God vs Science

This is an email that Brenda forwarded to me. I enjoyed it and thought I'd share it.


GOD VS SCIENCE
A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "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? 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 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 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 smelt 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.

Hockey Day Weekend and Susie's Birthday

Today in History

Seems that today in history was a bad day and a good day for women. I hope someone else also finds this an interesting bit of info.


1637
Anne Hutchinson, the first female religious leader in the American colonies, was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for heresy.
1893
The state of Colorado granted women the right to vote.
1916
Jeanette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress.

I said before that's I'd post when I tried a new recipe, but I'm a little bit behind. Here is last week's: Crispy Herb Baked Chicken http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Crispy-Herb-Baked-Chicken/Detail.aspx. It was very good and Wade liked it. I will definitely try it again. I really like that you can vary the flavoring easily to suit what you like.
Now I just have to come up with something for this week that Wade will like.

Happy (late) Birthday to Kellie and Brandy!!

I hope you both had a great day!

Recipes

Meemaws:

I've decided that posting what we cook on our blogs may be easier than emailing them (It is for me anyway, but if everyone likes emailing better, I'll switch back.) That way, we can just check each others' blogs if we want a recipe that one of us has already used instead of having to go back through our emails.

That said, I just wanted to let everyone know that I tried Sara-Beth's Italian seasoned biscuits last night. But instead of using biscuits, I used croissants. They were really good--Wade liked them--but I think I got a little carried away with the seasoning. Next time I just won't use so much.

Happy Birthday, Christy!!!!

I hope you have a wodnerful day!

Amazing Grace

I've been thinking about this song recently and I've decided that it's probably the most powerful song ever. It's beautiful no matter what arrangement you hear it in. I looked up the words today and discovered some that I've never heard before.

"Amazing Grace"
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779)

I read this article on the MSN homepage today and I really liked it, so I thought I'd share. This woman knows what she's talking about.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/couplesandmarriage/articlerb.aspx?cp-documentid=5352157&GT1=10418

Beach Trip

The meemaws and mini-meemaws went to the beach in Destin last weekend. We had a great time. The girls were very cute and so funny together. They would give each other hugs, but only when the other one didn't want to. And apparently we forgot that we're grandmas now; we stayed up until 4:00 a.m. on Saturday night just talking. However, I still wouldn't trade that quality time for all the sleep in the world. I love my friends so much!!
Here are a few pics from the weekend, but only a few b/c I've been threatend if I show any bathing suit pics.

Congratulations, Christy and Brandon!

It seems that we'll be adding a new peepaw to the group. We really do need to meet the boy soon, Christy. I'm so happy for you two!

August 29

Three days 'til the beach and Meemaw time! I am too excited!!

Random trivial thought: While looking at a co-worker's child's fund-raiser magazine today, I remembered that Wade and I almost always disagree over which Christmas wrapping paper to buy. Usually he hates the one that I like best. Does this happen to anyone else?

For the meemaws: I am, like Marie, beyond words over S-B's email. However, I'm sure I will have found at least some words by Saturday. Can't wait to see everyone! (I'll miss you, Marie!)

It's Me Again

Apparently I only post about once a month. Oh well. Here's a basic rundown of what's happening in my life right now:
1. Tomorrow is the 4th of July. I don't have to work(Thank God, because the AC is broken and should be replaced by Thursday), but still have no big plans.
2. Friday I get to see Jennifer, Marie, and Susan, if no one else, at Jennifer's new house. Yea for meemaw time!
3. Saturday we leave for vacation to Amelia Island, FL, for a whole week!
4. On a sad note, my we just found out that my grandmother has cancer. They are doing tests this week to see how much/bad it is. She also has a blockage near her heart. Please pray for her and our family.

Ok, all done. I'll try to post fun pictures in 2 weeks of my adventures.

Happy Birthday, Marie!!

Happy Birthday, Jennier, aka New Homeowner!!!

J-Day 2007

(Presented in the "How big is baby?" format)

Please enjoy these few pictures (even though some of them are blurry) of our time at Judson for J-Day last weekend. We had much more fun than we took pictures for.

How big do the mee-maws look? Soooo big!

How much do we love Golden Club? Soooo much!

How funny was Carter? Soooo funny!

How fun is Mrs. Michelle? Soooo fun!

How good is this ice cream cone? Soooo good!

How blurry is this serenade picture? Soooo blurry!

How long can Lily and Olivia chase each other? Soooo long!