Tag Biology

The Raven: A MODERN FABLE By Richard L. Provencher

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

From the pen of a ready writer:

Today I thought I would offer an article from guest writer Richard L. Provencher. From time to time I like to feature an article from another writer from whose writing I gain personal inspiration or some spiritual insight. This fable tells the story of a rather unusual raven who never stopped trying to be all she could be. No matter how many times she tried and failed she did not give up on the hope of one day reaching her dream-to soar higher than any raven has ever soared  before. She wanted to reach the highest and tallest tree in the valley. She was an upwardly mobile raven.

What lessons will you glean from this modern day bird tale? What insight can you glean from the wings of this fable? What can you learn from the lesson learned from this young raven? Now let the fable begin

raven Halfway up the Spruce tree young Raven had a special view of the valley. Raising her beak, she could easily see a rushing creek fill several large ponds.

Even narrow trails, where deer zigzagged though the forest. If only her feathers could carry her to taller trees, she might reach higher than what looked like snow above.

Her wings were too weak to fly up and see.

Raven sensed something different existed beyond the high rise of land.

She was stubborn and tried over and over during practice flights. Falling onto the ground with a thump was often repeated as her beak poked into the grass.

Tired wings kept her airborne only so far, or high. Other ravens were content to live in this valley.

Why wasn’t their friend happy too? Was it really important to reach the tallest trees? Who cared what might be outside their valley?

Yes, they thought Raven was a bird with impossible dreams.

Families of ravens were busy spending much time looking for food. After hours of searching they rested on branches, waiting for the sun to set.

But young Raven wanted more. It wasn’t enough to shriek into the wind that often pushed her around in the sky. She hoped for much more.

Practicing long distance flying had its difficulties. Plopping onto the ground brought her into an area inhabited by foxes, coyotes and hawks. And wolves ate anything that looked tasty.

Young raven did indeed look yummy.

Continue reading “The Raven: A MODERN FABLE By Richard L. Provencher” →

Sowing and Reaping

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

A woman manually harvesting crops in Tirumayam...

Image via Wikipedia

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment. If you plant consideration, you will reap success.

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant faith in God, you will reap a harvest.

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Source: Graphic Humor and Inspiration by Richard Wimer http://witandwisdom.org/subscriptions.htm

Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. 8 If you plant in {the soil of} your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in {the soil of} your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. Gal 6:7-8 (GW)

The Planted Seed: The Immutable Laws of Sowing and Reaping

The Purpose-Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message & Mission

Former Pastor turned Evangelist Preaching Darwanianity

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

For the past six years, pastor-turned-evangelist Rev. Michael Dowd has been going from pulpit to pulpit preaching the gospel—no, not the good news of our salvation through Jesus Christ, but of our liberation and empowerment through Charles Darwin.

“[Darwin gives us] a far more empirical way of talking about human nature than through stories like the original sin.”

There you have it–the science is in! It is not from the heart that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, and sexual immorality come; it’s from a physical law working on our chemistry. Feeling better now?

Dowd calls his theological perspective “creatheistic.”

Dowd represents this, pictorially, with a logo on the van he and his wife use in their “outreach.” It shows two fish kissing: one labeled “Jesus” and the other, “Darwin.”

I think I prefer the way the Apostle Paul states it better. In a way Paul lends a helping hand to all the Dowdists out there who are overcome by their inherited sinful nature but then Paul goes on to give the remedy which is through Jesus Christ.

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sin2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.Eph 2:1-10 (ESV)

Ancients and modern evolutionists still pondering the same questions.

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

A satirical image of Charles Darwin as an ape from 1871 reflects part of the social controversy over whether humans and apes share a common lineage.Image via Wikipedia

It would appear that for over 1500 years the debate has raged over the origin of life.”Natural Theology, published in 1802 by William Paley, discussed the evidence for design using the “inferred watchmaker” analogy. The majority of scientists at that time professed belief in a Creator, in one way or another. This was reflected in their studies. To some extent, design was assumed. ”

“Evolution lacked a reasonable engine to drive biological change. When Charles Darwin published “The Origin of Species” in 1859, those who preferred evolution had a seemingly plausible mechanism to explain it – natural selection.”

“Almost 150 years later, the scientific community at large speaks of the “facts” of evolution. Those who propose non-natural causes for biologic effects are soon branded as “ignorant,” “superstitious,” or “closed-minded.” ”

Some things never change…

clipped from www.allaboutscience.org

Thousands of years ago, ancient Greeks and Romans considered the idea that life had been designed by some unknown force. At the same time, they wondered if life had progressed from “higher” or “lower” forms over time. Jump forward to today, and the same two questions are still at war. The intelligent design movement, unlike prior competitors to naturalism, represents a solid, clear, and compelling case for design theory. This newer approach partially explains why the intelligent design movement has endured intense scrutiny yet continued to gain support in the worldwide intellectual community.
Scientific and logical evidences that support the influence of an aware designer are the only bullets in the intelligent design movement’s gun. Arguing only through logic and science, the intelligent design movement forces evolutionists to argue their case based only on provable, observable facts – and to admit the assumptions and gaps inherent to a naturalistic view.
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