For The Atheist

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has With GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .


Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son?
Student : Yes, sir. Professor : So, you Believe in GOD?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmmm?

(The student was silent)

Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil?

(The student did not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them?

(The student had no answer)

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD , Tasted your GOD , Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isn't.

(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness 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 its called Darkness, isn't it?
In reality, Darkness isn't.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is 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?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going )

Student : 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 not a Scientist but a Preacher?

(The class was in uproar )
Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?
(The class broke out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . . 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, sir.
With all due respect, Sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.



I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so .. . You'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you? Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH. That student was Albert Einstein.

Our Helper and Keeper

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 121:1-8

Our Helper and Keeper

Read Psalm 121:1-8

This psalm is special to my family. When our children were young and we were all in the car ready to leave on a trip or a vacation, we often read Psalm 121 and then prayed. The children became accustomed to hearing the words, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (vv. 1,2). God is our Helper. You don't have to go on a vacation or drive on a busy highway to know that.

Where does your help come from? The psalmist lifted his eyes to the hills. The most stable, secure thing the Jews knew were the mountains around Jerusalem. Then the psalmist lifted his eyes higher and said, "No, I don't get my help from the hills. I get my help from the heavens. God is my Helper." Whatever your need or task is today, your help will come from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. A God big enough to make this world and keep it going is big enough to help you with your problems today.

God is also our Keeper. "He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (vv. 3,4). This is a dangerous world we live in. Enemies would like to attack and destroy us. But as we walk in the will of God and depend on His power, He is there as our Keeper and Preserver. "The Lord shall preserve you from all evil" (v. 7). This verse doesn't say we won't have pain. It doesn't say we will never suffer or sorrow. Though we may be hurt, we won't be harmed. "He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore" (vv. 7,8).

* * *

God is your Helper and Keeper. No matter where your path in life leads, if you walk in His will, He will preserve you. Walk with confidence today. You have a Helper, a Keeper and a Preserver, who will see you through.

Considering Creation

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 104:19-26 James 1:17

Considering Creation

Read Psalm 104:19-26

After surveying God's work in creation, the psalmist wrote: "O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your possessions" (v. 24). This verse shows us important traits of God.

First, creation reveals God's wisdom. We ought to take time to admire His wisdom in creation. I've read that if the proportion of gases in the air were changed ever so slightly, all of us would die. The way God tilted the earth, the way He arranged the seasons, the way He put creation together is a revelation of His great wisdom. It's logical that the God who is wise enough to run creation is wise enough to run our lives. If He can keep the stars and the planets and the seasons and all these things going as they should, can He not put our lives together and make them what they ought to be?

Second, creation contains God's wealth. "The earth is full of Your possessions" (v. 24). Without His wealth, we could not exist. Not only are gold and silver and other precious stones measures of His wealth, but so are ore and rock, fruit and grain.

Third, creation makes possible man's work. "Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening" (v. 23). Even Adam had work to do in the Garden of Eden. Work is a blessing, not a burden, if we're doing it for the Lord.

Fourth, creation motivates us to worship the Lord. "O Lord, how manifold are Your works!" We don't worship creation--that's idolatry. We worship the God of creation. We recognize that He gives every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). 0 let us adore Him, our great Creator, our great Savior.

* * *

Creation shows God's wisdom, so rejoice! Creation contains His wealth, so use it for His glory. Creation provides work for man, so view work as a blessing. But greatest of all, creation should move you to worship the Lord.

Where There Is Injury

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture Reference:

Where There Is Injury

Have you ever found the taste of revenge sweet? Does there lurk in your heart, as in mine at times, a desire for at least the milder forms of revenge if you have been hurt--a desire to see the person apologize, an urge to remind him that he was nasty to you, or even the temptation to pay him back somehow? It was not God's plan that man should take revenge. That He has reserved for Himself, and when we seize that power we are taking a huge risk. It is, in another form, the risk Adam and Eve took when they ate the forbidden fruit--arrogating to themselves powers, lethal burdens, for which they were never designed.

What if God paid us for our sins? What if He were not Love? His mercy is everlasting and has brought us salvation and forgiveness. Remembering that, and how we ourselves have offended Him times without number, shall we dare to retaliate when someone sins against us? Think of the measure of forgiveness God has offered us. Think of the price. Think what the cross means. Then pray the prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace--
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon....
For it is in forgiving that we are forgiven,
It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

So Long To My Elijah

According to Oswald Chambers on his book My Utmost For His Highest, Elijah means your guide, leader, counselor. Who is my Elijah? God brought me my Elijah 4 years ago when my life was at wit's end. Through my Elijah, I have learned to pray earnestly. And that prayer my Elijah advised was the start of my Christian life, it changed my whole life. God’s presence moved me that night and I became a different person. After that prayer, I committed my life to the Lord gravely. Though we separated ways, miles away, we still kept in touch. I always call for advice and confessions even when I was in Japan. My Elijah had been my counselor, my influence, my mentor, one of my inspirations. The prayers of my Elijah had been indeed a big help to me. I was inspired and encouraged to serve the Lord because of my Elijah's life as well as my sister Aby who became my leader and counselor as well. I always want to follow my Elijah wherever she may be. I also want to be a missionary like her and Sis Aby. It is really my heart’s desire to be like them and undergo the same training they had.

When our leaders told us that Sis Dhines (my Elijah) is leaving for further studies, for pastoral and leadership training, and she will be staying in Bangkok for 9 months or more, I was shocked. I couldn't explain the feeling, tears just keep on flowing, I don't know if I want to lay down or what. I always cry whenever I remember that she is leaving. Yes, I know that our leaders will always be there for me as they always do. It's just that, I was used to seeing her, talking to her, asking her advice, prayers, each time. Her presence on the church is different and that is what makes me really sad but of course I am happy for her, for the chance given to her, and I am sure, she will be more equipped, more effective after the training. I know that she will be away for 9 months only, but I hope she will be based in Pampanga again. But of course if that is not God’s will then I can’t go against it.

One night, August 11, I was reading the book she lent me (My Utmost For His Highest), and the devotional was about Elijah when God was about to take him. It really comforted me and I remember my Elijah who was about to leave. I even e-mailed her about my sentiments that night and I am sorry that I made her cry. Yesterday, she sent us a message about her flight, and that was hours ago. In my heart I want to go in the church to see her for the last time, but I decided not to because I don't wanna cry and I don't wanna think that she is leaving. It really hurts so bad and I couldn't explain the pain. Yes, I think I am afraid that I may not able to continue without my Elijah. I was praying last night, and I've been crying while asking God to strengthen me that I may truly walk with Him. I wish that I could be like Elisha, who asked Elijah's double portion and he continued what Elijah had started. I really don't wanna see her go so I stayed at home trying not to think about her. Last night after praying, I was tested and I failed and I became more afraid that I will not be able to overcome trials. I've been tested for a long time and able to overcome but not last night. I cried to the Lord, with so much fear and trembling, asking for His help. I was thinking what will happen to me without His presence and without my Elijah reminding me. She hadn’t left yet but I already failed. I was in great remorse for this past 2 days thinking a lot of things. I am really afraid to be honest. I am afraid that I might fail God and fail my Elijah. I'm telling God that I have no reason to live if I will only fail Him, and not able to fulfill my Elijah's expectations. I'd rather die than failing my Master and live a life that is not accordance to His will, a life that is not pleasing to His sight. I am so terrified right now, afraid to be alone. I really wish that Jesus truly lives within me, not just in me but deep within me, that I may able to overcome trials and be holy as what Sis Dhines said on her last message on the pulpit.

I am so grateful that Sis Aby, Sis Merla, Sis Anne, and Bro William are still there willing to help me, encourage me, like they always do. I was comforted with Sis Aby’s text last night and with Sis Merla's text minutes ago. These leaders are also my Elijah and time will come that they will also have to go or be sent to another place and I am really scared because I am too weak without my Elijah (my leaders). I was thinking that I really need someone who will always remind me. I think I became really dependent to them. But again, I was reminded with the devotional I have read days ago. I really have to learn to depend on God alone. Time will come and I have to face and do things alone and I must apply what I have learned from my Elijah (all our leaders). I must take the initiative as what Oswald Chambers is saying, trust God, put my whole faith in Him and go through anything on my own, not wanting and waiting for someone else to do it for me or go with me. I must learn these things from now on because my leaders, my Elijah will not always be there, sooner or later, they will be separated from me or I from them. And besides, there are other lambs to tend and sheep to Shepherd, to take care of. And I have to be strong for God, and for them. I remember what Sis Aby told me before, “Sis we need you more than ever, now that Sis Dhines is leaving.”

Yes, I should “make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.” I must be independent from them and dependent to God so that I will a help to them, to the whole church, instead of them helping me. As I told Sis Dhines before, that I don’t wanna promise anything but I will do my best to keep the fire burning and do the best that I can to help our leaders in any way I can, and be a blessing to others as well. Everything happened for a reason. There must always be a lesson to learn. As He wills, I must live my life according to His plan and will. I really need a lot of prayers, self-discipline, and determination to accomplish all these. I know that Sis Dhines will also think of me and pray for me always, as she said on her last text to me, and so all our leaders. So whatever God wants, whatever His will, whether Sis Dhines will stay there longer, come back here after 9 months, or she might be based to another country, then I should be happy for that and learn to accept it as the Lord wants me to.

"So long Sis! You will always be in my heart. I will always meet you in prayers! Shall I say see you soon!? Even I am terrified and in great fear right now, as you always say, I will look to God always, and stay closer to Him. Don't you worry I will do my best and give the necessary cooperation, be sensitive to Him enough, and soon by faith I will be regenerated. And I am hoping that when you come back, you will meet a different Gayle. A woman that is truly walking with God, a genuine disciple of Christ, a woman after Yahweh's very own heart. That is my sincere prayer indeed. Love you much sis! Thanks for everything!"

This Experience Must Come

"Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha . . . saw him no more"

It is not wrong for you to depend on your "Elijah" for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, "I cannot continue without my ’Elijah.’ " Yet God says you must continue.

Alone at Your "Jordan" ( Kings 2:14 ). The Jordan River represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your "Elijah." You have been to the Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go— the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your "Jordan" alone.

Alone at Your "Jericho" ( 2 Kings 2:15 ). Jericho represents the place where you have seen your "Elijah" do great things. Yet when you come alone to your "Jericho," you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your "Elijah," you will receive a sign, as Elisha did, that God is with you.

Alone at Your "Bethel" ( 2 Kings 2:23 ). At your "Bethel" you will find yourself at your wits’ end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wits’ end and feel inclined to panic— don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out His truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your "Elijah"— use his mantle and pray (see 2 Kings 2:13-14 ). Make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.

Sacrifice and Friendship

"This is a daily devotional from the book My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers that I have just read. This book was lent to me by Sis Dhines and it was really a big help to me to understand spiritual things deeply and by God's grace little by little I am learning to apply what I am learning into my life. I pray that every single word on this book will be manifested in my life and that I may truly walk with God and may Jesus Christ truly lives within me. There are articles in this book that is so hard to understand and it really takes prayers and meditations for me to fully grasp each word and get the main message. I am sharing this one to you because I find the message really great, comprehensible, and a must-read devotional. I pray that every individual who will read this will fully grasp the message and learn to live the message as I am trying to apply it. With His help and our cooperation of course I believe as long as one is willing then this is not that hard to do or live."

Sacrifice and Friendship

I have called you friends . . . —John 15:15

We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, "I’ll surrender if . . . !" Or we approach it by saying, "I suppose I have to devote my life to God." We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.

But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14 ). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love.

Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, "I delight to do Your will, O my God . . . ." He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1-2 ).

Beware of letting your natural desires hinder your walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways to kill natural love is through the rejection that results from having built the love on natural desires. But the one true desire of a saint is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something sentimental or emotional— for a saint to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.

"I have called you friends. . . ." Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He created in us, which has no resemblance or attraction to our old life but only to the life of God. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to God.

Joined In Jesus

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 6:10

"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).

Sorrow was beautiful, but her beauty was the beauty of the moonlight shining through the leafy branches of the trees in the wood, and making little pools of silver here and there on the soft green moss below.

When Sorrow sang, her notes were like the low sweet call of the nightingale, and in her eyes was the unexpectant gaze of one who has ceased to look for coming gladness. She could weep in tender sympathy with those who weep, but to rejoice with those who rejoice was unknown to her.

Joy was beautiful, too, but his was the radiant beauty of the summer morning. His eyes still held the glad laughter of childhood, and his hair had the glint of the sunshine's kiss. When Joy sang his voice soared upward as the lark's, and his step was the step of a conqueror who has never known defeat. He could rejoice with all who rejoice, but to weep with those who weep was unknown to him.

"But we can never be united," said Sorrow wistfully.

"No, never." And Joy's eyes shadowed as he spoke. "My path lies through the sunlit meadows, the sweetest roses bloom for my gathering, and the blackbirds and thrushes await my coming to pour forth their most joyous lays."

"My path," said Sorrow, turning slowly away, "leads through the darkening woods, with moon-flowers only shall my hands be filled. Yet the sweetest of all earth-songs--the love song of the night--shall be mine; farewell, Joy, farewell."

Even as she spoke they became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a Kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him.

"I see Him as the King of Joy," whispered Sorrow, "for on His Head are many crowns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever."

"Nay, Sorrow," said Joy softly, "but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great agony. I, too, give myself to Him forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy that I have known."

"Then we are one in Him," they cried in gladness, "for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow."

Hand in hand they passed out into the world to follow Him through storm and sunshine, in the bleakness of winter cold and the warmth of summer gladness, "as sorrowful yet always rejoicing."

"Should Sorrow lay her hand upon thy shoulder,
And walk with thee in silence on life's way,
While Joy, thy bright companion once, grown colder,
Becomes to thee more distant day by day?
Shrink not from the companionship of Sorrow,
She is the messenger of God to thee;
And thou wilt thank Him in His great tomorrow
For what thou knowest not now, thou then shalt see;
She is God's angel, clad in weeds of night,
With 'whom we walk by faith and not by sight.'"