What Will Happen If We Die?

Its interesting how people read about something we know. But then, as we read, we learn something that we did not know. For instance, I read an article about death. We all know that people today get sick, grow old, and die. Some even die as children. But, should we really be afraid of dying? As we know, nobody living today has been dead. Or otherwise they would be able to tell us about their past life or their time in death. For, if we have lived more than twice, shouldn’t we remember our past life in order that we may not make the same mistakes more than twice? But when Jesus was on earth there was a man that died and then got to live again. The man was one of Jesus’ friends who lived in Bethany, a small town not far from Jerusalem. His name was Lazarus. One day Lazarus got very sick. Jesus was far from the place. So, Martha and Mary send a messenger to tell Jesus that their brother is sick. They call for Jesus because they know that God gives him the power to cure and resurrect. Before Jesus arrives, Lazarus dies. But, Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus is sleeping. His disciples don’t understand why it is a big deal that Lazarus is sleeping. So Jesus clarifies and he tells them that he has died. This is something I already knew. Rather, the moral of the account is that Jesus referred to death as sleep. So what happens to us when we die? Its NOT simple to accept this. But when we die we just go into a deep sleep in which no one can wake us up from. Yet, the only one that ca do this is God. He who gave Jesus the power to do as such.

Awesome Turtle

An Amazing Union In The Soil

Today I read about an amazing union in the soil. So, nitrogen is essential for the plant growth and reproduction. But the gas has to be converted into compounds such as ammonia before vegetation can make use of it. Legumes solve this problems by working in close partnership with bacteria called rhizobia. Such a mutually beneficial union between unlike organisms is called symbiosis. By means of a special chemical, the legume attracts the bacteria to its roots, which the bacteria then enter. Although the bacteria and the plant are members of two separate kingdoms, they work together to construct what is essentially a new organ: a fully operation nitrogen-fixing root nodule. Inside the nodule, their new home and workshop, the bacteria get to work. Their main tool is a special enzyme- a form of protein called nitrogenase- which they use to fix nitrogen capture from their pockets in the soil. The planet’s entire supply of nitrogenase could fit into a single large bucket. So every molecule counts! But there is a problem. The enzyme is ruined by oxygen. The solution? The legume produces a special substance that snatches potentially harmful oxygen away. A membrane around the nodule controls the exchange of ammonia, sugars, and other nutrients between microbe and plant. Like all plants, legumes eventually die. When they do, the ammonia stays in the soil. Thus, legumes have rightly been dubbed “green manure.” As we can see, this is another evidence of a great design, constructed by an intelligent creator.

Why Do We Suffer?

There is an intriguing question. Why does God allow suffering? Many people wonder, if God is all loving, wise, and just why is the world suffering? As a tragedy strikes, individuals go to their religious leaders for comfort. Rather, they get less comforted. Because they say that it is God’s will. So, is it God’s will that some live paralyzed, speechless, deaf, blind or lame? No. God never causes what is bad. “ Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!” (Job 34:10). Rather, the issue is traced back to the very beginning. At the beginning, there was a question raised. When Satan led Adam and Eve into disobeying Jehovah, an important was raised. Satan did not call into question Jehovah’s power. Rather, he questioned God’s right to rule. He implied that humankind would be better off without God’s rulership. Once Adam and Eve rebelled, they automatically demonstrated that they could live without Jehovah as their ruler. How could Jehovah settle the issue? One thing to keep in mind is that all of his intelligent creatures were called angels, were watching very attentively. How would God teach all intelligent creatures that the rebels were wrong and that His way is truly the best? Some say that God should have destroyed them. But what would the other millions or angles have thought. Maybe that the rebels were right and that Jehovah might be afraid and that’s why he destroyed them. Besides, the question would have not been answered. How did He respond? He has allowed Satan to show how he would rule mankind. God’s has also allowed humans to govern themselves under Satan’s guidance. Today, Satan is trying to prove that we can govern ourselves. He is trying all kinds of strategies. None of them work for we still see wars, sickness, diseases, death. All of which contribute to our suffering. This is why we suffer, because we are not governed by the right person, Jehovah God.

The Milk Bypass

People see a cow feeding her young. Some marvel at this. Others see it as just a young calve feeding herself.
So, in the case of the ruminants such as lambs, kids and calves. There is much more involved in the feeding of the themselves. Its also the process of which it goes. Cows have a 4- chambered stomach for the multiple processes needed to digest grass and forage. But, because only newborns feed only on milk, which does not need all those processes of digestion. So, when the newborn suckles, a special bypass tunnel opens to allow the milk to go directly to the lads chamber. If the milk finds its way to the first chamber, called the rumen is where hard-to-digest food is broken down by bacterial fermentation. Fermenting milk produces gas that the newborns cannot eliminate. However, when young ruminants drink milk, whether from the nipple or a bucket, a reflex action snaps shut the entryway to the rumen. Remarkably, something different happens when a newborn drinks water. It needs plenty of water in its rumen so that the bacteria and microbes there can multiply, ready for when youngster begins to live on forage. Although milk goes directly to the stomach’s final chamber, plain water enters the rumen. The calf’s amazing bypass is for milk only! So, think about it. Did the milk bypass come about by chance? Or is it the work of an intelligent Creator?

A Silent Voice That Can Be Heard

I read an article about a girl named Hilary. At her second year of age she developed an unusual hand movements constant rhythm of her hands back and forth to her mouth. She would do this mostly non stop. She, also, developed some breathing abnormalities. For instance, she would sometimes hold her breath until her lips turned purple and hyperventilating. These were some symptoms of seizures. So her mom tried seizure medication but this didn’t help. Rather, it made it worse. From there, they decided to open up to other treatments. Nothing provided a diagnosis, much less a cure. At last their mystery was solved. When she was 5 a friend of the mom had read an article of a syndrome called the Rett Syndrome, or RS. She noticed that Hilary experienced some of the syndromes. So the friend sent the article to Hilary’s mom. After that, they went to see a different neurologist. One who had experience in the field. In the 90s researchers found that this was a genetic disorder. Since it was identified mainly in girls. RS has to be identified mostly by the symptoms. And Hilary had most of them. She had Rett Syndrome. RS occurs in 1 out of 10,000 or 15,000 girls. Yet, there was no known cure nor any specific treatment for it. The fundamental handicap in RS is called the apraxia. The Rett Syndrome Handbook defines it as such: “ Apraxia is the inability to coordinate thought or movement. It is the most fundamental handicap seen in RS, and involves all body movements, including speech and eye gaze. While the Rett Syndrome girl does not loose the ability to move the body, she looses the ability to tell the body how and when to move. She may have the desire and the will to move, but is incapable of carrying the movement through .” Hilary lost her ability to speak and walk. The symptoms of Rett Syndrome are as such:
Decreasing head growth from 4 months to 5 years of age.
Loss of the ability to use hands functionally.
Loss of the ability to speak.
Repetitive hand movement, such as clapping tapping or wringing. Individuals with RS, often move their hands in a characteristic “washing” motion and/ or repeatedly put their hands into their mouths.
If the child is able to walk, movements is stiff, with the legs wide apart. As the child gets older, moving and walking may become very difficult.
Unusual breathing patterns: either holding the breath or over breathing.
Seizures affect the behavior and movements. The seizures themselves aren’t usually harmful.
Scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, may cause the child to lean to either side or toward the front.
Some girls frequently grind their teeth.
Foot size is small, and poor circulation may make the feet very cold and or swollen.
Girls are usually small for their age in both height and weight. They may also be irritable and have trouble sleeping, have difficulty swallowing, and/or tremble and shame when upset or scared.
Recently it was discovered that it is a gene that switches off the gene that they are no longer needed. Hilary is now 20 years old and she is totally depended on others to feed her, cloth her, bathe her and change her diapers. She weights only 100 pounds. Her mother and her sister found hope, and look forward to God’s Kingdom arrangement. Where the “tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness” (Isaiah 35:6).

How To Spend Your Money

An article that I read was about money matters. This article provided good tips on how youth could spend their money wisely. For instance, realizing the basic necessities in life really helps in saving money. Yet not just realizing it but not over spending money frequently. It also gave the advice to keep track of your purchases so that you don’t get charged with the things which you did not purchase. Paying your credit bill fully or in big payments as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could end up being charged as much as twice of what you spent due to interest rates. One of the most important things is, do not spend what you don’t have even when using a credit card.

Why We Should Forgive

Has anyone ever done something meant to you? Should you treat them the same way back?
Its our tendency to get even with a person. Yet, Jesus taught us to forgive.“ and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Actually, one of his apostle, Peter, wanted to know how many times we should forgive. To this Jesus responded that even up to 77 times. True, we are not going to keep track of how many times we forgive people. Yet, Jesus meant that we forgive as many times as needed. Its going to be hard to forgive at times, but its worth it. Why? Because we live with a clean conscience and a pure heart. We don’t hold any resentments. Thus, we carry a happy heart. One free from any malevolence and hatred. Learning to forgive is one of the things that is worth doing. Then, we don’t have to carry a grudge. We are, then, clean of conscience.