Dear Roger, I, personally, can honestly answer “yes” …

Comment on Ted Wilson: “We will not flinch. We will not be deterred.” by Lydian Belknap.

Dear Roger,
I, personally, can honestly answer “yes” to all four of your questions.
Does this mean I feel I am “ready for translation?” Absolutely not. What I honestly “believe” and what I (more often than I would like to admit) actually end up “doing” on a daily basis leaves a whole lot to be desired!
(And I suspect there are a lot of others out there who would say the same thing! It is only by the grace of God that any of us make it!)

Lydian Belknap Also Commented

Ted Wilson: “We will not flinch. We will not be deterred.”
Professor Kent (and anyone else who might be interested:)

My wrist is just about back to normal, thank you–for which I am very grateful! No one seems to know what it was or what caused it. Just about everything has been ruled out–including carpal tunnel. But whatever it was that caused it the antibiotic seems to have taken care of it.

Incidentally, there was a very interesting article on the internet a few weeks ago about Norway banning the use of most antibiotics in their country. This is not the place to quote it, but anyone who is interested can look it up on Google: “Norway’s Answer: When drugs stop working.” It is somewhat difficult to locate at times but it is there if you keep looking.

As for the current debate about evolution and LSU (plus other Adventist institutions I’ve been told) I will never disbelieve what God says in His Word about how this world came into being. He is my God, the Bible is His Word to me and I will never lose my confidence in either–regardless of what the world’s “wise men” manage to come up with.

A little boy during the “great depression” years saw a “silver whistle” in the little store near his home one day. It cost ten cents–which was far more than he or his parents could afford.–After all, one could buy a loaf of good homemade bread for ten cents in those days and a quart of good milk from cows who were pasture fed for another 15 cents–but money was “piddlin’ small” in those days–so he longed for it for many months. When his birthday came around his parents decided to give him ten cents for his birthday to spend as he liked. Of course he bought the whistle and for several days he blew on that whistle until the rest of the family was about blown to distraction.

One morning when he woke up the whistle refused to “blow.” In desperation he went to his father who could “fix anything.” But father had to tell him no one could “fix” the whistle. Every time he blew it a small amount of moisture went into the whistle and now it was all rusted inside and would never blow right again. After many tears the little fellow looked at father and said. “Father, Father, I guess I paid too much for my whistle!”

Friends, Satan has millions of “silver whistles” out there in every aspect of life, diet, dress, entertainment, houses, cars–you name it, and millions of us are frantically grasping at them convinced that one or another of them will enure our happiness for the “rest of our lives” only to find that, one by one, they “rust” and leave us sad and unfulfilled. So we frantically grasp for another one–with the same results.

One of these days–and I think that will be a lot sooner than we expect–the sky is going to be “rolled back as a scroll” and a small, dark cloud will be seen in the midst of the open space.

As we look on it will grow in size, increase in splendor, and we will see King Jesus returning in all His glory just as He said He would. He will be accompanied by all the holy angels and the music will be the most glorious we have ever heard. (I’ll guarantee there will be no “rock and roll” in that heavenly concert!)

There will only be two classes of people on earth then. One class will rejoice and say “This is our God–we have waited for Him and He will save us!” The others will bow their heads and wail, “Father, Father, we guess we paid too much for our whistles!”

Which class will you be in? Which class will I be in? It is OUR CHOICE!

Another story is of a man walking along a beach one day afer several days of intense rain. The beach was narrow with the ocean on one side and a tall wall of massive boulders on the other. As he turned to look at the boulders he saw one that looked strange. He thought he saw a small door on it. Curious, he went over to examine it. Sure enough, it WAS a small door. Afer much indecision he finally decided to open it. Inside was a small basket piled high with clay balls. After looking around to see if anybody was watching he finally decided to take it with him.

As he continued walking he would throw one clay ball after another out into the ocean just to see how far he could throw them. When the basket was nearly empty he accidentally dropped one and it broke open at his feet. To his utter amazement inside of that ball was one of the most beautiful jewels he had ever seen. He excitedly opened one after another and each contained an exquisite jewel! When he cashed these in he would be a very wealthy man! He was very excited until he remembered the many clay balls he had thrown into the ocean that were now forever beyond his reach.

Inside of the “clay balls” available to us today are the countless number of “jewels” in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy giving us all the instruction necessary to insure us a passport to the heavenly mansions God has prepared for those who love and trust Him enough to believe what He says and act upon it.

But I fear too many of us today are carelessly throwing those precious
“clay balls” back into the oceans of life with nary a thought of the blessings contained therein that would insure us a place in that heavenly kingdom where “riches untold” are awaiting us.

Will you be ready? Will I? It is a serious question that each one of needs to ponder!


Ted Wilson: “We will not flinch. We will not be deterred.”
@Professor Kent:

Thank you so much for your suggestion. Now that you mentioned it, I think you are probably right but for some reason that never occurred to me–even though I had it in my left hand many years ago

My wrist was a little sore two weeks ago but my doctor just sort of brushed off as “one of those things that can happen to us as we age.”

It was so bad last Sabbath morning that my daughter took me to the emergency room and we were there until the middle of the afternoon while they ran all kinds of tests and could come up with no reason that they could find. I’m surprised no one even thought of CT! They did give me some antibiotics and it is much better but still not back to normal. I finally decided it was from too much time on the computer and have been using it very little these days. I’m seeing my regular doctor again on Tuesday and will discuss it further with him.

Thanks again for alerting me!

Lydian


Ted Wilson: “We will not flinch. We will not be deterred.”

@Lydian Belknap: This is quite a selective way to interpret this passage, which is more reasonably read as consistent with the view elsewhere expressed in Job that the earth stands on pillars. Here is a passage from Louis Jacobs, “Jewish Cosmology”, in Carmen Blacker and Michael Loewe (Eds), Ancient cosmologies, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1975, pp. 66-86.   (Quote)

Dear Brad,

I am very sorry to be so slow getting back to you but I have been “laid up” with a very swollen, feverish right wrist for over a week now–I wasn’t even able to use it to feed myself. It is just now getting to the place where I can use it more again.

It’s been examined, probed, and x-rayed by doctors with no one being able to decide on a real medical cause–no falls, no bites, no nothing of that kind. The final opinion is “Too much time on the computer!” Needless to say, I’ve had to change my way of living and “computing” in several respects!

I’m happy to see that in the meantime others–a lot more educated in science than I am-have given good answers to your response-but, for whatever its worth, I still want to add my “two cents worth” to the discussion!

I have spent that time reading and thinking about all of the texts you sent me, however, I personally, can see nothing in any of them that in anyway disputes what Job said. And as far as I can find, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that disputes it either.

People have sailed around the world countless times, planes have flown around it even more times and astronauts have even photographed it in space. All evidence shows it to be a relatively (comparatively speaking) small–and “dirty little ball.” (A while back one person described our situation in this way–“The nation’s clean-air laws arose out of ‘the desire of people in Denver to see the mountains, and the desire of people in Los Angeles to see each other.’” Not only is it “dirty” but disease is rampant and, as I see it, if Jesus doesn’t come pretty soon there won’t be many living people around to welcome Him!

As for the statement in Job 26:11–“The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof” is concerned, I haven’t a clue as to what that means–and it’s talking about HEAVEN not this earth! I am sure of one thing however–the “pillars” mentioned here aren’t what we on this earth consider “pillars!” I’ll just have to wait ‘till we are in heaven to ask God about that one!

So my personal belief is that what Job said in chapter 26:7 is unquestionably correct and I “rest my case” on that!


Recent Comments by Lydian Belknap

A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
So here I sit–a “very old lady”–totally confused and not having a clue as to whether to donate or not–or where to donate if I should.

As things stand now I think I will just continue putting my own little amount to my current “missionary out reach” of buying “Steps to Christ” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” and passing them on to the clerks in the stores where I shop or other people I meet that I think would like them.

If and when you folks decide on what, how and where to help in this very worthy project let me know and I’ll do what I can then.


A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
I just noticed that there is such a program in place in northern California but I would want one that is nation wide. After all, if our kids aren’t already in danger here in the southern union also (as well the rest of the US) it’s most likely only a short matter of time till they will be.


A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
I am far from a wealthy person who could and gladly would donate large sums of money to such a program but I could and would gladly donate some if such assurances were solidly in place. I’m sure there are many “old folks” like me “out there” who feel the same way. (Is there already such a program in place? If so please post all needed information.)


The God of the Gaps
While browsing my rather voluminous file of articles to “save” I ran across this jewel—I think it is worth saving and thinking about–especially the last statement by Darwin himself:
**************************
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

While Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a relatively young archetype, the evolutionary worldview itself is as old as antiquity. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Anaximander postulated the development of life from non-life and the evolutionary descent of man from animal. Charles Darwin simply brought something new to the old philosophy — a plausible mechanism called “natural selection.” Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous genetic mutations. Suppose a member of a species developed a functional advantage (it grew wings and learned to fly). Its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to their offspring. The inferior (disadvantaged) members of the same species would gradually die out, leaving only the superior (advantaged) members of the species. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild. Natural selection is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic breeding. Over the centuries, human breeders have produced dramatic changes in domestic animal populations by selecting individuals to breed. Breeders eliminate undesirable traits gradually over time. Similarly, natural selection eliminates inferior species gradually over time.
\
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – Slowly But Surely…

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a slow gradual process. Darwin wrote, “…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps.” [1] Thus, Darwin conceded that, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” [2] Such a complex organ would be known as an “irreducibly complex system”. An irreducibly complex system is one composed of multiple parts, all of which are necessary for the system to function. If even one part is missing, the entire system will fail to function. Every individual part is integral. [3] Thus, such a system could not have evolved slowly, piece by piece. The common mousetrap is an everyday non-biological example of irreducible complexity. It is composed of five basic parts: a catch (to hold the bait), a powerful spring, a thin rod called “the hammer,” a holding bar to secure the hammer in place, and a platform to mount the trap. If any one of these parts is missing, the mechanism will not work. Each individual part is integral. The mousetrap is irreducibly complex. [4]

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a theory in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we’ve made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. We now know that there are in fact tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level. Specified complexity pervades the microscopic biological world. Molecular biologist

Michael Denton wrote, “Although the tiniest bacterial cells are incredibly small, weighing less than 10-12 grams, each is in effect a veritable micro-miniaturized factory containing thousands of exquisitely designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery, made up altogether of one hundred thousand million atoms, far more complicated than any machinery built by man and absolutely without parallel in the non-living world.” [5]

And we don’t need a microscope to observe irreducible complexity. The eye, the ear and the heart are all examples of irreducible complexity, though they were not recognized as such in Darwin’s day. Nevertheless, Darwin confessed, “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” [6]

Footnotes:
1. Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life,” 1859, p. 162.
2. Ibid. p. 158.
3. Michael Behe, “Darwin’s Black Box,” 1996.
4. “Unlocking the Mystery of Life,” documentary by Illustra Media, 2002.
5. Michael Denton, “Evolution: A Theory in Crisis,” 1986, p. 250.
6. Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life,” 1859, p. 155.

****************
I don’t think Sean could have said it better himself!


Walla Walla University: The Collegian Debates Evolution vs. Creation
Sean, I guess I “bit off more than I can chew” when I subscribed to some of your other options.
All I can handle is the ^way it used to be”–like this column still is. Please put me back to this mode of information and I will be very happy. Thanks.