is to see if each one of us will, of our own free will, choose good over evil."2
The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I don't view this matter as having anything to do with any choice; as a realist, I absolutely do not recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because God is not observable."
The Christian replies, "I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going, Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every week! 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 makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his student a silent, stony stare.
"Professor. 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?"
"I'll overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical discussion. Now, have you quite finished?" the professor hisses.
"So you don't accept God's moral code to do what is righteous?"
"I believe in what is - that's science!"
"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face splits into a grin. "Sir, you rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena. Science too is a premise which is flawed..."
"SCIENCE IS FLAWED..?" the professor splutters.
The class is in uproar. The Christian remains standing until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, may I give you an example of what I mean?"
The professor wisely keeps silent.
The Christian looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's mind?" The class breaks out into laughter. The Christian points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's mind... felt the professor's mind, touched or smelt the professor's mind? No one appears to have done so." The Christian shakes his head sadly. "It appears no one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's mind whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science, I DECLARE that the professor has no mind."
The class is in chaos.
The Christian sits.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you didn't get it, here is a brief synopsis. The atheist argument is that since God created everything, He is responsible for the creation of evil. However, "evil" is a word that we use to describe certain things that happen to us (most of which are caused by other people). In reality, it is not a physically created thing at all and, therefore, does not fall within the realm of something created by God. So, the argument is fundamentally flawed. As stated on this site, evil is allowed by God so that free will beings can choose or reject God. Without free will (and evil as a consequence), love is not possible, and God would be unable to express one of His key attributes.

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/professor.html.