Principal's Paddle Brings Results

Corporal punishment is a key to a South Carolina school's turnaround.

SUMMARY: In 2006 David Nixon, a soft-spoken former rancher and a teacher with no educational administrative experience, agreed to become the principal at John C. Calhoun Elementary School in Calhoun Hills, South Carolina. It was a rowdy rural school of some 226 students which a friend told him was "kind of in bad shape." In a dusty cabinet in the principal's office he found a well-worn paddle, two feet long with a handle wrapped in duct tape, which the former principal may never have used. Today, most parents and teachers at the school consider Nixon and his instrument major factors in the remarkable turnabout which the school has enjoyed. That paddle is kept in full view for visitors including students to notice.

Children with major offenses such as fighting or stealing are sent to Nixon's office. First he discusses the incident with the student. If there is a problem at home or if the child shows deep remorse, the student can be sent to a counselor or back to class without a spanking. Otherwise, he has the offender put both hands on a chair and brace himself for the "whippin'" as Nixon calls it, actually three swats with the paddle. Girls are disciplined by women staff members.

Not everyone including Nixon himself is entirely comfortable with the policy. "If I could burn that paddle in my stove, I would," he says. "This is the worst part of my job." The county superintendent is unsettled by the practice, and the school's mental-health counselor is concerned. However, the majority of the parents are supportive even though a few check the "no" box on the paddling permission slip they must sign. Sometimes parents request permission to spank their child at home or even come to school to do it. Teachers point out that academically it is better for the student to miss 15 minutes of the school day while in the principal's office than to get sent home suspended for days.

Before Nixon took over at "John C," behavior was so bad one teacher described it as "chaos." She eventually got so disgusted she resigned and pulled her own child out of the school. Now she is back teaching fifth grade at the school and is so pleased she doesn't even take vacation days. Referrals to the office have dropped 80% since 2006. Although 90% of John C. Calhoun's students live below the poverty line, the school is beginning to win awards--one recently for academic performance and two for overall improvement, the first such honors for the school in its 35-year history.

Corporal punishment isn't Nixon's only change at the school; he has instituted other reforms. He also uses positive motivation such as pizzas for classes that do well on tests. However, corporal punishment at John C. has worked so well, the need for it may be diminishing. Corporal punishment is still legal in portions of 21 states including South Carolina.

To read the entire article click on this NEWSWEEK link.

COMMENT: Yes, physical punishment can easily turn into physical and/or mental abuse if administered carelessly or inconsistently or unfairly. Yet, it is hard to argue with the success this school has had with what seems to be a well-planned and thoughtful spanking policy. After all, the spanking is administered to the part of the body which seems to have been designed by God for that purpose.

Proverbs 23:13 reminds us: "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die." (NIV) Notice that the purpose of physical punishment is not to vent our anger against our children but to "discipline" them. Dictionary.com defines discipline as "punishment inflicted by way of correction and training." Therefore, we must consider whether our choice of how to punish our misbehaving children has a reasonable chance of training them or leading them to correct their bad behavior. Also, I don't believe that the term "rod" here always has to be interpreted as a physical rod. Sometimes withholding of privileges or making restitution or some other nonphysical corrective activity may be more effective than corporal punishment.

In any event, we can't thank God enough in that He does not constantly punish us in vengeance for the constant sinning we do against Him and His Word. The corporal punishment that we deserved was directed against His beloved and innocent Son, Jesus Christ, instead. Let Christ's suffering be our lesson and our motivation to strive to correct our own bad behavior, not, of course, to earn any merits but purely out of love for our Lord and appreciation for what the Savior has done for us.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

What is an anemometer?

It is a tool used to measure wind speed. The first mechanical anemometer was invented in 1450 by Leon Battista, an Italian artist and architect.

Source: Usefultrivia.com

Public Health Emergency Declared

U.S. Worries Over Possible Swine Flu Epidemic.

SUMMARY: A public health emergency has been declared by the federal government over the possible threat the swine flu poses to Americans (picture: wikipedia commons). The HINI strain of swine flu can mutate as it passes from animals to humans and from one human to another, making it harder to treat or fight off. Symptoms of the flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers of Disease Control.

Mexico City closed all of its schools and universities until further notice because of the virus. Troops passed out filter masks outside a cathedral on Sunday. President Felipe Calderon said 81 deaths were suspected to be from the outbreak with 374 people hospitalized.

The U.S. has reported 20 cases, 8 in New York City, 7 in California, 2 each in Texas and Kansas and one in Ohio. Only one of the cases required hospitalization. Still, the U.S. military has issued a worldwide caution, telling its medical personnel to be on the lookout for troops with signs of the disease. Canada has reported six mild cases, and other counties such as New Zealand and Spain are testing people who have recently returned from Mexico.

The Air Transport Association, which represents the U.S. airline industry, said it is serious about this matter. "This is a time for appropriate precautions but not panic," a spokesperson said. Airport employees and flight crews are on the watch for any passengers who may show signs of illness, and procedures are in place for determining whether ill passengers can fly. Custodians at the Los Angeles airport have been told to sanitize door knobs, handrails and faucets in restrooms.

The public health emergency declared by the federal government "sounds more severe than it really is," according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. However, the declaration does allow the government to free up federal, state and local agencies to use their resources for prevention and treatment.

To read the entire article click on this CNN NEWS link.

COMMENT: The procedures so far taken by the government and the airline industry appear to be appropriate considering the potential for the spread of a mutating virus that may be difficult to treat. This story is changing by the hour, so check a main news site for the latest updates.

The swine flu has been around for a while, at least since 1976 when a soldier in New Jersey died from it. At that time the great "Spanish Flu" pandemic of 1918-20, when 20 million people worldwide died from a disease, was blamed on swine flu, but scientists today are not so certain of that link. Still, the current strains could be more deadly than previous versions.

Caution, but not panic, would seem to be the best advice for the present situation. In our history we do have some scares that have turned out to be legitimate (such as smoking warnings and some hurricane forecasts), false or exaggerated (for example, the Y2K computer alarm or various end-of-the-world predictions), or yet to be determined (global warming, another attack on the U.S. like 9/11, etc.).

For Christians, we need to remember the Lord will not let anything happen to us that is not in our best interests. And perhaps in situations like this one He is reminding us about the greatest "pandemic" that has ever swept the world, the sin disease begun by Adam and Eve that has spared no one who has ever lived (excepting Jesus Christ) and that will surely lead to an agonizing death for all who have not gotten the supreme "vaccination." The only antidote to sin is Jesus Christ who though his suffering and death provides everyone with absolutely certain protection against this greatest of all "viruses." Of course, we must accept this vaccination, which we can do only by placing our faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

What gas makes up most of the Earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen. About 80% of the atmosphere consists of this gas with most of the rest being oxygen. Tiny amounts of other gases can also be found in the atmosphere.

Source: Livescience.com

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B034 - THE GENESIS FILES
Edited by Carl Weiland

The 22 interviews with qualified creationists undercut the claim by mainstream scientists that one has to accept evolution to be considered a real scientist. Nicely illustrated. Some of the scientists interviewed accept decision theology. 2004. 111 pages.

Join LSI and rent this book for $3.

A Fossil Seal That Walked on Legs?

Evolutionists claim to have found a "missing link" between seals and otters.

SUMMARY: Scientists in northern Canada have discovered a fossil of a creature that "probably" had webbed feet that were not flippers. It "could" hold the secret of seal evolution, they say. (picture: Harbor seal, wikipedia commons)

The fossil has been named Puijila darwini in honor of Charles Darwin who believed land mammals would move into a marine environment by way of a fresh water stage. "The find suggests that pinnipeds went through a fresh water phase in their evolution," said Natalia Rybczynski who led the field work. "It also provides us with a glimpse of what the pinnipeds looked like before they had flippers."

The skeleton was about 65% complete. That allowed the researchers to "reconstruct" what the animal would have looked like. The legs suggest it would have walked upright but the foot bones "hint" strongly at webbed feet.

According to evolutionary scientists, until now the most "primitive" fossil pinniped was a creature called Enaliarctos that apparently lived in the sea in northwestern North America. This new discovery makes them think seals, sea lions and walruses all likely had their origins in the Arctic.

To read the entire article click on this BBC NEWS link.

COMMENT: After checking several science Web sites (some covered this story, others didn't), I wasn't impressed with what the researchers found. Most of the illustrations of this creature were drawings or painting. We all know how imaginative artists can get when under the influence of evolutionary scientists. One site (Science News) had a complete skeleton shown but admitted that the missing bones had been "filled in."

One will note all the tentative words used in describing this fossil: may, probably, could, suggests, and hint. Also, when one hears the term "reconstruction," a caution flag ought to be raised. Brontosaurus was a reconstruction until paleontologists discovered it was not put together right. There was no such dinosaur.

Well, what did these researchers find? Sixty-five percent of the bones from a creature that had legs and foot bones "hinting" of webbed feet. Apparently then the legs were complete, but the scientists weren't able to say for sure that the creature had webbed feet.

It will be interesting to see what the main creationist sites like Answers in Genesis, ICR, and Creation Ministries have to say about Puijila darwini if anything, but I would like to make the following observations: 1. the legs of this fossil were fully formed. Before it can be cited as a missing link, one must find other fossils showing a gradual evolution of legs into flippers. 2. The old criticism of gradual evolution can be raised here again. Why would an animal evolve a partial appendage until it was fully formed and of some use to the creature?

Enough said about what may be a previously unknown animal but which was no transitional creature. We have no reason to question Genesis and the truth that all creatures reproduce "according to their kinds" including humans. We have no reason to question that Adam was our first ancestor and like him we also need a Savior because of his original sin and our continual sinning. Thank God we have a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

How is a food calorie defined?

A basic calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius. It is too small a unit to use for purposes of measuring food energy, so kilocalories (1000 times a calorie) are used instead. Therefore, if a bagel is said to have 150 calories (kilocalories), it truthfully has 150,000 actual calories.

Source: Exploring the World of Biology by John Hudson Tiner

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B033 - DESTINATION MOON
by Astronaut James Irwin

Beautifully illustrated book by the late Christian astronaut, James Irwin. He tells his life story of how he became an astronaut and of his Apollo 15 moon landing. Entertaining and spiritually uplifting. Primary children might enjoy having this book read to them. 2004. 48 pages

Join LSI and rent this book for $3.

Trouble in Paradise

Alleged site of the Garden of Eden is drying up.

SUMMARY: There is trouble in the southern marshes of Iraq, where many Bible experts feel the Garden of Eden was located. A severe drought is gripping the area just as it appeared to be recovering from abuse afflicted on it by Saddam Hussein.

"I have no work. Our livestock have died, our children have left school because we don't have money to buy them clothes," a fisherman and a Marsh Arab complained as he stood in front of his wooden boat which sat on a dried-up lake bed.

For 5,000 years the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (picture: Euphrates) fed a rich marshland here of some 8,000 square miles. Hundreds of birds and fish species could be found in the marshes, and periodic flooding created fertile farm lands. That ended after 1991 when Saddam, a Sunni Muslim, decided to punish rival Shiite Muslims who were hiding among the reeds, lakes, and Marsh Arabs in the area. He considered the Shiites to be disloyal.

Saddam had a massive network of dams and earthen walls built in order to divert water and dry up the marshes. It worked. By the time Saddam was overthrown in 2003, the marshes had shrunk by 90 percent, and many experts predicted they would be entirely gone by 2008. But then the United Nations stepped in with an $11 million project to restore the marshes, a project that included removing some of Saddam's barriers. By 2006, more than half the original marshlands had successfully again flooded.

The recent drought though has lowed the levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which feed the marshes, and Iraq's winter saw inadequate amounts of rainfall. The U.N. has announced a new $47 million program to again restore the marshes, but even its director is doubtful it will succeed unless the drought breaks.

To read the entire article click on this CBS NEWS link.

COMMENT: First of all we need to make clear that knowing where the original Garden of Eden was located is impossible. Noah's Flood completely destroyed the surface of the planet, and if the Garden somehow still existed before the Flood, it certainly didn't afterwards. We shouldn't be fooled by the names of the rivers in Iraq, the Tigris and the Euphrates. It is true that these were the names of two of the four rivers mentioned in Genesis 2:14 as being in the Garden of Eden. But where are the other two rivers--the Pishon and the Gihon? The truth is that all four rivers must have been obliterated by the great Flood. Likely Noah or his immediate descendants named the current Tigris and Euphrates by using names that were familiar to them.

It is sad how sin affected the original Garden of Eden and how it today continues to affect beautiful land that some consider the site of the Garden. First, Adam and Eve's sin forced God to eject them from the Garden which thus lost its most prized inhabitants. Next we're told in Gen. 3:24 that God put an angel in Eden to block its entrance, thus apparently preventing humans from ever again entering it and enjoying its beauty. Then, of course, the terrible sins of mankind caused God to send the Flood which destroyed anything that was left of the Garden of Eden. Finally in modern times Saddam Hussein's vindictiveness caused him to lay waste to a beautiful part of the world even if it isn't the site of the original Garden of Eden.

There is good news though. If Eden was the original paradise, a second paradise awaits all believers in Jesus. Heaven is the supreme paradise, a gift from God given to all who accept the forgiveness earned for them by Jesus on the cross. And this second paradise will never be destroyed nor will there be any talking snake there trying to deceive us.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Why was 1998 a significant year in the Midwest for cicadas?

There are two main types of the flying insects called cicadas. 17-year cicadas live underground as larvae for 17 years before emerging for only one month as adults to mate. 13-year cicadas are underground for only 13 years. In 1998 the largest brood of the 17-year variety and the largest brood of the 13-year version both emerged in the Midwest at the same time. Working together, they made a deafening sound and littered the ground beneath trees with discarded husks left by growing adults. Such a conjunction will not happen again in the Midwest for 221 years (17 x 13=221).

Source: Exploring the World of Biology by John Hudson Tiner

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B032 - FROZEN IN TIME
by Michael Oard

A detailed look at the Ice Age from the creationist viewpoint with a special emphasis on mammoths. A bit technical at times. 2004. 217 pages.

Join LSI and rent this book for $3.

Air Pollution May Be Bad for Fetuses

Fetal growth slows in areas with traffic pollution.

SUMMARY: Air pollution may slow the growth of fetuses, researchers have said. Scientists looked at 36,000 births in New Jersey and took note of the levels of air pollution during the pregnancies of the mothers.

They found that the risk of a small birth-weight baby increased with the increase in particulate matter of 4 micrograms per cubic meter during the first and third trimesters. A 10 parts per billion increase in nitrogen oxide exposure was also linked to small birth-weights. Especially vulnerable were babies of mothers who in later pregnancies experienced separation of the placenta before birth and premature rupture of the membrane.

The findings suggest that traffic pollution or living near a major road could be linked to restricted fetal growth. These findings were published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

While it's not clear exactly how air pollution affects fetal growth, some previous research discovered air pollution might alter cell activity or reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients received by a fetus.

To read the entire article click on this U.S. NEWS link.

COMMENT: If any Christian believes that environmental issues are never important for followers of Jesus, a story like this one should get him/her to reconsider. Yes, some environmental issues such as global warming, animal rights, and anti-coal burning may be subjects for legitimate debate. Yet, not all matters dealing with the environment should be automatically rejected.

If it is true that exhausts from heavy traffic are harming unborn babies (and the linked article uses the word "may"), I believe we ought to take note. To be consistent, we can't be pro-life when it comes to abortion but not pro-life on other issues.

Of course, replacing all the cars on the road with cleaner vehicles is going to take time. Also, there are other questions to consider such as whether smaller, "greener" cars are as safe as larger autos or as affordable as some more traditional cars. However, the least we can do is to follow this discussion and support engineers who are trying to develop healthier vehicles. For what it's worth, that is my opinion.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

What are some possible remedies for hiccups?

Holding your breath, breathing into a paper bag, sipping a glass of water slowly without breathing, placing a finger into each ear, stroking the back of the throat with a swab, or swallowing a teaspoon of table sugar are all possible remedies.

Source: Consumer Reports OnHealth (May, 2009)

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B031 - EXPLORING PLANET EARTH
by John Tiner

Essentially a social studies book that traces the history of the exploration of the Earth from B.C. times to the present. Well written and heavily illustrated, it could be a valuable supplementary textbook in upper grades and high school. Question page after each chapter. 1997. 160 pages.

Join LSI and rent this book for $3.

Resurrection Stories

Some non-Christian societies and groups also have had resurrection accounts.

SUMMARY: There is an ancient account of an important person whose birth was announced by a star, who was betrayed by someone close to him, who was murdered, but then returned in a miraculous resurrection to begin an eternal reign in heaven. This man was known as Osiris, the supreme god in ancient Egypt.

During modern times there have been a few documented cases of the "dead" being resurrected--a man surviving the hangman's noose, an avalanche victim declared dead but later recovers, someone whose heart stops beating or lungs stop working, yet comes back to life. Today the medical criterion is brain death, from which no one has recovered.

Most Muslims reject the idea of resurrection although believing in an afterlife. In Eastern religions (Buddhists, Hindus, Jainists) the idea of karma is closely tied to resurrection and reincarnation. Generally speaking, karma is considered actions that bring good to good people or bad to bad people in a future life.

The New Age movement is based on a form of resurrection myth, a global cleansing or renewal in which old destructive ways will be replaced by warmth and wisdom.

To read the entire commentary click on this LIVE SCIENCE link.

COMMENT: With his Osiris story, it seems likely the columnist wants to cast doubt on the truthfulness and uniqueness of the Easter account of Jesus' resurrection. However, one only has to do a search in Wikipedia or some other encyclopedia to find major differences between Osiris and Jesus, such as the fact, if Wikipedia is correct, that Osiris married his sister and had a son. Fortunately, our author doesn't call the resurrection of Jesus a myth, at least not directly.

One only has to consider which account has stood the test of time. The belief in Osiris ended in the 6th century A.D. How many today know the name of the book that contains his story? Yet, despite attempts to destroy faith in Christ from within and without the Church, followers of Jesus Christ today number in the billions (though among this total are many who doubt His physical resurrection). His church, we are assured in Matthew 16:18, will survive even against the forces of hell. The book that describes His resurrection, the Holy Bible, is known throughout the world, having been translated in full in over 400 languages and partially in an additional 2,000 languages.

How many eyewitnesses were there to the resurrection of Osiris? According to Scripture, there were many who witnessed Jesus physically alive after His death and resurrection. The early Christian church grew and prospered during times of persecution because of belief in His resurrection and the future resurrection of all believers. Yet, these facts and figures supporting the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of His Word mean something to us only because the Holy Spirit has created faith in our hearts.

Pray that those people such as the New Agers and the Hindus who accept some form of resurrection will come to know the one real, true resurrection and its purpose-to proclaim Christ's victory over sin and death, a victory which happens to be our victory too.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY

How much is the current federal deficit?

The federal budget deficit has reached $1.8 trillion. If converted into seconds, 1.8 trillion would be equal to about 57,000 years.

Source: BottomLine Personal (May 1, 2009)

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B030 - UNWRAPPING THE PHARAOHS
by John Ashton & David Down

Presents the history of ancient Egypt by means of archeology, dynasty by dynasty. Shows how the actual evidence fits traditional biblical dating of the Old Testament. Richly illustrated. DVD included. 2006. 222 pages.

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Being Vindictive Won't Help You

A new study links several major problems to vindictiveness.

SUMMARY: Vindictiveness doesn't pay, according to a new study. Vindictive people will more likely be unemployed, have fewer friends, and be less satisfied with life.

Most people do tend to live by a "tit for tat" motto, whether positive or negative. A good deed done for us will likely result in a return good deed. On the other hand, people who feel they have been done wrong will likely live by the Old Testament dictum: "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."

Scientists call these tendencies "positive reciprocity" and "negative reciprocity." Some people lean more toward the first, others to the second, and still others both about equally.

The Berlin, Germany-based Institute of Economic Research conducted the study which involved 20,000 participants from throughout Germany. People were asked how they would repay either a favor or an insult. Positive reciprocal people tended to want to work more hours for more pay while the negative reciprocal people weren't inclined to want to work overtime hours even if it meant additional money. That finding leads to the conclusion that the negative people are more likely to lose their jobs.

The study appears in the current issue of The Economic Journal.

To read the entire article click on this WORLD SCIENCE link.

COMMENT: One doesn't need science nor should one rely on science to back up biblical teachings, but it is always interesting when research supports the Scriptures. In this case, God's directive in Romans 12:19 is shown to be good advice -- "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." (NIV)

Because of our sinful nature, it is difficult at times to follow this advice when we feel we have been done a disfavor, but with God's help, we can learn to overlook the insult.

What about the Old Testament passage quoted in the story? Genesis 21:23-25 (NIV) does state: "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." Ernst Wendland says in his commentary on Exodus from The People's Bible that "these laws were given by God to regulate decency and order in the society of that time." Moreover, that command was reserved for serious offenses and actually could have prevented major acts of retaliation for minor misdeeds.

Anyway, Jesus makes clear that the "eye for an eye" command no longer applies. He said in Matthew 5:38-39: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Of course, this statement can be misunderstood also. In my opinion, we do have the right to self-defense if a problem we have with someone else becomes a serious confrontation, but many clashes can be avoided if we are the ones who "keep our cool."

At the end of the day, we are grateful that our Lord is not vindictive with us. Rather, He accepted the ultimate punishment, suffering and death on the cross, so that forgiveness and salvation could be ours rather than the eternal suffering we really deserve because of our sins against Him. Thank Jesus that He follows His own advice about "turning the other cheek" when it comes to dealing with us.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Since 1980, how many states have recorded all-time record high temperatures? How many, if any, have recorded all-time low temperatures?

Since 1980, nine states have recorded all-time record high temperatures led by Arizona's 128 degree scorcher on June 29, 1994. However, 14 states since 1980 have recorded record low temps headed up by Minnesota's minus 60 degree chiller set on February 2, 1996.

Source: Global Warming and the Creator's Plan, by Jay A. Auxt and Dr. William M. Curtis III.

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B029 - THE GENESIS OF GERMS
by Alan L. Gillen, Ph. D.

Everything the reader would want to know about microbes. As a Biblical creationist, the author frequently relates discoveries about pathogens and diseases to the Creation week. The book might be of great interest to those involved in medicine and biology. 2007. 192 pages.

Join LSI and rent this book for $3.

Bird Has Human-like Eyes

Jackdaws may be the only animal able to understand the role of eyes in communicating.

SUMMARY: Crow-like birds called jackdaws may be the only animal able to understand the role of eyes in seeing and perceiving things as do humans, according to a new study. Jackdaw eyes, like those of humans, are very conspicuous, with dark pupils surrounded by silvery white irises. The similarities suggest jackdaws may use their eyes to communicate just as do humans, said zoologist and study leader Auguste von Bayern of the U. of Oxford.

Her study of hand-reared jackdaws shows the birds can use a human's gaze to tell what that person is looking at. In one test, she and a colleague timed how long a jackdaw took to retrieve food if a person was also looking at the food. The birds did equally well whether they could see both eyes of the person or only one eye. That test suggests that what was most important was a person's eye motion and not other cues such as the direction of the human's head . In a second test, the birds were able to use a human's altered eye gaze to find food hidden from view. However, the jackdaws did less well if the person involved was not familiar to them.

Previous studies have shown that other intelligent animals such as chimpanzees and dogs do not have this ability. Additional tests will be needed to determine if the jackdaws' talents are a natural tendency or a learned behavior from being raised by humans.

To read the entire article click on this NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC link.

COMMENT: A natural question after reading a story like this one might be to ask if the similarity in the eyes and visual talents of jackdaws and people means that humans have evolved from jackdaws. All jokes aside, how can the theory of evolution explain such a talent as the one here described evolving in two such distant species when it is not known in any other creature?

The truth is that the Creator gave features and talents to humans and to the various kinds of animals according to His own plans, without regard to any supposed evolutionary relationship. For another example, he gave most birds the gift of flight but he also gave the bat, a mammal, the ability to fly. Still another example: although most fish lay eggs, some give birth to live babies as do most mammals.

This article does strike a low blow when it calls jackdaws "the only animal aside from humans." The idea that humans are just another animal unfortunately is par for the course in secular science articles. Humans are not animals. We are creative and inventive, have been given the gift of language, and experience a wide range of emotions. The main difference, of course, is that alone among God's creatures we have eternal souls, which also means that we alone must stand before our Creator on Judgment Day to answer for our sins. Now is the time for every person to confess his or her transgressions and to believe in the forgiveness which Jesus won for every human when he died on the cross. All believers can look forward to a resurrection to heaven just as surely as Jesus himself came back to life on the first Easter Sunday. Hallelujah!

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Why do insects have antennae?

Biologists believe the antennae are sense organs, but they are not sure as to what these organs are used to detect. Do the antennae detect odors, sounds, or vibrations? Biologists are not sure.

Source: Exploring the World of Biology by John Hudson Tiner

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B028 - UNIVERSE BY DESIGN
by Danny Faulkner, Ph. D.

A thorough and detailed look at the whole subject of astronomy by a creationist. A careful evaluation of all the various theories which have been advanced to explain such cosmological features as supernovas, black holes, general relativity, etc.. A technical book which would be of interest to science teachers and others interested in astronomy. 2004. 142 pages.

Join LSI and rent this book for $3.

Pro-life Doctors Protest Dropping of 'Conscience' Rule

If repealed, doctors would be required to provide information on obtaining abortions.

SUMMARY: A group of Christian physicians is protesting the proposed dropping of a new federal rule allowing health care workers to refuse to participate in abortions. The rule was enacted only on January 20, but it expanded on a 30-year-old law establishing a "conscience clause" allowing health care professionals to opt out of performing abortions. The new rule allows any worker in health care settings, from doctors to janitors, to refuse to provide services, information or even advice to patients on subjects such as contraception, family planning, blood transfusions and even vaccine counseling.

The Obama administration is expected to shortly reverse the rule and ignite heated debate over an extremely emotional hot-button issue. Dr. David Stevens, head of the 15,000-member Christian Medical Association, says the government becomes totalitarian and dangerous when it attacks the "right of conscience." "There is a well-funded and increasingly successful effort to discriminate against health care professionals based upon their deeply held religious and moral beliefs," he says. He also predicted a large number of specialists would leave the medical profession if the rule is repealed.

On the other hand, the American Medical Association and other health care organizations say health care providers are obligated to advise patients of their options regardless of their own personal beliefs. The chairwoman of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health said, "Physicians across the country were outraged when the Bush administration, in its final days, limited women's access to reproductive health care."

The current administration is expected to make a final announcement regarding the change following the conclusion of a 30-day public comment period.

To read the entire article click on this CNN link.

COMMENT: I for one have some questions after reading this article.

If the Bush rule is repealed, am I correct in assuming that doctors and nurses who oppose abortion will still not be forced to actually participate?

If a pro-life doctor is forced to discuss abortion with a patient, may he/she show her ultrasound pictures of her baby or photos of a baby at the same stage of gestation?

Why do pro-abortion people continue to link abortion to "reproductive health care" since the two only rarely have anything to do with each other? It is the baby's health care that is usually the issue.

It may be that only prayer, Bible study, and a constitutional amendment will turn this sorry state of affairs around so that all unborn children can enjoy "the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" which the Declaration of Independence says is endowed to all men by the Creator.


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QUESTION OF THE DAY

How much does it cost to make a penny?

A penny consists of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, and it costs the government 1.5 cents to make each one. Congress has yet to approve efforts to make pennies out of less costly materials. Considering that it also costs more to make a nickel (almost 9 cents) than it is worth, each time a new penny or nickel is issued, the national debt increases.

Source: Parade magazine (4/5/09)

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A016 - INCREDIBLE CREATURES THAT DEFY EVOLUTION III
DVD

Shows that God is the Master Creator and that the evolution theory poses some serious unanswered questions. Discusses the design features in various animals including horses, hummingbirds, butterflies, and penguins. Features former evolutionist, Dr. Jobe Martin. 2004. 80 minutes

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Repairing Damaged Bones Without Surgery

Research in the UK suggests a shot in the arm can fix damaged bones and cartilage.

SUMMARY: Soon doctors may be able to fix damaged bones and joints with a shot in the arm. Researchers from Keele U. are working with injectable stem cells they say they can control with a magnet. The cells, once injected, can be steered to the spots where they are needed in order to grow new cartilage and bone. Patients with injuries or arthritis could be treated in this way.

The patented technology, so far confined to successful experiments on mice, may be ready for testing on humans in five years. It would use the patient's own stem cells, taken from their bone marrow. No invasive surgery or powerful drugs would be needed.

The stem cells would first be given a coating of minute magnetic particles, such as is done in the U.S. for MRI scans. Magnetic fields would then move the cells around to places in the body where they are needed.

Meanwhile, scientists at the U. of Southampton are apparently also having some success treating patients with hip joint problems by the use of stem cells. Their technique combines the patients' own bone marrow stem cells with donor bone cells. No metal plates or pins are needed using their system.

To read the entire article click on this BBC link.

COMMENT: More good news for research using adult stem cells, the type of stem cells which can be obtained without destroying living human embryos. May God continue to bless the efforts of scientists working with adult stem cells, a field that already has yielded many successes.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Biologically speaking, which of the following are NOT vegetables: lettuce, green beans, tomatoes, carrots, corn, cabbage?

Green beans, tomatoes, and corn are not vegetables. According to biologists, vegetables cannot contain seeds. Vegetables must come from the root, stem or leaf of a plant to be classified as vegetables. Supermarkets and nutritionists though may define vegetables differently.

Source: Exploring the World of Biology by John Hudson Tiner

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A015 - INCREDIBLE CREATURES THAT DEFY EVOLUTION II
DVD

Shows that God is the Master Creator and that the evolution theory poses some serious unanswered questions. Discusses the design features in various animals including whales, the Pacific Golden Plover, dragonflies, and hippopotami. Features former evolutionist, Dr. Jobe Martin. 2002. 46 minutes.

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This Year's Deadly Mutations

Mutations are shown to likely lead to extinction, not evolution.

SUMMARY: Darwin's theory of how simple organisms could over time evolve into complex creatures has always depended upon natural selection. Natural selection is the process by which forms of life could improve their chances of living and reproducing by developing traits more favorable for surviving in their environments. The explanation for how organisms might evolve new features though was unknown.

In 1941 the Geological Society of America proposed a solution. It said that genetic mutations (changes in DNA in a gene) could produce the new information genes might use to evolve characteristics needed for upward evolution. But do mutations have the ability to accomplish this?

News about mutations since the beginning of 2009 is bad news for those believing in the power of mutations to effect evolution. A survey of the news media reveals, for example, how certain mutations can guarantee heart disease, increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, cause bone disease and vascular calcification in rats (and likely also humans), lead to a type of brain disease, cause a type of fatal insomnia, produce an amino acid which can cause healthy athletes to suddenly collapse, and possibly also contribute to restless leg syndrome.

Also since January technical journals have published reports blaming mutations for such maladies as autism, brain cancer, some migraines, breast cancer, a deadly neurodegenerative disease, a fatal lung disease, and much more. Over time, harmful mutations in an organism tend to accumulate and eventually lead to extinction. On the other hand, news organizations have never had much to report in the way of favorable outcomes for mutations.

To read the entire article and for documentation click on this ICR link.

COMMENT: It is obvious that mutations do cause changes, but these changes are not the kind Darwinists want to see. An honest look at this small slice of nature should convince the honest scientist that he/she needs to look elsewhere for a mechanism by which forms of life can evolve into more advanced creatures. Of course, scientists will never find that mechanism because they are desperately searching for an answer to a problem that doesn't really exist.

Bible believers know that the evolution of one kind of creature into a completely different kind has never happened because the original parents of all creatures, whether simple or complex, all appeared on this planet at the same time. That is what the Bible tells us and what nature shows us.

The Bible also tells us why there are mutations in the first place. It seems logical to believe that mutations are the result of sin entering the world and were never intended to be a tool which God would to use to produce new creatures. Mutations will always be with us in this world. Thanks be to God, we who believe in Jesus as Savior can look forward to a heaven in which we will never again see a single mutation or a single sin either, all because Jesus took away the guilt of our sins.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

How many calories can be burned in 30 minutes by jogging in place, running, bicycling outdoors, swimming laps, and walking at 3 mph?

At weights of 150 pounds/175 pounds/and 200 pounds: Jogging in place (272/320/364 calories), Running (the same as jogging), Bicycling Outdoors (204/240/273), Swimming Laps (238/280/319), and Walking at 3 mph (112/132/150).

Source: Mayo Clinic's Living Disease-Free

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A014 - INCREDIBLE CREATURES THAT DEFY EVOLUTION I
DVD

Shows that God is the Master Creator and that the evolution theory poses some serious unanswered questions. Discusses the design features in various animals including the Bombardier Beetle, giraffes, woodpeckers, and beavers. Features former evolutionist, Dr. Jobe Martin. 2000. 47 minutes.

Join LSI and rent this DVD for $3.

German Family Seeks Political Asylum

Parents fear prison and loss of children over homeschooling.

SUMMARY: Uwe Romeike, his wife, and his children have left their German homeland for Tennessee where they are seeking political asylum. They say they were persecuted in Germany for their evangelical Christian beliefs and for homeschooling. School attendance in Germany is compulsory.

One morning in October of 2006 police arrived at their German home and took the children, crying and upset, to school. This was after the Romeikes ignored repeated orders to enroll their children. Romeike said he wanted to teach his children at home because German school textbooks contain language and ideas with which he doesn't agree. Some of the books use vulgarities, teach disrespect for authority, and feature tales of the occult including vampires and witches. Romeike is afraid of being arrested and of losing his children if he returns to Germany.

According to Michael Donnelly, an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association, Germany acts harshly against those parents whom they see as trying to create a parallel society. Lutz Gorgens, the German consul general for the Southeast U.S admits he is not familiar with the Romeike case but that he doesn't believe the assertions of persecution. Gorgens did say, "For reasons deeply rooted in history and our belief that only schools properly can ensure the desired level of excellent education, we (Germany) go a little bit beyond that path which other countries have chosen."

While the U.S. has an estimated 1.5 million students being homeschooled, there are only about 500 children in Germany being taught at home. Parents in Germany face fines, prison time, or possibly even the loss of their children if they don't send their children to school.

Bernadette Meyler, a Cornell Law School professor, says the U.S. is more tolerant of homeschooling because of religion's prominence in the country's founding and that Germany fears homeschooling could lead to separate societies in that country.

To read the entire article click on this YAHOO / ASSOCIATED PRESS link.

COMMENT: It wasn't that long ago when the infamous Berlin wall came tumbling down and the symbol of a divided Germany no longer existed. So, in one sense, I can understand why a now politically unified Germany may fear a new division within its ranks.

Still, this discrimination against home schools and homeschool parents in Germany does not reflect well on what most people perceive as a compassionate and democratic country. It's not as if the Romeikes don't have good reasons for their decision to homeschool. It appears the textbooks in Deutschland may be even worse than our own books which often leave much to be desired. Why don't the German authorities clean up those books before forcing people into the government schools?

Another question: why don't the German authorities let the Romeikes and the other homeschool parents prove themselves first. Bible-believing Christians, unless required to do something against God's will, can be model citizens of any nation. Don't our Lutheran schools have American flags on their classroom walls and regularly recite the Pledge of Allegiance and stress patriotism? It is hard to understand why the German authorities should fear Christian home schools so much.

Germany may not have the religious influences in its founding as the United States experienced, but Germany has had something the U. S. has never had--a major religious leader who not only had a major impact on Christianity but also society. That, of course, is Martin Luther, and Luther in his Small Catechism stresses the role the head of the house should have in teaching his children. The German authorities would do well to study Luther's views on families and education.

Let's pray for the Romeikes and for the Christian homeschooling families still in Germany.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

What is the largest rocky planet in the solar system?

Earth, but just barely. Earth's diameter at the equator is 7,926 miles, just a bit greater than that of Venus which is 7,521 miles. The other two inner rocky planets, Mercury and Mars, as well as Pluto (if you still want to consider it a planet) are all much smaller.

Source: LiveScience.com

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A013 - THE CREATION ADVENTURE TEAM:
A JURASSIC ARK MYSTERY
DVD

A lively, live-action production designed to appeal especially to students. An emphasis on dinosaurs and evidence that they co-existed with humans. 2003. 45 minutes.

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Many Believe in Darwin's Deathbed Conversion

But there is no credible evidence to support this belief.

SUMMARY: Many well-meaning Christians believe Charles Darwin renounced evolution and converted to Christianity on his deathbed. This alleged conversion has even been used by overzealous Christians to attack Darwin's theory as a theory even its inventor no longer accepted. But is the story true?

Darwin died in 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey (picture). Within days of his death rumors of a deathbed conversion began to circulate in England. A sermon preached by someone named "Mr. Huntingdon" and reports of a letter sent to a divinity professor named John Eadie both supposedly contained claims of the conversion. However, an examination of Darwin's existing correspondence, some 14,000 letters, reveals no communication with those two men.

The most often cited evidence for Darwin's conversion is based on a report by a woman known as Lady Hope who was married to British Admiral Sir James Hope. While traveling in America in 1915 she apparently told a story of a visit with Darwin before his death in 1882. She said she found Darwin sitting up in his bed (he had been bedridden for months) reading his Bible, in particular the book of Hebrews which he called the "Royal Book." As the story goes Darwin confessed to some uninformed ideas as a younger man and invited Lady Hope to come back later to speak to his servants about "Christ Jesus." Her story was printed in 1915 in a Baptist publication.

An examination of this story, however, reveals some inconsistencies. If Lady Hope had visited Darwin, it could only have been seven months before his death and unlikely he would have been bedridden that long. There is no other evidence to indicate Darwin frequently studied his Bible or that he ever asked anyone to speak to his servants about Christ. Furthermore, even if her story is true, Lady Hope never said Darwin renounced evolution or that he had come to a "saving relationship" with the Savior.

After any and all stories of his conversion, Darwin's family issued denials. His daughter Henrietta wrote in 1922: "I was present at his deathbed. Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness. . .He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier." Also, there was never any indication Darwin's wife Emma, a sincere Christian, ever rejoiced over a Darwin conversion. Nor was any reason ever suggested as to why Lady Hope would have waited 33 years to tell her story and do it in a foreign country. The bulk of the evidence suggests the story of Darwin's conversion is false.

To read the entire article click on this ANSWER IN GENSIS link.

COMMENT: About the only reason I can think of for wishfully thinking that Darwin may have recanted his views is that he was trained in theology. In fact, his only earned degree was not in science but was a BA degree in theology. Therefore he must have known the Gospel even if he eventually rejected it. It is theoretically possible that by the grace of God he could have seen the light in his last few moments and unbeknownst to his family confessed his sins and placed his faith in the Savior. That, however, is a big leap of faith, which as the AiG article indicates, is unsupported by any other evidence.

Rather than worrying about Charles Darwin, we need to be much more concerned about the millions of souls which are currently being affected by his atheistic theory. As long as someone is still living and breathing, he/she is a potential convert to the good news about Jesus if that person is not presently a true Christian. Where he now is, Charles Darwin knows the truth about creation and the need for a Savior from sin. Work and pray that fewer people have to find out this truth the hard way.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

For what scientific achievement do we remember Leucippus of Miletus, who lived centuries before the time of Christ?

He first introduced the idea of the atom, around 450 B.C. Leucippus and his pupil, Democritus, theorized that all matter is composed of atoms, bits of matter too small to be seen. "Atom" comes from the Greek word atomos, which means "uncuttable" because Leucippus believed atoms were the building blocks of all materials and could not be broken down into smaller particles.

Source: Usefultrivia.com

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A012 - THE CREATION ADVENTURE TEAM:
SIX SHORT DAYS, ONE BIG ADVENTURE
DVD
A lively live-action production designed to appeal especially to students. An emphasis on The days of creation. 2003. 35 minutes

Join LSI and rent this DVD for $3.