Brain & Faith

In my Brain & Behaviour mod, my lecturers preach evolution and how our brain controls/initiates behaviour. Is the mind and the body separate? Meaning is the brain the mind? Or is the brain just the mechanical body, and the mind a non-tangible entity? One of the evidence for the brain = mind theory is this case study of this guy who suffered brain damage (a pole got shot through his brain) and subsequently after recovery, he experience a personality transplant as well. It's all very interesting, and there's evidence for both theories as well. Just like any other argument, would it be safe to sit on the fence on this one and say that it's a cycle? Hormones do affect our behaviour, like in the case of clinical depression. BUT our thinking can trigger hormonal changes that in turn cause depression. In other cases, scientific studies prove that when guys watch soccer and their team loses, they'll experience a drop in testosterone levels! (I find this super amusing, hahaha.. so guys, you can use this to prove those manly-shed tears)

But one thing i learnt that's super revelational is neural wiring. Meaning that as we learn new things, our brain has the flexibility to rewire or reprogram itself - isn't that so biblical? Right thinking produces right behaviour! Haha.. You've got to renew your mind first before change can take place! Old thought patterns are so ingrained into the biology of the brain, that it takes a long time of constant practice in order for your brain to be rewired and your new thought pattern to emerge. So it's also biblical that you've to undergo periods of testing, so that you'll practice those muscles of faith and change your ways slowly.

Only on hindsight, do i realise that i've changed quite abit since i came to church over 7 years ago. Sometimes i'll wonder, why it took so long for me to change and get to where i am, and even so i'll still struggle in the same areas i've struggled in before and new ones as well. Especially when there're people all around you who you can compare yourself to. Like that girl who went to SOT after being getting saved 1 year ago. Or that other girl who became a cellgroup leader after 2 years in church. Or sometimes you'll think: "I'm 20! What am I doing with my life?" and be filled with that bio-clock-ticking panic because others have done more at 16.

But everybody's walk is personal; if in the case of spiritual lethargy, challenging yourself wouldn't hurt at all, but if you're really going through your valleys and trials, be encouraged that your destiny lies in God's hands! Don't fear that time/opportunity will pass you by, or that you'll be somehow left behind and forgotten, because as long as you're sticking close to God and hanging on, like Moses and all the other bible heroes, you'll get there in the end and be where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do.

During cellgroup this week, I realised that yeah, people can hurt and disappoint you, even in the church, because we're all not perfect. Because of this, people often talk about weighing the pros and cons about coming to church and cellgroup, as if the factors for considering backsliding is whether you can receive anything out of Christianity. But just one moment in God's presence, like we always sing, is better than a thousand days on Earth. In the end, if nobody loves you and nobody supports you, even in church, will you still keep serving because of God? The one comfort, and the greatest one yet, is knowing that despite all, even if your world crumbles, you'll always have God beside you holding your hand. So hang on, lift your eyes off your circumstances and your inadequacies and look to God! :] Let's learn to walk on water!

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Saviour
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave