GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

Consultor Rafael Jácome

        Population growth is increasing worldwide and disproportionately in the next 50 years the number will reach more than three billion people. Meeting that demand for energy that does not stop growing with the economic and social development will be an arduous task. Despite global efforts to curb emissions of greenhouse gases or radioactive waste generation, few countries contribute to global sustainability.

        Renewable energy is a form of contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, experts around the world questioned whether renewable energies such as ethanol, wind and hydro are sustainable and will replace oil and nuclear fission, in view of the "war" between the countries have access to new technologies and production thereof.

        But renewables also emit CO2, mainly in the assembly and operation of its systems, or occur to produce 1,000 MW of power, whether in the wind, the dams, it happens to gas emission in the atmosphere. The agro-energy is the cleanest, ethanol and cogeneration with bagasse, biodiesel from vegetable oil, firewood and charcoal forest energy, minimize the situation.

BRAZIL AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Consultor Rafael Jácome

In Brazil 45% of its energy is renewable energy and the trend is increasing with the construction and operation of new hydroelectric plants. While countries like the United States (which contribute most to the greenhouse effect) and Europeans are still against the grain of global sustainability. They accuse the poor countries and developing countries, but few contribute to the renewal energy. The goal of Europeans such as Sweden, for example, is to reach 30% renewable energy in decades.

BODY, SOUND AND SPIRITY

By Rafael Jácome

  

        I decided to take some questions about the relationship between soul and spirit , both confusingly and used in sermons of the brethren. Based in the text of  renowned teacher of systematic theology, theologian Wayne Grudem.  I prepared a resume and hope to share with siblings.

        God created us to have unity between body and soul, pointing out that Scripture teaches that there is an immaterial part of human nature. Often the words soul and spirit are used interchangeably, for example, in John 12:27, John 13:21, Luke 1:46,47. There is clear evidence of a poetic repetition using words with synonyms, but different.

        Wayne also mentions that there is the interchangeability of terms that justify the person who died and gone to heaven or hell and can be called "spirits." Hebrews 12:23: 1 Pet 3:19; AP 6.9 and AP 20.4.
Can still be observed, that man should be seen as "body and soul" as "body and spirit": Mt 10:28, 1 Cor 5.5, Ti 2.26; 1 Cor 7.1. in all the examples cited both soul and spirit refers to the totality of a person's immaterial existence, of our existence.

        Do not mention the soul existing separately from the spirit as well as everything that is said is that the soul is also  that the spirit does, and vice verse.
The trichotomists have difficulties in defining what is the difference between soul and spirit. Given that Scripture does not seem to allow such a distinction is made, is not mentioned that the activities of thinking, feeling and decisions are performed only for the soul. Our spirit may also experience emotions: Acts 17:16, John 13:21 and Proverbs17:22.

        Moreover, the functions of knowing, perceiving and thinking can also be performed by our spirit, Mc 2.8, Rom 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:11. All this confirms that both the soul and spirit are terms used to describe the intangible side of people in general, it is difficult to see any real distinction in the use of these terms. Neither found in the Bible that the spirit in us is the element that relates directly to God in worship and prayer. See the relation of the soul in Ps 25.1, Luke 1.46. As these excerpts 1Sa 1:15; Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30, the soul can worship God, praise Him, and render him thanks. Both are used to discuss every aspect of our relationship with God.

        According to the view trichotomist usually sees is the purest spirit wnat the soul, when renovated, free of sin is responding to the promptings of the Spirit. However, this understanding (that sometimes finds its place in the preaching and writings popular Christian) have not really support the biblical text. See 2Co 7.1; 1 Cor 7:34, Deut 2:30; 78.8 sl; Proverbs 16:18, Ecclesiastes 7.8; Is 29.24; Dn 5:20; Prov 16.2 (suggesting the possibility of sin in our spirit - see sl 32.2 and 51.10).

        Wayne Grudem concludes by saying: "It's much better to understand that Jesus was accumulating synonymous terms to demonstrate emphatically that we should love God with our whole being. Also in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul is not saying that the soul and spirit are separate entities, but simply that, whatever name we can give our immaterial part, he wants God to continue to sanctify us completely for the day of Christ.

(Grudem, Wayne - Manual of Theology SiteMat, Publisher Life, pp. 208-211)

GOD IS FAITHFUL!                 Rafael Jácome

GOD IS LIKE THE SUN

By Rafael Jácome

  "Not my will, but thine, be done " (LK 22:42 B)

          Everyone remember this prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Olives and the Father who gave a reason for his passion, from which came the resurrection. You declare a previous text that was the activity most recalcitrant of Jesus, because it expresses all its intensity and its tragedy that happened in his heart. Revealed the inner wound caused by deep loathing of his human nature in the face of death that the Father wanted him. But Christ did not expect this day to suit your will to the will of God. He did so throughout life. If this was the conduct of Christ, this should be the attitude of every Christian. Also you should repeat in your life.

          In the contemporary world many reduce this sentence to a mere expression of resignation, which are pronounced when you can not do anything else. But that is not its true interpretation. In fact, Jesus teaches us that in life we can choose one of two directions: either do our own will, or opt for doing the will of God.

          When we choose to do our own will, we know the damage it causes. Often or always, are accompanied by disappointment, limited choices of fruit, using our own resources, our dreams and the poor relying only on our forces. From there, sooner or later come to experience the routine of an existence marked by boredom, by mediocrity, by pessimism and sometimes by desperation. Despite efforts to make everything into something interesting, but will not satisfy our deepest needs.

          I remember a sister once told me: "God is like the sun. Leave many ray of the sun that reach every man, represent the will of God for each one. In life,  the Christian, and also all man of good will are called to walk into the sun, in light of its own radius, different and distinct from all others. So hold the wonderful design, personal, that God has prepared for him. If you do so too, will feel involved in a divine adventure, never dreamed of. You will be both actor and spectator of something great that God works in you and through you, in humanity. "
          Dear brother, all that happens is by God's permission, facts like sufferings and joys, graces and disgraces, relevant facts (as successes, accidents or deaths of loved ones), everyday facts (such as day-to- day at home, office or school), everything will acquire a new meaning because you will be offered by the hands of God who is Love. All he wants, or allows, is for your good.
Do not stifle that voice. It is the most precious treasure you have. See what God can do with a person who says all his life: "Not my will, but thine, be done."

GOD IS FAITHFUL!                         Rafael Jacome

THE ANGELS OF GOD

By Rafael Jácome

"The angels are not so well angels. No longer invisible, without sex and back. Now they are more human, worldly desire and thirst, could even fall hopelessly in whom they should protect. Are not actually evil, but turn out to be wicked and carnal. "(ISTO É -  JOURNAL - 04/21/2010)

          I confess that when I read this article from the magazine Isto came to my desire to write something about it. It's amazing how the movie and graphic like to manipulate people. The goal now is public-teens with the new wave of books that have angels as heroes in the United States. With the enactment of several unreleased films, the theme causes stir and call the kids' attention due to the involvement of battles and love of angels.

          But in fact what are angels?

           The Bible speaks of angels both in the manifestation of the Old and New Testaments. Many texts of the Old Testament that prove the reality of angels. Its origins are not indicated, it may have been created immediately after the creation of the heavens and the earth before and not since eternity. They were created to give glory and honor and thanksgiving to God and although not mentioned, it is believed that the number of angels is very great, is unique and uncountable. However, do not breed and were raised at once by the power of the Word of God (Psalm 148.2-5).

          At its inception there were no distinctions between good and bad. Were created at the same level of justice, goodness and holiness (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). As moral beings with free will, by Lucifer, the Bible speaks about the angels who sinned against the Creator and have not kept their dignity, while those who remained faithful to God, He will exalt and confirmed in his heavenly position and will always be in his presence, contemplating and executing the will of the Creator. These are called "holy angels" contemplate the face of God, have immortal life and its activity is the highest worship of God.

          Jesus said that angels do not marry (Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25) and there is nothing in the Bible that says angels have sexual powers, or that can reproduce, or having sex. Their male names, does not refer at any time to an order of human sexuality (male or female). Spirits are described, different from men because they are not limited to the natural and physical. Appear and disappear, and move with an imperceptible speed without using natural means. Although they are spirits, have the power to take the form of human bodies to make their presence visible to the senses of man (Genesis 19 1-3).

          Angels are not omniscient, that is, do not know everything, they are intelligent beings, powerful, but things are not peculiar to the Divinity, create, act without the means, or probing the human heart. They can influence the human mind as a creature can influence others, make decisions and has a choice: they have housing, they are superior beings in power and strength to men, however, never accept worship and are less than Jesus Christ, angels are the subjects, Christ is Lord.

          In the human imagination of stories appear angels with wings and some without wings, they sometimes have the human form. Thomas Aquinas said that they are "pure spirits" not composed of matter, but composed of essence and existence, of action and potential. In the book of Revelation mentions that Christians should not exalt them (Rev. 22. 8-9), and those who do lose their future reward (Col. 2:18).

GOD IS FAITHFUL!                      Rafael Jacome

EXTRAORDINARY INTERVENTION OF GOD

By Rafael Jácome

         This is for you my friend, brother, friend, colleague: When we no longer believe in our strength when we have no hope of victory and everything is falling apart, we will not despair! While in many situations we do not have to trust and feel is that everything is FINISHED, CALM, my brother.

          I'll give you a chance to reason: Elisha reached the Jordan and asked: "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?". Elisha Elias lost, but not the God of Elijah. Our God is not only that he acted in the past, he is not just the God of Elijah, but also is acting now. It is not difficult to believe that God performed miracles yesterday or is difficult to believe that He will do miracles tomorrow. The fact is, we believe that God performs miracles today.

          Elijah's God answers prayer now. He opens the Jordan now. He is the same God who opened and closed the windows of heaven. He is the same God who sustains us in the desert. He is the same God that multiplies the widow's oil. He is the same God who sends fire from heaven. He is the same God who takes away the cave of depression.

          In short, when we do not see anything in our lives and we are weak, inconsistent and unable fatigued just believe it's the right atmosphere for God to work a miracle in our lives. WIN is God working right, it's liberation, and salvation is love.

GOD IS FAITHFUL!                       Rafael Jacome

THE MYTH OF THE CAVE AND THE LIBERATION IN CHRIST

By Rafael Jácome

  The class was philosophy professor Albert and debate about the myth of the cave. Like a good German accent was his strong to express himself in Italian, but could convey their ideas to us. He exposed his whole theory about it and brought the reality of Christian living.

   Greg, one of my best friends for discussions of this nature, looked forward to discussing with me their interpretations, in the certainty that it would polarize. He was right: he took the whole context of the example of Plato and adapted to the Christian world, more or less like this:

- Rafael pay attention! In the myth recounted by Plato, human beings trapped in the cave with the bodies remained in the same place, without directing the look out for her. Were illuminated by a fire that created shadows every time that something was passing near the cave entrance. Because of the firelight and the position occupied by it, all they saw and knew were projections of these things, and not the things themselves, right? - I asked Greg to slow to formalize their thoughts, and continued:

- They believed that those shadows were real, so you did not question whether there is something beyond the perceived things in the cave. But what happens when one man takes the initiative to investigate whether there is a reality that transcends the often perceived and leave the cave? First of all to leave, could not see clearly things, since the absence of light overshadow your vision. When you get used to the sunlight, this man would see things in full color and shapes, discovering that his whole life but had not seen images of shadows and that is only now contemplating his own reality. This is what would happen to him, but what happen on his return when his experience to tell your colleagues?

- Asked Greg with all his enthusiasm. I left not answer and concluded:
- Your friends are entertained with the contemplation of the shadows, and this man freed from illusions, aims to communicate what he found in the outer reality. However, those who remained in the cave, mock him, do not believe in his words, because they were not prepared to receive this revelation liberating, then preferring the shadows of things. Rafael conclude expensive - within the Christian logic, who would be free and out of the cave? The believer. What is the outside light from the sun? The Word of God "... And the truth shall make you free" (Jn 8:32) What is the instrument that liberates the believer, with whom he wishes to free the others? Living the Gospel and it is through her that others scoff, beat and kill the believer, because they imagine that the sensible world is the real world and the only true one. And Jesus said: "I am the Way, Truth and Life." (Jn 14 - 1-12).

GOD IS FAITHFUL!                                    Rafael Jacome

NARCISSISM IS THE INABILITY TO LOVE

NARCISSISM IS THE INBILITY TO LOVE

By Rafael Jácome

 
          During the ethics class teacher Father Dino, he always warned us about the conduct in fraternal love. In his 68 years of age like to emphasize the difference between erotic love and brotherly love. He claimed that the true form of love was the love between brothers, as it allowed for solidarity and compassion, and sought the development of man, his freedom and autonomy.

          Mirko, was an Italian neighborhood of Trento, a city in northern Italy. He was tall, strong, blonde, loved theater and good life. Studying with us but does not know what was in fact his religious vocation. He was a charismatic figure, but very few words of the residents of that region.

          While Fr Dino talked about selfishness and lack of self-esteem and the individual selfish love, especially yourself and values to the extreme, Mirko took the floor: "I want to tell a story: In ancient times, Greece CEFISA the river, got pregnant the nymph Liriope. Months later, she, despite not want the pregnancy, gave birth to a child of extraordinary beauty. Because of this, the soothsayer Tiresias Liriope consulted on the future of his son, and he testified that Narcissus would live, since he never saw his own image.

          Under this condition, he grew up and became a young man as beautiful as the outside as a child. There was nobody who did not embrace him. Narcissus, however, remained indifferent.
          One day, however, being thirsty, Narcissus approached the placid waters of a lake and, bowing to drink, he saw his reflection in the mirror of water. Delighted with his own figure, fell in love with himself. Desperately, he needed the object of his love, he saw that he could not live without that being gorgeous. His life was reduced to contemplation of that girl so beautiful: he wished it, wanted to own it. Haggard, leaning increasingly to meet the beloved, plunged into the arms of death. "

          As in our class there were people from all over the world, many were unfamiliar with the myth of Narcissus. The reactions were the most diverse possible until Yob, a Filipino exile with his family in Australia, said: "What the saddest story. The guy was washed up, hugged to death! "

          Mirko, in his heavy accent trentino, replied: "No sir Yob, the lake was born a numbing flower: the rose. She recalls the tragic destiny forever those who, apparently in love with himself, was in fact incapable of love."

GOD IS FAITHFUL!                         Rafael Jácome