tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41524663440076658762024-02-08T15:43:42.400-05:00Truth AppliedThis blog is presently being redesigned/reconstructed to focus more on God's Truth as applied to life, the arts, science, politics, society, and culture. Please check back often.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-20636650818681781312010-05-24T05:30:00.157-04:002010-05-24T13:01:08.859-04:00"Nowhere in the Bible does it say..."
...that some action, inaction, thought, or activity is right or wrong solely because it isn't expressly mentioned by name in the Bible. What do I mean?
Yesterday in church, a male friend of mine made the point that, "Nowhere in the Bible does it tell husbands to hold their wives accountable to submit," the implication being that husbands are not permitted to hold their wives accountable for Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-59389693656238560972010-04-08T14:29:00.002-04:002010-04-08T14:29:28.829-04:00Public apology...We have been busy with life since the new year started, but with all that the Lord is doing - you can bet we will be posting soon...Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-41510240063180032162009-11-12T16:28:00.002-05:002009-11-12T16:35:45.760-05:00Naturalism: ContinuedI got an email from a reader arguing that rational thought could be an evolutionary development, which came about because it enabled species to survive more successfully. While I've always had difficulty imaging the short-term survival advantage of sentience, I thought I'd consider the idea of evolution giving rise to rational thought in more detail. I developed this in response to his email, butUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-32327429879705502692009-11-11T13:59:00.002-05:002009-11-11T14:40:49.162-05:00Naturalism: Only Natural?Atheism has been both more widespread and more vocal in our society recently. I'd like to take some time to consider one of the primary versions of atheism, known as naturalism. The assertion of naturalism is that the elements which are within nature compose the whole of reality -- that there is nothing outside of nature, defined as the observable universe.As an engineer, my immediate reaction toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-54748347361568880692009-10-13T06:30:00.001-04:002009-10-13T12:06:07.674-04:00Global Warming: not settled science; possibly science fiction.The BBC has posted an article on this subject here. This is the first time I can recall citing a BBC article, but the fact that one of the most liberal news media outlets on the planet is questioning the merits of global warming - well that is news.
My thoughts: whatever your politics, it seems undeniable that we are in a period of "global cooling." What that means, is up for debate.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-18486240403685606822009-10-09T07:34:00.002-04:002009-10-09T10:01:00.245-04:00And the award ... means nothing? The death of the Nobel Prize.Apparently the Nobel prize is no longer a noble prize. Even the Associated Press is questioning the committee's motives. Check out this article they published on Yahoo! news.
Now, I am not going to bash our president, regardless of my political views. That is not the point I am after here. My aim is to ask, like the author of that article, what has Obama done (not Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-61788926027912338522009-10-08T17:30:00.079-04:002009-10-08T17:30:00.400-04:00God really does help those who help themselves...I have often heard the expression, "God helps those who help themselves," and recently I heard another believer say this is not Biblical. I beg to differ.
Granted, the foregoing expression is not a Bible quote, but, depending on how you interpret that old saying, it is largely true. Just read this passage from Galatians 6 (ESV), which I am so fond of quoting:
"Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-47941506751402063512009-10-04T07:30:00.029-04:002009-10-05T12:26:03.918-04:00A wise man seeks wise counsel (no.3)."Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."
-Proverbs 15:22, NIV.
This verse came to me in my email devotional, and I find it to be one of the best verses in the Bible when it comes to decision-making and dealing with confusion. Frankly, in my own life, I have often been convicted with the reality that I cannot do everything myself.
As an example, I brokeJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-75560412807404014212009-09-24T08:21:00.003-04:002009-09-24T09:12:47.409-04:00Dating: Experience and RegretMany people oppose the concept of dating because of the likelihood of heartache and pain it can cause. Often, people think that they will regret all their dating experiences later in life, after and perhaps even before they actually get married.In my life, I've certainly had cause to regret things that happened while I was dating. However, when I really take a look at what I regret, it's not the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-57357785548645607382009-09-23T12:21:00.003-04:002009-09-24T09:13:44.038-04:00Antagonistic AxiomsIn my previous post, I talked about situations where we let rules which do not come from God's law govern our thoughts and actions. I wanted to expand on that point here.In mathematics, there are statements known as "axioms" which represent statements of truth. These axioms are typically propositions which could not be arrived at in any way other than assuming they are true. For example, in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-69919158059172990322009-09-21T15:43:00.006-04:002009-09-24T09:14:20.892-04:00The Unexamined Life"The unexamined life is not worth living."-SocratesOver time, I have come to find that there are many unexamined assumptions in my thinking, assumptions which are already in place before I start to logically consider an issue. Everyone has unexamined assumptions, and they can often get in the way, but they're especially problematic when it comes to our faith.American culture has many norms and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-24473498005486955132009-09-19T10:48:00.001-04:002009-09-19T10:48:00.760-04:00Sense & Insensibility: Jane AustenMy wife recently expressed to me that she thinks Jane Austen may be a bad influence on women. I have limited exposure to Austen's writings, though I have enjoyed many of the films based off her novels, including Emma. I have less to say on the matter than my wife might, but I have to agree that it is discouraging that a woman who spent so much time writing about relationships and marriage never Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-43278287601777249172009-09-18T09:27:00.002-04:002009-09-18T09:40:29.370-04:00No spirit of fear...Given the topic of yesterday's post, it is ironic that my dailybibleverse today (which I get every day via email) was 2 Timothy 1:6-7:"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."Paul had, according to the New Testament, a gift: he placed his hands onJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-79926359816891442582009-09-17T18:47:00.003-04:002009-09-17T18:47:00.333-04:00Guarding your heart: it doesn't mean what you might think it means...The following paragraphs are excerpts from a book I am writing, priumarily discussing dating, courting, and relationships from a Christian perspective. Indirectly, I touch on the issue of "guarding your heart," which is, perhaps, the finest example of Biblical misinterpretation one could find. I tthought that they might find a nice home here in this blog about truth.The phrase “guard your heartJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-78245386095239326532009-09-16T06:00:00.001-04:002009-09-16T11:59:37.675-04:00A date with my wife.Not to belabor the subject of dating, but I want to encourage all those men out there whose whose wives are nagging them for more "dates." Lesson learned: it doesn't matter so much what you do, so long as you plan it for them and make it fun.I like to read, so I took my wife out for fast food and a trip to the bookstore across the street. We drank overpriced coffee and read in each others' Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-18686317697196545632009-09-16T05:00:00.000-04:002009-09-16T12:55:11.378-04:00No deposit; no return...In an effort to remember that this blog is primarily oriented on the Truth as applied to all areas of life (as opposed to just dating and relationships), I want to offer something different. First let me offer a confession to you:I am not perfect. I do not give advice on this blog from a position of perfection. I have sinned many times already today, I am sure. If you are looking for advice Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-37482104832195501592009-09-15T06:00:00.001-04:002009-09-15T11:42:19.143-04:00Dating revisited: a testimony of post-marriage benefits, coping with heartache, and sowing your efforts.Many of you know that I am now married. Ironically, "dating" is never far from my mind. That may seem odd, but let me explain.Living with a member of the opposite sex is difficult. For all the feminist garbage out there trying to make people believe that men and women are the same creation, the truth is that men and women, while of equal value to the Lord and the world, are vastly different Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-23126748778999578162009-09-14T13:42:00.005-04:002009-09-14T15:42:57.341-04:00Movie Review: The Third Man (1949)SCORE-4 out of 5-CREDITSJoseph Cotten: Holly Martins Alida Valli: Anna Schmidt (as Valli) Orson Welles: Harry Lime Trevor Howard: Major Calloway Bernard Lee: Sergeant Paine Directed by Carol Reed"Arriving in Vienna, Holly Martins learns that his friend Harry Lime, who has invited him, recently died in a car accident" (source: imdb.com). STORYHolly Martins is an out-of-work pulp fiction novelist, Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-79590783095270821302009-09-14T11:30:00.002-04:002009-09-14T11:36:36.958-04:00A real toughie...This verse is convicting for me: "A fool shows his annoyance at once,but a prudent man overlooks an insult" (Prov 12:16, NIV).I've been slow in posting during my first year of marriage, partly because my life has so radically changed (for the better to be sure). Regardless of how much I love my family and friends, this verse encapsulates the very heart of my problems when it comes to conflict: Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-65098371223380343862009-09-14T06:00:00.004-04:002009-09-14T12:50:50.773-04:00A reply to Jessica on dating.This post is a reply to the comments made by Jessica regarding our previous post on dating, all of which you can read here.Hey Jessica,First, there's really no need to apologize for the length of your comments - I enjoyed reading them, and I like writing long comments myself. Blogger really needs to get over these space limits.Also, I think you've mistaken the point of this blog entry, which Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-67911562896017884152009-08-14T07:00:00.004-04:002009-09-14T13:15:39.006-04:00No man an island..."If one falls down,his friend can help him up.But pity the man who fallsand has no one to help him up!"-Ecclesiastes 4:10, NIV.More than anything, we men love to believe that we can be an island unto ourselves, independent and self-reliant, but maybe that isn't so good a thing as it sounds:"Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment" (Prov18:1).We buy Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-67191770149124447862009-07-28T11:12:00.004-04:002009-09-14T07:54:48.219-04:00Decoding DestinyI've noticed an interesting, and oddly consistent, thread that runs through nearly all stories, movies, television shows, and books. That thread is destiny.The concept of "destiny" affects everything from tragedies ("star-crossed lovers") to silly romantic comedies. It was such a romantic comedy which drew me to this subject. In particular, I want to discuss the popular idea that destiny leads usUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-55136481379656637932009-06-05T19:00:00.004-04:002009-09-16T13:43:32.957-04:00Movie Review: The Hangover (2009)SCORE-2/5-CASTBradley Cooper: Phil Wenneck.Ed Helms: Stu Price.Zach Galifanakis: Alan Garner.Justin Bartha: Doug Billings.Directed by Todd Phillips.STORY"A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him" (source: imdb.com).REVIEWNever before have I wanted more to give Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-44728599656787750882009-06-03T07:30:00.000-04:002009-06-03T09:28:06.502-04:00The self-righteous don't need a doctor...What is the one greatest thing that I have going for me spiritually?I know that I am a sinner. I confess that I have messed up each day of my life in some way and that, often, I am unaware of many more sins that I commit. Like the allegation levied against the blind man by the Pharisees, I was steeped in sin from birth. Unlike the Pharisees, however, I admit it. I believe it, and I recognize Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4152466344007665876.post-76138136342177795612009-05-18T19:30:00.002-04:002009-05-19T10:00:39.354-04:00White pride? Race & Politics revisited...I recently was forwarded an email that made the point that only white people can be racists. That's right - whites have a monopoly on racism. The email, rather poorly, made a few points that have always seemed logical to me. Lets see if I cannot restate them coherently:Point OneThere are African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans, Pacific Islander Americans, Latin Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825617435483664581noreply@blogger.com3