Researchers say new technologies that capture images of the brain in action may lead to a better understanding of both disease and spirituality. The new techniques known as Positron Emission Topography, or PET, and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, or SPECT allow researchers to see the brain in action as it functions. The techniques have huge potential because they allow scientists to see the beginnings of disease at a molecular level. The scans will reveal potential problems even when traditional MRI scans indicate the physical structure of the brain is intact and healthy.

Speaking at a meeting hosted by the National Press Club, Abbas Alavi, chief of the nuclear medicine division at the University of Pennsylvania said, “ I would say one picture (of the brain) is worth billions of words.”

Another researcher, Andrew Newberg, director of clinical nuclear medicine at the University of Pittsburgh used the SPECT technique and made an interesting discovery.

Newberg studied the brains of Tibetan Buddhists and Franciscan nuns as they prayed. The team found a dramatic increase in action in the front region of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex. The region is associated with judgment and empathy.

The group also discovered decreased activity in a region of the brain known as the superior parietal lobe, which gives us our sense of “self.” The findings seem to indicate that people feel a loss of self, while engaged in spiritual pursuits.

Newberg says prayer and meditation have been shown to lower the risk of depression and heart disease and improve immune function. His team wants to continue to investigate to answer questions such as “Why?”

—http://www.upi.com, Brain images offer disease and religion clues, October 29, 2002, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

When God created man, He placed within us a yearning to connect and commune with Himself. We will never be complete, nor will we fulfill our intended purpose out of relationship with Him.

1 Thes. 5:16-18 NIV Be joyful always; [17] pray continually; [18] give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Where do the emerging generations turn to satisfy their longing for a spiritual connection? In his book, In Search of Authentic Faith, Steve Rabey wrote: "Four of the five 'Best Picture' nominees for the 2000 Academy Awards were films that dealt with explicitly spiritual themes: American Beauty, The Cider House Rules, The Sixth Sense, and The Green Mile. But this came as no real surprise to members of the emerging generations. For them, movies like Star Wars had served as a sort of electronic nursery rhyme, and trips to the Cineplex often had been more spiritually rewarding than Sunday mornings at church."

For more information on In Search of Authentic Faith, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578563194/fm082-20

During a recent worship service in North Carolina Evangelist Bailey Smith warned the church to remain alert to the challenges of the world around us. Bailey compared the church today to the disciples sleeping in the garden of Gethsemane. He warned that like the disciples, believers, and especially denominational workers, may have gotten "too close" to Jesus to hear Him. Smith said, "We get 'professional' about our time with Jesus. Jesus is not a hymnbook, not First Baptist Church, not a revival meeting, not a love offering...He is much more than that!" Smith added, "There has never been more of a critical time than this." He asked, "How much have we lost because we are too spiritually asleep to hear God?"

—http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=23439. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Ephesians 5:14-16 (NIV) "for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: 'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' [15] Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

A new report concerning young people in England and Wales suggests that there is a direct link between a young person's faith and their sense of well-being. The study found 43 percent of the 30,000 young people surveyed said they believed in God. Three quarters of those who prayed daily said that they also had a sense of purpose in life. Eight of ten of the people who said they had a sense of purpose in life also agreed that life was worth living.

The reports pointed out that spirituality has an enormous impact in fostering a sense of purpose for young people. Forty-eight percent of the respondents said they never prayed. Over 50 percent of those people said they had considered killing themselves. Nick Lear, Mission adviser for the Baptist Union of Great Britain said, "Such young people will be consciously allowing their spirituality to pervade all aspects of their lives in a positive way."

—www.ChristianToday.com, Sense of Well-Being Greater Among Youngsters Who Pray, Saturday, July 9, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Romans 12:2 NIV "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Two recent surveys suggest young adults are more actively engaged in a spiritual search than previously thought. One of the surveys, which polled more than 100,000 freshmen who started college last fall, found four in five, reported an interest in spirituality. Three in four said they were searching for meaning and purpose in life. While many of these college students said they discussed the meaning of life with friends, they also expected their college would help them develop spiritually.

Helen Astin, professor emeritus of higher education at UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute said, "The first surprise for all of us is that we didn't expect the students to be in that much of a spiritual quest. We had focused on the materialism of students, the 'me" generation, only focusing on their jobs and the future."

Forty-four percent of the respondents called themselves "religious" and 35 percent said they are "spiritual but not religious". Eighteen percent said they were neither.

Paul Henrickson, Chaplain at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia said "spiritual but not religious" is the category in which many students put themselves. He added, "You have a lot of kinds that understand in their hearts that there is a mystery about life that is larger than they are and larger than they understand, and they would call that 'spiritual'. And they are very interested in that."

—Associated Press, Survey: Young Adults Search Spiritually, April 13, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG) "'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'"

Americans like to pick and choose their religious beliefs. Julia Roberts has chosen Hinduism. What does she base her choice on? Well, it combines the best of her mother’s Catholicism and her father’s Baptist beliefs. Mostly she just likes the idea of reincarnation.

--The Week, August 27, 2010 p. 8Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,”

Jerry Maestas drove his car for three days with a passenger, Amy Marquez, who had none of the signs of life. Finally, he drove her to an emergency room where she was pronounced dead. “I don’t know how he didn’t know” (she was dead) said police Lt. Christian Lopez. “There were flies all over.”

--The Week, April 22, 2011 p. 14 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

When a person is alive, usually you can tell because they breathe, they move, they make sounds, they eat, open their eyes, and other things that help you determine they have life.

Are there things a person might do to let you know they have spiritual life? What would those things be? Things that, if a person didn’t do any of them, you would know they were spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:1-9 (NASB77) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, (2) in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. (3) Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, (7) in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Jerry Maestas might have trouble telling if a person was spiritually dead or not. After all, he drove his car for three days with a passenger, Amy Marquez, who had none of the signs of life. Finally, he drove her to an emergency room where she was pronounced dead. “I don’t know how he didn’t know” (she was dead) said police Lt. Christian Lopez. “There were flies all over.”

--The Week, April 22, 2011 p. 14 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

When a person is alive, usually it is easy to tell. They breathe, they move, they make sounds, they eat, open their eyes, and other things that help you determine they have life.

Are there things a person might do to let you know they have spiritual life? What would those things be? Things that, if a person didn’t do any of them, you would know they were spiritually dead.

There's a new phenomenon in our culture today, the "selfie,” which is a self-taken picture. In the "old days" (maybe 2 years ago), people would stand in front of the mirror to grab a selfie by taking a picture of their own reflection. Nowadays, with the additional camera on the business side of everyone's mobile phone, the selfie has become more convenient.

As the many people from all walks of life gathered for Nelson Mandela's funeral in South Africa, a photographer snapped a picture of President Obama taking “selfies” with the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Denmark. It seems even those who find their pictures posted publicly the most cannot get enough of themselves. The most famous man in the world still feels the need to snap a "selfie." --Jim L. Wilson and Jason D. Helmbacher

Do not settle for life defined by the "selfie." Let the portrait of your life reflect Christ instead.

Luke 9:23 (NASB77) And He was saying to them all, " If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.