You Want Proof?

I wish I could take credit for the wealth of information I'm posting tonight, but I can't. I can only share my personal beliefs and ideas about the existence of God, and then farm things from the Bible and other people who may be wiser and smarter than I am.

As for my thoughts on the matter:

#1 If the Earth were any farther from the Sun, all life would freeze. Any closer to it and all life would burn up. We're in a perfectly balanced and for the most part hospitable environment to sustain life. This rarity in the universe is something that scientists are searching for in other galaxies, but have yet to find anything resembling life as we know it.

#2 It isn't coincidental that humans inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide as waste. Trees happen to live with exactly the inverse use of these gases. It's an elegant, symbiotic relationship.

#3 When I look at trees, I see patterns. The patterns in different kinds of leaves, flowers and berries closely mimic other items in nature. Case in point: The tree and the human lung. The trachea is clearly represented by the trunk of the tree. The branches and vines closely resemble the bronchi which branches and rebranches into the alveoli, which are synonymous with leaf clusters or berries. (Miniature versions of this model are available in broccoli and cauliflower plants, as well as the human brain)

#4 If we were in fact evolving instead of being created, where are all of the 'evolving' species which are either slightly ahead of (advanced) or behind (retarded) the human race in terms of composition? Wouldn't the 'missing link' still be around and plentiful, like other primates or mammals?

#5 No one doubts that airplanes, toasters or cars are man made, created objects. There isn't anyone I know of whom would dispute that these items were conceived first in thought, spoken into a plan, lovingly engineered and finally built into something tangible by human hands. People are more complex than aircraft, infinitely more useful than toasters and a beautiful woman bears elegance and grace that no Ferrari can match. God is surely the master designer.

#6 Bumblebees can fly. Although I didn't come up with this, there are arguments as to whether or not the bee violates the laws of aerodynamics. I don't think that's the point. They can fly and if it's not by simple means, all the better. Complex systems further allude to intelligent design, instead of happenstance. (Further, when flying a bee builds up an electrostatic charge, and as flowers are usually well grounded, pollen is attracted to the bee's pile when it lands. When a pollen covered bee enters a flower, the charged pollen is preferentially attracted to the stigma because it is better grounded than the other parts of the flower.)

And then there are these juicy tidbits from others on WikiHow:

#1 Establish the reliability of the Bible as a credible source. The opening statement of the Bible declares that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Contemporary science although not absolutely certain on exactly when has theorized that the universe did in fact have a beginning with what is known as “The Big Bang.” It flies in the face of common sense for anyone to assert that absolute nothing could produce something thus making it more reasonable to infer that God is that something with no beginning which produced everything that we know of which has a beginning. The Bible says, “He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.” (Job 26:7) Perhaps only divine revelation could account for the Bible’s accuracy in detailing these and other facts about our universe far in advance of us developing the technology to verify such assertions.

#2 Show how the Bible paints a picture of God as a Being who is omniscient, omnipotent, immaterial, omnipresent, eternal, immutable, indivisible, perfect and loving. The Bible says that, “God is spirit…” (John 4:24) and it says that “God is love…” (1 John 4:8). The awesome complexity and incredible elegance pervading the entire universe suggests the existence of a superhuman architect of immense knowledge and power. The minds of human beings are taking what seems like an eternity to completely discover what the original mind or the divine mind actually accomplished in creating the universe and all it contains. The Bible says that God created mankind in his image (Genesis 1: 26-27) and it is logical to conclude that the human mind is able to increasingly make progress in understanding the universe because the human mind is a replica of the divine mind.

#3 Discuss how Jesus fulfilled dozens of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies and did things which no ordinary person could ever do. Jesus was recorded to have been born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) of the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and to have visited the Temple (Malachi 3:1) and to have risen from the dead (Isaiah 53:11). Historical sources and archaeological evidence establish the legitimacy of Jesus of Nazareth as an actual person to an extent comparable to that of any other notable historical figure. The gospels document the life and teachings of Jesus and the existence and expansion of Christianity as a major religion is evidence of its plausibility rather than an example of human gullibility.

#4 Elaborate on the issue of an imperfect world but one in which the good conspicuously outweighs the bad and one which any person could imagine as possibly being much worse if it were simply accidental or unintended. It seems that the universe provides us with life and the things necessary to sustain, enhance, and enjoy life. There are luxuries which are not essential to survival and reproduction such as art, music, and ever-evolving technology. Is this indicative of an indifferent cosmos or more indicative of one which is somewhat friendly to humans? It seems more reasonable to conclude that the universe materialized due to the presence of an intelligent force when one takes the time to learn how so many things had to go right in order for us to be here and how difficult it would be to possibly explain how not one of those things went wrong without making reference to God. It also seems as though the universe was designed for people when one considers how human beings are the phenomenal creatures with the rare capacity to maximize the somewhat hidden potential of creation.

#5 Explain that there are many examples showing God's existence, but one has to be able to look and realize its truth. Accept it instead of doubting it, see it instead of shutting your eyes and you will believe that God exists. Consider how the usefulness and attractiveness of things produced by human beings are not accidental qualities when present but are a result of our intelligent nature and our natural delight in order, balance, and beauty. In a similar way, it is unreasonable to conclude that the surpassing usefulness and attractiveness of things throughout nature are accidental qualities but it is rather more reasonable to conclude that they are the result of the existence of a surpassing intelligence which also delights in order, balance, and beauty. The Bible says that God created everything and was quite pleased with his work.

#6 Advise people to look around and look at the world. Does he or she see only the trees but not the forest? Obviously God exists, because HIS creation, is not only with humans, but with the world, and the galaxy that the world is in, and the universe that the galaxy is in. One intermingles with the other. The universe and all of life operates according to sophisticated and precise instructions. Who formulated these instructions? The Bible indicates that God is the being who spoke the first words and that God is the source of life.

#7 Mention that we are all born with the knowledge of right and wrong. The human mind has the capacity to calculate and it is not natural for people to take pleasure in destruction. Read the Bible and see that the knowledge of good and evil comes from God.

#8 Discuss the fact that we each have a desire to seek love. From childhood on, we try to fill that gap that exists within us. Sharing a life with another person, enjoying the companionship, stems from Adam & Eve, and God saw that Adam was lonely and so he created Eve to fill the desire to love and be loved, and as a means of creating a world of mankind. If we believe that, then it follows that there is a God.

#9 Familiarize yourself with some famous quotes you can use to argue that the Christian God exists.

o When I see all the glories of the cosmos, I can’t help but believe that there is a divine hand behind it all. Albert Einstein

o People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars and they pass themselves by without wondering. St. Augustine

o I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C.S. Lewis

o Some people complain because God puts thorns on roses, while others praise God for putting roses among thorns. Author Unknown

o If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him, just to say thank you. Pastor Robert Schuller

o A heathen philosopher once asked a Christian, 'Where is God'? The Christian answered, 'Let me first ask you, Where is He not?' Aaron Arrowsmith

o What I am really interested in, is knowing whether God could have created the world in a different way; in other words, whether the requirement of logical simplicity admits a margin of freedom. Albert Einstein

o My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive With our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible Universe, forms my idea of God. Albert Einstein

God is Real!

Knowing this, are you at peace with the Lord? Have you accepted the fact that one day you will pass away and when that time comes, you will stand before Him and give an account of your life? Friends, please accept the free gift of eternal life, through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Good Night