“Once Upon a Time” …A Boy Could Ride His Bike To …

September 4, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

“Once Upon a Time” …A Boy Could Ride His Bike To …

My friend was sad. He felt badly for his one-year old grandson. His grandson wouldn’t be able to enjoy the freedom of his childhood that his grandfather experienced. Not everything was Good in the “Good-Old-Days”, but some things were Good: Freedom, Creativity, Honesty, Common Courtesy.

Margaret Mead did a Social Study of Samoans in the 1950’s. A Samoan was working on a boat on the beach near the shoreline. Mead asked the Samoan if he would “Steal” that better boat nearby, if nobody was watching. The Samoan responded, “Why would I do That? That boat doesn’t belong to me.“ Margaret Mead learned that the Samoan language doesn’t even have a word for “Steal”. Samoans had NO concept of theft in the 50’s.

Grade School ended at 3:30. My friend would walk 2 blocks home from school, change clothes, then ride his bike to the playground. (He never locked his bike. None of his friends locked their bikes.) There he met about a dozen other boys from school. The number of boys determined what sport that they would play that day: Soft Ball. Tag Football, or, Basketball.

Two Captains were selected, depending on the sport chosen. The captains then chose their teams, one by one, calling out each selection of the boys standing in front of them, by name. No “feelings” were hurt. No one’s “Self-Esteem” was crushed. Each boy honestly knew which of the boys were better at a sport, than the other boys.

Some were better than others at softball. A different ranking of boys occurred when they played football. A third ranking for basketball. All the boys knew which boys were better than others at different sports. They also knew who were better students than others. Honesty Reigned. Some boys were better than others at different things. And every day, some won, and some lost. There were no “Participation” medals. Boys learned “To treat Triumph & Disaster, just the same. Boys learned how to become Men.

The Above YouTube Music Video Lyrics Tell the Story about Freedom. Creativity. Honesty

More importantly, no parents were involved. The boys relied on their own Creativity to decide what sport to play, what rules applied (Right Field Out, or Pitcher’s Hands Out), if there weren’t enough for a full softball team. Every day was different. Every day was fun. They didn’t need parental organization. They didn’t need Adult supervision to resolve disputes. Even though sometimes it meant a bloody lip (a badge of honor.)

But most important, it was Freedom. Freedom to ride his bike to the playground 6 blocks away, or to the Park 9 blocks away (But with grass fields, instead of asphalt). Or, maybe just go to his friend, Timmy’s home. All that mattered was that he came home at 6pm. If he was late, he learned that he lost his privilege of Freedom, for a day. A “Loss” that only took a few days to learn: “Never be Late”.

Fortunately, this was back in a day when screen doors weren’t locked. When neighbors looked out for each other’s children. When there were only a few dangerous gangs and drugs & guns.

Sadly today, a young girl skipping rope in a playground is killed by a hail of random bullets of during a “Drug War”. Or the girl sitting on the porch, listening to her grandpa’s stories, is gunned down by stray bullets from a “Drive-By” shooting. Or a girl sitting on the couch watching TV, is killed by a rando gunshot,, through the House wall, from two men arguing outside.

Random death is the Reality for some children after school, today. They have no choice. They have no defense. There is no Freedom. They will Never enjoy the “Swings of Pleiades” or the “Reddening of a “Rose”. How sad.

Perhaps, Some Day, Those Young Girls Can Sing the Lyrics to the Above YouTube Music Video

Once upon a Time, a boy could ride his bike to the playground and…

What is the Basis of “Social Justice”?

September 4, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

What is the Basis of “Social Justice”?

My friend recalled when he was an Instructor of “Religious Education” for Public High School Sophomore Students, at his church. The topic for the entire year was: “Practicing Social Justice”.

On the 1^st class night, after the 14 students introduced themselves, my friend introduced “Social Justice” as creating equal opportunity & fair treatment for all. Then he asked, “Before we open our workbooks, why would we want to treat everyone fairly?”

The Above YouTube Music Videos captures the Essence of this Blog Post Message

He looked directly at the student in front of him and asked, “Why would you care if Bob, next to you, were treated fairly, or given equal opportunity? What’s your motivation?” A Blank Stare. So, he asked Bob, “Why would you care if Jenny, next to you, were treated fairly? What’s your motivation?” Another Blank Stare. My friend then looked at the other dozen students, and said, “Rather than ask each of you individually, does anyone know why they would care If a friend, or more importantly, a stranger, were treated fairly?”

One brave student meekly replied with a question, “Because it is the right thing to do?” Good answer, but “Why is it the right thing to do?” A very quiet room full of Blank Stares. Let’s consider some options:

Because it is Politically Correct? While that is a popular answer, it is a fragile, transient answer. It’s subject to change, whichever way the winds of the majority’s whims are blowing. There is no Universal, Timeless Foundation to Political Correctness.

Because it is Ideologically Progressive to help people in need? That is certainly a noble intent, but doesn’t address WHY we would want to do that. In Fact, that intent is in direct opposition to what you learn in school about “Evolution”:

“The Evolution of living things is the result of Random Chance through Time, formed by the Natural Selection of the Survival of the Fittest.”
The “Survival of the Fittest” doesn’t care about the weak or needy of its species. It only cares about its own “Survival”.

So, that Progressive Ideology is contrary to Our Basic Nature of Self-Interest, which is subject to Change, by Random Chance

Perhaps, the Universal, Timeless, Rock-Solid Foundation of “Social Justice” is found in our Soul.

We were “Created in the Image & Likeness of God, to be “Children of God, & Heirs to Heaven.
And “God so loved the world, that He sent his only Son (Jesus Christ to die for our sins) so that all who believe in Him, shall not perish, but have Eternal Life,”
And Christ said, “I give you One Command: To love God, and to love each other, as I (Christ) have loved you,”
Then the Basis to Treat Everyone Fairly, with equal Opportunity & Justice, is because you were Created to Love one another, as Christ has loved you. (You don’t have a soul. You Are a Soul. You have a body. – C. S. Lewis)

The Above YouTube Music Video Captures the Expression of the Blog Post Messages Above

BTW: You may consider caring about some else a “Sacrifice”. The word “Sacrifice” does Not mean “Loss”. The word “Sacrifice” comes from 2 Latin words: Sacri Faciam” – “To make Holy”. Sacrifice is Holy. Sacrifice is also an Act of Love.

Now. Open your workbooks.

“In Search of Excellence” …To Sell a Home

September 4, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

“In Search of Excellence” …To Sell a Home

My friend was excited to tell me the main reason why he got a “Full Asking Price, No Contingency Offer”, the day Before he was going to “List it For Sale”.

The Above YouTube Music Video Teaches the Importance of Doing All the hard Things to Get Something Done, like Below:

Before he told the “Secret of his Success”, he first told me all of the things that he did in preparation to sell his home:

My friend spent months “De-Cluttering” his home. Every item was examined to “Keep”, “Donate”, or “Throw-Out”. He rented a Storage Unit near his new home for items that he wanted to “Keep”, but move out of his garage or downstairs storage room.
Rather than try to hide defects from a “Prospect” or Home Inspector, my friend hired a Home Inspector to do a thorough examination of his home, and provide a Report of everything that needs to be repaired or replaced.
He then hired a “Handyman” to fix everything requiring repair according to the “Inspection Report”.
He also hired Professionals to inspect, repair, and replace anything for the Furnace, A/C, and Hot Water Heater.
When all the repairs were made, my friend hired an Appraiser to determine the home’s “Asking Price”, based upon recent sales of comparable homes in the area.
He then hired a Professional Cleaning Service to thoroughly clean every room in his home, plus wash the windows & clean the carpets.
My friend then hired a professional photographer to take pictures of every room, from different angles.
My friend paid a Real Estate Agent to educate him about selling his home, himself. The Agent provided him with a valuable “To-Do” List – “For Sale by Owner”:

1. In addition to everything that he previously did. he prepared a 1-page “Information Sheet” of room sizes, unique features & up-grades, etc. which would be used for posting on “Zillow”.
2. The “Information Sheet” would also be used as a “Flyer” to be delivered to the newspaper boxes of other homes in area subdivisions and nearby apartment renters.
3. The “Information Sheet” also contained the phrase “Buyers Agents Welcome”. (Most homes Sold by Owners are through “Buyer’s Agents”, who normally charge 2.4%.)
4. He would place an Ad in the Community Newspapers touting “New Listing”, “Original Owner”, and “Buyer Agents Welcome”.
5. Placed a “For Sale by Owner” Sign prominently seen in his front yard.

My friend did ALL of those things listed above. But None of them, in whole, or in part, were the reason(s) WHY he SOLD his home for Full Asking Price, One Day Before he listed it “For Sale” on the market. The Reason is Below:

My friend is permanently disabled in both of his legs. He uses a wheelchair at home. He can stand, but only briefly. After all of the things above were done, my friend did an “Inspection” of his home. It was in pristine, “Turn-Key” condition. However, when he went into the garage, Horrors. While the garage floor glistened from the recently applied Epoxy floor application. And the storage shelving was better organized than a Library. There were cobwebs dangling at the junction of the ceiling & walls, all around the inside perimeter of the garage.

Then, my friend recalled the sage advice of an Airline Executive, quoted decades earlier in the book, “In Search of Excellence”, “If we don’t clean the coffee stains from the back of the seat drop-lids, customers will think that we don’t do engine maintenance.”

Little Things Mean a Lot in Romance, Selling a Home, or Whatever You Do

My friend realized that if he didn’t take a broom, and sweep away all of those cob webs, Prospects will think that he didn’t do regular maintenance of his home. Prospects would ignore all of the incredible, wonderful work done to make his home shine like a jewel. They will only remember the cob webs, when they leave. And Nothing Else.

So, my friend got a broom. He stood up for moments at a time to sweep a 4-foot section of cobwebs away. He then sat down, moved his wheelchair 4-feet to the right, stood up, and swept away another 4-foot section of cobwebs. My friend repeated that process around the entire perimeter inside his garage, for over an hour, until ALL the cobwebs were GONE. Then, the Prospects would NOTICE All the Other Things That He Did.

The 1^st Person to “Walk Through” made the “Full Price Offer, with No Contingencies, and allowed him 14 days After Closing, to move his personal property to his New Home”.

Cleaning the cobwebs (“coffee stains”) was the game-changer.

God Speaks to us in Different Ways – Not Just Through the Bible

May 1, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

God Speaks to us in Different Ways – Not Just Through the Bible

My friend acknowledges that the Bible is the “inspired Word of God”. However, The Bible is not the “Only Way” God speaks to us. “Sola Scriptura” is wrong. God speaks to us in many ways: through the sciences of Anthropology, Astrology, Biology, Geology, Paleontology, etc. As Christ said, “If the disciples become quiet, the stones will cry out.”. God also speaks to us through Art, Music, Poetry, Sculpture, etc.

The following are detailed examples of God speaking to us in different ways:

Astronomers & Astrophysicists conclude: “If the Universe had not been made with the most exacting precision, we could never have come into existence. Earth’s location, size, composition, structure, atmosphere, temperature, internal dynamics, and many intricate cycles essential to life (i. e. the Carbon Cycle) testify the our planet is exquisitely balanced . These highly choreographed geological processes are precisely tuned for life, and point to a Designer with a purpose for mankind. Or, As Einstein astutely observed,”God doesn’t roll dice.”

Carl Sagan was ABSURDLY WRONG by pontificating that the earth was an “Unremarkable Rock” in the universe. (His Bias. Not Fact.) Overwhelming concrete data points to: A highly choreographed delicate system of multiple, complex, interrelated dependencies unlike anything else in the Universe. An Extremely “Remarkable Rock”.

Biologists discovered “Intelligence” in the DNA molecule:

The Intelligence in the DNA molecule pays homage to the power and wisdom of an awesome, magnificent Creator. Or, as the title of Stephen Meyer’s book proclaims, “(God’s) Signature in the Cell:

“In a process known as Transcription, a molecular machine first unwinds a section of the DNA Helix, to expose the genetic instructions needed to assemble a specific protein molecule.

Another machine then copies those instructions to form a molecule known as messenger RNA. When that transcription is complete, the slender RNA strand carries that genetic information…out of the cell’s nucleus. The messenger RNA strand is directed to a 2-part molecular factory called a Ribosome…
Inside the Ribosome, a molecular assembly line builds a specifically sequenced chain of amino acids. These amino acids are transported from other parts of the cell, and then linked into chains often hundreds of units long. Their sequential arrangement determines the type of protein manufactured.
When the chain is finished, it is moved from the Ribosome to a barrel shaped machine that helps fold it into the precise shape critical to its function.
After the chain is folded into a protein, it is then released and shepherded by another molecular machine to the exact location where it is needed.”

None of the 7 Billion DNA molecules are alike It is mathematically impossible for this process to have occurred by “Random Chance”.

Paleontologists & Anthropologists and The Fossil Record & The Cambrian Explosion:

Darwin’s 1859 “Origin of the Species” postulated that there would be millions of “Transitional Fossils” of many mutations from one “Kind” to another, in the fossil record. The fossil record would be the ultimate irrefutable proof of Evolution. Without numerous transitional fossils, Darwin admitted that his theory would be False.

Paleontologists & anthropologists confirm that the dazzling display of thousands of fully formed fossils found in the “Cambrian Explosion” was created in a geological blink of an eye. This stunning variety of complex creatures has NO Transitional fossils, as required by Darwin.

The Cambrian Explosion gave rise to the sudden appearance of most of the major animal Phyla that are still alive today. These findings are absolutely contrary to “Darwin’s Tree of Life”. These animals, which are fundamentally different in their body plans, appear fully developed, all of a sudden, in what paleontologists have called, “The single most spectacular phenomenon of the fossil record.”

The Cambrian Explosion turns Darwin’s “Tree of Life” upside-down, because the major groups of animals come first, instead of last, on top of the tree.

“Biologist, Michel Behe’s book, “Darwin’s Black Box“refutes the evolutionary process of many small random steps, by the “Principle of Irreducible Complexity”: Irrefutable scientific confirmation of complex biological entities that can only function if ALL OF THEIR PARTS EXIST AT THE SAME TIME, i. e. the human eye, the human ear, etc.

Einstein said that “You cannot look at the human eye and not believe in God.“ The eye requires an intricate combination of complex parts to perform its function. Furthermore, even a complete eye is useless unless it belongs to a creature with the mental and neural capacity to process the information provided. Evolution allows only for small mutations and not this complex capacity all at once.

The ear is capable of sensory response to sound whose pressure at the eardrum is no greater than two ten thousandths of a millionth of barometric pressure. This pressure moves the ear drum about one hundred millionth of an inch. That dimension is approximately one hundredth the width of a hydrogen molecule. Random chance cannot accommodate that precision.

Art expresses the Portrayal of God’s Creation, Forgiveness, & Reconciliation with Man

My friend reminded me that the Bible’s “Word of God” is one way to experience Cod’s Creation, Forgiveness, & Reconciliation with Man For centuries, “Art” served that purpose

Michelangelo’s magnificent Sistine Chapel portrayal of the “Creation of Man” – A powerful fatherly figure pointing His finger toward a perfectly formed man, who is pointing his finger upward toward the Father – captures the essence of man being made in the image & likeness of God.

Rembrandt’s poignant painting of the “Prodigal Son” – A forgiving Father’s unconditional love portrayed by placing both of his hands (The masculine left hand & the feminine right hand) on the shoulders of a penitent, worthless son, under the harsh, self-righteous glare of an indignant son & brother – captures the essence of God’s unilateral, unconditional love for His progeny.

Music as an Expression of God Singing to our Souls

Puccini’s Aria, “Nessun Dorma” is beyond brilliant. The genius to arrange the thousands of different notes for violins, cellos, French horns, kettle drums, and the multitude of myriad instruments of a symphony orchestra, in concert with the inspiring sounds from an Opera tenor, to create a harmonious crescendo that stirs the heart of God, is beyond mortal men’s imagination.

On a clear, cool night in Rome, under a thousand stars, with a 100-piece orchestra, the Three Tenors: Pavarotti, Carerras, and Domingo, sang Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” with the precision of one voice, and the power of a hundred. The end result was a thunderous finale, unlike anything heard before or since. If you listened closely, you could hear God’s applause among the hundreds’ standing in ovation.

Above YouTube Music Video Captures the Essence of the Blog Post Message

That performance was the secular musical version of God’s creative gift, blessing a rare few. Handel’s “Messiah” is obviously the spiritual musical equivalent.

A Sunrise and Sunset Reveals God to All

The Lyrics of the Above YouTube Music Video Beautifully Confirm This Blog Post Message: God Speaks To Us In Many Ways

The majestic, magenta hues of a sunrise & sunset can be enjoyed by all – inspiring different people, in different ways to recognize God’s Power & Wisdom, Mercy & Love, Peace & Joy. From the complexity of all the different ways God reveals Himself to us, as listed above, to the simple enjoyment of a sunset, God reveals Himself to us in many different ways. They allow all of us to Know & love God. And in turn, love each other.

The Bible is the best, direct guidance to salvation. It’s just Not “Sola” Scriptura – “The Only Way”. God opens minds, softens hearts, and touches souls in many ways for All of God’s Children to seek His Companionship: “As the deer pants for the flowing stream, so our souls thirst for the Living God.”

For millenniums, The Catholic Church falsely claimed that it was the Only Way to salvation. Catholics used their “Catechism” the way that Protestants use Biblical verses. God is much bigger than both. God created many ways to know Him, and to love Him and love others.

That’s the great Cosmic Mystery of the “Body of Christ” Billions of members, all different from each other, all with different talents supporting each other, through the gift of Grace, all valued the same, by God.

Clearly, God speaks to all of His creation in different ways, though His Gift of Grace. It’s a Wonderful (Diverse) World.

The above YouTube music video expresses the “Amazing Grace” through which God speaks to us.

God’s Amazing Grace opens minds, softens hearts, and touches souls, enabling us to enjoy the companionship of God.