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Content by J Neil Evans
Using RapidWeaver Elements
Copyright 2026
Made in Elements
The words that modern science and culture use to describe the developing capabilities of computers is interesting and revealing.
Britannica describes “Artificial intelligence” this way: “artificial intelligence (AI), the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. The term is frequently applied to the project of developing systems endowed with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience.”
Why would seemingly intelligent and wise people use the word “artificial” to describe the capabilities of man-made machines?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes “artificial”:
“As in unnatural … lacking a natural or spontaneous quality
Synonyms & Similar words: false / simulated / strained / fake / pseudo / mock / mechanical / exaggerated”
“Antonyms: natural / authentic / real / right / genuine / realistic / true /“
It seems that while recognizing the amazing characteristics of human intelligence they minimize its most remarkable attributes. To claim that human intelligence can be replicated by mere mathematical algorithms and electrical connections completely disregards the spiritual dimension of human thought capabilities. Perhaps in using the word “artificial” to describe computer intelligence the admission is made that in reality human intelligence is far more complicated and capable than any machines man can make. Even more serious is the refusal to recognize the God Who created not only the world around us but the mind we use to know and relate with Him. The consequences of this refusal are artificial hopes and plans about our present and eternal life.
Addressing our observations and understanding of the world around us, the Bible in Romans 1 says this about our human heart and mind:
:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
Read the rest of Romans to learn how God rescues us from our blind allegiance to the artificial life we try to make for ourselves.
Fernando Pessoa wrote:
“Sadly I write in my quiet room, alone as I have always been, alone as I will always be. And I wonder if my apparently negligible voice might not embody the essence of thousands of voices, the longing for self expression of thousands of lives, the patience of millions of souls resigned like my own to their daily lot, their useless dreams, and their hopeless hopes.” — Fernando Pessoa (One whose faith was in himself and what he saw the world around him.)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." — Peter (One whose faith was in Jesus Christ - 1 Peter 1:3-9)
Which perspective do you have?
Slogans surround us. They are on billboards, on bumpers, on TV, on radio, on junk mail, on hats, on tee shirts, on protest placards. They even plague us in the jingles that we can’t stop ringing in our head, like “break me off a piece of that ___ ___ ___.” We both love them and hate them. We love ours, and hate theirs.
Ironically they can reveal a lot about the character of our lives. And sometimes we don’t even realize the significance of what our slogans really say. Take for instance, “My Body, My Choice;” “Keep Your Hands Off My Body;” and “Abortion is Healthcare.” The slogans of Pro-Abortion can seem so reasonable. Of course it is our choice to govern our own bodies; of course it is appropriate for us to protect our bodies from unwanted advances. But like all slogans we tend to only see the side we prefer. And we pay the price for refusing to think more carefully about what we champion.
In choosing to govern our own bodies we very easily and naturally ignore the impact our choices have on others. Perhaps you have seen the road signs that say: “Please, don’t drink and drive,” or the phrase on alcohol ads: “Please, drink responsibly.” The irony is that in blindness to the impact drinking has on ourselves and others, some people choose to drive while drinking irresponsibly.
Getting back to Pro-Abortion slogans, they blindly ignore the fact that choosing abortion for myself and others denies that choice to the human baby whose very life we take. And we blindly ignore the irony that abortion does indeed keep our hands off of each other. It keeps the baby from knowing the warm and gentle comfort of clinging to its mother and father. And it blindly refuses the joy-full hands-on cradling of a new-born baby son or daughter. Yes, we have the right to choose, and the right to be protected from unwanted touches. But our slogans can make it easy to ignore the fact that babies have those same rights.
We live in a cruel world. We are cruel to each other in our blind selfishness. But there is a God Who offers present and eternal refuge in His powerful, loving rescue from the consequences of our sinful choices. Aborted babies know the fullness of God’s love immediately. For now, we who live with our various slogans must wait to know the full consequences of our present choices. Fortunately God has not left us clueless but said things like: “… But to all who did receive Him (Jesus) who believe in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12) We are each choosing and will live forever with the consequences of our choice.
I just read an article warning against using “culturally sensitive words.” The idea of “offending people with words” is is very common right now.
One proponent of such sensitivity said: "Language is too critical to our culture, that we can't just casually use language in ways that might offend and/or even, do harm to certain groups of people.”
It seems that the list of offensive words we should not use grows every day. We are being encouraged to control our words in order not to offend a growing list of easily offended groups.
Does anyone find it curious that the names of the beloved Deity of millions of Christians are the swear words we hear around us without any concern of offense. Apparently offending Christians, and more significantly, offending God Himself, is not any concern for millions of people. Actually, while hearing the words, most Christians do not feel personally offended because we realize that the real harm is to the people who care-lessly use the Names of the One Who loves and cares for them more than anyone else ever has or could.
In reality, most of us are selfishly more concerned about being offended than we are about offending.
2026-03-29
“No Kings” Protests?
The media is showing large crowds of people all across America and around the world enthusiastically protesting President Trump who they claim is acting like a fascist/king who is forcing his anti-democracy rules on America and the world. In response these people gather at the times and places at which they are instructed by Marxist/Communist leaders (Kings?). The organization, funding, topics, slogans, are all decreed and financed by these, in many cases, foreign leaders (Kings?).
While advocating “No Kings” the crowds follow the kings who are simply using them to accomplish their own dictatorial ambitions. The crowds are blindly seeking to “do what is right in their own eyes.” The end of these desires is only chaos and ultimate slavery to the kings of no-kings.
As much as we might imagine or wish for no mere human leader/king can be the KING we truly need. There is a King Who Alone has the Right, Ability, Wisdom, Justice and Power to Reign in Loving Perfection. His Name is Jesus, but alas, many people reject Him, foolishly preferring to be and do what is right in their own eyes.
Does Reality Exist?
I saw this headline on a website:
“Theoretical Physicist Questions Whether Reality Exists”
The question captures our attention. It sounds both interesting and intriguing. Being from a “theoretical physicist” makes it sound very intellectual and authoritative, thus worthy of serious consideration. If reality does not exist then nothing matters, even the musings of a theoretical physicist. Most people have considered the idea to varying degrees. But the question arises not from any evidence but from the common desire to avoid facing the realities of life and death and the accompanying question of what lies ahead. Avoiding these questions is basically a refusal to believe the real claims of Jesus Christ regarding our present and eternal life. The Bible and Jesus Christ have many much more captivating statements than asking whether reality exists.
A popular world religious leader recently said: "God does not bless any conflict." And "No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood." The greatest "conflict" of history was the greatest "blessing" which "justified the "shedding of innocent blood." In Golgotha's deadly battle, evil was defeated by the shedding of Jesus blood.
War and evil have been part of all human history. "Can't we all just get along" is blind to the fact that we are all basically selfish and sinful and that evil cannot be negotiated away. We can't even agree on what is evil and what is righteous.
God never negotiates with evil. The conflict between good and evil is not a bloodless conflict and it always involves great weeping and great rejoicing. People who confess and repent of their own sin recognize that mankind and God are in very serious conflict which God describes as either eternal death or eternal LIFE.
Content by J Neil Evans
Using RapidWeaver Elements
Copyright 2026