*Cyber-stories!
-=A=-
> IN THE SHADOW
>
> In 1967 while taking a class in photography at the University of
> Cincinnati, I became acquainted with a young man named Charles
Murray > who also was a student at the school and training for the
summer
> Olympics
> of 1968 as a high diver.
>
> Charles was very patient with me as I would speak to him for hours
> about
> Jesus Christ and how He had saved me. Charles was not raised in a >
home
> that attended any kind of church, so all that I had to tell him was
a > fascination to him. He even began to ask questions about
forgiveness > of
> sin.
>
> Finally the day came that I put a question to him. I asked if he >
realized his own need of a Redeemer and if he was ready to trust
> Christ
> as his own Savior. I saw his countenance fall and the guilt in his
> face. But his reply was a strong "no."
>
> In the days that followed he was quiet and often I felt that he was
> avoiding me, until I got a phone call and it was Charles. He wanted
to >
> know where to look in the New Testament for some verses that I had >
given
> him about salvation. I gave him the reference to several passages
and > asked if I could meet with him. He declined my offer and thanked
me
> for
> the scripture. I could tell that he was greatly troubled, but I did
> not
> know where he was or how to help him. >
> Because he was training for the Olympic games, Charles had special
> privileges at the University pool facilities. Some time between
10:30 > and
> 11:00 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few dives. >
> It was a clear night in October and the moon was big and bright.
The > University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the
moon > shone bright across the top of the wall in the pool area.
Charles
> climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive. At that >
moment
> the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the
> scripture he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him about
> Christ flooded his mind.
>
> He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his
arms > to
> gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow >
caused
> by the light of the moon. It was the shape of a cross. He could
bear > the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he sat
down on > the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him. He
trusted
> Jesus
> Christ twenty some feet in the air. >
> Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had
come > in
> to check the pool. As Charles looked down from his platform he saw
an > empty pool which had been drained for repairs. He had almost
> plummeted
> to his death, but the cross had stopped him from disaster. >
> >> > 1 Corinthians 1:18 - "For the preaching of the cross is to them
> that
> perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of
> God."
> (KJV)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >"Professing to be wise, they became fools . . . "
> >-"LET ME EXPLAIN THE problem science has with Jesus Christ." The >
Atheist
> >professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one
of > his
> >new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?" >
>-"Yes, sir."
> >-"So you believe in God?"
> >-"Absolutely."
> >-"Is God good?"
> >-"Sure! God's good."
> >-"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?" > >-"Yes."
> >-"Are you good or evil?"
> >-"The Bible says I'm evil."
> >-The professor grins knowingly. "Ahh! THE BIBLE!" He considers for
a > >moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person
over
> here
> and
> >you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? "Would you >
try?"
> >-"Yes sir, I would."
> >-"So you're good...!"
> >-"I wouldn't say that."
> >-"Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you
> >could...in fact most of us would if we could... God doesn't."
> >-(No answer)
> >-"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of
cancer > even
> >though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Hmmm? > Can
> you
> >answer that one?"
> >-{No answer}
> >-The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?" He
takes > a sip
> >of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to
relax. > In
> >philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones. "Let's start >
again,
> >young fellow." "Is God good?"
> >-"Er... Yes."
> >-"Is Satan good?"
> >-"No."
> >-"Where does Satan come from?" The student falters. > >-"From...
God..."
> >-"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?" The elderly man runs
his > bony
> >fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking,
student > >audience. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun this
semester, > ladies
> >and gentlemen." He turns back to the Christian. "Tell me, son. Is
> there
> >evil in this world?"
> >-"Yes, sir."
> >-"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?" >
>-"Yes."
> >-"Who created evil?
> >-{No answer}
> >-"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness. >
All the
> >terrible things - do they exist in this world? " The student >
squirms on
> >his feet.
> >-"Yes."
> >-"Who created them? "
> >-{No answer}
> >-The professor suddenly shouts at his student. "WHO CREATED THEM? >
TELL ME,
> >PLEASE! "The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the >
>Christian's face. In a still small voice: "God created all evil, >
didn't He,
> >son?"
> >-{No answer}
> >-The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails.
> Suddenly
> >the lecturer breaks away to pace the front of the classroom like an
> aging
> >panther. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues, "How is
> it that
> >this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?" The >
professor
> >swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world. >
"All the
> >hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death
> and
> >ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over
> the
> >world, isn't it, young man?"
> >-{No answer}
> >-"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?" > >-Pause.
> >-"Don't you?" The professor leans into the student's face again and
> >whispers, "Is God good?"
> >-{No answer}
> >-"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
> >-The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor. I >
do."
> >-The old man shakes his head sadly. "Science says you have five >
senses you
> >use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you seen
Him?" > >-"No, sir. I've never seen Him."
> >-"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?" > >-"No, sir. I
have not."
> >-"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your
> Jesus
> ...
> >in fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God
whatsoever?" > >-{No answer}
> >-"Answer me, please."
> >-"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't." > >-"You're AFRAID... you
haven't?"
> >-"No, sir."
> >-"Yet you still believe in him?"
> >-"...yes..."
> >-"That takes FAITH!" The professor smiles sagely at the underling.
> >"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable
> protocol,
> >science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
> Where
> is
> >your God now?"
> >-The student doesn't answer.
> >-"Sit down, please."
> >-The Christian sits... Defeated.
> >
> >-Another Christian raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the >
class?"
> >-The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, another Christian in the >
vanguard!
> >Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering."
> >
> >-The Christian looks around the room. "Some interesting points you
> are
> >making, sir. Now I've got a question for you. Is there such thing
as > heat?"
> >-"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat." > >-"Is there such
a thing as cold?"
> >-"Yes, son, there's cold too."
> >-"No, sir, there isn't."
> >-The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly goes very cold.
The > second
> >Christian continues. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, >
super-heat,
> >mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat but we don't have >
anything
> >called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no
heat, > but we
> >can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold, >
otherwise
> >we would be able to go colder than 458. You see, sir, cold is only
a > word
> >we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. >
Heat we
> >can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not
the > >opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
> >Silence. A pin drops somewhere in the classroom. > >
> >-"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor?"
> >-"That's a dumb question, son. What is night if it isn't darkness?
> What
> are
> >you getting at...?"
> >-"So you say there is such a thing as darkness?" > >-"Yes..."
> >-"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something, it is the >
absence of
> >something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, >
flashing
> >light but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's
> called
> >darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word.
In > >reality, Darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make
> darkness
> >darker and give me a jar of it. Can you... give me a jar of darker
> darkness,
> >professor?" Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young >
effrontery
> >before him. This will indeed be a good semester.
> >-"Would you mind telling us what your point is, young man?"
> >-"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed
> to
> start
> >with and so your conclusion must be in error...."
> >-The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!"" >
>-"Sir, may I explain what I mean?"
> >The class is all ears.
> >-"Explain... oh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable
effort > to
> >regain control. Suddenly he is affability itself. He waves his >
>hand to silence the class, for the student to continue.
> >-"You are working on the premise of duality," the Christian
explains. > "That
> >for example there is life and then there's death; a good God and a
> bad God.
> >You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something
we > can
> >measure. Sir, science cannot even explain a thought. It uses >
electricity
> and
> >magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understood them. To >
view
> death
> >as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death >
cannot
> >exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, >
merely the
> >absence of it." The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from
the > desk
> >of a neighbor who has been reading it. "Here is one of the most >
disgusting
> >tabloids this country hosts, professor. Is there such a thing as >
>immorality?"
> >
> > -"Of course there is, now look..." > >
> >-"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of >
morality.
> >Is there such thing as injustice? No. Injustice is the absence of
> justice.
> >Is there such a thing as evil?" The Christian pauses. "Isn't evil
> the
> >absence of good?"
> >The professor's face has turned an alarming color. He is so angry
he > is
> >temporarily speechless.
> >The Christian continues. "If there is evil in the world, professor,
> and we
> >all agree there is, then God, if he exists, must be accomplishing a
> work
> >through the agency of evil. What is that work, God is
accomplishing? > The
> >Bible tells us it is to see if each one of us will, of our own free
> will,
> >choose good over evil."
> > - The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I don't
view > >this matter as having anything to do with any choice; as a
realist, I > >absolutely do not recognize the concept of God or any
other
> theological
> >factor as being part > of > the world equation because God is not >
>observable."
> > - "I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in
this > >world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going,"
the
> Christian
> >replies. "Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every >
week!
> Tell
> >me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
> monkey?"
> >
> >- "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young
> man,
> yes,
> >of course I do."
> >-"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
> >The professor makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his >
student a
> >silent, stony stare.
> > "Professor. Since no-one has ever observed the process of
evolution > >at work and cannot even prove that this process is an
on-going
> >endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a
> >scientist, but a priest?"
> >- "I'll overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical >
>discussion. Now, have you quite finished?" the professor hisses. > >
-"So you don't accept God's moral code to do what is righteous?" > >
> > -"I believe in what is - that's science!" > >
> > -"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face splits into a grin. "Sir, you
> >rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena.
> Science too
> >is a premise which is flawed..."
> >
> > -"SCIENCE IS FLAWED..?" the professor splutters. > >
> >The class is in uproar.
> > -The Christian remains standing until the commotion has subsided.
> >"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other
student, > may I
> >give you an example of what I mean?" > > The professor wisely keeps
silent.
> > The Christian looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the
class > >who has ever seen the professor's brain?"
> > The class breaks out in laughter.
> > The Christian points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor. "Is
there > >anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain...felt
the
> >professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain?" No
one > >appears to have done so. The Christian shakes his head sadly.
"It
> appears
> >no-one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's brain
> >whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, testable,
> >demonstrable protocol, science says the professor has no brain." >
> The class is in chaos.
> > The Christian sits... Because that is what a chair is for. > >
> > > "Let your light so shine before men, > > >
that they may see your good works
> > > and glorify your Father in heaven." > >
> Matthew 5:16
> > > "Without faith it is impossible to please >
>God..."
> > > Hebrews 11:6 > >
----------------------------------------------------
Subject: Dumbing Down Our Kids !
Charles Sykes is the author of DUMBING DOWN OUR KIDS. He volunteered
for high school and college graduates a list of things they did not
learn in school.
In his book, he talks about how the liberal, feel good, politically
correct garbage has created a generation of kids with no concept of
reality and set them up for failure in the real world. Anyone who's
supervised people from this generation will agree.
Rule 1: Life is not fair; get used to it.
Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will
expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about
yourself.
Rule 3: You will not make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high
school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone until you earn
both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
He doesn't have tenure.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your
grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it
opportunity.
Rule 6: If you screw up, it's not your parents' fault so don't whine
about your mistakes. Learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they
are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning your room,
and listening to you telling how idealistic you are. So before you
save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents'
generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers but
life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades,
they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer.
This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in
real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off,
and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself.
Do that on your own time.
Rule 10: Television is not real life. In real life people actually
have to leave
the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
Rule 12: Living fast and dying young is romantic - only until you see
one of your peers at room temperature.
_______
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