Today's verse

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psalm 146:3 (KJV)

Today's verse

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15:1-2 (KJV)

Reading list

Valley of Wild Horses, by Zane Grey.

Today's verse

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (KJV)

Reading list

The Colony, by John Davis.

Today's verse

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

Today's verse

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Proverbs 25:25 (KJV)

Today's verse

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Psalm 22:14 (KJV)

Update on Asia Bibi

600,000 sign a petition calling for the release of Asia Bibi.

Read Asia Bibi's own words.

For those who do not know who she is, here is the story about Asia Bibi's unjust imprisonment and death sentence for "blasphemy" against the Prophet Muhammad.

Please pray for Asia Bibi and her family. Also, please pray for those who are risking their lives to free her.

Reading list

Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne.

Today's verse

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

When experts fail

Arnold Kling has a good essay on the failure of expert opinion in the realm of public policy.

Key quote:

Expertise becomes problematic when it is linked to power. First, it creates a problem for democratic governance. The elected officials who are accountable to voters lack the competence to make well-informed decisions. And, the experts to whom legislators cede authority are unelected. The citizens who are affected by the decisions of these experts have no input into their selection, evaluation, or removal.

A second problem with linking expertise to power is that it diminishes the diversity and competitive pressure faced by the experts.

I would add another problem to the list: experts often disagree among themselves about the basic nature of a problem, the facts about the problem, and the possible solutions. The notion there is one single "expert" opinion about any given issue is usually false. This problem becomes especially acute when the issue is scientific in nature.

Disagreement among scientific experts is not the problem. The problem is when a biased, scientifically illiterate media picks one side as the One Sacred Truth and ignores (or even demonizes) all other competing opinions.

If you ever read a newspaper story or watch a news report that uses phrases like "scientific consensus" or "a majority of scientists believe ..." it is safe to assume the reporter is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Consensus is not science. Scientific theories are not voted on, they gain or lose credibility by the weight of evidence - something many journalists do not seem to understand or prefer to ignore.

Reading list

Titans, by Edward W. Robertson.

Today's verse

O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Psalm 30:2 (KJV)

Today's verse

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11 (KJV)

Today's verse

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13 (KJV)

May you have a blessed Memorial Day!

Reading list

The Scourge of Muirwood, by Jeff Wheeler.

Today's verse

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Psalm 14:1 (KJV)

Today's verse

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 12:46 (KJV)

Today's verse

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

Today's verse

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24 (KJV)

Reading list

The Blight of Muirwood, by Jeff Wheeler.

Today's verse

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

James 3:5 (KJV)

Reading list

Helliconia Summer, by Brian W. Aldiss.

Today's verse

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:34-35 (KJV)

Today's verse

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 (KJV)

Today's verse

Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Deuteronomy 5:33 (KJV)

Reading list

The Campfire Girls of Roselawn; Or, a Strange Message from the Air, by Margaret Penrose.

Today's verse

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

Today's verse

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36 (KJV)

Reading list

The Scouts of Stonewall, by Joseph Altsheler.

Today's verse

Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: that they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it.

Psalm 109:26-27 (KJV)

Reading list

The Wretched of Muirwood, by Jeff Wheeler.

Today's verse

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Psalm 22:11 (KJV)

Reading list

The Princess of the School, by Angela Brazil.

Today's verse

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Reading list

The Colors of Space, by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Today's verse

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

Amos 8:11-12 (KJV)

Reading list

Valor's Measure, by Thomas Wade Oliver.

Today's verse

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:13 (KJV)