NOVEMBER 2010
GoodNewsTucson magazine A Good News Media LLC Publication
Can The Bible Be Trusted?
Stephen Hawking Says God Didn’t Create The World
Evidence That Oil Fields Renew Themselves What Is The Purpose of Government?
www.GoodNewsTucson.com
“Are You In?”
2
www.4tucson.com
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
GoodNewsTucson PUBLISHED BY: GOOD NEWS MEDIA LLC. 5151 E Broadway, Suite 1600 Tucson, Arizona 85711 United States Telephone (520) 745-4403 Fax (520) 512-5401 EDITOR and ART DIRECTOR: BARNEY HILTON MURRAY Barney@GoodNewsTucson.com ADMINISTRATION JASON WATSON Jason@GoodNewsTucson.com DISTRIBUTION & LOCATIONS: Good News Tucson Magazine (GNT) is distributed in printed format to over 100 locations throughout Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Catalina, and surrounding areas. The easiest way to find GNT is to visit any Fry’s, Albertson’s grocery store, 7-Eleven and CVS throughout the area. For a complete list of our locations by zip code visit http://www.goodnewstucson. com/distribution.html. Good News Tucson is a free, monthly Christian publication of Good News Media, LLC. Your comments are welcome - write to: GNT at 5151 E Broadway, Suite 1600 Tucson, Arizona 85711. We reserve the right to reject and/or edit any material submitted for publication, for any reason. Submitting commentary, letters or email automatically authorizes your permission to print your comments in future issues without your express permission. The views expressed by writers in Good News Tucson are not necessarily the views of the staff, management or ownership of GNT/Good News Media LLC, or its advertisers. Advertisements and event listings are not considered an endorsement of Good News Tucson. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, without prior permission. © 2010 GoodNewsTucson.
7 Day of Prayer Guide Please consider joining other Tucsonans in praying each day for a specific area of our city. Sundays – Families *Reconciliation of Families *Happy, Healthy Marriages *Honor of Parents *Covenant–keeping Men *Virtuous Women *Godly Children Mondays - Government *God–honoring & wise President & Cabinet *God-honoring & wise Governor, Senators and Representatives *God-honoring & wise Mayor and Council and County Supervisors *Fair Justice System and Law Enforcement *Strong, Victorious Military Tuesdays - Schools *Righteous Superintendents *Faith–filled School Boards *Bible-believing Principals *Knowledgeable & Godly Teachers *Self-controlled Students *School Choice Opportunities Wednesdays - Business *Trustworthy Employees *Innovative Chambers of Commerce *Good Jobs and Good Work Ethic *Capital and Cooperative Bureaucracy for Businesses *Business Owners and Managers of Integrity Thursdays – Media/Arts *Television Programing Which Glorifies God *Christ-honoring Movies *Uplifting Radio Stations *Truth–Filled Newspapers and Periodicals *Porn–free Internet Fridays - Church True Cooperation and Fellowship Between Churches Prayerful, Caring Sharing Disciple Making Lifestyle Increased Love for God, Fellow believers and the nonbelievers Spirit-filled and Christ-like Christians True Knowledge and Understanding of God and His Word Saturdays - Borders *A Godly Wall of Protection *Righteousness and Justice *No Terrorism, Illegal or Covert Activity *Blessing Over the Infrastructure *Cooperation between Governments *Water
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
3
Can The Bible Be Trusted? By Mark Harris
F
or a Christian, the Bible is the source of absolute truth from God. The Bible says that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV) People who have not read the Bible often ask, “Can the Bible really be trusted?” When I first became a Christian I wanted to know what the Bible taught about how the world fit together. I had lots of questions. I would ask other Christians, “What does the Bible say about creation and how did man get here on earth?” or a question like, “Does God have a divine plan for the world or did He just wind it up and let it run its course?” Surprisingly, I discovered that most Christians had never read their Bibles. They had questions too, but never took the time to study to find the answers for themselves. Since then I have searched the Bible for myself to see if I could find the answers to my questions. I remember asking one day, “If the Bible is really true, where are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?” In my study I read Psalm 119:97-104 (NLT) • Oh how I love your law! I think about it all day long. • Your commands make me wiser then my enemies, for your commands are my constant guide. • Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees. • I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. • I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word. • I haven’t turned away from you laws, for You have taught me well. • How sweet are your words to my taste; they are 4
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
sweeter than honey. • Your commands give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Studying the Bible offers some great rewards. Those who study the scriptures will be wiser than their enemies, have more insight than their teachers, be wiser than their elders and God Himself will be their teacher. Those rewards sounded pretty good to me. So I started my search for dinosaurs in the Bible and asked God to guide my search. It seemed reasonable, and if I had understood correctly that God created the world in six literal days like the Bible says, wouldn’t that mean that God created dinosaurs along with the other animals he created? In Genesis 2:19-20, the Bible says, Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. That was interesting. The Bible says, God created every beast of the field and Adam named them all – so Adam would have had to name the dinosaurs. That would also mean that dinosaurs and man would have co-existed on earth at the same time. That was sure not what I had been taught in school. I had been taught in every science class since 3rd grade that earth evolved over millions of years and that dinosaurs were long extinct by the time man appeared on the scene. Somebody wasn’t telling me truth. I remembered studying in one of my science classes about a British comparative anatomist named Richard Owen who while researching huge fossil bones coined the name “dinosaur” meaning “terrible lizard” in 1842. See Mrs. Smith, I really did pay attention in your class. The Bible doesn’t tell us what Adam named these
terrible lizards. But even though the word dinosaur wasn’t even a word until 1842, if these creatures really roamed the earth when Adam was around then shouldn’t they at least be described in the Bible? GOOD NEWS! The Bible does describe them in several places and they co-existed with man. It might help to keep in mind that the Bible was translated into English in 1611 for King James I of England. Richard Owens coined the word “dinosaur” in 1842, over 200 years later. When the translators translated the Bible into English “dinosaur” was not even a word. The term dinosaur isn’t going to be in the Bible. We are going to need to dig a little deeper
In the Bible, God talks to Job about his creation. “Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword. Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. Indeed the river may rage, yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, though he takes it in his eyes.” (Job 40:15-24 NKJV) That sounds like a very similar description of a dinosaur found in the book I picked up at the museum. The book offers an interesting description of another dinosaur found in the Bible.
to solve this question. On a trip to Washington, DC, I made a quick stop by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to look at the fossilized dinosaur displays. They really were magnificent creatures. I bought a book by David Peters called Giants of the Land, Sea and Air; Past and Present. The book offered this description of a Brachiosaurus: “Brachiosaurus was the largest, longest and heaviest land animal of all time. The animal was more than 100 feet long, stood 60 feet high, and weighed as much as 300,000 pounds. It is the largest of the brachiosaurus’ a family of long-necked plant eaters. I retained heat by the shear mass of its body and may have cooled off by wading into the water.” (Giants of the Land, Sea and Air; Past and Present, David Peters, Sierra Club Books, pg. 26)
“Deinosuchus was the largest crocodilian of all time. I may have been as long as 52 feet and may have weighed as much as 27,000 pounds. It had a 6 foot long skull and heavy plate-like scales. It could reduce large prey to bite-size pieces by clamping it securely in the jaws and viciously twisting and whipping it about in the water until the victim fell apart.” (Giants of the Land, Sea and Air; Past and Present, David Peters, Sierra Club Books, pg. 33) Compare that a few passages found in Job 41: “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? Lay your hand on him; remember the battle— Never do it again. Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around? When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; because of his crashings they are beside themselves. On earth there is nothing like him, which GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
5
is made without fear.”
Get away from the city this Sunday and come worship with us in the splendor of God’s creation.
The Bible term for the dinosaur Brachiosaurus is Behemoth. The term for the dinosaur Deinosuchus is Leviathan. Comparing the scientific explanations of what we have discovered about dinosaurs to the descriptions in the Bible, it is not hard to understand that man and dinosaurs co-existed on earth. If you read Job 41 for yourself you will discover some other things about Leviathan that most scientists don’t know. If dinosaurs and man did co-exist as the evidence suggests, why doesn’t the scientific community support the evidence found in the Bible? Maybe if they had to admit the Bible is true then they would have to also admit that God created everything we see in heaven and on earth. “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. Instead, of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the creator Himself, who is to be praised forever.” (Romans 1:21-25, NLT)
We are a non-denominational, Christ-centered, Bible-believing church that seeks to simply love God and love our neighbors.
overlooking Saguaro National Park East
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. 5825 S. Old Spanish Trail For more information, call 647-0994 or visit www.SaguaroButtes.org
You Have A Lot To Lose By NOT Attending Church!
EXCITING NEWS! Oasis Church now meets on Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM instead of Sunday Mornings. Our new location is the Rincon Mountain Presbyterian Church at 8445 E. Tanque Verde Road, 85749 520-546-0101 www.theoasischurch.net
Automotive Service You Can Trust!
Transmission Service & Repair
LOOKING FOR A MECHANIC YOU CAN TRUST? LOOK NO FURTHER!
K GENERAL REPAIR K WHEEL ALIGNMENT K USED AUTO & TRUCK INSPECTIONS K AIR CONDITIONING
ED CAIN’S
FUEL INJECTION SPECIALISTS
KEY SERVICE OUTLET
Auto Service
3047 N. Alvernon Way � FAX 881-2636
www.edcainsautoservice.com 6
K ELECTRICAL K BRAKES K IN-HOUSE TOWING AVAILABLE K COMPUTER TUNE-UP
47 Y ears at th e loca same tion!
K
326-6572
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
Diesel High Performance Transmission Upgrades
K
STROM BASEBALL INSTITUTE
Private lessons are available!
Brent Strom Major League Pitcher and Coach
All staff are professional coaches
These clinics are not for “uncommitted” players! These clinics are not for “weekend tournament players!” We stress total performance starting with nutrition of the body and finishing with the optimum baseball skills to make you the “best that you were meant to be.” We are looking for a few “elite athletes.” If you are one of them then click on our website and complete an early bird registration. ou program. Check out our 8484 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85710-4010
520-971-9210
Email: SBIDelivers@aol.com
Website: www.SBIDelivers.com
520.404.6495 www.thehandybunch.com ROC 260779
We are Tucson ‘s # 1 Licensed Handyman Service We do it all so contact us about our wide variety of installation, repair, replacement & remodeling services.
Your online directory for places of worship, faith-based news and events, talent listings, resources and church web services.
When you decide to go to church, for you and your family, make TucsonChurches.org your first stop. find your purpose
To search for a church by denomination or by zip
For the latest in faith-based events
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
7
Stephen Hawking Says God Didn’t Create The World
A
s discussed in previous issues of Good News Tucson, humanity has always pondered the deeper questions of life. In physicist Stephen Hawking’s newest book, The Grand Design, he stated, “The Universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist.” In the Wall Street Journal, September 8, 2010, Lawrence M. Krauss in writing an article about Hawking’s latest work said, “As a scientist, I have never quite understood the conviction, at the basis of essentially all the world’s religions, that creation requires a creator.” Well, it might have something to do with the fact that those who believe the Bible read in Genesis, chapter one, verse one, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Mr. Krauss’s statement could be restated from a believer’s perspective to say, “As a believer in the Bible, I have never quite understood the conviction at the basis of essentially all the world’s scientists, that creation denies a Creator.” Why all the angst in the scientific community over a Creator? What is at the root of the fear that there may be a Creator? What is at stake is two competing religious views. Every religious system, even those that claim not to be religious follow a prescribed pattern. Every religious system starts by explaining where the world came from and the origins of life. Each system has its own “creation story.” The creation story has a prescribed pattern. 1) How we got here; 2) What went wrong and; 3) What it will take to make things right again. In Christianity the pattern goes something like this. 1) How we got here: “So God created man in his 8
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
[own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:” Genesis 1:27 2) What went wrong: “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:1-7 3) What it will take to make things right again: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJ) Does modern scientific theory follow the pattern of a religion? You can decide for yourself. 1) How we got here: The universe spontaneously arose from nothing and earth evolved over eons to a state of grace and unity in nature. 2) What went wrong: Man evolved and upset the balance of nature, polluting and taking from nature without putting anything back. Man is an energy sinner and there is a judgment day where the earth will be destroyed if we don’t repent and change our actions. 3) What it will take to make things right again: Mankind must repent and seek salvation through sustainability, renewable energy leaving a zero carbon footprint, eating organic food, drinking bottled water out of recyclable containers and government must use cap and trade to tax into submission the unrepentant who continue upsetting the balance of nature. Mr. Krauss concludes his article saying, “Data like this coming in from our revolutionary new tools promise to turn much of what is now metaphysical into physics. Whether God survives is anyone’s guess.” This debate will continue as modern scientists persist in trying to prove there is no God. We are reminded to 1Corinthians 1:27, “But God has chosen the
foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” It is very easy to read books like, The Grand Design and ask, “Could Stephen Hawking be right that there is no God?” How would God how would He answer Stephen Hawking? In the New Living Translation of the Bible, in the book of Romans, starting in Chapter 1 verse 20 through verse 25 we read that God knew these, From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen. Science serves as a tool to discover how God did things. Eventually, when we get all the scientific facts on the creation of the universe, we will discover that God was already there waiting for us to understand His majesty and power.
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
9
Evidence That Oil Fields Renew Themselves
O
ff the Louisiana coastline is an underwater mountain known as Eugene Island. This island spews natural gas spontaneously. In the late 60’s crude oil was discovered and by 1970, a platform in the area pumped about 15,000 barrels a day of highquality crude oil. The field was estimated to have reserves of 60 million barrels. Then in the late 80’s the production of the well was reduced to less than 4000 barrels a day. The well was considered depleted. Then in 1990 the well started producing 15,000 barrels a day and reserves were estimated to be around 400 million barrels. A study of the geological age of the new oil was substantially different than the age of the oil pumped in the 70’s and 80s. The seismic data found that the oil was coming from a previously unknown deeper source. This phenomenon is not unique to Eugene Island. It is happening in other Gulf of Mexico wells and in oil fields in Alaska. Replenishment of oil fields was also recorded in Uzbekistan. In the Middle East where oil has been pumped for 20 years it has been discovered that known oil reserves have doubled to over 680 billion barrels.
decomposition. The evidence would indicate that there might be significant undiscovered oil reserves that would make today’s reserves seem meager. The theory is that crude oil forms between the mantle and the crust as a natural by-product of what happens 5 and 20 miles below the earth’s surface. The theory is that Methane (CH4), a common molecule found in quantity throughout our solar system is in huge concentrations and at great depth within the Earth. Where the mantle and crust meet at roughly 20,000 feet beneath the surface, rapidly rising streams of compressed methanebased gasses hit pockets of extreme temperature causing the condensation of heavier hydrocarbons. The product of this condensation becomes crude oil. Some compressed methanebased gasses migrate into pockets and reservoirs as natural gas. In the geologically “cooler,” more tectonically stable regions around the globe, the crude oil pools into reservoirs. In the “hotter,” more volcanic and tectonically active areas, the oil and natural gas continue to condense and eventually to oxidize, producing carbon dioxide and steam, which exits from active volcanoes and vents in the ocean floor.
The growing reserves would require a continual source of dead dinosaurs and decomposing prehistoric plants. Or could there be another explanation for crude oil?
Depending on geological variations and movement of the earth crust, oil seeps to the surface in quantity, creating the vast oil-sand deposits in areas like Canada and Venezuela, or the continual seeps found beneath the Gulf of Mexico and Uzbekistan. When the vast, deep pools of oil break free from shifts in the geological strata the oil replenishes existing known pools of oil reserves.
A theory gaining some prominence is that crude oil may actually be a natural inorganic product, not a product of millions of years and organic
The observations across the oil-producing regions of the globe that support this theory and the list of proponents begins with Mendelev (who created the
10
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
periodic table of elements) and includes Dr. Thomas Gold (founding director of Cornell University Center for Radiophysics and Space Research) and Dr. J.F. Kenney of Gas Resources Corporations, Houston, Texas. Dr. Gold presents compelling evidence for inorganic oil formation in his 1999 book, “The Deep Hot Biosphere”. He notes that geologic structures where oil is found all correspond to “deep earth” formations, not the haphazard depositions we find with sedimentary rock, associated fossils or even current surface life. He also notes that oil extracted from varying depths from the same oil field have the same chemistry – oil chemistry does not vary as fossils vary with increasing depth. Another fact is that oil is found in huge quantities among geographic formations where assays of prehistoric life are not sufficient to produce the existing reservoirs of oil. So where then did it come from? Another bit of evidence is that every oil field throughout the world has out-gassing helium. Helium is so often present in oil fields that helium detectors are used as oil-prospecting tools. Helium is an inert gas known to be a fundamental product of the radiological decay or uranium and thorium, identified in quantity at great depths below the surface of the earth, 200 and more miles below. It is not found in meaningful quantities in areas that are not producing methane, oil or natural gas. It is not a member of the dozen or so common elements associated with life. It is found throughout the solar system as a thoroughly inorganic product. Even more intriguing is evidence that several oil reservoirs around the globe are refilling themselves, such as the Eugene Island reservoir – not from the sides, as would be expected from co-current organic reservoirs, but from the bottom up. Dr. Gold strongly believes that oil is a “renewable, primordial soup continually manufactured by the Earth under ultra-hot conditions and tremendous pressures. As this substance migrates toward the surface, it is attached by bacteria, making it appear to have an organic origin dating back to the dinosaurs.” Smaller oil companies with innovative teams are
using this theory to justify deep oil drilling in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, among other locations, with some success. Dr. Kenney is on record predicting that parts of Siberia contain a deep reservoir of oil equal to or exceeding that already discovered in the Middle East. In August 2002, in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (US),” Dr. Kenney published a paper, which had a partial title of “The genesis of hydrocarbons and the origin of petroleum.” Dr. Kenney and three Russian coauthors conclude: The Hydrogen-Carbon system does not spontaneously evolve hydrocarbons at pressures less than 30 Kbar, even in the most favorable environment. The H-C system evolves hydrocarbons under pressures found in the mantle of the Earth and at temperatures consistent with that environment. He was quoted as stating that “competent physicists, chemists, chemical engineers and men knowledgeable of thermodynamics have known that natural petroleum does not evolve from biological materials since the last quarter of the 19th century.” In our culture it is widely believed and wellestablished that at some point in the near future we will run out of oil. The world as we know it will end and unless we find another source of cheap energy we will turn the clock back to the dark ages. If Dr. Gold and Dr. Kenney are correct, that “the end of the world as we know it” scenario is wrong then there is an inexhaustible supply of deep reserves of inorganic crude oil which is commercially feasible to extract that would provide the world with generations of low-cost fuel. Dr. Gold has been quoted saying that current worldwide reserves of crude oil could be 100 times more abundant than currently thought.
Inspirational, motivational and encouraging scriptures for the workplace Executive gifts, plaques, and God's Gift Photo Frames
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."
Colossians 3:23 NKJV
www.WorshipWhileYouWork.com GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
11
Theories of Where Oil Comes From and Why It Is Important
T
here have always been two competing theories concerning the origins of petroleum. Most Americans are unaware that there is a second theory. Theory A, which most of us are familiar with, claims that oil is an organic “fossil fuel” created by decomposition of plants and dinosaurs over a long period of time. This theory taught in most schools promotes the concept that “fossil fuel” deposits are limited in quantity and are found near the planet’s surface. In fact, most Americans believe this theory without question. Fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are referred to as non-renewable resources, meaning that they cannot be produced, grown or generated faster than their consumption rate. Theory B, which is less known, claims that petroleum and natural gas are continuously generated by natural processes in the Earth’s magma. The theory that oil is abiotic in origin has over 50 years of intense scientific inquiry and predicts deep oil reserves, refillable oil fields, migratory oil systems and spontaneous venting of gas and oil on the surface of the earth. If Theory A is correct, have you ever wondered how plants and dinosaurs could have decomposed in big pools a mile or more below the earth’s surface? How about those oil discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico? The deep wells are found under one mile ocean water and then several thousand feet under the ocean floor. How did dinosaurs decompose down there? Dale Allen Pfeiffer, identified as the Contributing Editor for Energy, has written: “There is some speculation that oil is abiotic in origin -- generally asserting that oil is formed from magma instead of an organic origin.” He continues, “These ideas are really groundless.” 12
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
The starting place for most people when discussing America’s energy future is to assume that oil is not a renewable resource -that we are running out of oil. This hypothesis was first formulated in 1931 by Harold Hotelling. He developed an economic model called Hotelling’s Rule that started with the assumption that fossil fuels were a depleting or nonrenewable resource and their heavy use would have a significant impact on the sustainability of future economies. From Hotelling’s Rule most Americans have just assumed his theory was right. There was not a lot of research about oil in 1931, so fossil fuel theory seemed reasonable. The definition of a non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be produced, grown, generated, or used on a scale which can sustain its consumption rate. These resources often exist in a fixed amount, or are consumed much faster than nature can create them. Fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are examples. In contrast, resources such as timber, when harvested and replanted or metals which can be recycled are considered renewable resources. If Theory B is correct that oil is abiotic, then oil is a renewable resource. This would change the whole debate about renewable energy. Oil would, by definition, be one of the most plentiful sources of renewable energy in the world.
digital vision academy Photography classes for kids of all ages
Classes start in October and class size is limited! Call or visit the website for more information
www.DigitalVisionAcademy.com
Theory B would also turn the debate on the Cap and Trade Tax. The only question then would be is carbon a pollutant and is global warming man caused. We will save that for a later issue. The energy discussion is critical because Americans are going to be taxed for their use of one renewable resource and forced to use less efficient sources of sources of energy. Under one scenario, rates could jump by as much as 63% from 2012 to 2030, according to Midwest Consumer Utilities, a group that includes Madison Gas and Electric Co. That is a pretty steep price to pay to be faddish on energy policy that may be based on a false assumption. GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
13
What Is The Purpose of Government?
Our Founding Fathers deliberately established our nation as a Republic, not a Democracy. A Democracy starts with the foundational principle that the government gives rights and that a majority of the people (at least half-plus-one) voting will determine which rights are given and which rights are withheld from the people. A Republic starts with the foundational principle that all rights are given by God and the government’s primary responsibility is to protect the God-given, unalienable rights of the people and to provide the liberty to exercise those rights.
e have just witnessed one of the largest transitions of governmental power in American history. The citizens of our country have elected a new set of politicians to represent us and the interests of our state in Washington, DC.
Politics, according to Daniel Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is, “the science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety and prosperity…and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.”
What did we elect new leaders to do? They will govern us, but to what end? What do they understand is the purpose of government? These questions are central to our ability to hold politicians accountable for the decisions they make over the next several years.
Politics in modern America may be re-defined as; “the science of persuasive speech to manipulate the electorate by promises of enlarging entitlements and granting rights and paying for those entitlements by taxing the resources of those who produce them and redistributing them for the benefit of the many.”
In the early 1600’s the political theorist, John Locke, who had a significant impact on shaping the thought of our Founding Fathers said that people without law are in a “State of Nature.” Thomas Hobbes a social contract theorist advised that people in the “State of Nature” would “war every man against every man” and life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” In the Federalist Paper #15, Alexander Hamilton comments, “Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.” Most people would agree with Hamilton that some form of law or government is preferable to anarchy.
In the Bible, Romans 13 lays out two fundamental purposes for civil government and for those who are appointed to positions of authority: 1) to punish evil, and 2) to condone what is good. This is the basis for Webster to define politics as a part of ethics or the preservation of the morals of the people.
The question then becomes what form of government is best? Throughout history, many forms have been tried and re-tried with varying degrees of success.
If our newly elected leaders aren’t doing what we elected them to do, when the next election rolls around, it will be time to elect different leaders that will.
W
14
GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
One of the unique things about our American form of government is that the government is designed to protect the rights we have received from God and to give us the liberty to exercise those rights as each individual sees fit. The purpose of our elected leaders is to protect our God-given rights for us, punish evil and preserve the good.
Choosing ACS to install your new air conditioning system... means less stress & more time to enjoy your perfect climate! Your home’s climate control is always important, but even more importantly, is that you have the best company installing the best product that will keep you enjoying your investment, and perfect climate for years to come... ACS is that company!
If your HVAC system is outdated or over 8yrs old, we can install a new qualifying Trane High Efficiency system that will save you 40-60% on average in energy. It will potentially pay for itself over the life span of the unit by lowering your power bill and saving you money while you enjoy your cleaner, more efficient, perfect home climate.**
00* 800 CleanEffects
$
REBATE
Whole Home Air Purifier
Call now and receive up to
Commercial & Residential Climate Control
in qualifying incentives!
520.829.0962
www.acshvac.com
We service all makes and models. Second Opinions are always
FREE!
Open Saturdays!
*All offers exclusive to ACS and valid on qualifying systems only and may vary depending on models purchased. Rebate and financing offers may not be combined. Federal tax credit subject to federal guidelines.Visit www.energystar.gov/taxcredits and consult a tax professional for more information. Special financing offers valid on qualifying systems only. The Home Projects™ Visa™ card is issued by Wells Fargo Financial National Bank. Special terms apply to purchases charged with approved credit at participating merchants. Regular minimum monthly payments are required during the promotional period. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the regular APR if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a late payment. Please call us with any questions so that we can give you the best information available. Tax credit is subject to federal guidelines. Utility rebate for TEP customers only. Offers expire 8/31/10. **Based on the life span of 12-15yrs with a minumum savings of $100 each month.
Support Education Reform!
Arizona State Private School Tax Credit! • Dollar for dollar State tax credit • We work with kids State-wide • To donate call 520-512-5438 or go to www.ibescholarships.org • Maximum contribution for married filing jointly is $1,000 for single filers is $500
When it comes to education, one size does not fit all. GOOD NEWS TUCSON • www.GoodNewsTucson.com
15