Santa Claus is Evil

Posted: January 2, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: God | Leave a comment
santa
When we think of Christmas, the imagine of Santa Claus dances around in our head. Unfortunately, Santa Claus has become a secular replacement for Christ… the real reason for the Christmas season. In In Santa Claus is Evil, we discuss the character of Santa Claus, similarities to Christ, and how Sanata Claus has replaced Christ.

Is There a Creator? Part 2

Posted: April 23, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: God, Universe | Leave a comment

Video Overview
This presentation finishes up on the question of “Is there a creator of life?” and attempts to answer the question “Is there a creator of the universe?” Can science and the notion of the big bang explain the existence of the universe or do we need to consider the notion of a creator that ultimately designed and created the universe?

Video Transcript
Video Summary

  • A basic cell is the basic building block for all of life
  • A basic cell cannot be divided into smaller components and still function… the “irreducible complexity” problem
  • Occam’s razor suggests it is easier to believe in a creator that created the first cell and created the mechanism for evolution
  • Genesis states that the universe was created by an entity outside the universe… God
  • Science and the notion of the Big Bang also suggests that the universe was created by something outside the universe
Motivational Insights

  • Occam’s razor suggests there IS a creator… for both the universe and life in the universe
  • Knowing that there is a creator provides comfort… that the things we see and observe are not simply pure randomness
References

Is There a Creator? Part 1

Posted: April 15, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: God, Life, Universe | Leave a comment

Video Overview
This presentation attempts to answer the question “Is there a creator”. In particular, we examine the existence of life. Can evolution provide a full explanation of the existence of life or do we need to consider the notion of a creator that ultimately designed and created life?

Video Transcript
Video Summary

  • If a rock formation like Mt Rushmore were discovered on Mars, most people would imagine that someone/something created that formation.
  • If a wrist watch were discovered on Mars, most people would imagine that someone/something created that watch.
  • If a martian were discovered on Mars, most people would NOT imagine that someone/something created that martian, even though it is many orders of magnitude more complex than a rock formation or wrist watch.
  • Evolution appears to be a plausible explanation for the existence of life.
  • According to the theory of evolution, the building blocks of life are single cells.
  • A single cell suffers from irreducible complexity. It cannot be further subdivided into smaller parts.
  • A single cell is like a very complex and sophisticated factory performing over one hundred trillion tasks. In comparison, flying to the moon entailed on the order of one hundred thousands tasks.
  • Today, the theory of evolution can’t adequately explain where that first cell came from as it is MUCH more complex than first imagined.
Motivational Insights
The answer to the question of a creator greatly impacts our view of…

  • Why are we here?
  • Why am I here?
  • Is there a Heaven?
  • Is there a Hell?
  • Is there a before life?
  • Is there a after life?
  • Does morality matter?
References

The Story of Lazarus

Posted: November 22, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: God, Universe | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Video Overview
This presentation depicts the biblical story of Lazarus and discusses why Jesus wept before raising him from the dead, even though he knew in advance that he was going to perform this miracle.

Video Transcript
Video Summary

  • Most read book… the Holy Bible
  • Most influential man of the 20th century… Albert Einstein
  • Einstein took the “speed of light” implication of Maxwell’s equation and worked backwards. Speed is change in distance divided by change in time. The only way for that ratio to be a constant implies that time itself must slow down as you get closer to the speed of light.
  • The bible contains 3 metaphors of God:
    1. God is spirit (John 4:24).
    2. God is light (1 John 1:5).
    3. God is love (1 John 4:8).
  • Like with Einstein, the suggestion is to treat these 3 metaphors of God literally.
  • God is in us (John 14:20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you”) should also be taken literally.
  • In the story of Lazarus, we read about Lazarus’s sister Mary running out to Jesus to tell him that Lazarus had died 4 days earlier. How did Jesus respond?…. John 11:35 says “Jesus wept”…. shortest verse in the bible. Why did Jesus weep? He KNEW he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead!
  • The connection between Jesus and Mary allowed Mary to share her grief with Jesus.
  • That connection is God.
Motivational Insights

  1. Share in the grief of others and you will lighten their load and create a bond with them.
  2. Sharing of your grief with others will lighten your load and create a bond with them.

You, Your Spouse, and God

Posted: October 11, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: God | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

Video Overview
This presentation describes the triangular relationship between you, your spouse, and God. and how your relationship with your spouse impacts your relationship with God.

Video Transcript
Video Summary

  • The relationship between you, your spouse, and God form a triangle.
  • As you and your spouse “climb” the sides of the triangle and get closer to God, you end up getting closer to each other.
  • The idea of “getting closer” is a nice “romantic” notion, but the depiction is flawed. Imagine saying a disparaging remark to your spouse upon walking into church. You may be inspired by the pastor’s message that day and consequently feeling closer to God. Your spouse, feeling hurt from your comments, will feel further from both you… and God.
  • The connection between you and your spouse is love.
  • God is love (1 John 4:8 “God is love”).
  • Therefore, in the example I gave, it appears you are getting closer to God while simultaneously getting further from your spouse…. Which means getting further from God… because the “love” connection IS God.
  • In 1 John 4:20, we read “If someone says, ‘I love God’, but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar”. In other words, it is not possible to get closer to God and further from God at the same time.
Motivational Insights

  1. Since God is in all of us, you can’t claim to love God and not love everyone.
  2. We are made for community… to share both good times and bad.

In Control

Posted: September 4, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Life | Leave a comment

Video Overview
We live in a world that praises the notion of being in control. Such a view is unhealthy and unrealistic. The presentation explores a different paradigm that relies on community.

Video Transcript
Video Summary

    All negative emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, and jealousy have, as a common characteristic of “lack of control”. Control CAN be obtained.
Motivational Insights

  1. Focus on the things your enjoy, are good at, and “in control”. Surround yourself with family, friends, colleagues, and community members you are NOT so good at doing.
  2. Ponder the idea that there is a creator of the universe who IS in control of ALL things.
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