Language of God or Happy Accident (Part 2)
Language of God or Happy Accident? (Part 2) In his Return of the God Hypothesis, Cambridge educated philosopher of science Stephen C Meyer argues that ‘certain features of living systems… are best explained by the activity of an actual designing intelligence” (See Part 1). In an earlier publication (Signature in the Cell) Meyer points out that “DNA stores the assembly instructions for building the many crucial proteins and protein machines that service and maintain even the most primitive one-celled…
Language Of God or Happy Accident?
Language of God or Happy Accident? Having described DNA as “the most extraordinary molecule on earth” physicist and popular science writer Paul Davies assures us that “nobody wrote the (DNA) message; nobody invented the code. They came into existence spontaneously. Their designer was Mother Nature herself, working within the scope of her immutable laws and capitalizing on the vagaries of chance” (The Fifth Miracle). And what proof does Davies have that the genetic code is the product of…
Heart Tears
“Heart Tears” It’s not difficult to understand how she felt, this woman of the city with the bad reputation who had dared to enter the home of a strict Pharisee like Simon. She had come to anoint Jesus with the precious perfume, (Lk. 7:37 -50) and the tears which spilt upon the feet of the Master were the fruit of sorrow and gratitude – sorrow for past sins and gratitude for the gift of forgiveness. Luther calls them “heart…
Jesus Christ – Unique and All Sufficient
Jesus Christ – Unique and All Sufficient In his address to the first Parliament of World’s Religions which met in Chicago in 1893, Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda recited a hymn which met with the approval of most who were in attendance. In part, the hymn says: “As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear,…
Defeating Satan
Defeating Satan Throughout the book of Revelation we read of overcoming, and in 12:11 we learn three things about those whom Satan simply could not defeat: First of all, these overcomers dealt to Satan “because of the blood of the Lamb.” Here is our greatest need, forgiveness. When the paralytic was brought to Jesus the Lord’s first words were: “My son your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:9). Yes, of course the paralytic wanted to walk again and of course the…
How Do You Hear?
How Do You Hear? She said, “I need custard for the trifle.” Hubby said, “yes dear,” and brought home a tin of mustard. Not quite what she had in mind for the trifle, but “yes dears” mean very little when hubby has his head buried in a book or his eyes glued to a computer screen. Such domestic confusion provides the stand-up comic with good material, but in some cases, the failure to listen carefully can truly blight our lives. That’s…
Jesus Marveled
Jesus Marveled The Gospel writers record two occasions during the public ministry of Jesus on which the Lord “marveled” or “wondered” at a particular event, and significantly both involved the matter of faith. We recall the words of a Roman soldier: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed” (Matt 8:8). Jesus “marveled” and rejoiced at this expression of “great faith” from a Gentile, a faith…
Land of Confusion
Land of Confusion Throughout the Genesis account of creation, the language is calm, measured and majestic. In sharp contrast with the gods of Egypt and Mesopotamia who emerged from some kind of primaeval slime, the God of Moses is eternal, non-contingent and all-powerful. Unlike the imaginary gods, He has no rivals, no consorts and no human-like frailties. With a series of commands, He calls into existence an orderly universe, perfectly suited to His plan. Among other things, order involves recognising…