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Written by Cindy
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Thursday, 19 March 2009 21:04 |
Just how do religion and science go together? Can they?
This was a question and reoccurring theme on our campus this past month. Various speakers came in giving their opinion on the matter. Various religious groups discussed what it meant to them and for them and what they believed individually on the matter.
There has been no proof of a definite answer. Some believe religion stands alone. Some believe science stands alone. Some believe the two are meshed together. Those set in their belief will not waver from it.
The big question is: creationism or intelligent design and evolution or Darwinism? What is the answer? Today I propose this: whatever the case let’s do as Jesus would do, in the sense of “getting along.” I am certainly not saying you have to turn your back on what you believe. I am certainly not saying you have to agree with everything people say. Goodness, please DO question. Yet, do not simply smile your smile and walk on by like it’s no big deal. Just because you disagree, you can still get along. No, not just tolerate, but be open and LISTEN. Listen to what you are saying. Listen to what others are saying. Listen to what Jesus is telling your heart. Read the Bible, ask questions and seek answers. I don’t guarantee finding answers, or finding the same answers, but always seek the truth. “The truth will set you free.” Free of slavery to your idea, free of hatred for other ideas, freedom to have a voice, just as all others have the same freedom to speech.
“I am the light and the truth,” Jesus said. We all need a light to seek the truth. Let’s do that instead of sitting in the dark arguing about it. Would Jesus have turned his back on those he disagreed with? No, this world is not always harmonious, but why do people turn their backs on religion? Is it because religion has turned their backs on them?
I do not have the answers, yet I have a bounty of questions. Will you strive everyday to invite and listen, to love as Jesus loved? Would you be willing to ask questions you may not get or want the answer to? Can we all make a vow today to do our best at opening ourselves as Jesus did? Open to love and not hate. Not always agreeing, but having open arms to all.
So whether religion and science go together is not our question today, but rather, are we willing to be open, willing to share, but willing to listen, striving to make this world a better place just as Jesus did? Let’s try.
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Written by Addie
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Friday, 13 March 2009 05:32 |
This week was mid-term week.
The best way to describe this busy time lies in what my away message said for the majority of the week:
Things Addie Needs To Do:
-JHYG Planning
-Jazz Take-Home Quiz
-Mission Committee Presentation
-English Paper
-Midterm for Synoptics
-Synoptic Paper Draft
-Board Meeting Prep
-Blog for PSALT
-Pack for Mississippi
-Religious Experience Test
Thing Addie Is Doing:
-MarioKart
Granted the list did end up getting smaller as the week went by (I know I can remove at least one after I'm done writing this), :) and my object of procrastination sometimes switched to YouTube, but the simple fact was this: I knew what I had to do. I knew how to do it. And yet, when it came down to it, I just wasn't doing what I should have been.
How you ever felt like that with your faith?
You know it would be better to do that, but instead you decide to do this.
My challenge for you this week is to find something that's pointing you to do that, and this time, do it. Stop playing MarioKart, and write your English paper. Tell that person why you get up for church on Sunday. Confront that professor about the stereotypes he's been portraying about Christians. Hold your roommate accountable for that problem she asked you to help with. Invite that friend to your bible study. Forward this website to your cousin whose looking for colleges next year.
- "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." (Matthew 5:48)
Maybe what you've been putting off will be hard, but know that if God is tugging you to do a certain act, he'll be with you the whole way through.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matthew 6:34)
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Written by Ricky Ochilo
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009 04:37 |
International Women’s Day: What began as a movement for the empowerment of women in the early 20 th century is today a hallmark of the importance of humility and recognition of the strength women posses and their unmatched contributions to society. Even in the wake and throes of wrangling political and economic oppression, women have answered with a voice so loud that millions of cries have been heard and the frustrations of those in despair have been carried into the limelight by our women.
Today and everyday we pay tribute to the women who struggle and compel each of us to be a voice against the ongoing ineptitude of those that have tried and failed to lead. Across the world, women today awake to new tasks some oblivious to the day set out to honor their vigilance. Yet like every other day they are quick to answer the cries and calm the weary minds. Women cater to the forgotten children turning anguish into rejuvenated hope. Women nurture our world as they have our bodies to inspire us to live in adherence to the principles of courage, responsibility, respect and fair-mindedness amidst fuelling apathy
With hearts open wide, touching gentleness and words of comfort they have shown grace where others have left legacies of tormenting grief. In Amazonia they have watched far too long while the beauty and lifeblood of their sustenance is ravaged. And the women have said, no more! Like a bellowing tide women have erupted with a vengeance to eradicate the ills plaguing our planet. In Indonesia they have watched as policies set have turned a blind eye to the handicapped and psychologically impaired.
And like a gusting wind they have welcomed the task to highlight the indignity and usher in a new era of change. It is a change that speaks to the horrors we ignore. It is a change that raises the questions we are sometimes too afraid to ask. It is a change that calls for the unification of minds and hearts to transform the ills and prejudices that perpetuate selfishness. For throughout history, they have fought with an eagerness and unflinching optimism to address the stress of their perceived inferiority; and rightly so.
Women today and everyday have epitomized boldness and fervor even when faced with unruly scrutiny and unjustified criticism. And as they continue to sway against wicked shamelessness they are undeterred in their quest to cultivate minds of unified consciousness. At times they may be broken, at times they may seem troubled, but it is in their innate character and contemplative sojourn that they transform moments of painstaking despair into flowering joy.
Today we are thankful for all the women who remind us of the admirable qualities we should exude. We are reminded that in times of clouding grief and when we are faced with seemingly overpowering hurdles, it has always been the women who have answered the call to renew, to rebuild and to transform polarizing hate with radiating temperance. I am thankful and fortunate to have strong and dedicated women around us who come to restore what we have for so long learned to ignore.
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Written by Marcus
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Monday, 23 February 2009 00:19 |
Laughter. It's a powerful thing.
We all do it. It comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes. And we do it for various reasons too. Usually, we laugh when we hear/see something funny. And by funny I mean haha funny. For me, I find that sometimes when I'm so mad and things are so ridiculous my body can do nothing else but laugh. Here's the deal:
Murphy's law dictates "anything that can go wrong will go wrong". Have you ever had a Murphy kind of day? I have. In fact the last couple weeks were Murphyish. Kind of a Murphy Fortnight. Long story short, my heart was burdened with news about my grandfather, my dad, the economy, a friend's friend's suicide, loss of various important items, and financial woes. I can't say I was too chipper.
To bring this orchestra of catastrophe to a close I drove my truck down a hill into ditch. Now I have a big ticket to pay and I'm broke. Why I tried to make it down the hill God only knows.
So what did I do in this situation as freshman girls took pictures of me getting towed up the hill? I laughed. I laughed. I laughed. Up to that point, things couldn't get any more ridiculous, yet they did. Why was I laughing? I think God and His weird sense of humor has everything to do with it.
40 times we see laughter referenced in the Bible; a number used loosely meaning A LOT (40 years wandering in the desert, 40 days with Noah). The laughter can translate to joy--simchah (eg PS 126:1-2)--or derision--tsechoq (eg Gen 18:14-15)(agape.com). In my case, I was making fun of the situation . Just as Sarah laughed at childbearing in old age, I laughed at my fortune. All things considered both Sarah and I turned out alright.
I guess I had to hit my mental limit in order to see God had things under control. Murphy's law has nothing on Sarah's faith. I'm glad I got that lesson. When I think back on the last couple weeks, I'll be laughing out of joy now. Betweenme and God, I'm glad one of us knows how to drive down the proverbial hill of life.
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Written by Betsy
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Friday, 20 February 2009 20:42 |
 Now I’m one of those people who has friends from all over campus. I’ve been involved at the Presbyterian Student Center, played on two club sports – Rugby and Water Polo, done all sorts of service with the Hispanic community, led stuff for the Honors Program, and recruited for Teach For America all over campus. So even though I go to a school with over 30,000 students, I almost always run into someone I know no matter where I am. For example, last week I started walking to the bus to go downtown, and a co-worker saw me, picked me up, and drove me. Then I sat to do my reading outside Walker’s Coffee and Pub and waved to friends as they walked by.
I love having all sorts of friends, but my friends at the Presbyterian Student Center are special. Each week we worship together, eat together, study the Bible together, read books together, and just generally hang out together. Here are a few of my favorite random moments with these friends: women’s bible study Esther All Semester, late night Q&A at the Spring Retreat 2007, Apples to Apples during game nights last fall, and picking through trash cans for recycling at Montreat in January (see pic). I don’t know if you’re starting to get the picture, but these are friends that I’ve done about everything with. They know who I am really well, which becomes really powerful when they challenge me to be a better Christian (and yes – I do think recycling is stewardship). Do you have friends like these? Share some of your good memories!
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