Week Thirty-Four, 2018

THE HAND

By Senator John Grant, of Florida (Retired)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:4)

In 1891, Juan Vucetich, an Argentine Police Official, began the first fingerprint files based on Galton pattern types. At first, Vucetich included the Bertillon System with the files. (see Bertillon below) In 1892, Juan Vucetich made the first criminal fingerprint identification.

For more than a hundred years fingerprinting has been used to identify people and solve crimes. But now there is something better. Recently, I checked into a hospital and was told to place my hand on glass. I was amazed with the image that popped up on the screen. I was told it was a palm vein biometric identification platform.Palm vein authentication works by comparing the pattern of veins in the palm (which appear as blue lines) of a person being authenticated with a pattern stored in a database. Vascular patterns are unique to each individual, according to Fujitsu research — even identical twins have different patterns. And since the vascular patterns exist inside the body, they cannot be stolen by means of photography, voice recording or fingerprints, thereby making this method of biometric authentication more secure than others.

It is newly discovered technology, but it has been around for many years. Isaiah spoke of it when he wrote: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isaiah 49:16)

This is certainly an allusion to some practice, common among the Jews at that time, of making marks on their hands or arms by punctures on the skin, with some sort of sign or representation of the city or temple, to show their affection and zeal for it. They had a method of making such punctures indelible by fire, or by staining. Perhaps it refers to God signifying that his people were always in his sight, his eyes were ever upon them, and never withdrawn from them.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Each of us is unique, unlike any other person. As the prophet said, He is ever before us. God made and knows us all.

***

Sometimes True Stories

Every few weeks we read in the headlines of another revolution somewhere in the world; an old regime has been overthrown and a new regime has taken over. Conversion is a revolution in the life of an individual. The old forces of sin, self-centeredness and evil are overthrown from their place of supreme power. Jesus Christ is put on the throne. —Billy Graham

–o–

Post Christian:

While the United States remains shaped by Christianity, the faith’s influence—particularly as a force in American politics and culture—is slowly waning. An increasing number of religiously unaffiliated, a steady drop in church attendance, the recent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, and the growing tension over religious freedoms all point to a larger secularizing trend sweeping across the nation. But how do the numbers stack up? Is America, home to the largest Christian population in the world, actually becoming a “post-Christian” nation?

Where Are We as a Nation? Whether one believes this decline of “Christian America” calls for a time of lament, or presents great opportunity (or both) for the church, one cannot help but accept the changing landscape. In just two years, the percentage of Americans who qualify as “post-Christian” rose by 7 percentage points, from 37% in 2013 to 44% in 2015. Across the United States, cities in every state are becoming more post-Christian—some at a faster rate than others.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

“America is the first culture in jeopardy of amusing itself to death.” —John Piper

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

C.S. Lewis wrote: “Humble is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” Focus on those you serve and witness new found value.

But whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it. And you will make a difference that lasts. You will not waste your life. —John Piper

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2018

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618