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| Dublin: trekearth |
From my PhD
Bloesch defines teleological as a word coming from the Greek telos, or end, where the emphasis is on goals and consequences. Bloesch (1987: 19).
BLOESCH, DONALD G. (1987) Freedom for Obedience, San Francisco, Harper and Rowe Publishers.
Post PhD
Blackburn also describes teleology from the Greek as 'telos' end. It is the study of the ends or purposes of things. It is described as a Aristotelian view of nature and ethics and is also a view and doctrine of the Christian tradition. Blackburn (1996: 374).
From Teleology August 24, 2014
Teleology is a philosophical doctrine that all nature, 'or at least intentional agents, are goal-directed or functionally organised'. Hull (1996: 791).
Plato suggested that the organised world/universe could be understood by comparing it to the behaviour of organised agents. Hull (1996: 791). This was known as 'external teleology'. Hull (1996: 791). Human beings could anticipate their future and plan accordingly. Hull (1996: 791). Persons could calculate their own futures, so to speak.
Aristotle held to 'internal teleology' as in 'invested nature itself with goals'. Hull (1996: 791). Each of these has their own final cause with the entities being constructed in a way that they tend to meet their directed goal. Hull (1996: 791). Natural theology from theologians and philosophers took these concepts and supposed that the 'all-powerful God' was to fulfill his divine intentions. Hull (1996: 791). Today philosophers may acknowledge apparent 'functional organization' in reality, but attempt to not reference the supernatural. Hull (1996: 791). In other words to not reference, God or angelic beings. Naturalistic references and preferences would be used.
The views of Plato and Aristotle seem over-speculative, as in a finite being cannot safely and fully accurately predict the teleological pattern for self, or teleology for self because of lack of knowledge and because human beings are a secondary cause of thoughts, acts and actions.
God would be the first and primary cause of all things being the infinite, first cause. Only God could determine teleology in a full sense.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
BLOESCH, DONALD G. (1987) Freedom for Obedience, San Francisco, Harper and Rowe Publishers.
HULL, DAVID, L (1996) ‘Teleology’, in Robert Audi, (ed), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
A man owned a small farm in South Georgia. The Wage and Hour Department suspected he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent to interview him.
ReplyDeleteAgent: "You just give me a list of your employees and tell me how much you pay them."
Farmer: "All right. I have a hired man. Been with me for three years. I pay him $600 a week, plus room and board. I have a cook. She's been here six months. She gets $500 a week plus room and board."
Agent (scribbling on note pad): "Anybody else?"
Farmer: "Yeah, there's a half-wit here. Works about eighteen hours a day. I pay him ten dollars a week and give him chewing tobacco."
Agent: "Aha! I want to talk to that half-wit!"
Farmer: "You're talkin' to him."
…..Copyright 2014 Mike Atkinson (www.mikeysFunnies.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (ChristianVoices@att.net)
Jesus, not just casual
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised about all the things that I know need to change, but that I no longer pray for. It's because I think I understand why things are that way. When good jobs are hard to find and when college costs so much, a lot of people can't afford to get married, so there will be many babies on their way outside of marriage, and of course millions will be aborted, the human beings that don't fit into the economy. Since I can't fix any of that, I've stopped asking the Lord to stop abortion, I've gotten used to it.
The American church is dying off, especially among younger people. I know how that happened in Europe a hundred years ago, and we generally follow their lead, so I understand how the church of Jesus Christ is going casual and then going away. Maybe the good news about the gospel in China is really the Lord's plan anyway? Would praying make any difference?
ReplyDeleteI have been deeply saddened over a strange conflict among people I have known for years. No one seems to want to understand and heal, but just to get it over with. I don't get what's been happening at all, but in church history that isn't that new. It's the way things are, nothing is going to change, what's the point of praying?
I just now saw myself! I haven't stopped praying, but my docket is much too limited. If that were anyone else, I'd pontificate again about Kant and compartmentalizing—but that's what I've been doing myself! I've been thinking like this: God doesn't really care or that wouldn't have happened, so what's the point asking him to change things? Am I really thinking like that, that most of the things wrong in the world God can't or won't do anything about? Do I believe in the living God or don't I? Do I know that he is there, that he cares, that he is strong to save?
There are things I need to let go of myself or they become a kind of obsession. That strange conflict was like that. I cared so much for those people and that place that I kept trying to help, even though there was no response. But then came my foolish thinking: since I need to let go, God should too, so I'll stop pestering him to do something. "Let go of that evil, Lord, you're likely to go crazy too over something even you can't change." Have you ever heard anything so godless, so blasphemous?
ReplyDeleteThe Lord didn't quit with me though. Speaking of letting go, he didn't do that with me. I'm repenting and praying again at least daily against abortion. My wife Carol has a friend who helps pregnant young women think through what they should do, and I can pray for her and give some support. By the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart, I'm doing what I can, with hope and trust in the sovereign Lord, who can and will care for those little children. He will surely come to them if they can't come to him. He is the Lord, isn't he? Thinking that he's as feeble as I am, now that's really dishonoring his name. That must not happen again.
We know we need to look to the Lord and not to ourselves. A lot of that comes from God's great gift of the Reformation, when we learned to be "extraspective," looking to him and not looking at how well we're looking. Maybe there's a better word for it, but that's truly at the heart of our faith, of the reality of living in the Lord's world. But still, we need to see right away what's going on in our hearts, don't we? We need to have godly wisdom to pray for ourselves too, as well as for those babies.
What does trust in God look like? What are the markers? Once I was impressed with the gospel of "what if you were to die tonight," but so far I've had to get up the next morning, facing the same things I'd been facing, and that's hard to do. I need to know his presence and that his complete salvation is for me in my need. Do I?
Once believers thought about that a lot, "do I know what my heart is like? do I really trust Jesus? or am I just pretending?" It was called the assurance of salvation, and we're not much interested in that any more. We go to a church membership class, and hear about the promises of God, and get asked, "do you believe that?" and that seems to be enough. Of course we believe, why would we come to church otherwise? But don't we need to look deeper than that into our hearts? It's more than what we do, it's why we do or don't do it. When we get up in the morning, what are our motives for the day? We have the core right, we know Jesus, but what difference has that been making in the hard specifics of our lives?
Once believers thought a lot about their assurance. How would I know if I really trust in Christ, not casually but truly? Maybe someone who trusts Jesus Christ knows deep down that Jesus is faithful and will keep her from running away from the battle with World, Flesh and Devil. But don't we need better than "deep down," especially when the crunch comes? Then we'll need to know Jesus' abiding love up front, clearly and face to face. How those two sides fit together is what Puritans wrote many helpful books about. I was honored to be Joel Beeke's adviser as he wrote his doctoral dissertation on assurance. He's thought about this more than anyone else I know today. See his Assurance of Faith, Calvin, English Puritanism and the Dutch Second Reformation, paying close attention to his pastoral insights for us today. It may be that the most comprehensive and helpful thinking on this is in Jonathan Edwards' Religious Affections. I'm working now with that and hope to tell you soon what I find.
ReplyDeleteI believe that my wrestling with my own casual faith is also the key to Awakening. It's when we wake up and smell the flowers of the total victory over Satan in Jesus' resurrection, also the followup gift of the Holy Spirit to keep Jesus in our hearts, the conviction that there is indeed hope for us to change—that's when we recognize how obtuse we have been to think casual Jesus was all we needed or wanted. That's when we know what we need and what the Holy Spirit is eager to give us, when we call out persistently and joyfully to the Lord, claiming his rich promises to us.
I know that can come over as pious platitude, minimizing the Satan's comprehensive attack in our culture upon the Good News. It is indeed a battle that the Lord calls us to, one that seems so hard that going casual seems like a much needed furlough from the action. When I begin to think that way, this helps a lot, I Corinthians 10:12-13,
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Do I get it: keep alert, don't take your faith for granted. Oh, that cultural attack? No big deal, ordinary stuff, Satan thinks he has a plan but God has a bigger and better one, wait and see. That strange conflict among your friends? Look for the Lord 's way out of that one too, he's about to give it to you, just ask.
O Lord, thank you so much that Jesus did it all, and that the Holy Spirit keeps reminding us of that. We trust him alone, not our feeble faith. But wake us up now Lord. Show us your way. Show me now especially Lord, how to pray and work for unity in the gospel for those people I love so much. Amen.
D. Clair Davis
Horrible Kung Fu Film From Jamie
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHello to the people of this forum< Am Brooke Campbell from Texas and i can say that am the happiest person on earth since last week with what DR ABULU has done for me , it all started last year October when my fiance left me in Texas and travel to see his parents in Ohio at first him was still calling me and show love even when him was away , but it gets to a point when he no longer gives a shit about me , and i noticed it so when i tried to confront him , he told me that he dose not love me again that he feel like being alone i was shocked and heartbroken when i tried talking he will hang the phone on me i was so heart broken and i was frustrated about this , but on a second thought i was not convince that he was on his right senses so i discuss this with my elder sister who lives in California and she directed me to DR abulu of abuluspiritualtemple@yahoo.com saying that the man has helped her friend in such case before so i said to my self let me tried i contacted this man
I am always careful of anything claiming to be a spiritual temple.
ReplyDeleteStay Biblical.
Beer & Colonoscopy
ReplyDeleteIt was my first time visiting Dr Putz for a colonoscopy.
I went into his office for my first rectal exam.
His new blonde nurse, Evelyn, took me to an examining
Room.
She told me to get undressed and have a seat until the doctor could see
Me. She said that he would only be a few minutes.
After putting on the gown that she gave me I sat down.
While waiting I observed there were three items on a stand next to the exam
Table:
A Tube of K-Y jelly,
A rubber glove
And a beer
.
When Dr. Putz finally came in I said, "Look
Doc, I'm a little confused.
This is my first exam.
I know what the K-Y
Is for,
And I know what the
Glove is for,
But can you tell me what the BEER
Is for?"
At that, Doctor Putz became noticeably outraged and stormed over to the
Door.
He flung the door open and yelled to his new blonde nurse,
“ Evelyn !.........I said a BUTT LIGHT"
ReplyDeleteMAY 28, 2015
When I Don’t Get What I Want
LYSA TERKEURST
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Have you ever wanted something so badly your heart ached with each thought of it? It seems life would be so much better if you had that.
There would be more happiness.
More contentment.
More fulfillment.
More satisfaction.
More peace.
We can envision ourselves with this thing, this person, this opportunity. And all things are better. So, why doesn’t God give us this longing of our heart?
Because He wants us to willingly release it to Him.
Ouch.
Not the answer we want. Why would God let the aching desire linger and not make things happen? He could. He’s certainly able. But when He doesn’t, it seems unfair. Not good. Confusing.
It’s easy to get down when we’re constantly let down.
We hope this thing will happen … we’ll meet this right person … we’ll get this job … we’ll finally be healed … we’ll get that chance … we’ll see that family member turn their life around. Time and again it doesn’t happen. That’s when it’s easy to slip.
We can so easily slip into feeling a little distant from God because we feel hurt by God.
That’s what happened when the man I thought I was going to marry told me he met someone else. That’s what happened when I didn’t get the job I was so certain was going to be the answer to all my financial problems. That’s what happened when my son didn’t get into the charter school we were so certain would have been perfect for him.
But, in each of these things, I eventually had to make a choice. I could either be consumed with my unmet longing or trust the plans of our loving God.
As an offering of trust, we must give up that which could so easily bring us down.
Not give up as in a discouraged surrender. But giving up as in placing this desire in the hand of God and saying, "Either way, I will see Your answer as the good answer and walk in trust."
The Scriptures and today’s key verse promise He rewards those who honestly seek Him: "And without faith is it impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him"(Hebrews 11:6).
Sometimes I get so consumed with seeking my unmet longings, I don’t earnestly seek Him. But then I miss out on His reward. And His reward is the only thing that will fill the void in my heart.
Yes, I still struggle with unmet desires.
But not as much today as I did yesterday.
And that is good. Not easy. But good.
Dear Lord, I sacrifice chasing what I want so I might more fully, and with more focus, chase You. I release this grip of desire. I praise You for who You are, what only You can bring, and how You will fill whatever gap this release might leave. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (NIV)
Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." (NLT)
A little boy went up to his father and asked: 'Dad, where did my intelligence come from?'
ReplyDeleteThe father replied. 'Well, son, you must have got it from your mother, cause I still have mine.'
'Mr. Clark, I have reviewed this case very carefully,' the divorce Court Judge said, 'And I've decided to give your wife $775 a week,'
ReplyDelete'That's very fair, your honor,' the husband said. 'And every now and then I'll try to send her a few bucks myself.'
A doctor examining a woman who had been rushed to the Emergency Room, Took the husband aside, and said, 'I don't like the looks of your wife at all.'
ReplyDelete'Me neither doc,' said the husband. 'But she's a great cook and really good with the kids.'
A blonde calls Delta Airlines and asks, 'Can you tell me how long it'll take to fly from San Francisco to New York City ?'
ReplyDeleteThe agent replies, 'Just a minute.'
'Thank you,' the blonde says, and hangs up.
Two Mexican detectives were investigating the murder of Juan Gonzalez.
ReplyDelete'How was he killed?' asked one detective.
'With a golf gun,' the other detective replied.
'A golf gun! What is a golf gun?'
'I don't know. But it sure made a hole in Juan.'
ReplyDeleteMoe: 'My wife got me to believe in religion.'
Joe: 'Really?'
Moe: 'Yeah. Until I married her I didn't believe in Hell.'
A man is recovering from surgery when the Surgical Nurse appears and asks him how he is feeling.
ReplyDelete'I'm O. K. But I didn't like the four letter-word the doctor used in surgery,' he answered.
'What did he say,' asked the nurse.
'Oops!'
While shopping for vacation clothes, my husband and I passed a display of bathing suits. It had been at least ten years and twenty pounds since I had even considered buying a bathing suit, so I sought my husband's advice.
ReplyDelete'What do you think?' I asked. 'Should I get a bikini or an all-in-one?'
'Better get a bikini,' he replied. 'You'd never get it all in one.'
He's still in intensive care.
The graveside service just barely finished, when there was massive clap of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning, accompanied by even more thunder rumbling in the distance...
ReplyDeleteThe little old man looked at the pastor and calmly said, 'Well, guess she's there.'