Quote of the Week

 “Our Nation’s motto — ‘In God We Trust’ — was not chosen lightly. It reflects a

basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this

nation owes homage.” – Ronald Reagan

Space Litter

Space Traffic

Last Wednesday, (February 11, 2009) two satellites collided above Siberia. Each Satellite weighed over 1000 pounds, creating a debris field that is endangering many other orbiting assets including the Hubble Telescope. The speed of orbiting assets is roughly 18,000 mph. The average muzzle velocity of a rifle bullet is about 2,000 mph, or one ninth the speed of orbiting objects.

This is a growing problem that already endangers objects passing through this ever expanding debris field. Additionally, both China and the US have exacerbated the problem by destroying orbiting satellites with missiles. Without a doubt space debris is going to take a toll on future space programs.

From a terrestrial perspective, on the other hand, we’re apt to see colorful light shows in the night skies as pieces of space debris enter the atmosphere. Unfortunately some of the larger junk will fall to earth. Hopefully none of the hazardous materials contained in some satellites will hit population centers.

On rare occasions pilots have reported seeing debris passing in the proximity of their aircraft. Something to think about on your next flight!

Eventually, earth will take on a different look from outer space as rings of debris will evolve, resembling Saturn’s rings.

Jesus spoke about a time in the last days when the stars shall fall from the sky.  “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”  – Matthew  24:29; cf Mark 13:25; Luke 21:25.  John also described this event in Revelation 6:13 – “And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.”

Could it be that solar wind will push some of this space debris into the earths atmosphere having the visual effect John spoke of? 

 

 

Keep looking up.

 

Quote of the Week

Franklin Graham

“After 9/11, there were a lot of things being said about how the God of Islam and the God of the Christian faith were one and the same, but that’s simply not true … The God that I worship does not require me to kill other people. The God that I worship tells me I am to love my enemy, to give him food when he’s hungry and water when he’s thirsty.” -

 

 

FRANKLIN GRAHAM, Newsweek, Aug. 14, 2006

What’s in a name?

Ares

Why don’t we name a rocket we’re building after the Greek god of war?  Well, in one way it makes sense - our eyes are turned towards the eventual landing of Americans on Mars, and being the ‘red’ planet, it was in Roman myth represented as the god of war, so NASA has chosen to name this latest rocket after the Greek god, Ares.   So what?  It’s nothing, really and I’m investing more effort into posing the question than it deserves but having said that, we Americans traditionally practice the use Roman and Greek mythological gods and goddesses on our official symbols…and I’m not here to criticize that.

Former LA County Seal

 But that brings up this thought in my mind.  I wonder why the ACLU hasn’t questioned this practice considering  their definition of the seperation of church and state?  Why, for example did the ACLU threaten an expensive lawsuit against the tiny crosses on the official seal of Los Angeles county?   The threat of such a law suit in an already financially strapped county caused those tiny crosses (symbols of the historic Catholic missions in LA history) to be removed from the seal which hasn’t bothered anyone here-to-fore.  Yet, (was it hypocrisy?)  the ACLU completely ignored the much larger image of the Roman goddess of harvest.  Isn’t that a religious symbol as well?  What about the California State Seal that bears the image of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war? 

New LA County Seal

What’s my point?  These Greek and Roman religious symbols on our official government seals don’t seem to offend the sensibilities of the ACLU, nor the anti-Christians they represent, but display a cross – woe be to the Christians - that’s cause for a lawsuit.  Think of how silly this all is.  But as rediculous as it is, doesn’t it reveal a specific kind of religious intolerance? 

As a Christian, I  personally don’t have a problem with these mythological symbols existing on our government seals, but I view with alarm the ongoing attacks focused against Christianity.  In a day and age when already tight taxpayer money is being drained away by the ACLU on these idiotic lawsuits, (removing crosses, the Ten Commandments, “under God” from the pledge, and our national motto, “In God we trust” off of our coinage)

Goddess Minerva

they don’t seem to be going after the Muslims for getting the taxpayers to put foot washing basins in public restrooms so that Muslim gentlemen can wash their feet. 

What is it about Christianity, the overwhelming religion of our founding fathers, that has singularly incurred these attacks by the ACLU?