God vs. Science

I received the following account in an email today and thought that I would share it with you. It made me smile and it also made me think. After reading it I realized that I would not have known how to respond to the professor and his questions. I am pretty sure that I would be like the first student he talks to. It made me realize that one not only needs to know what they believe, but why they believe in it and what it truly means to them. Remember that God is good and that he can be in your life if you let him.


"In hopes that all our college students are able to discern this well! Let me explain the problem science has with religion.'

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? 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 falters. '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.'

Again, the student has no answer.

'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. '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 betrays him and cracks. '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 felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled 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.'
'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 down 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. Everybody 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.

PS: The student was Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein wrote a book titled "God vs Science" in 1921

Something That Moves Me

Music has always had a special way of moving me. It is something that I have always felt a part of and something that my soul has always understood. Music is also something that I have enjoyed and been a part of in a variety of ways. I grew up listening to all types of music and singing and dancing a long to it throughout the house, the car, and the town. Dance and choir were consents in my life when nothing else was. I guess you could say that it has always been music that has saved me. Music has a way of helping me escape, heal, and a way of lifting me up onto higher ground. Music has a power to influence, and I for one, am grateful or the good.

This video is something I came across on a friends blog, and needless to say I thought it it was beautiful. Like I said, both music and dance have always had a special place in my heart. So when the two combine so perfectly and in a unique way it not only moves me, but it also moves my soul.



Thought of You - by Ryan Woodward

Look Where We Are Now

IPod are great for many things. Playing music, working out, watching movies...pretty much they are there for your entertainment. And if you couldn't find enough to do with them before, here is one more thing you can do. Let them show you where you are in life right now and predict your future life with music. I hope you like the songs on your IPod.

1. Put your iPod or any music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Copy and paste, then send this to all the friends you think might enjoy it!


*What is your motto? Out of the Dark
I like that one. Moving into the light is a great way to go.
*What do your friends think of you? I Will Always Return
How Nice!
*What do you think about very often? Standing Outside the Fire
Mmmm....This could be deep.
*What does math mean to you? Hollywood
That pretty much sums it up..forget math and go to Hollywood
*What do you think of the person you like? Saturday in The Park
I would love to spend a Saturday in the park with the guy I like
*What do your parents think of you? You Can't Hurray Love
I guess this is fitting
*What will you dance to at your wedding? O'Come All Ye Faithful
haha..you better all come and dance
*What will they play at your funeral? Lovely Ladies
DO I die with other ladies?
*What is your hobby/interest? Destruction of The Grotto
Ahhh
*What is your biggest secret? SOS
It's true. My biggest secrets are always when I'm in trouble
*What do you think of your friends? Fairy Tale/Going Home
It's true as well. Hanging out with my friends is like a fairy tale and like going home
*What is one thing you regret? It Could Happen Again
Dang...I sure don't want it to
*How will you die? Way Back Into Love
Well, at least I know I'll be loved
*What's your biggest secret? Into Ya
hmmm....
*What makes you laugh? Sweetly Sleeps
Dreams do make me laugh
*What makes you cry? The Chronicles of Life and Death
I think I will leave it at that
*Will you ever get married? Get Ready
I am taking that as a yes
*What scares you the most? In Repair
Being broken and needed a repair is a scary thought
*Does anyone like you? Just Like Heaven
Smiles
*If you could go back in time, what would you change? Where the Story Ends
I hope it is just beginning
*What hurts right now? Track 02
Um...running track 2 can be painful
*What will you put as the title? Look Where We Are Now
Fitting.

Defining Moments

Do you ever stop and think about who you are and how you got to be there? Do you ever wonder who you could have been instead? Or, do you ever wonder about who you will become and where you will end up?

I think that there comes certain times in everyone's life when they look back and realize either how far they have come or how far they didn't go. There seems to be moments when you truly think about who you are and how you came to be there. Looking back on ones life can bring both joy and pain. It can bring sorrow for things lost and regret for things never done. But it can also bring back laughter and love for those around you. One of the biggest things that I have learned about looking back on ones life is that it not only comes with joy or pain, but that it can also come with knowledge.

When one looks back on ones life they usually start too see how they have gotten to where they are today. They tend to start to realize how much they have gone through, whether it be good or bad. But they also tend to realize how much they have learned and how much they have grown in their life. And with that comes the knowledge. The knowledge of what you have learned and what you know to be true. The knowledge of how strong you actually are or what you are truly afraid of. The knowledge of knowing you did something right or knowing you never did what you wanted to do. No matter when you look back or what you look back upon, you seem to always gain a certain bit of knowledge about yourself and who you really are. And sometimes, if you are lucky, you can even gain a bit of knowledge about the person whom you should become.

A lot of these times where one gains knowledge are what some like to call defining moments. Moments in our lives where things irrevocably changed and would never change back. Moments where the choice that you made defined all of the ones that came after it. Moments that in essence define who you are and who you will yet become.

These defining moments that we have come in a variety of styles and forms. More often then not you don't even know that it will be a defining moment. Some of them tend to just come and go and when it is happening it is just part of your day and it is only when you look back that you realize that that moment changed you or your life forever more. However, on occasions there are defining moments that we know are happening right before our eyes. There are times when you realize that whatever choice you make in that moment will change your world forever. There are times when you recognize that you are at a crossroads and that you have to decide in that moment who it is that you want to become. You have to decide who it is that you are willing to be. And sometimes those are the hardest moments of all because when making that choice it means abandoning who you are at the moment and being ready to become someone else. It means being ready to become someone more. And that my friends, can be the scariest thing of all because it also means stepping into the great unknown and believing that you will have not only have the strength, but the courage, to survive and come out being better then who you are at that moment.

Defining moments come in a variety of styles and forms. They come in saying hello, submitting an application, saying yes or saying no, trying something new, taking a different route, and sometimes they come by just getting out of bed. No matter what style or form they come in though, they are always a moment that makes a change. A change in our world and a change in who we are. so as you look back on your life come to realize your defining moments. Come to realize what you have already gone through and how much you have changed over the years. Come to realize what you have learned and the strength that you have gained. For it is only by recognizing our past defining moments that we can come to prepare for the ones in the future. The ones yet to come that will again change a part of who we are and where we are headed. The ones that will define where we ultimately end up.

Friends for Life

Today just happens to be the 29th of November. It also happens to be a Monday. What some of you might not know though is that it also happens to be one of my best friends birthday. And...it also happens to be that this best friend is my sister.

Now I have known my sister Wendi for my whole life (I know, shocking right?) But we have not always been the best of friends. In fact, growing up there was a point where I would have told you that I hated my sister. For you see, growing up together we fought pretty much every single day. And not just yelling or stealing toys, no, no. We would literally beat each other up. I am talking punching, kicking, pulling hair, and so forth. I am pretty sure that our mom thought we were going to kill each other one day. So it is a good thing that one day between my last year of junior high and first year of high school we decided that we were cool enough to hang out with each other. I am not sure when, but sometime during that fateful summer we decided that we didn't have to kill each other, but that we could be friends instead. And I have to say that I am glad we made that choice and we have been the best of friends ever since. Don't get me wrong,we still have had our arguments, but we have also learned to laugh and love along the way. Since that summer we have spent many days laughing and many nights talking through the hours. We have completed high school and even graduated from college together. But most of all we have spent our days being the best of friends.




So this is to you Wendi....Happy Birthday! Happy birthday to you as my sister and to you as one of my very best friends. You are amazing and wonderful and can accomplish anything that you set your mind too. It has been fun growing up with you, but even better learning to laugh with you. I hope that you have had a marvelous day my dear and thank you for being not only my sister, but for also being my friend.