Book review "God and Evolution" edited by Jay Richards

A recently published book edited by a renowned author Jay Richards and contributed by more than four eminent authors titled "God and Evolution" looks at the angle of evolution through the eyes of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims. This is a very interesting and thought provoking book to say the least. Its a must read for every church going Christian and also for the pastors and priests who preaches to them.

Jay Richards is a very intelligent and articulate communicator, and the book will be a very interesting read for anyone interested on the idea of "marrying" evolution and creation.

All saints die!

Saints! What a word man has created and how nicely it has become to be a word of value when attributed to a finite human being. Who is a saint? A person without corruption. In today's world do we not see innumerable self proclaiming saints? Are they really saints? They apparently are - for some...in fact for many hapless people.

Saints are revered in countries like India because people find an answer to a problem they face through their teaching or a certain religious practice which focuses one's mind. Thereafter they just follow the saints blindly. Saints also heal people of diseases, protect from accidents, etc. at least so they say. But here is the thing.....why can't saints heal themselves or prevent themselves from harm? This tells that saints are just humans as we are and all humans die, so do saints. Saints are just as infallible like humans be it Sai Baba from Puttaparthi or Mother Teresa from Calcutta. Hope this truth percolates deep into the human understanding.

One more thing, Easter is the day Christian believers celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection from the death. That is the same day a "saint" (in Sai Baba) died  and to me it tells a powerful narrative. Worship worthy God rose from the dead, and "Saints" die....sometimes on the same day! 

Reliability and Independence

Its been a while! Not that I have not had thoughts or ideas that I wanted to share. But just wasn't able to blog due to a handful of other things that demanded more of my focus and attention. But that's in the past now.

This one is a simple thought. Does our trust in God create a sense of dependence or independence?

Normally when we trust someone or something, we expect in all probability that, that person or thing will deliver what is expected of it. Let me give an example, if I take my well maintained car for a long drive, I start out with a trust that my car will be reliable enough to complete the demanding  trip without breaking down on the way. It gives me a sense of independence and lets me think about other activities I may plan during the trip. That is independence to me due to my car's reliability. Should God's reliability give me independence? OR more dependence on HIM?

I can see a smile on your face on reading this tricky question. Abundance of money affords a great flexibility and independence in life and no question about that. Most of us well realize money is just a means to the end and not an end in itself. What is the true end then? Worldly "stuff"? or stuff that puts your focus always on God? Love and peace cannot be bought with any amount of $$$$, fortunately. There is only one source for these valuable possessions in this difficult world. A source which is unending and everlasting. That to me makes me so dependent on God and not independent of God. So, trust in God makes me more dependent on HIM because of his RELIABILITY. What do you think?

Another Poem by this amazing boy Mattie

Future Reminiscing


It is good

To have a past

That is pleasant

To reflect upon.

Take care

To create

Such a gift

For your future.



December 25, 2000

© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

http://www.mattieonline.com/about.htm

This poem is by a 10 year old kid, who died because of a rare genetic form of muscular dystropy, is inspiring!

We need to stop.


Just stop.

Stop for a moment.

Before anybody

Says or does anything

That may hurt anyone else.

We need to be silent.

Just silent.

Silent for a moment.

Before we forever lose

The blessing of songs

That grow in our hearts.

We need to notice.

Just notice.

Notice for a moment.

Before the future slips away

Into ashes and dust of humility.

Stop, be silent, and notice.

In so many ways, we are the same.

Our differences are unique treasures.

We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts

To nurture, to offer, to accept.

We need to be.

Just be.

Be for a moment.

Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,

Like children and lambs,

Never judging or vengeful

Like the judging and vengeful.

And now, let us pray,

Differently, yet together,

Before there is no earth, no life,

No chance for peace.



September 11, 2001

© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek


P.S.
I am reading more about this truly amazing boy Mattie; I heard one of his recorded interviews today on the radio and was truly moved. Hope it does for you too.

Time for a riddle!

Not a word is spoken, but everyone understands,
No one hears, but they communicate...
What can it be?

Answer: TJHO MBOHVBHF
(Clue: Put together one letter preceding each letter in the answer for the right answer.)

Is there an Adam and Eve in your family?

Normally indulgence is self driven. But sometimes its driven by others. Especially in a family, if its another person who lead you to indulge, it is the spouse. When we fall in a trap - sin trap, there is always a reason or a person behind it. It may not be even true but we easily find a scapegoat. Rarely we own or take responsibility. If its true that the spouse was the reason the actual blame should go to the person who acted on the motivation to indulge. This is what I like to call the 'Adam and Eve syndrome'. Is there a Adam and Eve syndrome in your family?