The Rock Slide Show

Please note the rock slide show has been replaced but the slide show has been added to the bottom of this post


I've recieved some questions about the above slide show. These pictures were taken from a location near Mono Lake, in the Eastern Sierra region of California. If you would like the exact loacation email me and I'll tell you how to get there. This site is to rare and precious to post openly since people have this unconquerable desire to touch everything. This is an example of sedimentary layering. Details of the pictures show you how fine the particles are in this layering indicating among other things the past presence of water since this type of rock forms as silt and dirt settle out of water. The different layers are like chapter markers in the geologic past of Calif. The different colors indicate differing types of sediment ranging from simply silts (browns) to volcanic sediment (greyish). They gray coloring comes presumably from pulverized pumice stone eject from volcanic vents within the region. Since these vents would have emitted ash and dust instead of lava AND there was a present body of water to capture this dust and ash, we get these great pictures today.
But wait a minute, you've explained how the layers got there, but what about the twisty swirly formation? Good observation. The theory is that these layers were laid down in a water matrix so they were not very compact. Well the presence of volcanoes in the region also presupposes techtonic activities, i.e. earth quakes. You'll notice in the center of most of the swirls ad dark gray colored rock, this is mud. Mud is heavy so when the shaking started the otherwise stable layers began to give way to the weight of the overlying mud. As the mud descended it contorted the surrounding layers. The shaking stopped, time passed, compression set in and eventually exposure made this rock visible and this posting possible. Thank you mother nature for the material and thank you IT guys for allowing me to indulge in my rock fetish here.
But, wait I must also comment on the creation God who established that these things take place. This is just a tiny testimony of God's natural laws a work again demonstrating that He is in control of all things. Believer or not we are all within the reign of God.

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New Zealand- Churches

At the outset I will post the disclaimer that I am not an expert on the church in NZ and in some points that I make may stand to be corrected. If any misinformation is stated the intent is not to degredate the hard work of the Gospel ministers in NZ or to unduly criticize the past history of the church in NZ. All I have to work with is the experiences that I had while in NZ and the antedotal stories that I heard while visiting there.
The Hastings/Napier churches of 'The Church @ Riverbend" and "Hastings Bible Church" where euphemistically called, 'the Mecca of Christian Churches in New Zealand" others referred to the two churches as a sort of 'Christian Disney Land". Neither of the euphemisms were negative in anyway, rather the expressed the uniqueness of the particular ministries of these two churches in the Hawkes Bay region of NZ. The joking terms really reflect more low state of the status quo in the state of the NZ church. Things are so spiritually poor outside of this region that those who look from the outside in and see the ministry of these two churches are really complimenting and marvelling at the accomplishments of the C@R and HBC.
The islands as a whole are bereft of Biblical leaders. This is evidenced by the fact that every fad and new trend that the sewer piper of modern evangelicalism can spit out flows through this country with abandon. It is also evidenced by the numerous small faithful congregations that dot NZ. The situation is a little better in the North Island and while there may not be more than a dozen or two dozen biblical churches in the North Island, I found through visitors to the Impact conference that the South Island from Invercargill to Picton is nearly void of thriving, vibrant fellowship. Believers in many communities meet in small home studies or have Sunday worship that consists of no more than prayer and Scripture reading amongst a dozen or so people. Established mainline churches are liberal or apostate and exegetical bible teaching is so rare that it was expressed to me that the Impact conference was the one time a year that some people hear an expository sermon without having to press the 'play' button on their audio device.
But in this bleak assessment are some brilliantly shining testimonies of light! If you hadn't picked up yet that there are believers in both islands let me inform you that some of them have a zeal and passion and knowledge of the Lord that set this seminarian humbly back. There are precious sheep scattered and without shepherds. There are those calling and earnestly seeking Christ centered, God honoring preaching! Additionally, the liberalism of the past is bearing necrotic fruit now and some of those duped by the promises of liberalism and beginning to reexamine the Christian doctrine and if luck are finding churches like the ones in Howick and Wanganui. There are biblically trained men, few as they be, that are preaching and teaching. A bible college at the Church @ Riverbend is beginning to produce biblically minded people for the ministry. But the assests of the church at hand are so incredibly small and insufficent for the work, esspecially if the Lord were to unleash a Biblically defined revival in this land. The opportunties are breath taking.
I sat in on a meeting at the end of the conference for which I will forever be greatful to have been a participent. In the room where a handful of men which probably represented the better part of the Biblically minded Pastors in NZ. During the meeting the needs of the ministry and the present opportunties were discussed. TIme and time again the problem wasn't a lack of ministry opportunity but of laborers and workers to exploit the opportunities to their greatest advantage. This is truly a unique dynamic that is almost unknown in the U.S.
The past in NZ has left the present church in great need but the future also holds great opportuntity as well. My prayer is that the Lord would see fit to replicate the same situation in nations around the world. I also pray that the Lord would provide all the needed man power and teaching to meet the present need. If ever the statement were true, 'the fields are white unto harvest, but few are the labors' then NZ is the example to illustrate this. Faithful ministers shepherd their flocks with a passion and precision that left be impressed and the next generation of pastors stands poised to make great impact in this nation.

The Christian and Immigration

The Christian and Immigration

I feel compelled at the outset to explain the title of this post. In the growing political tempest surrounding the issue of illegal immigration, I am convinced that it must be remembered that we are talking about the fate of some 12 million people. This class of people is referred to by many title; illegal immigrants, aliens, undocumented workers, ect. But the fact remains that no matter what title is given to this group of people, they still remain exactly that- flesh and blood, human beings. They are a people of diverse nationalities, ambitions and goals. They share in common the principle that life is better in America than where they came from and that by being here they can have a better life for themselves and their families.

Their presence here in the U.S. is causing quite a controversy and resolutions to problems being raised by the growing rancor are hard to formulate. But one thing is certain, that this is an issue that will not be quietly put away or solved soon. Another thing that is undeniable is that certain elements within the immigrant community are engaged in illegal activity apart from their illegal presence in this country. This adds complexity to an issue that raises nationalistic patriotism as well as fear that these people are eroding the American way of life. Yet it cannot be forgotten that caught between an increasingly irate U.S. citizenry responding to an relatively fringe element of criminality in the immigrant population are millions of individuals seeking nothing more than the betterment of their life through working in the U.S,

Amid the din, Christians are challenged to find a response to the present social crisis. On the one hand no person naturally wants to be thought of as unpatriotic and going against the popular grain can be difficult. We may find ourselves agreeing with right-wing pundits who raise popular fears by announcing that our boarders are over run by gun toting, drug packing, bomb wearing illegal aliens; and cheap workers who are robbing Americans of their jobs. Yet we who name Christ, above all people must protect ourselves from emotionally jumping on the popular band wagon because our concern must be much more than simple politics or national fidelity. This is not to say that Christians are to be non-patriotic, rather it is to say that our patriotism must be subjugated to greater priorities as delineated by scripture.

These priorities are significant because they bear the weight of Scriptural authority but even more than that, the societal and ethical priorities of Scripture are of tantamount concern because they reflect the very heart of God himself. The Bible contains the God ordained revelation, complete in every aspect according to what God has determined to reveal about himself. One of the over arching themes of the entire bible is God’s concern for the poor, the outcast, the unrepresented in society.

People often blame the fall of Old Testament Israel on the Jews unfaithfulness to God. Ask any bible toting person about this and the word idolatry inevitable is cited as the reason for the failure of the Israelites. Idolatry was the reason why God is angry with Israel and idolatry was what led the hearts of the people astray. Yet, a survey of Old Testament Scripture produces another, if not even more compelling reason for the failure of Israel.

Leviticus 23:22 states that the Israelites, at the time of harvest were to leave a bit of the produce behind for the benefit of the needy and the alien (see also Deut. 24:17-22). Deuteronomy 1:16 guaranteed that justice be provided for both the native Israelite and for the alien who lived among them. Deuteronomy 14:29 goes a step further by saying that the Israelites, at three year intervals were to bring an offering of their produce to be deposited in their town of residence. This offering of produce was in turn to be used to support the Levites and to provide for the well fare of the alien population living among the Jews. In fact, God promised the Jews that if they were to do this they would indeed be blessed by Him! The Israelites were commanded by God to share of their bounty because God had so blessed His people that they would have a prosperity and abundance that would meet and exceed all of their needs. The sharing of this abundance was to result in the rejoicing of the Levite and the alien for the good which God had brought to the house of Israel. Jewish generosity was to provide blessing for them and satisfaction for the alien.

Why though did God command such sacrificial giving from Jews? Deuteronomy 10:18 gives us an explicit insight into the heart of God. The Jews were to be a compassionate and generous people because,

“…the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt (Deuteronomy 10:18)”

God is a God of love and compassion and He called his people to reflect this in their attitudes towards the underclass citizens in their land. But how did Israel fare in this obligation?

The prophet Jeremiah speaks out against the oppression of the aliens within the boarders of Israel by the Jews (Jeremiah 7:6). In Ezekiel again a prophet raises charges against the Israeli treatment of aliens within the land (Ezekiel 22:7). God is not pleased that His people have allowed themselves to become the oppressor of the alien, thus essentially fulfilling the role that the Egyptians had over them hundreds of years earlier. And in a warning of stern judgment, the Lord says,

“…I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts (Malachi 3:5).

These must have been chilling words for the scripturally astute Hebrew to read since God places the uncompassionate oppressor in the same category as adulterers and sorcerers!

What is the point of all of this? The point is that Israel was to demonstrate compassion for the person within her geographical and political boarders but outside of Israelite custom and society. The Hebrews were to be compassionate because by being compassionate they would be directly demonstrating the very heart of God. It cannot be mistaken, the Biblical God is a God of compassion for the alien, the orphan, namely for those who are unrepresented and at threat of being taken advantage of or mistreated. Read Deuteronomy 10:18,

“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”

In the relation to Israel, God commanded that His people be unlike any other people on earth by not taking advantage of the non native residents among them. Rather than this, God knowing the evil propensity of the human heart to wield power over and against those who are powerless, God directed that the most vulnerable be protected by mercy, kindness and compassion. This was to be because this is who God is.

Tragically, history has born out that Israel fell far short of being obedient to this command and history bears the stamp of severe judgment against this covenant unfaithfulness. Israel today still does not enjoy the blessings promised to her in large part because she failed to be merciful and compassionate to the strangers in her lands. What are the implications for this in today’s charged climate of immigration reform? What role ought the church to take in the discussion surround the fate of millions of people? That will be looked at in the next article.

Can it Really Be Called an Election?

WHAT follows may be written off as the paranoid delusions of a culturally and politically oriented thinker. I am self-conscience enough to not take myself seriously at every point so I don’t expect you to either. But what follows, I hope you will find worthy of at least a moments attention. My goal is at least to imprint on your mind a single and simple idea and may this idea resonate every time you hear a political speech from either party or a campaign presentation, or commercial. I want this simple thought to assert itself when you sit down to seriously deliberate about who will earn you vote for ’08. I do not assume to a political science major, or even a very close observer of the political processes, I have a 13 month old if you were looking for an excuse.

MY proposition: American/Multinational Corporations have in essence purchased the Presidential electoral system.

I KNOW this is a perennial accusation by I got set on thinking about this when a South African collogue of mine proposed on night that in American, corporations control much more that we think. From the type of music we listen to, i.e. bands are more and more producing short catchy songs that have the potential to earn more in royalties by being picked up for a commercial, T.V. show or movie than through traditional record sales, to even how we express our emotions- DeBeers has taught us that a diamond is the purest cultural expression of undying love- they marketed an emotion. I listened with interest since this foreign observer first was not necessarily criticizing this fact and also because he offered a perspective that I lacked having grown up in America. Much in the same way a fish never wonders what it is to fell ‘dry’ since he has spent his whole life living in the ‘wet’ ocean. To state it plainly I don’t believe that this is necessarily wrong; it is the out growth of a capitalistic system that seeks profit wherever it can be found. While there obviously moral issues involved I am typically lassie faire in my judgments on American corporations since the wealth created by American business employs millions, creates billions of dollars in revenue and exports more monetary value in a year to ever conceivable location on earth. The system may not be perfect but it is the best model men have yet created for the creation and distribution of wealth.

THAT being said, when I heard that the campaigning for the ’08 presidency might top over $1,ooo, ooo, ooo I gasped! How could candidates raise that much money? The value of viability for ’08 is said to be at least $300 million dollars. In light of this I understand why candidates immediately threw off the financial limitations of a publicly financed campaign. When it was clear that that ’08 would be won on private money I also had to recognize that the campaign finance reforms of ’04 were dead, dead, dead. ‘08 like all elections most elections will be won by the campaign with the biggest war chest. In an atmosphere like that Mr. Smith would never have a chance in Washington because he could not afford the ticket to enter the game.

SO with public financing out the window and the oversight that that system would have brought, candidates now must scour the land for every penny they can gather. The problem I thought was that who was going to give $1 billion dollars to finance the presidential campaigns. I’m a pretty typical guy, I know quite a few people through my public and private life and I don’t know a single person who contributes to a campaign. How then is the viable candidate to earn $300 million? Corporate contributions clearly are the only feasible way to garner the cash needed for a modern day campaign. Clearly GM or 3M will not directly cut a check to a candidate but this money will find its way through various means and various ways into the coffers of those aspiring to the office of president. So my proposition again: American/ Multinational Corporations have in essence purchased the Presidential electoral system.

THIS then leads to the conclusion then that which ever leading candidates emerge from the field, you can be sure they are in leading position because they have had the financial resources to promote their agenda and candidacy. The implication being proposed then is that we as American voters are given only the choice to choose between two candidates, who have by virtue of the private funding scheme explained above, have been produced by corporate America as the only choices for us as voters to choose from. Therefore either leading candidate from a mainline political party, you can be sure is beholden to the interests that financed their election to our nations highest office.

NATURALLY it can be expected that those who paved the path to the White House with their buffalo nickels will expect a return on their investment. While government apparently struggles to secure our boarders, our government is also bound by NAFTA to open our points of entry to Mexican trucking. Why? The long term vested economic interest that companies who conduct business across international boarders have placed upon the elected officials whom they have financed into office, is beginning to bear the hoped for fruit. Open boarders means economic prosperity for these but has numerous negative effects for many others as well, national security interests being but one of the lesser issues.

IN conclusion then, it has been demonstrated that in order for ’08 candidates to summons the economic resources necessary to mount a bid for the White House they will have to be dependent upon direct or indirect corporate funding. In turn the investment made by these companies or individuals will demand a return. I simply ponder what the long term cost will be for this alignment between corporations and our political processes.

Eateries to Consider

I like eating out. I like the fact that we have the opportunity and liberty to do so in the United States. It's almost a patriotic duty to do so. There's no lining up for a loaf of bread at the Red Star Commie Bakery for us, no taking a chance with your life, like if you wanted to eat at Ali's Shish Kabob in the Middle East. No for us a short hop in the air conditioned car can convey us to a myriad of dining delights. No two places are alike and for something we should all be able to do at home, eating out is just one of the base and carnal pleasures we can enjoy, plus there is no dish washing to spoil the post meal digestion and rumination time.

One such intriguing culinary adventure brought Amy and I to the heart (or should I say bowels) of the Central Valley. Hidden in the little town of Viasalia is a place know mostly to locals, Areodogs. Yes, dogs that fly hotdogs to be specific. The owner of this property had a Corsair cargo plane converted into a dining room/hotdog stand. You can actually eat inside of an old airplane, peer out the oval passenger windows and peek into the cockpit. They did a wonderful job fixing up the plane which is good because the food was, well how to be judicious? Awful, can't say less than that if you screw up a hotdog. I got a Bratwurst that wasn't made out of Brat and the more I ate the wurst I though about it. Don't stop here for food. But if your looking for a place to stretch your legs and get a drink its worth a stop on any Central Valley adventure.

Exterior View of the Diner

An Interior View of the Diner

New Blog Feature

I've added Library Thing to the list of special features that my blog is hosting. An development in blog design ability? No - just cut and paste. The cycle of titles featured in the window are books from my own library. You can like to reviews that I've written on the books that I've read. My hope is that you may find a book that interests you enough to pick up a copy and read it. Contradicting the idea that reading takes a lot of work I think of it this way -- reading is really a lazy mans hobby-- the author did all the work, I just sit a read and think.... and benefit! Hope you enjoy.

The Text of the New Testament

Here's a Bird Dropping

I am currently enrolled in New Testament Introduction taught by Prof. David Farnell. In this class we take an indepth look at the origins of the christian New Testament. The 27 books, commonly refered to as the New Testament didn't just drop out of the sky (like the Mormon Golden Tablets). Nor are they a supersitious text in the way the Ancient Hebrews look that their Torah. They are a cognitive, rational set of books that contain propositional truth upon which the Christian bases is understanding of Spiritual things. This to say that the New Testament is a very human book full of names, dates, places and events. It records everything from weddings to funerals without so much as ever hinting that it is recording nothing other than historical fact. Amongst such narrative are the raw and true to life records of people- both in their nobles and highest expression as well as in their darked and most debased behavior. Again the texts of the New Testament do this without so much as batting an eyelash at the idea of being unhistorical. Then we also read of amazing acts, like men being raised from the dead, healings of ill persons, the uniquivical forgiving of sin and much more. Again all of this is done with the pure essence of integrity from the writers point of view- they produce narrative that is in place like reading a New York Times article.
These records have been passed through the ages on reed paper, shards pottery, crude writing surfaces, and the such. Amazingly today there are literally thousands of ancient documents that have survived the ravages of time and point back to the original text as it was written over 2000 years ago. Amazingly it is possible for you or I to purchase a Greek New Testament and read in the footnotes where all the information came from to put the text together. A book that is that old had the potential to undergo a lot of changes but one thing is consistent- what the text said in 2nd century AD was discovered to be accurate to the ancient text as more and more manuscripts were dug up from the past.
So what's the point? The New Testament you hold in you hand- if it's translation team determined to stick to what the original Greek meant- is in essence the same text that believers read from 2000 years ago. In a day and age when everyone questions the historicity of the New Testament this give us pause for thought. Esspecially when you consider that some of the most widely circulated poems of antiquity- the works of Homer- are only backed by a couple of ancient manuscripts and these were written well after the time of Homer. If were keeping score Homer 2 the New Testament 2000+. Even if I set my Christian prejudice aside, you have to consider the objective facts and those facts seem to plainly speak that the New Testament is a very historical book with roots and literature incomparable to any other ancient writings. At least this might cause those who have glibly cast aside the 27 books to look anew at the New Testament. If you'll let the evidence and the text speak plainly for itself you will find things much more amazing than the history of antiquity.
A historical text with historical roots records historical events- the greatest of which is that a man sent by God, who was also fully God came to live with us that he might know us and love us- and die for us- so that the guilt of sin could be taken from us. I'd be the first to admit that it's a crazy thought but Jesus came to earth for me and you to do something amazing to make those who follow him right with God. Now if the events are historical and the text is historical isn't it plausible that the message it contains is true and historical as well? Pray that God will open your eyes to this simple truth that if you will humbly come to Christ and renounce your sin- you will be made right with God. This is nothing that works can accomplish and this is something no other religion can promise. It is God's love that he invites us to approach him through Jesus for forgiveness of our sins. We can argue about what this means but you can't argue that this is the message contained in the historical books of the New Testament.