Catch you later!

Well, just got back from a scout camp, heading to Maine for two weeks. Won't be blogging for awhile of course. God bless you all!

Israel Vs. Lebanon

As most of you might have heard, Israel is bombing Lebanon while Hezbollah fires rockets into northern Israel. Of course I must have a controversial stance on the issue.

Israel has a right to defend herself. Their nation was attacked, and their people taken prisoner. Don't give me that line about Israel taking Palestinian prisoners and bringing this on herself. Israel takes prisoners because those people have obviously done something wrong or were a threat to her. I'd be taking prisoners too if these people constantly blew up my citizens. If you want to talk about someone bringing it on themselves lets talk about Sadam and him killing thousands of his own citizens.

The fact is the majority of the Islamic world can't stand the fact that Israel exists. They are not against tyrrany, they are against Israel. According to the Quran, in Al-Fatiah, Chapter 1 Verse 7 the Jews have earned the anger of Allah. In the Quran Jews (and we Christians as well) are often associated with pagans. Jews are frequently accused of knowingly distorting the truth (ie. Scriptures). The point is these people have an unsatiable desire to wipe Jews and Christians alike of the face of the earth.

Many Muslims will not even cliam the likes of Bin Laden and Sadam because they rightfully know that what those people have done and are doing is wrong. I'm not accusing the Muslim community here, I'm accusing the extremist terrorists that everyone bases their opinion of the whole Muslim community on, many times those opinions are wrongfully based.

Anyway, I think France, Russia, and the EU need to really stop accusting Israel. I know you want to keep your good old trading pals; but, Israel was attacked and Israel has a right to defend herself, I don't care what the Frenchies say about use of excessive force and all that political jargon. In case France hasn't noticed the United States really could care less what they think about our policy. I can't speak for Israel, but I think they feel many western countries (that's you France) have betrayed them, and rightfully so.

Food for thought on Philosophical questions.

Question #1: "Why are the fundamental questions of life (like where do we come from and why are we here?) so rarely discussed by the "average" person?" (Phil Haversack).

My answer: Because those questions, even though they are fundamental, are not average. If the average person were to properly answer such questions it would require above average amounts of time and research, and the answer will force one to live above average lifestyles.
In answering those questions posed above I must say that according to Genesis chapter 1 we are created by God. That is where we come from. The reason we are here is to serve , have relationship with, and glorify God. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6, KJV). It must be understood that without a divine being there is no purpose in life. The reason being is that purpose is the object for which something exists (www.thefreedictionary.com) Evolution provides no purpose because if evolution is true we have no object to exist for. We are here by chance for no reason according to evolution, "Science alone cannot provide a meaning to life."(http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/If_man_comes_from_random_causes,_life_has_no_purpose_or_meaning)
Most people acknowledge the shallowness and meaninglessness of life without God. Most people want those feeling of shallowness filled with purpose. Now you can temporarily fill them with videogames, sex, doing whatever pleases you. But if you live that way you say that nothing matters, history doesn't matter, the future doesn't matter etc... but you don't believe yourself because you don't live it out, if you did there would be no reason (according to your philosophy) to not throw yourself off the top of the Empire State Building. But because you have a fear of something, a fear of death or pain, you will not do that. The reason you fear is you are not sure of yourself or your philosophy. The Bible says in Proverbs 28:26 "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered." (NKJV). And so if you try to invent your own purpose you are a fool. Now look at say Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and he was completely sure of himself and of his faith in Christ. Now, you logically tell me which one you'd rather be.

Question 2: "What is truth?" (wikipedia).

My answer: I must use something I've already quoted. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6, KJV). According to David Guzik "a. In light of soon events, this declaration is a paradox: Jesus' way would be the cross; He would be convicted by blatant liars; His body would soon lie lifeless in a tomb

b. But because He took that way, He is the way to God; because He did not contest the lies we can believe His truth; because He was willing to die He becomes the channel of resurrection life unto us

c. The exclusiveness of this statement is staggering; if there are many ways to God, Jesus is not one of them ".


Some more philosophical quotes:

1. "Those who lack the courage will always find a philosophy to justify it." (Albert Camus).

My response: That can be true, but what is also true is that many who lack courage can overcome it by defying that very lack. Many to overcome a lack of courage have a philosophy to justify being brave. "Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee nor forsake thee." (Dueteronomy 31:6, KJV).

2. "The most dangerous criminal now is the entirely lawless modern philosopher. Compared to him, burglars and bigamists are essentially moral men." (Gilbert Chesterton).

My response: I actually agree with this statement. If modern philosophers justify such atrocities as abortion, support such immoral things as gay marriage, and desire to remove all traces of Christianity from society then philosophers are a greater threat then burglars and bigamists.

3. "If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." (Anatole France [Jacques Anatole Thibault]).

My response: Yes, quite true. Often when evolutionists try to argue for evolution "well its what most of the scientists believe." Well, most of the scientists used to think Galileo was crazy, just because it is what the majority believes that is not what makes it right.

Of Stoics and Epicureans.

Stoicism claims that freedom is secured by the removal of desires, and they don't much approve of emotions either. Well, I will contend that true freedom comes from Christ. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2, KJV). What we really need to be freed from is sin and death, and Jesus is the only one who gives that freedom. "But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:57, KJV). We do not need to be free from things like love, peace, gentleness etc... those are charachteristics that are desirable. And once we accept Jesus God will give us those things, for "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV). Notice that against such things there is no law, so we see that the Stoics were wrong in claiming all desires and emotion must be removed.

Epicureanism claims that fulfilling desires is basically the way to obtain pleasure. However I will contend that true joy comes from God, one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. In Romans Paul says "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15:13, KJV). And in Philippians 4:4 we are told "Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice." (KJV).

I could go on for days answering philosophies and Stoics and Epicureans, but I will end now, possibly to several people delight. Anyway, God bless.