I Need God

The fact is, I believe in God. I do, with every fiber of my being. Sometimes I doubt, wondering why He made things so confusing. I begin to ask questions. What blessed moments are these! For at these times, my old misconceptions break down.  I see better who He is.

The intellectual life of the nation and the Western world has moved beyond God. They have progressed from point to point, watching the philosophical arguments for God collapse like dominoes. Galileo challenged the world Dante so vividly portrayed, centered on earth. No! Heresy, they cried! Yet God remained. Then Newton came along, challenging another precept. No longer did God keep the planets in their orbit, but gravity did. Fewer cries of heresy this time, for God remained. While, the earth may not be the center of the universe and gravity may explain a lot, but the fact is, God created the birds and the bees. Then Darwin comes crashing in with his theory of evolution. The cries of heresy begin to arise anew. God seems to be backed into the corner. Does God still remain? Einstein and the physicists of the 20th century come along and seem to tear to shreds the last few proofs. Where is God now?

It seems now that the intellectuals sing the song of Nietzsche, "God is dead." And we have killed him.

Yet I believe. I, who have grown up admiring Einstein, Darwin, Newton, and Galileo. I, who dreamed of being a paleontologist, a physicist, an astronomer, a boy feeding on the discoveries of the men who systematically pulled down the proofs of God. Why?

Because of the questions. Those doubts arise, and I begin to ask, as these brilliant men did, what is behind it all? I have not discovered any fundamental equation that describes the movement of the planets or of light. But I have discovered the equation that moves hearts.

Science is based upon observation. I observe my life and here I find my proof of God. The questions arise, so I do as He suggests. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself," (John 7:17) Why? Because He makes promises. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). What occurs when I do as he suggests? I abide in love. It surrounds me, enters within me, and then emanates from me. This is the hand of God, far more powerful an evidence than the words, "In the beginning" and all the follows after. This is no scientific truth ready to be peer-reviewed. It is intensely personal. And, yet, everyone of my peers can "review" this process. All can accept the invitation.

Perhaps this world wide era of intense doubt and questioning is like my periods of doubt. Perhaps the world is simply shaking off misconceptions about a deterministic God and other such nonsense. They realize now that God does not live in proofs. They do not need God to explain the origin of man, the planets, or light. But perhaps all will yet recognize the need for God as the origin of order, truth, and love.

To abide in love. For this, I need God.

Scientists propose one-way trips to Mars

Scientists propose one-way trips to Mars

Imagine volunteering for this trip! I wonder if there is any organization on earth with the guts to pull something like this off? Of course, the scientists proposing it are a little...eccentric. One of them believes life on Earth came from rocks on Mars.

But is it feasible? The scientists claim early European colonists had little hope of returning to Europe. Well, sure, but they also went to a place that had air they could breath, liquid water, and temperatures that a human can survive in. Mars colonization isn't going to be a trip across the Atlantic.

The idea is still intriguing, though...maybe I'll see people on Mars in my lifetime.

Policy and politics: Maybe it wasn't worth it | The Economist

Policy and politics: Maybe it wasn't worth it | The Economist

Perhaps a little economic reform would have improved health to a greater degree for the long run. I imagine whether or not a person is working has a significant effect on their health. And if our economy falters due to a large public debt, than what does health care matter?

Welcome back my good friend…

Sore throat!

It’s been almost a month since you last visited. I have gotten to know you so well over the last 6 months. You have visited me at least every few weeks. This latest absence you were away for so long I thought you’d forgotten me.

Remember the month we spent together over the summer? The hours of rest and relaxation and LSAT study you allowed me? I should add you to the list of those I thank for help with the LSAT.

Perhaps today will only be a brief visit, though. I don’t mean to be rude, but I am rather busy. I have a Chinese essay due tomorrow and I have to apply to law schools. When you visit, I would prefer not to be distracted by all these other things. I must admit, it’s a little inconvenient that you visit me at such a busy time.

You aren’t offended are you? I wouldn’t want you to feel unwelcome, but I do have a great deal to do. In fact, I believe I may be busy for some time to come. If you would be so kind as to phone before you visit, or give me some kind of advance notice, it would be greatly appreciated.

The source of strength

Back to those three numbers. I did well. Better than I dared hope. I won’t be heading to Harvard (students with a 4.0 and 180 – read perfect score - on the LSAT still only have a 5% chance of acceptance), but I have a good shot at some highly-ranked schools.

Why? Not because of me, definitely! I have a list of people to thank: my wife, my parents, good professors and teachers, good leaders in church and on the mission. All of them helped contribute to my abilities, to my faith in myself, to my ability to diligently study.

I cannot neglect my ultimate source of strength, though. I prayed hard for the Lord’s help in the months leading up to the LSAT. I tried to keep everything in perspective, remembering that the reason the Lord would help me is if my desires were in the right place. My motivation is to let Alisha come home and work and give my kids all the opportunities my parents gave me. Surely the Lord will help me in this?

And He did.

Those three numbers…

Do you remember those three numbers? The ones that came from the three hour test? The ones that will determine the next three years of my life.

Today I received them. I opened my inbox and there was an e-mail saying, “Your October 2010 LSAT Score.” I knew I wanted to open it right away. I hadn’t expected to get it until Monday. I moved the mouse to the e-mail, then hesitated. Should I wait for Alisha to come home?

No. I opened it. And there were those three numbers.

And life is good…

Here I come law school!

Thoughts Upon Finishing the LSAT

Today I took a 3 hour test that will give me 3 numbers that determine where I will be for the next 3 years of my life. And all those 3’s could have a fairly significant effect on the rest of my life. One pivotal moment….

But, it’s over! It’s so relaxing to be done. Unfortunately, I won’t find out for another 3 weeks.

I wish I could write something deep, meaningful, witty here. But my brain is pretty drained. I should be doing homework, but I just can’t focus…well, I’ll give it a shot.

End of Sabbatical

I can thank my friend Scott for this post, along with those that will follow. He asked me the other day if I was still writing on this blog.

“I haven’t posted in months,” I replied.

“That’s too bad. I enjoy reading it.”

This morning I read about a writer’s inspiration from his father. After graduating from college, the aspiring writer sat down with his father and told him, “I want to be a writer.”

The father’s reply was simple and straightforward, “Did you write today?”

“Well, I played baseball and-“

“You’ll never be a writer.”

What that writer’s father taught him that morning is a lesson meaningful to another aspiring writer, philosopher, lawyer, servant of God. If we want to be something, we need to be it now. It reminds me of a talk President Boyd K. Packer gave some years ago about how the best preparation for being a missionary is to be one now.

In the spirit of that message, and thanks to a little praise from a good friend, I’m picking up my blog again. This is my outlet and my practice for what I want to be – I hope it interests you. I hope it causes you to think a little.

Slam dunk!

I'm rewriting a paper on illegal immigration for my persuasive writing class. I tried to argue that getting rid of barriers to immigration will improve the economy. My first try lacked an important logical step: why immigration benefits the economy. I thought I had a good argument, but when I reread upon my teacher returning it, I wondered what I had been thinking. Here's the original paragraph:

This argument only works if legal immigration is beneficial to the economy. George Borjas, an economist at Harvard found that among Hispanics, a group made up largely of immigrants, wages are dropping from earlier years, due to educational differences. With falling wages, more immigrants are poor and poor people are a greater burden on society. They pay fewer taxes and use more services, such as food stamps and welfare. Douglas Massey, a sociology professor at Princeton, suggests that the picture is not this simple, though. Due to public opposition to immigration, many immigrants avoid using the benefits provided by the state. He states that “children [of immigrants] in U.S. schools fell from 35 percent to 19 percent, and food stamp usage dropped from 15 percent to 5 percent." In a study by Chojnicki, Docquier, and Ragot, French economists using U.S. data, found that immigration has a net benefit over the long term for all people within the U.S. economy. While they are poor, these people come to work. They have a higher labor force participation rate than native-born residents. As shown by Newburger and Gryn, 65% of native born population over 16 works, while 67% of the foreign born population works. From this conglomeration of numbers, it is clear that legal immigration benefits the United States.

Awful, isn't it? I needed some new and actual logical logic to prove my claim.

It just so happened that as I read the New York Times this morning, I came across this headline "Work Force Fueled by Highly Skilled Immigrants." It was about immigration, so it drew my interest. The content? Immigrants are as likely to work in highly paid jobs as poorly paid jobs. I checked out the report the article is based on and it is perfect for my paper!

The reason I'm posting this is two-fold. First of all, I'm stoked! How likely is it that the day you are going to revise a paper, there is a news article fits your argument perfectly? Second, the economics is interesting (and, I feel, obvious, though there are plenty who disagree with me).

America is a good place to live. We're rich, we're free, taxes are pretty low (for now), and we have plenty of room to grow. Lots of people want to move here. When I was a missionary in Australia, most of the people I spoke to were immigrants. Most of them had tried to get into America before ending up in Australia.

We have our problems, of course, but nothing compared to the corruption, wars, famines, and poverty that hold so many other countries in their grip. So, people want to come here. Millions do come. They do so legally, paying the fees, filling out the paper work, and jumping through all the other necessary hoops. And then there are the millions who come illegally. They cross the border with Mexico, sail into harbors hidden in cargo containers, and overstay visas. The problem is that these illegal immigrants are more likely to work in low-paying jobs, less likely to get an education, more likely to be paid under the table at below minimum wage, less likely to pay taxes, etc.These are all costs to our economy - we are creating an underclass of people who are poor and have no way to improve their condition.

What can we do? let more immigrants in. Make it easier and cheaper to enter the country. Get rid of arbitrary quotas on visas. If we allow more people to enter the country legally, fewer will enter illegally. With this shift of immigrants to legal status, the economy will benefit in numerous ways. More will work in high skilled jobs. They will pay more taxes and create growth. Less skilled workers will work at minimum wage, meaning legal residents need not fear businesses hiring illegal immigrants for lower than minimum wage. Poor immigrants will have greater access to health care. They will also have greater opportunity to move out of poverty due to greater access to education.

By making it easier for immigrants to enter the country, our economy will grow. If people are afraid of immigrants stealing jobs when times are tough, as growth ebbs, so does immigration. But, when times are good, immigrants can make them even better by being productive, spending money, developing new ideas. And, on a more humanitarian note, it improves their lives, as well. In all honesty, this is more important to me than the better economy. If immigration were more costly than beneficial, I would be ok with that. I could give up my iPod and laptop if it meant more people could escape the poverty and violence that has gripped their native lands.

So, I have to thank the New York Times for that article - a slam dunk in my immigration argument.

A Digression to Truth

     For a moment I will digress from politics and economics to a matter of truth, a matter important on this blog because it is the motivation for all I do. It is a thought extremely important to me and one I have been exploring for the last couple weeks.
     I do not believe in God because of reason nor out of any necessity. I do not believe in God because He has to exist, based on some logical proof. Those grounds are like the deck of a boat: swaying and rocking; at any time, some big wave could come and capsize me. No, the firm ground on which I stand is that of experience. I know God lives because I have experienced Him. The scriptures have been passed down through the generations, sharing the stories of those who have experienced God - heard His voice, seen Him, felt His guidance - in their own lives. My parents and many others, who have experienced God in their own lives, have shared their experiences with me. 

     And so, having grown up hearing these experiences, I followed the pattern presented to me: I studied these experiences; I thought about them, long and hard; and then I got down on my knees and prayed. My own experience followed. His love filled my heart. A peace entered in that I have only felt in prayer and in His holy temple. I have felt His presence and His love. I know He knows me. I know He loves me. I know He lives.

     Therefore, even should the scientists discover the source of the Big Bang, even should they explain the entire natural world without God, I know He lives, for this is not my foundation of truth. My foundation of truth is my experience, and I have experienced God. He lives! And for Him, I live.

Anti-vaccinationists

I am working on a paper on health care for my persuasive writing class. In doing research, I came across this paper, which I think has interesting implications for the health care bill. Anti-vaccinationists are against mandatory vaccinations for a number of reasons, most notably because they believe it infringes upon individual liberties. While vaccinations are largely mandatory, laws were repealed in several states and exceptions were allowed. More to say, but I gotta work on that paper.

Healthcare Bill

I imagine everyone has his or her own opinion and has posted it in some way, somehow. I've read the news articles, but not the Facebook status' yet.

Anyway, here are my thoughts. Something needed to be done. It is unjust for the wealthy to have so much and the poor have so little. This is true for many aspects of American society, but I will stay focused right now.

It is unjust and something needs to be done. But what? That's the part I'm a little unclear on. That's why I like representative democracy. Dangerous, I know. Incentive for me to allow my life to be governed by others. But it also allows me to focus on things I am good at while politicians focus on politics. Sorry, tangent again.

Healthcare: a few initial thoughts.

Exchanges. I feel like they may work. Creating markets is a good thing.

Mandatory Insurance. This is effective and efficient from an economic standpoint. Insurance works best when everyone that is at risk jumps in. It struggles when those who are more at risk buy in and those that aren't don't. That leads to higher premiums. Mandatory insurance can spread the risk and lower premiums. But is the federal government overstepping its bounds in mandating us to buy insurance? Is that power in the Constitution?

Employer Requirement. Why? Is it just easier to have employers offer insurance? This is the only explanation I have. Big companies have offered health care since World War II. It's part of our societal structure now. But, why not have individuals buy it? Wages will be higher (if employers are offering health insurance, this will increase costs, reducing the money available to pay workers) and we can spend our money how we want, on the health plans we want. I like having more control of my money.

These are some initial, basic thoughts. I support the idea of the "community" of the nation working together to increase the quality of life for everyone within it. I am not sure doing this on the national level is the most effective. Perhaps somehow encouraging states to do it, tailored to their different circumstances, would work better. But that may not be feasible.

Hopefully the national debate that will continue from here will be constructive and not obstructive.

Just another side rant, I do not like the Tea Party's position of "Kill the Bill." Just saying no is not helping anyone. Something needed to be done. Engaging in the debate rather than trying to stop it is far more effective, far more democratic, and far more moral.