The Reasons Behind Charity

It is hardly the beginning of a new year, and yet so many strange things are already happening. Those near the Indian Ocean have experienced a tsunami beyond imagining. Here at home we see the West experiencing disasters of a near similar kind. The West is either being washed away by mud and water, or covered by more snow than they have ever seen.

While all that is going on, here in Tennessee with near record warmth for January, I ponder the imponderable of how terrible it would be to experience that kind of devastation. How would it be to have your loved ones swept away from your grasp, to never be seen again? Or perhaps, not quite as bad, my house . . . And as I watch the pictures on the news of those strong people, both here and abroad, I ponder about what the differences are between them.

You see, I am not the kind to look at our misfortune and forget about others. Yet, somehow it bothers me how I hear about all the aid we are delivering to Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and India; and I don't hear about much aid being given to those in California and Nevada. Should we help where we can? Yes! Should we help because it's the political thing to do? Not really. Should we help when others are suffering at home and we're already in debt? I'm not quite sure about that.

I just hope that when all is said and done, there will not be families overlooked just because they are Californian and not from another country that would look good politically to help. I also hope however, that we as individuals will take it upon ourselves to give and to help where we can . . . to everyone who needs it.

Evolution or Deevolution...

A couple of days ago, NBC ran a news clip noting how the animals all headed for higher ground some time before the tragic hit of the tsunami. The intro was something to the effect of, how did they know when the people did not? This brings up some interesting facts about animals. Animals just seem to know that an earthquake, tornado, or even excess carbon monoxide is present way before we humans figure it out. Many people tuned into their pets extreme restlessness have been saved because they then looked for what was wrong. How is it that people think we have evolved into superior beings? Wouldn't we retain those attributes that would help keep us around longer?

I get so tired of people thinking of evolution as a law of science. When one thinks about it, there's really not that many laws of science. (Think: For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction.) In school I learned that for a scientific theory to become a law, it had to become completely proven with no argument. Evolution is a theory, just as Creation is a theory. Until one is disproved and the other proven to the WHOLE of science, they are still that way.

Now, back to the animals... If one adds the belief of the Bible to science, he could never believe in macroevolution. (I often think it's pretty hard to believe in it even without the Bible included.) And, just looking at a more modern history . . . have we evolved or deevolved? I suppose it depends on how you look at that question. Just something to think about. You be the judge.