Worth a Thousand Words

A Quote to Ponder

If A is success in life, then A equals X plus Y plus Z. Work is X, Y is play, and Z is keeping your mouth shut. Albert Einstein

Worth a Thousand Words

Searching the Scripture

Lesson 1: The Existence of God

Part 1

As a Christian, I belive that there is one God in three persons. This is called the Trinity and the three persons are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Personally, I am a Christian by conviction and I am a scientist by profession. Both of these aspects of my life, Christian and scientist, have instilled in me a sense of order and a desire for truth. As a Christian I do not question how one God can be three persons. As a scientist, and a finite human being, I can understand the concept of the Trinity through observing the physical world we live in. Often those who do not believe there is a God and those who are babies in their new-found belief wuestion the Trinity. How can one "person" (God) be three people (the Trinity)?

Everyone is familiar with water. Our planet is over 75% water. Without it there would be no life on this planet. Water can be in any one of three states. It can be a gas (vapor) like steam or the clouds. Water can be a liquid that flows in the rivers, rains down from the sky, and quenches our thirst. Or water can be a solid in the form of ice that make up glaciers and cools your lemonade. Gas, liquid, solid - regardless of the form it takes, it is still water. God is still God regardless of whether He is Fathe or Son or Holy Spirit. Another example in nature is an egg. An egg has an outer covering (the shell) that provies protection for what is inside. Within the shell is the yolk (the yellow part) that developes into the chick. Also within the shell is the white or clear part. Shell, yolk, white - all are still an egg. Three that make one. A trinity. Another example would be myself. I am a daughter to my parents. I am a wife to my husband. I am a mother to my children. I am, however, still me, but I have a different role to play depending on the relationship. God is the same way. Each part of the Trinity has a distinct role. God the Father will be our judge. God the Son is our advocate. God the Holy Spirit guides us in paths of righteousness (if we allow Him to do so). In this first lesson we are going to dwell on God the Father.

To begin, we will study the existence of God. In the world today many would like to deny the existence of God. We are constantly confronted by stheists and others who want proof that God exists.

Take up your Bible and turn to I Corintians 2:14. Read the verse.

People who wish to believe that there is no God are nothing new. They've been around since for most of human history. The simple truth is that the natural man (the person who does not believe in God) has a difficult time believing in what he cannot see or touch.

Once when challenged to prove the existence of God, I asked the person why he did not believe. His reply: "I don't believe in anything I cannot see or feel." My response was to ask him how his breathing was. He demanded to know what that had to do with anything. I answered, "By your own definition, if you can't see it or feel it, it doesn't exist. You can't see oxygen or feel it or hold it or smell it or taste it, but it is all around you. The proof that exygen exists is that you are standing here, alive. And the fact that you are alive is proof of God's existence." The man got angry and stomped away. He didn't like his beliefs questions. What beliefs you ask? To believe there is no God requires more faith than is needed to believe there is a God.

The question of faith in the existence of God is easily solved for the Christian. Genesis 1:1 takes care of it. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The Bible begins with the positive fact that God does exist, and it is plainly stated in Psalm 14:1 what type of person denies the existence of God. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

Personally, I know there is a God. I talk to Him everyday and He hears me. How do I know He exists? Because I ask in prayer and He answers.

In our next lesson (part 2), we will use the Scripture to prove God's existence.

Abundant Blessings!!!!

Worth a Thousand Words

A Quote to Ponder

In case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation, it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation. Roger Allen

Bible Study

I have been planning to start a Bible study here on my blog for quite awhile and have been wondering where to begin. After much prayer I have decided that the beginning of any study of Bible doctrine should begin with God. The Bible is, after all, God's Word and it is through the Bible that He speaks to us. In this study, our only textbook will be the Bible, and be forewarned, I'm not going to spoon feed you. From personal experience I have found that I learn better when I have to do some of the searching myself. As a teacher I have found this to also be true with my student. And it is probably the same with you.

Our first lesson with be entitled The Existence of GOD and will begin on Tuesday, November 25th. This first lesson will be divided into three parts. I will post a new lesson (or part of a lesson) on each Tuesday. I hope that you will join me as we take our Bible in hand and search the Scriptures. And be assured that comments are welcome. Looking forward to seeing you right here next Tuesday, November 25th. Until then.....Abundant Blessings!

Worth a Thousand Words

Earthquake in Costa Rica This Morning

Geologically speaking, it has been an exciting day so far here in Costa Rica. According to the USGS and OVSICORI (Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica) a 6.2 magnitude quake hit near the Costa Rica/Panama border, a few miles north of Puerto Armuelles, Panama, at 12:11 a.m. Location coordinates are 8.295 degrees North and 82.928 degrees West. Depth was approximately 30 miles. It lasted for over 2 minutes.

Being a geologist by profession, I checked out the seismograph reading for the 5 active volcanoes here in Costa Rica before publishing this post (which is why the post was not up earlier). Four of the five seismographs located on the volcanoes registered a quake at midnight, 11 minutes before the 6.2. Volcanoes Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, Poas, and Irazu all had registered tremors at midnight. Volcano Turrialba did not register the earlier quake. Haven't been able to determine their magnitudes as of yet, but would make an educated guess of a high 3 or low 4. All five seismographs (Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, Poas, Irazu, and Turrialba) all registered the 6.2 and the 4.7 that occurred around 1 a.m. Since then we have experience at least 4 more tremors: 3:38 a.m., 5 a.m., 5:53 a.m., and 7:54 a.m. (these times are approximate). These last 4 tremors, again an educated guess, were 2.5 to 4.0 in magnitude.

Someone recently asked, "How many quakes does Costa Rica have per day?" The answer is somewhere between 30 and 40 a day. Many are too light to be felt. We have somewhere between 25 to 35 large quakes per year (4.0 magnitude or above).

Blessings

Share the Blessings 2008 Update

Time is passing rapidly. Christmas is just around the corner. Wanted to keep you updated on Share the Blessings 2008. We have received donations for 6 of our 33 children. Praise the Lord and thank you so much. We still, however, need help to provide a gift for the other 27. We are seeking $20 per child. Your prayers and your help would be a tremendous blessing for these children. Funds can be sent to our paypal account: valledelcid2@gmail.com

I am once again attaching the photos of the children so that you don't have to scroll down searching for them.

Blessings to you all from Costa Rica
Kathie

Worth a Thousand Words

A Quote to Ponder

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. Michael Pritchard

Worth a Thousand Words

Worth a Thousand Words

A quote to Ponder

All that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. Baltasar Gracian

Worth a Thousand Words

Worth a Thousand Words

A Quote to Ponder

Advise is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.