Scientists vary on the interpretation on the findings, but the factual evidence is day as light. If I can use one example: is the existence of life fine-tuned to our planet, or is our planet fine-tuned for life?

If life is fine-tuned to our planet, then why don't we have life on other planets which have evolved to be adapted to their respective planets? So the factual observation is: we only have life on earth, but the interpretation varies as to why.

Going in circles is definitely not fun, but if it requires a back-and-forth clarification and explanation, I'm down for that. All good conversations need back-and-forth questioning.

To give this conversation more to chew on, a simple question to ask you is: do you think earth is a uniquely perfect planet, almost like a Goldilocks of all planets in the known universe? We are the perfect distance away from the sun (not to far, not too close), we have a perfect size moon that governs the tides (which enables aquatic life to thrive), and an unbelievably fortunate asteroid belt to protect us from incoming destructive meteors-- just to name a few! Do you see earth as an interestingly perfect place for the existence of life, or do you see it as a "oh this place is just randomly perfect"?

The above question fits in my "planetary" case of intelligent design. The Big Bang case regarding its "perfect" force and gravity to not implode on itself is my "universal" case of intelligent design. And life itself, DNA, is another case of intelligent design. Each area I would like to eventually bring our attention to in conversation.

This post was edited by dajusta on Mar 11 2023 11:04pm

Day 20: The Sinless Servant

In these verses we observe the contrast between the obedient servant of the Lord and those who persecuted and abused him. Astonishingly, it is the obedient servant who is called to suffer on behalf of the disobedient people -- to be struck, spat upon, and mocked. And yet, he "sets his face like flint" toward the road of suffering and will "not be put to shame." He knows that his suffering is not in vain because by it his people shall be redeemed.

The writers of the New Testament recognized that the servant of the Lord, referenced in this passage, is none other than Jesus Christ. He "set his face" toward Jerusalem, knowing the pain that awaited him there (Luke 9:51). He was struck, mocked, and spat upon (Mark 15:19-20). He suffered, not because of his sin but because of hours, and his life was marked by perfect obedience, even to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-9).

Through all of this, Jesus remained the sinless servant (Hebrews 12:2). How was Jesus able to endure such treatment and yet be confident that ultimately he would not be put to shame? The answer, in a word, is joy: for "the joy set before him, he endured the cross." The joy that motivated Jesus was the fact that by his suffering his people would be redeemed.

We too have a great joy set before us today. Certainly there is pain and suffering on our journey, but being united to Christ by faith, we will not be put to shame! Let us take up our cross and follow Christ, the sinless servant.

Isaiah 50:4-9

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.

But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

Luke 9:51

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Mark 15:19-20

And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

Philippians 2:5-9

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

Hebrews 12:2

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Stay tuned for day 21 of 40.

Is there anything in this first post that you don't understand or have questions about?

So basically it's a contract where you swear to believe in jesus, his sins, and his cross, in exchange to not go in "hell" without having any proof that this "hell" exists.

Pretty much materialistic.

ya................. not what scripture says .............but ok

Day 21: The Suffering Servant

Jesus was extraordinary in many ways. But if you were to judge his life by the standards of the world, by most accounts he would be considered a failure. He was poor, rejected, and died a difficult and shameful death. In the ways that others pursue comfort, power, and recognition, he did not.

Even in his outward appearance, there was no indication whatsoever that he was the creator and sustainer of the universe. He had no beauty or majesty that would have caused others to envy him, even though he was the very source of all beauty. More than that, he was utterly rejected and despised, a man of sorrows, to the point that people turned away and hid their faces from him. He was stricken, afflicted, pierced, chastised, crushed and suffered beyond all comprehension. All this and he was the most innocent and righteous person who ever lived.

Jesus went through all these things in order that we would never have to. He experienced sorrow and grief in a way that we ourselves could never have endured. He was punished for sin, though he himself never sinned. The last verse tells us that we are all like sheep -- foolish, helpless and desiring to go our own way, but the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. Though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that we by his poverty might become rich.

Isaiah 53:1-6

Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Stay tuned for day 22 of 40.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying,
Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3083199/synthetic-coronavirus-created-brewers-yeast-comes-research

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

It's not about agreeing to anything. It's about placing your faith in the person of Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection to pay for your sins. Did you read this first post? If not, please read it and then get back to me.

Day 22: The Waters

In these verses, the Holy One of Israel is crying out through Isaiah, pleading with his people on the eve of destruction to return to the true fountain of life. It is an emphatic call to come without barrier to the eternal spring of living waters. Verses 2 and 3 make clear that this water is the word of God. The invitation is to drink deeply: to receive the word, reason with it, delight in it, to listen to it like they had never listened before. "Listen diligently" (v. 2) is literally, "Listen-listen!" a call for undivided and sustained attention. ultimately, this word is meant to save them (v. 3), transform them (v. 7), and make them a blessing to the entire world (v. 5). They are being called into communion with their compassionate God (v. 7). But they refuse to hear him (6:9).

Lent is a time for us to admit the same tendencies displayed by Isaiah's audience. For reasons conscious and less conscious, we are prone to neglect God's word, and ultimately, God himself. Given enough time apart from the Scripture, a kind of spiritual amnesia sets in, where we forget the taste that is sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb (Psalm 19:10). Lent is an invitation to see Christ as the woman at the well came to see him -- as the pure, limitless satisfaction for our thirsty souls. It is our invitation to return to that well and drink deeply. Whoever drinks of the water that i will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14).

Isaiah 55:1-7

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Psalm 19:10

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

John 4:14

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Stay tuned for day 23 of 40.