I fell asleep the night of 12/11/11 on the recliner while watching television. I was awakened sometime between 11:30 and midnight to what seemed like someone making fun of the Holy Bible. Being somewhat disoriented I wasn't exactly sure I was hearing what I thought I was. I did realize that the program on t.v. was The Tonight Show with Jay Leno but being too tired to continue watching I looked it up online the next day and, sure enough, in five minutes and 6 seconds (306 seconds) Jay Leno managed to blaspheme almost every major account of the Holy Bible. Thus I discovered that night 306 reasons not to watch Jay Leno. Check it out for yourself and if you feel led to write NBC and let them know that this is not acceptable then you have my encouragement to do so. Here is the link:
http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/tour-of-the-bible-12211/1371674
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Call It What It Is, A Christmas Tree
November 19, 2011
It’s starting already I am reading things in the paper like, “the lighting of the community tree” or “the holiday tree.”
In America we have celebrated Christmas since the founding of our great nation. It is a celebration of the birth of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time to reflect upon the blessings that have been bestowed upon this great nation because we were founded on the principles and precepts of the Holy Bible. It is for these reasons that this nation has experienced the freedoms and privileges that we enjoy.
We have removed God from our public schools and now we are making an attempt to remove Him completely from our society. We have made way too much “progress” in that area. The Holy Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” It is because in the founding of this country our forefathers gave God His rightful place that we are the great nation that we are. But our attempts to remove God from the forefront have had many negative and devastating results. Time and space does not allow me to spell them out.
My point is this, it is the Christmas season. It is not just a holiday. It is a season of worshiping the One Who gave His life that we may have a future in Heaven. Christ is the reason for celebrating Christmas. It is not illegal to say Merry Christmas in public schools in spite of what some may have us to believe. It is, also, not illegal to say it when we shop. When someone tells you to have a Happy Holiday this year I hope you will reply for them to have a Merry Christmas. Christ is the Reason for the season.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Fox News' parent company investing in 'gay marriage'
Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 8/24/2011 3:50:00 AM
"Conservative and faith-based Americans do not look to Fox to promote sin. And yet, every time Fox promotes homosexuality, that's exactly what they're doing; they're promoting bad morality," LaBarbera contends.
According to him, that is the network's trend, as some talk show hosts do not even address the subject. But he argues that neutrality on the issue is not what Fox's constituency deserves."I think the problem is Fox News is based in New York City, which is a gay Mecca. That's one of the problems," he suggests. "But, it's this idea [of] sort of going with the media, going with the popular culture."
LaBarbera goes on to point out that when the New York Senate voted to legalize homosexual marriage, other news networks devoted considerable time to report on it, while Fox News devoted zero segments to the vote or to the governor signing the measure into law.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Great Anniversary Trip With My Wonderful Wife
My wife, Carol, and I left town on Saturday morning, July 16th, not knowing where we were headed for our anniversary. We decided to go south on I-81. We drove to New Market, Virgina because there is a restaurant there that we had eaten at before and that is where my wife wanted to eat. On the way there we stopped a Belle Grove Plantation but the Plantation House was about to close for the night so we listened to a park ranger give a talk about the Battle of Cedar Creek. After the talk we drove on down to the Johnny Appleseed Restaurant where we were going to eat.
The Johnny Appleseed Restaurant just happens to be attached to a Quality Inn so we spent the night there. Looking in the phone book in the hotel room that night I found what looked like a good Fundamental Baptist Church. We got up early the next morning, Sunday, checked out of the hotel, and attended the Smith Creek Regular Baptist Church. It was built in the 1700's and ran about 30-40 people that morning. The people gave us a warm and friendly welcome and if we are ever in the area again on Sunday morning or Wednesday night we will probably go again. The Pastor gave a wonderful sermon on how we can, and should, go about sharing our faith in Christ.
After church my wife decided that she wanted to see Belle Grove Plantation so we drove back to New Market for a tour. It is a very stately mansion on rolling hills and the docent was very informative. One is not allowed to take pictures inside the house so afterward we strolled around the grounds and took quite a few photographs. I would recommend a tour of Belle Grove Plantation to anyone who has the opportunity to go.
Afterward we headed south on I-81 again and stopped at Shenandoah Caverns. We looked around the gift shop but thought the price of admission to the caverns was more than we were willing to pay. Not sure of exactly where to go from there we headed west on route 55 to Smoke Hole, West Virgina. We had been there several years previous and knew it was a beautiful place. We stopped and checked in at a motel in Smoke Hole and then drove into Petersburg and had supper at the Pizza Hut. By that time we were pretty tired and went to bed.
On Monday we took a tour of Smoke Hole Caverns, at about ten dollars per person cheaper than Shenandoah Caverns would have been. There was only one other couple on the tour and so it was a good time without a large crowd of people. We looked around the gift shop and my wife tried to, unsuccessfully, to locate an old friend.
We decided to keep moving so we left Smoke Hole and drove to Seneca Rocks where we visited to old country stores and did some walking around and taking pictures. We ate upstairs in Harper's Old Country Store where they had a small restaurant. The food was good. They have a rock climbing school at Seneca Rocks that I would love to attend but at my age I am sure that will never happen. We could not hike to Seneca Rock because the trail was closed for maintenance. We did go to the Discovery Center and enjoyed the gift shop and walking around an old homestead that is there.
From Seneca Rocks we moved on to Blackwater Falls State Park where we stayed the night in the lodge. We drove around the cabins and got some great pictures of some beautiful deer. One came up to about five feet away from the car and then walked across the road right in front of us. It was beautiful! We had dinner in the lodge restaurant. I got brown pinto beans and ham with fried potatoes and corn bread. It was delicious and the portions were very generous. We went swimming in the pool. The next morning we went on a hike of a little less than a mile with the park naturalist. She told us about a forest not too far from there that is a virgin forest called Cathedral State Park. We, also, went on a hike to a beautiful overlook called Lindy Overlook. The view was truly magnificent.
When we left Blackwater Falls we stopped at the smallest church and post office in 48 states. We took pictures and walked around the grounds. The church has six pews and seats twelve people. It was built in the 1950's by a man to honor his deceased parents. From there we went to Cathedral State Park and took our third hike of the day. We hiked a little over a mile and we were tired. This forest is virgin forest with some Eastern Hemlocks that are three-hundred to five-hundred years old. Some of them are eighty to ninety feet tall and twenty-one feet in circumference. They are very majestic. It is something worth seeing!
Afterwards, we drove to Oakland, Maryland where we had dinner at Casselman's, stopped to get some candy and came home. We drove five-hundred miles in four days and we were tired but we had a wonderful time.
The Johnny Appleseed Restaurant just happens to be attached to a Quality Inn so we spent the night there. Looking in the phone book in the hotel room that night I found what looked like a good Fundamental Baptist Church. We got up early the next morning, Sunday, checked out of the hotel, and attended the Smith Creek Regular Baptist Church. It was built in the 1700's and ran about 30-40 people that morning. The people gave us a warm and friendly welcome and if we are ever in the area again on Sunday morning or Wednesday night we will probably go again. The Pastor gave a wonderful sermon on how we can, and should, go about sharing our faith in Christ.
After church my wife decided that she wanted to see Belle Grove Plantation so we drove back to New Market for a tour. It is a very stately mansion on rolling hills and the docent was very informative. One is not allowed to take pictures inside the house so afterward we strolled around the grounds and took quite a few photographs. I would recommend a tour of Belle Grove Plantation to anyone who has the opportunity to go.
Afterward we headed south on I-81 again and stopped at Shenandoah Caverns. We looked around the gift shop but thought the price of admission to the caverns was more than we were willing to pay. Not sure of exactly where to go from there we headed west on route 55 to Smoke Hole, West Virgina. We had been there several years previous and knew it was a beautiful place. We stopped and checked in at a motel in Smoke Hole and then drove into Petersburg and had supper at the Pizza Hut. By that time we were pretty tired and went to bed.
On Monday we took a tour of Smoke Hole Caverns, at about ten dollars per person cheaper than Shenandoah Caverns would have been. There was only one other couple on the tour and so it was a good time without a large crowd of people. We looked around the gift shop and my wife tried to, unsuccessfully, to locate an old friend.
We decided to keep moving so we left Smoke Hole and drove to Seneca Rocks where we visited to old country stores and did some walking around and taking pictures. We ate upstairs in Harper's Old Country Store where they had a small restaurant. The food was good. They have a rock climbing school at Seneca Rocks that I would love to attend but at my age I am sure that will never happen. We could not hike to Seneca Rock because the trail was closed for maintenance. We did go to the Discovery Center and enjoyed the gift shop and walking around an old homestead that is there.
From Seneca Rocks we moved on to Blackwater Falls State Park where we stayed the night in the lodge. We drove around the cabins and got some great pictures of some beautiful deer. One came up to about five feet away from the car and then walked across the road right in front of us. It was beautiful! We had dinner in the lodge restaurant. I got brown pinto beans and ham with fried potatoes and corn bread. It was delicious and the portions were very generous. We went swimming in the pool. The next morning we went on a hike of a little less than a mile with the park naturalist. She told us about a forest not too far from there that is a virgin forest called Cathedral State Park. We, also, went on a hike to a beautiful overlook called Lindy Overlook. The view was truly magnificent.
When we left Blackwater Falls we stopped at the smallest church and post office in 48 states. We took pictures and walked around the grounds. The church has six pews and seats twelve people. It was built in the 1950's by a man to honor his deceased parents. From there we went to Cathedral State Park and took our third hike of the day. We hiked a little over a mile and we were tired. This forest is virgin forest with some Eastern Hemlocks that are three-hundred to five-hundred years old. Some of them are eighty to ninety feet tall and twenty-one feet in circumference. They are very majestic. It is something worth seeing!
Afterwards, we drove to Oakland, Maryland where we had dinner at Casselman's, stopped to get some candy and came home. We drove five-hundred miles in four days and we were tired but we had a wonderful time.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Homosexuality: Still Sinful to the Holy God
One day last week I arrived somewhere and walked in on a conversation that greatly disturbed me. I don't normally listen in on people's conversations but, you know, sometimes one is in a position where one cannot avoid overhearing something no matter how hard one tries. Well, that's the way it was on this particular day.
The woman sitting near me was bisexual and was talking to her collegue about how it is okay to be "gay" and how it is okay if one's children are "gay". Let me say up front, I put "gay" in quotation marks because
I disagree with the use of this word when it relates to homosexuality. Gay means happy, not homosexual, and it disturbs me that they have taken an innocent word meaning happy and have corrupted it to mean something abominable. Just like they have taken the rainbow, God's promise that He would never again destroy the world by flood, and adapted it to represent something that God calls "against nature."
I have nothing against homosexuals as people. I have had some friends that were homosexual but they knew from the beginning of that friendship where I stood on this issue. I do not think they should be beaten or persecuted for their lifestyle nor do I think they have the right to persecute Christians for what they believe. That being said, I feel the need to weigh in on the issue of homosexuality and especially the belief that it doesn't matter if one's children are "gay".
I feel that we, as Christians, and especially as a society are buying into the lie that homosexuality should be an accepted lifestyle, or that it is an "alternative" lifestyle. Nothing is further from the truth. Like it or not, homosexuality is still a sinful lifestyle according to the Bible. Adultery is still a sinful lifestyle according to the Bible. Lying is still sinful and the list could go on.
If one reads Romans Chapter One they can clearly see and understand what the Holy God of the universe has to say about homosexuality. He calls it an abomination and in His mind nothing has changed. Malachi 3:6 says in part, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." Why, you may ask, does God not change? Quite simply, He doesn't have to change. He is Right!, Perfect!, Holy! If perfection has to change then it wasn't perfection to begin with. But God is Perfection. He is and always has been Holy. He is and always has been Right! Psalm 33:4, "For the Word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth."
We may get to the place where the homosexual movement begins to wear us down but that does not change God's mind about it one bit. We are buying into the lie of homosexuality but God still is not pleased with it. And Romans Chapter One still calls it an abomination. Read it for yourself: "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:18-32.
I do believe that we should love the homosexual as we are commanded to love anyone else whether it be the drunk, the one who abuses his or her spouse, the adulterer, or the thief. However, these lifestyles are still wrong and we must still speak out against them. We must still be witnesses unto them. We must still pray for them that they will see the Light and give their heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot stand idly by while this unacceptable lifestyle is thrust upon us.
Remember, as Christians, it is our fault if God no longer chooses to bless America.
The woman sitting near me was bisexual and was talking to her collegue about how it is okay to be "gay" and how it is okay if one's children are "gay". Let me say up front, I put "gay" in quotation marks because
I disagree with the use of this word when it relates to homosexuality. Gay means happy, not homosexual, and it disturbs me that they have taken an innocent word meaning happy and have corrupted it to mean something abominable. Just like they have taken the rainbow, God's promise that He would never again destroy the world by flood, and adapted it to represent something that God calls "against nature."
I have nothing against homosexuals as people. I have had some friends that were homosexual but they knew from the beginning of that friendship where I stood on this issue. I do not think they should be beaten or persecuted for their lifestyle nor do I think they have the right to persecute Christians for what they believe. That being said, I feel the need to weigh in on the issue of homosexuality and especially the belief that it doesn't matter if one's children are "gay".
I feel that we, as Christians, and especially as a society are buying into the lie that homosexuality should be an accepted lifestyle, or that it is an "alternative" lifestyle. Nothing is further from the truth. Like it or not, homosexuality is still a sinful lifestyle according to the Bible. Adultery is still a sinful lifestyle according to the Bible. Lying is still sinful and the list could go on.
If one reads Romans Chapter One they can clearly see and understand what the Holy God of the universe has to say about homosexuality. He calls it an abomination and in His mind nothing has changed. Malachi 3:6 says in part, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." Why, you may ask, does God not change? Quite simply, He doesn't have to change. He is Right!, Perfect!, Holy! If perfection has to change then it wasn't perfection to begin with. But God is Perfection. He is and always has been Holy. He is and always has been Right! Psalm 33:4, "For the Word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth."
We may get to the place where the homosexual movement begins to wear us down but that does not change God's mind about it one bit. We are buying into the lie of homosexuality but God still is not pleased with it. And Romans Chapter One still calls it an abomination. Read it for yourself: "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:18-32.
I do believe that we should love the homosexual as we are commanded to love anyone else whether it be the drunk, the one who abuses his or her spouse, the adulterer, or the thief. However, these lifestyles are still wrong and we must still speak out against them. We must still be witnesses unto them. We must still pray for them that they will see the Light and give their heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot stand idly by while this unacceptable lifestyle is thrust upon us.
Remember, as Christians, it is our fault if God no longer chooses to bless America.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Miss USA 'Believes' in Evolution
by Christine Dao *
An interesting question on evolution cropped up during the televised Miss USA pageant, which aired June 19, 2011.
Pageant organizers asked the contestants, "Should evolution be taught in schools?" Of the 51 woman, 24 answered "yes," two said "no," 24 said both evolution and creation or "all perspectives" should be taught, and one chose not to answer.
The winner, Miss California Alyssa Campanella, was one of two contestants who said specifically that they "believe" in evolution.
"I was taught evolution in my high school growing up. And I do believe in it. I mean, I'm a huge science geek, so I like to believe in, like, the Big Bang theory and, you know, the evolution of humans, you know, throughout, you know, time," she said.1
In a guest post on the Discover blog of political journalist and author Chris Mooney, molecular biologist Jamie L. Vernon wrote, "Campanella's answer demonstrated that she possesses a respectable appreciation and understanding of science."2
Additionally, she favored the legalization of medical marijuana and said that she would agree to a "tasteful" nude photo shoot as long as it presented her body in a way in which she would be respected.2
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Ms. Campanella's responses and her winning of the pageant, something interesting to note are the 26 responses that were either not in favor of teaching evolution or in favor of teaching it along with other scientific theories.
Oftentimes the respondents, including Ms. Campanella, spoke of evolution as a belief system. More often than not, the women supported presenting students with as much information as possible so that they could decide for themselves what would be best to "believe."
Just as many respondents who favored evolution had favored academic freedom, and many contestants acknowledged the faith required to accept evolution. As Dr. Vernon commented, the new Miss USA does indeed possess "a respectable appreciation and understanding of science," as demonstrated by her implicit acknowledgment that support for evolution is a matter of belief.
References
Hughes, S. A. Miss USA 2011 contestants weigh in on evolution (Video). The Washington Post BlogPost. Posted on washingtonpost.com June 21, 2011, accessed June 23, 2011.
Vernon, J. L. Miss USA 2011, "A Huge Science Geek." The Intersection, Discover Magazine. Posted on blogs.discovermagazine.com June 20, 2011, accessed June 23, 2011.
Ms. Dao is Assistant Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 29, 2011.
An interesting question on evolution cropped up during the televised Miss USA pageant, which aired June 19, 2011.
Pageant organizers asked the contestants, "Should evolution be taught in schools?" Of the 51 woman, 24 answered "yes," two said "no," 24 said both evolution and creation or "all perspectives" should be taught, and one chose not to answer.
The winner, Miss California Alyssa Campanella, was one of two contestants who said specifically that they "believe" in evolution.
"I was taught evolution in my high school growing up. And I do believe in it. I mean, I'm a huge science geek, so I like to believe in, like, the Big Bang theory and, you know, the evolution of humans, you know, throughout, you know, time," she said.1
In a guest post on the Discover blog of political journalist and author Chris Mooney, molecular biologist Jamie L. Vernon wrote, "Campanella's answer demonstrated that she possesses a respectable appreciation and understanding of science."2
Additionally, she favored the legalization of medical marijuana and said that she would agree to a "tasteful" nude photo shoot as long as it presented her body in a way in which she would be respected.2
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Ms. Campanella's responses and her winning of the pageant, something interesting to note are the 26 responses that were either not in favor of teaching evolution or in favor of teaching it along with other scientific theories.
Oftentimes the respondents, including Ms. Campanella, spoke of evolution as a belief system. More often than not, the women supported presenting students with as much information as possible so that they could decide for themselves what would be best to "believe."
Just as many respondents who favored evolution had favored academic freedom, and many contestants acknowledged the faith required to accept evolution. As Dr. Vernon commented, the new Miss USA does indeed possess "a respectable appreciation and understanding of science," as demonstrated by her implicit acknowledgment that support for evolution is a matter of belief.
References
Hughes, S. A. Miss USA 2011 contestants weigh in on evolution (Video). The Washington Post BlogPost. Posted on washingtonpost.com June 21, 2011, accessed June 23, 2011.
Vernon, J. L. Miss USA 2011, "A Huge Science Geek." The Intersection, Discover Magazine. Posted on blogs.discovermagazine.com June 20, 2011, accessed June 23, 2011.
Ms. Dao is Assistant Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 29, 2011.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Study Demonstrates Babies Reason Logically Before They Can Even Speak
by Brian Thomas, M.S. *
Among living creatures, only humans can think about thinking. Researchers recently performed a new set of cognitive tests on one-year-olds to discover how soon humans develop the ability to reason. Their findings surprised them.
The investigators showed the babies short videos of virtual objects bouncing around randomly inside a round "container" that had an opening at the bottom. The contents were then blocked from view, after which one of the objects was seen exiting the container. The researchers measured any surprise in the babies' reactions to the object that escaped through the opening—a choice of one that had been heading toward the opening just before the picture was covered, one that was not near the opening, or one that was actually moving in the wrong direction.
The babies seemed perplexed when the wrong object appeared to escape the container, indicating that even at 12 months they could predict the trajectories the objects should have taken. They were able to combine abstract knowledge with perceptual data in an exercise of "pure reasoning" in the form of Bayesian analyses.1 Bayesian logic is used in predictive modeling, which attempts to calculate the likelihood of a given future event based on prior events. The authors matched the babies' behavior to this formula, which expresses Bayesian predictive logic:
![]()
In their article published in the journal Science, the authors wrote that the infants can "integrate multiple information sources and abstract knowledge in reasoning about future outcomes." They concluded, "Preverbal infants' ability to reason about complex unseen events is surprisingly sophisticated."1
These scientists might not have expected this level of sophistication in infant reasoning abilities, but for those who understand that God made humans in His image—an image that includes the capacity for reason2—it is not so surprising to discover that babies who cannot yet talk nevertheless use Bayesian-like logic in their thought processes.
References
1. Teglas, E. et al. 2011. Pure Reasoning in 12-Month-Old Infants as Probabilistic Inference. Science. 332 (6033): 1054-1059.
2. God appeals to mankind's reasoning in Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 21, 2011.
Among living creatures, only humans can think about thinking. Researchers recently performed a new set of cognitive tests on one-year-olds to discover how soon humans develop the ability to reason. Their findings surprised them.
The investigators showed the babies short videos of virtual objects bouncing around randomly inside a round "container" that had an opening at the bottom. The contents were then blocked from view, after which one of the objects was seen exiting the container. The researchers measured any surprise in the babies' reactions to the object that escaped through the opening—a choice of one that had been heading toward the opening just before the picture was covered, one that was not near the opening, or one that was actually moving in the wrong direction.
The babies seemed perplexed when the wrong object appeared to escape the container, indicating that even at 12 months they could predict the trajectories the objects should have taken. They were able to combine abstract knowledge with perceptual data in an exercise of "pure reasoning" in the form of Bayesian analyses.1 Bayesian logic is used in predictive modeling, which attempts to calculate the likelihood of a given future event based on prior events. The authors matched the babies' behavior to this formula, which expresses Bayesian predictive logic:
In their article published in the journal Science, the authors wrote that the infants can "integrate multiple information sources and abstract knowledge in reasoning about future outcomes." They concluded, "Preverbal infants' ability to reason about complex unseen events is surprisingly sophisticated."1
These scientists might not have expected this level of sophistication in infant reasoning abilities, but for those who understand that God made humans in His image—an image that includes the capacity for reason2—it is not so surprising to discover that babies who cannot yet talk nevertheless use Bayesian-like logic in their thought processes.
References
1. Teglas, E. et al. 2011. Pure Reasoning in 12-Month-Old Infants as Probabilistic Inference. Science. 332 (6033): 1054-1059.
2. God appeals to mankind's reasoning in Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 21, 2011.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Journal Censors 'Second Law' Paper Refuting Evolution
by Brian Thomas, M.S. *
For life to have evolved from non-life, atoms and molecules would have had to move from a state of lower to greater organization and self-assemble into precise arrangements. But the second law of thermodynamics demonstrates that without intelligent outside influence, molecules are always in the process of breaking down.
A new technical paper on this fundamental law of nature completely undermines a naturalistic origins perspective. And this explains why the paper, after first having been approved, was withdrawn from publication.
The second law is a description of nature's universal tendency to lose orderliness over time. It describes how heat flows toward cooler areas so that temperature evens out, as well as how particles tend to distance themselves from one another, always decreasing in structured arrangement if left alone.
In a paper titled "A second look at the second law," math professor Granville Sewell of the University of Texas, El Paso showed that notions of nature alone building the complex structures of DNA are as unlikely as nature building a computer.1 Either event would violate the second law.
After the paper was accepted for publication in Applied Mathematics Letters, an anti-design blogger wrote to the editor, warning that the journal's reputation would be tarnished if the paper was printed. So, the journal's editor withdrew it.2 Sewell, who has authored at least 39 other technical papers,3 then took legal action. Since the journal's own policy states that withdrawing a reviewed and accepted paper "can only occur under exceptional circumstances" such as plagiarism or fraudulent data,4 and since Sewell's article does not contain any known errors or technical problems, he was given an apology as well as permission to post the pre-publication version of his paper on his university faculty web page—although Applied Mathematics Letters still has no plans to publish it.2
The editor's fear of printing the paper is perhaps not surprising, considering the virulent opposition exercised by many evolutionists when their scientific beliefs are academically challenged.5 And as the rejected paper indicates, since the second law states that the orderliness present in matter or energy always tends to decrease, it negates evolution's historical perspective of a massive order increase from hydrogen to humans. However, informed Darwinists argue that order can increase in one place (e.g., on earth) as long as there is a compensating decrease in order elsewhere.
But Sewell's paper shows in succinct mathematical formulae that this argument has no merit. The increase in order in one place would have to be directly linked to a decrease in another place, and such a link remains to be established.6 He wrote:
The fact that order is disappearing in the next room does not make it any easier for computers to appear in our room—unless this order is disappearing into our room, and then only if it is a type of order that makes the appearance of computers not extremely improbable, for example, computers.1
In other words, the probability is overwhelming that the atoms that comprise computers (and, by the same logic, DNA) naturally diffuse rather than assemble—let alone assemble into such information-rich patterns. The key formula, which is an expression of the rate of entropic change, is contained in standard thermodynamics texts, but its implications are seldom discussed. The upshot is that the only way to get a computer into a room is not by transferring material or energy, like light photons, from one room to another, but by someone building a computer and putting it there.
Similarly, the way to arrive at DNA is not to transfer sunlight's energy onto earth's chemicals, but for someone to build DNA and place it in living creatures on the planet. And that scenario may sound familiar to those who have read Exodus 20:11. "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is."
References
1. Sewell, G. 2011. A second look at the second law. Applied Mathematics Letters. Article in press.
2. A more thorough description of these events can be found in West, J. G. Journal Apologizes and Pays $10,000 After Censoring Article. Evolution News and Views. Posted on evolutionnews.org June 7, 2011, accessed June 9, 2011.
3. Sewell's publications are listed on his Curriculum Vitae, available at his University of Texas, El Paso faculty web page.
4. Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal. Posted on elsevier.com, accessed June 17, 2011.
5. For further examples of such opposition in the academic world, see Stein, B. 2008. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. DVD. Directed by Nathan Frankowski. Premise Media Corporation, L.P.; and Bergman, J. 2008. Slaughter of the Dissidents: The Shocking Truth about killing the Careers of Darwin Doubters. Southworth, WA: Leafcutter Press.
6. Sewell refutes the notion that the second law can be circumvented as long as the order increase/decrease occurs in an open system. In an online lecture video explaining his "second law" paper, Sewell said, "Suppose you and your wife go for a vacation, leaving a dog, a cat and a parakeet loose in the house (I put the animals there to cause the entropy to increase more rapidly, otherwise you might have to take a much longer vacation to see the same effect). When you come back you will not be surprised to see chaos in the house. But tell her some scientists say, 'but if you leave the door open while on vacation, your house becomes an open system, and the second law does not apply to open systems…you may find everything in better condition than when you left.' I'll bet she will say, 'if a maid enters through the door and cleans the house, maybe, but if all that enters is sunlight, wind and other animals, probably not.'" Sewell, G. A second look at the second law. Online video. Posted on math.utep.edu, accessed June 9, 2011.
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 20, 2011.
For life to have evolved from non-life, atoms and molecules would have had to move from a state of lower to greater organization and self-assemble into precise arrangements. But the second law of thermodynamics demonstrates that without intelligent outside influence, molecules are always in the process of breaking down.
A new technical paper on this fundamental law of nature completely undermines a naturalistic origins perspective. And this explains why the paper, after first having been approved, was withdrawn from publication.
The second law is a description of nature's universal tendency to lose orderliness over time. It describes how heat flows toward cooler areas so that temperature evens out, as well as how particles tend to distance themselves from one another, always decreasing in structured arrangement if left alone.
In a paper titled "A second look at the second law," math professor Granville Sewell of the University of Texas, El Paso showed that notions of nature alone building the complex structures of DNA are as unlikely as nature building a computer.1 Either event would violate the second law.
After the paper was accepted for publication in Applied Mathematics Letters, an anti-design blogger wrote to the editor, warning that the journal's reputation would be tarnished if the paper was printed. So, the journal's editor withdrew it.2 Sewell, who has authored at least 39 other technical papers,3 then took legal action. Since the journal's own policy states that withdrawing a reviewed and accepted paper "can only occur under exceptional circumstances" such as plagiarism or fraudulent data,4 and since Sewell's article does not contain any known errors or technical problems, he was given an apology as well as permission to post the pre-publication version of his paper on his university faculty web page—although Applied Mathematics Letters still has no plans to publish it.2
The editor's fear of printing the paper is perhaps not surprising, considering the virulent opposition exercised by many evolutionists when their scientific beliefs are academically challenged.5 And as the rejected paper indicates, since the second law states that the orderliness present in matter or energy always tends to decrease, it negates evolution's historical perspective of a massive order increase from hydrogen to humans. However, informed Darwinists argue that order can increase in one place (e.g., on earth) as long as there is a compensating decrease in order elsewhere.
But Sewell's paper shows in succinct mathematical formulae that this argument has no merit. The increase in order in one place would have to be directly linked to a decrease in another place, and such a link remains to be established.6 He wrote:
The fact that order is disappearing in the next room does not make it any easier for computers to appear in our room—unless this order is disappearing into our room, and then only if it is a type of order that makes the appearance of computers not extremely improbable, for example, computers.1
In other words, the probability is overwhelming that the atoms that comprise computers (and, by the same logic, DNA) naturally diffuse rather than assemble—let alone assemble into such information-rich patterns. The key formula, which is an expression of the rate of entropic change, is contained in standard thermodynamics texts, but its implications are seldom discussed. The upshot is that the only way to get a computer into a room is not by transferring material or energy, like light photons, from one room to another, but by someone building a computer and putting it there.
Similarly, the way to arrive at DNA is not to transfer sunlight's energy onto earth's chemicals, but for someone to build DNA and place it in living creatures on the planet. And that scenario may sound familiar to those who have read Exodus 20:11. "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is."
References
1. Sewell, G. 2011. A second look at the second law. Applied Mathematics Letters. Article in press.
2. A more thorough description of these events can be found in West, J. G. Journal Apologizes and Pays $10,000 After Censoring Article. Evolution News and Views. Posted on evolutionnews.org June 7, 2011, accessed June 9, 2011.
3. Sewell's publications are listed on his Curriculum Vitae, available at his University of Texas, El Paso faculty web page.
4. Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal. Posted on elsevier.com, accessed June 17, 2011.
5. For further examples of such opposition in the academic world, see Stein, B. 2008. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. DVD. Directed by Nathan Frankowski. Premise Media Corporation, L.P.; and Bergman, J. 2008. Slaughter of the Dissidents: The Shocking Truth about killing the Careers of Darwin Doubters. Southworth, WA: Leafcutter Press.
6. Sewell refutes the notion that the second law can be circumvented as long as the order increase/decrease occurs in an open system. In an online lecture video explaining his "second law" paper, Sewell said, "Suppose you and your wife go for a vacation, leaving a dog, a cat and a parakeet loose in the house (I put the animals there to cause the entropy to increase more rapidly, otherwise you might have to take a much longer vacation to see the same effect). When you come back you will not be surprised to see chaos in the house. But tell her some scientists say, 'but if you leave the door open while on vacation, your house becomes an open system, and the second law does not apply to open systems…you may find everything in better condition than when you left.' I'll bet she will say, 'if a maid enters through the door and cleans the house, maybe, but if all that enters is sunlight, wind and other animals, probably not.'" Sewell, G. A second look at the second law. Online video. Posted on math.utep.edu, accessed June 9, 2011.
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 20, 2011.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
New Sky Map Shows Big Bang Even More Unlikely
by Brian Thomas, M.S. *
Few questions hold more intrigue than that of how the universe began. Although the Bible provides a written account of this obviously miraculous event, some reject it and try to explain the origin of the universe without either miracles or miracle Maker. But the evidence is against a naturalistic cause for the cosmos, and a newly unveiled 3-D map of the sky offers yet more signs of its supernatural source.
The most popular nature-only explanation of the origin of the universe is the Big Bang, which proposes that all space, time, and matter were once densely packed into a tiny volume. For some unknown reason, this nugget exploded, yielding elements in ever-expanding space that eventually self-organized into such structures as stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies.But the contradictions between this scenario and real observations are so numerous and severe that a supernatural origin for the universe is demanded.1 For example, the First Law of Thermodynamics states that matter and energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Big Bang beliefs violate this law by positing the appearance of matter from no prior material. The Big Bang also violates the Second Law of Thermodynamics—which states that some orderliness is always lost when energy or matter are converted to other forms—by positing the creation of orderliness in the form of stars, galaxies, and galactic clusters, all with insufficient cause.
The closer that telescopes zoom in on the stars, the more obvious it is that they are out of step with Big Bang ideas. About 20 years ago, the first results from three-dimensional maps of sections of the sky showed unforeseen mega-structures. In stark contrast to the random and even distribution of stars that a Big Bang would have produced, galaxies are instead grouped into clusters and superstructures.2 And the galactic clusters, tendrils, and voids exhibited in the new 3-D map serve as a blatant reminder that this universe is not random.
The new sky map, dubbed the 2MASS Redshift Survey (or 2MRS), also confirms that a Creator was needed. The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics released images of the sky within a radius of some 380 million light-years from earth, using redshifted light to calculate distances.3 Astronomers were able to map stars closer to the Milky Way, which forms a dark band across the middle of the map, than previous studies. Like prior star maps, this one shows huge, intricate structures in space that simply should not exist unless they were put there on purpose.
These supergalactic structures provide yet more evidence that the cosmos is not a product of nature, but of "he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth…that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in."4
References
- Another problem with the Big Bang is the horizon problem, which is the question of why temperature is so remarkably uniform throughout the universe when light has not had enough time since the Big Bang to travel throughout space and evenly distribute radiation. Also, the Big Bang should have resulted in equal amounts of matter and antimatter, but the real universe is dominated by matter.
- Gish, D. 1991. The Big Bang Theory Collapses. Acts & Facts. 20 (6).
- Astronomers Unveil Most Complete 3-D Map of Local Universe. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics press release, May 25, 2011.
- Isaiah 40:22.
Image credit: T. H. Jarrett (IPAC/SSC). This image is used for nonprofit educational presentation purposes only.
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on June 10, 2011.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thank You Veterans!!
I just want to say to all of you veterans out there, thank you for all you do to protect our freedoms and this great country in which we live. I think every veteran deserves all of the good things they get in life, especially if they have been in combat.
Good rendition of our National Anthem with lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7xF1RGCQY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7xF1RGCQY&feature=related
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Touch Of The Master’s Hand
Well it was battered and scared,
And the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while,
To waste much time on the old violin
but he held it up with a smile,
Well it sure ain’t much but its all we got left I guess we aught to sell it to,
Oh, now who’ll start the bid on this old violin?
Just one more and we’ll be through.
And then he cried one give me one dollar,
Who’ll make it two only two dollars who’ll make it three,
Three dollars twice now that’s a good price,Now who’s gonna bid for me?
Raise up your hand now don’t wait any longer the auctions about to end,
Who’s got four Just one dollar more to bid on this old violin?
Well the air was hot and the people stood around as the sun was setting low,
From the back of the crowd a gray haired man,
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet, sweeter than the Angels sing,
And then the music stopped and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low he said now what am I bid,
For this old violin and he held it up with a bow.
And then he cried out one give me one thousand,
Who’ll make it two only two thousand who’ll make it three,
Three thousand twice you know that’s a good price,
Common who’s gonna to bid for me?
And the people cried out what made the change we don’t understand,
Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile,
It was the touch of the Master’s hand.
You know there's many a man with his life out of tune,
Battered and scared with sin and he’s auctioned cheap,
To a thankless world much like that old violin,
Oh, but then the Master comes,
And that old foolish crowd they never understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is rought,
Just by one touch of the Masters hand.
Note: I love this poem because it is my life story.
I would hate to imagine what would have
happened to me had the Lord not save me
on March 18th, 1979.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me with a love
far beyond my comprehension, a love that
I will never understand.
God loves you and He can change your life if you let Him by a Touch of the Master's Hand.
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Religious Zealot With Soldier's Blood on His Hands: Herald Mail 4/6/11
April 6, 2011
In response to Dan K. Thomasson of the Scripps Howard News Service’s article: A religious zealot with soldiers’ blood on his hands, which appeared in the Herald Mail on April 6, 2011 there are a couple of things I feel need to be said.
Let me first of all state that neither do I agree with Terry Jones’ burning of the Quran. It is very sad that this act has caused the death of more people and is a perfect example of how one’s actions have an effect on others for, either, good and ill. I am not, by any means, defending Mr. Jones’ decision. It is a shame that more innocent people have had to die and I am not discounting that. However, there are a few things we must realize and some facts we must face.
The people that have died because of this act of burning the Quran died as a by-product of the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11. That’s right, were it not for the attack on the World Trade Center the burning of the Quran would not have taken place. Does this justify Mr. Jones’ actions? Absolutely not! And Mr. Jones should have had better discernment. But let’s remind ourselves what caused this reaction.
On September 11, 2001 the United States was attack by religious zealots who caused the death of thousands of our fellow Americans as well as some foreigners working in or around the World Trade Center. This is not including the countless others such as firefighters, rescue workers, policeman, military personnel, and civilians who will, yet, die from lung disease and other complications as a result of selflessly doing their jobs rescuing people’s loved ones and defending our great nation. It was an attack that was, as far as we know, unprovoked.
Tonight as I sat at my computer and looked, again, at the pictures of the World Trade Center under attack and the smoke billowing from what was the symbol of the financial freedom of the free world and saw, again, the people who chose to jump to their deaths rather than fry in the heat, I am reminded of the brutal price we are all still paying. The price some have paid much more costly than the price others have and are paying. I am reminded that this atrocity did not take place because of someone in Florida burning the Quran. It took place because of someone who hates our nation and that for which it stands.
I am a Christian, but if someone burns the Bible I am not going to riot and kill someone and especially those who had nothing to do with it. I would pray that they would get right with God and realize His great love for them. To say that the burning of the Quran caused the “spate of violence in Afghanistan” is to say that we control the reactions of those who carried out this violence. It is to say that they are not responsible for their own actions. Any intelligent, thinking person would have to admit that is not true.
This is not about taking sides with Mr. Jones. It is about seeing this straight on and not from a parallax view. Mr. Thomasson, that is, apparently, the view from which you are seeing this. It is about realizing that we are at war in foreign nations because we were the ones attacked. It is about not “straining at a gnat to swallow a camel.”
Yes, Mr. Jones is wrong but Mr. Jones does not control the violent reactions of others and I doubt 9/11 was his idea. Let me say, I have nothing against Muslims but I have plenty against those (whoever they are) that chose to attack the nation that I love and the freedoms, rights, and privileges I enjoy here. Many have died and still are dying defending those freedoms, rights, and privileges so that you, Mr. Thomasson, can write your column and so that Mr. Jones, whether or not we agree with him, can burn the Quran.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
My Blog Isn't Dead (Well, not completely)
Hang in there folks. Even though it has been more than a year since I have posted anything on my blog (wow! it doesn't seem that long) it is not dead. I will be posting something shortly. Thank you for visiting and I hope you don't give up on me. I have been pre-occupied with a lot of other things but am almost at the place where I will resume my relationship with my blog. See you soon.
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