GOD'S MIND, HUMAN MIND
Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."
It was only a few years ago that excited supporters of the big bang theory for the origin of the universe announced that their theory had apparently been proven. Now their unverified conclusions are being seriously questioned on several fronts.
Even as it was being announced that the big bang theory was proven, verification was being made on other results showing that the big bang theory is probably wrong. William G. Tifft of the University of Arizona had been looking at lists of red shifts from distant galaxies. On a graph, he plotted the red shifts corrected for the effects of the Earth's motion. If the red shifts from these objects are the result of their speeding away from Earth, their red shifts should be evenly spread over the known range of shifts. Tifft found that they're not. The red shifts are clumped into patterns. The intervals are about 72 kilometers per second, with some half that value and some one-third of that value. Astronomers from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh verified his results.
A second study by Tifft has shown that galaxy red shifts measured from Earth have changed in just a few years! This change is completely unexpected by proponents of the big bang theory. The change is large enough that Tifft expects to be able to test the rate at which these changes take place within only a few years! One suggestion is that red shifts may be some sort of decay phenomenon rather than expansion of the universe.
How could human beings expect to understand a universe created by the Author of Scripture when they reject Scripture itself?
I thank You, dear Lord, for the revelation of Your Word of salvation in Scripture. I pray that I may never presume to understand something before I know and believe what You have said about it in Your inerrant Word. Amen.
Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."
It was only a few years ago that excited supporters of the big bang theory for the origin of the universe announced that their theory had apparently been proven. Now their unverified conclusions are being seriously questioned on several fronts.
Even as it was being announced that the big bang theory was proven, verification was being made on other results showing that the big bang theory is probably wrong. William G. Tifft of the University of Arizona had been looking at lists of red shifts from distant galaxies. On a graph, he plotted the red shifts corrected for the effects of the Earth's motion. If the red shifts from these objects are the result of their speeding away from Earth, their red shifts should be evenly spread over the known range of shifts. Tifft found that they're not. The red shifts are clumped into patterns. The intervals are about 72 kilometers per second, with some half that value and some one-third of that value. Astronomers from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh verified his results.
A second study by Tifft has shown that galaxy red shifts measured from Earth have changed in just a few years! This change is completely unexpected by proponents of the big bang theory. The change is large enough that Tifft expects to be able to test the rate at which these changes take place within only a few years! One suggestion is that red shifts may be some sort of decay phenomenon rather than expansion of the universe.
How could human beings expect to understand a universe created by the Author of Scripture when they reject Scripture itself?
I thank You, dear Lord, for the revelation of Your Word of salvation in Scripture. I pray that I may never presume to understand something before I know and believe what You have said about it in Your inerrant Word. Amen.
RACCOON BEAR?
Romans 1:24-25
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
In creation, things aren't always as simple as they seem. Even before Charles Darwin, scientists who believed in evolution classified plants and animals by appearance. A story about the creature's evolutionary history would be invented, based on its appearance and, sometimes, its habits. However, God is too creative for this kind of attempt to write Him out of history.
This background information helps us understand the problem of the giant and lesser pandas. Are they related to bears? Are they related to raccoons? Or neither? Evolutionary scientists have been debating this for more than a century. They were sure the giant and lesser pandas should be grouped together because of similarities in their teeth. And even though the giant panda looks like a bear, it doesn't hibernate. Nor does it roar – it has a very unbear-like bleat, like a lamb.
Modern molecular biology has now investigated the panda question. DNA and proteins from greater and lesser pandas were examined and compared. Researchers arrived at a startling conclusion, based on what they knew about raccoon and bear DNA and proteins. The greater panda is a bear. The lesser panda is not a bear, but is related to the raccoon.
In their rush to deny the Creator, humans built huge claims out of tiny amounts of information. It is, in fact, much easier to see the greater and lesser pandas as unique creatures that have come from the hand of our imaginative Creator.
I thank You, Lord, for the wonderful creatures we call pandas. In addition, I thank You that they witness to Your creativity and confound those who wish to deny You. Protect these creatures so that we may always enjoy them. Amen.
"Panda pedigree: giant and lesser." Science News, v. 128, p. 216.
Romans 1:24-25
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
In creation, things aren't always as simple as they seem. Even before Charles Darwin, scientists who believed in evolution classified plants and animals by appearance. A story about the creature's evolutionary history would be invented, based on its appearance and, sometimes, its habits. However, God is too creative for this kind of attempt to write Him out of history.
This background information helps us understand the problem of the giant and lesser pandas. Are they related to bears? Are they related to raccoons? Or neither? Evolutionary scientists have been debating this for more than a century. They were sure the giant and lesser pandas should be grouped together because of similarities in their teeth. And even though the giant panda looks like a bear, it doesn't hibernate. Nor does it roar – it has a very unbear-like bleat, like a lamb.
Modern molecular biology has now investigated the panda question. DNA and proteins from greater and lesser pandas were examined and compared. Researchers arrived at a startling conclusion, based on what they knew about raccoon and bear DNA and proteins. The greater panda is a bear. The lesser panda is not a bear, but is related to the raccoon.
In their rush to deny the Creator, humans built huge claims out of tiny amounts of information. It is, in fact, much easier to see the greater and lesser pandas as unique creatures that have come from the hand of our imaginative Creator.
I thank You, Lord, for the wonderful creatures we call pandas. In addition, I thank You that they witness to Your creativity and confound those who wish to deny You. Protect these creatures so that we may always enjoy them. Amen.
"Panda pedigree: giant and lesser." Science News, v. 128, p. 216.
FROG PHARMACISTS
Matthew 13:22
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
Some frogs are regular little drug factories. Their skins produce a wide range of powerful alkaloids, which are a large family of chemicals usually produced by plants. Familiar alkaloids include quinine, caffeine and morphine. Different alkaloids have different effects, usually on the nervous system.
The poison-arrow frog may be the most famous alkaloid-producing frog. South American natives simply rub their arrows or darts on the frog's back. One species of this frog contains enough poison to kill 100 people! Another frog, native to Ecuador, produces an anesthetic more powerful than morphine. South American natives rub another frog on their wounds. Researchers discovered that the frog's skin makes a powerful antiseptic. Yet another frog alkaloid will change the colors on parrot feathers. Some of the alkaloids produced by frogs are so complex that it takes years of study, using modern science's most sophisticated equipment, to discover the active chemical.
Researchers in this field are only beginning to learn about the alkaloids produced by frogs. They have yet to research a frog that natives claim to use to heighten their senses for the hunt. What puzzles scientists who believe in evolution is that the frogs' exotic skin chemistries don't follow the patterns they anticipated based upon expected evolutionary relationships.
This means that these frogs have one more exciting purpose. They provide evidence against evolution and for the Creator.
I thank You, Lord, that You have included chemicals in the creation that can help us treat our medical problems. I ask that I would not become so concerned with earthly cares and worries that I forget about my spiritual needs – which are fully supplied by You. Amen.
Pennisi, Elizabeth. 1992. "Pharming frogs." Science News, v. 142, July 18. p. 40.
Matthew 13:22
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
Some frogs are regular little drug factories. Their skins produce a wide range of powerful alkaloids, which are a large family of chemicals usually produced by plants. Familiar alkaloids include quinine, caffeine and morphine. Different alkaloids have different effects, usually on the nervous system.
The poison-arrow frog may be the most famous alkaloid-producing frog. South American natives simply rub their arrows or darts on the frog's back. One species of this frog contains enough poison to kill 100 people! Another frog, native to Ecuador, produces an anesthetic more powerful than morphine. South American natives rub another frog on their wounds. Researchers discovered that the frog's skin makes a powerful antiseptic. Yet another frog alkaloid will change the colors on parrot feathers. Some of the alkaloids produced by frogs are so complex that it takes years of study, using modern science's most sophisticated equipment, to discover the active chemical.
Researchers in this field are only beginning to learn about the alkaloids produced by frogs. They have yet to research a frog that natives claim to use to heighten their senses for the hunt. What puzzles scientists who believe in evolution is that the frogs' exotic skin chemistries don't follow the patterns they anticipated based upon expected evolutionary relationships.
This means that these frogs have one more exciting purpose. They provide evidence against evolution and for the Creator.
I thank You, Lord, that You have included chemicals in the creation that can help us treat our medical problems. I ask that I would not become so concerned with earthly cares and worries that I forget about my spiritual needs – which are fully supplied by You. Amen.
Pennisi, Elizabeth. 1992. "Pharming frogs." Science News, v. 142, July 18. p. 40.
SCIENCE CONFRONTS MEDITATION CLAIMS
Psalm 119:148
"Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."
Many people promote meditation as harmless and healthful. Of course, growing interest in meditation cannot be separated from the increased popularity of Eastern and New Age religion.
However, many don't place the claims that Eastern meditation reduces stress in the same category as the magical New Age claims made for crystals. Unfortunately, even children in public schools go through Eastern meditation exercises.
Eastern meditation has often been recommended as one treatment for hypertension. However, no one had ever studied these medical claims to see if they were true. Then the results of such a study were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Government researchers had studied effects of Eastern meditation on more than 2,100 men and women with high blood pressure. They concluded that it is ineffective in lowering blood pressure. Yes, it is true that there are changes in the brain waves of someone who is meditating. However, brain waves normally change when one type of mental activity replaces another. Nor is Eastern meditation a particularly good choice to produce brain waves associated with mental peace.
Eastern meditation is not harmless. It can open the mind to negative influences. And claims that it can reduce the effects of stress have been scientifically shown to be untrue. Let's return to our Bible and say with the Psalmist, "My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word."
I thank You, dear Father, that You have given us Your sure Word in Scripture and the Word made flesh for our salvation. Increase my eagerness to meditate on Your Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
"20 medical stories you may have missed." U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 3, 1992. p. 58.
Psalm 119:148
"Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."
Many people promote meditation as harmless and healthful. Of course, growing interest in meditation cannot be separated from the increased popularity of Eastern and New Age religion.
However, many don't place the claims that Eastern meditation reduces stress in the same category as the magical New Age claims made for crystals. Unfortunately, even children in public schools go through Eastern meditation exercises.
Eastern meditation has often been recommended as one treatment for hypertension. However, no one had ever studied these medical claims to see if they were true. Then the results of such a study were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Government researchers had studied effects of Eastern meditation on more than 2,100 men and women with high blood pressure. They concluded that it is ineffective in lowering blood pressure. Yes, it is true that there are changes in the brain waves of someone who is meditating. However, brain waves normally change when one type of mental activity replaces another. Nor is Eastern meditation a particularly good choice to produce brain waves associated with mental peace.
Eastern meditation is not harmless. It can open the mind to negative influences. And claims that it can reduce the effects of stress have been scientifically shown to be untrue. Let's return to our Bible and say with the Psalmist, "My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word."
I thank You, dear Father, that You have given us Your sure Word in Scripture and the Word made flesh for our salvation. Increase my eagerness to meditate on Your Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
"20 medical stories you may have missed." U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 3, 1992. p. 58.
TOUCHING LOVE
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Love is one of the necessities of life that is both physical and spiritual. While it doesn't fit with a strictly materialistic view of life, love and touch – or lack of love and touch – can determine our health and sometimes even life and death.
The claim that love and touch are necessary to life and health was considered so outrageous that it wasn't until relatively recently that scientists began to test such claims. Researchers selected 40 hospitalized infants. These infants were not in intensive care, on oxygen or intravenous feedings, but they were too tiny to leave the hospital. Researchers randomly selected half the group for attention. These infants were touched for three 15-minute periods a day. The first five minutes were spent stroking the infants' bodies. The next five minutes were spent lightly moving the infants' arms and legs. This was followed by five more minutes of stroking.
Even though the infants often didn't seem to notice the attention, it made a difference. After only 10 days of this attention, the stroked infants had gained 47 percent more weight than the infants who were ignored. This is especially amazing considering that the infants who gained less weight had been fed the same number of calories. The stroked infants were also more active, so they should have actually metabolized more of the calories and lost weight rather than increasing in weight.
Can we literally live on love? Well, we do need food and other things, but we also need love – especially from our Creator.
Father in heaven, I thank You that You have loved me and sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to carry my burden of sin and guilt on the cross. Never let me doubt Your forgiveness, and continually assure me of Your forgiving love – for I know that this is where peace is found. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Bower, Bruce. 1985. "Different strokes." Science News, v. 128, Nov. 9. p. 301.
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Love is one of the necessities of life that is both physical and spiritual. While it doesn't fit with a strictly materialistic view of life, love and touch – or lack of love and touch – can determine our health and sometimes even life and death.
The claim that love and touch are necessary to life and health was considered so outrageous that it wasn't until relatively recently that scientists began to test such claims. Researchers selected 40 hospitalized infants. These infants were not in intensive care, on oxygen or intravenous feedings, but they were too tiny to leave the hospital. Researchers randomly selected half the group for attention. These infants were touched for three 15-minute periods a day. The first five minutes were spent stroking the infants' bodies. The next five minutes were spent lightly moving the infants' arms and legs. This was followed by five more minutes of stroking.
Even though the infants often didn't seem to notice the attention, it made a difference. After only 10 days of this attention, the stroked infants had gained 47 percent more weight than the infants who were ignored. This is especially amazing considering that the infants who gained less weight had been fed the same number of calories. The stroked infants were also more active, so they should have actually metabolized more of the calories and lost weight rather than increasing in weight.
Can we literally live on love? Well, we do need food and other things, but we also need love – especially from our Creator.
Father in heaven, I thank You that You have loved me and sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to carry my burden of sin and guilt on the cross. Never let me doubt Your forgiveness, and continually assure me of Your forgiving love – for I know that this is where peace is found. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Bower, Bruce. 1985. "Different strokes." Science News, v. 128, Nov. 9. p. 301.
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