Philosophy Archives - Page 6 of 21

16 Life Lessons From The Yes-No Dichotomy

October 18, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

The Beauty
Of Yes

In this post I want to focus on decision making or what we might call the dichotomy of yes and no. Like 1’s and 0’s in computer language, life is a combination of these two words.

When tested for diseases, we long to hear, “No, found nothing! All is clear!” But a No in that situation is really a Yes to life. It’s a new lease and we love to hear it.

In spite of No being the best response in some situations, we still like hearing Yes more.

When asking for help or a personal day or permission from parents, “Yes!” sounds like a million dollars. It’s like winning a mini lottery.

But we aren’t always subject to the judgments of others or unpredictable circumstances. Sometimes, in fact very often, we sit in the Yes/No driver’s seat. Every decision we make involves a yes or a no answer. Sometimes it’s a little of both.

Even Indecision eventually becomes No.

The point is, Yes and No are unavoidable. There’s no bench warming in life. Yes and No make us a part of the game and Jesus had something to say about this dichotomy.

You have heard that it was said by them of old time, you shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths. But I say unto you, swear not at all. Neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool. Neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, yea yea or nay nay, for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil. Matthew 5:33-37

First let me address the problematic words. There are two: forswear and swear. They are opposites. A dichotomy of sorts.

Swearing is the strongest kind of promise you can make. If you swear to something, you have, in a sense, guaranteed it.

Forswearing, on the other hand, is what we call it when a person fails to follow through. They swear to do something and then fail to keep the promise. Or they swear something is true only to be found lying later. [Read more…] about 16 Life Lessons From The Yes-No Dichotomy

5 Truths About The Changes God Makes

August 30, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Every One Changes
Every Day

Change is what we do. It can’t be avoided. The problem is we don’t always change in the best ways or the right direction.

Sometimes abilities lay dormant. We don’t make the effort to develop them.

Sometimes abilities diminish. We develop them and then don’t use them.

Sometimes we take on bad habits or waste energy attempting to be things we can’t or shouldn’t. Not wrong things but things outside the limitations of our talent set.

Sometimes and worst of all – but strangely acceptable to most – we plateau. We reach above-average, rest on our laurels and stop forging ahead.

The Bible gives us many reasons to see Change differently. [Read more…] about 5 Truths About The Changes God Makes

Tim Pepper Music – Soulful Tuesday – Sunshine

August 9, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Sunshine

If it’s true that novelists write themselves, then it seems logical to think singer/songwriters sing themselves. And if that’s the case, then what does Sunshine say about Tim Pepper.

Tim is known for being thoughtful, which can be interpreted in many different ways. Some positive. Some not so positive, but that may be an accurate descriptor. Sunshine reflects both sides of the coin.

In Sunshine, Tim thinks and feels. He reflects and fumes. There’s nothing static. He isn’t eternally pessimistic or optomistic.

But I wouldn’t dismiss the song as just another boring dose of realism. It isn’t flat. It’s a little up and a little down, and it ends on an upbeat note. It moves honestly.

The song isn’t long, but it’s lots of fun and the tune is really catchy too. Enjoy!

Book Tim Pepper for house shows and more.

Lyrics

9 Reasons To Express Yourself With WordPress

July 8, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

WordPress
Makes It Possible
To Speak Up

Everybody has something to say. Not a few, everyone! Not the smart or attractive or advantaged or educated people but every person.

That includes you.

You don’t have to think or talk like an academic to have something to say or to share it clearly. No degrees are necessary. Sometimes study hurts. Degreed individuals aren’t always easy to understand.

What To Say

What you have to say isn’t difficult to come by. It resides within and gurgles up from the inside. It seeps whether you make an intentional effort to share it or not.

The point of this post is you might as well harness it and give it expression. Be intentional. Be deliberate.

One warning though. Initially, you may be tempted to say what’s already been said and repeating it is your way of adding endorsement. That’s OK at the beginning, but eventually you need to add your thoughts. What you think is significant. [Read more…] about 9 Reasons To Express Yourself With WordPress

9 Reasons Calvinism Is Illogical

June 20, 2016 by EnnisP 7 Comments

Of All Moral Choices
Salvation Is The Simplest
And Least Complicated

In the colonial era of American history, religion was very prevalent. The first settlers on American soil were religious dissenters, aka Pilgrims or Puritans. They lived by a very strict rule of life and church was the central point of their lives.

One well known minister from that era, Jonathan Edwards, preached a sermon titled Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God. The topic was Hell and no one could describe it better than Edwards.

In response to that sermon, almost the entire congregation reacted in some way. They wept in their seats, moaned, begged for mercy, cried out, walked around, fell down and more. That service is thought to be the start of the great revival that swept the area.

What people don’t always point out is that the colonies were immersed in the doctrine of Calvinism and those early Christians took the belief to it’s logical end.

Calvinism is the belief that God alone determines which individuals will be saved and which will not, and these eternal choices were made before creation.

In other words, if you or any other person is a Christian now, it is only because God decided in eternity past that He would save you. He saw you before you were conceived and chose or elected you for salvation. God was personally and intimately involved with you even before you were you.

In the colonial years, they believed that salvation was entirely a work of God. The Elect need do nothing, indeed could do nothing.

If any person approached a Christian leader and asked how they could be saved, the answer was simple. Nothing! You can do nothing to make it happen or to avoid it. If God has chosen you, you will be saved.

It is no wonder then that so many people responded so emotionally to Edwards sermon. If the listeners were longing for heaven – a reasonable assumption since they were in church – but were insecure about it, how could they not?

It doesn’t stop there. [Read more…] about 9 Reasons Calvinism Is Illogical