The Paris Climate Accord

I am not a scientist.  I have no special training in the science of climate change.  I have spent a lot of time out of doors, and I can observe.  From what I have seen, I believe that the climate is changing.

As far as I know, change is a universal constant.  There are very few things that apply to all times, places and things.  Change does.

Consequently, it is not surprising to me that the climate is changing.  Evidence from the sampling of tree rings, soil, the effects of solar flares, and the ice from glaciers and the polar ice caps indicates that the climate of earth has always been in flux.

There is some evidence that records from the last half of the 19^th century forward show a positive correlation between the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the increasing temperature of the atmosphere.  Any statistician will point out that this does not establish causality.

It took medical science a generation to be willing to say with scientific certainty that smoking causes lung cancer.  When they did, it was not based on correlational analysis.

An example from Critical Thinking (Logic) comes to mind.  If “B” always follows “A” when stated in alphabetical order, does that mean that “A” causes “B?”  A correlation shows that where one variable is present, a second variable tends to be present.  This can be stated with varying degrees of certainty, depending on the closeness of the association.  It is not, however, necessarily a proof of causality.

Personally, I think it is simplistic to attribute any change to a single cause.  Usually, more than one change agent involved.

It may be inadequate to say that the current change in climate is due solely to human activity, like air pollution.  Some years ago, I recall reports that ozone depletion was being caused by too much methane from animal farts; and this was because human overpopulation had created the need for more animal husbandry.  How true.  Anyone who has lived near a feed lot can attest to that.  (I’m joking.)

Anyway, it does not appear that even the most draconian measures to control carbon dioxide emissions can lower the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere.  The reports I am familiar with suggest that we can only stop its progress.

So, why should the United States accept the unfair terms imposed by the Paris Climate Accord?  It is a huge reflection of President Obama’s naiveté to assume that leading by example would have any impact on major polluters like the Chinese and the Indians.  It will only give them more reason to believe that we are fools.

I think that President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the agreement was the correct one.  As he puts it, we must to stop making “bad deals.”  The Paris Climate Accord places a disproportionate burden on the United States, and it gives the Europeans, Chinese, and Indians an unfair economic advantage over us.  Furthermore, it will cost us the opportunity to create more jobs by choking off growth in our economy.  By the way, Jerry Brown’s argument that the Paris agreement will create jobs by developing opportunities in alternative energy sources has not proven to be true, during the Obama administration.  Why should we believe it now?

I think the United States must be responsible for its share of the effort to preserve and improve the environment.  The nations who have approved the agreement say they will not renegotiate.  I think that is a bargaining ploy.  However, if it is not, then we should do what is reasonable to reduce pollution on our own.  I think we can agree that clean air and water benefit everyone.

Memorial Day, 2017

Tommy

By Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,

The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

    O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";

    But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,

    The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

    O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,

They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;

They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,

But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";

    But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,

    The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,

    O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

    Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"

    But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,

    The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,

    O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,

But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;

An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,

Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

    While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",

    But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,

    There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,

    O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face

The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"

    But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;

    An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;

    An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

https://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/tommy.html

To our elected representatives in Washington, D.C:

Never send Americans to fight and die in combat unless you are willing to do whatever it takes to win and to maintain the gains for freedom that have been won.

To the American people:

President Bush said that the war on terror would be a long struggle.  It will take at least a generation, or even two in my opinion, to achieve the kind of victory we need to ensure that we can lead our lives in a relatively safe and peaceful way.  Please do not grow weary of the struggle.  Please do not elect idiots like Barack Obama who throw away the sacrifices we have made.  Please do not make the war on terror into another Vietnam.

Romans and More

A method known as the “Romans Road” is often used to show people the plan of salvation.  If you are interested, you can Google “romans road,” and you will find lots of hits describing it.  I pray that Lamp in a Corner, at its core, will be used by the Holy Spirit to lead people to Christ.  I pray also that we will be used to disciple those who have surrendered themselves to Him.

To that end, then, here are some Bible verses that show the way to Jesus, and other verses to illustrate how the Christian life is led:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 NIV)

There is no one righteous, not even one;

There is no one who understands,

No one who seeks God. (Romans 3:10-11 NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NIV)

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9 NIV)

God is love. (1John 4:16 NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 NIV)

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do as he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to be in him must walk as Jesus did. (1John 2:3-6 NIV)

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

(1John 1:8 NIV)

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do … I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing … What a wretched man that I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God – through Christ Jesus our Lord! 
(Romans 7:15-25 NIV)

… I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins … (1John 2:1-2 NIV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9 NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)

What shall we say, then?  Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means!  We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:1-4 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose his very self?  (Luke 9:23-25 NIV) (yet forfeits his soul? Matthew 16:26 NIV)

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.  Because I live, you will also live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:20 NIV)

All this I have spoken to you while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:25-26 NIV)

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:16-17 NIV)

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 NIV)

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5 NIV)  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

(Romans 8:9-11 NIV)

Please repent and be saved.  Find a Bible based church that teaches what has been Christian doctrine from Jesus Christ forward. You will still struggle with sin, but if you surrender to the Holy Spirit, you will become more like Jesus every day.

Open Letter on the Honorable Neil Gorsuch

To:  The U.S. Senate

You just aren’t getting it, are you?  The voters’ message in the last two or three elections has been, “We are sick and tired or your failure to get the peoples’ business done, due to partisan political bickering!”  The nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch is a perfect example.

Judge Gorsuch is a man of good moral character.  He has not been convicted of a crime.  He has impeccable academic credentials.  As a private attorney, he did not commit any ethical violations.  As a judge, very few of his decisions have been overturned, and he has voted with the majority more often than not.  His writings are highly regarded.

You Democrats need to stand tall, suck in your gut, and accept reality.  Donald Trump is the president, and if Judge Gorsuch is not approved then you will be faced with another conservative nominee.  Meanwhile, you will leave the supreme court deadlocked, and unable to do the peoples’ business.

Judge Gorsuch is less of an ideologue than Obama appointees, Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Sonya Sotomayor.  You do not want him on the court, since the court is the only way you can advance your unpopular secular-humanist agenda.  Too bad.  You are stuck with it for the next four years.  You are upset because President Obama’s last nomination (Merritt Garland) was stopped by the Republicans.  It is history. Stop whining, get over it, and move on.

Stop blaming the Russians because you lost in 2016.  You lost because you ran a bad candidate.  You lost because President Obama was a failure, and nobody wanted more of the same.  You lost because you put the interests of your party establishment ahead of the interests of the people by running Hilary Clinton because it was “her turn.”  You lost because you were willing to let the middle class take hit after hit in order to advance the “greater good” of achieving your socialist utopia.  Wise up!  Now you are falling over the same rock twice.  The only people who still believe in your socialist garbage are college professors and their brainwashed students.

If you Republicans don’t get all your donkeys hitched up so that they pull in the same direction, you are going to screw up.  You have a two-year window of opportunity to bring about real change that will benefit all the American people.  How can you be so tone deaf!  Put your pride of opinion in the trash can and get it done.  To paraphrase Ben Franklin, if you don’t hang together, you will all hang separately in 2018.  That is not a threat.  It is just fact.

We the People demand that the senate cut the nonsense and confirm the nomination of Judge Gorsuch without further delay.

Some Things Never Change

The old saw says that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  In the Bible, the prophet Habakkuk was distressed by the things that were happening around him.  As we look around us we can see that, although the world has changed dramatically, the condition of the human heart is much the same.  The answer the Lord gave Habakkuk then still applies today.

How long, O Lord, must I call for help,

but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!”

but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted.  

(Habakkuk 1:2-4 NIV)

Then the Lord replied:

Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a whoever reads it may run with it.

For the revelation awaits the appointed time;

and it speaks of the end

and it will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come without delay.

(Habakkuk 2:2-3 NIV)

Has not the Lord Almighty determined

that the peoples labor is only fuel for the fire,

that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

For the earth will be filled with

the knowledge of the glory of the Lord;

as the waters cover the sea.

(Habakkuk 2:13-14 NIV)

Both the Old and New Testament declare that God will not put up with evil forever.  When he brings an end to it, will you be ready?  Trust Jesus for your salvation today.  Tomorrow may be too late.

Open Letter on Abortion Funding

To:  President Trump, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives,

The time has come to repeal and replace the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care).  Please do everything you can to help this effort.  As you do, please keep the following in mind:

1) No federal money must be spent to provide abortion procedures or to fund the other activities of "women's health" organizations, like Planned Parenthood, that provide abortions as one of their primary activities.  This includes federal "pass through" money provided to state and local governments for programs that provide abortions.

2) Employers must not be required to provide health insurance that funds abortion procedures.

Respectfully,

The Lamplighter

Taxes

It is a blessing to live in the United States of America and to be an American citizen.  We have a better life than most other people who live elsewhere.  It is reasonable that we pay fair taxes, to provide what is needed to help sustain our way of life.  Our taxes are set by our elected representatives, and it is a duty and a privilege to pay taxes.

When I was a kid, I had a paper route.  My mother was a widow.  She couldn’t afford to buy me a car or give me spending money.  The paper I worked for helped me to save some of the money I earned, and that is how I got my first car.  It was older, but it was in good condition.  Some of the other kids’ parents bought their cars for them; nicer cars, too.  They usually didn’t treat their cars as well as I treated mine.  It took a lot of delivering papers in the summer heat and winter snow to buy my car, and I had an investment in keeping it nice.  I knew that there was no way to fix it or replace it if I tore it up, because we didn’t have the money.

A side benefit of paying taxes is that it gives us a sense of ownership in our community and nation, a feeling of being useful and productive, and a stake in the outcomes of government policies. (Luke 12:34) I feel that each adult American citizen should pay taxes. Our most important duty is to God and His kingdom, however, we owe our fair share of taxes to the support of our country. (Luke 20:20-25)

We all pay sales taxes, property taxes, gasoline taxes, and so on. However, some people do not pay income taxes; either because they are lower income, or because they are rich enough to hire experts to help them avoid paying.  I think each adult who earns money in the United States should pay a minimum income tax of $100.00 for most of us, and $10,000.00 for those with incomes over $250,000.00 per year; regardless of how the deductions, exemptions, loop holes and so on play out.  No one should be refunded money that they did not pay in.

I would be happier to pay taxes if tax preparation was simpler. I seem to recall being told in college that, when the income tax amendment was passed, Americans were promised that filing their tax returns would never become so complicated that they would need professional help to do it.  (I think we were similarly promised that our social security number would never be used as a general identification number.)  Well, I prepare my own tax return every year, without professional help, however, I need professional (psychiatric) help after I am finished.

I expect the government to spend our tax money for the public benefit in accordance with the limits of government established in the constitution.  I expect the government to be careful not to waste my tax dollars.  Lastly, I want no public money, at any level of government, to be spent on providing abortions; here or abroad.