Daily pages of reflection...for knowledge, understanding, to wisdom
Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci

Mortal Meaning

January 15, 2017
Year 2, Day 15 | No Comments
Section of Adoration of the Magi, artist unknown

Living by Scripture is much larger than is generally believed.  It has been said that if all literature were evaluated and each item were deposited in a bin identifying the theme of the piece, as history in the History bin, psychology in the Psychology bin, and continuing disciplines accommodated, the Bible would have to be placed in its own bin with no other piece added.  No other makes so large claims for itself, and no other has been so fully defended (or evaluated in various contexts, some negatively) in the halls of experience and academia.  The only challenger would be the Koran, but the Koran has limitations, by comparison, in that it holds authority only in its original language, and… Read more

Man and Beast

January 14, 2017
Year 2, Day 14 | No Comments
Section of Christ and the Adulteress, Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop, ca. 1545–50

The animal world includes many animals that some persons would prefer to have obliterated.  That list may include species from insects to man-eating mammals.  This is not to say that even some on the list may have some special value.  Mosquito larvae provide an important food source for useful domestic fish species, so have their place in the food chain.  Human beings would likely exchange the benefit for the demise of the mosquito.  It is estimated that there have been identified only about 25% of the species from the earliest meaningful millennia of interest.  A University of Hawaii professor and a Canadian scholar, with a model design, estimated that there have been 8.8 million animal species, of which 1.9 million… Read more

Biblical Education

January 13, 2017
Year 2, Day 13 | No Comments
Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci

In the field of literature, the Bible is signified as a classic.  It is seldom included in a secular context (public education) because it is presumed to be, and is emphasized as, a sectarian document, so to be ignored or set aside because of that context.  The paradox or contradiction of this viewpoint and general reality, is identified in the analyst at point, and does not apply in other similar situations.  Students read classics in Capitalism and Communism, quite at odds with each other, and fraught with strong emotions of variant points of view.  The student likely leans strongly in favor of the views of favorite professors.  Controversy is not avoided in such contexts.  In the university the liberal teachers… Read more

Objectivity

January 12, 2017
Year 2, Day 12 | No Comments
Section of Christ and the Adulteress, Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop, ca. 1545–50

We are struck by interpretations persons put upon the words they see or hear.  Communicators presume they will be heard and understood.  Many are not heard because they are slovenly in their speech or writing.  The receiving person may be inattentive, perhaps unskilled in listening, or may have lost some of the acuity for hearing sounds.  Even so, the message is present.  Assuming the message is well originated, the sender is burdened with the weaknesses of receivers.  Those listeners are defensive, of themselves and their points of view.  Some just don’t care.  Many have sensitive feelings, and want to win conversations, and debate in confrontation.  Meaning is made secondary to winning – an unworthy first ideal. We affirm the Trinity… Read more

Faith in Presuppositions

January 11, 2017
Year 2, Day 11 | No Comments
Section of Noli me Tangere by Hans Holbein the Younger

It is repetition in these pages that one begins argument, and search for truth, with presuppositions.  We seek peace because we presuppose that peace is a good thing.  It follows that we argue for peace, seek peace, and do what we can to gain peace – pursue it.  We use evidence to buttress arguments, but we may not do well with skeptics rejecting our presuppositions.  They may presuppose conflict.  Most natural scientists believe that the universe came from a big bang.  The big bang theory may ultimately be proved in a way that no informed person would deny it.  Then the question becomes, what preceded the big bang?  The position of the Christian, even before any proof of the big… Read more

Marriage and Family

January 10, 2017
Year 2, Day 10 | No Comments
Section of The Taking of Christ, Caravaggio, 1602

We return today with the theme of marriage and the family.  It is a favorite of mine.  Several of my book titles are related to marriage, to preparation for marriage, to life nurture, and to conclusion of one’s life in the context of family.  This affirmation is drawn from belief that Scripture is written in the idiom of the family – that God is represented to the reader significantly in the terms of the family, and seen in the model of Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mother).  Every person is a member of a family even if that family is dead or dysfunctional.  The image of God in the human race is partly seen in the family.  There is oneness… Read more

The Currency of Symbols

January 9, 2017
Year 2, Day 9 | No Comments
Section of The Infant Jesus and St. John the Baptist, Guido Reni, n.d.

One wonders how the masses register and understand the symbols that are directed toward them, or that they direct.  More specifically, what does a person value out of visual pop culture originated in that person or others, that creates a message or direction?  Is it interpreted in such a way as to affect or present values – preferred ideas and conducts?  As this is being written there has emerged a parental volume of criticism of a leading manufacturer of exotic clothing for women.  That company has issued bikini swim wear for girls, beginning at three years of age.  Advertisements show the children in poses that formerly were limited to young adults.  At first the symbol was the sexy collegian throwing… Read more

Logic Problems

January 8, 2017
Year 2, Day 8 | No Comments
Section of The Descent from the Cross, Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1435

The problem of evil has been a knotty issue for all human history.  How could so good a God, a God understood in power and holiness as we biblically have him, permit so bad a devil?  This issue is presented to onlookers entering a Wisconsin manicured park-like area in words spelled out in a carefully clipped hedge on an elevation of land – How Could So Good A God Create So Bad A Devil [?]. The statement, of course, strongly implies that the author of the message in living green leaf in summer, and snow in winter edging, does not advance that there is an attending God.  The question, no matter what the attitude may be in presentation, is a… Read more

Competition

January 7, 2017
Year 2, Day 7 | No Comments

Competition is a major factor in our lives.  In the obvious areas, like sports, or business, or sibling rivalry, and other venues we create self-importance, so inflate some matters beyond their rightful dimensions.  Some persons who live and die by the win or loss records of teams; also live and die by the first place or decline in their business or employment; live and die by becoming the most respected of their families, or even as the worst of the black sheep.  This concept and practice is all the creation of mankind, and is countered somewhat in the ministry of Christ, so to be understood from his point of view, which puts high value on self-competition related to Christian ideals. … Read more

The Gospel in Jesus Name

January 6, 2017
Year 2, Day 6 | No Comments
Section of Noli me Tangere by Hans Holbein the Younger

If Christian Scripture is true in its spiritual claims, there is no natural way to verify the claims.  By natural we summarize to mean scientific.  Science is basic in its initial simplicity for mankind in nature.  It theorizes (hypothesizes about what may be true); collects factual materials (replicated by others); experiments (to find out what are the true results related to the hypothesis); and, concludes (so then states whether the facts support the theory, or prove that it is nul, which is to admit the hypothesis was incorrect, or unproved, or that it indicates something unknown before the hypothesis).  Fields dealing with other than elements of nature must manage with less precise materials, and conclude as best the materials indicate,… Read more

← Newer posts
Older posts →