Dr Michael Guillen – do you believe every word in the Bible?

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michael-guillen

Yes I do, he says.  So who is Dr Michael Guillen?

He was born in East Los Angeles, earned his BS from UCLA and his MS and PhD from Cornell University in physics, mathematics and astronomy.

For eight years he was an award-winning physics instructor at Harvard University. For fourteen years he was the Emmy-award-winning science correspondent for ABC News, appearing regularly on Good Morning America, 20/20, Nightline, and World News Tonight.

Dr. Guillen is the host of The History Channel series, “Where Did It Come From?” and producer of the award-winning family movie, LITTLE RED WAGON. Among his popular speaking topics is the series “CRAZY! Because Life Is Not Logical.”

Have I read the Bible cover to cover? Yes, I have (as well as the sacred literature of other religions), more than once and in different translations. Do I understand every word of the Bible? No, I don’t but believe every word, yes I do.

As 1 Corinthians 13:12 points out, no one should expect to comprehend everything right here, right now:

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

Having faith in something I don’t completely understand is not limited to my spiritual life; it’s also true of my relationship to science and rational thought. Science and logic cannot explain everything about the universe – especially since more than 90% of the cosmos is invisible to us – nevertheless, I believe in them so much I dedicated my career to their practice.

For me, science and rational thought are precisely why I abandoned the atheism I practiced during many years of my schooling. As part of my rigorous scientific training, my mind was broadened with respect to things I cannot see. I was urged to believe in black holes, parallel universes, dark energy, and a plethora of other modern scientific exotica based solely on clever theoretical imaginings and indirect, circumstantial evidence. So now, when I read the Bible, which invites me to believe in all kinds of seemingly unbelievable things, my reaction is informed by what I’ve learned as a theoretical physicist. I believe Shakespeare said it best when he penned that immortal line: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

It takes humility to admit that to seemingly intractable problems there are many possible solutions we haven’t thought of yet, and might never think of in this life. It takes humility to have faith in something of everlasting importance that you don’t completely understand yet and can’t possibly, given its infinite nature and our finite capacities. It takes humility, above all, not to jump to any conclusions about what isn’t possible in this glorious, mysterious universe of ours … and what is.

For more information, go to www.michaelguillen.com or get his book Can a Smart Person Believe in God?

GOD’S JUDGMENT

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God's Judgement
It is obvious from the Old Testament stories that God judges people and nations. Apart from Noah’s Flood (all but eight people destroyed) one of the most gruesome stories is when God commanded Israel to destroy the Amalekites totally, including their women and children and property.
God commanded their destruction not only because of their heinous morality and child sacrifices but also because they opposed Israel when they came out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-19 and 1 Samuel 15:2-3). Moreover because Saul listened to the people and spared the best livestock rather than fear God he lost his kingship over Israel.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being King. 1 Samuel 15:23
God’s actions against the Amalekites is only immoral to those who don’t recognize His authority. He has the right to judge the people He created when they rebel against Him.
God requires OBEDIENCE to his moral laws and commands. The GOOD NEWS is He understood we were incapable in a Fallen world to keep His commandments. God, The Son entered His world, 2014 years ago to save us. He changed history forever and every time we write the date we should remember that fact and rejoice in His MERCY, GRACE and LOVE.
Atheists have no objective standard for morality and basically what ever the group decides stands until another group over rules it. Sodomy was a gaolable offence up to the mid 1970’s in Australia.
God must judge evil otherwise He ceases to be a good God.
The world operates as if God does not judge people and nations today. They could not be more wrong.
The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus will return to save Israel and to usher in His millennial reign from Jerusalem. Jesus even tells us that just as in Noah’s day people will be eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage then He will come unexpectedly to judge nations. Matthew 24:36-39
Israel picture compared to Arab lands
Isn’t it amazing how the Middle East is central focus of the world today. Israel is surrounded by hostile nations intent on destroying them. It is not about land – take a look at the map (Israel in blue). It’s about the final horrendous spiritual battle that leads to the battle of Armageddon which will usher in Jesus millennial reign.

We know the end and already have eternal life so start living eternal now. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. What is the Holy Spirit’s agenda for you today? Are you listening?

Foundation for Affirming Moral Absolutes

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Truth and Transformation
Without the cross of JESUS CHRIST the world has NO foundation for affirming moral absolutes, for calling corruption by its name – SIN.  The cross of Christ is also the only available force that can withstand and push back the storm of moral relativism that is upon us.
Thanks to the cross of JESUS, we have a firm basis – empirical, historical and philosophical for affirming moral absolutes without the same moral law condemning us. The cross does not just provide a philosophical framework for moral absolutes. It also provides the WAY to deliver us from SIN.
By the cross GOD shows us that the power He wants us to have is not the power to Lord it over others, not power to exploit and oppress, but power to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Of course, God knows we can’t do this in our own strength so He sends the third person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit to indwell all believers. The transformation of the disciples at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon them in power is the same power available to Christians today. They were able to disregard the threats of the Jewish leaders, rejoice in persecution and deliberately chose to disregard the state and continue preaching JESUS. This is real evangelism.
The author of Truth and Transformation, Vishal Mangalwadi described by Christianity Today as India’s foremost Christian intellectual is authentic. Vishal has spent time in jail in India for civil disobedience in helping the lowest caste, Dalits. He has planted churches there, is an international lecturer, social reformer, political columnist and author of fourteen books.
Truth and Transformation is a must read for anyone concerned with the state of current world events.
I like Vishal’s explanation for the rational cynicism that has now become the hallmark of secular universities. “The west has exchanged its worldview shaped by the Bible for a lie that the human mind is an accident of blind chance, no more valid than an animal brain”. Remember most of the prestigious universities in the UK and USA commenced as Christian Institutions, e.g. Oxford and Harvard.

DNA & INFORMATION DEBUNKS EVOLUTION

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ENCODE_logo

The ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) Project proves beyond doubt that the Evolution inspired view that the human genome is mostly “junk DNA” is false.
Many evolutionists don’t like the findings. One blogged on Scientific American’s website that he doubted the death of junk DNA and complained about the “public damage” being caused by ENCODE publicity.
Damage to what? Surely not science? Atheism?
Giving three reasons why evolution requires lots of junk DNA, he concluded that the findings of ENCODE that 80% + (100% is likely) is functional must be wrong or misreported.
Junk DNA is dead and this blog only shows that evolution should die with it.
There are three fundamental theorems of information:
Theorem 1: The fundamental quantity information is a non material (mental) entity. It is not a property of matter so that purely material processes are fundamentally precluded as sources of information.
Theorem 2: Information only arises through an intentional, volitional act.
Theorem 3: Information comprises the nonmaterial foundation for all technological systems and for all works of art.
The greatest known density of information is that in the DNA of living cells exceeding by far the best achievement of highly integrated storage densities in computers.
Thousands of man-years of research as well as unprecedented technological developments were required to produce a Megabit chip, but we are expected to believe that the complex storage principles embodied in DNA, with their much higher degree of integration, developed spontaneously in matter which was left to itself.
Such a “theory” is, to say the least, absurd in the highest degree.
References:
Dazzling DNA by Dr Don Batten http://www.creation.com
In the Beginning was Information by Dr Werner Gitt Master Books 2007.