The Divine (clogyrnach)

Sublime intelligent design
Emotion and reason entwine
Creativity
Precise artistry
To a tee
The divine

Do you believe in intelligent design? And if the universe, and all within it were intelligently designed, do you think that requires only reason and logic? If so, why would we, humans, have such strong emotions?

I was doing some research on intelligent design and found a few quotes that really caught my attention:

• “DNA is like a computer program but far, far more advanced than any software ever created. – Bill Gates”
• “The believer in the God of creation is the rationalist.”
• “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.” -Issac Newton
• “We are intelligent beings: intelligent beings cannot have been formed by a crude, blind, insensible being: there is certainly some difference between the ideas of Newton and the dung of a mule. Newton’s intelligence, therefore, came from another intelligence” – Voltaire

I have always been an emotional person. Often times I’ve acted impulsively off of my feelings. This hasn’t always worked out well. I’m so glad I married the man I did, because he is a strong thinker. So then, he being the thinker, and I being the feeler, I guess you can say we compliment each other. I have learned so much during these past 10 years of marriage. Trying to not let my emotions guide me, stopping and looking at things rationally, recognizing that feelings can often blind a person and cause one to regret impulsive actions. These are some the lessons I’ve learned.

Being a Christian, I believe in intelligent design. In considering the fact that everything in the universe is bound by laws which have no choice but to obey, and the complexity and logic that is involved in order that the universe runs orderly and smoothly – I find it hard to believe that an unintelligent being could have done it all, or that it merely happened by chance.

I’ve often thought that humans are such extremists. We have a difficult time finding balance. I find that some Christians are very strong feelers and live their lives by emotional/spiritual experiences. Then there are others that tend to shun the emotional, because they know that feelings can be deceptive and often blind people. They may know all there is about the Bible and be able to debate logically and intellectually about philosophy, theology and what have you, but are scared of having an emotional experience.

What I am learning now though, is that there is a balance.  If God made me with intellect and emotions, then there’s a reason for it.  I have had some phenomenal emotional and supernatural experiences with God, but have left the reason and logic off to the side. Now I find myself reading and researching out more of a rational basis for my faith. Because ultimately experiences and emotions can be found and generated in any belief system, but I want to know what is true and what is real. I used to read the Bible and pray to find peace and have an ‘experience’ with God. I don’t want that to go, but I want the balance now. The balance between reason and emotion.

How about you? Do you believe in intelligent design? Do you find yourself more of a strong feeler or thinker? Do you long to find balance between the two?

 

 

 

 

True Love – # 3 in the song series

 

(Photo credit: Marian Trinidad)

When I fall and fall and fall and fall again
You don’t give up on me
When just like Thomas I doubt your goodness
You continue showing it to me
When I’m like that little sheep that wandered away
You leave the rest to come and get me

Oh love, sweet sweet love
That’s love, sweet sweet love
True love, a love that’s greater than understanding

When I lack in faith and act in unbelief
Your faithfulness continues unto me
When I think I’m no good, and never will succeed
You don’t stop believing in me
When my heart is cold, and you seem so far away
Soon you show you never left me

What do you consider to be true love?  I believe that the English language is very vague when it comes to ‘love’.  One can easily say, “I love my husband/wife” and in the next breath say, “I love your dress”.  Now I know that there are different types of love and I shared about them in a prior post here: https://stacilys.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/love/

This song, however, is based on Agape love, an unconditional, total commitment type of love.  It doesn’t seek reward.  It isn’t a selfish love. It is self-less and sacrificial.  It is this type of love that I believe is God’s love toward me and all humanity.  Being that I am a Christian, it is this type of love that continually draws me in and back to my God, to acceptance, to freedom and to wholeness.  This song is a depiction of what I believe to be true love, freely given by an all-loving God through His son, Jesus Christ.

Back to you.  What do you consider to be true love?  Have you ever experienced this type of self-sacrificial love? Have you ever given it?

Truth can be created? Hmmmmmm

*I tried to post this on Friday, now it’s Sunday, and just realized that it didn’t actually publish.  Let’s try this again.

FFTF (Food For Thought Friday)
    Spirit: Truth can be created? Hmmmmm
    Body: Apple Yogurt Bowl

Spirit: Truth can be created? Hmmmmm

What is truth?  Do you think it’s possible to create your own truth?  Let’s take a look at what Winston Churchill once said.

Incontrovertible: Big word, wouldn’t you say? Let’s see how the dictionary defines it:

• Not able to be denied or disputed.

And how about “Truth” itself:

• The real facts about something : the things that are true
• The state of being the case
• The body of real things, events, and facts
• The property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality

It seems that now-a-day postmodern thought leans toward this tendency to believe that one can actually create his/her own truth, and I have a difficult time with that.  I would like to borrow a piece from Josh McDowell, former agnostic that used to believe that Christianity was worthless.

The Postmodern Age: Create Your Own Truth

Postmodernism is a worldview that asserts that external, absolute truth—that is, a truth that is true for all people, in all places, and at all times—cannot be known through reason or science because truth is either nonexistent or unknowable. Postmodern thought asserts that experience is more reliable than reason, and the idea of truth is created rather than discovered. In a nutshell, postmodernists say, “If it’s true for you, then it’s as true as it needs to be.”

Postmodernism now shapes the attitudes of our society as a whole even though most people don’t even know the meaning of the word. Don’t be surprised to meet many adults or even Christians who are reluctant to draw a line between right and wrong or to affirm a belief in absolute truth. They have adopted a postmodern mind-set without bothering to check whether it is based in absolute truth—or even needs to be. Perhaps, if pressed, they might offer an explanation that borders on New Age mysticism.

Contrary to postmodern thought, we do not create truth–we discover it. Belief does not determine reality–reality exists apart from belief. Our belief in the truth merely brings us into alignment with it and activates its power in our lives. Absolute truth is an objective reality that exists totally independent of what anyone thinks or feels about it. Truth is real and solid whether or not we choose to believe it, just as Mount Everest is real and solid whether or not we choose to climb it. (original here: http://joshmcdowell.blogspot.com.br/2008/01/postmodern-age-create-your-own-truth.html)

So what do you think?  Do you think it’s possible to create your own truth?  Just some food for thought as you go into your weekend.

Body: Apple Yogurt Bowl

I love breakfast.  Don’t you?  It’s my favorite meal of the day.  I have recently discovered an amazing breakfast that I have been enjoying frequently.  A simple recipe, but a good one.  Hope you enjoy.

A great weekend to all and please, let me know your thoughts.

Blessings =)