1452-1519
The archetypical “Renaissance Man,” da Vinci was a gifted anatomist, architect, astronomer, engineer, inventor, painter, and sculptor. Perhaps best known for painting the Mona Lisa, da Vinci’s surviving notebooks detail flying machines, human anatomy, and the first robot in recorded history. [Da Vinci's 10 Best Ideas]
How do you get things done?
By Lance Muller | August 15, 2008
“The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.”
Ram Dass
How do you get things done?
As you may have noticed there are a lot of tips about that floating around online.
One of my favourite productivity tips that has enabled me to get more done is to adopt a habit of acceptance.
This is a very helpful thing to cultivate. Here´s two reasons why:
- Less suffering. Pain is unavoidable in life. Suffering is however optional. The funny thing about a problem is that the negative feelings you may feel because of it do to a large extent not come from the problem itself. It comes from your resistance to the problem. You can choose to accept things as they are at this moment. When you accept you stop creating suffering within your own mind.
- Less mental fatigue. You may sometimes be more tired because you get more done. But I have found that I feel less fatigued mentally and in better shape internally when working in an accepting mode. There is much less overthinking and negative emotions when you are accepting so I guess that makes sense.
As you can see, acceptance is useful beyond just the area of productivity and is something you can incorporate into any part of your life.
Now, how does acceptance help you to get things done?
A short answer would be: as you accept you stop feeding so much energy into your own inner resistance. You stop sustaining and strengthening it. It dissipates. Now you can use your mind, energy, creativity and focus to get things done instead.
Procrastination is an inner resistance to something. Acceptance is a solution.
How to develop a habit of acceptance
Now it would be nice if I had a few snazzy and easy tricks to share here that would quickly help you to create a consistent habit of acceptance. I don’t. I have a few tips though.
Be patient.
Acceptance is like a mental muscle. The more you use it the stronger it becomes. And the procrastination tends to become less and less severe overall.
Your mind has to get used to accepting as a habit that replaces resisting. So you just work at it. And gradually acceptance becomes more and more of a natural choice in your everyday life.
Appreciate the upsides of acceptance.
When you don’t feel like accepting appreciate how much easier and enjoyable life becomes whenever you accept things as they are and work from there. This will turn your mood around for the moment and over time makes it easier for your mind to replace the habit of resistance with the a habit of acceptance.
A practical way.
Talking about acceptance can become a little abstract. You may feel like “well, I know I should accept X or Y, but how do I that practically?”.
Here is one way that’s been helpful for me:
When you feel a negative feeling then accept that feeling.
Don’t try to fight it or to keep it out (like many of us have learned throughout life). Say yes to it.
Surrender and let it in. Observe the feeling in your mind and body without labelling or judging it. If you let it in – for me the feeling then often seems to physically locate itself to the middle of my chest - and just observe it for maybe a minute or two something wonderful happens. The feeling just vanishes. And your mind stops putting in new energy into the problem.
Is acceptance a magic solution that will make everything awesome?
Not really. You may have to do something you find boring. Acceptance might not make it the most fun thing in the world. But it can make it easier to get the thing done. And quite often you can – with the help of acceptance - become enthusiastic and really get into something you resisted and didn’t think highly of at first.
As you step in the mental state of acceptance you just flow with what you choose to do. Your day becomes lighter. There is little or no resistance arising within. Just being in that state feels pretty great. And as a bonus, you can get much done too. 
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Modern Renaissance Man or Woman
By Lance Muller | June 13, 2008
Life sometimes can put you in situations were you must fend for yourself. How can you prepare for those difficult moments where you must be self reliant? One must master a basic set of skills, more or less making themselves a jack of all trades. I much prefer the term Renaissance Man or Woman, Contrary to we have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.
This may not be a complete list, it is a good list to start with 48 things everyone should know how to do. I have provided links where you can find more detailed information on how to obtain the skill. I am proceeding to get these under my own belt, so good luck with yours! I eventually will add a list of spiritual skills also. Enjoy!
1. Build a Fire – Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living. At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital.
2. Operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. Please, help those in need.
3. Use Google Effectively – Google knows everything. If you’re having trouble finding something with Google, it’s you that needs help.
- Google Guide
- Google Advanced Search Operators
- Google Web Search Features
- 20 Tips for More Efficient Google Searches
4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver – Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help.
- Learn CPR
- How To Perform Adult CPR (video)
- How CPR Works
- How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver (video)
5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle – There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge.
- How To Drive a Stick Shift Instructional Movie (video)
- Learn to Drive a Stick Shift
- Learn to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission
6. Do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it.
7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath.
8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight – Either way, you win.
- How To Actually Win a Fistfight
- How To Win a Fistfight (video)
- How To Win a Street Fight
- How To Avoid Confrontations Like a Samurai Warrior
9. Deliver Bad News – Somebody has got to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you.
- How To Deliver Bad News in Writing
- How to Deliver Bad News to a Customer
- Good Ways to Deliver Bad News
10. Change a Tire – Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.
11. Handle a Job Interview – I promise, sweating yourself into a nervous panic won’t land you the job.
- The 25 Most Difficult Questions in a Job Interview
- Job Interview Questions and Answers
- How to Handle Your Job Interviews Successfully
- 10 Sticky Job Interview Situations and How to Handle Them
12. Manage Time – Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time.
- How To Manage Time and Maximize Effectiveness
- Managing Your Time
- 10 tips for time management in a multitasking world
- Time Management Tips and Exercises
13. Speed Read – Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago.
14. Remember Names – Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming “hey you”?
15. Relocate Living Spaces – Relocating is always a little tougher than you originaly imagined.
16. Travel Light – Bring only the necessities. It’s the cheaper, easier, smarter thing to do.
17. Handle the Police – Because jail isn’t fun… and neither is Bubba.
- What to Do If You’re Stopped by the Police
- How To Handle the Cops if They Knock on Your Door
- How To Handle the Police
18. Give Driving Directions – Nobody likes driving around in circles. Get this one right the first time.
- How To Give a Complete Stranger Driving Directions
- How To Give Directions
- Giving Good Driving Directions
19. Perform Basic First Aid – You don’t have to be a doctor, or genius, to properly dress a wound.
20. Swim – 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Learning to swim might be a good idea.
21. Parallel Park – Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it. How could this be?
22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits – Otherwise you may wind up doing time.
23. Select Good Produce – Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise.
- Produce Primer: Selecting the Best
- Tips on Choosing Produce and Keeping it Fresh
- Buying Fresh Vegetables
24. Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw – Carpenters are not the only ones who need tools. Everyone should have a basic understanding of basic hand tools.
25. Make a Simple Budget – Being in debt is not fun. A simple budget is the key.
26. Speak at Least Two Common Languages – Only about 25% of the world’s population speaks English. It would be nice if you could communicate with at least some of the remaining 75%.
- Free Online Language Courses
- Learn a Foreign Language Online Free
- Language Learning with Rosetta Stone
27. Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly – Improper push-ups and sit-ups do nothing but hurt your body and waste your time.
- How To Do a Proper Push-Up
- Chris Comfort’s Push-Up Workout (video)
- 19 Variations for a Push-Up (video)
- How To Do Sit-Ups (video)
- How To Do an Abdominal Crunch (video)
28. Give a Compliment – It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, and it’s free.
- How To Give a Good Compliment
- 5 Kick-Ass Reasons to Give a Genuine Compliment
- How To Give a Killer Compliment
- 10 Best Compliments a Man Can Give a Woman
29. Negotiate – The better deal is only a question or two away.
30. Listen Carefully to Others – The more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss.
- Tips on Effective Listening
- Listening Tips for the Classroom Environment
- Techniques for Active Listening
31. Recite Basic Geography – If you don’t know where anything is outside of your own little bubble, most people will assume (and they are probably correct) that you don’t know too much at all.
32. Paint a Room – The true cost of painting is 90% labor. For simple painting jobs it makes no sense to pay someone 9 times what it would cost you to do it yourself.
33. Make a Short, Informative Public Speech – At the next company meeting if your boss asks you to explain what you’ve been working on over the last month, a short, clear, informative response is surely your best bet. “Duhhh…” will not cut it.
- How To Conquer the Public Speaking Fear
- Better Public Speaking and Presentation
- How To Write an Informative Speech
34. Smile for the Camera – People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera suck!
35. Jump Start a Car – It sure beats walking or paying for a tow truck.
36. Take Useful Notes – Because useless notes are useless, and not taking notes is a recipe for failure.
37. Be a Respectful House Guest – Otherwise you will be staying in a lot of hotels over the years.
- 10 Ways to Be and Excellent House Guest
- How To Be a Good House Guest
- Have A Pleasant Visit By Following A Few House Rules
38. Make a Good First Impression – Aristotle once said, “well begun is half done.”
- How To Make those First Impressions Count
- Making a Great First Impression
- Tips for Making a Good First Impression
39. Navigate with a Map and Compass – What happens when the GPS craps out and you’re in the middle of nowhere?
40. Sew a Button onto Clothing – It sure is cheaper than buying a new shirt.
41. Hook Up a Basic Home Theater System – This isn’t rocket science. Paying someone to do this shows sheer laziness.
42. Type – Learning to type could save you days worth of time over the course of your lifetime.
- Online Typing Lessons for Everyone
- Free Typing Lessons for the Standard QWERTY Keyboard
- Free Touch Typing Program
43. Protect Personal Identity Information – Personal identity theft is not fun unless you are the thief. Don’t be careless.
44. Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices – You don’t have to be a computer science major to understand the fundamentals of creating complex passwords and using firewalls. Doing so will surely save you a lot of grief someday.
- 4 Steps to Protect Your Computer
- Security Basics for Home Computers
- SANS Basic Computer Security Whitepapers
45. Detect a Lie – People will lie to you. It’s a sad fact of life.
46. Hold a Baby – Trust me, injuring a baby is not what you want to do.
47. Remove a Stain – Once again, it’s far cheaper than buying a new one.
48. Keep a Clean House – A clean house is the foundation for a clean, organized lifestyle.
- The Keep-It-Clean Plan
- Keeping a Stress-Free, Clean House
- How To Keep Your House Clean in 20 Minutes a Day
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Authentic Christianity
By Lance Muller | June 12, 2008
I just had to share this article entry from John Piper. He has been a faithful teacher of God’s Word and his writing is quite stirring. John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God’s call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books and more than 25 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and an increasing number of grandchildren. I have been wanting to find material that illustrates what I call “Authentic Christianity” and he hits the proverbial nail on the head. I will write more on him at a later time and recommend some of his books.
The Gospel in 6 Minutes
By Dr. John Piper
What’s the Gospel?
What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.
The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.
That’s the gospel.
You Can’t Outgrow the Gospel
You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”
No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.
You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.
How the Gospel Strengthens
Here’s an illustration, and I use it not because it’s any big deal to speak from my life, but because it’s what I walked through and where I most pointedly in the last year experienced the power of the gospel to make me strong. (Many of you are walking through things much heavier than prostate cancer—much heavier.)
Do you remember the verses that I shared with you back in February that were almighty for me? It was that moment right after the doctor says, “I think we need to do a biopsy,” when this stab of fear comes. It didn’t last long, mercifully.
And then came—what? 1Thessalonians 5:9-10. It’s just as pure gospel as you can get.
God has not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for you so that whether you wake or sleep you will live with him.
Settled. Peace like a river.
The Gospel Is Perfect for Your Needs
That’s just gospel—perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to my need. That’s why the Bible is so thick—because there are so many different needs that you have. And there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole book, always with an eye for what Christ has wrought for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, he will give you what you need.
Therefore, everything in me says, and I hope to say until the day I die, “Now, to him who is able to strengthen me, according to Paul’s gospel, to him—to that God—be glory forever and ever.”
God came into history in Jesus Christ; he died in order to destroy the power of hell and death and Satan and sin; and he did it through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Plea to Believe
I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation. So I’m just going to plead with you here at the end, lay down that rebellion. Lay it down. And simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins. He was raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God comes freely through him alone, by faith alone.
I plead with you, don’t try to be strong in your own strength; it will not be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there—the strength that God gives according to the gospel.
Don’t put it off.
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Life as Coffee
By Lance Muller | June 2, 2008
A group of college alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university Professor.
Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the Prof. went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups:
porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them
to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the Prof. said “If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. That all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other’s cups.”
“Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn’t change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it.”
So friend, don’t let the cups drive you…enjoy the coffee instead.
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Review: The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian
By Lance Muller | May 27, 2008
My kids and I went to see “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” which continues where the last movie left off. We have the four children, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) returning to Narnia. They along with Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) work together to revive the fantasy world of Narnia that was once inhabited by the various talking creatures and king of the forest, Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson). There is the conflict between good and evil because the fantasy creatures were all driven away after the land was invaded by the Telmarines about 1,000 years before.
The film focuses on Prince Caspian and his quest to recapture the throne from his uncle who wants it for his own heir. Caspian has to unite the creatures and people of Narnia and fight his own people, the Telmarines. We examine various themes within the film’s storyline, leadership, chivalry, and camaraderie between the four children, Prince Caspian, and the beastly creatures, which gradually shows Caspian’s strengths as well as challenges as a leader. And this is displayed in one of the most powerful scenes in the film where Peter and King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) conduct a duel.
Unfortunately, with this installment, PRINCE CASPIAN leaves the enchanted world that we grew to love in the first movie behind. This film is seems to focus more on the intense violence instead of the magic. From the haunting chants of the movie’s soundtrackto the extravagant costumes, there is a darker element to this film. In fact, I felt more like I was viewing a massive battle scenes from ”The Lord of The Rings”. Just be ready for this shift in film perspective and you will still enjoy the movie.
Even though the film shows a darker tone, there were a few lighter scenes. The enchanted creatures of the forest of Narnia offer a little comic relief to the movie, such as Trumpkin the dwarf (Peter Dinklage) and Reepicheep the mouse (voice of Eddie Izzard) who almost resembles the Puss n’ Boots character in the Shrek films. Another defining moment is the touching concluding scenes where Aslan and Lucy reunite as well as when the children depart from Narnia back to England.
Overall, the film is an amazing display of excitement and adventure. Just be warned that there are a couple of disturbing scenes of violence within the film, so it may not be appropriate for young children. I felt that the movie carried the Narnia Saga along nicely and is well worth the time and $10 bucks watching. I rate it a solid 3.5 stars.
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Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull
By Lance Muller | May 26, 2008
It’s been a Movies-Movies weekend for me and the kids! We have seen the new Indiana Jones movie, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Prince Caspian” from the Chronicles of Narnia series. Today I will review the Indy film.
If I had to compare Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull to the previous films, I would say that it’s not as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Last Crusade, but is better than The Temple of Doom. I think that it holds up well with its predecessors as a solid action flick. This long awaited final chapter (19 years) to the story of treasure hunter Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. delivers the goods.
The film starts off with a convoy of troops driving down a large road in Nevada while a gang of kids trail behind. The convoy pulls into a military base which is closed for a military test, but little do the guards know that these are actually Soviet KGB agents come to steal the treasures of some old military warehouse, the same one we saw the Ark go into at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Indi is in the trunk of the car. Oh no, what kind of trouble has our hero gotten himself into this time? On the hanger doors of the building a large 51 is painted in black letters. Surly this couldn’t be the infamous area 51. Or could it?
Okay, I’ll stop right there so not to give away too much of the films plot elements, but let me tell you it reminded me of many things I remember as a kid in the early 60’s. Gone are the Nazis and biblical artifacts, but here come the Russians and the cold war. One of the things I found very entertaining about this film was the harkening back to the 50’s, the cold war red scares, the double agents, the talks of aliens and such, very much like the movies from that time. This sets the film in a very different time period than the previous films. This is the beginning of the cold war, and darn it we’re going to have some cold war fun. From jet engines, to demonstrators marching down the street with signs saying “better dead then red,” this movie really pokes fun at all the scares and worries of that time period. We even get to see the detonation of an atomic bomb in one hilarious sequence of events which involve Indiana climbing into a refrigerator. I’m telling you that this ranks up there as one of the greatest scenes in the Indy saga.
Now I know what’s on everyone’s minds, you want to know if Harrison Ford can still pull off his old jump around and whip people routine. Well I’ll let you know that, no, there isn’t as much action in this film as there is in some of the older ones but what action did make its way into this film is quality stuff. No worries here. Ford is still as good as he was in his prime. Fortunately Ford doesn’t have to do all the work in this film, he has some help from Mutt, a new character who ———— oh, sorry about that, I forgot, you all don’t like spoilers. Okay, fine.
I’m pretty sure they wrote his part into the film not because it would make it more interesting (although it does) or that it would deepen the plot (but it still does), I have the sneaky suspicion that he was put in to take the strain off of Fords back. Well no problem because Shia LaBeouf can pull off the action hero pretty well. His performance is right on the mark and gives us a LOT of comic relief and a healthy dose of action. Oh you are asking if there are any snakes? Well no, but did I mention REALLY BIG ANTS!!! Remember the scene in Raiders where that Nazi got chopped up in the airplane blades? Well this scene is a combination of that and that one scene in the first Mummy movie where the guy got eaten by bugs, only it’s a Soviet getting killed in the Amazon, not Egypt. From Ford jumping back and forth on moving cars, to LaBeouf showing off his best Tarzan impersonation swing tree to tree (corny but really fun to watch!), the action scenes are as good as the old favorites.
I have to give this movies 4 Stars since it did live up to my expectations of a Stephen Spielberg and Harrison Ford movie. Just go in expecting something slightly better then Temple of Doom but maybe not as good as the two other films and you’ll be prepared to enjoy yourself. When you get there just sit back and enjoy, since this is, after all, an Indiana Jones film. Enjoy!
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The Real Indiana Jones
By Lance Muller | May 26, 2008
It is a little known fact that the fictional Indian Jones is in fact based on the real life of Colonel Percy Fawcett. Fawcett was born in 1867 and disappeared in 1925 while searching for what he called “The Lost City of Z” with his son, Jack Fawcett.
In so many ways Fawcett was just like the Indiana Jones character he inspired, mainly he also had a fear for snakes. As a matter of public record,
“Though not poisonous, the giant anaconda is probably the most feared snake in the jungle. Fawcett had a run-in with one not long after he arrived in South America. In his diary he noted: “We were drifting easily along the sluggish current not far below the confluence of the Rio Negro when almost under the bow of the igarit’e [boat] there appeared a triangular head and several feet of undulating body. It was a giant anaconda. I sprang for my rifle as the creature began to make its way up the bank, and hardly waiting to aim, smashed a .44 soft-nosed bullet into its spine, ten feet below the wicked head.”
Fawcett’s expeditions throughout South America, included countries like Brazil and Bolivia, wild and lawless places. In his final journey, Fawcett set out to find an ancient lost city he simply referred to as “Z”. After studying numerous manuscripts and legends, Fawcett became convinced that the lost city was located in the unexplored Mato Grosso region of the Brazilian jungles. He even went as far as to leave a note saying that if they should not return, no one should come and get them lest they suffer the same fate as he and his comrades.
The world does not know of the fate of Fawcett or his expedition. There have been more than a dozen expeditions to find him or his remains, with about 100 individuals dying on these journeys. The most recent expedition occurred in 1996 and had the bad luck of being held hostage by Kalapalo villagers and then later released.
The theories are many of what became of him. Many believe he died of natural causes, while others that he was murders. And of course some even believe he is still alive, living in the subterranean city “Z,” founded by the Atlanteans. There is evencorrespondences which indicate he planned on leaving British society and forming a new one, with a new religion that even included worship of his son and an unnamed Sith, or female spirit. Still, others believe he fell into unconsciousness, and when he suoosedly awoke became king of a cannibal tribe.
The life of Colonel Percy Fawcett is fantastic, intriguing, and as mysterious as the adventures of our own mondern day creation of Indian Jones.
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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull
By Lance Muller | May 24, 2008
Well, it’s been a real 18 years between “The Last Crusade” and “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and Indy has aged like we all have. I must admit that I have some apprehension as a die-hard Indy fan on this one… but the previews looks extremely promising, so take a look at the videos and see what you think. If you have seen the movie, please let us know your thoughts on this new adventure. I am going to check it out this Sunday and will upload a review as soon as I can.
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Question: “Why should I read the Bible?”
By Lance Muller | May 22, 2008
Answer: In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul through the inspiration of God writes, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
All Scripture …
Here, “all Scripture” means everything which, through the testimony of the Holy Spirit, is recognized by the church as canonical. When Paul wrote these words, the direct reference was to a body of sacred literature which even then contained more than the Old Testament.
Is inspired of God …
The Greek words used here translate to “God-breathed,” meaning that the canonical writings are absolutely trustworthy having come from God himself through human authors. Every word of God’s word have stood the test of history, withstanding every attack of men who wanted to destroy it’s testimony, and yet it stands and thrives in the hearts of millions as God’s people.
Profitable for teaching …
The church only prospers if God’s word is properly taught. There is little benefit to the teaching from man’s imaginations.
For reproof …
The morality taught from God’s word is the gold standard for governing human behavior. When the pre-Christian Gentiles ignored God, the result was the near-universal debauchery of the human race. Today we have the New Testament ethics teachings against immoral living which if persisted in, will have the same final results. God’s judgment.
For correction, for instruction …
God’s word will mold and change a believer’s life to conform to the likeness of Christ with diligent study. It will give the earnest seeker wisdom and knowledge.
There are so many questions that philosophers and people have asked thru the centuries that God has given answers, if we were only to look into Scripture. Examples are:
What is the purpose to life?
Where did I come from?
Is there life after death?
What happens after death?
How do I get to heaven?
Why is the world full of evil?
Why do I struggle to do good?
Besides answering the “big” questions, it gives a multitude of practical guidance in most areas of living in this world such as:
What do I look for in a mate?
How can I have a successful marriage?
How can I be a good friend?
How can I be a good parent?
What is success and how do I achieve it?
How can I change?
What really matters in life?
How can I live so that I do not look back with regret?
How can I please God?
How can I gain forgiveness?
How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?
Why should we read and study the Bible? It is because the Bible is totally reliable, without error in the original manuscripts. God’s word is unique among so-called “holy” books in that it does not merely give moral teaching and say, “trust me.” Instead, it gives us the ability to test it by checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Those who say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth.
Jesus himself believed in the inspiration of the Old Testament.
Matthew 4:4. Our Lord, the Redeemer and Savior of the human race, in his confrontation with the prince of evil at the time of Jesus’ great temptation, turned aside every thrust of Satan with the words, “It is written … it is written … and again it is written.” Is it possible to believe that the Lord of Life in such a confrontation would have appealed to a book that was merely human, fallible or untrustworthy?
Matthew 19:5. “God (he who created man) said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, etc.” Jesus said this, thus attributing the authorship of Genesis to the Creator of the world.
John 10:34-36. In this passage, Jesus referred to the Old Testament as “your law … the Scriptures … the word of God,” adding that “the Scriptures cannot be broken.”
Matthew 22:29. Jesus attributed the ignorance of the Sadducees to the fact of their not “knowing the Scriptures.”
Luke 24:25. Jesus denounced as “foolish” those who did not “believe all” that stands in the Scripture.
Topics: The Bible Answers | No Comments »
Do you feel like a Non-player Character?
By Lance Muller | May 21, 2008
I could not resist showing you this great t-shirt, but I’m sure that a lot of you will have no idea what I am talking about when you hear NPC (Non-Player Character). Let me briefly explain:
A non-player character (sometimes “non-playable character” or “non-player class”), often shortened to NPC is used in console and computer role-playing games to describe entities not under the direct control of players. Nearly always the connotation is that an NPC is allied with, or at least neutral toward, the player, rather than being an enemy. NPC behavior in computer games is usually scripted and automatic, triggered by certain actions or dialogue with the player character(s).
Still don’t get it? Well, allow me to explain further. I am a fan of WoW. What is WoW? World of Warcraft (commonly known as WoW) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). As with other MMORPGs, people control a character avatar within a persistent game world, exploring the landscape, fighting monsters, performing quests, building skills, and interacting with NPCs, as well as other players. The game rewards success with in-game money, items, experience and reputation, all of which in turn allow players to improve their skill and power. I love the level of detail in the content making for a rich environment of Graphics, Sounds, Story lines and immersive play action.
So, for a computer geek like me, this t-shirt with “NPC non-player character (Pay no attention to me) is both an inside joke and an interesting philosophical outlook for geeks who most people shun and ignore.
Just for the record, The word geek is a slang term, noting individuals as “a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, gaming, etc.” That’s me all day long! Lol…
Geek Joke of the Day
Two computer programmers (geeks) are driving on a Highway. They switch on the radio and there is a warning: Please note that a car is driving on highway 75 against the traffic. The programmer near the driver looks at him and says: One? There are hundreds of them.
Topics: Geek and Computer Stuff!, Stories and Jokes | No Comments »
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