Natural Wonder Fellowship

Suppose the bible isn't only a collection of humans' (limited) knowledge of that time? Sure it was important to pass on knowledge of basics like the lever, the wheel, fire, metal working (bronze age leading into the iron age), animal husbandry and crop rotation, signs of the changing seasons and such. What was really needed was a collection of tales and stories. Stories told by parents to lull their children to sleep at night, while teaching them a life lesson; similar to Aesop's Fables or Grimm's Fairy Tales or even Disney. In teaching the value of hard work, consider the story of Fred. Fred listened to management (workers are strong, not weary or fainting Isaiah 40:28), and crossed the worker picket lines one day. This upset the striking wood gatherers, who called him a scab and stoned him to death (possibly not really, but it's a better story this way). The striking workers negotiated one day off per week  (Exodus 31:17 on the 7th day he rested) , and a 10-minute...

I don't usually agree with Gingrich , but on this I do. Your vote matters. Make your voice heard. The absurdity of this Tucker Carlson piece  is obvious to even most of the Fox regulars (see the comments section). Biden's brother (who knew he had a brother?) is ignoring this non-story we're trying to make be a story...  how dare he? hahaha!   Would you rather spend the next 4 years with a "wretched human being" or a "doting uncle"? There's a Washington newspaper opinion piece stating the "wretched human being" is the better choice than the "doting uncle"  because the "doting uncle" will ask you to pay for the new and improved infrastructure as it were. For the wretched human being the piece says: "He panders to racists and prevents sensible immigration reform in a nation built on immigration labor and intellect,” he wrote. “He tweets conspiracy theories. He’s cavalier about COVID-19 and had led poorly through the ...

I keep asking believers to tell me why you believe what you believe, but no one really answers me. In spite of 1 Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear", no one will answer me. It just falls back to 'faith'; no good reason, just 'faith'. I really struggle with this 'faith' concept. Do you have 'faith' that the plane will fly or the bridge will stand? No, based on evidence and barring external events (poor maintenance, earthquake,  deliberate sabotage) you know the bridge will stand. Even more baffling to me is the desire to believe that a capricious, jealous, all powerful, vengeful entity not only exists, but is a "loving god" wanting (and worthy of) your adoration and worship. Why do you describe yourself as a 'God fearing Christian'? How do you 'love' someone you fear? How can...

Another thing that's always confused me... politically speaking. Democrats are the "big spenders", social program initiators. Republicans are the fiscal conservatives, the small government pro-business lobby. Democrats want business to be responsible for the impact of their methods, demanding fair hiring and fair and equal pay, healthcare coverage, and limited environmental damage. Republicans want business to be free to concentrate on their business without regulatory interference. And really, how can you be 'pro-life' only for the pre-born, but pro-death for a convicted criminal? And don't get me started on why your god should have any influence of any sort in my government -- both are beyond the scope of this discussion. Continuing on... O wait a sec, the title. A Star Trek Original Series episode (actually named The Omega Glory ). Examining (spoofing?) the devastation possible if the 'yankees' and the 'communists' carry their ideological gr...

So sings the group 'The Police' . But doesn't 'god' say the same thing? Maybe this isn't a 'love song' to a former partner ( I've always thought of it as 'The Stalker Song') , but a 'praise' song to 'god'.  The all knowing, all powerful, the omnipresent 'god' of the Abrahamic religions? The bible 'god' goes even further than just watching though. This god is so omniscient it knows what you're thinking, and knows what you're going to think, and do, before even you know. Abraham's god has planned all that for you before you were even born (or not before you were born according to some, so this conflicted story goes, anyway). He knows if you are sleeping, he knows if you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good... oh wait, a different character. Same applies to the 'benevolent' Abrahamic god though. But, he loves you, right?  Do you love your partner? How about your children, or y...

A late, late summer early fall day 2006. That durned feral cat I haven't been able to trap has had another litter in the old wine cellar under the front porch. I only knew this when they were being moved by "Mama" to their second stage den on the front bank. She had moved one of them, who was objecting LOUDLY about being left alone in a strange place. We checked on the baby, but knowing there had to be more of them, quit our yard work so the mother cat could finish her move. It wasn't until later that night that same kitten was yowling on the bank in the undergrowth. I finally found it, just sitting there alone, yowling. It had gotten quite chilly. Was baby alone? Was it hungry? Lost? Lonely? WTH is this kitten's problem, and where are its litter mates? Had Mama (yes, that was her final name at the vet's) been hit by a car? Holding the kitten inside my jacket and a flash light, we searched among the underbrush but could not find the nest. I took the baby insid...

Hello this weird Wednesday. My regular pharmacy couldn't fill a new rx. They were good enough to find another pharmacy in a different small town that could. I went to pick up and met one of that town's LEOs on the way back. I was heading southbound in the late afternoon. As I'm struggling to find license and registration, he walked up to my car, stood a bit behind my left shoulder and began to speak, startling me a bit. I tried a stretch neck exercise but still could only see from below his left shoulder to just below his belt, and one arm. It was a big guy. He was still talking when I asked him to move forward so I could see him. "I'm standing where I'm supposed to be standing. You don't need to see me"... umm, what? "Yes, I really do" as I unclicked my seat belt and shifted my entire body to at least see (against the sun) he had a head and face, and badge. (I don't remember if he was wearing a mask. Mine was around my lower chin and nec...