tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39243922024-03-27T02:35:57.490-04:00KairosFocusAs the Third Christian Millennium dawns, the Caribbean is at <i>kairos</i>: the nexus of opportunity and risk. In light of the Christocentric fulness theme of Ephesians 4:9 - 24, perspectives and counsel will be offered to support reformation, transformation and blessing towards a truly sustainable future under God.GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comBlogger1217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-71345773216671450942023-11-30T09:16:00.009-04:002023-12-03T14:00:37.042-04:00Google's censors strike again -- I am vaguely accused of "hate speech" . . . . . . and have a key post deleted, WITH NO DETAILS PROVIDED. I finally found a blogger email* in my gmail junk box, which said that nice generic smear, "hate speech." I am of course invited to self-incriminate by changing my post to conform to whatever claims underlie the anonymous complaint. Which also neatly manages to suppress whatever viewpoints Google does not like. That GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-73410594049525614152023-08-18T05:33:00.001-04:002023-08-18T05:46:55.585-04:00Why do we have 110/120 V vs 220/240 V three phase AC (and Tungsten-based lighting)? An interesting history lesson on electrification and the impact of Chicago:Food for thought. END PS, an explanation of US Domestic wiring is here. GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-46970394186157924382023-07-30T05:55:00.003-04:002023-07-30T05:55:26.785-04:00When Science is perverted into Scient-ISM From legitimate field of study to domineering cult Watch out!A word to the wise. END GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-9252296711082814992023-06-28T08:43:00.002-04:002023-06-28T08:43:44.308-04:00The Rose Apple This fruit -- Syzygium jambos (there are apparently hundreds of species in the genus) -- is a rural, somewhat rare, treat in Jamaica, it is often pink fleshed, smells of roses and tastes like sweet roses too:An obvious relative of the Otaheite Apple we just discussed. (And yes, there are the usual claimed health benefits.) ENDGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-34424624034707087582023-06-27T08:00:00.005-04:002023-06-27T11:49:47.011-04:00Thai fruit market stall, with seedless Otaheiti [= Malay] and Wax Apples This Thai fruit vendor's skills are amazing, starting with how he extracts a coconut's jelly and water to sell as a treat:Quite a show, but what caught my eye is the demonstration that there are seedless Otaheiti/ Malay Apples (also known as Plumrose etc here in the Caribbean):(On a cross check, this may be a red skinned wax apple, see just below.)Likewise we see similar wax apples:Could weGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-438494176133594522023-06-11T09:29:00.003-04:002023-06-15T06:44:49.475-04:00The Exodus as a model for sound reformation -- the decalogue and sound civilisationAmenhotep II, likely Pharaoh of the ExodusLast time, we paused to tie the Exodus in the Bible to a credible point in Egyptian and world history: Pharaoh Amenhotep II, of the Eighteenth Dynasty, c 1446 BC. Yes, it is not mere dismissible "religion." (Nor, is "religion" equivalent to mindless irrationality, blind following of dubious myths, hateful ignorance and oppression. That, is an GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-39638360113774278222023-06-03T16:32:00.011-04:002023-06-07T06:45:10.014-04:00Identifying the Pharaoh of the Exodus (yes, he is credibly identifiable!) Amenhotep II, plausibly, Pharaoh of the Exodus{HT: Expedition Bible}Traditionally, the Pharaoh of the Exodus is a major biblical study in the folly of lawless oppressive rule, and where it ends, through the liberation of a "guest people" subjugated through fear that they were a threat. Thanks, in large part, to the predecessors who "knew not Joseph" and the blessing he had brought to Egypt.GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-13179835672935668392023-06-01T07:32:00.002-04:002023-06-01T15:57:09.047-04:00So, how can we restore soundness (and sanity) to law, government and civilisation? First, by understanding what it takes to turn around a community dancing heedlessly on the crumbling edge of a cliff:. . . and, what predictably happens if we go along with the suicidal "flow":Underlying, it will be helpful to ponder who set up the Plato's Cave Shadow shows we may be confusing for sound reality, and what it takes to move the now notorious Overton Window:Yes, ideology can GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-5596967556926834452023-05-27T11:22:00.013-04:002023-05-27T11:59:04.302-04:00The Ciceronian first duties at work, starting with . . . In Nietzsche's The Antichrist, we may see an example of how the first duties subtly subvert the cynical, nihilistic hyperskepticism of our day:I shall go back a bit, and tell you the authentic history of
Christianity.—The very word “Christianity” is a misunderstanding—at
bottom there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross. The
“Gospels” died on the cross. (It goes downhill, from GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-90688694804683638682023-05-22T07:39:00.003-04:002023-05-22T16:46:32.172-04:00Natural Law, Legal Positivism and the path of reformation I believe, for cause, that we need to restore the centrality of the historic view that intelligible, built-in first duties and first law are the core of law. If, we are to save our region and wider civilisation from needless catastrophe due to sliding into lawless, ideologically driven Orwellian oligarchy. Where, the institutionally dominant legal positivism of our day has undermined GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-13953880135920062452023-05-20T08:33:00.001-04:002023-05-20T08:33:15.614-04:00The Ciceronian First Duties I think, it is helpful to summarise the seven Ciceronian First Duties:These, give a general basis on which we can frame law and government, also sound reformation. Which, we now sorely need. ENDGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-18065478206242152762023-05-08T04:37:00.007-04:002023-05-08T07:08:58.129-04:00"Mirror, mirror on the wall . . ." -- the self-referentiality challenge and comparative difficulties of worldviewsA mirror on the wall, framed by asnake eating its own tail [thenotorious ourobouros], anillustration of self-referentialself defeat A very useful definition of philosophy is that it is the department for hard, basic questions; questions, that have no easy answers. A big part of that is, that such questions are almost always self-referential, making incoherence a pivotal issue. Assert GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-65653946122374552332023-05-04T08:46:00.004-04:002023-05-05T06:41:59.326-04:00God is real, knowable and the root of reality Yes, I mean just that. Indeed, I argue that the knowable reality of God has become a major -- and needless -- conundrum in recent times as there is readily accessible and adequate reason to acknowledge the reality of God as knowable by ordinary, common people on adequate warrant, without need for abstruse "proofs." (Yes, I mean just that.)Witness no 1 is conscience. As, the GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-59619264099238897492023-05-02T07:52:00.003-04:002023-05-02T07:54:13.699-04:00There are two types of ignorance, I: innocent, II: willful, and this matters.One may of course lack adequate opportunity to know, so such ignorance is innocent. However, one may also willfully refuse to acknowledge what is adequately warranted and accessible, but which is unwelcome. The latter is manifestly a violation of intellectual duties and virtues; sometimes it is termed willful obtuseness. Type II ignorance, is anything but innocent, GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-70956220304184355782023-05-01T07:55:00.008-04:002023-05-02T06:52:02.436-04:00Dallas Willard on knowledge that belongs to the people (and so too, a basis for naturally legitimate authority to lead desperately needed reformation) About a year ago, I ran across the late Dallas Willard's posthumous book on The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge (2018, Routledge | Taylor Frances, completed by his literary heirs). In it I found a striking discussion of knowledge and naturally legitimate authority:To have knowledge in the dispositional sense—where you know things you are not necessarily thinking about at the time—is to
be GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-21325516296158714462023-04-30T11:00:00.005-04:002023-04-30T11:15:10.725-04:00On the Christ-Cornerstone foundation principle (and the 4R framework) For some months I have been doing Zoom Bible studies with colleagues, and in that course, I have been highlighting:This framework leads to unifying the six principles, the NT gospel preachings, the reason for a scripture-based focus, and extension to reformation-minded discipleship. For example:Here, we see that humanity has now moved beyond the age of ignorance, and how four of the six GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-29240511255750457672023-04-30T10:38:00.002-04:002023-04-30T10:38:31.931-04:00ANNOUNCEMENT For some time, I have been at low ebb on KF.Given developments internationally and regionally, I intend to ramp up activity here, to address a range of issues. So, DV, let's roll. ENDGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-23470344648673038582023-04-30T10:25:00.005-04:002023-05-01T01:29:04.031-04:00You're CENSORED, . . . you hate-speaking misinformer.Recently, I had occasion to look at my KF post stream, only to see that a post from Dec 12 2009 was set up as unpublished for alleged violation of community guidelines. It was on the climategate incident and on linked use of armed guards to remove a journalist who questioned a scientist. Let me add overnight, what is the difference between [a] a computer GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-75593676769930929852022-03-28T07:31:00.000-04:002023-04-30T09:50:47.939-04:00Have we sometimes "dumbed down" our understanding/presentation of the gospel? (How can we more adequately understand/present it?) (. . . As well as of its relevance and our Mission?)Friday evening just past, I attended an outreach event here with a visiting minister from Jamaica, and as I waited for the service, I took some time to mark up a bit on Colossians Ch 1 in a Study Bible. I was strongly reminded of and struck by - its perspective on Christocentrism as the pivot of all reality, - its slant on the GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-27763535009178235402022-02-06T02:46:00.002-04:002023-04-30T09:54:31.388-04:00Robert Malone on the Rogan Experience -- let us hear a dissenting expert Video, at Rumble: Sobering, we need to at least hear him. END GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-7731377618466399132021-10-30T06:40:00.000-04:002023-04-30T09:54:38.080-04:00The Gospel of John, in video format Here, faithfully narrated:Let us ponder. ENDGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-13581945184848357042021-08-13T11:19:00.001-04:002023-04-30T09:54:41.453-04:00The Montauk Surf fishing experience Video: Amazing. END GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-794292888302531462021-06-22T12:25:00.007-04:002023-04-30T09:54:45.169-04:00Today is June 22, 1941 + 80 years, let us recall Operation Barbarossa . . . Hitler's self-defeating invasion of the USSR in World War II: Wikipedia gives a useful outline history:Operation Barbarossa (German: Unternehmen Barbarossa) also known as the German invasion of the Soviet Union was the code name for the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and some of its Axis allies, which started on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II.
The GEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-25085711973379311212021-06-14T21:30:00.003-04:002023-04-30T09:54:49.390-04:00Let us listen to Dr McCullough, ponder . . . is this a witness of truth?Let us ponder what he has to say. ENDGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924392.post-71871016293600654762021-03-01T01:59:00.005-04:002023-04-30T09:54:55.190-04:00Living off grid on a sailboat -- a partial model for counter-culture living? A couple share their SW Caribbean sailboat experience:
It strikes me that this is a start-point for alternative, counter-culture lifestyles. Which seem to be becoming ever more important as we see the ongoing path of a civilisation adrift. ENDGEM of The Kairos Initiativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10622199013789009422noreply@blogger.com