America’s devotion to the subject of history consists, not of knowing history, but of repeating it.  I am convinced our nation’s foreign policies are dangerous for the express reason that they are often fraught with the worst kind of historical ignorance.  For example, policy makers are now insisting that the words Islamic Terrorist should not be used together, because to them it seems implausible that the words Islam and terrorism should be so conjoined.  By such a protestation, we see evidence of an illiteracy concerning the bloody trail that flows from the hands of the true followers of Muhammed.  Instead, Pentagon officials should draft a policy that would reconsider using the words government intelligence in the same breath.

More recently, we see the evidence of our short term memories in view of Russia’s advancement into Georgia.  In the wake of this historical repeat of Russia’s aggression, many have praised Secretary of State Rice’s “strong words” where she said: “This is not 1968.”  On the one hand, I agree: it’s not 1968 – it’s 2008; however, if her point is that history cannot repeat itself in Georgia, then she is already wrong.  Consider this 1968 BBC report on Russia’s deception as it entered into Czechoslovakia:

1968: Russia brings winter to ‘Prague Spring’:

“Dozens of people have been killed in a massive military clampdown in Czechoslovakia by five Warsaw Pact countries.

Several members of the liberal Czechoslovak leadership have been arrested, including Prime Minister Alexander Dubcek.

The Soviet news agency, Tass, claims “assistance” was requested by members of the Czechoslovak Government and Communist party leaders to fight ‘counter-revolutionary forces.’

But in a secret radio address, Czechoslovak President Ludvik Svoboda condemned the occupation by Warsaw Pact allies as illegal and committed without the government’s consent.”

May I be so bold as to suggest that Prime Minister Putin is pursuing Georgia with the 1968 playbook in hand, and that history is already being repeated – at least in part?  I offer you this piece from the New York Post as an excellent description of how we, the West, have been left dumbfounded through our gross historical illiteracy:

A CZAR IS BORN:

…This is intelligence work at the hall-of-fame level. (For our part, we had all the intelligence pieces in our hands and failed to assemble the puzzle.)

On the military side, the months of meticulous planning and extensive preparations for this invasion were covered by military exercises, disingenuous explanations – and maskirovka, the art of deception the Red Army had mastered. The Russians convinced us to see what we wanted to see.

Equally as remarkable was the Kremlin’s ability to lead the global media by the nose. (Oblivious to the irony, a BBC broadcast yesterday portrayed tiny, poorhouse Georgia as a propaganda powerhouse and Russia as an information victim – an illustration of the Russian propaganda machine’s effectiveness.) From the start, every Russian ministry was reading from the same script (try to orchestrate that in Washington). Breaking off his phony play date with Bush in Beijing, Putin rushed back to the theater of war.

Upon arrival, he publicly consoled “refugees” who had been bused out of South Ossetia days in advance. Launching the war’s Big Lie, Putin deployed dupe-the-rubes code words, such as “genocide” and “response.”

Wearing his secret-policeman’s stone-face, Putin blamed Georgia for exactly what his storm troopers were doing to the Georgians. And lazy journalists around the world served as the Kremlin’s ad agency.

“…lazy journalists around the world served as the Kremlin’s ad agency.”  Well stated.  What mystifies me is the general sense of surprise that overcomes the masses when such predictable events occur.  As the oft quoted expression goes:  “Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.” 

Sadly, this is our devotion to history – the devotion of repeating, rather than knowing.

Ecclesiastes 1:10-11:

10 Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.

One of the most important but little known chapters in Michael Behe’s book Darwin’s Black Box is the eighth chapter, entitled Publish or Perish.  I say most important because Behe says things there that are not said enough: that modern/secular science is much more of a commercial industry than anything else.  Those who want to “make it” within the scientific community of the modern age must sing the Darwinian National Anthem  with mindless devotion or face permanent exile.  This attitude is becoming more prevalent in a culture which disdains anyone who would dare to question Darwin’s general and special hypothesis of evolution.  All of this is quite ironic since there is no scientific proof that genetic mutations yield an increase of information in the genome in question.  Until such evidence can be given, evolution remains, at best, a strained hypothesis; and we are thereby left to our imagination about how a T-Rex can transform into a chicken, how cows morph into whales – and while we’re at it, why unicorns can fly (speaking in the realm of mere hypothesis).  In the realm of physics, and even mystical physics, we have the same dilemma.  Take for example string theory.  Most traditional physicists would agree that such a “theory” is not the product of empiricism and must be relegated to the realm of unproven hypothesis.  String theory may be true, but because it lies outside of the realm of direct observation it could never be absolutely proved, or disproved – i.e., a hypothesis.  But this won’t stop some scientists from claiming that string theory is absolute science.  Nor will it stop men from using such mystical physics in the commercial industry of modern research.  Case in point – watch the short video below and note how Michio Kaku, author of “Physics of the Impossible,” explains how it was necessary to sell CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) through the use of creative marketing and exaggeration.  I can at least appreciate his honesty.  

P.S., It’s pronounced hadron, not haedron:* 

What is always striking, in such examples as these, is the unmitigated arrogance which attends those who suppose that they can “find God” with a manmade machine.  Sadly, this is the world in which we live.  As they say – Publish or perish.

*Hadron is the nominative English transliteration of the Greek word ‘adrotes > ‘adros – meaning something that is thick, well-grown or abundant. 

I recently had the opportunity to take a look at the video entitled Unlocking the Mystery of Life by Illustra Media.  I won’t go into much detail here, but I would rather refer you to a review that I wrote for Michael Behe’s book Darwin’s Black Box (here)* for more information.   My best summary of this excellent video is that it is (in a sense) the video version of Darwin’s Black Box plus a brief history of the beginnings of the ID movement.  Not everyone will want to take the time to read Behe’s book, but with a video like this, a viewer could easily digest the basic arguments advanced by Behe, while being introduced to other leaders within the ID movement in the process.  Additionally, this video is simple enough for children to comprehend.  The CGI reconstructions of various biochemical processes is absolutely stunning, and helps the viewer to see a portion of the vast measure of complexity that lies within the smallest levels of cellular life – the likes of which Darwin could only assume (and hope) was simple and non-complex.  This video does an excellent job of exposing the black box of unproven hypotheses, as held intensely by Darwin and his devoted followers, while at the same time revealing the majesty, wisdom, and glory of the Creator who created life for His own glory.

*My normal disclaimer concerning ID usually includes a reminder to the viewer/reader that the ID community is quite broad.  While tools like these are useful, I would like to encourage caution to those who use such things. 

See updates (in red) below –

For those of you who may be interested – there is an LHC update page , along with a blog, now located on the CERN/Hadron website for the startup of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).  Some people are watching this “clock” because they believe that the world will end when the LHC is plugged in and activated – those that believe this are convinced that tiny little black holes will be created and will consume the Earth, however, I can assure you that a particle accelerator should be the least of this world’s concerns.

UPDATE:  Geneva, 7 August 2008. CERN has today announced that the first attempt to circulate a beam in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will be made on 10 September.

UPDATE (10 September 2008):  Live webcast here.

UPDATE (11 January 2009):  “The top priority for CERN today is to provide collision data for the experiments as soon as reasonably possible,” said CERN Director General Robert Aymar. “This will be in September of 2009.”

I’ve been away from The Armoury for some time – we recently completed an addition to our home which took every spare ounce of time and energy – but we’re thankful for the results and bless the Lord for it.

I realize that this is a weak way to return to posting, but I thought I’d begin with an AP News Story: 

AP News –

A pastor brought out a dirt bike during a church service to demonstrate the concept of unity. Now he’s demonstrating the concept of healing.

Jeff Harlow, the senior pastor at Crossroads Community Church, broke his wrist when he lost control of the motorcycle at the start of Sunday’s second service, driving off a 5-foot platform and into the vacant first row of seats. He underwent surgery on the wrist Monday.

“Jeff has already laughed a lot, so he’s OK. I think his pride was bruised,” said his wife, Becky.

Becky Harlow said her husband had recently attended a motorcycle race in Buchanan, Mich.

“He had this idea that he would bring this bike out onstage and show people how the rider would become one with the bike,” she told the Kokomo Tribune. “He was going to just sit on it and drive it out. He was just walking the dirt bike out onstage and somehow it got away from him. It was not intended.”

No one else was hurt.

Jeff Harlow had performed the demonstration at earlier services Saturday night and Sunday morning without incident.

Whenever I read things like this, I am reminded of the fact that such events as these give the world more fodder against those who name the name of Christ – and therefore (sadly) many conclude that if such behavior is Christianity, then they’ll have nothing to do with it.

How often do I hear people refer to antibiotic resistance as being “proof” of evolution, and yet they never address the fact that such resistance is not the product of increased information in the genome.  As an example of this common error I offer you this article by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, with the following excerpt below: 

“It’s very common for evolutionary propagandists to define evolution as (1) simply ‘change in a population over time’, as well as (2) the idea that all life came from a single cell, which itself came from a chemical soup. Then they produce examples of ‘evolution’ (1) and use this to prove evolution (2), and then claim that Biblical creation is wrong! However the Biblical creation model does imply that organisms change over time—but these changes would always involve sorting or loss of already existing (created) genetic information, never the gain of new information. But evolution (2) requires the gain of new information. Even if information losing (or neutral) processes could continue for billions of years, they would never add up to a gain of information.”

We never really hear from the defenders of Darwinism on these important matters.  The most that is ever offered, as an answer, is a Dawkins-like sophistry: 

You’ll notice that Mr. Dawkins never answers the question, and this is quite unfortunate because the query ventures into the heart of genuine science which is founded upon the empirical method.  His avoidance of the question is quite telling.  Sophistry and dogmatism constitute no substitute for dialogue and debate – the latter of which is grossly missing within the “scientific” community of the modern age.

One of the things that I enjoy greatly about the synoptic Gospels is how they regularly illustrate the need for the testimony of witnesses in order to confirm a matter.  In science, much of what is called the empirical method is dependant upon this principle.  Simply put, if we want to get our facts straight, then we need to corroborate our studies with those who were eyewitnesses of the very matters of which we speak (Deut. 19:15, Matt. 18:15-16, 2 Cor. 13:1, 1 John 4:14).  Like different facets of a single diamond, the four Gospels give us the full specter of beauty concerning the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Right now, we are studying through John’s Gospel, and we have finally managed to make our way to chapter 18 – the chapter of betrayal.  It is here that the Lord is systematically betrayed by Judas, the Jewish leaders, Peter, and the nation as a whole as evidenced by their trading in Christ for Barabbas – a thief and a murderer.  Our attention is normally directed immediately to these heart-wrenching betrayals; betrayals that are eclipsed only by the crucifixion itself.  However, if we press on too quickly, then we’ll surely miss an important detail mentioned by the Apostle John at the beginning of the chapter.  Mentioned in no other Gospel is this important facet of truth:

John 18:1-2: 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.

Perhaps you’re wondering what detail you were supposed to notice.  The brook of Kidron, a seemingly meaningless plot of land just east of the temple mount, may not appear to be an important detail, but for any Jew – it was teaming with great importance.  Historically, the brook of Kidron was a reminder of the obedience of another king – king Josiah.  For king Josiah, the brook of Kidron became a symbol of loving obedience for a very important reason.  When Josiah became king, he read the long lost Scriptures that had been hidden in the temple, and became convicted of the gross idolatry of the nation of Judah.  Thus armed with truth and great zeal, he purged the temple (and the nation overall) of its idols – burning them all, and throwing their ashes into the brook of Kidron (see 2 Kings 23). 

Josiah is therefore remembered for his great love for the Lord – for he “…turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might according to all the law of Moses…” (2 Kings 23:25, Deut. 6:4-5).  But Josiah not only abhorred the evil of idolatry, but he also reinstated the Jewish feasts, beginning with the feast of the Passover (2 Kings 23:21).  It is in this sense that Josiah stands as a model of genuine love for God, because he abhorred what was evil (idolatry), but he also did cling to what is good (Passover).  This is what the Bible calls genuine love: 

Romans 12:9: 9 Let love be without hypocrisy [anupokritos]. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Such is pure [anupokritos] love – the love of God.  In many respects, John’s mention of the brook of Kidron should remind us that king Josiah is a foreshadowing of King Jesus.  The parallel is quite striking:

King Josiah:

1.  Cleansed the temple (& nation) of idols.

2.  Immediately following this cleansing, he re-instituted and observed the Passover (the Passover is a type of Christ who is the sacrificial Lamb of God).

3.  He is described as a great example of loving obedience among the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Kings 23:25).

King Jesus:

1.  Cleansed the temple (twice: John 2, Matt. 21).

2.  In both cases, Christ observed the Passover immediately after both temple cleansings.

3.  He is revealed as the greatest example of loving obedience as the King of all kings (John 14:31).

From the lesser (Josiah) to the greater (Jesus), we see the multiple facets of loving obedience; but there is an important contrast to observe here.  Josiah’s idol-cleansing had only a temporal effect on the nation, for the Lord “…did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah…”  (2 Kings 23:26).  But when Christ cleansed the Jerusalem temple, he made an important declaration:

John 2:19-22: 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

When Christ cleansed the Jerusalem temple, He was directing the nation to an important and greater work yet to be performed.  Unlike king Josiah, King Jesus had the power to lay down the “temple” of His own body, to bear the sins of many, and to take up His life again through the resurrection (John 10:18).  Therefore, while there are great similarities between these two kings – this distinction is crucial.  King Josiah offered reforms to the nation, by destroying the idols of the land and throwing their ashes into the brook of Kidron; but these crucial reforms had not the power to turn away the wrath of God.  However, King Jesus walked through the valley of Kidron on His way to his own arrest, trial, and crucifixion.  It was by this path of loving obedience that He sacrificed Himself, thereby providing a way to be “saved from the wrath of God” through faith in Christ (Romans 5:9). 

No other Gospel writer mentions the valley of Kidron – this is why we need the full testimony of the four Gospel witnesses.  John’s mention of Kidron is no small detail, but is a crucial reminder given to us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Ultimately, the valley of Kidron is a picture of the loving obedience of two kings – the latter of which is the only true hope for mankind.

Job 38:4: 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding…”

This is a sad commentary on our culture. It is no wonder that America is producing those like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton. The transition from promiscuity to prostitution is a very small one: 

UPDATE:  This TUCC webpage was taken down in 2006, containing the following:

Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

1. Commitment to God
2. Commitment to the Black Community
3. Commitment to the Black Family
4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic
7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community
10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions
11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.

 As well, I thought that this was very insightful:

Link: sevenload.com