Ah, Yes. The Election.
The Trump people appealed their case to the Fed. Appellate Court in Penn. The judge, a Trump appointee wrote: “Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have NEITHER here.”
Fred
Fred, sure. And you agree with that. But remember that in the Bush/Gore legal fight over Florida, Bush lost every one until it got to the Supremes. But even then, either side might lose, and we shall have to wait and see.
Dear Mindfog: The 1.8 million figure represents the number of mail-in ballots that Penn reported had been requested by Democrats as of the voter reg. deadline of Oct 19. That figure did not include the hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots requested by Republicans and 3rd parties (approximately 800K).
Notice this issue (as far as I have seen) was not presented in Giuliani’s case to the court.
Fred
Fred, thanks. I am happy to stand corrected — until such time as I am corrected again. But remember what I argued in my piece. What matters is the truth. If there was massive fraud, you should want Trump to prevail in his challenges, right? And if there wasn’t, I should want him not to prevail.
I saw that you repeated Rudy Giuliani’s claim of 1.8 ballots requested, 2.5 million ballots cast in Pennsylvania. A quick google search will reveal that this is not true. This article is from October 19th:
I earlier wrote a comment on one your posts, a post in which you also repeated a factually incorrect claim from Giuliani, that Christians really should stop being so easily duped into believing the latest conspiracy coming from the Trump administration. That remains true. But I also understand, as Simon and Garfunkel sang, that “a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.
Justin
Justin, on the mail-in ballots numbers, see above. I do stand corrected. On your broader point, it is true that “a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” Unfortunately for your thesis, this applies to people on both sides of a dispute. In the arguments I have presented, it is as though I testified that I saw a man in a blue coat with yellow buttons chasing a lady down the street with a meat axe, yelling various forms of mayhem, only to have fact checkers jump in with the observation that the button were more off-white than anything else.
E. Michael Jones and the Jews
I’ve been reading you for a few years now. I’ve read, and been blessed by, many of your books. I find Canon to be doing excellent work in most quarters right now. While I have some theological differences (I’m a Baptist namely) I find we’ve got a lot of common ground. But, a recent observation compelled me to write in to you and ask some questions.
I saw the new trailer for Man Rampant season 2, specifically the episode starring E. Michael Jones. I did a little digging on him and was troubled by the nature of his anti-Semitic rhetoric. Of course he denies being an anti-Semite, but his myopic focus on Judaism being the mono-causal explanation for everything bad in the world seems to betray that his denial is hollow. I looked through your blog and noticed (unsurprisingly) that your interest is not at all in his take on Judaism but rather how he looks at the Western world’s sexual debauchery and enslavement thereto.
So, I’m not trying to write a harangue demanding an apology but rather I was hoping for a good explanation for his presence on Man Rampant. I would venture to say this is not a guy I would want to be associated with in any universe, present or parallel. I don’t doubt he has a good take on the Western world’s licentiousness, but aren’t there others who could fill the role without spreading the foolishness he does about Jewish people?
The positions that men like us hold (especially on family, sexuality, and government) are already explosive enough and for good reason! But we don’t need to bring down empty controversy from associating with conspiracy theorists who come uncomfortably close to defending the Holocaust just because they make some good points. There has to be a line somewhere and I am quite convinced that this ought to be it. Let the gospel be the stumbling block when we speak to Jewish people, a crucified Messiah will be controversy enough I imagine.
Still plan on reading the blog and not interested in cancelling anyone. I probably will watch Man Rampant season 2, but I won’t be watching that episode on principle.
John
John, thanks much. I have read a number of Jones’ books, and have found them truly invaluable. At the same time, I used to subscribe to his magazine, but discontinued it because I found it more than a little tedious to have a nefarious Jew on every cover. I don’t have time for that. But then, again at the same time, I personally have been cancelled enough because of the all too common guilt-by-association game that I do not want to participate in it myself. That means that I can have a conversation with Jones and that is not tantamount to me signing off on any other beliefs of his. So I do not buy Jones’ take on the Semitic peril at all, but his contributions in other areas I have found a valuable ground for discussion. Hope this helps.
Piper and Critical Race Theory
I am waiting with bated breath for a commentary on John Piper’s two-part podcast episode on Critical Race Theory. Would you consider addressing it?
Mallory
Mallory, thanks. Where might I find it? And what is it titled?
Family Getting Along
Thank you so much for your ministry!
I have come to embrace many “unique/unpopular” doctrines such as: 5 Point Calvinism, Young Earth Creation, Patriarchy, Biblical Counseling, Presuppositional Apologetics, General Equity Theonomy, The Regulative Principle of worship, Church membership and Discipline, The Dominion Mandate, Christian Education, Post-Mil Eschatology and real wine at weekly communion!
Does everyone in your family hold these doctrines? Do you have any practical advice as to how to maintain relationships when there is disagreement?
Cheers!
PJ
PJ, yes, in our family we all (more or less) hold to some version of all of those. But the secret to getting along (and I am not trying to be evasive here) is to not wear all those doctrinal positions on your sleeve. The key to broader fellowship is to walk together in the light with anyone who loves Jesus Christ.
The Later Rush
Grateful for your ministry. I’ve noticed a few times you’ve warned against later Rushdoony. I’m curious what are some warnings you’d give people about Rushdoony, Bahnsen, or North? Is there. List that you keep somewhere or some resource you’d recommend?
Tyler
Tyler, when I have recommended the early Rushdoony, it was because of his insight and incisiveness. In my experience, the stuff he wrote later didn’t have that same incisive edge. It wasn’t so much warning people off — although I do believe that Rush did not value the institutional church enough, and elevated the family too much perhaps. And there are other points of disagreement also, of course.
Enneagram Questions
Regarding your thoughts on the Enneagram personality profile (which I read with great interest since all my employees complete an Enneagram profile, and this seems to have helped tremendously with communication and ensuring appropriate roles within the company) . . . how do your thoughts jive with Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians 12 on unique spiritual gifts? Couldn’t one say that we each have unique personalities and character traits that, although alterable in some respects, would tend to make us naturally better or worse at particular tasks (e.g. accounting department vs. sales vs. customer service, etc.?) And couldn’t one furthermore say that having a system to identify those unique personalities and character traits could prove useful in some scenarios, such as hiring for specific business roles?
It just seems to me that this may be a situation in which we can take something that, at least in my experience, seems to produce good fruit and be quite helpful in business, and “claim it for Christ”, despite its origins. It seems like the pros outweigh the cons.
Ben
Ben, I agree entirely with your middle paragraph. Of course people are gifted differently, and of course we should try to hire round pegs for round holes. And yes, we can redeem discoveries made by people with dubious origins. But I think that must be done with eyes wide open. In my experience, Christians who are into the Enneagram are not nearly wary enough — and it is almost as if they don’t care about the occultism, etc.
Regarding The Enneascam. I really appreciate someone with biblical sense addressing this. I was forced to take a senior seminar in college about the Enneagram, and it made me want to barf due to the obvious self centered navel gazing.
What do you think of the other personality tests being used by the vast majority of businesses in order to place people in jobs or adjust management for people’s personality style? Full disclosure, I use a personality test called the DISC to help me get to know people during my hiring process. I’d put the good insights in the glaringly obvious category, and since I unfortunately rarely have access to said person’s grandmother or other life history, the business version of personality tests are a tool we use at the front end of things to find out thinks like, does this person like talking with people all day, or hate it?
Joel
Joel, I don’t think it is a sin to take or to administer a personality test, or to use them in business. But I do think that there is a danger (regardless of what test it is) to treat the results as though they had as much objective validity as a test that can tell your blood type. In addition, the career minded tests just blow right by certain obvious biblical things. When was the last time you heard of a woman taking a test down at HR for Widgets, Inc. and the nice lady there told her that she was best suited to be a wife and mother?
Singleness as Affliction
I have often felt this way about singleness for a time, but I am unsure as to what to do with my situation. I am in my late twenties, live at home, have no debt, but also no steady job. I know beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt that I do not have the gift of celibacy. I do not have a record of pornography (at least in the stricter senses) but I do get lonely, and I do sometimes have bad thoughts about girls, so I am not sure that I can live life without falling into some sort of heartbreaking sin. Should I wait until I have a steady job or other steady finance and can afford to move out, or should I seek a wife as I am, and look for work or seek publishing for my writings in the meantime?
Anonymous
Anonymous, I obviously don’t know your complete situation. But with that said, you should not “wait” until you have a job. You should move out an get a job. Don’t “look for work,” get a job, even if it is not ideal. Then find a girl. Don’t worry about publishing anything unless you have at least two kids.
Brilliant work, here.
From pastor to pastor, one thing you did not mention, that I have faced numerous times, is the problem of parents wanting their good Christian children to date (and be pure, of course) for wayyy tooo long. If an 18-20 year old couple meets and connects, the parents want them to keep their hands off of each, aaaand graduate college and start a career before they marry. I gently remind them how insane this is, but they get offended. I then let them know how many marriage counseling sessions I have with (1) couples who did not wait and kept it a secret from their parents and now feel tremendous guilt, and also (2) couples who established their loving bond on a completely asexual plane (because they actually did keep their hands off each other) and now they haven’t had sex in months or years. The blinkered looks I get tell quite the story. Yet, they remain unmoved.
I oppose this with all of my strength, but it seems to be deeply ingrained in our conservative Christian world. Any ideas why?
BJ
BJ, I think it is the result of hidden idols — in this case the idols of respectability and money. The idols of the comfortable middle class.
Re: singleness as affliction. What are your reasons (exegetically) for seeing a gift (ability) of celibacy in 1 Cor 7:7? That verse says that Paul wishes all *were* as he *was*—not that all *had* what he *had*. The language points squarely in the direction that the “gifts” in view were the respective states of singleness and marriage. (Kenneth Berding’s work on spiritual gifts has done a lot of damage to the idea that charismata always means a special ability.)
Furthermore, if Paul thinks his gift is a special *ability* to be single (“one of one kind”), then the parallelism (“one of another”) would suggest an analogous gift, a special ability for marriage. I’ve got lots of miserable wedded folks in my church who would love to have that one.
Paul’s argumentation in the rest of the chapter follows suit, suggesting the benefits of singleness and encouraging people to consider wisely. The clincher for me is v. 40. This widow, having been married and sexually awoken, is told that she’ll be happier if she stays single this time around.
If we don’t assume, out of the gates, that 1 Cor 7:7 is referring to a special ability to be celibate, then I’d suggest that a careful exegesis of the chapter leads us in a very different direction than the one you’ve taken here.
Chris
Chris, thanks for the thoughtful interaction. My exegetical reason for assuming that Paul is talking about a combination of a gift and an ability to use the gift, meaning both the status of being single and contentment with being single, is that he expressly budgets for the people who can’t do it. He even discourages prolonged abstinence within marriage for this reason (1 Cor. 7:5). The clincher for me is v. 9 — it is better to marry than to burn. If they “cannot contain.” If the status of singleness were best regardless, this advice would be unnecessary.
Post: “Singleness as Affliction”
Dear Mr. Wilson, I am a young Christian man (20) from New Orleans. I really appreciate your blog post about “Singleness as Affliction.” Your post is truly a breath of fresh air and truth.
As a young guy, I am tired of being told that I’ll find a Christian wife “in God’s time.” Even though I desire and value to become married relatively soon, I do not foresee myself finding a wife anytime soon.
I know that all things work together for the good of those who love Christ (Romans 8:28). So, I just wonder where marriage falls in terms of human freedom and God’s providence. Is finding a wife more in my control or does God guide that? If you have answer, I would appreciate to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Nathan
Nathan, God oversees every decision we make, including the decisions regarding marriage. We shouldn’t try to figure out how much of it is God’s department, and how much of it is ours. It is all God’s, and all ours. So submit the issue entirely to Him, and then go find her.
Announcing the Modernized Geneva Bible
If the basis for preferring Textus Receptus (TR) translations is that the TR was the source of the Scriptures embraced and openly used by the community of faith, why not prefer the Geneva to the AV? The Geneva was the translation preferred by the more thoroughly Reformed types. The AV was the version favored by the more compromised Church of England. Am I missing something here?
Daniel
Daniel, as it happens . . . look here. Announcing . . .
Eschatology Matters
I was introduced to your podcasts this summer and have been following with great interest. I have started reading your fiction also.
As background , I was raised churchy but did not receive the Lord until I was 28. I traipsed through Church of Christ, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and CMA churches. I always kind of wanted to be a Presbyterian, but infant baptism threw me off because I was also being washed in waves of Moody Radio, listening to boatloads of sermons and teachings. We settled into a Baptist style church with a MBI graduate pastor. So, you can see how my pre-trib pre-miI and believer’s baptism inclination formed . So when I recently read your book When the Man Comes Around my brain started hurting a little.
First question, if we work for Jesus while we’re here, and go to be with him when we die, does eschatology matter a whole lot?
Question 2 Will I become a more optimistic person if I become post-mill? (No Enneagrams for me)
Question 3, what should I read next?
Thank you
Lesa
Lesa, yes, eschatology still matters because it affects the kind of work you will attempt to do. With regard to your second question, yes, generally speaking. And third, try Heaven Misplaced.
Start a New Church?
I’m writing with a simple question: when is it ok to start a church? I’ve attended the same church for the past 7 years but they have fallen prey to this woke culture and to put it bluntly, they have been prostituting the church and trying to make her more presentable to the world, and not to Christ. I have tried to talk to the elders but they have all written me off as haughty or too dogmatic (as if being dogmatic is an inherently bad thing). And when I have sought advice from more ‘like minded’ people they say I should just keep going to the church and try to be a ‘light’ to it. Which seems odd to me for two reasons: number one, I have a family and I don’t feel like I should subject them to poor teachings in hope of some undefined future that the church might change; secondly, I thought evangelism dating was generally a bad idea. Lastly, just to be clear, the idea of starting a church isn’t my first thought. I have looked into other churches in my area and there are none that would fall under the reformed tradition. I would much rather sit under authority than start a church but it seems to me like the latter might be necessary.
Joseph
Joseph, I obviously don’t know all the factors, but from what you describe it looks that way to me too.
What Does the Dog Know?
I have heard many negative things about you from my Reformed Baptist pastor friends, but having read five or six of your books and listening to your sermons, I have concluded that my pastor friends are wrong. I strongly agree with you, but my dog watches t.v. and we were watching a video of you, and you are the first and only person he has ever growled at. That must mean something.
In Christ, bless you,
Bob
Bob, it means your dog needs counseling.
The Ransom Trilogy
I was introduced to the Ransom Trilogy by your talk on Out fo the Silent Planet on the All of Christ for All of Life Podcast, and in a matter of about two weeks after that I had finished all three books! They were absolutely terrific. So thanks for your enthusiasm about the trilogy! You’ve made a huge Lewis fan out of me, and I can’t look up at the heavens the same anymore!
Also, I’m looking forward with great anticipation to Christiana Hale’s Deeper Heaven!
Logan
Logan, thanks very much.
Theistic Evolution and the Downgrade
Totally agree with the warning against theistic evolution teaching. In 1976, after graduating high school, I attended a wonderful,week long course dedicated to creation science (Henry Morris and company) — it helped cement my trust in the biblical account of creation. I recently read John Lennox’s take on Genesis 1. It is NOT supportive, in any way, of macro-evolution, but rather takes a serious look at how the word “day” can be interpreted to account for the (currently accepted) age of the Earth — again without compromising the creation account. I would suggest, for those interested, to view the talk, on youtube, he gave at a “Socrates In The City” event. By the way, I find myself constantly refreshing your blog site to get your thoughts on 1) state of the church 2) state of the country and 3) how Kate, Larry etc are doing in your latest tale. One last thing — as a Canadian — experiencing first hand what Biden and company are planning — your Canon app is fantastic !, just wish there was a way to purchase your books without the shipping cost being through the roof.
Blair
Blair, thanks for the observations. As I said in the article, my problems with slow-motion creationists are in a different category than my objections to every form of common descent.
Dear Pastor Wilson,
I appreciate your thoughts on this text. Two of my children are students through Veritas Scholars Academy. There was quite a bit of uproar when Novare texts and course options were added to the Veritas lineup. However, a number of the squarely young earth teachers at VSA have spoken in favor of Novare’s method, and teach courses with it, while supplementing with young earth resources of their own in the pertinent sections. The also give a caveat in the text description in their catalog.
I would love to know if you (or your brother, Gordon) have personally looked at any of the texts and if so, what you thought of them. I would also love to hear your thoughts on young earth teachers using this resource.
Sarah
Sarah, I have read the justifications for the texts, which I regard as entirely inadequate. But if a young earth creationist uses that text in ways that give the full picture, I don’t object. At the same time, the problem is still there if the teachers don’t need to be such alert young earth creationists. If that is allowed but not required, it remains an unfolding downgrade.
Thankful for your blog. Had a question about the following quote: “All theistic evolutionists hold to an old earth, of necessity, but not all old-earthers believe in evolution. And we also have to factor in people like Milton who, never having heard of Darwin, apparently held to an older cosmos and a young earth. Church history has contained more than a few odd views on this general topic, but enough about Augustine.”
Did Augustine hold some old-earth belief? I thought his (odd) view was that the six days of creation were not six literal days, but in fact all happened in an instant. His point being that God wouldn’t ‘need’ 24 hours to get something done.
Joel
Joel, I was just pointing to Augustine’s creation view as an oddity. He didn’t think God needed six days, and believed in an instantaneous creation.
Would you expand on, or share a resource where I could learn more about the difference between “simplistic” young earth creationist perspective and the Biblical framework of “the world is broken because we broke it”? I’d like to understand this better and didn’t know there was a distinction.
Katie
Katie, sorry. I must have been unclear. My creationist view would be regarded as simplistic by those who think we need to adjust ourselves to the current science. I didn’t mean to make a distinction like that.
Just wondering out your source for Milton’s belief on the ages of the cosmos/earth.
Jeremy
Jeremy, in Paradise Lost, the cosmos is treated as the battleground where Satan fell, and then earth is introduced as something that God just did, recent and fresh.
Pastor Doug, when you get a chance, check out the discovery of soft — not yet fossilized — dinosaur tissue that scientists are finding when cracking open what the Academic community deems “millions of years old” dino bones. Read: something millions of years old would be fossilized to oblivion, not retain soft tissue intact – therefore they must be young. This video is pretty digestible by scientific laymen, but the implications are downright explosive:
It fascinates me that in a time when the biological and molecular sciences continue to furnish greater proof for a young earth and tear down the foolishness of Darwinism, we’re still fighting battles over those in our community seeking respectability with lost academics by paying homage to their nonsense. The Classical Christian movement should be running with the football we now have in the sciences, not bending the knee.
Patrick
Patrick, thanks very much. Exciting discoveries.
Your post about the Coming Downgrade in Classical Christian Education had me in a small spin (which is not an unusual feeling after reading your blog posts).
I went and read a paper that Keller produced at a Biologos event back in 2012 and which I am sure you have referenced before. You spoke disparagingly(?) of the position that nature, in at least Keller’s framework, would be “red in tooth and claw,” yet previously spoke/wrote/blogged about the existence of entropy as a reality before the fall. That does not seem to make sense?
I found Keller’s explanation of Derek Kidner’s postulation somewhat in concert with your view of entropy.
Also, the general view that God’s declaration of creation being “good” does not seem to preclude the existence of a measure of chaos that needs to be ruled (or to have dominion exercised over it). Does it?
The rest of the story, I find so intimidating and vexing that I — as an Anglo-African by birth — would prefer to take the inimitable ostrich-position firmly in the sand.
Thank you for stimulating the evolutionary process of my thinking as always.
Barry
Barry, I do believe that there was (contained) entropy before the falls. Leaves rotted on the forest floors of Eden, and Adam and Eve could digest and break down the fruit they ate. But after the fall, entropy went into flood stage, what Romans describes as bondage to decay. So I believe that before the fall there could not have been agonistic suffering.
Christmas Trees and Jeremiah
Should we apply Jeremiah 10 to Christmas trees? I hope you have a blessed Advent Pastor.
WD
WD, thanks much. I would think Jer. 10:3 applied if people started worshiping it.
American History
Growing more concerned that certain (accurate) resources on American history may soon go the way of the buffalo. Before they do, would you mind offering any good suggestions for purchase to pass on to posterity? Blessings,
KDB
KDB, start with Singer’s A Theological Interpretation of American History.
John Piper’s discussion of CRT, Part 1. Part 2 should be easy to find from there.
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/critical-race-theory-part-1
Doug: Further on the election: 1. Biden’s lack of coattails seems to me to be evidence that the election was not fixed, rather than the other way around. If you are going to fix an election, why go to all the risk and trouble of fraudulently electing a president and then leave him with a Senate that will pass none of his legislation, and will (at a minimum) give him a hard time on confirming his cabinet and judges? The results seem to me to be more consistent with a large cohort of white, suburban voters who didn’t want to… Read more »
Elliot, I see little evidence for anything you’re saying–just conjecture. I simply don’t buy into the idea that there are so many NeverTrumpers who are stalwart Republicans otherwise and would actually vote for Biden (and not a 3rd party candidate. I’ve known (and read about) dozens of NeverTrumpers who changed to Trump supporters after 2016….but not vice versa. I don’t have hard stats on this, but it’s quite a stretch. As for people being impressed by Biden not holding rallies….what do they think about him not condemning tens of thousands of protesters and rioters on the streets for months? I… Read more »
Dear Bob,
Have you seen this blog’s logo? Your dog is just voicing his agreement.
In Jeremiah 10:3 since the trees are cut down and then after being cut down worked with an axe by the hands of craftsman, doesn’t that sound more like the process of making a carved idol ? I little bit more than cutting down a tree and hanging tinsel on it, thought a tree with tinsel could also be worshiped, the scripture seems to be talking about a particular process.
The idol of the middle class. Interesting.
I was glad to see your “get a job” reply. That needs to be said more forcefully more often. I think that the entire premise of a man living in and from the provision of parents after attaining an objective age of majority is effeminizing.
Move out! (said with the intent and in the voice of a Sergeant directing his troops.)
Gray,
I take exception to your use of the word “effeminizing”. It is disparaging to the nearly 78 million women in the workforce.
How about some suggestions? Why sure.
I think that the entire premise of a man living in and from the provision of parents after attaining an objective age of majority is:
lazy
Indolent
juvenile
spoiled rotten
an embarrassment
a poor reflection on his parents
Take it up with God, Clay. God created male and female and Paul warned that effeminate men won’t inherit His kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9). Using a numerical example in a nation that’s largely turned its back on God is meaningless. And if something like that outrages you, maybe you should get out more.
C Herrea,
Easy Tiger! You missed the point. As usual. I hope you’re not married or have daughters.
Misogynist. Look it up.
No, Clay, the point-missing is yours. You can happily own it. Affirmative on both accounts and fortunately they’ll be taught about that old-fashioned male/female stuff…
Yes, misogynist…right up there with “racist” as the most overused term and proxy for actual thinking. You’ve been brainwashed well.
Now you’re just embarrassing yourself. Go back and read what I actually wrote to Gray. Try putting on your thinking cap. It might surprise you.
As much as you want to flatter yourself, what you said wasn’ t the least bit profound or difficult to understand. You were triggered by the word “effeminizing.” Maybe you should get your estrogen levels checked? There was nothing offensive by the way Gray used the word. You then rambled about women in the workforce and showed you can use a thesaurus. Nothing to see there–just C-grade virtue signaling. No cookies or Bozo Buttons earned. This will be my last comment on the topic. You’ve left plenty of droppings here already and clearly lack the maturity (dare I say masculinity?)… Read more »
So, Clay since you have such skills at elocution, just exactly what are your academic credentials?
Are you embarrassed?
Are you ashamed of them and so must hide those credentials from the world?
Or perhaps, you are too effeminate to answer?
I read recently somewhere that leftists don’t really debate, they just consistently use sarcasm in place of ideas. Clay fits that mold, adding to his sarcasm a bit of abuse for good measure.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xpAvcGcEc0k
Why does the young man need to move out? Why not get a job, stay with his parents, and save the money he would have paid in rent? Put that money maybe towards a deposit, or education/training that will improve his prospects. To mitigate the charge that he is “living off” his parents, he can contribute financially and in other ways.
There’s a notable distinction I think between strategically staying within a family unit, and staying within a family unit because you are too lazy or childlike to get your own home. I don’t think many people criticizing the latter object to the former. It just isn’t very common, so they don’t discuss it.
Mr. Wilson,
I read above that you stand corrected. Since you spent more than a little digital ink in support of a fraudulent claim, maybe you should make a separate post indicating your mea culpa.
Clay, good to see you back.
By the way, what are your academic credentials?
This humor writer for the New Yorker nails it. https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/ill-have-kids-in-a-few-years-when-im-successful-and-wealthy-and-my-life-is-finally-perfect?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Humor_120120&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5c9585ea2ddf9c5f6f23faa4&cndid=22631736&hasha=31ceb021d133b38658c4b4e431264a35&hashb=686edb62059a10c54ed3883945364bbda9d06cb8&hashc=e4275b4605339c392c66b80d680190ffb9b3e711e2f4201caed5484fa7f857e9&esrc=bounceX&utm_term=TNY_Humor
I hate to burst Patrick’s bubble about soft tissue fossils. Maybe next time.
http://www.livescience.com/amp/41537-t-rex-soft-tissue.html
I doubt you hate it at all.
Sure I do.
Cheer up, Jane. Isn’t it better that he knows the truth?
And yet, being under absolutely no obligation to do it, and with a fair number of reasons not to, including your professed hatred of doing it, you do it anyway. You’ll have to live with my doubts.
I do not lack cheer, I wonder why you would think I do.
“Dinosaurs’ iron-rich blood, combined with a good environment for fossilization,
may explain the amazing existence of soft tissue from the Cretaceous (a period that lasted from about 65.5 million to 145.5 million years ago) and even earlier.”
Bold added, to reflect the suggestive and conjectural nature of the livescience article, which cites an experiment that preserved tissue for two years.
Patrick said: “It fascinates me that in a time when the biological and molecular sciences continue to furnish greater proof for a young earth and tear down the foolishness of Darwinism, we’re still fighting battles over those in our community seeking respectability with lost academics by paying homage to their nonsense.” And, right on cue, here comes Clay Crouch, self-professed member of the Christian community, posting conjecture based on a nothing more than a two-year experiment in a hilarious, if not pathetic attempt to explain away the discovery of soft tissue in supposedly bazillion-year old dinosaur bones. Yes! Because as… Read more »
On personality tests DISC to help me get to know people during my hiring process. I’d put the good insights in the glaringly obvious category Haven’t used enneagrams and happy to stay away. But I think these tests can be useful. Both Joel and Doug (and others) have commented on the obviousness of this, but I suspect that they may be partially sanguine, and notice this easily. Others find it helpful to be pointed out these things, but can learn to see it quite easily. I have found it helpful in certain situations. I haven’t done DISC but it seems… Read more »
“Knowing how to quickly assess this in a person is very helpful in knowing the types of strengths, and struggles such a person is more likely to have.”
And whether or not a person understands and accepts that depends partly on personality type.
I think most of the major personality tests are reasonably accurate although I have sometimes wondered if people try to live up to their results (“Even though I’d like to cry on your shoulder, I must be logical and dispassionate because I’m an INTJ”). But I have wondered how useful these tests can be to employers now that they are ubiquitous online so everyone can do trial runs. It’s easy to make sure your answers suggest the kind of personality that would do well in the job. On the other hand, even without internet training, what job seeker would Strongly… Read more »
I think you’re right about people being able to anticipate the “right” answer. Yet, I also think there are people who take it for granted “When I’m sure my approach is right, I refuse to compromise” is a desirable personality trait and can’t understand why a prospective employer might disagree.
It should be noted that sometimes disagreeable people are the best employees. My most agreeable employees are very pleasant to work with, but my best employees are the most disagreeable. They don’t bend easily when they disagree with me or my management and they really challenge me to think through things, be consistent, and be responsible. I don’t think much of personality tests in general. Most of the time I find they are either unhelpful or they are used as cover for personal issues and sin. However, I have found the big 5/OCEAN to be useful and correlated to things… Read more »