Hurrah for Art!

Here's a quick "shout-out" to my art teacher. Here's some unique art that I think qualifies as art! :-) It's amazing to see 2-d art that looks 3-d! Thanks Ms. Ardern for all we've learned! P.S. - If anyone knows the name of this artist, I would like to know it!

The Impossible

When you are facing the impossible, look to the God Who made it! He is still in charge of it all! As you worship this weekend, worship Him Who is above all things our Savior & King!

Uh-Oh!

Every time you think you're having a bad day...remember this guy...it can always get worse!

Bin Laden Found!

Don't we wish?!!

This is a funny advertisement, but I thought I would just post it as a quick reminder to all my readers to remember our troops around the world who are still doing their duty every day without backing down. I'm proud to have served and proud every day of the men and women who continue to pay the price on behalf of us millions here at home! Don't forget them. And, if you know a service member overseas, I encourage you to send them a letter or even better, a package (see my favorite links). You have no idea how much that means to a deployed service member. Think of them often! Pray for them always.

Deviance?

Which theory of deviant behavior do you agree with and why?

This is a challenging question. Of the varying theories behind deviance, I tend to like elements of each.

The most interesting statement I found in the textbook discussion was on page 136: "Everyone is deviant to some extent or other, at one time or another, but not everyone is a criminal."

Please allow me to digress for a moment. I must acknowledge the lens through which I view this topic and all topics for that matter. I was raised in a very conservative family which placed great emphasis on the teachings of the Bible. I attended private schools that caused me to
pursue independent thought in the context of moral absolutes. As a young adult, I attended two years of formal concentrated Biblical/religious training. This has unquestionably influenced my perspectives. I cannot eliminate this from who I am, nor do I desire to do so.

I will not claim to be a great theologian or Biblical expert, but I do have a little more than average familiarity with its words and meanings as well as varying perspectives and interpretations of its teachings.

This said, I find it rather fascinating that the writers of the Bible depict a startlingly clear representation of what some have termed, "the human condition." This is the very same concept the textbook discussed (see above). One Biblical writer wrote, "All have sinned and come short of the glory [perfection] of God." (The Letter to the Romans, Chapter 3) There are many other references and allusions to this same concept. Regardless of one's definition of "God" the idea that no human is perfect corresponds well with the idea of general human deviance.

I also find it interesting that the Bible alludes to a genetic passing of this imperfection (as by one man - Adam - death by sin entered the world, so by one man - Christ - all may be made alive). I truly believe that weaknesses and/or proclivities toward certain behaviors may be perpetuated from generation to generation (familial tendencies toward alcoholism, depression, etc. are well-documented).

Additionally, I have to agree that not only are we all "imperfect" and deviant; not only are we all genetically flawed in one way or another; but, we are all affected by the environment in which we are raised, and by the psychological self-perception we derive from the input of
others. Biblical writers also addressed these issues by encouraging family stability, consistency of individual and societal norms and values, and the responsibility of each individual to make choices and live according to the positive or negative consequences of those choices.

In conclusion:
I comprehend the relativity of deviance.
I believe in some biological/genetic factors of deviance.
I disagree with the psychological position that all deviance is medically based.
I acknowledge the existence of genuine medical/mental/chemical disorders that may contribute to deviant behavior.
I agree that Social Integration or lack thereof (anomie) does impact one's tendencies toward or away from deviant behavior...but it is not a sole motivator.
I also agree that cultural transmission and labeling plays a serious and possibly causal role in deviant behavior, but again it is not the sole motivator.
Except in the case of the genuinely mentally/medically impaired individual, choice always still has a role.

There is a lot more to be said, but I think that's enough for now. :-)

The textbook referred to is Contemporary Society: An Introduction to Social Science, by John A. & Erna K. Perry. ISBN: 0-205-45884-X

Rest.

I guess this would be a single bed!

These days there are lots of new-fangled ways of helping people sleep. Some are psychological, some physiological, and some chemical. All are supposed to help you achieve that perfect number of hours of deep restful sleep. I have no doubt many of these accomplish their goal. However, I think we often overlook the greatest reason for sleeplessness: the spiritual one.

This can be for two reasons:
1. Lack of peace;
2. Lack of trust.

Lack of spiritual peace comes from carrying guilt for one's wrongdoings and failures. This one is easily solved. Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." This was a promise of rest from carrying the burden of guilt.

This promise also applies to the second reason for rest-less-ness: lack of trust. Often we worry so much about how the bills are going to be paid, how long our job will last, how safe we are, how good the economy is, etc., etc., that we can't rest. our minds are too full of anxiety to properly rest in Christ.

Christ not only wanted us to lay our burdens of sin on His shoulders (He died for them), He also wanted us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. He promised He would take care of us and supply our needs. We just need to trust Him to do so.

I know from personal experience, this is much easier to say than do. However, every time I have put God to the test, He has never failed. Last year, my family and I went for 6 months with no guaranteed income. We never went hungry. Our bills were all paid, and we never missed a house payment. That was just the mercy and grace of God. We were forced to trust in Him and we found Him sufficient in some pretty amazing ways.

I encourage you to cast yourself and your cares upon Him, and REST. He will never fail you.

Nature Vs. Nurture?

This is from a discussion I posted to about the nature vs. nurture debate in one of my college classes. It is original for whatever it's worth.

With a quick scan of some of the available material on the subject, it appears that currently the nature vs. nurture is moving away from its traditional roots a little bit. While nurture traditionally was understood to be the home and family in which one was raised (or lack thereof) now it is becoming more common to understand the nurture side of things as being the totality of environment in which one is brought up. The nature of course refers to one's own innate qualities or inner self.

As to which one is responsible for human behavior and proclivities, I tend to walk somewhere in the middle. I also ascribe to the Biblical perspective which I will briefly delineate.

I believe that the rapid rate of discoveries in the field of genetics holds great promise for unlocking many of the biological "players" in our bodies that predispose us to certain strengths or weaknesses. However, given the nature of human beings, some squander great opportunity and others overcome great adversity to triumph. This demonstrates that it is not entirely genetic nor is it entirely a choice. It is most often a combination of the two.

The Biblical perspective is that mankind was created in the image of God with great perfection and nobility. It describes a process by which that perfection was marred and mankind became morally and biologically imperfect from its original design.

This to me illustrates why some people without faith can accomplish great acts of goodness and nobility and conversely why some people of faith can wreak great havoc and corruption. The reason is simply that all men hold vestiges of their originally intrinsic goodness as well as an intrinsic marred morality. This makes makes all men subject to the greatest of liberties: to choose their own pathway to the left or right...toward right or wrong...toward life or death in the great and small. This Biblical perspective I believe to be a remarkably accurate portrayal of the state of man. It is clear and direct and pulls no punches. It paints a picture of humanity as we are.

Therefore when it comes to the nature vs. nurture debate, I believe we are genetically wired toward good and bad, strength and weakness: biologically and morally. However, what is done with that package is also heavily influenced by the environment in which it is placed. I would have to posit that I believe in nature and nurture.

Bald Is Beautiful!

This picture was emailed to me. If anyone has the credits for who took it, I would love to post them. It certainly is a beautiful picture. I am glad our national bird has made a come back in the last decade. When I was in Alaska a few years ago, I was amazed by how many I saw. You would be driving down the road and see them in groups of four or more sitting in the trees, along the bays and streams, etc. It was neat and they are big, beautiful birds. I am glad to see them slowly increasing in the Lower 48 as well. It is a good thing. Its also a reminder to us of how fragile this beautiful creation is. It's our duty to take care of it. Never forget! Live free!

Moose on the Loose!

I found this photo on the internet. I wish I knew who took it and the story behind it. Having been in the military and worked on flight lines, this would make the maintainers' day! You never know what might happen as a day goes by. No use getting upset about the unusual and unexpected things life throws your way. Just enjoy the ride! You never know what you might miss!

No Intelligence Allowed!

Normally I wouldn't be pushing something like this, but I think it is important for our society on a fundamental level. It opened yesterday. LINK BELOW.

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

Hungry?

Four felines longingly looking at a meal that is so close yet so far away. I love this shot. What more can I say?

How hungry are you? Are you hungry for something that is just beyond your reach? Maybe a new car or a new job? Maybe a different spouse or a little more money? Maybe these are indicators of a deeper hunger: the hunger for peace and satisfaction. The hunger for truth.

Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Mat. 5:6)" That is quite a promise. It seems too good to be true. But have you tried it? The Psalmist exclaimed, "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Ps. 34:8)" I think if we find ourselves hungering for what we do not have then we need to examine our hungers and see if we are hungering amiss. Maybe we need more of the truth and righteousness of Christ. Maybe we need a renewing or maybe we need to be filled with Him in the first place.

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." - Revelation 21:6

Seeing The Invisible

This is another funny picture...at least it made me laugh! The irony of it is just humorous. However, it makes me think of an important truth. When was the last time you thought of the invisible: that which you cannot see?

There are a lot of different beliefs out there about God and death and the afterlife. These are beliefs about Someone and some things that we cannot see. Whether you believe in them or not is really a position of choice because neither the atheist nor the Christian can unequivocally prove 100% his position.

While logic and science can demonstrate much, they are limited to the finite reach of the human mind. Thus faith is required whichever position one might hold. That faith is in something invisible, intangible. Every moment of living is staked on one's belief. That makes it pretty important to consider the invisible and be as certain as possible about the outcome.

I believe in an invisible all-powerful God. I have done much thinking and considered many positions. I have read many books and talked with many people. In the end, I have staked my living and afterlife on that belief. On what do you stake yours?

Some good books to read about this line of thinking:
A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism, by Ravi Zacharias
Seeing the Invisible, by A.B. Simpson

Funny Advertisement

This is just funny. Had to share. :-)

Thoughts of Heaven Today

I think this O-rang thinks he's in Heaven! What is your version of Heaven? What do you think of? Just a harp and a halo? It's going to be much more than that! The Bible indicates that no eye has seen or mind imagined half of the awesomeness of Heaven. Think about Heaven today. Let it contextualize your life!

Really Busy

Sorry I haven't posted for several days. I have been too busy to sleep! I have been running on coffee and grit. Things will slow down a little this weekend while my wife is out of town. I'll be taking care of the kids and will be at home. Should have a chance to blog then (in between homework assignments). See y'all then!

P.S. - If anyone has information or links that describe the structure of endowments, foundations, or non-profit organizations, please feel free to pass that info. on. I am doing some personal research and would appreciate such feedback. Thanks Much!

- Rick

Problems With Evolution (To Name a Few)

I am in a class at Saint Leo University right now called "The Human Behavior Perspective." Chapter Two discussion was about evolution. I have listed my post below in its entirety. I haven't gotten much feedback from my class. Maybe someone else out there in cyberspace would like to respond.

Discuss the Theory of Evolution:

Is it what you have learned earlier?

This depends on what one means by "earlier." I have been familiar with the theory of evolution for most of my life, but have been taught alternate possibilities as well.

Do you believe in it or not?
No I do not.

State the reasons why:

This topic is extremely broad and is impossible to discuss in a few paragraphs. However, let me raise a few serious objections to the theories (yes multiple) of evolution that are out there.

First, I must say that there are profound differences in micro-evolution and macro-evolution. Nearly all scientists (including proponents of intelligent design) agree that micro-evolution continually occurs as species adapt to environments and adapt to change. However, macro-evolution is an entirely different matter.

While micro evolution is visible today, it is horizontal. In other words, it happens within a species as lateral change: i.e., the wolf becomes a dog. However, it never happens vertically: the dog never becomes a cat or any other species. Regardless of how many minute or lateral changes occur as a result of breeding or adaptation (a Chihuahua is certainly different from a Great Dane) a canine is still canine.

We also never see macro-evolution in action today. The common argument is that the changes are too small in scale to observe over the billions of years required for them to occur. However, this is a weak argument because even if this were true, we should still see transitional forms in existence that are somewhere in between the processes. We do not see these and even the fossil record is sketchy at best.

There is also the problem of survival. Evolution is commonly understood as survival of the fittest. As time elapses only the strong remain. However, a simple case study of the bee soon reveals facts about its complexity. In the time required for these survival characteristics to evolve from a primordial soup, the bee would have been extinct long before it would have evolved enough to survive.

There are also some serious issues from other angles. For instance: if we accept the theory that the earth is billions of years old, we also accept that the sun is billions of years old. However the laws of math and physics dictate this is impossible. The sun is deteriorating at a measureable rate. If one extrapolates backward through the millennia, one does not go back very far before the sun is so large that it would have already engulfed the earth. This obviously did not occur so the earth must be "younger" than so many propose.

The final objection I will raise (though there are many, many more), is related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics also known as the Law of Increasing Entropy. While it would be naive to say that order cannot arise amid entropy (it can if certain definite criteria are met), the theory of evolution does not effectively satisfy these criteria.

Therefore, as we may observe readily today, most biological and physical systems consistently gravitate toward entropy and chaos (though often slowly) not the other way around. This flies in the very face of evolutionary theory which proposes that things are continually moving forward. We simply do not observe this in action today.

As I said before, there are many serious flaws with evolutionary theory including the fact that it is often taught as irrefutable fact, when indeed it is still only theory that cannot be reproduced in a lab any more than theories of creation or intelligent design can. I believe it should be taught only as a theory along with other theories of creation or theories of intelligent design, or other theories of origin. Only when all theories are weighed, explored, and tested can science be true to its own skepticism and only then can science advance.

(If anyone is interested in exploring other sides of the story, I have posted a link to a great article on my blog www.alwaysing.blogspot.com. I also recommend (but did not quote from tonight) such books as Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson, The Young Earth by John D. Morris, PhD., Radioisotopes and the Age of the Earth by Vardiman, Snelling, & Chaffin (eds.), The Case for a Creator by Lee Stroebel, The Modern Creation Trilogy by Henry & John Morris, to name a few.)

Lali the Two-Faced Baby!

This was so amazing I had to post it. Visit MSN.com to read the whole story.

The Scientific Case Against Evolution - Reposted

I want to put in a quick plug for a great article I read at the link below, called "The Scientific Case Against Evolution." It's worth reading if for no other reason to point you toward more research. (Just copy and paste into your browser.) Enjoy!

http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_
scientificcaseagainstevolution/

Random Okinawan Memories

A busy outdoor market near Kokusai Dori in Naha.
(See me in the foreground taking another picture?)
{"Dori" is the Japanese word for "street."}

Nothing like an Okinawan "Okie-Dokie!"

Would you drive this?

These pictures were taken by my buddy A. Wheelock, 2007. Thanks man!

The Scientific Case Against Evolution

I want to put in a quick plug for a great article I read at the link below, called "The Scientific Case Against Evolution." It's worth reading if for no other reason to point you toward more research. (Just copy and paste into your browser.) Enjoy!

http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_
scientificcaseagainstevolution/

Back to Okinawa! (Habu Sake)

Yes. You are seeing what you think you are seeing. Those are snakes in those jars. Those snakes are "Habu" one of the most dangerous pit vipers in the world. They are extremely poisonous. Unfortunately that is not formaldehyde in those jars. It is "sake" - a Japanese rice wine. They take the Habu and put it in the sake to make a very potent alcohol. One jar like this costs up to $300+ USD! Don't worry. I didn't drink any!

They sell a lot of the stuff!

I Am NOT Crazy! :-)

Welcome to the Stratosphere Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas!
It is the tallest building in Vegas, towering more than 1000 feet
high at the very tip top. See that little pink/green lighted thing
dangling off the right side at the top? That's one of the rides we
rode last time there! :-)

Here's me standing out on the observation deck.
You can see the lighted Strip behind me in the distance
hundreds of feet below.

Here is the other ride we rode called the XScream! It was a bobsled two persons wide. It set on that bar you can vaguely see. After everyone was strapped in, the platform dropped away and there was nothing below you but street over 900 feet below! Then the bar extended and tilted down at an angle rapidly sliding the "bobsled" to the end of the bar where it jolted to a halt. You felt you were going to be flung off into the darkness like water droplets flicked off a towel! Aaaahh! That will make you quiver! It was great! :-) Another of my great life experiences.