OK, I know right off that you are thinking with titles like this and the last entry that I need major help. But I believe that a biblical worldview is big enough to accomodate the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly, not to mention the easy, the hard, the big and small, the temporal and eternal and everything else. So what’s the purpose of failure in the Christian’s life, who are suppose to “overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37)? And how about the non-Christian who has no clue or the one who does and openly hates God? “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). You can allow disappointment, trials, and failures to produce humility in you or God will humble you sooner (Ah, what grace to be stopped and turned around.) or later (Oh, what sorrow will be theirs to find they should have heeded His voice.). My poem attempts to point out the grace in failure, though at times it feels harsh. Click on Failure to read it.
Recently I was driving with my family (essentially down to two children that once was 5) in our van. I asked one of my sons (vaguely enough to not be pushy but specific enough to try to be involved), “What did you do today?” In typical teenage non-answer fashion he said, “Nothing.” In a moment of exasperation at being pushed away again I replied, “You mean all is dark, cold, and silent?” This come back received comment and I thought later that I could have added “vacuous expanse, hopelessness, worthless, non-communicative, forgotten, dry, and dead“. Afterall nothing is the lack of something: darkness the lack of light, cold the lack of thermal energy, silent the lack of material medium disturbance, and so forth. Nothing is so opposite of God. “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5). “His throne was ablaze with fire” (Daniel 7:9). As to sound “His voice was like the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:15) and the “sound of a gentle blowing… and behold, a voice came to him” (Daniel19:12,13). And furthermore you should “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) because “He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things“ (Eph. 4:10). All hope is found in the “Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of distress” (Jeremiah 14:8 ). And “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). You can do that when “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) reigns in your heart. Of His worth Peter (first letter 2:6) says Christ is “a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Christ is the very communication of God for “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,…., and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1,14). And though He is God “He remembers that they were but flesh” (Psalm 78:38 ) and “remembers us in our low estate” (Psalm 136:23). But He doesn’t leave us there giving us “living water“, a very “well of water springing up to eternal life“ (John 4:14). In fact He said, “I am the bread of life“ (John 6:33), “the resurrection and the life“ (John 11″25).
So you see God is anything but nothing. Can you imagine Jesus sitting by the Sea of Galilee and being asked by one of His disciples, “What are you doing?” and Jesus replies nothing. Nothing! Hardly. But he was found “in the stern, asleep on a cushion” (Mark 4:38 ) you may say. That is a useful activity in its time, not at all like the condition of the sluggard of whom it is said, “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man” (Proverbs 24:33-34). There is nothing. No, physical rest is good and spiritual rest is better. We are even urged to “be diligent to enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:11) which seems a contradiction in terms until you realize that your natural man wants to do nothing (unbelief) and your new man has to do something (belief) to enter and remain in rest. I will not go so far as the pope did recently to elevate the practice of “nothing” to the level of a deadly sin (all sins are eternally threatening). But our God is active, alive, filling all things. We should be involved in something according to His will rather than shrinking back to nothing.
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Pastor D. was preaching an excellent sermon this morning on unity in the church. I heard most of it loud and clear with the abundant and well placed Scripture references. But I missed the last half of the introduction and the first point because of a thought process set in motion by his thought provoking illustration. “…..What makes a battering ram work so well? What if individual soldiers took knives and started cutting sticks off of the log……..What would happen if they went up to the gate one at a time and started beating on it.”
Well, aaaaaactually, thought I, though his analogy was intended to point to the need for unity against the common enemy of the church, the ram works because of momentum which is mass x velocity. Now the battering ram has plenty of mass but not so much velocity. If the individual soldiers could produce the velocity of say a tornado the small size of their sticks would not be a problem. They might well punch holes in the gate. At lunch I conveyed this lack of attention to the point of the illustration. Leinadcaro lit up so I indulged the moment. Somewhere along the line someone figured out that the battering ram works better slung from a frame by ropes or chains. The frame being mounted on wheels is much easier to move but the real power comes from the increased speed of the swing due to the gravity pulling the ram down. Leinad responds that angular momentum is involved. Oh yes, the acceleration due to the gravity becomes the angular momentum of the swing. If the ropes are longer (bigger frame) the moment of inertia is larger resulting in a larger angular momentum. Metal ends were added to the ram’s head end at some point increasing the impulse force by decreasing the time of impact because the metal doesn’t compress like the wood (impulse = force x time). If the metal has one or more sharp ends the pressure exerted increases the force exerted on the gate yet again. Leinad immediately thought that a charge on the end of the ram would send the explosion through the gate even as modern bunker buster bombs and tank penetrating charges do now. If not the recoil of the ram due to the charge might finish the job upon its return swing.
The next point in the sermon was about sound doctrine and a subsequent one concerned freedom to have diversity within the unity of the body. This reminded me of the Scripture, “He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as teachers…..” The was a purpose for which He did that but some of us get distracted during the sermon by non-spiritual thoughts. Oh, yeah, it was “for the work of the service”. Sometimes I wonder what service I’m supposed to render.
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The 20th century was bloody for frequently ideological reasons rather than merely power hungry reasons. What ideology and logical framework drove this madness? Would you be surprised to find out that some of it was driven by madness occurring in the United States that still exists? Could a 19th century biologist exert any influence over such atrocites as communism and Nazism? Click on Darwin and Tyranny (10th in a series) to see some evidence to answer these questions.
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If I wrote a book forsooth
It would have poetry for sure
And musing on beauty and truth
Even stories and science pure
I guess I was in a poetry mood today because the real one about what I thought I’d write came out like the following you should click on: The Book I’d Write
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Is respect a legitimate exercise and attitude or is it a power grab by one set of people over another? If it is legitimate when should it be exercised? Since all words are suspect in this day of reverse connotations (“He’s the ‘baddest’ dude I ever seen.”) and relativism (“It may mean that to you but not to me.”) a definition is always a good beginning point for any intelligent discussion. Respect as a noun means a feeling of high regard, honor, or esteem. Some would say all persons should be regarded the same either for egalitarian reasons or for supposed spiritual reasons (“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism” James 2:1, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”). Equal value as a citizen with rights before a government or as a believer before God does not negate structure to society or valuing what God values.
Here are what I believe to be three reasons we should respect any particular person:
1) Respect all persons because they are made in the image of God.
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27
As image bearers of God’s own nature we are afforded respect because our very existence gives glory to God.
2) Respect those who have positions of authority over you including age.
Examples include governors, senators, policemen, teachers, pastors, ruling elders, bosses, parents, husbands, and elders.
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God….” Romans 13:1 “You youger men, likewise, be subject to your elders” 1 Peter 5:5 “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.” Galations 6:6
Not only does Scripture support authority structures in society, the government, the church, and home, but there is no culture that has ever been without such lines of authority and generally in agreement as to who should be respected. The only other alternative is chaos and anarchy.
3) Respect those who have earned respect.
“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, expecially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” 1Timothy 5:17 “Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior…” 2 Kings 5:1
Earned respect is the only reason some are willing to respect but truly it is third reason on the list. The first two above apply regardless of observation, inference, or feeling. They are due because the person is a person or in a position of authority. The third reason is nice and to be sought after but not necessary for respect.
All three reasons imply an ultimate one to be respected, the image behind all images, the ultimate authority- God. Because more people are not accepting authority or divinity, respect is not recognized. If there is no ultimate authority and no divinity and no one is to be respected then neither does the person disrespecting others have respect or the implied value that results.
So, for the good of us all and for God’s sake (His glory) show a little respect (or “quit dissin’ me”).
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“So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 53:11) That is, God’s Word is efficacious. Effective is a synonym, but it means “producing a result” whereas efficacious means “power to produce effects or intended results”. The shade of difference seems to be passive versus active. God’s Word actively, powerfully, and without faltering accomplishes God’s designs. So does His grace. Without it I drift, I’m sunk. With it I am enabled, it will change me. I know it;I feel it; It is happening. Click on Grace Means to Me to check out my song on how grace is at work in me.
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What is noise? How does it affect us? What can we or should we do about it? What difference does it make? Is it an unavoidable result of modern technology or is the source older? The answers may unnerve (knowledge) and settle (application) you. Check it out by clicking on Noise
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In part 1, Without Grace, I explored through short prose and poetry, the opposition of works to grace. Now I want to turn to the conflict within even when grace is accepted. We are at battle within ourselves, “For the good I want, I do not do,but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (Romans 7:19). The battle originates in the desire to be autonomous, that is self-ruled. But why would a Christian who has understood the grace and mercy afforded him at the cross want to rule when Jesus has done all that is needed infinitely better? I believe that embedded in this autonomy is a deep seated fear that God does not have our best interest at heart: “The serpent said to the woman,’You surely shall not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5) Translated to modern vernacular, “God is holding out on you.” Satan has tempted us with this line of thinking ever since. So there is our need, eternal and daily. There is God’s sovereignty and justice, unmovable. Between them lies God’s grace in Jesus, satisfying both. Several years ago I tried to express this conflict and solution in a song that you can look at by clicking on Grace to Live
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Without mincing words I move from the evidence for creationism to the ramifications for society of not accepting it in this 9th in a series article. You can read the article by clicking on At the Stem
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While I was administering a read aloud End of Course Test my thougths would wonder and gaze focus through the window to the dimly seen mountains in the distance while the student was considering and answering. This is a3 hour affair afterall: you, a student, a proctor, silence, no reading, no writing. One can understand random thoughts at a time like this- who’s worried about boredom, sanity is the point! One thing the student was doing tipped off a flow of consciousness similar to what follows (recorded later for posterity):
Punnet Squares and Nautilus fractals
Kepler’s Planetary Laws and Newton’s for gravitation and motion
Net forces yet balanced, accelerations
Precisely balanced interaction of fundamental forces
Fundamentals, harmonics, and resolutions
Ratios of mass and atoms, atomic numbers and stable isotopes proceeding from neutron/proton ratios
Golden means and symmetries of body parts for balance, function, and beauty
Concentrations and equilibrium constants
Le Chatier balance and population pressures and triple points
French curves and planer and solid geometric equations
Coefficients of friction and laminar flow
Inertias, momentums, forces, energies, powers, efficiencies
Optical magnification, indices of refraction, and chromatic aberrations
Ohm’s Law, Coulomb’s Law, Kirchoff’s Laws
Integrations, derivations, trignometric relationships
Bernoulli’s, Boyle’s, Charles’, Gay-Lussac’s, Archimedes’, Pascal’s, Universal Gas Laws and Principles
Kinetic Theory and Collision Theory
Conservation of Energy, Matter, Momentum, and, Charge
What do these few ideas have in common? The Mathmetician has written into the fabric, solved simultataneously, and applied universally the equations…. the Infinite Algorithm!
(P.S. I know some of you like-minded types can add to this list…. come on, you know you want to.)
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There are only two religions in the world: works and grace. Works has many denominations and sects all with a desire to be like God but without the power to do so (“God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4). Grace has only one denomination with many cults (reference previous sentence). Without grace I would be hopeless, grasping, scheming. And even with it I participate in cultic practices (reference previous two sentences). I would…I would…well, check it out by clicking on Without Grace
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A second situation that prompted these thoughts happened last week over a period of nearly a week. One of my nephews drew fire over a blog entry that he had made. The opening salvo regarded whether Christmas has pagan or Christian origins. After 40 comments the discussion was moved over to a forum where two of my nephews and a friend of theirs attempted to ferret out the beliefs of two bloggers who had much more to say than what the beginnings of Christmas were. In the end (198 more entries) it came down to the two not accepting any of the New Testament writings but Jesus’ words, claiming that His death was not a substitutionary atonement for the sins of those who trust in Him. They wanted salvation by Jesus’ words and the Law, not the grace He provided on the cross. Would you know how to defend the Gospel against very Scripturally and historically informed people who deny Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth? Afterall, Jesus never directly said, “I am God” or “Trust my death on the cross to forgive your sins.” I Peter 3:14b-15 says, “Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”. My nephews did an excellent job of drawing out the nature of the belief system, defending the truth with many Scripture references, and appealing to the two bloggers to repent and trust Jesus. Perhaps you think the solution is to stay out of blog forums, but how will you answer that colleague at the work or that soccer mom or that classmate who has a twisted view of Scripture? Twisted views of Scripture are common these days. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” I want to urge any believer reading this entry to make 2008 a year of studying the Word. And pastors 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” Make exposition of the Word central and meaty. May all of us emphasize Bible study over book study, discussing the Word over discussing the weather, that we “may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10)
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I was urging one of my sons the other day to read the Word of God regularly. “Why?”, he says, “I know what it says.” But there is a need in all of us to know and do the Word, as James 1:22-25 says, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” We are forgetful; we need reminding. There is no standing still in your spiritual life. You are either going forward or backward. Get in the Word; stay in the Word regularly both individually and corporately.
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Following are reasons and memories that cause me to be thankful and give praise to God for 2007 (in no other order than how they entered my mind)
good health, growth in my relationships with Beth and Laura and Ben, moving to my teaching position at the brand new Patton High, backpacking with Laura, family trip and Physics workshop in Williamsburg, strength to run and climb, climbing trip in August, spiritual growth and baptisms of Sam and Phil, National Board Certification, articles in the News Herald, opportunities to witness to students, building a deck with Sam, Dan, and Laura, Daniel’s Regional 5K race, Sam and Phil’s indoor and outdoor soccer, sharing in the men’s gathering and the weekend at Brad’s mountain home, Laura’s homecoming for the summer, Beth’s work at PCC, weekend at Ben’s, weekend at the Highley cabin, walks on the Greenway and about town
God is good all the time. His lovingkindness endures forever. May the name of the Lord be praised in all things and in my life from now on and forever. Amen.
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“The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed“, wrote St. Augustine.
The more modern version reads, “The New is in the Old contained; the Old is in the New explained.” Therefore, we dare not neglect the Old for the New, for in explaining the Old the New reveals previously concealed truth that could not be understood without the foundation of the Old. The tabernacle of the Pentateuch for example portrays much about who Christ is, what He came to do, and how that extends to us. Christ is all and in all in the tabernacle. His glory (over the mercy seat) was veiled (covering the Holy of Holies) by human flesh when He was born in Bethlehem. He came, the sweet aroma of God (the altar of incense), “My Beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17), the bread of Life (table of show bread), the light of the world ((the lampstand)(Hebrews 9:11-15, 22-28). He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness ((the laver)(Exodus 30:19-21, Matthew 3:13-16). He was the offering on the altar, the high priest who blessed the waiting people and sprinkled the blood (His own) on the mercy seat. If all this and more were not enough, He is the Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), the first fruits from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23), and the scapegoat who went outside the gate whom we will meet on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:10, Hebrews 13:13). If all of that made vague sense or none at all it points out the depth of understanding that can be missed by not studying the Old Testament. For further study consider the poem and Scripture references by clicking on Christ in the Tent of Meeting
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As is our tradition, our family began the advent wreath last Sunday evening. But we celebrate the wreath differently than the traditions of many generations and churches. We use the colors of the candles to remind us of who Christ is and why He came. Note the colors in the picture and then take note of the S‘s in the following poem by clicking on Advent Colors
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(Maybe that should be Initiator2. Isn’t that how second movies are named? But really this should be part one because it initiated part one which is really part two only I wrote it first. I’d better stop before I get something started.) …Anyway, leinadcaro and I were riding home in the truck one day when we passed a local strip mall. Says he, “Rats, they took out the Radio Shack. Now there isn’t one in Mo-town.” It set me to thinking. Why would they take it out? For that matter why had Radio Shack changed so much over the years. Well, naturally to follow the buying trends, stay where the money is. It seems that the company is dying out. But why? It reminded me of a statement an aircraft instructor had made to me, “Farmers make the best missionary pilots and mechanics.” (Follow close. If you haven’t noticed this piece involves stream of consciousness content which could make one a little sea sick considering the current mind involved. Scary?) You see the original Radio Shack was the electronics heaven, a tinker’s toybox. If you wanted to make a radio or fix one or design a new electronic gadget Radio Shack had all the pieces and some of the tools and instructions. As time went along the market shifted toward Radio Shack providing the electronics to plug and play. Farmers have and always will survive on a big dose of initiative. If they don’t get up at 5 AM and work until dusk it ain’t goin’ to happen (remember, consciousness stream). So if the plane is down, the tools are few, and the time is short they will figure a way of getting it done and pull it off safely. What we’ve lost is initiative. Few are willing to dig and try again and innovate and fail and rise up to try a new way. And some who do do it on a plug and play level, throw away society that we are. So we’ve traded “necessity is the mother of invention” for “laziness is the mother of invention”. Only it’s not. Lack of initiative is killing our educational system, our economic system, and our legal system. Stand up! Do something! No, not anything, something right and good and profitable. God help us. “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to his mouth.” (Proverbs 19:24) I think I just had a rant. I best back it up with some initiative of my own at family, at work, at church.
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What drives people to succeed or to even try, and more especially, to keep trying when success appears remote? “The action of taking the first step or move; responsibility for beginning or originating..new ideas or methods; ability to think and act without being urged” (Webster’s New World, 4th edition, 2002) and persisting therein is initiative. If the initiative includes creativity, experimentation, and a knack of getting by with meager resources we perhaps prefer the term enterprising. But both of these terms and a number of others are “whats” not “whys”. As I fish around for what drives people a word that seems ugly to me pops up- ambition. Many will respond that ambition can be good or bad depending on the motive. But the word means “an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment” (www.dictionary.com). You can try to sanctify it but that first and most thought of definition has a negative connotation for the Christian, namely pride and selfishness. There just may not be an English word that means Christ-centered initiative-drive (Yeah, treading where fools know better, but it invites good discussion from those more knowledgeable. Yes, I checked other similar words, but…). But Paul seems to purposefully negate selfishness and pride in the three uses of the Greek word translated “ambition” in the NASB, suggesting a need to sanctify the concept. “Our ambition…to be pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9) is other directed. Later verses reveal more of the motivation behind pleasing Him: “knowing the fear of the Lord” (v.11) and “the love of Christ controls us” (v. 14). And I Thessalonians 4:11-12 is not a real charismatic grab for your pride: “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands,… that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” There has to be something deeper driving you to persist at that.
And what of non-believers who show initiative in unselfish ways? Is all that nothing more than pride disguised? It certainly isn’t Christ-centered, but I believe common grace both explains some (pride is insidious) of this “unselfish ambition” and gives glory to God in the process. He is the source of all good. What other explanation promotes both unselfishness and the good of the person? God really is glorified in all things (Do you believe that? Think an ugly thought about something really disgusting before you answer- another blog another day perhaps.)
God is The Initiator, driven by His own unalterable, prevenient (non-presupposed by any other) will that shows His glory. Just to try, to plan and figure out how and carry it out, and to continue to try until I succeed all point to the One who initiates in my heart and life all good and all substantial……. I think I’ll go try again.
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What drives people to succeed or to even try, and more especially, to keep trying when success appears remote?
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CreatorWorship 