Unfortunately, my computer was “shaken up a bit” earlier …

Comment on LSU memorandum confirms Educate Truth’s allegations by Lydian Belknap.

Unfortunately, my computer was “shaken up a bit” earlier this week due to the fact that we live in an area where a series of tornados went through earlier this week. God was good to us and none of our family was hurt nor were our homes so a “messed up” computer is a small price to pay–especially when there were many homes destroyed and many deaths and even many very serious injuries very close to us.
Even our gardens and lovely trees were spared while the beautiful trees and gardens of many of our friends were decimated. Many are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Surely the signs of death and destruction all around the world tell us that the end is very near.

As a result of my computer problems my computer blanked out and the message I started was cut off in the middle of a sentence and unfortunately was posted that way. I’m afraid to go back and copy the first part for fear something else will happen in the process. So (if I can remember what I wrote) I’ll try to start over in the morning.

Lydian Belknap Also Commented

LSU memorandum confirms Educate Truth’s allegations
There is no question but what the situation at LSU and, if I understand it correctly, at at least some of our other universities are also in dire need of some real changes. This has been long overdue and we need to really pray for our leaders as they struggle with these very real problems.

However,as I see it, the problems start long before our children reach university status and unless something is done


LSU memorandum confirms Educate Truth’s allegations
Sounds to me like the fox are still guarding the chickenhouse!


LSU memorandum confirms Educate Truth’s allegations
3-27-11

I did not realize until today that there was any way to keep up with he “Evolution” debate since EducateTruth closed down. (I am not a big fan of either Facebook or Twitter although I am a member of both–one of my granddaughters enrolled me in both during her Christmas vaacation–and periodically posts something on one or the other but I, personally, have never contribute or follow either one.) But I’m glad I found this today.
I have been waiting somewhat patiently (and impatiently) for some word in the Review or other church paper letting the laity know what took place following the AAA meeting with LSU. After all, a lot of young people are graduating from high schools or our academies and they and their parents need to know where it is theologically “safe” to go to college. (Since I am almost 87 my own children are approaching retirement and their children are all almost out of college–it’s a non-issue with me personally.) But, as far as I am concerned, the silence has been deafening!
And, now that I have found a place where things are reported I am absolutely heart sick over what I read. I truly thought we had elected leaders who would actually get in and do something about the situation. But, once again, I am terribly disappointed (and outraged!) over the way things seem to be more or less swept under the rug akain. LSU having been lightly slapped on the hand, and will show some slight attempt to change a bit here and there. And then we will, once again, return to business as usual. More and more I am coming to believe what my Grandmother used to say: “Honey, in the long run, every tub will go to heaven on it’s own bottom!” There will be faithful Adventists there AND probably many MORE faithful non-Adventists who never saw the wonderful light God has so graciously given us and we have so ungraciously disregarded.
Just look up creation and evolution on the internet. There are a lot of non-Adventist’s out there speaking up plainly and emphatically for creation while our own “voice” is barely a whisper . One site even has a group of dedicated creation-scientists who will go hold a series of meeting on the subject at any church or other group for a very reasonable price.
They asked me if I would like to have them come to my group (they didn’t know I was an SDA) but I graciously declined. I would love to have heard what they had to say but I simply could not deal with a group of Sunday-keeping, non-Adventist coming to an Adventist church to teach US about Creation!!! If creation “goes” there goes the Sabbath and the rest of the Bible (and the Adventist church along with them.)

“How far hast thou fallen from heaven, O Adventist church!!”

There’s not a shadow of a doubt in my mind but what the great “shaking” we have been warned about is “just around the corner” and each of us need to be examining our own hearts to see whether or not WE will remain unshaken!


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.