How Do Mother Butterflies Avoid the Poison?

August 24, 2013

by Brian Thomas, M.S. *

Colorful Heliconius butterflies grace the tropics with their beautiful wide wings. Their survival depends on more features than what simply resides in their physical bodies. The challenge is trying to explain the origins of the way their body parts not only mesh perfectly with each other, but also with their butterfly behavior.

Read the rest of this interesting article HERE.

My comment:

I am a sucker for butterflies.  Someday I will explain why.  I think they are an amazing creation.  How can something like a butterfly survive in such a harsh world?  Maybe it’s for God’s glory. Maybe it’s to show that gentleness is an attribute that God appreciates. After all, gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. THIS ARTICLE is another evidence of an everlasting Creator.

cr

7 Comments | Commentary, Creation, Education, LIFE, Science | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

EIGHTH GRADE TEST FROM 1912 BAFFLES

August 13, 2013

I’ve given a few tests in my time.  I even gave a 12 page U.S. history final to my eighth grade students a few years.  One of the pages was a blank sheet of paper.  The eighth grader could not graduate until they were able to list all U.S. presidents and their political parties.  Extra credit was given for a popular nickname.  Most students got it right the first time.  We spend only 5-10 minutes a day on flashcards, covering 10 each quarter.  I’ll never forget one of the young scholars getting all of the hard ones right and missing Thomas Jefferson…twice. Ah………. I won’t mention any names but the initials were (V.E.).  Imagine getting a perfect paper with all the presidents and Mr. Jefferson being the only blank on the entire page.  I finally figured out a way for the student to remember ole T.J.

Yes THIS TEST FROM 1912 is probably a test that I would have trouble passing.  I think most of the reason for this is that even when I was in school (just a bit ago) teachers spent a good amount of time trying to keep kids under control.  It is worse today.

Glancing over the test, I knew some of the answers right away and didn’t take the time to figure others.  The spelling portion wasn’t that difficult. Who knows…maybe I could pass it.  Is it today’s students fault that the world has gotten farther away from Godly principles and, therefore, we have become a less studious society?  I would say: “no.”  The slip has happened over time.  Students today know things that students from 1912 could only wish to know.  It is a different time.  Some might question the importance of knowing some of the questions on the 1912 test.  I know a bit about today’s education and it seems like many of the tests our kids are getting are focusing on questions that will help them today’s real world.  At the same time, schools spend too much time prepping kids for tests that will be different in five years.

Education has always been a challenge.  The goal of any good teacher is to try and instill a love for learning in the student. Whether a student lived in 1850, 1912, or 2013, the goal of a good teacher hasn’t changed.

Admittedly, it is much harder to educate today.  There are so many social, political, and spiritual reasons I won’t even begin to name them.  I appreciate those who teach because they love kids, not because it pays the bills.  As school starts for another year, pray for your kids teachers.  They are going to need it.

cr

After writing this bit, is saw this story called:

“California Gov. Brown signs transgender-student bill”

The above says: “California Gov. Brown signs transgender-student bill”

Did I mention spiritual reasons for America’s fall?  (Click on the above headline to view the crazy “effort” in California.)

2 Comments | Commentary, Education, LIFE | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

ARMORED FISH FOSSILS REWRITE EVOLUTIONARY STORY

August 11, 2013

by Brian Thomas, M.S.

A special set of Australian fish fossils just derailed evolution’s long-held story of early fish origins. The remarkable fossils preserved detailed soft tissue body features, including the precise points where muscles attached to the ancient fish’s bones. These clues enabled paleontologists to reconstruct the now-extinct fish anatomy. Though expecting something much more primitive-looking, they discovered completely designed, fully-muscled armored fish. Now they have to rewrite the evolutionary bit about how jaws evolved.1

This interesting article may be seen in its entirety HERE.

cr

Note (6/18/2016): I had a story here that was removed from the original source so I went on a hunt to find the same related story and others. The one that was here originally is first. There are many more than three like it, but I will list two other similar stories that show the general view of current scientists within American Universities over the past decade or so.

ORIGINAL STORY THAT WAS HERE FROM A DIFFERENT POST…INTELLIGENT DESIGN AT BALL STATE 2013

INTELLEGENT DESIGN AT BALL STATE 2016

INTELLIGENT DESIGN AT IOWA STATE 2007

2 Comments | Commentary, Creation, LIFE, Science | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

6 YEAR OLD FIREMAN BILLY

August 9, 2013

Stop telling God how big your storm is.

Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is!

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared

down at her 6-year-old son, who was dying of

terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled

with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of

determination. Like any parent, she wanted her

son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now

that was no longer possible..

The leukemia would see to that. But she still

wanted her son’s dreams to come true. She took

her son’s hand and asked, “Billy, did you ever

think about what you wanted to be once you grew

up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do

with your life?”

Mommy, “I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.”

Mom smiled back and said, “Let’s see if we can

make your wish come true.”

Later that day she went to her local fire

department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met

Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix.

She explained her son’s final wish and asked if

it might be possible to give her six-year-old son

a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than

that. If you’ll have your son ready at seven

o’clock Wednesday morning, we’ll make him an

honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come

down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on

all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if

you’ll give us ! his sizes, we’ll get a real fire

uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy

one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire

Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear

and rubber boots. They’re all manufactured right

here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy,

dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him

from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and

ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the

truck and help steer it back to the fire station.

He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in

Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all

three calls. He rode in the different fire

engines, the paramedic’s van, and even the fire chief’s car.

He was also videotaped for the local news

program. Having his dream come true, with all the

love and attention that was lavished upon him, so

deeply touched Billy that he lived three months

longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop

dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in

the hospice concept that no one should die alone,

began to call the family members to the hospital.

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a

fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked

if it would be possible to send a fireman in

uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he

made his transition.

The chief replied, “We can do better than that.

We’ll be there in five minutes.

Will you please do me a favor?

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the

lights flashing, will you announce over the PA

system that there is not a fire? It’s just the

fire department coming to see one of its finest

members one more time.

And will you open the window to his room?

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck

arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder

up to Billy’s third floor open window

16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into

Billy’s room.

With his mother’s permission, they

hugged him and held him and told him how much

they loved him.

With his dying breath, Billy

looked up at the fire chief and said,

“Chief, am I really a fireman now?”

“Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,”

the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said,

“I know, He’s been holding my hand all day,

and the angels have been singing..”

He closed his eyes one last time.

————————————–

This story fits the “Demonstrations of the fruits of the Spirit” class that is at the top of the list of stories for which I am looking.  The first fruit of the spirit is love.  I thought this was a good example of love.

CR

4 Comments | Commentary, LIFE, Love of God, Words that Uplift | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

THE BLACK AWAKENING

August 3, 2013

I am not trying to sell books here.  But, I think this is an interesting video.

There is no question that Satan is alive and and actively trying to turn lives into chaos.  I haven’t posted much of Gary lately because of the prophecy conference that was recently sponsored by Prophecy in the News.  Several of the lecturers there were folks that are too on the fringe for me.

This is not a topic that I wish to discuss, but I think it is necessary in the day we live in to be familiar with some “dark side” events.  The verses of Ephesians 6 are important for our time:

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

A question is raised in the video: “Are we ready for what may happen in the near future?”  This question is not raised to frighten.  It is clear in the discussion that Christians have nothing to fear.  However, I think we could all be a bit better prepared for what may happen shortly.

CR

4 Comments | Bible Prophecy, Commentary, LIFE, News, theology | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

WHATEVER YOU DID FOR THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MINE…

July 25, 2013

The following story is fictional.  The reason I have posted it is to illustrate that today’s churches are not nearly sensitive enough to the needs of the poor and others.

CR

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Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was fill…ing with people for service, only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food – NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. “We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek.” The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him. He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment then he recited,

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame. He then said, “Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?”

He then dismissed service until next week.

Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It’s something you live by and share with others.

======================================

I would like to thank Chris Henry, a former student of mine, for sharing this with his Facebook friends.  Unfortunately, I think the majority of “Christian” churches in America would do the same.

CR

See More

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Posted by Chris

JUNGLE-COVERED RUINS MAY SUPPORT CREATIONISM

July 11, 2013

A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE was recently published by the folks at the Institute for Creation Research.  It shows a picture of a dinosaur that was carved around 1,000 years ago.

It is a short article, but it packs a punch.  Here are a few excerpts:

“The temple at Ta Prohm  (modern day Cambodia) —with its tree root-draped stones providing a picturesque scene for visitors—lies fewer than three miles from the oft-visited major Angkor Wat complex. The Khmer people built it and the many surrounding temples during Europe’s Middle Ages.”

If you would like to take a virtual tour of the temple, GO HERE.

One should really read THE ARTICLE for oneself, but it includes this interesting observation:

“The nearest stegosaur fossils come from faraway China. It is therefore very unlikely that the ancients carved a stegosaur likeness based on fossils.”

If the date is anywhere close to 1186, and if the artist saw a living stegosaur, dinosaurs didn’t die out 60-70 million years ago.  This would discredit Darwinian evolution.  I’ve known about this carving for some time, but I didn’t know that it had been dated.  It makes the image even more remarkable.

CR

6 Comments | Commentary, Creation, LIFE, Science | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

IS CHUCK MISSLER OR HERESCOPE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ALIEN ISSUE?

July 7, 2013

(3-26-16 Update: Many Christians are spending a lot of time on issues like the one discussed here. Do you agree with the Herescope posts or with Chuck Missler? In spite of all the concerns put forward by the Herescope article, no author’s name is given that I can find. As far as I can tell, the author is the “Discernment research group.” I think an article with so many footnotes, as is found on the Herescope site, should name the author or authors. It is properly footnoted, however, and appears well-researched.)

 
 
“As one who was very much caught up in this new wave of thought, I am in a unique position to evaluate this unusual book. I believe this book by Chuck Missler and Mark Eastman may well prove to be the most significant book of our times. It could also prove to be the most critical book you have ever read personally. The conclusions the authors carefully develop may alter your own entire world-view in ways that may significantly affect your personal destiny.”[1]
-By Sarah H. Leslie
 
This quote is from the same Sarah H. Leslie who helped Ken Silva write THIS POST for Appraising Ministries.  Confused already?  Well, so am I.  HERE is the “about” to Appraising Ministries.  It’s creator, Pastor Ken Silva, is very ill as I write this and needs prayer from the Christian community.  I am a reader of AM and have learned quite a bit from his blog.
 
So, what is the point of this blog post?  The point is that there is all kinds of speculation going on “that may significantly affect your personal destiny.”
 
This discussion involves important names like Mr. Missler’s. It is why I think the following Herescope articles are important.  They take a cautionary position when it comes to quoting occult sources without any kind of disclaimer.  After reading the articles, I find myself in agreement with them.

A New Cosmology for the Church-A Book Review

HERE IS THE LINK to the post on a blog called “Herescope” that discusses the disturbing facts about the book pictured to the right. It includes disturbing information like the following:

The Truth:  Many of these sources employed by Chuck Missler in Alien Encounters involve reports from people who have been openly engaged in practices such as “remote viewing”[82] or mediumistic “channeling.”[83] These are occult techniques popular in the New Age Movement that are also related to clairvoyance.[84] While it is true that the U.S. government was involved in many experiments with these occult practices, that does not make any of them credible, ethical, accurate or truthful.[85] Some of the leaders in these experiments were seeking methods of altering the human brain and changing worldviews. This especially includes those at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) such as Willis Harman, who had influence over evangelical leaders to change their eschatology.[86]

Methods of altering the human brain and changing worldviews?  (See a better pic here.)

I am sad to say there is also this quote: In a roundtable discussion about Nephilim at the Prophecy Summit 2012 with L.A. Marzulli, Rob Skiba and Douglas Hamp, Derek Gilbert acknowledges the influence of Alien Encounters:

1:44: GILBERT: “I’m like our twelve-year-old Dachshund, I’ve got the gray on the muzzle on both sides. And to my right, the author of the Nephilim Trilogy, and I must say, along with Chuck Missler’s book Alien Encounters, one of the reasons that I am sitting in this chair tonight, um, also the books Politics, Prophecy, and the Supernatural; The Cosmic Chess Match, and now the Watchers series on DVD—which you here in the audience have seen out on the table outside, please welcome L.A. Marzulli. [audience applause] [7]

The Prophecy Conference, held in Branson, Missouri, was sponsored by Prophecy in the News.  I no longer get my magazine from Prophecy in the News, but it always had interesting articles.  I agreed with some and disagreed with others.  Those who have read this blog know that I have put up podcasts from Gary Stearman, whom I think is a brilliant Bible scholar.  None of the ones I have put up involve anything promoting the occult.  I really like Gary, but some of the company he keeps is questionable. This is the most recent post of Gary discussing the character of Superman:

https://chrisreimersblog.com/2013/06/19/the-comic-book-messiah/

Many of Gary Stearman’s podcasts relate information about the current events in Israel (Here is one from 7/8/13, complete with ad banner, that is an intriguing view of the current situation in Egypt).  I am very interested in Israel, as I believe there will be some kind of conflict there soon (no brilliance needed there). And, of course, it is from Jerusalem that Jesus will reign during the Millennium.

I haven’t put anything up recently because all of the podcasts begin with an ad for the upcoming Prophecy Summit II in Colorado (That has now changed).  Many of the people mentioned in the Herescope article, which I find well researched, will be present in Colorado Springs.

A New Cosmology for the Church, Part 2

*NOTE: (3/26/16) I am reviewing this post since it has appeared in my top 10 recently more than once. The link above no longer exists. In fact, “Part 2” is missing from Herescope’s archives. However, YOU CAN FIND PARTS 3 AND 4 HERE.

Click on the “Part 2” title above and you will see just that.  It is a continuation of part 1.  It should be the July 5, 2013 post.  If not, check the archives. I think Herescope has valid questions and concerns.  Consider the following quote from the post: Under the subheading “The ‘Star People’,” Missler reports at length on a “landmark conference called the “’Star Knowledge Conference’” which was “convened by Lakota medicine man Standing Elk to share secret tribal traditions about the ‘Star People’ (Extraterrestrials) with a prestigious group of prominent UFO researchers.”[54] The footnote for this conference references “Richard Boylan’s Star Knowledge Conference Report.”[55] I could not locate a list of attendees at this conference, but the glowing report in Alien Encounters actually seems to be made in the first person. Did Missler (or his co-author Eastman) attend this Star Knowledge Conference?

You can see more about the George Catlin painting HERE. When I first googled the name of the man who published the conference reports, Richard Boylan, I found his official website[56] which “contains reports, articles, and other information on the Star Visitors, on their starcraft (UFOs), and on the advanced-Human Star Kids and Star Seed Adults so numerous now in our population.” Boylan, who says he is a “retired Clinical Hypnotherapist,” holds some elaborate conspiracy theories about “Star Nations,” and on his website he offers to teach children “Psychic Exercises.” He also posts articles such as “Effects on Human Consciousness and Spirituality of Upcoming Announcement of UFO Reality.”[57] His website had plenty to be concerned about so I kept researching him, especially since Missler covered the Star Knowledge Conference for many pages in Chapter Two.

There you have it.  You can read the Herescope posts yourself and see what you think.  Each have extensive footnotes. As I have stated in previous posts, I do believe there is something going on out there and that it is Satanic in nature (Ephesians 6).  We must be careful, however, that we make God’s Word our primary source of spiritual information.

Chris Reimers

HERE is another take on Mr. Missler.  I haven’t studied this issue enough to know if I agree with all of it, but I share concerns.

1 Comment | Aliens, Bible Prophecy, Commentary, Creation, globalization, Helps, LIFE, Science, theology | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

EVOLUTION CONTROVERSY’S OUTDATED, ONE-SIDED EXPOSURE

July 6, 2013

I found this article at the Institute for Creation Research. 

As Christine states in her article, there is now better evidence for the Creationist viewpoint.  At the same time, she doesn’t deny that the footprints are important.

That's Me with the Dino Tracks in August of 2004
That’s Me with the Dino Tracks in August of 2004

I have been to the Paluxi River and had my picture taken next to a Dinosaur footprint.  Unfortunately, the human tracks were not visible, but this picture shows clearly that the dino tracks are there. The picture was taken at the Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas.

It is very close to Dr. Baugh’s Creation Museum where this picture was taken:

At Dr. Baugh's Creation Museum
At Dr. Baugh’s Creation Museum

An important book about the subject was published in 1980.  It was called “TRACKING Those Incredible DINOSAURS” and was written by John Morris, son of the founder of ICR.

Although ICR has backed away from the evidences found in this book, it is filled with eyewitness accounts of man and dinosaur footprints found in the same strata.  I have the book, and the accounts seem authentic to me.

One example is found on page 13.  During the Great Depression, residents of the area sold prints to make money to feed their families.  James and Cecil Ryals estimated that they quarried approx. 100 dinosaur tracks and about 10 human tracks.  Dinosaur tracks were more desirable and a good one could fetch up to 50 dollars.  The same page details how they went about their excavations.

The Ryals are not the only witnesses.  The book has other examples.

I believe in a young earth.  It is not millions and billions of years old.  I believe that man and dinosaur lived contemporaneously.  I agree that the prints discussed here are not the best evidence for Creationism, but how can one completely discount them?

The Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas is another showcase for the Darwinian evolutionists if one reads the signs at the park.  In reality, it is evidence for Scientific Creationists like me.

Chris Reimers

Paluxy River August 2004 002

=====================================================

by Christine Dao

Appealing to public emotions is a tool employed by politicians, media, and anyone trying to win supporters for a specific agenda. Naturally, such efforts can skew or omit facts, as is often the case in mainstream presentations of the ongoing battle between evolution and creation science. A recent Discovery News feature provides a telling example of this particular ploy.

Published online July 11, the feature is titled “Evolution Controversies: A History in Photos” and includes photographs from the Scopes “Monkey” trial of 1925, a cartoon of British naturalist Charles Darwin with the body of an ape, and a photograph of an exhibit in the Institute for Creation Research’s former Museum of Creation and Earth History in Santee, California.1 Of the ten photographs, two portray what the author says are claims used by creationists as “scientific proof of young Earth creationism”: the dinosaur footprints in Glen Rose, Texas, and a petroglyph in Utah that resembles a dinosaur.

Geologist and ICR President John Morris reported on the Paluxy River footprints in 1976,2 which at the time many creation scientists believed showed human and dinosaur footprints together. However, in light of continuing study, he reexamined the issue and wrote in 1986:

Even though it would now be improper for creationists to continue to use the Paluxy data as evidence against evolution, in the light of these questions, there is still much that is not known about the tracks and continued research is in order. We stand committed to truth, and will gladly modify or abandon our previous interpretation of the Paluxy data as the facts dictate.3

So, Discovery News’ statement that “creationists claim that human footprints can be seen right beside dinosaur tracks”1 is about 25 years out of date. Creation science researchers have moved on, a fact that was omitted from the Discovery News’ emotionally oriented appeal.

In the case of the Utah petroglyph, which Discovery News reported was “just a mud stain” in March of this year,4 ICR Science Writer Brian Thomas wrote:

ICR Senior Science Lecturer Frank Sherwin visited this petroglyph a number of years ago. He commented that although it looked interesting to him, he did not consider it to be as compelling as other historical evidence—such as dinosaur original soft tissues, written or sculpted eyewitness accounts of dragon encounters from all over the world, or certain Bible passages like Job 40—that have convinced him that dinosaurs and man were contemporaneous. The case for creation does not hinge on this one Utah artifact.5

So attempts such as Discovery News’ outdated references that try to place creationists in the same unscientific camp as flat-earth believers6 do not take into account that creation science researchers are willing to examine the data and, if necessary, move on to more interesting and securely justifiable discoveries, such as the soft dinosaur tissues or historical worldwide dragon encounters Mr. Thomas mentioned.7

Discovery News’ bias is further demonstrated by the fact that, although the author was careful to include instances that he thought “disproved” creationist claims, he failed to mention examples of the supposed evidence used to support evolution and long ages that have been debunked, such the classification of Tiktaalik and Pakicetus as transitional forms (aka “missing links”),8 and the accuracy of potassium-argon radioisotope-dating techniques.9

Appealing to public emotions can be effective, because it often does not require the appealers to present all the facts surrounding the topic. However, when the dust settles, the facts will not go away. If they demonstrate anything, anti-science presentations such as the Discovery News feature show that emotional appeals are needed to promote evolution because there is no real science behind it.

References

  1. al-Khatib, T. Evolution Controversies: A History in Photos. Discovery News. Posted on news.discovery.com July 11, 2011, accessed July 14, 2011.
  2. Morris, J. D. 1976. The Paluxy River Tracks. Acts & Facts. 5 (5).
  3. Morris J. D. 1986. The Paluxy River Mystery. Acts & Facts. 15 (1).
  4. Niiler, E. ‘Proof of Creation’ Dino Drawing Just a Mud Stain. Discovery News. Posted on news.discovery.com March 25, 2011, accessed July 14, 2011.
  5. Thomas, B. Utah Dinosaur Petroglyph Disputed. ICR News. Posted on icr.org April 7, 2011, accessed July 14, 2011.
  6. Daniel Shenton of The Flat Earth Society told LiveScience in June that he and his followers believe the earth is flat: “To look around, the world does appear to be flat, so I think it is incumbent on others to prove decisively that it isn’t. And I don’t think that burden of proof has been met yet.” LiveScience also reported that Mr. Shenton believes in evolution and global warming. See Wolchover, N. Ingenious ‘Flat Earth’ Theory Revealed In Old Map. LiveScience. Posted on livescience.com June 23, 2011, accessed July 14, 2011.
  7. For examples of fresh dinosaur tissues, see the many examples listed on the “Fresh Tissues Show That Fossils Are Recent” page in ICR’s collection of Evidence for Creation. For a small sampling of archaeological examples of dinosaur interactions with humans, see Morris, J. 2008. The Dinosaur Next Door. Acts & Facts. 37 (6): 13.
  8. Morris, J. D. and F. J. Sherwin. 2010. The Fossil Record. Dallas, TX: Institute for Creation Research, 149, 172. See also Sherwin, F. Banner Fossil for Evolution Is Demoted. ICR News. Posted on icr.org January 27, 2010, accessed July 14, 2011.
  9. Woodmorappe, J. 1999. The Mythology of Modern Dating Methods. El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research, 22.

*Ms. Dao is Assistant Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.

Article posted on July 26, 2011.

The original article appears HERE.

Two of my favorite people visited the park
Two of my favorite people visited the park

11 Comments | Creation, Helps, LIFE, Science, theology | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN

July 5, 2013

I believe this was the first post on a wonderful blog that I always enjoyed called: “Be Thus Minded.” Pearl had and has a very Christian take on things and decided to shut her blog down in February of 2012.  One of her posts got 95 comments.  I’ll put that one up someday.  Pearl is busy homeschooling her kids and taking care of her beautiful butterfly garden.

I never told her why I use a butterfly as my “symbol.”  I’ll have to do that soon and send her an email to tell her (and you) why.

Enjoy Pearl’s (I think) first post from “Be Thus Minded.” This was put up in April of 2010.

CR

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This is one of the first hymns Cow­per wrote af­ter his first at­tack of tem­po­ra­ry mad­ness. Cow­per had been prom­ised a post as Clerk of the Jour­nal to the House of Lords, but was dis­mayed up­on learn­ing he would have to un­der­go a pub­lic ex­am­in­a­tion in the House be­fore be­gin­ning his du­ties. The fol­low­ing ar­ti­cle from the North Amer­i­can Re­view, Jan­u­a­ry, 1834, de­scribes his di­lem­ma, and how God pre­vent­ed him from de­stroy­ing him­self:

As the time drew nigh, his agony became more and more in­tense; he hoped and be­lieved that mad­ness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind to commit su­i­cide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he could not by any argument per­suade himself that it was right, but this des­per­a­tion pre­vailed, and he pro­cured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction. On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a letter in the newspaper, which to his dis­or­dered mind seemed like a ma­lig­nant li­bel on himself. He im­med­i­ate­ly threw down the pa­per and rushed into the fields, de­ter­mined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he might es­cape from the count­ry. With the same vi­o­lence he pro­ceed­ed to make hasty prep­ar­a­tions for his flight; but while he was en­gaged in pack­ing his port­man­teau his mind changed, and he threw him­self into a coach, or­der­ing the man to drive to the Tower wharf, in­tend­ing to throw him­self in­to the ri­ver, and not re­flect­ing that it would be im­poss­i­ble to ac­comp­lish his pur­pose in that pub­lic spot. On ap­proach­ing the wa­ter, he found a por­ter seated upon some goods: he then re­turned to the coach and was con­veyed to his lodg­ings at the Temple. On the way he at­tempt­ed to drink the laud­a­num, but as oft­en as he raised it, a con­vuls­ive agi­ta­tion of his frame pre­vent­ed it from reach­ing his lips; and thus, re­gret­ting the loss of the op­por­tun­i­ty, but un­a­ble to avail him­self of it, he ar­rived, half dead with an­guish, at his apart­ment. He then shut the doors and threw him­self upon the bed with the laud­a­num near him, try­ing to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within seemed con­stant­ly to for­bid it, and as of­ten as he ex­tend­ed his hand to the poi­son, his fing­ers were con­tract­ed and held back by spasms.

At this time one of the in­mates of the place came in, but he con­cealed his ag­i­ta­tion, and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so de­test­a­ble did the deed ap­pear, that he threw away the laud­a­num and dashed the vial to pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was brok­en and would not pen­e­trate. At day break he arose, and pas­sing a strong gar­ter around his neck, fast­ened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved.; but the conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as if he had offended God so deep­ly that his guilt could ne­ver be for­giv­en, and his whole heart was filled with tu­mult­u­ous pangs of despair. Mad­ness was not far off, or rather mad­ness was al­ready come.

Af­ter re­cov­er­ing, Cow­per came to real­ize how God can erase the stain of any sin.

Update :   It didn’t rest with me to allow this very low period of Cowper’s life to represent the true man.  Upon further research, it seems that this bout of temporary insanity was the precursor to his eventual conversion and deep friendship with John Newton. Read more here.

“There is a Fountain”

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

                       

[Pearl’s Note:  The most beautiful version of this hymn can be heard on this CD “Hymns Triumphant Volume II”…it’s part of a medley.]

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Posted by Chris

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