Ray Kurzweil, a man that I have always found to be creative, inventive and genius, but who I disagree with on several major issues, has felt for several years that it is not a matter of if, but a matter of when that computers will become self aware and more intelligent then humans. From this break through will come immortal humans and computer’s which make ethical decisions and evaluate art for example. Much of Kurzweil’s thoughts are covered by his theory of singularity. The wiki for technological singularity states that Kurzweil defines singularity as –

the concept in terms of the technological creation of superintelligence, and allege that a post-singularity world would be unpredictable to humans due to an inability of human beings to imagine the intentions or capabilities of superintelligent entities..

Kurzweil is the inventor of things like the reading machine for the blind, the voice activated typewriter (VAT), and the Kurzweil synthesizer. In the past he has predicted the fall of governments due to increases in technology which allow the free flow of thoughts, and the rise of the internet. Now Kurzweil believes that computers in 2045, if not before, will reach the point of singularity and immortality for humans will occur due to increases in nanotechnology and medical advances.

Regardless of your view of Kurzweil and his ideas, a recent piece in Time is a very interesting story. I would advise everyone to give it a read and a think here.

Kurzweil on “I’ve Got A Secret” in 1965

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Currently the IBM based Watson computer is winning on Jeopardy. Post Here

Over the last year I have been laid off, been subpoenaed three times (two different cases, fortunately neither involve anything I have done), had to testify in front of a grand jury, drawn unemployment, found a job when jobs were hard to find and in the process taken a job for 10K less then I was making 5 years ago, worked harder then I was ever expected to work without being notice or appreciated, had 4 bosses (two of which were fired and one who wanted to fire me) and 6 or so job titles in less then 10 months, and been as low and broken spiritually, emotionally, financially, and mentally as I have ever been. In the midst of this, a guy from church who has been promising to help me find a job where he works for almost three (3) years and whose word has never been seen as reliable or dependable was used by God to deliver a blessing grander then anything I had prayed for over five (5) years.

I share the above to say simply if you are in the worst place you have ever been God is there. If you are in the best place you have ever been God is there. Regardless of where you are God is there and He hears your prayers and He is calling you to hold on to Him as you hold out for His next blessing.

The important thing to remember is that He is blessing you and working around you, even if you don’t realize it. God is calling you to hold on to what you have right now (be it good or bad), and hold out (good or bad) for what HE has next for you. Hold out for what God has for you. Hold out for the next blessing. Hold out for the next phase of your life. Do not give up hope and do not give in to the thoughts of hopeless. Do not give up your faith and do not move to a faithless existence.

God has not brought you this far to leave you now. He has a plan, He has a purpose, He has a perfect place for you, and all of those can / will be found in Him.

Recently, I personally have been going through ALOT in my professional life. For the first time in my life I really was not sure how I was going to make it much longer without quitting / losing my job. This was not a bad day, but bad weeks leading to bad months. Throughout this time God has just shown up OVER and OVER and OVER. When I thought I could not go on He simply carried me OVER and OVER and OVER through that day and that week. God really stood up, stepped up and showed up so many times and showed me that He was in charge and that He loved me and would never forsake me.

In the midst of all of this my wife and I were given tickets to a local show featuring the Christian group Mercy Me. I knew their songs, but they were by no means a group I listened to so much that I knew all the words to their songs, etc. That night though God moved through them and their song – Hold Fast. I needed to hear that God was calling me to hold fast, as His help is / was on the way. That song stuck with me and over and over since then it has carried me through tough times at work. Today, in the midst of some minor surgery my wife was going (nothing serious but something I had to take the day off to be with her for) through I got a call from a friend that showed me once again that God is calling me to -

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He’s come to save the day

I am not sure what God has planned in the future (and I am fine with that), but am so sure right now that I know He is in charge. He is working to bless and He is constantly working to use me and my life for His glory. Don’t worry, currently my job is secure, but after today I also know that God is working for a brighter future for me be it here or somewhere else. He has not, will and does not leave nor forsake His children. Sometimes He uses other people to show us that though.

Tonight, I simply want to tell everyone who is going through some tough times that God is there with you, that God has not forsaken you, that God is in charge, and that God is calling you to hold fast as HE (HELP) is on the way.

First of all, yes I am alive and I due plan to blog regularly again.

Moving on, over the last few weeks my life has been VERY VERY heckit and tough due to work. I will not go into details except to say that lots of stress, drama, and TONS of work. The good news is that God has provided OVER and OVER and given me the strength to go on when I did not think I could. He truly is the God of the valley and the God of the mountains. He also is the King of kings. No person, no law, no nation, no company/ employer, no force, no anything has dominion over Him and when you are in Him there is NOTHING that can control you, or that you should fear, as He is in charge.

The last few weeks have really made me appreciate my great wife, my incredible parents, and my family / close friends even more then normal, but I told you a brief summary of what the last few weeks of my life have been to say this – these last few weeks have really made me appreciate the “small” things of my life even more.

The “small” things in my life are huge in the lives of many though. A warm house and good bed are two incredible blessings, and the last few weeks those have meant ALOT to me. Cars that run, food in the fridge, and the time / freedom to daily pray and talk to God. What blessings, what gifts, what love, and what care God shows me daily.

Being able to pray and talk to God is not a small thing, but unfortunately it can become so common and normal that many times we forget just how special it is to be able to talk directly to the creator of the universe. The death of Jesus took down the veil between us and God, we should never take that sacrifice for granted.

Overall today though I just want to take this time to say – God is good all the time, and that he does provide. The valley’s can be deep and dark, but He can and will light my / your / our way if we allow Him too. Don’t forget that when the tough times come and don’t let this season of celebration go by without remembering who really is in charge.

Evangelist Tony Alamo, who is 75 now, was sentenced to 175 years in prison for transmitting under aged girls across state lines for sexual intercourse. Alamo took numerous underages girls as his “brides” in the name of God and as his role as the ministry leader. Alamo even threatened the girls that they would lose their salvation if they did not sleep with them. AP Story here

At one point Alamo had a successful high end boot and leather jacket company. Heck, Alamo even had a rabid group of followers that shared a communion with him at one time – i.e. Jim Jones – i.e. A CULT. When Alamo’s wife died he kept her coffin in a mausoleum awaiting she would rise from the dead – based on his prophesies. At one point in time, after the decline and failure of Alamo’s ministry / business Alamo went on the run with his wife’s coffin and a few security guards. If I remember correctly, and I may not, when he was captured that time he was sitting in the living room of a rented house with his wife’s casket sitting on a table in front of him.

I mention the above stories to say the following – Alamo is the exact type of guy / ministry leader that ruin it for the rest of us. The fortunate thing is even the faithless can see how out of God’s will and way Alamo (and people like him) are.

Vanity Fair has a great story up about Marc Drier. Most people have forgotten about Drier, due to Bernie Madoff, but Drier stole hundreds for millions from hedgefunds and ran a ponsi scheme that finally brought him done. Some claim he did it for the trill or because he needed the money to maintain his lifestyle, the truth is far simpler – he could so he did.

With that said, to me the most important lesson out of this piece is how Drier basically explains that once he started stealing it was easy to continue because once the line was crossed there was no going back. That is a important lesson for all us to remember. That is also a vital lesson for Christians to remember when they begin to play in gray areas, thinking that they will never cross the line. Given time that line will move closer and closer until it is a short step.