“A pair of Cambridge lectures examining the deepest challenges in origin-of-life research—from the chemistry of early Earth to the information systems inside every cell—and exploring why current prebiotic models fall short. Featuring Dr. James Tour and Dr. Stephen Meyer, this session highlights the scientific roadblocks, the role of information, and the implications for how life began.”
The cases of these two men continue to get stronger with time. I enjoyed these lectures and I hope you do as well.
CR
Latest on the Origin of Life Research 2025
November 20, 2025
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Commentary, Education, Helps, LIFE, Origin of Life, Science | Tagged: Dr. James Tour, Dr. Stephen Meyer, Origin of Life Research | 
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Quotes #20…Richard Baxter 1615-1691 (3)
November 14, 2025Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures. Direct. 2
Remember that it is the very law of God which you must live by, and be judged by at last. And therefore read with a full resolution to obey whatever it commandeth, though flesh, and men, and devils contradict it. Let there be no secret exceptions in your heart, to baulk any of its precepts, and shift off that part of obedience, which the flesh accounteth difficult or dear.
(…to be continued…Direct 1 and 3 give balance to this seemingly legalistic Direct)
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Vol. 3.
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Quotes #18…Timothy Cruso 1657-1697
November 6, 2025“My flesh shall rest in hope.” (Psalm 16:9) That hope which is grounded on the word, gives rest to the soul; ’tis an anchor to keep it steady. Hebrews 6:13. Which shows the unmoveableness of that which our anchor is fastened to. The promise sustains our faith, and our faith is that which supports us. He that hopes in the Word as David did (Psalms 119:81), lays a mighty stress upon it; as Samson did when he leaned upon the pillars of the house, so as to pull it down upon the Philistines. A believer throws the whole weight of all of his affairs and concernments, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, upon the promises of God, like a man resolved to stand or fall with them. He ventures himself, and all that belongs to him, entirely upon this bottom, which is in effect to say, if they will not bear me up, I am content to sink: I know that there shall be a performance of those things which have been told me from the Lord, and therefore I will incessantly look for it.
Found in The Treasury of David, an original Exposition of the Psalms by C.H.S.
Cruso had as a fellow-student Daniel Defoe, who immortalized his name in Robinson Crusoe.
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Quote #15… Richard Baxter 1615-1691 (2)
October 27, 2025Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures. Direct. 1
Bring not an evil heart of unbelief. Open the Bible with holy reverence as the book of God, indited by the Holy Ghost. Remember that the doctrine of the New Testament was revealed by the Son of God, who was purposely sent from heaven to be the light of the world, and to make known to men the will of God, and the matters of their salvation. Bethink you well, if God should but send a book or letter to you by an angel, how reverently you would receive it? How carefully you would peruse it; and regard it above all the books in the world? And how much rather should you do so, by that book which is indited by the Holy Ghost, and recordeth the doctrine of Christ himself, whose authority is greater than all the angels? Read it not therefore as a common book, with a common and unreverent heart; but in the dread and love of God the author.
(to be continued…)
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Vol. 3.
Part One
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He has called us out of this world…
October 26, 2025
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Quotes #14…Timothy Rogers 1658-1728
October 23, 2025Verse 9 (Psalm 16) – “My heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth…” His inward joy was not able to contain itself. We testify our pleasure on lower occasions, even at the gratification of our senses; when our ear is filled with harmonious melody, when out eye is fixed upon admirable and beauteous objects, when our smell is recreated with agreeable odours, and our taste also by the delicacy and rareness of provisions; and much more will our soul show its delight, when its faculties, that are of a more exquisite constitution, meet with things that are in all respects agreeable and pleasant to them; and in God they meet with all those: with his light our understanding is refreshed, and is our will with his goodness and his love.
From C.H.S.’s Exposition of the Psalms (The Treasury of David)
6 Lessons from a Depressed Puritan Pastor: Timothy Rogers
(A must read for anyone who has depression or knows of someone who has it.)
This is an example from “6 Lessons.” It is the Fourth lesson:
Lesson #4: Focus on Encouragement Over Exhortation
As a wise and caring soul physician, Rogers equips others to care like Christ. “Do not urge your melancholy friends to do what is out of their power. They are like persons whose bones are broken, and who are incapacitated for action.”
Astute enough to imagine the negative response his statement might receive, Rogers adds, “But you will ask, ought we not to urge them to hear the Word of God?”
Rogers responds to his own question by noting that the soul physician must know well the particular person they are counseling. He says to “kindly and gently” encourage them, if they are able, to “attend the preaching of the Word; but beware of using a peremptory and violent method.”
Rogers then illustrates his suggested approach using a situation well-known in his day.
“The method pursued by John Dod with Mrs. Drake should be imitated. ‘The burden which overloaded her soul was so great, that we never durst add any thereunto, but fed her with all encouragements, she being too apt to overcharge herself, and to despair upon any addition of fuel to that fire which was inwardly consuming her.’”
———–
My comment: I think that Timothy Rogers would have encouraged people with life changing depression to seek a doctor who would attempt to find the proper modern medications for this, as he called it, disease.
CR
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Quotes #13…Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758
October 16, 2025You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.
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Quote #10…Richard Baxter 1615-1691 (1)
October 6, 2025Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures.
SEEING the diversity of men’s tempers and understandings is so exceedingly great, that it is impossible that any thing should be pleasing and suitable to some, which shall not be disliked and quarrelled with by others; and seeing in the Scriptures there are many things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest to their own destruction (a). And the word is to some the savour of death unto death (b). You have therefore need to be careful in reading it. And as Christ saith, “Take heed how you hear;(c)” so I say, Take heed how you read.
(…to be continued)
(a) Pet. 3:16. (b) Mark 4:24. 2 Cor. 2:16. (c) Luke 8:18.
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Volume 3.
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ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND
February 2, 2025
While thinking about the state of our world, part of an old Hymn came to me today. At times it sure seems like things are spinning out of control. This is one of those times for me and the hymn I thought of communicates a stability that this world can’t give.
1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
This hymn was written by Edward Mote, who lived and preached in England during the 19th century. He didn’t enter the ministry until his 50s and was pastor at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Horsham, West Sussex, England for 26 years.
This hymn reminds me of so many instructive and comforting words found in God’s Word.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Romans 12:2
“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 Peter 1:3
3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
So many other verses come to mind, but these suffice for now.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand.
CR
Photo attribution: Pixabay
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Wings of the Wind 
The Person of Jesus Christ
December 4, 2025Recently, Bruce Cooper posted the following article. I found it provided clarity in a world that speaks so much of Jesus but seems to hardly know the Jesus described in the Bible. To know who Jesus is, one must turn to the Bible. It is where we get our knowledge. Here Bruce takes the words of scripture and provides a good glimpse into who our Savior is. The best way to build on this knowledge is to read and study the Bible for yourself.
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