Livin' the life...

Glum Drog millionaire? A quite strange title isn't it? Anyway, you'll get the point pretty soon - here's an amusing article (called Glum Drog millionaire) that has given out awards to EPL players/managers for "Best" performances ranging from Best Actors, to Best Film Editing! Enjoy!

As this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of Lent, I thought that this week's post would be based on Lent. I hope you find it useful.

Lent - A Time Set Aside

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2

Just as we set aside time to spiritually prepare for Christmas Day, it makes sense to set aside time to prepare for the two most important days of the Christian year. Lent offers us an opportunity to come to terms with the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and it brings our need for a Savior to the forefront. Like Advent, Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer.

But unlike the childlike joy associated with the season of Advent, with it's eager anticipation of the precious baby Jesus, Lent is an intensely penitential time as we examine our sinful natures and return to the God we have, through our own rebelliousness, hurt time and again. Lent is also an opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross - and it wasn't pretty. But ultimately, the purpose of Lent does not stop at sadness and despair - it points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when every tear will be dried (Rev. 21:3). [Full Lent 101 article here.]

Have a great week all, and I hope to see you in Church on Wednesday getting the cross marked on your forehead. taa

I knew it!

People's health could be harmed by social networking sites because they reduce levels of face-to-face contact, an expert claims.

Dr Aric Sigman says websites such as Facebook set out to enrich social lives, but end up keeping people apart.

Dr Sigman makes his warning in Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology.

A lack of "real" social networking, involving personal interaction, may have biological effects, he suggests.

He also says that evidence suggests that a lack of face-to-face networking could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone levels, the function of arteries, and influence mental performance.

This, he claims, could increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease, and dementia.

Full story here..

If you remember, a month ago I posted about a job dubbed the "Best Job in the World". It was for an 'island-sitter' post for 12 months, with a salary of £70,000. Well, the deadline for applications has passed and a reported 18,000 people from nearly 200 countries have applied for the post! In fact, the competition is so strong that, "Potential applicants have sent out press releases, sourced their own media coverage and established websites dedicated to their applications" (Ref). Well, what can I say but 'may the best'.. person win! (Full story here)

Skype 4.0 is out and to me, it seems pretty sweet. They did what seems to be a complete overhaul of the old interface so it may take a few seconds for the keen among you, to get used to. Currently I'm testing out the video quality, but I doubt it will disappoint. Skype has always been my no. 1 choice for voice or video calls (Skype, NOT Microsoft's MSN, I say!). If you are a fellow "skypeR", I advise you to get the new version!

I'm well aware that in the hustles and bustles of life, we often forget a number of simple things that glorify God. Below therefore, I've slightly modified an email I received, to outline some "Daily Rules from God". They are quite short, but still rather critical to all our daily lives.

1. Wake Up. Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up. The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up. Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up... To the Lord.
"I can do EVERYTHING through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up... Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

Wake up, dress up, shut up, stand up, look up, reach up, and Lift up.

Good day,

Researchers believe that the ability to understand and share the feelings of others is at least partly innate and built into our bodies at birth.

While upbringing and the environment can modify our behaviour, scientists believe that in extreme cases the gene or lack of it could play a key role in conditions such as autism where the ability to empathise is often non-existent.

The study by a team from the University of Wisconsin and Oregon Health and Science University, showed that friendly and gregarious individuals tended also to have the gene. (Full story)

Gotta love research..

Sometimes when you think you're guessing, your brain may actually know better.

After conducting some unique memory and recognition tests, while also recording subjects' brain waves, scientists conclude that some gut feelings are not just guesswork after all. Rather, we access memories we aren't even aware we have. (Full Story)

Nice read.

This week's TFTW is a simple photo. I wrote the words in the snow today, and I had the idea that this pic may be used as a desktop background (it's 1600x1200) for all of you who are interested.

I hope you enjoy!

Man, YouTube just gets more and more fun! Here's an interactive, 30-level Youtube game in which you just really, find the differences in photos (based on the 2009 Oscars).

It's a bit of good fun, especially if you're a stickler for detail! I got to Level 17 on my first try a few minutes ago (it's 2:30am by the way!). My proof...

Think you can beat me? Let me see!

This morning as I was walking home from my Sunday church service at Uni, I passed by a poster on one of the walls that read,

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Jesus in Luke 14:26

Warwick Atheists

These posters in general aren't unusual, but it's interesting every now and then to pause for a moment and have a read. In this particular poster, because they bolded and enlarged the font of the word "hate", I guess their aim was to make this passage seem like a rather nasty one. After all, Jesus, encouraging to hate one's father and mother, wife and children?

Fortunately, we don't have to worry too much about this passage, and view it out of context as done above, because we are fully aware of Jesus' two new commandments, i.e. "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39.

In special response to their poster however, my trusty study Bible [New Spirit Filled Life Bible] had a few comments on that passage, that are of great importance. It notes "A disciple must subordinate all earthly relationships to loyalty to Christ. Jesus' remark is an example of Hebrew hyperbole to emphasize the subject being discussed. To hate one's family is therefore not a command or statement of face but a way of expressing the importance of allegiance to Him." .. let that sink in for a second or two..

Now, let's briefly consider the word "hyperbole". You being intelligent folks know what it means, but let's look it up in Oxford Dictionary anyway.. Ah! Found it! (I adore the Internet; oed.com!) It states, "A figure of speech consisting in exaggerated or extravagant statement, used to express strong feeling or produce a strong impression, and not intended to be understood literally" (Oxford). Hmm, need we continue? Especially noting that Jesus did so commonly speak in parables?

As stated in the comments section of my Bible (shown above), the aim of this passage is to express the importance of allegiance to Jesus. Jesus is not telling you to hate your parents, or friends and love Him instead! If that were the case, why would the Lord (i) have a commandment about honouring your parents? i.e. Exodus 20:12, or (ii) in the New Testament command that we love our neighbour as ourselves? i.e. Matthew 22:39. In this passage our Lord is speaking to the importance of following Him, being totally committed to Him, and allowing Him to work His purpose for our lives.

If you ever come across one of these posters, or any comments similar, which attempt to somewhat distort what you know to be true about Christ, take a moment to let it sink it, ask Christ to guide your response. He may ask you to respond to the poster/comment, or He may direct you to your Bible for further analysis of the topic. Listen for His guidance and allow Him to work through you!

Have a great week all!