Monthly Archives: January 2010

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Really had a tough time this week.

- I am learning that allergens do really bad things to me.

I overloaded on wheat yesterday and I'm having a really hard time with respiratory stuff.

- I learned that I should not even put 1 quarter in the candy machine

because that leads to putting 3 quarters in the candy machine.

- I learned that I need to fix my lunch the evening ahead of time

or else I'll put stuff in it that's quick, but not terribly healthy.

- I learned that I need to attach my keys to my lunch...

Or I leave it hanging on the door knob (which leads to the overload of wheat and quarters...

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On Free Will and the Sovereignty of God

1. Explain the difference between a libertarian and a compatibilist conception of free will.

My study of compatibilism, will, free will and libertarian free will goes deeper than the readings from the textbook…and I believe that how a person defines these terms (and how that person feels about those definitions) affects how he or she views the sovereignty of God.

...continue reading →

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I'm odd.  The two classes this semester...GOODIE!  I get to do research papers!

10 pages each for the finals - one on the Philosophy of Religion and the other on a subject of Deafness.

Possible - linguistic development of deaf children (including brain scans on the language center of the brain) or the development of accommodation technology.

On the other hand..."the problem of evil" or "free will."

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Philosophy reflection paper:

January 19. 2010

Is Religion Necessary?

John Piper once said, “Words don’t mean things…definitions mean things.” In order to answer the question, “Is religion necessary?” we must first define “religion”. Some definitions say that “religion” is “the service and worship of God or the supernatural” (Merriam-Webster) or “the belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief” (google dictionary).  Others define “religion” as "a set of symbolic forms and acts that relate man to the ultimate conditions of his existence” (Robert Bellah, professor at the University of California, Berkley).

Huston Smith noted that the oldest artifacts found by archaeologists have religious significance.  In ages past, before more recent scientific advances, the world around us must have seemed far beyond human comprehension…and yet creation got here somehow…and so did we.

All (or nearly all) cultures around the world, past and present, have had some sense of “religion”. Even today, many cultures do not have a mandated religion, yet most people have access to at least one belief system called “religion”. Whether the worshippers wanted salvation from the physical world around them or whether they wanted access to an afterlife, it seems that human beings are programmed to seek something (or someone) larger than themselves.

...continue reading →

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One of my professors is deaf; she became deaf at such a young age that she doesn't remember every being able to hear.  For her, being deaf is not a handicap, since she doesn't know what "hearing" is.  For her, not having a sense of hearing is "normal".

I have the feeling that it's that way in many churches today.  If the gospel (first importance) is not preached from the pulpit often enough so that it's missed when it isn't there...the flock doesn't miss it...can't have the realization that they are hungry for it, since they don't know what they're hungry for!

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Have you seen "Pocahontas"?  Have you seen "Dances With Wolves"?  Okay, you know the basic story line.

GO SEE IT.  IN IMAX.

The special effects are incredible.

The parts I liked...when Jake first woke up in his avatar body.  His first contacts with the local beasties.  Anything having to do with Grace.

The parts that resonated with me...love against all odds.  When Neytiri found her dying father.

The parts that bothered me...the planet as "mother", the New Age emphasis.  But if you see it as an opportunity for discussion - good.

I've seen it twice and enjoyed it more the second time around.

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I'm going to cheat and date this for yesterday, since I'm a day late.

I gained 1/4 pound this week (I know the problem and it's solvable.)

I did try a new "recipe" - a real no-brainer, but it fits the carb, calorie, and all the rest of my guidelines.

The battery in my pedometer went dead (I think I have a limited number of times I can put it through the washer) and I bought a new battery Wednesday.

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* Exported from MasterCook *

Slow Cooker drumsticks

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4     Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : "flat belly" ingredient         - dairy AND wheat free
- dairy free                    - low sodium
- moderate/complex carb         6 points
Blood pressure                  chicken
lunch                           Meals to freeze
slow cooker                     soups and stews

Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
4                     chicken drumstick and skin, R-T-C
12            ounces  black soy beans, canned - eden
2               cups  green beans, frozen
2               cups  baby carrot
12            ounces  diced tomato
1/3           cup  brown rice, long-grain
any desired spices -- curry, turmeric, chicken spices, any herbs that go with chicken...

put all the ingredients except for the drumsticks in the slow cooker and add enough water or broth to cover (to cook the rice).  Put drumsticks on top.  Cook on low until done (I started it at bedtime and it was ready to pack for lunch in the morning...if you start it in the morning it will be done at dinner time)

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 314 Calories; 10g Fat (28.4% calories from fat); 23g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 10g Dietary Fiber; 41mg Cholesterol; 112mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 3 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fat.

Serving Ideas : - freeze for lunches

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missed a couple of days!

The water heater is in, although not what I expected.  When the plumber got to my house they "discovered" that the new heater has a bigger burner, thus more BTU's, and the old vent system would not work, so they wanted to tap into the chimney - and move the thing 8 feet, involving moving the water and gas lines...and much money.

I told them, it's just me, take that 40 gallon back and bring back a 30 gallon that you won't have to move.

So, they did.

My class last night is going to be interesting:  "Philosophy of Religion".   My paper for next week, "Is Religion Important?", based on quotes and philosophical definitions.

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.From Dr. Helen:

The original article has some interesting theories on monogamy (or not) that I'm not sure I agree with.

What I do agree with is the way that men (as opposed to women) are portrayed in media, sitcoms, television and the way that they are increasing treated in the court system treats both genders unfairly by robbing them of choices that should be theirs to make.

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We're preparing to send Tom off to college again.  I've adjusted very well to having the house to myself.  The drawback is that I don't need or want this much house.

Snow removal, furnace repair, water heater replacement (even with huge and gratefully received financial gifts) and roof repair and driveway repair coming up and...and...and...

I'm tired of being a single (alone, not single-family-dwelling) homeowner.

I've breezed through the websites of a couple of apartment  of complexes that look altogether tempting.  My house payment/rent would go down, my heating bill would drop by $100, my electric would be non-existent.  No more paying for garbage pickup, snow removal, lawn mowing.

I would have to pay for a storage unit/place for my camper, or make arrangements to leave it at my dad's house during the non-camping season, so I'd only have to pay storage for part of the year.

Just thinking...if I'm going to be in Grand Rapids, I might as well take some of the pressure off.