A test of our character -

What's wrong with our world? What's right with our world? The answer in one word: People! 
How does one measure the character of a person and what is the benchmark? Who or perhaps what controls your heart will inevitably influence the person you will become! Although some things might be inherently good while other inherently bad, it is in those ambiguous places, the gray areas of our lives that our character will be tested. 
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love, 1963.

The Fingerprint of God - A mathematical pattern

We all have a unique fingerprint that identifies who we are. Artists, musicians, poets, engineers, designers and so on can be easily identified by a certain uniqueness or pattern in their creation. Have you ever wondered why our world and our universe appear to have patterns? Is there a master designer behind these patterns? Are these patterns randomly distributed or is there truly a fingerprint evidenced by a mathematical pattern?  

Reproducing after its own kind is something common in nature. In order to do so there has to be a blueprint to follow like our DNA.

This video may answer some questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9MwNm0gXd8&feature=related

What is your reference point? (One degree off-course)

In aviation, flying off course by only one degree results in missing the tar­get land­ing spot by 90 feet for every mile. That translates to approx. one mile off tar­get for every sixty miles flown. Let’s say you start your trip at the equa­tor and fly around the earth, one degree off would land you almost 425 miles off target. Just as it is hard to rec­og­nize being one degree off while fly­ing at altitude, it is just as hard to real­ize “one-degree deviations” in our personal lives. What are we willing to accept in our lives? What is our tol­er­ance for being off course just a little? Stray­ing off course in life doesn’t have to result in a catastrophic fail­ure. Any­one can make in-flight adjust­ments along the way of life as long as we have an accurate reference point. Do you have a flight plan? If so, are you certain your reference point is accurate?....“God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”.

(Reference: One degree off course. Irrefutablesuccess.com. http://www.irrefutablesuccess.com/2010/04/one-degree-off-course/)

Darkness and Light

If we want our climate to change, we must change our atmosphere. We cannot wait until circumstances or people change because that may or may not happen, we have to allow the change agent to change us first so we can influence our environment and everything in it. Light does not wait for darkness to leave before it can shine, in fact, darkness is dispelled as light is introduced. Think on this: Scientifically speaking, the degree of darkness is defined by the relative absence of light........"So, let your light shine.....".

The beauty of God's Creation

It has been a while since my last post.  Time has been a truly scarce comodity. Almost finished with my graduate studies and I am hoping to devote more time to this blog once my other obligations have been satisfied.
In the meantime, please enjoy this beautiful video of the night sky and God's creation on display:

http://vimeo.com/22700617

God Bless!

Elia

The Cornerstone in the bible (Part II)

Continuing on the previous posting, although we understand that the original bible manuscripts did not have chapter or verses, and some versions of the bible may differ in total content, I found an additional interesting coincidence in reference to Psalm 118, at least as it applies to the King James Version of the bible (KJV).

I checked this information in Snopes.com, a well-known urban legends website and I found another claim that stated that there are actually 31,174 verses in the King James Version of the Bible.  Snopes.com goes on to say that because this is an even number, the actual center verse of the Bible could not be only one verse but instead would have to be both the 15,587th and 15,588th verses. This would then translate to the following verses in Psalm 118: “It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).

Coincidentally, the message does not change and actually it becomes even more emphasized . 
Nothing magical here just an incredible coincidence (maybe) with a monumental central message for us all.

The Cornerstone in the bible

It came to to my attention that the center of the bible (literally) is Psalm 118:8.  This Psalm is sandwiched between the shortest and longest book in the bible, Psalm 117 and Psalm 119. There are 594 chapters before and 594 chapters after Psalm 118, (594+594=1188) and a strange coincidence is that the center is Psalm 118:8.  In this verse we may find an incredibly important and wise council: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Another very interesting reference in this Psalm as I have also alluded in previous postings, is the actual cornerstone of our faith.  That is found in verse 22: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner." This verse was also used by Jesus himself in a parable to the Jewish leaders regarding his imminent crucifixion. That's the same verse Peter quoted in Acts 4:11 regarding Jesus being the chief cornerstone.

Jesus himself quoted: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end."
Come to find out he is also the center and chief cornerstone.....

Psalm 118

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.


2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Amen.