What are the Odds? by Terry Dashner

What are the Odds? by Terry Dashner

What are the odds?

Terry DashnerFaith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013

Chet Raymo, an astronomer and science writer who has calculated the odds of our universe resulting, as he believes it did, from sheer chance:

If, one second after the Big Bang, the ratio of the density of the universe to its expansion rate had differed from its assumed value by only one part in 1000000000000000 (no my 0 key isnt stuck. Thats 10 to the 15th power.), the universe would have either quickly collapsed upon itself or ballooned so rapidly that stars and galaxies could not have condensed from the primal matter The coin was flipped into the air 10 to the 15th power times, and came down on its edge but once. If all the grains of sand on all the beaches of the Earth were possible universesthat is, universes consistent with laws of physics as we know themand only one of those grains of sand were a universe that allowed for the existence of intelligent life, then that one grain of sand is the universe we inhabit.

The author who quoted Mr. Raymos statement says that he was asked to produce the quote one time by a personal friend to Mr. Raymo. States Yancey, in his book entitled Soul Survivor, One of the physicists asked to see the quote by Raymo, whom he knew as a personal friend. He pondered a moment, thinking out loud, Ten to the fifteenth power, ten to the fifteenth lets see there are [10 to the 22 power] stars in the universeyeah, I can buy that. Ill take those odds.

Speaking of odds, what are the odds that the earth should be tilted on its axis 23-and-a-half degrees? To vary either way to the slightest degree would mean death to life we know. What are the odds that the Earth, and it alone in its galaxy, should be the only planet with an atmosphere and environment capable of sustaining life as we know it? What are the odds that we were created by a loving God instead of a tyrantnot to mention that He is a God who is rational, comprehensible, and His creation is subject to verification? What are the odds that you and I were created for this time, in our fields of study, in our native countries, in our specific families, in our various colors, in our various cultures, with our various languages?

You may play the odds if you desire, but I think Ill just thank God. I think Ill thank Him for His beautiful and purposeful creation. I think Ill just praise Him that He gave me life and purpose for living. What purpose is that you ask? It is this: I am created for His glory. He is expending His magnificent glory throughout the universe, and He allows you and me to be one of His many vessels, chosen to complete His purpose on Earth.

The Bible says that we are gloriously and wonderfully made. Since God is a rational Creator and allows Himself to be comprehended (somewhat) by His creation, He has given us a written record of His plan. The written record is His Word, the Holy Bible. The plan is a redemptive plan. He sent His only begotten Son to this world (not Mars, not the moon, not) to free us from our depraved nature, subject to sin. In Christ His people are given higher life, eternal life. With eternal life, we are to reflect His life to others. How do we reflect His life? We live in the power of the Holy Spirit everyday. We surrender to the Spirits leadership and direction, and walk like Jesus walked.

How did Jesus walk? Slowly, deliberately, and genuinely, stopping at times to touch the sick, the outcast, the wounded, and the lowly who were unable to help themselves. He spoke only what the Father in Heaven spoke. He conducted His activities under the watchful eye of the Father. He loved. He came. He suffered and died. He was buried and arose from the dead on the third day, according to the written record. You keep the odds. Im basking in Gods goodness.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming again. Pastor T.dashBlessed!

About the Author
Pastors a small church in Oklahoma. US Navy veteran. Retired police officer. Votes.

Does Clean Mean Extreme Green? by Bill Knell

Does Clean Mean Extreme Green? by Bill Knell

Does Clean Mean Extreme Green?

By Bill Knell

Growing up in the suburbs of New York City in the 1960s was a pleasurable experience. Venturing into New York City, especially Manhattan, was not. The smell of car, truck and bus exhaust combined with a number of other foul vapors to produce a pollution mix that almost seemed toxic. If you were used to it, the city air was probably something that you were able to tolerate. However, to those who spent more time out of the city then in it, the air was filthy and made you sick.

By the late 1970s, the air quality in Manhattan and the other Boroughs improved substantially. There were a number of reasons for this including clean air initiatives and vehicle emission reductions. The city was also a much cleaner place. Concerns about pollution and living in a better environment caused people to clean up their neighborhoods. Dumping of materials into waterways was more tightly regulated or stopped altogether. Antiquated garbage and environmental facilities operated by New York City were updated or completely rebuilt. Anti-littering campaigns made us all think twice before throwing garbage on the street.

The cleaning up of New York City was not an isolated incident. Cities and towns throughout the United States became aware that a large part of their image and identity depended on how clean they were. However, this is not a new phenomenon. Whenever public health has been threatened by a lack of good environmental practices, there have been clean ups. Most large cities throughout the world have made sincere efforts to clean up their streets, waterways and neighborhoods. Municipal facilities that have to do with the environment have been updated.

As we began to take a closer look at the environment, it became obvious that good stewardship of our planet produced positive consequences. By replanting forests that were cut down, we insured a future supply of lumber and made sure that those areas were not impacted in a negative way. When limitations were placed on fishing in various areas, the future catch and survival of creatures necessary to those eco systems were guaranteed. Artificial products were combined with natural materials to produce superior textiles that were less expensive and eco friendly. The government limited the use of dangerous chemical pesticides which posed a threat to everything.

Despite all the positive results from a world of people who became more environmentally conscience, something went wrong. The movement to clean up the earth and be good eco stewards changed. It became a screaming protest against disturbing the world in any way. Things like logging, use of animals for food or clothes and drilling for oil were no longer going to be tolerated. Environmentalists wanted to put an end to human domination of the planet. The old enemy was large corporations that saved their bottom line at the cost of the cleanliness and safety of communities where they operated factories. The new enemy is us!

The environmental movement now insists that we leave the Earth alone. If we take them at their most radical, we should all just kill ourselves and make sure animals are around to eat whats left of our decaying flesh. Theres just no other way to look at it. No matter where we try and cut trees, drill for oil, pump gas out of the ground or build homes, we are in the wrong.

There is a difference between being good stewards of our environment and abandoning it. People are here to stay and we all need places to live, ways to get around and things to eat. Learning from past mistakes, we now produce less pollution and live in a cleaner environment. We use items that place less of a strain on earth resources. We have even found ways to help save other living things that were disappearing on their own from our world. By cutting forests, we forestall inevitable fires, save wildlife and gain a needed source of lumber.

Green Extremists are not environmentalists. They are self-hating humans who feel we a plague on the planet. People have not always been wise in the way they have dealt with the environment, however they may also be the worlds best hope. Many scientists tell us that without people and the natural progression of their development, the world would fall into an environmental stalemate. If dinosaurs were around today, most people would do everything possible to save such rare and exotic animals from extinction.

Humans have always been fascinated with animals. President Teddy Roosevelt was a hunter, but he also saw the need to protect wild animals and the environment. He did this by creating refuges and special areas that were protected by the federal government against overuse or abuse by people. In short, Roosevelt was a sensible environmentalist. He helped create a way for humans, animals and nature to co-exist. Todays extreme green fanatics could and should take a lesson from Teddy.
About the Author
Title: Does Clean Mean Extreme Green?
Topic: Science
Author: Bill Knell
Author's Email: billknell@cox.net
Author's Website: http://www.billknell.com
Author's Phone: 480-632-7909
Word count : 828
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