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| High School Science and a Good GOD |
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When I was a junior in High School, I had a physics teacher that continually challenged how I thought about things. He had a way of making really complex stuff simple and really simple stuff GODly. It was a favorite pastime for us to start each class asking him questions about nature and having him give scientific answers for the most obscure things. I stopped playing the day my friend Russell asked "Why is the sky blue?" We thought we had asked something so generic and broad that there could be no answer other than "'cause GOD said so." but alas, he had an answer. "It's an inferior mirage" he said. "Water has no color, the blue that you are seeing is a reflection of the lowest frequencies of light that aren't fast enough to make it back out of the earth's atmosphere and are therefore bounced back toward earth from the sky." Mr. Johnson, don't you believe in GOD? "Of course I do, I think he has very complicated ways of making this wonderful world, and the more we understand of it the more we will understand him."
I was not yet saved, but mark this as one of the many times GOD was letting me know that he was waiting for me.
Fast forward 20 years (15 of those post baptism) and here I am today. Knowing how good the lord is and leaning on Jesus to survive these test and storms. As I read the blogs and comments of my friends here on MyChurch I learn to count it all Joy and praise Him in all things. This morning I was lead to Exodus. The Israelites were in the desert for a while, even as GOD's chosen people. So who better to learn from about dealing in my desert than them. Moses spent so much time teaching them to keep their eyes on GOD and not there circumstance that I'm sure this is one of the Lord's most important messages to us.
17:1And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink. 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
To complain about our circumstance is to take our eyes off of the Lord. I cannot praise and complain at the same time. Having to choose one moves me towards praise. It also reminded me of Mr. Johnson. While I'm in the wilderness, praying to GOD, I hear from him and go running towards the oasis. But when I get there and find sand, I realize it was a mirage. But wait. GOD told me to look up the word mirage. It turns out that mirage is from the latin root mirare which means "to appear, to seem." but is not an illusion. In order for there to be a mirage, there has to be the reflection of something real. It occurs when true light is refracted by heat.
3:22[It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 3:23 [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. 3:24 The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 3:25The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. 3:26 [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 3:27 [It is] good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 3:28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne [it] upon him. 3:29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 3:30He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 3:33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
GOD's light is true. What he promised is true. You heard what you heard. But the heat of your circumstance may have refracted that light and has you a little disoriented. An illusion only exists in your head, but you can catch a mirage on film because it's real. Something that is real that you can see and feel, but often not able to touch with your hands. Promise of what is to come that you just haven't reached yet, but tangible evidence is in front of you. Sounds just like GOD to me.
Mr. Johnson has been gone for quite a few years now, but I thank GOD for using him to help me understand just a little bit more. |
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| To add a comment to "High School Science and a Good GOD" |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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| Sounds like God to me too Bro! Great insight! |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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| This hit my heart! My background is Pharmacy and Nursing and my sister is a Physicist....so many science classes!! The evidence is true and their that God is real and waiting for us to lean on Him. Wow brother! |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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| Hey Bhek, great read! You've kept us waiting a long time for this (yes, it was worth the wait). Mr Johnson said "the more we understand of it the more we will understand him." But if true, this would seem to make it very difficult for folks in the natural sciences to be athiests. Yet many are athiest. So it seems we understand only what we seek to understand. I guess God really does have to turn the light on after all. (Sounds a bit Calvinistic, doesn't it?) |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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Yeah Mike, a lot of natural scientists are athiest. But many physicists are not. At the risk of sounding elitist I think the more narrow your field of study, the easier it is to get carried away with your own thought process. But for those that try and study "reality" as a macroscience....They have no choice but to bow down to an awsome GOD. or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. Either way, I'm trying to get back to bloggin'. Been a little blocked lately. Thanks to everyone for the comments. |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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3:22[It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 3:23 [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. 3:24 The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
I thank GOD that he understands that his children will complain, despair, even get discouraged. He also knows that his children WILL CONTINUE TO LEAN ON HIM... GREAT is his faithfulness.
We have nothing else, Bhek and we have to continue in this battle KNOWING that he has been through what we are going through and that he will not leave us. Hang in there and know that he cares....
MUCH LOVE |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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Hi Bhek - physicist here - and I agree with you that the things I learned and know about the physcial universe (and all the amazing stuff that we don't understand and/or know) was given as a way to see God's majesty. The beauty is that you don't NEED to understand/look at any of it to be convicted, and that's also part of His plan. God doesn't need you to understand quantum mechanics to stand in AWE of His work! It's a shame that some people let their little knowledge of a few things make them feel that He isn't there, revealing Himself through His creation. The one thing I would say is that while you can't praise and complain at the same time, you sure can bring it to the cross and lay out your troubles to the Lord - the ULTIMATE multitasker :) |
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| April 01, 2008 |
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OUTSTANDING Bhek 
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| April 02, 2008 |
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Isn't it amazing how God gave you the answers to finally silence the voice of doubt Mr Johnson put in your head years ago? Is it a coincidence that this happened while you're in the midst of a storm??? I think NOT!!! I personally think you hit the nail on the head when you brought up not being able to praise and complain at the same time and how important it is to keep our eyes on God instead of our circumstances and I think this is God's way of reassuring you that you have the tools (praise & prayer) to make it through this, just keep walking by Faith and let God do the rest.
The whole mirage thing blew my mind. Food for thought, to say the least.
Peace,
Kiva |
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| April 02, 2008 |
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| Bhek, an amazing blog, which I needed. I've missed your blogs and so glad you're back. |
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| April 29, 2008 |
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| Great blog! |
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