God > science

"I only believe in science." 
- Esqueleto, from the movie Nacho Libre


I found myself browsing through Zen Pencils this weekend and resolving to read each inspirational-quote-turned-comic. I already have some strips or their original sources reposted on my Facebook and Twitter. I also have some strips that I'm excited to show to my new students next week.

And then I reach this. 

Text by Phil Plait. Complete strip at: http://zenpencils.com/comic/52-phil-plait-welcome-to-science/

Which led me to respond with the following comment:


There are many scientists who are Christians too, myself included. I decided to go into physics after reading Carl Sagan's books and watching Cosmos (and the X-Files). Sagan also led me to become an agnostic/passive atheist, but after a life tragedy I found myself reading the Bible with one -- nay, two -- eyes open.
 
Christianity makes sense to me in the same way that physics does. Of course, God is way more complicated - but what relationship isn't? We sometimes cannot figure out ourselves, how much less the people around us, and how much less a *supreme being*? This reasoning does not automatically prove there is a God, but I'm just saying there are a lot of things that are beyond science.
 
Science gives a lot of benefits but also has a lot of limitations. Science demands repetition and predictability and numbers -- does art have this? Do we then say that art is foolishness, or that art does not exist? Wouldn't that be the foolish thing to say?

The wonder and awe for the universe that Carl Sagan gave me is still there. But in my humble opinion, it has now matured to include the Creator. Sagan hastily dismissed all world religions as superstitious falsehood and wishful thinking, yet was quite convinced of the existence of extraterrestrial life even though he had no proof himself (it's easy to give equations, but somebody please show me one alien being now). If one applies scientific skepticism to reject deistic/theistic beliefs, it is but fair to apply that same skepticism to one's own pet beliefs too.

On the other hand, Christians nowadays do tend to ignore the *first* commandment to love God with our mind (as well as heart, body, and soul). But I'm proud to say that I know many people who use science to honor God and even know Him more. As for me, I write a Bible verse on the board before beginning my college physics class. ♥

God be with you more Gav! I share your admiration for Sagan but also for Christian authors like CS Lewis and Marianne Williamson. I hope you find Him as you seek and share even more inspiration to the world.

The Gospel according to Social Media

I've been blogging here for *years*, and I'm also on Facebook. Last month I finally got on Twitter and Instagram. In learning how to express myself through different social media, complementary without being redundant, I also got a sense of... gospel harmony.

If you've read the four Christian gospels, you might notice that they're not exactly the same. Just like any book, each gospel has some traits based on the author and the intended audience. Let's look at those traits (according to experts as in here, and verifiable by you and me reading the books ourselves), and see the parallels with popular social media (in my humble personal opinion).

The Gospel according to Matthew

rj-mccauley.blogspot.com

Author's description:   Jew, former tax collector

Content:   Jewish Scripture, history, prophecies (e.g. Old Testament and other writings) 
Intended audience:   Jews or Israel

Focus on Jesus as:   King of the Jews, Immanuel ("God-with-us")

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Trespass offering ("trespass" = wrongdoing against God according to Jewish law)

Similar to which social media:   Blogs (e.g. Blogger, Wordpress)

Because of:   Ability to post unlimited text and images; Contain complete archives; Can easily link to other websites

 

The Gospel according to Mark

http://blogs.nsb.org/jonathanalexander/files/2010/09/mark.jpg

Author's description:   One of the 70 disciples, companion and scribe of Simon Peter

Content:  Quick, action-packed accounts; the shortest gospel
Intended audience:  Romans

Focus on Jesus as:  Servant, Prophet

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Sin offering ("sin" = wrongdoing in the general sense)

Similar to which social media:  Twitter

Because of:  Limited length of tweets and messages, emphasis on trending topics

The Gospel according to Luke

http://www.thatimaydwell.com/images/sermons/luke_lg.jpg

Author's description:   Doctor, non-Jew, companion of Paul

Content:  Accounts about the lost, weak, outcast (Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan)
Intended audience:  Greeks

Focus on Jesus as:  Son of Man, High Priest

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Peace offering (to reconcile outsiders to God)

Similar to which social media:   Facebook

Because of:   Emphasis on relationships (old and new), well-documented timelines

The Gospel according to John

http://pastorbrett.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/ibelieve_color.jpg

Author's description:   One of Jesus' twelve apostles

Content:  Word pictures (Jesus is the Light of the World, the Way, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life...) 
Intended audience:  All

Focus on Jesus as:  Son of God the Father, the Word of God made flesh

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Burnt offering (for worship)

Similar to which social media:  Instagram

Because of:   Emphasis on images

So there you have it. Please note that I'm not measuring the Christian faith with social network activity ;)  But I do hope that this post helps us appreciate the gospels more: in each book's uniqueness, and in their harmony (unity in diversity) in presenting Jesus, Son of God, Savior of mankind.

"Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

The most-watched video on Youtube: 




Excerpts:

"[The Church] is not a museum for good people,
it's a hospital for the broken.
Which means I don't have to hide my failure,
I don't have to hide my sin
'Cause it doesn't depend on me,
It depends on Him. 

"Religion says "Do", Jesus says "Done."
Religion says "Slave", Jesus says "Son."
Religion puts you in bondage while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind but Jesus makes you see

"And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans
Religion is man searching for God
Christianity is God searching for man

"Which is why salvation is freely mine
And forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits
but Jesus' obedience alone

"So for religion, no I hate it
In fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said "It is finished,"
I believe He meant it."

The International House of Prayer

Please do check out the International House of Prayer website. ♥♥♥

(Again and again, thanks to Chan for the heads up.)

help Google change the world ^_^

Google's 10th Birthday Present: World-Changing Ideas
By Barry Levine
September 25, 2008 2:17PM


Google is celebrating its 10th birthday with Project 10^100, an endeavor that will commit $10 million to backing ideas to improve the world. Google's Project 10^100 will accept ideas big and small, from all walks of life. Analysts see Google's Project 10^100 as both a savvy and altruistic move, and say Project 10^100 will benefit Google's image.

For its birthday, what do you give the company that has everything? In Google's case, the Internet giant is asking for only five presents, but each has the same qualification: Each one must help to change the world.
On Wednesday, Google announced its 10th birthday celebration endeavor, called Project 10^100 (pronounced "Project 10 to the 100th"). In a statement, the company said it was "asking our users to send us exciting ideas for ways to improve people's lives," adding that it has "committed $10 million to turn up to five of the best ideas into reality."
Five Ideas Selected for Funding
The company said that an idea could use technology or not, could be big or small, but it must have an impact. The 100 best ideas will then be identified, and users will be asked to vote on which ideas the company should back with funds.
The deadline for submission of ideas is October 20, and the top 20 ideas will be available for online voting on January 27. After that, a panel of judges will choose as many as five of the ideas for final funding.
On the company's official blog, Andy Berndt, managing director of Google's Creative Lab, noted that we are living in a time when people have access to more information, more tools, and more ways of turning good ideas into action.
"Yet," he wrote, "at the same time so many people (in all walks of life) could use some help, in small ways and big." The ideas could come from anywhere, he said -- a lab, a company, a university, or even "some small connection you've noticed, some old way of doing something that you've seen with new eyes."
'Savvy Business Move'
The company mentioned a few examples of the kinds of innovative ideas it's looking for. The Hippo Water Roller makes it possible for people in underdeveloped countries to collect five times as much water as the traditional method of carrying a five-gallon bucket on the head. Instead of causing damage to the spine, neck and knees of the water carrier, as the traditional head-carrying method can, the Roller allows the larger water bucket to be rolled instead of carried.
First Mile Solutions, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and derived from research at MIT, uses Wi-Fi and digital storage to create "cached Wi-Fi intelligence" that is helping to connect rural communities worldwide, at a very low cost per user.
Google said it would be considering ideas in the categories of Community, Opportunity, Energy, Environment, Health, Education and Shelter, as well as "Everything Else."
Laura DiDio, an analyst with industry research firm Information Technology Intelligence Corps, described Google's birthday present to itself as "a savvy business move," as well as an altruistic one.
She noted that more and more companies are looking to the public to submit ideas via the Internet, and this one in particular emphasizes Google's "sense of inclusiveness, of being green, of trying to make the world a better place," which will benefit its image to the public.

God Network News --- you won't hear this on CNN!

GOD NETWORK NEWS

Are you tired of listening to what the big news agencies are feeding you? Then check out, God News, and find out what He is doing in the world today in missions. You won't hear this on CNN! (YWAM - Youth With A Mission)

Click, Blog, and Give. (Pwease!)

Aren't they just the cutest? :)

Blogger (yes, which hosts sites ending in "blogspot.com" and powered by Google) has partnered up with DonorsChoose, whose home page features these two aw-shucks-too-cute kids.

For more information on how each and every one of us can help, please do check out this article.

Which reminds me of the Hunger Site, which enables people on the net to feed the hungry by just clicking on their site! No spam, no strings attached. Basically the sponsors count the number of clicks per day to determine how much they'll give. Of course the site encourages visitors to click on the sponsors' links too, to encourage the sponsors to continue their goodwill. :) But all perfectly legal sites, no hassle for the clicker-visitor; i can guarantee that as i've been one for almost ten years (but not regularly enough!) :)



Isn't it amazing that ending world hunger starts with a single click...

As amazing as ending one's own spiritual hunger starts with a single prayer. :)

free to study!

yes, free Bible study material...






(1) from ChristianityToday.com/biblestudies:
just go through the online shopping process

but with cost of zero dollars :p then you may download :)

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/freesamples.html




(2) from Victory.org.ph:
(i attend Victory Christian Fellowship
aka Every Nation Ministries)

you will be asked to register your name and username then you can download a LOT of previous preachings (as i understand, they're synchronized throughout the Philippines. hey i can catch up on what i missed when i was in China!)

http://www.e412strategy.org/index.php?option=com_downloads&Itemid=31

because God SO loves the world...

here's a 60-second video that may help you make the most important decision of your life:

http://www.godsolovestheworld.com/

the most powerful show of power

It is not our sufficiency that demonstrates God's power;
it is our weakness.

God's strength is perfected in our weakness
and prayer shows our need for the Spirit's empowering presence.

-- Bob Kauflin, "Pursuing God's Presence"
available for free at http://www.covlife.org/sermons/ :)