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Alex Summers

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Posts posted by Alex Summers

  1. Here is a question my brother raised...

    If the Westboro Baptist Church decided to have a wedding at their premises, if they were to walk into a gay owned bakery, should the gay baker be forced to make a wedding cake that says, "God hates fags" on it???

    If their normal business practice included writing whatever was asked of them, then yes.

    This is the part that people miss on this topic, the bakeries that have been in trouble have refused to preform a regular business practice, not to do anything out of their normal operations.

  2. Rodion,

    I do not base my view of climate change on what the politicians may or may not try and do with it, that is just a smokescreen.

    People have no problem believing that volcanos can affect the climate yet when mankind puts out 100 times the CO2, people do not seem to think that matters.

    There is a mountain of evidence that man has affected the normal climate cycle.

    Temp data is available to anyone that wants to look at it on the NASA website. You can freely download the data files and run them through any program you like. Same hold true for CO2 levels.

    You can then look at the history of climate cycles and see if what is happening now is in line with those cycles. If it is not, which it isnt, then one would be inclined to look for a reason why. Scientist have look at multipe reasons why and only one makes any sense based on the data available...that pumping 100 times the CO2 of volcanos into the air has a consequence.

  3. In national I vote becaue I want a viable 3rd party so I will vote for whichever 3rd party has the best chance to garner the most votes.

    I honestly believe the only reason we are still allowed to vote is to give us the illusion of both choice and make us feel we have some modicum of control. In other words to keep us from revolting.

  4. Yes we are evolving as far as technology goes, we are becoming smarter

    I doubt that humans are getting smarter. We may have more knowledge, but it doesn't really mean we are becoming smarter. There are evidence that show we are becoming more stupid. Around 2,000~5,000 genes control intelligence, at rate of accumulating mutations it would only mean humans get more stupid overtime.

    This make sense as we seen ingenious inventions in history done with much less that we can't even replicate now even with the best modern tools.

    Also, intelligence and mating are negatively correlated. People who have higher intelligence in general, produce less children compare to people with lower intelligence.

    In fact there is a comedy movie that is based on this premise.

    I agree that man is not getting smarter. We have accumulated massive amounts of knowledge that we don't even know what to do with. I am expanding my career into the realm of knowledge management and it is a wide open field because people do not know how to best make use of the knowelwgde we have.

    I also think reliance on technology has made us less smart. We no longer need to "know things" as we can just look them up in a blink of an eye. I am terrible at spelling and I don't really care as everything I use comes with spell check built in.

  5. Climate change should not be included in this list. There is a mountain of pure evidence and testing that backs up the theories behind the hypothesis that humankind is affecting the normal cycle of the planet.

    A butterfly affect how wind currents operate, so yes, it shoudl be included because there is evidence that volcanoes cause more CO2 damage than humans, though humans do their share. People can't just ignore facts they disagree with or don't like ...

    Here are some more facts about volcanos from the USGS.

    http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/gas/climate.php

  6. Climate change should not be included in this list. There is a mountain of pure evidence and testing that backs up the theories behind the hypothesis that humankind is affecting the normal cycle of the planet.

    A butterfly affect how wind currents operate, so yes, it shoudl be included because there is evidence that volcanoes cause more CO2 damage than humans, though humans do their share. People can't just ignore facts they disagree with or don't like ...

    Volcanos emit roughly 350 million tonnes of CO2 per year, about 100 million of that is underwater.

    Humans on the other hand are currently emitting about 29 Billion tonnes per year.

    http://www.skepticalscience.com/volcanoes-and-global-warming-intermediate.htm

  7. Kwilphilly, I think you are taking about two different uses of the same word.

    Yes, our worship should be on-going, but it is also a specific activity of actively worship our Lord.

    We are told to pray continuously, yet we also all have a time we set aside for the specific act of getting on our knees in prayer to our Lord.

  8. This is probably a "dead" topic, by now. I don't tend to get on-line often. Sometimes I let my buddy's grandkids use my lap top, but I don't get on-line often. Though, I doubt they'd ever visit here :) .

    I apologize for the "resurrection", or late posting...either way.

    That being said. I think I discovered a way to explain my perspective.

    There is a God. No question. Therefore, nothing is relative. NOTHING. Everything is absolute. Even if we don't understand it (yet).

    There is a God (1)

    He is absolute (2)

    He created our, absolute, existence (3)

    Anything we can observe, as creations, must be absolute (4)

    We can never consider anything a "fact" without tests. Predictable tests. I reiterate: 'predictable tests'.

    We can (and must) leave room for ideas, and data, that emerges in the future but that realization does nothing to alter the fact that there IS an absolute (even if we can't define said absolute). Which is "precisely" why we require predictable testing in order to consider anything factual. Even to CONSIDER it a fact.

    Math is the language of science for good reason. Even then, it isn't definitive. It must still be "tested".

    Some things: like the Big Bang, and Evolution have no confirmed testing (much less predictable testing). Any scientific idea can never be considered factual without predictable tests. It's absolute lunacy to accept any science (as fact) with no predictable tests. Absolute lunacy!

    There "is" an absolute. We can leave ourselves only so much room for "interpretation", and eventual data.

    If we don't know, we don't know. If we don't have the data, we don't have the data. It's as simple as that. Literally. There is a God, He is the God of the Bible. I know that. I claim that on faith. I can't "prove" that to anyone. Science has no such luxuries. Science can claim nothing on faith. It requires predictable tests, without fail.

    All science can do is narrow the equation to its simplest form...until more data is available in the future. That fact requires the recognition that we can never claim anything as "absolutely true" unless we have all available data. If we could do that, we would be God. We're not.

    Big Bang, Evolution, "Climate Change"...all these things are accepted as absolutely settled science without a stitch of pure evidence...certainly accepted without any predictable testing (or any testing, whatsoever). - antithesis of true science.

    Climate change should not be included in this list. There is a mountain of pure evidence and testing that backs up the theories behind the hypothesis that humankind is affecting the normal cycle of the planet.

  9. It's not a nonsensical question. We can't fly because according to evolutionists we have never needed to. There is no link between ourselves and birds other than the claim of a common ancestor. Birds and mammals have evolved on different branches.

    But evolutionists claim that man evolved from apes. Why then do we not see apes becoming more human-like? That is what was really meant when asking 'do we ever find a gorilla that speaks English'?

    There is zero evidence of any species evolving into a completely different species. It's why evolution has always remained as a 'theory' in science and has never become more than that.

    Most scientific theories either become something else (such as a law) or they disappear altogether. We have had more than a century now of the theory of evolution and it's still nothing other than a theory. In fact it would have probably died a death and become obsolete if it were not for Antitheists pushing it and promoting it at every turn.

    You can see as many similarities between different species as you like (and there are many) but this is no evidence of evolution. In fact, similarities between species actually suggest a common creator - in the same way that there are similarities between Picasso paintings because Picasso was the creator of them all!

    Why do you think apes SHOULD become more human like over time?

    Theories in science are a big deal, you're using the common use of the term to mean the equivalent of a "hypothesis". The types of things that become law are usually forumlated using mathematical equations.

    The common designer/creator argument fails. All we have to do is find creatures that aren't like us humans much at all.

    I take no issue with people criticizing aspects of evolution, I just ask that they become familiar with the terms first.

    The common creator is stronger because of creatures that are not like humans on the outside but still share amazing amounts of DNA.

    On the surface there is not much the same ablut a human and a fruit fly, yet our DNA is more than 60% the same.

    That just yells of a creator.

  10. I never said that there was a biblical basis for suits and ties and pulpits. I also never said that God needed our worship. Perhaps Alex, you could respond to what was actually written.

    Worship is not about feeing energized. That's the problem. We want worship to be about us and about how we feel. Worship is not about us or energizing us. Worship is about God and honoring him.

    Making worship about how we feel only highlights the selfishness that pervades this generation of Christians. It is doing worship the way WE want and expecting God to accept what we offer. God and not man, determines how He is approached. Our problem is that we want to worship OUR way and God is not obligated to accept it. Just because we are thrilled with how we worship and just because we are energized by it, it doesn't mean God accepts it. It just means that we have made feelings our god, and we have idolized worship.

    How could honoring God and worshiping God correctly not leave a person feeling energized?

    How does one determine if God has "accepted" our worship if not from feedback given by the Holy Spirit?

    How was God worshipped in the Old Testament? Seems it was with song and dance, do you think that David felt energized as he danced through the streets singing to the Lord?

    What better way to worship God and honor Him than to be fired up for Him and to feel alive with His spirit?

  11. In the context as part of a service I love today's style of free flowing songs offering our hearts to God. The older hymns are so dreary and slow, not how I picture it from the Old Testament.

    King David danced around the city praising and worshiping the Lord. I believe this is how worship should be, not standing still reading the words out of a book.

    I also believe it is as much for us as it is for God. Worship should bring us closer to God, it should open our heart to Him. God does not need us to worship Him, but we surly need to worship Him!!

    I believe it is all about the heart, Alex. Some people are more emotional than others. If a person sing the words from a hymnal and really mean those words, it is accepted before God.

    Worship of God is to be done in Spirit, and truth. Scripture speaks of being generous to others as an accepted form of worship. Offering our bodies to God as living sacrifices is considered worship.

    Many feel they need to work up a lather, or go into a trance to worship God, or be "in the Spirit", but scripture says we are already in the Spirit by the mere fact that the Spirit of God dwells in us. We just need to come to him with authenticity and hearts full of gratitude.

    Types of music are so subjective that I think it's wrong for me, or anyone else to tell Saints what type of music they should perform before the Lord. As long as it honors Christ, and does not go off into some sensual, unbiblical mess, it should be fine. Energetic or Old school, to Christ be the glory.

    Saved, I agree...it is all about where the heart is. I did a mission trip to Africa a while back, no suits, no pews, no books to sing out of....but oh my goodness, they worshiped the Lord with such a fire and a passion. There is much we could learn from groups that do not have life as easy as we do!

    Thank you for your wise words!

    Interesting. Where did you do your Mission trip to?

    To Nigeria, it was with a group from where I went to college. A few years back but a life changing experience

  12. In the context as part of a service I love today's style of free flowing songs offering our hearts to God. The older hymns are so dreary and slow, not how I picture it from the Old Testament.

    King David danced around the city praising and worshiping the Lord. I believe this is how worship should be, not standing still reading the words out of a book.

    I also believe it is as much for us as it is for God. Worship should bring us closer to God, it should open our heart to Him. God does not need us to worship Him, but we surly need to worship Him!!

    I believe it is all about the heart, Alex. Some people are more emotional than others. If a person sing the words from a hymnal and really mean those words, it is accepted before God.

    Worship of God is to be done in Spirit, and truth. Scripture speaks of being generous to others as an accepted form of worship. Offering our bodies to God as living sacrifices is considered worship.

    Many feel they need to work up a lather, or go into a trance to worship God, or be "in the Spirit", but scripture says we are already in the Spirit by the mere fact that the Spirit of God dwells in us. We just need to come to him with authenticity and hearts full of gratitude.

    Types of music are so subjective that I think it's wrong for me, or anyone else to tell Saints what type of music they should perform before the Lord. As long as it honors Christ, and does not go off into some sensual, unbiblical mess, it should be fine. Energetic or Old school, to Christ be the glory.

    Saved, I agree...it is all about where the heart is. I did a mission trip to Africa a while back, no suits, no pews, no books to sing out of....but oh my goodness, they worshiped the Lord with such a fire and a passion. There is much we could learn from groups that do not have life as easy as we do!

    Thank you for your wise words!

  13. There is no biblical basis for a preacher wearing a 3 piece suit, people sitting in pews and singing hymns out of a book.

    People who grew up with that think it the way is supposed to be. Why does church have to be stuffy and boring to be Godly? What was worship like in the Old Teatament? Seems it was filled with singing and dancing and praising the Lord, all the while raising the spirits of those involved.

    I also disagree with the purpose of worship. We don't worship God because He needs us to, but becaue we need to...worship is for us to focus on God. Why should people not finish a worship service feeling energized, what is more energizing than our Heavely Father?

    I attend a small home church but most every Saturday night I am at a large church that has an awesome Saturday music night that is filled with the joy of praising the Lord.

    And I think the Christian singles night is a great idea, would you rather singles meet in a bar or alone in someone's house?

  14. Well I certainly don't believe that we came about by evolution ,but neither do I believe that "creation" is 6,000 years old ;

    I do believe that in some ways God is enjoying watching us debate all these issues and assessing us for engagement in His

    future 'kingdom' . Since I think that we at a very high level of developement when in we were put out of the 'garden',He is not taking

    any chances about letting in those who will cause any problems of any kind .Our faith in Him ,must be absolute,and our desire

    to know Him and His works must be very keen .He will then do the rest, to polish up our bad habits .

    I agree, there is a lot of room between "we didn't evolve from a single cell ancestor" and "the earth is 6000 years old"...one does not follow the other
  15. In the context as part of a service I love today's style of free flowing songs offering our hearts to God. The older hymns are so dreary and slow, not how I picture it from the Old Testament.

    King David danced around the city praising and worshiping the Lord. I believe this is how worship should be, not standing still reading the words out of a book.

    I also believe it is as much for us as it is for God. Worship should bring us closer to God, it should open our heart to Him. God does not need us to worship Him, but we surly need to worship Him!!

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