The last time I attempted to address my thoughts on this subject ... I had given much thought to it, yet those thoughts were never stated to be anything more than my thoughts. I do feel God gives us understanding, and He also guides us and comforts us. I do not hold these thoughts as authenticated truth...yet I do enjoy thinking about God, and am thankful for those moments. I also read the Bible, which I do hold as the Word of God and authenticated truth.

(http://doyoubelievethatitisnot.blogspot.com/)

(https://whodecidesrightactionsandwrongactions.blogspot.com/)

It may also be helpful to look at another blog I've written ...to give perspective on things that in some sense we may think are not fair, but which happen all the time & most often without us questioning the fairness of it.

(http://thatisanothereasyone.blogspot.com/)

If you look at the example of the basketball coach, you may view the starting five as the five most talented players on the team. Unless you feel your kid is better than the coach's kid ...and even then you may somewhat understand that under the same circumstances, if you were the coach you may start your kid even if another player is better.

But, when viewing God ...we don't perceive Him to be judging us on talent, nor any other standard of preference.  We may feel it's like free play on a playground ...where everyone gets to participate.

Or we view it as some special experience we have with God ...like going to an amusement park, and we all get to ride as many rides as we want.  We also get as many treats as we want.  And when the day is done, we are promised we can do the same tomorrow.

Well, God gives us many wonderful promises ...but life is not exclusively like an amusement park, unless you are just generally using the analogy of the roller coaster with its ups & downs.

We do mostly agree that God is fair ...except for those who may be arguing our understanding or beliefs, and questioning whether God is who we say He is, or whether He exists at all.

So, if we do agree that God is fair, do we also believe that He would decide to give consequences to us for other people's behavior??  It is my experience that people readily have difficulty accepting this as within the realm of God's fairness ...yet, for basketball and other sports it is common that the whole team suffer extra workouts for one person's mess ups.

If we read in the Bible that all sin came through Adam ...we may accept that as fair in the same way that we would understand it if we had an Adam in our neighborhood who was a reckless driver who almost killed a school child, and as a result of that the community reduces the speed limit in the school zone and increases the fine for speeding.  We could say that the speed limit came about through Adam, and not have difficulty understanding the necessity of it.

Yet, if a missionary tells an islander who has been isolated from any contact with the outside world that their sin and punishment for all their sin came through Adam ...the islander may not know you from Adam, yet may feel some emotion which isn't on the favorable end of the continuum. That sort of misunderstanding could elicit a feeling close to hate for Adam, and possibly for you too.

On the other hand, if the islander was told that all people sin, and God gave Adam a chance to have everything 'good' ---but, Adam messed up ---then it would be easier to accept, and the islander may even relate to and feel a bit sorry for Adam.

And the island may even be filled with thrill and excitement if they were told that another person was provided the opportunity to succeed where Adam and all others have failed ...especially when told the Person did succeed, and as a result the ultimate punishment did not have to come.

I would feel a bit uncomfortable if I was surrounded by tribal people with a huge pot steaming over a fire. I may wonder what's for dinner?? But, what it boils down to ...is do you really believe the Bible is true??

I believe what I read in the Bible ...and I believe that most of the people who struggle with believing parts of the Bible, have difficulty mostly accepting the Old Testament rather than the New Testament.

I believe that if Jesus felt any part of the Old Testament needed correcting, He would have made that point. It would have probably upset Him even more than He was during the time He turned over the tables on the money changers.

But, instead, Jesus read, quoted, and referred to the Old Testament writings.

Many times there is not much written about a particular interest we may have ...and it seems we often want to know more about things that God did not clarify.

One of these areas of interest is in the very first and second chapters.  

The Bible reads:

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created ...male and female.  

...And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat ...and, behold, it was very good.

The next Chapter, which many have said they believe is a recapping of the first, reads:

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into hid nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden ...And the Lord God took the man, and put him in the garden ...And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it ...And the Lord said, It is not good that the man should be alone ...and caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam: and he took one of his ribs ...and made He a woman, and brought her unto the man ...And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh ...Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  

In the first Chapter, the fruit trees appeared on the third day ...and man & woman on the sixth day.  Yet, in the second Chapter we see the formation of man created from the dust of the ground ...and then it mentions that God planted a garden.  It does not say He planted a garden and created man in it ...yet, we do read that He created man, then planted a garden and put man in it.  It appears to me that man was created outside of the garden.  (Aside from that comment, I also am aware that in reading the King James version and the New International version ...there are slight differences, one of which is in the use of the word 'had', making any question about the order of Creation less of a question from the first Chapter to the second Chapter. Yet, it doesn't remove all questions, as there are many more difficult questions than this one alone ...that we often seem to ignore.)

It might be said that I'm reading too much into it ...but, the various interpretations that have been promoted, to answer some very difficult questions, seem to me to go more out on a limb, including an evolutionary twist (for some believers) where they believe we were once swinging from that limb.

In the first Chapter it says that every tree's fruit is given for meat to man and woman ...but, in the second Chapter there is limitations put on man eating certain fruit, before the woman is formed from his rib.  I do not believe God was just ribbing with Adam ...to grant him all, then restrict him afterwards.  And when God created man and woman on the sixth day, He said it was good ...yet, in the second Chapter He said it was not good for man to be alone.

I know a popular explanation is that the second Chapter of Genesis is merely restating certain events generalized in Chapter one, but with more detail ...and I am told that is commonly done.  But, it can still be done without assuming the general is in all ways equal to the detailed.  What I mean, is that I could describe the County Fair dog show in general terms, then focus on Lassie with a more detailed description. Or I could talk in general about the creation of all Disney cartoon characters, but then focus on Mickey Mouse.  Likewise, I find it easy to believe God created men and women ...then drew our attention to Adam.

Again, just bringing up those points in themselves do seem to be making too much of it all ...but, I do not bring them up because I have difficulty seeing it the way others have seen it.  I just think it fits so much better not reading it merely how others have read it ...but, for what is in fact there.

(https://andhowusefulandtowhatextent.blogspot.com/)

I'm not reading into what is not there ...and much of what I read, I don't quite understand, but what I do see seems to clear up much of what others have told me they don't understand. 

Suppose there is a school dance, and everyone shows up with their partner or date ...but you are there stag.  Wouldn't you want someone to hold and dance with??

Seeing that situation, you may even want to leave the dance ...feeling you are alone.  If you left the dance and went to a show ...let's say there were lots of flowers at the dance, but you went to a show where someone could produce flowers out of thin air.  

But, in this case, Adam was taken to a place where God was forming every sort of animal out of the ground ...and parading them before Adam to allow him to name them.

God said it was good, and we seem to struggle at times with that very definition of good.  King Saul felt he did a good job ...a very proud victory, but he was asked, "What is that bleating of the sheep I hear?"

We all are tempted to add our own ideas, or the ideas of others ...and it is often separate, or different from the way we are intended to do things. There are various and countless ways we are tempted to do things another way ...often clearly different than God's way.

We all have our weak and strong moments.  What if, at our weakest moment it was an occasion where we are tempted?  Many angels were tempted with Lucifer's offer ...and it was not necessarily one of those weak moments, but would rather seem like a clear decision.  But, I don't know ...maybe it was slightly different.  I don't think it had to be a choice of an outright rebellion.  It could have just begun with "Follow me".

We have a countless choices that appear very confusing at times, but Jesus simply said, "Follow me".  Yes, it begins that way ...and it can be simply wonderful, or simply horrific.  It all depends on who we follow.

I think that we often know after a while what choice we are making, though we may not know at the beginning.  The problem is, there is the concept of commitment ...part of being subject to peer pressure to stick with certain choices, and also the pride that goes along with not wanting to admit we were wrong. (http://congregateeducatepontificate.blogspot.com/)

In America, it seems we have a much wider diversion of choices ...not just a wider diversion between the haves and have nots, but between the choices we have.  We have been called the Land of Opportunity, but opportunity for what??


Dad and Mom tell me of their childhoods and of humble beginnings, times they were born into.  

"The Greatest Generation" is a term coined by journalist Tom Brokaw to describe the generation who grew up in the U.S. during the deprivation of the Great Depression, and then went on to fight in World War II, as well as those whose productivity within the war's home front made a decisive material contribution to the war effort.  In Tom Brokaw's 1998 book of the same name, he writes, "it is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced." He argued that these men and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the "right thing to do."

There are still many poor, but my generation has experienced possibly more loftiness than any other generation.  It comes to mind that many have gone this route on their way to failure. And the likes of Lucifer & company are still reaping the ultimate failure ...but, sadly for you and me many of our failures are deceptively portrayed as successes. 

I cannot see God waiting for millions of years (after the rebellion of the angels, as His next plan evolves), or even waiting thousands, or hundreds of years after that angelic divide before carrying out His plan for the Creation of man and woman.  I would have a hard time watching grass grow, yet I know God is more patient than me.  Yet again, God had a purpose ...and I believe that He didn't waste time letting the angels witness that He takes care of business.

Lucifer was thrown down to earth, and it was meant for him to be present to once again give a contrast of choice.  And God's righteousness made that necessary.


The Book of Romans, Chapter 3, verse 23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" ...and Romans 1:18-2:15 is much to comprehend.  First Corinthians 15:45, is best understood by two verses, in Genesis 2:7 (living soul) & 3:15, where God says He will put enmity between the serpent's seed and Eve's seed ...and this also explains why the genealogy is so important. Also Romans 5:12-21 brings much breath to how sin is imputed.   

Okay, I know I'm being repetitious ...but, I haven't organized these thoughts yet, or even thoroughly reviewed them.  I know I've said most of this before, but I'm quite sure I've brought some new into it. So, I'm going to put it here in small print, and hopefully organize and edit it at some future date.  But, here goes:

I guess that if you are an atheist, and you believe we do exist, evolution would primarily be at the center of your beliefs.  Yet, if you believe the absence of morality is not good for society, and we need law and order to curb bad things from happening …then why ignore the law and order that God has already set up.  Government is the institution of belief that is set up to govern our ways …and God has a very useful purpose for government in our lives.  Ideal government should set up ideas for better living …but, often under dictatorships, the 'better living' is only for an elite group and achieved by suppressing the freedoms of others. Nearly all of us would agree that we should be able to choose how we want to live, yet our choices affect and often conflict with what others choose. Life isn't quite like a movie theater, where we can just walk in and choose which drama or comedy we want to be in for that short period of time.  There are lifetime choices too ...and how many of us look at eternal lifetime choices?  Heaven is a much better living arrangement than what is left for those who choose not to agree with the program ...or with Who leads it.  

I will never tell you that you should believe in God because it is simply healthy for society. The definition of a healthy society is something that could be subject to change ...as society may change its definition of healthy.  Society should never be burdened ultimately with what is good for society, nor should it jump at the chance to do so (or burden us with it).  The real standard that should be followed is what we learn in the Bible from God (His Word) ...yet, it is difficult to follow God if you don't believe in the Bible (or only partially believe).

Evolution merely allows only for the introduction of things we cannot see, in ways we don’t understand, but claim to.  Yes, you could say faith in God is the same thing.  The question then is what we believe to be true ---selective science, or select verses from the Bible.  I don't believe solely on select verses in the Bible ...I believe in the entire Bible. 

Let's look at those who believe entirely upon evolution. Those persons of knowledge claim that hydrogen was the first element …then helium, lithium, beryllium, and deuterium.  Just before the so-called Big Bang, the universe was said to be very dense (even more dense than the proponents of those who claim it was dense).  And most of the claimed experts fail to mention the one element that is so significant in explaining our earth’s condition today ---yes, they mention helium, lithium, beryllium, and deuterium ---but, the most abundant element of all is delirium.  Such confused thinking and reduced awareness of God, has us panicking over the condition of things we have no real control over, at the expense of that which we do have control over …affecting our eternal environment.

Genesis 3:15 ---“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.”

God is speaking, and I believe most people believe that the serpent to whom He is speaking is Satan.  The woman who is there is clearly Eve …and it is not a separate sentence, so 'her seed' would seem to be still talking about Eve.  The ‘his’ heal is understood to be referring to ‘His’, as in Jesus.  Her seed is the ‘line’ of Jesus ...still 'her' seed.  

This statement appears to be two-fold, not only following accurately a genealogical 'line' to Jesus, but it also seems to require a bit more.  By no means does it require perfection for those leading up to Jesus (only He fits that requirement) ...but, it does show a desire to be His people, however imperfect.  

God talked to Cain, but Cain was not remotely interested in doing right.  Seth was the seed.  

And Esau and Jacob were quite a contrast also.  Genesis 25:23 has God telling Rebekah that she has two nations within her womb, and two manner of people.  Esau was the firstborn, and his dad, Isaac, seemed to want to follow what was tradition ...giving the firstborn the birthright. But, he also seemed a bit like my own family ...liking the venison.  It seemed Esau took it for granted ...and exaggerated a bit, stating he was going to die if he didn't eat right then.  Genesis 26: 34 &35 tell us more how Esau was not interested in the least in the 'manner of people' he was going to commit his life to. 

So, what is to be the seed of Satan? 

When Satan attempted to tempt Jesus after He fasted for forty days in the wilderness ---he told Jesus that he would give Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them ---if Jesus would just bow down and worship him.  Well, Satan may try to tempt Jesus, but he clearly couldn’t offer Him something unless it was under his control to offer.  The kingdoms of the world strive more after being just that ...worldly.  The Kingdom of God is something quite different.  It is within the heart of individuals.

Who are the sons of God??  I’ve read that Rabbinic Judaism mostly adheres to a belief that this reference is to the ‘line’.  The Book of Romans 8:14 refers those being led by the Spirit of God, as the sons of God.  And Galatians 3:26 states that through faith in Jesus, we can all become sons of God.  Yet, though we may say all those are referring to humans …what can be said of the Book of Job stating that the sons of God sang at Creation??

I don’t believe the fallen angels sang at Creation …so, there is also a distinction here where it differentiates those who follow God, and those who do not ---both with humans and angels.

If it is believed that the angels mated with humans, it would only be the fallen angels.  And if that was understood as the reason for the Flood …are we to assume those wayward angelic beings died in the Flood?  If the third of rebellious angels mated with humans, then they would have to take human form and would the humans know they were angels?  And would the angels take both male and female forms?  (The Bible doesn’t say that the daughters of God also saw the sons of men, that they were fair.)  That would have to be the case, or half the population of humans would be left out …and who would conclude that most all the humans were marrying those who were not human.

In the first few Books of the Bible, much is said about offerings and sacrifices.  Adam & Eve’s two sons, Cain and Abel, brought offerings.  We don’t know the details of the offerings, but it is clear that Cain did not put much into his offering.

But, let’s back up a bit …to before the births of their sons.

Adam & Eve stood alone in the Garden of Eden.  We may ask how much they both put into it, as they stood before God (their effort at obedience).  Yet, after their sin, they themselves were put into it.  They put their bodies into the skins that God provided as a covering.

Absolutely, God knows how much we put into what we do, and we often don’t put our whole selves into it.  When God points something out, it is true (like He did while conversing with Cain) …but, when people look at things, especially through comparison, it may not be an accurate picture, nor always healthy perspective.

Yet, we do need goals and standards …and we should look to Jesus.  We will inevitably fail or fall way short, but we need to persevere …not to achieve the level of any of the apostles of Jesus, but to mostly offer testimony to what He did, not us.  And Jesus points out our flaws for the purpose of our growth.  And we can often use an attitude adjustment.  In Mark 12:41-44 or Luke 21:1-4, we can see that Jesus was making a point to many in the room when He said the widow’s mite was more than anyone else had given.  It would be my guess that no one else would have seen it that way, until He pointed it out.  How easy or acceptable are our offerings?  How much do we put into what we do?  And how much does it have to do with keeping God foremost in our perspective?

Why was so much detail expected with the offerings and sacrifices that we read about in the Book of Leviticus?   Well, let’s look at our own military services.  We’ve likely heard the stories …or perhaps are among the honored who served and experienced.  Much strictness is upheld with the neatness of their beds …and also the seriousness of how they stand in line for uniform inspection.  One story tells of how the soldiers were asked to dig a hole 10 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet …then for seemingly no logical reason they are asked to then fill the hole back up.

It may seem senseless, but the purpose is discipline.

A farmer may have some mischievous sons.  He may give his sons so much do to …that they couldn’t possibly finish it all in one day, saying to himself, “That will keep them out of trouble!”.

The Book of Leviticus (and following Books) do much to explain detail …mostly the what aspect of it, not always the why.  And as Adam & Eve were not disciplined enough to not eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil …that’s when both the what & why were explained.  Adam clearly knew why …and God explained what would happen after that, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread”.

In the army, someone could die if you are not disciplined enough.  And because each of us are not disciplined enough not to sin, Jesus offered Himself, His sacrifice …by putting Himself out there for us, being crucified for our sake.  

                                                                                                                                          

There are difficult things to understand, and they certainly take much thought and careful discernment.  Just recently I was informed that there are those who say God is in favor of slavery ...and verses are cited from the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Philemon.  I think most of us know there is much fighting among peoples ...and I don't recall any generation where there has not been war somewhere on Earth.  War is ugly, and unforgiving ...and it is not often judged by who are considered right or wrong, as where is the right in killing?  When the United States of America was being settled, there was much injustice done to the natives living here.  The natives were often considered uncivilized ...with no thought of how they could be helped not be so, nor the thought perhaps that those labeling them uncivilized were actually being uncivilized themselves and the root of the problem.  Yet, wars ensued ...and each side looked at the other with more of a bias, and often deep-seated hatred.  In Old Testament times, if there were individuals who were spared death as a result of war ...it did not mean that all people believed they deserved to live.  Those who did live were often taken as servants (or 'slaves').  They were protected in this way, as they would likely be killed if they were released ...but, it would not be popular to kill the servant.  Also there were many laws on how to treat the servant (or slave), and penalties for those who mistreated a servant.  They also gave the servant a day of rest, as was required for all. 

Equally difficult to understand is when the Bible talks about vows in the 30^th Chapter of Numbers …and we see the dreaded results of mismanagement in the eleventh Chapter of Judges, with Jephthah’s vow. I have no real idea what Jephthah was thinking.  I know we can't get so enthused that we look often to pattern our lives in ways that were not to be ours. There are things we should all attempt to do, but other things were presented to certain individuals in unique circumstances ...intended only for them by God.  As was the case with Abraham, when God asked him to sacrifice his son ...while having a ram in the thicket the entire time.  Yes, we see that God sent His own Son to sacrifice willingly His life.  We should never put ourselves in the position that Jephthah did. How often do we not truly understand, and overstep our bounds??

And especially the 5^th Chapter of Numbers, really threw me …concerning the dealings with jealousy.  It just didn’t seem right, until I realized that the woman was often stoned to death. 

Leviticus 20:10 “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

Considering that she (back to the 5th Chapter of Numbers) could likely be judged unjustly, I was able to look at it as not condemnation towards her, but more often it could be freeing her from being wrongly stoned.  Of course, we look to Jesus, as he addressed the situation as “he who is without sin, cast the first stone”.  Clearly, each time a woman is accused in this situation, a man is also at fault.  How anyone could be so detached and insensitive to killing …that is so disturbing. (And yes, again, I'm going to mention this once again.  Many people are tired of hearing the debate about abortion, yet, in the Old Testament, it was not just if she became pregnant ...it was the act that could lead to a pregnancy that was severely considered wrong.  Yes, they were like all people during any time in history, looking for ways to get around their own laws ...and yes, there was prostitution.  But, promiscuity was not looked at so lightly as it is today.  We all know that people do not uphold standards ...but, the standards should still be there.

Some people say they don’t watch the news on TV because it’s too negative …so they turn the TV off.  Though it may be good to take breaks from watching so much TV, we should not also turn off our minds and our hearts.

It could be asked why some killing is frowned upon and others we attempt to justify. There are always difficult considerations. Do we understand why during World War II, we bombed two Japanese cities?  We can merely say we are against war, but it’s not that easy.  We were already in the war …and in it to stop the war.  I know there will be scoffers.  In our own communities, how easy is it to say we are against crime, while opposing many of the police officers who attempt to curb it?  Crime is not easy to deal with …and it’s worse when it reaches the scale of war. Wish as we may that it not be that way …people do die.  Yet, in view of eternity, which death is worse …the first, or eternal death??

Yes, this does require much thought …all of which we fall short on, yet God has it all thoroughly considered, and precisely carried out.  At times we may wonder why God doesn’t intervene in a way we wish He would.  That we may not quite understand, but what we should foremost understand is that Jesus did intervene in the biggest way, giving His own life, so we can have eternal life.

When I worked at Fairlawn Center, the children’s division of what was initially called the Mental Institution, they mainly looked at two things: the child, and the child’s environment.

Most of us would agree that the primary influence in a child’s environment is both the parents of the child.  Though too many false conclusions can be drawn (often are), based upon assumptions …and there is also much emotional investment, sadly with unpleasant confrontation too often steeped within blame-shifting and deflecting guilt.  Instead of helping either parent or child, the risk is always present that they could withdraw from the program.  It is very difficult to both support and redirect.  So, instead of treating the assumed source of the problem, the result is addressed, mostly by prescribing medication and/or legal drugs.  And the problem is often diagnosed as a chemical imbalance.

This 2020 presidential campaign is filled with the politics of how best to solve our problems.  Whether sincere or not, at least some mention is made as to the need to improve our educational system, health care, and our neighborhoods.  [I’ve never been to New York City …no, I’m not a big city person.  But, I don’t understand how those who want guns taken away, are against ‘Stop & Frisk’ which took guns away. Maybe to avoid a bias, large cities could set up checkpoints like at the airport …which stops and frisks everyone.]  Though I doubt that would encourage business.

I digress …so, back to our countries biggest problems.  Climate Change is not even in the top ten.  It may be #1 for some people …but, let’s look at this with facts.  In 1988, testimony was given before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to the effect that global warming was a real threat.  That was over 30 years ago, but the real boost in interest seemed to come after Vice-President Al Gore’s failed attempt at the presidency.  A half dozen years after that, a movie documentary, ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ was released along with many speaking engagements by Al Gore …continuing to promote fear of global warming.  But, soon afterwards we had a quite cold winter …and the summer wasn’t that warm either. Initially, those facts were explained away by stating there would be intermittent spikes in temperature in the opposite direction, but no one seemed to mention that just a decade before that, there were those in the scientific community who were exploring the possibility that our earth was going through a period of global cooling. The current alarm over how we are at a near point of extinction comes to us by the name of Climate Change. 

 If you read how Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos have been investing, you may want to jump on board the concept of traveling to Mars.  The late great Stephen Hawking made it sound inevitable that we would have to colonize Mars.  Without a doubt that would affect my and your children …but, our teenage and young adult sons don’t believe in this.  Our oldest said that if we ruined Earth’s atmosphere (which by the way, he does not believe will happen), then Earth would still be more feasible to build the domes, with the resources here and no interplanetary shipping charges.

Yes, at Fairlawn Center most every person was on medication …and we treat the planet the same way, as if its chemical imbalance is the most significant problem. And the panic narrows the confrontation to mostly large businesses.  And yes, they should be monitored to guarantee they are abiding by clean water and clean air standards, but Flint, Michigan’s water fiasco had nothing to do with Climate Change.  In that case it was a chemical imbalance of sorts in the water supply due to negligence that would not affect climate. 

How about the air?  Well, some have said for years that cow gas is destroying the environment …others even saying that vegetarian would be the way to go. Well, I’ve turned 65 at the beginning of this year. And health experts say that a change in diet helps longevity of life.  So, eating more fruits and vegetables while minimizing my intake of meat may work towards fewer cows and less cow gas.  And conveniently, I also like goat’s milk.  The problem is, eating more fruits and vegetables gives me more gas.  And that would be me affecting my immediate environment, and anyone unfortunate to be within close proximity to me.

I digress again, and again …but, the climate change that disturbs me the most is the moral climate affecting the fabric of our society.  There is never a lack of ideas …only of good ideas.  And today a disturbingly large number of us think that what we think, our ideas and values, should reside upon the throne of acceptance, whether detrimental or not.  We can have (and should have) polite and respectful dialogue …but, we should also consider that within our Constitution is the freedom of speech, yet, implied should also be the responsibility to listen.  And foremost, I believe we should listen to the Word of God.  Yes, we should also listen to the point of views of others …but, in our best spirit of loving one another. 

The 21^st Chapter of the Book of Revelation begins with: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and women, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

We don’t destroy the earth …it ends when God wants it to.  And who would not celebrate with no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain??   There are people who don’t believe this.  Because I do believe the Bible, I don’t believe I need to concern myself with Climate Change.  God created this place for us, and it will sustain us for as long as it’s supposed to …and no, our next residence is not going to be Mars, it will be the new Jerusalem, with Him …or someplace without Him.

Yes, it would be best to live with Him now.   If we want to be with Him later, why wouldn’t we want to be with Him now??

We know many of the answers to the questions of the pandemic: What, Where, & Why ...but, not When it will be over. With Jesus, we know when ...nearly 2000 years ago; Calvary is the answer to 'where'; crucified is 'what' they did to Him; and we know most of 'why' they did it. And I think most of us know 'why' He allowed it, when we know He could have stopped it ...yes, to die for our sins. There are many 'why's and 'what if's in our lives. Why couldn't God just put us in Heaven? Wouldn't most of us know better now, to not do things like eat the fruit off the tree when we're asked not to?? No, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Politically, if we just spend more money on education and give everyone a job ...a job that they like, and one that's easy. Wouldn't everyone be good if the environment they lived in was good (and I don't just mean clean water & clean air)? Yes, the way we are brought up and are allowed to grow matters tremendously ...but, with a great environment, one third did not go the right way. I'm speaking of the angels ...how could that large a percent go so wrong when they had so much?? Well, a large percentage of us could go wrong too. Education is important, but sadly negligible if not including God. And our environment needs to be clean ...with at least attempts to make it morally clean. Evolution with its 'survival of the fittest' is without compassion & hope, without true purpose, and riddled with misdirection. Our heavenly Father watched as His Son was tortured and crucified ...willingly, so there could be a righteous separation. So there could be a place where goodness did not have to share an orb with wickedness. If we want to follow God into eternity, shouldn't we sincerely choose and attempt to follow Him on earth??? So many questions ...yet, the answer is 'Jesus' for our blessed hope.

Genesis 1:29 ---And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Genesis 2:15 ---And God took the man, and put him in the garden.

Genesis 2:17 ---the man is told not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good & evil, or he will surely die.

Genesis 2:19 ---And God brought the animals to Adam to see what he would name them.

Genesis 2:23 ---“ …she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.”

Genesis 2:24 ---therefore a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and the two shall be one flesh.

Genesis 3:15 ---“ …enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.”

Genesis 3:20 ---Adam called his wife Eve …because she was the mother of all living; 3:22 ---man knows good & evil, so now, so he doesn’t take and eat of the tree of life and live forever; 3:23 ---God sent them out from the garden. Where does the tree of life appear next?  (When God was sending them out from the garden, it was also said that God provided a covering/clothes.  How much did they understand at this point?  They understood the husband/wife part of 2:24; a covering shows a redemption and perhaps a hope that God is providing, still working with them and guiding them.  All hope was not lost, was it?  Did they understand the difference between the death of sin, yet the life of hope?  Did God only give direction not to eat the one fruit, then gave them no more direction …except the direction out of the garden?)

If you've not yet read my reasons, I must say I believe there is good reason to believe that in the first Chapter of Genesis, when it says God created male and female humans, in His image (verse 27), and said they could eat from all the trees …that God created many men and women outside the garden, and he also created Adam outside the garden.  I believe it is not going to far to think this.  Suppose when the animals were created that it mentioned ‘dogs’, then God could have formed Lassie in a special way and placed her in the garden. God formed Adam, and put him in the garden …as a special consideration, and gave him a restriction that was not given to the others, to not eat the fruit of one tree.

And it doesn’t take too much thought to think that God’s expectation for Adam & Eve when they were sent from the garden, was to tell the others outside the garden there …to tell them about God, how they were given a place of paradise, but through their own misguided emotions they were sent out from that paradise …yet, there is a paradise waiting for all who believe.  Yes, that may be a stretch, but that has always been God’s goal, for us to tell others.  The great commission given by Jesus to the apostles, was for them to go and tell others about Him.  Of course, it would seem more effective to tell people who’ve clearly seen sin all around them, that Someone loved them so much that He died for them.  The message of Adam & Eve saying they messed up once and were thrown out, may not be as effective.  Much was to be learned.  And perhaps it was a bit difficult for sons and daughters to find suitable spouses from an unbelieving group, so …anyway, let’s go to the horrific tragedy of Cain killing Abel.

Genesis 4:1 ---says Adam had relations with his wife, and that’s talking about Cain being born.  It is very understandable to think Adam and Eve perhaps didn’t want to have children for some time after that horrific event of one son killing the other.  Down in verse 25, it says, "and Adam had relations with his wife again" ---and Seth was born. Yet, how much hope did Adam and Eve really have?  And how difficult would it even be to interact with other people?  Perhaps it took some time for Seth to find a wife, perhaps near 100 years …yet, at age 105, we see that Seth had a son.   When Seth found a wife, perhaps Adam and Eve waited to see how that would work, maybe not celebrating too much inwardly ...yet.  I likely was a 'wait-and-see' situation.  Yet, when that son of their son was born …the appearance of a grandson, what joy that likely brought!  We know how we feel when a grandson or granddaughter is born.  And besides, what tells me that it happened in this case also …well, it says in Genesis 4:26, that then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Adam & Eve sent out from the garden, then one of their sons kills the other …it wouldn’t be hard to understand their not telling others about God, when they couldn’t even feel it within themselves. 

Now, many of you many think I am mentioning things that are not true …so, let me make a few points at this time:

An argument from incredulity is if I say something is false (not agreeing with what so many others believe) because it contradicts my personal expectations, beliefs, or because it’s difficult to imagine.  Well, I believe that whatever God has done I have no objection to …it is only that I perhaps object a little to what others believe God has done.  I have a Pastor and Assistant pastor who both encourage me to read my own Bible, and I don’t believe I’m saying anything that is not there …any more or less than others who have told me differently. Yet, I hesitate to share what insight I've gained, as I prefer thorough discussion while studying His Word.  This subject curiously does not seem to be a favorite of many, so I feel that study has not had adequate opportunity to do it justice.  Though, as I continue to study it myself, I don’t believe God faults me for being interested in this aspect of His Word.

An argument from ignorance is if I say something is true because it hasn’t been proven false; or something is false because it hasn’t been proven true.  Well, I don’t think that proofs are the basis of my faith.  Proofs change, God doesn’t.   Around the time of Christopher Columbus, many people thought the world was flat (some still do), but now we believe the earth is a sphere which rotates while revolving around the sun.  But, I believe that if God wanted to flatten us, he could.  And I don't believe all of our existence should revolve around us.  Others may challenge believers in God, asking for us to prove God exists.  I never say, "prove that He doesn’t" …though that should be fair, given their challenge.

An argument from authority is if I state my claim by referring to a respected authority on a topic, and insist that is sufficient evidence to support my argument.  Yes, I believe evolutionists do this all the time …and I could play the game of “my dad is stronger than your dad”, or “my authority’s argument is stronger than your authority’s argument”.  I can list the name of James Tour, who is on the top ten list of scientists in the world if we are having a conversation about Creation or the evolution of life.  And to me, I look to him as a respected authority.  Does that mean you should respect what he says also.  Well, I think if we are talking science, we should listen to one who knows science.  If you don’t know if he knows science …then listen to him first, before deciding.

An argument from silence is if I express my conclusion or opinion based on the absence of historical documents, rather than their presence.  Yes, I have been accused of this …yet, this is not what I’m trying to do.  Yes, this is my opinion …and yes, I’m looking at what it says in the Bible.  Am I drawing different conclusions …yes, I am, but I believe I am not stretching what I read as far as what I believe has already been stretched too far.  The church itself for many years didn’t have the Bible written in the language people could read, and the leaders seemed to prefer it that way.  They wanted to interpret it for us, and that is precisely what they did.  And they did it in areas that were advantageous for them to use the argument from silence, they used the argument from authority, and they assumed we all would have no argument because of our ignorance.

My stretch is in saying ‘the mother of all living’ was their understanding of future generations …not so much unlike Abraham being ‘the father of many nations’ …promised in Genesis 17:4-5.   And also it seems clear that they knew about relationships …’a man leaving his father and mother, and cleaving to his wife’. 

This next discourse is not Biblical:

Adam & Woman ate the fruit, and then rather quickly panicked.

Woman: Quick, we better hide!”

Adam: I think I heard Him.

Woman: No, that was a squirrel.

Adam: I know He’s here.

Woman: What do you think He’ll say; it’s going to be one of those …those ‘what-you-call-it’ moments?

Adam: You mean He’s going to say, “I told you so!”?

Woman: No, it was you who told me that …no, He’s probably going to say we’re going to die now.

Adam: Let’s wait and see.

Woman: So, it’s going to be one of those ‘wait-and-see’ situations?  No, He said if we ate the fruit, we were going to die.  We ate it, now we are going to die!

Adam: Too bad we didn’t think of all this before.

Woman: Well, that talking reptile sounded so believable …maybe we can just say we thought it was Him, mascara-ing …playing a joke on us.

Adam: Mascara-ing?  Now you’re scaring me.  Isn’t mascara something you put around your eyes?

Woman: Well, that serpent put something on my eyes …made me imagine something.

Adam: Something that wasn’t there …something imagined.  Though something that is there, like too much mascara …is like mask scare-a whole bunch of people.  But, I think you meant masquerading. You are right though …the joke is on us now, but I don’t think He was joking.

Woman: Neither do I, now …that’s why we are hiding, right?

Then He does speak to them …Adam, Woman, and the reptile. And they listen closely, but Adam and Woman later admit to each other that they are still a bit confused.

Afterwards Woman says to Adam: “He didn’t say anything about us dying. We are still alive, are we not …does that make any sense?

Adam: I’ll ask Him on our way out.

Woman: No, don’t say anything …maybe He forgot.”

(God doesn’t masquerade or play jokes on us.  And He doesn’t forget.  But, He forgives.  He likely explained that they weren’t just going to die now.  He would give them hope and show them that they were special …and help them understand true life, eternal life.  Would He also tell them that the message to the serpent of ‘her seed’ would not be the path to death, but of ‘living’?

Woman: Did you hear that?  I’m the mother of all living!”

Adam: Yes, Eve.

Eve: I like that name.

Over six thousand years later, I am sincerely and seriously taking a look at all this.  I was raised in the southwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan ...and I still consider myself a Yooper.  Dad owned 40 acres of land adjacent to land his brother owned, and also adjacent to friends. Walks in the woods were some of my favorites.  And I remember lying down on the bank of a creek to get a refreshing cold drink of water ...then walking a short ways upstream, and seeing a rotting animal carcass in the creek. Well, at least we avoided the stagnant waters with that greenish layer teeming with microorganisms, and insects swarming at the surface.  If someone said living water, I would have thought of this ...as living in the water, or growing on the surface.

Back around two thousand years earlier, Jesus spoke of something below the surface when he met the woman at the well ...something much deeper than what she was considering. Jesus told her that He was the living water.  Everyone walking around there was living, and everyone needed water to survive ...to live.  But, Jesus was talking about a quite different type of living.

And in a different, yet somewhat similar way, I believe Eve was led to understand a clearer meaning. Whatever she knew about God, she knew more now.  To follow God ...had to have a deeper meaning for her. She would now lead in the right direction ---and be the mother of all living ---of all those who choose to live the way God intends them to live.  Having hidden in the garden, the previous focus may have been on death, but upon leaving the Garden of Eden, they had the promise of a new paradise ...a hope to share with others, so they could live anew also.

Yes, being sent from the garden, can anyone assume that God did not give Adam & Eve hope and direction?  Would they be explained the hope of eternal life …where they will return to paradise, also having the tree of life there?  Would they be told of a coming Messiah?

But, with that hope, where would hope go after one son kills the other?  Would Eve again feel more like the mother of all that seems not alive?  Furthermore, wouldn’t that explain why hope went underground (literally) with the death of one son and the banishment of the other?  Could a parent ever get over that?  How long before they could emotionally heal somewhat …and have hope with another son?  And even then, how could they be sure that things would be right.  It wasn't clear to them the seriousness of what was going on within Cain ...or they could have attempted to do something about it. When Seth eventually marries, would that work out?  Well, it seemed a grandson helped return a good deal of hope, at which point they again began to call upon the name of God.

Now, the other stretch (which I’m not on board with) would require incest.  And the answer I hear is merely about the gene pool being safe back then …as if there were not other problems with incest.  Was incest monitored or regulated?  At what age would it take place, or did anyone really concern themselves with age limits?  I don’t believe any age would have been, or has ever been acceptable …but, it would help explain Genesis 6:5, “ …that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  But, wouldn’t this all begin as a result of what God left them no means to avoid?  What choice did they have?  It's true that God told them to multiply and replenish the earth.

I accept whichever truth it is, but I see nothing solid to convince me it was this way.  God could have allowed us to be wild, then in time decide to domesticate us.  But, I prefer to believe that God set the standard first ---a man cleaving to his wife (not sister), and then things went astray because of sin.

What has led us to believe what we presently believe?  I don’t think we can honestly say it is solely the Bible that has help form all our beliefs.  I have already explored this, but I’m still on the other point.

The Bible doesn’t say that Cain was already married when he killed his brother.  And to think his wife (or sister) had to be banished with him.  And yes, it is another stretch to explain why he was afraid someone was going to kill him.  If he was mentally ill, and thought imaginary people were after him, then Genesis 4:15 makes no sense …as God wouldn’t play along with a delusion.  Cain goes to the land of Nod, and it is described in surprising detail of people and their talents.  It shows an intelligent people …and up to this point Eve was the only woman mentioned by name, but here we see Adah, Zillah, and Naamah mentioned.

But, back to Adam & Eve, when Seth was born it was as if they had left off with relations with each other of this intimate sort for who knows how long …and then the word ‘again’ introduces Seth.  Yet, it isn’t until Seth’s child, their grandson, comes along when Seth is 105 years old …that they began to call upon the name of God.

And if you ignore Eve’s future hope of ‘her seed’, then it’s difficult to see sons of God marrying daughters of men …and you could miss ‘her seed’ as being a genealogy line to Jesus with Adam being the first man in the ‘line’ and Jesus the last.  Yes, this very important statement …yes, a statement by God, to the serpent, of her seed.  Adam did contribute, as the first man ---and Jesus, the last man, had only a virgin chosen to carry our Savior ---the One to crush the serpent’s head.

Yes, we’ve had conversations concerning those on remote tropical islands with no contact with the outside world who have never heard of the Bible, or what it says.  The Book of Romans says, 1:20, that there is no excuse.  And Romans 3:23, states that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  Romans 5:12-15, also shows how sin is always present, whether it is defined or not.  Sin is separation from God, and it sort of a direction we go.  God wants us all to come to Him, and draws us through His Spirit.  If we don’t acknowledge that leading, we are separating ourselves from Him …and that is sin.

We all seek affirmation.  Sadly, affirmation often means agreement …and often agreement brings us to that lofty place high above mere affirmation, to something even more coveted …acceptance. The sad part comes in when the agreement is not healthy.

Acceptance should not be wholly based upon agreement.  With five children, when they were young, I recall the three boys having to sleep in one bedroom (when I was a child, there were six of us, and the five of us boys slept in one bedroom, with a triple bunk bed and one double bed).  But, back to our three boys, …early on, one of them didn’t like to be hot, so during the night (instead of shedding the security blanket) he’d open the window wide.  That was particularly unpopular on a cold winter night …but, thankfully all the children got along fairly well, and I remember many blankets, quilts, and comforters as the solution on a winter night ---instead of an argument.

So, we have acceptance without agreement in a healthy environment.  Our son who didn’t like hot, would take a water bottle on a bike ride or to the ball field …and would drink a portion of the water, and the rest he’d pour over his head.

But, sometimes not being in agreement is unhealthy.  What if a young child is told a stove is hot …and he concludes it is only as hot as a hot summer day.  If he’s not quite in agreement about the stove, what happens top the ‘affirmation-agreement-acceptance’?  He may get ‘a firm’ scolding for not ‘agree’-ing to obey, and you may need the hospital to ‘accept’ him.   

Often we don’t like the word ‘obey’, and we prefer to think of loving guidance.  And many of us judge the controlling parent that is bent on obedience?  Could it be that at least part of the problem is with who is receiving the instruction, and their attitude towards being taught instruction?

God uses various ways to deal with us …so, can we clearly see it is not His wisdom and His way which is the problem, but our failure to accept His way and what He says?  Adam & Eve were given the obedience directive …and Cain was given guidance and instruction by God.  Neither worked very well, but it wasn’t God’s doing …it was their fault, and today it is ours.  Cain was likely not ignored by the one who tempted his mom …and we also have to choose which voice we listen to.

I recall stories that my parents have told me.  Mom tells me of how her dad did deliveries for a bakery, owned and run by his older half-brother, Paul.  A man came in to have a cup of coffee …he couldn’t afford a doughnut because he was going through rough times.  He was given a doughnut anyway, and a substantial amount of money (whatever substantial was at that time) to help him get by for the next few weeks.  In return, the gentleman showed his gratefulness by giving Paul a secret recipe for doughnuts.  Every day before going to work, Paul would mix up the secret recipe and carry it to work with him.  Everyone said that Paul had the best doughnuts they had ever tasted …but, he never told of the secret recipe that he mixed at home.

Dad also told stories of how neighbors would all get together for barn raising.  And if someone was having difficulty getting their crops in, everyone would finish up their necessary chores, but before doing more they would all get together to help the neighbor.  Even Grandpa’s dog herded the widow’s cows in from neighboring fields before herding Grandpa’s cows home.

And though those are great examples, what about current times?  How about today? Well, every time a disaster or tragedy happens we can read of great things people do to come to the aid of those most in need.  Likewise, with this present pandemic, many people are doing great things.  We should be especially grateful to the police, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and doctors …and I know we could all add more to this list.  And yes, we should be thankful for all those working to supply all of us with our everyday needs.

Yet, in a few months there will be something happening that doesn’t seem to help us much to work together.  And yes, this is getting back to the ‘affirmation-agreement-acceptance’.  I’m talking about the political drama in an election year.

The history of politics is much misunderstood.  Near the mid-19^th century we had a party called the Whigs, who were after the ones who actually wore wigs.  Today, the trend is more to ‘wig out’. 

How many people know that the Democratic-Republican party was one of the first parties in our country …and the opposition was the Federalists??  The party split later on, and today we mainly have the two parties.  In my lifetime, there often wasn’t much difference between the political views of the two parties.

When our country was first founded, the biggest political battle in deciding on the Constitution was representation …somewhat like it was a problem during their struggle with England.  The larger states and the smaller states disagreed upon representation.  The solution was Congress, made up of both the Senate (equally two per state) and the House of Representatives (according to the population of the state).

Yes, economics is often directly related to ‘big’ …whether big city, big business, or big shots (common label, though not always fairly).  People have always seemed to have an inclination to represent things unfairly and inaccurately …pardon me, if I’m doing the same, but it seems the biggest difference between today’s parties is not what it used to be.  The growing divide has been an issue of morality …or the lack of it.

The emotional impact of me saying that may not help minimize the divisiveness that seems forever present.  It seems problematic to me that we view morality much the same as we view truth …ever changing, and what we want it to be.

I believe in God, and not evolution.  And yes, I don’t just believe it …as I want to believe it.  But, I’m not satisfied with just that …as I am interested in truth.  If you want me to take you on a tour of facts about the beginnings of life ---well, I can’t do that.  But, Mr. Tour can …and a good friend gave me a link to James Tour’s explanation of life from a scientific point of view, which sadly most evolutionists fall short on.  I’ll let him take you down that path.  I also watched a video of someone opposing what James Tour said, but it had no real substance and mostly spent the whole time just ridiculing senselessly. 

I want you to know that I’m here to also take whatever criticism you want to give. I like the quote from Margaret Thatcher: 'I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.'

We will hear many arguments this election year about how we need to throw money at education, housing, etc.  And yes, those are very important, but when talking about things like education, we are sadly negligible in giving our children the building blocks  needed to grow a person.

I understand why many feel they should not teach about God in schools, as likely we would be obliged to give equal time to teach about other gods …to me, false gods. But, in fairness, why are we teaching false science …in teaching evolution.  In order to teach about life, we’d have to have an extraordinary understanding of the exactness of cell structure and development. As of yet, I've not read anything that convinces me that evolution is anything but absurd.  Stars, supernovas, and atoms combining are not even on the same level as a living cell ...and it is not possible to sell me on it either.