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GOD’S WORD: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1
By Glenn Miller
We live in a world where science has permitted us to answer many mysteries of the Universe. To some, we have come so far as to think that everything is a product of science and can be explained quantitatively and empirically; that faith in a higher being or a God we cannot see is just a hoax or, as some have said, is a crutch that the “unenlightened” use when they can’t explain things.
But my observation today is that science in no way contradicts a Sovereign and Omnipotent God. In fact, the more we grow in science, the more it points to the existence of God. When you think about it, every piece of scientific evidence and discovery of the universe’s existence is a gift from God. He created every scientist and enabled each of their minds to unveil His handiwork. Science has been able to discover that A happens because of B and B because of C and so on. But as far down that path as we’ve been able to point, science has never been able to explain the very origin of all things. Example: the Big Bang Theory theorizes that it was a bang of masses of gas and matter… but where did those gases and matter come from? The search for the bottom of the barrel is never ending.
The smartest and most prolific scientists since the beginning of time have come to this same conclusion.
Blaise Pascal was a brilliant mathematician in 17th century France. He is credited with discovering principles that would ultimately lead to the creation of the computer. Pascal said, “Faith tells us what science cannot, but it is not contrary to their findings. It simply transcends, without contradicting them.” Pascal also said, “Jesus Christ is the only proof of the living God. We only know God through Jesus Christ.”
Isaac Newton, the discoverer of gravity and one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, wrote more about the Bible and about Christian theology than he did science. Said the great Newton: “I have a foundational belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.”
The father of modern chemistry was Oxford professor Robert Boyle, born in 1627. Boyle was not only a diligent student of chemistry, but a diligent student of the Bible. In his will he left a large sum of money to found the “Boyle lectures” for proving the Christian religion.
19th century American Matthew Fontaine Maury is credited as the father of oceanography. He got his idea that the sea has “lanes” and currents from a verse in the Bible. Psalm 8:8 speaks of “the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.” One time Maury gave a speech at the inauguration for a college in which he said, “I have been blamed by men of science, both in this country and in England, for quoting the Bible in confirmation of the doctrines of physical geography. The Bible, they say, was not written for scientific purposes, and is therefore of no authority in matters of science. I beg your pardon: the Bible is authority for everything it touches.” That includes, he said, “physical geography, the earth, the sea and the air.”
The late Dr. Robert Jastrow was an astronomer and a planetary physicist with NASA, and he wrote a book called, God and the Astronomers. Jastrow noted, “The scientist has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; and as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.”
Science doesn’t disprove the existence of God… it simply validates it.
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MORGANTOWN – The Appalachian Prison Book Project will hold its third annual fundraiser/holiday-cheer event, Sponsor an Incarcerated Reader, this December.
The APBP – its offices are on the second floor of the Aull Center, next to the Morgantown Public Library – was founded in 2004 and has sent out more than 70,000 books to inmates about 200 participating federal, state and local facilities in West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Tennessee, said APBP digital communications coordinator Lydia Welker.
Sponsor an Incarcerated Reader, “is just a small part of that but it’s pretty exciting,” she said.
Each book sent to an inmate includes what they call a half-sheet that includes an explanation of the book. Book donors can write a message on the half-sheet.
But people who donate funds online don’t get to do that, Welker said. “So this is an opportunity to include a message of hope or cheer or holiday joy with every donation.”
Donations for this event will be accepted Dec. 3-7. Those messages will be printed out. And at the Dec. 14 wrapping party at First Presbyterian Church across the street, volunteers will hand write each message on a half-sheet on the donor’s behalf to include with the books they wrap up and send out.
Donations are $10 and their goal is to raise $2,500 for this event to send out 250 books, she said.
Inmates’ privacy is protected and donors don’t know who will receive a book they sponsor, she said, but they can attach their name to their message if they wish.
APBP gets about 200 book requests per week from inmates, Welker said. The inmate may specify a genre, an author, maybe even a title. “We have wall to wall shelves full of books that people have donated to us.” The volunteers – the staff is all volunteers – read the letters and try to find the best match and mail it.
For this holiday-cheer event, they will choose a random selection of recent letters and include the holiday wishes with them.
“People can get involved by donating to the fundraiser or coming to the wrapping party if they’re in Morgantown,” she said.
Inmates will often send APBP some comments on what receiving a book means to them. Here are a few recent comments from inmates in West Virginia facilities.
“I was rather unenergetic this afternoon. The preparations for my creative writing class were going well, but I needed a boost; your extraordinary gift of the book ‘The Writer’s Way’ by Sara Maitland arrived and my day is brighter, the class will be stronger, and your legacy of helpfulness endures.”
“Thank you so much for all you have done for me. Because of your book program sending me ‘Michie’s West Virginia Code Annotated,’ I was able to litigate an amended sentence order from life without parole to eligibility for parole after serving 15 years. In other words, you helped save my life.”
“I stayed up and read the book all night. I really did enjoy the book and I thank you again. I love reading. I have one more request, for a Scrabble dictionary that would stop a lot of fighting here, when they are playing the game.”
“As a inmate doing time I pass my time by reading because it keeps me out of trouble and it opens my mind to new things. When I get into a good book I am transported away from this place to the places in the books. I read about 2 to 3 books a week.”
For information about APBP and how to donate, go to https://appalachianprisonbookproject.org.
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As we approach 2025, the corporate learning and development (L&D) landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift. Companies, particularly those ranked in the Fortune 500 Top 50 and high-growth sectors, are prioritising evolving L&D strategies that not only promote individual growth but also align with broader business objectives.At the recent “Moving Forward” event held by BTS Thailand, over 100 human resources and L&D leaders gathered to explore innovative strategies for starting 2025 with renewed momentum. Here are the key trends I shared and their strategic implications for business leaders:
1. Personalised learning paths to empower your workforce: The traditional approach to learning, often based on classroom workshops, is increasingly outdated. Many organisations still rely on a one-size-fits-all model, which limits the ability for employees to practise and apply new skills in meaningful ways.
Employees now seek personalised learning journeys that align with their individual career goals and aspirations. Rather than focusing solely on organisational objectives, the emphasis is shifting towards empowering employees to navigate their personal growth and bridge skill gaps. Companies that prioritise personalised learning increase employee engagement, loyalty and satisfaction, leading to lower turnover rates.
Next Moves for 2025: Invest in tailored learning paths that match both employee ambitions and organisational goals to foster a more motivated and future-ready workforce.
2. Structured mentorship programmes to build your leadership pipeline: With late-Gen X leaders nearing retirement, mentorship programmes have become more critical than ever. These programmes facilitate knowledge transfer while nurturing the next generation of leaders through structured mentor-mentee relationships. By training both mentors and mentees, organisations ensure the seamless sharing of knowledge and prepare emerging leaders to step confidently into leadership roles.
Next Moves for 2025: Implement formal mentorship training programmes to establish a strong leadership pipeline, ensuring future leadership continuity.
3. Digital literacy and AI training to equip teams for technological advancement: AI and digital tools are revolutionising business operations, and it’s essential for companies to prioritise digital literacy across their workforce. Training should not only focus on improving basic tech skills but also on harnessing AI for decision-making, productivity and data-driven strategies. Organisations are now carrying out assessments to gauge current digital proficiency and target areas for growth.
Next Moves for 2025: Incorporate digital literacy and AI training at every level of the organisation to improve productivity and position your company as a tech leader.
4. Soft skills revitalisation to strengthen core business interactions: As the demand for technical expertise grows, soft skills like communication, collaboration and emotional intelligence (EQ) are equally critical for business success. These skills enable better teamwork, resilience under pressure, and meaningful interaction in a fast-paced environment. In particular:
Communication: The era of long emails and drawn-out meetings is fading. Organisations are reimagining communication strategies to resonate with Gen Z and younger employees, favouring concise and impactful interactions.
Collaboration and teamwork: Amid the push for high performance, fostering teamwork ensures that speed and quality are maintained without silos hindering progress.
Emotional intelligence (EQ): Heightened stress and pressure have diminished EQ. Revitalising EQ training helps employees manage stress better and maintain composure in challenging situations.
Next Moves for 2025: Leaders should actively model and cultivate these skills within their teams by integrating soft skills training into daily practices, encouraging open communication, and reinforcing collaboration and emotional intelligence through real-time feedback and mentorship. This proactive approach will help build cohesive, agile and innovative teams.
5. Inclusive leadership training — Embrace diversity for better outcomes: There is no such thing and there should be no such thing as one-size-fits-all leadership development training. Leaders are trained to work effectively across generational and stylistic divides, fostering inclusivity and unity. The ability to lead with empathy and adaptability is vital in a diverse workforce, enabling leaders to harness varied experiences and perspectives.
Next Moves for 2025: Prioritise training that enhances empathy and adaptability, enabling leaders to confidently guide their teams. Develop a leadership approach that addresses the unique needs of each team member by fostering active listening, encouraging open dialogue, and appreciating diverse perspectives. By embracing this inclusive approach, you’ll drive innovation, enhance team cohesion and elevate your organisation’s reputation as an employer of choice.
6. Continuous feedback culture — Promote real-time improvement: Annual or semi-annual performance reviews are becoming obsolete. High-performance organisations now favour real-time feedback loops, akin to coaches on the sidelines during a game. This immediate approach boosts motivation, aligns actions with organisational goals, and promotes rapid course correction.
Next Moves for 2025: Assess whether your current feedback systems encourage ongoing dialogue and adaptability in a fast-paced business environment. Shift focus to real-time feedback, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and flexibility to ensure your teams remain aligned and agile in achieving business goals.
GLOBAL CORPORATE PRIORITIES
Beyond Learning & Development, leading global companies are aligning their entire strategies around the following focus areas:
Agility: Maintaining agility to swiftly respond to market needs and customer demands remains a top priority. Organisations are re-examining their understanding and application of agile methodologies.
Employee engagement: Sustained engagement hinges on transparent feedback and recognition. Structured, ongoing dialogue helps employees feel valued and prevents surprises during evaluations.
Diversity and inclusion: True diversity encompasses more than visible traits. Companies are fostering environments where varied personalities and ideas are appreciated and integrated, amplifying collective strengths.
Technology integration: Data-driven decision-making is becoming a norm, with technology and analytics informing problem-solving at every level.
Upskilling and development: Upskilling is paramount as job roles evolve. Clear benchmarks guide employees on their current skills and pathways to growth, ensuring roles like marketing and sales adapt to technological changes.
At BTS Thailand, we help organisations stay ahead of these trends through our 456 Smart Learning model, which ensures that learning directly ties to measurable business outcomes. This approach empowers leaders to turn L&D investments into strategic wins, driving both growth and performance.
As we move forward into 2025, it’s clear that while some trends may feel familiar, the context has shifted. Methods and approaches are evolving to meet the future needs of work. Organisations that embrace innovation, align learning with strategic objectives, and prioritise holistic growth will lead the way in the next era of business success.
Arinya Talerngsri, Local Partner & Managing Director at BTS Thailand (formerly SEAC), part of the BTS Group, a leading global strategy implementation firm, is passionate about revolutionising education and creating opportunities for Thais and people worldwide. Executives and organisations looking to collaborate or learn more about leadership development, talent development, succession planning and organisational transformation can contact her directly at [email protected] or visit her LinkedIn profile
Malaga is a Spanish tourism hotspot beloved by Brits, but now there are fears of a mass exodus of holidaymakers due to a potential new ban.The historic city centre of Malaga is bracing for a significant transformation that could see the end of a five-year prohibition on new bars and restaurants.The city council has unveiled a €72,600 (£60,000) project to assess noise levels across the centre and the Teatinos neighbourhood.Both areas were designated Acoustically Saturated Zones (SAZ) in 2019, halting the opening of new bars and restaurants in these tourist-heavy locations.Restaurant owners in these bustling districts have been lobbying for the lifting of these restrictions, arguing they have stunted business growth in two of Malaga’s liveliest areas.Malaga is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain, boasting around 14 million visitors last year, but this has come with a cost.Over the summer, the city saw overtourism protests and anti-tourism campaigns, and this proposed ban would be the latest measure in cracking down on unwanted guests.A six-month study, set to commence after December 4, will determine whether noise levels have improved since the restrictions were put in place. The findings will directly affect whether the council maintains or alters the current ban.An external firm will be hired to carry out noise monitoring tests across the impacted streets.The technical study will employ at least two acoustic specialists to install five permanent noise monitoring units throughout the zones, along with various other measuring equipment including five-metre-high tripods and a weather station.The results of this assessment, which could significantly influence Malaga’s future as a tourist hotspot, are anticipated by mid-2025.