Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Perseid Meteor Shower

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Once again, the Perseids have proven themselves to be harbingers of inclement weather. Even during drought conditions of former years they succeeded in drawing an overcastting of diaphanous clouds—except for the year that the date coincided with a near-full moon. That year the wash-out was from light, not water. (FYI - This year's moon is a waning gibbous one.)

Perseids (sometimes Perseides) is a patronymic of Perseus, used to designate his descendants. And Perseus was the Greek champion of mythology, son of Zeus and DanaĆ«. Not with the happiest of childhoods, young Perseus was thrown into a sea chest with his mother and drifted to the island of Seriphos where they were rescued by a fisherman—or maybe not. The old stories do not always agree. As an adult, he was the hero who bagged the head of Medusa. Killing, danger, and high adventure ensued, but eventually he saved and married Andromeda and fathered Perses. Today, the ancient heroes are remembered in the stars, when you can see them.
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For more ~ http://www.qsl.net/w8wn/hscw/prop/perseids.html

Monday, August 3, 2009

Forum Musings

At one of the online communities I sometimes visit, the question arose, "Why aren't parents protected, or at least given the benefit of the doubt when they believe they are acting in their child's best interests?" It was rhetorical, but what do I care? I have a ready answer.

Parents are not protected because our nation, as a corporate body, has lost her knowledge of God—because many people of the past two generations never obtained such knowledge to begin with.

I have heard social workers, educated people who would be highly offended if you suggested that they were not 'good Christians,' say that the Bible is wrong, that it was written for a primitive tribal culture, and that there are things more important than parental love.

If you believe the scriptures, God is calling them fools. It's all there in Proverbs 1:22, "Scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge." The New Testament covers it again in Romans 1:21-32. They just do not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, (except when it builds them up, of course.)

Parents are not respected because parenthood is one of the most God-like roles a human can fulfill. People who have not grown up with knowledge of God do not trust Him. They feel safer trusting public schools and government and the courts.

I am not posting to turn this into a parental rights diatribe, (though admittedly, the previous paragraphs could be framed into a good introduction for one.) Quite the opposite; while reading about societal disrespect for parenthood, I had another revelation. After parenthood, being a judge is another God-like role a human can fulfill. If the Church ever gets her act together and starts preaching sound doctrine on the Judgment of God, then judges won't be respected anymore than parents are. There may be a silver lining to that, but it will be a filmy one.