Where?

The Great Emptiness

2012-01-11T17:31:00.007-07:00

The other day I found myself engaged with a group of young men discussing the nature of love. Not romantic love, as such, but the concept in general - Platonic love specifically.

During the conversation I noted the saying from Pascal, "there is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God [...]". I then expanded, of all the desires that I have, even when they are satisfied, I still find myself unsatisfied. I abstract from normal human experience, there must be something that will satisfy this desire, and that it is immaterial, or supernatural.

To this one of the gentlemen responded, "I don't mean to be a buzz-kill, but I think that it is important to acknowledge where our desires come from - evolution. Biological needs have been "programmed" into us, since the individuals that continually sought to satisfy their desires prospered".

In the moment, I confess, I was quite speechless. Furthermore, when I asked for an example only more confusion was added. Upon reflection, I think we miss understood each other. At the time his explanation seemed empty to me. If there is any desire - evolution is it's cause. That is fallacious in the same way as the God-of-the-gaps theory; it explains everything and nothing all at once.

So, what did I mean? Certainly I would agree that I have physical desires (food, water, shelter, sex, etc.) and I acknowledge that those desires can be satisfied. Once satisfied, it is only a matter of time before the desire is found in me once again unsatisfied. I think this was the cycle my friend was referring to, however, my point was different. Even when all of these physical desires are satisfied, there is still a desire in me that is unsatisfied. This desire is therefore unique from the other physical desires.

Occasionally this supernatural desire can be mistaken for one of the physical desires, but it is easily found out which category it belongs to. The point that I wanted to make in the conversation was, sometime I mistake this supernatural desire for mere physical desires. I try to satisfy it with physical means, and though a physical desire may be satisfied in that instance, the supernatural desire goes unsatisfied, and leaves a sense of emptiness. However, I have found, when the supernatural desire is recognized as such, it can be satisfied in God.

The Unsung Story

2011-02-12T15:02:00.003-07:00

A golden beam, passes through the golden sheen,

to land on the crippled hands.

A disfigured face, by which is too hard to trace,

the unsung story and tale.

Whether his mind or heart, he went looking at the start,

it brought about his ruin.

Now at his death, he murmurs through his breath,

"I can't return empty handed."

The Mind

2010-04-29T19:30:00.004-06:00

The mind of some is quick and strong - like a leopard leaping to and fro, from thought to thought.

However, my mind is slow and dull; ideas must be nurtured until fully formed - like the walking of a great elephant who moves one foot at a time in a slow, sure march.

A Deep Depression

2010-03-31T13:36:00.002-06:00

If God does not exist and there is no after life, then there is at least one strong conclusion that can be drawn: this life is all you have to live. There will be no reconciliation of rights and wrongs. No eternal rewards or punishments. No healing of things long since broken. Death ends all. There is no ultimate purpose. There is no ultimate design. There is no ultimate meaning. Eat, drink, and make marry; for when it is over, it is all over - you cease to exist...... I hope you are happy with your life.

On Morality

2009-11-04T16:23:00.004-07:00

To show that the existence of God is necessary for ethics, I have heard a Christian say, "if God does not exist, then I have no reason to live morally - I might as well lie, murder, rape, and pillage."

In response I have heard the atheist say, "I am sorry that you are so weak of mind that you require a belief in God to act rightly."

Notice, however, an important distinction. The Christian is saying that if God does not exist there is no morality, i.e., since there is morality (it is apparent to all) then God exists. He is not saying that his belief in God makes him moral, but that the existence of God defines morality in the world as we experience it.

Learning for Learning's Sake

2009-10-20T17:47:00.002-06:00

Who desires to learn for the sake of learning?
Such a person grasps after the wind.

There is an infinite of wisdom and facts, while only a finite time and mind. Those who seek an infinite as an end are blind and lost. Those who seek the Infinite as an end with learning, money, etc. as means see clearly.

Internship

2009-10-08T17:05:00.002-06:00

I am doing a ministry internship at Cornerstone this year. I will be sending out monthly prayer newsletters; if you would like to be on the list please email me.

Cornerstone is a non-profit, non-denomination Christian bookstore near the Boise State campus. Cornerstone seeks to provide resources and discussion groups to help students think through the Christian worldview. You can learn more about Cornerstone at http://thecornerstoneonline.com

Drive

2009-08-21T21:53:00.004-06:00

Who lives a better life, one committed to study, or one who lives for experience?
The one who experiences since he fulfills the act of living, and the first only observes it.

So, the one who studies continually, fails to live life?
He does.

So, it can be said that living is "knowing that" and not "knowing how"?
It seems so to me.

But, does not the one who neglects thinking rush quickly into folly?
He does.

And, it can be said that a foolish life is inferior to a life lived in wisdom?
It can.

So, the fool does not really experience life.
Not in its full potential.

So, who lives a better life?

Anniversary

2009-07-16T21:04:00.002-06:00

Alone two set off,
Much distance to cover each.

Come, united in love and joy,
Until they reach the Heavenly beach.

Some Explication From Medieval Phil.

2009-07-12T00:44:00.004-06:00

Chapters two and three of the Proslogium contain Anselm’s famous proof. In chapter two Anselm gives three premises and a conclusion. They are numbered in this paper as follows: 1) God “art a being than which nothing greater can be conceived,” 2) “it is one thing for an object to be in the understanding, and another to understand that the object exists,” 3) “that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, cannot exist in the understanding alone,” and therefore 4) “there exists a being, than which nothing greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and in reality” (Anselm 39).

God by definition is a being in which nothing greater can be conceived; thus premise 1) is true by definition. Premise 2) is more controversial, depending upon how it is interpreted. Existence can either be a property of an object or it can be defined as existing in W possible worlds; in either case it is making the claim that existence is different from and better than nonexistence. Premise 3) is making an inference from premise 1) and 2); if God is the greatest conceivable being and existence is better than nonexistence, then the greatest conceivable being has the property of existence or exists in all possible worlds W. Conclusion 4) follows directly from premise 3), viz. God exists.

In chapter three Anselm gives a slightly different formulation of the argument. In chapter three Anselm has two premises and one conclusion; they are numbered in this paper as follows: 5) God “cannot be conceived not to exist,” 6) “there is […] a being than which nothing greater can be conceived to exist, that it cannot even be conceived not to exist,” and therefore 7) God necessarily exists (Anselm 39). The justification for premise 5) is, “it is possible to conceive of a being which cannot be conceive not to exist; and this is greater than one which can be conceived not to exist” (Anselm 39). This is saying that a necessary being is greater than a contingent being. Since, God cannot be conceived not to exist, and there is not a being conceivable that is greater than God, God exists necessarily.

Both of these arguments work together to form Anselm’s proof. The argument in chapter two shows that the greatest possible being that can be conceived actually exists. The argument in chapter three shows that this being is a necessary being. The argument also claims that God is the only necessary being.

An objection to this argument that Gaunilon raises is, it is possible to think of an island that is the greatest possible island, but that does not mean the island actually exists. Anselm replies that Gaunilon is correct in thinking about the island because it is a contingent object: it is possible to conceive of the island not existing. God, however, is not a contingent being since it is not possible to conceive of God’s non-existence - this is demonstrated in chapter two.

Even if it is objected that existence is not a property that can be had by an object, Anselm could respond that the being than which nothing greater can be conceived that exists in all possible worlds is God (Look). This formulation is also helpful in understanding how this being is also necessary, viz. in every possible world it is not possible to conceive of the non-existence of God.

Anselm’s argument is valid and sound in proving that God exists. It should be noted that this proof does not say anything about the nature of God; if one wanted to know about God, they would have to look for empirical evidence or provide different proofs for God’s attributes. This proof, however, clearly demonstrates that God exists and could not be otherwise.

Quotations taken from:
St. Anselm. Proslogium. Readings in Medieval Philosophy. Ed. and introd. Andrew B. Schoedinger. New York: Oxford Press, 1996. 36-40.

Look, Brandon C. “Anselm, Aquinas, and Pascal.” U of Kentucky Philosophy Department. 5 March, 2009. http://www.uky.edu/~look/AnselmAquinasPascal.pdf

Humanity

2009-06-22T13:05:00.004-06:00

Why educate the masses?
So they can live a fuller life, and be more useful and productive to society.

Why not make them slaves?
Since they are humans, they have the right to achieve their full potential.

Why do they make slaves of themselves to their ignorance and passions?

Engaged

2009-06-17T11:38:00.009-06:00

Tanya Cordova and I are now engaged. I proposed to her last Saturday night. After eating dinner with her family (it was her mom's birthday), I took her out to see "The Importance of Being Ernest" performed at Knock 'Em Dead Dinner Theatre. Afterward we searched frantically for an open ice cream shop to no avail, I drove to the top of Table Rock, that overlooks Boise. We talked for sometime before I read Shakespeare's Sonnets 18 and 130. I then read the following poem that I wrote earlier that week,

My fair lady, my fair love:
Soft as a whisper, light as a dove.
Many come from afar to see your grace,
Among whom, none are worthy to receive your embrace.

Eyes like diamond, and roses for your cheek:
Skin of bronze, and a body of a Greek.
Though, Shakespeare’s woman be not divine,
Thou, art a goddess, whose possession is mine.

A gentle spirit, and a soul that is fair:
Lacking no sympathy, and abounding in care.
I dare not put thee to the test,
For injustice towards the helpless will release a tempest.

What great a treasure, what great a pearl:
How did I come by thee, so great a girl?
Surely, Divine Providence has had its way.
Now quickly, tell me what you say,
For, I ask for your hand this day!

Since we agreed to not proclaim our love of one another while dating, she was quite confused as to what I was doing (we did not speak of any plans of an engagement before this date, so she was completely unsuspecting). I reached behind my seat and present this ring, and asked her if she would marry me. Stunned in disbelief, she said yes, and wept a little.

We are planning on being married on September 12, 2009 at Capital City Christian Church by Tom Velasco.

Midnight Ramblings

2009-04-29T22:55:00.004-06:00

Everyday my mind is pressed to the grinding wheel.

Lectures, papers, exams, discussions, readings, etc.

I can discern ever more accurately;
I can see ever more clearly...

But, how dull and blind I still am!!!

My ideas are sifted through the great sieve of tradition;
Only the purest remain.

But wait! What is this?!
A hole: a gaping hole.

Has nobody noticed?
Who shall repair it?
It is far beyond the fix of any patch.

Video Testimony

2009-02-16T00:20:00.004-07:00

Here is the promised video that was played in church. (I could not figure out how to embed it, sorry.)

Click Here

Four Spititual Circles?

2008-12-11T20:23:00.004-07:00

A while ago I read an interview with James Choung (here it is). In it he explains how he came to use four circles to explain the gospel to our current culture that is interested in social justice. Part 1 of a brief video is here; part 2 is here. I think it is a good tool that is more relevant than "The Four Spiritual Laws," though that can be useful too. I suggest reading the interview before watching the video.

We Are Rich!

2008-12-11T00:20:00.005-07:00

For one of my classes this semester, I was assigned to read "The Crisis of Islam" by Bernard Lewis. It is a really good book that attempts to give a brief history of how and why "The West" and radical Islam are in the current conflict.
There was a passing comment that I thought was interesting though...

"Among the components in the mood of anti-Americanism were certain intellectual influences coming from Europe. ... In this perception, America was the ultimate example of civilization without culture; rich and comfortable, materially advanced but soulless and artificial; assembled or at best constructed, not grown; mechanical not organic; technologically complex but without the spirituality and vitality of the rooted, human, national cultures of the Germans and other 'authentic' peoples" (69-70).

It appears to me that there is at least some truth to this...
"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked" -Rev. 3:14
Maybe we need more than just culture....

Questioning the Faith?

2008-12-07T12:43:00.004-07:00

Engage Truth has been recording video testimonies for the last year or so. They edit them down to a three minute video that they play before the service every couple of months. They recorded mine last week. I briefly spoke about my history before coming to Christ as an atheist and the process I began afterward. Here is an excerpt; I will post the video when it is done.

After I became a Christian, I had a lot of questions that need to be answered; it was a long process that didn't happen overnight. I spent a lot of time reading the bible trying to understand what it meant, praying for wisdom about specific things I didn't understand, reading Christian books (there are a lot of people who have had the same questions as you), and talking with my Christian friends. I would ask my friends questions, often about things that they didn't have answers to but we would begin to work out the answers together.

As I took the time to study, reflect, and work through the questions that I had, I began to find answers. I see a lot of people who struggle with questions and doubts but they don't appear to be bothered about finding the answers. It is almost like they are more upset that their world has been shaken up a little, than they are about finding the truth. The fact of the matter is we all have questions and we all need to be taking part in the dirty work of finding the answers.

I suspect that part of what happens when people have doubts and questions that eventually lead them away from the faith is, a lot of questions build up and never get answered. They may begin by asking: is the bible reliable, is Jesus really the messiah, does God answer prayer, did God approve of genocide in the old testament, if god exists does he cause suffering in the world, and many other valid questions like this, but they never find the answers. Eventually there comes a point when they say, "there sure are a lot of things that don't make sense, so God must not exist." The tragedy with this is not that they are asking questions but that they are not finding or even looking for the answers.

I would encourage anyone who has doubts or questions to not feel bad; it is normal and good to ask questions. The important thing though, is to not stay in that place of merely questioning; move on, look for the answers. We believe in God by faith, but it is a faith based on reason; it should not be done blindly. Jesus claimed to be "the way and the truth and the light" John 14:6a. I really think that as we begin to look for him he will begin to reveal himself to us (Matt 7:7-11). I don't want to give anyone the wrong impression either. It is not as though I have all of the answers, but I have began the journey of finding them with Him.

Banana Etiquette - A Short Argument From My Freshman Year

2008-11-22T15:32:00.001-07:00

I have a matter of very great importance for you to consider. I hope that you think about it deeply, and those of you who have wisdom will use it.

There are many different varieties of bananas in the world and they all have one thing in common, they all have peels. Of all the ways that bananas can be prepared and eaten, the most common way is simply eating them raw as a snack. One of the first questions that comes to my mind when eating a banana is, what do you do with the peel? Do you slowly peel the peel off as you eat the banana or do you remove the entire thing before proceeding? It seems that either way you go about it the main goal of consuming the banana is achieved, but what about the intermediary time? Peel on or peel off? There are three main reasons why I think that it is better to leave the peel on the banana as you eat it. The first reason, often times when you eat a banana or other snack foods, your hands are not clean. By holding the peel of the banana as you eat it, it separates the dirt and germs that are on your hands from the actual banana. If you were to hold the naked banana in your hands, any soil would be transferred from your hands, to the banana, and then into your mouth; resulting in unnecessary germ consumption. The second reason, most bananas have a fairly moist/sticky texture. If you hold a naked banana in your hands, the residue from the banana gets all over your hands. This results in a gross feeling, an increased chance of banana residue contaminating other objects, as well as an extra trip to the sink to rinse your hands. The third reason why bananas should be held in their peels as they are eaten is that it is most aesthetically pleasing to people around you. Just as it would be unsatisfactory to use your hands to eat a steak or spaghetti, it is also inappropriate to eat a naked banana with your hands. I hope that you understand the importance and gravity of the situation that is before you.

The Greatest Command

2008-11-12T21:15:00.003-07:00

This semester has been absolutely exhausting. I have been trying to balance work, family, friends, girlfriend, 15 upper division credits, two different club's leadership positions, church, and working out (Ha! like that ever happens). I know that some of you may have been concerned about the lack of posts, but you need not be, I have been continually thinking about philosophy, history, theology, spirituality, etc. Though I may be able to blow you away with discussions of all sorts of things (doubtful), this will suffice for now.

The writer of Ecclesiastes ends the book with this phrase, "Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh" 12:12.
No matter how much knowledge or wisdom I gain it is all weariness and vanity. There is but one thing to do, "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment with every secret thing, whether good or evil" 12:13b,14.
I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to go a university and acquire new skills but it still remains that the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength ... [and to] love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:29-31

Till We Have Faces

2008-08-08T13:36:00.002-06:00

I recently finished "Till We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis. I was told by several individuals before I began reading the book that it was their favorite novel. I now understand. After I finished I noticed two things that remained in my mind.
The first is how disgusting and dreadful sacrifices are. "Hateful to Ungit, is it? Why does Ungit not mend it then? She's had bulls and rams and goats from me in plenty; blood enough to sail a ship on if all were reckoned" (45).
The second was Orual's complaint against the gods. As she began to read the complaint she understood that she knew the real answer all along. As she unrolled her book, "It was written all over inside, but the hand was not like mine. It was all a vile scribble - each stroke mean and yet savage, like a snarl in my father's voice, like the ruinous faces one could make out in the Ungit stone" (290). She had in fact written the book but she immediately recognized why and what the problem/solution was.

The Veritas Forum

2008-08-01T23:53:00.002-06:00

Last April I helped host the first Veritas Forum at Boise State University. Dr. Scott Yenor delivered two lectures on how the modern view of science and the Christian world view understand pain in our lives. Does science as understood by the Enlightenment thinkers adequately account for why we find pain so problematic? Does the Christian world view allow for medical science to alleviate pain in our live? Is there an answer that both gives a solution for suffering and explains why it is a problem? The lectures may be found here.

The Dynamic of Service

2008-02-26T20:47:00.003-07:00

An except from The Dynamic of Service by A. Paget Wilkes

The first need of Japan is for the preaching of a real salvation able to reach the lowest and vilest of men. It seems to be taken for granted that we can never expect anyone to be saved in a heathen land prior to a considerable period of instruction in the principles of Christianity. This appears both reasonable and ordinary common sense, and yet one feels instinctively that there must be a way for a helpless drunkard, a derelict on his way to commit suicide, a criminal condemned to death, and such other, to receive enough instruction in the elements of the Gospel to allow them entering into the experience of salvation immediately and without delay. ~circa 1920

French Missionaries

2008-02-18T00:09:00.009-07:00

I recently received a newsletter from missionary friends of mine who are in France. This is an excerpt that i thought was very honest and encouraging.

It would be fantastic...and false, to be telling you every time I let you know what's going on, of how exciting life is here in France. Life, as a Christian, wherever you live, is hard. There are certainly the times of joy and excitement, the times when our eyes are wide with wonder at what the Lord is doing, but there are also the daily valleys, in which we find that what we are really made of. Will we continue to follow after Him with zeal when he has said to 'follow me' into the recesses of darkness, through the forests of loneliness and drudgery? Will I walk a holy life of peace and joy for Him, when relationships become unbearable and in constant conflict, when living circumstances become daily uncertain, when I miss my home, family, and friends so terribly... when He is all that I have will I still sing His praises?

What is exciting is that Christ is a sure steadfast anchor of hope, that He (unlike all persons and places around us) does not change, that He is faithful.

Much has happened over the last months, and I think I have found that nothing at all happens without prayer, nothing at all. Sadly, we spend so much more time investing in every other thing other than our time with the Lord and prayer. Do we really meet the people where they are at or are we simply telling them where they should be? Do we really take the gospel to them, or in the provision of certain programs require that they come to us?

The Words Squeezed from a Shattered Heart

2007-12-08T13:43:00.001-07:00

(The first attempt of a hardcore lyric, produced on a winter night, some time ago)

How many times have you done this to me now?
You break my heart and expect me to come crying to you.
You stand there:
Cold.
Frozen to the bone.
Black hearted.

I confessed my sin to you, the horrible crime I committed.
I laid my heart out for you to see.

You say, "how could you do this to me?
How could you hurt me like this?"

I made an attempt to reach for you, but you slit my hand into pieces;
You stabbed me in the heart.
And you don't even realize how deep you are staring into yourself.

All the while I am:
Waiting.
Bleeding.
Dieing.

Now I am being poured into by Another.
Slowly.
Healing.
Healing what you tore apart.
Soon I will be fixed.
I can feel the blade you inserted, slowly removed.

Don't let your bitterness consume you.
Surrender.
Collapse.
It will hurt at first;
Give in.

All all the while I will be here;
Waiting.
Forgiveness in my hands.

Spring Creek, NV

2007-12-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Me and Justuin

2007-11-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

During Thanksgiving break my family and I traveled to Nevada to celebrate the holiday with my grandparents. While rummaging through some old boxes in the basement, my little sister found this poem that she wrote when we were kids.

I am sad,
He is mad.
We bath [both] like seals,
We eat meals.
We have frekels,
Thier not called mekels.
We like mules,
Techers makes rules.
We are bolth wering blue,
We are pepel [people] who rule.
He is powting.
And I'am mowting.

~By Katie Ranger

De Anima

2007-10-25T13:42:00.000-06:00

A thought occurred to me today in my Greek philosophy class about the change in the meaning of the word animal. Anima is Greek [Latin, actually] for soul. Thus anything that has a soul is an animal; living, breathing. When the ancients called beasts animals, they were in a sense raising them up; making them just below man, superior over plants and the non-living. However, when the modern man calls humans animals he intends to lower man to the same level of beasts; usually one with no morality and only superior by sheer cunning and brute force.

Do Fish Know They are Wet?

2007-10-23T20:48:00.001-06:00

Do you know that you exist?

The State of Man

2007-10-20T11:22:00.000-06:00

In the 20th century:

"A sentence will suffice for modern man: he fornicated and read the papers...." ~Albert Camus The Fall 1956.

In the 21st century:

"A sentence will suffice for modern man: he just fornicated..." ~Justin Ranger in ingenio meo 2007.

A Fifteen Minuet Poem Conceived at Midnight.

2007-09-04T00:42:00.000-06:00

She Likes Him,
While He likes Her.
She thinks of No-One, save for Herself.

She grows with Envy.
He grows with Rage.
She with Narcissism, into the Grave.

Now that He comes,
What will He think?
All three consumed with Passion,
But with Hearts that are Weak.

If they had Loved
Him on the Throne,
They would not have bothered,
But their desires disown.

A Hardcore Song Masquerading as a Lyrical Ballad

2007-08-05T17:21:00.000-06:00

While in Europe Daniel and I decided to spend six days in Germany. We departed on a Sunday afternoon with hopes to span the southern region of the country and return to Brussels in time to meet his dearest. We planned to stop in Trier, Heidelberg, Rothenberg, Munchen, Dachau, and Wurzburg. We were only able to stay in each town for about a day; which was not enough time to see all that we desired. However, while we were in Heidelberg we saw that which the city boasted most about and then left promptly, leaving no reason to return.

The Rape of Hiedelburg

You, O city, long for the affection of travelers from afar,
Tantalizing them with your beauty.
You spread rumors and tales,
Hoping to make a fortune from their treasures.

These tales I have heard from across the sea.
Tales of Castles, Bridges, Forests, and Churches.
Tales of your purity and simplicity.

Your Beauty has enticed me long enough.
And now...
I've come.

Your finally mine.
There is no waiting, no hesitation;

I know exactly what I want.

Slowely,
Surely,
Systematically,
I reach my hand into your heart.
I feel its warmth.
Its beating.
And in a few short hours I'm done.

I've Come.

I've Seen.

I've Conquered.

Your Beauty...
is nothing to me any more.

I've taken what I want, my pleasures are fulfilled.
I wish that i could say that I'll be back again...

But I wont.

Hellas

2007-07-25T13:10:00.000-06:00

Whilst I was journeying through distant lands there came a time in which I was able to rest my weary legs. My eyes absorbed the colours of the setting sun, my ears the sound of birds, and my mouth the sweetness of black cavendish. I opened a book of old and found upon the page this rhyme.

The world's great age begins anew,
The golden years return,
The earth doth like a snake renew
Her winter weeds outworn:
Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam
Like wrecks of a dissolving dream.

A brighter Hellas rears its mountains
From waves serener far;
A new Peneaus rolls his fountains
Against the morning star;
Where fairer Tempes bloom, there sleep
Young Cyclads on a sunnier deep.

A loftier Argo cleaves the main,
Fraught with a later prize;
Another Orpheus sings again,
And loves, and weeps, and dies;
A new Ulysses leaves once more
Calypso for his native shore.

O write no more the tale of Troy,
If earth Death's scroll must be-
Nor mix with Laian rage the joy
Which dawns upon the free,
Although a subtler Sphinx renew
Riddles of death Thebes never knew.

Another Athens shall arise,
And to remoter time
Bequeath, like sunset to the skies,
The splendour of its prime;
And leave, if naught so bright may live,
All earth can take or Heaven can give.

Saturn and Love their long repose,
Shall burst, more bright and good
Than all who fell, than One who rose,
Than many unsubdued:
Not gold, not blood, their altar dowers,
But votive tears and symbol flowers.

O cease! must hate and death return?
Cease! must men kill and die?
Cease! drain not to its dregs the urn
Of bitter prophecy!
The world is wary of the past-
O might it die or rest at last!

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Amen!

2007-05-25T01:08:00.000-06:00

And so he was lifted upon a tree and an inscription was attached indication who was being killed. Who was it? It is a grievous thing to tell, but a most fearful thing to refrain from telling. But listen, as you tremble before him on whose account the earth trembled!

He who hung the earth in place is hanged.
He who fixed the heavens in place is fixed in place.
He who made all things fast is made fast on a tree.
The Sovereign is insulted.
God is murdered.
The King of Israel is destroyed by an Israelite hand.

This is the One who made the heavens and the earth, and formed mankind in the beginning,
The One proclaimed by the Law and the Prophets,
The One enfleshed in a virgin,
The One hanged on a tree,
The One buried in the earth,
The One raised from the dead and who went up into the heights of heaven,
The One sitting at the right hand of the Father,
The One having all authority to judge and save,
Through Whom the Father made the things which exist from the beginning of time,
This One is "the Alpha and the Omega,"
This One is "the beginning and the end" ... the beginning indescribable and the end incomprehensible.
This One is the Christ.
This One is the King.
This One is Jesus.
This One is the Leader.
This One is the Lord.
This One is the One who rose from the dead.
This One is the One sitting on the right hand of the Father.
He bears the Father and is borne by the Father.
"To him be the glory and power forever. Amen"

~Melito of Sardis

The Last Three Months

2007-05-15T00:58:00.000-06:00

So i will admit that it is pretty ridiculous that i have not posted anything in three months. I don't have any really good excuses. I had work, school, family, and friends, but that is not a good enough reason. I hope to read Paradise Lost in the next couple of weeks, to learn some elementary Greek, and go to Europe. Hopefully these things will give me inspiration to write something worth reading.

The Shepherd Boy sings in the Valley of Humiliation

2007-02-14T00:46:00.000-07:00

He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much:
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.

Fullness to such a burden is
That go on pilgrimage:
Here little, and hearafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.

~John Bunyan

blasted contraption

2007-01-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

Try as hard as i may, i still am unable to rearrange the blasted side bar on my blog!

O for a Thousand Tongues

2007-01-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

O for a thousand tongues to sing my geat Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King, the triumpohs of His grace.
My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
To spread thru all the earth abroad the honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that chams our fears, that bids our sorrows cease,
'Tis music in the sinner's ears, 'Tis life and health and peace.
He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin, He sets the pris'ner free,
His blood can make the foulest clean - His blood availed for me.
Hear Him, ye deaf; His prase, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come; and leap, ye lame, for joy.
Glory to God and praise and love be ever, ever giv'n
By saints below and saints above - the Church in earth and heav'n.

~Charles Wesley

Destruction of the Spanish Armada 1588

2007-01-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Perfect Woman

2006-12-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

She was a phantom of delight,
When first she gleam'd upon my sight;
a lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.

I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.

~William Wordsworth

Bliss

2006-12-04T01:16:00.000-07:00

"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5

Oh the wisdom that I so long for! I have found the house in which she dwells. Where is this house in which men melt and crumble to pieces at her mere presence... Veritas.

Matthew Chapter Seven

2006-11-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

I was reading today and in Matthew 7 and i noticed several things:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." vv. 13,14

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" vv.21-23

The things that stuck out to me were that "few find" the narrow gate that does not lead to destruction.
Also it appears that the people that say "Lord, Lord" actually prophesied, drove out demons, and performed many miracles in his name, but it is the people who do the will of the Father who enter the kingdom.

"Therefore everyone who hears these word of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." vv.24-27

Many people in churches today hear the words of Christ, many people pray, cast out demons, and perform miracles in the Fathers name, but how many people are seeking to "do the will of the Father"? How many people put to practice what Jesus said? How many have entered through the narrow gate?

Should we be pushing for people to join the church or be part of a movement, or to simply do the will of the Father in heaven?

The Dying Christian to his Soul

2006-11-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Vital spark of heav'nly flame!
Quit, O quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, found Nature, cease they strife,
And let me languish into life.

Hark! they whisper; angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away!
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?

The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Len, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is they victory?
O Death! where is they sting?

~Alexander Pope

More on Voting

2006-11-22T01:34:00.001-07:00

Before i continue, in light of the previous post you may be under the impression that i am a liberal that wears a Che' shirt and complains about how much Bush sucks. However that is not the case. I in no way embrace communism, the tyrants that have fought for it, nor people who continue to try and make it the political system in our country. At the same time, i despise democracy. You may ask what then do i think is the best form of government? The answer is quite simple. Monarchy. Not the tyrannical type that ruled parts of Europe during the middle ages, but a benevolent leader. Anyway, that is a subject for a different post...

The other day as i was pondering about voting i realized this: In our current form of elections, it is the most uneducated people that elect the candidate. This appears odd at first, but bear with me. In our society usually more than 60% of the eligible voters actually vote. That is a fairly high percentage. It is also known that in our society most people are in the middle/working class. I think that it would be fair to say that 80% of these people are either not educated or not familiar with current politics. Knowing this, at most 20% of the votes that are made, are made by educated people. I wish to show you the following:

In a simple case of two candidates, you can match the votes up from each candidate, like this...
Candidate A Candidate B
1 1
1 1
1 1
... ...

And so on until all of the votes for candidate A are paired with all of the votes that candidate B received. Whichever candidate that has votes that are unpaired, is the winning candidate.

When pairing the votes, suppose that we know which votes were cast by educated people and which were cast by uneducated people, start by picking an educated vote from candidate A and pair it with an educated vote from candidate B. Do this until one of the candidates runs out of educated votes, for the sake of an example lets suppose candidate A runs out of educated votes first. Then you start pairing the remaining educated votes that are in B with the uneducated votes in A. Do this until candidate B runs out of educated votes. Both candidates will run out of educated votes before the uneducated votes because there are significantly less educated votes. Then take the remaining uneducated votes from each candidate and start pairing them together. The candidate that runs out of votes first loses. The votes that remain for the winning candidate have all been cast by uneducated people, thus the candidate was elected by the uneducated and not by the educated.

This can easily be seen in a bar graph, as represented below. The horizontal lines represent pairing.

A represents pairing of educated votes.
B represents pairing of the remaining educated votes in B with uneducated votes in A.
C represents pairing of uneducated votes.
D shows that candidate B was elected by uneducated votes.

If you keep the percents the same, educated = 20% and uneducated =80%, uneducated people will always be the ones that elect our candidates.

By Jim and Evan Wilson

2006-11-16T01:29:00.000-07:00

Another Reason why Democracy is Bad.

2006-11-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

Today (well I guess yesterday officially) was voting day. I noticed that there were a lot of people that were incredibly eager to vote and I was even reminded to vote by several different people through out the day. I heard several people trying to rally together last minute voters so that they could have their say in the government too. However I did not vote. Some people see this as being irresponsible, and I would agree with them. And that is precisely why I did not vote.

The idea of lay people being able to elect leaders of their country is absolutely absurd! What do I know about politics? What do I know about the policies that are in question? And what do I know about the candidates? Nothing. And millions of other people are in the same position as I.

Much of this information is available to the public and could be found, but I simply do not have time to look into such matters; nor do I care to make the time. Furthermore even if I had the time to study these subjects, why should my opinion matter? I am a 19 year old college student who has a limited understanding of how the world works. If I was to form an opinion and vote on it, it would most likely be wrong.

Still, you will say, 'You have a duty, and the right to vote, that was hard fought for by past generations. It would be wrong to throw the opportunity away.' This again is true, I do have a duty but only because I have been given the right. If I had not been given the right to vote, I would have no obligation to be involved in politics.

My point is this, myself along with millions of other people know very little or nothing about politics. We should not be the ones that are making decisions that affect the entire nation. This especially applies to last minute voters who are absolutely oblivious, and end up checking random boxes. Such decisions are better placed in the hands of people that are well educated and informed in these areas.

Hidden Gems

2006-11-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

So here are a few cites that i have found useful:
http://www.thedcl.org
http://www.ccel.org/

http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.e-sword.net

http://www.utlm.org/
http://www.icr.org/
http://www.quodlibet.net/

And It Begins

2006-10-15T23:42:00.000-06:00

So apparently unbeknownst to me, my little sister is not so little any more. Here she is with her Homecoming date. Unfortunately I was not around to meet the young gentleman, but I wish that I was, to see of what character he was made. This marks the beginning of her transition to adulthood ... your prayers would be appreciated.

Reductio Ad Absurdum

2006-10-03T22:47:00.000-06:00

Proof by contradiction.

To prove "If A, then B":

We assume the conditions in A.
Suppose, for the sake of contradiction, not B.
Argue until we reach a contridiction.
Thus we have reached a contradiction. Therefore the supposition (not B) must be false. Hence B is true.

I am still having a hard time understanding exactly how this works, but aparently it does...

Epitaph

2006-10-02T21:08:00.000-06:00

Okay okay, so some of you may have caught on that this is a double post from my other blog, but just dont worry about it. None the less, i was reading "The Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius" the other day. In book I chapter XXIV Gellius records some epitaphs that some famous poets had written for their own graves. I fancied this one.

"Young man, although you haste, this little stone
Entreats thee to regard it, then to read its tale.
Here lie the bones of Marcus, hight Pacuvius.
Of this I would not have you unaware. Good bye."

Discouragement

2006-09-16T20:56:00.000-06:00

I am pretty confident that no one reads this blog. Partly because i never post anything and partly because i am not important enough for anyone to enquire about me. None the less, i do intend on posting more often than i do now ... as soon as i find the time and inspiration of writing something worth while.

Start of School

2006-08-21T17:04:00.000-06:00

Well, school has begun as of today. I noticed that i have mixed feelings about the situation, probably not unlike most other people. None the less, i am sure that the few people that happened to take a peek at this so called blogg have found it to be incredibly ridiculous that i have not posted one single thing all summer long. I really have no excuse, but now that school has started i will be on the computer more often, and hopefully with something interesting to say.

Home Sweet Home

2006-05-15T23:58:00.000-06:00

So i am home now, all moved in and everything. I start work on the 22nd, framing house. It will be good to have money in my bank account again. I also look forward to hanging out with everyone this summer. Good luck with your own plans, I hope everyones summer is blessed.

Be Holy!

2006-05-09T12:43:00.000-06:00

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ' Be holy, for I am holy,'" 1Peter 1:13-16

I have noticed recently that it doesnt seem like modern evangelicals put a very big importance on the idea of holiness. well i think that they should. If you are saved, you are no longer a slave to your flesh (Romans 6), it has been crucified with Jesus, he has set you free and commanded you to be holy. So repent of your sins(1John 1:9), come to the foot of the cross, be cleansed and walk humbly with your God.

Jesus is Lord

2006-05-04T18:14:00.000-06:00

So with the coming release of the 'Da Vinci Code' movie, some people are starting to make claims that Jesus never claimed to be God. I couldn't find this to be more inaccurate. In the gospels that are in the bible as well as the Gnostic gospels there are many claims that Jesus makes claiming that he is God.
This is one of them...

John 8:57,58 "Then the Jews said to Him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” Immediately after Jesus said this the Jews took up stones to kill Jesus because he was claiming to be God. There is more to the story in the verses that precede and follow these two. But the basic claim that Jesus was making can be seen. He was saying that he was "I AM."
In the Old Testament when Moses is arguing with God over whether he is the right man to be sent to free the Israelites or not, "Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when i come to the children of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they say to me, "what is His name?" what shall i say to them?' And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you."'" Exodus 3:13,14.
In this Old Testament passage, God is clearly calling himself I AM. Likewise, Jesus is making the same claim in the Gospel of John.

First Post

2006-04-26T18:55:00.000-06:00

So this is my first post on Blogger........wow.