< Previous www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 20 What’s UP with The Medieval Warming Guest Editorial by Bill Sydow Staff Contributor (Retired) Director, Oil & Gas, Nebraska Climate conditions through- out the world have experi- enced great cyclical vari- ability during the historic time period covering the past 4,500 years. The general public is being led to believe that we are now living in a time of unprecedented high temperatures and that human beings are the cause of the “excessive heat” due to the burning of “fossil” fuels. The graph below depicts global temperature swings between 2500BC and 2015AD. Did human use of fossil fuels cause those ‘heat waves’? The human population was not large enough to generate any significant amount of green-houses gases. There certainly wasn’t an industrial revolution which uti- lized coal, oil, and natural gas; yet, there is a history of temperature cyclicity that must be explained. Cyclical Periods The following graph shows four periods of earth warming, which were followed by colder temperatures – all occurring before our lifetimes. https://d33wjekvz3zs1a.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Global Temperature-2500BC-2015.jpg Thankfully, we are currently living in a time of planetary warmth and enjoying the abundance of food, water, and general health which warm, wet climates bring to the people of the world What Caused the Medieval Warming Cycle? A previous warming trend, known as the Medieval Warming, occurred nearly 1,000 years ago, from AD 900 to 1300, and was the warming cycle that brought the Dark Ages to an end – but only for a while. Beginning in about AD 900, the activity of our sun and its solar storms, with their accompanying sunspots and solar winds, served to reduce cloud formation in the earth’s atmosphere. Fewer clouds mean more sunlight will not be reflected but will penetrate our atmosphere causing the earth to warm. The effects of the Medieval Warming caused a chain reaction of good things to occur in the lives of the people. FIVE GOOD EFFECTS OF MEDIEVAL WARMING 1More Farm Land and Grazing Land First, summers and falls became longer and warmer. More land became available for farming and grazing. Snow lines moved to higher elevations in the mountains and the soil warmed. Land previously beneath ice and snow could now support trees, grasses, and other crops. Tillable lands became available both at higher elevations and at higher latitudes of the earth as the warming increased. In the mountains of Europe, reduced snow lines and retreating glaciers meant grass-filled mountain valleys and meadows which supported the expansion of both domestic livestock and wild game-animals. In the British Isles, the northern areas became warmer and supported not only food grain production but vine- yards of grapes for wines and champagnes. 2Greater Food Supplies/ Healthier People Second, as more land became available for farming and grazing, the food supplies were greatly increased enhancing the overall health of the population – both kings and peasants. Bill Sydow21 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com Due to the longer, wetter growing periods, crop failures were reduced and serious famines were no longer grim specters. Necessary fats, proteins, and minerals required for human life became available to many more people throughout the world. 3Population Increased Third, with the expansion of arable lands and a satisfac- tory food supply, the population of the world increased. People no longer had to huddle together in cold, cramped, over-crowded homes and villages, resulting in the decrease of communicable diseases like Bubonic Plague, influenza, and cholera. New mothers had enough food so that “eating for two” was not impossible. Men and women had increased life- spans – up to their mid-40’s! The English people thrived and their population grew from 1.4 million to 5.5 million. France’s population tripled to 18 million. Excess food in Europe led to a 50% increase in population (Plimer, 2009). The climate in northern England and Scotland was warm enough for the aristocracy to build castles with open-air windows to allow the balmy breezes to circulate through their homes. 4Infrastructure Helped Christianity to Flourish Fourth, with the excess food and growing population, cities grew and the road systems were established through- out Europe. Christianity flourished as cathedrals, monasteries, and universities were established to train young men for service to God. 5Warmer Navigable Waters Fifth, with the warming of the waters of the North Atlantic, ice-free navigation was possible for the Vikings to explore lands and continents to the west. They sailed and rowed to Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland, and North America. FUN FACT: They Discovered GREEN Have you ever wondered why the Vikings called it Green Land rather than White Land since it is mostly snow and ice today? The Medieval Warming caused Greenland to be lush with longer growing seasons. The Vikings established colonies in Greenland where settlers grazed cattle and sheep and raised barley. Tree roots could penetrate the once-frozen soil, that formerly was ice-covered, and wood could be grown and harvested for fuel. The Vikings found a new land where grape vines grew. They named it Vinland because of the native vineyards – today’s Newfoundland. Today, Newfoundland and is ravaged by Arctic storms in the colder, longer winters of our lifetime. In summary, life was good during the Medieval Warm Period. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? n Despite the growing human and animal populations producing Carbon Dioxide through respiration… n Despite the consumption of wine, champagne, beer, and cheese, which contributed to the anthropogenic production of Carbon Dioxide through flatulating and belching… n Despite the burning of wood, coal, and peat to warm homes and prepare meals… Little Ice Age The subsequent cold cycle, from AD 1280 to 1850, known as the Little Ice Age, negatively affected every people group in the world. The Little Ice Age was not a good time to be alive on planet earth (Fagan, 2000). Arable lands were reduced, food supplies shrunk as crop failures increased, and Napoleon’s army starved and froze to death in front of Moscow before its retreat during the severe Russian winter of 1812. What’s Next? We are now living in the warm cycle after the Little Ice Age but some well-respected scientists are forecasting another cold cycle within the coming decade. Are we among the generation that will not die by heat but will live to see the cooling of the earth with its accom- panying famines, pestilences, and wars? www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 22 What’s UP With Progressive Revelation By Mark Lanier www.biblical-literacy.org Interview Date: July 25, 2019 Progressive Revelation refers to how God chose to reveal His Word to us over a period of time until the canon of Scripture was complete (Genesis through Revelation). The following has been transcribed from an interview on the What’s UP Radio Program with Mark Lanier from July 25, 2019. Information has been condensed for space. Visit www.TerryLowry.com and search the archives for “Progressive Revelation” to hear the full 3-part interview. Segment 1: Terry: Can a two-year-old understand what “amen” means when we say a prayer? Mark: The average 2-year old does not understand. You say it at the end of a prayer, and they’ll pick that up. But if you ask them what the Aramaic basis is for the statement “amen”, the odds are they don’t know. Terry: Did Abraham fully comprehend, understand, and believe in God, who created the universe? Mark: The bible gives us glimpses that help us under- stand that Abraham was beginning to grasp who God was as God began to reveal himself to Abraham. God certainly revealed more of Himself to Abraham than he did to Noah. But Abraham saw things dimly; he saw a shadow of what we’ve been able to see in true life. So, no, Abraham him- self didn’t have a full understanding. Terry: Was Abraham f illed with the Holy Spirit? Mark: Abraham did not have the benefit of those things in his reve- lation point in history. God had not yet revealed how He was going to do those things. That’s not to say that Abraham didn’t have a glimpse. God told him “don’t kill your son Isaac. I will provide the sacrif ice.” Abraham didn’t know what that meant. By far it’s a shadow of the reality that would come later. Terry: What does Progressive Revelation mean? Mark: I go back to the first question about a 2-year old understanding what “amen” means. A 2-year old does understand that we talk to God and that is called a prayer. She knows at the end to say “amen” but as she grows older, she’ll understand what that “amen” actually means. That’s how one individual progresses in their understanding. From a Biblical perspective, God was able to reveal more and more of Himself over time in His interactions with humanity and ultimately culminating in His death for humanity in Jesus Christ, his resurrection on behalf of humanity, and the promise that He would return and make things right in the end. Terry: From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, God is revealing Himself more and more. Does that mean we do away with the Old Testament because now we have the New Testament? Mark: It’s not that it was originally false; we just get a clearer and better picture over time. Segment 2: Terry: Can a new Christian know and understand all things taught from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21? Mark: Absolutely not! In fact, Paul wrote letters to Timothy at the end of Paul’s life. Paul is continuing to teach Timothy how to be a good pastor and to be the teacher that the church needs. Timothy had been a believer for decades and yet he still needed to learn and grow. 23 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com Terry: Can Progressive Revelation be illustrated by the idea of educating a child? Mark: Absolutely! Consider how a teacher might teach math to a child in kindergarten. That student first needs to learn 1+1=2. In the same way, God has used time and His revelation of Scripture to teach and educate us so that we are better able to understand the beauty of His revelation in Jesus Christ. Terry: Did Abraham fully understand God’s plan for redeeming mankind? Mark: Abraham is a marvelous example of this because he had a limited understanding of who God was; yet, he had a faith in God of “Biblical proportions”. Abraham made huge, drastic alterations in his life, family, and destiny because God told him to. God didn’t tell him “here’s the full revelation of what we’re going to do”. Abraham only had a glimpse of who God was. Terry: As we read from Genesis to Revelation, does God change? Mark: No no no no! God is the same yesterday, today, and tomor row. What has changed is nothing at all; it’s an addition. The apostles understood Jesus a whole lot better by the time of Pentecost than they did before the crucif ixion. They experienced the crucifixion, they witnessed the resurrection, and they had the Holy Spirit come upon them. It was truly a process o f Progressive Revelation that we see unfolding in the Bible. God never changed. He just revealed himself more fully. Segment 3: Terry: Is God’s revelation to mankind complete? Mark: The Bible is com- plete. There is nothing to be added to the Bible. The Holy Spirit still works in the hearts of believers to not only quicken us to better understand the bible, but also to lead and to guide us. No new revelation needed. Terry: Should the warnings in Revelation 22:18-19 be taken literally? Mark: I do think we need to be very, very careful. You don’t add or take away from the Word of God. God expressed Himself exactly how He wanted to be expressed and none of us should be changing what He has to say. Terry: Must all Scripture be studied for a complete understanding of God’s plan and purpose? Mark: We need to study everything in the Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Paul told Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching and train- ing and for rebuking. The person of God would be complete and whole and fit for every for good work before God.” I can’t add any- thing to that. Weekdays 2:00 to 3:00 PM on FM 100.7 The Word. Visit www.TerryLowry.comWeekdays 2:00 to 3:00 PM on FM 100.7 The Word. Visit www.TerryLowry.com PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT # 3260 the LINK Letter 10924 Grant Road, #133 Houston, TX 77070 www.terrylowry.com CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION: ORDER YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL. SEE PAGE 2 Terry Lowry host of the What's UP Radio Program invites you to visit www.TerryLowry.com Governor Rick Perry endorses Tony Buzbee Guest Editorial: Rick Perry “I have spent my career fighting for more effective and efficient government and against waste and public corruption. When it comes to corruption and pay to play politics, unfortunately Mayor Turner isn’t the only bad apple in the mayoral field. “Bill King also has a long and sordid history of making millions off of taxpayers by influencing government regulators to be favorable to his law firm’s tax collections business. Bill King and his firm kept their racket afloat by treat- ing council members, State Reps and State Senators to fancy trips, golf outings, sporting events, and even hired them as “advisors” – including Sylvester Turner. “Bill King is not credible on ethics reform, he can- not be trusted, and I urge you to join me in rejecting both Bill King and Mayor Turner. “Tony Buzbee is the clear choice for Houston Mayor. He’s a Marine Recon Captain, a businessman, accomplished attorney, and someone I’m proud to call my friend. Tony’s an honorable man who has served his nation and community. I trust him to deliver as your Mayor. ” Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, 2000-2015 Next >