August 17, 2014
“[W]ith all these crises we’ve been discussing, the nation is confronting a dangerous era, facing multiple threats and challenges from Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Islamic terrorist groups, you name it. If I wasn’t in there shaking things up, I probably wouldn’t have been doing my job.” — Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn After 33 years […]
Tags: al Qaeda, Defense Intelligence Agency, Director of the DIA, early retiring general, Fixing Intel, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, new strategy needed for global affairs, overhauling the DIA, pressure from Obama administration, recognizing jihadism for what it is, vision for improved intelligence-gathering
Posted in Politics |
August 10, 2014
“The Universe has been wrought for us by a supremely good and orderly Creator.” — Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) In my last post (part 1), I briefly explained in principle and procedure what comprises the “scientific method”. Today, I want to get a bit into the intersection of “science” and “faith”, as you may have guessed […]
Tags: "faith" in the Bible, biblical method, biblical understanding of "faith", can principles of modern scientific method be found in Scripture?, Hugh Ross, I Thess. 5:21, Jer. 10:12, role of Christian theology in development of scientific method and advances in Western science, Rom. 12:2, scientific method
Posted in Religion, Science, Science & Religion |
August 3, 2014
After last week’s post of the Dr. Hugh Ross video, I got to thinking about “the scientific method”. Ross is certainly a big fan of it, as is anyone — scientist or layman — who is at all familiar with the scientific enterprise. Indeed, anyone in search for truth in any arena should be a […]
Tags: brief history of scientific method, constant re-evaluation and revision, cyclical iterative process, defining the "scientific method", emphasis of experimentation, emphasis of inductive over deductive reasoning, empiricism, essential steps in the scientific method, explanatory power, frame of reference, Francis Bacon, Hugh Ross, hypothesis, investigative approach, model, modern scientific method, observation, predictions, Rene Descartes, Robert Grosseteste, Roger Bacon, tentative explanation, testing, theory
Posted in Science |
July 27, 2014
This post is a little different — a break for me (since I wasn’t sure I’d have something else ready in time) and, hopefully, a treat for you. It is a video from a conference held not long ago at Woodcrest Worldwide Church called “In the Beginning” — not to be confused with another conference […]
Tags: biblical passages on creation, creation days, Dr. Ross, Genesis 1, Hugh Ross, Hugh Ross video, In the beginning, Reasons to Believe, RTB, testable creation model, Woodcrest Worldwide Church
Posted in Religion, Science, Science & Religion |
July 20, 2014
II Chronicles 7:14 is a passage beloved by many Christians. It is particularly popular when churches and parachurch organizations want to encourage people to pray for “national revival” — e.g., during the National Day of Prayer. Just the other day, I came across an Associated Press announcement of a rally in Iowa launching a prayer […]
Tags: 2 Chron 7:14, claiming biblical promises, dedication of the First Temple, God never promised to heal American land, If my people, II Chronicles, King Solomon, misapplying biblical promises, misuse of Scripture, rightly dividing the Word of God, taking verses out of context, there is no biblical formula for national healing or revival
Posted in Politics, Politics & Religion, Religion |
July 13, 2014
I cried. I’m man enough to admit it. I was watching a recent episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles” [SPOILER ALERT!] in which an entrepreneurial young Afghan immigrant aids the NCIS team. At the end, he unnecessarily risks his life to help stop jihadist suicide bombers. As a reward, Hetty (the team’s boss) arranges to have […]
Tags: "Pledge of Allegiance", acts of patriotism, becoming an American citizen, definition of patriotism, flying an American flag, gun ownership, joining the military, naturalization ceremony, NCIS: Los Angeles, participating in a political protest, paying taxes, results of Fox News national poll, rights privileges and civic duties, serving on a jury, staying informed on the news, Stephen Nathanson, U.S. Oath of Allegiance, volunteering on a political campaign, voting in elections
Posted in Politics |
July 6, 2014
The other day, I was listening to a Christian podcaster by the name of Joe Messina — the first time I’d ever heard him. His normal topics are, I think, politics and culture. But, he had on a guest who was explaining his skepticism of the validity of radiometric dating. At one point, they were […]
Tags: anti-science, Bible and science, Christian view of science, Christianity and science, defining God out of science, definition of science, Did God create science?, Joe Messina podcast, philosophy of science, suspicion of science vs scientists, what is science, what kinds of answers are allowed in science
Posted in Religion, Science, Science & Religion |
June 29, 2014
“The general Principles on which the Fathers achieved Independence were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their Address, or by me in my Answer. And what were these general principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in […]
Tags: 1797, 1805, Algiers, Article XI, Barbary Coast, Barbary nations, Barbary pirates, Bey of Tripoli, Christian influence in founding of United States, Christian nation, Is America "Christian"?, Jefferson's naval blockades, Joel Barlow, John Adams, Muslim aggression, North African states, secular government, Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Treaty of Tripoli, white slave trade
Posted in Politics, Politics & Religion, Religion |
June 22, 2014
“[The U.S. income tax is] a disgrace to the human race.” — President Jimmy Carter [Editor’s note: I would probably get more mileage out of this post if I published it during “tax season”. On the other hand, it is a perennial topic, so maybe it will pique someone’s interest….] We all like to complain […]
Tags: Alvin Rabushka, burdensome tax system, federal income tax, inefficient tax system, lost productivity, post-card tax return, Robert E. Hall, tax reform, The Flat Tax, U.S. tax code, unfair taxes, unnecessarily complex tax regulations and forms, wasted hours
Posted in Politics |
June 15, 2014
Lately, it seems like every week we read about another Christian in America being told by his (or her) employer and/or the courts that he either has to do something that goes against his religious convictions (e.g., photograph a same-sex wedding ceremony) or must stop doing something that he *thought* was protected under religious freedoms […]
Tags: Captain Paul Fields, Deputy Police Chief A. Daryl Webster, establishment clause, First Amendment rights, free-speech retaliation, freedom of association, freedom of religion, Islamic Society of Tulsa, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Muslim proselytizing, Police Chief Chuck Jordan, police forced to attend mosque, religious discrimination, Tulsa Police Department
Posted in Politics, Politics & Religion, Religion |