thoughts

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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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To Love or to Feel Love


Do you love what you love, or just the feeling? This question was part of a personality test written by Jonathan-Safran-Foer and posted by my friend David Kanigan. A great question that is worth the time to ponder. Giving this some thought it brought many questions to mind. These are just a few.

Do you love the feeling you get or do you love unconditionally?

Do you love when someone is not there or only when you are with them?

Do you spring into action when something attacks what you love or do you sit and wait for the dust to  settle?

Would you die for what you love or only attempt within reason to help?

Can you show your love or is your love just a hidden feeling you can’t or don’t express?

Can you show your love even when it is not to your benefit at the time?

Can you love and forget the shortcomings of your love or do you let the shortcomings affect your love?

Do you always nurture your love or just when you want that feeling of love?

Would you give up anything and everything for your love or would you sit back and wait until your timing was better for you?

Are you addicted to your love for the right reasons or are you just addicted?

Can you let your love go and still love what just left?

What is true love of someone or something? Love is very precious and should hold a place in our heart that no one can disrupt. Only we can spoil that love. That love does not spoil itself. One can spoil love for the other but it was not love that spoiled it. If we could all choose to love unconditionally then love would flourish! The hurts would disappear. The lives of everyone in this world would be affected in a positive way allowing God’s plan for each of us to be fulfilled. The golden rule comes to mind. “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Do to others as you would want them to do to you as my Grandmother always said. True love would change our lives and those around us. My resolution for the future is to attempt to always love unconditionally. What will be yours?

 

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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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“A Short-Cut to the Future”


I can’t add any words to the message of this post. It states it so well all on its own. Powerful word for thought and needs a place in the Think Tank. Thanks Secret Angel

The Abuse Expose' with Secret Angel

“A short-cut to the future”…
is the path many want to take.
But is it the right path…
or a really big mistake.
And these words came to me…
as I lay down and pray.
So I will share with you…
as my message for today.

So many people want…
their destiny to hurry.
But looking to the future…
all they can see is blurry.
So they begin to search…
amongst the many faces…
always looking for love…
but in all the wrong places.

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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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Choices, Choices, Choices – Believe it or Not!


A  couple years ago, I needed to put a stake in my yard to hold a Christmas ornament from blowing away. After thinking about it just a little I remembered I had a sprinkler system. I didn’t know where the main pipe feeding that area was located, I only knew my yard was large and this water line was only 1 inch in diameter. So what are the odds I could hit it when I was only driving a 3/4 inch stake in that little spot in that large area. I told myself that it would be pretty much impossible. Yes, you guessed it. I drove it right into the middle of that pipe and never had a clue what I had done. Come spring I found I had an issue. I told myself that there was no way but there was. I guess we can say the wrong choice was made by me.

When it comes to choices we have to make vs. choices we want to make, I find that they can both get us into trouble. When we make a choice based on only our thoughts which is what I did with that nasty stake, we only have ourselves to blame. I don’t think it was the fault of the company that installed the sprinkler system and if I would have called them up and asked what they were thinking when they put that water line right where my stake needed to go, I’m sure they would have told me that they were their first. Your problem – You caused it – What were you thinking!

But what happens when I make a choice based on someone else’s guidance and it proves to be wrong? Many times in today’s world we blame things going wrong on someone else. It’s many times hard for us humans to admit we could be wrong. So we blame the mistake on someone else. Maybe we might take them to court or just make a serious threat. We might stop being friends with them even if we asked them for the advice. Many things can happen when we make choices. We make them everyday of our lives. Getting up in the morning, eating or going to bed is a choice. It maybe started by making a choice that takes little thought like being hungry, tired or rested. However, it is a choice. Maybe we make a choice to do something because it makes us feel good. We really like a special kind of desert. Then 20 years later and 60 pounds over weight we realize maybe we should not have eaten the whole thing! We realty want something that we think we cannot live without, we don’t have the money, so we charge it! Then we can’t sleep because we can’t pay for it. Must have been that sales person’s fault!

Those pesky sales people can be a bit of a pain if you are not aware of the goods they are selling. They are either there to genuinely help or they are there to make a sale. It is the one that is there just to make a sale that we generally need to be aware of. If we choose to wrap our arms around our own ability to listen, rationalize and ultimately determine for ourselves what we want to believe, we can begin to see who we really are. We can buy into things that are good for ourselves.

I believe that God also gave each of us choices to make. He made a choice and gave each of us a brain and a mind to think with and allows each of us to make our own choice about Him. The problem we all need to be aware of is that there are people out there that don’t want us to believe in God. They have their own agenda no matter what it is. The problem that happens if you follow just their advice, you could be making one of those choices that you have to repair later or it is also possible that you won’t be around to repair it and it will be too late. So we need to be careful when we are making choices about something so important and careful about who influences us and also about who we influence. Clearing our mind of all the junk that clouds the issue and making sure we understand the results of our choices and then moving forward with it is up to us. One way or the other – it is our choice!

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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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The Power of WORDS!


The meaning of the words we write, speak, think and act out is who we really are. It is who we have become. If one does not like whom they have become, only that one can change it. The hidden motives of the words we speak and think are the foundation of our personalities. How we are seen by those around us is something we should all be aware of if we are not. The words we choose to use, how we state them which ultimately allows them to be heard and understood for what we meant, makes the difference of how we are perceived, liked, loved and even despised. Choosing our words and think how we would want to be thought of should be important. Being positive, living and showing love and compassion can be a key to a wonderful life.

Saying I love you and not I hate you.

Saying let me help and not do it yourself.

Saying what do you need and not let them figure it out for themselves.

Saying thank you and not just walking away.

Saying thank you and not just continuing on with what you are doing.

Saying let me do that and not just walk on by.

Saying please and not just reaching and taking.

Saying this is how I understand this and not I am going to teach you a lesson.

Saying let me help you with that and not you will find out on your own.

Saying I am sorry and not making an excuse.

Saying I am sorry and not expect the same in return.

Saying I am sorry and proving it.

Saying I am sorry with love and not contempt.

Saying I am sorry for doing that and then doing it again.

Saying thank you for even the smallest of things and meaning it.

What is most important is showing and living the word LOVE “unconditionally” with no words spoken!

 

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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!