Archive for the ‘existential, educational’ Category
There is no doubt the Taliban, now taken control in Afghanistan, are even more convinced that God is on their side! How very typical this is of humans throughout all of history, no matter how great or small the ruling empire may have been, or how many people they ruled over, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Romans, British or American, just to name a few, all share this one religious thought; ‘God is on MY side!’
Well I’ve got news for all forms of national sovereignty* the one and only true God and father of mankind Himself declares he is ‘not on your side‘! Not yesterday, not today, not ever!
The real distinction to be made is ‘claims to have God on YOUR side’, rather than being ‘on side WITH God’!
How can this be said? Of course the historical failures of virtually all human governments confirms this fact, but please read on;
First; consider the universally admitted fact that ‘we’ (namely all mankind) ‘are imperfect.’ If anyone doubts this basic truth please raise your hand!?
Second; similarly, why would God, our heavenly Father, support continuous changes of imperfect human governments, much less never ending wars and conflicts between them?
Third; as mentioned, if God actually supported a particular human government, why have not one of them successfully brought lasting ‘peace and security’ to its subjects , much less fair and equitable distribution of material benefits to its subjects, no matter how long it lasted!?
No ‘the jury is not out’. The plain fact is God has set an unalterable agenda for establishing ‘His’ rulership (a.k.a. sovereignty)! One government that will rule the entire earth. The Kingdom Jesus said we should pray for as recorded in the Bible at Matthew 6:10*. There is no doubt IT will bring true peace and security for all who adopt it, because those who refuse to subject themselves to that just and righteous government will simply be no more, that is his true purpose, not support for imperfect unqualified human governments.
- * Please read: ‘Our Father, let your kingdom come on earth as in heaven’. (Matthew 6:10.)
- ‘..the wicked will be no more…..But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace…the righteous will possess the earth and they will live forever on it.’ (Psalm 37:10,11,29)
What we may never know, and what we can know!
Through a variety of tests on Earth and throughout the universe, physicists have measured no changes in time or space for any of the fundamental constants of nature.
There are 28 numbers that completely determine all the physics of the known universe. In many experiments, nobody has ever observed any variation in the fundamental constants.
While physicists continue to search for a new theory to replace the incompatible Standard Model and general relativity, it appears that the constants we know and love are here to stay.
Please Note; the following excerpts arecredited to a post by Ryan F. Mandelbaum, (and someadded comments from this blogger)
Mr Mandelbaum is a science communicator specializing in quantum computing and birds:
There is a realm the laws of physics forbid us from accessing, below the resolving power of our most powerful microscopes and beyond the reach of our most sensitive telescopes. There’s no telling what might exist there.
Since the beginning of human inquiry, there have been limits to our observing abilities. Quantum mechanics and the Standard Model of Particle Physics have worked wonders at clarifying what goes on inside of atoms. However, with each of these successful theories comes hard-and-fast limits to our observing abilities. Today, these limits seem to define true boundaries to our knowledge.
On the large end, there is a speed limit that caps what we can see. It hampers any hope for us to observe most of our universe first-hand. The speed of light is more than just a speed limit. So we must contend with several horizons beyond which we can’t interact.
Another boundary lives on the other end of the scale called the ‘Planck scale’, the smallest meaningful numbers that quantum mechanics allows us to define. Zoom in between molecules, into the center of atoms, deep into their nuclei and into the quarks that make up their protons and neutrons. It’s a built-in limit to our understanding of the universe.
These fundamental limits, large and small, present clear barriers to our knowledge.
Our theories tell us that we will never directly observe what lies beyond these cosmic horizons or what structures exist smaller than the Planck scale. However, the answers to some of the grandest questions we ask ourselves might exist beyond those very walls. Why and how did the universe begin? What lies beyond our universe? Why do things look and act the way that they do? Why do things exist? Exploring the unanswerable belongs to philosophy or religion.
Walls that stop us from easily answering our deepest questions about the universe… well, they don’t feel very nice to think about. But offering some comfort is the fact that 93 billion light-years is very big, and 10^-35 meters is very small. Between the largest and the smallest is a staggering space full of things we don’t but ‘theoretically can know’.
Through a variety of tests on Earth and throughout the universe, physicists have measured no changes in time or space for any of the fundamental constants of nature.
There are 28 numbers that completely determine all the physics of the known universe. In many experiments, nobody has ever observed any variation in the fundamental constants. While physicists continue to search for a new theory to replace the incompatible Standard Model and general relativity, it appears that the constants we know and love are here to stay.
Indeed, some things may always be beyond human knowledge. For example the Bible teaches:
“By faith we perceive that the systems of things were put in order by God’s word, so that what is seen has come into existence from things that are not visible.” (Hebrews 11:3), also that God exists “from everlasting to everlasting.” (Psalm 90:2) In other words, God had no beginning and will have no end. From a human point of view, “the number of his years is beyond (human) comprehension.” (Job 36:26) and finally “…we will never find out the work that the true God has made from start to finish.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Please visit my post; “From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained!” https://wp.me/pWQGc-JU
“As a (serious) Evolutionist, is there a piece of evidence you’ve seen that points to inteligent design?”
The following answer to that question was made by James Elmore B.S., M.D. Medicine & Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduated 1998. If you, as me, do not fully understand his detailed answer, at least take note of his final comments!
(NOTE: (UNABLE TO POST A GENOME PICTURE HERE FROM ORIGINAL COMMENT)
This may look like gibberish at first, but trust me it’s anything but.
The top row is the partial DNA sequence of the INK4a gene that codes for an important regulatory protein. The second row is its partial amino acid sequence.
What’s amazing here though is the third row. It shows how the same exact DNA sequence used to code INK4a is also used to code the amino acid sequence of a completely unique protein (ARF) with a different regulatory function. So the ARF gene is literally a gene within a gene. Just by starting on a different nucleotide which causes a completely different reading frame.
The Regulation of INK4/ARF in Cancer and Aging
Note that these 2 proteins aren’t just different forms of the same protein—they are entirely unique. There is NO shared amino acid homology.
While no analogy is perfect here, what you are looking at would be akin to writing 2 unique sentences with entirely different meanings just by starting on a different letter!
And it’s now estimated that up to 10% of our genomes include overlapping genes. The number is growing.
“Overlapping genes have generally been thought to be relatively rare in the human genome, but the results of the present study show that they are more abundant than was previously thought. Interestingly, overlapping genes do not appear to be the result of evolutionary pressure to minimize the size of the human genome.”
Overlapping of Genes in the Human Genome
Sure, this can be and is explained away using the common descent paradigm. But it really does and should test the limits of credulity. Here’s why:
The total number of possible protein sequences is ~infinite. Even for an average protein 200 amino acids long there are more possible sequences than there are protons in the known Universe. But only a minuscule fraction are biologically useful. If you do the math it turns out you’d have to search through 10^74 chains of that length to find a single one that folds into a stable structure and performs any function.
And this particular gene has 2 of them coded by the exact same DNA!
Genomes and the Protein Universe
The Mathematics of Origin
There’s more reasons to be incredulous though. Overlapping genes make proteins with entirely different and unrelated functions. Because they are unique they may not be selected for (or against) by the same environmental pressures. So if a mutation changes one for the good it is very likely to degrade the function of the other. So either these genes are not influenced by selective pressure (but we think they should be) or must have arisen together. Meaning they must have been created simultaneously after a duplication and subsequent mutation-divergence events. But as it turns out their occurrence is often uniquely species specific and independent of phylogeny. Either way it’s hard to make sense of this from an evolutionary perspective.
Overlapping genes of Aedes aegypti: evolutionary implications from comparison with orthologs of Anopheles gambiae and other insects
Some of these important and statistcally improbable biologically useful proteins form when the DNA is read left to right AND different but useful proteins when read right to left.
It would be like buying a book which when read front to back chronicles the adventures of Harry Potter but if read back to front, tells you how to be happier, sell more, start a business, or find the man/woman of your dreams.
And many of the larger proteins with multiple domains are folded into specific configurations by other proteins called chaperone proteins.
Enzymes as chaperones and chaperones as enzymes
https://pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/32
If a string of amino acid isn’t correct the chaperonin chews it up and recycles the amino acids.
So…in order to get a new protein with a new function you’d have to also have simultaneous and cooperative mutations in the gene that codes for that particular chaperone.
But proteins don’t really work like that. They aren’t sculptures that can be sculpted little by little. If mutations change the amino acid sequence too much you get sudden and drastic changes in protein configuration. In fact, a single nucleotide insertion will cause the protein to form a completely different shape and render it unable to perform its original function. At all.
Indeed, at one time it was believed that the redundancy in the genetic code was a sloppy by-product of evolution. Now, though, we realize that there are multiple codons for each amino acid specifically so that genes can be read, spliced, and translated in multiple different ways to achieve jaw-dropping regulatory networks.
These regulatory networks appear exquisitely designed. This diagram compares that of a bacteria e. coli (left) to the “call graph” of the modern Linux OS (right). Linux, of course, is one of the most popular operating systems for mobile devices, web servers, and film production. Disney uses it. And without getting into details here, the bacteria makes Linux look pretty bad.
From: Comparing genomes to computer operating systems in terms of the topology and evolution of their regulatory control networks.
Concluding comments:
‘If you believe what we are finding these days is explicable from purely natural random and selected processes you have more faith than I do. For these and many other reasons.’ “I’ve jumped ship and have come to believe this has to be Designed!”
Welcome to all those who may have begun to appreciate Romans 1:20…..
“For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they (those who see them) are inexcusable.”
Quotation: “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will make you an evolutionist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” (Werner Heisenberg, father of Quantum Mechanics.)
Please visit my related post; ‘Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained’(https://new2view.ca/2021/03/23/paradise-lost-to-paradise-regained/
Einstein is famously quoted as saying ‘imagination is greater than intelligence!’ So what really is ‘imagination’ we may ask? A good definition is: ‘the faculty of forming new ideas, images or concepts not present to the senses’. Space-time was ‘imagined’ by Einstein in ways most of us may not. However should the concept of imagination be considered?
For example, how difficult is it to imagine life on earth is the creation of a vastly superior, although unseen, entity?
(Romans 1:20) puts it this way: “…his invisible qualities are clearly seen’ from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable.”
The context shows that those unable or unwilling to recognize by simple observation a Creator of all things are truly ‘inexcusable’, in other words lacking imagination!
Science is defined as ‘truth’, so what does factual science teach us? Indeed real science confirms that all life on earth is unique. That’s not speculation, or theory!
Clearly anyone failing to acknowledge all life on earth, and the earth itself, as a very special creation, must be described as ‘inexcusable’. Especially so as more and more universal discoveries of stars and galaxies via new space telescopes are now being made every day!
However there are, sad to say, those who will stubbornly deny that human, plant, and animal observation is, of itself, sufficient evidence of creation In reality imagination is lacking in such ones. Ironically those self same persons will describe themselves as informed or enlightened, they are failing to acknowledge the obvious wisdom, and creative power in plain view.
Make no mistake, God himself describes such ones as ‘inexcusable’, because of willful blindness to acknowledge observable truth. Indeed all life has a message for us, from flora and fauna, birds to whales, ants to elephants, and earth’s amazing environmental cycles, to name just a few things;; all teach us about the love and wisdom of a far, far, superior intelligence and unfathomable power of our creator; if we simply exercise humble imagination!
Thanks for visiting; please also see my post: Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained!
This is about life, not war, not disease, just plain life, not only human life but observed nature.
It’s important to acknowledge the adaptability of literally ‘all’ life on earth. Yes I do mean adaptability, not evolution, which is a totally ‘unnatural’ concept.
Adaptability is, rather, a well proven and observable characteristic of perhaps all living things, including plants and animals. Yes, ability to adapt to changing, even very challenging environmental conditions, good or bad, is not exclusive to humans.
The simple basic truth is; our earth is the only place in the physical universe known to support life, period. What adaptability implies is that life on earth is well designed, exclusively designed for earth’s environs! Nowhere else in the cosmos, has it been shown that humans, animals, or any life on earth could adapt and survive in very difficult conditions, as often happens on our planet!
That said, exceptional ability to adapt to change has nearly reached a tipping point owing to long-term damage done to earth’s environment. In other words there are now foreseeable ‘red lines’ as to how much further life on earth can adapt to centuries of negative impacts on the environment! Concerns about potential ‘extinction events’ are already becoming a mute point!
Living on the moon or mars is now well known to be a completely foreign concept, very far from practical reality for any of earth’s (adaptable) life forms. Knowledge gained about those environments is more and more evidence that all life as we know it is designed exclusively for earth alone! The well known expression ‘mother earth’ is therefore not without substance.
Isn’t it time to humbly acknowledge this basic truth?
Such honest acknowledgment is an essential ‘beginning’ to appreciate an all wise and loving Creator who has generously granted all life on earth even with great ability to live and adapt to change… within limits!
please visit Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained for truly encouraging information.
What is ‘sovereignty’ but the notion of a ‘right of rulership’. It is the fundamental protected ideal, and beating heart all nations share. They have even formed an organization for protecting their individual ‘right to rule’, its called the United Nations!
However, this concept of sovereignty has been the undoing, yes a basic flaw in humanity, why? The over-riding desire to rule, I submit, has been a fundamental cause of almost all human conflicts throughout history.
Think about it; if all national groups or country’s, no matter how varied or complex its society, had no deep-seated ‘sovereign rule’ motivation, what would be the result?
My proposal is that there would simply be no basis for conflict between national groups or cultures whatsoever! Does that sound like an over simplification? Humble acceptance of universal truth that all human societies and cultures are truly equal and entitled to be respected by all other societies and cultures without prejudice or competition would simply eliminate conflict.
And that is precisely what is projected by holy scriptures!!
Inherent belief in the sovereignty of nations is a basic underlying cause of unwarranted disrespect and aggression. A world without domineering, or even protective, sovereignty ambitions would thereby be peaceful and completely respectful of its own people and other nations. Instead of ‘man seeking to dominate man’, dueling national conflicts would be a thing of the past. Nations would simply respect each other without malice. Mutual respect for all!
That said of course regulatory governance and laws would still be required. However the truth is, in fact, the only true and rightful Sovereign; law maker; and governor over ‘all’ nations is the Creator of all life. He alone has the genuine ‘right of rulership’ to govern all mankind! For more information please visit my posting; https://new2view.ca/2023/08/21/government-by-god/
TECHNOLOGY BUSTed!?
It has to be admitted that many beneficial labor-saving devices are now taken for granted, from refrigerators to washing machines and the like., however there are at least an equal number of examples of the misuse of technology such as the development of fearsome weapons of war; machine guns, bombs, chemical and biological weapons; atomic weapons; rockets, cruise missiles, drones, and laser space-weapons to name a few! And these developments are ever increasing as nations strive for domination over one another at the expense of world peace and security for their populace.
Arguably, development of weapons has been and continues to be the priority of technological development, beginning in the 18th Century and continuing down to this day! Our planet functions on a series of well-balanced systems, systems that have clearly been damaged by technology!
Does that not indicate the destruction of human lives has been a greater focus than any ‘benefits’ of technology? Tens of millions of people have been the victims of such developments, a great many of them, perhaps a majority, have been innocent non-combatants.
Added to that sad fact, neither has any economic prosperity from technology made people lastingly happier, nor provided safety and peace of mind! Therefore surely the question should be asked; ‘do the benefits of scientific technology developments outweigh it’s detriments to society?’
Such thoughts are being expressed more and more by thoughtful people, such as renowned scientist, environmentalist René Dubos. In fact its fair to say that much of the distressing aspects of the modern world originate with the Industrial Revolution. The reality is that increased control over nature is actually a ‘zero sum game’.
Another knowledgeable authority, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said;
“For too long, we have been waging a senseless and suicidal war on nature. The result is three interlinked environmental crises: climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution that threaten our viability as a species.”
Enzo Maiorca (famous ocean diver) said after rescuing a pregnant dolphin caught in a fish net and gratefully touched by its mate well said: “Until man learns to respect and communicate with the animal world, he will never be able to know his true role on this Earth.”
In the view of Science professor Mary Eleanor Clark, “In our rush to embrace technology we have adopted a very temporal system: A hedonistic society that ignores the future.” “In America and other advanced cultures, belief in technology has become a religious faith.”
To that point, Martin Luther King said: “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
Computer scientist Jacques Vallee feels that ‘high technology has acquired a momentum of its own, and it is now controlling society as much as society is controlling high technology.’ How scary is that!
Like the apprentice’s broomstick in the fairy tale, ‘the Sorcerer’s Apprentice’, technology is a powerful tool that could serve the greater good of mankind. But it has not been properly controlled, and grossly misused, causing disastrous consequences, we are seeing more every day.
If you are seeking a better world, one with people of ‘good will’, living in peace, with plenty for all. I invite you to further visit my blog here…
From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained!
‘What is truth?‘ was the question the Roman Governor posed for Jesus in the 1st Century B.C. Indeed many people continue to say ‘your truth is not my truth‘.
So how is ‘truth’ defined in the 21st Century!? A Google definition says in part; ‘truth is in accordance with fact* or reality.‘
On one occasion Jesus said in earnest prayer: “your word is truth“. (John 17:17) If so this means that all Biblical scriptures described as ‘God’s word‘ are a reliable source of ‘truthful and factual information’ because it is all ‘inspired’ by our Creator and spiritual Father. As 2Timothy 3:16 directly states: “all scripture is inspired by God and beneficial…’ Can we confirm this today? Let’s consider some facts;
No reasonable person would deny the present world suffers from a dearth of truth. In fact ‘false news’ and information has become epidemic today. Therefore If recorded scripture is really truthful, doesn’t it simply just make good sense to seriously consider if it actually is ‘in accordance with fact‘*. Jesus is also quoted as saying: “Everyone who is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”
Many people are unaware the biblical record is a collection of little books, 66 in all. Some 39 of those books record the history of God’s direct dealings with humans, principally the Jews. Many of those books describe the successes and failures of the nation of Israel over centuries of time, in detail, specifically related to their relationship with a singular God. Can that historical record be verified in this day and age? Yes indeed it can in two ways! Please continue..
First; archaeological evidence has provided abundant confirming evidence of the accuracy and hence truthfulness of the scriptural record. Such as records of relevant non-Jewish history!
Then there is the prophetic evidence, namely the fulfillment of prophecies hundreds or even thousands of years recorded beforehand. E.g. its now a known fact that over 300 of those prophecies were fulfilled in the life and times of Jesus Christ while on earth. Does that not tend to add major credibility to biblical scriptures?
Indeed from every angle the Bible has proved to be truly inspired by God, accurate and truthful. Yes “….the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)
*For more encouraging information visit JW.org.
Also my posting: PARADISE LOST TO PARADISE REGAINED!
Reality check; never mind ‘Covid-19 fatigue’, how about ‘TV fatigue’!?
Their is no denying TV is a big part of normal 21st century life for a vast majority of mankind. My question is; how many times are we willing to be exposed to the portrayal of gun violence; gross dead bodies; and devious police interviews, to name a few; add nauzeum!
Ok ok, I admit it, some of these well-acted, well-used, format are entertaining, there’s no denying it, assuming you have the desire and patience to watch them that is.
However doesn’t it seem to you that such often repeated programs have become the predominant format producers are ready and willing to embrace for TV production?
Is it because like most current movie productions; some level of ’emotional shock value‘, is the primary goal? How disappointing is it that a majority of TV feature murder and gross violence, repeated over and over again!?
With few exceptions, such as mindless sitcom comedies, uplifting plots are nearly non-existent. Old movies also contain violence, but not to the exclusion of all else! For example…
….whether you’re old enough to remember; ‘Gone with the Wind’; ‘Black beauty’; ‘The Ten Commandments’; ‘The Wizard of Oz’; ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, Look Who’s Coming to Dinner’; and other quality movies, movies that actually encourage some degree of morality, perhaps even a positive outlook on life! It’s my contention such movies and particularly TV shows are real exceptions today. Of course these are merely arbitrary choices, I apologize for that.
Today, positive TV entertainment is most often ‘missing in action’, replaced by degrading immorality, or in many cases fake spirituality. Are such low-brow movies having a debilitating effect on society?
Indeed the result of such so-called ‘entertainment’ may well be contributing to mental issues, suicides, and youth violence, not to mention a general decline in morality!
If parents take their responsibility seriously, they must first set an example for their children. They have their work cut out for them to oversee children’s access to degrading TV programs, including those from internet sources. A serious effort is required to protect them from the wicked influences spewing out of those portrayals.
Many will agree a much needed change to societies ‘norms’ is critical. According to a careful analysis of scripture that complete change and reversal is, in fact, coming very soon! It was and is clearly outlined in the inspired word of God…for example….
‘Do not be upset because of evil men, or be envious of wrongdoers’; ‘The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.’ (Psalms 37:1,29)
For much more such real, positive information including video’s, please visit: JW.org
METAPHOR'S or CLICHE'S? you decide
A picture is worth a thousand words
(note: a great many originate in scripture)
HEALTH:
Laughter is the best medicine
Count your blessings
Keep a stiff upper lip
Pull up your socks
Life is short, then you die
Jumping for joy
Laugh and the world laughs with you
Don’t cry over spilled milk
Monday blues
Walk in anothers’ shoes
Better safe than sorry
Bounce back
It makes my blood boil
ADVISORY;
Keep your shirt on!
Look before you leap
Seek and you will find
Go the extra mile
Drink from your own well
Don’t take any wooden nickels
Mark my words
Leave your comfort zone
Dance like no one is watching
What goes around, comes around
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours
Don’t rain on my parade
The truth will make you free
Charge it to my account
Don’t get your nickers twisted
Don’t count on it
Look at the bright side
Never look a gift horse in the mouth
Choose wisely
Keep it simple stupid (kiss)
Don’t count your chickens before their hatched
Put that in your pipe and smoke it
Get behind me
Call a spade; a spade
Choose your poison
Give it your all
Search your heart
Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
COLLOQUIAL;
a one trick pony
Necesity is the mother of invention
can’t change stripes, or spots
Rich get richer, poor get poorer
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
He wears many hats
Time is money
Hope springs eternal
Food for thought
Your loss is my gain
Its in the mail
The writing on the wall
Time well spent
It never rains, but it pours
Into every life a little rain must fall
The first step is a lulu
Ignorance is bliss
Every cloud has a silver lining
Light at the end of the tunnel
We all make mistakes
Better late than never
A horse of a different color
That’s you all over again
Swimming in debt
Hit it out of the park
A ton of bricks
From here to eternity
One step at a time
Call it a day
Experience is the best teacher
A fool for a client
There are liars, damn liars, then statistics
If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you
Reaching out
Going astray
Barking up the wrong tree
Harping on it
Core values
Butting heads
A bastion of truth (or love etc)
Opposite poles
Intestinal fortitude
Up and coming
Won the battle, but lost the war
Head knowledge
Casting a shadow
A house of cards
A stacked deck
Age is beauty
Bargain basement price
A fool and his money will soon part company
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Life is a bowl of cherries
Life in the fast lane
Sealed with a kiss
Marching to a different drummer
heart to heart
