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More theological training and training in apologetics may stem the tide.
SUMMARY: A Barna survey conducted about a decade ago showed about two-thirds of Christian teenagers abandon their faith once they leave home. Other statistics reinforce the idea that teens are less interested in Christianity than their parents. Following are some possible reasons for this sad situation.
Fideism (exclusive reliance in religious matters upon faith) and Anti-intellectualism. Evangelical churches are frequently characterized, often correctly, as being anti-intellectual. This many times results in an opposition to advanced theological studies and the study of science. Some Christians say to "just have faith" which leaves the impression that there are no answers to some questions about the validity of Christianity.
Lax Biblical Education. In some church bodies, pastors are not trained sufficiently in biblical studies, and average Christians do not receive adequate theological instruction in the limited time they spend in church or Sunday school.
Compromising Theology. Many pastors who are well educated are taught to compromise a traditional view of the Bible and promote such ideas as that the creation days were "long ages" or that Adam and Eve were created billions of years after death and suffering entered the world.
Fun-Oriented Faith. Youth groups are full of social activities and games and are always looking for new fun and "relevant" activities. While not bad in itself, the pursuit of fun can leave little time for a basic education in apologetics (defending the faith). This failure can leave the teens ill prepared when challenged by unbelieving professors and peers.
Lack of Preparation. Many evangelical churches do not respond to arguments against historical Christianity such as those made in The Da Vinci Code, which claimed Jesus had married Mary Magdalene and fathered a child. Many supposedly historical television shows propagandize against Christianity's authenticity and the Bible's account of its origin, and churches often do not try to contest those claims.
Apologetics is not primarily an attempt to convert those in error, but rather to refute them so they cannot harm anyone else's faith. It should include a good grounding in creationism. Many Christians say they were converted through creationist ministries. "Pop Christianity" needs to give way to more training in apologetics and theology if churches wish to reverse the loss of young people.
To read the entire article, click on this link to CREATION MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL.
COMMENT: The loss of young people is unhappily a major development in Lutheran churches as it is in other evangelical bodies. I feel that most of the reasons given in this article would fit the Lutheran situation as well. While I believe the majority of Lutheran ministers receive a more thorough theological education than perhaps those in some other church bodies, my readings have convinced me that, generally speaking, in the larger Lutheran bodies around the world, a compromising view of biblical interpretation is indeed being promoted. This includes a shaky view regarding the creation account in Genesis.
Is God in favor of a creation apologetics? There is plenty of biblical evidence to indicate that Christians may certainly use references to nature in defending the Lord and His Word and better understanding His plan for our lives. In Job, chapters 39-41, God spends considerable time pointing to the natural world to convince Job of his errors. Romans 1:18-20 suggests the evidence of God's existence in nature is so strong, unbelievers have no excuse for their unbelief and wickedness. Many of the psalms such as Psalm 8, Psalm 19, and Psalm 104 teach us about God by using references to nature. Jesus Himself referred to nature in passages such as Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 6:43-45.
While the Genesis account of creation must be accepted by faith, creation science can be useful in planting serious doubts in the minds of skeptics of religion. Creationism by itself though can convert nobody. For this the Word of God is essential. Many former atheists have testified that they have followed the road that began with doubts about evolution and ended with a firm faith in the Lord Jesus and His Word. However, how many people have gone the opposite direction--from doubts about religion fueled by atheistic evolution theories to complete loss of faith? It is extremely important to provide our young people with the information they will need to resist the deceitful propaganda that many public school teachers and professors will be presenting to them in their public school science classes.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How much energy is saved by recycling six aluminum cans every week?
Enough energy to power a TV set for 936 hours. Recycling aluminum cans uses 75% less energy than using aluminum for the first time.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (August 15, 2009)
These bugs are cleverly designed to fool ants' senses.
SUMMARY: Warm-climate Acacia plants and ants are known to help each other out. The plants allow the ants to seek shelter within their hollowed-out thorns and provide them food in the form of nectar and protein. The ants return the favor by viciously attacking anything, ranging from other insects to birds, which may threaten the plants. This is an example of mutualism, a mutually beneficial relationship between two species.
One clever bug though has found a way around the ants' defenses in order to freely feed on one species of Acacia. Susan Whitehead of the U. of Colorado wanted to find out how a type of Coreidae bug was able to appear almost invisible to the ants, thus allowing it to reach and feed on Acacia leaves.
Knowing that ants use chemical substances called pheromones to communicate with each other, she wondered if the bugs were mimicking the scent of the ants. Even when the bugs were immobilized, the ants did not attack them. However, when Whitehead and her colleagues washed the bugs in a chemical solvent and returned them to the plants, the ants immediately swarmed the bugs. The researchers then compared the unwashed bugs' exoskeletal chemicals with those of the ants and found they matched, thus showing that ants don't normally recognize the Coreidae bug as a foreign species.
(Picture of Coreidae bug from Wikipedia)
To read the entire article, click on this link to SCIENCE DAILY.
COMMENT: Looking at this story from the viewpoint of evolution theory, several interesting questions emerge. To believe that examples of mutualism just happen naturally, one must think lower forms of life have intelligence enough to figure things out on their own and essentially make deals with each other. Whatever homes these ants had to begin with, they must have determined they could find better housing within the thorns of these Acacia plants.
What about the plants, whose leaves apparently are tasty to several species? How did they survive before the ants came along to offer to protect them in exchange for food and shelter? And, what about those sneaky Coreidae bugs? Was it merely a happy coincidence that they just happen to have exactly the same chemicals in their exoskeletons that the ants possess?
To the unbiased observer, I would think it is most logical to believe these creatures were designed so the species could be maintained. Apparently there are enough Acacia plants that with the help of the ants they can keep from going extinct. And using their gift of trickery, the Coreidae insects in turn are able to find enough Acacia leaves to maintain their species.
This all appears to be God's plan for His creation. Of course, as the universe winds down due to the original sin that brought death and destruction into the world, many species of animals will continue to go extinct. However, the human race will never go extinct. Instead, those who believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior from sin and destruction are assured of living forever in the home He is preparing for us in heaven.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How many times can a hummingbird flap its wings per second?
A hummingbird can flap its wings about 80 times per second, and this flapping is what causes the humming sound. Hummingbirds also have the ability to fly left, right, up, down, backwards, or even upside down and can also hover by flapping their wings in a figure-eight pattern.
Source: Usefultrivia.com
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Wine appears to be a safer form of alcohol.
SUMMARY: Men who have a daily beer or regularly drink liquor may face an increased risk of several cancers including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, lungs, pancreas, liver and prostate. This was the conclusion of a Canadian study involving 3,600 men ages 35 to 70. However, wine was not linked to an increased risk.
The amount of lifetime alcohol intake generally increased the odds of getting cancer. Men who drank regularly but not daily had a lesser risk than those who drank at least once per day, and generally speaking, the risks increased with the number of years men had been drinking. "Our results show that the heaviest consumers over the lifetime had the biggest increases in the risks of multiple sites of cancer," lead research Dr. Andrea Benedetti of McGill U. said.
Many studies have suggested moderate drinking (two drinks or less per day) can be healthy, especially as a protection against heart disease. But this positive may be offset by the increase risk of getting cancer, at least when the alcohol of choice is beer or liquor. A single study though cannot answer the question of whether moderate drinkers should cut down. According to Benedetti, people who consume alcohol should talk with their doctor about the task of balancing an increase cancer risk with a lower risk of heart disease.
To read the entire article, click on this link to YAHOO NEWS/REUTERS.
COMMENT: A person who wants to practice good stewardship with his own body may want to pay heed to this article, keeping in mind the caveat that this is just a single study.
It is interesting that in this study wine is seemingly given a clean bill of health when it comes to being linked to an increased cancer risk, and wine in moderation is mentioned in the Bible as having a health benefit. St. Paul advises in 1 Timothy 5:23, "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." But the same apostle also warns, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)
It isn't always easy knowing what foods and medicines to take and to avoid, with different studies frequently coming up with contradictory conclusions. Still, I should think we will try to do our best to practice good health habits out of respect for the Lord's gift of life. While good health habits may well earn us a few extra hours, days, or years in this world, it won't earn us even a single second of time in heaven. Only the gracious love of Jesus, as expressed in His suffering and death for us and our sins, has gotten us the victory and the hope of eternal life in the world to come.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How many trees will you save if you recycle your Sunday newspaper every week?
At least four trees a year.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (August 1, 2009)
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Site in England contains thousands of Jurassic fossils with soft tissues.
SUMMARY: Paleontologists in England have uncovered a preserved fossilized squid, and they used ink from its one-inch long black ink sac to draw its picture. The fossil, thought to be "150 million years" old, was found when a rock in Wiltshire county was cracked open.
Dr. Phil Wilby of the British Geological Survey said the creature resembles a modern-day squid and its ink is similar. It was discovered at a site where thousands of Jurassic fossils with preserved soft tissues have been found. He believes the creatures were swimming around during the Jurassic period and were turned to stone soon after death.
Remains of a different species of squid have also been found. "They can be dissected as if they are living animals, you can see the muscle fibers and cells," Wilby said. "It is difficult to imagine how you can have something as soft and sloppy as an ink sac fossilized in three dimension, still black, and inside a rock that is 150 million years old."
(Squid picture from Wikimedia Commons)
To read the entire article, click on this BBC NEWS link.
COMMENT: I was surprised enough to hear about another ancient fossilized creature found to still have soft tissue, but I almost fell off my chair when I read about the "thousands of Jurassic fossils with preserved soft tissues" that also have been discovered at this site in England. Why haven't we in America been hearing more about all these Jurassic fossils with soft tissues?
The LSI Blog has discussed the discovery in this country of soft blood vessels, red blood cells, etc. in two species of dinosaurs and the recent independent research which has verified that the tissues are real and not an illusion. Dinosaurs, of course, are believed by evolutionists to have gone extinct 65 million years ago. This discovery is even more remarkable in that this squid and the other fossils are dated as being from the Jurassic period which is said to have existed from 199 million to 145 million years ago (National Geographic). Dr. Wilby appears as much in awe of the soft squid ink sac as Dr. Mary Schweitzer was of her dinosaur discoveries. Soft tissues shouldn’t be appearing in fossils anywhere near this old.
Obviously, there is something drastically wrong with the radioisotope dating techniques used by evolutionists. These techniques are based on the decay of certain minerals into other minerals such as the decay of uranium into lead and rely on unproven assumptions such as knowing how much of the original mineral was in a rock, assuming the rate of decay was constant, and believing that the process happened in a closed system.
Why is this important at all for Christians? The many scholars who have studied the Old Testament genealogies generally agree that according to the Bible the creation occurred somewhere around 4,000 B.C. (The Kings James Version says 4004 B.C.) which would make the present world slightly more than 6,000 years old. How many Christians have had their faith tested and perhaps destroyed when they could not fit biblical data into what scientists have claimed is scientific fact? However, there is no conflict between these discoveries of soft tissues and the biblical time line.
In 2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV) we read “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” Perhaps He is using these recent discoveries to help rescue us just as He said He would, provided we haven’t closed our hearts and minds to His love and His providence and His Holy Word.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Should eggs be tossed out when they reach their expiration date?
No. Unlike most other foods, the expiration date for eggs does not indicate the last day they can be eaten. Federally graded eggs in their shells if kept in the refrigerator should be good to eat for three to five weeks after the expiration date.
Source: Consumers Reports
Anti-creationists have used this fictitious story to ridicule Christianity.
SUMMARY: Christians in general never believed in a flat earth, and no evidence exists that scientists were ever persecuted for advocating that the earth is a sphere. So says creationist biologist Jerry Bergman who believes these stories were invented to promote the idea that Christians have been anti-science due to their religious beliefs. An effort to replace the biblical worldview with Darwinism was a major motivating factor.
In order to ridicule creationists, evolutionists often compare them to flat-earthers. A Google search confirmed this link. One evolutionist has written, "flat-earthism is as well supported scripturally and scientifically as creationism."
Bergman's research has led him to believe there never has been any sizable group in the West supporting the idea of a flat earth, and of those people who may have accepted the theory, most died decades ago. The Flat Earth Society of America founded by one Charles K. Johnson became irrelevant in 2001 when Johnson died. Johnson once claimed as many as 3,000 members, but he probably had no more than 100 at any time, and there was no one to carry on his work following his death. The media gave him much exposure despite his strange beliefs, which included the teaching that the stars are about as far from earth as San Francisco is from Boston.
Allegedly the Church has taught the flat-earth theory for most of its history, and Christians have accepted it for theological reasons. When scientists demonstrated the earth is really a sphere, these brave scientists were said to have been persecuted by authorities in the Church. Even though Aristotle and Ptolemy taught that the earth is a sphere, it has been asserted that the Western church for a thousand years replaced this truth with "imaginary constructions based on the supposed teachings of Holy Writ." Textbooks have often mentioned the fictitious idea that the medieval Church accepted the flat earth theory and that Columbus set sale because he wanted to prove the world was round. Actually, educated Europeans, especially those engaged in maritime activity, already knew the earth was a sphere.
Bergman believes that the myth of Christians believing in a flat earth up until Columbus set sail was made into a “fact” by 19th century Darwinists in order to ridicule Christians. The truth is that even the ancient Greeks knew the true shape of the earth, including Eratosthenes who rather accurately calculated its diameter. Only two Christian writers are known to have advocated a flat earth--Lactantius in the 4th century and Cosmas Indicopleustes in the 6th century. Otherwise, the Church as a whole has believed in a spherical earth. It may have been a 19th century writer, Washington Irving, who was the first major promulgator of the flat-earth myth in his unreliable biography, History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus.
For much more on this topic, you can read Dr. Bergman’s essay by clicking on this CREATION MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL link.
COMMENT: One can go back farther than the Greeks to discover that educated people have always known the true shape of our planet. How about going back to the Bible? Isaiah knew the shape of the earth when he wrote, “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” (Isaiah 40:22 NIV)
Sometimes ancient believers have been characterized as believing that the earth literally rests on pillars. In truth, the Bible in places does use this picture language in describing the foundations of earth and even heaven (for example, Job 9:6, Job 26:11, Psalm 75:3). However, the ancient people realized the true nature of the earth’s foundations. In Job we read, “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.” (Job 26:7 NIV).
Ancient man and medieval men may not have had all the tools and discoveries to work with that modern scientists have at their disposal. But they had their own ways of discovering the truth about nature and were as intellectual as we are, if not more so. May modern searchers for the truth turn to the source that has withstood the test of time throughout all the ages, namely the Holy Bible. May they not consider themselves too sophisticated to believe what this Book of Books teaches about who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. May they turn to the Lord for forgiveness and place their faith in the Savior and accept his gift of eternal salvation.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What is the deepest known place in the ocean?
The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean south of Japan near the Mariana Islands has a depth of 36,298 feet (6.9 miles).
Source: www.livescience.com
Latest independent research confirms the presence of soft blood vessels, proteins, blood cells, and even DNA in dinosaur bones.
SUMMARY: The scientific community was skeptical when paleontologist Mary Schweitzer said she found soft blood vessels, proteins, blood cells and even DNA in fossilized dinosaur bones. Such biological structures and molecules may last thousands of years but not millions. (Most scientists say dinosaurs went extinct some 65 million years ago.)
Alternate explanations for these features were advanced in order to debunk Schweitzer's findings: the tissues were contaminated; it was all just an illusion caused by bacteria; the data was distorted. In answer to these objections, Schweitzer's teams implemented sterile excavation procedures (to eliminate the possibility of contamination) and had an independent third party analyze the results. The conclusion was that bacteria cannot create anything in the shape of vertebrate blood vessels nor can they produce the kind of collagen found in the dinosaur fossils.
Other researchers have backed Schweitzer's findings. John Asara of Harvard Medical School found collagen signatures in the tissues and placed his data online so anyone can access it. Scientists from Palo Alto verified that four of seven collagen sequences were clearly legitimate and in July published their report online in the Journal of Proteome Research. All indications are these dinosaur soft tissues are real biological leftovers from once-living hosts.
There remain three possible answers for this apparent soft tissue in dinosaur fossils: 1. the tissue really isn't what it appears to be (with the additional research this answer is losing credibility); 2. an unknown natural process can preserve soft tissue for millions of years (this bit of wishing thinking flies in the face of laboratory evidence); and 3. the soft tissue and the sedimentary rock encasing it can't be more than a few thousand years old (such an idea would require a major rewriting of evolutionary history and theory).
To read the entire article, click on this ICR link.
COMMENT: One can commend Dr. Schweitzer and the other researchers for willing to stand up for what they regard as the truth in the face of what must be strong opposition from orthodox Darwinians. As can easily be documented, the often heard claim that real scientists are always open to new findings doesn't necessarily hold true, especially if discoveries challenge traditional or even "neo-Darwinian" beliefs.
Many modern creationists claim their conversion to Christianity began when they began having doubts about Darwin. Let us pray that scientists who may be confused by this latest research might eventually be led to the Word of God where they will find an accurate account of history. They will then also find out about their need for a Savior and with the help of the Holy Spirit be willing to place their faith in Jesus and the salvation He offers everyone.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What causes islands to float?
They don't. If they did, they wouldn't stay in one place. Islands either are connected underwater to the mainland, like Manhattan island (picture from Wikipedia), or are the tops of underwater mountains, like the Hawaiian islands.
Source: Marilyn vos Savant in Parade magazine (7/26/09)
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There appear to be some defects in brain connections in psychopaths.
SUMMARY: Psychopaths (people who are manipulative, impulsive and sensation-seeking and who apparently feel no remorse or empathy for misdeeds) have faulty connections in their brain, scientists have found. The bad connections link the part of the brain dealing with emotions with the part that handles impulses and decision-making.
British scientists studied psychopaths who had committed serious crimes like murder and multiple rape. Using new brain imaging technology, they found bad connections in the brains of psychopaths which did not show up in those of non-psychopaths. Also, the degree of abnormality was linked to the degree of psychopathy.
According to Dr. Michael Craig of King's College London, this study raises the possibility of developing treatments for dangerous psychopaths. He described the bad connections found in their brains as being like "potholes" in roads that weren't well maintained. Questions remain as to where the defects come from--are psychopaths born with them, do they develop early in life, or are they a consequence of something else?
Cautions were raised by this study. It was a small study involving only nine psychopaths and nine non-psychopaths. The scientists cautioned against suggestions that the study could lead to screening of potential psychopathic criminals before they commit crimes. The researchers indicated they don't know how, when or why the connections in the brains were damaged. Craig also said it is premature to discuss the moral significance for society raised by this research.
To read the entire article, click on this NEWS DAILY link.
COMMENT: I think we can all rejoice if this research leads to ways of helping dangerous psychopaths overcome their problems.
However, what we must worry about is studies like these being used to excuse crimes and other sins. The Bible makes no exception for bad brain connections when it comes to condemning murder, sexual sins, etc.
Alcoholics cannot excuse their habit by saying they have a propensity to drink. Same for heavy smokers. In the end, every criminal and every sinner could excuse his crimes and sins by saying "my genes made me do it." Such a situation the world could not tolerate.
This article rightly urges caution in arriving at any conclusions from this initial small study. But even if future research supports the study and concludes that brain connections in psychopaths are different, it simply means that people who have this condition must take special care to avoid temptations such as owning a gun or being in situations where they could commit a crime.
Psychopaths, like all of us, need to hear about the power of God to change our hearts, and possibly even our brains. They need to be reassured of his love and his offer of free and full forgiveness for all who confess their sins and have come to faith in the Lord Jesus. Then they will receive the gifts of salvation and life in that heavenly home where brain connections and everything else will be eternally good.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Is it okay to put ice on a burn?
No. According to several studies, ice on a burn will cause even more skin damage, possibly even frostbite. Instead, use cold water on the burn, take a pain reliever, and cover the burn with gauze.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (August 1, 2009)
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People can visit a Web site and post short messages that will be sent to the nearest Earth-like planet.
SUMMARY: A Web site in Australia is allowing users to send short text messages into outer space. People can post messages no longer than 160 characters to www.HelloFromEarth.net which then will be transmitted to Gliese 581d, the nearest Earth-like planet outside the solar system which is "likely" to support life. It will take 20 years for the messages to reach this planet.
"What's interesting is not just whether there's anyone listening, but what the public will say to intelligent life on another planet," said Wilson da Silva, a spokesperson for the project. "Hello From Earth is our way of showing that science can make the impossible possible."
The messages will be transmitted from a communications complex in Canberra, Australia in cooperation with NASA and is part of Australia's National Science Week. Science Minister Kim Carr entered the first message to launch the project. He wrote, "Hello from Australia on the planet we call Earth. These messages express our people's dreams for the future. We want to share those dreams with you."
To read the entire article, click on this YAHOO NEWS / REUTERS link.
COMMENT: It certainly appears as if the faith of Australians is as strong as the faith of Americans, that is, faith in the existence of extraterrestrials. Ever since 1984 Americans connected to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project have been listening in vain for even the slightest hint that intelligent beings exist on other planets. Now some Australians are playing the same game, except they are really hoping or even expecting to establish correspondence with unknown intelligent beings. Is the Australian Science Minister really as strong a believer as he sounds?
It is time for these believers to do their homework. Honest scientists have been pointing out the immense difficulties faced by simple living organisms on our planet trying to develop into intelligent human creatures, difficulties so great as to make such a process next to impossible. In fact, the very first step--getting life out of non-life--is a problem that appears insurmountable. In other words, if a natural miracle happened once (the evolution of intelligent beings on Earth), it is too much to expect it to have happened a second time, no matter how many Earth-life planets are speculated to be in existence. E.T. is a matter of faith, not science.
In contrast, Christian believers base their faith in the existence of extraterrestrial life on the Bible, not wild speculations. We know about the existence of another place, often described as another dimension, where departed souls, angels, and God Himself do exist. We don't need to send short text messages. We can talk to the Lord as often and as long as we wish in prayer, and He talks to us whenever we read His Holy Word. The most important message He sends to us is--"Whoever believes in the Son (Jesus) has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36 NIV)
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What are climatologists Cliff Harris and Randy Mann predicting will be the weather trends during the rest of this century?
Basing their predictions on the planet's historical weather cycles, they forecast a significant warm-up in the 2030s that may surpass the warmer weather earth experienced in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, they also predict, "By the end of this 21st Century, a big cool down may occur that could ultimately lead to expanding glaciers worldwide, even in the mid-latitudes. We could possibly see even a new Great Ice Age."
Source: www.longrangeweather.com
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Some scientists think tree dwellers and not gorillas evolved our ability to walk on two legs.
SUMMARY: Both chimpanzees and gorillas walk on their knuckles but in different ways. German anthropologist Tracy Kivell and Daniel Schmitt of Duke U. think this difference may explain how humans "evolved" the ability to walk upright.
Chimps walk flexibly with bent wrists, giving them stability on tree branches although putting stress on their angled wrist joints. Their wrist bones include ridges and depressions that keep their wrists from bending too far. Gorillas walk with arms and limbs pointed straight down and locked, thus putting minimal stress on their forelimb bones. But this trait provides no means for stabilization during movements.
Wrist bones of hominids including assumed human ancestors resemble those of chimps, say Kivell and Schmitt. They suggest hominids' upright stance evolved from a "common ancestor of African apes" that climbed through trees using all four limbs but which sometimes walked upright. They deny there is strong evidence that terrestrial, knuckle-walking evolved into upright walking. They point to two key wrist features associated with stabilizing the wrist for knuckle-walking on the ground which can be found in most chimps but in only a few gorillas.
Other researchers disagree with their conclusions. Anthropologist Brian Richmond of George Washington U. says some ground knuckle-walking traits were ignored in the new study. He hypothesizes that human upright stances evolved from an ancestor who could knuckle-walk both on the ground and in the trees.
To read the entire article, click on this SCIENCE NEWS link.
COMMENT: One may wish to be an anthropologist to be able to figure out everything these scientists are talking about. However, I don't think we need to be scientists to see that the alleged evolution of upright walking is far from being clearly understood or agreed upon. If I counted correctly, there are now three hypotheses for how this human trait could have "evolved"--from gorillas walking along the ground; from chimpanzees or some other tree dweller swinging through trees; or, if Mr. Richmond is correct, from some creature who could knuckle-walk both on the ground and in the trees.
Is it too much to hope that scientists will realize that the answer to this question may never be known, because they are chasing after a ghost? The disagreements over how this feature allegedly evolved might be submitted as evidence that the evolution of upright walking is a myth. In reality, humans walk upright now because they have always walked upright.
Evolutionists in trying to answer this evolutionary problem are faced with several questions: 1. Why can't we see apes today in the process of evolving an upright walking posture? 2. Why can't paleontologists or anthropologists produce a series of fossils showing this trait evolving step-by-step in the past? 3. If gorillas and chimpanzees seem to be getting along just fine using the skills they presently possess, why did either one or an ancestor in the past see the need to begin walking upright on two legs?
Bible believers don't need to be defensive when it comes to putting their faith in the description in Genesis of how all living things came into existence. We should not be led astray by all the theories and hypotheses and wild guesses being thrown around by these scientists. What we see all around us are creatures with just the features they need to survive in their environments, with no need to evolve anything different. Let us praise God for His wisdom in providing for our needs now, especially the need we have for one day enjoying a glorious life in heaven.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What foods shouldn't you feed your dog?
Chocolate (may cause heart irregularities), grapes and raisins (can cause kidney damage), the sugar substitute xylitol (can bring on dangerous low blood sugar, liver damage, or even death), macadamia nuts (may cause weakness, lethargy, vomiting, tremors or hyperthermia), glues that contain diphenylmethane diisocyanate (can form a foamlike ball in the stomach, vomiting, dehydration and weakness), and cocoa mulch (can cause a toxic reaction).
Source: Bottom Line Personal (August 1, 2009)
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Corporal punishment could lead to increased behavioral problems and depression, a psychologist task force claims.
SUMMARY: Corporal punishment has for some time been a hotly debated subject. Various studies have produced conflicting results. Now after a five-year review of scientific literature, the American Psychological Association has concluded, "parents and caregivers should reduce and potentially eliminate their use of any physical punishment as a disciplinary measure."
The recommendations, announced at the APA's annual meeting, were based on the findings of a task force of 15 psychologists which found correlations between physical punishment and an increase in childhood anxiety and depression as well as an increase in behavioral problems and impaired cognitive development, even after the child's pre-punishment behavior and development was taken into consideration.
This conclusion was not unanimous. Psychologist Robert E. Larzelere of Oklahoma State U., in presenting the minority view, said the evidence against spanking is "faulty." He pointed out that the few studies that compared spanking to non-physical types of discipline such as grounding and "time outs" all showed similar negative outcomes in children. More than 90% of American parents have used corporal punishment, a practice approved by over 60% of the population, according to a 2007 survey.
The APA is reviewing both the majority and minority positions of the task force and will issue an official recommendation at a later date.
(Picture from Wikimedia Commons)
To read the entire article, click on this SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN link.
COMMENT: If the conclusions of this APA task force are correct, then parents for thousands of years have been erring in how they raise their children. One might ask, how in the world did the human race survive into the 21st century practicing such unscientific or even "cruel" tactics as the corporal punishment of its children?
The American Psychological Association has not been friendly to Bible-based Christians in recent years. It still pushes the idea that homosexual behavior is normal. It still sells books promoting the idea that psychiatrists can uncover memories of childhood abuse in children even though it has been proven that such memories can be false or even implanted by psychiatrists. I have read reports of some dedicated Christian families having been caught in this false-memory trap. Now the APA appears on the brink of officially urging parents not to discipline their children with any type of corporal punishment.
As this article admits, not everyone is agreed that physical punishment in and of itself is a bad thing. A recent LSI Blog post examined a story about a South Carolina school in which a principal reintroduced corporal punishment with apparently very positive results. Also, why haven't parents over the years noticed that spanking invariably makes things worse if that is in fact the case.
So, should we follow the "politically correct" position about avoiding all physical discipline (even if Robert E. Larzelere is correct and the alternatives don't work any better) or should we follow a more biblically correct model? As I wrote in the April 29 post:
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.
May God bless us in our efforts to correct the bad behavior of our misbehaving children (as well as erring adults) so that eventually they might see their way to a heavenly world in which misbehavior and punishment will be things of the past. This heavenly world can be reached only through our faith in Jesus, who suffered the ultimate in corporal punishment, his exceedingly painful death on a cross in which he was punished for the sins of the world.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How much does it cost for a middle-income family to raise a child from birth through age 17?
On average, middle income families (incomes between $57,000 and $99,000) will spend $221,000. Lower income families (less than $57,000 a year) will spend an average of $160,000 and higher income families roughly $367,000. Housing is seen as the largest expense followed by food and child-care/education costs.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (8/6/2009)
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Every year e-mails circulate predicting Mars and Earth will this month have a very close encounter.
SUMMARY: Each August an e-mail message begins making the rounds. "NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN," it screams. What it is talking about is the prediction that on August 27 the planet Mars will swing by Earth at so close a distance it will appear as large as the moon in the nighttime sky.
This rumor is not true, says Dr. Claire Bretherton of Britain's Royal Observatory Greenwich who says he hears this rumor a lot. Keith Cooper, editor of Astronomy Now magazine also hears this story every year. "I'm not sure how it started or who keeps propagating it. But it does seem to be prevalent," he says.
The e-mail hoax does have some basis in fact -- if we are talking about 2003. On August 27 of that year Mars did come much closer to Earth than normal, if you call 35 million miles close. The distance between the two planets varies because they have different orbits. The Earth orbits the sun in 365 days while it takes Mars 685 Earth days to make one orbit, and Mars' orbit is much more elliptical. As a result every 26 months there is a "close" encounter, and every 17 or so years a "really close" encounter.
Still, one thing about the hoax is clearly wrong. Mars will never appear as big as a full moon to the naked eye. If it ever would get that close to Earth, it would affect tides on our planet, just as does the moon, and could cause chaos. The original version of the e-mail said, "At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye." More recent versions usually leave out the part about needing a telescope. The truth is that on this August 27 Mars will be a long ways away, and NASA says Jupiter would make a more interesting planet to view.
To read the entire article click on this BBC NEWS link.
COMMENT: As the article points out, this rumor persists probably because of the fascination people have had in recent decades with the planet Mars. The panic caused by the 1938 radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds drama, when many people actually thought we were being invaded by Martians, shows how interested we are in outer space in general and Mars in particular. And it also shows how easily we can be misled. More recently, the "face on Mars" story also misled quite a few people before more detailed photos of this Martian hill showed it was not a carving of a face.
Still a hoax is a hoax, even though in this case circulators of the e-mail Mars hoax might be more guilty of not doing their homework than of trying to spread a blatant lie. Regardless, it is a warning that we should carefully evaluated stories of this kind. If a story sounds too strange to be true, it probably is.
Both evolutionists and creationists have been guilty of spreading stories that fell short of the truth. The Piltdown man, Nebraska man and the peppered moths are infamous Darwinian hoaxes. But some creationists, at least some religious lay people, have also spread myths such as the claim NASA computers have documented Joshua's long day or that the moon landings were faked.
Fortunately, we have a source of knowledge that we are certain will never lead us astray. Even the accounts in the Bible of events that may be hard to believe, such as the miracles, we know to be true because they were given to us by the only One incapable of error, our Holy God and Creator. Believe what God tells us in His Holy Word. Believe Him when He says our dead and decayed bodies will one day be resurrected, with believers in Jesus looking forward to eternal life in heaven and unbelievers having to face eternal death. St. Peter assures us: "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1:16 NIV)
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What trick did moviemakers use when they filmed Moses parting the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments?
They filmed water pouring into a tank. Then they ran the footage backwards.
Source: Discover (June, 2009)
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The more confident one is, the more likely he is to give in to temptations.
SUMMARY: According to scientists, people who are sure they can resist temptations are probably wrong. The more confident they are, the more likely they are to give in to temptation. So says Loran Nordgren from Northwestern University. The result is that many people unwittingly expose themselves to such allures as chocolate or cigarettes, leading to a greater chance of indulging in addictive behaviors.
Nordgren arrived at her conclusions after a series of small experiments with college students, the results of which may not necessarily hold true for the general population. In one experiment involving smoking, smokers who thought they could control the urge were more than twice as likely to light up a cigarette than those who were less confident. Less confident students also were more likely to watch an anti-smoking film and keep cigarettes out of their hands than the more confident students.
In another test, participants who were hungry were more likely to avoid eating favorite snacks than those who were full. Also, students who were tired or mentally fatigued were slightly less likely to put off their studies to the last minute compared to students who were non-fatigued.
Nordgren figures her research has implications for our personal lives. Recovering alcoholics should probably avoid parties with alcohol, dieters should stay away from dessert buffets, and committed husbands may want to limit contacts with former girlfriends. People often can't predict how they will act in any given situation.
To read the entire article click on this YAHOO / LIVE SCIENCE link.
COMMENT: Not surprisingly, this article talks about temptations without any religious reference, but I found it interesting nevertheless. However, I don't believe that as Christians we can consider temptations without thinking about their source. Along with Martin Luther, we understand that the ungodly temptations which come our way are due to "the devil, the world, and our flesh." (Luther's Small Catechism, Explanation of the Sixth Petition).
Probably not everything the world calls a temptation is an ungodly temptation. Here we have the Word of God to tell us what is and isn't a sinful temptation. Being sinful human beings, we will at times give in to the devil, the world or our sinful flesh. When that happens we can ask for forgiveness and pray that, as Luther says, "we may finally overcome and obtain the victory." St. Paul comforts us with these words: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)
Meanwhile, the advice in this article about avoiding places and situations where we might be tempted is good advice. The greatest temptation we will surely want to avoid is to think that our good works and our efforts to avoid sinful behavior will earn us "brownie points" with God. God's promise to us of eternal life in heaven is due entirely to the life and death of His Son, Jesus Christ, and not to anything we have done or not done. Our love of God and our thankfulness for the gift of salvation is enough reason for wanting to avoid giving into the sinful temptations of the devil, the world and our flesh.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How much of the earth's surface is desert?
About one-third.
Source: www.livescience.com
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The
spleen is now known to be a crucial storage place for immune cells.
SUMMARY: The spleen is no longer considered just a waste of space. Doctors already knew this organ, located behind the stomach, performs various functions including making antibodies and storing red blood cells. However, they still considered the spleen to be nonessential.
A new study published in Science begs to differ. While it is true people can live without a spleen, the organ is far from worthless. It actually is a crucial storage place for large numbers of monocytes, a type of immune cell. Monocytes, which form in bone marrow, can rally to fight infections and repair the body after traumas such as heart attacks. Scientists had believed monocytes were stored in the blood, but new studies with mice show the spleen contains ten times more monocytes than blood--making it an important storehouse.
Although until now there was no proof of the spleen's role as a monocyte storehouse, scientists already in 1977 suspected as much. They did a study that showed servicemen who had their spleen removed during World War II were more likely to die from pneumonia and heart disease than their colleagues.
The spleen is just one of many organs that once were considered useless but are now known to have important functions. The appendix is another, but this organ is now credited as being a storehouse of beneficial bacteria that help us digest food. The appendix is especially important in unusually germ-ridden environments.
(Picture: cross-section of a spleen, from Wikipedia.)
To read the entire article click on this DISCOVER link.
COMMENT: "Vestigial" organs are usually defined by secular scientists as organs that once served useful purposes in the evolutionary history of an animal but which today are almost or completely useless. I could compare them to computer-related items from the past we may still have lying around the house or office like floppy disks or punch cards which I don't believe are of any value anymore to most modern computer users.
The idea of vestigial organs has been used by evolutionists to poke fun at the belief that humans and animals have been designed by a Creator. Why would God put useless or unnecessary organs into a creature? On the other hand, if animals are naturally evolving into other kinds of animals, it is reasonable to believe they will retain some organs that they no longer need to use just like those floppy disks we haven't gotten around to putting into the garbage.
The only problem with this scenario is that it isn't true. There are really no such things as vestigial organs. As we have learned more about the bodies of humans and animals, the list of so-called vestigial organs has dwindled to nothing. The Web site creation.com says there were 180 vestigial organs in 1890. Now there are none. Important functions have been discovered for every one of them. This includes such features as the wings of flightless birds and scale leaves of parasitic flowering plants as well as the appendix, tonsils, and thymus in humans.
Yes, the Master Designer would not give any creature including humans any organ or other feature that does not serve an important purpose. And alone among all of His creatures God has given to each human an immortal soul, a feature than is invisible to science but nevertheless very real. The importance of our souls is that we can go to be with God when we die if we have accepted the gift of salvation which Jesus has won for us through His suffering and death on the cross.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Can attending a concert cause tinnitus?
Yes, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can be brought on by attending a single rock concert, especially if you are sitting or standing near powerful speakers. Any exposure to noise above 115 decibels can cause tinnitus or even permanent hearing loss. Rock concerts can produce sounds of this magnitude for two or three hours. To protect yourself, wear earplugs and keep away from the speakers.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (August 1, 2009)
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SUMMARY: A Barna survey conducted about a decade ago showed about two-thirds of Christian teenagers abandon their faith once they leave home. Other statistics reinforce the idea that teens are less interested in Christianity than their parents. Following are some possible reasons for this sad situation.
How much energy is saved by recycling six aluminum cans every week?
