"Where am I?" and important information from AiG

>> Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hello y'all!

I just wanted to pop in and let you know why my silence has been so deafening.    The computer I normally work on is down and has been down for awhile, so I haven't been able to spend much time on blog things.   I am sure that this is anything but crushing to you, but now you know anyway. :-)    

I have been tempted to blog on political matters since they don't take as much time but I know I am on overload with politics and I am guessing most of you are too.   So, I have stayed away from politics.  Now that you know what's up with my silence, I do have something to share that I found extremely interesting (and important) and thought you might as well.   

While reading my email this morning, the headline of an email from AiG Answers in Genesis) caught my eye.  I opened it and followed the link, leading to the video on "Cloning, Stem Cells, and the Value of Life."   I have pasted the link below.  Please watch it if you can. It contains vital information!

http://www.answersingenesis.org/media/video/ondemand/cloning-stem-cells/cloning-stem-cells-value-of-life

Veritas Supra Omnis!

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Russia: the old bear

>> Thursday, October 9, 2008

I have been doing a lot of reading about Russia lately courtesy of Paul Johnson's "Modern Times" but so far the bulk of my study has been limited to the early days of Soviet Russia.   In an effort to know a little about an appropriate policy to pursue in regards to Russia, I have been doing some study on the internet.   Most of the stuff I have found isn't worth relaying, but I found this particular article to be very insightful.  It confirmed some things I have already been thinking about and offered an opinion not very commonly propagated.  
 
Basically, when evaluating a true communist or socialist country you have to keep in mind that both communism and socialism are self-destructive.  Eventually they will eat themselves from the inside out, but before they come to that point they are usually an extremely formidable opponent because all their efforts are very focused and nationalized.   When the Soviet Union collapsed, America didn't have as much to do with it as we like to think.   Mostly our policies helped to hasten their demise, it didn't bring it about.
 
Today, Russia is somewhat rejuvenated but still a far cry from what they used to be.   When formulating Russian policy we can't underestimate their strength or course, but nor can we over-estimate it and that seems to be what we are doing.  Russia may still be a bear, but it is a very old bear and its strength is greatly diminished.  Unless they make some serious changes that I highly doubt they will make, Russia will continue to fade.  The article in question lays out reasons for why Russia isn't the bear we are used to thinking of it as.
 
 
Enjoy and Veritas Supra Omnis!
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100301976.html 

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Some questions pertaining to authority

>> Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Hello all!

 Well, I wanted my first post to be an article that I have been working on about the acceptability of women serving in the civil sphere (I would prefer to open with a less controversial subject but that just happens to be what I have been working on) but the "editing process" is taking longer than I would prefer, unfortunately.   But, the good news is, once the process is completed it will no doubt be better reading.  ;-)   For the time being I have a couple of questions I would like to ask along with a few scattered thoughts to throw out.   I don't necessarily expect answers since I know all of you are busy, so few or no responses won't bother me, but there's no harm in asking them so why not? 

 Anyway, here are the questions.

 First: Do you believe that parental ever ceases to exist?  Or, rephrasing the question, does there come a time in a parent/child relationship when there is a total break in the authority structure?

 If you have time to answer the question, what I am looking for as a response is mostly just yes or no, a few verses to consider and maybe an article you have read that provides insight.   

 Second: Do you believe we as a culture fundamentally misunderstand the biblical concept of earthly spiritual authority?   

 If you have time to answer this I am looking for basically the same things as I am for the first question.  Nothing complicated or time consuming, just some ideas and leads.  

 Why am I asking these questions?   Because, as I speak to more young people about matters having to do with authority it seems to be pretty evident that even within the conservative church there is something about our understanding of authority that doesn't rectify complete authority, practically speaking (as in a parent's authority over a five year old) and shepherding (as in a parent discipling and shepherding an older teenage child who is of the age that it needs to be taking more direct responsibility for the specific direction of their lives).   For some reason, we seem to only think of authority in terms of "ruling" and even oppression. That causes tremendous tension between parents, who are afraid of losing their mode of influence in their childs life (their authoritative rule, if you will) and the child who doesn't want to be "ruled," who instead desires some amount of freedom.

 When I look at biblical earthly authority, more than "ruling" (ultimate authority) I see nurturing and discipleship that is relative to the needs of those being discipled.   Ultimately the the aim of non secular God ordained authority is to lead in obedience and teach.   For parents they are to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and for church leaders to see to the more specific needs of their flock.  Because of all our thoughts of authority meaning to rule we lose the focus on relaying and teaching.  But, I am now rambling.  

 Anyway, if you would like to tune in with some thoughts and some answers to the above questions I would be most appreciative.   I think this is an incredibly important issue that is not always dealt with to the extent that it bears dealing with.     Headship (authority) is meant to be a beautiful thing and effective in it's task (surprise!), but if our understanding is faulty it loses it's beauty and effectiveness.   So, I have been studying the issue.   Hopefully when I am done I will have all the answers I need to have.   It's a more difficult study then I was anticipating though, and I am having to process and organize a lot of new information. :-)

 

 Btw, if you do have some thoughts you would like to share then it would be great for you to post them here as a comment (they will of course have to be approved, not that I don't trust you of course) but email is also great so choose your method.  My email for those who don't know is texancellist@hotmail.com.

 Veritas Supra Omnis!

 

-Mark

 

P.S.  Sorry for getting off on a less than stellar foot here on the blog.   Some things just don't start the way you wish they would. :-)

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Hello and Introduction

>> Thursday, October 2, 2008

Hello! My name is Mark Hutchins and I wanted to take a moment to tell you a few things about me and my intentions for this blog.

First: I am a young evangelical home-schooled guy who has many opinions, loves to debate and discuss a wide range of issues (politics, culture, economics, practical theology, organics, coffee, you name it). But I am acutely aware of my shortcomings in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Part of the reasoning for starting this blog is to get my thoughts out and hopefully receive feedback that will help me to grow both in knowledge, understanding, and presentation.

Second: pursuant to my personal desire to grow in wisdom and understanding, I would like to do what I can to spread truth as I know it. I won't always be right on everything, but that doesn't and shouldn't keep me or anybody else from proclaiming truth as we know it. I believe our culture is not one that values truth in any sphere of life, preferring moral relativism. Moral relativism is a disease, directly contrary to God's word and deadly.

My motto is "Veritas Supra Omnis" which in essence means "above all truth," or "truth above all." My desire for my my life and my blog is above all to live and proclaim the truth of God's word, esteeming above all else that which I know to be truly honoring and obedient to God and His revealed Word.

This blog will not be confined to lofty spiritual matters. I love the nitty-gritty of politics and am just as likely to post about the state of the presidential and congressional races from a purely editorial perspective as I am to post on a theological matter, perhaps more so. Sometimes I might post about something that has happened in my life. We’ll just have to see, but for now I hope you understand where I am coming from and what my ultimate aim is.

I pray that I will be faithful in holding to these principles and that through my faithfulness God will be glorified. Comments, whether they be assenting or dissenting, are welcome.

God bless and veritas supra omnis!





Mark

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