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« April 2005 | Main | June 2005 »

May 31, 2005

How Hugh Answered My Question

In my prior post, I shared the question I asked Hugh Ross in a Skeptics Forum at church this past Sunday.  Continuing on in my story ...

Hugh put down his cup of water and smiled.  "Fuz and I get that thrown in our face all the time during debates on university campuses."

Continue reading "How Hugh Answered My Question" »

May 31, 2005 | | TrackBack (0)

May 30, 2005

What I Asked Hugh Ross

I am visiting my folks in southern California at the moment.  I attended my old church this morning in Sierra Madre.  Hugh Ross was speaking at a "Skeptics Forum" at the church at 11:30 am.  After going to the early service, I wandered over to the room where Ross was speaking.
Hugh_ross
Dr. Hugh Ross is the founder of Reasons To Believe (RTB).  RTB is an apologetics organization which specializes in presenting evidence for design from science.  Because of Dr. Ross' background in physics and astronomy, they are particularly strong in presenting the  stunning evidence of fine tuning in the universe [known as the anthropic principle].

After a short lecture, Hugh opened it up for questions. Several got up and asked questions.  I began fidgeting in my seat.  I have always wanted to ask Hugh a question.  This guy answers questions for a living -- hard questions.  What should I ask, I thought.

I rose out of my chair and approached the microphone.

Continue reading "What I Asked Hugh Ross" »

May 30, 2005 in Science | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

May 26, 2005

Colson, Say It Isn't So

To steal a line from my favorite pastor-blogger, my blog could easily be renamed "Hat Tip: STR".  Melinda at STR tipped me off to a Breakpoint essay of interest.  In fact, it is concerning.  I have the greatest admiration in the world for Chuck Colson.  Not that we are close buddies or anything, but I have met him and learned from him in the Centurions program.  Chuck Colson writes,

"It wasn’t so much a crisis of faith as one of understanding. I had gained so much knowledge about the strength of the biblical worldview that I figured I could rationally answer every question. But of course, I couldn’t—no one can.

This bothered me for a few weeks until I realized the problem. Pride, which was my original obstacle to becoming a Christian, was in the way again. I knew so much, but faith, you see, is beyond the intellect. You have to have doubts; otherwise, it couldn’t be faith.

My friend’s problem was the same. I told him so, and, you’ll be pleased to know, later he returned to his faith. Now, remember, we need to understand everything we can about the world and about theology, but at some point, we have to realize that Jesus wants only our childlike faith. That’s the only way we can really love God. Otherwise, He’s simply another object to figure out. Only through faith can we learn dependence on Him."

Continue reading "Colson, Say It Isn't So" »

May 26, 2005 in Apologetics | | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

May 24, 2005

"24"

I watched the Fox show "24" for the very first time last night.  I am hooked.  Not only is the show fast paced (a colossal understatement), but it presents some excellent material for worldview thinking.  Moral dilemmas abounded in the episode I watched last night.   Melinda at STR explains why those who are interested in ethical theory and worldview analysis should really like this show.

May 24, 2005 in Television | | Comments (10) | TrackBack (1)

What Dut Has Taught Me About Life, Part I

Dut [pronounced "doot"] is my new Sudanese friend.  He stayed with us for four days this past week.  We had lots of time to talk and reflect on life.

Dut has experienced things in his twenty-five trips around the sun that I cannot imagine.  He has seen death up close many times.  He has had at least six near death experiences himself (that I know about.)  He has experienced starvation.  He knows what it is like to beg for food.  He knows what it is like to grow up without parents or adults to teach you how to live and act.   Yet despite it all, Dut knows how to have a good belly laugh. 

He is one of the most joyous people I have ever met.  I enjoyed some of the best belly laughs I have had in a long time this past week with Dut.  Dut tells a funny story about a hippo that I will never forget.  He has another one involving ostriches which is absolutely hilarious.  I hope both appear in the book.

In just a short time, Dut has had an impact on my life.  I learned a lot about African culture in general and the Sudanese culture in particular.  I also learned a lot about life.  Here are some of those lessons.

Continue reading "What Dut Has Taught Me About Life, Part I" »

May 24, 2005 in Sudan | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

"extraordinary circumstances"

Virginia's John Warner dissed me and dissed judicial conservatism last night.  Warner and several other left of center senators inked a laughable "deal" and politely asked the obstructionists if they would only obstruct in "extraordinary circumstances."  I would say an opening on the supreme court is an extraordinary circumstance, wouldn't you?

For a background on my position on judicial filibusters: see here and here and here.  Here is someone who thinks my view is foolish.

Last night's "compromise" is a huge victory for the opponents of judicial conservatism.   Reid,  Boxer,  Schumer and the NY Times have earned the right to crow this morning.  They have given up nothing and will continue to prevent the Senate from voting on judicial conservatives.  Extraordinary, indeed.

May 24, 2005 in Judicial Activism | | TrackBack (1)

May 20, 2005

The Lost Boy Returns

My friend Dut is staying with us for a few days.  You may recall Dut's story from the Lunch With A Lost Boy posts.  Dut is in his mid twenties and is Sudanese.  He is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan.

His life story is filled with many near death experiences and drama as he fled from his war torn country at the age of nine.  Despite it all, Dut has a wonderful enthusiasm for life, and his story is filled with hope. 

My sister is writing Dut's biography.  She is our guest this week as well.  She is interviewing Dut to gather details and stories from his childhood.   He shared some neat stories with us over dinner, and some sad ones as well.

I asked Dut what impact he would like this book to have on the readers.  He said he wanted his story to provide hope for anyone who is struggling through difficult circumstances.

Amen to that.  Getting to know Dut has been a real blessing.  I can't wait for this book to come out.

May 20, 2005 in Sudan | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

May 10, 2005

The Power Of Tilde

Dr. Paul Nelson has a tongue-in-cheek post on the power of tilde.   Tilde ( pronounced "TILL-duh") is one of these thingies inside the quote marks " ~ ".  In logic, it means negation (that is, "it is not the case that").

Nelson demonstrates that this innocous looking character can magically transform the epistemological status of an entire proposition.  It can instantly turn a proposition from a scientific claim into a religious one.  That is a cool trick.  Watch.

Take the proposition: all organisms on Earth share a common ancestor.

Clearly a scientific proposition.

Now,

~ ( All organisms on Earth share a common ancestor. )

Meaning, it is not the case that all organisms on Earth share a common ancestor.

Voila, a religious, therefore, completely subjective claim ;-)

May 10, 2005 in Design Theory | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

Can A Scientist Read Your Mind?

Scientific American has an interesting article called Brain Scans Help Scientist's "Read" Minds.  Notice the quote marks around the word read.  They are there for a good reason.  Neuro scientists are not reading minds.
Brain_scanThey are correlating brain states and mental states.  This far different than knowing the actual content of a mental state.

Continue reading "Can A Scientist Read Your Mind?" »

May 10, 2005 in Science | | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

May 09, 2005

Powers of 10

This web site has some eye catching  animation.   From the very large, to the very small -- God's fingerprints are on this universe.

May 09, 2005 in Science | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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