A la carte: Pack your casket, junk DNA, Cydia tweaks, World Cup
Pack Your Casket
Another VT collegian offers some profound thoughts as she rediscovered the missional heritage of Southern Baptists this past week. I encourage you to read the whole entry, but consider this from Katie Kochuba's blog:
That fundamental truth makes me want to dance like an African tribal member. A love like that should compel anyone who believes it to willing pack their belongings in a casket and move to an isolated area of the earth to share it with the hopeless. Or reach out to the less fortunate in your city. Or adopt a child. Or lead a Bible study in your community. Or love on a family who needs encouragement.
Matthew 28:17-20 is a mandate, but we should be willing to go because of the grace that has covered our lives, because of the hope that Christ gives us, that surpasses any materialistic object or relationship that’s in our lives.
Katie is working at the IMB main offices this summer. I'm grateful for young adults who not only have a biblical world vision but who cultivate it.
Junk DNA
One of the things that I remember my youth minister constantly preaching to teens about their identities and hang ups was that "God don't make no junk." It was an encouraging reminder that no matter what one's self perception is, God is sovereign, loving and infinitely aware of our condition - whether it be our appearance or disability. What others perceive as ugly or malformed is not so in God's eyes. It is all for His purposes.
I've been remiss in continuing my review of Francis Collins' The Language of God which I started here, but one of his premises in favor of theistic evolution (and ironically, one of renowned atheist Stephen Hawking) is their assertion that there are vast parts of the genome that are "junk" - not used for anything. This is evidence in favor of their version of evolution. However, in recent months, continued scientific findings are showing that what was considered junk may actually have purposes. This supportsJonathan Wells' work entitled The Myth of Junk DNA which was vilified upon its release this year. (Source) It's encouraging to see articulate scientists taking initiative to differ from long-held assumptions about evolution. One writer calls evolution a "scientific pipsqueak in a suit of cultural armor." He makes an excellent point that evolution is bolstered more by cultural weight and academic momentum of the past 100 years than scientific proof.
Top 7 Cydia tweaks for your iPad
For you geeks out there, Apple released today a new firmware for its iDevices - 4.3.3 - which closes the hole that enabled you to jailbreak your device using jailbreakme.com. If you haven't jailbroken yet, or want to retain your jailbreak on 4.3.1, don't upgrade to the latest firmware. (When you plug your device into the computer, iTunes will notify you that you can upgrade to the latest firmware...)
From Twitter this week
Here are some tweets I fav'ed this week that may be of use, inspiration or at least generate an eye-roll:
What is Google+? (helpful videos for those wondering) HT
I recommend you chickens learn to talk. Nobody ever said let's go get a bucket of parrot. (via@crankfetter) HT
It's impossible to say “Good Eye Might” without sounding Australian. (via @James_Lyle) HT
Don't believe the stats - an entry by pastor/author John Ortberg which echoes a review I wrote a while back.
What would national repentance look like?(via @Stevetsunami) HT
Women's World Cup
I'll confess immediately. Even after a a trip to Spain this summer, I'm not a soccer fan. That is, until last Sunday. I was eating at Bull & Bones here in Blacksburg with the Davenport family and the Women's World Cup match with Brazil was on every TV in the place. We were quickly inducted into fans as the US gals' team got a bogus call on a penalty kick. They went on to win against Brazil in OT last Sunday, defeated France on Monday and are scheduled to play Japan this Sunday in the finals. This video shows "How You Rebound After Almost Getting Eliminated From The Women’s World Cup On A Questionable Call."