Some almost random thoughts...
It's good for Americans to read the Book of Mormon because it's an insightful piece of literature. It prompts the reader to confront issues of social justice at the same time as encouraging investigations of archeology with respect for the sacredness of artifacts. That is not a wholesale endorsement of the dogma of the Mormons, however. The Mormons are capable of speaking for themselves, that one doesn't need to promote Joseph Smith as a prophet to appreciate what may or may not be a genuine account of Jesus Christ in America. It's very possible that even if Joseph Smith was perfectly honest about the discovery of mysterious plates, he could have translated the "Reformed Egyptian" language incorrectly. But, even that is worthwhile to consider in this age of information, the era of computer languages and such, that the very nature of symbolism, metaphor, parables, allegories, and all kinds of abstract concepts ought to be studied. Comparing the modern/post-modern ways to the ancient ways is just good science.
Perhaps the same could be said of Nostradamus.
There's a time in my life I felt an itch to write a book about computability theory and the mound builders, but I was reading the news one day and there was a story about some ISIS terrorist destroying the shrine of the prophet Jonah. I don't know what truth is in the news media, if any, but without the ability of other researchers to visit Jonah, there's no way for my claims to be scrutenized, and that's heartbreaking. To ask what does the ideal universal machine have to do with some earthworks, and then to ask what those things have to do with a story in the Bible about a pigeon swallowed by a fish, well maybe that's just something I should take with me to the grave. In other words, as we say in my country, with God all things are possible; there's no reason to believe that America never existed before 1492.
Beyond that, in my humble opinion, I doubt this world is prepared for my inventions. Experience has proven that to me, these people would destroy themselves with attempts at weaponizing powers they can hardly comprehend. I am a fool to think that the children from "Lord of the Flies" could ever handle certain things, and for that I'll forever be seeking God's forgiveness. All my other sins, which are plenty, are rather small next to the unspeakable graven image. If anyone can tell me truthfully why God would put this into my heart I would be thankful to know. Perhaps it goes without saying so, what's done in the darkness is brought into the light, that I am incapable of keeping scientific knowledge a secret forever. It's just that I'm to the point now where I can not explain it without Jesus Christ, which is to say, without at least some basic faith in and understanding of the Word then all is lost to the devil's workshop.
Therefore I am defeated by Messiah in my own desire for glory.
To be easy going, to get along with others, all it takes are the words "please" and "thank you", but have we earned them? Because days are numbered, and so time is limited, so much of life is wasted on contentions. The process of habituation, demoralization, and radicalization that happens on the Internet social media machines, the behaviors of people gone deep into the political system where they're no longer trying to make sense to each other in friendship. No, instead it's about verbally or physically abusing each other, to bully the opposition into submission. Democrats only seek to pass laws to hurt Republicans and vice-versa, and they dare call it love. It's disgusting, and so I have a mind to shut Heaven and bring the United States to an ultimate conclusion. Let us pray, amen?
Nah, I don't have the heart to be so cruel.
It's good for Americans to read the Book of Mormon because it's an insightful piece of literature. It prompts the reader to confront issues of social justice at the same time as encouraging investigations of archeology with respect for the sacredness of artifacts. That is not a wholesale endorsement of the dogma of the Mormons, however. The Mormons are capable of speaking for themselves, that one doesn't need to promote Joseph Smith as a prophet to appreciate what may or may not be a genuine account of Jesus Christ in America. It's very possible that even if Joseph Smith was perfectly honest about the discovery of mysterious plates, he could have translated the "Reformed Egyptian" language incorrectly. But, even that is worthwhile to consider in this age of information, the era of computer languages and such, that the very nature of symbolism, metaphor, parables, allegories, and all kinds of abstract concepts ought to be studied. Comparing the modern/post-modern ways to the ancient ways is just good science.
Perhaps the same could be said of Nostradamus.
There's a time in my life I felt an itch to write a book about computability theory and the mound builders, but I was reading the news one day and there was a story about some ISIS terrorist destroying the shrine of the prophet Jonah. I don't know what truth is in the news media, if any, but without the ability of other researchers to visit Jonah, there's no way for my claims to be scrutenized, and that's heartbreaking. To ask what does the ideal universal machine have to do with some earthworks, and then to ask what those things have to do with a story in the Bible about a pigeon swallowed by a fish, well maybe that's just something I should take with me to the grave. In other words, as we say in my country, with God all things are possible; there's no reason to believe that America never existed before 1492.
Beyond that, in my humble opinion, I doubt this world is prepared for my inventions. Experience has proven that to me, these people would destroy themselves with attempts at weaponizing powers they can hardly comprehend. I am a fool to think that the children from "Lord of the Flies" could ever handle certain things, and for that I'll forever be seeking God's forgiveness. All my other sins, which are plenty, are rather small next to the unspeakable graven image. If anyone can tell me truthfully why God would put this into my heart I would be thankful to know. Perhaps it goes without saying so, what's done in the darkness is brought into the light, that I am incapable of keeping scientific knowledge a secret forever. It's just that I'm to the point now where I can not explain it without Jesus Christ, which is to say, without at least some basic faith in and understanding of the Word then all is lost to the devil's workshop.
Therefore I am defeated by Messiah in my own desire for glory.
To be easy going, to get along with others, all it takes are the words "please" and "thank you", but have we earned them? Because days are numbered, and so time is limited, so much of life is wasted on contentions. The process of habituation, demoralization, and radicalization that happens on the Internet social media machines, the behaviors of people gone deep into the political system where they're no longer trying to make sense to each other in friendship. No, instead it's about verbally or physically abusing each other, to bully the opposition into submission. Democrats only seek to pass laws to hurt Republicans and vice-versa, and they dare call it love. It's disgusting, and so I have a mind to shut Heaven and bring the United States to an ultimate conclusion. Let us pray, amen?
Nah, I don't have the heart to be so cruel.