Science and religion can coexist. Science deals with matter perceived by our five senses. Spirituality deals with a sense beyond the fifth, called the soul.

The chief scientist in charge of the human genome project has written a book called “The Language of God”. His name is Francis S Collins. In his book, this scientist explains how he has marveled at the three billion lettered encrypted code of life in every cell of the human species. He calls it the language of God. Buy the book from Amazon.

God has created the human flesh from the elements of the earth. Collins explains how God took a five-carbon sugar, a nitrogen containing base and a phosphate group to make a letter called the nucleotide. He attached the nucleotides in an encrypted order and twisted it in a spiral form and placed it in the nucleus of our cells. The human genome project was a great accomplishment as it read the whole text of human heredity. On the eve of the release of the human genome project, the president of America called it “the language of God”.

God breathed his spirit into the flesh of Adam and created him in his image. The flesh of Adam was taken from the elements of the earth like carbon, nitrogen and phosphate.

The spirit of Adam was born from the Spirit of God. Man is a spiritual being. What is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the spirit is spirit. Man has body, mind and soul. The soul of man joins God.

I have heard arguments from bloated up and egocentric scientists who tell that spirituality and science cannot coexist. It is wrong. The more I have studied the principles of biology, the more I am convinced about the existence of a creator. I may be labeled as an ignorant fool, a naïve fundamentalist or a spiritual apologetic by the “intellectuals” of this world, but I am happy to say that I am humble enough to accept my ignorance.

Albert Einstein said “Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind”.

Science and religion can coexist. Dialogue is possible. Science deals with matter perceived by our five senses. Spirituality deals with a sense beyond the fifth, called the soul. Bible is not a scientific treatise; it is a spiritual guide-book.

God’s business is the spirituality of man and his eternal life with God and not about proving or disproving the principles of Isaac Newton. Metaphysics begins where physics ends.

Read the articles:

A debate that challenges Science

The Origin of Life and The Prebiotic Soup

Don’t be blinded. Look at the marvels of nature and life. You can see the fingerprints of God.

If you are going to wait to enjoy until you reach your destination, you may have to suffer a whole lot of sad days! There are many good folks who suffer like this. But why do you want to suffer when you have the choice to enjoy?

Enjoyment is not solely dependent on the final outcome but on the hundreds of small results that lead to the grand finale. It is not just about the event but involves everything that brings about the event. It is all about enjoying every second.

Some may say that we can’t enjoy during certain seasons. It is true that seasons differ. Nevertheless you can enjoy during every season because enjoyment is a choice. The following story pictures it perfectly:

Two men were admitted in the same hospital room. Both were seriously ill. Every morning the one on the bed by the window would happily describe in detail all the beautiful things he saw outside. The other man used to hear it and wished one day he could also see those beautiful sights. One morning the nurse found that the man by the window was dead. The other man patiently waited for the nurse to move him to the bed by the window. At last, he was moved to that bed he was waiting for. The moment the nurse left the room, he anxiously turned his face to the window. But all that he could see was a huge brick wall outside – no flowers, no birds, nothing! He felt totally broken and empty.

Did you get it? One man was enjoying his last days by saying what he wanted to see. But the other man was suffering because of what he couldn’t see. It was a choice!

That is why Apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). He wrote it while in chains in a Roman jail for preaching the gospel! In other words, he had a joyful attitude even when the situation around him was hopeless. But it was his choice. And he chose to rejoice in Christ and for being a prisoner for Christ’s sake.

Decide to enjoy your journey. What benefits does it provide? Here are four of them:

1. Seeing life as a series of events, not just a single event.
That’s the beauty of life. It is not monotonous at all.

2. Strength to handle more pressure.
Since there are different small events in the process, we build up ‘muscles’ to handle more pressure on the go.

3. Less prone to disappointments.
Since there are numerous avenues to work on, failing in some areas don’t bother heavily. There are more chances to win than lose.

4. Prolonged joy.
As we focus on enjoying every moment every day, the longevity of joy increases.

Remember: to begin and maintain 2012 afresh, you got to decide to enjoy the journey of life in spite of different stuff you may have to go through. Trust in Christ and you are on the Victor’s side!

Read the poem: It’s in your journey that you ran

Question: What other benefits do you reap as a result of choosing to enjoy your journey of life? Add your comments below.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com

We are in a time now where we need to be more discerning than any other time in history!

Before you ask “Why?”, just browse through the news headlines of different major newspapers from past 30 days. There we find all sorts of intimidating news, especially to do with the unpredictable future. All who think rationally will wonder, “How can we ever get out of this mess?” That is where discernment enters the stage!

What is discernment? The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language defines it as “the act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment”. In other words, discernment has to do with the ability to see and decide.

Check out what apostle Paul prayed for the Philippian church: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

The above passage shows us three things about spiritual discernment:

1. For productive results, discernment must be mixed with love and knowledge. Discernment without love is dangerous. Discernment without knowledge is folly. However when love and knowledge are mixed with discernment, we see productivity!

2. Combined with love and knowledge, discernment helps us to choose the best. Why go for mediocrity when you can see excellence! Often people end up being mediocre because they can’t differentiate between common and uncommon. Discernment brings you the solution.

3. Discernment, along with love and knowledge, leads us to stand ready for the great Day. There is no need of discernment if we plan to live life as it comes our way. However discernment is needed to live life intentionally. A day is coming when Jesus is going to snatch us out of this earth. A day is coming when we have to settle our life’s account with Him. A discerning heart knows that He is already at the door and lives ready to meet Him!

Read The Article: Test The Spirits

Remember: It takes discernment to begin and maintain 2012 afresh!

Question: How did discernment help you in the past? Add your comments below.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com

The title may initially appear paradoxical: how can you be focused and flexible at the same time? The truth is, to bring in balance, ‘focus’ and ‘flexibility’ ought to go hand-in-hand.

While focus is about ‘concentrating attention or energy on something’, flexibility is about ‘being responsive to change’.

For example, if John wants to construct a new house, he will take time to plan its design. He is now focused on building it as per the design. However he is also flexible to slightly alter the design for the sake of meeting the cost.

The Scripture talks about both focus and flexibility. Check out what apostle Paul says about focus: “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race…” (Philippians 3:13,14 NLT). Connect this passage with what God says about flexibility: “…I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual…” (Matthew 12:7 MSG).

In other words, God loves to see us focused on doing what we are called to do. At the same time, He doesn’t want us to be inflexible, religious and ritualistic about it, losing freshness and passion that go with the call.

How do you work this out?

1. Embrace consistency for growth: If you want to grow, consistency is an essential key. Inconsistency wrecks growth.

2. Embrace change for improvement: If you want to improve, change is an essential key. Resistance stains improvement.

3. Embrace purpose and passion: Never take one and omit the other. The two function like the wings of a bird. Incorporate both into your life and work. And you will fly high!

Remember: it takes focus and flexibility to start and maintain 2012 afresh.

Question: How do you find this principle working on your side? Add your comments below.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com

Talk about ‘fresh beginnings in 2012′ and you got to talk about your ‘connections’.

Like the old saying “No man is an island”, relationships play a major role in starting 2012 afresh. Relationships can either build you up or tear you down.

Show me your connections and I will tell you what you will become! That’s the power of connections. And that’s why you got to choose relationships with good people. So our ninth step in starting 2012 afresh is connecting with good people.

As you go for good connections, here are some 7 qualities which will help you identify them:-

1. Look for those with good character.

Character is the real thing. It comes from the core. Recently my wife and I had been to a quality restaurant. The facility looked impressive. But the food wasn’t that great. Performance may sometimes be cheap imitation. Go for the gold, not imitation. Connect with people of character.

2. Look for those who rejoice in your success.

A smart way to find good people is to check how they respond when you succeed. Some overlook your success. Some envy your success. Some celebrate your success! Hook up with the third category.

3. Look for those who encourage you.

If you expect everyone to encourage you, you will be disappointed. However there will be some who like what you are doing and they will encourage you. Network with such folks.

4. Look for those who are more successful than you in your field.

If you really want to grow, you got to learn from those who already grew in your field. Amateurs can provide growth principles in ‘drops’ while professionals ‘shower’ it on you!

5. Look for those who have a positive outlook.

Mindset matters. Hang out with the optimists than the pessimists. There are some rich folks who have a frugal mindset. There are also some poor folks who have a lavish mindset. Better to be positive in a negative world than being negative in a positive world!

6. Look for those who have time for you.

If someone lends you his time, it’s an indication of the high value he offers you. If someone values something, he has all the time for that thing. If he devalues it, he has all the excuses why there isn’t time for it!

7. Look for those who could mentor you.

What you can learn by yourself within 1 year can often be learned within 1 month through a mentor. Never underestimate the value of a mentor when it comes to new beginnings and growth.

Proverbs 13:9 says “The lives of good people are brightly lit streets…”. They help you start and maintain 2012 afresh.

Read the poem: Why God gave us friends

We hope our article will help all of you to connect with good people in 2012. Question: What other qualities are you looking for in people you like connecting with? Add your comments below.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com