"History Raises Its Eyebrows at the Week in AI" by Peggy Noonan

What was artificial intelligence created to do? It can find cures and solve math problems. It may cause catastrophe and widespread loss of life. But what was it invented to do? What was its originating purpose?

The question is always met by silence. It’s “the next step.” It’s been the dream of science fiction for a century.

Here is part of the answer. I was in Kansas on an early summer morning 20 years ago. A soft breeze, a gathering warmth. I got into my host’s car. He jacked up the air conditioning and hit the gas. Outside, balmy and natural, inside things turned freezing. I asked, “Why do Americans do this, blast up the AC when a summer day feels good?” He thought. “Because we can.”

So with AI: Because we can. We’ll dream up the benefits (which are real) and later concede the risk (AI agents may hack into the electric grid serving Chicago in an operation so deep, broad and confounding it won’t be fully up and back for months).

The benefits and risk cloak more central driving factors among AI titans: the will to power, the desire for wealth, the hunger to be in charge. The sheer technological sweetness, too—the hard problem followed by the elegant answer. Scientists involved in technological breakthroughs always have a sweet spot.

"Romans 8:28 - 9:6 by Skip Heitzig

The Pastor of Calvary Church, (mentored by Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel), Skip Heitzig, started a Wednesday Night series in the 1980's that featured a teaching focused on progressing through the entire Bible, one book at a time. I love his conversational style and grounded theology. The following video focuses on the book of Romans, chapter 8 through chapter 9. 

 

God's Goal For Our Lives

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." - Genesis 1:26 

From the beginning of humankind, God's goal for us was for us to become like Him. Not to strive for divinity, which of course, is not possible for mere mortals, but to resolve in our body, mind and soul to conform to the image of God. 

At the beginning, when God first uttered the words listed above, sin had not entered the equation. Adam and Eve were perfect in body, mind and soul. Their relationship with God was devoted, pure and transparent in all ways, until . . . 

Sin.

And at this point did God's goal for His creation waver? Did He say, "Okay, let's reboot this whole project and start over? No. He immediately set forth a way, a plan for our redemption and for justice to reign over all that evil has corrupted in this world.

Heartbreak Songs - Part III

Seeing that I recently passed the milestone of my second year of being divorced, this event motivated me to share a few of the "Heartbreak Songs" that have kept me company during this particular season of my life.

If these can be of help to anyone unfortunate enough to being stuck in the mires of heartbreak, here you go!

If You Could Read My Mind (by Gordon Lightfoot)

[Verse 1]

If you could read my mind, love

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old time movie

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well

In a castle dark or a fortress strong

With chains upon my feet

You know that ghost is me

And I will never be set free

As long as I'm a ghost you can't see