Update on CRU Climate Scandal

Quick update:
Last week, following the leak of hundreds of emails and documents which seem to indicate the massaging of data in order to make it conform more to their agenda (see links previous post) scientists at the East Anglia University Climate Research Unit (one of the leading climate research organizations in the world, upon whose recommendation many of the new policies regulating greenhouse gas emissions have been formed) have released their data files to the public.
It appears that a lot of it was messy, inconsistent, and totally useless.

Here are a couple of links to some discussions of one of the mast damning files, the HARRY_READ_ME.txt file, which is basically a three year log of a CRU tech's struggle to make sense of their climate modeling program. Keep in mind that the CRU bases its predictions on this program's results, and this is influences its recommendations to governments.

(Note: Some of the people writing these discussions are pretty upset and sometimes express themselves...colorfully.)

You can read the file itself here (it's very long):
Link

Here is a discussion of some of the more troubling points in the file:
Link

I have not heard much about this in the mainstream media, but the HARRY_READ_ME.txt file was the second most searched for item on Google a few days ago, so word is getting out somehow.
Read the file, the discussions, peruse some of the coverage on the internet, and see what you think.

Evidence of Global Warming Hoax? You Decide.

Anyone interested in the climate change debate should check out these links here. I doubt you'll hear the media give this much coverage, so you'll have to learn about it yourself.



http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?q=*&sa=X&date=2009-11-20

http://www.climatedepot.com/

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112004093_pf.html

A Quandry

If all of my friends say not to give in to peer pressure....what do I do?

More Thoughts on the Way to Class

Stairs cut into a hillside are a restriction.
They say, "Hey! You can't go up the hill there! Only here! This is the only place you can climb this hill, buddy!"
Don't put limits on me like that.

Beginnings

The man's journey began simply enough: a single step, which turned into another, and then another, and then before he knew it he had walked a thousand miles.
The child's life began simply enough: a single breath, a single year, which was followed by another, and then the years kept coming, and before he knew it, the child had lived an entire life.
The woman's love began simply enough. A single thought, which became a hope, which became a dream, which became a dream come true. And then before she knew it, she had loved more deeply than she had ever known.
The man's betrayal began simply enough. A passing glance, an impure thought, a quiet conversation. And then before he knew it, he had thrown away everything that was most precious to him.
Be mindful of your beginnings; every one of them has an end.

A Call to Arms?

There is something wrong with the church today. We are fractured. We are disunited and suspicious of one another. Why is this? It is the work of Satan, the deceiver. He has come among us and confused us so much that we have lost sight of the enemy, and we think that it is us. What can a Captain do with an army that turns upon itself? And what can the true enemy do but sit back and laugh at all of us with our swords turned upon one another? The army of God stationed here on earth is paralyzed with infighting and we wonder why the world is becoming increasingly dark. Do you know why? Because the light of the world is too busy arguing over which one of us is the real light to go out and shine. We must stop this pointless, time-wasting bickering. We must unite.

    I am not so naive as to think we could do away with all denominations and just be Christians. Though I long for that with all my heart, I know that as long as there is more than one man in the world, there will be more than one way of seeing things. An army is made up of many companies, and each might have its own way of interpreting the field manual. But as long as they are all loyal to the same Captain and follow His orders, then they are all on the same side. And this is the only division that really matters: loyalty to the Captain of our salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible only distinguishes between two kinds of people: the church and the world; those who believe that Christ is God, and those who do not. If you believe that Christ is God, and that He came into the the world to save sinners from their sins, that He died and was buried and rose again the third day and accomplished the work He came to do, then there is one thing I can say to you: Welcome, brother.

    When the eunuch asked Philip if he could be baptized, what did Philip say? Did he ask him who all he thought was going to Heaven? Did he care whether the eunuch thought they should have harps in the synagogue or not? Did he ensure he understood the five points of Calvinism? No. He asked him a simple question: Do you believe? The eunuch's answer was, Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And that was enough. Philip stopped that chariot and baptized the man. Why worry about who we think is going to be in Heaven? We'll find out when we get there! And I don't remember seeing the name Calvin anywhere in the Bible, so I don't really care what he thinks. All we should care about is what Jesus said, and then following that.

    In Mark 9:38, John comes to Jesus and tells Him that they found a man who was casting out devils in Christ's name, but they told him to stop because he wasn't part of their little group; their little church. How could this guy be doing any good if he's not a member of our church? I mean hey, we're as good as it gets, we've got Jesus right here! But Jesus tells them to leave him alone. He said if the man was doing miracles in Christ's name, then He could not be against Christ. And if he's not against Christ, then he's on our side. What was important  to Jesus Himself, the One all of us are trying to please? It wasn't membership, it was His name. He cared about whether the man believed on Him and was doing these works in His name. He then goes on to say that anyone who does a good work, even if it is just giving a drink of water, in the Son's name is worthy of a reward in God's eyes. But the disciples must have touched on something important to Jesus, because He keeps going. He says in v. 42 that anyone who offends (trips up, vexes, rejects) one who "believes in me", it would be better for them in God's eyes to be dead. Because face it, this is what happens when you try to swim with a millstone on your neck. Then in v. 43-49 Jesus sounds like He's chastising the disciples. He tells them that they can worry all they want to about keeping themselves straight. Worry about their own hands and feet and eyes. But not once did Christ say it was alright to cut off another's hand and cast it into Hell. He says His followers should be focused on cutting out of their lives anything that would offend or hinder them, and as they do this, they will work towards becoming that salt of the world, the salt that preserves and flavors the world. But if the children's focus gets off, if they start trying to cut each other up instead of the sin in their own lives, then the salt has lost its saltness, and is good for nothing. So He sums it up in v. 50 and says that we should have salt in ourselves and "be at peace with one another."

"Graham, this sounds dangerously like you are saying, 'Hey, it doesn't matter what we believe, as long as we love Jesus,'" you might say. I do not mean to say that doctrine is unimportant. It is very important. You should strive to learn all you can about what the Bible says about everything, about what you believe and why you believe it, and what the proof for it is. Because there is a truth, and there can be only one truth or it wouldn't be the truth. But don't study the Bible so that you can beat someone over the head with it and win an argument. And don't forget that we should all be searching for the same truth. It seems that Christ is more concerned with you actually doing what He said to do and serving others than trying to convert everyone to your own particular denomination. Actions speak louder than words, so it might be that while the church is going about doing good, that people might become interested and ask what the reason is for the hope that is in us. This is when the knowledge of doctrine comes into play as you explain to this person what you believe and why.

   But let me ask you this: will me and you disagreeing with one another about how many mansions there are in Heaven, or about preservation and perseverance really hinder us from doing good works together? Will it stop us from feeding the poor or visiting the sick? Will it prevent us from really doing the Lord's work as one body?

    Let's change our attitude. Let's stop viewing fellow Christians who believe differently than we do as the enemy, as a danger. We need to remember that we are all on the same side. Let us have peace one with another.

The Rest of the Story

Ponder with me a moment; because if there's one thing wrong with this world, it's that people nowadays hardly ever find time for a good old-fashioned pondering. "Oh, that sounds delightful, Graham!" you say (and you probably say this with a British accent, because this really is the only way for you to use the word "delightful" without it sounding too ridiculous) "What will we be pondering?" Glad you asked.

Which do you think came first: the tongue depressor, or the popsicle stick? I know they are both the same thing, so I suppose it would be more correct to ask to which use the flat, roundy-ended piece of wood was put to first? Think of it: medicine has been around for a long time, but then, so has frozen water. Perhaps someone using the one decided it would be good for the other? I can almost see it now...

Maybe someone had their tonsils removed, and was eating large quantities of ice cream while still in the hospital. I have always heard this is what happens when you have your tonsils removed, but having never actually been through the procedure myself I can't say it with certainty. And why is it that people always list the ice cream as some sort of bonus for getting your tonsils out? "Yeah, I had my tonsils removed, but I got to eat a lot of ice cream!" Well, aren't you special. Look at me, I can eat all the ice cream I want without having minor surgery! Yay me!

Anyways, back the the story. So this person is in the hospital eating their ice cream. The doctor comes in to give them a routine exam (maybe they're about to be discharged. I don't know how these things work, and you probably don't either unless you happen to have worked in a hospital before the era of the popsicle stick).

"Good morning, Mr. Wiggins. How are you feeling this morning?"

Mr. Wiggins, between mouthfuls of ice cream, replies brightly, "Just fine, Doc! Say, this ice cream sure is swell. I always heard that hospital food was supposed to be terrible, but this stuff is great! A little hard and tough to eat with a spoon, but still great! What do you put in it?"

The doctor, wearing the bemused, understanding sort of smile that doctors put on when they aren't listening to a word you've been saying, pulls out his tongue depressor.

"Well, Mr. Wiggins, we'll just give you one last check-up, and then we can get you back home to Mrs. Wiggins."

"But, Doc, there is no Mrs. Wiggins. I told you, she left me for-"

"Isn't that nice. Now say 'aaaahh'."

With little real choice in the matter, Mr. Wiggins allows for his mouth to be examined. The doctor is satisfied.

"Well, Mr. Wiggins, the tonsils look fine. You'll be out of here in no time."

"Gee, thanks Doc! Say, what are you gonna do with that stick thing?"
"Oh, this? Throw it way, I suppose."

"Can I see it? I just had an idea that could make eating this ice cream easier!"

"Well, I don't think I should-"

Mr. Wiggins, the light of invention bright in his eye, does not wait for the good doctor to finish his sentence and seizes the tongue depressor from his hand.

*splat*

"Look, Doc! I'm a genius!"