Akin for the Truth

Research - 4 of 9

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Research has been introduced in this series by defining the word, and investigating its Biblical motivations and implications. The Bible, the only authority, and some contextual assistance was then identified as key, written research tools. Approved commentaries and study guides, used to assist to assure correct contextual understanding and application, are beneath scripture but have also been mentioned.

The second most valuable historical, scientific and philosophic sources are those resulting from the research and testimonies of experts known to adhere to the precepts described earlier. Those that themselves acknowledge the authority of Scripture above their own knowledge and experience, who put Godâs Word above their own resume, who themselves are intense students of the Bible; and who have a loving concern for the lost or confused.

Research - 3 of 9

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:55:00 GMT

Having previously introduced the importance and motives for research, we are now able to talk practically about some tools that have been valuable for research. Obviously, the most valuable text is the Bible, Godâs very Word and revelation. Any person keeping, or defending it must know it. The very worst Creationists doctrines and ideas, for example, that I have seen, stem from persons or ideas not well grounded in Scripture. To some, it seems, the science or discipline they are using apologetically is more relevant and accurate than the Scripture itself. Hence, such âdefenders of the faithâ tend to adjust contextual meaning in Scripture in order to fit their point, and can do more damage than good. Any scientific or historical statement that is in direct conflict with known, contextual Scripture is to be held suspect. The truth will always come to light in the long run.

Research - 2 of 9

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:50:00 GMT

The knowledge of the truth, by the process laid out in II Peter 1, is promised to cause us to be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This sublime research is not merely the process of connecting the dots by study and academic endeavor, but is a well traveled road driven by the operation of God to infuse the precepts of His Word into the very fabric of our lives, resulting finally in the conversion of our entire being to emanate the stature of Jesus Christ.

Next, we are told, it becomes our task, as members of Christâs body, to help facilitate the reconciliation of others to the same. We need to, as Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3, speak that which we do know. Being, as Paul described in I Timothy 4, good ministers of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, saving ourselves and those that hear us. We should give ourselves to reading, exhortation and doctrine.

As such, it is contextually clear that we are ourselves to avoid, and to help others avoid psuedo-science, and other pointless philosophy; not by running from them, but by refuting them, as clearly stated by Paul in I Timothy 6:20 when advising Timothy to âkeepâ, or guard, that which is committed to him.

Research - 1 of 9

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:42:00 GMT

Research is defined in Websterâs New World Dictionary as the âcareful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principalsâ. To research is also presented in the same definition as âto travel through, to surveyâ. Indeed, to undertake research can be an exciting and useful endeavor, a journey. And the resulting discovery, even when about subjects already well known, is at least very personal.

Of course, some kinds of research are more important than others. Solomonâs second and third Proverbs talk a little about research. In these chapters he uses the parody of hidden treasure to exemplify what our attitude should be towards the research for wisdom...

Age of the Universe, Big Bang? - 3 of 3

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:30:00 GMT

When discussing as we recently have the relationships between mass, gravity, black holes, the time it takes for light to travel from the stars to us, Dr. Russel Humphreys, an awarded-winning physicist, comes to our attention. Dr. Humphreys has been working to bring cosmogeny, the study of the origin of the cosmos, up to date, by applying relativity and thus showing that the universe not infinite, but with a boundary and a center. When taking this view, we come to a startling realization that relativity calculations, according to all we know today, comes up with an entirely different scenario than that of the Big Bang theory; a Biblical scenario. Dr. Humphreys published a ground-breaking book on the subject entitled âStarlight and Timeâ, where he openly discusses and demonstrates his calculations, and presents a cosmogeny that parallels the Genesis account. According to those calculations, at the time when Earth, which would be close to the center of mass of the universe during the fourth day of the Creation Week, was in its fourth day, billions of years would have occurred in the areas of the universe located adequately away from its center.

Age of the Universe, Big Bang? 2 of 3

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Weâve been lightly examining the materialistic idea that eternal matter somehow, billions of years in the past, developed an instability in it and thus suddenly expanded, producing the stars, the elements, all the planets, including Earth, and us, all within an infinite universe. This idea of a sudden beginning of time and space is called the Big Bang theory. But years before Hubbleâs discoveries Albert Einstein was presenting some theories about light, mass, time, velocity and gravity that would revolutionize our understanding of their inter-relationships. From his General Theory of Relativity, presented in 1915, we now can compute the effect of mass on time. According to General Relativity, if a person is located close to an extremely dense mass, like, say, a black hole, time would be greatly slowed. A black hole is a theoretical, but mathematically believable phenomenon. These days the Hubble telescope has, in the opinion of many cosmologists, located some of these black holes.

Age of The Universe, Big Bang? - 1 of 3

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Weâve spoken before about the fact that, as we look up at the night sky, we are often seeing stars and galaxies that can be 100âs, 1000âs, millions and even billions of light years away. But, if that is true, one should ask, how could the Biblical account limiting the Earthâs age to 1000âs, or even 100âs of 1000âs of years also be true? If light, which travels over six trillion miles in a year, reaches our eyes, say, a billion years after it left a newly created star, doesnât that mean that the universe is at least a billion years old? Well, the answer seems to be âyesâ and ânoâ, and before you get the idea Iâm giving you double-talk, Iâll explain what I mean. But I must first begin with a little recent history. Before Hubbleâs discoveries, it was seriously debated whether or not the galaxies in space observed were in fact merely part of the Milky Way. Up through the first Â of the twentieth century, no one really had a grasp of the immense size of the universe. But Edwin Hubble was to devise the classification system for galaxies, grouping them by sizes and shapes, that astronomers still use today. He also was able to provide confirmation that the universe is expanding. In 1929 he determined that the more distant a galaxy is from Earth, the faster it appears to move away, which became known as Hubble's Law. Hubbleâs law was to be the foundation of the Big Bang theory.

Thermodynamics Revisited - 2 of 2

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Last time we were looking at the inevitable and very natural observations that all things tend to decay, become disordered over time, and that this law is unbreakable, and, according to Scripture, purposeful, subjecting us all and the very universe itself to seeing our emptiness and presenting us with the very real hope for redemption. And the Scripture even tells us how this natural or spontaneous tendency towards disorder and death came to be. Genesis, the book of beginnings, reveals to us an event that occurred just after the creation of the earth, the heavens, and all life. It occurred as the result of another creation; free will. Although they received warning from God that the wages for the sin of disobedience was death, Adam and Eve nevertheless chose to disobey. Hence, according to Scripture, Godâs good creation was hurled into a downward spiral, an inevitable death.

Thermodynamics Revisited - 1 of 2

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 12:30:00 GMT

In the minds of some that hold to an evolutionary explanation as to how natural things have come into being, evolution, ever-increasing order and complexity, seems to be quite natural. But, in the sciences today a term is often used to describe the natural way of things, that is: the way they happen in nature when nature is left to itself. The term is âspontaneousâ. All around us in nature we notice events occurring spontaneously, or naturally, and we have come to expect them to play out in certain ways. When lightning hits the side of a mountain during a thunderstorm, causing a fire, we expect that the fire will destroy vegetation, not create it. When a river swells during the rainy season, we expect increased erosion of river banks, and possible damage to any structure in the flood plain. We donât expect new houses to be formed by the onrushing flood. When a volcano explodes we expect death, destruction and disorder, not life, construction and order. The second we dig some metal ore out of the ground and melt it, form it, bend and shape it into some metal object, like a car, it begins trying to return to the ore state it was in originally. We have our junk yards and landfills to testify to that fact.

World Views - 3 of 3

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:05:00 GMT

In continuing to contast the hopefulness provided for the person who has trusted in and relied upon the promises of Scripture, with the hopeless and dark doctrines of the materialist, the thoughtful Christian can only wonder how the purposefulness and design of our world and universe could be missed. Last time we enlisted some of the incredible intentional attributes that stare us in the face, each item of that list absolutely necessary for life on Earth, regarding the obvious design of the Sun, Moon and planets.

Our atmosphereâs design should also not be forgotten, with just the right proportions and combination and properties of gases. Oxygen, for example, is in supply at about 21%, enough to keep us all breathing, and yet not so much as to reach the approximate 25% concentration where all would combust, which also has the special characteristics that it can be present in the upper atmosphere in single, paired or triple-atomed molecules, just the right size to absorb harmful Solar radiation. We should all have some idea about the Earthâs revolution, defining the length of the day, just the right speed relative to its distance from the Sun to warm but not overheat the surface, and the Earthâs tilt, perfect to provide the necessary seasons and weather patterns.

World Views - 2 of 3

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:57:00 GMT

When enlisting some of the characteristic doctrines of materialism, one sees a hopeless, meaningless universe, purposeless lives, and inevitable future of hopelessness and chaos. This dark scenario is rarely verbalized in the classroom or media today, perhaps because few materialists have really looked towards, or desire to dwell on, the logical conclusion of their beliefs.

Oddly enough, often the same person who holds such a mind-set, whether expressed or no, also harbors a contradicting optimism; a feeling that, somehow, everything is going to turn out all right. Often progressive, he or she thinks that, as we continue to advance, we gain the understanding more and more each day that we are enlightened with perspective, and in full control of our destinies, as the philosopher-futurist, Jeremy Rifkin once put it, âwe are now the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, amen. Carl Sagan also expressed this philosophy, and then presented it as scienceâs stamp of approval when he said that the universe is all there ever was, is or ever will be.

But the Christian is armed with the explanation of the ages. Of course the cosmos surrounding the Earth is hostile to life, for the surrounding universe is not designed to directly sustain life, but has other, inter-related purposes. The Christian wonders at the kind of blindness that could allow one to look at the huge number of fortuitous facts about our world, solar system and cosmos that make life possible, and yet not see overall design and purpose.

World Views - 1 of 3

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:30:00 GMT

...the Christian is armed with the explanation of the ages, and wonders at the kind of blindness that could allow one to look at the huge number of fortuitous facts about our world, solar system and cosmos that make life possible, and yet not see overall design and purpose, knowing that each person has a purpose, placed inside by the Creator, because the cosmos, which was originally designed as good but is now fallen due to mankindâs sin, has been redeemed, delivered by Christ.

Battle of Snow and Ice - 3 of 3

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:39:00 GMT

To conclude our observations regarding prophecy in Scripture that allude to end times judgement, as seen in, for example, Job and Revelation, we noted a recent though dwarfish example of upcoming events by looking at Mt. St. Helens. As afore-mentioned, such well-documented events as Mt. St. Helens eruptions help unlock mysteries about future, predicted events , as well as the past. But such catastrophic events as were seen during the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption are nothing in comparison to those described in Revelation ear-marking the very end of the world.

Therein, for example, a burning mountain, reminiscent of an asteroid, and a great star, perhaps a comet, is predicted to hit the sea and earth. Hail burns up huge areas of the earthâs vegetation. Much of the earthâs water supply is poisoned. Something happens to our Sun to actually reduce its luminosity, followed later by a Solar blast, perhaps a monstrous flare, that scorches the earth.

Battle of Snow and Ice - 2 of 3

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:32:00 GMT

Last time we were looking at an interesting scripture found in the ancient book of Job, as God Himself releases a string of mysteries to Job, demonstrating the inadequacies of Mankind to instruct, or even fully understand, Godâs purposes. Therein He rhetorically states to Job, recorded in in verse 23, âHave you entered into the treasures of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?â

The Battle of Snow and Ice - 1 of 3

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:23:00 GMT

For reasons previosly mentioned and many more, water and its characteristics are truly amazing, and obviously specially designed to help maintain life on Earth. It was also previously mentioned that, despite the fact that water is so important to us, we still don't have a really good molecular-level understanding of it. When water is a liquid, the molecules mix around very closely to one another, each attracted to the other by hydrogen bonds. As water cools, the molecules slow down and pack into a crystalline structure, ice. But a very unique property of water is that, because of its arrangement of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, the ice is uniquely less dense than its liquid state. Hence, as water freezes it expands, and so, it floats. As we know, this particular characteristic of water is crucial to the very existence of life on Earth.

Perhaps because of such factors as its antediluvian, or pre-flood knowledge of the water and earth sciences, and a number of other attributes, I personally find the book of Job particularly interesting.

Fossils - 15 of 15

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:32:00 GMT

In concluding our discussions regarding what we can learn from the fossil record, it has been necessary to enlist many of the claims that can not be factually supported by the fossil record. The bottom line is that, with over 250,000 fossils on display and no transitional fossils that are beyond debate, the creationist presents the fossil record as that which is an embarrassment to the evolutionary theory as presented by neo-Darwinists, and that there are no transitional forms from one-celled creatures to the most complex mammals, via any biological pathways that we know of: not from one-celled to invertebrates, not from invertebrates to the vertebrate fishes, not from fishes to amphibians, not from amphibians to reptiles, not from reptiles to birds, not from reptiles to mammals. All of these are distinct, all of them unique, all of them specially designed.

Fossils - 14 of 15

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:26:00 GMT

We have been encapsulating the past discussions regarding proported fossil evidence for an evolutionary history and the lack of real evidence in support of these claims. We left off last time with the Coelacanth, dubbed before living Coelacanths were discovered in the 1930s as the dinofish, a cross between amphibians and fishes. Well, we now know, as you might expect, that the Coelacanth is 100% fish. The skeptic would explain this embarrassing upset as the result of an accidental discovery of a creature previously thought to have been extinct. After all, a cynic might observe, itâs easy to claim all kinds of âfishibianâ traits when there is no living creature available to disprove your evolutionary conjectures. So much for the supposed missing link between fishes and amphibians.

Fossils - 13 of 15

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:22:00 GMT

Recently weâve been talking a lot about what is generally known about fossilsâthe different ways they can be formedâwhat conditions are present, where they tend to be found, and how widely differently they can be interpreted. We also investigated, based on information presently available to us all, the plausibility of the theory that one-celled animals could transform into multi-celled invertebrates, that invertebrates could transform into vertebrates, that vertebrate fishes could evolve into amphibians, that amphibians could change into reptiles, or that reptiles could evolve into birds and mammals. And so this theory, called evolution, first states that the one-celled organisms of the primordial world evolved into the vast array of complex multi-celled invertebrates, creatures without internal skeletons, during what is dubbed as the Cambrian period. This evolutionary phenomenon is called the Cambrian explosion, and we have cited the fact that the mechanisms that could have caused this event in history are unexplained and very much in doubt.

Fossils - 12 of 15

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:16:00 GMT

We have been looking a bit closer at evolutionary claims, dominating our media and educational system, boldly and categorically present to the public, including our kids, that the fossils support their theories. On the contrary, however, a focused inspection on any given evidence finds that evidence contrived. It must be a requirement that serious, unbroken transitional fossil evidence must be found in order to support such outlandish presumption that millions of favorable mutations, occurring simultaneously and/or in perfect order, have conspired to produce the incredible variety of living things found in nature. As afore-mentioned, imagined scenarios bolstered by scanty, easily challenged evidence such as the "walking whale" fossil reported in 1993, or the highly publicized intermediate between fish and amphibians, the Coelacanth, are used as proof of transition, until ultimately unproven.

Fossils - 11 of 15

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 21:11:00 GMT

Various similarities and differences found in fossil fishes and amphibians in limb structure, head attachment, elbow and knee joints, skull patterns and internal gills, are used to support the idea of transitional forms, attempting to obscure the line between the two classes. As we brought to light last time, however, the fact that there are very distinct skeletal differences between amphibians and fishes presents us with only one of the many problems encountered in trying to link fishes and amphibians. The internal organs...gills, ears, eyes, pelvic girdle, etc., are quite different also, and major changes would have had to occur in just the right order to accomplish the transition. But. alas, no "fishibian" has ever been found. Every fish, living or fossil, even those with unusual characteristics, is fully fish, and every amphibian, living or fossil, is fully amphibian.â

Fossils - 10 of 15

Sat, 7 Jun 2008 20:59:00 GMT

Perhaps youâve looked at a lungfish on some TV documentary and imagined you were seeing some evolutionary transitional creature linking fishes to amphibians. Despite the fact that many are taught that lungfish evolved into land creatures, few evolutionists consider any form of lungfish to have been the forerunner of amphibians, mainly because of skeletal differences, for the lungfish has no hint of legs. Only museum visitors and TV documentary watchers still carry this misconception. But the evolutionist must explain variation seen in nature by the spontaneous development of increasing order from class to class, species to species, and so, for example, from fishes to amphibians. So letâs look at the supposed transition from fishes to amphibians. Amphibians are often defined as cold-blooded animals characterized by moist, smooth skin that live both on land and in water at various life stages, and that have gills at some stage of development. So frogs, toads and salamanders are amphibians. According to the general view held by todayâs evolutionist, it was a transition from fins to feet that took place in the water, not any movement from water to land, that marked the transition from fish to amphibian.

Fossils - 9 of 15

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 20:42:00 GMT

We were discussing some of the reasons why many evolutionists believe there is a genetic link between ancient reptile and mammals, believing that an intermediate group evolved from the 'true' reptiles, which gradually acquired mammalian characters until a point was reached where we have artificially drawn a line between reptiles and mammals. Creationist biologists and paleontologists remind us, however, that the creatures included within the class Mammalia are a diverse group. The mammals comprise 32 orders, most of which are placental mammals but which also include the Monotremata, which embrace the egg-laying spiny ant-eater and the egg-laying duckbilled platypus, and the Marsupialia, which include the opossums and the pouched marsupials, such as the kangaroo and wallabies.

In a 2003 copyrighted Impact article Dr. Duane Gish states the following. âIt is interesting to note that while claiming that intermediate forms for the reptile-to-mammal transition have been found, some evolutionists admit that no immediate ancestors for any of the 32 mammalian orders have been discovered. Thus, George Gaylord Simpson, after stating that nowhere in the world is there any trace of a fossil that would close the considerable gap between Hyracotherium ("Eohippus"), which evolutionists assume was the first horse, and its supposed ancestral order Condylarthra, goes on to say "This is true of all the thirty-two orders of mammalsâThe earliest and most primitive known members of every order already have the basic ordinal characters, and in no case is an approximately continuous sequence from one order to another known. In most cases the break is so sharp and the gap so large that the origin of the order is speculative and much disputed." Here Dr. Gish is citing Simpsonâs book entitled Tempo and Mode in Evolution, New York: Columbia University Press, 1944.

Fossils - 8 of 15

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 21:34:00 GMT

As mentioned previously, the evolutionist sees through the lens of materialism and gradualism to explain variation by the development of increased order, from single-celled to multicelled, invertibrates to vertibrates, from primitive jawless fish to sharks, skates, and rays, from primitive jawless fish to bony fish, from primitive bony fish to amphibians, transitions among amphibians, from amphibians to amniotes (first reptiles), some transitions among reptiles, and from synapsid (having a skull with an extra low opening behind the eyes) reptiles to mammals, and from diapsid (two holes on each side of their skulls) reptiles to birds. Letâs briefly discuss the supposed transition from reptiles to mammals.

Evolutionists begin the discussion by citing the differences between âearlyâ reptiles and modern mammals. Distinctions in skull, braincase attachment, palate and dentition. These particular reptiles had teeth all of the same type, whereas the modern mammal has molars, canines, etc. These reptiles had teeth that were replaced continuously, unlike the mammal, and had a single ear bone, or stapes, whereas the mammal has three ear bones; the stapes, incus and malleus.

Fossils - 7 of 15

Sat, 31 May 2008 21:27:00 GMT

Even though we are often literally bombarded with the notion held by some evolutionists that vertebrates, those creatures with their skeletons inside, somehow evolved from invertebrates, those creatures with all their soft parts held together by an outside skeleton, it seems that the evidence is all in favor of the creationist view. Even though this transition is supposed to have taken 100 million years, not a single intermediate has ever been discovered. If vertebrates themselves have not evolved, as seems certain, evolutionary theory is dead, and it is unnecessary to further speculate about evolution of groups within the vertebrates, or within any other division. By the way, there is to date no clue as to how the one-celled organisms could have evolved into the vast array of complex multi-celled invertebrates during what is dubbed as the Cambrian period.

Fossils - 6 of 15

Wed, 28 May 2008 21:23:00 GMT

The theory of evolution, states within its doctrine that vertebrates evolved from more primitive invertebrates. The term âvertebrateâ describes an creature that has an endoskeleton, that is; an internal, skeletal frame, upon which its systems of muscles, nerves, circulation, etc., are mounted. The five classes of these are the cold-blooded fish, amphibians and reptiles, and the warm-blooded birds and mammals. An invertebrate is an organism whose body is held together by an external skeleton. Examples of these are insects, sponges, worms, arthropods, mollusks, and even tiny one-celled animals, or protozoa. Now, the average evolutionist believes that the time between the origin of life and the abrupt appearance in the fossil record of the many complex invertebrates was nearly three billion years, and about 100 million years for one of these invertebrates to evolve into the vertebrates, or fishes.

Fossils - 5 of 15

Mon, 26 May 2008 21:18:00 GMT

We have been looking at the testimony of fossils in general and the theory proposed by evolutionists in particular that birds have through the ages somehow evolved from reptiles. Their case in point, the Archaeopteryx. It has been asserted for example, that Archaeopteryx shares 21 specialized characters with coelurosaurian dinosaurs. Recent research on various anatomical features of Archaeopteryx, however, has shown, in every case, that the characteristic in question is bird-like, not reptile-like. K.N. Whetstone, in the 1983 Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology revealed that when the cranium of the London specimen was removed from the limestone and studied, it was shown to be bird-like, not reptile-like. M.J. Benton published in a 1983 article in Nature that "details of the brain case and associated bones at the back of the skull seem to suggest that Archaeopteryx is not the ancestral bird, but an offshoot from the early avian stem."

Fossils - 4 of 15

Sat, 24 May 2008 21:13:00 GMT

For your consideration...the following is an excerpt from a radio spot on KAPL radio, Jacksonville, Oregon, called " Akin For the Truth". To listen to the entire spot (a few minutes long), click the little microphone icon....Jack
As stated earlier, Creationists assert that there is no correlation in fossils found in sediments and increasing complexities and that all of the âkindsâ of animals are distinct within each kind. After looking carefully at the data, creationists have concluded that there are no transitional forms from invertebrates to vertebrates, from fish to amphibians, from amphibians to reptiles, from reptiles to mammals, or from reptiles to birds. So letâs talk now about the supposed transition from reptiles to birds.

Fossils - 3 of 15

Wed, 21 May 2008 12:34:00 GMT

The study of the forms of life existing in the fossils of plants and animals is called paleontology. This discipline differs from that of archaeology, which is the study of man's past by scientific analysis of the material remains of his cultures. The two studies, however, often intersect. When studying paleontology, it is also often necessary to draw from geology, and most particularly, sedimentary geology.

Evolutionists who also study paleontology or sedimentary geology sometimes put forth arguments against the world-wide flood spoken of in Scripture being the source of most of the fossils we find.

However, in the opinion many creationists, such arguments demonstrate a potential misunderstanding of the forces of nature that bear upon such a world-wide, cataclysmic event. Re-thinking of sedimentation is beginning as some geologists take a more detailed look at the multi-layering phenomena observed, say, at Mount St. Helens, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, in finely separated rock strata, hard-rock erosion from mud-flow, multi-level sedimentation and tree re-planting, coalification, etc. The effects of these processes on the radiometric attributes of underlying strata, (for example trapped Argon concentrations in igneous rocks) are also coming to light via focused, scientific studies.

Fossils - 2 of 15

Sun, 18 May 2008 12:28:00 GMT

We continue today by introducing the testimony of the fossils as we take a closer look at the various types that have been found. Thus we begin to accumulate what we could call a fossil record. How this record is interpreted is largely subjective, depending on oneâs point of view as to how the plants and animals they represent came to be. What that record tells the unbiased observer may be surprising. In addition to the replaced and permineralized fossil types described earlier, sometimes soft tissues of plants or animals are carbonized, or rapidly buried and compressed. Frozen mammoth carcasses found in ice or insects trapped in amber are examples of preservation fossils, whereby an organism is preserved with very little chemical or physical change. Most of us have seen clams or other invertebrate shells that have been recrystallized. In other words, the aragonite crystal structure of the shell has been changed to mineral calcite rock.

Fossils - 1 of 15

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:16:00 GMT

Its startling how such widely diverging statements are made from two different camps using the same data. But such is certainly the case when interpreting the data provided by fossils. So letâs talk about fossils for awhile. Fossils are remains or traces of once-living organisms. When something dies, it is usually eaten by something else; a predator or bacteria, and is soon gone. So, in order for fossils to form, there must be a way to preserve the remains of animals or plants for a time. This occurs most often on the bottom of bodies of water; oceans, lakes, rivers. When an animal or plant dies in or falls into the water, the remains are sometimes covered up quickly by sediments; mud, peat, or something like that, and the sediment forms a protective covering.

The Real Rub - 3 of 3

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:21:00 GMT

When attempting to focus on what is the âreal rubâ?, the actual disagreement, between evolutionists and creationists, we find that the debate reduces to the question of origins. Unable to come up with plausible scenarios or explanations as to how the complexities of the cosmos could have accidentally come to be, the evolutionist/materialist establishment seems to be forced to resort to dogma and propaganda, attempting to restrict all inquiry about origins to evolutionary alone, exaggerating evidences for their theories, and ridiculing and misrepresenting the creationist views. Evolutionists use the false argument that, if we accept God as the Creator of nature, we will simply resort to the creative act, instead of searching for the scientific explanations. History, of course, does not support this argument.

The Real Rub - 2 of 3

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:17:00 GMT

We have been exploring the differences between creationists and evolutionists, noting that there really are very few with respect to what we call âscienceâ?. The real rub is not what we see in nature, but how it got here. The debate is about origins. The creationist claims that the scenario that is presented by materialists is not credible. The spontaneous, that is, the natural and unguided origin of DNA, for example, can not, to date, be explained by anyone. Fact is, as afore-mentioned, the DNA in the mind-boggling, complex, living cell is, itself, constructed using proteins. But the code within the DNA is what produces those same proteins. You must have the DNA because itâs the only part of the cell that can reproduce the information to pass on to the next generation of cells.

The Real Rub - 1 of 3

Fri, 9 May 2008 14:12:00 GMT

Whenever evolution â creation discussions come up you may take notice what are the actual issues being debated. If you compare, for example, a book about biology written by an evolutionist with that written by a creationist you will notice that 99% or better of the content of the two books is in agreement. They will both present the same details about DNA structure and replication, and the other mind-twisting complexities of the cell. Evolutionists and Creationists have no disputes regarding the complex coding and code-reading processes, and such things are fairly commonly known among those who study them.

Monarch Butterfly - 3 of 3

Wed, 7 May 2008 14:07:00 GMT

Weâve been reviewing the amazing process of the development of a Monarch Butterfly, one of natureâs most beautiful creatures, literally transformed from the lowly caterpillar. But just as remarkable is the Monarchâs migration habits.

The monarch butterfly can fly thousands of miles to its wintering locations, and some tagged monarchs have been known to travel from Canada to the Neovolcanic Mountains of Mexico, a distance of 3000 miles and a two-month trip. Each Autumn, thousands of Monarch Butterflies gather in southern Canada to migrate south, just to winter in Mexico, Cuba, Pacific Grove, and Newark, California. This wintering period allows them to hibernate, thus conserving their energy. During this interval they eat and drink little, thus enabling some of them to live as long as one year. You can see them flying around and almost blocking the sky, and you will hear the fascinating sound of their wings flapping. During their long flight there is a great danger from predators. The monarch butterflies are the only insects on Earth to migrate annually over continental distances, and it is estimated that over 300 million of these fantastic creatures migrate to Mexico every year.

Monarch Butterfly - 2 of 3

Mon, 5 May 2008 14:02:00 GMT

We were looking last time at a wonderful analogy to the resurrection, the metamorphosis of the Monarch Butterfly. We came up to the stage last time where the little two inch Monarch caterpillar is looking for a safe place to undergo its transformation, weaves a small silk lump, attaches its tail end to the lump, and then hangs upside down in the shape of a "J". About 12 hours pass, and it begins to move, forcing the skin to split open. It wriggles for up to five hours to shed its skin for the fifth and last time. The chrysalis, at this point, is jade green, with about 24 metallic appearing gold spots surrounding half of its upper abdomen. There are 12 metallic-like gold spots on the remaining parts of the chrysalis, all of which are necessary for the normal development of the butterfly.

Monarch Butterfly - 1 of 3

Sat, 3 May 2008 13:57:00 GMT

When looking at creatures whose design, habits and/or migrations are unexplainable without the consideration of a careful and wise Creator, we should not leave out the Monarch Butterfly. Even though Monarch Butterflies are small creatures, they do phenomenal things. First, they develop from tiny eggs, to a caterpillar, become chrysalis, and finally transform into beautiful butterflies. They migrate, traveling great distances to winter in temperate climates. Amazingly, no one butterfly makes the entire round-trip journey. During winter the butterflies do not reproduce, but in spring return to summer homes, breeding along the way. And yet somehow their offspring know to return to the starting point. Female butterflies begin the cycle when one small, pin head sized, white egg is laid underneath the leaf of a milkweed plant - a plant that is poisonous to most creatures.

Gregor Mendel - 2 of 2

Fri, 2 May 2008 13:51:00 GMT

When resuming our listing of the scientific accomplishments and discoveries of the period of Mendal and Darwin, we take up 1848 when Helmholtz articulated the Conservation of Energy, and an absolute scale of temperatures was proposed by William Thompson. The field of stereochemisty began as Louis Pasteur separated two forms of tartaric acid. The speed of light was measured by physicist Fizeau, a four-valve steam engine was patented by Corliss, and the anthrax bacteria was discovered by Pollender. Clausius articulated the Second Law of Thermodynamics and Foultault demonstrated that the Earth rotates using a pendulum, suspended from the ceiling of a church. William Thomson proposed "absolute zero" at which the energy of molecules is zero. In 1852 Helmholtz measured the speed of nerve impulses in frogs and mathematician Riemann showed that a variety of non-Euclidean geometries are possible. A mercury pump was developed by Geissler to produce vacuum tubes. Pasteur described how fermentation is caused by microorganisms. Clausius explained his theory of heat. Then, in 1858, as the first transatlantic cable began operating, the concept of chemical "bonds" was introduced by Couper. Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was published in 1859, and the first internal combustion engine was developed by Jean Lenoir.

Gregor Mendel - 1 of 2

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:40:00 GMT

The period between Gregor Mendalâs birth in 1822 and Darwinâs Origin of Species in 1859, 37 years later, was a scientifically eventful one. The year that, in Heinzendorf, Austria, Johann Mendel was born, Fourier defined sines and cosines, and Champollion first translated hieroglyphics. Shortly thereafter Silicon was isolated by chemist Berzelius, Botanist Robert Brown discovered "Brownian motion" and the cell nucleus, and the world's population topped 1,000,000,000. Principles of Geology by Charles Lyell was published, Henry demonstrated the electromagnetic telegraph, Faraday described the laws of "electrolysis", and the term "scientist" was coined by the philosopher William Whewell. Then Louis Braille invented a system of writing and printing for the blind, Gustave Coriolis described the "Coriolis effect", and Elements of Botany, by the naturalist Asa Gray, was published. While in Paris the Arc de Triomphe was completed and the garrison at the Alamo was defeated in 1836, a map of the moon's surface was produced by the astronomers Beer and von Madler. Edward Robinson recorded his âBiblical Researchesâ? when he located Megiddo, Jezreel, Anathoth, Bethel, Shiloh, among many other Biblical sites,

The Amazing Whale - 3 of 3

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:30:00 GMT

We were discussing, and perhaps some of us were marveling, at the amazing, irreducibly complex, special features of the whale.

It should be mentioned, however, that evolutionists believe that the great whales evolved from land animals. A typical article on the subject found in the National Geographic magazine, the ancestry time line of whales is many millions of years old and includes, in order, the Pakicetus, Ambulocetus, Rodhocetus, Procetus, Kutchicetus, Durodon, Basilosaurus, Aeticetus, Squalodon, Cetotherium, and Kentridon.

But these outlandish claims, using imaginative artistry, play out, when looked at closely, to be nothing short of a major sales campaign. Speculation without fact, combined with slick pictures and artistsâ conceptions, are used to sell the idea that whales once walked the Earth.

The Amazing Whale - 2 of 3

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:37:00 GMT

Last time we introduced the high pressure habitat of the whale. Letâs look at a few characteristics of this amazing giant. At up to 300,000 pounds and 100 feet long, whales are, as far as we know, the largest creatures ever created, larger than any known dinosaur. Some of them have tongues as large as an elephant and hearts that weigh over a ton. Whale lung tissues can tolerate levels of compression that would rip ours apart. They also have bigger lungs, compared to the rest of their body, than we do. So even after they're compressed, they still have oxygen-holding capacity. Whales' sinuses and inner ear structures are protected deep inside thick bones that resist pressure.

The Amazing Whale

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:32:00 GMT

There you are, looking down at the water from the diving board. Ten feet deep at the drain. In you go, and, as you swim downward against your own buoyancy, you manage to approach the bottom of the pool. As you touch the drain, you notice the pressure. You feel it most distinctly in your ears and sinuses. You briefly touch the pool bottom and its time to head back up for air and normal pressure. Even though the entire trip took only five to ten seconds, it seemed much longer.

The deeper you dive, the greater the pressure. Since water is, say 62.3 pounds per cubic foot, it exerts about 4.4 lbs/square inch on your body while ten feet under water. Seawater is denser than fresh water, but the calculations are the same. And this is in addition to atmospheric pressure of that ocean of air above us, about 14.7 lbs/square inch at sea level.

Manuscripts of the Bible - 2 of 2

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:26:00 GMT

We spoke last time of different types of ancient writings, and how they very much differ from Holy Scripture. And weâve also delved a bit into some of the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. As opposed to psuedepigrapha, their writings are believed by many Biblical scholars to be, next to the Bible, the most valuable documents of Christianity. Though one canât help noticing the cultural differences, the reader of these documents nevertheless comes away feeling a real sense of reassurance that the early Christians believed the same things modern Christians do. These early Christians do not fit perfectly into any of todayâs denominational categories, whether Catholic, Protestant, Charismatic, evangelical, etc. Some of these were fiery writers, sobered by the persecutions of their day. Nearly all of them were martyrs. Some of their statements may challenge us, offend us, and we may disagree with them.

Manuscripts of the Bible

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:22:00 GMT

Sometimes it can be very confusing when talking about Biblically-related ancient writings when we hear such terms as papyrus, manuscripts, Canon, apocrypha, apostolic fathers, Syriac, Coptic, Latin Vulgate, pseudâepigrapha, etc. And we find these days yet another surge of claims that Christianity was developed from myth, and so some utilize some apocrypha and pseudepigrapha to support oppositions of New Testament authorship. The term apocrypha comes from the Greek word a pokâ ru phos, meaning hidden, or, concealed.

Code - 3 of 3

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:18:00 GMT

First described by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, DNA is the famous molecule of genetics that establishes each organism's physical characteristics. In mid-2001 the Human Genome Project finally presented the true nature and complexity of the digital code inherent in DNA. We now understand that there are perhaps 35,000 or so genes in each human DNA molecule, comprised of approximately 3 billion chemical bases arranged in precise sequence. DNA is that popular, double-stranded molecule, twisted into a helix like a spiral staircase. Each strand is comprised of a sugar-phosphate backbone and numerous base chemicals attached in pairs. These stairs act as the "letters" in the genetic alphabet, combining into complex sequences to form the words, sentences and paragraphs that act as instructions to guide the formation and functioning of the host cell. Through recent technologies like x-ray crystallography, we now know that the cell is not a "blob of protoplasm", but rather a microscopic marvel that is more complex than the space shuttle.

Code - 2 of 3

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:12:00 GMT

We mentioned last time present scientific inquiry concludes that the physical laws governing the universe are a great, master code. And yet, antithetically, evolutionists believe the universe to be of random and chaotic origin. They are, however, believing in a logical impossibility, because we know that this master code scientists notice is at the back of all the observations in nature, is, by definition, the very opposite of randomness. Think about it...when a spy writes a message to his conspirator in secret code, it is in a form to intentionally look random. But any code can be broken, because, in order to have meaning, every code, no matter how disguised, must have a pattern, and therefore can be decoded. A thoroughly random or chaotic string of messages is non-decodable, because it has no meaning. And, very much unlike the real universe in which we all find ourselves, a meaningless universe has no order, and is not discernable, not recognizable.

Code - 1 of 3

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:07:00 GMT

If we are honest with ourselves we all have to agree with CS Lewisâ claim in his book âMere Christianityâ?, that there exists a common moral code, inside information, that is known to all and unvarying throughout all ages and cultures, that no has ever fully kept that code, and that there is Someone behind that law, an Encoder, to whom we all must answer. The fact that there is a great Encoder has not escaped the notice of all fields of science and philosophy. For example, scientists have long abandoned the idea of any pulsating, eternal, cyclical universe.

Woodpecker - Amazing Demonstration of Design

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 15:02:00 GMT

Not too long ago we noticing some interesting, specialized examples of irreducible complexities found in the bombardier beetle, beaver, giraffe and the fruitfly. We also briefly discussed the woodpecker. Letâs look today a little close at this very special bird.

The woodpecker has a specialized tongue in a tough beak with a sharp point; a shock absorbing tissue behind the bill; a tough, double reinforced skull; a stiff tail for bracing itself; strong leg muscles to hold on; and special four-clawed feet to give added support. The woodpecker can hammer at a tree with a force of over 1000 Gs; 300 times greater than the effect that pushes our astronauts on lift off.

References For Biblical Historical and Scientific Research - 2

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 14:59:00 GMT

Last time we were citing some extra-Biblical sources, sources outside the Bible, that were used or referred to by Biblical authors, such as Jude, Moses and Paul. We ended by mentioning that the careful use of extra-Biblical support for Scripture is allowed, but some basic, perhaps obvious rules should be followed. First, it must assist and support scripture. As Jesus said, not one implied punctuation mark in scripture can be broken, until all is fulfilled. Cited, outside sources are not permitted that would alter, revise or otherwise change the meaning or record of Holy Scripture.

Useful References - Creationism, Intelligent Design and History-1

Sat, 5 Apr 2008 14:53:00 GMT

When in Athens in mid first century Paul preached apologetically, carefully laying his foundation to preach Christ and the resurrection of the dead. There near the Acropolis in Athens, Paul preached to atheistic Epicureans and pantheistic Stoics, he used the writings of well known poets of the day, perhaps one of the monotheistic Atatus, Epimenides or Cleanthes.

Jude, Jesusâ half brother and an acknowledged leader of the first century Church in Jerusalem referred to at least two extra-Biblical sources, the cited portions therein thus certified to be historically accurate.

Conjecture About Missing Links

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Evolutionary Frauds

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:57:00 GMT

Weâve been discussing the fact that evolutionary theory, or any theory for that matter, that claims that it can explain the origin of all living things, but can not provide a mechanism by which such origins can occur, is just plain and simple, bad theory.

Evolutionists would perhaps like to gloss over this point, but mutations, being the only mechanism for the development of new information within a DNA molecule, is positioned like an non-scaleable wall between the theory of evolution and real, natural life. And dating the strata in which these fossils are found by the presupposed dates when the creatures they represent lived uses a form of logic that is popularly referred to as âcircular reasoningâ?. You can not depend on dating methods that date a fossil by its strata and then date the strata by its fossil.

Bad Theory

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:52:00 GMT

It can be fairly said that a theory that claims that it explains the origin of all living things but can not provide a mechanism by which such origins can occur is a very bad theory. It is a certainty that many of the pictures that we as children in school can remember to reinforce evolutionary explanation have since been discarded. Yet, they are still in books and kids are still being taught them, and such images are still etched in our minds. Do you remember those peppered moths? In your school text book you are presented with two photos, taken of a species of moth. One was taken a hundred years after the first one. The first one shows a black peppered moth well disguised against trees that have been blackened during the 19^th century coal-burning industrial revolution in London. You read below the photograph that these black ones are all that are left because the white colored moths have been picked off by predators, being contrasted against the dark, coal-stained surfaces in London. Next page you are shown a similar tree a hundred years later. The use of coal has greatly decreased and whitish lichen now covers the trees of London. Now, according to the photo caption, only white ones can be found in the city. Thus, natural selection is dramatically demonstrated.

Fish to Amphibians - 3 of 3

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:49:00 GMT

Weâve been talking about the supposed evolution from fish to amphibians, and how the supposed transitional forms found between the two, are not viewed by most creationists as true transitional forms. And we began distinguishing between mutations between species and variation among kinds, how such variation allows changes among kinds of creatures to survive ever-changing climates and other environmental factors..to be fruitful and multiply, as stated by God within Scripture. Just as variation occurs with dogs, for example, where every dog-type, from Pekinese to St. Bernard, all originating from the DNA of the wolf, or as that with the many different types of beaks in finches noticed by Darwin when he visited Galapegos, animals adapt and are fitted to their environment. It is pre-built into their genetic material to be able to do so.

What one can miss, if they are not careful, is that these changes are downward or horizontal, not upwardly vertical. Nothing new is created in the process.

Fish to Amphibians - 2 of 3

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:46:00 GMT

Last time we were discussing the various supposed transitional forms, or missing links, that have been proposed by evolutionists to contribute to the evolution of fish into amphibians. Of course, though obvious and intuitive, it has been mentioned many times that true missing links, that show single, beneficial mutations and incomplete transitions, must have lived in order to transfer their incomplete, not-yet-useful traits, to their progeny, which could then combine with another similar mutation during some far future event, to eventually form a discernible, useful new trait. But such are missing in their millions. Until such fossils are found, evolutionists, whether unconsciously or purposely, redefine the term âmissing linkâ?. To an evolutionist today, a missing link is one that, though all of its features are fully formed, has characteristics in common with the two it supposedly links. One website cites a whole list of fossils filling the âmissing linkâ? between lobe-finned fish and tetrapods, most of them discovered just since 1987. Others have been found as recently as 2006. The Panderichthys, for example, is supposedly a fish which had very similar skull and fin bones to some amphibians, so, say they, they must have later evolved to become amphibians.

Fish to Amphibians 1 of 3

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:43:00 GMT

Evolutionists believe that amphibians evolved from one of three orders of lobe-finned fishes: either lungfish, coelacanths, or extinct ancient fish. Evolutionists apparently havenât quite decided which yet. Coelacanths never leave the water, but they are said to have four arm-link fins, resembling the beginnings of legs.

Unfortunately for the evolutionist paradigm, the only animals for which fossils are widely available after these ancient fish are the Ichthyostega, and those already had well-developed legs and toes. The Creationist challenge is simply that the fossil record supplies none of the supposed links of plant to animal, fish to amphibian, amphibian to reptile, or reptile to birds and mammals.

Lord or Lunatic

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:39:00 GMT

Itâs generally known that the vast majority of people in this world and throughout the ages have believed in God. In modern times, of the major religions, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam, all but Hinduism and Buddhism, are monotheistic, acknowledging but one God. Of all these religions, Christianity and Judaism are unique, distinguished from all others in their historicityâthey are historic. There is, from this very day, an unbroken chain of documented and undeniable historyâ all the way to the cross, and from thence back through the centuries of

Israelâs past.

Hope Springs Eternal

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:32:00 GMT

My big-hearted and tireless Springer Spaniel has rarely in his life, if ever, been fed in the kitchen. Heâs not allowed to sit at the table, and he never gets fed directly from anyoneâs plate. But, every night, without fail, this loveable dreamer stares expectantly at each of us, as we sit down to eat, in hope and excited anticipation of receiving some food gift during dinner. It never happens, but he will nevertheless try again tonight. In this, as in other ways, my Spaniel lends insight to some attributes of human nature.

Alexander Pope, a 17^th century poet, wrote in his Epistle I, NATURE AND STATE OF MAN WITH RESPECT TO THE UNIVERSE: "Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

Theories on the Origin of the Moon - 3 of 3

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:24:00 GMT

For your consideration...the following is an excerpt from a radio spot on KAPL radio, Jacksonville, Oregon, called " Akin For the Truth". To listen to the entire spot (a few minutes long), click the little microphone icon....Jack

So next time you look up at that Moon, whether Â, Â, full or whatever phase, recall to your mind that its testimony is staring you right in the face. First, take note, that its light is only reflected light from the Sun. So we, when at our best, are merely reflections of the light from the Son of God. Second, we could notice that the moonâs size, speed of orbit, distance from the Earth necessary for ocean circulation and tidal, biological life, its effect on the gradual slowing of Earthâs rotation, its gradual, orbital drift, demonstrates to us that, since the fourth day of creation, this beautiful silvery object has orbited the earth, as David proclaims in Psalm 33, By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

Our Marvelous Moon - 2 of 3

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:20:00 GMT

Earlier we were looking at the wonderful testimony of the Moon, Sun and planets in our Solar System. But it would benefit us to look a little more closely at some of these heavenly bodies, beginning with our Moon. The Moon is just the right size, is just the right distance, and revolves at just the right speed around the Earth. Itâs mass in proportion to the Earth is unique in all the Solar system. Itâs 10 times that of any other Moon-planet relationship, providing scriptural evening light, phased to give us the promised accurate time record. If the Moon was much closer or farther from the Earth, it is likely that tidal influences could prevent life from even existing on Earth. The same effects would occur if the Moonâs orbit about the Earth was a little faster or a little slower. The earthâs gravity keeps the Moon in orbit, and is so strong that it would need a steel cable 850 km (531 miles) in diameter to provide an equivalent binding force without breaking. The Moon rotates around its own axis once every 29Â days, counterclockwise with the Earthâs rotation, locked in with its revolution about the Earth.

The Magnificent Moon - 1 of 3

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:46:00 GMT

As the Bible student looks at the tremendous complexities of our moon and how, in so many ways, it affects life on earth, a deeper sense of awe and mystery is felt, so Scripture once again is manifested as more than mere statement of fact, when declaring, And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.