The Bible and Science – The Second Law of Thermodynamics

Posted on by
2

Romans 8:20-21 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. (NIV)

As a Christian who teaches science I look at the world and see the beauty that is there, but I frequently think of the physical laws, or the components of the object, and become even more in awe of what God has done.  The Second Law of Thermodynamics speaks to what is happening to Creation as a whole entity.  The Second Law refers to entropy or the concept that everything starts in its highest state of order, and progresses to a state of disorder.  (Mom’s know that this is true because the playroom always needs cleaning!)  Okay, that makes sense.

Evolution, however, is the opposite of the Second Law of Thermodynamics.  In evolution, the main idea is that everything started in chaos, and is now headed to a state of perfection.  The best evolution can offer is a state of equilibrium.

Look at verse 21 and notice a different story.  The only thing evolving there is a born again child of God.  He finds us in a “state of decay” and brings us to freedom and into His glory.

∞Father, thank You that we go from glory to glory and that we are looking more like Jesus every day.

Morning Minutes

Posted on by
2

“A good night’s sleep” or “a toss and turn” they always start.

Why that noise?

Morning minutes start counting down.

Too few

Too quick

COFFEE but Keurig is blinking.

Shower

What to wear?

Morning minutes fewer now!

Quiet time – Ya right!

Much to think about.

Where is my phone?

What gets done today?

The drive is waiting.

More morning minutes tomorrow.

The Bible and Science – Plastic

Posted on by
Reply

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:4 (NIV)ID-10032284

The clay here is plastic, meaning it can be molded. (See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plastic) Many things are plastic or at least partially plastic; metals, layers of rock/dirt, and flesh are examples, and they can bend and return to their original shape.  Clay, like concrete, is very plastic when it is wet but when they harden it is another story; they can bend (some) just not very much.

I see four different “forms” in the text that may apply to us as the House of Israel.

  • Form – Everyone starts on the workbench, we have shape but we are nowhere near a finished project.
  • Conform – It is a great when you are taking shape and it is clear what you will become.  You are pushed and turned, thinned or thickened as needed and you are allowed to dry.
  • Deform – Sometimes things happen and what you thought would be the final shape does not happen. The clay is pushed too thin, gravel or sand was not taken out, or material fatigue occurs and you just collapse.
  • Transform – Notice that nothing is wasted or thrown away; the potter just keeps working until the clay is something useful.  Whether you were a “conform” or a “deform” you certainly are not the original lump of clay any more but something brand new and different.

To be fair to the analogy clay vessels are put on shelves and air-dried before they are put into an oven and baked.  (Go anywhere you want with that addition to the story.)

∞Jesus thanks for shaping me into something useful. Amen.

Picture is from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Manual_Jobs_g397-Potter_p32284.html 

God’s Will, Has Made Your Will

Posted on by
1

Ok, this study will not make much sense if you do not have a NIV (mine is copyrighted 1990) or even a Holman Study Bible, mine is a 2006 copyright.  King James and several other popular versions use the word “shall” instead of the word “will.”

From Isaiah 59:15 to 62:12 the word “will” is used 86 times. (All scriptures are NIV.) The majority of the “wills” however is God stating what will happen for us or at least to our “enemies.”  When you see the word “will,” you think of inheritance; this is found in 61:7 it talks of the “double portion” which is the part that belongs to the first-born son of the family.  I will give an example form 60:10 of the promises that are found in this section of scripture – Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. 

The section addresses these promises to two different things, the first is Zion and the second His people.  Zion refers to the hills that Jerusalem is built on but it has become synonymous with Jerusalem.  The way the promises are worded it seems that God is concerned about the physical land/city but they also apply to Jerusalem the “people of the city.”

Inside of these verses are some very popular scriptures; Isaiah 61:1-3 is a great example.  I can image the Apostle Paul reading/thinking about 59:17 when he wrote Ephesians 6:14 – the breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, garments of vengeance, and the cloak of zeal.  Isaiah 59: 21 is a great promise – “This is my covenant with them”, says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth.”  Have you ever prayed for guidance and wondered how you would know what to follow look at 60:17 – I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler.  The first part of verse 17 is another example of the will of God making your will – Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron.  (See my blogs on metals – bronze, gold, silver, iron, these go to separate blogs.)

Another theme in these verses is “righteousness,” it is mentioned nine times. According to my concordance righteousness carries with it the idea of prosperity, this is from the concordance that has Vine’s Dictionary incorporated into it. (OK, it is a small part but it is there.)

Two verse that connect are 60:21b and 61:3b – (21b) They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.  (3b) They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

God has a lot of “wills” for you in this couple of pages; take a look and find His will for you. I want to leave with 60: 22b – I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.

The Bible and Science – Discrepant Events

Posted on by
Reply

Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 9.39.46 AM

Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 9.40.46 AM

The Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5 – 7 (NIV)

  1. 5:34 Do not swear at all.
  2. 5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
  3. 5: 43 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
  4. 6: 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you.

Ok, I think you have the idea. Jesus’ teachings don’t seem to make sense and really are opposite to what man normally thinks. But these discrepant statements are the heart of the Christian life. The born-again process is truly a mind change where we put away human ideas and take His mindsets as our own. (Yes, it is hard but possible.)

John 12 is the absolute lesson that makes no human sense – If you want to be a leader you have to serve! Use 2 Kings 6:16-17 for the contrast of see vs spiritual reality.

Why did the balloon and bag not pop? Their skins opened up and let those sharp objects Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 9.40.19 AMthrough and sealed around them. Basically, healing the wound even though the stick is still with them.

∞ Jesus, thank you for a new mind and that you are in charge of all things; even the ones that do not make sense to our natural minds.