Some Interesting Things I've Been Reading

DNA and God's Design

In an article in The Sunday Times, 11 June, Francis Collins, the director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute, was quoted by , saying,

“When you make a breakthrough it is a moment of scientific exhilaration because you have been on this search and seem to have found it. But it is also a moment where I at least feel closeness to the creator in the sense of having now perceived something that no human knew before but God knew all along.

“When you have for the first time in front of you this 3.1 billion-letter instruction book that conveys all kinds of information and all kinds of mystery about humankind, you can’t survey that going through page after page without a sense of awe. I can’t help but look at those pages and have a vague sense that this is giving me a glimpse of God’s mind.”

Birth Control

David Field has an article on birth control from a Biblical perspective HERE. It's the best article on this subject that I've yet come accross.

Consumer Religion

In his article, 'Rich Christians In An Age of Expensive Authenticity', Doug Willson points out that in the past the scriptural warnings to those who had great wealth applied to only a handful, whereas in the Western world today they apply to virtually everybody. One of these warnings is the temptation to forget God, which is exactly what we see consumer culture encouraging. “And what the explosion of consumer culture has done is create a multitude of camels, all of whom are having the same difficulty with that needle... Wealth generates the false analogy that I can choose my religion the same way I choose my restaurants. My faith becomes simply another item for me to consume.”

Church Music

Charles Colson has an article titled, 'Musical Mush: Are We Impairing Our Capacity to Think?' In this article, Colson reflects on the way “that much of the music being written for the Church today reflects an unfortunate trend – slipping across the line from worship to entertainment.” The church, he argues, is in danger of blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance, with music being only one example.

God's Forgiveness

In the Jan 31, 2006 UCB notes, there was this excellent thought: “In the Old Testament days when a man ‘blew it,’ he brought a lamb to the altar as payment for his sins. But notice this: the priest did not examine the man, he only examined the lamb. If the lamb met God’s requirements the man was instantly forgiven. That is still how it works! When you fail, you need only approach God and say, ‘Father, I come in the name of Jesus asking for forgiveness.’ In that moment the Father’s focus moves from you to Christ, and you are automatically forgiven. What an arrangement!”

The Purpose of Education

“The true purpose of education is to make the doctrines dance, to make the truth sing, to take the greatness of Western civilization and plant it in a heart so that a melody erupts that change the soul forever.” George Grant, from a lecture on Quiller-Cooch.

The Use of Money

This is what Charles Spurgeon had to say about money. “God’s intent in endowing any person with more substance than he needs is that he may have the pleasurable office or, rather, the delightful privilege of relieving want and woe. Alas, how many are there who consider that store which God has put into their hands on purpose for the poor and needy, to be only so much provision for their excessive luxury – a luxury which pampers them but yields them neither benefit not pleasure. Others dream that wealth is given them that they may keep it under lock and key, cankering and corroding, breathing covetousness and care. Who dares roll a stone over the well’s mouth when thirst rages all around? Who dares keep the bread from the women and children who are ready to gnaw on their own arms for hunger? Above all, who dares to allow the sufferer to writhe in agony, uncared for, and the sick to pine for their graves unnursed? This is not a small sin. It is a crime to be answered for to the judge when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Here you: we shall answer…

To receive automatic notification every time new material is added to this blog, send a blank email to largerhope @ tiscali.co.uk with “Blog Me” in the subject heading. (Note: for anti-spam purposes, this email address has had spaced inserted before and after the @ sign. The address will only work after deleting these spaces).