Love Potion No. 9

For the past several years, I have been counseling women who are involved in abusive relationships or who want to escape from their marriage. Probably the most bizarre story I have ever heard is from a counselee (a schoolteacher) who married a man she met and talked to just once prior to their quickie marriage. She said that the man’s mother had been telling her for some time about the good qualities of the guy, and that time before she met him, the mother asked her to eat some kind of food that made her feel somewhat dizzy. For reasons she couldn’t understand then, she said she agreed to marry the guy. This woman, who’s now seeking to annul her marriage, told me that she probably was fed with some kind of gayuma (or love potion, in the English language) by the mother.

Well, well, well, love potions… If you grew up in the 1960’s like I did, you’re probably familiar with the hit song “Love Potion No. 9” by the doo-wop group known as The Clovers. For the younger ones among you, you might remember that “Love Potion No. 9” was title of a movie starring Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan. Love potions are part of Filipino folklore; if you want someone to fall in love with you, you just have to go to the “arbolaryo” (the village herb doctor, in English) who will concoct a potent brew for you. You then slip the “gayuma” in your desired one’s food or drink, and instantly, that man or woman will fall instantly in love with you. If you’re in the Metro Manila area, you simply have to go around the vicinity of the Quiapo church, and look around the various stalls offering love potions, amulets, herbs of various kinds and for various purposes …

Do love potions really work? Do they really exist in this day and age of the Internet, websites, 3G cellphones and e-mail? Well, believe it or not, but serious scientists have done some quite extensive studies in neurochemistry and have come up with the conclusion that “love” really is a matter of chemicals. Not the “gayuma” kind of chemicals but chemicals that already are part of the complex human body. Hmmm, very interesting …


The cuddle chemicals

Dannah Gresh in one of her books (either “Pursuing the Pearl” or “And the Bride Wore White”) says that “adrenaline” is the fuel of romantic love. Well, sorry, Dannah, but your research is wrong! Scientists working in the field of neurochemistry say that the chemicals responsible for love are, among others, dopamine, vasopressin and oxytocin, or the so-called “cuddle chemicals.” (The 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Vincent du Vigneaud who discovered, isolated and synthesized oxytocin and vasopressin.)

Secular writer Eve Salinger says that, at the beginning stages, when a man and woman start getting attracted to each other, the human brain produces increasing levels of “dopamine” and “norepinephrine” which create feelings of exhilaration and lovesickness. Salinger says that as the romantic relationship loses its initial exhilarating buzz, “dopamine” and “norepinephrine” are replaced by “vasopressin” and “oxytocin” which promote bonding or a warm, fuzzy feeling between the man and the woman.

“Endorphin” (another cuddle chemical) is thought to be the main chemical responsible for long-term relationships, and its levels increase when a person responds to loving touch, pleasing visual stimuli, positive thoughts and physical exercise.

Love is in the brain, not the heart?

The National Geographic magazine (February 2004 issue), in its banner story “Love: The Chemical Reaction”, likewise speaks of the brain chemical “dopamine” as producing intense energy, exhilaration, focused attention and motivation. Written by Lauren Slater, the article says, “Love and obsessive-compulsive disorder could have a similar chemical profile. Translation: Love and mental illness may be difficult to tell apart.” Yikes!

Wikipedia, in its articles about the “cuddle chemicals” (dopamine, vasopressin, oxytocin, endorphin, etc), gives us some very interesting information:

Dopamine (C8H11NO2) is a chemical naturally produced in the body. In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating dopamine receptors. Dopamine is also a neurohormone released by the hypothalamus. Its main function as a hormone is to inhibit the release of prolactin from the anterior lobe of the pituitary.

Dopamine can be supplied as a medication that acts on the sympathetic nervous system, producing effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. However, since dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, dopamine given as a drug does not directly affect the central nervous system. To increase the amount of dopamine in the brains of patients with diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Dopa-Responsive Dystonia, a synthetic precursor to dopamine such as L-DOPA can be given, since this will cross the blood-brain barrier.

Dopamine is commonly associated with the pleasure system of the brain, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person proactively to perform certain activities. Dopamine is released (particularly in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and striatum) by naturally rewarding experiences such as food, sex, use of certain drugs and neutral stimuli that become associated with them.

Vasopressin is a peptide hormone liberated from a preprohormone precursor that is synthesized in the hypothalamus as it is transported to the posterior pituitary. Most of it is stored in the posterior part of the pituitary gland to be released into the blood stream; some of it is also released directly into the brain. It is responsible for creating intense loving memories, for clarity of thought and alertness during passionate situations.

In recent years there has been particular interest in the role of vasopressin in social behavior. It is thought that vasopressin, released into the brain during sexual activity, initiates and sustains patterns of activity that support the pair-bond between the sexual partners.

Oxytocin (C43H66N12O12S2 and Greek for “quick birth”) is a mammalian hormone that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. In women, it is released mainly after distension of the cervix and vagina during labor, and after stimulation of the nipples, facilitating birth and breastfeeding, respectively. Oxytocin is released during orgasm in both sexes. In the brain, oxytocin is involved in social recognition and bonding, and might be involved in the formation of trust between people.

The different actions of oxytocin within the brain are sexual arousal, bonding, maternal behavior, various ant-stress functions, and increasing trust and reducing fear.

A very interesting study, referred to extensively by Slater’s National Geographic article, is that of the 2004 book “Why We Love - the Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love” by Helen Fisher. In her studies which made extensive use of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), Fisher discovered that when a person looks at a picture of person he or she loves, the parts of the brain associated with rewards and pleasure and known as the “ventral segmental area” and the “caudate nucleus” almost literally light up with activity.

These chemicals are reactive, meaning they don’t just kick into our systems for no reason at all and hold us hostage to their effects. There’s always first a stimulus - food, a breathtaking scenery, an attractive guy (okay, okay, you can use me as an example!) – that sets these chemicals into action. In one study for example, when women in good marriages were asked to think about their husbands, the oxytocin levels in their blood increased. The stimulus was the pleasing thoughts about their husbands, and the effect was increased oxytocin levels.


The cuddle chemicals and your relationships

What are the practical applications for you in knowing all these things about the cuddle chemicals? Well, when you meet someone attractive and interesting (okay, okay, you can use me for an example!), the sparks will start flying but that’s only because of dopamine kicking into your system. Don’t jump to the conclusion that you’re truly falling in love. Give yourself time (lots of it!), and in a more stable emotional climate, you can better evaluate what your feelings are for that person. As Dr. James Dobson said in his book “Love Must Be Tough” (specifically the chapter on “Loving Toughness for Singles”), “Don’t let the relationship move too fast in its infancy. The phrase ‘too hot not to cool down’ has validity. Take it one step at a time.”

The end of the romance
The exhilarating, romance-filled days will not last. That’s because, as researchers in neurochemistry say, the dopamine-fueled hyperactivity can damage the brain. Remember what Slater in her National Geographic article said about love and mental illness being difficult to tell apart? Yikes!

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot in their book “Relationships” point out that the lifetime of most romantic relationships is only about two years, with a break-up occurring on the third year. Why? Well, they say that a man and a woman in the first year of their relationship are blind to the faults and defects of each other. Reality only sets in during the second year of the relationship, and the couple begins to notice the negatives in their partner’s attitudes, character and personality.

Well, well, well, from the arbolaryo’s love potions to the scientists’ cuddle chemicals … What really is love?

World-renowned marriage and family counselor Dr. Ed Wheat in his classic book “Love Life For Every Married Couple” states the following four foundational principles about what love really is all about:

[1] I can learn what love is from the Word of God. It is rational, not irrational. I can understand love and grow in the understanding of it throughout my lifetime.

[2] Love is not easy or simple: it is an art that I must want to learn and pour my life into. I can learn how to love.

[3] Love is an active power that I control by my own will. I am not the helpless slave of love. I can choose to love.

[4] Love is the power that will produce love as I learn to give it rather than strain to attract it.

In the said book, Dr. Wheat also defines and discusses the different Greek words for “love” used in the Bible. These are:

[1] Epithumia – though not really a word for love, it denotes strong physical desire between a husband and wife;

[2] Eros - romantic, passionate, and sentimental love; infatuation among younger people; changeable and fickle;

[3] Storge - natural affection and a sense of belonging to each other, the kind of love shared by parents and children or brothers and sisters who see each other as a an emotional refuge in the storms of life;

[4] Phileo – a love between friends, comrades, brothers in arms, characterized by sharing, closeness and companionship; and

[5] Agape - the totally unselfish love that has the capacity to give and keep on giving without expecting in return.

For those people struggling in a difficult marriage, the agape kind of love is what can keep the marriage together even when the other spouse is resisting or unwilling to change, or even wanting to leave the marriage altogether through divorce or separation. If you want to know more about Dr. Wheat’s ideas and suggestions for a fulfilling love relationship, please read my previous articles “How to save your marriage alone: Priceless counsel from a bargain sale book” and “Acronyms for a great relationship: Kailangang i-memorize yan!” His book is also available in National Bookstore and in Christian bookstores (OMF Lit, PCBS, back to the Bible, Vine and the Branches).

To know more of what real love is, we’ve got to turn to the Bible’s Love Chapter – I Corinthians chapter 13. Below is a copy of that famous love chapter with the 1611 King James Version word “charity” replaced with “love”. Here we go!

1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
4. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13. And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Well, well, well, no mention here whatsoever of the cuddle chemicals, of dopamine, vasopressin and oxytocin, right? Next week will be June already and you will be meeting new classmates and friends, and perhaps, new prospects for a romantic relationship. But if you want to know about real love, the agape kind that transcends dreary circumstances, human relationships that are innately transient (for who lives forever?), then click here.

Charlie Brown, Soren Kierkaagard, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Jim Elliot, Peter Marshall and zoe ...

Sometime in the middle 1970’s, I came across the books entitled, if I remember correctly, “The Gospel According to Peanuts” and “More Gospel According To Peanuts.” I don’t remember now who the author was, but the book’s thesis was that the Charles Schultz’s cartoon strip “Peanuts” was essentially Christian in worldview. Wow, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, Linus, etc as theologians! I had a great time reading those books, first because I identified a lot with Charlie Brown, and second I got introduced to the thoughts of theologians and philosophers like Karl Barth and Soren Kierkaagard which the book often referred to. (I remember reading about Kierkaagard’s views at that same time from Francis Schaeffer’s book “The God Who Is There.”)

I don’t have those books anymore with me. Best that I could remember, I lent the books to a college friend named Al (he eventually went to and graduated from Raffles University in Singapore and has been working there as a journalist since the 1980’s). I don’t remember him ever returning those books. Hmm, maybe I’d better e-mail him about returning those books …

Anyway, one particular Peanuts cartoon strip from those books showed Charlie Brown walking sadly on the windblown baseball grounds as the school year ended. Charlie Brown was thinking, “I hate it when schooldays are over. There’s a dreariness in the air that depresses me.” That was when Lucy (as usual) gets into the scene and jolts Charlie Brown back into reality.

In the 1990’s, when I was editing the yearbooks of Rizal High School, I wrote a short piece based on that particular Peanuts cartoon strip, beginning it with Charlie Brown’s thoughts. I used the piece in special sections of the yearbooks, and it captured for a lot of our students their mixed emotions as they approached graduation day. The piece goes like this:

I hate it when schooldays are over. There’s a dreariness in the air that depresses me. Even the rooms that once were filled with laughter are now empty and bare, the fine dust gathering on the wooden chairs, the windows shutting out the light from the dying sun.

Outside the once green grass now turns to deep brown in the parched ground, the trees bare of any leaves, their twisted black branches reaching upwards toward the sky in vain supplication for a little rain. The wind blows and creates swirling clouds of dust that sweep the school grounds and the empty hallways that once echoed the sounds of hurrying feet and young, excited voices.

School days are over, summer is here.

We’ve said our final goodbyes to our dear friends a thousand times, not really wanting each goodbye to be the last and final sad farewell. We cling to our friends, we hold hands tightly as we walk around the school one final time; we visit the rooms that were once our safe and secure refuge from the harshness of life.

We go through the paces of graduation practices, and laugh at the silly mistakes we make. But deep inside us, we feel a cold hand clutching our hearts, knowing that each day brings us closer to the moment when separation from our dear friends becomes inevitable, a moment steeped in profound sadness and absolute finality.

We close our eyes and hope that time can stand still; we will hold this day like a precious diamond in our hands, hold it up and reflect upon its exquisite beauty. If only time can stand still, we will forever be happy, together …

ALL ETERNITY FROZEN IN A SINGLE MOMENT OF YOUTH.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross became famous with her study on death and dying, with the stages that a person who knows he or she is terminally ill (or undergoing deep personal sorrow) oftentimes goes through – anger, denial, bargaining and acceptance. Kubler-Ross discovered that a dying person oftentimes focuses not on his or her academic achievements, career highlights, professional pinnacles, but on snatches of childhood memories, stories of friendships from long ago, and on events that may have seemed insignificant at the time but which impending death and reflection have now given a new perspective. A dying person oftentimes thinks about places that hold special memories (the house in the province, the old high school), childhood friends, falling in love for the first time …

(Talking about love, I first fell in love when I was a Grade 4 student. I can still remember her long black hair, her languid eyes, her beautiful name ... Elaine Rose. Or was it simply Rose? Or only Elaine? Or was Rose my Grade 6 classmate, Elaine my Grade 5 seatmate? Sadly, I don’t remember now ... Ah, young love!)

“All eternity frozen in a single moment of youth …”

Theologians tell us that “zoe” is the Greek word for “eternal life” or “eternity.” One pastor, teaching on eternal life, was innocently asked by a grade school student, “Pastor, do you mean to say that I will forever be a Grade 5 student?” The pastor then explained that “zoe” does not refer only to an endless period of time but also to the distinct quality of life for that endless period of time.

When I was a first year student in high school, I had a classmate named Felino who was a math genius. One time, as we were on the top level of the grandstand, gazing at the Marikina River flowing lazily behind the school, Felino said that when his time to die came, he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered all over the river. That he said, was his idea of eternal life.

I think it was martyred missionary Jim Elliot who said, “When it’s your time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.” What he says, I think, is not to leave any loose ends in your life - no words of love, affirmation or encouragement left unsaid; no hurts and heartaches inflicted by other people left unforgiven; none of your own sins and offenses against other people left unconfessed …

Famous American preacher Peter Marshall (former chaplain of the US Senate) once said, "Death isn't a wall, it's a door." The Apostle Paul clarifies in I Corinthians 15:51-58 that death comes to us all and then eternity begins:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Reflections on graduation time

Recent weeks have seen a flurry of graduation activities all over the Philippines, from pre-school up to the university level. Last year, a news story on television reported a near-riot in the Philippine International Convention Center when over a hundred parents of graduating students from the City College of Manila were denied entry into the hall by security personnel wanting to avoid a possible repeat of the Ultra stampede. One mother came all the way from the Middle East and she was completely in tears at having traveled thousand of miles just to see her child go up the stage and receive her diploma, only to be denied entry at the PICC gates.

Well, that incident only goes to show how Filipinos greatly value education. It also goes to show how sentimental Filipinos are.

From 1989 up to 1996, I edited the yearbook of the Rizal High School in Pasig. Some of you might know that this school was previously credited in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the largest high school in the world with nearly 26,000 students as of last count. In the yearbooks I edited, I used repeatedly (in the covers, inside front cover, or in some special sections; in full or in excerpts) a piece I wrote about saying goodbye during graduation time. It’s a very sentimental piece and it captures for a lot of high school graduates some of the thoughts that race through their hearts and minds. The piece goes like this:

“Dead Stars” was written by Paz Marquez Benitez in 1928 and it remains to this day, probably one of the most touching short stories ever written in the history of Philippine Literature in English.

In this story, Alfredo, the main character, fell in love with Julia who was visiting her relatives during that summer vacation. But Alfredo never had the chance to tell what he really felt for Julia because he was then engaged to be married to Esperanza, and Julia soon found this out.

Alfredo and Julia had a fleeting moment together as they said goodbye on a beach; the murmuring of the waves and the reddish glow of the sky bathed by the slowly sinking sun, the only witnesses to their unspoken love for each other.

Alfredo eventually married Esperanza, but their marriage was marked not only by the absence of children but also of deep love or simple affection. Through the years, however, Alfredo nurtured in his heart his love for Julia, fanning the fire of his affection with fond remembrance of every little word, every touch, every shared experience …

Years later, Alfredo, a lawyer, had the opportunity to travel to a province in the south where his beloved Julia lived.

With silent fear and hopeful expectations, in the stillness of the night, Alfredo walked along the cobbled streets of that sleepy town, the gas lamps glowing from the windows of houses along the streets, throwing eerie shadows as little children played under an early moon.

He found the house he was looking for, and he found his beloved Julia.

As they talked near the window of that humble nipa house, Alfredo searched Julia’s eyes for a flicker of an emotion, an ember of affection they once shared on a beach that murmured with the crashing of the waves, the sky that glowed with varied hues of red with the slowly sinking sun …

Alfredo left the house, and walked silently, slowly towards the boat docked in the pier.

In the stillness of the night, as little children now lay fast asleep in their homes, the gas lamps now tucked away in safe places, and the streets now deserted except for the eerie shadows of swaying trees, the wind now blowing with a coldness that enveloped the body and touched the soul, and the stars that seemed so far away, suspended in space, in eloquent silence ... Alfredo realized that all through the years, since that day on the beach, he had been seeing the light from dead stars.

We have spent four memorable years here in our beloved school, and the days leading to our graduation day have seen a thousand questions tumbling in our hearts and minds.

Where do we go from here?

For some, the future beckons brightly as they are blessed not only with talent and intelligence but also with open doors and countless opportunities.

For some the future looks dark and dreary, as innocent adolescent pursuits give way to serious concerns for jobs and financial security, with a college education merely a mirage in the dry desert sand of our crushed hopes and ruined dreams.

And still for some of us, there is simply no future to speak about.

Still other questions haunt us as we rush from one graduation practice to another, from one class party to another …

Will our friends in high school remember us through the passing of the years, through the changes in our lives, and through the distance of separation made more poignant when no letters come and birthdays are forgotten?

Will our friends still be there for us when problems come and solutions seem so elusive?

Will our friends remain true to us even as they meet other people and encounter new experiences, or will the friendship we thought would never end, prove finally to be weak and temporal?

Will the joys and pains, heartbreaks and happiness we all shared be simply swept aside, never to be remembered, never to be allowed even a little space in our memories?

Will the hopes and ambitions, the secret dreams we have dared to share only with our truest friends, be simply forgotten or revealed to others in careless, thoughtless ways?

Will our names be remembered?
Will our friendships last?
Will our friends still be our friends?

Life oftentimes has a cruel way of frustrating our dreams, of crushing our ambitions, of ending our friendships …

But our friends have made a promise always to remember …

Life indeed must move on, to bigger things, to better places … and we grow up, physically, emotionally and intellectually, and we will no longer be the kind of persons we were in our high school days …

The saddest truth in the whole universe is that time changes everything.

But our friends have made a promise always to remember …

But as we lie awake at night, the caressing wind carries to our consciousness the melodies of songs that brought wonder and meaning to our lives, songs that signified every turning point in our destinies, songs that we once shared and sang together as friends …

Slowly, the half-forgotten lyrics become clearer and they bring us back to our high school days …

Indeed, we have promised always to t remember. We can always remember. We must always remember …

I’m looking now at one of the yearbooks I edited more than ten years ago. Looking at the black and white pictures I shot (and which my students and I would spend weekends printing in our school’s makeshift darkroom) brings back a lot of good memories. I have kept in touch with some of these high school students through the years. From time to time, news comes to me in various ways about what happened to this girl, to that guy …

What brings, however, a lot of sadness to me have been the stories of some of these high school students, some in their late 20’s and others in the early 30’s, whose marriages have failed. Several years ago, I accidentally met a former student who was getting married that day in a civil wedding to be solemnized by a judge. Parents on both sides were there, the bride and the groom were both college graduates and gainfully employed, and everything seemed to say the marriage was going to be successful. Two years after her wedding, she called me up and asked for help in annulling her marriage.

The graduation piece I shared with you above emphasizes the value of our human relationships (maybe the more appropriate word is "overemphasizes"). Dr. Larry Crabb in his book, “The Marriage Builder” (copyright 1982 by Zondervan Corporation; published in the Philippines by Evangelical Touch Outreach Ministries Inc.) says however that ultimate security and fulfillment can never be found in human relationships. Dr. Crabb says,

“We all have deep personal needs for security and significance that cannot be met outside a relationship. Many people deal with their needs wrongly by:

1. Ignoring their existence and looking for satisfaction of personal needs with physical pleasures;

2. Settling for counterfeit personal satisfaction through achievement, recognition, affluence and the like which can never provide real security or significance;

3. Turning to their marriage partners for security and significance. The result is a manipulative relationship designed to use each other for personal satisfaction. Because no marital partner is fully adequate to meet another’s personal needs, such an exploitative relationship will invariably experience conflict.

From where or from whom does ultimate security or fulfillment come from? For the answer, click here.

Happy graduation!

Is God Real?

What are some signs for Intelligent Design?

By Andy Wineman

Used by permission from www.everystudent.com
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Is God real? That is the big question. If God is not real then you can play by whatever rules you like. But if God is real then it is a whole new ballgame. It is interesting to note that the vast majority of people do believe that there is a God. George Barna, who makes a living by asking people questions like this, found that three out of four adults think that there is a God. Ask four friends and check it out for yourself. Of course the reality of God cannot be settled by majority vote.

How can we know if God is real? Wouldn't it be nice if we could pick up the telephone and give him a call? Or drive by his house just to see if his car was in the driveway? Fortunately, there are better ways to address this question. Consider this perspective: since God is infinite and we are finite, if God wanted to make himself known he would have to make his presence clear. So, are there any signs that point to the reality of God? Winfried Corduan put it this way, "...we can look at the world and see if the world is constructed in such a way that it is reasonable to believe that there must be a God." Just as the hunter follows the trail of an animal that he has yet to see--paw prints, clumps of fur, broken branches--we are looking for the fingerprint of God in the physical world.

Various signs (lines of reasoning) have been suggested over the last few centuries. Let us briefly consider three. First, the world seems to work according to the universal law of cause and effect. That is, every observable effect must have had an initial "push" by some agent or cause. Every "thing" (a highly scientific term) that we observe is dependent upon other "things" for its existence. For example, children are dependent on parents and the earth is dependent on the sun. Thinking all the way back to the first event, it could be asked, who was the cause? This is where it appears that there must be a being that is "uncaused." Philosophers like to call this a necessary being. Could that be God?

A second sign that should be considered is what scientists today are calling the marks of Intelligent Design. The suggestion is that the universe exhibits purpose, design, and intent. This is not a new idea; William Paley suggested that if you were walking through a field and found a watch on the ground that you would recognize it as a piece of machinery that had purpose and did not simply grow in the forest like plants and trees. A rational conclusion would be that someone intentionally built the watch. The universe is infinitely more complex than a watch and as a result points that much more to an intelligent designer.

A third mark has to do with the moral foundation of the universe. C. S. Lewis referred to this as the "law of human nature." This is not to say that people everywhere are in agreement on all moral values, but that everyone does tend to live by certain common moral principles. For example, people and cultures have different ideas about when it is appropriate to take another person's life, but no one (that would be considered sane) would hold that indiscriminate cold-blooded murder for no reason would be appropriate. It appears that humanity has been intentionally created with an internal moral compass.

All three of these marks appeal to our common sense and fit observations that can be made about the world. Everyone may not be completely convinced by this reasoning, but it seems to make more sense to believe that God is real than that he is not. If that is true, then maybe there are other things that can be known about God. Why don't you try to pick up the trail and see where it leads?


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How to begin a relationship with God

Can You Prove the Existence of God?

Why philosophers and atheists love this question

By Gregory E. Ganssle, Ph.D.

Used by permission from www.everystudent.com
Original version of this article with graphics, click here.
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Ever since Immanuel Kant wrote his Critique of Pure Reason, it has been common for thinking people to insist that it is impossible to prove the existence of God. In fact this claim has been elevated to the level of dogma in American intellectual culture. The reason I know this is considered unquestionable dogma is the reaction I get when I call it into question. When someone says "You cannot prove the existence of God," I want to ask, "How do you know? You just met me! How do you know what I can do?"

What do most people mean when they recite this claim? Most people mean that I cannot provide a philosophical argument for the existence of God which will convince all thinking people. It is impossible, so the story goes, to provide an argument which will compel assent. If my argument will not convince the most ardent atheist, they say, I have not proven God's existence. Since I cannot convince such an atheist to believe, my arguments do not count as proof in their eyes. If they do not count as proof, what good are they?

I agree that I cannot provide an argument that will convince all thinking people. But what does this tell me? Does this tell me anything about God? No. This tells me more about the nature of proof than it does about whether God exists. I cannot provide an argument which will convince everyone, without a possibility of doubt, that God exists. That is no problem. You see, I cannot provide an argument for any interesting philosophical conclusion which will be accepted by everyone without possibility of doubt.

I cannot prove beyond the possibility of doubt -- in a way that will convince all philosophers -- that the Rocky Mountains are really here as a mind-independent object. I cannot prove that the entire universe did not pop into existence five minutes ago and that all of our apparent memories are not illusions. I cannot prove that the other people you see on campus have minds. Perhaps they are very clever robots.

There is no interesting philosophical conclusion that can be proven beyond the possibility of doubt. So the fact that arguments for the existence of God do not produce mathematical certainty does not by itself weaken the case for God's existence. It simply places the question of God's existence in the same category as other questions such as that of the existence of the external, mind-independent world and the question of how we know other people have minds.

Does this mean that arguments for the existence of God are useless? Not at all. Sure, I cannot provide an argument which will convince all thinking people but this does not mean I don't have good reason to believe in God. In fact some of my reasons for believing in God may be persuasive to you. Even if you aren't persuaded to believe that God exists, my arguments may not be useless. It is reasonable to believe that the mountains are real and our memories are generally reliable and that other minds exist. It is reasonable to believe these things even though they cannot be proven. Maybe some argument for God's existence will persuade you that belief in God is reasonable.

So how can we know that God exists? Instead of looking for undoubtable conclusions, we weigh evidence and consider alternatives. Which alternative best fits the evidence?

If you'd like to see some reasons which support God's existence, see the article Is There a God?


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How to begin a relationship with God

Is There a God?

Does God exist? Is there proof of God? The following offers candid, straight-forward reasons to believe in the existence of God...

By Marilyn Adamson

Used by permission from www.everystudent.com.
Original version (with all the graphics); PDF version
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Just once wouldn't you love for someone to simply show you the evidence for God's existence? No arm-twisting. No statements of, "You just have to believe." Well, here is an attempt to candidly offer some of the reasons which suggest that God exists.

But first consider this. If a person opposes even the possibility of there being a God, then any evidence can be rationalized or explained away. It is like if someone refuses to believe that people have walked on the moon, then no amount of information is going to change their thinking. Photographs of astronauts walking on the moon, interviews with the astronauts, moon rocks...all the evidence would be worthless, because the person has already concluded that people cannot go to the moon.

When it comes to the possibility of God's existence, the Bible says that there are people who have seen sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the truth about God.1 On the other hand, for those who want to know God if he is there, he says, "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you."[2] Before you look at the facts surrounding God's existence, ask yourself, If God does exist, would I want to know him? Here then, are some reasons supporting the existence of God...

1. The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today. Many examples showing God's design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.[3] Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.[4]

Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.

Water is a universal solvent. This property of water means that thousands of chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.[5]

Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.[6]

2. The human brain's complexity shows a higher intelligence behind it. The human brain simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

The human brain processes more than a million messages a second.[7] Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. A brain that deals with more than a million pieces of information every second, while evaluating its importance and allowing you to act on the most pertinent information... did it come about just by chance? Was it merely biological causes, perfectly forming the right tissue, blood flow, neurons, structure? The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people. How does one explain the human brain?

3. "Chance" or "natural causes" are insufficient explanations. The alternative to God existing is that all that exists around us came about by natural cause and random chance. If someone is rolling dice, the odds of rolling a pair of sixes is one thing. But the odds of spots appearing on blank dice is something else. What Pasteur attempted to prove centuries ago, science confirms, that life cannot arise from non-life. Where did human, animal, plant life come from?

Also, natural causes are an inadequate explanation for the amount of precise information contained in human DNA. A person who discounts God is left with the conclusion that all of this came about without cause, without design, and is merely good fortune. It is intellectually wanting to observe intricate design and attribute it to luck.

4. To state with certainty that there is no God, a person has to ignore the passion of an enormously vast number of people who are convinced that there is a God. This is not to say that if enough people believe something it is therefore true. Scientists, for example, have discovered new truths about the universe which overruled previous conclusions. But as science has progressed, no scientific discovery has countered the numerical likelihood of an intelligent mind being behind it all. In fact, the more science discovers about human life and the universe, the more complex and precisely designed we realize these to be. Rather than pointing away from God, evidence mounts further toward an intelligent source. But objective evidence is not all.

There is a much larger issue. Throughout history, billions of people in the world have attested to their firm, core convictions about God's existence--arrived at from their subjective, personal relationship with God. Millions today could give detailed account of their experience with God. They would point to answered prayer and specific, amazing ways God has met their needs, and guided them through important personal decisions. They would offer, not only a description of their beliefs, but detailed reports of God's actions in their lives. Many are sure that a loving God exists and has shown himself to be faithful to them. If you are a skeptic, can you say with certainty: "I am absolutely right and they all are wrong about God"?

5. We know God exists because he pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking for us to come to him. I was an atheist at one time. And like most atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, disillusioned people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them.

I am not the only one who has experienced this. Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued." C.S. Lewis said he remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England."

Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by Joy" as a result of knowing God. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting God's existence. Yet over the following several months, I became amazed by his love for me.

6. Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God pursuing us. Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the others. He said God exists and you're looking at him. Though he talked about his Father in heaven, it was not from the position of separation, but of very close union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him, believed in the Father.

He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."[8] He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say, "follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."[9]

What proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine? He did what people can't do. Jesus performed miracles. He healed people...blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a couple of people from the dead. He had power over objects...created food out of thin air, enough to feed crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles over nature...walked on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere followed Jesus, because he constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to believe what I'm telling you, you should at least believe in me based on the miracles you're seeing.[10]

Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed that although God views us as sinners, worthy of his punishment, his love for us ruled and God came up with a different plan. God himself took on the form of man and accepted the punishment for our sin on our behalf. Sounds ludicrous? Perhaps, but many loving fathers would gladly trade places with their child in a cancer ward if they could. The Bible says that the reason we would love God is because he first loved us.

Jesus died in our place so we could be forgiven. Of all the religions known to humanity, only through Jesus will you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, he offers us a new life today. We can be forgiven, fully accepted by God and genuinely loved by God. He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."[11] This is God, in action.
Does God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus Christ. We're told that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."[12]

God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he has provided sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him. The earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ. If you need to know more about Jesus and reasons to believe in him, please see: Beyond Blind Faith.

If you want to begin a relationship with God now, you can. This is your decision, no coercion here. But if you want to be forgiven by God and come into a relationship with him, you can do so right now by asking him to forgive you and come into your life. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him [or her]."[13] If you want to do this, but aren't sure how to put it into words, this may help: "Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. You know my life and that I need to be forgiven. I ask you to forgive me right now and come into my life. I want to know you in a real way. Come into my life now. Thank you that you wanted a relationship with me. Amen."

God views your relationship with him as permanent. Referring to all those who believe in him, Jesus Christ said of us, "I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand."[14]

So, does God exist? Looking at all these facts, one can conclude that a loving God does exist and can be known in an intimate, personal way. If you need more information about Jesus' claim to divinity, or about God's existence, or if you have similar important questions, please email us.

• I just asked Jesus into my life (some helpful information follows)...

• I'm somewhat hesitant. Could you explain this more fully?

• I have a question...

About the Author:

As a former atheist, Marilyn Adamson found it difficult to refute the continuously answered prayers and quality of life of a close friend. In challenging the beliefs of her friend, Marilyn was amazed to learn the wealth of objective evidence pointing to the existence of God. After about a year of persistent questioning, she responded to God's offer to come into her life and has found faith in Him to be constantly substantiated and greatly rewarding.

[1] Romans 1:19-21
[2] Jeremiah 29:13-14
[3] R.E.D. Clark, Creation (London: Tyndale Press, 1946), p. 20
[4] The Wonders of God's Creation, Moody Institute of Science (Chicago, IL)
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] John 8:12
[9] John 14:6
[10] John 14:11
[11] Jeremiah 31:3
[12] John 3:16
[13] Revelation 3:20
[14] John 10:27-29

“Saving Private Ryan” and God’s seeking heart

Two weeks ago, I bought from the National Bookstore a bargain priced, original video of “Saving Private Ryan.” As a lot of you may know, “Saving Private Ryan” is the 1998 Academy Award winning film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks. Nominated for a total of 11 Oscars, the film, set in World War II, won in five categories (Best Director; Best Film Editing; Best Cinematography; Best Sound; and Best Sound Effects Editing).

When I first saw “Saving Private Ryan,” I was amazed at the parallels with the Bible’s message of a sovereign God undertaking a daring mission in enemy territory to rescue lost men and women. But I’m getting ahead of the point of this article …

Wikipedia in its review of “Saving Private Ryan” summarizes the film’s events in this way:

The story follows a squad of U.S. Army Rangers from the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944 to their defense of a strategic bridge in the fictional French town of Ramelle on the Merderet River. The film begins with a graphic recreation of the landing of the first wave of troops on the beach. The film focuses on Captain John Miller who eventually manages to lead a group of men through the German beach defenses to reach the heights overlooking the beach.

The story shifts to the U.S. War Department offices where thousands of death notification letters are being typed for delivery to the families of the dead soldiers. It is discovered that three of the four brothers of the Ryan family have all died within days of each other and that their mother will receive all three notices on the same day. The fourth son, James Francis Ryan, a paratrooper, remains unaccounted for somewhere in France. General George Marshall orders that he be found and sent home immediately.

The scene changes back to Europe, where Miller assembles a group of eight men to carry out the order of finding Ryan and returning him safely to the rear. One of the men, Upham, is a map maker and budding novelist who is included in the squad as a French and German interpreter. He is shunned by the others, who see him as an outsider and a liability to the squad; he clearly lacks the physical qualities of a soldier. They scoff at his plans to write a book about the bonds of brotherhood that develop between soldiers in combat. Upham also discovers from the others that they have a cash pool going to determine Miller's home town and his peacetime occupation.

Possessing virtually no information as to Ryan's whereabouts or the location where his unit parachuted into France, Miller and his men must move from town to town and among other American units to find him. Shortly after the unit arrives in a small village under heavy counter-attack by German forces, Caparzo is killed by a sniper. They hear Ryan may be with a unit of Airborne troops fighting for control of the village. Unfortunately, he turns out to be an entirely different man, James “Frederick” Ryan.

Growing increasingly frustrated, Miller's squad pushes ahead and comes across a field where wounded soldiers have gathered. A glider pilot has collected the dog tags of dead men and Miller's men search through them. Ryan's name is not among them, and, in desperation. Miller begins asking passing soldiers at random if they have seen or know him. Miller gets lucky and finds a friend of Ryan's (the man has lost his hearing from a close grenade explosion and yells all his answers, in a rare moment of humor in the film). He tells them that Ryan has joined a mixed unit and is defending a bridge in the nearby town of Ramelle.

Before arriving in Ramelle, the squad finds an abandoned radar outpost guarded by three German soldiers armed with an MG42 machine gun. The discovery of a squad of dead GIs, pparently ambushed by the gunners, leads to Miller's decision to attack the position despite the objections of his men. During the ensuing action, Wade (the squad's medic) is fatally wounded. The unit takes its anger out upon the only surviving German soldier, first beating him and then ordering him to dig graves for Wade and the other dead Americans. Miller takes a moment for himself, quietly weeping over the loss of Wade and Caparzo, and the stress of the situation he and his squad find themselves in. Upham develops a rapport with the German soldier (referred to as ‘Steamboat Willie’ in the credits, due to part of their conversation), and over the protests of the squad, who want to execute the soldier, Miller orders the man blindfolded and released. Hot-headed Brooklynite Reiben is pushed to mutiny by this action and threatens to desert the squad. The ensuing argument climaxes when Horvath points his pistol at Reiben and threatens that if he does not rejoin the squad, he'll be shot. Miller defuses the situation by revealing his civilian vocation (an English teacher) and his quietly emotional speech about duty and responsibility convinces Reiben to stay.

As they approach Ramelle, the squad encounters a German half-track personnel carrier and hide, puzzled when it is heavily damaged by an unexpected explosion. After a brief firefight, the squad makes contact with a small Airborne patrol armed with a bazooka. By chance, one of the soldiers is Ryan.

The squad joins the remainder of Ryan’s Airborne unit holding the bridge in Ramelle. The bridge is strategically important; the German and American armies both need to hold it in order to cross the Merderet River. Miller tells Ryan about the deaths of his brothers, but Ryan refuses to leave his unit, even under Miller’s direct orders. Unable to complete their original mission as planned. Miller and Horvath decide that the squad will stay to defend the bridge from German attacks.
Soon after, Ramelle comes under attack by Waffen SS tanks and infantry who outnumber and outgun the Americans; the force consists of at least 50 men accompanied by self-propelled guns and Tiger tanks. Running out of ammunition and anti-tank weapons, the Americans are pushed back by superior numbers and firepower. Jackson, in a sniper’s post in the bell tower, shoots German soldiers until he is killed when the tower is destroyed by a shell from a German Marder III. Mellish desperately holds a machine gun position in the window of a house, but is overrun by German soldiers after he runs out: of ammunition. A member of the Waffen SS (who is often mistaken for ‘Steamboat Willie’) kills him, with a knife after a short but brutal hand-to-hand struggle. Upham, who was supposed to be resupplying Mellish, sits paralyzed with fear on the stairs as the German leaves the room and passes him without a word.

Miller retreats across the bridge with Reiben, Ryan, and a badly wounded Horvath, who collapses and dies soon after. They prepare to destroy the bridge, but a near miss from one of the German tanks knocks Miller off his feet and sends the detonator flying. He attempts to venture back onto the bridge into heavy enemy fire to retrieve it, but is shot (though not killed outright) by ‘Steamboat Willie’, who has rejoined the German army since his release. Dazed and dying, Miller vainly fires his service pistol at the Tiger tank advancing across the bridge, when it impossibly explodes. Moments later, a pair of P51 Mustangs fly over, having arrived as air support and bombed the tank. Upham emerges suddenly from his hiding spot and takes several of the remaining Germans prisoner, including Steamboat Willie. Willie tries to talk to Upham, but, having witnessed Miller's shooting, Upham deliberately shoots him and tersely orders the others to leave.

Miller is tended to in vain by Reiben. His final words to Ryan are: “James... earn this. Earn it.” Ryan's face morphs into that of an old man, standing near Miller’s grave at Colleville-sur-Mer, where the film opens. Before saluting the grave, an emotional Ryan expresses his hope that Miller will regard the life Ryan has tried to lead as a ‘good man’ as enough to repay the debt he owes Miller and his squad for their sacrifice.

Essentially, the movie revolves around a daring rescue mission by squad of eight soldiers led by Capt. John Miller (played by Tom Hanks), meant to locate inside enemy held territory and bring home safely Pvt. James Francis Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in action. Gen. George Marshall, in act of grace and mercy for the grieving mother (just like Pres. Abraham Lincoln during the US Civil War) had ordered Ryan rescued and brought back home.

The squad of soldiers (played by Tom Sizemore, Vin Diesel, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, and Giovanni Ribisi) encounters firefights, frustrations and disappointments in trying to locate and rescue Ryan. As two of their comrades are killed, the squad begins to seriously and mutinously question whether one man is really worth the sacrifices they have to make.

In one scene, Capt. Miller and his squad meet a glider pilot tending some wounded paratroopers. The pilot said that some 24 men died when the glider dropped like a big rock from the sky. Unknown to the pilot, the glider had been fitted with heavy metal plates to protect a general. Capt. Miller remarks as to the irony of 24 men dying just because one man selfishly wanted to ensure his own protection and survival.

When Captain Miller and the remaining members of his squad finally locate Ryan, the latter refuses to leave the other paratroopers defending the bridge. Ryan couldn’t understand what he did to merit Capt. Miller’s dangerous mission to locate and rescue him, while his other paratroopers were facing danger and death in defending the bridge.

When Capt. Miller lay dying in the climactic scenes of the movie, his last words to Ryan were, “James … earn this. Earn it.” In the last scene of the movie, decades after the war, Ryan tearfully asks his wife, “Tell me that I have lived a good life …” His hope was that he had lived a good life which could somehow repay the sacrifice of six soldiers who died trying to rescue him.

It is interesting to note how some of the soldiers died. The Jewish soldier (played by Adam Goldberg) cries at the beginning of the movie when he was given a Hitler Youth knife. He gets killed when he gets stabbed by a German soldier in a brutal hand to hand combat. Private Daniel Jackson (played by Barry Pepper), the sniper, kills Germans by specifically and deliberately picking out his targets and killing them with single shots. At the end of the movie, the German tank specifically and deliberately, much like a sniper, aims its cannon at Jackson and kills him with a single blast.

God’s seeking heart

Much like the movie “Saving Private Ryan,” the Bible tells the story of a sovereign God who undertook a daring mission to rescue men and women from their sins. Luke chapter 19, verse 10 says, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” The best-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Bible declares in Romans 3:23 that God is holy and that men and women are sinners: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And what are the results of man’s sin? Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Unlike “Saving Private Ryan,” however, where Ryan for decades after his rescue, lived a good life in order to “earn” the grace that was shown to him and to repay the sacrifices of Capt. John Miller and his men, the Bible tells us that we do not earn our salvation by good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Or as Titus 3:5-6 state, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”

One of my favorite books, which I highly recommend to you, is Philip Yancey’s “What’s so amazing about grace?” (copyright 1977; Zondervan Publishing House; reprinted in the Philippines by OMF Literature Inc.). In page 45, Yancey states, “The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and Muslim code of law – each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.”

Further on in page 70, Yancey defines “grace” in this way:

I grew up with the image of a mathematical God who weighed my good and bad deeds on a set of scales and always found me wanting. Somehow I missed the God of the Gospels, a God of mercy and generosity who keeps finding ways to shatter the relentless laws of ungrace. God tears up the mathematical tables and introduces the new math of grace, the most surprising, twisting, unexpected-ending word in the English language.

Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more – no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes. And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less – no amount of racism or pride or pornography or adultery or even murder. Grace means that God already loves us much as an infinite God can possibly love.

The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins. Colossians 1: 12 to 22 tell us:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

Acts 4:12 tells us that salvation is by Christ alone: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

What must we do then? God, man, Christ, response - repentance and faith

Who is God? The Creator and sovereign Lord

God exists. He is the Creator. Because He made us, we are totally dependent upon Him. He can do as He pleases. He is in charge of the universe. (Genesis 1:1)

God is holy. He never sins. He always does what’s right. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

God loves us. He wants to have a friendly relationship with us. He wants us to be saved and has provided a means of salvation. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 2 Peter 3:9)

God is absolutely sovereign. He’s the King of kings. (Ephesians 1:11)

As Creator, God is worthy of man’s worship. (Revelation 4:11)

What is man? Utterly sinful and unable to save himself.

People are basically sinful. People do bad things because they are sinful. Each person has sinned against a holy God. (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 5:12, 3:10-23)

Man is dead in trespasses and sin. He has no fellowship with God. (Ephesians 2:1, 4:17-19)

Sinners are separated from and under the wrath of God. This is man’s primary problem, and he cannot solve it by himself. (John 3:18, 36)

Sin deserves to be punished. That punishment is eternal separation from God and from everything good. (Romans 6:23a; Isaiah 59:1-2, 64:6)

Those who remain in their sin will spend eternity in hell. (Revelation 20:14-15)

Who is Christ? The sacrifice, Savior and Lord

He is the Son of God, God in the flesh, and lived a perfect, sinless life. Jesus is the Savior. He came to save us from our sin. (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; John 1:1; 1 Peter 2:22)

Christ died for our sins, was buried, and arose the third day. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Christ took the punishment for our sins. He suffered instead of us. He was our substitute. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:4-7)

He is the only way of salvation. There is no other means. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

Jesus is both Lord and Savior. We must recognize His Lordship. Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; Romans 10:9)

How should I respond to the Gospel? Repent of my sins and trust in Christ.

The gospel message demands a response. Just knowing the facts of the gospel does not mean that one is saved. You must make a personal decision regarding the facts.

Simply acknowledging your sin is not enough (e.g., Judas was sorry that he sinned). people to turn from their sin and seek forgiveness. And when you trusts Christ as Savior, you are also recognizing Him as Lord. Christ as the New Testament presents him is both Lord and Savior.

Salvation occurs when you repent of your sin and believe in the person and work of Christ. (John 3:16; Acts 20:21)

Repentance is turning away from and rejecting sin and turning to God. It is being sorry for sin and wanting to be forgiven. 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Acts 20:21, 26:20)

Faith is trusting in Christ to forgive you. It is a trust in and commitment to Him. It is trusting Christ alone to be saved. Belief consists of knowledge, assent, and wholehearted trust. (John 3:16, 36, 5:24; Ephesians 2:8-9)

Discipleship is costly. Following Christ may require a major change in your lifestyle. (Luke 14:33)

Eternal life here and now

The first 25 minutes of “Saving Private Ryan” graphically portray American soldiers experiencing horrendous kinds of death as they stormed Omaha Beach defended by the Germans spewing gunfire from their bunkers. The good news of the Bible is that if you have truly repented of your sins and believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have eternal life here and now. As I John 11 - 13 tell us, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

P.S.

Merry Christmas!

Regional Schools Press Conference, Department of Education, Region III, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Nov. 13-17, 2006

Update as of September 18, 2023: If you’re a high school or grade school student in the Philippines who’s joining the photojournalism contest in the division, regional, or national press conference, I’m offering two free resources to you : A. 900-plus interactive exercises on English grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, verbal analogy, etc (with around 200 megabytes total file size). The exercises have time limit and automatic scoring, with an average of 10 items per exercise. Examples of these interactive exercises are: Common English grammar errors: Exercise 01 (nouns - confusions of number); Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Go; English Placement Test (45 items). B. 200-plus resources (JPG, PDF, MP4, etc.) on photography and photojournalism, with 600-plus megabytes total file size. For some examples of these resources, surf to the “Free photography e-books, cheat sheets” page. For the download links and more information about how to use the interactive exercises, please surf to my “Better English resources and exercises” blog. Please inform your journalism teacher/schoolpaper adviser or your parents about these resources before downloading them. If you have any question about downloading or using these free resources, please email me (after informing your journalism teacher/schoolpaper adviser or your parents). I’ll be able to reply to you within two to three days; if you don’t see my reply in your Inbox, check your Spam folder. Or, you can text me. Also, if you win in the photojournalism contest at whatever level (district, division, regional, or national), you can send me your prizewinning pictures, and I will feature them in a blog post. Atty. Gerry T. Galacio gtgalacio@yahoo.com 0927-798-3138

More than 2,000 students from grade schools and high schools, their journalism advisers, and DepEd officials attended the conference held at the Talavera National High School and the Talavera Central Elementary School. Competitions were held in photojournalism, writing (editorial, news, sports, feature and copyreading), editorial cartooning, and radio broadcasting.

The DepEd Region III is composed of 17 divisions from several provinces and cities, namely, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City, Cabanatuan City, Olongapo City, Tarlac City, San Jose del Monte City, San Fernando City, Gapan City, Balanga City, Science City of Munoz, and Malolos City.

I was the resource speaker and judge for the photojournalism competition (high school category, with a total of 102 participants). Pictures below show the photojournalism contestants during the lecture, the actual photo shoot, waiting for the arrival of their printed pictures, and the layouting of their contest entries (plus scenes from the grade school competitions and RSPC activities). Congratulations to all the winners!

Listen muna tayo sa lecture kahit corny yung jokes ni Atty. Gerry!



Eto ang tinatawag na low angle shot ...

Hide and seek ata eto, hindi photojourn!

Kanya-kanyang style lang yan



Acrobatic photojournalism ang tawag dito

Pssst, ano ang sinisilip mo dyan?

Natural frame!


Uso ata talaga ang low angle shot ...


Break muna after the hectic photo shoot

Photojournalists having their picture taken this time around

Sir Gerry, tip naman para manalo yung pictures namin ...

Konting jitters while waiting for the pictures to arrive from Cabanatuan City pa ...



Kami, relaxed na relaxed!

Okay, layouting time na!



Hmm, di bale nang wag manalo, malagay lang ang picture ko sa Internet ...

Pa-kopya naman ng layout ninyo!

Division of Pasig City and San Juan Press Conference, November 6,7 and 10, 2006, San Juan National High School

Some 300 students from public and private high schools are participating in the annual press conference featuring competitions in photojournalism and writing (news, features, editorial, sports, etc). I gave the lecture in photojournalism and supervised the actual photo shoot of a volleyball game. Awarding of winners is scheduled on Friday, November 10. Congratulations to the winners!

Sportswriters doing their pre-game interviews

Warm up muna bago maglaro

Participants trying out their new skill on pre-focusing

Girl from St. Paul's Pasig with her high tech camera

Participant from Santolan High School - may camera na, may umbrella pa!

Diagonal line! Vertical format!

Anticipate the action!


Trio of students concentrating on the action


Girls from the brand new Pasig City Science High School

Guys and girls from Rizal High School Main

Delegation from Santolan High School

Bago contest, lecture muna!

Girls from Dominican College with Aquinas boys behind them


O, tapos na ang contest, submit na ang film!