DEATH OF A COMET
Psalm 8:3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Comets are fascinating things. Although there are a lot of them out there in our night sky, the overwhelming majority of them are insufficiently bright to see with the naked eye. But every so often, a comet appears, which is bright enough to see during the night, and sometimes bright enough even to see during the day.
The most notable comet that I can remember was Comet Hale-Bopp, which was visible in April 1997. At the time, I was a Head of Science in a state-run school in South Wales. The comet was clearly visible from my classroom laboratory, at the end of the school day, and was a fascinating sight for my students.
The comet’s tail is not caused by the object’s movement, along its highly elongated, elliptical orbit around the sun. Instead, it is caused by particles from the sun – the so-called solar wind – blowing material away from the comet, as it evaporates, when it is closer to the sun. Every time a comet approaches the sun, it gets a little smaller.
It is not difficult, therefore, to calculate how long a comet can last. It is not possible for it to last more than about 10,000 years. But secular astrophysicists suggest that comets were formed at the same time as the rest of the Solar System. Such scientists cannot accept this age, as it is less than the 4.5 billion years required for their theory. Biblical creationists have no such difficulty, as the Bible gives a timescale of only 6,000 years.
How awesome it is, Lord God, to look at Your heavens, and see the magnificent things You have created there for Your glory. We pray that You will remind us of Your greatness and Your power, but also Your great love for us. Amen.
Weissman, P. (2016), Encyclopedia Britannica, < https://www.britannica.com/topic/comet-astronomy >, accessed 3/8/2017
Image: E. Kolmhofer, H. Raab; Johannes-Kepler-Observatory, Linz, Austria, license: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
Psalm 8:3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Comets are fascinating things. Although there are a lot of them out there in our night sky, the overwhelming majority of them are insufficiently bright to see with the naked eye. But every so often, a comet appears, which is bright enough to see during the night, and sometimes bright enough even to see during the day.
The most notable comet that I can remember was Comet Hale-Bopp, which was visible in April 1997. At the time, I was a Head of Science in a state-run school in South Wales. The comet was clearly visible from my classroom laboratory, at the end of the school day, and was a fascinating sight for my students.
The comet’s tail is not caused by the object’s movement, along its highly elongated, elliptical orbit around the sun. Instead, it is caused by particles from the sun – the so-called solar wind – blowing material away from the comet, as it evaporates, when it is closer to the sun. Every time a comet approaches the sun, it gets a little smaller.
It is not difficult, therefore, to calculate how long a comet can last. It is not possible for it to last more than about 10,000 years. But secular astrophysicists suggest that comets were formed at the same time as the rest of the Solar System. Such scientists cannot accept this age, as it is less than the 4.5 billion years required for their theory. Biblical creationists have no such difficulty, as the Bible gives a timescale of only 6,000 years.
How awesome it is, Lord God, to look at Your heavens, and see the magnificent things You have created there for Your glory. We pray that You will remind us of Your greatness and Your power, but also Your great love for us. Amen.
Weissman, P. (2016), Encyclopedia Britannica, < https://www.britannica.com/topic/comet-astronomy >, accessed 3/8/2017
Image: E. Kolmhofer, H. Raab; Johannes-Kepler-Observatory, Linz, Austria, license: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
LANGUAGE AND BABEL
Genesis 11:9
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Those of us with a Western-centric background often come across similarities between languages. For example, the second most widely spoken language in the United States is Spanish, and those English-speakers who learn it will often find words that have a similar look and feel to English words. This is because Spanish and English have a common ancestry as languages, together with other Indo-European languages, such as French, German, or Italian. However, there are other language groups in the world, containing languages similar to each other, but not to the Indo-European languages. Therefore, we can surmise that, for example, English has developed from other languages, such as low German, with a large influence of Norman French, but English would appear to have no common ancestry with Cantonese. To add to the confusion, there are highly unusual languages, like Basque. The Basque people live in the North East Spain, and South West France. Their language appears to be unrelated to any other language anywhere in the world.
Evolutionary linguistic historians have no explanation for these unrelated language groups. But those of us who accept the truth of the Bible have a very clear explanation. In Genesis 11, we read about Babel, and the sinfulness of its people, who thought that they could reach the heavens by their own efforts. So God made it impossible for people to work together, by putting confusion into their languages. Because the people could no longer communicate with each other, they were forced to scatter over the whole Earth � which is what God had commanded the people to do.
Help us, Lord, not to neglect the things which You have commanded. Thank You that everything we learn about the world is best explained, by referring to Your inerrant and authoritative Bible. Amen.
Genesis 11:9
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Those of us with a Western-centric background often come across similarities between languages. For example, the second most widely spoken language in the United States is Spanish, and those English-speakers who learn it will often find words that have a similar look and feel to English words. This is because Spanish and English have a common ancestry as languages, together with other Indo-European languages, such as French, German, or Italian. However, there are other language groups in the world, containing languages similar to each other, but not to the Indo-European languages. Therefore, we can surmise that, for example, English has developed from other languages, such as low German, with a large influence of Norman French, but English would appear to have no common ancestry with Cantonese. To add to the confusion, there are highly unusual languages, like Basque. The Basque people live in the North East Spain, and South West France. Their language appears to be unrelated to any other language anywhere in the world.
Evolutionary linguistic historians have no explanation for these unrelated language groups. But those of us who accept the truth of the Bible have a very clear explanation. In Genesis 11, we read about Babel, and the sinfulness of its people, who thought that they could reach the heavens by their own efforts. So God made it impossible for people to work together, by putting confusion into their languages. Because the people could no longer communicate with each other, they were forced to scatter over the whole Earth � which is what God had commanded the people to do.
Help us, Lord, not to neglect the things which You have commanded. Thank You that everything we learn about the world is best explained, by referring to Your inerrant and authoritative Bible. Amen.
IS THE EARTH FLAT?
Isaiah 40:22
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
A number of Christians have, in the last couple of years, posted articles and YouTube videos, and even published books, stating that the Earth is not a sphere, but is flat.
Flat earth advocates have suggested that we have been lied to about the spherical nature of the Earth, just as we have been lied to about the millions of years of deep time. But these concepts are not equivalent. I have shown that evolutionary deep time concepts are not part of observational science. However, the signs of a spherical Earth most definitely are legitimate aspects of observational science. Moreover, author Jeffrey Russell, in his book Inventing the Flat Earth, has shown that no one throughout history has seriously believed that the Earth is flat.
Flat Earth advocates point to Scriptures like Isaiah 40:22, which refers to the circle of the Earth. Ironically, in this they make common cause with atheists, who accuse this Bible passage of teaching a flat Earth. But the Hebrew word translated as circle is kh�g, which has to have a 3D quality about it. So Isaiah 40 is stating that the Earth is a sphere. That is why, throughout history, people like Bede, writing in the 7th Century, have maintained that the Earth is indeed a sphere.
As creationists, we frequently call on people to validate what they believe by Scripture. This is not the same position, as those who believe that all science is a conspiracy. The Bible reveals to us a God of order, who has made scientific endeavor possible.
Lord, we thank You that You created a universe of order. We pray that all our academic endeavors will be founded on Your word, without which we cannot know anything at all. Amen.
Russell, J.B. (1991), Inventing the Flat Earth: Columbus and Modern Historians, (Praeger)
Image: Public Domain
Isaiah 40:22
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
A number of Christians have, in the last couple of years, posted articles and YouTube videos, and even published books, stating that the Earth is not a sphere, but is flat.
Flat earth advocates have suggested that we have been lied to about the spherical nature of the Earth, just as we have been lied to about the millions of years of deep time. But these concepts are not equivalent. I have shown that evolutionary deep time concepts are not part of observational science. However, the signs of a spherical Earth most definitely are legitimate aspects of observational science. Moreover, author Jeffrey Russell, in his book Inventing the Flat Earth, has shown that no one throughout history has seriously believed that the Earth is flat.
Flat Earth advocates point to Scriptures like Isaiah 40:22, which refers to the circle of the Earth. Ironically, in this they make common cause with atheists, who accuse this Bible passage of teaching a flat Earth. But the Hebrew word translated as circle is kh�g, which has to have a 3D quality about it. So Isaiah 40 is stating that the Earth is a sphere. That is why, throughout history, people like Bede, writing in the 7th Century, have maintained that the Earth is indeed a sphere.
As creationists, we frequently call on people to validate what they believe by Scripture. This is not the same position, as those who believe that all science is a conspiracy. The Bible reveals to us a God of order, who has made scientific endeavor possible.
Lord, we thank You that You created a universe of order. We pray that all our academic endeavors will be founded on Your word, without which we cannot know anything at all. Amen.
Russell, J.B. (1991), Inventing the Flat Earth: Columbus and Modern Historians, (Praeger)
Image: Public Domain
THE PROBLEM OF ABRAHAM�S AGE
Genesis 25:7-8
And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
Abraham was 175 years old when he died. This is an unusual age. It is a much greater age than people tend to live today. However, it is much less than the ages of the pre-Flood patriarchs, listed in Genesis 5. How can we understand this age?
We have a further problem when we consider the earlier descriptions of Abraham. Abraham was 75 years old, when he left Haran. Sarah was ten years younger than her husband, so she was 65 when they left Haran. Many illustrations show Abraham leaving Haran, looking like an old man. This presupposes that he remained as an old man for the next 100 years. This seems unlikely. It is more likely that he aged more slowly than today, and this makes complete sense when one plots the ages at death of all the post-Flood patriarchs from Genesis 11. These ages fit a decay curve. Abraham�s death at the age of 175 fits this curve very well.
This has implications for everything else we know about Abraham and Sarah. Indeed, when Sarah left Haran at 65 years of age, she would have been the equivalent of a young lady in her early 30s today. In other words, she was well within child-bearing years, which makes it all the more poignant that Genesis 11:30 tells us that she was barren.
For many people, the true account of Genesis seems to begin with Genesis 12. However, we maintain that it is not possible to understand all these aspects of the life of Abraham, without accepting the truth of Genesis 1 � 11.
Give us, we pray, the humility to accept that You are in control of everything, Lord God. Thank You for guiding Your people. Amen.
Taylor, P.F. (2010), Itching Ears, (Toutle, WA: J6D Publications), pp235-262
Image: Ben-Peter Scotton, illustration produced for Paul Taylor�s book, Cain and Abel, used with permission
Genesis 25:7-8
And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
Abraham was 175 years old when he died. This is an unusual age. It is a much greater age than people tend to live today. However, it is much less than the ages of the pre-Flood patriarchs, listed in Genesis 5. How can we understand this age?
We have a further problem when we consider the earlier descriptions of Abraham. Abraham was 75 years old, when he left Haran. Sarah was ten years younger than her husband, so she was 65 when they left Haran. Many illustrations show Abraham leaving Haran, looking like an old man. This presupposes that he remained as an old man for the next 100 years. This seems unlikely. It is more likely that he aged more slowly than today, and this makes complete sense when one plots the ages at death of all the post-Flood patriarchs from Genesis 11. These ages fit a decay curve. Abraham�s death at the age of 175 fits this curve very well.
This has implications for everything else we know about Abraham and Sarah. Indeed, when Sarah left Haran at 65 years of age, she would have been the equivalent of a young lady in her early 30s today. In other words, she was well within child-bearing years, which makes it all the more poignant that Genesis 11:30 tells us that she was barren.
For many people, the true account of Genesis seems to begin with Genesis 12. However, we maintain that it is not possible to understand all these aspects of the life of Abraham, without accepting the truth of Genesis 1 � 11.
Give us, we pray, the humility to accept that You are in control of everything, Lord God. Thank You for guiding Your people. Amen.
Taylor, P.F. (2010), Itching Ears, (Toutle, WA: J6D Publications), pp235-262
Image: Ben-Peter Scotton, illustration produced for Paul Taylor�s book, Cain and Abel, used with permission
MINIATURE SUPERBIRDS
Job 12:7
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
One of the many delights of moving to the Pacific North West of the United States has been getting acquainted with hummingbirds. Watching wildlife documentaries in British television had certainly piqued my interest for these miniature superbirds, but to be able to see them up close is a wondrous thing.
Although a couple of species of hummingbird can be seen in Washington state, our most common species is the rufous, growing to just over 3 inches long. The bird�s name obviously derives from the sound made by the remarkably fast beating of the wings � up to 80 beats per second. Their unusual figure of 8 wing motion enables these birds to hover, and even to fly backwards, when backing away from their food source � sweet, sugary nectar from flowers.
The birds� fast wing action, rapid heartbeat, and very fast flight cause them to burn up fuel very fast. That is why one of their main food sources is the high calorie diet provided by nectar. For householders, this affords us an opportunity to attract the beautiful, fascinating little visitors, by hanging feeders, containing sugar solutions.
So, did hummingbirds evolve their rapid motion to burn off the calories from their high octane fuel? If so, early less active birds could have become too fat to fly! Or did their long beaks and tongues evolve, to get the food needed for their active lifestyle? If so, early birds would have died of exhaustion. Whichever way you look at it, the evolution of the hummingbird simply does not make sense. These remarkable superbirds look designed to do exactly what God designed them to do.
As we consider these lovely little birds, we praise You, O Lord, that You consider our needs more highly than the remarkable creatures that You have made. Amen.
Dreves, D., The hummingbird: God�s tiny miracle, Creation 14(1):10�12, December 1991
Image: Dean Biggins, US Food and Wildlife Service, Public Domain
Job 12:7
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
One of the many delights of moving to the Pacific North West of the United States has been getting acquainted with hummingbirds. Watching wildlife documentaries in British television had certainly piqued my interest for these miniature superbirds, but to be able to see them up close is a wondrous thing.
Although a couple of species of hummingbird can be seen in Washington state, our most common species is the rufous, growing to just over 3 inches long. The bird�s name obviously derives from the sound made by the remarkably fast beating of the wings � up to 80 beats per second. Their unusual figure of 8 wing motion enables these birds to hover, and even to fly backwards, when backing away from their food source � sweet, sugary nectar from flowers.
The birds� fast wing action, rapid heartbeat, and very fast flight cause them to burn up fuel very fast. That is why one of their main food sources is the high calorie diet provided by nectar. For householders, this affords us an opportunity to attract the beautiful, fascinating little visitors, by hanging feeders, containing sugar solutions.
So, did hummingbirds evolve their rapid motion to burn off the calories from their high octane fuel? If so, early less active birds could have become too fat to fly! Or did their long beaks and tongues evolve, to get the food needed for their active lifestyle? If so, early birds would have died of exhaustion. Whichever way you look at it, the evolution of the hummingbird simply does not make sense. These remarkable superbirds look designed to do exactly what God designed them to do.
As we consider these lovely little birds, we praise You, O Lord, that You consider our needs more highly than the remarkable creatures that You have made. Amen.
Dreves, D., The hummingbird: God�s tiny miracle, Creation 14(1):10�12, December 1991
Image: Dean Biggins, US Food and Wildlife Service, Public Domain
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