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Part Two: Do we Avoid Questions on Faith


     When we’re confronted with something that questions what we believe, how do we react? Sometimes the questions are subconscious, sometimes a friend, or maybe something we see or read. Often we push the thought aside or let political correction (PC) filter into our thoughts toning down or completely stopping what we deep inside wanted to say. Being politically correct or practicing apologetic’s can gloss over an issue or a topic, causing you to miss a chance to make a difference. It often disappears as fast as it presented itself. Your chance to make an impact on yourself or others diminishes and disappears. However, taking a chance and opening up to questions will better prepare each of us. It’s part of being able to express one’s thoughts in a manner that can be understood even when the listener disagrees with you.

     One thing that is common among all people is that we acknowledge there is good and evil in this world. What is often missed is how we are born with this instinct, this internal understanding. Just as a newborn baby knows it must eat, it also knows its mother and shows love to her. You may have heard the term, “The love of a newborn.” Evolution would have us believe that this just happens over time after we are born. That we are nothing before our birth. Where do our instinct’s originate from?

     So I propose we accept a challenge. The name of this blog is called “The Think Tank.” Often I try to give examples but don’t always ask a question. So today I will make several statements and ask the question, “Where do you place your faith and why?” With an open mind, question yourself how you feel about my following statements.

  • I believe that God exists.
  • I believe that God created everything at the beginning of time.
  • I believe in micro-evolution, but totally disagree with macro-evolution.
  • I believe that it takes faith to believe in God.
  • I believe that it takes faith to believe that we just evolved.
  • I believe that the God of the Bible is the only God, the original God.
  • I believe that other beliefs have been defined/created by man for man’s purpose.
  • I believe that many want proof, scientific evidence that we were created by God before they will believe He is real.
  • I believe that those wanting this evidence fail to recognize that they have placed their faith in evolution, that God doesn’t exists, just as those that believe in God have placed their faith in Him and that He does exist.
  • I believe our men and women that explore each of our scientific fields and their statement, “That evolution is a ‘theory’ of how everything started.”

     I could continue telling you what I believe, going deeper into my journey of life, my investigation, but what should be important to each of us is the question of our faith. Where do we place it? It’s an important part of our life. Do we place it in God, some other god, or evolution/no god? To recognize and accept the fact that it takes faith is the first step to understanding who we are. When peeling back the layers, we need to push past the desires and influences of others. Taking up the quest to question your faith, to recognize you have placed it on something, to not let your current desires and what you want to believe as true sidetrack you, and you will be on the best journey of discovery you will ever take.

“Where do you place your faith and why?”

“My faith is in God”

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Numbers, Numbers, Numbers


     When we look at numbers, we expect them to represent something that is factual, or in some cases prove something is incorrect. It could be the price, maybe the size, the quantity, a date or maybe a weight. How many times have we all looked at our weight and said, “something is wrong?” However, when math is correctly applied, numbers tell us something. It’s how we react to the result that is important.

     We would all agree that 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 10+10=20. We would say that 2+4+20=26. What would be the answer if we write 1+10×2=? Would the answer be 22 or 21? We always do the multiplication first then addition so the answer would be 21. But if it is solved in the order it is written, the order that it happened, how it is written down, it is 22.

     As long as we do our math the way we learned at school, the resulting answer is true. It is what we believe we understand that we should take a long hard look at. What if at the beginning of all time, before there was anything, our number 1 actually represented something less than 1 or possibly something just less than 2. Using today’s math to solve the science behind the beginning of everything, our results would be different today than what really happened in the beginning. The point is that we don’t know what things were like when it all began. Like how long was a day? A day could not exist until there was light and darkness. Generally, we take our best shot at it using today’s environment as the benchmark.

     We build math models and run experiments to prove that a math equation is correct. If the result fits the math model, then the math/theory is correct, based on performing the experiment under conditions as we understand them. In the area of dating methods, it isn’t which dating method we use, it’s the influential conditions during the formation of the item we are dating. The question we should be asking is; were the conditions on earth always like they are today? The sun is needed for radiation to take place. If conditions were different on earth or within earths general location in space, how would this affect these dating methods? While our method’s of dating things do work mathematically, they are based on the Sun’s influence as far as radiometric dating goes.

     So where are we going with this? If something is assumed, but not known, the number possibly rounded up or down before the calculation is done, then the outcome is not completely true. Just knowing the percent of error can make a big difference in how we comprehend what we see, how positive we feel about what we learn.

      Let’s look at time, which by the way is the fourth dimension. The first three in science are length, width, and height. Actually, science calls out up to ten dimensions as they strive to find answers to how everything began. We won’t go into them here, but if we were to take a look at String Theory, the Black Hole, and even the theory of Quantum Physics, we would find that these dimensions play a big role. Without time, nothing would be here, including each of us. We can dig deeper into this at a later date.

     The point behind this is that if we were not there in the beginning, then we don’t know, we just set up the criteria as best we can based on what we have learned. The solutions we search for are a theory just because we do not know what conditions were like, especially when we start out with the assumption that there was nothing to begin with. If there was something in the beginning, then where did it come from? The logical argument is; it was something or someone that started it all. Science tells us that we must have a logical solution. Just like in science where someone puts the experiment together and hits the start button. Maybe we should recognize that someone hit the start button that started it all, not something. If it was just something then it was there and how did it get there from nothing.

     In conclusion, the question; why does “science” continue to argue against creation, the information written in the Bible, the one by God. It really needs to be answered. What is the reasoning behind it, if it was really God who started it all? If it was God, then he has to be the Greatest Scientist of all time that we should be happy to take guidance from.

The key point to remember is:

It takes “Faith” to believe in evolution just like it takes “Faith” to believe in God. It’s where we choose to place our “Faith” that is important.

 

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What is “Truth”


     In the world of Science, Faith, and Religion, we can find ourselves facing the monumental task of determining what the real “Truth” is. To take a real objective view of the question, “what is the truth,” we need to identify what we understand each stands for.

Question one: What is Religion?

      It is the belief in God, a god, or in a group of gods. It is the organization of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship God, a god or group of gods. It is an interest, belief, or activity that is very important to a person or a group of people.

Question Two: What is Faith?

     It is a strong belief or Trust in someone or something. It is a belief in the existence of God or a strong religious feeling of our beliefs. It is a system of religious beliefs.

Question three: What is Science?

     It is knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observations. It is a particular area of study, such as biology, physics, chemistry, or any particular branch of science. It is a subject that is formally studied in school, college, and universities.

     Breaking down the key three elements that play such a significant role in who we are, what we become, how we believe, and how we react to situations in life, we find that they all cross what we might call “boundaries of life.” Science plays such a critical role in our lives. It has advanced the medical world to levels one sometimes stands in amazement of. The automation world, and most important to most of us, the communications world. The advancement of the phones, smartphones, computers, including the internet, has changed lives. We google a location and trust that we will arrive at that place if we follow the map provided. We choose to place our faith in that search we initiated. If you have had happened to you what I have, it has sometimes been misguided, and I ended up someplace different than planned. However, as these applications advance, they get better at guiding us where they believe you are planning to go based on what you were searching for.

     We have defined a simple way of how science and faith work together, but how does religion fit into this. If religion is a form of interest, belief, or activity that is important to us, then science and faith become a religion by definition. If one believes that a specific area of science is factual, or that a specific application is perfect, then by placing our faith in it, it becomes a form of religious belief. I’m not trying to push the envelope here, I’m just using how each of the three elements of life is defined.

     What is most interesting is that we have so many “Religious” beliefs in this world, it becomes hard to define which of them hold the “Truth.” We have so many advancements, findings (both supporting and negating), and discoveries in the science world, especially in the areas of who we are and how everything began, which of them do we hold as “Truth.” This put’s “Religion” as defined right in the middle. This brings us back to the question, what is “TRUTH?”

     Where do we place our faith? Is it in God, or some other defined definition of god, or in our science’s and how they are defined and taught? It takes faith to believe in God, or any god, just as it takes faith to believe in only what is proven by science.

     If we look at little deeper at science, we find that it is a process of defining a theory and then using scientific experimentation to prove the theory wrong. It is not an attempt to prove it correct. If it cannot be proven wrong, it can then be seen as true with no proof behind it until someone comes along and proves it wrong. Faith now becomes a strong ingredient in science. With “Faith” as an ingredient in science, it becomes a way of believing and becomes a “Religion.”

     What is more important, is the foundation of this short discussion. How do we know what to believe, where to place our faith, what religious belief we will follow? Just what is true, what can we hang our hat on, what can we stake our life’s beliefs on?

“What is Truth”

     I hope you will follow me down this road of discovery as we attempt to utilize science to evaluate and define who we are and how this all could have begun.

 

“To be continued.”

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Everyone has Faith


  • It takes faith to believe in Allah.
  • It takes faith to believe in evolution.
  • It takes faith to believe that good works will get you to heaven.
  • It takes faith to believe in the Cast system.
  • It takes faith to believe we only live once and then we are dead and nothing else matters.
  • It takes faith to believe we come back to this world as someone or something else after we die.
  • It takes faith to believe that if you kill someone in the name of Allah you will have virgins waiting for you on the other side.
  • It takes faith that when you go to sleep you will wake in the morning.
  • It takes faith that when you get in a car, a cab, a train or an airplane to go someplace you will arrive safely.
  • It takes faith to order food in a restaurant or buy it in a store and believe it is safe to eat.
  • It takes faith that if you work hard at your job you will get a raise.
  • It takes faith to believe you can do something you have never attempted to do.
  • It takes faith………..

It takes some level of faith to believe in anything. We have those that will try to confuse the idea of faith by adding the word blind faith trying to make your faith unbelievable. Some confuse faith in evolution by removing the words micro and macro. Some people speak as if they have all the answers, that they have facts, that they have proof. Some people believe they are better than you or I. Some people have an agenda that is for themselves and not anyone else unless you agree to the faith they have in their agenda.

You see “FAITH” is something that we all have one way or the other. It is where we choose to place that faith that is important. So the next time we find ourselves thinking we have all the answers, thinking everyone is crazy if they don’t believe as we do, take a step back and realize that everyone has faith in their belief. The key is to make sure that where we place our faith is real or has the highest chance of being true. To openly share your faith and why you believe in it, to listen to the opposite points of view, to look into the chance of something being true, to look into the real background of any faith, religion or belief will bring each of us closer to what we should place our faith in. Faith should not be based on what we like to do or what makes us feel the best or what we want to hear. It should be based on something that is real to each of us, something that we can say holds our faith steady or something that is not threatened by others or ourselves because we look into other faiths or beliefs. Real faith should stand the test of investigation by you or others.

So where do you place your “FAITH”?

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Memory of the Heart


When confronted with a situation that makes us feel sad or overwhelmed with grief – we many times say our heart aches. When we loose a loved one – we say our heart aches. You may experience that feeling in your chest that grabs your emotions and many time will bring tears to your eyes before you have a chance to put them in check. Have you ever heard anyone say their brain aches when confronted with something emotional? A lot of emotion can cause a headache over time, but not instantaneously.

When we think about memory we generally associate this with our brain. It has the ability to hold our past thoughts and experiences. We can recall them and add them to something new that has happened. We can analyze and rationalize our thoughts.

What Causes our heart to ache?

Several years ago I read a true story about a young girl. It has been a while but I will do my best to tell it as close as possible to how I understood it. She was sick and in desperate need of a heart transplant.  The parents of this young girl were notified one day that their daughter needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. A young girl had died and her heart was a match for their daughter and it was in transport to the hospital. They rushed her to the hospital, the surgery was performed and she received the heart giving her new life and a bright future. This young girl never had any issues with sleeping prior to the surgery. However, after the new heart was placed in her body she started having dreams and nightmares. She kept them to herself for while but when they keep becoming more real she told her parents about them. The doctors told them that this would pass as she recovered from the surgery. But it didn’t. She would see the face of another young girl. She would see that this girl was terrified of something. The dreams continued and she would see an attacker beating this girl in her dreams and ultimately stabbing her to death. The face of the girl and the attacker were so real along with all the details of the brutal murder including names. Her parents decided to ask about the donor and found that she was a victim in a murder but no other details were made available other than the murder had not been solved. After talking to the doctors they contacted the authorities in charge of the investigation and told them about their daughter’s nightmares. They came and met with their daughter and she told them all the details of the dreams which include descriptions and details including what both the girl and the man looked like and how the murder was committed. These details were impossible for her or her parents to know anything about. The authorities took this information and were able to apprehend the attacker and with the details this young girl was able to give, the authorities were able to make a case and the attacker was sent to prison for life.

So does the heart have memory? Does it have feelings?

It has been proven that there is what they call “cellular memory” around the heart and some other major organs even though we don’t understand it well. In this case the terrifying memory was transfer to this young girl along with her new heart. You can find other examples of this with little research effort. People have had food cravings even though they did not like the food prior to the surgery.

When we say our heart aches it is very possible that this is those deep seeded memories that are not just in our mind but buried deep in our chest around our heart. Is it possible that this is where our soul resides – the core of who we are? In the Christian belief, we say that when we accept Jesus for who he is and ask for his forgiveness he will come into our hearts. He never said into our minds. We hear people say let your heart lead you in the right direction. Do what your heart tells you to do.

Many things we just take for granted. We never stop long enough to give it the thought it deserves. If God gave each of us a place in our body that can be filled with love, gratefulness and even forgiveness, maybe we need to give this some serious thought. Just maybe everything that has been written about God is true. Which ever side of this belief you current sit on, it is important to recognize the possible implications this brings to each of us.

 

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What Color is Humanity?


     It is stated that the human race can be traced back to one person. This is found in the journals of science and also found in the first book of the Bible “Genesis” which is one of if not the oldest book on record. So it should make no difference if you believe in evolution or creation – the human race began from one or maybe we better say two humans as we know them – one woman and one man. The bible tells us that God created man on the 6th day of creation and created woman from a rib of man and this is how the human race began. Evolution tells us that man evolved from something other that itself and somehow woman came along at the same time. What evolution cannot explain is why most every living thing requires male and female of the same kind to reproduce when it states that everything began as a single cell of living mater. Both beliefs do agree that the human race began with one male and one female which makes us all decedent’s of those two humans.

     We are all one race called humans regardless of what we look like. It makes no difference if we are red, black, brown, yellow, white, or any other color – we are essentially all brothers and sisters , aunts or uncles or cousin’s of the original two. We are all related one way or another. We attempt to group different ethnic races by regions of the world. However, if we all came from that first couple, we are still all related. We may have different religious beliefs but we are still related. We may have different skin color, but we are still related. We may come from different countries, but we are still all related. We may be highly educated or have no education, but we are still related. No matter how we attempt to split up the world population into different groups, we are still all related. We all started out equal. One man and one woman.

     One might argue that this all started millions of years ago and that the different human races each evolved separately. However, if this would have happened then it still had to take place approximately 4500 years ago or the population of the earth would be so large we would not have much standing space between us. Using the average population growth equasion that is statistically agreed too and we start 4500 years back, we find that we would reach our current global population of today. For evolution to have evolved each race independently, it would take millions of years. However, we just statistically proved that if we started more than 4500 years ago that the global population would be a lot larger than it is today. So evolution has not had enough time for each race to have evolved on its own if in fact each race originated from something different than the original two humans.

     Science has proved that each of us have the same everything in our bodies except that our skin and our outward appearance may look a little different. We are still all part of the human race! Reproduction happens between a male and female of the same kind. The human race is a kind. A person of any color can reproduce with someone of another color. What they reproduce is a child, a brother or a sister, an aunt or an uncle or a cousin. They do not reproduce a new kind, just another precious child. When we peal that onion of life down to the core, we find that we are all brothers and sisters. We should love one another even if we don’t always like each other all the time. We should treat our brothers and sisters as we would like them to treat us. Evolution would have us believe we should let the fittest survive which is at the core of their philosophy; allowing the evolving process to continue transforming what we are into whatever nature requires as it changes. What will we become next? God said he created us with a purpose, that we were special and we should love Him for everything he created and gave us and to love one another.

     So lets ask ourselves, why do some people view those of a different color or a different country or a different education level, or any way we would like to split humanity into different segments as someone different or anything less than themselves when we all started out from the original man and woman? I have a sister that does medical transcribing, a sister that is a nurse, a brother that drives truck, a sister that is a master of phycology, and a sister that is a certified public accountant. We are not all the same, but we are brothers and sisters. We each look different, live in different places, believe a little differently, make mistakes, upset each other at times, get into arguments, and even stay away from each other for long lengths of time, but we are still brothers and sisters.

So what color do you think humanity is? I think humanity is whatever color you are looking at!

     I believe each person on earth is needed. I believe that each person on earth should love and be loved. I believe that if we followed this rule that the world would be at peace with itself. I believe that we each have a gift of some kind and that if we were all allowed to use it with a mix of love attached the sky is the limit to how great and peaceful this world would be.

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Why God Why?


Why God? Why did you let this happen? I thought you were supposed to be a good God. They were good people. How could you let their little child get so sick and die? If you really control everything, then why did you do this? That precious little child did nothing wrong. Those parents loved him and they did nothing but help others. I can’t believe you did this. WHY?

Tackling this question can be very controversial. It has so many negatives tied to it. This is also one of the hardest question I have ever been confronted with. The answers are hard to find and many times hard to swallow.  Writing them down using only a few words on the subject is difficult. But this is the Think Tank, so no question is off the table. So here it goes.

The question: If God is a good God, if he created and can or does control everything, why does he allow a child to get sick and die?

We can lose a child to an accident which is tragic. Many times it happens very quickly, and it has long-lasting effects on the family. We want to blame the accident on ourselves or the person that caused it. We tend to place the blame someplace. However, when we lose a child that becomes ill with some disease and is suffering with pain that lingers, we have so much time to wonder why. We have no one or nothing to blame; we just wonder why.

This question is many times at the core of why people doubt God and make decision not to believe He even exist. We as a human race tend to blame every bad thing on God and seldom give any credit to God for any good things. I guess we could say that if God is responsible for and allowed something bad to happen, he is also allowing or making all good things happen. The question is did he make it happen? Does a father or mother make their child fall and get hurt, or did they pick them up and try to make them better? No one knows for sure why God allows something bad to happen. What we do know is that He said He takes care of his own and that He has a place for us forever. He just never told us when we will go there. He didn’t tell us exactly what it would be like, He just said if we love Him he prepared this beautiful place for us. Having a child leave this world to live with him in paradise is not a bad thing for our child. They have no pain, only joy and peace for ever and ever.

It’s for sure a very tragic thing for the mom, dad and family that lost them. We all feel that they never had a chance to live their complete life. They missed out on growing up and so many of the things we have experienced. Most of all, this family has the pain of this loss and miss having their child with them. We as a family are heartbroken. Sometimes we can become very bitter wanting them back with us. Our mind tries to figure it out but all we can say is – Why God? How could you do this?

We all know this world is not a perfect place to live. Even if it started out to be perfect, we continue to mess it up in many ways. Bad things are happening including the many things that we can credit directly to our human race and it’s desires. If we were to start analyzing man’s contribution I am sure it would take a book or two. In this case I truly believe that it is not God that made the child sick. I also believe that it would have been a tragedy if God had allowed the child to stay really sick, continue suffering or to survive and live a life in pain. So maybe God reached down or sent his Angels down and picked this child up. He loved them so much that He took them out of their pain. It hurts each of us when we think of our loss while we are still living, but if we believe in God we will see our child again and live with them forever, not just for our short life here on earth.

There are many thoughts and even arguments on this subject. While I can say I have never had to bare the burden of loosing a child. If I do, I trust that they will be living in Heaven and I will be with them someday forever? I know that I would never get over my loss, but I trust that I will be happy they are waiting for me to join them someday.

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In Control, Out of Control, Being Controlled


The thing about control is that it has to start in our mind. When you dig really deep we find that the brain and the workings of the mind can become complicated to understand. However, I believe some of the key basic functions we can comprehend without a Doctorates degree which enables us to better understand how we control things in our lives.

Generally we must first comprehend a situation exist and then the result of our action or reaction kicks in gear. The key is that we have to comprehend and not just react.

When we are in control we feel confident. When we are out of control we feel stressed. When we are being controlled we are upset. The thing about control is that we ultimately control all of it. Even the quick reaction our body makes if a snake suddenly appears while we stroll along some path. We quickly stop. In this case it is a reaction and not a comprehension based on logical thinking. However, we programed the reaction over time by what we put in our brains reaction center and in reality it started out as a logical thought way before you took the walk. Some things are simple. A snake bit can kill you so stop. While we need these quick reaction responses programed in our brain to keep us safe, they can stop us from seeing the rest of the picture. The question we should ponder is; what have I or someone else programed into my mind that causes me to react and not allow the full process of gathering information which allows a conscious thought out decision. How often do we only look at one point of view because we have programed our mind this way; we are comfortable with our position on a subject so avoid any chance of possible change in that position.

In today’s world we continue seeing example after example where someone else is assumed responsible and self responsibility is secondary. Allowing someone else to control, manage, manipulate, and influence our lives is many time unseen by each of us. Our daily life takes on a direction of those around us. We do things in a manner that does not disrupt the local boat. We become so tightly locked into our local world we stop really thinking for ourselves.

If we really evaluate our lives, we see the many influences that make us who we are. In some cases we may feel that this is good, but sometimes we also can look back and see that it was not really what we would like. It was not with an outcome that we were pleased with. While we would like to go back and change the outcome, it is impossible.

One of the old sayings that my Grandmother would say was; “All things work together for good”. I know she got this from the bible, but she used it when ever something just did not work out so great, or when something bad happened. So when we encounter these bumps in our road, do you look back and get up tight or do you let it go and move forward? Do you try to fix it or do you trust that down the road you will understand the good that came form it. That things will turn around and good will come from something that didn’t work out like you imagined.

This is one of life’s biggest challenges!

If we could just learn to love one another, I do believe everything would work out for the good. When life drums up something that upsets our apple cart, can we learn from it and move on without letting it totally disrupt our lives? Can we learn to evaluate the event, possibly search our inner thoughts, maybe do some research, and then move forward with a positive attitude?

We control our actions and re-actions. Only when we allow others to totally influence us do we loose this control. When others with an agenda are in control, we become someone they want us to be. God gave each of us a brain and a mind to think with. He gave us the compassion to give love, to accept love and to create a loving environment for ourselves and those around us to enjoy. It is with the faith we have in God, that we were created with a purpose and that we did not just happen that gives us such great hope. That we are somebody and not just something that evolved!

No matter what you believe, go and search those thoughts, look in all directions, really evaluate what you have decided to believe in. One thing I have determined is that when you peal the onion of life back to the core, you were either created by God or you evolved. Where have you placed your faith?

As always your comments are welcomed. Enjoy this great and wonderful day!

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A World of Love, Support, Victory and Defeat


We are fast approaching upon the halfway point of 2014. The 14th of February has faded behind us. Birthdays, anniversaries and other special days have come and gone. There are still those special day of the year in front of us.  During these times we are reminded that we have those who love us. We have friends that care for us, those that are there when we need them. The Winter Olympics in Russia are now a memory along with everything that goes with them. From the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat. Remembering the love and support that each athlete is given by fellow countrymen and those of foreign nations. The forgoing of country differences for the love of competition,  comrodery and mutual respect for the skills each have developed. The love and compassion felt by those who do not reach the glory they worked so hard to achieve. The passion each of them have in making a decision to strive for excellence putting in another four years of physical and mental strain again not being guaranteed success. The enjoyment each of us feel while watching and cheering our favorites in competition. We should all salute those who strive for excellence, those who embrace the world as an equal human race, those who believe we are all created equal, those who see no difference in the color of skin or country origins, and embrace life and all it has to offer. Those that open their mind to the possibilities and do not just accept idle words of impossible, can’t be done, it’s not worth the effort as they listen around the water fountain. Those who have the courage to speak up trying to make a difference in our world expressing their point of view while listening to those of others, all in an effort to make a difference. I struggle to comprehend why so many of us have closed our minds to the possibilities that life presents to each of us. While some have had a hard life and some not so bad, we each have a chance, even if it starts out as such a small chance to grab this life we live and enjoy everything we can get from it. The joy of a husband and wife as they take that first step of marriage,  the birth of their first child, then that first step, the first year of school, the graduation and the joy and feelings that come as they move forward with life leaving the home they have known as theirs just to start a new life that they now will lead. The joys are endless if we look around. Why our world thrives on negativity is really a reflection on those of us who listen. Our news media most generally tell the negative side only because it sells. Right or wrong we are continuously bombarded with negativity. We tune in because we can’t believe what we are hearing or maybe we are just curious or maybe it somehow affects our personal lives. In any case, it fuels the fire of negative press. We have those who have the abilities to open their mind to a world of discovery and a desire to know true fact and the difference of a theory presented as real from those that truly are. When we each reach this point in our life, and I pray each of will before we die, we begin to understand our life on this earth, why we are here and how this all started. I have stated many times that it takes faith to believe in evolution as the reason for everything and that it take faith to believe in God as the creator. It is important! It is a wonderful time we live in. Go out and explore! Find your answer!

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Driving Out Complacency


Now I know no one wants to acknowledge they have become complacent in anything. I for one can struggle with this. Everyday produces situations that if they go unrecognized we can be taking another step toward complacency involving one thing or another. As humans we can become so ingrained in our thoughts and beliefs that we miss things going on around us. We start believing we have the answer before we know the question. We don’t stop long enough to realize that there is generally always two sides to a story if not more. We jump to conclusions without acknowledging what is right in front of us. We allow our education system to educate us and we never slow down long enough to educate ourselves. We hear what we are told but never question its validity.

Complacency could be something simple such as our eating habits or possibly exercise or lack thereof. Maybe it is in our lack of desire to learn new things, explore what others find interesting, listening to other explanations and not just live in our own world. Or our desire to dig deeper into what we believe and put our faith in enabling ourselves to reinforce our convictions or alter them. Ridding ourselves of complacency does not mean doing what everyone else does. It just means being aware of why someone does something and why they believe one way or the other. It is being open to discussing both view-point and not just having a one-sided conversation or walking away from it completely.

Acknowledging complacency is critical to our physical and mental health. It can be the pill the doctor ordered. The simple task of admitting to ourselves that it exist gives each of us a tool which will allow our lives to flourish in so many ways. Stagnation in our thinking, our health, our conversation, our faith, our work, and almost every area of our lives can be exterminated.

Join me on my journey to continue stomping out complacency from my life by doing the same in yours. Make a personal pledge to always be open-minded enough to explore different avenues as they present themselves. To be open to other opinions and to discuss them sharing your beliefs and understandings. Have a want to grow your knowledge, and a wish to life healthy. I truly believe that if we would live healthier our spirit would be healthier. If we expand our knowledge our conversations become healthy allowing two-sided discussions and not just someone accepting what someone tells them. We are born with a body and a mind and we need to feed both of them with good food.

If you have an area of complacency in your life please share it here with a comment or with a friend. We all have some level of complacency we need to deal with. One of the biggest for me was believing everything I was taught in school. Then I was supposed to believe everything I was taught in church. Each contradicted the other. It was only after I decided to challenge myself on these topics that I started ridding myself of confusion and my life became stable. In this case I concluded that one belief or the other had to be correct. Either we were created or we evolved. This is truly a live and death altering question. I can tell you that I believe we were created and for really good reasons. I have tried to explain this in the book “Deceptive Influences” if you are interested in the rest of my story.

Now as we continue this day moving to the next I wish you good travels down the road of eliminating complacency from life.