GOD TENDS TO MAKE OUR TOTAL INABILITY HIS STARTING POINT

Posted on by

Indeed, our utter incapacity is often the prop He delights to use for His next act. It is one of the principles of Yahweh’s modus operandi. When His people are without strength, without resources, without hope, without human gimmicks—then He loves to stretch forth His hand from heaven. Once we see where God often begins, we will understand how we may be encouraged.

Think about how Isaac was brought into existence. God waited until it was impossible for Abraham and Sarah to produce offspring. Abraham was 100, and whilst we don’t know Sarah’s age, we do know she was barren and now of great age. What about the prophet Samuel? His mother Hannah was barren. Look at her prayer:

“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11)

“They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:19-20)

Wow, that is amazing stuff, and I encourage you to read the chapter in full. So many things stand out here. One, we see it was God who had prevented Hannah from conceiving – at least at first. Two, she cried out to the Lord, asking Him to ‘remember’ her and not ‘forget’ her. Three, God did as she asked, and He did indeed ‘remember’ her – not by overcoming His own ‘forgetfulness,’ but by hearing her plea and taking action.

That should be of great encouragement to us all. Of course, this is not some name-it-and-claim-it passage if you happen to be infertile. What God did for Hannah was special, and served a special purpose in His overall plans. Yes, infertile couples can pray and ask God for help, but it is He who ultimately knows what is best and how we should proceed.

A few comments from others are helpful here. As to how God remembers and acts, John Woodhouse remarks:

Just as the Lord had “remembered” Noah in the days of the flood, Abraham when he destroyed Sodom, Rachel when she conceived Joseph, and His covenant with Abraham in the days of Moses (Genesis 8:1; 19:29; 30:22; Exodus 2:24; 6:5; cf. Numbers 10:9), so He “remembered” Hannah. Whenever God “remembered” His people, it led to His action on their behalf. We will not be mistaken if we expect that His remembering Hannah will involve His remembering His people Israel. He rebirthed the nation miraculously in 1948 and has been regathering Jews from all around the world. We can be certain that God will fulfill the covenants: 1, made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 2. made with David and 3. the new covenant

Recall how 1 Samuel follows immediately after the book of Judges, with all its woeful misery and chaos. Israel was in desperate need of a real leader, and Samuel would become that man. And for this turning point in Israel’s history, God would use a barren woman! Says Woodhouse:

First Samuel 1 points us to a most unexpected starting point for the answer that God is going to provide for the leadership crisis. Who would have looked twice at miserable, sobbing Hannah for the answer to Israel’s crisis? We expect to find answers from the powerful. Hannah was not powerful. Her family were “nobodies.” The point of her story, however, is that God cares.

Does God care? Yes, He cared about the leadership of his people Israel and gave Hannah a son. Yes, He cares about the leadership of the world and of us. Hannah’s son will be surpassed by Mary’s son. God’s care for us all finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ. If you belong to Him you can learn to “cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

God Begins Where We End

I quite like how Dale Ralph Davis picks up this theme:

Hannah, therefore, shares in a fellowship of barrenness. And it is frequently in this fellowship that new chapters in Yahweh’s history with His people begin—begin with nothing. God’s tendency is to make our total inability His starting point. Our hopelessness and our helplessness are no barrier to His work.

Indeed, our utter incapacity is often the prop He delights to use for His next act. This matter goes beyond the particular situations of biblical barren women. We are facing one of the principles of Yahweh’s modus operandi. When His people are without strength, without resources, without hope, without human gimmicks—then He loves to stretch forth His hand from heaven. Once we see where God often begins, we will understand how we may be encouraged.

He goes on to speak about Hannah’s prayer:

This is no piddly little affair – this is a manifestation of the way Yahweh rules and will bring His kingdom (vv. 5b,8). Hannah’s relief is a sample of the way Yahweh works (vv. 4-8) and of the way He will work when He brings His kingdom in its fullness (vv. 9-10). The saving help Yahweh gave Hannah is a foretaste, a scale-model demonstration of how Yahweh will do it when He does it in grand style.

Each one of Christ’s flock should ingest this point into his or her thinking. Every time God lifts you out of the miry bog and sets your feet upon a rock is a sample of the coming of the kingdom of God, a down payment of the full deliverance, the macro-salvation that will be yours at last.

True, such tiny salvations are only samples or signs of the final salvation…[Y]ou should not despise or demean these little salvations Yahweh works in your behalf, these little clues He gives, these clear but small evidences He leaves that He is king and that He has this strange way of raising up the poor from the dust and lifting the needy from the ash heap to make them sit in the heavenly realms with Jesus Christ. Ponder every episode of Yahweh’s saving help to you…

The Power of Prayer in God’s Sovereign Plan

Richard D. Phillips discusses the afflictions of Hannah, and what we can learn from them:

Rather than assuming some unholy, spiteful, or condemning purpose in God’s afflictions, believers need to remember that God is holy, so all His deeds are holy; God is good, so He intends our sorrows for good; and God is filled with mercy for the brokenhearted.

God does not seek to destroy us through our trials but to save us through our trials. As Hannah herself would later testify: “He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap” (1 Sam. 2:8) So if God is the One who closed the womb, we should take heart, since He can surely also open it.

In Hannah’s case, God was using her plight to orchestrate Israel’s deliverance from the dark era of the judges. This was a cause dear to Hannah’s heart, as we know from the song she later lifted up to God’s praise (1 Sam. 2:10).

We may never know how God has worked through our most bitter trials to bring others to salvation, to equip us with sensitivity in ministry to others, or even to launch a significant gospel advance. But we do know God, and we know from His Word that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). So we can have confidence in God’s purposes in our lives.

He goes on to say this about the importance of prayer:

Not only does prayer change us, but prayer changes things. God is pleased to act in response to our prayers. Some people react to the knowledge of God’s sovereignty by thinking that prayer therefore does not matter, since God has decided everything in advance. Hannah did not reason this way, but understood that God’s sovereign will is achieved through the acts of men and women, especially our prayers.

John Woodhouse comments that her turning to the Lord “will turn out to change not only her life but the life of the nation, and indeed… the history of the world.” He adds, “Faith in God, therefore, leads us in our troubles to pray to the God who is sovereign over all things.”

All this is encouraging good news. The next time you find yourself on the ash heap, and you are questioning if God has forgotten you or has abandoned you, just bear in mind that He knows all about you and your situation, He hears your prayers, and He will act. He remembers us, and He acts accordingly.

Adapted from the article by Bill Muehlenberg, Good News: God Remembers Us – The Daily declaration, 19th March 2026

GOSPEL TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT THE GRAMMY’S

Posted on by

Many artists used their moment on stage at the GRAMMY Awards on Sunday night to give glory to God, turning acceptance speeches into declarations of faith and hope.

U.S. rapper and singer Jelly Roll, who won Best Contemporary Country Album for ‘Beautifully Broken’, delivered one of the night’s most striking moments. Jelly Roll transformed from a troubled past of drugs and jail to a life of faith, music, and public praise for Jesus Christ.

“I believe that music had the power to change my life, and God had the power to change my life,” he said. “And I want to tell y’all right now, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by any music label. Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you, Lord.”

Meanwhile, SZA offered words of encouragement amid global uncertainty after joining Kendrick Lamar on stage to accept Record of the Year for ‘Luther’.

“Please don’t fall into despair,” she said. “I know that right now is a scary time. I know the algorithms tell us that it’s so scary and all is lost. There’s been world wars, there’s been plagues, and we have gone on.

“We can go on. We need each other. We need to trust each other and trust ourselves, trust your heart. We’re not governed by the government. We’re governed by God.”

Christian singer-songwriter Israel Houghton also took home an award, winning Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for ‘Coritos vol. 1’ with Israel & New Breed. After thanking God and honouring his wife, Houghton addressed those living in fear in the United States, alluding to recent ICE raids and killings.

“To those who are hiding in the shadows in America, those who are scared, let this music, let the hope that we are a part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken,” he said. “We are citizens of a kingdom that cannot be shaken and that will not end. I encourage you tonight, listen, be nice to the people in your community. Amen.”

DOES GOD STILL SPEAK TODAY?

Posted on by

For many believers, one of the most important questions in their walk with God is this: Does God still speak today? It’s a question born from longing — the desire to know God personally, to hear His guidance, to sense His nearness in the middle of life’s noise. And it’s a question often shaped by uncertainty, because while Scripture is filled with stories of God speaking, many Christians wonder whether that same voice is still active in the world now.

The good news is this: God has never stopped speaking. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals Himself as a communicating God — One who speaks, leads, warns, comforts, and invites His people into relationship. His voice is not a relic of the past. It is a present reality for those who belong to Him.

God’s Voice Begins With His Word

The clearest and most foundational way God speaks today is through Scripture. The Bible is not a silent book. It is the living Word of God, breathed out by Him and preserved for every generation. When we open its pages, we are not simply reading ancient stories or moral lessons; we are encountering the heart and mind of God Himself.

Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word as “living and active,” meaning it continues to speak with power and relevance. A passage written thousands of years ago can suddenly pierce our hearts, answer a question we’ve been wrestling with, or bring comfort in a moment of deep pain. That is not coincidence — that is God speaking through His Word.

Scripture is God’s primary voice, the standard by which all other impressions or experiences must be measured. God will never contradict what He has already spoken in His Word. If we want to hear God clearly, we must begin by immersing ourselves in Scripture regularly and expectantly.

The Holy Spirit Still Speaks to God’s People

While Scripture is the foundation, God also speaks through the Holy Spirit in ways that are personal and timely. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us into truth, remind us of His teachings, and reveal what we need to know. This guidance is not mystical or strange — it is the natural result of walking with a living God.

The Spirit speaks through gentle impressions, convictions, warnings, and moments of clarity. He may bring a verse to mind at just the right moment. He may nudge us toward a decision that aligns with God’s will. He may give us peace about a direction or unrest when we’re drifting from His path. These experiences are not random; they are the Shepherd guiding His sheep.

However, the Spirit’s voice is always consistent with Scripture. He does not add new doctrine or reveal new truth outside the Bible. Instead, He applies God’s eternal truth to our present circumstances.

God Speaks Through People and Circumstances

Another way God speaks today is through the people He places in our lives. Wise counsel, godly mentors, pastors, and fellow believers can all be instruments of God’s voice. Sometimes a single sentence from a friend can confirm something God has already been stirring in our hearts. Other times, correction or encouragement from a trusted believer becomes the very voice of God calling us back to Him.

God also speaks through circumstances. Open doors, closed doors, unexpected opportunities, and even trials can all be ways God directs our steps. This does not mean every event is a direct message from God, but it does mean He is sovereign over our lives and uses circumstances to shape us, guide us, and draw us closer to Him.

Why Some People Struggle to Hear God

If God still speaks, why do so many believers feel like they never hear Him? Often the issue is not God’s silence but our spiritual noise. We live in a world filled with distractions — constant information, endless entertainment, and the pressures of daily life. God rarely shouts over the noise; He often speaks in a still, small voice.

Hearing God requires stillness, attentiveness, and a heart that genuinely seeks Him. It requires time in Scripture, space for prayer, and a willingness to obey whatever He reveals. God speaks most clearly to those who are ready to listen.

Hearing God Is About Relationship, Not Technique

Ultimately, hearing God’s voice is not a skill to master but a relationship to cultivate. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice because they spend time with him. They walk with him daily. They trust him.

In the same way, the more we walk with God — through prayer, worship, Scripture, and obedience — the more familiar His voice becomes. Over time, we learn to distinguish His leading from our own thoughts, fears, or desires. We begin to recognize the tone of His voice: gentle, truthful, loving, and always aligned with His Word.

God Is Speaking — Are We Listening?

So, does God still speak today? Absolutely. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through His Spirit. He speaks through His people and through the circumstances of our lives. The real question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are making space to hear Him.

If you long to hear God’s voice more clearly, start by opening His Word daily. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you. Surround yourself with godly voices. Slow down enough to listen. And trust that the God who spoke the universe into existence still delights in speaking to His children today.

Jesus is returning soon. How good it will be if you have already developed a close relationship with Him. Will you be ready to rule and reign with Him in Jesus Millennial Kingdom? If you want to know more about what is next on God’s agenda for planet Earth go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net

CAN SCIENCE POINT TO GOD? PANEL: JAMES TOUR, STEPHEN MEYER & ANDREWS FELLOWS

Posted on by

Dr. James Mitchell Tour is an American chemist and nanotechnologist. He is the T. T. and W. F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and a Professor of Materials Science & Nanoengineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas.

This is the first time I have encountered Dr Tour and I must say I was impressed both by his testimony and his answers to tough questions. I intend to connect with his website http://www.jesusandscience.org.

Dr Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle.

Andrew Fellows: From 2011 to 2016 Andrew was the chairman of L’Abri International. Now based in Cambridge, Andrew is the pastor of a newly formed church alongside his work of speaking and writing. He has a special interest in reaching sceptics and encouraging followers of Christ to develop the life of the mind so it includes the whole gospel to the whole world with all of its implications. IVP published his book ‘Smuggling Jesus Back Into the Church; How Not to be Worldly’.

This video is a Cambridge Q&A where James Tour, Andrew Fellows, and Stephen Meyer explain why Christianity best accounts for reality—through personal experience, philosophy, and science. The panel fields audience questions on meaning, doubt, divine hiddenness, the reliability of mind, and the resurrection. It is brilliant. Circulate it widely.

FOLLOW BABYLON OR FOLLOW GOD?

Posted on by

If you’re good, the world will want you. If they’re good, the world will want them – your children. Both look legitimate — not sinister. The invitation won’t read, “Join Babylon.” It will sound like, “Be smart. Get ahead. It’s the best thing for you.”

But watch the cost:

  • A life so driven, God fades into the background.
  • Accomplishments so great, salvation looks too small.
  • A schedule so full, spiritual commitments are shunted to the sidelines.
  • Weekends are either supercharged with activities or spent vegetating due to mental exhaustion.
  • Debts so demanding that they shackle your freedom to serve.
  • A heart so full of everything else, it is too drained for spiritual vibrancy and usefulness.

That’s how Babylon wins — not by force, but by fascination, not by enslavement but by enticement. However, the reality is that enticement and fascination can become a form of bondage themselves.

Daniel had everything Babylon wanted — but Babylon couldn’t have him. He purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled (Daniel 1:8). He excelled, yet he never compromised. God came first, and everything else flowed from that single loyalty.

So, whose finger are you responding to in this season of your life? The one that is pointing you towards personal success and opportunity? Or, the one that is gesturing to you, “Follow Me.”

In twelve different conversations recorded in the four Gospels, Jesus said, “Follow Me,” twenty-one times.

In conclusion, consider the words of Romans Chapter 12 from the Amplified Version:

“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]”. Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Version

Taken from article “If You’re Good” by Peter Ramsay, Heaven 4Sure. Start living eternal now and be prepared to rule and reign with Jesus in His coming Millennial Kingdom – http://www.millennialkingdom.net

GOD, THE SCIENCE, THE EVIDENCE

Posted on by

As debates over science, meaning, and morality grow ever more polarized, a ground-breaking, accurate, and easy-to-read new book in English invites readers to reconsider one of humanity’s most profound questions: could science itself now point us back to God?

The international bestseller God, the Science, the Evidence, an accessible yet rigorous investigation, has sold more than 400,000 copies across Europe. Now, this landmark work comes to the English-speaking world in an updated and expanded version.

The publication of God, the Science, the Evidence marks a major milestone in the renewed global interest in the scientific evidence for the existence of God. Representing years of research and reflection, it presents complex ideas in a clear and engaging style, one that has already made it a cultural phenomenon throughout Europe.

At its core, the book tackles one fundamental question: Is there a Creator God? And it approaches that question through a single lens—rationality—by examining twelve independent fields of knowledge.

Get the book and use it to brings others to the truth of our Creator God who loves us. When people come to realise that evolution is a failed theory and they were created in the image of their Creator God, a God who loves them it will change their lives forever.

TWO GIANT INTELLECTUALS DISCUSS GOD

Posted on by

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with mathematician, author, and theologian Dr. John Lennox. They discuss the axioms and dangerous aims of transhumanism, the interplay between ethical faith, reason, and the empirical world that makes up the scientific endeavour, and the line between Luciferian intellectual presumption and wise courageous exploration. Dr. John Carson Lennox is a ​​Northern Irish mathematician, bioethicist, and Christian apologist. Dr Lennox has been one of the most important apologists for me. I take every opportunity to listen to him. He has written books that will expand your Biblical knowledge and faith. He was a professor at Oxford and Green Templeton College (now retired) where he specialized in group theory. Lennox appeared in numerous debates with questions ranging from “Is God Good” to “Is There a God,” and faced off with academic titans such as Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, and Christopher Hitchens, among others. Lennox speaks four languages – English, German, French, and Russian, has written 70 peer-reviewed articles on mathematics, co-authored two Oxford Mathematical Monographs, and was noted for his role in translating Russian mathematics while working as a professor. I have also enjoyed listening to Jordan Peterson and seeing the positive impact he has had on male university students and watching his coming to faith after both his daughter and wife came to faith.

DISCIPLESHIP IS PRIMARILY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS

Posted on by

Unfortunately it is not according to a Barna Survey. 51% of American Christian parents surveyed “expected the church to take the lead.” Only 49% of parents considered teaching their children about reason, faith, and Biblical Christianity to be their responsibility. Correctly children’s ministry leaders state that discipleship should begin at home.

The findings reflect another concerning trend, which shows 86% of parents “feel under-equipped” to teach their kids the Bible and basic theology.

There’s a deep challenge here, Barna stated. “If children’s ministry is going to be healthy, pastors must help both parents and their ministry leaders find common ground.” Discipling children should be a joint effort. For example, the Gospel is lived out in the home, alongside the Church, not just taught on Sundays.

The church needs to encourage parents to embrace their primary role, by teaching them how to have everyday faith conversations. Properly discipled mums and dads will be better prepared to disciple their kids.

Families, Barna continued, should be encouraged “to practice their faith together in everyday life—serving others, praying as a household, and applying Scripture in real situations.” This is “so the next generation grows resilient and ready to follow Jesus in the world beyond church walls.”

Barna’s insights are nothing new. They point back to the Puritans, who understood that every home was to be a little church. “A family is a little Church, a little commonwealth,” said William Gouge in 1622. “It is a school where first principles and civics are learned; whereby men are prepared for greater matters of Church and State.”

Or as Charles Spurgeon preached in 1875, “Men are as much serving God in looking after their own children, and training them up in God’s fear, as they would be if they had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts.” This includes “minding the house and making their household a church for God.” “It is a grand event when a family is saved!” Spurgeon cheered. “Oh, if households enter into Christ, the very bells of Heaven may ring again and again and again with a joy that has many joys within it!”

WHY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING YOU CANNOT SEE?

Posted on by

“Science unequivocally requires that all things are composed of matter and energy. Therefore, immaterial substances—such as God or the human soul—cannot exist.”

However, science itself does not provide any substantiation for the premise. After all, if science can deal only with matter and energy, it can’t possibly show that other things can’t exist. Rather, this claimed requirement is a philosophical position called materialism, and there are substantial grounds for doubting it. ‘Materialism’ in philosophy doesn’t mean striving for material goods, but the belief that matter (or mass/energy) is all there is.

Immaterial Creator of the universe

Among the reasons for rejecting materialism are the compelling arguments that support the existence of an immaterial Creator of the universe. These include the design of living things, the fine-tuning of the universe for life, and the evidence that it has a finite age, among other arguments.

These features of reality are best explained by the biblical teaching that God is the Creator. If these arguments are successful, materialism fails.

Humans are more than mere machines

If materialism were true, humans would consist merely of organized matter, which we have reason to doubt. The renowned atheist Richard Dawkins eloquently articulates his perspective on human nature:

On one planet [Earth], and possibly only one planet in the entire universe, molecules that would normally make nothing more complicated than a chunk of rock, gather themselves together into chunks of rock-sized matter of such staggering complexity that they are capable of running, jumping, swimming, flying, seeing, hearing, capturing, and eating other such animated chunks of complexity; capable in some cases of thinking and feeling, and falling in love with yet other chunks of complex matter.

However, this materialistic perspective faces serious philosophical and scientific challenges. If humans are reduced to purely physical objects devoid of any immaterial aspect, it becomes exceedingly difficult to explain many basic truths about human beings.

Intrinsic value

The first of these is a person’s value. Physical objects have value only because we assign value to them. They are tools, not ends in themselves. Their value is extrinsic and dependent on changeable factors. Human beings, on the other hand, possess intrinsic value merely by virtue of being human, independent of external factors. We do not lose our value even if we lose significant capabilities—declining mentally or becoming comatose, to give a couple of examples.

Christians know that our intrinsic value comes from being made in God’s image We are not merely bodies but souls that can relate to God. Yet even non-Christians will often recognize the value of human beings, whether they recognize the source of that value or apply it consistently to all people.

Without intrinsic value, it would be hard to make sense of human rights, for example. We know it’s wrong to treat people as mere objects. But the evolutionary materialism of our age insists we have emerged unaided from animals, which originally arose randomly from simple chemicals. That means that people lack souls and do not bear the image of God. In other words, they can only be mere physical objects. In such a view, the intrinsic nature of our value cannot be accounted for.

First-person perspective

Second, physical objects lack a first-person perspective. They lack consciousness and self-awareness and are incapable of having a truly subjective point of view, using the self-reflexive pronoun ‘I’. Even complex computers and robots with artificial intelligence lack real awareness.

In contrast, human beings do possess a first-person perspective. We are conscious agents, capable of not only awareness but even self-awareness and the ability to articulate our point of view. It is difficult to explain this universal experience if humans are merely physical objects.

image of brain

“DAILY, WE ENCOUNTER MENTAL STATES THAT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY BRAIN MATTER ALONE.”

Intentional mental states

Third, humans possess intentional mental states. ‘Intentionality’ is a technical term in philosophy that refers to the power of the mind to represent or refer to other things. That is, some mental states can be ‘of’ or ‘about’ something else. Whenever people think, believe, desire, fear, or wonder, they direct their thoughts toward a specific subject or concept. They may think about breakfast, or experience a fear of spiders, for example. Physical events by themselves are not ‘of’ or ‘about’ other things in that same sense, so what happens in our minds is not physical. Daily, we encounter mental states that cannot be explained by brain matter alone.

Human emotion and other ‘felt’ experiences

Fourth, when a person feels joyful, upset, or anxious, the brain is part of the neural circuitry that plays a role in giving that person such experiences. The brain itself, though, is not joyful, upset, or anxious; the person is. The brain is only a complex organ—a physical object with physical properties, similar in that sense to a computer. A computer might be programmed to say, “I’m sad”, but the computer would not really feel sadness. Emotions like happiness, sadness, and fear are not material entities. They can only be experienced by conscious, sentient creatures who have a non-material aspect to their being, like humans and many animals. This is evidence that we are not merely brains in bodies.

Brain research subjects

Empirical studies show results consistent with the above philosophical arguments. For example, pioneering neuroscientist Wilder Penfield conducted over 1,100 brain surgeries in which he stimulated areas of the brain while patients were awake, and noted their responses. He was able to induce bodily movements, sensations, emotions, and memories. But the patients invariably testified that the response was like a reflex, not an action they chose to do. Penfield found he could not stimulate their will. Also, he could not cause them to draw conclusions, make decisions, or even think abstract thoughts (about, say, mathematics). Such experiments suggest that it is the immaterial self which is ultimately responsible for these activities, rather than the physical brain.

IMAGE BEARERS

God developed and populated the earth, which was initially empty (“without form and void”), as described in Genesis 1:2. He executed this task with exceptional precision and skill, thereby establishing a magnificent stage upon which to showcase His most significant creative accomplishment, humankind. Not only did God reserve the best for last, but He also created humans in a manner that distinguished them from animals. According to Genesis 1:26, humans were created to have a unique relationship to God. This was accomplished through the divine plan (“let us make man”), the divine pattern (“in our image”), and the divine purpose (“let them have dominion”). The attribute of being in the image of God (imago Dei) is not merely bestowed by God and retained by humans. It is what gives people special value (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9), and it is part of God’s design for human beings, who were specifically created to represent God on Earth and reflect many of His attributes.

TRUMP ALLY WINS IN POLAND, SHOCKING ALL OF EUROPE

Posted on by

God is moving in Europe, and the latest move is in Poland. In 2022, it was in Hungary and Italy.

POLAND: Meet Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, who is pro-life, pro-Trump, pro-Poland, and unashamedly pro-Christian. Nawrocki’s shock win was unexpected.

Commiserating the loss, the left-wing news organisation said Nawrocki’s win was a “significant blow to Tusk’s fragile government.” Poland’s new president is now head of the opposition. Even though the role is ceremonial, Nawrocki has the power to veto legislation, and veto he will. For context, Tusk is an ally of the previous President, anti-Christian Rafał Trzaskowski. Both favour de-Christianising Poland, prefer the European Union over Polish sovereignty, and are ideologically aligned with Marxian globalist ideology, such as LGBTQ+ism, climate catastrophism and abortion.

For AP News, the win was more about Donald Trump than Donald Tusk. Trump supported Nawrocki’s candidacy. While not outrightly suggesting Trump had interfered in the Polish election, AP did make a point of noting that Nawrocki “was at the White House last month.”

HUNGARY: In 2022, Katalin Novak, a pro-life, pro-family mother of three, became Hungary’s first female president.

In October 2021, Novak shared Hungary’s “pro-family mindset” with reporters from the United States as she described how the country established a new constitution in 2011 — replacing a former communist constitution recognizing Hungary as a “People’s Republic.” The 2011 Hungarian Constitution protects “the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman,” supports family systems and caring for the elderly, and recognizes life from conception.

ITALY: In 2022, Giorgia Meloni makes no secret that she is eager to go down in history as Italy’s first female prime minister under the slogan “Dio, patria, famiglia” (God, fatherland, family).

As a politician, she is a skilled debater. In addition to her undeniable charisma, she possesses a comprehensive dossier and language skills. The latter came in handy during the recent campaign when she addressed critical foreign media directly in English, French and Spanish.

She claimed her opposition attacked national identity, religious identity, gender, identity and family identity. I can’t define myself as Italian, Christian, woman, mother. Now I must be citizen X, gender X, parent one, parent two. I must be a number because when I’m only a number, when I no longer have an identity or roots, then I will be the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators. We will defend the value of the human being -every single human being.”

She says of herself, “I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am Italian, I am Christian. You can’t take this away from me!”