I got this in an email and it intrigued me.

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An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem Science has with God, The Almighty. He asks one of his new Christian students to stand and.....

PROF:  You are a Christian, aren't you, son?
Student: Yes, sir.

PROF: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.

PROF: Is God good?
Student: Sure.

PROF: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.

PROF: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal Him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm? (Student is silent.)

PROF: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.

PROF: Is Satan good?
Student: No.

PROF: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God...

PROF: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.

PROF: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.

PROF: So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)

PROF: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?  All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.

PROF: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)

PROF: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.

PROF: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.

PROF: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

PROF: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.

PROF: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

PROF: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
PROF: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
PROF: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat.  But we don't have anything called cold.  We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold.  Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.  We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy.  Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.  (There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
PROF: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something.  You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light.... But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it?  In reality, darkness isn't.  If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

PROF: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

PROF: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality.  You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.  To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor.  Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
PROF: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?.....No one appears to have done so.  So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
PROF: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir... The link between man & God is FAITH.  That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

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Though scripture could have been quoted. I like how the student used logic to battle the short sightedness of this professor.

Thia Psalm has brought me comfort over the past few days, especially when I feel near overwhelmed with worry or grief. It is a reminder and a comfort of the support that is there for both me and my dad as well as every other Christian. I am in the hospital sitting next to my dad's bed as I write this. He is dying. Write now he is on comfort care, in other words he is being kept pain free until nature takes its course and he passed on. It has been a long, hard, trying week and The Lord is my shepherd has seen me through some of the tougher times.

Right now most all of our prayers have been for the Lord to to take dad into his embrace. He has fought a long battle and it is time for him to be taken in by Christ. I have no doubts that this will be the case and this has also comforted me. I believe the struggle going on now is mostly natural survival and possibly the fact that my dad does not want to leave his loved ones. We have let him know it is alright to pass on. So here I sit praying, waiting, and writing to keep him comfortable and to keep myself sane.

I also thank God for such a wonderful rector. She has been a true support both spiritually and emotionally.

This is something I wrote just prior to my baptism on Easter Vigil last year:

Finding the Right Path

When I was a boy my parents thought it was important that I was old enough to choose my own path as far as religious beliefs were concerned, so they did not have me baptized. Instead I was taught about the various world religions. I learned of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. I also learned about scientology and energy. Though I learned of many religions I always considered myself Christian, though I was a Christian without a church or a real path.

I joined the military and while in I found that I really enjoyed the multi-denominational services they offered. There were no holier than thou stigmas as I had experienced from various people from differing faiths to be found in the multi-denominational services. This was a good experience, yet still not what I was truly looking for. It was not a clear path for me and not really all that I was looking for.

After I got out of the military I went back to school and became reacquainted with one of my childhood friends and mentors who later became my wonderful wife. She started bringing me to St. Paul’s. I really liked it, but I lacked the focus and was not ready to see it as it truly was, the path that I had been in search of. It took several years to figure out. We were what I like to call “Holiday Christians” and attended several services during the requisite holidays, like Christmas and Easter, but I still was not getting the point. Now I know I was being led here.

My wake up call was after we enrolled Jeremy at St. Albert the Great Catholic School. Along with his regular studies he began religious education and started asking questions of us. His questions and experiences at his school woke me up! I realized a desire that had been simmering on the back burner for awhile. It was time to go back to St. Paul’s and take a good look with my eyes open and my awareness peaked.

I found what I knew was here at St. Paul’s, but chose not to recognize. I found my path to God. We’re old friends and always have been. It’s just that our friendship was never truly realized by me until I started coming to St. Paul’s and praying and communing. All the parishioners are welcoming and the services are inspirational to me. I have chosen my path and it is here at St. Paul’s. It is a good path and one that I want to share with my son. My son and I will be baptized this Easter Vigil and I am excited and anxious for this new beginning. 

This is a continuation written today: 

Moving Forward

            Now it has been a year and I have been confirmed in the Episcopal Church and regularly attend St. Paul's. I went through confirmation with my dad and my wife. It's been a joy learning more about Christ and a blessing having him in my life.

            The last five months have been very hard and if it wasn't for the strength I find through Christ I would be completely lost and I doubt that my dad would be alive. My dad has been very ill with congestive heart failure, diabetes, and cirrhosis of the liver topping the LONG list of ailments. He has been forced to retire with no retirement and is in and out of the hospital all the time. I know the nurses in two ICU's by first name. Financially he is in really bad shape and it has fallen to me to try and get his property sold and pay his bills with what little social security he has.

            All of this has been and continues to be a trial that is easier to bear because Christ takes the load that I can not. He has answered my prayers on many occasions and my love for him has deepened to the point that I KNOW he is there for me and for others. He gives me the strength to do what I have to do for my family with more so that I can help others and spread his good word. I am still learning and have a great journey in front of me but I am walking with him in and around me showing the way. I stumble and he is there to catch me. I err and he still loves me and guides me back to truth. I weaken and he strengthens me. There are so many things Christ has done and is doing for me. All I can do is my best to help others that need help and spread his word to those that will listen. For those that won't listen I will show by example. Christ is there for all of us. It is just that some still need to wake up and listen.

Two years ago I was able to go to the holy land. The company I work for is based out of Israel and I was asked to go for the company's anniversary celebration. I jumped at the chance. It was a nice trip that lasted ten days, seven of which were spent on a tour bus touring Israel. We went many places the Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Nazareth, Jerusalem and the wailing wall are just a few I can remember off of the top of my head.

The trip touched me spiritually more than I anticipated and really started to open my heart and mind to Christ. Prior to this trip I was a Holiday Christian. Going to church with my family at Christmas and Easter and such. After the trip I yearned for more. A yearning to become closer to god. This same year we enrolled my son in Catrholic School, which peaked my yearning even more. My family and I started attending church more and I found a better connection with Christ. Looking back I know Jesus was with me, it just took time and the right circumstance fo me to realize this and open myself up to him.

While in Jerusalem we went into many shops. Much of what I saw was tourist trapping junk made in Taiwan, but in one small obscure shop I found a cross. It was silver, hand made, not glitzy, and was different from any I had ever seen before. I took it to the shopkeeper and asked what it symbolized. He told me it was a Jerusalem cross and that it represented all Christian Churches as one. This intrigued me and I thought, yes this is as it is meant to be. I know now that I was being guided by Christ.

I've done some research and know that it was the first Crusaders Cross. Which is not necessarily a good thing overall, but there is more to it. The large cross represents Christ, with the ends representing spreading his word to the four corners of the world. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either the four books of the Gospel. Alternately, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds of Christ during the Passion. Then there is what the shopkeeper told me. All together it is a cross that has great meaning to many including myself.

I enjoy the denomination I chose because it is open and not elite. Christianity in my view is not an elite club. It has a place for all regardless of wealth, power, or status. It believes in one holy, catholic (meaning one church for all), apostolic church. Yes there are many denominations but there is only one true church. This is part of what I enjoy about MyChurch, it is a place where all denominations of Christ's Church can come together and get along sharing and spreading the word and joy of Christ.

Road rage is stress. You know, that overwhelming desire to choke the living "something" out of some "individual" who desperately deserves it. I experience that from time to time while I am driving and someone cuts me off or nearly hits me. I experience it less now that I recognize that god is with me everywhere. Don't get me wrong, it's not as if I get a lecture, but I sure can feel the eyebrow raise in my direction. The lords prayer goes through my head when I feel this, or at least the part, "Forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive those who trespass against me." I let the anger go, forgiving a transgression that probably wasn't even realized by the transgressor and say a prayer for forgiveness. I also work harder at not letting things like this drive me to anger. It's part of repenting. What good is it to ask for forgiveness if you are not willing to repent? Sure I slip and make mistakes, but I make fewer of them and I strive not to make anymore.

Christ is walking surefooted beside me, but I stumble along tripping as I go. He's there to hold me up when I reach for him and to brush me off after I fall when I don't, but he is also there showing the way. I have but to listen and pray. I don't trip over the pebbles as much anymore and am getting better at seeing the bigger tripping hazards. I just have to remember to listen and pray for the guidance and strength that is and always has been there.