Geodesy     
War and GPS     
Part 1 of 3

   Next time you casually use GPS to find a restaurant, remember the 17 men and two women who helped lay the foundation - in the burning rubble of Nazi Germany. 

   In late 1944, Army Major Floyd Hough and his highly secret team entered Aachen (98 percent destroyed), looking for the library. They carried 1,800 pounds of cameras and other equipment for making microfilm records. 

   They also used 11,000 index cards of the Army Map Service and target lists of technical universities, government institutes, libraries and other places. The lists also named German scientists who might cooperate, and others who were not to be trusted.  

Behind THE LINES, Smithsonian

   The Aachen library was wrecked, but amazingly, stacked outside were bundles of folders that Germans left behind. These were precise survey data covering German territory - just what they were looking for. The team microfilmed the material and sent it directly to the front for Allied artillery units.    

   It was the first of many successes that hastened the end of the war, and also helped shape the world order for decades to come. Geodesy is the science of measuring the Earth with mathematical precision. Any point can be defined by numerical coordinates.   

   The teams' mission was to follow the army's front and "ride the first tank into Berlin." As it turned out, Germans had removed the material to preserve it. All the better.  

Tomorrow: The pope's library? 

To Be or Not to Be...Famous   

   Upon reviewing our audience stats, it is clear we will never be famous. Although at least one reader in 53 different countries has clicked on Views By the Sea - most of them once only. If only...

   We're all born with ego. "Look at what I drew." "It's mine!" "No." 

   And maybe we end with an ego. "My obit must include every single accomplishment." 

   Some people deserve fame with years of greatness. Others achieve the "15 minute" variety. 

   A person can be famous for both positive and negative reasons. Good fame might be sullied quickly with a human boo-boo, or if a secret leaks out. (politicians, clergy, entertainers, athletes, etc.) 

   Funny how some people strive for fame, only to buy a remote mansion behind gates and hire armed guards. 

   A writer who inspired us to copy-cat him (here) notes that celebrities are expected to play the part in public for their admirers...no matter what's happening in their personal life. Some athletes didn't get the memo.   

   Being an obscure blogger has its positives. Tonight, I'll set out the garbage without paparazzi swarming my lawn.

   Tomorrow, I'll exchange waves with a neighbor walking the dog as I drive off to the store or gym. 

   We do share this much with the rich and famous: People still call asking for money in one form or another.

   But, no one gets my autograph. I use them all up signing personal checks to pay the bills. 

   And I'm well aware that whether or not neighbors attend my funeral will depend entirely on the weather.  

😇

         Jimmy

The Fairest Way - Slavery   

   To evaluate socialism, Marvin Olasky turned to 19th century philosophers. 

   George Fitzhugh said of capitalism, "Modern improvements, while they lessen the labor required to create wealth, beget...unequal distribution."

   His solution: Hold "property in common" and divide "the profits, not according to each man's input and labor, but according to each man's wants. Our only quarrel with Socialism is that it will not honestly admit that it...is seeking to bring about slavery again."  

   Fitzhugh called "domestic slavery...the oldest, best and most common form of Socialism." Plantation owners purportedly "provide for each slave, in old age and in infancy, in sickness and in health." 

   He also wrote, "It is the duty of society to protect the weak, but protection cannot be efficient without the power of control; therefore, it is the duty of society to enslave the weak."  

   His contemporary, Edmund Ruffin wrote, "...the socialists are right - but they don't admit that in socialism, one directing mind and one controlling will will take charge. In slavery, the controlling power is the mind and will of the master, for the good of all. In the institution of domestic slavery, and in that only, are most completely realized the dreams...of the social school of philanthropists."  

   Olasky concludes, "In a market economy, the baker gets up early so he can sell tasty bread to feed his family. In socialism, his family will eat whether he gets up early or not, so he's likely (not to get up). What then will the master of society do?" 

   If the baker defeats all attempts to make him comply, a soldier comes to get him..."and shoots him if he resists." 

   So, who do we choose to be our efficient master? Bernie? Elizabeth? And who follows them?  

       Jimmy

Mutts' Endangered List     

   In Sunday's comics, "Mutts," one of the cats started an "endangered list." 

   When you read the list, see if you recognize three items also found among the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). 

   Endangered:   empathy   compassion   kindness   sympathy   decency   sensitivity   integrity   altruism   affection   benevolence   heart   tenderness   love   humanity   charity   grace   courtesy   tolerance   mercy   intelligence   leniency   understanding   common sense   goodwill   patience   wisdom. 

Inclined to Impeach  

   The Constitution has little to say about impeachment (Article II, Section 4) other than to give the U.S. House authority to do it - NO JURY - for conviction of "treason, bribery" and other...

   "High crimes and misdemeanors" can mean whatever politicians desire. Like the Constitution as a whole, this balancing of powers is only as "good" as the people in power. 

   We believe the House certainly will impeach the president. The goal is not Trump per se, but to win back the White House and its power. That he isn't likable as was Reagan, for example, makes it easier.

   Their only concern is assessing the voters. Would it backfire in 2020? 

   Of course, our founders added another layer of balance. Only the Senate can remove a president from office (Article I, Section 3) and that by two-thirds of the members present, with the chief justice presiding. 

       Jimmy



    

Rules of Engagement    

   Our world is a theater, what some scholars call "the divine council." 
We don't write the script. 

   In this council, Satan questions God's character as he questioned Job, indirectly accusing God himself.   

   The Lord has "rules of engagement," within which He allows Satan to make his claims - then defeats them one by one. (See Matt. 4:1-11) 

   In a horrible circumstance or untimely death, a child dies. Satan raises doubts in our minds about God's justice and kindness. 

   God can prevent misfortune. He does act on our behalf, without being overly obvious; what most honors him is faith in the unseen. (Lucifer saw, and still failed.)   

   If God gives Satan (and humans) choices, what does it say if He breaks his own rules to prevent those choices? 

   God defeats Satan by demonstrating his own character, not his power,
says the professor.  

   We don't preach. We come along side those who are suffering, as did Job's friends, ill suited as they were. Our best is to show we care. This may involve giving more than time.

   John the baptist, the "Elijah," was beheaded in a Jerusalem prison while Jesus - with supernatural knowledge - was in Galilee and could have prevented it. Are we greater than John? 

   Most importantly, we trust him who endured the cross. If God freely suffered and died for us in the person of Christ, He can morally make the rules. 

   We trust him when we don't understand. Even in death, it's not over. There is resurrection. A Christ-centered millennium is coming, and then eternity. We mourn and rejoice together.  

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. 

Give him what He wants, no matter what.

Why ... Lord?      
   
   If we didn't confuse you over the weekend, please give us another chance. Asking "why God allows bad things to happen" might do the job.

   Two years ago our daughter and husband lost their baby due to a defect in his chromosomes. Recently, my high school classmates lost their son, age 53. You have had your own heartaches.

   After He created man, God, saw all that He had made, and it was very good. 

   Here we are after multiple wars, diseases, fires, kings, earthquakes, tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, suicides, floods, mudslides, famines, terrorism, homicides, accidents and poisonous plants. Even some lower creatures God made will take a bite out of us, given the chance. And then there is evil.

   Professor John Peckham, interviewed by Marvin Olasky, attempts to explain: 

   "God is entirely good - omnibenevolent, and entirely powerful - omnipotent. Why, then should evil and man's own troubles exist? Is He cruel, unsympathetic, or unable? 

   The "free will" defense explains the logical problem of evil, says the professor. If free will is necessary to honor some other value, like love, God remains morally good.

Devil: evil with a D 

   Due to the Fall, we inherited sinful nature and depravity. Nevertheless, God's grace, which is very good, allows us to make decisions within our human limitations. 

   In Greek, the word devil means slanderer. Satan has access to God and makes charges against us. See the book of Job. 

   God can answer with power, but that would leave the door open for charges of meanness or unfairness, etc. 

   Where do we go with this? We think we know.      Tomorrow > 

Tug of Spiritual Warfare   

   Baby Jesus, born into Herod's world, immediately became a target for assassination. 

   The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  

   His disciples, and for centuries other followers, suffered imprisonment and death, considered as threats to religious or political strongholds.

   It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions...

   Daily persecution occurs in certain Muslim and Hindu regions, and in godless North Korea and China.*

   ...and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...

   An age in the West where post-Christian is becoming anti-Christian.*

   ...while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ... 

   Government will stifle Christian ministries and freedom of conscience. 
Believers' thoughts will not be tolerated. It's already begun. 

   ...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness...
   
   God's ultimate purpose for us will appear during the millennium and throughout eternity.* 

   ...and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)

   Peter said we are to entrust or commit our souls to God - the same word Jesus used on the cross when He committed his Spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46) - while we continue to "do good."* 

* From our devotional