Science

Having a handicapped younger brother, I've been exposed to many different ailments (both physical and mental).  I've seen and shared in a young child's joy when he had a new prosthetic limb so he could play soccer once again.  I've met a man who, after receiving an artificial heart a few years ago, was able to live long enough afterwards to meet his newborn grandson.

Experiencing these things brought me a deep fascination and longing to immerse myself in the future biomedical engineering.  It is the reason why I chose to choose my college major, and it plays a major factor in my decision to go to medical school.  I have experienced no greater joy than to share in another's chance at a normal life through the use of technology.

But then there's the other side of the spectrum.

Science and technology are neutral.  It is through the application of scientific knowledge does the trajectory of humanity's future point.  Einstein's E=mc^2 has been fundamental in both bringing energy to millions of people, and has also been responsible for the decimation of an entire race through the atom bomb.

Despite this movie being complete fiction (and a promo for a video game no less), it was an utterly sobering reminder of this fact.  As dramatic as the movie is, this sort of future is not an impossibility.  And I am deeply frightened.

Lord, Use Me

At a retreat, you have no doubt that the Holy Spirit is moving.  The lights are dim and you are in a moment of adoration and deep worship while the deepest part of your soul cries out and you exclaim "Lord, use me!!!"

Use me...I've said it... you've said it...

...but do we know what we're getting ourselves into?

John 9:2-3 begins His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"


Read the next verse and take the time to pause.. "Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.'"


Am I truly a life that is willing to be used as a place for God to display His power?  But...

...

How can people ever see our God as a Healer without the presence of sickness?

How can people learn the God of grace without the wounded having been afflicted?

How can we know God as Provider unless we have also known deep need?

Is it possible to understand "peace that surpasses understanding" without having been plunged into depths of confusion and pain?

How can we proclaim our God to be the Restorer unless we have first felt the pain of brokenness?

We all love to rejoice in a victor; but do we welcome the battle?


...

How easily do I grumble!  When the battles come in my life, does the way I conduct myself bear witness to others that I KNOW in Whom I have believed!  Or do I doubt God's presence, care or power in the midst of said hardships.  Do I KNOW that He never leaves or forsakes me!  That I KNOW He works all things together for good?!

...Holy Father, may I trust you completely... May I truly be able to say "Use me".

living sacrifice

Be Still

For those of you that don’t know, I just finished the short marathon that is studying for the MCATs.  During the last several months, I often felt myself burnt out from all the equations and memorizing.  When we immerse himself in work worrying about getting things done and fighting for a favorable outcome, sometimes it feels like we can never do enough… or we don’t do things right.  Our instinct is to prioritize, often times incorrectly.  The To-Do List is never done.  Psalm 46:10 has kept me in check during these times and I know will continue to do so as I live for Him.

God says: BE …not “do”, or “get”, or “go”.  He says that WHO we are is more important than what we do.
In today’s American culture, sleep is becoming more and more of a scarce commodity.  How does any one of us find time to get enough rest?  There’s school, work, family, kids, work at church.  Unending projects -at home and away- are almost (but not quite) enough to keep our minds off the 500 point dip in the stock market.  Plus, we really want to have some time with friends…need some “down time”…

God says: BE STILL …He knows that we are strengthened in our rest.  But, more than that, if we don’t BE STILL, we will undoubtedly miss that “still, small voice”.  Satan, the master and author of confusion, wants us to live in the loud, overwhelming activity and movement of life.  Our God does speak loudly at times…but most of the time the Lord will not compete with the noise that we create and/or allow around us.  Being Still…taking time alone to pray and meditate on Him…shutting out everything and everybody…is part of the self-discipline that is required to develop and maintain a REAL relationship with God.  We must make time and space to meet Him in silence and in stillness.

God says: BE STILL AND KNOW …I figure you can give me a few facts about George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.  You know about them… but you don’t KNOW them.  In 5, 10, 20, 30 years… would we really KNOW the people we graduated with?  Do we KNOW GOD or are we satisfied with KNOWING ABOUT HIM?  To maintain any relationship, to KNOW GOD, requires ongoing communication…time spent talking, listening…learning and understanding His heart and mind through the Word.

God says: BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM …Our Father said “I AM”.  He doesn’t remind us of who HE was, nor does He tell us who He would becoming.  He never changes… His priorities, His rules, His commands do not and will never change.  He is ever-present…forever the same.

God says: BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD We easily argue our point of view with people around us.  We readily stand up for ourselves…or wear martyr-like self-pity.  But the truth is WE DON’T GET TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS.  We are not our own; we’ve been “bought with a price” (1Cor 6:20).  I’ve seen bumper stickers that say “God is my co-pilot” and I’d have to respectfully disagree.  God, Christ and the Holy Spirit is to be the pilot and we are to “die to self”.  Everything else is disobedience.  We must remember that the greatest among us will serve (Matt 23:11)…and that our God is on His throne and He is the KING

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth
Psalm 46:10