Faith and Philosphy

From May:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice Salvation is a hard concept for those who don't know Christ. In fact sacrificing for salvation seems very unrewarding to atheists. What is Salvation and why is it needed? People are born, live and die. There is a rhythm and through learning and studying the past we create opportunity to maximise what we get from our life. But the concept of sin is personal, not generational. It involves a relationship with God. Sin is a rejection of God. There are many ways to do it. Not praising God for blessings, cursing God for trials, not tithing, not helping friends, family or strangers. Not involving God in your life. Over the years, outsiders have developed memes related to sin. They conflate nature with God and refer to sins against nature. It is puzzling why anyone would need salvation when nature can be so forgiving for sins against her. Worse still, Christians have joined the debate and have begun referring to sins against nature too. But salvation, as offered through the death of Jesus on the cross, and his resurrection, are for sins against God, not nature. The person who becomes aware of their sin, and their need for salvation has not made a choice, but received the Holy Spirit. If the awareness is not there, they have not received the Holy Spirit. But they need to hear the word of God and they need to hear of their salvation and that happens when the word is preached. Then they can walk with the spirit and have their heart become aware of the Holy Spirit. What a person says does not mean their heart is convicted. But a heart that is aware that it needs salvation, is a heart that is ready for it. And God has given it. And if you are saved, and hold to the Lord, He will never let you go.

As an atheist, I was aware Prophecy doesn't work. Nobody sees the future, just like nobody talks to the dead. But I'm reminded of Stephen Fry's QI anecdote on injustice regarding the execution of George Spencer in Connecticut in (April 8th) 1642. Spencer was an ugly man with piggy ears and one eye and a sour disposition. He seemed openly contemptuous of God, echoing modern attitudes. One day a piglet was stillborn that looked like him, with one eye. The puritan community took it as a sign he had committed bestiality. He was charged and tortured into confessing. Told he would receive mercy if he confessed, he confessed. But realising that he might be condemned to death, he retracted his confession. The community decided that his confession and the dead piglet were sufficient to meet the two witnesses protocol for a death sentence and the sow was put to the sword and George was hanged. And the Connecticut community in their diligence in serving God, respected the biblical law. They were acting through prophecy and the word. But we know that George had not fathered that piglet. And we know he was convicted on an injustice. And such injustice is something that is repugnant to God. The NZ pastor admitted that prophecy (forth telling) was not perfectly applied by people and he took great care to bind it through three streams. It needed to be based on the word of God. It needed to be for the community, rather than the individual. It needed to be based in love (not romantic love, but love as God for the family of believers). Clearly the Connecticut community had failed that with George Spencer. But even so, there is no perfection with this tool. When it comes to fore telling and forth telling the Bible provides examples how words are spoken to enact the miracles. The Lord speaking the world into existence. Abraham literally speaking his promise of a child into being with his name and with Sarah's name. The Apostles speaking Jesus's name for their miracles. Words and prophecy are related. Words have power. Jesus' life was foretold. His resurrection was real. My fellowship friends illustrated the issue for me several years back. A young woman was the centre of a number of prophecy statements for an interested young man. I was dismissive of prophecy, but felt uncomfortable because I had hopes for the woman too. If I pray for something, I want it to be true. So, I tried to change the atmosphere and was sidelined and left the group. I approached the woman and told her how I felt and what was happening. She told me we were alone and 'could talk like adults now.' Years have passed. I have longed to talk with her and share time together, but she has not been interested. I've been told she isn't interested. And my question of God is what does He want? I'm old and not fit, and I believe if God wanted me to have the life I can see, I'd need to be fitter. There is no forth telling prophecy for me. But it illustrates what forth telling is for. Because Gods kingdom is not of Earth, yet through forth telling, we can see our way home.

From November:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice In the Vatican is a sheet that is centuries old. It has an image of a body, front and back, of a man who had been crucified similar as Jesus. The image has faded over time and now can only clearly be seen through photographic imaging. Records of the shroud date back to the thirteenth century when the shroud had been saved from a fire. Some say it was Christ’s burial shroud, but carbon dating places the shroud to the time of the fire. It matters little in terms of faith as to the shroud’s existence. Christians aren’t supposed to worship icons. The shroud has no special powers of healing or redemption. But the placebo effect would apply to it as it would to anything else. Why would that image be on that shroud? Has somebody else in history been crucified the same way? Was it an art project of Leonardo Da Vinci or some such, keen to know about the historical event? If it were the actual burial shroud, why is the image there? As we don’t know for certain how the image got to be there, it is hard to know why. The image is not blood, so no DNA would be extracted. It seems instead to be a kind of photographic image setting technique. Experiments have been done to see how the image got there. One way involves having a freshly washed sheet of the first century next to dead skin. But it wasn’t tradition to have freshly washed sheets next to dead skin, but prized clean sheets that were dried. And that is why the effect is not seen generally in other burial shrouds. If the shroud of Turin were real, it tells us something of the burial of Christ. It tells us that the burial was rushed and that the shroud used was washed and had not had time to dry prior to being used. Which is in line with what the Bible tells us about the event. Some are keen to assert that the shroud is real as Christ’s burial shroud. They point out that the carbon dating was performed on a part of the shroud which had been patched up after the fire. They point to the weaving techniques which belong to the first century.

From April:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice For people who don't know God personally, it can be an irritating statement. Similar words were painted on a cannon which sieged and flattened the city of Drogheda in Ireland by the Protestant commander Oliver Cromwell. The then Lord Protector of England had not extended the courtesy of protection to the Irish. Even today, the words can be triumphal, used, but not in humble acknowledgement of God. The faithful should know that God is love and apply it. But not as Charles Manson might have, sexually. God is love is a truth. A Christian doing a selfless act through faith that God is love, brings glory to God. God is love. It is relational love. He is the good father wanting his people to prosper. He desires to be close to them, to walk and talk with them. He wants his people to call to Him in need, and to thank Him when he has been generous in his blessings. To call to Him makes one closer to Him. God likes to be loved. He misses people who reject him. He welcomes them when they turn to Him. But those that don't know God certainly feel love and practice it. It is a gift from God that all may exercise, and do so without knowing God. A parent loves a child. A spouse loves their partner. It isn't something that only Christians have, and so it is irritating when Christians assert it without acknowledging the broadness. I heard a sermon recently from a dad whose five year old daughter disappeared from his home in the middle of the day. He was beside himself with panic. The front door was left open, and his two other daughters, 4 and 7 years old had no idea where their sister was. It had only been a few moments when his back was turned, and she was gone. He upended the entire street looking for her, calling out her name. Desperately thinking she had somehow been abducted. That is how God feels for those who do not know him. People want love in their lives. They do lots of things to find it. But only love with God is satisfying. Not because Christians don't divorce. Not because relationships without God aren't life long. But things are easier for couples and families when their eyes are on satisfying God and not merely their own needs. Serving one's self makes one selfish. Serving another makes one giving. Loving makes one beautiful. And to love is to give. It is the opposite of selfishness. Almost as if God created the world so that those who loved Him would prosper.

From June:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice About 40 different people have contributed to writing the Bible. The oldest book is Job, going back to 1600 BC. The newest book is Revelation, which is about 65 AD and pre dates the destruction of the Herodian temple at Jerusalem.The Bible is divided into the old and new testament. The old testament is written mainly in Hebrew or a little in Aramaic and the new testament is entirely written in Greek. The work is inspired by God and offers revelation of God, even in English translated forms. It is consistent with archaeological history. God gradually revealed himself to man, according to the old testament. A promised land was given to his chosen people, divided into twelve tribes. For a time, scriptures were lost, then rediscovered. And the people were removed from their land and scattered throughout the world. Even Japanese people have ancestry from Israeli peoples and aspects of Shinto resemble ancient Jewish traditions. God trained his people and it is telling that of the three known inheritable characteristics, Jewish peoples are high on all three of irritability (not much needed to motivate them), work (large amount of work once motivated) and emotive expression. God is active today and is involved with the world. It isn't his kingdom. He wants all peoples to be with him. Many are. Many aren't. He offers salvation for all. He blesses all. All have free choice to know him. Without him, there is no choice, and there is no hope for a future. He loves you. He offers you salvation.

From July:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice The real story of Jesus is confronting. Born 2000 years ago to Joseph and Mary, first cousins and descendants of King David. Mary was the mother. Not married when Jesus was conceived. Close family to John the Baptist's parents, Jesus was a few months younger than John. Jesus' early years were in Egypt. but he was still a child when he returned home near Jerusalem. Jesus grew up and left home, finding and leading some disciples. He was baptised by John. He was loved by God. He sacrificed himself so that God could get close to us. He rose from the dead and has given the Holy Spirit for us to call on him, so that we can be close to God. Many say they do not believe in Jesus. They don't believe he existed. They don't believe he was God. They don't believe he returned from the dead. They don't believe he did other miracles. They don't believe he died for our sin. We know Jesus was real because people who knew him testified both for and against him. People who researched his life soon after his death agreed about his journey in life. It is likely the Shroud of Turin has his image. We know Jesus was God by his actions, signs and miracles which were prophesied in scripture and fulfilled by him. He fed the starving, healed the sick, knew the Law and loved God. He walked on water, calmed storms, turned water into wine and taught with authority. Demons testified he was Lord. We know about the crucifixion and resurrection because his enemies admitted they crucified him and that he was resurrected. The high priest of the day was buried with a crucifixion nail. Taking his 'secret' to the grave. One enemy, Saul, was converted and became an author of much of the new testament. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we can know God personally. Thanks to Jesus. Read his word in the Bible, and learn the sound of his voice. He can talk to you. Everyone has needs. Jesus can satisfy you. He died and rose again so you might know Him.

I recently heard a very good talk on the issue of the trinity and I had some thoughts I wished to share but didn't wish to raise at the talk/church bible study because it might appear argumentative. I want to know if I'm on the right track .. and to be oriented better if I'm not .. so please, I delight in being wrong, it teaches me. My name is David Ball and I attend the JFC at Cabramatta and Pastor DD is a friend of mine. My first blush reaction to the academic argument regarding John's Gospel is to throw up my hands and say it isn't that hard. Putting words into the writer’s mouth is not befitting of the learner, but instructor. In many ways, the gospels are only a reflection of how they are read and it is dangerous to overstate what is apparent, just as it is a delight to know my Lord by what he shows of himself with his word. I want to know more, but I don't want to try hard to know it. But I know I must persevere. Many things are discovered and only by discussing them are they remembered, and if we don't, then, we risk missing out with faulty tools. My second thought is to do with biblical construction. It was written, but the writers were aware of earlier writings. So in Exodus we see Zipporah and Moses and the importance of circumcision. But the event, although described, is not described perfectly well for those who weren't there. I believe that later old testament writers were frustrated by the opaqueness of the text, and took steps to be more explicit. So we see Ezekiel disputing with God how he will cook his food. New testament writers were also aware of the need for transparency, and clearly wrote as plainly as they could, not being raised in academic traditions generally, except for Paul, and a few others. I get the impression that people like John wrote his gospel as he spoke aloud, probably having discussed the issues many times and sermonised many times before writing it many years later. And so I feel that his words are both deliberate and accidental, related to customary usage mixing with unusual ideas the language had not developed to support. I don't see the testimony as being sufficient to know all of God, but an imperfect reflection allowing us to walk with Him and learn from Him. But John knew Jesus and faithfully shared what he knew. The distinctions drawn regarding omniscience, omnipotence, etc seem to me to be imposed constructions related to Greek learning and relevant to things like Physics, but not relevant to understanding God. The Bible, seems to me, to be much easier to read without the imposition of such terms. I have no doubt that Trinity, composed of the five points .. There is only one God. God the father. Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit is God. and that other one I forgot to note, is the case. But is it really such a stumbling block to understanding the text?

From September:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice The God the Atheist doesn't believe in does not exist. It is a ridiculous and impossible figure, conceived of in changing states of technology and fragile cultural artefacts. That God cannot build a bridge that God could not cross. That God is self sufficient and needy. That God is powerless to impose a will and useless to their followers. That God is not the God of the Bible, but sometimes even the followers of the Bible do not know that. The God of the Atheists has many expressions, none of which match all of his descriptions. There is a God who is the Alpha and the Omega, who is wisdom and strength and worthy of all praise. But not a computer or program that is artificially intelligent. In many ways, a person might be described as a computer with a software program. But to describe God thus is as inaccurate as to describe a person thus. It is a diminution. It is also a temptation for those wishing to understand who God is. God's own followers don't know precisely who God is, although they try. The Bible is a key to it, but not a key in the way a keyboard is to access a computer. As an example, in Exodus 4:24-26, Moses has negotiated with God over the plagues and the petitions he will make to Pharaoh. He won't speak directly, because he stutters, but he uses his brother as an intermediary. And Moses has a newborn son. And suddenly, we read God is going to kill Moses. But Moses wife, Zipporah intervenes and circumcises Moses’ son, and Moses is no longer being killed by God. It is a particularly opaque piece of scripture. But it illustrates how we should respond to God, and the scripture. The Bible has come to us from many different people at different times spread over about fifteen hundred years. It has a structure based on the history of how it was compiled. Early books are written from an oral history and the voice of Moses. Later books are reflective of the work of prophets and activity of God's chosen people whom He trained. Catholics have an Apocrypha which are books Protestants feel don't relate directly to Jesus. Then there is the New Testament, the Gospel regarding Jesus, and various letters from the disciples. No one today knows precisely how it came together. How much is stone-age peasant understanding, and how much is inspired by God? I would argue that both apply, it is a stone-age man's thoughts, and it is entirely inspired. It means what God intended it to mean. What it is not is a code to a future, unveiling plans for a rocket ship to go to Mars. And it isn't as if the author is writing for perfect understanding of a future self. In fact, the writing seems to be for someone who was present. Then the shorthand would make sense. Exodus 4:24-26 is a very early account with Moses' voice. It is an interlude between Moses negotiating with God over how to approach Pharaoh, and the first approach. But Exodus in this passage does not make sense. Not now, and not three hundred years later when David and his family struggled with it. How long was Moses sick for? How quickly did Zipporah come to the realisation of the cure? Rabbi wanted to know because they wanted to get close to God too, but the words were not there. The information was gone, as the assumption is that 'everyone knew' as they had firsthand knowledge. But nobody now knows, as that firsthand knowledge is lost. And all that is left as a record are those few, terse words. And so later writings of the Old Testament included more words, more detail. But the detail doesn't necessarily bridge the gap. We examine the text and try to learn as much as we can, but not all of what we'd like to find is present. God exists. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He has a plan for you, a plan that will let you grow and prosper. He is not diminished to be what we would like so that we understand Him. It is natural to want to learn who God is. The Bible does that. But not by diminishing the work to be a code for the future. Instead, it is the inspiration, the dream, of people who knew God then, and walked with him. Like you can too. The God that atheists don't believe in does not exist, but God exists.

From October:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice There is no more painful tragedy than that attached to apparent success that isn’t. A loving couple yearn for a baby as fruit of their union. They become pregnant and everything goes as it should. A baby boy is delivered and is perfect in almost all respects. Except the boy is missing something that allows him to digest food. While he was attached to his mother, her blood had delivered all that he needed to sustain himself, but that was gone at birth. And when doctors notice it, it is too late. The couple can feed their son, but he cannot digest it. And so within a day, that perfect boy will die. He is too young to operate on. And there is not enough time even if an operation were attempted. Who can describe the pain such a couple feel? They aren’t unique, such tragedy does not happen often, but that it has even happened once is just wrong. It is natural at such times for people to turn to God and ask why? How is it even possible that such a thing could happen if God existed? If God were loving, why wouldn’t he fix it? And so in grief, those that do not know God have their fears confirmed. But those that know God are confronted and challenged. The God that the atheists do not believe in does not exist. It is a ridiculous being, composed of artefacts of culture, that combined are impossible. But the God named in the Bible is real and worthy of great praise. He is present at such tragedies, and He does the impossible of loving and healing the lamenting couple, who are helpless. The Hospital staff who are wounded by the grief and sadness and the baby boy who will too soon rest eternally with Him are comforted by Him. A lifetime of love is given to that baby by his parents that day, and the memory of him will be life long. So much that was hoped for will never be. There is pain in the world, that is made clear by His word. But that will not be, come the time when He sits in glory at his throne. The miracle of life, the grace that is experienced in every loving relationship: that is a gift that God has given us. We do not know why there are such tragedies or even what they mean in the great scheme of things. But such challenge can be met with perseverance. It would be a bigger tragedy if life were inconsequential.

A sermon on a miracle From August: History in a year by the conservative voice We need to be humble. Because if we aren't we miss the blessings He has given us. Because if we aren't, we don't hear His call. It isn't as if He is whispering softly, but when we are arrogant, we don't listen. There are physical limitations. He made the world and those limits should be there. Of course He will express his will by what is, sometimes. === The story begins in Poland in the 1920s. A Jewish family in a land that was healing after WW1, and that had miraculously survived Soviet Assault in the early '20s. A New World called, a land of opportunity and hope, and this family decided to migrate. Only they couldn't afford to migrate at once. Two sisters were particularly close, and one, Anja, was picked to go abroad and prepare the way. In Poland, the family raised money to send the next person. In the US, in Baltimore, Anja's life improved, and she married a good man. Meanwhile in Poland, the sister who remained also married a good man. Anja worked very hard and prospered, but He had it so she did not have children. But the sister in Poland had children, and was greatly blessed. Except WW2 intervened. The two sisters had kept in touch by mail. But when WW2 came about, the plans to send more family to the US was interrupted and no mail got sent. Following the war, fellow villagers reported to Anja that her family in Poland had all been eliminated. No survivors. And now, a well off middle aged woman in Baltimore yearned for family, and had none. Many people in such circumstances crumble and blame Him. Anja may well have done so. But she also called out to Him. She wanted family to raise for Him. Children that would know his name and call her 'mother.' Family. She discussed it with her husband, and they agreed to adopt a Jewish baby. Many of the few survivors that were children were available for adoption, and so, negotiating with an agency in New York City, She and her husband set off to see who was available. They wanted a very young child or baby that they could raise in the manner of their people. Only, when they got to the agency, all the babies had been adopted although there was an eight year old orphaned girl named Miriam. They discussed it, but they weren't for lots of children and they wanted a baby. They went home in an empty car. A year later, they tried again. Lots of babies were available, they were told, and they made the long journey. Only there were no babies left when they arrived. Only the now nine year old Miriam, and Miriam was connected with her younger brother. The agency would not let them be separated. They adopted both. And made the journey home with a car that was not empty. He hears prayer. He heard her call for family, and he gave her one. Physical realities of the known universe being what they are, He delivered. And had she not been humble, she may never have allowed Him to heal her wounds. But it isn't humble to limit Him. He has made the world, and He can do whatever He pleases in his garden. When the family got home, the car doors opened and baggage was removed. The door was opened and inside, on display, were familiar pictures the couple had of their life together and loved ones. The little girl spotted them, and cried out. What was wrong, asked the adoptive mother. The girl asked why she had pictures of her 'babcia,' indicating the Sister's mother, and her own sister. 'babcia' means grandmother in Polish, and Anja was confused. Miriam went to her bags, and came back with a picture, the exact one that was shown on display. Because Miriam and her brother were actually nephew and niece to Anja .. true family. Blood from her blood. He had answered her prayer, His way.

Revelation of the Holy Spirit 7th June 2016 Tragedy is not from God, but goes to the glory of God. The Devil uses tragedy and points to it, showing our separation from God and suggesting that the gulf between us is insurmountable. The Devil points to our past, and tells us that there is no hope that God could love us. The Devil says that God is not real, and not worthy of our praise and adoration. Don’t study the Devil. There is nothing worthwhile to fighting the Devil. The Devil has lost the fight to the Lord, and that future is a black pit with eternal separation from God. But the Devil can still confuse you to the same fate. If you fight the Devil, you can end up dancing to their tune. But if you resist the Devil, and hold to the Lord, you will be part of the triumph. Terrible tragedy is part of the world. It is not part of what the Lord wants for us. Children orphaned and left helpless victims to those who exploit them mercilessly, and kill them. Trust betrayed, and people poisoned, or trapped in terrible cycles of poverty and corruption. Disease slowly eats away at humanity, and the desperate give everything to lessen their pain. Clever people exploiting the trusting. The Lord can win against such impossible odds, where we fail. At Calgary, when it had been known in advance what the Lord would do to win, still the Devil fell for the trap. It had looked too inviting for the Devil, to kill God, who had willingly become incarnate in flesh. It had seemed to be a great victory for the Devil. The Devil had exploited a disciple, who had betrayed Jesus with the blessing of Jesus. And men worked as the Devil’s agents, against the possibility of resurrection and redemption. The law was misapplied to kill the innocent. And all men were responsible. And yet that was the basis for the great victory over death. A thousand years earlier, King David had been at his lowest, over Bathsheba. David forgot to serve God, but served himself for pleasure. And yet from that union, from the death of their firstborn, a boy was delivered who would become King, wisest of all men, and builder of the temple. My God is the God of second chances. My God gives redemption and hope. My God gives riches in eternity. My God is so great, He loves you, and wishes to share eternity with you. And will forgive your sin, asking you give Him the fruit from his seed.

What were the reasons for African Americans transitioning from support for GOP to support for Dem? When did it happen? Who were the persons behind the transition? Was it a response to policy, or to a promise of policy? Had behaviour of Democrats to black people changed following the civil war? Had the behaviour of GOP changed to black people? Were there material benefits for black people from the shift in support? 40 Acres and a Mule Compromise of 1877 Booker T Washington Woodrow Wilson Robert Russa Moton Herbert Hoover FDR Aspirations of Black people Following the Civil war, former slaves had had a dysfunctional society, without fathers for some families and with poor education attainment. In 1920s, Black peoples had been growing more prosperous. Since the New Deal, Black peoples have been poorly served by welfare, fractured families and loss of community institutions