1. I am thankful that there is a God, and therefore life has purpose, meaning, and responsibility.
2. I am thankful for Christ, who provided salvation and deliverance from sin, and a personal relationship with the almighty God.
3. I am thankful for my family, with a wonderful Christian heritage, upbringing, and example.
4. I am thankful for you -- my friends, who mean a lot to me; who challenge, encourage, and inspire me.
5. I am thankful to live in a free country founded on Christian principles.
6. I am thankful for peace and safety, and freedom from persecution.
7. I am thankful for abundant blessings - I lack nothing, and have more things than I need to survive.
8. I am thankful for my job, where I get to impact the lives of youth; where I am privileged to learn and grow in a caring environment.
9. I am thankful for Kentucky Mountain Bible College, and our emphasis on training in holiness; training not just to survive life, but preparing for life itself.
10. I am thankful for the ability to be thankful. We're the only ones who can - we are special in creation.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Universal Relativism
Pondering relativism recently, I was struck by a peculiar thought. I cannot build a large-scale model based on relativism, because relativism only exists in a limited scope.
Relativism is relative.
We might believe in relativism, but why?
Let's start as far out as we know -- The Universe. Here we observe absolute law, so continuous an accurate that we (or the Mayans) can accurately predict hundreds - even thousands - of years ahead. This is true throughout the universe, the galaxy, and the solar system.
So let's come down to earth. Surprisingly, here we also observe absolute law. Gravity operates here without exception, just as it has throughout the entire universe. Everything is consistent, absolute, and reliable. Photosynthesis works - always. Respiration, the hydrologic cycle, the law of entropy, as well as recovery, and regeneration. A forest burns, and a forest grows back. Water evaporates, and water rains. It is all reliable; consistent; absolute.
Here we observe animals - something we have not seen anywhere else in the universe. They too, are very consistent, and the circle of life appears absolute. They grow; they die. But they all continue in constancy and consistency. We can predict what will happen, and it does.
Then we see a strange animal. Sometimes active during the day; sometimes active during the night. Sometimes carnivore; sometimes herbivore. Sometimes building; sometimes destroying. We cannot predict him. Each one acts differently, and each one may not act the same way every time in the same situation. Strange he is, this creature called human.
And it's the only place where we find relativism.
Nowhere else in the entire universe have we seen relativism. Nowhere else on the earth. What is it about this creature that is different? He is inconsistent; he is changeable. We cannot accurately predict him. What has given him freedom from the absolute law that governs all?
Friends, we could argue that we have evolved to this point. But how can we, who evolved by absolute law, rise above that law? How can we free ourselves from it? All of the rest of the universe is absolute -- how can we be outside it?
No -- moral relativism, social ethics, societal differences, situational ethics, and "Darwinian morality" all must come from somewhere else.
We are left with an obvious deduction: In order for us to be free from the law, we have have been freed from it. Was the human race granted freedom of choice at some point? Were humans given the ability to operate outside absolute law? Were they permitted the freedom to rebel?
Humans are different; humans are special. They are not just another animal. They are very unique. The Bible shows that it was God - the Creator of the absolute universe - who made man in His own image and gave him the freedom of choice. (Genesis 1-3) We have a privilege no other creation has. We can believe relativism and situational ethics only because God gave that freedom to us.
Friends,
Relativism shows the significance of man.
Relativism declares the existence of God.
Relativism is relative.
"His law he enforces, the stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine;"
- Let All Things Now Living, Katherine K. Davis
We might believe in relativism, but why?
Let's start as far out as we know -- The Universe. Here we observe absolute law, so continuous an accurate that we (or the Mayans) can accurately predict hundreds - even thousands - of years ahead. This is true throughout the universe, the galaxy, and the solar system.
So let's come down to earth. Surprisingly, here we also observe absolute law. Gravity operates here without exception, just as it has throughout the entire universe. Everything is consistent, absolute, and reliable. Photosynthesis works - always. Respiration, the hydrologic cycle, the law of entropy, as well as recovery, and regeneration. A forest burns, and a forest grows back. Water evaporates, and water rains. It is all reliable; consistent; absolute.
Here we observe animals - something we have not seen anywhere else in the universe. They too, are very consistent, and the circle of life appears absolute. They grow; they die. But they all continue in constancy and consistency. We can predict what will happen, and it does.
Then we see a strange animal. Sometimes active during the day; sometimes active during the night. Sometimes carnivore; sometimes herbivore. Sometimes building; sometimes destroying. We cannot predict him. Each one acts differently, and each one may not act the same way every time in the same situation. Strange he is, this creature called human.
And it's the only place where we find relativism.
Nowhere else in the entire universe have we seen relativism. Nowhere else on the earth. What is it about this creature that is different? He is inconsistent; he is changeable. We cannot accurately predict him. What has given him freedom from the absolute law that governs all?
Friends, we could argue that we have evolved to this point. But how can we, who evolved by absolute law, rise above that law? How can we free ourselves from it? All of the rest of the universe is absolute -- how can we be outside it?
No -- moral relativism, social ethics, societal differences, situational ethics, and "Darwinian morality" all must come from somewhere else.
We are left with an obvious deduction: In order for us to be free from the law, we have have been freed from it. Was the human race granted freedom of choice at some point? Were humans given the ability to operate outside absolute law? Were they permitted the freedom to rebel?
Humans are different; humans are special. They are not just another animal. They are very unique. The Bible shows that it was God - the Creator of the absolute universe - who made man in His own image and gave him the freedom of choice. (Genesis 1-3) We have a privilege no other creation has. We can believe relativism and situational ethics only because God gave that freedom to us.
Friends,
Relativism shows the significance of man.
Relativism declares the existence of God.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Well, What do You Know?
"I met a man at the coffee shop, and was telling him all about the powerful players in the Middle East controversy. Found out at the end of the conversation that this man lives next door to me."
I wonder if we can't see any of the world, because we are trying to see all of it.
(background in Amusing Ourselves to Death)
(Inspired by a small portion of the Pilgrim's Regress, p. 198-199.)
In our modern age, we are inundated with information. We have the ability to know what is going on (albeit, perhaps a bit skewed) in almost any part of the world. It has almost become a moral obligation to be not only aware, but punditic and opinionated to the point of argument.
But what has actually occurred is the exact opposite. We don't care. We are overloaded with information, and so we withdraw from it all.
Perhaps, in trying to see the whole forest, we see and care less about the trees. Perhaps, in trying to know the whole world, we know nothing about our neighbor. Perhaps, in trying to become part of the "universal consciousness," we are in fact, comatose.
What if we were created for the opposite. What if, in knowing one person so well, we can then meet all people, because we know they are just like our friend. What if, by loving our community, that love would overflow to every community we see. What if, by being so attached to one place, we then care about every place, because we know it is someone's home.
If we quit trying to save the world, (and tried to save our neighborhood) perhaps we would.
I wonder if we can't see any of the world, because we are trying to see all of it.
(background in Amusing Ourselves to Death)
(Inspired by a small portion of the Pilgrim's Regress, p. 198-199.)
In our modern age, we are inundated with information. We have the ability to know what is going on (albeit, perhaps a bit skewed) in almost any part of the world. It has almost become a moral obligation to be not only aware, but punditic and opinionated to the point of argument.
But what has actually occurred is the exact opposite. We don't care. We are overloaded with information, and so we withdraw from it all.
Perhaps, in trying to see the whole forest, we see and care less about the trees. Perhaps, in trying to know the whole world, we know nothing about our neighbor. Perhaps, in trying to become part of the "universal consciousness," we are in fact, comatose.
What if we were created for the opposite. What if, in knowing one person so well, we can then meet all people, because we know they are just like our friend. What if, by loving our community, that love would overflow to every community we see. What if, by being so attached to one place, we then care about every place, because we know it is someone's home.
If we quit trying to save the world, (and tried to save our neighborhood) perhaps we would.
"The Landlord has knit our hearts so closely to time and place -- to one friend rather than another and one shire more than all the land."
"Out, little spear that stabs. I, fool, believed
I had outgrown the local, unique sting,
I had transmuted away (I was deceived)
Into love universal the lov'd thing."
(The Pilgrim's Regress, p. 198)
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Don't Think and Drive (9)
Fall Break at KMBC:
Youth Challenge went great! I think this was one of the best years for me personally.
To all my friends who were there -- It was great to see you again!!
Along with 3 days there, today was a optometrist (eye doctor) appointment, which added a bit more excitement.
On the serious side:
"Microwave Altars" really bother me. If someone comes to the altar, and doesn't get help by the time we've finished the closing prayer, something didn't work. It's time to get up and go anyway. I've seen altar workers push people through a litany, like everyone has to fit situation #14 in the altar workers' handbook, or "it's just emotion." Why can't we work with people in a way that gives them time to let God really deal with them, instead of just rushing through prayers?
If you say, "we don't encourage that," I will reply. #1, I watch it encouraged all the time, intentional or not. #2, that is already the social expectation that we have created. We'll have to work to change it. When you microwave, you run the risk of it getting soft and soggy. Let's try Sonbaking!
Some funny things:
Shushan: *shock* "David is wearing a bracelet!"
Shushan: "There's a dog driving that car!"
Me: "What!?"
Shushan: "He's sitting in the driver's seat." *calming down* "Well, he's sitting in the driver's lap, but still, he shouldn't be there!"
Me: "It's probably his seeing-eye dog."
Now here is a walking motion disaster --
A tight straight jean skirt with 5 inch heel knee-boots! (Talk about "can't walk"! Lol)
So, I'm driving along today, and suddenly see a pair of sunglasses reflected in my window. I've owned this car for 8 months, and never saw those things! I guess they came free with the car. :)
Have you ever wondered why they have you pick out new frames - your new "look" for the next couple years - while your eyes are dilated, and you really can't see?
Speaking of which, I decided today that these "auto-drive" features on cars would be a great idea. After the dilation didn't wear off anywhere close to as fast as they said it would, I would have preferred for a computer to be driving my car! (for clarification, they have now begun to return to normal - over 7 hours later)
See
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/27/gm-will-launch-self-driving-car-in-2008/
Today, my car read "Oil Pressure, 2psi. NORMAL" -- That doesn't seem very normal to me! LOL
"I prefer to run eastward marathons. Whenever I run westward, everything starts going wrong. It seems as though the whole world is turning against me!"
- Marathon runner Iván Buddíndenwin
Youth Challenge went great! I think this was one of the best years for me personally.
To all my friends who were there -- It was great to see you again!!
Along with 3 days there, today was a optometrist (eye doctor) appointment, which added a bit more excitement.
On the serious side:
"Microwave Altars" really bother me. If someone comes to the altar, and doesn't get help by the time we've finished the closing prayer, something didn't work. It's time to get up and go anyway. I've seen altar workers push people through a litany, like everyone has to fit situation #14 in the altar workers' handbook, or "it's just emotion." Why can't we work with people in a way that gives them time to let God really deal with them, instead of just rushing through prayers?
If you say, "we don't encourage that," I will reply. #1, I watch it encouraged all the time, intentional or not. #2, that is already the social expectation that we have created. We'll have to work to change it. When you microwave, you run the risk of it getting soft and soggy. Let's try Sonbaking!
Some funny things:
Shushan: *shock* "David is wearing a bracelet!"
Shushan: "There's a dog driving that car!"
Me: "What!?"
Shushan: "He's sitting in the driver's seat." *calming down* "Well, he's sitting in the driver's lap, but still, he shouldn't be there!"
Me: "It's probably his seeing-eye dog."
Now here is a walking motion disaster --
A tight straight jean skirt with 5 inch heel knee-boots! (Talk about "can't walk"! Lol)
So, I'm driving along today, and suddenly see a pair of sunglasses reflected in my window. I've owned this car for 8 months, and never saw those things! I guess they came free with the car. :)
Have you ever wondered why they have you pick out new frames - your new "look" for the next couple years - while your eyes are dilated, and you really can't see?
Speaking of which, I decided today that these "auto-drive" features on cars would be a great idea. After the dilation didn't wear off anywhere close to as fast as they said it would, I would have preferred for a computer to be driving my car! (for clarification, they have now begun to return to normal - over 7 hours later)
See
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/27/gm-will-launch-self-driving-car-in-2008/
Today, my car read "Oil Pressure, 2psi. NORMAL" -- That doesn't seem very normal to me! LOL
"I prefer to run eastward marathons. Whenever I run westward, everything starts going wrong. It seems as though the whole world is turning against me!"
- Marathon runner Iván Buddíndenwin
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