tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53008695860165410372024-02-19T03:07:39.039-08:00PilgrimageMt 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mt 7:14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-55652410201899394382013-12-01T13:32:00.002-08:002013-12-01T13:32:49.580-08:00Yay! I finished the first year of my Bachelor of Applied Social Services degree! It will be a great key to variable job opportunities in the future. I am aiming to specialize with post graduate study, but I will see what happens.<br />Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-41304619941548810812013-05-25T20:59:00.001-07:002013-05-25T20:59:19.708-07:00Social Services<br />
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Baby number two is born! Psalm Danielle is her name. Yup, I now have a 2 year old boy "Simeon" and his younger sister.<br />
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Well, I thought I would share a bit about what is happening around here at the moment. I have started my degree in social services and am THOROUGHLY enjoying it. I way prefer being able to work with academia rather than horticulture and people rather than flowers.<br />
It is a financial struggle to study at times but God provides. I believe this is where He wants me.<br />
Two papers have been completed so far, and I think I am actually starting to get good at writing essays :)<br />
The two I am currently working on are really interesting. One is on human development & behaviour, which means digging into psychology! Freud, Piaget, Erikson and all those other interesting guys. The other is on inter-personal communication which teaches a lot of counselling skills.<br />
I am thinking of going down the counselling line... I really want to help people that are looking for help; I probably more accurately should say "helping people to help themselves".<br />
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Well, Psalm is grizzly and that would be me for now.<br />
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DP<br />
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If there is anyone from the older days of this blog who happens to see this post, stop by! and let me know what you are up to. Are their still many Ray Comfort hecklers around? lol<br />
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<br />Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-33653353575090261042012-12-28T16:00:00.003-08:002012-12-28T16:00:42.901-08:00The Past Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, haven't blogged for AGES. I thought I would do a catch up on what I have been up to.<br />
Over the past year a lot has happened. My wife's brother married my sister earlier in the year lol, we had this photo taken at their wedding. My wife did gallantly! the previous day she had miscarried our number two, and she was the maid of honour. Our little son Simeon is now nearly 2 years old, currently potty training him. We also have another one on the way in March :)<br />
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We sold the sports car because My wife and I planned to start business growing orchids and was offered a fantastic deal to get into it. We are sad about it and yet in some ways I am relieved that it didn't follow through. It was going to be a lot of hard work to get it making money so I weighed it up and decided it wasn't worth it.<br />
I am looking to find a different career to enter and get some diversity under my belt. With the way the world is going flowers/orchids may not be the best venture to enter into. I have decided that I am interested in taking a step in another direction and am considering doing a degree while my family is still young.<br />
The degree I am looking into is in social service. I am quite interested in working with and helping people (I know completely different from working with orchids). Apparently it is on the shortage list for skilled personal in NZ so I am pretty sure the job opportunities will be good. Just looking into more information about it at the moment. I hear it is a lot of stress, so one thing I will need to learn is the need to leave work behind, leave the stories and situations I am involved in behind, before I come home to my family.<br />
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LOL, I was looking over some of the past conversations I had years ago on here. Quite entertaining and I must say I wince at some of the stupid things I said lol. But you live and learn.... I hope so anyway :)<br />
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If any of you are still hanging around it would be neat to catch up and see what you all are up to these days.<br />
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DPDaniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-17497652248352518142012-02-02T15:12:00.000-08:002012-02-02T15:12:18.985-08:00Car project Nissan Skyline<br />
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I have been running a little bit of car project over the last year or so. I found it quite fun fiddling around with bits and pieces.<br />
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The car is or was a relatively stock auto Nissan Skyline GTS25t R33 4 door. I bought an auto for the wifey who preferred driving them.<br />
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Some of it's features are:<br />
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- A 4 wheel steering HICAS system<br />
- I put some 18" second hand mags on it :D</div>
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- It has an RB 2.5L single turbo engine (Rb25det), a little brother to the famous twin turbo GTR (RB26dett engine). Interestingly the RB25det engine which I have, is actually de-tuned so that it would not compete with the upper market GTR which has the Rb26dett.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYYjXDhB0xs">Here</a> is a youtube example of the power an RB25det can release.<br />
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And <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0-UqLfzkAE&feature=related">here</a> is a heavily modded skyline at 1100hp<br />
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With reliable power of up to 260 rear wheel kilowatts on stock internals (many are tuned for higher output), I thought this car was a good base for a project. At stock they start with 185kw at the flywheel which is about a grunty 130rwkw ( with an auto), a manual about (140rwkw). The turbo runs a 7psi boost into the engine which is compressed air to allow better (more intense) combustion.</div>
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I have no intention of wringing it out to those ridiculous power ratios (260rwkw +) as I will have no need for that much power and will suck to many $ to upgrade all the supporting mods around the engine.</div>
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I started with getting a bigger 3" exhaust to remove any restriction for the engine to get rid of waste gasses. I noticed after doing this that the boost crept up to about 8psi since the engine could breath a bit better. After this the car needed a better fuel pump as these pumps are only designed for stock and cannot do much more than what they were made for. I installed a walbro 500hp pump which to this day goes well. The what was needed was a boost T which is a manual boost controller which allows me to bleed off air which then allows me to control the amount of boost the turbo runs at.<br />
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The stock turbo for long life reliably can only handle 10psi of boost (some people run more). But though it cannot run high boost, it does have a light ceramic wheel which enables a very quick spool time (The turbo reaches 9-10psi at low rpm). This makes the car very responsive and loads of torque down low.<br />
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Now, the stock computer will cope with a little more power/load increase before it goes into safety mode and pulls back the ignition timing. So instead of retuning the stock Rb25det ecu which cannot be tuned very easily, I went for a Z32 ecu. This ecu was tuned by mail order by tuner in Auckland, but as I found out through trial and error the car was detonating at high rpm so a proper dyno tune needed to be done.<br />
Do it once do it right.<br />
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So we dyno tuned it to a decent 168rwkw on 9-10psi of boost in Auckland.<br />
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and found the reasons why it was pinging. It was partly timing and partly the little side mount intercooler (which cools the air coming from the turbo) was getting hot enough to fry an egg. So as intake temperatures rose detonating occurred. So I decided to get a front mount intercooler off a Mitsubishi Evolution IV since these intercoolers are larger, apparently flow well and fits real nice behind the crash bar. With that now installed it will be running a little more power and is safer for the engine on hot days. I am pretty confident there was not a heavy amount of damage to the engine since when it was pinging/detonating there was a lot of petrol going in, enough to dampen the effect.<br />
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So now everything is running pretty good these days, though second gear is slipping a little at times, just showing wear and tear for its age I guess and becoming obvious as I up the torque :D<br />
I also had to change the radiator myself for a turbo one since there was a non-turbo version in there (WHO KNOWS WHY) and it was struggling to keep the engine cool. Temps were rising to 94 degrees C, partly due to the small radiator that should not have been in there and partly because the previous owner hadn't flushed the coolant regularly and so it got blocked.<br />
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All cheers to the Rb motor for what it gets put through by me :) It was slightly over heating with that little radiator for who knows how long, I didn't get it tuned right at first so it was pinging, and then there was the time when I had a leak in my boost gauge and accidently ran 20+ pounds of boost into the engine lol. Poor thing. You live and learn, but it still purrrs today.<br />
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Bullet proof they say? I would say pretty close.<br />
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... and one day down the road I might take it from stock and run a bigger turbo to crack the 200rwkw + mark. Not that I need it but it is simply a fun project. Huge learning curves has made it well worth it. I am pretty confident to work on a lot of areas on the car now without a mechanic... still with a fair bit of head scratching I might add.<br />
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Stay tuned :)</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-40093837215431878382011-12-23T11:45:00.001-08:002011-12-23T11:45:59.238-08:00Merry Christmas everyone!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Yeshua Ha-Adonai!</span></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-44869065776171395872011-10-15T13:56:00.001-07:002011-10-15T14:17:45.059-07:00Old debate<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/free-photos/3389124067/" title="red apple core by roger.karlsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3389124067_9b70b6254d.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="red apple core" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Photo </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 14px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong class="username" id="yui_3_4_0_3_1318713295542_1148" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; display: inline !important; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; line-height: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">By </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/free-photos/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 99, 220); background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">roger.karlsson</span></a></strong></span></div><div><br /></div>Stan the half truth teller and I had a big debate about whether Adam and Eve knew it was wrong to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil since they did not yet "know" good and evil.<div><br /></div><div>Originally I claimed that they obviously did have some but not full "knowledge" before they ate of the tree or else God would not expect them to understand that it was wrong to disobey Him. They still didn't have full knowledge yet which they were protected from.</div><div><br /></div><div>I heard a preacher ages ago suggest that to "know" in the Bible was to choose to have a relationship with someone. Then it hit me. The word "knew" used in the phrase in Genesis where Adam "knew" Eve is exactly the same Hebrew word as to "know" good and evil.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4:1&version=NKJV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Genesis 4:1</a></strong><br />Now <b>Adam</b> <b>knew</b> <b>Eve</b> his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.”</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Go figure, to "know" doesn't just mean to have knowledge it means to have a relationship with...</div><div><br /></div><div>Revelation... ding ding</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-18479682570464611492011-06-25T16:20:00.000-07:002011-06-25T16:25:49.901-07:00New blog "The Benevolent Hecklers"Hi peoples,<div><br /></div><div>Due to struggling to find time to post very few days to keep my blog running, I have decided to start a new blog where some Christian friends and myself will be sharing articles with each other and anyone else interested. The blog will be open to comments from everyone but will be a blog with multiple authors. </div><div>It will also be an overflow from a group we have here in NZ where we discuss theology and apologetics etc. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://thebenevolenthecklers.blogspot.com/">http://thebenevolenthecklers.blogspot.com/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div><br /></div><div>Dan</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. Though I will keep this one going :)</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-55658933922184751112011-04-28T23:41:00.001-07:002011-04-28T23:58:21.250-07:00David Wilkerson is with the Lord<div style="text-align: center;"><embed src="http://downloads.cbn.com/cbnnewsplayer/cbnplayer.swf?aid=22676" height="300" width="533" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></div><br />How sad and yet how hopeful it is when people pass away; Yet, Paul says that absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, Hallelujah!<br />David Wilkerson is author of the famous "The Cross and the Switchblade" and founding pastor of Times square church.<br />Truly a great guy that God has used and still uses today. He is known as God's Watchman. <div>From my knowledge he is the type of guy I look up to and admire; especially his relationship with God. He is someone that spurs me on to seek God deeper and deeper.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you David for all you have done and praise God!</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-84821290417506417902011-04-21T14:28:00.000-07:002011-04-21T14:50:41.352-07:00Richard Dawkins Interviews Wendy Wright<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fylu1IkNcAY&feature=youtu.be">INTERVIEW</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">LOL.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Quite entertaining. I found this from Ray Comfort's blog and I must say some serious face palming in places as they say! and regarding BOTH parties. The interview is about the benefits and deficits of evolution on people. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The interview was fascinating, both brought good points but Wendy kept dodging some answers by Dawkins and Dawkins kept on claiming evidence for evolution as if it were proof.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Commonality may be evidence for evolution if someone is in the mind set to believe it, but commonality is certainly not proof... good point Wendy. </div><div style="text-align: left;">In my opinion Dawkins was right and Wendy wrong that there is evidence for evolution, it is whether it should be considered as gospel is the question.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also loved the point that Wendy brought that controversy should be taught and encouraged when it comes to evolution or design. Scientists aren't the only ones that should have opinion, even they are subject to their pre-conceived world views.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">DP</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-78939833527885164552011-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:002011-04-21T13:26:38.994-07:00Matisyahu<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/esm723/3274137686/" title="Matisyahu by EricMagnuson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/3274137686_380ed37b5a.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="Matisyahu" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by EricMagnuson</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Matisyahu is an Orthodox Jew who pens reggae/rock music. It is not normal</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">reggae in that he really does have a Jewish sound to his music and doesn't really sound much like a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">rootsy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> Rastafarian unlike Christafari.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I use to think he was a Messianic Jew but from my understanding he is an Orthodox Jew. Much of his lyrics are based on the old testament and the Psalms; so he still holds many biblical principles in his messages. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I listen to his music I get the impression he is someone who seeks God. I can only pray and hope that he comes to know HIS JEWISH MESSIAH... YESHUA not as a blond hair blue eyed western Jesus but a Jewish messiah prophesied beforehand by His people.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Have a listen and I hope you enjoy his music as I do! Here are three of my favourite songs of his.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYr4Fz14C6w">Jerusalem</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KuoYO6lsek&feature=related">One Day</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6blhdYBswfY">Time of your song</a></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-52007549029822765172011-04-10T01:31:00.000-07:002011-04-10T02:10:15.038-07:00Eastern Lamp Mussel<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/helti/826136131/" title="famous gacka river by helti, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/826136131_f124e5bf5e.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="famous gacka river" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/helti/826136131/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Helti</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I found out about this amazing creature by watching a dvd called "incredible creatures that defy evolution 3".</div><div>NOTE: I cannot remember the name of the mussel but this mussel is closest to the one I observed on the dvd. The one I observed on the dvd may have been a relative.</div><div><br /></div><div>This particular mussel has a very unique way of reproducing, in fact it is highly specific. The female mussel mantle looks like a minnow fish. It pumps water through its mantle and causes it to actually look like a little fish swimming in the water, it even has what looks like a mouth at one end opening and closing!</div><div>The reason it does this is because it is trying to attract specific varieties of fish (4 in fact) to come and eat them. The mantle has little mussel larvae on it which will attach itself to the predator fish. The hard part is, is that at a split second just as the fish goes to bite the mantle (and you know how fast they bite), the mantle has to react and fling the tiny mussel larvae into the water surrounding which then allows the mussel larvae to attach to the gills of the predator fish. </div><div>The larvae live there for a month and then drop to the ocean floor. It has to be on specific types of fish or else the little larvae die!</div><div><br /></div><div>The questions that need to be asked is:</div><div><br /></div><div>a. How did this mussel variety ever learn to be so quick as to be able to reproduce?</div><div>b. What did they do to survive when and if there was no bass, bluegill or sunfish?</div><div>c. How did this mussel learn or develop itself so as to look like a minnow? It even has two spots that look like eyes!</div><div>d. Looking at the evidence at hand, is it more likely that they were designed like that or that they happened to develop themselves like that?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_lamp_mussel.htm">Eastern Lamp Mussel </a> </div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-22548751140358963052011-03-30T22:55:00.000-07:002011-04-01T12:46:36.440-07:00Photos of our little boy<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMXkzV2YLpOrFrSMmCn-GanEE6Xll8NScme58fJBWIXLlvIM6LkxdwI-y4UhZhSc6ndmYt1Rz8fiKZE3xUEuYqQzYj-A3C_fFGfiCBgEHAoLfV4cenxQYHk9zBWbwhMdENYG_tpfym4kf/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hello everyone! Meet little Simeon, He is now 6 1/2 weeks old. He enjoys singing (cooing to music), smiling, feeding, sleeping, grizzling and sicking up.... many many hobbies. Thank you Lord for him!</b></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3tPfPhsgIwCjezzFTxvlC4htkO17FtmBg4ZllGef-ZUF5cb1B_urAjnc7VUOYd90ePBBChpxzTSkN_UX2_cURk5B8rd8-dpyFfN_-85TGwC03fzRQuIj7RB8JVflIk4HHbvuj_lifpp4/s1600/IMG_0915.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3tPfPhsgIwCjezzFTxvlC4htkO17FtmBg4ZllGef-ZUF5cb1B_urAjnc7VUOYd90ePBBChpxzTSkN_UX2_cURk5B8rd8-dpyFfN_-85TGwC03fzRQuIj7RB8JVflIk4HHbvuj_lifpp4/s320/IMG_0915.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590702245167796210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZyprgeiAsjxplhbdEms016eoCB4Bc4r-D1CL9a2OjR4D3mFQs2vLpqS6SE39lzXXtYRBzp2t7dVKNI9Wwus4zSB-c6D-iuHup_tjUXCe39Tci66eujNuWiPUTyQU1Sop2hfP0J6mvr0m/s1600/IMG_0998.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZyprgeiAsjxplhbdEms016eoCB4Bc4r-D1CL9a2OjR4D3mFQs2vLpqS6SE39lzXXtYRBzp2t7dVKNI9Wwus4zSB-c6D-iuHup_tjUXCe39Tci66eujNuWiPUTyQU1Sop2hfP0J6mvr0m/s320/IMG_0998.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590702869344748050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbX4oOa7u2GTUerCuKJ6UVkITGM7kx-gJSTRI-qiWi_D-BDUoA__SsegRIOi-S4wuTbJ4qLpdNpgkXEM1e787fVkS6o5W3AiohvE5wA3PinPQfCvlZmms0hmLC6B0LlR-i_FMvnnToVOw6/s320/IMG_2721.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590703117993745090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMXkzV2YLpOrFrSMmCn-GanEE6Xll8NScme58fJBWIXLlvIM6LkxdwI-y4UhZhSc6ndmYt1Rz8fiKZE3xUEuYqQzYj-A3C_fFGfiCBgEHAoLfV4cenxQYHk9zBWbwhMdENYG_tpfym4kf/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMXkzV2YLpOrFrSMmCn-GanEE6Xll8NScme58fJBWIXLlvIM6LkxdwI-y4UhZhSc6ndmYt1Rz8fiKZE3xUEuYqQzYj-A3C_fFGfiCBgEHAoLfV4cenxQYHk9zBWbwhMdENYG_tpfym4kf/s320/IMG_2935.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590703484331915202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvrUlMmh42e8HZFEZkGmF-6bn9fUQHZ-V1tCCzIW_ztoO5YOGU2tfj0o0iZUHHUaEgSKowHEPd852ceeSefmjbszEb3F3sLWp5nfbd1478HWnVKvK7WSq3rM7Qm8GKlG2cSmTpEvWxhOt/s1600/IMG_2917.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvrUlMmh42e8HZFEZkGmF-6bn9fUQHZ-V1tCCzIW_ztoO5YOGU2tfj0o0iZUHHUaEgSKowHEPd852ceeSefmjbszEb3F3sLWp5nfbd1478HWnVKvK7WSq3rM7Qm8GKlG2cSmTpEvWxhOt/s320/IMG_2917.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590703390651101746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-71264562336462842842011-03-28T20:56:00.000-07:002011-03-28T21:34:10.345-07:00News talk ZB interview with John Lennox NZ<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/medienmagazinpro/4764630690/" title="John Lennox by Medienmagazin pro, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4764630690_48ace2e99e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="John Lennox" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 14px; "><strong class="username" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1301371146574904" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; display: inline !important; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; line-height: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">By </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/medienmagazinpro/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 99, 220); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Medienmagazin pro</span></a></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div>John Lennox is a christian apologist, philosopher of science and professor of mathematics.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a half hour audio mp3 interview covering quite few topics including God's existence, hope and science. John Lennox had recently taken a tour of New Zealand and this is some of the fruit of it. </div><div>Quite an interesting interview. It features comments from Lennox regarding past debates with Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchins as well as some atheists phoning up in NZ, even an "atheistic christian", go figure?</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to <a href="http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/">Thinking Matters</a> for providing the <a href="http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Lennox_Interview1.mp3">Interview</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I agree with the majority of Lennox's comments but I thought he could have done a more in depth explanation regarding the earthquakes and suffering, although I know you are always limited when it comes to radio time. I hope to do a post sometime concerning the reason and causation behind the disasters that have happened.</div><div><br /></div><div>DP</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-36394966754768282602011-03-27T23:01:00.000-07:002011-03-28T00:01:10.202-07:00Jon Foreman<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susieq3c/2444564744/" title="IMG_1827 by susieq3c, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2444564744_bc06621650.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_1827" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 14px; "><strong class="username" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1301293448400944" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; display: block; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; line-height: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susieq3c/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 99, 220); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">susieq3c</span></a></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div>If you haven't heard of Switchfoot (a great band :D), they are an alternative rock band who are sincere Christians but I would not call them a "Christian band" since they wanted their music to be universal... fair enough, kind of like Jars of Clay. It makes them less "cliche-ic" and is not as full of Christianese in their lyrics as many other Christian bands.</div><div>The lead singer for Switchfoot had taken a little side track and wrote some solo albums while still heading Switchfoot back in 2007-2008. </div><div>He took a different angle to switchfoot and went nearly all acoustic and wrote challenging and personal songs in a rather unique way. He used many different types of weird/different instruments which make the listen quite an experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>I really love his music, if I just chuck on one of his albums and have a listen, it really can be an incredible a time of reflection on life. He likes to tackle quite deep facts of life, some pleasant and some not so pleasant, not hiding behind colourful roses and peaceful gardens. Probably one of my favourite artists these days.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgnMDXMjYHM">BROKEN FROM THE START</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlv9th0Fo10">A MIRROR IS HARDER TO HOLD</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M-_sZIh2cQ">THE CURE FOR PAIN</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and a more obviously christian one:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=301S7NgAkLs">YOUR LOVE IS STRONG</a></div><div>Have a listen : )</div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-64922798746259234522011-03-25T14:22:00.000-07:002011-03-25T14:41:47.783-07:00Reverse Thinking<b>This video is rather clever I thought, definitely one to check out whether you agree or not : D</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>cheers,</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgFU5Ak88-k">Reverse Thinking</a></b></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-90400963833369624292011-03-09T20:42:00.000-08:002011-03-09T21:09:06.353-08:00Miracles by our Lord<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/2create/2152949049/" title="Church Exterior by 2create, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2216/2152949049_bc58aba97c.jpg" width="500" height="319" alt="Church Exterior" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/2create/2152949049/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Louis Du Mont</span></a></div><div><br /></div>Last Sunday my wife and I decided to visit my old church that I grew up in to show friends our little Simeon who has just entered the big wide world. But what was cool was that there was a testimony time for people to share from the congregation regarding the miracles that God had done for them. So I would like to share some of them!<div><br /></div><div>One young guy who is my brother's friend had broken (or similar) his foot a week or so ago and he was un-able to run on it because of the pain. His foot was swollen and he could see where a bone was sticking out a little. He went to a prayer meeting and people prayed for him to be healed and as they were praying he said he could watch it as the swelling went down and the bone under his skin come back into place! Exciting :D</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a guy that I did not know who could provide medical verification of his healing. His arm was disconnected from his shoulder in a way that he could not lift it very high at all. He was prayed for and he was able to move his arm freely around like a windmill. He went to the doctor and the doctor told him that what he was able to do was impossible after seeing the scans of what it was before. The doctor told him he would have to send his patients to a prayer meeting in the future lol.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another guy I know who works with my dad and was my science teacher at school had a couple of tests that showed he had high blood sugars. He was worried it was diabetes and so he was prayed for and he went back for a conclusive test and came back as normal!</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers God, for the mercies You perform for us who do not deserve Your mercy!</div><div> </div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-56900924985337640982011-03-03T16:12:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:29:19.288-08:00Logic Primers<div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shashachu/443215138/" title="Optical illusion by Sha Sha Chu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/443215138_a82e62c90e.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="Optical illusion" /></a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Image by </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shashachu/443215138/">Sha Sha Chu</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><div>I have just been through these logic primers by Brian over at his fantastic blog <a href="http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/">Apologetics 315</a>.</div><div>Looking back I really wish I had read these sooner as it would have helped me to clarify myself better and engage in discussion a little more easily.</div><div>It is an easy to read and not too long series of articles that take you through a basic understanding of logic. He covers such topics as how to form valid arguments coherently and how to avoid fallacies. You can access it <a href="http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/2009/05/basic-logic-primer.html">here</a></div></span></span></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-14068691627905724152011-02-28T14:44:00.000-08:002011-03-03T15:56:39.570-08:00LOST CIVILIZATION<b>Another good read from RtB concerning evidence for Genesis and its accuracy. Enjoy. I had to cut out the pictures because it was warping the text. Here is the link: </b><div><b><a href="http://www.reasons.org/lost-civilization-beneath-persian-gulf-confirms-genesis-history-humanity">http://www.reasons.org/lost-civilization-beneath-persian-gulf-confirms-genesis-history-humanity</a></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">"Lost Civilization Beneath The Persian Gulf Confirms Genesis History Of Humanity</span><br /></span></b><br /><br />In almost every culture and religion of the world lies a story of a lost civilization. The Greeks told the tale of a sophisticated island nation suddenly submerged. However, the Greeks were not the only people group to embrace an Atlantis-type legend; many cultures recounted the lost-city-beneath-the-sea scenario. The ubiquitous nature of these stories, accounts, and legends lends credence to the possibility that in the early days of humanity’s history a relatively advanced civilization was indeed lost.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;">Now, a research paper published in Current Anthropology provides scientific evidence for such a lost ancient civilization, evidence that confirms much of Genesis 1–11’s historical account of humanity’s early days.1 University of Birmingham archeologist Jeffrey Rose reports on the discovery, conducted over the past six years, of over sixty new archeological sites along the shoreline of the Persian Gulf. All of these sites are dated as older than 7,500 years. Rose states that “these settlements boast well-built permanent stone houses, long-distance trade networks, elaborately decorated pottery, domesticated animals, and even evidence for one of the oldest boats in the world.”2In 2006, archeologist Hans-Peter Uerpmann of the University of Tubingen in Germany uncovered the remains of three different settlements that date between 25,000 and 125,000 years old at the base of Jebel Faya in the United Arab Emirates.</span><br /><div><br />In his paper, Rose points out that during the late Pleistocene epoch (150,000 to 12,000 years ago) reduced sea levels periodically exposed the “Gulf Oasis.” The Persian Gulf receded to such a degree as to bring above the surface a landmass as large as, or larger than, Great Britain. Rose explains that this landmass was well watered by four large rivers flowing at the time: the Tigris, Euphrates, Karun, and Wadi Batin. Additionally, the region was watered by fresh water springs supplied by subterranean aquifers flowing beneath the Arabian subcontinent. Such an abundant and well-distributed supply of fresh water combined with the region’s warm weather would have supported a lush agricultural enterprise.<br /><br />Rose argues that during the latter part of the last ice age a thriving civilization existed in what is now the Persian Gulf. As sea levels rose and as water rushed in through the Strait of Hormuz to fill up the Persian Gulf (see figure 1), people would have exited the Gulf Oasis and formed settlements along the rising shoreline. To build an iron-clad case for his theory, Rose calls for underwater exploration in the Persian Gulf to search for tools, human-built structures, and, best of all, fossil remains of humans. However, Rose also points out that the water’s rushing in to fill up the Persian Gulf and other neighboring regions could explain the many flood accounts and myths that emanate from that part of the globe. Such a flood event could have destroyed the very kind of evidence that Rose needs to solidify his case.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">As Rose Himself Describes, the Gulf Oasis is consistent with Biblical account of Noah's Flood.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><br /></span></span></span><div>Rose’s theory fits not only the biblical account of Noah’s flood, it comports especially well with the earlier chapters of Genesis. Skeptics have long charged that the Bible’s description of the Garden of Eden brings biblical inspiration and inerrancy into question. Genesis 2 claims that the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates Rivers all meet together in Eden.3 However, the Pishon and Gihon flow out from the mountains of central Arabia (Havilah) and southwest Arabia (Cush), respectively, while the Tigris and Euphrates flow out from the mountains of Ararat in Armenia and Turkey (see figure 1).<br /><br />As skeptics point out, nowhere on the planet do the four rivers come together. Their charge holds true—but only for today’s geography. All four rivers flow into different parts of the Persian Gulf and all four rivers meet together in what Rose identifies as the Gulf Oasis. As Rose points out, the Gulf Oasis was also watered by springs upwelling from subterranean aquifers. Genesis 2:6 also states that “streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.” Genesis 7:11 identifies “springs of the great deep” as part of the source of the flood waters that wrecked havoc upon the ungodly of Noah’s generation. The Gulf Oasis vindicates the unique claims Genesis makes about the Garden of Eden and its surroundings.<br /><br />A calibration of the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies yields dates for Noah and Adam that are consistent with the timing of the existence of the Gulf Oasis. I describe that calibration based on historical and scientific dates for Abraham and Peleg in my book More Than a Theory.4 <br /><br />As Rose himself describes, the Gulf Oasis is consistent with biblical account of Noah’s flood. A long torrential rain storm, a tectonic event bursting forth water from subterranean aquifers, water from the Indian Ocean rushing through the Strait of Hormuz, plus a heat wave generating a sudden melt of snow in the surrounding mountains would have caused a devastating flood wiping out all inhabitants in the Gulf Oasis, the Mesopotamian Plain, and many of the regions surrounding Mesopotamia and what is now the Persian Gulf. Such an event would be perfectly consistent with everything Genesis 6–9 says about Noah’s flood.5 Rose’s study provides yet another example of how the more we learn about archeology, the more reasons we gain for concluding that the Bible is the inspired inerrant Word of God.<br /><br />Endnotes:<br />1. Jeffrey I. Rose, “New Light on Human Prehistory in the Arabo-Persian Gulf Oasis,” Current Anthropology 51 (December 2010): 849–83.<br /><br />2. Jeanna Bryner, “Lost Civilization May Have Existed beneath the Persian Gulf,” LiveScience (December 9, 2010), http://www.livescience.com/history/lost-civilization-possibly-existed-beneath-persian-gulf-101209.html (accessed December 10, 2010).<br /><br />3. Genesis 2:10–14.<br /><br />4. Hugh Ross, More Than a Theory (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009), 189–90.<br /><br />5. Hugh Ross, The Genesis Question, 2nd ed. (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2001), 127–72."</div></div></div></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-70145715527404132712011-02-23T15:36:00.000-08:002011-02-23T15:40:24.158-08:00Christchurch EarthquakeA city in NZ has had seriously big earthquake recently. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved! Michael, I'm glad your safe! Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-46485141457894864412011-02-18T15:29:00.000-08:002011-02-18T15:37:39.684-08:00Would like to announce a new arrivalYes, Esther went into labour on Tuesday and we now have our first child. He was 8 pounds 13. <div>We have called him Simeon, after the Simeon in the Bible who met Jesus as a child. His name means "hearing" or "God hears".<div> In amongst the sleepless nights we are absolutely stoked that God has blessed us with this little fellow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truely, God hears.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-65370697259340014362011-01-27T20:46:00.000-08:002011-02-18T15:29:01.095-08:00Theology group discussion - EvilSome friends and I have been getting together about once a month to discuss theology in general and any difficulties regarding our understanding with christianity or really anything such as atheism or deism.<div><br /></div><div>We have had a couple of topics so far and so I thought I would share a bit about what we discussed about God and evil, more particularly, about Isaiah 45:7 - "<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Often, I had wondered about what this verse means. We searched the meaning of the word evil ("ra") and we found that it actually had two possible meanings:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. It could mean a moral evil</div><div>or</div><div>2. It could mean a natural evil</div><div><br /></div><div>So what is the difference? Moral evil is to do something morally wrong such as murder or rape etc. What is interesting about natural evil is that Hebrews had a mindset that evil could also be a calamity or in other words dis-functional. </div><div>For example: When God flooded the world, it was not a moral evil act but it was a dis-functional act for God to do (because people died). He was right to judge people and wipe out what was morally wrong but people died in the act. God's best or functional ideal for humanity is to have righteousness dwell in the land and to have no death.</div><div>Like a country giving capital punishment to a moral wrong. The state isn't necessarily morally wrong for doing so (Some people might think so...) BUT a dis-funtional thing happened, someone died... it was not the best functional conclusion that could happen. It would have been functional to have everyone living good lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other interesting aspect to this word "ra" is that it is used in the tree of the knowledge of good an <b>evil</b>.</div><div>I remember having a big debate with "Stan the half truth teller" about whether Adam and Eve could comprehend moral evil before they ate from the tree. Stan argued that God gave loaded guns to infants, (God told them not to eat of the tree of which they didn't understand that it was wrong to eat from). I argued that they only had a part knowledge of what was right and wrong before they ate from the tree and then had a full understanding of moral evil after.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think we were both possibly wrong. IF "ra" in this sentence meant that Adam and Eve would have knowledge of dis-functionality then it completely changes the understanding of what that tree was about. They wouldn't necessarily suddenly understand what was right and wrong morally but would have an awareness understanding of what dis-functionality is. They would now comprehend dis-functionality - disease, distance from the garden and God.</div><div><br /></div><div>So really the tree could be a tree of the knowledge of good and calamity. Good can mean moral or beautiful in a similar manner. So Adam and Eve knew it was wrong to eat of the tree but did not have entire (God still told them they would die) knowledge of the calamity that could happen if they ate from it. </div><div><br /></div><div>It doesn't make sense to say that God told Adam and Eve not to do something that they didn't know was right or wrong to do.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-62856462197104011912010-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:002010-12-25T21:26:32.383-08:00Merry Christmas everyone! and a happy new year! DPDaniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-76295629538301162212010-11-24T00:48:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:37:59.588-08:00George H. Smith quote<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS, -webkit-fantasy;"><b>Freddie's Dead and I have been having a rather interesting discussion over at another blog. He left me with the following quote which I thought was rather interesting. I dis-agree with it, but I thought it would still be a good one to share on this blog:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS, -webkit-fantasy;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS, -webkit-fantasy;"><b>----Freddie said:</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"><i>George H. Smith says it nicely in his book Atheism: The Case Against God </i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"><i>"Consider the idea that nature itself is the product of design. How could this be demonstrated? Nature, as we have seen, provides the basis of comparison by which we distinguish between designed objects and natural objects. We are able to infer the presence of design only to the extent that the characteristics of an object differ from natural characteristics. Therefore, to claim that nature as a whole was designed is to destroy the basis by which we differentiate between artifacts and natural objects. Evidences of design are those characteristics not found in nature, so it is impossible to produce evidence of design within the context of nature itself. Only if we first step beyond nature, and establish the existence of a supernatural designer, can we conclude that nature is the result of conscious planning. (p. 268)" </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"><i>i.e. the design hypothesis is self defeating - if everything is designed you cannot discern design. You must first prove God and you can't use design as part of that proof.----</i></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS, fantasy;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS, -webkit-fantasy;"><i><br /></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;">He might say it nicely, and I must say, it is a well thought out conclusion to give him a complement, but conclusively he is in error.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;">1stly, I do not infer the presence of design simply because it is different to the rest of nature. I see probable design when I conclude that a happening is unlikely to be produced by un-thought out methods. If there are too many hand in hand links to a puzzle then it is unlikely to be a happenstance. I will not assume a naturalism of the gaps simply because I cannot see the designer.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;">2ndly, I also see that design can be like a gardener with his garden. The gardener can create a garden and let it run according to how he set it but within that it can formulate its own way (i.e. nature). So even though the garden made by the gardener is designed, it still has an element of chaos to it (i.e. mindless self-will).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;">Like the snowflakes... God set them in place and designed them but it does not mean that He controls every snowflake in its formation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:TrebuchetMS;">I also like Lewis’s quote here that I have used many a time. It is along a similar line of thought as Smith’s but from a different angle, and I think it makes more sense :D<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">To claim that creation has no meaning and then to assume we can comprehend that it has no meaning would be a contradiction. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">It would be assuming that comprehension of meaning comes out of non-meaning - or even a similar angle: rationality out of irrationality. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">For example, a computer game has several characters on the screen and they can only do what they were programmed to do. They don’t think for themselves and wonder how they got in the game. It wasn’t their purpose of design to do so. However, humanity can grasp purpose, and therefore we logically assume there is purpose behind our universe. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">Even more unlikely would be a hashed up computer programme formulating itself into a character that can comprehend its own meaning and purpose... which is in the end no meaning (being hashed up).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">Yes, these are my assumptions - and I believe that, for me, God is the most logical and rational answer for everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">I would have to assume more to believe otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:ArialMT;">Dan<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-31298907833165872942010-11-08T22:09:00.000-08:002010-11-08T22:22:54.840-08:00Uniqueness of the Galaxy-Sun-Earth-Moon System for Life Support<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOeHJgjus6LC3T3Z4wvDzmEZvCxkzyyBti17EOtlDE_AQDMR3v8YMRvZWL0iXgmLfWo58QXPs-hiH04hh5HbXx9YvjYxNHFFiBa66Lz_I1TWEfHO9HL9l2rcRMnvsJhhUt_b2xgRs1PZH/s1600/IMG_2513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOeHJgjus6LC3T3Z4wvDzmEZvCxkzyyBti17EOtlDE_AQDMR3v8YMRvZWL0iXgmLfWo58QXPs-hiH04hh5HbXx9YvjYxNHFFiBa66Lz_I1TWEfHO9HL9l2rcRMnvsJhhUt_b2xgRs1PZH/s320/IMG_2513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537430654108997026" /></a><br /><div><b>I found this an interesting read. Puts into question many "naturalism of the gaps" ideas. I am truly amazed at the amazing complexity that we find around us. Complexity that points toward a Grand Designer.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the link it came from: <a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09">http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">galaxy size (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too large</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: infusion of gas and stars would disturb sun's orbit and ignite deadly galactic eruptions<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too small</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: infusion of gas would be insufficient to sustain star formation long enough for life to form</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">galaxy type (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n07" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">7</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too elliptical</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: star formation would cease before sufficient heavy elements formed for life chemistry<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too irregular</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radiation exposure would be too severe (at times) and life-essential heavy elements would not form</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">galaxy location (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too close to dense galaxy cluster</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: galaxy would be gravitationally unstable, hence unsuitable for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too close to large galaxy(ies)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">supernovae eruptions (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n08" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">8</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too close</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radiation would exterminate life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too far</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too little "ash" would be available for rocky planets to form<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too infrequent</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too frequent</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radiation would exterminate life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too soon</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too little "ash" would be available for rocky planets to form<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too late</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radiation would exterminate life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">white dwarf binaries (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n08" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">8</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too few</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too many</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: orbits of life-supportable planets would be disrupted; life would be exterminated<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too soon</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too late</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: fluorine would arrive too late for life chemistry</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">proximity of solar nebula to a supernova eruption (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if farther</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient heavy elements would be attracted for life chemistry<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if closer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: nebula would be blown apart</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">timing of solar nebula formation relative to supernova eruption (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if earlier</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: nebula would be blown apart<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if later</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: nebula would not attract enough heavy elements for life chemistry</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star distance from center of galaxy (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.2)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient heavy elements would be available for rocky planet formation<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radiation would be too intense for life; stellar density would disturb planetary orbits, making life impossible</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star distance from closest spiral arm (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too small</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radiation from other stars would be too intense and the stellar density would disturb orbits of life-supportable planets<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too great</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: quantity of heavy elements would be insufficient for formation of life-supportable planets</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">z-axis range of star's orbit (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too wide</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: exposure to harmful radiation from galactic core would be too great</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">number of stars in the planetary system (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n10" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">10</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.2)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if more than one</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: tidal interactions would make the orbits of life-supportable planets too unstable for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if fewer than one</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: no heat source would be available for life chemistry</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star birth date (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.2)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if more recent</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: star burning would still be unstable; stellar system would contain too many heavy elements for life chemistry<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less recent</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: stellar system would contain insufficient heavy elements for life chemistry</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star age (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.4)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if older</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: star's luminosity would be too erratic for life support<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if younger</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star mass (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n10" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">10</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.001)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: star's luminosity would be too erratic and star would burn up too quickly to support life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: life support zone would be too narrow; rotation period of life-supportable planet would be too long; UV radiation would be insufficient for photosynthesis</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star metallicity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.05)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too little</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient heavy elements for life chemistry would exist<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too great</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: radioactivity would be too intense for life; heavy element concentrations would be poisonous to life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star color (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.4)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if redder</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: photosynthetic response would be insufficient to sustain life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if bluer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">H3</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">+</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> production (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n23" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">23</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too little</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: simple molecules essential to planet formation and life chemistry would never form<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too great</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planets would form at the wrong time and place for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">parent star luminosity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n11" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">11</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.0001)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if increases too soon</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: runaway green house effect would develop<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if increases too late</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: runaway glaciation would develop</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">surface gravity (governs escape velocity) (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n12" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">12</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.001)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if stronger</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planet's atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if weaker</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planet's atmosphere would lose too much water for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">distance from parent star (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n13" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">13</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.001)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planet would be too cool for a stable water cycle<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planet would be too warm for a stable water cycle</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">inclination of orbit (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n22" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">22</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.5)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too great</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: temperature range on the planet's surface would be too extreme for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">orbital eccentricity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.3)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too great</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: seasonal temperature range would be too extreme for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">axial tilt (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.3)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: surface temperature differences would be too great to sustain diverse life-forms<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rate of change of axial tilt (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: climatic and temperature changes would be too extreme for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rotation period (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n11" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">11</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if longer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: diurnal temperature differences would be too great for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if shorter</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: atmospheric wind velocities would be too great for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rate of change in rotation period (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n14" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">14</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.05)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if more rapid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: change in day-to-night temperature variation would be too extreme for sustained life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less rapid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: change in day-to-night temperature variation would be too slow for the development of advanced life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">planet's age (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too young</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planet would rotate too rapidly for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too old</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planet would rotate too slowly for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">magnetic field (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n20" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">20</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if stronger</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: electromagnetic storms would be too severe<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if weaker</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: planetary surface and ozone layer would be inadequately protected from hard solar and stellar radiation</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">thickness of crust (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n15" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">15</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: crust would rob atmosphere of oxygen needed for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: volcanic and tectonic activity would be destructive to life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">albedo (ratio of reflected light to total amount falling on surface) (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: runaway glaciation would develop<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: runaway greenhouse effect would develop</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">asteroid and comet collision rates (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: ecosystem balances would be destroyed<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: crust would contain too little of certain life-essential elements</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">mass of body colliding with primordial earth (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (0 = 0.002)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's orbit and form would be too greatly disturbed for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's atmosphere would be too thick for life; moon would be too small to fulfill its life-sustaining role</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">timing of above collision (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.05)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if earlier</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's atmosphere would be too thick for life; moon would be too small to fulfill its life-sustaining role<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if later</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's atmosphere would be too thin for life; sun would be too luminous for subsequent life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">oxygen to nitrogen ratio in atmosphere (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n25" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">25</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: advanced life functions would proceed too rapidly<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: advanced life functions would proceed too slowly</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">carbon dioxide level in atmosphere (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n21" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">21</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: runaway greenhouse effect would develop<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: plants would be unable to maintain efficient photosynthesis</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">water vapor quantity in atmosphere (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: runaway greenhouse effect would develop<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: rainfall would be too meager for advanced land life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">atmospheric electric discharge rate (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: fires would be too frequent and widespread for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too little nitrogen would be fixed in the atmosphere</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ozone quantity in atmosphere (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: surface temperatures would be too low for life; insufficient UV radiation for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: surface temperatures would be too high for life; UV radiation would be too intense for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">oxygen quantity in atmosphere (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: plants and hydrocarbons would burn up too easily, destabilizing Earth's ecosystem<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: advanced animals would have too little to breathe</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">seismic activity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n16" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">16</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: life would be destroyed; ecosystem would be damaged<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: nutrients on ocean floors from river runoff would not be recycled to continents through tectonics; not enough carbon dioxide would be released from carbonate buildup</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">volcanic activity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n26" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">26</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lower</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient amounts of carbon dioxide and water vapor would be returned to the atmosphere; soil mineralization would be insufficient for life advanced life support<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if higher</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: advanced life would be destroyed; ecosystem would be damaged</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rate of decline in tectonic activity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n26" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">26</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if slower</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: crust conditions would be too unstable for advanced life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if faster</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: crust nutrients would be inadequate for sustained land life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rate of decline in volcanic activity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if slower</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: crust and surface conditions would be unsuitable for sustained land life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if faster</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: crust and surface nutrients would be inadequate for sustained land life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">oceans-to-continents ratio (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n11" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">11</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.2)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if smaller</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rate of change in oceans-to-continents ratio (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if smaller</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: land area would be insufficient for advanced life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: change would be too radical for advanced life to survive</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">distribution of continents (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n10" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">10</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.3)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if too much in the Southern Hemisphere</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: sea-salt aerosols would be insufficient to stabilize surface temperature and water cycle; increased seasonal differences would limit the available habitats for advanced land life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">frequency and extent of ice ages (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's surface would lack fertile valleys essential for advanced life; mineral concentrations would be insufficient for advanced life.<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth would experience runaway freezing</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">soil mineralization (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if nutrient poorer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: diversity and complexity of lifeforms would be limited<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if nutrient richer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">gravitational interaction with a moon (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n17" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">17</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe for life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: orbital obliquity changes would cause climatic instabilities; movement of nutrients and life from the oceans to the continents and vice versa would be insufficient for life; magnetic field would be too weak to protect life from dangerous radiation</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Jupiter distance (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n18" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">18</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Jupiter would be unable to protect Earth from frequent asteroid and comet collisions<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Jupiter’s gravity would destabilize Earth's orbit</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Jupiter mass (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n19" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">19</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Jupiter’s gravity would destabilize Earth's orbit 9<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Jupiter would be unable to protect Earth from asteroid and comet collisions</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">drift in (major) planet distances (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's orbit would be destabilized<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if less</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: asteroid and comet collisions would be too frequent for life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">major planet orbital eccentricities (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n18" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">18</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.05)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's orbit would be pulled out of life support zone</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">major planet orbital instabilities (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Earth's orbit would be pulled out of life support zone</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">atmospheric pressure (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if smaller</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: liquid water would evaporate too easily and condense too infrequently to support life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: inadequate liquid water evaporation to support life; insufficient sunlight would reach Earth's surface; insufficient UV radiation would reach Earth's surface</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">atmospheric transparency (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too broad a range of solar radiation wavelengths would reach Earth's surface for life support<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too narrow a range of solar radiation wavelengths would reach Earth's surface for life support</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">chlorine quantity in atmosphere (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: erosion rate and river, lake, and soil acidity would be too high for most life forms; metabolic rates would be too high for most life forms<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: erosion rate and river, lake, and soil acidity would be too low for most life forms; metabolic rates would be too low for most life forms</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">iron quantity in oceans and soils (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: iron poisoning would destroy advanced life<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: food to support advanced life would be insufficient<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if very small</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: no life would be possible</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">tropospheric ozone quantity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: advanced animals would experience respiratory failure; crop yields would be inadequate for advanced life; ozone-sensitive species would be unable to survive<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if smaller</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: biochemical smog would hinder or destroy most life</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">stratospheric ozone quantity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: not enough LTV radiation would reach Earth's surface to produce food and life-essential vitamins<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too much LTV radiation would reach Earth's surface, causing skin cancers and reducing plant growth</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">mesospheric ozone quantity (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: circulation and chemistry of mesospheric gases would disturb relative abundance of life-essential gases in lower atmosphere<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: same result</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">frequency and extent of forest and grass fires (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n24" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">24</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: advanced life would be impossible<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: accumulation of growth inhibitors, combined with insufficient nitrification, would make soil unsuitable for food production</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">quantity of soil sulfur (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: plants would be destroyed by sulfur toxins, soil acidity, and disturbance of the nitrogen cycle<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: plants would die from </span><span style="position: relative; "><span id="993845599" class="popup" style="position: absolute; left: -160px; top: -60px; width: 400px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-width: 4px; border-right-width: 4px; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-left-width: 4px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 153, 204); border-right-color: rgb(102, 153, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 153, 204); border-left-color: rgb(102, 153, 204); background-color: rgb(204, 229, 255); padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; z-index: 2; visibility: hidden; "></span><a class="def" href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html" onmouseover="ShowPop('993845599');" onmouseout="HidePop('993845599');" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); border-bottom-style: dashed; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">protein</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> deficiency</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">biomass to comet-infall ratio (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.01)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: greenhouse gases would decline, triggering runaway freezing<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if lesser</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: greenhouse gases would accumulate, triggering runaway greenhouse effect</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">quantity of sulfur in planet's core (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: solid inner core would never form, disrupting magnetic field<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if smaller</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: solid inner core formation would begin too soon, causing it to grow too rapidly and extensively, disrupting magnetic field</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">quantity of sea-salt aerosols (</span><a href="http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designss.html#n09" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) (p = 0.1)<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if greater</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: too much and too rapid cloud formation over the oceans would disrupt the climate and atmospheric temperature balances<br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">if smaller</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: insufficient cloud formation; hence, inadequate water cycle; disrupts atmospheric temperature balances and hence the climate</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">dependency factors (estimate 100,000,000,000)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">longevity requirements (estimate .00001)</span></li></ol><h4 style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Total Probability = 1:10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">99</span></sup></h4><div><br /></div></span></div>Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5300869586016541037.post-39053682086983313612010-10-30T23:17:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:52:03.259-07:00Selfish about being unselfish?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, I've finally got internet running properly after trying to connect broadband to our new house we have moved into. Here is a little article I have been working on for Delve Deeper:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal">I remember a time several years ago when my mother, sister and I really wanted to bless someone who had done us a wonderful service. We were excited to give them a gift, not a large gift but something simple just to say “thankyou”. But when it came to the actual part where we handed it over to that person, they in their own way gave the impression that they did not appreciate receiving a gift for what they had done. We came away feeling not very wonderful after having given this person the gift.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I often hear a lot about the need for giving and the need to give with a cheerful heart. But not so often I hear about the need to receive with gratitude what someone desires to give me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why is this?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I often feel the need to let the other person know that they “should not have given me this”. Is it because I am prideful and I unwittingly do not like to be placed so low as to need to receive a gift from someone? Is it simply that I am embarrassed that they want to give up their hard earned possessions and hand them over to me? Or is it that I do not want to be <b>selfish</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> by accepting a possession?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> When it comes to giving, I need to remember that when I give someone something, I would like to see that they appreciate it and are thankful for it. I want to see that I can do something for them, that I can bless them; it gives me joy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> But what if someone wants to bless me? That means that if I would like someone to receive my gifts cheerfully and thankfully then I must likewise be thankful for whatever they give to me. I would then be doing to others as I would like them to do to me - as Jesus said, to “love your neighbour as your self”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> If Jesus really wants us to give then we also need to be willing to receive, otherwise no one could give because no one will receive.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> From another angle, I really like a portion from C. S. Lewis’s book “The Screwtape letters”. It is a book about a senior demon coaching a younger demon how to torment his Christian patient. There are many interesting insights into how Satan can deceive us with our so-called “unselfish” actions. This analogy talks about how we as human beings can desire to compete as to who can be the most unselfish.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">... the Generous Conflict Illusion. This game is best played with more than two players.... Something quite trivial, like having tea in the garden, is proposed. One member takes care to make it quite clear (though not in so many words) that he would rather not but is, of course, prepared to do so out of ‘Unselfishness’. The others instantly withdraw their proposal, ostensibly through their ‘Unselfishness’.... But he is not going to be done out of his debauch of ‘Unselfishness’ either. He insists on doing ‘what the others want’. They insist on doing what he wants. Passions are roused. Soon someone is saying ‘Very well then, I won’t have any tea at all!’, and a real quarrel ensues with bitter resentment on both sides. You see how it is done? If each side had been frankly contending for its own real wish, they would all have kept within the bounds of reason and courtesy; but just because the contention is reversed and each other is fighting the other side’s battle, all the bitterness which really flows from thwarted self-righteousness and obstinacy and the accumulated grudges of the last ten years is concealed from them by the nominal or official ‘Unselfishness’ of what they are doing or, at least, held to be excused by it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Though this analogy is not exactly what I have been talking about, it still carries many truths about us, such as our desire to be the least selfish. Refusing to receive someone else’s gift simply because I want to be unselfish can actually end up being a selfish act in itself. I need to humble myself.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I do find it sad that there is often superficialness to how others and I often respond to people. I need to learn to let someone else have their chance to experience joy and freedom to be unselfish by giving or acting for me.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Daniel (Da Pilgrim)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17590499058101108349noreply@blogger.com4