EVOLUTION

EVOLUTION

Evolution of thought; evolution of a design; evolution of laws; evolution of a culture; evolution of a company; and yes, evolution in the animal kingdom. I would suggest that evolution is as common as breathing. The slow process of change or discovery is the engine of evolution. It would seem the only thing that has not evolved over time would be the Theory of Evolution as presented by Darwin yea those many years ago. Even religious understanding that seeks truth has evolved. Things that once seemed supernatural are now understood as operating within the laws of physics, leaving us with the perception that the body of supernatural events has diminished over time. So why the stiff-necked support of a theory whose author was so forthcoming with his own skepticism? Why has all the spit and polish been applied to this theory by lawyers, the media and even the scientific community? Why are thoughtful, intelligent people who see "holes" or "problems" with Darwin's theory ostracized and ridiculed? And why does it seem the media has corralled the discussion to the arena of public debate where the dissenters are, by definition, excluded from the more informed community of scientists? If you form your opinion based on the media treatment of evolution you would conclude that Darwinian evolution is all but settled fact. Kind of like a great sports figure just waiting for his induction into the Hall of Fame. And the challengers to this theory are always pulled from the "uninformed", or less informed, masses, (or as Mr. Boortz refers to them, dumb masses), who are ridiculed and demeaned to try and discourage such challenges. Granted, if I were put in front of a camera to support my view on almost anything, with my comments left to the scrutiny of an endless line of "experts" interviewed by an agenda driven news media it would be a simple task to make me look even stupider than I am. But a thoughtful interview with a scientist who sees problems with Darwin's theory, often simply confirming Darwin's own concerns about his theory, seems to be out of the question. Where are these curious sorts of reporters who ostensibly have devoted their lives to getting to the truth? Wouldn't they be anxious to validate Darwinian evolution? Are they too busy preparing the world for its imminent destruction due to people like me not recycling every bit of cardboard that comes into their lives, to bother with such trivial matters? Or have they, and the public at large, been scared into submission by the threat of personal destruction to anyone who dares challenge this "sacred cow" of alleged science. This is my contention. A little like the media-impaired discussion on man-made global warming which is far from settled fact.

"Why?"

I learned in philosophy class 35 years ago that this is an important word. One which needs to be applied to even our most prized personal convictions. Otherwise we run the risk of living our lives based on well- protected misinformation rather than truth. And we all know who the "Father of Misinformation" is. So, if I may, I would like for us as a diverse and curious people, to take another look, not just at the theory of Darwinian evolution, but at the societal dysfunction that has exacerbated this ACLU empowered theory.

Thank you and have a nice day. Oh, and go help someone who needs a little help or encouragement today.

Faith

OK, so here we go. Headed toward a goal with no clear path to get there. I had an idea this morning as I lay awake in a half conscious state. I hope I can bring some sort of cognitive resolution to this picture of faith that stumbled across my neural-pathways. While not constantly thinking of death, I have always been somewhat pragmatic and, if I may, observant, as to the inevitability of death. It is not at all uncommon for one's physical life to eventually come to an end. So common is this that one is compelled to consider it unavoidable. Which, oddly enough, causes some people to try to avoid considering it.
Look with me, if you will, at an illustration which will offer, hopefully, a picture of one aspect of my understanding of life, and faith. An electrician friend has constructed a simple circuit to demonstrate how electricity can be used to produce light using an incandescent light bulb. You have no real knowledge of electron theory. How electrons flow across a conductor to equal out an imbalance of electrical potential. You have no idea what a coulomb is nor do you know the basic formula for figuring out how to make the light bulb come on. How the switch is wired. None of that. You are totally in the dark, (no pun intended), with the exception of your relationship with your friend and your trust in his knowledge on the subject. Well, your friend is sick the day of the big demonstration where your friend's work is to be revealed to many important people. He has asked you to go in his stead and, at the appropriate time, just flip the switch. A simple task to which you agree. As the moment approaches your anxiety level begins to rise. You sit through all the opening remarks sensing the quick elevation of anticipation as these leaders are considering, if this is all true, how this discovery will change life for them and their countrymen. An introduction of your friend follows with an added apology for his absence in light of his current sickness. Now a brief introduction of you as you are asked to please demonstrate this most wondrous of discoveries. Your heart is racing as your ignorance of how this all works is now occupying your whole being. You are only to flip the switch, that's it, but your lack of knowledge of how it works is now fostering doubt and concern. Your thoughts fall back to your friend, who you trust absolutely, and his expertise, which is unquestionable. So you walk up to the switch and flip it up. The light bulb comes on accompanied by a sudden, collective gasp from the observers. It worked! The light came on demonstrating your friends discovery.
We have precious little knowledge of heaven. None, actually, outside of what Jesus has offered us. But He is indeed a trustworthy source, and our relationship with Him should reassure us as we consider our physical mortality.

Romans 8: 38,39
Paul writes:"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Do you know Christ well enough to join Paul in this statement?

Paradigm

Where's God? It was kinda fun looking at those very busy pictures with images hidden within them. Maybe several bits of the drawing made up of twenty separate items that if viewed from the right perspective would render one larger item. Or someone holding a mature 40 foot tree in their hands which upon a closer evaluation would be revealed as a trick using perspective to fool the observer. Or those pictures that would be an eagle or a flag of the United States depending on which part of the picture you focused on first. Well, over the last few years, it seems I have become more and more aware of God's presence in each day. Not an awareness of His becoming more a part of each day, but aware of something that has always been true. A perspective that allows me to see the world as being a creation, (which it is), and to see each day as a chance to experience a unique expression of that creation. Some day I'm going to write a song about an incredible event that is hidden within this great canvas we call our world. An event that is often hidden from our eyes because of the business of our lives. An event that only comes into focus when our paradigm is informed by the creator. An event that would be considered miraculous if it weren't so common. An event that we explain as a normal part of the natural world but whose origin is unknown. An event that gives us life. And the beautiful part of all this is that it is free. It wasn't developed by a pharmaceutical company who has the rights to be the exclusive provider for several years and charge a lot of money until it goes generic. No, this life-giving substance just falls out of the sky with the same alacrity as God's love and mercy falls around us.
Can you see it now?

It's Easier Not Being Rich

On first glance being rich looks like the way to go. Our default position, when watching a once regular joe lottery winner ruin their lives is, "still, I'd like to give being rich a try". Watching immature individuals destroy a wealthy families name brings responses other than sympathy from most of us. "I know money can't buy happiness, but I'd like to see for myself", is another common thought. In my life I have tried to fulfill my basic obligations in life without taking on any more responsibility than I have to. (I've come to see this as a character flaw) Money equals responsibility and I sometimes wonder how I would do with millions of dollars. I know what I think I would do but I have to assume many with wealth have seen good intentions evolve, in time, into nightmares. "No one can serve two masters,for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." these words are straight from the horse's mouth. The horse, in this case, is the one they called Jesus. He goes on to say, "For this reason, (because you cannot serve God and wealth), I say to you, do not be worried about your life ......) With lots of wealth and power it becomes increasingly hard to worry about anything else. Keeping focus on serving others becomes difficult when all of society is falling at your feet, celebrating your arrival to the top of the heap. Not sure how I would fare with such a test. But I would say many fare well and reap a great harvest with the money and influence they possess. A harvest that is not for sale but comes with devotion to our Lord's calling. Obedience to their faith, to their God. "If salvation were a thing that money could buy, the rich would live, and the poor would die". This is a line from a song I occasionally sing. What do you think of it?

Could it be

During this time of national crisis, the likes I have not seen in my lifetime, I am forced to ponder some unsettling questions about our country and its leaders. Questions that have been fairly easily dismissed in the past, but are demanding a closer look as we continue down the road to dissolution. While the likelihood of intention each step of the way from the beginning to where we are is slim, there seems to be a case for thoughtful direction in recent years. Maybe a case of opportunism. Liberal ideology, as defined in our current political climate, may not have had socialism as its objective. But I would argue, through activism in the courts and through legislation, pushed through from both parties as the ruling elite grabbed for power at every turn, we have laid a firm socialist foundation. We have moved from "rugged individualists" to "I want my mommy". From "no thanks, we'll be fine", to "it's about time you gave me some of your money!" Rights, as defined by liberals, have become the enemy of freedom. Anything that is declared a right seems to imply that it should be provided to all who don't have "it", by those deemed to have won the lottery of life. Having the right to health care, using today's understanding of the word, means it has to be provided for everyone. By this definition we would all be provided with firearms given to us by the government. It seems a more appropriate understanding of the word right would be to suggest no one can intentionally impede or obstruct your ability to obtain what you have a right to. That is to say, if you want to purchase a firearm you may do so. If you want health insurance, you have the right to purchase it. Is there a role for local and state governments in helping poorer families secure insurance if they want to acquire it? I would say yes, but with qualifications.
The current "hate the rich" sentiment is, in my opinion, a manipulative tool to move people to a more socialist point of view. Another move to consolidate even more power in the federal government. Truth is, we could take every penny of income that all the rich people receive and we would still be looking at a bankrupt nation. We could take all the current holdings of the "rich" and run the country for a short time, but then what? Truth is, wealth is a dynamic thing and we are destroying the process by which it is generated. The politicians promise more and more entitlements, when we can't even sustain our current levels of spending. We play games with the language, calling reductions in growth "cuts", leaving us with the possibility that "cutting spending" will bankrupt us at the same precise point as spending more would. Fact is, there are those who hate this country and want it to join the rest of world in poverty as a means of paying us back for all the ill we have spread around the world. If I were trying to destroy our economy, I can't think of anything I would do different than what Washington has done the last few years. (this includes George W. Bush's reckless spending) The answer isn't, "tax the rich", it's "follow the rich". While I don't know any super-rich people, (like Warren Buffet), I know plenty of people who fit in the current "rich" category according to our government. They don't buy new cars, they buy 3 yr. old cars so they don't take the hit on the steep depreciation. They don't buy the biggest house they can afford, they buy a house sufficient for their needs with a few extras thrown in, of course. They also tend to be rather generous people. More generous than I tend to be, much to my embarrassment. They investigate organizations who receive their aforementioned generosity to assure themselves that their resources will be effectively used. Dear Mr. Obama, please stop fueling class warfare, beating up on the rich, as a means of gaining some kind of political advantage, and start leading like someone wanting to make the country he is leading, rich.

Winfield 2011

Well, here goes. I wanted to put down some observations and impressions of this year's festival in Winfield, Kansas in case someone was curious about what I thought of the little get-together. This was the first year our camp had an official theme so we had a couple of items available for the other campers to view to help them know what we saw as our main contribution to the affair. We are now the "Winfield Think Tank" camp. Or "Brain Trust" if you prefer. Either way we expect any conversations within the camp itself to be of the thoughtful variety. Our camp is not the place for meaningless banter or comments void of substance. You can take those types of offerings elsewhere where they will not negatively affect the high standards of communication we have established. Be sure that our camp is fraught with sesquipedalians.
One sign which was presented to us by a lady from Montana who is part of our camp showed two sets of feet submersed in several inches of water and had the statement above it that says, "Deep Thoughts From The Shallow End Of The Pool". Several people laughed at this which belied their lack of a sound technical background in critical thinking. Another offering for our camp came from our friends from Texas who brought a banner with them that had a likeness of the "Thinker" sitting on a toilet. Again, people with their predictably shallow thinking were laughing at this. It's so sad to see so much thoughtlessness being exhibited at the festival, but we can't expect everyone to rise to the mental acuteness that is regularly exhibited at the Winfield Think Tank.
This year's lineup was a bit different though it did include Tommy Emmanuel again. He is such a great talent and performer. Also, Michael Martin Murphy was there. I always enjoy his music and his knowledge of the history of the old west. On a more serious note I have decided to make some changes for next year. Assuming I remember to do so. It's hard to get off my sizable rear end and get around to seeing people I have met in the past. We are fortunate to have some greatly talented musicians camp with us and I can almost "feel" myself improving on my instrument as I hang out and jam with them. While jamming with my camp mates will obviously continue, I will make an effort to hang out with several others who I often don't see, or only visit with rather than play music with. Maybe a little more sleep would help too. I guess I had 3 or 4 nights of 4:30 am or later and a couple of 2 - 3 am nights as well. I did hit the sack around midnight a couple of times because I wasn't feeling well. Imagine that. Guess I'm getting old.
Next year I hope to get my friend Norm to come up from Texas. That would be a great thing indeed.

Growing Old

I wanted to say a word about growing old, while also laying claim to what I believe may became a common phrase in America going forward. I just want to have left something useful behind when I exit this dirt clod and I don't want someone else trying to steal my glory. As I was rolling along I-35 the other day headed somewhere important to do something important, my mind began pondering the effects of accumulating birthdays. I have accumulated 55 of them so far and it seems like the more I get the less I have. I'm probably more forgetful than I remember and leave a minimum of 2 rooms a day never arriving at the reason I ventured into them. A bad day is often of my own making, though I thoughtfully blame others so as not to hurt my own feelings. I leave the house 2 or 3 times every morning but still get to work without something I intended to take. I leave the house, drive around the block and pull back up in front of the house to fetch my phone only to find "someone" has locked the door. While stewing on the way to work about why my family is so paranoid that they have to lock the door when I am barely out of it, a vague memory, seemingly from the high school era of my life, haunts me for a couple of miles until I am forced to face the reality that I locked the door on my way out. Once I went out of my way to go by and take pictures of a house we were having built over a several month period of time, only to find out there was no film in the camera. It was little relief to find, also, that I was taking pictures of the wrong lot, though I could at least spread the embarrassment out over more of the story. It seems like the very embarrassing fact takes a bit of the edge off of the extremely embarrassing fact that follows it. At least I like to think so. Well, back to my drive and the usual meaningless ponderings that accompany it. A term popped into my head that I believe, more than any previous known term, defines the adverse effects of collecting birthdays. I am moving toward "Mental Insolvency"
Remember, you heard it here first.