Here is a fascinating video called The Inner Life of a Cell. (This is the shorter version with accompanying music. There is also a longer version available with narration.) I first saw this video about a year ago and was glad to find it on the Internet again.

(Video length: 3:10)

The animation was produced by BioVisions at Harvard University. BioVisions is based on a collaborative community of Harvard scientists, teaching faculty, students, and multimedia professionals. It is directed by Dr. Robert A. Lue, who founded BioVisions with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Harvard University.

The potential of multimedia in the area of biology education has yet to be fulfilled. Indeed, multimedia as a means of imparting biological information is years behind its use in other areas such as entertainment. BioVisions is meant to close this gap by combining the highest quality multimedia development with rigorous scientific models of how biological processes occur.

You can find more information about the project at Studio Daily.

HT: The Presurfer (which has the longer version with narration)

John Piper writes:

I have recorded a section of Jonathan Edwards’ sermon on Romans 2:10. It lasts about seven minutes. The reason I recorded it is that I regard this section as the best thing I have ever read on the issue of varying degrees of reward and happiness and holiness in heaven. It is vintage Edwards. He has thought this through in an amazing way. It opens our eyes to the possibilities of heaven that we have never thought of before.

I listened to this selection from Edwards’ message yesterday and enjoyed it so much that I chased down the written version of the sermon on the internet for my own reference. You can listen to John Piper’s recording here, or you can read the actual passage below. (Or you can read along while listening if you prefer!)

I love reading Jonathan Edwards, and I like how Edwards explains the varying degrees of glory and reward in heaven, that there will be no envy in heaven to disrupt one person’s happiness over another person’s reward. Rather, because we will be perfected in love, we will be glad for the other person that he or she has received a greater reward.

However, I must admit I am struggling with Edwards’ statement that there will not only be varying degrees of glory and reward in heaven, but also varying degrees of happiness and holiness. Will one person really be happier in heaven than another? Will one person be holier than another? If Christ died not only to forgive our sins but also to make us holy, will he not make us all perfectly holy upon entering into heaven? (Philippians 1:6) Aren’t happiness and holiness different issues from glory and reward?

Anyways, those were some of my thoughts as I meditated on this portion of Edwards’ sermon. What do you think? (Click “continue reading” below to read the selection from Edwards’ message. Or, click here to read the full message at a different website.)

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Identical strangers. “Imagine a slightly different version of you walks across the room, looks you in the eye and says ‘hello’ in your voice.” Identical twins Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein discovered each other after being separated for 35 years. They had been deliberately separated at birth as part of an ongoing study on nurture versus nature. The sisters now live in Brooklyn and have written a book about their experience.

Cheap gas. Here’s the best price on gas you will find — 7 cents a gallon! That’s right. You can fill your 20-gallon tank for less than $1.50. Here’s the hitch – you will have to drive to Venezuela to get it.

Age of the clam. A clam found off the shore of Iceland is believed to be the longest-lived animal discovered. Scientists estimate the ocean quahog clam was aged between 405-410 years. “The clam, nicknamed Ming after the Chinese dynasty in power when it was born, was in its infancy when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and Shakespeare was writing plays such as Othello and Hamlet.”

Well, the Red Sox did it again! They came back from a deficit in the ALCS to win the pennant and then went on to sweep the World Series.

A minute that used to recur like a comet, once 86 years or so and missed by generations of Sox fans, is now beginning to feel like a birthright. For the second time in four seasons, the Red Sox are World Series champions, Francona and the rest of the Sox dugout borne onto Coors Field last night by the same wave of euphoria that struck in 2004 …

The Sox join the Yankees as the only American League teams to sweep in successive Series appearances, and the third team overall, Cincinnati doing it in 1976 and 1990. The Sox became the 20th team in 103 years of World Series play to win by sweep.

But, as excited as I am about the Red Sox winning the series, I am really happy for Red Sox third-baseman Mike Lowell. Lowell was named the Series MVP after batting .400 (6 for 15) with six runs and four RBIs.

I have been following Mike Lowell since his Florida Marlins days (when the 2003 Marlins also won the World Series and Josh Beckett received the MVP). Lowell is a hard-working, down-to-earth, rock-steady player who often doesn’t get enough credit for his game, and it was nice to see him get recognized with the MVP last night. His future with Boston is up in the air right now, but I hope the Red Sox do what they need to in order to keep him on the team. He is a great player, and I would hate to see him go.

Go Sox! And congratulations, Mike Lowell!

Related post: Go Soox!

Yesterday’s message in The Ten Commandments for Today series was on the fifth commandment. The message was called Honor Your Father and Mother, taken from Exodus 20:12.

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (NIV)

Here is the outline of the message:

I. Obligations of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12)

      A. Children should honor their parents.
            1) Respect their position (Leviticus 19:3)
            2) Love and value their person (Proverbs 23:26, 31:28)
            3) Submit to their authority (Luke 2:51-52; Ephesians 6:1)
            4) Accept their discipline and instruction (Proverbs 1:8-9)

      B. Parents should help their children obey this command.
            1) Instruct them in God’s ways (Deuteronomy 6:7)
            2) Discipline them (Proverbs 22:6,15, 29:15,17)
            3) Provide for their needs (2 Corinthians 12:14)
            4) Do not exasperate them (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

      C. Reasons why you should honor your parents:
            1) It is right (Ephesians 6:1; Proverbs 23:22)
            2) It pleases God (Colossians 3:20)
            3) It teaches you respect for authority (Romans 13:1-2)
            4) It places you under God’s protection (Proverbs 6:20-23)
            5) It brings peace and joy to your parents (Proverbs 27:11)
            6) It helps you grow in wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-4)

II. Violations of the fifth commandment (Deuteronomy 27:16)

      A. Ways of dishonoring your parents
            1) disobeying them (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
            2) cursing them (Exodus 21:17)
            3) striking them (Exodus 21:15)
            4) stealing from them (Proverbs 19:26, 28:24)
            5) neglecting themin their old age (Matthew 15:3-6)

      B. Consequences for the home
            1) For the parents – joy or grief (Proverbs 10:1, 15:20)
            2) For the children – life or death (Proverbs 4:4, 30:17)
            3) For the household – harmony or strife (Proverbs 17:1)

III. Promises attached to the fifth commandment

      A. Live long (Exodus 20:12)
      B. Live well (Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2-3)

Note: To read the complete message, go to the Sermons tab at the top of the blog.

According to an AP report, William Shatner will not appear as Kirk in the new Star Trek movie, even though Leonard Nimoy will reprise his role as Spock. Granted, Kirk’s death at the end of the 1994 film “Star Trek: Generations” complicates matters, but with science fiction there’s always a way.

The new film is directed by J.J. Abrams, who is the executive producer for the TV series “Lost” and also directed “Mission: Impossible III.”

Abrams’ “Trek” film, whose plot is being kept under wraps by distributor Paramount, recounts an early adventure for the crew of the starship Enterprise, with Chris Pines as the young Kirk and Zachary Quinto as the young Spock.

The cast includes Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, Simon Pegg as engineer Scott, John Cho as helmsman Sulu, Zoe Saldana as communications officer Uhura and Anton Yelchin as navigator Chekov, roles respectively originated by DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.

The film is due in theaters in December 2008.

HT: Alan R. Bevere

eBay is selling an unopened can of Bernard Dehydrated Water. “Empty contents of can into one gallon water. Stir until dissolved. Chill and serve.” You better hurry. The auction ends Monday, Oct-29-07.

Andrew Jackson unveils the Table of Contents to his upcoming book, “Mormonism Explained: What Latter-Day Saints Teach and Practice.” The book will be released by Crossway Books in early 2008.

Joanne Jacobs reports on the growing tend of educators requiring students to declare majors in high school. “To persuade teens that school matters, some states and districts are requiring them to choose a high school ‘major’ that will lead toward a college major or a career.”

Thomas Sowell explains why students may get a better education at a smaller college than at a big-name (and expensive) Ivy League school. “What you really want is not the ‘best’ college but the college that fits you best. For that, you need in-depth information, not statistical rankings.” (HT: Between Two Worlds)

Dan Edelen shares 100 things he has learned in his 30 years as a Christian. “1. Love God. Love people. It’s that simple. 2. Anytime we interact with another person, we should ask the Lord, ‘In what ways can I help this person grow closer to You?’ 3. Christians who take time to observe the world around them see God and gain wisdom.” Visit Dan’s site for the other 97.

Richard Barcellos shares his lecture notes on the Puritans. “Though the Puritans would be the first to say that they were not perfect . . . we learn that they were very theologically orthodox Christians, very passionate about the church, and, in many ways, provide us with an example of the serious-minded Christianity (so desperately needed today!) which seeks to live all of life for the glory of God and according to the Book – the Bible.”

David Brooks opines on the outsourced brain. “I had thought that the magic of the information age was that it allowed us to know more, but then I realized the magic of the information age is that it allows us to know less . . . A third of the people under 30 can’t remember their own phone number. Their smartphones are smart, so they don’t need to be. Today’s young people are forgoing memory before they even have a chance to lose it.”

Ken Fields shares five reasons why every Christian should be a student of church history (from RTS President Frank James). “Through studying Church History, we are granted the opportunity to sit at the feet of some of the greatest men and women God has given to the Church. There is great wisdom in the past, and we can benefit from yesterday’s wisdom. Don’t let a little thing like a thousand years get in the way!” Ken also lists some helpful online resources for those who would like to learn more.

Ben Shpigel discusses the role of Christian faith for many on the Colorado Rockies baseball team. “When you have as many people who believe in God as we do, it creates a humbleness about what we do,” [pitcher Jeremy] Affeldt said. “I don’t see arrogance here, I see confidence. We’re all very humbled about where this franchise has been and where it is now, and we know that what’s happening now is a very special thing.” I enjoyed reading about the Rockies’ faith, but I am still rooting for Boston. Go Sox! (I mean, “Go Soox!”)

From George MacDonald: An Anthology (p. 113; edited by C.S. Lewis):

“There is nothing so deadening to the divine as an habitual dealing with the outsides of holy things.” – George MacDonald

Here are the five best things to say if you’re caught sleeping at work:

5. They told me at the blood bank this might happen.

4. This is just a 15 minute power nap like they raved about in the
    time management course you sent me to.

3. Whew! Guess I left the top off the white-out. You probably got
    here just in time.

2. Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when
    you put your ear down real close?

And the number one best thing to say if you’re caught sleeping at your desk:

1. Raise your head slowly and say, . . . “Amen!”

(Original source unknown)

Related posts:

• Go Soox!
• Preaching Tired

Sory for al the typoes and speling erors, but I em sufring fom slepe depervation along wit te ressed of peple hear in Masachussets and probly wil bee untill the werld serees is over. Go Soox!

(BOSTON/AP – The Boston Red Sox routed Colorado 13-1 to take the World Series opener. Josh Beckett struck out nine in his seven innings and the Red Sox set a World Series record with eight doubles and nine extra base hits in their 17-hit attack. Eleven of their runs came with two outs.)

Related posts:

• 5 things to say if you’re caught sleeping at work
• Preaching Tired

Sorry, Star Wars fans – this one was just too much fun to pass up. And it’s
in widescreen, too!

(Video length: 1:45)

So, is this another example of George Lucas still fine-tuning various scenes from his movies?

Related posts:

• Star Wars Pumpkins
• Yoda Promotes Small Groups
• Tim Keller and Darth Vader
• Jedi Squirrels
• George Lucas Syndrome

HT: Neatorama via Provocative Church

Sovereign Grace Ministries is offering free MP3 downloads from the 2006 Sovereign Grace worship conference (WorshipGod06; “The Glory of God’s Presence”). Five main messages are available, as well as 21 teaching seminars. If you have never been to a worship conference, this should give you a good idea of what you have been missing.

Meanwhile, over at Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin is looking for seminar ideas from readers for the WorshipGod08 conference (July 30-August 2, 2008; Covenant Life Church; Theme – “Rediscovering the Psalms.”)

Here are the titles for the MP3s that are available from the 2006 Worship Conference. (Visit Sovereign Grace for the download links.)

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