John F. Kennedy promised that by the end of the sixties America would have a man on the moon. However, NASA quickly realized there was a belt of asteroids (known as the Van Allen Belt) on the way from the earth to the moon whose radiation would fry any man-powered spacecraft that tried to get through it. In fact, the Russians had tried to go to the moon but the cosmonauts had had to turn back because of the Van Allen Belt.
However, it was the height of the Cold War and going to the moon was important to the United States government because it would prove the Americans had greater power than the Russians. Also, the decade was fraught with protests, discontent, civil upheaval and the assasinations of a president, a presidential candidate and a civil rights leader, so something possitive was in order to bring a ray of sunshine into people's lives.
Thus, NASA decided to stage the moon landing, keeping the truth from as many people involved as was possible.
Golf clubs and a car were brought to the moon. Why didn't the astronauts bring a telescope? They could have seen farther into the universe than anyone before.
How did they fit that car/dune buggy-looking thing into that tiny spacecraft in the first place?
If the gravity on the moon is one sixth as strong as on Earth, then the crew of Apollo 11 should have been able to jump much higher than they did.
How is it that the whole mission was conducted using less computer power than a Wal-Mart watch, yet the spaceship managed to hit the moon accurately the first time a feat like this was ever attempted?
Why haven't the Americans been back to the moon in the last forty years? Why has no other nation gone there?
Why did they not go back and set up a military base up there? The Cold War would have been ended twenty years sooner.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
THE INFIDEL AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
James says that if we break one of God's laws, it is as though we had broken them all. This is because there are no levels of sin with God. It isn't like in the Catholic church with mortal and venial sins.
However, let's look at this principle of breaking the whole law by breaking one law deeper.
If we break one of God's commandments, we are saying we know better than God and are thus putting ourselves before God.
By making ourselves God, we further break the second commandment.
By claiming to be Christians but not doing what he commanded, we have taken the Lord's name upon ourselves in vain, thus breaking the third commandment.
How can we say we are resting in Christ while living in rebellion against Him? Thus we have broken the fourth commandment.
We may not be dishonouring our physical mother and father by breaking one of God's commandments, but we are certainly dishonouring our Heavenly Father, thus breaking the fifth commandment.
By continually choosing to do something that is opposed to God's law, we are rejecting Him and guaranteeing ourselves a place in Hell. Knowingly breaking whatever commandment we are breaking, we are choosing death, thus committing spiritual suicide. Suicide is self-murder, so we are breaking the sixth commandment.
We may not physically be committing adultery, but by calling Jesus "Lord" and not doing what he says, we are committing spiritual adultery, thus breaking the seventh commandment.
By calling Jesus our Lord and Saviour and living in opposition to Him, we are trying to take a place in His kingdom which doesn't belong to us, thus breaking the eighth commandment.
While in the physical the ninth commandment is about purgery and not simply lying as many people believe, by saying we are one of God's children and yet living contrary to His Word, we are baring false witness against ourselves.
We've already seen how we're trying to steal the kingdom for ourselves, so before we stole it, we must have had the desire to try to take it by improper means, thus breaking the tenth commandment.
However, let's look at this principle of breaking the whole law by breaking one law deeper.
If we break one of God's commandments, we are saying we know better than God and are thus putting ourselves before God.
By making ourselves God, we further break the second commandment.
By claiming to be Christians but not doing what he commanded, we have taken the Lord's name upon ourselves in vain, thus breaking the third commandment.
How can we say we are resting in Christ while living in rebellion against Him? Thus we have broken the fourth commandment.
We may not be dishonouring our physical mother and father by breaking one of God's commandments, but we are certainly dishonouring our Heavenly Father, thus breaking the fifth commandment.
By continually choosing to do something that is opposed to God's law, we are rejecting Him and guaranteeing ourselves a place in Hell. Knowingly breaking whatever commandment we are breaking, we are choosing death, thus committing spiritual suicide. Suicide is self-murder, so we are breaking the sixth commandment.
We may not physically be committing adultery, but by calling Jesus "Lord" and not doing what he says, we are committing spiritual adultery, thus breaking the seventh commandment.
By calling Jesus our Lord and Saviour and living in opposition to Him, we are trying to take a place in His kingdom which doesn't belong to us, thus breaking the eighth commandment.
While in the physical the ninth commandment is about purgery and not simply lying as many people believe, by saying we are one of God's children and yet living contrary to His Word, we are baring false witness against ourselves.
We've already seen how we're trying to steal the kingdom for ourselves, so before we stole it, we must have had the desire to try to take it by improper means, thus breaking the tenth commandment.
REPLY AWL
The July 23 issue of Maclean's has an article entitled "The Secret Life of Plants", which reveals that plants can communicate with each other and feel, among other things. Further testament to how astonishing our Creator is.
The July issue of Chatalaine contains an article on abortion. It is written by a woman who found out her baby would have severe health problems if it survived to term and would have to live in pain it's whole life. For this reason, the author decided to abort. No mention of praying for the baby's healing.
I like the format for the recordings of the "Daily Bread" and "Encounter With God" devotionals CBM records. It's a good idea to insert the passages from Scripture right in the entries and to leave out the book and chapter headings since we already know which chapter and book we're reading.
The July issue of Chatalaine contains an article on abortion. It is written by a woman who found out her baby would have severe health problems if it survived to term and would have to live in pain it's whole life. For this reason, the author decided to abort. No mention of praying for the baby's healing.
I like the format for the recordings of the "Daily Bread" and "Encounter With God" devotionals CBM records. It's a good idea to insert the passages from Scripture right in the entries and to leave out the book and chapter headings since we already know which chapter and book we're reading.
Monday, August 27, 2012
THE EPISTLE OF 1 JOHN
Chapter 1: In context, the verse about God being faithful and just to forgive us our sins is talking about when we as Christians sin.
Chapter 2: The word "world" is translated from the Greek word "cosmos" which means world order or world system. It means the way most of the people in the world think and act.
Chapter 4: We should not only not accept any one who comes to us who denies that Jesus was fully God and fully man, but anyone who denies Jesus was the Christ or Messiah. We should also not accept groups into Christianity who preach a different Jesus other than the one the Bible declares, such as the Mormons, who say Jesus was the literal reincarnation of Adam, or the Jehova's Witnesses who say Lucifer was Jesus' brother.
Chapter 2: The word "world" is translated from the Greek word "cosmos" which means world order or world system. It means the way most of the people in the world think and act.
Chapter 4: We should not only not accept any one who comes to us who denies that Jesus was fully God and fully man, but anyone who denies Jesus was the Christ or Messiah. We should also not accept groups into Christianity who preach a different Jesus other than the one the Bible declares, such as the Mormons, who say Jesus was the literal reincarnation of Adam, or the Jehova's Witnesses who say Lucifer was Jesus' brother.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
NIEL ARMSTRONG DEAD AT 82
He knew he never went to the moon. He knew the truth that the Van Allen Belt would destroy any man-powered spacecraft that tried to go through it, yet he played along and suppressed the truth anyway.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
SALT OF THE EARTH
Jesus called His people the salt of the earth, but if the salt looses it's seasoning, it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled. Today too many Christians have lost their saltiness. They care more about being spoken highly of by the world than they do about serving the Lord Jesus. Hopefully, once they have been trampled on by God's enemies long enough, they will regain their seasoning and live totally for Him.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
THE BOOKS OF HABUKUK AND OBADIAH
When we read prophecies like the ones found in these two books, we need to pray the words out loud. The descendants of the Edomites still oppress the true descendants of Israel today. However, this wicked people will be judged by the standard by which they treated us, and we will prosper while they are turned to stubble.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
HEBREWS CHAPTERS 12 AND 13
There are a few different interpretations of Hebrews 12 1. Some say the Old Testament figures and saints can see us from Heaven and are cheering us on. I think this is likely. Another interpretation is that since we have all these wonderful examples of Biblical heroes we should live up to them because they were so cool. This has some merit but it is not an interpretation that I put first and foremost. Still others say that since we have all the examples of people who have had faith in God, we need to learn from their examples and apply it to our lives. They didn't let adversity make them fall away and we shouldn't either. I think this is a very good interpretation.
For instance, we have the example of somebody like Moses. Moses could have had all the drunken parties and women and become puffed up with prideful accolades. He possibly could have been the most important man in the world. If I were him, I would have thought, "Gee, my ancestor Joseph was the second most important person in the world, being Pharaoh's Prime Minister and Egypt being the world empire at the time. I'm an heir to the Egyptian throne through adoption by Pharaoh's daughter. It would be quite something for me to become the ruler of the world. I mean, there would be ways to glorify and honour God through doing so, right. I mean, my people are one thing, but the entire world, and everything that comes with it, is the entire world, right?"
Instead, Moses forsook all that sinful life to rescue his people. Incidentally, Moses could have ruled the world, but instead he codified the set of laws which should govern the world.
Therefore, since we have the example of someone like Moses who by faith forsook sin and obeyed God, doing such great things for Him, we shouldn't let sin rule in our lives. It's quite easy to say in the split seconds of the moment, "I don't care about eternity. I'll do this thing or look at this thing or think this thought anyway." "I know I should get serious about this sin, but there are just these things in my past and ha ha it just seems like something I can never seem to beat. Oh well, ho hum."
This should not be our attitude. We need to walk by faith in these matters.
Hebrews 12 8: When we do something wrong, even if we're not Christians, we feel guilty. Yet there is a group of people in the world who do not have this reaction. They have no conscience. They are termed "bastards" in this verse. (Hence the reason I use that word on this blog.)
Hebrews 13 9: I'm glad God doesn't change. That was the thing with the gods of Greek mythology (and other religions): they're capricious. They might say they'll do something for somebody one minute, then get annoyed about something and flood that person's village.
For instance, we have the example of somebody like Moses. Moses could have had all the drunken parties and women and become puffed up with prideful accolades. He possibly could have been the most important man in the world. If I were him, I would have thought, "Gee, my ancestor Joseph was the second most important person in the world, being Pharaoh's Prime Minister and Egypt being the world empire at the time. I'm an heir to the Egyptian throne through adoption by Pharaoh's daughter. It would be quite something for me to become the ruler of the world. I mean, there would be ways to glorify and honour God through doing so, right. I mean, my people are one thing, but the entire world, and everything that comes with it, is the entire world, right?"
Instead, Moses forsook all that sinful life to rescue his people. Incidentally, Moses could have ruled the world, but instead he codified the set of laws which should govern the world.
Therefore, since we have the example of someone like Moses who by faith forsook sin and obeyed God, doing such great things for Him, we shouldn't let sin rule in our lives. It's quite easy to say in the split seconds of the moment, "I don't care about eternity. I'll do this thing or look at this thing or think this thought anyway." "I know I should get serious about this sin, but there are just these things in my past and ha ha it just seems like something I can never seem to beat. Oh well, ho hum."
This should not be our attitude. We need to walk by faith in these matters.
Hebrews 12 8: When we do something wrong, even if we're not Christians, we feel guilty. Yet there is a group of people in the world who do not have this reaction. They have no conscience. They are termed "bastards" in this verse. (Hence the reason I use that word on this blog.)
Hebrews 13 9: I'm glad God doesn't change. That was the thing with the gods of Greek mythology (and other religions): they're capricious. They might say they'll do something for somebody one minute, then get annoyed about something and flood that person's village.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
REPLY AWL
The July 16 issue of Maclean's has an article about sexism in the online gaming world. Is it really for women to play these violent online and video games?
The July 23 issue of Maclean's has an article about the provincial government of Manitoba changing the titles of some positions so the word chief is removed. The Manitoba government says it is doing this because of the negative conitations it might bring up for Natives. This is a case of political correctness run amok.
In the same issue there is an article about Saudi Arabia's deputy minister for education getting caught without a face veil. The article contains a quote the Saudi king made about how it is ridiculous to force laws on a people which violate that people's principles, beliefs, etc. The West imposes it's way of thinking on other countries and then wonders why those countries don't like those first world nations.
The July 23 issue of Maclean's has an article about the provincial government of Manitoba changing the titles of some positions so the word chief is removed. The Manitoba government says it is doing this because of the negative conitations it might bring up for Natives. This is a case of political correctness run amok.
In the same issue there is an article about Saudi Arabia's deputy minister for education getting caught without a face veil. The article contains a quote the Saudi king made about how it is ridiculous to force laws on a people which violate that people's principles, beliefs, etc. The West imposes it's way of thinking on other countries and then wonders why those countries don't like those first world nations.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
ECHOREV ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL U.S. TOUR DATES
Since the release of their new EP - The Mermaid & The Astronaut (June 2012 Monkey Rock Records) the indie-rock duo, ECHOREV, has performed over 30 shows between the US and Europe. They are now announcing more US show-dates for September and October 2012 including CMJ!
US Show Dates - September + October 2012
9/7 - Arlene Francis Center - Santa Rosa, CA
9/8 - Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA
9/11 - Los Globos - Los Angeles, CA
9/15 - Dear Raymer - Los Angeles, CA
9/27 - Unit E - Denver, CO
10/3 - Yucca Tap Room - Tempe, AZ
10/4 - The Standard - Hollywood, CA
10/19 - Monkey Rock CMJ Showcase@ Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY
Check ECHOREV.comhttp://www.echorev.com for show-info and more dates to be announced soon!
US Show Dates - September + October 2012
9/7 - Arlene Francis Center - Santa Rosa, CA
9/8 - Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA
9/11 - Los Globos - Los Angeles, CA
9/15 - Dear Raymer - Los Angeles, CA
9/27 - Unit E - Denver, CO
10/3 - Yucca Tap Room - Tempe, AZ
10/4 - The Standard - Hollywood, CA
10/19 - Monkey Rock CMJ Showcase@ Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY
Check ECHOREV.comhttp://www.echorev.com for show-info and more dates to be announced soon!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
ERRATA
I take back the disparaging comments I made about go to meeting. Turns out I had skipped a couple steps in tuning into the last online seminar. This time when I attended an online seminar the software worked and it even presented me with an option to close the tab at the end.
REPLY AWL
In this week's edition of the online Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind, Lin Tatum writes an article about when she stopped liking roller coasters. For me it was sometime when I was a teenager. I had ridden a few at a fair and felt kind of nautious afterwords, something which hadn't really happened before. After a few more events at which I rode roller coasters and experienced the same effect, I wondered why I continued to do this to myself and quit riding them.
The July 2-9 issue of Maclean's has an article about craft beers with political messages. A professor interviewed for the piece has the last name of Soberman.
The same issue has a section where ordinary people tell of the moment they felt proudest to be Canadian. My best moment as a Canadian was when Donovan Bailey won the gold medal at the 1996 olympics. At that time, our TV and movies were a joke and there were just beginning to be a significant number of Canadians on the U.S. music charts. I felt proud again the following summer when Bailey beat Carl Lewis after Lewis had challenged Bailey for the title of world's fastest man.
The July 2-9 issue of Maclean's has an article about craft beers with political messages. A professor interviewed for the piece has the last name of Soberman.
The same issue has a section where ordinary people tell of the moment they felt proudest to be Canadian. My best moment as a Canadian was when Donovan Bailey won the gold medal at the 1996 olympics. At that time, our TV and movies were a joke and there were just beginning to be a significant number of Canadians on the U.S. music charts. I felt proud again the following summer when Bailey beat Carl Lewis after Lewis had challenged Bailey for the title of world's fastest man.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
REPLY AWL
Last week's issue of the online Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind contained part one of a three-part history of the Perkins brailler. I wouldn't be without mine. It's invaluable for things like phone messages and notes to myself. If I want to write down someone's phone number, I'm not going to boot up my computer, open a Microsoft Word document, write down seven digits, close the file, and shut the computer down.
There are only two cases where a Perkins braillewriter has been destroyed beyond recognition. Once one fell off the back of a truck, and another time one got run over by a train.
In the same issue there is an article about a judge ruling Netflicks has to provide closed captioning for the hearing impaired. The judge says the fact Netflicks is web-based and that video over the internet couldn't even have been dreamed of back in 1976 when the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) was passed has no baring on the issue.
I applaud this judge's decision. Except for cases of copyright, I think things done on the internet are the same as things done ofline. That means if you defraud someone through spam email, for instance, it is the same as if you had done it face to face, via the post, over the phone, or using any other means or technology.
There is an article in the July edition of Readers Digest which discusses all the Toronto locales shown in Sarah Polly's latest film "Take This Waltz." The writer makes reference to Frogger, a computer game from the nineties where players had to get a frog across a highway without it getting run over by a car. My sister loved that game!
There are only two cases where a Perkins braillewriter has been destroyed beyond recognition. Once one fell off the back of a truck, and another time one got run over by a train.
In the same issue there is an article about a judge ruling Netflicks has to provide closed captioning for the hearing impaired. The judge says the fact Netflicks is web-based and that video over the internet couldn't even have been dreamed of back in 1976 when the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) was passed has no baring on the issue.
I applaud this judge's decision. Except for cases of copyright, I think things done on the internet are the same as things done ofline. That means if you defraud someone through spam email, for instance, it is the same as if you had done it face to face, via the post, over the phone, or using any other means or technology.
There is an article in the July edition of Readers Digest which discusses all the Toronto locales shown in Sarah Polly's latest film "Take This Waltz." The writer makes reference to Frogger, a computer game from the nineties where players had to get a frog across a highway without it getting run over by a car. My sister loved that game!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
SELF-ESTEEM AND PEAK PERFORMANCE
This post is based on a tape of part of a Jack Canfield seminar with the above title I found in the bunch of cassettes my friend gave me.
"All humans seek things which are loving, affirming, empowering, and validating."
Actually, all humans have this void inside them, the God-shaped hole if you like, which can only be filled with a right relationship with Jesus Christ.
Canfield mentions something about the government of California putting up signs to help build people's self-esteem. This would go some of the way towards explaining why that state is bankrupt today.
Says some things along the lines of Norman Vincent Peale's "power of possitive thinking." The correct flip-side to that is "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."
"We allwant to be recognised as lovable." Truth is, some of the time, and with a fair number of us, a lot of the time, we just aren't that lovable.
Canfield talks about something along the lines of "the God within", bringing in new age beliefs.
The problem with the self-esteem gospel is that it teaches people to think well of themselves when they haven't done anything to earn the right to feel good about themselves.
"Nobody can make you feel a certain way."
This isn't true. As much as we shouldn't let every unkind remark made about us affect our image of ourselves, words can truly hurt, despite the amount of inner strength someone may have.
Canfield mentions near-death experiences where people see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. We now know this is an effect on the brain when the body is about to die. A voice was then heard. Of course, adherents of different religions swore it was whatever god they happened to worship, thus having universalism come into play in Canfield's seminar. The subjects of the study were then asked if they had been prejudice toward anyone, thus bringing in the politically correct gospel where "intolerance" is the only sin.
"We all chose to be born into the circumstances we were born into."
Try telling that to one of the untouchables in India.
The above information is, of course, proven in a study using hypnosis, a faulty and unreliable method which also opens doors to Satan.
"We should accept ourselves for who we are."
No, we should turn to Christ (by repenting and being baptised for the remission of sins according to Acts 2 38) and allow Him to make us into the kinds of individuals He wants us to be.
"All humans seek things which are loving, affirming, empowering, and validating."
Actually, all humans have this void inside them, the God-shaped hole if you like, which can only be filled with a right relationship with Jesus Christ.
Canfield mentions something about the government of California putting up signs to help build people's self-esteem. This would go some of the way towards explaining why that state is bankrupt today.
Says some things along the lines of Norman Vincent Peale's "power of possitive thinking." The correct flip-side to that is "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."
"We allwant to be recognised as lovable." Truth is, some of the time, and with a fair number of us, a lot of the time, we just aren't that lovable.
Canfield talks about something along the lines of "the God within", bringing in new age beliefs.
The problem with the self-esteem gospel is that it teaches people to think well of themselves when they haven't done anything to earn the right to feel good about themselves.
"Nobody can make you feel a certain way."
This isn't true. As much as we shouldn't let every unkind remark made about us affect our image of ourselves, words can truly hurt, despite the amount of inner strength someone may have.
Canfield mentions near-death experiences where people see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. We now know this is an effect on the brain when the body is about to die. A voice was then heard. Of course, adherents of different religions swore it was whatever god they happened to worship, thus having universalism come into play in Canfield's seminar. The subjects of the study were then asked if they had been prejudice toward anyone, thus bringing in the politically correct gospel where "intolerance" is the only sin.
"We all chose to be born into the circumstances we were born into."
Try telling that to one of the untouchables in India.
The above information is, of course, proven in a study using hypnosis, a faulty and unreliable method which also opens doors to Satan.
"We should accept ourselves for who we are."
No, we should turn to Christ (by repenting and being baptised for the remission of sins according to Acts 2 38) and allow Him to make us into the kinds of individuals He wants us to be.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
INTERNET STUFF
Why now whenever I look up the URL of a Blogger blog is the suffix .ca?
Tell Me has a new number: 1-888-247-2425.
Why did anyone ever think Facebook would do well on the stock market?
Tell Me has a new number: 1-888-247-2425.
Why did anyone ever think Facebook would do well on the stock market?
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