Taxing the Rich

I linked to the main page instead of to this story. This link will make it easy to find.

http://planetralph.blogspot.com/2004/11/taxing-rich.html

Ralph

The Great Faith of Atheists

Before Darwin, no one could come up with credible way that complex processes could arise spontaneously out of simple processes. All people had observed were things breaking down into components and the increases in entropy or disorder that we all see in everyday life. Only creations of human intelligence and life itself would appear to break this pattern and create complex processes. The argument that if you observe a watch, you can safely say that a watchmaker is not only possible, but certainly existed was very difficult to answer. In fact it could not be answered based on the science of the time.

And yet, in spite of all the scientific evidence there were those with enough faith to believe that there was no god. Eventually, Darwin gave their faith more intellectual cover, but surely the amazing faith of the atheist is something that Christians can recognize and respect.

Of course, the belief that atheism is somehow "scientific" or supported by science is nonsensical. To try to take physical phenomena and disprove that it was created just doesn't make sense. Whatever you can prove about the nature of the universe has no bearing on whether the universe is created or emerged without creation. You can perhaps prove that God didn't leave obvious "fingerprints" on the universe. That may reveal something about the nature of God and his relationship with man but nothing about His existence. The atheists have their faith, the religious have another.

Holiday Letter 2006

Dear Friends and Family,

Nothing much happened this year. Oh, there were a few changes.

We moved to Oregon. So, of course we had to sell our old house and buy a new one.

And Ralph got a new job. He works in product management at TransCore, in the transportation industry. And I started working at home in my same position at ADP. Naturally, the kids are in new schools. Kristin wanted to add a few thoughts of Holiday cheer to the letter sso I’ll let her type a few lines:

My life was ruined

MY LIFE SUCKS! IT WENT DOWN THE TUBES YO!!

We didn’t get a puppy

=(

There are too many trees here and way too much fresh air!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…need…smog…..*gasp*

As you can tell from her tone, Kristin is in seventh grade. She goes to Waluga Junior High up here. Kristin played soccer this year before we left San Jose.

Grace is in fourth grade and Tim is in first grade at Bryant Elementary. Grace enjoys crafts and making things. She made Gingerbread houses at a party with some of her new friends here. She is still working very hard in school and reading constantly. Tim is making friends and keeping a positive and happy outlook. He is developing a love a books. Grace and Tim have especially enjoyed the network of trails that runs through our neighborhood. All the kids can easily walk to school now since their schools are right next door to each other and only a couple of blocks from our house.

But other than those few changes everything is pretty much the same.

We’re looking forward to having my parents and my brother Greg stay with us during the holidays. My side of the family will all be here for Christmas. My brothers Paul and Kevin and Kevin’s wife Elizabeth and their children Nora and Fiona live nearby in Beaverton. Ralph’s looking forward to visiting with his side of the family to celebrate Jeannette and Al’s 10^th Anniversary.

We are hoping you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the blessings of the season.

Love,

Michele, Ralph, Kristin (ROCKS!!!), Grace, and Tim