Tag: change-can

Dissecting the Delusion

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

One of the benefits of retaining most of the books I have had to read while I was in college is that at times I can 1) share them with my children and 2) they have been required reading from my children. It is nice to see the money spent years ago still reaps a return. Just this past weekend I was rummaging through a dozen boxes looking for The Scarlet Letter. I was convinced it was somewhere in my possession as it was my own required reading years ago. Sadly this time I was mistaken. I had confused it with The Screwtape Letters which had a scarlet cover so while disappointed I at least felt justified in the confusion.
 
Yet the boxes spoke to me through reminders that many half-read, non-read and yet-read books demanded my attention. So I pulled out Mill’s On Liberty and Karen Armstrong’s The Battle for God along with a half-dozen others, leaving them in well walked area so they can realize their full potential of being mentally consumed. One book I passed over was Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion. I vividly remember reading the book, thinking Dawkins hit on some strong, obvious and weak points in his argument against Christianity. None of them are worth going over in detail. At least coming from me.
 
David Marshall, founder of the Kuai Mu Institute for Christianity and World Cultures, took the time to write a granular and detailed response to Dawkins. Only three pages into the sixty-eight page retort and I am taken with Marshall’s mind. It would be irresponsible to recommend the paper on Dawkins’ errors but first impression tells me I will need to re-read Delusion. I am reminded of the mantra given to me by my philosophy professors: the best argument is found when building the strongest counter argument. In our daily lives we are too often only given on side of a position and in process a very weak form of the alternate position. That does not help us as a country or as individuals. While Dawkins may seem a fool or Christianity a false belief, here is an opportunity to confirm or debunk that position. At the very least you might better understand your opponent.
 

The God Delusion: 160 Errors, Gross
Exaggerations, and Highly Dubious Claims

VS

The God Delusion

Dark Friday Alternative

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

African Drought Survival Gift

 

If you turn on your TV or exit your house the evidence of Dark (Black) Friday washes over you like an acid bath. If you find yourself out on Friday, and now on Thursday, please consider putting back one of the items you believe will bring Christmas joy for an even better one. Compassion International is one organization that allows you to give Gifts of Compassion. For $100 you can buy a cow or for $45 you can by a goat for a family. Give the gift in the name of the person you were shopping for or get some friends together and purchase multiple items. Please visit the Compassion International website to see what your options are. I speak from experience when I say you definitely feel the spirit of the season. Here is a video of what the gift can do.

gifts-of-compassion-christmas-logo-400x45.jpg

Your gift will help provide clean drinking water, medical treatment, disaster relief, food supplies and much more for Compassion-assisted children and their families.

Meet real needs and bring real joy with a Gift of Compassion, then get family and friends involved by giving gifts in their honor.

Once you purchase a gift, you will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of complimentary greeting cards to send to your honorees. You can select how you would like to send your cards:

  • Have a professionally printed card mailed to you or directly to your honoree
  • Print your card at home
  • Send an e-card to your honoree

Please share any similar sites you go to during this time of year.

GIFTS OF COMPASSION

 

Dirty in Public

Brian FullfordLeave a comment

My first mud run with my friend Chuck Schoonmaker and his family.

A rough last few months had the site on life support. Neither Chris nor I had time or inspiration to move outside these thin walls. I guess it never occurred to us that a simple push or punch would relieve us from the congestion. As my friend Josh McTiernan has always told me: “Just write.” How is it that the things we “know” are the things we forget? A failed philosophy of individual exploration trips on over its own ideas. But pulls itself back up an moves onward.

The job of the pilgrim.

I would like to say we have codified our philosophy and have moved on from our humble beginnings. The sad truth is that as small as we thought our idea was it still lacked vision and a plan. So while we maneuver through our own mistakes and ignorance there is only the art of “doing”. We will write. We will photograph. We will share positive to invoke change. Beyond that the road is unknown but the effort is not lost.

There are many things being experienced and considered.
But while we wait, here are things that have happened:

* I took the GRE. Top percentile in Qualitative. 4.5 out of 6 on the essay. 19th percentile on Qualitative. How do you get into graduate school with that? Math has humbled me.

* My first mud run with my daughter. Started writing about it. I will finish it.

* 13.1 trail run in Pelham, AL with my friends Brian and Philip. Another experience worth sharing. It will come.

* My wife attended a youth counselor seminar in Atlanta. Some great theological inspiration…even for this agnostic.

* My friend Josh returns from Kazakhstan. He was in the Peace Corps. His story is quite enlightening. Another share moment.

 * I have learned a lot about addiction. But I have so much more to consume.

I guess you could say the “changing” and “charity” has been a bit more introspective. While I watch others help out Haiti, the homeless and other areas I try to remind myself of those small dots and that beating the self up serves no purpose other than building the wall. The checklist is a work in action.

Chris and I appreciate all who visit this humble site. We hope inspiration can be found amidst the mess. More-so we hope you take the time to share with us what is going on in your world. Yes the internet is littered with sites much like this but maybe this will be the one that changes the one. If you don’t try you fail.

Be well.