Irish archbishop, James Ussher calculated the year of creation to the year of 4004 BC. Scientists now add several billion years to this date. Darwin challenged Ussher's calculations with his publication of the Origin Of The Species. Darwin is the "founder" of the evolutionary theory.
The major debates are:
1. The age of the earth.
a. Evolutionists say the earth is 4 billion years old.
b. Creationists say the earth is six thousand years old.
2. The fossil record.
a. If evolution were true, it would be seen in the fossil record.
b. Evolutionists reply that changes must have taken place in great bursts, thus not recorded in fossils.
3. Dinosaurs and humans living together.
a. If the earth is young, then this would have to be true.
b. Most scientists say that this could not be possible because the fossil and geological data show that
dinosaurs were extinct millions of years before humans.
4. The earth itself
a. Is a result of a cosmic "accident" the "big bang", according to evolutionists. However, as I have said, where did the elements for the explosion come from?
b. Is created by God, complete with complex ecosystems.
5. Human Beings
a. Evolutionists claim humans evolved from apes. If so, why have we not tamed our hostile natures? Apes frequently treat each other better than we do. Why have humans not "evolved"?
b. Human Beings are made in the image of God. Unfortunately, they also sin. Being made in God's likeness makes a special relationship with God, it sets us apart. Sanctifies us. It also gives us the free will that allows us to choose to sin, or not. We can try to be like Christ, or not. We, unlike animals, have choices.
Dr. Russel Humphrey explains it this way:
" The Bible clearly indicates three things about God’s formation of the universe. First, the earth is the center of God’s attention in the universe. By implication, the earth may also be located near the center-perhaps so man can see the glory of God’s creation in every direction. Second, the universe (both matter and space itself) has been “stretched out”. Third, the universe has a boundary, and therefore it must have a center. If these three assumptions are plugged into the currently accepted formulas of physics, and the mathematical crank is turned, we live in a universe in which clocks tick at different rates depending on your location.
Furthermore, the time dilation effect would be magnified tremendously as the universe was originally expanding. As the universe expanded, there was a point at which time was moving very rapidly at the outer edge and essentially stopped near the center. At this point in the expansion of the universe, only days were passing near the center, while billions of years were passing in the heavens. This is the inevitable conclusion based on our current knowledge of physics and starting with Biblical assumptions instead of arbitrary ones. Albert Einstein rejected the idea that the Bible could be literally true. He wrote that, “Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the convictions that many of the stories in the Bible could not be true.” How ironic that the most ridiculed Biblical story (about a recent, literal, six day creation of the universe) is exactly the story which Albert Einstein’s work has shown to be entirely possible." (http://www.creationtoday.org/physics-evidence/)
Monday, July 1, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Why not believe?
" I think, therefore, I am" Descartes .
Only conscious thought determines existence.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Nihilism: there are no values, nothing can be known or communicated. A committed nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose except an impulse to destroy. He spoke of the "death of God". Nietzsche desired people to “becoming what one is” through the growth of instincts and various intellectual faculties, a plan that required a constant struggle with one’s psychological and intellectual inclinations. The "perfect person" formed his own life with out relying on social mores or religious constraints. " You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. " " Faith: not wanting to know what is true."
"Society as the trustee of life is responsible to life for every botched life that comes into existence; and as it has to atone for such lives, it ought consequently to make it impossible for them ever to see the light of day: it should in many cases actually prevent the act of procreation, and may, without any regard for rank, descent, or intellect, hold in readiness the most rigorous forms of compulsion and restriction, and, under certain circumstances, have recourse to castration ... 'Thou shalt do no murder,' is a piece of ingenuous puerility compared with 'Thou shalt not beget!!!' ... The [unhealthy] must at all costs be eliminated, lest the whole fall to pieces."
Hitler was a follower of Nietzsche. He believed in a "super race". He believed in cleansing Germany of those who would foul the gene pool. Hitler believed himself to be the final moral authority. One has to understand that anyone who was not blond and blue-eyed or a Christian (due to the Pope's power only, Italy was an ally of Germany. ) is in danger. Jews because of their association with Jesus and financial power, Gypsies, many Christians, and others. The world did not know of the atrocities for years, and for some they did not care.
All of those years were evil. If there is a God, why did He allow them? Free will some say. That is true in some ways. Man makes his choices. We are not pieces on a chess board. We will answer to Him.
But if conscious thought determines existence, what happens when I sleep? Is my dog just a fantasy?
If we lived in a world where everyone "did their own thing" what would happen?
Who determines what a "botched life" is? At what stage of life is that decision made?
Who determines who is allowed to bear children?
If one looks at recent health care plans closely, those of us with chronic illnesses, and terminal illnesses are marginalized. We are expensive. Single parents are expensive, and Planned Parenthood makes a fortune from abortions and birth control pills.
We need to look closely at our nation and pray daily for it.
Only conscious thought determines existence.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Nihilism: there are no values, nothing can be known or communicated. A committed nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose except an impulse to destroy. He spoke of the "death of God". Nietzsche desired people to “becoming what one is” through the growth of instincts and various intellectual faculties, a plan that required a constant struggle with one’s psychological and intellectual inclinations. The "perfect person" formed his own life with out relying on social mores or religious constraints. " You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. " " Faith: not wanting to know what is true."
"Society as the trustee of life is responsible to life for every botched life that comes into existence; and as it has to atone for such lives, it ought consequently to make it impossible for them ever to see the light of day: it should in many cases actually prevent the act of procreation, and may, without any regard for rank, descent, or intellect, hold in readiness the most rigorous forms of compulsion and restriction, and, under certain circumstances, have recourse to castration ... 'Thou shalt do no murder,' is a piece of ingenuous puerility compared with 'Thou shalt not beget!!!' ... The [unhealthy] must at all costs be eliminated, lest the whole fall to pieces."
Hitler was a follower of Nietzsche. He believed in a "super race". He believed in cleansing Germany of those who would foul the gene pool. Hitler believed himself to be the final moral authority. One has to understand that anyone who was not blond and blue-eyed or a Christian (due to the Pope's power only, Italy was an ally of Germany. ) is in danger. Jews because of their association with Jesus and financial power, Gypsies, many Christians, and others. The world did not know of the atrocities for years, and for some they did not care.
All of those years were evil. If there is a God, why did He allow them? Free will some say. That is true in some ways. Man makes his choices. We are not pieces on a chess board. We will answer to Him.
But if conscious thought determines existence, what happens when I sleep? Is my dog just a fantasy?
If we lived in a world where everyone "did their own thing" what would happen?
Who determines what a "botched life" is? At what stage of life is that decision made?
Who determines who is allowed to bear children?
If one looks at recent health care plans closely, those of us with chronic illnesses, and terminal illnesses are marginalized. We are expensive. Single parents are expensive, and Planned Parenthood makes a fortune from abortions and birth control pills.
We need to look closely at our nation and pray daily for it.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The Law of Causality
This is a fancy way of saying that every limited thing is caused by something other than itself. Those who do not believe in God use this law as if everything must have some source. This definition places God in the Law of Causality. Who created God?
BUT, God is infinite. The Law of Causality says that everything that is finite and limited requires a cause. Things that have a beginning require a cause. Including God in the Law of Causality logically makes a category error. It is like confusing vision and touch. How does a sunset feel? does not mean anything. Limited, finite things need a cause. They started, and came into existence. ( Geisler & Bocchino)
Time isn't infinite; the beginning of time needs an explaination. Nothing that is limited to time is is able to cause the universe. The definition of time is "a nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future." By definition time is that area whare cause and effect occur, and every effect must have a cause. (Heeren) An infinite being ( God ) is not confined by time and He does not require a beginning. An infinite being mus always exist, and does not need a "cause". (Geisler and Bocchino)
Our skeptic may say that God is not necessary.
" If the existence of the cosmos as a whole needs to be explained, and if it cannot be explained by natural causes then we must look to the existence and action of a supernatural cause for its explaination" Mortimer Adler
Using the Law of Causality we can sum it up this way.
1. What ever begins to exist must have a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. The universe has a cause.
For the universe to be here, we have four possibilities: Illusion, Self created, Self-existent, and Created by something self-existent.
1. Illusion is "misleading perception of reality". Misrepresenting what is real. If we did not have objective reality for a comparison, we would not know what is real.
2. Self-Created violates the law of causality because we have an effect without a cause. It also violates one of the fundamental laws of logic: the law of non-contradiction, meaning something cannot be true and not true at the same time and in the same relationship. If I created myself, I exercised causal power on myself before I existed.
3.Self Existent/Eternal Whatever begins to exist has a cause. More on the Evidence the the Universe began to exist tomorrow.
BUT, God is infinite. The Law of Causality says that everything that is finite and limited requires a cause. Things that have a beginning require a cause. Including God in the Law of Causality logically makes a category error. It is like confusing vision and touch. How does a sunset feel? does not mean anything. Limited, finite things need a cause. They started, and came into existence. ( Geisler & Bocchino)
Time isn't infinite; the beginning of time needs an explaination. Nothing that is limited to time is is able to cause the universe. The definition of time is "a nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future." By definition time is that area whare cause and effect occur, and every effect must have a cause. (Heeren) An infinite being ( God ) is not confined by time and He does not require a beginning. An infinite being mus always exist, and does not need a "cause". (Geisler and Bocchino)
Our skeptic may say that God is not necessary.
" If the existence of the cosmos as a whole needs to be explained, and if it cannot be explained by natural causes then we must look to the existence and action of a supernatural cause for its explaination" Mortimer Adler
Using the Law of Causality we can sum it up this way.
1. What ever begins to exist must have a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. The universe has a cause.
For the universe to be here, we have four possibilities: Illusion, Self created, Self-existent, and Created by something self-existent.
1. Illusion is "misleading perception of reality". Misrepresenting what is real. If we did not have objective reality for a comparison, we would not know what is real.
2. Self-Created violates the law of causality because we have an effect without a cause. It also violates one of the fundamental laws of logic: the law of non-contradiction, meaning something cannot be true and not true at the same time and in the same relationship. If I created myself, I exercised causal power on myself before I existed.
3.Self Existent/Eternal Whatever begins to exist has a cause. More on the Evidence the the Universe began to exist tomorrow.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Natural selection
I am certain that as many of you drive the highways of the country, you believe that "natural selection" did not eliminate enough of the cretins behind the wheel. Why?
If evolution was successful, errors during the evolutionary process do not explain advanced forms of life, like us, and if it was successful, those with low IQ's, chronic diseases, and genetic diseases would have been bred out of the gene pool, unable to survive.
We still have no fossil record of transitional forms, ape to man, for example. Many of our organs, and our physiology show intelligent design. For example, we have two kidneys, protected by the rib cage, if one is damaged, a person can survive with one, the same with the lungs. Some of our organs are incredibly complex, the brain, for example. According to Behe, "if a protein appeared with nothing to do, mutation and natural selection would tend to ELIMINATE it. It would, at least to some marginal degree, be detrimental." Why? Our bodies are built with incredible cellular defense systems, white blood cells rush to the site, the protein causing an inflammatory response. The area would be inflamed, swollen, as more white blood cells rush in, possibly impeeding blood flow, causing more swelling and infection. You see where I am going with this. This is similar to a rejection to an organ donation, or a lethal infection.
Now, there are those who assume that we Christians, stuck in the dark ages, ( actually I am an RN, and love science, and observing how God assembled things) assume that God is responsible for everything we will not research the origin of disease, or its cures. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus himself went to the untouchables, the down trodden, when no one else would.
At any rate, if natural selection actually did occur, none of us should be blind deaf or with out speach.
All communicable disease should have died out. All genetic faults should have gone away. All chronic disease gone. We should be living in a medical paradise. BUT, we don't.
We are created in the image, I mean like what one sees in a mirror, of God. Then two ancestors of ours let themselves be conned. That set in motion a plan of redemption in which God had to sacrifice His Own Son to buy us back from Satan. Why? Because the deal between God and Satan is that the payment for sin is death, but if you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life.
If evolution was successful, errors during the evolutionary process do not explain advanced forms of life, like us, and if it was successful, those with low IQ's, chronic diseases, and genetic diseases would have been bred out of the gene pool, unable to survive.
We still have no fossil record of transitional forms, ape to man, for example. Many of our organs, and our physiology show intelligent design. For example, we have two kidneys, protected by the rib cage, if one is damaged, a person can survive with one, the same with the lungs. Some of our organs are incredibly complex, the brain, for example. According to Behe, "if a protein appeared with nothing to do, mutation and natural selection would tend to ELIMINATE it. It would, at least to some marginal degree, be detrimental." Why? Our bodies are built with incredible cellular defense systems, white blood cells rush to the site, the protein causing an inflammatory response. The area would be inflamed, swollen, as more white blood cells rush in, possibly impeeding blood flow, causing more swelling and infection. You see where I am going with this. This is similar to a rejection to an organ donation, or a lethal infection.
Now, there are those who assume that we Christians, stuck in the dark ages, ( actually I am an RN, and love science, and observing how God assembled things) assume that God is responsible for everything we will not research the origin of disease, or its cures. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus himself went to the untouchables, the down trodden, when no one else would.
At any rate, if natural selection actually did occur, none of us should be blind deaf or with out speach.
All communicable disease should have died out. All genetic faults should have gone away. All chronic disease gone. We should be living in a medical paradise. BUT, we don't.
We are created in the image, I mean like what one sees in a mirror, of God. Then two ancestors of ours let themselves be conned. That set in motion a plan of redemption in which God had to sacrifice His Own Son to buy us back from Satan. Why? Because the deal between God and Satan is that the payment for sin is death, but if you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Evidence of God From Mr. Hubble.
Sorry again for the long delay. It's hard to keep this up while getting a book ready to publish. One of the Psalms speaks of the heavens and earth proclaiming the glory of God. That is more than true.
Before 1920, everyone believed that the universe did not move. Scientists really need to stop assuming, in 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe not only moved, but expanded away from this galaxy. The universe expands uniformly in all directions. The NEW assumption became that because the universe expands with time, it must have started from literally nothing, or technically speaking, "infinite density". How? Because the universe was simply expanding from its dense start, at the very beginning a very dense tiny piece of matter expanded/exploded fifteen million years ago.
Why do I doubt this? Because this requires me, a nurse, a scientist a believer in cause and effect, to believe that our universe was born from nothing. Nothing from Nothing makes Nothing.
The order of our universe, the earth and its placement, our bodies, etc are the witnesses for an intelligent designer.
Before 1920, everyone believed that the universe did not move. Scientists really need to stop assuming, in 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe not only moved, but expanded away from this galaxy. The universe expands uniformly in all directions. The NEW assumption became that because the universe expands with time, it must have started from literally nothing, or technically speaking, "infinite density". How? Because the universe was simply expanding from its dense start, at the very beginning a very dense tiny piece of matter expanded/exploded fifteen million years ago.
Why do I doubt this? Because this requires me, a nurse, a scientist a believer in cause and effect, to believe that our universe was born from nothing. Nothing from Nothing makes Nothing.
The order of our universe, the earth and its placement, our bodies, etc are the witnesses for an intelligent designer.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Big Bang
Many Christian Bumper Stickers Proclaim: God said "Bang" and it happened. That's close to the truth. Why? We have to go back to science if we don't have faith.
- The Law of Causality : Basically it is the Law of Cause and Effect
b. Yet this law does not say that everything needs a cause. It refers to finite things .
c. The skeptic is making what is called a " category mistake". Seeing and tasting are two
different senses. A question like How does the color blue taste? Does not mean anything.
This confuses the finite with the infinite.
2. Only finite things need cause,; they have a start and a finish.
3. God is not limited by time. He is infinite. He does not need a beginning or an end.
" If the exitence of the cosmos as a whole needs to be explained, and if it cannot be explained by natural causes, then we must look to the existence and action of a supernatural cause for its expalanation" Mortimer Adler
4. Another way to state the Law of Causulity
a. Whatever begins to exist must have a cause.
b. The universe began to exist.
c. The universe has a cause.
Now, there are only four causes:
- Illusion, or "mispercetion of reality". We need to know what is to be awake to know when we are dreaming. That is when we can compare them. We only know what an illusion is because we have some idea what it is to be real. If everything was an illusion, we would not know about it; therefore, absolute illusion is impossible. (Geisler and Bocchino, pg 25)
- Self-created is the idea that earth created itself, as well as man. This violates the law of causality by stating an effect without a cause. This also violates logic; the law of non-contradiction, which says that something can't be true and false at the same time, in the same relationship. For example, you can't be a married spinster.For something to create itself, it must use its power on itself before existing. In other words: It must be before it is, and not at the same time, in the same relationship.
- Self-existent-Eternal Carl Sagan once said, " The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be." Yet, through space exploration we find the universe constantly expanding. What ever exists has a cause, what evidence is there to support that the universe began to exist?Reasonable Faith (Craig 94)
Chance is nothing. It is not an entity, with power or force, it doesn't effect anything because it doen't have causal power. Chance is a word used to describe mathmatical possibilities. (Sproul, Gerstner, and Lindsley, pg 118 Classical Apologetics:R.C Sproul, John Gerstner, and Artur Lindsley
Our God is a God of order, not chaos. Some people prefer to explain Him away, so they may behave as they wish, or appear more "intellectual".
- State the Law of Causality in your own words.
- Is Carl Sagan right? Why or why not?
- More and more archeological evidence points to the truth of the Bible. Are you ready to stand up for the truth? Why or why not
- Are you ready to learn more?
Thanks again to Tim Imler
Monday, March 19, 2012
Created in Freedom
We like to deny the existence of God. Why? I think It is because in this century we don't want to be accountable to any one. We want to create our own rules. But the problem is that left to our own devices, our "rules" lead to discrimination, determining that the government should handle the poor and the ill, and allowing many people, especially over seas, to mock our beliefs. Those in the far east, die for their beliefs.
Our country claims to be one of religious freedom. However, we are told not to take it out of our home or churches. Yet, our Christianity is what makes us who we are. We originally were created in the image of God. Adam and Eve sinned. They were thrown out of the garden. Yes, they had help in their decision from the tempter, but all they had to do was to follow ONE rule.
When Jesus came to earth, He said that He and His Father were One. He laid done two "rules". Love the Lord your God with everything you have, and love your neighbor (meaning everyone) as you do your self. He forgave those who tortured Him, and killed Him.His disciples forgave those who hunted them down and killed them. John was burnt in boiling oil, survived and was able to dictate his letters, gospel and revelation.
The response to all this is usually bringing up the sins of the crusades, and the excesses of the Popes. Yet what we all must realize is that believers are people, good and bad. The best way to "act to the glory of God" is to pray about it first. Make sure it conforms to His doctrine, and then act. Yes the middle ages were not the best PR for the church. They were wrong.
However, believers have been the first to care for the wounded, the ill, the poor and the homeless. Hippocrates is credited with a scientific approach to disease, and an ethical oath. He also listened to the sounds of the body. But, he also used the temples of Saturn, Hygeia and Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine all served as both medical schools for practitioners and resting places for patients under observation or treatment.
The decree of the emperor Constantine in335 AD closed all other "hospitals" and encouraged the building of Christian hospitals. In approximately 370 AD St Basil of Ceaserea established a religious foundation in Cappodocia which included an isolation unit for those with leprosy, and buildings for the poor, elderly and the sick. In the early sixth century, the care of the sick and the needy were placed above all other Christian duties. The first medical school grew from this concept in Salerno
and had a wonderful reputation by the eleventh century, this led to several more such monastic infirmaries in the western part of the empire.
In the Middle Ages, religious communties took over care for the sick. Religious orders emphasized nursing care, and the first order to become completely devoted to nursing alone were the Augustine nuns. Hospital construction increased by the request of Pope Innocent in 1198. Once again they took in the hopeless and homeless. The Knights of the Hospitalers were the "medics" on the battle fields of the "holy war" . They dealt with more than injury and death, mysterious eye diseases were its specialty. It is said that they learned from their Moslem compatriots, as the Moslem system was different than theirs. This order still remains as an ambulance corps.
During the end of the middle ages, care for the sick started to transfer to the government. In 1540 Henry the eight dissolved the monostaries. During the renaissance, discoveries about human anatomy were made, patients were seperated according to their diseases, and surgical methods grew by leaps and bounds.
Once again, those who travelled to the "New World", the Christians, set up hospitals, places for the poor to eat, and places for the poor to stay.
Our country claims to be one of religious freedom. However, we are told not to take it out of our home or churches. Yet, our Christianity is what makes us who we are. We originally were created in the image of God. Adam and Eve sinned. They were thrown out of the garden. Yes, they had help in their decision from the tempter, but all they had to do was to follow ONE rule.
When Jesus came to earth, He said that He and His Father were One. He laid done two "rules". Love the Lord your God with everything you have, and love your neighbor (meaning everyone) as you do your self. He forgave those who tortured Him, and killed Him.His disciples forgave those who hunted them down and killed them. John was burnt in boiling oil, survived and was able to dictate his letters, gospel and revelation.
The response to all this is usually bringing up the sins of the crusades, and the excesses of the Popes. Yet what we all must realize is that believers are people, good and bad. The best way to "act to the glory of God" is to pray about it first. Make sure it conforms to His doctrine, and then act. Yes the middle ages were not the best PR for the church. They were wrong.
However, believers have been the first to care for the wounded, the ill, the poor and the homeless. Hippocrates is credited with a scientific approach to disease, and an ethical oath. He also listened to the sounds of the body. But, he also used the temples of Saturn, Hygeia and Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine all served as both medical schools for practitioners and resting places for patients under observation or treatment.
The decree of the emperor Constantine in335 AD closed all other "hospitals" and encouraged the building of Christian hospitals. In approximately 370 AD St Basil of Ceaserea established a religious foundation in Cappodocia which included an isolation unit for those with leprosy, and buildings for the poor, elderly and the sick. In the early sixth century, the care of the sick and the needy were placed above all other Christian duties. The first medical school grew from this concept in Salerno
and had a wonderful reputation by the eleventh century, this led to several more such monastic infirmaries in the western part of the empire.
In the Middle Ages, religious communties took over care for the sick. Religious orders emphasized nursing care, and the first order to become completely devoted to nursing alone were the Augustine nuns. Hospital construction increased by the request of Pope Innocent in 1198. Once again they took in the hopeless and homeless. The Knights of the Hospitalers were the "medics" on the battle fields of the "holy war" . They dealt with more than injury and death, mysterious eye diseases were its specialty. It is said that they learned from their Moslem compatriots, as the Moslem system was different than theirs. This order still remains as an ambulance corps.
During the end of the middle ages, care for the sick started to transfer to the government. In 1540 Henry the eight dissolved the monostaries. During the renaissance, discoveries about human anatomy were made, patients were seperated according to their diseases, and surgical methods grew by leaps and bounds.
Once again, those who travelled to the "New World", the Christians, set up hospitals, places for the poor to eat, and places for the poor to stay.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Prove God to me
Belief in God is not crazy. Saying that Jesus rose from the dead is just as certain as history, told by others, which in a court of law would be called hearsay. What we DO know is that Roman Centurions were under a certain death sentence if they failed at their task......... guarding the tomb.
Scientific knowledge we hang onto with both hands. They are certain, they must be certain. However, they don't say with certainty what nature will be like; they only describe what nature seems to be like. If there were no exceptions to the "laws of nature", there would be no scientific progress. And, of course, the unexplainable healings.......... well, they must be do to a wonderful doctor.
Probability vs Certainty (The Inductive Approach)
We never live our lives in certainty, we could get hit by a bus tomorrow. It's a rational probability that most of us will still be alive when the sun rises. Inductive reasoning argues from a specific to a general truth. In other words, inferring that God exists argues for God as the highest degree of probability based on the sum of observed facts, order and experience.
Scientific knowledge we hang onto with both hands. They are certain, they must be certain. However, they don't say with certainty what nature will be like; they only describe what nature seems to be like. If there were no exceptions to the "laws of nature", there would be no scientific progress. And, of course, the unexplainable healings.......... well, they must be do to a wonderful doctor.
Probability vs Certainty (The Inductive Approach)
We never live our lives in certainty, we could get hit by a bus tomorrow. It's a rational probability that most of us will still be alive when the sun rises. Inductive reasoning argues from a specific to a general truth. In other words, inferring that God exists argues for God as the highest degree of probability based on the sum of observed facts, order and experience.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Life is/is not absurd...........?
Yes, I've been away a while. Friends with cancer. etc, etc. But I'm back and trying to keep up. Here is a short observation, thanks to William Craig. If there is no God, life has no meaning, ultimately. Life is with out significance, value, and purpose.
We ( some of us ) insist on proof. Certainty is based on math and logic. "Religious" statements like Jesus Christ rose from the dead, can't be mathematically or logically certain, neither can statements made about history, physics, astronomy, or any worldview. Nash
Historical knowledge is becoming more of a problem for those who choose not to believe, as archeologists find more artifacts to support a young earth, and document the Bible. All of our history is based on human eyewitnesses. They could be wrong !
Scientific certainty seems to be the one thing a person can rely upon. However, science only describes what nature seems to be like. Miracles are discounted, because the laws of nature can't be changed. However if the laws of nature could never be changed, (regardless of which world view a person has ) there would be no evolution of our knowledge, no progress in understanding, no breakthroughs. It is doubly hard when these people are confronted with miracles.
I could go on, but I have to go............ God bless
We ( some of us ) insist on proof. Certainty is based on math and logic. "Religious" statements like Jesus Christ rose from the dead, can't be mathematically or logically certain, neither can statements made about history, physics, astronomy, or any worldview. Nash
Historical knowledge is becoming more of a problem for those who choose not to believe, as archeologists find more artifacts to support a young earth, and document the Bible. All of our history is based on human eyewitnesses. They could be wrong !
Scientific certainty seems to be the one thing a person can rely upon. However, science only describes what nature seems to be like. Miracles are discounted, because the laws of nature can't be changed. However if the laws of nature could never be changed, (regardless of which world view a person has ) there would be no evolution of our knowledge, no progress in understanding, no breakthroughs. It is doubly hard when these people are confronted with miracles.
I could go on, but I have to go............ God bless
Sunday, July 31, 2011
God: The First Initiator Through the Cosmos and Philisophically
Cosmological means "world", but also can mean order. These arguments spring from the beginning of the world to a principle, being, or a reason. Why is there something instead of nothing? We all know that nothing from nothing leads to nothing, not something.
Just by living life, we can see that things are always changing. And, being human, we seek a reason for these changes. To quote Sproul, Gerstner and Lindsley, "If something exists now, sowething exists necessarily: if anything is, something must have the power of being within itself."
The Law of Causality: Everything is caused by something other than itself.
God is not finite. Time is not finite, nothing connected to time could be included in the construction of the universe. If self-existence is possible, as with God, not everything has to have a cause.....................BUT
1. Whatever begins to exist must have a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. The universe has a cause.
If the universe exists, there are four possibilities:
1. The universe is an illusion.
2. The universe is self created........ violating logic. Because the universe would have power over itself before it was created. This breaks the law of non-contradiction.
3. Self-Existent/Eternal: If whatever starts to exist has a cause, what evidence is there to support the fact that the universe began to exist??
Some of these thoughts are confusing to say the least. Bigger brains than mine came up with them. And once again, I thank Tim Imler for his teaching.
1. We know the universe is NOT an illusion, I hope. What DO you know about the universe.
2. Do you find it more reassuring or less that a loving God created this world for us, and why?
3. Christians aren't a bunch of flakey people. We have evidence for our beliefs, as well as our faith.
We aren't weak, leaning on our God as a crutch. In fact, being a real Christian for many around the world means sticking his/her neck out. For the Christian reader........... What can you do TODAY, to show God's love???????????
Just by living life, we can see that things are always changing. And, being human, we seek a reason for these changes. To quote Sproul, Gerstner and Lindsley, "If something exists now, sowething exists necessarily: if anything is, something must have the power of being within itself."
The Law of Causality: Everything is caused by something other than itself.
God is not finite. Time is not finite, nothing connected to time could be included in the construction of the universe. If self-existence is possible, as with God, not everything has to have a cause.....................BUT
1. Whatever begins to exist must have a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. The universe has a cause.
If the universe exists, there are four possibilities:
1. The universe is an illusion.
2. The universe is self created........ violating logic. Because the universe would have power over itself before it was created. This breaks the law of non-contradiction.
3. Self-Existent/Eternal: If whatever starts to exist has a cause, what evidence is there to support the fact that the universe began to exist??
Some of these thoughts are confusing to say the least. Bigger brains than mine came up with them. And once again, I thank Tim Imler for his teaching.
1. We know the universe is NOT an illusion, I hope. What DO you know about the universe.
2. Do you find it more reassuring or less that a loving God created this world for us, and why?
3. Christians aren't a bunch of flakey people. We have evidence for our beliefs, as well as our faith.
We aren't weak, leaning on our God as a crutch. In fact, being a real Christian for many around the world means sticking his/her neck out. For the Christian reader........... What can you do TODAY, to show God's love???????????
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Logic of God's Existence From Geisler and Brooks
1. Some things exist with out question.
2. My nonexistence is possible.
3. Whatever has the possibility not to exist is currently caused to exist by another.
4. There cannot be an infinite regress of current causes of existence.
5. Therefore, a first uncaused cause of my current existence exists.
6. This cause mus be infinite, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-perfect.
7. This infinitely perfect being is appropriately called "God".
8. Therefore God exists.
9. This God who exists is identical to the God described in the Christian Scriptures.
10. Therefore, the God described in the Bible exists.
2. My nonexistence is possible.
3. Whatever has the possibility not to exist is currently caused to exist by another.
4. There cannot be an infinite regress of current causes of existence.
5. Therefore, a first uncaused cause of my current existence exists.
6. This cause mus be infinite, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-perfect.
7. This infinitely perfect being is appropriately called "God".
8. Therefore God exists.
9. This God who exists is identical to the God described in the Christian Scriptures.
10. Therefore, the God described in the Bible exists.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Big Bang?
Is it possible that a random explosion caused all of the earth's wonders? Is it possible that a random explosion provided a perfectly balanced universe, and atmosphere on earth? Or....... was there just a random big bang.
Where did the elements for the bang come from? What ignited them? How did they disperse? What started life? There aren't a lot of answers from those who want to ignore God. For our Darwinian friends, the apes skipped several stages. But, let's go back to the earth.
1. Just to tell you how fragile the earth is, and how wonderful the Creator is, if the gravitational force of the earth was changed by 10, followed by 40 zeros, the sun wouldn't exist, and the moon would crash into the earth, or sheer off into space, Even the slightest increase in gravity would make the stars much larger than the sun,causing the sun too burn erratically to continue life on this planet.
2. Oxygen makes up 21 % of our atmosphere. If it were higher, fires would break out, people would suffocate if the oxygen levels were lower than 15%.
3. If the centrifugal force of the planets did not precisely balance the force of gravity, nothing would be held in the sun's orbit.
4 If the universe was growing at a rate one millionth more slowly than it is, the temperature on earth would be 10, 000 degrees.
5. Our galaxy has one hundred billion stars, the average distance between them is 30 trillion miles. If that distance was altered slightly, orbits would become "wobbly", and the temperatures on earth would become erratic. ( Travelling at space shuttle speed, seventeen thousand miles an hour of five miles a second, it would take 201,450 years to travel 30 trillion miles.
6. Any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of light (now defined to be 186,282 miles per second ). Even a slight change in in the speed of light would change the other laws of physics and make earth inhospitable to life.
7. Jupiter, in its orbit, plays the role of protecting earth from bombardment from space debris. Its heavy gravitational pull acts as a cosmic "vacuum cleaner" , attracting asteroids, meteors and other debris that may strike Earth.
8. If Earth's crust were any greater, too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust to support life. If it were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would make life impossible.
9. If the rotation of the earth too longer than 24 hours, the temperature difference would be too great between night and day. If the rotation period was shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be too great.
10. Surface temperature differences would be too great if the axial tilt of the earth were altered slightly.
11. If the atmospheric discharges (lightening) rate, were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less , there would be too little nitrogen in the soil.
12. If there were more seismic activity, much life would be lost. If there were less, nutrients on the ocean floors and river runoff would not be cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. Even earthquakes are necessary to sustain life as we know it.
a. Has this changed your thinking?
b. I find it amazing all of the balancing that is required to keep our planet functioning. Much balancing is required to keep our bodies functioning as well. Do you distance yourself? Have a "thin skin" "erupt too much" or take in every problem like it's yours?
Pray about what the Lord would have you do about those things........... write the prayers down.
See you next time
Where did the elements for the bang come from? What ignited them? How did they disperse? What started life? There aren't a lot of answers from those who want to ignore God. For our Darwinian friends, the apes skipped several stages. But, let's go back to the earth.
1. Just to tell you how fragile the earth is, and how wonderful the Creator is, if the gravitational force of the earth was changed by 10, followed by 40 zeros, the sun wouldn't exist, and the moon would crash into the earth, or sheer off into space, Even the slightest increase in gravity would make the stars much larger than the sun,causing the sun too burn erratically to continue life on this planet.
2. Oxygen makes up 21 % of our atmosphere. If it were higher, fires would break out, people would suffocate if the oxygen levels were lower than 15%.
3. If the centrifugal force of the planets did not precisely balance the force of gravity, nothing would be held in the sun's orbit.
4 If the universe was growing at a rate one millionth more slowly than it is, the temperature on earth would be 10, 000 degrees.
5. Our galaxy has one hundred billion stars, the average distance between them is 30 trillion miles. If that distance was altered slightly, orbits would become "wobbly", and the temperatures on earth would become erratic. ( Travelling at space shuttle speed, seventeen thousand miles an hour of five miles a second, it would take 201,450 years to travel 30 trillion miles.
6. Any of the laws of physics can be described as a function of the velocity of light (now defined to be 186,282 miles per second ). Even a slight change in in the speed of light would change the other laws of physics and make earth inhospitable to life.
7. Jupiter, in its orbit, plays the role of protecting earth from bombardment from space debris. Its heavy gravitational pull acts as a cosmic "vacuum cleaner" , attracting asteroids, meteors and other debris that may strike Earth.
8. If Earth's crust were any greater, too much oxygen would be transferred to the crust to support life. If it were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would make life impossible.
9. If the rotation of the earth too longer than 24 hours, the temperature difference would be too great between night and day. If the rotation period was shorter, atmospheric wind velocities would be too great.
10. Surface temperature differences would be too great if the axial tilt of the earth were altered slightly.
11. If the atmospheric discharges (lightening) rate, were greater, there would be too much fire destruction; if it were less , there would be too little nitrogen in the soil.
12. If there were more seismic activity, much life would be lost. If there were less, nutrients on the ocean floors and river runoff would not be cycled back to the continents through tectonic uplift. Even earthquakes are necessary to sustain life as we know it.
a. Has this changed your thinking?
b. I find it amazing all of the balancing that is required to keep our planet functioning. Much balancing is required to keep our bodies functioning as well. Do you distance yourself? Have a "thin skin" "erupt too much" or take in every problem like it's yours?
Pray about what the Lord would have you do about those things........... write the prayers down.
See you next time
God's Messages Through Creation
The Logic of God's Existence from When Skeptics Ask , by Geisler and Brooks.
1. Somethings undeniably exist.
2. My nonexistence is possible.
3. What ever has the possibility not to exist currently caused to exist by another
4 .There cannot be an infinite regress of causes of existence.
5. Therefore, a first uncaused cause of my current existence exists.
6. This cause must be infinite, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all- perfect.
7. This infinitely perfect being is appropriately called "God".
8. Therefore, God exists.
9. This God, who exists is identical to the God described in the Christian Scriptures.
10. Therefore, the God described in the Bible exists.
1. Somethings undeniably exist.
2. My nonexistence is possible.
3. What ever has the possibility not to exist currently caused to exist by another
4 .There cannot be an infinite regress of causes of existence.
5. Therefore, a first uncaused cause of my current existence exists.
6. This cause must be infinite, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all- perfect.
7. This infinitely perfect being is appropriately called "God".
8. Therefore, God exists.
9. This God, who exists is identical to the God described in the Christian Scriptures.
10. Therefore, the God described in the Bible exists.
Monday, June 13, 2011
My Account
My Account
Those pesky lemons........... You know you've had one of those days when Satan has been lobbing lemons at you at will. You woke up late, cut yourself shaving, missed the train, were late to work on the day you had to give a presentation, or you got the crabbiest patients in the world. You left work thinking that once you got home there would be peace and quiet, a hot dinner waiting for you, and that you might get some sleep. Instead......... the kids are shrieking, your spouse is upset because you are late due to traffic, and your dinner is cold. The youngest child has a recital. You don't want to go.................. But you must.
Off to the recital, a grade school rendition of musical torture. In addition to your headache, your ears hurt. The thing seems to last forever.
Then, to cap it off, they play some song about a circus, and your lovely daughter runs up and smashes a lemon pie in your face. It's almost the last straw, and actually, if you were honest, it would have been, if you weren't in public. You grind your teeth some more, especially on the way home. You are so angry that you believe that your fingers will have to be surgically removed from the steering wheel.
But wait, where is the source of the anger? Your expectations that the day would be perfect, or next to it. We sometimes wake up late. Sometimes we miss the train. Sometimes we are late to work, or work with crabby people. Our dinners aren't always as we like them. Thank God we have children. I need to tone down my expectations of life. I can't control what is going to happen. What I can control is how I react to what happens. God is in control. No I don't have all the why's and what not's. But this I know:
1 John 2:15-16 (NLT)Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
I know that the Father loves me.
1. Where do you see this Scripture in action today?
2. Do you see it in yourself? How can you deal with it?
I know that the Father loves me.
1. Where do you see this Scripture in action today?
2. Do you see it in yourself? How can you deal with it?
Friday, June 10, 2011
In the beginning
Get started with Google Chrome
Gen 1:1-2 (NLT) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters
Notice something here: This is the first mention of the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for God is plural. The beginning was not the beginning of God, but the beginning of time, or the measure of time. The Spirit of God moved and the word used here is like a hen sitting over, or watching her eggs.
The point obviously, is that God created the earth out of nothing. He created it with special care.
1. Why would the Holy Spirit be mentioned as well?
2. Did you notice how much care God has for this project? Where is it shown?
3. Is this important to you? Why?
Thursday, June 9, 2011
In the Beginning Part one
And God Said...................
Yes, this is a Christian Blog. If you can't deal with it, don't read it, but I hope some of this will help you realize how special you are to God.
What ever begins must have a cause, the universe had a beginning, and therefore, had a cause. SOMETHING had to create the universe. If a person believes in the "Big Bang Theory", what caused the bang? Where did the gases come from? What ignited the explosion?
The First Law of Thermodynamics (I hate to take you back to science class) is that matter and energy can't be created or destroyed. The universe had to begin with order................. where did it come from? SOMETHING had to create the universe.
The Law of Infinite Progress says that things can't go backwards eternally. Everything must have a starting point. In fact, Edwin Hubble, in 1929 discovered that the universe was actually expanding as a result from the light from distant galaxies seeming redder than they should.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics deals with energy. The universe is not eternal and had a starting point. All the energy used for work eventually is used. There is a fixed amount of energy for the universe.
Isaiah 51:6 (NLT)
Look up to the skies above
and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!
God's righteous rule will never end, His salvation lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Where does your energy come from? For whom are you using it?
God's righteous rule will never end, His salvation lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Where does your energy come from? For whom are you using it?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Those Beautiful Lemon Trees Part One
The lemon tree is tall and stately, growing to ten to twenty feet. It fills the air with a wonderful aroma, both from its flowers and its oil. But, just like any other beautiful thing in nature, it does have God created defense mechanisms, the twigs have thorns, and the juice of the lemon is acidic. This discourages the birds, and other animals , from climbing up, or flying by and taking a taste. It's just not worth getting a thorn in the beak or in the paw, or sprayed in the eye with acidic juice. Lemon trees can't handle any cold weather, and must be irrigated if it gets too dry. If the wind blows too hard, they lose their leaves, the possibility of a crop as well.
It's time to do some comparisons:
I'm definitely NOT tall, or pretty. I don't permeate the air with a wonderful scent, unless I accept it, because I'm a sinner, but because of Christ, I am a sweet smelling offering to His Father. That's a deep thought. God can't stand the stench of sin, that was one of the many reasons for the continuous offerings in the Temple. Christ's blood covered our sins once and for all. But does His own Father want to smell His Son's blood? I think it's similar to house cleaning, most of the products are lemon scented, you don't want your guests to know that how hard you worked to clean the house, but the aroma remains. God had the solution planned from the beginning to the "sin problem", His Son did not back down. He, God must have wept with both pain and pride.
Now, it's our turn, we have to be proud of Jesus, and accept what He did for us.
Look up these Scriptures:
Num28:6
2 Cor 6: 17-18
Phil 4:18
2 Cor 2:15
The Old Covenant contained a complicated offering system:
1. The burnt offering-covering sins, symbolizing surrender, love, and commitment to God.
2,.The grain offering ( the first of the crops) voluntary, a manner of giving thanks for first fruits.
3. Fellowship or peace offerings are all voluntary, symbolic of fellowship with God.
a. Thank offering--------Thankfulness for a special blessing
b, Vow offering---------Offers a ritual expression of a vow
c. Free will offering-----Symbolizes general thankfulness
4.Sin Offering: mandatory offering with varying degrees of sacrifice based on the economic status of the person giving the offering. It was made by some one who had sinned, or had POTENTIALLY sinned.
Each of these offerings, except the grain, and the sin, for the very poor, required blood sacrifice of an innocent animal. Note how the sin offering included even those who might have sinned . It's a Catch 22. A person who really loves God does not want to be dishonest with Him, but believes he believes he has followed the Law to the letter, but perhaps he slipped up somewhere. So even he must make a sacrifice. All of these people walked with guilt raining on their shoulders.
1. Why is it so important that Christ's blood made His offering atonement for sin once and for all for you?
2. Do you struggle with that? How? What else could the Lord have done to cover your sins?
Dear brothers and sisters I struggled with that for a long time. I thought that one thing I had done was just too awful for the Lord to forgive. A wise man told me I was forgiven when I accepted the Lord. What did I want? Did I want Him beaten more? Crucified again? Of course not. His blood covers it all, the past, the present and the future. The hardest part is getting past the pride, and accepting it. WE want to fix it, just like the two year old saying "Me do it". We can't, only He can.
3. How burdensome would you find this offering system? Remember, your offering had to be perfect, and exchanged for the Temple coins. Would you still worship at the Temple?
4, What do the scriptures I have chosen mean to you?
It's time to do some comparisons:
I'm definitely NOT tall, or pretty. I don't permeate the air with a wonderful scent, unless I accept it, because I'm a sinner, but because of Christ, I am a sweet smelling offering to His Father. That's a deep thought. God can't stand the stench of sin, that was one of the many reasons for the continuous offerings in the Temple. Christ's blood covered our sins once and for all. But does His own Father want to smell His Son's blood? I think it's similar to house cleaning, most of the products are lemon scented, you don't want your guests to know that how hard you worked to clean the house, but the aroma remains. God had the solution planned from the beginning to the "sin problem", His Son did not back down. He, God must have wept with both pain and pride.
Now, it's our turn, we have to be proud of Jesus, and accept what He did for us.
Look up these Scriptures:
Num28:6
2 Cor 6: 17-18
Phil 4:18
2 Cor 2:15
The Old Covenant contained a complicated offering system:
1. The burnt offering-covering sins, symbolizing surrender, love, and commitment to God.
2,.The grain offering ( the first of the crops) voluntary, a manner of giving thanks for first fruits.
3. Fellowship or peace offerings are all voluntary, symbolic of fellowship with God.
a. Thank offering--------Thankfulness for a special blessing
b, Vow offering---------Offers a ritual expression of a vow
c. Free will offering-----Symbolizes general thankfulness
4.Sin Offering: mandatory offering with varying degrees of sacrifice based on the economic status of the person giving the offering. It was made by some one who had sinned, or had POTENTIALLY sinned.
Each of these offerings, except the grain, and the sin, for the very poor, required blood sacrifice of an innocent animal. Note how the sin offering included even those who might have sinned . It's a Catch 22. A person who really loves God does not want to be dishonest with Him, but believes he believes he has followed the Law to the letter, but perhaps he slipped up somewhere. So even he must make a sacrifice. All of these people walked with guilt raining on their shoulders.
1. Why is it so important that Christ's blood made His offering atonement for sin once and for all for you?
2. Do you struggle with that? How? What else could the Lord have done to cover your sins?
Dear brothers and sisters I struggled with that for a long time. I thought that one thing I had done was just too awful for the Lord to forgive. A wise man told me I was forgiven when I accepted the Lord. What did I want? Did I want Him beaten more? Crucified again? Of course not. His blood covers it all, the past, the present and the future. The hardest part is getting past the pride, and accepting it. WE want to fix it, just like the two year old saying "Me do it". We can't, only He can.
3. How burdensome would you find this offering system? Remember, your offering had to be perfect, and exchanged for the Temple coins. Would you still worship at the Temple?
4, What do the scriptures I have chosen mean to you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)