My brother was born on June 20. In some years that is the summer solstice. Other years, like this one, 2019, the solstice comes a day later, on June 21. My brother used to say, maybe he still does, that he was so special that when he was born, the sun did not want to go down. So it waited until the final possible minute before setting. Incidentally, the solstice was June 21 that year. He explained that when the sun came up the day after his birthday, it realized what an opportunity it had missed and made up for it.
The solstice, caused by the tilt of the earth always fascinated me. But the fascination came from a different motivation. I was curious about two things. First, how did the earth tilt back and forth? Second, how did anyone figure out that it was tilted? The first question occurred to me in about third grade, I believe.
The teacher had explained about the seasons being caused by the tilt of the earth. I asked how the earth tilted back and forth, and how did it know how and when to stop and tilt back the other way. I was concerned that if it didn’t “work right” the earth would just turn upside down.
“It just does,” was the answer. I knew that she didn’t have a clue, nor did she care. Not a lot of scientific curiosity there. I kept looking for an answer. (For the younger readers, there was no internet on which anyone could just type in a question and get a dozen answers some of which might actually be accurate!) I do not remember if I saw a model of the solar system or was just playing with a globe. Some show the earth standing straight up. This one showed it tilted at the 23.5 degree angle and as it was moved “around the sun,” I noticed that the tilt did not change, but as it circled the sun, the axis alternately pointed toward then away from the sun.
Voila! Now it made sense. I had also worried that the shock of tilting one direction, stopping, then tilting back might make the earth break up sometime. My fears were assuaged.
The second question was not so easily resolved. And, in fact, I did resort to an internet search. (A full explanation is found at this address. http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/physics/148-people-in-astronomy/history-of-astronomy/general-questions/995-who-and-when-discovered-that-the-earth-s-axis-is-on-a-23-degree-tilt-intermediate)
Long story short, a vertical pole casts a shadow and the shadow “moves” throughout the year. Of course, the shadow “moves” throughout the day as the earth moves under the sun. But the angle the pole shadow makes at the same time each day changes throughout the year. A Chinese guy noticed that about 1100 BC. (I guess he had nothing else to do than measure the angle of shadows.) Since the shadow is not the same the year around, he surmised that the earth was tilted.
Note: We examined the fallacy of a flat earth a while back but did not include this additional “complication” in our consideration. If the earth were flat, the “plate or disk” would indeed have to literally tilt up and down every six months to account for the different shadow angle cast by a pole. But I digress.
Back to a consideration of solstices. My dad used to tell me that in the winter, “the cold begins to strengthen when the days begin to lengthen.” The coldest part of the winter is in January and February. You would think that the coldest days would be during the times of least sunshine. Maybe that will be the topic of a future post.
Quite often, the hottest times of the summer are in July and August, again after the duration of sunshine begins to decrease. I am sure that there is a good explanation. But one other consideration comes to mind.
The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5o degrees away from the plane of the ecliptic. It's because of this tilt that the Earth experiences seasons as it orbits around the Sun. If this tilt were more pronounced, as is Uranus, which at 98 degrees, is nearly lying on it side, the seasons would be extremely different. Part of the year it would be too cold and then, six months later, it would be too hot for life to exist. Or consider Jupiter, at 3 degrees, and Mercury, a minuscule 0.1 degrees, where the seasons would be virtually constant year round. Earth, 23.5, Mars, 25, Saturn, 27, and Neptune, 30, all have distinct seasons.
Notice that I left Venus for last. It is tilted 13 degrees to the left. All the others tilt right. This is determined by the way they rotate. If you stand on the north pole with arms extended, your right hand would circle toward the left, or west to east. But on Venus, the rotation is the opposite. Astronomers explain this by postulating that Venus turned “upside down” and is actually tilting at a 177 degree angle. And this brings us back to creation.
The supposition by evolutionists is that the solar system formed from a random dust cloud that accreted into eight or nine distinct balls that orbited the sun. For now, we will ignore the problem of celestial mechanics in producing such an intricate and exquisite formulation. But if all the planets formed the same way, they should all be spinning the same direction. That is called conservation of angular momentum. Love that kind of talk. (The same is true for the moons orbiting each planet, by the way.) And they all should be pointing straight up or perpendicular to the ecliptic. That is the plane of the solar system. Another question is why did all of the planets line up in such a flat configuration? But we will defer that as well.
Now back to our upright planets. To explain the precession or tilt of the planets, evolutionists propose a collision of the planets with some “random body” hurtling through space which “knocked the planet” out of kilter. And, Venus must have been almost knocked completely over, upside down. (Or maybe my third grade musing was accurate, and it did turn upside down.) Another unanswered question is the remarkable coincidence of random collisions with each of the planets. And why did such catastrophic collisions did not disintegrate the planet? But I digress.
Or, maybe a Creator made it that way to give our ancient Chinese observer something to amuse himself. And, incidentally, to give the earth the perfect tilt to produce varying weather patterns without being so severe that life would be threatened. Spontaneous, random generation of the solar system, not to mention the almost infinitely more complex problem of the universe, is not only difficult to comprehend and explain, but it also challenges credibility. Moses, when writing the book of Genesis explained it in 10 words. (Genesis 1:1) (English. Not sure how many in Hebrew, six, I think.)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
He expanded on that in v. 14, 15.
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”
As for the rest of the universe, check verse 16.
He made the stars also.
For anyone who protests that it is too hard to believe that a God could do that, I recommend that he or she answer the previously posited questions. And, while you are at it, go ahead and explain why some of the planets are terrestrial or rocky, and others are simply gas balls. I will let you find out which is which.
One last consideration. Why is the earth exactly 23.5 degrees “off” from the perfect, or upright position? Consider the answer from “Universe Today.” After repeating the “bunches of rocks stuck together to make a planet,” it states:
All the same, the Earth’s tilt is very important. It is perfectly positioned so that it gives us the seasons and on top of that the seasons are near(ly) perfectly calibrated for life. When compared with other planets Earth’s tilt allows for seasons that are not too extreme in temperature but are pretty well balanced. At the same (time,) if it had stay(ed) in the “perfect” position one side of the Earth would be too hot at times and then too cold.
I like the wording, “perfectly calibrated for life.” Does that sound like a random, spontaneous generation of the universe? I would suggest that is not compatible with what is actually seen. It seems rational to consider the proposition that, “In the beginning, God....”
Thank you, brother, for being born on such a momentous day. We are reminded every year that not only are we creations, but we are loved creations. (John 3:16) This is a little bit of editorial license, but “In the beginning, God loved.”
Have a great summer.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Dreams and Stuff
Stuff
Before we get into the meat (dream scenario), turn your attention to the latest food worry. Wait for it...polyfluoroalykyl substances, or PFAS, have been found in foods. Don’t you just love that kind of talk? Polyfluoroalykyl substances: poly, many (also designated “per”); fluoro, flourine atoms; alykyl, carbon chain with most or all of the hydrogen atoms replaced by halogens; substances. (We know what substances are.) Just imagine a chain of carbon atoms...well, you get the picture. Link.
The “crisis” involved with this is that PFAS do not occur naturally in nature. They are man-made, and are the basis of non-stick coatings on cookware. They also are used to keep grease, water and stains off countless consumer items, including in food packaging, carpets and couches, dental floss and outdoor gear. Would this include ScotchGuard?
The chemicals also are found in firefighting foam, which the Department of Defense calls irreplaceable in suppressing jet-fuel fires. The key issue here is: “Do they do any damage in the human body?”
Well, there is the rub. There are correlative instances where levels of PFAS were found in food or water and the incidence of cancer increased. Is this causal or coincidental? It is not clear at the present time. But, some agencies are reacting more speedily than others. “If there is a chance, ban or restrict.” Others say, “We must be sure before we act.”
If you have been following the ongoing research on coffee and eggs, you know that the “experts” have variously declared both substances bad or very bad, only to have subsequent studies and new “experts” declare that they are not only benign but have positive effects on the body. (Incidentally, do you know the definition of an “expert?” An “ex” is a has been and a “spurt” is a drip under pressure. Expert.) Anyway, back and forth the debate rages. PFAS currently are bad boys, but they might be okay, especially considering the value of their contribution to food handling and preparation. Sigh....
Dreams
Our study of Genesis progressed into Chapter 40 where the butler and baker in Pharaoh’s service were thrown into prison for displeasing the king. They each had a dream and Joseph interpreted them. Joseph was familiar with dreams, having had at least two of his own. Although at this point he has not seen his come true.
The butler dreamed that he was back in Pharaoh’s service and that came true. The baker dreamed that Pharaoh’s baked goods were eaten out of a basket on his head. “Bad news,” Joseph told him. You will be hanged and birds will eat your flesh. And that happened just as Joseph said.
Have you had any dreams that bother you? Well, the other night I dreamed that the wife and I were at a wake/funeral and as we prepared to return home, I needed a bathroom stop. So she went to get the car and we were to meet in the parking lot. I left the police station, did I say that the event was in a police station? And I do not know who the remembrance was commemorating. But I digress.
Well, I walked out of the station and didn’t see the car. As I started to return inside to inquire where the parking lot was, Bev, having parked down the street, jumped out, waved, and called my name. I turned to look and to the horror of us both, the car began to coast away from her. Then it accelerated and crashed into an empty lot. Empty, that is, except for a junker vehicle that just happened to be parked there. It smashed into the “classic” vehicle, as the owner would declare on the insurance form, and demolished both of them. (The cars, not the owner.)
Scene change: We are talking to a husband and wife insurance team and they are questioning our previous claim (who knows?) from about 10 years ago. It seems that we had “accepted” the settlement based on a different evaluation than the standard “Taiwan evaluation” that all insurance companies use.
I explained that we were changing insurance companies and the new company offered the higher payout. And what did that have to do with this claim? Just a reminder, dreams do not have to make sense, be coherent, nor adhere to fact. Then the lights come up and I rolled out of bed.
Any suggestions as to the meaning or import? I did mention at breakfast that we should never leave a car running and in gear. But that is all that I could decipher or interpret. Guess we need Joseph.
More Stuff
The Pastor on Sunday preached on the church at Thyatira, in Revelation 2. (V. 18-29) This was the church that was more tolerant than God. It is dangerous to “tolerate” what God does not. He continued to explain that many churches have drifted by redefining tolerance. Some accept any and every thing in the fear of offending anyone. Others have become so strictly definitive (legalistic) that they ban and prohibit almost everything. In that case, both sides also condemn everyone who disagrees with them.
Neither stance is Biblical nor pleasing to the Lord. Some critics have condemned the Church for evangelizing other cultures. The definition of tolerance is that everyone is right, regardless of what they believe. So sending “missionaries” to “pagan” cultures is imposing western and worse, Christian values on these “pristine,” native cultures.
Without even evaluating the positive good that evangelistic efforts have produced all over the world, and they have been massive, a better definition of tolerance is the freedom to PROPOSE alternative values.
(Note: Yes, some, in the name of the church, have perpetrated atrocities around the world. But these actions were not in line with the teachings of Jesus. A wise man once said, “Do not judge a concept by its misuse or perversion.” We need to examine the basic teachings of the founder of any group or movement. Base any judgment on that. Consider this carefully. Back to the message.)
Missionaries propose alternative life activities and goals. They are not imposed on the innocent natives. And, now considering the value of “regime change” in lives, missionaries have produced better quality of life for every culture into which the Gospel has been accurately introduced. Schools, hospitals, increased standard of living, and most importantly, respect for life, mark the trail of missions organizations all over the world.
One last comment from Pastor: Inside the church we can, and do, have different interpretations of doctrinal issues. Types of music, worship styles, translations that are acceptable or not, the timing of the Lord’s return are just some of the differences. (Dipped, dunked, sprinkled, poured, or even “daubed as a baby” are included in this cacophony of claims. Some even argue about forward or backward and an additional voice requires triple back dunks.) These are like state lines in the United States. We cross them nonchalantly. The only notification that we are changing states is a sign proudly announcing, “You are now entering the great state of....” Or some such verbiage. Tolerating these differences is not a bad thing. In fact, that will strengthen the bonds that bind us.
But there are doctrinal differences, such as the necessity of belief in Jesus. Is He really God, the second Person of the Trinity? Is the Bible authoritative or merely a cultural artifact of the times in which it was written? Those are national borders. You have to go through checkpoints, with proper credentials. And now you are in another country. Theologically, this is not being true to Christ’s teaching. “Tolerating” these changes and interpretations was what the church in Thyatira practiced. And the Lord condemned them.
“I gave her time to repent.” (V. 21) And “I will kill her followers...and give each one according to his deeds.” (V. 23) Toleration redefined leads to the situation where each person becomes the authority, rather than yielding to the Lord. And finally, this leads to fearing the wrong judgment. Often groups acquiesce to human values to avoid being ostracized or condemned. But the judgment of the King is the one to ultimately determine our destiny.
And finally, how does all of this cohere? Additives in food enhance the taste or convenience. “Judging” and condemning or abandoning them will entail collateral costs. And sometimes our “dreams” or research results are meaningful. At other times they are peripheral, portentous, or irrelevant. Likewise, differences in church are not always indicative of divine Messages. And ultimately, we must learn to “tolerate” ideas that are “state lines” and refute and reject those that are national lines.
How is that for some mental gymnastics comparable to freestyle exercises? See you next time.
Before we get into the meat (dream scenario), turn your attention to the latest food worry. Wait for it...polyfluoroalykyl substances, or PFAS, have been found in foods. Don’t you just love that kind of talk? Polyfluoroalykyl substances: poly, many (also designated “per”); fluoro, flourine atoms; alykyl, carbon chain with most or all of the hydrogen atoms replaced by halogens; substances. (We know what substances are.) Just imagine a chain of carbon atoms...well, you get the picture. Link.
The “crisis” involved with this is that PFAS do not occur naturally in nature. They are man-made, and are the basis of non-stick coatings on cookware. They also are used to keep grease, water and stains off countless consumer items, including in food packaging, carpets and couches, dental floss and outdoor gear. Would this include ScotchGuard?
The chemicals also are found in firefighting foam, which the Department of Defense calls irreplaceable in suppressing jet-fuel fires. The key issue here is: “Do they do any damage in the human body?”
Well, there is the rub. There are correlative instances where levels of PFAS were found in food or water and the incidence of cancer increased. Is this causal or coincidental? It is not clear at the present time. But, some agencies are reacting more speedily than others. “If there is a chance, ban or restrict.” Others say, “We must be sure before we act.”
If you have been following the ongoing research on coffee and eggs, you know that the “experts” have variously declared both substances bad or very bad, only to have subsequent studies and new “experts” declare that they are not only benign but have positive effects on the body. (Incidentally, do you know the definition of an “expert?” An “ex” is a has been and a “spurt” is a drip under pressure. Expert.) Anyway, back and forth the debate rages. PFAS currently are bad boys, but they might be okay, especially considering the value of their contribution to food handling and preparation. Sigh....
Dreams
Our study of Genesis progressed into Chapter 40 where the butler and baker in Pharaoh’s service were thrown into prison for displeasing the king. They each had a dream and Joseph interpreted them. Joseph was familiar with dreams, having had at least two of his own. Although at this point he has not seen his come true.
The butler dreamed that he was back in Pharaoh’s service and that came true. The baker dreamed that Pharaoh’s baked goods were eaten out of a basket on his head. “Bad news,” Joseph told him. You will be hanged and birds will eat your flesh. And that happened just as Joseph said.
Have you had any dreams that bother you? Well, the other night I dreamed that the wife and I were at a wake/funeral and as we prepared to return home, I needed a bathroom stop. So she went to get the car and we were to meet in the parking lot. I left the police station, did I say that the event was in a police station? And I do not know who the remembrance was commemorating. But I digress.
Well, I walked out of the station and didn’t see the car. As I started to return inside to inquire where the parking lot was, Bev, having parked down the street, jumped out, waved, and called my name. I turned to look and to the horror of us both, the car began to coast away from her. Then it accelerated and crashed into an empty lot. Empty, that is, except for a junker vehicle that just happened to be parked there. It smashed into the “classic” vehicle, as the owner would declare on the insurance form, and demolished both of them. (The cars, not the owner.)
Scene change: We are talking to a husband and wife insurance team and they are questioning our previous claim (who knows?) from about 10 years ago. It seems that we had “accepted” the settlement based on a different evaluation than the standard “Taiwan evaluation” that all insurance companies use.
I explained that we were changing insurance companies and the new company offered the higher payout. And what did that have to do with this claim? Just a reminder, dreams do not have to make sense, be coherent, nor adhere to fact. Then the lights come up and I rolled out of bed.
Any suggestions as to the meaning or import? I did mention at breakfast that we should never leave a car running and in gear. But that is all that I could decipher or interpret. Guess we need Joseph.
More Stuff
The Pastor on Sunday preached on the church at Thyatira, in Revelation 2. (V. 18-29) This was the church that was more tolerant than God. It is dangerous to “tolerate” what God does not. He continued to explain that many churches have drifted by redefining tolerance. Some accept any and every thing in the fear of offending anyone. Others have become so strictly definitive (legalistic) that they ban and prohibit almost everything. In that case, both sides also condemn everyone who disagrees with them.
Neither stance is Biblical nor pleasing to the Lord. Some critics have condemned the Church for evangelizing other cultures. The definition of tolerance is that everyone is right, regardless of what they believe. So sending “missionaries” to “pagan” cultures is imposing western and worse, Christian values on these “pristine,” native cultures.
Without even evaluating the positive good that evangelistic efforts have produced all over the world, and they have been massive, a better definition of tolerance is the freedom to PROPOSE alternative values.
(Note: Yes, some, in the name of the church, have perpetrated atrocities around the world. But these actions were not in line with the teachings of Jesus. A wise man once said, “Do not judge a concept by its misuse or perversion.” We need to examine the basic teachings of the founder of any group or movement. Base any judgment on that. Consider this carefully. Back to the message.)
Missionaries propose alternative life activities and goals. They are not imposed on the innocent natives. And, now considering the value of “regime change” in lives, missionaries have produced better quality of life for every culture into which the Gospel has been accurately introduced. Schools, hospitals, increased standard of living, and most importantly, respect for life, mark the trail of missions organizations all over the world.
One last comment from Pastor: Inside the church we can, and do, have different interpretations of doctrinal issues. Types of music, worship styles, translations that are acceptable or not, the timing of the Lord’s return are just some of the differences. (Dipped, dunked, sprinkled, poured, or even “daubed as a baby” are included in this cacophony of claims. Some even argue about forward or backward and an additional voice requires triple back dunks.) These are like state lines in the United States. We cross them nonchalantly. The only notification that we are changing states is a sign proudly announcing, “You are now entering the great state of....” Or some such verbiage. Tolerating these differences is not a bad thing. In fact, that will strengthen the bonds that bind us.
But there are doctrinal differences, such as the necessity of belief in Jesus. Is He really God, the second Person of the Trinity? Is the Bible authoritative or merely a cultural artifact of the times in which it was written? Those are national borders. You have to go through checkpoints, with proper credentials. And now you are in another country. Theologically, this is not being true to Christ’s teaching. “Tolerating” these changes and interpretations was what the church in Thyatira practiced. And the Lord condemned them.
“I gave her time to repent.” (V. 21) And “I will kill her followers...and give each one according to his deeds.” (V. 23) Toleration redefined leads to the situation where each person becomes the authority, rather than yielding to the Lord. And finally, this leads to fearing the wrong judgment. Often groups acquiesce to human values to avoid being ostracized or condemned. But the judgment of the King is the one to ultimately determine our destiny.
And finally, how does all of this cohere? Additives in food enhance the taste or convenience. “Judging” and condemning or abandoning them will entail collateral costs. And sometimes our “dreams” or research results are meaningful. At other times they are peripheral, portentous, or irrelevant. Likewise, differences in church are not always indicative of divine Messages. And ultimately, we must learn to “tolerate” ideas that are “state lines” and refute and reject those that are national lines.
How is that for some mental gymnastics comparable to freestyle exercises? See you next time.
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