SUE-HAPPY

Not A Sue-Happy Person?

Lately I have been hearing this term more often, “sue-happy.”  As an injury lawyer, I am often contacted by potential clients that are very concerned about making any claims, because they don’t want to appear to be that type of person. I fully understand that.

Here is the funny thing…if you are worried about appearing as that “type” of person, you probably are not that type of person.  The folks that are looking for a lawsuit on every corner could not care less what is thought of them. 

Sue-happy people bring frivolous lawsuits. Examples of this include a man who sued a dry cleaners for millions when they lost a pair of pants. Ridiculous. I wish I had been able to be the judge at that moment. He would have never forgotten it.

It is cases like that bring disrepute on lawyers, the justice system and victims with legitimate, compensable injuries. 

Seldom do we hear about the cases that are settled. This is sometimes because we have to sign confidentiality clauses that prevent their discussion. Often, it is because they are quietly settled, without a suit even being filed.

Other traits bring disrepute on the legal system too. Obnoxious television ads by lawyers are constant. Unethical medical or chiropractor clinics calling injured people the day after a wreck.

The other day, a client came in having nine calls or messages on her phone after a wreck!

A real case, that is not frivolous, demands justice. Often times, this can be settled quietly without going to court. But is trial is necessary, honest victims should not have to apologize for simple making a claim that the insurance company often undervalues.

Many cases in my office have medical bills of $50,000 – $500,000, in addition to lost wages and disability, not to mention what they have been through. These claims, by people who hire me, are not brought by sue-happy people. Many times, they feel awful having to even make a claim.

It is a good reminder that our tort law derives from the Bible, and that there are right ways to go about it.

LOSS OF A GIANT

LOSS OF A GIANT

“A Good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”  Proverbs 22:1

The World is worse for the recent loss of Truett Cathy.  If you are like me, Chic-fil-A and its founder Truett Cathy are more than just a fast food restaurant or a great sandwich.  He showed that a principled man can be blessed in business while being a blessing others. When protested against, they offer free drinks to protesters. They give their employees a day of rest. They are different because Truett was different.

Some of his well-known quotes give some insight to his thinking:

“Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else – our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.”

“I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order.”

And what is said about him may say even more:

“What impresses me most about Truett Cathy is that he has had the courage to follow his beliefs even though he’s pressured by the world to do otherwise. Even though the business world said it didn’t make sense to take Sundays off, Truett insisted on a day of rest.” -Larry Julian Author, “God Is My CEO.”

“I hope that people will learn from Truett Cathy the virtues that have brought him remarkable success in life. He has dedicated himself to service in the broadest sense, following Christian principles, not only in his personal life, but in his relations with his customers and employees.” Jimmy Carter, Former President of the United States.

The company reflects his generosity as well. Each year, $1.6 million is provided to help Chick-fil-A Team Members attend the colleges of their choice. Over the life of the program, Chick-fil-A has donated more than $30 million towards this purpose, helping more than 30,000 Team Members attend more than 500 different colleges and universities.

May your memory be a blessing.

Godspeed.

Character still matters, y’all.  

#TruettCathy

STARS: Another thought

WISHING UPON A STAR?

If you have not taken a moment recently to go out a look at the stars on one of these cool dark nights, I encourage you to.

Scripture has a lot to say about stars:

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place . . . “(Psalm 8:3, NIV)

He made the stars with a purpose, both as signs and light: And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." (Gen 1:14-15).

. “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4). “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26).

The Bible names some constellations: “Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens?” (Job 38:31-32. See also Amos 5:8)

The stars have an order or procession. “Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?” (Song of Solomon, 6:10).

In Genesis 9:12-13, God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

But, there is a perceived problem with the distant stars He made in Genesis on Day 4. Many point out that the light could not reach here in the 6,000-10,000 years of Biblical history.

To think through this issue, understand that light is currently believed to travel at 186,000 miles per second. A “light year” is traveling at this unimaginable speed for a whole year!

The closest star (other than our sun) is Proxima Centauri, which is 4.22 light years away. That is 24,800,000,000,000 miles (or about the length of the line at Walmart when I am in a hurry.

This distance is used by old earth proponents to argue for an ancient universe approaching 13 billons years old or more. Given their assumptions, that is not unreasonable.

However, notice the assumptions that are made: 1) The speed of light is constant; 2) the distance is fixed and unchanged for billions of years; 3) processes have always been exactly as they are right now. (this is called “uniformitarianism”).

If you suspend just one of these assumptions, everything changes. For instance, what if many of the visible stars were created quite close to the earth and accelerated away at great speed? Their light would remain visible now. It would be like having a flashlight and throwing it. The light is visible as it leaves.

There is some reason to suspect something like this might just be the case. In at least 11 places, the Scriptures speak of God ‘stretching out the heavens’ (e.g. Job 9:8, Isaiah 40:22 and 42:5, Jeremiah 10:12, Zechariah 12:1) and in Genesis 1:15 the words ‘And it was so.’ are recorded in connection with the events of Day 4 of Creation Week, implying the completion of the events described on that Day. It is a reasonable conclusion to draw that God stretched out the heavens to the vast extent of the observable universe in just one 24-hour day and then ceased the action of ‘stretching out’.

It is interesting to discuss, but the only one that was there was God. One must chose to trust in an ever-changing science book or the unchanging Bible. I choose Scripture.

________________________

Mr. Peel star gazes from his Arlington area home, and seeks justice for those injured in car accidents, work place incidents, medical malpractice, and nursing homes. He often addresses churches, clubs and groups without charge. Mr. Peel may be reached though PeelLawFirm.com wherein other articles may be accessed.

Should a Christian Ever Sue??

Christians and Lawsuits--

Should a Christian Sue?

As a Christian, and a lawyer, I have been asked about this many times. As with any question, we should consult the Scriptures first.

The Biblical text that is most often cited is Paul’s letter in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8:

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. (NIV)

Let’s look at the passage carefully. The kind of cases involved in the passage are described in the text:

A “dispute,” that is “trivial” in nature, “between believers,” involving being “cheated” and “wronged” and this dispute could well be judged by a “man of little account in the church.”

The type of actual dispute is not revealed, but from the description above it is clear that it involves a matter that is between two believers, where one feels cheated or wronged and appears--to others at least--as “trivial” in nature. The Bible expressly states that legal action in that situation is shameful.

An example of that might include a Christian church member suing another member for slander for unknowingly sharing partially false information in a prayer request about her, and hurting her reputation. Or, it could involve a dispute between two members of a church suing one another over the giving of a poor reference for a job. (Yes, both of these are unfortunately based on real cases).

There is little doubt that these bring the reproach of men upon the church, and are horrible examples. However, Paul himself resorted to law twice when he was wrongfully arrested as a Roman citizen. He also used the threat of law in Acts 16:37. When one examines the Biblical admonition carefully, there is a clear distinction depending upon the type or nature of the dispute.

For instance, cases that I handle generally involve serious injuries or death. Any case involving grievous injury or death, by definition, is not at all “trivial.” I hasten to add that 98% of cases settle without trial, so even the most serious cases rarely see a courtroom. Mediation, which is based on Matthew 18, is often used with great success.

Further, these types of serious disputes are rarely actually “between believers” in any real sense. For instance, if I represent you because you were paralyzed when a truck rear-ended your car, I have to name the negligent driver of the truck (who may be a Christian) in order to obtain the compensation due from his auto insurance. Recall as well, that insurance is purchased to assist us all in paying for accidental acts that may harm someone, and to help protect our assets in that event. It is exceedingly rare for any case to cost an insured driver one penny personally. Many cases are against large corporations that, of course, do not have souls, and therefore cannot be believers.

I may represent a Christian, against a nursing home chain for neglect in allowing terrible bedsores. This is usually a large corporation that often put profits over people. These cases are clearly not what is banned in the Corinthians passage.

Finally, cases that I handle, against negligent drivers, doctors, hospitals and nursing homes are not at all the type of cases that can be resolved by “men of little account in the church.”

While there are many other types of law, the type that I deal with is mentioned frequently in Scripture. Much of our civil injury law (called “tort law”) is actually based on the Bible’s passages.

For instance, the law governing dog bites in Tennessee states that if my dog is not known to bite I have no liability for it doing so. However, if my dog has a vicious nature and is known to bite then I am liable in tort law for all damages. Compare, Exodus 21:28:

If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death. However, if payment is demanded of him, he may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded.

Or, look at the law regarding a slip and fall on a premises owned by another. If I create a condition that I know is dangerous and leave it as a virtual trap for another, I am liable in civil damages. Compare Exodus 21: 33:

If a man uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit must pay for the loss;

Other interesting accidents in Scripture include the negligent attaching of an axe head to an axe handle such that it flies off and kills someone while chopping wood (Deut. 19:5); and the dropping of a stone on an unseen man (Num. 35:22).

Also, the negligent person has a responsibility as well. Sometimes people talk of lawsuits being a way of making another person responsible for one’s own misfortune. But, if not for lawsuits generally, we may still have Ford Pintos with exploding gas tanks on the road, burning people alive after very minor car accidents. The medicines we take would not be so thoroughly tested. Nursing homes would not be under any incentive to give better care.

As you can see, the Bible does not forbid lawsuits, but it gives us much direction. Here is a Biblical checklist that may be helpful in evaluating a potential claim:

1. Is this matter “trivial?” (If so, overlook it.) (1 Cor 6:2 & Col 3:13).

2. Is this matter solvable by involvement of others at church? (1 Cor 6:4 & Matt 18:15).

3. Are my motives selfish or vengeful? (If so, stop). (Phil 2:3)

4. Have I tried to resolve my claim before suit or court? (Proverbs 25:8).

In the end, some will say, my cases are about money. I understand the criticism.

However, as I may tell a jury, “Don’t give her money---give her back time…give her back years of pain…give her back a life without this suffering…give her back her quality of life. But if you cannot give these things, then compensation is all we can ask for. It gives her freedom and it gives her choices. That is all we have to offer her.”

You Do Not Have, For You Do Not Ask

You Do Not Have, For You Do Not Ask

In a legal case involving a work-related injury, I had a letter from the other attorney stating the “maximum” that they would ever pay. The only way that would be increased is in the unlikely event that one of the two treating doctors changed their final rating.

Again, it is rare for a workers compensation doctor to change his rating, but asked both of them asked anyway. One of them did not change it, but the other did. The increased rating led to a settlement well in excess of the “maximum” that was named earlier.

How often would people work with us if we kindly but firmly asked for what we would like? The Bible reminds us “we have not for we ask not.”

This principle also applies to our marriages and other relationships.

In the church or workplace, how many times are we doing things just because “They have always been done that way.”

For instance, what a husband and a wife each feel is “romantic” virtually never match up. That is why it is so important to let your spouse know what you need and not have them just guess.

The best illustration is an old story about a couple coming home late from their 50th anniversary party. Fifty years of raising kids, keeping house and making snacks. He offers to make sandwiches. He lovingly gives her the one made with the heelpiece from the end of the loaf.

She explodes, “For fifty long years you have given me the heel piece of bread and I am just sick of it!”

He looks saddened, and softly says, “But that has always been my favorite piece.”

Communicate, and never give up! We have not for we ask not.

_________

See more of Mr. Peel’s articles on DavidBPeel.blogspot.com. Mr. Peel may be available to speak to your church or club. Contact PeelLawFirm.com.

non genesis support for creation

Creation v. Evolution Part 9 of 12

Ignoring Genesis?

It has been said that there is a “battle going on for Genesis.” In fact, strenuous debate about the first book of the Bible abounds all over the web. Ministries like Answers in Genesis (www.AnswersinGenesis.org ) and Institute for Creation Research (www.ICR.org) have become lightening rods in the issue.

However, the threads of an act of Creation actually run throughout the whole of Scripture. These “non-Genesis” verses often surround other unquestioned passages near and dear too many believers. For instance, the well-known gospel verse John 3:16 is proceeded by John 1:1-5 which speaks of all being made in the beginning by Christ. Some of these non-Genesis verses undergird His traits from our Salvation to the Second Coming. Notice that Creation is not referred to as forming gradually over time, but as a act.

Therefore, after reading just these few selected verses referencing Creation, one may well conclude that folks with a problem with a literal Genesis, might have serious concerns with most of the rest of Scripture itself. Judge for yourself:

Creation in seven literal days as a historical model:

Leviticus 25:3-5 Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield; but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land, a Sabbath for the LORD: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap the after growth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your unpruned vine: it shall be a year of complete rest for the land. (Based upon the creation week).

Control over all Creation as evidence of His Sovereignty:

Deuteronomy 10:14 Heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the LORD your God, the earth with all that is in it.

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.

His planned Creation as evidence of His greatness:

Job 38:1-7 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements-- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together praise."

Job 38:25-27 "Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on the desert, which is empty of human life, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground put forth grass?"

Job 38:28-30 "Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen." (Job was likely penned during the ice age that followed the volcanic eruptions of the flood)

Creation testifies, even now, to the Glory of God to the lost.

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,

Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for God has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Creation is evidence of our hope of Salvation:

Psalm 65:5-13 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples. Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Creation as evidence of God’s power:

Psalm 104:1-6 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

Creation as evidence of God’s provision for even the lowest beast:

Psalm 104:14-21 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.

Matthew 6:26-29 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to your life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these."

Creation of mighty Dinosaurs--along with Man at the beginning:

Job 40: 15-24 Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God, yet his Maker can approach him with his sword. The hills bring him their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby. Under the lotus plants he lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh. The lotuses conceal him in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround him. When the river rages, he is not alarmed; he is secure, though the Jordan should surge against his mouth. Can anyone capture him by the eyes, or trap him and pierce his nose?

Job 41:1- 34 Can you pull in the leviathan [a] with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he keep begging you for mercy? Will he speak to you with gentle words? Will he make an agreement with you for you to take him as your slave for life? Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders barter for him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing him is false; the mere sight of him is overpowering. No one is fierce enough to rouse him. Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." I will not fail to speak of his limbs, his strength and his graceful form. Who can strip off his outer coat? Who would approach him with a bridle? Who dares open the doors of his mouth, ringed about with his fearsome teeth? His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn. Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from his mouth. Strength resides in his neck; dismay goes before him. The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. His chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. When he rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before his thrashing. The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron he treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make him flee; sling stones are like chaff to him. A club seems to him but a piece of straw; he laughs at the rattling of the lance. His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. He makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a glistening wake; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is his equal— a creature without fear. He looks down on all that are haughty; he is king over all that are proud."

Creation as evidence of His majesty:

Psalm 104:24-30 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.

Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Creation revealing truths 3000 years before science does:

Isaiah 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. (spherical earth)

Job 26:7-14 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. (Note: see satellite pictures for confirmation). He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. (Note: barometric pressure). He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

Creation as evidence of individual life giving:

Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

Jesus’ continuing power over Creation evidence of His Deity:

Mark 4:37-41 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Creation and Jesus were in the beginning:

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Creation of first Adam tied to coming of Christ:

Romans 5: 12-14 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Creation’s birth pains call for His second coming:

Romans 8:22-23 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Creation all belongs to Jesus, the Creator, and is for Him and His:

Ephesians 1:8-10 With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Colossians 1:15-16 Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him.

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

Creation shows He will be a Creator yet again, and His Second Coming:

Isaiah 65:17-19 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress

Isaiah 65:21-25 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent-- its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.

Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." and the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."

I believe all of the Bible to be “trustworthy and true.” This includes the many non –Genesis verses about Creation and the Creator, Jesus Christ. Do you? If not, are you truly comfortable substituting man’s ever-evolving opinions in place of His Divine revealed and unchanging Word?

All prior articles in this series can be found by searching my blog at DavidBPeel.Blogspot.com.

controversial mosque

Mosque at Ground Zero?

Does it really surprise anyone that putting a mosque at Ground Zero is going to be controversial? Really?

While we all believe in free expression of religion, it is simply unsettling that this mosque would be considered at this location. Recall that on 9/11/01, nineteen radical Muslims turned loaded passenger planes into missiles, crashing them all and killing thousands of innocents in the World Trade Centers alone.

For eight long years, the Greek Orthodox Christian church that stood in the shadow of the Towers has still not yet been approved to be rebuilt. However, this temple of Islam seems to be on the fast track, as of this writing.

To put this in context, it might be helpful to create some other inappropriate examples:

What if the Japanese wished to put a Japanese War Memorial honoring Admiral Yamamoto in the shadow of Pearl Harbor?

What if the United States wanted to place U.S. Atomic Bomb Memorials in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

What if a white supremacist group wanted to place their meeting house next door to Abe Lincoln’s homestead?

No, these are not exactly the same. Most Muslims are clearly fine people. Many opposed the acts of these Muslim extremists. However, the association in the American psyche between Islam and 9/11 is just too strong to ignore.

While we may have the freedom to do something, it is not always prudent, helpful or proper. The Bible says it this way: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient…” (I Corinthians 6:12- KJV).

In short, while this movement may indeed be legal, it is not helpful or expedient toward any worthwhile goal.

It does serve to make it clear that some Muslims will not act with any class, and some politicians like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barrack Hussein Obama, are completely out of touch with “we the people.”

What do you think?

Predictions for the Future

Predictions for the Future

The future is coming at us much faster than most of us are prepared for. Here are a few things that I think will be changing in the next few decades.

1. Driving. I think that all interstates will be mandated to be equipped for cars that have automated driving capability. Essentially, some cars will have the ability to drive themselves. This will be rolled out incrementally, and the incentive will be a lane of travel only for auto-drivers. Magnets impeded in the center of the lane can provide an all-weather way for cars to be centered within the lane. Further, radar proximity sensors will keep you very close to the car ahead and behind, which reduces drag and therefore, fuel or battery consumption.

2. Highway Safety in General. As a personal injury lawyer that handles accident cases every day, I see carnage caused by head-on impacts. I have said for years that our descendants in 2050 and later will be amazed at us. They just won’t believe that we drove 87,000 lb. tractor trailer trucks one way, facing school buses and passenger cars coming the other way–separated by a mere 11 inches of yellow painted stripes!

3. Technology implanted in humans. This is actually already here now. Smart chips have been implanted in dogs for over 20 years. They are currently being implanted in human trials. The favored placement is within the fatty layer between the thumb and index finger on the right hand. Many will recall the Bible’s prediction in this area: " . . . and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." -- Revelation 13:15-17.

4. Cashless society. Cash is on the decline. Already, I have traveled abroad without using cash. Debit and credit cards allow use regardless of what country you are in or currency system they use. Locally, at Kroger, and other retailers you hand swipe a card that has data on it that tracks your purchases. They tie an incentive to save on groceries and gas to use it. Exxon gas stations you hand wave in front of scanner to do your business with “Speed Pass.” This all strikes me as great training for a mark within your right hand with which to trade.

It is important to realize that money is not inherently evil, but instead the “love of money” is. Similarly, it is not a chip that is evil, it is the eventual use by a future evil government. Thus, I am not predicting the end of the world or the rise of anti-Christ. However, technology now exists that seem to lay the groundwork for much of what we see predicted in the only reliable text, The Bible. Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? One day in your future, that will be the ONLY thing that matters to you. Turn to Him today.

LONG AGES LONG AGO

Evolution v. Creation part ____ of 12

LONG AGES, LONG AGO

“The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” ~Psalm 90:10

According to Scripture, Methuselah lived to be a staggering 969 years old. Many others in his time had children when they were several hundred years old. This ancient longevity is one of the allegedly “far-fetched” claims of Biblical creationists.

But, is it really that unlikely? Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Indians, Sumerians, Chinese and other cultures talk of much longer ancient life spans in ancient times, as well. Many tales explain that a great flood shortened these spans. If this happened just as the Bible explains, then these stories would be preserved in common memory and tradition all over the world. This is precisely what we find. What does Scripture actually teach about ancient longevity.

God created Adam and Eve in a perfect state; uncorrupted by sin, sickness and physical death. It has been suggested that they had the ability to live forever here on Earth. They were certainly provided food, water and all they would have needed in the Garden of Eden.

He also provided them only one rule. (While religions of today maybe criticized by some as having too many rules, originally there was just one.) God warned them not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The consequences were also given: they and their descendants would die (Genesis 2:16–17).

With Satan’s diabolical help, our great-great-great (and so on) grandparents rebelled and they changed as a result (Genesis 3). Spiritual death happened immediately, with illness and eventual physical death to follow. Their own firstborn child, Cain, became the world’s first murderer. One of their other children became the first victim. The wages of their sin was, indeed death--both physical and spiritual. This is the bad news, and John 3:16 contains the good news (“gospel” in Greek).

However, sin’s effects on Adam limited his life span to 930 years. The ten patriarchs (excluding Enoch) who preceded the Great Flood lived an average of 912 years! Exceedingly long, when compared to our current spans--but dreadfully short, compared to forever.

Amazingly, for some 1,500 years after creation, most men either could have actually talked to the first man, Adam, or personally knew someone who did! Adam’s own grandsons could have babysat young Noah!

Ages of the Patriarchs from Adam to Noah (Pre – Flood)

Patriarch Age Bible Reference

1 Adam 930 Genesis 5:4

2 Seth 912 Genesis 5:8

3 Enosh 905 Genesis 5:11

4 Cainan 910 Genesis 5:14

5 Mahalalel 895 Genesis 5:17

6 Jared 962 Genesis 5:20

7 Enoch 365 (did not die of old age) see Genesis 5:23

8 Methuselah 969 Genesis 5:27

9 Lamech 777 Genesis 5:31

10 Noah 950 Genesis 9:29

During the 1,000 years following the Flood, however, the Bible records a progressive decline in life span, from Noah who lived to be 950 years old until Abraham at 175. Since then, a few make it to around 120, but most die closer to half of that.

Ages of the Patriarchs after Noah to Abraham (Post – Flood)

Patriarch Age Bible Reference

11 Shem 600 Genesis 11:10–11

12 Arphaxad 438 Genesis 11:12–13

13 Shelah 433 Genesis 11:14–15

14 Eber 464 Genesis 11:16–17

15 Peleg 239 Genesis 11:18–19

16 Reu 239 Genesis 11:20–21

17 Serug 230 Genesis 11:22–23

18 Nahor 148 Genesis 11:24–25

19 Terah 205 Genesis 11:32

20 Abraham 175 Genesis 25:7

As a lawyer, I sometimes use our Tennessee State Law to set out the average life span. Not surprisingly, our current average life expectancy remains between 70 and 80 years. The veracity of the Bible is further confirmed by this fact, even though Psalm 90 was written over 3,000 years ago.

So, what changed so permanently at the Flood? Tropical foliage and a humid environment gave way to an ice age, which led eventually to what we see today. The land mass separated and concentrated our flawed DNA in groups which have recognizable characteristics.

What has not changed is more remarkable. We do not have to teach our children to lie, cheat and steal. Their sin nature takes care of that. We have to teach them to obey and choose the right path. We must encourage them to seek and to find God through the Way, His Son, Jesus.

Jesus, in the Book of John, told us He came into the world to testify to the Truth. The universality of death and suffering should push us towards Him, not away. We know at every funeral that death is an intruder into this world, whether at 9, 90, or 900 years of age. Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead. (see Isaiah 25:8; Psalm 49:14–15; 1 John 5:13). Turn to Him, so that one day you can ask Methuselah what it felt like to live for 969 years.

All prior articles in this series can be found by searching my blog at DavidBPeel.Blogspot.com.

Our Society Today

OUR SOCIETY

A society can be judged by how we treat the most helpless among us.

The single most helpless life is a “fetus” (Greek for “baby”). We have aborted 50 million lives in what is supposed to be the safest place on earth, their own mother’s wombs. This loss of 50 millions souls is also a loss of a large work force as well. This is one reason why Social Security is bankrupt, as many of the terminated children would be working and paying in their share during the 37 years since abortion was legalized.

Further, people are quick to blame God for things like cancer. However, it is possible that the scientist destined to cure cancer was sent, and was aborted. Ironically, many who are rabid in their support for healthcare reform do not believe in the right of healthcare for the unborn. Future generations may well look back on this as the “slavery of our time”… a time when one “race” of people had no rights. Not even the right to life.

The way our society treats the elderly is also troubling. Nursing Homes in Tennessee are the fifth worse in the whole nation. Many chronically under staff and have trouble with getting good aides when they do hire one. No doubt there are some who just cannot be cared for at home. And, there are certainly good nursing homes out there, but I wind up having to sue those that mistreat the elderly, allow infected bedsores and repeated falls.

I often say that the World War II generation was our finest generation. Too many are just shelved at nursing homes while their children’s worlds are in turmoil due to serial divorces and constant activity. The economy seems to be set up for both parents to have to work outside the home, and thus entrust the state with the education of the children. This is a very recent concept. All this hurts another class of people: our children.

Were things really better “Back in the good old days?” In the 1950’s, a couple's work schedules in the 1950s, the husband probably had a 40-hour working week. The time commuting to work was much lower and other activities probably accounted for 55-60 hours of his waking time. The mother was often a stay-at-home mother, and usually took a job as a teacher, nurse or secretary to pay extra bills from time to time. There was more time and enough money to support this home-centered lifestyle.

Now, our kids are busy too. Many parents have their children involved in a whole range of outside activities such as competitive sports. Oddly, this is in an effort to give our kids the best in life. Some of the sports actually play on Sundays, preventing church attendance as a family. What little theology is taught today to kids is poked fun of at school, as atheistic evolution is taught as fact! Parents have missed the main thing to teach children, which is how to have a personal relationship with Christ, because it was not taught to them. Lost in one generation! Families are rarely sitting down at the table to eat dinner together in our society. And if many families did, they would be too busy texting friends to talk.

The way we treat our unborn children, our elderly and our young children tell much about our society. The world was not always like this. It does not have to continue to spiral downward. No one can change things in your family until someone decides they need to change. Decide to be a family that has dinner together, that attends a Bible-teaching church together, that honors traditional marriage, that takes a stand on issues based on principles (not convenience) and that makes a difference for the short time we are here.